And if you did not feel like showing up...

Here is the clip of her taking a dive onstage...


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Tired of The Osmunds...

We of the late 60’s and early 70s had to deal with all sorts of injustices and trends. Take Disco as a major one, Sonny & Cher, Shields and Yarnell, and The Osmonds! The all had variety shows that were on prime time TV and all had a lack of taste. Yes the 70’s were a hard time to deal with on TV. Now in the 2000s we have to deal with basically the same crap! Reality TV has inundated us in our homes with people dancing and trying to lose weight, get sober, and survive long days on desert islands on far off seas. With the Hollywood Writers on strike, this is all that we have to see. If it was not for pre-recorded shows we would have nothing to watch. Is this the year that the fossils come back to life? Marie Osmond has been in relative obscurity for the last 20 years and now she can dance? WOW!!! WHAT A REVLATION! THEY did that crap on their TV show way back in the 1970s! That is what they did! The danced, they sang, they did “funny” sketches bla, bla, bla…

Ok, she fainted on the show during that week. Ok. Let’s move on people. Her brother Donnie made commentary on ET Tonight and all sorts of other shows as well as having to suffer with her talking about it and all of the other reporters. It was MAJOR NEWS for a week!! It’s not like we have a war going on or the housing market is going to shit; No Marie Osmond FAINTED on TV putting a blemish on her silver TV personality. Cant they just go AWAY? I remember fondly as the dramatic TV announcers voice would say “Now the Clip of Marie fainting on “Dancing With The Stars” What was Wayne Newton’s reaction? IS she Ok? What will the judges think? Will this hurt her chances of winning the show? De De Do, Wubba Wubba Wubba… As if nothing else was news worthy. And now, with the resurgence of the Osmonds, much like a phoenix coming out of the ashes of TV obscurity; they are back on tour for Christmas. Marie and her brood of kids from adoption and divorce are touring and doing songs and another dammed variety show as we saw clips of their concert tonight on ET once again. I wonder if ET gets a kick-back for putting their asses on every episode of their show?

Now as if we were back in the 1970s, we hear all the sorted details that have not surfaced for the past 30 years about the Osmonduh’s life; Her divorce, Donnie was going to fake a drug conviction to change his image; Marie’s child in Rehab, ect, ect.

Cant it all just go away? For god’s sake, Wayne Newton was a star with Marie on Dancing With The Stars. Where did he crawl out from? What will next year be, “Dancing With The Dead, Arrested or Insane”? Sounds like a winner to me and as about as exciting as most of the rest of the crap that we are force fed every evening…

Now, back to my regularly scheduled coma…

RMStringer

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You have no conscience and it seems you never will - Cyberaktif

Thought For Today...

Trouble is only opportunity in work clothes-Henry J. Kaiser:1882-1976
Sent from my LGVX8600 Phone.

Strange Clouds...

Strange Clouds..., originally uploaded by RMStringer.

I took this standing on my front porch last week. I thought that the clouds were very interesting looking. You see that the sun is almost down.

A Few Random Pictures...

Me before the ride on Saturday Morning. December 1, 2007 at 9.15am EST


Very neat clouds! Taken on November 24, 2007 at 5.25pm EST


Same Evening, different magnification.Taken on November 24, 2007 at 5.26pm EST


Moon in the west from my house in the morning at 8.39am EST


Driving down 76 South(Powhite Parkway Toll)



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happy video weekend from jesse james

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Biking Today...

We ended up doing 11.40 miles this morning. We rode the Red, Blue and Green trails.


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West Clouds...

Taken with my LGVX8600 phone.
From RMStringer

Off For a Ride!!!

I am off for a ride at Pocahontas Park on the Red and Blue Trails with Jeff. I hope to get in about 9 miles today!

C-YA!!!


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ID Tag Software

If any of you are like me and like to have all of your MP3 collections properly tagged then this utility is for you. There are many tag options ID3v1, ID3v2 and a few others.


I was always looking for a way to remove the ID3v1 tags as you could not get some of the full names of the songs in the space provided. This could only be done with ID3v2 but you would have to go and remove the old tags yourself. The old tags would mess up MP3 player tags.



I found a freeware prog that will remove all of the old ID3v1 tags and leave the ID3v2 tags in place! It is called ID3Remover. I tried it and it works WELL!!

This is a screen shot of the prog.

Here is a direct link to the prog: ID3 Tag Remover











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Nothing Better To do...

I was on my way to work last night and I took the Powhite Parkway which is 76 north and also a Toll Road.  It was about 11.15 pm when this happened.  I came to the first set of tools near the Courthouse Road exit and I saw a person from a distance walking through the toll machines. I thought to myself that it was strange as I could see the person who takes the money at the normal booth. When I got closer I saw that it was a State Police. He was evidently looking at the inspection stickers on the windshields of the cars to see if they have expired.  He bent over to look at mine and he had to move out of the way so I could place the money into the Exact Change lane.  He looked at me and I looked at him kind of strange like don't you have any other thing to do at 11pm at night then to harass people at the toll booths?  The interstate has many more people that speed and should be looked after instead of messing with this road. It really pissed me off about this.  My sticker is still good!

 

RMStringer

^^^^^^^^^^^^^

Let teachers and priests and philosophers brood

over questions of reality and illusion.

I know this: if life is an illusion, then I

am no less an illusion, and being thus, the

illusion is real to me. I live, I burn with life, I

love, I slay, and I am content.

(Robert E. Howard, Queen of the Black Coast, Weird Tales, May 1934)

 

Verizon Wireless To Introduce ‘Any Apps, Any Device’ Option For Customers In 2008

Just in off the wire...

BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Verizon Wireless today announced that it will provide customers the option to use, on its nationwide wireless network, wireless devices, software and applications not offered by the company. Verizon Wireless plans to have this new choice available to customers throughout the country by the end of 2008.

In early 2008, the company will publish the technical standards the development community will need to design products to interface with the Verizon Wireless network. Any device that meets the minimum technical standard will be activated on the network. Devices will be tested and approved in a $20 million state-of-the-art testing lab which received an additional investment this year to gear up for the anticipated new demand. Any application the customer chooses will be allowed on these devices.

This new option goes beyond just a change in the design, delivery, purchase, and provisioning of wireless devices and applications.

“This is a transformation point in the 20-year history of mass market wireless devices – one which we believe will set the table for the next level of innovation and growth,” said Lowell McAdam, Verizon Wireless president and chief executive officer. “Verizon Wireless is not changing our successful retail model, but rather adding an additional retail option for customers looking for a different wireless experience.”

Verizon Wireless will continue to provide a full-service offering, from retail stores where customers can shop, to 24/7 customer service and technical support, to an easy-to-use handset interface and optimized software applications.

While most Verizon Wireless customers prefer the convenience of full service, the company is listening through today’s announcement to a small but growing number of customers who want another choice without full service.

Both full-service and “bring-your-own” customers will have the advantage of using America’s most reliable network.

Following publication of technical standards, Verizon Wireless will host a conference to explain the standards and get input from the development community on how to achieve the company’s goals for network performance while making it easy for them to deliver devices.
Verizon Wireless has a track record of listening to customers and transforming entrenched industry practices based on those customer needs. The company parted with the industry last year when it introduced pro-rated early termination fees, and in 2004 when it refused to participate in a wireless directory when customers said they didn’t want one. Verizon Wireless also broke with “wireless tradition” when it supported local number portability because customers wanted the freedom to take their number if they switched service providers. Such responsiveness to customers has earned Verizon Wireless the strongest brand reputation in the industry.

About Verizon WirelessVerizon Wireless operates the nation’s most reliable wireless voice and data network, serving 63.7 million customers. The largest U.S. wireless company and largest wireless data provider, based on revenues, Verizon Wireless is headquartered in Basking Ridge, N.J., with 68,000 employees nationwide. The company is a joint venture of Verizon Communications (NYSE: VZ) and Vodafone (NYSE and LSE: VOD). Find more information on the Web at www.verizonwireless.com.

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Windows problems...

I just had to do an “Upgrade” to my old Windows Xp Pro installation.  I used a prog called Reg Cleaner 4.3 and it hosed a few entries that I needed.  After its use, the desktop kept crashing.  I used an old trick and instead of doing a complete reinstall, I used the upgrade option.  This allowed me to be able to keep all of my settings and reinstall the main OS to a disk state.  I will have to reinstall a few other updates, but it is working fine now.

 

RMStringer

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

You have no conscience and it seems you never will - Cyberaktif

 

Esther's Follies...Austin Texas

Here are a few pics from the Esther's Follies show that i saw in Austin Texas 2 weekends ago. The show is on 6th Street in downtown Austin and it has been running for 30 years. I had never heard of the show and when i was younger would not have enjoyed it but now I really loved the show and the funny skits and magic tricks that were preformed. The players were top notch and they all had a very political slant to the comedy! If you are ever in Austin, I STRONGLY recommend going to see the show! You will not be disappointed!!! The pics are not the best as i used my Cam Phone to take them.

Ray Anderson He IS TOP NOTCH!!!
Ray Anderson, Austin’s nationally renowned magician has been caught up in the tornado that is Esther’s Follies for over fifteen years. Deemed “best spellbinder” by the Austin Chronicle, Ray perplexes both audience members and curious 6th Street revelers peering through Esther’s trademark windows. Whether as himself or his “Amazing Frank” alter-ego, Ray uniquely combines magic and comedy in a way you probably have never seen before.

Kerry Awn Does a GOOD BUSH Imitation!!

Kerry Awn has rocked Follies audiences for over a decade as Buck Husky, George W., and that patron Saint of the Velveeta Room— Ronnie Velveeta! He’s also band leader of the Uranium Savages, has won the Chronicle’s “Best Comic” title for over a decade, and was even named “Texas State Comic” by the Texas Legislature! He restored the 23rd & Guadalupe mural— Austin’s most memorable, and has a show presently at the South Austin Popular Museum on South Lamar! Check it out at kerryawn.com.

Shannon Sedwick Pulling stuff out of her dress as Patsy Cline (THIS WAS FUNNY) has become Shannon’s trademark at Esther’s, though she is equally at home playing Ann Richards, Madonna, or Hilary Clinton. The mama of the Follies, Shannon keeps the show rolling as producer and performer, stays active in Sixth Street restoration as President of the Old Pecan Street Association and other downtown organizations, and keeps busy with projects created by her co-producer and husband, Michael Shelton.

Esther's Follies is Located at
525 East 6th Street
Austin, TX 78701


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Robot Chicken...

We saw this the other night at work. Remember the ThunderCats? This is a little different take on them plus much much more!! This is not the entire video as it is over 15 minutes long. This is just a preview! There are several other clips in this preview that you might remember!!


Dicks With Time Machines!



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Wet light rays.

Taken with my LGVX8600 phone. I wanted to take this pic for a long time. It is on an overpass on I95 North.
From RMStringer

Rain Tonight

Taken with my LGVX8600 phone. The lot is all wet.
From RMStringer

Police Secrecy Behind Unmanned Aircraft Test.

For those of you that live in Houston Texas...

It looks like they are getting in the "Anti-Terrorist" Game also. I wonder if the drones have guns and bombs like their Armed Forces cousins?

By Stephen Dean

WALLER COUNTY, Texas -- Houston police started testing unmanned aircraft and the event was shrouded in secrecy, but it was captured on tape by Local 2 Investigates.

Neighbors in rural Waller County said they thought a top-secret military venture was under way among the farmland and ranches, some 70 miles northwest of Houston. KPRC Local 2 Investigates had four hidden cameras aimed at a row of mysterious black trucks. Satellite dishes and a swirling radar added to the neighbors' suspense.

Then, cameras were rolling as an unmanned aircraft was launched into the sky and operated by remote control.

Houston police cars were surrounding the land with a roadblock in place to check each of the dignitaries arriving for the invitation-only event. The invitation spelled out, "NO MEDIA ALLOWED."

HPD Chief Harold Hurtt attended, along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and dozens of officers from various police agencies in the Houston area. Few of the guests would comment as they left the test site.

News Chopper 2 had a Local 2 Investigates team following the aircraft for more than one hour as it circled overhead. Its wings spanned 10 feet and it circled at an altitude of 1,500 feet. Operators from a private firm called Insitu, Inc. manned remote controls from inside the fleet of black trucks as the guests watched a live feed from the high-powered camera aboard the 40-pound aircraft.

"I wasn't ready to publicize this," Executive Assistant Police Chief Martha Montalvo said. She and other department leaders hastily organized a news conference when they realized Local 2 Investigates had captured the entire event on camera.

"We still haven't even decided how we were going to go forward on this task, so it seemed premature to me to announce this to the media," Montalvo said. "But since, obviously, the media found out about it, then I don't see any reason why just not go forward with what we have so far."

Montalvo told reporters the unmanned aircraft would be used for "mobility" or traffic issues, evacuations during storms, homeland security, search and rescue, and also "tactical." She admitted that could include covert police actions and she said she was not ruling out someday using the drones for writing traffic tickets.

A large number of the officers at the test site were assigned to the department's ticket-writing Radar Task Force. Capt. Tom Runyan insisted they were only there to provide "site security," even though KPRC cameras spotted those officers heavily participating in the test flight.

Houston police contacted KPRC from the test site, claiming the entire airspace was restricted by the Federal Aviation Administration. Police even threatened action from the FAA if the Local 2 helicopter remained in the area. However, KPRC reported it had already checked with the FAA on numerous occasions and found no flight restrictions around the site, a point conceded by Montalvo.

HPD leaders said they would address privacy and unlawful search questions later.
South Texas College of Law professor Rocky Rhodes, who teaches the constitution and privacy issues, said, "One issue is going to be law enforcement using this and when, by using these drones, are they conducting a search in which they'd need probable cause or a warrant. If the drones are being used to get into private spaces and be able to view where the government cannot otherwise go, and to collect information that would not otherwise be able to collect, that's concerning to me."

HPD Assistant Chief Vickie King said of the unmanned aircraft, "It's interesting that privacy doesn't occur or searches aren't an issue when you have a helicopter pilot over you and it would not be used in airspace other than what our helicopters are used in already."

She admitted that police helicopters are not equipped with cameras nearly as powerful as the unmanned aircraft, but she downplayed any privacy concerns, saying news helicopters have powerful cameras as well.

HPD stressed it is working with the FAA on reviewing the technical specifications, the airworthiness and hazards of flying unmanned aircraft in an urban setting. Future test flights are planned.

The price tag for an unmanned aircraft ranges from $30,000 to $1 million each and HPD is hoping to begin law enforcement from the air by June of 2008 with these new aircraft.

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This week...

Well folks, The week is drawing to an end. I was able to Ride about 15 miles this week and i went to the gym and did weights 2 days on Sunday and Tuesday. I was supposed to go and ride today but i did not feel good and i was tired as i today is a my "bad day" for sleep and work.

Well, i am going to close this post by saying to everyone to have a very good Christmas Holiday Season!



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A Button...

It is my first try at making a buton for others to use on their site. Let em know what u think.

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