pics update 052906
I’ve added 2 albums to my pics page:
Pennsylvania 2004 (can also be viewed on Flickr)
Connecticut 2004 (can also be viewed on Flickr)
AllofMP3 declared illegal
I started using AllofMP3.com over iTunes because I don’t agree with DRM (digital-rights management) imposed on the music I buy. It is my music, I purchased it, and I feel I should be able to do what I want with it (back it up, play it on any mp3 player, etc.). I also believe the artists deserve to be paid for their work. Hence the dilemma of “where should I download my music from?”
Popular Russian online music download service AllofMP3.com has been declared illegal by the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), and prosecutions are reported to be underway. The Moscow-based service, whose market share at 14% comes second only to iTunes in the UK, has been accused of not paying royalties to artists.
It looks like I will be cleaning out my balance with AllofMP3 and resume purchasing songs off of iTunes.
les triplettes de belleville
The Triplets of Belleville – ****
I was very entertained by this French animated film. It is truly a work of art considering the story is told with practically no dialogue. The film works with its imagery and the quirky details in each scene. It tells the story of a boy, his grandmother, his dog, and his heart’s desire: riding bicycles. I especially liked Bruno the dog; I got a kick out of his scenes (and his thing for trains).
the hard way
To some people, this is the only way to learn a lesson.
update 052606
It’s hot in the land of Lincoln …
- I’m getting a crash course in IP management for work. IP addresses, subnet masks, VLANs, DNS, DHCP. I got a lot of studying to do this weekend.
- Taylor Hicks is this season’s American Idol. He has heart and soul when he sings, and I’m glad he won. Kat McPhee was not consistent and way over the top.
- Our cable went out during the season finale of Lost. Thank goodness ABC offers full episode streaming (with ads).
- Did I mention it’s hot?
- King Arthur – ** – not quite like Braveheart. Quite boring, actually.
- 11:14 – **** – more of a black comedy than a drama-thriller; be sure to look both ways before crossing the street!
- I plan to play more with the Lightbox javascript.
Summer’s unofficially here. Enjoy the holiday weekend 
you don't know jack
24 just finished it’s 5th “day”, and what a day it was. Was it the best season? I can’t say that for sure, but it was definitely entertaining. I’ve seen the 1st, 2nd, and 4th seasons in their entirety (I will start watching the 3rd on DVD soon). Each one is fantastic in its own right. And the 5th one left everyone hanging until next January; it won’t come fast enough for me. If you haven’t watched this show, you don’t know what you’re missing. What are you waiting for???
you don’t know jack
24 just finished it’s 5th “day”, and what a day it was. Was it the best season? I can’t say that for sure, but it was definitely entertaining. I’ve seen the 1st, 2nd, and 4th seasons in their entirety (I will start watching the 3rd on DVD soon). Each one is fantastic in its own right. And the 5th one left everyone hanging until next January; it won’t come fast enough for me. If you haven’t watched this show, you don’t know what you’re missing. What are you waiting for???
lightbox js
Update 6-5-06: My site is struggling to load up thanks to the Lightbox plug-in. Because of this, I have disabled the plug-in to speed up loading times. So the image below will load, but not with the cool overlay effect. As much as I like Lightbox, it’s not worth the trouble of revamping my site just for a cool trick. If you want to see Lightbox in action, check it out here.
_______________________
Took the site down for some “maintenance” on Sunday. I’m currently using Joe Tan’s Flickr photo album plugin for WordPress. This plugin allows me to take images I have stored on Flickr and display them on my website. I never thanked Joe and Silas Partners for a great plugin; thanks guys!
What I was trying to do yesterday was implement a javascript known as Lightbox JS. It’s a very nice script that allows an image to be viewed using an overlay on top of the current page. It’s very neat, but it involves some knowledge of CSS and HTML. After finding this plugin (thanks to Zeo), I have been able to get it to work from within a post.
But because I’m using K2, it’s a lot more difficult to implement with the photo albums due to other javascripts in place. K2 in itself is complicated. I may end up changing my theme again if I want to use the lightbox feature for my photo albums.
To see what I’m talking about, click on the image below.
Neat, huh?
can you raed tihs?
CL sent this to me …
i cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it dseno’t mtaetr in waht oerdr the ltteres in a wrod are, the olny iproamtnt tihng is taht the frsit and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it whotuit a pboerlm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Azanmig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
Not too difficult to decipher, but very interesting.
update 051506
Comma comma down dooby doo down down …
- It’s May, but it feels like March. Temps in the 50′s and 60′s (lows in the 40′s), windy, rainy, and cool.
- American Idol – Chris Daughtry is gone, and the fans of Idol are still in shock. I still believe this “talent” show is really a popularity contest. One writer noted that maybe not enough rock fans watch the show. He’s right. Chris will move on. Thanks to him, I’ve been exposed to rock bands like Fuel and Shinedown.
- Internet Explorer 7 Beta – I’m a Firefox user at heart, but I decided to try IE’s “new and improved” version. I’ll tell you what I think after a week of use.
- National Treasure – *** – interesting, but not believable; I do like scavenger hunts.
- Twisted – ** – unusual and confusing, hence the title.
- Cold Mountain – ***** – great piece set in the Civil War, with a moving story and outstanding performances across the board.
- Did you know last week was National Pet Week? I found out the last day. Salem got a new toy for it (not like he’s spoiled or anything).
An audioblog may be on the way soon. No, really.
Why the World Doesn't Need Hi-Def DVD's
There was a vast improvement in quality between DVD and VHS; I don’t think the gap will be as significant going to a high-def format, especially since I don’t own an HDTV.
This month, Toshiba’s HD-A1 high-definition DVD player hit store shelves. It’s the first marketplace volley in an absurd and pointless format war among the titans of the movie, electronics and computer industries. Just contemplating the rise of a new DVD format is enough to make you feel played. What’s wrong with the original DVD format, anyway?
As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing wrong with the original format.
Why the World Doesn’t Need Hi-Def DVD’s
There was a vast improvement in quality between DVD and VHS; I don’t think the gap will be as significant going to a high-def format, especially since I don’t own an HDTV.
This month, Toshiba’s HD-A1 high-definition DVD player hit store shelves. It’s the first marketplace volley in an absurd and pointless format war among the titans of the movie, electronics and computer industries. Just contemplating the rise of a new DVD format is enough to make you feel played. What’s wrong with the original DVD format, anyway?
As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing wrong with the original format.
latest diggs
improve your mpg by up to 37 percent
Edmunds.com tested a lot of lore on how to change your driving habits in order to save money on gas. Some of the results:
- 65 mph instead of 75 mph saves 12 percent
- smooth driving instead of aggressive driving saves 37 percent
- turning your car off instead of idling when you stop at a light or the drive-thru saves 19 percent
postal service pitches new ‘forever’ stamp
The post office is planning a “forever” stamp for letters, good no matter how many times postal rates increase. That means folks could say goodbye to those annoying 2-cent or 3-cent stamps that have to be added to letters every time rates go up. Sheets, rolls, books or loose stamps in the drawer would still be good. Forever.
cruise
I don’t really care for Tom Cruise. Or his wife. Or his appearance on Oprah. Or anything that has to do with his personal life. I don’t know him personally, so it doesn’t matter to me what he says or does outside of his work. If I were his neighbor, his coworker, or even his best friend, then that’s another story. But since I don’t know him any more than the guy who picks up my trash, his personal life is of no importance to me.
However, I do enjoy his work as an actor. His movies entertain me. Top Gun, Rain Man, Minority Report, Collateral. My favorite – The Last Samurai. Even though each character is usually the stereotypical “Cruise Everyman”, he plays the part very well.
- Cocktail – Top Gun with drinks
- Days of Thunder – Top Gun meets NASCAR
- A Few Good Men – Top Gun in the courtroom
Which leads me to his latest …
Mission: Impossible III – ****
Took D and his friends to see this last night at the Lincoln. Got sick during the trailers and missed the intro. What I did get to see was a great fast-paced action film. Philip Seymour Hoffman is terrific as the villain; plays “evil” to a T. You also see another side to Ethan Hunt now that he’s in a serious relationship. Typical Cruise fare, but fun nonetheless. The best of the series; certainly not necessary to view the previous entries to enjoy this one (a la, who else? 007). Knowing I have a free ticket, I may see it again.
the original Star Wars Trilogy – finally on DVD!
“I sense something. A presence I’ve not felt since … “
The original theatrical versions of Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi will finally be released on DVD September 12th. I do enjoy the “special editions” that have come out since 1997, but I want to own the original films I remember seeing as a kid. I have the last VHS release, and I’ve waited a long time for this to come out on DVD.
update 050206
- Laptop is better. I’m trying new things, like not having any icons on the desktop.
- Storms continue to rage through the area. I slept through Sunday’s set, but last night’s rumbles kept me up. Today was beautiful – sunny and 80. Tomorrow: more storms.
- Unbreakable – **** – great storytelling from M. Night Shyamalan; Bruce Willis shines.
- Sahara – **** – nice mix of humor and action (a la Indiana Jones); very entertaining.
- American Idol – the girls don’t stand a chance as we approach the final four. My personal favorite is rocker Chris Daughtry. The man won me over with his rendition of Bryan Adams’ “Have You Ever Really Loved A Woman?” I never liked the original, but Chris put some heart and soul into his performance. I would purchase this song if it was released by him.
- I haven’t had a chance to edit the audio from D’s fine arts festival. I plan to be out in the yard this weekend (weather permitting), so it may not be until the following weekend.
