Archive for December, 2009

Chrome dome

As you may (or may not) recall, I am an avid fan of everything Google. So you can imagine how disappointed I was when Google released a browser for strictly a Windows platform… and since I was way too accustomed to utilizing Firefox on my Windows XP computers (work, and my desktop PC)… I decided not to make the switch. That is, until I saw THIS popup while on my MacBook…

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Google has released Chrome for OS X and I’m delighted to say that I have switched over. Most of my friends swear by Chrome and its speed, and although I haven’t noticed a huge difference in speed between the Mac version of Firefox and the Mac version of Chrome, I can attest to that it burns the competition on Vista.

One thing that I have always loved about Chrome was their commercials. They’re all so creative and innovative. Here are a few:

Video #1

Video #2

Since originally writing this post, I had encountered an error while webcamming on Gmail chat. Since then, I’m back to Firefox. Sorry Chrome, you’ll still have your awesome commercials.

TexMas Holiday: Week 1

Day 1 – Tuesday

Carolina and I decided to head up to see our favorite radio morning show (Kidd Kraddick in the Morning) in action on their last show of 2009. This is us with the entire show cast, Big Al, J-Si, Kidd, and Kellie.

Day 2 – Wednesday

On Wednesday is the day I babysat my adorable nephew Abel (if you recall), and regretfully, the day my camera battery died. The charger was back in Utah, but that was okay because my cousin Eduardo would be in Texas the next day, with the battery charger in-hand.

Day 3 – Thursday

Christmas Eve! This year, we decided to have dinner on Christmas Eve at midnight, which is traditionally when they eat in Latin American countries. But, because Eduardo’s flight was delayed by 5 hours because of “WINTER BLAST ’09″ (as dubbed by Channel 8 News), we didn’t return home until 1:30 AM, and ended up eating around 2 AM.

Day 4 – Friday

Christmas Day!! Need I say more!?

Day 6 – Saturday

Before returning to Texas, I decided it was high time that I reunite with my old highschool chums, Chris & Marianne… so we went to breakfast with them! It was so great to finally reconnect.

Day 7 – Sunday

Ricardo thought it would be a fun idea to invite the entire Russell family over for dinner on Sunday. So we did just that! It was a lot of fun to have us all together under one roof.

Giveaway winner

As promised, we present to you the winner of our giveaway!

Abelsitting

In case you don’t know, Natalia and I are now in Texas enjoying our family immensely.

This was taken January of 2009, while I was babysitting my then-four-month-old nephew, Abel.

And this photo was taken yesterday, as I was babysitting:

It fascinates me how even though he likes to run around, and requires chasing so he doesn’t end up stabbing himself with an ornament, he is so intrigued by the simple machinations of an iPod USB cable. He sat there for about 20 minutes trying to stick one end in the other.

Luis: 1, Macbook: 0

So, I’ve been having the following problem with my Macbook as of late, (notice, the bottom half of the screen):

It’s been annoying, because if you hold the display panel in a certain way, the screen clears right up and is correct. After fidgeting with it for a while, and with the help of the lovely Mrs., I finally came to solution! Can you tell what I did?

Well, if you look close at the bottom right of the display you will find this:

…and somehow, it magically works. No fuss, no muss! MacGyver must be rolling around in his grave… (oh yah, he’s not dead). Regardless, I’m quite the Do-It-Yourself fixer (as evidenced previously).

Natalia: I would just like it noted for the record, that Luis is constantly telling me that his Macbook Pro is better than my little Macbook… and yet, who’s power cord has broken already? HIS! who’s screen is having issues? HIS! who’s computer is newer? HIS! Natalia: 3, Luis: 0

City center

Along with sidekicks Brent & Spencer, Natalia and I went to check out the new City Center development out on the Vegas strip, that opened last Wednesday. We walked through the swanky new mall, Crystals, and the sleek and clean Aria casino/hotel.

Inside of Crystals, is an array of different water exhibits, one of which, featuring a series of clear plastic tubes with water vortexes whirling inside of them. As we approached there were people standing around each of the tubes, whirling their hands around the tubes as if to spin them.

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Natalia leans over and says that she heard about this, and that you can actually control the spin of the vortex. It soon became quite obvious that this was false, and the vortexes changed on their own. I think it’s funny that people still continued to do it, really believing they could control the water.

Here are some other cool photos from that night’s excursion:

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Our Year in Milestones

Our Christmas Letter

And finally, part 6 of Our Christmas Letter debut. The final video chronicles “Our Year in Milestones.”

Natalia: 2009 was a HUGE year of accomplishments from graduating from Law school to getting our first iPhones!