Busy

I've been busy doing a lot of things lately. There is many "blog worthy" experiences that have happened that I just haven't had/taken the time to write about. That all should change in another day or two as things will be changing big time. Check in Tuesday for an announcement and hopefully the start of a solid stream of blog updating for the future.

Falling Bouncy Balls

more bouncy balls
Originally uploaded by sem.

Often while walking the tough streets of Janesville people ask me "Jeramey, what would 100,000 falling bouncy balls look like?" Finally, I have an answer.

Yahoo to Buy Konfabulator

I've found on MacWorld via Dave Winer's blog that it looks like Yahoo will announce the acquisition of Konfabulator today. For those of you that don't know, Kanfabulator is a Macintosh and Windows application that allows users to run widgers on their desktop, similar to Apple's Dashboard application. Those of you that venture over to my house know that I'm a huge user of the program. I use it to display three picture widgets on my second monitor that rotate every minute, display the current weather, show the time (in my cat clock), and display my CPU usage. I'm excited to see what Yahoo will do with the program, it looks like they have some solid plans. Release it for free? That's a plus. Integrate it tightly with Yahoo services? That could be cool.

It will be fun to monitor my fantasy football team in a widget. Wow, by the time I finished writing this the homepage had changed and Konfabulator is now free.

Yahoo now owns Flickr and Konfabulator. If I had money to invest I would be putting it in Yahoo right now and if you have money to invest you should be putting it on my Yahoo fantasy football team, I'm going to the championship again this year (I hope).

Tags: Yahoo, Konfabulator

Ducks Fall In

David Moe sent me this telling tale of ducks crossing the grate. What happened to the poors baby ducks?

Daylight Savings Time

Ken Norton has a great post entitled "Daylight Savings Idiots " about Congress' attempts to change Daylight Savings Time. A humorous angle on a story like this is always welcome in my book.

If it is going to save on energy costs, I'm for it.

Free Business Models

Fred Wilson, aka A VC, has a great post entitled "In Defense of Free". He discusses lightly the business models of Craig's List, Red Hat, Flickr, and Google. Points out how they give things away for free along with using open-source software, but are still profitable. Fred discusses how "information wants to be free" and how you can expect to get paid for being free. An excellent post to get the gears turning on how you could start your own business that gives something away for free.

Fred's a great blogger and I suggest you read his stuff if you're into technology and venture capital.

Web Stats

I'm sitting here looking at my server stats for this site and I'm checking out the visit length. Just under 200 of you or 3.3% stay at this site for over an hour, you're amazing. What are you doing for that long? Clue me in, I'd like to know.

Hedberg Public Library

The Hedberg Public Library in Janesville, Wisconsin is one excellent library. I consider it a Janesville landmark and it definitely classes up the city.

There is a small glitch in their system and I would be willing to bet that it exists in other libraries too. When I was about a month from turning 18 years-old I checked out a few DVDs and books and returned them late. I did not return to the library again to check anything out until I had turned 18. I expected to have a fine around $5, but I was told there was nothing on my record. Apparently once you turn 18 all previous fines on your library card are cleared. Now for me that wasn't a big deal as mine fine was supposed to be $5, but for a friend he managed to get out of a $65 fine. Just a little something that's worth knowing.

Scratch one more thing off my to-blog list.

Tags: Janesville, Hedberg Public Library

Microsoft Windows Vista

It's official says Chris Pirillo the next version of Microsoft Windows will be called Microsoft Windows Vista. Vista is currently code-named Longhorn.

An interesting choice of a name for sure.

Tags: Microsoft, Vista

Podcast

Good news (or bad news) I am going to launch a podcast at some point in the near future. I think it's going to have a MIlwaukee theme and feature news and music from the area. That doesn't mean it will be just Milwaukee, but I think I'm going to focus a decent amount of the show on it.

Comments would be very appreciated on this one.

Collective Soul

I saw Collective Soul in concert at Beloit Riverfest on July 16th and they were everything I expected. I really enjoyed the concert and was fairly impressed with the selection they chose to play. My seats weren't quite as good as they were for the Gin Blossoms show, so I didn't feel as much as part of the show. Ed Roland, the lead singer, definitely has a thing for the microphone, he was waving it around at just about every chance. He kept trying to get the audience into the show during a few of their new songs, but it just wasn't working. Once they returned to playing the hits, everyone was jamming/dancing along. This brings me to my point, if you're a band that was popular a few years ago, but are really not as popular now, make sure to play ALL of your hits. Most fans are there to hear the hits. If you want to play your new music, sprinkle it inbetween all the other songs. I thought Collective Soul did a better job at this than the Gin Blossoms for what it's worth.

If you get the chance to go see Collective Soul on the cheap (cost me ten bucks), do it.

Pictures from the concert.

Tags: Collective Soul

An Update!

It's been a relatively silent couple days for me as far as the Internet has been. Silent enough that my mom asked why I hadn't updated my website. Needless to say, I've been busy. I was just about to write a few things down all in one post, but realized I should split everything up into a few posts.

Home Run Derby - Live Blogging

Time for some live blogging of the Home Run Derby. I'm rooting for Carlos Lee to win, as he's from my favorite team the Milwaukee Brewers.

They're talking about Lee being the winner of the right-handers, but the stadium is better for left-handed hitters. They being Chris Berman and Joe Morgan on the television. On a side note the Detroit fans just don't seem to into it. Maybe it's the way ESPN has the mics setup around the stadium, but it sounds real quiet there.

Bobby Abreu takes the first pitch in the Derby yard, cool. Abreu's up to seven home runs now and only three outs (he gets nine). He is going to get tired before the first round is over.

They're sure showing a lot of camera's (video and still) that are in the players hands. Wow, Abreu just blasted his 10th home run517 ft, out of the stands. Anyway, I wonder if they're going to be putting the resulting media up on Flickr or OurMedia, that would sure be cool. I wonder how many thousands people would count Ken Griffy Jr. as a friend?

We're still not done with the first batter, man this should be a podcast. It would be perfect for that. I could sit here with the Axim and just record. If I had an HD TV this would be even better to watch. Abreu's now one home run away from tying the record for home runs in a round, and he just did it. He has now broken that record with 16. The players are having a lot of fun with it, fun to watch. 17, 18 he just doubled his season total, 19, 20, 21 broken bat, 22, 23, 24. Just short. He's on his last out now. Bounces it off the wall for his last out. Wow, what a performance.

Sanity has returned, Jason Bay is up now and he has eight outs with any home runs, make that nine outs. Gold Ball pitch, and it's an out. I'm sorry for Canada. Venezula is the current leader. The Derby has eight players representing eight countries.

Carlos Lee is up now. He's got 3 home runs, make that four home runs, and four outs. He doesn't need to beat Abreu, just be one of the top four to move on to the next round. Five dingers. Lee is representing his native Panama. He apparently has a ranch there now with 6,000 cattle, that's a lot. Lee has six now. He's making some amusing grunting noises when he hits one that's not a homer. There goes number seven. That's eight, a nice shot. Wow, that was one heck of a grunt. Gold ball home, 21,000 dollars to charity. Another 21,000, that's number 10. Boom, number 11, another 21,000. A grunt and he's done. He should be moving on to the next round.

Here's a photo of Comerica Park, where the Derby is taking place, from a nearby buliding.

Hee-Seop Choi just put out five. My man Carlos is sitting comfortably in second right now. Detroit player Ivan Rodriguez is swinging right now, he has four home runs and seven outs. General Motors did something pretty awesome to their building for the Derby, check it out, smart marketing on their part. Pudge ends up with seven.

David Ortiz of the Red Sox jacked seventeen home runs, but as long as he could beat seven he would move on to the second round. With Pudge's seven my man Carlos Lee was ensured a spot in the second round. Andrew Jones the season home run leader is done with five. The next round will be Abreu, Lee, Pudge, and Ortiz.

We're done. The United States represented by Mark Teixeira managed to get only two home runs. Between Canada and the United States, North America is sure rounding up the rear tonight.

Second Round! - Abreu just isn't doing it this round, four home runs and nine outs. Make that five.

Carlos Lee is up now and has four home runs and three outs. Looking good so far. Oh no, things started looking bad and now he's stuck with four. He looked like he was pretty tired. Hopefully this happens to the other players.

Pudge has now hit four. Make that five. Lee is done and so am I. I'm going to sign out, the urge to play NBA Live 2004 has become too much. See you later. I'll update this with the winner when it's all said and done.

Tags: Home Run Derby, MLB, Bobby Abreu

Home Run Derby

The MLB Home Run Derby is tonight and there is an article on ESPN offering advice on how to win. It's a pretty good read, even if you're not competing (that's us, the normal people). At the end of the article they pick my man, the hot hitting Brewer right-fielder Carlos Lee to win it all. I like it, I can't wait to watch.

I'm especially excited about this derby because Barry Bonds isn't playing. I'm real open about not liking the guy. I don't like how he treats reporters like jerks. Barry Bonds needs some work on the "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all" rule. I've also been told about his rude behavior by a few friends that have met him. Steroids or not, I'm not a Bonds fan and the Home Run Derby will be a better fan experience without him.

The Home Run Derby starts at 7 P.M. CST and will be broadcast live on ESPN.

Tags: Home Run Derby, Carlos Lee

Worldview

Seth Godin has an excellent post up on his blog about worldview and sharks. The sharks aren't too important, but the worldview is. Worldview to me is a dirty thing that politicians use really well (the Republicans more than the Democrats right now), read about it so you can avoid it.

Tags: Seth Godin

100th Anniversary Open House

25 Years of Safety
Originally uploaded by compujeramey.

I thought I would post the image I stitched together from a few pictures I took at the 100th anniversary party for the Janesville Roundhouse yesterday. I was rather impressed by the quality the Canon PhotoStitch software put out. Held by the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Company the event was an open house that allowed you to get up close with a few different engines they had. I have the pictures up on my Flickr account. There's more information on this event in a PDF on their website, along with more information on the upcoming free rides on the 23rd.

Sparkler Fun

Alexia Abegg has been nice enough to share a collection of photos containing sparklers and the art that they can create on her Flickr account. Enjoy.

Tags: Fireworks

Brewers First-Half Review

As the Milwaukee Brewers finish out a game against the Atlanta Braves, the last before the All Star break, it's time to look back at the first half of their season. The Brewers are on pace to win this game today and be four games under .500, disappointing for me, but not all too bad. They could easily end the season above .500, the word for them to accomplish that is consistency.

As everyone involved with the organization will tell you, we have the talent, we have the coaching, and we have the desire to win. There is one last piece that is holding the team back from getting above .500 and staying there, that's consistency. For whatever reason the team can't score enough runs game to game. They'll get real hot and put up 9 like they did last night, but they'll have a couple games in a row where they'll only put up a run or two a game. Defensively they have had a few errors that have cost them games. The pitching staff has had a decent year, they've struggled to get run support at times, but overall they haven't blown too many games. The starters have been near excellent, but the relievers still have some room for improvement.

There is at least two rookies playing everyday baseball now for the Brewers so some of the struggles can be blamed on them, but we need some veterans to step-up to the level they're capable of. Geoff Jenkins and Lyle Overbay need to produce more. Carlos Lee can't carry the team forever.

I'll revisit this post at the end of the year and lets hope we're an over .500 team.

Tags: Milwaukee Brewers

Looking Good

My favorite basketball team the Milwaukee Bucks are looking good for the coming season. Recently they announced the resigning of Michael Redd along with the hiring of coach Terry Stotts. Stotts is nothing short of a genius and with a chance to get some real head coaching experience, I think he is going to be a great coach. He'll be a great replacement for Terry Porter.

The surprise out of all of this is the Bucks signing of Bobby Simmons. He comes via free agency from the LA Clippers and is an high energy player that shoots a high percentage from behind the three-point line. A great compliment to the League's purest shooter Michael Redd. Simmons and our current small forward Desmond Mason should provide some great highlights and most importantly wins.

Bogut, Smith, Simmons, Mason, Redd, Ford, and Mo Williams. That's looking good, we're going to be playoff bound for sure.. Once we resign Dan Gadzuric or Zaza Pachulia we're going to be ready for contend for a real nice playoff spot right in there with Miami and Detroit. I can't wait to be just blocks away from the excitment next year.

Tags: Milwaukee Bucks

Gin Blossoms

I just got home from going to Summerfest in Milwaukee to see the Gin Blossoms. They were absolutely awesome. Hollie and I ended up in the fifth row almost dead center for most of the show and it was phenomenal. She told me after the show that I was really jamming for quite a while, so it had to be a good show. A better review and pictures to follow in the coming days.

Update: The photos of the concert are now up on my Flickr account.

Tags: Gin Blossoms, Summerfest

Foo Fighters to Tour With Weezer

The Foo Fighters are expected to launch a joint US tour with Weezer starting in September. Although I'll most likely be studying hard at school when they come around this would be a great show to go to. Both the Foo Fighters and Weezer's new albums are excellent, check them out if you have not.

Tag: Foo Fighters, Weezer

Root Beer and Friday

It's Friday. The work day is half over for me. I have root beer. The first of many fireworks shows tonight.

Life is good.