Merry Christmas everybody!

Nothing exceptionally exciting to mention here, since the only big thing I wanted this Christmas was the Nokia 770 I ordered myself. However, it did arrive on Friday, so I'll have it for my upcoming vacation. So far it's neat but I haven't done much with it yet, I'll probably have more to say after the trip.

Contrary to popular belief, I'm still alive. I just haven't had much chance to keep up with things lately... hope all is well with everyone.

So, I ordered a Nokia 770. Unfortunately it's not here yet, but I'm anxiously awaiting it. Pretty nifty little gadget... wi-fi and bluetooth, running a variant of Debian. And a few blog posts around the web have gotten me thinking about where things might be headed. Russell Beattie believes that the mobile phone as a primary internet access device is the way we're going. At least in his early posts about the 770, he wasn't inspired. But after trying a PSP as a web tablet, he has started to change his tune. The latest 770 post is the one that really got me thinking.

I don't think the mobile phone as client is the way we're going. I think the mobile phone as access point is the future. Ari Jaaksi, head of Nokia's open source operations, seems to agree. The mobile phone is just too limited. Screen size is the biggest limitation. I've got Google Maps on my cell phone, but it's not great, because you just can't see enough. Smartphones might help (personally, I can't stand them), but even a Treo doesn't have a screen anywhere near the size or resolution of the 770. And if it did, who would want to hold it up to their ear to use it as a phone?

When true 3G mobile internet becomes common, the mobile phone can virtually replace the cable modem and wireless access point. Why do I need broadband to my home when I can get broadband performance from the tiny phone in my pocket, and wirelessly connect my devices to it (there's an answer to this coming later)?

So that covers the access side, but what about the client? If the phone isn't suitable, what is? I propose that for 90% of what the average user does, a mix of 770-like devices would fit the bill. The 770's screen may be a bit small, but it does have decent 800x480 resolution, which is going to be plenty for most websites. For web surfing, e-mail, word processing, spreadsheets, and casual gaming (we may talk a lot about FPS games here, but casual games are much more widely played), a small web tablet would do the job perfectly, when bundled with a bluetooth keyboard. Those of us doing development and playing resource heavy games are still going to have machines at home. And there's the answer to the earlier question-- you'll want broadband to your home because you'll always want access to your stored content. If high-speed wireless connectivity is widely available, you won't need an iPod-- your music will be on your home machine and you'll be able to listen to it remotely on your device when you're away from home. Recorded TV or movies? Same thing.

I don't think convergence is coming to the mobile device, it's coming to the home device. The box next to your TV should be able to store your music, your TV shows, your movies... or play your games, let you do your development, anything that requires large amounts of storage or processing power.

But everything else, which is most of our computing work, can be done on a small wireless device, as long as the device has a reasonable interface. That's where the phone falls flat.

To answer Russell's question, the killer app is: everything you can do on your desktop web browser, but from anywhere. The killer app is real wireless freedom.

Or, the 770 will flop like every other attempt at a web tablet has.

So, what does everybody think? I have more thoughts, but this is plenty long for now.

Short notice I know, but I've got a Fantasy Hockey league that has 6 players. Planning an auto-pick draft for this weekend, and we would be interested in a couple more players. Not too many, probably 2 at the most. After a season of Fantasy Baseball where half the league paid no attention, people who actually plan to follow it would be preferred!

It's a rotisserie league on Yahoo. Post here or e-mail me if interested.

Ok, I've been quiet on this one for too long. If you don't want my opinions feel free to skip it.

First off, if you don't live in an area that is threatened by hurricanes every summer/fall, then sit down, shut up, and pay attention.

This is not President Bush's fault. I've lived through hurricanes affecting this area under Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, and Bush Jr. None of them were created by the President in question, the Congress, or anyone else. People have died in hurricanes under virtually every President to serve this country. There is always property damage. There are almost always looters. This is not a new situation. Bush told Louisiana to call for a mandatory evacuation, and Louisiana listened to him.

The National Guard has a job to do. Their job is to follow the orders of the state governor. If they were not in there soon enough, it is the fault of the state governor, and no one else.

Do you know what happens when a mandatory evacuation is called due to a hurricane on the Atlantic coast? The police force you to evacuate. You don't decide to stay at home. If you're in your home, you will be removed from it. That's why it's called a mandatory evacuation. I've been seeing it during hurricane season my whole life, although thankfully never in my city. If the people are not forced to leave, then it's not a mandatory evacuation, it's a voluntary evacuation.

After the storm, what the fuck do you expect relief workers to do when they're being shot at? I don't care if you're black, white, purple, or green, if you shoot at the people who are trying to save your ass, then you're an idiot. Today, a group of people opened fire on contractors being sent in to repair a levee. That is disgusting, and you can't blame it on Bush.

DHS has provided states with funding to plan evacuations and drills of those evacuations since its inception. No major city should be without an evacuation plan-- if it is, the state should be held accountable for its waste of that money.

I am disgusted with the behavior of the people of New Orleans in response to the storm. Shooting at rescuers? Sitting in stores trying on Nikes? Stealing jewelry, televisions? ABSOLUTELY DISGUSTING.

On August 7th, an author I respect said:

In my lectures on survival topics I often mention that there is just a thin veneer of civilization on our society. What is underneath is not pretty, and it does take much to peel away that veneer. You take your average urbanite or suburbanite and get him excessively cold, wet, tired, hungry and/or thirsty and take away his television, beer, drugs, and other pacifiers, and you will soon seen the savage within. It is like peeling the skin of an onion--remove a couple of layers and it gets very smelly. -- James Wesley, Rawles

Is there any doubt now as to the truth of that statement?

The lesson we all need to learn from Katrina is that no matter who is in office, the government (federal, state, or local), cannot and will not protect you. Take responsibility for yourself and your family. If you don't have at least a week's worth of whatever your family needs to survive (food, water, medicine, flashlights, batteries, candles, and yes, guns and ammunition) in your home, then you are not prepared. In the best case, it would all be in bags you could easily take if you had to leave your home in an emergency.

Some will question that statement, particularly the gun recommendation. To them I say, you can have all the food and water you like, but the people with the guns will be the ones eating it. That may sound harsh, but look at what we've seen in the past week and ask yourself if you can really argue with it.

They raided a nursing home and took whatever they could lay hands on. "We had enough food for 10 days," Peggy Hoffman, the home's director, told the AP. "Now we'll have to equip our department heads with guns and teach them how to shoot." TownHall.com

Yes, I'm still here! Just haven't had much to say lately.

A little update on my snubby... after two trips to Smith & Wesson, the problem looks to be fixed. Haven't taken it to the range yet, but the firing pin was clearly too short after comparing notes with fellow 642 owners, and it's now been replaced and it looks up to spec now. Should find out Saturday.

As for Katrina, expect a JE another time on that. If I tried now it'd be a wonderful TMP style rant but I'd end up more pissed off than when I started, so I'll wait on that.

HokieSeas has her tied up in the attic. That is all.

You and your crazy memes! I'm a little late to the party on this one but here it is anyhow.

(x) smoked a cigarette
( ) crashed a friend's car
( ) stolen a car
(x) been in love
(x) been dumped
( ) shoplifted
( ) been fired
(x) been in a fist fight
( ) snuck out of your parent's house
(x) had feelings for someone who didn't have them back
( ) been arrested
( ) gone on a blind date
(x) lied to a friend
( ) skipped school
( ) seen someone die
(x) had a crush on one of your internet friends
(x) been to Canada
( ) been to Mexico
(x) been on a plane
( ) purposely set a part of yourself on fire
( ) eaten sushi
( ) been skiing
(x) met someone from the internet
(x) been at a concert
(x) taken painkillers
(x) love someone or miss someone right now
(x) laid on your back and watched cloud shapes go by
( ) made a snow angel
( ) had a tea party
(x) flown a kite
(x) built a sand castle
( ) gone puddle jumping
(x) played dress up
(x) jumped into a pile of leaves
( ) gone sledding
(x) cheated while playing a game
(x) been lonely
(x) fallen asleep at work/school
( ) used a fake ID
(x) watched the sun set
( ) felt an earthquake
(x) slept beneath the stars
(x) been tickled
( ) been robbed
(x) been misunderstood
( ) petted a reindeer /kangaroo
( ) won a contest
(x) run a red light/stop sign
(x) been suspended from school
(x) been in a car crash
(x) had braces
(x) felt like an outcast/third person
( ) eaten a whole pint of ice cream in one night
(x) had deja vu
( ) danced in the moonlight
(x) liked the way you looked
(x) witnessed a crime
(x) questioned your heart
(x) been obsessed with post-it notes
( ) squished barefoot through the mud
(x) been lost
(x) been on the opposite side of the country
(x) swam in the ocean
(x) felt like dying
(x) cried yourself to sleep
(x) played cops and robbers
( ) recently colored with crayons
( ) sung karaoke
( ) paid for a meal with only coins
(x) done something you told yourself you wouldn't do
(x) made prank phone calls
(x) laughed until some kind of beverage came out of your nose
(x) caught a snowflake on your tongue
(x) danced in the rain
(x) written a letter to Santa Claus
(x) been kissed under the mistletoe
( ) watched the sun rise with someone you care about
(x) blown bubbles
( ) made a bonfire on the beach
( ) crashed a party
( ) gone rollerskating
(x) had a wish come true
( ) jumped off a bridge
( ) ate dog/cat food
( ) told a complete stranger you loved them
( ) kissed a mirror
(x) sang in the shower
(x) had a dream that you married someone
( ) glued your hand to something
( ) kissed a fish
( ) sat on a roof top
(x) screamed at the top of your lungs
( ) done a one-handed cartwheel
( ) talked on the phone for more than 5 hours
(x) stayed up all night
( ) picked and ate an apple right off the tree
( ) climbed a tree
( ) had a tree house
(x) scared to watch a scary movie alone
(x) believe in ghosts
( ) have more than 30 pairs of shoes
(x) worn a really ugly outfit to school
( ) gone streaking
( ) gone doorbell ditching
( ) played gay chicken
( ) pushed into a pool/hot tub with all your clothes on
( ) told you're hot by a complete stranger
( ) broken a bone
(x) been easily amused
( ) caught a fish then ate it
( ) caught a butterfly
(x) laughed so hard you cried
( ) cried so hard you laughed
( ) cheated on a test
(x) forgotten someone's name
( ) french braided someone's hair
( ) gone skinny dipping in a pool/hot tub
( ) been threatened to be kicked out of your house
(x) loved someone so much you would gladly die for them

http://www.townhall.com/columnists/kathleenparker/kp20050729.shtml

Utter silliness. I don't care what your beliefs are or what kind of relationship you're in, the fact is that a child has a biological mother and a biological father. Those are the names that belong on the birth certificate. I can't even believe that people are arguing this crap.

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2005-07-12-digital-tv-usat_x.htm

This story will be on the FP soon (got the link from the mysterious future).

Umm, WTF? Two cases of WTF in this story.

First off, why the hell is the government even considering spending our tax money to buy converter boxes for people? The only logical explanation here is that it goes back to the idea of keeping the people fat and happy in their homes so they won't have any desire to argue as their freedom disappears.

Second, I understand that the FCC regulates the public airwaves. But why does the government have any power to demand what or how the cable companies provide service to their customers? If they don't want to provide a digital signal for certain channels, that's their choice! Cable is provided on private wires owned by a private company, and the government needs to leave it the hell alone. The FCC has no authority to regulate it.

So this morning HokieSeas and I went to the range. I took my GP-100 revolver, and the two handguns I hadn't fired yet: the 1911 and the 642 snubby.

The 1911 worked beautifully. It still needs an ambidextrous safety (I actually broke it while trying to install it. That was a bit disconcerting, makes me wonder about the quality of that company's parts), but the wood grips are on it and they look so much better than the plastic ones it came with.

The snubby... had some problems. Quite a few light firing pin strikes, which is very surprising. I'm using Georgia Arms .38 special, and I've been through 300 rounds of it in the GP-100 and the lever action without a hitch, but it's possible the primers are hard. I'll have to try some different ammo but I am a bit concerned.

The GP-100 still shoots great, although the sights need some adjusting. I'm finally becoming a good enough shot with it single-action to put some groups on paper consistent enough to let me get the sights right.

That's all I shot today... next time I'll have to take the Bersa, which is becoming my favorite semi-auto, and I haven't had the H&K out in quite a while.

Assuming the weather holds up, we're off to the outdoor range with my dad Monday. That should be fun. What better way to celebrate the Fourth of July?

In light of this whole journal deleting thing, what ever happened to that old journal archiver app? Is it still out there? How well does it work?

Ok, I've avoided commenting on the whole Senate judicial nominee filibuster thing and the deal the idiot Republicans made, but now I am gonna talk about it.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/3214010

http://www.usatoday.com/news/Washington/2005-06-08-confirmed_x.htm

Four years for one, two years for the other. The "filibuster," as it was used by the Democrats over that time, is bull. As we all know from listening to the media over the past few months, it takes 60 votes to end a filibuster. There is a point of order in the Senate that says: if 41 Senators state that they will not allow a vote (thus claiming that they would filibuster if the issue was debated), the issue (be it a bill, nomination, etc.) is tabled with no debate.

In other words, the Democrats never actually used a filibuster.

This is where the Republicans come off looking like idiots. The Democrats spent four years keeping that nomination from a vote by threatening a filibuster. Never actually doing it, just threatening.

That point of order needs to be eliminated immediately. If the Democrats had been forced to actually use the filibuster, does anyone really believe they could have stopped all debate in the Senate for four full years without repercussions from the voters? Of course not.

Update: Source for the 41-vote point

Ok, the correct shipment from DeSantis came yesterday. The pocket holster is nice-- not a really snug fit like I've gotten used to with Kydex, but obviously it can't be. It absolutely stays in your pocket when you draw; it's actually a little tough to remove the holster from the pocket when you intend to.

Carried to Best Buy for our normal Tuesday night shopping, and I guess HokieSeas will be the best judge, since I didn't tell him I was carrying. It's obvious there is something in the pocket, but it's the same pocket I normally carry my cell phone in, so I doubt anyone would suspect. Now the cell phone is a bit of trouble now, so I bought a case for it for my belt tonight. Also carried a Speed Strip in the change pocket on the right side of the shorts-- perfect for that purpose.

The other thing that arrived yesterday was a Volquartsen target hammer for my 10/22. I hadn't originally planned to do any action modifications to it (only the bolt & mag release replacements I did last year), but people on various forums kept recommending the hammer as the closest thing to a "trigger job in a box" in existence.

And the only thing I can say about that is... wow. It supposedly lowers the factory 8 pound pull to about 2 1/2 pounds, and the difference is huge. I can't wait to get out and shoot it again. Easily worth the $35. If anyone out there decides to do it, the general recommendation online (and if you ever need a great 10/22 resource, Rimfire Central is the place) is to use just the hammer and shims, and not the springs. I took the advice. Maybe I'll try the springs at some point in the future, but for now I trust the people who have been using them in their rifles for years.

Going into WWDC today, there's an awful lot of talk that the PPC -> Intel switch is going to be announced today, with low-end machines switching in 2006 and high-end machines sometime in 2007.

Does this make any sense to anyone? It was two years ago in this very same keynote that the G5 was introduced, bringing 64-bits to the Mac world. Two years later, Intel still doesn't have a viable 64-bit consumer chip. Athlon64 has caught on well, but we're talking about a switch to Intel, not AMD.

Why would we want to go backwards? The x86 architecture really sucks (and I speak from experience having developed at the assembly level on it), while I personally find PPC an elegant architecture. The G5 is currently at 2.7GHz and seems to easily outperform anything Intel has to offer. The G4 is behind the times, but I can't believe a G5 PowerBook is a long way off, and the desktops have all switched (except the Mini, which is it's own story).

I'm concerned, because I don't see the logic behind a switch that takes a step back, and I don't like the idea of seeing OS X and application developers having to make a significant platform change. Not to mention what it might do to Mac sales in the next two years-- why buy a PPC Mac when they've announced it's being made obsolete?

I'm concerned about what might happen at today's keynote. It's at 10:00AM PDT.

Update: So there it is. Intel based Macs starting next year. Not a word on what processor they will use. Developer kit will be available, containing a 3.6GHz Pentium 4. So two years after introducing 64-bits to the masses, Apple is now going to hand their developers a 32-bit chip based on a 20 year old architecture and tell them it's the future.

And IBM is going to make out like a bandit. The game companies are abandoning Intel: all three of the next generation game consoles are based on the PPC. IBM developed a spectacular processor (primarily) for Apple and now they are free from Apple's demands on where it goes from here. They're free of Apple's demands on manufacturing, which will help them meet the needs for Nintendo, Sony, and Microsoft for the new consoles.

So I bought the revolver. It's a Smith & Wesson 642-2 (the -2 means it's the second modification, i.e. in the past there was a 642 and a 642-1). The DeSantis pocket holster will be here tomorrow.

So, since I had a new one to clean, I spent a few hours this evening cleaning everything I shot last weekend and the new gun.