Blogs are Stupid: November 2004

Tuesday, November 30, 2004

Google Video Search

Striking up digital video search

Seems like an interesting idea:

The Goog tube
Google's project for TV search is ultra-secretive; only a handful of broadcast executives have seen it demonstrated so far. To build the service, the company is recording live TV shows and indexing the related closed-caption text of the programming. It uses the text to identify themes, concepts and relevant keywords for video so they can be triggers for searching.

The software allows people to type in keywords, such as "Jon Stewart," to retrieve video clips of the comedian's TV appearances, marked with a thumbnail picture with some captioning text, for example. Refining the search results for the show "Crossfire" would display a page that looks similar to a film reel, with various still images paired with excerpts of closed captioned text of the now-infamous fight between Stewart and CNN's "Crossfire" hosts. The searcher could click on and watch a specific segment of the show

Google has approached broadcasters to determine business models so that it does not incite copyright lawsuits from rights holders. Google itself can pair relevant advertisements next to video search results. But a broadcaster may wish to use search to drive sales for DVDs, subscription-content services or to sell advertising that would run before and after the video rolls.

11/30/2004 01:39:00 PM | Permalink |

Drunken Dialing

Help available for 'drunken diallers'

Virgin mobile says it’s “dialing under the influence” service will prevent incoherent calls to ex-partners, current partners or bosses.

A recent survey by the company of more than 400 people found that 95 percent made phone calls after a drinking session, with 30 percent of calls going to exes and 19 percent to current partner

...

Virgin says with the new service, people will simply dial a number followed by the phone number they don’t want to call, effectively blacklisting it until six o’clock the following morning.

11/30/2004 01:35:00 PM | Permalink |

Netscape: Firefox + IE

New Netscape embraces Firefox, IE:

In the market for a hybrid engine? Netscape's new Web browser might be just the ticket.

As of 8 a.m. PST Tuesday, Netscape fans were test-driving a prototype Netscape browser that runs on two different browsing engines: the Mozilla Foundation's Gecko engine, which powers up the Mozilla, Firefox and older Netscape browsers, and Microsoft's Internet Explorer engine, which many consider the de facto Web standard.

Interesting.

11/30/2004 01:23:00 PM | Permalink |

Monday, November 29, 2004

Lycos Spam Screensaver

Interesting idea via arstechnica:

Lycos Europe will begin offering a new screensaver that it hopes will make spamming an increasingly costly business. The screensaver, available at cleverly-named makelovenotspam.com, works by hitting sites that advertise in spam e-mails with an endless barrage of data requests. Lycos hopes to get a sufficient number of people signed up and running the screensaver so that spammers will see their bandwidth bills soar. The sites targeted will come from blacklists generated by Spamcop and other anti-spam organizations.

11/29/2004 10:33:00 PM | Permalink |

GloThong

Courtesy Dan Adams:

Student Invents Glow-In-Dark Underwear

The thongs have lightweight, water-resistant batteries that, when fully charged, illuminate the straps for two hours in various neon colors, including blue, pink and yellow. Wearers can use a wall adapter to charge them up, but car chargers are available for those on the go.

hahahahhahaha

11/29/2004 10:07:00 PM | Permalink |

Battery Park

Wash Post article on how the area I live in is so great bla bla residents have spontaneous cookouts or something bla bla they're so awesome (I dislike my neighbors...for no reason other than they complained about our jungle of a front yard, oh and bc i have yet to be invited to an impromptu cookout or block party)

But the best part:

While there are rules on the books to protect neighborhoods such as Battery Park, residents say they don't think the county enforces them stringently enough. They point to a house on the corner of Old Georgetown Road and Battery Lane as a recent example.

"A nail and hair salon was being run over there illegally. We took it the zoning board and the county. She finally got fed up and sold the place," Schreiber said of a situation that dragged on for months and was only resolved after Battery Park residents used their civic association dues to hire a lawyer.

Oh yeah, thats my house.

11/29/2004 08:28:00 PM | Permalink |

Target.com explanation

If you've seen this or this being sold at Target.com (if you haven't, now you have), here is an explanation of how it got on there.

11/29/2004 11:04:00 AM | Permalink |

NetZero taunts AOL with copycat ads.

From Slate:

I Know You Are But What Am ISP?

The spot: It appears, at first, to be that grating AOL ad—the one where the mom climbs onto the conference table. But wait! The end is different this time. When the mom asks for spam and virus protection, the AOL exec says, "You got it," just like in the original, but when mom adds that she wants to pay only $9.95 a month, the AOLers say "Yeah, you'd have to go to NetZero for that." (Click here to see the ad.)

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaamn! That is cold, yo.

11/29/2004 08:18:00 AM | Permalink |

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

Guernica

Aubernica

Only funny if you took Spanish or know what the original is.

11/24/2004 11:31:00 AM | Permalink |

Tuesday, November 23, 2004

Idiot

Related to the previous post, though the suspension is wrong, Ron Artest is an idiot

Artest appeared on NBC's "Today," saying he respected Stern but thought his punishment was unduly harsh. He used the opportunity to plug a CD he produced for an R&B group and wore a T-shirt and hat emblazoned with the logo of his record label.

11/23/2004 07:37:00 PM | Permalink |

Fight! Fight! Fight!

We all enjoyed it. It was awesome.

Fight! Fight! Fight!
Why we need more NBA brawls.

If I had to reconstruct what happened during Friday night's Pacers-Pistons game based solely on the reactions of sports columnists, I'd probably come up with something like this: Ron Artest beats his own coach with a club, Stephen Jackson shows a homemade sex tape on the Palace's Jumbotron, and Jermaine O'Neal grabs a mike and makes disparaging remarks about John Wooden, Mother Teresa, and "the troops."

Luckily, I saw everything happen with my own eyes. I was in a bar on Friday night when the fight began streaming in an infinite loop. Many of us had been primed for the highlights by enthusiastic cell-phone calls. When it finally came on, most every patron in the establishment enjoyed, thoroughly and loudly, all of the hot-and-heavy action. That's right, we loved it. Sure, it was wrong for Artest to run into the stands, and wrong for Jackson to run in after him throwing haymakers, and wrong for the fans to douse the Indiana players with beer. But when a crazy basketball player charges into the stands and tries to pounce on some drunk jerks, I don't fly into a rage on behalf of the nation's children. Nope, I just kick back and enjoy the spectacle.

yeah, what he said.

11/23/2004 07:27:00 PM | Permalink |

Computer Dork Humor Part 2

Dating Design Patterns...
(You will only truly get this if you're a computer dork)

11/23/2004 11:40:00 AM | Permalink |

Computer Dork Humor

...yeah...

11/23/2004 11:12:00 AM | Permalink |

Monday, November 22, 2004

Clinton Library

Eh, I have nothing better to post.
Come on, its his library, let Bill walk through first.

11/22/2004 01:45:00 PM | Permalink |

Washington Nationals

The Washington Baseball team logo and apparel were unveiled today by MLB.

Though I like these designs better.
(I liked the first Honorable Mention one)

11/22/2004 01:40:00 PM | Permalink |

Friday, November 19, 2004

A meteor is coming and we're all going to die

So wrong...

LONDON (AFP) - A schoolteacher, attempting to motivate her pupils into making the most of each day, told them a meteorite was about to smash into the Earth and that they should all return home to say goodbye to their families.
...
After the crowd of 13- and 14-year-olds looked on in horror, and many burst into tears

11/19/2004 10:30:00 AM | Permalink |

Thursday, November 18, 2004

Texans....

HOUSTON (Reuters) - Hunters soon may be able to sit at their computers and blast away at animals on a Texas ranch via the Internet, a prospect that has state wildlife officials up in arms.

...

Internet hunting could be popular with disabled hunters unable to get out in the woods or distant hunters who cannot afford a trip to Texas, Underwood said.

11/18/2004 10:59:00 AM | Permalink |

Ewwww

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - A woman in New Zealand says she is breastfeeding her pet puppy because she wants it to protect her baby daughter as they both grow up

Ewwww

11/18/2004 10:58:00 AM | Permalink |

AOL is weird....

I don't get it...
Netscape Revived With Firefox Backing
ok, i kinda get it actually, but still...

Seemingly in competition with itself, AOL has also been beta testing an Internet Explorer based Web browser it calls "AOL Browser." AOL Browser is independent from the company's client software and adds features such as tabbed browsing and privacy options on top of Microsoft's IE engine.

11/18/2004 01:17:00 AM | Permalink |

District scraps alleged 'cross-dressing' day

(AP) -- A homecoming tradition in which boys dress like girls and vice versa in a tiny Texas school district won't be held Wednesday after a parent complained about what she regarded as the event's homosexual overtones

...

"It is outrageous that a school in a small town in east Texas would encourage their 4-year-olds to be cross-dressers," Liberty Legal Institute attorney Hiram Sasser said in the release

Tanner T. Hunt Jr., the school district's attorney, called Sasser's statement "inflammatory and misleading." He said the district never planned or conducted a "cross-dressing day."

"They are a tiny little East Texas school district," Hunt said. "It never occurred to them that anyone could find anything morally reprehensible about TWIRP Day. I mean, they've been having it for years, probably for generations, and it's the first time anybody has complained."

11/18/2004 01:13:00 AM | Permalink |

Tuesday, November 16, 2004

"Oh Damn"

From Niyi:
Destinys Child on BET

11/16/2004 08:35:00 PM | Permalink |

The Grey Video

(from the website)
1968 The Beatles Release "The White Album"
2004 Jay-Z Releases "The Black Album"
2004 DJ Danger Mouse Mixes Both "The Grey Album"

and now The Grey Video

I thought it was pretty slick.

11/16/2004 08:32:00 PM | Permalink |

Kanye - Best New Artist?

From NY Daily News:

Kanye tell who really won

Derek Zoolander is probably giving Kanye West a consolation call right now.

The rapper/producer must have thought he was a sure thing to win the "Breakthrough New Artist" prize at Sunday night's American Music Awards in Los Angeles. In a moment straight out of Ben Stiller's hilarious flick, West was walking up to the stage waving his arms around in glee before the winner was even announced.

You can imagine the awkwardness when he heard that country music star Gretchen Wilson had won.

Thankfully for West, he avoided national embarrassment as the cameras broadcast only his arms on television.

"I was definitely robbed," he was overheard saying backstage. "I won't be coming back to this awards show next year - probably never again.

11/16/2004 01:36:00 PM | Permalink |

Anna Nicole

Video of Anna Nicole Smith's drunk intro at the AMAs.

11/16/2004 01:34:00 PM | Permalink |

Speed Sensitive Traffic Light

Glad I don't live here:

Stoplight to punish suburban speeders:

Pleasanton is about to turn the fast into the furious.

In a move unprecedented in the Bay Area, the city's traffic engineers have created a traffic signal with attitude. It senses when a speeder is approaching and metes out swift punishment.

It doesn't write a ticket. It immediately turns from green to yellow to red.

11/16/2004 01:25:00 PM | Permalink |

The Slate Guide to Managing Entourages

Pretty funny article about rappers & their entourages:

Since Slate is extraordinarily popular with the entourage-having-rapper demographic, we've compiled a list of entourage best practices: tips on how to make your entourage's violent impulses work for you.

Highlites:

Every rapper has an entourage. These days, even the entourages have entourages: Eminem's posse D12 is known to travel with a 40-man posse of its own. And even the most inoffensive, old-person-friendly rappers can have violent hangers-on. Will Smith's bodyguard allegedly punched a record promoter in the face in 1989, allegedly at the Fresh Prince's behest. (The charges were later dropped.) A few years later, three members of MC Hammer's posse claimed they were the victims of a drive-by shooting. Witnesses countered that it was yet another member of the 35-man entourage who actually pulled the trigger

Entourages can vary wildly in shape, size, and composition, but must include at least one driver, several bodyguards, and a few lesser-known rappers. Hammer's three wounded associates—a bodyguard, a member of a backing group called the Homeboy Choir, and a representative of tour sponsor Kentucky Fried Chicken—are a good representative group. Women (Lil' Kim, and to a lesser extent Foxy Brown) sometimes have entourages, but cannot be in an entourage. Sorry, ladies.

Natural light tends to have a calming effect on the entourage, which can become agitated and restless at night. After the lights go out, it's best to keep your posse away from concerts, nightclubs, recording studios, and award shows—especially award shows—if you want to have a quiet evening. Angry entourages are frequently spotted near limousines and SUVs, but it is unclear whether the vehicles themselves are responsible for entourage rage, since entourages are rarely found in other automotive habitats.

11/16/2004 11:21:00 AM | Permalink |

Toy Story 3

I might be the only one who cares, but I post anyway. So when I saw that there will prolly be a Toy Story 3 - I got all excited, because I love the Toy Story movies. They are my favorite Pixar movies (I own them on DVD).....but then I realized that Disney and Pixar ended their partnership...and so Disney might make Toy Story 3 without Pixar. How the hell can you make Toy Story 3 without Pixar?!?!?!?! Theres no way in hell it will be as good.

From EW:

''Mommy, why does Woody look different?'' Disney is going ahead with previously announced plans to make ''Toy Story 3'' without the participation of Pixar, the digital animators who made the original films, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Pixar's distribution deal with Disney is expiring, and the two companies have been unable to strike a new deal.

But Disney, which holds the rights to the ''Toy Story'' saga, is building a new digital animation headquarters specifically for the production of a new sequel, according to the Reporter. The move is unlikely to endear them to Pixar, which is reportedly courting other studios. Meanwhile, Tom Hanks recently told reporters that he is uncertain whether he would reprise the voice of Woody if Pixar is not involved.

11/16/2004 10:57:00 AM | Permalink |

Monday, November 15, 2004

Egg on his face

Funny clip of James Carville on Meet the Press
The best part though is:
A few moment laters, when asked if George Bush had a mandate to govern, Carville replied "the only government official I know who has a mandate is Jim McGreevey".

11/15/2004 01:09:00 PM | Permalink |

Here I go again: Dubya

Don Knotts is.... Dubya

11/15/2004 10:18:00 AM | Permalink |

What? A non political post from me?? Whats going on??

Apprentice Phones

NEW YORK - I am, I admit, hooked on The Apprentice. But as a loyal viewer of the show--which has spawned at least three advice books and is being used as a teaching tool in business schools-- it strikes me as a study in deception.

11/15/2004 09:41:00 AM | Permalink |

Friday, November 12, 2004

Yup

I really need to stop finding stuff related to the election/politics. Hopefully this is my last for awhile:

Flabbergasted EagleT-Shirt (OMG WTF):
This is not about politics. This is about WOW I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT HAPPENED. The Eagle is like "what in the world?" He is flabbergasted about what happened. He can hardly believe it.

This shirt is for everyone -- Democan, Republocrat or a Scientologist -- who was surprised on that fateful day in November.

Tips for getting over the Bush Reelection:

1. Be white, straight and rich.
4. Turn up your arrogance when dealing with hicks from the sticks. When tourists ask for directions around your coastal city, say "Turn left at the 100,000 dead people in Iraq, and go directly to hell." If they claim to have voted for Kerry, tell them to go to hell anyway. America isn't about being fair anymore.
12. Speculate on all the Hillary/Edwards/Obama presidential ticket combinations, and imagine one of them defeating some probable McCain/Giuliani ticket. Good luck with that, by the way.

11/12/2004 08:07:00 AM | Permalink |

Wednesday, November 10, 2004

FuckTheSouth.com

Wonkette.com describes this the best:

As for the site itself: Never has incoherent rage been so embraced by those who like to think of themselves as intellectuals: "No, No. Get the fuck out. We're not letting you visit the Liberty Bell and fucking Plymouth Rock anymore until you get over your real American selves and start respecting those other nine amendments." We especially like the flag-based argument, "Who do you think those fucking stripes on the flag are for? Nine are for fucking blue states." And you thought taking the Bible literally was crazy!

but anyway, its funny to read
www.fuckthesouth.com

11/10/2004 11:48:00 PM | Permalink |

SorryEverybody.com

Damn this site has grown. It used to be just a few pics. Now its up to 176 pages.
Check it out.

11/10/2004 11:47:00 PM | Permalink |

POP access for Gmail

(from Gizmodo.com)

They're officially rolling it out soon:
Why don't I have POP access?

once you get it, how to do it:
How do I enable POP?

11/10/2004 04:34:00 PM | Permalink |

Firefox 1.0

CNet Editors Choice:
Mozilla Firefox 1.0 is the dream Internet browser you've been looking for. Featuring a host of small technical improvements, including tabbed browsing, built-in and customizable search bars, and a built-in RSS reader, Mozilla's Firefox browser is the one that should finally put a dent in Microsoft Internet Explorer's unrivaled market dominance. While its lack of ActiveX support might prevent some sites from working properly, after more than three weeks of use in our tests, Firefox 1.0 remained fast and stable and displayed an impressive range of cutting-edge browsing options. We were able to view every Web site just fine, thank you. If you're fed up with the latest Internet Explorer security patch issued from Microsoft or with the latest virus to capitalize on some flaw in IE, you should switch to Firefox--now.

Use it.

11/10/2004 10:30:00 AM | Permalink |

Maryland PIPA

The report referred to in the previous article is pretty damn interesting.
From Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes:

Particularly interesting is:
The Separate Realities of Bush and Kerry Supporters

Damn people are stupid.

A new PIPA/Knowledge Networks poll finds a consensus among the American public that if Iraq did not have WMD and was not providing substantial support to al Qaeda, the US should not have gone to war with Iraq. Seventy-four percent overall have this view, including 58% of Bush supporters, 92% of Kerry supporters and 77% of the uncommitted-those who have not made a definite commitment to vote for one or the other candidate.
...

Steven Kull comments, "It may seem contradictory that three quarters of Americans say that the US should not have gone to war if Iraq did not have WMD or was not providing support to al Qaeda, while nearly half still say the war was the right decision. However, support for the decision is sustained by persisting beliefs among half of Americans that Iraq provided substantial support to al Qaeda, and had WMD, or at least a major WMD program."

11/10/2004 09:47:00 AM | Permalink |

Confessions Of A Cultural Elitist

Ping demanded something interesting to read....so I post:

Confessions of a Cultural Elitist:
Win or Lose, Kerry Voters Are Smarter Than Bush Voters

As always, highlites:

* Firstly, living in the sticks doesn't make you more American. Rural, urban or suburban--they're irrelevant. San Francisco's predominantly gay Castro district is every bit as red, white and blue as the Texas panhandle. But if militant Christianist Republicans from inland backwaters believe that secular liberal Democrats from the big coastal cities look upon them with disdain, there's a reason. We do, and all the more so after this election.

* 72 percent who cast votes for George W. Bush, according to a University of Maryland's Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA) and Knowledge Networks poll, believe that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction or active WMD programs. 75 percent think that a Saddam-Al Qaeda link has been proven, and 20 percent say Saddam ordered 9/11. Of course, none of this was true.

* So our guy lost the election. Why shouldn't those of us on the coasts feel superior? We eat better, travel more, dress better, watch cooler movies, earn better salaries, meet more interesting people, listen to better music and know more about what's going on in the world. If you voted for Bush, we accept that we have to share the country with you. We're adjusting to the possibility that there may be more of you than there are of us. But don't demand our respect. You lost it on November 2.

Allan, you know you love reading my blog everyday.

11/10/2004 09:37:00 AM | Permalink |

Tuesday, November 09, 2004

Post-Election Selection Trauma

"We're calling it 'post-election selection trauma' and we're working to develop a counseling program for it," said Rob Gordon, the Boca Raton-based executive director of the American Health Association.

Sign me up.

11/09/2004 01:53:00 PM | Permalink |

Monday, November 08, 2004

Another post for the AOL folk

Interesting analysis of our horrible commercials:

You've Got Commercials! Bad ones.

The best part:

Finally, 3) This ad was actually shot on location at the AOL corporate campus in Virginia. Which reminds me—avid business-page reader that I am—that these headquarters will soon suffer a rash of layoffs. AOL is about to fire 700 employees.
This is because AOL is screwed.

11/08/2004 10:56:00 AM | Permalink |

Saturday, November 06, 2004

2004's Scariest Halloween Costumes

From Rowe:
A Do-It-Yourself Guide to This Season's Quickest, Least Expensive, and Spooky-Ookiest Halloween Costumes

11/06/2004 07:49:00 PM | Permalink |

Friday, November 05, 2004

Read Books, Get Brain

NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York officials were red-faced on Friday after they discovered that clothing ads on city buses that appeared to promote reading suggested a love of books could be rewarded with oral sex.

11/05/2004 03:54:00 PM | Permalink |

Thursday, November 04, 2004

Newsweek Election Issue

Some really interesting stuff in this article, and it's only the press release.

Particularly interesting:
The "Outlandish" McCain Offer. Kerry's courtship of Senator John McCain to be his running mate was longer-standing and more intense than previously reported. As far back as August 2003, Kerry had taken McCain to breakfast to sound him out to run on a unity ticket. McCain batted away the idea as not serious, but Kerry, after he wrapped up the nomination in March, went back after McCain a half-dozen more times. "To show just how sincere he was, he made an outlandish offer," Newsweek's Thomas reports. "If McCain said yes he would expand the role of vice president to include secretary of Defense and the overall control of foreign policy. McCain exclaimed, 'You're out of your mind. I don't even know if it's constitutional, and it certainly wouldn't sell.'" Kerry was thwarted and furious. "Why the f--- didn't he take it? After what the Bush people did to him...'"

and

"He said with a sigh to one top staffer, 'I can't believe I'm losing to this idiot.'"

11/04/2004 11:48:00 PM | Permalink |

What the world thinks

From Slate.com:

The Mirror wasn't the only British paper with a striking cover. The Guardian's "G2" section was fronted by a page of solid black containing just two small words: "Oh, God." Meanwhile, the Independent ran the headline "Four More Years" along with iconic images from the first Bush term: kneeling prisoners at Guantanamo Bay, tortured prisoners at Abu Ghraib, soldiers fighting in Iraq, oil-drilling machinery, sign-wielding religious extremists, and a smirking Dubya. In France, Libération ran a picture of the president under the headline, "L'Empire empire"—"The empire declines."

11/04/2004 11:27:00 PM | Permalink |

Good Ol Onion

Quality Headlines from TheOnion:
God Puts His Tool Back Into Office
America Comes Out Agin The Gay Marryin'
Poll: Youth Totally Meant To Vote In Record Numbers
MoveOn CurlsUp InCorner
Despite Republican Victory, Bush Supporter Has Tiny, Tiny Penis

11/04/2004 11:24:00 PM | Permalink |

Marry an American

A funny canadian site: MarryAnAmerican

Ladies and gentlemen, drop your borders
Now that George W. Bush has been officially elected, single, sexy,
American liberals - already a threatened species - will be desperate
to escape.
These lonely, afraid (did we mention really hot?) progressives will
need a safe haven.
You can help. Open your heart, and your home. Marry an American.
Legions of Canadians have already pledged to sacrifice their
singlehood to save our southern neighbours from four more years of
cowboy conservatism.

Canada still sucks though.

11/04/2004 11:21:00 PM | Permalink |

How Can?

Daily Mirror:
How can 59,054,087 people...

11/04/2004 11:19:00 PM | Permalink |

Fox News Channel Headline

From TVGasm.com:

As we all know, honest, unbiased reporting is rare in the American media these days. Fortunately, now we have Fox News to show us the way with its "Fair and Balanced" approach. A godsend! The results are astonishing!

Exhibit A:

10/30/04
Fox News poll: Bush up by 2%
Fox News headline: FOX POLL: BUSH UP BY TWO POINTS OVER KERRY

11/1/04
Fox News poll: Kerry up by 2%
Fox News headline: FOX NATIONAL POLL: VOTERS SPLIT

11/04/2004 02:01:00 PM | Permalink |

Real World / Road Rules Challenge

Yeah reality tv is some shit, and real world, road rules crap is old, but I think this is interesting. For the next season, viewers get to decide who is on which team....Now, the stupid part, they want viewers to put people into either a "naughty" group or "nice" group...what the hell?

The article describes this the best though:
"Still, that's not a bad deal. Teams are divided into "Naughty" or "Nice" categories, which is Bunim/Murray's euphemistic way of saying "Sluts, assholes, and idiots" or "Who is that girl again?" I suppose this upcoming season will be some sort of morality play, if there can be one in the Bunim/Murray universe."

11/04/2004 01:54:00 PM | Permalink |

So can employees do this?

Free $100 Amazon Certificate with AOL Trial from AOL

one of the posts from bensbargains is particularly funny:

i friggin hate aol. i signed up for a trial because of that stupid freeipods thing a while ago and they gave me hell when i tried to cancel. i tried cancelling by mail to avoid phone confrontation but that failed after TWO requests. i was then charged so i called to cancel. but they refunded the account and would NOT cancel my account. i had to call back AGAIN to cancel and almost got into a really heated argument.
i don't even know if my account is cancelled for sure at this point. anyway, if you're willing to go through all the pain of dealing with their customer service, have fun. i guess it might be worth it for $100...

11/04/2004 01:45:00 PM | Permalink |

Must wait on Canada

From someone I work with who will probably get all pissed if I put his name....
Unhappy Democrats Must Wait to Get Into Canada

Canada sucks though.

11/04/2004 10:16:00 AM | Permalink |

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

Today Sucks

This is like the only thing today that gave me a good laugh.
(from Adeniyi)

otherwise:
ARGH GRRR #$%#%#$

11/03/2004 04:29:00 PM | Permalink |

Tuesday, November 02, 2004

Season Slipping Away

I just think this is funny because no one cares and no one knows its going on.

11/02/2004 05:44:00 PM | Permalink |

Afternoon Voter Exit Polls

From Slate.com - updated at 5:30.

11/02/2004 05:42:00 PM | Permalink |

Voting Problems + RE my last post

Courtesy of Justin:

In Philadelphia, Republican activists claimed voting machines already had thousands of votes recorded on them when the polls opened. But city officials countered that the activists misunderstood numbers on odometers that records every vote ever cast — not just those for this election.

Also listed - a bunch of other random ass problems that are occuring.

11/02/2004 02:56:00 PM | Permalink |

From Drudge Report

Before voting even began in Philladelphia -- poll watchers found nearly 2000 votes already planted on machines scattered throughout the city... One incident occurred at the SALVATION ARMY, 2601 N. 11th St., Philadelphia, Pa: Ward 37, division 8... pollwatchers uncovered 4 machines with planted votes; one with over 200 and one with nearly 500... A second location, 1901 W. Girard Ave., Berean Institute, Philadelphia, Pa, had 300+ votes already on 2 machines at start of day... INCIDENT: 292 votes on machine at start of day; WARD/DIVISION: 7/7: ADDRESS: 122 W. Erie Ave., Roberto Clemente School, Philadelphia, Pa.; INCIDENT: 456 votes on machine at start of day; WARD/DIVISION: 12/3; ADDRESS: 5657 Chew Ave., storefront, Philadelphia, Pa... Developing... This is gonna be a mess

11/02/2004 09:51:00 AM | Permalink |

Monday, November 01, 2004

This Election is Crazy

Because only in this election do you see articles like this that outline possible voting problems...with people dying.....What if someone casts an early vote or absentee vote - then dies the next day? Well, if they voted in person - vote counts. If they voted absentee, the vote doesn't count.

How many of those voters won't be alive on Election Day? Considering that an average of 455 voting-age people die in Florida every day, and that the 2000 presidential election was decided by a mere 537 votes, dead votes that slip through the cracks could become a meaningful bloc.

.....

The problem has arisen as an unintended consequence of laws meant to prevent a repeat of the 2000 presidential election debacle. Unlike traditional mail-in absentee ballots that are stored in labeled envelopes and can be pulled if someone dies, most of the new "in-person" early voting is being done on machines with no paper ballot to tell how those people voted.

So if a person in Florida casts an early ballot, then is run over by a truck right outside the polling place, there's no way to rescind the vote. But the vote of a Florida soldier who mails an absentee ballot from Iraq , then is killed in action, won't — or shouldn't — be counted.

"You've got potentially two people with exactly the same situation being treated differently under the law," said John Green, director of the Bliss Institute of Applied Politics at The University of Akron in Ohio. "And on the face of it, that's unfair."

11/01/2004 02:33:00 PM | Permalink |

ACC Preseason Basketball Poll

MD Picked 6th....
Worthless VA Tech and Miami picked last.

11/01/2004 10:26:00 AM | Permalink |

No Pain

I thought this was a pretty interesting story from the AP about a girl who can't feel pain:
Girl With Rare Disease Doesn't Know Pain

In the school cafeteria, teachers put ice in 5-year-old Ashlyn's chili. If her lunch is scalding hot, she'll gulp it down anyway.

On the playground, a teacher's aide watches Ashlyn from within 15 feet, keeping her off the jungle gym and giving chase when she runs. If she takes a hard fall, Ashlyn won't cry.

Ashlyn is among a tiny number of people in the world known to have congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis, or CIPA — a rare genetic disorder that makes her unable to feel pain.

11/01/2004 09:58:00 AM | Permalink |

Blogs are Stupid

"Straight Cash Homie" "Wheres the Cake?" "And boom goes the dynamite"