Chris

Yeah, I know. I hate test posts too. But I gotta check out the new version of ecto for Windows and I am also testing out my Dell laptop now that I have applied Windows XP Service Pack 2. I have to say, so far, so good on both counts. SP2 seems to have not broken anything, at least so far and the version of ecto for Windows seems to work well too. So, that’s good.

In case you don’t know, ecto is my prefered blog software on the Macintosh. Now, they have it for Windows too. It works with all the popular services like Moveable Type, Typepad, Blogger and Atom so no worries. I use Typepad myself and would use MoveableType if I was running my own server at the moment, but I’m not. I will again in the future but right now, it is easier to have someone else do it for me.

And I really like the folks at Typepad so go check them out. Also, check out ecto as well for the best blogging software around for the Macintosh and so far, for Windows too.

Also, I have some new links to your right and especially find the Starbucks one pretty interesting. As many of you know, I frequent Starbucks so this bit of insider info is pretty cool. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

And, much to my surprise, I am actually watching the Olympics way more than I thought I would. Maybe its because of the lack of anything else on TV. I don’t know. I still think NBC should have had more coverage of the Democratic Convention but are doing and ok job covering the Olympics. Not too much over the top family stories of courage or anything like that. Some, but not over-the-top yet.

What can I say? I guess you can call me a flip-flopper.

Later.

So, that thing I mentioned a few posts ago that I was waiting to hear about, I heard about. One thing isn’t going to work out but another thing is still in the running. So, I’m still waiting. Now, however, I need to see some more people and then have them decide if I’m cool enough for school.

Whatever the outcome, it was an interesting process. I have not gone through this process in my entire life. It’s all new to me so therefore, not annoying and pretty interesting. I still don’t want to divulge what I am talking about for fear of something happening or not happening. I’ve just been conditioned over the years not to talk about things until they actually happen. So, there it is.

I think its just a defense mechanism to prevent me from investing too much into something for fear of being disappointed. Although it doesn’t always work as evidenced by the last week or so and my troubles going to sleep. Too much thinking going on. Not always good. I guess I really will never learn.

Ok, enough of that, let’s talk about some news and tech stuff:

Happy birthday Alfred Hitchcock. One of the greatest film directors of all time. Windows XP Service Pack 2 is now available through Windows Update. However, some problems have been reported. Might be worth waiting a bit before upgrading. I’m going to try it today and see what happens.

Jeffrey Lee Parsons, a 19-year-old from Minnesota, has plead guilty to creating and spreading the Blaster-B worm. He based it on the original Blaster whose author remains at-large. Parsons is not the brightest banana in the bunch – he simply rewrote the original virus to make it nastier, and then distributed it under his own chat handle, making it easy for cops to track him down. It’s unlikely they’ll ever catch the guy (or gal) who really started it.

DVD Jon is at it again. First he breaks the CSS encryption on DVDs, then he cracks the iTunes Music Store copy protection, now he claims to have broken the encryption in Apple’s Airport Express Wi-Fi device, allowing it to be used for more than just iTunes music sharing.

Google’s Initial Public Offering was almost delayed again, this time because founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin have revealed too much in the pages of Playboy. The auction is scheduled to begin today amid fears that the interview may have violated the SEC mandated Quiet Period. No action has been forthcoming from the SEC so if you registered in time, point your browsers to ipo.google.com and let the bidding begin.

Oh, and I think the Olympics are going on. The USA has won a few medals for swimming and some other stuff. I have a hard time watching the Olympics because I can’t stand the other things that are shown besides the sports. I just want the sports. I don’t need the tales of human tragedy that it took to get to the Olympics. I just want to watch the sports.

The other thing that puzzles me and angers me is that NBC is showing something like 2000 hours of Olympic coverage. How many hours of the democratic National Convention did they show? 3. Something’s wrong there. Is it because NBC is owned by General Electric and GE is a big Bush supporter? I’m sure that’s not it.

Later.

Ok, here’s an entry. So what? Fine, I’ll try. For fun, I went to the Electronic Arts party last night. EA makes a crap-load of video games including many sports titles and other FPS (first-person-shooter) games that I play. It was fun.

Why was I at a party for a company that makes video games you may ask? Because of the free beer and food. Duh? Really, I was there because a good friend was putting on the party for EA so I got the hookup. Also, there is a remote possibility that I may do some work in one form or another for EA so that was the other reason for attending. Cash.

If I had any complaints I would say that my main one was the fact that the attendees consisted mostly of dudes. Many of them pizza-faced and pale from too many hours playing a LAN game of “Battlefield:Vietnam” or far too many hours of “Everquest”. Or, as many people refer to it: “EverCrack”.

I realize that they comprise the majority of game players and game makers but for my money I prefer a few more females, if only for something more interesting to look at. My other complaint was that some of the food wasn’t fantastic. But again, it was free so I did not nor will I ever complain to anyone. I’m not stupid, I want to be invited back.

It’s a very nice “campus” as they call it complete with fitness center, cafeteria, full-size basketball court and all the other perks that while on the surface seem cool but if you think about it are really there so you don’t have an excuse to go home very often. What they want, and I would be prepared to give, is a long-term commitment of time and energy.

It’s much like the movie business in that the games are to be released on a certain day in time for the xmas rush or whatever and you will make that deadline even if it means sleeping, eating, working out and shitting at the office. Oh, the restrooms were very clean and well-appointed as well. FYI.

I don’t have a problem with this approach as long as everyone knows what they are getting into. People are adults, for the most part, and have to take responsibility for their own decisions, no matter how stupid they may be.

Hey, we are all stupid sometimes. Just look at those morons who are doing the anti-Kerry add calling themselves “Swift-Boat Crews for Truth” or some similar bullshit. I bet they feel pretty stupid. At least I hope they do. Man, I hope they do. . .

Later.

It seems that in this crazy world the time just slips away. I can’t believe that I haven’t done a blog entry in 6 days. What’s wrong with me? Do I not have anything to say? I find it hard to believe that I don’t what with all the political, social, economic and other stuff going on in the world today. But really, let’s just talk about me for a minute.

I have been, as the kids say, hella busy these last several days. It’s nice to be busy and to have things to do but it sure gets in the way of other pursuits that I find much more fun than working. You know what I’m talking about. Taking pictures, reading a good book, seeing a show, going to Starbucks so I can get my fix and many of the other things that make life great.

I know we all have to work but man, what a pain in the ass. Why wasn’t I smart enough to get into the tech world while the dot boom was still going on? Then I could have just made my millions and seen the world. Too late.

The real trick now is to figure out what the next big thing is going to be and get in on it while its still big and before it blows up in everyone’s face. If I only knew what that thing was I would be in good shape. I will keep my eyes and ears open.

Oh, I might have some good news in the next few days so if I do, I will report it here. If it doesn’t work out like I think it will I will not mention it ever again. However, if you feel like it, wish me luck or tell me to “break a leg” or any other positive saying you care to contribute. I need all the luck and good wishes I can get.

Now, the news. ENIAC, the world’s first all-electronic digital computer, was turned on on this day in 1947. So was Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Francis Crick, discoverer of the structure of DNA, has died at the age of 88.

Apple is calling Real Networks reverse engineering of the iTunes DRM “breaking and entering.” “We are stunned that RealNetworks has adopted the tactics and ethics of a hacker to break into the iPod, and we are investigating the implications of their actions under the DMCA.” They also say that it’s highly unlikely that Real’s technology will work with future firmware updates.

Microsoft demonstrated its “google killer” today, an all-in-one search that can find things on your hard drive as well as on the Internet. Maybe it can find the Longhorn engineers whose jobs are going to India.

Also, CNN has a story about six people being beaten to death because of an XBox gaming console. If they had asked, I would have given them mine. I don’t need it that bad.

Later.

It’s Saturday and I’m sleepy. Just had lunch at Mo’s and I ate too much so now I feel like sleeping. Fortunately, we are going to Starbucks and I will be able to get the much-needed jolt I require to make it through the rest of the day. It’s sad, really, that it has come to this. I go to Starbucks pretty much every day, at least once.

On average, my drink, an iced, grande, soy, two-pump mocha costs about four bucks. So, if I go to get one at least once a day every weekday, that’s 20 bucks a week or 100 bucks a month. That can add up. I never thought that much about it but that’s at least 1200 bucks a year. My car insurance isn’t that much and I live in Los Angeles. Interesting.

I’m sure Starbucks appreciates my business. If I’m a typical patron then It’s no wonder that I see a new Starbucks pop up on almost every corner of any town I visit. I even saw one in India when I was there so how about that? The most blatant was when I was in Vancouver a few years ago and on one corner of a four-way intersection was a Starbucks and on the opposite corner was another one. The best part: they were both packed with people.

Back then, I didn’t understand the need for the fix. I wasn’t a junkie then. I actually don’t think I am addicted now I just like to go and get a drink. It’s more of a social thing much of the time. I go with people and hang out. Or, I take the laptop as I am now and write something in the blog or check e-mail or whatever.

I do have one big problem with Starbucks, though. They charge way to much for internet access. It’s pretty lame, actually. It’s probably T-Mobile’s fault, the bastards. There are places in LA where I can go and get free internet and coffee but I don’t go there. Even though I think the price is a rip-off I still use it, as I am now.

What the hell is wrong with me? To answer that would take way too much time and goes beyond just Starbucks so we will leave the self-analysis for another time. I can hear the collective sigh of relief now.

I think it really comes down to the fact that their are more cute girls at Starbucks. Or, I actually like the coffee. It might be both. It probably is. Plus, they have big chairs so that’s nice too. And, they let you hang out all day for the price of one drink. All that’s great and must be the reasons.

No, it’s probably just the girls.

Later.

It’s the second day of the Democratic National Convention. This is the place where all the major Dems gather to tell us why their ideas are better than the other guys and also where they anoint the team that will make a run for the Presidency. Really, why bother with al of this? We all know who is going to be the Democratic team that is running for President. Does anyone think it will be Al Sharpton or Ralph Nader? Probably not.

Instead, let’s just focus on getting the Kerry/Edwards message out and have them come to the stage and say what they have to say. This whole process could be over in one day instead of four. Do we really need to hear four days of speeches? Although, it was nice to hear from President Carter. He’s still pretty spry for an 80-year-old.

Really though, four days? If it wasn’t for all the bashing of the other guys I might be able to watch more of it. Does anyone really believe that the Democrats are going to do anything other than promote their ideas and say how stupid (not in so many words) the other guys are. I think President Clinton said it best with his “Strength and Wisdom are not mutually exclusive” statement. That was pretty good. Still, four days is quite a bit.

I guess the real problem for me is that they are preaching to the converted or insert colorful metaphor here. I am already going to vote for John Kerry and John Edwards. Done deal. I can’t think of anyone who isn’t except maybe my parents who are old school republicans, much to my disappointment.

I think they vote republican because they have always voted republican not because of the issues, necessarily. Although my parents are pretty smart so I don’t know. We try not to get into very many political discussions. It never goes well.

The good news is that we have the Republican convention to look forward to in a few weeks. Whatever the Democrats say here I’m sure will be expertly countered by the brain-trust that is our current administration. It will probably be something to the tune of “oh yeah, so what” or something equally brilliant.

Sadly, their are still people in this country who love George Bush. I feel for them. I really do. Although, they probably think I’m stupid for voting Democrat. Oh yeah, so what?

Later.

Recently, I went to a party that was a showcase for emerging commercial directors. Mostly, I went to support my friend Anthony who is an emerging commercial director. What does it mean to be an emerging commercial director you may ask? It means that you have the mad skills but nobody has discovered that yet. At least nobody who will pay you to direct commercials.

So what do emerging commercial directors do to become fully emerged commercial directors? They make spec spots. And lots of them. If you don’t know, a spec spot is a commercial that you, the emerging commercial director, pay for yourself. Using Anthony as an example, he has made several spec spots (with the producing help of your humble writer) and they are proudly displayed at his website, which is here.

Go take a look. They look and sound like real commercials that you can see on your TV every day (unless you are like me and have Tivo and fast-forward through them). The point is that some Ad agency flack might see one of these spec spots and decide that you might have the chops to make real commercials. It’s basically a really expensive job interview that you pay for yourself. That’s why I love showbiz.

On another note, almost done with all the work at Heal the Bay. I think it went pretty well and everyone seems to be happy with the new stuff. So, kudos to me and my guys for making it work. And a special thanks to Peter T. for being a great guy to work with. If he wasn’t so cool, the job would have been much harder.

Oh, I forgot to mention the group that sponsored the emerging commercial director’s coming out party. It a group of people called Group 101 Films that spun off a group called Group 101 Spots (see, it all comes back to spots).

Anyway, you’ll understand better if you just go to the websites. Other than that, gotta go. Mexican food time.

Later.