Evil Spy/Ad Ware...

Last week my hard drive crashed and have thus far been unsuccessful in bringing it back to life. So, I purchased a new hard drive, re-imaged it and began to re-build the pc. I was foolish to browse a few sites (number one went to myspace) before I install AVG and Webroot. Well, my PC became infected w/ adware pop-ups. This is amazing because a number of those evil pop-ups were for anti-virus and spyware software! Have they no shame???

I have now re-imaged the drive again and quickly install Webroot and McAfee Security Center and all is well thus far...

Hairy Woodpecker

This morning was a good day for bird watching...I saw my first Female Hairy Woodpecker feeding from our bird feeder. In addition, I watched a pair of Purple Finches, Blue Jays, and Northern Cardinals feeding in our back yard...

image from Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Photo of American Goldfinch

This morning I was fortunate to see and take a photo of a male and female American Goldfinch which were feeding from the nyger seed pouch...

American Goldfinch

This past week I purchased a nyger seed pouch in hopes of attracting an American Goldfinch. The American Goldfinch is a pretty yellow, white and black bird. This Wednesday morning I saw my first American Goldfinch feeding on the nyger seed pouch! In addition, a Blackcapped Chickadee and both a male and female House Finch have visited the nyger pouch.


Nyger Seed Pouch


House Finch at the nyger seed sack

Garden update

Since my last entry we have planted beans, zucchinis, pumpkins, tomatoes, and peppers. In order to keep the rabbits away from our veggies, we have been using blood meal around the garden. Thus far it has worked...the beans are growing and not being eaten. In fact, I have seen one rabbit sitting outside of our garden eating dandilions! Hope to post a photo soon!

Bill Gates Quote...

A quote from his Harvard Commencement Speech

"I left Harvard with no real awareness of the awful inequities in the world – the appalling disparities of health, and wealth, and opportunity that condemn millions of people to lives of despair.

I learned a lot here at Harvard about new ideas in economics and politics. I got great exposure to the advances being made in the sciences.

But humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries – but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity. Whether through democracy, strong public education, quality health care, or broad economic opportunity – reducing inequity is the highest human achievement. "

A much as I have dissed Microsoft, I have to respect BG for his remarks in regards to the inequities in this world and actually trying to do something about it.

This is cool!

Read about the multi-touch screen from David Pogue's blog...the interface is way cool. Why simply use 2 fingers when interacting w/ MS Surface or iPhone when you can use 10...

Our energy dependence

Have read an interesting article about our dependence to energy. It states that although we are more energy efficient as ever, we are using much more energy than the past. One thing that has changed are the number of 'things' that need energy...

• iPods
• cell phones
• laptops
• DVRs
• multiple computers
  
• multiple TVs
• DVD player
• gaming consoles

The article also stated that plasma TVs uses 8 to 10 times more energy as the old tube TVs...Ouch! It doesn't look like a plasma TV will be in my future. Speaking of DVRs, I acquired a first gen. TiVo and use it sporadically to 'tape' a few TV shows. But like other gadgets, that thing is ON allll the time. I wonder how much power it requires to have that thing, among others gadgets, on all the time. It's kinda interesting that my wife recently complaint about our high electric bill. One thing that I have done to try and decrease our energy use is to have a surge Link to protector that I turn off when not using the computer. In addition, I use to leave my iPod and other gadgets plugged in all the time, no more. I've switch most lights to CFL. Turn lights off when no one is in the room. Compost. Buy local as often as possible.

It's also quite interesting to note that for example, businesses have actually done a fairly good job of cutting their energy usage during the summer because it cuts into their profit. And, residence are less incline to do that...

10 Ways to Go Green
Yahoo! Celebrates Earth Day

JERICHO SAVED!!!!

Jericho has been SAVED!!!!

Here is a message from CBS Entertainment.
Here is the link to the message.

June 6, 2007

To the Fans of Jericho:

Wow!

Over the past few weeks you have put forth an impressive and probably unprecedented display of passion in support of a prime time television series. You got our attention; your emails and collective voice have been heard.

As a result, CBS has ordered seven episodes of “Jericho” for mid-season next year. In success, there is the potential for more. But, for there to be more “Jericho,” we will need more viewers.

A loyal and passionate community has clearly formed around the show. But that community needs to grow. It needs to grow on the CBS Television Network, as well as on the many digital platforms where we make the show available.

We will count on you to rally around the show, to recruit new viewers with the same grass-roots energy, intensity and volume you have displayed in recent weeks.

At this time, I cannot tell you the specific date or time period that “Jericho” will return to our schedule. However, in the interim, we are working on several initiatives to help introduce the show to new audiences. This includes re-broadcasting “Jericho” on CBS this summer, streaming episodes and clips from these episodes across the CBS Audience Network (online), releasing the first season DVD on September 25 and continuing the story of Jericho in the digital world until the new episodes return. We will let you know specifics when we have them so you can pass them on.

On behalf of everyone at CBS, thank you for expressing your support of “Jericho” in such an extraordinary manner. Your protest was creative, sustained and very thoughtful and respectful in tone. You made a difference.

Sincerely,
Nina Tassler
President, CBS Entertainment

P.S. Please stop sending us nuts :)

Flowerbed

Here are a few images from our flowerbed. T has been working on the flowerbed since we moved to our current house a few years ago.


Johnny Jumpups


Anemone

Hummingbird visit

About a week ago I purchased a hummingbird feeder for our backyard deck not knowing if a hummingbird would actually show up. Well, it worked! Saturday afternoon I saw a hummingbird around the feeder and this morning it returned. I was able to take a few photos of the hummingbird as it was hovering near the feeder. The photo is a bit fuzzy as I had to crop and zoom the image, but it's not bad for a newbie!

NUTS For Jericho Update

According to NUTSONLINE they have now shipped close to 34,000 lbs of peanuts to CBS. In addition, the site has reached $10,000 for the Greensburg, Kansas Rebuilding Fund.



Buy a Nuts For Jericho t-shirt and all proceeds go to the Greensburg, Kansas Rebuilding Fund.