Apple

Weeeeeeeeeee!

Hi all. Ever wonder why diner is a place, and dinner is a meal, but dessert is a place and desert is a meal? Thats weird, damn english. Would be different if I did it. None of this “phone”, “of”, or “queen”. No, in MY english, they would be “fone”, “ov” and “cueen”. I see no need for the “ph”, or the “q”. The first is easily replaced with a simple “f”, and the second with “kw” or “cu”. Besides, what good is “q”? It is the only letter dependent on another, “u”. Why not just incorporate that a “u” will follow, and drop it?

School is going fine, only 13 more weeks of it, woohoo! Then it will be nice out and I can bike, double woohoo!

I am still cleaning my room more. Is just clutter I need to move around and sort. Nothing too bad.

I might re-structure the website, and make more additions. If I do, it would screw with links from the blog though, so I would need to go through and correct the broken links. Will see.

Whooh! Three people just signed off at the same time, made a weird sound. Strange.

What else…

Ohh, To answer Scott’s question, No. He posted a comment to the last blog asking if Apple would have a Super Bowl commercial, and they will not. They will however be featured in Pepsi’s, as Pepsi is starting a deal to give away 100,000,000 songs from the itunes music store. I would like to say now that if any of you receive a winning bottle cap and decide you don’t want to download and install itunes for a free song you could just get from kazaa, I will gladly take your caps. The promotion runs from Feb. 1st to to March 31st.

Since nobody ever commented on Bionica, I will be writing a second one anyway. The first one was bad mostly because of all the introduction crap, and I think I can do better on the next one. We will see. I am also going to edit my quick story from a few weeks ago and put it in short stories on the site.

Ok, thats all for tonight, go home.

nick

Life is like a box of chocolates,
Sometimes it’s a wonderful gift,
and sometimes there full of laxatives and turn everything shitty.

Wow, 80

Eighty posts, thats a new record. Blogger record was 79, tied on Wednesday.

I have compiled some reminders for the dumber people:

When in the shower, use the hair dryer to dry your hair while soaping with your other hand, saves time.
Always reduce time, as with fractions, so 10 to 5 would be 2 to 1.
If you’re low on cash, kill yourself, and collect the insurance money.

This is the last post of my vacation. My classes start Wednesday, but the online class technically starts Tuesday, on which I post, so this is it.

I was tested for TB yesterday, as an employee of the Hedge is in the hospital with it. Chances of me having it is very low, as it is only contagious when symptoms are showing, which they weren’t. Just the same, a $10 precaution isn’t bad.

Rumors are that a new G5 will debut on Jan. 20th, along with more on 10.3s least mentioned feature: Pixlet, a loss-less video codec. Pixlet is meant for pro customers, so receives little mention at consumer events, hence its mention only last year at the WWDC, and the coming G5 update.

I have accomplished less than hoped over break. I did manage 3 job apps, and site updates, but book is unfinished as is room cleaning. I did make dents though, and did something else, not sure what…

NAIAS trip is tomorrow. I haven’t been there in three years. Maybe I can convince the guy at GMs private area I am still an employee? Free pop and snacks, WOOHOO!

I played with site and blog last night. I shrank the banner image on site to 600 pixels long, from 800. 800 was too long, and 600 seems short. I presume most of you are using a 1024×768 resolution, so I am aiming for something neutral on that. As for blog, I was playing with the style-sheets that control all the colors, but cant find one I really like. I want to change both blog and website theme to A) match each other, and B) look not so cheesy-beginner-esque. Will do some trials on own, and post for your amusement when I find what I like.

Ok, I am tired, so heading to bed.

Till Tuesday,
nick

Being an assisted suicide physician is a nice job, because even if the customer really doesn’t like your work, they still can’t complain.

And on the Seventh Day, He Blogged…

Well, MacWorld was kinda sucky, but it could turn out ok. Last year, Apple released a new or updated product every Tuesday for over a month after MacWorld, so there could be plenty more coming. Anyway, we got the new mini ipods that suck, because although a good amount smaller than standard ipods (which are already tiny) they are $249 for a 4 gig. Hell, spend the extra $50 and buy a full 15 gig thats only a tad bigger, and holds over 3x more.

Also released were FINALLY the G5 XServes, which took so long due to cooling issues. Also, their companions, the XServe RAID, now at 3.5 TeraBytes (3,500 Gigs). New versions of the ilife apps came along as well. iMovie went from 3.0.3 to 4.0, iTunes and iDVD moved up, and oddly, iPhoto went from 2.0 to 4.0, which is needless to say odd. But the big news, and clearly highlight of the expo keynote, is GarageBand. This new iApp is the consumer version of Soundtrack, as iMovie is of FinalCutPro. Garage Band allows you to use your electric guitar, midi keyboard, and/or pre recorded loops to compose music. It features over 1000 loops, 50 midi instruments, and 7 guitar amps, and is only $49 ($29 edu) compared to $299 for Soundtrack.

So, we will see what the coming weeks bring. I am going to NAIAS Sunday, so my Tuesday update will include that, and any new releases from Apple Tuesday as well.

I was looking online for bike trails, and found a tour in September that runs from Muskegon to Bay City State Park. Thats over 150 miles, in 1 day. I said “Those people are freaking crazy.” After some thinking though, so am I. I am not saying I am going to do it, but I am going to see what I can do. If I do some training over the summer, and get some endurance built up, who knows. Start small, and work up, its not until September 6th anyway, right? BTW, anyone else crazy? (hint hint…)

What else…

Not many people reading the blog lately. Not just you people on vacation, but in general. From June 6 to October 12, I had 200 visitors. Shortly after I was put on google, and by November 15th I had 400, and 600 by December 16. So, with January 15th approaching, so should be 800 visits? Well, it seems my s*m c*ty ser*al trick worked, and I’m not even at 650 yet.

The Library is now up, and I added links to the bottom of most pages to allow you easy access back to where you came, be it to the home, previous directory, or just the top of the page. More work will be done over time, but as school is creeping up, they may slow down. Though, with advanced HTML and JavaScript coming, there should be some good stuff coming.

Well, I guess thats it for tonight, see you all Saturday.

nick

Were number drunk!

Almost Over

Yup, only one more week off, then I will be dragged back to school. Oy, I am not particularly excited, but it was my choice, right?

Also, MacWorld Expo San Francisco begins Tuesday, with the keynote at noon. I expect some cool stuff, and will let you know all about it Wednesday in next post. Maybe some cool new dual 2.5GHz XServes, and new versions of all the iLife software? Mini 2gb ipods?

I have entered all my CDs and DVDs on an Excel spreadsheet, and am almost done with books. Should be able to finally get the library page up by the end of this week.

I talked to Jason, and I will be going to the North American International Auto Show next Sunday. I haven’t been to one in 2 years, since I was working at GM. They are cool, and just $12.

I have cleaned computer up more, the HD is finally organized. Instead of a dozen folders of random stuff, there are just 3 disk images I need to burn, very nice.

Well, I can’t think of much else, so I will let you all go till Wednesday, should have plenty to say then, either praising or bashing Apple. Ahh, just like old times.

bye bye,
nick

“And now, a man who needs no introduction…”

I'm Free!

Exams are now completely behind me. Though this was the longest week I can remember. Oh well, I have a full month to sit on my ass now, so thats nice.

Apple has disgraced itself. It released like 8 different updates to the OS, Pro apps, itunes, and XCode in just 2 days, but then came “Security Update 2003-12-19”. Why would there be a security update just 2 days after an OS update, which always incorporates previous security updates? Well, turns out, this was really “OS 10.3.2.1 update or as I am calling it “Oops we gave you a crappy update Update”. At least they gave it to us, rather than waiting till 10.3.3 like some OS manufacturers would.

I was watching TV last night, and saw a commercial for the Christian Children’s Fund, and came to a sort of epiphany. They want us to send thousands of dollars to save the little children, but I say, why are the children there? Why don’t we send thousands of condoms, so the people in Ethiopia who can’t even support themselves stop having children? Think about it: You live in a third world country, you rent a hut made from pallets, there is no clean water, and you work sun up to sun down just to go deeper in debt, so you have a kid? The parents should be shot for there stupidity. Seriously, headlines like “Man kills self to collect own life insurance” come to mind. Let alone, that now we are expected to bail them out. The fact that we are one of the most wealthy nations on earth doesn’t mean we can pay for everyone else. We were poor farmers, and did we get help? Yes. But then we had a war, got independence, and brought ourselves to where we are. Were not rich so we can help others, we are rich to set an example for others to follow.

Furthermore, we have a similar problem here. People right here have children, and then suck our tax dollars to pay for them. What we need is a child bearing license. You must prove mental, psychological, physical, and financial ability to raise a child, otherwise we just wont let you. A single $.50 condom can save $50,000 is WIC, food-stamps, etc… If you can’t support your baby, you shouldn’t have had one. And as for these brilliant people that can’t support their kid, but then have another, well, I wont go there.

Now don’t get me wrong, I feel bad for the skinny little Ethiopian, but I ain’t giving him any of my money.

Anyway, I finally counted, and I have an update the day after Christmas, so I get Christmas Eve and Day off, then one the night of New Years Day, so get the Eve off there too. I am glad, I would have skipped if I had to update on those days anyway.

Ok, I think my rambling is becoming a bit too disorganized and random, so I am going away, and you should too.

bye bye pretty lady,
nick

No matter how tough work gets, remember that one day some junior executive will take the credit and be promoted to a 6 figure salary, all thanks to you.
Keep up the good work.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday ibook, you’re one year old. No more warranty, but that’s fine. Could have bought Apple Care and had another 2 years, but the vast majority of problems occur within first couple months, and chances decrease from there. Wow, a freaking year.

I finally put all the quotes I have used up on website, up to last post. I will try to update the list every couple posts. You can see them all here.

The car is pissing me off. Replaced a part due to problems, and problem still exists. And, because I had to disconnect the battery to reset computer for new part, the radio is now locked (don’t ask, Pontiac is a bunch of evilheads).

School is almost over, and I am happy as hell. I don’t know why I go back, I should know better by now. How many years of school does it take to drive a person away? In my case, apparently over 15. God, I can almost retire from school. Five more years?

I made stew for dinner, it was, uhm, yeah.

Ok, I am leaving it here tonight. I will be trying something a bit different next time.

Till then,

nick

Why are you talking so fast?
Why are you listening so fast?

I'm Back!

I fixed it!

When I wiped HD to install Panther, I wasn’t aware that iblog store original text in a system file that I was supposed to back up. Luckily I had backed up whole HD to cds about a month ago. So I have spent last week learning Panther, fixing blog, etc…

Panther is soooo cool. Jason, Nick: I installed Toast today, so can duplicate disks over weekend. Panther is the reason Windows users switch over. Wow, just wow.

Having not had a posted blog for a week I forgot to mention the car was fixed. Well, the brakes were fixed. Still plenty wrong with it.

Ok, the way I see it merely POSTING a blog is quite a bit, so thats all for now.

No quote, but ALL quotes will be put on a page, for reference.

And comments may be erased, as I needed to repost last 30 days of posts, which were the ones commented. Sorry…

Til Sunday,
nick

Panther is Cool

Well, the blog is still broke, so you can’t read this, but I am still here.

I know the problem, and if you can see this, then I have fixed it.

Panther is awesome, just find more and more cool features. Apple’s statement of 150 new features is certainly an understatement. Expose, desktop printing, easier app switching, fast user switching, classic menu item, and so much more.

I am getting re-settled in. Most of my apps and docs are re-installed, only a few less used items remain.

I want to go back to Somerset by end of year. Walk around and see whole mall. Is three stories, 2 buildings. I have only been in 1 building, maybe 7 stores total. Another thing I want to do is a BIG road trip. Probably next summer. Would be cool to buy a $500 beater and just drive till it dies. I don’t know, sounds cool to me.

OK, I can’t think of much else so I am going to work on fixing blog again.

later,
nick

If you can’t say something nice, make sure whatever you do say is muttered under your breath

Road Trip

Ok, we are currently at Exit 84B heading North on I 75. I tried to post in line at the Apple Store, so I could get uploaded over their wifi, but couldn’t get iblog to work right. Anyway, I got Panther at 2:33 pm today. Installed and we headed off to Troy about 5:30. Drive down was ok, not to busy. North bound lanes were in a complete stop some places though. Hopefully that has cleared up some by now. Ate at Steak and Shake at Great Lakes Crossing. Got to Somerset and line was pretty long. Probably 200+ people. Walked around store for about 35 minutes once we finally got in. 23″ Cinema Displays are HUGE. And 17″ PowerBooks are just weird looking, they are SO wide. G5s are faster than I can believe, though so are the 1.25 G4s that are still around. Lot of people in store, compared to when I bought ibook and we had 3 people waiting on me alone. I bought a Brenthaven case for ibook. $79. Probably shouldn’t have. In fact I just realized I could have bought online and saved $20 through .mac coupon. Shit. Oh well, we’re 25 miles away already.

Panther is awesome though, lot of nice features. If you want to see some, let me know. I would be happy to show off.

In other news, car gets fixed tomorrow. Guess thats all. See you all come Monday, unless I update this post when I actually send to server.

nick

Before you insult someone, walk a mile in their shoes.
That way you’ll be a mile away, and have their shoes.

And Suchyta says “Hi, Okay, so we stood in line and answered several questions for people who kept asking why we were standing in line waiting. Some people looked at us like we were crazy. Oh well, maybe we are.”

Woohoo

I got my check. And guess what…

It was for full $2500!

Delta said it would be for $1250 because they split the MEAP award over two semesters, but I got it all! Problem is, I need to attempt to restrain paying too many bills, because I need to save some to pay for delta next semester.

One problem: I got check just before class, class was 4 – 6, and bank closed at 5. So I am sitting here with the check and never got it cashed. Tomorrow morning I guess.

Three days till Panther! Some people have reported it having been shipped, but few are saying this, and we will see when they arrive. Mine is listed as “open” with 2 day shipping, so should go out tomorrow. Hope it arrives before we leave Friday, would be cool to show up to Apple Store running Panther before the schmucks in line can even buy it.

Next Thursday (the 31st) I finally start my HTML class. Should be easy, I mean, it’s HTML. The other classes are going fine.

Ok, off to dream of what to do with my money. I am going to Apple Store this week, and G5 starts at a mere $1999…

And Friday update will be fairly early, will post before we go to Troy. May update the post when we get home.

Till friday,
nick

HEY! I am running out of quotes, seriously!
And use the comments or lose them, having all those (0)s is a bit of a downer.