Xoom will lose to iPad 2

Publicity still from Apple's iPad 2 press event. Surprisingly little poo-flinging.

Apple recently unveiled their newest fondle-slab, the imaginatively named iPad 2. Apple has increased albedo by 0.17% for more shine, rendering all previous Apple devices obsolete. Continuing to use such outdated products can have dire consequences. It has been linked to dingy white socks, decreased fuel economy, male pattern baldness, and sagging porch steps. This new tablet device is pitted against the Motorola Xoom, the standard bearer for the Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) operating system.

Of course, Xoom is doomed to failure against the firepower of this fully armed and operational Apple product. Oh, sure, Android doesn't exert the same level of control over the user experience the way iOS does. Verizon's network has higher availability than AT&T can even dream of. And Motorola is edging back towards dominance of the mobile market.

The hammer that is driving nails into Xoom's coffin is price. The Motorola tablet costs $800 without a contract compared to $499 for the iDidntPayMoreThisTime. Speaking personally, I can't justify spending that much on a completely new form of technology. I've never owned a tablet, eBook reader, or even netbook. As such, I can't say if the advantage of the form-factor balances well against it's cost. If Motorola could bring the price down to $500, it merits a serious discussion about its necessity as another device in my computing ecosystem. If the price hit $250 it becomes an immediate necessity.

Disclosure: I own an Android-powered Motorola smartphone.

Heart Attack Grill

CBS News reporter Bill Geist covers the Heart Attack Grill in Chandler, Arizona. This video began circulating around Arizona just after the grill's 600 lb. spokesman, Blair River, passed away.
Geist begins, "Restaurants nationwide are paring down their portions and offering health choices." That's something the founders of the Heart Attack Grill couldn't abide. Blair River was a man with a vision and his field of view did not include his toes. This country is experiencing a backlash against the culture of excessive consumption that defined the previous generation. Citizens today are being told to cut back, to not take on so much. Whether it is debt or calories, we are constantly told we take too much. It's time for businesses like the Grill to remind us that our ancestors didn't claw their way to the top just so we could give it away to someone else.
They say, "It's not over 'til the fat lady sings." I say her crash diet turned her into a skinny waif! It's time to celebrate our excesses and remind ourselves how we got where we are today!

Dungeon crawl? Not exactly.

Due to the current economic situation, network upgrades at work are a hard sell to make. It can be difficult convincing the powers that be to loosen the purse strings. Being a certified installer, as I am, lets the office counter most of the cost and scheduling objections that inevitably crop up.
I recently had the opportunity to install an extension to the fiber backbone in the building. It was just a simple bridge between two computer labs, but it got me into some of the locked cubbyholes in, and under, my office building.

Team Tiffany

If you've been following me on Twitter or watching the widget to the right, you've seen this already but here it is again, this time longer than 140 characters. Syfy Movies was giving away some promotional material from the premier of Mega Python vs. Gatoroid starring Tiffany and Debbie Gibson. Yes, 80s teen pop sensations Tiffany and Debbie Gibson. Syfy Movies asked its Twitter followers to vote for their favorite. I allied myself with Team Tiffany and was rewarded with this large button.

So now the obvious question is, why choose Team Tiffany? Well, I grew up with songs like "I Think We're Alone Now". This is what I'm talking about.


And here's Debbie Gibson in close second.


That's right; I'm a nerd for 80s pop music.

Winterveil and Years' End

It's that time of year again. Time to get epic writer's block while I try to remember all I've been doing for the past year.

Let's go over what's pretty much the same from previous years. I'm still an Assistant Scoutmaster with "Hardcore 444" and a member of Elks Lodge 2065. I am also still an electrical engineer for the Army.
So now what's new?

Garbage Can Turkey

Wha...? Woah, where am I? Oh, right. Recovering from an epic turkey coma.
All right sports fans; its time for a cooking lesson. Mooing is rare. Charcoal is well-done. To find delicious take the meat just slightly past the threshold between life and death. There you now know everything you need to know about cooking.
You want more? Well fine then. Since you won't leave I'll... I'll show you how to cook an Arakkoa!

It's time!

Here we go. It's time for another of my infamous "Here's what's coming" posts. Where I promise more shit you won't see for months, if ever.
No, really, I'm playing around with Muro as a way to lay down the 4-panel in my head. What I really want to play around with is the upcoming Wii Wacom tablet with content creation sites like Muro and Aviary and really lay it down!
I also want to conduct a bit of an experiment. I've got to keep the details a bit hush-hush right now so I don't throw off the results. (Honestly, I left this site dead for so long I really don't think it'll matter.) But anyway, the experiment will require me to turn on ads to gather some quantitative metrics. I know, I know, but if my hypothesis is correct it won't make any difference. 
In other news, if you're with me on Twitter or Facebook, you know I'm busy with Scouts and work and more Scouts. If I could make as much from my hobbies as I do from my job, my boss would never see my sorry butt again!