Technology Review: Microsoft MCE Remote Keyboard

I looked forwared to checking out this addition to my MCE centric world. I bought one. Tried it. Didn't like it and took it back. What's wrong? After all the research Microsoft did about their target customer evidently they didn't get my precise reclined DVD watching ergonomics quite right. The keyboard is backlit which is cool, except that it's only PARTIALLY backlit meaning only the "media" keys are backlit. Dumb. You can say whatever you want about battery life but if this keyboard isn't 100% backlit, then what is the point?!? Oh, and I can understand why MS chose to use infrared as it's wirless technology.. I mean come on? What a cheap short cut? So, you have IRDA on the MCE already.. so go ahead and use infrared? Uh.. hello Microsoft...take a look at the cheaper keyboards from Logitech that are use RF and rock. which is by the way the one I ended up buying... oh and before anyone points this out, yes this keyboard is NOT backlit. My old Logitech keyboard died after many GOOD years and I was contemplating replace it with the MS MCE one... so right now no backlit.. but good media controls and a nice feeling if not cool looking keyboard. So, anyone know of a good RF backlit keyboard?

Movie Review: Just Like Heaven

Ok.. I went out and saw Just Like Heaven. I really enjoyed the film. Ok, I really really liked it. For some strange reason I've been think about Sleepless in Seattle ;) As it stands this movie would have been better as a date movie rather than a "I have a few hours and watching a flick with Rese Witherspoon can never really be that bad movie". (ok, except this one). Anywhoo... neat funny flick with some real heart. The main character (other than Rese's) is David Abbott, played by Mark Ruffalo. The most personally touching scene in the entire film is the"couch" scene. Only a few time in all the films that I have mispent my life watching have I seen a true moment of my life on screen. At that moment I completely bought in to the whole movie by this great character moment.

Katrina Update

Well I'm a few steps close to going to New Orleans. First, my company, will be supportive. Second, my boss is working with me and my schedule and lastly my family is being 100% supportive and will be backing me up on the home front back in Michigan. Next steps are working with others who are going and coordinate via the Red Cross. Also, I'm putting together a Cajun Cooking Class in Saint Joseph, MI with the help of KitchenAid with all proceeds going to charity for Katrina victims. I'll be setting up the date(s) early next week with the KitchenAid Kitchen and hopefully we'll sell out on the seats ASAP. BTW, I'll be the one cooking, hopefully with some help! What's cooking? my now infamous "Old Bill Jerome's jambalaya".

The Countdown Begins

The Countdown Begins, originally uploaded by johnmknight.
Update: Saw this today and had to post. As you can see from this very high resolution, well lit digital photograph, this is the poster for Pirates of the Carribean: Dead Man's Chest, opening July 7, 2006. Hmmm. As many people know, I loved the first Pirates movie and am looking forward to this sequel. Given that most of the original cast will be reprising their roles plus we get to see Keith Richards as Jack's daddy... well.. what more could a privateer ask for?

I Love Google

Oh.. I love Google. I don't own any stock and I've never gotten a free piece of swag from them but I love what they produce. Now I'm even easier to find through Google's new Blog Search!!! YEAH!
http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&q=fort-knight&btnG=Search+Blogs

BTW.. Google? I'd love some free swag if you're reading!

The FUTURE IS NOW!!! Projectors ROCK

Ok.. no flying cars yet (still waiting). However, one of the those signs that the FUTURE has arrived was this little story on Gizmodo. Hasbro will be selling a "Kid's Projector" for 300 bucks this December. It includes a DVD player and A/V jacks for video games. The image size can go as large as 60 inches and I agree with the folks at Gizmodo that the image quality will suck comapered to other more expenseive projector. But wow... to be a kid again. Oh wait, to be an adult with a gadget budget! :) Bring on the Age of Projectors!!!!!

Fall Preview

Without a doubt Fall is my favorite time of year. The weather cools down, the leaves get crisp, the cider starts pouring and well... graveyards start popping up ;) It's also been a good time to wrap-up/continue some of my various projects around the house (the bedroom finally got new paint and new carpet, and the garage is slowwwly getting there). This September, I've also managed to get in touch with some old friends and I have to say LinkedIn has been incredible! So hello (again) to Christian and Jim, and welcome aboard! And as the temp starts dropping and the shadows of the Holidays starts growing longer..another great thing happens.... fall movies! That's right the Fall movies, designed to draw people out of there well insulated abodes and back amongst the crowds of their fellow man. They arrive and like early Halloween treats or really really early Christmas presents (take your pick!). Just look at the goodies for this September:

September 16
Just Like Heaven
-- Little undead/romantic comedy with Reese Witherspoon. Yes, I saw Sweet Home Alabama and I liked her er the movie.
Lord of War
-- Latest Nick Cage movie with guns and explosions. This ones a little darker and thought provoking (or so I hope).
Tim Burton's Corpse Bride
-- Not too surprising I'm looking forward to this. Critics are already comparing it (not too favoribly) to 'Nightmare'. Oh, come on... Burton and Elfman and Depp. I can't be THAT bad.

September 23
A History of Violence
--The King of Gondor returns again! Ok, Vigo is back as a leading man without a sword or horse. Looks interesting.
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D (IMAX)
--Even given the recent budget increases to NASA (yeah!), this is still the closest I'm going to get to the moon in my life time. I'm still waiting for the XBOX Live enabled Lundar Lander Simulator (sigh!)

September 30
MirrorMask
-- Remember Labyrinth? My crush on Jennifer Connely ( DarkWater) began with this movie! Oh.. anyway think Labyrith sans David Bowie + the Matrix
Serenity
-- Last but NOT least... As I did with Bab5 (thanks again Jim), I watched the entire series after the show was off the air... then fell in love with it. This is Joss (Buffy) Whedon's first outting as a movie director.. In short it's the wild west set in outerspace 500 years from now. Key points, no aliens (just people), and Chinese and Amerian culture are fused and dominate. Also has one of the BEST theme songs for a television show. Great fun! This is the one movie that has the power to truly dissapoint me. Let me rephrase that.. I've set this one up pretty high. Oh and before Aaron brings it up in the comments section I do have a soft spot for the ships mechanic. ;)

Happy Labor Day, I'm sick. Going to New Orleans

Happy Labor Day. I hope those in the States had a great long Labor Day weekend. I didn't. I went to the emergency room at my local hospital after I woke up with a swollen throat (read. difficult breathing). Deciding that it would be a silly death to ignore such an obvious sign of illness, I whisked my self to the hospital. Turns out I have a "virus". That's about all the doctor said. Along with "drink plenty of fluids", "and there''s a lot of it going around", he didn't say much else. Given my heart condition, there were a few additional tests run to check for step which can lead to rheumatic fever. No Step. Yeh. I didn't feel much better when I left other than knowing I wasn't dying. At least I can breath.
Oh, and I might be going to New Orleans or thereabout. I'm working with a few people in Whirlpool (my company) to organize a Red Cross rotation to help the people devastated by this disaster. Some number of us would be heading down after being trained by the Red Cross in South Bend, Indiana. I have no idea when I'm going or for how long. According to the Red Cross' website, a two week rotation is the shortest one they'll accept right now, so I'll be going for at least a few weeks. I'll keep in touch through this site as long as I'm able. As I learn more, I'll post here before I travel and during best as I can.