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Monday, January 31, 2011

Intelligent funny little creature

Now I know what I want for Christmas this year, to bad it has just been my birthday.

This Roboquad just looks so cool, an intelligent robotic animal, I have heard that more then $1 million dollars has been spent in developing the technology.
unique movements and an advanced sensor array. Change his Awareness,
Activity or Aggression levels to completely alter his personality and
behaviors.
Control him with the full function remote and watch him react to light.
Roboquad has an extended battery life for prolonged missions.

I could be fun having such a robot running around on the flow, figuring out its environments then walk and react with those settings.
The price is even affordable at $151.64

20 Months!


Somehow I got away from doing monthly updates, but today Jake is 20 months, which I think warrants a blog post! I've been waiting for this month. I remember with Samantha that between 20-22 months her gross motor skills became much more steady and that we didn't have to be right on top of her at the playground. Jake is looking much more stable these days as well. He is up and down the stairs, climbing over furniture, running, and doing this funny half jump/skip on his tip toes.
Jake is talking a lot. He says something for almost every word, but I think that anyone else wouldn't really understand what he is trying to say. We can't even be sure 100% of the time what he is saying, but he is talking. When he isn't talking he is screaming. He is loud. If he doesn't get what he wants, he screams. Yesterday we were at the grocery store and Chris and I split up with one kid each and somehow whoever was with me ended up screaming and every time Chris could hear them clear across the store! I just kept shopping and acting like I didn't hear them screaming.
Jake takes after his dad when it comes to eating. He will be eating and slow down to the point where I think oh, he must be done eating. So, I got to wipe him up and all of a sudden he has more food in his hands. Then, 5 seconds later he is part of the clean plate club. Often times Jake will be done with his food and he'll finish off what Samantha didn't eat. He could literally sit at the table for 45 minutes eating because he just takes his good old time! I think he is in for a growth spurt because he has been sleeping and eating pretty well.
Jake is very interesting in sitting on the potty. I think that when Samantha toilet trains we will probably just go ahead and have Jake use the potty too because he just wants to do everything that his sister does! (just a side note that Samantha starts preschool tomorrow...the teachers said we should wait to do any potty training until she starts school and gets acclimated to her environment; so, I would say that at the end of February we will begin with potty training!)
I just can not believe that my little baby boy is going to be 2 in 4 months! One of our babysitters was here the other day and she was saying to Samantha that she had to go get the baby (Jake was waking up from a nap). Samantha said to her, "there are no babies here, just Jake and Jake is a big boy!"

*The photo above was taken at the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh. The kids and I went there last week to see the exhibit Fins and Feathers: Original Children's Book Illustrations from the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. Overall I was disappointed in the exhibit, but the museum as a whole was very interesting. There was also an exhibit on Norman Rockwell and the chairs that the kids are sitting in above was a set up of the "Front Porch", which, like Rockwell's images, "takes you back to a simpler time, a world with fewer distractions, when life seemed to move a little more slowly."

Sunday, January 30, 2011

CONFERENCE AT THE M.O.D.


These are some random pictures from the legal conference that we gave at the Afghan Ministry of Defense (their Pentagon). The biggest lesson I learned is that our method of teaching (i.e., giving Powerpoint presentations/lectures) doesn't go over very well with their culture. It's not that the information isn't good, it's just that they have a different learning style. It's more of a discussion rather than a one way exchange. The Afghans would often ask questions completely off the topic being taught. That's not a criticism, it just showed that they had specific areas that they wanted to know more about. I think that in the future we should basically have a "round table" or "town hall" type of setting so they can ask their many thoughtful questions.


A picture of the "circle" in downtown Kabul. I think that's a picture of Mossoud, an Afghan leader who fought against the Taliban and was killed by them on Sept 1o, 2001. He is revered by the Afghans.

Me at Camp Eggers, where we stayed during the MOD conference. The base was put on alert that night so that's the reason for the body armor. But as you can see, "No worries." I'm giving the "thumbs up" for my friend Brian. (AAAAYYY!!!)

Camp Alamo

Camp Alamo is the home of the Training Assistance Group (TAG) and it's where I will live for the duration of my tour. We are adjacent to the Kabul Military Training Center (KMTC). We are giving "training assistance" to the staff at KMTC, which for lack of a better comparison, is like Afghanistan's West Point. This is where officers and NCOs are trained. Almost every level has an American, Canadian, British, Romanian and (formerly) French advisor.

My job is to mentor the chief legal officer and help him implement military justice. Many judical concepts are brand new to the Afghans, so it's a challenging job.

Note the weapons clearing barrels. You must drop your magazine and clear your weapon every time you enter to clear all live rounds. Failure to do this can lead to a negligent discharge (ND) and land you in hot water. We do keep weapons on us 24/7. I imagine that it will be strange when I get home not to have a weapon strapped to my leg all of the time.
You can often see the Afghan soldiers drilling. They are interesting to watch, because their marching technique is just like the Soviet style, with a goose step and a lot of stomping. You can see the NCO leading them on the left.
The Afghans must burn anything they can get to keep warm. Unfortunately this sometimes includes automobile and truck tires which creates a heavy haze.
Here is a picture of my bunk now. Not much different from the other bunks you've seen. Fortunately the top one isn't taken. My back is against the wall as I'm taking this pic so you can get a feel of how tight the space is. As I said yesterday, I'm still living out of the duffels. As my brother Michael would say, I'm living "prison style" with no sheets. I actually prefer the sleeping bags that we were issued. I can't complain. We have soldiers in the field living outside in zero degrees on the front lines.
Finally, you can see my office. I had the sign professionally made. Can you smell the lead based paint? I can't either. My sense of smell has been obliterated by it. Note the ever present weapon and body armor. Today I was sitting at my desk while the Navy Seabees were working on renovations upstairs. They were banging around so hard that a florescent light fell out of the ceiling onto my head!! If you've ever busted a florescent light you know what that's like! I thought I'd been shot. I called it a day after that.
See you tomorrow. Good night (or day I guess on your side of the world).

MORE PICTURES




THE BONEYARD


This is just a small portion of "The Boneyard" - a vast field covered with old Soviet tanks, artillery pieces, trucks and military junk in general. This is also just outside our FOB. I will post more detailed pictures later. You have to see this stuff to believe it.

Fun USB gadget mouse in wheel


This is just to cute to miss out on.
Make computer typing more fun with this mouse in a wheel usb device.
Just plug it in, install the software, and use your computer as you are use to, and when you type the mouse will run in the wheel, and even with a different speed, the faster you type the faster the mouse will run.
This could be a great laugh at the office, or even at home for a while. Useful? no, fun? very.

Saturday, January 29, 2011

This Sun Is Blinding!

Cool gadget Futuristic Dice LED Watch

Cool gadget Futuristic Dice LED Watch
This is a very nice, trendy and cool wrist watch i stumbled across today, it looks really awesome, and futuristic.
The watch can be found in 3 different colors (Black, Silver and Gold), with 3 different led display colors (Green, Red and Yellow) as shown in the image above, giving you the time and date in digital numbers like dices.
Although it quite expensive its a really cool gadget.

Thursday, January 27, 2011

Introducing Baby Bryn(n)

Jury is still out on the spelling but we are thrilled to welcome baby Bryn(n) Elizabeth born yesterday to Kara, Josh and Avery!! She is a premie weighing in under 3 pounds! Mom and baby are doing well!

Useful Hightech Turbo drink cooler gadget



This will just be the greatest thing this summer, on a hot summer day you are all drained out, run to the refrigerator, WHAT? nothing cool to drink...
This may just do the trick, it can cool down a bottle of liquid within 4 minutes, and a bear in 90 seconds.

So if you get one of these this summer you don't have to urge to desperate measures and kill your neighbor to get a cool drink.
To add a little subjective opinion, its got a pretty fin slim design, looks something like a ghetto blaster.

Wednesday, January 26, 2011

Breaking It In!

We brought the kitchen upstairs this morning. A mess was created in record time!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Friday!


















Bobby and Niko are at it again. Great tunes from great dudes!

Flowers for Me!

Today the doorbell rang and these flowers arrived for me from Chris, Sammy and Jake! What's the occasion? They love me!

Tripod mp3 speaker Great design




This is a really cool tech gadget, A small mp3 speakers device.

You can fold it together so its not larger then a pen, and fold it out putting it on the table where ever you are and share your mp3 music with friends through these great design speakers.
With just two AAA batteries this tripod mp3 speaker will provider up to 10 hours of music.

This is an ideal product for a vacation where you want to share your music in a car, on the beach, or where ever you may think.
Acturlly one of the best things about it I think is the briliant design.

Monday, January 24, 2011

Your favorite junkfood as USB Memory Stick




Now you can get your favorite junkfood as an USB memory stick.
These small USB devices acturlly looks quite appetizing, I get kind of hungry just by looking at them.
We have seen alot of different looking usb memory stick lately. I have also blogged about another memory stick design for some time ago, called the wooden memory stick.
It has become a new trend to have a unique and funny USB stick, the specs are not that interesting anymore, its the looks of it, and this one does live up to the standart of a unique cool usb design.
Its avaliable in 256mb, 512mb, 1GB, 2GB

Sunday, January 23, 2011














D A S H !
P R E G N A N T
C R U I S E R
Z A C N E L S O N ( H E X L O V E )
R O B W A L M A R T

S U N D A Y J A N . 2 3
9 P M















Great weirdo projects coming through this Monday. Lazer Zeppelin is a rad one from Olympia that is kind of like if Ariel Pink and Carter Family had a baby. Warped folk in the best way. Also joining the bill late in the game will be Toning, the new project from Cody Brant who you may know from Flaspar days. Should be a great night. Come on by!

Fun Clock Projector Keyring


This is a fun little cheap gadget, this is quite fun, I have seen them as clocks standing on a desk projecting the time on the wall, now you can have it as an projector in a key ring.
All you need to do is to point it at a wall and press, then it will light up and area projecting the time or date. It even has a second counter.

And it is also quite cheap. $12.95

Saturday, January 22, 2011

Wooden USB memory stick



Okay there is not much new on the technology side with this thing, but a very cool and creative design.

An USB memory stick looking like a wooden stick. Plug it to your computer USB port and it will look like a wooden stick grow from your USB port.
Not to mention their individual and unique design, because they are handmade, so not two will look the same.
Very funny indeed.

Its available as 256 mb, 512 mb, 1GB and 2GB storage.

Friday, January 21, 2011

The Darndest Things!

I often find myself looking at Samantha questioning where she would have heard something that she just said, or wondering if it really could be something that Chris or I say. I thought these two exchanges were quite funny.
  • Last week Samantha and Jake were helping me to clean up Lego's and put them away in a bag. Samantha happened to only be wearing a diaper at the time and after we were done cleaning up the Lego's, she began scratching at her chest and arms. Me: "Are you okay? You have a little itch?" Sam: "I have a little itch...(insert dramatic pause)...from that clean-up" Seriously? Feigning an allergic reaction to cleaning up? How convenient!
  • Today while the 3 of use were playing. Samantha: "Hey Everyone!" (said to me and Jake) "Let's go in my room! There's many-a-toy to play with there!"

Be a mobile bartender



First of, I know this is a quite expencive equipment, but you will get quality for the price of $720.

First of a professional briefcase of aluminum. First of in the briefcase a compartment for files , business cards, pens, cellphone and other stuff. Next, we have places for strainer, ice tongs, cocktail spoon, jigger, 3 piece shaker, additional shaker with mixing glass, bottle opener, corkscrew, 2 liquid pourers, bottle cap, knife, cutting board and pestle.

All items are made of 18/10 satin stainless steel.
I like this very much, although it is too expensive for me to buy, but next Christmas I may hope my wife will give me one of these.

Thursday, January 20, 2011

Gadget Serve your drinks with style


Gas Pump Drink Dispenser, this is a cool gadget, a new addition to your home bar.
I have seen a lot of drink pump dispensers, but usually they are quite expensive, but this one is actually pretty great, at a very low and affordable price, of $39.99.
This Gas pump drink dispenser also have a great retro looking design, which makes it look good among other bar equipments.
I would have to say, that I have not myself tried this device yet, but it is definitely on my list of things to do.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

ooooh























Gotta dance!

It's Official!

No Biting Jake!

Yup, that's Jake's teeth marks in Samantha's cheek. Samantha just keeps going after Jake every day; pulling, hugging, tackling; you name it, she does it. And Jake usually protests loudly, but Samantha usually ends up ignoring the screaming and crying. So what is a boy to do when his vocal protests go unheard? Bite of course. This has happened more than once and Jake always gets a little quiet time to himself, but Samantha also gets a little time out as well because she was the instigator in this situation. You would think that she'd learn by now but she keeps at him!

Airing out the Germs

Yesterday I was so sick with a stomach bug. Luckily, I feel much better today. I just couldn't even get out of bed yesterday, but I put my game face on at 7am and told Chris to go ahead to work since he had some meetings in the morning. I told him I'd be fine until he could get home in the early afternoon.
I was in the bathroom throwing up at 9:00 while Jake was sitting on my lap and Samantha was standing there asking "Mommy, are you throwing up?" I got on the phone right away and told Chris he had to come home right away. Luckily for all, one of our babysitter was available and wiling to come over even though I was sick. So, the kids had fun playing all day while I was in bed. Today two of our babysitters helped out so that I could get some more rest.
I am so glad that we did the babysitter search early and found some people that we really like! I think that Samantha might have been scarred by the experience. Today she keeps telling me "Mommy, when you throwed up in the bathroom....that scared me!" Poor girl! Today while the babysitters were here I washed all of our bedding, opened the windows (it's a balmy 60 degrees here today!) and sprayed down anything that looked like it could have germs on it.
Here's a few pictures of what we've been up to this week:

Drawing some pictures


Swimming at the Y


Chris thought it would be fun to give the kids a box of old business cards.
It was fun until I made him clean them up!

Wake County in the News

When we first started looking at NC as a possible relocation site, I did a lot of research into the public school system. We were really impressed by the school system and the programs that they have to offer. The system also seemed to do a really great job at integrating the student population and making poorer schools more attractive to a wide variety of students through inovative programming. Now, we have learned that a new school board is looking to undo some of these great programs and reverse the integration that has happened in the schools.

Here is a great video from the The Colbert Report. Glad to see this is getting national attention.

The Colbert ReportMon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
The Word - Disintegration
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full EpisodesPolitical Humor & Satire Blog</a>Video Archive

Hilarious Automatic Beer Pouring Robot

The funniest gadget ever, an intelligent robot making life a lot easier for the lazy beer drinking people.
Watch the video and you will see this robot grab a beer from its own refrigerator (that can contain up to 6 cans), open it and pour it up in a glass for you, pretty funny, useful? no, but I am sure if you have one of these it will the the main attraction at any party.
Features:
• Stores and refrigerates 6 cans
• Programmable voice (male, female, or custom)
• Cleaning mode
• Child lock


Included in Delivery:
• 2 custom glass mugs
• 6 Foam cup bases
• Plastic floor protector
• Instructions in Japanese and English

Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Cuddly Teddy Bear with Spy Cam


This looks like a sweet innocent child teddy bear, but infact this is a cool spy cam hidden inside a teddy bear, how cool is that.
This is really cute, now you don't have to have a baby room filled with electronics the electronics are build into the toys.
With a camera built into his nose, the TeddyCam blends perfectly in the environment of a baby's room.
The TeddyCam incorporates a mini video camera in it’s nose which transmits video footage wirelessly to another room. So you can monitor your children while you while you are watching tv, or doing something else in another room.

Monday, January 17, 2011

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Cool Gadget Stop Snoring Now

Stop snoring with the Snore Stopper
This useful small gadget should help you (or your wife/girl friend) getting a better sleep, it should help preventing snoring. Just put this Snore stopper gadget around your wrist and you will stop snoring.
The way it works (as I have read) when we snor, Snore stopper should recognises snoring through the noise generated and stimulates the nerves in your wrist. This consequently changes your sleeping position and you'll stop snoring. As the stimulations influence sub-consciousness, the Snore Stopper won't wake you, like other cures for snoring can, or cause any damage to your body.

The Snore Stopper has two intensity levels - a normal one (that works for most people), and a more powerful level for those who need a little extra nudge!
I'm not sure this will be a good present for your wife or girl friend, (I know my girl friend would be quite offended if I gave her this).

Tuesday, January 11, 2011























So, our friends from The Miracles Club have decided to totally change all our lives for the better and curate a night every month or so here at Valentine's specifically for House Music! Pure ECSTACY.

Dancers! Cuties! Freaks! This one is for you. The debut of ECSTACY will be this coming Friday, Jan. 14th with thee DJs: Mr. Spencer D from Operative, Avalon and Susan from Finesse, and of course, Miracles Club will DJ into the wee hours. See you on the dance floor!

Thursday + Jeremy Bird = FUN!























Also, we've been informed he'll be wearing this guy's outfit, and we're holding him to it, folks.


Cool Gadget Hipper 100 speaker


Fun little gadget device for your mp3 player or flash drive, just plug it into the Hipper 100, and watch as it lights up and changes colour to the beats of your favourite music.

MP3 Speakers have never been so exciting! The Hipper MP3 Mood Light looks like a big egg, but is actually an awesome combination of an MP3 Player Speaker and an LED colour changing light.
Looks like a fun little gadget to plug to your computer or other music device and make it light up the room in rethums at a party.
Features
MP3 Player with LED lights and speaker via USB interface
The LED lights change to 10 different colours to the beat of your music
No software required! Designed with advanced OTG (on the go) technology, you simply plug and play
Easy to connect with MP3 Players via line-in or USB
The Hipper Mood Lamp doesn't run off batteries, but can be used in different countries using a power adapter
Easy to connect to external speaker sets to amplify your music via line-out

Thursday, January 6, 2011

Distance Shoot With Sniper Type 3 Kilometers








Distance Shoot With Sniper Type 3 Kilometers

Barrett FAMILY

If the supplied weapons Barrett Light Fifty titled this could be identical with an M16 assault rifle. The reason is victorious in the hands of U.S. Army troops, in some countries are also queuing up to wear. Even reportedly had similar weapons falling into terrorist hands of northern ireland variance in reports M82A1, M90, M95 and M99


Specifications M82A1
Kaliber 12.7
Length 1.54 m
Weight 14.7 kg
Effective range: more than 1,000 m


PGM UR HECATE II
Large-caliber sniper rifle Affairs France also did not want to miss this in the proof when the factory PGM Precision Company launched HECATE II. Free-floating barrel system, Kompoonen antihentakan at the end of the barrel, bi-pod mast on the butt is his trademark weapon is equipped magasen each containing seven bullets.



Specification
12.7 x 99 mm caliber
Length 1.38 m
Weight 13.8 kg
Effective range: more than 1,000 m

RT-20
While less loud sound but for the affairs of the Croatian heavyweight sniper already has a share. Goods aduannya scary enough to have a name: The Anti-Material Sniper refile RT-20 from the code alone can guess that this weapon carrying 20 mm caliber bullets. The uniqueness of this weapon is located at a position other than the butt of shooter action on hold in the shoulder, there is also the body of the weapon must be in the pelvis. RT-20 take part in action in the civil war in Yugoslavia in the era of the 90s




MECHEM NTW 20
Tony Neophytou ingenuity should be recognized in the reverse NTW20. Passalna dibahwah flag South Africa, Denel, he managed to create Heavy sniper rifle that can spew two types of bullets. Simply by replacing the barrel of the NTW 20 can be used to catapult bullet Russian 14.5 mm or 20 mm caliber. For the last Tony took the base gun MG 151 ex Nazi Germany during World War II



Specification
Kalier 20 x 8.5 mm MG151 or 14.5 X 114 mm Russian
Length: 1.79 m / 2.015 m
26/29 Weight Kg
Effective range of 1500-2300 m



OSV-96
This is the sniper weapon russia heavyweight, OSV-96 was developed KBP Design Bureau based in Tula in the era of the 90s. Adopts a semi-automatic gas fire with kokangan rotation model. To boost its mobility then this giant rifle can fold up to form more compact and a half feet from its original length





Additionally, the sniper who dipake Indonesian military ...

REMINGTON 700
This is one of the best sniper rifle in the world. Developed from the success of the Winchester 70, Remington 700 on select again later when the U.S. need a new sniper, M24 Remington 700 model developed since 1962, when U.S. Marines Winchester refused requests for a replacement barrel. Charlos Hatchock including the user model 700. The photo above is a Winchester 70.


Name: Remington 700
Caliber: 7.62 x 51 mm
System: Bolt Action
Weight: 4.08 kg empty without telescope
Length: 1.662 mm
Barrel: 660 mm
User: Marine

PINDAD INDONESIA

SPR-1

Aka SPR Sniper sniper weapon made by PT. Pindad Indonesia has become the standard military. Overall, all of the requirements already owned. Starting from a long barrel, bipod a powerful telescope and shoot targets with the assurance of accuracy and high stability. Just unfortunately, still use wooden body.


Name: SPR-1
Caliber: 7.62 x 51 mm
Barrel: 650 mm
Weight: 6.82 kg
System: Bolt Action
Sights: telescope
Users: TNI