iPad Generation 2?

It is an early rumor but the iPad 2 looks like it is on the horizon.

From Gizmodo:

We've heard these rumors in bits and pieces before, but today Reuters reports with conviction that the next will have front and rear-facing cameras, a higher res display, and will start production in the early months of next year.

Reuters cites multiple supplier sources, two of whom said that production would begin soon for iPad 2. The next generation of Apple's tablet is expected to be thinner and lighter, with an improved screen resolution that will can hopefully keep up with the iPhone 4's retina display. Most importantly, it will add a front-facing camera to allow for video chat.

It's everything you would expect, given Apple's track record of yearly product updates. But the more confirmation I get about an iPad 2 FaceTime camera, the more I start saving up my pennies. [Reuters]

The Hunger Games Trilogy

The Hunger Games Trilogy includes The Hunger Games, Catching Fire and Mockingjay (of which was released in August of 2010).  All three books come in right at 400 pages and are well written.

These are the first books I have read by Suzanne Collins and I did enjoy them.  I think I read all three in under a weeks time.  There are a lot of reviews out there about the under development of the characters but I think, based on the audience intended, that under development of characters and a better storyline are OK.

Breakdown of the story:

• Post apocalyptic America called Panem
• An over reaching government that controls 13 districts, all which cater to a different "profession" (mining, tailoring, farming and so on).
• 70+ years ago the districts stood up to the government and were pushed back and nearly wiped out.
• The Hunger Games is the punishment for this quell.  Every year a child is picked to represent each district in a fight to the death in the main capital.  The survivor and the survivors district reap the benefits of the win for one year (extra food, fuel, etc).   The survivor must then go on to train next years pick for the Hunger Games from his/her district.
• Katniss is the main character who stands up and takes the place of her younger sister when she is picked to be in the Hunger Games.

And this is where the fun starts.  As a reader you side with Katniss immediately and want her to succeed while always thinking there is no way out of this alive for any of them.  There are some quirky teen issues thrown in but for the most part the book is paced well and the story is well told.  This goes for all three books. 

 

The bad (but good) part is Collins gets you sucked into liking some of the other contestants.  As a reader you identify with them, get to know them, get to like them and all the time knowing...they are more than likely going to die.

The books are well worth the read and won't take up much of your time.  Yes there are other books out there with the same precedence such as The Running Man but I think I like the characters and the idea in these books much better.  Pick them up or get them at the library (if you can tear them from the tween who currently has it in his/her hand).

US National Debt

Democrat or Republican you have to understand how fast our debt as a nation is mounting. With the Presidents new budget being released with another $1.4 Trillion over the next decade we cannot afford to continue this destructive behavior.

US National Debt Clock

See the link above and watch the numbers in real time. You will be amazed.

One more note: Please look at the specific number for Debt per Citizen and Debt per Taxpayer.

A Successful Car Company...

That did not take a government bailout? Is that possible? No...couldn't be. Well, actually it looks like Ford is making $$ in 2009. Jump to the link here!

Pelosi, Reid and Obama (not necessarily in that order)must be licking their chops. This means more taxes for them! It must be time to level another tax on a successful company so as to "drive" them straight into the ground.

In response to the tax hike that is inevitable in Ford's future, Ford's spokesperson Mike Rowe (of Dirty Jobs fame) should go go to Washington and play Senator or Speaker for a day. If that job does not make him feel dirty, I don't know what else will. He might even clean "house".

iPad

It looks like the new iPad is on it's way from Apple. To me it looks like a big iPhone (as well as to others). I wish I had more thoughts on it than that. A comment was made on The Independents web site (and I quote): "Apple could sell a turd on a stick and the trendy folks would be killing each other in the streets to be the 1st to get it."

That may be but I do think Apple has had some ingenious products. I think this may just be the first of new things to come from Apple in this genre.

Apple's pricing can be seen here on the left. A bit expensive and makes me wonder if people will leave their laptops just to pick this up as a replacement. I am not so sure.

If you would like to see the new iPad you can make the jump here.