Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 5K Photo

So I got an email from the photographer of the event saying I can purchase photos of me running the race.  I look so bad, I'll just keep a screen shot.

Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 5K Results

So I got my official time for the race.  Not bad...

Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 5K

So I ran my first race this morning, Redondo Beach Super Bowl Sunday 5K.  No idea what to expect and it went fine.  I made it the whole way without walking.  I wish I had not worn my sweatshirt as it got a little baggy as the race went on.  I should have listened to the weird old guy that started to talk to me.  The one draw back was all the down time before the race.  Just sitting around waiting for it to start.  All the booths and costume contest are pretty lame.  There were lots of people and I kind of wish I had known somebody as it was a little confusing.  Oh well, hopefully next time won't be so chaotic.

iPad Ranting

So I had high hopes for the new Apple tablet but I am totally underwhelmed by it.  I have been waiting on purchasing a new computer because of the potential of the mysterious Apple tablet computer.  I was hoping it would be more like a computer (run OSX) and less like an iPhone (since I have an iPhone).  Turns out, it is just a novelty-sized iPod touch!  Don't get me wrong; I would love to have one and play with it.  I love Apple products and hate using my PC at work, but I don't think it is practical for me and really for anybody.
There are a few pluses:

• Price - it isn't too expensive for an Apple product (even the contract-less AT&T 3G is relatively cheap, especially since you can cancel without fees).
• iBooks - This looks really cool and should give all the other eReaders a run for their money.  But I have my own problems with this idea.
• ummm... I guess that's it....

The minuses:

• That bezel!  WTF!  It look like a picture frame.  Did it really need to be 2 inches big?  That really detracts from the awesome styling of Apple.  Also, no widescreen.  Everything is filmed and made in widescreen now.  The iPad still thinks it is basic television.  Nothing like 4 inches of black bars on your 10 inch screen to watch a movie.  Blech.
  
•  No software.  Only apps.  I thought the whole point of apps was to be a simplified version of a webpage that would run better on a smaller screen.  Why would I want to use a Facebook app on the iPad when I could just go to the website and have everything there?  At least there will be a simplified iWork for it, but certainly no chance of running Microsoft Office.  I would have thought there would have been iLife (iPhoto, iMovie, iTunes, etc.).  I don't see how you can even upload photos and movies from your camera and email or post to the internet.
• iBooks - The idea of an eReader to me is ludicrous.  Why purchase a book if you can get it for free from a library?  If you really want to own the book, why not purchase the real thing?  An eBook still costs about the same as a real book.  This whole concept is beyond me and until these eReaders adopt rental or borrowing services, I don't see how they can beat out paper.  If I had a Kindle or iPad and I could go to the library (or library website) and check out a book out for free on it, then I might change some of my feelings on this subject.
• No multitasking - You still cannot write and email and have AIM chat open at the same time.  Not being able to run multiple apps at once (at lack of flash support) really stinks.  I can get past it on the iPhone because, well, its a phone.
• No cameras or iChat.  No video chat.  Jeez, I thought this was going to be a revolutionary device.  It actually steps backwards in that it can't connect with other people with video.

Well, that's it for now.  I'm sure I will find more faults but hopefully I will find some good attributes to this useless device.  I guess I need to start researching which MacBook I want to get...

Fail

So I like to think that I am somewhat computer savvy.  I have been able to install new memory cards into computers and what not.  Heck, I even hacked my apple TV (which I now need to sell on eBay).  But I cannot deal with my stupid printer!  After my brother-in-law spent a lot of time getting it set up on my new wireless router, it worked great.  Then, that evening, it stopped working, due to no toner!  What are the odds?!?!  Anyways, I ended up buying a new cartridge and I just installed it today and of course, it doesn't work.  What the frack!  So now I am at the same point as before with a non-wireless functioning printer and a broken oven to boot.  Frustration abounds!

Websites

So I have been working on my company's social networking sites for a month or so getting them all set up and what not.  I feel I have finally finished the blog page (http://jdfactors.blogspot.com).  I just added some artwork to the sides of the page and it just seems slicker.  I know its not a lot and that an IT guy could have done it in five minutes but it is a little accomplishment for me.  I just hope that we can use this blog, along with our facebook and twitter pages, to do something good.  Right now, they all just say the same thing but it would be nice to get some more information on the sites.  Now I have to convince everyone that our company website needs a face-lift so it looks less like a Microsoft template and more like a professional financial website.  We just got new marketing material that the salesmen will be using and I think that the website should reflect that.  We'll see.

Camera

So I ordered a new camera after weeks of researching DSLRs.  I ended up with a Canon T1i.  Just waiting now for it to come in the mail via amazon.  I sure hope I made the right choice.
My brother-in-law was trying to get me to buy a micro four-thirds camera.  These cameras sure looked nice and seemed to be what I wanted, but I don't think they are really any smaller than a regular DSLR.  I wasn't going to be able to put it in my pocket like our Canon Elph.  Cost wise, the micro 4/3 was $100-$200 more than a nicer DSLR so I decided to bite the bullet and get the DSLR.
I have found that when you discuss items like this with other people, no matter your decision, it is the wrong one.  Trying to explain my reasoning on this camera to someone, just made me feel like I picked a bad, useless, overpriced camera.  Even when I went to a camera store to get a feel for this camera and others, the salesman just treated me like an incompetent child.  I may not know a lot about cameras but I think I can take satisfactory pictures, especially with all these new "idiot-proof" cameras.  How hard can it really be?
I just hope I can stick with this camera and make sure to bring it with me and remember to actually take pictures.  Wish me luck.