Hell Yea

El Nino

Yea, it's getting freaky. October 10th, 2010. (10/10/10- or if you are in the UK, it's 10/10/10. Or if you are Steve Jobs, it's X/X/X)It's 83d now, When I leave for work on Friday AM, it's possibly 42d. Freaky. $5 says its snows before October ends. 

Mac Crash!

I.....never thought it would happen to me....(dumb commercial reference, tack it up to an inside joke to myself) So I plugged in my iPhone to charge, dock, update-etc. As soon as I did, the iTunes program shut down. When I tried to reopen, it lights up, and shuts down again. Since I realized it was a problem, my first thought was a software update I was unaware of at this point(This is highly unlikely, I am only anal-rententive about 1 thing- having the latest updates) Then I tried the Disk Utility options, verify-repair-etc. Nothing. So I go to Time Machine Back-ups, drag a version from 3 weeks ago. Nothing. I gave up, posted a note on Macworld Forums.  When I awoke, one of the west coasters posted it was an obvious plist file corruption.
I find the itunes plist files. Removed them (At work, away from my Time Machine drive) restart the program, and the license agreement window pops up. At this point, I assume it's ok so I cancel until I get home to use Time Machine. Well, when I tried the older version, (assuming it was a plist file) it does the same thing. I even downloaded a new version from apple. Nothing. After looking thru Apples support pages I think it may be a third party plug in. I delete all of three I had running-nothing.
My last ditch effort was to open the program in safe mode (Holding option command while opening) HEY! It opened. So I begin the task of looking thru the program, as soon as I clicked on the preferences, it crashes. This time, it gives me a crash report

After an hour of searching for the file mentioned, I find it, drag it to the desktop, and fix the issue! This is probably no big deal to a seasoned machead, but I am less than a year with Snow Leopard, and 2 years with Tiger before. Go Me. 

The Elusive Round-a-bout

The Elusive Roundabout

So the folks in Indiana (Specifically the Carmel City Council) decided to incorporate roundabouts to keep traffic moving along. The only problem with this idea? NO ONE KNOWS HOW TO MANEUVER AROUND SAFELY!

I drive through two of them everyday. I rarely ever see anyone do what they are supposed to do. Could we please have the 4 local news channels, the local paper and the Indiana.gov url post a memo/directions explaining WHO has the right-of-way? 

Here's my favorite: I was stuck behind an elderly lady driving down 126th street west bound from Noble-tucky to Carmel. She was driving 20mph the entire 5 mile run. We approach the first roundabout at 126th and Hazel Dell Pkwy, and she maintained her 20 mph without even slowing down, unaware that the oncoming traffic has the right of way. This poor bloke on a classic 70's Honda 750 came around, slammed on both of his brakes but still managed to smack the side of her car. Here's the best parts: 1. He was OK, 2. She kept going, unaware that a mid to larger size motorcycle had just rammed into the side of her late 90s Ford LTD. He got her plate, told me he was OK and to go on so we didn't hose up the roundabout.

Round One

The Wife and I made it past the first trimester. Not a big deal but since I'm a 1/2 step from 40, and she is, well, she's...not getting carded anymore.Doctors and websites have done their best to scare the crap out of us. I think she is starting to worry, but not me. About 5 years ago all of the anxiety and worry in my life was washed away. I don't know if it was the copious amounts of jeagermeister or other assorted toxins forced into my body, but I am not worried.
She is a worry-wart. It's her nature. I have accepted this, due to the amount of things/problems/struggles in her life. My problems have been, "how much is my bar tab?" and "Can I float the car payment and still make rent by the 9th?" I guess I'm hoping my karma is in good working order and the creek won't run dry. I guess I assume that what we have been through up until now- should cover us for the rest of our lives? Who cares, I guess I will try and be-or become- the best dad I can be. Wish me luck!

Apple

Apple Jumped up another 400% today.[sarcasm and exaggeration implied] You have to wonder what would happen if they do jump to more than one carrier for the iPhone. It would be interesting to see the original deal that was struck back in 07 with the launch of the original iPhone? Did they really think it was going to bomb? Or was AT&T the only company that was willing to take a chance. I don't even know the specs on the carriers in other countries.
So what's next? Cloud based computing and applications using iOS4? What about those of us with real laptops? I suppose that will make the optical drive on my mac useless. I honestly have only used it the three different times I set up my bootcamp. The Macbook Air didn't really change the world, maybe it will have a new life. Everyone seems to be jumping into the SSD drives now- for twice the price.
I would also assume that as soon as I pay off this macbook pro- the best ever apple laptop device will arrive along with a new operating system. Thats my prediction...iOS4 combined with OS X, we'll call it iOSXx4=OS14. er-OS40? er- Whats the roman numeral for 40, XXXX? Theres my prediction. Windows will have another similar OS to Apple, then the lawsuits will arrive. New Gadgets, cars with iOS4 (or the new version) running in the dashboard. Now that would be cool- trying to download a new version of Donkey Kong to play on the backseat tablets while driving 80mph down I-70. Cadillac has a 40gb hard drive in a few of their cars, why not have a glorified iPad in the dash and back seats? Who is going to be the first to come up with the freaking iCar? The president of Apple only drives a Mercedes-so I guess we're all screwed. The iCar will cost well over $80,000.

 A few of my predictions. After my baby is born next spring, I will look back and see how right I was and maybe someone will give me a cool-work from home-tech blog job.....it could happen......

Another Dr Visit for FutureKid

Shannon had her second visit today. The baby's heartbeat was right on target.

pic from a month ago.

My wife is starting to look pregnant! 12 weeks today. I'd post a pic but she'd kick my ass

I'm gonna do it

Yep, I'm gonna see what all the fuss is about. Then prob wipe it and throw XP back on there.

my 39th year

Big News

Well its been a busy couple of weeks at home. Shannon and I decided to see what happens if we try and have a baby, well- wouldn't you know it it but it worked on the first try.

Apperently we are firtle. The due date is looking around the end of March. obviously, we will be posting online updates via Mobile me, Blogger, Facebook and iWeb. If you are family, friend or someone we know, feel free to send an email.

Thanks, Rob

Birthday Wishes

Stuff I want for my birthday.

1. 8 GB of ram for my little MBpro.

2. Airport Express N network for the home.

3. 27" Apple Cinema Display for home

4. Someone to teach me C, Objective C and Cocoa for free.

5. Crestron control system for our house. TVs, HVAC, phone, internet, security- all controlled from one source.

6. A pair of iPhone4's for me and my wife. Since she has to travel, maybe the Facetime will work better than Skype?

7. Jake to settle into his home. And be happy.

8. My cat to stop biting me and the dog

9. A smaller Comcast Cable bill.

10. All I really want, is a bottle of Jameson, my back patio on a summer night, and my little family with me.

iWeb!

Check it- I have been playing with the iWeb/Mobile Me stuff. Click on the title of the post to see my new page.

Somebody really needs to inform Perez Hilton that Lady Gaga is a woman. She doesn't sleep with gay men. ......Or does she????????All of his swooning will not convert her into a gay man with a penis.

Worst Band Ever

Sorry, I read Rolling Stone. A great x-mas gift from my wife. I am realizing that I really only read it for the articles. Apparently I don't read it for the music.

Case in point:

I read a very enthusiastic article obviously written by a fan. The "artist" is MGMT. (thats pronounced management for those of you not on the up)Now, either the writer is a big fan, or a really good writer.The day after I read the story, I logged in to my Rhapsody account (3rd greatest invention) and pulled up a playlist. The first song starts out with some droning, boring, non-rythmical pattern. I lasted about 40 seconds, gave it the benefit of the doubt by scanning to the chorus. Even worse. I skipped to the next song in the playlist, with the same results. After giving the third song the boot I cleared the playlist and searched for something with a little soul. (I recently discovered a live James Brown bootleg in my iTunes library that I must have lifted from a clients library. Two words, BAD ASS)

So, after thumbing through the issue again this evening, I realized something about the cover- Once again its the Black Eyed Peas. Please spare us from more bad,annoying rap with aerobic music. (And take Lady Gaga with you to the pit of despair)

When will their 15 minutes expire?

I even gave MGMT another chance. I was watching a tape of last weekends Saturday Night Live. (I have to tape it now since I can't stay up to watch-how times have changed) Dark, depressed, staring at the floor, no soul, no groove, and most of all, no talent. YOU ARE ON NATIONAL TV. You don't have to do a full on Bruce Springsteen but come on! If you hate your own music that much, please make your band a tax write-off for the label and go away.

iPad review

Not impressed, too bulky to sit and surf or read. I could imagine your hands would tire from holding it on a plane. Seems clumsy enough to drop when shifting from hand to hand. The screen looks brilliant, especially on the maps app. I only had a few full screen apps to look at, mainly USAtoday. This was the best thing I found. The weather app with radar map was cool, but- if you have WiFi, there are a million options to consider.
I guess if you don't want to carry a $1400 laptop, and just surf the net-this would be the option. Otherwise, my MBPro runs programs and lets me upload information. My iPhone lets me take pics, and make phone calls and SMS messages-on a 3G network.
So, if you are stuck riding in a car for a period of time, there's a better chance of dropping the 'pad than the iPhone.
I just found out I can text message to my blog, and send an email.

Holy Shit! The Nerd Trifecta

I am phoning in my blog.

New Roomate

Jake around 1968 in Viet Nam

Bulldogs

Congrats to the Butler Bulldogs. It's Saturday night, and they just defeated MSU to go to the final game. Last time I was excited was the year Indiana played Maryland and lost. (2001?) It's been a bad year for my teams. Red Sox missed the World Series and the 'Effing Yankees won. The Colts lost to the Saints. At this point just seeing the "dawgs" get to the Final Four a mere 36 blocks from their campus was cool enough. Not a big sports guy, but Its a nice feeling to see the home teams do well.
In other news, I was finally able to purchase a new Macbook Pro. My wife caved in and let me put it on our Best Buy card. I used to enjoy working on my PC at work, only 1.5 years old, dual 19" monitors, fairly fast. Now I loathe just powering it on. My little MBPro sits next to the monitors,looking like a toy, but I can actually work on the Pro while waiting for the PC to reconnect to the server. I guess it may be the server, not the PC, but after a an exhaustive search of the network, the problem still alludes everyone.
Snow Leopard seems to work fairly well. My last Mac was a G4 running Tiger. Transferred most of my older programs, 50Gig of music, and re-assigned the iPhone to Mac. It seems to actually seem happier now, I don't know how-my old iPod reacted the same way-but it's definitely working better.
Too-da-loo.