Tuesday, August 29, 2006

Timex 1000 and KayPro II Two Classic PC's

Timex 1000
First came the ZX80 followed by the ZX81. Sir Clive Sinclair really put the PC indusry on its ear when he released the USA version of the ZX81, the Timex 1000, for under 100 bucks in 1982. Yes for $99.95. Our new system includes boxed 16K RAM module, ZX81 computer plus software ad manuals. All in original boxes and in nice condition. Timex has only 4 chips, the Z80A CPU, ROM, static RAM and custom chip. Users detested cheap keyboard so many versions followed by 3rd parties with better keyboards. However for the price it was one of the best deals at the time!

KayPro II
Designed to go after Osborne, the Kaypro II had 64K of RAM, dual Tandon SS/DD 5 1/4" Floppy Drives, plus a huge 9" green screen (Osborne only 5" screen). It is said that "2010: A Space Odyssey" was written on a Kaypro! Key advantage was software including Wordstar, Perfect series and more.

Friday, August 25, 2006

Maui to be Showcased on MTV "Island Fever"






Surf's up for MTV skeins
Reality duo set on islands
by Denise Martin


MTV has greenlit a pair of unscripted series set on the island of Maui.
Cabler has ordered eight half-hour episodes each of the docudramas "Island Fever" and "Living Lahaina" for premiere in first quarter 2007.

In the vein of "The Real World" and "Laguna Beach"-style reality, "Island Fever" will track the lives and loves of a group of friends in Hawaii, while "Living Lahaina" will follow surf instructors who work at the Royal Hawaiian Surf Academy.

"We're excited to explore the beautiful island of Maui to see what stories develop," MTV entertainment and programming exec VP Lois Curren said. "As always, our goal is to continue to bring our audience an entertaining inside look at the lives of young people told through our distinctive storytelling style."

"We trust that both productions will take this opportunity to document the Maui that most visitors will never experience," Maui Film Commission's Benita Brazier said. "To most people, Maui is merely sand and surf. Maui and the Hawaiian culture are much richer and deeper."

Tony DiSanto, Liz Gateley and Mike Powers exec produce "Island." Steve Michaels, Jonathan Koch, Morgan J. Freeman and Russell Heldt exec produce for Asylum Entertainment.

Jesse Ignjatovic will exec produce "Living Lahaina."
date in print: Variety, 8/25/2006, Los Angeles


Good Luck Morgan J. Freeman and Steve Michaels and Mahalo!

Wednesday, August 16, 2006

39 Years still having FUN!

Tuesday the 15th Barb and I celebrated our 39th Wedding Anniversary. It has been a long time since we went to the Rock of Gibraltar (home of rock apes) and got married under the Queen in 1967. The year the Beatles released "Sargent Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band". Our oldest son Morgan joined us as we had drinks at TantaLum in Long Beach and then enjoyed the best sushi anywhere at Koi (note Tiffany bag on seat) in Seal Beach! Nice night and we were happy Morgan was in town (on break before new project starting the 20th) and joined us! I am one LUCKY Guy!

Thursday, August 10, 2006

Airport Security Revisited: Inadequate Action

I wrote this to our President and also the Director of Homeland Security over one year ago as the result of my obervations as a frequent flyer. Why doesn't someone take some positive steps to prevent a disaster before it happens? Common Sense 101.

Date: July 28, 2005 1:29:23 PM PDT
To: comments@whitehouse.gov and homeland security (dhs.gov)
Subject: Anti-Terrorism Program

Dear Sir,

Last week a friend of mine was in a horrible accident on a local freeway in Los Angeles. He quickly called 911 on his telephone. After repeated calls to 911 for over 30 minutes he was unable to get through. If he was calling to report suspicious potential terrorists activity he would have just got a busy signal.

The best way to prevent terrorism is through vigilant people making Homeland Security or other Anti-Terrorism agencies aware of suspicious situations that may or may not be linked to an actual horrifying event. Obviously, calling 911 does not work.

I suggest you consider a special number such as 666 for vigilant people to call in case of a potential bomb threat or suspicious activity. One of the issues in fighting terrorism utilizing vigilance is reinforcing the need for all citizens to pay attention of what is going on around them. In a few months things will return to the way it was before the London tragedy. People need to be reminded and it has to be part of a program such as "Project 666".

Secretary Chertoff in his address recently to a Congressional committed stated that there is no way to protect our infrastructure of subways and mass transit. He cited the lack of funds and personnel to adequately support these efforts. If we can spend $180 Billion on the Iraq war then we can find the money to fight terrorism. It was interesting that shortly after his talk the City of New York introduced random searches at train stations and subways. However this program was immediately
dilutely by their position that in anyone refused they could simply walk out of the terminal. This negated their new program.

The nation needs to hire a staff of as many security officers it needs to respond to 666 calls. Yes, it will be expensive but the cell phone is the only tool that US citizens can use against terrorism. This program must continually make citizens aware that they can help- It must be an ongoing program.

It is also important to define a new policy regarding carry-on knapsacks and luggage on airlines. All carry-on must be contained in a seamless plastic see-thru bag. In a major department store, employees must use a see-thru bag when they carry things into work. They use this as part of their security system to stop employee theft. Several different versions of see-thru carry-on luggage must be made available to accommodate the variety of needs of the travelers. If it is not see through it is checked in at the terminal as baggage. I have personally witnessed the ineptness of Argenbright and other security companies. Sometimes I leave my computer in by carry-on and it goes through undetected. Sometime I have to take my shoes off and other times no. I am disabled and when I had to use a wheel chair in O'Hare I was put through the lines quickly and was basically un-inspected. I could have carried on anything. The use of poorly trained and mismanaged independent security companies is not doing the job! See through bags is the only way to be able to inspect everything. The airlines are also falling short. I recently flew from Maui to Los Angeles on American Airlines. During the first 30 minutes the pilot cabin door was opened 4 times without following normal security procedures.

Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestions and input. Your agency needs to more not less. The funds have to be made available to get the job done. I feel much safer flying Air France where the passengers go through an added level of screening just when they are about to get on the airplane. This is also done in Africa. They don't mess around. With see-thru carry-on luggage it takes this process to a more secure level and that is what we want- Security. I am continually amazed at how we as a country remain saddled the most ill-equipped and ineffective security at our airports. If France, Africa, Israel and other countries can develop and utilize more effective programs then why can't we? We should take the lead and institute new programs that are above and beyond those offered in other countries.

David Freeman
Concerned Citizen
PS: That's Right- During travel to 3rd World Countries in Africa the screening procedures at the airport were tighter than the good old USA! Go fiqure, if it cost a lot of money the African's could not afford it- so they just have to work harder on the job to get it done right!

Friday, August 04, 2006

Rent-a-Nanny Returns to California


101 Degrees in the Shade! 112 Heat-Index with humidity! Chicago is not the place to be when it is HOT! The Windy City needs the wind to survive during this heat. But working as a Rent-a-Nanny the job has to be done. I spent the hot days taking care of Sebastian and avoiding the hot weather. Here are a couple photos. Sebastian is now 14 days old and weighs in at a whopping 6lbs 6ozs. Rent-a-Nanny is home and really enjoying the nice weather in California!

The World IS Mel Gibson by Bill Maher

I suspect I'll have plenty more to say about Mel Gibson when Real Time returns to HBO on August 25 (PLUG!!!), but in the meantime a couple of thoughts:


As I watch so much of the world ask Israel for restraint in a way no other country would (Can you imagine what Bush would do if a terrorist organization took over Canada and was lobbing missiles into Montana, Maine and Illinois?) - and, by the way, does anyone ever ask Hezbollah for
restraint. you know, like, please stop firing your rockets aimed PURPOSEFULLY at civilians? - it strikes me that the world IS Mel Gibson. Most of the time, the anti-semitism is under control, but that demon lives inside and when the moon is full, or there's been enough alcohol consumed,
or Israel is forced to kill people in its own defense, then it comes out.

I've heard Mr. Gibson say he's sorry, and that he's wrong, and others say, well, he was drunk, he's got a disease, etc. But my question is, what is the root of this, Mel? I mean, we all say crazy things when we're drunk, and we've all undoubtedly had ugly moments when we're superstressed out and then drunk on top of it, I know I have - but what comes out at that moment isn't a tirade against the Jews. Yes, liquor releases demons, but I want to know why the demon in Mel Gibson is hatred of the Jews to begin with (I know, the father). Why, when Mels's id is released, its about the Jews fucking everything up, just like it was with Hitler. Except Mel Gibson, when his id is in check, I believe, really knows how wrong that is, and how stupid. He, I believe, at least fights with himself about this.

But he'll never win as long as he's so religious, because, I hate to tell you, the disease isn't alcholism, the disease is religion. But that's another essay.

For now, let me just say again: the world has their simmering hatred of the Jews under check most of the time, but do watch them when they start weaving on PCH.
And Mel, let me remind you: The Jews have not started all the wars in the world. But they have greenlit all the movies.