Tim's Humble Abode

Paint, Paint Everywhere (Paper, Paper Everywhere II)

nitestrike — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 02:50:18 +0000

Well the wall paper has been removed for about a week now. My part in the process decreased dramatically as I was sleeping more when my wife was awake due to my work schedule. Now it’s paint everywhere, well actually it’s globs of paint everywhere, our daughter was helping. I’ve had to clean up the woodwork twice now. And have her clean herself up a couple times also. But, it will all be worth it in the end. It will look great and we get the satisfaction of having done the work by our selves, mostly my wife.

Have you gotten your Transformers tickets yet?

nitestrike — Mon, 25 Jun 2007 02:43:43 +0000

I went and got my Transformers tickets earlier this week. And cannot wait to see it! My two biggest concerns thus far are Bumblebee and Megatron. How could they do that, Bumblebee is a Camero, now don’t get me wrong that’s a cool car, BUT HE’S SUPPOSED TO BE A VW BUG… MR. BAY!!! My gripe about Megatron is he’s a futuristic looking jet, what happened to being a gun. Even in the original Transformers Movie they turned Megatron into a different “machine” when they did change him. Enough of the griping. I’m going to go see it and am going to like it. B-) So what is everyone else thoughts on the Movie.

Windows Home Server turns RC1 today.

nitestrike — Wed, 13 Jun 2007 09:09:18 +0000

Microsoft released Windows Home Server (WHS) RC1 (Release Candidate 1) today, well actually yesterday for those of you on normal time. They are opening up the testing for those of you who did not have a chance to try it out in Beta. I have been fortunate enough to have been using it sense Beta 2.

To be quite honest I have been wondering for a couple years now why Microsoft had not produced a product such as this, but there is a time and place for everything. So when they did announced it earlier this year I was quite surprised. From first impressions I would have to say that this is an extremely solid product. It does what it needs to and does it simply and well. Which is what they need for the average, non-technical type that they are and should be targeting Windows Home Server to.

The basic features are this:

Centralized backup and restore solution for home PCs
Centralized storage solution
Remote access to files and PCs via the web

This allows you the freedom and security of accessing computers and files where you need, when you need them. Each of the workstations have a small client installed on them that allows you to monitor you Home Server. The Windows Home Server Consol, as it is called, allows you to maintain user accounts, monitor backups, maintain data shares, and watch over the general health of the WHS.

From my personal experience I can say that the backup and restore functionality works really well. I had my Windows Media Center PC’s OS drive crash, and with the supplied recovery CD was able to-do a complete restore of it and have the computer up and running with little effort. It even detected which computer that I trying to restore, and when asking what restore I wanted set the Media Center computer as the default.

I am certainly going to be buying Windows Home Server once it comes out, and I would highly suggest it for those of you that have several Windows PCs at home, share data across those computers, and are looking for an easily managed solution.

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Paper, paper, everywhere

nitestrike — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 07:48:49 +0000

First it was the Kitchen, well actually lets step back a little more. It actually begain with the Living Room, but that is just a gleam in the eye of owning this house. We had the kitchen remodled, redecorated, call it what you will. And as always my wife did a wounderful job of designing it. But right now we are redecorating the Dinning Room, and I think i have found the most maddening thing ever! Taking down wall paper, it does not want to copperate. We have it mostly off one wall, and thank goodness it’s the most papered wall. Then on top of that there are two different colors of wall paper, but the same design and they are totally different when taking them down. So my advise to you, those crazy enough to heed it, get it done professionally least you end up in a straight jacket. I’ll keep you all apraised of the progress, and hey there might even be a few pictures.

The McLatte Deception

nitestrike — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 22:49:06 +0000

Just a few minutes ago I made a coffee run to an extremely well known arched fast food restaurant. My wife had asked for a White Chocolate Raspberry Latte, but if they didn’t have that she would take regular coffee. Hey fair enough, I needed a break and who knows maybe I would be able to remember exactly the thing she ordered without having to ask again. So I drive on over and pull up to order at the drive thru. I did a quick scan of the menu board and do not see any mention of lattes or other specialty coffees. So after a few seconds I was greeted by the Driver Thru order “attendant” to which I asked what they had in the way of coffees. His reply was they had the Premium Regular and Decaffeinated kinds. Which I asked if there were any other kinds just to make sure. For you see my wife had been there just a day or two before and I thought would not have requested a Latte if they had not had it. So once he responded that was all they did have I ordered two large Premium regular coffees with creamer and Equal. I then proceeded to pull around and pay for the coffees at which time I noticed that the same car was still sitting at the delivery window (the second window) as when I had pulled into the restaurant. After paying I sat there for several more minutes, about 5 to be exact, before there was not any activity at the delivery window with that car that had been sitting there the whole time. I’m thinking hey it’s a Holiday weekend they’re trying to do the right thing for the employees and are a bit understaffed. So after the two cars in front of me get their orders squared away I pull up to the delivery window myself. I only have a couple of Coffees and they already know what I wanted to have for them so the coffees should be sitting right there for me to pickup. Aaaa nope, what I did see was someone picking up and carrying an empty coffeepot away. Not only that, but, I saw a nice large machine on the front counter that said Cappuccino across the front of it in all upper case large letters. Now I’m sure you’re thinking this is where I start the wind this narrative up, and once again I’m forced to answer with a resounding nope. I proceed to knock on the window to get the attention of the McEmployee that is taking care of processing the Drive Thru orders. To her credit she was very nice and polite and took care of the issue quickly and efficiently. I asked in a very nice yet somewhat confused voice are the Premium Coffee Cappuccinos, because the person who had taken my order had said that you only had the regular and decaffee Premium coffee when I inquired at to what you had in the way of coffees. She said yes they did have Cappuccinos and asked if that is what I would like instead, so I asked what flavories they had and as expected they had exactly the one my wife had asked for. But her is the part that totally blew my mind away was her response to the confusion when ordering, and the worst part is I actually believe her. The employee that had taken my order knew that the Cappuccino was a Caffinated Beverage, but did not realize that it was a coffee. Now all I have to say is Huuuhhhh???

So there is my first tale as the Crotchety Blogger, that is usually how they go, not just a story service, but a marvel of thinking and reasoning .

The Crotchety Blogger strikes back…

nitestrike — Sat, 25 Nov 2006 21:51:27 +0000

Now those of you who have been following this blog from it’s inception, which I’m sure is a significantly low number and my owning doing, know that it used to be tiled the Cranky Blogger. It was a place to vent and who knows maybe actually make a little difference in this twisted and hosed up world of ours. But I digress.

This weekend I’ve been trying to blog on a couple of different items that I thought were interesting and just can not find a groove or get in the mood to do so. Over the last week or so have had some very interesting set of tales about customer experience which have questioned my thoughts on just what our society considers acceptable customer service. As a result I’m bring back the essence of the Cranky Blogger as a Category, and possibly a page, as the Crotchety Blogger - A display in human thought, wonderment, and thinking.

O where, O where, did that little hole go, O where did it go

nitestrike — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 04:03:03 +0000

You remember those long summer days you spent digging that hole! That hole that would allow you to reach… yes reach China. My friend the Library Despot stumbled across this site, a Google maps mash-up that calculates just where that whole would have ended up. And like my friend the Despot I would have had a pair of very upset parents after having emptied a whole ocean into our back yard.

Order of the Phoenix

nitestrike — Tue, 21 Nov 2006 02:23:05 +0000

Over at Sci-Fi Wire you can catch the release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix movie posters, and a teaser trailer. The trailer can be seen if you happen to catch Happy Feet. Order of the Phoenix is to be released Friday July the 13th, 2007.

Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Robbie Coltrane, Alan Rickman, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Ralph Fiennes and Helena Bonham Carter
Written by Michael Goldenberg
Directed by David Yates
Not Yet Rated
Opens July 13, 2007

SATS, a NASA rethink of today’s air travel model

nitestrike — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 03:36:45 +0000

I was watching an episode of The Histories Channel’s Modern Marvels apply named “Private Jets”. The episode is a rundown of the private jet usage today from corporate converted jets to personally owned small kits. The episode begins with a short interview with Michael Dorn about personal jet ownership and buying a private jet. I highly recommend the episode if you can catch it.

During the last segment of the episode they mentioned a little know project being conducted by NASA called SATS (Small Aircraft Transportation System), an evolution of the current spoke and hub system we have today.

SATS: A bold vision

NASA has proposed a travel alternative to relieve congested interstate highways and hub-and-spoke airports, with the potential to revolutionize transportation accessibility and mobility.
As envisioned, the Small Aircraft Transportation System (SATS) will free people and products from existing delays, by allowing more access to more communities in less time.
To prove the SATS concept will work, NASA has initiated a five-year $69 million research plan. NASA will conduct ground and flight research at several airports around the country, culminating in technology flight demonstrations by mid-2005.
SATS offers an on-demand, point-to-point, widely distributed transportation system. It relies on advanced 4- to 10-passenger aircraft using new operating capabilities. Such a system promises improved safety, efficiency, reliability and affordability for small aircraft operating within the nation’s 5,400 public-use-landing facilities. About 98% of the US population lives within 20 miles of at least one of these airports.

This more flexible on-demand system of air travel will allow us the freedom of picking where we want to go and when we want to go there. A mash-up of our current highway system and the convenience and comfort of air travel. Who knows, we may finally see that dream of the flying car come to fruition.

Other groups involved in this project include both private and public entities. These groups are The National Consortium for Aviation Mobility (NCAM), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Department of Transportation (DOT).

Resource(s):
SATS Fact Sheet - NASA
SATS 2005 Technology Demonstration - NASA

Reference(s):
“Personal Jets” - Modern Marvels - History Channel

Beta be gone…

nitestrike — Sat, 28 Oct 2006 12:42:37 +0000

Microsoft has been busy as of late. They have several products, well actually two, that have shed the Beta moniker. Those two products are Defender, their Anti-Spyware utility that has been quite good to me. They have made some changes to the GUI (Graphical User Interface), and have also included two free support calls. The other product to be released is Internet Explorer 7, this new version updating a languishing product, includes features such as Tabbed browsing, anti fishing detection, RSS support, a redesign of the interface. Both of these products are released for the Windows XP platforms.

In other product release news Microsoft has started its Christmas Windows Campaign. The program is being called Express Upgrade, it allows those that buy a computer cable of running Windows Vista to upgrade from Windows XP. The list of companies participating thus far are Acer, Dell, Fujitsu, Gateway/eMachine, HP, Lenovo, Medion, NEC, Sony, and Toshiba.

If you’re in the market for a new computer this holiday season, be sure to ask your retailer about the Express Upgrade to Windows Vista, being offered by participating PC manufacturers. When you buy a qualifying Windows Vista Capable PC between October 26, 2006 and March 15, 2007, you may be eligible for an Express Upgrade to Windows Vista.

Products:
Microsoft Defender (Download)
Internet Explorer 7 (Download)