Month: November 2006

a tangled web

so someone got me thinking about old Hüsker Dü stuff and I had to dig some of that up. In the course of looking up/reminiscing on that (I forgot how good Zen Arcade was), I somehow got on the topic of Bob Mould and in the listing of Bands Produced, a familiar name appeared.

Never saw them, but I knew this celebrity back in the day: we went to school together, had some classes in common, and pondered the merits of rock ‘n roll stardom. She moved to Atlanta just as it got hot, it seems, what with the boys in REM making labels pay attention and the overflow from the fecund Athens scene. Looks like she knows all about it now . . . good for her. She was quite determined and knew a hell of a lot more about music than I did.

Actually, I knew she had been quite successful, from when I lived in Atlanta. I was surprised to see in the Wikipedia article that she live[d/s] in Seattle.
Continue reading “a tangled web”

time to update the “failed business model” message

Universal Music CEO: iPod owners are thieves:

“These devices are just repositories for stolen music, and they all know it,” UMG chairman/CEO Doug Morris says. “So it’s time to get paid for it.”

So who’s up for an iPod-style shirt with a Jolly Roger incorporated into it? And I have to wonder at how Universal artists appreciate having their fans accused of theft?

links for 2006-11-13

the [other] benefits of FreeCycling

Might be able to clear out the surfeit of this stuff I have taking up space. Coupla working monitors, older computers, stuff that could find a home elsewhere.

Most of the time, being a member of a Freecycle group – and being able to
post and respond to the zillions of OFFERs and WANTEDs here – is reward
enough. Sometimes, though, we can arrange a special benefit that’s available
only to members. This is one of those times.

For the entire month of November, FreecycleSeattle members can recycle
computers (of *any* age or type) and CRT monitors (under 5 years old,
working) for FREE at Interconnection.org, just north of Gasworks in
Wallingford. Normally, Interconnection charges a handling fee of $5 for each
computer and $10 for monitors; these fees will be WAIVED during November if
you tell them you’re part of FreecycleSeattle. This may be your only chance
for a long time to get rid of that electronic flotsam and jetsam in your
basement and garage in a way that’s responsible *and* free.

(THE FINE PRINT: non-working or pre-2001 monitors will still be charged the
normal $10 handling fee; disposal of each printers or scanners is still $5.
Offer only good through November 30th and only during Interconnection’s
normal business hours, below.)

Interconnection is one of the best examples of e-waste re-use/recycle that
we know of. Volunteers disassemble the donated systems; usable components
are reused or resold; all other parts are crushed, sorted, and properly
recycled.
Good folks.

how I spent my evening

Nothing like a family trip to the ER with a corneal abrasion to spice things up . . .

Not much to tell, since I don’t know how it happened. I suspect it was a trip to a local beach yesterday — very windy — and a piece of grit somehow put itself in a position to descend into my left eye four hours later. Diagnosis was quick and relatively painless and the linked article explains what they did and why. Sometimes medicine seems quite low-tech: paint the surface with this dye and look for reflections/shadows/anomalies. No radiation or electromagnetic devices required. And to some degree it’s more comforting that way, more human.

So lots of irrigation, some funky stains in the eye (makes everyone else look that they have jaundice), and some take-home meds (antibiotic and Vicodin [roll on, search queries!]). Oh, and they felt compelled to give me a tetanus shot <grumble>. I think I need the pain meds for that more than the injury.

links for 2006-11-12

TiVo series 2: what can I do with one of these?

I just got one of these — new in the box (Viva FreeCycle!) — and am wondering if it can do what I was hoping for. I was really looking for a simple PVR to capture and playback some over-the-air programming, but it looks like I may have gotten a too modern unit. The Series 1 models might be what I want. Anyone know if the Series 2 unit can do anything besides hold open a lightweight door without the service? If I had my druthers, I’d like to avoid that.

links for 2006-11-11