It's been a little while so I'm pretty obligated to post at least a musing (not necessarily amusing).
People who know me pretty well know that I have a constant fear and giddy anticipation for the time when technology officially enslaves mankind. It's portrayed in a majority of science fiction literature and film, so I think I'm preparing pretty well. One of the major perks to it all is actually becoming a cyborg. Usually cyborgs are portrayed as half-breed zombies with less humanity than even their "full-blooded" android cousins. Thanks a lot Star Trek. I don't think that cyborgs necessarily need such a bad rep. I think done right, we could have the best of biology and technology literally at our fingertips... actually that's a bad expression to use since it would be literally within our fingertips. Man! That's quite a concept when my semi-hyperbole expressions don't even come close to making the point.
Sorry, that was too many words.
There's an incredible cd (that I don't own) by Thomas Dolby called The Golden Age of Wireless. I believe the American version came out in 1982. It was repackaged with his hit single "She Blinded Me With Science" that you've probably heard. Don't confuse this particular album with The Age of Plastic by The Buggles which came out a year or two earlier and contained the hit "Video Killed the Radio Star," although both albums contain several of the themes I'm talking about here. That's one thing I love about early 80s synth-pop -- while a lot of the 90s alternative described how we feel now, the 80s stuff I'm talking about talked a lot about how we live now.
Whoops, I forgot to mention why wonderful wireless is relevant to what I was talking about before. You may be able to tell that I'm EXTREMELY tired at the moment. Have I mentioned how I gauge my level of energy? I probably have, but I'll mention it again anyway. However much energy my cel phone has is precisely how much energy I have. My functionality is directly related to my most important wireless device. Now my video games and a bunch of other stuff are all wireless too. Being a cyborg isn't too bad, now that we've surpassed all those ugly wires sticking out of us. Who says we need to actually look like zombies?
So anyway, I don't know if this is related to the upcoming revolution or just my intense weariness of late, but I was studying the Final Cut Pro instruction manual today and I was very impressed at how empathetic the technical writing was concerning instructing me on developing my own editing style. I nearly cried.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
the 24/7 full moon.
I've spoken before about a technological curse I've had over the past few years (I've also spoken of it here and here and here and here and here and here). Just to sum up: computers don't work when I use them.
I hoped to rid myself of the curse by switching over to a Mac. I sort of explained my reasons for wanting to do so, but let me make it more clear. It's not necessarily because I think Macs are better. It's that PCs and I obviously don't work well together. It's kind of like The Police. Three awesome musicians in the biggest band in the world and they need to break up because although they're individually incredible, they were incredibly destructive in a group setting. Of course I actually heard that Sting once said that he left The Police because he was finally rich enough to hire real musicians. I'm pretty sure that's not an accurate quote, but I sure hope it is. Who knows, maybe just like The Police, I'll get back together with a PC in 20 years.
So anyway, I haven't mentioned this yet, but my unnamed Mac has had some problems. Not big, mind you. Not big at all. For some reason the packaged musical loops in Garageband didn't register with that program. I knew the loop files actually existed, but I couldn't open them up directly in Garageband for some reason. Strangely, everyone else I know who got a Mac at the same time I did (I know three people who got one within a month of my getting one) did not have this same problem. Curses!
So I tried physically moving the files around like it said to do in an online help file I found. Nope. I tried reinstalling the loops from an original cd. That didn't work either. Apparently, even though it was a minor problem, it was a very original one. This last Thursday I finally took the unnamed to the Apple Store. They have a Genius Bar there for people with computer questions. My "genius" uninstalled, reinstalled, moved files and turned stuff off and on for two hours. Nothing. The problem was completely new. It was solved, however. One of the other "geniuses" discovered that there were text files in the loop file that were somehow interfering with the folder's function. He removed them and it worked, but not before telling me that such a thing made no sense since those text files are actually supposed to be there and are there on other Macs with no problems.
I wish Macs and PCs weren't so compatible. Obviously, they've been talking to each other about me.
I hoped to rid myself of the curse by switching over to a Mac. I sort of explained my reasons for wanting to do so, but let me make it more clear. It's not necessarily because I think Macs are better. It's that PCs and I obviously don't work well together. It's kind of like The Police. Three awesome musicians in the biggest band in the world and they need to break up because although they're individually incredible, they were incredibly destructive in a group setting. Of course I actually heard that Sting once said that he left The Police because he was finally rich enough to hire real musicians. I'm pretty sure that's not an accurate quote, but I sure hope it is. Who knows, maybe just like The Police, I'll get back together with a PC in 20 years.
So anyway, I haven't mentioned this yet, but my unnamed Mac has had some problems. Not big, mind you. Not big at all. For some reason the packaged musical loops in Garageband didn't register with that program. I knew the loop files actually existed, but I couldn't open them up directly in Garageband for some reason. Strangely, everyone else I know who got a Mac at the same time I did (I know three people who got one within a month of my getting one) did not have this same problem. Curses!
So I tried physically moving the files around like it said to do in an online help file I found. Nope. I tried reinstalling the loops from an original cd. That didn't work either. Apparently, even though it was a minor problem, it was a very original one. This last Thursday I finally took the unnamed to the Apple Store. They have a Genius Bar there for people with computer questions. My "genius" uninstalled, reinstalled, moved files and turned stuff off and on for two hours. Nothing. The problem was completely new. It was solved, however. One of the other "geniuses" discovered that there were text files in the loop file that were somehow interfering with the folder's function. He removed them and it worked, but not before telling me that such a thing made no sense since those text files are actually supposed to be there and are there on other Macs with no problems.
I wish Macs and PCs weren't so compatible. Obviously, they've been talking to each other about me.
air conditioning in hell
Three big things happened today.
I turned on the A/C in my car. Usually, I save this event specifically for St. Patrick's day, as evidenced three years ago. Today I had Abel with me and he was on the phone, so I thought it would be a bad idea to roll the windows down. I still would've switched the A/C on for the drive home. It's going to be a nice, warm year. We're one day ahead of schedule.
I started my new job today. Yes, I work in the same building and yes, I'm still officially a "sound engineer;" but this time I'm completely away from the dull nightmare that is The FreeCapitalist Project. Now I just have to do what I've always done, but with a Mac. Good thing I brought this one home to practice on.
On the way home today I passed one of those company signs with the moving crawl that gives time and temperature as well as other announcements and ads. As I read it, I passed through an overpass or something so the salutation part of one message was cut off and I only caught the end of the next message. To me, the sign said, "Hell... apply within."
I turned on the A/C in my car. Usually, I save this event specifically for St. Patrick's day, as evidenced three years ago. Today I had Abel with me and he was on the phone, so I thought it would be a bad idea to roll the windows down. I still would've switched the A/C on for the drive home. It's going to be a nice, warm year. We're one day ahead of schedule.
I started my new job today. Yes, I work in the same building and yes, I'm still officially a "sound engineer;" but this time I'm completely away from the dull nightmare that is The FreeCapitalist Project. Now I just have to do what I've always done, but with a Mac. Good thing I brought this one home to practice on.
On the way home today I passed one of those company signs with the moving crawl that gives time and temperature as well as other announcements and ads. As I read it, I passed through an overpass or something so the salutation part of one message was cut off and I only caught the end of the next message. To me, the sign said, "Hell... apply within."
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
how to live in salt lake city on 130 dollars a day
So Maria and I have been wondering where all our money has been going. Each of us decided to keep track of our own money for a week. Here's my personal report:
Monday, 5 March
$95.46 -- cable/internet bill is due!
$22.95 -- I got an email from amazon informing me that the ridiculously expensive deluxe cd/dvd reissue of Depeche Mode's Black Celebration just went up for pre-order. I got 20% off, but after shipping it still came to the aforementioned price. I love their music, but they can really really skewer their fans. I've thought about making that a post in itself after also buying the re-issues of Speak & Spell, Music for the Masses, Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion.
$21.46 -- gasoline
$25.85 -- Smith's grocery shopping. I think I got aluminum foil and eggs.
Tuesday, 6 March
$420.00 -- rent (one day late)!
$12.00 -- solo lunch at Red Robin (souper sandwich combo (whiskey chicken and tortilla soup)). I love eating solo, but I hate tipping solo. What really sucks is that usually the server doesn't know that I have guilty solo tipping feelings, so they don't go out of their way to serve because they think I'll only tip 15% on an eight dollar meal.
$65.00 -- Monica's birthday dinner at Ichiban. It was Maria, Monica and me. We split three sushi rolls: the X96, the lotus and (I think) the dynamo. We also had them specially make us some katsudonburi which isn't on the menu anymore. The service was exemplary and Monica took us to Hard Rock for dessert later that night.
Wednesday, 7 March
$198.20 -- while driving to Provo my front passenger tire exploded. I strangely fixed it all by myself. I was wondering when a cop was going to show up and help, but it's a good thing it didn't happen because surely the authorities would have found all the illegal fireworks in my trunk. Anyway, I had to get a new tire at Big O and asked them to re-align. Apparently they didn't do a good job last time because I was feeling a lot of vibration which, in hindsight, must have been the bad tire rubbing up against the car somewhere.
Thursday, 8 March
$1.00 -- went window shopping at the Gateway Mall, but mistakenly gave the parking guy one my spare movie validations instead of a normal validation. The movie validations only reduce
the parking fee to a dollar. As usual, I felt too dumb to hand him another validation so i coughed up the dough.
Friday, 9 March
$0.00 -- stayed inside all day, afraid to spend money.
Saturday, 10 March
$1.77 -- after helping someone with a stinky cat move, I had to curb my coughing with a bottled o.j. at the local gas station.
$25.31 -- local gas
$6.78 -- quick Smith's stop to nab sandwich turkey, Swiss cheese and Ritz crackers
$3.00 -- in a car making a McDonald's run. I get something small: 6 chicken mcnuggets. Doing the math I discover that it's 50 cents a mcnugget.
Sunday, 11 March
$0.00 -- fortunately I was sick in bed. Otherwise the Church would have milked a few pretty pennies from me since both tithing and fast offerings were due.
Monday, 5 March
$95.46 -- cable/internet bill is due!
$22.95 -- I got an email from amazon informing me that the ridiculously expensive deluxe cd/dvd reissue of Depeche Mode's Black Celebration just went up for pre-order. I got 20% off, but after shipping it still came to the aforementioned price. I love their music, but they can really really skewer their fans. I've thought about making that a post in itself after also buying the re-issues of Speak & Spell, Music for the Masses, Violator and Songs of Faith and Devotion.
$21.46 -- gasoline
$25.85 -- Smith's grocery shopping. I think I got aluminum foil and eggs.
Tuesday, 6 March
$420.00 -- rent (one day late)!
$12.00 -- solo lunch at Red Robin (souper sandwich combo (whiskey chicken and tortilla soup)). I love eating solo, but I hate tipping solo. What really sucks is that usually the server doesn't know that I have guilty solo tipping feelings, so they don't go out of their way to serve because they think I'll only tip 15% on an eight dollar meal.
$65.00 -- Monica's birthday dinner at Ichiban. It was Maria, Monica and me. We split three sushi rolls: the X96, the lotus and (I think) the dynamo. We also had them specially make us some katsudonburi which isn't on the menu anymore. The service was exemplary and Monica took us to Hard Rock for dessert later that night.
Wednesday, 7 March
$198.20 -- while driving to Provo my front passenger tire exploded. I strangely fixed it all by myself. I was wondering when a cop was going to show up and help, but it's a good thing it didn't happen because surely the authorities would have found all the illegal fireworks in my trunk. Anyway, I had to get a new tire at Big O and asked them to re-align. Apparently they didn't do a good job last time because I was feeling a lot of vibration which, in hindsight, must have been the bad tire rubbing up against the car somewhere.
Thursday, 8 March
$1.00 -- went window shopping at the Gateway Mall, but mistakenly gave the parking guy one my spare movie validations instead of a normal validation. The movie validations only reduce
the parking fee to a dollar. As usual, I felt too dumb to hand him another validation so i coughed up the dough.
Friday, 9 March
$0.00 -- stayed inside all day, afraid to spend money.
Saturday, 10 March
$1.77 -- after helping someone with a stinky cat move, I had to curb my coughing with a bottled o.j. at the local gas station.
$25.31 -- local gas
$6.78 -- quick Smith's stop to nab sandwich turkey, Swiss cheese and Ritz crackers
$3.00 -- in a car making a McDonald's run. I get something small: 6 chicken mcnuggets. Doing the math I discover that it's 50 cents a mcnugget.
Sunday, 11 March
$0.00 -- fortunately I was sick in bed. Otherwise the Church would have milked a few pretty pennies from me since both tithing and fast offerings were due.
i owe you a couple of pictures
Here's the story of our bout at The World Series of Pop Culture that I promised:
Also, I'm only now recovering from my XXX birthday party. One thing I forgot to mention, though, is that ever since I was a kid I started a tradition to carry a 1977 quarter in my pocket on my birthday and then tape it into my journal that night. Every year I was pretty hit and miss with the concept. For the past few years my public blog has pretty much overtaken my private journal and I've written next to nothing in it. As a result I'm posting the 1977 quarter I carried with me the night of my 30th birthday.
Btw, because of this tradition I collect 1977 quarters. And this one is my very last one. If you know of any, let me know (or I guess with the advances of the digital age I could just post the same one every year).
Also, I'm only now recovering from my XXX birthday party. One thing I forgot to mention, though, is that ever since I was a kid I started a tradition to carry a 1977 quarter in my pocket on my birthday and then tape it into my journal that night. Every year I was pretty hit and miss with the concept. For the past few years my public blog has pretty much overtaken my private journal and I've written next to nothing in it. As a result I'm posting the 1977 quarter I carried with me the night of my 30th birthday.
Btw, because of this tradition I collect 1977 quarters. And this one is my very last one. If you know of any, let me know (or I guess with the advances of the digital age I could just post the same one every year).
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
wiini wiidi wiici
Finally! Wii footage! Here is the inaugural two-player tennis game played by Rhett and me. I must point out that by this time Rhett had amassed a tennis ranking of over 2000 while my ranking was at a measly 600. It was like David vs. Agassi Goliath.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
don't trust me seven days ago
Ok, I'm going to commit myself. I'm finally going to post some photos from my birthday party a week ago. As I type this, I don't have access to the photos since I'm at work, but at least it'll sort of guarantee that I'll do it sometime tonight (so if you actually check this out between 5:30 and an undisclosed time a few hours after that you won't actually see any photos below).
Cinnamon did a great job getting most of the candids and my still-unnamed iMac took the photos of the t-shirts.
Cinnamon did a great job getting most of the candids and my still-unnamed iMac took the photos of the t-shirts.
help a brotha and sista out... they're not related... yet
My friends Sally and Tim are getting married. Yay!
Anyway, real quick I just need to mention that they get a FREE WEDDING if you vote for them at this site here:
http://www.bridalguide.com/sweeps/brideoftheyear/BrideOfTheYear.cfm
Apparently, you can vote as many times as you want and the voting stops tomorrow, so get crackin'!
(Sorry I didn't post this earlier, Sal)
Anyway, real quick I just need to mention that they get a FREE WEDDING if you vote for them at this site here:
http://www.bridalguide.com/sweeps/brideoftheyear/BrideOfTheYear.cfm
Apparently, you can vote as many times as you want and the voting stops tomorrow, so get crackin'!
(Sorry I didn't post this earlier, Sal)
Friday, March 02, 2007
a birthday gift from page and brin
TONS of photos of my wonderful birthday are on the way.
In the meantime, here's something worth mentioning real quick. About a week ago, I discovered that after what, three years I think, my website finally wound up as the top hit when you search "jon madsen" in Google.
At least that was the case a week ago. I just checked a minute ago and I'm not numero uno anymore. Perhaps now that my birthday is over, the folks at Google bumped me down to number 2 (after a "john," nonetheless). Maybe they took my advice not to trust me after 30.
In the meantime, here's something worth mentioning real quick. About a week ago, I discovered that after what, three years I think, my website finally wound up as the top hit when you search "jon madsen" in Google.
At least that was the case a week ago. I just checked a minute ago and I'm not numero uno anymore. Perhaps now that my birthday is over, the folks at Google bumped me down to number 2 (after a "john," nonetheless). Maybe they took my advice not to trust me after 30.
housekeeping you want mint for pillow?
I'm not adding anything to my blog right now. I'm merely deleting. My 'links' space is getting a bit bloated, so I'm just gonna clean it up a little bit. I may have taken your link off. Don't be offended! If you want me linking to you, I totally will. For the time being, I think I'll link to people who comment on my blog and then start the whole process over again next month.
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