Author: Gerry

Categories
Computers

A Phone and a Pad

Well, I followed it this far so I might as well finish it up. Asus has indeed unveiled a combination phone and table, called Padphone (unfortunately). Name aside, I still like the idea and this would definitely be high on my list if the concept is still around when I’m ready to go with a smartphone.

For completeness, here’s another article.

The quick rundown on this guy is the tablet, or pad portion is merely a display/battery/phone holder. The phone itself has all of the smarts. From a pricing perspective, that makes sense- it minimizes R&D and part cost on the pad portion so the overall cost can be kept down. I also tend to think it makes the system more robust since there are fewer points of failure. Supposedly, extra features are “unlocked” when the two are combined. Not sure what that means.

So the questions become, how well does the system perform together? How well do the phone and tablet pad dock together? How much does it all cost? Seriously flubbing on any one of those could be a killer.

The comments at the second link are interesting, in that people seem to either love it or hate it. The last product launched with that kind of response was the iPad, which we all now know was a dismal marketing flop, ahem. Since I’ve only ever thought of the tablet/pad as a big phone, I really think this concept could take off. But if I’m in the minority and the rest of the world needs/ wants these devices differentiated, then I don’t think it will fly.

If all goes according to plan for Asus, we’ll get some more answers come Christmas.

Categories
Misc

OK- Ready for Fall

Alright. 3 days of 1000% humidity and I’ve had my fill. I’ve fully reabsorbed Summer weather. Time to move on. Suddenly the lack of Sun for awhile doesn’t seem so bad.

Just June, July and August to make it through. Yay.

Categories
Computers

More Interesting

A couple of days ago, I noted an Asus related find by Engadget. Well, they have a follow-up on their site now that tends to confirm my suspicions. It looks like the odds-on money is for a tablet-phone combo. My first impression is to like the combo: most tablets have some kind of cell service bundled with them, smartphones anymore require the same service, so why not kill two-birds (Angry or otherwise) with one stone? Pricing and spit-and-polish will be a key here.

I’d say this news is further evidence for my theory that Asus is Apple’s main competitor.

Categories
Family

The Talent Show

The boy’s school has the 1st graders perform a “Talent Show” at the end of each year. A number of parents we know have older sons and daughters who have already done their time, and they all said it’s a lot of fun. And I have to say, it actually was.

Continue reading “The Talent Show”
Categories
Family

That Was Easy

The boy declared he wasn’t going to school this morning. He justified it thusly: “I’m not going because 7 year olds don’t have to go to school.”

I told him “Yep, you’re right. 7 year olds stay home and work doing the dishes, mowing the lawn, washing and folding clothes, vacuuming, dusting …”

He cut me off “Oh fine, I’ll get my backpack.”

Categories
Misc

What is THAT!?

The sky is this funny blue color this morning… and there’s this big yellow ball in the sky that I can’t look at because it’s so bright! And everything is glowing! And it’s warm!

What the !@#$%^ is going on!?

Categories
Family

A Sense of Humor?

In addition to the physical, the boy’s martial arts instructors also teach the students a little Korean. The younger kids learn to count to 5 as well as the Korean words for “block” and “kick”- stuff like that. The older kids are taught more and are tested on it regularly.

We were trying to help the boy out last night and the Wife was going over some of the words with him when she asked him to count to 10. Having only been in the new class a couple of times, I expected he might remember only a couple of the numbers from 6 to 10.

Well, darned if he didn’t remember them all. I was so surprised that I started joking with him about it “I didn’t know you knew all those numbers! Are you learning stuff without us knowing about it?”

He quipped back “That’s OK Dad, I didn’t even know I knew how to do it.”

Categories
Computers

Interesting…

Engadget points us to a new product from Asus to be unveiled a little later this at Computex. The tag line is a rather tantalizing one “Break the rules: pad or phone?” Considering Asus has created the EEE Transformer that is exceeding expectations, I certainly have some ideas what it could be.

Based on their success with hardware designs, I’m wondering if anyone else has had the thought that Asus is quietly becoming Apple’s main competition?

Categories
Misc

More Thoughts on Armstrong

Armstrong’s PR department is using the “character assassination” tactic to dispel the latest claims of his PED usage. He’s done this in the past, like with regards to Floyd Landis. It got me to thinking about just what required to believe Armstrong’s assertion that apparently he won the race clean. I think it also points out a plausible defense of his (assumed) usage.

Continue reading “More Thoughts on Armstrong”
Categories
Family

4 G&T Weekend

The boy had a rough outing yesterday with his coach pitch team. In fairness, he had a better game than some of his teammates, but they win as a team and lose as a team. His roughest moment was when he was out at 2nd. There was nothing he could have done- the batter hit the ball right up the pipe to the second baseman. But he still took it hard, convinced that he had messed up somehow. He didn’t want to come off the base- luckily the other coaches were able to handle the situation. I tried to explain there was nothing he could have done; but like I said, he was taking it hard.

After coach pitch, he had his Spring Campout for Scouts. It was a great time and the game was long forgotten by the time he got there. He and the rest of his den mates were presented with the Tiger Badges they’d earned over the course of the past 9 months or so. It was a nice ceremony conducted by Boy Scouts. The most interesting observation was their snickering at the Native American garb the Boy Scouts wore, followed by the solemn silence as the came to understand the “tone” of the ceremony, even if they didn’t understand everything that was said. It was nice to see.

The overnight portion was tough. Not being a seasoned camper, I was more sensitive to all the night noises and the change in scenery than I anticipated. The boy slept out of shear exhaustion- he’d been running around the whole afternoon and well into the night with the rest of the pack playing every game you can imagine. He fought it at first; the wind was making too much noise; every plane that went by sounded like thunder; he wanted to go home where it was safe. Then he fell asleep.

We threw a birthday party for the boy today as well. We got home from the campout and I went right into prepping for that. Fifteen or so 6 and 7 year olds running around. Luckily, we’d hired a professional who was fantastic. The gentleman for Mad Science had no problem dealing with the kids and kept them occupied for well over an hour. We sugared them up with some cake and apple juice and then they were on their way. The boy has very generous friends, by the way. Hopefully, someday he’ll comprehend that.

After the birthday party, was the “after” party. Some friends stayed over as well as the Wife’s parents and aunt. It was a nice time to relax and unwind. Nothing like a little grilling to cap off the weekend.

The 4 gin and tonics didn’t hurt either. I’m looking forward to a good night sleep.

Categories
Family

Cooking Friday

I went in to help the lass and her class cook up a snack yesterday morning. It was a fun hour or so. We cooked up a variation on Rice Krispie treats. Instead of putting it in a pan, we gave the kids a wad of the mixture to shape into a ball which they then put a popsicle stick to make a treat on a stick. Because everything tastes better when it’s served on a stick- like hot dogs, or ice cream.

Well, that’s what I’ve been told anyway.

My job was just to help out and provide a little light comic relief. Probably about the most I’m capable of handling. The lass was so overjoyed at having me there, she went into show-off-for-my-friends mode. Luckily, the teachers love her so it was no big deal. That and they’d had other parents in before to help out on other Cooking Fridays. They’d seen the act before.

Luckily, I got to leave before the sugar started to do it’s work. With the potential for 10 kids all getting a sugar high simultaneously, I was happy in the knowledge I wouldn’t have to deal with them.

Categories
Misc

A Familiar Storyline

They’ve been showing the ads for 60 Minutes and now articles are starting to crop up to the same effect. I’ve commented on it before, but the probability that Lance Armstrong wasn’t using PED’s had to be somewhere near 0 at this point. It’s only ever been a matter of time before people with first-hand knowledge started talking. Looks like that time is now.

Regarding cycling, I think PED abuse is a bigger problem than in other sports for a simple reason: it’s all about the training and the belief that only guys who train for it can compete, particularly where the Tour de France is concerned. As soon as the public comes round to thinking that even professionals require drugs to complete the race, the mystique of competing in and winning the most grueling race in the world is gone. After all, it’s not a long walk from there to the conclusion that any Joe, given the right mixture of drugs, could compete in Tour. I’m not saying that’s correct, but I think it’s a reasonable guess at what a majority of people would conclude based on general perceptions of what PED’s are about.

To most people (and I say this because I’ve spoken with a lot of people involved in recreational sports who clearly have misconceptions) PED’s are magic potions that make someone “more” than what they normally are. Need to run a marathon? Shoot some steroid into your blood, or HGH, or some other magic acronym and problem solved.

In a sense, they do make an athlete “more” than they were. PED’s accelerate recovery and healing (steroids are used to aid surgery patients in recovery is my understanding). The accelerated recovery allows an athlete to work out at rates that would destroy their bodies otherwise. It’s why Barry Bonds was able to hit 80 (or whatever) homeruns in a season- he never got tired or worn down from the grind of the season. It’s also why they are so seductive to a cyclist in the Tour: it allows them to recover from the beating of the event itself.

So as regards Lance Armstrong, the “fallen hero” story line will eventually come to pass, if it hasn’t already. Considering his “Livestrong” persona and what he’s been able to do regarding research money for cancer, it’s an unfortunate turn of events, though. I, personally, take no gratification in seeing him fall.

As regards the Tour, and cycling more generally,I think the only answer, if they are serious about the perception of their event, is to assume that, short complete control over their competitors, there will be cheating. From that stance, the answer becomes straight-forward: remove the cyclists from their support structure. Give them strict schedules for housing and eating. Assign officials to monitor the support crews both in the cars and out. They need to remove any and all autonomy from the cyclists. Even then, I’m not sure it will work- it might well destroy the event because no one will want to compete in it anymore.

But allowing their competitors to continue as they are will surely destroy the sport anyway.

Categories
Misc

TV Finales

Last night’s The Mentalist capped off a good run for finales of the TV shows I watch regularly. The Mentalist, in particular, was very good. Concluding the storyline that has served to hold the show together since it began. No major complaints about the ending to be had. I suppose the only question now is whether the series develops a new storyline to replace the old one. Hard to say, as the only thing that kept Jane’s near insufferable arrogance in check was superior (until last night) adversary. Wonder how the writers will work that out?

Criminal Minds is still the best show going as far as I’m concerned. It’s finale this week was also excellent and it was certainly a twist to have a character return to the show, as opposed to another one leaving. The way the show has developed a revolving door for it’s cast, I half wonder if they just need a break from the relentlessly dark and disturbing subject matter they portray.

Now the only thing on until the Fall will be baseball. Time to get back to work on the armoire I think…

Categories
Misc

“We Can Always Use the Rain”

Most of us just don’t want it all at once.

6 days and counting…

Categories
Family

Dealing with a Group of Kids

If there’s one word I’d use to describe how to manage a group of kids, it’s “vigilance.” The second one I’d use is “exhausting,” which is a consequence of the first one.

I’ve actually been fortunate enough to both participate in managing groups of kids and watch other people manage the feat. Even more fortunately, I’ve had the opportunity to watch people who are very effective at the task. So I’ve been able to apply things I “think” I’ve observed and see how well they work. I believe it is a skill that is more natural to some than others; that said, I think anyone can learn them.

After the jump are my own observations, and experiences, in how to deal with a group of kids.

Continue reading “Dealing with a Group of Kids”
Categories
Football

Bad News

I’ll confess to being surprised that a deal hasn’t been reached between the players and owners. More surprised that some kind of deal isn’t imminent. Perhaps after the current round of court wranglings are over.

In the meantime, we get word of how desperate things are getting for some players. If stuff like that becomes widespread, it can’t possibly end well.

Categories
Family

That’s One Explanation

The boy helped me out a little this weekend laying mulch down in the flower beds. We did most of our work in the morning because it was supposed to rain in the afternoon. In reality, it didn’t take that long. The rain started, albeit lightly, while the boy and I were out working.

He had noted that he was sweating from his work. I think it was still on his mind when he exclaimed “Dad, I know why it rains!”

“Oh yeah, why is that?”

“I think it’s because God is sweating.”

I pondered this for a moment and replied, “Well, he must do a lot of work to make all this sweat.”

“Yep. He’s a busy guy,” he replied.

Categories
Computers

1015PN Graphics Switching

UPDATE 7/21/2011:
Except for the xorg.conf files, this post is outdated. I’ve written an update here.

This thread shows how to accomplish graphics switching for ubuntu on the 1015PN. I’ve managed to apply it to the debian/wheezy install on my 1015PN. After the jump are the scripts I created as well as some simple directions.

Continue reading “1015PN Graphics Switching”
Categories
Family

Ugh

The lass’ T-ball game this morning was especially brutal. Don’t know if the weather had anything to do with it or if it was just one of those things. The kids just weren’t into it. Not by any measure. But then, it sure seemed like they had a good time.

Of course, their good time didn’t have much to do with fielding or hitting. Oh well, on to coach pitch.

Categories
Family

When I Nearly Crashed The Car

On the way to his martial arts class, the boy was eating a snack. One of those crackers and cheese combo packages. The elastics for his braces were sitting on the center console of the car. He finished his snack about half-way to our destination.

The elastics were in a bad spot for me- no where to put my elbow. So when he finished I just reminded him about them so he’d put them back in. Since the car was still moving, I figured if he started then he’d have them in by the time we got to the school, what with the movement of the car and all.

So he picks up the first one and puts it in. And then the boy who spent a week in tears of frustration over his elastics; the boy who on a number of occasions declared he would not go to school because of the elastics; the boy who had declared he would never wear the elastics because they were too hard to install said something so remarkable and stunning that I still can’t believe the words issued forth from his mouth.

“Putting in my elastics is SO EASY!”

Once I remembered I was still operating a motor vehicle, all I could do was smile and shake my head.