Our live in maid
Nov 10th
We have a live-in maid. She is short and kinda pudgy. In addition to providing endless entertainment and amusement, she does floors . Well, that’s all she does, actually. She is an iRobot Roomba, affectionately nicknamed the ‘Room-bug’. We love her.
About two years ago I got one for The Wyf for her birthday. Yes, I broke that one cardinal rule of husband-to-wife gift-giving; No appliances! It was a bit selfish on my part–ok a lot selfish. At the time I was the one who did most of the vacuuming (we live in a multi-level home and it was either move the heavy vacuum between levels or just do the vacuuming myself). The wyf did roll her eyes a bit when I got it, assuming that my intentions were mostly geek-lust. While their may have been some (smallish!) truth to that, she totally loves it now. I think I’ve been forgiven. She said it herself [here].
If you don’t have a Roomba, it’s kinda like a cell phone or a DVR–you can’t imagine ever going back.
Watching the Room-bug zip around the room is mesmerizing. We’ve spent quite a bit of time watching her work and seeing if she is going to move around things (she does) or if she will fall down the stairs (only once, but that’s another story). Knowing you don’t have to do the vacuuming is awesome. And, seriously, what’s cooler than having a robot do your floors?
(There are some tricks that make life with a Roomba easier—keep an eye out for my post on that.)
You can get more info about the iRobot Roomba here.
© 2009, The Geek. All rights reserved. Click here for the Disclosure Statement
Is this the Droid you’re looking for?
Nov 9th
So I saw an ad for the Droid phone the other day. It was a little edgy and was of course all about combating the iPhone. It’s a Motorola phone and will feature Google’s Android 2.0 software (1.0 has already failed miserably on its first attempt to be the “iPhone Killer”). The ad goes right after the common complaints with the iPhone (high res camera, night pictures, actual keyboard, customization, open app development, etc.). Interesting to me that the only advertising they have is anti-iPhone.
Apple has provided a target to aim for and now the consumer benefits from the competition.
The battle is on. This should be interesting 
Here is a link to the verizon website with more info on the droid phone.
© 2009, The Geek. All rights reserved. Click here for the Disclosure Statement
Geek iPhone App Review: NASA
Nov 3rd
A true geek would have this app in their arsenal. NASA has created a great iPhone and iPod Touch app that lets you keep track of what’s going on in the real world of space. Finally assurance that your tax dollars are being well-spent (at least on this app anyway ;o)
Click on the iTunes icon to get more info and download to your iPhone of iPod Touch
Cost: Free!
Company: NASA (your tax dollars at work)
- You can select a mission and read background information, get the current mission updates, view mission images and videos.
- From the International Space Station page you can see a real-time view of where the space station currently is.
- Browse the extensive NASA photo and video galleries
- Read the latest NASA updates
UPDATE 12/7/09: The latest NASA iPhone app update allows you to get ISS / Space Shuttle viewings based on your location or and entered address. From in the app select the “International Space Station” or “Space Shuttle” missions and click on the globe icon in the bottom left corner.
This is a fun, educational and entertaining app providing an opportunity for more great stuff from NASA.
Enjoy,
The Geek
© 2009, The Geek. All rights reserved. Click here for the Disclosure Statement
Pumpkin Carving Tips
Oct 31st
1. Find a template online
-There are thousands of free templates out there. Just search in google
-The one in the picture is from: http://www.bandofcats.com/10-free-pumpkin-stencils-for-halloween-cat-lovers/
2. Scale the template.
-Use your printer settings to scale the picture so that it is the right size for the pupkin.
-I had to scale this one for Lady Bug’s pumpkin, which was the small one.
3. Cut out the top
-Cut at an angle
-Cuting a square or a triangle top is eaiser then a circle top
4. Scoop out the innards with an ice cream scoop
-easier than with your hands or a knife
5. Tape the template to the pupmkin
-make sure you pick a side that the pumkin sits correctly for
-you have to do some manipulation for the curve of the pumpkin
6. Outline the template on the pumpkin
-either a small paring knife poking or slicing very lightliy on the outline of the template
-A sewing stitch wheel also workd great
7. Remove template and drill out corners
-Use a cordless drill and drill hole the right size at each end and corner
-I used the drill for the ends of all the wiskers, eyebrows, and nose
-I used the drill like a dremmel for the eyes and nose
8. Cut the rest
-Using an appropirate sized knife cut from drill hole to dril hole along your template outline cuts.
9. Place a candle in the middle and enjoy.
© 2009, The Geek. All rights reserved. Click here for the Disclosure Statement
I Quit!
Oct 27th
Voulentary Layoff Letter and Incorporation letter
In 10 days, I will be unemployed and (more to the heart of the matter) unemployable.
After almost 15 years in the defense industry as an engineer, I am finally following my dream and quitting my job to start my own business.
I have been talking about doing it for years—since college, really. There just never seemed to be a good time to quit a secure job and launch into the unknown of starting my own business. Ten years ago probably would have been a better time, but now is better then 10 years from now. I finally came to the conclusion that there will never be a “good” time to quit, so with a lot of prayer and prodding I have taken the plunge.
There wasn’t any one moment I can point to that finally pushed me over the edge. But in addition to a growing sense of almost physical discomfort that I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to be doing, there were a lot of small moments. Like realizing that my girls were growing up faster then I could have ever imagined, and I was missing it being at work 10 or more hours a day. That I married my wife, not my job, and I sure spent a lot more time at work then I did with her. Realizing as I climbed up the corporate ladder that the more I gave and the sacrifices that I made only ensured that I would be asked to give more and sacrifice more and that the cost to benefit ratio was not turning out in my favor.
My last day of work is Nov 6th. Leaving work is bittersweet. I have a great job (as far as jobs go), with great people doing things that are fulfilling as well as critical to the defense of our country. But I think it is time to serve my country in a different way by being an entrepreneur.
I am very excited and a little nervous too, but I am off and running. I have filed my tax info and incorporated my business and started preparing some of my plans.
I plan to keep updates on my endeavors on my website so keep checking in to get more info if you are interested.
The SDG Group Inc. (Soli Deo Gloria)
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