Just thinking…

So…just thinking here–on immigration.

If the DoJ’s argument against the Az. immigration enforcement law is that immigration is a federal crime and the states have no right to “help” enforce those laws, then State law enforcement should stop assisting with federal BOLOs, DEA investigations, Homeland Security, etc. because they are Federal jurisdictions?

Second thought: It is, as I understand it, a federal misdemeanor to enter the US without proper documentation. However, it is a felony to abet, employ, sell/rent goods or property, feed, shelter or otherwise aid a illegal alien. Ergo, would that not make a officer not investigating illegal activity he has witnessed a criminal?

Finally: Wouldn’t be much easier to just open the board, say, “Hey, come over here; ID, please, thank you–you have no criminal record, walk through this scanner–no drugs or guns. Ok, here’s your entry ticket have a nice day working; remember to file your taxes and obey our laws.”?
Think. It would cut down on coyote traffic, save lives, reduce a network asset for smugglers and criminals and we would still get to have our works wanting to do the jobs we don’t want to do. Do that and declare open season on anyone trying to cross illegally, because the honest people looking for work are going to be using the legal, pleasant, safe entry points, right?

Published in: on July 30, 2010 at 13:40  Comments (1)  
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Holy XXX, Batman!

Warning: This episode of Geek Strand contains content of an adult nature and should be read only by mature readers.

(Of course, Really? How mature and adult can we be in a column about a Batman parody?)

There comes a time in a young boys life when thoughts start to turn from comic books to girls and the possibility that they might have something to offer other than cooties. During the time these two separate worlds co-mingle. Debates on whether Wonder Woman or Catwoman was hotter or if Robin and Batgirl were hooking up were quietly discussed outside of adults’ hearing range. (more…)

Published in: on July 30, 2010 at 12:26  Comments Off  
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Wally World Madness!

I don’t understand Wal Mart…They overload inventory, get stuck with the crap figures nobody wants anymore, then refuse to stock the new stuff (my Wal Marts have missed the last two releases) until the old stuff is sold out, and then “Roll Back” the prices, see pic for latest Roll Back!

While other stores are putting old GI Joes on the clearance rack, Wal Mart has taken a decidedly different approach: doubling the price of figures they couldn't sell for $5.

While other stores are putting old GI Joes on the clearance rack, Wal Mart has taken a decidedly different approach: doubling the price of figures they couldn't sell for $5.

Now, I understand what they are trying to do. They want a jacked up price out there so they can “roll back” the price when the Pursuit of Cobra hit the shelves. I have seen them do things like this, putting out a RB sign claiming some crazy price that was never on the shelves.

I wonder if WM got busted for their roll back bs, or what, but $10 bucks for year old figures is just Madness.

Published in: on July 25, 2010 at 13:23  Comments (1)  
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GEEK STRAND: Bits and Bytes

Notifying the Next of Kin 

Microsoft has announced the death of it’s social-networking phone, the Kin. After less than two month’s on the market, the social-networking device targeted at tweens to college drop outs. The alleged iPhone killer neglected little things the kiddies wanted like, customization, apps and some level of coolness. What kid wants a phone called “Kin?” Sounds like your talking to your hillbilly cousin in West Virginia.

Just for the record:

Apple iPhone 4, 3 days, 1.7 million sold. VS. MS Kin & Kin II (Yes, two models), six weeks, <10,000 units sold (according to MS insiders via endgaget.com)

Crime in 3D

The biggest failing of “Avatar: The Airbender” is not the bad acting, M. Night’s directing or scripting massacre of the popular anime story or the terrible martial arts choreography.

The real crime is the marketing of the movie in the 3D format.

I have complained about 3D effects being slapped on movies–most notably the recent Wonderland debauchery–tend only to make the movie darker and generally unwatchable in order to throw a couple of beach balls at the audience. I was worried that this would happen to Avatar, especially since the early trailers did not mention 3D.

However, “Avatar” does something even worse than this.

There were no 3D effects in the movie! The trailers were in 3D. The beginning title sequence and all the production houses’ logos had 3D. The credits had 3D. During the actual movie, none.  I am not talking about effects that were really bad. I am saying that not a single fireball, ice ball or earth clod that came out of the screen. No arrows, spears or swords threatened the goggled eyes of the audience. Nevertheless, glasses were still required to reintegrate the separated colors of the film, which is  doubly annoying when you already have to wear glasses.

So, not only was this movie bad, but fraudulent as well. The studios, producers, director, special effects companies and the movie theaters should be sued for misrepresentation, false advertisement and anything else a smart lawyer can think of.

Changing the Way We Work

As an experiment, I wrote this weeks column on my iPad, and the overall experience was pleasant. While not perfect, Pages for the iPad worked quite well and getting use to the touchscreen keyboard was not difficult. The hardest parts were the change in layout, with symbols and numbers being on different “screens”, and adapting to the word-suggestion tool.

The iPad’s size was no hindrance. In fact, it worked quite well in my lap or on the table.

 

Can't Find It

Nothing under here--Sorry, the original photo seen here was lost in the server crash.

In addition, the picture of me working was taken on my MyTouch Slide and edited on the Android smartphone with Photoshop Mobile. However to be honest, the pic will probably have to run through regular Photoshop to be converted into the proper format. I did crop and color correct it on my phone though.

 

This is just a test of the changing ways we can work. I am finishing this article while in between matches during a pool tournament at a local biker bar. Making boredom productive, or wasting valuable free time working…depending on how you look at it.

Published in: on July 16, 2010 at 13:42  Comments (1)  
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3D Fraud make Last Airbender not only bad, but criminal.

The biggest failing of “Avatar: The Airbender” is not the bad acting, M. Night’s directing or scripting massacre of the popular anime story or the terrible martial arts choreography.

The real crime is the marketing of the movie in the 3D format.

I have complained about 3D effects being slapped on movies…most notably the recent Wonderland debacle…which tend only to make the movie darker and generally unwatchable in order to throw a couple of beach balls at the audience. I was worried that this would happen to Avatar, especially since the early trailers did not mention 3D.

However, “Avatar” does something even worse than this.

There was no 3D effects in the movie! The trailers were in 3D. The beginning title sequence and all the production houses’ logos had 3D. The credits had 3D. During the actual movie, none. I am not talking about effects that were really bad. I am saying that not a single fireball, ice ball or earth clod that came out of the screen. No arrows, spears or swords threatened the goggled eyes of the audience. Nevertheless, glasses were still required to reintegrate the separated colors of the film, which i s doubly annoying when you already have to wear glasses.

So, not only was this movie bad, but fraudulent as well. The studios, producers, director, special effects companies and the movie theaters should be sued for misrepresentation, false advertisement and anything else a smart lawyer can think of.

Published in: on July 7, 2010 at 10:15  Comments (1)  
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Geek Strand: From the Enterprise to the Everyday

Every since I was a youngling back in the pre-home computer days, I wanted an iPad.

Trek PADDs - The fictional (future) relative of the iPad obviously inspired the Apple device.

Trek PADDs - The fictional (future) relative of the iPad obviously inspired the Apple device.

Okay. Perhaps I never called it an iPad, but that was pretty much what I wanted. Every calculator, watch, pocket radio or any other portable electronic device I came in contact with became a tricorder-like device to help me search out strange new worlds like Mr. Spock.

As I grew up, I continued in my quest for that elusive device that inspired my imagination. I had the most advanced digital watches, with calculators, computer games and digital phone books. I had scientific calculators you could program. I bought nearly every kind of digital assistant they came out with. When “Pocket PCs” came out, I was right on the cutting edge using the latest models to work and play.

Ipad - The touchscreen device puts a bit of the Enterprise into your hands.

Ipad - The touchscreen device puts a bit of the Enterprise into your hands.

During that time, Star Trek: The Next Generation redefined these portable devices, labeling them PADDs (Personal Access Data Displays). Just as the previous generation of Trek had inspired so many of our advancements, this new Enterprise brought forth a new era of high-tech design, bringing the idea of touch screen surfaces, customizable work stations and even eBooks to popular consumer’s desires.

Just as Kirk’s Enterprise gave birth cell phones (particularly flip-phones), Lazy-Boys and large screen TVs, Picard’s devices, like the PADD, inspired generations of devices like the Palm, Casio PocketPCs, and tablet PCs.

However, it wasn’t until Apple’s success with multi-touch input and the iPhone did things start to really look and feel like what we all saw on Trek.

Then came the iPad. The flat, touch screen device looked like it was smuggled out of the prop archives at Universal Studios, and preformed much the same way as the PADD. Linking wirelessly to networks, it provides personal access to entertainment, communications and even work files. Some people may have mocked Apple for using the “iPad” name, but to anyone who has seen Star Trek, it was obvious what they were going for.

Other naysayers complained that the device didn’t have a market; there was no use for the device. My response was always simple: “Look at Star Trek.”

My iPad fit right into my daily routine. In the mornings, instead of bringing out my 17-inch MacBook Pro, I pick up my iPad, drink my morning caffeine and browse news and e-mails. Throughout the day, I keep up with e-mails and play a few games while waiting for an appointment. In the evening, I can google or access IMDB.com for some bit of trivia as my girlfriend and I watch TV. At bedtime, it turns into an eBook reader (with access to all the major bookstore and eBook services). It can even be my alarm clock, if I wasn’t already using my smartphone for that.

This is not to say that the iPad is going to replace my MacBook Pro (which has replaced my desktop computer), or that I couldn’t (or didn’t) use the laptop for everything I am using the iPad for now. But the iPad does fit in a little better, and even helps as I sit here writing on the MacBook Pro while my e-mails feed onto the iPad.

The iPad is something new that truly fills the technological hole that most (except for us Trek fans) didn’t even realize existed.

Published in: on July 2, 2010 at 13:11  Comments (1)  
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