I'm getting rid of some of the tech stuff I don't need anymore, such as this lovely Apple Airport Base Station, now available for your bidding pleasure on eBay. I've also got a Microsoft brand wireless router I don't need, both of them work great.
Just was browsing Amazon, and I came across the neat 20th Anniversary Optimus Prime figure. It's a bit pricey, but this is the ultimate gift for any geek who loved the 80's cartoon. He even comes with the Autobot Matrix of Leadership, how cool is that? Too bad he doesn't come with his trailer, but as detailed as that "toy" is, I can see why they didn't include it, it'd cost even more. I wonder how many of these will never even get taken out of the box. If I had one, I'd have to take it out and display it on my desk at work, future value be damned. Hasbro's page has more detail.
It definitely looks a lot more like the cartoon version of Optimus Prime than the original toy does, though I despreately wanted that toy as a child. Hell, I still want that toy. Didn't you hate the Transformers that looked nothing like their cartoon counterparts? Ratchet and Ironhide were the worst. In the cartoon, they were normal looking van/robots. The toy versions didn't even have heads, just a big van windshield! Like we wouldn't notice...
We're going to see Cirque Éloize Nomade tonight at the Gallagher-Bludorn Performing Arts Center. My wife is less-than-enthused about going to see the Circus, but I think it'll be a fun time. She always thinks these shows I drag her to are going to stink, but generally comes away from them having enjoyed herself, and I'm betting tonight will be no different. It's great having a place like the GB-PAC only a mile away from your house. The tickets can get to be a bit expensive, but you really get to see a lot of great acts that you never would otherwise.
If you've got some spare time at your computer, or even if you don't, print out or read this excellent Atlantic Monthly article about the Columbia disaster, the failure of managers at NASA to detect the wing impact, and the investigation into what went wrong.
My Co-Worker, Peter Thompson-Yezek, is traveling to St. Petersburg on University business. I had originally hoped to go, but they sent him instead of me, as he's worked here a lot longer than I have. In retrospect, that seems okay, as I'm not sure visiting Russia in January would be all that much fun. Pete's going to keep a weblog of his trip, and I keep checking to see if he's posted anything yet. He left Iowa yesterday at 8:00 a.m., and I haven't heard from him yet...
