I am Not Dead, Just Resting – Man Armed With Rifle Fatally Shot by Phoenix Police

I received the following report of my death from an alert I have set up for my name.

Man armed with rifle fatally shot by Phoenix police
KVOA.com – Tucson,AZ,USA
Police received a 911 call from an 80-year-old man at the home, saying the suspect, identified as Thomas Willingham, was threatening to kill him and a woman …

The reports of my death are premature. I have to admit that it is disconcerting to see that someone with your name and very close to your age, recently died:  KVOA News 4, Tucson, Arizona – Man armed with rifle fatally shot by Phoenix police. I just wanted to let you know, that the deceased person, from this article, isn’t the Thomas Willingham that posts on this blog.

I found it startling to be reading news of my own demise, but I am relieved it is not me. I do feel bad for the Thomas Willingham that is now deceased, but my family and I are glad that I am still here.

Things have been hectic the last couple of months, and I have been taking a break from posting, but this news was too important to ignore.

So just to let you know:

• I am still here!
• I am not deceased, just resting.
• I hope to be back soon.

I am happy to note that the readership of my blog has continued at the current level as when I was posting frequently. At least I know that the content I have written is standing the test of time, and people still find what I have written to be useful.

To those that continue to read my blog, I thank you, and I plan on regaling you with my current adventures in the near future.

Technorati tags: Thomas Willingham, Deceased, Alive, Phoenix, Police, Fatally, Shot, Still Here

A Photographers Travel Log

We are all familiar of the scene of a couple torturing their friends with slides displaying their latest horrid travel photos, while relating mind numbing stories of using Pepto Bismal because the food was ‘so different.’

Tim Schumm and his girlfriend Debbie Garside are not that couple. They took an amazing journey through Argentina, Chile and Antarctica, and one of the best parts of their travel are their posts and photography from the trip.

Tim’s photography is amazing, and the images from their trip are what you expect in National Geographic. You really get a ‘feel’ for the locations that Tim shoots. Tim’s posts are very interactive and he willingly takes the time to answer your comments and questions on his post.

I feel very fortunate that the interactions I have had with Tim are like sitting down and having a conversation over breakfast. You can follow Tim’s travels on ACDSee’s blog. Tim is a guest  “Pro Star” poster on the ACDSee blog. The Pro Star series is:

a place where the pro community will be able to share their stories, travel journals and photos from around the world.

 

The posts concerning Tim’s travels are well worth the time to read, and there are a lot of great images. The travel posts are as follows:

1. Tim and Debbies travel itinerary (at a glance)
2. Sick N Twisted
3. Argentina, equestrian wonderland
4. Dust, Wind, Drama and Spanglish
5. Ushuaia, Bottom of the world
6. Polar Star, the ice breaker
7. Exploring a Cerulean Land of Ice and Stone
8. Neko Harbour, Exploring the Penguin Rookery
9. Zodiac, the Leopard Seal’s Toy near Danko Island

The last entry about the Leopard Seal details an encounter with a Leopard Seal as big as the Zodiac that carried the group. Tim calmly relates an interesting game of ‘stalk the Zodiac’ the Leopard Seal plays. I knew they were big, but I did not realize they tipped the scales at a ton.

You can view additional images from his trip on the UseFilm.com website. Thanks to ACDSee for having Tim post his photos and relate his travels.

Photo Credits – Tim Schumm and Debbie Garside

Technorati Tags: Tim Schumm, Debbie Garside, ACDSee, Travel, Blog, Argentina, Chile, Antarctica, Photography

David Blaine Spoof on YouTube

This video series is an excellent spoof of David Blaine. This video is the third installment by ThoseLilRabbits, a very creative team that includes Mikey Day, Michael Naughton, Andrew Friedman, and Mitch Silpa. It is a very funny series, but the video does contain ‘colorful language’ that may be considered NSFW. The videos show ‘David Blaine’ terrorizing two guys from Los Angeles.

If you are not familiar with the series, watch the first two parts, before diving into the third video so you will have a full understanding.

Part 1 – David Blaine Street Magic

From the YouTube description – David Blaine brings his famous street magic to YouTube. Watch as the famous magician blows the minds of two Los Angeles idiots. WARNING: This magic is amazing.

Part 2 – David Blaine Street Magic Part 2

From the YouTube description – See David Blaine terrorize the same two idiots from the first video.

Part 3 – David Blaine Street Magic Part 3

I am continually amazed at how creative some people are when I see work like this. The creators of this video series do a great job, and I am looking forward to viewing more of their work.

Technorati Tags: David Blaine, Spoof, YouTube, ThoseLilRabbits

Happy New Year

Let me wish all of you a Happy New Year. I found the photograph on the site, Vegas Tripping, a sinners guide to Las Vegas. I have great memories of Vegas as that is where Shannon and I got married, and I actually spent New Years for 2000 there, so it seemed fitting to use that picture.

I have been absent the last couple of days as I have actually been on vacation and spending time with the family.

Our family New Years Eve tradition is to get dressed up and go to a fancy dinner. This year we had dinner at Pazzo, a great Italian restaurant. The food was excellent, and as Shannon is familiar with the chefs we got to talk to the great people that we were responsible for making our food. We make our reservations early, so we are finished with dinner and back home before 8. That way we actually get to ‘go out’ and have a fancy dinner, but are home before everyone starts drinking and driving.

I would let you know what my New Years resolutions are, but I try to make resolutions when needed and not wait for the New Year to make them.

Wishing you the best in 2008!

Popular Blogger Loses Domain Because of Gmail Hack

If you have been following what has been going on with David Airey, you know that he recently lost his domain http://www.davidairey.com to a hacker. The hacker has kindly offered to sell David’s domain back to him, which is not in keeping with the holiday spirit. The problem was documented in David’s post DavidAirey.com hacked.

It turns out that David’s Gmail account was hacked. David details the problem here in his post WARNING: Google’s GMail security failure leaves my business sabotaged. A brief outline of the Gmail hack is as follows:

• User logs into Gmail account
• Visit a site with Gmail hack configured
• Hack site sets up a backdoor in Gmail account

For full information concerning the hack read Google GMail E-mail Hijack Technique posted by Petko D. Petkov, on GNUCitizen.

This incident just demonstrates that we need to remain vigilant concerning our security practices when using computers and surfing the web. For David’s sake I am hoping that all these bad issues are resolved in time for him to get a clean slate and a happy new year!

Graphic – From David Airey’s post

Technorati Tags: David Airey,Gmail,Hacked,Petko D Petkov,GNUCitizen

WOW – Van Damme and Toledo

Thanks to James Moody: Geek in Paradise for the heads up about a set of foreign language World Of Warcraft, WOW commercials. These commercials star Jean Claude Van Damme in French, and Willy Toledo in Spanish

Jean Claude Van Damme je suis un mage

Van Damme is cast as a Mage, and is excited to be stopping hand to hand combat in favor of casting powerful spells:

Thankfully the YouTube video includes the following translation:

My name is Jean-Claude Van Damme… and I am a mage.
Hand-to-hand combat for me: it’s over!
Now I can cast powerful spells!
Just try messing with me… I’ll turn you into a sheep.
A sheep!
..Because we all are a bit like sheep, you know…
I am Jean-Claude Van Damme, I am a mage.
And you?
What’s your game?

Willy Toledo, y soy un Paladin

Willy Toledo is cast as a Paladin, protector of the holy light.

  This video is also translated:

Hi, my name is Willy Toledo… and I am a Paladin.
I am a combination of a spell caster and a specialist in melee combat.
…up-close and personal, clearly what I like most.
But this is serious, I´m a protector of the Holy Light.
I am Willy Toledo, and I’m a Paladin.
And you?
What’s your game?

I find these commercials to be really refreshing. I like a product that is willing to let the advertisers have fun with it. As much as I enjoy the commercials, I find it hard to believe there are people out there who still aren’t familiar with this game.

If you play, beware the Mage trying to turn you into a sheep, or a serious Paladin who considers himself protector of the holy light.

Technorati Tags: World of Warcraft, WOW, Jean Claude Van Damme, Mage, Willy Toledo, Paladin

WOW – Mini Me is a Mage

Thanks to James Moody: Geek in Paradise for the heads up about another set of World Of Warcraft, WOW commercials.

Verne Troyer, and I’m a Mage

Another commercial that really uses the talent of the actor, Verne Troyer:

There are 9 million players in the World of Warcraft, it’s huge, like my mage.

 

 

There is even a scene with Troyer’s mage next to Shatner’s Shaman.

Another great example that World of Warcraft get’s product advertisement. Their commercials continue to be informative and funny.

Technorati Tags: World of Warcraft, WOW, Verne Troyer, Mini Me, Mage