Archive for November, 2005

JCPenney Price Gouging on Xbox 360

Wednesday, November 30th, 2005

You have to feel bad for parents who are trying to dig up an Xbox 360 for their kid. Microsoft seems to be failing to meet anything close to demand and then JCPenney pulls crap like this. They are charging $800 for a system that should only cost $400. That’s right, it’s [...]

Graffiti in Iran

Tuesday, November 29th, 2005

It’s worth taking a moment, for a number of reasons, to check out these two sites of graffiti in Iran. Culturally, there may be fewer places in the world that are more of a mystery to me just due to a sheer lack of information, but these stencils of Bob Marley on walls in [...]

Breaking Up Thick Books:
Visually Less Impressive But Easier to Use

Monday, November 28th, 2005

I’m about to tackle my copy of Ray Kurzweil’s The Singularity is Near, his 672 page hardcover tome on The Law of Accelerating Returns and it’s implications on the years ahead. The singularity in Kurzweil’s words is:

technological change so rapid and profound it represents a rupture in the fabric of human history. The implications [...]

My Podcast Debut on
Bruno and the Professor

Monday, November 28th, 2005

Although I’ve done KUOW (Seattle’s NPR station) before, I made my podcast debut last week on Bruno and the Professor talking about my recent political foray in Seattle and the future in general.

Episode222.mp3

The Obvious Diversion Holiday Gift Guide

Saturday, November 26th, 2005

I noticed that every two-bit blog on the internet has a holiday gift guide and I thought “Hey, I have a two-bit blog”. As a result, I have put together this lovely gift guide based on past posts and other miscellaneous stuff I prefer to waste my free time with. Note to friends: [...]

Secret $5 and $10 Vonage Plans

Monday, November 21st, 2005

Want to pay less for your existing Vonage plan? A friend of mine called to cancel his plan since he simply doesn’t use the number often enough and they offered him the following two options.
$5 a month
0 minutes
4 cents a minute
unlimited inbound and vonage to vonage
$10 a month
100 minutes
4 cents a minute
unlimited inbound and [...]

Xbox 360 Getting Tepid Reviews
From the Mainstream Press

Thursday, November 17th, 2005

I’m surprised, but the press is showing some restraint when it comes to their reviews of the Xbox 360.
The NY Post straight out says Don’t Buy the Xbox 360. And now CNN is saying Xbox 360: Good, but not great.
I’m so used to consumer reviews in papers being very “rah rah” when the holidays [...]

Obvious Diversion in Seattle Magazine’s Best of 2005

Thursday, November 17th, 2005

When I received an email informing me that Obvious Diversion had been chosen for Seattle Magazine’s Best of 2005, two thoughts came to mind. I’m incredibly honored to be considered in a category that will also include best local storage facility and will there be complimentary booze at the party? The answer? [...]

Washington Mutual ATMs No Longer Free

Tuesday, November 15th, 2005

In the next few weeks, Washington Mutual ATMs (or as my east coast friends call it, MAC machines) will no longer be free. I know a lot of you out there rely on these usually free ATMs for cash withdrawals, so I thought I’d spread the word to start changing your habits now before [...]

GTD Accessory: Doorhanger Notes

Sunday, November 13th, 2005

GTD devotees already know that if you need to not forget something on your way out, you should set it in front of the door.
Well, CB2 has figured out how to make money off of your desire to accessorize your productivity habit with their do not forget doorhanger.
Fifty sheets for $5.95 US.