Gelkote

There’s been lots of miscellaneous stuff rolling around my head the last week so here’s the brain dump in no particular order.

I was listening to the University of Findlay’s WLFC Thursday morning while driving into work when a song caught my attention. I’m not normally a lyrics kind of person but the song stuck with me. After a few failed attempts at Googling the lyrics, I discovered the song was Home Improvement off local musician Josh Woodward‘s Here Today album. It appears the album was released in 2004 but the song seems so damn relevant considering most of us are a whim away from loosing our jobs. Josh has his tunes out under creative commons so take a listen.

Next up is a quick rant about Hamburger Helper which I’m afraid to admit is an occasionally guilty pleasure. I used to love the Hamburger Helper Cheeseburger Macaroni flavor. Cook it up steaming hot and yummy! Well it turns out the food scientists at General Mills Betty Crocker we own just about everything you eat company have managed to muck it up with their new shorter time version. Any monkey can make this stuff and mine came out a big congealed mess. Thanks a lot for messing up the once or twice a year joy I’d get from your product with some weird laboratory concocted noodles! The Helping Hand will always hold a special place in my heart but I’m afraid this relationship is over!

Hamburger Helper’s Fired to the Bin

The 2nd volume of WIZZYWIG showed up in my mailbox today. WIZZYWIG is a graphic novel by artist Ed Piskor chronicling the early hacking and phreaking scenes. I learned about Ed through Jason Scott’s blog. I owe both of them thanks for turning me on to the world of graphic novels. Ed works really hard to capture the history accurately. It’s like historical fiction but comic book style. I’m hoping Froggy or Jason will invite Ed to speak at Notacon and Blockparty 2009 but until then check out Ed’s website.

WIZZYWIG Volume 2: Hacker – By Ed Piskor

Next up is an update on the whole 427 LaSalle Avenue Buffalo, NY picture deal. I sent a package out on November 10th with the pictures and a self addressed stamped postcard requesting some sort of reply. Just over two week later and I still haven’t received a word. Holding out hope.

426 LaSalle Avenue Where are you?

I finally picked up a new phone from Verizon after being 4 years out of contract, the Blackberry Storm. Most of the reviews have been poor but I like it. The screen is gorgeous for movies and the new found Internet connectivity makes for some interesting ideas. The phone is able to geotag pictures so I’m thinking some crazy Google Maps mashup. The most interesting is how popular websites like CNN, The Wall Street Journal, The Weather Channel and National Public Radio (NPR) automatically flip over to their mobile websites when browsing from a mobile device. This means less pictures, less advertisements and overall less clutter but I must give kudos to NPR’s mobile website which actually replaces the streaming links for their audio stories with a phone number you can call to listen to the story. For example, calling 216-539-8237 will play a segment from All Songs Considered covering The Beatles’ ‘The White Album’. How cool is that?!? So simple and what an eloquent use of technology.

Finally, today marks the 21st anniversary of the release of Planes, Trains & Automobiles. Whether your favorite Thanksgiving movie is PT&A, Home for the Holidays, Pieces of April or something else, take a moment of reflection this Thanksgiving to remember what is important in your lives. That which is truly important. Happy Thanksgiving all!