Thermal Discord

One one hand, this is an interesting possibility, but I still think it's an encroachment on personal rights.

Next year in California, state regulators are likely to have the emergency power to control individual thermostats, sending temperatures up or down through a radio-controlled device that will be required in new or substantially modified houses and buildings to manage electricity shortages.

The changes would allow utilities to adjust customers' preset temperatures when the price of electricity is soaring. Customers could override the utilities' suggested temperatures. But in emergencies, the utilities could override customers' wishes.

I'm not a Californian, so I'm not going to speak definitively on this one.  I can certainly see the benefits, but there's just something about it being potentially 'mandated' that doesn't sit well with me.

"This is an outrage," one Californian said ..."We need to build new facilities to handle the growth in this state, not become Big Brother to the citizens of California."

Any Californians out there care to comment?

Technorati tags: California, energy, environment, thermostat, PG&E, CEC, CES, Arthur Rosenfeld

Problem Number One

It is a machine.  Machines break. It was bound to happen eventually, and today it did.  Turning on my laptop this morning I was stunned to discover that my wireless adapter was no longer functional.  Flicking the switch on and off did nothing.  Updating the driver did nothing. In fact, nothing did anything except raise my blood pressure and get me a wee bit riled up, as I do love my wireless.

After calming down a bit, I realized I've still got some warranty remaining and there's even a recall out on this exact laptop for that specific issue, so no harm no foul.  I just went out and plunked down some coin for a Linksys USB adapter to tide me over. 

The real test however, is how I handle my precious lappie being gone for several weeks as it revisits the land of its birth.  The mysterious and magical wonderland known as HP.

I will miss you, Compaq old friend.  Fare thee well, and come home soon.

Technorati tags: HP, Compaq, V6000, recall, computer, laptop, warranty

Want to see the future?

I don't know what shenanigans this site is up to, but the

premise is cool.

 

Technorati tags: time travel, technology, camera, sci fi

Linkdrop #1

Presented here in no particular order for your enjoyment: a taste of some of the random crap I found interesting in the past 24 hours.

 

BSG: The Last Frakkin' Supper

Yes, I'm obsessed with it too.

What I'm reading plowing through.

STFU

So this little whiny prick Adam Gadahn shows up in the MSM again today after starring in another Al Qaeda direct-to-video masterpiece.  That's all well and good since I hadn't yet had my daily fill of douchebaggery.  Thanks, Adam.

That's not particularly newsworthy really, nor is his asinine ravings about the evils of Bush while ignoring the tendency of Al Qaeda affiliates to blow shit up in the name of a fairy tale. 

Especially un-newsworthy is the fact that in his latest video production, the precocious little cockmaster makes a scene out of tearing up his U.S. passport and renouncing his citizenship, claiming:

"...I don't need it to travel anyway."

Um, k.  Good for him. Yipee even.  Way to stick it to the man you flaming pansy fucktard.

Oh wait, he did issue some vague threats toward President Bush.  Haven't heard that before.

I'm so tired of these blowhard asspirates going on and on about fucking Allah and imperialist zionist crusader occupiers.  Shut the fuck up already. Really.  You're not scaring anybody, and you look fucking retarded with a bedsheet wrapped around your head talking about killing and maiming nonbelievers because we're so barbaric. 

What kind of convoluted opium-enhanced logic is that?  Did you idiots ever think that if you'd just stop killing people and blowing shit up we'd let you alone?

You're like the schoolyard bully who acts tough, gives a wedgie or two then keeps running his mouth off until someone knocks your fucking lights out.

I'd pay cash to see if he's got balls enough to keep talking that shit the day our boys kick down his door and shove an M16 in his face.

Keep talking, Gadahn, we're reloading.

 

Technorati tags: terrorism, islam, muslims, al qaeda, as sahab, Bush, adam gadahn, azzam

Dance Sensation

My daughter Aeryn woke me up this morning by dancing on my bed.  I groggily came to and smiled, and cautioned her to be careful as she was dancing on the very edge of the mattress.

She glared at me and said 'Daddy, I'm doing the 'Crunchy-Munchy.'

It doesn't get a whole lot cuter than that.

Here We Go Again

Happy New Year everyone. Let's make it a good one.