In General, I'm a patient person but the volume of hotlinking from MySpace.com has reached the point where I'm just not allowing it anymore. Just today, I have over 60 hits from images taken from my server and it's getting tired.
Oddly enough, I'm also getting a couple of hits from Clay Aiken's site.
Maybe he's a Fan??
Music I'm listening to right Now:
"Pump It" by Black Eyed Peas from "Monkey Business".
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Posted in Different
I pretty much carry my camera everywhere and occasionally come across a situation where I suddenly need a tripod but don't have one as my regular tripod was left at home.
An actual example: It suddenly rained and the streets were nice and reflective. The view from one of my managers office has a good angle on Park Avenue South, but to really get a good shot, I like to take a long exposure. Without a tripod, it's impossible for me to keep the camera that steady.
While attending the 2006 Photo Plus Expo this past Friday, I came upon Joby demonstrating their new Gorillapod Pro (Since renamed the Gorillapod SLR-Zoom) and was impressed enough to buy one.
Short Review: I really like it. Will the Gorillapod replace my regular Tripod? Nope, but I'll keep it in my bag for those many times when I need steady base for my camera.
More details after the break.
Music I'm listening to right Now:
"Mushroom Hunting" by The Seatbelts from "Cowboy Bebop CD Box [BOX SET]".
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Posted in Cool Stuff, Images
Managed to get the day off today (BTW I have a very Cool Boss!) so I'll be going to the Photo Plus Expo.
It's at the Jacob Javits center and should be interesting. They probably won't object to photos so I'll try to post some in my Flickr Site. Also, I got my Moo Cards (Positive review later) , so I'll actually be able to hand them out and get that email address Spamed like crazy.
Off Topic: Open a FREE Email account to put on your Moo Cards. It avoids lots of hassles and you could always print more with another Email address.
Music I'm listening to right Now:
"Sheep Go To Heaven" by Cake from "Prolonging the Magic".
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Posted in Cool Stuff, Different
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Posted in Cool Stuff, Current Issues
Think we don't need Paper receipts or paper registers for vote for New Diebold Touch Screens? Think again.
It amazes me that people can get a receipt for a piece of chewing gum, but not for a voting machine. Just about Every cash register in America has two rolls: One for the customer receipt, another for records for possible audit and confirmation.
This is exactly how elections will get stolen, by using these computers that have no proper auditing or any accountability to speak of. In the states that use these today, there is no accurate way to determine if the votes have been manipulated. I bet they don't even have procedures in place to recover data from smashed devices.
If New York State ever uses these machines, I'll insist on a Paper Ballot or absentee ballot.
Music I'm listening to right Now:
"I Write Sins Not Tragedies" by Panic! at the Disco from "A Fever You Can't Sweat Out".
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Posted in Current Issues
Since My servers have So much down time, thanks to Verizon, I'm scheduling a semi major change that should work without a hitch, but being really paranoid, I'm backing up my essential files via Tar and GZIP.
Apparently, after it's compressed, I have 17 GB of stuff in my personal home directory alone. That's not counting my Web Site on that Box. This calls for some serious housekeeping after the change as there are some files I've not touched since that server was made years ago.
This backup is fairly straightforward but time consuming. Basically, I tar and GZIP the results, use scp to copy the resulting file to my PC and then back it up to DVD. Simple, but time consuming. Even with Double Sided DVD's it will take about three Double Sided (Dual layer??) DVD's to do it. I could back it up to DLT Tape, but each DLT tape costs a lot and when that DLT Drive goes, it will be expensive to replace. Personally, after "Blue Ray" and HD DVD stabilizes, I'll probably get one for Backup purposes.
Music I'm listening to right Now:
"Pushing Me Away" by Linkin Park from "Hybrid Theory".
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It rained Friday night which means my phone service went down yet again. This has only been going on since September 14th.
Ok, I tried to be patient, but I go thru the usual song and dance and apparently complete waste of time by calling Verizon Phone Repair, ask to speak to a manager and get promptly hung up on. I Have a complaint in to Verizon about that AND a complaint is being opened up to their Business office Monday. My Last bill has a “Credit” of less than $3. I can’t wait to call the City and file a complaint in writing.
Maybe it’s me. maybe I just get lucky enough to deal with people with absolutely no idea how to fix a phone line. After all, It’s TWO WIRES connected to my house, down a telephone pole, to a Central office back to a Verizon Hub (Or what ever it’s called). Obviously, This is New Cutting Edge Technology (The Phone was JUST invented, Right?) and it takes a certain amount of patience to actually trackdown and inspect the few hundred feet of TWO WIRES to actually find the problem.
The Best Part? Everyone who comes out to look at it traces it a few blocks, Observes that it goes into the ground and then has to open a trouble ticket to yet another group just to look at it. That other group takes a peek several days later and says “Looks OK to me!” and apparently does nothing. By the time they look at it at least four days have passed, the rain water that caused the problem has evaporated and the phone line starts to work albiet with lots of Static.
This situation is just beyond words. I’m betting I’ll be back here writing about how much Verizon Sucks in January.
Music I’m listening to right Now:
“Camisado” by Panic! at the Disco from “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out“.
What a confusing Message! I could probably go on for quite a while, but you get the point. All politics are local, but if your unhappy with the current state of things, you might want to vote for ANYONE else then the Republicans. At this point, I’m so fed up with the Republican party that I’m having a very hard time voting for Local Politicians that I like and respect.
Regardless: Who ever you vote for, it’s important you vote.
Music I’m listening to right Now:
“The Only Difference Between Martyrdom and Suicide is Press Coverage” by Panic! at the Disco from “A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out“.
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Posted in Current Issues
I listen to music while I work and without exception: I get called when listening to a good song…
It Never fails and this time it happened while listening to Martin Gore singing "In A Manner Of Speaking" from the "Just Say Mao: Volume III of Just Say Yes" Album. In fact, after getting off that call, playing the song again, someone else calls.
Very Odd.
Music I'm listening to right Now:
"In A Manner Of Speaking" by Martin Gore from "Just Say Mao: Volume III of Just Say Yes ".
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Posted in Different
Once again, Keith Olbermann is spot on. Catching President George W. Bush in an outright lie was a nice touch. He’s right: We’ve now legislated torture and this is a dark day in American history.
In the past, we treated such “alternative” interrogation techniques as a War Crime, now it’s business as usual. When the Senate reviewed this law, I wonder, did they actually read it? This isn’t being “Tough” on Terrorists, it’s an out right political tool.
IMO, The consequences of this poorly thought out law will take years to fully realize.
Music I’m listening to right Now:
“Crazy” by Seal from his “Seal” Album (1991).
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Posted in Current Issues
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