Random Brain Dump

Here’s a list of top 50 coolest websites for 2006 from Time magazine.

Looks like the hottest toy heading into this xmas season is TMX Elmo. It’s basically another tickle me Elmo, but this one has some pretty “extreme” motion– complete movement from standing to rolling on the floor & getting back on its feet. Check out the video here.

Alright, I’ll bite & get on the bandwagon. I am going to get it for Allison’s birthday next month. I can’t wait to see her face when she gets it. Now, if only I am able to track it down. It’s sold out every online & local retailers I can find.

And I’m not shelling out $200 for it on eBay (that’s the going rate!).

If you’re tired of the cinematic that plays everytime you launch AoK (Age of Empires 2: Age of Kings), there’s an optional parameter "NoStartup" that turns that annoying video off. Just add the paramter to the shortcut that launches the game like this:
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Games\Age of Empires II\age2_x1\age2_x1.exe" NoStartup

For a complete list of command line parameters, check this knowledge base from Microsoft.

Our kids had a blast of a weekend, full of birthday parties. We took them to our friend Sandra & Brad’s party for their daughter Emily. Being My Little Pony themed, the kids got to wear cowgirl hats and ride a beautilful pony. Even Allison braved the crowd and took her ride without her parents’ help. Then on Sunday, the kids attended their cousin Malia’s birthday party when they were entertained by a magician.

Suzanne & I had fun just watching them and we also got to hang out with some of our friends. I also got to shoot a lot of pictures. Shooting kids on sugar high constantly running around is always challenging. And tiring… 🙂 But the shutter bug in me had fun nevertheless!

We spend this past labor day weekend houseboating with a bunch of family/friends at New Melones Lake. It was our first time houseboating. We spend the weekend eating, drinking, hot-tubbing, fishing, swimming and jet-skiing. The best part was sleeping under the open sky filled with stars and the beautiful moon. Surprisingly, I didn’t snap many pictures. Guess I was too busy having fun…

One funny incident involved my horrible navigation skill. One the morning, after we picked up the rest of the passengers. When we head out, I figured to hug the shorelines and go straight, figuring it’s a simple matter getting back the marina. Anyhow, we had various different people skippering the boat throughout the day and somehow we circled back and saw the same marina we departed from earlier in the day. Well, silly me. I figured that was a second marina. The next morning, when we head back to pick up the waverunner & refuel, I told Doc’s brother who was skippering the boat that morning to ignore the 1st marina and look for the 2nd marina. Needless to say, we wasted an hour or two wandering aimlessly. We had to stop and ask other boaters about this 2nd phantom marina! Of course, they thought we were out of our mind and told us that there’s only 1 marina on the lake. Normally, I’m pretty good with directions, but boy did I feel silly that morning. 🙂

Here are some of the shots from the trips…

Unless you haven’t been following the tech news of late, the HP board is in chaos. Board member resigning left & right, the chair woman is the latest victim. All stems from the questionable tactics used in investigation of information leaks in management– phone taps, illegal access of private computer records etc… Now, the scandal is drawing the attention of federal prosecutors. The feds are investigating HP.

The feds are investigating illegal wire tapping and invasion of privacy? They care about leaks? Let’s see… Remember George Tenant’s CIA leak? How about the Patriot Act and the bill aiming to allows the feds to wiretap anybody’s phone.

Doesn’t the irony just kills you? 🙂