November 28, 2011

Jimmy the Gun, And His Trusted Sidekick, Pepper Spray (UPDATED)

I have to work on the UC Davis campus every few weeks.  I've been taking our newest team member with me, partly for training, but mostly for the additional set of eyes.  There is a lot to do in a branch I visit so infrequently.  Today I was asked when I was scheduled to be there next.  After giving my schedule, I made a joke about bringing pepper spray with me. My co-worker, the one who has been going with me, asked if that was my nickname for her. We had a good laugh about it and we came up with our new super hero characters and slogan:

Jimmy the Gun, and his trusted sidekick Pepper Spray.  Righting the wrongs and mocking the stupid.  It's what we do.

For those of you who have not heard about the pepper spraying incident, the video is below.  It is a little shocking for those sheltered few still left in our society, but I offer this advice:  no matter what your political views are, if a member of law enforcement gives you a direct order, you better obey it or be prepared to experience pain compliance and arrest control techniques, and be ready to part with your freedoms as an American Citizen.  If an officer of the law is actually unjustly violating your rights, comply now and sue later.  It will be much more satisfying later in court if you stay "in the right".  But the second you do not comply with the directions of someone, who has been deemed capable of enforcing the laws of our society and, subsequently, has been given the authority to take away many of those rights and freedoms from law violators, you are wrong.



This video clearly shows the 2min 28sec delay from warning to spraying.  That's soooooo much time to move out of law enforcement's way.
As an upstanding member of society, if you are given the order to move out of the way of officers so they can effect a lawful arrest, you would gladly move out of the way.  If you deemed that arrest as unlawful, as an upstanding member of society you would still move out of the way, and later file a formal complaint with the agency, and possibly move to file suit against the officer(s) involved.  It is only the members of society who do not conform to the rules that get pepper sprayed after being warned to move out of the path of officers effecting an arrest.  At least in this video that's the case.

UPDATED: Here's a video with audio of the cops warning the Occupy Morons.  "Spray away", I say.


November 27, 2011

Hot Wheels, Gymkhana, Ken Block, MBI #1, Sweet (VIDEO)

I've posted about Ken Block and his amazing driving skills before, but I heard recently about a Hot Wheels model of his Ford Fiesta.  Now, I didn't plan on going out and getting it, as I'm not THAT crazy.  But I found one at Target tonight, while paying my kid for a bet I lost.  Yep, I bet my kid and lost, which is why I do not gamble.  Here are some images I shot of the Hot Wheels 2011 Ken Block Ford Fiesta:
This is sort of like the start to "My Bright Idea #1" coming true.


And here is his latest Gymkhana Video.



November 23, 2011

Running From the Police...Fail

This is awesome.  Apparently, this guy running from the cops, thought he could scale the police SUV, but fails  Listen for his head cracking on the street after he is tackled by the officer.  He'll down for a while.



November 22, 2011

My Bright Idea #10 - Google's MMORPG Using Google Earth


My Bright Idea #10 - September 6, 2011
Google should develop an MMORPG using Google Earth and the 3D buildings that people are creating.  People can join the "real world", but play and do things they may not normally do or be able to be part of.

This goes with my MMORPG "Real World" Game idea, where people play out themselves in the real world, but are able to choose to be "good" or "bad" and perform tasks to that end.  You either choose to do things like stopping crimes seen in the game, or you choose to do them.  People would live out their desired role, leading toward enforcement of rule and law or the destruction of it.  Each "good" or "bad" thing done would earn the player points toward their goal.  Depending on where and how the crimes or prevention is done, the player would earn roles in the world they create.  There would also be an underlying points system for those things done without detection.  This would allow for things like secret alter-egos in the world.

For example, if someone decided to be "good" and prevented crime, they may choose to become a COP, working a beat, etc.  But if they prevent crimes that are behind the scenes, in dark allies, in back rooms, etc., they can earn roles such as FBI agent, with access to more information about other players or game characters, that might not otherwise be known.  FBI agents would have access to information saved in the server, but not part of a characters "known" status in the world.  If someone decides to be "good" but hides their identity with masks or costumes, they can eventually gain a super power.

On the bad side, the range of positions starts at street thug and goes to crime boss.  And, for those that are able to reach crime boss and complete dangerous tasks without detection, they can "accidentally" be turned into a super villain with a super power, gained by a tragic accident within the game.

My Bright Idea #9 - Read My Twitter Feed for Me


My Bright Idea #9 - June 20, 2011
The Twitter app on the iPhone should be updated to allow users to; first, record their user name as an audio file attached to their profile; and second, add a feed reading function that audibly reads a feed aloud so a user can hear the feed while doing other things, such as driving.  By allowing users to record their user name to their profile, Twitter can include that quick audio file during the reading portion any time the user's name appears in the feed.

My Bright Idea #8 - Falling Down 2, The Law Makers Will Pay


My Bright Idea #8 - May 28, 2010
Someone needs to make the next installment of the movie "Falling Down", about a man who goes after the law makers who are telling him how to live and raise his kids.  Things that have set him off include: seat belt law, helmet law, no juice in daycare, schools monitoring kids lunches, no dodge-ball, blaming McDonald's for fat kids, etc.

My Bright Idea #7 - Eco-Escalators


My Bright Idea #7 - March 25, 2010
Escalators should be put on motion sensors that start the escalators as someone approaches, and stops them when they are not in use.

My Bright Idea #6 - Bio Diesel for Garbage Trucks


My Bright Idea #6 - March 24, 2010
Garbage can be turned into bio diesel; therefore, garbage should be turned into bio-diesel for garbage trucks.

UDATED February 4, 2012:
It's here.  Check out this story.

My Bright Idea #5 - The Bean Spreader


My Bright Idea #4 - January 10, 2010
The Bean Spreader, a device that clamps onto a can of beans and helps spread beans out at an even amount, would be helpful in making nachos, quesadillas, and huevos rancheros.  Anything needing a thin layer of beans evenly spread over a large area would benefit from a bean spreading device.

My Bright Idea #4 - I Thought of The Atrix First


My Bright Idea #4 - January 1, 2010
Someone should design a handheld device that docks with a keyboard, monitor, and mouse to act as a full sized computer.

This actually happened with the introduction of the Motorola Atrix, a little over a year later on February 13, 2011.

My Bright Idea #3 - Taco Tree Should Franchise


My Bright Idea #3 - September 24, 2009
Taco Tree should franchise.  At the time I wrote this, the Krispy Kreme building in Roseville, CA was still empty and I thought that would be the perfect location for a Taco Tree.  Their food is fast and fresh and really great.  It's a quality fast food joint that makes memorable tacos, burritos, enchiladas, and even bun tacos.  Plus, they've sold the best tasting Pepsi products for at least 20 years I can remember.

I still think they should franchise, and by starting in a location where people know the name, they will only have continued success.

My Bright Idea #2 - Social Media Works for Advertising



My Bright Idea #2 - September 15, 2009
This one has partially come true, although not to the level to which I believe it could be utilized.  "My Employer" should use social media for marketing.  Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube are some of the more popular forms of media out there, and if done right, can increase awareness, sales, and reputation of the company in the market.

I did call my employer to discuss my ideas with the head of  marketing back in September 2009, but was told, "we are working on our policy" and "watch for job postings in the future", but I was never allowed to present my specific ideas.

My Bright Idea #1 - Introduction and My Matchbox Idea


I started a list back in September 2009 of what I call "My Bright Ideas".  It's really a list of things (I remember to write down) I think should be reality now.  Some of them are minor tweaks to things that are already in existence.  Some are things I'd love to be able to head as a project manager at a large company like Google or Apple.  And some are little predictions I have about the near future.  They are short and sweet, and I'll try not to get carried away with details that don't matter. In fact, this will be the longest entry in this series.

I decided, since I'm not really that smart, connected, or equipped, I'd just write them down here to be stolen by someone with the means to bring them to reality.  Once they are written down, the least I can do is take credit for the idea later.  This way, I look like the genius.  So here goes.

My Bright Idea #1 - September 13, 2009
A toy car company, similar to Matchbox or Hot Wheels, should create a way for consumers to submit their own paint schemes and personalized vehicle designs and purchase them from the toy company.  I see this working out on a larger purchasing scale for law enforcement agencies, utility companies, and other companies with fleet vehicles, but I'd also want it to work out for smaller quantities too.  My idea involves a website where the customer would upload pictures of their paint scheme and would be able to apply it to the chosen make of vehicle.  It's similar to what M&M does with customizing the candies.

My Bright Idea #1 (updated) - October 24, 2009
A toy car company should make all the cars they build to the same scale.

November 19, 2011

Singham from Bollywood. Awesome Fight Scene and Stunts.

Bollywood scores again, with this awesome fight scene.  The whole this is funny and creative and well filmed.


This is the scene that started it all. (bad audio)


Beautifully Shoot Freestyle Motorcycle Riding in the French Alps

This video is cool in two ways.  First, the things these guys can do with their motorcycles are amazing.  And second, the video is amazing.  The French Alps look beautiful.



November 17, 2011

The Volkswagen Group Still Makes The Best Looking Vehilces

The LA Auto Show is going on right now, and while I don't get to go, don't get to read my favorite blogs about it, or even get to see/share about all the new automobiles on display there, I wanted to quickly say the Volkswagen Group still makes the best looking vehicles.

From the VW Passat and Golf to the Audi line of vehicles, the lines that the Volkswagen Group's designers create far superior vehicles to any other automobile manufacturer.  Here are just a few examples I've seen in my quick overview from Autoblog's review of the LA Auto Show.

The 2012 Passat

The 2012 Golf Type R

The 2012 Audi A7

The 2012 Audi A6 (not from the show, but one of my favorites)

The 2011 Audi Q7 (not from the show, but one of my favorites)