tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-95103022011-09-17T14:05:36.961-04:00A technology-science-history-theatre-car guy-engineer-nerd who bothers to post when he remembers. He has opinions to share but doesn't really care if anyone's listening.Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.comBlogger4291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-78658757929309714732011-06-02T22:06:00.000-04:002011-06-02T22:07:20.108-04:00

From the ToS for FiOS internet:"You agree that Verizon assumes no responsibility for the accuracy, integrity, quality completeness, usefulness or value of any Content, advice or opinions contained in any emails, message boards, chat rooms or community services, Verizon Web Sites or in any other public services or social networks, and that Verizon does not endorse any advice or opinion

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-59573083725067592832011-02-06T13:35:00.002-05:002011-02-06T13:39:08.584-05:00

Lets see if this gets their attention. I dropped the H-bomb and I-theft bomb."6-February-2011To whom it may concern, Please remove my address (-----St APT ----, Quakertown PA 18951) and person from your marketing database. Due to the behavior explained in the attached CoC (Comptroller of Currency) complaint (Case# 01450312) I do not wish to receive any more offers for any type of financial

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-16551963946661293722011-02-06T13:06:00.004-05:002011-02-06T13:11:04.801-05:00

Pro tip:The regulatory landscape is terribly complex. Apparently you contact the FDIC, Federal reserve or Comptroller of Currency depending on how big the bank/financial institution is.This website searches http://www.ffiec.gov/consumercenter/default.aspx lets you search and directs you to the appropriate agency to file your complaint.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-18653536761659885842011-01-31T19:19:00.003-05:002011-01-31T19:25:04.724-05:00

And I never even opened an account:"Please describe the nature of your complaint or inquiry:For several months I have been receiving the Citi statement of one Sxxxx Axxx Sxxxxx mailed to my address in Quakertown PA. I have lived at this address for 2.5 years and have not been receiving this statement the whole time. I have called Citi bank two times previous to the most recent call, today,

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-52534274337234133672011-01-13T19:35:00.004-05:002011-01-13T19:45:46.038-05:00

"Better Business Bureau: I have reviewed the response made by the business in reference to complaint ID XXXXXXX, and have determined that this does not resolve my complaint. For your reference, details of the offer I reviewed appear below. I am still disappointed that my name has been entered into the RedPlum system. I filed this complaint out of refusal to be listed in their database when I

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-90280858546799202872010-12-20T18:45:00.003-05:002010-12-20T18:49:45.699-05:00

Why'd it take me over two years? Because I think this junk mail has caused me to miss electricity bills (the latest tacking on $16 in late fees) and I'm not really OK with that anymore.Submitted to the BBB:Business Information Business ID: 0141-0071004691 Name: Valassis Sales & Marketing Services, Inc Address: 20 Summit Park Drive City: Pittsburgh State/County: PA Zip

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-44270051450809894552010-10-25T23:06:00.003-04:002010-10-25T23:13:37.135-04:00

I've been following with some excitement the launch of the Chevy Volt and have been reading eagerly any and all "first drive" type reports. Unfortunately, the automotive media, much like all the rest, seems intent in finding controversy in everything. Apparently at some point during the initial Volt media campaign, it was "promised" that there would be no mechanical linkage between the gasoline '

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-27147535826378634862010-05-16T11:34:00.001-04:002010-05-16T11:36:19.184-04:00

Just included in my monthly Verizon bill payment. Let's see if they respond."16-May-2010Dear Verizon, Let's just get this out there: I don't like you one bit. You probably have the slightest bit of interest in me, because you've managed to fleece me out of $17 per month for solely providing me a dial tone. I personally find that utterly ridiculous. The only reason I have your land line service in

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-34613354161128817432010-01-11T20:12:00.002-05:002010-01-11T20:14:58.280-05:00

Just submitted to the BBB. Thake that, Verizon.Explanation:"I do not want to purchase this service from Verizon. However, due to their monopolistic practices, I have no other options for land line service at my apartment. I only purchase this land line service so I can purchase DSL service from a third-party provider (DSL Extreme out of Salt Lake City UT, who have provided nothing but excellent

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-5670926915792740992009-12-08T18:10:00.001-05:002009-12-08T18:12:58.828-05:00

Just sent to the First Bank of Perkasie CTO:"Today at starting at approximately 11:30am three messages were left from Visa Fraud services on my phone number, XXX-XXX-XXXX.All were again in reference to "Sxxxxx" or "Sxxxxxx" "Lxxxxx" about a Visa ending in XXXX.Please, please, please, for the sake of your paying customer, take care of this.Surely you must have some way to contact either Visa or

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-54650044141592892522009-11-08T11:14:00.009-05:002009-11-08T12:06:08.416-05:00

I ended up calling them right after this bill arrived, trying to get some answers. I wanted to verify that I had the absolute barest-bones plans (I do) and that there's nothing I can do about the "Verizon Long Distance Shortfall" charge aka making my "free" $0.00/month Long distance plan, which can not be removed from my service, actually cost $5/month.After that phone conversation (for what it's

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-69322026905320312009-10-19T18:14:00.003-04:002009-10-19T18:20:34.385-04:00

...and I call in the Feds.Again, this mostly offends me that companies are seemingly doing nothing to take care of their paying customers. Submitted to the Federal Reserve Consumer Complaint department: "Over the past several months, I have received numerous calls from Visa Fraud Prevention about fraudulent charges Visa card in the name of Stephen L***** (spelling unknown) ending in XXXX, at my

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-19721909972481536962009-09-12T20:32:00.002-04:002009-09-12T20:41:21.935-04:00

The following was submitted to the First Savings Bank of Perkasie (PA)"For the last several days, I've received over a dozen calls from Visa Fraud Prevention about one of your customers, I think a Sxxxxx Lxxxxxx, at my listed phone number regarding fraudulent charges. This robo call gives me no option to tell them they have the wrong number. I called and left a voicemail this Friday evening in

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-52157196562522062852009-08-29T10:27:00.003-04:002009-08-29T10:46:08.554-04:00

So, I'm basically fed up with Verizon. When I moved into my apartment over a year ago, I knew I wasn't going to get bundled Phone/Internet/TV from Comcast, and FiOS was not yet available at my apartment complex so that was not a consideration. I signed up for the barest-bones Verizon home phone line I could set up, which still somehow amounts to over $20/mo basically for a dial tone and the

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-3921459834345616392009-08-24T19:33:00.003-04:002009-08-24T20:03:57.762-04:00

So I've had my land-line phone number since the end of May, 2008. This is, last I checked, at least one year ago. Practically ever since I moved in, I've been getting various phone calls for the people who were, presumably, the last people to have this phone number. I've informed their bank and various friends and relatives of these people. I've even changed my answering machine greeting to

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-65148500547109196972009-08-23T18:56:00.003-04:002009-08-23T19:05:29.301-04:00

They can't do math ($199.99+$17+$31 = $247.99, which is what they refunded), but they did respond more than adequately. For what it's worth, while I wish I wasn't prompted to do things like contact the BBB or my state senator, I have been remarkably pleased with the promptness and effectiveness of the responses. "MESSAGE FROM BUSINESS:To Whom It May Concern,We would like to apologize for the

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-25479846991866218322009-08-07T23:06:00.001-04:002009-08-07T23:07:55.492-04:00

"On July 16 I ordered a refurbished Xbox 360 from Geeks.com for $200, roughly half the standard retail price. It arrived roughly a week later and immediately upon set up it was clear the console itself or the power supply was faulty as evidenced by the 'Red Ring of Death' (RROD, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_ring_of_death) a widely recognized failure mode of Xbox 360's. I contacted customer

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-42427495230672889882009-05-12T18:18:00.001-04:002009-05-12T18:20:12.957-04:00

"In the last 24 hours you were compared by your friends 3 times. They assigned you these wins: 'who is more fashionable', 'who is more punctual', 'who is more tech-savvy'."The second and third seem plausible...but most fashionable? F'srs?

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-86971419868751967972009-04-20T20:20:00.003-04:002009-04-20T20:26:51.432-04:00

I just got my 401k statement. FAIL. Who thought saving for retirement in the stock market was a good idea again?

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-31569221047792898542009-03-01T11:19:00.002-05:002009-03-01T11:23:03.268-05:00

If you describe it...Geeks will build it?

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-58085390760641082612009-02-16T19:26:00.002-05:002009-02-16T19:36:13.969-05:00

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-82835445438492715052008-06-04T20:02:00.000-04:002008-06-04T20:10:52.301-04:00

Says the (college) roommate: "you lead the most interesting life" after I expressed my excitement in finding tax deductions/exemptions, following a day of evaluating personal finances.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-62885845202050403592008-06-02T13:52:00.004-04:002008-06-02T13:58:50.887-04:00

Dear Senator Clinton,Seriously, Hillary, it's overNot that I'm calling you fat, Hillary, but simply making reference to the old saying. You ran a competitive campaign, and obviously there are plenty of voters who like you as a candidate. But you are in no way entitled to being the nominee because you were the First Lady for 8 years or 7 years as a senator. You've been arguing that basically,

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-69373908871348082852008-05-21T15:52:00.001-04:002008-05-21T15:54:07.570-04:00

So since Sunday (today is Wednesday) I've:Received a college diplomaSigned for an apartmentSigned (tentatively) for a car. (I still need to wait for the loan approval and the filling out of various paperwork, tonight)

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-69963649104996704162008-04-30T19:22:00.009-04:002008-05-10T03:21:55.211-04:00

24-441 Engineering Design IITODO:Finish Prototype CNC Back Plate FDM KnobAssembleFinish ElectronicsFinal Report24-778 Mechatronic DesignTODO:Finish RobotRe-cut X-Axis motor plate Assemble X-Axis mount assemblyRe-cut Y-Axis motor platesControl CodeFinal Report/Website27-367 Selection & Performance of MaterialsTODO: DoneFinal Report33-104 Experimental Physics70-364 Business Law79-211 Disasters!TODO

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-543182891596660022008-04-16T10:38:00.000-04:002008-04-16T10:38:02.723-04:00

Al Gore to Keynote - Carnegie Mellon University

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-87891968637072671782008-04-14T20:24:00.000-04:002008-04-14T20:24:35.868-04:00

Injecting a neurotoxin into your face really isn't a good idea, especially if it's just to temporarily get rid of some wrinkles?Golly...wouldn't have expected that one.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-67402560705758250262008-04-10T00:41:00.001-04:002008-04-10T00:43:59.755-04:00

Schrodinger improves accuracyWhat always impresses me about some of these is the somewhat obscure science or literary references they make. Maybe lots of people don't find those ones funny, but I find the hilarious!----------------Now playing: Men Without Hats - The Safety Dance

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-25135339547761943822008-03-30T00:01:00.003-04:002008-03-30T00:05:30.484-04:00

My sentiments exactly. As a physics professor once told me "Life's too short to drink cheap bee-...party beverages"

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-89572031942776381942008-03-13T16:26:00.003-04:002008-03-13T17:12:29.453-04:00

Years in office prior to assuming the US Presidency has no real bearing on presidential performance and historical rankings:These seven presidents are consistently ranked in the 'better' half of all US Presidents. They have as little as 2 years of political office and as many as 14. Washington's 8 years as Commander-in-Chief debatably does not apply since it was not an elected, political office.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-84323669867292438072008-03-05T00:40:00.001-05:002008-03-05T00:41:06.609-05:00

Surely, effective scanning of commercial cargo entering the US has a direct impact on national security, right? And not some war with some country that was not involved with attacks on the US and has ended up tripling or so oil prices?What's ~$2bn for securing our ports against a possible nuclear/dirty bomb attack when we've already spent upwards of $500bn on Iraq/Afghanistan?

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-60423751116476196732008-03-03T21:34:00.001-05:002008-03-03T21:43:45.398-05:00

A Meditation On ValueandMonster Cable: As good as a coat-hanger!That is all.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-58745809953224648342008-02-12T20:40:00.000-05:002008-02-12T20:43:22.945-05:00

Senate caves, votes to give telecoms retroactive immunitySo...Congress decides to basically rubber-stamp legislation the president asks for...but holds congressional hearings about whether certain baseball players used performance enhancing drugs? I've been looking, but I can't quite seem to find where it says regulating professional sports is their responsibility...

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-70624683773255800282008-02-10T13:31:00.000-05:002008-02-10T13:32:04.240-05:00

Exhibit A: Homies World. These are sold in rest-stop vending machines, and apparently are quite the collectible, depending on who you ask. You too can collect them all including 'Baby Mama', 'Bouncy' (at least they don't beat about the bush as to why she has that nickname), 'Conejo' (the ugly, horny guy who talks to rabbits), the Native American girl who has visions, the girl that sleeps around

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-50356861978168089502008-02-06T22:44:00.000-05:002008-02-06T22:47:51.941-05:00

So for my Mechanical Engineering capstone design course (24-441 Engineering Design), my group is collecting market research to help us decide what to make and what features are in the greatest demand. It would be fantastically helpful if someone other than our parents filled out the survey. Click Here to take survey

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-85457695646710164002008-02-03T21:00:00.000-05:002008-02-03T21:23:27.457-05:00

...and we've come to a conclusion: Bush is a terrible Republican. $3,000,000,000,000 budgets? Who's the party of 'small government' again?I can understand the general concept of fighting to preserve America for "the children," but, I hate to break it to you, but "the kids" aren't going to appreciate a towering, festering pile of debt, either, especially if all their civil liberties are gone too.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-16599560359435011882008-02-02T19:32:00.000-05:002008-02-02T19:32:33.463-05:00

Post Super-Tuesday (and certainly by the time the Democrats and Republicans have selected their nominees), we'll see a race between Barack Obama and Jogn McCain.Jon Stewart called such a race as a real "tonic for America" and I'd have to agree. Such a race might actually be more about issues than ideology (gasp!). Seriously, watch both of them speak at Google, very interesting (you know you have

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-27082897181103639152008-01-31T14:41:00.000-05:002008-01-31T14:48:52.549-05:00

click here to learn morePreviously discussed hereAs additional points of comparison: The Big Dig, arguably one of the biggest public-works boondoggles ever cost ~$14.6bn as of 2006, and that was over a 24 year period (in 2006 dollars, starting in 1982). The cost of a manned mission to Mars is in the $150-400bn range. Keep in mind that 40 years ago we got a dozen men onto the Moon for "

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-32482089512004202772008-01-30T16:14:00.000-05:002008-01-30T16:15:22.357-05:00

"To my mind, engineering is a high art, and it brings tears to my eyes to see it so disrespected at times by the marketing and legal departments of corporations"--Jamie HynemanAmen to that!

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-924556098731301152008-01-27T11:51:00.000-05:002008-01-27T11:57:20.190-05:00

"The liberties of our country, the freedom of our civil Constitution, are worth defending at all hazards; and it is our duty to defend them against all attacks. We have received them as a fair inheritance from our worthy ancestors: they purchased them for us with toil and danger and expense of treasure and blood, and transmitted them to us with care and diligence. It will bring an everlasting

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-73369160068535586452007-12-05T13:46:00.000-05:002007-12-05T13:46:52.744-05:00

Vista pirated half as much as XP, Microsoft rejoicesI'd argue that A) No one really wants Vista (Has there been any other time in the history of operating systems where the old and the new were offered side by side as alternates?)B) People are getting better at circumventing Windows Genuine Advantage (WGA) authentication, and I'm going to assume that computers failing that validation are the

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-32771575783936565172007-12-05T12:32:00.000-05:002007-12-05T12:40:55.519-05:00

Slashdot | How To Beat Congress's Ban Of Humans On MarsSo...does congress want to crush the hopes and dreams of aspiring American scientists and engineers? Aren't we like, supposedly falling behind, with regards to technological development, compared to the rest of the world? Shouldn't Congress be concerned about that?The 1950s-1970's space race did amazing things both directly in terms of

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-41833515410026867292007-11-26T20:29:00.000-05:002007-11-26T20:29:01.951-05:00

How to Get the Geek Vote: "What's ailing America? Not enough H1-B visas!"So...that'll get you the technology company upper management on your side. And people in China, India etc. Among the geeks eligible to vote in the US, I think there would be a distinct concern about competition from people coming in on H1-B's. In the college application process, there certainly is some resentment from

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-84164323716646983292007-11-18T16:49:00.000-05:002007-11-18T16:57:18.106-05:00

So at this point I could be working south of Boston or (~1 hour) north of Philadelphia.Anyone have any opinions (biased or otherwise)? Assume that I'd like either job equally (basically true, as far as I can figure at this point) and than benefits are basically equivalent, as well. Additionally, for your entertainment and enlightenment:----------------Now playing: Les Misérables - Red And

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-43304427183004130942007-10-28T19:12:00.000-04:002007-10-28T19:18:49.715-04:00

...whoever authorized this god-aweful idea of changing daylight savings! Seriously, am I going to have to fight with my PDA twice every year? Why not just get a new PDA, you might ask? Well, first off there do not seem to be any on the market that I like. Additionally, my current one still (::knock on wood::) works fine, so why should I have to replace it? This whole SNAFU is supposed to be some

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-83361154241908347452007-10-16T01:32:00.000-04:002007-10-16T01:32:58.412-04:00

...Is what we call a "Killer App"Once I heard about the motion sensing abilities of the wii-mote, I said the wii would not be complete without a game like that.----------------Now playing: High School Musical Cast - Work This Outvia FoxyTunes

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-32101749681377037222007-10-15T00:14:00.000-04:002007-10-15T00:17:21.899-04:00

Coulton and the XKCD guy would complete my CMU experience.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-15169675082056810142007-10-14T18:59:00.000-04:002007-10-14T18:59:42.587-04:00

Please confirm: "I am not listed on the United States Department of Treasury list of Specially Designated Nationals, Specially Designated Terrorists, and Specially Designated Narcotics Traffickers, nor am I listed on the United States Department of Commerce Table of Denial Orders."Would I know if I were on any of these lists? Is there a letter they send you?

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-67528537073223338902007-10-14T14:38:00.000-04:002007-10-14T14:40:50.829-04:00

"In any country, if you don’t have countervailing institutions, the power of any one president is problematic for democratic development"So when our President circumvents the judicial system and gets all pissy when Congress does not comply with his every whim he is 'defending democracy' but when Putin consolidates power by weakening their legislature and judiciary, he's being 'undemocratic'??

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-74117476265610783742007-09-26T13:50:00.000-04:002007-12-05T12:42:32.497-05:00

Iraq/Afghanistan FY '08: $190,000,000,000 ($190bn)Apollo Progam (1961-1975): $135bn (2006 Dollars) Manhattan Project (1941-1946): $23bn (2007 Dollars) World War II (1941-1945,American Expenditure): $3,300bn (2006 Dollars)So, to summarize, one year in Iraq/Afghanistan is equivalent to the sum of the entirety of both the Apollo project (14 years) and the Manhattan Project (5 years), or one quarter

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-82610352325117979302007-09-20T17:24:00.000-04:002007-09-20T17:25:21.393-04:00

787 is Plastic?Much of it's structure is in fact, a carbon-based composite in a polymer matrix, with polymer being the proper term for what most people consider 'plastics'.As far as I can tell this is just another example of some media outlet bending science/engineering to garner more ratings, and I really don't appreciate it.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-28401987401130189462007-09-20T01:35:00.000-04:002007-09-20T01:35:19.958-04:00

Warning: This Product Warps Space and Time in Its Vicinity

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-84957215162647402282007-09-17T17:56:00.000-04:002007-09-17T17:56:54.486-04:00

Decorations & Awards, Two Generals, Two Eras

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-55705276770921760652007-09-15T01:04:00.000-04:002007-09-15T01:05:20.969-04:00

Don't 'text' and driveOK, I'm sorry, but who ever thought it was a good idea acceptable not idiotic to 'text' while driving? I find talking on the phone distracting enough, and that doesn't require me to read a little screen while navigating traffic.----------------Now playing: Cream - White Roomvia FoxyTunes

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-8269041319782408902007-09-14T11:11:00.000-04:002007-09-14T11:11:37.657-04:00

Slashdot | Paper Trails Don't Ensure Accurate E-Voting TotalsNow, voter-verifiable paper trails aside...what's with all the hullabaloo about e-voting? Paper isn't good enough? The FL/Chad issue is not present with all paper ballots. My town's ballots are pieces of yellow cardstock with partial arrows: >- -> pointing at candidates and Yes/No options. One takes a sharpie (or other black marker)

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-68746916928469182712007-09-14T10:45:00.000-04:002007-09-14T10:45:51.015-04:00

It's a really good read. I recommend it to everyone. It's basically Washington's 'Fatherly Advice' to the young country. It's basically all still relevant today (perhaps even more so than when he wrote it at the end of his second term.)FAREWELL ADDRESS (1796)

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-4801971399001068392007-09-09T12:28:00.000-04:002007-09-09T12:28:50.537-04:00

Slashdot | Bringing Science and Math Into Writing?There's some interesting discussion in there about what fosters an interest in math and science in people. For me I think it can be narrowed down to a few specific items:LegosStar Trek TNGNew Yankee Workshop (and any number of other 'home improvement' shows on PBS)Interestingly enough, I didn't really read much Sci-Fi as a 'youngster' though I'm

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-72238901313115916622007-09-03T11:49:00.000-04:002007-09-03T11:54:14.749-04:00

Why Powerpoint is a double-edged sword----------------Now playing: The Who - In The Ethervia FoxyTunes

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-34311311809852147082007-08-28T18:24:00.000-04:002007-08-28T18:26:54.232-04:00

...sucks.Sent to the webmaster after I wasn't able to submit a maintanence request for about the umpteenth time since I enrolled at CMU.OK, I’m finding this very frustrating. I tried to fill out a request two days ago, and the form would not load. I figured it was something about high demand at the beginning of the year or something. I tried again today and the form loads but when I hit ‘submit’

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-53915157394320125762007-08-17T11:41:00.000-04:002007-08-17T11:41:02.577-04:00

Movies dumbing down science: a list of egregious (and funny) offensesPersonally, I think "The Core" deserves to be mentioned more in such an article...but I guess it's less the science than the engineering (eg 'space suits' that allow great freedom of movement in an environment of a few thousand Kelvin with a pressure of a couple hundred thousand atmospheres (an order of magnitude or three more

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-16018469961111382912007-07-27T20:08:00.000-04:002007-07-27T20:11:27.821-04:00

...consider us finished. Done with. I never want to talk to you again. Why, you ask? I know we've had some good times, MCAS, ACADEC, SATs, GREs. Good times, to be sure. But I've grown and matured. You haven't. I can't keep seeing you, it just isn't healthy. I don't want you to hate me. I just need to move on with my life. PS GREs = Pwnd.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-42874271091930111992007-07-23T22:33:00.001-04:002007-07-23T22:33:12.936-04:00

Supporting Blogger via the proxy of Gmail.----------------Now playing: Goo Goo Dolls - Iris posted with FoxyTunes   

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-5140494094161903232007-07-17T13:00:00.000-04:002007-07-17T13:19:01.521-04:00

Over the past several weeks, I have been met at every turn by companies who have refused to take my money for their goods or services: "You want a credit card? You're a student and never had one before? OK, just sit here and have an incompetant teller fill out a web-form for you and wait a week or ten days." "Oh, too bad. You're not in the system and we clearly can't issue you the only card we

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-12964848476271431112007-07-06T09:34:00.000-04:002007-07-06T09:45:01.343-04:00

So I wanted to perform a 'covert' upgrade of an old Hub on our network at work, hopefully to allow full 100Mbit 'Fast Ethernet' to reign. As far as I know, the hub is the only device on the network that isn't 10/100 Ethernet, it's just 10Mbit. However, as soon as I swapped it out for this 8-port switch, one machine refused to admit that it was in fact plugged in. I tried multiple ports on the

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-78240344354538279012007-07-05T12:57:00.000-04:002007-07-05T12:58:15.853-04:00

Some Wikipedia concepts should be applied to real life.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-60711794643982247972007-07-02T11:05:00.000-04:002007-07-02T11:06:38.843-04:00

Crucial Ballistix 2GB (2 x 1GB) 240-Pin DDR2 SDRAM DDR2 800 (PC2 6400) A purchase of the above would yield 4GB of memory in my desktop. Yes, yes I know that 4GB on a 32-bit system is only mostly useful. On my next reinstall (perhaps the end of the summer) I intend to try out WinXP Pro x64 (since I have a copy anyway).

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-44609365492778604612007-07-02T09:12:00.000-04:002007-07-02T09:26:13.384-04:00

Discovered today in my online bank statement:07/02/2007 Direct Deposit COMM. OF MASS. $172.31Sent immediately following discovery:Senator Joyce, I am writing to thank you and your office for the effort put forth on my behalf in dealing with an obstinate Department of Revenue (as detailed in my previous e-mail of June 21). Having just arrived at work today I checked my online bank statement

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-44221120565728967322007-06-25T10:55:00.000-04:002007-06-25T10:55:59.630-04:00

"The irony is so delicious you could eat it"

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-70975003949774159082007-06-25T10:43:00.000-04:002007-06-25T10:43:40.112-04:00

Court: Protecting trade secrets takes priority over election transparencyOMFG. What's the point of elections when the makers of the voting machines could be rigging them and noone would know cuz the code is a 'trade secret'?!? Not to mention the fact that there are really only two manufacturers of voting machines and they're all buddy-buddy. Furthermore, honestly, what kind of trade secret might

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-60371725318817768072007-06-22T10:13:00.000-04:002007-06-22T10:13:49.893-04:00

...but I have to concur: Firstborn Get the Brains

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-86023253818808275562007-06-21T23:52:00.001-04:002007-06-21T23:53:00.233-04:00

...well, aside from my friends at CMU, of course.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-26014963812950438282007-06-21T13:02:00.000-04:002007-07-02T09:42:23.280-04:00

The following was sent to my town's State Senators and State Representative, the Auditor of Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the Attorney General, the Governor (and Lt Governor), and the Secretary of Administration and Finance. It follows up a previous letter to the D.o.R.Senators, Representative, and other State officials, "In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes."

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-56907786032083726622007-06-21T11:21:00.000-04:002007-06-21T11:24:19.570-04:00

Why else do they keep letting Uwe Boll make movies? He's poison to anything he touches.Similarly, why the hell did they make a sequel to BloodRayne? It was a terrible movie based on a mediocre video game!

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-52606184305670926172007-06-19T13:20:00.000-04:002007-06-19T13:25:34.474-04:00

Recently I hackzored my phone and deleted a sum total of three letters and a period from a login string and the following resulted:Now I have internet everywhere. I checked Red Sox scores and standings on the way home the other day (I wasn't driving). I can also boot up Google Maps for my PDA and plot traffic data and my current position over maps or satellite imagery.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-4703108679431614292007-06-15T18:56:00.000-04:002007-06-15T18:56:14.663-04:00

US States Renamed For Countries With Similar GDPs

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-39443480845259633702007-06-14T11:08:00.000-04:002007-06-14T11:11:30.940-04:00

Honda aims to bring green diesel cars to Japan soonWe need more diesel vehicles in the US. Drastic drops in CO2 emissions as well as increased mileage (or similar mileage with double the torque), lower fuel cost without any drastic drop in performance or increase in vehicle cost.In summary: diesels are awesome.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-80083578249418220922007-06-14T09:40:00.000-04:002007-06-14T09:42:18.550-04:00

Dual Core: Nerdcore, Hip Hop, MusicI mean, anyone who publishes music about Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, OLPC and Penny Arcade on the same album is awesome in my book.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-6408311046588967462007-06-14T09:28:00.000-04:002007-06-14T09:31:43.396-04:00

Interesting Argument About Global Warming VideoI was saying basically that over a year ago, and I've never been more confident in my analysis of the situation. I wouldn't necessarily have had such dire consequences for unneeded action, but he was dealing with extremes and he likely presented a slightly less biased argument.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-14924849761805373662007-06-11T21:53:00.000-04:002007-06-11T21:54:18.379-04:00

"I attempted to update my Zen Vision M (30GB) from f/w version 1.41 to 1.61. During this process the player hung during rebuilding approximately 60% through. The update utility did not say the process had finished. Eventually I rebooted using the reboot switch on the bottom of the player. The player hung at rebuilding at the /exact/ same place. I rebooted several more times and at all times it

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-90757611465404173572007-06-08T11:56:00.000-04:002007-06-08T12:00:31.349-04:00

xkcd. Awesome as usual.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-49579947188946079662007-06-02T16:49:00.000-04:002007-06-07T15:20:59.366-04:00

Yes, I would like some fatter pipes.So we were being charged $39.95 for 768k DSL from Verizon. I called up about getting and upgrade and the sales tech was confused because they don't even sell 768k anymore, as I recall. Note: our DSL modem says "Bell Atlantic" on it. So we've obviously been subscribed for a number of years. Anyway, Shaun at Verizon pointed out that for only $29.95 we could get

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-74555726418613480932007-05-31T14:49:00.000-04:002007-05-31T14:51:52.119-04:00

So yea, I made it home fine, hung out for a week and now have started work.In other news, the following was just sent to the Massachusetts Department of Revenue:"I am a college student. My budget is wafer thin and I only have time to work over the summer. My MA tax return expected amount was $170. My tax forms this past year was identical to the year's prior, with a slightly higher income due to

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-74615334522928790632007-05-18T21:48:00.000-04:002007-05-18T21:51:57.001-04:00

So I could buy a Blu-Ray SATA drive for my desktop for $500 or an entire PS3 for $600. The PS3 includes a Cell processor, graphics card, etc etc. The Blu-ray SATA/IDE does not. And, with glorious, glorious DRM, there's a good chance I could have an issue with my HDCP path and not actually be able to play a movie at full 1080p resolution.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-3785300600201897192007-05-13T16:59:00.000-04:002007-05-13T17:00:16.266-04:00

ViewSonic Q20WB 20" Widescreen LCD Monitor My 17" desktop monitor just isn't doing it for me. A year of high-res laptop screen + external LCD just spoiled me rotten. So, therefore, my next tech-related purchase will be a new monitor (now that I'll have an income)The math works out that a 17" 4:3 aspect ratio monitor is the same physical height as a 19-20" widescreen aspect monitor and if I get a

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-43924531455728415772007-05-11T13:50:00.000-04:002007-05-18T20:31:21.802-04:00

A turd by any other name smells just as foulUm, changing DRM to another 3-letter acronym isn't going to fool anyone worth fooling. People who spearhead piracy movements are going to keep doing it regardless. Really, the best you can hope to do is drive fewer people away from buying your digital content until there's some serious reform of copyright law (unlikely, as far as I'm concerned)Being a

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-82965051575823264152007-05-11T11:49:00.000-04:002007-05-11T11:51:54.071-04:00

Lawsuit Invokes DMCA to Force DRM AdoptionOk, so I'll lobby Congress to pass legislation that makes it illegal for every corporation in America not to pay me $50/day. And then sue them when they won't. Seriously, Congress, I'm guessing you just forgot about a little document that opens with the phrase "We the People of the United States...". Cuz we're the ones you're supposed to be working for,

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-6540773328534308562007-05-10T11:53:00.000-04:002007-05-10T11:54:33.477-04:00

...since I'm just going to keep linking to it.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-59366626530931213972007-05-09T19:50:00.000-04:002007-05-11T11:51:54.072-04:00

California Secretary of State - Voting Systems ReviewThese kinds of things, 'red team attacks' and 'going through the source code' needed to be done from day one, and instead they're being done some 6-7 years later. But hey, it's only democracy, right? When have accurate votes ever been required?

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-73088778440936635492007-05-07T23:39:00.000-04:002007-05-07T23:43:47.692-04:00

Massachusetts Joins the Real ID Fight.While, in theory I'm not opposed to a standardized, national ID, I don't see it as helping at all nowadays, and likely only making things worse. I mean, if Government agencies can't keep track of critical parts of their computers, how are we supposed to trust them to keep a database of every American safe? If that wouldn't be a juicy target for identity theft

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-65445072996480938662007-05-07T23:10:00.000-04:002007-05-07T23:17:18.081-04:00

...or is it Pop Glam Rock?The Ark have such brilliant lyrics:"[I] don't know much about love and roses but I know we've got compatible neurosis's"--'I Pathologize', The Ark

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-60081401932847064122007-05-06T14:29:00.000-04:002007-05-06T14:29:00.336-04:00

Christian Talk Radio and History.He addresses several things I had always wondered much more eloquently and far better informed than I would ever be about such things.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-8781537478009423222007-05-04T21:33:00.000-04:002007-05-11T11:51:54.073-04:00

Any opinions, people?As far as I can tell, the D-link has a more sensitive receiver across all the bands (except at the bottom of the data rates) and is cheaper (and has more reviews on Newegg, for what it's worth).The Netgear is more expensive, obviously (but only $5 more after shipping and rebate), has WPA2 support (don't know how much I really care) and a more powerful transmitter along with

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-74939263345341472112007-05-03T16:20:00.000-04:002007-05-11T11:51:54.073-04:00

The Tartan Online: Election results inaccessibleI mean, you have some guy being appointed as president by members of the old administration and promise of new elections once they find out who's responsible.Seriously, though. I'm not crazy about some random appointee dealing with all the finances over the summer.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-18972797770455502482007-05-03T15:27:00.000-04:002007-05-11T11:51:54.074-04:00

The car is constructed out of ¼” clear acrylic I designed on a computer and then we cut on a laser-cutter (like an Inkjet printer, but with a 40mW IR laser instead of an ink cartridge) and then glued together. My roommate programmed a micro-controller (computer-on-a-chip) to read an airbag accelerometer and light up super-bright LED’s according to how severe the ‘crash’ is. There are

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-54652598132505221112007-05-01T10:07:00.000-04:002008-12-08T20:26:13.373-05:00

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-13292588686976762182007-04-23T17:50:00.000-04:002007-04-23T17:52:20.206-04:00

An e-mail I just sent to CMU Housing and Dining:"I don’t know who I should complain to about this, but housing and dining seemed the most logical. I just paid $2.60 for a single dose of 24hr Claritin, to treat my allergies. This is patently absurd. Entropy stocks Benadryl and it’s Tylenol equivalent in 24 dose packs for reasonable prices. However, both these drugs have “marked drowsiness” as

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-76703894121644189192007-04-11T10:14:00.000-04:002007-04-11T10:15:22.061-04:00

Michelle Malkin: Imus vs. the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks ChartSeriously, more 'impressionable young minds' listen to this stuff than Don Imus, not that I'm condoning what he said, I'm just saying there's something of a double standard going on.That and I find most rap 'music' to be talentless drivel. The professional wrestling of the "music" world.

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-57980788382136015772007-04-11T00:33:00.000-04:002007-04-11T00:38:37.301-04:00

Now, see, that's the kind of research that CMU needs to keep doing! It dynamically generates dances based on the music it hears!

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-25782654281638889852007-04-11T00:24:00.000-04:002007-04-11T00:46:17.814-04:00

...didn't they cover that terrible Britney Spears song?I'm desperately waiting to get that kind of response from someone which will simultaneously cement my status as a grumpy old man as well as prove that the youth of today are all imbeciles, or so it would seem. (Though to be fair I liked Smashmouth's cover of "I'm a Believer" but wish I no longer knew about Macy Gray's mutilation of Aerosmith

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9510302.post-64335725558664666682007-04-06T23:22:00.000-04:002007-04-06T23:23:01.885-04:00

She speaketh the truth!"Besides, I don’t know how to handle Carnegie Mellon when it isn’t filled with awkward people. Cold, horrible months, please come back"

Beltoniushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06122311718246566025noreply@blogger.com0