Winky-kitty-a

Pre-filing the filing

Finally, pounded my workload down to manageable size this week. On the
way back burner is this filing which I still don't have time to file
but could sort into chunks I can handle.

MediaFox: media-centric Firefox build

This is interesting. Lifehacker is showing off a build of Portable Firefox customized for media viewing. Could be very useful for my online consumption of The Daily Show. Has me thinking of a few tweaks myself.

Pondering all-day battery life

Xavier Lanier at GottaBeMobile.com is kicking forward some thoughts on all-day battery life from UMPC Portal. The usual things come to mind immediately, but I have some ideas that need further pondering. I'll see about inking them later.

A new white box? OMG!

I may need to re-think my iconless setup

I like calling up apps and templates by scribbling on the screen, but calling up a dock launcher by drawing a circle via Magic Formation sounds too fun to ignore.

Asking for a beatdown in ink

From Gizmodo: I'm Afraid an Apple Tablet Would Be Stupid. Sounds like a commentary on the possibility of an Apple tablet but it's actually against the form factor itself. That mean it's on, Lam. Ink will be spilled.

Yep, definitely a snow day

Appears to be a snow day

You go that way, I go this way

Patrolling their domain

Homer in the foreground. Patty in the background.

Lenovo's lean, mean inking machine

Lenovo had several ThinkPads certified as "semi-rugged" including the X200 Tablet PC. Suck it, wuss notebooks!
http://i.gizmodo.com/5159091/lenovo-thinkpads-officially-semi+rugged-certified-to-withstand-ass+beatings-mr-freeze

Microsoft hits Ctrl+z

See, I knew those severance overpayments wouldn't sink the company.
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10170025-56.html

Oh yeah, Homer's okay

Fixed and back to his normal routine like it never happened.

Odd email morning

Woke up to find no new emails overnight, when usually I get some ecommerce items. Then at work, I find nothing new over the weekend. I am getting new mail, and other mailboxes I check are normal. Just a very odd (but welcomed) start to the week.

I'm a conspiracy theorist. Cool.

Not sure it can really be called a conspiracy theory when someone takes credit, as Intel has done with coining the "netbook" term, but Sam Johnston is calling me a conspiracy theorist nonetheless. He offers a rational counterpoint to my arguments, but unfortunately his support for what he thinks is my fatal flaw is itself flawed.

If it ain't broke, don't fix it...

...unless it's a pet. Yep, poor Homer's at the vet today for neutering.

Another ink blog find

Should have stuck this with the previous one, but too late now. Must check out the ink at Deus Ex Why Zed.

New ink blog find

*거북2* - Korean but the blog is in English. Must investigate later.

The winner is Uncle Julio's

In case you've been following the "happy hour" thoughstream, we've settled on Uncle Julio's for today's event (Reston location, of course). Going to miss the MVP phone conference, and we had to reschedule Homer's vet visit. Weird how things tend to fall on the same day.

Extra 2 mins of battery life!

I suspect this may be a typo, but who knows? Maybe another two minutes
of battery life on top of two hours is a tipping point for consumers.

Finally, something about Windows 7 that interests me

I must admit, I'm just not that into Windows 7. But that was before detailed information on handwriting recognition was published. Not as sexy as the new visuals and taskbar system, but obviously HWR is of great interest to me. Via GottaBeMobile.

Why do I smell donuts?

Been sitting in my office smelling donuts when there are none. Instead
there's just orange peel in a popcorn bag. Must be a fragrance-mixing
phenomenon.

I'm not the only one with raccoons

It seems like not a day goes by that doesn't give me more to like about President Obama. First, he got flak for not wearing a jacket in the White House; I don't like jackets either. Now, he's got raccoons. Once again, I can relate.

Silver Diner rocks (& rolls)

Veggie chili and salad combo is great with a side of fries (and a
milkshake).

Trying generic drink mix

In my quest to quench my occasional fruit punch craving, I am giving
generic mix a try. Conclusion: Not the smartest thing I've done.

Like working on Saturday

Referring to the absence of personnel due to our big mid-winter meeting, my boss hopped excitedly into my office and exclaimed "It's like working on Saturday!" I used to work on Saturdays. It sucked. Not excited about feeling like I'm working on Saturday.

Making an orange creme Tootsie Roll

Software pirate gets pirated...

...and cries about it like, well, someone who had his software pirated. I wonder if those Somalian pirates cry like this when someone steals their stuff. Full ridiculous exchange on Gizmodo.

The Wood Grill in Harrisonburg

All you can eat for $10. Country dining at not quite its finest but
definitely voluminous.

Snowy work morning

Dead Men's Hollow live

Dead Men's Hollow warming up

Getting ready for lunch and live music at Jammin' Java in Vienna.

Bye-bye Circuit City

10% off MSRP is not liquidation pricing.

French President mauled by Sumo

Apparently, Maltese are dangerous dogs, capable of mauling former presidents. Never would have guessed that based on my mom's dog Max, but it happened to Jacques Chirac. Arguably, it's the poodle half of President Chiraq's dog that took him down, but still, you name your dog Sumo, you're asking for a beatdown. Not so much with cats though.

Pandora testing audio ads

As if on cue, Pandora is moving forward with audio ads a week after I blogged my advice on the idea. Not quite what I had envisioned but close with an ad running after ten songs. Just need to fit them into the gaps for station- and song-switching and it'll be spot-on with my idea.

Change has come to my iPhone

Obama iPhone wallpaper from Gx5.

Homer caught in a flurry

Raspberry Brie

The kind you find at the Trader Joe's store.

Biggest asparagus I've ever eaten

To give you the scale, this is a 10"-12" dinner plate. They were like
those fat crayons we used in preschool but all green and less waxy.

National Cathedral at night

Looks kinds spooky.

SketchMap: Cafe Deluxe in DC

Another reason to not Twitter

To my list of reasons to not Twitter, I add: 5. Twitter does not appear very secure. Everyone from Barack Obama to Britney Spears had their Twitters hacked today.

Not so hotspot

Chilling at the Starbucks at Plaza America. Logged on to the wifi
hotspot easily using the accurately named Easy Wi-Fi app. Tested the
speed using Speedtest. Ugh. A quarter of my dl speed at home.

Tawt I taw a fawx

Pretty sure I saw a fox run across the parking lot. Tried to get a good view but it was in a hurry.

Sumocat got a Sumocat...

...decal, that is. Need to think about the best spot for it.

SketchMap: Costco in Chantilly

Comfortable at the computer

Homer moreso than me.

Merry Pre-Christmas

Spending the evening with many members of Tanya's extended family,
part of which will be spent around this tree. Enjoy the holiday.

Thanks for the wafers, Susan

Thought I blogged this yesterday but didn't see it so here you go now.
Merry Christmas.

Going to see Dark Knight on IMAX

On a double date tonight at the Udvar Hazy air & space museum, but
we're not looking at planes -- we've come to see the Bat.

Here I Am: Bertucci's @ Tyson's Corner

Tanya's aunt's family is in town. Staying in a big McMansion for two
weeks so we're helping them live it up with brick oven pizzas.

Pandora needs to put me on the payroll

Or at least leave a comment for me. Seriously, you implemented 2 of my
ideas. The least you could do is send me a shout-out. ;)

Inappropriate office party gift

I'm not sure if I should be glad I passed on the office party gift
exchange or upset that I missed the reaction to this gift. I think
better that I skipped and therefore cannot be accused of contributing
a CD with EXPLICIT lyrics and cover art. O_o

Waiting for harm to befall me

Enjoying too much good news and festivity today. Pretty sure something bad must happen to even it out. Hopefully it's just me biting my tongue or falling on my ass.

Here I Am: Booth Feeds

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.919136,+-77.225955

Booth Feeds carries darn near every type of animal feed you'll need,
including elephant feed.

Here I Am: Crate & Barrel

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.919136,+-77.225955

Anytown USA... if your town is tiny

Here I Am: between MD and VA

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.274600,+-77.541847

Here I Am: Dutch Country Farmers Market

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.111907,+-76.933780

Picked up some goodies, including a bit of poundcake. Will determine
it's quality soon.

Bring me the head of Optimus Prime!

Kittens like to break stuff.

Closer shot of iPod vending machine

iPod vending machine at Macy's

First dusting of the season

We have come for the one you call "Homer"

Define "uh-oh moment"

"When you have the secretary of the treasury and the chairman of the Fed say, 'If we don't act boldly, we could be in a depression greater than the Great Depression,' that's an 'uh-oh' moment," [Bush] said. -- Maybe it's just me, but if I was warned of mass unemployment and poverty, my reaction would probably not be the same as when I realize I left my wallet at home. At the very least, I  wouldn't tell everyone my reaction to people losing their jobs was "uh-oh".

In other words...

"I think I was unprepared for war," Bush told ABC News' Charlie Gibson [...] "In other words, I didn't campaign and say, 'Please vote for me, I'll be able to handle an attack,'" he said. "In other words, I didn't anticipate war." -- Yes, he is literally using other words, but technically, "in other words" should preface a clarification or simplification of a preceding statement. In other words, use it to summarize a complex message, not as a crutch while you fumble for words.

Cyber Monday: great deal on high-speed router

I may have to upgrade my router to this Gigabit 802.11n-draft Linksys model from Newegg. Quite a deep discount and no shipping charge. I can figure out how to take advantage of the increased speed later.

Here I Am: Bed Bath and Beyond

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.867172,+-77.366087
20% off everything

Here I Am: Fair Oaks Mall

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.864388,+-77.356705
Yes, we are braving a mall today, and we're actually buying gifts for
other people (and one for me).

Here I Am: Staples in Cascades

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.033351,+-77.396665
Picking up a backup battery power block. Fun.

Best Black Friday deal I've seen

Three 4 GB Extreme III SD or CF cards for $60 minus $60 mail-in
rebate. Great add-on to any camera gifts.

Here I Am: Clyde's in Ashburn

Enjoying Thanksgiving brunch at a fancy restaurant today. Happy
Thanksgiving.

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=39.031677,+-77.516270

Interesting 3D Controller

My preoccupation with alternate input devices has led me to the SpaceNavigator, a knob controller for navigating 3D environments. Very interesting. I may have to include this on the gift list.

Entire Firefly series on my iPhone

Finally got around to converting my Firefly DVD set to iPhone format.
Sweet!

Possibly the perfect poundcake

Tanya came back from the Dutch market with a cream cheese poundcake. Way too stuffed after today's seitan feast to try it now, but a full analysis will be Scribbled. Update: analysis has been Scribbled.

That's good-smelling cheese

Smoked horseradish cheddar... Mmm...

Ending a Susan-free day

Just occurred to me my day was "Susan-free". Nothing to celebrate, just conspicuous. However, I did enjoy a banquet of seitan, stuffing, and various pies today, but that's pure coincidence. Really. :)

Letterman proves me wrong

When I called David Letterman the least forgiving man on television, I was right. Turns out I was so right that he's proved me wrong. I predicted he'd let go of his feud with John McCain (who canceled on him and lied about the reason) after McCain lost the election, but he hasn't, as evidenced by his phone call with Katie Couric last night. Lesson: don't betray Dave unless you want to hear about it every week. Canned hams for everyone!

Dell XT who?

From Christopher Null: The Working Guy: "...predicting that Apple would be adapting its multi-touch technology for a tablet PC, the first laptop with a multi-touch screen is actually coming out from a quite different company: Hewlett-Packard." -- Interesting how "The Working Guy" seems unaware that Dell already released a multi-touch notebook with their XT. But it's a forgiveable oversight given its exorbitant price and recall-worthy problems.

HP brings sexyback to tablets

Just when I was starting to lament the lack of hot new Tablet PCs, HP announces the TouchSmart tx2 with capacitive multi-touch + active digitizer pen input. This may be the one to watch in 2009. Will spill some ink about it tonight.

Make a CRT monitor more useful

Attach sticky note pads to the side to make it a dispenser/monitor.

Homer in a twist

Stress, eye strain, and bad food

Still recovering from a bad weekend that hit my system hard. Plus my entire Comcast service has been out. Hope to be back up and running soon.

change.gov

In case you were worried whether President-Elect Obama can deliver on his promises, he's posted his agenda online at change.gov so you can keep track. A politician who provides a tool that aids accountability. That's change I can believe in.

Pulled!

Here I Am: about to get my tooth pulled

Barack Obama roundup

In case you're itching to read my previous thoughts on new President-Elect Barack Obama, check out these quick searches on Scribbles and Rambles.

Election morning was great

Election morning has been great. I voted on a touchscreen machine, thus supporting both my candidate and preferred voting medium. I got a free cup of coffee from Starbucks. Attended a staff meeting at work where I got two shout-outs and a bagel with cream cheese (the two events are not related). And I scheduled a tooth removal for Thursday (upper right wisdom tooth really getting in my way now). Awesome.

Paper or digital

At my polling place, the standard voting system is paper, which is then read by an electronic reader, but touchscreen voting stations were also available. As a pen and touch input computer enthusiast, I, of course, opted for touchscreen. Who I vote for is important, but I also care about how I vote.

51 minute wait, totally worth it

Here I Am: Vote!

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.942220,+-77.371752 Just performed my civic duty at Dogwood Elementary School. Chose to go electronic over paper (no surprise there). Seemed like a long wait to check off four items, but I believe it was worth it.

Here I Am: Plow & Hearth

I am at
http://maps.google.com/maps?q=38.317298,+-78.315160

Back in "real" Virginia again, stopping at P&H before crossing the
mountains.