Check out the song list of the Mars Rover mission.

Goodle, Good News.

Intel has spent over two billion dollars on a good concept that failed in reality. The Itanium chip seems doomed as a successor to the Pentium family. It really made things easy for AMD--the rival chipmaker took the time to effect a much-needed revamp. Capitalistic competition is great, isn't it?

When I posted the last Microbus pic, some people thought that it was the new design. Actually, no one has a picture of the new design that I know of. Here's one artist's concept--I hope the new one is closer to this than the original concept:

I never did post any pictures from when we went to the PA Farm Show last month. The Farm Show is held every year in the appropriately named Farm Show Complex in Harrisburg, PA. We spent six hours there this week, until everyone but my wife was exhausted (she was raised on a farm, so she used to come here when she was a kid with steer for competition and stay for several days, even overnight). We saw steer, cows, horses, ducks, pigs, you name it--even baby chicks hatching in a huge incubator.

Here are my own chicks at the show:

I got a little folded-together post card in the mail today that said "IMPORTANT: SETTLEMENT MATERIALS ENCLOSED." So I opened it up and it's a class action lawsuit check for $13.86! It was for music CD price gouging?

I searched my memory and remembered that I'd put my name in at a website waaay back a year or two ago to be part of the lawsuit. It was the only Internet rumor I'd ever heard that I determined was true.

And so it was. I'll think I'll buy some more songs with it--or maybe the Donnie Darko soundtrack. Or something.

Cool.

Sorry for the lack of updates--I recommitted to Atkins (and started losing weight almost immediately), and one of the temporary side effects for me is that I get sleepy earlier. So I've been catching up on sleep, which is good since I usually get only 5 hours or so a night.

It could also be my body telling me I've got to take better care of myself--things at work have been highly stressful since last fall (the workload increased dramatically but no extra help came in), and I developed "extra heartbeats" from it. Apparently the technical term is extra bigeminy and trigeminy. Luckily, the cardiologist said that my EKG shows that I did not have a heart attack. So he says that this arrhythmia pattern is benign. So it doesn't hurt me for the time being, but it can bug the heck out of me (better than some--he said some people feel pain with this).

So he gave me some Toprol-XL and told me to take a half a pill a day if the heartbeats bother me. But when I looked at the Internet about Toprol, the side effects creeped me out. Don't stop taking it suddenly or you could have a heart attack?! I guess that's why he prescribed such a small dose. I've had to take it three times in the last week, but that's all. I'm hoping that losing weight, getting back in shape, and lessening stress will remove the condition without the medicine. The stress is the biggest thing according to the doctor, but all three need work. It's funny to note that since I re-studied the Atkins book and went back on Induction, I've felt dramatically better (and have eaten more salad this week than in the last month).

So Bill, you still want to become a tech? (grin)

I wish I could remember where I read this, but one of the news sites I check regularly stated that Kerry's campaign was virtually broke, and that Kerry had already mortaged his house to keep things going. If so, this may make the next few primaries with Edwards interesting, especially if Dean throws his support to Edwards.

All the Republicans out there can breathe a collective "whatever" at this news. They're just waiting for the real campaign to begin...

From Taegan Goddard's Political Wire: US Secretary of Education Rod Paige called the National Education Association a "terrorist organization."

He's just feeding the fire for the "Get Bush out at any cost" Democrats.

My wife has begun to collect iTunes bottle caps for me at work. In fact, she's put up a sign in the faculty room that she'll pay her coworkers 50 cents for a winning bottlecap if they don't want it (and has paid several times now). Wow--I am humbled. That's selfless committment for you: a wife that will "feed your music song obsession," to use her words. I used one of the caps she gave me to get the song Denise by Fountains of Wayne (the Stacy's Mom song band).

By the way, many thanks to Brad for advising me on the last few songs I bought from the iTunes Music Store (ITMS), although he says it was for the sanity of the office (they apparently can't stand feeling the floor's bass beat of Oye Como Va while I'm in the office working).

Thanks also to my friend John Davies, who brought a pretty cool song and band to my attention: Mass Romantic by The New Pornographers (unusual name for a band, but great music).

I had a nice conversation today with the staff at the liquor store today, discussing the merits of various brands of tequila (for instance, I showed them that 1800 isn't made by Cuervo anymore, and they told me that paying $50 for a bottle of Sammy Hagar's Cabo Wabo isn't at all worth the name--not that I would have ever paid to find out, frankly). It struck me funny later, though. I guess I've been living in conservative Lancaster County too long or just grown too old not to wonder about conversations regarding the qualities of hard liquor.

Oh well. It was good stuff, anyway. I got the Sauza, although I think the Monte Alban would have been just as good--I like the more flavorful stuff. It's been a long week. I'm actually looking foward to replacing my front brake pads, calipers, and hoses on the van tomorrow. Working on cars has become a zen-like experience for me--as long as the weather is agreeable.

...who thinks Rushmore is reminiscent of Harold and Maude. Just look at some of the hits on Google.

It may be an interesting race after all.

Here's a more interesting link--a site that claims to predict the 2004 November general election by way of polls. Bush wins the electoral vote by a landslide, although the popluar vote is pretty even. I think it's far too early to predict the final election, but I'll be interested to see if this prediction changes (and how) toward the fall.

I've heard of G.K. Chesterton a number of times over the past decade, but I've mever done much to explore his work or life. Here's a good start, though.

Here it is. Harold and Maude is a great film--I'd recommend it to anyone who liked Rushmore, although I can't exactly put my finger on why (it's not just the Cat Stevens music in both films). Harold and Maude is a darker comedy and is a bit more out there as a film. It's well worth the watch, though.

More appropriately, prisoner of my own radio. I drove down to York today, and I caught This American Life on NPR. This week's episode was The Fix Is In, and I was riveted by the story of ADM's international conspiracy to price fix lysine (a chicken feed ingredient) and how Mark Whitacre (a vice president of ADM) became an informant for the FBI over the matter. This thing lasted over three years (and longer for the trial) and every time I thought it couldn't get any more twisted, it warped again. I sat in the Lowes parking lot for twenty minutes to hear the end, and it wasn't anywhere I thought the story would go.

The implications of the story are scary. Consumers weren't hit badly by the price-fixing, but farmers were put out of business. One FBI agent visited his sister and brother-in-law (who were farmers) during the investigation. The brother-in-law mentioned to the agent how he didn't think that his farm could keep going much longer--the price of lysine was driving his feed costs too high. The brother-in-law knew nothing about the investigation, but the agent knew--and he couldn't say anything.

This event changed completely the face and nature of antitrust investigation for the United States federal government.

If you'd like to hear the broadcast, This American Life will have the REALAudio version out in a few days, or you can go to the iTunes store and buy the episode for $3.95 (you can listen to a sample, but it's from an earlier prologue to the story).

Or you can wait for the movie--I'm sure it's only a matter of time. This thing was wilder than a John Grisham novel.

From Neil Gaiman's site today:

"When I tell Mac people this, they smile their secret smile. They know that after we die, we go to a special place, and that those who used Macs will be raised on high, where they can sip their cappucinos and look down and see the virus-infected writhings and screamings of those who used PCs, as the damned Windows users are forever bombarded with boiling projectile vomit from the thousand-foot high screaming thing that used to be Bill Gates.

But I'm sure even the damned people down in the mud will be laughing up whatever's left of their sleeves at those of us who secretly like fountain pens best."

Man Walks for Help with Shark Attached to Leg. No lie.

A link from Brad and a conversation with Dan led to this page about a typical recording industry contract deal. Talk about eye-opening (although a little hard to read, since the right-hand houses border ran over text in my browsers). No wonder the RIAA is scared to death of the Internet and technology. Their fat cat profits are in real danger--what a shame. Let's all shed a tear for them. I've heard that you give more money to a band by going to see their shows instead of buying their CDs, but I never knew it was literal and not exaggeration.

Have you ever seen Inside the Actor's Studio? James Lipton always asks ten questions of each guest at the end of each show. I'd be curious to hear your answers. Below are the questions and my own answers.

1. What is your favorite word? Yes

2. What is your least favorite word? No, or Shut up (two words, I know, but one concept)

3. What turns you on creatively, spiritually or emotionally? Brainstorming/creating with a small group of people

4. What turns you off? People who refuse to see past the nose on their face, or worse, people who stonewall things because of their own selfish wants

5. What is your favorite curse word? Bastard (don't know why--nothing to do with the literal meaning. I guess it just allows me to curse without using a really foul word)

6. What sound or noise do you love? The wind blowing through the trees in the fall.

7. What sound or noise do you hate? The sound of my kids crying when they're hurt (not just upset but really hurt), poor guys.

8. What profession other than your own would you like to attempt? The film industry

9. What profession would you not like to do? A sewer worker

10. If Heaven exists, what would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates? "It's great to see you here--wasn't that a great ride?"

From the BeingDaddy web page FAQ:

"What's the worst sentence you ever saw in a student paper?

From an essay on Art Speigleman's Maus: "During the stressful period of the Holocaust, the Jews underwent much sufferage during their concentration." "

Wow. That's terrible. Frankly, it made me think for a moment that the student stated that the Jews got the right to vote during the Holocaust (suffrage). I hope the rest of the paper was better.

It's a shame that BeingDaddy has kind of dropped into limbo since November.

By the way, if you ever get the chance to read Maus, I'd highly recommend it. There's a reason why a graphic novel (some would say comic book) won the Pulitzer Prize.

Here's the story, and Mrs. Atkins' response. Man, she's ticked at the slanted suppositions about her husband's death.

http://therionarms.com/pictures/stainless_steel_warning.mpg

I don't think that the guy was kidding when he said "We, uh, may need some emergency surgery in the studio."

(Thanks to Metafilter)

Run through the twenty faces at this website to see if you can distinguish the fake smiles from the real smiles. It's part of an experiment in the UK. They say that most people are "surprisingly bad" at spotting fake smiles vs. real ones, but I got 17 out of 20 right.

I've still not seen an iTunes Pepsi bottle in Lancaster County, but since I go to Philly so often I've found my third winning bottle cap. I'm putting it in for a 99 cent credit on iTunes, but when I use the credit, what song shall I pick? My last choice was the subject of ribbing around the office (from people who apparently have no sense of true music history, or who think that the only worthwhile band in the 60's were The Kinks--what's up with that?). This time I throw the question to the vast readership of this weblog--all three of you. If left to myself I'd probably look up something from Los Straitjackets, so suggest away! No Linkin Park--yes, I know now that they're a band and not a place, thank you.

For those deductive eagle eyes among you, you may be wondering about my second winning iTunes bottlecap. I am sad to announce that in a tragic turn of events, my second winning bottlecap was accidentally thrown in my dad's kitchen trash and taken out to a dumpster just hours ago. Unfortunately, the bag was not visible in the dumpster by the time I went to investigate, and I had to be restrained from dumpster-diving in an attempt to retrieve the cap. This gave way to muttering from my wife about me and the bottle cap with unkind words like "obsessed" with "a stupid cap" and "it's only 99 cents!" and other choice phrases. I think I heard more words under her breath, but they were hard to make out, something like "why can't you be obsessed with unloading the dishwasher," but I can't be sure. The knowing chuckles from my father failed to help the situation, either. Tragic, tragic.

As we were passing by Burger King, a sign caught my eye. The signpost out front claimed "Low Carb Options Here!"

I looked at the restaurant itself. Sure enough, in a window there was another sign saying "New Low Carb Menu!"

OK--Let's try it. We go through the drive-though.

"Can I take your order please?"

"Sure. I'm looking for the low carb menu, but I can't find it."

"Oh. That's just any of our sandwiches--without a bun."

He was serious. I was hungry--I ordered. My "low carb" Whopper with cheese came in a little salad container with a fork and knife, but no bun.

I feel used.

Tim Lauer has an interesting tidbit on his site about Apple's new app Garageband, and how this new application exemplifies Apple's approach to computing. Apple hardware/software lets technologists "jam" with their IT solutions at work--it lets us come up with more creative solutions that just work better for our users.

Garageband is just a cool app, too--just look at Brad's first dabblings.

I wasn't intentionally misleading on my last post, but as a wise person once said, "intent and outcome are so rarely coincident." I didn't have to get the song I chose when I got the winning bottle cap. In actuality, the code on the cap just lets you put a credit of 99 cents in iTunes, and you can use it for any song you'd like (or save the credit to use up until April 30). I just happened to choose a song right away and use the credit that night.

I may be really Pepsied out by the end of March...

The local convenience stores didn't have the new Pepsi bottles with the iTunes game caps yet, but I figured that the major metro centers would get the new bottles first. I was right. On my way back from Philly tonight I stopped by 7-11 (Why was I in Philly? Long story). Sure enough, some of the bottles had the new caps and the all important "1 in 3 Wins a Free Song on iTunes" labels. I bought two bottles, and one cap was a winner.

My song? Feelin' Alright by Traffic, a band I'd never really listened to, but I've always remembered them since my brother told me about the band.

iTunes rocks.

You can go to this site to see the SuperBowl ads for this year. They didn't seem very inventive this year (except for maybe the Jimi Hendrix one--that was kind of funny). The site has older years, but it looks like they're only in Windows Media Player format...

(Also, this year's ad page seems to work better in IE for Mac, not Safari)

Y'know, Ben Cohen of Ben&Jerry's ice cream fame (they both sold the company a couple of years ago).

Take a look at Ben's spot for TrueMajority. (Liberals rejoice, Conservatives get ready to spit nails). Hey, it's something to think about, or at least investigate further (my answer to everything is further education).

I was mentioning good movies to my sister, and she remarked that she hadn't really thought that My Big Fat Greek Wedding was very funny. Why? "I told people it's much to close to my real family for me to find anything funny in it."

Heh heh.

For some reason Denise mentioned this morning that she would like to rent A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and watch it sometime. I replied that she already saw the movie when it was remade in American form as The Birdcage. A lively discussion followed, where Denise eventually took my word for it.

I was of course thinking about La Cage aux Folles. You'd think the title would have clued me in, but it took me a while to realize it. I always think of those two movies together because (I think) of J.D. Harville, an old friend at Penn State who loved both movies. Hey, nobody's perfect. It's not like I'd confuse Goonies and Gremlins, right? Right?

Never mind.

Check it out at IMDB.