So a while back I gave up my webcam for Jen to use on her computer. I had bought it way back when we live in the apartment to play around with streaming video and dynamic content for my site. Not to mention it was cool to log into it remotely while away from the apartment, and see what was going on. I've always been a little nuts about security.

Anyways....so amazon.com had a deal on a logitech laptop cam, where after the rebate it only ended up costing like $8.99....so win/win right? I want a new camera, and I need a new one for when I travel for work...that way I can video conference with Jen and Connor.

So there we have it....I got a new cam, and the webcam tab to the right (on the main page) is back again. So far so good....seems like it takes a pretty good picture.

Posted by Dennis Judd at 07:51 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So...umm..Connor's walking pretty much now. Yesterday he launched himself from his play table to the couch, and today he's almost taking a hike from the kitchen to the family room.
Crazy stuff...

Posted by Dennis Judd at 07:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's funny, but yesterday I actually said that to Jen. Thinking back to when I was a kid, being sick meant a day off school, grabbing a comforter, and wrapping yourself up in front of the television all day to rest.

In a world of bills, insurance, doctors, mortgage, and jobs....don't we all wish we could take a day and do nothing? I guess that's what vacations are for really, but I miss the days of being able to dedicate 8 hours to my favorite video game.....

Guess I'll just have to save it all up for when I retire...let's hope my PS2 and Xbox 360 last until then :)

Posted by Dennis Judd at 07:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Gotta type fast, there's a wet baby waiting for me after his mom finishes the bedtime book.

Over the weekend we sold back Timeshift (for the Xbox 360) and picked up Xenosaga III for the PS2. I literally had to blow the dust off my PS2....seriously, I used an air compressor and everything. Even after that I had to take it apart and realign the laser due to DRE (Disk Read Errors). Very annoying, but I must admit that I am enjoying the game immensely.

that being said, I have to comment on one thing. The last time I played my PS2 seriously Connor was just a pup and we were playing Final Fantasy 12. That being said, I have come to appreciate a feature of all the next gen consoles that I never really appreciated before.....wireless controllers. Using the PS2 controller (w/ extension cable) that I have draws Connor like a fly to shit. Lord help you when he gets a hold of it, as that boy has the kung fu grip of a hundred GI joe action figures. I have resorted to tucking the cable over a gate, under couch cushions and around the back of an arm rest, which effectively gives me 4 inches to actually play with.

he's lucky he is cute:

Posted by Dennis Judd at 07:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

This past Monday, all of us went to the hospital for the baby's ultrasound. When we left the technician was nice enough to give us this picture to take home in a jpg format:

While we were there, they couldn't quite tell what the sex is yet....which really left Jen and I wishing we had scheduled the scan later on....like at 24 weeks. See with our insurance (and I'm sure many others) you don't get multiple ultrasounds unless something is wrong. So at this point we're pretty much out of luck for knowing the sex before hand. I don't like surprises, so I'm a little bummed about it.

Today was the follow up doctor visit, and so far everything seems normal. Jen's blood pressure has even gone down, which is great since she's been watching her salt intake and other stuff.

Other than that, there's not a whole lot going on....or should I say there is a whole lot going on. It's kind of like being in a very noisy crowd, with everybody talking around you to the point where it becomes this huge unintelligable pulse of sound. Kind of like the crash of waves against a sea wall. Either way, my point is you don't really realize how busy you are until your not. So to me I don't feel very busy, although I think a reasonable person would think I am.

Speaking of busy, Jen made this video of Connor getting busy with his little bad self...it's waaaay to cute, and might make you vomit fluffy bunnies and rainbows...so you've been warned.

Posted by Dennis Judd at 09:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Way 216 not to die:

An Alabama woman whose body was found last week outside her locked sport utility vehicle at a North Carolina mountain parking lot died of hypothermia after being unable to reach her keys inside, authorities said.

You know, you hear all these crazy stories about people who surived for days in the wild eating rocks and twigs. And then there's this......oh man.

Posted by Dennis Judd at 04:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I try to keep my startup files pretty clean, to make sure I'm getting the most out of my computer really. There's always been one file though, that no matter what I do it always comes back. And that's ctfmon.exe.

So today, I finally figured out how to get rid of it.

control panel > Regional and Language Options > Languages > Click on the Details button and go to Advanced. Once there click on the radio box that says "Turn off advanced text services"

Good freakin' riddance

Posted by Dennis Judd at 09:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

crap.

I wish I was shocked, but these things are cash cows.....I can see people salivating over the estimated numbers that these things will bring in....what things you say?

Red Light Cameras.

From the Daily Herald

Traffic light cameras are up and running in Lake in the Hills, and Algonquin will probably be next. The Algonquin intersections to get cameras are Randall Road and Bunker Hill Drive, Randall and Algonquin roads, and routes 31 and 62.

Instant money makers, especially at those intersections. It's like winning the lottery almost. The only problem is, that despite the claims that red light cameras decrease accidents (side impact) they also generally increase smaller accidents (rear end) due to people slamming on their brakes.

UTI research paper:

The results do not support the conventional wisdom expressed in recent literature and popular press that red light cameras reduce accidents. For example, McGee and Eccles (2003) conclude in their review that, “Most of the various studies and analyses show . . . reductions in angle crashes, with some showing smaller increases in rear-end crashes.” Our findings are more pessimistic, finding no change in angle accidents and large increases in rear-end crashes and many other types of crashes relative to other intersections.

Do I think people should be running red lights? Of course not, don't be stupid. However, I think this is equal to pouring cough syrup on a broken leg....it just doesn't address the real problem. For example, what about increasing the yellow light duration? Or how about having police actually patrol the intersections in question? Anything...I mean anything aside from handing over traffic management to a 3rd party company with a vested self interest in getting as many tickets put through as possible (they operate on commission) and a desk bound cop with a rubber stamp for a signature.

About the only thing missing here is somebody telling me it's for the children and 9/11....so I can vomit in my mouth a little.

Posted by Dennis Judd at 10:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)