In November, I wanted a pure RAM-based MP3 player (the iPod mini has a tiny-tiny hard drive) so that I could run with it. I had tried using my iPod, but it kept conking out on me about 10-15 minutes into my run (which is very annoying if you're out for 45-60 minutes).
So when Apple announced the iPod shuffle in January, I knew I wanted one. Luckily, I was able to pick one up that week at the San Francisco Apple Store. I was a bit reluctant about the whole "no screen" thing, but all the players were pretty bad and I was hoping Apple's user-interface skills would come through.
The short story is that basically they have made an incredible product. I don't miss the screen from my iPod, in fact, I don't really miss my iPod that much. You put on your favorite music and just play it. Best of all, throw it into shuffle mode and it will shuffle the songs around for you.
Apple's ad states is "Life is Random".
Well -- not quite so Random. I've got 267 songs on my iPod shuffle and keep it in shuffle mode when it is on. What I've noticed is that the same songs seem to be repeating themselves. Now, I'm no math expert, but I'm thinking hearing the same pattern after 40-50 songs is not "random".
Monday, February 21, 2005
Sunday, February 20, 2005
Run Forest Run
After having taken a couple months off from regular running this winter, it was time to get back into the habit.
So today marked the first run of the season. All I can say is "Ouch!" Even though I've been doing various cardio, the act of trail running is completely different. I'm sore and a bit worn out after a simple little run. I guess it isn't really a surprise. Just an observation.
It'll take a few weeks to get back in the groove, but I've got to start sometime.
So today marked the first run of the season. All I can say is "Ouch!" Even though I've been doing various cardio, the act of trail running is completely different. I'm sore and a bit worn out after a simple little run. I guess it isn't really a surprise. Just an observation.
It'll take a few weeks to get back in the groove, but I've got to start sometime.
Friday, February 18, 2005
No-No-Notorious!!
I went to the Duran Duran concert and let me just say, if I took one more step, I'd have been playing with the band. I managed to get front row center seats (I bought the VIP package which had a lottery of seats for the first 5 rows).
The various band members were not 2 feet from me at times. It was pretty damn cool!!
It was like Duran Duran was playing in my living room. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
Note to self: I need to start wearing earplugs at these things.
The various band members were not 2 feet from me at times. It was pretty damn cool!!
It was like Duran Duran was playing in my living room. Definitely a once in a lifetime experience.
Note to self: I need to start wearing earplugs at these things.
Thursday, February 17, 2005
Six Hours until Showtime
The Duran Duran concert is tonight. VIP tickets get me into an early reception that starts a bit after 6pm. This will be the smallest venue that DD is performing at during their North American tour. Can you feel the excitement? I can!
The Trip Home
I flew back to Austin Tuesday. United Airlines managed to lose both my luggage and my dad's luggage (and about 4 others) on a simple domestic connection. So much for the sophisticated baggage system Denver is supposed to have. They had an hour and twenty minutes (1:20) to move the bags from one plane to the next and the weather was great -- so there really wasn't any excuse.
Probably the most annoying aspect was the automated tracking system you get when you call in. It is voice activated but misinterprets your responses probably 50% of the time. So you start your call annoyed that you've lost your luggage and end it angry that they have such a retarded system in place that doesn't allow you to talk to a human (offering instead to have you call back to its "wonderful" voice-activated system). Man, I was ready to kill someone.
After I finally managed to find a real human being and complained they offered a $50 certificate as compensation for my troubles. Here's a couple tips that'll save airlines $50 per passenger:
1) stop losing luggage. you need to investigate why the luggage was lost and take action to avoid it in the future.
2) if you're going to use an automated voice-activated system, test it so that it is at least 90% accurate. The thing couldn't even figure out when I said "YES" and "NO".
Mind you -- I'm no technophobe, far from it. But I am really frustrated by these cheap knock-offs that are intended to save a buck at the expense of customer service.
Another example was the lame safety video they are now using. It is computer generated (to save from having to pay actors residuals), but the animation was so bad that you couldn't tell what these "characters" were supposedly doing.
Penny-wise, pound foolish. You'd think that companies would learn, but they don't. That's why Dilbert is always on the money. Everyone thinks he works at their company because they all behave basically the same way.
Probably the most annoying aspect was the automated tracking system you get when you call in. It is voice activated but misinterprets your responses probably 50% of the time. So you start your call annoyed that you've lost your luggage and end it angry that they have such a retarded system in place that doesn't allow you to talk to a human (offering instead to have you call back to its "wonderful" voice-activated system). Man, I was ready to kill someone.
After I finally managed to find a real human being and complained they offered a $50 certificate as compensation for my troubles. Here's a couple tips that'll save airlines $50 per passenger:
1) stop losing luggage. you need to investigate why the luggage was lost and take action to avoid it in the future.
2) if you're going to use an automated voice-activated system, test it so that it is at least 90% accurate. The thing couldn't even figure out when I said "YES" and "NO".
Mind you -- I'm no technophobe, far from it. But I am really frustrated by these cheap knock-offs that are intended to save a buck at the expense of customer service.
Another example was the lame safety video they are now using. It is computer generated (to save from having to pay actors residuals), but the animation was so bad that you couldn't tell what these "characters" were supposedly doing.
Penny-wise, pound foolish. You'd think that companies would learn, but they don't. That's why Dilbert is always on the money. Everyone thinks he works at their company because they all behave basically the same way.
Friday, February 11, 2005
Wedding Bells and Girls on Film
My niece is getting married this Sunday. I'm heading to Washington for a few days with my dad for the wedding. As soon as we get back, it'll be off to the Duran Duran concert, which is next Thursday (Feb 17th).
What do my VIP tickets get me? A seat in the first 5 rows, a VIP gift, pre-show reception and a VIP laminate.
Oh, and I'm part of a random drawing for a meet and greet with Duran Duran.
Are there any quiet months? Seems like there is ALWAYS something going on.
What do my VIP tickets get me? A seat in the first 5 rows, a VIP gift, pre-show reception and a VIP laminate.
Oh, and I'm part of a random drawing for a meet and greet with Duran Duran.
Are there any quiet months? Seems like there is ALWAYS something going on.
Be the Ball
I used to joke with Tony Palmieri (my personal trainer at the 24-Hour Fitness) - "Be the Ball" whenever we did any core exercises on the ball. Obviously, we were really talking about focusing (but "Be the Ball" is more entertaining than "Focus").
One interesting thing that I've realized lately is that I'm finding myself willing and able to focus more. I'm not sure if it is just the fact that I'm now dependent on myself with my business -- no focus equals no money. Or it could be that I'm working on things that I want to work on, so the desire to work is stronger. Whatever the reason, I find myself often spending 10-12 hours a day actually doing work again. But it is more than that.
I'm getting more organized: writing down the tasks that need to be accomplished and sticking with it. Mind you, this is something that I've strived for -- but most of the time, the task list would be one or two BIG items that were very encompassing. Now the tasks are smaller, more discrete.
Is there cause and effect here? Does running your own business make you more organized? Does it give you the ability to focus better? I don't know.. and it's not always there -- but it's there more often.
Just an interesting thought in my head.
One interesting thing that I've realized lately is that I'm finding myself willing and able to focus more. I'm not sure if it is just the fact that I'm now dependent on myself with my business -- no focus equals no money. Or it could be that I'm working on things that I want to work on, so the desire to work is stronger. Whatever the reason, I find myself often spending 10-12 hours a day actually doing work again. But it is more than that.
I'm getting more organized: writing down the tasks that need to be accomplished and sticking with it. Mind you, this is something that I've strived for -- but most of the time, the task list would be one or two BIG items that were very encompassing. Now the tasks are smaller, more discrete.
Is there cause and effect here? Does running your own business make you more organized? Does it give you the ability to focus better? I don't know.. and it's not always there -- but it's there more often.
Just an interesting thought in my head.
Vacation is Over
After a brief hiatus, I'm back. The blog is somewhat repurposed. I've decided it is foolish to think I should only pass on wisdom -- partly because I don't necessarily have wisdom most of the time.
So this blog will be more about documenting all aspects of my journey. I still consider it my yoga path, but on a grander scale. We all walk on our yoga path, seeking enlightenment, joy, etc. So off we go.
So this blog will be more about documenting all aspects of my journey. I still consider it my yoga path, but on a grander scale. We all walk on our yoga path, seeking enlightenment, joy, etc. So off we go.
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