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Due to recent events, this blog will no longer be updated.  Thanks for reading.

World Water Day?

I was completely unaware of anything related to this event.  Apparently, since 1993; March 22 was declared World Water Day by the United Nations General Assembly.  This day is designed to encourage people to refrain from using their taps for the entire day in efforts to raise awareness of the plight around the world; water shortage.  Check out these facts regarding water around the world.

• Every 20 seconds, a child dies from a water related illness.
• Women spend 200 million hours a day collecting water.
• More than 3x more people lack water than live in the United States.
• The majority of illness is caused by fecal matter.
• More people have cell phones that a toilet.
• Lack of community involvement causes 50% of other projects to fail.

Visit HERE for more in depth statistics for what I talked about above.

I learned about this movement from a very informative YouTube channel that I subscribe to called SourceFed.  They cover 5 randomly interesting stories a day in a segment they call 20 minutes or less.  I find them to very entertaining and the knowledge I gain doesn't hurt as well.  Check them out, here's the video related to this topic.

By choosing to help spread the word about this cause you attribute to potentially saving lives, even if you can't donate you may enlighten someone who can.  Thanks for reading and please feel free to leave comments below. 

Avoid Crime via GPS

I had recently seen a video on YouTube that mentioned this sort of technology, and I thought it was interesting so I looked a bit more around the internet to see what I could find.  Apparently, certain GPS' and downloadable content is available to alert you when you approach high crime areas and re-route you accordingly.

More particularly, there's CrimeFind for GPS in Chicago.  CrimeFind for GPS uses your proximity alert function of your GPS to alert you while you are driving, when you approach areas of the city with a higher than average crime history.  It uses crime incident data for violent crimes. Violent crimes are: Homicide, Aggravated Assault, Robbery, Aggravated Robbery.  Incident data over the past 12 months is used.

This is a proximity alert file that you install on your GPS.  The file already contains the alert radius, therefore, you install it without setting your own alert distance.  This is done because the alert radius varies with each census tract depending on the census tract size.  The alert radius is used to coincide with the census tract size.  As you drive, when you approach a census tract with average violent crime over the past 12 months greater than 3 times the city average, your GPS will alert you so you are informed.  The crime rate (i.e, "4X") is displayed along with the census tract number.  Each census tract is an individual POI within the file, so you can also plan ahead and search "along your route" for the CrimeFind POI to know whether your proposed route will take you into, near or through a high crime area.  Any high crime census tracts will show "along your route" just as a gas station or hotel can be displayed "along your route."

 Is this feature a good idea?  Tell me some of your opinions on this topic in the comments below.  As always, thanks for reading!

KONY 2012

News of Joseph Kony is spreading around the internet and other media like wildfire; Who is this guy?  Why don't more people know about him?  Kony is the leader of a guerrilla group by the name of Lord's Resistance Army, or LRA.  The LRA sets its goals on abducting children to recruit soldiers and sex slaves for it's officers.  They murder, maim, and rape entire villages.  It is estimated that the abductions are in the 66,000's and they have forced the displacement of over 2,000,000 people.

With out stealing too much thunder from this movement, or going too deep into detail;  I beg you all to please take 30 minutes to watch the video they have made and make a decision for yourself.  Will you help spread the message?

Video and Link to their site below, please watch and share.

Kony 2012 - Learn More

V2V Technology!

I love sharing this kind of stuff with my viewers because technology is really amazing and has great potential to benefit our lives.  Recently, I saw a video on YouTube the briefly talked about V2V Technology or Vehicle to Vehicle.  It is estimated that V2V could possibly prevent up to 80% of vehicle collisions.

So, what exactly can this do for me?  Well, there's a long list of features in the works and some of which are already being used in newer model cars such as; Acura TL, Cadillac DTS, Hyundai Sonata, Infiniti M37, Ford Taurus SHO, Mercedes-Benz C300, Toyota Venza, and Volkswagen GTI.

• Emergency electronic brake lights:  Alerts you if a car in front of you has applied it's breaks suddenly.  Helps when the vehicle is one or two cars ahead of you and you can't see it.

• Forward-collision warning:  Capable of applying your cars breaks when a collision is detected; same works for the rear when back up in reverse.

• Blind spot/Lane-Change Warning:  Monitors vehicles in your blind spot and illuminates a small light to show you of the possible danger.  If attempt to use your turn signal and sound will beep to alert you it is unsafe. 

Just a quick look at some features already in use.  Essentially, V2V cars and devices could act as independent transmitters and receivers which could communicate with each other in a certain radius.  A car several miles a head of you could send information to your car alerting you of traffic, weather, or accidents.  Maybe there's something in the road or you got into an accident.. V2V can alert someone near by, not to mention activate emergency medical care.

With the good, can come the bad.  Could users be at risk in terms of criminal activity allowing people access to your car?  Would police be able to tell when you're speeding or disobeying traffic signs?  I think the technology in itself is a great idea, but issues like these should not play a factor in the technologies use.

What do you guys think about this?  Do you like it or do you hate it?  Leave your responses below and thanks for reading!

NASA's Biocapsule

So, apparently NASA has a new invention called the Biocapsule and I thought this thing was absolutely amazing because it stands to change medicine in such a profound way.  The original idea behind this capsule was to be an implantable device that would diagnose astronauts who were on long spaceflights and automatically dispense medication in relation to what ails you.  The implant itself is barely the size of a standard pencil tip and would be injected somewhere in your body, say your leg or arm.  It is made of carbon nano tubes which can't be broken down in your body, but are porous enough to release a dose of medication.

Immediate ideas behind the capsule's use are to detect and treat radiation that astronauts might be introduced to while on a mission in space.  Other uses are viable as well and I think the applications are limitless.  Insulin for diabetics without constant injections or finger pricks.  Chemotherapy for cancer patients injected directly into a tumor.  People with allergies no longer need to carry an EpiPen.  Even people with chronic allergies all the way down to heartburn or the common cold.

The Biocapsule is truly amazing in my eyes and I really hope this makes it out to the public in the years to come.  What do you guys think?  Let me know below.

Thanks for reading!

Facebook goes public!

Facebook has become quite a colossal giant in it's 8 years and will probably only continue to grow.  This social network service was co-created by Mark Zuckerberg which was founded in his Harvard dorm.  The service is home to over 800 million active users as of January 2012 and has high hopes of further growth by expanding into other countries.  Facebook is easily the most used social networking site in the world and it shouldn't come as a surprise when they have a like button on almost every web page on the internet.

On February 1, 2012 Facebook filed their documents to become a publicly traded company by way of a $5 billion initial public offering.  An IPO of that size makes it one of the biggest in tech history and definitely the biggest in internet history.  Experts believe their value will yield between $75 and $100 billion.  So, be on the look out for Facebook to be pricing their shares in the next three to six months!  Maybe if you're lucky, you'll be able to grab some up.. or not.  Either way, good luck.

While reading a few articles relating to this story, I stumbled upon a couple other interesting facts about the company.

• 845 million Active users as of Dec 31, 2011.
    ° 425 million use mobile devices.
    ° 483 million login daily.
• 250 million photos are uploaded every 24 hours.
• Over 100 billion friendships have been created online.
• $3.71 billion in revenue and $1 billion in profits.

Just a few random facts I found that were very interesting to me.  Thanks for reading!  And feel free to leave your comments or opinions below.  Below I'll link a map of social network site usage around the world and if anyone is interested in a movie about Facebook - check out The Social Network.

SOPA Temporarily Shelved!

Great news regarding the Sopa (Stop online privacy Act) and PIPA (Protect I P Act).  Both acts have temporarily lost their steam by way of supporters backing out and are back to the drawing board.  The protests and petitions signed have been heard.  What good came from this?  Good question.

• Over 4.5 million people signed Google's petition.
• 25 Senators now appose the bills.
• Over 2.4 million tweets went out relating to SOPA/PIPA during the blackouts.
• 2 of SOPA's Co-Sponsors dropped their support.
• Over 162 million views on Wikipedia's protest page.
• Over 8 million uses of Wikipedia's search for peoples local representatives.

While the bill isn't completely out of the picture yet, it is still great progress.  Personally, I don't support the bill in any form.  While companies should have the right to pursue legal action against those who blatantly resort to piracy against their products, censorship of the internet is not the answer.  Why does a bill like this even need to exist?  The FBI had no problem shutting down Megaupload without it.

The way I see it:  The world is corrupt no matter where you go.  I don't care who you are, or where you live.  Man's natural instinct is survival and some people go about it in different ways, but the ultimate goal is the same.  The people making money from privacy are doing it in a way they deem easy or necessary and it will always be this way.  Perhaps the resources being used to combat piracy could be put to better use?

If you're still unaware of the effects or ideas behind these bills, check out the video below.  As always, thanks for reading and leave comments below.

Samsung Super OLED!

Samsung unveiled it's 55" Super OLED TV at the CES this year and is probably going to be the hottest television this year.  One of the most amazing things about this TV is it's Full HD Dual View Experience!  With the active shutter glasses you  are capable of viewing the show, movie, or game of your choice while your other family members or friends enjoy something else on the same television.  So, you want to watch the game and your girlfriend or wife wants to watch some.. cooking show?  No problem!  Think of the possibilities.  Gamers can play on the same TV without that annoying split screen!  Quit watching my screen nub!  Completely eliminates the problem. 

I thought this was absolutely amazing and had to share it.  Look for this to be released sometime probably late 2012.

Marines Urinate on Taliban:

War is ugly and not many people are cursed with the experience.  The hells troops endure can only be talked about, but not truly understood or felt.  Is it wrong what they did?  I'm not here to try and justify what they did nor do their actions speak for an entire nation or the corps itself.  Marines are wild, let's not kid ourselves here.  Professional?  Absolutely.  Elite?  Without a doubt.

Certain situations can make you numb to societies norms and expectations.  I'm sure looking back these men possibly regret what they did, or maybe not.  Who I am to know what they went through?  How many of these Marines buddies were killed by these men?

There's a large outrage over the treatment of these men and their bodies in relation to religious views of their people.  This video stands as propaganda now for the enemy and potentially creates an even more hostile environment for deployed troops. 

So tell me:  What is your opinion on this video?  Is it an excuse for nations to lose their trust in the U.S.?

Good luck to the Marines in this video, I'm sure your careers are in serious jeopardy caused by the backlash of this video.  Semper Fidelis.

Mega Dance Party!

Hopefully I can dance this good one day.  Dude breaks out the stanky leg and you have super pro break dancer snatching up hats.

Toilet Paper Debate!

So, this little issue pops into my head from time to time when my lovely fiance puts the roll on facing in the direction that I hate.  I'm a B guy, all the way.  The A side roll is completely inconvenient in my eyes and I'll tell you why.  Toilet paper has many uses, other than just wiping your booty after a nice number two.  In the bathroom and need to blow your nose?  Great.  Maybe you brushed your teeth and made a small mess on the counter?  No problem.  You get the idea.  When you're sitting down, and need to get to the roll facing A, it's not a huge deal except you need to smack the roll around a few times if it's caught in the back.  B side, all you need to do is roll it out nice and easy.  No hang ups or delays, wipe the booty quick!  Now, I'm a tall guy and I need to bend over to get at that roll.  When it's in A format, same issue as before - you gotta spin this sucker around until it comes out.  The B side flows nice and easy for everyone to get at. 

So tell me:  Which do you prefer; A or B?  Why?  Are you a guy or girl?

As always, thanks for reading!  Leave your comments below and tell me your opinions.

Nerdy rapper so fast!

Just wanted to share this one, it's pretty amazing!  Makes me want pancakes. 

Teen mom protects her baby!

A recently widowed teen mom shot and killed an intruder to protect her 3-month-old son on New Year's Eve after asking the 911 operator for permission.

Sarah McKinley, 18, was alone with her son in their Blanchard, Okla., home about 2 p.m. Dec. 31 when two men tried to break in.  McKinley's husband had just passed away from lung cancer on Christmas Day.

McKinley grabbed a shotgun, called 911 and begged the operator to send help.
She stayed on the line for a terrifying 21 minutes and asked the dispatcher if it was all right to shoot if the men forced their way in.
"I can't tell you that you can do that, but you do what you have to do to protect your baby," the dispatcher told her.

The young mom fired when Justin Martin, 24, who was wielding a 12-inch knife, kicked his way through the door.

Police arrived to find Martin lying dead on the sofa McKinley had used to barricade the front door, according to Oklahoma's News 9.

His alleged accomplice, Dustin Stewart, 29, was arrested and jailed.

"It's not an easy decision to make, but it was either going to be him or my son," McKinley told local TV station KOCO. "And it wasn't going to be my son. There's nothing more dangerous than a woman with a child."

Police say that McKinley was justified in taking action against the intruders once they entered her home.

Fury Warrior 4.3 - Best in Slot

Armory

Here's a quick best in slot list based on my opinion with a build favoring Haste > Mastery in relation to Tier 13.

Head:  Colossal Dragonplate Helmet
Neck:  Necklace of Black Dragon's Teeth
Shoulders:  Backbreaker Spaulders
Back:  Dreamcrusher Drape
Chest:  Colossal Dragonplate Battleplate
Wrists:  Rockhide Bracers
Hands:  Colossal Dragonplate Gauntlets
Waist:  Runescriven Demon Collar
Legs:  Colossal Dragonplate Legplates
Feet:  Treads of Crushed Flesh
Ring:  Curled Twilight Claw
Ring:  Breathstealer Band
Trinket:  Creche of the Final Dragon
Trinket:  Eye of Unmaking
Ranged:  Darting Chakram
Weapons:  Ataraxis, Cudgel of the Warmaster  or  Gurthalak, Voice of the Deeps

Tell me what you guys think.  Is there a better piece for a certain slot?  What are your opinions on Gurthalak, Voice of the Deeps?  Do you think Experimental Specimen Slicer is better?

Thanks for reading!

How To: Quick guide to Fury Warrior

Armory: Ryû

Here's a quick, down and dirty of all you need to know on how to play Fury-TG DPS in PvE.

Spec:  Please see my armory link and refer to my fury spec there.  It's the common cookie cutter spec that you will see any fury warrior using as of now.  Feel free to swap Piercing Howl for Heroic Fury.

Normal Rotation:  Col. Smash > Blood Thirst > Raging Blow > Blood Thirst > Free GCD.

Colossal Smash takes top priority in abilities, and should be generally used every time it is off GCD.  It is ideal to fit in 2 BT's and a RB while CS applied to your target to maximize it's worth.  The free GCD will usually be used for our slam procs or Battle Shout.  If I find myself having none of these available I'll even use heroic throw.  Also, I Heroic Strike when ever my rage is 65+ but you may need to find a comfortable spot for yourself depending on your hit rating and situation in a fight.

Stats:  

Running Tier 12: Str > 8% Hit > 26 Exp > Crit > 27% Hit >= Master > Haste

Running Tier 13: Str > Exp/Hit Caps > Hit to 19% >= Crit > Haste > Mastery

Due to the current content being Tier 13, I will go a little more in depth into information relevant to 4.3.

Alright, so you're speced and have a descent knowledge of rotation and stats.. now what?

How should I reforge?
While reforging you should drop stats at the end of our priority list here, so let's say Haste and Mastery.  I'm Hit/Exp capped for basic attacks so I'll reforge out of Haste and Mastery into either Hit or Crit depending what the gear already has.  Example:  My Legs have Hit and Mastery - I'm going to reforge out of Mastery and into Crit.

How should I gem?
If your bonus for meeting gem sockets will yield +10 Strength or more, you should meet the requirements.

Meta:  Reverberating Shadowspirit Diamond
Red:  Bold Inferno Ruby
Yellow:  Inscribed Ember Topaz
Blue:  Etched Demonseye

Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions or comments, or if you'd like me to explain what enchants are best or if you're curious about best in slot gear.

As always, thanks for reading and enjoy!

New Years trip:

It's good to be back home, not to say we didn't have fun.  Sadly, on the way to Wisconsin my car broke down about an hour away from home.  We suspected it was engine trouble so I didn't want to run it anymore and ultimately decided to leave the car at the Walmart parking lot in Belvedere, IL.  Thankfully we had some family near by who completely rescued us and saved our vacation.  They scooped us up in their car with all of our stuff and we pressed on.  

The trip was great and I was able to put the car trouble on the back burner.  I'll include a link of the place we stayed at in case any of you are in the area and are looking for a nice little place to get away to.  It was a nice little 5 bedroom, 2 bath house in the back woods of Wisconsin close to Castle Rock Lake near the town of Mauston.  Cell signal was terrible for a lot of us, but Sprint was a champ.  Long story short; we did some drinking, we played a few games, we cooked and ate great food, and just had a blast.  Even though it was cold and snowing, we still managed to enjoy the huge fire pit they had on the property.  I would definitely do this again next year or in the near future.  

I'll get some other content going besides just my life and let you all know what happens with my car.  Right now it's at the shop waiting to get worked on, maybe Saturday.  

Thanks for reading!

The Cabin