Merry Christmas everyone!
And now, for your Christmas entertainment, I’ll share with you an interesting video from Devcon 18 called Pwned By the owner What happens when you steal a hackers computer:
Dec 252010
Dec 232010
The Webserver is Down
This is one of the funniest videos I have seen in a long time. If you are not in a tech field this may not be quite as humorous.
Dec 162010
As many of you may know, we live in a little house on Willow Street in Humble, Texas. It is a quiet street, only a couple of blocks long, and many of the houses on the street have been around in one form or another since the late 1920′s or early 1930′s.
My wife has a kind heart and cannot stand idly by when she sees a starving animal. So she is in the habit of putting out food for the various critters in the neighborhood. Among the many other critters is a handful of cats that cruel and thoughtless people have dumped.
A few nights ago she heard a gunshot somewhere close by. The next day she noticed that one of the regular neighborhood cats was missing.
Today she noticed another cat is missing. It was this one. She had nicknamed it Squeegee.
I am not an overly tender-hearted person. But it hurts me deeply to see my wife upset because one of our dear neighbors thinks it is OK kill the neighborhood animals.
I hope I will be able to track down the identity of the cowardly, gun-toting, low-life who is responsible for these killings.
Dec 072010
We have subscribed to the Houston Chronicle for many years. I have always purchased a yearly subscription. I want you to see what they have been doing to the subscription rates.
| Year | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chronicle Yearly Rate | $102.00 | $102.00 | $186.00 | $186.00 | $186.00 | $186.00 | $192.00 | $264.00 | $288.00 |
| Yearly Percent Increase | 0.00% | 0.00% | 82.35% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 0.00% | 3.23% | 37.50% | 9.09% |
| Cumulative Percent Increase | 0.00% | 0.00% | 82.35% | 82.35% | 82.35% | 82.35% | 85.58% | 123.08% | 132.17% |
| Yearly Percent Inflation | 1.59% | 2.27% | 2.68% | 3.39% | 3.24% | 2.85% | 3.85% | -0.34% | 1.17% |
| Cumulative Percent Inflation | 1.59% | 3.86% | 6.54% | 9.93% | 13.17% | 16.02% | 19.87% | 19.53% | 20.70% |
Notice that the cost of a 1-year subscription has increased a total of 132.17% in the last 8 years, while the total percent inflation increase over the same period has been only 20.70%.
It is my understanding that newspapers receive the bulk of their income from advertisers. It is also my understanding that the better the circulation, the more attractive it is to advertise with that publication. So it would seem natural to me that a newspaper would want to increase the number of subscribers, right?
To the management of the Houston Chronicle: You don’t entice folks to subscribe to your publication by dramatically increasing subscription prices!
Dec 012010
Ernest Clifton Tillman, Jr. age 81, passed away peacefully on December 1, 2010 after a long illness. Ernie was born on February 11, 1929, in Tampa, FL to Ernest and Katherine (Outlaw) Tillman. He grew up in Port Arthur, TX and proudly served in the Marine Corps.
Ernie met his wife, Harriet, while she was teaching in Port Arthur, TX. After their marriage in 1957, they moved to Corpus Christi, TX. He taught math and science in the Corpus Christi Independent School District for more than 25 years at Baker, Ella Barnes and Martin Junior High schools where he touched the lives of countless students.
Ernie was an avid reader, a writer and an inventor. He enjoyed spending time with his children and grandchildren. He had many hobbies including writing thought-provoking letters to the Editor of the Corpus Christi Caller-Times.
He is preceded in death by his parents and his grandson, Kyle Steven Klokker.
Ernie is survived by his wife of 53 years, Harriet Bowen Tillman; his children, Gordon (Michael Ann) Tillman of Humble, TX; Christy (Steve) Klokker of Boerne, TX; Marcus Tillman and Sherilyn (Bobby) Peña all of Corpus Christi, TX. His grandchildren, Jennifer Tillman of Charleston, SC; Gordon Tillman, Jr. of Chattanooga, TN.; Chelsea and Jamie Smith of Austin, TX; Kathryn, Erin and Travis Klokker of Boerne, TX; and Elisa and Ella Peña of Corpus Christi, TX. He is also survived by his sister, Martha (Pierre) Holloway of Naples, FL, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
The family especially thanks Dr. Praderio, Dr.Reese, Dr. Dugi and all the staff at Kenedy Manor Nursing Home and Exclusive Home Health and Hospice for care during his illness.
Visitation will be held on Sunday, December 5, 2010 from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at Cage-Mills Funeral Home, 4901 Everhart Rd. Graveside funeral services will be held Monday, December 6, 2010 at 11 a.m. at Rose Hill Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made in his name to Trinity Lutheran Preschool or the Music Program at Trinity Lutheran Church, 808 Louisiana, Corpus Christi, TX 78404.