tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-54415940528013181402024-03-13T06:49:06.100-05:00Previews, Newz and ReviewsCurrent News, Technology, Previews, Politics, World Views -- It's all on NewzReviews!Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comBlogger237125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-32553749664433575272009-05-23T06:20:00.001-05:002009-05-23T06:27:18.691-05:00Today in Tech History - The LANThe first <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Ethernet LAN data packet</span> was transmitted at the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Xerox Palo Alto Research Center</span> on <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">May 23, 1973</span>. Bob Metcalf and David Boggs were the inventors of the networking technology that would eventually be used on the vast majority of local area networks in the world. For three years they worked to refine and improve their invention. By 1976, their experimental network was connecting 100 devices.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-51727363781577671952009-05-22T10:31:00.002-05:002009-05-22T10:34:47.375-05:00Today in Tech History: Microsoft Windows 3.0<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/ShbGAkFWmMI/AAAAAAAAAyA/Lyoia9t8dHE/s1600-h/windows-3.0-bootscreen.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 281px; height: 211px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/ShbGAkFWmMI/AAAAAAAAAyA/Lyoia9t8dHE/s320/windows-3.0-bootscreen.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5338672121282730178" border="0" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Microsoft Windows 3.0</span> was released on <span style="font-weight: bold;">May 22, 1990</span>. Independent software vendors began developing Windows applications with vigor in response to its increased memory addressing and a more powerful user interface. The powerful new applications helped Microsoft sell more than <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">10 million copies</span> of Windows, making it the best-selling graphical user interface in the history of computing.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-85208295730621342182009-03-06T08:40:00.002-05:002009-03-06T08:43:23.555-05:00March 6 - Michelangelo Virus AnniversaryThe <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Michelangelo virus</span> was the first computer virus to capture the attention of the mass media. Set to first execute on <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">March 6,</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);"> 1992</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">the birth day of the famous Renaissance artist</span>), the virus was predicted to destroy data on all personal computers on which it resided. The hype lead to many installations of anti-virus software and computer checks. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">All told, less than 10,000 PCs worldwide were affected as a result of Michelangelo.</span>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-40762336218346747612009-02-16T10:22:00.000-05:002009-02-16T10:23:11.261-05:00The Birth of the BBS or Bulletin Board SystemThe first computer bulletin board system (BBS) goes live on February 16, 1978 in Chicago, Illinois. During a winter blizzard, Ward Christensen and Randy Suess piece together a computerized answering machine and message center that allows fellow computer hobbyists to send and receive announcements and meeting notes. They call it the Computerized Bulletin Board System.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-20182493369578155432008-10-07T12:43:00.002-05:002008-10-07T12:49:20.313-05:00Forbes Top Ten Richest Americans List<p class="MsoNormal" style="border: 1px none ; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></p><span style="font-weight: bold;">Did you know?</span> Tech executives made up half of the Forbes Top Ten Richest Americans List in 2007, but how did they fare in 2008?<br /><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span class="style24" style="border: 1px none ;"></span></span><table align="center" border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr> <td style="border: 1px none ;"> <blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 0px;"> <p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><strong>2008</strong> </span></p></blockquote></td> <td style="border: 1px none ;"> <blockquote dir="ltr" style="margin-right: 0px;"> <p align="left"><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;"><strong>2007</strong> </span></p></blockquote></td></tr> <tr> <td> <ol><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Bill Gates - <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Microsoft</span> </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Warren Buffett - Berkshire Hathaway </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Lawrence Ellison - <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Oracle</span> </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Jim Walton - WalMart, Chairman Arvest Bank </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">S Robson Walton - WalMart </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Alice Walton - WalMart </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Christy Walton and Family - WalMart </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Michael Bloomberg - Mayor of New York City </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Charles Koch - Koch Industries </span> </li><li><span style="color:#000000;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="color:#000000;">David Koch - Koch Industries </span></span></span></li></ol></td> <td> <ol><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Bill Gates - <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Microsoft</span> </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Warren Buffett - Berkshire Hathaway </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Sheldon Adelson - Las Vegas Sands (former Comdex trade shows) </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Larry Ellison - <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Oracle</span> </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Sergey Brin - <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Google</span> </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Larry Page - <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Google</span> </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Kirk Kerkorian - Tricinda Corporation </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Michael Dell - <span style="color: rgb(153, 0, 0);">Dell Computer</span> </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">Charles Koch - Koch Industries </span> </li><li><span style="font-size:85%;color:#000000;">David Koch - Koch Industries </span></li></ol></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif';"><span class="style24" style="border: 1px none ;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: 1px none ; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: 1px none ; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">The Waltons, the original family owners of WalMart, Sam's Club and other business entities seem to have taken over the majority of the Forbes list for 2008. Interesting!<br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="border: 1px none ; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br /></p></span></span>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-90347005758234710532008-10-06T09:37:00.004-05:002008-10-06T09:53:49.209-05:00Fireproof Sets Box Office -- and Amazon.com -- Ablaze<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SOomAmcORjI/AAAAAAAAAiw/P_DHxX21IUk/s1600-h/Fireproof_Title_sm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SOomAmcORjI/AAAAAAAAAiw/P_DHxX21IUk/s320/Fireproof_Title_sm.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254053707041883698" border="0" /></a><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-size:78%;">Article from <a href="http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07666.shtml">ChristiansUnite.com</a></span><br />Samuel Goldwyn Films' <a href="http://www.fireproofthemovie.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">FIREPROOF</span></a>, starring <span style="font-weight: bold;">Kirk Cameron</span>, far surpassed industry expectations to place #4 at the box office for the weekend. Produced by <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sherwood Pictures</span> in Albany GA, <a href="http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1810036605/info"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">FIREPROOF</span></a> is the company's third film following <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">FACING THE GIANTS</span> - also released by Goldwyn, which went on to gross more than $10 million.</span><p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;">With an </span><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;">1,200-person</span><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"> volunteer cast and crew, <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">FIREPROOF</span> opened on 839 screens, grossing $6,804,764. It was the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">highest opening weekend box office* of the year</span> for films released on 1,000 screens or fewer. In the week before its opening, FIREPROOF pre-sold more than $1 million in tickets - far above the predicted blockbusters.</span></p> <p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;">Directed by Sherwood's <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alex Kendrick</span> and co-written with his brother, producer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Stephen Kendrick</span>, </span><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">FIREPROOF</span></span><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"> stars Cameron and newcomer <span style="font-weight: bold;">Erin Bethea</span> in a story about a firefighter who must learn how to rescue his own marriage.</span></p><p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Communities across the U.S. are using the film as a tool to support local firefighters, police, and other first responders' groups with divorce rates up to 90 percent.</span> As first responders and their spouses spend a night at the movies, volunteer babysitting brigades on are the job, freeing up couples to go.</span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SOomGmjG-bI/AAAAAAAAAi4/pIakdWDlo40/s1600-h/fireproof_poster.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SOomGmjG-bI/AAAAAAAAAi4/pIakdWDlo40/s320/fireproof_poster.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254053810149980594" border="0" /></a></p><p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Meyer Gottlieb</span>, president of Samuel Goldwyn Films, said: "<span style="font-style: italic;">Congratulations to Alex and Stephen Kendrick for showing once again that they know how to make a movie both entertaining and substantive. </span></span><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">FIREPROOF</span></span><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> will make you laugh, cry, and reflect. I'm confident audiences will continue to support it.</span>"</span></p><p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">The success of </span></span><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">FIREPROOF</span></span><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> is an example of the combination of great writing and storytelling, proper setup and marketing execution, all directed at an underserved audience hungry for filmed entertainment that meets their needs in many ways</span>," said <span style="font-weight: bold;">Terry A. Hemmings</span>, president & CEO, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Provident Music Group</span>.</span></p><p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">Opening weekend turnout is a testament to grassroots marketing,</span>" said Provident Executive Vice President <span style="font-weight: bold;">Ben Howard</span>. "<span style="font-style: italic;">We spent nine months getting this movie and its message to the right people . . . now it's charging away on its own momentum.</span>"</span></p><p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Michael Catt</span>, senior pastor of Sherwood Baptist Church and executive producer, said: "<span style="font-style: italic;">We believe good stories can have a good effect. This film was made by a small army of people who poured into something bigger than themselves - into <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">not just a movie, but a movement to restore and uplift marriages across the country</span>.</span>"</span></p><p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bob Rubin</span>, executive vice president, <span style="font-weight: bold;">Sony Pictures Home Entertainment</span>, which oversees the Affirm Films label, one of the film's acquisition partners, said: "<span style="font-style: italic;">The faith market is a vast and underserved community with a growing appetite for filmed content that is both inspirational and entertaining. We are delighted to be part of the team that brought </span></span><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span></span><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">FIREPROOF</span></span><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"><span style="font-style: italic;"> to audiences nationwide.</span>"</span></p><p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;">A book entitled <span style="font-style: italic;">The Love Dare</span> was <span style="font-style: italic;">only</span> a plot device in the film until audiences repeatedly requested copies for themselves. The book also debuted in stores this weekend, having pre-sold 600,000 copies. Written by the Kendrick brothers, <span style="font-style: italic;">The Love Dare</span> finished the weekend at #12 on <a href="http://www.amazon.com/">Amazon.com</a> and currently is in its seventh printing.</span></p><p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;">In coming weeks, Goldwyn plans to expand film's release to more than 1,000 screens.</span></p><br /><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:black;">SHERWOOD PICTURES<br />This is the third movie by Sherwood Pictures, its second theatrical release. <span style="font-style: italic;">FLYWHEEL</span>, produced in 2004, has sold 200,000 DVDs. <span style="font-style: italic;">FACING THE GIANTS</span> in 2006, earned $10.1 million at the box office and has sold more than 1.6 million DVDs (in 58 countries and 14 languages).</span><p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:black;">PROVIDENT FILMS<br />Provident Films is a division of Provident Music Group, designed to produce and distribute faith-based films. Sony BMG Music Entertainment's Provident Music Group is one of the world's leading Christian music companies. Provident Music Group operates under the umbrella for Sony BMG Nashville.</span></p><p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;color:black;">SAMUEL GOLDWYN FILMS<br />Samuel Goldwyn Films is a major, independently owned and operated motion-picture company that develops produces and distributes innovative feature films and documentaries. The company is dedicated to working with world renowned and emerging writers and filmmakers and, committed to filmed entertainment that offers original voices in uniquely told stories. This steadfastness is best exemplified by the Oscar-nominated T<span style="font-style: italic;">HE SQUID AND THE WHALE</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">SUPER SIZE ME</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">AMAZING GRACE</span> and Julie Delpy's hit comedy <span style="font-style: italic;">2 DAYS IN PARIS</span>. Goldwyn's 2008 slate also includes <span style="font-style: italic;">PRICELESS</span>, a romantic comedy starring Audrey Tautou, Oscar-winner Claude Lelouch's <span style="font-style: italic;">ROMAN DE GARE</span>, <span style="font-style: italic;">FUGITIVE PIECES</span> based on the international bestseller by Anne Michaels, <span style="font-style: italic;">TRUMBO</span>, the acclaimed documentary about Oscar-winner Dalton Trumbo and the critically hailed <span style="font-style: italic;">ELEGY</span>, starring Oscar nominee Penelope Cruz and Oscar winner Ben Kingsley </span></p>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-53075995589566956942008-09-23T09:19:00.002-05:002008-09-23T09:25:37.414-05:00Facebook Email Spoof Contains Trojan Horse<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SNj8UMuDTmI/AAAAAAAAAhw/4Vc_JgkR6o8/s1600-h/facebook.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 294px; height: 220px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SNj8UMuDTmI/AAAAAAAAAhw/4Vc_JgkR6o8/s320/facebook.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5249222789642276450" border="0" /></a><a href="http://www.websense.com/">Websense<span style="font-size:78%;">®</span> Security Labs</a><span style="font-size:78%;">(TM)</span> ThreatSeeker<span style="font-size:78%;">(TM)</span> Network has discovered a <span style="font-style: italic;">new</span> malicious social-engineering spam campaign masquerading as official emails sent by the popular Web 2.0 social-networking site, <a href="http://www.facebook.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Facebook</span></a>. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">The email is spoofed to appear from the domain facebookmail.com</span>, an official domain used by Facebook for their outbound emails when notifying their users of an event. <p>It is common for Facebook to send an email to notify their users when another Facebook user adds them as a friend on the social network. However, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">the spammers included a zip attachment that purports to contain a picture in order to entice the recipient to double-click on it.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">The attached file is actually a <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Trojan horse</span>.</span> </p> <p>A login page to Facebook is included in the body of the email. We have previously alerted on our discovery via our <span style="font-style: italic;">HoneyJax</span> system about a viral Facebook phishing campaign, and thus would not be surprised if the login page presented was merely a fake front to a phishing site. However, an examination of the HTML form's source code shows that it was indeed passing the user name/password to Facebook itself. This may be to increase the legitimacy of the email to evade reputation-based spam filters. </p> <p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:130%;">To view the details of this alert, <a title="http://securitylabs.websense.com/content/Alerts/3185.aspx" href="http://securitylabs.websense.com/content/Alerts/3185.aspx">click here</a>.</span><br /></p>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-16009855937219716662008-08-12T07:49:00.002-05:002008-08-12T07:52:46.253-05:00The Personal Computer: IBM PCThe <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">IBM PC</span> was released <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">27 years ago</span> today -- on August 12, 1981. Priced at $1,565, the personal computer had a <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">4.77 MHz</span> Intel <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">8088 microprocessor</span> and a <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">160-KB floppy disk drive</span>. There was an <span style="font-style: italic;">optional </span>CGA color monitor. IBM's Disk Operating System was the OS for the "<span style="font-style: italic;">PC</span>".<br /><br />The development team at IBM developed and announced the IBM PC in 12 months, at that time, faster than any other hardware product in IBM's history.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-39704767012627523082008-07-24T14:14:00.003-05:002008-07-24T14:28:39.058-05:00UFOs and Aliens are REAL, According to Former NASA Astronaut<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://bp0.blogger.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SIjXCPx63uI/AAAAAAAAAdA/JK-a3K17I1E/s1600-h/dr+edgar+mitchell.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://bp0.blogger.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SIjXCPx63uI/AAAAAAAAAdA/JK-a3K17I1E/s320/dr+edgar+mitchell.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5226663801159081698" border="0" /></a><div class="cArticle1SubHeadline"></div><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Aliens are real and have made contact with us several times according to Dr. Edgar Mitchell</span> as discovered by <a href="http://www.kerrangradio.co.uk/Article.asp?id=804160&spid=">Nick Margerrison</a> and <span style="font-style: italic;">The Night Before Team</span>. Dr. Mitchell said he was aware of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">many UFO visits to Earth</span> during his career, but each one was covered up by the government involved. He further stated that certain governments, such as Belgium, have recently acknowledged alien life.<br /><br />Lest you think Mitchell is some crackpot with an ax to grind, consider this. Edgar Mitchell is a <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">respected scientist</span>, an a <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">former NASA astronaut</span>. Mitchell, is also the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">6th man to land on the moon</span>.<br /><br />He came on air with Nick Margerrison of <a href="http://www.kerrangradio.co.uk/">Kerrang Radio UK</a> and told them that UFOs definitely exist, he has been in on it all, and that they are in contact with our government. Dr. Mitchell, who has a <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Bachelor of Science degree</span> in aeronautical engineering and a <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Doctor of Science degree</span> in Aeronautics and Astronautics claimed Roswell was real and similar alien visits continue to be investigated.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1037471/Aliens-HAVE-contact-covered-claims-Apollo-14-astronaut.html">The Daily Mail</a> also featured an article regarding the radio interview.<br /><br />Officials from NASA, however, were quick to play the comments down. In a statement, a spokesman said: "<span style="font-style: italic;">NASA does not track UFOs. ... NASA is not involved in any sort of cover up about alien life on this planet or anywhere in the universe. ...</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">Dr Mitchell is a great American, but we do not share his opinions on this issue.'</span><p></p>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-89694508625895045912008-07-08T14:30:00.005-05:002008-07-08T14:44:17.121-05:00Big Fish Games - Whale or Minnow?I'm looking for information and reviews of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Big Fish Games</span>. Whether it's your favorite games website or a bane to your existence, I want to know. BFG offers entertainment in three categories: Online game, PC game, Mac game.<br /><br />Send comments via this blog post. I'll accept ALL comments <span style="font-style: italic;font-size:85%;" >(that don't use vulgar language or ignorant claims one way or the other)</span>. If you've never heard of <span style="font-weight: bold;">Big Fish Games</span>, check out the following link to their site -- and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Game Club</span>:<br /><a href="https://my.bigfishgames.com/index.php?afcode=afa4616fb8c0" target="_blank"><br /></a> <div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://my.bigfishgames.com/index.php?afcode=afa4616fb8c0" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.mygamespace.com/images/banners/mbfgads_468x60.jpg" alt="Get 2 FREE Games" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">Here are a few of the titles they offer:</span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/1/3dmagicmahjongg/index.html?afcode=afa4616fb8c0" target="_blank"><img src="https://games.bigfishgames.com/en_3dmagicmahjongg/3dmagicmahjongg_feature.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/1521/agathachristiedeath/index.html?afcode=afa4616fb8c0" target="_blank"><img src="https://games.bigfishgames.com/en_agathachristiedeath/agathachristiedeath_subfeature.jpg" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://www.bigfishgames.com/download-games/1485/bigfishgamestexash/index.html?afcode=afa4616fb8c0" target="_blank"><img src="https://games.bigfishgames.com/en_bigfishgamestexash/bigfishgamestexash_feature.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">I look forward to reading your opinions and comments.<br /></div></div>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-11120857208101173192008-05-23T07:28:00.002-05:002008-05-23T07:31:51.862-05:00Technology History: Ethernet LANThe <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">first Ethernet LAN data packet</span> was transmitted at the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Xerox Palo Alto Research Center</span> on <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">May 23, 1973</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold;">Bob Metcalf</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">David Boggs</span> were the inventors of the networking technology that would eventually be used on the vast majority of local area networks in the world. For three years they worked to refine and improve their invention. By 1976, their experimental network was connecting 100 devices.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-15912200102144154372008-05-21T08:30:00.003-05:002008-05-21T08:55:46.104-05:00Six Gas-Saving Myths<span style="font-size:78%;">Article provided by <a href="http://www.CNNMoney.com">CNNMoney.com</a></span><br />Sure you want to save gas, but there's a lot of bad advice on how to do it. Some of it makes no difference, and some of it can wind up costing you. With gasoline prices hitting record levels, it seems everyone has a tip on how to save fuel. Much of the advice is well-intentioned, but in the end, much of it won't lower your gas bill. Here's a look at a few misconceptions:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">#1. Fill Your Tank in the Morning</span><br />You may have heard that it's best to fill your gas tank in the early morning while the fuel is cold. The theory goes that fluids are more dense at lower temperatures, so a gallon of cold gas actually has more gas molecules than a gallon of warmer gas.<br /><br />But the temperature of the gasoline as it comes out of the nozzle varies little during the course of the day, according to <a href="http://www.ConsumerReports.org">Consumer Reports</a>, so <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">there's little, if any, benefit, to getting up early to pump gas</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">#2. Change Your Air Filter</span><br />Maintaining your car is important, but a clean air filter isn't going to save you any gas. Modern engines have <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">computer sensors that automatically adjust the fuel-air mixture</span> as an increasingly clogged air filter chokes off the engine's air supply.<br /><br />While engine power will decrease slightly as the air filter becomes clogged, a lack of performance or an increase in fuel consumption will be negligible, Consumer Reports says.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">#3. Use Premium Fuel</span><br />With prices already over $4.00 a gallon, premium gasoline is a hard sell these days. But a lot of drivers <span style="font-style: italic;">think</span> because their owners' manual recommends premium, they'll get better fuel economy if they stick with it. Really, they're paying more money for nothing.<br /><br />Even cars for which premium is recommended won't suffer with regular fuel. Modern engine technology comes to the rescue again. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">When sensors detect regular instead of premium fuel, the system automatically adjusts spark plug timing.</span> The result is a slight reduction in peak horsepower - really, you'll never notice - but no reduction in fuel economy.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">#4. Pump Up Your Tires</span><br />Proper tire inflation is important for a number of reasons. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Under-inflated tires are bad for handling and can even cause a crash.</span> Improper tire inflation also causes tires to wear out faster and to heat up more, which could trigger a dangerous high-speed blow-out. According to on-the-road driving tests by both Consumer Reports and auto information site <a href="http://www.Edmunds.com">Edmunds.com</a>, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">underinflated tires reduce fuel economy</span>, so proper inflation is key.<br /><br />But you should <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">never over-inflate your tires</span>. They'll get you slightly better fuel economy because there will be less tread touching the road, reducing friction. But that means less grip for braking and turning. The added risk of a crash isn't worth the extra mile a gallon you might gain.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">#5. To A/C or Not A/C</span><br />There's no question <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">air-conditioning makes extra work for the engine, increasing fuel use</span>. But car air conditioners are much more efficient today than they used to be. In around-town driving, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">using the A/C will drop fuel economy by about a mile a gallon</span>. Meanwhile, driving at higher speeds with the windows down greatly increases aerodynamic drag. As speed increases, drag becomes more of an issue, making A/C use the more efficient choice at high speeds.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">At most speeds and in most vehicles, A/C use drains slightly more fuel than driving with the windows down</span>, contends <span style="font-weight: bold;">David Champion</span>, head of auto testing for Consumer Reports. "<span style="font-style: italic;">My final take on is that it's very close</span>," says <span style="font-weight: bold;">Phil Reed</span>, consumer advice editor for Edmunds.com. "<span style="font-style: italic;">It's hard to measure the difference and every vehicle is different.</span>"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">#6. Bolt-Ons and Pour-Ins</span><br />Before you buy a device that's supposed to make your car more fuel-efficient or pour in an allegedly gas-saving additive, ask yourself this: <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Don't you think oil and car companies aren't doing everything they can to beat their competitors?</span><br /><br />If BP could add something to its gasoline that made cars go farther on a gallon, cars would be lining up at the company's pumps. Sure, people would burn their fuel-saving BP gas more slowly, but then they'd drive right past rivals' gas stations to come back to BP for more. BP stations could even charge more for their gas and still sell tons of the stuff.<br /><br />So if there really was an additive that made gas burn up more slowly, it wouldn't be sold over the Internet one bottle at a time.<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">There are a number of these gas-saving devices that are generally useless</span>," says Champion.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-86714148769820041382008-05-20T16:20:00.003-05:002008-05-20T16:50:01.640-05:00What Does the Average Person Pay For Gas?As a follow-up to yesterday's post about gas prices and the financial strain it is placing on our family, I wanted to offer some stats on avg driving costs.<br /><br />The average vehicle gets <span style="font-weight: bold;">23 mpg</span> combined fuel economy.<span style="font-size:78%;"> 1</span><br />The average <span style="font-weight: bold;">miles driven per week</span> is <span style="font-weight: bold;">200</span>.<span style="font-size:78%;"> 2</span><br />The avg. unleaded regular gas price, over the past year, in the US, has been <span style="font-weight: bold;">~$3.60/gallon</span>. <span style="font-size:78%;">3</span><br /><br />Therefore, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">the average cost of driving a personal vehicle in America is <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">~$31.30</span> per week</span>. The average monthly cost is <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">~$134.00</span>.<br /><br />If gas prices were "<span style="font-style: italic;">normal</span>" and we were <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> being gouged by the oil companies, the price would probably be around <span style="font-weight: bold;">$2.30/gallon</span>. Without being screwed, we would likely pay, on average, around <span style="font-weight: bold;">$20.00 per week</span> for regular unleaded gasoline. The monthly average would be <span style="font-weight: bold;">~$86.00</span>.<br /><br />That's <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">$48.00 per month difference</span> in what the average person pays to what he would pay if not for oil company greed. Folks, those numbers add up quick. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">The annual total difference is</span> $576.00</span> -- and that's just for cars getting 23mpg and people who drive only 200 miles per week.<br /><br />If you drive a <span style="font-weight: bold;">15mpg</span> pick-up or SUV an <span style="font-weight: bold;">avg. of 300 miles</span> per week, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">your total added costs is <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">$112.00</span> per month, or <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">~$1342.00</span> per year</span>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >So, what is the answer? </span><br /><ul><li>Higher mpg?</li><li>Lower gas prices?</li><li>Drilling in ANWAR?</li><li>Tax cuts?</li><li>Penalties for the oil companies?</li><li>Human beings conserving?</li></ul><span style="color: rgb(153, 51, 153); font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >Leave a comment with <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">your</span> thoughts!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:78%;" >Sources:</span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">1. http://www.southcarolinagasprices.com/Past_polls.aspx?poll_id=306<br />2. http://www.southcarolinagasprices.com/Past_polls.aspx?poll_id=351<br />3. http://www.southcarolinagasprices.com/<br /><br /></span>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-4042020187698847922008-05-19T17:47:00.000-05:002008-05-20T16:20:41.879-05:00Gas Prices are Hurting the Economy of My Family<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Gas prices are hurting the economy of my family. </span>Plain and simple. The greed of the oil companies is causing a financial burden on our family of five. Over the past several months, we have considered several options, as have many others who are in the same situation.<br /><br />Just so you know how to compare our circumstances to yours, here is a little reposition about us (<span style="font-style: italic;">using good averages from my record keeping</span>). We have two vehicles: a <span style="font-weight: bold;">2004 Pontiac sedan</span> and a <span style="font-weight: bold;">2005 minivan</span>. The <span style="font-weight: bold;">'04 gets 25mpg</span>; the <span style="font-weight: bold;">'05 van gets 21mpg</span>. Our daily commute to/from work is <span style="font-weight: bold;">55 miles</span> for one of us and <span style="font-weight: bold;">60 for the other</span>. We have two kids who are involved in extra-curricular activities, so there are always added miles at least three days per week. And we attend church on Sunday -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">45 mile round trip</span> at least once; most Sundays, twice. On average, we fill up both vehicles with fuel <span style="font-weight: bold;">every five days</span>. Using today's gas price of $3.65/gal in our area, the avg. fill-up costs <span style="font-weight: bold;">$60 for the '04</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold;">$65 for the '05</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Our total fuel costs per month avg </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">$750-$800</span> (<span style="font-style: italic;">inclusive of extra driving, etc</span>).<br /><br />Here are a few of those considerations, what I've done about them and the results of that action or research:<br /><ol style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><li>Drive less</li><li>Tune-up vehicles</li><li>Buy a motorcycle & park my car</li><li>Trade in both vehicles for more fuel efficient models</li></ol><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">RESULTS:<br />1.</span> Drive less: </span>We started <span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">doubling up</span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"> on trips</span> to the grocery store, Wal-Mart and the like two years ago. We <span style="font-style: italic;">never</span> run to any store for anything that costs less than $10.00. It's <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> a scientific fact, but the closest area with various stores and services is <span style="font-weight: bold;">20 miles round trip</span> from our home in the country. I figured that needing anything <span style="font-style: italic;">less than</span> twice what it costs to drive to the store is <span style="font-style: italic;">not</span> worth going to get.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Tune-up vehicles:</span></span> Both vehicles have new spark plugs, fresh oil, K&N filters and properly inflated tires. The fuel filters are regularly checked, as are the air filters, etc. We figure we're getting <span style="font-weight: bold;">2-3mpg savings</span> by <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">keeping the vehicles tuned</span> -- and using the K&N filters.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Buy a motorcycle & park my car:</span></span> <span id="FM_lblMSG">I thought about it. Have you? Just for kicks, I went over to RoadTripAmerica's <a href="http://www.roadtripamerica.com/fuel-cost-calculator.php" target="_blank">Fuel Cost Calculator</a> and figured the difference between driving my car and riding a <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">50mpg motorcycle</span>.<br />The results were <span style="font-weight: bold;">not</span> as satisfying as I had hoped for. On avg, I would <span style="font-weight: bold;">save around $4.00 per day</span> in fuel costs. Since I work 5 days each week, that avg's out to <span style="font-weight: bold;">$80.00 per month in savings</span>. Does anyone know where you can buy a <span style="font-style: italic;">reliable</span> motorcycle <span style="font-style: italic;">AND</span> insurance for $80/mth? Nope, me neither. That would be the <span style="font-weight: bold;">break even</span> point. To actually save money, the cost per month would have to be <span style="font-style: italic;">even</span> less.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Trade in both vehicles for more fuel efficient models:</span></span> We're both a little "<span style="font-style: italic;">upside-down</span>" in car value vs. loan payback -- so we can't effectively trade and purchase more fuel efficient vehicles. BTW, part of the drop in value is likely due to the mpg of both vehicles. People are buying smaller cars now -- so large sedans and minivans are taking a hit in value. In order to recoup the difference, we would have to extend our loans, pay a large down payment or much higher monthly payments. All of those options would <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">effectively negate any savings</span> at the pump.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;font-size:130%;" >So what are we doing to stave off the crunch in finances?</span><br />We pay the gas prices and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">cut out other things</span>. <a href="http://www.xmradio.com/">XM radio</a> and my subscription to <a href="http://www.consumerreports.org/">ConsumerReports.org</a> are now gone. I guess the next thing to go will be <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">DirectTV</span> -- then the <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">kids' cell phones</span>. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">I don't know what else to do. </span>We have to work and therefore, are forced to buy gas -- no matter what it costs.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);font-size:130%;" >What are <span style="color: rgb(102, 51, 102);">YOU</span> doing? Are gas prices <span style="font-style: italic;">significantly</span> hurting your finances?</span>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-50983353833269950712008-05-15T08:41:00.002-05:002008-05-15T08:54:35.637-05:00Wikipedia Peddles Porn to Kids<div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SCxAK1bAqiI/AAAAAAAAAYw/5ywZxs4Fqsk/s1600-h/wikipedia+stripper.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SCxAK1bAqiI/AAAAAAAAAYw/5ywZxs4Fqsk/s320/wikipedia+stripper.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5200602224589318690" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Article from <a href="http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07182.shtml">ChristiansUnite.com</a></span><br /></div>It would be a tall order, but parents around the world <span style="font-style: italic;">may</span> want to make <span style="font-style: italic;">every</span> effort to keep their kids away from <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Wikipedia.com</span>, the enormously popular, user-generated online encyclopedia. While doing homework, research for term papers, or for just plain fun, millions of kids visit <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Wikipedia</span> every day. That's why parents may be alarmed to learn that, as <a href="http://www.worldnetdaily.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=63770">recently exposed</a> by <a href="http://www.worldnetdaily.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">WorldNetDaily.com</span></a>, Wikipedia features hundreds, if not <span style="font-style: italic;">thousands</span>, of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">hardcore pornographic images and online sex videos</span>, making them easily <a href="http://wnd.com/index.php?fa=PAGE.view&pageId=63722">accessible to children</a>.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Matt Barber</span>, Policy Director for Cultural Issues with <a href="http://www.cwfa.org/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Concerned Women for America</span></a> (CWA), said, "<span style="font-style: italic;">Perhaps Wikipedia should change its name to Pornopedia. Providing clinical images that may assist people in research is one thing, but <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">many of the images and videos featured by Wikipedia are gratuitous and obscene</span>. They're entirely unnecessary and amount to hardcore pornography, plain and simple.</span> <span style="font-style: italic;">These actions by Wiki founder <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 102, 0);">Jimmy Wales</span> and other executives with Wikipedia are reprehensible. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">By disseminating this obscene material, their misbehavior is no better than that of the sleazy smut peddler at the XXX bookstore down the street.</span> They should be ashamed of themselves. In fact, the Department of Justice (DOJ) should look into whether Wikipedia may be in violation of federal obscenity laws."<br /><br />"For this reason, we're calling on Wikipedia to either pull the pornography from its Web page, or, as do many other porn sites, place a prominent warning on the home page indicating that it features pornography, and requiring visitors to affirm that they are at least 18 years of age or older before entering</span>," said Barber. "<span style="font-style: italic;">People may notice that while searching a term using the Google search engine, a Wikipedia link is often the first to pop up. This makes Wikipedia one of the most visited websites on the Internet. With great power comes great responsibility. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">To willingly, if not intentionally, make pornography a mouse click away for kids is contemptibly low and represents the height of irresponsibility.</span></span>"<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">Unfortunately, the federal government's reticence to prosecute violations of federal obscenity laws has created a climate where disseminating hardcore pornography, even to children, is considered 'no big deal.' Perhaps now, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 102, 0);">knowing that millions of children are being readily exposed to obscenity on <span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Wikipedia.com</span>, the DOJ will finally step up its efforts</span>,</span>" concluded Barber.<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://www.cwfa.org/about.asp">Concerned Women for America</a> is the nation's largest public policy women's organization.</span> <p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style="font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;"></span></p>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-11071679035888891792008-05-12T08:16:00.007-05:002008-05-12T08:26:06.850-05:00Outsourced Tech Support<div style="text-align: left;">These days, when you have a problem with computer hardware or software, you place a call to <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">technical support</span>. Most of the time, your call is outsourced to a call center overseas. Take a look at the pictures below... and then read the "<span style="font-style: italic;">punch line</span>". BTW, this is <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">100% TRUE</span>!<br /></div><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SChELlbAqfI/AAAAAAAAAYY/kEFbI2e6cDM/s1600-h/overhead+wiring2.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SChELlbAqfI/AAAAAAAAAYY/kEFbI2e6cDM/s320/overhead+wiring2.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199480735613889010" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SChEVlbAqgI/AAAAAAAAAYg/yRvN_2xL6vA/s1600-h/overhead+wiring.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SChEVlbAqgI/AAAAAAAAAYg/yRvN_2xL6vA/s320/overhead+wiring.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199480907412580866" border="0" /></a><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SChEclbAqhI/AAAAAAAAAYo/nDspAS9PSYQ/s1600-h/overhead+wiring3.bmp"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/SChEclbAqhI/AAAAAAAAAYo/nDspAS9PSYQ/s320/overhead+wiring3.bmp" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5199481027671665170" border="0" /></a><br />THIS IS <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">INDIA</span>. <span style="font-style: italic;">This</span> is where <span style="font-style: italic;">your</span> tech support call goes when you need help with electronics, computers or software. Doesn't this make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside?Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-72643621899788104762008-05-04T17:15:00.004-05:002008-05-04T17:30:39.447-05:00Dr. Alveda King: Defund Planned Parenthood<span style="font-size:78%;">Article from <a href="http://news.christiansunite.com/Religion_News/religion07142.shtml">christiansunite.com</a></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Dr. Alveda King</span>, Pastoral Associate of <a href="http://www.priestsforlife.org/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Priests for Life</span></a> and niece of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr</span>., today said that a new study released by <a href="http://www.studentsforlife.org/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Students for Life of America</span></a> reinforces <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">the call of black leaders to eliminate federal subsidies to<span style="color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">Planned Parenthood</span>.<br /><blockquote style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-size:130%;">"<span style="font-style: italic;">It's time to let freedom ring for the babies</span>," said Dr. King. "<span style="font-style: italic;">The Students for Life report on <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Planned Parenthood's targeting of African Americans for abortion</span> spells out why taxpayers should not be forced to contribute to that organization. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">The government should not be subsidizing racism, but that's exactly what it's doing through Planned Parenthood.</span></span>"</span></blockquote>The study examines programs and incidents dating from Planned Parenthood's founding through the most recent scandal of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">seven Planned Parenthood chapters' willingness to accept donations for the exclusive purpose of aborting black babies</span>. "<span style="font-style: italic;">Defending human life is part of the civil rights struggle and I and my fellow pro-life African American leaders are not going away</span>," added Dr. King. "<span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">We are uniting civil rights and moral rights</span> to fulfill the dream of what my uncle called 'the beloved community.' <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 153);">America needs to know that black leaders do support life.</span> We start where life begins, with the babies, and we will march on until abortion, racism, and all society's ills bow to the truth that we are all one race.</span>"<br /><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:78%;" >Priests for Life is the nation's largest Catholic pro- life organization dedicated to ending abortion and euthanasia.<br />For more information, visit <a href="http://www.priestsforlife.org">www.priestsforlife.org</a>.</span> <p align="justify"><span class="arial12" style=";font-family:arial;font-size:100%;color:black;" ></span></p>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-14976206337033080862008-04-11T08:20:00.004-05:002008-04-11T08:30:09.355-05:00Rapist / Murderer Cesar Laurean Captured in Mexico<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/R_9nSwzFgZI/AAAAAAAAASU/gBs6QJ_cINU/s1600-h/cesar-armando-laurean-captured.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/R_9nSwzFgZI/AAAAAAAAASU/gBs6QJ_cINU/s320/cesar-armando-laurean-captured.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187978867788579218" border="0" /></a>A Marine wanted in the brutal slaying of a pregnant colleague who had accused him of rape was arrested Thursday night in Mexico after a three-month international manhunt, authorities said. FBI agents and Mexican authorities arrested <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Marine Cpl. Cesar Laurean</span> around 7 p.m. EDT. He is charged with first-degree murder in the death of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Marine Lance Cpl. Maria Lauterbach</span>, whose burned remains were found in January in the backyard of his home near <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Camp Lejeune</span>.<br /><br />"<span style="font-style: italic;">You know my name. You know who I am</span>," Laurean told The Associated Press while being held at the Michoacan state Attorney General's Office in Morelia, the state capital. Asked if he wanted to say anything, Laurean simply said, "<span style="font-style: italic;">Proof</span>," but wouldn't explain. Laurean appeared slightly disoriented. Asked what he would do next, he replied: "<span style="font-style: italic;">Do I have a choice? ... I don't know.</span>"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Magdalena Guzman</span>, a spokeswoman for the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Michoacan, Mexico</span>, state prosecutors office, said police carrying out an anti-kidnapping operation stopped Laurean as he wandered on a street in the rural township of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Tacambaro, Michoacan</span>, because they thought he looked suspicious. When they realized he didn't speak Spanish well, they became even more suspicious. After running his name through a computer, they realized Laurean was wanted in the United States to face charges in Lauterbach's death.<br /><br />Guzman said Laurean told the arresting officers he had only 10 pesos (about US$1) in his pocket, and that he had been surviving by eating avocados and other fruit he found in the fields of the farming community where he was found. The FBI said Laurean, 21, is awaiting extradition to the U.S., although local prosecutors in <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">North Carolina</span> cautioned the process could take a year or more. "<span style="font-style: italic;">Laurean's swift arrest in Mexico was due to the diligence and dedication of the Mexican government and our law enforcement partners</span>," <span style="font-weight: bold;">Nathan Gray</span>, the special agent in charge of the FBI's Charlotte office, said in a statement. "<span style="font-style: italic;">This was truly an international effort, and we will do all we can to ensure Laurean is brought back to Onslow County (N.C.) as quickly as possible to answer the charges against him.</span>"<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Additional information on </span><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.abcnews.go.com/TheLaw/FedCrimes/story?id=4631879&page=1">ABCNews.com</a><br /></div><p></p>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-63188222038860197492008-04-04T16:17:00.002-05:002008-04-18T07:24:34.173-05:00Technology History; Microsoft WORD<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr><td style="font-family: Verdana,Tahoma,Arial; font-size: 9.5px;" valign="top" width="288"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The development of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FMicrosoft-Office-Home-Student-2007%2Fdp%2FB000HCZ8EO%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dsoftware%26qid%3D1208521029%26sr%3D8-1&tag=prenewandrev-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">Microsoft Word</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=prenewandrev-20&l=ur2&o=1" alt="" style="border: medium none ! important; margin: 0px ! important;" border="0" height="1" width="1" /></span> began in April, 1983. <span style="color: rgb(204, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">Richard Brodie</span>, Microsoft's 77th employee, developed the program while <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FWindows-Vista-Home-Premium-Upgrade%2Fdp%2FB0013O54P8%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dsoftware%26qid%3D1208521430%26sr%3D8-1&tag=prenewandrev-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">Microsoft Windows</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=prenewandrev-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /></span> was being developed. WORD was completed in 1985. To market the new word processor, Microsoft distributed 450,000 demo disks in the November, 1985 issue of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">PC World</span> magazine (<span style="font-style: italic;">which is now a tech collector's item</span>).Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-56198537547394196562008-04-01T07:22:00.003-05:002008-04-17T16:12:28.020-05:00Technology History: Apple Computer CompanyThe <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Apple Computer Company</span> was "<span style="font-style: italic;">born</span>" on April 1, 1975. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Steve Wozniak</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">Steve Jobs</span> designed the first Apple computer in Jobs' home. Jobs was able to convince a local electronic retailer to order 25 <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Apple I</span> computers. In order to raise the money to make these machines, Jobs sold his Volkswagen microbus. Wozniak sold his HP scientific calculator, thus enabling them to raise $1,300.<br />Apple has gone on to become a multi-billion dollar worldwide technology company -- whose most famous product, the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FApple-touch-without-Software-Updates%2Fdp%2FB000JNYWBG%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Delectronics%26qid%3D1208466649%26sr%3D8-7&tag=prenewandrev-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">iPod</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=prenewandrev-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />, is the standard for <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/search?ie=UTF8&keywords=MP3%20player&tag=prenewandrev-20&index=electronics&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">MP3 players</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=prenewandrev-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /> today.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-60245116296579304772008-03-18T19:20:00.003-05:002008-03-19T08:24:23.075-05:00FCC Auction for 700Mhz Ends<span style="font-size:78%;">Excerpt from <a href="http://www.phonescoop.com/news/item.php?n=2848">PhoneScoop.com</a></span><br />The FCC <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">700 MHz auction</span> came to an end this afternoon, after 38 days, 261 rounds, and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">$19.6 billion in bids</span>. Of the five large blocks being auctioned off, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">spectrum licenses in the A, B, C, and E blocks reached their minimum bids</span>. The D block, which was reserved for a nationwide public safety network, failed to reach the minimum bid and is being officially <span style="font-style: italic;">removed</span> from the auction.<br /><br />The FCC <span style="font-style: italic;">may</span> attempt to sell it off again in a separate auction. The <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">C block</span>, which generated the most interest because it <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">covers large portions of the U.S.</span>, reached its minimum bid <span style="font-style: italic;">early</span> in the auction and has remained mostly stagnant since. The FCC will not disclose the names of the winners of the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">1,099 licenses</span> that were made available for up to 10 days.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-48629251735212256752008-03-03T07:56:00.000-05:002008-03-19T07:59:38.205-05:00Technology History: The Dot Com CrashThe <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Dot Com Crash</span> occured from March to October in 2002 -- when the <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">NASDAQ</span> stock market composite index <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">lost 78% of its value</span>. The bubble began in the mid 1990s with widespread, public availability of the World Wide Web.<br /><br />The new economy of the Internet set the stage for euphoria where speculators were barely able to control their excitement. The crash was set into motion as a series of losses and failures (<span style="font-style: italic;">such as Netscape</span>) were reported in the first quarter of 2000.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-77785916692083424482008-02-27T12:19:00.001-05:002008-04-17T16:09:21.884-05:00Yahoo's Yang Tell Rice It's Her Job to Get Dissidents Released<span style="font-size:78%;">Article from <a href="http://redmondmag.com/reports/article.asp?editorialsid=666">RedmondMag.com</a>, By Peter Varhol</span><br />In a response that has irony written all over it, Yahoo CEO <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Yang"><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Jerry Yang</span></a> said in a letter to Secretary of State <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Condoleezza Rice</span> that it was the State Department's job to pursue the release of two journalists being held in a Chinese prison for <span style="font-style: italic;">allegedly</span> leaking state secrets and political writings. The irony is that <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">it was information provided to the Chinese government </span><a style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);" href="http://tinyurl.com/ytf6tn">by Yahoo</a><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);"> that led to these arrests and imprisonments</span>.<br /><br />Yang claims that the information Yahoo provided was released <span style="font-style: italic;">against</span> company values, and the company has settled a lawsuit by the families involved and established a human rights fund after the fact. However, after <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(153, 51, 0);">a Yahoo official was caught in the act of misleading Congress</span> about the affair, California Rep. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Tom Lantos</span> responded, "<span style="font-style: italic;">While technologically and financially you are giants, morally you are pygmies.</span>"<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">It sounds like a cop-out by Yahoo to me.</span> Does no one there recall the courage and conviction of H. Ross Perot as chronicled in "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FWings-Eagles-Ken-Follett%2Fdp%2F0451213092%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1208466375%26sr%3D8-1&tag=prenewandrev-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">On Wings of Eagles</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=prenewandrev-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />"? Yang wouldn't do that; it's all about dollars and cents to him.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-8382619608650209632008-02-26T11:16:00.008-05:002008-04-17T16:05:11.850-05:00Nokia Shows Nano Technology in its concept MORPH Mobile Phone<div style="text-align: right;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/R8Q80HeVMUI/AAAAAAAAAP4/yI6GuU5e5Wc/s1600-h/nokia_morph_wrist_mode.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 328px; height: 202px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/R8Q80HeVMUI/AAAAAAAAAP4/yI6GuU5e5Wc/s320/nokia_morph_wrist_mode.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171325138185302338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Article from <a href="http://www.nokia.com/A4852062">Nokia.com</a></span><br /></div>Featured in The Museum of Modern Art “<a href="http://www.moma.org/exhibitions/exhibitions.php?id=5632"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Design and The Elastic Mind</span></a>” exhibition, <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FMobile-Usability-Nokia-Changed-Phone%2Fdp%2F0071385142%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1208466156%26sr%3D1-1&tag=prenewandrev-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">Nokia's Morph</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=prenewandrev-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /></span> concept device is a bridge between highly advanced technologies and their potential benefits to end-users. This device concept showcases some revolutionary leaps being explored by <a href="http://research.nokia.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nokia Research Center</span></a> (NRC) in collaboration with the <a href="http://www.nanoscience.cam.ac.uk/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cambridge Nanoscience Centre</span></a> (UK) – <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">nanoscale technologies</span> that will potentially create a world of <span style="font-style: italic;">radically</span> different devices that open up an entirely new spectrum of possibilities. <span style="font-style: italic;">Morph</span> concept technologies might create fantastic opportunities for mobile devices:<br /><ul><li>Newly-enabled flexible and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">transparent materials</span> blend more seamlessly with the way we live<br /></li><li>Devices become <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">self-cleaning</span> and <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">self-preserving</span></li><li>Transparent electronics offering an entirely new aesthetic dimension </li><li>Built-in <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">solar absorption</span> might charge a device, whilst batteries become smaller, longer lasting and faster to charge </li><li><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">Integrated sensors</span> might allow us to learn more about the environment around us, empowering us to make better choices</li></ul><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/R8Q893eVMVI/AAAAAAAAAQA/Q4FvgPNrzEQ/s1600-h/morph_phone_operating.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_pmjAdjJ7psU/R8Q893eVMVI/AAAAAAAAAQA/Q4FvgPNrzEQ/s200/morph_phone_operating.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171325305689026898" border="0" /></a>In addition to the advances above, the integrated electronics shown in the <span style="font-style: italic;">Morph</span> concept could cost less and include more functionality in a much smaller space, even as interfaces are simplified and usability is enhanced. All of these new capabilities will unleash new applications and services that will allow us to communicate and interact in unprecedented ways.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(102, 0, 0);">Flexible & Changing Design</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FNanotechnology-Innovation-Opportunity-Lynn-Foster%2Fdp%2F0131927566%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1208466265%26sr%3D8-4&tag=prenewandrev-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">Nanotechnology</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=prenewandrev-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" /></span> enables materials and components that are flexible, stretchable, transparent and remarkably strong. <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">Fibril proteins</span> are woven into a three dimensional mesh that reinforces thin elastic structures. Using the same principle behind spider silk, this elasticity enables the device to literally change shapes and configure itself to adapt to the task at hand. A folded design would fit easily in a pocket and could lend itself <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">ergonomically</span> to being used as a traditional handset. An unfolded larger design could display more detailed information, and incorporate input devices such as keyboards and touch pads. Even integrated electronics, from interconnects to sensors, could share these flexible properties. Further, utilization of <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">biodegradable materials</span> might make production and recycling of devices easier and ecologically friendly.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Read more at <a href="http://www.nokia.com/A4852062">Nokia.com</a></span><br /></div>Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5441594052801318140.post-46566022211132257662008-02-14T15:11:00.005-05:002008-04-17T16:02:09.426-05:00Technology History: Microsoft Corporation<span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(204, 0, 0);">Microsoft Corporation's</span> IPO opened on the stock market on <span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0); font-weight: bold;">February 14, 1986</span>. The asking price of the IPO was <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(51, 51, 255);">$21.00 per share</span>. At that time, Gates, Ballmer and the gang were making much of the company's revenue on <span style="font-weight: bold;">Macintosh software</span>, <span style="font-weight: bold;">BASIC</span> language interpreters, and the PC operating system <span style="font-weight: bold;">MS-DOS</span>.<br />After the IPO, Microsoft began a tremendous run -- earning large increases in revenue over the next two decades. By 2003 (a mere 13 yrs later), a <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); font-weight: bold;">$2,100</span> investment <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">at the 1986 IPO offering price</span> was worth <span style="font-weight: bold; color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">$1.5 million</span>. Sadly, while Microsoft has posted excellent dividends over the last 21 years, their share price has fallen by more than half from it's peak around the time of the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/redirect.html?ie=UTF8&location=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.amazon.com%2FE-Business-Revolution-New-Economy-E-Conomics%2Fdp%2F0324271514%3Fie%3DUTF8%26s%3Dbooks%26qid%3D1208466030%26sr%3D1-10&tag=prenewandrev-20&linkCode=ur2&camp=1789&creative=9325">dot com bubble</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=prenewandrev-20&l=ur2&o=1" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important;" />.Charliehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00895306612218195608noreply@blogger.com