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October 31, 2006

Tequila® - Leave Shyness Behind

Tequlia - Leave Shyness Behind.

Do you have feelings of inadequacy? Do you suffer from shyness? Do you sometimes wish you were more assertive?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist about Tequila®.

Tequila® is the safe, natural way to feel better and more confident about yourself and your actions. Tequila® can help ease you out of your shyness and let you tell the world that you're ready and willing to do just about anything. You will notice the benefits of Tequila® almost immediately, and with a regimen of regular doses you can overcome any obstacles that prevent you from living the life you want to live. Shyness and awkwardness will be a thing of the past, and you will discover many talents you never knew you had. Stop hiding and start living, with Tequila®.

Tequila® may not be right for everyone. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use Tequila®. However, women who wouldn't mind nursing or becoming pregnant are encouraged to try it. Side effects may include dizziness, nausea, vomiting, incarceration, erotic lustfulness, loss of motor control, loss of clothing, loss of money, loss of virginity, delusions of grandeur, table dancing, headache, dehydration, dry mouth, and a desire to sing Karaoke and play all-night rounds of Strip Poker, Truth Or Dare, and Naked Twister.

WARNING:
The consumption of alcohol may make you think you are whispering when you are not.
The consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a retard.
The consumption of alcohol may cause you to tell your friends over andover again that you love them.
The consumption of alcohol may cause you to think you can sing.
The consumption of alcohol may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are really dying for you to telephone them at four in the morning.
The consumption of alcohol may make you think you can logically converse with members of the opposite sex without spitting.
The consumption of alcohol may create the illusion that you are tougher, smarter, faster and better looking than most people.
The consumption of alcohol may lead you to think people are laughing WITH you.
The consumption of alcohol may cause pregnancy.
The consumption of alcohol may be a major factor in getting your ass kicked.

So what are you waiting for? Stop hiding and start living, with Tequila®.


Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 31, 2006 at 9:58 AM | Permalink

October 30, 2006

Death Cab For Cutie

Lyrics for Soul Meets Body by Death Cab For Cutie:

http://www.azlyrics.com/lyrics/deathcabforcutie/soulmeetsbody.html

"Soul Meets Body"

I want to live where soul meets body
And let the sun wrap its arms around me
And bathe my skin in water cool and cleansing
And feel, feel what its like to be new

Cause in my head there’s a greyhound station
Where I send my thoughts to far off destinations
So they may have a chance of finding a place
where they’re far more suited than here

I cannot guess what we'll discover
We turn the dirt with our palms cupped like shovels
But I know our filthy hands can wash one another’s
And not one speck will remain

I do believe it’s true
That there are roads left in both of our shoes
If the silence takes you
Then I hope it takes me too
So brown eyes I hold you near
Cause you’re the only song I want to hear
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere

Where soul meets body
Where soul meets body
Where soul meets body

I do believe it’s true
That there are roads left in both of our shoes
If the silence takes you
Then I hope it takes me too
So brown eyes I hold you near
Cause you’re the only song I want to hear
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere
A melody softly soaring through my atmosphere

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 30, 2006 at 9:29 AM : Comments (2) | Permalink

October 29, 2006

Falling Waters

Today, Scott and I hiked into a waterfall on Signal Mountain, just north of Chattanooga. We hiked down to the bottom of Falling Waters, and back up. Of course, there's no trail, so we basically bushwhacked straight down a 45 degree slope, and then back up. I'm not sure what the elevation change was down and up, but the topo looks like it was roughly 700 vertical feet. And again, there was no trail. Just nuts really. It's been a long weekend. Can't wait to crash tonight. Feel like I'm dying. Still a long drive before I rest. Here's a video from the bottom of Falling Waters. (Plays in QuickTime.)

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 29, 2006 at 2:24 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Boxcar Willie

FYI, I rode from Tullahoma, TN throught the Cumberland Tunnel to Stevinson, Alabama (video). (The video plays in QuickTime). I'm not on the rails any more. I'm currently in Chattanooga, TN.

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 29, 2006 at 7:43 AM : Comments (4) | Permalink

October 27, 2006

600 volts

Trainhopping

Where are you heading in the this rain?

I'm going to hop a train.

There's no passenger train comes by here.

Who said anything about a passenger train? I'm going freight.

Right.

Watch me. And I only stand there a minute before a train comes by.

I hear the clanging of the bells at the crossing. My heart races as I step out into the rain. The first one blows by fast and never slows down. I walk to the depot, built in 1899, and sit beneath the overhang.

I'm just waiting around, sitting there, thinking, this sucks. And even if one comes by I won't be able to hop on it. I have all this crap on my back. Laptop, camera, long lens. A bottle of wine. Just so much baggage that I'll never ever make it onto a moving train. I'll be pulled beneath the wheels and severed in half in front of my office. They'll all run out gawking to see me flipping around in two pieces like a piece of neatly cut bait.

Then, I hear the train siren a long way off and I walk to the end of the depot. I'm standing there next to a rusting broken forklift and a truck that was clearly hit by a train. And, I wait and wait and wait, and finally hear it again, and I see it, and it's going slow. Realllll slow and my heart races and I think....this is it. I can get on this one sure nuff. But now it's backing away from me so I walk toward it in the rain.

I walk about 4 blocks in the light october tennessee mist and I see a RR truck and a man and he must be operating the switch and I see the train has moved onto a side track and now the engineer is getting off the train. He's not wearing a funny hat or anything just like a normal guy. And the two of them are standing there chewing the fat and they actually turn their backs to me and I'm walking toward them, but I cross the tracks so the'll be on the other side of the train from me and they won't have to challenge me.

And, I walk to the second engine (there are only two) and I'm watching the two men as best I can from the corner of my eye and I climb up on the second engine and open the door. I duck and swing inside and quietly close the door behind me and this is nuts. I mean really nuts.

My mouth goes dry and this is illegal and dangerous and I don't know what all else and I'm expecting someone to stick their head in at any second and say “What in the hell do you think you're doing, boy?�

But, I suppose that you know by now that I'm stuck in Tennessee this weekend and that my little friend crawfished on me for this evening. No one should be surprised by that. I certainly wasn't. Disappointed? Sure. Surprised. Never.

But no one comes in after me and I'm just sitting here on this black mat. And it's the same black mat my dad's old white falcon had on the floorboards if I recall correctly. So, I'm sitting here on the floor of this CSX diesel locomotive, leaning against a big panel liberally covered in red signs that say DANGER 600 VOLTS and DANGER HIGH VOLTAGE in very large font, and I figure we're on a side track waiting for another train to pass and I can hear the lead engine idling and hissing and belching pressurized air at odd intervals and then this train comes roaring up past us.

And it's loud and steel and very cool. It sounds great and I want this adventure to begin. I want that train to go by so we can get rolling and I hope no-one sticks there head into the second engine and I know nothing about trains. Don't know if they need to be in this engine or not but if he comes in here it isn't like he'd miss me. I'm 6'2� and I'm sitting here with about five or eight thousand dollars worth of electronics and it's gonna be real hard trying to convince him I'm just a typical hobo. That's gonna be a real hard sell. They'll probably ship me down to gitmo if they catch me and maybe if I were in their shoes I'd do the same thing. Who can tell.

But that train went by and we're still just sitting here and I want to get rolling. Big time. So let's go already. Until we get rolling, I really haven't accomplished very much I figure. If they run me out at this point than the story isn't very good, is it? I want to be rolling down the rails shooting some frames from the train.

And I don't know that this train isn't spending the night here. I have no clue what happens next but riding in the dark will suck but it's only 3:32 and I'm not getting off any time soon I know that. It's certainly more exciting sitting here than in the office. So, there's that.

And now I hear another train coming from behind me and it blows by loud and fast. As in way loud and way fast And this time I snap a few shots and it's gone. Now maybe we'll get rolling? 3:37

Continue reading "600 volts"

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 27, 2006 at 2:38 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Northbound out of tullahoma

I hopped a CSX train. I'm headed NOrth out of Tullahoma, TN. Time is 3:12 p.m. CDT. Pray for me.

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 27, 2006 at 2:11 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 19, 2006

20 Things the Average Person Doesn’t Know About Windows XP

20 Things the Average Person Doesn’t Know About Windows XP

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 19, 2006 at 3:59 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 18, 2006

FEMA helps out in Hawaii

Looks like FEMA is rolling up their sleeves and pitching in to help Hawaii after their earthquakes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gx8DQjBk0fI

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 18, 2006 at 4:16 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 16, 2006

The Pink Halloween

Ahhh the colors of fall...orange, gold, black, and.....pink?

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 16, 2006 at 3:48 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

One Ticket to Mars, Please

Pikeville man goes loony in Red Bank

Thursday, October 12, 2006 ---- Vincent Nelson, 31, of Pikeville, Tennessee, is facing numerous charges after a rampage in Red Bank; some as serious as attempted murder.

Nelson tried to carjack a woman, assaulted two people at a Conoco store, tried to run over a Red Bank police officer directing traffic at the New Bi-Lo store with his car, drug a civilian who tried to help stop him around a parking lot, tried to take the gun away from another Red Bank officer, threatened several people and led police on a wild chase. He was finally captured and taken to the Hamilton County.

The police officers believe Nelson was on drugs because at one point he asked a store clerk for a ticket to Mars.

http://www.timesfreepress.com/archive/ArchiveSearch.asp?SearchWords=%22vincent+nelson%22&inField=All&SortBy=DateDesc&DocsPerPage=20&eventStartDate=10%2F12%2F2006&eventStopDate=&go=+Execute+Search+

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 16, 2006 at 12:03 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 15, 2006

Earthquakes Rock Hawaiian Islands

Looks like they've had a couple of strong earthquakes rock the Big Island of Hawaii today. Reportedly knocked out power to all of the islands. People stuck in elevators on Oahu in Honolulu. Closed some major roads as well. Reports still filtering in. The earthquakes were centered off of the North-West coast (leeward side) of the big island. In August, Jennifer and I shot this photo at Anaehoomalu Bay, reportedly the epicenter of today's quakes.

Update: I spoke to Brian about an hour ago. He confirmed all electricity out on Oahu, but apparently, in Hana, on Maui, they still have electricity. Also, Brian reported that they didn't say anything on the emergency broadcast networks until 4 hours after the quakes hit. Nice job, emergency officials. Way to stay on top of things. Brian mentioned that he's felt 3 earthquakes in the last year on Oahu, and he's never felt one before that in his life, so it seems like things are heating up out there.

Update 2: Still no electricity at Brian's place on Oahu, but now he says they're grilling out and a cold front hit (70 degrees F) and the media is blowing this out of proportion. I'm not clear that this is the case though. Hawaii's little fiasco today ruined air traffic across the entire globe, and they've been without electricity all day, and no telling when it will come back on. It is, after all, Hawaii.

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 15, 2006 at 2:09 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 14, 2006

Print On Demand and Self Publishing

If you've heard of the Blurb Inc.'s new self-publishing software called Booksmart, you know that the age of self-publishing single-copy print-on-demand for the masses is truly right around the corner. And, if you've ever spent an afternoon swearing, in a futile attempt to force their obtuse application to actually produce anything resembling a book, you know that it's not here yet. This application is a near miss. It's a great idea, implemented with a buggy alpha-release P.O.S. software application. They should be ashamed to foist this piece of garbage on people.

Basically, they're trying to write a new desktop publishing application from the ground up. So, possibly they can be excused for not hitting a home run right off the bat. But then, on the other hand, why not just set up their site to accept various formats already available (i.e. .doc, .pdf, .odf, etc.).

So, I'm now looking at other options than this mind-numbingly awkward Booksmart boondoggle.

This site compares some of the print-on-demand operations currently in business:
http://booksandtales.com/pod/index.php

This site seems to offer some good information about self publishing, print-on-demand publishing, and the vanity press. They recommend reading "Writer's Market" and "Writer's Guide to Book Editors, Publishers, and Literary Agents."

Here, he talks about the most cost-efficient size of book publishing.

Weekly Reader - Iuniverse

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 14, 2006 at 12:43 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

RIAA and MPAA Merger Announced

Apparently, the Motion Picture Association of America, Inc. (MPAA) and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) have merged to form the Music And Film Industry Association of Americaâ„¢, Inc. (MAFIAA)

As a part of the merger, the RIAA has agreed to drop all pretention of actually representing artists and stick to representing the record companies as they have been throughout their fight against online music piracy. The MPAA has always been rather up-front about only representing the interests of its motion picture association members, so no such restructuring or restatement of purpose will be necessary.

The newly formed organization's first priority will be to continue the fight against fair use rights and open technological advances that do not meet with organization approval.

"Consumers should not be able to listen to any music or enjoy any movie anywhere without our approval," said Sherman.

In addition to coordination of anti-piracy efforts, a key benefit of the merger will also be reduced costs.

"We no longer have to have both the movie and music industries buying up senators and congressmen to get restrictive copyright laws passed," Glickman explained. "Now the representatives will be getting one sack of money from one organization. The cost savings to us will be tremendous."


Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 14, 2006 at 6:02 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 13, 2006

Stealth Cam

This Stealth Cam looks like it would be cool to set up out back and see what turns up.

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 13, 2006 at 2:22 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 11, 2006

RKBA

14 year old boy takes out the trash, Texas style.

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 11, 2006 at 8:58 PM | Permalink

Google Code Search Released

This is great. Google has a new tool called Google Code Search, which basically allows you to search code in the public domain. This article has lots of fun surprises they found.

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 11, 2006 at 8:22 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Pumpking Carving

http://www.villafanestudios.com/pumpkins.htm
pumpkinmasters.com


Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 11, 2006 at 1:09 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

The Not-So-Merry-Go-Round

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-1425122809790019320

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 11, 2006 at 12:15 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 9, 2006

Sweet Sixteen

I'm sitting here at home in Colorado, watching a light rain strip the last leaves from the trees. The aspens spill gold doubloons onto rock outcroppings, evergreens, and dried grasses. Turkey Creek runs a vermillion yellow, with cellophane waterfalls connecting leaf painted pools.

Fall is fading fast. Everything’s dying all around me. Closing in on me. I turn up the heat and put on a pot of coffee and Slinky chases the deer from beneath the deck.

And then the rain slows down. It doesn't let up, it just begins to fall slower than it should. And that can only be mean snow and I throw everything into a suitcase. I didn't sign up for this. Like "I'm sorry waiter, but this is not the weather I ordered", and there's a flight leaving in an hour and a half and if I hurry there's an outside chance I might make it.

Continue reading "Sweet Sixteen"

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 9, 2006 at 8:40 PM : Comments (2) | Permalink

October 7, 2006

How to stop telemarketers

Don't you hate those annoying telemarketers? This is classic.

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 7, 2006 at 1:04 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

Jennifer's Pink RAZR

Jennifer has a shiny new Pink RAZR cell phone. Even the guy at the Verizon store couldn't believe it.

"Who is this phone for?"
"My daughter.'
"How old is she?"
"Eight."
Laughter. "Nice. You're buying a $300 phone for an 8 yr old. Nice."

At school, they are ok with it so long as she keeps it turned off and in her backpack. Part of the reason I got it for her is the recent school shootings. I think, in an emergency, it would be good to hear from her. Like, if some nut case goes up to the school, at least I could get in touch with her to find out if she survived the ordeal. So, I told her that part of the reason we were getting it was for safety.

"Safety. Why? What could happen."
"Some people have been going up to the schools with guns."
"And shooting kids?" she asked incredulously.

And, you don't want to scare her unnecessarily, but its true. That's exactly what's been happening. And just think how farked up this world is that people are going into the schools with guns and shooting children. It defies understanding.

"Well, you'll be fine, but just in case there's an emergency, you call me."
"How will I know it's an emergency?"
"You'll know."

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 7, 2006 at 5:50 AM : Comments (1) | Permalink

October 6, 2006

Been Married Too Long?

Here's what happens when you've been married too long.

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 6, 2006 at 11:36 AM | Permalink

D-Link DGE-530T PCI Card

So, after I got my slick little D-Link Gigabit DGS-2205 Swtich up and operational, I figured I'd better get my desktop server onto the Gigabit portion of my home LAN. So, I followed the directions of the D-Link Quick Install Guide to the letter. I installed the drivers first, shut down the desktop, shoved in the D-Link card into my last empty PCI slot, closed her up, moved the LAN cable from my old ethernet port to the new one, and booted it back up.

As advertised, it dynamically grabbed an IP address from the DHCP server in the router and I was off to the races. I verified that it had an IP address and I could see the net. Then, went in and set my IP address to be a static IP address, as this is my web server for Peenie Wallie, after all. So, the web site was down for maybe 15 minutes at most. Not bad considering that I host my own web site and I almost never reboot the server. XP really is a rock solid O/S. I don't care what the geeks say. I run XP non-stop for months and have no problems what-so-ever.

For what it's worth, I'm very impressed with the D-Link hardware. They got it on the store shelves before Linksys, it's cheaper, and it's pretty much plug-and-play. No problems at all getting the switch or the card up and running. Slick as snot.

Continue reading "D-Link DGE-530T PCI Card"

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 6, 2006 at 1:34 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 5, 2006

D-Link Gigabit Swtich DGS-2205

This D-Link Gigabit Switch is really slick. Now, in all sincerity, I have no clue what a switch is or what it does. I figured I needed a Gigabit router, but this stuff is pretty much bleeding edge for the home market. I couldn't find a Gigabit Router in CompUSA to save my life. But the little pencil-neck geek suggested that maybe all I needed was a switch. I honestly wasn't sure. My concern is that it is not a DHCP Server, so how will my clients get their dynamic IP address assigned to them. But, my suspicions were that the little geek might be right. That the switch might pass the incomping DCHP request through to my existing 10/100 Wireless Router if I hooked the switch into the UPLINK port on my existing router. And, besides, the D-Link DGS-2205 only costs $40.00 at CompUSA, so I figured, what the h3ll?

Well, it worked. I plugged the thing in and hooked it up and voila. It's working. Smooth as a baby's @ss.

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 5, 2006 at 3:46 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 4, 2006

The Buffalo Terastation Has Arrived!

So, I got my Buffalo Terastation just now. DHL guy showed up with this massive box at my door. I ordered it on Monday, and I was like...what took you so long? I opened box after box after box and, I was beginning to think there was nothing in the packaging. Just a series of empty babushka dolls. But, eventually, I found it. Much smaller than I had imagined. I took some photos of it so you can get an idea of the scale of the object.

Continue reading "The Buffalo Terastation Has Arrived!"

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 4, 2006 at 11:08 AM : Comments (2) | Permalink

Amelie

Amelie is the answer to the question "what could possibly be better than Cinema Paradiso?" I've seen it before, but it's easily one of my all-time favorite movies. Spectacular cinematography. One of those movies that makes you want to put on a pot of coffee and watch it all over again.

Amelie Script
-On September 3, 1973 6:28 pm and 32 sec.
a blue fly of the Calliphorides species,
whose wings can flutter 14670 times per minute
landed in Saint-Vincent Street, Montmartre.
At the exact same second, outside a restaurant,
the wind was sweeping in under a tablecloth,
causing the glasses to dance without anybody noticing it.
At the same time, on the fifth floor of avenue Trudaine,
Eugène Koler, erased the name of his best friend, Émile Maginot,
in his adress-book after coming home from his funeral.
Still at the same second, a spermatozoon
containing an X-chromosome and belonging to M. Raphaël Poulain
was reaching the ovum of Mrs Poulain,
born Amandine Fouet.
months later a girl was born:
Amélie Poulain.

Continue reading "Amelie"

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 4, 2006 at 9:49 AM : Comments (1) | Permalink

October 3, 2006

Stick Page

Stick Page is antoher time killing game

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 3, 2006 at 9:31 PM | Permalink

Hooking Up The Toys

I'm trying to get my Verizon Motorola Razr V3c to work with my Sony Vaio laptop and my Compaq 1945 PDA. They all have Bluetooth, so, in theory, I should be able to sync the phone to either the laptop or the PDA or the desktop or something. I'd also like to be able to just see the phone as a USB drive so that I can move files between the network and the phone. But, of course, I'm reasonably sure that our good ole' friends at Verizon have disabled everything so that you can't use the phone as it's intended by Motorola.

I have the cell phone configured to work with my Vaio laptop as a tethered modem, so I'm good there. First of all, I just want to be able to pull images out of the phone, so I want it to appear in Windows Explorer as a USB drive. You wouldn't think this would be that hard, so I plugged it into my desktop computer with a USB cable and it says:

"One of the USB devices attached to this computer has malfunctioned, and Windows does not recognize it."

Nice. So, I found this guy's web site, and it looks like he may be on the right track.


Continue reading "Hooking Up The Toys"

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 3, 2006 at 2:44 PM : Comments (1) | Permalink

Redneck Rocket Launcher

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-872124450700446493&pr=goog-sl

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 3, 2006 at 1:51 PM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 2, 2006

Red

Another time-killing game called Red.

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 2, 2006 at 10:19 PM | Permalink

750 Gig NAS RAID Array Level 5

Normally, I keep my photographs on my home server(300 gigs), but I've been shooting a lot of images on the road and keeping them on my new Vaio laptop's 100 gig hard drive, so right now, I have my photographs stored on two computers on three physical hard drives. I have very little, if any, redundancy currently, and, oh by the way, I'm quickly running out of disk space on my home server.

I researched a bit on the web, and what I'd like to do is buy a new box and stick 4 500 gig SATA drives in it and have XP control them as a RAID Level 5, but the reality is that this would take a lot of time and money, and I feel compelled to solve the crisis at hand and, realizing that the "great is the enemy of the good", I decided to order this and have it overnighted so that I can start playing with it tomorrow.

http://www.buffalotech.com/products/product-detail.php?productid=97

I should be able to get this bad boy up and running fairly quickly. Configured at RAID Level 5, it will hold 750 gig, which should work for now. Some people say that RAID 5 isn't a true backup, but I can assure you it's better than what I have now (no backup).

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 2, 2006 at 11:49 AM : Comments (0) | Permalink

October 1, 2006

Squid Soup Doodle

Squid Soup Doodle is too cool for words.

Update: Alice pointed out the keyboard seems to have some affect. Eventually I discovered website explains the following controls in tiny font that disappears once you launch the app:

C - Toggles whether the drawing to begins at the cursor point or the sphere in the center of the image.
R - Resets the screen.
A - Zoom in.
Z - Zoom out.
Q - Drawing plane?

Use arrow keys or move mouse pointer to image edge to rotate the image.

Posted by Peenie Wallie on October 1, 2006 at 11:18 AM : Comments (1) | Permalink