Angry Youth

I was leaving my neighborhood today and something bizarre and quite rude happened to me.

I grew up, for lack of a better description, in the country. I measured distance from friends houses in miles instead of blocks. Out in the country, when you are driving or riding around and you see someone its just common to wave or raise a few fingers off the steering wheel in a small form of greeting. Its a reflex and something that took me a long time to get out of doing once I moved into a more "city" environment. I don't do it anymore when I'm driving around but do find myself do it on occasion when I'm back on the home turf where I grew up.

When we moved into a neighborhood, my waving habit returned. Most of the people I see walking on the sidewalks or streets of my neighborhood are either people I know or just neighbors I've yet to meet. Most of the time it's their children or teenagers. I drive past them making sure to keep an eye out for the random smaller child or family pet in case one darts my way and as I pass I smile and wave. They are my neighbors so I see no harm in this. I've done this for over 9 years and haven't had any issues. Sure some people just give me that blank stare of "Do I know you?" with a look of trying to remember where they know me from then they just go back to what they were doing. Most of the teenagers and kids just smile and some wave back. The ones that are too cool to wave and smile just give me the up-nod of recognition and go about their business.

Until today that is.... Today I'm driving out and make my turn on to the main street and see a teenager up ahead. Its time for the High Schoolers to be getting home and I'm on my way to pick up Logan so there is nothing odd about a solo teenager walking the street. I get closer and give a small wave and a smile and keep going. As I pass the lil punk/thug wannabe I hear "Wha chu wavin at Cracker?"

HUH? Cracker? Seriously? What is that little shits problem?

I glance in the rear view mirror and see him still walking away from me not looking back. Then I notice the 'angry' walk he was doing. His body language was screaming "I think I'm a bad ass and I'm mad at the world!". I refrained from slamming on the brakes and having a discussion with him about manners and keeping your mouth shut when you're the one walking in the street without a bumper or airbag between you and oncoming cars. Part of me wanted to go back and stomp some manners into his lil punk ass. That part was overruled by the more rational part of me, you know the part that reminds you that getting blood out of hiking boots is a REAL pain and they're new boots so lets not muck them up with the blood of some thug wannabe. I kept on driving but was rather confused at what this kids problem was that he needed to speak out when he could have just kept walking in angry silence.

iPad (Don't blame me, I didn't name it)

I sat with eager anticipation today waiting for the Apple Event to start. In between working on various request and emails for my day job I refreshed and watched the tech sites as they prepped for the event. Speculation ran rampant on what was to come. Leo Laporte was live streaming/blogging from the event on Twit TV with Alex Lindsay manning the fort back at the Twit Cottage. His live audio feed made the event quite enjoyable because while the audio was working I didn't have to wait for Engadget or Gizmodo to refresh. Steve Jobs came out and announced the successes of Apple over the past year and then let us in on Apple's newest invention. The iPad. Yeah, I know. Twitter is already flooded with #ipadpuns and I'm sure they'll just get worse and more frequent over the next few weeks.

My impression of the iPad, in a nutshell, is that its a 9.7in diagonal screen version of the Touch. I can see this device establishing itself in the market as a great e-reader and a Kindle killer over time. The base model is not much more than a Kindle and you get 10times the power and capabilities as the Kindle. With the Kindle iPhone/iPad App available in the App Store, purchasing a Kindle now would simply be stupid. Don't shoot me if you have a Kindle. You most likely purchased it before today so you're not stupid. Just unlucky.

The CEO of McGraw-Hill has already spilled the beans that they are working closely with Apple on getting more and more books onto the iPad. Apple today launched iBooks and is working with publishers to get the prices to be reasonable and affordable. Imagine carrying your entire library of favorites or all your textbooks in one device for instant and immediate reference anywhere you are.

As disappointed as I am in the iPad's lack of a front facing webcam and video conferencing features. I am thrilled to see Gene Roddenberry's Star Trek PADD (Personal Access Display Device) take form in the iPad. The future of data access is devices like the iPad. The Kindle tried but in my opinion, failed.

Weather DefCon 3: High French Toast Alert

What is it about Georgia that the mere mention of Snow sends everyone into a panic?

Its absolutely insane. All the weatherman has to do is mention "chance of flurries" and everyone immediately rushes out and depletes all local grocery stores of Bread, Milk, and Eggs. I guess, while isolated and pinned behind a massive inch or two of snow, everyone goes into survival mode and makes French Toast. What else are you going to do with those ingredients? I would think that the point of "stocking up" for a "blizzard" would mean gathering items that could be used/consumed without the use of electricity. What exactly can you do with Bread, Milk, and Eggs without electricity? Sure you can have Cereal. IF it was on your list when you went to raid the grocery store. You could drink the Milk but that wouldn't really satisfy a hunger for long. You could make a sandwich providing, once again, that other sandwich materials were on your list. Eggs are pretty much useless without electricity or a heat source for cooking. Unless you're Rocky that is. I just don't get it. The entire OMG WTF PANIC!!!!! attitude is just stupid. I swear the local weathermen own stock or have some other vested interest in the Grocery Industry and cry SNOW!!!! whenever they need a boost to their portfolio. ;-)

No worries though. I've got firewood and plenty of food other than milk, bread, and eggs so bring it on Mother Nature.

The annual trip to Savannah

The annual family trip to Savannah, GA was today. It was the typical chaotic cluster fuck that always happens when you get 3 kids (5,8,10) and 6 adults together and attempt to maintain order and calmness while wandering the streets of Savannah. It just can't be done without someone getting pissed off for not getting to go where they want, when they want. Try it sometime. I dare you. It can't be done. No matter what you do, everyone will want to go where they want and do their stop first.

Lessons learned this year, besides to not go next year, are:

1. When you arrive at your destination at 11:30 with 3 kids EAT LUNCH FIRST! Waiting until 2:15 to get on a waiting list somewhere is too damn late. The kids are already spent and beyond cranky having burned up all their energy reserves hours ago.
2. Unless you ALL want to go to the same store/street, DON'T try to stay together. It just won't work. I spent a lot of time waiting outside stores I had no interest in and later being dragged past stores that I knew Jess wanted to go into. Splitting up into smaller more manageable groups/couples is just smarter and will work out better in the long run for everyones sanity sake.
3. DON'T change the return time plans out of the blue in the middle of the day. It just fucks up the mood and pace of the rest of the day.
4. Take more than one car. We did do this but I wanted to mention it as a requirement. Had we not taken more than one car then splitting up would not have been possible and I'm pretty sure I'd have gone psycho stabby at some point.

Don't get me wrong. I like Savannah. I don't mind going to Savannah. I just wish I had more time to enjoy the trip and see all the sights. There is a ton of history all over the town and I never have the time to appreciate it. I think I'll schedule a weekend get-away sometime in the Spring and make the time to enjoy the sights.

The Shaming (or at least a weak, ineffective attempt at one)

Ah the Holidays..... A time when friends and family come together to eat, drink, and be merry. A time of year when people try to "be good for goodness sake" as the song goes. A time when everyone is trying to be happy and just be jolly.

At least that's the plan.

Enjoying the holidays isn't always fully possible sometimes. This is mainly due to the actions of the self-important and arrogant masses "defending Christmas". These people use this time of year to lay claim to the entire holiday season as THEIR holiday and demand that you refer to it by THEIR holiday name and ONLY that name. Anyone who doesn't is in a "War on Christmas" (to use their own words). They demand that you say "Merry Christmas" and take personal offense at "Happy Holidays". Businesses that use open minded, all inclusive phrases like "Happy Holidays" are met with hatred and calls for boycott. They expend so much energy trying to shove their version of the holiday down everyones throats that they forget to just be thankful for what they have and actually enjoy the Holiday Season.

My own personal experience starts with the countless emails I get from a particular family member around this time of year. (Hi Dad) Despite conversations where its been clearly stated that we just won't agree on Politics or Religion, I am still bombarded with email forwards. Everything from repetitive "Jesus is the reason for the season" to racist political emails disparaging President Obama, his policies, and his attempt to turn this country around. Yes, I see the conflicting messages in the two types of emails listed. Sad aren't they? Members of a supposed religion of peace and love are the first to throw stones and spread fear and hate when they aren't the ones in control of the government. When they are in power, science is pushed aside, countless thousands die in illegal and unnecessary wars, phones are illegally wiretapped, intolerance reigns, people are tortured, and basic rights assured in the U.S. Constitution are ignored by the administration because they're inconvenient. When they aren't in power, education and science are encouraged, healing and caring for people (healthcare for the masses) is a key issue, and tolerance is encouraged. It's no wonder I'm on the opposite side of the fence.

My personal persecution continues in the annual family gathering (father's side) on Christmas Eve. For most of my adult (18+) life I've been attending this gathering. It's always been a time of food, fun, and many laughs and good times. A time that I get to see people that I only see around this time of year. (That is partially what the Holiday is for after all.) That all changed the year my brother got married. He married a wonderful woman who just happens to be Jewish. Yeah, I know, I don't see the big deal either but it apparently rocked the house to the foundation because the first holiday gathering after that marriage began what my brother and I referred to as "The Shaming of the Jew". Never before, in all the years of gatherings, has the Bible been brought out and a reading held. Once a Jew was present at the gathering, I guess the need was felt to shove a particular point of view in her face. Thus the new tradition of reading from the Bible came to be. My brother later moved away (I wonder why?) and the tradition has now evolved into "The Shaming of the Atheist". So this year I sat quietly as scripture was read and a speech spoken detailing how Christmas is a Christian holiday and the 'Primary' reason for the season. (I love how the word "primary" was worked into the speech this year. It at least shows some inclusion of myself.) When the "Shaming" was over it was back to the fun and good family times. I didn't push my view down their throats, I didn't rebut their opinion, I just let it be because I'd rather expend my energy in fruitful and creative ways rather than attempt to open a mind that has been rusted shut. There isn't enough WD-40 in the Universe to open those particular minds.

I hate to break it to the masses but Christians do not have a monopoly on this time of year. You should just chill out and learn to have a good time with your friends and family. (the stuck up ones that is, I know many Christians that are cool and don't shove their views down others throats. They have their beliefs and a respect that they are THEIR beliefs and not mine or to be pushed onto others every chance they get.)

I think the latest best writeup on this time of year that I've found was penned by Alyx Bradford -> http://alyxbradford.livejournal.com/84031.html It's more than worth the read and might even open your mind a bit from all the sheltered teachings you may have received over the years. If it's one thing I've learned, it's that organized religion HATES it when you try to learn and expand you knowledge of things outside of their dogma.

So where does that leave us? That's a good question really. Suffice it to say that I put up with my situation to see some of the members of my family and try to enjoy the Holiday Season. I say a plethora of Holiday greetings. I say Happy Holidays, I say Happy Solstice, I say Happy Saturnalia, and yes I say Merry Christmas. I don't get my panties in a wad when someone greets me with a holiday greeting that is not my specific version of the season, I simply reply in kind and continue on. It's the Holidays after all, now go be Jolly.

New Hobbies and Interest

A friend of mine reminded me of the sport/hobby of Geocaching.

From the official site: http://www.geocaching.com

Geocaching is a high-tech treasure hunting game played throughout the world by adventure seekers equipped with GPS devices. The basic idea is to locate hidden containers, called geocaches, outdoors and then share your experiences online. Geocaching is enjoyed by people from all age groups, with a strong sense of community and support for the environment.

Basically its a high tech form of a scavenger hunt. I can't wait to give it a try and see what interesting places and things I can find. I'm GeocacheGeek over on the site if you want to look me up. I'll also be blogging separately on http://geocachegeek.blogspot.com and http://twitter.com/geocachegeek if you want to follow me.

Keeping up on the Internet - Part 3 (Twitter)

If you've not at least heard of twitter by now then you've probably been in a cabin in the woods with no electricity or cellphone coverage.

Twitter (www.twitter.com) is a micro-blogging service designed to do answer one simple question:

What are you doing?

It has a 140 character post limit so you have to keep it short and to the point. Punctuation is optional as are spaces sometimes. (Hey, those things waste characters and with 140 limit every single character counts)

People "follow" your updates in order to see your post and you in turn can follow them back if you so choose. Its your choice on who to follow. Unless a person has their updates marked Private (thus defeating the purpose of twitter) then you can follow anyone you see.

Some terminology used in the twittersphere

Tweet = a twitter posting/message
RT or ReTweet = reposting another users tweet, sort of like applause for their tweet and passing it on
Fail Whale = the error page displayed when twitter is down or unresponsive
Tweeple = People that follow you and that you follow. Twitter + People (Thanks @PJ_Tweets for the reminder)

There are tons of sites out there that go into insane detail about twitter, its use, its abilities, and even how to make a business using it. There are just as many sites bashing twitter as there are promoting it. You're smart, google up twitter and find em yourself.

This post is designed to simply tell you how I use twitter and my opinion on its relevance (or not, take my information with a grain of salt and make your own decision on how to use it).

Twitter helps me keep up with news and information from around the country and sometimes the world. It has scooped mainstream media on current events and happenings more times than I can count. I will often read about something that happened and a few hours later finally see that same happening show up on a mainstream media site. The plane crash into the Hudson River is a prime example, news of the crash and pics of the plane in the water were on twitter and twitpic before mainstream media had a clue. Now do you see why CNN, FOX, MSNBC, etc.. are all talking Twitter now? They are tired of getting scooped. Via Twitter I knew about the last few earthquakes to hit California long before any news of it showed up on a "news" site.

This is what I see as the main power of Twitter: The ability to get information out to a huge list of people in an immediate fashion.

Celebrities, Companies, Politicians, Pornstars, and Regular people like you and me... Twitter has them all. Who you follow is up to you. Pick the people that you feel bring value to your twitter feed and over time weed out the bad decisions if you made any.

Here are just some of the people I follow that I have found to add good value to my twitter feed.

NOTE: there are TONS of Celebrity IMPOSTERS out there, I only follow the confirmed accounts so you can be sure if I'm following the person that its the real deal.

@rozsavage - this incredible lady has solo-rowed across the Atlantic and has recently rowed across the Pacific from California to Hawaii in Phase 1 of rowing across the whole Pacific. She fights for a Greener Earth and is not above replying to her fans questions. She and I have chatted back and forth a few times. She has a new book coming out in October and embarks on Phase 2 of her Pacific Row in 37 days as of this writing. www.rozsavage.com is where you can find out more.

@joethepeacock - I worked with Joe years ago and find his take on things to be quite enlightening and unfettered. He speaks his mind, has a great sense of humor and has written 2 books

@mariancall - I enjoy her music and follow to keep up with new releases and information. She responds back to fans which I find very cool. CyberPR says this of Marian "Norah Jones & Jason Mraz never recognized their secret love child, because she was raised by crazy uncles They Might Be Giants." I highly recommend you give her a listen www.mariancall.com

@donttrythis - Adam Savage of Mythbusters. Quite possibly the coolest guy on TV from a geeks point of view. My dream job would be to be a Mythbuster working with Adam. His tweets let you in on some of the backstage antics and his pics let you see whats coming up this season.

@grantimahara - Grant Imahara of Mythbusters. The 2nd Mythbuster to join Twitter. He's new but so far has tweeted a few good behind the scenes pics. Shows promise :)

@BadAstronomer - Phil Plait PhD - worked on the Hubble Telescope and is now a writer and blogger over at http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/ Funny guy, good source of information on astronomy

@NASA - yes, The N.A.S.A. - Great for news and information on current space missions and happenings

@wilw - Wil Wheaton - yes, Westley Crusher from Star Trek TNG. He's a witty blogger and writer now with a few published books under his hat.
While we're on Star Trek, @levarburton and @brentspiner are both on my list as well. Both are funny guys and are active in the theatre scene in some areas. They tweet about their play work alot and other appearances that they are doing.

@calilewis - Host of GeekBrief.tv and Tech Geek Icon.

@rainnwilson - yes, Dwight Schrute from The Office and all around funny actor guy. He is quite funny to follow.

@lancearmstrong - yup, its him. Nice guy and updates pretty regularly

I could go on and on describing the people I follow, all 170 of them.
In a nutshell
If I listen to their podcast, I follow them.
If I have their tech product and they are on twitter, I follow them (@drobo @1password and @boxee for instance)
If its a celebrity I like and can confirm the account, I follow them.

You can see who a person follows on their main page so feel free to check mine out and farm for some people to follow. I'm @shawnrhill

Twitter is a cool service and a powerful tool. Like most things, it is what you make of it.

Happy Tweeting