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Top Stocks for 2011 – Bloggingstocks.com

// January 6th, 2011 // 1 Comment » // Blog

I am definitely not one to invest into stocks.  In fact, my first two attempts at jumping on penny stocks turned out horribly. One buy came off the back of a friends University Research Project, and was de-listed in months, and the other wasn’t much better.

I came across this article today on bloggingstocks.com “Top Picks 2011: Favorite Stocks from 60+ Advisors“ and found a few interesting cheaper stocks I might actually want to play around with in the coming year. It does contain the usual suspects like Google (over $600 per share), and Apple Inc. (over $300 per share), but it also contains a few interesting nuggets, such as Aastrom Biosciences, Inc. (ASTM, $2.64), Timberline Resources Corp. (TLR, $1.01), and Kaminak Gold Corporation (KAM, $2.80) to name a few.

I thought it would be interesting to setup a fake portfolio on google finance, spend $1,000 per stock in fake money today, and watch and see how the portfolio performs. It took some time to set this up, so if any of you want to download the google finance OFX file, you can download it from me, here. You may have to right-click the link and “save file as”, or “save target as”, in order to download it.

Alonso & Massa on the new Ferrari-World rollercoaster

// November 14th, 2010 // No Comments » // video

This is pretty hilarious. Watch Alonso’s face when it takes off…

Base Jumping At Dean’s Blue Hole

// June 8th, 2010 // No Comments » // Blog, Sports

From Buzzfeed: This video of world champion freediver Guillaume Nery’s special dive at Dean’s Blue Hole is stunning. It’s filmed entirely on breath hold by the French champion Julie Gautier and I feel like I am out of breath every time I watch this.

This is amazing to watch. I would be freaking out. As it turns out, Deans Blue hole is the largest underwater sinkhole in the world, almost 700 feet deep, in the Bahamas.

Redbull vs. Mark Webber

// May 31st, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Blog, racing

I’m sorry, I have to say something. After watching the debacle that was lap 41 of the turkish grand prix, I cannot believe the team’s response. First, take a look at the accident:

Notice a few things:

  • 1:02 – this is the best angle of the accident, that shows how clearly Vettel clipped across the tarmac into Webber, and how Webber did not move one bit.
  • 1:33 – watch how team principal Christian Horner screams “MOVE” as he watches the accident start to unfold. It seems pretty clear here that the only person he could be talking about was Mark Webber. If that’s the case, did he expect Webber to just relinquish the lead after just being told to change his cars fuel settings to a reduced horsepower configuration?

2-3 laps prior to this accident taking place, webber was told by his race engineer to change his engine map to one which would help conserve fuel. As the McLaren’s were really pushing the RB’s, they were gulping more fuel than they had planned. With the team instructing him to do so, they were essentially asking Webber to start backing Vettel and the McLaren’s into him – or – putting him in a position at that point where his lead would become seriously in jeopardy.

So the question is: if RedBull only instructed Webber and not Vettel to change his engine mapping, how did they not see this coming? Did they inform webber of this change, and to expect Vettel to try something? How would you expect Webber, the driver with the higher # of points, to react to the news that the team has essentially decided they want Vettel to win the race? I would be fuming mad if I were Webber at this point.

What really drives me mad is the reaction and response from everyone at the Redbull team. First, the hugging and condolences for Vettel once he returned to the paddock, then the response from the team that it was Webber who was in the wrong for not allowing his teammate to pass.

Mark, it seems like you have more than your foes on track to fight in the battle for the championship this season. Good luck with that mate!

Updated:

Crazy Condition 1 weather in Antarctica

// March 28th, 2010 // No Comments » // Blog

Pretty wild. I will need to ask my friend Sarah if she experienced any of this weather when she worked there.

There are three weather classifications used in Antarctica used for work and travel:
Condition 3 – normal

  • Wind speed is less than or equal to 48 knots
  • Visibility is greater than 1/4 mile
  • Windchill temperature is greater than -75°F

Condition 2 – restricted travel

  • Sustained wind speed 48 knots to 55 knots
  • Wind chill temperature -75°F (-60°C) to -100°F (-73°C)
  • Visibility 100 feet to 1/4 mile

Condition 1 – Only ‘mission critical’ travel. Personnel usually restricted to buildings.

  • Sustained wind speed 48 knots to 55 knots
  • Wind chill temperature -75°F (-60°C) to -100°F (-73°C)
  • Visibility 1/4 mile to 100 feet

Jeremy Roenik pic

// March 27th, 2010 // No Comments » // Blog

Found this picture tonight. Too funny.

New test post

// March 27th, 2010 // No Comments » // Blog

I changed hosts to use dreamhost.com, and am in the middle of working out all the kinks.

Save 50% off Woo Themes with LeeMcArthur.ca!

// February 12th, 2010 // No Comments » // Blog

Wow.  What a deal! As of today, if you use coupon code “LEE4EB5WOO” you will save 50% off of all premium themes at WooThemes.com! I use there “Irresistable” theme here on LeeMcArthur.ca, but I also have purchased some of their premium products for some of my other projects.

They are very clean, and modern themes, that are super easy to administer.

WooThemes - Made by Designers

DONT FORGET TO USE MY COUPON CODE:  “LEE4EB5WOO” OR YOU WONT GET 50% off!

The end is near. The robots have won. Say hello to Big Dog.

// January 14th, 2010 // No Comments » // Blog, video

So how terrifying is this? Just picture one of these walking, running, or hopping (3:00m in) in your direction down a dark alley.  It’s been a fun ride my friends, however, life is over as we know it. Watch in horror as this 235lb monster (nicknamed “Big Dog” from Boston Dynamics) easily carry 340 lbs, whilst handling being kicked in the side without… sweating (at 0:35), or walking on sheer ice without falling (1:25). I have friends who couldn’t do that (Liam, Ian).

An #iPhone app built and live on iTunes in only 15 days with MotherApp!

// January 13th, 2010 // 2 Comments » // Blog, Projects, iPhone App

*Updated*

Back on December 29th, I wrote a post about a new service from a company called MotherApp - who was offering native iPhone app development, and App Store submissions, all at no cost. It seemed too good to be true. However, here we are 15 days later, and I have my very own app in the app store! Here are the brief notes of my transaction history with MotherApp:

  • First response from my initial inquiry / form submission – Very fast. They ask for various images for your app, feeds for your blog, twitter, etc… and descriptions for the App Store, etc.
  • I emailed them about 10 days into the process, and again, got a very fast response, explaining they had a huge amount of interest, but they were still on track to get my app to the store quickly.
  • This evening, I got an email notifying me my app was in the App Store!

Some screen caps of my iPhone app:

As you can see, the application is fairly simple at this point.

Application features:

  • Access all of my blog postings
  • Access all of my twitter posts
  • Access to my YouTube videos (new)
  • Access URLS from all posts in an embedded safari browser (slick)
  • Save favorite posts
  • Stores content in memory, for access when you don’t have a data connection (great!)

I am impressed with the service, and the application features thus far. I would be willing to pay for a service like this, especially as they evolve their offering. Off the top of my head, some feature requests:

  • More control over the UI – More choice for colors/brand/etc… – also, how about different layouts?
  • Comment integration – let users comment on my posts from within the app (Wordpress integration for starters)
  • Easy integration with Twitter, Facebook, and email – to share posts you like (very nice)

I will be sure to think about other features, and submit them to the great folks at MotherApp. Thanks guys – A++++ !!!!!

Feel free to download my app, and let me know what you think!