Touching Heaven
I thought this picture was worth sharing of the recent heavy fog in Milwaukee.
| More of Jeramey's photos |
Saturday, March 31, 2007
Invention to Venture
I'm off to Chicago all day to attend the Invention to Venture (I2V) workshop at IIT.
Update: Fixed the title, apparently I can't spell.
Update: Fixed the title, apparently I can't spell.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
43% of Black Males Unemployed?
According to a Journal Sentinel article on federal work-force development money...
In 1970, Milwaukee had the highest per capita income for African-Americans in the country, he said. Today, 43% of African-American males in the city are unemployed, according to another recent study.That's not a problem, that's a crisis. We can only hope that the city steps up and works to eliminate the problem, since the county has certainly been lackluster at it.
Hubble Telescope Data
Apparently all the data the Hubble Telescope has gathered totals up to 120 terabytes. That actually seems really small.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
The Weather
It was so warm in Milwaukee yesterday (another record high), but all the sudden this morning the temperature dropped what feels like 20 degrees.
Intense.
Intense.
Saturday, March 24, 2007
New Miller Park Features
It appears the Miller Park parking lots will have wifi before the city of Milwaukee test area is up. The Brewers announced that they're installing free wifi access in all Miller Park parking lots.
This will add a whole new dimension to the stupid debates my friends and I have before (and after) games in the parking lot. No more waiting until we get home or calling someone, we'll just hop online and look them up.
Only a team with a real tailgating tradition would install wifi in the parking lot before they do in the stadium.
As you may remember, I had mentioned they're also getting a bunch of new TVs too in the concourse area.
This will add a whole new dimension to the stupid debates my friends and I have before (and after) games in the parking lot. No more waiting until we get home or calling someone, we'll just hop online and look them up.
Only a team with a real tailgating tradition would install wifi in the parking lot before they do in the stadium.
As you may remember, I had mentioned they're also getting a bunch of new TVs too in the concourse area.
Organizations Using Flickr
I'm beginning to notice an increasing number of organizations using Flickr as a way to share and store their photos. A couple weeks ago, I noted that Fagan Chevrolet in my hometown of Janesville had an account to share images of their cars.
Grace Lutheran Church, located in downtown Milwaukee, has an account that documents the construction of the new Grace Center.
Unlike companies that advertise on MySpace (say Lucille's Piano Bar on Old World Third Street) or try and create accounts on Facebook, I welcome companies with open arms to the Flickr community. Adding their images to the mix is an excellent way of eliminating the isolated silo mentality that plagues the world of photo sharing.
As long as the tag cloud isn't polluted by these organizations, I'm happy to have their photos be part of the community.
Grace Lutheran Church, located in downtown Milwaukee, has an account that documents the construction of the new Grace Center.
Unlike companies that advertise on MySpace (say Lucille's Piano Bar on Old World Third Street) or try and create accounts on Facebook, I welcome companies with open arms to the Flickr community. Adding their images to the mix is an excellent way of eliminating the isolated silo mentality that plagues the world of photo sharing.
As long as the tag cloud isn't polluted by these organizations, I'm happy to have their photos be part of the community.
Apartments and Condos
The whole condo boom in Milwaukee is great, if you have the money to afford one.
If you're someone that is just looking to rent, like me, it's a pain.
If you're someone that is just looking to rent, like me, it's a pain.
Thursday, March 22, 2007
My Email Signature Rule
After seeing another barrage of college students trying to look more important than they are, I have come up with an official email signature rule to guide myself by.
Your name + three words maximum.
I don't want to see your address, phone, fax, cell, and especially your email address. I ALREADY HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS! I don't care that your job title includes the words "Vice Director Assistant Manager Junior Partner".
You get three words to explain to me who you are. More than that and I am going to make fun of you.
Your name + three words maximum.
I don't want to see your address, phone, fax, cell, and especially your email address. I ALREADY HAVE YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS! I don't care that your job title includes the words "Vice Director Assistant Manager Junior Partner".
You get three words to explain to me who you are. More than that and I am going to make fun of you.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Bucks Game
Tonight will be my first game in the post-Terry Stotts era.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited and optimistic.
I would be lying if I said I wasn't excited and optimistic.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
37 Signals Ships HighRise
Monday, March 19, 2007
Save the Music - Call Herb Kohl
Wisconsinites, the music needs you. As you're probably not aware, there is serious changes coming in regard to rising the fees that online radio stations must pay. This would essentially kill services like Pandora, something you've certainly come to know and love.
I have posted on this topic before, and Pandora has an explanation up themselves.
Call Herb Kohl (202-224-5653) before the hearing tomorrow, it takes about 20 seconds, and let him know that you wish the decision to be overturned by Congress.
You would be surprised at the power you have.
I have posted on this topic before, and Pandora has an explanation up themselves.
Call Herb Kohl (202-224-5653) before the hearing tomorrow, it takes about 20 seconds, and let him know that you wish the decision to be overturned by Congress.
You would be surprised at the power you have.
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Time
Time moves way to fast. I wish I could slow it down.
As a reference to that fact, note that the last post I wrote was on Wednesday.
As a reference to that fact, note that the last post I wrote was on Wednesday.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
University Club Tower (Update)
I had previously posted about how I thought it was short-sighted to be using lead in the construction of a new building, especially next to Lake Michigan.
I emailed architecture guru Whitney Gould at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who had wrote the original article that got my interest. I don't want to quote her email reply, because she didn't give me permission (I didn't ask), but I'll summarize.
She stated that she doesn't have any concern over the use of the lead. It's baked into the rest of the metal and won't separate out. She noted that the previous concern was with lead based paint, and not lead mixed with other alloys.
Still doesn't seem like the brightest thing to do, but apparently it works.
I emailed architecture guru Whitney Gould at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who had wrote the original article that got my interest. I don't want to quote her email reply, because she didn't give me permission (I didn't ask), but I'll summarize.
She stated that she doesn't have any concern over the use of the lead. It's baked into the rest of the metal and won't separate out. She noted that the previous concern was with lead based paint, and not lead mixed with other alloys.
Still doesn't seem like the brightest thing to do, but apparently it works.
Hotel Debate
The debate over the number of hotels being added to downtown Milwaukee is heating up. Mayor Barrett is beginning to add his views, and I'm sure the Common Council will have some very public viewpoints sooner rather than later.
Personally, I think they're needed and would compliment his transit plan nicely (judging by their location). On the flip side, I can see the possibility that the city doesn't have the money to support the developments right now.
It would be interesting to see data on how many people come to events in Milwaukee (i.e. Summerfest, the new Harley museum) and end up staying out in the suburbs. How much more money would the city of Milwaukee make by having so many more people consistently staying downtown? My guess is that it would have all kinds of welcome side effects.
Personally, I think they're needed and would compliment his transit plan nicely (judging by their location). On the flip side, I can see the possibility that the city doesn't have the money to support the developments right now.
It would be interesting to see data on how many people come to events in Milwaukee (i.e. Summerfest, the new Harley museum) and end up staying out in the suburbs. How much more money would the city of Milwaukee make by having so many more people consistently staying downtown? My guess is that it would have all kinds of welcome side effects.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
Fagan Chevrolet Has a Flickr Account
Shorter Prison Terms for Organ Donors
South Carolina is considering allowing prisoners shorter sentences if they donate an organ.
Brilliant. I would be interested to see this come up in Wisconsin.
Brilliant. I would be interested to see this come up in Wisconsin.
Milwaukee Wifi Network Still Behind
Dan Cody has an update on the status of the Milwaukee Wifi network and how Midwest Fiber Networks is still behind.
McDonald's Selling Pepsi
McDonald's - long a bastion of Coca-Cola products - has quietly started offering non-carbonated beverages made by Pepsi at some outlets. Dave DeCecco, a spokesman for Purchase, N.Y.-based PepsiCo Inc., confirmed that selected McDonald's outlets are offering Gatorade, Propel Fitness Water, Lipton Iced Tea, Tropicana orange juice and Mountain Dew. The outlets won't sell Pepsi or Diet Pepsi.
That's a HUGE victory for Pepsi and even bigger one for my taste buds.
Monday, March 12, 2007
Newt Gingrich: A Class Act
Newt Gingrich was cheating on his wife while impeaching Bill Clinton.
Again.
Newt Gingrich was cheating on his wife while impeaching Bill Clinton.
That's not even the worst part of the story though. This was his second wife, his first wife was his high school math teacher that he divorced, while she had cancer.
The amazing part is how did the Democrats in Washington not make light of this, ever?
Again.
Newt Gingrich was cheating on his wife while impeaching Bill Clinton.
That's not even the worst part of the story though. This was his second wife, his first wife was his high school math teacher that he divorced, while she had cancer.
The amazing part is how did the Democrats in Washington not make light of this, ever?
Thursday, March 08, 2007
New Park East Development
Another Park East development has been proposed by Robert Ruvin along the Milwaukee River. This time it's a 10-story office/hotel complex with a floor of condos. The Journal Sentinel failed to mention that Ruvin also owns the adjacent Third Street Pier building.
Greatest Spring Break Trip Ever
I have planned the greatest spring break trip ever (on a budget). Using the glory that is Megabus and mass transit, I have created a trip for the ages.
Three days.
Three cities.
Three baseball games.
The trip starts in Chicago at Wrigley Field on Friday, April 13th watching the Cubs host the Cincinnati Reds. From there, we'll be moving on through the night to Cleveland where we'll be hitting up Jacob's Field the next day to see the Indians play the Chicago White Sox. Finally it's on to Pittsburgh Sunday morning to catch the Pittsburgh Pirates play the San Fransisco Giants at PNC Park.
Total cost before food? $140.
I love America.
If you're interested in meeting up at any point during the trip, let me know.
Three days.
Three cities.
Three baseball games.
The trip starts in Chicago at Wrigley Field on Friday, April 13th watching the Cubs host the Cincinnati Reds. From there, we'll be moving on through the night to Cleveland where we'll be hitting up Jacob's Field the next day to see the Indians play the Chicago White Sox. Finally it's on to Pittsburgh Sunday morning to catch the Pittsburgh Pirates play the San Fransisco Giants at PNC Park.
Total cost before food? $140.
I love America.
If you're interested in meeting up at any point during the trip, let me know.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
50 Most Important People (on the Internet)
Here's a terrible list of the 50 most impotant people on the internet. Basically, if you're the CEO of a big company that has a popular website, you're on the list.
Insightful.....
Insightful.....
Monday, March 05, 2007
Web414
Web414 will be meeting at MSOE on Thursday Night. The meeting is at 7 p.m. in the Student Organization Conference Room at 1025 N. Broadway.
Best Buy Screwing Customers? Imagine That
Seth Godin pointed me to a report that is circulating that Best Buy has been caught screwing their customers, yet again. They apparently have this little internal website that has higher prices than their public website. Customers come in talking about higher prices in store than online, ask to price match, and are shown a higher price on this internal website by an employee. They're tricked into paying a higher price, because they're convinced that they were wrong.
What does Best Buy have to say about being caught? "Although we have an intra-store web site in place to support store operations (including products and pricing), we are reminding our employees how to access the external BestBuy.com web site to ensure customers are receiving the best possible product price."
Really employees at a technology story don't know how to use the internet?
And you wonder why I don't shop there.
What does Best Buy have to say about being caught? "Although we have an intra-store web site in place to support store operations (including products and pricing), we are reminding our employees how to access the external BestBuy.com web site to ensure customers are receiving the best possible product price."
Really employees at a technology story don't know how to use the internet?
And you wonder why I don't shop there.
Dick Cheney
Need I say more?
Dick Cheney, the man one heart beat away from leading the United States, is getting close to being one heart beat away from his own death. He has a blood clot now I guess.
When he was first elected into office this was a frequent criticism. Then came 9/11, the Iraq War, and him shooting someone in the face. Sadly, we've gone away from the alarming fact that he has pretty poor health for someone running a country.
50 years from now people are going to be reading history books laughing at us for electing him. I promise you.
Dick Cheney, the man one heart beat away from leading the United States, is getting close to being one heart beat away from his own death. He has a blood clot now I guess.
When he was first elected into office this was a frequent criticism. Then came 9/11, the Iraq War, and him shooting someone in the face. Sadly, we've gone away from the alarming fact that he has pretty poor health for someone running a country.
50 years from now people are going to be reading history books laughing at us for electing him. I promise you.
Apple iPhone
The new iPhone from Apple is worthless for the get go. It has a sealed battery. I repeat, it has a sealed battery.
You would have to really hate yourself to buy this phone. It has a sealed battery. I'm going to say that again, it has a sealed battery. Yes the iPod has a sealed battery, but if you lose your music for a week or two, your life goes on.
Picture this, you're on vacation. Your iPod dies, so you can't listen to music anymore. That sucks, but you move on. Your iPhone dies, and you can't switch the battery. You are screwed, you're cut off. You depend on your cell phone.
Apple must really hate their customers to have a phone with a sealed battery.
It would be better if Steve Jobs peed on your door step than you using the iPhone on a trip.
Your iPhone is only as good as the distance you throw it.
You would have to really hate yourself to buy this phone. It has a sealed battery. I'm going to say that again, it has a sealed battery. Yes the iPod has a sealed battery, but if you lose your music for a week or two, your life goes on.
Picture this, you're on vacation. Your iPod dies, so you can't listen to music anymore. That sucks, but you move on. Your iPhone dies, and you can't switch the battery. You are screwed, you're cut off. You depend on your cell phone.
Apple must really hate their customers to have a phone with a sealed battery.
It would be better if Steve Jobs peed on your door step than you using the iPhone on a trip.
Your iPhone is only as good as the distance you throw it.
Running as a Senator
In a New York Times story about New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson, author David Brooks states...
he’s not a senator. Since 1961, 40 senators have run for president and their record is 0-40. A senator may win this year, but you’d be foolish to assume it.Wow. That's a really, really, really bad record.
Internet Radio
A VC brings to my attention the rising cost of internet radio, which I think is just insanely expensive.
University Club Tower
It seems incredidly short-sighted and stupid to be building a brand new building in downtown Milwaukee (University Club Tower), right along Lake Michigan, that features a lead-coated copper top. Not only will the lead eventually run off into the ground surrounding the building, but I would venture a guess that it will end up in Lake Michigan.
I don't really fully understand why lead is used in the first place. My guess is that it's used on the building to prevent the copper from turning green, but why not just use a different metal for the roof?
Can someone explain this to me?
I don't really fully understand why lead is used in the first place. My guess is that it's used on the building to prevent the copper from turning green, but why not just use a different metal for the roof?
Can someone explain this to me?
It's Really Not Bad Here
"The most important part of travel is when you come home, because that's when you see your country with new eyes." - Lewis BlackThe statement couldn't be more true. Well I didn't leave the country this weekend, I left the Fresh Coast region for the East Coast.
I learned a few things along the way. I hate the snow, but I prefer it to walking in the mud all day. Sometimes the fast food restaraunts that dot the midwest are intense, but holy cow, Dunkin Donuts is the McDonalds of Massachusetts. Frankly, I prefer McDonalds and a dead cow over a 6,000 calorie fluffy ring of fat.
O'Hare might be a crazy airport, but be thankful there is something in it. You could be stuck in T.F. Green Airport in Providence, Rhode Island. If you thought you hate yourself now, you'll reconsider once you're there.
Traffic may not be great in Milwaukee or Chicago. But as Lewis Black said, and I think is true of all of Massachusetts, "The last person to get across that town in under three hours was yelling, 'The British are coming! The British are coming!' There isn't a straight road in sight out there.
It's fun to be away, but it's great to be home.
Sunday, March 04, 2007
Stuck in Providence
I'm stuck in Providence, Rhode Island thanks to a "mechanical problem" on my plane in Chicago. It's in the air now, and my flight should leave a comfortable two hours late.
No big deal they have wifi and power outlets here. What more does a geek need?
No big deal they have wifi and power outlets here. What more does a geek need?
Friday, March 02, 2007
Baseball is Back!
Baseball is back on ESPN, they aired their first spring training game of the season today with the Braves besting the Tigers.
Wahoo for the return of the sound of Peter Gammons voice for another season.
Wahoo for the return of the sound of Peter Gammons voice for another season.
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Megabus Expands!
My beloved mode of transit around the midwest, Megabus, is expanding!
The Southwest Airlines of the road, Megabus provides no frills service to and from major downtowns in the Midwest.
Previously everything operated out of a central "hub" in Chicago. This all changes April 2nd when their new schedule and destinations go into effect. In January I had to take the bus from Milwaukee to Chicago to Minneapolis, now I can go straight from downtown Milwaukee to downtown Minneapolis. Brilliant.
In addition to re-orientating the Milwaukee-Chicago-Minneapolis corridor they've added stops in Kansas City, Ann Arbor, Pittsburgh, Columbus (re-added), and Louisville.
Amazing.
I do see a road trip in my near future.
The Southwest Airlines of the road, Megabus provides no frills service to and from major downtowns in the Midwest.
Previously everything operated out of a central "hub" in Chicago. This all changes April 2nd when their new schedule and destinations go into effect. In January I had to take the bus from Milwaukee to Chicago to Minneapolis, now I can go straight from downtown Milwaukee to downtown Minneapolis. Brilliant.
In addition to re-orientating the Milwaukee-Chicago-Minneapolis corridor they've added stops in Kansas City, Ann Arbor, Pittsburgh, Columbus (re-added), and Louisville.
Amazing.
I do see a road trip in my near future.
Off to Massachusetts
I'll be in Dartmouth, Massachusetts until Sunday night (provided I make it out of Chicago in a few hours). Your best bet to reach me will be my cellular talking device.
Toyota Opening New Factory
Toyota has elected to open a new factory in Mississippi. That's great for the people of Mississippi. They're not exactly an economic powerhouse. I'm sure the governor is sleeping well tonight.
I want to know what's going on in Michigan though. They've got these old car factories that are sitting empty, and they've got the homes built to house the employees. The infrastructure is there, just rebuild the plant.
Is Michigan even considering this? Are they bidding on these plants? I'm sure Toyota would love to build in an area where they could gain major market share (General Motors territory).
I want to know what's going on in Michigan though. They've got these old car factories that are sitting empty, and they've got the homes built to house the employees. The infrastructure is there, just rebuild the plant.
Is Michigan even considering this? Are they bidding on these plants? I'm sure Toyota would love to build in an area where they could gain major market share (General Motors territory).
