Paul's Blaug

How Do You Know When You've Run A Red Light?

2007-08-20T13:16:00.000-07:00

(CBS 11 News) GARLAND Throw out the driver's handbook. There's a new rule in town. When it comes to red light cameras there's a special line that drivers can't cross. Where is it? Here's a hint: it's imaginary.

Investors Miss Again

2007-08-14T14:23:00.000-07:00

Dragons' Den reject celebrates soaring sales of 'worthless' invention

Less than a year ago he stood chastened as the Dragons' Den judges gave him a typically fiery dressing down.

Now inventor Rob Law is having the last laugh after a product rejected as 'worthless' on the BBC television programme for budding entrepreneurs has proved a huge commercial hit.

Bose Suspension

2007-08-09T17:50:00.000-07:00

Check out the end. Really cool.

Badass Van

2007-08-07T16:38:00.000-07:00

The A-Team could have seriously used one of these.

900 Horsepower On NOS - The funniest movie is here. Find it

Welcome to sardine air: Airline introduces triple bunk beds in economy

2007-08-07T09:48:00.000-07:00

I've been wanting this for so long. I hope they do it.

With triple-decker bunk-beds stacked from floor to ceiling, it looks a cross between a school dormitory and the sleeping quarters on a troop ship.

But thrifty fliers take note. German airline Lufthansa is considering introducing just such an economy sleeper cabin on its long-haul flights.

Comedian: Difference Between Iranians and Arabs

2007-07-21T17:25:00.000-07:00

Watch the video here.

I'm having issues embedding it.

Stuck in Denver

2007-07-11T08:24:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, I was on my way to Toronto. I had to connect through Denver on United. Well, my flight out of SJC was over an hour late leaving, but I had a long buffer in Denver so that was ok. I finally get to Denver and the fun begins. My flight to Toronto was canceled. Great! The earliest flight gets in the next day (today) at 3:20 pm so there goes my meeting in Toronto. So I figure, what are you gonna do? I'll get a hotel, chill, do email, and head out tomorrow.

I go to the United get customer service counter to change my flight and get a hotel. I wait about 30 minutes in line. They changed my flight to the next day. I asked them to go ahead and check me in now since there's less than 20 hours left before the flight. "I can't. I don't have a passport scanner here." But this is the customer service counter. "Sorry"

Fine, I need a hotel. "We're all out." Uhhh, I need a place to sleep. "Here's a coupon. Use the phone over there and they may be able to help you." I pick up the phone over there. I need a hotel please. "What city?" Denver. "Sorry, we're out." Well, F u too!

So what now? I call the travel agency for my company. "Sorry, there's absolutely nothing available in Denver. Must be something going on." Grrreat.

I'll call Amex. Got a platinum card. They must be able to do something. I'll make this one short. The very nice lady spends over an hour on the phone with me while she calls I think every hotel and motel around. The best she can find is a Motel 6 across town. Shoot. I pass. Amex still rocks!

I get on Hotwire. There must be some last minute deal. There is! I book this hotel which my friend Zach tells me is in the hood but what the hell. I get there after a 30 min cab ride. The place actually doesn't look too bad. The night is looking good. I go to the desk. I'd like to check in please. "Name?" Big Daddy. "Sorry, nothing here." But I have a confirmation from Hotwire. "Their confirmation doesn't mean anything to us. We've been totally booked for a week. Sorry." F u too lady.

I call Hotwire. "I'm sorry sir, they show they have rooms. They must have not updated their website. Get another hotel and we'll refund you your fees." I don't want a credit. I want a room. "Sorry." Well, F u too while we're at it.

I finally call the Motel 6. Get my nasty room. Pay $50 in cash cause the CC machine is broken. Get my 5 hours of sleep. Take a shower in a shower where there's still a dirty washcloth and hair on the shower curtain and get my cab which is 20 minutes late.

I hate Denver. This city sucks.

Oh sweet. I'm typing this at the terminal. Just heard an announcement. Delayed for maintenance, which is the same bullshit they said in SJC.

United, you suck. You really do.

So on my good list: Continental, Amex, San Jose. Bad list: United, Hotwire, some no name hotel chain, and Denver.

Automatic Paper Towel Dispenser

2007-07-11T08:15:00.000-07:00

You've undoubtedly seen many of these paper towel dispensers. They're all pretty much the same. You walk up to them, wave your hand, wave some more faster, wave some more lower, then get a paper towel. Then repeat to get enough to dry your hands.

I propose that this is a fundamentally flawed design. First, why would someone walk up to a paper towel dispenser if he doesn't want a paper towel? So if you go to it, you want a paper towel. Second, if there was a paper towel already hanging outside the machine, would it go bad after a few minutes? Would it expire? Get cold? Hot? No.

So, why even have a motion detector? Just make sure there's always a piece of paper towel hanging out of the machine. When it's ripped off, replace it right away. Don't make me wave my hand like a monkey and then wait for the paper towel to get dispensed slowly, and then have to repeat. Come on. This is simple. Do any of these people actually think about their products?

Microsoft boots Savvis from data centers

2007-07-09T10:53:00.000-07:00

From The Register:

Microsoft boots Savvis from data centers

Think Microsoft trails Google in the "wow" department by a country mile? You're right.

Google likes to impress with $600m data centers scattered around the heartland. Meanwhile, Microsoft picks up sloppy seconds from companies such as hosting services provider Savvis. Redmond late last month agreed to take over a pair of Savvis's Silicon Valley data centers for $190m in cash and another $10m in previously advanced revenue.

Electric Drag Bike

2007-07-09T10:42:00.000-07:00

The coolest part about this is the sound it makes!

New Blog

2007-07-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

So why the new blog? My old one is on my own server at Rackspace and I'm migrating everything off so I can retire that server. The only things left are my picture album which I'm moving to Picasa and my blog which I'm retiring completely to be replaced with this blog.

Yes, I've become a Google whore. What can I say. They give me a paycheck...and lots of food! :)