LED belt buckle!?

....must buy this junk.......consumer drive soaring..........how can I live without an Electronic Scrolling LED Belt Buckle??

Of toes and teeth

100_1403 (web), originally uploaded by jcroach.

Parker has found his toes! They are his new favorite plaything. I just hope he doen't hurt himself chewing on them with his two new teeth! They popped out last weekend and are slowing coming in more each day. You can just barely make them out in this picture.

The $100 Computer

Check out this story from the Associated Press about a $100, hand cranked laptop computer. The computers are being developed by the MIT Media Lab. The laptop will be Linux-based, with color display. The computer will have a 500MHz processor, 128MB of RAM, 500MB of Flash memory, USB ports, wireless broadband ability but no hard drive. The goal is to give these computers away to school kids in developing countries. The recent news is that the United Nations is going to help fund the program.

Latest project

Latest project, originally uploaded by jcroach.

Here's a little preview of my latest project. My parents got us a MiniDV Camcorder for Christmas. I'm working on finding a way to convert their old Super 8 films to DVD. I'm running into a problem with frame rate. Super 8 film runs at 18 frames per second while NTSC video runs at 30 frames per second. The difference creates a screen flickering affect that is annoying at the least and creates a virtually unwatchable movie at the worst. I'm trying to find a 8mm projector with a variable speed control to fix this. If anyone out there knows where I can rent/borrow/steal one from, please let me know. In the mean time, this frame was scanned with a slide scanner attachment on a flatbed scanner. It's George and my Mom at Santa Claus Land theme park in 1981.

Johnny Cougar rockin' in Lebanon

From the Lebanon Reporter comes this story about John "Cougar" Mellencamp recording a promotional video in our old hometown. "The Coug" shot a video to be used by CBS Sports to promote their coverage of the NCAA basketball tournament. The Final Four is going to be in Indianapolis again this year. John performed his classic “R-O-C-K in the U.S.A.” with a new basketball theme, changing the ending of the chorus to “Rockin’ in the NCAA.” He shot the video at the old Lebanon High School gym, now known as Memory Hall, along with some of the Lebanon High School cheerleaders. Indiana basketball fans will remember Memory Hall as one of the gyms from the movie Hoosiers. I remember it as the place where I saw Henry Lee Summer play, back in the day!

New web sites of friends

Be sure to check out these two new web sites of friends of ours.

• Matt, Kristen and Madolynne Jarret have a new blogger blog called I Think I'm Going Bald ...


• Jon, Dair, Cooper and Paul Macy have a new web site called MacyFam.com There site includes an incredible picture of Paul just moments after he was born.

Wolfgang's Vault

Here's a new e-tailer I just discovered. Wolfgang's Vault is a collection of poster art, vintage t-shirts, concert photos, concert tickets and other rock music memorabilia puled from the personal holdings of the late rock concert promoter Bill Graham. Atrists include classic acts like The Doors, Bob Dylan, The Eagles, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and The Who, as well as some of my favorites including U2, Wilco, Son Volt, Ben Folds and The Old 97s.

Gloworm

Gloworm 1, originally uploaded by jcroach.

Parker's gloworm always puts a smile on his face. This is my current favorite picture of him.

Hoosier Fans

Hoosier Fans, originally uploaded by jcroach.

Dad and I went to the IU/Purdue basketball game this weekend. Here we are with Parker after the game.

2006 Commemorative Stamps

Ok, I'm a dork. I like stamps. And coins. They're like little pieces of American history you can hold in your hand. The USPS has some cool commemorative stamps coming out this year. Including "Favorite Children's Book Animals" with Eric Carle's "Very Hungry Caterpillar," Maisy, Curious George, Olivia, one of the wild things from Maurice Sendak's "Wild Things Are," Wilbur from "Charlotte's Web" and Dr. Seuss' "Fox in Socks." Also out this year is a tribute to DC Comics superheroes, including Aquaman, Batman, The Flash, Green Arrow, Green Lantern, Hawkman, Plastic Man (?), Supergirl, Superman and Wonder Woman.