Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Don Surber: The Hillbilly Carnival

Don Surber is hosting the second Hillbilly Carnival. We WV bloggers should take turns hosting this. It's a great idea.

Being from Richwood, the town which was home to Jim Comstock his paper, the West Virginia Hillbilly, and seeing the term Hillbilly again being applied to colorful West Virginians, gives me warm fuzzy feeling.

The first Hillbilly Carnival was hosted by Don back in July.

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Artwork of a Domestic Engineer part 2

Sharon reports:
Scott posted more pictures from the display of my artwork that he's very kindly put up in his business. Everything looks super. I'm all happy.

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Domestic Engineer's art showing

Sharon of Adventures of a Domestic Engineer 2.0 has some art showing at N Harmony. You can find more information here and on Scott of N Harmony's blog here.

Friday, January 27, 2006

Marshall Football Movie

WSAZ (video link) and the MU student newspaper report Warner Bros. plan to produce a movie about the Marshall plan crash and the 1970 and 1971 football teams.

Update: Saturday Gazette-Mail - Film to be made about MU plane crash
* "Matthew McConaughey is being cast as Jack Lengyel."
* "Production is to begin March 20, following a block party in Huntington on March 18 and a news conference earlier in the month."
*"The film’s producer is Basil Iwanyk, who has been involved in a diverse range of movies such as “Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines” to “Welcome to Mooseport” to “Batman and Robin.” He heads his own Warner Brothers-based production company, ironically named Thunder Road Pictures."

Update 2: HD: Possibility of Marshall crash movie draws interest

Sago mine survivor Randy McCloy update

CNN reports Sago Mine disaster survivor Randal McCloy stood for the first time since the accident and kissed his wife. He was transferred to a rehabilitation center, on Thursday.

Sounds like he is making good progress.

Update: He was transferred to a rehabilitation center, on Thursday. I'm not sure the above site will continue to be updated.

Also, Saturday Gazette-Mail - McCloy’s wife sues National Enquirer


CAB 2

As reported by Bob Coffield, Rick Lee, Shane Evans, it's almost time for the second Charelston Area Bloggers meet-up at Taylor Books, at 8:00 a.m, Wednesday, February 1. Scott Mitchell reports he will be there. The first one was a lot of fun.

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Updates on the condition of Randal McCloy

I'm getting a lot of traffic from people looking for updates on the condition of Randal McCloy. The hospital where he is being treated has set up a website that provides updates as they are released.

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Gazette story on local technology firms

The Charleston Gazette has an interesting profile of area technology firms. There are several in the valley. I've had to chance to work with or for a number of them over the past few years. It should be noted there are a number of solo practitioners that are not mentioned in the story, including my old friend Doug Payne. Last I heard, Doug was still doing some hardware work for TCS, but he does the majority of his work on his own. My last law frim IT job was outsourced to Quinn Technology.

I'm glad to see my old friend Richard Wilbur III of Advantage Technology is doing well. They just moved to new diggs on Quarrier St. Richie started his firm a few years ago and ran it out of an extra bedroom in his house for a while. There are some great pictures or Richie's new offices in the story.

I owned and operated my own computer consulting firm a couple of years ago, before folding the venture to go run mainframes for the federal government. I'm happy to be doing law firm IT again. These guys are alway knocking at the door, and there are a couple of things that we don't do in-house, such as printer hardware work.

The only problem I have with the story is the comments Staci Steele of NetSolutions at the end of the story. She says, "But everyone seems to hate their internal computer support people,” she added. “We’re not the normal computer people — we actually talk to you.” I think Staci's comments might have been taken out of context. The firm I work for has a long-standing relationship with Staci and NetSolutions, so I give her the benefit of the doubt.

For the record I talk to my users, and if you internal IT isn't talking to you or helping you with your problems, it might be time to look for new IT people, but please don't paint in-house IT staff with a broad brush.

Update: Staci responds in the comments. She was misquoted:
Sorry, it was taken out of context... It was prefaced by me saying that I had come from an internal IT department where everyone seemed to hate us... where Hate is actually too strong and misunderstood should have been used, I really believe anyone in an internal position can relate at least a little... I was mortified that of all my insightful comments, he chose my offhanded remark - live and learn -

I didn't mean to take a swipe at you Staci. As I former reports, I know it's all about the sound bite. As the subject of news coverage, I also know a lot of things can be taken out of context.

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

New Charleston Area Blogger

Fun with referral logs

Rick Lee has the story of Keith Olberman and West Virginia Fried Bologna Sandwich.

Update: Rick also point to this post on Craig Crawford's blog that has a photo of Craig having his first-ever fried bologna sandwich at Tony's Gold Dome.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Five Blogospheres in One Blogiverse

Steven Streight at Blog Core Values says there are 5 Blogospheres in One Blogiverse.
(1.) Social Connection Youth IM-Blogosphere: Xanga, LiveJournal, MySpace, etc.

(2.) Mature Personal-Hobby-Family Blogosphere

(3.) Business-Marketing-PR-CEO-Corporate Blogosphere

(4.) Meta Blogosphere (Blog Consultants, Blogologists, Blog Metric Analysts, Blog Trackers, Blog Content Syndicaters/Aggregators, Blog Services, Blogging Tool Providers, Blog Hosts, Blog Directories, etc.)

(5.) Professional/Military/Educational Blogosphere


I agree. I've had a Live Journal account since 1999. It's a much more social place than the rest of the blogosphere. I moved to Blogger a couple of years ago, because it was more "blog like."

Each kind of blog service has it's place. Diversity is a good thing.

Search anonymously

Saturday, January 21, 2006

VIDEO: ABC TV News Visits Google Headquarters Today

An interesting tour of the Google Campus.

read more | digg story

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Two missing miners found dead

Wine being ported to OS X

From Digg: "Darwine, as the OS X port is called, currently only compiles for the power PC but they are working on an Intel build and hoping that the new Intel macs will bring more interest to the project."

read more | digg story

Macworld Expo 2006 in Review

Daring Fireball takes a look back at Macworld Expo 2006 announcements. He says, "PCs typically cost less than Macs because they’re pieces of crap, not because Intel CPUs are less expensive than IBM’s or Freescale’s."

Friday, January 20, 2006

Dogpile already gives up search terms!

You don't have to be the Department of Justice to see what people are searching for! Dogpile gives real-time search terms to anyone.

read more | digg story

This is not turning out to be a very good year for mine safety

ABC News is reporting two miners are missing in a Logan County mine after a fire broke out underground.

Google News has all the coverage links.

Update: The Charleston Gazette - Fire strikes Logan mine

Later: So much of this story sounds heartbreakingly familiar.

From the Charleston Gazette story:
Family members of the Logan County mine employees were gathering inside the Bright Star Freewill Baptist Church in Melville. Manchin said he had spoken with them.

“All we can do is give comfort and hope while they’re hoping to save them,” he said.

A couple-hundred yards from the church, a crowd of several-dozen people was gathered outside the offices of Badger Lumber and Dingess-Rum Properties. Some of the people in the crowd wore miners’ gear; others looked like they had just been roused from bed.

Thursday, January 19, 2006

20th Anniversary of the Computer Virus

Bruce Schneier reports: "Today is the 20th Anniversary of the oldest computer virus known"

Tags:

Illusions of security

SANS - Internet Storm Center - Cooperative Cyber Threat Monitor And Alert System: "Apple is switching to Intel CPUs away from the PowerPCs. Most script kiddies out there know Intel CPUs much better than they know a G4 or G5, so exploiting it becomes much easier for them."

This is the best "your Mac isn't as secure as you think" post I've seen so far.

Some theater chains refuse to show Soderbergh's "Bubble"

Boing Boing reports big theater chains are refusing to show Soderbergh's "Bubble". The film which was shot in and around Parkersburg, had its premiere last week in Parkersburg.

The reason some big theater chains are refusing to show the film is it is being release on DVD and via pay-per-view at the same time.

Fable of the Deconstructing

Don Surber has posted a very good rebuttal to Jeff Jarvis' post on the future of the newspaper.

Don, of course, is a columnist for the Charleston Daily Mail. Jeff Jarvis is former newspaper executive and columnist, and internet media consultant.

Update: Jeff Jarvis has replied to Surber's post over in Don's comments.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Makeshift piracy studio found at WV State Capitol

First Slashdot, now Digg.

From Digg: "State investigators have stumbled onto a basement office in the West Virginia Capitol outfitted with computers, video and audio gear, and software used to pirate movies and music recordings."

read more | digg story

Yet another WV blogger

Yes, there is a new WV blogger in town: Thuros' Mind. I know this person in real life. He isn't a fan of blogs, but he has some things to get off his chest.

Piracy Setup Discovered in WV Capitol Building

Slashdot reports: Piracy Setup Discovered in WV Capitol Building. I really need to read the Sunday Gazette-Mail more closely. The story comes from this past Sunday's edition.

And the bubble will burst

What's that I hear from Wall Street? Sounds like the tech bubble bursting. Google has been overvalued for a long time.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

OSX 10.4.3 on your PC, complete and easy installation guide

On this site you will find a complete and easy guide about how to install OSX 10.4.3 (the newest build) on your pc (Intel or AMD).

read more | digg story

A sad note on MLK Day

The Washington Post reports copyright control of the 'I Have a Dream' speech" will keep it out of the hands of students and others who have never heard it.

Doc Searls has links to the audio and text of the speech. (You will probably be breaking the law if you read or listen to the audio). Doc also talks about the affect the speech had on his life, and looks at the chilling effect copyright has those who might never have the chance to hear the or read the word of one of the greatest America speeches.

Monday, January 16, 2006

theGAZZ.com rebuts Heath Ledger

The Gazz editor sets out to set "Brokeback Mountain" star Heath Ledger straight on West Virginia hangings and lynching.

Sunday, January 15, 2006

Multiple Word Technorati Tags for Blogger

I've found an easy way to add Technorati tags to Blogger. It's a Greasemonkey script. To use it you will need Firefox.

It doesn't add tags to post when you first post them, but it will let you add tags to post if you go back and edit them.

Hackers warned to not steal OS X

A message on Apple's new MacBook Pro tells hackers not to steal the OS.

read more | digg story

Tags:

Happy Birthday Wikipedia

The free online encyclopedia that anyone can edit turns 5 years old today.

read more | digg story


Tags:

Console sales down, handheld game sales up in 2005

In spite of reported weakness in holiday sales, 2005 was a year for the video game industry's record books. The NPD Group reports that sales of consoles, handheld gaming devices, and software for these gadgets topped US$10.5 billion, which beats 2004 by 6 percent, and the previous record, 2002, by three percent

read more | digg story

My wish for easy Technorati tags for Blogger

I like Blogger, but I've been looking at Word Press for one reason: Technorati tags. It looks like it would be really hard to rebuild the blogrolls on Word Press, so I'm here for now. I'm also afraid readers of this blog might be confused by a move.

There are some no easy was to do Technorati tags, other than using Flock. Flock works sometimes but it's alpha software, so it has its problems.

Richwood Mayor hopes to save old City Hall

Twenty years before I was born, an infamous and important civil rights injustice took place in my hometown. Now, 50 years later, a building that was the site of this event is an abandoned, crumbling ruin.

The old Richwood City Hall is a former movie theater that served as the center of town government for most of my childhood is falling apart. There was a small parking area in the front for the town’s police cars and a small office to pay your water bill. Until the renovations and addition of the City Water Office there was a full garage that was home to the city’s fire trucks.

The infamous civil rights injustice took place in 1940 when two Jehovah’s Witnesses came to town and began going door to door distributing literature and circulating a petition asking for support in a fight with the governor of Ohio over his denial of using the Ohio State Fairgrounds for the Jehovah’s Witnesses national convention.

The Charleston Gazette-Mail recounts the rest of the story of mob justice and the first federal ruling that says law enforcement officers are required to protect the civil rights of citizens.

Saturday, January 14, 2006

Microsoft working with Apple on future of Virtual PC

Just days after renewing its commitment to develop Office for the Mac, Microsoft revealed that it is also working with Apple to bring Virtual PC to its new Intel-architecture.

read more | digg story

iMacIntel disassembled!

I've been waiting for it, and it's here: iMacIntel disassembled.

One can notice that the processor is not soldered to the motherboard, but via a socket. So, it will be potentially possible to change it in the future, if Apple does not prevent such modifications by some hardware or software trick.

read more | digg story

Steve Gibson Responds to Microsoft Blogger

Steve basically confirms that 9x based systems are safe, but still wonders why the functionality of SetAbortProc() changed from 9x to NT kernels.

read more | digg story

Great local podcast

Paul and Denise do a great job with Get Busy Radio. And yes they do have an RSS feed.

Microsoft Disputes WMF Claim by Steve Gibson

The company says the function in question exists due to legacy code, not some nefarious intent.

read more | digg story

Apple quietly ends support for Classic on Intel machines

With everyone preoccupied with compatibility with Windows Apple quietly ends compatibility with OS 9 apps. While OS X is five years old, there are a number of people who are hung up on some OS 9 apps.

read more | digg story

iWeb Hands on Review

Friday, January 13, 2006

Make .Mac free

Remember when .Mac used to free? ZDNet's Dan Farber says, "Make it Free again Steve."

One year of .Mac with the purchase of a new Mac used to be the rule. I loved .Mac, but $100 a year is too much.

read more | digg story

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

FBI: Money-for-miner request bogus

CNN is is reporting an email seeking money for Randy McCloy, the only survivor of the Sago mine explosion is a fraud.
"The e-mail falsely claims to be authored by a physician at the hospital where the survivor is currently receiving medical attention. It describes the condition of the survivor and the financial assistance that is needed for a full recovery," the FBI said in a written statement.

The FBI warns computer users to investigate before donating.
"As was learned after the tragic events of 9/11/01, the tsunami disaster, and more recently with Hurricane Katrina, unscrupulous cybercriminals have shown the desire and means to exploit human emotion by attempting to defraud the public when they are perceived to be most vulnerable," the FBI warned.
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Hiding the iTunes Mini Store Will NOT Send Info to Apple.

"As describe in this hint @ macosxhints.com. if you simply disable the mini store (Edit: Hide Ministore, or just Shift-Command-M), then no data is transmitted. There you have it, you can go back to listening to iTunes paranoia free."

There has been a lot of people complaining about this "feature". I haven't downloaded the new version of iTunes so I can't confirm, but I've read where some very smart people confrimed the above hint.



read more | digg story

Lost in Transition - What didn't make it to the MacBook

"Why is your old 15.1" better than Apple's new Intel-based MacBook? Unsanity lays it out concisely and without ambiguity." Via Digg.

This is for of you with PPC Powerbooks only a few months old. Maybe you do have the better laptop.

read more | digg story

Google Earth Beta for Mac OS X officially released

Google has now officially released Google Earth Beta for OS X. I was looking forward to the release, but I don't have 10.4.

read more | digg story

You CAN dual-boot Windows on the new Intel-based Macs!

From the why the heck would you want to file.

read more | digg story

50 Best Firefox Extensions for Power Surfing

Constantly updated list of most powerful extensions for Firefox.

read more | digg story

Hands on with the macbook pro...

Engadget's got the first hands on review of the MacBook.

read more | digg story

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

MacWorld keynote wrap-up

The MacWorld keynote ended at about 2 p.m. today, and there were a couple of things that didn't appear.

First no Intel-based iBook. While we will see all Macs get Intel inside this year, I wanted it now.

Where are the price drops. The new iMacs and Powerbook - ok MacBooks - are the same price as the non-Intel-based iMacs and Powerbooks.

Dan Gillmor points out new MacBook Pro ships without a modem, which isn't a big deal for me since I can't recall the last time I used a modem. You can get a modem as a $49 add-on.

Jason Kottke posts an open letter to open letter to Apple.
From: jason@kottke.org
Subject: Powerbook support
Date: January 10, 2006 4:55:31 PM ET
To: Apple Tech Support

Hello,

I purchased a new Powerbook three weeks ago. It was working fine until a few hours ago when you announced the new Intel-powered MacBook Pro at MacWorld and I started to cry. "Four to fives times faster," I sobbed, "a built-in iSight, and a brighter, wider screen."

Today's Macworld Announcements *leaked - digg exclusive*

Kevin Rose over at Digg says he has a source who give him the scoop.

Kevin says, "Some of you may remember that last year I nailed the Macworld announcements two days early. Well, my anonymous source has come through once again. Here are the new products that will be announced tomorrow. Enjoy.
15" intel Macbook - order tomorrow, ships Feb (thinner, dual core)
iPod FM receiver
iWork/Life '06
New remote of some type
Photocasting (iPhoto)
OS X.4.4 w/new widgets

We will know if Kevin's source is right or not in a few short hours.

read more | digg story

Update: Looks like Kevin was right.

Sunday, January 08, 2006

Is Steve Jobs prepping 'The Cupertino Project'

Could Jobs actually be boldly planning to drop the industry-devastating hydrogen bomb of Apple hardware running Microsoft software?

This would be da bomb. There is also some speculation of build-in virtual machine support, which would allow you to run software build for Windows inside OS X.

read more | digg story

Rumors still Alive of "the Simpsons sharing stage with Steve" at Macworld

(Check Prediction #7 on the list) I first submitted this story about 19 days ago but the talk still continues of the possibility of Steve Jobs introducing "the Simpsons" during his Keynote speech. This may kick off the Fox/Apple iTunes partnership. The Simpsons may appear as an Animated Clip conversing with Steve on the stage...

read more | digg story

(This List shows Odds) Top 10 Macworld Announcements on ZDNet

Unlike other Top 10 Lists on the Macworld Announcements; this list compiled by Jason O'Grady, has odds ranging from 100-1 to Even Money...

read more | digg story

New iPods To Arrive with Wireless

No more wires will be needed to connect your iPod to your car stereo. The patents indicates that this technology will send music and ID3 tags to your car stereo.

read more | digg story

Possible Intel Mac (ibook/powerbook) specs??

Acer TravelMate 8200, a PC notebook, features Intel's new dual-core Yonah processor. The specs can give us some idea of what is capable from upcoming Intel based Mac laptops, which are rumored to share the Yonah processor.

read more | digg story

Behind A Steve Jobs Keynote

Tuesday, Steve Jobs will grab media attention with another simple-looking stage show. Mike Evangelist tells the insider secrets of his gruelling preparation.

read more | digg story

Apple accidentally reveals iLife '06 and iWeb(?)

No details but it's on Apple's website. iWeb is speculated to be a WYSIWYG blogging tool.

read more | digg story

RUMOR: Apple To Launch Flash-Based Notebook On Tuesday

"Rumour's jungle drums continue to beat patterns suggesting Apple may launch its first Intel-powered Mac next week - and the offering may feature flash-based cache memory for faster start-ups and performance."

read more | digg story

Apple Plasma Displays to Rock MWSF

O'Grady sounds off about a special Apple announcement to be made on Tuesday's Macworld Expo keynote address in San Francisco. O'Grady is first to reveal the details about how Apple is about to rock the consumer electronics world again with an entirely new product ... HDTV Plasmas.

Once again...We'll see. I'm going to post the best of the Mac rumors for MWSF and see how how it all turns out on Tuesday.

read more | digg story

Apple prepares to launch low-cost laptop and cheap iPod

The Business Online says that it's a laptop and cheap iPod that's going to be announced at Macworld. We can only hope.

read more | digg story

Funerals to begin for victims of West Virginia mine explosion

From my referral logs I can see a lot of people comming here for this info, so here it is.

CNN reports: Mine community honors Sago victims
PHILIPPI, West Virginia (AP) -- A large photograph of Jerry Lee Groves in a mine sat next to his closed casket in a funeral home, along with dozens of flowers carrying notes of sympathy.

Paying their respects, a group of emergency workers wore black patches on their uniforms with yellow lettering: "In memory of our fallen Sago miners."

Grove was one of 12 miners killed Monday in the Sago Mine explosion. Friends and families of the victims began grieving Saturday in private visitations, with funerals scheduled Sunday through Tuesday.

Near the mine, more than 100 people gathered Sunday morning for Bible study at the Sago Baptist Church, which became a gathering place for families during the vigil for the trapped miners. That was dozens more than attended studies at the church last week.

Meanwhile, doctors treating the critically injured sole survivor planned to ease Randal McCloy Jr.'s sedation on Sunday, a day after he returned from treatment at a Pittsburgh hospital.


The WV AP wire has the following and more detailed information. I cannot link to it because the link will change.
PHILIPPI, W.Va.
The funerals of 12 coal miners killed in an underground explosion in Upshur County last week began today.

First Martin Toler Junior at 11 am in Tesla. Then Jackie Weaver's service at 1 pm in Philippi.

David Lewis, Jesse Jones and Alva Bennett were an hour later in Philippi and in Buckhannon. Jerry Groves was the last, his memorial service planned for late in the day in Cleveland.

There will be three more tomorrow, then two on Tuesday. So many funerals that one remains unplanned.

And after an untold number watched the rescue, premature celebration of survival and crushing blow of the miners' deaths unfold on live television, the funerals were private. Only those who knew the miners were allowed to join the families to grieve.

Police officers created a protective ring around the two funeral homes in Philippi, asking the media not to intrude.

The wife of the explosion's sole survivor asked reporters today to focus their attention on remembering his co-workers. Anna McCloy spoke briefly at West Virginia University's Ruby Memorial Hospital where Randal McCloy Junior remains in critical condition.


Coming from a WV coal mining family I have been deeply effected by this tragedy. The last week has been a nightmare. I sat watching the drama unfold until the wee hours of the morning, and the moments when the awful truth was learned.

Another WV blogger

Today I found two other WV blogs. Both are written by the same person: WV Hot Dog Blog and Charlestonian Blog.

Friday, January 06, 2006

Hate group to picket memorial service for dead miners

The Record Delta Online in Buckhannon, WV reports a hate group based in Topeka, Kan. plans to picket a memorial service planned for twelve miners killed who were trapped for more than 40 hours and died in the Sago mine near Tallmansville, W.Va.
A hate group based in Topeka, Kan. released a press release on Wednesday entitled “Thank God for 12 dead miners” and promises to picket the funerals for the slain men.

The hate group, which operates as Westboro Baptist Church, runs the website www.godhatesfags.com.

The release states, “God is laughing, mocking and deriding hypocritical fag-infested West Virginia.”
The release also says the WBC will picket the funerals of the miners.

When reached by phone, member Shirley Phelps-Roper confirmed that 10 to 15 picketers were making plans to protest at the funerals of the West Virginia miners.

When asked why the group was planning protests at the miners’ funerals, she responded with questions of her own.

According to the press release, “They died in shame and disgrace, citizens of a cursed nation of unthankful, unholy perverts who have departed from the living God to worship on ‘Brokeback Mountain’ and who have replaced the Bible with ‘The Da Vinci Code.’”

The group has picketed at 80 funerals since June, as many as four to five a week, according to Phelps-Roper. Most of these funerals have been for soldiers.

“Our purpose is to cause America to know our abomination,” she said.

God is punishing America, according to Phelps-Roper.
“America is doomed,” she said. “We have cracked the Bible. We know.”

During the phone interview, Phelps-Roper told this reporter to read all of Malachi (an Old Testament book).

“It covers all of the issues,” she said.

Westboro Baptist Church was established by Pastor Fred Phelps in 1955 as a Primitive Baptist Church, according to the website. It engages in daily peaceful sidewalk demonstrations “opposing the homosexual lifestyle of soul-damning, nation-destroying filth.”

The WBC has conducted more than 22,000 such demonstrations since June 1991 at homosexual parades and other events, according to the website.

When informed about the expected protests, Sgt. Chris Smith, detachment commander of the Buckhannon detachment of the W.Va. State Police, said protection would be provided as needed.

Smith could not immediately say how far back the protesters would be located.

Buckhannon Police Chief Matt Gregory and Sheriff Virgil Miller could not be reached on Thursday evening as this story was developing.

CAB2

CAB2 will be Feb. 1 at 8:00 am at Taylor Books.

Everyone please come. Everyone is welcome. I posted a reply to some comments we got here on Rick Lee's blog.
Love all the snarky comments, but seriously folks, please come next time. We set the next event for Feb. 1 at 8:00 a.m. at Taylor Books. I hope we do a better job at getting the word out this time.

Raging Red has labeled us the He-Man Woman Haters Club. While I know she has done it in good fun, it was never our intent to make this a meeting Chinos Club or the Charleston Area Bloggers county club.

The blogosphere is a very diverse place and we really would be interested in meeting women bloggers and people who don’t dress like us.

So consider this a person invitation, Insanity Infusion,
Robin S., Skip Lineberg, spinster girl, kenju, primalscreamx, big stomp, and hippie killer. Tell all your friends and bring them too.

Rick Lee: pastel artist

While I knew Rick Lee was a very good commercial photographerI never knew Rick Lee was an artist. Some of his pastel art is showing in the Taylor Books Annex Gallery.

Nor did I know he painted this:



See more of his pastel work here.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Charleston Area Bloggers meetup wrapup

Bob Coffield and Stacey Abshire have posted their thoughts on Charleston Area Bloggers meetup we had yesterday. Robin Sizemore over at One Stack Mind says he is sorry he missed it.

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

This morning blogger meetup at Taylor Books

Rick Lee has posted a photo from this morning's Charleston area blogger's meeting at Taylor Books. I keep calling it the WV blogger's meetup. Whatever you call it, it was a good time.

Live posting

Posting from the WV bloggers meetup, or whatever we are calling it this now. There are four of us here. More later...

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

I think this post gets it right

Monday, January 02, 2006

A list of facts about the Sago Mine

The AP reports the Sago mine near Tallmansville, W.Va., where 13 miners were trapped by an explosion about 6 a.m. Monday was cited by federal inspectors for 46 alleged violations of federal mine health and safety rules during an 11-week review that ended Dec. 22. The more serious alleged violations, resulting in proposed penalties of at least $250 each, involved steps for safeguarding against roof falls, and the mine's plan to control methane and breathable dust. The mine received 208 citations from MSHA during 2005, up from 68 citations in 2004.
According to owner International Coal Group, the mine:

* Was acquired by ICG last March when it bought Anker West Virginia Mining Co., which had been in bankruptcy.

* Has 145 employees. A typical production crew has 10 miners and one foreman.

* Has annual production of 800,000 tons of coal.

* The mine has been producing coal since September 1999 from the Middle Kittanning seam. The average thickness of the seam is 5.5 feet.

* Is a drift mine, which follows a coal seam into a mountain.

* Uses a room and pillar mining system and continuous miners with shuttle cars to remove coal.

A partial listing list of trapped miners

From the Associated Press:

A partial listing of the 13 West Virginia miners who were trapped underground Monday in an explosion at the Sago Mine in Upshur County, according to interviews with family members.

Alby Martin Bennett, 50, of Buckhannon

Jim Bennett, 61, of Philippi

Terry Helms, 48, of Newberg

David Lewis, 28, of Philippi

Randall McCoy, 27, of Simpson

Fred Ware Jr., 59, of Tallmansville

Jack Weaver, 52, of Philippi

Marshall Winans, 49, of Talbert

Trapped Miners Coverage Notes

...from tvnewser.

Breaking local news

13 miners trapped in West Virginia mine, officials say
TALLMANSVILLE, West Virginia (AP) -- An explosion at a coal mine trapped 13 miners more than a mile underground, a county emergency official said Monday.

The explosion happened about 8 a.m. at the Sago Mine in Upshur County, said Steve Milligan, deputy director of the county's Office of Emergency Management. Six miners made it out of the mine and refused treatment.

The trapped miners' condition was not immediately known as an attempt by coworkers to reach them was unsuccessful, Milligan said.

More on Web 2.0

Now that the great Bloglines outage of 2006 is over, I can get on with my life. I have to confess I used Windows Live to check on some of my feed during the outage. Windows Live is a great way to keep track of sites like Digg, Slashdot, and TailRank. It's getting harder to keep up with all those cool new Web 2.0 sites. I have a new account on TailRank.
I use Bloglines to read blog feeds. Site feeds tend to clutter things up a bit.


As far as Web 2.0 applications, I using Flock more and more. I can't wait for the final release. It's a developer preview release for now, but Flock 0.5 is stable for use. The more I use it the more I like it. The UK mag .net has a great review of what Flock is and what Flock does.

Michael Arrington has a great round-up of the best Web 2.0 projects over at TechCrunch. I really don't think I could live with Bloglines. I already like Digg better than Slashdot. We'll see which Web 2.0 project holds my attention in the new year.

Update: I couldn't post the above post with Flock. The blog tool wrote some "dirty html" that Blogger didn't like. I had to go back and cut and past the post to Firefox then edit the html by hand. While a WYSWYG blog posting is great, I'd really like to have more control over the html. I like to write my own tags anyway. The biggest thing I lost by not being able to post via Flock was easy Technorati tags.

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Happy birthday "blogosphere"

Love it or hate it the word blogosphere is four years old today. We can thank Daily Pundit.


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