Wednesday, December 31, 2008
More Mac GPS goodness: Lots of resources!
In my previous post about Topographical maps, and other Macintosh GPS utilities - I completely forgot to mention one that is a great tool.
Load My Tracks.
Using Load My Tracks I can pull my GPS tracks right off my device and save them for use by other applications: GPX files, even KML for use with Google Earth. Load My Tracks supports geocaching and a pretty good range of devices.
But while looking into Load My Tracks, I also found some more resources:
Here is a list of GPX resources. It is a pretty good list, and covers multiple platforms (Windows, Macintosh, Mobile, and cross-platform).
Some other applications that I have not tried, but I am including here in case they might be something you can use:
GPS Connect: A Freeware Garmin GPS Connection Tool for Mac OS X.
Mac SimpleGPS: a Macintosh application designed to manage waypoints, routes and tracks on your GPSR.
Between these links, and my previous post, you should have more than enough to get you started with however you would like to use your GPS device with Macintosh computers.
Load My Tracks.
Using Load My Tracks I can pull my GPS tracks right off my device and save them for use by other applications: GPX files, even KML for use with Google Earth. Load My Tracks supports geocaching and a pretty good range of devices.
But while looking into Load My Tracks, I also found some more resources:
Here is a list of GPX resources. It is a pretty good list, and covers multiple platforms (Windows, Macintosh, Mobile, and cross-platform).
Some other applications that I have not tried, but I am including here in case they might be something you can use:
GPS Connect: A Freeware Garmin GPS Connection Tool for Mac OS X.
Mac SimpleGPS: a Macintosh application designed to manage waypoints, routes and tracks on your GPSR.
Between these links, and my previous post, you should have more than enough to get you started with however you would like to use your GPS device with Macintosh computers.
Friday, December 26, 2008
Free Topographical Maps for all - and some Mac OSX GPS resources
Since the holidays might have brought someone some GPS type toys, I figured that I would recycle an older post of mine to share some information, and also add to it some new stuff I have found.
I use Apple Macintosh computers, and here are some tools I have found:
A commercial software package which is very powerful is MacGPS Pro. I have used it for land and marine based GPS mapping and charts. I consider it to be worth the money. It is not the simplest or most intuitive program, but it is very powerful and is loaded with features. It can import and use the topographical maps I mentioned above, and supports a fair amount of GPS devices.
TrailRunner is a neat application package that can be used for running, biking, hiking, and I plan on using it for Skiing too. It is "donation-ware" and looks to be quite a slick package. As I have not used it much, I am simply including it here as a reference. I hope to know more about it in a few weeks after I have played with it more.
GPS Babel is software that runs on just about any operating system, and is free. It will load and translate GPS data to and from many many many devices. Definitely worth checking out, and probably deserves a donation if it works out to be useful to you.
And if you are looking for street mapping on your Mac, and you want something available offline or other features, you can check out Route Buddy. The app is $100 and the maps are extra. I have not used it. But I figured I would include it for completeness. I figure this is similar to Microsoft Streets, or DeLorme Street Atlas, (or like the now abandoned mac app called Route66...).
The Libre Maps project has purchased and made available for free all of the USGS Topographical maps of the USA. All 50 states.
The maps have always been free sort-of, there was just no where until now to actually GET them for free. The Libre Maps project raised enough funds to buy the many gigabytes of data and the Internet Archive is hosting them.
These are great 24k scale topographical maps folks. The same types you pay for in sporting goods stores. And many applications on your computers can work directly with them and your GPS. You can get water and tear resistant paper and print them out..
All good stuff...
For the lazy in the audience, here are Oregon's.
I use Apple Macintosh computers, and here are some tools I have found:
A commercial software package which is very powerful is MacGPS Pro. I have used it for land and marine based GPS mapping and charts. I consider it to be worth the money. It is not the simplest or most intuitive program, but it is very powerful and is loaded with features. It can import and use the topographical maps I mentioned above, and supports a fair amount of GPS devices.
TrailRunner is a neat application package that can be used for running, biking, hiking, and I plan on using it for Skiing too. It is "donation-ware" and looks to be quite a slick package. As I have not used it much, I am simply including it here as a reference. I hope to know more about it in a few weeks after I have played with it more.
GPS Babel is software that runs on just about any operating system, and is free. It will load and translate GPS data to and from many many many devices. Definitely worth checking out, and probably deserves a donation if it works out to be useful to you.
And if you are looking for street mapping on your Mac, and you want something available offline or other features, you can check out Route Buddy. The app is $100 and the maps are extra. I have not used it. But I figured I would include it for completeness. I figure this is similar to Microsoft Streets, or DeLorme Street Atlas, (or like the now abandoned mac app called Route66...).
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Things on the interwebs everyone should see.
Timesink alert.
Charlie Bit Me
Blood!
Ninja Cat
And WEEEEEEEE! (contains profanity - NSFW)
I like turtles!
Truly Priceless! (Adult content)
Lookin' Ass Kitty (uhmmm, they say Ass a lot, PG-13 content)
The best part of waking up! (adult content, NSFW)
Where the hell is Matt?
The magic is in the hole! (adult content, Portland lore)
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger!
Using Proper English (Profanity, Adult Content, NSFW)
Sad Kermit (PG-13)
Charlie Bit Me
Blood!
Ninja Cat
And WEEEEEEEE! (contains profanity - NSFW)
I like turtles!
Truly Priceless! (Adult content)
Lookin' Ass Kitty (uhmmm, they say Ass a lot, PG-13 content)
The best part of waking up! (adult content, NSFW)
Where the hell is Matt?
The magic is in the hole! (adult content, Portland lore)
Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger!
Using Proper English (Profanity, Adult Content, NSFW)
Sad Kermit (PG-13)
Blitz Ladd: Great sports bar in inner SE Portland
Previously I have written about trying to find good sports bars in Portland that allow people under 21. First post, Second post. For crying out loud, people under 21 like to watch sports too!
We have found another one in inner SE Portland to add to the list.
Blitz Ladd.
They have 14 High Def flatscreen TV's, and one large wall sized projected screen. Anywhere you sit in the entire place has a good view of a TV.
They allow minors in the couch area by the projected screen, and they allow minors in the long line of booths along the upper part of the restaurant, and also at the picnic style tables in the front. Minors are allowed at the foosball table, and at the pinball and video games.
Minors are not allowed at the bar, or in the pool table and shuffleboard area, and of course no minors in the lottery machine area.
The menu is good, and the 4 or 5 times we have been there our meals have been really good. The prices are about standard "brew pub" prices, but they do have a decent kids menu and some really good deals for happy hour. The serve brunch in the mornings on the weekend, with a fairly limited breakfast menu. Their corned-beef hash is one of the best I have ever had!
Their service, and their management has been top notch. People have been genuinely happy to see us, every time. They have been super accomodating, and very willing to let us pick tables with the best views of our games. They are amazingly friendly, and they have been eager to take comments and suggestions. All in all, exactly what service SHOULD be when you are paying to eat at a restaurant. I hope this continues to be true as the place ages.
You see, in sports bars - trying to get the right games on is often like pulling teeth. At Sky Box in Sellwood, the people are only moderately friendly and don't dare ask to have a channel changed - no matter who is in the restaurant. We were at skybox once where there was not a single customer watching the game on the "main screen" and at least 15 people watching a game which they only had on one TV in the corner. We all pleaded to have them switched (the customers were unanimous - it is not that big of a place). The guy who runs the TVs threw a fit. Don't even try to ask if it is busier... At Buffalo Wild Wings downtown, they seem to be at least willing to change channels if customers ask. But the staff appears to have the IQ of their ranch dip, and more often than not majorly screw up trying to get the right stuff on the TV. Some times we have been there and they were running movies and cooking shows during football games. Also, Wild Wings tends towards the Seahawks which piss us off, because the Seahawk games are usually on local TV. The whole reason we go to sports bars is to see the games that are NOT on local TV - as none of our teams are in our region.
Anyway, at Blitz Ladd we have had super service, good food at normal prices, decent atmosphere, minor friendly seating, and lots and lots of good TVs. Blitz is highly recommended.
We have found another one in inner SE Portland to add to the list.
Blitz Ladd.
They have 14 High Def flatscreen TV's, and one large wall sized projected screen. Anywhere you sit in the entire place has a good view of a TV.
They allow minors in the couch area by the projected screen, and they allow minors in the long line of booths along the upper part of the restaurant, and also at the picnic style tables in the front. Minors are allowed at the foosball table, and at the pinball and video games.
Minors are not allowed at the bar, or in the pool table and shuffleboard area, and of course no minors in the lottery machine area.
The menu is good, and the 4 or 5 times we have been there our meals have been really good. The prices are about standard "brew pub" prices, but they do have a decent kids menu and some really good deals for happy hour. The serve brunch in the mornings on the weekend, with a fairly limited breakfast menu. Their corned-beef hash is one of the best I have ever had!
Their service, and their management has been top notch. People have been genuinely happy to see us, every time. They have been super accomodating, and very willing to let us pick tables with the best views of our games. They are amazingly friendly, and they have been eager to take comments and suggestions. All in all, exactly what service SHOULD be when you are paying to eat at a restaurant. I hope this continues to be true as the place ages.
You see, in sports bars - trying to get the right games on is often like pulling teeth. At Sky Box in Sellwood, the people are only moderately friendly and don't dare ask to have a channel changed - no matter who is in the restaurant. We were at skybox once where there was not a single customer watching the game on the "main screen" and at least 15 people watching a game which they only had on one TV in the corner. We all pleaded to have them switched (the customers were unanimous - it is not that big of a place). The guy who runs the TVs threw a fit. Don't even try to ask if it is busier... At Buffalo Wild Wings downtown, they seem to be at least willing to change channels if customers ask. But the staff appears to have the IQ of their ranch dip, and more often than not majorly screw up trying to get the right stuff on the TV. Some times we have been there and they were running movies and cooking shows during football games. Also, Wild Wings tends towards the Seahawks which piss us off, because the Seahawk games are usually on local TV. The whole reason we go to sports bars is to see the games that are NOT on local TV - as none of our teams are in our region.
Anyway, at Blitz Ladd we have had super service, good food at normal prices, decent atmosphere, minor friendly seating, and lots and lots of good TVs. Blitz is highly recommended.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Citizens rise up! Take back the law!
I am not the first to blog this stuff, but I figured that I would pass them on.
Here in Portland, we have one man (Eric Bryant, now complete with target on back!) who insists that the Police should be required to follow the same rules that they would happily enforce against us. I happen to agree with him.
Downtown Cop gets another ticket.
Sure it is nitpicky. But cops are bastards. Almost 100%. I have never met a cop who didn't have some sort of "power trip" especially here in Portland. The Portland Police Bureau is terrible. I know that I have written in the past about them, and that they are not my favorite people. But gosh darn it if they don't keep giving us reasons to dislike them. I am not going to go all investigative journalist on them - just Google a bit if you are interested.
Police should be held to a higher standard of the law.
They carry guns. They have the backing of the courts and their word is counted as more reliable or respectable than ours. It is this which makes it so much more important that they be held accountable, and that they live by the laws they enforce.
But parking tickets are small potatoes. Check THIS out:
Here is the Reason Magazine article on it:
Reason magazine: "Gotcha!"
Please pass this info along, because it is not likely to hit the mainstream media all that much unless it gets PUSHED out there!
Here in Portland, we have one man (Eric Bryant, now complete with target on back!) who insists that the Police should be required to follow the same rules that they would happily enforce against us. I happen to agree with him.
Downtown Cop gets another ticket.
Sure it is nitpicky. But cops are bastards. Almost 100%. I have never met a cop who didn't have some sort of "power trip" especially here in Portland. The Portland Police Bureau is terrible. I know that I have written in the past about them, and that they are not my favorite people. But gosh darn it if they don't keep giving us reasons to dislike them. I am not going to go all investigative journalist on them - just Google a bit if you are interested.
Police should be held to a higher standard of the law.
They carry guns. They have the backing of the courts and their word is counted as more reliable or respectable than ours. It is this which makes it so much more important that they be held accountable, and that they live by the laws they enforce.
But parking tickets are small potatoes. Check THIS out:
Here is the Reason Magazine article on it:
Reason magazine: "Gotcha!"
Please pass this info along, because it is not likely to hit the mainstream media all that much unless it gets PUSHED out there!
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