Keefer Madness

Visualizing the BP Oil Spill/Disaster

// June 17th, 2010 // No Comments » // Local (Raleigh Durham), News

Check this out. This interactive map allows you to overlay the current mass nastiness that is the Gulf oil spill. Overlaying it locally over the Raleigh-Durham area, it’d also reach Winston-Salem, Fayetteville and up past Richmond. It really puts it in perspective. Overlaying over your local area really gives you an idea of the size of this disaster in a way that a number of gallons just doesn’t do.

Visualizing the BP Oil Spill/Disaster

Busch Gardens to Keep Name After Sale; Clydesdales to Depart SeaWorld

// October 7th, 2009 // No Comments » // General Posts, News

Driving home from the hospital today, I heard on the radio that Anheuser-Busch sold off their amusmenet division, which includes the SeaWorld and Busch Gardens parks. Anheuser-Busch sold the division to the Blackstone Group for $2.7 billion should have little to no impact on the operation of the theme parks, officials said.

Busch Gardens to Keep Name After Sale; Clydesdales to Depart SeaWorld

Intuit to Acquire Mint.com

// September 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // Internet / Web, iPhone, News

I meant to post this yesterday. Over the last month, I’ve become a big fan on Mint.com — both their web site and their free iPhone app to go along. It’s a great way to track, manage and get alerts related to your finances, bills, etc. Well it seems, Intuit is also a fan, acquiring the privately-held Mint. The CEO’s email and blog post seems super-positive and hopefully it will mean bigger and better things for the site/app.

Intuit to Acquire Mint.com [press release]

Best Buy Now Bound for Brier Creek.. Again

// April 17th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Local (Raleigh Durham), News

So back in December of 2008, I sadly reported that Best Buy was pulling out of the Brier Creek shopping area on the edge of Raleigh, North Carolina – about 10 minutes from our home. They said it was because of the size of their signage and the visibility of their store from the main roads. I think it was more to do with the economy.

Today, Amanda drove past the Brier Creek and saw that Best Buy is back. There are signs up that it’s coming soon, and that they’re now hiring. That will be great to have a Best Buy just 10 minutes from home. That will also mean other tenants will want to come into that new shopping center off of highway 70 and Brier Creek Parkway. Are things like these a sign that the economy is on the upswing, ever so slightly?

Edit: I added two pics on my drive home this evening.

Hudson River Plane Landing (US Airways 1549) Animation with Audio

// March 3rd, 2009 // No Comments » // Internet / Web, News, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Video

This is a really cool CG recreation of US Airways 1549 having to land in the Hudson River:

In an Iranian Image, a Missile Too Many

// July 10th, 2008 // No Comments » // Computers, Design, News

So here’s another example of Photoshopping hitting big media. Notice how the two middle missiles are almost completely identical, save a single black dot on the middle right one. Even more noticeable is the exact pattern in the smoke in the middle and right.

Some of the comments after the article and photos suggests it may have been done for composition purposes. I think the unaltered picture shows it was to paint a better/more successful launch than reality where it was visible that one rocket failed to launch from the mobile launch vehicle.

Propaganda comes in many shapes, forms and versions of subtly.

In an Iranian Image, a Missile Too Many

Rest in Peace George Carlin

// June 23rd, 2008 // No Comments » // News

One of my dad’s favorite comedians of all time, George Carlin. I liked a lot of his stuff too, especially the earlier and middle part of his career, especially his sports-related stuff, though most know him for “Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV” and his battle with censorship.

Carling died of heart failure at 71 in Los Angeles.

Award-winning comedian George Carlin dies

Easley: Cut Water Use by Half

// October 23rd, 2007 // No Comments » // Local (Raleigh Durham), News

This drought is rough. Now, Easley is wanting people to look indoors for solutions on ways to cut back. The lack of precipitation is obviously the big culprit, and we need to look into shorter showers and few toilet flushes, but I have said it before, and I will say it again. How about when they start talking about thinking further into the future, we scale back new construction too? Granted, we are living in a one-year old house, but I’m just saying infrastructure needs to be rolled into the cost of new construction – residential, commercial and industrial. Part of the reason the lack of rain is such a strain is that our natural resources aren’t sufficient for the rate of growth.

The lack of a water “savings account” draws parallels to why so many Americans are in debt (myself included). We spend too much, and don’t sock enough away for the tough times. Maybe the next time a big plot of farm land is being considered for sale to a developer, local or state government should intercede and demand some land be put aside for a reservoir and land conservation.

Easley: Cut Water Use by Half

Landis Loses – Decision Means Forfeiture of Tour de France Title

// September 20th, 2007 // No Comments » // Cycling, News

It’s unfortunate decision today if Landis was on the level. Doping is rampant across sports, but if the guy’s tests were wrong and his appeals fail, it’s messed up that Floyd would be the first man in the 105-year history of the race to lose the title because of a doping offense.

Landis Loses – Decision Means Forfeiture of Tour de France Title

How Pilot Scuttled Hijack Attempt

// February 17th, 2007 // Comments Off // News

Awesome. Sounds like pilots and passengers are becoming more proactive about their safety and well-being:

How Pilot Scuttled Hijack Attempt