Month: March 2005

Yahoo still has a good number of bugs to fix, but 360° looks all right. Do we need another Friendster/MySpace? This one seems to focus on blogs of the text and photo variety, so at least that’s a little different.

I want to have an adventure.

A story in the New York Post announces that Soup Kitchen International, otherwise known as the Soup Nazi from Seinfeld, is opening its first franchise in my neck of the woods. The opening will be followed by 200 more shops in the next year.

A few years ago, the media seemed to collectively decide that it was proper to say “an historic” rather than “a historic.” Of course, we use the word “an” when the following word starts with a vowel — that is, a vowel sound. Those saying, “We are witnessing an historic event,” were hoping to sound more sophisticated that those who dare to say, “This is a historic event.” I don’t know who they were trying to impress, but it certainly wasn’t intended to make English teachers happy. The word “historic” always starts with a consonant sound unless the speaker has a Cockney accent.

Since then, the media has reversed their opinion on the matter for the most part.

What about Iran? Years ago, everyone said eye-RAN. The people who live there were eye-RAY-knee-uns. Now it’s e-RON. Sometimes the people who live there are e-RON-ee-uns. I can’t get used to the sound of that word. The media hasn’t come to a conclusion on this issue yet; I’ve heard interviews on NPR where it goes back and forth between the two pronunciations.

It’s cognitive dissonance at its most literal meaning.

Also: Student’s rampage leaves 10 dead. Worst school shooting since Columbine. (I used to have photos at that link, but they have since disappeared.)

I haven’t had much to write about lately, unless you consider what I’ve been writing for Consumerism Commentary. My life’s been moving slowly lately and I’ve been dealing with my next MBA class, law school applications (perhaps I should wait until next year for this), and a search for a new job. I’m also trying to work out a trip to California in April.

On top of that, I decided to replace my cell phone. It’s been over two years since I bought the last one, and I had one hundred dollars in credit at Verizon Wireless to be used for a new phone. I now have the Motorola V710 with a bunch of accessories. Despite having claimed for the last year that phones and cameras should be separate devices, I finally caved.

The phone is very nice, but I did make some necessary changes to the phone’s software.

As I threatened earlier, I caught Buy, Beg, Borrow or Steal Friday night at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. After the play, the writer asked everyone to blog about the performance, so I shall.

It’s a play about three brokers from a small real estate branch of a large corporation (called Gilmour and Waters, naturally) trying to save their jobs. They get a bit distracted. The play lines up perfectly with Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon. Just like a listener to the album, the play gets increasingly weird throughout the show.

Here’s a review of the new Woody Allen movie, Melinda and Melinda.

I first started liking Woody Allen movies in the summer of 1995, almost ten years ago now. At the time, I was dating a girl named Janet. She came to visit me while I was with my family at a house on Long Beach Island for the week. I don’t remember if we watched any of the movies together; I just recall watching Woody Allen movies over the course of the week. What else is there to do at the beach? Darren showed up at one point, as well.

Anyway, it sounds like it’ll be a good movie.

I have to say I love the program Fresh Air on NPR. Many times, I arrive home during the show and I just don’t want to get out of the car. I’m happy to see that the shows are available online. Terry Gross was interviewing Gene Wilder tonight. I’m listening to it right now and they’re discussing Young Frankenstein at the moment, but it’s a great interview.

… in the crusade to kill our planet.

Senate votes for ANWR oil drilling. Say goodbye to the Alaska’s Arctic Natural Wildlife Refuge. Maybe the wildlife can become Canadian citizens, but I guess that misses the point.

I drove on a gravelly road through the Plainsboro Preserve yesterday to check out what I’ve been told is a nice place to visit. It was a little chilly and muddy walking around, but not bad. I’ll have to revisit in the spring.

When I got home, I noticed what sounded like leaking air. I glanced at the tires but didn’t see anything wrong. Of course, as I left for work this morning, I realized the car was riding strangely. I do in fact have a flat tire. Two nails have punctured the tire.

AAA to the rescue…