Still, I’m used to being left out in the cold so it wasn’t a big deal to wait.

As I sat through the initial online craze, with some impressive initial adoption numbers, I began to hear the murmurs of a “names” policy. As the details leaked out I decided that I’d never use Google+ if that policy stayed in place.

In virtually every community on the web, I have two identities. One where I do all my real work, including posting sometimes controversial opinions on various subjects. The other acct is my real name…mainly so people don’t keep asking me about my Facebook account. Yes, I gamed the system on Facebook to have two accounts. Many people do it.

Can Facebook connect the two? Probably. And it probably isn’t that hard.

Can the average person? Probably not, which is what I care about.

Wired did a very nice article a few months ago about the whole names thing so I won’t rehash it any further. There were many more people with plenty of influence that were vocal enough that Google changed their policy.

Or so I thought.

I just went into my apps control panel and turned on Google+. Everything went fine until I went to turn on Google+ and entered my name, the one I actually use that is known across the web.

Guess what?

Yep, it doesn’t accept it.

I’m sure it just needs to be updated to reflect the new policy or I’m doing something wrong. If I am just let me know because I’d really like to try it out. But until then…

I just went back to my control panel and turned Google+ off. As long as the real name policy is in place, it’s of no use to me. You can find me as Goofy G on Facebook though.

Get the story here. Another story here.

At 12:15 p.m. today, the BB&T Bank in Dunkirk was robbed and the suspect fled on foot with an undisclosed amount of money, a press release from the Calvert Investigation Team stated.

The robber, described as a black male, handed a teller a note requesting money. No one was injured. Anyone with information or who can identify the subject pictured is asked to contact Det. Nick Defelice of the Calvert Investigation Team at 410-535-2800 ext. 2669.

They got a nice photo of the guy though.

Here’s a link to Hulu with all the commercials for your viewing pleasure.

Still, if you are a napper, then you need to visit the Expert’s Guide to Napping. Some of the highlights:

• A short afternoon catnap of 20 minutes yields mostly Stage 2 sleep, which enhances alertness and concentration, elevates mood, and sharpens motor skills. To boost alertness on waking, you can drink a cup of coffee before you nap. Caffeine requires 20 or 30 minutes to take effect, so it will kick in just as you’re waking. Naps of up to 45 minutes may also include rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, which enhances creative thinking and boosts sensory processing.
• Limit your nap to 45 minutes or less, if you need to spring into action after dozing. Otherwise, you may drift into slow-wave sleep. Waking from this stage results in sleep inertia, that grogginess and disorientation that can last for half an hour or more.
• However, if you want a long nap, nap at least 90 minutes. Many of us get about an hour to an hour-and-a-half less sleep a night than we need.

How about you, do you nap?

I gotta start entering more online contests. If you’re reading this Leisa, we are looking for a place for the summer if I can get the County rate

I love those living Nativity scenes. Though it was a little chilly, some caroling broke out.

After we left Solomons propre, we stopped by the Marine Museum. They were having a free night with a bunch of stuff going on. We saw Doug the Dog.

Always nice to get a free in at the Marine Museum.

And we end our night at Annmarie Gardens. It wasn’t the festival of lights yet but there were giving away free admission to the gallery they just built.

On a side note, I’m still trying to convince Annmarie to let me do a redesign for them. I think their site is fine but there is a lot of potential there for more as a communications channel and to interface with the community. I don’t think I’ve ever had this problem trying to sell a probono project. I don’t do them very often and usually turn down a bunch of requests per year because I’m too busy with paid work. But I want this job. I love that place and its web presence could be so much more. So Stacy, drop me a line and lets just explore this. You’ve got my email.

Can’t wait to go back for the festival of lights.

Carrying on the marine theme of the night.

Almost as nice as our tree.

How bout you guys? Any good local holiday events?

I have to say we had an excellent time. We got to chat with Mike Scarborough, SU class of ‘76, and his lovely wife, as well as some other fellow alums. Even better the wine was great. We got to sample some wine from Mike’s personal cellar.

The wines from his vineyard aren’t bad either. Five of the six Running Hare wines they submitted last month in the Governor’s Cup Competition, sponsored by the Maryland Wineries Association, won some sort of award. We ended up bringing home bottles of the Pinot Grigio, Jack Rabbit Red, and Jack Rabbit White.

Now we’ve gone to Linganore before for their wine festivals and those are great. Still, it was pretty exciting to visit a winery in our back yard. I mean, Southern Maryland now has five winery’s. Besides Running Hare, you’ve got Perigeaux Vineyards and Winery, Cove Point Winery, Fridays Creek Winery, and Solomons Island Winery. Who’d a thunk my beloved Calvert County would be a wine mecca.

We’ve sampled some of the wines from the others at a recent festival but might have to take some time and stop by their vineyards for a visit. I certainly recommend stopping by Running Hare.

Here’s a link to a great video showing some cool pumpkin-carving techniques.

Is Fake Blood your thing? Well, here’s a link to Wired with a good recipe. Stay with the non-toxic version please.

Wanna spruce up your computer with some cool wallpapers for the season. Here ya go.

Did anyone go to the North Beach Haunted Boardwalk event? How was it? The Marine Museum still has some stuff going on this week. A haunted cruise and a haunted light house tour.

Good times…or scary times.

Some more background from their web site. The Maryland Renaissance Festival is the second largest Renaissance Festival in the country. The Festival’s first season was a ramshackle village in 1977. That village is now the English Tudor village on 25 acres of woods and field that transport patrons to an era of chivalry, bawdiness, and good fun. There are more than 130 craft shops displaying many wares handmade by the village artisans. Forty-two food outlets provide a feast of foods rarely seen at other festivals. Each season, more than half a million beverages are served at the Festival’s eight soft drink stands, five beer stands, and five taverns.