Are you ready to see Google fail yet again? Just like they did with Google Wave, they have begun Google+ by invitation only. I was an early adopter for Wave and was extremely disappointed because I had a grand total of ONE friend who had it. That friend didn't particularly share much info with me either, so it was pretty useless. Wave had all these great possibilities but by the time they got around to releasing it to everyone, I was no longer interested.
Google again breaks out with what looks like it could be a facebook killer. It's a social network called Google+. It looks very much like facebook as well but it has some very interesting features that will no doubt be duplicated by facebook shortly. Since it is by invitation only, it will take time to actually build a network of your friends. Dumb move again Google! By the time you get it out for everyone to use, facebook will simply implement your ideas and be that much more ahead of you.
I'm a facebook user, but I despise their lack of privacy controls and constantly changing my settings. If another network becomes available, I'll gladly jump ship. Google has their head up their ass on this one. Just like Wave, if you get an invite and get onto their network...what will you do until your friends also are able to join up? Their strategy borders the line of insanity again. It actually pisses me off because I would love to move away from facebook. A better way to roll it out to a select group would be to offer it to loyal users like those who have a Google account! (hint)
I trust Google more than facebook. Personally, I've never had my account hijacked using any of Google's products. I think that Google+ is a step in the right direction in eradicating some of the security problems of social networking. Hopefully they won't drag their feet getting it started and useable for all. Get it right this time Google!
6/29/11
6/25/11
Science for Dummys
Most people don't really "get" math. I can relate because I didn't understand it either. When I was in high school, I thought only accountants really need to know math. I graduated high school only taking two courses of math, Intro to Algebra and Algebra 1. I didn't see a need to understand it, just get through the problems in order to be done with it. It didn't make sense to me at all. I could show my work and work a problem but I didn't see a reason to make sense of a + b = c. Math terminology still eludes me..variables, integers, whole numbers, whatever.
I simply thought that I didn't NEED math to go and earn a living. My Dad owned a tile and carpet store and I went to work for him. I discovered quickly that I could calculate square footage in my head faster than I could use a calculator...Mainly because I was too lazy to sit down and punch figures into a calculator. I came up with my own way of multiplying because I never really understood the way I was taught to multiply fractions. My way was much easier and it was always right, no scribbling or pounding numbers into a calculator. Squaring anything was easy. It just made sense to me.
While going to school in the Navy I had to quickly learn a bunch of math and physics. I was thirty two years old and had not really worked a math problem since 1982. I was fortunate to be friends with a kid named Jason Ramey. That kid was only 18 and he basically tutored me through my first 30 days of school. That 30 days probably had the biggest affect on my life than any other. At one point in school, I suddenly had an epiphany..everything can be explained with math. WHAT?? I just suddenly understood.
A whole other world opened up to me. Understanding electronics..computers, televisions and basic engineering. I still lack the logic process to do serious programming but I understand the principles of that now too. Combine that skill set with my Art classes and it gives me an advantage over millions of people. I've become pretty damned good at making things happen.
I have a friend who has slowly progressed through attaining his Architectural degree from the University of Houston. He's asked for help and every time I've participated and showed him how to get through a class..he's got an "A" in those classes. I never did his work for him, just helped steer him through so he understood it too. He's in his last two courses now and I feel like I've earned the degree WITH him. I couldn't afford the classes myself but I learned as much as he has just by coaching him through.
I'm not an Architect but I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night..lol Do they give honorary degrees to poor people? I doubt it!
I simply thought that I didn't NEED math to go and earn a living. My Dad owned a tile and carpet store and I went to work for him. I discovered quickly that I could calculate square footage in my head faster than I could use a calculator...Mainly because I was too lazy to sit down and punch figures into a calculator. I came up with my own way of multiplying because I never really understood the way I was taught to multiply fractions. My way was much easier and it was always right, no scribbling or pounding numbers into a calculator. Squaring anything was easy. It just made sense to me.
While going to school in the Navy I had to quickly learn a bunch of math and physics. I was thirty two years old and had not really worked a math problem since 1982. I was fortunate to be friends with a kid named Jason Ramey. That kid was only 18 and he basically tutored me through my first 30 days of school. That 30 days probably had the biggest affect on my life than any other. At one point in school, I suddenly had an epiphany..everything can be explained with math. WHAT?? I just suddenly understood.
A whole other world opened up to me. Understanding electronics..computers, televisions and basic engineering. I still lack the logic process to do serious programming but I understand the principles of that now too. Combine that skill set with my Art classes and it gives me an advantage over millions of people. I've become pretty damned good at making things happen.
I have a friend who has slowly progressed through attaining his Architectural degree from the University of Houston. He's asked for help and every time I've participated and showed him how to get through a class..he's got an "A" in those classes. I never did his work for him, just helped steer him through so he understood it too. He's in his last two courses now and I feel like I've earned the degree WITH him. I couldn't afford the classes myself but I learned as much as he has just by coaching him through.
I'm not an Architect but I stayed in a Holiday Inn Express last night..lol Do they give honorary degrees to poor people? I doubt it!
6/18/11
Nanny State
I'm just wondering if anybody out there is capable of thinking for themselves. Seriously! Have we become a nation of do-gooders that have to control what everyone does? It's starting to sound like we aren't the land of the free anymore. It seems that everyone who pays taxes has been brainwashed into believing that they have a say in what others can and cannot do.
Health groups are suddenly screaming that kids drink too much sodas. Hello...parents, that's YOUR job! Take sodas out of schools and the kids will just bring their own from home. I'm glad they haven't made it where kids have no choice but to eat the crap in school prepared lunches. Although I'm sure it's on the agenda. If you ever ate lunch in a poor school district you know what I'm talking about.
If America has changed and become a nation of elites telling everyone what they can and cannot do. It's no longer a democracy. It isn't socialist either..it's dictatorial. Stop professing that everyone needs to do as you say. That's not liberty! Butt out!
There are some old song lyrics from Hank Williams Sr. that apply to America today. ♪♫ If you mind your own business then you won't be minding mine! ♫♪
Health groups are suddenly screaming that kids drink too much sodas. Hello...parents, that's YOUR job! Take sodas out of schools and the kids will just bring their own from home. I'm glad they haven't made it where kids have no choice but to eat the crap in school prepared lunches. Although I'm sure it's on the agenda. If you ever ate lunch in a poor school district you know what I'm talking about.
If America has changed and become a nation of elites telling everyone what they can and cannot do. It's no longer a democracy. It isn't socialist either..it's dictatorial. Stop professing that everyone needs to do as you say. That's not liberty! Butt out!
There are some old song lyrics from Hank Williams Sr. that apply to America today. ♪♫ If you mind your own business then you won't be minding mine! ♫♪
Strikeforce 6/18/11
Tonight we have a couple of decent fights. Co-main events actually. I haven't seen any of the other fighters enough to make an educated prediction, so let's get to it!
Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers
Barnett has lots of experience with top notch fighters. His ground game is excellent and his stand up is decent. Rogers is a banger. He hits hard and is capable of ending any fight with a single punch. He's less experienced and I think he's going to be lost if the fight goes to the ground. Rogers always has a punchers chance, but my pick is Barnett by submission in the first round.
Barnett easily defeats Rogers by submission but he did it right after the start of round two.
Fabricio Werdum vs. Allistair Overeem
This is the one to watch! These two fought before and Werdum won before by submission. That was a long time ago and Overeem has gained about 40 pounds of muscle. Werdum is excellent if it goes to the mat, that's where his best chance lies. Overeem is an outstanding striker and is quite versed on the mat as well. Stand up battle will definitely go to Overeem. His Muy Thai is great and he has a great standing guillotine.
My pick is Overeem and here's how I think it will unfold. Start off with Overeem tagging Werdum in stand up and when Werdum gets tired of that, he'll try to take him down. Overeem will sprawl and go for the guillotine choke. Werdum to drop backwards with Overeem in top position. He's big enough now to keep Werdum pinned and ground and pound him out for the win. Werdum is very crafty and could take it, but Overeem looks to be a force in the heavyweight division to me. Overeem by knockout/referee stoppage in two rounds or less.
Overeem threw Werdum to the ground a few times but would not get into his guard. Allistair played it smart and stayed away from the ground game as much as he could, out powering him with punches. Not really an impressive win because he was worn out and unwilling to commit to finish Werdum. He won but not in impressive fashion at all!
Josh Barnett vs. Brett Rogers
Barnett has lots of experience with top notch fighters. His ground game is excellent and his stand up is decent. Rogers is a banger. He hits hard and is capable of ending any fight with a single punch. He's less experienced and I think he's going to be lost if the fight goes to the ground. Rogers always has a punchers chance, but my pick is Barnett by submission in the first round.
Barnett easily defeats Rogers by submission but he did it right after the start of round two.
Fabricio Werdum vs. Allistair Overeem
This is the one to watch! These two fought before and Werdum won before by submission. That was a long time ago and Overeem has gained about 40 pounds of muscle. Werdum is excellent if it goes to the mat, that's where his best chance lies. Overeem is an outstanding striker and is quite versed on the mat as well. Stand up battle will definitely go to Overeem. His Muy Thai is great and he has a great standing guillotine.
My pick is Overeem and here's how I think it will unfold. Start off with Overeem tagging Werdum in stand up and when Werdum gets tired of that, he'll try to take him down. Overeem will sprawl and go for the guillotine choke. Werdum to drop backwards with Overeem in top position. He's big enough now to keep Werdum pinned and ground and pound him out for the win. Werdum is very crafty and could take it, but Overeem looks to be a force in the heavyweight division to me. Overeem by knockout/referee stoppage in two rounds or less.
Overeem threw Werdum to the ground a few times but would not get into his guard. Allistair played it smart and stayed away from the ground game as much as he could, out powering him with punches. Not really an impressive win because he was worn out and unwilling to commit to finish Werdum. He won but not in impressive fashion at all!
6/15/11
Facebook Issues
It's been less than a year since I signed up on Facebook. After signing up and getting into it, I found many people whom I couldn't locate before FB. I've also had a few find me that I didn't care to communicate again.
After signing up, I went straight to my account settings and turned off ALL notifications so I wouldn't get a thousand emails in my inbox informing me of everything that happened on FB. I set my privacy settings to include only my friends, and I opted out of everything I could find. Each time FB makes another "improvement" I have to go back in and uncheck whatever they enabled WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!
I'm not a total privacy fanatic or anything, but they do that to a lot of people who have no idea how to turn it on/off. The facial recognition database is just taking things too far. I'll explain why in a minute. Tagging photos of other people without their consent should not be allowed either. I've done it without thinking of any consequences to my friends...one of the only arguments I ever had with my best friend.
Here's a scenario that could actually happen:
A creepy person takes a picture that includes you at a bar. It's not just a picture of you, so you don't think any more about it. That person goes home and uploads the picture to Facebook. When it asks him to tag the people, it gives suggestions...and based on pictures of yourself in their database, it gives your name. Every bit of info you've posted without setting privacy settings to "Friends Only" is available to the creep! Where you live, email address, websites...everything. This is a stalkers dream come true! The same is true of businesses and government officials. Have you ever had a friend who became an enemy?
Facebook is a privacy nightmare. We need an alternative, preferably open source. Freely available and controlled by the masses, not some jerk who is on a grab for power and money.
After signing up, I went straight to my account settings and turned off ALL notifications so I wouldn't get a thousand emails in my inbox informing me of everything that happened on FB. I set my privacy settings to include only my friends, and I opted out of everything I could find. Each time FB makes another "improvement" I have to go back in and uncheck whatever they enabled WITHOUT MY PERMISSION!
I'm not a total privacy fanatic or anything, but they do that to a lot of people who have no idea how to turn it on/off. The facial recognition database is just taking things too far. I'll explain why in a minute. Tagging photos of other people without their consent should not be allowed either. I've done it without thinking of any consequences to my friends...one of the only arguments I ever had with my best friend.
Here's a scenario that could actually happen:
A creepy person takes a picture that includes you at a bar. It's not just a picture of you, so you don't think any more about it. That person goes home and uploads the picture to Facebook. When it asks him to tag the people, it gives suggestions...and based on pictures of yourself in their database, it gives your name. Every bit of info you've posted without setting privacy settings to "Friends Only" is available to the creep! Where you live, email address, websites...everything. This is a stalkers dream come true! The same is true of businesses and government officials. Have you ever had a friend who became an enemy?
Facebook is a privacy nightmare. We need an alternative, preferably open source. Freely available and controlled by the masses, not some jerk who is on a grab for power and money.
6/3/11
Suddenlink Sucks!
We have had cable television and internet now for more than 10 years with Suddenlink. Our bill started off at around $40 per month. We haven't added any channels or otherwise changed our service since the beginning. Our bill is now $104 per month. Basic cable and internet...that's freaking ridiculous! There are no other providers here so I can't just switch to someone else.
On top of that, sometimes I'll purchase a fight from UFC on demand over the internet. Now, everytime a show starts, my internet gets cut off instantly. No IP address...no communication with the cable company unless I reboot the cable modem and router. After reboot, every thing works fine until you start a show again and BOOM! If they keep this up, they will feel the wrath of a scorned customer. I'm tired of being screwed and I'm not just rolling over and taking it anymore.
On top of that, sometimes I'll purchase a fight from UFC on demand over the internet. Now, everytime a show starts, my internet gets cut off instantly. No IP address...no communication with the cable company unless I reboot the cable modem and router. After reboot, every thing works fine until you start a show again and BOOM! If they keep this up, they will feel the wrath of a scorned customer. I'm tired of being screwed and I'm not just rolling over and taking it anymore.
Command and Control Bunker Upgrade
Entertainment goals
- Gaming console
- TV
- DVD
- VCR
- Projector
- Surround sound
- Land line phone
- VOIP phone
- Video phone
- Weather radio/scanner
- Camera surveillance of yard
- Motion detectors and lighting
- Internet accessible camera in the bunker
- Alarm system
- Soldering station
- Air Compressor
- Vice
- Silk screen equipment
- Airbrush
- Oscilloscope X
- Refrigerator (tasty cold adult beverages)
- Bench power supply
- Workbench
- Isolated network (wifi/wired)
- Multi-monitor setup
- Parts bin
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)