archshrk

It may look like Tucson got snow last night but closer inspection reveals that, if it was, it was limited to the UMC Hospital. Turns out that what looks like snow is actually Foam from the roof top Heliport Fire Suppression System. Someone activated it last night around 9pm and the foam “runs off” the roof to the street below.

This is especially relevant to me because you see that ramp and stair to the right of the entrance? I did that. Just the stair and ramp part – nothing else. I was brought in at the end of the project’s construction phase to resolve some issues related to a change in parking. Nothing too exciting but sometimes it little things like accessibility that can hold a project up.

On Wednesday, we were over at a friends house and because it was their birthday the next day we all celebrated with some ice cream. Now this was Corbin’s first experience with an ice cream cone so he didn’t even know how to eat it. Julia had to show him and even then he was a little uncertain about how to lick an ice cream cone. Eventually he got into and was enjoying the ice cream like any kid would.

You can see in the video the tentative licking but the ice cream on his face shows that he was making progress. Unfortunately, that excitement you see in the video eventually led to the end of the ice cream as he inadvertently launched the remaining ice cream onto the ground in a fit of gleeful shaking. He didn’t seem too disappointed though. I just told him to focus on eating the cone now. I guess I should have been more specific because he turned the cone upside down to eat the pointy end and the melted ice cream that remained pour out onto the floor just after we had cleaned up the ice cream scoop that he had shaken free.

Note to self: don’t turn of the video too soon or you’ll miss the best parts.

For those of you considering a trip to the Grand Canyon (especially the Grand Canyon Skywalk) you may want to watch this video first.

Aerial Filmworks is working with the Grand Canyon National Park to film the national park using the Cineflex V14HD. This amazing gyro-stabilized aerial system uses an integrated Sony CineAlta HDC1500 camera. The lens is a 42x 9.7mm Fujinon. All footage was recorded 1080/23.98p dual-link 4:4:4 to a Sony SRW1 deck on HDCAM SR tape stock.

For the gamers who frequent my site (especially when at school) I must apologize for the down time earlier today. My wife emailed me to let me know there were some problems with our sites and that I had an email from the hosting company I should read. Here’s what it said:

Recently we have noticed that your web site(s) is consuming a
disproportionate amount of server resources (including memory and/or CPU
time). Because of this, we have had to move your account off of the
shared hosting server to an auxiliary server. We now request that you
consider purchasing a Managed or other Dedicated Server in order to
continue hosting with 1&1 Internet.

The decision to move your account was made by the system administrators
in order to improve the quality of service for the rest of our clients
on the shared server from which you were previously hosted. The
resources consumed by your account threatened the ability of that server
to capably operate as as a shared host, so it was required that your
account be moved in order to mitigate server load. Though we could move
your site back to the original shared hosting server, it is not
recommended. Your account activity has demonstrated that your site
deserves its own server to better suit its performance needs.

Please visit 1and1.com to review the server products we offer. You will
have one (1) month to make a decision and migrate your account over to a
1&1 server or another host provider. You can choose to return your
account back to the shared server, provided that you take steps to
reduce the load generated by your websites. If the account has to be
moved off the shared server system again you will only have the option
of purchasing a dedicated server account to continue hosting with 1&1
Internet.

Please reply to this email promptly. Further questions/comments should
be directed to abuse-team email.

Thank you for your compliance in this matter.

Apparently, the new archive plugin I installed was using over 20% of the resources on the shared server- the entire server. To put it in perspective, shared servers like the one I use can host 1,000 websites or more. That’s entire websites, not just pages.

Found this on They Might Be Giants

This isn’t my area of expertise so I won’t even get into the legitimacy of their “argument” but here’s what the YouTube publisher had to say.

The musicians are wrong: they do need ten dimensions to get rid of the conformal anomaly, as string theory explains, after all. But the song is fun anyway.

The song was included in an episode of the Brave New World – with Brian Greene about string theory.

I don’t need no
Ten dimensions
Ain’t afraid of
Quantum jitter

Of string
Cut the strings
Physics doesn’t demand
Any vibrating band Of string

More on the song “String Theory“

You may have noticed the link over on the right side (under that handsome brute) referring to “other distractions“. Those distractions are simply online games that you can play from this site. Initially I added one or two so I could easy find the games when I wanted to play (and keep my progress) but soon others started playing too. Turns out that a lot of schools block game sites so people found other ways to play their favorite game (including my site). As a result, I’ve added more games over time and usually on request. Unfortunately not all games can be added but I do try.

Now, I mention this because I recently added two new games.

The first is called Siege Master and has a simple premise – lay waste to the enemy castle. You can choose from three weapon types and ten ammo types. You combine angle and power of your shot to hit your target such that the castle walls fall. Kill the targets (while protecting others) and you win the level. Requires strategy (and luck) plus ahas some nice graphics. Great for short games or all nighters.

The second game is Bridgecraft and was added by request. This game is a little more “cute” than the other game but is just as challenging. You need to construct bridges to get the Euwins from one side to the other. Construction is easy enough but using the best design that costs the least and getting it right the first time is the real trick. Like the other game, the levels are short so you can play a couple of quick levels or go for the gold and complete the entire game in one sitting. Either way, you’ll waste time while feeling productive.

A word of caution from someone who knows, don’t let this stuff consume your life. Its very easy to get “caught up” in the game and lose several minutes or hours here when you could and should be doing something more important (like school work or your job). I’m not your mother so I won’t stop you but make sure you use this site (or other ones like it) responsibly. If you do, then you’ll enjoy the games that much more – trust me.

SBC Voices is going to give away some books!

Institutes of the Christian Religion – John Calvin
The Meaning of the Pentateuch – John Sailhamer
The Trellis and the Vine – Colin Marshall and Tony Payne

You have three different ways to get in the contest:

1) List your full name, first and last, in the comment section of $100 BOOK GIVEAWAY! at the SBC Voices website (not here).

2) Tweet this- “RT @matthewsvoboda RT for a chance to win: $100 Book Giveaway http://sbcvoices.com/kicking-off-2010-right-100-book-giveaway/”

3) If you have a blog, write a post telling people about the Giveaway. (it doesnt matter how long the post is as long as it is linked back to sbcvoices.com/kicking-off-2010-right-100-book-giveaway.

Your name will be put in the drawing according to how many of those 3 things you do!

The giveaway will end next Wednesday 1-20!

(To ensure no one tries to enter via my site, comments on my post will be closed)

H.T. Ben of Founder and Perfecter