Web 2.0

A term has been tossed around for a while now -- "Web 2.0" -- and many people do not fully grasp what this means. I've been asked several times to explain Web 2.0 and recently came across this video that does an excellent job at demonstrating the mash-up process that has brought us to the living internet.

30th Mercy Heartwalk, Cincinnati, OH

This weekend the Hutzel family walked in the memory of Jameson Hutzel who survived 18 months with a congenital heart defect. This was the 30th annual heartwalk in Cincinnati. You can see from the image below -- we definitely were not there alone. Everyone you see was or still is affected by diseases that need cures. Click the pic for more information (and a closer view of the sea of thousands of supporters).

Planet Earth

About 24 million households in America have an HDTV these days. Unfortunately, only about half actually pay to receive a true HD signal. Most people have had the experience of being mesmerized watching HDTV on a "Full 1080"-capable display. The human eye best perceives HDTV at 1080i/p (read: 1080 horizontal lines within the image) from about three times the height of the display. So, a 46" HDTV "looks best" to the human eye at about nine feet away.

Some media is "filmed" in HD and some HD content is converted from the original cinematic film. The Discovery Channel is premiering "Planet Earth" on March 25th with 11 episodes in total throughout April and May. I had the privlege of watching the first episode back in December when it was shown as a one-time teaser on Discovery HD Theater. In a word: amazing.

Shot in 200+ locations over 5 years in all high-definition. When they say "prepare to see it again as never before" they mean it.

Watch it, and not on any TV -- watch in HD. You'll thank me.

Ah, college humor

On 21st Avenue South near Vanderbilt. :)

Jameson's Joy

Friends and visitors, I will be walking in my nephew Jameson's memory. He was born with a congenital heart defect called Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and lived 18 joy-filled months. The American Heart Association is hugely responsible for the research that helped Jameson in his fight against heart disease. As most of you know, Jameson lost his fight March 28, 2003, but with your help we can continue the battle. Because of the American Heart Association and research, more and more children with heart disease are being saved every day. Please help me support the wonderful work of the American Heart Association. You can help me reach my goal by making a donation online. Click on the link below and you will be taken to my personal donation page where you can make a secure online credit card donation. The American Heart Association's online fundraising website has a minimum donation amount of $25.00. If you prefer to donate less, you can do so by sending a check directly to me. Your donation will help fight our nation's No. 1 and No. 3 killers—heart disease and stroke. You are making a difference. Thank you for your support.

Follow This Link to visit my personal web page and help me in my efforts to support American Heart Association - Heart Mini-Marathon Cincinnati, OH

Forgiveness

I watched a show recently that made me open my relatively-closed mind a bit. One of the topics was that of forgiveness -- whether it's forgiving someone or something -- for something that has happened to you. For example, in 2003 my way of thinking was 'what did I do to deserve this?' Today, I'm taking a new approach.

Thank you for giving me that
experience.

Cancer wasn't fun. Work can be a drag at times. Bills can be stressful. However, each of these things have added positive experiences to my life. I don't like paying bills, but I am happy and thankful that I am able to pay them. Work and deadlines can be challenging, but these challenges make me stronger. The challenges show me, and teach me, that I am capable of handling each and every one of them. Battling cancer was tough -- and my greatest achievement yet -- but having had that experience showed me things that I either never knew before, or knew but took for granted. I now know that I have countless friends who were there for my family (and for me). I saw and experienced what faith can do.

That, my friends and family, is why I can forgive and be thankful.

Paying the tooth fairy

Friends, your well wishes for a painless procedure and recovery are requested. Today I will visit the finest oral surgeon in the area and have three teeth removed. These little guys are in the back of my mouth and didn't play well with my wisdom teeth and suffered damage. I appreciate your prayers for speedy recovery (and prevention of boredom sitting at the house for a couple days).

Join the army

9-11 happens again every two days. That's right -- one person dies every minute of every day due to cancer.

I'm not asking you to donate your money [though I won't stop you either]. What I do ask is that you watch a two-minute video. If you feel the same as I do, as Lance does, and as many, many others, then join the army. Join an army of people that believe that it's not always about which politician says they will cut taxes or find alternative fuels -- it's about saving lives from a horrible disease.

In 2001, in President Bush's pseudo-State of the Union address, he said that Congressman Joe Moakley was battling cancer and that he could "think of no more appropriate tribute...than to have Congress finish the job of doubling the budget for the National Institutes of Health." This year, funding for cancer research was lowered by the government for the first time in 35 years.

Please, watch the video. Join the army.

http://www.livestrong.org/jointhearmy

Welcome to tomorrow, today

What an amazing world we live in these days. Imagine, if you will, that persons living in 1850 would have laughed at the idea of "automobiles". If you lived in 1900 you were amazed by Edison and Bell bringing their wonderous distributed electricity and telephone into the world. A person living in 1950 would have smacked you if you said you had a "computer" in your house (or your pocket!). In 1990 I was using dialup and only dreamed of faster speeds. Look at us now, and tomorrow.

Cisco has an incredible commercial on the air right now that I will paraphrase for you. The essential message is that of the "human network" -- any content, any device, any network. The commercial shows this to us: books re-write themselves (Wikipedia), drag-and-drop people anywhere they want to go (IM, SMS, mobile web, VoIP), maps are rewritten (Google Earth), and anyone can be famous (YouTube/Google Video). The commercial's underlying message is no doubt intended to say, "we're Cisco and we power the network" but the voice-over is quite powerful --"we're more powerful together than we could ever be apart".

Happy New Year!

Happy new year, everyone! Iwish you all the best for 2007.

Wii are having fun!

The time has come, my friends. Thanks to the generosity of a friend and colleague, and the permission of my wonderful, loving wife, the Wii is finally here! I haven't had so much fun with a gaming system. Granted, since the original NES I haven't owned another system, but have played the PS2 and 360 of friends and family.

Stephanie and I have enjoyed bowling from the included Wii Sports (bowling, tennis, golf, boxing, and baseball). Chris and I have enjoyed approximately three hours of Excite Truck -- a game which wii both agree completely rocks. Needless to say, races can become quite competitive as, unlike similar racing games, the goal is not solely to cross the finish line first, but to earns "stars" by performing stunts, air (flying by jumping), drifts, and even "artistic crashing". He with the most stars is the winner.

Peep the flicks below.

Wiiiiiiiiiiiiii...

Merry Christmas, Everyone!

It's finally here and the weather outside is starting to actually feel like Christmas. I just want to take this opportunity to thank everyone for your kindness and support this year on behalf of both Stephanie and I. It means a lot to us to have you all as friends and family and to have your prayers for continued health and well-being throughout the year. We wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Deja Vu

Sorry for disappearing for a couple weeks -- holiday time and exam time makes for one busy Jason.

We saw Deja Vu recently. Awesome "Big Brother" thriller!

So, who of my readers is rocking the Wii?

Family Fun

The Gallatin bowling alley has $1 games every Thursday. So, stuffed with turkey, ham, stuffing, mac n cheese, potatoes, beans, apples, pies, cakes, puddings... oh the humanity... I went bowling with three of my cousins (Duane, Andy, and Tim). Some things were learned:

• Jason can take out the 9 pin or 9/10 combo blindfolded, one hand behind my back, in the dark.
• Men (read: Jason and Andy) cannot bowl in socked feet. I hurt my butt and my ego.
• Don't bowl with a 10 year old in the lane next to you. They will show you up (see: hurt ego).
• Time spent with family is priceless.

Thanks, guy, had a blast!

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone. I'm truly thankful for my wonderful wife, all my family and friends, being cured for over two and half years (and still going!), for having a stable job that provides for my family, having a roof over our head, and being able to help others however we can. What are you thankful for?

Movie Review: "A Good Year"

Recently Stephanie and I went to see Russell Crowe's "A Good Year". To be honest, I figured I was walking into a "chick flick" but I was pleasantly surprised. Crowe's character is a stock market tycoon who is very, very good at his job and has been quite successful. He learns of the death of his uncle in France's wine country to which he is the rightful heir -- or is he? While staying in France he learns there is much more to life that he is missing by doing nothing but working. Most of us have to work to make a living -- we just have to find the right balance between work and life.

Beautiful day

Though the rain is here now, this morning was truly beautiful. (It's a crappy camera on the phone, so use your imagination.)

Messy. For a limited time only.

Sure they are fattening the world one fry at a time. Sure they burn stupid people with hot coffee. But, they did bring it back -- long live McRib!

What happens at 9:25?

I work as an IT professional and deadlines are just a part of that life. I get that. But what's the deal with this?

"Blue Like Jazz"

Today I finished reading Don Miller's book, "Blue Like Jazz". Wow. Miller puts his "songs" and those of his friends into words in a way that everyone can understand. The book is about the Christian faith without focus on "the rules" and without feeling as though he is "preaching" to you. It's a book about love, forgiveness, grace, family, friendship, loving others and loving yourself. It's the best $10 you'll spend all year. Enjoy the music.

Buy "Blue Like Jazz" at Buy.com
Buy "Blue Like Jazz" at Amazon.com
(Hardcover Large Print and Audio CD versions are also available.)

If you want to read Blue Like Jazz and
truly cannot afford the $10, let me know.