I have had the pleasure to spend the past 14 months living in a rental community [Waterford Landing], in Hoover, Alabama. ”Sweet Home Alabama” they say around here. I still remember the day I was apartment hunting. It was very hot and muggy. Felt worse than Florida, humid, yet dry heat from above. The bay-view windows sold me on this place. I will have a post dedicated on my move [to Alabama] at a later time. Here Comes The Bus.
There is just so much to talk about when it comes to Waterford Landing Apartments, that one post is not enough to run a bus over the management company of this community. But I wish to share some of the most recent experiences.
On Fourth of July, this nation’s Independence Day, residents were having a party in one of the apartments on the third floor [which is the top floor]. At some point throughout the night, 7 people were reported to be hanging out on the balcony. Rumors are that there might have been as many as 9 individuals. At that point, as the story goes, the balcony collapsed, sending everyone to the ground. One dead, two in critical condition, two seriously hurt, one or two with broken bones, and a rumor of two leaving the scene.
Yesterday, Google officially announced Google TV at its annual conference. Similar to Boxee, it will have a stand alone box, direct connection from a computer, or built into a third party’s hardware such as a Sony Blu-Ray player or Sony TV set. Google TV will be an Android based software. Imagine Google Search for your Television. Only time will tell if Google TV stands a chance in front of the currently monopolized industry by Satellite and Cable providers.
Imagine doing a search right onto your TV for your favorite TV show. Instead of browsing through hundreds of channels on a cable or satellite box, you get the results of all possibilities on a single page, including where to watch instantly on the web. Google TV will be a platform that will be on top of current cable or satellite service. It will allow for the replacement of one’s current Guide and use Google to search via all channels generating a summary.
Recently I had an idea to create a site dedicated to the name Ivan Dimov. I have found a good number of people out there that share this name. I remember going to first through third grade and there was another Ivan Dimov in my class. What if www.IvanDimov.com existed for us to share our history and lives together. Form our own social network aside from all the commercial giants monopolizing our on-line social interaction? I mean what’s next, a merge between Facebook and Second Life? Could you imagine that? but that’s a different story.
Calling all Ivan Dimovs, contact me if you have interest in seeing something like a social www.IvanDimov.com exist. It can have a blog, posts, family trees, history, whatever you (we) decide and want.
Although Boxee has a few competitors out there, even ones that were developed prior to Boxee was even in the works [such as Plex], Boxee still might have an advantage to the commercial availability and attractiveness, both to consumers and media content providers. Pay-Per-View and subscriptions to premium content has always been on the drawings boards for the Boxee team.
Today, Boxee announced that they have picked Vindicia as a partner to process one-click payments for services offered, be it pay-per-view or premium content from a third party. Vindicia is a billing service provider that allows for integration of various business platforms to accept payments via credit cards, gift cards, and/or PayPal. This will allow Boxee to offer its users the option to subscribe to content or pay-per-view with a simple click of a mouse [or a remote button]. Vindicia currently works with other well-established content providers such as Blizzard, Symantec and Intuit, just to name a few. Boxee will be using Vindicia’s CashBox service. Continue reading Boxee Pay-Per-View and Pay-Per-Premium-Content
By now many of us have had the opportunity to experience internet video content on our home television sets via a particular source. Be it an Xbox 360, Playstation 3, Blu-Ray DVD Player, Apple TV, HDTV built-in internet module, or simply connecting our computer via a VGA cable right to our TVs, just to name a few. The Boxee team has now introduced a new, innovative way, to enjoy any internet media content, right on our television sets. Available via a various different connection methods, with more in development, Boxee puts the user in control of what to watch at their [the user's] convenience. It’s your own Media Center with limitless possibilities!
The Boxee Box by D-Link
Instead of having to surf the net via a web browser, and go from site to site, searching for video content, Boxee makes it possible to find it all in one place, using a remote control, from the comfort of your couch. Not only that, but Boxee takes it to the next step by allowing the user to also access all of their media content, not only from a local source, such as a hard drive, media server, or a computer, but also from any other source on-line, such as Picasa and Facebook, where a user has personal content. Simply put, Boxee is an internet media platform for your television set. Continue reading Boxee Revolutionizing [Internet] Television As We Know It
A republican running for governor in Alabama in 2010, Tim James, has a commercial on cable. I quote, “Why do our politicians make us give driver’s license exams in 12 languages? This is Alabama, we speak English. If you wanna live hear, learn it. We’re only giving this test in English, if I’m governor.” How self centered and closed minded, if you ask me…
Not that I’m opposed to people being required to learn English. But when people first move to this country and need to find a place to live, work, attend school, they need transportation. Alabama is worse than Florida when it comes to public transportation – there isn’t any there. So if someone just immigrated from abroad, and was unfortunate enough to end up in Alabama, at least give him/her the opportunity to learn the driving laws and get a license. Then allow them time to learn the language.
Alabama is a cultured place, in it’s own unique way. That is what makes it “Sweet Home Alabama.” Every individual that contributes to this culture, helps it steer to common grounds. Essentially the social and economical developments occur as a result. So-what that new cultures are being introduced to the mix. The world is now a global place and we are all in this together. Diversification has never stopped since before times. When a social group starts growing, that’s an opportunity for not only the local economy, but even more so to the culture that creates this sweet home.
Enacting a decision such as
limiting the languages available
for a driver’s license test,
not only puts a damper on progress,
but limits possibilities.
I really considered to embed the YouTube video of the commercial currently running. I also thought about just placing a link to it. However, I did not want to offer any more support, than this post, to this candidate. The local culture will support whatever it can handle. President Obama rallied with Change during his campaign. But Change happens naturally. It is inevitable!
An experience at the Georgia Aquarium, in Atlanta, Georgia. When visiting, one can see lots of different fish and mammals, from the Beluga Whale mating, to the quirky Sea Dragon, from the young Whale Shark, to the old Sting Ray, Sharks and Groupers, Sea Stars and Glowing Jellyfish. The Georgia Aquarium offers a memorable experience for all ages.
They also offer a ‘petting zoo.’ You can actually touch some fish, including cat fish, sea stars, and shrimp, are just to name a few. If you enjoy everything the Aquarium has to offer, you can easily spend all day there, however, you can also check out all of the major attractions in under three hours.
Worth a visit… The Georgia Aquarium is rated the largest in the world!
In Memory of my cousin Ivanka.
She will be missed very much!
I remember when we grew up together.
When we would play hide and seek,
On the river, at the farm, in the mountains or the yard.
Or even sneaking around where our grandparents would forbid us.
It seems just like yesterday we were up and down the river,
Catching crawfish in the shady crests,
Splashing through water while carrying our buckets,
Annoying the old country folk in their back yards.
We laughed and cried; fought and got hurt.
We screamed, yelled, and loved!
Loved our moments with each other,
Loved our time spent as kids.
The late nights under the street lights,
The excitement we would all create.
Running till the morning hours,
Laughing till the end of time.
Working to survive, at the vineyards, the farm or the bahcha,
Fun never got away.
Our songs and laughter still echo
Through the plum and cherry trees.
Going up and down the mountains,
Our adventures didn’t lack,
We didn’t even know Hollywood,
And we didn’t need Jack.
Life split us apart, for better or worse.
It was sad to see me go, it was sad to leave you behind.
The moments together were far and few apart.
Our love remained, filled with memories and joy.
Yet life attempts again,
to further split our souls.
It is sad to see you leave,
It is sad to see you go.
But our love is strong,
Our faith even stronger.
As we are all one,
Our spirits will remain,
And our love and laughter will be timeless.
On Fourth of July, this nation’s Independence Day, residents were having a party in one of the apartments on the third floor [which is the top floor]. At some point throughout the night, 7 people were reported to be hanging out on the balcony. Rumors are that there might have been as many as 9 individuals. At that point, as the story goes, the balcony collapsed, sending everyone to the ground. One dead, two in critical condition, two seriously hurt, one or two with broken bones, and a rumor of two leaving the scene.
