blog/pb_logo.pngYes, the title is correct. I was beta testing a piece of Java software tonight and found a Java development system called Eclipse. Anyway, as I was downloading the software I was asked to choose a local mirror.

Nestled under “North America” was “Playboy Enterprises Inc.” No way. Couldn’t be.

Well, it is. The programmers over at PB donate server space and bandwidth for the Open Source community.

Alas, no free model pics.

blog/fallen_over.jpgSomeone recommended we take Junior to JC Penney and have some photos taken. I was dubious - they’re the McDonald’s of portraiture. But they came recommended and what do I know?

We arrived in the greeting area. Wonderfully framed photos of father and son in loving embraces hung on the wall but I was skeptical. “Stock photos,” I said to the wife and she recoiled in shock. “They couldn’t possibly have used stock images for fear of a lawsuit.”

As the thumbnail shows, the experience got interesting.
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Ever since the NOLA fiasco I’ve been thinking of building a survival kit for my family. Earthquakes are always a concern (sadly, too remote of a concern) as would an attack by the Russians via Cuba.

I’ve been wondering about the usefulness of “shaker” flashlights (the jury is still out) and chemical light sticks. “Bah” I’ve thought. Four hours of light casting a useless green glow two feet in diameter?

As a follow-up to my post about my scuba diving colleague’s experience in Cozumel during Wilma, he offers some great advice about chemical light sticks. Illumination and keeping the kiddies quiet.
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blog/xbox360_logo.jpgBraving the crazed Black Friday shoppers, I popped into Target to check out Xbox 360 product. No units to be had, however you could get any of the games, controllers, memory cards, etc., although without having the Xbox it’s sorta pointless.

I watched a young surf kid with an afro and wearing a Boy Scouts shirt play King Kong. The graphics were pretty damned impressive. As good or better than any PC I’ve seen touting the latest $400 card from ATI or nVidia. Lest you not forget the Xbox 360 comes complete for $400.

So what’s the tech media got up their arse about waiting for “the next best thing” when it’s clearly arrived?
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To all those U.S. citizens, Happy Thanksgiving! On a more somber note, I’d like to offer my sincere regrets for what we did to the native American Indians after giving thanks.