Humor: Change "OK" buttons with a more appropriate saying

Futurama's direct to DVD

Good news for fans of Futurama. Fox decided, instead of renewing the show on-air, they green light new shows via DVD. This also means, no censorship. <^_^>

“Bender’s Big Score,” the first of four direct-to-DVD feature-length “Futurama” movies, is released today.

http://www.amazon.com/Futurama-Benders-Score-John-DiMaggio/dp/B000UZDO62

Laptop Covers

This is cool, just like those old days of wrapping your school books in designer covers, but with laptops and cellphones. The default covers are about £14.99 (~$30) but you can also customize with your own digital pictures for £28.99 (~$58).

http://www.lapjacks.com/

I wonder if there is an American company that is doing this?.

Black Friday

So, on Friday I finally bought a XBox 360 for myself. I also bought 2 games: Halo 3 and Assassin's Creed. That means, the past weekend I did a lot of killing and maiming. I think I'm almost done with Halo 3 on Normal level and pretty far into Assassin's Creed.

Commercial Songs

If you wondering what the new iPhone song: "Music is my boyfriend, Music is my girlfriend, ..."
it is by
Artist: CSS
Song: "Music Is My Hot Hot Sex"
Album: Cansei de Ser Sexy

The dentine ice commercial "So kiss me again. Cause only you can stop this stut-stut-stut-stuttering. Kiss me again. And ease my su-su su-su su-su s-su-s-suffering"
Artist: Bens Brother
Song: Stuttering

Make 5 Wishes

Went to Avril Lavigne's Myspace website and saw this action comic book with music in the background. http://creative.myspace.com/groups/_rr/clients/avril/11-15/gallery7.html Check it out if you like comic books or anime.

P.S. It has a sad ending. (ToT)

My name in Arabic

وليام [أندروس]

Translates to William [['andrws]] (also remember it is written right to left). وليام looks easy enough to remember: p shape then trident then bacwards lower case g.

Dilbert comic

This reminds me of Unix/Linux fanboys:

http://www.dilbert.com/comics/dilbert/archive/images/dilbert2007113333116.gif


It is always fun going to message boards seeing all the Microsoft (M$) bashing that is being done by people who have no clue what they are talking about.

Microsoft's Surface

I love the idea of Microsoft's new invention that will be coming out soon to Restaurants, Hotels, Retail Locations and Casino Resorts. Think of "Surface" as an touchscreen device like an iPhone, but applied to a kiosk with powerful features. Check it out: http://www.microsoft.com/surface/

Lets imagine this in a restaurant for a sec. You sit down to a table with a glass surface and touch your fingers to the surface. A menu of the resturant is then displayed, but lets say you want more information on the items on the menu. Just click on the title of the food to get a more in-detail pictures of the food item along with some links to people who had reviewed the same item from newspapers and actual customers.

You order the food, but you have some young children with you. You simply open up an drawing application that allows them to select, with their fingers, what colors they want to use and draw on the table. Meanwhile, you can decide to go on the internet, but instead you open up solitare to waste some time. You are moving cards around with the touch and tap of your fingers.

The waitress comes with your food and the family starts eating, but wait! she forget the ketchup for the kid's fries. You open the app to request, selecting the ketchup from a list of several images. Then the waitress comes right out with the selected item.

After you are done, but still waiting for the children -- you decide to write a review on the food and service of the resturant for others future participants to view when they come in. Then you decide to open up the "request" again and ask to pay for the bill after viewing the check on the display.

Goating

Geek Dictionary:
Goating - When a user doesn't lock his computer before walking away, and allowing for others to pull pranks on him.

Some cool/classic pranks:
1) Replacing the desktop with a screenshot of the desktop, and hiding all the visible items on it.
2) Switching the mouse from right to left handed.
3) Using the video driver settings to rotate the display left, right, or upside down.
4) Switching the keyboard layout from QWERTY to Dvorak (or vice-versa).
5) Installing the bluescreen of death screensaver.
6) Installing a fake clippy that randomly pops up and says something annoying or insulting. http://www.rjlsoftware.com/software/entertainment/clippy/default.shtml or other software from http://www.rjlsoftware.com/software/entertainment/

Also something fun to do when bored working.

Japanese emoticons

I really like the Japanese emoticons over some of the American version, they are just more humorous IMO. Here are the more popular ones:

（＾_＾） Laughing
(>_<)> Troubled
(^_^;) Troubled
(ToT) Crying
m(_ _)m Apologising
(^^ゞ or (^^;) Shy
（￣ー￣） Grinning
(≧∇≦)/ Joyful
（￣□￣；）Surprised
(#^.^#) Shy
（*´▽｀*） Infatuation
(ーー;) Worried
(*^▽^*) Joyful
＿￣○ Depressed
(＾▽＾) Laughing
(´･ω･`) Snubbed
（　ﾟ Дﾟ） Shocked
（・∀・） Laughing
(Ｔ▽Ｔ) Crying
(*￣m￣) Dissatisfied
（　´∀｀）Laughing
（⌒▽⌒）Laughing
（＾ｖ＾) Laughing
ヽ（´ー｀）┌ Mellow
（’-’*) Laughing
(’A`) Snubbed
（゜◇゜）Surprised
(*°∀°)=3 Infatuation
∩( ・ω・)∩ or ( ・ω・) Joyful

Recycle/Reuse those old computers

A great site where you can send your old computer(s) to be recycled or reused to under served communities around the world.

http://www.interconnection.org/index.php?pagina=inicio

An interesting fact:

Reusing just one computer with a CRT monitor saves
30 lbs of hazardous waste
77 lbs of solid waste
147 lbs (17.5 gallons) of water from being
polluted
32 tons of air from being polluted
1,333 lbs of CO2 from being
emitted
7,719 kilowatts of energy

- Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

A double benefit by helping others and saving the environment. You can ship your computer for just $12 if you don't live in Washington state.

When I was an resident advisor at SUNY-IT, I tried to do this as one of my programs but didn't have much luck finding a place that I could send these computers to. m( _ _ )m

20% off coupon for anything at K-Mart

A nice 20% off coupon for K-Mart.

http://img220.imageshack.us/my.php?image=kmartaz9.jpg

Might go and see if there is anything of interest to buy.

Upcoming work and short deadlines

Here is what is coming up on my plate for the next month.

There are two companies, that do something similar to timeshares, but for the rich and corporations -- only. Each has their own rules and benefit for making reservations.

My job is to merge these business rules, of making reservations, from the newly acquired company into the current application of the precedent company in which we develop for.

I have until the end of the year (80 hours) to get this done.

My experience so far has been to get up to speed and develop quickly before the deadline, because this is a last minute request.

Some examples of my recent past projects:
2 months to implement a huge list of enhancements in VB.Net 1.1,
2 months to rewrite 1,700 store procedures from dynamic to a quicker static version,
1 week to implement a parser and a new store procedure to increase input,
and now this.

Wii address

So, if anybody out there has a Wii, my Wii email address is: w6962755006365192@wii.com

So, if you want to exchange Mii(s) or play online games like:

Battalion War 2 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battalion_Wars_2)
or
Hooked (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hooked!_Real_Motion_Fishing)

My Speeding Ticket Story

OK, I'm just blogging about this now, but this happen back in August.

I was driving on route 34 westbound in the right lane (2 lane highway) going 70 in a 65 mph zone. Now, everybody who drives knows that it is safe to drive +5mph over the speed limit and not get hassled for speeding.

I started approaching a set of cars, which one of them was a cop. I was in the right still going 70 and then slowed down to 65. After getting impatient of the vehicle ahead of me going slower then 65. I then went into the right lane to pass the car, by going 68 (a very slow passing). I then moved into the right lane and notice everybody pulling over. I knew I was in trouble now, and started pulling over.

Here is where the fun begins, the Mad Police Officer portion of the story.

He first states, with infuriated anger, that I was going 75, and I was failing to yield to a police vehicle.[1]

I give him my New York driver licence, but couldn't find an updated car insurance policy. I remember putting an updated policy slip in the car, since July was my renewed month. He then gets really angry and starts threatening to impound my vehicle, because the lack of proof of insurance. This is a little strange to me, since in New York, the state police are nice enough to take the old insurance form and do a request to see if there still exist insurance on the vehicle, but here in Colorado forget that .

He was really pissed off at the idea that I had a California licence on the vehicle and a New York driver licence. [2] So, he goes back to his flashing lights cop car and does a background check on me.

After a few minutes, he then comes back, with more anger, stating that there is a California warrant out for my arrest. This of course is shocking to me, since I'm a very law abiding person. Only illegal thing I do, is go 5-10 over the speed limit. I don't smoke pot, and hardly ever drink alcohol -- that is how much of a stiff I am.

Then he ask for my Social Security card, which is just a very weird request in my opinion. I had no problem giving, if it will help clear things up and prevent me from going to jail.

He then goes back to clarify things and to do a background check on me in New York.
I'm stuck in the car getting nervous, especially since there aren't that many "Andrus" in California.

He comes back and gives New York State a back-handed compliment stating that "they aren't usually that quick over there in New York", and that I came up clean there. The officer is now showing signs of cooling down, goes back to his vehicle and waits to here from California for another 5 minutes.

He comes back and states that the warrant was not for me, but then he ask if I had any other family in California with the same name, I of course said "No". Currently, I have no family left there, but doubt I would give them up if I did.

I then notice that on the background check he was doing on me, according to the paper, was with the wrong name. He had "James William Andrus", instead of "William James Andrus". So, I had to sit through that agony because he didn't see a coma! (James, William Andrus).

After all that, he takes my New York driver license and gives me a temporary license for 10 days, while still stating that he could impound my car still. This guy really likes threatening people, but I will play it cool as long as he doesn't.

So my ticket ended up being

• 80 (not 75 as previously stated) in a 65 ---- bullshit, since I was going under 70


• Failing to yield to an emergency vehicle ---- bullshit, since I pulled over as soon as possible


• Failing to transfer my vehicle information and licence over to Colorado within 30 days ---- a bullshit law, just like getting ticketed for jay-walking.


• No insurance -- If only they would be nice enough to do a check.

My whole day is now going to be ruined, it will be spent in the DMV, which we know is never quick.

So begins my DMV portion of the story:

So, from experience I know to bring my birth certificate and social security card since this is what was needed in New York when I was 16. Oh! how times have changed since then.

I get there with the temporary 10 day licence and my other paper work and wait for my number to be called. Fortunately it was still early, and not a lot of people were there yet. (About 30 minute wait)

I then get stuck with someone who has never done anything with the temporary licence before. After some discussion from her supervisor on how to enter the information, then she finally states that I will also need to get my NYS DMV record. Not them, but I would have to. So, they give me the number to call and their fax number. I'm also told that I will also have to go to a car dealer or police station to get a VIN Verification done on my vehicle and take that to the other DMV office. [3]

I go home, very stressed, and try calling NYS DMV which is very busy. I wait on the phone for 5 minutes before human contact. After a quick discussion, everything was set. That portion was quick and easy.

I then go to a BMW dealer, and request for the VIN Verification. She comes out with a piece of paper and writes down the VIN number from my vehicle. Voila![4]

I then go back to the original DMV and try to get a Colorado Driver licence before registering my car. This time, the place was packed -- on a Wednesday!!! Damn, don't people have something better to do.

After an hour of waiting, finally I get to talk to someone. He then states that he can't give me a licence because of a new law in Colorado. I must have 3 proof of ID, not 2 but 3, he states that it could be an old licence (don't have one, plus the officer took that) or something like a passport (which I don't have).

After some more explanation, that the officer took my licence and all he gave me was this temporary one the dmv guy went to check if that would be acceptable as a third identification. The thing is, his supervisor didn't know if it was and would have to check with her supervisor. The supervisor's supervisor was out in some out-of-state conference in all-day meetings. I then sat around for another 1-2 hours waiting before finally getting approval. Finally after all that I got my Colorado licence.

I then went to register my vehicle, which was quick and painless.

3 months later

I finally got to go to court to defend myself. She, the very young and attractive district attorney, basically just laughed away the 'failure to yield' and dismissed the 30 day failure to transfer to Colorado without hesitation. After some more discussion, she then lowered the ticket to be just 3-5 over the speed limit. So after all that, I finally get a ticket I was guilty of, (3-5 over the speed limit).

Total points: 1
Fine: $35
Court Cost: $48

Total Cost: $83 + what ever increase to my insurance might bring for the next 3 years + a couple hundred dollars to register in Colorado.




1 A little side note: it is no surprise to people here, Colorado natives hate Californians. Heck, they even have bumper stickers here stating stupid things like: "Colorado Native" and "Born in Colorado". Even the bank commercials here state things like: "A bank you can trust to stay around", like a bank from other states just leave for no reason or something.

2 Maybe New York State is the number two on the hate list?

3 Yeah there are two(2) DMV offices, about 5 miles apart. I guess it was too convenient for people to get things done in one location.

4 What a waste of people's time and money!

Messenger on the web page

Very cool, a Messenger IM inline on the webpage.

How to:
Turn on Web: http://settings.messenger.live.com/applications/WebSettings.aspx

Then copy HTML:



-OR-

Wakoopa : Software usage tracking

Wakoopa not just another social network with web 2.0, but different in a unique way. It tracks what software you have been using and how long. You can write reviews and join groups and all that other stuff.

I just joined a few minutes ago. http://wakoopa.com/andrusw

Super Mario Bro theme song using Tesla coil

Source: http://www.makezine.com/blog/archive/2007/11/tesla_coil_super_mario_du.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B1O2jcfOylU

Tesla coil super mario duet

Bought some HD DVDs on Saturday

I bought a Toshibia HD player at Walmart for $98 (early black Friday special) and 3 DVDs (Batman Begins, Transformers, and 300)

The quality on Transformers was not that hot. The HD player only came with component cables, so I went back to Walmart and bought a HDMI for the TV quality and a Optical cable for the surround sound.

I watched Batman Begins with the new setup. The video and sound quality was better if not the same as the movie quality.

I did watch the movie 300, I wish the quality of this was better. I guess not all movies are made in HD, but would figured that this should have been. I know in the movie theater this wasn't as great either, but I figured then it was the movie screen and projector.

I should compare the new setup to the Transformers movie later to see how much of an improvement there was.

Now, there is some good reason why I went with HD-DVD vs Blue Ray, but first my rant on SONY:

<rant>I hate SONY with their proprietary standards, they tried the same thing with their memory stick vs SD cards. BTW, PlayStation (1,2,3) consoles are usually a pile of cheap flimsy hardware that easily fails and over heats. </rant>

Places like K-Mart are getting rid of their Blue-Ray, since sales are low. Meanwhile, at Walmart you can buy a cheap HD player under $100. Just spend another $50 on the cables and you have one really nice kick ass system.

The majority of the movie industry is going to back HD, except for SONY. The quaility of the games of XBox 360 vs. PS3 has already been debated and won by Microsoft's XBox 360. The games just suck on the PS3.

Get 5 free DVDs when you buy Xbox HD DVD player.

http://assets.xbox.com/en-US/hardware/hddvd/Xbox360_HDDVDOffer.pdf

Buy a HD-DVD for XBox 360 or any Toshiba HD-DVD player and get 5 free dvds.

A cool offer I might want to take up. The DVDs aren't bad, they are decent and with 5 DVDs ~ $20 each = $100 compared to the $180 to buy a XBox 360 HD Player.

"Astoria", Silverlight & AJAX

Well, yesterday I and a few of my co-workers went to the MSDN Live Event in Fort Collins, CO. The topics covered ranged from Visual Studio 2008 "Astoria", to Silverlight and AJAX.

The Microsoft presenter, "Rob Bagby", showed off some cool new features that make developing faster and easier.

What was presented was the powerful Lambda called LINQ, that allows for a "safe" dynamic sql, with little/some overhead of performance speed. It was really nice to see a sql-like structure with intellisense inside the code.

Also, the use of Expression Blend, Silverlight, and AJAX was used to make a image on a website fade into another image, allowing it to display several wine labels.

This event is a good display of what is to come in the .Net environment.

18 ways to supercharge your boring workout

Some helpful hints to keep things challenging.

http://ririanproject.com/2007/10/31/18-ways-to-supercharge-a-boring-gym-session/

My favorite suggestions were:
8. Stretch between sets.
10. Kick it old school.
13. Stop and go.
17. Run the rack.


Some additional ideas:

• Remember to change your workout at least once a month to stimulate growth. I might do 3 sets of 10 for 1 month, then do 4 sets of 15 in the next month.
• Push yourself if nothing is happening. I sometimes find myself still struggling with the same weight for a long period of time. I have noticed that sometimes if I go to the next weight interval, I achieve the same results. This sometimes even gives my muscles a bigger boost and find myself moving onward after a couple of weeks.

It's always fun watching Linux + Apache / OSX users jump to conclusions

Kim Cameron (MS Privacy Guru) talks about a posting that said his Blog was hacked.

http://www.identityblog.com/?p=890

What is funny is the *nix and Apple fanboys jump to conclusion that he was running his blog on Microsoft's Server (IIS).