VOTD

Some crazy motorcycle riding.

Journey of the Hawk.

Well, It is a new month and a new bandwidth limit for me on Flickr. Here are the pictures of one of my latest trips on the bike out on highway 66. I had to take it for a spin after putting on a new front tire and doing an oil and filter change. The total milage for the 3 days ( I didn't ride any the second day, just visiting) was over 400 miles. Weather was very overcast the first day, but temps were perfect.

A pic of the bike overlooking the Ohio river at Leavenworth. Can you beleive this bike is 21 years old?


And a picture through the mirror that turned out well.


This bridge is outside the town of Rockport.


Doesn't look that big from the picture, but this is a pretty big hill. This is on one of the VERY curvy areas of this road. At the bottom (behind me in the picture) is a very sharp 150-160 degree turn. It's a scary one becuse there is always gravel in it and slowing down after this big hill is hard.


This one is also on the big hill, but looking down. I don't think you can see the curve, but trust me it's down there. It really sneaks up on ya.


I tried to get a picture of myself with this sign, but this tuned out to be the best one. I still didn't get the entire sign, but my arm was neither long enough, nor my lense wide enought to get it all in.


Here's a better picture of the sign.


This would be an awesome place to live. It is out in the middle of nowhere, but I'm sure you could see for miles.


I was woken up early while at my Mom's house so I figured that I'd take some pictures of the rising sun since it looked to beautiful. It's currently my background image on my work PC.



Well, that's it for now. I've started uploading 800x600 pixel images because with the full resolution images I was running out of pace on Flickr to quickly. Should you want a larger size of any of them, feel free to email me.

Cell Phone Blues...

Well, after I spent the day changing oil in different vehicles I noticed that my cell phone was misssing. I thought I remembered having while under the hood of my car. After looking for several hours over the course of a couple of days I finally gave up. It was going straight to voicemail by then and I figured the battery went dead. I figured I left it under the hood and it fell out on my way to work the next day. Anyways After I hit the store and spend $300 on a new one, I start getting emails and phone calls that Pep-Boys was calling everyone on my contacts... They had my phone.

Anyways, it sucked but I really wanted a new phone anyways. I went with the cingular 3125, and I must say its pretty nice. Feels real solid in your hand and the soft buttons are incredible. Windows mobile makes transferring ringtones and syncing with my outlook calendar, email, and contacts a snap. The camera is nice, but nothing amazing. Here's what it looks like:

I have some pictures of my latest trip back north on the bike, but my Flickr account is maxed out this month. I'll upload them as soon as I can upload again.

VOTD

Well, this video is much different than others previously, but I beleive it's definately worth watching. It raises some questions I've never contemplated.

One thing that I was thinking about while watching segment 2 of the video was about CEO's. It seems that they make a choice to put themselves in situations in which they have to make big decisions that effect many people. Most of the time there is no way to know all of the implications of these decisions, and making semi-informed choices some of them are bound to be bad ones. Is this not psychopathic in a way? Now everyone has to make hard decisions, but they normally do not effect hundreds or thousands of people. Now I don't beleive CEO's and other similar people are bad themselves. I don't beleive they purposely make choices that are completely immoral, but they have incentives that the common man does not have. Also they are not effected themselves by these choices other than whether it generated more revenue for shareholders. Most of the time the effects of their decisions are in a different country. When the effects hit close to home for them, they are wealthy enough to just move away from the problem, or throw money in it's direction to make it go away, at least for them. In the end he corporation's main motive is profit for shareholders, who also consist of... the high-end wealthy class.

Now don't get me wrong. Not all corporations are evil, and they are needed for certain services and goods. I beleive we need to take a look into what rights they are granted, and the power they currently have.

Anyways, take some time and watch the documentary.

Who's building the Arc?

Well, after no attack or catastophe on 9/11, we did seem to have a mild one here in town. After raining VERY hard ALL day, the water eventually started backing up. Here are some pics of what I came home to. I had to park a couple of blocks away and hike through peoples yards to get home.






And here is my brother's old car. And yes there is water all over inside.



My house did not have any damage as it is on a hill from the road, which is good. I wanted to see what other places looked like so we set out on our bicycle's.







I think this guy underestimated the depth of the water.

VOTD

Here's a nice video on how to wheelie on a streetbike.

As Promised

As promised here are couple of pictures of the new house. This is my newly painted bathroom, which was covered in green vines everywhere before. It almost hurt my eyes before, but now its relaxing.



And this is a Giant hole which is in my back yard. The previous owners had an above ground pool which they sank into the ground a bit. Still woring on finding an excavator to fill it in.


And this would be a nail in my brand new tire. I'm trying to get someone to patch it, but it looks like I may have to do it myself because all the shops are afraid of lawsuits.

Google Calendar Revisited

Well, I have finally had some time to try out Google Calendar, and I must say that I'm quite impressed. Not only is it easy to use, but it seems to have much less problems than Outlook's Calendar. Putting this on my customized google start page combined with the agenda displayed, it has become quite useful. Not only does it offer 99% of the features I want, but I can access it from practically anywhere. It is also fast as can be, no long loading times. On a similar note, I have noticed that Google Maps seems to be functioning much more smoothly in the past few months.

If you have not had a chance, then I suggest you give it a shot.

On a different tangent, I am finally getting stuff moved in at the house and walls painted. I also got my Camera back from repair finally, and hopefully can post some pictures soon.

HDCP + 32bit Vista = Crap

As an update to my earlier post about HDCP, it looks as if there is more bad news about the future of High Definition video. The following is from a post on slashdot:

"Pity the Vista user with a 32-bit CPU. Senior Program Manager Steve Riley announced today at Tech.Ed Australia that full HD content shall only be played at the full resolution where only signed drivers are used — only in the 64-bit version of Vista. From the article: '"Any next-generation high definition content will not play in x32 at all," said Riley. "This is a decision that the Media Player folks made because there are just too many ways right now for unsigned kernel mode code [to compromise content protection]. The media companies asked us to do this and said they don't want any of their high definition content to play in x32 at all, because of all of the unsigned malware that runs in kernel mode can get around content protection, so we had to do this."

Well... great no HD on Vista on any of my PC's! I really hope they get all these restrictions and problems worked out soon, because it's looking like I won't be wanting any HD media I'm restricted to playing it to it's full ability. It looks like downloading already ripped versions of the HD content will be much easier than worrying about all the hardware and software compatablility, especially when I plan on building a MediaPC soon.

Here is an excerpt from a comment in the post that I find insightful:

"The DRM will always be broken: somewhere inside that cable box or LCD monitor, is an unencrypted digital signal. With the right test equipment, somebody will figure out how to get it back into a computer and record it. From there, they need only to compress it with one of the many HD-capable codecs and video formats available and playable right now (H.264 inside an AVI or Quicktime container), and dump it onto the P2P networks.

This smacks of what we saw happen with MP3 music a few years ago. The music companies feared it, and hoped that they could kill MP3 by using proprietary formats instead (anyone remember ATRAC3?). Instead of buying the legitimate, overpriced garbage that the recording industry tried to foist on them, consumers ignored it and got their MP3s illegally instead. By ignoring demand, the music companies gave up billions of dollars in revenue and created a generation of buyers who got used to getting music for free.

The movie and video companies, together with electronics manufacturers, have an opportunity now to not repeat history. If they give the market what it wants -- HD movies without onerous restrictions, playable on the hardware they already have (which by-and-large is technically capable of the task), sold at a reasonable price -- they could start making money immediately. Instead, I think they'll probably resist the inevitable outcome as long as possible, and waste millions (or billions) of dollars in misplaced technological development and make criminals out of their would-be customers in the mean time."

Turbo power

HERE is a site that reviews the Art of Turboing. Basically it shows you how to get something done after you get stuck in the 7th ring of tech phone support hell.

Oh, and by the way... 5 days until moving day!

VOTD

Been a while since I've seent his one, but everyone must witness this guy's insane beatboxin skills. Combined with a harmonica!

What privacy?

Steven Rambam(who is interestingly missing from Wikipedia) was arrested yesterday before making a presentation at the HOPE Number 6 conference (which Kevin Mitnick and Richard Stallman also attended). No details have been released about the cause for the arrest yet. Needless to say, but many rumors are going around, undoubtedly because of the nature of Steven's speeches. Now I had never heard of Stephen before, but I did stumble upon some MP3's of his previous presentations.

HERE is a MP3 of one of his speeches.
HERE is another, but the quality of the recording is bad.
And finally HERE is another.

It is a bit lengthy, but listening to it is quite worth while. It will open your eyes to how much privacy you really have. Oh, and in case your were wondering, that is not a picture of Steven on the top of the post.

Home pwnership

Well, the day has come and I have finally managed to become a homeowner. Although I'm not moved in yet, I closed on the house on Monday. If I seem scarce on here in the future it will be because I will have my hands full moving and getting everything setup with the new house.

I'm very excited about the new house but I do have mixed feelings. On one hand I will finally have a place to settle down for a while and start cutting down spending on my disposable income. I will finally have a garage that I will be able to keep my dream motorcycle (Which I've wanted since I was 15) in, as well as a small workshop that is not in my bedroom or on the kitchen table. I'm also building credit, and gaining equity in the house, thus making future purchases/credit easier. All of these things I have been working towards for a while.

On the other hand it is the longest commitment that I have made, well, ever. Although moving each year is a huge hassle, I love the entropy it causes. A whole new layout of the house, different roommates, purging of the old an unused, as well as many other reasons I cannot fathom at this moment. Also I feel as if I've missed out on a part of life that most people my age are going through, college. Had I gone straight to a 4 year college out of high school I would be finishing up my degree right now. I wouldn't be worrying about many of the things I do now. I would love to have my BS completed by now. I still plan on completing it, but how long will it take at the current rate. Prior to buying the house, I would have the opportunity to go back to school full time and work on finish it up relatively quickly. But now the commitment makes this almost impossible. Of course in a few years I could sell the house off and go back to school, but a few years is a long time when all of your friends are graduating/ have graduated. After getting my BS I would love to get an Masters Degree, but it seems like it will be forever before I have a chance to even get there.

Anyway, perhaps it is my GIAG Syndrome acting up, but I feel as if perhaps going off the school route might of been a better choice in the long run. I would have less money and toys than I do now, but the payoff might be better in the end. Or is the working experience I'm gaining now going to make up for it in the end? Nobody can know for now, only the future will tell.

I will post some pics of the house as soon as I move in (and get my camera back...). It is a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, with attached one car garage and a decent backyard for being in town. It will feel very good to get out of the cramped situation I am in right now.

DJ Ted's Techno Tubes

I stubled across some mp3's of the speech in the previous article. I looked for a while but was unable to find them when writing it.

HERE is an MP3 of his speech.
HERE is a techno remix.

Will the 'net go down the tubes?

Looks like some more news in the Net Neutrality (see bottom of this post for a video) debate. Looks like Alaskan Senator and President Pro Tempore (3rd in succession for presidency) Ted Stephens gave an explanation for why he is voting against the Net Neutrality Bill. In an attempt to explain how the internet works and why Net Neutrality is a bad thing he said the following:

"They want to deliver vast amounts of information over the internet. And again, the internet is not something you just dump something on. It's not a truck. It's a series of tubes. And if you don't understand those tubes can be filled and if they are filled, when you put your message in, it gets in line and its going to be delayed by anyone that puts into that tube enormous amounts of material, enormous amounts of material."

Now while this somewhat, kinda, sorta, maybe one way you could see how the Internet (Intertube?) works, I don't think this needs to be the explanation the rest of the senate and John Q Public needs to hear. Even worse than his explanation is this gem of a quote:

"I just the other day got, an internet was sent by my staff at 10 o'clock in the morning on Friday and I just got it yesterday."

Wow, senator! You got an Internet sent to you? I've been waiting for one for around 10 years! I can only assume that he means that he was sent an email. Anyways, these comments can mean one of two things. That Senator Stephens is almost completely ignorant of computing and the internet, or that he is trying to deceive the public. He seems to have a strong stance on the subject, but why would one take a strong stance on a subject that they know little about? I know strongs stances seem to be popular and win votes these days, but this isn't even a Save-the -Children or War-on-Terror initiative.

Anyways, if you would like to contact Senator Stephens about his comments, you can visit his contact page HERE. I'm pretty sure Mr. Stepehens is a busy man, but I'm sure one of his trusty assistants will read the message. Furthermore you can visit THIS website and find contact information for your Senator or House Member and write them regarding your concern for the misinformation being spread by Senator Stephens.

Anyways, I think I shall go send some Internets... errr... Emails now. Here's the video as promised:



Or even this one from no other than the Ninja himself, which offers a much more technical view:

VOTD

New Video of the day! I always thought that on-road bicycling would be boring, but this is hardcore. Check this out!


And heres a video for you motorcyclists who don't wear a helmet because you think you ride safe. Well, not much you could of done in this situation. Watch how fast it happens.

Zen and Art of the Motorcyclist

Here is something I found on a motorcycle forum the other day:

23 Great Things About The Motorcycle Life

- Those kids on the back seat of the school bus never wave to you when you're in a car
- Your worst day on a motorcycle is better than your best day in a car
- It's kind of fun to be anonymous in your helmet
- Your neighbors think you're a little crazy
- Riding through a rain shower in waterproof gear gives you that bring-it-on feeling of smugness
- Most of the time when you get on your bike, you're heading out to do something fun
- Nobody wishes they were you when you drive by in your car
- Freedom
- Riding a motorcycle makes you different from everyone else
- You arrive with a smile on your face
- Other people read books; you read maps
- We wave to each other on the road
- The feeling you get when you give someone their first ride
- We speak our own language
- Depending on how you feel today, you can be Arlen Ness or Nicky Hayden
- Not everyone can ride a motorcycle
- You never get tired of sitting in the garage, staring at your bike
- The conversation that always start when someone walks up to you and says, "I use to ride one of those."
- Leather jackets are cool
- You can understand why dogs love to stick their heads out the car window
- The look on your co-worker's face when you show a picture of your kid on a motorcycle
- The great feeling you get when you walk into work and set your helmet on the corner of your desk or in your locker
- You can smell when it's going to rain



11 Reasons Motorcycles are the BEST Vehicles

- $10,000 of motorcycle will outperform $70,000 of car.
- You can fill up for $10
- You almost never walk away from your car backwards
- You can identify every bike on the road at a glance - many of them by sound alone
- You can park almost anywhere
- You're not just seeing the scenery, you're part of it
- If you pack them in there just right, you can get six motorcycles in your garage in place of one car
- There are as many ways to make a bike your own as there are people
- You're the most maneuverable thing in traffic
- Downshift, throttle, buh-bye!!!

The Pirate Bay plundered, but rises again.

Well, after news that Swedish police raided The Pirate Bay's (TBP) servers at the end of August. A press release from the MPAA can be found HERE (pdf). This caused a lot of controversy about the legality of the raid as The Pirate Bay's website was perfectly legal under Swedish law(as far as we know, but the police have presented no evidence suggesting that it is performing illegal actions). Under Swedish law, it is illegal to distribute copyrighted material, but TPB claims to hosts no such data. They distribute Torrent files which merely contain information on how to build the file, which other users who are using the same torrent send to users who do not have it. A much more detailed explanation of Bittorrent can be found HERE and will help the uninitiated understand how torrents work as well as their their legality.

A team or 50 police officers raided several servers, including some that hosted data that did not belong to TPB, and have caused disruptions of service to many small companies. Many beleive that this raid was pressured onto Swedish police by U.S. politicians as well as the MPAA and RIAA. Apparently Swedish reporters have begun to pick up on the story(a blog which is translating Swedish media reports) and have been reporting it extensively. Many Swedish citizens are angered because the swedish police force is known fo being understaffed and underfunded, and often many smaller crimes go uninvestigated, yet they could spare 50 officers to raid a server room for suspected illegal activity. Perhaps they thought they might encounter actual pirates? Here is a video of the raid. The Swedish Pirate political party is organizing public demonstrations today.

Well, today TPB is back up with new servers located in Denmark. Apparently they are still experiencing some performance issues, but hope to be up to full capacity. Many suspect that the actions taken have actually helped out TPB in the eyes of the public, especially in Sweden. An interview with one of the sysadmins, Peter, can be found HERE. I do not know if it is in english or not yet.

Another interesting thing is that Canada recently introduced Captain Copyright, a superhero that will brainwas...AHEM...teach kids more about copyright infringement issues. It's better than sueing people I guess.

Camera

Well, the ongoing saga of getting my FujiFilm camera back from Bigston Corporation keeps on getting better. After the repair shop having it for over 6 months I called them yet AGAIN to ask them if anything has happened. They never contact me so I have o run through the phone games with them each time.

When I called yesterday and finally getting through to tech support after about 20 minutes I was told that my name was not in their system. I was asked if I had a work order number, but I was never given one. After sitting there is disbelief for a while, and reiterating that I had sent it in over 6 months ago and soke to someone several times about it. The lady then asked me what model of camera I had, and upon hearing that it was a FujiFilm she quickly told me that this was the support line for Samsung (Um, OK, I was never asked what kind of camera I had when I was transferred to you. What made her think that I had a samsung was beyond me). Anyways, she quickly found me in the Fujifilm system and said that they were still waiting on parts that were on backorder from Fuji. She was going to send the camera top Fuji the next day for them to repair or replace the camera.

Now I'd like to be optimistic about this whole thing, but if my camera is sent to Fuji, and never makes it way back to me I will not be a happy person. I could easily see Fuji saying they never received it, and Bigston says they sent it, and my camera will be forever lost in some sort of shipping lingo. The good news is that they did verify this time that the camera is under warantee (or well, WAS when I sent it to them LAST SUMMER!). Well, anyways wish me good luck. Here's a picture of my baby:

Electronic Supersonic.

Well, been quite busy recently so I have not had a chance to write any articles. Looking for a house to buy and beginning to pack my belongings into boxes. Also doing some research on the a forum for Yamaha R6's in preparation to buy one. Anyway, to prevent you from becoming bored, here is an awesome music video...