Zemanta - A Very Cool Blogging Tool

I installed a "addin" for Mozilla Firefox. It is from the site, "Zemanta". When I begin typing a particular topic, Zemanta will suggest snippets for your blog. As an example, this particular post is about Zemanta and the following was suggested:

Related articles by Zemanta

• Zemanta - the Coolest Application for Bloggers I Have Seen (change-management-blog.com)
• Nissan tests next-gen fuel cell with X-Trail FCV (autos.canada.com)

As you can see, this is the "Coolest Application for Bloggers..." This application also shows some icons of Mozilla Firefox that can be clicked and "BAM!" it is in the post. See>>>

Now, this was amazing.

Okay, let me try another topic...

Let's try... Fuelcells... (should be two words but this is a test)

I believe our energy problems can be solved with fuelcells. I know that when we see the billions of dollars we send into our atmosphere every day in the form of burnt potrolium products, it is inevediable that something must be done. Fuelcell by-product is water.

Image via Wikipedia

As you can see, the link to fuel cells is embedded in the above list of links.

Additionally, I've clicked on a link, to a graphic, that was suggested and you can see how this image can now be discussed.

Embedding two or more images seems to be a bit cumbersome because when the photo was "clicked", it seemed to get embedded in the beginning of this post. Well, using Bloggers interface, I simply drug the image down to where I wanted it.

Another feature of this tool is the ability to quickly add labels to the post. This is another automatic system. As I type, suggested labels will dynamically appear. The only other thing that I need to do, is, click on the suggested words and "presumably" these words are now part of the post.

Additionally, just below the composition window (where I am typing right now) is another list of suggested words. These works are directly related to what I am typing. if I click any (or "apply al") of the words, this tool will automatically insert hyper links into the post. I no longer have to go out and embed links anymore.

Finally, in the event a particular topic does not promote suggested content, this tool has a search function that you can type in. As you may have noticed earlier in this post, I discussed "fuelcells" (one word). I later talked about fuel cells (two words). Well, when I first began, nothing came up but I then typed the two words into the search box and a plethora of suggestion were then available.

Well, that is all I have for this morning. Come again and I will talk about some of the "Random thoughts of Steve Blake".

Have a productive day.

Welcome Back from Memorial Weekend

I hope everyone had a nice long weekend. Peggy and I were quite productive. We started by cleaning up our dry river bed in the back. Well, actually we started but we still need to finish cleaning up the dead parts of the yucca plants

After cleaning up the some of these plants, we started on the front walkway. This walkway goes from the front step that turned towards the driveway and meandered down to the front sidewalk. (Click on picture to see a large version) We put this walkway in some years ago and was ready for some basic maintenance. This was just a matter of removing the old pea gravel that was full of weeds and grasses, reset the decorative brick that went through the center of the walkway and reapply new pea gravel.

We also took the time to power spray the house and mend one of the gates to the back yard.

Additionally, we decided to do a little painting and repair on the back door. This was one of those double doors where one is latched on the top and bottom and the other is used as the basic entrance.

On a fun note. I had the opportunity to get my kayak our for the first time. Peggy bought me this kayak at Christmas and I finally got it licensed and out on Big Walnut Creek. I check

Image via Wikipedia

on Google Earth and determined I went approximately 4 miles. Being this was the first time I have ever been in a kayak, I started out heading upstream for a while and just playing about near where I was parked. That way, when I take a dive, I would be able to get a dry towel. This was expected but I am very please to say I did not dump once. After a while, I got comfortable and headed upstream for just over a mile. Only once did I get a bit concerned. I was in a "fast water" situation when I hit a rock. Now, this rock was big and I saw it coming for quite a distance and yet, I hit it! All went well but that taught me a good lesson.

Now, you may have noticed I did not say I did not get wet. Actually, I can now understand why they developed the "spray skirt". This is a waterproof boot that goes around the waist and attaches to the opening on the kayak. Why did I get wet? Well, every time I took my paddle out of the water, it ran down the paddle and in my lap. I have these rubber things on the paddles that keeps most of the water from coming all the way down and in the kayak but even with that, I got wet.

Once I returned home, I got on line and ordered the same spray skirt that Gander Mountain wanted $69.00 for, but I only payed $40.95 with no shipping and tax and this was from the manufacturer.

Well, back to work. It is now Tuesday and we need to "reboot" our minds into "business as usual". So, have a productive day and I will post again.

Happy Birthday Brittnii

This weekend, Peggy and I went to New York to surprise my niece on her sweet 16^th birthday. Brittnii, her parents and Paige (friend) arrived at their room with a bit of a surprise. Okay, that was the way it was suppose to happen.

Actually, we get to the Westin Hotel in New York Time Square to find our rooms not ready. This was not surprising because checkout was at noon and we arrived at 9:30am. We had pre-arranged a meeting with the assistant to the hotel manager to get into Brittnii’s room (an adjoining room) to decorate. Well, as we arrived, the hotel wanted to give us a different room that would be ready. We explained that we were there for a surprise and my brother and family will be in the adjoining room. Okay, brother and family had no idea we were going to be there and this plan was brilliant.

As Paul Harvey would say, “Now for the rest of the story…” We finally meet with the assistant hotel manager and finalize the plan. We agree that I would go and retrieve our stored luggage that contains the decorations and we would meet upstairs. Just as I am standing by the desk waiting for my luggage, I look out the window to discover my brother and family stepping out of a cab. I explain to the bellhop that they are to take the luggage to the 8^th floor and take it to the Executive Club Lounge and took off running in hopes they would not see me. I explain the situation to the assistant manager and we scurry off to our hiding place.

Apparently, the room was still not ready for us to do the decorations so we wait and wait and wait… Eventually, we get into our room and the adjoining room. We were told the room would appear as not ready until we were finished.

Our room was huge. The assistant Manager out did herself with this room. We walk into the adjoining room to find it to be significantly smaller. Peggy and I felt a bit guilty about the size of their room, they had four people, and we were just two. However, out room had a king size bed while their room had the two beds. We shrugged our shoulders and proceeded to decorate their room.

Once finished, we “texted” Brittnii to discover they left the Hotel to do some site seeing. We eventually broke down and called my brother to find out they were at the statue of Liberty and actually gotten a different room! So, we had to let him in on everything but with strict instructions that he was not to tell the rest of his family.

When we all arrived back at the hotel, we knocked on their door (the OTHER ROOM) and SURPRISE! We explained everything at that point and decided to go to the “Pre-arranged” room for the festivities. Jill (the mom) arranged for a cake to be delivered and for whatever reason, a bottle of Champaign. (That may have been for her… actually, I believe that was a gift from the Hotel)

We open gifts and eat some cake and all was good with the world. I think the greatest gift she received from her Aunt Peggy was the CD of Jon Bon Jovi. Okay, not really but it came from Aunt Peggy and so, although she may never listen to it, liked it anyway.

I have so much more to discuss but I will just have to say, that is all I have for this morning…

Have a productive day and I will continue this saga later.

Pictures of Chris and Cameron Playing in April09

He just got up from a nap... or he discovered electricity

Isn't he ADORABLE!

Engineering in the making. He wants to see how it is made.

Grand Slam. Look at his expression.

Click on any photo to see full resolution of that photo.

To see more of these photos, go to:

http://picasaweb.google.com/steveandpeggyb/ChrisAndCameron#

To see all of my online albums, go to:

http://picasaweb.google.com/steveandpeggyb

Hope You Had a Happy Easter

Good morning everyone.

Just wanted to drop a quick note this morning.

What a weekend. The weather was not bad. We had a lot of sunshine and actually had the time to get some yard work done. On Saturday, Peggy and I had a lot of help outside with the boys. We had Christopher and Cameron both Saturday and Sunday.

On Saturday morning, we took Cameron and Christopher to the Columbus Zoo. This was the first time Cameron (1 yr) had been there and seemed to be quite amazed at the big animals. As you can tell, we had them wrapped up nice and warm and Cameron did real well in the wagon. We did not stay but an hour and a half but that was all Cameron could take for his first time.

I will post more pictures and let you know where you can see the our adventure at a later date.

Once we got back to the house, the boys took their naps and afterwards we went outside to play. This is where Christopher helped me get all his toys out of storage and set them up for him and Cameron to play on.

While we were out there, Peggy took 54 pictures and some of them will be posted at a later date. Suffice to say, the boys had a lot of fun with Papaw. This picture shows Cameron riding down a roller coaster like ride. He had such a good time.

P. S. You can alway click on any picture to see the full resolution image.

Polls.whatiz.com

Okay, I have notice a few links to polls.whatiz.com. Now, that was way before Whatiz came into existence... at least in my realm. So, with that said, take a moment and answer the question on the right and hit [Submit] at the bottom of the poll. I am also experimenting with the poll results. I know the answers are going to be subjective but, I'm just looking for data.

So, enjoy

On a side note, IT IS SNOWING AGAIN!!!!! Sorry, for the rant. :<(

Okay, it's not really spring yet...

Can you believe. The last couple days has been nice and in the 60's and 70's and now we are expecting snow today and tomorrow. This is just simply not right in so many ways!

Oh well, it is what it is...