tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-99606752024-03-12T21:02:55.685-05:00Wasting Time...Breakin AnklesUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger127125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-66601057479469835942008-10-11T13:50:00.005-05:002008-10-11T14:30:50.193-05:00Sarah Palin's brother in law looks like Heroes TV Star!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74l_zHfAFa1uFqcFTjPFpguq6agQnOfYHFboy7s901ZkR68X_1XZqjsZijVw4AepPyzslVtt5Tzt8kNsOm4GaRbYTHwpjfRfrxxcy9zYq7CSpsFO-I7-KlWrpn8-CChCPS_ND/s1600-h/palin_scandal.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg74l_zHfAFa1uFqcFTjPFpguq6agQnOfYHFboy7s901ZkR68X_1XZqjsZijVw4AepPyzslVtt5Tzt8kNsOm4GaRbYTHwpjfRfrxxcy9zYq7CSpsFO-I7-KlWrpn8-CChCPS_ND/s400/palin_scandal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255970855965399138" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Sarah Palin's brother-in law, Mike Wooten (pictured above), looks just like Matt Parkman from the TV show "Heroes".<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSmnvQtuoKlAMjS0lsJ0gJMkNoFoS9UFir554UzHKkUMPLrfQ1W14DDUBi2G8Z8nqBi2WFq7l5eHe2NQ0Ahzp31dFtlw-sXbsuqnnmqDxME2lIFxH0tmAKQLd7VTR2z6A6xET/s1600-h/parkman.jpg"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWSmnvQtuoKlAMjS0lsJ0gJMkNoFoS9UFir554UzHKkUMPLrfQ1W14DDUBi2G8Z8nqBi2WFq7l5eHe2NQ0Ahzp31dFtlw-sXbsuqnnmqDxME2lIFxH0tmAKQLd7VTR2z6A6xET/s400/parkman.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5255979419288748002" border="0" /></a> Pictured: "Matt Parkman"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-77989454507288889832008-10-06T02:49:00.001-05:002008-10-06T09:17:28.629-05:00Wikipedia Graffiti following Kimbo Slice's loss<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhljazn676fr7BFohYxWMnbHTdHzqpDq7yQkpoC6iomcBimkfQUOL6CNB4JaxpQ84-IugPIfkiG7zHgvUp288U6qx_wJkMuUDVWn1V52oBDDoeBhHlh7QxwDctp7RkfOlRGEK/s1600-h/kimbo.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 262px; height: 206px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhljazn676fr7BFohYxWMnbHTdHzqpDq7yQkpoC6iomcBimkfQUOL6CNB4JaxpQ84-IugPIfkiG7zHgvUp288U6qx_wJkMuUDVWn1V52oBDDoeBhHlh7QxwDctp7RkfOlRGEK/s320/kimbo.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254044764891471698" border="0" /></a>After Kimbo Slice was knocked out by Seth Petruzelli in a thrilling upset, it took no time at all before Seth Petruzelli's Wikipedia page was tagged with obscene graffitti that was subsequently removed. I was able to get some snapshots of the work done by the comical pranksters before they were taken down. Click on the image for a larger picture.<br /><br />This entry calls Ken Shamrock a P***Y after he withdrew from the main event after sustaining a cut in training.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1CcVsqUUctIR2yfV9xb5MFylyWtI_TkcR435pZpD-SEmpmlneuQ3pD88rgCaBimKPMT2zxjegpQniEssmH0nk98WozS3nPT4-dcKTuyUvC9nmtb9mgVar_mWPUI0aM-KdODM/s1600-h/psy2.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1CcVsqUUctIR2yfV9xb5MFylyWtI_TkcR435pZpD-SEmpmlneuQ3pD88rgCaBimKPMT2zxjegpQniEssmH0nk98WozS3nPT4-dcKTuyUvC9nmtb9mgVar_mWPUI0aM-KdODM/s400/psy2.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254038268311999410" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />This one declared that Kimbo had been Knocked the F**k out, and also declared the demise of EliteXC.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-katRRFIhvezhkyE7z4RUMUNRHGg4fbMvsxHINYUedSsWAJ6lrxLaiy1MZCB09yRrpHNphNfnvNkVGj9FLCLI34YIs-YPGv5Q-x4nCEYG9o1ZrX5tD90dbZ6jh72sX3x0AGa/s1600-h/kndeout.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9-katRRFIhvezhkyE7z4RUMUNRHGg4fbMvsxHINYUedSsWAJ6lrxLaiy1MZCB09yRrpHNphNfnvNkVGj9FLCLI34YIs-YPGv5Q-x4nCEYG9o1ZrX5tD90dbZ6jh72sX3x0AGa/s400/kndeout.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254038679613387090" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Within 10-15 minutes, the graffiti had been deleted and the entry was locked.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSD8ozqTkZNpnmI3U6fRd-Yx9aS8HNsbWZlvnIce7gaGs665jySnksOUGruI3LmWZpuzl1IY_KQY1U5kk0x76udsk0K1yVLDmpazZAhOfTosrh-0q-hYpuWra5X-DpMsSYmobt/s1600-h/fixed3.png"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSD8ozqTkZNpnmI3U6fRd-Yx9aS8HNsbWZlvnIce7gaGs665jySnksOUGruI3LmWZpuzl1IY_KQY1U5kk0x76udsk0K1yVLDmpazZAhOfTosrh-0q-hYpuWra5X-DpMsSYmobt/s400/fixed3.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5254038790270033346" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1CcVsqUUctIR2yfV9xb5MFylyWtI_TkcR435pZpD-SEmpmlneuQ3pD88rgCaBimKPMT2zxjegpQniEssmH0nk98WozS3nPT4-dcKTuyUvC9nmtb9mgVar_mWPUI0aM-KdODM/s1600-h/psy2.png"><br /></a>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-51105645946230734212008-04-14T19:49:00.002-05:002008-04-14T19:56:13.089-05:00Sweeney Todd SucksSo I saw "Sweeney Todd" this weekend and it was abysmal. Movies like this leave me wondering how movies even get made in the first place. Who allows such trash to be filmed?<br /><br />This movie was horrible from start to finish. First off, it's a musical. That wouldn't be a problem if there were some good songs sung by talented singers, but that's not the case. The songs all sound the same. And they all suck. There's no melody and the lyrics are dull and boring. And oh yeah, the people singing them can't sing!<br /><br />Sweeny Todd is a horrible movie that's disjointed at best. There's no rhyme or reason to anything, stuff happens inexplicably, and the audience is left guessing as to what is what. I was shocked to find out that this turd of a movie was nominated for various awards and I'm wagering that the people who enjoyed this film are pretentious film-goers. Lame.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-81402118650332569502008-02-17T22:17:00.002-06:002008-02-17T22:22:22.648-06:00There Will Be Blood SUCKS!Am I the only person who found this movie to be exceedingly boring and way too long? While the acting was great, the script was a bit weak. It's sad to say because it was a great plot that could have been an equally great movie. Instead we were left with a bunch of disjointed scenes. We were left with Daniel Day Lewis becoming insane or who knows what. He loves his son, he hates his son, who the fuck knows.<br /><br />Some scenes, such as when Daniel Day Lewis is pretending to be baptized, could have been much more powerful if vaudeville style jokes hadn't been inserted every so often. And as great as Lewis did portraying his character, a lot of his actions just didn't make any sense -- it was basically him acting crazy for the sake of acting crazy.<br /><br />I could go on about how boring this movie was, but I'll just leave you with this. Great Acting. Good plot. Too long. Too boring. Not enough interesting dialogue. IT basically seemed that the director wanted to have as many scenes as possible of Daniel Day Lewis acting creepy or crazy. And while these scenes really showed off what Daniel Day Lewis is capable of, they did nothing to make the movie more interesting.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-10952204997248609032008-02-17T16:57:00.004-06:002008-02-17T17:17:42.085-06:00Is the Slam Dunk Contest back?Every year during the dunk contest, an announcer inevitably proclaims that "The Dunk Contest is Back!" It was "back" when Jason Richardson won, it was "back" when Nate Robinson won, and apparently it's back again with Dwight Howard. D-Ho did have some crazy drunks, so all the props to him.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/crPGbnq5Wm0&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/crPGbnq5Wm0&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />and though the Superman dunk is getting all the publicity, I really like this creative dunk Howard came up with.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/IzACnaUSlFk&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/IzACnaUSlFk&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><br /><br />The reason people keep looking for a reason to bring the NBA dunk contest 'back' is that it's hard to do something people haven't seen yet. A look back at the dunks from the 1980's makes it clear that MJ and Dominique would have had a tough time competing against some of the best dunkers from the mid 1990's and the present day. A hoop is 10 feet tall and there is only so much creativity you can come up with for a dunk. I mean, there are only so many ways to dunk the ball by bringing the ball through your legs. Vince Carter brought dunking to a whole 'nother level with his creative tour de force in 200o. Dwight Howard didn't quite bring dunking to a whole nother level last night, but he sure brought in some original flavor to the dunk contest. So is the dunk contest 'back' ? Of course not, it never left. We've just been spoiled with what were once thought to be un-thinkable dunks over the past few years. It's not that dunkers have no imagination anymore, it's that we're nearing a saturation point because people are close to maxing out what is possible with the dunk. <br /><br />I might be wrong though. I mean, check out this video the "Air up There" from the And1 mixtape tour doing a 720 dunk. <br /><object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/mt001pBcwjM&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/mt001pBcwjM&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-67159470586686756522008-01-26T11:28:00.000-06:002008-01-26T11:34:16.612-06:00Song Transation #1: 2PacToday is the first installment in a series of blog posts where I analyze the lyrics to well-known songs. First up, "Wonder why they call you Bitch" by 2<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pac</span>.<br /><br />"Look here Miss <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Thang</span>, hate to salt your game<br />but yous a money hungry woman, and you need to change<br />In <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">tha</span> locker room, all the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">homies</span> do is laugh.<br />High five's <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">cuz</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">anotha</span> homey played your ass."<br /><br />Translation: Hello dear, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I get the strong impression that the emphasis you place on money in your life is misplaced. Furthermore, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">gentleman</span> in the neighborhood have taken notice of this, and have been known to exchange celebratory gestures with each other every time you make love with one of them, presumably through trickery.<br /><br />"It was said you were <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">sleeezy</span>, even easy<br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">sleepin</span> around for what you need<br />See it's your <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">thang</span> and you can shake it how you wanna.<br />Give it up free or make your money on the corner."<br /><br />Translation: Your morals are questionable, at best. Moreover, while it is your body and you can do with it what you please, may I be so bold as to suggest that you read up on some Economic theory. For you see, if the demand for, how shall I say this, your "Booty"?, is high, then perhaps you should start selling said "booty" in exchange for cash on the street corner of your choice.<br /><br />"Keep your mind on your money, enroll in school.<br />And as the years pass by you can show them fools.<br />But you ain't <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">tryin</span>' to hear me <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">cuz</span> your stuck,<br />you're <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">headin</span>' for the bathroom 'bout to get tossed up."<br /><br />Translation: Perhaps starting studies at a local University would do you some good. Yet you do not seem to take my suggestions seriously, and apparently you are more interested in having sexual intercourse in a bathroom, of all places. Ho, you disgust me.<br /><br />Any suggestions for other Song Translations? Leave em in the commentsUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-75083612824925895592008-01-17T21:02:00.000-06:002008-01-26T11:37:06.636-06:00E-mail from a guy who cant tell what SPAM isHey everyone, I just returned home from my trip abroad and wanted to let you all know how it went. Wait a minute, my email inbox just exploded with 50 new emails. Lemme quickly go through them and then I'll catch up with you guys :)<br /><br />WOW. I know I promised to tell you all about my trip, but something amazing is happening. I just received an email from a long lost relative of mine from Nigeria who claims that I stand to inherit a large sum of money. I have to admit that I was skeptical at first since I'm obviously not from Nigeria. As you all know, I'm from Chad, and although the two countries border each other, they are vastly different both socially and economically.<br /><br />Anyways, a distant cousin of mine was recently murdered at the Nigerian Embassy in a coup d'etat and he left all his money to me. But as luck would have it, the money is tied up in tons of redtape. I can, however, hire someone to work through the legal entanglements and have the money wired directly to my bank account. I just have to send over some bank information so that the transfer goes smoothly. I know it seems risky, but my my relative is risking his life in order to help me out, so worrying over sending over some bank information seems a bit petty in comparison.<br /><br />Well, if you can get over THAT excitment, allow me to tell you about my trip to Costa Rica. We flew into San Jose last Sunday and were greeted with 90 degree weather. It was beautiful. In fact, OH SHIT, HOLD UP!! I just got an email for a pill promoting a "machine gun man muscle." As you all know, my last 3 relationships ended because I was impotent, so this email is my second blessing of the day. The email says that "women are laughing at me" -- tell me about it brother! So I only need to send in 80 dollars for a 2 month prescription. Done and done! Anyways, back to the story. We landed in San Jose and decide to head right to the beach and get our surf on.<br /><br />WAIT! Okay, I realize this is the third time I've interrupted this email but the Gods are smiling down upon me today. Check this out. As you all know, I was laid off 3 weeks ago and have been struggling to find a job. But I just received an email that reads: "In a recent review of online resumes, yours stood out and I believe you might be what my client needs. Alpine Access is hiring a Business Development Manager and I would like to invite you to accept the position."<br /><br />A business position? For me, a high school drop out?! Wow, I might have to start leaving town more often :) The job is pretty much guaranteed. I get 80 grand a year (300% raise!) and tons of benefits. I. Am. Utterly. Speechless. I can't wait to show up to my first day of work. I know I'll impress them because I'll be wearing my brand new Rolex watch and European handbag that I just purchased online. Don't worry guys, I'm not throwing my money away -- I found a website that offers watches and handbags at huge discounts. I'm no fool.<br /><br />Okay, so I'm not sure if it's related to my new job, but I just now received an email invitation to join "The Winners Club". When I clicked on the link my computer started acting funny. Hmm.. I wonder if it's a glitch on their end. I'll have to ask about that when I start next week.<br /><br />Hey, this is odd. I was just offered another position as a "Senior New Media and Graphic Designer." Aside from the fact that I'm not qualified, I'm a little bit perplexed because I've never heard of the company and when I go their website, the URL is comprised of a bunch of numbers. Maybe it's a pattern like on LOST? I don't know, I'll have to follow up and call them. I guess I'm just being paranoid. I'm sure they just got my name from the same place the first company got my name. Too bad for them though, I already gots me a job :)<br /><br />I know thats a lot to take in, so thank you for staying with me if you're still reading. Now I know you guys are all wondering what's going on with my lady situation. Well, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but me and Michelle broke up while in Costa Rica. We had a great run together, but it just wasn't right, and we both knew it was time to end it. But don't worry, I just got an email from a hot girl (trust me, I saw her pics ;-) saying that she saw my online profile and thinks I'm sexy. She sent me a link to her webpage and lets just say that the pics don't lie! Long story short, I only had to pay $29.95 (that's chump change considering my inheritance) so that I could chat with her. So far she seems really nice, but who wears a bikini indoors? But hey, I'm not complaining.<br /><br />HAHA. I just checked my spam and I had an email saying "Enjoy an exciting after-party after the party - with your large gun". What idiots. First of all, an after-party after the party is already like 7am and no one parties so late into the morning. And second of all, I don't own a gun. Obviously SPAM! Some people sure are idiots.<br /><br />Anyways, I know I didn't tell you about my trip in detail, but I'll have to let ya'll know the scoop soon. Sorry for blabbing on, but it's just been such an amazing day, what with my new penis pills, my new job, new watch and handbag (authentic, thank you very much), and my new girl!<br /><br />talk soon,<br /><br />GrahamUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-61538461095729498852008-01-09T17:18:00.000-06:002008-01-09T17:50:40.571-06:00Facebook and Friendster and MySpace, oh my!How is it that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Myspace</span> continues to be one of the top visited sites on the web? I understand that a lot of bands use it to promote their shit, but any website that can <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">continuously</span> crash your browser is in DESPERATE need of a vast and extensive overhaul. I click on my friends pages and I'm bombarded with flashing lights, 45 pictures, and seemingly every <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">youtube</span> video ever created all crammed onto one page. I'm actually surprised that the friend whose page I'm looking at doesn't barge on through my door right as I click on their profile.<br /><br />It's funny to think back to a time when <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Friendster</span> was the most popular social network on the web. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Friendster</span>'s downfall, of course, was that it was slow to add new features and users quickly jumped ship to newer and more attractive alternatives. Now I don't think <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Myspace</span> is in any danger of becoming the next Friendster, but I'm starting to sense a small, yet <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">significant</span>, migration to its cleaner and leaner cousin, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Facebook</span>.<br /><br />Interestingly enough, I've noticed that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Myspace</span> is slowly but surely starting to copy a number of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Facebook</span> features. For instance, the ability to tag friends in photos and to see which friends have updated their <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Myspace</span> profiles are 2 new feature upgrades that were clearly borrowed from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Facebook</span>. Now I'm not anti-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Myspace</span> by any means, I just happen to prefer <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Facebook</span>. And again, Myspace isn't going anywhere anytime soon. It has its nice markets, obviously. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">We all know that Myspace very big</span> when it comes to music, but if it continues to become a platform for half-naked women who think they're models, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">spammers</span>, and wanna be celebrities, then I wonder how soon it'll be before a <span style="font-style: italic;">mass </span>migration from <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Myspace</span> begins. I've also noticed that Facebook is starting to attract users who typically wouldn't be on a social network. And it's crucial to note that by separating its users into different networks, it's able to maintain credibility as a social network for both teens and those in their 30's. Ironically, if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">Myspace</span> wants to maintain its dominance as a social network, it will have to start (and indeed it already has) becoming more <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">facebook</span> like. Oh cruel fate.<br /><br />Lastly, I think that 'Friendster' should become an adjective to describe something that's clearly out dated and unpopular. Imagine the possibilities -- "Hey nerd, that shirt is so Friendster!"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-7424423140691499262008-01-08T01:10:00.000-06:002008-01-08T19:49:52.242-06:00Ron Paul's legion of idiotic supportersApparently, Ron Paul supporters <a href="http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/01/07/556622.aspx"><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">besieged</span> Bill Clinton outside of a bakery </a>and proceeded to shout that 9/11 was an inside job. Bill Clinton engaged the idiotic <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">demonstrators</span> and said, "You wanna know what I think? You guys who think 9/11 was an inside job are crazy as hell." Amen <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">brotha</span>. It goes without saying that anyone who thinks 9/11 was an inside job is a <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">certifiable</span> intellectual infant who watches too much 24.<br /><br />But the interesting thing about this story, however, is the fact that the people involved weren't crazed Marxists, but rather Ron Paul supporters. I don't really know what to make of this but it seems obvious to me that if you're running for president, the last thing you want is to have your supporters running around like a bunch of crazed loons and making bogus claims about 9/11 to a president who wasn't even in office when the attacks took place!<br /><br />Now I don't agree with everything Ron Paul has to say, but he seems to be an intelligent guy with a lot of interesting and new ideas for Washington. With that said, some of his supporters need to tone it down a bit. A good number of Ron Paul supporters are seemingly in love with the man and bring him up at every possible opportunity -- just check the comments in my MTV post below if you want to see what I'm referring to. Every day I'm inundated with an inordinate amount of Ron Paul election spam. Too many <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Internet</span> message boards and social news network sites are filled with Ron <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Pauls</span> rabid supporters throwing their annoying election <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">propaganda</span> in my face. The length to which these supporters will go to relate everything back to their fearless <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">demagogue</span> is almost humorous.<br /><br />Here is a hypothetical conversation of me talking with one of these crazed Ron Paul guys.<br /><br />me: "Man, I'm really hungry"<br />Ron Paul supporter (RPS): You know who also gets hungry? Ron Paul. Vote for him in '08.<br /><br />me: I wonder what my brother will name his newborn son<br />RPS: Did you know that Ron Paul's last name is also a first name? Vote Ron Paul.<br /><br />me: I really like Corn Pops, what a great cereal.<br />RPS: Ron Paul once saw a box of Corn Pops while shopping in a supermarket in Texas in '87. Ron Paul in '08, help change the world!<br /><br />Enough already! The funny thing is that if <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Paul's</span> army of highly motivated supporters continue to pester the masses with online spam, people who are looking to learn more about the <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">candidates</span> will have a bad association with Ron Paul from the get go.<br /><br />Lastly, I'm not to make any broad generalizations here, but I knew 2 or 3 hardcore libertarians in college. They were all extremely intelligent, highly motivated, and they all ended up going to top 10 <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">law schools</span>. But they were all socially awkward as well. Could this be part of the problem? Are Ron Paul's supporters comprised of super <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">book smart</span> yet socially inept individuals? Who the fuck knows. Just stop with the spam already!<br /><br />UPDATE !!(Unsolved Mysteries Style) Does Ron Paul harbor some racist, anti-semitic, and homophobic ideas? <a href="http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.html?id=e2f15397-a3c7-4720-ac15-4532a7da84ca">This just came out today</a>, so it will be interesting to see how it holds up to scrutiny.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-21479892533767475902008-01-06T02:04:00.000-06:002008-01-06T02:13:40.944-06:00Did ya ever notice?Did you ever notice that the only time people use the phrase "through the roof" is when they're referring to their electric or heating bills? "My heating bill this month is through the roof!", they all shout. Unless you've somehow shot something <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">literally</span> right through the roof of your house, there is no other time when using the phrase "through the roof" makes any sense.<br /><br />And did you ever notice that the only time people use the word "uncanny" is when they say , "The <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">resemblance</span> is uncanny?"Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-86104887733794793762008-01-05T23:30:00.000-06:002008-01-06T02:02:49.066-06:00Enough is enough!You know those Coors light commercials where they splice together some video of guys asking mundane questions with footage of NFL coaches during there post-game press conferences?<br /><br /><object height="355" width="425"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/jdUr5hF0yGc&rel=1"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/jdUr5hF0yGc&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" height="355" width="425"></embed></object><br /><br />Well the first few (like the one above) were definitely funny, but they've become stale and repetitive as of late. For one thing, it's the same gimmick over and over and over. But more importantly, there are only a finite amount of video clips that have coaches spouting off entertaining sound bytes. I've actually noticed that Coors now uses footage from <span style="font-style: italic;">fake</span> press-conferences by getting guys like Dennis Green and Jimmy Johnson to say scripted lines on a sound stage to use in their commercials. Come on now! You can't do that. It's time to let a good idea die with dignity instead of beating us over the head with it 15 times during every game.<br /><br />Besides, now self-respecting NFL fan drinks Coors light anyways.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-85638930347787645402008-01-04T20:11:00.000-06:002008-01-04T20:36:06.267-06:00People who need to go, Pt. 1<span>People</span> who say, "I could tell you, but then I'd have to kill you." Yes, I realize that this was once probably entertaining in a Bond movie 40 years ago, but it has become the most cliched phrase in existence.<br /><br /><span>The person</span>, who upon seeing two people wearing the same color shirt, exclaims , "Oh my gosh! Did you two like call each other and coordinate in the morning?" No, no we didn't.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Honorable Mention:</span> People who think that saying "See you next year!" before New Years is both clever and funny. I can assure it's not. These are probably the same people who say "Blast off!" at the end of every countdown. If you're over the age of 13, both of these phrases should be off-limits.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-89613039728739439322008-01-02T21:26:00.003-06:002008-09-23T15:32:27.933-05:00MTV: What hast thou become?So I just checked the TV listings and the only times that MTV plays videos these days is from 5am to 7am. I guess I had assumed, mistakenly, that <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">TRL</span> or some variation thereof was still on the air. I find this interesting for a few reasons. Of course, there is the glaring fact that MTV stands for Music Television yet less than 10% of its programming is devoted to music. And I could of course point out the fact that many of the Television shows that MTV does air aren't even related to music at all -- shows such as "My Sweet 16" and "Made" come to mind. But I want to focus on something else here. I want to focus on the fact that MTV, for better or worse, has essentially become the cable TV version of US Magazine and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">TMZ</span>.com. With that said, I've seen more episodes of Real World than should legally be allowed for a heterosexual male, and for the most part, I enjoy much of its programming. The mystique, however, is gone.<br /><br />Without question, MTV has lost part of the allure that made it so great when people in or around my age group were growing up. I can thank MTV for introducing me to an array of diverse musical acts, from RUN <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">DMC</span> to Guns n Roses to Peter Gabriel to Michael Jackson and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">NWA</span>. Unlike the current state of affairs, MTV used to be a way to explore new musical genres and be exposed to new artists. Shows such as <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Headbangers_Ball">Headbangers Ball</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yo%21_MTV_Raps">Yo! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">MTV</span> Raps</a> were instrumental in shaping the music that kids were exposed to, and subsequently became interested in. As a kid I remember flipping through channels and becoming enthralled with Def <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Leppard</span>. I remember watching Will Smith rap at a time when it was actually cool to listen to Will Smith rapping. I remember where I was the first time I heard "Dre Day" on TV. From Offspring to Bone Thugs-n- Harmony, I can recall a plethora of bands that I would have otherwise been oblivious to had it not been for MTV. MTV, believe it or not, used to expose music to the masses.<br /><br />But as time marched on, MTV began a slow and steady transformation. Though MTV had long been a place to watch original TV shows such as "The State", "True Life", and "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Beavis</span> and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Butthead</span>", those shows were always just the icing on the cake so to speak, a temporary reprieve from the music. Eventually, however, the shows MTV began airing started to become less original, more trashy, less focused, and more ridiculous. Shows such as <a href="http://www.the-state.com/">"The State"</a> (one of the funniest and most original sketch comedy shows of all time), for example, had something of substance to offer it's viewers. Now I turn on MTV and I see spoiled 15 year old bitches complaining to their parents about how they want a BMW convertible for their birthday. Hell, when I was 15, I was happy enough to watch Alicia <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Silverstone</span> make out with a dude on the back of a motorcycle in an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Aerosmith</span> video. MTV used to be a place where you could either catch music or watch rising stars such as Adam <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Sandler</span> and Jon Stewart before they became household names. Now, MTV is a place where you watch some <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">douchebag</span> named Spencer talk about nonsense to some lame ass girls who probably wouldn't have even made the cut for Singled Out, or even the classic "MTV Spring Break!" series.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">MTV's</span> disinterest in putting out quality shows was also reflected in the music they chose to promote. Somewhere along the way, MTV devolved from a station that promoted certifiable stars such as Michael Jackson and Guns n Roses to a station that promoted gimmicky and atrocious songs such as the "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Macarena</span>" and "Who let the dogs out". Because MTV primarily avoids music related programming these days, I can't help but wonder how this affects the musical interests of kids growing up. And the wild card in all of this is the Internet. Maybe kids are exposed to new <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">music</span> via other avenues these days and I'm just an old(er) man who is out of the loop. I suppose that kids today can just hop onto <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">iTunes</span> and browse an insanely large library of music that would have made the 12 year old me drool in envy. Perhaps, in the end, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">MTV's</span> transformation was inevitable due to the fact that it's no longer the only game in town. <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Perhap</span>s, the music video is obsolete.<br /><br /><br /><script type="text/javascript"><!--<br />google_ad_client = "pub-4663154904042251";<br />/* 234x60, created 9/23/08 */<br />google_ad_slot = "5520189518";<br />google_ad_width = 234;<br />google_ad_height = 60;<br />//--><br /></script><br /><script type="text/javascript"<br />src="http://pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/show_ads.js"><br /></script><br /><br /><br />Is MTV relevant anymore? Yes, but in an entirely different way. MTV can no longer 'make' an artist or band the way it used to be able to, but it does have the frightening ability to seemingly create stardom out of nothing for its reality show cast members. And in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">todays</span> gossip hungry and voyeuristic society, apparently that's all you need to stay relevant. MTV doesn't play music anymore and it hasn't for quite sometime. I'm fine with it, but it's sort of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">interesting</span> that a station that once had its hands on the pulse of American music has become a variation of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">SoapNet</span>. And if every show on MTV was quality, then I'd be the last person complaining. But I just don't have any need to see a <a href="http://www.eonline.com/news/article/index.jsp?uuid=1b5b56ce-7336-4875-854b-f0880d65f03e&entry=index">second season of "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">Tila</span> Tequila"</a> or 5 straight hours of "Life of Ryan". I don't think anybody does.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com84tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-37936145882272910792007-12-25T22:10:00.000-06:002007-12-26T00:14:23.667-06:00Jewelry Stores at the AirportTraveling over the holidays recently, I noticed a peculiar store at the airport that sold jewelry. I couldn't help but wonder who in their right mind would ever buy jewelery at an airport. I mean, for all I know it's quality stuff, but the location is what perplexes me. I came to the conclusion that the only people who would actually make use of a jewelry store at an airport would be men who cheat on their wives.<br /><br />Think about it: You're a wealthy businessman travelling abroad for, um, oh i <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">don't</span> know, lets say, business. While overseas in London or Bangkok or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Brussles</span> or wherever you may be, you somehow get drunk and order a 500 dollar an hour escort to your room. I mean, who hasn't gotten plastered while wearing a 3 piece suit, taken out the maximum amount from an ATM machine, drunkenly stumbled to your hotel suite, awkwardly flirted with the maid (who through alcohol coated eyes seemed 40 years younger than her 70 year old wrinkles indicated) and called a masseuse who (to your surprise) turned out to be an expensive hooker? I mean, come on, it's inevitable.<br /><br />Then morning comes. You realize you paid a woman 500 dollars an hour for 3 minutes of her time. You are hungover, but sober enough to realize that perhaps your MBA degree is a joke. By the time you shower, get dressed and become alert, you notice that your wife has left you 3 <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">voicemails</span> inquiring as to how your trip has been going. Your 3 year old daughter even left you a sweet message saying "When are you coming home daddy, I miss you". Before you know it, you're at the airport feeling guilty as hell. Are you going to tell your wife what you did? Of course not, you're not an idiot. But you are human and you do have feelings. But what, oh what!, can you possibly do? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">A'ha</span>! It's almost too good to be true!! Out of the corner of your eye you see what looks to be a jewelry shop. Oh joy! You rush over and quickly buy a beautiful diamond necklace for your wife. You come home and your family is so excited to see you and then you drop the present on your wife. She smiles while you quietly think to yourself -- "God bless the man who decided to put jewelry stores in airports." 2 minutes later the kids are in bed and your wife is waiting for you in the bedroom while wearing some fancy lingerie. You, however, are busy catching up on some work emails that just came through on your blackberry. And what do you know! Looks like you're traveling again at the end of the week. Maybe that MBA was good for something after all.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-79535697694225278172007-09-24T16:52:00.001-05:002007-09-24T17:00:48.794-05:00Riddle me thisIf you could only have one type of finger on your hands, which one would you pick? In other words, you could have 10 thumbs, 10 index fingers, or 10 middle fingers etc. The need for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">opposable</span> thumbs is key, so an important question would be which finger could perform thumb-like functions in the thumb location. <br /><br />I think it's fairly obvious that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">pinky</span> doesn't even warrant any serious consideration. Same goes for the finger right next to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">pinky</span> (the ring finger I believe). The ring finger is inherently weak, exemplified by the fact that is chosen to wear the wedding ring. A hand full of 10 middle fingers might be useful for arguments, but friendly waves and benign hand gestures to friends and loved ones might cause some problems. I think 10 thumbs is a workable solution, but people might call you "stumpy". So we're left with 10 index fingers as the optimal choice. In the end, I think that 10 index fingers provides the perfect balance between dexterity and <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">aesthetic</span> considerations.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-29450836721530149462007-09-21T14:36:00.000-05:002007-09-21T14:45:37.688-05:00I just don't get itI never got why people come up with email address's that contain a number pertaining to a year that will soon become irrelevant. For example, someone graduated high school in 1999 so they make their email Jsmith99@hotmail.com. It's a dated email address, so why pick it? Sometimes people will simply attach the current year at the tailend of their email (i.e tofulovin07). People can sure be foolish. But not me. My email is timeless -- homer16@yahoo. Why Homer16? Well I was 16 when I first got an email address. And THAT'S how its done.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-16857568505643286772007-09-21T14:04:00.000-05:002007-09-21T14:15:31.896-05:00Black and White.... and boredFor whatever reason, people in black and white photographs don't look as tough as they would in real life. I often find myself looking at old black and white photographs and thinking to myself that I could easily beat up everyone in the picture.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-15698972408388696962007-09-20T16:25:00.000-05:002007-09-20T16:27:12.129-05:00Dumb JokesHere are 2 stupid jokes I made up today whilst bored at work:<br /><br />1) what do you call a book about midgets? A short story<br />2) what do you get a janitor for his birthday? A urinal cakeUnknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-85920165422262743682007-09-19T16:16:00.000-05:002007-09-19T16:24:14.824-05:00The Idiot FilesDo you ever send yourself an email and then notice that you have a new message waiting for you in your inbox? You then become all curious and excited until you find out that it's the email you just sent yourself. This happens to me on occasion. And on occasion, I write about such occurrences -- like now, for example. You are dumber for having read this post. This, in turn, makes me smarter. Point: Homer.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-41873144718953997202007-09-17T16:48:00.000-05:002007-09-17T17:05:01.821-05:00Gimme that dogSo it recently came to my attention that <a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/wealth/2007/08/29/the-12-million-dog/">some wealthy New York heiress died and left over 12 million dollars to her dog </a>while leaving nothing to her grandchildren. For whatever reason (read: my anger that I was left out of the will) this lady annoys me because she seems to epitomize the wealthy socialite with an irrational obsession/love of animals. I mean come on, leaving your dog 12 million dollars? Give that money to charity, lady. Though I've never met this woman, I'd wager a large sum of my friends money that she was annoying. In fact, I saw a <a href="http://online.wsj.com/public/resources/images/OB-AP090_maltes_20070829143825.jpg">picture of her beloved dog</a> and the dog looks annoying too. Update: turns out this woman is billionaire real estate investor Leona Helmsley and her nickname was the "Queen of Mean." <br /><br />In any event, and at the risk of turning this blog into a forum for my irrational rants, allow me to state to the masses that I find old single women who leave fortunes to their pets to be an annoying group as a whole. There's probably a reason they decide to leave everything to their pets -- because they don't actually get along with human beings. If I ever come across an old woman with a tiny dog I might just be inclined to steal it from her... right in front of her face and right under her nose. And to add insult to injury, whilst I was stealing said dog, I'd remark "Hey lady, I'm stealing your dog and there's nothing you can do about it you old bag o bones." Then I'd saunter off, take pictures of the dog and tag that bitch up on facebook for all to see. Bitch.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-12507048486437653672007-09-07T12:46:00.001-05:002008-09-23T15:31:52.059-05:00Long timeThis post has been a long time coming. The anti-apple crowd has gotten too ridiculous and absurd and a response must be made. And as luck would have it, an <a href="http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,136949/article.html">article I came across today</a> provides the perfect stepping off point to address a number of issues that have surrounded Apple as of late. The article in question attempts to lay out a case explaining how Apple has become the new Microsoft as it pertains to monopolistic actions and matter-o-fact bullying. So without further adieu, I will paste snippets of the article followed by my response. Enjoy.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"The core complaint about Microsoft in the 1990s was that its Windows market share gave it monopoly power, which it abused in multiple ways. Attorneys General and others zeroed in on the "bundling" of the </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.pcworld.com/tags/Microsoft+Internet+Explorer.html">Internet Explorer</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> Web browser, which they claimed was forced on users because Microsoft offered it as part of Windows. People love </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.pcworld.com/tags/Apple+iPod.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">iPods</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;">. But <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">iPods</span> come bundled with </span><a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://www.pcworld.com/tags/Apple+iTunes.html"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">iTunes</span></a><span style="font-style: italic;">. Want to buy music from Apple? Guess what? You must install <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">iTunes</span>. Want an Apple cell phone from AT&T? Yep! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">ITunes</span> is required even if you want only to make phone calls. Want to buy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">ringtones</span> for your Apple phone? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">ITunes</span>. Apple not only "bundles" <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">iTunes</span> with multiple products, it forces you to use it. At least with Internet Explorer, you could always just download a competitor and ignore IE."<br /><br /></span>Where do I even begin?! The problem with Internet Explorer, back in the day, is that Microsoft was trying to force it on <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">consumers</span> in the hopes that it would become the dominant browser. And given the fact that 95% of computers used Windows allowed Microsoft to inextricably tie the browser to the operating system. There were floods of complaints alleging that throwing out Internet Explorer would cause damage to the operating system as a whole. Moreover, Microsoft took numerous steps to ensure that Internet Explorer would come as the default browser on PCs. Now let's take a look at Apple. Apple makes a music player called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">Itunes</span>. If you want to buy music from Apple, you must buy it through <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Itunes</span>. SCANDAL!! Jesus, I don't know what the big deal is about this. If you don't want to download music from apple or use <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">itunes</span>, then just don't. It's that simple. Apple has created the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">ipod</span> and is it so wrong for Apple to say: "Look, we've created this piece of hardware, and in order for it to run the way we want it to run, you have to use it in <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">conjunction</span> with our software." I don't see the problem here. The very reason the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">ipod</span> has been so <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">successful</span> is precisely because Apple has been able to control all aspects of the user experience. If that doesn't float your boat, then just don't use <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">itunes</span>. Hell, don't even use an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">ipod</span>. People forget that there are a number of other avenues out there where people can purchase music. Why not take it old school and even go and buy a CD? People are not tied to the Apple in the way that users were and are tied to Microsoft Windows. Microsoft tried to leverage their OS dominance as to ensure that people were forced to use their browser. Apple attained music player dominance because they gave consumers a choice to enter their gated community of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">itunes</span>/<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">ipod</span>. If you don't want to enter, you don't have to. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Itunes</span> is the means by which apple is able to keep things uniform and ensure that consumers have an easy way to access and manipulate their digital libraries and eventually access them on their apple devices. If that doesn't work for you, then no big deal. People are not tied to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">itunes</span> the way they are to Windows.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"And <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">iTunes</span> for Windows' popularity isn't driven by software product quality. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">ITunes</span> is the slowest, clunkiest, most <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">nonintuitive</span> application on my system. But I need it because I love my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">iPods</span>."</span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-style: italic;"></span><br /></span>I use a mac so I can't attest to this, but I've heard this complaint many a time. One, get a mac. Two, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">ipod</span> is an apple product and Apple thinks <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_27">itunes</span> is the best way for the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_28">ipod</span> to interact with digital files and so that's the route it's chosen. Is it surprising that Apple software runs better on Apple hardware? Of course not. Yet this author seemingly thinks that having third party software syncing up with Apple hardware will make life easier. Apple has no responsibility to ensure that the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_29">ipod</span> can sync up with other media players. For all we know, other media players would only sully the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_30">ipod</span> experience. By creating a streamlined and closed environment by which users interact with their music, Apple is helping the consumer by maintaining complete control over the experience. And again, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_31">that's</span> exactly why Apple came to dominate the portable media player market in the first place.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"At least with Windows, you could reformat your PC and install Linux or any number of other PC-compatible operating systems. Can I reformat my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_32">iPod</span> and install something else? Can I <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_33">uninstall</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_34">iTunes</span> but keep using the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_35">iTunes</span> store and my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_36">iPods</span>?"<br /><br /></span>This reeks of typical Windows <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_37">obliviousness</span>. What average computer user even knows how to reformat their PC and install Linux? Does your average computer user even know what Linux is? And as for <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_38">uninstalling</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_39">itunes</span> but keep using the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_40">iTunes</span> store? Well, you've lost me. I don't even know what that means. Why would you want to use the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_41">iTunes</span> store if you're so anti-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_42">iTunes</span>? And if you want to use the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_43">iTunes</span> store but use a different media player, then simply download the non-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_44">drm</span> versions of songs that are now available on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_45">iTunes</span>. Hell, you can even put them on a non-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_46">ipod</span> device if it suits your fancy. That hardly sounds monopolistic to me.<br /><br />This post is already long enough as is so I won't be able to respond to every paragraph written. But one point I must address is the authors contention that Apple has become the copycat that everyone used to accuse Microsoft of being. Microsoft essentially copied the Mac OS -- quite <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_47">shittily</span> I might add. It didn't really build on anything that the Mac did, and it didn't really push computing forward (dare i say it pushed it backwards) in any tangible way. Basically, it put out a shoddy copied version of the Mac OS. And as for Apple and the technologies it uses in it's products -- well no one claims that they are all Apple inventions. But Apple doesn't just copy ideas, it finds ways to integrate ideas into products in <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_48">ingenius</span> ways. No one ever claimed that Apple introduced touch technology but it was the first company that was able to make that technology readily accessible to the public. No one claims, as the author insinuates, that Apple was the first company to have a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_49">wifi</span> enabled device. But they (prediction) will be the first that makes it actually a worthy add on. The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_50">Zune</span> has had <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_51">wifi</span> for a while but who cares? Who cares about a technology if you can't derive any functionality from it. <span style="font-weight: bold;">It's as if Apple invented the car and people look down at apple because they didn't invent the wheel.</span> Apple, in releasing its products, finds new ways to use existing technologies in ways people had never before imagined possible. That's not copying, that's ingenuity. Microsoft dominated the market with technologies other companies developed first simply because it was Microsoft. Apple has dominated the handheld media player market because it has the best player on the market hands down. All in all, the article attempts to paint apple as a monopoly, a copycat, and a bully. Is the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_52">ipod</span> a monopoly? Yes, in the sense that it dominates the media player market. But is it really a monopoly when there are so many other ways to access media content? I could easily amass an impressive music and video collection without even using an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_53">ipod</span> or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_54">itunes</span>. Is Apple a copycat? <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_55">Umm</span>.. why, because they didn't invent touch technology or <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_56">wi</span>-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_57">fi</span>? I don't follow that logic. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_58">Anywhoo</span>, this post has droned on long enough so I'll stop here. My normal and boring posts will resume any day now.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-837636936082146792007-08-23T15:28:00.000-05:002007-08-23T15:41:48.973-05:00Two random thoughts of the day1) Wouldn't it be <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">weird</span> if when you went to take a shit, the food came out exactly the way it went in?<br /><br />2) You know who's really happy about the prevalence of <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">bluetooth</span> headsets these days? Crazy people. When people started using <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">bluetooth</span> headsets, people would often see individuals talking on the street with their hands at their sides, a phone nowhere in sight. They'd therefore assume the person was talking to themselves and was otherwise crazy. But now, if you see someone seemingly talking to no one while they walk down the street, you just automatically assume they have a wireless headset on. So, there must be a whole slew of <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">legitimately</span> crazy people walking around muttering sweet nothings to significant others who don't exist who are <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">therefore</span> able to shield themselves from the 'Crazy' label. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Bluetooth</span> headsets have effectively allowed crazy people to seamlessly blend into society. Actually, now that I think about it, technology as a whole might one day totally blur the line between what we <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">perceive</span> as normal and crazy. It wouldn't surprise me if in 5 years I see my good friend KT massaging a tree with her hands while she talks into an acorn. "Have you gone mad?!" I'd ask -- to which she'd reply "no, you idiot. I'm just updating my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">facebook</span> photo <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">album</span> while I check my voicemail." Sound crazy? Sure, it does today, but tomorrow?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-30454822174055035992007-08-12T00:34:00.000-05:002007-08-12T01:00:23.521-05:00Less Fur. More Diamonds!What's the deal with semi-attractive, full-on ditzy girls being so gung ho about animal rights? I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about. There seems to be an abundance of sorority-esque girls with fake nails and pink voloure sweatsuits, with tiffany heart bracelets who adore tiny little dogs and hate "mean people" who abuse animals. Now don't get me wrong, I in no way condone, endorse, or approve of dog fighting or any other type of animal abuse. What amuses/annoys me, however, are some of the girls who are so against it. What tickles my funny bone is that some of these animal crusaders seem to be living in some sort of fantasy world where they view all animals as tiny teddy bears, and since they seem to have some sort of infantile-esque way of interacting with society at large, they view all animals as "cutesy wootsey" and if anyone dares hurt one of their beloved "animawls".. well, then they're just a big 'meany'.<br /><br /> It's like Pamela Anderson. I get that she's all for animal rights. Well kudos to her, but just get out of my face about it. Actually, I take that back. Pamela Anderson agreed to a Comedy Central Roast 2 years ago on the condition that all proceeds go to fight animal abuse. That roast was hilarious, so I can't rag on her really. Maybe it's because I watch a lot of MTV, but I feel that I've seen way to many "you just hate me cuz I'm cute" type of girls who think they're the shit. The odd part is, it's not that their attitude really bugs me. It's the fact that they have a "cause" that really gets to me. I guess I think that they're too ditzy, stupid, and/or shallow to really care about something. Maybe I'm just being closed minded, but when you see a girl with fake nails and a little dog inside a 1000 dollar purse talk passionately about animal rights... well I don't know about you, but I just find it super annoying. A comparison: let's take your typical beach blonde california ditz and find her beach bodied male counterpart with a similar type of "I'm the shit" attitude. You with me brah? Okay, now imagine how annoying it would be if that same guy was a big advocate of stopping global warming. Hmm.. on second thought, I don't think this comparison really makes much sense. So to sum up: I find it extremely annoying when ditzy girls are so passionate about animal rights. It's not that they don't have the right to care about something, its more so that I envision them having some sort of childlike interest in the well-being of animals rather than having an opinion based on any sort of logical and rational thought process. Okay, now I'm going overboard but I never really ranted on here before so I thought I'd give it a try.<br /><br />Peace.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-24921548775691019972007-07-22T23:14:00.000-05:002007-07-22T23:23:58.722-05:00I can't believe I just read thatSo I work in an office and I've noticed something interesting there. It's a breeding ground for what I like to call the "half-smile/nod".<br /><br />The Scene: any office<br />The Players: you, bitch<br />Other players: random co-worker<br /><br />So you're walking down the hall and you see a co-worker or someone who works in the same office walking towards you. You don't really know this person, but you know who they are and vice versa. Or maybe you don't. But either way, as you pass each other, you start to smile. But it's only halfway. Actually, it's more like a smirk, and no teeth are ever shown. And as you're forming this interesting facial expression, you sort of nod your head downards at half speed as you make eye contact with the other person.. It's the half-smile/nod. It's akin to saying "Hey, I don't know you so this is how we apparently acknowledge each others existance. You work where I work so I'll be polite and smile. But don't get the wrong idea because as you can see, it's only a half smile I'm giving you. But don't fear, I'll throw in a nod on the house."<br /><br />I go through this routine a few times a day. So much so that it was on my mind and I blogged about it. I don't call this blog wasting time for nothing!<br /><br />I'll try and do better next time, kids.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9960675.post-46905078268739579512007-07-20T20:27:00.000-05:002007-07-20T20:36:26.229-05:00This old routine?So a friend told me I should start writing again because I tell good stories. In other news, I'm apparently I'm an easy sell. I'm surprised more people aren't like "Hey Homer, you're pretty buff and handy with the bricks, wanna come help me renovate my house?" Another reason why I've returned to the blogosphere is that the person who I was supposed to start a joint blog with punked out on me. Her name is the RedBaron in case your wondering (.. andcheck it out Kat, it's a double insult since your new nickname now incorporates the name of your sworn enemy. Thats right. I'm playing dirty, and I'm looking in your direction). Now that that's out of the way, onto a blogpost.<br /><br />Actually, I'll do a blogpost later. I'm tired. Stay tuned.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0