As you may have guessed from the comic, one of the many things that have kept me busy was that I got married this summer.  I was married on June 21st to be exact.  I may post some pictures if I find the time.

You know how when you receive a confirmation email or something similar, often the address is something @ donotreply.com?  well, someone actually owns that domain, and yes he really does get all those emails.  It’s not just people who don’t realize that their not supposed to be replying to the address, it’s a lot of internal emails as well. 

The problem stems from network admins either not realizing that these emails actually go some where (which you should if your a network admin), or they don’t want to burden their own server with all the emails and don’t care.  These aren’t just small unimportant companies either.  We’re talking about companies like Capital One and Verizon just to name a couple.

The person who owns this domain has a blog and posts some rather amusing emails that h receives.  The ethics of this might be somewhat questionable but really, he didn’t ask to get these emails right?

I’m really not trying to put down the hard work of the many people involved in doing this.  The method they used to do this was extremely advanced and very well thought out.  My only problem with this (and maybe I’m wrong, please let me know) is that organic compounds are some of the most abundant materials in our solar system.  Thinking these compounds might not exist outside it is kind of silly. 

On the other hand, some very interesting discoveries are being made right in out own backyard.  More than one of Saturn’s moons is now thought to have a heated core and liquid water.  Salt deposits from extinct oceans were found on Mars, suggesting it may have been very supportive of life in the past, and may contain fossils. 

I think looking outside our solar system is great and all, but really with our current technology, and any technology in the see-able future, it is completely impossible to reach those planets or even come close.  Mars and Saturn on the other hand, we have already been too.

 I think the video mentions they get at least some of their funding through DARPA which doesn’t surprise me, a legged robot can just go so many places that one on wheels can’t. 

 My guess would be that It functions on a combination of accelerometers similar to the wiimote and gyros to figure out orientation and help with balance.

  All I could think of when I read this was how stereotypical this is of a retirement state like Florida.  The first image that came to  my mind was a group of eighty year old men, standing around complaining about kids these days.

As funny as this is I think its more than a little drastic. Your trying to control how kids act and think by changing how they dress.  I can tell you first hand that this doesn’t work.  A persons style of dress is influenced by their personality, not the other way around.

 Monday’s comic “Over Reliance” is kind of interesting when you think about it.  Take a look around you and make note of all the things that are computerized or electronic.  Do they really need to be as high tech as they are.  For instance, sitting on my desk right now is a computerized label maker with a USB interface and a full qwerty keyboard, I’m sure it wasn’t cheap.  Yet, all this machine does is print letters on a white sticker.  Why does it need a USB interface?  Why does it need an over sized LCD display?

 I remember when I bought my first palm pilot, I think it was the first one that palm made with a color display.  It was advanced for it’s time and back then it seemed like a great piece of technology but, now as I look back and think about it there was so many things I couldn’t do with it.  your really couldn’t transport files with it because you needed the sync cradle.  It didn’t play music, only had a few mildly amusing games, note taking on it was far too slow.  So this $250 piece of equipment now became a glorified address book and alarm clock.

  In the end most gadgets turn out to be nothing more than flashy… well, gadgets.   I find that I don’t even use a usb flash drive anymore.  If I need to move files I just do it over the Internet/network.  Though, I will admit that I sometimes find myself looking at flash drives in the store and thinking “If only it was a little bit bigger, I might find a use for it.” 

Personally I don’t think the answer to there problems is adding more flash.  I’ve done development with Microsoft tools on several occasions.  Yes, a lot of their tools do integrate well together but, there is just something about the .net framework that makes me want to throw my computer down the stairs.

On a side note, does the webcast guy remind you of anyone?  Here’s a hint.

 I believe the cost is $10 for students and $15 dollars for non-students but do not take my word for it.  If you want directions and lodging information you can get it here.

So if you enjoy games, nerdy conversation, and high class immaturity feel free to come on down.  I’ll be there too so if you want to talk and hangout feel free to track me down.  I’ve included a picture of myself so that you can find me.