The oil that has been gushing out of ruptures in the Deep Water Horizon well on the Gulf of Mexico's ocean floor, is on course to exceed the 11,000,000 gallons spilled by the Exxon Valdez in 1989 in just a few week's time.

Scientists still don't know for certain how much oil has leaked into the Gulf of Mexico since the explosion on April 22, but as it begins to go ashore in Louisiana the devastating effects will soon become evident.

Never before seen chilling footage below:

 
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I did a quick YouTube video for a friend of mind, demonstrating the InCase cover for the iPad. I thought I'd share it here.

In the video I mistakenly called it the "EnCase", rather than the "InCase" -- sorry about that.  It's a very cool cover, and I highly recommend it.

Availalbe at Apple retail stores, and elsewhere, and on the web at Goincase.com.

 
Heifer International
In during some research today, I ran across what appears to be a fantastic philanthropic organization in Little Rock, Arkansas.  At its inception, Heifer International's simple idea of giving families a source of food rather than short-term relief caught on and has continued for over 60 years. Today, millions of families in 128 countries have been given the gifts of self-reliance and hope.

A good dairy cow can produce four gallons of milk a day - enough for a family to drink and share with neighbors. Milk protein transforms sick, malnourished children into healthy boys and girls. The sale of surplus milk earns money for school fees, medicine, clothing and home improvements.

And because a healthy cow can produce a calf every year, every gift will be passed on and eventually help an entire community move from poverty to self reliance. Now that's a gift worth giving!


If you're moved to look further, their website has incredible success stories and ways you can help.

 
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I went to the Apple store in Manhattan Beach this afternoon to buy a case for my iPad and, while there, saw a demo of the free Netflix app.  Came home, set up a free trial account, and immediately watched a movie streamed flawlessly to my iPad.

Boy in the Striped Pajamas.

Whew!  Still trying to recover. Powerful message.
 
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One of the best ways to help wean our nation away from its obsession with, and dependance on, foreign oil is to buy an all-electric vehicle.

I've committed to eliminating internal combustion engines from my life as soon as I can. I began with the purchase of a Tesla 100% electric vehicle earlier this year. And today, I furthered that commitment with my reservation for the new Nissan LEAF.

I look forward to the day when I can sell my last internal combustion engine vehicle, a Lexus SUV (good news: it's an ultra-super low emissions vehicle, much less polluting than any vehicle I've ever owned in my life prior to the Tesla).

I'm urging all of my friends who may be thinking about buying a new car this year, to seriously consider an electric vehicle. The Nissan LEAF appears to be an outstanding option at a great price point.

I hope I'll be driving my new leaf by this fall.


Photo Above: my reservation page on the Nissan LEAF website.

Video Below: Nissan LEAF introduction promo from last year.

 
 
Shot with my iPhone in the basement parking spot of my Los Angeles condo, this brief video shows the light show coming from the charging port of my Tesla immediately after plugging in the connector.

The process of charging a Tesla is very simple: 1) Flip open the charging port door then, 2) Plug in the connector and twist to lock and, finally, 3) slide the switch on the connector forward to begin charging.
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The charging station has been installed on the garage wall in front of my parking spots.
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Even as Apple sold in excess of one million iPads in a month, a remarkable feat, I resisted buying one mainly because I didn't think there was any productivity gain in doing so. But my longtime friend, Greg Wagoner (a fellow extreme Apple aficionado), said something that made me reconsider; he asked me if I'd ever bought anything just for the fun of it, and not just because it provided a productivity gain.

A short time later, iPad-specific versions of productivity applications such as Evernote® and Dropbox® -- programs I use extensively on my iMac, Mac Air laptop, and iPhone -- showed up in the Apps Store. And, then, the eagerly-anticipated iPad 3G version was released. All of a sudden the iPad looked a lot more appealing to me.

Thanks to Greg's prodding (once telling me that it was not a matter of "if", rather "when" I would be buying one), along with the release of productivity tools and the 3G version, I took the plunge yesterday and bought an iPad 3G.

It's now clear to me why so many people are buying the iPad. Although it's not yet a huge productivity tool, it is nonetheless a device that is life-changing.  In my humble opinion, the main reason is that the iPad is for 'real people' -- not just geeks or gadget hounds. It's technology that's intuitive and simple to use; you just use your finger and touch the screen to navigate.  It lets anyone easily be part of the digital revolution.

In less than 24 hours I've found more and more ways to harness its productivity features, while enjoying just a few of its life-changing and fun ways to interact with our digital, mobile world.

Many thanks to Greg Wagoner for his prodding and encouragement. I'm loving my new iPad!

 
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Apple's new iPad was launched on Saturday, April 3rd, and since then -- based on analytics -- within two days, iPad-users began using the device while checking my blog.

One particular reader has surfed from their iPad during at least five visits, spending an average of a minute and a half each time.

I appreciate this particular iPad-user's occasional visits, and hope that they'll continue reading as my audience slowly grows.

 
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In the run-up to the 2012 Super Bowl in Indianapolis, one of the many new projects around the city in preparation for the event is to transform the three block stretch of Georgia Street, in downtown Indianapolis, into a pedestrian friendly corridor that will run from the newly expanded Indiana convention Center all the way to the Conseco Fieldhouse -- connecting the two.

Local architectural powerhouse, Ratio Architects, has described the project as an "urban outdoor event venue", and says it should be completed before the city hosts the Super Bowl in 2012. The project will add new street lights, trees, a pedestrian path, a retractable overhead covering, along with outdoor cafés all along George Street from Capitol Avenue to Pennsylvania Street. George Street will continue to serve as a two-way street and will only be closed to traffic for special events.

I've included a PDF from Ratio Architects which includes several renderings and other images of the project.