Banned Xbox 360 Ad: Best Ad Ever!

This Xbox 360 ad was banned. Watch the clip, and you will most likely know why It is banned.

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FOX says you can get shows from friends

go to this page and click on number 8, it says Our recommendation is to ask co-workers, friends, family and neighbors for anyone who may have taped off-the-air the show you are looking for. This could mean that bit torrent is all right!

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Illustration of New York - What's Underground

A well mapped out illustration showing exactly what is beneath you and how far down it is in the city of New York (including the subway).

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A cool easter egg in the new Star Wars DVD - the "YoDance"?

The Revenge of the Sith DVD will be released on November 1, and is said to contain a little easter egg for the fans - Yoda dancing to a hip hop tune with some stormtroopers bopping their heads in the background!

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CMU students create 4 new games per week

Carnegie Mellon University students will create a total of 50 new minigames this semester�all of them playable�as part of their class assignments towards their Masters of Entertainment Technology degrees.

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FCC: Christian network a "better use" of a school's radio frequency

Maynard High School's radio frequency, 91.7 FM, is being seized by a network of Christian broadcasting stations that the Federal Communications Commission has ruled is a better use of the public airwaves.

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Fatherhood

I just have one quick comment about fatherhood. There is no greater sound in the entire universe than when your child is laughing.

The Civil War Letters of Charles Harvey Hayden pt 6

     In this letter Charles shows continued concern for his sister Laura’s health. His acceptance of a Devine plan for all that has happened is reflective of the United States Christian Commission’s work and the general revivalist movement in the 1860’s. It was written about two weeks before the Battle of Gettysburg. At that point Northern States are highly embroiled among themselves in an anti-war movement lead by Democratic politicians called ”Cooper Heads.” The former mayor of Utica, New York, Horatio Seymour, is a strong proponent of a negotiated settlement with the South, and now is Governor of New York State. No doubt, Charles is aware of the political climate, because he writes about Democrats, Republican, Christians and the damage being inflicted to the war effort by “Northern Rebels.”

                                        Fredrick City June 12, 63
     Dear Sister,
     I hasten to answer your letter which I received in due time – I am sorry to heat that your health is so poor and I hope that you may not lose your voice, but whatever God may appoint in his providence let us try to receive as from an all wise and merciful Father and let us pray that our afflictions may (come) from our greatest affliction.
     You tell me to be patient I have no cause to be impatient when I think of the promises of God, he has said that al things shall fork for the good of the right spirit may prove blessings to us – all that we may suffer here will soon be past. We cannot always see the hand that leads us but let us cast ourselves into his care and he will care for us. But if we are ashamed of him before man he will be ashamed of us before his father and the holy Angels – Elise wishes me to be a Democrat. I wish she may be a Christian if she is not. Then she may be a Democrat or Republican. She may err in judgement but she will not err in principle. She will aim to be right and do right – we should not think more of a party than our country – I would rather the names Democrat and Republican would link to us no more than that we should lose our free institutions. I would that we had a party without the imperfections of either but as they are made of imperfect men they will be imperfect. And, we should choose the best and will – should they think of it – You there at home never can know what men are suffering for this country. To know it must be seen and felt and the man (men) that would for money or for offer weaken the efficiency of our army by work or deed are aiding to the extent to which they go. To carry on the rebellion I am sorry that we have so many rebels north. They may prolong the war. I believe that is all that they can do. I believe that the union of these states will be established.
     I have not received any pay here. I did not get here in time to muster and have a year’s pay due me the first of next month. Perhaps I may be paid in July. I sent to Lysander last fall (when I expected to come home) and got fifteen dollars and I have about ten shillings left. I think that you need part of it more than I do so I enclose a dollar to you.
                                   Write soon direct – Fredrick City
                                   General Hospital Barrack “O”
                                   From your Brother C H Hayden
     Write particularly how you get along. My health is rather improving. I have but little pain and rest well nights. And plenty of plain foods mostly bread. Meat once a day, not often butter, sometimes applesauce for supper, tea and coffee for break fast and supper.
                                                  C H Hayden

Shari and the relatives

Well, Shari visited her relatives from Maryland today and had a great time. she especially loved her 18 mnth old cousin, him and her played for a while then shari needed mommy. But she was very welled behaved and played with everyone very well. hopefully she played herself into tiredness sot hat she will actually sleep tonight. speaking of sleeping i really need to rest myself. talk to you all later

Teaching Kids to Program

There is a new programming language out that is freeware. It is intended for Kids who have never programmed before. It is very easy for them to create an move things around on their computer screen.

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Charge your electronic devices WIRELESSLY!!

A company called Splashpower has come up with a way to wirelessly charge your electronic devices using electromagnetic induction

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The Civil War Letters of Charles Harvey Hayden pt 5

Charles writes to his sister Laura, from Frederick City, Maryland, on May 25, 1863, the Smoketown Hospital he had been confined to during the past seven and a half months will never meet his eyes again. This letter comes shortly after the Battle of Chancelorsville in early May. Combined, the North and South suffered over 30,000 casualties and was the most humiliating Union defeat of the Civil War. The stress placed on the medical corps of boh sides of care of the wounded was beyond capabilities. Good fortune and luck was with Charles because he found himself in a situation offering clean, un-crowded quality care. Once examined by the doctor in his new setting, there was evidently consideration for sending him to the Invalid Corps. However, serving the remainder of his military term with the maimed and handicapped was not to be his fate. Most interesting are his eye-opening comments concerning the care of rebel prisoners! Fredrick City May 25, ‘63 Dear Sister, I have left Smoketown at last. I have been here three weeks. I did not get my discharge at Smoketown as I expected. I don’t know how long I will be here probably all summer. The weather has been very warm for a few days – I do not think I feel as well when the weather is very warm. I spoke about my discharge to the doctor Saturday morning for the first time. Twice I have been in the hospital. I thought if I could go north where the weather is cooler it would be better for me. The doctor gave me but little encouragement about going home and seemed to think that I might be able to go into the invalid corps, but said he wold see if I was enitled to discharge. The hospital is pleasantly situated just at the outskirts of the town. There are 18 to 20 buildings 100 or 200 feet long and about 30 feet wide. They are enclosed by a high fence and when we wish to go out we have to get a pass. I have had 4 and 5, and have not had to ask for one – I like it here very well everything is kept very nice and clean. The hospital is not very full of patients. The rebel patients were went off a few days ago. They were used as well as we can sleep in the same rooms and eat at the same table. I believe in using prisoners well and I wish that our prisoners could be used as well as they have been. I think they (Rebels) are used better than the (Union) were. Laura, perhaps you may not get this letter very soon but answer as soon as you get it and tel me where to direct if you are at home or anywhere else from home. Direct Fredrick City General Hospital MD Barrack O My ink is so poor that i do not know whether you can read this letter or not. From Hervey to his sister Laura. P.S. Laura, if you are at home answer (confirm) with a few lines in your next letter.

Another New Blog

I have started for Shari her own blog that for the present time katie and I will be posting to so that we can keep you up to date on what she is doing and how she is developing and pics that we get and like. hope you enjoy this as much as i will.

The Civil War Letters of Charles Harvey Hayden pt 4

     In this letter of March 5, 1863, Charles writes to this sister Laura from the same Smoketown hospital that he was sent in October 1862. Discouraged with continuing poor health, chronic diarrhea and pain from his very severe wound, he is concerned about not being fit for regimental duty. He expresses a clear fatalistic tone and acceptance that the future is beyond his capacity to control.

                                             Smoketown Hospital
                                                  March 5, 1863

     Dear Sister,
     I have been waiting some time and have not written because I expected to leave here soon, either discharged or sent to the regiment. But I do not see anymore prospect of going than I did two months ago. There are some discharged and others sent to their regiments every few days. My health is not very good and I have had the diarrhea for six months most of the time, and my side and breast (are) weak and I have some pain when I lay down. I find that I do not get over a wound as soon as it is healed. But, it is liable to bother – long after. I do not think that I am able to go to the regiment and do duty as a soldier, but perhaps I shall be sent.
     I mean to try to keep my trust in Him that has preserved my life through the bloody conflicts that I have passed through where many have been from health to the grave in a few moments – and if it is His will that I shall be discharged it will be so, if not He can give me strength when I return to duty to do what is required of me.
     I am glad that you have found a friend and I hope that he may prove kind and true. Still I would always have you put your trust in that friend that can never deceive but will always do that which is best for us if we put our trust in Him, although we may not always think so at the time.
     The weather here has been wet and we have had rather bad weather, but today is warm and pleasant. The grass is just beginning to start. We have a nice little chapel where we have meetings three times a week and we have a very fine man for chaplain.
     I was sorry to hear that Pa had lost his dam but was glad that he had it repaired. I hope he may have success and he prospers.
     Dear Sister, I hope the time may soon come when war shall end and we shall meet at home again.
                                        Direct Smoketown Hospital
                                             Washington, DC
                                             Via Sharsburg MD
                                        From your loving brother,
                                             Charles H. Hayden

beautiful blue eyes, thats my shari 

The Civil War Letters of Charles Harvey Hayden Pt 3

     In the following letter dated January 25, 1863, Charles is still receiving care from the same hospital in Maryland that he wrote from in November. His progress is amazing considering the seriousness of his wounds. He notes that Smoketown is becoming the recipient of soldiers from other hospitals. Just four weeks before this was written Union forces lost 13,000 soldiers (18,000 – both sides combined) to casualties during the Battle of Fredricksburg. No doubt the influx of patients he notes was the result of that battle.
     The letter also demonstrates the influence of the United States Christian Commission. During the war this YMCA founded, non denominational, charity funded, volunteer organization cared to the spiritual needs of soldiers, particularly those who were wounded. It supplied clothing, diaries, writing material, bibles and ministry for both northern soldiers, and captured southerners. Religious services were held and libraries were established in most hospital camps. Over 5,000 volunteers supported the organization. Their work was to have a profound effect on Private, Charles Hayden of the 97th NYVI.

Smoketown
Jan. 25th 1863
Dear Sister,
     I take this opportunity to write a few lines to you. I am still at this Hospital. We are in large tents and have a good stove. There are a five of us in a tent. I am gaining strength and my wounds are healed up but I feel the affects of them inwardly considerably yet a few weeks ago. I expected to be with you before this time but I do not want to do it. I rather go to my Reg, if I was able but I do not think that I am able yet. They are making this a General Hospital for this region and are bringing their sick from other hospitals. Here we have some three hundred – now of sick and wounded.
     I had a letter from Cousin Helen a few days ago. She was well and I am always glad to hear from her. She takes as much interest in my welfare as though she was my sister. I wish you could see the letters. You said that Edward was not what you expected. I am glad that you found him out before it was too late but am sorry that you were disappointed. You spoke about going to Steuben to work. Perhaps you may be there before this reaches you. I do not know what is for the best but I hope that you may be diverted for the best and trust to that friend that never can forsake you. Read the bible and be directed by its teachings; it will lead you a right. Dear Sister I am tired of war and blood-shed and tired of seeing sickness and suffering caused by this unhappy war.
     I believe that our only hope is to trust. Trust to him that tempers the wind to the Shorn lamb. I hope that we may do away with the evil that is among us and the Lord will (----) to bless us as a nation for without his blessing we can do nothing –till Pa and Ma. That I am as well as can be expected under the circumstances receiving a ball about three inches to the right of the pit of the stomach and coming out just back of my arm. I have received (an) overcoat and pants and under clothes from the government. I lost my clothes in the battle. We have not received ay pay for ‘most seven months but I sent back to Western for some so that I have had what I needed to use. I have had to buy considerable food as our fair is rather poor.  I hope the time may soon come when we shall meet again but in the meantime try to be a good girl. I was sorry to hear that you had been sick but was glad to hear that you were getting quite well again. I hope your health may continue good.
     We have plenty of hickory nuts here, I have been out several times and got some but could not get as many as I would because I could not climb the trees – you hardly know how much I wish to see you. But that cannot be for the present but will hope that the time will come when we shall meet again.
     Dear Sister, write soon and direct
     Smoketown, Hospital Washington
     CO MD     
     From your loving brother
     Charles H. Hayden

The Civil War Letters of Charles Harvey Hayden Pt. 2

In this letter of October 10, 1862, Charles Hayden writes to his sister Laura, in Westernville, (Big Brook) NY, from the Union hospital in Smoketown, Maryland. In it he informs her of his wounds suffered in the Battle of Antietam. The Smoketown Hospital was one of many hastily created for wounded soldiers. It consisted of an oak grove sheltering about 80 army tents. Two dilapidated cabins served as the only standing structures. Dr. W.R. Mosley, Assistant Medical Inspector for Union forces, noted that two months after the battle in November 1862, there were 469 patients under treatment; 232 were wounded soldiers while 237 other were sick with typhoid fever, dysentery and diarrhea. Many were afflicted with both wounds and disease. When the following letter was written, Charles was in the latter category. However, he realized his good fortune to be alive upon his reflection of the battle and its horror.

Spoketown, MD
Oct. 10th, 62

Dear Sister
I take this opportunity to write a few lines to you. I was wounded in the battle of the 17th of last month. I was wounded in the right breast. My wounds appear to be doing well. I also received a shot in my thumb and finger of my left hand but my fingers are about well. I have had a bad diarrhea which has kept me very weak. We went into the battle early in the morning. I was in the cornfield when I fell. I was left and the rebels passed over me then our men drove them back again. The rebels were charging again when I placed my handkerchief over my wound and standed (stood). (SIC) I came to an ambulance and they took me in and brought me to the Hospital we are in. Nice new tents 5 – of us in our tent – I have been up and out of doors yesterday. I do not know whether they will let me come home or not – the battle was a terrible affair. Men (were) dropping all around – with heads and legs off. The continual roar of cannon balls all make it terrible.
Dear sister write son direct as before.
From your affectionate Brother
Charles H. Hayden

The Civil War Letters of Charles Harvey Hayden

This is a continuing article from the Local paper in My hometown, I just thought that I would repeat this article about a soldier from the area that served in the Civil War. By Al Grenning In July of 1861 the United States seemed destined to self destruct in a gathering Civil War. One of the largest military engagements in our country's history had just taken place. Union Troops were overwhelmed by Southern forces and chased all the way back to Washington, DC. The nation's fate hung in the balance. It was called Bull Run by the North and Monasas by the South. Here in the Western Adirondacks, citizens reacted with patriotic outrage and revengeful fervor. Congress immediately authorized states to organize volunteer regiments for defense of the Union. Within days of Congress' action, Governor Morgan of New York State granted Oneida County the authority to raise its third all volunteer infantry regiment. By the end of the month it had been officially decided that this newest New York regiment, the 97th New York Volunteer Infantry was to be raised, drilled and commissioned here in Boonville. Boys, young men and middle-aged married fathers all eagerly responded to this call to arms. Charles Wheelock, a local militia officer and merchant, would be it Colonel and Commander. On November 1, 1862, Charles Harvey (Hervey) Hayden of Big Brook, NY (Westernville) enlisted fro two years of service as a private and was assigned to Company "I", one of ten companies in the regiment. He was in his mid 20's, unmarried, and among the first volunteers to enlist. As a young boy he and his sister Laura lost their mother to disease. Although it isn't clear, it appears they were given up by their father and raised by relatives or close family members. Charles and all other enlistees drilled through early fall and winter of 1862 on the flat in front of Park Hill. Eventually more than 900 men volunteered, completed their training, and left by train for war from Boonville in March 1862. Although the regiment experienced conflict, including the Battle of Second Manasas in its first months of service, it wasn't until mid-September that it received its real baptism of fire. The 97th was among 115,000 American soldiers involved in the Battle of Antietam, called Sharpsburg by the South. Early on the morning of September 17, 1862, Boonville's regiment, along with others in Brigadier General Abram Duryea's Brigade, led an initial attack from the north through farmer D.E. Miller's cornfield. This was the offensive thrust of James Rickett's Division, First Corps of the Army of the Potomac. Conservative estimates place the human cost of the battle at more than 23,000 casualties, the most suffered on a single day of conflict in this country's history -- before or since. On the evening of the 17th only 40 men were left unscathed and present for duty in the 97th. Strategically, Antietem marked the first occasion that Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was blunted in battle by Union forces. President Lincoln wisely used the stand-off as a political basis to issue his Emancipation proclamation. However, none of this was of immediate concern to Private Charles Harvey Hayden of the 97th NY because he found himself lying in the corn, shot through the body. Every Civil War soldier knew that men who were body shot had virtually no chance of survival. A mine ball had entered the pit of Charles'' stomach and exited under his arm. As serious and critical as this wound was, it did not prove mortal! Instead, Union field surgeons with advances in hospital care nursed him back to health over a period of many months. In fact, his health was sufficient to allow him to re-enlist in January of 1864. The letters and diary that have been handed sown are from Charles H. Hayden's extended period of convalescence. Almost all are written to his sister Laura. In them he expresses his personal reflections on the war, religion, politics, death, and her welfare. Since he was unmarried and they had lost their mother in earlier years, Laura became the central person representing home and family for Charles. Overwhelming events of the time obviously led the two siblings to a mutual commitment of faith and welfare. From the letters, it can be seen how their close bond gave each other strength. All letters closed asking for a timely response. The first two letters in the series are dated July 6 and 8, 1862, and were written before the major battles of Second Monasas and Antietam. In this first surviving letter Charles describes the regiment as having experienced artillery action and some fighting. He was understandably impressed. The second, longer letter reflects more on the hot months of summer and offers a unique window into general camp life. Camp Near Washington July 6th 1862 Dear Sister, I take opportunity to let you know that I am alive and my health is rather better than when I wrote you last. I have been under two cannonadings and one battle, and still my life is preserved. Write soon from your brother Charles H. Hayden Camp Near Warrenton July 8th 1862 Dear Sister, I received your letter this morning and was glad to hear from you, but was sorry to hear that you had been sick - I had almost given up hearing from you as I had written twice and received no answer - I am glad to hear that Pa is getting along so well. I hope that he may always prosper - I hope the acquaintances you are forming may prove for your happiness. Be sure your heart goes with your hand - I am glad Pa approves of him. I hope he may prove all you could wish - I am sorry that you have (a) disappointment but we are liable to be disappointed even in those we hold most dear - should you be disappointed again. I hope you may continue to live on and hope on striving to be a good girl - For I know the effect which disappointment is liable to have upon the mind. We have been encamped at (indistinguishable) Station for the last three or four weeks living very uncomfortable for Soldiers. We moved from there last Saturday to this place about twelve miles (away). The weather is so warm that it is hard marching now. Yesterday and the day before were the hottest days I think I ever saw. We have but little drilling now. Our drilling hours are from eight to ten and from five to seven o'clock - We live in little tents made of two pieces of cloth about one half as large as a sheet. Two of us button our pieces together and stretch it across whole boards in two crotches and this forms our tent - when we start on a march tent, blanket, oven coat, knapsack, gun and equipments forms a pretty good load but generally we get part of it carried - Since I began this letter I have been off and got all the cherries and black berries I could eat. The black and red cherries all we want - The water here is first rate and the country quite hilly - the place we left the country was level and the water poor. I do not know how many men we have here but several thousand making it look quite like a city when lit up at night. I and William Wright Settlement went out five miles beyond our lines the other day but saw no rebels. Took dinner without much reluctance got by some slaves consisting of hoe cake butter and milk. - You said you wish that I could be there to spend the fourth with you. I wish I could have been. I think we might have had a good time - You spoke of my getting a furlough without they are sick or to go home with the sickness - The railroad which had been damaged by the rebels has been repaired to this place which gives us quick communication with Washington. Direct Washington DC 97 REG NYSV CO K From your brother Henry Hayden

Canadian Currency and The American Jeep

Well, I found that my truck needs to have wheel bearings in the front passenger side tire, so next week I gotta get them installed. Lucky me, seeing as I just spent 1100 dollars getting everything else fixed up there. Oh well, life goes on. The baby is good, I am good, and Kates doing good, enjoying her new job back at the casino. Making lots of money, thank god. I got my review the other day and got another 3 percent raise. yeah me. Now hopefully they can change my hours to 4-12 so that we can move out of this house and get our own. hope, hope, hope. I found this really neat site called Where's George? At this site you can enter the serial number of any U.S. bill and see if anyone else has entered it and if they have it gives you information, like how far it has traveled and the speed of which it traveled from them to you. I knew about this site three years ago and just recently found it again in my bookmarks. Its a neat little site to screw around in. They also have a Canadian version called Where's Willy? It works the same as the Where's George? site only for Canadian currency.

Star Wars Episode III

Well, Kate talked me into going to the new Star Wars on Thursday. We went to the 7PM showing on Thursday, and I have to say that it was a very good movie. Showed and explained a lot of things that were just sitting there waiting to be explained. The effects in the beginning seemed a little off but then they picked up. You will see the one I thought was a little off in the beginning when a deck falls on an unconcious Obiwan and it moves him but his body moved like a manican not a limp human. The movie was great, the theatre was packed and the new theatres at Carousel were very nice, stadium seating, chairs that leaned back and aisles that wer big enough to let people through without much disturbance. That was especially important for someone as tall as I.

Creative Nomad MuVo

I have been using the MuVo for about three months now and I have to say that I really do enjoy it very much. I do have one additional complaint. I found out that the thing had fast forward and rewind, but th eonly problem with this is that to fast forward 10 minutes you need to hold onto the button for about 8 minutes. This may seem like an exageration, and it may very well be, but when you are trying to go through almost 2 hours of a show and it takes most of the ride to work to do it then I would say that its slow. But hey as long as you dont accidentally hit the skip button when you are attempting to pause the playback you are ok, otherwise hold onto your buttons, your in for one long ride.

Site Changes

Hello all, been a while since I last posted to this site. I finally had some time to update and add a few things. I also moved somethings around just so that I could add the news to the left side. I have updated my read list finally, there are a few books that I have read since it was last updated but I didnt add them all. I also added a few new links to other websites although at the time of this post there seems to be a problem with the This Week in Tech site. Its a relatively new site and the operator is adding things and trying new software so hopefully it'll be back up by the time you read this post. The Systm link is also not got too much on it right now, but it is going to be an in depth tech site. The creator said in another week or two the actual show should launch. It is going to be internet only and you will probably need to have a high speed internet connection to download it. They said it was going to be around 300 Mb per episode, so you could technically do it on dial up but it would need the entire night to download. The link to my site is there but I am not going to update that site till I move to another website host. That will probably happen in the next month or so, and then hopefully I can get it to do what I want a little easier instead of having to wait for an eternity to talk to a support person. Of course this could just be that I'm an idiot and am not doing something right, but the other one I am looking into is cheaper and offers a lot more and come highly recommended from a trusted source. I would like some feedback on what you think of the placement of the items. If you think I should move them just comment or email me, whichever. If you like the layout then please tell me that too. I also noticed that I have hit 500 visitors to the blog. not such a big deal for some of you but, I persoanlly think its a big deal.

Its spring and I was thinking about cleaning computers

I had this idea that has been in my brain lately and finally decided to ask your opinions on it. Would any of you would have interest in some one to come to your house and clean up your computer? Say this person would come to your house twice a month and would run anti-spyware programs, update your system and generally clean up the operating system, and if necessary do minor repairs or upgrades. I was just wondering, your responses would be greatly appreciated.

Creative Nomad MuVo

Audio Posts

Another new thing

big posting day this has been. I just wanted to tell you all that I now own a camera phone and as such I have created a Moblog. A Moblog, for those of you that dont know what it is, is a place where I can send pictures from my phone so that you can see them. Its a good way to share photos with all of you. Hopefully this one will be kept up better than these other two. I will add a link to the sidebar on the left. talk to you later joe

another sad announcement

This isnt a very good way to write to all of you but I felt that this was important enough to tell you about. Pope John Paul II has died today at approximatly 9:00 PM Vatican time, he was 84 yrs old.

Construction and Expansion Update

“Water is cascading down the glass walls that frame the center countain in The Garden at the resort. Behind those walls, work is progressing on two new retail shops. The one on the right as you face The Garden will feature jewelry and is slated to open around mid-April. The one on the left will be a gift shop. Walls in both shops have been painted and carpet has been laid in the jewelry shop. The former front desk area of the Hotel at Turning Stone has been enclosed with a temporary wall down to the junction of the Smokin' an Showroom corridors. Front desk operations for the Hotel and The Tower were merged two weeks ago, and the former Hotel front desk area is being converted into a new location for the Diamond Mine and Diamond Card registration desk on the gaming floor will be removed, making room for more Instant Multi-Game machines. Crews are busy on the top two floors of The Tower, finishing the seven VIP suited and Club two.one, the new paid-membership restaurant. Some of the suites feature balconies overlooking the resort and surrounding countryside, and all have marble-encased bathrooms with designer fixtures, seperate showers and tubs, and backlit vanity mirrors. Some also will be outfitted with hot tubs. In Club two.one, most of what remains to be done is finishing work. Three enormous blue glass chandeliers have been hung over the bar in the lounge, and the private booths in the lounge have been outfited with glass-beaded wall coverings that glitter in the light. Elsewhere, the restaurant features a private dining room for 10 with a private balcony, as well as a private lounge with a fireplace. Both the VIP suites and Club two.one are expected to open around May 1. Work also is continuing on the new warehouse on Route 31 south of Route 365, behind the SavOn Diesel station. The 21,600-square-foot warehouse will be equipped for dry and cold storage, allowing the Purchasing Department to take advantage of bulk discounts for a variety of supplies from vendors.”

AIM has new terms of service

According to an article in Slashdot, AIM has changed their Terms of Service so that AOL can use whatever is said in a conversation is not private. A sample paragraph reads as such: "...by posting Content on an AIM Product, you grant AOL, its parent, affiliates, subsidiaries, assigns, agents and licensees the irrevocable, perpetual, worldwide right to reproduce, display, perform, distribute, adapt and promote this Content in any medium. You waive any right to privacy." You can get to the article by clicking the title of this post. Just thought that you might want to know this.

Construction and Expansion Update

“The front desk operations for the Hotel and Tower at Turning Stone were mreged last week, with all check-in services now located in the Tower lobby off The Garden. Bell and valet parking services are available at botht heold hotel lobby entrance and The Garden. The elevators next to Opalss Too in The Garden provide additional access to the origional hotel, as well as to the new VIP players' lounge that overlooks The Garden. The front desk area for the origional hotel was closed in last week and will be the new home for the Diamond Mine and Diamond Card registration desk. The bell station will be moved next to the main elevators across from the Emerald so it is readily accessible for guests. The front desk merger required alterations to the service area behind the Tower front desk to accommodate the increase in baggage. A service hallway and closet were converted to double the size of the baggage storage room. Work on the third-floor fitness center in the Tower has been progressing. The 65-foot lap pool and the hot tub are filled with water; both are 'infinity pool' designs, so the water comes over the outer edge, spilling into grates, and gives the suface the appearance of a sheet of glass. The equipment room is complete, and the redesigned locker rooms are under construction. The fitness center also will feature a lounge area between the equipment room and the pool room, as well as limited retail displays. The Spa at Turning Stone also has been getting a facelift. The ceiling in the pool room and the stone work around the hot tub are being replaced, and both are being painted. The work is expected to be completed by mid-week. When the fitness center opens in the next few weeks, the spa will undergo more renovations. Crews will build a seperate entrance to the pool room inside the main entrance to the spa. When the exercise equipment is moced to the fitness center, new treatment rooms will be added to the spa, increasing the total number of treatment rooms from four to nine. One of the new rooms will be equipped with a shower so the spa can offer body treatments and rubs. Three of the rooms will be dual-purpose, allowing staff to offer either massage or facials in those rooms.”

Construction and Expansion Update

“Opals Too has opened in The Garden, offering Starbucks coffee and many favorites from the main Opals. Tables and chairs line that end of The Garden, and the two-story windows and skylights combine with the palm trees and plants to give guests the feeling of sitting at an outdoor cafe. The glass display cases at Opals Too burst with cookies, muffins, croissants and donuts, as well as tempting desserts like tiramisu, citrus mreringue tarts, cannoli, cheesecake and mini bundt cakes. Opals Too is open from 7 a.m. To 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 7 a.m. To midnight Friday, and 7 a.m. To 1 a.m. Saturday. The walls of the new retail shops in the first floor rotunda of The Garden were painted last week, and light fixtures have been installed in each. Tucked beneath curved glass walls that frame the center fountain, the new shops will feature jewelry and seasonal gifts. The stores are slated to open in the next several weeks. Demolition of the old employee cafeteria began last week and will continue this week. Crews cut an opening in the outside wall near the coolers to facilitate removal of debris, and a plywood barrier has been erected in front of the entrance to restrict access and reduce the amount of dust coming into the corridors. Ceiling tiles have been taken down and crews last week were removing the drywall. Over the next few months, the cafeteria will be expanded and redesigned to promote more convenient service for employees.”

Here is a better one that you can actually see her in her true color with her mouth open and tongue half out, which she really seems interested in doing most of the day 

I would like to introduce everyone to my daughter Shariann Marie. 

Shariann Marie Rowlands

If you didnt get the hint from the title of this post our little girl has finally arrived into the world. all healthy and happy and adorable as hell. she was born on Thursday the 17th of Feb at 12:15 PM and she weighed in at 8 lbs. 6 oz. and was 21 inches long. Redish hair and blue eyes. Both mom and baby are doing great, both sleeping when i left them for the day (maybe, i might go back, i feel bad enough leaving htem there just to come home and take a shower). as soon as i have pictures i will be putting them up so i can be the proud pappa and show off my baby girl. talk to you later joe

The News of News

Well, the time has finally arrived. Katie is going to the hospital this evening at 7 and twelve hours later she is going to be induced. At 700 AM tomorrow morning Dr. Cooley will start inducing Katie so that the little one, Shariann Marie can finally make her way into this world. As you can probably deduce, I will be a little preoccuppied with them both and won't be here for a few days. As soon as I get pictures of the little one I will have them up here for all of you to look at and see what I have been talking about for the last 9 months. Ok now i am really getting excited, but i need to take a nap, short one so that i will be able to sleep tonight. anyways, wish us luck and hopefully tommorrow night we will have a new addition to our family. Good luck to you all and Talk to you later Joe

Construction and Expansion Update

“The new Esentials 3, the largest and fanciest of the Essentials shops at Turning Stone, opened last Saturday in time for the Brooks & Dunn concert at the Event Center. The new store offers more resort logo items, as well as the usual magazines, snacks, bottles drinks and sundries of Essentials and Essentials too. Essentials 3 is open 24 hours and has a staff of 15. it features gold-toned wallpaper and carpeting matching that in the Event Center's main corridor, as well as wooden shelvingsimilar to that in the pro shop at Shenendoah Clubhouse. The main entrance, is always open; another entrance, facing the Event Center coridor, can be opened when there are activities in the arena. Work continues elsewhere around the resort. The temporary wall off the elevator foyer, which seperated the far end of The Garden from the Smokin' corridor, has been removed. When work is completed on the elevator foyer, the new Opals in The Garden will open. Also last week, crews were erecting the walls for the temporary entrance to the new Golf Dome, next to the resort's cogeneration plant at the corner of Patrick and Snyder roads. The Golf Dome is slated to open in the next several weeks. Work has begun on the new warehouse for the resort's Purchasing Department on Route 31 behind the SavOn Diesel. Crews began erecting the skeleton for the warehouse earlier this month. The new warehouse is a modular design to allow for expansion as needed; it will provide much needed dry and refrigerated storage space, allowing the resort to lower its per-unit costs on dozens of items.

Construction and Expansion Update

“Work is progressing quickly on the spacious new SavOn store in Verona Beach. The brick 'fireplace' for the new Stone Hearth Bakery & Deli food outlet takes up one corner of the approximately 4,200-square-foot building, and rose-colored granite countertops have been installed in the Stone Hearth area and the check-out counter. Tobacco products will be displayed in the room behind the main counter, consistent with SavOn's policy of restricting access for minors. Last week, Telecommunications staff were installing and testing alarm systems and telephones. Outside, pumps for gas and diesel have been installed and will accept both credit cards and cash. The store is scheduled to open later this month. At Turning Stone, work continues on portions of The Garden. Last week, crews were finishing the drywall in one of the two retail shop areas in the ground-floor rotunda; display cases should be ready to install this week. At the far end of The Garden, workers are priming and painting the elevator foyer next to the new Opal's, which is slated to open when work on the elevators is completed. Redesign of the fitness center on the third floor of The Tower is complete, and the resort is seeking bids from contractors to complete the work. When completed, the center will offer cardiovascular and weight-training equipment, a 65-foot lap pool and hot tub, a stretching room, and men's and women's locker rooms equipped with saunas and showers. When The Tower's fitness center opens, the exercise space in the current spa will be converted to provide additional treatment rooms. That redesign is expected to be complete in later June. Meanwhile, plans for the new spa adjacent to The Lodge are in the final stages, with groundbreaking planned for late spring.”

Construction and Expansion Update

“The new Opal's location in The Garden is completed, but its opening is being postponed while crews continue work on the new elevator foyer next to it. The elevators will provide private access to the new players' lounge, and workers were still installing and finishing shetrock and other elements of the foyer last week. The new Opa's will offer Starbucks coffee and a selection of popular muffins, cookies and candy. Elsewhere in The Garden, the holiday poinsettas have been replaced with sping-evoking bromeliad, which are members of the pineapple family and have thick, stifff leaves and bright-flowered spikes. The bromeliad surround the bases of the palm trees throughout The Garden. Plants in The Garden are changed periodically to enhance a feeling of freshness for guests. Work continues on the new retail shops that are tucked behind the twin waterfalls, on either side of the small ground-floor rotunda. Recessed track lighting has been installed in one of the stores, and mechanical and electrical work in both shops appears to be nearly complete. Plans call for the shops to offer fine jewelry and seasonal gifts. Work also is continuing in portions of the Event Center. While most of the meeting rooms have been open since late fall, crews are still working on one glass enclosed room off the main corridor, next to the restrooms. Crewas last week were hanging sheetrock in that room, which is shaped something like a trapezoid. Utility crews were out at the Golf Dome site last week, working on the facilities infrastructure. The dome will be the premier indoor golf practice facility in the region and is slated to open sometime in February.”

Construction and Expansion Update

"The first Stone Hearth Bakery & Deli, a new food franchise created by the SavOn chain, opened at the Canastota SavOn last week, along with an Abbott's Frozen Custard outlet. Crews have spent the last several months converting the space next to the tobacco area for the new franchise, which deatures hot panini sandwiches, fresh-baked breads, cookies, and muffins, soups, and homemade potato chips. A large stone 'fireplace' is the centerpice of the Stone Hearth, which eventually will be introduced at other SavOn locations. Last weeks cold weather didn't slow down work on the new SavOn in Verona Beach. Workers were installing siding and windows for the store, and the glass-enclosed foyer was in place by midweek. The new store will feature the Stone Hearth Bakery & Deli, with hot and cold sandwiches, soups, homemade potato chips, fresh-baked breads and Signature Salads. Outside, patrons will find 12 fueling stations, including a diesel island. The new SavOn could open as early as mid-February. The new Opals in The Garden was close to opening last week. Equipment has been installed in the back room and workers were beginning final clean-up of the area last week. The outlet will offer pre-packaged fudge, a selection of fresh pastries, and some of Opals' most popular confections, as well as Starbucks coffee. Workers were finishing the drywall in the elevator foyer adjacent to the new Opals last week. The elevators will provide private access tot he new player's lounge on the second floor, where five guest rooms of the origional hotel are being converted. The lounge will include a private balcony overlooking The Garden. Installation of new signs around the resort continued last week, with permanent signs being erected on the main boulevard for the parking garage and on Patrick Road for the Golf Dome, which is slated to open next month. In the next few weeks, the employee cafeteria will move temporarily into the old Garden Buffet, which closed when Season's Harvest opened Jan. 14. The employee cafeteria will be renovated and expanded to accomodate the resort's growing workforce. After the renovations are done, plans call for creation of six quick-serve restaurants with a variety of foods in a portion of the former Garden Buffet."

Another Star is Gone

It was reported this morning that Johnny Carson formerly of the Tonight Show, has died at the age of 79 from emphysema. An article about him is here with nothing but good things to say about him from the entertainment industry. Another one is here

Gmail

Well, I seem to have finally gotten onto the gmail account bandwagon. to tell you the truth, I love it. I would assume just because it is something new. I have been using yahoo for so long that I just wanted something new and gmail has done it. Im sure it will get old but for the time being I am loving it. I really enjoy the way they let you set up how you are going to save your messages. I still haven't used all the features and am still figuring out others and looking at all the stuff. I wont really use it all that much because I am using it for only personal email from friends and family, and I dont really get that much mail from all of them at one time. I still use my yahoo account for all that other stuff that I have signed up for in the last 8 years. Now I have only been a member for 4 days or so and I have already gotten 4 invites, so if anyone wants a gmail account just send a message to my Yahoo! account with the subject of Gmail invites and you can have one. Nothing else is new so I will talk to you all later. Joe

ACAL Article

This was an article that was in last weeks issue of the Boonville Herald. It's an article that deals with the landfill that they are attempting to build in the nearby town of Ava. It shows some of the statements that were made in another article by OHSWA to be false or at the very least inaccurate. By Jacki Chamberlain On November 5, Susan Eilenberg, editor/publisher of the Rome Observer, wrote an editorial from a press release she had received from Adirondack Communities Advisory League (ACAL). A response to the editorial was submitted by Oneida-Herkimer Solid Waste Authority (OHSWA) chairman Lou Critelli and printed in the December 3 edition of the Rome Observer. The Following is my response to his letter (which has been edited fro space): Dear Mr. Critelli: I wish to address your unfair accusations of ACAL and the repeated misinformation presented in your letter to Ms. Eilenburg. It is important for the general public to know the facts with regard to the Ava landfill, not your personal interpretation of them. After nearly 12 years of interaction between ACAL and OHSWA, I am surprised you are not familiar with ACAL's purpose by now. The 'Adirondack Communities Advisory League (ACAL) is a nonprofit organization formed in 1993 to conserve and protect the air, water, land, and wildlife indigenous to Northern Oneida County, preserve the existing beauty of the area, as well as inform the public of its 12-year resistance to keep a landfill out of its local townships.' ACAL receives its funds from donations and local fund-raising events, such as community dinners and bake sales. In June 2004, OHSWA began construction on the landfill access road. In addition to destroying natural wetlands by creating 'man made wetlands,' your expertise as an engineer neglected to forsee the extreme weather conditions or the excessive amounts of water naturally occurring in the southwest region of the Tug Hill Plateau.. As a result, your first attempts at building the access road failed. The roadbed had to be dug up and reconstructed. In your letter to Ms. Eilenberg, you listed 11 of 'ACAL's latest claims.' 1) 'The fact they [Rodman] don't have the capacity, haven't staffed the process to permit new capacity, and have stated they don't intend to import waste.' Why does OHSWA and Senator Meier insist there is no 'Rodman alternative' when DANC expanded the Rodman facility in September 1998 to accept garbage within a 100-mile radius of their facility, including Oneida-Herkimer counties? Why has OHSWA continued to spend millions of dollars to sire the Ava landfill when the Rodman facility has been able to take their garbage for the past six years? 2) 'It would actually cost Oneida-Herkimer $4 million per year more to go to Rodman.' After public discussions, Congressmen Dave Townsend and Daryl Aubertine requested an audit of OHSWA by the New York State Comptroller's office to verify OHSWA's allegations. The audit, which began in early November, could take several months to complete. 3) 'Over 100 monitoring wells were installed and proved the sites' suitability beyond any doubt.' Does the public know that no such monitoring wells were dug in ANY of the other potential landfill sites? 4) 'Comprehensive tests were evaluated by two independent divisions of DEC and both concluded no such aquifer is present' is an incorrect statement. A confined or artesian aquifer exists on the landfill site. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, 'Contaminants that reach a confined aquifer through a poorly constructed well or through natural seepage, can be extremely difficult and expensive to remove.' 5) 'Appeals to DEC and the State Freshwater Wetland Appeal Board (FWAB) have confirmed there is no basis to upgrade the wetlands.' The fact that Class II wetlands exists on the sire is plenty of reason not to build a landfill in Ava. 6) 'A state Supreme Couff [court] Decision confirmed that the park designation did not stand and the Authority had the right to move forward with development.' As an appointed authority of New York State, OHSWA has the power of eminent domain. Despite Ava'a effort to create a town park, OHSWA has taken nearly 100 acres of land from the Town of Ava and ACAL. 7) 'Studies over three consecutive years found no such species [threatened birds].' Although the upland sand piper and harrier have nest areas near the landfill site, the DEC will not protect endangered species unless they live on the site. No consideration of future air, water and land pollution, truck traffic and machinery noise were included in the DEC decisions. 8) '$100,000 of studies and field investigations identified no such graves.' Why are OHSWA paid archaeologists presently digging on the landfill sit looking for those graves you say don't exist? 9) 'A State Supreme Couff [court] Decision confirmed no such permits are required' is an incorrect statement. Oneida County Court Judge Hester has not yet made a ruling as to whether OHSWA has to comply with Town or local laws anywhere in New York State. In other words, no town could protect itself and its citizens from the power of an authority. 10) 'Investigations by the DEC, engineers and staff all found the washout was due to natural causes.' The beaver dam on the landfill site burst between the hours of 6 and 7p.m. on August 19, 2004, after construction crews left for the day and before the OHSWA paid Sheriff's patrol officer arrived. Despite evidence showing land and aerial photographs oh OHSWA construction equipment just feet from the beaver dam, dead brook trout along the banks of the Moose Creek, and a Lewis County resolution requesting an investigation of the potential contamination of the Sugar and Black Rivers, the DEC did not complete any further investigations. 11) 'The Authority enabling statute prohibits the acceptance of any waste from outside Oneida-Herkimer.' Despite your weak attempts to convince the public OHSWA will not take New York City waste, you have neglected to mention that rules, regulations and permits can be changed. One of ACAL's greatest fears is the Ava landfill will open and Oneida County, unable to afford the multi-million dollar debt created by OHSWA, will be forced to seel the landfill. Once that occurs, garbage can be imported from all over the United States and Canada. In a recent press release by New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, he issued a series of recommendations to the City's waste problem [paraphrased]: New York City should...consider purchasing access to, or the development rights of, existing landfills in Upstate New York to increase in-state disposal capacity...partner with the DEC to consider building new disposal capacity in New York State...evaluate purchasing permitted but underutilized landfills in other parts of the country near rail or water transportation to provide long-term disposal capacity for its waste. It is obvious New York City has a problem and the Ava landfill would help to eliminate it. If OHSWA doesn't have future plans of accepting 'imported waste,' then why have they acquired nearly 700 acres of land for a 150-acre landfill? There also appears to be no coincidence Senator Ray Meier has secured a $500,000 grant to improve rail system from Utica to Boonville. And what about the canal system? Will New Yorkers see garbage barges on the Hudson, Mohawk and Black rivers in the future/ It is time for all citizens to stop authorities from making decisions that once belonged to New Yorkers. Please help ACAL stop the Ava landfill in 2005. Jacki Chamberlain is the communications chairperson for ACAL. She also owns Grandpa's Desk Tutoring in Boonville and is the COOP Weather Observer for the Jackson Hill Weather Station, Boonville."

Construction and Expansion Update

"Turning Stone guests now have more options for getting around the resort. The smal rotunda in The Garden is now open, providing access to the gaming floor and the corridor leading to the Showroom and Conference Center. The glass walls on either side of the fountain are finished, and the marble pedestal in the rotunda fountain is ready to recieve the glass sculpture. Behind the walls, work continues on the new retail shops, which will offer fine jewelry and seasonal gifts. Work also is progressing on the new Opals pastry and coffee shop at the far end of The Garden. Glass display cases have arrived, and crews are working on the back room. The shop will be modeled after a sidewalk cafe, with patio style seating around the canopied counterfront. In Season's Harvest, the expanded and upgraded buffet restaurant, crews are putting the finishing touches on the serving area. Last week, work focused on the center serving island; glass sheilds and shelves and permanent serving fixtures were being installed. The hostess station at the netrance has been topped with granite and tiles, and tables and chairs have arrived for all the various dining areas. Furniture also has arrived at the Rodizio Churrascaria, the new Brazillian steakhouse on the mezzanine level. Wood and leather bar stools and plush orange side chairs can be seen in the bar area, and chairs and some tables are in the dining areas. waiting for final placement. On Jan. 1, about 100 VIP guests were treated to samples from the Rodizio menu, ad Chef de Cuisine Ruben Lopez said the South AMerican food 'was very well recieved.' Both Rodizio and Season's HArvest are scheduled to open withing the next few weeks. The concrete perimeter for the new Golf Dome, at the corner of Snyder and Patrick Roads, is close to completion, and equipment has been brought in to level the ground inside the perimeter. The Golf Dome is the first phase of a planed indoor sports complex at Turning Stone, which also will feature a tennis dome and a small clubhouse. The Golf Dome is slated for a February opening."

Personal Update

Sorry about the lack of posting, apparently my life is going to be busy from here on out. Go figure. Well, just to bring you up to date. Katie is out of work now till after her 6 weeks is up after the baby is born. She just couldnt handle working it was making her tired and she hurt all over. The baby has grown to 6 pounds already and she is only 34 weeks into her 40 weeks. The baby now known as Shariann Marie maybe born anytime in the next month. Getting excited and worried and all the new parents things. The doctor said everything was fine with Katie and Shariann so its all good there. Katie just cant wait till she can get the bay out of her so that she can sleep a little better, as good as you can sleep with a new born. Work is going great. We are starting to make more and more breads as the new restaurants come online. You can read about that in my weekly Construction and Expansion Updates. There should be another one coming today or tomorrow, whenever I get around to typing it. We had a meeting yesterday at the casino and they are going to start doing something similar to a stock option plan. Only it cant be that because they are not publically owned and I dont see that in the future. What it means is that I can get money from the casino with what ever shares I have with the company. The employees dont have to put a penny into it, they automatically get shares every year. If the nation does good then so do we. So starting in 7 years I will get another check for what ever my shares are worth at that time. Its gonna be great I cant wait. we are supposed to recieve our first shares in the next 30 days. Can't wait for that. Nothing else is new here. If you havent noticed with the last two posts before this I was up this morning and very opinionated. Maybe there will be more of them maybe not, depends on my moods and what I find that may interest me to write about. I did a little bit of tweaking this morning too. Most of the stuff I have planned on adding but had not had the time to get around to. Most of it was just adding more links and fixing some of the things that I hadnt done right the first time. I also recently started to write a story that I started waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay back in high school. I don't remember where in the world the origional is right now so I just started over. I may start putting it up in a blog or something just for the fun of it. I dont really know. Probably not but we will see. If I do then I will put up a link for it and tell you about it. Talk to you later Joe FYI: A hummingbird's heart beats 1,400 times a minute.

An Article By Lawrence Lessig About Copyright Laws

Its a good article claiming that if the government wants to increase the copyright laws every twenty years they should at least make it so that if a copyright holder wants an extention then they have to pay a small fee to renew the copyright instead of just saying all copyrights are good another 20 years. They have done this 11 times and we can no longer, without permission republish anything from 1923 to the present. Most of the things from back then are not being used and are not viable to make money to any company or person. Another article that I read said that a University was trying to put all the old newspapers from their state online, but they can't because it would be a violation of copyright laws. Most of the papers in that state from 1923 have gone out of business and the next question they asked was: How can we find the owner of the rights if the paper is closed and no one knows who has the rights? So I guess we all have to be resigned tot he fact that these papers will forever be forgotten and all the news that was anything newsworthy from the time period of 1923 and on will be lost, because someone is too money hungry to let it go. I would like to thank the US Government again for doing what the people want and not what the industry wants. Good work to you.

The Presidential Inauguration

There was a story on Yahoo!, and many other news sites on the internet, about the Inauguration of the President and how much it would cost in just donations. That number is at $40 million. Hello, does the President really need another inaguration when he has already had one 4 years ago. Some of the things that the articles says you could buy with that money seem a lot more practical: -Two hundred armored Humvees with the best armor for troops in Iraq. -Vaccinations and preventive health care for 22 million children in regions devastated by the tsunami. -A down payment on the nation's deficit, which hit a record-breaking $412 billion last year. Don't you think these sound a lot better than just 40 million on a bunch of parties that most of the average Americans couldn't afford to go to, let alone really want to go to. I personally believe they are just a way to get a vote from the industries favorite canidates, not just the President. A total waste of donations that can be better served helping us and others around the world. I could be wrong but again this is just my opinion. Joe

Construction and Expansion Update

"Crews have been doing site work for a new purchasing warehouse on Route 31, across from the entrance to the employee parking lot. The facility will allow the Purchasing Department to make bulk purchases from vendors for both dry goods and frozen and refrigerated items, this lowering the per-unit cost. The building has a modular design so it can be expanded as needed. Crews from the Facilities, Entertainment, Telecommunications, Marketing and other departments spent last week preparing for the New Year's Eve 'Knight of Nights' celebration throughout the resort. The Event Center was converted into a jousting arena, and horses, owls, falcons, and other birds of prey moved into the Event Center last Tuesday to get acclimated to their new surroundings and rehearse for the big show. Yellow, green, prurple and maroon bunting was used to decorate the Event Center inside and out, and a cactle wall was erected in front of the Conference Center, complete with suits of armor guarding the entrances to the Onieda and Mohawk rooms. New baffles have been installed in hte wide pre-function corridor around the Event Center's main floor, and other baffles will be installed inside the facility to improve concert acoustics. The VIP boxes are about 80 percent complete now, awaing final installation of some amenities like microwave ovens and refrigerators. The last vestiges of the temporary wall seperating The Garden from the main gaming floor have been removed, and crews last week were painting the permanent walls in the corridor leaing from the gaming floor to the Showroom. In the small rotunda of The Garden, crews continue working on the new retail shops and installing floor tiles behind the glass water walls on either side of the rotunda. Workers spent much of last week setting tables and chairs on the terrace and in the dining areas of the new buffet restaurant in The Garden. Stairs from the main entrance to the dining areas have been carpeted, and artwork for the restaurant has arrived and was waiting to be hung last week. The new SavOn building at Verona Beach has been enclosed, and plastic sheeting and tar paper now protect the roof and outer walls from the elements. Gas pumps also have been installed beneath the canopies. The new store will open in the spring, offering expanded services like diesel fuel and more food options."

Cheap DSL in Germany

I reported from The Register that a German DSL provider has been able to sell its DSL for 3.99 euro's a month ($5.40 US). Now I dont understand why our DSL and Cable is still so damn high. In Korea they have cheap DSL and apparently now in Germany. There seems to be no reason other than Corporate greed to stop us from getting cheap highspeed internet. Hopefully in the next few years the prices can come down. Any thoughts? Talk to you later Joe