Etcetera

Crappy Patties

"You got some 'splainin' to do Lucy."

Yahoo! News:

Nine blinking electronic devices planted at bridges and other spots in Boston threw a scare into the city Wednesday in what turned out to be a marketing campaign for a late-night cable cartoon. At least one of the devices depicts a character giving the finger.

Highways, bridges and a section of the Charles River were shut down and bomb squads were sent in before authorities declared the devices were harmless.

It's beginning to look like they were part of a publicity campaign for a new Cartoon Network program. And there's apparently lots more of them still out there.

10 Unconventional Diet Tips: How to lose 50 pounds in three months

I read this yesterday, and didn't feel a need to blog it at first. But I've been thinking about it a lot since then, so here it is.

Revenge of the (Democratic) Nerds

Thanks to George V for pointing me to this very funny animation.

Pat your head, and rub your stomach

From Sherm's student newsletter:

While seated, lift your right foot off the floor and make clockwise circles. Now, while doing this, draw the number "6" in the air with your right hand. Your foot will change direction and there's absolutely nothing you can do about it.

Don't forget to take your folic acid.

Absent-mindedness in the over-50s is significantly improved when people take folic acid supplements, according to a large study reported in today's Lancet. Short-term memory, mental agility and verbal fluency tests were all better among people who took high doses of the supplement for three years, compared with a group given a placebo.

http://www.kurzweilai.net/

Hello World

I'm still out here in California. Just about to end my extended trip to Macworld Expo. It's been a great two weeks. The internet access has been pretty spotty, but I've had a terrific time touring the area and meeting up with old friends.

On Sunday I spent the middle of the day visiting some of my old haunts in Palo Alto. I had breakfast at the Peninsula Creamery (it really is as good as I remember, and thank you to Maureen for such a wonderful welcome back), walked up University Ave (stopping into my favorite Borders Books in America, and also paying respects to my home of seven years on Waverley Street), I went to Fry's Electronics (where I did a major geek-out, walking up and down every aisle in the place), and finally making a quick visit to Palo Alto Airport (sitting for a few minutes on the bench beside the runway, watching take-offs and landings, and admiring the stunning east bay hills). The whole area is just a nice as I remember.

Thanks to my friend Rick F, who drove me around to all these places, and who insists that he enjoyed it too.

More Macworld pics

I just uploaded a bunch more Macworld Expo pics.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgh/tags/mwsf2007/

Rick and Jack at Point Reyes

Spending a great day with RickF. We drove out to Point Reyes. Walked along the surf. Visited Sir Francis Drake's beach. And almost got killed by a herd of rutting Elk (not really, but there were Elk, and they were very cool).

(Rick is sitting next to me here in a coffee place in Mill Valley Calif. He's critiquing this as I write. Later I'll rewrite it the way I want.)

(Rick says I should point out how I spooked the lounging Elk, and nearly caused a stampede, or something.)

[Rick, am I done with this post yet? OK.]

More pics

Gotta run to the MacBreak Weekly recording session, but I just posted more pics to flickr.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/jgh/tags/mwsf2007/

Tomorrow I'll take and post a lot of show floor stuff.

My first pics from MacWorld

Over in my flickr account.

Oops!

This site's comments area has been under attack by a spammer for the past couple of days. He's been attempting to post an average of 300 comments each day. The spam blocker has stopped almost 100% of them.

But this morning, in an effort to block this jerk at an even earlier stage of the process, I ended blocking EVERYONE from viewing comments.

Oops.

It's fixed now.

Really good commercial in the playoffs

Watching the Patriot's wild-card game on Sunday.

Is it just me? or are the commercial surprisingly good? Almost Superbowl quality.

Beer bunker, confused hawks, Jeep bobbleheads, Old Spice long ship painting, others.

Tully's Coffee in Berkeley California

BTW, adding my little plug to the blogosphere. I'm enjoying a grande mocha, and the free wifi, in Tully's Coffee, on Shattuck Ave in Berkeley California.

A Good James Bond

Sherm and I just saw the new James Bond movie. Casino Royale. Good movie.

I'm one of the people who liked Pierce Brosnan as Bond. I was sorry to see him leave the role. But this new guy, Daniel Craig, does an excellent job. Taking it in a new direction. I must admit that I may like him best of all since Sean.

My one complaint is that the movie was too long. They finished the main story, then wandered into another story altogether. I thought the second story was too much.

For the Bond aficionados, the first (better) storyline was from the book Casino Royale. But the second (too much) story was a rushed telling of On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

We don't need to understand what drives Bond. His psycho. motivations are irrelevant. He's Bond, James Bond.

Good morning from Berkeley California

I'm blogging offline, 'cause there's no internet where I'm staying. I'll visit the local internet cafe later and upload this.

I'm in the SF Bay Area for this week's MacWorld Expo.

Although the weather is a little colder than usual here, it's really very nice. Bright sunshine. I went for a walk up to the Shattuck Ave area of town this morning.

Even though it's cold, people here realize that this is as bad as it gets. They know they can enjoy the outdoors all year round. I think it colors their attitudes, and sensibility. It's very civilized.

I walked past an outdoor cafe which operates all year round. Unheard of in NE.

Anyway, I'll report back through the week on more of my California adventures.

BTW, I'm hoping for a (small) earthquake while I'm here. Fun.

"God, Inc" online comedy series

Her: "What department are you in?"
Him: "Miracles."
Her: "You mean like seeing Jesus's face in a tortilla?"
Him: "No, that's publicity."

Episode #2

You were a Kodak moment once...

RobH sends this along to us. He found it on Engadget, who got it from "Eric".