Thursday, January 13, 2011

Android App: Ham Radio Study

I just found a neat app for Android phones for studying for your ham radio license. TNJeffofAllTrades - you should download it.

Looks like there are Morse Code trainers, scanner apps, and other goodies too.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

President Obama's Speech in Arizona

Full text of his speech here.

I was surprised. He took the high road and did not make it political. Lee Doren called it "Reaganesque."

Survival Prep

An InstaPundit article about being prepared and a follow-up.

My key takeaways... I'm sure there are better lists, but there were good reminders about meds, pets, and diapers.

Food: canned goods, beef jerky, water, pet food
Tools: flashlight, battery-powered or hand crank radio, duct tape, garbage bags, can opener, multi-tool, pocket knife
Shelter: blankets, tarps
Clothing: diapers
Medicine: medication, first aid kit
Money: Cash

Neat tricks:
Write the contents of cans on the lids in case you lose the label, also write purchase date
Re-use 2 liter bottles for water storage - placing them in the sun will allow the heat to kill any nasty organisms in the water
Keep an extra propane tank for your grill

Get your stop watch ready!

Sharp as a Marble likes to make you think.

Bad guy attacks you with a gun.
You take the gun away from the bad guy.
You shoot the man in self defense.
In your state, it is illegal to possess a gun.

Did you break the law by holding the gun long enough to defend yourself? If you held it for less or more time, would it be more or less legal?

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

If you shoot someone with a .22...

... they'll be mad if they find out.

Italian man shot with a .22 sneezes out bullet.

Via TNJeffofAllTrades.

Crime Reports on the Web

I was excited when I saw Knoxville News-Sentinel story about the Knox County Seriff's online crime reporting web site: http://www.crimereports.com/.

You can view a map of crimes in your area and sign-up for e-mail reports. When I read the article I thought it might send real-time alerts, but it appears to have a lag. Also, the e-mail report just sends you a link back to the web site. I'd rather get a simple list of the recent crimes along with the link if I wanted to map it.

Monday, January 10, 2011

Your e-papers, please.

I don't care if it is the Commerce Department. It's the government.

I'm sure there are benefits to a national internet identity, but I'm even more certain that it will create more problems than it will solve.

"We are not talking about a national ID card," Locke said at the Stanford event. "We are not talking about a government-controlled system. What we are talking about is enhancing online security and privacy and reducing and perhaps even eliminating the need to memorize a dozen passwords, through creation and use of more trusted digital identities."

"I don't have to get a credential if I don't want to," he said. There's no chance that "a centralized database will emerge," and "we need the private sector to lead the implementation of this," he said.

No chance, huh? His assurance makes me feel much better.

Sunday, January 9, 2011

Local Police use iPads

Speaking of tech in the car, our local constables are using iPads in their cruisers.

Police Can Search Mobile Phones

What? If you've been arrested police can search your phone. What?

So the authorities can have access to my personal e-mail, my work e-mail, contacts, calendar, my Twitter account, my Facebook account, and my Angry Birds' score? Outrageous. Yet another place where the law isn't in sync with technology. You can't arrest someone on the street, drive to their house, and start reading their snail mail. Get a warrant and then have at it! As I've said before, we get blinders on when things move from the physical world to the cyberspace.

Via Slashdot.org

Saturday, January 8, 2011

Gaming the Markets with High Speed Technology

Using technology to game the market system is another place that really makes me rethink my laissez-faire philosophy. Don't get me wrong the technology is cool, but I prefer it when companies provide a good or more traditional service (like changing my oil, performing surgery, etc.).