AmazonBanner

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Will the 'Wii workout' cure couch potato-itis? | News.blog | CNET News.com

Nintendo Wii combines Gaming and Exercise

First Dance Dance Revolution, and now this. It seems games are moving towards greater immersion by involving the player physically in the action of the game.

I love the concept of the Wii control. It looks like a remote control, but you swing it like a tennis racket, or a sword, or bowling ball, or whatever is appropriate for the action you want to take in game. Finally, safe bowling in the comfort of your own living room.

Friday, November 24, 2006

Thanksgiving 06 is in the books...

 

The Photo Album, that is... Click the link for pics! Posted by Picasa

Picasa photo management

Since I got my new digital camera, I've come to appreciate another of google's apps I hadn't tried before. Picasa is a photo management app. It's main purpose is organizing photos, but it also does a great job at minor editing, importing pictures from a camera or scanner, posting to the web (blog or album), and has a host of other nice features.

It's available as part of the google pack, which bundles many of google's popular tools (toolbar, picasa, earth, etc) into one easy download. (Note the convenient banner at the top of the page! Just click it to get the google pack for yourself!) (Or you can get just Picasa by scrolling down this page and clicking the Picasa square on the right side.)

(C'mon, click it, install it, try it, love it. You know you want to. Plus, if enough people actually try it from this link, I get a little bit of money from google. You'll like it, but don't take my word for it, Try it!)

{Insert Hypnotic Pattern Here}

UCLA student tazerd by Police after not showing ID

This video has prompted discussion across the net and around the nation, as outrage spreads over the apparent abuse of a student by police. There has been significant debate over whether the police were out of line, but most people have been outraged upon first seeing the video.

Essentially, the student was in the UCLA library after 11pm, when only students are allowed. When prompted by university staff, the student refused to show his student ID. At this point, university staff left and called the police. The student gathers his things, puts on his backpack, and is walking towards the door. Police arrive, grab the student by the arm, and that's where the video begins.

The video itself is not great quality, and actually shows little of the incident, with the audio track adding a lot of emotion.

The ACLU has stepped in to help the student sue the school now, and investigations are pending but not likely to be finished before sometime in January.

Whose side are you on? Did the kid get what he deserves? Or were the police way out of line?

Sunday, November 19, 2006

New Photo Site

I've set up a new photo album site with google, which uses the Picasa software in conjunction with Google's web services. So far I like it. We'll see how it holds up. In the mean time, you can find photos I've published here.

A day at the Museum

 
Today Ryan's Tiger Cub pack went to the Family Museum in Bettendorf. Or at least, they were supposed to. Unfortunately, only 1 other child & parent showed up. Still, the two kids got to have a lot of fun. This is one of Ryan's favorite places to visit. He's been there several times, but he never tires of it.

Allison has planned other trips for the pack in the next couple of months, including a visit to a fire station, the local TV studio, and a local semi-pro sporting event.

I'd like to have been able to go with today, but unfortunately it was scheduled on a Saturday, when I have to be at work. Oh well, maybe next time. (After all, I'm most excited about the TV studio & Firehouse trips... :) ) Posted by Picasa