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Computive Schizophrenia.
Two days ago I was producing a video on my Linux box to prove that I could do it. Today I couldn’t live without my MacBook Pro.
It’s iPhone 3.0 day. While I’m not tripping over myself to go out and buy a new iPhone 3Gs, I have to admit that I do love my iPhone 3G and all things Mac and I am very excited by the pending update to the iPhone software. I guess once you go Mac you don’t go back.
Mobile Manners.
Intel just released these videos called “Mobile Manners”, featuring iJustine (Justine Ezarik). I think they are right on target and a hoot to boot.
There is a link in this first video that will take you to the others.
UPDATE: I need to adhere to these better as well.
Progress. Not.
The New York State Public Commission recently announced that the planned overlay or splitting of the 315 area code, originally slated for autumn 2010, has now been pushed off until 2013. Area codes are often split or overlayed with a new area code when the number of available telephone numbers in the original area code is close to exhaustion.
Media outlets report that the change in the projected exhaustion date is due to a decline in the demand for new telephone numbers in this area, mostly due to a faltering recession and a failure to meet the projected demand for numbers.
Let’s put this into perspective. In today’s world many individuals have multiple telephone numbers; there is their traditional landline number in addition to any number of cell phones within a household, not to mention fax machines, dedicated internet circuits and the like. So with the unprecedented explosion of technology currently underway, the folks in the 315 area code are not grabbing up the numbers as quickly as originally projected.
I will say that steps have been taken to use as many possible telephone number combinations in this area as possible before embarking on the task of adding an additional area code to the area. However, if you think about it, we are not gobbling up existing numbers because industry and business is not moving into this area and as a result people are leaving the area in droves in search of employment.
To run out of available telephone numbers in 315, while an inconvenience to many, is an indicator that the area is thriving and that we can’t keep up with the demand being placed on our telecommunications infrastructure. Quite frankly (and unfortunately, predictably) the complete opposite is true. Our area is not thriving. Not as many people as originally projected want a 315 telephone number. There is no demand from new people here because there are no new people moving here.
So rest assured fine citizens that you needn’t worry about the labourious task of dialing all 10 digits because of the overlay of a new area code or you won’t have to remember that half of 315 suddenly became 938 (totally random number made up by me) and you have to remember which half you’re in, because you can squarely remain a “315er”.
Loner.
Feeling unsettled today. I’m not angry or depressed or cranky or anything like that, but I feel restless. Unsettled describes it best.
Time feels like it’s flying by at a snail’s pace. I am firmly on the ground whilst holding on by the tip of my fingers.
As much as I try to socialise and be part of the crowd, I’m really not. I like my world, my way and the few people that I allow to be part of it.
Few get me. And I like it that way.
Stop.
“BREAKING: Los Angeles Lakers defeat Orlando Magic, win NBA Championship I More: http://sms.msnbc.com.” This is from 676-22.
Here’s the deal. I stopped SMS messages from Windows Live about a week ago. I was trying out some of the Live services and I thought I would turn on breaking news alerts on my phone so that I could sound informed at the office water bubbler (which was actually taken away due to budget constraints, now we just sort of linger around the limp ice trays in the kitchen freezer).
I have decided that the Windows Live / Bing / MSN services don’t really fit my needs as nicely as I wanted them to so I turned off all alert notifications to my phone. But they haven’t stopped. Nothing is checked, nothing is activated, but they still keep coming. And coming. And coming.
Yesterday morning I replied to one of the breaking news alerts with one simple command: ‘STOP’. I was promptly informed of this:
Msnbc.com: To STOP a program reply with the number:
1. NEWS
2. BIZ
3. SPORTS
4. HEALTH
5. ENTERTAINMENT
6. TRAVEL
7. TECH
8. All
http://alerts.msnbc.com
So I replied with “Stop 8”. No one complained about my reply but the messages continued. So then I tried just “8”. I received a message from the little beast: MSNBC: Sorry 2 see U go. You will receive no more mobile alerts after today. More: Visit http://alerts.msnbc.com
This was yesterday. But the messages continued.
So today I did the same thing and it gave me the same schtick. Let’s see if these alerts continue after midnight.
Past Your Prom BingoMania.
So last night I was in Connecticut for the Ct. Gay Men’s Chorus monthly fundraising Bingo night. The theme of the evening was “Past Your Prom.” The event was well attended.
I did some sound work for the chorus a while back when my friend Greg was the Guest Director of the group and it’s always good to see the guys each time I go back. I look forward to going to the next Bingo night.
Greg mentioned a couple of weeks ago that he was going to be taking “prom photos” of those that wanted a special memory of the occasion so I offered to bring our photo printer along so the attendees could get their photos right away.
Before the doors opened, Jason and Corey were kind enough to pose in typical prom fashion so Greg could calibrate the camera. Unfortunately they weren’t in their prom gear at the time but they still displayed the vibe well.
Bingo numbers are called out by our very own Joan Crawford and her darling children Christina and Christopher. Unfortunately, Christina was unable to make the event last night, but Christopher was there and even brought along his prom date, Carrie White. Joan, Christopher and Carrie were kind enough to pose at intermission to sort of break the ice for everyone else to get their pictures taken.
Earlier in the evening, Joan asked Carrie what had happened to her dress and said something about an accident she had and unfortunately, she was wearing the only prom dress she had.
Greg and I took about 30 photos during intermission of varying sized groups and then I walked about the bingo hall during Act 2 trying to match faces in the photographs with those that were seated at the tables. If you’re curious, the photos are available on The Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus Website.
Here are a couple of photos of the crowd.
Afterwards, Greg, Corey and I joined a bunch of friends at 168 York Street for a few (NA) drinks. There was a drag show in progress on the back deck but we decided to hang inside instead. There was a woman there who looked very much like Amy Brenneman (but didn’t sound like her). She was very hot looking. I soon realised that she was a lesbian, as she was making out with her presumed girlfriend, another very hot woman that looked a lot like Kelly Clarkson. Had it not been a gay bar, I’m sure many men in attendance would have a hot visual for their fantasies for the night.
Difference.
So I stopped at the convenience store to pick up a bottle of iced tea. I was in luck, though I rarely stop at this particular store so I was flying blind, so to speak, they had the brand of iced tea that I enjoy because it’s made of real all-natural tea (instead of just labeled all-natural tea which often contains high fructose corn syrup or sucralose). The young man behind the counter was relatively grubby looking; I pulled out my wallet to pay. As I did so, he looked like I had just pulled Magenta’s ray gun and was about to stun him. I handed him the two dollars and waited for my change. He looked at me oddly and gave me my change and I turned and left. I politely said “Thank you”, he was silent. Just as I was approaching the door I heard him mutter something.
“Fucking Canuck.”
Here’s the thing. I have more Canadian cash than American cash to my name at the moment. I had taken out too much cash from the ATM the last time I was in Canada and found myself with a few extra bills. Since we are going to Toronto for pride in a couple of weeks, I have opted to wrap my American cash in Canadian cash in my wallet so that I don’t forget I have it when we go back. I’m also not shy about the fact that I love Canada very much (at least the parts I’ve been in) and would love the opportunity to move there so I also keep the Canadian cash around to make people notice me in an odd little way. It makes me stand out, it makes them think. I like to think that it makes them think that not everyone is the same. I was born and bred in the United States and I love my country, but I have to admit that over the past ten years or so I haven’t been as proud of it as I have been in the past.
I thought out shrugging off this little grubby man’s comment but I decided not to. I turned back to him, walked a few steps in his direction and simply said:
“Thank you for demonstrating one of the many reasons the rest of the world dislikes the United States.” I was calm and rational as I said it. The grubby little man just stared back at my comment. Another woman at the register smirked. It was then that I turned and walked out.
It was the second time in relatively recent history that someone has insulted Canada around me. I think I find this surprising.
