Mini Blog
Random Question
Why does the label on children’s Tylenol tell you not to operate heavy machinery or vehicles when it's for CHILDREN!?
Polls
Should I upgrade to Vista?
Recently Read Articles
Recommended Wines
-
Amy and Pete's Wedding
About Me
-
Categories
- All (212)
- Geek (55)
- Life (104)
- Weblications (5)
- Wine (4)
-
Best of...
-
What I'm Currently Investigating
Archive for August, 2006
Fantasy Football Freaks
Posted by Pete on August 26th, 2006
I like fantasy football as much as the next guy but come one…if you’re caught wearing one of these, I’m pretty sure you’re taking things way too seriously.
Did the Apple users think they were safe?
Posted by Pete on August 24th, 2006
Apple to recall 1.8 million notebook batteries
Apple Computer Inc. on Thursday recalled 1.8 million Sony-built laptop batteries that could overheat and catch fire.
Can you hear me now? (guess not)
Posted by Pete on August 20th, 2006
I was paddling out on my new surfboard hoping to catch a few waves this weekend. As I got past the impact zone and sat up on my board, I rested my hands on the my legs, which just so happens to be where the pockets of my board shorts are located. As soon I did this I realized something was wrong because I felt something in my pocket. Turns out I had placed my cell phone in my pocket as I was leaving the car and never took it out before heading into the water.
Yeah…its trashed, I feel smart.
Attention Dell Laptop Owners:
Posted by Pete on August 16th, 2006
The Dell website is recalling batteries shipped between April 1, 2004 and July 18, 2006.
Dell has identified a potential issue associated with certain batteries sold with Dell Latitude™, Inspiron™, XPS™ and Dell Precision Mobile Workstation™ notebook computers. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and other regulatory agencies, Dell is voluntarily recalling certain Dell-branded batteries with cells manufactured by Sony and offering free replacements for these batteries. Under rare conditions, it is possible for these batteries to overheat, which could pose a risk of fire.Potentially affected batteries were sold with the following models of Dell notebook computers or separately as secondary batteries:
* Latitude: D410, D500, D505, D510, D520, D600, D610, D620, D800, D810 * Inspiron: 500M, 510M, 600M, 700M, 710M, 6000, 6400, 8500, 8600, 9100, 9200, 9300, 9400, E1505, E1705 * Precision: M20, M60, M70, M90 * XPS: XPS, XPS Gen2, XPS M170, XPS M1710
Why is this you might ask? Apparently there have been some stories on laptop batteries exploding.
Duck and Cover
Posted by Pete on August 10th, 2006
Ever hear about the 1950 video on how to “survive an atomic blast?”
Websites as art
Posted by Pete on August 8th, 2006
So I recently came across a few sites that attempt to turn website structure into an art form. The first one below generates a picture which is color coded based upon your site’s links, images, tags and other items. Its from Websites as Graphs. My site of dudchenko.com is shown as the example below:
The next one uses a concept of DNA Art that attempts to create a DNA Map using the tags from the HTML code (title tags, header tags, etc). Its from WEB2DNA and here’s what dudchenko.com looks like using this art concept:
San Diego vs. Chicago - Driving
Posted by Pete on August 3rd, 2006
So I was driving around at lunch one day and I was almost cut off by a car trying to merge onto the freeway. Last time I checked they are the ones that are supposed to yield (see “A properly designed freeway on-ramp”) but that doesn’t seem to be the case here in San Diego. This got me thinking a bit about the differences I’ve noticed in driving styles between Chicago drivers and San Diego drivers. below is a comparison.
I invite you to add your city if you like:
| Scenario | San Diego | Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Merging onto the freeway | The car merging seems to have the right of way. | The car merging better look out for everyone else. |
| Signaling | Using a signal lets other know your intentions so they can let you in. | Using a signal lets others know your intentions and thereby allows them to block your next move. Most drivers never use them. |
| Horn usage | Use of the horn is withheld for only the most extreme times. | Horns no longer register as drivers use them so often, they have lost all meaning. |
| Taxis | Better call ahead and plan to travel at least 10-15 miles. | Always around and its not uncommon to get in a cab to go two blocks because of the weather. |
| Rush Hour | Its bad because traffic moves at only 20 mph. | Its bad because traffic actually goes in reverse sometimes. |
| Parking Spaces | Spaces are about half the size of an average car which is funny since 75% of San Diegans have SUVs. | Parking spaces don’t exist, drivers must “bump” cars apart to parallel park. |
| Gas Prices | Sucks a lot. | Sucks a lot. |
| Average Driving Style | Defensive because “Most other people don’t know how to drive”. | Offensive because “I’m a better driver than you are.” |
| Bad weather effect | Accidents up 200% during a light drizzle. | Average speed slows from 85 mph to 65 mph durring most blizzards. |
| Spacial Awareness | Doesn’t exist. Assume a buffer of 5 feet beyond the car’s actual dimensions. | Very precise. Car dimensions are known down to the centimeter. Knowledge acquired from parking (see Parking Spaces). |