Jay's Blog

Vista Answers

A while back I wrote a apaer detailing the options one should weigh when considering a move to Windows Vista.

Check it out...

DDay+20

Hello,

It has been a busy couple of weeks, since little Mackenzie entered our lives.  Sleep, at least, constant sleep is a fond memory.  For three weeks old, she sleeps around six hours a night, with occaisional breaks.  My wife and I are tired,  but it is well worth it.  I could not imagine another reason I would want ot stay up. 

News...

I did another episode of "In the Trenches", an IT-related podcast with host, George Starcher. Check it out at:

   http://www.kevindevin.com

XP's life extended six months by Microsoft - It seems XP will be sticking around for a little while longer. At least until the end of FY08, 6/29/08.  The backlash by users against Windows Vista has got the attention of Redmond who 's aim should be to provide their customers with a pleasant user experience.  I just want to go on record by saying that I hate XP, but I understand both positions.  Vista is new and different, but not as unusable as often stated.  If I absolutley had to trade in my Mac or my Ubuntu box for Windows, I think I would get an OEM copy of Windows Server 2003 Web Edition and use that.  Strange, I know, but WS2003 is stable, secure and costs less that Vista Ultimate.  If I were into gaming and the like, then I would get an XBox 360 or a Wii. 

Wait!  Gimme Windows 2000 Professional...

More Juice...

Hello,

 

Here we go, again!

O.J. made bail, and the media barrage begins.  One good thing about this is that the media may forget about Paris, Britney & Lindsay fo awhile. 

This goes to prove the total invalidity of the media when all major networks are covering the same story.  Peolpe, there is more news to cover!  Who gives a toss about O.J?

The tazing of a student-journalist at a John Kerry speech in Florida should be raising more eyebrows than O.J.  The student was in the process of asking Senator Kerry a series of questions and failed to yield the floor to others.  That was mistake number 1.  From there, the university police physically removed the student, a bit too forceful in my opinion.  Only after three cops subdued the student to the ground with more force, they used their tazers on the student.  That is were I have a problem with the whole thng.  I agree the student was out of line, and trying to showboat for the person he asked to video-record him earlier (mistake 2), but the cops reaction was flagrantly brutal.  That really pisses me off!  5-6 cops just ganging up on someone is really lame.  There was no need to taze the student, even if he was not shutting up (mistake 3).  At that point in time the student was on the ground, subdued with four cops on top of him.  Using the tazer was not necessary then.  Those cops should be removed from their positions and charged with assault.  Perhaps that is why they are university cops and not city or state cops.  Senator Kerry alleges he did not know the tazing even took place.  He was no more than 100' away, of course he knew with the student crying out "No, don't taze me!"  I am glad he is not running the country.  How good can some so oblivious and full of it really be?

Saudi Arabia recently signed a contract to purchase 72 Eurofighter Typhoon warplanes from the European Union, becoming the sixth operator of the type.  Germany, Italy, Spain, The United Kingdom, and recently Austria all fly the Eurofighter Typhoon.  The Saudis have purchased large amounts of defense equipment from Europe in the past, most notably from British Aerospace.  I think the contract is great for all of the countries involved in the Eurofighter consortium.  Saudi Arabia has also purchased a great deal of equipment from the world's largest arms dealer, the United States.  Since relations between the US and the Saudis have soured, the Kingdom has not turned to the US for their arms.  This fact is neither here nor there, Saudi Arabia is not a great military power.  The Saudis are a great economic power with very deep coffers.  When they buy, they buy the good stuff.  Almost limitless funds allows Saudi Arabia to buy the best equipment they can get.  One could easily say Saudi Arabia possess the best equipped air force next to the United States and Israel.  How the Saudis use their equipment is another story that highlights the cultural differences in our relationship. Support and maintenance is outsourced to the manufacturer and serviceability is reported as low.  Pilot capability is reported to be below par from NATO counterparts.  I hope this trend of looking elsewhere for arms and supplies continues as I do not consider the Saudis friends to the United States.  Perhaps it is alright that we do business with the Saudi government, but  Think that is where the relationship should end.  Any nation still run by a king is just too backward for democracy.

Censorship ???

Hello,

Baby and Mommy are doing well...

I do not usually care about what goes on in Hollywood.  I think those folks live on a different planet than most folks do.  I do appreciate the content that is often created by Hollywood.  Fox's censoring of Sally Field's comments at the Emmy Awards was way out of line for my tastes.  In retrospect, Ms Field did not say anything against FCC regulations.  Her comments irratated the policy makers at Fox and in the Bush administration. 

Why do I care? Well, the conservative right in this country has been on a campaign to push christian-based faith in all of their efforts.  I am an atheist, I am not Republican.  I am not a Democrat.  I fancy myself as a conservative with some progressive, even, liberal, views.  Faith may be the answer for some people, but it is not the answer for everyone.  Atheists are very outnumbered both politically, and philisophically in the United States.  Atheists are demonized as evil people, scoffed as foolish or unintelligent people, and patronized as "lost" or unindoctrinated.  This atheist is neither of those.  I read the newspapers, I read Philosophy, and most important, I think for myself. 

Religious dogma associated with faith is often meant to lead those in question to an accepted way of thinking without asking the most important question, why? I may not agree with Ms Field's comments, Fox News Corp may not agree with Ms Fields comments, but I support her right to say it.  Instead, Fox decides that it is better to lead the news with B.S. stories about O.J. Simpson and Britney Spears.  All just misdirection in the best of efforts...

/N

Censorship ???

Hello,

Baby and Mommy are doing well...

I do not usually care about what goes on in Hollywood.  I think those folks live on a different planet than most folks do.  I do appreciate the content that is often created by Hollywood.  Fox's censoring of Sally Field's comments at the Emmy Awards was way out of line for my tastes.  In retrospect, Ms Field did not say anything against FCC regulations.  Her comments irratated the policy makers at Fox and in the Bush administration. 

Why do I care? Well, the conservative right in this country has been on a campaign to push christian-based faith in all of their efforts.  I am an atheist, I am not Republican.  I am not a Democrat.  I fancy myself as a conservative with some progressive, even, liberal, views.  Faith may be the answer for some people, but it is not the answer for everyone.  Atheists are very outnumbered both politically, and philisophically in the United States.  Atheists are demonized as evil people, scoffed as foolish or unintelligent people, and patronized as "lost" or unindoctrinated.  This atheist is neither of those.  I read the newspapers, I read Philosophy, and most important, I think for myself. 

Religious dogma associated with faith is often meant to lead those in question to an accepted way of thinking without asking the most important question, why? I may not agree with Ms Field's comments, Fox News Corp may not agree with Ms Fields comments, but I support her right to say it.  Instead, Fox decides that it is better to lead the news with B.S. stories about O.J. Simpson and Britney Spears.  All just misdirection in the best of efforts...

/N

Coming Around...

Phew...

The last few days have been like a ride, which started last Sunday and has not ended.  I am imagining that it will not end until I die.  The last week has been so amazing, that I now understand what countless parents have tried to explain to me in the past.  I now have a boundless love for a new baby girl that has just entered my life...

Mackenzie Elle Watkins, Spetember 10 2007

Isn't she adorable?  That's my girl !!!

 

Go Kathy Griffin!  Congrats on the award, and the endowmwnt of your own personal god.  I am not a big Kathy fan, although I find her to be hysterical, but I do not think her acceptance comments regarding Jesus were out of line.  The implied offense Christians take to Ms Griffin's comments are often felt by non-christians and atheists when others pubically credit god for their achievements.  Except, we (atheists) are not up in arms with criticism.  Free speech christians!!! Ms Griffin can say what she wants on National TV (providing it does not violate FCC regulation).  Jesus does not control the FCC, but there is a decent chance that some narrow-minded christian may.  Kathy, I support your right to free speech...

 

iPod Nano 3G Review...

I recently purchased a third generation red iPod Nano from the local Apple store.  The price of $199.99 was right for the 8GB model, considering the last one I bought, 8GB iPod Nano Black, was $249.99.  The biggest new feature is the wide form-factor featuring a screen that can play video among it's content.  This leads the user to believe thedevice is actually bigger than it's predacessor.  True, the 3G iPod Nano is wider, but is also much thinner than the 2G Nano.  I was not exactly sure how much thinner Apple could make the Nano, because the 2G nano is already quite thin, but they did.  The best size comparison is to a packaged square of Ghiardelli's choclate.  It is about that size. 

The battery consumption has been on-par with the 2G nano so far.  The 2G Nano has the longest legs of any battery-powered device I have used, next to the iPhone.  I really have not had the 3G Nano long enough to see a great deal of use.  The wide-screen is excellent for looking at pictures, but the Video performance is as good as it could get for such a small device.  Besides, nothing beats the iPhone screen.  However for the size and price, the 3G Nano will put video in a lot of pockets. 

The Latest Mac...

Hello,

I apologize for delay in posts, but it has been real busy in my world.

First... My new baby daughter, Mackenzie Elle Watkins, was born on Monday afternoon. My wife Marnie labored for a staggering 25 hours, hslf of which was without any type of pain medication.  We decided early on, to have a natural birth and not give in to the trend of heavy medication and unnecessary medical procedures.  The water broke on Sunday afternoon.  The progress became complicated as Mackenzie was upside-down, not backwards.  This position made contracting very difficult, and painful for my wife.  Contracting is normally painful, but the action of the baby's head running into her pubic bone instead of turning inside of the birth canal was a source of unbearable pain.  Medication was initially administered to allow my wife to rest from contracting and to preserve her strength for pushing.  Later on, an epidural allowed her the additional strength to push Mackenie out without c-section.

I love being a new father.  My baby girl is the most beautiful I have ever seen. I feel so lucky and fortunate to have such a beautiful family.  ~gush, gush~

Second... Apple Inc, what the f*ck?  Dropping the iPhone price by $200.00, two omnths after release! Is Apple trying to screw the most loyal of their customers?  It would seem so by their actions, but I think they were not moving the units at a progress they originally forecasted. The new iPod Touch seems like a prize device, as it is essentially an iPhone without the phone.  Whether or not Apple's intentions were malicious, I don't know, but I feel like a giant dork for buying the most hyped product a week after it was released.  I didn't even wait in line!  I will continue to buy Apple products, but will think twice before any kind of early adoption. Either way, I still have the best smartphone out there...