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May 2007 Archives

May 2, 2007

Weird bug found in my yard


Photo_050107_003
Originally uploaded by frisard.
Well, I thought I have seen many different type of bugs over the years but this one was new to me. I found it about one foot from the side of my house at 10:00 at night. I thought it was something from the deep south but I thought I would never see it here in Massachusetts.
Well it really freaked me out but I searched on google and I think I found it on this site. I think it is the "giant water bug" with reportorial front legs.
Here are some more photos I took.



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Posted on May 2, 2007 8:29 PM | | Comments (0)

May 4, 2007

My top 5 Podcasts..


Anita's iPod
Originally uploaded by deejaynye.
I am obsessed with listening to Podcasts as I do my daily 45+ minute commute into work everyday. I could listen to my vast music collect or even XM radio, but instead I tend to listen to people talking about subjects I think are cool.
Well, here is the top 5 list I have to get loaded onto my Ipod every week.

#5 Slate Magazine Gabfest. This is a great political podcast that has three interesting reporters talking about the issues of the week. They have a daily one but I only listen to the Friday extended version.

#4 Leo Laporte Radio Show. This is a re-broadcast of Leo's syndicated weekend radio call-in show. He is always on top of things and I keep up to date with what is hot in tech. This is the weakest Tech podcast but it is like listening to background music for me in the car. This is part of the Leo's TWIT network.

#3 Net@nite. This "netcast" is another Leo show that he does weekly with Amber MacArthur. It has guests with the hottest people in the web 2.0 world. The vibe of the show is much cooler then his radio show and also talks about what is hot that week on the web.

#2 TWIT (This week in Tech). The granddaddy of all the podcasts Leo does. He has been doing this show for over 2 years and I must of listened to about 75% of them. Leo is joined with his old "tech TV" gang of Patrick Norton and John C. Dvorak.

#1 This American Life. OK, so this radio show from Chicago gets to me. I think Ira Glass (the host and creator) is the best storyteller I have ever heard. He get real basic people to tell stories that reach out and touch you. This story this week was a re-broadcast of a stores from people who were held in GETMO. It won a Peobody award. Great show.

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Posted on May 4, 2007 8:46 PM | | Comments (0)

May 7, 2007

Thank you for smoking movie

Saw the movie yesterday on cable. One of the funniest surprise movies I have seen in a while. I laughed all through the movie. The theme throughout the movie was why do such a job and the answer was "to pay the mortgage". Well does that mean you will do something that is against your beliefs just to get paid? As the movie gets going you realize that the guy actually loves doing what he is doing because he found something he is good at.
This movie was a real surprise - A must see.
Below are some of my funniest lines from the flick:
"Michael Jordan plays ball. Charles Manson kills people. I talk. Everyone has a talent. " - Nick
Passing a Japanese guy working on a Zen garden in Hollywood exec's building "That sand's not gonna rake itself, Hiroshi" - Jack the assistant

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Posted on May 7, 2007 8:43 PM | | Comments (0)

May 9, 2007

Life of Pi book


Lifeofpi
Originally uploaded by frisard.
Well I just finished reading the book "Life of Pi" by Yann martel and I really enjoyed it. It basically follows this boy from India as he is stuck in a lifeboat with a Tiger. It is a real survival story and how god and religion effects his reality.
At the end there is a real surprise and I will leave it at that in case you want to go read it. It is also slated for a movie in the next few years. If you want to read more here is a link.

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Posted on May 9, 2007 8:00 PM | | Comments (0)

May 11, 2007

I got a Wii...

Only had it a few days and have not had that much time to play with it. What I have seen, way cool. The "basic" games that come with it are all sports that were designed for the Wii's remotes. What a great time.
One of the coolest things so far is the build-in web browser. The unit is wireless and a snap to get up and running. We were on youtube watching videos on the TV. More updates to follow..

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Posted on May 11, 2007 9:03 PM | | Comments (0)

May 12, 2007

Cool website: Universcale


universcale
Originally uploaded by frisard.
Just heard about this site on the radio and just tried it out. It is a flash site that tries to show size and scale with great graphics.
You can see the difference between a soccer ball and a virus or the milky way.
What a great science type of site. Try it out!

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Posted on May 12, 2007 11:59 AM | | Comments (0)

Kartoo search


kartoo
Originally uploaded by frisard.
Just found this flash search tool. It has a very interesting look and feel. It shows everything has a sub-connection. This really might be the start of a new way of looking at search results.
Watch out Google.

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Posted on May 12, 2007 8:21 PM | | Comments (0)

May 16, 2007

Homicide: Life on the street


Image2
Originally uploaded by frisard.
My favorite TV show of all time is H:LOTS. I have every episode on DVD and watch them religiously. Back in 1998 when Meghan was only a two year old we took a family vacation to Baltimore where they shoot the show. This picture was taken outside the fake police station that was in every episode located in Fells Point. Also we got a coffee at "The Daily Grind" coffee shop across the street that was also in a few episodes.
This was as close as a pilgrimage as any trip I have taken.
We also took in Camden Yards that trip.

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Posted on May 16, 2007 5:39 AM | | Comments (0)

May 17, 2007

Space Elevator - It could happen..


Space_elevator_sk_2
Originally uploaded by frisard.
I know it sounds like some crazy idea out of a science fiction novel but some smart people really think we will be going to space on an elevator. The physics seem quite logical but I am amazed that I have not heard about this before.
It works on the concept of centrifugal force and having a counter weight tethered to the end.
Here is a company working on the concept for a launch in 20 years.

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Posted on May 17, 2007 8:46 PM | | Comments (0)

Woodgas Truck


truck with plumbing
Originally uploaded by Filmo.
Once again,I found something that I think is very interesting on the web. (As if I have not said that before). There is a group in California that is working on a DIY project of powering cars with wood pellets by gasification. It took a team 17 less then a week to get this 1975 GMC truck running totally on wood.
I think this will be something that might catch on with $3+ gas.

I saw this on the Laughing Squid website.

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Posted on May 17, 2007 9:04 PM | | Comments (0)

May 22, 2007

Best game on the Wii so far..


TCSO
Originally uploaded by frisard.
The Japanese game designers are amazing. This game follows a young doctor as he deals with emergencies in the trauma center. Using the great remote for the wii you actually do the surgery.
Very cool game - keeps us entertained for hours.
More info.

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Posted on May 22, 2007 9:17 PM | | Comments (0)

May 23, 2007

New alert: David Byrne's bike got stolen!


talking_heads_3
Originally uploaded by frisard.
I have been a big talking heads fan since my freshman year in college. I remember listening to their CD's over and over and thinking what creative genius's they are.
Well I was looking around the internet today and saw this article about his bike getting stole in NYC. From this video he was a big bike guy.
While I was on this "head" kick I found these 4 good songs from way back in the day at CBGB's. Check it out.

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Posted on May 23, 2007 5:22 PM | | Comments (0)

May 24, 2007

Tranfer station day


Photo_051207_001
Originally uploaded by frisard.
Here in Groton we do not have a "dump", instead we transport our trash to other towns. We do not have curb side pick up (you can pay for a private company) instead you have to get it to the transfer station on your own. The town has two ways to generate money for this service:
1) you pay for a yearly sticker
2) you have to throw non-recyclables into orange bags that cost extra money.
This process is not that bad and I really do not mind it. It really gives a good incentive for recycling and also penalizes people by trash volume.

As you can see from this photo, this was a large trip. I cleaned the basement and found junk I did not know I had.

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Posted on May 24, 2007 8:26 PM | | Comments (0)

REM videos - top 5

Well this all started when I was looking at my google reader's posting of the murmurs website. I read this story about a guy who has a blog dedicated to writing in detail about every REM song. Since I am a really big fan I love this site ~ always looking to here what someone else thinks about their music.
Well from there I leaped to a page on youtube showing many REM videos (not all, missing some of the better ones). I looked at a few I remember and love and some I have not seen before. I then thought I would list my top 5 (for this moment). So here is the list:

honorable mention #1) Star 69 ~ shows the feel of a real REM show. Stipe is amazing on stage and this almost captures it. Great..

Honorable mention #2) bad day - Just plain funny.

Honorable mention #3) Aftermath - Hell, they released this video on youtube, they are very internet savvy.

#5) The gerat beyond - This video just makes me laugh. I think the whole moving of the TV and all is just brilliant.

#4) Everybody hurts - Every morning when I am in non-moving traffic on route 3 at the 495 intersection I think of this video. What are people thinking about? Why don't we just leave our cars and walk..

#3) Bittersweet me - I have never seen this video before. I think it really captures how strange this song is and adds to all of the drama with this old 60ish type of movie in the background.

#2) Leaving New York - One of the newest videos they made and one of the most emional in my book. I can't help thinking about 9/11 during the song and while it is filmed in the the big apple the vibe is right there. Sure it is more artistic then "fun" but I watched it 3 times.

#1) Crush with eyeliner - Having Japanese kids act like the band is a great concept and I think this video kills.

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Posted on May 24, 2007 9:01 PM | | Comments (0)

May 25, 2007

Porcupine in front yard


front yard 005
Originally uploaded by frisard.
Well, as I was bringing Meghan up to the school bus stop we heard something in the brush. We thought for sure it was a chipmunk or a squirrel but it turned out to be a porcupine. It was really slow moving and then climbed a tree like an expert.
After I got her on the bus I went and got my camera and took these pics. We have not seen one of these in our yard in about 10 years. Also I thought they were more of a night anamial so I am hoping it is not rabid or anything.

Posted on May 25, 2007 9:22 AM | | Comments (0)

May 26, 2007

2 Talking heads video's you have never seen


art_talkingheads
Originally uploaded by frisard.
Well I was looking around youtube again yesterday and ran across two old videos of the talking heads I have never seen before. I was and am a very big fan and thought I have seen all of them (burning down the house one of my faves). I have the "special edition" of stop making sense and it is worn.
So you can see my interest to find such a gem as new videos.

1) This must be the place - Naive Melody
This is one of my favorite songs by the heads and always make me think of family and setting down. Well this video sums up that feeling and more. Not only does it show the band (and extended band) at home but also in a family type feel.

2) (Nothing but) Flowers
This song and video was shot almost 20 years ago. It could of been in Al Gore's recent movie on global warming. it is a real environmental feel but a real attack at the apathy of the world to warning signs of things to come.

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Posted on May 26, 2007 10:54 AM | | Comments (0)

May 30, 2007

New Flickr tool

I have been looking for a service like this. Today I found a website that will create code to embed flickr slide shows. The site is called flickrslidr and below is an example. :

Created with Paul's flickrSLiDR.

These pictures were taken a few years ago when we vacationed in Harbour island in the Bahamas. What a wonderful time.

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Posted on May 30, 2007 4:35 PM | | Comments (1)

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About May 2007

This page contains all entries posted to Ron Frisard's Blog... in May 2007. They are listed from oldest to newest.

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