welcome to spiceland.

Here is a picture of an ant that we found in our backyard. Ironically, I saw another one of these yesterday on the montain. I’d never seen one before then. Basically, they look like big fuzzy red ants. They are about the size of a wasp.

They are called “Cow Ants” or “Killer Ants”. According to this article, they used to be called “Cow Killers”. It appears to be a misnomer because they don’t appear to be able to kill something as large as a cow. Also, they aren’t ants at all! They are in the wasp family.

Oh, and Erin says “Ha!” to Matt because she says she told him that they weren’t in the ant family.

Michael

Tru is officially teething. As you can see in the attached picture, her gums are splitting open in one spot to make way for her first tooth! Immediately to the right of that spot, you can see that her first tooth will soon be followed by a second. Our little girl is getting so big!

Also, new pictures.

I know you are all very concerned about what to get me for my birthday. Well, I normally wouldn’t do this except that I want to ease your minds For anyone wondering what I might want I’ll share a few things with you. Just as a warning, none of it is cheap!

A case for a TV computer ($44) would be nice. That case would go great with a wireless keyboard ($32). There is also fictional geek book that I want to read ($33). That book would go great with the other fictional geek book that goes along with it ($33). For anyone who really wants to please me, an AGP nvidia 6600GT video card ($160) would surely do the trick getting Unreal 2004 to play at 1280×1024!

For anyone who wants to let me scratch something off of my dream list, I have some ideas for you also! I’ve been wanting a specific new digital camera for a few years now. Of course, a 50mm fixed lens ($75) would take great portraits of Tru. For anything else, a 100-300mm ($280) would be very sweet. Even if I didn’t get a camera, if I were to get a lens then Erin would have to let me save up for one! No dream list would be perfect without a new NSX ($92,000).

Michael

UPDATE: Rumor has it that this information is NOT true! I hope they are right! (8/5/2005)

It was recently announced/discovered that the new Intel based Mac’s operating system uses a DRM (Digital Rights Management) system known as TCPA. Basically, it transfers even more control of YOUR computer over to the makers of the software that is on it (e.g. Microsoft). It is like having a car that asks Toyota each time you install something on it or put gas in it to make sure that it is an “approved” part. Read the link to know why it is bad.

I’m starting to like Apple less and less.

Michael