October 29, 2003
Even Microsoft wants G5s
If you have a job for Michael Hanscom let him know. Michael was fired from Microsoft recently for posting a picture on his blog of 3 palettes of dual 2 Ghz Apple G5s as they were being delivered to the Redmond Campus. This shouldn't necessarily come as a surprise that Microsoft purchases Mac products; to copy them, you have to have a few on hand to study. ;)
However, this follows suit in the current wave of employees who breach their company's security by posting company or trade secrets on their blogs. But it's gone a little overboard in this case since it's no secret Microsoft uses (and other computer companies use) their competitors' hardware/software for testing.
Update: Microsoft has just announced they are going to use IBM's PowerPC for the next generation of Xbox. Will Mac OS X run on the Xbox too????
October 28, 2003
Mystery of the Mystery Spot
If you've never been to the Mystery Spot, you're missing out on one of the coolest attractions in California.
Built on the side of a hill in Santa Cruz, California, there are as many theories explaining the feats of anti-gravity as there have been visitors since it opened in 1940.
Go there on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday and get world famous magician Steve Blencoe as your tour guide. When I was very young, Steve worked in the Ghastly Gallimaufry magic shop in Santa Cruz (which was run by Reece & Billie Jensen and closed in the 80s when they left to retire and write a few books) and basically was the only teacher/mentor I ever had in the world of magic and gave me lots of advice. Whenever I'd come into the shop with a fist full of cash ready to buy a Square-Circle, he'd always steer me towards buying books instead (which was inconceivable for a young boy to buy "drab" books instead of those colorful boxes). I followed his advice then and, to this day, have never regretted it.
Don't ask him to do any magic though . . . It conflicts with the magic of the Mystery Spot . . .
My new pool
Have you seen our new pool? It's a bit small and the style is a bit gaudy, but we'll have to settle for what we got.
Actually, you might recognize the pool from such films as The Jerk or Spartacus. It's the Roman-style pool at Hearst Castle in San Simeon, California. It's a very long trek down from the SF Bay Area, but for the most part worth it.
This was preceded by a short stay at the CostaNoa Campground . . . er, hotel. We had expected something a less full of bugs and Wolf Spiders, but we settled for smelly sulphur water (probably don't have galvanized tanks up there) and a cold room.
October 19, 2003
Scariest picture ever
With Halloween coming up, everyone's planning to don frightening and exciting costumes on October 31. But no one could come as close to being more scary to loyal Mac users like myself than our fearless leader Steve Jobs using a Dell.
Don't worry . . he's just demoing the new iTunes for the losers that use Windows, which was a major hit this week. Microsoft was reeling from the shockwaves of innovation and issued a statement saying that iTunes was "too limiting" for Windows users and used a "closed format." iTunes plays MP3s and MP4s (otherwise known as AAC), which are both VERY open. I can't imagine any audio/video format more closed than Windows Media, can you?
October 16, 2003
Another day, another .50
It was another day in paradise . . or in Phoenix I should say. I just came back from the quarterly Greenlight presentation for funding of Genetic Savings & Clone. It's a day-long circle-jerk for our main investor John Sperling (of UoP fame). The highlight of the event is dinner at John's house prepared by gourmet chef Christopher Gross--a treat not to be missed.
Of course, it's also nice when your boss has a private jet to shuttle you and your colleagues back and forth...
October 6, 2003
Moje Meniny/ My Nameday
Vsetkym dakujem, ze ste si spomenuli :)
For the others..., this link will lead you to the list of names in certain order. Names are represented by different days of the year. Basicly every name is connected with specific date in the 365 days lasting solar year, so people whose name is connected to that day celebrate in the same way as on the birthday. Everyone knows because all names are listed in the every calendar.
Imagine the confusion where there were two different name lists in the former Czechoslovakia where Slovaks and Czech had to have separated calendars with slightly different name roots as a result of diverse historical influences.
Here are listed names from the calendars of the 7 different nations:
http://www.calendar.sk/index.php?fMonth=hor&fName=sk&fLang=cz
MPAA is MIA
It's actually amusing to watch the MPAA try and thwart film pirates by coming up with futile and antiquated ideas. Roger Ebert acknowledges the revival of Kodak's "Cap code" , a system which places spots and blotches on the screen during a film (mostly in light areas) in order to identify the source of a film should it be found in pirated form. They also recently suspended all preview copies for the Academy (which are used to make determinations for the Academy Awards) and this only hurts the smaller independent films that don't get enough exposure. When are they going to join the RIAA and find new ways to distribute media?
Watching the MPAA and RIAA trying to stop piracy is like watching a pair of monkeys trying to fuck a football.
October 4, 2003
Rag doll Roy
Roy of 'Siegfried & Roy' is in critical condition after being mauled by one of the duo's tigers during a show on Friday night. The audience didn't even know it was real--they thought it was just another trick when the tiger dragged Roy Horn (the dark-haired one) off the stage by his throat. I guess the $60 million contract is enough to cover the doctor bills.
It was his 59th birthday last night too. See kiddies? Don't play with big mean tigers. Maybe it's time to retire.
October 3, 2003
Tactility Time
Well, it's that time again . . . It's time for the Tactility Full Fashion Show. Natalia modeled in the last one and now we're just spectators in tonight's show.
October 2, 2003
Whale Watching
SF Bay Whale Watching provides tours and expeditions in Northern California. Most of the trips go to Farallon Island, about 27 miles off the coast of SF Bay. Sandra the owner stoped by at my work today and handed me some flyers. It sounds exciting because now is the main time of the year when the whales and sharks are migrating. You can find out more at www.sfbaywhalewatching.com.
I found restaurant in San Francisco inspired and named after this "ludoprazdny" island http://www.farallonrestaurant.com/.
The sad thing is they serve there what others consider and admire as a part of the free ocean life.
October 1, 2003
Touch my Apple
Mark Morford of the SF Chronicle has written an article called Lick Me, I'm a Mac elegantly describing the the tactile sensations of purchasing and owning a Mac. Very kinky...