Category Archives: general

Just regular kinds of stuff that happened (that doesn’t fit in other categories).

I lost most of my Chicago photos :(

Posted on August 10, 2008 | 4 comments

I’ve got a very strict process I follow when copying photos from a camera:

Lock the memory chip (which I always forget to do).

Copy the photos to a computer.

If I copy the photos to another device (CD, DVD, FTP, external hard driver) then I delete the files from the memory chip.

If I can’t copy them, I move them to a folder on the chip “to delete” so that I know there is a copy somewhere but not a great copy yet (and then I don’t confuse old pictures with new).

I was in a hurry I wanted to get that stuff done before the train took off, I figured someone would sit next to me since the train is sold out and I wanted to get all the USB SD adaptor and cameras put away.

The first thing I did was that I moved them to a new folder and then something bad happened. I’m not sure if I tried to drag the new folder to my computer too soon or what but I had to force a reboot and they chip is now goofed. I will be using some recovery software on this. I had just quick reformatted the chip so all the files should be sequential so I’m hopeful.

I took lots of photos and video while testing this new camera out with the bloggers and while running around Chicago. I’m so bummed. I guess I’ve got 5 hours on the train to see if I can find some software to download to fix it. I do have a few photos I took on my other camera, but none of the DaveCago people are on it and neither are any of the night shots I was taking (after a second look, other than out my hotel room window, I really didn’t take any with the other camera).

Any Macintosh software suggestions? I have a Windows machine if you have a Windows only suggestion.

4 Comments

Posted in general

Tagged Aiptek, backup, Chicago, DaveCago, DVD, photos

On the train.

Posted on August 9, 2008 | 3 comments

So the guy at the Amtrak station always makes me feel funny when I stop to pick up my tickets the night before (I’ve already pre-paid them) like I should wait until the next day. But I always think I’ll feel rushed in the morning when I do it. And today I did feel rushed and there wasn’t even a line. I’ll just be getting my tickets in advance next time, it’s just not something I need to have to be concerned about (I’d rather get 5 minutes extra sleep).

They train isn’t too full and I got a seat with power! So that means my laptop is powered and I’m all set for the ride (I can charge my phone as I tether it too).

There are two little girls and a baby in front of me, so I’ve been pretty entertained by them. Although the older ones are already half-asleep

The poor woman behind me wants to go to Hammond (Indiana) but I guess this one doesn’t stop there, the next one does so she’s trying to figure out what to do. I always thought these three trains did the same route all three trips. Now that I’ve checked out the Wolverine Wikipedia entry it still seems like it stops there.

Unfortunately, my return train is already sold out, so that’s gonna be packed. Well, if the last thing I do is roller blade, maybe no one will want to sit next to me :)

Later: This train is starting to fill up.

3 Comments

Posted in general

Tagged amtrak, Chicago, Sold Out, train

I slept over 11 hours…

Posted on August 6, 2008 | Leave a comment

It might have been longer (an hour or more), I just know it wasn’t any shorter than that. While I really needed the sleep. It’s really cut into my to do list for the day.

And once again I lost the lottery and while it was only a meager $45 million, it certainly would have helped with some of those to do list items…

Tiger Stadium (part 2)

Posted on August 2, 2008 | 1 comment

I had posted that comment on Tiger Stadium last night from my mobile right after seeing the building. They had guards posted, Im assuming this is so that people didn’t come by and pick up souvenirs. Seems kind of funny they need to dispose of the building, they’ll pay for disposal but people would probably take a chunk of it away for free.

I do understand there would be insurance issues but it just seems like they could make it an money-making adventure. You’d have to purchase a $25 commemorative hardhat (shaped like a Tiger’s baseball cap) and it’s $50 a pound of whatever you carry out. The building would be gone in days. They could have even stated it before there was rubble (or even keep you at the other end of the lot).

Photo courtesy of Wikipedia.

Later: Someone at lunch just mentioned that they stopped demolition, which explains why the above photo doesn’t look much different than it did last night.

1 Comment

Posted in activities + sports, general

Tagged Detroit, Detroit Tigers, Michigan, Tiger Stadium, Tigers

Best fix for my Convertible Rear Windshield

Posted on July 23, 2008 | 2 comments

So last summer my Sebring convertible roof was peeling from my rear window. I didn’t want to replace the roof (the most common suggestion) so I glued it with some Permatex Black Super Weatherstrip Adhesive for a mere $5. I can’t believe how well this held up throughout the winter and this summer. It doesn’t appear to be peeling at all, I thought I might have to re-glue it a few times a year but it’s holding up great.

I know this is kind of a boring entry but I’m amazed every time I notice how well this has held up…

2 Comments

Posted in general

Tagged 81850, Convertible, Permatex, rear windshield, Sebring, Sebring convertible, Weather, Weatherstrip Adhesive

The Day The Earth Stood Still – The Original

Posted on July 18, 2008 | 1 comment

So I watched the 1951 version of The Day The Earth Stood Still last night and as I said last week it is still an amazing science fiction movie. I made Kelly sit through it so I was hoping it was as good as I remembered, it was (and she seemed to think so too).

The line this movie is the most famous for is

“Klaatu barada nikto”

It’s certainly not as mainstream as “these aren’t the droids you’re looking for”, but…

This was one of the first movie DVDs I ever purchased (maybe the first), it hit a good price on-line so I picked it up (I never bought movies for VHS but that’s about the time when I started for DVDs). I never watched it until now. THe sound was THX remastered and was very clear but the voices just weren’t as loud as the sound effects so if you turned it up to hear the next time the sound effects came on it was blaring. The good part was there wasn’t a lot where people were talking and there were effects.

One of my favorite quotes from the movie was

“I am fearful when I see people substituting fear for reason.”

It was definitely a thinking sci-fi movie…

Instant gratification: You can rent it from Amazon for your TiVo or from iTunes (but it’s only $7.50 to buy it from Amazon).

1 Comment

Posted in reviews

Tagged DVD, fiction, Gort, iTunes, klaatu barada nikto, movies, science, science fiction, The Day The Earth Stood Still, TiVo

Philly Steak and Cheese

Posted on July 14, 2008 | 1 comment

So I’m in some restaurant having the best Philly Steak and Cheese sandwich ever! It”s more of a real steak sandwich than a sliced one. The French Onion Soup was great too, but it was way too hot!

But I have no idea where I am! Some Bistro on Washtenaw Road near Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti. The name doesn”t appear to be written anywhere inside the restaurant…

Nice place. With lots of TVs for the sports crowd, but not really a sports bar. A few pool tables here too. Free WiFi too…

I’ll have to check the sign on the way out for the location and update this later!
Later:
Ahh, it”s just called the “Bistro Bar and Grill”, it does say “Bistro” all over the place in there…

It’s at 4735 Washtenaw and I’m still not sure if it’s Ann Arbor or Ypsilanti but it’s in the area of St Joseph’s hospital.

1 Comment

Posted in food + drink

Tagged Bistro, Philly Steak and Cheese, WiFi