Monthly Archives

January 2007

Dear sirs, the iPhone (and other things)…

ARoB, Technology by

God. Apple announces a product and suddenly all I hear is “Nick, what do you think of the iPhone?” I’ve received literally ONES of calls about this (Hoover, I’m looking at you) and I just cannot take the pressure of being the only resource on the matter on standby. So, I’ll break it all down for you here:

  1. It’s unbearably sexy. If you haven’t seen it, get out from the ditch you were sleeping in just now and behold.
  2. Ridiculous expensivity. $500 for 4 GB, $600 for 8 GB and that’s WITH a two year sex-slave commitment to Cingular. Have you tried to please Cingular? They are insatiable.
  3. Anytime Apple makes something shiny, it’s prone to scratches. Besides, the smudge-ability of this thing gives me nightmares.
  4. The potential for it to be a full portable computer is very intriguing, especially since it’s running OS X. I’m definitely excited to find out just how much OS X it’s actually running.
  5. Multitouch. Watch the videos. It’s incredible.
  6. Only 8 GB for $600 (with contract?). Assuming that Cingular is giving you a $200-300 subsidy, the device should be about $800. That’s nearly a computer. A full-size iPod is averaging about $249 for 30 GB of capacity. I understand that it’s ridiculously thin, but I’d take the added bulk for more capacity. Besides, if it’s giong to live up to portable computing, the space could come in VERY handy (see above.)
  7. Never buy Rev. A Apple hardware. I learned this with my first 12″ PowerBook G4, 17″ iMac G5 and now my 15″ MacBook Pro. This time, I’m following my own advice.

In things that aren’t phones: My scarf is almost done. I’m really slow with this whole knitting thing, but I’ve gotten my attention span up to about 10 rows, so progress is absolutely flying. (Laugh if you understand knitting.) I also have a grad school visit arranged for 23 February in Philadelphia. The lovely Ms. Lindsie has agreed to host my ass – and probably the rest of me – so I’m very excited for another weekend in the city. I’m also not plagued with strep, like I thought…just a standard issue cold right now. It’s an excuse to sleep a bunch, which I am in favor of doing.

Three albums for a rainy Sunday…

ARoB, Music by

The Flower Book – Emilie Simon: Believe it or not, MTV can actually play good videos…well, MTV Hits, that is. I saw the video for “Flowers” and, being the big stop motion sucker that I am, fell immediately in love. The album alternates between warped lullabies and electronic glitter, all while keeping an air of cool only attainable by the French. Magnifique!

Datarock Datarock – Datarock: Completely and totally the soundtrack of a hipster dance party. Well, at least as I imagine the doucheflakes of Blue States Lose living out a dance party. That shouldn’t be a turn off, though…it’s a really fun album full of semi-electro/semi-scratchy indie pop. And it’s Norwegian! (I don’t know what bearing that has on anything.)

i com – Miss Kittin: She’s lovely. Her music is just as exactingly Euro-beautiful. This album sounds like an art school media project about the Interwebs. It’s tacky and sophisticated all at the same time. If you love beeps, clicks and vocorders, you’re set. And who doesn’t, really?

While watching BBC tonight…

ARoB, Movies, Television by

I noticed that three actors I’ve enjoyed greatly in some favourite movies are now in television roles. Martin Freeman, Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy‘s Arthur Dent, stars alongside Peter Serafinowicz in a relatively humorous show called Hardware. You may remember Mr. Serafinowicz from Shaun of the Dead where he played Pete, the crabby roommate of Shaun, Simon Pegg. Simon’s going to be in Tuesday night’s episode of Doctor Who.

So, there you have it: three ugly guys on TV. And a lot of italics. I hope you feel like you’ve been given something valuable in this post.

Update (like two minutes later): I realized that Bill Nighy was in both films as Slartibartfast and Philip, respectively. He rules. That’s all I’ve got.

Look, I’m using technology…

ARoB, General Entertainment by

I figured that since I’m just sitting here waiting for a video to digitize so I can then sit here and wait for it to compress so I can then sit here and wait for it to burn to a disc, I may as well blog. I shall call it professional development. Such a great ring to it, really.

“What are you doing for your birthday?” “What are your plans for tonight?” “You do have plans for your birthday, don’t you?”

No. No I don’t, but thanks for asking!

Is it wrong that I’m kind of excited to just go home and take a nap with my cat and maybe call my family?

Yes.

Am I going to do it anyway? Of course. I’m also going to watch Arrested Development and maybe read an article or four in Wired. The zest of this evening is almost overwhelming. (You may pronounce the silent ‘h’ for a real kick.)

23 is going to be a lot like 22 except I’m older…so I’ll probably see a few more of the hairs on my head relocate to my chest. And then turn grey. Because I’m slowly transforming into a silverback, mountain gorilla.


(Holy shit, this picture is incredible.)

Oh, but wait: I’m moving by the end of this semester. How’s that, bitches? It’s been a secret-ish decision but I’m tired of sitting on it. By June I’ll either be living in Philadelphia to attend grad school or working in some other city at a job that is yet to be determined. Or maybe going to grad school in a place that is not Philly?! You, cyberfriends, will just have to wait and see.

Gluttony: A Photo Essay

ARoB, Food/Drink by

The buffet at Lindsie’s was unbelievable…crab rangoons to spinach artichoke dip and so many other delights.

Our wonderful hostess, and one third of the cooking staff for the evenings festivities, poses with the awe-inspiring sight.

See the rest of the photoset by visiting my Flickr account.

My cat’s gone nuts…

ARoB, General Entertainment by

Clyde is seriously spazzing out. I’m not entirely sure why…perhaps he’s got a lot of pent up energy from being alone all weekend? I dunno…the mess he made in the living room clearly shows he had some outlet for his outrage at my leaving. Last night, he was running like a little furry Mercury and writhing about on the floor while crying. I finally decided to pick him up and held him until he fell asleep, which was apparenly what he really wanted. I was not aware that I had adopted a toddler.

It’s kinda nice to be back in my own home after two weeks of…er…not. being. here. Don’t get me wrong, home was nice and Philly was a lot of fun. I’m just happy to not be living out of a suitcase and to know where everything is in the kitchen. And to be in my bed…sleeping on futons was not the best way to ensure a happy back or a good night’s sleep. That being said, I’d take this break again, so it must have been enjoyable.

I think I’ll post photos from Lindsie’s at some point today. For now, laundry.