Posted by Joe Burnett on Sunday, September 30th, 2007 at 1:53 pm
I’ve always been interested in alternative energy generation. Recently, I have been doing a lot of reading and researching on Tesla turbines and Stirling engines for a few hobby projects that I would like to attempt with solar energy.
I have decided that at the earliest opportune time I want to add a solar array to our house for electricity production. The system that I am looking at is one of the GE Brilliance Systems that are roof mountable. With enough capacity and net metering, I could be selling electricity back to the electric companies on sunny days!
I’ve created an Alternative Energy section here on my blog to keep track of and share all of the information that I find. It’s pretty bare at the moment, but be sure and check it regularly for any updates that I will be adding.
Posted by Joe Burnett on Sunday, September 30th, 2007 at 10:42 am
If you haven’t seen this hilarious clip from The Late Show with David Letterman yet, you really should! Dave really puts Paris in her place. Very funny stuff!
Posted by Joe Burnett on Friday, September 28th, 2007 at 10:39 pm
Yes, today I officially meet the age requirement to be the President of the United States. Personally, I don’t see how someone could be crazy enough to want the job.
It was a pretty uneventful day. Michelle and I went and had a late lunch with my mom and dad at Red Lobster in Odessa. I’m so tired from driving back and forth to Arlington that I really didn’t feel like celebrating with a night on the town. I guess Barnes and Noble will just have to wait until another time.
Which birthday do I get to start counting backwards? Is it 30 or 40?
Posted by Joe Burnett on Friday, August 31st, 2007 at 6:42 pm
So here’s a nice story to start your Labor Day weekend.
Imagine yourself picking up the daily newspaper and reading an article about a widow (with no credit history) and her nine children that are soon to become homeless because the mom is about to lose the house to foreclosure.
Now, imagine yourself doing something about it.
That’s just what Brent Berger, a business owner from Fairfield, Maine did. Unable to explain what compelled him to help the family out, he nevertheless went out and refinanced the house for the family and is now coordinating a community project to raise the money, obtain the materials, and solicit volunteer labor to renovate the house for them! Talk about making a huge difference in the lives of others!
There is even a website devoted to getting the word out about the project. The Nine Days for Nine Children site gives more detailed information and even allows you to meet the family.
This story reminds me of one of my favorite quotes written by Mark Twain:
“Let us endeavour to live that when we come to die even the undertaker will be sorry.”
I have a feeling that Mr. Berger might just be familiar with that quotation as well…
Posted by Joe Burnett on Wednesday, August 8th, 2007 at 7:12 pm
The debut album by Paul Potts has finally been released in the United States! I announced the pending release of his album in a previous post, and I can honestly say that this is the one CD that I am glad Michelle and I own.
Now I’m definitely not what you would call an opera connoisseur, however I have loved classical music almost all of my life.
One of my favorite opera songs (and probably one of the first I ever heard) is Con Te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye) as performed by Andrea Bocelli. Paul serves up an excellent rendition of the piece on track 2 of his album, and brings his own personal style to his performance of the song.
While reading various articles about Paul on the web, I came across one comment from a fan posted on the website Paul Potts UK that says this of Paul:
His voice has a tone somewhere between Pavarotti and Carreras, his technique is only good, his phrasing is bit less than flawless, but all the pieces together don’t make an explanation for the sweetness and charm he conveys. He is the quintessential anyone you cross by in any street, until he starts singing.
My absolute favorite song on the entire album is an operatic interpretation of Everybody Hurts by REM. It is different, haunting, and quite moving. Paul described in his numerous television interviews about being bullied when he was young, and I believe this song is probably the one that he and most other people will be the most moved by. Listen for yourself to just how beautiful this song is!
Click to play button below to hear a short sample clip of Everybody Hurts from the album Paul Potts – One Chance:
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Do yourself a favor if you haven’t already – buy this album! If you’re not an opera fan, I promise that after reading Paul’s story and listening to this CD you will be!
Posted by Joe Burnett on Monday, August 6th, 2007 at 7:38 pm
I’m sorry for the lack of blog posts during the past few weeks. I’ve been very occupied with things going on in my personal life. For once my work hasn’t been what is keeping me from posting on here, although I would rather it be work than what actually has been going on.
Posted by Joe Burnett on Friday, July 13th, 2007 at 8:04 pm
One evening last month, Michelle and I sat in front of our TV and watched YouTube videos via a newly released feature on our Apple TV. As I described in an earlier post, we happened to watch a clip of Paul Potts and his initial performance on the British TV show Britain’s Got Talent. We were totally amazed at the voice that he has, as were the other millions of people that have heard him since his debut! That night, we became instant fans of the singer, and enjoyed watching the other YouTube videos that chronicle his achievement of winning the contest. His appearance on NBC’s Today Show was very entertaining. There’s just something about this guy that you can’t help but like.
Well, I am happy to pass the word along to everyone that his first album, titled Paul Potts: One Chance, is now available for pre-order on Amazon. The album will ship on July 30th, so hurry and pre-order your copy now!
Posted by Joe Burnett on Tuesday, July 10th, 2007 at 7:32 am
Gear Live has a pretty interesting article on how to use IRC on the new Apple iPhone. The method uses the Mac IRC client Colloquy. There’s a step-by-step guide in the article on how to get it up and running. If you are one of the lucky technogeeks that got an iPhone and can’t live without IRC access be sure and check it out.
Posted by Joe Burnett on Saturday, July 7th, 2007 at 2:32 pm
Yes, this really is a picture of my wife and me at one of her birthday parties when we were children. We have known each other that long!
It is hard to believe that 10 years ago today, on July 7, 1997 I married the love of my life, Michelle. When I think back, I realize just how much we have been through together during the last 10 years. Now 10 years is a long time, but to me the day of our wedding seems just like yesterday. The years we have been together as husband and wife have gone by so fast. I think that’s the true sign of happiness together. To those couples eager to have their wedding date on 07/07/07 I say this: we have a 10-year head start on you!
We didn’t have a big wedding ceremony. The truth is, we couldn’t afford it at the time. After discussing our future plans together and because of our desire to start our marriage without the burden of being in debt, we decided to elope to San Antonio, TX. To this day, we have never regretted that decision. Some people have a very expensive wedding, and there’s nothing wrong with that… because I know in my heart that I have the marriage!
Happy Anniversary, sweetie! I love you more and more each and every day!
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I’ve always been interested in alternative energy generation. Recently, I have been doing a lot of reading and researching on Tesla turbines and Stirling engines for a few hobby projects that I would like to attempt with solar energy.
Yes, today I officially meet the age requirement to be the President of the United States. Personally, I don’t see how someone could be crazy enough to want the job.
So here’s a nice story to start your Labor Day weekend.
The 
One evening last month, 
Yes, this really is a picture of my wife and me at one of her birthday parties when we were children. We have known each other that long!