« May 2003 | Main | July 2003 »
June 28, 2003
And they're off...
Well, this is it. I'm about to disassemble the computer and load it into a gigantic wodden box to be shipped cross country. I'm terrified. I'm not sure how safe it or any of my other belongings will be, and I'm not sure how I'll fare without her glowing blue lovliness bathing me nightly. I'll hopefully be blogging from other machines in CA until mine arrives in two to three weeks. Forgive me, though, if it's a bit sparse.
To all of my friends in the Commonwealth: I'll miss you dearly, I'm sure. Do anything you can to keep in touch and remember that a Californian vacation is much cheaper than you think.
To all of my friends in LA: Please hang out with me.
June 27, 2003
I'm with Ben
Right now my template is not editable. Why? Because it does not appear at all in the template window.
IE restart, no luck.
Cache trash, nothing.
System restart and temporary file flush, zero.
I'm satisfied that it's Blogger being shitty again. I'm really getting sick of it. If this thing is still in the testing or beta stages, I see no reason that I should have been moved over to it without my consent. Why not get the fucker to work right before it's made my problem?
Okay. Now I'm annoyed.
Maybe I should listen to Ben. Blogger has now broken my CSS. You'll notice that any blog entry with a photo now longer has CSS formatting applied to it. Now I get that lovely 12pt Times New Roman every third block. Great. Well, I don't have time to figure out which perfecetly innocent line of code Blogger's taken issue with this time, so it stays for the time being.
Update: Sort of an update... Maybe an amendment? Anyhoo, it's another thing Blogger's done to piss me off:
I take care to use the 'target' attribute in each of my links so that the new site opens in a brand new (_blank) window, instead of taking over the currently focused window. BloggerNew apparently doesn't dig 'target' because it gives me an error window each time I try to publish using that tag. In this window, I'm given the option to either fix the tag or ask Blogger to ignore it. I invariably do the latter, but when I do so, Blogger does not publish the entry. It gets posted into my logs, but will go no further. They'd better get their shit together really soon.
June 26, 2003
titles?
Do I have titles now?
Blogger's kinda freaking out. They're in the process of moving me to the new Blogger format and nothing's quite working right. Titles show up in the preview, but not in published pages, sometimes Blogger isn't able to publish at all and just tries repeatedly and endlessly... Maybe I'll give it an hour to work itself out...
June 24, 2003
I think I finally understand
Matt's cleared it all up for me.
"Diesel jeans, interior design, yoga and Mini Coopers?" I'm a Metrosexual!
Let's not get carried away, though. I may get the West Elm catalogue and wear Diesel Jeans; I might be a bit fussier than some about my hair products; It's possible, even, that I had a 30 minute conversation with my mother yesterday about Trading Spaces; But Matt's way more metro than me.
Why do I embrace Metrosexuality so freely? Why am I almost *ecstatic* that there's a marketing term for lady-lovin' homos like me?
Because this is your average male in america.
Or this.
Or this.
Thanks, Matt the Metrosexual.
June 23, 2003
New Gallery: Blue Hills
Finally uploaded the photos from our trip with Brad and Amie to The Blue Hills. Most of the shots came out all right. We had a really great time and I think it shows. It was the first (and last) day for weeks without any rain at all so we had no choice but to enjoy it.
Check out the gallery.
Ok. So I was wrong. Sue me.
June 21, 2003
Introducing: The Peanut Gallery
Well, it's one hour until we expect guests to start arriving at our big going away party. What am I doing? I'm playing with my blog.
Now don't start with me... We've already cleaned the entire house, been shopping and prepared all the food, bought speaker wire, borrowed and set-up a friend's stereo, borrowed another friends end tables and coffee table... It's been a full day. Now I get to blog.
Blogging today is extra fun because I've finally gotten my comments to work. This is wonderful. The word "Interactive" is thrown around so much with regard to the web that people forget what it means. The internet is not really all that interactive. You can click on a button and look at a different page from time to time. Sort of like turning the pages of a paperback. Real give and take, right? Well, at least with comments enable, you can tell me that the photo of Micki and I really cute. You could mention that the IE status bar fix from Kevin Donahue was very helpful, or that getting new shoes is not blogworthy information.
Anyways, the comments code I used is called dotcomments, and is courtesy of a very helpful Dan Engler at Foreword.com. He does not support dotcomments any longer, so don't go asking him for all sorts of advice on the subject. He is, however, a very generous feller.
June 19, 2003
Full <body> Search
I almost forgot. We now have search functionality. Only a handful of blog entries to wade through right now, but maybe you'll find it handy in the future. Many thanks to Atomz Search for their generous offerings and overall schnazziness.
Also coming soon:
- comments
- proper links page
- proper 'to do' community events section
- photo galleries
- other possible sections include: music collection, music projects & downloads, tech tips and tricks, general articles, other such nonsense.
MediaBistro is so on our side
Eh... whatever. I just thought this was a pretty cool little article at one of my favorite online community / resource sites. now I'm gonna go back to trying to make my comments work.
June 18, 2003
Good grief, we're cute.
Just took a trip to the Blue Hills south of Boston with our buddies Brad and Amie. I haven't gotten the photos blogready quite yet, but I couldn't wait to share this with the rest of the world.
Stay tuned... Blue Hills photos to follow.
June 16, 2003
Retro Rockstar
Here's another one for the nerds out there. Rockstar Games has just announced their new "Rockstar Classics Free Download Series." First in line is the original Grand Theft Auto. There is a short registration form to fill out before you download the game in it's entirety.
Check it out here.
Speaking of retro games... Did anyone ever play SpaceQuest? I was a big Roger Wilco fan. Kicks Leisure Suit Larry's butt any day. I'm dying to find a version of SpaceQuest V. Let me know if you have a lead.
June 14, 2003
It had to happen...
This is probably the best parody of the Star Wars Kid video that I've come across. It literally is a parody, meaning someone has recreated the thing, not 'remixed' or added to. Pretty funny. Mostly because the guy has a goatee.
In some darker Star Wars Kid news, Waxy.Org, the site that brought Star Wars Kid to the masses, has recently reported that Ghyslain's family has decided that this might not have all been in good fun. They are considering legal action against the two classmates of Ghyslain's who first found the video in a school camcorder and uploaded it to the internet file-sharing community at Kazaa.
Read all about it here.
I'd just like to put it out there that Andy at Waxy has done a great job handling the whole affair on behalf of the rest of us.
The video's hysterical. It's obviously going to be shared. That's the end of that. The difference is that Waxy did a great job of looking out for Ghyslain and treating him with respect. We all do goofy things when no one's looking. Especially those of us who happen to be 15. In addition to monitoring and then closing the messageboards on Waxy.Org, Andy put together a PayPal Donation program to benefit Ghyslain. During the course of an interview Waxy did with Ghyslain, he let it slip that he'd really like an iPod. Andy decided he deserved one for his trouble and set about collecting donations. He managed to collect far too much money and now plans to give Ghyslain the iPod and a rather large check for the difference.
Just in case anyone out there was left out in the dark, here are links to the original video, and the two remixes that started it all:
Star Wars Kid
Star Wars Kid: Remix
Star Wars Kid: Reloaded
June 09, 2003
The Greatest Show on Earth:
Liam Lynch on The Screen Savers
Liam Lynch, brother to my buddy Jen and creator of Sifl and Olly and the recently released Fake Songs LP, was a featued guest on the greatest nerd-driven television program ever known: The Screen Savers this past week. I watch this show religiously. I can't believe they interviewed Liam. That speaks as much to how cool a show it is, as to how nerdy a rock star Liam is.
Here's an intro quote from the Screen Savers home page:
| Liam Lynch, who'll appear on Friday's show, is not only the genius behind the hit song "United States of Whatever" and the wonderfully twisted MTV sock-puppet show Sifl and Olly. He also works as a software design consultant testing new technologies, loves robotics, and has released his own albums and DVDs on his 111 Productions label. Lynch's work and achievements don't stop there. He's studied under Paul McCartney, recorded with Ringo Starr, written comedy for TV and film, and is writing and directing the upcoming Tenacious D movie. |
If you don't have Liam's "Fake Songs" record, get it. If you're not familiar with Sifl and Olly, become so. And if you're not quite sure who Tenacious D, Jack Black, Paul McCartney or Ringo Starr are, stop visiting my web page.
Yard Sale
I can't believe the yard sale is over. It was truly a thing to behold.
We had thousands of eager customers. People fought over electric skillets and bathmats. Every third car on Broadway honked at it passed.
From 10am to 4pm on June the 8th, we were gods.
Among the more exciting purchases made were our dresser, our television, my friend Juice's PC, our futon, and my Mesa Boogie Recto Cab. Also managed to find homes for our coffee table and computer desk. Not bad. Just about everything went. Shelves, book cases, rolling carts, rugs. It was amazing. This yard sale shit is better than smack.
Yard sale people are truly a rare breed. We had the weirdest fuckers I've ever seen frequenting our home for the course of the day. It was more than a little unnerving. One woman was absolutely furious that we woudln't sell her a comforter for less than $3. She came back a total of four times. She had a huge mole on here neck that was a deep navy blue hue. Then Pauly Walnut from The Sopranos stopped by and checked out an X-Men lunchbox for a while. One guy spent 20 minutes examining my $300 drum machine before asking what it was and if it was really thrity dollars. That was right before a full size Boston MBTA bus pulled up in front of the house to ask if my hand truck was for sale.
Micki made banana chocolate chip cookies and some Country Time drain cleaner / lemonade. While the cookies were a big hit, I think the beer went faster than the Ecto Cooler colored lemonade. In addition to being absolutely delicious, the cookies gave Juice a useful prop and a standard opening line with any girl that happened to walk by. Always thinking. Always.
Lots of thanks to Juice and Brandt who came by to help all day; and also to Ellie, Adam, Christina, Brad, Amie, and Brenden who came just to be friends.
Being as stressed out as I was for most of the day, I didn't really have my camera on hand during the sale. I did manage to snap a few shots of us preparing for the thing, though. One really good shot in particular is this one of Micki taking care of business.
June 04, 2003
Internet Explorer Status Bar
Nothing too spectacular here, I just finally got fed up with IE not showing the Status Bar on startup as a default. Having to go to View > Show Status Bar in each window is a real joy. A lovely young chap named Kevin has cracked the mystery.
Here's how to have the Status Bar appear by default on IE startup:
1) With (only one) IE open, click View, select: Status Bar 2) Right-click on IE's Toolbar and select: "Lock the Toolbar" 3) Hold down the Ctrl key and click the close button (upper right) 4) Open Windows Explorer, click View, select: Status Bar 5) Right-click on Explorer's Toolbar and select: "Lock the Toolbar" 6) Click Tools | Folder Options | View tab 7) Click the "Apply to all folders" button. 8) Hold down the Ctrl key and click the close button (upper right) 9) Open IE to any page, right-click on a link and select: "Open in New Window" 10)Verify that these Registry entries exist: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Internet Explorer\Main |
and here's the link to Kevin's page where I found the info.
A Field Day? Not On Our Watch!
Well, after almost a week of rumors and runarounds, the Field Day Music Festival has officially been moved to New Jersey. Long Islanders have once again been saved by local legislature from the ill-minded and illicit filth -- the sheer naughtiness that comes with any gathering of young people.
Dirty, dirty young people.
It all started when the Riverhead, NY police force decided one week before the event that they would not have the neccesary man-power to oppress... er... oversee such an event. It would be nice to be able to point the finger solely at the Riverhead Police Department, but apparently the reason they cwere able to muster the troops as it were, is that they had been promised additional officers by Suffolk County, who did not make good. The even was to take place at GIANT'S STADIUM... Were they really unprepared for the idea that a few people would show up? There aren't many cities that would look at an event set to draw 50,000+ new people to the area and call it a bad thing. The amount of revenue Suffolk County was primed to collect is almost unfathomable.
Rather than just go on about the whole affair, I'll give you some of what other people had to say about it. Here's a letter from my friend Meghan, who is not only much more eloquent than I, but also infinately better at being both horrified and indignant at once:
Meghan's Letter.
So you know where you stand according to the powers that be, here's a clip from mtv.com explaining the current situation with the Field Day Fiasco:
The Field Day Music Festival is back on in a new location and in an abbreviated form. The event, which was moved from Calverton, New York, to Giants Stadium in Rutherford, New Jersey, because organizers were unable to secure the necessary permit for the former location, will now take place on Saturday. The main stage artists will be the Beastie Boys, Radiohead, Blur, Beck and Underworld. Second stage acts include Spiritualized, Elliott Smith, Liz Phair, Bright Eyes, Gemma Hayes and the 22-20s, according to the festival's updated Web site. Formerly scheduled acts that now may not appear include N.E.R.D., the Roots, Sigur Rós, Thievery Corporation, Thursday, the Raveonettes, Dashboard Confessional, the Streets, Interpol and Beth Orton. Tickets for the new show, which cost $80, went on sale via Ticketmaster on Wednesday (June 4). Tickets for the original show will not be valid at the new location. A note being sent to people who bought tickets to the Calverton show said refunds would automatically be credited to their credit cards. |
June 01, 2003
TiVo freakin' rules.
O'Reilly Publishing, the group who has in the past published such fantastic works as Web Design In a Nutshell, and The HTML Pocket Reference (both by the effervescent Jennifer Neiderst Robbins), has unannounced the release of a new book called simply "TiVo Hacks". TiVo, already being the coolest thing in the world, is about to get even cooler.
People have been hacking and modding TiVo and other DVR units since long before they were even available to us schmoes. The difference now is that there is such a hype around the unit, and so many people now own it, that books like this can be written and released to help non-programmer types do some pretty cool stuff with their favorite toy.
Raffi Krikorian (who incidentally has a brilliant blog at bitwaste.com) authored this book and preorders are available at Amazon.com.
Here's a quick list Raffi compiled that showcase his "Top 5 TiVo Hacks" to be found in the book:
1. add hours to your TiVo : face it, 80 hours is never going to be enough for die hard television fans out there. with the help of weaknees, i'm documenting the step by step process of getting more hours into your PVR (if you do have not-so-strong-leg-joints, then you can turn right to weaknees as they have some awesome kits already put together for people).
2. 30-second skip : ReplayTV owners have it, why not us?
3. listen to your e-mail : don't want to get up from your couch and find your laptop? using the home media option and some perl, we can get your TiVo to literally read out the first few lines of all your e-mail for your listening to pleasure.
4. be a guest on jay leno : not exactly, but your TiVo can claim you are. with the simple use of some scripts to run on your TiVo, you can change the descriptions of the television programs to guest star you.
5. get weather maps : the ultimate lazy man's hack. are you too engrossed to get up and even look out the window? how about hitting a sequence on your remote control to ask your TiVo to query weather.com to get the radar image and put it up on the screen? that way you'll know if you should even bother getting up.
HOLY CRAP!
Last night I had the good fortune to be invited to a midnight screening of The Animatrix, a collection of animated shorts in various anime styles based on the universe of the Matrix. It was some of the most beautiful, tasteful, dizzying animation I've ever seen. It looked like each animated short must have had the budget, crew, and time table of a live action feature.
The DVD comes out next week and preorders are available. You can also preview some of the shorts at theanimatrix.com.
Be there, or be square.