Author Archives: Denny

About Denny

I’ve been a technology writer since my college days in the late 1980s. Over the years I’ve worked for a variety of magazines, including OMNI, Compute!, Computer Gaming World, and Handheld Computing. I’m currently the Games editor for Microsoft’s Xbox.com website, and co-host of the Insider Moves games tips show on Xbox LIVE. This blog, though, is my personal spot to talk about gadgets, technologies, and other fallout from my incurable early adopter lifestyle. All of the opinions expressed here are my own, and don’t represent the views, policies, or anything else having having to do with my employer.

Posted on February 6, 2012 by Denny

I posted a new review over on GoodReads: Lost in Shangri-la by Mitchell Zuckoff My rating: 4 of 5 stars Exciting and fascinating book. Zuckoff does a brilliant job interviewing survivors and witnesses, really giving you a “you are there” … Continue reading →

Posted in Books | Leave a comment

Snowy Owls and Eagles at Boundary Bay

Posted on January 29, 2012 by Denny

We drove up to Delta, BC yesterday, as we’d heard the snowy owls were down for their once-every-four-years-ish migration. We saw 17 snowy owls, and over a dozen bald and golden eagles. Well worth the drive! Here’s a slideshow of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

NASATweetup Day 2, Part 2: Go for Launch? Really?

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Denny

As we returned from the cafeteria, the skies were looking surprisingly tame. Might we actually get to see a launch today? The buzz around the Twent wasn’t consistent: Some said we were still green for launch, while others had heard … Continue reading →

Posted in #NASATweetup, Space | Leave a comment

NASATweetup Day 2, Part 1: Ground Control to @Astro_Ron

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Denny

On Friday, July 8, #NerdForceOne hit the road at 2:15 am to get to Kennedy Space Center before the roads clogged with cars for the 11:26 am launch. We weren’t allowed through the KSC gate until 5 am, so we … Continue reading →

Posted in #NASATweetup, Space | 2 Comments

#NASATweetup, Day 1, Part 2: A Visit to the Launch Pad

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Denny

As the presentation wrapped up, the weather was not looking good at all for launch the next day. I’ve been through two hurricanes, and those were the only times I can remember more intense rain. Lightning struck the Shuttle launchpad … Continue reading →

Posted in #NASATweetup, Space | 1 Comment

#NASATweetup, Day 1, Part 1: The Twent

Posted on July 7, 2011 by Denny

The fun actually started the night before, as we arrived at the Orlando La Quinta UCF, redesignated “Aquarius House” for the event. A number of us got together and headed out for dinner together. As you might expect from a … Continue reading →

Posted in #NASATweetup, Space | Leave a comment

How YOU Can Participate in #NASATweetup

Posted on July 5, 2011 by Denny

In just two days I’ll be enjoying one of the best birthday presents a guy like me could dream of: A backstage tour of Kennedy Space Center, a chance to meet key players in the Space Shuttle and ISS programs, … Continue reading →

Posted in #NASATweetup, Space, Xbox 360 | Leave a comment

There are mistakes, and there are MISTAKES…

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Denny

I custom-designed a t-shirt, including my avatar and the awesome #NASATweetup logo created by the awesome artist Lar DeSouza, for next week’s Shuttle launch. This is what I ordered: THIS is what I received: Do I really have to mention … Continue reading →

Posted in #NASATweetup, Uncategorized | 1 Comment

Atlantis: We’re Go for Launch (Viewing)

Posted on June 24, 2011 by Denny

On July 8, 2011, it’s expected that over a million people will travel to Florida’s Space Coast to watch the final launch of the Space Shuttle program. I’m super-excited to be one of them, watching not from Titusville (about 13 … Continue reading →

Posted in #NASATweetup, Space | 2 Comments

Goodbye DirecTV, Hello Over-the-Air HDTV

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Denny

In late June, 2011, I said goodbye to hundreds of TV channels as I cancelled my DirecTV account. Teaming an old-fashioned VHF/UHF TV antenna mounted on the side of the house, a PC running Windows 7’s Windows Media Center, and … Continue reading →

Posted in PCs, Xbox 360 | 2 Comments