utechblog

Free Computer Books, Tutorials & Lecture Notes via Reflective Surface

For those of you PC users with MacEnvy, check out ObjectDock via Lifehacker

Or you can read Mad as Hell, Switching to Mac and find some (more) reasons to just make the switch. via SlashDot

Iomega Patents 850GB DVD Nano-Technology via SlashDot Can you imagine a disc with 850GB! How much will that cost?

Last week Thursday’s Dilbert hit a little close to home. One of the guys at work commented about how so many Dilbert strips are me. I think that scares Janet.

And finally, as a PSA to my readers, make sure you use the Food Holder when using a Pampered Chef Ultimate Slice & Grate Please refer to the following Important Safeguards (emphasis is mine)

The blades are extremely sharp to offer you the best performance and may cause serious injury if not used properly. Please follow these important safeguards:
* Carefully read and follow all use and care instructions prior to first use.
* Always use Food Holder when cutting food with Ultimate Slice & Grate. Do not slice or grate any food that cannot be held by Food Holder.
* When using Food Holder, securely grasp top of Food Holder and keep your fingers and thumb away from the blade and food being cut.
* Always keep this and all other cutting devices safely stored and out of children’s reach.

1. Total Number of Books I’ve Owned
Ha, I am a book horde. If you are getting rid of some books give me a call.
I have NO idea how many books I have.

2. Last Book I Bought
My Utmost for His Highest Updated Edition

3. Last Book I Read
Can A Smart Person Believe In God
by Michael Guillen

4. Five Books That Mean A lot to Me
The Bible (Message, Amplified, NIV, KJV)
His Needs, Her Needs
Every Man’s Battle
The Chronicles of Narnia
Charlie and The Chocolate Factory

5. Tag five people and have them do this on their blog
Would like to see Tom’s answers on this one.

First off, thank you to all those who serve and have served in the armed forces to protect, defend and spread freedom.

So Journey went out today and got the word and water out to the community. We meet at TIP’s and got everything ready, prayed (I really did expect to open my eyes and see the rain stopped) and then headed out to the parade route. We passed out water to spectators and participants. The best part was watching the kids, especially Evan. Man, he loved it. although I think he was a little upset when people didn’t want a water from him. And to be honest I actually enjoyed getting soaked. And how many people can be known as “that church that hands out water in the rain”.

Finally got rid of the gas alter today. The whole gas grill never was quite my thing, just ask the family. I made more jerky on that grill than anything else, including a number of burnt offerings. So I picked up a 18″ weber from Kroger and we are all set.
Made some good ol’ wisconsin style brats (the house now smells like onions and beer), some hotdogs for the kids and a few pieces of chicken that needed to be cooked or tossed. (Marinated the chicken in some italian dressing for like 2-3 hours, mmm mmm good) Let me also give a little tip on the whole brat thing, if you are gonna prepare your brats in the traditional beer and onions make sure you use a beer that you would actually drink, if you are the beer drinking type, the first time a made brats I just got a cheap 40oz (it was $1.25) BIG mistake. Get a name brand a pay a couple bucks for it, it will taste much better, and your house won’t smell as bad.
Everything turned out GREAT on the grill, I cook so much better on a Weber Kettle. I think it is because that it what I always saw my dad cookin on. I vividly remember the time (one of the times) we didn’t have any lighter fluid and used gas. NOT recommended!

Well I really need to get to bed, and the washer should be done… so time to go do a laundry flip and get some zzzz.

Saw this on Janet’s Site…

Alphabet Soup
A is for Age: 29
B is for Booze: no thank you (recovering alcoholic)
C is for Career: Network Security Engineer
D is for Dad’s name: Michael (same as mine)
E is for Essential items to bring to a party: Diet Coke
F is for Favorite song at the moment: Sitting, Waiting, Wishing
H is for Hometown: Oshkosh, Wisconsin
I is for Instrument you play: drums
J is for Jam or Jelly you like: fresh jam (with big chunks of fruit)
K is for Kids: Kyra, Zoe, Evan, Joah
L is for Living arrangement: 2 story House
M is for Mom’s name: Lois
N is for Names of best friends: Janet
O is for overnight hospital stays: only when Janet has been there
P is for Phobias: falling from high places
Q is for Quote you like: “If there are no stupid questions, then what kind of questions do stupid people ask? Do they get smart just in time to ask questions?” – Scott Adams
R is for Relationship that lasted longest: current, coming up on ten years
S is for Siblings: younger brother (4 years)
U is for Unique trait: I am Unique, just like everybody else.
V if for Vegetable you love: fresh carrots
W is for Worst trait: I have bad food habits.
X – is for XRays you’ve had: Thumb, Ankle, Chest
Y is for Yummy food you make: Chicken Gumbo
Z is for Zodiac sign: who cares?

Firsts
First job: I grew up on a farm, but my first ‘real’ job was McDs
First screen name: cannot use first, my second was “Draven”
First funeral: my grandfather (Dad’s side)
First piercing: left ear
First tattoo: Jesus Fish, black outline, Blue fill. Upper left arm.
First credit card: I don’t know. Have had too many.
First kiss: Cindy (third grade)
First enemy: Don’t remember his name but he lived on the backside of the block when I lived in Oshkosh.
First favorite band: Quiet Riot

Lasts
Last kiss: Evan
Last movie: SW EP3
Last beverage drank: Tangerine Grapefruit FUZE
Last food eaten: Turkey and Cheese Sandwich
Last phone call: Janet
Last CD played: In Between Dreams, Jack Johnson
Last website visited: Communications Network Request-By Project Leader (Internal Kroger Site) Bloglines (Internet)

Single or taken: taken and off the market
What do you miss?: when I didn’t have allergies
Hair color: dark brown
Eye color: hazel
What makes you sad?: bad self image
Are you happy?: mostly
Do you want your friends to fill this out, too?: sure

Alivia is the daughter of couple that we used to go to church with. She is also friends with our girls as they still attend the same school. Please visit Help Alivia to learn more about her and how you can help. Your prayers are the most effective method but money also helps to pay the medical bills.

Several years ago Alivia was diagnosed with a condition called Raynaud’s phenomenon, a “local and symmetrical gangrene of the extremities.” This disease typically appears in women, but not until they are between 30 and 50 years old. Alivia’s fingers and toes become discolored and develop sores. She is very sensitive to cold which worsens this condition. This sounds bad enough, but it is only an indicator of an underlying cause. Recently this cause was determined to be Scleroderma.
…
This aggressive disease calls for aggressive treatment. Aggressive treatment is very expensive, even with insurance. Let’s help ease the burden on Alivia’s family.

Read more at HelpAlivia.com
Note the website loads slow and loads better for IE users, sorry.

“We’ve got a deal,” Nebraska Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson told reporters. Agreement would clear the way for yes or no votes on some of Bush’s nominees… Dems pledge not to filibuster any of Bush’s future appeals court or Supreme Court nominees except in ‘extraordinary circumstances’

Source: The DrudgeReport
What part of NO FIlibuster of Federal Judges do you not understand!?
Federal Judge appointments need a simple majority not a super majority. Just give them a vote, up or down, I don’t care, just take the vote.
What part of losing do Democrats not understand? And more importantly what part of Winning do Republicans not get?
How about when send them all home and start over?

iBook G4 and PowerBook G4 Battery Exchange Program

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and other international safety authorities, Apple is voluntarily recalling certain lithium ion rechargeable batteries that were sold worldwide from October 2004 through May 2005 for use with the following notebook computers: 12-inch iBook G4, 12-inch PowerBook G4 and 15-inch PowerBook G4. These batteries were manufactured by LG Chem, Ltd. of South Korea.
The affected batteries could overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers. Apple has received six consumer reports of these batteries overheating. If you have a recalled battery, please stop using it and order a replacement battery immediately. Once you have removed the battery, plug in the AC adapter to power the computer. If you must temporarily use your computer with the battery, do not leave it unattended and check for signs of overheating.
Apple has initiated a worldwide exchange program and will provide eligible customers with a new replacement battery, free of charge.

Identifying your battery
The recalled batteries include those with model numbers A1061, A1078, and A1079 and serial numbers that begin with HQ441 through HQ507 and 3X446 through 3X510. To view the model and serial numbers labeled on the bottom of the battery, you must remove the battery from the computer. The battery serial number is printed in black or dark grey lettering beneath a barcode. See photos below. Please use the chart below to identify the battery model and serial numbers that apply to your iBook or PowerBook.

Source – Lifehacker: Apple defective battery exchange

Well it looks like the recall got expanded or in this case narrowed (Original recall was on 15″ powerbooks).