Status: Away

Sorry Folks...

I know how SO MANY of you love to read my new and exciting posts everyday, but, I'm on vacation, and therefore, so is my blog. I may post here again this week, but look for me to post more on Monday.

Ciao for now...
Teix

Tech: Apple

This is why I love this company. Check out their homepage.

I don't see Microsoft doing this (Although I'm sure they are some how sending gazillions of dollars to that part of the world, yeah that's right, I said it, "a gazillion"!).

It Just So Happens...

... So I am talking to Trabeck, and he turns to me and says, "... Yeah, the whole thing was fixed... " that's a true story...

Holiday Fun!!!

Thanks to Marisa for the e-card.

However, What kind of world do we live in when we are so lazy we start sending e-cards? Ok , ok, she actually did send me a real card for Christmahanuquanzicah (props to D Lee). Here is a holiday game for all to enjoy!

Reindeer Games

Life Lessons: Senior Citizens

Great, now I have to think about what I am doing for the future generations... geesh!

A college student at a recent football game challenged a senior citizen sitting next to him, saying it was impossible for their generation to understand his.

"You grew up in a different world," the student said, loud enough for the whole crowd to hear. "Today we have television, jet planes, space travel, man has walked on the Moon, our spaceships have visited Mars, we even have nuclear energy, electric and hydrogen cars, computers with light-speed processing ...and ... uh..."

Taking advantage of a pause in the student's litany, the old geezer said, "You're right. We didn't have those things when we were young; so we invented them you little twit! What are you doing for the next generation?"

More Google...

Here is a site I found that houses most of Google's cool new work and applications they are working on.

Google Labs

I Made It...

If you go to Google and type in: "teix blog" my site pops up at #5. Yeah, I know, #5 for "teix blog" in Google isn't that great, but I am surprised I'm on there at all. A kid can dream right?

See it here!

ALSO - Coming soon to this site: A Google SearchBar for my site... I know, EVERYONE is excited now.

I Love Google.

Food: They're Coming...

... Caldo! Caldo! & Freddo! Freddo! (That's Warm! Warm! Cold! Cold! for those non-Italian speaking folk) ... Well, a few years ago the Drs. O brought back a few of these from Italy. I think "... coffee-to-go..." was what Mrs. O called it. Well, it's coming here to the states and Wolfgang Puck is bringing it. Here a bit from the article.

"... Convenience is about to take on new meaning in the coffee aisle: single-serving coffee in a can that heats itself. Chef Wolfgang Puck says the self-heating container 'will expand the way people drink coffee.' Beginning Jan. 2, consumers can buy a 10-ounce container of Wolfgang Puck gourmet latte at the store and heat it by pressing a button. No electricity. No batteries. No appliances. "It will expand the way people drink coffee," says Puck, the celebrity chef with a growing empire. How does the can do it? A single step mixes calcium oxide (quicklime) and water. It heats the coffee to 145 degrees in six minutes, and stays hot for 30 minutes..."

Click here to read the whole article.

Anna & Curtis in Pink

Anna Curtis in Pink,
originally uploaded by cteix.

There has been overwhelming requests for this picture to be put online (cough cough, I just made that up, couch cough), so... here it is! This picture was taken of Anna and I at a wedding this past summer here in Ma.

Most Frequently Spoken Word on the Planet

According to YourDictionary.com's Top 10 of 2003:

--- "OK" ---

"... Still the most popular word in languages around the world. "OK" originated in a joke in the 1830's, spelled "oll korrekt" in Boston newspapers, the joke being, both words were incorrect. It became so popular, that it was soon abbreviated to simply "O. K." Despite its popularity, the word would have fallen by the wayside had not Martin van Buren, called "Old Kinderhook" for being born in Kinderhook, N.Y. used it in his presidential reelection campaign of 1840. So don't "misunderestimate" the impact of presidential usage on the growth of our vocabulary. It is also spelled "okay"..."

iPod: 1 Billion Songs

Not really, but if you watch this sketch on Dave Letterman's Late Show from last night you can see a bit of iPod humor. (Go down to DaveTV and click on "Big Show Highlight")

See Video Here

Yes, Son, That Was A Missile....

Well, apparently, you have not lost your mind. Reports on Boston.com say that the US Airforce have been shooting down at us. Here is cut from the report from Boston.com:

"... The Air Force report also disclosed that there have been three other incidents this year in which an F-16 pilot unintentionally fired during nighttime missions..."

Read Full Article Here

Super-Fast Elevator

World's fastest elevators installed in Taiwanese skyscraper. It rises over 1500 feet in about 30 seconds. Side Note: Passengers' stomachs take a few seconds longer to catch up.

Anyone want to take a trip with me to Taiwan? I hear it's nice this time of year.

It Just So Happens...

... So that's when Bud Selig walks in and says "...Curtis, teach me how to be sexy..." And that's a true story!...

I've Joined A Gang

Ok, not really, but I did join a "Street Team" last night. My latest and greatest find came to me last night. I found it at my favorite store, Walgreens. The product? Head Blade! As most of you know, I shave my head, not because I'm going bald or anything, it's purely for the look (cough, cough, I'm lying, cough, cough). The Head Blade is an incredible product. It cuts down my shaving time by at least %75. It's shaped like a little match box car, kind of, its yellow and black. I slip my finger in a little groove/hole and then I just stroke my hand over my head. Easy and smooth! They were voted as one of Time Magazine's "Top 10 Products of 2000". And for those of you wondering, yes, yes they do have a "Signature Series" (including a $75 stainless steel model). The also have tons of other products like clothing, shaving cream (which I purchased), "Head Lube" and more.

As for the "Street Team"... They will send me few thing, maybe a t-shirt and then I will hand out the "promotional stuff"... look for a sticker on my car soon.

Thanks to Marisa's cousin Anthony for recommending the product, even though he had never used.

7 Words That Can Change Your Life

"The Red Sox Won The World Series."

Read this article by Bill Simmons on ESPN.com. ESPN has counted down it's "Top 100 Sports Stories of the Year", and guess who comes in at #1: Da Sox! Bill Simmons is a local guy who tells it like it is, from a Boston point of view. He is creative, truthful, and really funny. Here is a blurb from the article:

"... That sentence has changed my life. People have been congratulating me for weeks. Long-lost college friends, extended family members, former co-workers ... everyone paid their respects. I felt like The Godfather. Two weeks after the final out, my dog and I were finishing a walk when a neighbor emerged from his house and shouted, "Hey, I never congratulated you!" Is this what having a kid feels like? I keep waiting for the happiness to subside, but it hasn't. I actually feel lighter. I own four different victory T-shirts, two hats, two DVDs, one jersey, one sweatshirt, one commemorative baseball and three pictures that need framing ... and I'm just getting started. There have been about 200 times when I've said to myself, "Holy crap, I can't believe that happened!" I have the same giddy conversations with the same giddy people. Every Red Sox fan is the same -- we can't believe what happened, we can't get over what happened, we don't want to get over what happened..."

New Engrish Yo!

NC Buy
New York, NY

Prestigious Oxford English Dictionary decides to keep it real, adds "crack ho," "thugged out" and "hoochie"

Check it out here

Bryan's Socks Rock!

ic North Wales
Northern Wales, England

Bids on Ebay for a pair of rocker Bryan Adams' unwashed socks have so far reached £530 (with pic).

See it here!

Nebraska and Bioterrorism?

Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha World Herald

"... Nebraska ranks among the top six states for bioterrorism preparedness, according to a new report, and state officials say they have zeroed in on the problems that have kept the state from pulling a perfect score..."

Read the entire article here.

Yup, that's right folks, your safer in Nebraska in the wake of a bioterrorism attack than you are in, say, Massachusetts (ranked last). Why is this important, well it isn't. I just thought it was funny that Nebraska is all sorts of excited for coming in at "Top 6" in bioterrorism preparedness. All they had to do was protect a few farms, right? Wipdee-dooo-dah! Go Cornhuskers! Haha.

As another site said: "... When it comes to bioterrorism preparedness, bow before the mighty state of Nebraska..."

Officer Relief

Orlando, Florida
WKMG - Local 6 News

Are you serious? An "officer" was caught on video urinating in the elevator and admitted to urinating in bushes as well. Read about this crazy event and even see some of the video here.

Note to self: "... Self, no more jumping into bushes on sitting in the elevator, in Florida!"

Strange: Hasselhoff's iPod

First, no, I do not have a "thing" for David Hasselhoff. I know, I have posted about him more than once, in fact, twice. That means I have posted two times, too many! Anyways, this has to do with one of my favorite gadgets, the iPod. I am all about the iPod, it's accessories, and the commercials. Anson has recently, (ok, for about the past 2 months) told me that he is really starting to get ticked off with that commercial starring U2 (More about the U2 iPod here). He is mostly pissed about the song "... uno, dos, tres, catorce..." (thanks: 7 yrs of Spanish). So he associates the song with the iPod, etc. But I digress... the iPod craze has gone too far, kind of. Hasselhoff has now signed an iPod and a few other things he is auctioning off on eBay. Man, you can buy anything there, as apparent with my other eBay post.

Here is what the company has to say:

"... If you are a David Hasselhoff fan or simply a collector then DON'T MISS OUT on the opportunity to bid online for these rare celebrity-signed memorabilia..."

Read more and see a VIDEO here!

Wanted: iobi Home

"... communication on your own terms..." says Verizon. I want this! I've been looking for something like it for a while. A service that lets me control all of my communications. As you all know, I'm an important guy, and I need to be in constant "communications" with everyone. I think Verizon explains it best:

"... Stop juggling your phone, cell phone, and email. And start getting communication on your terms. Say hello to iobi Home. This is the tool that lets your calls and messages find you, not the other way around. With iobi Home, you can email voicemail. You can have your PC hold your calls. You can schedule call forwarding to any phone. Now all your devices answer to you... You can try iobi Home for just $7.95 a month. Plus, get one month free when you order online..."

Update: Sprint/Nextel

Well folks look like my news from yesterday ("Cellphone Mania") about Verizon's bid for Sprint was nothing more than a rumor. Well, at least that's what we think. Either way, check out this article from Boston.com:

"... Sprint acquiring Nextel in $35 billion deal: The new company, called Sprint Nextel, will create the nation's third largest wireless telephone service provider, behind Cingular and Verizon... "

Congratulations Christine!

We would like to congratulate Christine on the completion of her MPH (Masters of Public Health) degree at Boston University School of Public Health. Good luck Christine, we look forward to having many more "home-made" (your home) dinners with a chick with TWO masters degrees.

Tech: HD Radio, Starting to Sound Good

Who wants to join me? I first heard of the concept a few months ago, but thought nothing of it. Who cares? It's a radio, it sounds "better", but do I really need a better sounding radio? Turns out, like my answer to Anna... "I Do". It's cool, it's new, and it's the future of radio. Also, did I mention, just like regular radio, it's free!!! (besides buying the hardware). HD Radio not only gives you better quality FM/AM radio, textual information, and other goodies. Here is what Crutchfeild has to say about it:

"... HD Radio technology allows broadcasters to transmit a high-quality digital signal. For listeners, the benefits are: FM radio with CD-quality sound, AM radio that sounds as good as FM, No more static, pops, crackles or fades, Transmission of additional information..."

Here is what the Washington Post has to say about it:

"... a feat described by some as radio's most dramatic technological leap since FM broadcasting debuted more than 50 years ago..."

"... It's about educating advertisers and consumers. The digital signal can deliver not just music but text, voice and pictures. One day it might be possible to press a button to order a CD as it plays on the radio. Or hear customized traffic reports. Or pause or rewind your favorite song. These uses may become possible in just a couple of years, transforming radio from a passive medium to an interactive one..."

So this means I NEED IT!!! Anyone want to tell me different? If you want to read more about HD Radio read Crutchfield's guide to HD Radio or listen to a few samples at Ibiquity's site, they seem to be the leaders in this new digital revolution.

Google: On-line Libraries

Google has a plan: to put books online... ALL books! They will start scanning books at the University of Michigan and plan on completing the project on about 6 years. They also plan projects at Harvard, Stanford, and The New York Public Library. The cost? About $10/book for about 15 million books. Look for Amazon and Yahoo to get in on the action, allowing people to view the books with a few advertisements strategically placed. Stay tuned folks.

Here is an excerpt from the New York Times article:

"... Google, the operator of the world's most popular Internet search service, plans to announce an agreement today with some of the nation's leading research libraries and Oxford University to begin converting their holdings into digital files that would be freely searchable over the Web..."

It turns out that U of Michigan had already started their own project. However, it would cost a lot money, and at the rate they were doing it, it would take 1,600 years, yeah, 1,600! If you want to read about what the locals think, read their article here.

Cellphone Mania!

So I'm sitting here, thinking to myself, "Self, what are you going to do when your cellphone plan runs out in a few weeks?" So I did what I did the last time this happened (2 yrs ago, yes, a two-year agreement, it made sense at the time), I asked around. I ask people in the office, my friends, family, and so forth. Everyone has something positive to say, some have negative feelings towards their subscriber, but in general, everyone knows there is something missing, and that they are unfulfilled.

So I'm searching the internet today, and come across this crazy piece of cellphone news:

"Yesterday, Verizon made an official bid for Sprint in secret. Today, it isn't a secret, so we can report on it. From the limited information available, Verizon, facing a double threat of a Nextel/Sprint merger and a New Cingular, received approval from Vodaphone (who owns a 45% share of Verizon Wireless) to attempt to merge with Sprint. The combined company would face a tough approval process, having a combined customer base of 65 million. Sources inside Verizon cite a need for a more robust network and Sprint's unified billing and customer service systems as reasons besides increased competition. This lands the ball solely in the hands of Len Lauer and Gary Forsee: Take Nextel, or Become Verizon?"

What's up with THAT? Now my joke (down below on the right) won't be so funny, and neither will my new cellphone bill. Granted, this isn't much more than a rumor, and it would take a few years to get accomplished, but still, anyone else scared?

I guess I will just go back to my old method of research... So... which cellphone subscriber do YOU have?

Stage for Sale

Yes, a stage. Used once, by Janet Jackson, last February. Maybe you saw it? A thousand times? Anyways, own a piece of FCC history, and have a story to tell the kids... on sale now for the low low coast of: $9,500.00. Only at, where else? E-Bay!

Buy it here!

Parents on Strike!

My parents tried this once. It was winter, in Massachusetts. They didn't last this long.

Mental not to self: Self, try this in the summer, at a resort!

"... A Florida couple marked one week on strike in front of their home, and vowed not to end their protest camp-out until their kids start doing their fair share of the household chores..."

Dumb: Pa. Police Apologize for Scissors Arrest

Philadelphia, PA
Full article from: ABC 7 News WJLA

Who are these cops? An what were they on before this happened? They should have lost their jobs. She's 10!

"... The police chief and the head of the city's schools apologized Monday to the mother of a 10-year-old girl who was arrested and handcuffed after she brought a pair of scissors to school in her backpack.

Although officers were following protocol when they drove the girl to a police station with her hands cuffed in front of her, discretion will be used in future cases involving young children, Police Chief Sylvester Johnson said.

Johnson said he told Rose Jackson that the arrest of her daughter, Porsche Brown, was "extremely unfortunate" and apologized for "any trauma that her daughter experienced" on her way to the station..."

Most hideous Holiday LP's...

... of all time. MTV ranks the most hideous of all time... here is a sample:

"... Ever had to suffer through the strained, off-key versions of carols sung by relatives? That's basically the effect achieved by Christmas With the Brady Bunch, the first and most painful of the many Brady-related albums. Regardless of how strong your nostalgia for the Bradys may be, there's no enjoyable "Sunshine Day"-esque kitsch quality to these tracks: This is just a wad of traditional carols sung badly by melodically challenged kids. It actually makes one pine for the vocal stylings of Florence Henderson ... or even Sam the butcher!..."

It Just So Happens...

... So that's when Charlie Sheen shakes my hand, he says, I've been around but I'm no Teixeira... and that's a true story...

To My Wife

Happy 6th Month Anniversary... I Love You!

"... The book of love has music in it,
In fact that's where music comes from,
Some of it is just transcendental,
Some of it is just really dumb,
But I,
I love it when you sing to me,
And you,
You can sing me anything... "

PSA: Yellow Popcorn

The fake butter gunk in microwave popcorn apparently now a health hazard. I wondered what killed Orville Reddenbacher. Click on this link in a Jiffy.

Weird: Vermont Man Overrun By Goats

Corinth, Vermont
Sacbee.com

Yes kids, THIS is why we don't go up to Vermont, on purpose...

"... A man who tried to care for more than 300 goats and had some of the animals living in his house with him has had animals that were seized from him returned and won permission to move them out of state.

Chris Weathersbee, 64, pleaded guilty this past week to animal cruelty and two other charges as part of a plea bargain that called for the return of the seized goats and the removal of his herd to eastern Kentucky..."

Google: Tools

Some of you know this, some of you don't: I'm a big technology fan. So my latest find has been, well, free. It turns out that those guys (and gals) over at Google are constantly working, go figure. Well they have a whole site dedicated to most of their projects. The coolest tools they have? You have to search for those... and that's where I found this one, Google Suggest. It auto-completes your search. You type in a letter and it starts suggesting something you want to look for. It's like typing into your web browser and those past links start popping up underneath. It's not a "super feature" but I think it's pretty helpful and will be incorporated into the main Google site soon.

Tech: Top Ten Trends for 2005

According to Red Herring, a technoogy magazine.

RED HERRING | Top Ten Trends for 2005

This year’s Top 10 Trends: (no specific ranking)

10. From speed races to duels: Moore’s Law is challenged as the chip industry changes tactics to avoid a meltdown.

9. The death of distance: VoIP is cheap, no doubt. What is more interesting is what it can do.

8. We know who you are: The identity and access management crisis.

7. Silencing the genes: After the hype, and then the lull, biotechs are making progress in pushing RNAi therapies into real-world treatments and real-deal revenues.

6. Micro energy, finally?: After heating up great expectations and then missing deadlines, the fuel cell industry could finally hit its stride next year.

5. Where is that file?: As the storage capacity of personal computers has expanded, innovators see a business opportunity in searching the final frontier – your desktop.

4. Baby boomers left to their own devices: As an aging population continues to seek the fountain of youth, the medical equipment market promises answers.

3. The web goes to pieces: Don’t blink – web services just became real.

2. The U.S takes a 3G thrashing: The next generation in cellular could leave the U.S. even further behind.

1. Home sweet digital home: Will computer companies or consumer electronics makers own the keys to the wired house?

Tech: 2014 = E.P.I.C.

This is very interesting stuff. You must watch this Flash Video. This site looks at the possibilities that may be in 2014. It gives brief descriptions of how the internet, as we know it, began and what it will become. Mostly focusing on Google, it is still very interesting what a group believes will happen with all our technology in the future. There are some great ideas to be explored, such as: Google/Tivo partnership, MSN Newsbot, "GoogleGrid", "... NY Times gone offline... " and... "GoogleZon"... a partnership between the online giants, Goolge and Amazon.

What happens to the news? And what is Epic?
Watch it, it is only 8 minutes but it is a jump in (one of the possible) futures.

Check out this site (need volume).

What To Do With Google When You're Bored...

Here is a piece written in Discover Magazine by Scott Kim. I thought it was pretty entertaining for those of you who are bored at work, or home, or on the road, etc.

... I searched 10 common words using the Google search engine. Can you deduce each word from the descriptions of three sites Google returned? Here's a hint to get you started: The answer to the first problem is needle. (Caveat: The Web is a constantly changing organism, so search results vary over time. If you opt to try this out for yourself, you may need to scroll through many screens to re-create these results.)...

1. Seattle landmark, cross-stitching, old phonographs
2. Florida destination, Grammy Award-winning singer, typewriter history
3. Data acquisition terminals, music, calculators
4. Information for transplant candidates, sheet music, old movie theaters
5. Jokes, Thomas Edison, invention
6. Healthy cooking, a power utility, photography supplies
7. Facial surgery, packaging, recycling
8. Lab supplies, computer peripherals, a cartoon character
9. Harry Potter, folding art, air conditioning
10. Educational games, tools, dance teams

For All My Jewish Friends

This is a take on the song "Hey Ya" by Outkast...

Click Here to Listen

iPod Yourself...

This is awesome! You know all those iPod ads you see everywhere? The ones with the colored background and black silhouette of a person. Well, here is a company that will take your photos and turn it into a t-shirt for $19.95.

"... Transform your photos into colorful and exciting iPod ads. iPod My Photo will customize any photo (.JPG and less than 1 MB in size) and once you've seen the amazing results, you can print your own unique iPodified photo on t-shirts, greeting cards and much more. iPod your photo - give it a try! ..."

Click here to "iPodify" yourself!

Think Different...

Here's to the crazy ones.

The misfits.
The rebels.
The troublemakers.
The round pegs in the square holes.

The ones who see things differently.

They're not fond of rules.
And they have no respect for the status quo.

You can praise them, disagree with them, quote them,
disbelieve them, glorify or vilify them.

About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them.

Because they change things.

They invent. They imagine. They heal.
They explore. They create. They inspire.

They push the human race forward.

Maybe they have to be crazy.

How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art?
Or sit in silence and hear a song that's never been written?
Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?

We make tools for these kinds of people.

While some see them as the crazy ones, We see genius.

Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.

- Apple Computers

NEW ITEMS!!!

Hello everyone... I have added a few more things to my site. Some you may see the changes, some of you may not. So here is what's new: (1.) "Buy Blue.Org" Button - It has a list of all the companies that donate money to the different political party, and how much they give. (2.) "On This Day" is now located under a smaller, less obtrusive, version of the date. There are three links to different pages that will give you tidbits, facts, anniversaries, birthdays, etc. that occurred "on this day" in history. (3.) I have added a "Chatter Box" on the right side. The chatter box will allow readers to post comments on the main page and give everyone the chance to have their ideas/thoughts/jokes(?) read! Just type in your name and add a post in the box below and click "post".

I hope everyone enjoys the new additions and please do not hesitate to leave a message on changes/additions you think I should make.

Thanks.
Management... hahaha... ok, it's only me Curtis!

Update: More Jokes

Only about 5 or so, but, I promise to add more soon.

Tech: Mossberg's Article

For those of you that don't know him, Walter S. Mossberg, is "the most powerful arbiter of consumer tastes in the computer world today," as stated by Newsweek. He writes for "the people," he tells it like it is, he is not biased one way or the other. His columns "Personal Technology" can be found in the Wall Street Journal. He reviews computers, software, digital cameras, and all sorts of other electronic goodies, including their habits and extras. Here is what he has to say today about MS Windows and the security issues that plagues it. More importantly here is what he says about the new Apple iMac.

"... The company's new iMac G5 model is the single best desktop computer I have ever reviewed..."

Sorry - It's my blog, I can promote anyone I want to. Haha. Just kidding. Buy a Mac. No, I'm kidding. Windows suck. Have a great day!

Mike, say it aint so...

Scottsdale, Arizona

All you have to do is read this guys statement:

"...I never even thought I'd come across meeting Mike Tyson, let alone having him on top of my hood..."

Go here to read the rest of the story.

Toys for Parking Tickets?

Anyone else read/hear about this new plan by the city of Boston for paying parking tickets? Don't get too excited, it was/is only for tickets issued on Dec 1-3, 2004. I know not many of you get tickets here in Boston, but for those for you who do...

"... For a limited time, the city of Boston is accepting a new form of payment for parking tickets: Cabbage Patch Kids, Morphibians, even Mega Blocks..."

Sports: Thanks Beautiful...

Yup, that's right, Mia Hamm, the worlds greatest female soccer player to ever score a goal, has officially retired. She played her final game last night in Carson, California in front of 15,000+ screaming fans in a 5-0 win over Mexico. Mia did not score last night, but she did have two assists. In the second half she wore a jersey with her husbands name on it, "Garciaparra". She and the "Fab-Five" have been playing throughout the US on a somewhat "farewell tour" and it concluded last night.

Looks like Nomar is going to be forced to actually earn a pay check. But he just signed a 1yr/$8 Million deal, so they should be good for a while. Also, in 1999, Nike named it's largest building after Mia at their corporate campus (Beaverton, Washington), so, baby Hamm-Garciaparra should be all set.

Canadian Nat'l Security = Luck?!

After El Presidente won again, I was all set to pack up and move to Canada. Yes, I know, I would get all those Canadian jokes thrown my way, like:

(1.) Do you know why Canada is spelled the way it is? C-eh-N-eh-D-eh (2.) All the kids in Canada are real smart, they all get straight "eh's" (3.) Yes, my new country would have its most popular catch phrase be the same catch phrase as "The Fonze's" (Hmm.. I wonder if he is Canadian?)

Not to mention, it would throw off my whole sense of why Canada is still around. I believe Canada is a nice loft, looking over a great party! Well, here is what written in a Canadian report recently:

"... OTTAWA (CP) - The fact that Canada hasn't suffered a terrorist attack after 9-11 is largely luck, not good planning and preparedness, says a Senate report..."

Tech: Goodbye IBM

From Macdailynews.com:

"... December 8, 2004. Apple Computer is still in the PC business. IBM isn't. Whoda thunk it? On August 12, 1981, IBM released their first personal computer, the "IBM PC." The "PC" stood for "personal computer" making IBM responsible for popularizing the term "PC." The first IBM PC ran on a 4.77 MHz Intel 8088 microprocessor and came with 16 kilobytes of memory, expandable to 256k. The IBM PC came with one or two 160k floppy disk drives and ran a brand new 16-bit operating system from Microsoft called MS-DOS 1.0. The price tag started at $1,565, which would be nearly $4,000 today..."

I guess everyone will be buying Dell or Lenovo computers now... so sad. Or, you can all just switch over to my side???

2004 Dubey Awards

This is from a site I check often for weird and funny news. Here they are commenting on this years most dubious new stories... kind of funny...

2004-12-07 - Wireless Flash Weird News Most Dubious News Stories Of The Year SOUTH ORANGE, N.J. (Wireless Flash) -- Scientists who predict the end of the world may be doomed to failure. That's the prediction of Alan Caruba, who heads the National Anxiety Center, an organization that annually hands out dubious honors to the year's "Most Dubious News Stories." Although all the chosen news stories are equally dubious, Caruba gives high marks of skepticism to a story run by Reuters in August suggesting that a volcano off the coast of North Africa is slipping and could eventually drown millions living near Canada and America's eastern seaboard. Another "dubey" goes to the "New York Times" for printing a story in July stating that the Earth's magnetic field is collapsing but waiting until several paragraphs later to point out the public has "no reason to panic" because the complete collapse might take 2000 years. Finally, Caruba gives a big fat "dubey" to former Vice President Al Gore, who this past January appeared in New England to blame George W. Bush for global warming -- even though it was the coldest day in 50 years in that part of the country.

Tech: iPod/Satellite Radio

Yeah, yeah, I know, the news isn't all that exciting to most of you, but, for those of you who want an iPod, the possibility is awesome. For a long time now, many people have complained about the fact that the iPod does not come with a built-in radio like the other MP3 players. The company that would join in with Apple would be Sirius, currently #2 in the satellite radio biz, behind XM Radio. Sirius has just signed on Howard Stern for a few years so they look to be getting bigger and better in the future. I personally do not like the idea of satellite radio (pay for radio, pshh, whatever!), but there are millions of people who do. So, the more people Apple can get to buy their products, the better (in case you were wondering, yes, I'm a HUGE Apple fan!).

... Rumors are circulating that Apple has signed a deal with one of the satellite radio companies, Sirius, to market iPods that can receive and record that company's satellite broadcasts. I can't say if there is any validity to this latest bit of gossip - it is probably nothing more than someone's clever imagination - but since Think Secret's accurate scoop the other month on the iPod Photo one hesitates to dismiss it too quickly...

Read the complete article here.

A Lifetime of Internet Phone Calls: $999

Well folks, the future may be here. An upstart company (RNK Telecom) in Dedham, MA has a new deal: Pay one fee upfront ($999.00USD) and get free phone calls for the rest of your life. Sounds catchy, could work, after all, you do pay about $50/Month on your home phone (That's about 20 months for those of you counting at home).
The positive: Free phone call to anywhere forever, free domestic and international calls from your cellphone (although using your minutes, but not at a high rate), includes free VoIP enabled phone or adapter, 60day/100% and 5yr/50% money back guarantee (see hidden costs), you can transfer the phone number, etc, when you move.
The negatives: You don't know how long the company will be around, as I was discussing with Russ, ALL phone calls may be free in the future thanks to the internet, it's still a bit pricey because you have to have a broadband internet connection ($35-50/month, although in the future this may be free).

By Peter J. Howe, Globe Staff | December 6, 2004 "... Making unlimited phone calls for a fixed monthly price has proven to be a key selling point for Internet phone services like Vonage and AT&T CallVantage. But an upstart Dedham company is raising the stakes, offering consumers all the phone calls they want for the rest of their lives. RNK Telecom Inc. is promising subscribers that for a one-time payment of $999 they can make an unlimited number of unbilled calls for their remaining days on Earth. Customers would have to continue to pay another company for a broadband Internet connection, however..."

Happy 24th Birthday Grace!!!

... and here you are... thinking we forgot... come on... would we do that? I mean, look at how special you are... you made it on to OUR blog. Life doesn't get much better?

So... how does it feel to be "old"? And, don't forget to set that alarm clock!

MY JOKES are here!!!

Alrighty folks, you asked for it, you got it. I have placed some funny jokes on the right side of the page. Scroll down about a bit and you can read them. They are titled "My Jokes". Have fun! And don't forget to post a comment and let me know what you think.

SpongeBob Gets Shot

Norfolk, Nebraska

"... A SpongeBob Squarepants sniper is on the loose in Norfolk. Across the nation, dozens of the 9-foot-tall SpongeBob balloons have been stolen from the roofs of Burger Kings, including one in Omaha. In Norfolk, a SpongeBob on top of one of the fast-food restaurants was recently deflated by a BB pellet..."

Read it all here.

Business: IBM PC's

I just read this on Boston.com:

"IBM selling personal computer business: IBM Corp. has reportedly put its personal computer business up for sale in a deal that could fetch as much as $2 billion. (AP, 10:05 a.m.)"

As everyone knows, I'm no Windblows fan, but if I were to recommend any Windblows PC, I would always suggest an IBM machine.

Airborne, the new Coldeeze

I was all set to endorse this thing. Anson told me about it yesterday, he said that it really works, everyone is buying it, and that the stores can't keep it on their shelves. (My reference to Coldeeze is from when I when I worked at Wallly-World, and Coldeeze came along, we couldn't keep them in stock, they sold wicked fast.) Airborne is basically some tablet that you drop into water (ala Alker-Seltzer), it fizzes, and you drink it. It supposed to help you feel better before you get sick.

The site says: Take at the first sign of a cold symptom or before entering crowded environments!*

Hmm, what's that little asterisk after the comment you ask? Well it's on ALL of their statements. So I scrolled down further into the page and found this:

*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.

AND, this product is endorsed by the cooky actor, Kevin Costner, you can't take it that seriously.

Happy 26th Birthday Jana!!!

... and here you are... thinking we forgot... come on... would we do that?

Just because a chick moves out to Cali and leaves us all behind, doesn't mean WE forgot about her! We will always remember the good times we had, like that time, and the other one. Happy Birthday and we wish you a VERY happy day!

Idea: Scratch Bakery

Ok, many of you know about this, but some of you don't... I am a "Master" Cook. Well, not a real "food" cook, more like I can cook up "ideas" real well. Or, steal them from others and make them seem like my own.

One of my favorite ideas: Scratch Bakery
This is an idea I came up with after years of eating food that people loved to say they made from scratch. So, someday I will open up a bakery and name it "Scratch". This bakery will serve/sell freshly baked foods. So, you come to my shop, you pick up a pie, and you head over to a friend's/family member's house. The food is great, everyone compliments you on bringing the best food to the party. Now here is where you become a little deceptive and earn a lot of kudos from the others. They ask where you got it, and you simply mention: "... it's from scratch..." Boom! Your an instant chef.

Story: Finals Time...

At Duke University, there were four sophomores taking Organic Chemistry. They did so well on all the quizzes, midterms and labs, etc., that each had an "A" so far for the semester. These four friends were so confident that the weekend before finals, they decided to go up to the University of Virginia and party with some friends there. They had a great time-however, after all the hardy-partying, they slept all day Sunday and didn't make it back to Duke until early Monday morning.

Rather than taking the final then, they decided to find their professor after the final and explain to him why they missed it. They explained that they had gone to UVA for the weekend with the plan to come back in time to study, but, unfortunately, they had a flat tire on the way back, didn't have a spare, and couldn't get help for a long time. As a result, they missed the final.

The professor thought it over and then agreed they could make up the final the following day. The guys were elated and relieved.

They studied that night and went in the next day at the time the professor had told them. He placed them in separate rooms and handed each of them a test booklet, and told them to begin.

They looked at the first problem, worth five points. It was something simple about free radical formation.

"Cool," they thought at the same time, each one in his separate room, "this is going to be easy." Each finished the problem and then turned the page.

On the second page was written: (For 95 points):

Which tire?

What is a "Blog"?

As many of you know, I have been sending out invites to my "blog". The response I get from most of you is: "What is a blog?" It turns out that this is the most popular word/question searched in Google. So, I typed in the question, and here is what Google returned with:

A blog is basically a journal that is available on the web. The activity of updating a blog is "blogging" and someone who keeps a blog is a "blogger." Blogs are typically updated daily using software that allows people with little or no technical background to update and maintain the blog. Postings on a blog are almost always arranged in cronological order with the most recent additions featured most prominantly.

Barry Manilow, so, big deal...

Yes, that's right, I'm writing about "Barry Manilow!"

I heard some "amazing/weird" news this morning on Mix 98.5 or Kiss 108 that Barry Manilow has signed the biggest deal in Las Vegas Show history. 1 year at $60 million dollars. He will perform EVERYDAY. Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, etc...! That's crazy, but for $60 mil, I could work everyday for a year.

For those of you wondering, yes, it DID break Celine Dion's "Las Vegas Deal" (3 years @ $100 Million)

Cellphones: Unlimited Calls @ $10/Month

Well... kind of...

I read this article today on Boston.com. A new compnay (Xcelis Communications LLC) is trying to "quasi-hack" the cellphone industry, and the big guys aren't happy. So it's a Cingular (now I guess Cingular/ATT, "...we're raising the bar...") trick. If you pay for a $39.99/Month plan with free mobile-to-mobile you can use this. Pay the compnay $10/Month and they will route all your calls to make them seem like mobile-to-mobile minutes. Nice deal, I wouldn't trust them, but nice work guys.

What is H&R Block?

Thats the question folks, thats the question that Ken Jennings stumbled upon and finally lost. Here is an excerpt from The Associated Press. My favorite part was when the woman's daughter asked for an autograph. But hey, when a guy wins $2.5 Million, I might ask for an autograph too.

NEW YORK -- "Jeopardy!" whiz Ken Jennings finally met his match after a 74-game run as a pop-culture icon who made brainiacs cool, beaten by a woman whose own 8-year-old daughter asked for his autograph when they first met.

As someone who always has prepared his own tax returns, Jennings was tripped up in Final Jeopardy by this answer: Most of this firm's 70,000 seasonal white-collar employees work only four months a year.

The correct reply: "What is H&R Block?" But Jennings guessed Federal Express, ending his remarkable run as the biggest winner in TV game show history with a haul of $2,520,700.

It Just So Happens...

... so THAT'S when Jeter walks in and starts dancing on the table while A-Rod hangs from a chandelier...

What? It's a true story!

It Just So Happens...

... so I'm standing there with my shirt off when Hasselhoff walks in and says, "Man, I wish I had pects like THAT"...

What? It's a true story!

It Just So Happens...

... so then Condoleeza walks in and says, "Yeah, Ive seen one of those, better I've never see it do THAT!"...

What? It's a true story!