Jim Becher

Watches

I’m not a huge person on fashion but I do like watches.  I have always had a thing for a good watch.  The problem is how you define a good watch.  When I was younger it was the most features wins.  Stop watch, timer, multi time zones, etc…  Now I’m more focused on style and function.    For the last 3 …

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Items I would like to purchase

I currently have many things that I would love to acquire.    Some of these I consider great design and others I find as great tools. Seating: Eames Aluminum office chair – a great office chair that is comfortable and also good looking:  http://store.hermanmiller.com/Products/Eames-Aluminum-Group-Management-Chair Eames Lounge – I have  wanted this chair for years.  It would be a great addition to the …

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Stand up desk

For the last 2 months I have been standing up at work.  I’ve borrowed a rolling laptop cart to be my stand up desk.  You can see from the pictures that it is adjustable and also has a mouse tray to the side.   The stand I am using is an instand, deluxe with roller wheels. Using a standup desk has been a great learning …

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Android SDK Windows 7 (x64) – “invalid command-line parameter” Error

While starting to  write an android application I had to re-install the Android SDK on my new system.  When I did this and tried to execute the Emulator I go the following error: “invalid command-line parameter: Files. Hint: use ‘@foo’ to launch a virtual device named ‘foo’. please use -help for more information” After some google searches and some testing I …

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Re-Install windows phone 7 sdk

I just had to re-install windows phone 7 sdk.  I wanted the features for Mango 7.5.  However to get the install I had to uninstall the previous version (beta) I had. Now 3 reboots later  I’m ready to role.

Random Post of Links

I often find myself following a link from a twitter post or some other blog.  Not having the time to read it immediatly I either add it to Readitlater or I email myself.  I normally don’t add any comments just the link.   What often happens is a few weeks / days / months later I get to reading these links …

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Find all computers on a network – Using Nmap – free tool

I’m a huge fan of a tool called nmap (nmap.org).  It is a network tool that can do many things.  The most simple is to determine if a host is active.  Anytime I connect to any network I run a quick scan to see who my neighbors are on the network. To do a network scan with nmap you only need …

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Ebooks vs hard cover

I am on the verge of purchasing an ebook reader. I currently read most of my books on my iPad or iPhone. However I have found that in some cases this is not the most reliable readers. I find my iPhone great because it is always with me. However it is not good in the Sun or the beach (sand). The …

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Office Chair envy

I think it is time to get a new chair for my home office.  I recently saw this chair posted on a site and have the desire to get it.  The problem is that we don’t use our office that much and a good chair seems like a waste. http://www.westelm.com/products/wrap-office-chair-g047/?pkey=coffice-desks Since we have all laptops in our home, I keep wondering …

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Server Side Javascript (node.exe)

There is a great post from Scott Hanselman regarding  node iis. It is the implementation of node on iis.  Node is basically a serverside javascript.   It is very interesting to me how this could be used.  I wonder if the performance of this would allow you to skip the overhead of a .net page load, similar to a handler. Here …

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DNS hosting

For years I have used EveryDns.net.     They were recently acquired by dyndns.org another service I use.  The issue is that the full Managed dns that I have used from everydns will not be free or donation any more.    DynDns.org wants to charge a per-domain fee. I’m not opposed to paying for this service, but for ease of use I have …

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Windows Phone 7 (wp7) Map task

I’m in the middle of writing a Windows Phone 7 application.  It is part experiment and part project that I’ve wanted to do for a while.   In doing the development I have found a few difficult things in developing for WP7. The application I’m writing requires the use of the network adaptor and also some mapping.  So far the available information for the …

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Weekend Project: $15 Mont Blanc pen

I love to use a good pen.  I recently lost my good Cross pen that I always have carried.   In the spirit of being frugal I decided to see what I could find on a budget.  I came across a quick post on lifehacker discussing a Mont Blanc Pen for $15 bucks.   Being a person who likes a good …

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PREMIER LEAGUE Starts 8/13

For those of you who know me, you know my loves are God, Family, Technology and soccer.   This weekend the Premier League starts.  Living here in the US makes it hard as a soccer fan.  We have limited access to games and we don’t get to be part of the culture of soccer that is seen over-seas. I spend a …

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Working from a coffee shop (what is too much)

It sounds like Starbucks is starting to see an issue with people camping out all day at their stores and using it as their office.  I’m guessing these Laptop warriors are purchasing one drink and staying all day. ARTICLE: http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20087817-71/has-starbucks-had-enough-of-laptop-loungers/?tag=TOCmoreStories.0 I’ve done my time in coffee shops and used it as an office but it’s normally a half-day event and I purchase …

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