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Lawrence Lessig Free Culture.

'cept for the shameless plug for $$$ towards the end, this is a masterful presentation of the issues at hand surrounding DRM. Although a bit dated, it's still relevant today. The presentation must have given to a technology based audience as the references to the open source community are deliberate and welcomed by the crowd. If you have an opinion on digital use rights you owe it to yourself to hear this Macromedia Flash presentation.

Lawrence Lessig's Let Freedom Ring Presentation

'Hammonasset Line' - Lithic Sites

Ever hear about the line of Lithic Sites that leads to the Devils Tomb near Hunter Mountain? Even if your not a believer the mathematics and celestial coincidences are shocking... And the Turtle mounds are just too funny..


http://www.neara.org/PAUL/Hammonasset01.htm

http://www.neara.org/PAUL/Hammonasset02.htm


Thanks Steve!!

Vundo Virus.. PARTICULARLY NASTY

REMOVE VUNDO INSTRUCTIONS

The ZEN of Presentation..

Quintessential view of how delivering a message is more about mastering multiple communication methods than raw data. A talent not native to most IT leaders, (Steve Jobs the obvious exception).

Presentation Zen

Add Samba Shares to OSX.

http://www.macdevcenter.com/pub/a/mac/2003/03/18/samba.html


Handy article!!

9 Essentials to IT Management

Great article, shocking how some of the characterizations are dead on.


http://www.fastcompany.com/magazine/25/geeks.html

SAW

"angry yet apathetic"

"to overcome something you have to understand what makes it a perfect engine"

"the ability to see past anger and fear, can set you apart"

PowerMac G4 DP Mirror Door Superdrive Replacement

After burning 20 or so DVD coasters, buffer underruns, and blank check failures a much balder version of me decided that the issue was looking more and more like it was the DVR-104a that came with the machine and not media, or software. Faced with the loss of being without burn support from all the iLife apps and iTunes I was at a crossroads. Upgrade to a non-Apple drive would mean that I loose all the integrated burn support, (right!) and spending $90 on a refurb'd drive that only burned at 1x was a little crazy. I went down the firmware path and really considered overwriting the Apple firmware but stopped short of that when a trip to a local office supply store sparked what can only be described as devine intervention. While in the store I mentioned the problem I had encountered to one of the techs. Amazingly enough this was a Mac friendly person, who as irony would have it had the same issue with an iMac. His solution was to replace the SuperDrive with a regular Sony CD-RW, DVD. All the iLife apps worked fine he said, since Tiger. Hmm... Could this be true.. Has Apple lightened up on the firmware check now that DVD-R's are more common? Hmm.. After all I have complete support for my Sony 195E CD-RW, and haven't had to play with the the devce-plugin file in over a year. Hmm... since Apple now get's the SuperDrives from many different manufacturers (not just Pioneer) could it be this easy? Well I was going to find out. $79.95 later I had a Sony DRU-810A, an hour after that I'm back in business. Everything works including TOAST!!. As of the writing of this the only thing I haven't tried is the DL (DUAL LAYER) support from Toast. All iApps work like a charm. I've only got 4x media and thus have only burned 4x in a DVD but heck it worked. I will mention that you don't want to try and reformat the old media you had problems with in the old Superdrive. Upon looking at the media it would appear that it was stripped (0's written to all sectors).


Results may vary, take this with a grain of salt and be realistic, not EVERY DRIVE will work. Not responsible for the info in this or any blog on this site.

For GREAT Mac support and consulting see ZuCom Services

Sometimes a list is just a list!!

The September 19 2005 issue of Information Week magazine has the 17th annual 500 Top Innovators in technology. This one managed to get me to open it while I was "in a meeting". I immediately flip to the alphabetical list and look to see where my favorites all landed. A's,....Amgen, Applied Materials, AT&T... WAIT ... Houston we have a problem and we're not even in the B's. NO APPLE COMPUTER? WHAT!! Admitedly my blood flows through Cupertino, but why is Apple not listed as one of the top innovators? . No GOOGLE, or even YAHOO..??

Top 5 reasons why a company wouldn't make the Info Week Magazine top 500 innovators list:

5) If your company is a leader in innovating things like online music and holds a 70% market share in that arena for hardware and songs sold.
4) If your company is the #1 or #2 portal on the planet offering new products every 30 days.
3) If your company is makes it cheaper, better and faster to do ANYTHING!
2) If your company was started in a garage and thumbed it's nose at corporate bean counters, and then proved them wrong.
1) If your company doesn't advertise in Info Week.

THAT WAS SARCASM FOR THOSE USING WEB SPIDERS!!


"average companies never want other companies to go beyond average"???

Unknown

It isn't wrong until someone tells you it's wrong.

John C. Maxwell

"Educators take something simple and make it complicated. Communicators take something complicated and make it simple."

John C. Maxwell

Stupid human things

7/6/06

During a recent plane trip my laptop battery died, and thus I was stuck with the seat pocket reading material and my iPod. In this magazine it explained that the airline offered complementary beverage service on 90% of all flights and alcoholic beverages for $4 each. A little further down the page the following statement was made: "employees of the airline are not allowed to serve alcoholic beverages to anyone who appears to be intoxicated." Now I've never been in the situation where this would actually be applied, but how ridiculous is this statement?

Will they serve people as long as they don't "look" intoxicated?
What behavior constitutes the look of being intoxicated? (this may seem silly but think about it.. ever met someone who drank all the time and never had a superdrunk cape?)
If they stop appearing intoxicated, will you serve them again?
If you serve people alcoholic beverages till they are intoxicated should the employee stop serving everyone?

Only one thing beats this...the restaurant I just ate in. They had a sign on the menu "18% tax and gratuity included" 2 inches away from "gratuity not included" I'm just glad I didn't appear to be gratuitous... ;-)

Probably not something I will BLOG again but really how stupid are humans sometimes..

Rate your beer

Another site that "just gets it"

http://www.ratebeer.com/

Dear Mr. Jobs

June 29, 2005

Steven Jobs (CEO)
Apple Computer
1 Infinite Loop
Cupertino, CA 95014

Dear Mr. Jobs

re: Steve Jobs Personal Reference

Over the past 20 (yes TWENTY) years of our "partnership" I have personally gained much from our "partnership", as I'm sure you have, and look forward to continuing the journey. The loyalty that each of us has shown is indeed commendable and worthy of recognition.

Recently, I was asked to provide personal references. Many of the people who agreed to participate asked "how do you want me to approach it?". I decided to give them all the same answer "..like you were giving a reference on Steve Jobs". For most of my fellow macheads this answer provided motivation and a familiar point of reference for them to respond from.

As the responses came in it dawned on me that I never actually asked Steve for a reference. After all, I have been working with Steve for over 20 years. Twenty years of loyalty and hard work, what better to refer to when looking over a career.

So Steve, as a fellow 20 year member of the Apple Computer / Next / Pixar / Apple Computer community and "partner" in all your ventures can I count on you for a positive reference?

Robert Zullo

P.S. I promise you can approach it like you were giving a reference to yourself...
;-)

MakeZine.com:

MakeZine.com:

This magazine just get's it. The niche isn't a niche it's mainstream geek stuff. I wish it was published more than quarterly.


Current Issue Link

ZuCom Services

ZuCom Services

Medicaid Planning in Florida (Vero Beach)

Check this site out Safeguard Agencies


_______________________________
Comments and Success Stories
_______________________________

Patrick Delessio CSA, CEPS
Safeguard Agencies
40th Avenue Professional Center
2050 40th Avenue
Suite #9
Vero Beach, Florida 32960
PH: 772-978-0800
Fax: 772-978-1720
Toll: Free 1-888-875-4466
_______________________________

Patrick-It was good to ... learn that our collective efforts of the past several months have been rewarded. To say that you have been a tower of strength in providing the professional guidance needed through our lengthy bureaucratic journey is the understatement of the year. The courtesy, kindness and concern you have shown to me, Pam and Lawrence over these months has been over and above the call. Certainly no one could have exceeded your patience, professional knowledge and follow-through. The Mahoney family is indeed indebted to you. Best regards.
Frank Mahoney.
Vero Beach, Florida
Thank you for all you have for us in dealing with my Dad’s finances. You not only advised us on the direction to take, but also gave us more than one option. When it came time to apply for additional funding, you were there for us, too.
You are always available, responsive and diligent in your work. We actually felt like we must be your only clients! Thank you for putting forth 110% effort in all you have done. It is comforting to know someone with the knowledge you have cares individually for us, your client.
Thanks again,
G&P

My mother-in-law had reached the point where she was unable to care for herself at home and was in failing health. She ended up in the hospital. Since my husband was the only child, the responsibility rested solely on our shoulders to help her. The doctor approved her being transferred to the local nursing home. She had very little funds, so we had to apply for Medicaid immediately to pay for her care.
Patrick DeLessio was a tremendous help in walking us through the requirements and explaining the different forms that were necessary to file for Medicaid. In a very stressful time, it was comforting to be able to lean on someone who was so knowledgeable to help answer our questions and guide us in the right direction. I would highly recommend Patrick DeLessio in assisting anyone in the different aspects of the Medicaid system.
Janis Wallace - Ghent, NY

…my husband was 18 years my senior, so when it became necessary to put him in a nursing home, it was imperative that my income be safeguarded for my life expectancy of 20 or more years……..you aided me in guaranteeing my income remain stable and safely invested. Thank you Patrick. ….
M.J.F. - Vero Beach , FL

I was instrumental in introducing Patrick to a resident at the Courtyards of Vero Beach. The resident,( I’ll refer to him as “John”) had too much money to qualify for financial assistance from Medicaid, but too small of an amount to make up for the arrears of partial monthly rent payments that had accumulated due to expected payments from the Veterans Administration that never came about. Faced with eviction John has applied for assistance from Medicaid only to be denied because of his assets that were too small to pay the back rent but too great to qualify for assistance. Patrick acted as John’s Designated Representative, aided him in setting up a burial fund, settled with the ALF for back rent and presented John’s case to DCF (Medicaid) in a coherent way so that John, with no where else to go, would have a roof over his head, personal and medical care, companionship, and regular cooked meals for the remainder of his life……….Thank you. ……
J.A.N. - Vero Beach, FL

When we were faced with the fact that my mother needed to be in a Nursing Home, panic set in. How are we going to pay for this? How long will the savings last? Then what do we do? We were very lucky to find Patrick. He guided us through the Medicaid mess and explained our options. We were able to have mom qualify Medicaid and dad doesn't have to lose everything they have worked their whole lives for!
Thank you Patrick!
PJD- Foxboro, MA, LJM- New York, NY, FXM-Vero Beach, FL

Once Upon a Tiger

ONCE UPON A TIGER

04/30/2005

Yesterday I made it my mission to travel to my local Apple Store in upstate New York to purchase the new 10.4 OS. I will admit that the last OS (for any platform) that I had to actually purchase (outside of something that came with hardware) was System 7. That along with the ability to determine the connection rate of a modem by listening to the carrier tones makes me and "O.G." (Original Geek or Old Geek you choose).

Upon arriving at the Apple Store in Crossgates Mall I found a scene that could have come straight out of a glam band's highlight reel. Hundreds of teens and 20 somethings waiting in line for the Apple store to open for it's 6pm launch. Being less than that emotional anymore I decided I'd let the teeny bopers kill each other over getting in first and headed upstairs to get something to eat and wait till the frenzy was over.

Belled up to the bar I ordered my usual and the bartender asked "so what are you killing time for...... a Movie or a Date?". I replied "neither of those...you wouldn't believe me if I told you". She replied, "your hear for that Apple Store stuff aren't you?". Amazed I said " yeah how'd you know?", she answered "... so is the rest of the bar..." as she motioned down the bar. Without a hitch, everyone introduced themselves. Windows administrators, Unix nerds, Band members you name it and they had it covered. The conversation got right into what we were all there for and began to take the shape of a Slashdot forum.

After finishing a few pints I headed off to make my purchase. I got on line and was soon boxed in by a musician and an artist. Both there to make the same purchase but for wildly different reasons. The conversation took us down the usual path of Windows comparisons, artistic preferences, etc. and soon it was our time to go in.

As I stood on line I began to compare this experience to the System 7 purchase. The System 7 purchase was made at a local Apple Dealer (pre, CompUSA and Apple Store for you newbies). The dealer sat between a jeweler and a dry cleaner in Latham, NY. With a store no bigger than a small storage shed. Back then all "sales people" made commission on their sales. When you entered the store back then you were attacked by personnell looking to make a buck. The only way to get rid of them back then was to ask a technical question about a piece of hardware or purchase something. There was nothing to browse in the store, no give aways, and probably no one else even in the store other than sales folks and myself. The hardware demo table was right next to the checkout, (really no different than the setup at the Apple Stores, just much smaller) and Apple Credit signs were on everything. I can remember how genuine everyone was, honest and helpfull. With a total community of probably 100 - 150 Apple II / Mac users in the area and only BBS's (no internet) we all made friends where ever we could.

As I approached the register back at the Apple Store, an associate mentioned that they had just sold their third "u-boat". And wheeled off this cart (the "u-boat" I guess) that held approx 100 copies of Tiger. I quickly asked if they were sold out and was re-assured that they "had plenty". Sure enough another "u-boat" came wheeling out of the back room and we were back in business. A swipe of the credit card and I was on my way. As I left the store an associate handed me a scratch off card which revealed that I had won a free iTunes song.

I sauntered through the Mall, looking at dozens of Apple bags, each with an owner unique as the experience. Oh what a long strange trip it has been.

Z