Tuesday, January 31, 2006
Monday, January 30, 2006
A lesbian movie that doesn't suck?
At least that's the dream. It's called "Imagine Me & You," and stars Piper Perabo. Had to look around for a while to find a trailer that didn't rely on Apple ware, which my computers tend to choke on ... but I finally found one:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005JOVP/sr=1-1/qid=1138658643/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8418309-7400642?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
Amazon.com turned me on to this film, with an email clearly aimed at people who have bought similar movies on their site. They coyly describe similar as "relationship-based comedies and dramas." Uh, do you mean lezbo love stories? ("Kissing Jessica Stein" -- guilty!)
Also found this movie, with a similar plot:
http://www.aprilsshower-themovie.com/about.html
I don't know why, but that one is setting off my suck-o-meter a bit. Which isn't necessarily that bad. "It's In the Water" kind of sucks, but it's bad in a watchable way, and the love scenes are convincing (not just the sex scenes, but the talking, and that's just as important to me).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004STHG/qid=1138659903/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8418309-7400642?s=dvd&v=glance&n=130
Most lesbian movies I've seen, like a lot of indie films in general, are more earnest than anything. But I have nothing nice to say about "Claire of the Moon," the lesbian "classic" that manages to be boring, boring, stereotyped, and boring. And when it finally inspires a response, that response is a cringe. AVOID! AVOID! AVOID!
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00005JOVP/sr=1-1/qid=1138658643/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-8418309-7400642?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance
Amazon.com turned me on to this film, with an email clearly aimed at people who have bought similar movies on their site. They coyly describe similar as "relationship-based comedies and dramas." Uh, do you mean lezbo love stories? ("Kissing Jessica Stein" -- guilty!)
Also found this movie, with a similar plot:
http://www.aprilsshower-themovie.com/about.html
I don't know why, but that one is setting off my suck-o-meter a bit. Which isn't necessarily that bad. "It's In the Water" kind of sucks, but it's bad in a watchable way, and the love scenes are convincing (not just the sex scenes, but the talking, and that's just as important to me).
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00004STHG/qid=1138659903/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/103-8418309-7400642?s=dvd&v=glance&n=130
Most lesbian movies I've seen, like a lot of indie films in general, are more earnest than anything. But I have nothing nice to say about "Claire of the Moon," the lesbian "classic" that manages to be boring, boring, stereotyped, and boring. And when it finally inspires a response, that response is a cringe. AVOID! AVOID! AVOID!
I'm a Lez Zeppelin fan, and I haven't even heard them yet
This just in, from CNN:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/30/arts.zeppelin.reut/index.html
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Four women rockers who took on the music of Led Zeppelin are driving club audiences to a frenzy and, offstage, whipping up speculation over their sexual tastes with the name of the band: Lez Zeppelin.
"We have sort of a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy," says Steph Paynes, lead guitar player and the "Jimmy Page" of the group. "It's better to keep it all a mystery, and in the end it really doesn't matter. What matters is the music."
The New York-based quartet came together almost three years ago with the express purpose of covering songs by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Led Zeppelin.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/01/30/arts.zeppelin.reut/index.html
NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Four women rockers who took on the music of Led Zeppelin are driving club audiences to a frenzy and, offstage, whipping up speculation over their sexual tastes with the name of the band: Lez Zeppelin.
"We have sort of a 'don't ask, don't tell' policy," says Steph Paynes, lead guitar player and the "Jimmy Page" of the group. "It's better to keep it all a mystery, and in the end it really doesn't matter. What matters is the music."
The New York-based quartet came together almost three years ago with the express purpose of covering songs by Rock and Roll Hall of Fame members Led Zeppelin.
Yes, I am a geezer
OK, so I have taken some crap for loading the Bangles, Crowded House, etc., on my Zen Micro. Yes, that's old music. Yes, I am a geezer. I do have some Nas on my shuffle, but the current hits are by far outweighed by old stuff and even show tunes.
And today, I assessed my grays. They are too numerous to be plucked, unless I want to have bald spots at my temples. This really bums me out. If "Logan's Run" were real, I'd be seven years gone. And the funny thing is, "Logan's Run" (a movie that envisions a world where people are killed off at 30) came out in 1976. Which means it is at the doom threshold. And I can make a reference to "Logan's Run," and too many people won't get it. Don't even think about "Soylent Green is PEOPLE!" -- that's REALLY old news.
And today, I assessed my grays. They are too numerous to be plucked, unless I want to have bald spots at my temples. This really bums me out. If "Logan's Run" were real, I'd be seven years gone. And the funny thing is, "Logan's Run" (a movie that envisions a world where people are killed off at 30) came out in 1976. Which means it is at the doom threshold. And I can make a reference to "Logan's Run," and too many people won't get it. Don't even think about "Soylent Green is PEOPLE!" -- that's REALLY old news.
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Other people talking about the Zen ...
As with many of the interesting things I find about the Zen Micro, this dates back a bit. Starts in fall 2004, continues through
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93151
Taphil offers some interesting iPod comparisons, though they are pretty much Mini-centric:
"The touchpad has acceleration and coasting. If you move your finger faster, the cursor moves faster. Coasting is where if you scroll and keep your finger at the top or bottom of the touch pad on the edge/border you can physically feel, the cursor will continue to move in that direction, which is helpful for moving up/down long lists or scrolling thru a song. The touchpad also acts as a button. So you can scroll up and down, or tap it to select.The new UI/interface is absolutely amazing compared to the NJB3. It's fast, efficient, and requires little thinking or button pressing. Yes, the Micro as OTF playlists. What's really nice is that it's embedded in the "now playing" itself rather than being a separate "on the go" playlists like the iPod. So let's say you want to play an album or artist. Go to the album or artist and hit play. Then say after that album, you want to add another album or artist. You can add it directly onto the currently playing music, so there's no need to stop what you're playing and make a new/separate OTG playlists like on the iPod. Or like before you can just immediately play another album if you want, there's no need to actually "clear" the current playlist. You can also save playlists on the player. What's also nice is that unlike the NJB3, when selecting an album or artist with the touchpad, you don't have to press the button again to open the folder, since selecting it will open the folder by default. If you want to add it to the currently playing rather than open it, there's the menu button to bring that option up.Since OTF playlist is embedded in the now playing, if you select "now playing" from the main screen, it shows you the currently playing song (like the iPod). If you then pres the touchpad, it brings you to the current playlist. This feature is really HOT! Because on the iPod, if you're playing an album or playlists and you go out to the main menu....you can go to now playing but that will only show you the song that's playing. If you want to see the actual list of songs that are being played, you have to go find that album or playlist (if you remember what you're playing exactly) by going thru the artist or playlist listing.Since using it as a USB drive require selecting a partition size on the player itself, if you don't have enough free space, you can delete songs on the player itself to create free space. Nice to know.You can scroll thru songs by either holding down FF or RW, or scroll thru a song using the touch pad, a la iPod. The menu options are very handy because you don't have to scroll thru menus to select options. For example, while a song is playing, you can press the menu button to:- change the play mode- view track details (shows artist, title, album, track, year, genre, playcount, bitrate - something the iPod really needs)- remove the track from the now playing- set bookmark- "lookup artist" which automaticaly brings you to the artist page that displays all albums by the artist (very cool)The screen on the Micro is sooooooooooo much better than the iPod mini. The resolution isn't much different, but Creative uses a smaller font. So for the song that's playing, you can see title, album, AND ARTIST along with all the normal info. If any of those are too long to fit on the screen (and they'd have to be really long because the screen is wide) then each will scroll, unlike the iPod where only the title scrolls. When searching thru artist or album, if one is too long, highlight it with the cursor will make it scroll (a feature Apple copied for the iPod Photo).If you turn off the Micro while a song is playing, when you turn it back on it'll continue playing at that point.Start-up time is as fast as the iPod. Wake-up time from sleep is instant (well really like 0.25 seconds). But I think it may actually "turn off," like the iPod after 48 hours of no use, where it goes into a deeper sleep state (shuts off power going to RAM to save battery), but I don't know the time limit for it. Boot time from deep sleep is maybe 10 seconds, much faster than any iPod. Shut down time is about 10 seconds, which I think is too long, but I'll probably just let it go to sleep on it's own after 5 minutes idle (user changable seting).Right now, my only complaint is that at the top where it shows the name of the menu you're at and where the battery meter is, it doesn't show a play/pause/stop icon so you can tell if music is playing or not. But it's not essential since you can tell that if you have headphones plugged in.Overall, I'm 100% satisfied. The Micro works well. On top of that, it's full of features. It's well-designed - the unit is physically sturdy, and the OS/UI is more advanced than the iPod's. Of course it won't be as simple as the iPod, but having all these extras doesn't make it much more complex, hard to use, or hard to understand. At this point, I think the iPod needs to play catch-up. The iPod is still nice, but it's getting too plain and simple and boring looking (except for the color interface of the Photo). I'd really like if they would add the easy/simple things things like track info, lookup artist/album/genre, and DELETE into the now playing, so when you press the center button you can come across a listing of those options. Also, they need to start using a smaller font on all their iPods, so more info can be displayed. Cell phones have smaller text and I doubt people are going blind. Scrolling for album and artist also needs to be done, especially since the font is so large they don't always fit. Custom EQ??? And if you know Apple, when they add those features they will NOT add them to older iPod versions."
It goes on for 32 pages. I'm sick enough to read 20 of them in one sitting, but not sick enough to read all of them. At least not tonight.
http://www6.head-fi.org/forums/showthread.php?t=93151
Taphil offers some interesting iPod comparisons, though they are pretty much Mini-centric:
"The touchpad has acceleration and coasting. If you move your finger faster, the cursor moves faster. Coasting is where if you scroll and keep your finger at the top or bottom of the touch pad on the edge/border you can physically feel, the cursor will continue to move in that direction, which is helpful for moving up/down long lists or scrolling thru a song. The touchpad also acts as a button. So you can scroll up and down, or tap it to select.The new UI/interface is absolutely amazing compared to the NJB3. It's fast, efficient, and requires little thinking or button pressing. Yes, the Micro as OTF playlists. What's really nice is that it's embedded in the "now playing" itself rather than being a separate "on the go" playlists like the iPod. So let's say you want to play an album or artist. Go to the album or artist and hit play. Then say after that album, you want to add another album or artist. You can add it directly onto the currently playing music, so there's no need to stop what you're playing and make a new/separate OTG playlists like on the iPod. Or like before you can just immediately play another album if you want, there's no need to actually "clear" the current playlist. You can also save playlists on the player. What's also nice is that unlike the NJB3, when selecting an album or artist with the touchpad, you don't have to press the button again to open the folder, since selecting it will open the folder by default. If you want to add it to the currently playing rather than open it, there's the menu button to bring that option up.Since OTF playlist is embedded in the now playing, if you select "now playing" from the main screen, it shows you the currently playing song (like the iPod). If you then pres the touchpad, it brings you to the current playlist. This feature is really HOT! Because on the iPod, if you're playing an album or playlists and you go out to the main menu....you can go to now playing but that will only show you the song that's playing. If you want to see the actual list of songs that are being played, you have to go find that album or playlist (if you remember what you're playing exactly) by going thru the artist or playlist listing.Since using it as a USB drive require selecting a partition size on the player itself, if you don't have enough free space, you can delete songs on the player itself to create free space. Nice to know.You can scroll thru songs by either holding down FF or RW, or scroll thru a song using the touch pad, a la iPod. The menu options are very handy because you don't have to scroll thru menus to select options. For example, while a song is playing, you can press the menu button to:- change the play mode- view track details (shows artist, title, album, track, year, genre, playcount, bitrate - something the iPod really needs)- remove the track from the now playing- set bookmark- "lookup artist" which automaticaly brings you to the artist page that displays all albums by the artist (very cool)The screen on the Micro is sooooooooooo much better than the iPod mini. The resolution isn't much different, but Creative uses a smaller font. So for the song that's playing, you can see title, album, AND ARTIST along with all the normal info. If any of those are too long to fit on the screen (and they'd have to be really long because the screen is wide) then each will scroll, unlike the iPod where only the title scrolls. When searching thru artist or album, if one is too long, highlight it with the cursor will make it scroll (a feature Apple copied for the iPod Photo).If you turn off the Micro while a song is playing, when you turn it back on it'll continue playing at that point.Start-up time is as fast as the iPod. Wake-up time from sleep is instant (well really like 0.25 seconds). But I think it may actually "turn off," like the iPod after 48 hours of no use, where it goes into a deeper sleep state (shuts off power going to RAM to save battery), but I don't know the time limit for it. Boot time from deep sleep is maybe 10 seconds, much faster than any iPod. Shut down time is about 10 seconds, which I think is too long, but I'll probably just let it go to sleep on it's own after 5 minutes idle (user changable seting).Right now, my only complaint is that at the top where it shows the name of the menu you're at and where the battery meter is, it doesn't show a play/pause/stop icon so you can tell if music is playing or not. But it's not essential since you can tell that if you have headphones plugged in.Overall, I'm 100% satisfied. The Micro works well. On top of that, it's full of features. It's well-designed - the unit is physically sturdy, and the OS/UI is more advanced than the iPod's. Of course it won't be as simple as the iPod, but having all these extras doesn't make it much more complex, hard to use, or hard to understand. At this point, I think the iPod needs to play catch-up. The iPod is still nice, but it's getting too plain and simple and boring looking (except for the color interface of the Photo). I'd really like if they would add the easy/simple things things like track info, lookup artist/album/genre, and DELETE into the now playing, so when you press the center button you can come across a listing of those options. Also, they need to start using a smaller font on all their iPods, so more info can be displayed. Cell phones have smaller text and I doubt people are going blind. Scrolling for album and artist also needs to be done, especially since the font is so large they don't always fit. Custom EQ??? And if you know Apple, when they add those features they will NOT add them to older iPod versions."
It goes on for 32 pages. I'm sick enough to read 20 of them in one sitting, but not sick enough to read all of them. At least not tonight.
Brokeback -- slow, sad ... and I LOVED IT. Damn you, Ang Lee!
I bet that my beloved Other Half and I had a unique moviegoing experience yesterday. And I use the word "unique" advisedly, like any former copy editor/rookie writer who has had her ass chewed by obsessives who love to point it out when something is not truly unique (i.e. truly one of a kind) and merely unusual or remarkable or somesuch.
We saw an Anne "Princess Diaries" Hathaway doubleheader: "Hoodwinked" with the boys, and "Brokeback Mountain" without them. Of course, Anne is hardly the story with either of these movies, though she's just fine in both. In "Hoodwinked," the story is really the indie spirit of the film itself. It's good fun, not Shrekian in scope, but delightful nonetheless. It's the Little Red Riding Hood tale with kind of a cop show spin. Here's where the "real" critics compare it to "Rashomon," with its multiple perspectives. But I'm not a "real" critic, so I'll compare it to "Boomtown." But really funny.
"Brokeback Mountain" is not funny. It's like falling into another world, the world of these two men for whom love cannot conquer all. I usually hate this kind of movie, this kind of musing. But this really worked for me. As much as anything, I fell in love with the visuals, with the absence of words. Yeah, it's a big, gay movie. Whatever. I just loved that it was a powerful story of love and yearning, and, dammit, loss. It made me thankful to be living when I'm living, though things still aren't where they need to be for gay people. But at least I don't have to turn away from the love of my life out of fear. I have just enough fear to keep me from, say, holding hands with her in public situations. But it's not so much fear of being beaten to death (though I know that still happens). It's more a fear of being yelled at or shunned or something. Of course, thanks the to the civil rights legislation approved last week in Washington state after nearly 30 years of trying, we have some degree of recourse. Yes, the world is a better place.
We saw an Anne "Princess Diaries" Hathaway doubleheader: "Hoodwinked" with the boys, and "Brokeback Mountain" without them. Of course, Anne is hardly the story with either of these movies, though she's just fine in both. In "Hoodwinked," the story is really the indie spirit of the film itself. It's good fun, not Shrekian in scope, but delightful nonetheless. It's the Little Red Riding Hood tale with kind of a cop show spin. Here's where the "real" critics compare it to "Rashomon," with its multiple perspectives. But I'm not a "real" critic, so I'll compare it to "Boomtown." But really funny.
"Brokeback Mountain" is not funny. It's like falling into another world, the world of these two men for whom love cannot conquer all. I usually hate this kind of movie, this kind of musing. But this really worked for me. As much as anything, I fell in love with the visuals, with the absence of words. Yeah, it's a big, gay movie. Whatever. I just loved that it was a powerful story of love and yearning, and, dammit, loss. It made me thankful to be living when I'm living, though things still aren't where they need to be for gay people. But at least I don't have to turn away from the love of my life out of fear. I have just enough fear to keep me from, say, holding hands with her in public situations. But it's not so much fear of being beaten to death (though I know that still happens). It's more a fear of being yelled at or shunned or something. Of course, thanks the to the civil rights legislation approved last week in Washington state after nearly 30 years of trying, we have some degree of recourse. Yes, the world is a better place.
Power Popping my Zen
So, I'm adding some music to my Zen -- music that really shouldn't have waited so long, though since I'm a geezer now I think of my Zen mostly as an audio-book listening device.
There ya go, Todd (the guy who can't understand my Zen affection): If I had an iPod, I wouldn't be able to download books from the library (specifically netlibrary.com). So there!
Anyway, I'm loading up Jellyfish ("Spilt Milk" and "Bellybutton"), The Bangles (hits), the Beach Boys ("Pet Sounds") and Fleetwood Mac (hits). And some more Maria McKee, who I've already gone on about. Jellyfish was probably my favorite band of the '90s, hence doomed. The magic music identifier in my Zen organizer software identifies them as Power Pop. Same goes for the Bangles and should have gone for Crowded House (loaded some of them, too -- alleged greatest hits, though you've not heard of most of these songs). Instead, Crowded House was called New Wave. Seems like they came on the scene a little late for that (mid-80s, not early). But whatever. They're power pop to me. Split Enz, the band that begat Crowded House -- now THEY were New Wave.
And you may be wondering how I explain the fact that the Beach Boys and Fleetwood Mac managed to achieve such glories despite the curse of my fandom. Well, that's because I didn't discover them until waaaaaay late in the game. For the Beach Boys, the game was pretty much over. For Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham had left the game and needed to be replaced by two guys -- Billy Burnett and Rick Vito! (The '90s again.) I saw Fleetwood Mac live (at KeyArena in late '90 or early '91) and didn't fully appreciate it. But I think it was Christine McVie's solo rendition of "Songbird" that made me go back and check out something other than the latest record (the very non-essential ... uh, I'll need a few minutes with Google to remember what it was called ... right, "Behind the Mask.")
By the time Fleetwood Mac reunited with Lindsey Buckingham and hit the road for its triumphant comeback, I was living some Mac-ian drama of my own. I went to that show with my then-husband and my future partner (my companions for many things in 1997). None of us wrote any songs about our adventures, though. Unless you count my ex's unfinished "I Hate Lesbians."
There ya go, Todd (the guy who can't understand my Zen affection): If I had an iPod, I wouldn't be able to download books from the library (specifically netlibrary.com). So there!
Anyway, I'm loading up Jellyfish ("Spilt Milk" and "Bellybutton"), The Bangles (hits), the Beach Boys ("Pet Sounds") and Fleetwood Mac (hits). And some more Maria McKee, who I've already gone on about. Jellyfish was probably my favorite band of the '90s, hence doomed. The magic music identifier in my Zen organizer software identifies them as Power Pop. Same goes for the Bangles and should have gone for Crowded House (loaded some of them, too -- alleged greatest hits, though you've not heard of most of these songs). Instead, Crowded House was called New Wave. Seems like they came on the scene a little late for that (mid-80s, not early). But whatever. They're power pop to me. Split Enz, the band that begat Crowded House -- now THEY were New Wave.
And you may be wondering how I explain the fact that the Beach Boys and Fleetwood Mac managed to achieve such glories despite the curse of my fandom. Well, that's because I didn't discover them until waaaaaay late in the game. For the Beach Boys, the game was pretty much over. For Fleetwood Mac, Lindsey Buckingham had left the game and needed to be replaced by two guys -- Billy Burnett and Rick Vito! (The '90s again.) I saw Fleetwood Mac live (at KeyArena in late '90 or early '91) and didn't fully appreciate it. But I think it was Christine McVie's solo rendition of "Songbird" that made me go back and check out something other than the latest record (the very non-essential ... uh, I'll need a few minutes with Google to remember what it was called ... right, "Behind the Mask.")
By the time Fleetwood Mac reunited with Lindsey Buckingham and hit the road for its triumphant comeback, I was living some Mac-ian drama of my own. I went to that show with my then-husband and my future partner (my companions for many things in 1997). None of us wrote any songs about our adventures, though. Unless you count my ex's unfinished "I Hate Lesbians."
Thursday, January 26, 2006
Earphones, and why they don't work for me
You know the popular image of iPod people: They've got the white wires going from their magic little box into their ears, and a look of bliss, even if they're running in 90-plus heat and humidity. I'll tell you, the droves of sweating iPod people I saw racing through D.C. last summer made suffering look good.
But I am not one of those people. And that' s not because I have an aversion to running (unless I'm being chased by a bear or something). And it's not because, as mentioned frequently in this blog, I am a Zen girl. I'm just not an earphone person. It's because I like to hear what's going on around me. And even if that weren't so, there's something about me putting in earphones that causes people to want to approach me. I'm suddenly the most important conversation partner in the world when my ears are full of music, or whatever.
Today was worst than most. I haven't been able to get more than 30 seconds of earphone-in time at a stretch. It's downright silly.
The upside is that I may be less likely to get the earphone deafness that's increasing exponentially as iPods and MPSs take over the world -- until a study comes out about the dangers that loud car radios represent to commuters. Then I'm screwed.
But I am not one of those people. And that' s not because I have an aversion to running (unless I'm being chased by a bear or something). And it's not because, as mentioned frequently in this blog, I am a Zen girl. I'm just not an earphone person. It's because I like to hear what's going on around me. And even if that weren't so, there's something about me putting in earphones that causes people to want to approach me. I'm suddenly the most important conversation partner in the world when my ears are full of music, or whatever.
Today was worst than most. I haven't been able to get more than 30 seconds of earphone-in time at a stretch. It's downright silly.
The upside is that I may be less likely to get the earphone deafness that's increasing exponentially as iPods and MPSs take over the world -- until a study comes out about the dangers that loud car radios represent to commuters. Then I'm screwed.
Zen update -- and the device of my dreams
In relatively short order, I've become pretty well used to my Zen Micro. It's certainly a more essential part of my life than my Palm, though not quite up there with my cell phone. If only I could merge them into my dream device ....
The "Stephinator" would be:
a phone
an audiobook player
a music player
a camera
able to connect to the Web
at least 5 gigs big
I thought that the Tungsten T3 might be it. They're not phones, but they theoretically could handle audiobooks and music, have a built in camera, and, with a wifi card, can connect to the Web. They're not the new Palms, so the price is somewhat right for a cheapskate like me (between $150-$250, used -- still not supercheap). Tungstens are beloved by many and quite multimedia-ish. One person on Amazon bragged that they were able to get their T3 to do everything but give backrubs.
But while I wait for the magical device to arrive, I continue to cobble together my somewhat connected life with what I got.
And continue to learn about my charming but imperfect Zen on sites such as this one:
http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/zenmicro.html
The "Stephinator" would be:
a phone
an audiobook player
a music player
a camera
able to connect to the Web
at least 5 gigs big
I thought that the Tungsten T3 might be it. They're not phones, but they theoretically could handle audiobooks and music, have a built in camera, and, with a wifi card, can connect to the Web. They're not the new Palms, so the price is somewhat right for a cheapskate like me (between $150-$250, used -- still not supercheap). Tungstens are beloved by many and quite multimedia-ish. One person on Amazon bragged that they were able to get their T3 to do everything but give backrubs.
But while I wait for the magical device to arrive, I continue to cobble together my somewhat connected life with what I got.
And continue to learn about my charming but imperfect Zen on sites such as this one:
http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/zenmicro.html
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Spiking the football ...
I've just been accused of being the Terrell Owens of know-it-all-ism by my soulmate. She said that if I were a football player, I wouldn't just spike the football -- I would pull out a Sharpie and scribble my way to infamy.
"And you'd love it because Nicollette Sheridan would drop her towel for you."
And I couldn't deny it.
"And you'd love it because Nicollette Sheridan would drop her towel for you."
And I couldn't deny it.
Hyperbole and rampant know-it-all-ism
When I was a kid, the father of a good friend of mine called me "Hyperbole." Thankfully, it wasn't a nickname that stuck, but it tells you something about me. So does the fact that one of my most beloved high school teacher called me "Smug." I was so moved by this, that I used my eraser to create a hand-high S, M, U and G on my green spiral freshman English notebook. And one of my favorite former colleagues told me I like to "spike the football," i.e., celebrate my own right-ness.
I can't really disagree. And I can't believe people don't hate me for it, though I like to think that I pepper my know-it-all-ism with pleasant amusements. But in this, like many things, I could be kidding myself.
Anyway, I began today with a Super Bowl superlative -- that it is the biggest sporting event on the planet. And I immediately got static from my Canadian/Iranian citizen of the world in the cubicle next door, who spoke up for non-American football, a k a soccer. Another colleague agreed with her, and the two of them don't agree on much, so I knew I'd probably gone too far.
But, me being me, I had to look it up. God bless Google. What I learned was that the Super Bowl IS No. 1. But before I could spike the football, I saw the rest of the story: That's only true in non World Cup years. And interestingly, 98 percent of Super Bowl viewers are in North America (with a much more broad base for World Cup coverage). Us against the world.
I can't really disagree. And I can't believe people don't hate me for it, though I like to think that I pepper my know-it-all-ism with pleasant amusements. But in this, like many things, I could be kidding myself.
Anyway, I began today with a Super Bowl superlative -- that it is the biggest sporting event on the planet. And I immediately got static from my Canadian/Iranian citizen of the world in the cubicle next door, who spoke up for non-American football, a k a soccer. Another colleague agreed with her, and the two of them don't agree on much, so I knew I'd probably gone too far.
But, me being me, I had to look it up. God bless Google. What I learned was that the Super Bowl IS No. 1. But before I could spike the football, I saw the rest of the story: That's only true in non World Cup years. And interestingly, 98 percent of Super Bowl viewers are in North America (with a much more broad base for World Cup coverage). Us against the world.
Monday, January 23, 2006
Now THAT would be a diet pill
I've been on a fairly positive weight-loss trajectory over the past few years. I credit the Atkins. But somewhere along the line, I switched from a bacon-intensive diet to something a little more healthy, with occasional rice and beans and, yes, pizza. Because as good as I feel when I am at a healthy weight, it pales when I consider a life without pizza. And my sons agree. We could eat Costco pizza for dinner every night.
The problem with eating pizza is not eating too much pizza. I'm not so good at that whole moderation thing. Which is why it's dangerous for me to even consider taking this new diet pill that may soon be taking the Claritin path to over-the-counter-ness.
Here's the story: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/256753_dietpill24.html
Basically, orlistat (the pill known by prescription as Xenical) is closer to being sold over the counter. It's a fat-blocker, and it can lead to the same problems as those special potato chips sold recently -- aka bad news for your pooper. I suppose that's a step up from destroying your heart, a la fen phen. Or is it phen fen?
Why can't they just put something on the market that gives you energy AND helps you lose weight? You know, the Judy Garland plan. 'Cause that turned out great.
The problem with eating pizza is not eating too much pizza. I'm not so good at that whole moderation thing. Which is why it's dangerous for me to even consider taking this new diet pill that may soon be taking the Claritin path to over-the-counter-ness.
Here's the story: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/256753_dietpill24.html
Basically, orlistat (the pill known by prescription as Xenical) is closer to being sold over the counter. It's a fat-blocker, and it can lead to the same problems as those special potato chips sold recently -- aka bad news for your pooper. I suppose that's a step up from destroying your heart, a la fen phen. Or is it phen fen?
Why can't they just put something on the market that gives you energy AND helps you lose weight? You know, the Judy Garland plan. 'Cause that turned out great.
"I would come back from the grave and haunt your ass ... "
Was catching up on "Desperate Housewives" ... the episode where Lynette's husband Tom lets slip that he has a "Plan B" in case she dies before him. Not that he would ever use it, of course. But no amount of fast but stumbling talking gets him out of trouble with his wife, who wants him to show his commitment to her by getting a vasectomy.
I made the mistake of telling my dear wife Cheryl that their interaction reminded me of us. Not that I have a Plan B. I really don't. (Well, not that Angelina Jolie is now with that Pitt fella.) It was more the foot-in-mouth-ness of Tom. I really felt for him. I am definitely the one in our relationship who is most likely to have to start digging my way out of a pit made by my own stupid words. I'd like to think I'm better at it than Tom. But of course, Cheryl knows asking me for a vasectomy is pointless -- even though I would do anything for her. And not just because she says things like "I would come back from the grave an haunt your ass" when I joke about having a Plan B.
I made the mistake of telling my dear wife Cheryl that their interaction reminded me of us. Not that I have a Plan B. I really don't. (Well, not that Angelina Jolie is now with that Pitt fella.) It was more the foot-in-mouth-ness of Tom. I really felt for him. I am definitely the one in our relationship who is most likely to have to start digging my way out of a pit made by my own stupid words. I'd like to think I'm better at it than Tom. But of course, Cheryl knows asking me for a vasectomy is pointless -- even though I would do anything for her. And not just because she says things like "I would come back from the grave an haunt your ass" when I joke about having a Plan B.
Sunday, January 22, 2006
I've gone mobile!
Yes, that makes one blog entries sent from my cell phone. It was supposed to be TWO blog entries, including a shot of Seahawks Stadium -- er, excuse em, Phone Company Money Field -- all lit up and full of screaming fans at the big game. I could almost hear them from I-5.
Alas, the stadium shot did not come through. And I can't quite figure out how to edit in text once the photo has arrived, but technical difficulties -- and the joy of overcoming them -- are the story of my Web-enabled life.
Alas, the stadium shot did not come through. And I can't quite figure out how to edit in text once the photo has arrived, but technical difficulties -- and the joy of overcoming them -- are the story of my Web-enabled life.
The closest I got to the big game was ...
Watching it from the floor of my living room, with my boy Ed in my lap, and my boy Chas occasionally on my head. Doesn't get better than that.
The fan in me was rooting for the team. The part of me that wants to have an actual life and not just work my ass off was rooting for Carolina, despite the pathetically '90s Vanilla Ice-style neon-blue typeface of their team name (or maybe because of ....). But the next two weeks probably would have been somewhat sucky anyway, what with a number of colleagues gone for all or part of that time. May as well have something to cheer about.
Much better to see Seahawks blue, majestically decorating cupcakes, sheet cakes and most excellent banks/popcorn holders, as I did earlier today at Albertsons. And can I just say that I never saw so many people wearing sports jerseys? And can I just say that I saw not one but two women absolutely rocking what appeared to be youth sized Shaun Alexander jerseys? This isn't really (only) lust talking ... I wish I could pull that off. But I think I'm actually taller than him, and I think you have to be little to look cute in a football jersey.
The fan in me was rooting for the team. The part of me that wants to have an actual life and not just work my ass off was rooting for Carolina, despite the pathetically '90s Vanilla Ice-style neon-blue typeface of their team name (or maybe because of ....). But the next two weeks probably would have been somewhat sucky anyway, what with a number of colleagues gone for all or part of that time. May as well have something to cheer about.
Much better to see Seahawks blue, majestically decorating cupcakes, sheet cakes and most excellent banks/popcorn holders, as I did earlier today at Albertsons. And can I just say that I never saw so many people wearing sports jerseys? And can I just say that I saw not one but two women absolutely rocking what appeared to be youth sized Shaun Alexander jerseys? This isn't really (only) lust talking ... I wish I could pull that off. But I think I'm actually taller than him, and I think you have to be little to look cute in a football jersey.
Friday, January 20, 2006
Clouds parting, angels singing ... my Zen Micro and my Outlook have made the sweet love
I had to run to my pal Todd Bishop with the news when my Zen finally accepted my Outlook contacts, tasks, etc. And he tried to kill my joy by pulling out his iPod Nano, which, while tiny and smooth and neat, did not diminish my Zen love. Honestly, I found the wheel odd under my fingers after becoming used to my vertical touch strip.
OK. This post is starting to sound kinky. But suffice it to say, I'm celebrating my moment of glory. It's a distraction from actually having to, you know, complete my tasks or call any of my contacts.
OK. This post is starting to sound kinky. But suffice it to say, I'm celebrating my moment of glory. It's a distraction from actually having to, you know, complete my tasks or call any of my contacts.
Creative tech support ... at least the hold music is pleasant
Let's be clear about something: I am on hold with Creative to get some Zen tech support. And I am using the time to work! (OK, blog a little, but mostly work!) And the reason I am calling tech support is so that I can access my Outlook info (contacts, tasks, etc.) for work!
The hold music has gone from an upbeat synthy techno to an upbeat synthy techno world pop to an upbeat, synthy Teshian pop punctuated with the reminder that "Your call is important to us. Please continue to hold for the next 17 hours." Perfect! My snark worked as intended, and they answered after something more like 7 minutes.
I have explained the problem. I am now on hold with no music.
My friendly helper is back, with a "solution ID number" for me to enter into the "knowledge base." (SID 6981, if you're interested -- also known as "Outlook Synchronization Error 'One or more items in the folder you synchronized do not match' ")
We'll see how it goes.
OK. It's a couple of hours later. Tried again. No go, though I didn't get the same error message.
The hold music has gone from an upbeat synthy techno to an upbeat synthy techno world pop to an upbeat, synthy Teshian pop punctuated with the reminder that "Your call is important to us. Please continue to hold for the next 17 hours." Perfect! My snark worked as intended, and they answered after something more like 7 minutes.
I have explained the problem. I am now on hold with no music.
My friendly helper is back, with a "solution ID number" for me to enter into the "knowledge base." (SID 6981, if you're interested -- also known as "Outlook Synchronization Error 'One or more items in the folder you synchronized do not match' ")
We'll see how it goes.
OK. It's a couple of hours later. Tried again. No go, though I didn't get the same error message.
Photos on my blog ... or, Lord, I feel like an idiot!
OK. I am jealous of Cheryl (eddieandchasdiaries.blogspot.com), and I want to start putting pictures on my blog. Easier said than done, dammit!
Actually, it's a breeze to add photos from my computer. There's a little box I click and upload soon commences. But I'm all about the degree of difficulty, baby! I want to send photos from my phone! This is not so simple. Though Hello.com, the helpful and free photo software, says it is:
"Just use Hello to send your pictures to BloggerBot. BloggerBot will automatically resize your JPG pictures, add your captions, and publish your pictures to the Web."
Uh, OK. Will BloggerBot come hold me when I feel unworthy? I don't think so. So what use is it?
Actually, it's a breeze to add photos from my computer. There's a little box I click and upload soon commences. But I'm all about the degree of difficulty, baby! I want to send photos from my phone! This is not so simple. Though Hello.com, the helpful and free photo software, says it is:
"Just use Hello to send your pictures to BloggerBot. BloggerBot will automatically resize your JPG pictures, add your captions, and publish your pictures to the Web."
Uh, OK. Will BloggerBot come hold me when I feel unworthy? I don't think so. So what use is it?
eBay feedback -- and other mild fibs
Before I buy on eBay, I like to check feedback. For all the good it does me. After a go-round with a HORRIBLE lying jerk of a seller, I learned that there are a number of reasons why a lack of negative feedback doesn't always add up to satisfied customers. The main one is threats, as in the crappy seller threatens to blast you with negative feedback if you dare to complain that the thing he sold you isn't, for example, what he said it was.
So I've learned to read between the lines. And that's why I chose to buy a memory card reader from, probably, mobilephy instead of a different seller who first caught my eye. That was because the other seller had an overall positivity rating in the high 90 percent range (very good) but because they sold so many items, the volume of positives made masked dozens and dozens of negatives as well. And even the positives weren't always positive: "Item wasn't as (fill in the blank) as I thought," or "Holiday shipping slow but understandable" or "Mom said if you can't say anything nice ..." OK, I made the last one up. And my Mom actually said that if I can't say anything nice, I should sit next to her.
So I've learned to read between the lines. And that's why I chose to buy a memory card reader from, probably, mobilephy instead of a different seller who first caught my eye. That was because the other seller had an overall positivity rating in the high 90 percent range (very good) but because they sold so many items, the volume of positives made masked dozens and dozens of negatives as well. And even the positives weren't always positive: "Item wasn't as (fill in the blank) as I thought," or "Holiday shipping slow but understandable" or "Mom said if you can't say anything nice ..." OK, I made the last one up. And my Mom actually said that if I can't say anything nice, I should sit next to her.
Spending spree!
You have to remember, everything is relative here at Cheapskate Central, where I reuse my Double Gulp cups to save 49 cents and, you know, because it's good for the environment and stuff.
Just blew $7.49 on a cord that will connect my Palm to a computer. Yes, I have a cradle/connector/charger. But I want to be able to connect my Palm at home and at work. You know, if I'm going to remain committed to outdated technology, I'm going to remain COMMITTED!
But the spending spree ain't over yet. I'm debating whether or not to drop 99 cents plus shipping on a hub, so that the unholy union of my crap technology can occur. Found a seller on eBay who's got USB 1.1 hubs and USB 2.0 hubs available, so the only question is: Do I go with the slower one (1.1) that is kind of a quiet silver, or the faster one (2.0) that is a heinous neon green (not that it will be anywhere visible). I certainly don't need the faster connection. They both cost 99 cents to buy, but the 2.0 hub costs $5.95 to ship, compared to $3.95 for the 1.1 hub. I guess the post office has an "ugly" surcharge. I think I'm going to cheap out, by the by. And ... I just did. And I feel good about it. That $2 I'm saving is two Double Gulps.
Of course, buying no hub at all, and no sync cable, would mean a dozen Double Gulps.
Now, the question is: What about Cheryl's troubled cell phone?
Oh, and should I buy a card reader that actually reads the xD cards that our camera uses?
And will I EVER sync my Zen with my Outlook?
Just blew $7.49 on a cord that will connect my Palm to a computer. Yes, I have a cradle/connector/charger. But I want to be able to connect my Palm at home and at work. You know, if I'm going to remain committed to outdated technology, I'm going to remain COMMITTED!
But the spending spree ain't over yet. I'm debating whether or not to drop 99 cents plus shipping on a hub, so that the unholy union of my crap technology can occur. Found a seller on eBay who's got USB 1.1 hubs and USB 2.0 hubs available, so the only question is: Do I go with the slower one (1.1) that is kind of a quiet silver, or the faster one (2.0) that is a heinous neon green (not that it will be anywhere visible). I certainly don't need the faster connection. They both cost 99 cents to buy, but the 2.0 hub costs $5.95 to ship, compared to $3.95 for the 1.1 hub. I guess the post office has an "ugly" surcharge. I think I'm going to cheap out, by the by. And ... I just did. And I feel good about it. That $2 I'm saving is two Double Gulps.
Of course, buying no hub at all, and no sync cable, would mean a dozen Double Gulps.
Now, the question is: What about Cheryl's troubled cell phone?
Oh, and should I buy a card reader that actually reads the xD cards that our camera uses?
And will I EVER sync my Zen with my Outlook?
Thursday, January 19, 2006
I love this crazy, Wiki world ... even when I'm cell phone shopping
An unfortunate truth about me is that I manage to be obsessive about things like cell phones and computer upgrades and, let's be honest, TV shows, pop cultural detritus and random items of all types. This obsessiveness can be deep, but it usually short-lived. And I rarely manage to put the knowledge I accumulate to good use. I'm not as disciplined as the Wiki people, the ones who share what they learn in a way that's useful for the world. I admire the Wiki people. And I probably trust them more than I should.
I turned to them when I wanted to know what it means to have a cell phone that is "unlocked." Please don't expect an explanation of that in this space. Just know that I have learned that I don't think it's something I need to be worried about in the context of my particular cell phone obsession du jour.
You see, my Other Half has a cell phone that is a bit of a diva, prone to fits of attitude and unwanted frozen silences. I rather meanly pointed out to my dear Other Half that our cell phone upgrades tend to happen because she breaks hers, but really, that's not fair. When you spend most of your time in the company of two toddlers with little respect for the delicate nature of, well, anything, a certain degree of trouble is to be expected. And the truth is, I usually enjoy the upgrade process. But now, I feel sort of overwhelmed by it. A colleague raved about the newest, latest, Motorola whatever-the-hell, and I realized that I have more important things to spend my money on. Like Thomas trains and accessories for my Zen Micro. Or maybe I just don't feel like going around and around with the TMobile people. New phones always cost more than I think, and I don't know that we've had our old ones long enough, and so on.
Really, it's all just marking time until "they" come out with the perfect converged item, taking the best elements of my Palm, my Zen and my Sony Ericsson T610.
I turned to them when I wanted to know what it means to have a cell phone that is "unlocked." Please don't expect an explanation of that in this space. Just know that I have learned that I don't think it's something I need to be worried about in the context of my particular cell phone obsession du jour.
You see, my Other Half has a cell phone that is a bit of a diva, prone to fits of attitude and unwanted frozen silences. I rather meanly pointed out to my dear Other Half that our cell phone upgrades tend to happen because she breaks hers, but really, that's not fair. When you spend most of your time in the company of two toddlers with little respect for the delicate nature of, well, anything, a certain degree of trouble is to be expected. And the truth is, I usually enjoy the upgrade process. But now, I feel sort of overwhelmed by it. A colleague raved about the newest, latest, Motorola whatever-the-hell, and I realized that I have more important things to spend my money on. Like Thomas trains and accessories for my Zen Micro. Or maybe I just don't feel like going around and around with the TMobile people. New phones always cost more than I think, and I don't know that we've had our old ones long enough, and so on.
Really, it's all just marking time until "they" come out with the perfect converged item, taking the best elements of my Palm, my Zen and my Sony Ericsson T610.
That FM transmitter (static) I raved about (static) ...
So I'm driving into work, happily listening to Dan Brown's "Deception Point," and all of a sudden, static begins to intrude on the imperfect but engaging prose. And I'm thinking: I'm worse than Sports Illustrated! I rave about something and it immediately heads for the crapper. It's like back in the '80s when I became a fan of alt-country/rock Lone Justice (they broke up), then I carried on that fandom to Maria McKee, the Lone Justice lead singer with the crazy eyes and the crazy good voice. She had a big hit internationally with a song called "Show Me Heaven" (off the soundtrack to a crappy Tom Cruise/NASCAR movie called "Days of Thunder") but since she's one of my absolute favorite performers of all time, then you've probably never heard of her.
And that's too bad for you, though you can catch up a bit at www.mariamckee.com. Hey, she's got a new album out! It's called "Peddlin' Dreams," and it's in the Lone Justice vein, which is super good news to some folks (the ones who thing "You Gotta Sin to Get Saved" is her best solo record and like to use adjectives like "rootsy"). It's just OK news to me. I like it better when she cuts loose with heartbreak and spirit and a strangely vaudevillian chanteuse soul. I'd rather buy "Life is Sweet" again. Or "High Dive." I don't usually like sad songs. Or sad movies. Or sad anything. But she makes them compelling and cathartic.
But back to the static on my FM transmitter. It took me a while, but I finally realized that the problem is not me and the Midas-in-reverse powers of my endorsements, but some worn batteries. Problem solved. But I still haven't had time to tackle the syncing issue.
And that's too bad for you, though you can catch up a bit at www.mariamckee.com. Hey, she's got a new album out! It's called "Peddlin' Dreams," and it's in the Lone Justice vein, which is super good news to some folks (the ones who thing "You Gotta Sin to Get Saved" is her best solo record and like to use adjectives like "rootsy"). It's just OK news to me. I like it better when she cuts loose with heartbreak and spirit and a strangely vaudevillian chanteuse soul. I'd rather buy "Life is Sweet" again. Or "High Dive." I don't usually like sad songs. Or sad movies. Or sad anything. But she makes them compelling and cathartic.
But back to the static on my FM transmitter. It took me a while, but I finally realized that the problem is not me and the Midas-in-reverse powers of my endorsements, but some worn batteries. Problem solved. But I still haven't had time to tackle the syncing issue.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
Photoshop instead of Microsoft Image Suite
In case you think I have an irrational love of things Microsoft, let me clear that up. It's more of a PC affection, which means that I'm cool with throwing over Microsoft's Picture Suite for Adobe's Photoshop Elements. (Of course, for all I know, Microsoft owns Adobe. And Coke owns Pepsi.)
We chose Elements because it seems more able to do things we want to do, like combine images so that it appears our sons are actually in the same picture as, say, Thomas the Tank Engine or Jay Jay the Jet Plane. And then we can put me in the same picture as, say, Angelina Jolie or Paula Marshall. Msft's thing would be cheaper after the rebate (like $45 instead of $79). And it did have raves aplenty on Amazon. But I think we've made the right choice.
Not that I don't love some of the Msft stuff I've bought. In particular, I appreciate the speakers we got at Costco for something like $50. I think they were intended for PCs, but we plugged them into our TV to give us juiced-up sound. Someday, I'll have surround sound. In the meantime, while I still have low-def TV, this will do.
We chose Elements because it seems more able to do things we want to do, like combine images so that it appears our sons are actually in the same picture as, say, Thomas the Tank Engine or Jay Jay the Jet Plane. And then we can put me in the same picture as, say, Angelina Jolie or Paula Marshall. Msft's thing would be cheaper after the rebate (like $45 instead of $79). And it did have raves aplenty on Amazon. But I think we've made the right choice.
Not that I don't love some of the Msft stuff I've bought. In particular, I appreciate the speakers we got at Costco for something like $50. I think they were intended for PCs, but we plugged them into our TV to give us juiced-up sound. Someday, I'll have surround sound. In the meantime, while I still have low-def TV, this will do.
latest obsessions
I need a USB hub. A cheap one, so my Palm and Zen Micro can both connect to my work computer at once. It will be an unholy union of the unhip and out-of-date.
Other windows into my know-it-all soul
You'd think that I'd be a frequent contributor to those user review areas of Amazon, etc., you know where people let you know if you're thinking of buying something that doesn't work. But I've never done it. Until tonight. I decided, since I'm having a blog outburst, to spread some opinions around.
Here, for your alleged entertainment, is what I said about the the CTA FM transmitter:
Got one of these for Christmas, and Santa did fine by me. It works great with my Zen Micro, and offers more frequency options than other similar items (which is good if you experience traffic full of tech-y type people who ALSO have FM transmitters -- hello, Seattle!).
Anyway, the price is right, and the item is righter.
Yup, it's a rave. No reservations. Here's where to buy it: http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&prod_id=1140832. I get no commission.
Have I mentioned that Overstock.com rocks? Maybe 'cause the CEO has been drinking from the crazy fountain:
http://www.ideagrove.com/blog/2006/01/overstockcom-media-relations-in.html
Oh, and Mark Cuban hates him, which is fun:
http://www.blogmaverick.com/entry/1234000780054315/
Here, for your alleged entertainment, is what I said about the the CTA FM transmitter:
Got one of these for Christmas, and Santa did fine by me. It works great with my Zen Micro, and offers more frequency options than other similar items (which is good if you experience traffic full of tech-y type people who ALSO have FM transmitters -- hello, Seattle!).
Anyway, the price is right, and the item is righter.
Yup, it's a rave. No reservations. Here's where to buy it: http://www.overstock.com/cgi-bin/d2.cgi?PAGE=PROFRAME&prod_id=1140832. I get no commission.
Have I mentioned that Overstock.com rocks? Maybe 'cause the CEO has been drinking from the crazy fountain:
http://www.ideagrove.com/blog/2006/01/overstockcom-media-relations-in.html
Oh, and Mark Cuban hates him, which is fun:
http://www.blogmaverick.com/entry/1234000780054315/
Tuesday, January 17, 2006
... it's in my blog, she said, not so modestly
So I mentioned to one of my colleagues today that I have a blog. That makes two. And each time I tell someone it's a bit of a thrill, like "Aren't I just so tech-fabulous and 21st-century cool?"
And then reality sets in.
All I've done is create a journal that is open to the public. And the public doesn't give a crap. If nothing else, it's a useful exercise to occasionally commit my, you know, profoundness to virtual print. Writers write, and all that. Which may be why I make my living as an editor.
I also realized that I made the mistake of mentioning my self-obsessed little exercise to someone who is actually a professional and acclaimed blogger. His name is Todd Bishop. Perhaps you've read his pithy and often funny-as-hell dispatches from the land of Microsoft (http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/). Security patches, Macworld reports, the Google Pack .... these are just some of the latest tidbits. I'm sure that the details are terribly interesting to people who visit tech blog after tech blog. I don't. I can barely see the early adopter's dust from here. And yet I'm hooked on Todd. Maybe it's because I'm intrigued by Microsoft's journey and the entertaining bumps along the way (Apple won't let MSFT use its icon on a Mac keyboard? Eat that, Gates!). I also dare to think Todd and I have similar sensibilities, though I'm not sure he quite understands my passion for that maddening blue light of my life, the Zen Micro.
And then reality sets in.
All I've done is create a journal that is open to the public. And the public doesn't give a crap. If nothing else, it's a useful exercise to occasionally commit my, you know, profoundness to virtual print. Writers write, and all that. Which may be why I make my living as an editor.
I also realized that I made the mistake of mentioning my self-obsessed little exercise to someone who is actually a professional and acclaimed blogger. His name is Todd Bishop. Perhaps you've read his pithy and often funny-as-hell dispatches from the land of Microsoft (http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/microsoft/). Security patches, Macworld reports, the Google Pack .... these are just some of the latest tidbits. I'm sure that the details are terribly interesting to people who visit tech blog after tech blog. I don't. I can barely see the early adopter's dust from here. And yet I'm hooked on Todd. Maybe it's because I'm intrigued by Microsoft's journey and the entertaining bumps along the way (Apple won't let MSFT use its icon on a Mac keyboard? Eat that, Gates!). I also dare to think Todd and I have similar sensibilities, though I'm not sure he quite understands my passion for that maddening blue light of my life, the Zen Micro.
Zen update: Long road to where I was ... but better, and with a blue glow!
OK. I realize as I write this that it's perhaps a little nutty to be excited that I listened to an audio book while driving in to work today. It used to be, not so long ago, that I did that most every day. But today, I did it using my Zen Micro.
Which means that instead of checking out a package of 10 or so CDs from the library, I downloaded a file and a license, figured out some settings, etc., and put my FM transmitter to use (more on that later). Instead of a load of CDs, I have my sweet, blue-glowing Zen to talk to me. Or play music. Or otherwise do my bidding, as long as the buttons work.
And, joy of joys, the buttons worked today -- worked as I imagine God, or the makers of the Zen, intended, responding to my every touch, not ignoring me like a bored lover with a remote in one hand and a drink in the other.
It was just like I thought it would be. The buttons did my bidding and I felt so good that it eradicated all my past frustrations. Of course, I still haven't synced my Zen with my Outlook. But in fairness to dear Z, I haven't tried. It's been a busy few days, and I've been happy just to have my music and my story and my blue glow.
Which means that instead of checking out a package of 10 or so CDs from the library, I downloaded a file and a license, figured out some settings, etc., and put my FM transmitter to use (more on that later). Instead of a load of CDs, I have my sweet, blue-glowing Zen to talk to me. Or play music. Or otherwise do my bidding, as long as the buttons work.
And, joy of joys, the buttons worked today -- worked as I imagine God, or the makers of the Zen, intended, responding to my every touch, not ignoring me like a bored lover with a remote in one hand and a drink in the other.
It was just like I thought it would be. The buttons did my bidding and I felt so good that it eradicated all my past frustrations. Of course, I still haven't synced my Zen with my Outlook. But in fairness to dear Z, I haven't tried. It's been a busy few days, and I've been happy just to have my music and my story and my blue glow.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
F--- you, Cruise! (or why I'm a fan of Prozac and Dr. King)
This is usually the time of the weekend when I get in one of two mood: pre-Monday blue, or pre-Monday manic. Both are a response to the same thing: the end of the usually busy but ultimately understructured and fun weekend, and the beginning of the busy and much more structured and much less fun workweek.
Which means another five nights without enough sleep. And another 7 or so Double Gulps, give or take. And at least another dozen opportunities to say "Sorry I'm late" as I dash into another meeting.
Why am I always late? There are a number of less than flattering reasons, that, if I remember correctly from the story one of my colleagues wrote, pretty much boil down to selfishness.
I will be late to work tomorrow, but not late in what is for me the typical sense. I'm working the late shift, starting at around 4 and going until midnightish. It's 'cause of the Golden Globes. Otherwise, I'd not be working at all, as it's Martin Luther King Day.
Our pastor choked up today as he closed out the service with talk of King and justice and all that should be. He also talked about Supreme Court nominee Alito, to whom nothing seems to stick. How many church services have positive messages about a woman's right to choose? Probably about as many as welcome the gays. Our church is a two-fer. I also wonder how many churches have pictures of Dr. King up with nearly as prominence as those of Jesus. Ours does, and it always seemed right to me. I wish we had more people of color actually attending our church, but it's a start. Heard last week about how a friend ran into someone who doesn't consider King day a holiday worth noting. It's a head-shaker. Even when I walked through the valley of ignorance, I never thought King deserved anything less than holiday-type honors. Now that I've reached the hillock of knowing enough to be dangerous, I'll say that it should be truly celebrated. You know, with days off for all, with appliance sales, without people feeling like it's OK for them to pop off about how little they think King deserves presidential-type honors. The guy should be on a hundred-dollar bill, not just serving as the namesake for the black street in every town.
So much for the hillock of dangerous. Someday I'll reach the peak of true knowledge, self and otherwise, and attain the peace that comes with it. But in the meantime, I'll muddle through with my daily Prozac and my daily caffeine. I wonder if Tom Cruise will be at the Golden Globes. I don't even enjoy seeing His Toothiness anymore. Being a Friend of L. Ron is one thing. But telling people that they're somehow lesser because they use antidepressants? My mother would probably still be alive if she took them. But she was raised with an anti-medication bias, and she passed it along to me. My grandfather died of late-diagnosed bone cancer (his femur just snapped one day when he tried to get out of a chair) 15 years later and my mom died of kidney failure, brought on by diabetes complications. And a few years after that, I started to truly see the error of their ways.
I saw the impact antidepressants have truly had on people I love. And I saw the impact the absence of antidepressants have had on people I love. And I finally quit being a hypocrite chickenshit and took some myself. And suddenly, the world seemed a hell of a lot more manageable. And I felt a hell of a lot less like a failure.
It's funny when I think about how short a time it's been, really, since I thought antidepressants were fine -- for other people. And being gay was fine -- for other people. And I thought Tom Cruise was cool -- for a guy who's half a foot shorter than me. Guess what I think now?
The great thing is that I don't care if you or anyone agrees with me. That, plus a diminished fear of Mondays, is a Prozac side effect I am more than happy to embrace.
Which means another five nights without enough sleep. And another 7 or so Double Gulps, give or take. And at least another dozen opportunities to say "Sorry I'm late" as I dash into another meeting.
Why am I always late? There are a number of less than flattering reasons, that, if I remember correctly from the story one of my colleagues wrote, pretty much boil down to selfishness.
I will be late to work tomorrow, but not late in what is for me the typical sense. I'm working the late shift, starting at around 4 and going until midnightish. It's 'cause of the Golden Globes. Otherwise, I'd not be working at all, as it's Martin Luther King Day.
Our pastor choked up today as he closed out the service with talk of King and justice and all that should be. He also talked about Supreme Court nominee Alito, to whom nothing seems to stick. How many church services have positive messages about a woman's right to choose? Probably about as many as welcome the gays. Our church is a two-fer. I also wonder how many churches have pictures of Dr. King up with nearly as prominence as those of Jesus. Ours does, and it always seemed right to me. I wish we had more people of color actually attending our church, but it's a start. Heard last week about how a friend ran into someone who doesn't consider King day a holiday worth noting. It's a head-shaker. Even when I walked through the valley of ignorance, I never thought King deserved anything less than holiday-type honors. Now that I've reached the hillock of knowing enough to be dangerous, I'll say that it should be truly celebrated. You know, with days off for all, with appliance sales, without people feeling like it's OK for them to pop off about how little they think King deserves presidential-type honors. The guy should be on a hundred-dollar bill, not just serving as the namesake for the black street in every town.
So much for the hillock of dangerous. Someday I'll reach the peak of true knowledge, self and otherwise, and attain the peace that comes with it. But in the meantime, I'll muddle through with my daily Prozac and my daily caffeine. I wonder if Tom Cruise will be at the Golden Globes. I don't even enjoy seeing His Toothiness anymore. Being a Friend of L. Ron is one thing. But telling people that they're somehow lesser because they use antidepressants? My mother would probably still be alive if she took them. But she was raised with an anti-medication bias, and she passed it along to me. My grandfather died of late-diagnosed bone cancer (his femur just snapped one day when he tried to get out of a chair) 15 years later and my mom died of kidney failure, brought on by diabetes complications. And a few years after that, I started to truly see the error of their ways.
I saw the impact antidepressants have truly had on people I love. And I saw the impact the absence of antidepressants have had on people I love. And I finally quit being a hypocrite chickenshit and took some myself. And suddenly, the world seemed a hell of a lot more manageable. And I felt a hell of a lot less like a failure.
It's funny when I think about how short a time it's been, really, since I thought antidepressants were fine -- for other people. And being gay was fine -- for other people. And I thought Tom Cruise was cool -- for a guy who's half a foot shorter than me. Guess what I think now?
The great thing is that I don't care if you or anyone agrees with me. That, plus a diminished fear of Mondays, is a Prozac side effect I am more than happy to embrace.
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Zen and the ark of raincloud management
Didn't get to spend any quality Zen time today. So I remain unsynced with my Outlook. But soon -- maybe tomorrow -- I will call tech support, and see how Creative rates out in that regard. I am optimistic. But that's just me. I really do love my Zen. I carry it with me and tinker with the settings and such even when I can't actually listen to the music. In meetings, it looks like an organizer, so I can seem, you know, focused on tasks and things.
I don't know when I will get time to actually do that. Or any of the 100 other things on my to-do list. But I remain optimistic about that as well.
An item that is moving up my list: replacing my windshield wipers. This time, I went "all out" and bought the whole wiper thing, not just the blades. Not that I don't love the process of slicing my fingers bloody just so I can imperfectly insert pieces of rubber that won't car the water very well anyway ....
It's funny, we've had something like 23 straight days of rain, which is either a record or close to it. And I think I bought my new wipers about three weeks ago. Not that I think I have the power to control the weather or anything. I can't even control my Zen.
I don't know when I will get time to actually do that. Or any of the 100 other things on my to-do list. But I remain optimistic about that as well.
An item that is moving up my list: replacing my windshield wipers. This time, I went "all out" and bought the whole wiper thing, not just the blades. Not that I don't love the process of slicing my fingers bloody just so I can imperfectly insert pieces of rubber that won't car the water very well anyway ....
It's funny, we've had something like 23 straight days of rain, which is either a record or close to it. And I think I bought my new wipers about three weeks ago. Not that I think I have the power to control the weather or anything. I can't even control my Zen.
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
So much for that moment of Zen
It ain't working. And being closer to the answer doesn't necessarily make me feel better.
But on the bright side, WOW will I feel good when it finally does come together.
But on the bright side, WOW will I feel good when it finally does come together.
Talk about Zen ...
The Outlook sync appears to be working. It's been a long day, and I have to do some homework assigned by a management consultant (in addition to my old job and my regular duties), wrestle over scarce resources and get home at a decent hour.
But none of that matters, because the Outlook sync appears to be working!!!!!
But none of that matters, because the Outlook sync appears to be working!!!!!
A *&$#@ Zen Micro/Outlook breakthrough
God bless zdnet: http://reviews-zdnet.com.com/Creative_Zen_Micro_5GB_black/4514-6490_16-31151919.html
After much googling and frustration, I have found what I believe is a breakthrough ... There is not just the "Creative Organizer" program as a means of getting information on to my Zen. There is also a "Zen Micro Media Explorer" program, and apparently that one is the one I need to sync my Outlook with my Zen. Is the problem me? Am I just frickin' stupid? No, dammit!!!!
When I loaded the Zen software onto my computers, a shortcut to the Organizer appears on my desktop. What about the Micro Media Explorer????? Not so much.
Of course, my Zen Micro is a modern device with modern packaging that does not include a frickin' owner's manual. I'm one of the fools who actually reads those, at least a little. I can deal with having an owner's manual on disc or whatever, but I didn't even get that (that I could find, though the Zen registration is certainly easy to find -- not that I'm bitter. Oh wait ...). I even searched the Help content in my Creative Organizer (a scintillating process to be sure), but apparently because it takes a different program to sync with Outlook, it didn't address the problem AT ALL. Not even enough to tell me there was a different program.
And neither did most of the product reviews/info/etc. OR the Creative Web site!!!!
But I remain committed to my Zen. I really like the damn thing even if THIS is driving me crazy. I think, as a committed non-Apple-ite, that what keeps me going is the moments of glory and success made more powerful by the work it take to earn them. It's like what they say about golfing ... one good shot will fuel years of hacking. Speaking as someone who has trouble keeping it under 200 strokes for 18 holes (but who once came within a foot of a hole in one) I know about the power of a shining moment. OK, so I haven't been golfing for years. But that shining moment is what makes me willing to even consider picking up clubs ever again.
On to work. We'll see soon if my "breakthrough" really works.
After much googling and frustration, I have found what I believe is a breakthrough ... There is not just the "Creative Organizer" program as a means of getting information on to my Zen. There is also a "Zen Micro Media Explorer" program, and apparently that one is the one I need to sync my Outlook with my Zen. Is the problem me? Am I just frickin' stupid? No, dammit!!!!
When I loaded the Zen software onto my computers, a shortcut to the Organizer appears on my desktop. What about the Micro Media Explorer????? Not so much.
Of course, my Zen Micro is a modern device with modern packaging that does not include a frickin' owner's manual. I'm one of the fools who actually reads those, at least a little. I can deal with having an owner's manual on disc or whatever, but I didn't even get that (that I could find, though the Zen registration is certainly easy to find -- not that I'm bitter. Oh wait ...). I even searched the Help content in my Creative Organizer (a scintillating process to be sure), but apparently because it takes a different program to sync with Outlook, it didn't address the problem AT ALL. Not even enough to tell me there was a different program.
And neither did most of the product reviews/info/etc. OR the Creative Web site!!!!
But I remain committed to my Zen. I really like the damn thing even if THIS is driving me crazy. I think, as a committed non-Apple-ite, that what keeps me going is the moments of glory and success made more powerful by the work it take to earn them. It's like what they say about golfing ... one good shot will fuel years of hacking. Speaking as someone who has trouble keeping it under 200 strokes for 18 holes (but who once came within a foot of a hole in one) I know about the power of a shining moment. OK, so I haven't been golfing for years. But that shining moment is what makes me willing to even consider picking up clubs ever again.
On to work. We'll see soon if my "breakthrough" really works.
Monday, January 09, 2006
Zen Micro + Outlook = Frustration ... so far
Here is what Creative promises about its anti-iPod:
One of Zen Micro's handy features is its personal organizer. You'll never forget about those all important anniversaries with the "calendar," plus a "to do" list and "contacts" list, all syncing seamlessly with Microsoft Outlook.
I am not really THAT lame at tech stuff. I upgraded my computer's memory myself. I have revived Palms that have crashed, awakened programs that have frozen, and created a wireless network in our home that includes the Tivos and our printer (OK, that last bit took about 12 hours on the line with a nice fellow in the Philippines, but we solved the problem together, dammit!)
Anyway, I've not yet been able to sync my Micro with my Outlook. And I've decided that I'm not the problem (stop snickering, Other Half). The Help files ain't helping. I'm now googling around for advice.
Thanks for nothing, Creative web site. Well, actually, thanks for tips on how to set my FM radio presets. But no thanks for no info on Outlook syncing (that I could find.)
If this is seamless ...
One of Zen Micro's handy features is its personal organizer. You'll never forget about those all important anniversaries with the "calendar," plus a "to do" list and "contacts" list, all syncing seamlessly with Microsoft Outlook.
I am not really THAT lame at tech stuff. I upgraded my computer's memory myself. I have revived Palms that have crashed, awakened programs that have frozen, and created a wireless network in our home that includes the Tivos and our printer (OK, that last bit took about 12 hours on the line with a nice fellow in the Philippines, but we solved the problem together, dammit!)
Anyway, I've not yet been able to sync my Micro with my Outlook. And I've decided that I'm not the problem (stop snickering, Other Half). The Help files ain't helping. I'm now googling around for advice.
Thanks for nothing, Creative web site. Well, actually, thanks for tips on how to set my FM radio presets. But no thanks for no info on Outlook syncing (that I could find.)
If this is seamless ...
Somebody's actually reading? (and a Zen Micro update)
Breakthrough: A comment from someone I'm not quasi-married to. Thanks, "theninjakitten," for the tips and link (http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=20418401&postID=113678471059447090) on xferring my books on CD to my MP3 player.
Meanwhile, an update: I had a little problem "aquiring the licenses" for the books I downloaded from my netlibrary.com. There were steps they suggested to fix the problem, but those didn't seem to work, so I just followed my typical stragegy of clicking and reclicking and reloading and cursing. And that took care of things. (Seriously, what I did was play the files through my Windows Media Player 10, while logged into the netlibrary site.)
And I figured out my playlist access problem. Usually when I figure something out I feel proud of myself. This time, I felt kinda soft in the head. Basically, I needed to reconfigure the menu of my Micro so that it actually offered "playlists" as an option. You mean I can only access something if I tell my player that I WANT to access it? Ridiculous! :)
Meanwhile, an update: I had a little problem "aquiring the licenses" for the books I downloaded from my netlibrary.com. There were steps they suggested to fix the problem, but those didn't seem to work, so I just followed my typical stragegy of clicking and reclicking and reloading and cursing. And that took care of things. (Seriously, what I did was play the files through my Windows Media Player 10, while logged into the netlibrary site.)
And I figured out my playlist access problem. Usually when I figure something out I feel proud of myself. This time, I felt kinda soft in the head. Basically, I needed to reconfigure the menu of my Micro so that it actually offered "playlists" as an option. You mean I can only access something if I tell my player that I WANT to access it? Ridiculous! :)
ya THINK????
Other Half has a new catchphrase ... and it's: "Ya THINK?" It's a delicious slice of sarcasm.
Other Half also tends to use the word "Honey" as a precursor to sarcasm. And, she just uses it as a pet name for me. Sometimes the two uses dovetail neatly. Anyway, our boys (twin, nearly 3-year-olds) have noticed. Yesterday, Eddie started roll call in the van:
"I Eddie. You Chas. You Honey. You Babe." Honey would be me. Babe would be Cheryl. I told Eddie he was a sweet boy, and he replied: "You a sweet boy, Mama." Awwwwww.
Other Half also tends to use the word "Honey" as a precursor to sarcasm. And, she just uses it as a pet name for me. Sometimes the two uses dovetail neatly. Anyway, our boys (twin, nearly 3-year-olds) have noticed. Yesterday, Eddie started roll call in the van:
"I Eddie. You Chas. You Honey. You Babe." Honey would be me. Babe would be Cheryl. I told Eddie he was a sweet boy, and he replied: "You a sweet boy, Mama." Awwwwww.
Zen Micro, continued: The Sounds of Struggle
I've always been able to pretty easily navigate my way around computer stuff. My basic philosophy is, "pushing lots of buttons never broke anything." The Fells, family friends of my childhood, might disagree after I tried this form of experimentation with their garage door opener, but it really didn't cause THAT much sparking.
Anyway, I've seen how some people become instantly attached to their iPods, as if those white cords are the new umbilicals. I'm not so much that person. But the truth is, I've always liked being able to hear the world around me. To my detriment, even. I'd probably be better at my job if I closed off the noise around me and focused more directly on the task at hand. Well, I'd be better at some parts of my job. But not the parts -- increasingly large parts -- that involve social lubrication. I don't mean anything sexy, just the talking, the listening, the bossing, the cajoling that it takes to get things done.
The last time I was really a headphones-closing-out-the-world person was high school. I had a Sony cassette Walkman, near the top of the line, and I was using it to wear out my tape of "Paradise Theater" by Styx. Sheesh. The music choice makes me shake my head. Overall, I played the soundtrack to "Footloose" more in that era, but that was in the company of others, and involved some singing and dancing along that should have been embarrassing but wasn't. I'd listen to my Walkman on the bus to basketball games and swim meets, so I will forever associate it with rainy drives to Hoquiam and athletic mediocrity. Those were times when I had nothing else to do but close off my ears. Those buses were noisy, and I don't remember much talking. Or maybe I didn't fit in so well with my fellow athletes. Honestly, I don't recall. Some of my friends of longest standing were on those teams. But even though I wore my softball team windbreaker with more pride than I should have, I always felt a little like a girl apart.
This is the usual point in my introspection when the hazes of time take over and I fall short of any sort of true insight. I'm certainly more open to insight now than in previous times in my life. Maybe I felt like distance because I had to so I didn't fall in love with any of my teammates. Hell, maybe I did fall in love with some of my teammates and buried all those feelings under Dennis DeYoung's longing for the golden days of the Paradise Theater and Tommy Shaw's complaints of too much time on his hands.
Maybe the only reason I'm not taking to my Zen navigating is because I don't have too much time on my hands. Maybe it's because I'm (much) closer to 40 than 20. Maybe it's because the iPod truly has a better more intuitive interface, but honestly, I'm more likely to embrace my gray hairs than fall in line with the pod people.
Anyway, I've seen how some people become instantly attached to their iPods, as if those white cords are the new umbilicals. I'm not so much that person. But the truth is, I've always liked being able to hear the world around me. To my detriment, even. I'd probably be better at my job if I closed off the noise around me and focused more directly on the task at hand. Well, I'd be better at some parts of my job. But not the parts -- increasingly large parts -- that involve social lubrication. I don't mean anything sexy, just the talking, the listening, the bossing, the cajoling that it takes to get things done.
The last time I was really a headphones-closing-out-the-world person was high school. I had a Sony cassette Walkman, near the top of the line, and I was using it to wear out my tape of "Paradise Theater" by Styx. Sheesh. The music choice makes me shake my head. Overall, I played the soundtrack to "Footloose" more in that era, but that was in the company of others, and involved some singing and dancing along that should have been embarrassing but wasn't. I'd listen to my Walkman on the bus to basketball games and swim meets, so I will forever associate it with rainy drives to Hoquiam and athletic mediocrity. Those were times when I had nothing else to do but close off my ears. Those buses were noisy, and I don't remember much talking. Or maybe I didn't fit in so well with my fellow athletes. Honestly, I don't recall. Some of my friends of longest standing were on those teams. But even though I wore my softball team windbreaker with more pride than I should have, I always felt a little like a girl apart.
This is the usual point in my introspection when the hazes of time take over and I fall short of any sort of true insight. I'm certainly more open to insight now than in previous times in my life. Maybe I felt like distance because I had to so I didn't fall in love with any of my teammates. Hell, maybe I did fall in love with some of my teammates and buried all those feelings under Dennis DeYoung's longing for the golden days of the Paradise Theater and Tommy Shaw's complaints of too much time on his hands.
Maybe the only reason I'm not taking to my Zen navigating is because I don't have too much time on my hands. Maybe it's because I'm (much) closer to 40 than 20. Maybe it's because the iPod truly has a better more intuitive interface, but honestly, I'm more likely to embrace my gray hairs than fall in line with the pod people.
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Books on the Zen Micro ... and lesser degrees of tech success
I'm in the process downloading a couple of books for my Zen Micro. Which is a great feeling. Well, sort of. It can be a little disorienting when you're embracing the new ... even if you're nowhere near one of the first people to do it.
Dan Brown's "Deception Point:" 69 percent
"Bringing Down the House:" 49 percent
It seems like only yesterday that I was ahead of the curve for doing books on CD instead of books on tape. Now books on CD are so 20th century. I've already used my FM transmitter to broadcast music and "Lost" podcasts from my Zen to my car radio. Now I'll be doing it with books. Still not sure how it will work as far as keeping/finding my place. Still not sure if my seeming inability to make the play/pause button do my bidding will return. And don't even ask my why I'm having trouble accessing my two newly created playlists. Sigh.
"Point": 80 percent; "House": 70 percent
Other Half has been quite tolerant of my noodling around on the computer for hours. I've been cleaning up the hard drive, a deeper clean to go with the decluttering of the desktop. Now, if we can just get 30-some gigs of video out of the way, we'll be at a more reasonable level of space on our hard drive (from 60-some gigs to 30-some). It will be interesting to see if it helps the computer's performance. It is more scary than interesting that I am excited about defragging the hard drive. What the hell?
Of course, I'm better at defragging than dealing with my playlist problem.
"House": done; "Point": 99 percent
And ... scene.
Dan Brown's "Deception Point:" 69 percent
"Bringing Down the House:" 49 percent
It seems like only yesterday that I was ahead of the curve for doing books on CD instead of books on tape. Now books on CD are so 20th century. I've already used my FM transmitter to broadcast music and "Lost" podcasts from my Zen to my car radio. Now I'll be doing it with books. Still not sure how it will work as far as keeping/finding my place. Still not sure if my seeming inability to make the play/pause button do my bidding will return. And don't even ask my why I'm having trouble accessing my two newly created playlists. Sigh.
"Point": 80 percent; "House": 70 percent
Other Half has been quite tolerant of my noodling around on the computer for hours. I've been cleaning up the hard drive, a deeper clean to go with the decluttering of the desktop. Now, if we can just get 30-some gigs of video out of the way, we'll be at a more reasonable level of space on our hard drive (from 60-some gigs to 30-some). It will be interesting to see if it helps the computer's performance. It is more scary than interesting that I am excited about defragging the hard drive. What the hell?
Of course, I'm better at defragging than dealing with my playlist problem.
"House": done; "Point": 99 percent
And ... scene.
Procrastination fascination
So, it's 10 after midnight. I should be sleeping. Instead, I have spent the last 22 minutes watching "The Office" and cleaning up the desktop of our main computer. In the process, I've put our music into a spot where the Creative Media Player can actually seem to find it. I can't explain why 14 gigs of music were somehow in a folder called My Music that I could only see when I came at it through My Computer. But now they're in another folder called My Music and visible as they were always meant to be.
The Micro is filling up. Added a gig of songs last night, so I think I'm somewhere between 2 and 3, which means I'm half done. I had wondered if I could somehow fit all of our music onto my Micro. This is, I see now, more unrealistic (I prefer the term "magical") thinking. Just the stuff on our computer is almost 14 gigs, down from 16 once I eliminated doubles and stupid things I'd never want to hear again. Which are, I hope, stupid things Cheryl never wants to hear again.
Anyway, the Micro holds 5 gigs. We've got 14 on the computer and another couple hundred CDs in the bedroom, mostly collecting dust. Will we ever become fully digital? Probably not. And we'll probably always read newspapers (at least sometimes) and books made of paper and keep a land line. We are so old school. We even still watch VHS on occasion.
The Micro is filling up. Added a gig of songs last night, so I think I'm somewhere between 2 and 3, which means I'm half done. I had wondered if I could somehow fit all of our music onto my Micro. This is, I see now, more unrealistic (I prefer the term "magical") thinking. Just the stuff on our computer is almost 14 gigs, down from 16 once I eliminated doubles and stupid things I'd never want to hear again. Which are, I hope, stupid things Cheryl never wants to hear again.
Anyway, the Micro holds 5 gigs. We've got 14 on the computer and another couple hundred CDs in the bedroom, mostly collecting dust. Will we ever become fully digital? Probably not. And we'll probably always read newspapers (at least sometimes) and books made of paper and keep a land line. We are so old school. We even still watch VHS on occasion.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
Starve a fever, whine about a cold
If my blog were a Tamagotchi, it would either be dead, or half-conscious in a pool of its own bodily fluids, mumbling threats about its horrible owner.
In my defense, I've been sick. Not sick enough to earn true pity or stay home from work, but just sick enough to have a constantly runny nose and a feeling of patheticness.
But I plan to medicate with cold pills, popcorn and a showing of "Rumor Has It," which Other Half wants to see. Should be nice, other than the part about Jennifer Aniston snogging Kevin Costner.
In my defense, I've been sick. Not sick enough to earn true pity or stay home from work, but just sick enough to have a constantly runny nose and a feeling of patheticness.
But I plan to medicate with cold pills, popcorn and a showing of "Rumor Has It," which Other Half wants to see. Should be nice, other than the part about Jennifer Aniston snogging Kevin Costner.
Wednesday, January 04, 2006
Roses are ...
I can't help but think of the gray hair I pulled out earlier this evening as I recall the Rose Bowl I attended -- nearly 10 frickin' years ago! It was the first time Washington State, my alma mater, had been in the Rose Bowl since flappers roamed the earth. It was also the time I stood on the precipice of a divorce, after having survived coming out, changing jobs, turning 30 and living for months with a guy who dealt with his emotions in such varied ways as punching a door and writing a folk song called "I Hate Lesbians."
When I left for Pasadena, I knew I would come back to a different life. I'd already dropped a neutron bomb on my old life, but the time had come for me to bulldoze the buildings and start anew. And so I did.
But before all that, I spent a week in Southern California embracing my inner Coug and pretending to appreciate giant wheeled vehicles of flowers. I wrote a lot of stories about fans, about hype, about Ryan Leaf. Sigh. Ryan Leaf, the big, goofy quarterback, who I thought would be one of the greatest pros ever, ended up as probably the greatest bust ever. He's the guy drafted second in 1998 -- right after Peyton Manning, a genuine superstar. But Leaf had a $50-million arm and a 5-cent head.
The Cougs almost won, but lost. They played again in 2003, and just plain lost. The Rose Bowl, meanwhile, lost its historic place as the classic dueling site for the Pac-10 and Big 10. Though tonight it regained much of its cache, with a national championship game in which an excellent Texas team (ranked No. 2) knocked off a USC team that many, including me, thought had moved beyond excellent into stratospherically amazing.
I am doing much better than the Cougars, nearly 10 years on. I'd like to think that unlike my perpetually mediocre and occasionally overachieving college team, I've been able to win my own personal Rose Bowl with the coolest team I could ever imagine: Cheryl and our boys, Eddie and Chas.
When I left for Pasadena, I knew I would come back to a different life. I'd already dropped a neutron bomb on my old life, but the time had come for me to bulldoze the buildings and start anew. And so I did.
But before all that, I spent a week in Southern California embracing my inner Coug and pretending to appreciate giant wheeled vehicles of flowers. I wrote a lot of stories about fans, about hype, about Ryan Leaf. Sigh. Ryan Leaf, the big, goofy quarterback, who I thought would be one of the greatest pros ever, ended up as probably the greatest bust ever. He's the guy drafted second in 1998 -- right after Peyton Manning, a genuine superstar. But Leaf had a $50-million arm and a 5-cent head.
The Cougs almost won, but lost. They played again in 2003, and just plain lost. The Rose Bowl, meanwhile, lost its historic place as the classic dueling site for the Pac-10 and Big 10. Though tonight it regained much of its cache, with a national championship game in which an excellent Texas team (ranked No. 2) knocked off a USC team that many, including me, thought had moved beyond excellent into stratospherically amazing.
I am doing much better than the Cougars, nearly 10 years on. I'd like to think that unlike my perpetually mediocre and occasionally overachieving college team, I've been able to win my own personal Rose Bowl with the coolest team I could ever imagine: Cheryl and our boys, Eddie and Chas.
Filling up the Zen
I remember reading about companies that will load your music onto your MP3 player for you -- for a price -- and thinking ha ha! I would never need such a thing. But here I am at T minus almost 30 days of Zen ownership and I still have 4 of my 5 gigs available for tunes. All I've loaded is an eclectic (some would say downright nutty) collection that includes:
Abba "Gold" (inspired by seeing "Mamma Mia")
Goodness "Anthem" (the major-label debut, and, unfortunately, finale of an amazing Seattle rock band of the '90s)
Various Artists "Disco Fever" (two discs worth, thank you very much)
Heart "Greatest Hits" (well, some of them ... "All I Wanna Do" isn't a greatest hit to me)
Shawn Colvin "Holiday Songs and Lullabyes" (Cheryl has hooked me on Shawn Colvin, who I once thought rather breathy and light, but now appreciate more deeply)
The Carpenters "The Singles 1969-1973" (oddly, the Zen program categorizes this as "acoustic pop" -- does no one remember the electric guitar solo on "Goodbye to Love" and the way that it revolutionized the place of electric guitars in ballads, for better or worse?)
Four "Lost" podcasts
and random tracks from the likes of Justin Timberlake, Paul Carrack and U2.
Now loading: The Indigo Girls, "Rarities."
Abba "Gold" (inspired by seeing "Mamma Mia")
Goodness "Anthem" (the major-label debut, and, unfortunately, finale of an amazing Seattle rock band of the '90s)
Various Artists "Disco Fever" (two discs worth, thank you very much)
Heart "Greatest Hits" (well, some of them ... "All I Wanna Do" isn't a greatest hit to me)
Shawn Colvin "Holiday Songs and Lullabyes" (Cheryl has hooked me on Shawn Colvin, who I once thought rather breathy and light, but now appreciate more deeply)
The Carpenters "The Singles 1969-1973" (oddly, the Zen program categorizes this as "acoustic pop" -- does no one remember the electric guitar solo on "Goodbye to Love" and the way that it revolutionized the place of electric guitars in ballads, for better or worse?)
Four "Lost" podcasts
and random tracks from the likes of Justin Timberlake, Paul Carrack and U2.
Now loading: The Indigo Girls, "Rarities."
Tuesday, January 03, 2006
Resolution watch
Almost forgot the blog today. This thing is like a damn Tamagotchi -- I feel like it will die if I don't pay it some attention.
A resolution I forgot to mention was to keep a cleaner house. This occured to me as a good idea when I had trouble navigating my way through the piles of laundry to get into bed. After spending most of New Year's weekend washing, drying, folding and cursing, I can declare myself caught up (if I define caught up as getting things down to a navigable amount of mostly clean laundry).
I've found that the "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" makes for excellent laundry-doing entertainment. It amuses, it sustains and I feel so much better about life as I watch the over-muscled, under-intellected, over-sexed, camera-whoring drama kings and queens screw each other, metaphorically and otherwise.
A resolution I forgot to mention was to keep a cleaner house. This occured to me as a good idea when I had trouble navigating my way through the piles of laundry to get into bed. After spending most of New Year's weekend washing, drying, folding and cursing, I can declare myself caught up (if I define caught up as getting things down to a navigable amount of mostly clean laundry).
I've found that the "Real World/Road Rules Challenge" makes for excellent laundry-doing entertainment. It amuses, it sustains and I feel so much better about life as I watch the over-muscled, under-intellected, over-sexed, camera-whoring drama kings and queens screw each other, metaphorically and otherwise.
Monday, January 02, 2006
Another day, another Double Gulp ... or two
If this were a typical Monday, and not a fake-holiday Monday, I'd be drinking a Double Gulp about now. Because I am fully addicted to what my mother used to call "the jolt." (I'll try not to let the fact that she died pretty much from kidney failure diminish my enjoyment of said jolt.) After years of drinking soda only occasionally, this summer I fell off the wagon so completely that I don't even remember what it was like to be on it. Of course, in keeping with the late theme, I embraced fizzy pop as "energy drinks" elbowed past them the zeitgeist. As good as people like Lindsay Lohan and our obstetrician look with Red Bull in their hands, it's just not for me.
I don't even remember for sure how I fell off the wagon, other than it was probably some combination of the crisp, yummy cold bubbles and summer heat, plus my desire for a deal (refilling the biggest cup possible). And yes, a Double Gulp is indeed the biggest cup possible. At least it's the biggest cup intended for one person. At one 7-Eleven, I saw some sort of "team jug" kind of thing, but I knew if I tried to bring that back into the van I'd not be greeted warmly. Cheryl suffers my addiction with as much patience as I have a right to expect. I've spilled a couple of my megapops, which don't fit neatly into any cup holder, but since they're more than a foot tall, they manage to wedge handily between the floor and the bottom of the cup holder in my CR-V.
The sad thing is that there is not really any hyperbole in this post. I really drink at least one Double Gulp a day most days, and sometimes two. And for those who don't know, a Double Gulp is 64 ounces -- twice as big as a piddly Big Gulp, and only a little less than an entire 6-pack. I imagine that this is probably not extremely healthy for me. The good news is that it's diet pop, but what I save in calories, I probably make up for in brain damage/tumor fuel from the artificial sweetener. One of my colleagues told me Nutrasweet is good for the skin. I hope she's right, but it doesn't matter. Like I said, I'm hooked.
For me, it's not just the caffeine the pop provides. I really do just enjoy drinking it. If I weren't drinking massive quantities of Diet Coke (and yes, I prefer Diet Coke, but that's another subject for another post), I'd be drinking massive quantities of iced tea or something else. And on some cold days of late, I've switched to hot tea, in my petite little 32-ounce mug. A few of those a day is almost as satisfying as a DG. Almost. Now I gotta get me one. My fallback is cracking open a two-liter bottle of pop, and I try to keep some of those on hand, like methadone or something.
I don't even remember for sure how I fell off the wagon, other than it was probably some combination of the crisp, yummy cold bubbles and summer heat, plus my desire for a deal (refilling the biggest cup possible). And yes, a Double Gulp is indeed the biggest cup possible. At least it's the biggest cup intended for one person. At one 7-Eleven, I saw some sort of "team jug" kind of thing, but I knew if I tried to bring that back into the van I'd not be greeted warmly. Cheryl suffers my addiction with as much patience as I have a right to expect. I've spilled a couple of my megapops, which don't fit neatly into any cup holder, but since they're more than a foot tall, they manage to wedge handily between the floor and the bottom of the cup holder in my CR-V.
The sad thing is that there is not really any hyperbole in this post. I really drink at least one Double Gulp a day most days, and sometimes two. And for those who don't know, a Double Gulp is 64 ounces -- twice as big as a piddly Big Gulp, and only a little less than an entire 6-pack. I imagine that this is probably not extremely healthy for me. The good news is that it's diet pop, but what I save in calories, I probably make up for in brain damage/tumor fuel from the artificial sweetener. One of my colleagues told me Nutrasweet is good for the skin. I hope she's right, but it doesn't matter. Like I said, I'm hooked.
For me, it's not just the caffeine the pop provides. I really do just enjoy drinking it. If I weren't drinking massive quantities of Diet Coke (and yes, I prefer Diet Coke, but that's another subject for another post), I'd be drinking massive quantities of iced tea or something else. And on some cold days of late, I've switched to hot tea, in my petite little 32-ounce mug. A few of those a day is almost as satisfying as a DG. Almost. Now I gotta get me one. My fallback is cracking open a two-liter bottle of pop, and I try to keep some of those on hand, like methadone or something.
Treasure is something of an overstatement
"National Treasure" is over. The popcorn is gone. The cheesecake is gone. All that's left for me is to start my other New Year's resolutions (late, of course):
1. Get back on some semblance of the Atkins diet. The kind where I still have rice and beans sometimes, and don't eat breakfasts that consist solely of bacon.
2. Work out more.
3. Cheesecake? Not so much.
Cheesy movies? Despite Cheryl's best efforts, this indulgence will probably continue. But I gotta say, the cheese isn't as good as it used to be. Whether it's "National Treasure" or "Sahara" both feature a lot of sweat and dust signifying not much. Where is the "Independence Day" of the new milennium? The "Armageddon"?
After sitting through "Treasure" with me, she says I now owe her a date night to see "Brokeback Mountain" without complaint. Sigh. I don't mind watching boys kiss, but I hate sad movies. We need more gay comedies and fewer gay tragedies.
1. Get back on some semblance of the Atkins diet. The kind where I still have rice and beans sometimes, and don't eat breakfasts that consist solely of bacon.
2. Work out more.
3. Cheesecake? Not so much.
Cheesy movies? Despite Cheryl's best efforts, this indulgence will probably continue. But I gotta say, the cheese isn't as good as it used to be. Whether it's "National Treasure" or "Sahara" both feature a lot of sweat and dust signifying not much. Where is the "Independence Day" of the new milennium? The "Armageddon"?
After sitting through "Treasure" with me, she says I now owe her a date night to see "Brokeback Mountain" without complaint. Sigh. I don't mind watching boys kiss, but I hate sad movies. We need more gay comedies and fewer gay tragedies.
Sunday, January 01, 2006
Even lamer than I thought ...
I accidentally published this blog as Cheryl the first time around. I can even outwit idiot proof programs like Blogorama or whatever this is. Fabulous.
Wow, do I ever suck
One of my new year's resolutions is to start a blog. So here. Actually, it's something I've been thinking of doing for months, but you'll notice that procrastination (along with a mystifying overestimation of my ability to do things quickly) is a recurring theme in my life, and therefore, this thing.
So I had to mull over what my blog theme would be. Work? Nah. People get fired for that if they say anything interesting. Plus, I work for a newspaper and that Romanesko guy is all over it better than I could ever be. My kids? Nah, the other half is all over that (see eddieandchasdiaries.blogspot.com/) better than I could ever be. Then I had what I had my eureka moment, and in keeping with this whole instant gratification/Internet age, I took a few weeks to commit.
My blog is inspired, appropriately enough, about being late -- another recurring theme in my life. I'm late for meetings, appointments, church, you name it. I hope to be late for my own funeral someday. Very late. Late enough to hear what everyone says about me. Anyway, I was so late in getting on the blog bandwagon that my original URL idea (betterlate.blogblog.whateverthehell) was taken. I had to go with "betterlater." The r is key, and really, honestly dead-on appropriate for me.
I have delusions of punctuality that go along with my delusions of hipness, of being an early adopter, of discipline. You'll probably see posts on things like:
"Lost" -- I watched part of the first episode when it first aired, didn't get it, got distracted, did the dishes, forgot the show until other half did a review of the first season DVD set. Wow. Did I ever blow that one.
MP3 players -- Note that I did not say iPods. Yes, I realize that 98 percent of the world of MP3 owners has an iPod (and though that's a fake stat, it's only off slightly). But I have a Zen Micro. And if I'd have been less lazy and started blogging sooner, you'd know why. I'll probably tell you later. But suffice it to say, I don't need a stinkin' iPod.
Gay stuff -- Other Half is a girl. I am a girl. This seems to freak some people out, and I was one of those people until almost 10 years ago when I realized that marrying a guy was a big mistake. Talk about late, and later. But not too late, thank God. Oh yeah: Other Half has a name, and it is Cheryl.
Kids -- I like to use Ellen's joke about wanted a big screen TV and kids and wanting neither of them to come out of me. I probably like it too much, Other Half points out. Tough. She'll hear it another 197 times at least before I'm done. Anyway, I've got two kids. Twin sons. They're 2 and 3/4. Cheryl did the hard work and birthed them. I just counted loudly, and stared gape-faced at the mess when it was all over.
OK. Other Half just told me blog entries need to be shorter so as not to bore the reader. As if there will be any. But I'll stop now. Because it's time to eat some popcorn, eat some cheesecake and watch "National Treasure." I've had that DVD floating around for weeks (probably about as long as I've been thinking seriously about blogging, ironically enough) and tonight's the night.
So I had to mull over what my blog theme would be. Work? Nah. People get fired for that if they say anything interesting. Plus, I work for a newspaper and that Romanesko guy is all over it better than I could ever be. My kids? Nah, the other half is all over that (see eddieandchasdiaries.blogspot.com/) better than I could ever be. Then I had what I had my eureka moment, and in keeping with this whole instant gratification/Internet age, I took a few weeks to commit.
My blog is inspired, appropriately enough, about being late -- another recurring theme in my life. I'm late for meetings, appointments, church, you name it. I hope to be late for my own funeral someday. Very late. Late enough to hear what everyone says about me. Anyway, I was so late in getting on the blog bandwagon that my original URL idea (betterlate.blogblog.whateverthehell) was taken. I had to go with "betterlater." The r is key, and really, honestly dead-on appropriate for me.
I have delusions of punctuality that go along with my delusions of hipness, of being an early adopter, of discipline. You'll probably see posts on things like:
"Lost" -- I watched part of the first episode when it first aired, didn't get it, got distracted, did the dishes, forgot the show until other half did a review of the first season DVD set. Wow. Did I ever blow that one.
MP3 players -- Note that I did not say iPods. Yes, I realize that 98 percent of the world of MP3 owners has an iPod (and though that's a fake stat, it's only off slightly). But I have a Zen Micro. And if I'd have been less lazy and started blogging sooner, you'd know why. I'll probably tell you later. But suffice it to say, I don't need a stinkin' iPod.
Gay stuff -- Other Half is a girl. I am a girl. This seems to freak some people out, and I was one of those people until almost 10 years ago when I realized that marrying a guy was a big mistake. Talk about late, and later. But not too late, thank God. Oh yeah: Other Half has a name, and it is Cheryl.
Kids -- I like to use Ellen's joke about wanted a big screen TV and kids and wanting neither of them to come out of me. I probably like it too much, Other Half points out. Tough. She'll hear it another 197 times at least before I'm done. Anyway, I've got two kids. Twin sons. They're 2 and 3/4. Cheryl did the hard work and birthed them. I just counted loudly, and stared gape-faced at the mess when it was all over.
OK. Other Half just told me blog entries need to be shorter so as not to bore the reader. As if there will be any. But I'll stop now. Because it's time to eat some popcorn, eat some cheesecake and watch "National Treasure." I've had that DVD floating around for weeks (probably about as long as I've been thinking seriously about blogging, ironically enough) and tonight's the night.
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