January 2005

I can’t believe I failed to mention this . The US has given up on the search for WMD’s in Iraq. Really? I appreciate going through the motions as much as the next person but come on, did anyone really think Iraq had WMD’s in the first place? Not me.

And, George W. Bush took the oath of office to start his second term as President of the United States today. Even as I type this, I’m still having difficulty believing it. How did he get elected to a second term again? What are you people, on dope?

Money quote from the speech: “The best hope for peace in our world is the expansion of freedom in all the world.” I guess that means we can just go around invading whomever we wish in the name of peace? Well, that philosophy sure worked perfectly in Iraq so four more years of that please. Where can I sign up?

I’m surprised it took this long. The computer hasn’t even shipped yet and already, there’s a video showing how to take it apart. And, for those of you who just want to see what’s inside, pictures of the Mac Mini already open.

Lastly, an interesting article comparing the Mac Mini to a cheap Dell PC. An interesting read with some good points (of course, I have always been a Mac user so I’m probably biased).

Cheers.

A crack has finally been seen in a country with one of the most repressive regimes in the world, North Korea. The first known visual evidence of dissent from a video shot in a North Korean factory.

The 35-minute video clip, said to have been taken in November, was posted on the website of an opposition group based in South Korea. It shows a poster of Kim scrawled over with the words: “Down with Kim Jong-il. Let’s all rise to drive out the dictatorial regime.”

Good for them.

Thousands marched today all over the country to celebrate the life and dreams of Martin Luther King Jr. You can also read his Letter from Birmingham Jail. If you have never read it before, take a few minutes and do so. President Bush had this to say: “His faith and courage continue to inspire America and the world.”

I wonder what Mr. King would have to say about President Bush? I wonder what he would think of the War in Iraq and our “alleged” plans to move on Iran, what with all the “alleged” survaillence and all. His views would most likely be very interesting, to say the least.

Enjoy your day off (if you got one).

Well, it finally seems to have stopped raining here in LA. I can’t believe it. I thought for sure it would rain for the next month or so and that would be it. Waterworld. Sorry, had to use a movie example. This is a showbiz town after all.

But, everything seems ok now, at least for the moment. Things are starting to dry out here, even our roof at home. Sadly, as it does every year, our roof leaked. Not quite as bad as a few years ago but still, kind of a pain in the ass. Although, I feel a little guilty complaining about leaks after what happened in Asia. But dammit, the water almost hit by big screen tv so you can see why I would be upset.

I am at my usual table at the Studio City Starbucks and celebrity sightings are in full effect. Although, perhaps I should use the word “celebrity” in quotes to describe who is in here. I’ll say who they are and you can make the call. First, seated not five feet from me, the beautiful and blonde Natasha Henstridge. She looks great as she gossips with an unnamed girlfriend (i’m sure she actually has a name, I just don’t know what it is).

Next, over at the table by the window, former teen heartthrob Richard Grieco sips what is most likely his second tall coffee of the day. And its only 11AM. He like is caffeine, what can I say? Lastly, a man who, to me, will always be the voice of Roger Rabbit, Charles Fleischer. I’ve spoken to him once or twice and he seems like a nice guy. He’s also a very talented cartoonist in his own right as evidenced by the drawings he is working on at the moment.

In other news of a more national or international nature, it seems that a “hacker” penetrated the T-Mobile network and had access to it for over a year. While inside, he was able to monitor U.S. Secret Service e-mail, obtain customers’ passwords and Social Security numbers, and download candid photos taken by Sidekick users, including Hollywood celebrities (no quotes) Demi Moore and (quotes) Paris Hilton. Great, I just switched to T-Mobile a few months ago. Who knows what pix of me will start showing up on the ‘net.

And, in response to a scathing “Rathergate” investigation, CBS has decided to clean house. Among those sacked include Senior Vice President Betsy West, who supervised CBS News primetime programs; 60 Minutes Wednesday Executive Producer Josh Howard; and Howard’s deputy, Senior Broadcast Producer Mary Murphy. The producer of the piece, Mary Mapes, was also terminated. The Bush Administration could learn something from CBS. When they make a mistake, people get fired. Nice idea.

Finally, CNN has decided to cancel “Crossfire” and not to renew the contract of “dick” Tucker Carlson. You remember Tucker, he’s the one John Stewart said was “hurting” America during his now infamous appearance on “Crossfire”. Here’s the money quote from the US Chief of CNN, Jonathan Klein, when asked his feelings about the situation “I guess I come down more firmly in the Jon Stewart camp”. I don’t know Mr. Klein, but I like him.

Cheers.

Mac Mini:

iPod Shuffle:

Without further talk, here’s the new Mac Mini and the new iPod Shuffle:

Back with more from the Keynote later.

Well, it seems that CitiBank doesn’t think I’m a crook after all. After going through quite a few hoops for them, they have finally credited me back my own money. It only took about a month and at least six phone calls, a letter and a fax to get it done. Maybe that doesn’t sound like much but it is when you are out almost two grand.

Ok, enough about me, let’s turn to some real crooks (at least according to the GAO). It seems President Bush and his buddies, violated federal laws by producing and distributing television news segments about the effects of drug use among young people.

The GAO said the videos “constitute covert propaganda” because the government was not identified as the source of the materials, which were distributed by the Office of National Drug Control Policy. They were broadcast by nearly 300 television stations and reached 22 million households, the office said.

So, that’s how they got elected (probably not). In other news, Saturn’s Moon Iapetus has a ‘belt‘. According to new pix and data from the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft.

At least it has something to hold up its pants. Now I am off to play some Half-Life2. Yes, I know its a PC game and I am pro Mac but its really cool and I built a new gaming PC just to play it (er, I mean, i built it for work. Yeah, work).

Cheers.

Is this the new headless Mac? And, is this the long-rumored iPhone? You be the judge. We will know in a few days anyway.

Happy weekend all.