BrianAndPamela.com

Jedi Knights demand Britain's fourth largest 'religion' receives recognition | the Daily Mail

In 2001, the UK conducted a census.  One of the questions asked respondents to identify their faith.  The fourth most common response was, as you've no doubt surmised by now, Jedi.  Now they are demanding a little respect.  (Hey, I respect anyone that can shoot lightning from their fingers or choke imperial admirals with their minds…)

According to the linked article, it seems at least two of our midi-chlorian-enhanced brethren (and sistren?) are requesting that the UN International Day of Tolerance be renamed the Interstellar Day of Tolerance.  Sounds reasonable.  Hmmm… I have the strangest feeling that these aren't the droids I'm looking for.  You can go about your business.  Move along, move along.

Quick! What's the weather like tomorrow? Bzzzt.  Too slow. 

Remember a while back (in the Firefox 2 review ) I mentioned the keyword search feature.  Here's another neat way to use it from Lifehacker: create a keyword search for the zip code search at http://www.weather.gov and call it "weather".  Then simply type "weather 22405" in your Firefox address bar to get the weather for Fredericksburg.  Or, if you must, replace my zip code with yours.  And now you can just type "weather xxxxx", replace xxxxx with the zip code or the City and State for anywhere in the US.  

Apple Dumps Justin Long "The Mac Guy"

The "I'm a Mac" campaign isn't over, we're going to see more of the commercials from Apple humorously highlighting the differences (and similarities) between Macs and PCs.  It is however over for Justin Long, the 'Mac Guy' in those commercials.  It seems Justin's been dropped from the campaign.  Update below the fold. (more…)

Microsoft Vista offers new icons, and the new "network" icon is a couple of flat panel monitors on top of some clear pipes.  A SERIES OF TUBES!  Well, it could be worse.  It could have been a big truck.

 ((For those of you who have no clue what I'm talking about, click here, here, and here.))

Microsoft beats Apple to the TV with Xbox Live Video

Apple Computer and its CEO Steve Jobs are known for pre-emptive product launches.  In a somewhat shocking reversal, Microsoft today "pulled an Apple" on Apple by announcing deals with CBS MTV, Warner Bros, Turner Broadcasting and Paramount Pictures to sell downloadable video content from these networks and studios to the XBox Live platform.  Basically, the new service takes the XBox 360 platform and turns it into a fully functioning media device to compete with Apples as yet unseen iTV product.  Read on, folks, it's going to get interesting….
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I'd like to, but I can't.  Yep, I was at Lowes tonight and sho-nuff they have their inflatable Santas and syntha-trees all set up in the garden department.  Sigh.  I'm gonna go cry now.  

Quick plug for Becky, Sean and Mason’s Blog. Follows the process of their Chinese adoption. Learning Chinese, random thoughts about the process and lots of information and links. Worth a read, and not just because they are family.

http://masonsmeimei.blogspot.com/

Well, work’s been nuts lately. This is the end of the FY after all, but I’ve been looking for something to write about.
Recent Windows security problems? No, you should know by now to keep your system patched and not to use Internet Explorer or Outlook Express. (You know that, don’t you?)
Or, keeping with the Microsoft theme, how about the Zune? (computerworld via slashdot) Nah… everyone is talking about the Zune, it’s over done. Jack Thompson’s latest crusade against Rockstar and Take-Two? Like he needs more publicity.

No, what I needed was something new, unusual, yet relevant. Then I found it courtesy of Boing Boing: It’s Sausage! It’s Pancakes! It’s Chocolate Chips! AND (as if that wasn’t enough…) it’s on a stick. Would I lie? You must click for the picture. Oh, it’s worth it. (more…)

Ok, several people have written to say that they wanted me to let them know when new things get posted to the blog. Well, of course I always mention the RSS feed (http://www.brianandpamela.com/?feed=rss2) but normally, I just get a blank stare. "RS-wha?" Alright, so I've set up a mailing list. Just go to the email page and enter your email address. You'll have to confirm your address (we'll email you a link, you click it to confirm you're you). Whenever a new post is added to the blog (and we think it's something you'll care about) you'll get an email with the subject of the post. Then you can decide if you want to check out the whole article. Of course you can still register and control which categories the system sends you, but this is quicker and doesn't require you to login. So, try it out, and let me know if there are any problems with it. It seems to be working but I haven't had time to do much testing. _b

Not much here yet, but maybe soon!