Wednesday, November 26, 2003

Confession

You know, in the cold light of day, purchasing songs in a protected format I can only play on my computer, or a very expensive (but sweet) iPod I do not have, and that I cannot play on my TiVo eventhough I invested sweet money so my TiVo could play the music on my computer through the stereo, seems like a bad idea.

Yet when I browse the iTunes Music Store, I end up clicking 'Buy Now' again and again.

I listened to the Britney album too, and I liked one song so much I bought it. It was both chic and sexy and that's why I love it. I am constantly playing it. Here's the thing: I am elated I could purchase the one song of an album that I liked.

But still. I bought a Britney song for a buck. And the SF Gate review is right, she really does not sound human at all.

Monday, November 24, 2003

But What IS On Their List?

Last night over dinner Alek wondered whether Heather Locklear's TiVo might actually have a Season Pass to herself. She doesn't strike me as the kind. Now William Shatner's however... And I just know that had Joan Crawford had a TiVo, herself as a Season Pass would been the only Season Pass it had.

Which ties into a phone-call I got over the weekend. Max called being very distressed over Arnold predicament, and how out of the loop she was. "Read it on soc.motss" people said to her, but the first thing her newsreader asks is "There are 4500 articles waiting -- download now? (y/n)". Yeah right.

So I told her to go to Google.com.
"Ok, now hit the tab 'groups'. Ok, see the entry field below that? Type in 'Max Vasilatos.'"
-- "Oh nonononono, I can't do that..." she keeps laughing.
"Shut up and type in 'Max V....'. Ok, hit enter..."
And shrieks come in over the phone. "Oooooooh, it is all there...."
"From 1984 onwards, baby, all of it. There you are. Hey did you know Nelson works for Google now?"
-- "Everyone I know does these days. What happened to the monkey.com thing?..." and off we went into the next meander while I showed her the advanced form to restrict searches of Usenet to the last week. It felt strange that random user me was showing the Retired Godess of Networking how to work this webpage. I am so used to her thoughts and knowledge being far ahead of mine.

Then I showed her LJ, which means she actually might be reading this. (Hi Max!)

Joan Crawford's TiVo, now there's a concept... It would be a fun little exercise for some magazine to call celebrities and ask them what's on their TiVo. Does everyone know Betty White actually likes science fiction? It says so in that book of hers, "Here We Go Again". What's on Robert Wagner's? Joan Collins'? What season passes does Dan Cortez have? If TiVo had a Negative Season Pass feature, would Anne Heche be on Ellen's? You know, asking that would make such a perfect Graham Norton segment.

Friday, November 21, 2003

Things You Didn't Know About Me

When I am alone, I frequently have conversations with my friends in my head. Or with celebrities. I end up explaining things. Tonight on the drive home I introduced Heather Locklear to TiVo.

Thursday, November 20, 2003

On Buying A Ticket

Find the fare again. Enter all data. Notice passport is expired. Hit submit to buy the fare.

Have the fare be fucking yanked and be told it is no longer available.

Fuck you, airline booking industry. I guess I am better off with a travel agent. I wish I knew one that would work over e-mail. Or some sort of lendingtree.com site where I enter in plain text when I want to travel, and a bunch of them get back to me with itineraries that make sense. Not priceline.com, I refuse to use priceline.com when you realize that damn computer has no problems giving you itineraries that could have you be stuck on a lay-over for five hours -- and you don't even know till you have already paid.



I will go to the consulate tomorrow to extend my passport. But I hate this.

Tuesday, November 18, 2003

Geboortekaartje

Well, this is the first birth-announcement card I ever got in which the e-mail address was printed just like the rest of the address.

And they aren't even geeks or techies; as evidence I offer that it is a hotmail account.