Obvious Diversion

A Public Service Message to My Fellow New Yorkers: Bedbugs are on Subway Benches

Christian — Fri, 09 May 2008 00:27:27 +0000

The last thing I want to do is reference a NY Post article, but bedbugs have been sighted on wooden subway benches. You’ve been warned.

Hitachi Asks Me Not to Use Their Products to Make Weapons

Christian — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 15:22:52 +0000

My laptop’s hard drive died this morning with audible clicking (fortunately, downtime will be minimal thanks to SuperDuper). As I jumped through Hitachi’s hoops to get the drive replaced, I was asked the following.

It’s a bizarre question to be asked. And, really, if someone is doing something like this, is this the scenario where they confess?

In NYC, There’s a Free Ninja Sword on Every Block

Christian — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:32:59 +0000

Ran into this the other day. Totally not kidding.

Soul Plane, iTunes $0.99 Movie of the Week, Still $1.00 Too Expensive

Christian — Thu, 03 Apr 2008 21:23:39 +0000

Apple currently chooses one movie a week to rent for only $0.99 as a promotion to get people to try the service.

Apple chose unwisely.

Buying the New Raconteurs Album is Instant MP3 Gratification

Christian — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 00:24:57 +0000

The last Raconteurs album served me well, so I didn’t hesitate to buy their second one. (It doesn’t hurt that I’m a long-time Brendan Benson fan either.)

What I didn’t expect was that I’d be able to buy the album as zipped up MP3s straight from the site. It’s great to see how far we’ve come with shedding the whole DRM inconvenience.

Safari for Windows, the Browser of Greener Grass?

Christian — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 11:56:51 +0000

If Internet Explorer is the default browser and Firefox is the alternative browser, is Safari for Windows the browser for people who’d rather have a Mac in the first place?

Your Hydrogen Prototype is a Jetpack.

Christian — Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:29:37 +0000

Another year, another round of hydrogen prototypes at a car show. Hydrogen is that magical fuel that looks great on paper, but is too far off to do much for us right now. To car companies, it looks great for PR, and not much else. These companies have blown smoke up our ass for too long for us to take them seriously now.

Stop showing me jetpacks and start shipping product. Until then, shut up about it, hire a bunch of scientists, fire the PR flacks, and get to work. Don’t bug me again till I can walk down to the store and pick one up.

Photo Credit: Mikipedia

Arthur C. Clarke Goes Up to That Giant Crazy Space Baby in the Sky

Christian — Fri, 21 Mar 2008 18:41:42 +0000

I can think of few thinkers who had more of an impact on my formative years that Arthur C. Clarke. One viewing of 2001 as a teenager, and I went down a path of reading every Clarke book I could get my hands on at the library. He’ll be missed.

Pennsylvanians: How to change your party so you can vote in the Primary

Christian — Fri, 15 Feb 2008 15:16:33 +0000

I know a lot of people in Pennsylvania, so I thought I’d put this up for their use.

The clock is ticking to be a part of this primary election.

If you want to vote in the primary on April 22nd, you need to be in the party of the candidate you want to vote for.
If you want to vote for Obama, you need to make sure your party affiliation is Democrat.
If you want to vote for Huckabee, then you need to make sure your party affiliation is Republican.
If you are currently in a 3rd party, you can’t have a say in the primaries, but…

Luckily, you can still change your party affiliation or register to vote before March 24th. (And you can always change it back later if you change your mind.)

These primaries are tight, so your vote really does matter.

Links

New PA Voters Can Register Online Here

Change your PA party affiliation by calling your election office here

Find Your PA Polling Place on the day of the primary

Online PowerPort Tool that should let you change your party online, but looks like a pain.
(a simple phone call at your polling place in the link above may be easier)

Dates

Last day to register or change party: March 24th
Primary Date: April 22nd

Vote!

Christian — Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:28:38 +0000

If you live in Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, or Utah, the time is now.

Find your polling place here.