IBM T43 Conking Out

Well, over the last 24 hours, I haven't been able to constantly watch out for good phone news (even though I really wanted to write about the new Samsung that was released on T-Mobile's Network last night) due to the fact that my IBM T43 has been in and out of conscienceness.  I've been wanting, keyword wanting, a new laptop or desktop and its just been rather crazy dealing with something that isn't working for me.  Mind you I might have dropped it a few more times than usual because my Purdy Neat Luggage is out of commission as well.  So, I'm left with a Travel Pro bag that isn't at all nearly as awesome.  It's almost embarrassing being a pilot and using a cheapy bag.  

So, anyways, I called IBM and the will be sending me out a box where I can overnight my laptop to them and have them take care of the rest.  I really just didn't feel like dealing with anything, but I'm hoping that it just means that I need a new one and that they'll cover it all.  I know that once they open it up, they won't be able to diagnose anything or duplicate my issues, but hey, at least they'll be the ones tinkering with it.  I'm going to revert back to my trust Apple Titanium Powerbook 667, which by the way, was left out from being able to be upgraded to Leopard.  

AppleInsider's In-depth review: Amazon's Kindle

I have to say that I spend some good time reading this review and was left with no questions after 5 pages of relentless comparisons, short comings and history.  Almost 1 month after its initial debut, the Amazon Kindle goes through some hurdles in trying to become the king of eBook readers.  Myself being on the fence between the Sony Reader and the Kindle am still forced to wait another generation.  I had a chance to play with Sony's version but was frustrated at its slow response time and refresh rate.  Being that the Kindle has the identical screen and technology, I can assume that it already will be a disappointment to my petty but unforgiving needs. 

I've been reading books on PDF on my Palm Treo 650 via Adobe's Reader Palm Program and really haven't found too many short comings besides having to click next quite a few times due to the screen's size.  I've been happy.  I would have never seen the Kindle being compared to Apple's iPhone or iPod Touch in the task of reading books or webpages, but Mr. Dilger brings up some good facts of 3G vs. AT&T 2.5G.  The fact that viewing web pages on either device is something that I might want to do, it seems like Apple's Embedded Safari Web Browser has the upper hand in the ability to resize the page and view it in all its glory.  The Kindle was rather limited in a way that would definitely bother me due to the fact that it was horizontally inhibited forcing you to scroll through each page one at a time vertically.  The review almost convinced me to buy an iPod Touch rather than a reader! 

The path to saving trees is going to be quite difficult with having to convince people that they can highlight and take notes electronically, but hey, its just might work out!

AppleInsider | In-depth review: can Amazon's Kindle light a fire under eBooks?

Blogging Contests

I've never really believed in actually tried any of these "Leave a Comment" and win type deals, but a friend of mine just won, so I thought that I might give it a try.  It's one of those things that you think could never happen until you know someone that has won.  It's definitely kind of a cool gig and I wish that I could have some random give aways.  Maybe just sending out my old DVDs or something like that.  =)  Anyways, head over to http://biglakersfan.blogspot.com/2007/12/great-runs-athletics-shoes-giveaway.html if you want to give it a try.  There are many others out there, but I'll leave it up to you to find the those ones.  This is just one of the few that I thought was actually worth while. 

I still don't know if there is any catch to these such as a harvesting bot for emails and adresses, but so far, its been all good.  Go check it out!

Next-Gen DVDs: Advantage, Sony

I'm not at all bias because I own a PS3, but I've always thought of Blu-ray to be a little more triumphant even after all its short comings.  I just hope that the latest news of Warner Brothers choosing sides in the beginning of next year will make Michael Bay and Paramount cry because of their support of the latter.  It's just ridiculous how much the HD-DVD camp paid to have the exclusive rights.  Now, its Warner Bros. who are playing hooky and are trying to lure as much money as they can from either format.  In the end, its definitely the consumers who lose out buying into one format and just hoping that it'll prevail.  Wasn't it nice when we just had DVDs on the shelves and nothing else? 

Until the Blu-ray camp can put out a low cost device, it'll be a while before more people end up picking up a player.  Thanks to the price drop of the PS3, more and more people have been bought into the idea of a 2 in 1 where the Xbox 360 requires an add-on which by the way is now only $129. 

BusinessWeek released an article yesterday late afternoon concerning the latest in the format wars.  Next-Gen DVDs: Advantage, Sony

image provided by Gizmodo

Gmail + AIM = Chat Heaven

Gmail just released seem-less integration with AIM directly right in your mail account.  It's awesome and you have to do it!  Highlight your buddy window and then up in the menu comes the option to log on to your AIM account.  Input your username and password, and *BOOM* just like that your contacts are imported right into your buddy list!!!  I think I'm the first to blog this bad boy!

Gmail Blog = Crazy Delicious!

Flight Benefits No More

As of December 4th, 2007, Delta and Atlantic Southeast Airlines have terminated their previous non-revenue agreement and have embarked upon a bumpy, unfriendly to all employee change to their reservation system.  My first of many stories I'm sure, but here goes.

My friend and I went down to Daytona Beach, Florida to get our first class medicals by a gentleman of the name Dr. Robert Kurrle M.D., who by they way is really friendly and thorough.  We were on different flights out of Atlanta to Daytona Beach but we wound end up being on the same return flight back to Atlanta.  Because we would begin paying $5.00 per leg and approximately 1 cent or so every time we non-revved (which is a fee compared to free in the previous agreement), we decided that we should both list on the jumpseat.  I went ahead first and got listed and then Matt followed suit but was then told that he was kicked back to S3C "Non-Rev" status.  That definitely surprised us as it seems to allude to the fact that he might have to pay for this leg back!  It's quite ridiculous that other airlines can ride free using "jumpseat" privileges, but we can't because we are ASA?  There was another gentleman riding but he was non-ASA and he was rolled back from jumpseat to S4C and didn't have to pay!

I could be jumping to conclusions but its not the same friendly system that we once had.  Our parents, significant others and dependants are still "free" on ASA, but on mainline Delta and other Delta Connection Carriers, Skywest Inc. has agreed to some bogus deal where we would have to begin paying..  Where is the reason to be a pilot?  We have lost our flying privileges, the ease of going through security without having to wear our uniforms, let alone not going at all before, the prestige that the uniform once held and the pay rates that the Delta pilots use to get or the entire industry for that matter!?  It's definitely no wonder our younger generations are not at all enticed by this career.  Next summer should prove to have many more canceled flights due to crew shortages.  We have approximately the same number of pilots here as when I started, but I have already moved up half way up the First Officer List.  Everyone is leaving!

Update: We contacted our ALPA representative and he said that they have been trying to work out those kinks, but because we have a PPR number, we are rolled back to non-rev rather than just jumpseat.  So, in other words,  WE HAVE TO PAY!!!  Tell me again why?  I think that I need to go international. 

Last Month on Probation

They say that a lot can happen in the last month of probation at any given company and so far, its has all but been true for me in the last week of flying.  From having a fuel leak (at the gate good thing) to spotting a knick on one of the fan blades on the right engine, all these flights of late are just full of little surprises. 

I had a chance today to fly a charter flight which included flying the aircraft to Louisville with only 1 person onboard who was the charter coordinator, then to Gainesville, FL with 30 people who consisted of the Florida Gators Womens' College Basketball Team, coaches and assistants and then back to Atlanta with just the flight coordinator.  Food and drink was provided so the flight was extra awesome.  There were just a few things though that made my list of quirky.  Here's what the WX looked like on the way to Louisville (KSDF).  

For one, while I was running around the aircraft doing my inspection preflight prior to leaving for Atlanta from Gainesville, it was when I noticed that one of the fan blades on the right engine had a small knick in it.  It definitely didn't look good at all, so I called the captain and he too agreed that it was a good find and that we should probably do something about it.  We don't have a maintenance facility in GNV, but someone was able to come out 40 minutes later and take care of the issue.  It was basically written off and to be looked at for when we got back to Atlanta.  That was that and it was really that simple.  But, there were thoughts of get home-itis and I prevented them from reasoning out the situation.  It was a good thing and proved to be of no incident.  We couldn't even have been sure if it just occurred or if it had always been there but hidden because of the blades position.  You see, the blade was at a 12:00 position when I noticed the problem, but when I was pre-flighting it at the other stations, I never saw anything.  There isn't any proof that we caused it or anything, but bottom line is that I saw it that one time and that it was to be determined by us the next steps in solving the problem.  Here is a picture of the fan blade. 

I'm home now and am just writing about what happened tonight, but I feel like I'm going to learn quite a bit in the next couple of weeks.  Wish me luck!

Sorapot - A Must for Tea Enthusiasts

For anyone that is drinking tea, wants to start drinking tea or for anyone that is even slightly interested in the world of teas, you can jump start your hobby with this new tea pot designed by artist Joey Roth.  After almost a full year of constant retooling, Joey Roth has finalized the design and has made the Sorapot available with an initial run of 300 pots.  There's not much else that you can say about the pot except for the fact that its beautiful!  It's something that you can display, converse about and even watch as your tea leaves unfurl in the glass tube.  Not ever has tea been brewed this elegantly.  Some people are already referring to this pot as the one that would have been if designed by apple.  What do you guys think?

Below is a picture of the final design for the Sorapot. 

Pre-order yours now! / Portfolio pictures

Happy Dec. 1st!!

Christmas is almost here so if you haven't started your shopping then you better get going! The malls are going to be crazy for the net 24 days as we Americans charge up and max out our credit cards. I don't really want or need anything except maybe a voucher for 1 month's credit towards my loan payment! =) Just kidding. Here's an awesome video of some pwned-age of a child getting wrecked on a slide not once, but he goes back and tries for a second time. Enjoy and Happy Christmas!!!

Slide Owns Kid Twice - Watch more free videos

Early Morning TV

I woke up at 6:30AM PDT, got ready to head down to San Diego, but first I checked my e-mail and then got sidetracked with some morning television.  It consisted of catching up on all the shows that I missed last night while trotting along at 40 mph on the 15N in the Turbo.  It's been really hampered lately on climbing hills and I'm not sure what the problem is.  So, I'm sitting here doing nothing but watching some tv.  I've already lost 1.5 hours of my life and am ready to head out and help out my grandma buy a new / used car.  Any suggestions for her?

Two and Half Men was hilarious and so what How I Met Your Mother.  It's just been too good.  I hope that the Writer's Guild Strike ends soon because its going to get ridiculous in the next few weeks without new tv.

Dark Knight IMAX Preview

This movie is definitely going to be awesomeness!  I can't wait to watch it in IMAX.  Lately, that's the only way I've been wanting to watch movies.  Nothing beats it.

Here's a preview of the making of the "Dark Knight" out in theaters July 18, 2008.  Click here.

Prestigious Careers

Well, after being on duty since 6:30AM (that's excluding the fact that I woke up at 5:15AM, and headed downstairs for the shuttle van ride at 6:15AM), and having to fight through some of the air traffic congestion due to all the inclement weather surrounding the greater southwest, I arrived 30 minutes late on my last flight, ran to the gate that had the San Diego departure only to find out that they closed it 15 minutes prior to departure.  Now, I've been commuting for almost 1 year now and I've never once heard that they close it 15 minutes prior.  Usually its 10 but I just asked another gate agent and he told me 9 minutes.  This is crap.  Now, because of the stupidity of not only statistics of leaving on time, I'm forced to jump seat on a full flight or not get home at all because all remaining flights are booked solid!  Um, of course there were also 20 people that missed the flight because of the weather and their plane arriving later than scheduled.  Now, we're all stuck together hoping that we can get home tonight!  Thanks!  Oh yeah, and I'll have to start paying to "non-revenue" about 1.8 cents a mile + $5.00 a leg.  So, if I want to list for a flight, its going to cost me about $80 a week on top of my miserable salary.  I'm turning into the bitter pilot that I never wanted to be, but this industry in the United States does not take care of their own at all.  No wonder that a bunch of us rather go abroad where we are still part of those that people respect. On the same note, CNN just published an article about the Most Prestigious Jobs in the US.  They list that 50% of all Americans consider nurses as a prestigious career!  Way to chose babe!

Online TV Viewing

Well, since flying, I've been missing quite a few of my shows broadcast on live TV, so I am reduced to watching them on my friend's Tivo / DVR, or via online at their perspective website.  Due to the Writer's Guild Strike, I've noticed that most of the shows I watch are slowly going into replay status.  It's definitely a good thing for me so that I don't waste more time being a human wasteland but back to the subject at hand.  I can't watch a single episode without commercials now.  I know that's how they are paid with ad revenue, but its starting to get annoying that you have to stream that crap.  It only adds a minute or three, but on the DVR, its all good.  Better yet, you can probably grab them off some torrent sites and watch a show thoroughly without interruption.  I really don't mind an opening commercial and maybe ending one, but have two in the middle of one break, its just as bad now.  I've gotten so use to fast forwarding them that when one is on, I end up browsing a website, researching some article or finding something to eat.  There are so many now whether on live TV or online, you just can't get away from them.  You got them on YouTube / Google Video, every page you view, its just all over the place.  I was just rather surprised that I ran into more than just one while catching up the latest episode of The Office. 

Oh yeah, I don't think that I posted the links to the World of Warcraft Commercials so head over there now and watch Mr. T and William Shatner share their characters with you!

[Warcraft Commercials via Gizmodo via Blizzard]