The Next Window

I ran across Bruno Bozzetto's <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=234&amp;entry_id=64" title="http://www.infonegocio.com/xeron/bruno/italy.html" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.infonegocio.com/xeron/bruno/italy.html';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">animated movies site</a> the other day. These are cute little shorts by Bruno.<br />
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They'll make you laugh. I especially like the "Europe vs. Italy" and the "Olympics" shorts.<br />
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Don't forget the sound — it's not much, but it fits well to the show.<br />

When you finally decide to take the plunge, to leave the world of video cassette recorders for the world of digital recording, you will be amazed. It will change your way of watching television. No longer will you rush to see the beginning of a show. Now, you'll intentionally start watching 10 or 15 minutes after it started, or even later, so you can jump through the commercials. <br />
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More important is the ease of recording. We're all familiar with the joys of finding a blank tape, or finding a blank space on a tape, or dumping the "most disposable program" so we can use a tape. With digital recording, you just start recording. Most systems will automatically delete shows to make room for the current program — they will prioritize by various means, generally keeping unwatched shows you specifically recorded over "favorites" over watched shows, etc.<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/index.php?/archives/62-I-Love-my-Home-Theater-PC.html#extended">Continue reading "I Love my Home Theater PC"</a>

Baton Rouge has been suffering from lack of rain the last couple months. It's been hot, muggy, breezy and <i><b>no rain</b></i>. We finally got a heavy downpour this morning and more is forecast for the afternoon and tomorrow. Do you wonder why the rains finally came? It's because this is a holiday weekend! <br />
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As we celebrate and remember the fallen warriors of our Country, we traditionally have family get-togethers and cookouts. Memorial Day is one of the three biggest BBQ days of the year. It's also one of the biggest Sale Days for department stores and others. It leads into the Summer season in everyone's mind, if not according to the calendar.<br />
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So, in Baton Rouge, we will get to celebrate the return of the rains. That won't stop me, though. I'm barbecuing a couple slabs of pork babyback ribs tomorrow, come rain or come shine. <br />

Star Wars fans, if you haven't seen <i>Star Wars Revelations – Begin the Rebellion</i>, you need to go to their site immediately. Clear 57 minutes from your schedule — 47 minutes to watch it and 10 minutes to sit in awe. <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=256&amp;entry_id=60" title="http://www.panicstruckpro.com/revelations/" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.panicstruckpro.com/revelations/';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;"><i>Revelations</i></a> is the ultimate Star Wars fan film.<br />
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You won't believe this is a non-commercial, independent fan film, it is done so well. Through the time and work of a large number of volunteers who <i>wanted</i> to contribute to the Star Wars legends, Panic Struck Productions and the legions of fans, actors, artists, and sponsors have created a memorable experience. Of course, many thanks also go to George Lucas for generously allowing fans to use his Star Wars universe for fan fiction and fan movies.<br />
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<br /><a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/index.php?/archives/60-Star-Wars-Revelations-Begin-the-Rebellion.html#extended">Continue reading "Star Wars Revelations – Begin the Rebellion"</a>

We're coming up on one of the three biggest BBQ days in the U.S. — Memorial Day. According to a recent show, the three biggies are Fourth of July, Labor Day and Memorial Day.<br />
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We're planning to BBQ some pork babyback ribs. Some people like to boil their ribs before putting them on the grill. The theory is that this tenderizes them. But, it also strips some of the flavor from the ribs.<br />
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I will smoke the ribs using pecan shells on my gas grill. Yep, pecan <i>shells</i>, not chips. The shells are great for smoking pork, chickens and especially turkeys — I'll never go back to hickory-smoked turkey.<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/index.php?/archives/59-BBQ-Time.html#extended">Continue reading "BBQ Time"</a>

Just visited Wal-Mart — <i>and they still don't have any Star Wars Dark Chocolate M&M's! </i> Or, the milk chocolate ones, either. The helper said they got one shipment and sold out. I guess Target had the foresight to buy the Star Wars M&M's — they even advertised them in their ad last week. Just checked by phone and they still have more!<br />
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<b><i>Let's try this again. Pay attention this time:</i></b><br />
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<b><i>You do not want Stars Wars Dark Chocolate M&M's.</b><br />
&#160;&#160;[I give a subtle Jedi wave to affect your mind]<br />
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<b>You will set the Dark Chocolate M&M's down. </b><br />
&#160;&#160; [I give another Jedi wave] <br />
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<b>You will leave them for me — </b><br />
&#160;&#160; BWAAA-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAH-HAHHHH!</i><br />
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I've been using a neat utility called StumbleUpon to find websites that interest me. <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=222&amp;entry_id=57" title="http://www.stumbleupon.com" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.stumbleupon.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">StumbleUpon</a> is a toolbar that installs on Internet Explorer, Firefox and Mozilla on the Windows, Mac and Linux systems. You tell it the general topics that interest you (check the matching boxes) and click the Stumble button.<br />
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StumbleUpon basically works as a community-referral system. If you like a site, you use the toolbar's "I like it!" button to share the site with others. If you don't, use the "Not-for-me" button.<br />
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One of the sites I found this way is the "Murphy's Laws Site" which brings together the Murphy's Laws for many different groups and professions. The mythical Murphy, as you know, is quoted as saying "If anything can go wrong, it will."<br />
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Here are a couple good sections from the site:<br />
<a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=223&amp;entry_id=57" title="http://www.murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-EMT.htm" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-EMT.htm';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">Murphy's EMT Laws</a><br />
<a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=224&amp;entry_id=57" title="http://www.murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-Photography.html" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.murphys-laws.com/murphy/murphy-Photography.html';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">Murphy's Photography Laws</a><br />
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So far, I haven't spotted "O'Leary's Corollary," which is "Murphy was an optimist."<br />

Thanks to my <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=245&amp;entry_id=56" title="http://www.terrystockdale.com/htpc/htpc_1.shtml" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.terrystockdale.com/htpc/htpc_1.shtml';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">HTPC</a>, I just watched the Season Finale of "Las Vegas" (NBC, Monday night, 8pm Central Time).<br />
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WOW! There must have been five cliffhangers there, including the biggie — is it really the show's finale, or just the season's?<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/index.php?/archives/56-Las-Vegas-the-show,-not-the-city.html#extended">Continue reading "Las Vegas — the show, not the city"</a>

Powweb has announced, in its affiliates newsletter, that their current super special will expire at the end of May.<br />
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<a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=964&amp;entry_id=55" title="http://www.terryscomputertips.com/powweb.html" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.terryscomputertips.com/powweb.html';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">Powweb</a> has one monster package at one price — $93.24 per year. The package includes 5 GB web space and 10 GB throughput per day (most web hosts have a number like that <i>per month</i>. Plus all the usual services.<br />
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Their super special, due to expire May 31st, gives you 12 free months of hosting with the purchase of one year or 14 free months hosting with purchase of two years' hosting. Plus, you get a free domain name (if you want it) to match the 1 or 2 year purchased period.<br />
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As of June 1st, they drop back to their "old special" of free 2 months with purchase of 1 year or free 6 months with purchase of 2 years.<br />
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The time's running out on the super <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=964&amp;entry_id=55" title="http://www.terryscomputertips.com/powweb.html" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.terryscomputertips.com/powweb.html';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">Powweb</a> package.<br />
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Also, you can use the promo code "6off" for another $6 off your web hosting purchase during May.<br />

Yep, it's summer in Baton Rouge. And, I'm just about out of coffee. <br />
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Coffee — the ready to drink kind, not the green unroasted coffee kind. If you've read my <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=162&amp;entry_id=54" title="http://www.terrystockdale.com/coffee/coffee.shtml" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.terrystockdale.com/coffee/coffee.shtml';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">coffee pages</a> on <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=163&amp;entry_id=54" title="http://www.terrystockdale.com" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.terrystockdale.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;">my website</a>, you know that I roast my own coffee.<br />
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It's supposed to hit 94 for the high today, and it's 89 right now. Who knows what temperature it will be late in the afternoon.<br />
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After looking over my green coffee inventory (23 different beans – country, estate, crop – totalling 70 pounds), I think i'll roast some Sweet Maria's Monkey Blend for espresso, some 2003 Uganda Mbale Bugisu, some 2003 Nicaragua Matagalpa Pacamara and one of the decafs – maybe the 2004 Costa Rican El Sol WP Decaf. All of these are from <a href="http://www.thenextwindow.com/exit.php?url_id=164&amp;entry_id=54" title="http://www.sweetmarias.com" onmouseover="window.status='http://www.sweetmarias.com';return true;" onmouseout="window.status='';return true;"> my favorite green coffee bean supplier</a>.<br />
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