Palm Pre - Is there anything it can't do?

As I was driving down the road after work, I decided to see if I could get my new Palm Pre to help me find a place I'd written about on my website. I pulled into a gas station so I wouldn't kill a family of Lefties in a Prius or something. Then, I opened a browser and brought up www.peeniewallie.com. On the right side, I typed in "Hornet" and hit the "search" button, because I knew the post had that word in it.

So, you're following me so far, right? I'm browsing the internet through my Palm Pre cell phone, searching my own web site for a post. I find the post and it has the address. I click on the address and my phone browser launches Google Maps. It immediately shows me where I am, and where I want to go, and generates turn by turn directions. I pulled out of the gas station and drove right to the place.

This Palm Pre is just unbelievable. I know. You're thinking..."Tom Tom or any good GPS does that". Well, no. Not really. See - I had to surf the internet to get the address I was looking for. And it wasn't like I was going to a restaurant. I needed to look up the address first on a website, and then get directions to that address.

I know..I know. You're thinking "an iPhone does that". Well, no. Not really. The iPhone has no GPS and can't give turn-by-turn directions. At least, this was true as recently as June 2009. That was when the Palm Pre came out and Apple figured they'd better get off their @ss and start playing catch-up.

The iPhone doesn't have a real keyboard. iPhone doesn't support Adobe Flash. iPhone can't be used as a tethered modem. iPhone is incapable of any syncing via WiFi or Bluetooth, even though it supports both. The iPhone does not have a removable battery. no games. iPhone No multitasking with the iPhone. The iPhone is so large they use giant hand models to fool people about the size of the thing.

The Palm Pre has a wireless battery charger for Christ's sake. It literally beams electricity through the air to recharge it.

Last night, I plugged the Palm Pre into my laptop with the USB connector. It immediately appeared as a USB drive on my laptop. I created a folder on the phone called "Music". I dragged some pirated music onto it using Windows Explorer and boom. I was off to the races. It immediately found the music and started playing it. No iTunes. Fvck iTunes. What a load of crap. Who wants all that nonsense? Palm Pre is the way to go, people. It's the bomb.

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 3, 2009 at 1:07 AM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Postcards From Nowhere: San Diego

Recently, Meghan asked me where I was and I said San Diego and she said "is it pretty there?" So, for those who've never been to San Diego, here's a few shots I snapped today.

Above: ?

Above: The landowner identified these as "Succulents".

Above: The landowner identified these as "Honeysuckle".

Above: The landowner identified these as "Acacias".

Above: Angel's Trumpet.

Above: Gladiolus.

Above: Gladiolus.

Above: Hollyhocks.

Above: Magnolia tree in bloom.

Above: Agapanthus.

Above: Objects in mirror are stranger than they appear.

Above: ?

Above: ?

Above: ?

Above: ?

Above: ?

Above: Bougainvillea.

Above: Snap Dragons.

Above: Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove.

Above: Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove.

Above: Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: La Jolla Cove beach.

Above: Scripps Park at La Jolla Cove.

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 3, 2009 at 12:02 AM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Technology Breakdown

I just can't tell you how retarded I look walking around, but if you've ever seen me, you know. I'm dangerously "over-tech'ed", as they say. I routinely carry two cameras, a camera bag, two laptops, and a cell phone. When I sit down and start plugging in, I drain more power from the grid than a third world country.

When I flew in on Monday, for whatever reason, my cell phone ceased to function properly. Now, keep in mind it is...or rather was...a RAZR. I hated that phone with a passion, so I was about as upset when the phone died as I was when I heard Billy Mays passed away.

But, it was a phone, which meant that I had to replace it, of course. Because I couldn't communicate any more, which sucks beyond belief. I felt roughly like I felt when we were hunkered down in the Spring blizzard for 3 days without power.

I'd considered getting an iPhone, but I despise all Apple products with a passion normally reserved for governmental agencies, liberal talk show hosts, and off-key pitchmen. The iPhone doesn't have a keyboard, of course. And they flat out refuse to support Adobe Flash. And you can't use it as a tethered modem for a laptop. And it's too big. And, you have to use iTunes, I'm sure, which I hate in ways I can't go into without throwing glasses and breaking plates.

I liked the idea of a Blackberry, but you can't surf the web with one, really. At least, not that I'm aware of. Not that I've ever held one, mind you. Most people with technology know enough to keep it out of my desperate little hands. My last cell phone before the RAZR was a StarTac, for God's sake.

I don't get good coverage in the mountains where I live in CO, so I wanted to get away from Verizon anyway. I wanted to at least try AT&T or Sprint. I'd wanted to try this for some time. I'd been planning a break with my provider.

Plus, I really needed a new iPod and a new GPS.

But, I'd heard that Palm had finally gotten their sh1t together and come up with a new phone called the Palm Pre that was supposed to be an iPhone killer. Sort of like a slider Blackberry with an iPhone type touch screen. That runs Adobe Flash. And has a USB charger. And shows up as a drive in Windows Explorer. And isn't made by Apple. And doesn't have iTunes. And doesn't run Windows CE. And doesn't use Verizon as a carrier. And works as a tethered-modem.

So I started looking at the Palm Pre when they announced it early this year. When my phone died, I thought...WTF? What have I got to lose? I'll go get one and take it for a test drive.

I'm not normally a fan of consolidating a lot of products into one. I got the cell phone on Monday and in I played with it for a little bit, and I thought...oh crap...why did I get this piece of junk...this will never work. But after playing with it for a day or two, I've now decided that it is by far the coolest phone I've ever held. Now I think I can't live without it. It gives me turn by turn directions as a GPS, plays mp3 files that I can copy over under Windows explorer. It shows up as a drive in XP - and I think of all the hacking I did to crack open that god-damned Verizon RAZR. I could murder those fuckers for what they put me through.

Oh - FYI - apparently they backed off their plan to let it funtion as a tethered modem. Probably Sprint balked at the idea. So, I was disappointed by this, but other than that, I freaking love this phone. You just can't begin to know how cool this phone is. Go get one. You'll love it.

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 1, 2009 at 11:16 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

The Left Coast

F/A 18D Hornet

I saw this guy mowing today, and I took a shot of him because I'd never seen anything like this before. The guy was standing up, mowing the lawn like there was no tomorrow, wearing suit pants and a white button-down shirt. I've seen the zero-turning-radius commercial mowers, but this thing was pretty crazy looking. Like something Dr. Seuss would have invented. But of course, when I said something to Jonathan, he was like...yeah...Will had one of those a while back. Will was like...yeah...it's called a "Sulky". So, per usual, I'm the last to know, it seems.

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 1, 2009 at 10:57 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

White House Charade Implodes

This from Scott K. Classic.

Posted by Rob Kiser on July 1, 2009 at 9:25 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

The Lily of the Nile - Agapanthus

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 30, 2009 at 5:57 PM : Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Copy and Paste Between PC's

I don't know how I survived this long without the ability copy and paste between two computers connected to the internet. Sure, you could send yourself an email. Or you could use the sneaker net (copy it between computers using a thumb drive or equivalent), but who wants to go crawling around trying to dig up a thumb drive and hammering it into two different computers and praying it pops up in Windows Explorer (plug and pray). Or you could install some type of client-side IM software on each computer and try to IM yourself, assuming you have admin rights to both PC's. But for copying text between two computers, nothing is easier or faster or cheaper than this: http://cl1p.net


Posted by Rob Kiser on June 30, 2009 at 5:15 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Not All Who Wander Are Lost...

Breckenridge, Leadville, Grand Junction, Moab, Lake Powell, Grand Canyon, Tijuana, San Diego. How was your morning?

Above: Bird of Paradise.

Update: Diane in San Diego informs me that the flower above is an Agapanthus - the "Lily of the Nile".

Above: Some type of Lily.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 29, 2009 at 11:52 PM : Comments (2) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Swainson's Hawk

Swainson's Hawk (Buteo swainsoni) with light color morph soaring over a field near the hogback. Here's my post at whatbird.com. Granted, this photo isn't very good, but so far as I know, this is the first Swainson's Hawk I've ever seen. I used to assume that all the hawks I saw were Red-tailed Hawks. Now, when I see a bird overheard, I take a shot and then when I get home, I try to identify it.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 29, 2009 at 12:30 AM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Daily Photos

Above: Day 15 for the five baby Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) in the birdhouse on the razor-wire fence around my garden. (These birds hatched on or around June 14th.) These birds should fledge on July 6th or 7th.

Above: Day 20 for the four baby Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) in the birdhouse at Bud's. (These birds hatched on or around June 9th.) These birds should fledge on July 1st or 2nd.

A White-breasted Nuthatch(Sitta carolinensis) trying to walk on a fence. This is kind of funny because he's not a perching bird. He's a "tree-clinging" bird, and has a hard time perching, believe it or not.

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in velvet foraging in the back yard.

Sydney, Meghan, and Keenan holding hands.

I believe this is some type of purple penstemon growing wild on the side of the road.


More purple penstemon growing wild on the side of the road.

This is some type of wildflower growing in Jeanelle's yard. No clue what it is.

These are Jeanelle's Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra Spectabilis).

Jeanelle's Bleeding Hearts (Dicentra Spectabilis).

Wendy's California Poppies in bright sunlight(Eschscholzia californica).

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 29, 2009 at 12:05 AM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Jennifer and Hannah in Palm Beach

Jennifer in the lighthouse with the Jupiter Inlet in the background.

Jennifer in the lighthouse at the Jupiter Inlet.

Jennifer in the intracoastal waterway with the Jupiter lighthouse in the background.

Jennifer and Hannah trying to catch puffer fish.

Jennifer and Hannah beneath a large ficus banyan fig tree.

Great Blue Heron at sunset.

Continue reading "Jennifer and Hannah in Palm Beach"

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 28, 2009 at 11:24 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Billy Mays Here...!

Well, I'm sure Billy Mays had a family and people that loved him dearly and I'm sure he was a great guy and all, but I for one won't miss his voice blaring at me through the tube in the small hours of the morning. I've often said that Billy Mays features prominently in my vision of hell:

"My vision of hell is me working on a computer for the rest of my life with that dog and that paperclip popping up six times a minute with a Billy Mays commercial blaring in the background and some psychotic bitch ringing my doorbell as fast as humanly possible."

Rest In Peace, Billy Mays.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 28, 2009 at 3:54 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

NASA discovers lost tapes of the first moon landing

ECSTATIC space officials at Nasa could be about to unveil one of their most stunning discoveries for 40 years -- new and amazingly clear footage of the first moon landing.

http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/110442/WORLD-EXCLUSIVE-NASA-finds-missing-moon-landing-tapes

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 28, 2009 at 3:49 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Suck It, Tree-huggers

Remember all those alarmist stories about deformed frogs found with missing legs or gross deformities? At the time, it was said to be caused by pollution or the thinning ozone layer or global warming. Yeah, only not so much. It's actually caused by 'selective predation by dragonfly nymphs'. Thanks for playing, tree-huggers. Go sulk in your Priuses.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 25, 2009 at 11:48 PM : Comments (1) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Atkins Long Boys

ZOMG I've got to stop eating these things.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 25, 2009 at 11:26 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Gene's Closed

Gene's New Orleans Style Po'boys in Austin closed recently. I was here in May and they were open then. But they've closed their doors for good now. They served delicious po'boys and smothered pork chops. Sad to see them go.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 25, 2009 at 11:21 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Do Foxes Kill Cats?

Wendy told me recently that she watched her cat go nose-to-nose with a fox in her yard neither one blinked and there was no fight. They just went their own separate ways.

After watching the foxes around my house fairly closely for a while, I've about come to the conclusion that house cats are not something that a fox would normally consider a meal. The reason I say this is that foxes around my house are fairly small - not much larger than a house cat - and generally appear to eat smaller game, like mice, voles, birds, and rabbits. A house cat is a much more difficult prey to tackle, and could probably only be safely attacked by surprise.

So, tonight I decided to google 'Do foxes eat cats?' and this is what I found:

"...foxes do occasionally attack and kill cats and [a] study looking into this, led by Stephen Harris, questioned more than 5,000 householders in northwest Bristol about the number of pet cats that were killed by foxes each year. From the results, it seems that each adult fox kills about 0.17 cats each year or, to put it another way, any given fox would kill one cat every six years and most of these were cats less than six months old."

So, this pretty much goes along with my thoughts. A fox will occasionally kill a cat, but it would be a very rare event. I think that cats up here are more likely to be killed my coyotes, mountain lions, or cars than by foxes.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 25, 2009 at 11:11 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Jennifer and Hannah

Above: Jennifer and Hannah posing at the entrance to The Endangered Entree restaurant, the only place in the U.S. where you can legally eat threatened and endangered animals.

Above: Jennifer and Hannah picked out this turtle to be made into a soup as an appetizer at The Endangered Entree. (Actually, a mature turtle like this can feed several people. Very little is wasted.)

Above: Jennifer and Hannah choosing between a rare Iguana steak dinner or Spotted Owl soup.

Above: Jennifer and Hannah practice the fine art of turtle hunting.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 24, 2009 at 10:06 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Austin

>

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 23, 2009 at 10:25 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Daily Photos

Above: Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis). Update: Discussion of this photo at whatbird.com.

Above: Day 9 for the five baby Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) in the birdhouse on the razor-wire fence around my garden. (These birds hatched on or around June 14th.) These birds should fledge on July 6th or 7th.

Above: Female Red Fox (Vulpes vulpes) at Bud's house.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 23, 2009 at 12:06 AM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Jennifer and Hannah

Looks like Jennifer is having a good time with cousin Hannah in Palm Beach.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 22, 2009 at 8:04 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Cooper's Hawk

This is not a great photo, but this Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) flew over the house yesterday. Wendy pointed it out and I just assumed it was a Red-tailed Hawk. But upon closer inspection, I believe that it's a Cooper's Hawk. The long narrow tail gives it away as an accipiter. The rounded tail and the overall size mean it's a Cooper's as opposed to a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 21, 2009 at 9:52 AM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

Saturday June 20th Photos

Above: Timmy catches a mouse.

Day 7 for the five baby Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) in the birdhouse on the razor-wire fence around my garden. (These birds hatched on or around June 14th.) These birds should fledge on July 6th or 7th.

Above: Day 12 for the four baby Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana) in the birdhouse at Bud's. (These birds hatched on or around June 9th.) These birds should fledge on July 1st or 2nd.

Above: Female Western Bluebird (mother of Bud's babies) on a fence. The fence protects some of their plants from the ravenous herds of deer and elk.

Above: Immature female mule deer(Odocoileus hemionus).

Above: Female Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) at Wendy's.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 21, 2009 at 1:57 AM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink

When do Western Bluebirds Fledge?

http://www.prescottbluebird.com/manuals/MonitorMnl.NestingActivityPg10.pdf

Western Bluebirds fledge anywhere from 19 to 23 days after hatching. They leave the nest one after the other, flying only a short distance to a tree or shrub. If they land on the ground, the adults lead them to cover. The parents return to the nest several times to see that all the young have fledged. The fledglings beg for food, and are fed occasionally. At first, the young will observe prey, but not attempt to eat it.

After a day or two they will seize the prey, but usually discard it. By the third day out of the nest they can consume prey and within 10 days they have mastered self feeding, thoroughly preparing the food by removing the wings of insects before consuming them. In 35 to 45 days they are independent of the parents, but remain with them throughout the summer
and fall.

So, according to this, Bud's bluebirds should fledge between June 28th and July 2nd. My bluebirds should fledge between July 3rd and July 7th.

Posted by Rob Kiser on June 19, 2009 at 6:32 PM : Comments (0) | TrackBack (0) | Permalink