Comment Spam Has Arrived
It finally happen. I received two comments that Akismet or whether it would have eventually happened given enough time. Don’t answer that. Sadly it seems no place is safe from spam. Thank goodness for Akismet.
Backing Up is Hard to Do
I am trying to pick a good back up method for our home computers and have found quite a few options. I currently have a laptop with Windows XP and a MacBook Pro as well as a few old desktops floating around. First and foremost I would like a automated, reliable back-ups for both laptops. The back-ups need to include docs, pics, videos, email, addresses, calendars and browser bookmarks. I have considered online back-up services like Mozy, Carbonite and JungleDisk. With these services the back-up resides remotely which is nice protection against flood, fire and other depressing-to-think-about catastrophic events. I have also toyed with the idea of setting up a Network-attached storage (NAS). I could either buy one or use one my old desktops with FreeNAS installed. This opens up the possibility of using the NAS as a media server for music and videos as well.
What’s your back-up method?
- Online service (Mozy, Carbonite, etc.)
- Scheduled back-ups to another computer/eternal drive/server/NAS
- Periodically burn a DVD
- Pray and think good thoughts
Wired Magazine Wants Me to Pay More
I just received the last issue of my subscription to Wired Magazine and it included the obligatory “LAST ISSUE!” subscription renewal card guaranteeing me the low rate. What is ironic is that the “guaranteed low rate” to renew is $12 while the annoying subscription cards that fall out of the magazine advertise a one year subscription for $10.
I know it’s only a couple of dollars difference but the fact that Wired openly wants to charge its current customer (of many years) more than a new customer is amusing. (I wonder if this is what Chris Anderson meant in his post about magazine subscription cards.) I don’t think I will be renewing the subscription anyway. Over the past year or two the number of articles that appeal to me have dropped dramatically. For a while there were so many articles on the entertainment industry I had make sure I wasn’t reading US Weekly. The amount of filler material has also increased beyond reason. I used to read the magazine cover to cover and now I am lucky to complete two articles. I think there are better sources for information on technology and business. So long Wired, sorry you have to go.
P.S. What are your favorite places to get your tech/business/culture info?
There is No Debate
We have seen numerous debates this campaign season with more to come. These are not debates as much as they are political theater, i.e. the CNN/YouTube “debates”, and they do very little in raising the public political discourse.
If you would like to hear real debates about important, challenging issues I recommend the Intelligence Squared-US debates. Leading thinkers on each side of a single issue are pit against each other in an Oxford-style debate format. Debates start with opening arguments where each panelist is given a chance to present their case for or against the resolution at hand. Questions then follow from the moderator as well as the audience. Finally, each panelist is allowed a brief closing statement. What I find interesting is that the audience votes whether they are for, against or undecided before the debate and then again after. The more persuasive and thus victorious side is identified by noting the changes in the before and after votes. Some of the recent debate topics have included “It’s Time to End Affirmative Action”, “Spreading Democracy in the Middle East is a Bad Idea”, and “Russia is Becoming Our Enemy Again”. These are all difficult issues that we are currently confronted with and that is what makes these debates intriguing.
I urge you to check out the Intelligence Squared-US website. NPR actually hosts the recorded audio of the debates which can be listened to or download. I find that it is perfect listening for my daily commute. Once you listen to a couple of debates you will be hooked.
[Political cartoon by Davide Horsey published in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer]
Bionic Bugs
Is it art or a secret CIA spy fly? Check out these bug creations by artist Mike Libby. As described by the artist on his website,
“Insect Lab is an artist studio that customizes real insects with antique watch parts and electronic components.
Borrowing from both science fiction and science fact, Insect Lab’s customized insects are a celebration of natural and manmade function.”
Mike’s website, Insect Lab, shows a full gallery of beetles, bees, spiders and dragonflies. Prices range from $150 to over $600. I think they make great gifts for Valentine’s Day. Nothing says love like a frankenbug!
VideoTrace - Amazing 3D Models Created from Video
I saw this post about VideoTrace over at the Artificial Intelligence and Robotics blog and was impressed. As a mechanical engineer with an extensive CAD background, I appreciate how difficult it is to create 3D models that look realistic.
You Can’t Get There from Here
Don’t ever let any one tell you that there is no way to get from here to there. Google Maps will show you the way!
Not only can you get there but Google will also show you some other interesting destinations:
- start to finish
- hell to highwater
- A to Z
- over the bridge and through the woods
- top to bottom
- poverty to easy street
Thanks to Google Blogoscoped who first posted about this.
Get with Mitt!
I have decided that I am going to vote for Mitt Romney in my state’s upcoming Republican primary. I believe that I have reviewed each candidate thoroughly enough to determine which one best aligns with my positions on what I believe are the most important issues for our country. I also looked at the person behind the candidate since it requires more than just ideology to become an effective leader. I have listed the criteria I used in selecting a candidate and have included how I believe Mitt stacks up against them. Read more
Taking Stock
Sorry I haven’t written in a while. We have had quite a lot of chaos in our household lately and it has been a struggle each day to do everything that needs to be done, let alone work on things I’d like to do. I have so many projects both new and old that seem to be in indefinite holding patterns. As soon as a think about picking up a project again my thoughts starts to race with all of the work to be done and I immediately become overwhelmed feeling that I won’t be able to accomplish even the simplest task. I just don’t want to give up, go through the motions and become bored and apathetic like little Neville. 
To that end, I am going assess the various projects and decide which one(s) has the best chance of being completed and still has potential to impact my life or somebody else’s. Then I am going to break up the project into small tasks and set some reasonable goals. I am also going to have to change some of my habits in order to reach my goals, i.e. wake up earlier.
I know that this is not terribly interesting to you but I’m finding it cathartic to write down my thoughts. I think I will be better accountable to myself if I actually write down my goals and post them for all the world to see. Once I set my goals I will post them here and periodically post updates about my progress.
How do you manage your goals and your time? How do you balance the things that need to be done vs. what you want to work on? How do you get things done? Leave a comment and let me know. I would love to hear from you.
Kate’s Home!
Kate has been home from the hospital for a few days now and we are so happy and relieved to have her back. She is doing well despite some complications caused by her illness and we are trying now to get back to some semblance of “normal” life. We are so thankful to all who prayed, cooked, cleaned, baby-sat, visited and gave gifts. It is wonderful to know how many people genuinely care about our family.