Random Ramblings
This is amazing: 30Mbps access at your house by the end of the year for approximate $35/month.
Verizon Announces FTTP (fiber-to-the-premises) prices.
http://slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=04/07/19/2027219
Though I’ve heard that Version has some of the worst data service, but still, 30 mega bits per second at your house (highest I’ve seen is cable which is supposedly 6 Mbps, though more commonly 3). Insane.
While I like Star Trek, I’m not sure this is a good idea:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2004/07/15/star_trek_flat/
Well, not all of it. Star Trek:The Next Generation is my favorite, but I’m not sure its the best model for interior design choices. I do like the idea of voice activiation though (but it seems to only be the lights which is not that amazing).
An oldie but goodie.
I don’t remember how, but while taking to my younger brother, I was reminded of a great game from…wow 1995 or 1996: SubSpace. I remember playing this on my cousin’s PC (and then my PC once I got one) in college. At the time, it was free and going through beta. It was then released as a full game and cost money. It has again become free (probably awhile ago). The free version is called Continuum.
There’s 3 major types of play:
Fighting, flag collecting and … well soccer.
There’s some interesting mods available that combine or extend these game types, like Hockey instead of soccer. And Dragon Ball Z where you use the “ball” (Dragon ball radar) to find the Dragon Balls (flags) and collect all 7 until the timer runs out, then you get to make a wish to the Eternal Dragon.
This might be one of the first Massively Multiplayer online games (that I can think of). Now adays, there’s usually just 50-100 people on a given server, but I’m sure there were more back in the day. I highly recommend you check it out.
We are planning on going up north (Mackinaw City, Pictured Rocks in Munising, MI) so I thought I’d check and find out if we might be able to see the Northern Lights.
I found a web site: http://www.spacew.com/www/aurora.html that shows up-to-date information on the areas that can likely see activity. Unfortunately, it seems the visibility is VERY far north so we won’t be seeing anything.
There are some cool pictures: http://www.spacew.com/gallery/image001688.html This one is from a city named Christmas in Michigan, which is very close to Munising, but not enough sun (spot?) activity means we didn’t have a chance of seeing anything.
We’ll have to plan another trip when the activity is high becaues I really want to see the Northern Lights.