Easter Greeting

Nancy, Chili and I, along with our bunny friends, want to wish you a very happy Easter. Hope you like our video -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5y6vXvoF-w

iPad 2 Arrives

After a three week and two day wait, not that I was counting the days, of course, the Fed Ex truck finally arrived at my doorstep. Apple estimated that it would be a three to four week time span from the time I ordered the iPad to the time of delivery, so they were actually within the range that was stated from the onset. It was kind of neat to track my order over the last three days - first from where it was manufactured in China, then on to Hong Kong, then to Memphis TN and finally on to Rancho Cordova and then to my house in Elk Grove. Fed Ex made the delivery within an hour of their estimated arrival time. So all in all, not too bad!

I had already prepared my desktop PC computer prior to the arrival of my tablet. You have to sync the iPad with iTunes and you need the latest version of iTunes (10.2.2) to make it all work. So, I updated my iTunes and backed up the iTunes folder last night. The sync went without a glitch and I was up and running in minutes. The iPad 2 is a very good tablet, even with the lack of Adobe Flash and no wide screen. It has it's faults, as do all tablets, but some of those faults can be addressed via apps and software updates. Although the built-in camera has been criticized for it's lack of resolution, I'm satisfied with the first picture I took using the camera function (see blog post of Edward Hopper's painting - Chop Suey). The lighting was poor at the location where I took the shot and there was glass covering the photo I used to take the blog picture. Yet, the camera captured a decent enough shot for posting to the web. No complaints at this point. An aside, as you may know - Edward Hopper is one of my favorite artist. I have posted Hopper pictures on this blog from time-to-time. I remember from an art appreciation class I took in college that Chop Suey, showing two women in conversation at a restaurant, may depict a Doppelganger (a German word for look-alike or double). I noticed that Wikipedia also mentions this phenomenon when describing the picture. I've never been able to find out what Hopper said in regards to the possibility.

Regarding my first impressions of tho iPad 2. Web surfing is great on the device; it formats sites accurately and it is plenty fast over Wi Fi. It is also very light-weight and exceptionally compact. I bought the basic model. It only has Wi Fi and 16GB - no 3G - the $499 model, in white. For my purpose it should do just fine. I'll post an update after I download some apps and check out the video capability. More to come...

Dick Dale

Dick Dale gets down with his rockin version of Bony Moronie. Watch Dick, who is left-handed, reach over the fretboard to play his guitar. Amazing! Check it out -


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzfNETjxdQs&feature=related


Dick Dale's Bio:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_Dale

Johnny Winter

Johnny can play that guitar just like he's "ringing a bell". There are some serious licks going on in this live version of - Jumpin Jack Flash. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4om10ZMbKc&feature=related

Got My Derby Horse

It's a little early to be picking a Derby winner, but this year's race is somewhat different in that there are no 3/5 favorites in this group. After reviewing several of the prep races for the Derby, my choice is - Dialed In. I especially like the way he ran in the Florida Derby. Uncle Mo may still end up being the Derby favorite, even after the Wood Memorial debacle, never-the-less I definitely have some serious concerns about his ability to run a strong mile and a quarter. So... given our choices for the 2011 Kentucky Derby - bet the farm on Dialed In. That's what I'm doing! See you at the races.

Big Race In Three Weeks

I'm doing my Derby research, but I've yet to find a truly standout horse amongst the favorites. Uncle Mo, my choice until the outcome of the Wood Memorial (maybe he just had a bad hair day), should end up with pretty good odds, but it's still way too early to decide on a winner. Rest assured, once I get it all figured out, you'll want to bet the farm! I can't even begin to calculate how good I am at handicapping the Derby. It's truly amazing!!! Just ask anyone who has followed my Derby picks over the years. Each year the Kentucky Derby seems to draw more and more people to the race. The picture I posted on the blog of Churchill Downs makes me more than a little nostalgic. I attended a few Derbies, back -in-the-day. It was always a thrill! However, this one will be viewed from the vantage point of my Lazy Boy. Stay tuned, I'll provide an update soon... probably in a couple of weeks, as to which horse is destined to win the big race and maybe go on to win the Triple Crown. Oh, and... no, I don't charge for this valuable service, it's free!! Unbelievable, but it's true!!

Panasonic Repaired

In less than three months from purchase, my 42 inch Panasonic LCD flat screen needed repairs. That was surprising, especially since the TV was highly regarded in several reviews (Consumer Reports, CNET and Pricegrapper). After three weeks at Video Tech, an authorized service center for Panasonic and other brands, Laine, the electrician who did the electrical work on this project, and I remounted the TV to the wall bracket that is installed in the family room. Now the picture is excellent and I hope it stays that way for several years. The technician at the service center said I was fortunate that my set was still under warranty, as the repairs came to a total of six hundred and sixty eight dollars. He asked me if that was more than I paid for the TV and I told him it was. He said it wasn't unusual for parts to run more than the original selling price of the television. In fact, he said.. it often is no longer cost effective to repair an out-of-warranty flat screen television, because the parts are just too expensive. Although it seems many consumers are reluctant to pay the price for an extended warranty, it might save them money in the long run, particularly with some of the more repair prone brands. I'm considering adding a warranty for my Panasonic. In-store warranty prices are generally negotiable and agencies such as SquareTrade (thanks for the tip, Tim) usually undercut the typical Best Buy, Fry's and Sears offerings. Something to think about.