Camping in Central PA/Zelten im Urwald von zentral Pennsylvanien

I'm off camping for the weekend, with Netzwerk Philly, the German group from Philly. . I hope the rain stops...
So, if you don't hear from me by next Monday, it means I was eaten by a bear... or German!

Camp Site

Interenet Radio To Go Silent: Jun. 26, 2007

From e-Life:

If you spend a lot of time on line you have no doubt listened to “online radio” in one form or another. This Tuesday, June 26, 2007 you’ll have to go back to listening to your MP3s. Tuesday is being dubbed the “Day of Silence”. This is a protest against the record industry’s new “administrative fee” which is to be administrated on every channel a webcaster broadcasts. “Attorneys for the webcasters thought this was such a patently ludicrous idea that they didn’t even bother to respond to it.” (from Business 2.0: see link below). Lack of response may prove to be a huge mistake for the industry.

Let’s look at some numbers. A channel for internet radio is a bit different than traditional radio. For example you can go to many of the big webcasters, like Pandora, or RealNetworks’ Rhapsody and choose your favorite 5 artists and set up your own channel that only plays your 5 artists. You just cost Pandora $500. Now multiply that by everyone using their service and if they set up multiply lists/channels. That’s a lot of money. “Internet radio stations frantically crunched the numbers: it appears that Yahoo, Pandora, and RealNetworks will have to spend $1.15 billion per year on the administrative fee alone.” (business 2.0: see link below) A bit absurd don’t you think?

I believe this is only affecting webcasters from the USA, but it is yet another way that the record industry is trying to recoup money for it's ailing profits. They argue that it fees that should be paid to the artists. The internet radio industry argues that they should have the same rules as the satellite radio industry, which pays something around 7% of total revenue to royalty fees. Otherwise it will destroy internet radio.

Hopefully, the “Day of Silence” will have the affect that it is intended to have: To get the recording industry to rethink their tactics for royalty fees. The internet radio industry is also encouraging people to contact their reps and politicians in regards to the issue. The Day of Silence on June 26th

Reference: Future Boy: Internet radio sites to protest new fees - Jun. 22, 2007

Stick shift... what's it good for??

Well, this is another good reason to learn how to drive a manual transmission car. Apparently a couple of teenagers in Atlanta, mugged a guy for his wallet and keys, then tried to drive off with his car. The incident happened right out front of the store where the victim works, and the teens had so much trouble with the car that he was able to run inside tell his coworkers what happened and call the police and when he came back out someone was still in the car trying to get it moving. They eventually gave up and ran away on foot. They were later arrested.

Stick shift gets the best of would-be robbers

Maybe my insurance company will give me a break on my insurance since it is safer from theft since it is manual... yeah, I doubt it too. ;)

You scream, I scream, we all scream for i.... uh, chocolate??

I had heard rumors about it, but hadn't checked for myself. Today I finally did, and it's official:

Target is now offering Ritter Sport Chocolate from Germany!

They don't have the best selection, but it is only $1.89 regularly, and it was on sale today for 3 for $5.

They also have Lindt. Although I've seen Lindt in a lot of other places too, even in CVS. Unfortunately though, they don't have the 99% cocoa that I love. But, at least now I don't have have to go to Germany for my Chocolate fix!

How fast can you type?

Check out how fast you can type at the link below. You'll need to have javascript enabled in your browser:

http://labs.jphantom.com/wpm/

iTunes Support to the Rescue!!

About a month and a half ago I posted an entry mentioning that I had a complete system crash, and lost my hard drive. Well, silly me has never backed up my music and videos from iTunes. Last night I emailed their support and today they responded. It was actually from a real person too, not just a canned response. So, basically they allowed me to download another copy of all the files I lost with no charge and no hassle. I was actually expecting more trouble. Guess I learned my lesson about backups...

But, there was also something a bit more interesting. They gave me a link showing how to retrieve files from my iPod. This is something that was not originally available and supposedly only available with iTunes 7. I'm not sure when 7 was released. I don't think it was too long ago.

One of the interesting things is that this "feature" actually came from people being industrious. I've seen posts on other blogs going back as far as 2004 where they figured out HOW-TO: Get music OFF your iPod. Anyway, I think it's great that Apple has finally listened to its customers and has added this option to their software. Even if it is only for media purchased from iTunes.

e-Shops

I've decided to add an e-shop to my company: Blackbird e-Solutions. Working with Amazon.com I've set up two shops. One that will offer Networking products BbeS e-Shop (beta). The second to offer German language learning tools(software/books)as well as DVDs in German: German Language Products.

Working with Amazon.com is great because I get the benefits of their robust and internationally renowned distribution and purchasing systems. Check it out!

Hershey Chocalate no longer "Made in the USA"

Many of you may have already heard about Hershey laying off workers and moving plants over seas. I was just reminded of it today, so I did a little research to see how bad it really is. I was quite shocked. Here's a quote from an article I found on line:

"Since then, Hershey has said it will close plants in Reading, Pa., Naugatuck, Conn., and Smiths Falls, Ontario, while cutting as many as 900 of the 3,000 workers at its three hometown plants in Hershey."

They are also closing a plant in California.

They say that they are doing all of this to save money on operating costs. What ever happened to Milton Hershey's vision? I'm sure he never envisioned laying off the very people that made his company so successful, particularly those in Hershey's hometown, Hershey, PA. Meanwhile the prices for the amusement park are keep going up. This year the a day pass for an adult is nearly $50, and an evening pass is almost $24!

One-Day Admission
Regular (ages 9-54) $45.95
Junior (ages 3-8) $26.95
Senior (ages 55-69) $26.95
Senior Plus (70+) $18.95
Children (ages 2 and under) FREE

Sunset Admission
Get discounted admission when you come later in the day!
Regular (ages 9-54) $23.95
Junior (ages 3-8) $20.95
Senior (ages 55-69) $20.95
Senior (ages 70+) $14.95
Children (ages 2 and under) FREE

There some links below about what's happening from different sources:

http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/203995
http://local.lancasteronline.com/4/202988
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18254930&BRD=2212&PAG=461&dept_id=465812&rfi=6
http://www.food-business-review.com/article_news.asp?guid=7B3C7A71-DE26-430F-B5AD-8588E5CFBA29
http://www.fortwayne.com/mld/journalgazette/business/17164956.htm
http://www.pennlive.com/editorials/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/opinion/1172505303123800.xml&coll=1

How much vacation do you get???

Who gets the most (and least) vacation
When it comes to taking a holiday, it's best to be Finnish, and (not quite) the worst to be American. A new study ranks countries by their paid time-off policies.

CNNMoney.com has an interesting article ranking the best countries when it comes to vacation time. Including paid vacation and paid holidays Finland comes out on top with 30 and 14 days respectively. The USA is not quite at the bottom with 15 and 10. Although there is a foot note (only for the USA) that states: "These numbers reflect typical practice among large U.S. firms. There is no federal law requiring employers to give a minimum number of vacation days and holidays off, paid or unpaid." In fact in this study the only countries that ranked lower than the USA were what we would call "developing countries". Germany comes in with 24 paid vacation and 10 paid holidays. Although, from my own experience, I think that might be a bit low. Especially for Bavaria. Very interesting...

Success...

Success is peace of mind that is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best you are capable of becoming.
-John Wooden

Excercise Schedule

Funny Moments In Soccer

Funny Moments In Soccer - Watch more free videos

TWENTY NINE LINES TO MAKE YOU SMILE

1.. My wife and I divorced over religious differences.
She thought she was God and I didn't.

2.. I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.

3.. Some people are alive only because it's illegal to kill them.

4.. I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.

5.. Don't take life too seriously; No one gets out alive.

6.. You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me

7.. Beauty is in the eye of the beer holder.

8.. Earth is the insane asylum for the universe.

9.. I'm not a complete idiot -- Some parts are just missing.

10.. Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.

11. NyQuil, the stuffy, sneezy, why-the-heck-is-the-room-spinning
medicine.

12.. God must love stupid people; He made so many.

13.. The gene pool could use a little chlorine.

14.. Consciousness: That annoying time between naps.

15.. Ever stop to think, and forget to start again?

16.. Being "over the hill" is much better than being under it!

17.. Wrinkled Was Not One of the Things I Wanted to Be When I Grew up.

18.. Procrastinate Now!

19.. I Have a Degree in Liberal Arts; Do You Want Fries With That?

20.. A hangover is the wrath of grapes.

21.. A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance

22.. Stupidity is not a handicap. Park elsewhere!

23.. They call it PMS because Mad Cow Disease was already taken.

24.. He who dies with the most toys is nonetheless DEAD.

25.. A picture is worth a thousand words, but it uses up three
thousand times the memory.

26.. Ham and eggs?A day's work for a chicken, a lifetime commitment
for a pig.

27.. The trouble with life is there's no background music.

28.. The original point and click interface was a Smith & Wesson.

29.. I smile because I don't know what the heck is going on.

Life is too short and friends are too few .

Jury Duty...

Jury duty, today through Friday.... ugh.

Heat wave....

Man it has been stinking hot, and the humidity makes it even worse. Thank goodness one of my mom's tenants left an air conditioner when they skipped out. Works really well too. Although just for one floor. Still have to get a small one for my bedroom though. Really not looking forward to my electric bill though.

I have a make up game at 4 today... It's going to be stinkin' hot for that too. Oh well, I'm taking a lot of water. ;)