930 Forums
=> GENERAL DISCUSSION => Topic started by: vansmack on November 01, 2007, 01:40:00 pm
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Alright, I make no bones about the fact that this is completely ego driven, but rather than starting a new topic nearly everyday, I will now post "Things Smackie Thinks You Need To Know" in this thread. The range will be as diverse as Smackie - politics to porn, sports to celeb gossip. Ignore it if you like, enjoy it if you will.
OBSCENE LOSSES (http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lifestyle/culture-inc/arts/2007/10/15/YouPorn-Vivid-Entertainment-Profile/#page1)
by Claire Hoffman
November 2007 Issue
Conde' Nast
DVD sales are in free fall. Audiences are flocking to pornographic knockoffs of YouTube, especially a secretive site called YouPorn. And the amateurs are taking over. What??s happening to the adult-entertainment industry is exactly what??s happening to its Hollywood counterpart??only worse.
On Friday, May 18, Steve Hirsch, founder of Vivid Entertainment Group, the world??s largest producer of adult videos, was expecting a mysterious visitor. But Stephen Paul Jones was late. When Jones, an unknown figure in the pornography world, finally arrived in the all-white reception area of Vivid??s Los Angeles offices at 2 p.m., he was apologetic. His private plane had broken down, he explained, and he was forced to fly commercial. Hirsch, dressed in a T-shirt and jeans, found that excuse a little slick. But he was eager to speak with Jones, so he let it slide and introduced him to two Vivid colleagues. When the four men sat down in the company??s conference room, Jones got right to the point: He wanted Vivid to buy his website, YouPorn.com.
More fascinating details about why the porn industry is now afraid of the internet rather than embracing it like they once were... (http://www.portfolio.com/culture-lifestyle/culture-inc/arts/2007/10/15/YouPorn-Vivid-Entertainment-Profile/#page1)
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For a long time know I've been advocating sitting on the fence and letting the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray debate play out. But tomorrow, Walmart and Best Buy are selling Toshiba HD-DVD players for $99. I'm pretty sure I'd pay $99 just to watch Transformers (and Megan Fox) in HD anytime I wanted to.
http://www.dailytech.com/HD+DVD+Player+to+Break+100+Mark+on+Friday/article9498.htm (http://www.dailytech.com/HD+DVD+Player+to+Break+100+Mark+on+Friday/article9498.htm)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8021767&st=toshiba+hd&lp=5&type=product&cp=1&id=1158323325814 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8021767&st=toshiba+hd&lp=5&type=product&cp=1&id=1158323325814)
Black Friday comes earlier every year it seems...
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no fucking way, $99? that's a 'for the win' if the internet ever had one
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smackie needs a blog
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Last night I was singing along to Journey with a transsexual playing a ukulele in an Irish pub. That's about as San Francisco as it gets ?? I love this town!
<img src="http://www.nicolemcrory.com/images/Photos01.gif" alt=" - " />
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How I imagine "smackie"...
<img src="http://www.canyon-news.com/artman2/uploads/1/ego.jpg" alt=" - " />
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Originally posted by lagas:
How I imagine "smackie"...
You make a good point.
I totally need to get a mirror in my office!
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It's nearly impossible to get ahead financially while living in certain metropolitan hot spots. Get your footing in an affordable location instead.
Get Ahead in a Starter City
By Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine
I just moved from Palo Alto, Calif., to Baltimore.
No, I'm not crazy. Just broke.
I lived three years in Palo Alto, enjoying the beautiful weather, a pristine neighborhood and close proximity to family. But I soon realized that if I stayed, it would be nearly impossible to reach my financial goals.
More... (http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/LearnToBudget/GetAheadInAStarterCity.aspx)
The top cities for young professionals:
Washington, D.C.
Denver
Austin, Texas
Raleigh, N.C.
Lexington, Ky.
The top cities for young families:
Atlanta
Minneapolis/St. Paul
Des Moines, Iowa
Provo, Utah
Green Bay, Wis.
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Ah, the most exciting cell phone news of the year (sorry iPhone lovers)...
November 5, 2007
Google Makes Its Entry Into the Wireless World
By MIGUEL HELFT and JOHN MARKOFF
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 5 ?? Google took its long-awaited plunge into the wireless world today, announcing that it is leading a broad industry alliance to transform mobile phones into powerful mobile computers that could accelerate the convergence of computing and communications.
Mobile phones based on Google??s software are not expected to be available until the second half of next year. They will be manufactured by a variety of handset companies, including HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung and be available in the United States through T-Mobile and Sprint.
The phones will also be available through the world??s largest mobile operator, China Telecom, with 332 million subscribers in China, and the leading carriers in Japan, NTT DoCoMo and KDDI, as well as T-Mobile in Germany, Telecom Italia in Italy and Telefónica in Spain.
The 34-member Open Handset Alliance, as the group is called, also includes many of the leading makers of mobile phone chips, like Broadcom, Intel, Qualcomm and Texas Instruments, as well as SiRF Technology Holdings, Marvell Technology Group, Nvidia and Synaptics. EBay (which owns the Internet calling service Skype), Nuance Communications, NMS Communications and Wind River Systems are also members of the group.
The technology is expected to provide cellular handset manufacturers and wireless operators with capabilities that match and potentially surpass those using smartphone software made by Apple, Microsoft, Nokia, Palm, Research in Motion and others. In contrast to the existing competitors, Google??s software will be offered freely under ??open source? licensing terms, meaning that handset manufacturers will be able to use it at no cost and be free to add new features to differentiate their products.
As always, there's more.... (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/technology/05cnd-gphone.html?_r=1&hp=&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
For a long time know I've been advocating sitting on the fence and letting the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray debate play out. But tomorrow, Walmart and Best Buy are selling Toshiba HD-DVD players for $99. I'm pretty sure I'd pay $99 just to watch Transformers (and Megan Fox) in HD anytime I wanted to.
http://www.dailytech.com/HD+DVD+Player+to+Break+100+Mark+on+Friday/article9498.htm (http://www.dailytech.com/HD+DVD+Player+to+Break+100+Mark+on+Friday/article9498.htm)
http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8021767&st=toshiba+hd&lp=5&type=product&cp=1&id=1158323325814 (http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=8021767&st=toshiba+hd&lp=5&type=product&cp=1&id=1158323325814)
Black Friday comes earlier every year it seems...
i just saw this, but i knew about Wal-Marts sale last week. the wife went to Wal-Mart at 8:30am that morning, apparently there were more than 50 people in line. and apparently Wal-mart only had 15 players to sell.
pretty shitty.
also, since i didnt know who Megan Fox was , i looked her up.
and found this tidbit: she made her movie debut with Ashely and Mary Kate Olssen in the 2001 movie "Holiday In The Sun" , her character?
Brianna Wallace...
hmmmm.
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Originally posted by le sonick:
also, since i didnt know who Megan Fox was , i looked her up.
and found this tidbit: she made her movie debut with Ashely and Mary Kate Olssen in the 2001 movie "Holiday In The Sun" , her character?
Brianna Wallace...
hmmmm.
NO. FUCKING. WAY.
it's all fallen into place: we've all suspected that this brian_walalce person can't be real - and "he" is in fact megan fox!
megan - i apologize for making fun of your inability to identify guitar talent, or decent music in general. very un-gentlemanly on my part. i suggest that i make it up to you the next time you're in NYC, by taking you out to dinner and a show, maybe some clubbing afterwards. no, really, it's the least i can do. just let me know the next time you're in town. p.s. feel free to wear that miniskirt (http://www.film.com/photos/2/16859491) you wore in transformers. thanks.
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This doesn't make any sense, but then again, it is the Pirates...
Monday, November 5, 2007
Pirates hire former coach as new Manager
Former Pirates third-base coach succeeds Tracy as manager
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Associated Press
PITTSBURGH -- John Russell is taking one of the most challenging jobs in baseball as manager of the Pittsburgh Pirates, a team with 15 consecutive losing seasons.
Let go by the Pirates as their third-base coach two seasons ago, Russell was hired Monday to succeed Jim Tracy as Pittsburgh's manager. He becomes the team's fifth full-time manager since the Pirates last had a winning season in 1992, following Jim Leyland, Gene Lamont, Lloyd McClendon and Tracy.
The 46-year-old Russell lost his previous job in Pittsburgh following McClendon's firing in September 2005. He managed the Phillies' Triple-A team the last two seasons, with the Ottawa Lynx going 55-88 last season.
It's unusual for a team to bring back someone so soon after firing him, but new team president Frank Coonelly and general manager Neal Huntington felt an instant connection with the quiet but intense Russell.
There's more here:
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3095222&type=story (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3095222&type=story)
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:o
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oh like anyone with any sort of real credentials would risk the rest of their career by going anywhere near that job...
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Ah, the most exciting cell phone news of the year (sorry iPhone lovers)...
November 5, 2007
Google Makes Its Entry Into the Wireless World
By MIGUEL HELFT and JOHN MARKOFF
SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 5 ?? Google took its long-awaited plunge into the wireless world today, announcing that it is leading a broad industry alliance to transform mobile phones into powerful mobile computers that could accelerate the convergence of computing and communications.
Mobile phones based on Google??s software are not expected to be available until the second half of next year. They will be manufactured by a variety of handset companies, including HTC, LG, Motorola and Samsung and be available in the United States through T-Mobile and Sprint.
HTC's prototype revealed, sorta (http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/05/google-and-htcs-dream-phone-prototype-semi-revealed/)
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
HTC's prototype revealed, sorta (http://www.engadget.com/2007/11/05/google-and-htcs-dream-phone-prototype-semi-revealed/)
That's encouraging, but I have to be honest - I have not been impressed with HTC's first two venture's into the iPhone competition market - the Touch and the Flo - each had nice features, but both were missing one or two of the iPhones necessary features.
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Smokin' hot and brilliant. Damn Tom Brady's a lucky man...
Supermodel Bundchen Joins Hedge Funds Dumping Dollars (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aUdDmoYyZhdY&refer=home)
By Bo Nielsen and Adriana Brasileiro
Nov. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Gisele Bundchen wants to remain the world's richest model and is insisting that she be paid in almost any currency but the U.S. dollar.
Like billionaire investors Warren Buffett and Bill Gross, the Brazilian supermodel, who Forbes magazine says earns more than anyone in her industry, is at the top of a growing list of rich people who have concluded that the currency can only depreciate because Americans led by President George W. Bush are living beyond their means.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Smokin' hot and brilliant. Damn Tom Brady was (http://bostonist.com/2007/10/18/bradybundchen_m.php) a lucky man...
corrected.
uh, actually, come to think of it...
and who knew that gisele had a twin sister?!? <sweetcell's head explodes>
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smackie, how are people supposed to write to the editor-at-large? (i.e., your mailbox is full)
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Originally posted by Greer Zoller:
smackie, how are people supposed to write to the editor-at-large? (i.e., your mailbox is full)
Sorry, the response to this thread has clearly been overwhelming.
I'm going through my mailbox right now so feel free to try again.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
megan - i apologize for making fun of your inability to identify guitar talent, or decent music in general. very un-gentlemanly on my part. i suggest that i make it up to you the next time you're in NYC, by taking you out to dinner and a show, maybe some clubbing afterwards. no, really, it's the least i can do. just let me know the next time you're in town. p.s. feel free to wear that miniskirt (http://www.film.com/photos/2/16859491) you wore in transformers. thanks.
Keep dreaming, fanboy. You think you can say all those mean things about me, just apologize and offer me dinner and a show? Ha! Why would I hang out with YOU when I could hang out with REAL musicians like Pete Wentz and Gerard Way?
Megan
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Originally posted by Brianna Wallace:
Megan
So what's Brian Austin Greene like in the sack? I've always wondered...
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Brianna Wallace:
Megan
So what's Brian Austin Greene like in the sack? I've always wondered... [/b]
wrong thread, discussion of the above moved here (http://www.930.com/cgi-bin/ubb-cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=016459).
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Originally posted by Brianna Wallace:
Keep dreaming, fanboy. You think you can say all those mean things about me, just apologize and offer me dinner and a show? Ha! Why would I hang out with YOU when I could hang out with REAL musicians like Pete Wentz and Gerard Way?
Megan
Dinner?!?
I'm surprised you can eat food with all that collagen in your lips.
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It's like Algiers Out There
I doubt the malls in DC are much different, but I'm noticing a disturbing trend that is turning a nice stroll in the mall into a rapid walk through the market place when you get off the boat in Algiers.
They used to be quite polite and would rely on their charm to sell you something, and you could politely say no thanks and move one. But more and more I'm seeing the center-booth pedlers in the mall (the one's that are in the center of the aisle between the stores) becoming agressive in peddling their crappy goods. You know the one's I'm talking about - stinky hand lotions, perfumes, relaxation pillows, some new trendy hair clip, knock-off sunglasses, Crocs, you name it.
Just today a girl at the hand lotion station literally jumped in front of me and blocked my path to try this stupid stinky lotion. I nearly punched her, but then I remembered I'm not Rhett. But I'm telling you, it's just a matter of time before somebody does strike one of them, or they put lotion on an unsuspecting patron who's allergic to one of the ingredients, or they spray perfume in somebody's eye. And I am not going to feel a bit sorry for them when they're sued. If somebody advertised a mall with no agressive peddlers, I'd go out of my to shop there.
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And this is utterly ridiculous...
Shula Wants an Asterisk if Pats Go Undefeated
Shula: Spygate would diminish a perfect Pats season
ESPN.com news services
Don Shula likes the Patriots' chances of going undefeated, but the Bill Belichick-inspired spying scandal has clouded Shula's thinking when comparing New England with his unbeaten 1972 Dolphins team.
To his chagrin, Don Shula believes the Patriots and Barry Bonds have something in common.
"The Spygate thing has diminished what they've accomplished," Shula said in an interview with the New York Daily News. "You would hate to have that attached to your accomplishments. They've got it."
There's more... (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=3097057&type=story)
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If the fiction writers are on strike, doesn't that mean that Fox News should be off the air too?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Shula Wants an Asterisk if Pats Go Undefeated
he should read the NY Post, then. in their daily print edition's sport section, AFC East standings, they DO have an asterisk by the Pats with the note at the bottom:
* Caught cheating
soooooooooo lame.
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Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
smackie needs a blog
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Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
smackie needs a blog
[/b]
who wants a blog when you can have a tres chic Flog instead :D speaking of which...
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G.M. Posts Its Biggest Quarterly Loss
By NICK BUNKLEY and MICHELINE MAYNARD
Published: November 7, 2007
DETROIT, Nov. 7 ?? General Motors reported a nearly $39 billion third-quarter loss today, its largest ever, after it took a huge noncash charge to write down deferred tax credits.
That's not a typo... (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/business/07cnd-auto.html?hp)
The analysts can say what they want, but I still contend the single largest reason the US Automakers are struggling is because of their insistence on making bigger cars despite not heeding the warnings of an upcoming oil crisis years ago. They are so far behind the game on fuel efficient cars that it may be too late to save them with out (1) major overhaul and (2) government bailout.
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OK, who is this guy and what did you do with the REAL leader of France?
Sarkozy Greeted Warmly by Congress
By ELAINE SCIOLINO
Published: November 7, 2007
WASHINGTON, Nov. 7 ??President Nicolas Sarkozy of France was greeted with cheers and standing ovations in the United States Congress today, a sign that France was forgiven for opposing the American-led war in Iraq. (SMACK: or because "they were right and we were wrong")
In a speech to a joint meeting of Congress ?? a rare honor for a visiting head of state ?? Mr. Sarkozy spoke of his love of the American dream and the cultural icons of the 20th century, from Elvis Presley and John Wayne to Ernest Hemingway and Marilyn Monroe.
He expressed admiration for Martin Luther King Jr. He thanked the United States for saving France in two world wars, rebuilding Europe with the Marshall Plan and fighting communism during the Cold War.(SMACK: a long over due thank you)
When he called France ??the friend of the United States of America,? the hall, packed with lawmakers, many of whom only a few years ago held France in disdain, burst into applause.(SMACK: be careful, the world might be coming to an end)
More Glorious Adoration of the new leader of France, his thoughts on Iran, Trusting Europe and Climate Control... (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/washington/07cnd-sarkozy.html?hp)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
He expressed admiration for Martin Luther King Jr. He thanked the United States for saving France in two world wars, rebuilding Europe with the Marshall Plan and fighting communism during the Cold War.(SMACK: a long over due thank you)
hopefully posting that made you feel better.
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Sweetcell, you have no idea....
On to other things:
So we surveyed 15 general managers, assistants and other assorted personnel at the Hyatt Grand Cypress for their thoughts on the following five questions. Here are the results:
1. Where do you expect Alex Rodriguez to be playing next year?
Responses: Los Angeles Angels, 7.5; New York Mets, 3; Los Angeles Dodgers, 2.5; Baltimore Orioles, 1; Florida Marlins, 1.
2. Where do you expect Barry Bonds to be in 2008?
Responses: Oakland Athletics, 3; Texas Rangers, 2; Seattle, 2; Los Angeles Angels, 1; St. Louis Cardinals, 1; New York Yankees, 1; Tokyo Yomiuri Giants, 1.
Three respondents predicted that Bonds will retire, and one executive said he'll be "in jail."
I was not that GM, but if I were a GM, in jail would have been my response.
More of Crasnick Surveying the MLB Landscape... (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/columns/story?columnist=crasnick_jerry&id=3098341)
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Originally posted by Brianna Wallace:
Originally posted by sweetcell:
megan - i apologize for making fun of your inability to identify guitar talent, or decent music in general. very un-gentlemanly on my part. i suggest that i make it up to you the next time you're in NYC, by taking you out to dinner and a show, maybe some clubbing afterwards. no, really, it's the least i can do. just let me know the next time you're in town. p.s. feel free to wear that miniskirt (http://www.film.com/photos/2/16859491) you wore in transformers. thanks.
Keep dreaming, fanboy. You think you can say all those mean things about me, just apologize and offer me dinner and a show? Ha! Why would I hang out with YOU when I could hang out with REAL musicians like Pete Wentz and Gerard Way?
Megan [/b]
fair enough - given your definition, i'll hang out with REAL women like Jessica Rabbit and Lara Croft, in the meantime.
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Cardinal's Sued Over STD Text Message
ST. LOUIS -- An Illinois woman is suing the St. Louis Cardinals for allowing a text message that falsely suggested her daughter has a sexually transmitted disease to be posted on the ballpark's message board during a game.
The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in St. Louis Circuit Court, claims the 17-year-old girl was so traumatized by the message last year during a class trip that she stayed out of school the rest of the semester and took her finals in a school office to avoid ridicule.
The lawsuit seeks at least $25,000 in damages from the Cardinals, alleging the ballclub negligently failed to properly screen the messages, which fans may submit for a small fee to display on Busch Stadium's electronic message board.
Linky... (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3100957)
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next time i'm at busch stadium, i'm texting to the message board "SMACKIE NEEDS A BLOG".
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Cardinal's Sued Over STD Text Message
the real news here is that 48,000 people showed up to watch the royals play ... way to bury the lead, AP!
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In a rare occurence, I'm lecturing this morning in an international relations course on the situation in Pakistan. In a previous career I worked with Pakistani lawyres and judges to help modernize their 1991 constitution, efforts that were quashed with Musharraf's coup.
Lucky for you, I will share my Cliff Notes so you don't have to take the course. You will not be graded or tested on the following material. You will simply be able to sound like you know what you're talking about at a cocktail party this weekend.
PAKISTAN ?? You should care more about this particular country??s civil unrest than the others occuring today for one reason ?? they have the bomb!
Players:
General Pervez Musharraf (Self-Appointed President, head of the Army)
Benazir Bhutto (former Prime Minister ?? 80??s and 90??s)
Nawaz Sharif (former Prime Minister ?? 90??s)
Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry (Chief Justice 2000??s)
In 1998, while Pakistan was at war with India over the Kashmir region, Pakistan tested a nuclear weapon. The Clinton administration and the UN immediately imposed economic sanctions on Pakistan. In 1999, General Pervez Musharraf, attacked Indian forces in Kargil (part of Kashmir), according to then Prime Minister, Nawaz Sharif, Musharraf did this on his own authority.
In October of 1999, under pressure from the US Government to seek a diplomatic end to the Kashmir conflict, Sharif tried to replace Musharraf as head of the Army while he was out of the country. Unfortunately for Sharif, the Army was loyal to Musharraf, cleared the airport of Sharif??s police forces and allowed Musharraf to return to Pakistan. Musharraf promptly suspended the Constitution in the Coup, declared himself Chief Executive of Pakistan and promised elections ??soon.? Sharif was then sent to exile in Saudi Arabia.
In 2001, without an election, Musharraf declared himself President of Pakistan so that he could represent Pakistan??s interests in meeting with India over the future of the Kashmir region (and how two nuclear powers who distrust each other will live next to each other). This angered the judges, who forced Musharraf to hold elections by Oct 2002. An interesting world event occurred on the way to those elections: Sept 11, 2001.
In preparing the attack of Afghanistan, the Bush administration called the former US ally (they had sent troops to the previous gulf war) and asked them which side they were on: the terrorists or those fighting the terrorists? Musharraf declared his support for the anti-terrorist forces in early 2002 and upset the Islamic western half of his country, known to be friendly to the Taliban and Al Qaeda (Osama Bin Laden is suspected of still being in the western tribal region of Pakistan). The Bush Adminsitration promptly lifted many sanctions against the Musharraf led Pakistan and supplied the government with between $4-$10 Billion of military aid to fight Al Qaeda in the western region.
In April, Musharraf, on the heels of this anti-terrorism pronouncement, held a referendum to ask the people to extend his term as Presidency for 5 years. The legality of the referendum was questioned and the vote itself was seen as fraudulent. Musharraf, under international political pressure, apologized for the referendum and held elections in October of 2002. Pro-Musharraf parties then elected Musharraf as President of Paksitan while the opposition parties sat the elections questioning the legality of Musharraf running for President.
Fast forward five years, and Musharraf??s term is coming to an end. This time the lawyers and the judges were prepared to fight Musharraf on Constitutional grounds, namely that the Pakistani Constitution forbids a standing member of the Army from running for the office of the President. In March of this year, Musharraf relieved Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry from his duties as Chief Justice, hoping to appoint a judge sympathetic to Musharraf. This sent the lawyers and the judges to the streets in protest and Musharraf relented. The Supreme Court then reiterated that Musharraf could not be President and in the Army at the same time. At question was whether or not he could run for President while in the Army - so Musharraf ran for President promising to step down if he was elected. The Supreme Court allowed the election withholding their decision on the legality of Musharraf??s run for office until Nov. 15. In the meantime, Sharif attempted to return to Pakistan to announce his candidacy for the office, however, on the runway, he was charged with corruption while in office and promptly returned to Saudi Arabia.
Another former Prime Minister returned to Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto. She had been in self exile avoiding her own corruption charges. The exact agreement between her and Musharraf is in question, however, Musharraf allowed her to return with immunity. The speculation is possibly one of two things: (1) she has the popular support that Musharraf does not have and possibly promised her the Prime Minister role if she helped him get re-??elected? to the Presidency or (2) under the previous guise Msuharraf allowed her back in the country, planned her assassination in order to frame the extremists so that he can declare a state of emergency and maintain power.
Well, an assassination attempt on Bhutto failed (Musharraf is not letting international police organizations help with the investigation as to who attempted to assassinate Bhutto) and remember that Supreme Court decision? The Supreme Court attempted to beat Musharraf to the State of Emergency by announcing the decision on the legality of his candidacy on the 5th instead of the 15th. Musharraf caught wind of this announcement and, as you??ve seen this past week, Musharraf declared a State of Emergency, suspended the constitution and the elections, rounded up approximately 5,000 judges (including the Supreme Court Justice and those in his court not loyal to Musharraf), lawyers, and political party heads. The lawyers then took the streets in calculated protests (as a lawyer, I don??t think I??ve ever been more proud of the profession then I was earlier in the week to see them defy Musharraf and his police, putting themselves in grave danger on behalf of the pro-democracy people in Pakistan). Musharraf promised (again) to hold new elections in Feb and that he would (again) step down as head of the Army. The international community said that they were going to let Pakistan sort this out until there was mass public protest. Bhutto then organized a mass protest for this morning, however Musharraf squashed it, put Bhutto under house arrest for ??her safety? and blockade the protesters in Bhutto??s home city. Bhutto promises to attempt to take to the streets again with her supporters next week.
So for the first time since the perestroika, a nuclear nation is experiencing civil unrest, and while it??s an exciting time in Pakistan, it??s a frightening time for the rest of the world, especially with Al Qaeda prominently in the country.
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is it not surprising that it has taken so long for the unrest to occur? i remember dire predictions right after 9/11
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
is it not surprising that it has taken so long for the unrest to occur? i remember dire predictions right after 9/11
Well, let's remember that Pakistan is an extremely divided country, so it always seems as though they are on the brink of some catastrophic collapse. The root, of course, being how to mix Shariah law and democracy (which is what I was there to work on).
After 9/11, Musharraf shocked (nearly) everybody by announcing his support for pro-western forces, and while that alienated the islamic-extreme western half of his country, it was likely a point of unison for the rest of the country (who actually vote). It was thought that by embracing democracy (and it's allies) Pakistan might turn the corner. It was how he went about maintaining that power that upset those he united with his pro-western stance, and got him where he's at now.
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High School Football
For those of you that have the Sports Packages with their cable/satellite TV, I welcome you enjoy the battle of Orange County tonight on FSN West/Prime Ticket between my alma mater (Servite) and Smackette's alma mater (Mater Dei) at 7:30pm PT. Over 20,000 people will be in attendance and the game is held at Anaheim Stadium, the only stadium big enough to house the game in The OC.
For the record, my school hasn't beaten Smackette's school since I was a Freshman (when she was in 3rd grade), but I have a good feeling about tonight!
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Matt Barkley
Remember the name. I've seen a lot of great QB's play in high school - Matt Leinart, Carson Palmer, Tom Brady, Todd Marinovich, Jimmy Clausen - and as a Junior, his arm strength beats them all. By the time he gets to USC (if Pete Carroll is still there), he will be the most experienced high school QB of all time (4 year starter at Mater Dei - currently USA Today #19 in the nation).
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Democrats: Colleges must police copyright, or else
New federal legislation says universities must agree to provide not just deterrents but also "alternatives" to peer-to-peer piracy, such as paying monthly subscription fees to the music industry for their students, on penalty of losing all financial aid for their students.
The U.S. House of Representatives bill (PDF) (http://edlabor.house.gov/bills/HEAReauthorizationText.pdf), which was introduced late Friday by top Democratic politicians, could give the movie and music industries a new revenue stream by pressuring schools into signing up for monthly subscription services such as Ruckus and Napster. Ruckus is advertising-supported, and Napster charges a monthly fee per student.
More on the worst idea ever.... (http://news.zdnet.com/2100-9588_22-6217943.html?tag=nl.e550)
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I swear, if you don't read anything else I post, at least read all of this one (and I'm posting it all!). I have been preaching this for years and somebody finally got around to saying it!
November 14, 2007
Op-Ed Columnist
Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Two dates ?? two numbers. Read them and weep for what could have, and should have, been. On Sept. 11, 2001, the OPEC basket oil price was $25.50 a barrel. On Nov. 13, 2007, the OPEC basket price was around $90 a barrel.
In the wake of 9/11, some of us pleaded for a ??patriot tax? on gasoline of $1 or more a gallon to diminish the transfers of wealth we were making to the very countries who were indirectly financing the ideologies of intolerance that were killing Americans and in order to spur innovation in energy efficiency by U.S. manufacturers.
But no, George Bush and Dick Cheney had a better idea. And the Democrats went along for the ride. They were all going to let the market work and not let our government shape that market ?? like OPEC does.
You??d think that one person, just one, running for Congress or the Senate would take a flier and say: ??Oh, what the heck. I??m going to lose anyway. Why not tell the truth? I??ll support a gasoline tax.?
Not one. Everyone just runs away from the ??T-word? and watches our wealth run away to Russia, Venezuela and Iran.
I can??t believe that someone could not win the following debate:
REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE: ??My Democratic opponent, true to form, wants to raise your taxes. Yes, now he wants to raise your taxes at the gasoline pump by $1 a gallon. Another tax-and-spend liberal who wants to get into your pocket.?
DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE: ??Yes, my opponent is right. I do favor a gasoline tax phased in over 12 months. But let??s get one thing straight: My opponent and I are both for a tax. I just prefer that my taxes go to the U.S. Treasury, and he??s ready to see his go to the Russian, Venezuelan, Saudi and Iranian treasuries. His tax finances people who hate us. Mine would offset some of our payroll taxes, pay down our deficit, strengthen our dollar, stimulate energy efficiency and shore up Social Security. It??s called win-win-win-win-win for America. My opponent??s strategy is sit back, let the market work and watch America lose-lose-lose-lose-lose.? If you can??t win that debate, you don??t belong in politics.
??Think about it,? says Phil Verleger, an energy economist. ??We could have replaced the current payroll tax with a gasoline tax. Middle-class consumers would have seen increased take-home pay of between six and nine percent, even though they would have had to pay more at the pump. A stronger foundation for future economic growth would have been laid by keeping more oil revenue home, and we might not now be facing a recession.?
As a higher gas tax discouraged oil consumption, the Harvard University economist and former Bush adviser N. Gregory Mankiw has argued: ??the price of oil would fall in world markets. As a result, the price of gas to [U.S.] consumers would rise by less than the increase in the tax. Some of the tax would in effect be paid by Saudi Arabia and Venezuela.?
But U.S. consumers would have known that, with a higher gasoline tax locked in for good, pump prices would never be going back to the old days, adds Mr. Verleger, so they would have a much stronger incentive to switch to more fuel-efficient vehicles and Detroit would have had to make more hybrids to survive. This would have put Detroit five years ahead of where it is now. ??It??s called the America wins program,? said Mr. Verleger, ??instead of the petro-states win program.?
We simply cannot go on being as dumb as we wanna be. If you hate the war in Iraq, then you want a gasoline tax so you can argue that we can pull out of there without remaining dependent on an even more unstable region. If you want to see us negotiate with Iran, not bomb it, you want a gasoline tax that will give us some real leverage by helping to reduce the income of the ayatollahs.
If you??re a conservative and you believed that the Iraq war was necessary to drive reform in the Middle East, but the war has failed to do that and we need ??Plan B? for the same objective, you want a gasoline tax that will reduce the flow of wealth to petrolist leaders who will never change if all they have to do is drill well holes rather than educate and empower their people.
If you want to see America thrive by becoming the most energy productive economy in the world ?? a title that now belongs to Japan, which doesn??t have a drop of oil in its soil ?? you want a gasoline tax, which will only spur U.S. innovation in energy efficiency.
President Bush squandered a historic opportunity to put America on a radically different energy course after 9/11. But considering how few Democrats or Republicans are ready to tell the people the truth on this issue, maybe we have the president we deserve. I refuse to believe that, but I??m starting to doubt myself.
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Just thought I'd remind you...
Originally posted by vansmack:
2. Where do you expect Barry Bonds to be in 2008?
One executive said he'll be "in jail."
I was not that GM, but if I were a GM, in jail would have been my response.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I swear, if you don't read anything else I post, at least read all of this one (and I'm posting it all!). I have been preaching this for years and somebody finally got around to saying it!
November 14, 2007
Op-Ed Columnist
Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN...
I hate the fact that I'm reading your "blog" you've started here on the board, smackie...BUT I have to admit, this was a fascinating article and one I'll save.
Why do you suppose we don't go the route Friedman proposes? Do the politicians not understand the economics...or is it the back-room dealing with wealthy Arab oil-producing countries that stands in the way?
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Originally posted by Celeste:
Why do you suppose we don't go the route Friedman proposes?
The reasons are mostly political - and by that I mean political suicide.
A simple mention of an increase in the gas tax will cost you an election - even in hippie liberal places like San Francisco. Part of it comes down to a lack of understanding of the tax process as well - even if one were to call it revenue nuetral to the US coffers, and an increase in the amount of take home pay (as the Harvard economist proposes), the simple mail fliers and commercials would ruin any chance of that person being elected. The un-informed electorate would hear nothing but an increase in taxes.
Couple that with most US folks not having a solid grasp of foreign policy, save for wars (especially surounding OPEC and petrolstates), and it's too much for the most voting Americans. I hate to think this, but I would love to see a poll on whether most Americans playing word association with Islamic countries today would say "oil" or "terrorist" first when it comes to OPEC countries. Seven years ago it would be oil, no doubt, but today I'm not so sure.
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do you have a link for that article?
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
do you have a link for that article?
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/opinion/14friedman.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/14/opinion/14friedman.html)
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I don't remember who it was that posted that brilliant Maher interview with Kasparov, but this is what he was referring to. As a former OSCE Election monitor in CEE/NIS, this is particualry disturbing given Putin's history and reluctance to step down as President. I wonder if the US or the UN will now not recognize the elections, as they are want to do when this situation happens is other "dictatorships"?
Press release (http://www.osce.org/odihr/item_1_27967.html)
ODIHR unable to observe Russian Duma elections
WARSAW, 16 November 2007 - The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) has informed the Russian authorities that the Office will be unable to act upon their invitation to observe the 2 December elections to the Russian State Duma.
In a letter to the Russian Central Election Commission, ODIHR Director Ambassador Christian Strohal regretted this conclusion, but said that due to delays and restrictions, ODIHR would be unable to deliver its mandate.
In spite of the delayed receipt of an invitation from the Russian authorities to observe and unprecedented restrictions introduced in the invitation, the ODIHR set out to deliver its mandate conscientiously and in good faith by attempting to deploy an observation mission within the many constraints placed upon the institution.
The ODIHR requested to deploy 20 experts on 7 November and 50 further observers on 15 November. Despite repeated attempts to attain entry visa into the Russian Federation for ODIHR experts and observers, entry visas have continuously been denied.
The ODIHR therefore concludes that the authorities of the Russian Federation remain unwilling to receive ODIHR observers in a timely and co-operative manner and co-operate fully with them. It is with regret that the ODIHR recognizes that it will be unable to deliver its mandate under these circumstances.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I swear, if you don't read anything else I post, at least read all of this one (and I'm posting it all!). I have been preaching this for years and somebody finally got around to saying it!
November 14, 2007
Op-Ed Columnist
Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
hasn't he written a million columns saying this same thing over the last few years?
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Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
hasn't he written a million columns saying this same thing over the last few years?
Not nearly as bluntly or as directly as he did this week.
Yes he has written about going green. Yes he has written about sticking the next generation with the war debt. Yes he has written about the gas tax. And yes he has written about the petrodollars and their effect on Iran, Suadia Arabia, Russia and Venezuela.
But I have never seen someone so directly take on the US Lawmakers and frame such an argument for a gas tax while directly disussing it's effect on US foreign policy, Detroit's lack of innovation and an argument for making it revenue neutral in terms that both liberals and conservatives could actually support in one Op-Ed.
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http://www.apolloalliance.org/apollo_in_the_news/archived_news_articles/2005/03_27_05_nytimes.cfm (http://www.apolloalliance.org/apollo_in_the_news/archived_news_articles/2005/03_27_05_nytimes.cfm)
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Turning down a handjob from a gay guy is like not looking at a rainbow.
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Trade: Angels Get Garland For Cabrera (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3118872)
The Angels added Jon Garland to their rotation Monday, but at a steep price. The White Sox acquired Gold Glove shortstop Orlando Cabrera in exchange for the right-hander.
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Another deal must be in the works because otherwise this makes little sense from Anaheim's standpoint.
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At $400, I think Amazon is crazy to think this is going to be the next big thing. At least they were smart to include free EVDO (Sprint), but why not include wi-fi too?
November 19, 2007
Amazon Launches Wireless Book Reader "Kindle" (http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-amazon-kindle.html?pagewanted=print)
By REUTERS
Filed at 1:14 p.m. ET
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Amazon.com, the world's largest Web retailer, said on Monday it will begin selling an electronic book reader with wireless access, the latest attempt to build consumer interest in portable reading devices.
Although the market for e-books is limited, and competing devices have yet to catch on, one analyst said Amazon's book reader could eventually evolve into one that is able to capture all of the company's many offerings.
The battery-operated Amazon Kindle will sell for $399 and let users download books, newspapers and blogs over a wireless connection. It can carry about 200 books downloaded from Amazon.com at about $10 each for new releases.
Letter from Jeff Bezos (http://www.amazon.com/)
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Yeah, $400 is DOA. Lotsa new laptops barely cost that nowadays.
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Originally posted by Celeste:
Why do you suppose we don't go the route Friedman proposes? Do the politicians not understand the economics...or is it the back-room dealing with wealthy Arab oil-producing countries that stands in the way?
Glenn Greenwald (http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/11/18/friedman/) shows how Friedman is really a giant asshole.
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Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
Glenn Greenwald (http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/11/18/friedman/) shows how Friedman is really a giant asshole.
Needless to say I just about threw up when I read that article on Sunday and vehemently disagreed with it. What's wrong with putting foreign policy back in the hands of the person it's supposed to be in - The Secretary of State - with guidance from the President? To even suggest that a VP (no matter who it is) has that much say in foreign policy is absurd, and you need only point to this administration to see its faults.
However, Greenwald's first paragraph is useless towards the rest of his article and is simply congering up and old piece with a huge dose of hindsight. It's absurd to say that Friedman had more to do with the Iraq war than George Tenet and the rest of the folks peddling the false intelligence. That's who Friedman relied on and that's who the 296 Representatives and 77 Senators relied on. To think otherwise is an attempt to simply make a name for yourself.
Friedman has said for a while now that he was wrong (as do about 100 liberal congressmen) based on falsified intelligence, but more importantly he was pointing out that the Bush strategy upon going into Iraq was wrong from the beginning. I don't think very many people had the feeling that Friedman did on how this particular invasion was doomed from the start. It was much easier to say the war is a bad idea than it was to point out the flaws of the particular invasion.
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Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
Yeah, $400 is DOA. Lotsa new laptops barely cost that nowadays.
wrong comparison/competitor. laptops are heavier, more cumbursome, the screen represents less of the surface, shorter battery life, etc. people who buy this ebook thingy aren't looking for a laptop replacement. they're looking for a book replacement.
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Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
Originally posted by Celeste:
Why do you suppose we don't go the route Friedman proposes? Do the politicians not understand the economics...or is it the back-room dealing with wealthy Arab oil-producing countries that stands in the way?
Glenn Greenwald (http://www.salon.com/opinion/greenwald/2007/11/18/friedman/) shows how Friedman is really a giant asshole. [/b]
that guy is one angry person. . .if i had the desire to read anymore of his spew i'd look to see what he has to say about hitchens; but since i've moved past reading the ramblings of 19 year olds, i won't.
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Let me write the dissenting opinion for you:
There's only one purpose for a handgun - to kill another human being.
That's all I would say.
--------------------------
November 21, 2007
Justices Will Decide if Handgun Kept at Home Is Individual Right
By LINDA GREENHOUSE
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 ?? The Supreme Court announced Tuesday that it would decide whether the Constitution grants individuals the right to keep guns in their homes for private use, plunging the justices headlong into a divisive and long-running debate over how to interpret the Second Amendment??s guarantee of the ??right of the people to keep and bear arms.?
The court accepted a case on the District of Columbia??s 31-year-old prohibition on the ownership of handguns. In adding the case to its calendar, for argument in March with a decision most likely in June, the court not only raised the temperature of its current term but also inevitably injected the issue of gun control into the presidential campaign.
More from the New York Times.... (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/21/us/21scotus.html?_r=1&hp=&oref=slogin&pagewanted=print)
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
Yeah, $400 is DOA. Lotsa new laptops barely cost that nowadays.
wrong comparison/competitor. laptops are heavier, more cumbursome, the screen represents less of the surface, shorter battery life, etc. people who buy this ebook thingy aren't looking for a laptop replacement. they're looking for a book replacement. [/b]
No one's questioning the technology or the audience, we're questioning the price.
At that price point, which are folks more likely to spend their money on? That's the make or break argument for this device. And on that I agree with beetsnotbeats on - I'm much more likely to spend my money on a more fully functional device until the price point comes way down. Even if I added the savings of my books and magazine subscriptions (well, at least the ones I read and not just peruse the pictures), it still doesn't make economic sense at $400.
I have a Dell Latitude X1, which is roughly the same size at that device (half an inch longer, 3/4 inch wider, roughly 1 pound heavier). I've always wished they made a tablet version of my laptop - I'd buy one in a second, even with the battery limitations. I would pay $200-$300 more for that laptop with full functionality much quicker than I would pay $400 for just a reader.
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Google-DoubleClick: Tough sell in EU
By Dawn Kawamoto
http://www.news.com/Google-DoubleClick-Tough-sell-in-EU/2100-1030_3-6219589.html (http://www.news.com/Google-DoubleClick-Tough-sell-in-EU/2100-1030_3-6219589.html)
Story last modified Wed Nov 21 06:40:29 PST 2007
Google's megamerger proposal with DoubleClick could face greater scrutiny in Europe than the United States if antitrust regulators decide the deal takes the companies into new markets.
The European Commission, which announced last week that it has pushed Google's merger proposal into its more rigorous "second phase" review, tends to follow two lines of investigation--current and future markets--when it looks at the antitrust implications of mergers. American trustbusters, on the other hand, take a narrower view.
For Google, that means its $3.1 billion planned merger is likely to pass antitrust muster in the United States, but faces a much tougher sell in Europe.
----------------------
Google is likely to be the second tech company this year (or maybe next) to win in the States and lose in Europe, Microsoft being the first.
This reminded me of a great article I read on How the European Union is becoming the world's chief regulator (http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=9832900), for all its good and bad.
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For those that missed the 5 HD-DVD players they had at Walmart....
Amazon is having a similar sale. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000U62N1S/ref=amb_link_5900732_1?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-1&pf_rd_r=1WMEG84FH67CYAVP14JE&pf_rd_t=1401&pf_rd_p=331132101&pf_rd_i=1000167901)
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Torii Hunter Reaches A Deal With Angels
Former Twins star Hunter agrees to 5-year contract with Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. -- Outfielder Torii Hunter and the Los Angeles Angels reached a preliminary agreement Wednesday night on a five-year contract thought to be worth $90 million.
"They play the game the right way," Hunter said. "They play hard-nosed baseball."
The agreement is subject to a physical.
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3123200 (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3123200)
-----------------------------
I'm still shaking my head. Who's going to play shortstop? I'll espouse a crazy theory on you like the one where one GM knew Bonds would be indicted. Anaheim knows that Matthews is in trouble in the Mitchell report and will face a long suspension - that's why they signed Hunter. Either that or shipping Matthews to St. Louis as payback for the Bottenfield deal.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Let me write the dissenting opinion for you:
There's only one purpose for a handgun - to kill another human being.
That's all I would say.[/b]
here's my take on this stuff from almost 7 years ago (god, i'm old):
http://www.thehoya.com/viewpoint/022701/view2.htm (http://www.thehoya.com/viewpoint/022701/view2.htm)
i spent a lot of time on this issue in college and it was really demoralizing to see how much ground we lost post-9/11 ... the movement really had the wind knocked out of its sails
i was really hoping this wasn't going to be granted cert, and it doesn't look good right now at all
do you read scotusblog (http://www.scotusblog.com/wp/)?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I don't remember who it was that posted that brilliant Maher interview with Kasparov, but this is what he was referring to.
Press release (http://www.osce.org/odihr/item_1_27967.html)
ODIHR unable to observe Russian Duma elections
Saturday, Nov. 24, 2007
Russian Police Detain Kasparov
By AP/MANSUR MIROVALEV
(Moscow) ?? Riot police beat and detained opposition leader Garry Kasparov Saturday as they took dozens of protesters into custody at a rally against President Vladimir Putin, his assistant said.
The former chess champion was forced to the ground and beaten, his assistant Marina Litvinovich said in a telephone interview from outside the police station where Kasparov was held.
He was later taken to a city court, where he was charged with organizing an unsanctioned protest and resisting arrest. The court proceedings were continuing Saturday evening and it was unclear whether Kasparov would be released.
"What we see today is the implementation of Putin's plan," Kasparov told journalists in the courtroom. "Putin's plan" is what the dominant pro-Kremlin party is calling its platform in the current parliamentary campaign.
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1687284,00.html (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1687284,00.html)
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November 26, 2007
Lott to Resign Senate Seat Before End of Year
By DAVID M. HERSZENHORN and JOHN HOLUSHA
WASHINGTON, Nov. 26 ?? Senator Trent Lott of Mississippi, the former Republican leader who was forced to step down in 2002 after making a remark that seemed to support segregation, announced today that he will resign by the end of the year.
Speaking to a crowd of supporters at a televised news conference in Pascagoula, Miss., Mr. Lott said he and his wife, Trish, had decided that they still had enough ??time left to do something else? after his 35 years in the House and Senate.
He said he had ??nothing definite at this time,? but suggested he might want to teach. He said he had called President Bush and Vice President Cheney last night to notify them of his decision.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/26/us/politics/26cnd-lott.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/26/us/politics/26cnd-lott.html)
-------------------
But what you need to know is in the 5th paragraph. It's called cashing in:
By resigning before the end of the year, Mr. Lott would beat the effective date for new ethics rules that double to two years the amount of time a former public official must wait before he can join a firm to lobby his former colleagues. The new rule applies to those who leave office ??on or after? Dec. 31.
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Even I can learn something from Fox News, though I still hate the song:
Neil Diamond: Caroline Kennedy Inspired 'Sweet Caroline'
Tuesday , November 20, 2007
LOS ANGELES ??
Neil Diamond held onto the secret for decades, but he has finally revealed that President Kennedy's daughter was the inspiration for his smash hit "Sweet Caroline."
"I've never discussed it with anybody before ?? intentionally," the 66-year-old singer-songwriter told The Associated Press on Monday during a break from recording. "I thought maybe I would tell it to Caroline when I met her someday."
He got his chance last week when he performed the song via satellite at Caroline Kennedy Schlossberg's 50th birthday party.
Diamond was a "young, broke songwriter" when a photo of the president's daughter in a news magazine caught his eye.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312306,00.html (http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,312306,00.html)
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If you watched any football at all between Thanksgiving and today, you surely saw the new Ford Ads touting the new Microsoft powered Sync system. If, like me, you ignored them until you heard the Band of Horses song and then ran immediately to your computer to learn more, here's what you would have learned:
(1) The system is fairly well represented in the commercials - it has two main functions - to allow the driver to control a cell phone wirelessly via bluetooth and to connect and control your music player via a USB cable. It syncs with the top 50 selling cell phones and mp3 players (http://www.syncmyride.com/Own/SupportContent/PDF/IOP_V100_US_EN.pdf), except the shuffle. For the mp3 players not listed, there is an aux plug for simple music playback.
(2) It's currently standard on the Ford Focus SES, and available on most other higher end Fords for $395. It will be spread to Lincoln and Mercury by the end of the year. It is exclusive to the Ford series through November 2008, then it will be available to other companies that adopt it.
(3) Expect commercials in the future to describe another feature - it's ability to read text messages aloud to the driver and send automated responses. But I would hold off on that commercial until Microsoft updates the voice - apparently it's really bad.
(4) You can sync up to 12 different phones, but can only sync with one phone at a time. There is a priority list for when more than one of the synced phones is in the car, and you can edit this priority at any time.
(5) If you don't want to use the voice activation stuff, you can use on screen menus.
(6) With MP3 players, it will recognize voice commands that are essentially the same as those on an iPod display, including play genre, artist, album, song or a playlist. Sync can play audio files stored on a music phone via Bluetooth, will play songs stored on a flash drive that is plugged in the USB port and it will charge any device connected to its USB port.
(7) It takes a while to index larger players on its first use, but is supposed to be fairly efficient after that.
I'm hoping to try one later in the week and will report back on how well it works and how easy it is to set up.
Sync Home (syncmyride.com) (http://www.syncmyride.com/)
AutoWeek (http://www.autoweek.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200771002006)
News.com (http://www.news.com/Microsoft-revs-its-automotive-engines/2100-1008_3-5111932.html)
Cnet (http://blogs.cnet.com/8301-13526_1-9823105-27.html)
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Emma Clarke, that lovely voice of the London Tube system that tells you to mind the gap, among other things, was fired allegedly for making mock announcements available on her web site. (http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/11/26/in-london-stand-clear-of-the-closing-bores/index.html?ex=1353733200&en=a6a70bd99f992383&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss) I was too late in getting there as her site was overwhelmed, but here are the transcripts of some:
We would like to remind our American tourist friends that you are almost certainly talking too loudly.
Would the passenger in the red shirt pretending to read the paper but who is actually staring at that woman??s chest please stop. You are not fooling anyone, you filthy pervert.
Would passengers filling in answers on their Sudokus please accept that they are just crosswords for the unimaginative and are not in any way more impressive just because they contain numbers.
Here we are crammed again into a sweaty Tube carriage ? If you??re female, smile at the bloke next to you and make his day. He??s probably not had sex for months.
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I'm sure Apple will take credit, and they should. Their profit mongering and closed business tactics have forced the rest of the industry to either compete by closing more of their business down, or take the exact opposite approach - open it all up and see what happens.
First Google, now Verizon, and I expect Sprint to follow. This is huge for the industry:
Verizon Shocks Wireless World By Promising To Open Its Network
Verizon Wireless plans to publish technical standards next year that software developers can use to design products that will interface with the carrier's network.
By Elena Malykhina
InformationWeek
November 27, 2007 11:10 AM
Verizon (NYSE: VZ) Wireless shocked the U.S. wireless industry on Tuesday, announcing that starting next year it will open up its nationwide network to mobile devices, software, and applications not offered by the carrier.
Verizon Wireless plans to publish technical standards next year that software developers can use to design products that will interface with the carrier's network. Mobile devices that meet the minimum technical standard will be activated on the network. Details of the standards will be disclosed at a later date, the company said.
The carrier has set up a $20-million testing lab where mobile devices will be tested and approved. It also hopes to get input from developers about running outside devices on its network and the impact they might have on network performance.
More from Information Week: (http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=204203940)
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For the baseball guys....
Rob Neyer does a comparison of the last 10 Boras contracts signed and whether the team got a good deal or not. (http://insider.espn.go.com/mlb/insider/columns/story?columnist=neyer_rob&id=3128891) It's free on insider today too.
One thing he doesn't point out that I will point out for you - not a single one of those guys in those ten big contracts won a world series with/for that team.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
For the baseball guys....
on a somewhat similar note, have you ever seen a rational explanation in the form of a column like this for the value placed on NFL draft picks in trades for active players?
i know salary / recent performance / cancer-to-the-team issues loom large, but there's such a huge disparity between, say, the Bucs giving up two 1st rounders to get Keyshawn Johnson and the Pats giving up a 4th rounder to get Randy Moss
it's always baffled me
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I have to be honest - being a GM in the NFL is a job I don't think I'd ever be able to do. When you add a salary cap it makes things like a 4th rounder for Moss make sense - that's my guess anyway.
I have a childhood friend who's in his 9th year as a middle linebacker in the NFL. A couple years ago I ran into him at Xmas time when we were both home and I asked him how he went from being on multiple practice squads out of Stanford as a strong safety, to defensive captain for the Falcons in 4 years. He said that high draft pick rookies aren't given the chance to develop in the NFL because they're so expensive. They must produce immediately, or they kill the cap (of course they still get a huge payout). He said he was given a chance by Atlanta because he was cheap and took advantage of that and worked really hard. Interestingly, he also said he was careful about not taking the huge payout too early to price himself out of the league.
If that's the effect it has on the players, could you imagine what a GM must go through?
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Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
Originally posted by vansmack:
For the baseball guys....
on a somewhat similar note, have you ever seen a rational explanation in the form of a column like this for the value placed on NFL draft picks in trades for active players?
i know salary / recent performance / cancer-to-the-team issues loom large, but there's such a huge disparity between, say, the Bucs giving up two 1st rounders to get Keyshawn Johnson and the Pats giving up a 4th rounder to get Randy Moss
[/b]
i would also add union pressures. remember, the baseball union was adamantly opposed to a-rod reworking his rangers contract to take less money to go to boston. whereas in football, the union is nowhere near as strong as baseball's, to put it lightly. couple that with non-guaranteed contracts, and you can make anything make sense and under the cap.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
couple that with non-guaranteed contracts, and you can make anything make sense and under the cap.
Yes - this is a huge point that was underlying my remarks about not taking the huge payout too soon. The non-guaranteed contracts and the structure by which signing bonuses count against the salary cap make it just a complete mess. This is a huge reason why the Niners are going to be rebuilding for a long time (crimes from the 90's) and why the Redskins will be in trouble for a long time (Dan Snyder crimes).
This is also a big reason why the Niners had to trade their 2008 #1 that eventually ended up in New England - they couldn't afford another top 10 pick.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I have a childhood friend who's in his 9th year as a middle linebacker in the NFL.
you're childhood friends with chris draft? i won my fantasy football league championship in 2003 and he was a crucial IDP performer for me!
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Originally posted by BookerT:
you're childhood friends with chris draft?
I am. We lived about 3 blocks apart and were on the same soccer team and little league team for years. His older brother was actually my age, and Chris was in the grade behind me. They were both the best athletes in the neighborhood - Chris just got big while his brother stayed skinny.
Smackette is super happy that he's a Ram now, as that is her favorite team.
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Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
on a somewhat similar note, have you ever seen a rational explanation in the form of a column like this for the value placed on NFL draft picks in trades for active players?
A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.
Just look at the redskins first round draft picks from the late '90s - Heath Shuler - Michael Westbrook - Andre Johnson - Kenard Lang.
Keyshawn may be a total douchebag, but at least he proved himself in the NFL for a few years. Draft picks are a crapshoot.
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For Fico, NKOTB and anybody else who will admit to watching The Hills (courtesy of the Sport Guy):
http://www.bestweekever.tv/2007/10/25/reality-victims-unit-meet-gavin-my-friend-who-went-on-a-date-with-lc-from-the-hills/ (http://www.bestweekever.tv/2007/10/25/reality-victims-unit-meet-gavin-my-friend-who-went-on-a-date-with-lc-from-the-hills/)
I am shocked and appalled that the producers are making calls that are making the show less than real. I mean, Justin-Bobby is not like that in the real world?
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"I guess people should just try to remember that this is all entertainment, and just as I??m not the boring dork they made me out to be, Lauren and the other people on the show are sometimes capable of being nice, decent, funny people. Except for Spencer, I hear he??s really like that"
hahahahah
was last nights worth watching?
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
was last nights worth watching?
Justin-Bobby was in rare form last night, but Spencers sister is an apple that didn't fall too far from the tree. Amazing, that one. We haven't seen the last of her for sure.
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Google will release a version of Google Desktop for the Mac tomorrow that lets users install gadgets ?? something previous versions didn??t support.
Why would Mac users need a sidebar when they already have their dashboard? Well, it turns out there is no sidebar, and gadgets are installed into the dashboard.
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Google/?p=821&tag=nl.e589 (http://blogs.zdnet.com/Google/?p=821&tag=nl.e589)
I'm addicted to Google Dashboard Gadgets.
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dashboard is pretty sweet. my epl news one stopped working though :(
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
dashboard is pretty sweet. my epl news one stopped working though :(
I deleted that one as it kept ruining games I was recording to watch later in the day. Same with the Champs League and UEFA gadgets.
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i like it during the transfer window
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Bill Simmons, aka The Sports Guy, did a marathon chat today for the Jimmy V Foundation (over 7 hours!)
http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/special/billsimmons?event_id=18257 (http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/special/billsimmons?event_id=18257)
If you're like me and can't stand the white type on a dark background (I practically go into seziures), I've made a PDF of the chat wrap:
http://www.mediafire.com/?bwymvbhmwic (http://www.mediafire.com/?bwymvbhmwic)
Makes for nice bathroom reading.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
If you're like me and can't stand the white type on a dark background (I practically go into seziures)
things sweetcell thinks you ought to know:
when putting together a PowerPoint presentation that is meant to be projected, white/light letters on a dark background looks better and is easier to read.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
things sweetcell thinks you ought to know:
when putting together a PowerPoint presentation that is meant to be projected, white/light letters on a dark background looks better and is easier to read.
Only if you can control the lighting in the room. If you can't, you're destined for disaster.
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Remember when I said:
Originally posted by vansmack:
I'll espouse a crazy theory on you like the one where one GM knew Bonds would be indicted. Anaheim knows that Matthews is in trouble in the Mitchell report and will face a long suspension - that's why they signed Hunter.
Well now I feel a little better about that:
Moreno on Mitchell report: 'There's going to be names'
ESPN.com news services
Updated: November 29, 2007, 12:03 PM ET
It remains to be seen if the players contacted by George Mitchell's investigators are actually named in the report, which is due for release sometime before Christmas.
But Los Angeles Angels owner Arte Moreno raised the bar Wednesday when he said the report on the use of performance-enhancing drugs in Major League Baseball will include names of players.
"The names of players will come out that people will be mad about," Moreno, quoted by The Los Angeles Times in Thursday's editions, said. "Some of my information is second hand, but I know there's going to be names."
More... (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3133290)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Bill Simmons, aka The Sports Guy, did a marathon chat today for the Jimmy V Foundation
Ugh! You like Bill Simmons?!?! He's AWFUL. The prototype jock-sniffing blogger who's obsessed with TV and video games and has nothing unique or intelligent to say. He's even worse that Chuck Klosterman. Both are the sound of one hand clapping and the other hand down their pants.
Plus, could someone explain to me the entire "Jimmy V" cult? He died of cancer? So did millions of people. What's so special about him? Does he have an inspiring story? Did he make a real difference? Alex's Lemonade is a great story. Jimmy Valvano is saint because he gave some ESPN speech about how you're supposed to "laugh every day, cry every day and think every day?" Thanks, Mr. Rogers!
Maybe Klosterman and Simmons never had fathers who could teach them how to throw a football. They're the sad, pathetic kind of bloggers I was referring to the other day.
I mean just LOOK at those pictures:
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/e/e6/ChuckK.JPG/200px-ChuckK.JPG" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/cd/Bill_Simmons_by_David_Shankbone.jpg/180px-Bill_Simmons_by_David_Shankbone.jpg" alt=" - " />
Brian
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what if i told you he liked fall out boy
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by sweetcell:
things sweetcell thinks you ought to know:
when putting together a PowerPoint presentation that is meant to be projected, white/light letters on a dark background looks better and is easier to read.
Only if you can control the lighting in the room. If you can't, you're destined for disaster. [/b]
not in my experience with PPT (which is quite a bit). oh no - are going to have to chalk this one up to "YMMV"?!?
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
not in my experience with PPT (which is quite a bit). oh no - are going to have to chalk this one up to "YMMV"?!?
Well, it's never happened to me, but I can think of at least three times where I've been in the audience where somebody tried to have the lights turned off to give a powerpoint presentation and the room was too dark for people to take notes, so they tried to turn off only half the lights, which wasn't possible.
So the choice was no notes for your audience, or no one could read what was on the screen. Once, they ended up doing a B&W version with the lights on, but of course, all the writing on the graphics wasn't visible (the graphics remain in color).
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
Plus, could someone explain to me the entire "Jimmy V" cult? He died of cancer? So did millions of people. What's so special about him? Does he have an inspiring story? Did he make a real difference? Alex's Lemonade is a great story. Jimmy Valvano is saint because he gave some ESPN speech about how you're supposed to "laugh every day, cry every day and think every day?" Thanks, Mr. Rogers!
i also hate the Jimmy V shit that ESPN shoves down our throats ... i was trying to watch 'cuse get their asses whupped last night by a mediocre A10 team and i'm subjected to call-in interview after call-in interview about Jimmy V ... WHO THE FUCK CARES??
this is the real problem: the sports culture is full of barely-sentient athletes who lack any sense of irony or skepticism ... they act like hard-asses 95% of the time, then turn into an oprah episode when they decide to show any emotional range ... there is ZERO in-between ground ... any type of emotion is channeled into the schlockiest "chicken soup for the soul" type of hokum with retarded high school children shooting 3-point shots and dying fathers getting liver transplants from ex-teammates
i think the main difference between "sports bloggers" like deadspin and the like is really just a healthy dose of skepticism and a refusal to cave into the emotional crap that the mainstream sports media forces on us
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There's really never going to be much progress in the Islamic World until there can be better understanding of Shar'ia Law and it's inability to adapt to modern basic freedoms:
British Teacher Sentenced to 15 Days in Sudan Prison (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article2966023.ece)
Saudi's Sentence Gang Rape Victim to 200 lashes, 6 months in Jail (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7098480.stm)
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ESPN is having a contest for the greatest Sportscenter Commercial of all time (http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=3266).
I'm boycotting the vote because they left out some of the best commercials of all time, even outside of Sportscenter:
Be a Big Buddy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iVrFc7OlXs&feature=related)
Can I have the Country of Origin please? (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Y0RJSHnTqw&feature=related)
American Cheese (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APOtRvO6moA&feature=related)
That's Weird (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EGSI316RwWs&feature=related)
And my personal favorites:
The New Kid (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0HxRkFtIIdA&feature=related)
The Nogahyde (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GisL-VBXQ2g&feature=related)
Shue for Steiner (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yu74zuyVSrw&feature=related)
And Y2K (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPt3eLv7Ie0)
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
Originally posted by vansmack:
Bill Simmons, aka The Sports Guy, did a marathon chat today for the Jimmy V Foundation
Plus, could someone explain to me the entire "Jimmy V" cult? He died of cancer? So did millions of people. What's so special about him? Does he have an inspiring story? Did he make a real difference?
Brian [/b]
Perhaps you've noticed that ESPN has a culture. Chris Berman is the spiritual leader. Sports Center anchors tend to be sarcastic and use catch-phrases. And Dick Vitale is college hoops. Jim Valvano's legacy - esp. b/c of his closeness w/ Vitale - is part of that culture. A lot of ESPN's culture is cliche or worse (e.g. Mark May and Lou Holtz), but that's the network's foundation.
Valvano wasn't a saint but is the namesake of a foundation that raises money for cancer research. This may offend you, but the fact that "millions of people" have died of cancer suggests that research to fight cancer is a valuable thing.
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Damn. I was a fan.
Emily Sander's, aka Zoey Zane, Body Found (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22030368/)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I don't remember who it was that posted that brilliant Maher interview with Kasparov, but this is what he was referring to.
Press release (http://www.osce.org/odihr/item_1_27967.html)
ODIHR unable to observe Russian Duma elections
Russian Police Detain Kasparov
By AP/MANSUR MIROVALEV
http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1687284,00.html (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1687284,00.html)
This was the original thread. (http://www.930.com/cgi-bin/ubb-cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=016357)
And he's your ongoing update. He was released from prison, but promises chaos as the election gets closer (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/world/europe/30russia.html?ex=1354078800&en=137824b668ee4d84&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)(it's Sunday for those that don't know).
I still maintain that his life is in danger.
But it looks straight out of a movie:
<img src="http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2007/11/29/world/29kasparov.600.jpg" alt=" - " />
And lastly, I'm going to add this to your sylabus as to why Kasparov and other moderates are so worried about Russia:
The rewriting of history
The Kremlin uses its version of the past to forge a new ideology for the present (http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10102921)
For those that aren't going to read that link, there's a new history manual sponsored by Putin's people that teaches that the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 is not seen as a watershed from which a new history begins, but as an unfortunate and tragic mistake that hindered Russia's progress, Ghorbachev was the worst ruler in Russia's history, Putin is a quasi-czar, and that Russia did not lose the Cold War, Russia simply ended it.
Now, you might want to read that link.
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hey, van, you still in san fran.? i watched this fucking awesome doc. last night. it was called, the wild parrots of telegraph hill. ever been there? i never knew san fran. was so beautiful.
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Vansmack and Venerable want you to know that:
(1) The Top 4 are automatically eligible
(2) The Top 14 teams have priority
(3) No more than two teams from each divsion of the SEC, ACC, Big 10, Big 10, Pac 10 or Big East can qualify
(4) Any non "Big Division" team in the top 12 must be picked (Hawaii is currently down by 21)
(5) Rose Bowl gets first pick if (when) one of their teams is picked
Therefore, Illinois and ASU stand to benefit, while Florida and either Mizzou or Kansas stand to lose out despite being in the top 10 in the BCS.
We assume the C in BCS stands for clusterfuck. We are therefore, sympathetic to two things:
(1) Conference Championship corollary (or the Mizzou Rule) - if you make the conference championship, you deserve priority over another divison team who didn't make the conference championship if you're in the top 14 [but we can be swayed to top 10 instead fo 14].
(2) The old bowl format with a "Plus One" Game
This is worse than 2001, but not as bad as 2004.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
This was the original thread. (http://www.930.com/cgi-bin/ubb-cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=016357)
ODIHR unable to observe Russian Duma elections -Press release (http://www.osce.org/odihr/item_1_27967.html)
Russian Police Detain Kasparov (http://www.time.com/time/world/article/0,8599,1687284,00.html)[/url]
By AP/MANSUR MIROVALEV
The rewriting of history (http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10102921)
Russia's election
How it was rigged (http://www.economist.com/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=10238268)
Dec 3rd 2007 | MOSCOW
From Economist.com
A farce of a poll, but Vladimir Putin looks stronger
IT WAS never in doubt that Vladimir Putin??s United Russia party would get a sweeping victory in the parliamentary elections on Sunday December 2nd. The entire government machine, the court system, the prosecution service, the police, the state media and even the central commission itself were deployed to produce a landslide victory. The result was programmed months ago: United Russia got its 64%; just three other parties??the Communists, the ultra-nationalist and obedient Liberal Democratic Party and Just Russia, a Kremlin satellite??passed a 7% threshold.
Nor was there any doubt that the poll was rigged. (http://www.economist.com/PrinterFriendly.cfm?story_id=10238268)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
ESPN is having a contest for the greatest Sportscenter Commercial of all time (http://proxy.espn.go.com/chat/sportsnation/polling?event_id=3266)
my roommate in college was the georgetown bulldog mascot
he almost killed himself at the ESPN the Magazine "Mascot Picnic" ... remember those 2-min ads that ran non-stop on ESPNNEWS for a while? he inexplicably jumped off a picnic table onto an enormous bouncy ball, almost snapped his neck in half
he was also in a pretty good one where he steals some nascar driver's car and does doughnuts in the parking lot
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Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
he was also in a pretty good one where he steals some nascar driver's car and does doughnuts in the parking lot (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zo_0bo9O5ds)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Vansmack and Venerable want you to know that:
(1) The Top 4 are automatically eligible
(2) The Top 14 teams have priority
(3) No more than two teams from each divsion of the SEC, ACC, Big 10, Big 10, Pac 10 or Big East can qualify
(4) Any non "Big Division" team in the top 12 must be picked (Hawaii is currently down by 21)
(5) Rose Bowl gets first pick if (when) one of their teams is picked
Therefore, Illinois and ASU stand to benefit, while Florida and either Mizzou or Kansas stand to lose out despite being in the top 10 in the BCS.
We assume the C in BCS stands for clusterfuck. We are therefore, sympathetic to two things:
(1) Conference Championship corollary (or the Mizzou Rule) - if you make the conference championship, you deserve priority over another divison team who didn't make the conference championship if you're in the top 14 [but we can be swayed to top 10 instead fo 14].
(2) The old bowl format with a "Plus One" Game
This is worse than 2001, but not as bad as 2004.
Why should anyone bother watching college football until this shit is cleared up. The orange bowl and rose bowl can go fuck themselves.
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Hey Smackie, when are you going over to Russia to help them get things straightened out?
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
Why should anyone bother watching college football until this shit is cleared up. The orange bowl and rose bowl can go fuck themselves.
i dont know about anyone else but i only watch my team (penn state) and even then not every week. might watch the championship game too
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
Why should anyone bother watching college football until this shit is cleared up. The orange bowl and rose bowl can go fuck themselves.
I am definitely boycotting the Orange Bowl. There's no way I'm watching that.
I will, however, watch the Rose Bowl because they have been consistently against the BCS from the beginning and this is just another show by them as to why the BCS is not the proper solution. I kind of like that they kept tradition and picked an eligible Big 10 team.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I am definitely boycotting the Orange Bowl. There's no way I'm watching that.
I will, however, watch the Rose Bowl because they have been consistently against the BCS from the beginning and this is just another show by them as to why the BCS is not the proper solution. I kind of like that they kept tradition and picked an eligible Big 10 team.
a 3 loss big 10 team that Missouri beat on a neutral field, its bs no matter how you slice it
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Hey Smackie, when are you going over to Russia to help them get things straightened out?
Been there, done that. I'm retired from the International Develoment world, especially in the NIS (and under this administration). There are plenty of young people out there with more enrgy than me who can still make a difference though.
I would like to point this out however: disagree with Chavez all you want, but he put his socialist reforms for Venezuela up for referendum and lost (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/world/americas/04venezuela.html?hp). He was even gracious in defeat. It might not have been a completely fair election by international parlance, but it was 1000 times more fair than Russia.
Both of these votes illustrate, however, that as long as these rulers enjoy huge revenues from gas/oil to buy the peoples vote, people will support them.
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
a 3 loss big 10 team that Missouri beat on a neutral field, its bs no matter how you slice it
I'm not saying it was the best pick, but it at least can be explained by tradition, which was the Rose Bowl's fight with the BCS from the very beginning. They've been consistent.
The Orange Bowl has absolutely no excuse for not picking Mizzou. I can't even imagine it was better for revenues.
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BTW - I'll be running a Bowl Pool this year as soon as it's available. I don't think Yahoo has ever done one, so I've been using CBS for the past few years. You pick every game (no spreads) and then rank them based on your confidence in the winner (1-33).
I'm up for suggestions if anyone has any better ideas for a college bowl pool.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
There's really never going to be much progress in the Islamic World until there can be better understanding of Shar'ia Law and it's inability to adapt to modern basic freedoms:
British Teacher Sentenced to 15 Days in Sudan Prison (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/africa/article2966023.ece)
It really is going to take brave Muslim leaders in free countries to do more of this to help with all of the disagreements:
Sudan's President pardoned the British School teacher after meeting with two Muslim members of Britain's House of Lords, Nazir Ahmed and Sayeeda Warsi, who had traveled to the predominantly Muslim African nation to lobby for her release. (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/03/AR2007120300465.html?hpid=topnews)
Kudos to them.
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Law Professor Estimates His Copyright Liability in the Billions
To make the point that copyright law is wildly out of sync with people's behavior and expectations, a law professor at the University of Utah has published an article (http://www.turnergreen.com/publications/Tehranian_Infringement_Nation.pdf) describing how he would be liable for an estimated $4.5-billion in damages a year if copyright holders assiduously enforced their rights. The professor, John Tehranian, says he starts the day infringing when he responds to e-mail messages. His responses automatically include copies of the messages on which he is commenting. Within an hour he has replied to and forwarded 20 e-mail messages, making him liable for $3-million in statutory damages, Mr. Tehranian writes in the Utah Law Review. Later, he violates the Copyright Act when he distributes to his students copies of three Internet articles analyzing a Supreme Court decision handed down an hour earlier. And when he bares his chest to go swimming he reveals a Captain Caveman tattoo on his right shoulder.
The professor acknowledges he is assuming a narrow interpretation of fair use and a reading of case law that favors copyright holders. Still, his point is that the law needs fixing. "One must either irrationally conclude that John is a criminal infringer--a veritable grand larcenist--or blithely surmise that copyright law must not mean what it appears to say," he writes. "Something is clearly amiss."--Andrea L. Foster
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I woke up this morning with the feeling there was going to be an early Christmas present like the year I found out the Angels signed Vlad. Well, there wasn't anything yet, but I did read this from the BirdMart section (the clearance store for cheap MLB players):
The Orioles and Dodgers met last night and discussed Miguel Tejada, according to two baseball sources. But according to one source, the match between the two teams did not appear to be there. Tejada has let it be known that he is only willing to move to third base if he goes to a contending team.
All of my Dodger fan friends loved that.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I woke up this morning with the feeling there was going to be an early Christmas present like the year I found out the Angels signed Vlad.
or last year with larrson
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Who didn't see this coming?
Apple, AT&T sued over iPhone's visual voice mail (http://www.news.com/8301-13579_3-9828078-37.html?part=dht)
I smell a settlement.
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The Vivendi-Activision merger (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/03/technology/03activision.html?_r=1&ref=technology&oref=slogin) is great news for gamers. Unfortunately the fallout is that, now, huge conglomerates NOT involved in the gaming industry are going to start buying up smaller gaming companies. The end result of those types of mergers could be bad for the games being produced, but surely not profits for the conglomerates. Gamers can only hope that other large media companies that have a video games division (like Vivendi) will get on the wagon before other conglomerates do.
3 good things to come out of the Merger:
#1 - The profits from Vivendi's "World of Warcraft" will equal better games for the consoles. It's an odd twist in that consoles drove PC games sales for much of the last 20 years.
#2 - EA Games now has a true rival in Activision Blizzard, and that can only be good for the industry. Let's be honest, EA has gotten very complacent with it's cash cows of yearly updated games, mostly in the sports arena.
#3 - What's not being talked about but what might be of most interest to this board, Guitar Hero now has unfettered access to the entire Universal Music catalog (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Music).
Rock on.
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The Twins and Angels continue to talk about a Johan Santana trade. Many of the same players mentioned in the Miguel Cabrera sweepstakes -- Howie Kendrick, Brandan Wood, Nick Adenhart, and possibly Jeff Mathis or Reggie Willits -- would be included in a package for Santana.
It is believed that the Angels haven't talked with the Marlins since last night, and Miguel Cabrera is off their radar screen -- at least for now.
Boston increased it's offer to include Jacoby Ellsbury (hmm, after Jacoby signed with Boras, they decide to deal him?) and the Yankees and Twins haven't talked at all so far Tuesday about Johan Santana.
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How about a Santana for Torii Hunter trade?
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
How about a Santana for Torii Hunter trade?
A little more to your liking:
The Jays are kicking the tires on Erik Bedard, and they could include A.J. Burnett in a package for the Orioles' ace. Bedard is Canadian, and Burnett, who could opt out of his contract next winter, has family ties to the Baltimore area -- something that is important to O's owner Peter Angelos.
The Orioles and Dodgers may be close on a deal that will send left-hander Erik Bedard to Los Angeles, a baseball source said. The O's are in need of a center fielder and a closer who can play at the major league level, and the Dodgers seem willing to part with outfielder Matt Kemp and reliever Jonathan Broxton, who could come in a close in lieu of Chris Ray, out for the year after Tommy John surgery. "They want Bedard bad," said the source.
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From the Boston Globe; believe what you will...
http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/thebuzz/ (http://www.boston.com/sports/baseball/redsox/extras/thebuzz/)
From the Globe's Gordon Edes(6:08 p.m.): "Angels GM Tony Reagins just told reporters that there was no truth to Angels being involved in Johan Santana negotiations. Said he never talked to Twins"
From ESPN's Jayson Stark (4:49 p.m.): "The Twins and Angels continue to talk about a Johan Santana trade. Many of the same players mentioned in the Miguel Cabrera sweepstakes -- Howie Kendrick, Brandan Wood, Nick Adenhart, and possibly Jeff Mathis or Reggie Willits -- would be included in a package for Santana."
From the Globe's Gordon Edes (4:39 p.m.): "The Newark Star Ledger just reported that the Yankees are out of the running for Johan Santana. One Sox source said he was skeptical that was the case. The Twins, meanwhile, have outrighted a player off their 40-man roster, the kind of move that often takes place before a trade, as they try to create roster space. The Commissioner, Peter Gammons, says a fifth player may be in the package that the Sox would give the Twins for Santana, minor league outfielder Ryan Kalish, but my Sox sources could not confirm that. The Sox people I'm talking to say they're still waiting."
From the Herald's Rob Bradford (4:01 p.m.): "According to a source familiar with the negotiations the Twins have told the Red Sox they want to complete the Johan Santana deal by the end of today."
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Originally posted by saco:
"Angels GM Tony Reagins just told reporters that there was no truth to Angels being involved in Johan Santana negotiations. Said he never talked to Twins"
I love hearing that. That confirms they're talking (as opposed to "no comment" when you aren't talking but want someone to think you are). All that notwithstanding, I believe the Sox are in the best position to land him, I just hope it costs them a fortune.
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Gammons just reported on ESPN radio that Detroit moved in and made a deal for Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis - 6 players (Cameron Maybin, Andrew Miller, catcher Mike Rabelo and three minor league prospects).
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Miranda Kerr.
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Which leader of a nation is this quip talking about?
And while liberals chafe at growing restrictions on individual freedoms, even religious conservatives protest that [the leader] has diverted resources to wasteful projects and replaced competent administrators with ideologues.
[This Leader's] tireless speechmaking, religious fervour and nationalism still inspire many poor [Countrymen]. But within the establishment, which is to say among the educated class elevated politically by [a war], doubts have spread as to whether the president's hardline populism could lead to a dangerous polarisation. With a combination of business interests and some senior conservatives increasingly ranged against him, the president may feel forced to rely on more repressive tactics.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Which leader of a nation is this quip talking about?
If you said Iranian President, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10147667), give yourself a gold star.
If it sounded to you like it could have been George W. Bush, don't fret - it very well could have been.
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any guess as to what the "big announcement" after the Hills finale is?
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Originally posted by tigers scare me:
any guess as to what the "big announcement" after the Hills finale is?
Thank you for reminding me - don't forget to Tivo the Two Hour Hills special this Sunday: LC Looks Back.
Anyhow, as for the announcement, I bet it's that Speidi's future will be decided next season - the cliffhanger approach. But I secretly hope it's that "Britney - Canada Whore" becomes a full time player next season as Brody's girlfriend.
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i'm going to be out and about on sunday so i'm hedging my bets that mtv will rerun the holy hell out of an LC movie...but i'm also dubious of my attention span of that whole scene.
i love the hills (in that perverse, 'i know i shouldn't' way) but i never saw laguna or whatever preceeded the hills.
my prediction for the anouncement is spence/heidi split. i think they've already acknowledged that there'll be another season because they're refering to the finale as season not series. but maybe i'm being too literal.
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Originally posted by tigers scare me:
i'm going to be out and about on sunday so i'm hedging my bets that mtv will rerun the holy hell out of an LC movie...
It's on like 5 times on Sunday alone. I'm not about to miss the NFL for it, but I'm definitely going to see it. I'm also going to watch it on the Tivo so I can FF the boring parts - that's how much faith I have in it. that being said, I am looking forward to the scenes of STEE-PHEN and the early Jason stuff. Incredible theater there. But really, you never saw Laguna Beach? Maybe I have a soft spot for it because I grew up in it, but that some incredible TV.
You're probably correct on your guess as to the big announcement. Lets just hope it's in HD next season!
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The most agonizing baseball moment since Bill Buckner's gaffe was Francisco Cabrera's series-winning single for Atlanta that killed Pittsburgh in the 1992 playoffs. Not only did the Pirates blow a ninth-inning lead, not only did Cabrera, a no-name, deliver the final blow, not only did comically slow Sid Bream somehow beat a Barry Bonds throw home, not only was it the Pirates' third straight October defeat ... but Bonds signed with the Giants a couple of months later, banishing the Pirates to small-market hell. They haven't been heard from since. The franchise was effectively murdered by one play.
I still have the vision of my childhood hero, Andy Van Slyke, sitting in center field with his hat pulled down over his eyes, burned into my brain. He couldn't believe it - I couldn't believe it. It was the only night I ever paddled out in the dark to be left alone with the ocean (which is never a good idea). The sad part is, even Anaheim's 2002 World Series video builds up to the climactic moment by showing Barry Bonds tenure in Pittsburgh, ending with that scene. I have exorcised the demons with Anaheim, poor Andy came close as a coach with Detroit, but the fine fans in Pittsburgh are still haunted.
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Quack! (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3143032)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
The most agonizing baseball moment since Bill Buckner's gaffe was Francisco Cabrera's series-winning single for Atlanta that killed Pittsburgh in the 1992 playoffs. Not only did the Pirates blow a ninth-inning lead, not only did Cabrera, a no-name, deliver the final blow, not only did comically slow Sid Bream somehow beat a Barry Bonds throw home, not only was it the Pirates' third straight October defeat ... but Bonds signed with the Giants a couple of months later, banishing the Pirates to small-market hell. They haven't been heard from since. The franchise was effectively murdered by one play.
I still have the vision of my childhood hero, Andy Van Slyke, sitting in center field with his hat pulled down over his eyes, burned into my brain. He couldn't believe it - I couldn't believe it. It was the only night I ever paddled out in the dark to be left alone with the ocean (which is never a good idea). The sad part is, even Anaheim's 2002 World Series video builds up to the climactic moment by showing Barry Bonds tenure in Pittsburgh, ending with that scene. I have exorcised the demons with Anaheim, poor Andy came close as a coach with Detroit, but the fine fans in Pittsburgh are still haunted. [/b]
1. SID FUCKING BREAM WAS OUT BY A FUCKING MILE. OUTOUTOUT. i call this play 'when barry bonds threw sid bream out at the plate and the stupid ass ump called him safe'
2. stan belinda's walk of damon fucking barryhill is what really sunk everything here. belinda was great that year, and barryhill was comically bad, like .098 or something bad
3. andy van slyke was my baseball hero as a kid as well
4. the next day one of my friends knocked some kid out for wearing a braves hat. at least we had something to talk about for the next 3 years
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oh and i actually blame the strike for sinking the pirates
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i'll be driving back from NYC on sunday and then at the rock and shop on sunday night with my little monster dolls.
i'm going to be one tired pup.
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What the hell are the Dodgers thinking?
Dodgers Sign Andruw Jones: 2 Years, $36 Million (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3143653)
A five-time All-Star, Jones will receive a $12.2 million signing bonus, of which $5.1 million is payable next year, $2.1 million in 2009 and $5 million in 2010. He well get salaries of $9 million next year and $15 million in 2009, and also will receive a no-trade clause.
Jones' $18.1 million average salary trails only those of the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez ($27.5 million), Boston's Manny Ramirez ($20 million), the Yankees' Derek Jeter ($18.9 million), and the Cubs' Carlos Zambrano ($18.3 million).
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
1. SID FUCKING BREAM WAS OUT BY A FUCKING MILE. OUTOUTOUT. i call this play 'when barry bonds threw sid bream out at the plate and the stupid ass ump called him safe'
i didn't realize that barry bonds could throw someone out at home plate.
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he was playing shallow, and this is sid bream we're talking about
OUT OUT OUT BY A FUCKING MILE
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
he was playing shallow, and this is sid bream we're talking about
OUT OUT OUT BY A FUCKING MILE
ok, calm down. . here, will this help?
<img src="http://www.fansedge.com/Images/Product/33-54/33-54379-P.jpg" alt=" - " />
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sorry, 14 year old shoeshine was inconsolable for about 5 years. then i stopped watching baseball
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Guillen, Gibbons get 15-day suspensions (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3144472&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines)
I wish this would be all it tkaes to explain Jose Guillen's rage, but alas, I think there is more...couldn't have happened to a nicer guy.
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Is it just a coincidence that CompUSA and Tower Records shared building space in the mall next to my work? (http://blogs.cnet.com/8301-13506_1-9830832-17.html)
I think not. I'm looking forward to the after Christmas free for all...
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I was going to make my 5 Tech predictions for 2008, but as I was putting them together Venerable sent me an email laying out one of them. So instead, I'll release them individually:
#1 - 2008 will be the year that internet access at your seat will finally be available on airplanes, starting with longer flights and working its way to the commuter flights (which is backwards, but at least its coming).
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Sean Penn just walked by my office, but that's not the thing Smackie wants you to know about.
The part I want you to know about is the fact that I somehow managed to not make a Jeff Spicoli joke. And some say I was never going to grow up....
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Was he smoking a cigarette? If not, it probably wasn't him.
Originally posted by vansmack:
Sean Penn just walked by my office, but that's not the thing Smackie wants you to know about.
The part I want you to know about is the fact that I somehow managed to not make a Jeff Spicoli joke. And some say I was never going to grow up....
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Was he smoking a cigarette? If not, it probably wasn't him.
No - we're a non-smoking campus. Have been for years. It's fairly aggressively enforced too.
He's here supporting Kucinich and the adminstration is a little worried about what he might say (there's a lot of press here). I'm in my "student attire" to attend the event on behalf of the administration. Ahh, the baby face...
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Originally posted by vansmack:
No - we're a non-smoking campus. Have been for years. It's fairly aggressively enforced too.
He's here supporting Kucinich and the adminstration is a little worried about what he might say (there's a lot of press here). I'm in my "student attire" to attend the event on behalf of the administration. Ahh, the baby face...
so it took having a baby face to officially become the man? :p
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Tech Prediction #2:
2008 will not be the year that the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray Debate gets solved, however, HD-DVD will take a substantial lead because it's way below Blu-ray in cost to consumer. Will it be insurmountable? Not as long as the Playstation 3 is going to continue to reduce its price.
I'm waiting for one/two triggers to happen to get me to buy an HD-DVD player:
(1) If Blockbuster waivers from it's Blu-Ray in stores only policy, I'm all over an HD-DVD player (you can already get HD-DVD from thier online stores).
(2) If any of the "Blu-Ray only" movie studios switch to the "we'll offer both" formats camp. Right now, Warner's switch has kept Blu-Ray solidly in the mix.
And one trigger point that would make me wait on both for a while - if Blu-Ray decides to lower the hardware costs to that of HD-DVD, then all bets are off, but waiting until after the holidays to do this I think might be the start of HD-DVD dominance.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
He's here supporting Kucinich and the adminstration is a little worried about what he might say (there's a lot of press here).
Here's the text of his speech if anybody cares:
http://www.counterpunch.com/penn12072007.html (http://www.counterpunch.com/penn12072007.html)
He's a little off base on foreign policy but our students ate it up. There was a college Republican protest that was a little humorous before it got a little agressive - I'm sure it will be on youtube soon.
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Sean Penn lost every shred of cred when he threatened to move to France if Bush won the election, and then totally backtracked when Bush actually won.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
There was a college Republican protest that was a little humorous before it got a little agressive - I'm sure it will be on youtube soon.
Yep, this is my life...
College Republican Version (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jzFZnaPGqxM)
Neutral Observer (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk6q3YgffvM)
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Denver, Colorado is the most Dangerously Drunk city in America. (http://health.msn.com/health-topics/addiction/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100182332>1=10710) I'll be there this weekend - wish me luck. DC is the 12th most dangerous drunk city, by the way. And Durham, NC is shockingly the safest drunk city - I never would have picked a college town to be the safest.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Tech Prediction #2
where do you see digital music/media over the next 10 years? i feel like in the next decade we'll be accessing all of our media (music/tv/movies/etc) on giant servers (kind of like rhapsody or napster right now) rather than actually owning physical or digital copies of DVDs, CDs, MP3s, etc ... it would track with exponentially increasing broadband speeds, decrease in price for data storage, the demise of the PC, etc
in such a scenario, all the money you invested in purchasing and owning your MP3s (or DVDs) would essentially be wasted, right?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Tech Prediction #2:
2008 will not be the year that the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray Debate gets solved, however, HD-DVD will take a substantial lead because it's way below Blu-ray in cost to consumer. Will it be insurmountable? Not as long as the Playstation 3 is going to continue to reduce its price.
I'm waiting for one/two triggers to happen to get me to buy an HD-DVD player:
(1) If Blockbuster waivers from it's Blu-Ray in stores only policy, I'm all over an HD-DVD player (you can already get HD-DVD from thier online stores).
(2) If any of the "Blu-Ray only" movie studios switch to the "we'll offer both" formats camp. Right now, Warner's switch has kept Blu-Ray solidly in the mix.
And one trigger point that would make me wait on both for a while - if Blu-Ray decides to lower the hardware costs to that of HD-DVD, then all bets are off, but waiting until after the holidays to do this I think might be the start of HD-DVD dominance.
blue-ray player drops below $300 (http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/08/samsungs-bd-p1400-blu-ray-player-sinks-below-300/).
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Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
where do you see digital music/media over the next 10 years? i feel like in the next decade we'll be accessing all of our media (music/tv/movies/etc) on giant servers...
in such a scenario, all the money you invested in purchasing and owning your MP3s (or DVDs) would essentially be wasted, right?
Well, I had a debate with Markey on here about this very topic a couple years ago where I predicted that as soon as Apple bought into that model it would come true, at least for Music. The rest is already happening: DirecTV is currently rolling out it's own version of OnDemand and is using IP instead their satellites. All of this is basically being done to catch up with South Korea - where nearly all TV is delivered over IP. The limitation in American is bandwidth with the new HD programming - they don't have that problem in Korea where nearly every residential connection is Fiber, and at a much cheaper rate than America.
With that, I will reveal my Tech Prediction #3:
This is the year that a broadcast network will run a TV program on the internet at the same time as an Over-the-Air broadcast - and just maybe one genius network will run an episode on-line before it airs over-the-air. And a really smart network would run an HD episode (sponsored by some HD TV maker) because most people can see HD quality on their computer monitors - just not on their TVs.
So yes Hoya, IP TV is the future - but how far in the future is up to the IP industry, and they've throttled every attempt to expand for the past 10 years.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
So yes Hoya, IP TV is the future - but how far in the future is up to the IP industry, and they've throttled every attempt to expand for the past 10 years.
maybe i'm crazy, but i think it'll be more dramatic than just IP TV or ondemand movies ... more of a tectonic shift of how we purchase/consume media, "owning" nothing and streaming everything from some giant central server ... but i don't really keep up regularly with tech news, is that realistic?
it may be hard to make the move from physical media to digital media, but i think it would be even harder psychologically to make the leap from owning digital media to streaming it
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The technology is already there, but the platforms are not - if that makes any sense.
The problem with the all IP delivery model is that somebody still has to pay for it - and that doesn't exist yet. So there's no way the networks are going to give up that revenue model until there's a new revenue model.
Look at Apple's TV show sales. They were decent last year, but are going to get killed this year because the networks have figured out their own revenue generating model. Who's going to pay when it's free online and all I have to do is sit through 3-4 15 second commercials?
The engineers are still consistently ahead of the business models - that's what killed Napster (perhaps twice) and that's what is the major impediment to the license structure you propose.
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Do you think the Orange Bowl knew this in advance?
Uniwatch is reporting... (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/071205)
Missouri is hinting that they may wear solid gold (http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/aawags11/cottonbowlcopy.jpg) in the Cotton Bowl (as reported by Drew Wagner). ?
Either way, Venerable and I think this will not help with New Years Morning hangovers....
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Do you think the Orange Bowl knew this in advance?
Uniwatch is reporting... (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=lukas/071205)
Missouri is hinting that they may wear solid gold (http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r315/aawags11/cottonbowlcopy.jpg) in the Cotton Bowl (as reported by Drew Wagner). ?
Either way, Venerable and I think this will not help with New Years Morning hangovers....
fairly certain that won't happen
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It's been quite a while since I created a new Smackie Corollary, but after a few Irish Coffees on Friday, we started working on a new one.
It's quite clear that the Cougar phenomenon has taken on a life of its own, and young guys seem to be working just as hard as the Cougars these days to get their Cougar stripes. But before guys start bragging that shaggin any divorcee is a stripe earner, and Cougars braggin on "The Real Housewives of Orange County" that any younger man qualifies as a Cougar (http://www.ocregister.com/entertainment/new-housewife-housewives-1934816-orange-county), I've taken it up myslef to create a new Smackie Corollary on Cougars.
The problem really stems from a loosely worded definition that limits cougars to 30-50 years olds (http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cougar), which really isn't right. Nor does it take into account the age of the male compared to the Cougar.
Half the Cougars age, plus no more than +10 years qualifies as a Cougar Encounter (always round down).
</font>- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">35 year old Cougar = any male under 27 can qualify as a cougar encounter.</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">40 year old cougar= any male under 30 can qualify as a cougar encounter.</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">50 year old cougar= any male under 35 can qualify as a cougar encounter.</font></li>
<font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">
I'm not quite happy with this as it pertains to women under 35 at the moment, so maybe we need a Cougar-in-Training rule for 30-35 year old Cougars:
When dealing with a Cougar in Training, Half the Cougars age, plus no more than +7 years qualifies as a cougar encounter.
</font>- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">30/31 year old Cougar = any male under 22 can qualify as a Cougar encounter.</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">32/33 year old Cougar = any male under 23 can qualify as a Cougar encounter.</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">34 year old Cougar = any male under 24 can qualify as a Cougar encounter.</font></li>
<font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">
This is one is still open for negotiation. I'm really looking at pivotal factors at the moment (like the Cougar must be a divorcee or have children, maybe there must be some form of botox or plastics work involved). I'm open to all suggestions....
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I wish I had something to say about this, but it just seems too easy....
Former MLB pitcher Mark Littell demonstrates the new protective cup for you with special words from Chris Sabo on the Nutty Buddy at the end:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C9aiWr0Vfg (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C9aiWr0Vfg)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
new Smackie Corollary on Cougars
eww. do these rules apply to old men chasing young women, or that simply expected behavior? is the reverse that noteworthy? seems like college frat boys have been forever getting drunk and chasing whatever tail is available - does codification make it cooler?
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
do these rules apply to old men chasing young women
Half your age plus seven, no lower. That rule is steadfast.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
does codification make it cooler?
I don't think it's cool at all - I've almost always gone younger. But I think their need to be some ground rules for definition purposes before these things get out of hand.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
with special words from Chris Sabo on the Nutty Buddy at the end
and those special words are "in the testiclese". awesome.
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Originally posted by tigers scare me:
any guess as to what the "big announcement" after the Hills finale is?
I was actually pretty excited about that announcement last night. Bring it on!
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i totally fell asleep during the aftershow. god, i hate those two people. really? is it that hard to throw a boom mic up there? i find those little wig-mics really distracting on anyone who's not on stage.
was the announcement that there's going to be another season? i'm hoping.
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Originally posted by tigers scare me:
i totally fell asleep during the aftershow. god, i hate those two people. really? is it that hard to throw a boom mic up there? i find those little wig-mics really distracting on anyone who's not on stage.
was the announcement that there's going to be another season? i'm hoping.
Yes, those two are terribly annoying and they were even worse live (sans editing!).
No! The big announcement was that THIS SEASON IS NOT OVER! They've decided to continue The Hills (From Paris) and to finish up the Speidi saga this season.
Here's a preview: http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1575931&vid=194620 (http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1575931&vid=194620)
(video #11)
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Are there any boardies currently over in England? I thought there was one.
I need a copy of Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten (http://www.joestrummerthemovie.com/) on DVD and will pay hansomely (and I'm not just talking about the exchange rate).
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oh good. i wanted to see Paris. If i ever won money, i would buy a small apartment there. i love that city.
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how long is the continuation and when does it start? i dont have sound at work
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
how long is the continuation and when does it start? i dont have sound at work
They didn't give a number, and it won't start until the New Year.
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THE NEWSHOUR WITH JIM LEHRER to Broadcast in High-Definition Format Beginning Monday, December 17, 2007 (http://www.hdtvmagazine.com/news/2007/12/the_newshour_with_jim_lehrer_to_broadcast_in_high-definition_format_beginning_monday_december_17_2007.php)
Which brings me to Tech Prediction #4:
2008 will be the long anticipated year of REAL HD Revolution
The Satellite industry (most notably DirecTV) has now given the cable network channels a platform to deliver HD Content, and it will be up to the Networks to finally provide the HD content. This is the year they do it.
The Major Networks (ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX) have been doing a decent job of HD content for it's primetime shows, and everyone knows sports has been driving the broadcast HD bandwagon for sometime. And now the cable network channels will finally catch up.
DirecTV offers over 75 different HD channels and will likely have 150 by the end of 2008, the Networks finally have a reason to invest in HD. Content was always the problem, but by the end of 2008, the majority of the TV Americans watch most often will be available in HD.
So that leaves two problems: (1) Other content deliverers and (2) the price of HD TVs. The other content delivers vary per type of delivery. The Cable networks are in big trouble. BIG. They are desperately trying to use existing infrastructure (coaxial cable) to broadcast HD content. This is a losing battle, but one they will continue to fight with switching technologies and other highly touted possible solutions. Bottom line, I wouldn't be investing in Cable companies in the near future. The Fiber Optic companies are in pretty good shape, and I think FiOS stands to gain the most of the newer companies to take a lot of business from Cable co's in 2008. AT&T on the other hand is in for a big shock - they built a network with copper to the door (instead of Fiber to the door like FiOS) - this will prove disasterous in the HD revolution. Dish has a decent chance of surviving if they invest in new satellites - but they are way behind DirecTV these days and slipping faster everyday.
As for the price of HD TVs, they have been falling very quickly, and with a decent sized HDTV (26inch) below $400, I think it's not unreasonable to see an HDTV below $300, maybe even $250 by the end of the year. With the price of iPods rising, it makes the HDTV at $250 for the teenagers bedroom the Xmas gift de jour of 2008.
When Comedy Central goes HD in 2008, you'll know I was on to something here.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
As for the price of HD TVs, they have been falling very quickly, and with a decent sized HDTV (26inch) below $400, I think it's not unreasonable to see an HDTV below $300, maybe even $250 by the end of the year.
you can get a 22-inch widescreen LCD "computer monitor" for a little more than $200 and use it very easily as a 1080p HDTV (cable box / dvd player / video game console --> HDMI-to-DVI cable --> monitor)
mine is working great as an office tv
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smackie, i've been wondering what channels we get in hd on dtv that are not available on (say) comcast? i got dtv and hd tvs pretty much at the same time
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
smackie, i've been wondering what channels we get in hd on dtv that are not available on (say) comcast? i got dtv and hd tvs pretty much at the same time
DirecTV HD vs. Dish Network HD vs. Comcast HD vs. Time Warner HD:
http://www.amrax.com/hd.htm (http://www.amrax.com/hd.htm)
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wow, no espn2 hd? that sucks
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
wow, no espn2 hd? that sucks
a brief look at that page shows either that comcast varies locally or the page is very outdated
i have comcast and i get ESPN2 HD (as well as TBS, TNT, versus, dc comcast sportsnet, NBA, NHL, NFL, tons of regional sports channels and premium movie channels)
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Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
wow, no espn2 hd? that sucks
a brief look at that page shows either that comcast varies locally or the page is very outdated
i have comcast and i get ESPN2 HD (as well as TBS, TNT, versus, dc comcast sportsnet, NBA, NHL, NFL, tons of regional sports channels and premium movie channels) [/b]
Comcast varies per franchise (as does Time Warner). If the channel is not offered in more than some percentage of the market, it was not included (I'm not certain what the percentage is). For example, my relatives have a channel on Time Warner that serves as an HD a la carte - if a game is being broadcast in HD on one of the channels you mentioned, you can find it there, but there is no fulltime ESPN2HD or TNT, TBS, NHL, NFL etc. As a matter of fact, there is no NFL or NHL network at all.
But fine, give yourself 20 instead of 9 - it really doesn't matter.
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Windows XP SP3 has leaked to the public. If you're an early adopter, here you go. (http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1038)
I've had it since last week and really haven't noticed a difference (except on a laptop that uses wifi - it does identify Black Hole networks). And no, IE8 is not included.
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you can also get HDTV free over the air: check availability/reception for your location (http://antennaweb.org/aw/Stations.aspx) (give your real address, but use a bogus e-mail unless you want HDTV-related spam). urban locations like DC would get all the major networks. i'm considering buying a PCI card that allow you to get HDTV on your computer monitor, from an antenna.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
wow, no espn2 hd? that sucks
a brief look at that page shows either that comcast varies locally or the page is very outdated
i have comcast and i get ESPN2 HD (as well as TBS, TNT, versus, dc comcast sportsnet, NBA, NHL, NFL, tons of regional sports channels and premium movie channels) [/b]
Comcast varies per franchise (as does Time Warner). If the channel is not offered in more than some percentage of the market, it was not included (I'm not certain what the percentage is). For example, my relatives have a channel on Time Warner that serves as an HD a la carte - if a game is being broadcast in HD on one of the channels you mentioned, you can find it there, but there is no fulltime ESPN2HD or TNT, TBS, NHL, NFL etc. As a matter of fact, there is no NFL or NHL network at all.
But fine, give yourself 20 instead of 9 - it really doesn't matter. [/b]
the only thing that matters is i can watch every steelers game in hd on dtv
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
you can also get HDTV free over the air: check availability/reception for your location (http://antennaweb.org/aw/Stations.aspx) (give your real address, but use a bogus e-mail unless you want HDTV-related spam). urban locations like DC would get all the major networks. i'm considering buying a PCI card that allow you to get HDTV on your computer monitor, from an antenna.
Look, Smackie doesn't predict things that happened in the 90's.
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wasn't a prediction, t'was a reminder :) i was recently reminded of how few people know that you can get HD over the air. but maybe i'm living in a cave.
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A quick Russia update before I go back to wokring on my last tech prediction...
By now you've likely heard that Vladmir Putin has chosen the next President of Russia, Dmitri Nedvedev (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/11/world/europe/11russia.html). And just today Dmitri returned the favor by announcing that Putin would be named Nedvedev's Premiere (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/world/europe/12russia.html?hp).
Nedvedev is a weak leader and it can be assumed that Putin will still be calling the shots. One thing that's underscored in his credentials is his Chairmanship of Gazprom (appointed there by Putin) - Gazprom calls the shots for Russian energy policy, the main source of Russia's recent resurgence. Putin has been calling the shots for Nedvedev in Gazprom for some time now. I expect little will be different in Russia between the Premiere and the President.
Expect one of two things to happen in the first half of 2008:
(1) That Putin, as Premiere will begin to assume the roles of President by changes in the Constitution, most notably the Defense and Intelligence units. Or...
(2) Nevedev gets drafted by the Red Wings, leaves his post as President, and a non-elected Putin assumes the role, circumventing the Constitution. While the Red Wings thing is obviously a joke, I'm not ruling this scenario out.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Windows XP SP3 has leaked to the public. If you're an early adopter, here you go. (http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1038)
I've had it since last week and really haven't noticed a difference (except on a laptop that uses wifi - it does identify Black Hole networks). And no, IE8 is not included.
IE8 is nowhere close to being out
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
IE8 is nowhere close to being out
once it is, don't be caught dead using IE7 on this bboard lest you be ridiculed :roll:
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
once it is, don't be caught dead using IE7 on this bboard lest you be ridiculed :roll:
I would never be caught dead using IE7 for anything other than testing, actually more people still use IE6 than IE7, it may be a rolleyes for you but in my field it is a big deal
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
I would never be caught dead using IE7 for anything other than testing, actually more people still use IE6 than IE7, it may be a rolleyes for you but in my field it is a big deal
i wasn't rolling my eyes at IE6 or 7 at all, it was for the smug know-it-alls on this board. i was supposedly pwned by smakie who pointed out (http://www.930.com/cgi-bin/ubb-cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=016382&p=2#000047) that i was using IE6, as if that was something abhorent. in fact, IE6 is still the most common browser (http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp).
makes me question your "tech predictions", smacks, if you don't even know what browsers are being used :p
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Are there any boardies currently over in England? I thought there was one.
I need a copy of Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten (http://www.joestrummerthemovie.com/) on DVD and will pay hansomely (and I'm not just talking about the exchange rate).
I ordered mine off of amazon.co.uk.
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hey smack, i think its available on ppv from dtv
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Are there any boardies currently over in England? I thought there was one.
I need a copy of Joe Strummer: The Future is Unwritten (http://www.joestrummerthemovie.com/) on DVD and will pay hansomely (and I'm not just talking about the exchange rate).
have you tried purchasing it through the intrenets (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joe-Strummer-Unwritten-Julien-Temple/dp/B000S398N4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1197474212&sr=8-1)?
you're welcome!
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hey sweetcell
"fyi, the page you quoted and linked is the same as the one i posted."
:)
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Originally posted by 6949:
I ordered mine off of amazon.co.uk.
Originally posted by sweetcell:
have you tried purchasing it through the intrenets (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Joe-Strummer-Unwritten-Julien-Temple/dp/B000S398N4/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=dvd&qid=1197474212&sr=8-1)?
you're welcome!
They're out: Note: orders placed now for this item will not be dispatched in time for Christmas.
I was also trying to avoid a customs duty and possible customs hangup (in getting it before Xmas), the excahnge rate makes it expensive enough. But it does look like I'll have to order it through Amazon.co.uk.
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
hey smack, i think its available on ppv from dtv
It will be soon, but this was a gift.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
makes me question your "tech predictions", smacks, if you don't even know what browsers are being used :p
Why anybody would use a Microsoft product that is no longer being updated for security patches is beyond me...
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My company does browser testing for IE6 & IE7, Firefox, and Safari nowadays (and whatever versions are current for the Mac...I'm out of touch on that one). Of course, that didn't stop someone from griping that their site was broken in Netscape 4.06. Awesome.
Originally posted by pdx pollard:
I would never be caught dead using IE7 for anything other than testing, actually more people still use IE6 than IE7, it may be a rolleyes for you but in my field it is a big deal
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Originally posted by vansmack:
#1 - 2008 will be the year that internet access at your seat will finally be available on airplanes, starting with longer flights and working its way to the commuter flights (which is backwards, but at least its coming).
BetaBlue doesn't count, but it's a start:
BetaBlue: It's one small step for in-flight Wi-Fi (http://www.news.com/8301-13577_3-9832562-36.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703)
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
i wasn't rolling my eyes at IE6 or 7 at all, it was for the smug know-it-alls on this board. i was supposedly pwned by smakie who pointed out (http://www.930.com/cgi-bin/ubb-cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=016382&p=2#000047) that i was using IE6, as if that was something abhorent. in fact, IE6 is still the most common browser (http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp).
makes me question your "tech predictions", smacks, if you don't even know what browsers are being used :p
I would kindly demand that you update to ie7, while there may not be a lot of benefits you see there are actually a whole bunch of benefits behind the scenes. IE 6 is a piece of shit. I really hope that Microsoft gives corporate IT people and home users a real reason to upgrade to IE8 so we can leave IE6 behind finally. Make it a mandatory update, tell them IE6 is storing their credit card numbers, anything.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Is it just a coincidence that CompUSA and Tower Records shared building space in the mall next to my work? (http://blogs.cnet.com/8301-13506_1-9830832-17.html)
I think not. I'm looking forward to the after Christmas free for all...
many are saying the pickins won't be so good, and be sure to go easy on the folks (temporarily) working there: pink slip (http://www.engadget.com/2007/12/12/compusa-sends-out-layoff-letters-bad-service-extends-to-employe/)
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I was little nicer about it then Pollard, but the man speaks the truth.
OK, on to my last tech prediction for 2008, and before you jump on me for making such an obvious one (and popular, I might add), hear me out because it's a lot more than "the price of laptops have finally reached a point where they're as cheap as desktop" - that's short sighted.
Tech Prediction #5:
2008 will really be the year of the Death of the Desktop
I know, everybody's been saying this since the advent of the laptop, but I think we've finally gotten to a point where there will be virtually no need for desktop computer at home. Here's why:
(1) Home Servers will take off. The desktop at home, if you still have one, has really been relegated to a place of storage. Your photos, your music, maybe even a document or two. But as the documents and photos move online, that leaves the one main purpose of a desktop - media files. That's where the new servers come in to replace the desktop, and shore up the deficiencies of a laptop as the primary storage location (the problem being that the laptop is not always in the house). All that's been needed is storage solution that interfaces with other devices, and this is the year it makes dents into the market.
(2) Wireless streaming to entertainment devices. New media devices that stream content to your home theater system will both get cheaper and become more user friendly. When my dad finally started using the Tivo Desktop, I realized we've reached a place where anybody can do it. When the N routers make a big dent in the market and HD content can be streaming from a web site or a media server to an HD TV, the desktop is goner. I say by June on this one.
(3) And this last one is the most important - with the massive advance in the market of Mobile Internet Devices (or ultra mobile PCs) with WiFi capability, like the iPhone, the iTouch, Samsungs Q1, mini-tablets and the "smaller than laptops but much better battery life" devices coming between $400 and $700 - very few people are going to fork out the cash for a oversized desktop at that price when they can have something sleek and portable that does 95% of what most folks use their desktop for today.
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how anyone can live without tabbed browsing be beyond me
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Tech Prediction #5:
2008 will really be the year of the Death of the Desktop
I like the idea of user replaceable parts and building my own machine. Laptops are way behind in this department.
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home servers won't become widespread IMO, as few people are able or want to become IT admins at home.
i suspect that Mobile Internet Devices won't have the impact you predict, since few want to browse all night and do their online shopping on something that small and ergonomically awkward.
while getting cheaper, you still don't get the same performance for your dollar. a $700 laptop will perform as well as a $500 desktop (for this reason alone, businesses - and many a household - will continue to buy desktops by the boatload).
Originally posted by vansmack:
When the N routers make a big dent in the market and HD content can be streaming from a web site or a media server to an HD TV, the desktop is goner. I say by June on this one.
define what you mean by "by june", and you might have a bet on your hands. "available to early adopters"? "a possibility"? sure. measurable market impact? i'd be willing to bet no.
the recent market trend of laptop sales growing at the expense of desktops will continue, but declaring the tower's death in the next 12 months is unfounded, IMO.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
home servers won't become widespread IMO, as few people are able or want to become IT admins at home.
Who's going to pay $600 for a desktop next year when this awaits you at the same price? (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/default.mspx)
It's not going to get much easier than that. And I have a few idea on how I'm going to use mine with this board - but that I'll hold off until 2008.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Who's going to pay $600 for a desktop next year when this awaits you at the same price? (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/default.mspx)
one thing i'm unclear about your proposed scenario: people buy one of these, plus a laptop? if yes, sounds pricey.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
With that, I will reveal my Tech Prediction #3:
This is the year that a broadcast network will run a TV program on the internet at the same time as an Over-the-Air broadcast - and just maybe one genius network will run an episode on-line before it airs over-the-air. And a really smart network would run an HD episode (sponsored by some HD TV maker) because most people can see HD quality on their computer monitors - just not on their TVs.
So yes Hoya, IP TV is the future - but how far in the future is up to the IP industry, and they've throttled every attempt to expand for the past 10 years.
Jackass 2.5 (http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i46053bf6151a3fb4e5874afb5a4f3026) to made available online for free starting december 19, and will skip movie theatres entirely.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
but I think we've finally gotten to a point where there will be virtually no need for desktop computer at home.
good sir -- have you SEEN world in conflict (http://www.worldinconflict.com/)??
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Originally posted by Hoya Paranoia:
Originally posted by vansmack:
but I think we've finally gotten to a point where there will be virtually no need for desktop computer at home.
good sir -- have you SEEN world in conflict (http://www.worldinconflict.com/)?? [/b]
is this game too demanding to run on a laptop?
gamers, musicians, video editors, etc. will be on desktops for the foreseable future.
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yay!
Jackass 2.5 to made available online for free starting december 19, and will skip movie theatres entirely.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
gamers, musicians, video editors, etc. will be on desktops for the foreseable future.
What is that .1% of the the world's computer users? And how many of those are home users - maybe just the gamers?
And of the best selling PC video games, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games#PC) how many on that list require desktop power any longer?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
What is that .1% of the the world's computer users? And how many of those are home users - maybe just the gamers?
in terms of individuals, it is indeed low. but in terms of dollars spent and brand recognition that manufacturers get from catering to power-users, their influence is disproportional. dunno about video editors, but the "musicians" category probably has more people in the home than in an the office or professional studio.
Originally posted by vansmack:
And of the best selling PC video games, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_best-selling_video_games#PC) how many on that list require desktop power any longer?
few "require" horse-power, if you're happy with the game running at 15 fps. but a $500 laptop will not have a dedicated video cards (will use shared memory), hard drive will still be only 5400 rpm and small buffers, CD-R at 24x, no firewire, LCD will be slow, blah blah - specs that are standard on a desktop that costs less. a gaming laptop costs about twice as much as the equivalent desktop. but yes, these facts are meaningless for the majority of home computer users.
laptops will continue their current trend of increasing market share at the expense of desktops. i think i read somewhere that in april this year laptop sales overtook desktop. but i stand by my assertion that proclaiming the "death" of the desktop in 2008 is an over-statement.
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dont musicians and video editors use macs anyway
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Laptop sales pale in comparison as a PC gamer killer compared to an Xbox 360 or PS3 or a wii. It's not even worth a discussion. The gamer desktop will live for a long while, but it will never have the prevelance it used to have. And if that's the main reason why people continue people to buy a desktop, then the desktop is surely dead.
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since we were talking about browsers
Today we have taken a stand. Opera has filed a formal complaint with the European Commission to force Microsoft to support open Web standards in its Web browser, Internet Explorer. We believe that Microsoft has harmed Web standards by refusing to support them; Microsoft often participates in creating Web standards, promoting them, and even promising to implement them. Despite their talent, however, they refuse to support Web standards correctly.
http://people.opera.com/howcome/2007/msft/ (http://people.opera.com/howcome/2007/msft/)
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
since we were talking about browsers
http://people.opera.com/howcome/2007/msft/ (http://people.opera.com/howcome/2007/msft/)
And they have a chance of winning in Europe.
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And in case there was any doubt before, The Director has just secured my vote for "Boardie of the Year" with the frequent holiday surprises he has been sending me.
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http://www.break.com/movies_nsfw/show-them-to-me.html (http://www.break.com/movies_nsfw/show-them-to-me.html)
i'm not sure what thread this belongs on, but this one seems as good as any.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by pdx pollard:
since we were talking about browsers
http://people.opera.com/howcome/2007/msft/ (http://people.opera.com/howcome/2007/msft/)
And they have a chance of winning in Europe. [/b]
i love opera mini for my helio, great little program
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
http://www.break.com/movies_nsfw/show-them-to-me.html (http://www.break.com/movies_nsfw/show-them-to-me.html)
i'm not sure what thread this belongs on, but this one seems as good as any.
Any video that opens with Phoebe Cates is 100% Smackie approved, but also this video is NSFW.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by pdx pollard:
since we were talking about browsers
http://people.opera.com/howcome/2007/msft/ (http://people.opera.com/howcome/2007/msft/)
And they have a chance of winning in Europe. [/b]
france high court rules (http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573AF005B04A4.html?ex=1355202000&en=65a283e4514b2abd&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss#) that amazon can't offer free shipping.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
france high court rules (http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573AF005B04A4.html?ex=1355202000&en=65a283e4514b2abd&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss#) that amazon can't offer free shipping.
Oh, Brussels is going to have a good time with that one...
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Does GM now mean "Green Motors"? (http://www.news.com/Does-GM-now-mean-green-motors/2100-11389_3-6222853.html?tag=nl.e703)
LOS ANGELES--General Motors is already developing a slew of cars that will run on alternative fuels such as electricity, hydrogen, or green liquids like ethanol. But don't count on an all-electric car anytime soon from the auto giant.
---------------------------
Is it too little too late to compete with Japan, or did I just post this so Venerable can remind me how much Ethanol fuel really costs the American consumer? Probably both....either way, I'm driving an Equinox over the holidays and will report back.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
france high court rules (http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573AF005B04A4.html?ex=1355202000&en=65a283e4514b2abd&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss#) that amazon can't offer free shipping.
Oh, Brussels is going to have a good time with that one... [/b]
looks like brussels has bigger issues (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071217/od_afp/belgiumpoliticspeopleoffbeat;_ylt=ApSz7CEnAhAW5NL4eHiELw.s0NUE).
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
looks like brussels has bigger issues (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071217/od_afp/belgiumpoliticspeopleoffbeat;_ylt=ApSz7CEnAhAW5NL4eHiELw.s0NUE).
That's not the Brussels I was reffering to (the EU part, not the Belgian part), but, the one thing they do care about in Belgium - the language.
Why does Belgium even exist? It was created as an independent country simply to keep the French, Dutch and Germans from fighting over the land. They've gone nearly 200 days without a government and the sole reason why is because the Flemish majority want to end bi-lingual rights in mostly northern Dutch neighborhoods for French Speakers (in clear violation of a pact). But here's the best part - nobody cares that they have no government!
Everybody (except maybe the King) would be happier if the Dutch portion were given to the Netherlands, the small German portion to Germany, the French portion to France and Brussels and the Hague made into international protectorates and head States of Europe.
That being said, when I get around to writing my manifesto, there's no doubt I'm doing it in a drunken binge in the Grand Place. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grand_Place)
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
france high court rules (http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573AF005B04A4.html?ex=1355202000&en=65a283e4514b2abd&ei=5090&partner=rssuserland&emc=rss#) that amazon can't offer free shipping.
Oh, Brussels is going to have a good time with that one... [/b]
looks like brussels has bigger issues (http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071217/od_afp/belgiumpoliticspeopleoffbeat;_ylt=ApSz7CEnAhAW5NL4eHiELw.s0NUE). [/b]
If that's the best looking chick in Belgium, then they definitely have a big problem.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
There's really never going to be much progress in the Islamic World until there can be better understanding of Shar'ia Law and it's inability to adapt to modern basic freedoms:
Saudi's Sentence Gang Rape Victim to 200 lashes, 6 months in Jail (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7098480.stm)
An update: King Abdullah pardon's Rape Victim (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/world/middleeast/18saudi.html?ex=1355634000&en=9d77839cd6e54bf1&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)
Now, if someone can get to her brother before he makes a horrible mistake (and when he does, if someone will punish him a great deal). Otherwise, no gain made in this decision.
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a thing sweetcell thinks smackie might want to know: guess who's got WiMAX?!? (http://www.wateen.com/HomeUsers.aspx?HomeTreeID=16) apparently certain people hiding out in caves in the tribal areas couldn't get copper wire to their front door, so...
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
a thing sweetcell thinks smackie might want to know: guess who's got WiMAX?!? (http://www.wateen.com/HomeUsers.aspx?HomeTreeID=16) apparently certain people hiding out in caves in the tribal areas couldn't get copper wire to their front door, so...
Nice - Pakistan can do it but America can't find enough "interest" - it's clear the terrorists have already won. And we don't even want to catch up.
Thanks for sharing. Now I won't be able to sleep tonight, however, knowing that on my phone I get 700kbps anywhere I get coverage, my laptop's got 1MBps within 100 feet of my router, my non-mobile desktop about the for as long as my wires can go, but Al Qaeda's got 2mbps on any device within 2.5 miles of their f'in cave.
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First, I think this is a hoax, but seriously, dad, anything but Guitar Hero III!!!!
Dad Sells Child's video game after he catches child smoking Pot
http://www.news.com/Dad%27s-sale-of-pot-smoking-son%27s-game-sparks-Web-debate/2100-1038_3-6223270.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703 (http://www.news.com/Dad%27s-sale-of-pot-smoking-son%27s-game-sparks-Web-debate/2100-1038_3-6223270.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703)
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$100 off the purchase of a Sony HDTV if you turn an old TV...
Sony Announces TV Trade-Up Offer and Electronics Recycling Program (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644532352)
They give you $250 off a laptop too. (http://www.sonystyle.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CategoryDisplay?catalogId=10551&storeId=10151&langId=-1&categoryId=8198552921644487782)
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OK MAGAZINE IS REPORTING THAT JAMIE LYNN SPEARS IS KNOCKED UP AT AGE 16. THE APPLES DON'T FALL TOO FAR FROM THE TREE IN THAT HOUSEHOLD.
SHE HAS ALSO STATED THAT SHE'S GOING TO RAISE THE BABY IN LOUISIANA SO THAT IT CAN HAVE A "NORMAL" CHILDHOOD.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
OK MAGAZINE IS REPORTING THAT JAMIE LYNN SPEARS IS KNOCKED UP AT AGE 16. THE APPLES DON'T FALL TOO FAR FROM THE TREE IN THAT HOUSEHOLD.
SHE HAS ALSO STATED THAT SHE'S GOING TO RAISE THE BABY IN LOUISIANA SO THAT IT CAN HAVE A "NORMAL" CHILDHOOD.
I would just like to request that everyone respect Jamie's and my privacy during this emotional time. A bad situation will only be made worse for everyone if people continue to hound us about our mistakes.
Thanks, Julian
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Thanks for posting that. I don't know how I would have heard about it otherwise. ;)
Originally posted by vansmack:
OK MAGAZINE IS REPORTING THAT JAMIE LYNN SPEARS IS KNOCKED UP AT AGE 16. THE APPLES DON'T FALL TOO FAR FROM THE TREE IN THAT HOUSEHOLD.
SHE HAS ALSO STATED THAT SHE'S GOING TO RAISE THE BABY IN LOUISIANA SO THAT IT CAN HAVE A "NORMAL" CHILDHOOD.
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My immediate reaction was: HOLY SHIT!
TIME Magazine unveiled its Person of the Year live Wednesday on the TODAY Show, Russian President Vladimir Putin.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22323855/from/ET/ (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22323855/from/ET/)
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yeah, i've been depressed about this all morning. i fear that putin will take this as vincation for his policies (aka kleptocracy and cronyism). i doubt that anyone in his entourage will point out that hitler was also once chosen as Time's man of the year. sigh.
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Very little doubt the "media" in Russia will play this up but the actual text of the article will not be spread around or discussed, save for opposition papers.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
i doubt that anyone in his entourage will point out that hitler was also once chosen as Time's man of the year. sigh.
well, stalin was chosen twice, so putin has a goal.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
well, stalin was chosen twice, so putin has a goal.
Once for a bad decision and then for for a good decision, so there's hope yet. But I doubt it.
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i saw that this morning and my first thought was 'i wonder if smackies head exploded'
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My wife thinks Putin is hot, though that's not a reflection of her thoughts on his politics.
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i saw that this morning and my first thought was 'i wonder if smackies head exploded'
It was pointed out to me that I've talked so much about Putin this year that I should be the last person surprised by this decision, to which I replied, "touché." Then I threw up in my mouth. And not a little.
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to be fair, alot has been said about putin in the mainstream media as well
all borderline horrifying
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Damn. I was a fan.
Emily Sander's, aka Zoey Zane, Body Found (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22030368/)
Man Wanted In College Student's Death Arrested In Mexico (http://www.kctv5.com/news/14890456/detail.html)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
OK MAGAZINE IS REPORTING THAT JAMIE LYNN SPEARS IS KNOCKED UP AT AGE 16.
colateral damage: mom's book deal with a christian book publisher (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071219/ap_en_ot/people_lynne_spears)
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The boy in front who challenges the 180 lb. man to throw the ball as hard as he can and then deftly gets out of the way is my nephew.
The little girl behind him is my niece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm1Nb4_Z1k0 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cm1Nb4_Z1k0)
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Consumer spending:
For every $100 spent in an independent/locally owned retailer, $64 is reinvested in the local economy.
For every $100 spent in a national chain store, $42 is reinvested in the local economy.
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Consumer spending:
For every $100 spent in an independent/locally owned retailer, $64 is reinvested in the local economy.
For every $100 spent in a national chain store, $42 is reinvested in the local economy.
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<img src="http://www.economist.com/images/20071222/20071222issuecovUS400.jpg" alt=" - " />
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One last thing that was most likely not talked about by the US media (or at least I haven't seen it). Turns out a US air craft carrier was denied by China to spend port in Honk Kong for Thanksgiving. (http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10268121) Seems to be a bit of a misunderstanding from Beijing...except that the carrier decided to set sail through the Taiwan Strait on its way back to Japan (a major no no and a bit of an F U from the US). But other than that, things seem to be fine between the two super powers. Gulp.
Have a good holiday everybody....
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http://vansmack.spaces.live.com (http://vansmack.spaces.live.com)
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Make room in the Pantheon of Video Game Greatness: ROCK BAND (http://vansmack.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!CC1B51FC5694D55B!650.entry)
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Oh the Audacity...for once I didn't ignore the Iowa Caucus. (http://vansmack.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!CC1B51FC5694D55B!653.entry) Well, not until the turnout numbers started pouring in anyway.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Make room in the Pantheon of Video Game Greatness: ROCK BAND (http://vansmack.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!CC1B51FC5694D55B!650.entry)
Conan O'Brien likes his Rock Band. (http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/01/03/conan-obrien-hijacks-rock-band-session-to-attempt-radiohead-beastie-boys-covers/?utm_source=weekly-newsletter&utm_medium=email)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Tech Prediction #2:
2008 will not be the year that the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray Debate gets solved, however, HD-DVD will take a substantial lead ...
I'm waiting for one/two triggers to happen to get me to buy an HD-DVD player:
(2) If any of the "Blu-Ray only" movie studios switch to the "we'll offer both" formats camp. Right now, Warner's switch has kept Blu-Ray solidly in the mix.
Well, I'm back in the waiting pond.....
Warner Bros. Entertainment to Release its High-Definition DVD Titles Exclusively in the Blu-Ray Disc Format Beginning Later This Year (http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1700383,00.html)
This is getting beyond ridiculous.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Well, I'm back in the waiting pond.....
Warner Bros. Entertainment to Release its High-Definition DVD Titles Exclusively in the Blu-Ray Disc Format Beginning Later This Year (http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1700383,00.html)
This is getting beyond ridiculous.
heh, and i just bought the xbox hd-dvd a week ago, figures
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
heh, and i just bought the xbox hd-dvd a week ago, figures
Well, Warner broke their Blu-ray only agreement just long enough to get their back catalog out on HD-DVD so I wouldn't worry too much about it.
But how is the X-Box HD-DVD player? Huge jump in quality?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Well, Warner broke their Blu-ray only agreement just long enough to get their back catalog out on HD-DVD so I wouldn't worry too much about it.
But how is the X-Box HD-DVD player? Huge jump in quality?
I returned it this morning while I still could :D
The jump in quality really wasnt that amazing to me, I will probably end up buying a blu ray eventually, but will wait a while now.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Warner Bros. Entertainment to Release its High-Definition DVD Titles Exclusively in the Blu-Ray Disc Format Beginning Later This Year (http://www.timewarner.com/corp/newsroom/pr/0,20812,1700383,00.html)
This is getting beyond ridiculous.
Toshiba's Comment on Announcement from Warner Bros. Entertainment of its Exclusive Support for Blu-ray Disc Format (http://www.toshiba.co.jp/about/press/2008_01/pr0501.htm)
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And if this turns out to be true, I'm going to be pissed. Why can't they just come to a consensus?
According to a trusted source that was close to the negotiations, Warner and FOX were working on a deal to go Exclusive to HD DVD as recent as last week. Our source tells us that Warner was only willing to go to HD DVD if FOX would go with them. Their thinking was if they just went to HD DVD by themselves, it would not end the format war. Early this week FOX was paid an undisclosed amount to remain exclusive to Blu-ray. With the FOX deal falling through, Warner had no choice but to accept the BDA??s $500 Million offer to go Blu-ray exclusive. We do wonder if FOX was just playing the HD DVD side, while having no intentions of ever switching.
http://www.n4g.com/tech/News-97189.aspx (http://www.n4g.com/tech/News-97189.aspx)
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At least the US Consumer isn't confused:
Toyota Outsells Ford in the US Market (http://www.businessweek.com/autos/autobeat/archives/2008/01/toyota_zips_pas.html)
This is what happens when you fail to realize that the the price of gas has been absurdly subsidized for too long. Even the US consumer is smarter than that.
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Be wary of early polls suggesting McCain and Obama are looking at big victories in New Hampshire. New Hampshire allows independents to vote in either the Republican Primary or the Democratic Primary, but, obviously, not both. So when a poll shows a large lead for either candiate, consider the question and how many independents were surveyed. If the question asked an independent voter who she would choose between Clinton and Obama, the majority of independents would choose Obama. A similar question regarding the Republican candidates would yield the same result for McCain. But what would an independent voter do when faced with a question regarding Obama or McCain?
And that's what I'm excited to see tomorrow. If either candidate does exceptionally well tomorrow, that could mean huge gains for either Mitt Romney or Hillary Clinton. If they split the independent vote, will that be enough for them to put the other candidates at a huge disadvantage? We shall see.
For the record, an Independent in the Union's largest state, California, is only allowed to vote in the Democratic Primay. This will be a HUGE boost for Barack Obama.
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This is not your Daddy's "Pole Tax" (http://vansmack.spaces.live.com/blog/cns!CC1B51FC5694D55B!661.entry)
And here I thought the Poll Tax was unconstitutional. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poll_tax)
Leave it to Texas to prove me wrong. Starting January 1, strip clubs in Texas will have a mandatory $5 surcharge per visitor, the proceeds of which go to a special fund to support victims of sexual assault. (http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10431696) This new "Pole Tax" is said to raise an additional $40 Million of revenue (wait a minute, 8 million people a year visit strip clubs in Texas?). Like me, most are used to paying a cover charge to see the entertainment, so some will feel better knowing that $5 of there cover goes to something good. The rest think this a weak attempt to link strip club visitors and sexual assault - Louche behaviour, after all, is not a crime.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
8 million people a year visit strip clubs in Texas?
It's more likely that a quarter of a million perverts each go 30+ times.
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Rather than dig up the original thread where I discussed my theory on WiMax, I'm pleased to report that DC will be getting wimax soon. (http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/01/07/daily12.html?f=et87&ana=e_du)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Be wary of early polls suggesting McCain and Obama are looking at big victories in New Hampshire. New Hampshire allows independents to vote in either the Republican Primary or the Democratic Primary, but, obviously, not both...But what would an independent voter do when faced with a question regarding Obama or McCain?
Far be it for me to pat myself on the back, but this was a pretty damn good call on my part.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by vansmack:
Be wary of early polls suggesting McCain and Obama are looking at big victories in New Hampshire. New Hampshire allows independents to vote in either the Republican Primary or the Democratic Primary, but, obviously, not both...But what would an independent voter do when faced with a question regarding Obama or McCain?
Far be it for me to pat myself on the back, but this was a pretty damn good call on my part. [/b]
I suppose we could have a more drawn discussion elsewhere, but this is now being brought up-
A Theory (http://corner.nationalreview.com/post/?q=ZDM0MDY2YjE2YTA0ODc4MTM2NTQ1YjVmODJhZmZiZTk=) about Independents in NH... [Rich Lowry]
...a couple of people have mentioned to me: Could it be possible that independents figured, with the press coverage, that Obama was going to win no matter what, so they decided if they were going to have any effect they should vote in the Republican primary? Therefore Obama suffered the effect that everyone thought McCain was going to suffer of independents going to the other guy? Just a theory with no data to support it.
and
A question (http://blog.brendanloy.com/2008/01/a-question.html)
Did New Hampshire's independents outsmart themselves, believing that McCain needed them more than Obama did, and thus deciding to vote Republican in greater-than-expected numbers... producing a McCain landslide and a Clinton-Obama squeaker?
personally, i'm more interested in the polling issues (http://blogs.abcnews.com/thenumbers/2008/01/new-hampshires.html) leading up to today, or is that a function of independents polling both ways, but only voting one way?
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My theory regardind Obama's loss...
I blame Edwards for staying in the race. If Edwards wasn't in the race, I think most of his votes would go to Obama.
Just like when Nader handed the election to Bush in 2000, Edwards is going to hand it to Clinton.
Obama's loss in NH is all Edwards' fault.
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I blame Edwards for staying in the race. If Edwards wasn't in the race, I think most of his votes would go to Obama.
Well, I'm not as convinced that a large enough majority of Edwards votes will go to Obama, after all Clinton is seen as less centrist that Obama and Edwards is father left than any of the three. Of course, that assumes voters actaully care about the issues and don't have an anti-Clinton sentiment.
However, Edwards was going to stick it out until South Carolina from the very beginning, and when he gets waxed there, he'll bow out and endorse....???? The guy still wants to be VP - a last gasp at a failing politcal career - I'm not sure he'll endorse anyone out as he bows out.
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Obama a centrist? But the great political commentator Mankie called his a socialist.
I've been thinking your Edwards wanting the veep theory for awhile. I see him throwing his support to Obama in exchange for veep honors. Though if he though it was better for him to go with Clinton, he'd probably go her way.
I like Edwards' message, I just don't trust the guy delivering it.
Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I blame Edwards for staying in the race. If Edwards wasn't in the race, I think most of his votes would go to Obama.
Well, I'm not as convinced that a large enough majority of Edwards votes will go to Obama, after all Clinton is seen as less centrist that Obama and Edwards is father left than any of the three. Of course, that assumes voters actaully care about the issues and don't have an anti-Clinton sentiment.
However, Edwards was going to stick it out until South Carolina from the very beginning, and when he gets waxed there, he'll bow out and endorse....???? The guy still wants to be VP - a last gasp at a failing politcal career - I'm not sure he'll endorse anyone out as he bows out. [/b]
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
My theory regardind Obama's loss...
I blame Edwards for staying in the race. If Edwards wasn't in the race, I think most of his votes would go to Obama.
Just like when Nader handed the election to Bush in 2000, Edwards is going to hand it to Clinton.
Obama's loss in NH is all Edwards' fault.
i'd blame the media before i blame edwards. new hampshire people like to set the agenda, not have it set for them. everyone wants to anoint obama? not if they have something to say about it. they are fickle. also, caucusing and voting are pretty different. with a bunch of people around it's easy to get swept up in all obamania. but when it's just you and a voting machine, not as easy.
i'm kinda happy, i'd like to see obama earn it if he's gonna get it. he's like a zombie lately, "WE ... WANT ... CHAAAAAAAAANGE!"
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Obama a centrist? But the great political commentator Mankie called his a socialist.
He also called him a Muslim a few months ago....
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I've been thinking your Edwards wanting the veep theory for awhile. I see him throwing his support to Obama in exchange for veep honors. Though if he though it was better for him to go with Clinton, he'd probably go her way.
I like Edwards' message, I just don't trust the guy delivering it.
Edwards is in big trouble. I don't see either of the front runner candidates embracing him for VP. After the Iowa Caucaus I called his political career over and I'm going to stand by that, despite his youth. His message is one of revitalizing the liberal agenda of 1968 and that message no longer resonates with todays youthful voters, half of which were born after 1968. Clinton's message is similar, but not as strongly worded as the 1968 agenda.
If Obama wins, he'll need to choose a VP candidate that is seen as having executive experience or a long track record - someone like Richardson or Biden (although I think Biden, with a little work on his Diplomacy, would make a good Secretary of State).
If Clinton wins, she will need to ask Obama to be her VP, but that is not going to be easy. A lot of that will depend on how they campaign against each other for Super Tuesday and onward, and who the Republican candidate is. He may turn her down or she may not have the guts to do it. A second choice would be Richardson.
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Edwards is a slimeball.
His "Two Americas" message is contradicted by his establishment of a sham non-profit organization for the eradication of poverty, the proceeds of which he used for his ongoing personal political campaigning. Best of all, the donors could give whatever amount they wanted and could also remain anonymous.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/22/us/politics/22edwards.html (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/22/us/politics/22edwards.html)
His big talk about the evils of predatory lending is contradicted by his own personal investments in sub-prime mortgages. He claims he was unaware of these investments, which is beyond the pale of believability since he was a senior advisor to the firm at the time they were making those investments and the fact that he has since given the firm more than half of his vast personal fortune to manage on his behalf.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051002277_pf.html (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/05/10/AR2007051002277_pf.html)
Mankie's right - he's a televangelist: Preach one thing while practicing the opposite.
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I can't imagine Obama would ever agree to run with Hilary. Obama has emerged has his own force, and its too late to subjugate that force - especially to someone who does not share his philosophical spirit. It would be infinitely disappointing to see Obama join forces with Clinton.
Edwards and Richardson are losers. No one even knows why they are in the race. The only explanation is they have strong finance teams. I doubt either Obama or Hilary respect either enough to pick them.
Picking a VP candidate is like making a good boxing match. Styles and personalities make fights. When Clinton picked Gore in 92 it was like "oh yeah, nice move." The ticket worked. When Gore picked Lieberman it was like "Um, no." You wouldn't buy that card on PPV.
I'm looking forward to a slugfest b/w Obama and Hilary. Obama's got phenomenal swag right now and Clinton's got the machinery, desire and cash to make it a battle for the ages.
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So who do you see Hillary picking for her veep?
Who do you see Obama picking as his veep?
Originally posted by Mobius:
I can't imagine Obama would ever agree to run with Hilary. Obama has emerged has his own force, and its too late to subjugate that force - especially to someone who does not share his philosophical spirit. It would be infinitely disappointing to see Obama join forces with Clinton.
Edwards and Richardson are losers. No one even knows why they are in the race. The only explanation is they have strong finance teams. I doubt either Obama or Hilary respect either enough to pick them.
Picking a VP candidate is like making a good boxing match. Styles and personalities make fights. When Clinton picked Gore in 92 it was like "oh yeah, nice move." The ticket worked. When Gore picked Lieberman it was like "Um, no." You wouldn't buy that card on PPV.
I'm looking forward to a slugfest b/w Obama and Hilary. Obama's got phenomenal swag right now and Clinton's got the machinery, desire and cash to make it a battle for the ages.
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Originally posted by Mobius:
Edwards and Richardson are losers. No one even knows why they are in the race. The only explanation is they have strong finance teams. I doubt either Obama or Hilary respect either enough to pick them.
oh, edwards is easy enough to figure out- if the union's want him in the race, he'll stay in the race. . .once the union's get satisfied with obama (as it appears they may be), then edwards' funding dries up (and since he took federal matching funds, he can't use his own money).
as for richardson. . .i think it's simply to become VP. . .he's been a rep, governor, ambassador and sec. of energy. . .short of becoming sec. of state or defense (which i doubt would happen), the vp is what's left for him. oh, and the skirts.
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
So who do you see Hillary picking for her veep?
Who do you see Obama picking as his veep?
I don't know but next to the Electoral College, the number one thing that irritates me most about presidential politics is the role of the vice-president. A ticket should run as a TEAM. Two people working together to get things done. Like Batman and Robin. Or Hall & Oates. Not Peyton Manning and Jim Sorgi. I mean, can you imagine if Al Gore had done half of the stuff he said he WOULD have done when he was veep? President of the United States is a huge enough job as it is. The vice-president should be working on seperate policies and initiatives (that still have the tacit approval of the Prez.) Not just being "the backup."
I don't know about the Dems but for the Republicans, if McCain gets the nod (which I think he will) he MAY go with Huckabee to appeal to the base (although, outside of religion/cultural, Huckabee really ISN'T a "base" conservative) but I think he may go with Guiliani. Sure, that would be an ego hit for Mr. 9/11 but it could set things up well with succession. Even if there isn't a major terrorist incident between now and Nov. 4th, I think a lot of voters are going to go hawkish.
Would Bloomberg consider being a veep?
Brian
P.S. I'm wondering why "How Vansmack's wife allows him to go to strip clubs" hasn't been convered in "Things Smackie Thinks You Need To Know."
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really don't know who the dem veep should be. but obama/hilary doesn't feel right. maybe its a personal bias b/c i'd see it as mcmurtry getting the lobotomy in cuckoo's nest or something. or maybe when it all shakes out they will end up being a powerful combination - but one that still doesn't appeal to much of america.
reality aside (since i have no idea who outside the prez candidates are possibilities) hilary/rendell would be interesting - although maybe just in the realm of 'eastern democratic boomer superstars'. hilary/tipper gore would be a bold move.
i'd like to see obama paired with another sharp progressive thinker. the gore to his clinton (i.e. someone of similar background who solidifies him rather than counterbalances him - i.e. the cheney/bush approach). but maybe he'd be best served finding a counterbalance - an lbj (experienced shrewd politician, better yet from a big state and of background more traditionally electable background) to his jfk. i don't know who in the democratic party fits that (either) bill. that's why i don't get a thread.
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
P.S. I'm wondering why "How Vansmack's wife allows him to go to strip clubs" hasn't been convered in "Things Smackie Thinks You Need To Know."
First off, your use of the word "allow" does not compute in our household. And that's a two way road.
Secondly, Smackette will never participate in this board because she, rightly so, thinks we're mostly retarded.
Thirdly, I will ask her to reveal her thoughts on the issue, but I may or may not post it, for fear that you will all find her much more entertaining than me, and unlike the Sports Guy, my ego could not handle that.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Thirdly, I will ask her to reveal her thoughts on the issue, but I may or may not post it, for fear that you will all find her much more entertaining than me, and unlike the Sports Guy, my ego could not handle that.
too late.
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
Would Bloomberg consider being a veep?
[rhetorical]Would Jeff George consider being a backup QB?[/rhetorical]
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Originally posted by vansmack:
For the record, an Independent in the Union's largest state, California, is only allowed to vote in the Democratic Primay. This will be a HUGE boost for Barack Obama.
The Sac Bee has finally caught on to my theory, (http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/620748.html) so I expect the other rags to catch up by Friday. There are 3 Million independent voters in CA (compared to 6.6 Million Dems and 5.1 Millions Republicans) who are not being polled, but can only participate in the Democratic Primary. Do you really think Clinton still has a double digit lead (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/sfgate/detail?blogid=14&entry_id=23324) if you're not polling independents?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Thirdly, I will ask her to reveal her thoughts on the issue, but I may or may not post it, for fear that you will all find her much more entertaining than me, and unlike the Sports Guy, my ego could not handle that.
And just like the Sports Gal is better at picking football games than her husband, I'm sure smackette has better musical taste than you, too.
Brian
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Originally posted by ggw?:
Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
Would Bloomberg consider being a veep?
[rhetorical]Would Jeff George consider being a backup QB?[/rhetorical] [/b]
Ah, touche. I love Jeff George. You're right. Why be a veep when you can be Lord of New York?
Brian
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Drunk History vol. 1 - Featuring Michael Cera (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6V_DsL1x1uY)
The fact that Michael Cera still makes home videos with his buddies is great.
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Trent Reznor favors an ISP 'tax on music' (http://www.news.com/Trent-Reznor-favors-an-ISP-tax-on-music/8301-10784_3-9847788-7.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703)
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
P.S. I'm wondering why "How Vansmack's wife allows him to go to strip clubs" hasn't been convered in "Things Smackie Thinks You Need To Know."
So says Smackette:
So I think with men you just have to pick your battles. You can only squeeze so much out of them so you really have to decide what is important to you. They can only handle so much nagging, so you must ration it wisely! So if he decides that he wants to waste his money being teased by women he can never sleep with who have a smaller rack and larger waist then myself....then go for it. Honestly, I would rather spend time fighting for a clean bathroom.
And besides, any night that either starts with or ends with [Vansmack] at a strip club always yeilds a good story.... and I do love a good [Vansmack] story. Sweetie, did you tell them about the time you and I went to a strip club in Mexico?? Now THAT was a good story.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
So says Smackette:
So I think with men you just have to pick your battles. You can only squeeze so much out of them so you really have to decide what is important to you. They can only handle so much nagging, so you must ration it wisely! So if he decides that he wants to waste his money being teased by women he can never sleep with who have a smaller rack and larger waist then myself....then go for it. Honestly, I would rather spend time fighting for a clean bathroom.
And besides, any night that either starts with or ends with [Vansmack] at a strip club always yeilds a good story.... and I do love a good [Vansmack] story. Sweetie, did you tell them about the time you and I went to a strip club in Mexico?? Now THAT was a good story.
[/b]
pwned.
Brian
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But if I go outside, I might offend the Smokers (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22559988?gt1=10755)
St. Louis councilmember seeks to ban swearing in bars, along with table-dancing, drinking contests and profane music.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Sweetie, did you tell them about the time you and I went to a strip club in Mexico?? Now THAT was a good story.
We're waiting.....
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Originally posted by ggw?:
We're waiting.....
OK, but let me get China and Pakistan off my chest before I tell the Mexico story.
I think Bloomberg is missing the mark here in comparing the effects of the US Economic slowdown (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aAJWhzXp3.HI&refer=home) with the Chinese slowdown. (http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&refer=home&sid=a45snfs9i9.U)
China has become much less dependent on exports in the last 10 years, and much more interested in investment. If you take exports further, they are much less dependent on cheap exports today then they were 10 years ago (opting for electronics over toys) and much less dependent on the US today than they ever have been (Asia and the Middle East accounted for more than 40% of China's export growth in the first ten months of 2007, North America for less than 10%). Approximately 5% of China's GDP is dependent on net exports, where 40% of China's GDP is dependent on investment. Sure, exports effect the ability to invest, but a weak dollar and a slow economy make the US a better place to buy low.
Anyhow, the US effect on China may be a boon for China's over-heating economy and not a sign that Chinese market has reached it's peak. (http://www.economist.com/finance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10429271)
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So I've been thinking about Pakistan, but was waiting until I could fully process the assassination of Benazir Bhutto before sharing my thoughts.
While most of the media focused the first couple of weeks after her assassination on who killed her and how she died, I've decided that I don't care (well, it's not that I don't care, it's more that I don't think it's the most important angle). Originally, the interesting stories to me were (1) the lack of succession in Pakistani poltical parties, (2) the effects of moving the election to February, and (3) the overall effect on Pakistan. But lately I've become more intrigued about (4) the effects it has globally, because after all, the only reason we're more concerned about this particular Muslim country and it's problems over other Muslim countries is one thing: they possess a nuclear weapon.
(1) Succession: Pakistani's, even the well educated ones, can't get past their tribal allegiances. That is the simple answer for why everyone is looking to the Bhutto family to take over the PPP, even if that means a crook (Bhutto's husband, Asif Ali Zardari) or a 19 year old kid (Bhutto's son, Bilawal). It's a shame really because after the lawyers took to the streets to defy Musharraf, not one of them is seen as capable of running the PPP simply because his last name is not Bhutto. Zardari is blamed for Bhutto's corruption charges and isn't well liked, while Bilawal is still in college. Things are not looking good for the PPP for the next ten years.
(2) Elections: Despite the (shocking) calls from the west(ern media) to postpone the elections, both opposition parties (Bhutto's PPP and Sharif's PML) were opposed to changing the date. I wish I could say that they, like me, feel that democracy is bigger than any one person and the elections must go on. But no. They know that any more time given to Musharraf would allow him to put the security forces in place to rig an election. Postponing the election was not a good move.
(3) Pakistan's Future: More riots. Simply put, no matter who loses the election, they will take to the streets. Depsite a small precentage of Islamic extremists, they are quite effective in keeping Pakistan from becoming a true democracy. Add to that a Military dictatorship with a well entrenched military-intelligence program, and the likelihood of free elections creating a consensus of Pakistani's feeling like the government is one they can trust with a military that will protect them from the extremists is all but gone with the death of Bhutto.
(4) Global effects: This one matters most in my eyes. The death of Bhutto stopped two key strategic advances. One, she was going to rat Musharraf out to the American Congress ahead of the election so that election monitors would no what to look for ahead the (then) January election. And second, and perhpas more important, she had promised to turn over Abdul Qadeer Khan, the former head of Pakistan's nuclear program who has been selling nuclear secrets to China, Libya, Iran, North Korea, the Taliban in Afghanistan and, perhaps, Al-qaeda. I am looking forward to reading "The Nuclear Jihadist (http://www.amazon.com/Nuclear-Jihadist-Dangerous-Secrets-Stopped/dp/0446199575/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1200078645&sr=8-1)," a fascinating tale about the Man Who Sold the World's Most Dangerous Secrets...And How We Could Have Stopped Him (http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10424283).
-
Vansmack, I just have to ask. And don't take this the wrong way. After all, I myself am the guy who has 15K posts or something like that. But mine are mostly one line gibbersish comments fired off while I'm awaiting the results of a program I wrote, or something like that.
But do you have a job where you actually do work? Or is writing well conceived analyses about just about any topic under the sun part of your daily workload?
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Vansmack, I just have to ask. And don't take this the wrong way. After all, I myself am the guy who has 15K posts or something like that. But mine are mostly one line gibbersish comments fired off while I'm awaiting the results of a program I wrote, or something like that.
But do you have a job where you actually do work? Or is writing well conceived analyses about just about any topic under the sun part of your daily workload?
He lives in San Francisco and his wife (who allows him to go to strip clubs) is the main breadwinner. They don't let you into San Francisco with being able to "write well conceived analyses about just about any topic under the sun." They're not as tolerant as you think.
Brian
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
his wife is the main breadwinner.
Not yet, and not for 4 more years actually. Residents don't get paid that much. But someday...
-
Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Vansmack, I just have to ask. And don't take this the wrong way. After all, I myself am the guy who has 15K posts or something like that. But mine are mostly one line gibbersish comments fired off while I'm awaiting the results of a program I wrote, or something like that.
But do you have a job where you actually do work? Or is writing well conceived analyses about just about any topic under the sun part of your daily workload?
He lives in San Francisco and his wife (who allows him to go to strip clubs) is the main breadwinner. They don't let you into San Francisco with being able to "write well conceived analyses about just about any topic under the sun." They're not as tolerant as you think.
[/b]
heh, you should see my analysis of bert blyleven's hall of fame voting progress and the liklihood of his induction over the next 4 years. which preceded a lengthly analysis of san francisco's Proposition A.
if only the local politburo had known what they let in. . .
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
But do you have a job where you actually do work? Or is writing well conceived analyses about just about any topic under the sun part of your daily workload?
The answer is both, actually. I am the consummate multi-tasker. I wrote the Pakistan piece last night, but really have been working on it in my head since Dec 27. I spent about 5 minutes on it this morning cleaning up the email I sent myself, but not much else (which is why it has typos). The China thing I developed this morning while loading up on the morning news. I spend the first 30-60 minutes of my day gathering news (my job), and then spent about 2 minutes writing that little blip on China.
While I would normally throw out putting folks into categories, I am known in my dept as a "lower right quadrant" guy. We all took this test as part of a staff retreat, and if you're familiar with the work of David A. Kolb (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_A._Kolb) (the educator, not the philosopher), I would be what is described as more of an abstract conceptualizationist mixed with reflective observation. 3%-5% of Americans would fit into this category. (I should put that test together for folks on the board to see where you fall in this analysis as I feel it's been one of the best descriptors of me ever.)
Anyhow, big words aside, this means that I love details, learn by thinking through ideas, absorb information, am driven by intellect, etc., etc. In practice, this means I don't talk much at meetings, process everything in the room (both the information, where it's coming from and who it's being said to - sometimes down to body language - always watch the eyes!), reflect on it for a while with other information I've gathered, then report my analysis to my team, usually accompanied with a big idea.
Not unlike this board, rarely will a day go buy that I don't send my education coworkers an email about something they think is not related to education (my most recent example is hydrogen fueling plants) and then a week or two later when we gather for a staff meeting I'll have some big idea for curriculum or practical idea about how we can tie a shortage of hydrogen fueling stations in the Bay Area into our work here at the university. Usually, I hadn't thought it out yet, but I knew it was important when I saw it.
Posts on politics, well, that's my job. I handle Government Relations for a university. If we're ahead of the nation, state and city, our job is a lot easier. Usually the stuff you see here on politics is similar to emails I've sent my colleagues (so it's cut and paste).
The foreign policy bent is obviously a hold over from my previous job (I'm also an occasional guest lecturer in our International Relations dept.). While not officially part of my job, I was once asked to share a lecture I gave to students, and that has turned into an email I send out with my thoughts on the hot topics in the rest of the world to our dept. Some of those I simply reprint here.
My posts on tech, well, I'm a self admitted tech dork. I'm always asked to fix something or recommend a new something by friends and colleagues, so I keep up on that stuff.
So yes, I have a job where I do actual work, the majority of which I spend thinking and analyzing higher ed policy and politics, and go off topic often. My employer tolerates it because I'm well known to send my ideas in the middle of the night (I never stop thinking really, with at least one side of my brain).
One question I have yet to answer (but have been thinking about) is why I chose this particular venue to share the majority of my thoughts despite having a blog of my own. I don't know - perhaps I enjoy the diversity of the audience here. Perhaps I just feel comfortable with all the people. I might never know. Part of it is surely the fact that this web site is not picked up by search engines. I enjoy (virtual) anonymity.
(by the way, I wrote this while eating my lunch)
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All of that and you still have to ask your wife's permission to go to a strip club.
Brian
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
All of that and you still have to ask your wife's permission to go to a strip club.
Brian
Which part of "allow does not compute in our household" do you struggle with? You still have this idea of all of your self-described miserable married redneck friends from PA. Not all marraiges are that way. Many are based on mutual respect, a concept I no doubt understand that you struggle with.
I need permission to do one thing from my wife: drink whiskey.
She's tired of cleaning up the mess I leave behind when I imbibe the brown alcohol. Even I don't like "Whiskey Vansmack" as my friends have taken to calling me. He's a bigger asshole than the sober one that posts here.
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Don't you think you're disrespecting your wife when you're ogling other women? I'm sure she thinks she's being hip, cool, and progressive by putting up with it with a cutesy smile on her face. But what woman really enjoys sharing the affections of her man with others?
Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
All of that and you still have to ask your wife's permission to go to a strip club.
Brian
Which part of "allow does not compute in our household" do you struggle with? You still have this idea of all of your self-described miserable married redneck friends from PA. Not all marraiges are that way. Many are based on mutual respect, a concept I no doubt understand that you struggle with.
I need permission to do one thing from my wife: drink whiskey.
She's tired of cleaning up the mess I leave behind when I imbibe the brown alcohol. Even I don't like "Whiskey Vansmack" as my friends have taken to calling me. He's a bigger asshole than the sober one that posts here. [/b]
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Don't you think you're disrespecting your wife when you're ogling other women?
No, but you have clearly stated that you do.
Thankfully, I'm not married to you.
-
quit working so hard and post more about the prem
-
??U2 3D? Premieres at New York Screening; Everybody Besides Jay-Z Impressed (http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/01/07/u2-3d-premieres-at-new-york-screening-everybody-besides-jay-z-impressed/?utm_source=daily-newsletter&utm_medium=email)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
??U2 3D? Premieres at New York Screening; Everybody Besides Jay-Z Impressed (http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/01/07/u2-3d-premieres-at-new-york-screening-everybody-besides-jay-z-impressed/?utm_source=daily-newsletter&utm_medium=email)
Seeing this on the 25th. Can't wait.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Not all marraiges are that way. Many are based on mutual respect, a concept I no doubt understand that you struggle with.
My prediction is....August 2011. Your marriage? R.I.P. By that time, she'll be a full-fledged doctor and won't have to put up with your pompous, long-winded bullshit. Your cuteness will have well worn off by then but you may be able to snag some naive grad student.
If I'm wrong and you're still together by then, I'll buy you a copy of "McSweeney's" and a triple skim, latte, blah, blah, whatever you drink.
Brian
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
My prediction is....August 2011. Your marriage? R.I.P. By that time, she'll be a full-fledged doctor and won't have to put up with your pompous, long-winded bullshit. Your cuteness will have well worn off by then but you may be able to snag some naive grad student.
If I'm wrong and you're still together by then, I'll buy you a copy of "McSweeney's" and a triple skim, latte, blah, blah, whatever you drink.
Brian
For the record, I already get McSweeney's and I don't drink coffee, but you're on for a Playboy and a Mountain Dew.
If Smackette does tire of my "pompous longwinded...cuteness", so be it. I will at least have had 5 years of pure joy, something I know you'll never have.
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Less arguing, more Mexico story-telling.
Originally posted by vansmack:
For the record, I already get McSweeney's and I don't drink coffee, but you're on for a Playboy and a Mountain Dew.
If Smackette does tire of my "pompous longwinded...cuteness", so be it. I will at least have had 5 years of pure joy, something I know you'll never have.
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Toyota Makes a 2010 Pledge for plug-in Hybrid (http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8U5OSGO0.htm)
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Originally posted by nkotb:
Less arguing, more Mexico story-telling.
I'm almost done and should be able to finish it up at lunch. I must say, all the hype means this story is bound to flop.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Toyota Makes a 2010 Pledge for plug-in Hybrid (http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D8U5OSGO0.htm)
Green is the theme at the Detroit Auto Show (http://www.news.com/2300-13833_3-6225801-1.html?tag=ne.gall.pg)
And GM Announces a Deal with Coskata (http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-mon_garbage_0114jan14,0,5744268.story?coll=sns-travel-headlines), a start-up that makes Ethanol from garbage.
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Originally posted by ggw?:
Originally posted by vansmack:
Sweetie, did you tell them about the time you and I went to a strip club in Mexico?? Now THAT was a good story.
We're waiting..... [/b]
Alright, I can??t believe I haven??t told you guys this story ?? I??ve probably alluded to it but never told the full version.
So while Smackette and I were awaiting all of our worldly possessions to be transported from DC to SF (July 03), we took a week long vacation in Mexico with my family. On our way to dinner one night in Puerto Nuevo, we noticed a new strip club had opened up by the house we stay at. After dinner, my sister and her husband and Mmackette and I all decided that we MUST check this out. We were pretty sure it was going to be the most disgusting place we??d ever been, but the curiosity got the best of us.
Apparently we had gotten there a little before the crowd arrives as there was only one other group in the joint, and no ladies working the crowd. Mind you, it was about 10pm on a Friday night. We ordered a pitcher of margaritas and waited for the show to start, but no one was on stage. A little bit of a broo-ha-ha started between the manager and the female bartender and she reluctantly went up on stage and stripped. In my little ability to speak spanish, she was upset and apparently had taken the bartender job so she could stop stripping. That and she was pissed that whomever was supposed to be there was late. For the record, she probably should have stopped stripping years ago.
So we had been there for about 45 minutes and a second Latina gets on stage. While slightly better looking than the first (which isn??t saying much), she was as disinterested as the first stripper. The place was a little more crowded now (we??re the only Americans), but still not much going on as far as the entertainment. At this point, my sister decided to take matters into her own hands and walks up to the manager and asks the manager if she can go on stage. There was bit of a language barrier at first, but she walked over to the stage and motioned that she wanted to get up there. He asked her to wait a second. At some point while my sister was negotiating with the manager, a small group of young 20-something American guys walked in, most clearly after a long day of surfing. They sat down at the table next to ours. Finally, the manager came back out with the rest of the male staff from the back, and then motioned that now was the appropriate time for her to get on stage.
So my sister gets up on stage and proceeds to strip for the crowd. To say that this was the most awkward moment in my life would not be an understatement. Between her on stage and the realization that she was all too comfortable on the pole for this to be her first time were enlightening moments for me. At first I didn??t think she would go through with it ?? dancing and spinning around are one thing, but would she really take her clothes off? Well, the short answer is yes. As soon as she started undoing her bathing suit top, I stopped watching. As Smackette reports, she was up there with nothing on but her panties for at least a song and a half, strutting her stuff around the stage.
After her show, she put her clothes back on, collected her money and came back over to our table. While we joked about what just happened, the guys at the table next to us asked my sister if they could buy her a drink. She said, ??I don??t know, you??ll have to ask my husband.? The guy had a puzzled look on his face and apologized saying he didn??t realize....
My brother in law, to his credit, said ??Don??t apologize to me ?? that??s her brother over there? motioning towards me. Now, I??ve seen a lot of faces in the Pantheon of Great Faces before, but if I could have a picture of the look on that guys face when I gave him the ??what??s up? nod, I would have the greatest avatar in the history of avatars. He went back to his table and tried to explain the situation to his buddies. They eventually bought us a pitcher of margaritas and joined us at our table for a while as we waited for the entertainment, which was sporadic at best for the rest of the night. We ended up surfing with them the next day where we told them about the rumors of the donkey bar in Tijuana. They set out for the Donkey Bar that evening and we??ve never heard from them since.
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thats just wrong
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another great vansamck story
Originally posted by vansmack:
So my sister gets up on stage and proceeds to strip for the crowd. To say that this was the most awkward moment in my life would not be an understatement.
i can only imagine... but, as hard as this might be for you to believe, i think that i have a story from a latin american strip club that is equally if not more cringe-inducing. maybe i'll stumble home drunk one night and decide that it's a good idea to share.
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That's totally f'ed up. I mean, once you realized your sister was stripping, you could have left, right? Wasn't the place you were staying at right next door? They didn't lock the doors did they? I know you didn't look but you DID willingly stay in a strip club where your sister was stripping, no? No wonder you're the way you are.
Brian
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35 is the new 20.
Originally posted by sweetcell:
another great vansamck story
Originally posted by vansmack:
So my sister gets up on stage and proceeds to strip for the crowd. To say that this was the most awkward moment in my life would not be an understatement.
i can only imagine... but, as hard as this might be for you to believe, i think that i have a story from a latin american strip club that is equally if not more cringe-inducing. maybe i'll stumble home drunk one night and decide that it's a good idea to share. [/b]
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Story would be better with pictures.
Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by ggw?:
Originally posted by vansmack:
Sweetie, did you tell them about the time you and I went to a strip club in Mexico?? Now THAT was a good story.
We're waiting..... [/b]
Alright, I can??t believe I haven??t told you guys this story ?? I??ve probably alluded to it but never told the full version.
So while Smackette and I were awaiting all of our worldly possessions to be transported from DC to SF (July 03), we took a week long vacation in Mexico with my family. On our way to dinner one night in Puerto Nuevo, we noticed a new strip club had opened up by the house we stay at. After dinner, my sister and her husband and Mmackette and I all decided that we MUST check this out. We were pretty sure it was going to be the most disgusting place we??d ever been, but the curiosity got the best of us.
Apparently we had gotten there a little before the crowd arrives as there was only one other group in the joint, and no ladies working the crowd. Mind you, it was about 10pm on a Friday night. We ordered a pitcher of margaritas and waited for the show to start, but no one was on stage. A little bit of a broo-ha-ha started between the manager and the female bartender and she reluctantly went up on stage and stripped. In my little ability to speak spanish, she was upset and apparently had taken the bartender job so she could stop stripping. That and she was pissed that whomever was supposed to be there was late. For the record, she probably should have stopped stripping years ago.
So we had been there for about 45 minutes and a second Latina gets on stage. While slightly better looking than the first (which isn??t saying much), she was as disinterested as the first stripper. The place was a little more crowded now (we??re the only Americans), but still not much going on as far as the entertainment. At this point, my sister decided to take matters into her own hands and walks up to the manager and asks the manager if she can go on stage. There was bit of a language barrier at first, but she walked over to the stage and motioned that she wanted to get up there. He asked her to wait a second. At some point while my sister was negotiating with the manager, a small group of young 20-something American guys walked in, most clearly after a long day of surfing. They sat down at the table next to ours. Finally, the manager came back out with the rest of the male staff from the back, and then motioned that now was the appropriate time for her to get on stage.
So my sister gets up on stage and proceeds to strip for the crowd. To say that this was the most awkward moment in my life would not be an understatement. Between her on stage and the realization that she was all too comfortable on the pole for this to be her first time were enlightening moments for me. At first I didn??t think she would go through with it ?? dancing and spinning around are one thing, but would she really take her clothes off? Well, the short answer is yes. As soon as she started undoing her bathing suit top, I stopped watching. As Smackette reports, she was up there with nothing on but her panties for at least a song and a half, strutting her stuff around the stage.
After her show, she put her clothes back on, collected her money and came back over to our table. While we joked about what just happened, the guys at the table next to us asked my sister if they could buy her a drink. She said, ??I don??t know, you??ll have to ask my husband.? The guy had a puzzled look on his face and apologized saying he didn??t realize....
My brother in law, to his credit, said ??Don??t apologize to me ?? that??s her brother over there? motioning towards me. Now, I??ve seen a lot of faces in the Pantheon of Great Faces before, but if I could have a picture of the look on that guys face when I gave him the ??what??s up? nod, I would have the greatest avatar in the history of avatars. He went back to his table and tried to explain the situation to his buddies. They eventually bought us a pitcher of margaritas and joined us at our table for a while as we waited for the entertainment, which was sporadic at best for the rest of the night. We ended up surfing with them the next day where we told them about the rumors of the donkey bar in Tijuana. They set out for the Donkey Bar that evening and we??ve never heard from them since. [/b]
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
That's totally f'ed up. I mean, once you realized your sister was stripping, you could have left, right?
Yes, but why? There was half a pitcher of margaritas to be drinkin'...
Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
Wasn't the place you were staying at right next door?
No. I would have had to take the car, and I was in no shape to do so. But walking out never entered my mind. I'm always looking for a good time, and since I'm the one that's known for making people feel uncomfortable, it was a liberating experience to have the shoe on the other foot.
My sister and I had been to many a strip club before and she loves to sit on the rail and flirt with the ladies, but this is the first time I had seen her get on stage.
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I miss Markie on days like this...
Jobs at MacWorld (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/live-from-macworld-expo/index.html?ex=1358139600&en=90afa50f8d00bca7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)
I'm super intrigued by the MacBook Air. I'm heading down to MacWorld tomorrow morning to see one (I can't deal with the Mac obsessors on day one).
As for the Apple TV Take II - they implemented a lot of the changes I recommended a year ago when it first came out (and mostly to compete with the Xbox 360). If the model for this can change and be similar to the Netflix/Blockbuster rental model (even at say $20 a month), I would be all over this and would stop worrying about the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray war. I would go all download.
-
Mail it to him.
Originally posted by vansmack:
I miss Markie on days like this...
Jobs at MacWorld (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/15/live-from-macworld-expo/index.html?ex=1358139600&en=90afa50f8d00bca7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)
I'm super intrigued by the MacBook Air. I'm heading down to MacWorld tomorrow morning to see one (I can't deal with the Mac obsessors on day one).
As for the Apple TV Take II - they implemented a lot of the changes I recommended a year ago when it first came out (and mostly to compete with the Xbox 360). If the model for this can change and be similar to the Netflix/Blockbuster rental model (even at say $20 a month), I would be all over this and would stop worrying about the HD-DVD and Blu-Ray war. I would go all download.
-
Markie is a pussy.
-
Originally posted by vansmack:
I'm super intrigued by the MacBook Air. I'm heading down to MacWorld tomorrow morning to see one (I can't deal with the Mac obsessors on day one).
wow
-
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
Originally posted by vansmack:
I'm super intrigued by the MacBook Air. I'm heading down to MacWorld tomorrow morning to see one (I can't deal with the Mac obsessors on day one).
wow [/b]
Yeah - here's some more data: (http://blogs.zdnet.com/hardware/?p=1155)
The dimensions of the MacBook Air are unbelievable - 0.16-0.76 inch (0.4-1.94 cm) high by 12.8 inches (32.5 cm) by 8.94 inches (22.7 cm) and the whole package comes in at 3.0 pounds (1.36 kg). Despite the small size, the MacBook Air is equipped with a 13.3-inch widescreen TFT panel capable of 1280 by 800 native resolution, and a full-size keyboard (which is backlit) with 78 (U.S.) or 79 (ISO) keys
I love the fact that it doesn't come with an optical drive, but can instead access a networked optical drive (although I can't imagine the wireless data transmissions being acceptable for a DVD over a G network) and no ethernet port. Could you imagine installing software wirelessly over a networked optical drive? Reliabalility and speed would be difficult.
Of course only one USB port could be problematic as well, especially when making up for wireless only transmission and no optical drive.
-
Originally posted by vansmack:
As for the Apple TV Take II - they implemented a lot of the changes I recommended a year ago when it first came out (and mostly to compete with the Xbox 360).
Actually, they didn't implement the most important change I recommended. Apple TV's HD still has a maximum video resolution of only 720p. Ridiculous for such a device (and at such a cost). They basically took the original Apple TV and added a movie rental feature. Welcome to Microsoft's Xbox 2006 without being able to do 1080 resolution (or play games!).
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
Originally posted by vansmack:
I'm super intrigued by the MacBook Air. I'm heading down to MacWorld tomorrow morning to see one (I can't deal with the Mac obsessors on day one).
wow [/b]
the popular mechanics (http://www.popularmechanics.com/macworld2008) are at it again
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
the popular mechanics (http://www.popularmechanics.com/macworld2008) are at it again
Any article that asks this question Could Apple TV 2.0 End the High-Def Format War? (http://www.popularmechanics.com/blogs/technology_news/4244896.html?series=48) and fails to mention that Apple 2.0 is 720p where Blu-Ray and HD-DVD are 1080p is a useless article.
I expect more from Popular Mechanics (I'm interested to see if they post my comments).
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
another great vansamck story... but, as hard as this might be for you to believe, i think that i have a story from a latin american strip club that is equally if not more cringe-inducing. maybe i'll stumble home drunk one night and decide that it's a good idea to share.
I've stopped competing with this guy for the most cringe-inducing strip club story...
Pacman Acussed of Punching a Woman in a Strip Club (http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=3197653)
-
Are you sure? She is Vansmack's sister. :eek:
Originally posted by ggw?:
Story would be better with pictures.
Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by ggw?:
Originally posted by vansmack:
Sweetie, did you tell them about the time you and I went to a strip club in Mexico?? Now THAT was a good story.
We're waiting..... [/b]
Alright, I can??t believe I haven??t told you guys this story ?? I??ve probably alluded to it but never told the full version.
So while Smackette and I were awaiting all of our worldly possessions to be transported from DC to SF (July 03), we took a week long vacation in Mexico with my family. On our way to dinner one night in Puerto Nuevo, we noticed a new strip club had opened up by the house we stay at. After dinner, my sister and her husband and Mmackette and I all decided that we MUST check this out. We were pretty sure it was going to be the most disgusting place we??d ever been, but the curiosity got the best of us.
Apparently we had gotten there a little before the crowd arrives as there was only one other group in the joint, and no ladies working the crowd. Mind you, it was about 10pm on a Friday night. We ordered a pitcher of margaritas and waited for the show to start, but no one was on stage. A little bit of a broo-ha-ha started between the manager and the female bartender and she reluctantly went up on stage and stripped. In my little ability to speak spanish, she was upset and apparently had taken the bartender job so she could stop stripping. That and she was pissed that whomever was supposed to be there was late. For the record, she probably should have stopped stripping years ago.
So we had been there for about 45 minutes and a second Latina gets on stage. While slightly better looking than the first (which isn??t saying much), she was as disinterested as the first stripper. The place was a little more crowded now (we??re the only Americans), but still not much going on as far as the entertainment. At this point, my sister decided to take matters into her own hands and walks up to the manager and asks the manager if she can go on stage. There was bit of a language barrier at first, but she walked over to the stage and motioned that she wanted to get up there. He asked her to wait a second. At some point while my sister was negotiating with the manager, a small group of young 20-something American guys walked in, most clearly after a long day of surfing. They sat down at the table next to ours. Finally, the manager came back out with the rest of the male staff from the back, and then motioned that now was the appropriate time for her to get on stage.
So my sister gets up on stage and proceeds to strip for the crowd. To say that this was the most awkward moment in my life would not be an understatement. Between her on stage and the realization that she was all too comfortable on the pole for this to be her first time were enlightening moments for me. At first I didn??t think she would go through with it ?? dancing and spinning around are one thing, but would she really take her clothes off? Well, the short answer is yes. As soon as she started undoing her bathing suit top, I stopped watching. As Smackette reports, she was up there with nothing on but her panties for at least a song and a half, strutting her stuff around the stage.
After her show, she put her clothes back on, collected her money and came back over to our table. While we joked about what just happened, the guys at the table next to us asked my sister if they could buy her a drink. She said, ??I don??t know, you??ll have to ask my husband.? The guy had a puzzled look on his face and apologized saying he didn??t realize....
My brother in law, to his credit, said ??Don??t apologize to me ?? that??s her brother over there? motioning towards me. Now, I??ve seen a lot of faces in the Pantheon of Great Faces before, but if I could have a picture of the look on that guys face when I gave him the ??what??s up? nod, I would have the greatest avatar in the history of avatars. He went back to his table and tried to explain the situation to his buddies. They eventually bought us a pitcher of margaritas and joined us at our table for a while as we waited for the entertainment, which was sporadic at best for the rest of the night. We ended up surfing with them the next day where we told them about the rumors of the donkey bar in Tijuana. They set out for the Donkey Bar that evening and we??ve never heard from them since. [/b]
[/b]
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The music industry
From major to minor (http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10498664)
Jan 10th 2008
From The Economist print edition
Last year was terrible for the recorded-music majors. The next few years are likely to be even worse
IN 2006 EMI, the world's fourth-biggest recorded-music company, invited some teenagers into its headquarters in London to talk to its top managers about their listening habits. At the end of the session the EMI bosses thanked them for their comments and told them to help themselves to a big pile of CDs sitting on a table. But none of the teens took any of the CDs, even though they were free. ??That was the moment we realised the game was completely up,? says a person who was there.- [/url]
Really? It took you that long?
For those that aren't going to read it, it cites three trends that will continue the problems for the industry:
(1) Because sales of CDs are tumbling, big retailers are cutting the amount of shelf-space they give to music, which in turn accelerates the decline.
(2) Because the majors are cutting costs severely, artists are receiving far less marketing and promotional support than before, which could prompt them to seek alternatives.
(3) Record companies face such hostile conditions that their backers are loth to spend the sums required to move into the bits of the music industry that are thriving, such as touring and merchandising.
(http://www.economist.com/business/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10498664)
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The industry could always try to make some money this way....
http://www.news.com/MTV%3A-%27Rock-Band%27-sells-2.5-million-songs/2100-1043_3-6226743.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703 (http://www.news.com/MTV%3A-%27Rock-Band%27-sells-2.5-million-songs/2100-1043_3-6226743.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703)
MTV: 'Rock Band' sells 2.5 million songs
I'm so buying my first songs this weekend. An Oasis pack is also scheduled for release on Jan 22.
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i have a (nonprem) question: where is my travel channel hd?
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And what's the word on Rock Band coming out for the Wii? Ever gonna happen? I'm working on deciding which new system I should pick up, and the Wii is the likely front-runner. Still, without Rock Band, I feel empty :(
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Originally posted by vansmack:
The industry could always try to make some money this way....
http://www.news.com/MTV%3A-%27Rock-Band%27-sells-2.5-million-songs/2100-1043_3-6226743.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703 (http://www.news.com/MTV%3A-%27Rock-Band%27-sells-2.5-million-songs/2100-1043_3-6226743.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703)
MTV: 'Rock Band' sells 2.5 million songs
I'm so buying my first songs this weekend. An Oasis pack is also scheduled for release on Jan 22.
you finally get an xbox 360 and all you have played is Guitar Hero 3, Rock Band, and Call of Duty 3? something is missing there, and why COD3 and not COD4
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
you finally get an xbox 360 and all you have played is Guitar Hero 3, Rock Band, and Call of Duty 3? something is missing there, and why COD3 and not COD4
To be fair, I've played GHIII for about 6 hours. COD 3 for about 3 hours and Rock Band for approximately 1 Million hours! I simply can't quit it. The best party game out there.
As for Halo 3 - I only have one controller still (but 2 guitars and a drum kit!).
As for COD 3 and not COD 4, I like to go in order, and I won't play 4 until I beat 3. I have COD 4 on my shelf right now (with Halo 3, Bioshock, Gears of War and something else I'm forgetting) and it was tempting me all weekend - so much so that I went out and rented COD 3 yesterday. I've got about a 2 hours left before COD 4.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
The industry could always try to make some money this way....
http://www.news.com/MTV%3A-%27Rock-Band%27-sells-2.5-million-songs/2100-1043_3-6226743.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703 (http://www.news.com/MTV%3A-%27Rock-Band%27-sells-2.5-million-songs/2100-1043_3-6226743.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703)
MTV: 'Rock Band' sells 2.5 million songs
The game's impact on song sales for participating artists, however, remains unclear. While not providing exact sales figures, MTV did say that the Metallica three-pack of "Ride the Lightning," "Blackened" and "And Justice for All" is the best-selling "Rock Band" download.
According to Nielsen SoundScan data, those same songs saw digital download sales spikes of 31 percent, 39 percent and 48 percent, respectively, for the month after they were featured as a "Rock Band" download, over the previous month.
But those increased sales numbered only in the hundreds, while the "Rock Band" downloads numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Still, label executives are thrilled with the results.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22757091/?GT1=10755 (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22757091/?GT1=10755)
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Originally posted by nkotb:
And what's the word on Rock Band coming out for the Wii? Ever gonna happen? I'm working on deciding which new system I should pick up, and the Wii is the likely front-runner. Still, without Rock Band, I feel empty :(
"Absolutely" was the only answer I've ever heard with no timelime or official announcement ever made. I know Harmonix was first worried about downloadable content, but they fixed that with GHIII.
I've only played the wii and not taken a close look at it - does it use USB for additional controllers?
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Sierra Club proposes ??couch potato?? tax on videogames and TVs (http://kob.com/article/stories/S320743.shtml?cat=500)
Alternatively, Smackie propses a one-hundred percent beat down of stupid ideas.
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Originally posted by nkotb:
I'm working on deciding which new system I should pick up, and the Wii is the likely front-runner. Still, without Rock Band, I feel empty :(
Just so you know, I was on the fence about wii vs 360 for a long time. Around August I was nearly 99% decided that it was going to be the wii. Then I started thinking about all of the cool non-video game features of the 360 - downloadable content, HD output, HD-DVD capabilities, rentable movies, external hard drives, Media Server etc - and coupled that with the list of games that were available between the two and was back to deciding which camp to be in. After playing Rock Band over Xmas in So Cal, I bought both the 360 and Rock Band on the way back to SF.
I think it's a matter of time before the wii controller aspects make their way to other consoles. For the wii to catchup to the 360, it's a lot more than a firmware upgrade. It's an entire hardware upgrade or entirely new model altogether.
That's just my two cents.
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Our bad. Did we say 44%? We really meant a number closer to 15%. Silly math we should have learned in college.
MPAA admits it overstated the effects of college student piracy on the industry. (http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/movie-industry-admits-it-overstated-piracy-on-campus/index.html?hp)
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Motorola's profits dropped 84% last quarter (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Earns-Motorola.html?_r=1&oref=slogin), but this article makes no mention of the iPhone when discussing why the #3 cell phone maker in the world is continuing to struggle. Amazing.
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excerpt from "The Untold Story: How the iPhone Blew Up the Wireless Industry" (http://www.wired.com/gadgets/wireless/magazine/16-02/ff_iphone)
Six months later, on June 29, 2007, the iPhone went on sale. At press time, analysts were speculating that customers would snap up about 3 million units by the end of 2007, making it the fastest-selling smartphone of all time. It is also arguably Apple's most profitable device. The company nets an estimated $80 for every $399 iPhone it sells, and that's not counting the $240 it makes from every two-year AT&T contract an iPhone customer signs. Meanwhile, about 40 percent of iPhone buyers are new to AT&T's rolls, and the iPhone has tripled the carrier's volume of data traffic in cities like New York and San Francisco.
But as important as the iPhone has been to the fortunes of Apple and AT&T, its real impact is on the structure of the $11 billion-a-year US mobile phone industry. For decades, wireless carriers have treated manufacturers like serfs, using access to their networks as leverage to dictate what phones will get made, how much they will cost, and what features will be available on them. Handsets were viewed largely as cheap, disposable lures, massively subsidized to snare subscribers and lock them into using the carriers' proprietary services. But the iPhone upsets that balance of power. Carriers are learning that the right phone ?? even a pricey one ?? can win customers and bring in revenue. Now, in the pursuit of an Apple-like contract, every manufacturer is racing to create a phone that consumers will love, instead of one that the carriers approve of. "The iPhone is already changing the way carriers and manufacturers behave," says Michael Olson, a securities analyst at Piper Jaffray.
(...)
So that summer (2004), while he publicly denied he would build an Apple phone, Jobs was working on his entry into the mobile phone industry. In an effort to bypass the carriers, he approached Motorola. It seemed like an easy fix: The handset maker had released the wildly popular RAZR, and Jobs knew Ed Zander, Motorola's CEO at the time, from Zander's days as an executive at Sun Microsystems. A deal would allow Apple to concentrate on developing the music software, while Motorola and the carrier, Cingular, could hash out the complicated hardware details.
Of course, Jobs' plan assumed that Motorola would produce a successor worthy of the RAZR, but it soon became clear that wasn't going to happen. The three companies dickered over pretty much everything ?? how songs would get into the phone, how much music could be stored there, even how each company's name would be displayed. And when the first prototypes showed up at the end of 2004, there was another problem: The gadget itself was ugly.
Jobs unveiled the ROKR in September 2005 with his characteristic aplomb, describing it as "an iPod shuffle on your phone." But Jobs likely knew he had a dud on his hands; consumers, for their part, hated it. The ROKR ?? which couldn't download music directly and held only 100 songs ?? quickly came to represent everything that was wrong with the US wireless industry, the spawn of a mess of conflicting interests for whom the consumer was an afterthought. Wired summarized the disappointment on its November 2005 cover: "YOU CALL THIS THE PHONE OF THE FUTURE?"
Even as the ROKR went into production, Jobs was realizing he'd have to build his own phone. In February 2005, he got together with Cingular to discuss a Motorola-free partnership.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
excerpt from "The Untold Story: How the iPhone Blew Up the Wireless Industry" (http://www.wired.com/gadgets/wireless/magazine/16-02/ff_iphone)
Yeah. I read that a couple weeks ago and thought - which part of that is the untold story?
It's just amazing to me that an AP writer would write about the troubles at Motorola and not even mention the iPhone? Everybody knows that Motorola relied too heavily on the RAZR and thought it best to leave it alone while the market advanced around it. It's a no brainer.
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This is another interesting decision.
AT&T's Broadband Customers Get Unlimited Wi-Fi (http://www.informationweek.com/internet/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=205917206), but those of you on our crappy 80kbps cellular network, uh, we can't help ya.
Heaven forbid you see what an iPhone can do on a real network, you'll probably demand more from us.
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Playing catchup... I was really hoping that Apple would finally come out with something I really wanted to buy... There were rumours of a headless computer that fell somewhere between a mac mini and mac pro which would have suited me nicely. i have no interest in getting an iMac and kosmette just got a macbook... instead we get an overhyped appletv upgrade, no HD drive option, and still nothing that resembles what a proper media center/home theater machine would have...
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by vansmack:
#1 - 2008 will be the year that internet access at your seat will finally be available on airplanes, starting with longer flights and working its way to the commuter flights (which is backwards, but at least its coming).
BetaBlue doesn't count, but it's a start:
BetaBlue: It's one small step for in-flight Wi-Fi (http://www.news.com/8301-13577_3-9832562-36.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703) [/b]
Inching closer...Southwest plans high-speed Internet trials (http://crave.cnet.com/8301-1_105-9856388-1.html). The big difference here is that it will use satellites instead of ground signals - this will make broad deployment much easier.
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Originally posted by kosmo:
Playing catchup... I was really hoping that Apple would finally come out with something I really wanted to buy...
You're spot on Kosmo. MacWorld was a bit of a disappointment this year. Although, today they finally released the pink Nano smackette has been waiting for since her pink mini died some time ago...
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i have a (nonprem) question: where is my travel channel hd?
I really thought it was going to be today, but alas, not yet. Soon though.
The 101 was in HD this morning, which is good. I watched Peter, Bjorn and John last night and was thinking it was odd that The 101 was not in HD. Well, it is now.
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i demand anthony bordain in hd
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Originally posted by kosmo:
Playing catchup... I was really hoping that Apple would finally come out with something I really wanted to buy... There were rumours of a headless computer that fell somewhere between a mac mini and mac pro which would have suited me nicely. i have no interest in getting an iMac and kosmette just got a macbook... instead we get an overhyped appletv upgrade, no HD drive option, and still nothing that resembles what a proper media center/home theater machine would have...
http://scobleizer.com/2007/12/27/the-macmini-hdtv-revolution/ (http://scobleizer.com/2007/12/27/the-macmini-hdtv-revolution/)
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i demand anthony bordain in hd
heh, funny... i can't help you with the HD, but in two weeks i'll be responsible for transcoding and delivering burdain's show to iTunes.
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
http://scobleizer.com/2007/12/27/the-macmini-hdtv-revolution/ (http://scobleizer.com/2007/12/27/the-macmini-hdtv-revolution/)
Help me out with how using a Mac Mini and an HDTV is revolutionary? Won't this work with any computer with a video switch ($10) and long cable ($5)?
I hooked my computer up to my HDTV the day I bought the TV (sometime back in April 2006). With a wireless mouse and keyboard, I sit on my couch and web browse, stream TV shows off of network web sites, etc. Did I mention it's just an ugly old PC that has never been graced by Steve Jobs?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I hooked my computer up to my HDTV the day I bought the TV (sometime back in April 2006). With a wireless mouse and keyboard, I sit on my couch and web browse, stream TV shows off of network web sites, etc. Did I mention it's just an ugly old PC that has never been graced by Steve Jobs?
I've had my laptop hooked up to my TV for 3 years. That article is the most ridiculous techno-ejaculation I've ever read.
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Originally posted by kosmo:
I was really hoping that Apple would finally come out with something I really wanted to buy...
I really thought that Apple could do for the internet what they did for the Mp3. Make it usably portable.
What I really want is a ~$300-$500 wireless internet-only device the size of an ultraportable laptop with longer battery life. It should be flashed based with limited storage no thicker than an inch, touch mouse and full qwerty keyboard. It doesn't need an expensive processor or much RAM as it's only going to do one thing - surf the net. No fancy game graphics driver because it only has to deal with streaming quality video. I don't need any drives, no gadgets or goodies, no extra software other than reader plug ins.
It would stream all media but not allow for on-device storage (other than simple OS and browser plugins). That's what the one USB port would be for - flash drives for file storage.
If all of this can be packaged in a device the size of the iPod Touch, why can't I get one the size of the ultra-portable laptop?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Help me out with how using a Mac Mini and an HDTV is revolutionary? Won't this work with any computer with a video switch ($10) and long cable ($5)?
it isnt, it was just addressing what many people use as their apple version of a media center, I replaced my old imac with a macmini 6 months ago and have it hooked up to the hdtv via hdmi and to my receiver with the digital out, but not because it is revolutionary, but because that is what I manage all my music on
You are aware of how ridiculous Robert Scoble is right, what would you expect from a former Microsoft evangelist
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
You are aware of how ridiculous Robert Scoble is right, what would you expect from a former Microsoft evangelist
Strange, but I have never heard of him, actually (and surprisingly don't even remember the Economist article cited on his wiki page). I bet he is the sole author of his wiki page too.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by sweetcell:
makes me question your "tech predictions", smacks, if you don't even know what browsers are being used :p
Why anybody would use a Microsoft product that is no longer being updated for security patches is beyond me... [/b]
Sweetcell, this one's only for you....
IE 7 Coming at you (whether you want it or not) (http://www.news.com/8301-10789_3-9856700-57.html?tag=newsmap)
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Originally posted by Julian, good manners AFICIONADO:
Originally posted by vansmack:
I hooked my computer up to my HDTV the day I bought the TV (sometime back in April 2006). With a wireless mouse and keyboard, I sit on my couch and web browse, stream TV shows off of network web sites, etc. Did I mention it's just an ugly old PC that has never been graced by Steve Jobs?
I've had my laptop hooked up to my TV for 3 years. That article is the most ridiculous techno-ejaculation I've ever read. [/b]
Yeah being able to view Flickr on an HDTV is so revolutionary....
Bottom line is that I doubt we'll ever see a product that isn't heavily tied into iTMS for content. Because heaven forbid someone install Bootcamp on a mac and watch Netflix's streaming content.
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Originally posted by kosmo:
Because heaven forbid someone install Bootcamp on a mac and watch Netflix's streaming content.
[sarcasm]Come on, you mean you're not enamored enough with AppleTV to give up your Netflix subscription Kosmo?[/sarcasm]
Par for the (Apple) course. Advancing technology through consumer choice has never been as important as advancing Apple Technology by limiting consumer choice.
Now that the iPod market appears to be fully saturated, everybody who wanted an iPhone bought an iPhone, the DRM-free music market is ready to be a viable competitor and the 2008 products introduced at MacWorld were far from overwhelming, a tough year is ahead for Apple. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/23/technology/23apple.html?ref=technology)
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And I know some folks were betatesting this, but it's ready for public release:
01.23.2008 LAST.FM LAUNCHES LARGEST GLOBAL FREE-ON-DEMAND MUSIC PLATFORM (http://www.cbscorporation.com/news/prdetails.php?id=2943)
Free streaming music from all the majors, 3 listen limit per track, per user.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Strange, but I have never heard of him, actually (and surprisingly don't even remember the Economist article cited on his wiki page). I bet he is the sole author of his wiki page too.
I am surprised you have not heard of him, he is really famous in tech circles for no particular reason. He does post his cell number on his blog and probably lives near you if you would like to tell him how non revolutionary mac minis and hdtvs are.
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Originally posted by kosmo:
Because heaven forbid someone install Bootcamp on a mac and watch Netflix's streaming content.
I think I am missing your point here, Netflix should be making their movies available to Mac users without having to use bootcamp, parallels, VMWare, etc.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
everybody who wanted an iPhone bought an iPhone
I highly doubt that, I know plenty of people waiting out their contracts and waiting for further features
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
Originally posted by kosmo:
Because heaven forbid someone install Bootcamp on a mac and watch Netflix's streaming content.
I think I am missing your point here, Netflix should be making their movies available to Mac users without having to use bootcamp, parallels, VMWare, etc. [/b]
and isn't part of the reason why netflix can't offer movies is that apple has their own propriety drm?
my point was instead of upgrading a closed setbox in order to provide fabulous yet dumb downed HD content, they could have upgraded the mini mac with a Blu-Ray drive, HDMI output, etc. or offered a headless pc with an open slot so that people can add their own graphics card. i keep holding off on buying a replacement for the six year old G4 tower, which still a perfectly good machine for most of what i use it for, it does however pause when loading the increasing complex websites out there.
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Originally posted by kosmo:
and isn't part of the reason why netflix can't offer movies is that apple has their own propriety drm?
right you are, I am officially pwned, I had assumed it was a choice of technology issue
In the meantime, here's a little more regarding Mac and Firefox. While Boot Camp and virtualization programs work great for watching movies instantly on an Intel Mac, I know that's not the solution we all want (ps - I've been a Mac user since the days of the 128K Mac, and many of us at Netflix use them at work and at home.) So here's the deal:
A key issue for delivering movies online is that the studios require use of DRM (Digital Rights Management) to protect titles. And that's our holdup for the Mac - there's not yet a studio-sanctioned, publicly-available Mac DRM solution (Apple doesn't license theirs). I can promise you that, when an approved solution becomes available for the Mac, we'll be there. I'll also say that Silverlight 1.1 looks like a promising candidate - but that its DRM isn't likely to be fully available until 2008.
http://blog.netflix.com/2007/08/instant-watching-on-mac-firefox-and.html (http://blog.netflix.com/2007/08/instant-watching-on-mac-firefox-and.html)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
And I know some folks were betatesting this, but it's ready for public release:
01.23.2008 LAST.FM LAUNCHES LARGEST GLOBAL FREE-ON-DEMAND MUSIC PLATFORM (http://www.cbscorporation.com/news/prdetails.php?id=2943)
Free streaming music from all the majors, 3 listen limit per track, per user.
Here's a pretty good take on this:
Is Last.FM the copyright compromise we seek? (http://blogs.zdnet.com/open-source/?p=1930)
This might need it's own thread, in case some folks have given up on seeing what Smackie thinks you need to know.
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Hey Vansmack, what was that website you posted awhile ago that had a vast collection of live shows you could watch? I have no idea what thread you posted it in, or what the website was.
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Hey Vansmack, what was that website you posted awhile ago that had a vast collection of live shows you could watch?
http://www.fabchannel.com (http://www.fabchannel.com)
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I love an election year.
What are you going to spend your ~$300 on? (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/washington/24cnd-econ.html?_r=1&ex=1358917200&en=147d667c3caf3d0a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin)
Since Seth isn't going to get a rebate (although now would be a good time for him to make capital improvements to his venues), I think you should all spend more money on shows at the 9:30 Club.
Except those with kids. Don't spend your kids $300 at the 9:30 Club. Put it away for college.
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money market account
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meth
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I've heard conflicting reports on this thing. So, I don't have to do anything other then file my taxes, as I usually would, and the government is going to send me a check automatically sometime before June for somewhere between $400 and $600? (I'm single and have no kids.)
If so, I'm going to put it in my MMA or take out a CD. Screw that economic stimulus thing.
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Nothing's in stone yet but I think the deal so far is $300 to those who were paid more than $3K but didn't pay any federal taxes, $600 for those who were paid up to $75K, between $600 and zero for those who were paid between $75K and $87K, and goose egg for over $87K. Double those amounts for married couples; $300 more for each dependent kid.
Lessee: car repair, TV (25-32") or Macbook.
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Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
Nothing's in stone yet but I think the deal so far is $300 to those who were paid more than $3K but didn't pay any federal taxes, $600 for those who were paid up to $75K, between $600 and zero for those who were paid between $75K and $87K, and goose egg for over $87K. Double those amounts for married couples; $300 more for each dependent kid.
Thanks for the info. Just so I'm clear: I don't have to fill out a form or request or anything -- this is just going to pop up in my mailbox someday, right?
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While normally I would say that sticking that money in a savings account would have the exact opposite affect the government was looking for, but given the status of the banking industry, they could use the influx.
And yes, the check will just be mailed to you, just like last time Bush did this.
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i never got that one. and i have never forgiven dub
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i never got that one. and i have never forgiven dub
Really? You didn't qualify or the address on your tax form didn't match or something like that?
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i moved like 3 times in a year and the mail didnt catch up to me. i called the irs and they told me to check whatever box on my taxes. when i got my refund check, they shorted me $300 anyway, saying that i got the check. which i didnt
of course i was dead broke at the time
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Originally posted by vansmack:
While normally I would say that sticking that money in a savings account would have the exact opposite affect the government was looking for, but given the status of the banking industry, they could use the influx.
It's not my job to bail out Bush's economy. If he wants to bail out the economy, he can start regulating industries, raising taxes, and implementing government works programs in conjunction with a single-payer health care system.
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Originally posted by Julian, good manners AFICIONADO:
It's not my job to bail out Bush's economy. If he wants to bail out the economy, he can start regulating industries, raising taxes, and implementing government works programs in conjunction with a single-payer health care system.
So Julian is leading by example and challenges everyone esle to give their money to charity.
I for one, am proud of you.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
So Julian is leading by example and challenges everyone esle to give their money to charity.
I for one, am proud of you.
I gave 15+% of my income last year to charity. Seriously.
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Originally posted by Julian, good manners AFICIONADO:
Originally posted by vansmack:
While normally I would say that sticking that money in a savings account would have the exact opposite affect the government was looking for, but given the status of the banking industry, they could use the influx.
It's not my job to bail out Bush's economy. If he wants to bail out the economy, he can start regulating industries, raising taxes, and implementing government works programs in conjunction with a single-payer health care system. [/b]
how would raising taxes help people that can barely afford to stay where they live or businesses to keep people employed?
"The government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it."
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I'm telling you, this is some exciting stuff. Got some left over garbage - how 'bout fueling your car? Sign me up!
Startup Says It Can Make Ethanol for $1 a Gallon, and Without Corn (http://www.wired.com/cars/energy/news/2008/01/ethanol23)
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
how would raising taxes help people that can barely afford to stay where they live or businesses to keep people employed?
you raise taxes on the people that can afford it
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So as not to clutter up the last.fm thread with a discussion of websites that offer personal radio or playlist creation... Last night I found in Jango (http://jango.com), a site currently in beta, something that could be more useful than last.fm in the creation of "personal internet station"
In fact one can tune into this station and hear what a nice chunk of my collection would sound like if it were randomly streamed out on the internet.
Melodic Tunes with Rockin Guitars and A Little Bit O' Soul (http://www.jango.com/stations/4080413;tunein?u=0&index=172)
The catalog is nicely populated, even has Gloria Jones doing the original version of "Tainted Love". Hopefully not to many of the recommended artists I should have said never to play on my station will pop up.
And you know the people behind this are serious when they say they are fully licensed by ASCAP, BMI and SoundExchange....
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Sorry for hijacking your thread Smackie with this public service announcement but I didn't feel like creating my own vanity thread.
He's Not as Smart as He Thinks (http://www.newsweek.com/id/101079?GT1=10755)
Now back to your regularly scheduled Smackisms.
*You know I still love you Smackie. ;)
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Vansmack should have been telling us about this, Sudhir Venkatesh of Freakonomics fame is watching The Wire each week with a group of current and former gang members and blogging about it, great stuff
http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/what-do-real-thugs-think-of-the-wire/ (http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/what-do-real-thugs-think-of-the-wire/)
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Jag, that message is Smackie approved, Smackette is WAY smarter than I am. She might even be smarter than I pretend to be.
Pollard, Sports Guy beat me to that in his links so I passed on it, but you're right, some things should be passed along regardless.
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An argument for Barack Obama:
A President Like My Father (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/opinion/27kennedy.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin), By Caroline Kennedy
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For Econo...
Uncovering the origin of syphilis (http://www.economist.com/science/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10530768)
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And this one's for Mr. Wallace:
According to the research, married, extroverted optimists are happier than single, pessimistic introverts, and Republicans are happier than Democrats...it helps to be religious, sexually active and a college graduate with a short commute to work. (http://www.economist.com/books/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10529960)
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Originally posted by Julian, good manners AFICIONADO:
I gave 15+% of my income last year to charity. Seriously. [/QB]
Considering how awful and disappointing the entire "Zeitgeist" campaign was, I'd agree that all the money you spent on the Smashing Pumpkins last year was "charity." Seriously.
Brian
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The $300 directly related to my daughter will go into her college account.
The rest toward our vacation in France.
Originally posted by vansmack:
I love an election year.
What are you going to spend your ~$300 on? (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/washington/24cnd-econ.html?_r=1&ex=1358917200&en=147d667c3caf3d0a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin)
Since Seth isn't going to get a rebate (although now would be a good time for him to make capital improvements to his venues), I think you should all spend more money on shows at the 9:30 Club.
Except those with kids. Don't spend your kids $300 at the 9:30 Club. Put it away for college.
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Has there ever been a worse campaign strategy than what we've just witnessed from the Rudy Giuliani camp? I don't want to be the campaign strategist that floated that idea - he'll never work again.
From #1 to never ran in a matter of months.
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
The $300 directly related to my daughter will go into her college account.
The rest toward our vacation in France.
spending your economic stimulus package on the french - that's *exactly* what the hawks on the hill had in mind.
rhett, you're brilliant. now i'm tempted to do this. maybe i'll splurge and order myself a case or two of chateuneuf du pape. or maybe i should remit my money to some random family in yemen.
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If you're a Democrat, that was the perfect debate last night. Taken right out of the Republican mantra, I might add.
(1) Acknowledge your opponents position as being similar to yours.
(2) Point out small differences between the two.
(3) Point out huge differences between the current administrations position.
(4) Occassionaly point out differences between the opposing front runners position.
(5) Make it a lovefest maintaining an us against them mentality.
If the Dems aren't going to snatch defeat from the clutches of victory, Obama and Clinton are going to have to keep the party unified like last night.
Now what to do about Bill?
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new from the other side:
Coulter wants Clinton over McCain: Coulter said she is prepared to campaign on Clinton's behalf should McCain win the party's nomination. linky (http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2008/02/01/coulter-wants-clinton-over-mccain/)
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This whole notion that John McCain is somehow divding the Republican Party is nothing short of ridiculous.
George Bush destroyed the party by alienating EVERYONE in the coalition Reagan built (coalition of anti-tax conservatives, social conservatives, and hawk conservatives). He energized the base, ignored the center and then betrayed everyone by entering a war without properly funding it (creating one of the most free spending governments without any fiscal responsibility). His narrowmindedness (or simple over trust in Cheney) then cost him the trust of the base.
John McCain is the only chance for the Republican Party to not fall into a 40 year slumber. If they don't see that, then far be it for me to point it out.
Of course, this could all be politicking on Ann's part because she would rather not see Clinton get the nomination, but I doubt she's that smart.
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Russia Slams OSCE Election Monitors (http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-7275330,00.html)
Oh yeah, there's still an "election" to be had in Russia. What a farce.
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I'm digging the return of Fundrace (http://fundrace.huffingtonpost.com/) 2008.
Stripper's dollar bills are currently going to Ron Paul.
Custodians are also cleaning up for Ron Paul.
Models are looking good for Clinton.
And the all important Village People money watch.
Construction workers - John McCain
Sailors - Ron Paul
Indians, none in occupation, but one guy works for 'Indians' - He gave to Rudy
Police - Ron Paul
Cowboys, none, but Bill Richardson was getting the most cash from 'Ranchers' and 'Rodeo'
No leather or biker occupations have yet given to the reportable level.
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An American Parliamentary Presidency? (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22997564/)
Candidates may have to run from within Congress, not away from it
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I'm not sure which is worse, the song or the video?
Heidi Montag Debut's Her First Video (http://peoplefalltv.wordpress.com/2008/02/04/heidi-montags-video-debut-rate-it/)
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Yes We Can by will.i.am (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2fZHou18Cdk)
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What the hell year is this? Why not just skip it and go to wimax?
AT&T to Expand 3g Wireless (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9866005-7.html)
Of course none of this will matter because the vast majority of at&t phones (read: iPhone) don't work on the 3G network.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
What the hell year is this? Why not just skip it and go to wimax?
AT&T to Expand 3g Wireless (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9866005-7.html)
Of course none of this will matter because the vast majority of at&t phones (read: iPhone) don't work on the 3G network.
the 3G iphone will be out this year, which is what I am waiting for
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ugh. heidi.
isn't that kinda the same video that paris hilton did 2 years ago?
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Originally posted by tigers scare me:
isn't that kinda the same video that paris hilton did 2 years ago?
Good call. The Stars are Blind (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L8IDX8DM_g) video. Except I kind of like the Paris song. Heidi's song is terrible.
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There are 3 new Mountain Dew flavors...
http://www.dewmocracy.com/ (http://www.dewmocracy.com/)
SuperNova (strawberry)
Voltage (Rasberry)
Revolution (Wild Berry)
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The term "Superdelegate" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Superdelegate) is going to be the "Hanging Chad" of this election.
After the Super Tuesday that was in fact super, but not the deciding event it had been hyped, there is a decent chance that no Democratic candidate will emerge from the primaries leaving the decision up to the Superdelegates. There's a great chance that each candidate will have around 1350 pleged delegates in by Mar 4 and 1600 each by June. So that leaves the 800 or so superdelegates as the deciding factor. If it comes to this, it really might just be a race between who owes the Clinton's and who feels wronged by a bridge the Clinton's burned. Fun stuff to figure out, huh?
So who makes up these superdelegates? Here you go:
Democratic members of the United States Congress, Democratic governors, various additional elected officials, members of the Democratic National Committee, as well as "all former Democratic Presidents, all former Democratic Vice Presidents, all former Democratic Leaders of the U.S. Senate, all former Democratic Speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives and Democratic Minority Leaders, and all former Chairs of the Democratic National Committee
Start your research now....
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Start your research now....
Endoresement list here (http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html).
Gore's endorsement could make things very interesting, if and when he decides to back a candidate...
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by tigers scare me:
isn't that kinda the same video that paris hilton did 2 years ago?
Good call. The Stars are Blind (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L8IDX8DM_g) video. Except I kind of like the Paris song. Heidi's song is terrible. [/b]
Stars are Blind sounds like it would have been a decent Gwen Stefani song. Minus the dealbreaking "you show me yours" line imo.
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Originally posted by amnesiac:
Originally posted by vansmack:
Start your research now....
Endoresement list here (http://demconwatch.blogspot.com/2008/01/superdelegate-list.html).
[/b]
Nice. Just one thing to add is that Superdelegates can change their vote at anytime right up until the convention.
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Broke the drum pedal on my Rock Band kit yesterday. Well, Venerable did most of the work, I just had the final stomp. Anyone else break equipment yet?
EA had a pretty slick return policy - very few quetions asked (must be happening a lot). They ship it out and if you send your broken equipment back in 28 days - it's free.
It looks a lot like this:
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/5/5c/RB_Pedal_Broken.JPG/200px-RB_Pedal_Broken.JPG" alt=" - " />
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Netflix Picks Blu-Ray In High-Def Video Format Battle (http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206401661&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News)
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Originally posted by nkotb:
And what's the word on Rock Band coming out for the Wii? Ever gonna happen? I'm working on deciding which new system I should pick up, and the Wii is the likely front-runner. Still, without Rock Band, I feel empty :(
It's Official: Rock Band for the wii (http://wii.ign.com/articles/848/848996p1.html). Still no release date, however.
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Are ya hitting Noise Pop?
I'm seeing Cursive, 2 nights of Magnetic Fields, British Sea Power, She & Him, Blitzen Trapper, and Taken By Trees (not a Noise Pop show)
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Republicans face an 'epidemic' of U.S. House dropouts (http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/414410.html)
With 25 GOP retirements or resignations from the U.S. House already announced, the Republican Party has a political problem.
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Originally posted by wanderlust j. marshmallow:
Are ya hitting Noise Pop?
Smackette wants to see Stellastarr and I'm hoping to hit one of those Mountain Goats shows...
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Republicans face an 'epidemic' of U.S. House dropouts (http://www.miamiherald.com/top_stories/story/414410.html)
With 25 GOP retirements or resignations from the U.S. House already announced, the Republican Party has a political problem.
This has been chronicled for over a year at Daily Kos (http://www.dailykos.com/).
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Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
This has been chronicled for over a year at Daily Kos (http://www.dailykos.com/).
Yeah, I'm a casual reader fo the Kos (I find some contributors much stronger than others). But I was taken back by the fact that the Repubs are at 25 and we're still 4 months from the primary. Shocking.
This is why I think you won't see the outpouring of support or glorification of GW like you did with Reagan in the late 90's and early 2000's. At some point the party will have to put the blame on him. Of course, if McCain gets drubbed in November, he will be their scapegoat.
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The wheels are really starting to fall off my prediction that HD-DVD will make substantial in roads on Blu-Ray in 2008.
Best Buy to Recommend Blu-Ray high definition Format (http://in.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idINIndia-31887520080211)
Of course, if a Best Buy sales person recommends anything to me, I tend to do the exact opposite.
I'm still holding out for an all download HD model via my 360 with a Netflix style rental model. That's what I really want - then I won't have to worry about this format war at all.
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This one made smackette's day:
Cheaper Access to wi-fi at Starbucks (http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/cheaper-wi-fi-access-at-starbucks-and-beyond/index.html?ex=1360472400&en=cb29a4b031666845&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)
According to a Starbucks' Press Release (http://www.starbucks.com/aboutus/pressdesc.asp?id=827), 2 free hours per day for customers who use their prepaid Starbucks card once a month.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I love an election year.
What are you going to spend your ~$300 on? (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/24/washington/24cnd-econ.html?_r=1&ex=1358917200&en=147d667c3caf3d0a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin)
So it's official now:
Bush Signs Economic Stimulus Package (http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-Economy-Stimulus.html?_r=1&ex=1360645200&en=9d82992091bff900&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin)
$600 per person/$1200 per couple
$300 per child (with a cap)
Minimum single income $3000 (except for seniors and veterans) maximum income for full payment is $75000 (with gradual phaseouts up to $87000)
Minimum couples income $6000 (except for seniors and veterans) maximum of $150000 (with gradual phaseount up to $174000)
You must fill out a 2007 tax return and have a valid SSN. Depending on how you requested a refund will determine how you get paid (either direct deposit or mailed check). Payments to begin in late spring and continue through the summer.
Spend away! I recommend a video game console and Rock Band with your $600.
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In the middle of last night, I was lying awake in bed trying to figure out which I was more excited about:
Pitchers and Catchers report tomorrow or
The Daytona 500 is Sunday.
Sadly, I still haven't reached a conclusion and will probably wake again tonight and debate the same thing.
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I'm equally excited for the start of baseball and racing. I'll take watching Daytona over watching pitchers and cathers do wind sprints though.
Originally posted by vansmack:
In the middle of last night, I was lying awake in bed trying to figure out which I was more excited about:
Pitchers and Catchers report tomorrow or
The Daytona 500 is Sunday.
Sadly, I still haven't reached a conclusion and will probably wake again tonight and debate the same thing.
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Watching pitchers and catchers do windsprints is perhaps the second dullest thing on earth to watch. NASCAR would be #1 though.
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fuck baseball and nascar, its still hockey season
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
fuck baseball and nascar, its still hockey season
Now this is a sentiment I can get behind!
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
fuck baseball and nascar, its still hockey season
Thank you for reminding me. Now that Teemu and Scotty are back, the defense of Lord Stanley's Cup officially begins.
And if you watched Sundays game at Detroit, you know what I'm talking about.
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Josiah Leming. The odds on favorite to be the first American Idol contestant to take his own life.
But not until he gets a deal from Subpop or Capitol.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by vansmack:
[qb]
Minimum single income $3000 (except for seniors and veterans) maximum income for full payment is $75000 (with gradual phaseouts up to $87000)
Minimum couples income $6000 (except for seniors and veterans) maximum of $150000 (with gradual phaseount up to $174000)
[/b]
pre or post tax
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Adjusted Gross Income. i.e. pre-tax
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by vansmack:
[qb]
Minimum single income $3000 (except for seniors and veterans) maximum income for full payment is $75000 (with gradual phaseouts up to $87000)
Minimum couples income $6000 (except for seniors and veterans) maximum of $150000 (with gradual phaseount up to $174000)
[/b]
pre or post tax [/b]
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interesting
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DC/b'more wimax trial going forward, rest of the country maybe not so much:
Sprint's Limited WiMAX Launch Imminent (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,142475-pg,1/article.html)
A Sprint official acknowledges, however, that the carrier's full-scale deployment still awaits budget approval by new management.
time to move to pakistan.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
time to move to pakistan.
For me maybe, but for the rest of you, an alternative to waiting for FiOS deployment.
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pakistan, or baltimore... tough choice.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
pakistan, or baltimore... tough choice.
Karachi is a little over crowded for me, but did enjoy Islamabad. The lack of a large body of water near the city is a huge deterrent though. I like my ocean boundaries. Makes me feel safe.
Truthfully, ClearWire will go forward out here with or without Sprint so I won't have to move. It would sure make my life easier if Sprint would just do it, however.
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speaking of sprint, how much do they charge their wireless users for blackberry service. i went to get a blackberry at an at&t store, and its $30 a month for data
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
speaking of sprint, how much do they charge their wireless users for blackberry service. i went to get a blackberry at an at&t store, and its $30 a month for data
It's about the same.
Data without a blackberry is much cheaper.
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well hell. i might as well get the iphone for that. its $20 a month
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
well hell. i might as well get the iphone for that. its $20 a month
I pay $5 a month for unlimited data on my non-blackberry Sprint phone.
My office pays $30 a month for unlimited data on my Verizon Moto Q.
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i pay something like that for my regular old phone. really i just want the organizer features, but i might as well just get a stand alone pda. $30 a month is nuts
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i pay something like that for my regular old phone. really i just want the organizer features, but i might as well just get a stand alone pda. $30 a month is nuts
You could get a non-blackberry PDA. That would only cost $5 a month for unlimited data on Sprint.
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oh there's a difference? sprint has treos, but for at&t i dismissed their other pdas because i'm against windows mobile
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
oh there's a difference? sprint has treos, but for at&t i dismissed their other pdas because i'm against windows mobile
I don't know about at&t, but for Sprint there's a Blackberry data price (~$30) and a Smartphone data price (starting at $5). Smackette's Treo 750w costs me $5 a month for unlimited data.
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looks like it is the same price for pda. i swear i can never get through more than 1 contract without switching providers
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keep in mind
Reports that Apple is cutting production orders on current iPhone models support rumors that a 3G version of the cutting-edge device is in the works for midyear, analysts say.
http://www.cio-today.com/news/Apple-Expected-to-Offer-3G-iPhone/story.xhtml?story_id=031002C3YJGO (http://www.cio-today.com/news/Apple-Expected-to-Offer-3G-iPhone/story.xhtml?story_id=031002C3YJGO)
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
keep in mind
Reports that Apple is cutting production orders on current iPhone models support rumors that a 3G version of the cutting-edge device is in the works for midyear, analysts say.
[/b]
I will be shocked if you have both a 3G network and a 3G iPhone by October. I wish you the best though.
And for me: no slingbox, no phone.
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ok, another crazy question:
can i put my at&t sim card in a nextel blackberry and have it work
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Originally posted by vansmack:
You could get a non-blackberry PDA. That would only cost $5 a month for unlimited data on Sprint.
unlimited data costs me $15/month on my sprint phone.
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
ok, another crazy question:
can i put my at&t sim card in a nextel blackberry and have it work
I'm not an expert on Nextel (or blackberry for that matter), but if it's a GSM phone and you have a GSM chip, you should be able to move it to another carrier (although some proprietary functions could be blocked).
You can check blackberryforums.com to see if your particular model is locked down to a particular manufacturer and/or if there is a hack to unlock.
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OK - it's time for a smackie election prediction.
No, not the US election, that one's too easy because there are rules and procedures and monitors and a formidable constitution.
I'm talking about the big election in Pakistan on Monday.
So here are the early Polls:
</font>- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">50% said they would vote for the PPP (Bhutto's Party now being run by her widower, Asif Zardari</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">22% said they would vote for PML(N) led by Nawaz Sharif</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">14% said they will vote for PML(Q), led by incumbent President Pervez Musharraf</font></li>
<font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">
Well, that's a clear cut victory for the PPP, right? Not so much. Depsite slipping approval ratings (currently at about 15%), the longer this election took to happen, the more time President Musharraf had to rig the election. So much effort was put into rigging this election that the largest group that monitors the election has pulled out citing a prohibition Musharraf put on exit polling and a fear for their safety.
What is needed is a two-thirds majority for PPP and PLM-N to overturn all the Constitutional changes Musharraf made to maintain power, and all the polls indicate this will happen.
But the reality is it won't happen. There will be violence on Monday, and that will be cited for "discrepancies" in the election process. The turnout will officially be declared lower than what the PPP and PLM-N will argue were the actual numbers, and Musharraf will delcare himself the winner (with the help of his spies, of course).
If you think the election upheval in Kenya is bad - wait until Tuesday morning. I'd love to be wrong on this one, but Democracy in Pakistan is still a pipe dream.
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Is MySpace Good for Society? A Freakonomics Quorum (http://freakonomics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/15/is-myspace-good-for-society-a-freakonomics-quorum/)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
If you think the election upheval in Kenya is bad - wait until Tuesday morning. I'd love to be wrong on this one, but Democracy in Pakistan is still a pipe dream.
At least the Pakistanis dress well when they riot
<img src="http://img.timeinc.net/time/daily/2007/0711/wpakistan_1119.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://www.foxnews.com/photoessay/photoessay_1514_images/0312071051_M_031207_pakistan.jpg" alt=" - " />
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This is quickly becoming Smackie's worst prediction. Ever.
Wal-Mart to only sell Blu-ray DVDs (http://www.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idUSWEN397220080215)
Fri Feb 15, 2008 2:22pm EST
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Wal-Mart Stores Inc on Friday said it plans to exclusively back the Blu-ray high definition movie format, the latest blow to the rival HD DVD camp backed by Toshiba Corp.
In a statement on it Web site, Wal-Mart said that over the next few months it will phase out sales of HD DVD systems and discs, and by June will sell only Blu-ray products.
The decision marks the third retailer this week to turn its back on HD DVD in favor of Blu-ray, which was developed by Sony Corp.
(Reporting by Franklin Paul; editing by Phil Berlowitz)
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Don't feel so bad. After all, this is the first time Sony's ever won a format war.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
Sprint's Limited WiMAX Launch Imminent (http://www.pcworld.com/article/id,142475-pg,1/article.html)
Intel to rescue my secret plan?
Report: Intel will put $2B in Sprint-Clearwire WiMax effort (http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/02/11/daily53.html?f=et87&ana=e_du)
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Dear Gov. Huckabee:
It has come to my attention that your campaign??s use of my song More Than a Feeling (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AlzsP4jN1E) and my band??s name BOSTON has resulted in a great deal of false information, which it now appears may exist permanently on the Internet.
While I??m flattered that you are fond of my song, I??m shocked that you would use it and the name BOSTON to promote yourself without my consent.
Your campaign??s use of More Than a Feeling, coupled with the representation of one of your supporters as a member ??of BOSTON? clearly implies that the band BOSTON, and specifically one of its members, has endorsed your candidacy, neither of which is true.
I wrote and arranged More Than a Feeling, engineered and produced the recording, and actually played all the guitars on that BOSTON hit as well as most of BOSTON??s songs, not the person holding a guitar in your promotion who identified himself as being ??of BOSTON.? Your claim that this was ??the guy who originally did it? is a bit mystifying since he never played on that recording, nor has he been ??of BOSTON? since he left my band over a quarter century ago, after performing with us for only three years.
BOSTON has never endorsed a political candidate, and with all due respect, would not start by endorsing a candidate who is the polar opposite of most everything BOSTON stands for. In fact, although I??m impressed you learned my bass guitar part on More Than a Feeling, I am an Obama supporter.
While this may seem like a little thing to you, BOSTON has been my life??s work. I hold the trademark to the name and my reputation is inexorably tied to it.
By using my song, and my band??s name BOSTON, you have taken something of mine and used it to promote ideas to which I am opposed. In other words, I think I??ve been ripped off, dude!
The unfortunate misconceptions caused by your campaign now live indefinitely on Internet news sites and blog archives.
As the ??straight talk candidate,? I hope you will help undo the damage still being caused by this misleading use of BOSTON and More Than a Feeling.
Still evolving,
Tom Scholz for BOSTON
Smackie doesn't make this stuff up. (http://www.rollingstone.com/rockdaily/index.php/2008/02/14/more-than-a-feeling-writer-says-mike-huckabee-has-caused-him-damage/?utm_source=weekly-newsletter&utm_medium=email)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
BOSTON has never endorsed a political candidate, and with all due respect, would not start by endorsing a candidate who is the polar opposite of most everything BOSTON stands for. In fact, although I??m impressed you learned my bass guitar part on More Than a Feeling, I am an Obama supporter.
What? "BOSTON" stands for empty platitudes, vague promises and being endorsed by Oprah?
Brian
P.S. Pluys everyone know's "More Than A Feeling" rips off "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
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next segment in "things sweetcell thinks smackie should know" - Enough Spice? (http://www.pollstar.com/news/viewnews.pl?NewsID=9411)
"Papers including the Sunday Mirror and the Daily Mail said sales in China, Australia, South Africa and Argentina are so poor that it's not worth playing those territories."
Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
P.S. Pluys everyone know's "More Than A Feeling" rips off "Smells Like Teen Spirit."
indeed! that, and rock n roll was born yesterday.
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Toshiba considering stopping HD-DVD (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/02/16/international/i211106S87.DTL)
Report: Toshiba May End HD DVD Format
Saturday, February 16, 2008
(02-16) 21:29 PST TOKYO, Japan (AP) --
Japanese electronics maker Toshiba might withdraw its HD DVD next-generation video format, Kyodo News agency reported Saturday.
The report cited unidentified individuals from the industry as saying Toshiba Corp. is reviewing its operations, with the timing of the withdrawal to be decided later, depending on U.S. demand for its HD DVD products and other factors.
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There'a a new country today: welcome Kosovo to the world. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/world/europe/19kosovo.html?ex=1361077200&en=1f8c01df722125a1&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)
I'm happy to announce that I'm partially responsible for this during my tenure in DC.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
Toshiba considering stopping HD-DVD (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/02/16/international/i211106S87.DTL)
That didn't shock me as much as this one:
Microsoft Readying Blu-Ray Player for 360? (http://blogs.pcworld.com/gameon/archives/006503.html)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
But the reality is it won't happen. There will be violence on Monday, and that will be cited for "discrepancies" in the election process. The turnout will officially be declared lower than what the PPP and PLM-N will argue were the actual numbers, and Musharraf will delcare himself the winner (with the help of his spies, of course).
Maybe I should stick to predicting Foreign Elections:
Winners Uncertain as Violence Pakistani Vote (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/world/asia/19pstan.html?ex=1361077200&en=0969be922ea4a9b9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)
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beating smackie to the punch, which isn't really fair since he's probably not awake yet:
Castro resigns as president, state-run paper reports (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/02/19/castro/index.html)
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
beating smackie to the punch, which isn't really fair since he's probably not awake yet:
Castro resigns as president, state-run paper reports (http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/americas/02/19/castro/index.html)
How long before Dubya takes credit?
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I think vansmack is probably busy with this (http://media.nymag.com/fashion/08/spring/44247/).
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Originally posted by ggw?:
I think vansmack is probably busy with this (http://media.nymag.com/fashion/08/spring/44247/).
Hey! NSFW! But they are real, and they are spectacular!
Brian
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
Hey! NSFW!
Sorry. I didn't actually watch the slideshow. I assumed they were all merely "suggestive" like the one in the main article.
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Originally posted by ggw?:
I think vansmack is probably busy with this (http://media.nymag.com/fashion/08/spring/44247/).
My head nearly exploded this morning!
When I saw that on E! News, Castro resigning, and Musharraf agreeing to abide by the election, I thought for the sure the world was coming to an end! Add to that the First Knock out Round of the Champions League and it's like Christmas in February!
This is going to take a lot of breaking down. Where do I start?
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the nipples
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Originally posted by ggw?:
Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
Hey! NSFW!
Sorry. I didn't actually watch the slideshow.[/b]
you were just clicking on it for the article, right?
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Loving ESPN's Spring Training Blog (http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=spring_training).
This story was my favorite so far. A "friend" huh? I think I know what really happened....
FREAK INJURY FOR PENCE (10:52 a.m. ET)
Right fielder Hunter Pence crashed through a sliding glass door in the bathroom of his spring training home, leaving him with multiple cuts that will sideline him for a week.
Pence spent the night in an emergency room after the incident Monday evening. He arrived at camp Tuesday with a gash on his right index finger and a brace on his left knee.
"It's pretty silly that this kind of a freak accident happened," Pence said.
Pence said he was in a hot tub at the home where he's staying and got out to use the bathroom. He had left the door open, but didn't noticed that a friend had just closed it. He hit it with his shoulder, leg and head and it shattered.
"Having seen him run and hit two days ago, I don't anticipate that missing a week in February is going to affect him at all come March 31st in San Diego," general manager Ed Wade told ESPN.com.
-- The Associated Press and ESPN.com's Jayson Stark
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Though we saw this coming within days of my prediction, I am officially 0-1 on Tech Predictions for 2008.
Toshiba Surrenders in High-Def DVD Format Wars (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9874199-7.html?tag=nefd.lede)
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Even though Broken Hearted Fixer Hoover Sucker Guy (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pK1Et9Gh2XE) should have been the nominee, I'm super happy for Glen! And way cool of the Academy Awards to let Marketa back on stage to say thanks.
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Blaming Pakistan is becoming so passe....
YouTube blames Pakistan network for 2-hour outage (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9877614-7.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703)
This made it exceptionally difficult for Smackette to look for the photos of Eduardo's broken leg and Zednik's sliced artery.
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Some people accuse me of being obsessed with Pakistan (it's not true, I'm obsessed with Turkey, actually), but this is an insult to Pakistan in the worst way. I wouldn't call my worst enemy Alabama....
February 25, 2008, 1:03 pm
Media Blackout Update: Pakistan and Alabama? (http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/media-blackout-update-pakistan-and-alabama/index.html?ex=1361595600&en=4139a18d8f84867f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)
By Mike Nizza
Governments that try to keep a firm grip on information flow in their countries, like the Kremlin, have used ??technical problems? as an excuse to shut out unwelcome content on the Web and television. But could it have happened in the United States?
A controversy has been brewing on the Web since a ??60 Minutes? segment failed to appear on a CBS affiliated TV station in Alabama last night. The report covered a bitter flashpoint between Democrats and the Bush administration: the case of Don Siegelman, a former Democratic governor of Alabama who was jailed for corruption last June.
As always, there's more, but this time, it's little more juicy... (http://thelede.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/media-blackout-update-pakistan-and-alabama/index.html?ex=1361595600&en=4139a18d8f84867f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)
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in case smacks needed a reason to break out the champagne:
Daydream Nation, Soon to Be a Teen Comedy Movie Starring That Girl From "Heroes" (http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/48568-idaydream-nationi-soon-to-be-a-teen-comedy-movie-starring-that-girl-from-heroes)
<img src="http://assets3.pitchforkmedia.com/images/image/44767.haydreamnationsm.jpg" alt=" - " />
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i'm fairly positive that smackie wants everyone to know about this (http://www.dateacougar.com/). generally safe fer work, unless you can't look at the front page of a dating site... not sure about what's behind the front page, tho. best line on that page: "All models were 18 or older at the time the photos or videos were taken". i should hope so, and by a safe margin.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
A quick Russia update before I go back to wokring on my last tech prediction...
By now you've likely heard that Vladmir Putin has chosen the next President of Russia, Dmitri Nedvedev (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/11/world/europe/11russia.html). And just today Dmitri returned the favor by announcing that Putin would be named Nedvedev's Premiere (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/world/europe/12russia.html?hp).
Nedvedev is a weak leader and it can be assumed that Putin will still be calling the shots. One thing that's underscored in his credentials is his Chairmanship of Gazprom (appointed there by Putin) - Gazprom calls the shots for Russian energy policy, the main source of Russia's recent resurgence. Putin has been calling the shots for Nedvedev in Gazprom for some time now. I expect little will be different in Russia between the Premiere and the President.
Expect one of two things to happen in the first half of 2008:
(1) That Putin, as Premiere will begin to assume the roles of President by changes in the Constitution, most notably the Defense and Intelligence units. Or...
(2) Nevedev gets drafted by the Red Wings, leaves his post as President, and a non-elected Putin assumes the role, circumventing the Constitution. While the Red Wings thing is obviously a joke, I'm not ruling this scenario out.
Smackie thinks that both Democratic candidates need to start paying more attention to this thread.
Embarrassing.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
i'm fairly positive that smackie wants everyone to know about this (http://www.dateacougar.com/).
100% Smackie Approved. I've been really busy this week but I appreciate sweetcell looking out for my constant readers.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by vansmack:
A quick Russia update before I go back to wokring on my last tech prediction...
By now you've likely heard that Vladmir Putin has chosen the next President of Russia, Dmitri Nedvedev (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/11/world/europe/11russia.html). And just today Dmitri returned the favor by announcing that Putin would be named Nedvedev's Premiere (http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/12/world/europe/12russia.html?hp).
Nedvedev is a weak leader and it can be assumed that Putin will still be calling the shots. One thing that's underscored in his credentials is his Chairmanship of Gazprom (appointed there by Putin) - Gazprom calls the shots for Russian energy policy, the main source of Russia's recent resurgence. Putin has been calling the shots for Nedvedev in Gazprom for some time now. I expect little will be different in Russia between the Premiere and the President.
Expect one of two things to happen in the first half of 2008:
(1) That Putin, as Premiere will begin to assume the roles of President by changes in the Constitution, most notably the Defense and Intelligence units. Or...
(2) Nevedev gets drafted by the Red Wings, leaves his post as President, and a non-elected Putin assumes the role, circumventing the Constitution. While the Red Wings thing is obviously a joke, I'm not ruling this scenario out.
Smackie thinks that both Democratic candidates need to start paying more attention to this thread.
Embarrassing. [/b]
What was embarassing was Hillary's George W. Bush-like mangling of his name; followed by an oh-so-presidential exclamation of "whatever..."
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This is one of the best discussions about Hollywood's reluctance and excitement about the internet.
The internet could be a boon for Hollywood??but only if it can conquer its fears (http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10723360)[/url]
Feb 21st 2008
From The Economist print edition
It was my first exposure to the Movie Key flash based kiosk model (http://www.movie-key.com/index.htm) (although I remember seeing them in an airport and thought it could be interesting), but I still think the online distribution model is the way to go.
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I had nothing to do with this (but I wish I had):
San Francisco Law School Comes to Aid of Students Accused of Copyright Infringement (http://chronicle.com/wiredcampus/index.php?id=2783&utm_source=wc&utm_medium=en)
Another law school clinic is assisting college students who have been accused of swapping music files online in violation of copyright law. Students taking part in an intellectual-property project of the University of San Francisco School of Law are counseling some students at the university and at San Francisco State University on how to respond to letters they have received from the Recording Industry Association of America, accusing them of copyright infringement.
The law students, under the tutelage of Robert E. Talbot, a law professor, are explaining to the accused college students their rights, and whether they can bring an effective defense against the recording-industry group, according to an article (http://www.usfca.edu/law/news/stories/riaa.html) published last week by the law school. The law students also are helping Ray Beckerman (http://www.vanfeliu.com/attorneyProfile-Beckerman.htm), a New York lawyer and blogger, defend people sued by the industry group throughout the country.
??The RIAA is using heavy-handed tactics that some of the law students feel border on extortion,? Mr. Talbot says in the article.
Law students with the University of Maine??s Cumberland Legal Aid Clinic have gone a step further, actually representing students who are singled out by the Recording Industry Association of America.??-Andrea L. Foster
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Artists to music labels: Where's our Napster money? (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9882624-7.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703)
So what happened to all the settlement money ($370 Million) that Napster and Kazaa were forced to pay the record labels?
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The reality is that this is likely a huge test for Sarkozy (I don't think Bush can help him here, and I don't see a strong South American leader who can step in), but this is not good news for the region. It could put democracy so far back in the region...
Venezuela, Ecuador, Colombia seek support in crisis (http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/03/AR2008030301300.html)
By Jorge Silva
Reuters
Monday, March 3, 2008; 11:36 AM
SAN ANTONIO, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuela, Ecuador and Colombia all sought international backing on Monday in a crisis that raised the specter of war after Venezuela and Ecuador deployed troops to the Colombian border.
The crisis erupted after Colombia bombed and sent troops inside Ecuador in a weekend raid that killed a Colombian rebel leader in his jungle camp in a major blow to Latin America's oldest guerrilla insurgency.
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smakie - HELP! i'm told that, for music lovers like us, the following picture has a very pertinent message:
<img src="http://b3.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/00963/30/23/963413203_l.jpg" alt=" - " />
but i have NO idea what it is.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
smakie - HELP! i'm told that, for music lovers like us, the following picture has a very pertinent message:
but i have NO idea what it is.
I don't know, it's just so hard to focus on the hidden message....
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i think the secret is to stare long enough. so far, nothing. but i'll keep at it.
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AT&Ts 3G network won't be enough, but if this part comes to fruition with the 3G network, I think it's game over in the wireless world.
Apple takes iPhone corporate in a big way (http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=8179)
Seriously? Exchange support? Now all I need is a slingbox player for the 3G network iPhone and they've met all of my concerns about the iPhone.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Artists to music labels: Where's our Napster money? (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9882624-7.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703)
So what happened to all the settlement money ($370 Million) that Napster and Kazaa were forced to pay the record labels?
A continuation...
Artists to music lables: Where's our YouTube money? (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9887167-7.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703)
Some top music managers have told CNET News.com that their clients haven't seen any money from the licensing deals the four largest music labels have signed with YouTube over the past 18 months. According to a statement from Google-owned YouTube, the Web site is banking ad dollars generated by the artist's music and is sharing that money with the record labels. What the managers want to know is why little or nothing has trickled down to the artists.
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if pakistan can do it... so can india. USA need not apply.
India Gets WiMax (http://www.forbes.com/2008/03/04/india-wimax-mobile-tech-wire-cx_ew_0304india.html)
(...)
Access will cost about $25 a month, which Prasad says is on par with wireline service.
(...)
Being first to market with a robust WiMax network could put an Indian stamp on the technology, says Sharma. He compares it to the support Europe and the U.S. have given to the cellular technologies GSM and CDMA. "India will take the lead in establishing WiMax as an Indian standard and a disruptive technology," he says.
Problems besetting Sprint Nextel, WiMax's main champion in the U.S., mean Americans will have to wait to see a similar network. Says Ayvazian, "I'm not sure the U.S. will get anything significant out of [the Tata project] other than seeing how to rapidly deploy it in multiple cities."
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March Madness on Demand is 75% full (http://ncaasports.com/mmod/welcome)
I'd sign up now.
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The Democrats: "Wine-track vs. "Beer-Track" (http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10808693)
The contenders are battling over the soul of the Democratic Party
A famous political distinction exists between ??wine-track? and ??beer-track? Democrats. Wine-track Democrats have traditionally supported reform-minded liberals such as Gary Hart and Paul Tsongas. Beer-track Democrats have preferred more practical-minded pols.
Part of Bill Clinton's genius was to bring the wine-drinkers and beer-drinkers together. This was, after all, a man who went to Yale and Oxford but who grew up the child of a widow in the backwoods of Arkansas. Yet this year's Democratic primaries have burst the party asunder once again.
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heh, i like both beer and wine, but no hard alcohol
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
heh, i like both beer and wine, but no hard alcohol
Lately, I've begun to drink equal amounts beer and wine, but the hard alcohol ban still exists for past sins.
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i miss scotch a bit, but i suppose its for the best
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really? not even cognac?
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I drink only from a very select list of spirits (available upon request), none of which are beer. So, I guess, I'm a wine-track guy.
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i miss scotch a bit, but i suppose its for the best
The fact that that was post #500 in the things I think you all need to know it absolutely appropriate. Better yet that is wasn't from me.
And yes sweetcell, the ban applies to cognac too. I can usually get special dispensation for cognac, but why waste it? When I can have the 12 year old Tullamore, I drink the Dew.
Believe us when we say it's for the best.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Believe us when we say it's for the best.
false! it's totally awesome walking down the middle of the street at 2 in the morning. . .at least the cable cars had stopped running, that would have been a problem.
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TVs reinforced for those smashing Wii games (http://technology.newscientist.com/article/mg19726465.800-tvs-reinforced-for-those-smashing-wii-games.html)
"Wii have a problem but we have a solution," jokes the Panasonic engineer. The problem is that gamers using the Nintendo Wii are smashing plasma TV screens if the remote slips from their grasp mid-game. The company's answer is to reinforce the screens by applying old-style TV tube-making technology.
Old-fashioned cathode-ray tubes contain a vacuum, so they have to be made from a thick toughened glass to ensure they don't implode. Modern plasma and LCD screens have only a thin glass faceplate because although the cells inside the screen have to be protected from the air, they do not need a vacuum. So gamers using the motion-sensitive Wii remote to play tennis or golf games can crack the screen and ruin an expensive TV if they lose their grip.
The Solution... (http://technology.newscientist.com/article/mg19726465.800-tvs-reinforced-for-those-smashing-wii-games.html)
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
false! it's totally awesome walking down the middle of the street at 2 in the morning. . .at least the cable cars had stopped running, that would have been a problem.
Remaining safe and getting home are not the problem. It's the Sternal Rub (http://randomreality.blogware.com/blog/_archives/2005/9/20/1242909.html)!
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Originally posted by vansmack:
TVs reinforced for those smashing Wii games (http://technology.newscientist.com/article/mg19726465.800-tvs-reinforced-for-those-smashing-wii-games.html)
"Wii have a problem but we have a solution," jokes the Panasonic engineer. The problem is that gamers using the Nintendo Wii are smashing plasma TV screens if the remote slips from their grasp mid-game. The company's answer is to reinforce the screens by applying old-style TV tube-making technology.
Old-fashioned cathode-ray tubes contain a vacuum, so they have to be made from a thick toughened glass to ensure they don't implode. Modern plasma and LCD screens have only a thin glass faceplate because although the cells inside the screen have to be protected from the air, they do not need a vacuum. So gamers using the motion-sensitive Wii remote to play tennis or golf games can crack the screen and ruin an expensive TV if they lose their grip.
The Solution... (http://technology.newscientist.com/article/mg19726465.800-tvs-reinforced-for-those-smashing-wii-games.html)
this is my greatest fear. glad my 52 inch lcd made it through my scottish cup run unscathed. i had issues with rangers and celtic
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If this is true (and I don't beleive that it is) this would be a brilliant move on their part and could propel the HD download model to the forefront, far faster than Apple TV's 720 box. I would be oh so happy!
Microsoft Not Discussing Blu-ray On Xbox 360 (http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206903522)
Microsoft (NSDQ: MSFT) is not in talks to add Blu-ray high-definition technology in the Xbox 360, an executive with the software maker told a British news agency on Wednesday.
The comments of Aaron Greenberg, group product manager for the videogame console, to Reuters put a damper on reports that Microsoft would turn to Sony-backed Blu-ray following the demise of the rival format HD DVD.
"Xbox is not currently in talks with Sony or the Blu-ray Association to integrate Blu-ray into the Xbox experience," Greenberg told Reuters in a Wednesday interview.
There's more... (http://www.informationweek.com/hardware/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=206903522)
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I'm spending the day at an entertainment industry conference and the speaker is talking about the market share of Walmart in DVD sales and the role they played in the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray format war.
Then it occured to me that the same argument can be made about Apple and its market share for digital downloads. It's no wonder that hollywood hasn't embraced the digital download model for its movies - who wants to be beholden to Apple (read: Jobs) when it comes to digital distribution? The music industry has well documented the history of its struggles with Apple and it's proprietray DRM and hollywood likely wants no part of it. Apple only has deals with Disney, where Jobs is coincidentally the largest shareholder.
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I'm taking a bow here.
This conference just had people stand up if they played video games. I was the only one standing after the question "who plays video games more than 6 hours a week?" was asked. I was prepared to stand a lot longer.
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How does that conference tie in with your work at a university?
Originally posted by vansmack:
I'm spending the day at an entertainment industry conference and the speaker is talking about the market share of Walmart in DVD sales and the role they played in the HD-DVD/Blu-Ray format war.
Then it occured to me that the same argument can be made about Apple and its market share for digital downloads. It's no wonder that hollywood hasn't embraced the digital download model for its movies - who wants to be beholden to Apple (read: Jobs) when it comes to digital distribution? The music industry has well documented the history of its struggles with Apple and it's proprietray DRM and hollywood likely wants no part of it. Apple only has deals with Disney, where Jobs is coincidentally the largest shareholder.
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
How does that conference tie in with your work at a university?
Workforce Development. We actually sponsored the conference to hear from Digital Media companies about how we can better prepare our graduates for the future workforce.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I'm taking a bow here.
This conference just had people stand up if they played video games. I was the only one standing after the question "who plays video games more than 6 hours a week?" was asked. I was prepared to stand a lot longer.
I'd be so ashamed if I were you. But hey, if you want to act like an extra in "Make Love, Not Warcraft" go right ahead. That's pathetic. You're an adult and you play more than six hours a week of video games?!?!?! Your wife's a doctor and she stays with you? I haven't played six hours of video games in my LIFE.
Brian
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
I haven't played six hours of video games in my LIFE.
not surprising. between complaining and re-hasing your over-used "hate anything pre-2002, love MCR" routine, i can't see how you could have done anything for more than 6 hours in your life - exception made for sleeping, and annoying/boring people.
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I'll bet the 50,000 times he's masturbated in his life would add up to 6 hours or so.
Originally posted by sweetcell:
Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
I haven't played six hours of video games in my LIFE.
not surprising. other than complaining and calling on your over-used "hate anything pre-2002, love MCR" routine, i'd be shocked if you've done anything for more than 6 hours (other than sleep and annoy or bore people). [/b]
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6 hours = 21600 seconds... for 50k wack-offs.
forget being a minute-man - our walalce is a sub-second man! but it's less embarrassing than playing video games, right brian?
add that to his delightful disposition and the numerous different topics of conversation he seems so versed in, and we have a real winner with the ladies.
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
I'd be so ashamed if I were you.
First off, you're not capable of being me.
But here's a little suggested reading nonetheless:
<img src="http://interactive.usc.edu/members/mtuters/everything.jpg" alt=" - " />
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
I'd be so ashamed if I were you.
First off, you're not capable of being me.
But here's a little suggested reading nonetheless:
<img src="http://interactive.usc.edu/members/mtuters/everything.jpg" alt=" - " /> [/b]
Jesus, if you believe that "playing video games makes us smarter" crap, then I think you're even MORE pathetic. Anything to justify playing "Call of War" or whatever, huh? Doesn't it ever get boring? Doesn't it bother you that you vicariously control people doing things in a video game that you can't do in real life? Most men used to play football. Then most men started just watching football. Then, (era of video games) most "men" (really 12 year-olds, despite the real age) started "playing" simulated versions of football. And now, we have people watching others play simulated versions of football ("Madden Nation.) No wonder your wife lets you go to strip clubs. You not a real big participant in life are you, vansmack? You prefer to just watch and offer commentary.
Brian
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i seriously hope this make BW's head explode... (hint it also means that i too often play video games more than six hours a week and just got the replacement Guitar Hero III disc in the mail)
but I routinely will play a nintendo DS games while also watching TV... there is nothing like battling lego stormtroppers while watching the daily show on the dvr...
(another hint, i'm not looking for anything more than a little escapism, fun, etc when playing video games)
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brian, you should hang out with slappy. you could both be miserable and lash out at the world together.
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don't be so harsh on slappy, he's at least been able to liven up the board of late and IMHO most of his shtick is tongue and cheek... BW just wants me watch even more VH1 celebreality shows and continue to destroy the fabric of society.
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What are you escaping from?
Originally posted by kosmo:
i seriously hope this make BW's head explode... (hint it also means that i too often play video games more than six hours a week and just got the replacement Guitar Hero III disc in the mail)
but I routinely will play a nintendo DS games while also watching TV... there is nothing like battling lego stormtroppers while watching the daily show on the dvr...
(another hint, i'm not looking for anything more than a little escapism, fun, etc when playing video games)
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You think being a 9:30 BBS moderator is easy work????
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
What are you escaping from?
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Occasionally I like to escape to a land where I can rescue a princess....
And for anyone of you who have even played a Zelda game, this Robot Chicken parody is sure to make you laugh!
http://kotaku.com/gaming/truth-hurts/robot-chicken-questions-links-chivalry-298176.php (http://kotaku.com/gaming/truth-hurts/robot-chicken-questions-links-chivalry-298176.php)
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
You not a real big participant in life are you, vansmack?
Well, what would be your gauge?
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Originally posted by kosmo:
Occasionally I like to escape to a land where I can rescue a princess....
And for anyone of you who have even played a Zelda game, this Robot Chicken parody is sure to make you laugh!
http://kotaku.com/gaming/truth-hurts/robot-chicken-questions-links-chivalry-298176.php (http://kotaku.com/gaming/truth-hurts/robot-chicken-questions-links-chivalry-298176.php)
Ha. Nice.
My favorite comment: "Plus I think it's bs that Link's still a virgin. You know he was kickin' it with Saria in the Lost Woods from Ocarina."
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If this has been discussed on the board, my apologies.
If it hasn't, it should be.
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/ (http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/)
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i've been called out on this one
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/80-the-idea-of-soccer/ (http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/80-the-idea-of-soccer/)
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Boffins stretch Wi-Fi signals to 100km (http://www.techworld.com/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=11774)
By John E. Dunn, Techworld
Intel??s researchers have come up with a way to send Wi-Fi signals up to 60 miles (100km), while maintaining a usable throughput of up to 6.5Mbits/s.
According to MIT??s Technology Review, the system is known as the 'rural connectivity platform' (RCP) for the way it can, at relatively low cost, connect towns to out-of-the-way locations otherwise bypassed by new communication technologies.
This is to be more than a lab engineer??s daydream and has been field tested in India, Panama, Vietnam and South Africa.
cont.
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Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
Boffins stretch Wi-Fi signals to 100km (http://www.techworld.com/news/index.cfm?RSS&NewsID=11774)
Good lord, if I could get wi-fi of 6.5Mbits/s in my apt I'd be stoked, let alone over 100km.
But truthfully, if they're working on wi-fi at that range they're wasting their time. Wi-Max is reaching speeds of nearly a Gig at equal or further distances.
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i've been called out on this one
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/80-the-idea-of-soccer/ (http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/80-the-idea-of-soccer/)
I have never once set foot in Manchester.
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i've never been tyneside. i just liked that they had england's captain and an awesome beer on their shirt
and i think my cable bill speaks for itself. but, if anyone calls me out again, i'll give them a five minute speach about charles n'zogbia's proper position
(its not left back)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i've been called out on this one
http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/80-the-idea-of-soccer/ (http://stuffwhitepeoplelike.wordpress.com/2008/03/03/80-the-idea-of-soccer/)
I have never once set foot in Manchester. [/b]
wait, youve been like everywhere in the world
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Good lord, if I could get wi-fi of 6.5Mbits/s in my apt I'd be stoked, let alone over 100km.
i'm sure you're aware that you are getting 6.5 if not more - between your computer and the router (even 802.11b peaks at 11 Mbit/s). the bottleneck is from router to the intertubes. so rural folks probably won't be getting 6.5 connection to the outside world, only 6.5 to the connection point.
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
wait, youve been like everywhere in the world
I, too, see the irony.
I've even been to Liverpool but wasn't able to make it over to Manchester.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
i'm sure you're aware that you are getting 6.5 if not more -
Actually, I misread it in my haste this afternoon and thought it was 6.5MB's (bytes, not bits).
Thanks for catching that.
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Originally posted by kosmo:
Occasionally I like to escape to a land where I can rescue a princess....
in which case you need to check this out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uZr3JWYdy8). c'mon, you know you want to...
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I'm going to save everybody from my annual thread praising the Original London Concept of Jesus Christ Superstar (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jesus_Christ_Superstar#Music). Murray Head, Ian Gillian, Gary Glitter, Yvonne Elliman....the movie pales in comparison to this version.
Happy Easter.
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Just in time for my new car...
Sirius Purchase of Rival XM Approved by Justice Dept. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/business/24radio-web.html?ex=1364097600&en=1bd64b38305057c6&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)
Honestly, I thought this would take a lot longer...now what will the FCC do???
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Just in time for my new car...
Sirius Purchase of Rival XM Approved by Justice Dept. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/24/business/24radio-web.html?ex=1364097600&en=1bd64b38305057c6&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss)
Honestly, I thought this would take a lot longer...now what will the FCC do???
Well that answers that then. I won't be getting sattelite radio at all now..up go the fees and down go the commercial free channels.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
wait, youve been like everywhere in the world
I, too, see the irony.
I've even been to Liverpool but wasn't able to make it over to Manchester. [/b]
Wait - you went to Liverpool before you went to Manchester!!! :eek: What the fuck!!! :eek: and you call yourself a United fan.... :eek:
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Australian Company Calls WiMax a Disaster
Disaster. Miserable failure. Mired in opportunistic hype. Those were just a few of the descriptors Garth Freeman, the CEO of Australian company Buzz Broadband, recently used to characterize the next-generation wireless technology, WiMax.
Based on a report from Commsday, an Australian telecom publication, things have not gone smoothly for the (former) WiMax operator since it first embraced the technology a little more than a year ago. Freeman made this fact abundantly clear to the international audience that assembled at a recent WiMAX conference in Bangkok.
continued... (http://blog.wired.com/business/2008/03/australian-comp.html)
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
Australian Company Calls WiMax a Disaster
Those sound like many of the same criticisms AT&T made about 3G when it first came out (save for "who's going to use their phone to surf the internet?"). I have hope and faith that they'll work it out.
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Caught this at the newsstand yesterday. Quite a fair read worthy of some debate:
How Apple Got Everything Right By Doing Everything Wrong (http://www.wired.com/techbiz/it/magazine/16-04/bz_apple#)
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Indian Blackberry network given 15 days to allow government snooping or shut down (http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/indian-blackberry-network-given-15-days-to-allow-government-snoo/)
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
Indian Blackberry network given 15 days to allow government snooping or shut down (http://www.engadget.com/2008/03/25/indian-blackberry-network-given-15-days-to-allow-government-snoo/)
Sure would like to see RIM draw a line in the sand on this one, but can they really afford to miss out on such an emerging market?
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Somebody pinch me. The Cable companies are doing something smart for once!
Comcast and Time Warner to bankroll WiMax joint venture (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9903411-7.html?tag=nl.e703)
How do the cable companies compete with 1 Gig Fiber to the home? This is exactly how. Smart move. Can it deliver TV? I'm not so sure, but it can certainly provide superfast internet to the home and guess where else? Anywhere else in the city (or coverage area) I use my laptop/iPhone/super slick internet only computer for smackie that no one has built yet. Fiber can't do that.
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Spot On. Other than iTunes (and I have plans to move that to a server based solution) my desktop is not used for anything that isn't browser based.
Microsoft, Apple, and the death of the desktop (http://blogs.zdnet.com/Burnette/?p=555&tag=nl.e550)
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Oops.
March 17 - LA Times: An attack on Tupac Shakur launched a hip-hop war (http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/music/la-naw-quad17mar17,1,2767750.story[/url)
March 26 - The Smoking Gun: BIG PHAT LIAR:
How a federal inmate duped the Los Angeles Times, fabricated FBI reports, and linked Sean "Diddy" Combs to 1994 ambush of Tupac Shakur (http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2008/0325081sabatino1.html)
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Will this be a dark day for Smackie?
So does post Live Nation cease to exist?
U2 signs deal with Live Nation (http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/03/u2-signs-deal-w.html)
Although the band will still distribute its physical recordings through Universal Music Group, the band is letting the rapidly-diversifying concert promoter Live Nation handle its digital distribution, merchandise, and "branding rights" for the next 12 years.
U2's move represents both a break from and embrace of the 360-degree deal concept. At a time when the labels and Live Nation are trying to sign artists to 360-degree deals that give companies a piece of just about every revenue stream leading to an artist, U2 has decided that it makes sense to let someone handle the distribution of T-shirts, lunchboxes, legos and digital files -- so long as that is not the same company that sells the band's CDs.
Bono told BBC News that U2 has been in business with Live Nation for decades, an arrangement formalized by the deal. "We've been dating for over 20 years now. It's about time we tied the knot."
***
No early april fools joke
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7322106.stm (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7322106.stm)
http://www.nme.com/news/u2/35540 (http://www.nme.com/news/u2/35540)
***
so will live nation make an effort to protect those digital distribution rights? i.e. look deeper into torrent sites..
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Originally posted by kosmo:
Will this be a dark day for Smackie?
I'll be stealing the next album. Not sure I can skip a tour though, but we'll see.
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Smackie also wanted to let Shoeshine and Mankie know that he's not clicking on the Footie thread because he's about 30 minutes behind on the United match...will join the conversation shortly.
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you mean ManU's 2-0 victory over Roma?
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
you mean ManU's 2-0 victory over Roma?
I've killed men for less. Just thought you should know that.
Remember flawd and his ruining of Harry Potter 6? Ever wonder why we haven't heard from him since before the release of Harry Potter 7?
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april fools!
<hides>
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
I haven't played six hours of video games in my LIFE.
Point-Counterpoint
Video games: I'll never buy one (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article3663097.ece)
What video game haters don't want you to know (http://www.cnet.com/8301-13506_1-9909064-17.html)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Smackie also wanted to let Shoeshine and Mankie know that he's not clicking on the Footie thread because he's about 30 minutes behind on the United match...will join the conversation shortly.
i had the first goal of a newcastle match spoiled for me a few weeks back by mank, and i didnt even click on the thread. :o
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for long-time concert-goers with hearing damage: New Therapies Fight Phantom Noises of Tinnitus (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/01/health/research/01tinn.html)
(an alternative: wear protection (http://www.etymotic.com/ephp/er20.aspx))
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Actually, Smackie never wears ear protection to concerts. To me, it's akin to going to a fine arts museum and wearing sunglasses.
As a wise boardie once said, ear plugs are for the weak.
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For anybody who's ever lived in LA, or even visited for a while, this an enjoyably frustrating read....
There can be few cities the size of Los Angeles where the prospect of a nine-storey office complex would cause such a fuss. But this one comes with a weighty expectation. At least some people are expected to get to it by public transport, or even on foot. (http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=10924156)
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i wore ear plugs once to a dinosaur jr show
it was the most deaf i've ever been after a show
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Originally posted by vansmack:
ear plugs are for the weak
... and the non-deaf :)
along with the risk of tinnitus, repeated exposure to loud music accelerated the rate at which you lose to the ability to hear high-frequency sounds. a friend who works in recording studios has a t-shirt that reads "don't trust anyone who can't hear over 15 kHz". that's pretty much everyone who doesn't wear ear protection at concerts.
foam earplugs are indeed horrible, but etymotics do a good job of providing flat attenuation. and at some shows (re: stooges), protection made the show bearable, from a ear-pain perspective.
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I'm not saying it's the right choice, but then again, I'm not known for always making the right choice.
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I always assumed this, but I never thought it was so drastic in SF. The numbers in Baltimore and DC were surprising as well.
Renting a Home is Cheaper than Buying it (http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/bythenumbers/011611.html)
Although owning a home is the middle-class dream, it's probably cheaper to rent than to own a home in major California cities, even with the recent decline in the housing market.
That's the conclusion of a new study on differentials between ownership and rental costs in 20 American cities -- including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco -- that found ownership to be comparable to renting in just one, Houston. And that's true, the study found, even when the equity gains from home ownership are placed into the equation.
The full report can be found Here (http://www.cepr.net/documents/publications/ownrent_2008_04.pdf). (PDF)
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what kind of place can you get in dc for $1185? our temporary place in reston was more than that
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I dunno, I'd be hard pressed to find a four bedroom home in the burbs where the rental price would be less than my mortgage+property tax payment of my house in the burbs. And I've gotta think the net increase in rental rates will be more in the next 26 years of payments than the net increase in property taxes.
Sure, there's the cost of upkeep, but they seems a pretty cheap price for the equity gained.
Originally posted by vansmack:
I always assumed this, but I never thought it was so drastic in SF. The numbers in Baltimore and DC were surprising as well.
Renting a Home is Cheaper than Buying it (http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/bythenumbers/011611.html)
Although owning a home is the middle-class dream, it's probably cheaper to rent than to own a home in major California cities, even with the recent decline in the housing market.
That's the conclusion of a new study on differentials between ownership and rental costs in 20 American cities -- including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco -- that found ownership to be comparable to renting in just one, Houston. And that's true, the study found, even when the equity gains from home ownership are placed into the equation.
The full report can be found Here (http://www.cepr.net/documents/publications/ownrent_2008_04.pdf). (PDF)
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CA Plan would tax music downloads (http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_8837145?nclick_check=1)
STATE LAWMAKER MEETS CRITICISM IN EFFORT TO INCREASE REVENUE
By Edwin Garcia
Mercury News Sacramento Bureau
Article Launched: 04/07/2008 01:30:50 AM PDT
Apr 7:
SACRAMENTO - Don't get too used to those 99-cent downloads from iTunes.
A Los Angeles-area lawmaker trying to help raise money to delete the state government's $8 billion shortfall thinks consumers should pay sales tax when buying from online music stores.
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Pro-Tibet protesters climb Golden Gate Bridge tower (http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/07/MN6L101A0U.DTL)
Three people climb the suspension cables of the Golden Gate Bridge on Monday, April 7, 2008, in a protest aimed at drawing attention to Chinese human rights violations in Tibet. Chronicle photo by Frederic Larson
<img src="http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/04/08/ba_protest_ggbridge_0150a_frl.jpg" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/04/07/ba_webcamprotestggbridge_040708kpix.jpg" alt=" - " />
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There are lots of reasons to dislike China's government but the Tibet thing is such a ridiculous argument. Countries become part of other countries -- it happens. It's like going "FREE SOUTH VIETNAM".
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This is an embarrassing read. It makes me feel really old...it also helps explain Social D's Another State of Mind. A bit anyway.
My mate Joe Nelson on "The OC Sloth Crew (http://doublecrosswebzine.blogspot.com/2008/04/joe-nelson-on-oc-sloth-crew.html)"
Our resident west coast connection, Joe Nelson, will continually appear here at Double Cross delivering more great stories and memories from the hardcore reality. Since most of his material will be Orange County related, what better way to get acquanited with his colorful cast of characters than by getting a thorough history on The Crew: The O.C. Sloth Crew. -DCXX
More at DoubleCross (http://doublecrosswebzine.blogspot.com/2008/04/joe-nelson-on-oc-sloth-crew.html).
PS - Yes it's that Zach De La Rocha, and usual Jim Rome listeners might recognize "Silk" - yes, it's that Silk. The rest of the names I been known to deny knowing depending on who's asking. I never miss that poker game when I go home, mostly because it's an easy way to pay for the trip.
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Smackie spent the weekend in Vegas for a couple 21 year olds birthday parties, and while their sorority sisters are nice, it was the Miss America Pageant that really made my weekend. Miss Missouri (who couldn't have been sweeter) was robbed.
(http://www.thehollywoodgossip.com/images/gallery/candice-crawford.jpg)
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No, Smackie did not write this article, as he was accused this morning. But he very well could have. What other rag would do such a good job comparing the US H1B policy to the most neglected movie in recent time, "Idiocracy"?
HELP NOT WANTED (http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11016270)[/url]
Apr 10th 2008
From The Economist print edition
Congress is doing its best to lose the global talent war
ONE of the most unjustly neglected films of the past few years is Mike Judge's ??Idiocracy?. Mr Judge is the genius behind Beavis and Butt-Head, two of the most disgusting creatures on television, and Hank Hill, one of the wisest. In ??Idiocracy? he turns his talents to futurology??and to the troubling question of the long-term impact of dysgenic breeding, junk food and grunge culture on America's collective IQ.
The premise is simple. Two typical citizens??the army's ??most average? soldier and a street prostitute??find themselves transported 500 years into the future. They soon discover that they are towering geniuses compared with the knuckle-draggers who inhabit the America of 2505. The country's best university is run by Costco. People are named after brands such as Frito and Mountain Dew. Starbucks has become a chain of brothels. The president is a former porn star and wrestling champion.
One might imagine that America's politicians would do all that they could to prevent Mr Judge's dystopia from materialising. But when it comes to immigration they are doing exactly the opposite??trying their best to keep the world's best and brightest from darkening America's doors.
As always, there's more... (http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11016270)
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go away, 'batin
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
go away, 'batin
Nice.
Sure you're not just playin' with your XPhone? (http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=8492&tag=nl.e550)
<img src="http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/images/xphonezd.jpg" alt=" - " />
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"High heels are the new smokes"
In Vegas two weeks ago, I noticed less and less chicks smoking by the pool, and more and more chicks wearing high heels to the pool.
After hours spent meticulously people watching at the MGM Grand, I discovered that chicks wearing high heels to the pool are the new chicks looking to have a good time, a welcome addition to the once great smackie corollary "Chicks that smoke, poke."
And if you see this corollary on Lewis Black's new show, have no fear. He's using it with permission (he had the cabana next to me and we exchanged a few thoughts).
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In an attempt to one up my Epic Vegas weekend from two weekend's ago, I headed to Orange County for a sports weekend with the Ducks, Angels and the Long Beach Grand Prix all in town at the same time.
But it was the Pennywise show where the Riot Police showed up (http://www.presstelegram.com/ci_8994037) that made my weekend.
For the record, the OC weekend failed to trump my Vegas weekend.
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Venerable just informed me that after the Judas Priest album "Screaming for Vengance (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screaming_for_Vengeance)" is released for Rock Band tomorrow, the next album will be The Cars s/t debut.
That means Quickie 'n the Bushes will be filming their first virtual video for youtube only release. We've chosen "Moving in Stereo" and are now casting for the role of Phoebe Cates. All interested parties should send me an email that includes a photo.
<img src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_-W2hU1N3qo0/RpsqYGgc0rI/AAAAAAAAAA8/6byQwW-oxhg/s400/300px-Phoebe_Cates_Fast_Times.jpg" alt=" - " />
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a while back i did this online survey wherein you were asked to rate ladies' attractiveness, and were given an assessment of your taste. this quiz had some amount of seriousness behind it, as there was a lot of stats involved and it was based on a big sample size. upon completion i was informed that i should be a casting agent, as my definition of female beauty appeals to a large percentage of the population (i.e. women that i find attractive are very likely to be considered attractive by the general population). my taste in women is even more mainstream than my taste in music :p
the following story bears this out, as i'm on record here stating that the aptly-named megan fox is the hottest thing that i've laid on eyes on since, oh, meeting my girfriend (hopefully that last bit will keep me out of the dog house).
FHM names world's sexiest woman (http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/24/people.meganfox.ap/index.html)
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Megan Fox is the sexiest woman in the world -- at least according to FHM magazine.
The "Transformers" co-star tops FHM's annual 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll of FHM readers.
The 21-year-old model-actress beat out the likes of Angelina Jolie (No. 12), Rihanna (No. 14), Kim Kardashian (No. 17), Paris Hilton (No. 77) and last year's champion, Jessica Alba (No. 3).
Fox debuted on the annual list in 2006 at No. 68 and ranked at No. 65 in 2007. Joining her in the top 10 this year are -- in descending order -- Jessica Biel, Alba, Elisha Cuthbert, Scarlett Johansson, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Hilary Duff, Tricia Helfer, Blake Lively and Kate Beckinsale. Britney Spears came in at No. 100.
The women from MTV's "The Hills" duke it out on the list with Heidi Montag (No. 44) beating out Audrina Patridge (No. 80) and Lauren Conrad (No. 95).
Current "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Shannon Elizabeth (No. 46) returned to the ranking after being absent last year, joining professional dancers Cheryl Burke (No. 40) and Karina Smirnoff (No. 78).
FHM said nearly 9 million votes were cast for the 14th edition of the annual poll.
<img src="http://www.fhm.com/images/media/image/meganbig8.jpg" alt=" - " />
http://www.fhm.com/100sexiestwinner08/ (http://www.fhm.com/100sexiestwinner08/)
smackie, apologies for invading your thread. seemed to be the most appropriate place to post this important information.
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Totally approved. Except for saying your girlfriend is hotter than Megan Fox.
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Have a link to the survey?
Originally posted by sweetcell:
a while back i did this online survey wherein you were asked to rate ladies' attractiveness, and were given an assessment of your taste. this quiz had some amount of seriousness behind it, as there was a lot of stats involved and it was based on a big sample size. upon completion i was informed that i should be a casting agent, as my definition of female beauty appeals to a large percentage of the population (i.e. women that i find attractive are very likely to be considered attractive by the general population). my taste in women is even more mainstream than my taste in music :p
the following story bears this out, as i'm on record here stating that the aptly-named megan fox is the hottest thing that i've laid on eyes on since, oh, meeting my girfriend (hopefully that last bit will keep me out of the dog house).
FHM names world's sexiest woman (http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/04/24/people.meganfox.ap/index.html)
LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- Megan Fox is the sexiest woman in the world -- at least according to FHM magazine.
The "Transformers" co-star tops FHM's annual 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll of FHM readers.
The 21-year-old model-actress beat out the likes of Angelina Jolie (No. 12), Rihanna (No. 14), Kim Kardashian (No. 17), Paris Hilton (No. 77) and last year's champion, Jessica Alba (No. 3).
Fox debuted on the annual list in 2006 at No. 68 and ranked at No. 65 in 2007. Joining her in the top 10 this year are -- in descending order -- Jessica Biel, Alba, Elisha Cuthbert, Scarlett Johansson, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Hilary Duff, Tricia Helfer, Blake Lively and Kate Beckinsale. Britney Spears came in at No. 100.
The women from MTV's "The Hills" duke it out on the list with Heidi Montag (No. 44) beating out Audrina Patridge (No. 80) and Lauren Conrad (No. 95).
Current "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Shannon Elizabeth (No. 46) returned to the ranking after being absent last year, joining professional dancers Cheryl Burke (No. 40) and Karina Smirnoff (No. 78).
FHM said nearly 9 million votes were cast for the 14th edition of the annual poll.
<img src="http://www.fhm.com/images/media/image/meganbig8.jpg" alt=" - " />
http://www.fhm.com/100sexiestwinner08/ (http://www.fhm.com/100sexiestwinner08/)
smackie, apologies for invading your thread. seemed to be the most appropriate place to post this important information. [/b]
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<img src="http://www.fhm.com/images/media/image/meganbig8.jpg" alt=" - " />
She's got a lot of bad tattoos. Like a big Latin one, trying to be the next Angelina Jolie. Yet, she WAS "Brianna Wallace"
So you're bragging now that you can "spot beauty?" Jesus. Between vansmack's Top Ten list of "Guys I want to have sex with" and Jule's general douchieness, I can't tell which male is more insecure and feels the need to puff themselves out the most. It's mind-boggling how self-satisfied yet insecure y'all are.
What humans perceive as beautiful is perfect averageness. Anyone who's studied Aesthetics (or math) knows that.
Brian
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You sure do have a lot to say about things Jules and I discuss.
Me thinks you're developing a bit of a man crush. How cute.
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Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
I can't tell which male is more insecure and feels the need to puff themselves out the most.
<img src="http://www.choiceshirts.com/images/A6/64/A6640F-md.jpg" alt=" - " />
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If they could only find 76 women hotter than Paris Hilton, they weren't looking very hard.
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An Enduring Legacy (http://presidentialmemorial.wordpress.com/)
As we near the end of George W Bush??s (http://www.whitehouse.gov/) presidency, we think it is important to select a fitting monument (http://www.nps.gov/linc/) to this president??s work. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghraib_torture_and_prisoner_abuse) On matters ranging from foreign relations (http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx) to fiscal (http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/) and environmental stewardship (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=cvx), no other president in American history has accomplished so much in such a short time.
To honor George W Bush for his eight years of honorable public service, the Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco is sponsoring a ballot initiative this November.
It reads?
Should The City And County of San Francsico Rename The Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant the George W Bush Sewage Plant?[/i]
We believe this is an appropriate honor for a truly unique president. If you think so too, join this grassroots movement (http://localpolitics.meetup.com/187/) to rename this important and iconic landmark in his honor
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where's the anicent gif? I heard about this weeks, maybe months ago. And i don't even live in SF!
Originally posted by vansmack:
An Enduring Legacy (http://presidentialmemorial.wordpress.com/)
As we near the end of George W Bush??s (http://www.whitehouse.gov/) presidency, we think it is important to select a fitting monument (http://www.nps.gov/linc/) to this president??s work. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abu_Ghraib_torture_and_prisoner_abuse) On matters ranging from foreign relations (http://icasualties.org/oif/default.aspx) to fiscal (http://www.brillig.com/debt_clock/) and environmental stewardship (http://finance.yahoo.com/q/pr?s=cvx), no other president in American history has accomplished so much in such a short time.
To honor George W Bush for his eight years of honorable public service, the Presidential Memorial Commission of San Francisco is sponsoring a ballot initiative this November.
It reads?
Should The City And County of San Francsico Rename The Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant the George W Bush Sewage Plant?[/i]
We believe this is an appropriate honor for a truly unique president. If you think so too, join this grassroots movement (http://localpolitics.meetup.com/187/) to rename this important and iconic landmark in his honor
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I feel terrible let down by this forum, not only does Hermione turn 18 but she flashed her hoohah and I have to find out about it on Best Week Ever.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Totally approved. Except for saying your girlfriend is hotter than Megan Fox.
well, the missus is damn pretty (still trying to figure out what the hell she's doing with me, waaaay outta my league). and i actually get to touch her - which is hotter in my books than admiring a jpeg. but i'll happily reinstate megan as soon as she lets me put my paws on her. if you could line that up for me, smacks, i'd be most grateful.
further fueling the myth: not only does ms. fox hit the weed, she's just a regular girl from tennessee:
<img src="http://www.bestweekever.tv/bwe/images/2008/04/Megan%20t%20shirt.jpg" alt=" - " />
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Have a link to the survey?
can't seem to find it at the moment, might have it on my other machine.
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I'm at the airport playing one of my favorite travel games: which fat person is going to sit next to me on the plane. The passengers on Virgin America flights not to LA or Vegas are not nearly as attractive, and I just have a sense that I'm not going to enjoy this flight.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I'm at the airport playing one of my favorite travel games: which fat person is going to sit next to me on the plane. The passengers on Virgin America flights not to LA or Vegas are not nearly as attractive, and I just have a sense that I'm not going to enjoy this flight.
Rhett, how did you get Smackie's password?
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Originally posted by kosmo:
I feel terrible let down by this forum, not only does Hermione turn 18 but she flashed her hoohah and I have to find out about it on Best Week Ever.
Hannah Montana got caught kanoodling in a bra with her goofy looking boyfriend. Photos at 11 (http://www.dotspotter.com/news/835661_Miley_Cyrus_Racy_Photos_With_Boyfriend_11_Photos). Consider yourself informed, fearless moderator!
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well there racy then there's vanity fare racy... there is a "naked" picture of amy winehouse floating about on interweb somewhere, but quite frankly i'm to scared to search it out...
this artist rendition of the picture will suffice for now drawings r' us (http://radaronline.com/exclusives/2008/03/nude-amy-winehouse-naked-picture.php)
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speaking of radar magazine which is the source of the artist's rendition of ms. winehouse "naked"... I'm really enjoying this magazine as it reminds me of the old Spy magazine. anyways, for some reason i find in the most recent issue of Radar, the pictorial of the US Olympic Synchronized Swimming team in bathing costumes and heels cavorting in the water smoking hot. results among other males with a eye for the female form may vary...
an official preview of the team
<img src="http://www.usasynchro.org/athletes/National/2007/Gallery/Team_Poolside_4%20copy.jpg" alt=" - " />
and which one of these is not like the others
The US Junior National Team
<img src="http://www.usasynchro.org/athletes/athlete_pics/Jr_07/JrNationalTeam%20copy.jpg" alt=" - " />
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Originally posted by kosmo:
well there racy then there's vanity fare racy... there is a "naked" picture of amy winehouse floating about on interweb somewhere, but quite frankly i'm to scared to search it out...
No, it's a great picture. It's very artistic and quite sexy. They must have airbrushed out the scabs and track marks. It's my screensaver, actually. She's not naked. Her guitar covers down south and she has the classic black tape over the nips. Sort of like Amy Smart in Crank 2...
Brian
P.S. I love Radar, too. So there. There's something I don't hate. Radar magazine.
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Mentioning "sexy" and "Amy Winehouse naked" in the same post: Definitive proof that Brian is fucking crazy.
Originally posted by Brian Wallace:
Originally posted by kosmo:
there is a "naked" picture of amy winehouse floating about on interweb somewhere, but quite frankly i'm to scared to search it out...
No, it's a great picture. It's very artistic and quite sexy.[/b]
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All he wanted was a pepsi.
Originally posted by nkotb:
Mentioning "sexy" and "Amy Winehouse naked" in the same post: Definitive proof that Brian is fucking crazy.
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I now know The Director without his shades on.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I now know The Director without his shades on.
thanks for letting us know you were in town... i got a flurry of drunk text messages last night, by all accounts you guys had a rip'roaring time.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
thanks for letting us know you were in town... i got a flurry of drunk text messages last night, by all accounts you guys had a rip'roaring time.
Yeah, I kind of fucked that up. I wasn't planning on having much spare time for this trip and couldn't convince Smackette to travel out for an extended weekend. She's been out of the country for a month and really wanted us to be home for a weekend. Hard to argue with that.
But after 36 hours in Virginia I HAD to get into the city and The Director was available for what turned out to be a 7 hour lunch. In my defense, I pulled him out of the club but he "mysteriously" left his bag there and had to go back after I got in my cab to the airport. Hmmm...
Where I really blew it was not doing a Tokyo Police Club roll call. I sent a few PMs and didn't get much interest. I obviously asked the wrong people.
Smackie owes you all his presence at a Forum gathering.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
In my defense, I pulled him out of the club but he "mysteriously" left his bag there and had to go back after I got in my cab to the airport. Hmmm...
such style - 100% Pure TheDirector™
given the smackie + director combo, no bonus points for guessing what kind of a club it was.
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Venerable and I have a friend who works for Lucas Arts and told us about this a while ago. Looks like it's finally coming to fruition.
The Force Unleashed for the Wii (http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/previews/21570/XPlay_Exclusive_Star_Wars_The_Force_Unleashed_for_Wii.html)
nkotb, you should sit down before clicking that link.
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Wowzers. I'm STOKED for that.
Originally posted by vansmack:
Venerable and I have a friend who works for Lucas Arts and told us about this a while ago. Looks like it's finally coming to fruition.
The Force Unleashed for the Wii (http://www.g4tv.com/xplay/previews/21570/XPlay_Exclusive_Star_Wars_The_Force_Unleashed_for_Wii.html)
nkotb, you should sit down before clicking that link.
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Smackie has missed you Thomas Friedman. It's good to have you back...
Dumb as we Wanna Be (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/30/opinion/30friedman.html)
By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Published: April 30, 2008
It is great to see that we finally have some national unity on energy policy. Unfortunately, the unifying idea is so ridiculous, so unworthy of the people aspiring to lead our nation, it takes your breath away. Hillary Clinton has decided to line up with John McCain in pushing to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, 18.4 cents a gallon, for this summer??s travel season. This is not an energy policy. This is money laundering: we borrow money from China and ship it to Saudi Arabia and take a little cut for ourselves as it goes through our gas tanks. What a way to build our country.
When the summer is over, we will have increased our debt to China, increased our transfer of wealth to Saudi Arabia and increased our contribution to global warming for our kids to inherit.
As always, there's more... (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/30/opinion/30friedman.html)
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Brilliant as usual.
(Friedman, not smackie ;) )
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Shocker.
Orange County: It's not like what you see on TV (http://realestate.msn.com/Buying/Article_busweek.aspx?cp-documentid=7042488>1=35000)
The reality of a real-estate industry in the tank, job losses, foreclosed homes and empty office space is a far cry from the glitz and fantasy of popular TV shows set in the California county.
By Christopher Palmeri, BusinessWeek
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As you're in the area, you may want to check this out (or not)
Hey.
We'll be holding a special listening party for our new record, ...Earth To The Dandy Warhols..., this Monday, May 5, at 111 Minna Gallery in San Francisco. We;ll ahve food, drinks, Zia will be spinning tunes, and you'll be among the first to hear our new tunes. Party starts at five. Hope you can make it.
...Earth To The Dandy Warhols... Listening Party
111 Minna Gallery
111 Minna Street @ 2nd Street
San Francisco, CA 94105
May 5, 2008 5-10pm
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Thanks. That's going to be tough to get to, but I'll see what I can do.
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Washingtonpost.com Disparages People Who Leave Stupid Comments (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9936794-7.html?tag=nl.e703)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Shocker.
Orange County: It's not like what you see on TV (http://realestate.msn.com/Buying/Article_busweek.aspx?cp-documentid=7042488>1=35000)
The reality of a real-estate industry in the tank, job losses, foreclosed homes and empty office space is a far cry from the glitz and fantasy of popular TV shows set in the California county.
By Christopher Palmeri, BusinessWeek
lies
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
lies
Sometimes, people from the OC write articles like that to pretend that they're just like everybody else in this country.
We all know the truth though. It's right there on the screen.
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Sprint Nextel to spin off WiMax network (http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9937513-7.html?tag=nl.e703)
I think this is good as both a Sprint Customer and some one who wants WiMax. Even better if the Cable Co.'s invest to pick up the loss of some Sprint funding.
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University of Maryland Gets Only U.S. Lab for WiMAX Next Generation Wireless Applications (http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/scitech/release.cfm?ArticleID=1652)
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Originally posted by beetsnotbeats:
University of Maryland Gets Only U.S. Lab for WiMAX Next Generation Wireless Applications (http://www.newsdesk.umd.edu/scitech/release.cfm?ArticleID=1652)
hmmm, i wonder what are the odds that pepco will consider wimax for any upgrades in their utility meters/distribution system (california utilities considered wimax too expensive for their meter communication platform). i think bags may be the only person who knows what that sentence means.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
i think bags may be the only person who knows what that sentence means.
Disparage me in my own thread do you?
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The board is full of douchebaggery today, so I'm going to tell a story about yesterday.
I'm minding my own business at my desk when I receive a text message from my Token Black Friend.
So I just *happened* to be in the Farragut area 4 work & I just *happened* to walk into [the club]. [The Bartender]'s body is crazy too. I'm weak.;-)
After insulting my good friend for being somewhere I wished to be at, I aksed him to tell her I said hello.
Sure will. Cues up Mental iPod Pink Floyd's "Wish you were here"
After advising him to not play that in the club, I wished him well and to enjoy himself.
Sometime (the exact amount is not to be expressed here) passes, and I receive a picture mail text. Now, I know my friend knows the rules so he must have gotten permission, but if your last text was from your buddy at a club and then you get a picture mail, naturally smackie gets a little excited.
Open the message and sure enough, it's a picture of my friend with the smokin hot bartender outside the club.
Being the classy guy that I am, I tell my friend how much I hate him. Then how much I think he's the man.
Oh no. YOU are the man. I am just..wait for it..The Director.
Beaming with glee all day at my friend's accomplishment, I take smackette to dinner and fill her on the story over a High Life. Upon showing her the picture, she smiles and says "how cute, they even have their 'Jungle Fever' hands together" I'm not one to waste The High Life, but even I spit out a little there.
I'm pretty sure The Director is still laughing at that comment. Jungle Fever Hands. Classic.
So, that begs the question. The bartender in a gentelemans club is either the hottest girl in the club or the oldest and usually a retired performer. Ignoring the old one, is the bartender at a gentlemans club the hottest because:
</font>- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">she's the only one with something left to the imagination</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">her morals are slightly corrupted in that she works at a strip joint but not corrupted enough to be a stripper</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">or something else brilliant that Smackie's not thinking about</font></li>
<font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">
I pose that to the group to discuss.
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Story would be better if you included said picture.
Originally posted by vansmack:
The board is full of douchebaggery today, so I'm going to tell a story about yesterday.
I'm minding my own business at my desk when I receive a text message from my Token Black Friend.
So I just *happened* to be in the Farragut area 4 work & I just *happened* to walk into [the club]. [The Bartender]'s body is crazy too. I'm weak.;-)
After insulting my good friend for being somewhere I wished to be at, I aksed him to tell her I said hello.
Sure will. Cues up Mental iPod Pink Floyd's "Wish you were here"
After advising him to not play that in the club, I wished him well and to enjoy himself.
Sometime (the exact amount is not to be expressed here) passes, and I receive a picture mail text. Now, I know my friend knows the rules so he must have gotten permission, but if your last text was from your buddy at a club and then you get a picture mail, naturally smackie gets a little excited.
Open the message and sure enough, it's a picture of my friend with the smokin hot bartender outside the club.
Being the classy guy that I am, I tell my friend how much I hate him. Then how much I think he's the man.
Oh no. YOU are the man. I am just..wait for it..The Director.
Beaming with glee all day at my friend's accomplishment, I take smackette to dinner and fill her on the story over a High Life. Upon showing her the picture, she smiles and says "how cute, they even have their 'Jungle Fever' hands together" I'm not one to waste The High Life, but even I spit out a little there.
I'm pretty sure The Director is still laughing at that comment. Jungle Fever Hands. Classic.
So, that begs the question. The bartender in a gentelemans club is either the hottest girl in the club or the oldest and usually a retired performer. Ignoring the old one, is the bartender at a gentlemans club the hottest because:
</font>- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">she's the only one with something left to the imagination</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">her morals are slightly corrupted in that she works at a strip joint but not corrupted enough to be a stripper</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">or something else brilliant that Smackie's not thinking about</font></li>
<font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">
I pose that to the group to discuss. [/b]
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Originally posted by ggw?:
Story would be better if you included said picture.
My bad.
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3134/2476774292_ceda0e29fe.jpg?v=0" alt=" - " />
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:D
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oh and shes the hottest because she is the giver of the high lifes
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Anybody is going to appear hot next to his ugly mug. And she does, barely. ;)
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last year, it was the BBcode martini glass. this year's POTY: see above.
congrats, it's only may and you pretty much have this one wrapped up.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
the BBcode martini glass.
I had nearly forgetten about that. (http://www.930.com/cgi-bin/ubb-cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=015789)
Unfortunately, the UBB software no longer considers me logged in consistently (despite being able to post). The downside to this is that I can no longer preview new posts. There will be no smackie interpretation of electronic origami this year.
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One too many visits to Sacramento this year arguing with the legislature.
They've plotted their revenge:
California tax proposals target beer-loving, pornography-watching yacht owners (http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-taxes9-2008may09,0,3130909.story)
Strip clubs, six-packs, grocery bags and iTunes downloads are all in their sights as alternatives to broad income or sales tax hikes.
It's on like Donkey Kong now!
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Anybody is going to appear hot next to his ugly mug. And she does, barely. ;)
at least my boy's eyebrows look real.
I have the opposite view on bartenders at strip clubs...
see, since strippers lack "natural beauty" who wants a girl that looks like a stripper yet doesnt even take her clothes off...isnt that really their only redeeming quality????
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Originally posted by Erinaceous Sonickus:
I have the opposite view on bartenders at strip clubs...
see, since strippers lack "natural beauty" who wants a girl that looks like a stripper yet doesnt even take her clothes off...isnt that really their only redeeming quality????
Interesting. I like to talk to people, which is strange, because in general, I hate people, but I find strippers some of the most fascinating people to talk to. After you get through the whole "My name's Cinnamon and I live in Newport Beach" crap, there's a lot more meat behind there than you give them credit for.
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At some point consumers will realize that these exclusive deals are bad for them...
RIM introduces first new Blackberry in over a year (http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D90K66E80.htm)
Shares of Research In Motion Ltd. rose to a new all-time high Monday as the smart-phone maker unveiled the Bold, which is its first major new BlackBerry model in more than a year.
RIM said Monday that the Bold, which has twice the screen resolution of the company's current Curve device, dual-band Wi-Fi and GPS capabilities, will be available from carriers this summer.
AT&T Inc. said Monday that it will be the exclusive carrier for the Bold in the U.S.; its 3G network is the only one stateside that is compatible with the first model of the handset.
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Today's Rock Band Downloadable tracks have me just giddy....
Hanging on the Telephone - Blondie
Train in Vain - The Clash
And this little Sonic Youth Ditty.... (http://youtube.com/watch?v=4l6hpV4NrR0&feature=related)
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Are you going to liberate those strippers from male white corporate oppression?
Originally posted by vansmack:
And this little Sonic Youth Ditty.... (http://youtube.com/watch?v=4l6hpV4NrR0&feature=related)
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Originally posted by econo:
Are you going to liberate those strippers from male white corporate oppression?
Every. Chance. I. Get.
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Now here's a sweet solution...
If you're like me and your home entertainment system is hooked to the interwebs, you've likely got a long cable cable running from your router across the room (or maybe in a different room) to your home theater system. My particular set up is a wireless router connected via a 50 foot cable to a 4 port switch, which then hooks up to my DVR, an Xbox 360, a slingbox, and a wireless media sharing device that I really should sell because I never use it.
Anyhow, I've wanted to go all wireless for a long time but the wireless adapters are still around $80 each and I'd need four of them, not to mention that I have not been happy with G speeds for gaming anyway. $320 is not worth the price to get rid of one long cable that smackette hates. Even she agrees. But now that's changed.
D-Link released today a 4 port wireless N Bridge (http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=663) for your home entertainment system. One product, $119, that hooks up four of your devices to your wireless network, at N speeds.
Brilliant.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Now here's a sweet solution...
If you're like me and your home entertainment system is hooked to the interwebs, you've likely got a long cable cable running from your router across the room (or maybe in a different room) to your home theater system. My particular set up is a wireless router connected via a 50 foot cable to a 4 port switch, which then hooks up to my DVR, an Xbox 360, a slingbox, and a wireless media sharing device that I really should sell because I never use it.
Anyhow, I've wanted to go all wireless for a long time but the wireless adapters are still around $80 each and I'd need four of them, not to mention that I have not been happy with G speeds for gaming anyway. $320 is not worth the price to get rid of one long cable that smackette hates. Even she agrees. But now that's changed.
D-Link released today a 4 port wireless N Bridge (http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=663) for your home entertainment system. One product, $119, that hooks up four of your devices to your wireless network, at N speeds.
Brilliant.
I recently moved and got Verizon FIOS who give you a wireless router with the internet service, so I installed third party firmware on my old router and made it a wireless ethernet bridge, basically the same thing I guess, except at G speeds.
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
I recently moved and got Verizon FIOS who give you a wireless router with the internet service, so I installed third party software on my old router and made it a wireless ethernet bridge, basically the same thing I guess, except at G speeds.
Qwest must be crapping themselves.
Nice work - any problem gaming on G speeds? I had one of the first G adapters years ago and didn't like the performance. Are they improved?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Qwest must be crapping themselves.
Nice work - any problem gaming on G speeds. I had one of the first G adapters years ago and didn't like the performance. Are they improved?
Qwest still dominates in the city, but I moved to the suburbs. I havent played much online with it yet, have only had it setup for two days now, but will let you know. Only problem so far is that my wireless rear channel speakers are conflicting with my wireless network. Which kind of blows.
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I met with folks from Portland who were inquiring about a very interesting model for the city.
The idea was for the City to invest in the cost of laying the fiber, and then letting the Internet Service Providers compete over who provides the service over that fiber, not offering an exclusive contract to any one provider. Qwest was trhe roadblock last I heard. I should find out where that's at. Sounds like a huge bonus for both the provider (no up front infrastructure costs) and the consumer (competition drives the price down) if it happens.
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Best headline I've seen yet...
Happy Gays are Here Again (http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11393818&fsrc=nwl)
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My ongoing obsession with Virgin America just got better:
<img src="http://www.virginamerica.com/images/email/20080507/clubhouse.jpg" alt=" - " />
ACCESS GRANTED:
WELCOME TO THE CLUBHOUSE AT SFO (http://www.virginamerica.com/va/newsMoreAction.do?method=showNewsMore&pageName=)
We are now pleased to offer Elevate Members the opportunity to enjoy the Virgin Atlantic Clubhouse at San Francisco Airport. Lounge in this sleek modern retreat with gorgeous bay views and a full bar. Sip fresh coffee or a martini while surfing wireless internet or take a shower and freshen up.
To get more details and pick up your pass, stop by the Virgin America check-in counter.
The Clubhouse is open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Best headline I've seen yet...
Happy Gays are Here Again (http://www.economist.com/daily/news/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11393818&fsrc=nwl)
i love the fact that gay people want to ruin the union of marriage as well. did they read the heterosexual twenty first century handbook? morals are out, diversity is in. the divorce rates among gays will be triple what it is for those other straight things that walk around.
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Sweet.
Anaheim Awarded 2010 All Star Game (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3409221)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Sweet.
Anaheim Awarded 2010 All Star Game (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3409221)
i'm fairly certain this falls under "things only smackie cares about". let's stay on topic here, please.
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Fair point, sweetcell.
It baffles me that President Bush would rather go to Saudi Arabia twice in four months and beg the Saudi king for an oil price break than ask the American people to drive 55 miles an hour, buy more fuel-efficient cars or accept a carbon tax or gasoline tax that might actually help free us from what he called our ??addiction to oil.? (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/21/opinion/21friedman.html)
There is no doubt that Thomas Friedman is at my table of five for my dream dinner with folks who are alive. But who else would be there?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
There is no doubt that Thomas Friedman is at my table of five for my dream dinner with folks who are alive. But who else would be there?
My guests would probably be Naomi Klein, Noam Chomsky, Markos Moulitsas and Glenn Greenwald. Friedman would be the waiter whose previous job was outsourced to India.
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I had some very interesting conversation with the ladies last night.
Brooke, who was from New Hampshire, and I agreed that while she was sitting on my lap it was better for both of us that she had her "clothes" on and I had a beer instead of her being naked and me drinking an orange juice.
Frankie relented that she wasn't "from around here" after she said "tawk" and "hawt" but that she had been here for a while and she learned the accent from her dad, who was from Baltimore. Because she announced every syllable in Bal ti More I know that was false too. Classic Jersey girl.
Heaven and I agreed that that wasn't her real name, but that she probably was from Dublin. California.
Brooke tried to entice me into the champagne room because "it's more laid back, you get more dances, and you can touch. It's not cheating, you know." I politely declined and disagreed with her that it was not cheating. I wish I had said, "Well, let's call it cheating and go back to your place where you get touched and I save $100" but I didn't have the quick wit with me at that moment. Distracted by the nakedness.
I'm sure there was more but I just can't remember them right now.
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Somebody's been hitting the bottle a little early today.
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You mean penicillin right?
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Somebody's been hitting the bottle a little early today.
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Originally posted by econo:
You mean penicillin right?
The only gentlemans club I've ever seen somebody get bitten at was Minxx in Vegas. That place is not for the weak.
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I'm working on a new online library idea and need to get earn some capital before embarking on it (that's code for Smackette won't let me spend any more money on the project).
Therefore, I'm selling the VAST majority of my 800+ CD collection, but before I do I wanted to offer them to my music afficienado friends here on the board. I have only cataloged A-L but will do the rest tonight or tomorrow.
Flat Rate: $5 for ANY CD (unless noted otherwise), $8 for most two disc sets plus shipping (I can do a variety of shipping means). Box sets cannot be broken up.
email me at vansmack@msn.com or PM me with questions or requests.
First come first served. I would prefer paypal transactions, but can work out other solutions.
Mods if this is some sort of violation, let me know and I will delete them, but I figured since this was not a public sale (board only) it would be cool.
Here we go....
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!!! - Louden Up Now
22-20s - 22-20s
A
ABBA - Gold (Greatest Hits)
AC/DC - Highway to Hell
AC/DC - Live (Single Disc Version)
Ryan Adams - Love is Hell Part 1
Aerosmith - Greatest Hits
Aerosmith - Pump
Allman Brothers - Eat a Peach
Ambulance Ltd. - 5 song EP
Toris Amos - Under the Pink
Tori Amos - Little Earthquakes
Tori Amos - To Venus and Back (Disc One Only)
Tori Amos - Hey Jupiter
Fionna Apple - When the Pawn?.
Arrested Development - 3 Years, 5 Months?
Art Brut - It's a Bit Complicated (Advance Copy)
Ash - Free All Angels
Ash - 1977
Avril Lavigne - Sk8er Boi (single)
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B
Bad Company - 10 from 6
Bad Religion - Stranger than Fiction
Badly Drawn Boy - About a Boy Soundtrack
Badly Drawn Boy - Have you Fed the Fish?
Barenaked Ladies - Stunt
Bauhaus - Crackle
The Beach Boys - 20 Good Vibrations - The Greatest Hits
Beastie Boys - License to Ill
Beastie Boys - Pauls Boutique
Beastie Boys - Check Your Head
Beastie Boys - Ill Communication
Beastie Boys - Root Down EP
Beastie Boys - Hello Nasty
Beatles - Hard Days Night
Beatles - Rubber Soul
Beatles - Revolver
Beatles - Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
Beatles - Abbey Road
Beatles - Let it Be
Beatles - White Album
Beatles - Past Masters Vol 1
Beatles - Past Masters Vol 2
Beatles - 1
Beatles - Anthology 1
Beatles- Anthology 2
Beatles- Anthology 3
Beck - Mellow Gold
Beck- Odelay
Beck - Midnight Vultures
Belle and Sebastian - Lazy Painter Jane (3 CD EP Collection) $15
Belle and Sebastian - Dear Catastrophe Waitress
Beulah - The Coast is Never Clear
Big Audio Dynamite II - The Globe
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy - Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Big City Rock - S/t
The Black Crowes - Shake Your Money Maker
The Black Crowes - Southern Harmony?.
Black 47 - Home of the Brave
Black Sabbath - Paranoid
Blind Faith - S/t
Blink 182 - Cheshire Cat
Bloc Party - E.P.
Blondie - The Best of Blondie
Bloodhound Gang - One Firece Beer Coaster
Blues Traveler - four
Blur - The Best of (2 CD Set)
Born on the 4th of July - original s/t
Boston - s/t
David Bowie - Changes
Bravery - s/t
Breeders - Last Splash
Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians - Shooting Rubber Bands?
Bright Eyes - I'm Wide Awake, It's Morning
Sarah Brightman - Eden
British Sea Power - The Decline of?
Britney Spears - Greatest Hits - My Prerogative (2 disc set)
Jeff Buckley - Grace
Bumblebeez 81 - The Printz
Bush - Sixteen Stone
Bush - Razorblade Suitcase
Kate Bush - The Sensual World
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C
Cake - Fashion Nugget
Cake - Prolonging the Magic
Candlebox - s/t
Candlebox - Last Great Seattle Band (boot)
The Cars - Greatest Hits
Cartel - Safety in Numbers
Johnny Cash - American IV
Cedars - Another Season
Tracy Chapman - s/t
Chemical Brothers - Push the Button (Advance Copy)
Cinerama - Torino
Eric Clapton - 24 Nights (2 disc set)
Eric Clapton - Cream of Clapton
Eric Clapton - the Best of Clapton
Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - s/t
The Clash - The Singles
The Clash - From Here to Eternity (Live)
Marc Cohn - s/t
Coldplay - A Rush of Blood to the Head
Coldplay - X & Y
The Coral s/t
The Corrs - In Blue
The Corrs - Live in Dublin (Vh1)
Cornershop - When I was Born for the 7th Time
Elvis Costello - The Very Best of EC and the Attractions
Counting Crows - August and Everything After
Counting Crows - Rcovering the Satellites
Counting Crows - This Desert Life
Couting Crows - Live Across a Wire (2 disc set)
Cowboy Junkies - the Trinity Sessions
Cowboy Junkies - Black Eyed Man
Cowboy Junkies - Live EP
Cowboy Junkies - Crescent Moon
Cowboy Junkies - 200 More Miles (2 CD Set)
Cracker - Kerosene Hat
Cranberries - Everyone Else is Doing it?
Cranberries - No Need to Argue
Cranberries - To the Faithful Departed
Crash Test Dummies - God Shuffled his Feet
Creedence Clearwater Revival - Chronicle
The Crow - Original s/t
Cypress Hill - Insane in the Brain (sinlge)
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D
DGC Rarities Vol 2
D'Angelo - Brown Sugar
D'Angelo - Voodoo
Dandy Warhols - Welcome to the Monkey House
Jesse Dayton - Live in Las Vegas
Jesse Dayton and Brennen Leigh - Holdin our own
Dazed and Confused - original s/t
Death Cab for Cutie - The Photo Album
Death Cab for Cutie - Transaltanticism
Decemberists - The Crane Wife
Decemberists - Picaresque
De Novo Dahl - Cats and Kittens
Deep Purple - When we Rock, we rock?.
Depeche Mode - Catching up With
Depeche Mode - People are People
Depeche Mode - Violator
Depeche Mode - Exciter
Various Artists for the Masses - Covers of D Mode
Dido - No Angel
Dido Life for Rent
Ani DiFranco - So Much Shouting, so Much Laughter (2 disc set)
Ani DiFranco - Dilate
Ani DiFranco - Up, Up, Up
Ani DiFranco - To the Teeth
Ani DiFranco - Revelling
Ani DiFranco - Evolve
Disposable Heroes of Hiphoprisy - Hypocrisy is the Greatest Luxury
Doves - the Last Broadcast
Dramarama - Cinema Virite
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E
Eagles - Hell Freezes Over
Elastica - s/t
Elbow - Cast of Thousands (2 disc set)
Elbow - Asleep in the Back
Elefant - Sunlight makes me Paranoid
Elefant - The Black Magic Show
English Beat - What is Beat?
Enland the Album 2006 (world cup songs)
Enya - A Day Without Rain
Erasure - Pop
Everclear - Sparkle and Fade
Eve's Plumb - Envy
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F
Fatboy Slim - You've Come a Long Way Baby
Fenians - Live at the Harp
Fenians - Have Fun or Get Out
Fenians - Every Day's a Hooley
Fenians - Band of Rogues
Fiction Plane - Everything Will Never be Ok
Filter - Short Bus
Filter - Hey Man Nice Shot (single)
Fleetwood Mac - s/t
Fleetwood Mac - Rumors
Fleetwood Mac - Live (2 Disc set)
Fleetwood Mac Greatest Hits
Fleetwood Mac - Tour 97
Foreigner - Records
Forest Gump - s/t
Frames - The Roads Outgrown
Frames - Setlist - Live in Dubin
Frames - Burn the Maps
Franz Ferdinand - s/t
Frente - Marvin the Album
Fugees - The Score
Fun Lovin Criminals - Come Find Yourself
Nelly Furtado - Whoa, Nelly
Futureheads - s/t
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G
Peter Gabriel - So
Peter Gabriel - Shaking the Trees
Gang of Four - Entertainment
Garbage - s/t
Marvin Gaye - Every Great Motown Hit
General Public - All the Rage
David Gray - A new day at Midnight
Green Day - Dookie
Guided By Voices - Human Amusement at Hourly Rates (The Best of)
Gwen Stefani - Sweet Escape
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H
PJ Harvey - To Bring You My Love
Heart - Greatest Hits
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Electric Ladyland
Jimi Hendrix Experience - Live at Winterland
Jimi Hendrix - Ultimate Experience
High Strung - These are Good Times
Hootie and the Blowfish - Cracked Rearview
Hootie and the Blowfish - Old Man and Me (single)
Hope of the States - Lost Riot
House of Pain - s/t
Hot Hot Heat - Make up the breakdown
Hum - You'd Prefer an Astronaut
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I
Idlewild - 100 Broken Windows
In the Name of the Father - s/t
Interpol - Turn on the Bright ights
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J
James Gang - 16 Greatest Hits
Janes Addiciton - s/t (triple XXX records)
Janes Addiction - Nothing's Shocking
Janes Addiction - Ritual De Lo Habitual
Janes Addiction - Been Caught Stealing (single)
Jealous Sound - Kill Them with Kindness
Jesus and Mary Chain - Automatic
Jesus Jones - Right Here right now (single)
Jethro Tull - Original Masters
Jethro Tull - A Little Light Music
Jewel - Spirit
Elton John - Greatest Hits
Janis Joplins Greatest Hits
Journey Greatest Hit
Joy Division - Substance
JT - Future Sex Love Sounds
Judgement Night - Original s/t
Juno - Original s/t
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K
KC and the Sunshine Band - Get Down Live
Keane - Hopes and Fears
Keane - Under the Sea
Killers - Hot Fuss
Killers - Sams Town
Kiss - MTV Unplugged
Kids - Original s/t
Kinks - Come Dancing
Korn - Follow the leader
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L
L7 - Hungry for Stink
L7 - Pretend We're Dead (single)
LCD Soundsystem - s/t (2disc)
Leaves - Breathe
Led Zeppelin - I
Led Zeppelin - Four Disc Box Set in original packaging ($20)
Legends - Up Against
Lemonheads - It's a Shame About ray
Le Tigre - This Island
John Lennon - Shaved Fish
Libertines - Up the Bracket
Live - Four Songs
Live - Throwing Copper
Live Secret Smadhi
Live - The Distance to Here
Live - V
Loggins and Messina - Sittin in
Long-View - Mercury
Longwave - The Strangest Things
Louis XIV - Illegal Tender
Lovemakers - Times of Romance
Love and Rockets - Express
Love and Rockets - Seventh Dream of teenage Heaven
Love Spit Love - s/t
Lynyrd Skynyrd 3CD Box set in orginal packaging ($15)
Lynyrd Skynyrd - Skynyrds Innyrds
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M
M83 - Dead Cities, Red Seas & Lost Ghosts (Advance)
Magnolia - Original s/t
Maps - We Can Create
Bob Marley and the Wailers - Legend
Matchbox Twenty - Yourself or someone like you
Matchbox Twenty - Mad Season
Dave Matthews Band - Remember Two Things
Dave Matthews Band - Recently
Dave Matthews Band - Under the Table and Dreaming
Dave Matthews Band - Too Much (Single)
Dave Matthews Band - Crash
Dave Matthews Band - Live at Red Rocks (2 Disc)
Dave Matthews Band - Before these Crowded Street
Dave Mathews Band - Busted Stuff
Dave Matthews Band - Some Devil (two Disc Set)
John Mayer - Room for Squares
John Mayer - Heavier Things
Mazzy Star - So Tonight that we might See
Paul McCartney - All the Best
Sarah McLachlan - Mirrorball
Sarah McLachlan - Afterglow
Jerry McGuire - Original s/t
Meat Puppets - Too High to Die
Midnight Oil - Forgotten Years (single)
Natalie Merchant - Tigerlily
Natalie Merchant - Ophelia
Natalie Merchant - Live in Concert
Mighty Mighty Bosstones - Let's Face it
Steve Miller Band - 1974-1978
Moby - Play
Modest Mouse - The Moon and Antarctica
Modest Mouse - Good News for People who Like Bad News
Mooney Suzuki - Alive and Amplified
Christy Moore - The Christie Moore Collection 81-91 (import)
Christy Moore - At the Point Live (import)
Morcheeba - Big Calm
Van Morrison - the Best of
Van Morrison - Moon Dance
Mother Love Bone - s/t
Mountain - Best of
Mountain Goats - Get Lonely
Music - s/t
Music - Welcome to the North
Muse - Absolution
Muse - Black Holes and Revelations
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N
Natural - Original s/t
Nelly - Country Grammar
Mike Ness - Under the Influences
New Order - The Best Of
Nine Inch Nails - Pretty Hate Machine
Nine Inch Nails - Head Like a Hole (10 Track CD Single)
Nine Inch Nails - Broken
Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
Nirvana - In Utero
No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom
Nouvelle Vague - Bande A Part (limited Edition with bonus tracks)
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O
Oasis - Definitely Maybe
Oasis - What's the Story?.
Oasis - Be Here Now
Oasis - Standing on the Shoulders of Giants
Oasis - The Masterplan
Sinead O'Connor - The Emperors New Clothes (single)
Offspring - Smash
Oingo Boingo - Best of Boingo
Once - Original s/t
Oranges Band - All Around
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P
Pearl Jam - 10
Pearl Jam - Even Flow (import single)
Pearl Jam - Jeremy (import single)
Pearl Jam - Vs.
Pearl Jam - Daughter (import single)
Pearl Jam - Go (single)
Pearl Jam - Spin the Balck Circle (single)
Pearl Jam - Vitalogy
Pearl Jam - No Code
Perfect Day 97 - BBC Charity Single (import)
Pet Shop Boys - Discography
Tom Petty - Full Moon Fever
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers - Echo
Phaser - Sway
Pink - MissUnderstood
Pink - Can't take me Home
Placebo - Without you I'm nothing
Pleased - Don't Make Things
Police - Every Breath You Take The Classics
Police - Message in a Box 3 CD Box Set (original packaging) $20
Postal Service - Give Up
Elvis Presley - 30 #1 Hits
Pretenders - The Singles
Pretty in Pink - Original s/t
Primus - Pork Soda
Psychedelic Furs - All of this and Nothing
Public Enemy - Apocalypse 91
Pulp - Countdown 1992-1983
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Q
Queen - Live Killers
Queen - Rick Rubin remixes We Will Rock You
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R
Radiohead - Kid A
Radiohead - OK Computer
Radiohead - Amnesiac
Rage Against the Machine - s/t
Rage Against the Machine - Evil Empire
Ramones - Mania
Ready to Wear - Original s/t
Red Hot Chili Peppers - What Hits
Joshua Redman - Freedom in the Groove
Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side Best of
REM - Best of (IRS)
REM - Dead Letter Office
REM - Green
REM - Out of Time
REM - Automatic for the People
REM - Monster
Rolling Stones - Hot Rocks (2 CD set)
Romeo and Juliet - Original s/t (1998)
Rooney - s/t
Rooney - Geffen 2002 Promo 3 track cd
Roots - Do you want more?
Rush - Chronicles (2 CD set)
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S
Santana - Supernatural
Schindlers List - Original s/t
Secret Machines - No Here is Nowhere
Sex Pistols - Never mind the Bollocks
Shins - Chutes to Narrow
Shaggy - Hotshot
Sights - Got What we want
Simon and Garfunkel - Best of
Simon and Garfunkel - Concet in Central Park
Frank Sinatra - Classic Sinatra
Singles - Original s/t
Siouxsie and the Banshees - Twice upon a time/the singles
Smashing Pumpkins - Lull
Smashing Pumpkins - Siamese Dream
Smashing Pumpkins - Today (single)
Smashing Pumpkins - Pisces Iscariot
Samshing Pumpkins - Mellon Collie?.
Smashing Pumpkins - Zeitgeist
Smashmouth - Fush You Mang
Smile - Maquee
Smiths - Queen is Dead
Smiths - Singles
Snow Patrol - Final Straw
Social Distortion - s/t
Social Distortion - Somewhere Between Heaven and Hell
Social Distortion - Sex Love and Rock and Roll
Some Kind of Wonderful - original s/t
Soundgarden - A-Sides
Chris Cornell - Euphoria Morning
Soup Dragons - Freedom
Specials - Singles Collection
Specials - Today's Specials
Spice Girls - Spiceworld
Spin Doctors - Pocket Full of Kryptonite
Stellastarr* - s/t
Stellastarr* - Harmonies for the Haunted
Steppenwolf - 16 Greatest Hits
Rod Stewart - Sing it Again Rod
Rod Stewart - The Very Best of
Stills - Logic Will Break your Heart
Sting - Very Best of
Sting - Brand New Day
Streets - A Grand don't come for free
STP - Plush (import single)
STP - No. 4
Sublime - s/t
Sublime - Second Hand Smoke
Sundays - Reading Writing and arithmetic
Supergrass - s/t
Supergrass - Life on Other Planets
Matthew Sweet - 100% Fun
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T
James Taylor - Greatest Hits
Teenage Fan Club - Four Thousand seven hundred?.
Teenage Fan Club - Sampler (promo for Songs for Nothern Britain
Tegan and Sara - The Con
Temple of the Dog
Train - s/t
Train - Drops of Jupiter
Trainspotting - original s/t
Travis - the Man Who
Tyde - Twice
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U
U2 - Boy
U2 - October
U2 - War
U2 - Unforgettable Fire
U2 - Joshua Tree
U2 - Best of 1980-1990
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V
Van Halen - s/t
Van Halen - II
Van Halen - Diver Down
Van Halen - Women and Children First
Van Halen - 1984
Van Halen - OU812
Van Halen - FUCK
Van Halen - Right Here Right Now Live
Van Halen- Balance
Stevie Ray Vaughn and Double Trouble - The Sky is Crying
Vertical Horizon - Everything you Want
Vertical Horizon - There and Back Again
Verve Pipe - Villains
Verve - Urban Hymms
Richard Ashcroft - C'Mon People (single)
VHS or Beta - Night on Fire
Vines - Highly Evolved
Violent Femmes - Add it Up (1981-1993)
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W
Wallflowers - Bringing Down the Horse
Washington Social Scene - Catching Looks
Wedding Present - 2,3 Go (single)
Wedding Present - John Peel Sessions
Weezer - Maladroit
Paul Westerberg - 14 songs
Whale - Hobo Humpin Slobo Babe (single)
White Zombie - La Sexorcisto: Devil Music Vol 1
Who - Who's Better Who's Best
Who - Live at Leeds
Wicker Park - Original s/t
Wilco - Yankee Foxtrot Hotel
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Y
Yes - Classic Yes
Thom Yorke - The Eraser
Pete Yorn - Musicforthemorningafter
Pete Yorn Day I fogot
Pete Yorn - Live from New Jersey
Pete Yorn - Nightcrawler
Neil Young - Decade (2 Dics Set)
Neil Young - Weld (2 Disc Set)
Neil Young - Mirror Ball
Neil Young - Sleeps with Angels
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Z
Zutons - Who Killed?.
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Back to your regularly scheduled programming...
reckless initiatives like the Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep offer to subsidize gasoline for three years for people who buy its gas guzzlers are the moral equivalent of tobacco companies offering discounted cigarettes to teenagers. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/opinion/28friedman.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin)
Close to what I said when I first saw the commercial: "Why don't you just give away free cigarettes while you're at it."
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interesting - but wouldn't tobacco companies putting a cap on how much smokers spend on chemotherapy be a more apt comparison?
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Did you stop listening to new music 10 years ago, or are you just selling off the cd's that are 10 years old or older????
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Did you stop listening to new music 10 years ago, or are you just selling off the cd's that are 10 years old or older????
I would say that I stopped buying CD's to keep about 8 years ago and did heavy trading at Amoeba for the last 5 years, so I didn't keep a CD around for much longer than a few weeks.
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ah, i see. that makes sense.
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
ah, i see. that makes sense.
Any CD I kept would have been at Smackette's request, but she has now come around to the completely digital world in the last few months, hence the ability to sell them all off.
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Yeah, sure blame the Candlebox on the wife.
Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
ah, i see. that makes sense.
Any CD I kept would have been at Smackette's request, but she has now come around to the completely digital world in the last few months, hence the ability to sell them all off. [/b]
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Yeah, sure blame the Candlebox on the wife.
My bad. Any CD kept in the last 5 or 6 years would have been at Smackette's request. Any CD before that which is not Ani DiFranco or D'Angleo was all my doing. I'm the last person to put my musical tastes onto someone else. Including Eve's Plum, which I listened to when I pulled it off the shelf on Monday.
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I'm betting that Vansmack saw Candlebox open for Rush some time in the mid 90's? Maybe that's how he got into them?
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I'm betting that Vansmack joined one of those clubs where you get 10 cd's for a penny.
And he did it like fifty times.
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Originally posted by econo:
I'm betting that Vansmack saw Candlebox open for Rush some time in the mid 90's? Maybe that's how he got into them?
April 1994. The Pond in Anaheim AND the Great Western Forum in LA. Awesome shows, but I still prefer Rush outdoors.
I didn't list the Candlebox Bootlegs I bought from that tour. I actually liked Candlebox before that show...
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I'm betting that Vansmack joined one of those clubs where you get 10 cd's for a penny.
And he did it like fifty times.
No comment.
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For the kids in the audience who have no idea what we're talking about, we debating the merits of which Candlebox song is better:
Far Behind (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rSp-cSJNGdQ)
You (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=72-rhhD0a6U&feature=related)
Change (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F9RX9k1E2E&feature=related)
The necessary in the 90's acoustic ballad Cover Me (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4EPn1FacaQ&feature=related).
I've never seen Blossom (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xuBgT729k9o&feature=related) this way, but I like it more now.
I'm going with the Letterman live performace of Far Behind on VHS... (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KjtZFT8TBQ&feature=related)dude looks like Jay of Silent Bob fame with a mic. Awesome. You can't fake passion like that.
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now maybe
i didnt mean to treat you oh so bad
but i diiiid it anyway
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I saw the same tour but on the East Coast at the Caps Center.
Originally posted by vansmack:
April 1994. The Pond in Anaheim AND the Great Western Forum in LA. Awesome shows, but I still prefer Rush outdoors.
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Alright, after a long discussion with my current DSL internet service provider that ended in me cancelling the service, I'm seeking a new ISP solution.
Is there anybody out there not using a DSL or cable modem solution? Unfortunately I can't get fiber yet, a cable modem is difficult with DirecTV and the Board of Supervisors blocked the free google wi-fi. With wimax not being supported yet, I'm tired of being behind third world countries in internet access. Is anybody trying anything cool?
I'm looking at EVDO routers and the like. I'm up for anything! What are you guys doing?
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i'm posting this here because smacks loves guitar hero, and i don't feel like starting another thread.
guitar hero on the DS: when marketing goes wrong (http://www.5min.com/Video/How-Guitar-Hero-Works-on-the-DS-23324544)
so embarrassing. i believe the singer in the video goes by the name "nrketch".
(and sorry that i can't help you with your previous question about ISP alternatives... currently my ISP is the university, can't complain)
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Wow. That's um...somebody should lose their job for that.
As for my ISP, I'm testing Sprint's EVDO network (Rev A - 3.0Mbps) USB Modem (http://www.sierrawireless.com/product/compass_597.aspx) which I will eventually plug into an EVDO wireless router, (http://www.cradlepoint.com/mbr1000/mbr1000.php) that is being sent to me. It's a fairly flexible solution in that we can unplug the USB modem and take it with us anywhere we are with a laptop that has cell phone coverage, and share it at the apt when we're home via router. It also helps that there's a Spint tower near our apt.
This will be a precursor to switching to Sprint/Clearwire's WiMax when it's available in my area.
For others that may be interested in this solution, Verizon has a 5 GB download limit per month, and Sprint will be introducing a similar limit on June 20. However, I was informed that they would be grandfathering customers in who have an unlimited package ($59 a month) prior to June 20, so I went ahead and did it.
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So which would have to happen first for Americans to embrace trains?
(1) The price of trains would have to be equal or less than airfare, or
(2) The travel times of trains must improve greatly to rival planes, or
(3) Both.
Plane versus train: a one-sided contest (http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2008/06/plane_versus_train_a_onesided.cfm)
FLYING is becoming more expensive, but a new comparison of American journeys made by plane, train and automobile makes the skies look relatively friendly. CSA Travel Protection, a San Diego-based insurance company, examined the costs and travel times of different modes of travel on selected routes. Some of their findings:
Phoenix to San Diego
· Plane: $124, 2.5 hours
· Train: $300, 33 hours
· Auto: $106 (712 miles), 11 hours
Cincinnati to Washington, DC
· Plane: $467, 3 hours
· Train: $148, 28.5 hours
· Auto: $155 (1,044 miles), 17 hours
Grand Rapids to New York
· Plane: $401, 4.5 hours
· Train: $286, 48 hours
· Auto: $221 (1,494 miles), 23.5 hours
The calculations assume a solo traveller using the most direct route and round-trip tickets where applicable. For trains??shown at a particular disadvantage in this study as the selected cities are not on direct routes??the time includes waits between transfers.
Apart from the alarming possibility of travelling for 48 hours and staying in the same country, the most depressing observation provoked by this study is that in many circumstances airlines really do have us over a barrel. While there??s a lot to be said for the road trip and the dining car, the prospect of journey times over ten hours means most travellers won't be giving up flying any time soon, no matter what surcharges and fare increases are thrown their way.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
For trains??shown at a particular disadvantage in this study as the selected cities are not on direct routes??the time includes waits between transfers.
heh, that's the crux - they went out of their way to make trains look bad by picking train-unfriendly routes. for travel from NYC to major cities on the northeast coast, for example, trains are definitely the way to go. it's both cheaper and faster for me to take the train than a flight.
these numbers include the assumption that airports add only an hour of time (getting there, checking in, security, etc...). depending how far away you live from the airport and the time of day, that can be a pretty big assumption. my workmates who fly in every week leave the office about 2 hours before their flight (and no, they're not bailing on work to go drink at the airport lounge :) ). train stations tend to have better, more centralized location.
and let's not forget how comfortable economy class has become nowadays... i totally heart amtrak with its bigger seats that recline farther, wider aisles, bigger bathrooms, dinner car, electricity plug-ins at every seat, etc.
Originally posted by vansmack:
So which would have to happen first for Americans to embrace trains?
(1) The price of trains would have to be equal or less than airfare, or
(2) The travel times of trains must improve greatly to rival planes, or
(3) Both.
for two of the three cases cited above, trains are notably cheaper... so there's half the equation.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
heh, that's the crux - they went out of their way to make trains look bad by picking train-unfriendly routes. for travel from NYC to major cities on the northeast coast, for example, trains are definitely the way to go.
Really? I'm pretty sure that trains from Boston to DC are the ONLY place in the US where trains are working.
I'm not sure if it's the crux, but I'm pretty sure your counter example is just as guilty of being an extreme example.
DC to Pittsbugh for example? Should not be nearly as difficult as it is.
To show one of their examples that I didn't think was extreme, San Diego to Phoenix? Should not be nearly as difficult as it is. 33 Hours?
San Francisco to LA? Not possible without taking a bus. No excuse for that.
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i remember when i first moved here i looked into a dc to nyc train and it cost 3x as much as a plane
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BTW, am I the only one that wants to see Joba pitch a gem for 7 innings and then have the Yankees blow it in the 8th inning in each one of his starts this season?
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Portland-Seattle is a nice train route, cheap and drops you off in downtown pdx or downtown seattle right outside qwest field and near safeco
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it's like some speak easy coffee shop in here. where are the hash brownies? behind the counter?
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Originally posted by walkonby:
it's like some speak easy coffee shop in here. where are the hash brownies? behind the counter?
I keep those in the freezer.
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
Portland-Seattle is a nice train route, cheap and drops you off in downtown pdx or downtown seattle right outside qwest field and near safeco
True and good point. 3 Hours for $30 and a really pretty ride at that.
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The problem with trains is that we've let Republicans, Libertarians, and other stupid people get away for years with claiming that trains need to make a "profit" in order to be worthwhile.
Nobody makes that argument about highways. They receive public funds because they are a public good. Trains should be treated the same way, and receive the level of public funding necessary to upgrade them to the level of service and speed they have in Japan and other modern countries.
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holy eff, doomey... never thought of that. excellent point.
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another problem with passenger trains is they now share in many instances the same tracks as unscheduled freight trains which have the right away... so the next time your delayed getting to NYC on Amtrak you can thank that CSX train for getting in your way.
did anyone read that City Paper story about the guy who try to get NYC via train without Amtrak? shame about that 30 miles between Perryville and Wilmington were he had to rely on spotty public bus transportation to make the connection between MARC and SEPTA
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/printerpage.php?id=35550 (http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/printerpage.php?id=35550)
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and funnily enough... kosmette, who is riding MARC to Baltimore these days, says that the train she takes daily went from almost empty to pretty much full very recently.
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Originally posted by They call me Doctor Doom.:
The problem with trains is that we've let Republicans, Libertarians, and other stupid people get away for years with claiming that trains need to make a "profit" in order to be worthwhile.
Nobody makes that argument about highways. They receive public funds because they are a public good. Trains should be treated the same way, and receive the level of public funding necessary to upgrade them to the level of service and speed they have in Japan and other modern countries.
actually, i would argue that republicans and libertarians would prefer amtrak privatized rather than be subject to federal funding.
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and roads as well?
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
and roads as well?
i think that answer would depend on how strict a libertarian that person is. for me, i see roads as a public good- just about everyone uses them and everyone pays for them (unlike amtrak, which survives on federal subsidies to make up for what their fares don't cover). plus one of the original purposes of the interstate highway system was for national defense, and national defense is a duty given to the federal government by the constitution.
that being said. . .if federal roads and highways were to become privatized, i would fully expect federal gas taxes to go down as well, since those taxes are one of the main sources of funding for highway maintenance and construction.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
plus one of the original purposes of the interstate highway system was for national defense, and national defense is a duty given to the federal government by the constitution.
same for the train system... in time of war, trains are commandeered for troop and equipment transport.
if amtrak received as many subsidies are the highway system, it would be faster and cheaper = more people would use it, making it easier to defend as a public good. catch-22.
the american value of individualism will ensure that roads > trains... driving a car is a god-given right. will be interesting to see how this "right" evolves with higher gas prices.
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Originally posted by econo:
I'm betting that Vansmack saw Candlebox open for Rush some time in the mid 90's? Maybe that's how he got into them?
I saw Candlebox headline over the Flaming Lips @ The Patriot Centre. Talk about a travesty. I'd go with Far Behind, if I had to pick one. I did not see Candlebox finish their set that night, we ducked out early and I have no regrets with that.
They're just one more reason I wish Pearl Jam had never existed(ducks for cover)
Rush should have called it quits after 2112 IMHO. Gotta give props to Rutsey and the 1st release. The 2nd, Fly by Night was their highlight as far as I'm concerned though. Peart,what an addition!
They sure caught a break there.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
plus one of the original purposes of the interstate highway system was for national defense, and national defense is a duty given to the federal government by the constitution.
same for the train system... in time of war, trains are commandeered for troop and equipment transport.
if amtrak received as many subsidies are the highway system, it would be faster and cheaper = more people would use it, making it easier to defend as a public good. catch-22.
the american value of individualism will ensure that roads > trains... driving a car is a god-given right. will be interesting to see how this "right" evolves with higher gas prices. [/b]
i don't think that the government (either federal or state) built the railroad infrastructure, or at least controls it anymore. the government has built interstates, highways and other roads. just today union pacific railroad told supporters of the bullet train out here in california that they will not let new tracks for the bullet train cross onto their right-of-way....anyway, in a time of war, the military can do lots of things.
there is a significant difference between railroad infrastructure and highway infrastructure. i also think there is a difference in how highways are maintained and how amtrak is funded- taxes on gasoline help fund construction and maintenance of highways. . .amtrak is supposed to be a self-financed entity, but is unable to meet that goal, so it relies on federal subsidies to make it whole.
as for gas, well, if the cost of gasoline keeps rising, then people will logically seek out lower cost alternatives. . .of which trains may be one of them. that's the way the market works. amtrak simply cannot compete against the price of gasoline, unless gas keeps increasing, for both cars and airplanes.
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http://dcist.com/2008/06/05/transit_on_thur_34.php (http://dcist.com/2008/06/05/transit_on_thur_34.php)
Let's start with Barack Obama. Sen. Obama has been quietly hailed as the candidate with the most forward positions on mass transportation. Of course, this really shouldn't come as any surprise, as the Illinois lawmaker has been interested in the topic for years - he petitioned for more efficient transit through low-income areas of Chicago in 2003, and mentioned in May of this year that he's had interest in copying the efficiency of the Northeast Corridor system in the Midwest: "One of the things I have been talking bout for awhile is high speed rail connecting all of these Midwest cities -- Indianapolis, Chicago, Milwaukee, Detroit, St. Louis." Speaking of Amtrak, Obama is a big supporter. He was a backer of the Lautenberg-Lott Amtrak bill in 2007, which would provide about $11.6 billion to Amtrak over the next six years. Obama's energy and climate stance includes promises to "reform the tax code to make benefits for driving and public transit or ridesharing equal," and to change the "transportation funding process to ensure that smart growth considerations are taken into account." Obama also opposes a federal gas tax holiday - instead, he believes that high prices of gasoline should "give individuals much more of an incentive to look at trains and mass transit as an alternative."
Of course, most of the recent Obama love from transit-types has come from his remarks in Portland, Oregon:
"It??s time that the entire country learn from what??s happening right here in Portland with mass transit and bicycle lanes and funding alternative means of transportation. That??s the kind of solution that we need for America. That??s the kind of truth telling that we are going to do in this campaign and when I am President of the United States of America. We don??t need gimmicks.?
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lies, i see nothing about hopechange
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RE: the planes vs. trains article (http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2008/06/plane_versus_train_a_onesided.cfm)
just for the fun of it, i took a position equally ridiculous as the one of the above author: i hunted down routes that are stacked in favor of trains. some findings:
Savannah to Jacksonville:
Plane: $475, 4h 15m
Train: $45, 2h 21m
Savannah to Orlando:
Plane: $374, 4h 01m
Train: $54, 5h 43m
Raleigh to Charlotte:
Plane, cheapest: $451, 4h 47m
Plane, fastest: $604, 2h 1m
Train: $25, 3h 9m
Greensboro, NC to Washington, DC
Plane, cheapest: $533, 5h 1m
Plane, fastest: $631, 2h 12m
Train: $109, 6h 12m (or $56, 7h 47m)
and with rising fuel costs, trains' price advantage will only improve.
i used the author's "plane time = actual flight time + 1 hour" formula, although i think it's wrong - i would add 2 hours (hello, dulles or BWI). so plane times look better than they should, IMO.
so saying...
(1) The price of trains would have to be equal or less than airfare, or
(2) The travel times of trains must improve greatly to rival planes, or
(3) Both.
... doesn't make a lot of sense to me, since the vast majority of the time #1 is already the case, and #2 cannot happen - and certainly not for the routes chosen in the original article.
a respectable speed for a high-speed train is 150 mph (NYC-DC in 1.5 hours!). airplanes clock in at around 600 mph. so even if trains (1) didn't stop more often, (2) didn't have their max allowable speeds limited by local regulations, and (3) traveled in lines as straight as planes, it would take four times as long to cover the same distance. but with those factors, having a trip take 5 or 6 times still wouldn't be bad (not that we're near that currently).
trains are under-subsidized, our rail network sucks and it is cargo-centric. but trains will never be as fast as planes, except for regional travel. i feel that the original article was being disingenuous. the improvement of the train system is a valid debate to have, but the article that started this debate has the question framed wrong.
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Did you do this on your own time (GEEK alert!) or on your employers time? And if the latter, do you work for the Department of Transportation?
Originally posted by sweetcell:
RE: the planes vs. trains article (http://www.economist.com/blogs/gulliver/2008/06/plane_versus_train_a_onesided.cfm)
just for the fun of it, i took a position equally ridiculous as the one of the above author: i hunted down routes that are stacked in favor of trains. some findings:
Savannah to Jacksonville:
Plane: $475, 4h 15m
Train: $45, 2h 21m
Savannah to Orlando:
Plane: $374, 4h 01m
Train: $54, 5h 43m
Raleigh to Charlotte:
Plane, cheapest: $451, 4h 47m
Plane, fastest: $604, 2h 1m
Train: $25, 3h 9m
Greensboro, NC to Washington, DC
Plane, cheapest: $533, 5h 1m
Plane, fastest: $631, 2h 12m
Train: $109, 6h 12m (or $56, 7h 47m)
and with rising fuel costs, trains' price advantage will only improve.
i used the author's "plane time = actual flight time + 1 hour" formula, although i think it's wrong - i would add 2 hours (hello, dulles or BWI). so plane times look better than they should, IMO.
so saying...
(1) The price of trains would have to be equal or less than airfare, or
(2) The travel times of trains must improve greatly to rival planes, or
(3) Both.
... doesn't make a lot of sense to me, since the vast majority of the time #1 is already the case, and #2 cannot happen - and certainly not for the routes chosen in the original article.
a respectable speed for a high-speed train is 150 mph (NYC-DC in 1.5 hours!). airplanes clock in at around 600 mph. so even if trains (1) didn't stop more often, (2) didn't have their max allowable speeds limited by local regulations, and (3) traveled in lines as straight as planes, it would take four times as long to cover the same distance. but with those factors, having a trip take 5 or 6 times still wouldn't be bad (not that we're near that currently).
trains are under-subsidized, our rail network sucks and it is cargo-centric. but trains will never be as fast as planes, except for regional travel. i feel that the original article was being disingenuous. the improvement of the train system is a valid debate to have, but the article that started this debate has the question framed wrong. [/b]
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I have friends in Raleigh and in Charlotte, and none of them would take either the plane or train to see each other. That's a ridiculous example.
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all of those are ridiculous. those flights are all connectors primarily. maybe dc to greensboro
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Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
Did you do this on your own time (GEEK alert!) or on your employers time? And if the latter, do you work for the Department of Transportation?
that's a geek alert you're hearing in the background. couldn't find anything good on TV late last night. took me about 15 minutes. bonus feature: i used the
ITA Software meta search engine (http://matrix.itasoftware.com/cvg/dispatch/prego/calendar) to find airfares. highly recommended when looking for cheap fares. when browsing results, the "Choose flights (graphical)" feature is really useful.
Originally posted by Charlie Nakatestes,Japanese Golfer:
I have friends in Raleigh and in Charlotte, and none of them would take either the plane or train to see each other. That's a ridiculous example.
absolutely agreed, but that was my point - to be as ridiculous as the original author.
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
all of those are ridiculous. those flights are all connectors primarily. maybe dc to greensboro
but that's exactly what the original author did - he chose only indirect train route that required connections, i.e. he stacked his choices in favor of planes (he wrote: For trains??shown at a particular disadvantage in this study as the selected cities are not on direct routes??the time includes waits between transfers). i did the opposite: compared indirect flights to direct trains. and yes, the greensboro-DC "fastest" route was direct, all others were connections. i always chose the faster/shortest connection.
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more on amtrak from the atlantic (http://meganmcardle.theatlantic.com/archives/2008/06/railroaded.php)
Moreover, if oil prices stay high, the math changes substantially for passenger rail, making new routes more profitable. People will probably never take the train en masse from New York to Los Angeles, but a direct train from New York to Chicago could start looking good, particularly when you factor in the drive to out-of-the way airports, delays, and time spent removing your shoes in security lines.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
a respectable speed for a high-speed train is 150 mph (NYC-DC in 1.5 hours!). airplanes clock in at around 600 mph. so even if trains (1) didn't stop more often, (2) didn't have their max allowable speeds limited by local regulations, and (3) traveled in lines as straight as planes, it would take four times as long to cover the same distance.
CA is shooting for 220 MPH (http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/) and is looking for SF to LA in under 3 hours. Door to door would be about the same time as going to and from both airports for me to get from my apt to my folks house in Anaheim.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I'm working on a new online library idea and need to get/earn some capital before embarking on it (that's code for Smackette won't let me spend any more money on the project).
So remember when I was talking about this?
My project this summer is to build this for myself (http://www.homeserverhacks.com/2008/04/build-green-400-windows-home-server_2871.html) (it's been a while since I built myself a machine and its much cheaper than the HP device (http://www.amazon.com/EX475-MediaSmart-Server-Windows-Drive/dp/B000UXZUZC/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1213127498&sr=8-2) I was looking at).
But for those that have a Mac Mini lying around... (http://www.homeserverhacks.com/2008/06/big-news-from-apples-wwdc-ihomeserver.html)I was going to do this myself, but it's a bit of a waste for the video components.
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AT&T's iPhone 3G subsidy will cost 'em (http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9963999-7.html)
So starting this summer, the new iPhone will cost $199 (8GB) or $299 (16GB) with a 2 year contract (at&t now subisdizes the total cost by taking a loss), but you'll pay at least $10 more a month for data (or $240 over the duration of the contract).
AT&Ts logic is that more people will buy them (total #) and either switch to at&t or existing customers will switch from voice only plans to add a data plan, and thus they will make money. Wow.
The only sure winner here is Apple, as usual. And anyone who waited to buy the second generation iPhone that works on the 3G network. That's not going to confuse anyone.
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amtrak and DC metro get funding - cool.
House approves Amtrak funding (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/11/amtrak.congress.ap/)
WASHINGTON (AP) -- A nearly $15 billion Amtrak bill passed the House on Wednesday as lawmakers rallied around an alternative for travelers saddled with soaring gas prices.
The bipartisan bill, which passed by a veto-proof margin of 311-104, would authorize funding for the national passenger railroad over the next five years. Some of the money would go to a program of matching grants to help states set up or expand rail service.
Besides the $14.9 billion provided for Amtrak and intercity rail, an amendment to the bill would authorize $1.5 billion for Washington's Metro transit system over the next 10 years.
The White House has threatened a veto, saying the bill doesn't hold Amtrak accountable for its spending. But similar legislation has passed the Senate, also with enough support to override a veto.
"Nothing could be more fitting to bring before the Congress today, on a day when gasoline has reached $4.05 a gallon across the United States on average," said Rep. John Mica, R-Florida, a longtime Amtrak critic who teamed up with Transportation Committee Chairman James Oberstar, D-Minnesota, on the legislation.
Amtrak's previous authorization expired in 2002. The railroad's supporters say that a new authorization will allow Amtrak to make long-range plans and take advantage of what they say is a growing appetite for passenger rail.
Unlike the Senate version, the House bill includes a requirement for the Department of Transportation to seek proposals from private companies to create a high-speed service that would take travelers from Washington to New York in two hours or less. The idea has long been championed by Mica, who says the United States must catch up with European and Asian countries on high-speed rail travel.
Critics say the proposal would undermine Amtrak by peeling off its most valuable asset: the Northeast Corridor.
Rep. Bill Shuster of Pennsylvania said provisions that open the door to private investment should help ease the concerns of fellow Republicans who have balked at supporting Amtrak.
But those provisions could complicate things when the House tries to work out a compromise bill with the Senate.
Amtrak said it was pleased that both the House and the Senate had acted.
"This reflects strong support for intercity passenger rail service, and we look forward to working with Congress as they move forward to reconcile a final authorization bill," spokesman Cliff Black said.
The Bush administration and other Amtrak critics want to see the company move toward self-sufficiency, but Amtrak supporters say passenger railroads around the globe require government subsidies and point to the large sums of federal money spent on highways.
A bid by Rep. Geoff Davis, R-Kentucky, to send the bill back to committee to add an alternative fuel study was rejected.
"In the areas where American budgets are being hardest hit by gas prices, consuming 16 percent of gross incomes, they have very little access to Amtrak," Davis said. "How does this bill help those Americans deal with our energy crisis?"
Amtrak's boosters say the high cost of driving has made people eager for more and better rail service.
A record 25.8 million passengers took Amtrak in the last fiscal year. The railroad expects ridership to approach 28 million this year, Black said.
May was the biggest month in Amtrak's 37-year history, with total ridership up 12 percent over last year and ticket revenue up 16 percent over last year. Black said Amtrak's marketing research indicates that about half the increase can be attributed to gas prices
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Hottest threesome possibilities in TV history (http://www.bestweekever.tv/2008/06/11/the-20-hottest-possible-threesomes-in-tv-history/#more-24012)
20. Mary Ann and Ginger (Gilligan??s Island)
Hotness: 5. Or Gilligan & The Skipper? laaaadies??
Notoriety: 5. A bit on the selfish side, given that there??s only three women on the island and one of them is in her sixties (but loaded).
Overall: 10. If they remade this show nowadays, this would definitely be the pilot episode. And all subsequent episodes.
<img src="http://www.bestweekever.tv/bwe/images/2008/06/Gilligans.JPG" alt=" - " />
...
+ 19 more.
lulz @ no. 5
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Now I love you. See how easy I am?
OK, so I was scrolling down, slowly of course to savor it all and let my imagination do most of the work. I was a bit disappointed to see Kelly and Jill at #4 (they were the first ones to come into my mind when I read the headline and reminded me of when I first thought about these things), but I can't argue with Kelly and Jesse having now upped Jesse's cred since the release of Showgirls. Before that she was clearly dragging down that pairing.
I am thoroughly disappointed in myself for not ranking Marissa and Summer as my initial #1 - I would absolutely make them my number 1 right now. And for eternity. I just don't see Blair and Serena passing them.
I disagree with their number one choice for two reasons - Janet never did it for me and I always preferred Terry to Chrissy. Not to mention that was the whole premise of the show.
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A few notable misses:
The Olson Twins
Winnie Cooper and Becky Slater
(or any of Kevins other rebounds - Madelline, Cara, shit, I'd even add Debbie Pfieffer for 10 minutes with Winnie)
Britney Spears and Christina Aguilera from the Mickey Mouse CLub
Jo and Blair.
I need to go to lunch. I could do this all day.
Abby and Robyn from How I met your mother
You're making my head explode. Both of them.
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joey & jen, definitely
id say torres and 7 of 9 would be on my list :nerd:
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Claire Bennet and Niki Sanders
Hello!
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Lyla Garrity and Tyra Collette
It's official, I'm getting nothing done today.
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Kim Bauer and just about any one of the other girls on the show not named Chloe or Sherry...
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kate and claire
that might be my #1
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Originally posted by vansmack:
It's official, I'm getting nothing done today.
lolol. i knew you'd appreciate this.
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That's it. I'm officially making my own list.
And I've decided to combine the Kelly's from #13 (Taylor) and #3 (Kapowski), only I have to call the second Kelly "Valerie" wait for it..."Malone. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yt8Xn9EdaSE)"
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thoughts on Velma and Daphne?
<img src="http://www.dan-dare.org/Dan%20FRD/FredAndVelmaAndDaphne.jpg" alt=" - " />
Originally posted by vansmack:
Now I love you. See how easy I am?
why can't i meet any girls who'll tell me that?
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I certainly wouldn't want to be Irish today. There will be retribution in Europe for sure - it's not a good time to be asking for any favors from your neighbors.
Irish Voters Appear to Reject Treaty on Europe (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/world/europe/14ireland.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin)
It's absolutely ridiculous that (1) such a decision on governmental efficiency is left to the voters and (2) that it requires unanimous approval of 27 member countries. Nothing will ever get done if those two requirements exist.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
why can't i meet any girls who'll tell me that?
You can, but where they rank on the hot/crazy scale (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYrZSjpiIK4) is not desirable.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
thoughts on Velma and Daphne?
This has been what's been plaguing me as I put together my list. Well two things actually.
The first is how low will I go to include someone not hot (Velma) to include someone super hot (Daphne). You have to take some hits to hit what you want, but it's a slippery slope.
The second is how do I really consider animated figures. I was ready to throw them out all together until I remembered Jessica Rabbit. I'd hit that for sure.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I certainly wouldn't want to be Irish today. There will be retribution in Europe for sure - it's not a good time to be asking for any favors from your neighbors.
Irish Voters Appear to Reject Treaty on Europe (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/world/europe/14ireland.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin)
It's absolutely ridiculous that (1) such a decision on governmental efficiency is left to the voters and (2) that it requires unanimous approval of 27 member countries. Nothing will ever get done if those two requirements exist.
will it be ok to be irish in a week? or an american visiting ireland more specifically
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I certainly wouldn't want to be Irish today. There will be retribution in Europe for sure - it's not a good time to be asking for any favors from your neighbors.
Irish Voters Appear to Reject Treaty on Europe (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/world/europe/14ireland.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin)
It's absolutely ridiculous that (1) such a decision on governmental efficiency is left to the voters and (2) that it requires unanimous approval of 27 member countries. Nothing will ever get done if those two requirements exist.
the eu needs to be slapped around every so often to be reminded that brussels is not the end all-be all of power.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
the eu needs to be slapped around every so often to be reminded that brussels is not the end all-be all of power.
That's what happened in 2005. Why do it again in 2008?
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
will it be ok to be an american visiting ireland more specifically
No. But mostly because I'm jealous, not because of any foreign policy implications.
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sheesh - talk about embarassing and talk about biting the hand that feeds :o
although as a Man U friend of mine just pointed out, "Cmon, this is a country who chose Mick McCarthy over Roy Keane, what do you expect"!!
the gubmint failed to properly articulate their case, the center stayed home and a rainbow coalition of the usual crackpot leftys, loonies, papists and libertarians did the rest
Originally posted by vansmack:
I certainly wouldn't want to be Irish today. There will be retribution in Europe for sure - it's not a good time to be asking for any favors from your neighbors.
Irish Voters Appear to Reject Treaty on Europe (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/world/europe/14ireland.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin)
It's absolutely ridiculous that (1) such a decision on governmental efficiency is left to the voters and (2) that it requires unanimous approval of 27 member countries. Nothing will ever get done if those two requirements exist.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
the eu needs to be slapped around every so often to be reminded that brussels is not the end all-be all of power.
That's what happened in 2005. Why do it again in 2008? [/b]
i guess they didn't learn. . .
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Originally posted by brennser:
the gubmint failed to properly articulate their case, the center stayed home and a rainbow coalition of the usual crackpot leftys, loonies, papists and libertarians did the rest
i guess it doesn't help when the pm who supports the measure can't even explain it himself.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
i guess they didn't learn. . .
Only you would argue that less than 1% of the population of Europe should have the power to impose it's will on the other 26 members.
Come to think of it, that doesn't sound like you at all.
Just what are you arguing?
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hes new - still learning how to do the job :D
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
Originally posted by brennser:
the gubmint failed to properly articulate their case, the center stayed home and a rainbow coalition of the usual crackpot leftys, loonies, papists and libertarians did the rest
i guess it doesn't help when the pm who supports the measure can't even explain it himself. [/b]
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
i guess they didn't learn. . .
Only you would argue that less than 1% of the population of Europe should have the power to impose it's will on the other 26 members.
Come to think of it, that doesn't sound like you at all.
Just what are you arguing? [/b]
i just don't like the eu and its insane bureaucracy. . .so, any chance that it gets embarrassed (coupled with france taking over the "rotating" presidency and having to deal with this) makes me smile.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
i just don't like the eu and its insane bureaucracy. . .
The whole point of the treaty was to eliminate much of the bureaucracy, so you're not making sense (other than to make life hard for France, that makes perfect sense to me).
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
i just don't like the eu and its insane bureaucracy. . .
The whole point of the treaty was to eliminate much of the bureaucracy, so you're not making sense (other than to make life hard for France, that makes perfect sense to me). [/b]
but it just makes it more difficult for the eu. . .if this treaty made that much sense, it should have been easier to defend....i think i agree, in general, with a point you made earlier- a 287 page treaty should never have been put up for a general vote in the first place. . .either simplify it (ironically, since it's supposed to simplify the eu to begin with) for a public vote, or ram it through the various parliaments so the public doesn't have a chance to reject it. the irish rules on this weren't just made up for this treaty- the negotiators knew that it would have to go before the voters, and in their smugness assumed that the people would just go along.
anyway. . .whatever benefits the treaty entailed, having the eu have to scramble to figure out how to get out of this mess is enjoyable, to me, and having it be left to the french to do that makes it doubly so.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
whatever benefits the treaty entailed, having the eu have to scramble to figure out how to get out of this mess is enjoyable, to me
Even if that means throwing Ireland out of the EU?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
whatever benefits the treaty entailed, having the eu have to scramble to figure out how to get out of this mess is enjoyable, to me
Even if that means throwing Ireland out of the EU? [/b]
ehhh, they'll figure something out.
btw, what is england doing with it???
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
btw, what is england doing with it???
The usual.
The Torries want a referendum (because they're not in power), Labor says there's no need (because they are in power), the general population says they'd like to vote for it but it doesn't rank very high on their priority list. Fixing the National Team ranks higher.
If England were smart (and by smart I mean do they really want Tony Blair to be the first President of Europe?), Parliament would vote on it and not put it up for referendum. That's the only way Blair has a shot, seeing as how they already snubbed the currency.
After seeing what Ireland did, I doubt you see a referendum.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
btw, what is england doing with it???
The usual.
The Torries want a referendum (because they're not in power), Labor says there's no need (because they are in power), the general population says they'd like to vote for it but it doesn't rank very high on their priority list. Fixing the National Team ranks higher.
If England were smart (and by smart I mean do they really want Tony Blair to be the first President of Europe?), Parliament would vote on it and not put it up for referendum. That's the only way Blair has a shot, seeing as how they already snubbed the currency.
After seeing what Ireland did, I doubt you see a referendum. [/b]
i agree, after all, labour is gonna lose the next election anyway, so what do they have to lose? plus, labour knows that if it's put up for a vote, it's not going to pass.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
[and by smart I mean do they really want Tony Blair to be the first President of Europe?
worlds most famous toon supporter? they should make him president of earth. sting for veep
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
after all, labour is gonna lose the next election anyway, so what do they have to lose? plus, labour knows that if it's put up for a vote, it's not going to pass.
I disagree with both of your contentions, which is nothing new for us.
While Labour has to deal with Gordon Brown's image problem, David Cameron is not doing that much to make himself stand out. After all, Labour gets to call the next election and can time it right.
As to point 2, it won't go to a vote but if it did, the English would like nothing better than to show how intellectually superior they are to the Irish, whether they are or not. It would pass, and they would say that did because they were capable of understanding it.
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I don't usually pimp my friends like this, but Melissa had me laughing on this one.
And so, I give you my "Top 10 Things Overheard At The City Hall Gay Marriage Gathering": (http://www.thesweetmelissa.com/)
10. On the (rather attractive) SFPD minding the event: "I can't tell if those are real cops or gay men dressed as police."
9. To the middle-aged woman yelling, "God hates homosexuals!!": "Ugh, you need a fag hairdresser."
8. To same woman: "Get some moisturizer."
7. From the man holding the "Homo Sex is Sin" sign to a young lady engaging him in conversation: "You don't know the first thing about respect!!!"
6. "His name is Hater Smith." To a reporter who had just asked for the name of #7 (above).
5. "Gavin, will you marry me?" on a sign. Love the play on words, pal. But you'll have to get in line behind Beth.
4. To the anti-gay protesters: A rousing sing-along of "We Are The Champions."
3. To the woman holding a small rainbow-sweater-clad Chihuahua: "That may be the gayest thing here."
2. Brian Devine on the anti-gay protesters wearing hard hats with the words "Trust Jesus" on them: "If they trust Jesus, why do they need hard hats?"
1. "You need to amend your sign." Woman to protester holding a "Gays Can't Marry" sign.
--Melissa (http://www.thesweetmelissa.com/)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
"Top 10 Things Overheard At The City Hall Gay Marriage Gathering"
how could she have missed this one: Takai, after applying for the license: "may equality live long and prosper" (http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/06/17/takai.marriage.ap/index.html)
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Not to point out the obvious, but she was in San Francisco and George was in West Hollywood. But I do like George's quote.
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uhm... yeah. convenient change of topic: smacks, any thoughts on the development of competition in the digital music biz? i'm sure some here will poo-poo the choice of band to kick this off, but looks like the push for variable pricing is gaining steam. gotta love those one-day specials :)
Amazon cuts Coldplay album prices to bring in the crowds (http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/technology/2008/06/amazon-and-mp3.html)
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
uhm... yeah. convenient change of topic: smacks, any thoughts on the development of competition in the digital music biz?
Well, first off, I'm going to get me the Brothers and Sister EP for $.99! Thanks for the link.
Yes, competition like this is good, but as usual, despite an inferior product (DRM and lower quality), Apple already won by having far superior marketing (I think they've had a commercial or two on about the new album). Count me in as one of the millions that pre-ordered Viva La Vida on iTunes to get the single.
Two things specifically about this move: It's the wrong marketing ploy for Amazon and ill timed.
They should have lowered the price before the album went on sale. Most Coldplay fans bought the album off of iTunes when you could get the early release single. That now famous Coldplay commercial advertised the album, and the single being exclusively released on iTunes (clever play of words there, it was just the single).
Amazon should have run their own series of adds countering iTunes and touting two things:
(1) It's cheaper, and
(2) It's DRM free.
What Amazon should do in the future, is adopt a policy that all new releases will be $8.99 and that the top 50 albums will also be $8.99. If nothing else, that will force Apple to lower there price and competition like that is good for the marketplace.
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that brother & sister ep is over at emusic
http://www.emusic.com/album/Brothers-And-Sisters-Brothers-And-Sisters-MP3-Download/10834267.html (http://www.emusic.com/album/Brothers-And-Sisters-Brothers-And-Sisters-MP3-Download/10834267.html)
and lala.com is selling the new coldplay for $7.49 256VBR mp3s
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you'll dig this more than anyone: http://euro2008girls.com/ (http://euro2008girls.com/)
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Originally posted by kosmo:
that brother & sister ep is over at emusic
http://www.emusic.com/album/Brothers-And-Sisters-Brothers-And-Sisters-MP3-Download/10834267.html (http://www.emusic.com/album/Brothers-And-Sisters-Brothers-And-Sisters-MP3-Download/10834267.html)
and lala.com is selling the new coldplay for $7.49 256VBR mp3s
Thanks for the ehads up on Lala. They, too, need a better marketing plan.
As for eMusic, it's just a point of frustration for me. I put my account on hold back in Dec or Jan when I had accumulated over a hundred download credits (even on the $10 a month plan). I have yet to find 100+ downloads to justify turning it back on just to simply turn it off when I've completed the downloads. They didn't grow quite as quickly as I thought they would.
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Kid Rock Boycotts iTunes, Champions P2P (http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/06/kid-rock-boycot.html)
The digital music revolution has been compromised, according to Kid Rock, because digital music stores and record labels still manage to hoard the lion's share of music revenue.
He advises fans to download his music for free from P2P services, although he himself doesn't have to. "I don't steal things," he told the BBC. "I'm rich." As for everyone else, he says, "Download it illegally, I don't care. I want you to hear my music so I can play live."
His tirade was apparently precipitated by a request from his record label, Warner Music Group's Atlantic Records, that he publicly denounce file sharing. His response: "Wait a second, you've been stealing from the artists for years. Now you want me to stand up for you?"Ouch. (http://blog.wired.com/music/2008/06/kid-rock-boycot.html).
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what i find so amusing about these rants is that the likes of Kid Rock, NIN and Radiohead wouldn't be where they are today were it not for Record Companies...
this only fuels the fire for those that say all music should be given away free and artists should expect to make all their money from performing live, merchandise sales and licensing. however, this model wont work for all genres of music, wont work for the artists that can't afford their own PR folks, doesn't help songwriters, etc, etc...
how is an artist going to gain any income from a fan who lives in North Dakota who isn't likely to be getting the chance to see his favorite band live anytime soon...
and you can tell me that a band schlepping around the country playing to crowds of less than 100 people on any given night is going to making much more than gas money at any given gig.
and of course as artists start to only depend on concert revenues for income, then ticket prices start going up, meaning fans may have to cut back on the number of bands they see live...
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
you'll dig this more than anyone: http://euro2008girls.com/ (http://euro2008girls.com/)
even better? Streaking to victory in topless match (http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN16224920080616)
gotta love that euro DIY spirit :)
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nwop
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
nwop
North West Operational Programme? Network of People? National Works on Paper? Neighborhood Watch On Patrol?
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
you'll dig this more than anyone: http://euro2008girls.com/ (http://euro2008girls.com/)
Clearly, some of those photos are holdover from WC2006. But that doesn't bother me.
It is always been amazing to me that Eastern Europe can produce such amazingly beautiful women (Croatia, Czech's, Hungarians just to name a few) but such hideous men. Spain, Italy, Portugal - those make sense as a breed. But I'm shocked at how the disgusting male has not killed off the gorgeous female after years of procreation.
And it's too bad all those German girls are going to grow up and have kankles. It's unavoidable.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
nwop
North West Operational Programme? Network of People? National Works on Paper? Neighborhood Watch On Patrol? [/b]
nothing with out pics
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
nothing with out pics
duh... i feel like such a n00b.
agreed, i was going to include a request for pix or vids but was afraid of being labeled a bitch.
edit: found some pix (http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4585754a19724.html) - NSFW, predictably enough
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thats what i'm talking about
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Yep, that reaffirmed that I like seeing boobs.
Originally posted by sweetcell:
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
nothing with out pics
duh... i feel like such a n00b.
agreed, i was going to include a request for pix or vids but was afraid of being labeled a bitch.
edit: found some pix (http://www.stuff.co.nz/thepress/4585754a19724.html) - NSFW, predictably enough [/b]
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100% Smackie approved. I would have paid twice as much for that as I did for the Lingerie Bowl!
I love the fact that none of the guys are watching the footie. They've all just got their cameras out. I'm quite certain that I'd get bored after about 10 minutes and start coaching the ladies.
That's a fierce shot in pic number 2.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I'm quite certain that I'd get bored after about 10 minutes and start coaching the ladies.
not to mention that your camera's memory cards would be full after 10 minutes anyways :p
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Everybody but Julian (who clearly not over it yet) should read this great article on The Fall of the House of Clinton (http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11496736). There will be many books written about this, but why read the book when you have such a good Cliff Note?
Tough to argue with these three points:
(1) She ran "the establishment choice" campaign in a year of change.
(2) She ran a 1990's campaign in the 21st century.
(3) Like the failed campaign of Rudy Giullianni, you can't run a campaign focusing on only the big states and all but ignoring the small states.
I think the real book in this going to be the story about the severe disagreements between Mark Penn and Harold Ickes and how much of a distraction that turned out to be when the rug was being pulled out from beneath them.
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You be the judge.
Coldplay vs. Creaky Boards (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eUhFLiw6h6s)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Everybody but Julian (who clearly not over it yet) should read this great article on The Fall of the House of Clinton (http://www.economist.com/world/na/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11496736). There will be many books written about this, but why read the book when you have such a good Cliff Note?
Tough to argue with these three points:
(1) She ran "the establishment choice" campaign in a year of change.
(2) She ran a 1990's campaign in the 21st century.
(3) Like the failed campaign of Rudy Giullianni, you can't run a campaign focusing on only the big states and all but ignoring the small states.
I think the real book in this going to be the story about the severe disagreements between Mark Penn and Harold Ickes and how much of a distraction that turned out to be when the rug was being pulled out from beneath them.
so i was going to buy a copy of the economist to read on the plane tomorrow, except they didnt have it at target nor wegmans. in fact, no atlantic monthly, no us news and world report, and no time like 30 feet from aol hq. so i guess i'll just print this and read it for free. america: fuck yeah
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you expect target to have the economist?
looking for love in all the wrong places.
you'll find it at the airport no probs, in the book/mag shops.
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target not so much, but i was already there
wegmans yes
and its not so much the economist specifically, but no news mags at all was just weird
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Can we get back to euro2008 gals please?
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by all means. got any links to propose? i'm fresh out.
edit: i lied.
http://flickr-babes-tgp-girls.blogspot.com/2008/06/euro-2008-babes-and-chics-forget.html (http://flickr-babes-tgp-girls.blogspot.com/2008/06/euro-2008-babes-and-chics-forget.html)
http://flickr.com/photos/euro2008babes/ (http://flickr.com/photos/euro2008babes/)
http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_soccerblog/2008/06/post.html (http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_soccerblog/2008/06/post.html)
http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1312020.ece (http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/article1312020.ece)
http://danielfranklingomez.com/blog/ (http://danielfranklingomez.com/blog/) (lots of links, more on second page)
this one takes the cake: a iranian news site (i think) http://www.iranianuk.com/article.php?id=28733 (http://www.iranianuk.com/article.php?id=28733)
btw, http://euro2008girls.com/ (http://euro2008girls.com/) is down... crashed by 930 boardees?!?
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
and its not so much the economist specifically, but no news mags at all was just weird
You should have hit me up sooner. I would have given you the audible edition so you could listen to the nice the British lady read it to you.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
AT&T's iPhone 3G subsidy will cost 'em (http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9963999-7.html)
Somebody finally did the math for me...
AT&T Paying High Price For iPhone 3G (http://www.informationweek.com/news/personal_tech/iphone/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=208800005)
AT&T may be paying Apple $325 per unit for right of carriage, Oppenheimer financial analyst Yair Reimer wrote in a report.
Additionally, Reimer said AT&T will pay another $100 for subscribers signed up in Apple stores. When you add these figures to the retail price of the handset, AT&T could be paying as much as $624 for the 8-GB iPhone 3G, and $724 for the 16-GB version.
Apple will receive an average of $466 per iPhone.
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Sad, sad, day today. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7469636.stm) And since we??re on summer break and I??m not going to get called into any foreign relations classes on campus, you??ll have to indulge me. Or ignore me, if you see fit.
You see, Morgan Tsvangirai withdrew his opposition candidacy for President of Zimbabwe over the weekend because he could not ask his supporters to cast a vote for him, when doing so could very well cost them their lives. Robert Mugabe, the ruler for the past 30 years, has led a vicious and violent attack on members of Tsvangirai??s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Party since the earlier primary, which MDC claimed to have won outright. This all but assures Robert Mugabe five more years of brutal rule, and the people of Zimbabwe will continue their slide from one of the wealthiest countries in Africa to one of the poorest countries on Earth (inflation, for example, is currently ??sitting? around 150,000%).
While I feel for the people of Zimbabwe, that??s not the most compelling nor disappointing part of this story. That the election would not be fair was predictable, to say the least. What??s sad is that the one country that had a chance to make a difference in Zimbabwe let the rest of the Continent down ?? South Africa.
The Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), a group of 14 countries in Sub-Saharan Africa of which both Zimbabwe and South Africa are members, chose South Africa??s Thabo Mbeki to be the chief negotiator between the two rival parties. Mbeki failed to hold Mugabe to the fire (or even force to do anything), even to the point where Mbeki was ready to allow a shipment of guns (from China) into South Africa that were to be transported to Mugabe??s people in Zimbabwe. It wasn't until the pro-union dock workers of South Africa refused to unload the boat, and the Chinese, to stave off international embarrassment before the Olympics, told the boat to turn around that the arms were kept from the hands of those who intended to use them to force the outcome of an election.
Mbeki has even gone out of his way to block talks on the UN floor about the situation in Zimbabwe. There are other leaders in Africa that have taken to the pulpit against Mbeki, such as Zambia??s president, Levy Mwanawasa, however, none of them have a seat on the UN Council, like South Africa. This was a huge opportunity missed for South Africa to take a leading role in shaping the continent. The SADC should now replace Mbeki as the negotiator (and let Kofi Annan do it), not recognize the result of this week??s election, and not allow Zimbabwe at seat the SADC table until they hold a proper and fair election.
And, as punishment for the accomplice role South Africa played, FIFA should strip South Africa as the first African host of the World Cup as they have shown that they are not fit to truly represent a Democratic Africa, but that??s for later.
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no offense, and i like reading/chatting about this stuff, but why don't you blog (even pseudonymously?)
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an aside ... do you RSS? what's your favorite straight-news feed?
i've been using huffington post's "full news" feed for a couple of months and it does a good job of pulling from a lot of different sources, but can be a little too gossipy
i generally like to keep a single feed for breaking news / aggregating other sources, in addition to my other newspaper feeds
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Originally posted by HoyaSaxa03:
no offense, and i like reading/chatting about this stuff, but why don't you blog (even pseudonymously?)
Thanks.
Nothing is anonymous, so even a pseudonym doesn't help (only being behind a cgi-bin has kept me out of potential hand-slapping). The good news is I'm close to getting permission to write about foreign policy/affairs. Of course, I've felt I've been close before...
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Originally posted by HoyaSaxa03:
an aside ... do you RSS? what's your favorite straight-news feed?
i generally like to keep a single feed for breaking news / aggregating other sources, in addition to my other newspaper feeds
I use my google toolbar with the following widgets:
Google Desktop News (favorite)
NYT
Economist (which is awful, but I get A LOT of email from them)
ESPN
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Google Desktop News (favorite)
is that just a straight "top stories" google news feed? i used that for a while but it felt like over-kill and i was getting way too many local stories
i'm on the hunt for something that aggregates like google news but has a little more of a human touch
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Originally posted by HoyaSaxa03:
is that just a straight "top stories" google news feed? i used that for a while but it felt like over-kill and i was getting way too many local stories
Yes, but I turn off personalization so I get very few local stories. I rely on MSN Messenger Alerts for local news updates (SF, DC, & OC). For example, the top 3 stories right now are from The Observer, Forbes, and FT.
I am not interested in the human touch. I like the facts and then put my own human touch on them.
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would you buy the soon to come out, non-human woman, i think from japan but could be wrong, for your dislike of the human touch, if you were not married, of course? i believe i have heard it can do everything a real woman can do sexually (but better?) and even some are getting excited about the fact it will not talk. not sure about the actual release; it is still in planning.
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No yellow fever for me.
Instead, I simply pretend like I care...
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Seriously? I can't wait to hear the Libertarian slant on this...
FCC wants no-porn, free broadband wireless auction (http://news.zdnet.com/2424-1035_22-207721.html?tag=nl.e550)
WASHINGTON--The Federal Communications Commission on Friday said it wants to auction a section of wireless airwaves to buyers willing to provide free broadband Internet service without pornography.
The agency asked for public comment on its plan to auction an unused portion of the wireless spectrum with the condition that the winning bidder offer free Internet access and filter out obscene content on part of those airwaves.
Successful bidders for the spectrum would also be required to provide coverage to at least half of the United States within four years, and to at least 95 percent of the U.S. population by the end of the 10-year license, the FCC said.
"Additional obligations associated with the licensee's free broadband service would include a requirement to provide a network-based filtering mechanism for the free Internet service in order to protect children and families, and a requirement that the network allow for the use of open devices," the agency said.
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And just because I know Beetsnotbeats would never stumble on to this himself...
[a real President] wouldn??t be using his last days in office to threaten Congressional Democrats that if they don??t approve offshore drilling by the Fourth of July recess, they will be blamed for $4-a-gallon gas. That is so lame. That is an energy policy so unworthy of our Independence Day. (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/opinion/22friedman.html?em&ex=1214366400&en=1d288dfdedd325e6&ei=5087%0A)
The energy policy debate is going to be great this political season, mostly because there are serious flaws in both candidates positions.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Nothing is anonymous, so even a pseudonym doesn't help (only being behind a cgi-bin has kept me out of potential hand-slapping).
i don't mean to begrudge your decision, but in the interest of playing this thought out....
if one was concerned about one's employer or grandparent or something following one's blog and objecting to provocative content, i would think pseudonymity would provide enough of a cover (a) to have whoever one wants not to find it not find it (unless they were really persistent), and (b) that if they did find it, tell them that they needn't worry about the content because your name isn't attached to it (most employers seem to really just care about embarrassment from having their employee's name associated with objectionable material)
you're right that it would never really be "anonymous" unless one went to some extreme measures, but if the above paragraph holds true then anonymity would only prove necessary if one were posting some really weird/illegal shit
i'm guessing bay area people are much more in tune with the perils of blogging / social-networking, right?
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It has little to do with my current employer, who has been prodding me to blog about higher education policy for some time now. And they don't care what I do at my desk, however, I'm guessing if (1) they knew how much time I spent here, they'd ask me not to and (2) if they really wanted to know, they could. We have academic freedom on campus, and I think they respect that.
Nor does it have to do with my family, who find my musings on pop culture a sign that I may never grow up, yet some how appear so professional when they see me in action.
It has to do with a previous employer and an agreement I signed upon leaving. I've been working with them to get the OK to blog about foreign policy/affairs for some time now. I have a blog (http://vansmack.spaces.live.com/), it took forever to get approval, and was supposed to be only about soccer. I (foolishly) posted the Pakistan piece I shared on here and they notified me within 48 hours that I was in violation of my departure agreement. They are a small nonprofit shop, but are primarily funded by a larger government entity, so they must be getting help in keeping an eye on my commentary.
So I post here, where you have to be a member to read, and it won't be picked up by the usual spiders and search engines and I have not heard from them once. You're either the beneficiaries or the victims, depending on how you look at it.
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NYT today on google news: At Google, Slow Growth in News Site (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/technology/24google.html)
last paragraph:
??There is only so far you can go with an algorithm,? said Mark Glaser, editor at PBS MediaShift, a site about online media. ??In the long run, people want a human touch.?
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Sometime ago I posted about a web site called FabChannel (http://www.fabchannel.com) that archives live perfromances from The Paradiso in Amsterdam.
Tomorrow, they will be broadcasting a live performance from Elbow.
Tune into the live video webcast of Elbow concert at the Paradiso - Main Hall on 25 Jun 08, 2:30 PM ET (http://www.fabchannel.com/elbow_concert/)
If you can't watch it live, it will always be archived.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Sad, sad, day today. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7469636.stm) And since we??re on summer break and I??m not going to get called into any foreign relations classes on campus, you??ll have to indulge me. Or ignore me, if you see fit.
btw, i'm in full agreement with you. . .also, i would call out the u.n. a bit more (who, amongst other things, allows mugabe to violate all sorts of e.u. sanctions against him, in addition to allowing mbeki to dictate the conversation), but that's probably expected of me. . .
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I would only allow you, my friend, to go from "disband the UN, they're useless" to "it's their fault, they're not doing enough."
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I would only allow you, my friend, to go from "disband the UN, they're useless" to "it's their fault, they're not doing enough."
i don't see a contradiction. . . point b simply supports the more general point a, just another example of its irrelevancy.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
Originally posted by vansmack:
I would only allow you, my friend, to go from "disband the UN, they're useless" to "it's their fault, they're not doing enough."
i don't see a contradiction. . . point b simply supports the more general point a, just another example of its irrelevancy. [/b]
not doing enough is reason to disband an org?
governments don't do enough. armies don't do enough. churches don't do enough. neighborhood associations don't do enough. the police don't do enough. businesses can be said to "do enough", since the only thing they need to do is earn money.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
Originally posted by vansmack:
I would only allow you, my friend, to go from "disband the UN, they're useless" to "it's their fault, they're not doing enough."
i don't see a contradiction. . . point b simply supports the more general point a, just another example of its irrelevancy. [/b]
not doing enough is reason to disband an org?
governments don't do enough. armies don't do enough. churches don't do enough. neighborhood associations don't do enough. the police don't do enough. businesses can be said to "do enough", since the only thing they need to do is earn money. [/b]
oh no. . i would argue that the u.n. has utterly failed at its task, and does nothing it was originally supposed to do. instead it allows governments to continue to suppress its people, but cover those same leaders to attend food supply conventions or puts those leaders on human rights committees.
i certainly hope fifa has more balls than the olympic committee when china promised it would do more for human rights for its citizens and become a more open society- that's worked out well.
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See, this is a team Pronger can play for...
NHL suspends Ducks owner Samueli indefinitely day after guilty plea (http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/news/story?id=3459300&campaign=rss&source=ESPNHeadlines)
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
businesses can be said to "do enough", since the only thing they need to do is earn money.
pssst... (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporate_social_responsibility)
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I know it seems like I like to point out the flaws of the iPhone/at&t deal a lot, so I'm going to show that I'm not totally biased and pick on my own provider and how short sighted they can be.
So I have Sprint, have had them for over 10 years and love them. I have very few bad experiences with them (unlike a lot of others) and they allow me to test their new products often.
I wasn't selected to test their new Instinct (http://nowisgood.com/), but I'm assuming it's because I'll be first in line for their WiMax.
Anyhow, the Instinct is the best iPhone competitor I have seen yet, and by far the closest thing I could get to the iPhone on my network, so I was willing to buy one relatively soon. It's already 3G, is Exchange server friendly, has expandable storage rather than flat/finite storage, GPS, and is video recording capable. With some of the slick touch capabilites and rotating screen that the iPhone made famous, it's not bad deal at under $200.
I cruised into the store and used the phone for about 20 minutes. I liked it. I REALLY liked it. Great form factor, nice big screen, etc. The browser is not as slick as the iPhone's, but was manageable. So I asked the guy, how much? $179. Sounds good. But here's the catch: You do not have to renew your contract (which is nice), but you do have to switch to a Sprint Everything Plan.
I had heard about those - $99 a month catch all unlimited voice/data/text/picture mail for one lump fee. Good idea in my eyes, especially for the mid 20's generation.
So I asked, how much is the family version of the Sprint Everything Plan? Doesn't exist. What do you mean it doesn't exist? Nope, you have to get an Everything Plan for both parties or one of the cheap plans PLUS an Everything Plan to buy Sprint's new iPhone competitor (no less than $200 a month for our current situation).
Smackette and I share a plan for around $120. Some limited number of minutes that we never reach for $70, plus $10 for the extra phone ($80) plus $15 each for unlimited data ($110), plus taxes.
Anyhow, I said to the guy, why would I increase my bill that much to get your snazzy new phone. "Because it's sweet."
"But I could get the iPhone 3G for the same price, and keep my bill at the same level with at&t, which I can do in 2 months." I could even get Smackette an iPhone and keep my bill the same (or maybe $10 more, but still not $80).
Chirp, Chirp. Chirp, Chirp.
Hey Sprint, way to take the first good thing to stop the bleeding from the iPhone generation and totally blow it. This stems from decisions being made by people who don't actually face the situation in the real world. My contract is up in Sept. I'll let you know what I do.
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wow... thats pretty stoopid on Sprint's part
it would really suck if they try to use the same stupidity with the Google powered phones that supposedly headed our way. i read this story and decided i wanted one even if it did end up stinking :D
http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/magazine/16-07/ff_android (http://www.wired.com/techbiz/media/magazine/16-07/ff_android)
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I have been on the waiting list to beta that phone too. I'm told by a friend who works on the project that I shouldn't expect to be contacted until the fall at the earliest.
If they're not beta testing until the fall...I wouldn't expect to see the phone by Christmas, but we can always cross our fingers.
Oh and yes. I was giggling with delight when I read that Wired piece.
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looking for a new airline when traveling in europe?
http://consumerist.com/tag/free-oral-sex/?i=5019706&t=ryanair-to-provide-free-oral-sex-to-business-class-passengers (http://consumerist.com/tag/free-oral-sex/?i=5019706&t=ryanair-to-provide-free-oral-sex-to-business-class-passengers)
While American discount airlines like Spirit Air and Southwest alternate between running sophomoric promotions and enforcing their prudish dress codes on passengers, European counterpart Ryanair has trumped them all with its CEO's announcement that transcontinental business class passengers will receive free "beds and blowjobs."
In a press conference, CEO Michael O'Leary discussed Ryanair's new transcontinental service, which will offer extremely cheap economy fares, as well as luxurious business class seats that include amenities like "white seats," beds, and oral sex.
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OMG - i'd never fly another airline.
but does paying for it tarnish one's membership in the mile-high club?
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
OMG - i'd never fly another airline.
Yeah, because your girlfriend would kill you!
Didn't bother with the link but I'm wondering if they will provide males for women travelers or the desirable partner for our Gay friends? Or is this just another straight male perk? :roll:
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Awesome.
And I'm pretty sure it's slobbenzhenobben.
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smackie... sweetie...
will we have fantasy football this year? plz. plz.
my new office is lame and i don't think i'll have anyone to play with if we don't do one here.
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I don't actually run the board's fantasy football league because nobody on this board wants to play for money. Oh wait, you weren't callling me sweetie...nevermind.
I will absolutely run the Survival Pool though. And if you're the one guy who hasn't paid me yet, don't think for a second that I've forgotten about you.
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i'll be happy to commish another fantasy football league, if people will have me as their commish.
and fyi, smacks, we did play for money - buy-in was $20. might even up it this year.
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A friend turned me on to...poor choice of words...told me about La Pequeña (http://www.dlisted.com/taxonomy/term/247), describing her/he/it as "a disabled tranny dancing around to random music, sometimes as Hilary Clinton or Amy Winehouse, other times, she/he's totally random." (http://bethspotswood.blogspot.com/)
It's totally safe for work, but you will definitely feel llike a shower when it's done. And then you'll click the next. And the next one...
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Smackie - thought you might wanna catch this.
coldplay on the today show (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540...09438#25409438)
Coldplay played an awesome set this morning at the Today show. their soundcheck at 6:30 in the morning was pretty cool, but theres no footage of it (at least not that i found yet). charming as always. cant wait till october.
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I think telling me yesterday would have been more efficient.... ;)
I did DVR the Today Show this morning for smackette who was already at work when this was on.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I think telling me yesterday would have been more efficient.... ;)
I did DVR the Today Show this morning for smackette who was already at work when this was on.
video availabe here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25370017/): click on "launch" in the right-hand side.
damn chris was fucking up alot... his vocals on "viva la vida" are atrocious.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
video availabe here (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25370017/): click on "launch" in the right-hand side.
damn chris was fucking up alot... his vocals on "viva la vida" are atrocious.
She meant the sound check was not available - she knew the show was available.
And yes, Chris Martin sounds like shit at 7 AM.
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my reply wasn't directed to xNWx... it was just a general "vid available here".
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Righto. My bad.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I think telling me yesterday would have been more efficient.... ;)
I did DVR the Today Show this morning for smackette who was already at work when this was on.
it was my birthday yesterday! i wasnt around and i was so damn excited i had VIP tix for coldplay that well .... i didnt post about it. sorry!
and yes - they were really fucking up at 6;30 in the morning. all the songs were messed up but it was pretty amusing at points. i still have viva la vida in my head. and lost and 42... oohhhh man i might become a guy (berryman) junkie :eek:
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in ireland i saw maybe 2 "yes" to lisbon signs and "no" to lisbon signs and stickers quite frequently, especially in the cities
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Originally posted by vansmack on January 23rd:
What I really want is a ~$300-$500 wireless internet-only device the size of an ultraportable laptop with longer battery life. It should be flashed based with limited storage no thicker than an inch, touch mouse and full qwerty keyboard. It doesn't need an expensive processor or much RAM as it's only going to do one thing - surf the net. No fancy game graphics driver because it only has to deal with streaming quality video. I don't need any drives, no gadgets or goodies, no extra software other than reader plug ins.
It would stream all media but not allow for on-device storage (other than simple OS and browser plugins). That's what the one USB port would be for - flash drives for file storage.
If all of this can be packaged in a device the size of the iPod Touch, why can't I get one the size of the ultra-portable laptop?
Bam. Just like that it hits you!
The Eee PC. (http://event.asus.com/eeepc/microsites/en/index.htm) Starting at $298.
Store everything on my Home Server or on an web drive. Beautiful. Only took 5 months to get there...
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Sad, sad, day today. (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7469636.stm)
Zimbabwe and the African Union
Getting away with murder (http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displayStory.cfm?story_id=11653310&source=features_box_main)
Jul 1st 2008 | JOHANNESBURG
From Economist.com
To their shame, African leaders fail to act against Zimbabwe??s Robert Mugabe
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Originally posted by vansmack:
The Eee PC. (http://event.asus.com/eeepc/microsites/en/index.htm) Starting at $298.
Store everything on my Home Server or on an web drive. Beautiful. Only took 5 months to get there... [/QB]
Too bad it doesn't have bluetooth so you could use with a mobile phone with bluetooth modem capabilities. There are going to be times with wlan isn't available but mobile phone service is.
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Originally posted by kosmo:
Too bad it doesn't have bluetooth so you could use with a mobile phone with bluetooth modem capabilities. There are going to be times with wlan isn't available but mobile phone service is.
True, but I use my USB cble for EVDO modem access anyway. I'd imagine a bluetooth connection can't be good for battery life either.
I have not had very good experience with Bluetooth Modem connections, but could always try a Bluetooth USB Dongle for that.
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Just a quick endorsement to the folks at Newegg.com. I used them to buy the parts for my home server, and in the process of dropping $350, the one thing that didn't work was a silly 2 GB USB Flash drive ($8), which was fine. Of all the things that could have gone wrong, if it's just the USB drive I got off easy.
I decided it wasn't worth my time or money to send it back (it would have cost me two bucks and taken a week but I needed the drive last night), so I didn't send it back.
I did however, post a review of the bad drive, and more importantly in my eyes how bad the manufacturer support was for the drive (pqi.com.tw had a program to re-format the drive that couldn't have been any less user friendly). I recommended that folks not buy buy the drive because if it's bad, the money you tried to save would be spent on seeking a replacement.
Got an email from newegg.com today telling me that a new drive with the same specs from a different manufacturer is on it's way gratis and that I can discard the other one. Now that's customer service! And I will be shopping there again and again.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Just a quick endorsement to the folks at Newegg.com.
yup. once you shop newegg, you never go back. best prices, ultra-fast shipping for cheap, and i too have had only great experiences with their customer service dept. truly a superior retailer.
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Should have happened 2 years ago, but better late than never....
Fiber Access Gains on Cable for Broadband Access (http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/147842/fiber_access_gains_on_cable_for_broadband_access.html)
For the first time, fiber-based broadband access is expanding faster than cable: 4.2 million compared to 2.5 million subscribers were added during the first quarter, according to the analysts at Point Topic.
"It's a significant milestone for fiber-optic broadband; where it is available consumers will take fiber over other broadband technologies," said Oliver Johnson, CEO at Point Topic.
.....The cost for fiber can get as low as US$0.50 per megabit per month, compared to US$20 for DSL and US$12 for cable, taking global averages.
__________________________
The key to that is "global averages." Internet connections are a lot cheaper in many other countries (especially in Asia and Scandanavia) than they are here in the US, but bit for bit, Fiber is still cheaper than cable or DSL in the US.
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Honestly, what took them so long? The Open License way has been the only way to go...
Microsoft to sell Office, security software subscription for $70 a year (http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/software/2008-07-02-microsoft-office-onecare_N.htm?csp=34)
Of course, the $70 price tag means they're bundling One Care, which is useless. Should have been $50.
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Originally posted by kosmo:
Too bad it doesn't have bluetooth so you could use with a mobile phone with bluetooth modem capabilities. There are going to be times with wlan isn't available but mobile phone service is.
In following up on my reaserch, the higher end models (900 & 1000) have built in Bluetooth. They sell for around $549.
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So I mentioned a while ago that I was going to share my experiences with secondspin.com (http://www.secondspin.com), a web site that will give you a quote on your CDs and buy them from you.
So I entered all the UPCs for the CDs I listed on this site a few pages ago. They offered me about $1000 for the set. They break it down by disc so you can see how much per disc. I agreed with some of their prices but thought that others were off, so I decided I would only send them some of the CDs I wanted to sell and get a quote from Amoeba as well.
I put three packages together and here's why: secondspin will reimburse you for shipping, but only at a fraction of what it will cost you to actually ship them, and the increases in reimbursement stop at 25 CDs. For example, I sent a package of 25 cds to them and they reimburse for ~$5 (the supposed rate for 25 or more CDs shipped media mail). Well, the media mail price for that package was over $11. The Flat Rate priority was only ~$9 so I went with that. I figured when your dealing with items that you're getting a $1 or so for, losing $4 in shipping is a pretty big loss.
Anyway, so I sent three packages to secondspin as a test run. All three were approximately 25 Cds and each was quoted between $90 and $125 dollars. All three were in priority boxes, taped and clearly labeled. I sent one with insurance (arrived) and one with a return reciept (arrived) and one with nothing extra other than priority shipping.
I received confirmation of the first two packages within a matter of days. They sent me a message of which CDs they were rejecting (they don't except advance CDs and I intentionally sent them 2 just to see) and said a check was in the mail for the rest. About three days later I had two checks in my mailbox for about $200. A week after that they sent me back my Advance CDs (which they said they wouldn't do on the web site, so that was cool). Amoeba gave me $4 for each of those CDs....
Anyhow, so what of the third package? No idea. Secondspin claims to have never recieved it (though I have 30 days for it turn up). Guess which one has apparently not arrived? Yep, the one that I didn't insure or ask for return reciept.
You see the things I test for you guys? So 2 out of 3 and I'm out about $110 right now. That's a FAIL in my book. I couldn't recommend secondspin.com right now unless you are really willing to lose on shipping. Their quotes aren't that much more than taking your CDs to your local shop. As a matter of fact I took about 50 Cds into Amoeba on Saturday and walked out 20 minutes later with $220 bucks. Lesson learned.
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ARE YOU IN?
I might fly for this, vansmaaackk
http://www.downloadfestival.com/lineup/san-francisco/ (http://www.downloadfestival.com/lineup/san-francisco/)
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Originally posted by wanderlust j. marshmallow:
ARE YOU IN?
I might fly for this, vansmaaackk
http://www.downloadfestival.com/lineup/san-francisco/ (http://www.downloadfestival.com/lineup/san-francisco/)
Fuck. Can't the Gang of Four and J&MC play a gig at the Fillmore instead or something?
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smackie, ready for some more going-out-of-business shopping for electronics?
Is Circuit City Headed for a Blowout? (http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jul2008/db2008072_040726.htm)
Blockbuster's decision not to buy the retailer sent the stock tumbling. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing may be in the offing
Will Circuit City (CC) join the long list of electronics retailers, like Tweeter Home Entertainment and Harvey Electronics, that have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in the past year? Given that shares of the Richmond (Va.) company are trading at just over 2, Wall Street is betting that could be a possibility. "Circuit City is in very serious trouble, and any scenario is possible today," says Nick McCoy, senior consultant at TNS Retail Forward, a research firm.
continued (http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/jul2008/db2008072_040726.htm)
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thanks for the second spin story, very good to know.
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no Zep for Guitar Hero, Rock Band, etc (http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/07/led-zeppelin-un.html)
:(
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
smackie, ready for some more going-out-of-business shopping for electronics?
I was holding out for a gig switch, but finally caved and bought one with a rebate last week.
I may do a full N wireless rebuild if they do go out of business, though.
Come on chapter 11!
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
no Zep for Guitar Hero, Rock Band, etc (http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/07/led-zeppelin-un.html)
:(
While a bit of a bummer, I'm glad the gaming co's are holding out for Master Recordings. I've been burned by a couple of really bad covers.
But seriously, no Bonzo's Monstreaux? Would have been epic.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
In following up on my reaserch, the higher end models (900 & 1000) have built in Bluetooth. They sell for around $549.
Hey kosmo and others who are interested in the subnotebooks/ultra-micro pc's, I checked out the Eee PC (8G) (http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Celeron-Processor-Solid-State-Preloaded/dp/B000ZLO3D4) over the weekend:
</font>- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">The Screen size on the #G models is a waste. Sure 7 inches is small, but on each side of the screen is a big speaker. Why bother? They were better off using the full screen like they do with the 900 & 1000 models.</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">Performance was surprisingly strong (this was a WinXP model) and I bet the Linux model is even better.</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">The keyboard is really small. It's sort of a tweener. Remember when you first got a blackberry or some other full QWERTY smart phone and it took you a little while to get used to using your thumbs? This keyboard is the same way. The bigger your fingers the harder it will be to get used to.</font></li>
<font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">
I'm going to pass on the 2G, 4G and 8G models. I don't like the price point of the 900 and 1000 models, but I think they'll come down in a few months as the competition heats up. That's when I think I'll make a move.
I was tipped off on the new MSI Wind Laptop (http://www.amazon.com/MSI-Laptop-Intel-Processor-Drive/dp/B001AS1VOA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=pc&qid=1215449899&sr=1-2) (US release is supposed to be today). It has a 10inch screen, 6 hour battery life and the linux model comes in at $399 (can be upgraded to run WinXP - the OEM XP model sells for $549). The downside is it uses a regular old 80gig HDD. I really want to go Solid State Drive (or SSD Flash) so I can boot it up in under 20 seconds.
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I don't remember what thread it was where we were talking about the two candidates energy policies and I mentioned both candiates have severe holes, but here is an example of where McCain has it right and Obama has it wrong. Contrast this with drilling for oil off the coast and you'll see that neither canidadate is going to lead this country to a proper energy solution as long as one is sucking up to the oil companies and one is sucking up to the US corn based ethanol lobby....
Biofuels in Brazil (http://www.economist.com/world/la/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11632886)[/url]
Lean, green and not mean
The United States may drop a tariff on Brazilian ethanol. But the industry is still the victim of much misplaced criticism
WHEN John McCain laid out his plans for reducing America??s dependence on oil to an audience in California on June 23rd, the candidate??s keenest listeners were 6,000 miles away in São Paulo. Mr McCain argued that the tariff on imported ethanol of 54 cents per gallon should be scrapped. Others in the Senate (though not Barack Obama) are pushing for it to be reduced. Either way, the case against the tariff has been strengthened by high oil prices and by the June floods that damaged the mid-western corn (maize) crop. That sent corn prices soaring and made subsidising corn to produce ethanol look like an even worse idea than it did before, given the greener, cheaper ethanol that the United States could buy from Brazil instead.
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hunh, the wash post energy op ed yesterday mentioned the ethanol tariff as well. maybe a real issue this time?
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i like how people think mccain and obama are different. they are the same, will be the same in office, and come out rich like reagan, bush sr., clinton, bush jr., ect.........
lobbyists will control them, like they do the senate, and the house, and you. religion will scare you, life will swallow your mind as you tvo, taxes will take from you and give to people leeching off the system as you go see shows, and freedom will taste like sweet destruction as you finally give in to walmart's low prices. the president of every country that has oil will somehow be connected or once worked for a major oil company (like afganistan). people will bitch about who they voted for one to two years after the fact, hate people who don't vote, and then go ahead and vote another idiot in.
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
hunh, the wash post energy op ed yesterday mentioned the ethanol tariff as well. maybe a real issue this time?
Yeah, like the farm bill was...
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gotta love this: the us goes to war with iraq because they have wmds. then they have no wmds. then 5 years later the us attempts to "secretly" ship out 500 tons of yellow cake uranium out of iraq (dating back to saddam, though no one has heard or knew about this until now) and sell it to canada. can this war and country and government get anymore shady?
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http://www.gaywired.com/Article.cfm?ID=19526 (http://www.gaywired.com/Article.cfm?ID=19526)
god . . . you fucked women over since eden and this religious thing was invented by men. way to go, fake jesus.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
hunh, the wash post energy op ed yesterday mentioned the ethanol tariff as well. maybe a real issue this time?
Yeah, like the farm bill was... [/b]
true, but the farm bill wont let us keep our h2's
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
true, but the farm bill wont let us keep our h2's
Actually, with all the subsidies for corn based ethanol, it might be your best hope (assuming they make a flex fuel H2 someday).
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Originally posted by walkonby:
http://www.gaywired.com/Article.cfm?ID=19526 (http://www.gaywired.com/Article.cfm?ID=19526)
god . . . you fucked women over since eden and this religious thing was invented by men. way to go, fake jesus.
Yep, we've covered this topic in this thread (http://www.930.com/cgi-bin/ubb-cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=016423;p=3) before and it's going to keep coming up until brave Muslim leaders in free countries step up.
Put him on trial for murder, convict him, and don't give into the Muslim pressures of tradition. Then the brave Muslim leaders in this and other free countries must publicly support the decisions of the courts.
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science - 1, false idol religion that has controlled humans for far too long - 0.
way to go, vision of gabriel.
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Originally posted by walkonby:
i like how people think mccain and obama are different. they are the same, will be the same in office, and come out rich like reagan, bush sr., clinton, bush jr., ect.........
(edited)
Originally had a question for Walkonby, but then I realized, he has nothing interesting or intelligent to say about... much of anything, but likes to dress up his comments in non-sequiter space-case random-for-the-hell-of-it language to make himself look soooooo deep. So fuck it.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
true, but the farm bill wont let us keep our h2's
Actually, with all the subsidies for corn based ethanol, it might be your best hope (assuming they make a flex fuel H2 someday). [/b]
can i change my flip remark to 'yes, but brazil is my new favorite country to obsess over'
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
can i change my flip remark to 'yes, but brazil is my new favorite country to obsess over'
Sure. You can obsess over Brazil and I'll continue to obsess over Turkey. I think you're winning this one.
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Kosmo's post about htpc's (home theater personal Computers) has inspired me to start talking about...
SMACKIE'S DIGITAL REVOLUTION 2008
Around December 2007/Jaunary 2008 Smackette told me what it would be like to be married to a Doctor in their first year of residency. Basically, it was "I'm not going to be around so get a hobby and think of some big projects. I can't have you going to the bar every night I'm not around, and I'd rather you spend that money on something useful."
She probably meant paint the apartment (which I sort of did), but I took it upon myself to reorganize my home entertainment this year.
I took stock of current inventory, decided what needed to be replaced, what needed to be better utilized, and set some ground rules:
(1) No copper wires. Think Faye Dunaway playing Joan Crawford in Mommie Dearest. If the technology existed 150 years ago and was barely improved upon, it doesn't work in my revolution.
(2) $400 price point for any new devices. Desktops are dead, laptops are overpriced and under-utilized and I already own an HDTV, so $400 seems like the proper price point for any new devices (feel free to disregard this rule if you don't own an HDTV). We're not wealthy by any means, and a $400 price point, spread out across the year meants that I had checks on my spending and forced me to be creative.
(3) Think catch-up, but plan for next year. It wouldn't have done me any good to simply set out to get everything working today, just so I would have to change it all in the fall. Sometimes this wasn't possible, but other times I went out on a limb.
(4) Lastly and most importantly, plan in such a way that a non-techie person can run it. They may not be able to build it, but if Smackette wants to listen to music, watch a movie, see her photos, etc., she should be able to do it with reding a guide or following 15 steps.
I would also point out here that I beta test for Sprint, Microsoft, TiVo and DirecTV so if it looks like I favor those companies, it's because I do. And sometimes I'm an apologist for these companies, but it is what it is. I took long, hard looks at a lot of companies over the years and these are the ones I work with.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
can i change my flip remark to 'yes, but brazil is my new favorite country to obsess over'
Sure. You can obsess over Brazil and I'll continue to obsess over Turkey. I think you're winning this one. [/b]
not that turkey isnt facinating, but i now want to start a construction/irrigation startup in mato grosso. i mean, a good portion of the best construction workers around here are from bolivia, anyway
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First up?Internet Connectivity
I had been waiting patiently for Google to roll out their Free Wifi for San Francisco, but it was held up by our Board of Supervisors for so long that both Earthlink and Google gave up on the project. Major Bummer. Had they offered 300kbps for free and a pay service for even 1MB, I would have been all over the pay service. But alas?
So I was left with the Cable vs. DSL. It??s amazing that the majority of the US is still deciding between only these two options ?? if you can even get both. Those of you in Verizon??s FiOS area should consider yourself very lucky?
My local providers are Comcast and at&t. Comcast is blocking at&t from rolling out U-verse, so I have no Fiber option, yet I live 30 minutes from Silicon Valley. Yes, I see the irony.
We used to have at&t DSL, but their service was spotty at best and we would experience frequent outages. They claimed that the building??s wiring must be too old and there was little they could do about it. So we switched to Earthlink, but we suffered the same problems. I??m still not sure if at&t is right, because as it turns out Earthlink simply leases at&t??s wires.
In looking at DSL, you??re paying less than cable for internet service, however, you can??t have DSL without a working phone line, so it??s not really cheaper than a cable modem. If you live in the 21st century, what do you need a land line for, other than international long distance calls? So no land line, no DSL. That ruled out at&t and Earthlink. This led to me the no copper wires rule.
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Internet Connectivity (cont.)
So, Comcast?.I??m not sure if I??m still banned from Comcast. After all, that was over 5 years ago and on the other side of the country..but I??d had a few run-ins with Comcast in DC. Look, don??t get mad at me because I know about your technology than your customer service reps, and the supervisor, and some of the tech support specialists. So we didn??t rule them out, just in case they??d forgotten who I was.
But in order to get an affordable cable modem solution, you have to bundle with their other services. Here??s my problem with bundling ?? I don??t write a check any more as it is. NOT ONE. If everything is autopay or online banking, how much easier is ??bundling? really? One bill. Whoopdy doo. Nobody snail mails me a bill any more either. This is a scam folks. And one that many people are buying into.
I??m going to have the Satellite TV vs. Cable TV discussion at another time, but let??s just say that you??re going to have to pry DirecTV out of my cold, dead hands. With Comcast not being an option for TV and us having absolutely no need for VoIP, the $60 a month for cable seemed steep, but was the early leader. Ouch.
My disdain for Comcast led me to start searching for other options. What do the folks in the sticks do? Most of them live to far away from the switch to use DSL and Cable won??t pay the price to lay wires to their place. Turns out, they use either their cell phone company??s data plan or satellite internet.
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Internet Connectivity (last post)
Satellite internet has a huge latency problem (think delay between clicks) that is impossible for a gamer, let alone anyone who want to stream something. It??s also really expensive.
So I looked at Verizon and Sprint, at the time the only Wireless providers with a 3G network in my neighborhood. Verizon has a 5GB download limit so I immediately threw them out. I download way more than 5GB a month with all of my gaming and trial software for various companies.
Sprint offered unlimited download for the same price as cable modem service, so I talked to the folks at Sprint. Unfortunately, WiMAX is still months off, but they said there would be upgrades available to existing Sprint data users. They also said that they would be ending the unlimited download in July, but that they would be grandfathering existing users. Hmmm?
Switching to a Cell provider for home internet has its downsides. One, your existing routers won??t work with a cell phone modem without extra equipment and two, the speeds aren??t the same as Cable or DSL. At first we were going to use our cell phones, hooked up to each computer, but this wasn??t efficient for two reasons: (1) each phone has to pay for broadband access (adds up) and (2) you can??t receive incoming calls when you??re using your phone as a modem.
Sprint gave us a 30 day trial of one of their USB modems, (http://www.sierrawireless.com/product/compass_597.aspx) and we liked it. It offered about 1MB speeds and was fairly reliable. It was also very portable ?? we could take it anywhere we get cell phone service and have DSL speed internet connection. We make frequent trips between SF and LA and the service is very strong.
In order to share it with other computers, I bought a Cradlepoint CTR-350 EVDO router (http://www.cradlepoint.com/ctr350/ctr350.php) off E-bay for $100, which is also very portable (about the size of a deck of cards. As ridiculous as this sounds, with the car charger, we can plug the router and modem in to the cigarette lighter and have wifi access for all laptops in the car. You can set up a mini-network anywhere you want basically ?? coffee shops, conference rooms, hotel rooms, the beach, the park, you name it.
Once WiMax comes out, and speeds rival Cable modems, I can??t wait for the opportunities.
So I sacrificed speed for portability, and bucked the at&t/Comcast duopoly. Almost three months later, I still feel pretty good about it.
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DIGITAL REVOLUTION: Media Centers
Alright, so I bored you with my ISP decision making. Sorry about that, but it will all come back together in the end.
At the beginning of the year, I made a heart breaking decision. I had to get rid of the last TiVo in the house. As most of you know, I was an early TiVo adopter and quickly joined their beta team. They were doing some great things with DirecTV (dual tuner recording was on directv almost a decade ago now), and ever better things in their stand alone models, but neither Directv nor TiVo really wanted to play along. TiVo wanted Directv to open up their TiVo boxes for media features, DirecTV refused to pay the price and started building their own box. TiVo then decided to jump on the cable bandwagon and ditch DirecTV all together. This left me in a quandary. I REALLY liked both companies, but I couldn??t keep both.
DirecTV finally won out by providing a ridiculous amount of HDTV, exclusive sports and by inviting me to help build the next TiVo-esque box for DirecTV with Media Share and a whole host of other features. More on that in a minute.
Way back in 2007, after I expelled my last Stand Alone TiVo from the arsenal, I had my computer hooked up to both my stereo and my HDTV. We could have ??youtube offs? after a drunken night or play the music collection via the stereo to our hearts content. I could download HD broadcasts of pay-per-view soccer matches and watch them on the big screen...you get the point. Smackette hated the computer in the front room, and frankly, I was over the desktop too, but it was too useful to get rid of.
Conveniently for Xmas, Smackette gave me an Xbox 360. Sweet ?? Halo, Rock Band, WWII games. I was in heaven. What I failed to properly assess was the Media Extender built into the 360. The Xbox recognized the other computers on the network and allowed me to play the music files on the desktop or smackette??s laptop, stream the movie files on the desktop, view pictures, you name it. I used to be able to do that with the Stand Alone TiVo, but now I can put the desktop in any room in the apt and play my media out here. Sweet. Sure, there are many other music players out there that stream, but they all have their limitations. Some only do music, some can??t do video, some do photos, but no music at the same time, etc. But why buy an entirely new device if I already own a device that has these features built in?
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Media Centers (cont.)
DirecTV and others (http://gizmodo.com/5022574/the-future-of-tv-according-to-att) have tried desperately to build the same functionality into their DVR??s a la TiVo from a few years ago. Some are working with TiVo, some are working with Microsoft and some are building their own. Oddly, nobody is working with Apple, which sounds strange until you think about who Apple has worked with in the past ?? that would be nobody. Anyway, all are based on a similar model ?? choose the computer you want to work with, choose the storage folder, and scroll through a list of songs/artists/albums/playlists. As a first go around, it wasn??t a bad deal. Smackette, however, wouldn??t touch it because the interface was very limited, so it was back to the drawing board.
Then I discovered that Smackette??s laptop was a Windows XP Media Center PC. (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/mediacenter/default.mspx) Now that, is a slick interface when connected to any device that supports Media Center Extensions. (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/mediacenter/features/extender.mspx) Connect a Media Center enabled device to the 360 (or any other media center extender) and you??ve got something the general public will use. Problem is, the only computer in the place that had the Media Center on it, was the machine that is in the apt least often. It also had the smallest hard drive. Argh.
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Why not just build a home theater PC (HTPC)?
I was on this path for a long time, until I realized that this solution is a long way off due to lack of processing power.
The easy answer would have been they??re way too expensive, but there??s many more limitations than simply the price.
I??m not willing to give up something I can do now, just to make the whole package more convenient. For example, I can record two HD streams and play back a third on my current DVR. There is no PC in the world under $1500 that can do that and provide uninterrupted playback. It??s too much computing not to mention two HD capable capture cards (expensive and resource hogs). And my current DVR cost me nothing. Why would I pay $1500 for that? Considering I still need a source for the HD content (most often cable or satellite) and they??ll provide me an inexpensive device, why bother?
But let??s assume the cards are not capture cards, but instead a cable card reader or a satellite card reader with coaxial attachments provided by your television service provider at a reduced cost. While that will free up resources, it??s still not conducive to multi-tasking. Assume, you??re recording two shows to watch after your guests leave, but while you??re entertaining, you??re listening to your Cocktail Party playlist. What are the chances you can do all three of those things at the same time with one processor, even a duo core? Not good.
Without getting too technical, all HTPC??s work on MPEG-2 codecs provided by your DVD player installed in the PC. An MPEG-2 signal however, is a resource hog. MPEG-4 solutions are a much better way to go, but to capture in MPEG-4 is ridiculously expensive. Again, unless my service provider gives me an MPEG-4 card (and I know some that have), this is an expensive solution.
Storage space used to be a problem, but I think we??re past that now. What we??re not past is backup solutions. Unless you??re a techie, there are not easy mirroring solutions for on the go hardware failure. I consider myself a techie, but even I wouldn??t take on mirroring an HTPC and the resources that would require. I??m willing to take some chances with TV shows, but not my Music. I need a solid backup solution.
So instead, I rely on three processors at the moment: one in the DVR, one in the Xbox 360, and one in the Home Server (next post). It would be nice if the DVR could do all that the 360 can do to eliminate one, but I don??t see that right round the corner. Either way, for ripping, storage and backing up, it won??t be one processor for a long time in my opinion.
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Originally posted by Relaxer:
Originally posted by walkonby:
i like how people think mccain and obama are different. they are the same, will be the same in office, and come out rich like reagan, bush sr., clinton, bush jr., ect.........
(edited)
Originally had a question for Walkonby, but then I realized, he has nothing interesting or intelligent to say about... much of anything, but likes to dress up his comments in non-sequiter space-case random-for-the-hell-of-it language to make himself look soooooo deep. So fuck it. [/b]
thank you. from sweetcell, i would take offence, but from you . . . i'm in love. :o
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Why not just build a home theater PC (HTPC)?
The easy answer would have been they??re way too expensive, but there??s many more limitations than simply the price.
To further illustrate my point, Engadget is discussing Sony's two new "entry-level" HTPCs. (http://www.engadgethd.com/2008/06/25/sony-unloads-two-new-vgx-tp1-media-center-pcs/) Neither has an HD Tuner card, let alone two (entry level, remember?) and they sell for $1400 and $1900 respectively.
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Originally posted by walkonby:
Originally posted by Relaxer:
(edited)
Originally had a question for Walkonby, but then I realized, he has nothing interesting or intelligent to say about... much of anything, but likes to dress up his comments in non-sequiter space-case random-for-the-hell-of-it language to make himself look soooooo deep. So fuck it.
thank you. from sweetcell, i would take offence, but from you . . . i'm in love. :o [/b]
that's completely unfair. i actually take the time and effort to show the glaring holes in your nonsensical ramblings, and i'm hated. relaxer dismisses you out of hand, and you're in love. humph.
bitch.
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none of that matters anymore. this thing with iran is getting pretty scary.
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i actually liked the isp posts. i keep holding on to comcast hoping and praying the fios i was promised 18 months ago shows up
speaking of fios, is there anyway to network dtv boxes together? being able to watch recorded programs on my other sets would make me very happy (ala the fios commercials with kg)
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
speaking of fios, is there anyway to network dtv boxes together? being able to watch recorded programs on my other sets would make me very happy (ala the fios commercials with kg)
No comment.
Oh wait, this isn't a Directv board and you won't rat me out.
You (the collective DirecTV subscribers with an HD DVR) are getting new software starting today and Muli-room viewing is not part of that package. You are getting Media Share (the media extenders as explained above) and some other nice features that I can share later, but should pop up on your DVR when you turn it on next.
Multi-room viewing (MRV), the ability to watch your DVR on any computer in your house, widgets (think Vista or Google Desktop or whatever Mac calls it) and other features are still in testing. MRV is not going to happen any time soon (2-3 months) however.
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vansmack, one question. how in the hell do you know all this stuff, and why hasn't your head exploded yet?
<waiting to be attacked . . . take a number>
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Originally posted by walkonby:
vansmack, one question. how in the hell do you know all this stuff, and why hasn't your head exploded yet?
I don't sleep much and I don't sit by in idle time - always something out there to be learned.
And many people are wondering when my head will explode. I'm sure there's pool out there that you can join if you'd like to make a wager.
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you can have multi room viewing on your FIOS dvr if you pay for it, basically if you dont pay for it you see the option in your menu but it does nothing when you choose it
as a current FIOS customer and former comcast customer, I am not blown away, mostly I dont like their dvr interface (probably just used to the comcast one), I dont like that you cant have your phone also ring on your cell phone and that you cant be emailed your voicemail (like vonage), and I dont think the internet connection is all that fast
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my issue with streaming music around my house is that i need my main iTunes library to recognize when i've played / how many times i've played songs in order for my smart playlists to work ... i'm sure i can get this somehow by making a home media server, but i haven't put in the energy yet
having my desktop hooked up to my receiver/speakers is the easiest way for now ... having an ipod dock in a another room works great as well, once you sync your ipod back up iTunes recognizes what was played
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DIGITAL REVOLUTION: Shut up about the Home Server, already!
I won??t. Be lucky you don??t live near me because everyday I??ve discovered something new that I feel the need to tell you about it. Even the stupid stuff.
So it??s about April/May in the Smackie Digital Revolution 2008 and the desktop is on its way out of the living room (along with the desk and in comes a new paint job and curtains ?? see, I told you smackette didn??t mean gadgets). I??ve got the 360 hooked up to the stereo (optically, I might add, which is important because I don??t want to always have the TV on when all I want to do is listen to music), but I have three different databases of music, photos and video files. I also tried to wirelessly stream an HD version of the FA Cup semi-finals to my front room which was a major failure (802.11g secured, for those interested). Couple that with my music collection at the office and I??m in total disarray. I want to listen to this, but it??s on that computer. Mom wants that picture but it??s at home. We??ve all been there.
Ever since I saw the demo of the Windows Home Server (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/windowshomeserver/default.mspx), I??ve wanted one. Don??t be scared off by the server part ?? this is super friendly and very easy to use. While my favorite aspect of the server was to have one shared storage location for all my media (175 GB of music) that all of the other computers could access, it??s been the rest of the features that makes the jump worth it.
</font>- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">It automatically backs up my collection on the fly (using a new technology in Windows Disk Management ?? not the difficult server stuff that plagues Win Servers ?? no RAID, no mirroring software).</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">It automatically backs up every computer on my network (even wakes up the computers on in the middle of the night, backs up only the files that have changed, then puts them back to sleep).</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">I have Remote Access to my server (read: all of my files) and all of my computers on the network.</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">It creates my own personal web site for photo sharing and (eventually) blogging.</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">And here??s the best part: I have controlled access to all of my music from any computer that has an internet connection! Oh, and my photos and video too, but who cares, we??re music people.</font></li>
<font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">
Problem is, I implemented the $400 gadget rule. There are a few out-of-the-box options that are recommended for the super-novice user. HP has two Media Smart Servers (http://h71036.www7.hp.com/hho/cache/447351-0-0-225-121.html?jumpid=ex_r602_go/mediasmartserver) available that sell for about $549-$749. They add some really slick features, especially for iTunes that aren??t available on Do-it-Yourself models. I??ve waited since October for the price to come down to but by June 1, I moved on to a different solution, but that will be for tomorrow. "Closer to the Heart" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDRPtg0kmJU) came out on Rock Band last night and I'm getting the band together...
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One more thought...
Would Wi-Fi Push You to Public Transport? (http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/blogs/fleishman_on_hardware/148044/would_wifi_push_you_to_public_transport.html)
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I love it when we have a discussion here, and then the next weeks issue of the Economist is dedicated to the same topic. My favorite part was when they referred to the G8 as the "G7 Democracies plus Russia"
From the Briefing Section (for those not familiar with the Economist, the briefing section is research and background):
Who runs the world? (http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11664289)
Wrestling for influence
Jul 3rd 2008
From The Economist print edition
The post-war global institutions have largely worked well. But rising countries and growing threats are challenging their pre-eminence
THE powerful, like the victorious, do not just write history. They grab the seats at the top tables, from the United Nations Security Council to the boards of the big international economic and financial institutions. They collude behind closed doors. They decide who can join their cosy clubs and expect the rest of the world to obey the instructions they hand down.
That is how many outsiders, not just in the poor world, will see the summit that takes place from July 7th to 9th of the G8, the closest the world has to an informal (ie, self-appointed) steering group. Leaders of seven of the world??s richest democracies, plus oil-and gas-fired Russia, gather this year in Toyako, on Hokkaido in northern Japan, to ruminate on climate change, rising food and energy prices, and the best way to combat global scourges from disease to nuclear proliferation.
From the Leaders section (think opinion):
What a way to run the world (http://www.economist.com/opinion/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11670305)
Global institutions are an outdated muddle; the rise of Asia makes their reform a priority for the West
CLUBS are all too often full of people prattling on about things they no longer know about. On July 7th the leaders of the group that allegedly runs the world??the G7 democracies plus Russia??gather in Japan to review the world economy. But what is the point of their discussing the oil price without Saudi Arabia, the world??s biggest producer? Or waffling about the dollar without China, which holds so many American Treasury bills? Or slapping sanctions on Robert Mugabe, with no African present? Or talking about global warming, AIDS or inflation without anybody from the emerging world? Cigar smoke and ignorance are in the air.
The G8 is not the only global club that looks old and impotent (see article). The UN Security Council has told Iran to stop enriching uranium, without much effect. The nuclear non-proliferation regime is in tatters. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the fireman in previous financial crises, has been a bystander during the credit crunch. The World Trade Organisation??s Doha round is stuck. Of course, some bodies, such as the venerable Bank for International Settlements (see article), still do a fine job. But as global problems proliferate and information whips round the world ever faster, the organisational response looks ever shabbier, slower and feebler. The world??s governing bodies need to change.
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So those that know me know that I either have a Mountain Dew or a beer in my hand (and occasionally on weekends when I??m taking myself too seriously, a glass of wine) at all times. My Dew addiction is so bad, that Smackette gave me one of her Starbuck coffee mugs to pour the Dew into because she was convinced that people would take me more seriously if I didn??t look like I was always drinking a soda. As usual, she was right, although I still maintain growing the permanent 5 O??clock shadow has helped as well.
This summer Mountain Dew released three new flavors designed by Dew drinkers ?? however, only one will survive after the voting at dewmocracy.com. After launching a successful international campaign to get ??Live Wire? to be a permanent fixture, I was going to sit this one out. But luckily for me, the liquor store I stop at to pick up a sandwich on my way to the beach for lunch (don??t hate me because I eat lunch at the beach 2-3 times a week, hate me because I??m beautiful) had all three new flavors in stock.
<img src="http://www.dewmocracy.com/images/image_overview-default_bott.jpg" alt=" - " />
First up for Review: REVOLUTION
??Dew Infused with Wild Berry Fruit Flavor and Ginseng?
One of my biggest fears of these new flavors was that they were going to be too sweet. One was raspberry, one was strawberry, and this was the wild berry variety. I must say, this one is very tame. I??ve noticed that the most recent Dew varietals have come with a bit of an aftertaste that is not present on the original masterpiece, so eloquently encapsulated in the Mountain Dew Rock by Beck (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3fD1_UmmdoI). This one is the same ?? it must be the Ginseng (which is a cop out for I have no f??in clue why it has the after taste). The light taste combined with the fizzy start make it taste more like a berry flavored seltzer water than a Mountain Dew. I rather enjoyed it this morning.
It??s going to be tough for the other ones to beat this one out. It??s better than Code Red, but is still behind Live Wire and the original.
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so smackie will you have the Do Not Disturb sign out on the 22nd when the U2 remastered CDs with bonus tracks come out?
and no i'm not ignoring your white papers just been a bit preoccupied this week...
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Oh, iTunes 7.7 just came out! That can mean only one thing!!!
Oh, a new phone. Nevermind.
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Originally posted by kosmo:
so smackie will you have the Do Not Disturb sign out on the 22nd when the U2 remastered CDs with bonus tracks come out?
Well, I no longer buy CDs, but I still took the day off. I'll figure something out.
I'm thinking me and the Director should meet half way, take over the DJ booth at a gentleman's club see what happens with the remasters....
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i like how 'where the streets have no name' is basically the entire republic of ireland
i did get to see the crazy u2 street with all the graffiti though
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DIGITAL REVOLUTION: Tell me more about the Home Server, already!
Ok, so now I??ve been waiting 6+ months for the price of a home server to come down. Why do I feel like a home server should be around $400? Well, it??s simple really. It doesn??t do much besides store files.
There??s no mouse or keyboard. There??s no video card for graphics or sound card for high audio. It??s a basically a 500GB external drive ($100) with an operating system ($150) hooked up to a CPU ($65) with RAM ($30) and a network card ($15). That??s $370 in my book, and I??ll throw in $30 for putting it all together. $400.
So in my ongoing quest to fully understand the OS before I buy my HP Media Smart server, I stumbled onto instructions to build your own $400 Home Server. (http://www.homeserverhacks.com/2008/04/build-green-400-windows-home-server_2871.html) PERFECT! I??ve built computers before, but Donavan West did an amazing job of step by step instructions that any monkey can follow. So I went about collecting my parts that Donavan recommended. At this point I feel the need to point out that I have many hookups at Microsoft and that I didn??t pay the $150 for the OS (more like $30 in exchange for building one for her after I get it all worked out ?? seemed like a deal to me). So instead, I reinvested in my server by doubling the RAM (2GB) and adding dual eSATA HDDs (1TB total).
One quick thing. As Sonick pointed out in a different thread, I??m a bit of an enviro. I recycle and drive a Prius, but I??m not crazy. I don??t climb trees about to be cut down and I won??t make too many performance sacrifices for my entertainment unit. But I did try to go green where I could. I bought a CPU that is the size of a toaster that uses 1/3 less power (http://us.shuttle.com/barebone/Models/K45.html) than most CPUs. I bought Western Digital Green drives (http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/greenpower/index.asp) that remove the heads (needles) from the drives when not in use, saving energy. I needed to go to a gig switch rather than the usual 10/100 for HD content, but I did so by buying a D-link green switch (http://www.dlink.com/products/?sec=1&pid=494) that parks the ports when the computer is not turned on. Generally, these things cost a little more, but I??ll get the money back in my saved electricity bills (or so the hope goes). The whole concept of the server is to not only have one storage location, but to also save power by not needing to power on multiple computers/laptops/monitors etc. all the time.
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Prius huh....were are you going to dump that huge battery in a few years?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
But I did try to go green where I could. Generally, these things cost a little more, but I??ll get the money back in my saved electricity bills (or so the hope goes).
ha ha. . .i'll see what i can do about that. . .
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Originally posted by 47 YEAR OLD VIRGIN:
Prius huh....were are you going to dump that huge battery in a few years?
In one of the many caverns created beneath the North Sea that is empty now that all the oil is gone.
I'll put it right next to your carbon.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
ha ha. . .i'll see what i can do about that. . .
No matter what you do (and I'm afraid you'll do a lot), it won't change the fact that if I use less wattage, I'll be charged less money.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
ha ha. . .i'll see what i can do about that. . .
No matter what you do (and I'm afraid you'll do a lot), it won't change the fact that if I use less wattage, I'll be charged less money. [/b]
depending on when you use it (and what's the generating source). bwah ha ha hah
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DIGITAL REVOLUTION: Get that damn thing off the dinner table!
So now I have the server, what do I do with it. Unlike the concept of a server that should be stuffed in the closet, I put mine front and center in my entertainment center. It??s just over 6 inches high and 6 inches wide, no more than 14 inches deep. It also has a lovely clear plastic cover that one can put a nice photo in so it??s not ugly. I put the Gig (10/100/1000) switch behind my entertainment unit with a cable running to my router, my Server, my Xbox 360, my DVR and my Slingbox. Only two devices in my system have gig network cards, but they??re the most important ?? the 360 and the server ?? the only two devices that would send HD content between them.
From the wireless router I have two laptops and a desktop hooked up. So with no keyboard, mouse or monitor, how do I connect to the server? Remotely of course. WHS comes with a connector disk that installs a program that connects between the server and all of the computers on the network. From any of these computers, I can log in and make changes to the server. Each client also has a folder on the desktop that links to shared folders on the server: Music, Photos, Videos, Software, Public (misc), and a personal folder for each user that is not shared. You can also create your own shared folders.
Once a computer is recognized by the server, the server takes care of the rest. The HP model will even go out to every computer and copy all of the music/photos/videos on each computer and copy them to the server ?? and NOT make duplicates. That??s pretty slick. As I mentioned the server will automatically back up each machine overnight, provide access to shared folders, etc.
From each computer you can also install programs that run on the server. For example, I have a program installed called Whiist (http://www.andrewgrant.org/whiist) that turns my personal server into a web server where we share my photos with our family and friends. I have a couple other programs that handle sharing my music and movies that I will discuss at length later.
Another program that I run is a bit torrent add-in. From any of my machines, I send a bit torrent address to the server and the server runs the torrent for me. I turn the computers off and the server takes care of the rest. I can do that from home or work or your home, if I wanted.
In addition, I have remote access to my server from just about any computer on the internet. I can log in, upload files, download files, fix the computers on my home network from my office. I also have access to all of my music...
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Hey, Smackie this is a music site, shut up already!
Remember when I set out to solve my music problem? Yeah, me too. So here??s what I did with the server.
Windows Media Player automatically recognizes all the music the server stores, but who in the hell uses that? I run three FREE programs on the server to provide access to my music, one inside my LAN and two outside:
I joined the FireFly Media Server project (http://www.fireflymediaserver.org/) which ties in Apple??s Bonjour software and the WHS. Once installed, every iTunes on my network recognized the server and provided streaming access to the music stored on the server. It has its limitations though. If you??re like Hoya and like Smartplaylists this is not for you. In addition, while it??s an iTunes solution, it does not work with iPods unless you Map a Network drive (a solution is a work in progress).
In addition, I added WebGuide (http://www.asciiexpress.com/webguide/) which provides me streaming access to my entire music collection through the web. I log into my web site and have my collection organized by artist or album and stream the music to my itunes, through Windows Media Player or through the built in player.
One last really dorky addition is LobsterTunes. (http://lobstertunes.com/) It allows me to stream my music collection through my Windows Mobile Phone (in my case, Motorola Q). Basically, I can??t escape my music collection as long as I am awake.
But, because it??s a Microsoft product, it??s not without its faults and bugs. Unlike Apple, where everything ties into one goal, one thing was clear with the WHS. They weren??t talking to the Media Center folks, who weren??t talking to the Media Extender folks who weren??t talking to any server folks?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by 47 YEAR OLD VIRGIN:
Prius huh....were are you going to dump that huge battery in a few years?
In one of the many caverns created beneath the North Sea that is empty now that all the oil is gone.
I'll put it right next to your carbon. [/b]
So it's a case of polute now or polute later then.
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i'm planning a similar home networking project this fall ... my problem is that i know little-to-nothing about networking, can you recommend a book/website that will help me with basics? will my iTunes smart playlist issue be a big problem with a server?
by the way, lifehacker had an interesting post (http://lifehacker.com/398203/mininova-adds-remote-bittorrent-downloads) about adding mininova torrents to an RSS feed and having a remote bittorrent client start downloading them automatically ... pretty nifty, but it seems like you already have a solution for that
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MS..why have though foresaken me? Again!?
So Microsoft has an uncanny ability to develop really great products and not tell anyone about them ?? including their own developers. There??s no one common goal to meet one great strategy like Apple does. I made a joke earlier today about Apple releasing new iTunes software in conjunction with their new phone. If it were Microsoft and they had a new phone that only worked with WMP 12, they wouldn??t talk to WMP12 to see when it was done before releasing the phone.
I mentioned earlier that the Xbox 360 can see computers on the network and play their files. If those computers are media center computers, the experience is much better (one that even Smackette will use). Well, the server experience leaves much to be desired.
For example. MS uses a program called Media Connect to connect your computer to a media extender. A computer that includes Media Center is essentially an overlay to improve the Media Connect experience as illustrated below:
Media Connect w/out Media Center
<img src="http://www.winsupersite.com/images/reviews/xbox360_dm_11.jpg" alt=" - " />
Media Center XP
<img src="http://www.xbox.com/NR/rdonlyres/3B424750-1210-4129-9819-B995D7C38547/0/MyMusicLibrary001.jpg" alt=" - " />
Media Center Vista
<img src="http://www.gadgets-reviews.com/uimg_new/microsoft-debuts-extenders-for-windows-media-center-adds-divx-and-xvid.jpg" alt=" - " />
The Media Center experience is obviously much easier and more friendly to use, simply because it uses metadata (and the search function is really nice).
Media Connect has been through many iterations. The original is obsolete and was replaced by 2.0 with WMP9. If you install Windows Media Player 11 on XP, it comes with Media Connect 3.0. If you install WMP 11 on Vista, you get Media Connect 4.0. Fear not, I??m shaking my head with you.
Guess which version comes on the Home Server? 2.0! Why? The WHS was built on the Windows 2003 server platform and there is no windows media player beyond 9.0 built for the server. That means no upgrades for Media Connect because it??s built around WMP.
In addition, the Media Center Overlay (the fancy user experience) is not available as an add-in. It only comes with the purchase of an operating system that has hardware that supports certain elements ?? whether you use them or not. You cannot purchase it separately, even if you own an Xbox 360 that does have the hardware support!
So what does this mean for your experience? Well, it all depends on what you use. If you only have iTunes or Winamp or WMP and no extender, absolutely nothing. If you hook your computer up directly to your TV? Again, nothing.
If you have an extender that has a very nice built in overlay, the only problem may be file support (MC 2.0 does not support Xvid and DivX for example, but perhaps your extender does).
If you have an Xbox 360 (built by MS) and a WHS (built buy MS) then you??re totally bummed. Let??s start at the most basic: want to find ??The Beatles? ?? better head to the ??T?s, cause you ain??t gonna find them in the ??B?s. MC 2.0 can??t strip ??the? from the database! I know, it's 2008. It's disgusting.
File types are just as ridiculous. I can??t play, for example, WMP11 (or even 10) videos on my 360 using an XP machine or the WHS. There??s absolutely no excuse for this. Xvid and DivX? Forget about it. Crazily enough, if I copy the Xvid or divX movie to a USB flash drive and plug it in the 360, the 360 can play it. At this point I hope you??re not shaking your head but pounding it on your desk like I am.
This is why Apple will continue to kick MS??s ass. Even if MS can beat Apple to the market with a home server, Apple has 6-12 months to release a perfect product while MS gets beaten up on the blogs - and deservedly so. One hand does not talk to the other - it's as if they don't use any of their products in the real world!
Now, there??s big hype about MS??s ??Fiji? project. (http://arstechnica.com/journals/microsoft.ars/2008/06/02/windows-fiji-screenshots-leak-final-name-revealed) The details have been very tight lipped, but let??s hope that by the end of the summer, they get a lot of these absurdities fixed.
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Originally posted by HoyaSaxa03:
will my iTunes smart playlist issue be a big problem with a server?
Not if you map a network drive (ie, give your \\homeserver\shared\music folder a drive letter on your computer). The problem is, iTunes chooses where it stores your iTunes Db for you, so you can't have two computers map to the same network folder as two computers can't share the same iTunes Db without causing lots of problems (chaz, if you've found a work around, please share!).
In my house, we map one laptop to the shared folder and use that for the iPods and ripping songs to the server (and I suppose you could use that for your Smartplaylists).
The other laptop uses the FireFly Media server so I can stream the collection (and perhaps your playlists as they are visible). The problem for you would be your streamed content to a second computer or a media extender would not register in your smart playlists nor will your Last.fm (.m3u's don't register in play counts).
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Originally posted by HoyaSaxa03:
i'm planning a similar home networking project this fall ... my problem is that i know little-to-nothing about networking, can you recommend a book/website that will help me with basics?
There's plenty, but most networking is handled automatically these days. Talk to me after your exam and your vacation.
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Originally posted by HoyaSaxa03:
by the way, lifehacker had an interesting post (http://lifehacker.com/398203/mininova-adds-remote-bittorrent-downloads) about adding mininova torrents to an RSS feed and having a remote bittorrent client start downloading them automatically ...
uTorrent for the Home Server (http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeServer/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=1717779&SiteID=50) works very similarly, except rather than leave the home computer(s) on, the server is always on, unlike, say a laptop that might be at the coffee shop with the Mrs.
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has anybody tried streaming netflix on demand movies through their xbox? You need a plugin and Media Center Vista, I tried to get it working but I only have Vista Ultimate running virtually in VMWare Fusion on my macbook pro, no success so far, cant get the xbox and the virtual Vista to communicate
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Ok, smackie so here is the deal. With the release of the iPhone 2.0 software I have decided that the Remote function is really cool. I want to hear my iTunes stuff on my Stereo, and use the phone as a remote. Currently I can listen to my itunes music through two options, Tivo and xBox 360 (through connect 360) obviously the huge draw back is that you cannot listen to any songs purchased through the Apple Music Store (this is the key to making the whole thing work), and you cannot use the new remote option.
So I did some looking around and I think these are my options:
1. I currently have an airport express (its not by the stereo) it functions as a network extender and the wireless print server. I could, connect the printer directly to the mac that sits on the desk (its a powerbook 12", but it never leaves the desk). I would then be able to move the airport express to the stereo, be able to use airtunes, and still be able to share the printer through the powerbook. This option lets me use the remote but audio only.
2. Just buy another airport express ($79 refurb), and hook it up to the stereo.
3. Buy the a/v cables that allow me to plug in an ipod/iphone to the stereo and TV. This option gives me the ability to do Video as well as audio, but I have to use the ipod to do this, not the computer, which has a much larger library than the ipod and or iphone can handle. I also have no remote control option here.
4. Buy an Apple TV. Gives me video, audio, and more.
5. Buy a Mac Mini. Solves all issues, and its a computer.
I'm not sure any of the third party products out there will give me the ability to play the Apple Music Store purchased music.
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Just a second....
How come my morning commute is never this good:
Stripper arrested for subway pole dances (http://in.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idINN1138246820080711)
SANTIAGO (Reuters) - A stripper who danced on the poles of Santiago subway trains to challenge the prudishness of Chilean society was arrested on Thursday during one of her lightning performances.
Monserrat Morilles, 26, surprised subway riders all week stripping to skimpy underwear, but she refused tips.
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Originally posted by raebyddet:
songs purchased through the Apple Music Store (this is the key to making the whole thing work
Let's start at the basics and see if we can use what you already have.
How many protected AAC songs are we talking about?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by raebyddet:
songs purchased through the Apple Music Store (this is the key to making the whole thing work
Let's start at the basics and see if we can use what you already have.
How many protected AAC songs are we talking about? [/b]
At this point, not a lot. Under 100 I would say. But its the newer stuff that I actually want to listen to right now. I would also guess, that as time goes on this will only grow, I never seem to buy CDs anymore. ITMS seems to be the only place I am getting music from these days.
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I don't use many Apple products (I will defer to Pollard on this one), but it sounds like moving the printer to the computer or purcahsing a new AirPort is the way to go for you. Unless you're willing to convert the songs to a non-protected format and refuse to purchase DRM music in the future, neither the TiVo nor the 360 will work for you.
The iPhone remote is really nice for one thing basically - controlling your music when you're not in the line of sight with your devices (since it works on wi-fi and not IR). Otherwise, I programmed my Harmony to do just about everything else it does (note: I don't use iTunes but to rip/organize and for iPods).
One downside to the AirPort is that you may lose the digital quality of your sound if you go 3.5mm stereo to RCA jacks. If you go this route and your stereo has digital sound capability, I'd pick up a cheap TOSLINK/Coaxial Digital adapter and make sure your sound is as clear as you can get it.
If you're bold and have some spare cash, I like the Mac Mini server idea that Pollard employs, especially for video. I think the Mac Mini grows where Apple TV, in its current form, will be surpassed in a couple years (lack of 1080 output).
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I don't use many Apple products (I will defer to Pollard on this one), but it sounds like moving the printer to the computer or purcahsing a new AirPort is the way to go for you. Unless you're willing to convert the songs to a non-protected format and refuse to purchase DRM music in the future, neither the TiVo nor the 360 will work for you.
The iPhone remote is really nice for one thing basically - controlling your music when you're not in the line of sight with your devices (since it works on wi-fi and not IR). Otherwise, I programmed my Harmony to do just about everything else it does (note: I don't use iTunes but to rip/organize and for iPods).
One downside to the AirPort is that you may lose the digital quality of your sound if you go 3.5mm stereo to RCA jacks. If you go this route and your stereo has digital sound capability, I'd pick up a cheap TOSLINK/Coaxial Digital adapter and make sure your sound is as clear as you can get it.
If you're bold and have some spare cash, I like the Mac Mini server idea that Pollard employs.
Yeah, I shouldn't be willing to accept DRM but, at this point I just do. I know I shouldn't.
I think I am just stuck with my options for now. This is one of those areas that will just keep changing.
I really want Pollard's Mac Mini server plan. I think that is what I really need to do, but for now I think its a bit out of the budget. The Apple TV would be more reasonable, but I have such a hard time justifying the cost of that when for almost double the price you can get a full fledged computer.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
One downside to the AirPort is that you may lose the digital quality of your sound if you go 3.5mm stereo to RCA jacks. If you go this route and your stereo has digital sound capability, I'd pick up a cheap TOSLINK/Coaxial Digital adapter and make sure your sound is as clear as you can get it.
I didn't know about the TOSLINK thing until this pastweekend. I guess all the newish macbooks, and the airport express have standard headphone jacks, and that is all I ever thought they were. Then someone at the store told me about the TOSLINK thing. I had no idea you could use that port for an optical connection. I think that is pretty cool.
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Originally posted by raebyddet:
Then someone at the store told me about the TOSLINK thing. I had no idea you could use that port for an optical connection. I think that is pretty cool.
As long as your stereo supports it:
3.5 Stereo connector to TOSLINK adapter (http://www.amazon.com/Stereo-Digital-Optical-Toslink-Adaptor/dp/B000I97H68)
One of the main reasons why I use the 360 is TOSLINK to TOSLINK. I rip my DVDs in 5.1 Dolby and the 360 plays them beautifully.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by raebyddet:
Then someone at the store told me about the TOSLINK thing. I had no idea you could use that port for an optical connection. I think that is pretty cool.
As long as your stereo supports it:
3.5 Stereo connector to TOSLINK adapter (http://www.amazon.com/Stereo-Digital-Optical-Toslink-Adaptor/dp/B000I97H68)
One of the main reasons why I use the 360 is TOSLINK to TOSLINK. I rip my DVDs in 5.1 Dolby and the 360 plays them beautifully. [/b]
Yeah my 360 is connected that way as well. I just use the 360 for playing dvd's now, no need for an additional player.
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
has anybody tried streaming netflix on demand movies through their xbox?
This may surprise you, but I don't have a Vista Machine at home. It's not because I think it's inferior, but I've tried to spread out my processing power and have started to purchase less powerful computers in an attempt to utilize my other more powerful devices.
As soon as I can stream Netflix to the 360 without having to run an extra computer, I'm all for it.
But Microsoft thinking that I have to turn on a computer to stream to the 360 is a complete waste of resources. The 360 is more than powerful enough to decode the Netflix movie file on it's own.
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Originally posted by raebyddet:
I didn't know about the TOSLINK thing until this pastweekend. I guess all the newish macbooks, and the airport express have standard headphone jacks, and that is all I ever thought they were. Then someone at the store told me about the TOSLINK thing. I had no idea you could use that port for an optical connection. I think that is pretty cool.
the TOSLINK is what I use to get audio from the mac mini to my stereo, the adapters are super cheap, I am sure you have a spare optical cable laying around
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by pdx pollard:
has anybody tried streaming netflix on demand movies through their xbox?
This may surprise you, but I don't have a Vista Machine at home. It's not because I think it's inferior, but I've tried to spread out my processing power and have started to purchase less powerful computers in an attempt to utilize my other more powerful devices.
As soon as I can stream Netflix to the 360 without having to run an extra computer, I'm all for it.
But Microsoft thinking that I have to turn on a computer to stream to the 360 is a complete waste of resources. The 360 is more than powerful enough to decode the Netflix movie file on it's own. [/b]
I keep waiting for this. I don't really want to spend $100 on the roku player if the xbox is going to do this, there really is no reason that it can't.
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
Originally posted by raebyddet:
I didn't know about the TOSLINK thing until this pastweekend. I guess all the newish macbooks, and the airport express have standard headphone jacks, and that is all I ever thought they were. Then someone at the store told me about the TOSLINK thing. I had no idea you could use that port for an optical connection. I think that is pretty cool.
the TOSLINK is what I use to get audio from the mac mini to my stereo, the adapters are super cheap, I am sure you have a spare optical cable laying around [/b]
I think I do have an extra optical cable around. I will have to check this weekend.
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DIGITAL REVOLUTION: No way I could ever work all that!
Hey Smackie, you??ve thoroughly confused me, bored the hell out of me, but you promised one thing ?? that Smackette would be able to use it, and I just don??t see how.
That??s where the Harmony Remote (http://www.logitech.com/index.cfm/harmony_truth_2008/4238&cl=us,en?ci_tag=ht2008_logi-promo-small&WT.ac=ps|4256) comes in. One of the dorky tech web sites I belong to has a thread dedicated to Amazon??s gadget sales. I rarely check it, but one day there was a lot of action. Curiosity got the best of me.
Amazon was selling the Harmony 767 (http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-Harmony-Universal-Remote-Control/dp/B0003QER7S) for $50. $50 for a remote, you must be crazy! Well, it normally sells for $149, and I was at my wits end.
When you get married, after that pile of dirty clothes next to your bed, the second thing to go is your collection of remotes on the coffee table. I had tried everything to get a good inexpensive universal remote. Jp1, learning remotes, all of it. Well, nothing ever did all of it. Until I bought a Harmony. I knew I was going to take some shit for it, but when it arrived, I promised Smackette ?? if this doesn??t replace all of our remotes and make our system more than usable, I??ll get us a house cleaner. Deal. She lost.
It??s not that it controls all of your devices (it does), but the strength of the Harmony is the one touch button to perform functions in your system. Want to watch a DVD? Smackette presses the DVD button and (1) the TV turns on (2) goes to the proper input and (3) the DVD player turns on (I even set it to eject the tray). The buttons on the remote control the DVD player and the volume controls the TV, without hitting any extra buttons. Want to watch a DVD in stereo, there??s a button for that. Same as above except the stereo turns on as well, goes to the proper input and the volume buttons now controls the stereo. She??s even made her own requests ?? I want the iPod dock to be the music button since we don??t use CDs any more ?? no prob. It has iPod, Media Center, Xbox, DVR functionality ?? hell you can dim the lights and turn off the fan with it. The web interface makes all of these macros easy to set up and it remembers everything. I have nearly a dozen different functions pre-programmed for one button functionality.
Keep your eye out for another sale. You??ll love yourself for it, but so will everyone else in the household.
This revolution is as much about simple storage as it is about finding a simple interface.
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I have the harmony 520 and love it, just wish it had Blu Ray so it could work with the Wii and the PS3 as well. What extra features does yours have over mine?
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are you a human being . . . or rather like one of those typing robots with detachable fingers, from "ghost in the shell"?
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I have the Harmony 688, I couldn't use my setup with out it. I don't think they make this version any longer. I think I got this right before or right after Logitech purchased Harmony. It was one of the remotes that was designed to work with Tivo. Its great.
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there was a buzz in feb that netflix was going to start streaming via xbox360 and ps3. there was a bit of teaser provided by netflix in one of their online surveys.
personally, with amazon, lala, rhapsody, emusic and many other selling DRM free better quality and often checker MP3s... why anyone would use iTMS as their primary source for digital content. most of them even provide downloader software that will place the files directly into the iTunes library.
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Originally posted by kosmo:
personally, with amazon, lala, rhapsody, emusic and many other selling DRM free better quality and often checker MP3s... why anyone would use iTMS as their primary source for digital content. most of them even provide downloader software that will place the files directly into the iTunes library.
Isn't amazon the only one that you don't have to have a subscription to though?
I'm not a fan of subscription services, I only want to pay for what I use and I only want to pay when I want it.
And yes Amazon does sell DRM free songs, and to a lesser extent Apple does as well (although I am not sure how true that is anymore, I know Apple started the DRM free thing as well, I'm just not sure how the two compare these days).
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
I have the harmony 520 and love it, just wish it had Blu Ray so it could work with the Wii and the PS3 as well. What extra features does yours have over mine?
Can someone explain to me how much better Blue Ray is than a regular DVD player using a HDTV? Keep in mind I'm no movie buff but watch one now and again on a Sunday evening if there's nothing better to do.
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Originally posted by raebyddet:
Originally posted by kosmo:
personally, with amazon, lala, rhapsody, emusic and many other selling DRM free better quality and often checker MP3s... why anyone would use iTMS as their primary source for digital content. most of them even provide downloader software that will place the files directly into the iTunes library.
Isn't amazon the only one that you don't have to have a subscription to though?
I'm not a fan of subscription services, I only want to pay for what I use and I only want to pay when I want it.
And yes Amazon does sell DRM free songs, and to a lesser extent Apple does as well (although I am not sure how true that is anymore, I know Apple started the DRM free thing as well, I'm just not sure how the two compare these days). [/b]
of those mentioned eMusic is the only subscription based model for the purchase of MP3s...
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Originally posted by Ever Circling Skeletal Family:
Can someone explain to me how much better Blue Ray is than a regular DVD player using a HDTV? Keep in mind I'm no movie buff but watch one now and again on a Sunday evening if there's nothing better to do.
what I actually meant to say was one with Blue Tooth, not Blue Ray, as for Blue Ray vs DVD I dont think the difference is that great
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
Originally posted by Ever Circling Skeletal Family:
Can someone explain to me how much better Blue Ray is than a regular DVD player using a HDTV? Keep in mind I'm no movie buff but watch one now and again on a Sunday evening if there's nothing better to do.
what I actually meant to say was one with Blue Tooth, not Blue Ray, as for Blue Ray vs DVD I dont think the difference is that great [/b]
Thank you....I'll keep my money in my wallet then.
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
I have the harmony 520... What extra features does yours have over mine?
Doesn't look like much except for colored one touch activity buttons across the top dedicated to "Watch TV", "Watch Movie", and "Listen to Music" in addition to the screen that you would use to the same.
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DIGITAL REVOLUTION: If only money fell from trees?
Easy for you to build, Smackie, but I??m still working my up the management structure of that non-profit I work for. I won??t give up my beliefs just to join your Digital Revolution!
Good for you and neither did I.
I??ll even assume I didn??t get the 360 as a gift?
HOME SERVER: $400
But that was a bit of a stretch to build my own, so let??s say $550 for the HP Pre-Build model.
XBOX 360: $350
Since I use it in this case primarily as a media extender, here are other more inexpensive options for non-gamers:
</font>- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">Linksys DMA2100 - $250</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">D-Link - $275</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">HP MediaSmart Connect - $315</font></li>
<font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">
GIGABIT SWITCH: DLink DGS-2208 - $20
If you want to go wireless, you can get a combined Gig Switch and N router for ~$50.
REMOTE: Harmony 767 - $50
Buy all your cables and adapters from monoprice, (http://www.monoprice.com) no more than $30.
So what are we talking about? I spent $470 ($625 really if you count my ISP change, but most won??t have to do that) to organize all of my music, photos and movies in one location, provide solid backup of my collection, have access to it in any room in the house from a range of devices, provide a personal web site where I can access it at work, on the road, on vacation, anywhere I want, and made it easy for Smackette to use (if only MS would play along I could make it REALLY easy for Smackette to use), but starting from nothing, you could do the same for about $900.
Now look at that CD collection over there collecting dust. When was the last time you took something off the shelf to listen to? Sure I??ve put lots of CDs on top of the pile, but I hadn??t pulled a CD off in months. I sold off a large portion of my CD collection for $1100, mostly 90??s crap that I rarely listened to (hell, you saw that list (http://www.930.com/cgi-bin/ubb-cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=016423;p=17)) and still have money to play with (remember that Flash based mini-laptop I want?just waiting. It will be perfect to log into the server). And when I done ripping the DVD collection, that??s next to be sold off. I wonder what I??ll buy with that?
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
also, i would call out the u.n. a bit more (who, amongst other things, allows mugabe to violate all sorts of e.u. sanctions against him, in addition to allowing mbeki to dictate the conversation), but that's probably expected of me. . .
Do you call out the UN on this or do you simply blame China and Russia?
U. N. Resolution on Zimbabwe Fails In Security Council (http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-zimbabwe-crisis-un.html)
By REUTERS
Published: July 11, 2008Filed at 5:28 p.m. ET
UNITED NATIONS, July 11 (Reuters) - A U.N. resolution to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe for holding a violent June 27 presidential poll boycotted by the opposition candidate was vetoed in the Security Council on Friday by Russia and China.
The resolution would have imposed an arms embargo on the southern African country and financial and travel restrictions on President Robert Mugabe and 13 other officials. It would also have called for a U.N. special envoy for Zimbabwe to be appointed.
Nine countries voted for the resolution, five -- including veto-holding Russia and China -- opposed it and one abstained.
(the others were Libya, Vietnam and.....you guessed it: South Africa)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Now look at that CD collection over there collecting dust. When was the last time you took something off the shelf to listen to? Sure I??ve put lots of CDs on top of the pile, but I hadn??t pulled a CD off in months. I sold off a large portion of my CD collection for $1100, mostly 90??s crap that I rarely listened to (hell, you saw that list (http://www.930.com/cgi-bin/ubb-cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=016423;p=17)) and still have money to play with (remember that Flash based mini-laptop I want?just waiting. It will be perfect to log into the server). And when I done ripping the DVD collection, that??s next to be sold off. I wonder what I??ll buy with that?
i gotta admit, selling all my CDs was scary, but oddly liberating
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Anybody else recently check their purchased list in Itunes and find stuff you don't remember?
Mine has a very long list of songs I don't remember purchasing, but apparently have played. I went to check my purcahse history and they're not listed so they must be free.
Their definitely on my computer (protected .aac).
I wonder if I signed up for some free DL of the week or something and it's been happening automatically?
Here's the first half of my purchased list (http://www.flickr.com/photos/10573454@N06/2659811068/) that I don't recognize. Apparently they vast majority have been there since 11/13/2006 so I'm not very observant (I love combining music colletions...). I must have agreed to something that day.
For the record, most of it is crap.
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<img src="http://www.dewmocracy.com/images/image_overview-default_bott.jpg" alt=" - " />
The second installment in everybody's least favorite ongoing smackie diatribe - it's so hard to choose these days with all of my rambling...
VOLTAGE
??Dew Infused with Raspberry Cirtus Fruit Flavor and Ginseng?
First, I'm not an expert but I don't think a Raspberry is a Citrus Fruit, but I'm happy to be corrected.
Anyhow, this one is definitely sweeter than Revolution, but not as sweet as I feared. I think I put too much emphasis in the fact that all three come in bright, nearly flourescent colors. Something about the color screams childish too me (yes, I see the irony in not noticing the bright green bottle that comes with the original). Like other new Dew varietals, the same aftertaste is in Voltage. Weird. This taste isn't as light as the Revolution was, and combined with the fact that I don't really care for Raspberries, this one could disappear and I would miss it. I'm not saying I spittooned it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get one, and it wouldn't be hard to pull something off the shelf that was more appealing.
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Originally posted by raebyddet:
Originally posted by vansmack:
But Microsoft thinking that I have to turn on a computer to stream to the 360 is a complete waste of resources. The 360 is more than powerful enough to decode the Netflix movie file on it's own.
I keep waiting for this. I don't really want to spend $100 on the roku player if the xbox is going to do this, there really is no reason that it can't. [/b]
This is supposed to be announced today or tomorrow at E3.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Eee PC (8G) (http://www.amazon.com/Asus-Celeron-Processor-Solid-State-Preloaded/dp/B000ZLO3D4) over the weekend:
I don't like the price point of the 900 and 1000 models, but I think they'll come down in a few months as the competition heats up. That's when I think I'll make a move.
So this weekend I noticed ASUS was offering $100 off the 900 series laptops (http://gizmodo.com/5023003/asus-offering-100-rebate-on-eee-900) as the 901s were about to be released. The 900 series now sells for $400 and $449, as I suspected. The $400 model is a new one, with only one 16GB SSD drive, rather than the other 12GB and 20GB models that have a split drive (4GB soldered to the motherboard, 12GB or 8GB extra card stuck in the slot).
While it seems better to have one drive, most folks are saying the performance on the single drive that is NOT soldered on the board is terrible for running the OS (linux or Xp), so they suggest the split model and store the OS on the 4GB drive and put the programs on the second drive.
The 901 features an Intel Atom chip which uses less power dramatcially extending the battery life to 5-6 hours vs 2-3 on the 900 (Intel Celeron mobile). Supposedly the 901 also has a graphics chip that will support Vista.
I think I'm getting closer to grabbing a 900 with the dual drives. It's either that or wait until September.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
This is supposed to be announced today or tomorrow at E3.
It was today:
Update 11:15 a.m.: (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-9990517-52.html?hhTest=1) Xbox Live head John Schappert has come out on stage and announced that Xbox Live is getting a full re-design this fall.
Schappert said the new Xbox Live will be tantamount to giving Xbox a full update, all via software. This will be, he explained, based on the new My Xbox channel, which will have a new look and feel and tabs for photos, videos, music and games.
...
Schappert also said that Xbox Live will also have a new partnership with Netflix, allowing users to access movies and TV shows from their Netflix queues via Xbox Live. Further, users will be able to share those shows and movies with their Xbox Live partners.
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With this news I will move away from blockbuster and back to netflix if two things happen:
(1) The quality is good (does anybody know if the stream is Dolby 5.1, for example?).
and
(2) The library is solid.
Great move by netflix.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
With this news I will move away from blockbuster and back to netflix if two things happen:
(1) The quality is good (does anybody know if the stream is Dolby 5.1, for example?).
and
(2) The library is solid.
Great move by netflix.
(1) The video quality supposedly depends on your internet connection, they say if you have 3.0mbps or better its dvd quality.
"Video quality depends on your Internet connection speed: The faster your connection, the better the quality. Slower connections are comparable to watching a VHS tape, while faster connections can provide DVD-quality playback."
Re 5.1:
"The Netflix Player by Roku outputs standard stereo audio on the red and white composite audio cables or 5.1 channel surround sound using the HDMI or optical audio cables. Keep in the mind that the movie or show must also contain 5.1 channel audio for surround sound to work."
I would be willing to be that if 5.1 works in the roku box it will work on the xBox.
(2) The movies available for instant watching are generally older back titles, there really aren't any new releases available for on demand. There are TV shows however (i.e. Weeds Season 2 is avilable for instant view.)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Schappert also said that Xbox Live will also have a new partnership with Netflix, allowing users to access movies and TV shows from their Netflix queues via Xbox Live. Further, users will be able to share those shows and movies with their Xbox Live partners.
grumble grumble grumble... i had hoped this one would have been heading the way of the ps3, which i am still considering getting. didn't really want to load XP on the MacBook in order to watch stuff via Netflix.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
also, i would call out the u.n. a bit more (who, amongst other things, allows mugabe to violate all sorts of e.u. sanctions against him, in addition to allowing mbeki to dictate the conversation), but that's probably expected of me. . .
Do you call out the UN on this or do you simply blame China and Russia?
U. N. Resolution on Zimbabwe Fails In Security Council (http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/world/international-zimbabwe-crisis-un.html)
By REUTERS
Published: July 11, 2008Filed at 5:28 p.m. ET
UNITED NATIONS, July 11 (Reuters) - A U.N. resolution to impose sanctions on Zimbabwe for holding a violent June 27 presidential poll boycotted by the opposition candidate was vetoed in the Security Council on Friday by Russia and China.
The resolution would have imposed an arms embargo on the southern African country and financial and travel restrictions on President Robert Mugabe and 13 other officials. It would also have called for a U.N. special envoy for Zimbabwe to be appointed.
Nine countries voted for the resolution, five -- including veto-holding Russia and China -- opposed it and one abstained.
(the others were Libya, Vietnam and.....you guessed it: South Africa) [/b]
the u.n., where despots and dictators go for protection (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080714/ap_on_re_af/un_darfur)
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
the u.n., where despots and dictators go for protection (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080714/ap_on_re_af/un_darfur)
Change go to "seek" because I don't think he's going to get it.
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@ raebyddet: That's going to be a bummer for me for a little while. In my haste to throw the finger to Comcast and at&t I sacrificed the possiblity of 3.0Mbps. Maybe when WiMax comes out, because there's no way I'm going back to VHS quality.
It's a bummer they can't do a buffer like DirecTV does with their IPTV OnDemand. They even do HD.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
@ raebyddet: That's going to be a bummer for me for a little while. In my haste to throw the finger to Comcast and at&t I sacrificed the possiblity of 3.0Mbps. Maybe when WiMax comes out, because there's no way I'm going back to VHS quality.
It's a bummer they can't do a buffer like DirecTV does with their IPTV OnDemand. They even do HD.
There is a buffer of some sorts, I just think it does a connection analysis first and streams different video qualities based on your connection.
This is what it says specifically:
"You need at least 1.5 Mbps to watch movies instantly on The Netflix Player by Roku. The faster your connection, the better the quality. For high quality video and audio, a connection of least 4.0 Mbps is recommended."
Yeah I am not sure about this, its been one of my concerns as well. I currently have Speakeasy for DSL, and I only have 1.5Mbps, and I pay way too much for it. I haven't heard any reports of the video quality at this speed, most people seem to have much higher speed internet these days, I feel like I have dialup in comparison.
I am seriously considering moving to Verizon DSL, its cheaper and double the speed. Unfortunately with the building we live in DSL is our only option. We have DirectTV only for our "cable" option in our building, and it sucks, we can't even get HD, because they haven't upgraded the equipment for the building.
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Originally posted by raebyddet:
There is a buffer of some sorts, I just think it does a connection analysis first and streams different video qualities based on your connection.
I would rather they just say "would you like to start this movie now?" and give me VHS quality, or have them say "would you like to wait (5/10/15/30) minutes and watch this movie in higher quality?". I'd do that in a heart beat and just treat it like I wasn't paying attention to the previews that Samckette always makes me watch.
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For some, strange reason, since last night sometime, I've had the overwhelming desire to watch that South Park episode from season seven called "Raisins" - you know, the one where Wendy breaks up with Stan and the boys take him to "Raisins" which is supposed to resemble Hooters, and Butters falls in love with the waitress who is overly friendly to him and he leaves her a $69 tip...
Episode 714 - Raisins (http://www.southparkzone.com/episode.php?vid=714)
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Smackie - I'm not the biggest Dew fan - I'm a Dr. Pepper girl.
But I'm intrigued by your Dew breakdown. But the third review, I may have to go sample them.
I remember Code Red being awful awful awful. But for some reason I really liked the special Taco Bell flavor of Dew - Baja Blast? I think is is/was. Thoughts?
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It's become quite clear to me that I don't know my readers very well...
<img src="http://www.dewmocracy.com/images/image_overview-default_bott.jpg" alt=" - " />
The third and final installment in the reviews that only Miss P is following (although I suspect that Venerable is secretly reading as well)...
SUPERNOVA
??Dew Infused with Strawberry Melon Flavor and Ginseng?
Like the Fallout Boy Song: Dead. On. Arrival.
I'm a pretty sensitive guy, but there is no way Smackie could walk around town with a pink drink in his hand. No way. The violet colored one was questionable enough but the pink drink is why I don't order foo foo cocktails at a bar. I've got balls. It's not my fault, that's just the way I came out.
But, in the quiet serenitiy of my own apartment this weekend, I nursed a hangover with the last installment of the three new Dew flavors. It is by far the sweetest flavored of the group, and nearly every bit as sweet as I suspected the new flavors would be. The color notwithstanding, it was way too sweet for me. Like other new Dew varietals, the same aftertaste is in this one too. It's not nearly as light as Revolution was, and combined with the fact that (1) it's pink and (2) it's too sweet, I will never have another Supernova.
So, Revolution has my vote. But even this morning as I stopped off to buy a drink to watch the dolphins swim south off the coast (I told you I was sensitive), I grabbed a Live Wire and not a Revolution from the refrigerator.
Thus my Dew List:
(1) Live Wire
(2) Original
(3) Revolution
(4) Baja Blast
(5) Voltage
Never again:
That Dark one that I'll forget ever happened
Supernova
Code Red (which is somehow still around yey I don't know anybody who likes it)
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you can only get original in diet, right?
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I actually prefer the diet to the normal original Dew, but will go with the Baja when possible.
Also, I forgot about the dark one... wasn't it like really dark purple? I never tried it. I was too scared.
I appreciate your prose in the case of Mountain Dew. One of my favorite pops, however, is the uber regional Ale 8. So unless you've lived in or passed through in Southeastern Ohio or Kentucky, I doubt anyone here has ever had it.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
The third and final installment in the reviews that only Miss P is following (although I suspect that Venerable is secretly reading as well)...
Never again:
That Dark one that I'll forget ever happened
Supernova
Code Red (which is somehow still around yey I don't know anybody who likes it)
which dark one? i thought they did two different ones in back to back years.
i remember trying one of those on my way to charlottesville to stay in a spooky house in a gated community on a golf course over halloween.
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I didn't realize Code Red was Dew's attempt at recreating Big Red? At least that is what teh Wiki sayz. Big Red is another thing I miss being able to get readily, although it's best from a fountain.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Big_Red_bottle.JPG/100px-Big_Red_bottle.JPG" alt=" - " />
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Originally posted by miss pretentious:
I didn't realize Code Red was Dew's attempt at recreating Big Red? At least that is what teh Wiki sayz. Big Red is another thing I miss being able to get readily, although it's best from a fountain.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8b/Big_Red_bottle.JPG/100px-Big_Red_bottle.JPG" alt=" - " />
mmmm, i love me some big red. . .made in the same town where i went to college. i found a store across the street from my work that carries it. . .
big peach was pretty good too.
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Originally posted by miss pretentious:
One of my favorite pops, however, is the uber regional Ale 8. So unless you've lived in or passed through in Southeastern Ohio or Kentucky, I doubt anyone here has ever had it.
i've had it - thanks to the missus, who's from the bluegrass state. last thanksgiving we went to a wedding where they included some ale-8 in the guests' gift bags. i kid you not.
while i appreciate tasting such local specialties, can't say that i would seek out this drink. too sweet for me.
<img src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b6/Ale8longnecks.jpg/200px-Ale8longnecks.jpg" alt=" - " />
Ale-8 is available in bottles or cans. It is widely preferred that the beverage be drunk from a glass bottle, rather than cans or plastic bottles.
Ale-8 traditionalists are even known to refuse to drink Ale-8 from the newer glass bottles. Instead, they prefer the older "returnable" glass bottles (so-named because they can be returned to certain stores for approximately 30 cents each). The "returnable" bottles are often referred to as long-necks, while the more modern design as short-necks.
Some Kentuckians are fond of mixing Ale-8-One with one of the state's many bourbons, such as Maker's Mark or Wild Turkey. This has been named the "Kentucky Classic".
Ale-8 is also often mixed with vodka, with the resulting concoction known as a Tender Lovin'.
Seagram's Seven and Ale-8 are mixed to produce Kentucky Beer. (from wikipedia)
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Originally posted by miss pretentious:
I actually prefer the diet to the normal original Dew, but will go with the Baja when possible.
i used to go to quiznos for lunch, just because they had diet dew
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
which dark one? i thought they did two different ones in back to back years.
They've both been bad. The first "Pitch Black" was black grape with a sour bite and "Pitch Black II" was black grape with a sour aftertaste. You can still get the most recent dark one at a safeway south of San Francisco.
And yes, only the original comes in diet, but Smackie's never been one to need to watch his figure.
I've had big red once, but totally forgot about it. Never had Ale-8, but will keep an eye out for it.
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Smackie Ranks the God-like bands that "suck" according to 9:30 Boardies: (http://www.930.com/cgi-bin/ubb-cgi/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=017598)
U2
The Clash
The Beatles
Jane??s Addiction
Pearl Jam
Led Zeppelin
Oasis
The Police
Bob Dylan
The Smiths
REM
Coldplay
Ramones
Smashing Pumpkins
The Rolling Stones
Jimi Hendrix
AC/DC
The Velvet Underground
Nirvana
Eric Clapton
Death Cab for Cutie
Bruce Springsteen
Pink Floyd
The Stooges
Sonic Youth
Radiohead
Modest Mouse
Elvis Costello
Duran Duran
Wilco
Paul Simon
Justin Timberlake
Chemical Brothers
Paul Okenfeld
The Doors
Spoon
Dave Matthews Band
Metallica
Jay-Z
Grateful Dead
Red Hot Chili Peppers
Pavement / Malkmus
Joe Cocker
Joan Baez
Daft Punk
Aerosmith
Abba
Village People
Jack Johnson
Guns n Roses
Neutral Milk Hotel
Q and Not U
Bjork
Primus/Claypool
Hanson
Bon Jovi
John Cougar Mellancamp
Phish
OAR
Fall Out Boy
Josh Groban
Barbara Streisand
Enuf Znuff
Limp Bizkit
Jimmy Buffet
It's no wonder you all seem so angry all the time. You hate some pretty entertaining bands.
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a song only vansmack could love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6okDq7_rawk)
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
a song only vansmack could love (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6okDq7_rawk)
Be back in 3:35....
OK. Seacrest played a clip on E yesterday, and I didn't care much for it. Definitely Paris Hilton flashbacks. But, like the Paris Hilton song, it was much better when accompanied by the video.
Thanks for sharing!
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For those that are willing to Beta Test some new software, the Windows Live Mesh (http://www.mesh.com) program has gone to a small public beta.
If you are interested in synchronizing files across many desktops/laptops inside and outside of your local area network, then now is your chance.
I use Live Mesh to put stuff in a folder that I would normally take home with me on a flash drive or on my iPod. When I power up my computer at home, the files are atuomatically delivered the sync folder on my home machine.
Eventually it will be spread to your mobile devices, servers and Mac support,but right now it only works between XP and Vista machines.
More info on the wiki page. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_Mesh)
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On my way to work this morning, the Oscar Mayer Wiener mobile drove past me, and I'm not going to lie, I craved a hot dog at that moment.
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remastered U2 streaming (http://www.imeem.com/u2music)
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
remastered U2 streaming (http://www.imeem.com/u2music)
Not that's it's going to preclude me from clicking that link, but doesn't internet streaming "remastered" tracks defeat the purpose of remastering?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
remastered U2 streaming (http://www.imeem.com/u2music)
Not that's it's going to preclude me from clicking that link, but doesn't internet streaming "remastered" tracks defeat the purpose of remastering? [/b]
well, you get to listen to the extra tracks. . .
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
well, you get to listen to the extra tracks. . .
Hey, I clicked (and thank you) but it just seems a little misdirected.
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I forgot how much I love the remixes of "Two Hearts Beat as One" - I only have it on vinyl and haven't heard them in quite a while.
I know somewhere The Director is smiling right now!
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Whatever happened to Pete the Chop?
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
remastered U2 streaming (http://www.imeem.com/u2music)
My boss would like to see you.
She want's to know why I'm screaming and bouncing around my office. I told her it was because you started a landslide in my ego.
Kosmo was right - I am much more happy about these then I thought I would be. Here I was all geared up for Coldplay tomorrow, but there's no way it can compare to this!
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Originally posted by vansmack:
I forgot how much I love the remixes of "Two Hearts Beat as One" - I only have it on vinyl and haven't heard them in quite a while.
I know somewhere The Director is smiling right now!
Both Kosmette and I own the vinyl copies of that 12" and they are really good remixes, I happened upon a used CD single with them last year and gleefully snapped it up.
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I was reading over the details for Rock Band 2 and wow would this be a handy feature to have, guess it was the right decision to hold off on getting RB1 for the Wii.
"The guitar itself now features a woodgrain-looking neck to help maintain the illusion of actually rocking, while a new auto-calibration feature flashes a light in time with your TV screen to measure the delay and adjust accordingly."
http://kotaku.com/5025868/rock-band-2-perfecting-the-game (http://kotaku.com/5025868/rock-band-2-perfecting-the-game)
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I'm super concerned that the guitar only comes in wireless. The wired version is the only thing that keeps me from running around the room and jumping off of furniture. I've knocked a lot of stuff over, but have yet to break something. Yet was the key word there.
As far as the light, that's a cool feature, but I'm not sure how it's going to work now I've taken to playing most solos with the guitar behind my head or laying on the floor waiting for the flames to erupt!
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smacks, start clearing the furniture from your TV room:
Live shots of Mad Catz's full-size Rock Band 2 Fender Stratocaster and Precision Bass controllers (http://www.engadget.com/2008/07/17/live-shots-of-mad-catzs-full-size-rock-band-2-fender-stratocast/)
you knew this was coming... no more whimpy plastic geetar.
the first comment: "A great way to perpetuate the idea that playing (Rock Band/Guitar Hero) is actually playing an instrument."
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Sadly, when I bought my first Strat in 1980-something, I don't think I paid $199 for it - it was more like $150 from some dude who needed the cash for no good.
But even then, I would never gut it to make a controller out of it. I don't think.
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For some reason I thought this had already happened..
YouTube brought to Tivo (http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-9993173-93.html)
Digital video recorder TiVo is set to release a software upgrade that will let users access YouTube videos on their televisions, the company announced Thursday. The deal with the Google video-sharing site, originally announced in March, is scheduled to start rolling out in a few weeks.
TiVo owners will need a Series 3 or TiVo HD box to be eligible for the software upgrade, which will be further extended in the near future to allow them to log into their own YouTube accounts to access playlists and the like.
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(catching up)
I for one love Code Red and liked Pitch Black. The Taco Bell flavor is okay. Haven't tried any of the others, including Live Wire. Anyone remember Dr. Pepper Red Fusion? That tasted like cough medicine.
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not a new story per se, but looks like it's gaining steam: it's on the november ballot. love the witty pun at the end :roll:
Voters to decide on naming sewage plant for Bush (http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/17/presidential.putdown.ap/index.html)
SAN FRANCISCO, California (AP) -- A measure seeking to commemorate President Bush's years in office by slapping his name on a San Francisco sewage plant has qualified for the November ballot.
The measure certified Thursday would rename the Oceanside Water Pollution Control Plant the George W. Bush Sewage Plant.
Supporters say the idea is to commemorate the mess they claim Bush has left behind by actions such as the war in Iraq.
Local Republicans say the plan stinks and they will oppose it.
________________________________________________
personally i think this is a bit much... the man will go down as the worse president ever. not sure such theatrics are necessary.
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good way to turn a sewer treatment plant in to a tourist attraction, i suppose
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I drive past that sewage plant every day (it's between the beach and my workplace) and I don't think it stinks enough to be renamed the GWB Sewage plant. It actually does a pretty good job of cleaning things up, not making messes.
All jokes aside, I won't support that. Unecessary and beyond disrespectful. It leaves me more shaking my head than laughing. We have real problems in this city that we can focus on - like PG&E's attempt to install fancy new meters!
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<img src="http://www.evilkumquat.com/images/michael_jackson_joker.jpg" alt=" - " />
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it kind of reminds me of that guy that spends all of his time getting things named after reagan
in other words, nothing good can come from this
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"the george w. bush convention center"
tonight - the dixie chicks
tomorrow - pearl jam
next month - coldplay
-
Originally posted by walkonby:
next month - coldplay
Next month?!!? I'm like t-minus 7 hours and counting! Woohoo!
Oh that's right, I don't live in DC anymore. Yeah, next month for you.
-
This one's for the ladies, however, I doubt they'd be as excited as I would be had it been the other way around. They're classy and all...
Passenger Strips; American Airlines Boston-LA Flight Diverted (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25740859/)
updated 7:00 a.m. PT, Fri., July. 18, 2008
LOS ANGELES - American Airlines Flight 725, scheduled to fly nonstop from Boston to Los Angeles on Friday, was diverted to Oklahoma City after a disruptive passenger took his clothes off and had to be subdued.
American Airlines told KNBC that as the passenger stripped his clothes off, he was restrained at first by other passengers. After being forced to put his clothes back on, flight attendants subdued him with a flexible handcuff.
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I love it when the plot thickens..
The "mid-air stripper" was subdued by members of the New England Revolution (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25740859/) (they're a US Soccer team). And they did an emergency landing at Will Rogers World Airport. That alone made me laugh.
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revolution ruins his fun like they ruined taylor twellman's fun
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<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3290/2682843294_ef81002a2c.jpg?v=0" alt=" - " />
Note: they couldn't get a guitar to work properly so they replaced Don't Panic with an acoustic version of The Hardest Part. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQ4STMLqWgA)
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good setlist.
what did you think of the show? i heard the band has really big balls...
i'm seeing them this friday in philly. stoked.
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It was a great show. The tempo was great - plenty of speed ups and slow downs, a lot of entertaining banter (a lot of self-depricating humor), and a good crowd.
The set was simple and so was the lighting. There were a few lasers and yes, big balls that were very well used (as seen in that video above).
It was very heavy with Viva (all but Cemeteries of London, I think) and the new stuff sounded great. Lost was the highlight of the new stuff for me. The only song I could have done without was Chinese Sleep Chant which seemed forced to me and didn't play well live. It did lead into a dark version of God Put a Smile upon your Face, which was nice.
We were lucky to have the electric version of Yellow, which I hadn't heard since I first saw them years ago (the last couple of times was the acoustic version). Politik was another added bonus with fantastic lighting.
Unlike the LA show, the piano was out for Chris (they used some pre-recorded tracks in LA). He's quirky enough with the piano and I see him being a disaster without it. He's definitely going to fall off the cat-walk before this tour is over. The show is about 90 minutes long and smackette is convinced that Chris is not capable of staying focused any longer than that. He did completely goof up two outros of new songs when it was just him, so I think she's on to something.
The little letters next to some songs on the setlist are alternate stages, but I won't ruin any surprises for you. We were thoroughly entertained by both alternate stages.
After a little Bill O'Reilly clip, I was hoping we'd get a clip of Fix You as used in the OC (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOBChYSiut0) (shout out to Fico, where are you man?), but no. Alas, don't think for a second that it's disappearance stopped me and smackette from acting it out in our seats.
They did a great job in the Arena, which good for them but bad for the fan - there's no going back now. We'd definitely see them in a big venue again.
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nice review smackie. i was waiting to hear what you had to say about the show, so i asked sweetcell if he had heard anything when i saw him earlier. alas - he was waiting too :)
anyway - i think you got me wanting to rent the OC :) im addicted after seeing that clip LOL.
sweetcell - if youre reading this i hope you made it in time for the last train and hope that you were able to see APTBS as i know shows over there can run late. and now i must get some sleep in preparation for another hot one tomorrow. im beat!
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Digging that clip up made me really miss The OC as well. I ended up watching a ton of clips the rest of the afternoon, feeling very nostalgic.
If you do, FF through season 3, but don't skip season 4!
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i was just going to get them through netflix and jus t watch it as i had time :) ill make sure i dont spent much time with season 3 :) thanks!
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The Dropkick Murphy's played with the Bosstones at the OC Fair last night.
"What's up Angel fans? We were going to play Tessie tonight but since the Angels swept the Red Sox this weekend, we're not gonna do it!"
I would have played it anyway and said until the Angels win a game against Boston in October, we'll play Tessie.
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Servers in the home remain scarce (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-9995868-56.html)
With its first update to Windows Home Server, Microsoft has fixed a critical bug that threatened to undermine the product's main utility--securely and reliably backing up computer files.
But the software maker still has to find an answer to the bigger problem--many consumers have no idea what a server is and fewer still have any reason to think they would want one in their home.
Microsoft knew it would face this challenge even before Bill Gates announced the product at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show. It even tried to make light of the issue, penning a fake children's book dubbed "Mommy, Why is There a Server in the House?"
Unfortunately, the child's question is still a prescient one. For many who need to back up their files, network-attached hard drives offer a less costly and intricate answer to installing even a simplified Windows Server. As a result, the product has proved to be a tough sell.
"This is a very difficult product category to be selling," said Forrester Research analyst J.P. Gownder. "Consumers, generally speaking, don't know what a home server is."
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My new jukebox theme for the Home Server. We don't hide ours, instead making it an integral part of our system. As it's headless, it doesn't need a whole lot of space...
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3075/2692671207_590581ee5c.jpg?v=0" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/2693478462_80665b2c7a.jpg?v=0" alt=" - " />
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Question for you Smackie:
OK...here's the situation:
Video camera died many many months ago and have been putting off the replacement. Now that I have a NAS with plenty of storage (for now at least) i'm thinking of ditching a tape based camera and going flash or hd based and storing it all on the network. Now the obvious next step is getting the video/audio from my pc to my home theater. Running cables is no biggie, crawlspace is easily accessible in this room so no issue there. What's the best method of delivery here? Get a video card with hdmi and dvi, run the hdmi to my home theater, set up the card so the displays are cloned?
Next issue is audio....just get a better sound card and run that (presumably toslink or digital coax)to my receiver? Or is there something snazzy that i'm overlooking that will deliver HD content from my pc to the home theater?
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Moving from tape to disk storage is the way to go. The only donwside is when travelling for long periods of time, you may fill the disk. If you do this, you've probably filmed too much. But nonetheless, you can combat that transferring to a laptop or multiple disks.
What's already in your system? I think you had a media extender - is it audio only?
Any gaming devices to speak of?
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I went back and looked - you've got a squeezebox, and if memory serves, that's audio only.
So, absent any gaming devices, the cheapest solution is to pick up an HDMI Video card and run an HDMI cable from the computer to the HDTV. With the right card, you??ll get both digital audio and digital video over one HDMI cable (ie, no need for a TOSLINK). There are rumors that quality fades over HDMI cables that are over 50 feet long, but I haven??t tested this (and many say this isn??t true). That??s something to consider when setting it up. Total cost here could be as low as $60, but you??re probably looking at around $100.
With a DVI card it can get a little more complicated, but I know you can get an ATI DVI card and their HDMI converter will do both.
The other option if distance is a factor for the HDMI cable is to get a media extender (or maybe you??ve already got one in a gaming machine or DVR). Friends of mine who have a NAS storage system swear by their Popcorn Hour. (http://www.popcornhour.com) This will usually just require running a network cable to the device for HD video. If you choose this route, you will likely have to format your home videos to a format your extender can play, if they??re not already (although the Popcorn Hour can play a lot of stuff). I would also say that a gigabit network set up will greatly improve HD video quality in this environment, when possible.
There are other wireless extender options, but I would highly recommend a wireless N network for HD quality. An unsecure G might be alright, but any security on the network and your streams will be pretty slow for HD.
If cash isn??t a problem, I??d drop $179 (it may cost a little more on eBAy - they're hard to find) on the popcorn hour and add it to your network. The popcorn hour is not 10/100/1000 so wait on the gigabit network. Otherwise, add a decent HDMI video card and run an HDMI cable to your TV for $80-$100.
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Home Servers May Render CD Racks Obsolete
(http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-servers.html?pagewanted=1&_r=3)
DENVER (Billboard) - Converting to a fully digitized entertainment library is a good way to cut down on clutter in the house. So what replaces the CD rack once you do?
The 500 GB hard drive that comes standard on most home computers today? Soon, even that won't be big enough to store and organize the massive amount of digital music, video and photography that consumers are accumulating as part of the emerging "terabyte lifestyle."
That opens the door to a new market, one that for now remains a niche afterthought to most people: home servers.
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instead of starting a new thread, i'll just ask the forum master.
1. i want to get a telescope. a good one. but i know nothing about them, really. like where to research models, prices, where to buy, ect.
2. is there a place where can one buy their old highschool yearbook? i have searched everywhere online (ebay, amazon, everywhere) or is it just a wait game crapshoot of searching.
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Originally posted by walkonby:
instead of starting a new thread, i'll just ask the forum master.
1. i want to get a telescope. a good one. but i know nothing about them, really. like where to research models, prices, where to buy, ect.
2. is there a place where can one buy their old highschool yearbook? i have searched everywhere online (ebay, amazon, everywhere) or is it just a wait game crapshoot of searching.
so basically you are stalking somebody you went to high school with?
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I'm not an atronomer, but I know a good one. He's in Seattle right now but gets back on Saturday - I'll be sure to ask him. I haven't used a telescope since I was 10.
Have you contacted the school? They may still have some copies or put you in touch with the publisher who can make another one for you (if you're a recent grad) for a ridiculously large amount of money.
And pollard - excellent work!
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For those still interested in the Home Theater PC, the guys over at We Got Served have done a pretty good job breaking it all down for you:
The Beginner??s Guide to Windows Media Center
Part 1: Introduction (http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/2008/07/16/the-beginners-guide-to-windows-media-center-part-1/)
Part 2: The Total Microsoft Package (http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/2008/07/20/the-beginners-guide-to-windows-media-center-part-2/)
Part 3: The Hardware (http://www.wegotserved.co.uk/2008/07/22/the-beginners-guide-to-windows-media-center-part-3/)
Part 4: Competition (coming soon)
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Originally posted by pdx pollard:
Originally posted by walkonby:
instead of starting a new thread, i'll just ask the forum master.
1. i want to get a telescope. a good one. but i know nothing about them, really. like where to research models, prices, where to buy, ect.
2. is there a place where can one buy their old highschool yearbook? i have searched everywhere online (ebay, amazon, everywhere) or is it just a wait game crapshoot of searching.
so basically you are stalking somebody you went to high school with? [/b]
1. the telescope is because of jupiter being so close to the earth right now. it got me excited again about space and seeing into the great beyond.
2. the yearbook is because when i gaze into the past, i am transported via a consciousness/sub-consciousness breakdown that makes the world of frozen time morph into an actual reality. truly frightening yet intimidatingly beautiful, too.
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This had me laughing. I was not part of this test because I said in the survey that I have nothing against Vista, but that I'm going in a different direction with my computing.
Microsoft looks to 'Mojave' to revive Vista's image (http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-9998336-56.html?tag=nl.e703)
REDMOND, Wash.--After months of searching for ways to defend its oft-maligned Windows operating system, Microsoft may just have found its best weapon: Vista's skeptics.
Spurred by an e-mail from someone deep in the marketing ranks, Microsoft last week traveled to San Francisco, rounding up Windows XP users who had negative impressions of Vista. The subjects were put on video, asked about their Vista impressions, and then shown a "new" operating system, code-named Mojave. More than 90 percent gave positive feedback on what they saw. Then they were told that "Mojave" was actually Windows Vista.
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would you like to see a two girls one cup...cake? figured i'd ask before i posted it...
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Originally posted by miss pretentious:
would you like to see a two girls one cup...cake? figured i'd ask before i posted it...
Did somebody get that for your for your birthday? 'Cause that would be awesome.
<img src="http://s.buzzfeed.com/static/imagebuzz/2008/6/5/10/3576a906c4272a395d64d3da9000ad4b.jpg" alt=" - " />
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i wish.... but no
<img src="http://www.bestweekever.tv/bwe/images/2008/07/TASTELESS%20CAKE%2011.jpg" alt=" - " />
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Your's is better.
Mr. P, I demand that this happen for Miss P. You can send me the bill!
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Originally posted by vansmack:
It was a great show. The tempo was great - plenty of speed ups and slow downs, a lot of entertaining banter (a lot of self-depricating humor), and a good crowd.
The set was simple and so was the lighting. There were a few lasers and yes, big balls that were very well used (as seen in that video above).
It was very heavy with Viva (all but Cemeteries of London, I think) and the new stuff sounded great. Lost was the highlight of the new stuff for me.
caught coldplay last night in philly - really good show. agreed with all of the above, except the "simple lighting". did you guys have the giant screen behind the band? pretty impressive, they did some fun stuff with it (see pix, linked below).
the new stuff sounded better than i expected, "lost" was indeed a highlight. i really liked the version of "fix you" they played (a little more up-tempo), and we got an acoustic version of "the scientist" at the end of the show on the second stage - fun.
the philly crowd was good for coldplay, but dead for santogold who put on a great opening set. people seemed generally indifferent to her, despite several tentative reminders that philadelphia was her hometown (mild response at best). only exception were the two HOTTIES five rows ahead of me who stood up and started shaking to the beats, god bless 'em (actually, He already had).
Originally posted by vansmack:
The little letters next to some songs on the setlist are alternate stages, but I won't ruin any surprises for you. We were thoroughly entertained by both alternate stages.
spoiler alert: folks wishing to keep the surprise should not check out my pix.
Originally posted by vansmack:
They did a great job in the Arena, which good for them but bad for the fan - there's no going back now. We'd definitely see them in a big venue again.
coldplay are the cotton candy of arena rock - fluffy, lacking in nutritional value, but fun. hate them if you want but they put on a good show.
too many pix (http://picasaweb.google.com/sweetcell/ColdplayPhiladelphiaJuly2008)
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has your astronomer friend shared his brain yet?
and i think i have a lock on the yearbook. now i can rule the past with my time machine.
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1111110100
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Five ways to make digital music sing (http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9998990-1.html?tag=nl.e703)
Neil Young says the tech industry doesn't care as much about music quality as it should.
Perhaps that's because the average iPod-toting iTunes customer doesn't give a second thought to whether the digital file of the latest single they just bought is uncompressed or lossless.
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A lot of people understand my beef with Comcast, but many people ask me what my beef with at&t is (and I'm not talking about wireless). I mean, the copper phone service has been pretty good for decades. It stupid shit like this that makes me hate at&t. Congratulations, WiMax, you've finally made it!
AT&T Tries to Kill WiMax (http://gizmodo.com/5029947/att-tries-to-kill-wimax)
Would you kick a crippled person just as they were standing on their feet, about to walk for the first time in years? AT&T would! Against all odds, WiMax just might make it, pending the merger of Sprint and Clearwire's WiMax divisions. So AT&T filed with a petition with the FCC to block it.
The rationale behind AT&T's petition is basically that the deal requires more scrutiny. Their official statement on the matter, sent to us by an AT&T spokesman, is that, "While AT&T does not fundamentally oppose the underlying transaction, Sprint and Clearwire should be required to demonstrate that its merger serves the public interest just like any other providers would have to do." Specifically, a significant chunk of the 2.5GHz spectrum their network will run on is actually leased from the schools and non-profits (which use it for the Educational Broadband Service).
According to Ars, AT&T is arguing that if you count the spectrum holdings Sprint and Clearwire lease from the EBS license holders, they pass the threshold requiring a "competitive analysis" of what the spectrum landscape would look like post-merger, which they don't have in their merger filings. Even though, as Ars points out, when AT&T bought Dobson Communications last year, they said EBS spectrum didn't really count.
So, it has to be asked??is AT&T finally scared of WiMax?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
1111110100
help? i don't get it. 1012? isn't ascii.....
Originally posted by vansmack:
Five ways to make digital music sing (http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-9998990-1.html?tag=nl.e703)
only a so-so article/blog posting, but the last paragraph pointed out something that never occurred to me:
Listen to it live. If the other options still aren't getting it done, you can always go see your favorite act in person. But Rule No. 1 still applies: Actually listen. A lot of people "talk because they're used to music being in the background, they don't just shut up and listen to it."
too true.
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Originally posted by sweetcell:
only a so-so article/blog posting, but the last paragraph pointed out something that never occurred to me:
Congratulations on making it to the end. I thought that same thing as I read that, but I loved the last point.
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I frequent a lot of communities like this, although I tend not to participate as heavily elsewhere as I do here. A lot of great stuff can come out of these forums, despite what most folks think/say.
So one particular case happened this weekend regarding my quest for the perfect sub-$400 laptop to plug into my Home Server based network.
Acer released a good looking new SSD (solid-state-drive [think Flash]) based laptop with Linux pre-installed, called the AcerOne. (http://www.acer.com/aspireone/)
With a lot of these inexpensive models, folks are buy them with Linux preinstalled and installing XP on their own to save costs (~$100). A fair number of users were reporting more problems than usual with the upgrade. Acer was virtually useless in helping solve the problem (they claimed that XP drivers weren't out for the SSD, which is a myth as drivers don't run the SSD) until a group of users broke it down for the rest of us.
Turns out that by sharing information amongst the forum, it was discovered that Acer used two different SSDs - one from Intel and and one from Samsung - in their first run models. Well, the Intel choice reads and writes at about half the speed of the Samsung model and virtually cripples the machine. They broke it down even further from where the machines were purchased and what SSDs they got.
Not surprisingly, the vast majority of the US models (purcahsed mostly from Newegg) have the Intel chip and Newegg has started sending them back to Acer for the Samsung models. So, if you're looking for the Acer One, I'd wait a little while. I suspect the Dell UMPC will be out in a matter of weeks anyway which should drive the market price down even further. Here's to hoping they used Samsung chips!
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I'm pretty sure Houston couldn't look any more retarded in this article:
Houston Resists Recycling, and Independent Streak Is Cited (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/us/29recycle.html?_r=2&hp=&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&pagewanted=1&adxnnlx=1217361635-wSz0lYSyuSaUqi/90UgxpA)
A few gems as to why Houston chooses not to recycle.
</font>- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">Landfill costs here are cheap.</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">The city??s sprawling, no-zoning layout makes collection expensive.</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">there is little public support for the kind of effort it takes to sort glass, paper and plastics.</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">Houstonians are skeptical of anything that appears to be oversold or exaggerated</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">Houstonians have an independent streak that rebels against mandates or anything that seems trendy or hyped up.</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">a locally renowned chef approached a city-run recycling depot in her silver pick-up truck full of containers, she was turned away. ??They said my truck was too full.?</font></li>
- <font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">Compounding the city??s difficulties is a contract it signed in the 1990s that requires 30 percent of residential waste to go to landfills until 2027</font></li>
<font size="2" face="Arial, Veranda">
Meanwhile, their recyle rate is 2.6%, not 70% as would be allowed by that contract.
LA, twice the land size of Houston, recycles at a rate of 62%.
The effort to separate? What year is it that this is considered difficult?
Trendy or hyped up? Maybe in 1990...but in 2008, I'm pretty sure it's proven effective.
Re-tar-ded.
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Angels Get Tiexera from Braves for Kotchman (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3510042)
I can only assume that the Angels believe they can resign Tex, otherwise this deal makes no sense in the long run. Kotchman will be a great first basemen.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Angels Get Tiexera from Braves for Kotchman (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=3510042)
I can only assume that the Angels believe they can resign Tex, otherwise this deal makes no sense in the long run. Kotchman will be a great first basemen.
they're gonna have to raise beer prices.
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Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
they're gonna have to raise beer prices.
Are they free in Oakland yet, or not until Huston Street gets dealt?
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by Venerable Bede:
they're gonna have to raise beer prices.
Are they free in Oakland yet, or not until Huston Street gets dealt? [/b]
no, but tomorrow is $2 root beer floats. . .
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Originally posted by vansmack:
The Dropkick Murphy's played with the Bosstones at the OC Fair last night.
"What's up Angel fans? We were going to play Tessie tonight but since the Angels swept the Red Sox this weekend, we're not gonna do it!"
I would have played it anyway and said until the Angels win a game against Boston in October, we'll play Tessie.
Just wondering if they're ever going to play it....
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Is anybody as excited as I am to see Manny Ramirez along side Andrew Jones in the outfiled in Chavez Ravine?
Awesome!
That ball is going to roll and roll and roll....
Oh, and Jay Bay just went from favorite Bucco to hated status in a matter of minutes, but boy am I going to enjoy his fantasy numbers in Boston. And to think I tried to deal him for Teix yesterday and was rejected.
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Sprint early termination fees are illegal, judge rules (http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10039461?source=most_viewed)
COURT: CALIFORNIA LAW FORBIDS EARLY TERMINATION CHARGES
I have so many thoughts on this I don't even know where to start...
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i've been partial to jack wilson myself, but hopefully they can move him too
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i've been partial to jack wilson myself, but hopefully they can move him too
I thought he would go to LA. Did they put him on the waiver list?
If Man-Ram works out, I can see LA picking up Wilson's deal for the remainder of the year.
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This is great news...
FCC slaps Comcast??s wrist over network neutrality; Sets precedent (http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/?p=9530&tag=nl.e589)
The Federal Communications Commission on Friday ruled 3-2 that Comcast overstepped its network management authority by blocking BitTorrent peer to peer traffic, but stopped short of fining the cable company. The move clarifies the boundaries a bit for other carriers and sends the message that the FCC enforces network neutrality principles.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i've been partial to jack wilson myself, but hopefully they can move him too
I thought he would go to LA. Did they put him on the waiver list?
If Man-Ram works out, I can see LA picking up Wilson's deal for the remainder of the year. [/b]
i havent read anything that says they have for sure, but the word (or maybe hope) is he is on the waiver list
cause really, the team is worth blowing up and if youre going to blow it up, blow it up right
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I hear you.
I also heard that Manny won't be in the lineup tonight for the Dodgers because the Blue Doo-Rags were banned in the early ninties because of gang wars and Manny won't play without one.
I suggested they contact Alyssa Milano.
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JetBlue to charge $7 for pillow, blanket kit (http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_10092988?nclick_check=1)
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i dont think any company ever has turned me off so much as air tran did the last time i flew
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Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
i dont think any company ever has turned me off so much as air tran did the last time i flew
I flew AirTran two weekends ago without incident. What was your gripe?
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I'm thinking of invoking a new rule:
I only fly where Virgin America will take me.
LA
NY
DC
Vegas
SD
SEA
SF
They really need to add Austin to their arsenal. And arguably Chicago, and then I'd be fine Domestically.
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it was one thing to have my flight cancelled, and get home 28 hours late, but its another to take 2 hours for the baggage claim guys (of all people) to pass out hotel vouchers. not only were we stuck in vermont for a night and missed work the next day, but we were in a smoking hotel room because it took so long to get there
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hey forumdome masterblaster, i am looking for a pair of headless earphones . . . i mean wireless headphones for my pc. so i can work around in my office and not be tied up. the only one i see are those earmuff, straight out of the seventy looking things. i grew up in a world of earbud, small headphones. is there such a thing?
and good lord, subways kick rock ass.
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Which reminds me...
Meade.
That's the brand of telescope you want.
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Originally posted by walkonby:
hey forumdome masterblaster, i am looking for a pair of headless earphones . . . i mean wireless headphones for my pc. so i can work around in my office and not be tied up. the only one i see are those earmuff, straight out of the seventy looking things. i grew up in a world of earbud, small headphones. is there such a thing?
The problem is powering them. Everybody agrees that wireless ear buds would be bitchen, but how do you power them for longer than 2 hours?
Motorola makes a bluetooth pair of earbuds that still have a thin bar to each bud with small battery pack that rests on the back of your neck. That's the smallest I've seen and because it's bluetooth, I'm not certain of the range.
Why hasn't somebody made a wireless reciever/battery pack the size of the iPod shuffle with wired earbuds that clips on a shirt or something? People want wireless to not be attached to their desk - this would do that same thing. Something like this, only not bluetooth (http://www.amazon.com/Allen-Sports-Bluetooth-Wireless-Headphones/dp/B000W4WEF8/ref=sr_1_91?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1217877487&sr=1-91) and with a smaller controller.
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Which reminds me...
Meade.
That's the brand of telescope you want.
thank you, mighty master. i will seek it out.
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Originally posted by walkonby:
Originally posted by vansmack:
Which reminds me...
Meade.
That's the brand of telescope you want.
thank you, mighty master. i will seek it out. [/b]
He said that you can spend as little as $100 and as much as $10,000 with Meade and either way you'd get a great product. Then we did some shots of tequila to celebrate his team finding water on Mars and that's all I remember.
He also said something about Jupiter being so close that you could use a good pair of binoculars and see it, but that a telescope allows you to set it, walk away and Jupiter might still be there when you get back.
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The Snozzberries taste like Snozzberries (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/26014198/)
<img src="http://i190.photobucket.com/albums/z167/badrobot96/super-troopers-snozzberries.jpg" alt=" - " />
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And I don't remember if I brought this up or not...
Mother of God! (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0859635/)
<img src="http://www.myconfinedspace.com/watermark.php?src=wp-content/uploads/2007/04/mother-of-god-super-troopers.jpg" alt=" - " />
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in this age of every film being from a book or a sequel or a remake, this shocks you. i wait for gremlins three, ghostbusters three, monty python and the holy grail two, the shining two (even shinier).
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15 of the Top 25 Notebooks sold on Amazon are Netbooks. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/bestsellers/pc/565108/ref=pd_ts_pc_nav)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
#1 - 2008 will be the year that internet access at your seat will finally be available on airplanes, starting with longer flights and working its way to the commuter flights (which is backwards, but at least its coming).
American Airlines and Virgin already did it, and Jetblue has been beta testing it for months now, but lets throw Delta in the ring:
Delta Adds Wi-Fi to Entire Domestic Airline Fleet (http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/149413/delta_adds_wifi_to_entire_domestic_airline_fleet.html)
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Originally posted by vansmack:
Tech Prediction #2:
2008 will not be the year that the HD-DVD vs. Blu-Ray Debate gets solved, however, HD-DVD will take a substantial lead because it's way below Blu-ray in cost to consumer. Will it be insurmountable? Not as long as the Plays