For Father's day I got a Creative Zen Micro. I had been looking at the Creative products and was ready to pull the trigger on a 30G model, but the wife beat me to it.
Let me say this. How did people live with out having 2000 songs in their pocket? Fortunately, I'd been ripping songs to my PC for a couple of years, so most of the good stuff from my CD collection was on my PC and ready to go. HOnestly it only took a couple of hours to get 1300 songs on my Zen. But these songs were MP3s at 128kps. So, I did so more research and figured I could convert songs to WMA at a lower bitrate and have more songs. So, I used Creative's software to convert over 1850 songs to WMA at 80kps. HOnestly I can't hear the difference and all the audio snobs who tell you your MP3 player should have songs at 160kps or higher and in MP3 are nuts.
You might be able to tell the difference with $300 headphones in a sound proof room, but that's not the reality of listening to your MP3 player.
I can tell you though that with the Creative stock ear buds (which I hate and just bought some mediocre Sennheiser phones from amazon the other day) at 80kps WMA I'm hearing instruments I've never heard before.
Anyway, along with TiVo and Netflix, the multigig MP3 player are the three greatest products of the 21st century.
I can't wait until all our computers are Zen (or iPod) sized devices with Internet access, phone, full MS office sweet all for about $400. Probably about 5 years
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Monday, June 27, 2005
Tom Cruise...losing his shit
So, Tom's losing his mind.
The Katie Holmes thing. I really don't care too much about this, but I think Tom's a little careless here. Katie looks at him like a dream. She had a poster of him on her wall growing up for God sake. It would be like if Selma Hayek asked to marry me, it wouldn't matter what she was like in real life. Katie is in love with the image of Tom...this marriage (if it happens) won't last 2 years.
I don't care about what happened on Oprah, he's just a guy in love.
As for the "fight" with Matt Lauer. This is were Tom jumped the shark. Tom "knows the history of psychiatry", but no one else does. Puh-leeze. Tom gets his info from some a Science Fiction writer who started a cult. Hardly seems like robust education. Tom apparently knows that there is no chemical reason for mental issues, wow, I didn't know he had a medical degree.
The Katie Holmes thing. I really don't care too much about this, but I think Tom's a little careless here. Katie looks at him like a dream. She had a poster of him on her wall growing up for God sake. It would be like if Selma Hayek asked to marry me, it wouldn't matter what she was like in real life. Katie is in love with the image of Tom...this marriage (if it happens) won't last 2 years.
I don't care about what happened on Oprah, he's just a guy in love.
As for the "fight" with Matt Lauer. This is were Tom jumped the shark. Tom "knows the history of psychiatry", but no one else does. Puh-leeze. Tom gets his info from some a Science Fiction writer who started a cult. Hardly seems like robust education. Tom apparently knows that there is no chemical reason for mental issues, wow, I didn't know he had a medical degree.
Do you think Rummy "thinks about Iraq every single day" too?
Rummy apparently not getting the memo on how to lie about Iraq. This truth telling is going to get him in trouble. I mean everyone else who tells the truth gets their patriotism questioned, so how will they destroy his character after he says the insurgency could go on for 12 more years?
He “DOESN”T REMEMBER”? (See below) He’s the freakin Sec of Defense and he can’t remember what he warned the President about as we prepared for war. He’s either a liar or incompetent.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5101278,00.html
He “DOESN”T REMEMBER”? (See below) He’s the freakin Sec of Defense and he can’t remember what he warned the President about as we prepared for war. He’s either a liar or incompetent.
Before the war, Vice President Dick Cheney predicted that Iraqis freed from
Saddam Hussein's rule would greet Americans as liberators. Rumsfeld said Sunday
he gave Bush a list of about 15 things ``that could go terribly, terribly wrong
before the war started.'' He said they included Iraq's oil wells being set
on fire; mass refugees and relocations; blown-up bridges; and a moat of oil
around Baghdad, the capital. Asked if his list included the possibility of
such a strong insurgency, he said: ``I don't remember whether that was on there,
but certainly it was discussed.''
http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5101278,00.html
Novak the Traitor
Isn’t it ironic that the one man who engaged in aiding and abetting the enemy by disclosing the names of US spies is not facing jail time?
I guess it helps when your on the payroll of the White House, no?
Although, Judith Miller has been quite the Bushie Cheerleader too.
Regardless, it is Novak that released the information and the guy who should be facing serious jail time for his treasonous acts. Why does this obvious WH lapdog and a man who put US foreign agents in jeopardy still have a job in the “liberal media”? Why, I ask, Why?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/27/AR2005062700489.html
I guess it helps when your on the payroll of the White House, no?
Although, Judith Miller has been quite the Bushie Cheerleader too.
Regardless, it is Novak that released the information and the guy who should be facing serious jail time for his treasonous acts. Why does this obvious WH lapdog and a man who put US foreign agents in jeopardy still have a job in the “liberal media”? Why, I ask, Why?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/06/27/AR2005062700489.html
Sunday, June 19, 2005
More Conservative Media Bias
http://www.thenation.com/doc.mhtml?i=20050704&s=gitlin
It was left to an opinion columnist, the New York Times's Thomas Friedman, not a news reporter, to declare on May 27 that "the abuse at Guantánamo and within the whole U.S. military prison system dealing with terrorism is out of control. Tell me, how is it that over 100 detainees have died in U.S. custody so far? Heart attacks?"
I used the LexisNexis database to see what major US news organs have reported about deaths of prisoners in US hands since the beginning of 2005. Here are the results. On television: nothing on CBS, one brief mention on NBC, another on ABC. Nothing on CNN, nothing on Fox, nothing on MSNBC. On public television and radio, now under fire from the head of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for "liberal bias": After Friedman's column appeared, Jim Lehrer cited 100 deaths, considering twenty to be "homicide," and NPR's Talk of the Nation interviewed Amnesty International's William Schulz, who said, "Twenty-seven of those detained by the United States have been ruled to be the victims of homicide by medical examiners." That's it from the broadcasting subversives. Nothing from Time--or Newsweek.
It was left to an opinion columnist, the New York Times's Thomas Friedman, not a news reporter, to declare on May 27 that "the abuse at Guantánamo and within the whole U.S. military prison system dealing with terrorism is out of control. Tell me, how is it that over 100 detainees have died in U.S. custody so far? Heart attacks?"
I used the LexisNexis database to see what major US news organs have reported about deaths of prisoners in US hands since the beginning of 2005. Here are the results. On television: nothing on CBS, one brief mention on NBC, another on ABC. Nothing on CNN, nothing on Fox, nothing on MSNBC. On public television and radio, now under fire from the head of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for "liberal bias": After Friedman's column appeared, Jim Lehrer cited 100 deaths, considering twenty to be "homicide," and NPR's Talk of the Nation interviewed Amnesty International's William Schulz, who said, "Twenty-seven of those detained by the United States have been ruled to be the victims of homicide by medical examiners." That's it from the broadcasting subversives. Nothing from Time--or Newsweek.
Wednesday, June 15, 2005
"Entourage" reaches a new level
Do you have the HBO? If not you should get it if only for Entourage. A show that last year was very funny. So far this year, 2 eps in, it's even better.
You're familiar with the concept of "Jumping the Shark", well Sunday's episode of Entourage was the opposite of that. An episode that took the show from good to great. Kevin Dillon and Jeremy Piven are fantastic.
Anyway, if you like the comic gold, tune into HBO tomorrow as they re-run the first two episodes of the season.
You're familiar with the concept of "Jumping the Shark", well Sunday's episode of Entourage was the opposite of that. An episode that took the show from good to great. Kevin Dillon and Jeremy Piven are fantastic.
Anyway, if you like the comic gold, tune into HBO tomorrow as they re-run the first two episodes of the season.
Can you guess if this 1950's Russia or 2005 America?
Holding prisoners in perpetuity, without charges, without trial, without access to attorneys, and without basic human rights oversight. No, that’s not Stalin…that’s your President…GO AMERICA…Freedom is on the March…
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican senators called on Wednesday for the rights of foreign terrorism suspects at Guantanamo Bay prison to be legally defined even
as the Bush administration said the inmates could be jailed there "in
perpetuity."
.
Sunday, June 12, 2005
Go Howard Dean
YOu want to know why the Democrats have absolutely no power in Washington these days. JUst listen to the whining about Howard Dean being tough on the GOP. That is is his job and apparently the only person in the Democratic party with the balls to do it.
The GOP can lie about Kerry's war record, lie about reasons to go to war, lie about EVERY single thing the Bushies do and by hypocritical about every single issue they discuss, but as soon as Dean calls them on it, the rest of the party abandons him. It's this wimpy behavior that allows the GOP to controll the WH, Senate, House and Supreme Court. It's about damn time the Dems showed some muscle.
Dean called the GOP "a mostly white Christian" party. YEAH? It's not? that's what the GOP tells us every single day and when Dean says it that's a bad thing?
It's almost as if the Dems want to remain powerless for the next 8 years.
Grow up people, this is how the GOP got to where it is. It wasn't about playing nice.
The GOP can lie about Kerry's war record, lie about reasons to go to war, lie about EVERY single thing the Bushies do and by hypocritical about every single issue they discuss, but as soon as Dean calls them on it, the rest of the party abandons him. It's this wimpy behavior that allows the GOP to controll the WH, Senate, House and Supreme Court. It's about damn time the Dems showed some muscle.
Dean called the GOP "a mostly white Christian" party. YEAH? It's not? that's what the GOP tells us every single day and when Dean says it that's a bad thing?
It's almost as if the Dems want to remain powerless for the next 8 years.
Grow up people, this is how the GOP got to where it is. It wasn't about playing nice.
Debt Relief
From what I have heard from people this debt relief is supposed to be a good thing. So, here are my questions.
What happened to the money that was borrowed? Apparently it didn’t go into infrastructure or helping eliminate poverty, AIDS, and a host of other ills that fall upon the poor of these countries. We all know it most likely went to corrupt officials who may or may not still be in power. If they’re not in power, someone just like them most likely is.
So, now they’ve got debt relief, they don’t have to pay back the money they wasted, so how does this help the farmer who lives on $1 a day? Does this trickle down to him? I would guess not. What I envision is the same despots who borrowed the money before, nationalized industry, stole private property, waged tribal and regional wars will continue to squander this goodwill the G8 gives them.
Until these economies have a rule of law, are rid of dictators and have a capitalist incentive (supported by a rule of law) this money does nothing but make the rulers richer.
Am I wrong?
What happened to the money that was borrowed? Apparently it didn’t go into infrastructure or helping eliminate poverty, AIDS, and a host of other ills that fall upon the poor of these countries. We all know it most likely went to corrupt officials who may or may not still be in power. If they’re not in power, someone just like them most likely is.
So, now they’ve got debt relief, they don’t have to pay back the money they wasted, so how does this help the farmer who lives on $1 a day? Does this trickle down to him? I would guess not. What I envision is the same despots who borrowed the money before, nationalized industry, stole private property, waged tribal and regional wars will continue to squander this goodwill the G8 gives them.
Until these economies have a rule of law, are rid of dictators and have a capitalist incentive (supported by a rule of law) this money does nothing but make the rulers richer.
Am I wrong?
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Remember when countries were either "with us or against us" in the fight for freedom?
If you do, how do you reconcile these two items. It should be very troubling for the Bushies that Bush’s two favorite leaders are this guy and the Russian Dictator?
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8085619/
Photo of Bush nuzzling with the Prince
http://www.american-buddha.com/fah911.vignettej1.htm
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8085619/
Photo of Bush nuzzling with the Prince
http://www.american-buddha.com/fah911.vignettej1.htm
Shameful
Remember when Bush stood on top of the rubble pile and promised more money for First Responders. Well, he lied then. Then, the WH forced the EPA to lie about the safety of the air around the site to rescue workers and New Yorkers…now he won’t even own up to the responsibility to help the people he lied to for the health problems their bravery and the WH lies resulted from.
Appalling.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/03/nyregion/03air.html?
Shameful.
Appalling.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/03/nyregion/03air.html?
Shameful.
Friday, June 03, 2005
My take on the new Sleater-Kinney album
As Carrie Brownstein alluded to in her recent SPIN interview, you aren't going to hear this CD in the GAP. You won't hear it on the radio either and having lived in their hometown of Portland since they moved from Olympia, I can assure that S-K doesn't even get any love locally. But that's ok, S-K isn't for everyone. Just go to their website these days and the opening chords from the CD hit you as soon as the page loads, be forewarned...turn down your PC Speakers.
After the first listen all I could think of was how hard, no, HEAVY it was. I initially described it to a friend as if the band had only been listening to Sonic Youth, Velvet Underground and Jimi Hendrix whle recording it. But upon further listens you realize that it's not all heavy. There are moments were it becomes quiet, but not for long.
I saw SK in Portland last night and it was then that it occurred to me that THIS is Carrie's record. She sings a lot of songs and it just seems to exude her whole attitude. I don't know of the true dynamics of the group, but it would seem that with Corin now being a mom and Janet doing a lot of work with her other band, Quasi, Carrie had more influence in the direction of this ablum. Just my take really. For what it's worth.
Others have called this their best album yet. Well, you'll have a tough time convincing me that "Dig Me Out" will ever be surpassed. Nonetheless, after about 5 complete listens and seeing the songs performed live, this album is in their top 3. That may not seem like much, but when you're the "Best band in America" that's saying something.
After the first listen all I could think of was how hard, no, HEAVY it was. I initially described it to a friend as if the band had only been listening to Sonic Youth, Velvet Underground and Jimi Hendrix whle recording it. But upon further listens you realize that it's not all heavy. There are moments were it becomes quiet, but not for long.
I saw SK in Portland last night and it was then that it occurred to me that THIS is Carrie's record. She sings a lot of songs and it just seems to exude her whole attitude. I don't know of the true dynamics of the group, but it would seem that with Corin now being a mom and Janet doing a lot of work with her other band, Quasi, Carrie had more influence in the direction of this ablum. Just my take really. For what it's worth.
Others have called this their best album yet. Well, you'll have a tough time convincing me that "Dig Me Out" will ever be surpassed. Nonetheless, after about 5 complete listens and seeing the songs performed live, this album is in their top 3. That may not seem like much, but when you're the "Best band in America" that's saying something.
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