Amazon MP3 Beta launched, iTunes still annoying

I am very excited about Amazon MP3 Beta (minus the consumer profiling it inescapably contains). I hope it enables me to be done with iTunes Music Store, soon. Now that Apple’s iTunes has paved the way, it’s about time a major player forced changes to the way digital music is sold. Apple finally has some […]

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Marc Ecko and Barry Bonds’ ball, O.J. Simpson setup?

Marc Ecko is at it again! The AP reports that on Saturday, fashion designer and philanthropist Marc Ecko purchased Barry Bonds’ record-breaking home-run ball for $752,467. And he immediately launched a voting website “to democratize the debate over what to do with” the 756 ball. Should the ball be given directly to Cooperstown, should it […]

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New fish and Novak Djokovic

Following the recent death of the last fish (Jezebel the alarmingly aggressive goldfish) from my original 2003 fish tank setup, I cleaned out the aquarium and started over this weekend. But, before I get to my new fish, I want to mention the U.S. Open 2007 men’s final. This was the first match I’ve watched […]

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Alejandro Jodorowsky, “Chocolate Rain” parodies, U.S. Open

On the heels of my Inland Empire watching and rewatching, I’ve spent a lot of time with Alejandro Jodorowsky‘s films lately. I bought the The Films of Alejandro Jodorowsky DVD (released earlier this year), which includes his four earliest movies: La Cravate (1957), Fando y Lis (1968), El Topo (1970), and The Holy Mountain (1973). […]

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Wikia Search, Boston Celtics, Iraqi soccer, “diabeetus”

I read an interesting analysis of Wikia Search and Jimmy “Jimbo” Wales in this past April’s issue of Fast Company. The cover of the magazine read: “Google’s Worst Nightmare: Wikipedia’s Jimmy Wales Has His Sights Set on the Search Business.” One of the coolest parts of the “Why Is This Man Smiling?” cover story was […]

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The death cat and professional sports scandals

I’ve always been interested in the so-called “sixth sense” of animals and humans. I used to read those Globe mini mags (the ones you can pick up while waiting in line at the supermarket) about “uncanny cats” and other similar eerie and paranormal topics. I am curious how animals are able to sense geologic events […]

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Roswell, kitten neutering, Epsom salt, helium balloons

Today is the 60th anniversary of the Roswell incident, the most famous UFO sighting in American history. Read more from MSNBC: The Roswell Experience. I was kind of obsessed with Area 51 conspiracy theories when I was a kid. I visited Roswell during the summer of 2001, a few months before I moved to Oregon. […]

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Blended iPhone, Smashing Pumpkins, carbon fiber blades

As you may have gathered from the title, I have three things to write about today: 1. Blended iPhone Excited about the iPhone? Of course you are! Not excited about AT&T exclusivity through 2009 (or maybe even 2012)? Of course you’re not! Nevermind battery life, my only question about the iPhone is: Will it Blend? […]

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Transformers, Zeitgeist, music festivals, Wimbledon

Today I have eight random things to mention: 1. I went to see Transformers on Thursday night, hoping to reengage with one of my favorite childhood cartoons. I’m not even sure how to articulate the live-action movie experience. I did write a 15-word review for Filmometer, but it doesn’t really capture how hilarious (both unintentional […]

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Beaver baseball National Champions again (and pepino)

Congratulations to the Oregon State baseball team! The Beavers swept through the College World Series, winning all five of their games. In the best-of-three finals, they beat the North Carolina Tar Heels for the second straight season. OK, you know how I love random trivia, so here are some CWS facts: The Beavers (49-18) trailed […]

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