My Favorite Fictional Bands

1. Spinal Tap (This is Spinal Tap)
   
2. Steel Dragon (Rock Star)
3. Eddie and the Cruisers (Eddie and the Cruisers and Eddie and the Cruisers II: Eddie Lives!)
4. The Monkees (The Monkees)
5. The Barbusters (Light of Day)
6. The Partridge Family (The Partridge Family)
7. Stillwater (Almost Famous)
8. Oneders, later renamed the Wonders (That Thing You Do)
9. The Rutles (The Rutles: All You Need Is Cash)
   
10. Josie and the Pussycats (Josie and the Pussycats)

Swim Day...

Amy and I went swimming today as part of my daily swim commitment. I was finally able to make up the day I missed. We each swam a third of a mile. Because of the difference in schedules, this is the first time we've been able to go to the gym together and it was a hoot and a half.

Friends - Stay Away !!!

Our fortunes for today at China Wall.

Eric: Watch your relations with others carefully, be cautious.

Amy: You will be called upon to help a friend in trouble.

Lunch at China Wall

Today, Amy took me to lunch at my very favorite restaurant, China Wall. Amy is not 'in the mood' for Chinese food very often, but today she suggested it.

She's known since soon after we started dating that I love their Sesame Chicken. We had been dating for no more than a couple of months and both worked for a big company about a mile from my house. I had called in sick and was feeling a little bit better. She called and offered to bring me lunch and asked me what I wanted and I said "whatever" (meaning don't go out of your way). She brought me a #22 (Sesame Chicken) with Won Ton Soup from China Wall. It was one of the first selfless gestures she ever made.

Soon after that, I fell in love with her.

The road to nowhere

Taken in Round Rock with my Treo 600 smartphone.

ZIP-LINQ Treo Datasync Cable

A couple of weeks ago, I was in Fry's and saw the ZIP-LINQ Treo Datasync Cable cables for $6.99. I bought one, since I was sure I was going to buy a Treo 600 in a couple of weeks. They also had the 12V power adapter for the above so that it can be used to power the Treo via a cigarette lighter. They were $4.99. So for about $12, I got a flexible sync & charging system.

When I installed the Palm Synchronization software yesterday, I was prompted to attach the Treo 600 to the PC via the sync cable. I tried the ZIP-LINQ and it didn't work. I then attached the PalmOne sync cable and was able to HotSync correctly.

This morning, I was able to HotSync correctly using the ZIP-LINQ cable. I did find a note on the FAQ page of ZIP-LINQ's website:

Q. How do I make my Treo 600 Sync?
A. When using the ZIP-DATA-P08 to sync on your Treo 600 you must use the sync icon on the Treo 600 screen. When you choose sync it will default to IR (Infra Red) use the pull down menu below the sync icon and choose sync via cradle. Then it will sync your data through the ZIP-LINQ cable just like a USB cradle. Also make sure wireless mode is off or it will not charge.

Cost (before tax): $11.98

Note: This article was originally posted to the TreoVida blog on date listed. It was moved to Does the fun ever start ? on Sunday, October 23, 2005.

Happy Juneteenth!

Juneteenth is an African-American celebration on June 19, the day in 1865 that news of the Emancipation Proclamation reached slaves in Galveston, Texas—two years after it was issued. Juneteenth is the oldest known celebration of the end of slavery in the United States. The proclamation was read on the docks of Galveston by Union general Gordon Granger and news quickly spread throughout the state, sparking impromptu celebrations which were continued on the June 19th anniversary.

TreoVida (The Beginning)

Well, I started at the Verizon Store in Round Rock this morning soon after they opened. I looked at the Treo 650 (which was powered) and a Treo 600 (which was dead). The salesman came over when he was finished with the customer he was waiting on. I asked him if they had a AC adapter for the Treo 600, because it appeared to be dead. He said he didn't.

He immediately started pushing me towards the 650. He pointed out that it has Bluetooth and the 600 doesn't. I explained that I would be using it to listen to MP3's and just answering when a call came in. Bluetooth only sends phone conversations to the headset (not Palm audio), so that wouldn't be helpful. He then mentioned that the store doesn't stock Treos. He said that the 650's had been on backorder since a week after they came out. He also mentioned that I could order one and have it sent to my home on Tuesday (Lie1 - It's either on backorder or it's available, not both).

Since he had a nice display with the 600 and the 650, I asked if he could order a Treo 600 and he said they had been discontinued when the 650 launched (Lie2 - I could order it from Verizon's website until a week or two ago). So, he has two display models of a phone that he is unwilling or unable to sell which is very similar to another which is twice the price (Lie3 - Bait & Switch).

I was upset and went home to call Verizon and see what it would cost me to get out of my contract. Before I made that call, I called a Verizon Store in Austin and asked if they had a Treo 600 in stock. He said they did have one. I told him I would be by in a little while. I was able to compare the 600 and 650. While the screen is much better on the 650, the screen on the 600 was far better than any other phone I've ever seen. I purchased it and changed my contract to a slightly newer one for the same price. I also added the unlimited data plan. They helped me fill out the paperwork to get a 25% discount because of where I work. The woman was kind enough to fax that in, so that discount should take care of some of the increased cost.

Bottom Line: The Verizon Store in Round Rock was the problem, not Verizon Wireless.

Cost (before tax): $199.99 ($50 Rebate is available and will be mailed in)
span style="font-size:85%;">Note: This article was originally posted to the TreoVida blog on date listed. It was moved to Does the fun ever start ? on Sunday, October 23, 2005.

I wish Amy and I were here today

Batman Begins

It's finally here. I first blogged about it over a year ago. Today, Amy and I are going to see Batman Begins at the Alamo Drafthouse.

Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins explores the origins of the Batman legend and the Dark Knight's emergence as a force for good in Gotham. In the wake of his parents' murder, disillusioned industrial heir Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) travels the world seeking the means to fight injustice and turn fear against those who prey on the fearful.

He returns to Gotham and unveils his alter-ego: Batman, a masked crusader who uses his strength, intellect and an array of high tech deceptions to fight the sinister forces that threaten the city."

Citizens Against Ugly Street Spam (CAUSS)

Citizens Against Ugly Street Spam (CAUSS) works to remove unsightly, illegal commercial street signs, also known as street spam, illegal bandit or snipe signs, vertical litter, telephone pole advertising, including rent to own, lease purchase, avoid forclosure, work at home, work from home, lose weight now, own a PC, affordable health insurance, we buy houses, sell your house in 9 days.

Tomorrow...

Tomorrow is the day! I should be able to get a Treo at the VerizonWireless store. It has been two years since I signed up for Verizon service, so tomorrow, I will be eligible for a $100 discount. That will allow me to purchase a Treo at a more reasonable price.

Note: This article was originally posted to the TreoVida blog on date listed. It was moved to Does the fun ever start ? on Sunday, October 23, 2005.

No, really...

I love sarcasm!

PocketDivXEncoder

PocketDivXEncoder allows you to encode any video clip with optimized parameters for handheld devices (landscape mode, 240x320, low CPU usage, increased brightness, ...). The 2 video output standards (.ogm ou .avi) are playable on the 2 famous DivX players under PocketPC and Smartphone : PocketMVP and Betaplayer. Under Palm, you should try the excellent video player Mmplayer. The clips are created thanks to the fast encoder mencoder.

OEDILF - The Omnificent English Dictionary In Limerick Form

This is something else altogether. It's a dictionary and the definitions are limericks. A couple of examples:

Ansel Adams, in photos, expressed
The majestic American west.
His images, stark,
Of Yosemite Park
Are considered as some of his best.

If you think life on Earth is a bore,
Come to Bob's Antigravity Store!
Yes, these rockets and boots
And miraculous suits
Are to lift you right off of the floor!

The Oasis (Continued)

According to the Oasis website, they are again open for business (and have been since June 3rd, just two days after the fire I mentioned a couple of weeks ago. Here's what the owner has to say:

Dear OASIS Guests,

In the early morning hours of June 1, 2005, lightning struck The OASIS and the resulting fire devastated much of our facility.

While this tragedy severely crippled us, business as usual will continue in our Starlight Terrace area -- same great views, sunsets and margaritas, with a limited menu. Please bear with us and we will be back better than ever and IN FULL SWING in a few months.

Beau Theriot
And my Super OASIS Crew

In a related note, a benefit is planned for Oasis employees.

Smooth Criminal

The following list of world events is listed on a Flash movie on Michael Jackson's website.

• Marting Luther King is born
• The Berlin Wall falls
• Nelson Mandela is freed
• Michael Jackson is Innocent

These events aren't categorized, but they are the only world events listed. One would think that they are thought of as having similar standing in history.

Happy Flag Day !

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If you're not sure how to celebrate Flag Day...

Tumbleweed Tiny Houses

Tumbleweed Tiny Houses is a company that specializes in very small houses. These start at about 50 sq ft and the largest are 500 sq ft. The site does allow you to get a feel for the houses. Here'e Jay's introduction to the concept.

My name is Jay Shafer, and I live in a house smaller than some people’s bathrooms. I call my tiny home Tumbleweed. My decision to inhabit just 100 square feet arose from some concerns I had about the impact a larger house would have on the environment, and because I just do not want to maintain a lot of unused or unusable space. Tumbleweed meets all of my domestic needs without demanding much in return. The simple, slower lifestyle my home affords is a luxury for which I am supremely grateful.

Houston National Cemetery

We went to Houston this weekend and I had a chance to visit Ken’s grave. It’s at the Houston National Cemetery. It’s a beautiful monument. It’s staggering how many people are buried there (over 57,000) and that is just one of the 120 national cemeteries. Here’s some pictures. If you’re in the area, check it out.