Carputer

Here's a few pics of my latest project--Carputer!

It's a Coby Kryos installed in my 5.0 Mustang.

Here's a view from the driver's seat:

A view from the passenger's seat:

Here's a screen shot of the home screen:

Here's a screen shot of the samba screen:

Happy 24th Anniversary

Jawbitch and I celebrated our 24th wedding anniversary with the kids at Teller's - An American Chophouse.

G-man (standing up in the middle of the crowded restaurant on Friday evening): They say that what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas, but there are exceptions. 24 years ago, I ran away with this girl and got married in the Little Chapel of the West, and I'm still craaaazzzzyyyy about her. So, I propose a toast: To love and future, may you all have plenty of both.

Everybody clapped.

AP public sector unions - a civil right?

What about all citizens' civil right to keep their money from being taxed instead of giving it to public sector employees' grossly inflated pensions and medical care?

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hWVTLq_J6-wOk4LmUmb8xEvi4ZXA?docId=ec23f0df64c04adf8ebb4885626dedc2

Judge Vinson's Stay

By the media spouting off, see, e.g., here, one would think Obama's legal team won a huge victory with Judge Vinson's stay of his own order (putting aside the fact that it is only for a week). But then you read the actual decision:

So to “clarify” my order and judgment: The individual mandate was declared unconstitutional. Because that “essential” provision was unseverable from the rest of the Act, the entire legislation was void. This declaratory judgment was expected to be treated as the “practical” and “functional equivalent of an injunction” with respect to the parties to the litigation. This expectation was based on the “longstanding presumption” that the defendants themselves identified and agreed to be bound by, which provides that a declaratory judgment against federal officials is a de facto injunction. To the extent that the defendants were unable (or believed that they were unable) to comply, it was expected that they would immediately seek a stay of the ruling, and at that point in time present their arguments for why such a stay is necessary, which is the usual and standard procedure. It was not expected that they would effectively ignore the order and declaratory judgment for two and one-half weeks, continue to implement the Act, and only then file a belated motion to “clarify.” ...

The defendants have suggested, for example, that my order and judgment could not have been intended to have the full force of an injunction because, if I had so intended, I would have been “required to apply the familiar four-factor test” to determine if injunctive relief was appropriate. …

I did not undertake this four-factor analysis for a simple reason: it was not necessary. Even though the defendants had technically disputed that the plaintiffs could satisfy those four factors, the defendants had acknowledged in their summary judgment opposition brief that, if I were to find for the plaintiffs, separate injunctive relief would be superfluous and unnecessary. The defendants expressly assured the court that, in light of the “long-standing presumption that a declaratory judgment provides adequate relief as against an executive officer, as it will not be presumed that that officer will ignore the judgment of the Court,” any declaratory judgment in the plaintiffs’ favor “would [ ] be adequate to vindicate [the plaintiffs’] claims.” Defendants’ Memorandum in Opposition to Plaintiffs’ Motion for summary Judgment (doc. 137), at 43. Consequently, there was no need to discuss and apply the four-factor test to determine if injunctive relief was appropriate because the defendants had confirmed that they would “not . . . ignore the judgment of the Court” and that my “declaratory judgment would [ ] be adequate.” In other words, the defendants are now claiming that it is somehow confusing that I bypassed the four-factor test and applied the “long-standing presumption” that they themselves had identified and specifically insisted that they would honor."

G-man

Squeezing Oliver The Cat

This has to be one of the sickest, and funniest videos i've ever published. Please note that the cat is alright--he, in fact, feels quite relieved after this procedure.

FiOS Customer Service

Chat Subject: FiOS Television (DVR)

Your Question: I can't program my DVR to record a show from the Web. I get error message: BAD GATEWAY

A Verizon Service Representative will be with you shortly. Thank you.(13:22:31)

Agent Sudheer has joined. (13:22:52)

Sudheer : Chat ID for this session is 11191089688. (13:22:52)

Sudheer(13:23:01): Thank you for visiting the Verizon FIOS technical chat support. My name is Sudheer. We thank you for your patience in reaching us.

G-Man(13:23:23): How's the weather in Mumbai Sudheer?

Sudheer(13:24:18): The weather here is Awesome Sir. However I am not in Mumbai, I am in the south eastern part of India.

Sudheer(13:24:23): Thank you for asking.

Sudheer(13:24:33): Are you from the state NY?

G-Man(13:24:56): Yes, I'm in Manhattan. I visited Madras once many years ago.

Sudheer(13:25:46): Great to hear that.

G-Man(13:27:09): It's getting cold here. About 9 C now

Sudheer(13:27:29): Wow

Sudheer(13:27:34): I would have been glad to continue the conversation with you however I will not be to. I would be glad to help. However, for your respective state my access to your records remain restricted. So, let me connect you to one of my colleagues from another technical team who will help you at the earliest.

G-Man(13:27:48): ok, nice chatting

Sudheer(13:28:08): Same here.

Sudheer(13:28:14): Thank you for choosing Verizon and you have a great day.

G-Man(13:28:19): u2

Allen(14:30:29): Thank you for using Live Chat technical support, my name is Roger. I apologize for any delays in reaching an agent. I am also working with multiple systems at the same time, so please be patient if it takes a few moments for me to respond. One moment please.

Allen(14:30:59): For security purposes, can you provide your street address; including city and state, and a phone number you can be reached at right now on the account please?

G-Man(14:32:02):

Allen(14:32:58): Thanks, I will send you an email along with other valuable information about your FiOS service. Please check outwww.verizon.com/connect and download the new Verizon In-Home Agent advertised to your right when it is convenient for you.

Allen(14:36:33): so can you log into fiostv central?

G-Man(14:36:45): Yes, of course

Allen(14:38:03): okay I need to escalate this to another department. I am getting: User Id/Name not found in 'FiOS TV Central' database.

G-Man(14:38:03): For example, the URLhttps://www36.verizon.com/fiostv/web/members/Recordings.aspx reports back "Set-Top Box - 0000307662692221 is not responding." And URLhttps://www36.verizon.com/fiostv/web/members/Schedules.aspx reports back "Bad Gateway"

G-Man(14:39:21): Yeah, something's really borked.

Allen(14:42:51): what's the best number to reach you

G-Man(14:43:24):

Allen(14:45:49): NYEGXYZ is ticket number, someone will call you once issue is resolved. it may take up to 48 hours.

Allen(14:45:54): Great! I will be sending an email that you can use as an extra resource to resolve any issues you may have with FiOS services in the future, in addition to using the In-Home Agent.

Allen(14:45:59): Please remember to visit www.verizon.com/connect and download our new FIOS support tool the In Home Agent, it will assist you solve most questions regarding your service. Simply follow the prompts to download and install.

Allen(14:45:59): You may receive a survey regarding this chat, based on your experience with me today I hope you can rate us a 10. Thank you for choosing Verizon. If you have any other questions, feel free to access live chat again, available daily 8am - 9p, CST or call us 24/7 at 1-888-553-1555.

G-Man(14:47:33): Well, by that time, the show will be over.

G-Man(14:48:26): It will be quicker for me to return to the premises and program the DVR directly, but thanks for your support.

Gillian's Island

The SplendOrDeal at Sea