July 2008

There were 64 posts published in July 2008 (this is page 2 of 7).

Our outrageous phone bill

We just got our phone bill today – and boy, was it outrageous. It isn’t outrageously expensive, though: its outrageously cheap!

We’ve been charged $20 for our phone service. That’s right: twenty bucks … since May 15th! That’s $20 for ten weeks of service! And its all because we switched our phone service from AT&T to the Voice over IP (VoIP) provider Vitelity. We get two phone numbers, CallerID, and the ability for more than one simultaneous call.

Our base Bellsouth/AT&T bill used to be around $47.00/month. Long distance calling would tack on an extra $20 to that. Thus, our phone bill was often above $60/month.

Put another way, what we used to pay $60 per month for we now get for a jaw-dropping $8 per month! And through the magic that VoIP brings, we’re getting more features now for far, far less!

Voice over IP phone service isn’t rock solid, and it doesn’t always have the highest call quality. To save an extra 52 bucks each month, though, we can live with it!

Gang fight at Triangle Town Center?

So, uh, North Raleigh needs to deal with its gang problem. Three hundred gang members fighting at the normally-quiet (and sometimes dull) Triangle Town Center mall? Whodathunkit?

On the way back from our balloon adventure we passed two police cars screaming north up Capital Boulevard. The fact that multiple agencies were responding made me guess the call was a big one. Still, I never would’ve guessed it was a gang fight at that mall.

I think this incident might open people’s eyes to the fact that no one is immune to the problem of gangs.

Ballooning

We got back from the balloon launches a little after 8 PM. The kids had a great time seeing the launch process. I wish we could’ve stayed for the recovery but bedtimes beckoned.

And mine is beckoning, too. I think I’ll be spending some time tomorrow night writing up these two wonderful events. And there’s yet another weekend day left.

Rodealong

I just got back from my ridealong. Boy, was it exciting! I actually got to witness some Cops-level stuff, not just your routine expired-tags traffic stop. I definitely want to do it again sometime!

More details tomorrow. For now, a snack and bed. Got a balloon to help launch tomorrow, y’know.

Fourth Friday Downtown Jams in Raleigh

I was trying to finish up work here when I noticed the near-constant stream of traffic outside my office window had come to a halt. In its place are a number of tents, tables, and chairs.

Off to New Raleigh for the answer: today is the first of a downtown music event called the Fourth Friday Downtown Jams.

Sez New Raleigh:

If you’re trying to have a post-work week beverage in the street while checking out some early evening music–then definitely step over to Hargett Street on Friday, July 25th. This blues jam block party will be the first in a new monthly Fourth Friday event featuring Jazz, Blues, Reggae, and Afrobeat jams in downtown Raleigh

If I wasn’t playing Barney Fife tonight I might want to go. There doesn’t seem to be any website showing who’s organizing this (Raleigh Times is my guess) and the New Raleigh site is borked at the moment (note to New Raleigh: check out Apache), but take my word for it: this looks like it’ll be fun.

Hot-air ballooning this weekend!

No, I’m not going up in a hot-air balloon this weekend, but I’m going to be there at the launch of two balloons Saturday evening. Local balloonist Jonathan Trappe, famous for his “Chairway to Heaven” flight last month, will be launching his one-man hot air balloon Saturday evening, weather permitting. Jonathan’s ballooning pal will be launching his traditional gondola hot-air balloon at the same time.

This will be my first exposure to hot-air ballooning and I’m really excited about it. If you’ve got no plans Saturday evening, drop a comment here (or email me) and I’ll tell you how to get to our meeting place in North Raleigh. While you won’t get to ride, it should be fun just to watch the launch.

Hmm. Already I’m wondering what it might take to make this a new hobby. Must … resist … new …. hobby …

Walk Away

To paraphrase Bono, this song is f’in brilliant. Absolutely brilliant.
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Walk Away
Franz Ferdinand

I swapped my innocence for pride
Crushed the end within my stride
Said I’m strong now I know that I’m a leaver
I love the sound of you walking away, you walking away
Mascara bleeds a blackened tear, oh
And I am cold, yes, I’m cold
But not as cold as you are
I love the sound of you walking away, you walking away
I love the sound of you walking away, walking away, hey hey

Why don’t you walk away?
Why don’t you walk away?
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Cancer claims Dr. Randy Pausch

Randy Pausch, the Carnagie-Mellon computer scientist with terminal cancer whose “Last Lecture” video lit up the Internet last year, has lost his battle with cancer. He was 47 years old.

His “Last Lecture” video was inspiring, and touching. I remember thinking this healthy-looking, optimistic guy couldn’t possibly be dying, but sadly I was proven wrong. He must have been an amazing professor and a wonderful dad and husband.

Go watch his Last Lecture if you haven’t seen it already, and also see his surprise commencement speech in May. And then go hug your loved ones.

The W Presidential Library

Happy Friday, everyone!!!!!1!!1!!eleven!!one!!!
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The George W Bush Presidential Library is now in the planning stages. The Library will include:

The Hurricane Katrina Room, which is still under construction.

The Alberto Gonzales Room, where you won’t be able to remember anything.
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