tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59983194162169608432012-01-27T10:06:08.378-05:00Rantings and ravings about all things Apple, Mac, music, politics, culture, social issues, nit-picks, technology, spirituality, science, and life-changing trips from a 20-something professional.davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.comBlogger2361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-21600130732747817682009-08-20T07:36:00.001-04:002009-08-20T07:36:28.555-04:00

Ben Franklin famously divided his day up into sections, some for productive work, some for dining, some for letter writing and conversation, with a few hours left each day to sleep.He knew that his time and attention were valuable. There were only so many hours in a day, and in order to have the maximum impact, his time was divided according to his priorities.Many of us don't lay out our daily

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-27736346328966073882009-07-30T19:06:00.001-04:002009-07-30T19:09:02.081-04:00

[An open letter to AT&T rep, Mark Siegel, in response to David Pogue's "Take Back the Beep" campaign. I sent this in an e-mail to Mr. Siegel at 6:57 p.m. today.]Mr. Siegel,As an iPhone user, I'm lucky. My voicemail greeting does not burden a caller with an inanely-long "after the beep" message. I realize I'm one of the lucky few, however, because I face this message every time I call someone

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-2630161440849302632009-07-28T18:32:00.001-04:002009-07-28T18:32:51.320-04:00

It's not hard to see why an idea like Beer Fest would be so popular. Take 8,000 drunks, seclude them in a riverside park, isolate them on all sides, and turn them loose with thousands of kegs of beer.If that's not an American ideal, I don't know what is.Thanks to the Michigan Brewers Guild, Beer Fest takes place every summer in Ypsilanti, sandwiched between Independence Day and the end of

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-71123973799305752782009-07-16T23:35:00.001-04:002009-07-16T23:35:39.947-04:00

For the third time in my life now, I've been directly involved in the purchase of a new Macintosh computer.The first was my first, an iBook G4 that still serves as my home base computer. The other was helping Katie buy an iMac.But this one, a 15" MacBook Pro, is strictly professional. It's the result of our credit union's umbrella organization, the Jackson Co-Op, taking a chance on my design

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-41977440129746454672009-07-13T19:12:00.004-04:002009-07-13T19:17:42.693-04:00

It is remarkable how such a simple thing – an evening walk, a bird in a tree yelling its head off – can manage to cut through so much mental entanglement, can revive you when you are tired, can bring an almost immediate sense of well-being. And it occurred to me that evening that one of the things about the world is that it is largely indifferent to the human stories that we weave.It's called "

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-8650510281976017812009-07-07T17:41:00.002-04:002009-09-15T15:33:21.918-04:00

Americans can be placed in two diametrically-opposed camps: those whoe view Henry David Thoreau's experiment next to Walden Pond as a great idea, worthy of copying, and everyone else.I've long placed myself in the former category. The idea of spending two years alone in the woods, with a self-built shelter and a bean garden, sounds pretty darned gnarley. Thoreau allowed himself walks into town

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-21742304715102785192009-06-26T19:19:00.005-04:002009-06-26T19:25:48.493-04:00

Because the specifics matter. It’s one thing to say that Citi wasted some of the money taxpayers sent its way via the bailout; it’s another thing to say Citi wasted some of the taxpayers’ money by upholstering the pillows on the private jet Sandy Weill took to Mexico over Christmas vacation with Hermes scarves. It’s one thing to say Wall Street bankers felt pressure to chase profits; it’s another

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-23818202831957714612009-06-16T22:19:00.004-04:002009-06-16T22:56:47.574-04:00

"You can be a good person and do everything right and it doesn't guarantee you anything." - Owen HartI can place the era that I started watching wrestling again, when I was 13, and it was mostly because of two events: the return of the Undertaker at SummerSlam 1994, and the fact that Bret Hart was the reigning WWE (then, the WWF) champion.It's astonishly easy to admit: Bret "Hitman" Hart is a

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-38038779877472140972009-06-08T07:40:00.003-04:002009-07-11T09:29:54.959-04:00

Yup, that's me. I was honored to receive Jackson Magazine's "30 and Under" honor - a special profile section of young professionals in Jackson, MI.The magazine profile tells about my involvement with Recycling Jackson and Rotary, and my environmental efforts at work.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-51801993317853158082009-06-05T16:12:00.000-04:002009-06-05T16:13:12.566-04:00

I haven't changed my guitar strings in years. My electric guitar has been sitting in its case for at least two years, while my acoustic still hasn't forgiven me for my neglect - even though I've picked it up more often these past few weeks.Old strings, though, they break a little easier. They're cruddy and grimy and - if you haven't played in a while - are a bit out of tune. New strings not

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-82086452287822423192009-05-06T15:49:00.002-04:002009-05-06T15:56:08.844-04:00

John Siracusa, from Ars Technica, in his post "Hypercritical":How is it that Pontiac and Oldsmobile managed to find their way into the hearts and minds of consumers (ask your parents about it) while perfectly competent Dell and HP have not? I contend that it's at least partly because the auto industry has enjoyed a rich history of subjective, high-quality criticism, while the technology industry

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-28839301247177392622009-04-29T17:26:00.001-04:002009-04-29T17:26:33.691-04:00

Next week, I face the first week-long vacation of my adult life where I have no plans.I've never taken time off from work and done nothing.By "nothing" I mean no cross-country trip, of course. My first dose of vacation time took to me my first solo trip, a long weekend in Chicago, and from then on it's been 1,000 miles or more. It's the only way I know how to operate.But it's not like I have "

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-76070776964252425432009-04-19T12:11:00.001-04:002009-04-19T12:11:22.480-04:00

My mother passed away last Wednesday. She left us peacefully, in her sleep.Her death stands in stark contrast to the freewheeling life she led. Us kids, my oldest sister and me, were merely along for the ride. Many that know me know that I cut off any relationship with my mom in high school. It wasn't due to any lack of love, but I had my own self-preservation to think about. A decent life

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-85735240145860422062009-04-08T19:35:00.001-04:002009-04-08T19:35:33.098-04:00

My life is renewed when tires meet the road.It's always been that way, for as far back as I can remember. When I feel pressed down, or stressed, or worried, I hit the road and I'm made whole. Maybe it's the self-induced isolation, or maybe it's giving myself time to think and unwind and enjoy the scenery. I don't know enough to explain it, but I know that it works.So it was this weekend, when

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-75517313450685138952009-03-23T22:28:00.002-04:002009-03-23T22:32:45.851-04:00

Someone, sometime soon is going to start describing the climb out of this impressive hole we’ve dug for ourselves, and they’re going to call it “America 2.0”. Clever, yes. We need a new version of ourselves and that’s going to involve bright, unexpected ideas from those we least expect them from, and they’re going to strike you as impossible. All you need to do to understand these terrifyingly

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-12474425062464678392009-02-25T07:29:00.001-05:002009-02-25T07:29:23.394-05:00

A true test of any fitness level is the paczki, a Polish doughnut usually eaten in America on Fat Tuesday. They're a big hit around Michigan, Toledo, and areas of high Polish-population density. And they're delicious.My test came after I devoured my paczki on Tuesday. Because I'm diabetic, I have to be careful about eating carbohydrates. My body doesn't produce insulin on its own, so if I eat

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-75199887935881923322009-02-22T18:59:00.002-05:002009-02-22T19:00:48.292-05:00

Humility is in plentiful supply these days. And why not, since people are losing their jobs, losing their homes, and losing their sense of purpose and dignity. Us Michiganders have felt it for years now, of course, and now we stand to lose names like "Pontiac" and "Chrysler" down the giant economic drain hole.That's humility. Now it's being felt all over.But no matter what we learn during

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-2780050456123536122009-01-31T19:34:00.004-05:002009-01-31T19:41:30.194-05:00

Author Neil Gaiman, after finding out (via speakerphone at 5:45 a.m.) that his book won the Newbery Award:You are on a speakerphone with at least 14 teachers and librarians and suchlike great, wise and good people, I thought. Do not start swearing like you did when you got the Hugo. This was a wise thing to think because otherwise huge, mighty and fourletter swears were gathering. I mean, that's

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-10580726058193954912009-01-22T22:00:00.001-05:002009-01-22T22:00:31.715-05:00

During his campaign for president, Barack Obama asked the American people to give of themselves to help steer us out of this national funk we're in. Service, he said, helps us help our fellow citizens, lifts our spirits, benefits the economy, and fosters a sense of responsibility in America's destiny.I didn't need to be told that by President Obama. The benefits of service and altruism, to me,

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-12434467499212319252009-01-09T19:07:00.000-05:002009-01-09T19:08:06.844-05:00

"Civilization ends at the waterline. Beyond that, we all enter the food chain, and not always right at the top." - Hunter S. Thompson, 1986* * * * *As General Motors and Chrysler crumble and teeter like a top-heavy Jenga game, I can't help but feel apathetic. These are the people who inspire the need for a new car. In fact, their whole business (or lack of) depends on Americans buying

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-63133395664473808582008-12-24T20:53:00.000-05:002008-12-24T20:54:32.685-05:00

Nothing says "cliche" like a list of New Year's resolutions. To avoid such a stigma, I've compiled a list of to-do items for 2009.RUN A REAL 5KAbout a month ago, I took Planet Fitness up on their $10/month gym membership offer - and so far, so good. I didn't realize how much I missed running until I started running again. An annoying pain in my knee stopped my previous running effort just as I

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-46034488964481630762008-12-08T19:36:00.001-05:002008-12-08T19:36:27.222-05:00

It wasn't so long ago that music had an appreciable impact in my life. I remember, in high school and in college, making music as big a part of my life as anything at the time - the long road trips for concerts, buying CDs on their release day, talking bands and influences and learning how to play my favorite songs on the guitar.These days, it's vastly different. In fact, I've always thought

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-75228466908521374542008-11-25T21:40:00.003-05:002008-11-25T21:41:57.450-05:00

A neat idea from ProgressiveBuddhism.com - that all religions, when you break them down, are about one idea: the one dissolving into the whole.The one (us, our spirit, whatever) eventually finds the whole (God, Brahman, etc.). We lose ourselves in religion.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-71739956525188479132008-11-20T17:44:00.001-05:002008-11-20T17:44:39.577-05:00

Money quote: "You're sitting in a chair in the sky."It's all so true. My big foible is sitting at red lights, and people not going fast enough down suburban streets. To think: I could be walking in November while it snows.PBS had a marathon re-showing of "The War," an amazing documentary about World War II and its impact on four American towns. One scene in particular spoke to me, and it's

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-73880120037629845262008-11-17T21:56:00.000-05:002008-11-17T21:57:14.813-05:00

Polaroid film may not be available for long, but man - I'm glad an application like Poladroid is.If you're a photo fiend, and a Mac user, you have to download this app. Poladroid basically takes your digital snapshots and "Polarizes" them using vintage light filters and settings. You can see the results above after I messed around with a few of my Flickr photos.Seriously - this is a hoot. What

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-48397749955146925482008-11-11T18:01:00.000-05:002008-11-11T18:02:17.588-05:00

What is it about Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'"?What is it about that song that has our generation in such a craze? Maybe you've heard: "Don't Stop Believin'" (hereafter referred to as DSB) is the number-one selling song of all time(!) on iTunes. All time. Number one.It's friggin' Journey, for Pete's sake!I keep hearing that its inclusion in "The Soprano's" finale, or how the 2005

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-25197949789175684812008-10-31T07:29:00.000-04:002008-10-31T07:30:36.588-04:00

After eight years of misrule, we know a few things: that our government spies on us, that it tortures people from other countries, that Americans feel worse about their country than they have in a long time, that hard working people have watched their retirements trickle away, that we are less secure and less safe internationally, that we have given up liberty for a false sense of security, that

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-4795690672148748262008-10-17T18:32:00.001-04:002008-10-17T18:32:25.375-04:00

The collapse of Washington Mutual was called the "biggest bank failure of all time," meaning that - in today's times - no one is "too big to fail."So it's good to have a backup plan. That's what blogger Khoi Vinh recommends, especially when it comes to anything you have stored online.This advice is applicable to most areas of our lives: fire escape plans, fire-proof lock boxes for valuables,

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-57192132849943745132008-09-17T20:27:00.000-04:002008-09-17T20:28:19.160-04:00

Maybe this is a news flash, but Barack Obama is a Muslim. He also hates America, isn't a patriot, and wants to kill us all in our sleep.If you didn't know all this, it's okay. Just open up your e-mail inbox and it's all right there.I say that in jest, of course, but the fact remains: the right-wing uses e-mail like a pro. They've used it against the Clintons and against John Kerry, and now

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-61081012211720418682008-09-05T22:20:00.001-04:002008-09-05T22:21:59.266-04:00

Joe Klein from Time.com, on John McCain's new war on the media:There is a tendency in the media to kick ourselves, cringe and withdraw, when we are criticized. But I hope my colleagues stand strong in this case: it is important for the public to know that Palin raised taxes as governor, supported the Bridge to Nowhere before she opposed it, pursued pork-barrel projects as mayor, tried to ban

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-32679390843395082862008-08-24T15:48:00.002-04:002008-08-24T15:49:13.753-04:00

We all learned that Joe Biden is Obama's choice for VP running mate.But just who the hell is this guy?I have to admit: my recollection is his "clean and articulate" description of Obama during the primaries, but more that he was the anti-Edwards. Shoot-from-the-hip, wise, seen it all before, really knows his stuff kind of guy - that's Biden. And here I would've loved to vote for Edwards more

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-64988507465789133002008-08-07T18:34:00.002-04:002008-08-07T18:34:53.958-04:00

Today I went off on someone at work over a font.A few years ago, it was excusable to go off on someone over the Comic Sans font. It was everywhere. And unless you were a daycare or a school, you had no business using Comic Sans. In anything. It was tacky, and overused, and it made no rational sense to use Comic Sans. Unless you were a child, in which case you still should've been scolded and

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-78782662211683424012008-07-31T07:17:00.001-04:002008-07-31T07:19:06.920-04:00

I used to watch a decent amount of TV. I'd get up in the morning and watch CNN while eating breakfast, come home and catch the news, and maybe grab an episode of "The Simpsons" with Don. Now I can honestly say I watch maybe a half hour to an hour of TV of week. I don't watch a lot of TV now, but I used to.But that got me thinking: what do I do with my time now?I only have to look at the hand

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-91741291549289295042008-07-23T15:04:00.000-04:002008-07-26T15:07:00.487-04:00

Tomorrow I'm riding my bike to work.It's nothing compared to the Falling Water Trail, of course, but shit, why not? It's supposed to be pretty nice out tomorrow, and I'm dressing down at work for a project.My route is barely 3 miles long, and most of it is downhill (it's uphill on the way home). And it shaves about .7 miles off my usual driving route. According to Google Maps new "walking" time

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-2464340343143407722008-07-19T18:26:00.000-04:002008-07-19T18:27:08.131-04:00

One of the reasons I was so excited to get an iPhone was the camera: most cell phone cameras strike me as pretty shitty, but even at only 2 megapixels, my 3G camera doesn't do too bad a job. I've had it for a week now. Let's see how it's going.Wah-wah. Keith and I, a day after the madness, stopped by the Ann Arbor Apple Store to shop for phone cases. The folks at the store said they sold out

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-8584961767394505732008-07-18T07:20:00.000-04:002008-07-19T18:28:24.633-04:00

This morning I donated $5 to a guy running for Kansas state representative, Sean Tevis, because he's a funny guy.When you get right down to it, people come up with far lamer excuses for voting for politicians. I think there's something to be said for humor in politics - especially from someone who gets Internet memes, cultural references, and the absurdity of it all. Tevis's comic was pure fun,

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-15615440056395534372008-07-06T21:28:00.001-04:002008-07-06T21:28:32.170-04:00

Christopher Hitchens in this article from Vanity Fair:As a boy reading the climactic torture scene of 1984, where what is in Room 101 is the worst thing in the world, I realize that somewhere in my version of that hideous chamber comes the moment when the wave washes over me. Not that that makes me special: I don’t know anyone who likes the idea of drowning. As mammals we may have originated in

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-65345764660038069282008-07-02T18:10:00.001-04:002008-07-02T18:10:56.421-04:00

It's official. I took the day off work. I have a fraternity bro who might be joining me.I'll be there.Come July 11, I'll be one of the fools in line at the Ann Arbor Apple Store waiting for an iPhone.Let me preface that, friends, by saying we live in a humorless time, one fraught with terrible blunders and a creeping National Depression that threatens our very dignity. Where, oh where, can we

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-84479319253994861172008-06-18T06:35:00.001-04:002008-06-18T06:35:46.536-04:00

It was back in February that a thought first occurred to me: I wouldn't be upset if either Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, or John McCain won the presidency.Now that Sen. Clinton is out, I feel the same way.And here's why: at least two of those candidates have high cross-over potential. We in Michigan preferred McCain over Bush in 2000 because of the help of state Democrats, and there are reports

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-4284355701910161982008-06-16T20:54:00.001-04:002008-06-16T20:55:45.501-04:00

Perhaps. Only 3 days to get there? No problem.Gas? That's the problem.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-35596165401057087132008-05-15T07:07:00.000-04:002008-05-15T07:08:25.536-04:00

It's the middle of May, which means it's also time for adventure.I leave first thing tomorrow morning for the big New England trip - a 10-day quest to discover the roots of our country at its birthplace. The trip starts in Philadelphia, the philosophical center of America, and continues to New Jersey, New York, Boston, and circles into Maine, New Hampshire, and then Vermont. I'll be exploring

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-56507778225892960882008-05-11T21:09:00.002-04:002008-05-11T21:31:10.152-04:00

Working on a blog for my New England trip as a way to keep my friends and family up-to-date on photos and where I'm at, etc.Feel free to drop in and leave me a comment.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-72557032292940839842008-05-05T18:48:00.004-04:002008-05-05T18:53:44.313-04:00

">Reuse disposable items [from Lifehacker.com]Another list of ways to reuse stuff [from Tipnut.com]Backlash against green marketing [fromSeth Godin's blog]That last one is interesting, because I noticed the big brew-haha that went on during the week of Earth Day. Can we really be "green" by buying (and throwing away) more stuff? Probably not.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-74512085249047491952008-05-05T18:44:00.001-04:002008-05-05T18:44:56.576-04:00

It really is everything I'd imagined.Sure, I played "Super Mario Galaxy" at the Best Buy display this winter. Kirby and I even kicked ass at "Smash Brothers Brawl" at a console in Lansing.But unless you see it in action, and see it sitting in your living room, there's no judging a Nintendo Wii. You must hold it and play it and experience everything for yourself.And it all happened by pure, dumb

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-18268777035753795782008-04-28T17:51:00.000-04:002008-04-28T17:52:23.056-04:00

Meet Too Tall.Too Tall is a chocolate bunny that is, incredibly, too tall for his packaging. Too Tall is so tall, in fact, his ears have burst through the box top.But is this the truth? Is Too Tall truly taller than his bunny comrades? It turns out Too Tall isn't tall enough.As you can see, there is plenty of room in the bottom of Too Tall's box. His feet could rest comfortably on the real

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-49262385487172823402008-04-08T21:48:00.002-04:002008-04-08T21:48:56.154-04:00

Another version of myself. From 2003-2004.Hot damn. Nothing like cringing at your former self.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-90847266460640806272008-04-08T21:38:00.001-04:002008-04-08T21:38:27.570-04:00

I started running last summer after seeing a set of podcasts that made the whole thing really easy. I even ran my first 5k (not a sponsored one, just me out running one night), the longest distance I had run since track season in high school.Near the end of the season last year, I hurt my knee because of the way I run. It turns out that I roll my feet on the inside, which wears away the soles

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-77991100411196564292008-04-04T17:08:00.000-04:002008-04-04T17:09:03.295-04:00

You start throwing around phrases like "economic downturn" and "...not since the Depression," and it makes one question the sanity of cutting out of town on another cross-country trip - where even the Hamptons are facing declining real estate values.Gas. Wheat and milk. The price of everything, except houses, is going up, and here I sit on the edge of discovery, ready to journey into the heart

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-60647125577844189372008-03-30T16:10:00.000-04:002008-03-30T16:11:28.768-04:00

Even before I interviewed a local sheriff deputy about his house burning down, and asked what our credit union could do to help his family out, I knew a complete listing of everything I owned was a good idea.After all, fires happen all the time. I’ve already had valuables stolen from my car. And shucks, zombies could take over any day now.So I decided that March would be "taking stock" month, a

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-7147538722008998062008-03-20T19:01:00.001-04:002008-03-20T19:01:39.612-04:00

A thought occurred to me today, just as I was about to drop two magazine subscription renewal envelopes in the mailbox:Why not do this online?I subscribe to two monthly magazines, Wired and Harper's, and both have been bugging me for months to renew my subscription. Harper's even sent me a letter saying that, by renewing early, I could save them the cost of several more notices.Now I realize

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-31937648467699819222008-03-13T18:02:00.003-04:002008-03-13T18:03:45.088-04:00

Michael Bloomberg, the plucky mayor of New York, recently compared the tax rebate checks to giving an alcoholic a drink: "This country has a balance sheet that’s starting to look more and more like a Third World country," Bloomberg said.In which case, we’ll all be tested. Binge, or resist temptation? Splurge, or save?Nevermind the moral questions regarding this tax rebate deal (here are the

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-29171923062003263992008-03-07T16:58:00.001-05:002008-03-07T16:58:28.575-05:00

Lawrence is carted away from The Parlour after failing the Dare to Be Great Challenge.LOCAL DIABETIC IN COMA AFTER ATTEMPTING ICE CREAM CHALLENGEA Jackson man was hospitalized today after attempting The Parlour's "Dare to Be Great" 21-scoop ice cream challenge.Dave Lawrence, a 26-year-old Brooklyn native, was taken away from the Parlour's Wildwood St. location after lapsing into a diabetic coma -

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-26635464643680233772008-03-06T17:24:00.001-05:002008-03-06T17:24:26.054-05:00

John and I drink to ease the pain of living.Midway through my first margarita, I knew that the Greater Jackson Chamber of Commerce's Restaurant Rally would be trouble from the start.The idea was crazy enough: a group of local restaurants offering free food to anyone wearing a bracelet, with chamber members slung around town in short school buses, herded like cattle into the waiting arms of

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-90673447439319874572008-03-04T06:26:00.000-05:002008-03-04T06:27:38.425-05:00

Top 100 things to do before I die 65 has been crossed off the list:That's right - my long tirade on Apple's environmental record made Macsurfer, an Apple news aggregator.And that one award last year that I got to go to Orlando to accept? We won it again. And we're waiting on news from another one.Everything is coming up Milhouse.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-35616976324425135362008-03-03T07:28:00.001-05:002008-03-03T07:28:57.171-05:00

"As the world goes 'round / It's got me thinkin'That the things I want / Keep me sinking / Down." - Zwan, 'Ride a Black Swan'Last Thursday, while waiting for a meeting that never happened, I browsed around our nifty Nomad Bookhouse in downtown Jackson for an entire hour. The best part? I had a great time, and didn't buy one book. Same goes for our downtown library; I get lost in there for

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-2803703446524438552008-03-02T16:27:00.001-05:002008-03-02T16:27:46.736-05:00

I love my G3 iBook. I bought it right before my Route 66 trip because (a) I was nervous about taking my then-new G4 and (b) the thing is built for road-warriors and students. It's the toughest laptop I've ever seen, and I knew if I took it all the way across the country, it would survive in a pinch.And it did, both on the Route trip and the Seattle trip. But one drawback was its lack of

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-37259838033588096302008-02-28T20:38:00.001-05:002008-02-28T20:39:53.673-05:00

Giving all the guff that Apple has received lately about becoming more "green," it's no surprise that Apple would want to protect its reputation - especially considering it was founded by two liberals in Northern California.I opened my shareholder meeting proxy vote ballot several weeks ago and found this little gem as one of the voting items:TO CONSIDER A SHAREHOLDER PROPOSAL ENTITLED "AMEND

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-57163258632775657792008-02-11T19:00:00.001-05:002008-02-11T19:00:43.738-05:00

Midway through Friday night's Crazy Bowl fundraiser, a friend thought that maybe I had put a little too much thought and effort into my team's Ghostbuster costume.But then came the announcement that we had won "Best Costume" at the '80s-themed bowl-o-rama, and all the effort paid off in an instant.This is the third year I've taken home that prize. The first year featured a Mardi Gras theme, and

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-70756907941911053542008-01-29T20:01:00.000-05:002008-01-29T20:02:31.693-05:00

Ben Franklin is my kind of American. He's long been a hero of mine, every since I read parts of his "Autobiography," but now I'm reading a bunch of books on the Founding Fathers to prepare for the big New England trip this spring.And I don't dig Ben just because I use "Franklin" as my name during restaurant reservations. He was a genuinely fun, prototypical American - full of industry and humor

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-45696610162071418062008-01-18T17:28:00.000-05:002008-01-18T17:33:03.710-05:00

Like some batshit crazy scene out of one of Tim LaHaye's far-out novels, along comes Tom Cruise.Again.I've come to realize that there are a lot of ape shit crazy people in this world. For instance, I read today that some yahoo in Iowa, right before the causes, preached on about how churches should control the states, not vice versa. "Read your history," he said.Or how some other yahoo

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-53037094173122746142008-01-15T19:47:00.000-05:002008-01-15T19:48:29.180-05:00

January 14, 2008To: Wynn R. Smiley, Chief Executive OfficerOne North Pennsylvania Street, 12th FloorIndianapolis, IN 46204wsmiley@ato.orgDear Mr. Smiley,I received a credit card offer in the mail today at my workplace. It came to my attention, at my workplace address, and was marked, simply, "ADRIAN" (see photo). This kind of behavior from my own fraternity is unacceptable.I have received

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-41710207662402705022007-12-28T14:51:00.001-05:002007-12-28T14:51:42.602-05:00

I've noticed that, as I've gotten older, I've lost touch with what the kids like in the music arena. When I was their age (high school age, whatever that amounts to these days), what I listened to was hip and cool. Now what I listen to seems aged and refined. But hey, at least it's not pop-punk.This year a lot of that aged music was released. It happens that, every other year or so, a crop of

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-75937196181898964092007-12-20T17:35:00.001-05:002007-12-20T17:35:31.568-05:00

It's a grim anniversary, and it's hard to believe I was only 15 when it happened, but today - in 1996 - Carl Sagan died.Wired.com was nice enough to remind me, but I remember when Driver sent me a similar memorial a few years back.My grandma wondered last night why, now that all that's in the news is global warming stuff, more people didn't listen to Dr. Sagan and his greenhouse theory. All we

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-41707424094155527832007-12-13T17:31:00.001-05:002007-12-13T17:31:52.646-05:00

I learned a long time ago that knowing how to play guitar doesn't mean you're qualified to play "Guitar Hero."The last time I tried, right about this time last year, I walked up to the Best Buy try-it-out booth. And failed, miserably.But this year, something clicked. "Guitar Hero III" just came out, and Pearl Jam's "Even Flow" was blasting from the Best Buy display during a recent visit. "

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-53351315185878264922007-12-05T16:07:00.001-05:002007-12-05T16:07:50.022-05:00

I may end up voting in the Michigan's Republican primary come January 15, but only because the party I usually support has taken any choice away from me. But I don't blame the party. I blame Michigan. Perhaps you know that the modest states of New Hampshire and Iowa (who's combined population only equals half of Michigan's) always get first dibs on selecting presidential candidates. It's been

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-19333066316652359802007-12-01T15:22:00.000-05:002007-12-01T15:26:05.793-05:00

From John Gruber @ Daring Fireball:Microsoft looked at the PC market and asked, “How can we make the most money?” Their answer was to sell software to the business market, because that’s where the money is. Pure pragmatism: corporations are conservative, change slowly, and hold compatibility (and low prices) in high regard.Apple looked at the PC market and asked, “How can we make something better

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-46240715015865657622007-11-30T15:12:00.001-05:002007-11-30T15:12:42.955-05:00

Does life get much better than having a Sean Connery look-alike ("Penis mightier!") teach you Dreamweaver web design on dual-monitor Mac Pros in a buildling full of glowing, self-aware, high-powered computers?Nope, not much.Hanging out in Bowling Green this weekend, learning Dreamweaver and picking up some tips on HTML and CSS, all-the-while enjoying the ability to drag a window across two

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-76565686329776230962007-11-26T18:29:00.001-05:002007-11-26T18:29:55.121-05:00

Maybe I'm a dork, but the instruction manual for Seagate's excellent 500 GB "FreeAgent" external hard drive is a hoot.I originally bought one over the summer - $100 for 500 GB is a heckuva deal - because my former external hard drive was a piece of crap. It had Firewire, but that's about all it had going for it. The Seagate's hefty 500 gigs would be more than enough space to back up all of my

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-53863714503693441412007-11-21T20:01:00.000-05:002007-11-21T20:06:38.982-05:00

So, what would Pat Robertson - you know, the guy who said Hurricane Katrina was fit punishment for the U.S. - say about the drought in Georgia?

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-12362924590391083732007-11-21T19:48:00.000-05:002007-11-21T19:49:04.835-05:00

It's already 7 hours after Shrimp Quest 2007, and I'm still having trouble cleansing my mouth of shellfish slime.We had lunch catered at work on Wednesday, and I learned that the Oak Tree would have a shit-ton of peel-and-eat shrimp on hand. After learning what was on the menu, I stretched, drank multiple glasses of water, and prepared myself to set the world record for shrimp eating.The world

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-55495580967397061552007-11-11T21:04:00.000-05:002007-11-11T21:05:19.313-05:00

It's a magical thing, to make your first loaf of bread.After reading about how easy it is, I couldn't help myself. Making my own home-made loaf of bread would be this weekend's project.I followed the recipe's directions to the T, with a few left-turns here and there. For instance, I used a bit of brown sugar and some honey in place of the five teaspoons of plain sugar. Also, I found downing

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-87870468641303473792007-11-02T00:17:00.000-04:002007-11-02T00:19:04.393-04:00

Sometimes, geek dreams really do come true.First, some background: I bought an Apple Newton - the first PDA ever invented - almost a year ago, just to play around with it. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to sync it to my Macs. The Newton uses an old serial cable that no one uses anymore.Then I found a serial-to-USB adapter, but then the Newton's batteries ran dead, with no hope of recharge.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-42386207547274242822007-11-01T19:32:00.001-04:002007-11-01T19:32:43.048-04:00

It seems the guy that runs The Simple Dollar seems to have had the same brainstorm I did: dedicate the month of November for getting something accomplished.For instance, I told myself that if I do a certain number of things each weekday over the course of the month - workout, do something productive for 15 minutes, and meditate - then I would reward myself for the accomplishment. My reward? An

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-77929352459828842782007-10-27T07:36:00.001-04:002007-10-27T07:36:44.965-04:00

In my recent experimentation with bloggin (here, here, and right here), I've noticed a few things while doing research and reading other blogs.First, a lot are just like magazines in that they offer "The 10 best ways" to do something. ZenHabits does this on a daily basis, and it seems only the digit changes. From "5 best ways to prepare for retirement" to "10 worst Macs in history," blogs

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-18137830283537827212007-10-24T23:50:00.000-04:002007-10-24T23:51:23.585-04:00

So I was a political essayist for my favorite magazine, Harper's, in 1920.And wouldn't you know it - talking about the same ol' stuff.Some things never change.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-33019076147516327542007-10-24T21:12:00.001-04:002007-10-24T21:12:52.304-04:00

Got back from Pennsylvania late Sunday night a better American, I think, and a little bit wiser to the east coast's ways.But first, a tour.My first thought on entering Pennsylvania late Friday night was, "Jesus, who put all these hills here?" But really, I forgot my last trip through the Keystone State: a frightening midnight run through two-lane Appalachian roads.Where my sister lives?

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-73896541385989883442007-10-18T17:25:00.000-04:002007-10-18T17:28:11.970-04:00

Thomas Jefferson would disagree with Fred Ziegler's letter to the editor: the "bottom line" of education isn't to prepare students for the working world, but to prepare them for a participatory democracy. An uneducated populace isn't fit to vote or debate national issues, said Jefferson, so a public school system would give kids the basic knowledge to function as American citizens.Training

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-53176546042252459442007-10-18T07:28:00.001-04:002007-10-18T07:28:30.059-04:00

Self-improvement has a long history in this country. Ever since Ben Franklin started working under a pseudonym, America has long been the center of the self-help crowd. What other country, in the minds of people around the world, offers the kind of start-all-over paradigm that we do?Hell, even the pilgrims knew they could start fresh somewhere else.Maybe I was born in the wrong era, because -

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-91186904934840731302007-10-14T22:44:00.000-04:002007-10-14T22:48:00.005-04:00

I've started a new blog, and it involves poetry and my Apple MessagePad 110.Go here to see it.I started it for several reasons: (A) To play around with WordPress(B) To play around with my Newton(C) To get myself to read some poetry(D) To become a world-famous bloggerI use my stylus to write down poems on the MessagePad. It translates them, usually spitting out gibberish, and I blog whatever

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-86497107520707144822007-10-11T17:24:00.001-04:002007-10-11T17:24:22.304-04:00

If you've ever seen the opening scene in Michael Moore's "Farenheit 9/11," where Moore imagines Gore winning the 2000 election, you might have one of two reactions: disgust or gee-whiz sentimentality.For me, the scene Moore painted was excruciatingly visceral: sentimentality is my middle name, and that scene stuck with me for a long time after I saw it. Some of us have never moved past the whole

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-68475108292589860972007-10-03T16:54:00.000-04:002007-10-03T16:55:01.640-04:00

It's amazing what you can find just by cleaning out your closet.I came across a bunch of random floppy disks the other night, and discovered some pictures I had taken at Hometown the summer after I graduated college.I've often told myself that I couldn't write about my time at Hometown - about seven or eight years all-together - because the experience was too weird and too awesome to put into

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-15654881060522355642007-10-01T19:20:00.001-04:002007-10-01T19:20:51.403-04:00

I've never been a big newtwork TV guy."The Office" changed all that, of course - being the first show I have to watch every week, especially now that the new season is underway.But I caught a bit of news about NBC's new "Chuck."And hey, it's not half-bad.I mean, classic and thinly-disguised G5 Macs, a gorgeous blonde, and some pretty cool action sequences; what's not to like?I'll check out

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-12448879802112300792007-09-24T22:31:00.000-04:002007-09-24T22:32:38.436-04:00

That's it. As of tonight, I'm officially a 5k runner.And this amazingly after four straight days of non-running.Let's get down to details.1. Bad Day / Daniel Powter 3:52My path begins. We walk for five minutes. I start north down Fourth St. to one of the side streets where I used to take my walks. I use the iPod as a flashlight since its pitch black down these wooded streets. Where is the

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-20424505822142439472007-09-24T19:19:00.000-04:002007-09-24T19:20:09.841-04:00

When you lose faith in the very institutions you put your trust in, what hope is there of a better tomorrow?Such Camus-like existentialism is bred when companies like Bank of America take the names of Iowa University alumni from the very organization that represents that alumni, and keeps the exchange of money a secret.Now, I didn't go to Iowa, and thankfully I closed my BoA account long ago (

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-28767517387674451312007-09-19T20:33:00.000-04:002007-09-19T20:34:33.550-04:00

Golly, there are some funny people out there.Like this - which made me laugh out loud.Did you know the Dalai Lama is second cousin to Stalin and Hussein?Or how about this insight:Although Buddhism has become the trendy religion of choice and appeals to society that it is the religion of ahimsa ("no harm," ie, non-violence), quite the opposite is true as many wars have been fought in the name of

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-46101305437704292822007-09-19T18:48:00.000-04:002007-09-19T18:49:50.915-04:00

After the Minneapolis bridge collapse, our local paper ran an in-depth investigative piece about local bridges that were in need of repair. Most of the bridges in Jackson County, in fact, were found in crumbling condition.A few days later, some yahoo wrote in condemning the paper, saying the information provided gave aid to terrorists. Supposedly, bin Laden is reading the Jackson Citizen

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-57806866470351766412007-09-15T13:13:00.001-04:002007-09-15T13:13:50.110-04:00

When God was handing out careers, he could have given me a few: journalism, marketing, teaching, PR...and computers, I think.This was highlighted Friday at work, when one of the managers came up to me - frantic - and asked me why one Word file didn't look like her other Word file.Now, long have I been the unofficial IT guy in our office. Our true IT department sits across the street in the

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-7426086944402552662007-09-13T21:04:00.000-04:002007-09-13T21:05:23.969-04:00

Maybe the fall is good for something afterall, because running the way I've been running in the heat would be suicide.It's week 8 in the couch to 5k running program, where the collective "we" run non-stop for 20+ minutes.Yesterday the sweat barely had time to form before the cool, oncoming autumn air whisked it away. A few nights last week were nice too, now that the dusk temperature is dipping

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-16220302830864489892007-09-10T21:51:00.000-04:002007-09-10T21:52:07.911-04:00

Using cash for things changes the entire spending-money dynamic.I used to be a bona-fide debit card guy - everything from groceries to online shopping to visits to the bar, they all got paid with my checking plastic. It was easy; all I had to do was sign for my purchases.But then things got forgotten. Sure, I'd check my account every day at work (one of the many benefits of working for a credit

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-16392084824234488852007-09-06T20:44:00.001-04:002007-09-06T20:44:28.591-04:00

Every time I see an image of the Earth from space - what Carl Sagan called the "Pale Blue Dot" - I want to cry.I remember Al Gore surprising me with an image at the end of "An Inconvenient Truth." At the end of that moving movie was the most moving image that a human could look at, besides the actual face of god. It was the Earth, the first picture of it ever taken from space, and it never

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-10022934040509093742007-09-05T21:53:00.001-04:002007-09-05T21:53:39.668-04:00

It's not that hard, after watching Apple's special event today, to figure out what I want for Christmas.Just as I - and the rest of the world - figured, the prices for iPhones have dropped, and there are new iPods to be lusted after and shown to friends and finally, at some northern Apple store, purchased with glee.It used to be, friends, that we heard new songs on the radio, and maybe recorded

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-29234164553559237742007-09-04T17:25:00.001-04:002007-09-04T17:25:52.728-04:00

It's amazing that, in the almost two years I've had my iBook, I've never messed around with iMovie.That's part of what makes Apple so successful these days: programs like GarageBand and iPhoto and iMovie can make digital media n00bs like you and I into semi-decent craftspeople.So, after dinking around last night with some river footage I took on the trip, here's a little something I made.NOTE:

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-86564616020587439662007-09-03T15:34:00.001-04:002007-09-03T15:34:54.197-04:00

Ah, Labor Day weekend. Goodbye summer, hello cool nights.Went up to Scotsville, just east of Ludington, for a canoe trip with dad and the family.Check out the Flickr photos for the full scoop.Happy Labor Day!

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-47451147244052266922007-08-31T17:25:00.000-04:002007-08-31T17:27:36.590-04:00

There's a little Buddha that sits at my desk.He's brown, and shiny, and Chinese - and he stands there and doesn't complain.When I'm stressed, or busy, or just upset about something, I look up at the top of monitor.Where my little Buddha sits.I inhale, and exhale, and concentrate on my breathing. I become mindful of the tension in my shoulders or stomach, and I relax. I look up and see you, the

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-63667376858223708412007-08-30T16:56:00.000-04:002007-08-30T16:58:05.292-04:00

Thank friggin' god - just a few short weeks 'till the fun begins again.Pam Beasley may be my new Desert Island Woman.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-10475442518941361462007-08-29T18:49:00.000-04:002007-08-29T18:52:16.892-04:00

Americans are becoming more tolerant of piss-poor service, and it's really ticking me off.After reading about some poor schmuck in Illinois who was harrassed after not showing his receipt, I couldn't help but think about a few "customer service" examples I've encountered recently.I can't help but wonder why companies would mistreat the very people who give them money. But you know what I've

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-27215610158472106792007-08-27T18:38:00.000-04:002007-08-27T18:39:21.077-04:00

Fucking. Amazing.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-44035100766034231202007-08-27T18:16:00.000-04:002007-08-27T18:30:08.601-04:00

Damn you, Robert.Your week 6 program just kicked my ass, so pardon the frustration.I don't know what it is about this week, but this is the first time I've felt pain. Specifically, in my calves. Maybe it was the mind-bending 20-minute run on Saturday (in the pouring rain, mind you), but today just didn't feel the same.Usually I go from leg-quaking agony to full-stride euphoria pretty quickly.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-82282515812446160952007-08-26T17:19:00.000-04:002007-08-26T17:39:10.926-04:00

The above billboard helped me meet some fantastic folks from Vermont this weekend.The model in the picture, holding the car keys, is Kayla - a 17-year-old sweetheart who has developed quite the portfolio.The photographer, Christine, saw my billboard on iStockphoto and told Kayla. Kayla flipped. She couldn't believe she was posted that big, on a major highway (US 127) on a billboard. Christine

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5998319416216960843.post-24982130592353334832007-08-24T21:52:00.000-04:002007-08-24T21:53:27.892-04:00

Goodbye, Weekly World News.Many a minute in the check-out line was spent reading your trash.I salute you. And Bigfoot.

davehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09283836989069080511noreply@blogger.com1