iBlog, iPod, iPorn

I like to blog, but blogging every day really is a challenge. It kind of sucks part of your life away. Or rather, you get sucked into the world of blogging, and it's tough to let go. When one post can take three hours to craft, you gotta step away sometimes.

So I've been retreating again. The bigger reason? Much like I retreated last spring when I picked up an iPod mini, I have been indulging in filling up my new black iPod 60 gig video [amazon]. Yes, I love it. It's much easier to synch your tunes and podcasts when you don't have to try to make everything fit into 6 gigs, especially since I encode my music at 224 Kbps (VBR) (it makes things sound much fuller).

Being a photographer with a ton of images, I especially love the photo capability. I can pull up pictures to jump start my memory. I can bring the iPod to the bar and show the Bears the pictures I've been taking at Bear Happy Hour at Titan, and a sneak preview of my photos of Bear Invasion. [This weekend I was accused of being a photographer as a "schtick." You know what? Fuck you. I've had a camera in my hand since I was eight. In the last 27 years I was without a camera for just one three-month period (because of theft), and during that time I literally had dreams about it. I would wake up to reality and feel like I'd been amputated. I'd rather lose my cock than my camera.]

The new iPod video feature is especially appropriate for music videos, I think. So far there is a relatively limited number of videos available on iTunes, but I anticipate selling videos at $1.99 a pop will be lucrative for the music industry. I bet you'll see a full video jukebox available soon.


I'll buy old videos for fun. OK, I'll admit it. My guilty pleasure this week has been Cameo's "Word Up!" video. Oh my god, is that LaVar Burton?? LOL. You go girl. Sulu isn't the only swashbuckler in the galaxy!

I dunno how many people will pay $1.99 for a TV show though, unless they just want to catch one they missed last week. Otherwise, buying a DVD of a season is actually much cheaper in the long run, though there is a significant delay.

I hear the music industry wants to force iTunes to increase the cost of music downloads from $0.99. This would be greedy, and I guarantee you sales will decrease dramatically. With twelve songs, a downloaded CD costs twelve dollars, roughly the same price as a physical CD from a store but without the tremendous added benefits of having a CD. I look at a 99 cents as an affordable price to pay for downloading a data file with ease. If I have to pay more, I will find my one-off music elsewhere. This means greedy music labels with artists who can only make one good song per album won't get any of my money.

I really wish I could lock the fwd and back functions when I am playing Parachute though. And pause for crying out loud! Have you ever tried to change trains while defending your turf from invading helicopters and paratroopers? Ugh! And I wish I could play more than three games before the battery is in the red. WTF!?!? My high score so far is like 830.

If you want to import your own items, there are some tools out there that let you rip from your DVD to import to the iPod. It's basically the same format as the Play Station Portable. From what I've heard and my own experience, these things take forever to convert a file. So if you don't mind letting things go overnight, you can import TV shows and movies from your DVDs, and I hear even from TiVo if you have it setup right.

I won't even begin to explain the porn possibilities.

So bear with me while I indulge in my new toy.

Giving Voice to a Silenced Defense

If a cancer patient used marijuana under a doctor's care and in accordance with his state law, but is arrested under federal law, he isn't allowed to tell the jury of his peers that he used it to aleviate suffering. How can the jury give fair consideration to the defendent if they aren't permitted to know the circumstances?

We're talking about your coworkers, family, friends and neighbors thrown into jail like common violent criminals because they used a plant to ease pain. And then denying them the right to explain why.

What are we doing to ourselves?

You are the government. Why are you allowing this to happen?

A new bill introduced into congress wants to change this.

Bill to Assure Fair Trials for Medical Marijuana Patients Introduced in Congress

This is about fairness. You are the government. Change things. Call your congressperson.

Free the Right-Wing Whacko, Ake Green

Unrepentant Swedish pastor calls gay life "abnormal"

This drives me nuts. Ake Green is a moron, a bigot, a homophobe, a whacko, a sicko (he loves to talk about beastiality), a hater. He's just absolutely nuts against homos, so you know he's probably fighting his own demons.

But he absolutely should not face jail for speaking his mind. Sweden and Swedish gays want to jail him for preaching a sermon, and that disgusts me.

This quote is especially unnerving:

Soren Andersson, president of a Swedish federation for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender rights (RFSL), said that religious freedom never justifies offending people. He said: "Therefore, I cannot regard the sentence as an act of interference with freedom of religion."

Is it really so bad in Sweden that you get sentenced for offending someone? The ability to offend someone with your speech is what makes free speech and religious freedom free.

First he was convicted; then it was overturned. The case is going to Sweden's highest court.

I can't believe I'm with Fred Phelps on an issue. Homophobe Ake Green should be free.

When Good Drinks Go Bad

It's somewhat disturbing to see blog photos of a bunch of people drinking with radio talk show host James Keown when he has been charged with killing his wife by poisoning her with antifreeze.

Greg's New Tattoo

Have you seen Greg's new tattoo?

Cub Moves On

Congratulations on your new job, Chris. D.C. will miss you.