Just A Thought

Does anyone remember the Lapdock? It was a laptop-like device that did nothing. Well, until you plugged your smartphone into it, and it turned into, basically, a netbook. In theory, it was a neat idea. In reality, it sucked. It sucked so bad that the Lapdock never saw its 2nd birthday. There are a few reasons for it's demise:

Can't be a nerd on just ONE level

Like many with an affliction for technology, I too, share a love for a good sci-fi television show. Everyone in my house are avid Doctor Who fans, and who could blame them, really? It's a great show. But more recently, we watched Battlestar Galactica. I was hooked on that show fairly quickly, as it appealed to all my sides: futuristic technology, space, robots, Top Gun style combat, and a good deal of sex appeal (for both sexes). What's not to love?

I'm right, and you're wrong! Nyah, nyah, nyah!

Social media, at its best, is a nice two-way street. One person posts something to their own Facebook wall, to which a friend comments on, and a small conversation will take place through the site. Same thing with Twitter, except the conversation takes place through @ replies and DM's.

Now, I'm assuming that if we are friends on Facebook, then we are friends in real life, or we're family. There is also the possibility that we have something in common that connected us, like a mutual friend or a particular interest. My point, is if we're 'friends' on Facebook, then one of us had to have sent the other a friend request, which was accepted. Twitter and Google+ are slightly different, but that is beside the point.

Memories with a Mustang

On April 22, 1966, my grandfather, Harold Shaw, walked into the showroom of Hub Motor City Sales in Atlanta, and drove out in a brand new, candy apple red 1966 Ford Mustang. Big Hal (as we called him) was an incredibly smart man, but I doubt even he could fathom the future of his $2,781.50 purchase nor the memories it would create.

You need to read this.

I write in this blog because I want to. I'm a technology and gadget fan, so that's normally what I write about. Honestly, I normally don't care if you read it or not... but this time I do. This time... it's important. This time... it's not my words I want you to read, but I do want to say something first.

You see, we are in a pandemic of sorts. A pandemic that, while we are beating it back towards oblivion, we are doing so at a snail's pace, and I'd like to help speed it up. So what is the pandemic?

Bigotry [big-uh-tree]

noun, plural -ries.

1. stubborn and complete intolerance of any creed, belief, or opinion that differs from one's own.

2. the actions, beliefs, prejudices, etc., of a bigot.

This was made most apparent during my town's spring parade last weekend, when the Family Tree float drove by, and all clapping ceased as the float passed.

Photo by Mike Ewen/Democrat

Let me put that into some perspective for you about the values my town has:

• The Parrothead float had a gentleman in a coconut bra and grass skirt
• The Krewe float had female pirate wenches with their breasts spilling over the top of their outfit, as well as a topless mermaid decoration on the bow of the ship
• The breast cancer research float had women with pinwheel bras (to be clear, I'm not criticizing the group, I'm merely pointing out the costume)

These floats, and possibly more, were well received with clapping, laughing, and hoots and hollers. But a tasteful float supporting our local gay community is shunned because people are too damn quick to judge others. I am embarrassed for my town.

I want you to read something. I discovered this through a friend on Facebook (thank you, Rain), and it moved me enough to try to get more eyes to see it. Don't back out now, if you've read this far into this post then maybe there is some hope left for reasoning with my fellow man. Ready? Click the link below.

 I'm Christian, unless you're gay.(Make sure you read all 3 pages)

Now I want you to read a 15 year old's response to that article, as well as his mother's reaction.
A Teen's Brave Response

Do not give me a knee-jerk reaction about what you have just read. Instead, give it 5 minutes. Think about it. Let it simmer in the three pounds of gray matter between your ears. Set any hatred you may have aside and think it over for 5 minutes with an open mind and open heart. I'll wait.

Now, if you have any comments you would like to make, go for it. Just remember, no matter who you are, or how you live.... I love you. Our world and its cultures are too diverse, and our lives are too damn short to be hateful for stupid reasons.

You may say I'm a dreamer,

but I'm not the only one.

I hope some day you'll join us,

And the world will live as one.

- John Lennon

What good are you?

In the spring of 2003, the door to the house I was renting was kicked in while I was working at my second job, and the thief proceeded to simply take all the things I had worked hard to paid for. I was told at the time the police department doesn't classify it as 'grand theft' unless the value of the stolen goods exceeds $3,500, and the total value of what was stolen came to around $650. That may not seem like much to you, but when everything you own (excluding the car) adds up to about $800, and a burglar just waltz's in and takes $650 of it... that's over 80% of your belongings! The responding officer then proceeds to tell you the police department won't do much because it's less than a certain dollar amount?! If you only cater to the wealthy... then what good are you?

My generation's Pearl Harbor.

A decade has passed since September 11, 2001.

I was 21, unemployed, and living with my mother and step father in Tallahassee, Florida. I have never been to New York City, nor did I have any clue what the World Trade Center was, and before that day... I didn't care.

I slept late that Tuesday morning. Probably because I was 21, unemployed, and living with my mother. I'm sure a hangover played a part as well.

My mother had left no less than 4 messages on her answering machine for me talking about things that, at that time, made no sense to me whatsoever. I remember one of the messages clearly, her voice starting to sound very worried as she left the message that "...they have evacuated the Sears Tower" (my step father's daughter and her family live in Chicago). That caught my attention. So at that point, I did what every other person in the country had already done, and turned on the television.

Time for an update, I guess.

Well, it's been over 2 months since my last post, so I should probably write something. The police have never found any of the things that were taken in the burglary, and at this point, I don't expect them to. Not even with providing a YouTube username and serial numbers for everything that was taken. But on a positive note, a few weeks ago, the police department did catch a would-be burglar over the course of a weekend (of course, when the would-be burglar attempts to break in to the Police Chief's house.... the incentive to catch him his greater). So yeah, a big pat on the back to our local police department.  /sarcasm

That is all I will say about that topic because it's still a sore subject to me, so let's move on. Let me tell you about our vacation!

"We were robbed!"

Those are three words nobody wants to say. As a recent victim of a burglary, I can honestly say that few things in life will make you angrier than discovering someone has broken into your home and just taken your belongings. Since hindsight is 20/20, let’s go over a few things that you can do to help prevent situations like that.... or at least get on a fast track to catching the thief.