30th April, 2004
Time for a Change
Dan Gillmor has a couple of interesting things to say about the continued erosion of our rights and freedoms under the Bush Administration. [Here and here.] And the sad thing is, Bush still has at least 7 more months to take even more away. Enough is enough.
Posted at 11:22 am | Comment (0)
29th April, 2004
Let There Be White.
And there was white. And it was good.
Not only did Schpyder, over at Schpyder.net, bring a ray of sunshine into my life by telling me that my all-time favorite American – if you can call it that – microbrew, Celis White, is being brewed again, but he also had the outstanding class to pick up a couple of 6-packs for me the last time he was up in Meeechigan.
Life is good.
Posted at 3:35 pm | Comment (0)
22nd April, 2004
Big Like a Pickle
Sounds like a good idea, but I’m not so sure how much I’d enjoy carrying around a brightly colored phallus in my bag. I present to you the Banana Guard.
[via Gizmodo]
Posted at 10:02 am | Comment (0)
19th April, 2004
Wireless Insecurity
I have wireless access now. On a whim, I decided to drop a wireless card into my laptop last weekend and, to my naive surprise, it immediately picked up a signal. Not from my apartment, mind you, but from someone else’s. Not only that, but the signal is one that is completely open for anyone to use or abuse. My network card happily replied that it was associated and that I could do as I pleased, now under the guise of someone else’s IP address, with no work from me. How long before networking companies start making equipment that is at least semi-secure out of the box? For a long time (and some would argue that this is still the case), MS Windows had the same problem and we all know where that got us. Is the almighty dollar really worth that much?
Posted at 4:25 pm | Comment (0)
19th April, 2004
Revel. Dance. Sing.
It’s days like this that keep me alive. Keep me sane.
Posted at 11:00 am | Comment (0)
14th April, 2004
A9
I see that Amazon has a new search engine. Who cares? Well, here are 7 reasons to use A9. Personally, I’ve only been messing with it for a little while now, but the search-within-a-book function is pretty groovy as are the Diary and Your History. Of course, I also thought that .hack//SIGN was pretty cool when it first came out, so take this with a grain of salt. [via BoingBoing]
Posted at 2:08 pm | Comment (0)
13th April, 2004
No Laughing Matter
This has been floating around the ‘net for a couple weeks now but it just landed in my lap: a video commentary on G. W.’s now infamous “can’t find those weapons of mass destruction” “joke” that he told at the Radio and Television Correspondents Dinner this March. I think the quote goes something like: “If you’re not outraged, you’re not paying attention.” Make your vote count this November.
Bush Joke Video
(Note: This vid requires a QuickTime player. Here is a link to a non-corporate one.)
Posted at 4:10 pm | Comment (0)
12th April, 2004
Sugar
It’s the day after Easter. Being the typical, uninformed American consumer that I am, I don’t think of the Christian holiday nor do I think of the celebration of the vernal equinox and it’s Teutonic origins (Eastre, Ostara or Oestre) when I think of Easter. Instead, I think of candy. And, as it is the day after Easter, that means heavily discounted candy as stores hope to clear shelf space for the placement of more pointless merchandise. So, with a gleam in my eye and an ache in my tooth, I trotted over to my local grocer in hopes of scoring some low-cost sugar.
I grabbed a couple bags of goodies from the meager selection (apparently in this neighborhood, you have to be quite the early riser to get the pick of the litter) and made my way to the register. Walking down the aisle, I couldn’t help but notice the Peeps. Lots and lots of Peeps. Yellow, pink, purple, a veritable pastel kaleidoscope of puffed sugar foulness. In case you hadn’t noticed, I hate Peeps. In fact, the only thing I find more disgusting than Peeps are Circus Peanuts*. I have this theory that Peeps, much like traditional Christmas fruitcakes, are never eaten by anyone. Instead, they are just re-gifted time and time again. This theory is probably incorrect as Just Born claims that over 700 million Peeps were consumed last Easter. If this isn’t a sign of the impending apocalypse, I don’t know what is.
*Apparently there are more than a few sickos out there who also enjoy Circus Peanuts. You people creep me out.
Posted at 12:23 pm | Comment (0)
12th April, 2004
Apathy
Fear is a noose that binds until it strangles. – Jean Toomer
I will not let you win.
Posted at 7:36 am | Comment (0)
8th April, 2004
Note to Self: Reduce Power on Orbital Mind Control Ray
Now this is just bizarre. I can’t wait to hear the explanation for it.
Posted at 9:58 am | Comment (0)
7th April, 2004
New Home
Thanks to the incredible generosity of Benny, GogBlog now has a new server to live on. I’ve also dumped Radio UserLand in favor of the far-easier-to-use WordPress for my blogging software of choice. Huzzah.
Posted at 5:53 pm | Comment (0)
6th April, 2004
On the Wagon
So, I managed to wait over a week after the US release date for Final Fantasy XI for the PS2 before caving in and buying it. I plunked my hard earned cash down at the counter of my local gamestore and deftly avoided making eye contact with the creepy guy behind the register as he offered to sell me an extended warranty on the hard drive and then asked if I had any friends who also played the game. Cackling to myself, I drove home, not quite sure if I actually stopped at all those lights along the way, parked and then rushed up the stairs to my apartment with my treasure tightly clutched in my hands.
Gil, mine. Glory, mine. Women, mine. These thoughts rushed through my head as I tore open the packaging. I connected the hard drive and loaded up the disc, my fingers trembling in anticipation. The disc whirred and the introduction music blasted out of my speakers. Then, tragedy. An error has occured, my once-faithful PS2 dutifully reported. POL-1577 (DNAS Error -881). Noooo.
A quick call to SCEA connected me with an incredibly polite fellow on the help desk (forgive me, I forget your name, kind sir) who stayed with me on the phone for almost a half an hour while we ran some diagnostic tests. “I’m sorry”, the polite man said, “the only option to correct this is to send in your unit for replacement”. Fine, fine, says I. Anything to get my fix. What, and Sony will pay the shipping as well? And I get a new 90-day warranty on the refurb’d replacement? Fanfuckingtastic. Eagerly, I write down the service number and I’m about to thank the polite man for his help when I hear him utter the most feared phrase in the English language: “It should take about 3-4 weeks for you to get your replacement.”
…
3-4 weeks. My god. I’m on the wagon for 3-4 weeks.
Posted at 8:52 pm | Comment (0)
6th April, 2004
Sushi Pants
A sordid tale from the ‘net:
11:30: I am confused. I only want sushi. I stand at the door, mesmerized by the shifting masses of near nakedness. A mildly attractive girl who apparently works at the restaurant wants me to put on lingerie. I tell her I don’t have any. I just want some sushi. She says I should at least take off my pants. I ask her if this will get me sushi. She says it will. I take off my pants.
Posted at 8:52 pm | Comment (0)
6th April, 2004
Rebirth, part 2
Ahh, April. The birds are singing and the sun is shining, or so I’ve heard. See, I’ve been hibernating in my computer room watching all the new anime that came out this season. Well, that and plotting to take over the world, of course.
One series that I’ve been particularly looking forward to since I started reading the manga is Midori no Hibi. It’s a touching story about a young man and his girlfriend. Oh, and did I mention that she is attached to his arm, replacing his right hand? Add water and hilarity ensues. I have to say that I thought that Sawamura Seiji’s (the lead character) voice would have been better suited to Seki Tomokazu (who did Sohma Kyo’s voice in Fruits Basket, among many others) but Taniyama Kishou does a decent job. Looking forward to the rest of the series.
Posted at 8:51 pm | Comment (0)
5th April, 2004
Open Letter
Dear Mr. Kikkoman,
While your delicious product, Kikkoman Naturally Brewed Soy Sauce, is always thoroughly enjoyed in my household, I must request that you change the packaging for this product. You see, the current packaging, especially when the bottle is full or near-full, too closely resembles the look of another delicious product, Lea & Perrins Worchestershire Sauce, that also enjoys shelf space in my overly crowded refrigerator. Needless to say, this similarity can wreak absolute havoc upon the delicate balance of flavors in my ordinarily tasty bloody marys. Your prompt attention to this matter is greatly appreciated.
Cheers, Gog
Posted at 8:50 pm | Comment (0)
