Palm Pre vs HTC Touch Pro 2/Diamond 2

If you're in the market for a new cell, you may consider holding off a few more months if at all possible. Why you ask?

Because the above 3 phone's should all be out by the end of this summer. (Q3) And as you'll be able to see at the sites listed below, these things are at the absolute cutting edge sweetness my friends.

Sure the Pro 2 may be a bit bulky for some ppl. And HTC has an annoying habit of excluding a universal 3.5" audio jack on most of their phones for some fucking reason. (See Tilt)

But you can't possibly argue with this kind of beauty can you?

Here's the HTC Touch Pro 2 coming in the next few months

• Notable Features:
• Gi-Normous touchscreen, 480 x 800 pixels, 3.6 mutha-fuckin INCHES of "Screen-Estate
• Full QWERTY keyboard (1st time offered for cell's)

And here's the HTC Touch Diamond 2 for you to poop on....
*err, marvel at*

Notable Features:

• 3.2-inch TFT-LCD touch-sensitive screen
• 5.0 megapixel color camera with auto focus
• Second camera: VGA CMOS color camera
• FM Radio

Alternatively, if these types of cells aren't your bag. Or you just can't stand Windows Mobile. Palm's got a beast of a phone coming up.

POSSIBLE RELEASE DATE IS NOW: JUNE 5th

Maybe you've been eyeing this thing? Maybe not. You should give it a once over either way. It's looking to be one sharp mobile phone, that's for sure. Check out the following video. *available in Hi Def* Brah!

Just for you baby!

Freeware Roundup

As an avid fan of "Open Source" software, I'm always on the hunt for new apps to try out. Especially when said apps are FREE! And at the rate the web is evolving, you never know when you'll stumble across the next beta that has everyone talking about it.

Take Google for example. First they revitalized search engines, then email, and most recently, web browsers. So what's the big deal? Well, unlike the traditional model that companies such as Microsoft used for so many years, Google wasn't out to gouge the end user's wallet out. Sure they make money, just not by having us pay $100 every few years for a new, inherently flawed operating system.

Nothing against Windows mind you. In fact, Windows 7 is shaping up to be the best version yet.

With that said, here's my latest recommendations for your freeware appetite.

1. Any Video Converter
   allows you to effortlessly convert video files between every format
2. Chrome
   Lightweight, secure, and fast. Period.
3. KeePass Password Safe
   a great tool to manage all of your passwords in a secure database
4. Update Notifier
   a small utility that scans your computer for installed software and displays a list of updates

Note: Both Chrome and KeePass offer BETA versions which may still have bugs, stability issues

Red State Update - May be NSFW

This site should liven up your day. Or completely piss you off. Just be warned: It could cause your head to fall off from laughing so hard.

Wow! No words come to mind with this one really. WYSIWYG for the most part. At first I thought it was a myspace page. But it's actually another social network called "Ning"??

Yeah, me neither.

Found it over at Crooks & Liars and I just had to link to it.

RedStateUpdate

PC Security - Part Deux

I figured I might as well bring this up since the "Swine Flu" story has been all over the news lately.

And since I literally spent 2 days trying to avoid a OS reinstall earlier this month, only to finally figure out our Seagate FreeAgent hard drive contained 4 Trojan worms on it.......I thought yeah, now's a good time.     (the virus' were copying themselves over to the C drive after each of the last 2 OSRI's.     (operating system reinstalls)

Anyway, I usually get asked one of two questions whenever someone I know has the same issue on their rig. mes up. Either, "What's the best FREE anti-virus program?", or something along the lines of, "How'd that thing-ah-mah-jig get in there to begin with?"

And it's almost always the same reasons. They either got careless with a p2p app such as Limewire, Utorrent, etc. OR Their "trial" version of Norton/McAfee expired, but since they still see the icon in the task bar, they think they're still being protected. Sound familiar?

So, after much research, review reading, and trial and error, I thought I'd share my thoughts of what works, what doesn't and most importantly......what I'm using now.

Basically it comes down to 4 main things. (depending on your level of paranoia)

• Anti-Virus Software that doesn't bog down your system, auto updates DAILY, and has a 93% or higher success rate.
• Anti-Spyware software that offers "real time" protection.
• An almost inpenatrable software firewall running at all times alongside a router/NAT/hub.
• Keep Windows Update ENABLED.   (change setting to "notify me/don't download")  *must be performed in Internet Explorer only*

I've mentioned File Hippo before and I still swear by it. Think CNet's Download.com, but without all the "shareware/trial" apps. 97% of the apps on file hippo are OPEN SOURCE or free for non-commercial use.

Here's a good trio of tools that should offer you all the points mentioned above.

• For your Anti-Virus protection: Avira's AntiVir or ClamWin
• For Anti-Spyware: PC Tool's Threatfire
• For your Firewall: Comodo Personal Firewall

(Threatfire is the only one not on Filehippo, you'll have to go directly to the company's site to download)

You can also install and run other Anti-Spyware tools such as SpywareBlaster, Windows Defender, Malwarebytes Anti-Malware (Highly recommended), Spybot, etc.

*UPDATE*

I forgot to cover a few last areas of importance.     Often times when XP/Vista is really infected,  it's highly recommended that you just REINSTALL WINDOWS completely.     You'll most likely have to call up your PC vendor and order a "Restore disc".         Most of the bigger vendors now charge for this disc, which is absurd.       But we ordered ours from Gateway last year free of charge.     Remember to always FORMAT the drive completely as opposed to installing over the still existing issues.     You'll need some form of backup of course.      I'd suggest buying an EXTERNAL hard drive solely for this purpose.    But you could always choose to burn to CD,  or use a 3rd party backup system.        But trust me....Seagate or Western Digital both have awesome price point ratio's at the moment.       Say $80-90 for approx 250-320GB of space.    Depending on the amount of files you have,  even a decent size flash/thumb drive would work.

Swine Flu Info - ****BREAKING NEWS****

Ok folks. As of today, April 29th, there are 91-94 reported cases in the U.S. And the World Health Organization has raised the pandemic alert to LEVEL 5, just 1 short of a FULL BLOWN PANDEMIC.

WHO Pandemic Alert Page

But don't let this panic you because every year, 36,000 ppl die from regular influenza in this country alone. Keep your hands and your home clean, and if at all possible, I'd also recommend not traveling at this time.

Here's some basic facts about this potential pandemic EVERYONE should know:

From Factoidz:

There is a vaccine to protect pigs from the virus but currently no vaccine to protect humans from catching swine flu. A seasonal influenza vaccination grown and manufactured for humans will only partially protect a person. Since there are 4 substrains of swine influenza type A, the seasonal flu shot will give a person only partial protection from only one of the variations of the swine flu but not against the main species of the swine flu that we are seeing in the world news in the past week or so.

The symptoms of swine flu closely mimic the symptoms of human influenza. Coughing, fever, runny nose, fatigue, headache and a loss of appetite are consistent with both human and swine influenzas. Additional symptoms which may require being seen by a physician include chills, nausea, congestion, sore throat, lethargy, a fever over 101 degrees, vomiting and diarrhea which can bring about dehydration and put the sick person at additional risk. This will usually land the person a night or two in the hospital with IV fluids and meds. Swine flu doesn’t usually infect humans but this does occur when a person has close proximity with pigs that are infected and then is around other people. The person can catch the swine flu virus from the pigs that are infected and it is then passed on from an infected person to others through coughing, sneezing and casual contact. Just as in human influenza, if a person touches something which has the flu virus on it and then touches their eyes, nose or mouth they can then contract that virus.

(KEEP READING)

Carrie Wildes = Greatness

OMG, jus look at these shots. I knew they'd be good, but man, these are friggin awesome! I can't wait to get the rest.

I'd highly recommend Carrie to anyone in need of a professional photog.
*And her younger sister Carla* Loved those playful shots of Joey, Johnny, and myself she took right before the ceremony.

As Jill would say......"We had the prettiest wedding in the whole wide world"

Thank you Carrie and Carla.

Last time 2 Space Shuttles on launch pads together

It's hard to believe it's been 20+ years that Nasa's been using the shuttle.    But all good things must come to an end.     And though most people will always think of either the Challenger or Columbia disasters first,  I think it's important to think of all the ways in which we benefited from these aging marvels of achievement.

Here, here to the remaining SST's for so many years of hard work!!

So we survived

Another 4/20 has come and gone. Hope yours was cool too. Dammit, I had something I wanted to say in a post here before I logged in.

But now I can't remember. Ha!

Uh-uh-Ahhhhhh!

A little amusement for you while you go about your day. *Be careful not to let it get stuck in ya head. Repeating over and over*

Ha, ha, ha! For real though.....they're the cutest. If this doesn't brighten your day, nothing will.

I'm a MARRIED man now!!

April 11th was the most special day of my life! Our ceremony was perfect. (almost)

I'm in the process of editing the pictures now and will be posting some asap! I don't think we could have asked for a better day. Everything from the weather to the photographer and beyond was just perfect. Like all wedding's, there's sooo many parts that have the potential to go awry. And like most brides and grooms, they/we had our "omg/wtf" moments, but luckily we maintained and pulled it off!

My nephew Austin was the ring bearer, and our good friend's daughter, Alexandria was the flower girl. They both ROCKED!!

So it' s official now finally. Even though it doesn't really feel that way. ;)

I LOVE YOU BABY GIRL!!! April 11th 2009 = 4Eva & Eva

Marie Olbermann 1929-2009

Keith Olbermann's mother died of cancer this past Saturday. (April 4th) Here's his tribute that aired yesterday on his show.

Send large files easily

Check out these "large file transfer" apps that might come in handy for ya. I use one to store large ISO files and technical tools and updates.

It takes awhile to upload big data packets, so don't rush it.

I used to use Yousendit. But they've changed for the worst. I now use Pando. Large amounts of disk space for free? Up to 1GB I believe. Can't beat it.

• Publish downloadable videos, photos and audio to any web site
• Email files and folders up to 1GB
• Use your existing email, no registration required
• Know if your files are downloaded and how often
• No need to be online when recipients download
• No compression, FTP or flaky web uploads
• IM links to your files or entire folders to any IM buddy

Here's a list of the better half of these type's of programs.

Which browser do you use?

As a long time Firefox proponent, I've sworn by it's security and customization to anyone who will listen. And as I mentioned before, when Chrome was released. I still thought FF was more secure. But info like this article/study has me starting to use Chrome more often while surfing.

Yeah, it's mainly a comfort thing when trying new software for me. But I really believe it's beginning to match up to FF when it comes to total usability/security.

From a web browser competition in California this week:
A recent contest at CanSecWest, an event that brings together some of the most skilled experts in the security community, has demonstrated that the three most popular browser are susceptible to security bugs despite the vigilance and engineering prowess of their creators. Firefox, Safari, and Internet Explorer were all exploited during the Pwn2Own competition that took place at the conference. Google's Chrome browser, however, was the only one left standing—a victory that security researchers attribute to its innovative sandbox feature.

From Ares Technia

The Bush-Cheney Record

So with all this "Who's to blame for the current economic situation?" stuff going around. I figured I'd put this up for all to see.

The numbers speak for themselves here, so I won't indulge myself. The only thing I can say is if this doesn't open your eyes to the past 8 years, I dunno what will.


(Crook & Liars)

Dear smokers. Screw you! Signed, B. Obama

No I couldn't think of any ONE particular topic for tonight's title, because it's late and I'm tired. BUT....I've got to get this off my chest before going to bed, so forgive me if some of the following isn't perfect, or starts to ramble. (I'll edit it eventually)

Anyway, I don't even know where to begin. Let me first say that YES, I do smoke cigarettes regularly and YES, I do realize the harmful effects it's had/having on my lungs/body.

But I'll be completely honest and tell anyone who asks the inevitable question: "So why don't you just quit smoking?" Because I don't have the BALLS/WILL/COURAGE/PATIENCE/RESOLVE to quit right now. As plain and simple as that.

Which leads me to my 1st rant.
The House of Representatives yesterday voted 289-139 to pass a 156% increase in the federal excise tax on cigarettes (taking it from 39 cents per pack to $1.00, not counting state taxes which average over $1 a pack). The estimated $33 billion tax hike (over 4-1/2 years) would be earmarked to expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP)

Why in the HELL, during such times as these. When MOST, if not ALL of middle-class America are being SQUEEZED dry, would a 586% tax in-fucking-crease be signed into law on ALL TOBACCO PRODUCTS??? Effectively compounding the financial situation of those of us who choose to, for whatever reason(s), use tobacco!

Because it's not like the price of everything else has gone up dramatically in recent years already. *read: Food, gas, shelter, medicine...etc, etc* ON TOP of losing our jobs, homes, savings.

Why isn't ALCOHOL being hit with an almost $2.00/bottle, ounce, whatever tax along with tobacco? Hmmm, lemme think. Maybe because, as much as we smoker's have been demonized, and told of all the death's directly linked to our evil, sinful pleasure called smoking. But guess what? When all of the consequences/costs of each product's use are analyzed and compared to each other, ALCOHOL actually LEADS TOBACCO in it's destructiveness in human terms.

NCSL - State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) Reauthorization

(To be continued)

Wuddle's icanhazcheezburger pic

moar funny pictures


(Full link)

Countdown w/KO

Check out this "Cat rescue", and sleepwalking, err, running dog on the "Oddball" segment on Countdown with Keith Olberman. Ha!

Hilarious stuff.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

From MSNBC

Topic of the Day (TOTD)

So this morning on our commute to work, Jill asked me if I thought MJ would ever be regulated the same as tobacco is in our life time. To which I replied how funny she mention that today since I've been hearing snippets of this same question on TV, and the interwebz. And that I no longer feel as optimistic about that happening as I once was in my younger years. But also that anything's possible with the state of our nation nowadays. (and having a sensible administration in office doesn't hurt either)

Anyway. I get home, jump online, check my email, yada-yada...and just a few minutes ago, checked out the day's news, even going so far to scoop the Drudge Report....and I see the following article.

Taxing pot could become a political toking point

Quote:
Reporting from Sacramento -- Could Cannabis sativa be a salvation for California's fiscal misfortunes? Can the state get a better budget grip by taxing what some folks toke?

An assemblyman from San Francisco announced legislation Monday to do just that: make California the first state in the nation to tax and regulate recreational marijuana in the same manner as alcohol.
Via LA Times

Wow. It's so refreshing to hear commen sense legislation for a change. I don't care what anyone says. It makes absolutely NO SENSE to have something such as TOBACCO, which is one of the leading killers of American's today, regulated and readily available for personal use if one wishes. NONE!!!

Listen. No one is saying this is a perfect solution. Or that MJ doesn't have ANY consequential factors to consider. But just like alcohol and tobacco, the choice to either use or ignore MJ should be left up to each individual.

NOT A GOVERNMENT!

So, there's my thoughts. Let me know yours.

Squirrely Cat

Awww....how cute. Like is says in the clip. For now. ;p

Cat Adopts Baby Squirrels @ Yahoo! Video