Monday, December 22, 2008
Million Dollar Arms
Some of you may have heard about the two Indian pitchers who were signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates. What you may not realize is exactly what they went through to get there.
This makes me curious to see how the sport carries over in India and abroad. For the most part, the sport is only on the radar in the western hemisphere. In any case, it's a good story and I wish these two guys the best.
Monday, December 15, 2008
iChat, sorry I've neglected you
A couple weeks I sent a message out to everyone on my list on Adium that I would be moving to AIM and if anyone needed to find me, that's where I'd be.
Not one person switched over.
It's not that I'm not liked. I usually end up talking to someone online during the day. It's more of a stubbornness to switch. People I talk to have built up such a base on Yahoo, nobody's going to move. I went through these same trials with another individual with Skype about a month ago.
The problem I have is that Yahoo Messenger on the Mac is a sad excuse for a program of any kind. It's buggy (still in beta), eats memory, and just feels bulky. Further, even after over two years of work on the current version, there's a poor form of voice support and nothing for conferences.
Meanwhile, I have this app that came with my Mac, iChat, that sits dormant for the most part. I'd much rather use this slice of technology for many reasons.
iChat's voice support is by far the best available on the Mac. Further, I can get a multi-person voice conference going in seconds, which I can then import into Garage Band and start a radio-style podcast if I like. Video chats are also awesome on iChat, with some neat features embedded into that option. I can share photos and video in full screen as well as start a video conference in full screen with up to three other people, all in the H.264 codec, giving near HD quality.
Further, iChat just feels like part of my system, where other applications feel, well, like they're from a third party. I've managed to work with Adium, the great multi-client IM client for the Mac, but it offers no video or voice.
So, I'm taking this time to appoligize to iChat for never using you. It's nothing personal.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Sneaux Cajuns
Yup, it's snowing in Louisiana!
There's a major difference in the states of mind of people from different locations when it comes to snow. Down here in the Deep South, it's a novelty. It doesn't usually do this kind of thing around here, so its fun to us down here.
Up north, when I lived in Nebraska, it was always cool when that first snow came. But, after that first month, you became sick of the crap and grew ready for Spring.
All the above photos are from the Baton Rouge/Lafayette areas in Louisiana (about 250 miles west of me) via TwitPic, a service used for sending pictures from Twitter.
There's a major difference in the states of mind of people from different locations when it comes to snow. Down here in the Deep South, it's a novelty. It doesn't usually do this kind of thing around here, so its fun to us down here.
Up north, when I lived in Nebraska, it was always cool when that first snow came. But, after that first month, you became sick of the crap and grew ready for Spring.
All the above photos are from the Baton Rouge/Lafayette areas in Louisiana (about 250 miles west of me) via TwitPic, a service used for sending pictures from Twitter.
Monday, December 08, 2008
Sunday, December 07, 2008
How I use Twitter
Some of you reading this may be asking, "What is Twitter?"
Twitter in it's simplest form is a micro-blogging service where users post their day-to-day events in their lives. All post are kept in 140 characters or less, so they can fit within a text message. Beyond that, you can choose to follow other users and even interact with them, sending them messages directly.
When I first signed up to the service, I was skeptical about it. My thought was, "Why would I want to do this?" But, I started anyway and found myself quickly hooked on the service.
Many of my first followed users were in the design field. But this quickly spread into other areas:
News - One of the areas this service has gained an incredible level of use was when news outlets signed up. From my local newspaper, The Pensacola News-Journal, or bigger outlets like CNN or the BBC, news can be passed along fairly quickly, making your Twitter feed something like an RSS feed. In fact, that's essentially how it works, as the websites of these sources are linked up to the RSS feeds on the site through something like Twitterfeed, where they're passed on to you.
Further, I've had a few cases in which I've heard about news before the news outlets reported it, as with the most recent Los Angeles earthquake or the attacks in India.
Politics - 2008 marked a change in politics in the way the politicians connected with the world. Barack Obama proved himself to be extremely tech savvy, using Twitter as one of his many tools. Mostly, it was to announce where he was speaking or to post a direct link to live video of an event, but occasionally, he (or a publicist) would take the time to answer a question. Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and Al Gore are among the list of other public figures to have Twitter accounts.
Music - Many musicians are on Twitter. Questlove of the Roots is one of those that use it the most often that I've seen, as he'll post frequent reports from his tour stops while chatting between other musicians and fans, giving a really good inside glimpse of what things are like in his eyes. Even more cool, one artist in particular, 88-Keys, took the time out to thank me for the kind words I've said about his newest album, "The Death of Adam". Twitter has been a major way in which musicians can connect with their fans.
Sports - Much like the news outlets, sports news outlets have used Twitter in the same way. One of my favorites is the account for SLAM Magazine, a basketball publication, and it's adjoining website, SLAMOnline [Twitter]. The man behind the account will hold conversation with you from time to time as well.
Tech - Again, much like news outlets, techies can get a good fill of tech news on Twitter. Scott Beale, the man behind The Laughing Squid, and Jason Snell of Macworld have accounts, as do many tech publications and blogs.
Bloggers - Bloggers and podcasters are using Twitter a lot. If you see a blog nowadays, it probably has a Twitter account attached to it. My boy, Owen JJ Stone aka Ohdoctah has an account, along with Justine "iJustine" Ezarik and Digg founder Kevin Rose. As of today, this blog is now hooked up to Twitter, also.
So, how do I use Twitter? Basically, in combination of all the things I've mentioned above. Everything from my blog updates, to my daily events, to my random thoughts are posted throughout the day.
If you're on Twitter, how do you use it? If you're not on Twitter, feel free to sign up and give it a try and feel free to follow me in the process. Twitter is extremely accessible, allowing you to update through their site or via cell phone, or through any of the numerous Twitter clients available here.
Happy tweeting!
Twitter in it's simplest form is a micro-blogging service where users post their day-to-day events in their lives. All post are kept in 140 characters or less, so they can fit within a text message. Beyond that, you can choose to follow other users and even interact with them, sending them messages directly.
When I first signed up to the service, I was skeptical about it. My thought was, "Why would I want to do this?" But, I started anyway and found myself quickly hooked on the service.
Many of my first followed users were in the design field. But this quickly spread into other areas:
News - One of the areas this service has gained an incredible level of use was when news outlets signed up. From my local newspaper, The Pensacola News-Journal, or bigger outlets like CNN or the BBC, news can be passed along fairly quickly, making your Twitter feed something like an RSS feed. In fact, that's essentially how it works, as the websites of these sources are linked up to the RSS feeds on the site through something like Twitterfeed, where they're passed on to you.
Further, I've had a few cases in which I've heard about news before the news outlets reported it, as with the most recent Los Angeles earthquake or the attacks in India.
Politics - 2008 marked a change in politics in the way the politicians connected with the world. Barack Obama proved himself to be extremely tech savvy, using Twitter as one of his many tools. Mostly, it was to announce where he was speaking or to post a direct link to live video of an event, but occasionally, he (or a publicist) would take the time to answer a question. Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and Al Gore are among the list of other public figures to have Twitter accounts.
Music - Many musicians are on Twitter. Questlove of the Roots is one of those that use it the most often that I've seen, as he'll post frequent reports from his tour stops while chatting between other musicians and fans, giving a really good inside glimpse of what things are like in his eyes. Even more cool, one artist in particular, 88-Keys, took the time out to thank me for the kind words I've said about his newest album, "The Death of Adam". Twitter has been a major way in which musicians can connect with their fans.
Sports - Much like the news outlets, sports news outlets have used Twitter in the same way. One of my favorites is the account for SLAM Magazine, a basketball publication, and it's adjoining website, SLAMOnline [Twitter]. The man behind the account will hold conversation with you from time to time as well.
Tech - Again, much like news outlets, techies can get a good fill of tech news on Twitter. Scott Beale, the man behind The Laughing Squid, and Jason Snell of Macworld have accounts, as do many tech publications and blogs.
Bloggers - Bloggers and podcasters are using Twitter a lot. If you see a blog nowadays, it probably has a Twitter account attached to it. My boy, Owen JJ Stone aka Ohdoctah has an account, along with Justine "iJustine" Ezarik and Digg founder Kevin Rose. As of today, this blog is now hooked up to Twitter, also.
So, how do I use Twitter? Basically, in combination of all the things I've mentioned above. Everything from my blog updates, to my daily events, to my random thoughts are posted throughout the day.
If you're on Twitter, how do you use it? If you're not on Twitter, feel free to sign up and give it a try and feel free to follow me in the process. Twitter is extremely accessible, allowing you to update through their site or via cell phone, or through any of the numerous Twitter clients available here.
Happy tweeting!
Friday, December 05, 2008
First Month in Florida
It's been almost a month since I returned to Pensacola to live. I have to say that things are going good, for the most part.
I returned here on November 7 after being gone for 14 years. I only had two visits back since my move to Nebraska, and the late one in March of 2007 really stirred the pot for me on returning here. Pretty much since the day I left, I've been itching to get back. Nothing against Lincoln, Nebraska, where I was living for the majority of this time, but there was always a bit of culture shock to me in living there and I always felt like there was something missing. Even now that I'm back, I can't really put my finger on it, but I feel like I'm where I belong.
The ball really got rolling for me when my Nevada experience failed and the reality hit I needed to move before things got really bad. I figured I only had two options, Lincoln or Pensacola, where I have a parent in each location. I simply didn't feel I could return to Lincoln to live again, so I returned for a month to get my barrings back, and made it back out here a month later. It would of been sooner if it wasn't for the fact that my Pontiac Sunfire went to crap on me halfway back to Lincoln in Wyoming. Frankly, the entire month of September of this year can go nuke itself for all I care. I guess these kind of things are supposed to make me stronger.
So, how have things been? Like I said, good for the most part. The only issues I'm having are job related, as in I can't get anyone to bite. But, other than being broke and sometimes bored, I'm doing ok. Honestly, just being back in my old stomping grounds is usually enough to keep my spirits up. I've been doing a lot of walking around West Pensacola, just taking in the city around me. While it's not the best looking city in the world, it's what's familiar to me and really what built a large part of my make-up as a kid. I'm sure its much of the same thing that drug my mom back to Nebraska after the long time she was gone.
Anyway, nothing too much to report at this time, or at least that I can think of. I'll make another post if something else comes to mind.
I returned here on November 7 after being gone for 14 years. I only had two visits back since my move to Nebraska, and the late one in March of 2007 really stirred the pot for me on returning here. Pretty much since the day I left, I've been itching to get back. Nothing against Lincoln, Nebraska, where I was living for the majority of this time, but there was always a bit of culture shock to me in living there and I always felt like there was something missing. Even now that I'm back, I can't really put my finger on it, but I feel like I'm where I belong.
The ball really got rolling for me when my Nevada experience failed and the reality hit I needed to move before things got really bad. I figured I only had two options, Lincoln or Pensacola, where I have a parent in each location. I simply didn't feel I could return to Lincoln to live again, so I returned for a month to get my barrings back, and made it back out here a month later. It would of been sooner if it wasn't for the fact that my Pontiac Sunfire went to crap on me halfway back to Lincoln in Wyoming. Frankly, the entire month of September of this year can go nuke itself for all I care. I guess these kind of things are supposed to make me stronger.
So, how have things been? Like I said, good for the most part. The only issues I'm having are job related, as in I can't get anyone to bite. But, other than being broke and sometimes bored, I'm doing ok. Honestly, just being back in my old stomping grounds is usually enough to keep my spirits up. I've been doing a lot of walking around West Pensacola, just taking in the city around me. While it's not the best looking city in the world, it's what's familiar to me and really what built a large part of my make-up as a kid. I'm sure its much of the same thing that drug my mom back to Nebraska after the long time she was gone.
Anyway, nothing too much to report at this time, or at least that I can think of. I'll make another post if something else comes to mind.
My Wish List
Let me first say, I don't totally feel comfortable asking for stuff for Christmas this year, being that I've been out of work for the past two months and couldn't immediently return the favor. That said, I will return the favor when I'm able to.
I also understand that the Christmas season isn't about gift giving, but about it's religious tie-ins. However, in my family, this time of year has turned more into a customary ritual, and in my dad & step-mom's case, a celebration of their anniversary. So, it would feel weird to not do anything at all, wether it be in late December or sometime in January.
With all of this, I've been doing some thinking on what will I use and continue using. With a little help from Kevin Rose's Top 10 Gifts for Geeks, I've compiled this list with explanations and links.
Kodak Zi6 ($159-$189) - My career focus has gone from primarily web development to primarily video editing. I found when I did my video editing class in college that this is something I love. I have found more than a few openings in every market that I've searched in, so it seems like more of a guarantee that I could find work in this field. Problem is, I need a portfolio and my little digital camera doesn't quite fit the bill on what I want to do.
Enter the Kodak Zi6, a little pocket-sized HD camcorder that would be perfect for the things I want to shoot. Further, it offers an expandable SD memory slot, much like you'd see in a digital camera, and the rechargeable batteries can be replaced, something the Flip Mino HD that I was considering can't say. While these cameras don't do everything a standard HD camcorder would do, such as offer an optical zoom, it fits the minimal needs I'm looking for and comes in a convenient package.
Final Cut Express ($199) - This is Apple's industry standard video editing software. While Apple's iMovie '08 has done everything I wanted to to allow me to post video's to the web, it's not an industry standard. So, my plan has been to learn Final Cut inside and out on my own, since I only scratched the surface on it in college.
Flickr Pro subscription ($25) - Flickr is primarily a place to share photos with the world. However, they just recently gave users the option to upload videos that are 90 seconds or less, a feature I'm going to look to take advantage of. You can use Flickr for free, but they limit you on everything, including the number of albums you can have and you can't actually upload video until you pay. Talk about a pain. A yearly subscription takes those limitations away. Note: You can't gift these subscriptions, so I'd have to have the money sent my way.
HDMI cable ($5) - Simply put, I want HD with the Playstation 3. Would you believe if you look in most stores, these cables sell for $50 and more. However, if you look on Amazon, they run around $5.
iTunes Gift Cards ($15-$100) - I own an iPhone and I want more applications for it. These cards come in basically any amount you can afford.
Wall-E Blu-Ray Collectors' Edition ($24 from Amazon) - I love Pixar movies.
LittleBigPlanet for Playstation 3 ($60 and lower) - LittleBigPlanet is a game that puts you in the place of a little sock boy (think something like a voodoo doll) and lets you navigate this world with him. You can also dress him up and do plenty of other things with him. But, the biggest calling cards of this game are the multi-player online play and the world creation editor where you can create entire environments and objects, and then share them online. I always look for replay value when it comes to games, and this game offers plenty of replay value.
Hope this helps everyone. I hope everyone has a great holiday.
I also understand that the Christmas season isn't about gift giving, but about it's religious tie-ins. However, in my family, this time of year has turned more into a customary ritual, and in my dad & step-mom's case, a celebration of their anniversary. So, it would feel weird to not do anything at all, wether it be in late December or sometime in January.
With all of this, I've been doing some thinking on what will I use and continue using. With a little help from Kevin Rose's Top 10 Gifts for Geeks, I've compiled this list with explanations and links.
Kodak Zi6 ($159-$189) - My career focus has gone from primarily web development to primarily video editing. I found when I did my video editing class in college that this is something I love. I have found more than a few openings in every market that I've searched in, so it seems like more of a guarantee that I could find work in this field. Problem is, I need a portfolio and my little digital camera doesn't quite fit the bill on what I want to do.
Enter the Kodak Zi6, a little pocket-sized HD camcorder that would be perfect for the things I want to shoot. Further, it offers an expandable SD memory slot, much like you'd see in a digital camera, and the rechargeable batteries can be replaced, something the Flip Mino HD that I was considering can't say. While these cameras don't do everything a standard HD camcorder would do, such as offer an optical zoom, it fits the minimal needs I'm looking for and comes in a convenient package.
Final Cut Express ($199) - This is Apple's industry standard video editing software. While Apple's iMovie '08 has done everything I wanted to to allow me to post video's to the web, it's not an industry standard. So, my plan has been to learn Final Cut inside and out on my own, since I only scratched the surface on it in college.
Flickr Pro subscription ($25) - Flickr is primarily a place to share photos with the world. However, they just recently gave users the option to upload videos that are 90 seconds or less, a feature I'm going to look to take advantage of. You can use Flickr for free, but they limit you on everything, including the number of albums you can have and you can't actually upload video until you pay. Talk about a pain. A yearly subscription takes those limitations away. Note: You can't gift these subscriptions, so I'd have to have the money sent my way.
HDMI cable ($5) - Simply put, I want HD with the Playstation 3. Would you believe if you look in most stores, these cables sell for $50 and more. However, if you look on Amazon, they run around $5.
iTunes Gift Cards ($15-$100) - I own an iPhone and I want more applications for it. These cards come in basically any amount you can afford.
Wall-E Blu-Ray Collectors' Edition ($24 from Amazon) - I love Pixar movies.
LittleBigPlanet for Playstation 3 ($60 and lower) - LittleBigPlanet is a game that puts you in the place of a little sock boy (think something like a voodoo doll) and lets you navigate this world with him. You can also dress him up and do plenty of other things with him. But, the biggest calling cards of this game are the multi-player online play and the world creation editor where you can create entire environments and objects, and then share them online. I always look for replay value when it comes to games, and this game offers plenty of replay value.
Hope this helps everyone. I hope everyone has a great holiday.
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