In Summary:
Yesterday I was finally indexed on the Google New England search database. Hurrah. To all the people who came to my site in search of whatever they were looking for, I am sorry it probably wasn't here.
I started this blog back in July, posting about 1.5 times a month since then. I realize now the title is very confusing as it is not clear what it means. Au Contraire. It is perfectly clear what it means: nothing. I thought contrasting post-modern with present-day was funny, that this is a collection of mostly unrelated, "meandering," thoughts, and "wit" was a little self-conceit. Truthfully, I do not understand in the least what post-modernism is, nor am I interested in finding out. Anyone who can't see that I have created a funny contradiction with my title needs to get a life and stop reading Ayn Rand, or something like that. The only real implication of any post-modernism is the web address, which is a result of someone having already taken meanderings.blogspot.com. So please stop not sending me e-mails to an address not displayed prominently anywhere from no one complaining about me being post-modern or not post-modern. And stop sending me junk e-mail too.
Now for non-post-modern denial writing/typing. My archives are on the fritz. Blogger is having problems.
I intend to continue meandering for a while. I may even have a link page eventually. Maybe I'll evn find an arch-nemesis, in the spirit Andrew Sullivan vs. Paul Krugman, Junkyardblog vs. Democrats.com, or Kausfiles vs. New york Times. Proposal 1: Conservative blogging vs. Meanderings, an attempt to make an intelligent somewhat leftist blog.
Mission Statement Proposal: To build an intelligent somewhat-leftist blog, one post at a time.
NF
Update: I have just noticed that not only is Meanderings already taken, but it is a sorry excuse for a weblog. I'm starting to feel like Guster. I intend to brighten the shade of gray on the title bar so it contrasts better at some point. So long for now.
Thursday, December 26, 2002
Monday, December 23, 2002
Holiday Book Recommendation:
When you think of John Grisham, what comes to mind? Legal thrillers, right? How about one of the funniest and most heartwarming Christmas written in the last few years? If you have been having your doubts about Christmas, satisfy your inner Scrooge by reading Skipping Christmas. This book is great, and is a funny book for the whole family. As Grisham's first non-thriller book, it is definitely a good sign of things to come.
"His left foot sank into five inches of cold slush...He yanked his foot upward and slung dirty water on his pants leg, and standing at the curb with two frozen feet and the bell clanging away and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" blaring from the loudspeaker and the sidewalk blocked by revelers, Luther began to hate Christmas."
-Skipping Chrismas, by John Grisham
When you think of John Grisham, what comes to mind? Legal thrillers, right? How about one of the funniest and most heartwarming Christmas written in the last few years? If you have been having your doubts about Christmas, satisfy your inner Scrooge by reading Skipping Christmas. This book is great, and is a funny book for the whole family. As Grisham's first non-thriller book, it is definitely a good sign of things to come.
"His left foot sank into five inches of cold slush...He yanked his foot upward and slung dirty water on his pants leg, and standing at the curb with two frozen feet and the bell clanging away and "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" blaring from the loudspeaker and the sidewalk blocked by revelers, Luther began to hate Christmas."
-Skipping Chrismas, by John Grisham
Friday, December 13, 2002
Microsoft: Card-Carrying Member of The Axis of Evil?
You'll love this.
(From the help section of Windows Media Player Series 9)
Special features
The following Windows Media Player features are available only on computers running the Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional operating systems.
Features:
Add static lyrics to a file
(has nothing to do with processor power)
Add synchronized lyrics to a file
(Mostly work for the user, same as above)
Advanced Tag Editor
To add or edit media information by using the Advanced Tag Editor
(I don't have a clue what this is)
Automatic VCD playback
To play a VCD
(I think there talking about DVD-like things)
Color Chooser
To change the color of the Player
(What the hell is so special about that!?!)
Commands available when right-clicking a digital media item in Media Library or My Computer:
Add to Playlist
Copy to CD or Device
Queue-It-Up
(These were all available in the beta that I upgraded from, which ******ed me off)
Create and edit auto playlists
(This wasn't in the beta, but would be freaking awesome)
DVD playback
(I don't play DVDs, but DVD-players are getting so they come with nearly all computers. They're asking for a beating for this one.)
Enhanced audio playback (High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD®) decoding and playback, multichannel audio playback, volume leveling, crossfading, Quiet Mode)
(I liked crossfading and volume leveling, also in the beta. Quiet mode was ineffective but on XP you can adjust it. Argghh!)
Enhanced Copy from CD (Windows Media Audio Lossless)
Compressing copies of CD tracks to use less disk space
(I think they're trying to fool people into thinking only XP can do this)
Enhanced Copy to CD (data CDs, Microsoft HighM.A.T.™ CDs, volume-leveled audio CDs, erasing CDs)
(I thought Microsoft was still trying to take over the market by giving away stuff that you normally pay for. Or is that only their policy for loyal Microsoft (slaves) customers?)
Enhanced user interface (full color, full-screen audio and video controls)
(I don't really care that it is only in XP at this point)
Find media information for music copied with another program
(This will only be useful for the people who are using non-microsoft players. So their plan is to make sure everybody using non-microsoft media players will use Series 9 and XP?)
Info Center View
To view information about content
(I have a visceral urge to rip someone's throat out but cannot because they have sapped my strength with their sadistic XP (arm twisting) marketing)
And I'm ignoring the last few that are XP-only because I they're nothing special and I stopped being angry after "enhanced user interface."
Its as if they weren't ramming enough down our throat already. For a free product, to show this much OS version bias is unbelievable.
“...he has been known as a tough competitor who seems to value winning in a competitive environment over money.”
-ending of entry on Bill Gates from Funk and Wagnall's '93 edition encyclopedia
“...he is known for his personal and corporate contributions to charity and educational institutions.”
-ending of an otherwise identical entry on Bill Gates from the original Encarta, which was a digitalization of the Funk and Wagnall encyclopedia
You'll love this.
(From the help section of Windows Media Player Series 9)
Special features
The following Windows Media Player features are available only on computers running the Windows XP Home Edition or Windows XP Professional operating systems.
Features:
Add static lyrics to a file
(has nothing to do with processor power)
Add synchronized lyrics to a file
(Mostly work for the user, same as above)
Advanced Tag Editor
To add or edit media information by using the Advanced Tag Editor
(I don't have a clue what this is)
Automatic VCD playback
To play a VCD
(I think there talking about DVD-like things)
Color Chooser
To change the color of the Player
(What the hell is so special about that!?!)
Commands available when right-clicking a digital media item in Media Library or My Computer:
Add to Playlist
Copy to CD or Device
Queue-It-Up
(These were all available in the beta that I upgraded from, which ******ed me off)
Create and edit auto playlists
(This wasn't in the beta, but would be freaking awesome)
DVD playback
(I don't play DVDs, but DVD-players are getting so they come with nearly all computers. They're asking for a beating for this one.)
Enhanced audio playback (High Definition Compatible Digital (HDCD®) decoding and playback, multichannel audio playback, volume leveling, crossfading, Quiet Mode)
(I liked crossfading and volume leveling, also in the beta. Quiet mode was ineffective but on XP you can adjust it. Argghh!)
Enhanced Copy from CD (Windows Media Audio Lossless)
Compressing copies of CD tracks to use less disk space
(I think they're trying to fool people into thinking only XP can do this)
Enhanced Copy to CD (data CDs, Microsoft HighM.A.T.™ CDs, volume-leveled audio CDs, erasing CDs)
(I thought Microsoft was still trying to take over the market by giving away stuff that you normally pay for. Or is that only their policy for loyal Microsoft (slaves) customers?)
Enhanced user interface (full color, full-screen audio and video controls)
(I don't really care that it is only in XP at this point)
Find media information for music copied with another program
(This will only be useful for the people who are using non-microsoft players. So their plan is to make sure everybody using non-microsoft media players will use Series 9 and XP?)
Info Center View
To view information about content
(I have a visceral urge to rip someone's throat out but cannot because they have sapped my strength with their sadistic XP (arm twisting) marketing)
And I'm ignoring the last few that are XP-only because I they're nothing special and I stopped being angry after "enhanced user interface."
Its as if they weren't ramming enough down our throat already. For a free product, to show this much OS version bias is unbelievable.
“...he has been known as a tough competitor who seems to value winning in a competitive environment over money.”
-ending of entry on Bill Gates from Funk and Wagnall's '93 edition encyclopedia
“...he is known for his personal and corporate contributions to charity and educational institutions.”
-ending of an otherwise identical entry on Bill Gates from the original Encarta, which was a digitalization of the Funk and Wagnall encyclopedia