December 2002 Archives

� We're not focused on coming close. Championships, that's what this game is all about. �
� Chad Pennington, Jets quarterback

Meg and I were discussing the validity surrounding the recent claims of French researchers in regards to human cloning. Meg proceded to make a joke about cloning our dog, and it dawned on me!

I want to start a business cloning pets. That way people can preserve their favorite pet for ever. This can also be used to clean bloodlines of over breads dogs, such as the Golden Retriever.

Please Comment!

In celebration of my 30th birthday (today!), I put together another Lego model. It's R2D2 from their Star Wars collection. When I was a kid, you couldn't pull me away from my Lego's, and now that I spend time in the toy section for Jordyn, I see the sets all the time.

Today I finally broke down and started (note started) to buy new sets for myself. I'm sure I'll get some loot for my b-day, and I think that it's going toward the Lego 4X4 Off-Roader. Lego started calling this series Technic a few years back. This would be the analog to the Expert Builders series from when I was a kid. I do have to say that they have some really cool sets.

So, while cruising around the Technic site, I found the SuperCar. Wouldn't ya know it, not available! So, while speaking with a rep. from Lego direct on the phone, she recommended the Silver Champion. Though, after clicking around, I eventually came across the Imperial Star Destroyer. This thing is over 3 feet long! It's $269 until the end of the year, and then it goes to $299. I think that this will be my project for the beginning of 2003.

Oh, BTW, here is a pic of R2:

I added a new item to my workspace. Here it is:

I rearranged my workspace. Here are some updated pics:

Meg received an email chain letter from a friend. It pertains to what Oliver North said during his Congressional testimony. I edited the email for easier weblog reading:

Anyone remember this?? It was 1987! At a lecture the other day they Were
playing an old news video of Lt. Col. Oliver North testifying at the
Iran-Contra hearings during the Reagan Administration. There was Ollie in
front of God and country getting the third degree, but what he said was stunning!
He was being drilled by a senator; "Did you not recently spend close To
$60,000 for a home security system?"
Ollie replied, "Yes, I did, Sir."
The senator continued, trying to get a laugh out of the audience, "Isn't that
just a little excessive?"
"No, sir," continued Ollie.
"No? And why not?" the senator asked.
"Because the lives of my family and I were threatened, sir."
"Threatened? By whom?" the senator questioned.
"By a terrorist, sir" Ollie answered.
"Terrorist? What terrorist could possibly scare you that much?"
"His name is Osama bin Laden, sir" Ollie replied.

At this point the senator tried to repeat the name, but couldn't pronounce
it, which most people back then probably couldn't. A couple of people laughed
at the attempt. Then the senator continued.
"Why are you so afraid of this man?" the senator asked.
"Because, sir, he is the most evil person alive that I know of" Ollie answered.
"And what do you recommend we do about him?" asked the senator.
"Well, sir, if it was up to me, I would recommend that an assassin team be
formed to eliminate him and his men from the face of the earth."
The senator disagreed with this approach, and that was all that was shown of the clip.
By the way, that senator was Al Gore

ALSO: Terrorist pilot Mohammad Atta blew up a bus in Israel in 1986. The
Israelis captured, tried and imprisoned him. As part of the Oslo agreement
with the Palestinians in 1993, Israel had to agree to release so-called
"political prisoners". However, the Israelis would not release any with blood
on their hands. The American President at the time, Bill Clinton, and his
Secretary of State, Warren Christopher, "insisted" that all prisoners be
released. Thus Mohammad Atta was freed and eventually thanked the US by
flying an airplane into Tower One of the World Trade Center. This was
reported by many of the American TV networks at the time that the terrorists
were first identified. It was censored in the US from all later reports.

I had no response when Meg read this to me. Wow.

Ya know what's worse than staying home sick?

Staying home sick the first day the cable company changes 90% of the channel map!

Check out Cablevision's new channel line up here.

I receive an e-zine from Network Computing magazine, and occasionally I find something of note in it. This time there was an offer for a free t-shirt if I fill out an info request form. I did this once before with RackSpace and received a great t-shirt.

The t-shirt is being offered by a software company called Neoteris, and the app, in particular, is Instant Virtual Extranet. So, I do my über-geek best, and fill out the form. You would not beleive the email I received:

<--snip-->

From: "Jim O'. Boyle" <jimo@neoteris.com>

To: <david@codenoevil.com>

<--snip-->

Why do I get all the hi quality leads?

<--snip-->

<--snip-->


From: <david@codenoevil.com>

To: "Jim O'. Boyle" <jimo@neoteris.com>

<--snip-->

Jim,

    Was that comment for me, or someone at your firm? 

<--snip-->

I would have to imagine that our buddy Jim would be in some hot water if this were to make it back to his boss. Can anyone say free software?

While attending college at Drexel University, one of the mainstays of my diet was Cambell's Chunky New England Clam Chowder. I imagine that anyone reading who has attended college would agree that this a standard for most college students.

At the time (1990 - 1995), the soup was packaged in a conventional tin can. Now, it comes with what Cambell's refers to as a "Easy Open Pop Top". Where was this nifty invention when I was struggling to release the yummy goodness sequestered away behind 10 mils of tin? Obviously not on top of the soups cans I had.

Now that I'm all grown up now, I get to enjoy more from life, and I guess that the Pop Top from Cambell's is one of those things. Thanks to the folks from Camden, NJ my soup is easier to get to.

Every time the first snowfall of the season occurs, the news channels rush to the closest hardware store to interview John Q. Public running out to by a snow shovel. What I want to know is, what happened to the snow shovel from last year? I can't imagine that some time in July, it just up and left for the South Pole. BTW, I don't shovel, so maybe this why I'm not privy to this information. Oh well.

OK, I have come to conclusion that environmentalists must always have the runs. Now, would you like me to explain why I think this? Here goes:

All new (well, been like this for a few years now) toilets sold in the US must be of the 1.6 Gallons/Flush variety. This requirement was done as an effort to conserve resources, but obviously the individuals responsible for this are not meat eating carnivores like myself. I'm guessing that you know what I am referring to, and not only that, but you would agree that that these toilets are never 1.6 gallons, but more like 3.2, 4.8, or any multiple of 1.6.

The other theory that I have is that the requirement was pushed through Congress by the toilet plunger manufacturers. Korky has become a relief pitcher of sorts for the good 'ole American Standard. Oh, and it's obvious I'm not the only one that's taken notice, because American Standard now has the AquaForce Flushing System. You just might want to stand up before flushing.

So, in support of short sighted environmentalists, give that bowl an extra flush on me, thanks.

Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to
build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying
to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning"
(Rich Cook)