Drove to Bestbuy last night (the one really close to the scene of this horrific tragedy) to return my mp3 player, and they were out of stock. The person behind the register mentioned that they could "meet me halfway" on the next higher model. I grabbed the 10 gig Ipod but as I was asking them what this would cost me (I figured I might be able to get it for ~$330), I asked if the Attleboro BestBuy had any. Sure enough they did. I headed up there, thinking I might be making a mistake. All I could think of was what Leeron said the other day: "the Creative is cool, but the Ipod'll get you laid" Went ahead and made the exchange, sticking with the same unit. I did go buckwild in there though, getting the $40 4-year in-store warranty. Since the battery will die in 2 years and isn't replaceable, it looks like I can look forward to a new and improved unit in a couple of years. I also got some fatty headphones, and I'm now considering getting the Zen player surgically implanted.

I also picked up this book, to help me sort out movable type from greymatter and find what tools work best given what I want to do. Eventually I hope to get pancookery its own url complete with its own sections - specifically a recipe section of some really great food, complete with pictures taken from a digital camera I do not yet own and a photo gallery with older travel photos, maybe a few arty pics and definitely some Sydney pics for everyone. Yeah, I could just post them on Ofoto but I would prefer to control the files myself, and I ain't afraid of a little FTPing.

Today I started The Move. Dropped off the first carload at my parents house and rented storage space for my furniture. Even if was only a small percentage of what still has to be packed and hauled outta here, it feels good to have made some headway and cleared some clutter.

MP3 Players rock the shack
After getting snowed in (Monday) and subsequently shoveling myself out (Tues, Weds), things are getting somewhat normal. Making a trip to BestBuy intent on buying a digicam, I checked out the MP3 players to see if they restocked their shelves since the holidays when they were decimated. Not only were there players in stock, but they were on SALE. Holy Shit! Having spent entirely too much time researching them, going so far as making a table listing all the specs (in more detail than any CNET or BestBuy Table, mind you) I chose the Creative Jukebox Zen which was on sale for $283. Using my X-mas gift card, this was a deal! The software that you have to install to upload (this device does not show up as a removeable hard drive which kinda blows) is actually OK for that purpose. After uploading Velocity of Sound and Girls Can Tell I finally was able to really test it out.
Whats this?
I can't rewind?
What the hell!!!
So it appears that the rewind button is hosed. I guess my options will be to either a) return it to the store that I grabbed the last one of, or b) deal with Creative's RMA process, which is probably going to take even longer than waiting for Bestbuy to get more in stock. Dammit! Its a pretty small defect, but damn if I'm going to put up with it when I paid 3 bills for it.
Moving at work, for the third time in as many months. At least they won't take my Swingline stapler. As anyone will attest, moving sucks. Which reminds me that I have to arrange for storage space for my stuff while I'm abroad. Moving in the snow sucks.

Pill and Protests Weekend recap:

Started the weekend at The Pill on Friday night with Dano. Can't beat the music they play (no really, you can't) and the Westway could be a decent venue. Wanting to get out early and get back early, we got there around 10. The upstairs wasn't open yet, so we got a beer downstairs. Just where the hell those people think they are is a mystery to me. The bartender looked like an extra from a Poison video, complete with the long curly blong locks underneath a bandana and ripped blue jeans. And to be absolutely clear who was in charge, his white shirt sported on the back of it in large letters S T A F F. No question that the highlight there was when at one point he announced "No More Spicks in this Bar!". Uhhh, OK. Shortly thereafter, another bartender/manager (we were able to determine he worked there without the assistance of attire declaring such) let us know that the upstairs was open. Cool, I thought I'll head up there after these drinks. "You can bring your drinks upstairs" he said, not in a 'its alright if you want to head upstairs with your drinks' vibe; rather, his was more of a 'you best be moving along - now' vibe. The fact that the pool tables upstairs were free made up for the lack of a few balls. You got two pool tables and no 8-ball on either? Oh well, whatever. We didn't go there for pool anyway. As usual, nice tunes were spun and the place was jumpin'.

Saturday morning came too soon. We were in the This Focus Kills Fascists mobile by 7:30, and rolled into New Haven before 10. Made it into the city around noon. Got no closer to the stage than 61st and 1st due in large part to poor planning or maybe cooperation from the city government, but taking their advice, I carried around a ghetto blaster inside of my fat
new bag. so I was able to hear most of the speakers. This "people's sound system" went over well among the people we met. Overall it was a very good and meaningful time. COLD, but well worth it. I didn't see any cops going ballistic, and the everybody was superfriendly. Maybe Bush is after Saddam because he really believes Saddam poses a threat, but he must realize that he can't bully and impose his will over any and all nations. I'll post something that most clearly spells out what I got to say, but in a 5 words or less: Give Blix a chance.