General Musings Archives - Page 80 of 96

No iPhone, Just a Bottle of Water.

By:

The Dude on the Right
So here it is, the big day, probably the most important day in recorded history,
and this morning I decided "Screw it, I’m going to try and get an iPhone."
Having too many things to do during the day meant camping out wasn’t an option
for the 6PM on-sale time, but around where I live there were three stores I
could show up at, figuring around 5:30 should still be safe to get one.
Store A was in a developing community where I figured demand shouldn’t be that
huge. Store B was by the mall, and I figured that store would probably be
packed with all of the crazies who took off work to buy a phone. Store C
was similar to Store A in terms of demographic, but further away.

So I finish
with the things I needed to do this Friday, I get back to the dude-pad around
5PM, do a quick read of the newspaper, eat some grub, and then decide that I’m
going to take my chances at Store A. Arriving around 5:40PM there’s a line
around the side of the store, putting me at about the 40th in line. "They
should be stocked fairly well" I tell myself, and even the people that started
arriving after me figured getting a brand spankin’ new iPhone shouldn’t be a
problem. It’s 6PM, the doors open to the promised land, and they begin by
letting in 6 people, and then as one leaves, another enters. The line
isn’t moving that quickly, but I’m still confident I will be home this evening,
iPhone in box, then in hand, then activated, and then I’m cool. In the
meantime the nice AT&T employees (of which it seems they were overstaffed by
about 5 people for the way they were selling the phone) came out offering
bottles of water. It’s now about 6:15 PM and the manager-looking AT&T dude
comes out and announces, looking at the number of people left in line, that he
wasn’t sure if supply was going to meet demand, blurbs a little about the
"direct fulfillment program" if they do run out, the ducked back into the store.
The next round of bottled waters comes out, I decide to grab one, and then the
manager-looking dude comes back out and announces the 8 Gig versions are sold
out. He starts to talk about how they still have some 4 Gig versions left,
the "direct fulfillment program" again, but I’m already heading to the
dude-mobile, mumbling "At least I got a bottle of water."

What to do? I
decide that since I’m already out I might as well head to Store B, the one by
the mall, on the slim hope they got a monster shipment of phones. I
arrive, there are about 20 people still in line, and as I take my place the AT&T
employee starts pushing that "direct fulfillment program" again, and I pretty
much know that tonight, unless I really wanted to take a hell of a chance and
head to The Apple Store, I would go to bed iPhone-less.

And so, tonight, I go
to bed alone.

But wait, I could order it on line and have it early next week?
That would be good enough for me. I log in to the Apple web site, click to
buy one, and there’s a little note that says it won’t ship for at least 2 weeks.

I read somewhere that there would be plenty of stock to keep everyone iPhoned,
thus killing the eBay market, but if the AT&T stores pretty much sell out of the
phones in about an hour, Apple won’t ship the phone for a couple of weeks, and
those stores don’t get replenished, like, tomorrow, I’m thinking I really should
have camped out last night and seen if some fool would pay me $1,500 bucks for a
new iPhone.

I suppose I should blame myself because part of the reason I am
iPhone-less is because I decided dinner and reading the news was just as
important as getting in line, and had I actually just gone to the store by the
mall, well, I’d probably have a phone this evening, even taking the time to eat
my dinner and read the news. But you know what – I’m not blaming myself –
I’m blaming the Apple and AT&T people because I’m guessing the only reason they
are selling the 4 Gig iPhone is because they sold out of the 8 Gig, and if they
had only had about ten more 8 Gig versions at Store A, I would be cool.

Instead I just got a free bottle of water.

That’s it for this one!
I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

To i Or Not to i. Buying an iPhone is the Question.

By:

The Dude on the Right
Normally I do a podcast on Thursday evening, but tonight I’m in a typing mood,
so I thought I would hit you with a new blog to read since I haven’t done one in
a while. From the title of this blog you can probably guess that this dude
has a dilemma and that is simply "Do I buy an iPhone as soon as humanly
possible, or do I wait?" Fine, if I do opt to get one it won’t be as soon
as humanly possible because I won’t be camping in line tonight to be "the first
on my block" to get one. I’m going on the theory that between the three
AT&T stores around me, well, if the mood hits, I should be able to score one
tomorrow evening when they go on sale. If the iPhone is already sold out
at all three stores, well, that might be the sign that I should wait a while, or
head to the Apple store in last ditch desperation. But…

Because
sometimes I am partially nuts, and sometimes obsessive and compulsive, and since
I have already, in my own bizarre way justified the expense (I need a new PDA
since my Palm Pilot is about 5 years old and the battery won’t last longer than
a day; Sure, I’ve got a 60 Gig iPod, but it’s pre-video and I think the
battery will need to be replaced soon; My black RAZR isn’t cool anymore.
Add them all together: A SmartPhone-$300, a new iPod-$350, and I’m already
saving money by getting an iPhone), now the question comes down to do I want to
be on the forefront of a cell phone revolution hoping there aren’t too many bugs
to get through, do I sit back, chill, and maybe wait for the technology to fix
itself, or do I want to go on vacation to New Jersey later in the year?

You
see along with the launch of the iPhone I’ve gotten hooked by the Apple commercials for
the phone, have become almost intimately close with Bob, the "black shirt dude,"
while watching

the Guided Tour video, the

Activation and Synch video, and the

iPhone Keyboard video (which shows how the iPhone will suggest the word
"pizza" when you can’t properly hit the virtual keys on keyboard with no keys),
looked at all of the pictures in the gallery, ruled out visiting my local Apple
store in favor of my trio of AT&T stores, and don’t know who to really believe
anymore because even some of the actual reviews that have come out in reputable
print papers seem confusing, with the only thing linking them all together is
the fact the iPhone will be limited to the AT&T EDGE network (which means slow)
as of now, and yet the Wi-Fi option is great.

Along with obsessively checking
the Apple site, I’ve also become obsessed with one of the best message boards
about cell phones, namely
Howard Forums, and all of the latest postings announcing mostly wrong
information about the iPhone. Lots of people keep posting that the iPhone
actually has a 3G chip built in, just waiting for a software patch to "open it
up" and that will be the final surprise announcement of the iPhone, but even I
don’t think that is true. I do have a concern that I can’t have a custom
ringtone for all my friends so I know who is calling instantly (Right now on my
RAZR Stu Gotz has a Beatles tune, Trash has some Jimmy Buffett, The Dude on the
Left has a Harry Caray homerun call, and Mom has some Michael Stanley Band)
because a lot of the posts say designing your own ringtones isn’t an option, but
then another post says this will be coming in the future with a later software
update. I do have a concern that my Shure headphones won’t work with the
thing because of a sort-of different/recessed headphone jack, but than another
post says Shure is working on an adapter for the iPhone. There’s all kinds
of blabbering about the Bluetooth capabilities of the phone, but I don’t really
use Bluetooth so what do I care. And along with some information that seem
legit and a lot of other that seems like crap, my favorite post, so far, deals
with a future release of the

iPhone, version 6.2, which will include an iPhaser, which one poster quickly
states that "only if all the settings, work .. istun.. ikill.. if it only goes
to istun and not ikill i will just wait for version 7.3".

And so I’ve got a
little less than 24 hours from now, and three stores to visit, to see if I will
be an iPhone owner, or if I might be going to New Jersey instead.

That’s it for this one!
I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

What’s New? A Podcast of: Kids are Turning Japanese, Journey Scores a Top 5 Single on Sirius, Wii Workouts, and Movie Talk.

For this podcast of “Stu & The Dude’s Weekend Wrap-Up!” Stu Gotz and The Dude on the Right think they are cool and recollect their cool things they did over the weekend. Some of it has to do with Journey getting a spot in the “Sirius Hits 1 Weekend Countdown,” being good friends watching “The Sopranos,” and Stu’s kids spouting lyrics that might be politically incorrect, or maybe the little dudes are really “Turning Japanese.” Stu also might be on the Nintendo Wii work out plan (though he loses to his 4 1/2 year old), and The Dude talks about movies like “Evan Almighty” and “1408.”

Stu & The Dude’s Weekend Wrap-Up! Kids are Turning Japanese, Journey Scores a Top 5 Single on Sirius, Wii Workouts, and Movie Talk.

By:

The Dude on the Right
This week’s weather is looking hot, but the weekend was cool, just like Stu Gotz
and I, so cool in fact we are back with all of the cool stuff we did this
weekend in this episode of

"Stu & The Dude’s Weekend Wrap-Up" podcast. I hip Stu to the
resurgence of Journey, namely with "Don’t Stop Believing" finding itself at
#5 on the Sirius Hits 1
Weekend Countdown. Stu also has what will hopefully be our last "Soprano"
story ever. Stu was wondering about his fathering abilities as one of the CD’s
his kids love to listen to is a compilation of songs, with one of their
favorites being "The Monster Mash." The thing is that the CD also contains
"Turning Japanese" by
The Vapors,
and "Kung Fu Fighting" by Carl Douglas, and as little boys will be little boys,
well, Stu wonders about the political incorrectness of his boys when they sing.
I think Stu might at well just get it over with and teach his kids the f-bomb
and s-bomb, but then again I don’t have kids.

With the weekend also comes
movies, and I give Stu my rundown of

"Evan Almighty," and

"1408," and being a little sad that

"Live Free or Die Hard" which opens Wednesday will be rated PG-13.

Stu also has been getting some

exercise lately playing his Nintendo Wii, although sadly he keeps losing at
boxing to his 4 1/2 year old son. Little Stu obviously doesn’t care about
Big Stu’s rope-a-dope or
fancy footwork. I’m guessing Little Stu is just using the punch-a-dope
boxing style, which for the Wii means, well, you’ll just have to listen.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Download and Listen Here

Subscribe Here

What’s New? A Podcast of: Three Vetoes From President Bush, I Should be The Next Host of “The Price is Right,” and Maybe Meredith is Nicer than Barbara.

For this podcast The Dude on the Right goes on a slight political rant focusing on President Bush’s recent veto of a second stem cell research bill, and his quote “Destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is not ethical.”
On lighter notes The Dude also thinks he would be the perfect replacement for Bob Barker on “The Price is Right,” and reminds all of you that Paris Hilton will be getting out of jail soon, and you probably would have done the same time with the purported payday she will get from her first interview, which, sort of surprisingly, won’t be with Barbara Walters.

Three Vetoes From President Bush, I Should be The Next Host of “The Price is Right,” and Maybe Meredith is Nicer than Barbara.

By:

The Dude on the Right
Sorry to get a little political, but let’s say you’re President of the United
States for a bunch of years now, and one of the strongest powers you have is the
power of the veto. I remember the power of the veto from my younger days,
watching

“Schoolhouse Rock,” and hoping Bill will become a law. President Bush,
it seems, wields his power by fighting our “War on Terror,” destroying human
life in the hopes of saving human life. He then vetoes, for the second time, a
bill regarding embryonic stem cell research stating, well, “Destroying human
life in the hopes of saving human life is not ethical.”

During this podcast I don’t talk that much about President Bush and his
vetoes, but rather devote most of it as to why I think I should be the next host
of “The Price is Right.” Hell, I’ll even take the bag off of my head.
Also, you’ll be pleased to remember Paris Hilton will be getting out of
jail soon, and I’ll bet most of you would have done similar time with the same
payday she is supposedly going to get. Looks like Barbara Walters isn’t
her friend anymore, or the Meredith Vieira people opened up their
pocketbooks a little more.

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Download and Listen Here

Subscribe Here

What’s New? Stu & The Dude’s Weekend Wrap-Up: Stu’s Early “Ratatouille” Review, More Movie Talk, and a Skin Flute.

For this podcast of “Stu & The Dude’s Weekend Wrap-Up!” Stu Gotz saw “Ratatouille” before most of you did, and gives his opinion. The Dude on the Right chimes in with his comments on the “Fantastic Four“ and “Nancy Drew“ flicks. They also reminisce about some college days and Stu gives his advice for sneaking liquor into the movies. All that and more, and The Dude finds a clip he heard on The Howard Stern Show about skin flute playing which was broadcast from a station out of Cleveland O Hi O. And never forget “Rat farts!”

What’s New? A Podcast of: Jessica Alba – I Volunteer, Cicada Sounds, Go Cavs, and Go Away McGreevey’s.

For this podcast The Dude on the Right really, really, really, wants to be put on Jessica Alba’s list for a one night stand, or even a one evening stand. He also found some annoying cicada sounds thanks to Steve Dahl and The Chicago Tribune. The Dude hopes the Cleveland Cavs can win a basketball game, at least with the help of the Michael Stanley Band, and wishes the McGreevey’s would just go away. Gosh he has a lot to talk about in 15 or so minutes.

Jessica Alba – I Volunteer, Cicada Sounds, Go Cavs, and Go Away McGreevey’s.

By:

The Dude on the Right
Jessica Alba has announced that she is looking for one night stands, and
I’m more than happy to announce my services, which might not even make it to a
one evening stand. In any case I will give her my guarantee I won’t be
there to snuggle in the morning. Also
in this podcast, here in Chicagoland, it is time for the return of the 17
year cicada, and happily they are nowhere near my neighborhood, but the
sound I found on the internet (thanks to radio dude
Steve Dahl and

The Chicago Tribune) can give you a listen as to what you might be missing.

The site with the sound also has ambient sound from around the world, but so
far I haven’t heard any juicy conversations, just birds and badly miked house
music from Oslo, Norway. Back in my college days I could have been the
King of Ambient Sound by hanging a microphone outside my fraternity bedroom
window, especially on weekend nights, but that’s a story for another day.

I’m
hoping my hometown Cleveland Cavaliers can at least win one game in the
NBA finals, but I don’t even think the
Michael
Stanley Band song can help. Who knows, maybe the Cavs can be the
first team in history to come behind from a 0 and 3 deficit to win the
championship, but that is almost as likely as New Jersey’s gay ex-Governor
McGreevey liking his wife’s book.

Thanks for listening!

That’s it for this one! I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!

Download and Listen Here

Subscribe Here

The “Tony Soprano Was Whacked Here, Or Maybe Not” Booth, and Bon Jovi Better Not Tour in 2010.

By:

The Dude on the Right
Well at least I had one thing right about my prediction for "The Sopranos"
ending – it would take place in an ice cream shop in New Jersey. What
surprised me was that most people giving predictions, from fans to critics,
seemed to forget the story of how there was this ice cream shop in New Jersey
that the show’s people wanted to shoot the final scene at but the town wouldn’t
give them a permit. Then the town thought better of it and gave them a
permit. Low and behold the final scene was at a place called "Holsten’s,"
which whether you liked the ending of the show or not, if you are/were a fan of
the "The Sopranos," and if you are anywhere near Bloomfield, NJ, you will
probably try to make a trip there. With all of their publicity, though,
you would think they might update their web site. Going to
holstons.com you see the
most simplistic of designed web sites, and more importantly, if you click on the
"Luncheon Menu"
link, there is something missing from the menu, namely onion rings. There
is another website with a photo of a current menu, and it does show onion rings
are available, but if the Holston’s folks want some help redesigning their
website, I’m offering my
services, if only because it would give me a real excuse to visit New Jersey
again, other than just vacationing on Long Beach Island.

But now that "The
Sopranos" are done, or is it "is done," I always get that confused, and so far I
haven’t gotten sucked into any summer TV yet, I’m looking to revive doing
concert reviews during this summer season, setting a consistent schedule for CD
and DVD reviews, finishing the re-design of entertainmentavenue.com, and in the
middle of all of these things, digitize my entire photo collection, starting
with my concert photos, mostly so I can update the lousy looking concert shots
on the web site because, in reality, they aren’t that lousy (some of those were
digitized with an old, hand-held scanner, bought back in like 1996). The
nice thing about the digitizing is I can do it in the middle of typing and
posting things – simply slide another negative into my old HP Photosmart
scanner, and since it’s pretty slow, well, I don’t lose that much stream of
consciousness in my writing. The bad thing is that since it is kinda slow,
I might be at this digitizing things for years.

I guess I never realized how
many pictures I took back in those old days of using film, and concerts alone
I’m looking at, by rough count, some 720 rolls of film to digitize. If I
can get two rolls done a day I guess I might be done with the concert photos
sometime next year. Then there are all of the negatives from college and
high school, and if I’m on track for this, we’re looking at, well, maybe 2010 by
the time my entire film collection is safely stored away on CD-R’s (that by then
will probably be useless), and I might be able to put together a nice high school
retrospective for my high school classmates at our 25th year reunion, that is,
of course, if Bon Jovi doesn’t have a concert on the same day as our reunion in
2010 like they did

back in 1995, and 2005.

It looks to be a fun summer for this dude, as long
as I can keep my TV turned off in the evening hours. If not, expect a lot
more blogs about crappy, summer TV shows that I have gotten sucked into
watching. Maybe I’ll even try to squeeze in a trip to New Jersey for some
ice cream, and sit in the "Tony Soprano Got Whacked Here, Or Maybe He Didn’t"
booth. I just wonder if the onion rings at Holston’s are that good.

That’s it for this one!
I’m The Dude on the Right!! L8R!!!