Sunday, December 31, 2006
Thursday, December 28, 2006
Saturday, December 23, 2006
Friday, December 22, 2006
Sweet 16
When the Phoenix Suns face Washington tonight in a nationally televisied game on ESPN (7:30PM PST), they'll be looking to extend the league's longest winning streak in nearly seven years. The Suns are winners of their last 15.
Fifteen.
Highlighted by a 60-point game in a win over the Lakers on Sunday, Washington superstar Gilbert Arenas is averaging 37.6 points in his last three games.
Arenas is third in the league in scoring at 29.2 ppg. The former University of Arizona star had 41 points in a 112-111 win over the Suns in Phoenix last Dec. 23.
Fifteen.
Highlighted by a 60-point game in a win over the Lakers on Sunday, Washington superstar Gilbert Arenas is averaging 37.6 points in his last three games.
Arenas is third in the league in scoring at 29.2 ppg. The former University of Arizona star had 41 points in a 112-111 win over the Suns in Phoenix last Dec. 23.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Storm rescues shorthanded Denver
Less than 24 hours after their blockbuster deal to acquire Allen Iverson, the Denver Nuggets postponed their game Wednesday night against Phoenix because of a snowstorm that snarled traffic, closed the airport and forced the governor to declare a state of emergency.
No makeup date had immediately been set.
With harsh wind blowing the 12-plus inches of snow expected to hit Denver, it was no night for venturing out to watch a basketball game, and nobody benefited more than the Nuggets.
Denver faced the prospect of playing the Suns, who are on a 15-game winning streak, without Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith (suspended), Andre Miller and Joe Smith (traded), or Iverson, who hadn't yet made it to town because of weather and other logistics.
No makeup date had immediately been set.
With harsh wind blowing the 12-plus inches of snow expected to hit Denver, it was no night for venturing out to watch a basketball game, and nobody benefited more than the Nuggets.
Denver faced the prospect of playing the Suns, who are on a 15-game winning streak, without Carmelo Anthony and J.R. Smith (suspended), Andre Miller and Joe Smith (traded), or Iverson, who hadn't yet made it to town because of weather and other logistics.
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Congress wants VA to expand mental health services
Rick Maze, Army Times Staff writer writes:
Congress is suggesting the Department of Veterans Affairs be creative in providing mental health services for returning veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Concerned in part because of a report earlier this year that showed some of VA’s Veterans Centers are beginning to feel the pinch of caring for previous patients plus new veterans and their families, Congress is ordering improvement and expansion of mental health services.
The orders are included in S 3421, the Veterans Benefits, Health Care and Information Technology Act of 2006 that passed Congress on Dec. 9 but has not yet been delivered to the White House because it is one of a flood of measures approved in the last days of the 109th Congress.
“We must do more to help veterans with mental health concerns and their families,” said Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., a veterans’ committee member. The bill, she said, requires outreach clinics to have the capacity to provide services, either in house or by alternative means.
Under terms of the bill, mental health services can be provided at outpatient clinics, by referrals to other VA facilities, under contract with private-sector mental health professionals or by “tele-mental” health services, the bill says.
It also orders more collaboration between VA and the Defense Department to improve clinical skills at diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems and to improve pre- and post-deployment counseling.
Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman, said the bill “increases support of service members returning from the war on terror by improving VA’s outreach and increasing the number of clinicians treating post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Tele-medicine — providing care via computer or video link — is part of the expansion. The VA has been using tele-medicine since the late 1970s to provide mental health counseling, which Buyer said is “invaluable to rural veterans.” The bill recommends an expansion of that program.
Congress is suggesting the Department of Veterans Affairs be creative in providing mental health services for returning veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Concerned in part because of a report earlier this year that showed some of VA’s Veterans Centers are beginning to feel the pinch of caring for previous patients plus new veterans and their families, Congress is ordering improvement and expansion of mental health services.
The orders are included in S 3421, the Veterans Benefits, Health Care and Information Technology Act of 2006 that passed Congress on Dec. 9 but has not yet been delivered to the White House because it is one of a flood of measures approved in the last days of the 109th Congress.
“We must do more to help veterans with mental health concerns and their families,” said Rep. Corrine Brown, D-Fla., a veterans’ committee member. The bill, she said, requires outreach clinics to have the capacity to provide services, either in house or by alternative means.
Under terms of the bill, mental health services can be provided at outpatient clinics, by referrals to other VA facilities, under contract with private-sector mental health professionals or by “tele-mental” health services, the bill says.
It also orders more collaboration between VA and the Defense Department to improve clinical skills at diagnosing post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health problems and to improve pre- and post-deployment counseling.
Rep. Steve Buyer, R-Ind., the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee chairman, said the bill “increases support of service members returning from the war on terror by improving VA’s outreach and increasing the number of clinicians treating post-traumatic stress disorder.”
Tele-medicine — providing care via computer or video link — is part of the expansion. The VA has been using tele-medicine since the late 1970s to provide mental health counseling, which Buyer said is “invaluable to rural veterans.” The bill recommends an expansion of that program.
Sunday, December 17, 2006
Sony admits their fan site was a fake
Premise: Charlie and Jeremy are trying to come up with clever ways to drop hints to Jeremy's parents that he wants a Sony PSP video-game system, so they've created a blog to share their tips "to help you wage a holiday assault on ur parents, girl, granny, boss -- whoever -- so they know what you really want." Their PSP-pushing ideas included a rap video posted on YouTube and a T-shirt iron-on transfer to print out.
Reality: Sony created the site to look like an independent blog to boost the image of its PSP, which is a distant No. 2 to the hand-held Nintendo DS.
Sony addressed the issue saying: "From this point forward, we will just stick to making cool products, and use this site to give you nothing but the facts on the PSP."
Good idea.
Reality: Sony created the site to look like an independent blog to boost the image of its PSP, which is a distant No. 2 to the hand-held Nintendo DS.
Sony addressed the issue saying: "From this point forward, we will just stick to making cool products, and use this site to give you nothing but the facts on the PSP."
Good idea.
Free is good
From now through December 21, Netflix customers can get free movie rentals at Blockbuster stores in exchange for the Netflix mailing labels they normally would throw away (one DVD rental per label).From US News and World Report
Friday, December 15, 2006
Great to see four hours before your flight to Portland
Strong crosswinds at Seattle-Tacoma International made for a rough landing yesterday for one Northwest flight … and video cameras were there to catch the bumpy landing. The plane is about ready to touch down when viewers can see the jet start to abruptly shake back and forth by the strong crosswinds. The pilots abort the landing and circle around for a second attempt. That goes better, though winds again appear to catch the plane as it nears the runway. Check out the video on the website of WCCO Channel 4 of Minneapolis/St. Paul.
Trapped
I may be trapped in Phoenix, my hometown. This from kgw.com in Portland, where I'm trying to fly back to:
Portland International Airport is open, but travelers should check their flights before heading to the airport since 30 flights were canceled Friday morning.
PDX spokesman Steve Johnson said that despite the cancellations, the airport is fully functioning.
Johnson said about half the cancellations were for inbound flights, half for outbound and the bulk of the cancellations were likely because of the windstorm.
Portland International Airport is open, but travelers should check their flights before heading to the airport since 30 flights were canceled Friday morning.
PDX spokesman Steve Johnson said that despite the cancellations, the airport is fully functioning.
Johnson said about half the cancellations were for inbound flights, half for outbound and the bulk of the cancellations were likely because of the windstorm.
"Worst name for a stadium" award goes to...
"jobing.com Arena".
No, seriously.
The dot com company replaced the stadium's original name, Glendale Arena. "jobing.com Arena" doesn't exacly roll off the tongue.
No, seriously.
The dot com company replaced the stadium's original name, Glendale Arena. "jobing.com Arena" doesn't exacly roll off the tongue.
Went to a fight and a hockey game broke out...
Columbus Blue Jackets left winger Rick Nash, left, falls to the ice from a hip check by an unidentified Phoenix Coyotes player during a hockey game Thursday night in Glendale, Arizona. (AP Photo)Mike Comrie (#89 at right) scored the lone goal during a shootout to lead the Coyotes to a 5-4 victory over Columbus ending a three game Phoenix losing streak. (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
Suns guard Steve Nash was seen at the arena enjoying the game.
Turnaround trip
I made a last minute quick turnaround trip to Phoenix this week. I call it a "turnaround" trip because I was traveling from Portland to Phoenix and Phoenix to Portland about as much time as I was actually in Phoenix.
A sweet, day before internet fare and a rare few days off from work on the calendar and I was boarding a plane.
This was my first trip in years, and I have to say it was like going to the moon. To say Phoenix has changed doesnt begin to describe it. Its like Phoenix was hit with an atomic blast, few buildings remained, hardly resembling their original appearance, and the desolate land that remained was replaced by Wal Marts, multiplexes, freeways and In and Out Burgers. Not one, but two multi million dollar stadiums have been built on farmland since I was last here and the names of two other stadiums have changed.
Obviously to Phoenix residents this isnt news.
But Phoenix friends, know that if I had more than two days in town, I would have loved to have spent time with you, give you a hug and share a drink.
Stay cool down there, enjoy your holiday, and watch out for those damn Oregon drivers.
A sweet, day before internet fare and a rare few days off from work on the calendar and I was boarding a plane.
This was my first trip in years, and I have to say it was like going to the moon. To say Phoenix has changed doesnt begin to describe it. Its like Phoenix was hit with an atomic blast, few buildings remained, hardly resembling their original appearance, and the desolate land that remained was replaced by Wal Marts, multiplexes, freeways and In and Out Burgers. Not one, but two multi million dollar stadiums have been built on farmland since I was last here and the names of two other stadiums have changed.
Obviously to Phoenix residents this isnt news.
But Phoenix friends, know that if I had more than two days in town, I would have loved to have spent time with you, give you a hug and share a drink.
Stay cool down there, enjoy your holiday, and watch out for those damn Oregon drivers.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Welcome to Phoenix...
Microsoft posts security update... No wait... Just kidding.
Microsoft on Tuesday released security updates for Microsoft Office for Mac, but shortly after they were posted on the Web, the updates were yanked. According to Microsoft the updates were never supposed to be posted in the first place.
“The updates posted in error were pre-release binaries that had been staged internally as part of our testing for an upcoming release,” the company said in its Security Response Center Blog. ”Due to human error, they were accidentally published to the public websites before our full testing release process was complete.”
“The updates posted in error were pre-release binaries that had been staged internally as part of our testing for an upcoming release,” the company said in its Security Response Center Blog. ”Due to human error, they were accidentally published to the public websites before our full testing release process was complete.”
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Windows development chief 'would buy a Mac'
Longtime Windows development chief James Allchin wrote in a January 2004 e-mail to Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and company co-founder Bill Gates that the software vendor had “lost sight” of customers’ needs and said he would buy a Mac if he wasn’t working for Microsoft, computerworld.com reports.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Monday, December 04, 2006
V.A. Drops Ball
The Department of Veterans Affairs did not spend all of the extra $300 million it budgeted to increase mental health services and failed to keep track of how some of the money was used, a government report says.
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