I am somewhat excited to get my hands on the iPhone and I have pre-arranged to pick one up at the Apple Store on the morning of June 29th. You may ask why I am not more excited to which I will reply: As good as the device may have been designed and engineered it's still at the mercy of AT&T getting their act together. I would love to think that Apple has created a way to eliminate the telco's infamous day-old voice mail delivery and dropped phone calls but somehow I doubt it.
The Rocket Scientist and I were invited to no less than six weddings this summer ranging in all manner of size and geographic locations. At the largest wedding, a very large and traditional Catholic wedding, I have been asked to MC the reception. Some, including the wife, have placed formal protest to the bride knowing that a Pope joke or three might make it into my repertoire. I don't know about that but I am being fitted for a look-a-like outfit—lets hope white is my color.
Airbag's galactic headquarters moved into a new, very swank office building. I now have floor-to-ceiling windows with ample natural light for an army. This is Sparta.
Whist eating breakfast with a friend he suddenly remembered that his website had turned twelve the day before. The Rocket Scientist quickly figured that he had been publishing online for as many years as we had been married. She also remembered that in the summer of 1994 I tried to explain to her what the Internet was, without success. She also recounted my ambition to be online within that year. If that sounds strange then you need to understand that back then it wasn't just a matter of ordering an account over the phone, you had to fill out applications, get software, install software, and wrestle with TCP/IP settings in a way that would make most of today's users cry openly. And that was if the place had openings for new customers.
The Ducks have all but ensured they will hoist the cup on Wednesday. Watching the games on HDTV is amazing and it makes me miss the times when my friends and I would go watch the UAA Seawolves play. Go Ducks!
There have been many, many books purchased in the last few months. Some of my favorites are coffee table editions featuring the work of Josef Muller-Brockmann, Oti Aicher, and Jasper Johns. For fun I also slipped in the new tome on the history of Star Wars as told through long lost interviews from the late seventies. Mo books, mo betta.
I had a problem finding Al Gore's new book at local book shops. I went to two stores and found nothing but empty shelves. Clerks at each place told me that their large inventories sold out within hours. I've got a copy, finally, but I'm a little intimidated to read it for fear that it's only going to piss me off even more than I already am at the state of our country and it's politics. I don't know about you but I'm ready to throw some tea in a harbor and then maybe burn a building or two.
Halo 3 Beta has been fun in the few times that I've been able to get on Live (work has been a tad busy). Even more fun is playing Crackdown online with friends and causing mayhem. For some reason jumping cars into other cars, over cliffs, and into buildings never gets old.
Join the fray by reading through and commenting at the end.
> The Ducks have all but ensured they will hoist the cup on Wednesday. Watching the games on HDTV is amazing and it makes me miss the times when my friends and I would go watch the UAA Seawolves play. Go Ducks!
Canada wins either way. There are 19 or so Canadians on the Ducks team, from Getzlaf to McDonald to Penner to Moen to Beauchemin to the Neidermayer brothers and Giguere, and more. Go Canada!
Crackdown co-op is da bomb-- literally, when playing with you. How many times was I collateral damage to one of your rockets, anyway? Eh, no matter, it was good times. We gotta do that again soon.
Remember in 1988 (I think) when the pope toured the US and we were going around doing the Seminole hatchet chop and chanting Po-o-o-o-o-ope, Po-o-o-o-o-ope?
Sorry, brain malfunction, that should be tomahawk chop.
You've pre-arranged to pick up an iPhone on launch day? Is this some special kind of insider service you're getting from your local Apple Store?
I've never had cell phone service with AT&T but I ahve a few friends that do, and they always seem to be dropping calls, and getting bad reception. I've also read in many places how slow their internet connection is. I would still love to have an iphone, if I had the cash I would love to be in line on what is seeming to be a very sunny day in june...
I'm sorry, "pre-arranged"? What gives, Storey? You got some secret in that no one else has? What say I come down there and get in on that pre-arrangement...
I'd think about getting an iPhone if I could use it with the Sprint network. Until then, no go.
I too am pumped about the Ducks. I even wore their original home jersey to a bar downtown here in Ann Arbor where most people are rabid Red Wings fans.
> Canada wins either way. There are 19 or so Canadians on the Ducks team...
There may be Canadian employees on the Ducks team but the cup will stay in the United States.
> You've pre-arranged to pick up an iPhone on launch day? Is this some special kind of insider service you're getting from your local Apple Store?
Yes, I have and I'm sorry but I can't say where at this time. I have to protect the innocent.
> You got some secret in that no one else has?
Yes, I do.
> There may be Canadian employees on the Ducks team but the cup will stay in the United States.
Yes, but the players from the winning team get to take the cup on a tour, so it'll be up here in Canuckville quite a bit, given that 84 percent of the Ducks are Canadian.
Aren't all NHL teams mostly Canadians? I didn't know Americans knew how to skate, eh :)
Re: Assault on Reason
I am about half way through and I can tell you that your pretty much going to be pissed off at the ruinous state of country.
On the bright side, if you have paid any attention to news or politics over the last seven years, or read a single book about the decline of public dialogue and participation in politics, then nothing Mr. Gore says will be a complete shocker.
Of course, I still have yet to read the chapter on the emerging role of the internet in the public sphere. We will see what the so-called "inventor of the internet" has to say about it.
One thing I have enjoyed is the historical tidbits about the founding fathers, The Federalist Papers, etc. The most interesting quote so far, " in 1979 the U.S. Senate unanimously approved, and President John Adams signed, a treaty that contained the following declaration: 'The United States is not a Christian nation any more than it is a Jewish or Mohammedan Nation.'"
Having worked for a private Christian university near Disneyland, I was so tired of hearing students, professors and staff, though well meaning, espouse that, "The founders were all Christians and founded this nation on God, just look at the dollar bill." Meh, sigh.
I suspect there was a bit of that misinformed revisionist attitude at the Crystal Cathedral as well, though I hope not too much.
I'm going to wait and see if everyone likes the new Iphone first. It looks cool but will it work good as a phone?
Ample daylight? Large windows? Bah! I design in the dark!!
Sounds like u've been busy, I still have fond memories of my 14.4 modem...
I'm holding off on the iPhone. As cool as it looks, just seems like it makes sense to wait a few months and see how people like it. (And either be insanely jealous or look very smart, depending on how things turn out).
@ Rian....cool quote; but I'm guessing the date was probably 1779?
I've had AT&T/Cingular for over two years now. I have never had a single dropped call and reception is almost always excellent, even in the most remote areas. However, I have had a few late voicemails.. it's been a very rare thing though. If you are in Michigan AT&T is great.
"Mo books, mo betta."
Until you have to move. Trust me on that one.
hope to hear all about the new iPhone by the end of the day on the 29th.
@ p aul: Actually, I mistyped only the century.
The correct date of the quote, according to the book, is 1797.
That was the first year of John Adams presidency. I have not confirmed the signing date of the treaty. No treaty name or treaty partner is indicated in the text.
For reference, the passage was pulled from page 49.
@greg - forgot to add; Congratulations to the Mighty Ducks for ther ir great season. And they managed to humble the Canucks who used to have Brian Burke as their GM. The Garage turned out to be a great training ground for Burke. And now he is poised for his and his team's first Stanley Cup.
Arrrrghhhh! The pain.
At least Alfie sored the shorthander. At least we can cling to that.
I watched the whole game. If the Sens could stand to be there I could at least stand to watch.
Wow. Brutal.
I guess there's next year. How's that parade in Anaheim coming?
> I guess there's next year. How's that parade in Anaheim coming?
Not sure but the private party is going to be at Mastro's on Friday night. I volunteered to fill bread plates but I haven't heard back yet.
. . . burning buildings will enlarge your "carbon footprint". but i think drinking tea reduces it . . .
the gore quote is from the Treaty of Tripoli, 1797, article XI.