Category Archives: culture

Which Author is Better: One or Many?

Posted on March 12, 2006 by Dave

Wikipedia, the popular online reference source for undergraduates and consumers, worldwide, has more than 15 times the number of articles than the well-known Encyclopedia Britannica, the self-proclaimed “world’s most indispensable and reliable reference resource.”

 
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Google’s Plan to Store Data Online Presents Security Concerns

Posted on March 9, 2006 by Dave

Google, Inc. seems to hope that thousands, possibly millions, of internet users will trust their digital data to the Mountain View, California company, the same one that sings forth the anthem “Don’t be evil.”

 
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Digitalis Americana – 5. Creating Efficiency

Posted on March 7, 2006 by Dave

“A stitch in time saves nine.” –Benjamin Franklin

 
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Digitalis Americana – 4. Technological Effects: Behavior & Attitudes

Posted on March 5, 2006 by Dave

How technology affects us, so do we behave.

 
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Digitalis Americana – 3. Evaluation of Technology and Interface Design

Posted on March 5, 2006 by Dave

Before taking action, one must know what needs to be done.

 
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Digitalis Americana – 2. How Will the PC Affect the Face of America?

Posted on February 28, 2006 by Dave

Growth is a slow, constant process, punctuated by short periods of extraordinary change.

 
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The Internet Freeway May Become A Toll Road

Posted on February 26, 2006 by Dave

There are no traffic cops on the internet. Until now, that is. If U.S. telecommunication companies have their way, we may have internet traffic cops, patrol cars, and a full police union. The traffic cops will direct the traffic, giving preferential treatment to a select few that are able to pay for the unimpeded toll lane. Those who are able to pay the toll will get faster service.

 
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Ellicott Mills Brewing Company: Gator Done Right

Posted on February 24, 2006 by Dave

I just returned from dinner with my wife at Ellicott Mills Brewing Company, one of our favorite restaurants. We supped on gator and fish fillets…and of course, dark beer.

 
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Digitalis Americana – 1. How It All Started

Posted on February 18, 2006 by Dave

I am writing a new book, the working title of which is Digitalis Americana: How the Personal Computer Changes the Face of America.

As I transfer my book from my writer’s notebook to my digital notebook, I will post sections to this blog; I look forward to your constructive feedback in the comments section of each post.

 
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Two Great and Different Thinkers Born on this Day in 1809

Posted on February 12, 2006 by Dave

Two great and, in at least one way, antithetic men were born on this day in 1809. One advocated man’s natural evolvement; the other, God’s greater involvement.

 
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Find Great Maryland Crab Soup in York, Pennsylvania

Posted on January 27, 2006 by Dave

I returned to Orville’s Restaurant at York Airport for more of its great Maryland crab soup. The restaurant respects the Old Line State’s most famous export by calling it red crab soup. However named, it is the best crab soup that I can recall ever having.

 
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No-Frost Air Conditioning & Heating – The only repair service in town

Posted on January 23, 2006 by Dave

I asked the repairmen from No-Frost A/C & Heating to come to the house this morning to repair a problem with my furnace, and true to form, they were efficient and reasonable in their repairs.

 
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Merry Christmas

Posted on December 25, 2005 by Dave

It’s the end of Christmas night for the Murphy family. We have shared the company of our extended family, and we are blessed that we are home and healthy.

 
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Advance Auto Parts Earns Credit For Great Customer Service

Posted on December 11, 2005 by Dave

Most people will never have to replace an automotive headlight bulb, so they don’t know that the bulbs should be replaced in pairs. If one burns out, it’s likely the partner will burn out soon, too. That’s what lead me to build a relationship with my local auto parts store, losing one of the headlights in my Honda Accord.

 
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Excuse me pal, do you mind if I take the window seat?

Posted on December 10, 2005 by Dave

Today’s Wall Street Journal reports on its front page that passenger aircraft around the world are often delayed because of unticketed and unwanted passengers.

 
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Cellphone Users Beware: We Know Where You Are

Posted on December 10, 2005 by Dave

Do you carry a cellphone? Do you know that your cellular service provider knows where your phone is? By extension, if you carry your phone with you, your cellular service provider knows where you are. Cellular phones can be located, accurate to within about 300 yards, whenever they are turned on. Since most cellular phone users keep their phones on and with them most of the time, it is quite probable that their ongoing whereabouts are being automatically tracked.

 
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Ebay Boosts Sales Figures of Microsoft Xbox 360

Posted on December 4, 2005 by Dave

Microsoft’s Xbox 360 is going for the gold on eBay. According to eBay president and CEO, Meg Whitman, 40,000 Xbox 360 consoles have sold through the online auction site. That’s 10% of the total number of units estimated to have sold in the U.S. since the product was released.

 
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China Kitchen Leaves Me Wanting More

Posted on December 3, 2005 by Dave

I ordered carryout Chinese dinners from China Kitchen in Elkridge, Maryland this evening, and my family and I were disappointed.

 
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The Secret Life of Numbers

Posted on November 27, 2005 by Dave

The Secret Life of Numbers is esoteric website that visually demonstrates the popularity of numbers between 0 and 100,000, based on the frequency that each number appears in the databases of popular search engines.

 
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Sony CD Security Fix Leaves Users Unsecured

Posted on November 15, 2005 by Dave

Sony BMG Music Entertainment attempted to protect some of its music CDs from digital piracy by automatically installing copy protection software on the computers of users who attempted to play the music CDs on their computers. The security tool is a system root kit, and it restricts copying of the music on the CD. In response to a widespread outcry from consumers and security experts, Sony BMG Music Entertainment created a downloadable patch that will disable the root kit security program; however, the patch leaves the affected computer open to anyone’s downloading software to the computer.

 
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