The Invasion of the Cell Phones

Last Christmas we broke down and got cell phones for the family. With this family that means we max out the family plan with everyone getting a phone but me. That's all right, I don't want to be in touch at all times. I like getting in the car and listen to music or talk radio, to be out of touch. I personally don't think I'm anti-social, I just don't need to be in touch 24/7.

The good news is we can now keep track of the kids at all times. Better pick up the phone a let me know where you are and what your up to, asked them "Do you really want this leash? and they replied YES!" So, on this side of the coin it's a parents dream.

I am still concerned about our dependency on cell phones, read this article "Lose cell phone, get cast away from society" and I think you'll see what I mean.

This Isn't Robby the Robot

Having a Great Dane, the name BigDog always catches my eye. But to see Boston Dynamics quadruped robot named BigDog in this video is unbelieveable. I keep thinking it a couple of guys in a costume. Check it out.

Media over the Internet

Today Hulu.com opened its doors to the public. This is a joint venture between News Corp. and NBC Universal, and the word is they are going to make a large library of ad-supported TV shows and movies available.

I checked it out earlier, lots of content and excellent delivery over my cable modem. Well worth the time.

This is one more step toward media convergence, how long will it take for others to follow?

Getting Tired of the

Same Old TV

Gettig tired of the Game Shows and Reality TV. Try something new, and their on HBO.

Flight of the Conchords

Is it Security or Big Brother

ThruVision has announced T5000 Security Imaging System, a security imaging system that can detect explosives, narcotics, weapons, plastics hidden under clothing from 80 feet. I'm sure this system could speed up the security checks at the airport and there are plenty of other very valid applications. What concerns me is that this technology could proliferate through our daily lives. If you take a good look around, you'll see that we are currently being tracked by security cameras as we go about our daily routines. Where do we draw the privacy line, do we end up with a totalitarian state for the sake of safety.

News Item Reuters

Fallen Behind, Springing Ahead

This is the week-end that we lose an hour. Set those clocks ahead. Run around the house checking the time. The atomic clocks we have do it on their own, some pieces have a circuit that will do it automatically, unfortunately we've change the date for the time change so we have to change it today and again later, and then there are all the manual set clocks. You don't even realize how many clocks you have until you have to check them all. We have four in the kitchen alone. It's not that is bad, I just have better things to do with my time.

This morning I woke up at 7am as usual, but the clock says it's 8am. It's 9pm now but it feels like 8pm. This day is a loss, maybe because it was overcast, grey and dreary, and never seemed to much more than a twilight. Or the light dusting of snow and 20 degree temperature. I did make the pancakes, it's Sunday you know.

Is it Tradition or is it being Predictable,

Sunday Pancakes

I've gotten in the habit of getting up Sunday morning and cooking up a big batch of pancakes for the family. I've been doing this for awhile now and I've learned a couple of tricks that always means success. I use an electric skillet, you set it for 350 degrees and keep an eye on the ckes and they'll always be that perfect golden brown. Add some vanilla extract for a smooth taste (1tsp. for 2 cups of mix, 2tsp. for 4 and so on). One of my sons likes chocolate chip pancakes, so I add some Herseys syrup and some chips for him. I do some special orders.

When does it go from being predictable to a tradition? My daughter spent last night at her girl friends home and when I picked her up the first words to me were "Are there any pancakes left!".