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Say you're a web designer or a TV producer and you'd like to let me, your viewer, know when the Next Big Event is happening. Lately, it seems that your preferred way of getting that information across to me is through a big-ass countdown timer someone on the screen. Do you really have that much faith in the math skills of Americans to determine exactly what time the Super Bowl kickoff is by adding some days, hours, and minutes to the current time. As for CNN's lunchtime broadcast, does anyone really need a timer to be beginning of tonight's Republican debate? Just tell is that it'll be on at 8:00 or whenever it is! I don't watch cable news or look at football websites because I want some mental stimulation.
Jerad posted this in Complaints | Comments (0)
I just received an email from Amazon.com informing me that a gift had been bought for me and Maura off of our Amazon Baby Registry. Of course, this certainly surprised me since I didn't know that we even had a baby registry. In fact, neither of us knew that we're going to have a baby! It sure was nice of Amazon to tell us about that. In the case that this email might have been sent in error, I hope that they still send us a nice shower gift.
Jerad posted this in Oops | Comments (0)
I'm not usually into shredding guitars, but my friends made the effects pedal that Herman is controlling with that blue ring.
Jerad posted this in Live | Comments (0)
This is from R.E.M.'s first of five nights at the Olympia Theater this past summer. If you squint really hard and have a very vivid imagination you might be able to pick me out of the crowd (hint: I'm in the upper right of the frame). The video is taken from NinetyNights, a teaser website that's counting down to R.E.M.'s new album, Accelerate with a new 30-second video clip each day.
Jerad posted this in Live | Comments (0)
I just finished reading a developer's thoughts on the new MacBook Air where he basically told all of the haters to back off. My first thoughts of this new laptop were that it's certainly a nice piece of engineering, but I won't be rushing out to buy one to replace my MacBook Pro. After reading this rant, though, I looked down at my computer and noticed how I could get by just fine with one of these on my desk and wouldn't really be missing anything. My standard desk setup has my laptop plugged into power, my Logitech 2.1 speaker system, DVI connection to a 2nd display, and USB connection to a hub which interfaces to my keyboard, backup drive, and iPhone dock. Hmm, it looks like those are exactly the (only) four physical connections that the Air has.
To anyone who might be married to me, I want to stress that this doesn't mean I want to buy one. But, you know, it would be nice to have a new laptop.
Jerad posted this in Mac | Comments (0)
Jerad posted this in Humor | Comments (10)
Over the past two days, I've seen the Democratic Party's 2008 nominee for President of the U.S.A. I don't know which one of the three candidates I saw will be the chosen one, but I'm pretty sure that it'll be one of them (apologies to Governor Richardson).
On Sunday I spent a few hours in New Hampshire at a couple different campaign events. When I left my house, my plan was to see Senator McCain's town hall meeting in Salem because it was relatively close to the MA border. While heading north on I-93, though, I had a change of heart and decided that I really wanted to see John Edwards, even if it meant that I'd have to drive a bit further to Manchester. I'm glad that I made that choice because I was very impressed by Mr. Edwards discussion of health care and insurance, even though I was crowded into the back of the hall.
After a quick lunch, I headed south to Pinkerton Academy in Derry for a rally with Senator Obama. Crowding into the relatively-small meeting hall in Manchester didn't prepare me for the size of the crowd that had filled the gym in Derry. I had to drive around many full parking lots until I could finally find a space. Of course, the candidate was late arriving, so I wasn't in any danger of missing anything. I found a spot to stand to the right and a bit behind the stage. This actually turned out to be a great place to listen to him speak away from the too-crowded center of the floor. At the close of the rally, Obama came down the steps in front of me and the crowd immediately surged against the railings. It really was rock-star-esque. I wasn't immune to the Obama fever; I stuck my hand out there and shook his.
My final stop was in Salem tonight to see Hillary Clinton. Unfortunately, I got there (with a friend) a bit after the event was scheduled to begin and the main auditorium had already been filled and closed. Fortunately, an overflow area had been set up in the school cafeteria and a few hundred of us listened and watched her on the monitors set up there. After she left the stage, she came into the cafeteria, stood on a table, and answered a few more questions for those of us who had stuck around. I certainly would've preferred to have been in the main hall, but it was still exciting to be there. Unfortunately, we missed hearing a comment from the audience that resulted in her replying, "I guess we can see that sexism is still alive and well with some people!" Judging from a few later comments, it sounds like someone had something to say about wives ironing their husbands' shirts, but I'd like to find out exactly what was said.
Now, after going to see these three candidates, naturally you're probably wondering which one of them I liked the best. I don't think that I've made up my mind; I can see good things in all three of them. I think that the result of seeing these candidates that makes me feel best is that I can get behind any of them as the nominee. After tomorrow, we'll be one step closer to figuring out who that will be.
Update: Here's the story on the "Iron My Shirt" hecklers at Clinton's event.
Jerad posted this in Politics | Comments (0)
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