New Tech at Home

Posted on July 10, 2008

Since USPaul had to go all high and mighty and brag about the cool new stuff he got, I figure I’d do the same. Gotta show off the goods, y’all.

• A Navigon GPS unit - Not technically here yet, but it should be by next Monday. Woot had these on sale the other day for 80 bucks. I’ve been wanting a GPS unit for a while, but was a little leery of the price point. Not that a good GPS unit isn’t worth $300-$400, but I’m not sure if I’d get $400 worth of use out of one. However, at a sub-$100 price point, that’s well worth it to me. And it’s even a talky kind, which is more than I was expecting at that price. I’m pretty ‘cited.
• New RAM for the eMac - I got the eMac a couple months back, and while neat and a great deal, it was kinda light on the RAM. Only 256 MB. So I finally put down a little money and got a gigabyte’s worth from OWC. And I’ll be damned, but the thing is hecka zippy after the upgrade. By the way, the upgrade was super easy, only one phillips-head screw to deal with. Now I just have to find some OSX install CDs for it (I’m watching you eBay), because my experience with Linux on it has been, shall we say, sub-par. (Seriously, no sound on it, and no chance of getting Flash working, ever. F that.)
• Super Mario Galaxy for the Nintendo Wii - I f’ing love this game. I’ve already sunk several hours into it and I’m only a tiny bit through. It’s the same basic premise as the past couple of Mario games, collecting stars. But this game has the best graphics yet, a great soundtrack, and is trippy as hell. You play on little planets, and so half the time you’re hanging upside down. When I first started I was afraid of jumping because I didn’t know if I’d fall off or not. Still, this game is fun. I’d say the best installment since Super Mario RPG for the SNES.
• No New iPhone - Which is strange I know, because it’s pretty much expected of me. Hell I do want one, I really do. Even though my current iPhone will get the version 2 software. Even though it would represent an extra $15-$20 a month on my phone bill. Even though it’s the same kind of crappy camera, and the same processor. I still want one. Faster internet is one thing, but I’m most excited at the prospect of having 16 gigs of flash memory versus my current four, and having better battery life. But, here’s the dealbreaker. There’s no 3G in Nebraska. Whatsoever. In fact, a huge majority of the country lacks AT&T’s 3G coverage. And I’m just not at all willing to pay an extra $20 per month that I’m simply not getting. F that.

  But then again, at least it’s not Rogers Wireless.

Tweets of the Week

Posted on July 8, 2008

Highlights from the past week on my Twitter account.

⇒ I love watching carnies chain smoke. - 10:33 PM July 02

⇒ Nothing makes you feel cooler than driving through a town of 700 with Judas Priest blasting out the stereo and all the townsfolk staring. Nothing! - 04:24 PM July 03

⇒ My Native American name would be “Comfy-in-Slacks” - 12:38 PM July 04

⇒ Going on a man-date with Tyler. Red Lobster and then Wall-E. So not gay I swear. - 6:15 PM July 06

⇒ Apple rumor: Segway’s CTO joining Apple as product design lead so Jonathan Ive can become CEO, as Steve Jobs is stepping down. Oh noes! - 12:14 PM July 07

Birthday Wishlist

Posted on March 18, 2008

Since I’m coming up on 25 years (or “a quarter of a century”, as my younger friends like to put it), I thought I’d put together a nice little list of presents I would like to receive. Start saving.

• Lagavulin guitar - I posted this one on futurabolditalic the other day. It’s a guitar made from the barrels used to make Lagavulin scotch. There were ony three made, so it might be hard to track down. But it’s frikken sweet.
• Audi R8 - A badass German coupe, a monster of a car with a 4.2L V8 producing 414 horsepower, the Audi R8 isn’t available in the states until summer, so I’ll accept this one as a late gift.
• Nintendo Wii - Not much to say here, ‘cept I really want one. And whenever I have $250 laying around to spend on a Wii, nobody has one. It’s very annoying. Someday either Nintendo will ramp up production enough so that they actually have them in stores, or else every single other person will have already bought one and therefore will have no need of buying any more and I’ll be able to get one.
• An Asus eeeeeeeeeeeeeePC - I have no use for one really. I’ve got my iMac for home use. I’ve got my MacBook Pro for portability, and more and more for number-crunching-heavy applications. So I don’t really need an ultra-lightweight, ultra-compact laptop, but it’s just so keen. And it runs Linux. And so little, you can just throw it in a bag. A buddy of mine has one and it makes me jealous every time I sneak it away to play with.

I’m sure there’s some other shit I want but I’m tired and can’t think of any. Oh well.

My Favorite Albums of 2007

Posted on December 11, 2007

Welp, end of the year and all that. These are some of my favorite albums from 2007. They may or may not be considered “the best”, but they are the ones I’ve enjoyed the most.

The Stooges’ The Weirdness | Let it be known, I am a massive fan of the Stooges. These are the guys that invented punk rock. Their album Raw Power was just that. And after Raw Power came out, they didn’t release any studio albums until this year. That’s four albums in 38 years. The Beastie Boys wish they could have that kind of release scarcity. In the interim, Iggy Pop went on to release loads of solo albums, be crazy, and just the type of person you would expect to have been the progenitor of punk. He even played Nona’s dad on The Adventures of Pete and Pete. Meanwhile, the Asheton brothers were in a number of bands, including the New Order. No, not that New Order, the American one. But they came back with The Weirdness, which is an excellent album, released just months after Iggy’s 60th birthday. Good work for sure for the old man. A damn fine album I say, which is why I enjoyed it much this year. | iTMS Link | Amazon MP3 Link

Cafe Tacvba’s Sino | Cafe Tacvba is hands down, one of the best bands to come out of the Rock en Español scene. Their sixth studio album, Sino, is a return to a more vintage rock sound. Definitely far from the genre-spanning Re, and the very experimental Reves/Yo Soy. This album features lots of jangly guitars, slippery bass lines, quirky synths, and live drumming (for their first four albums almost all of the drumming was done with a drum machine; Cuatro Caminos was the first album to feature live drums). 53100 almost sounds like a tribute to the intro on The Who’s “Won’t get Fooled Again”, with its squeaky synth and blasts of guitar windmills. Tengo Todo lyrically tessellates as Emmanuel sings one chorus over Nrü singing a second chorus. The Outsider slinks with a vintage Casio drum beat and guitars lurking in the shadows. An excellent album to pick up if you’re looking to expand your horizons. | iTMS Link

Hiromi Uehara’s Sonic Bloom: Time Control | Hiromi is an incredibly talented 28 year old Japanese jazz composer and pianist. She began learning classical piano at age 8. At age 17 she played with Chick Corea. By the time she had graduated from Berklee she had been mentored by Ahmad Jamal and had signed with a label. Sonic Bloom: Time Control, her fourth album, is a fantastic blend of jazz, fusion, progressive, and funk. Her immense talent really shines through on this album, as does that of her backing band. I don’t often admit to listening to prog-type stuff (that’s the sort of thing that should be done alone, with the curtains drawn, so nobody can see you enjoying prog), but this album I will definitely cop to. It’s frenetic and beautiful at the same time. | iTMS Link

Omar Rodriguez-Lopez’s Se Dice Bisonte, No Bufalo | Omar Rodriguez-Lopez is the guitarist for The Mars Volta. While I never really got into their stuff, I did happen upon Se Dice Bisonte, No Bufalo in iTunes once and I love it. Recorded over two years ago in Amsterdam, the album is a blend of very experimental jazz, rock, and Latin rhythms. Rodriguez-Lopez is well known for his numerous guitar pedals, the combining of which leads to the number of bizarre sounds that he squeezes out of his guitar on this album. | iTMS Link | Amazon MP3 Link

Album Leaf’s Green Tour EP | Album Leaf is the side project of Tristeza guitarist Jimmy LaValle. It started about a decade ago when another guitarist recorded him improvising on a Rhodes Piano to a vintage Roland drum machine. The Green Tour EP is a lushly orchestrated collection instrumental pieces. The sort of stuff you might hear in a poignant scene in a movie, or a commercial for a diamond producer. It’s all very mellow, low-key rainy day type stuff. Definitely worth a good listen when you’re in that kind of mood. iTMS Link

Christmas Wish List for 2007

Posted on December 1, 2007

Welp, that time of year again. Christmas approaches so it’s time to make another wishlist. Here’s a few things I’d like. Feel free to comment or add yours as well.

Fear of a Cooper Black Planet and Hel-Fucking-Vetica t-shirts - I’m a man who appreciates a good typeface, and I’m a man who enjoys a good font joke every now and then. That’s why I appreciate these two t-shirts from Wire & Twine and Subtraction.com. They’re pretty badass shirts. And what social situation wouldn’t be an appropriate time to show your love for Helvetica, a face so great they made a movie about it. Awesome! And only $25 a piece.

Diana+ Camera - Currently in production by the fine folks at the Lomographic Society International, this is a faithful recreation of the 1960’s Diana camera, famous for its its dreamy, radiant, and lo-fi images. And it’s got some bonus features to boot. It’s a neat little camera and one I’d love to add to my collection. This valued package rings in at just $75 including 20 rolls of film.

Fender ‘64 Jazz Bass reissue - A “new old stock” bass, this is a perfect recreation of the J Bass Fender produced in 1964. It’s got a tasty three-tone sunburst finish and classy chrome pickup covers. It’s one sexy instrument, that’s for sure. I’d rock it. And it’s a steal at $2,250 (free shipping!).

Laphroaig Black Label 27 Year - I’m a fan of Islay scotches. I’m a big fan of Laphroaig (say it with me - la-froy-g). So this whisky, born in 1980, is very tempting. This is a cask-strength scotch, meaning that it has the same alcohol content as what’s in the barrel. It’s a knockout at 114 proof. And it’s aged in sherry casks, giving it a different flavor. One reviewer described it as the “Incredible Hulk” of Islay scotches. Good enough for me, and only 489 pound sterling, at present $1,011 and change. Mmmmm.

Mac Mini - Yep, another Apple for the house. A Mac Mini would be perfect for under the tv, especially when paired with a nice big Western Digital external hard drive, and an Elgato EyeTV USB DVR thingie to record tv shows. All I need is Front Row and iTunes and I’ve got the perfect home entertainment set up. Sweet!

I think that’s a good start for stuff. I’ll let you know if I think of anything else.

More Cars that are Hott

Posted on August 17, 2007

I haven’t done one of these in a while. As it may be commonly known, I love me some cars. While I may not have a few hundred million to start my own stable of vehicles, you can be sure these cars would be at the top of my list if (when) I do. Some hot shit here. Click on the little thumbnails for bigger.

• MINI Clubman - It’s not unknown that I’m a big fan of the MINI Cooper. In fact, I love ‘em, since I was a kid. The classic, the new, even the little Moke has a place in my heart. And now that the Traveller is coming back as the MINI Clubman, I’m super stoked. All the awesomeness of the regular MINI with a longer wheelbase and hot new design. This thing is a sexy beast. I think I’ll just link to Gabe at Motoring File with his post of the official MINI press release.
• Fiat 500 - Much like the MINI, I just gotta love the tiny little classic Fiat 500, with it’s snub front end, and its snap-on vinyl flap roof. So natch I was excited when they announced a remake, MINI-style. Like the MINI, the 500 is centered around personalization, offering three different trim levels, 15 interior trims, 9 wheel options, 19 decals and 12 body colours. The current trim levels are available with tiny engines that turn out less than 100 horsepower, though they will soon introduce the Abarth version, with either a 135 Hp or a 155 Hp engine, that will compete with the MINI in the market. Good luck finding a 500 though; Fiat’s CEO has announced that within a month of launch, they’ve received 57,000 orders, the entire production run for 2007. They are looking for ways to increase production due to the huge demand.
• Infiniti G37/Nissan Skyline - Coming later this month, the newest upgrade to the Skyline dynasty is the G37. Equipped with a 330hp V6 engine, this sexy coupe is one of the finest vehicles coming out of Japan right now. Of course, what’s truly exciting about the Skyline family is coming Spring of next year, when the GT-R comes out. The GT-R is what made the Skyline so desired, with a legendary, almost limitless amount of potential horsepower. The next GT-R will be a purebred sports car, with an engine tuned by British motor legends Cosworth, and suspension by Lotus. Expect a twin turbo V6 putting out gobs of power. The vehicle is expected to retail for $65k.
• Dodge Challenger - Well let’s see. Two European cars, a Japanese car. Gotta throw some American muscle in there! The Dodge Challenger, one of the badass-est cars to come out of the ’70s (we’ll just ignore the ugly piece of shit second generation that came out from ‘78 til ‘83), is ready for a comeback. Coming out in 2008, this is a true American sports car, complete with a 6.1L Hemi V8 under the hood. It’s a true two-door hardtop (no b-pillar!), something that you never see in American cars these days. So far the challenger is a mysterious beauty, as Dodge has kept a lot of details under wraps. But with all the retro muscle car styling, it. Will. Be. Awesome!

Welp, that’s all I got for now. Good day to you.

Crap. Tagged Again

Posted on July 9, 2007

As DB was bothered about being tagged for a meme, as am I. But I’ve got nothing else going on at the moment, so I’ll take the chance to post something. This is a favorite podcasts dealie. Podcasts are fun as long as I have the time for them. Some of my top choices are:

• White Roof Radio - I’ll continue to shill for them for as long as they run, which by the way, is just past the two year mark now. Not bad for a ‘cast about MINI Coopers.
• The Reverend Preaches - The good reverend’s podcast is a jumbling of rambles about whatever’s going on, and whatever’s good. I like the guy, and he’s a local boy as well. And he does an awesome read of the The Hannah Chronicles.
• Astronomy Cast - A weekly podcast all about the secrets of the universe, but easy to understand. Astronomy is awesome.
• The Art of the Drink - Although it’s currently on hiatus, AotD is a badass video podcast that each week focuses on how to make one drink. I’ve gotten some great ideas and tips from there. As a bonus, AotD girl Melissa is insanely hot.
• Adobe Creative Suite Video Podcast - Hosted by Terry White, this is Adobe’s official podcast to show off some of the neat features of Adobe CS3, along with some great tips and howtos. Good stuff.
• Seoul Glow - I like the idea of traveling to other countries. May pay scale says I can’t do that yet. So for now I have to settle for great podcasts like Seoul Glow, which shows me little bits and pieces about life in South Korea. Good to get your culturin’ in.

And that’s it. There are other good ones I subscribe to, like Bonjour America, Aperture Tips, and Be A Design Cast (again, run by some local boys), and those are good too. But I’m tired of writing. So screw off all of you. And who gets tagged next? You do. Go ahead and write up your favorites and post a link in the comments, iffin you want.

Things DB Has to Do While in Europe

Posted on June 15, 2007

DB is going to Europe for MINI United 2007 with the rest of the White Roof Radio gang in a few days, and so I thought I’d help him out by giving him a list of things to do while he’s out of the colonies:

• Call every British person he meets “gringo”.
• Party with showgirls in Monte Carlo.
• Get thrown in to a Turkish prison with Todd.
• Steal a robot from the MINI factory. Doesn’t have to be a car-making robot, a Roomba or a Transformer toy will do, as long as it’s a robot.
• Tell a group of Germans, “You krauts are alright.”
• Hookers, hookers, monkey, hookers.
• Drive a MINI One Diesel; not be sorely disappointed.
• Meet some royalty.
• Claim to be descended from royalty.
• Get one of those quickie Amsterdam weddings, and a quickie Amsterdam divorce.
• Lightsaber fight with the Pope.
• Promote MacFags.com, your source for occasionally updated Mac stuff.
• Do the Moose Test by running directly at the nearest moose.
• Probably do a podcast or something.

Any other ideas?

Subjects of Jokes I Have Made in the Past 24 Hours:

Posted on May 24, 2007

• Deuterium
• Edvard Munch
• That little toe that puppies have on the back of their legs
• Annhilation of the universe
• Our grounds crew and pederasty
• Home dialysis
• Penile cancer

A List of things DB Needs for His New Mac

Posted on April 1, 2007

So DB bought a Mac. Which I think signals the end times or Ragnarok or something, but anyways. He posted a few things he needs for his Mac. I have answers. Answers that may help other folks too. Plus I don’t feel like typing a long-ass comment on his post that will probably be blasted by comment spam checkers ‘cuz it’ll be full of links.

• DB needs a code editor. For that, I recommend Smultron. I know BBEdit is the old stalwart, and TextMate is the new hottness, but Smultron is P.D.G. (Pretty Damn Good), and, as a bonus, it doesn’t cost 120 USD (BBEdit) or 40 euro (TextMate).
• DB needs to video chat with Windows users. iChat can do it with AIM users. Unfortunately, Adium can’t do video chat. It’s a LibGAIM limitation. However, Yahoo for Mac can do video with Windows Yahoo users (with the standard shitty Yahoo video chat quality) and Skype can do cross video chats I believe, as well. I am unsure about MSN for Mac. Anyone know?
• DB misses his key command for the Run shell. Fortunately, those fine motherbitches at Blacktree developed Quicksilver. Quicksilver, with the punch of a two-key-combo, lets you launch apps, open web pages, send emails, do UNIX commands, make text files, do math, and so much more. Check it out.
• DB knows about Flip4Mac, but does he know Perian? Perian is the shit for video codecs, giving you all you need.
• DB would like an AMP stack. If only someone made a self contained development environment, complete with it’s own little Apache, PHP, and SQL… Oh wait, they do! MAMP gives you all you need for developing websites in an Apache environment, with no fuss. It’s so good, I use it my self.

That’s it for now. Anyone else got any questions, you just go on ahead and ask, li’l chilluns.

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