Just Call Me “Captain Stimulus”
Yesterday I walked up to the money tree and shook it with all my might. I needed to shake it hard. You’ll see, keep reading….
Last Generation (Refurbished) Macbook… Come To Daddy!
Yep, a decision has been made and a purchase order placed through Apple. In five-to-seven business days I will be the proud carrier of a black Macbook — 2.4GHz cpu, 2GB ram, and 250GB drive. Sweeeeeeet. Considering it will be twice as fast, have nearly twice as much memory, and a hard drive that’s eight times larger than the iBook on which I currently type thrills the living shit out of me — all for 1100 bones.
While I’m At It, I’ll Add More Memory To The iBook
To squeeze another year or so out of this aging iBook I’ve also gone and dropped $50 for a 1GB stick of ram. This computer will be relegated to a household slave, used to listen to music, watch videos, and surf the internets. Regardless, the extra umph added by more ram will make it feel that much snappier.
Anyone know off hand if this 1.2GHz PowerPC machine can handle Leopard?
Bow Down To The Mighty Tasty China!
Yesterday I met up with Barb and Stacy for some Tasty China. As usual, it doesn’t pay to have any preconceived notion as to what you will order, because the owner will steer you into something else. I do not mind this…
The three of us dined on some hot and numbing beef rolls (a must for me), some twice-cooked shan city pork, and some chicken and mushroom dish whose name I didn’t catch. Overall the lunch was delicious and so filling that I ate only a Clif Bar for dinner. Truth be told I wasn’t even that hungry when I ate the Clif Bar, I just thought that I should have something semi-solid with the two beers that I consumed.
We tried to get non-ITP-reader Gary (aka Rat’s Ass) to join us, but there was something about a doctor’s appointment because of a Merry Naders event or something….. 
ITP Flickr Pic
I don’t take many portraits that I like.
However, that is one of them.
For Such An Expensive Program Photoshop Sure Is A Pain In The Ass
Recently I learned a tip that through version 2.0 of Lightroom I can directly export photos which go together to make up a panorama directly into Photoshop. Previously, I exported the photos to large JPEG files and then opened Photoshop to import them.
Things weren’t as easy as I was led to believe, however. At first the option to do the direct export was grayed out in the menu. After researching this problem I found out that I needed to update my Photoshop from version 10.0 to version 10.0.1. No problem right? I went into Photoshop and looked for the “Update” option. I found it, it too was grayed out. I found out that I needed to manually download the patch and update Photoshop that way instead of using Photoshop to update itself.
With that done I went back into Lightroom where I was able to select the merge to panorama option only to be told that I needed to update Camera Raw to at least version 4.5 in order to complete the task. I went into Adobe Bridge and then back into Photoshop and found no magical or functioning “update” option for Camera Raw in either. So back to Adobe I went where I manually downloaded Camera Raw 4.6.
Inside the download there was nothing but a plug-in, and all attempts to update the plug-in through Photoshop failed. So it was back to Adobe’s website to find a manual process for updating the plug-in. It turns out that I had to go deep into a directory tree to replace the current plug-in. Which I did and alas I finally had a way to do panorama merging directly from Lightroom.
Hallefuckinglujah!
You’d think that software which retails for around $650 (Photoshop CS3′s cost) would function a lot better than that. Shame on you Adobe.
Another Hump In My Morning Commute
I wish Atlanta would stop installing speed humps on every goddamn road I drive. As of the other day Colquitt, a small road that connects Highland Av and Euclid Av in Little Five Points has them.
I’ve been around the virtual block many times arguing with people about the merits and demerits of speed humps. I’ve made it clear that I cannot stand them. And even though people confusingly speed down my little one-segment city block I hope that I never see them on my street.
In my opinion speed humps are just more of my tax dollars wasted. Speed humps are right up there with the stupid “Stop for Pedestrians in Crosswalk” signs which are constantly being replaced because they are put in the middle of streets and are destroyed by cars and trucks that hit them.
Digital Download Of The Week
RUN don’t walk to Walmart and look to see if the AC/DC disc is there yet!!!!! Eh, I’m kidding because
- It’s not available as a digital download so I could buy it brand new
- But I wouldn’t because it’s only sold at Walmart
- And why would I want to buy a AC/DC release in 2008 anyway?
Instead buy something cool.
- What about Deerhunter’s “Microcastle”?
- What about Bloc Party’s “Intimacy”? (which was released digitally on Aug 21)
- What about Kaiser Chiefs’ “Off With Their Heads”?
- What about Snow Patrol’s “A Hundred Million Suns”?
- What about Lucinda Williams’ “Lu in 08″? (Digital only EP)
All of those are better options imho.
And now for some ideas stolen from LiveJournal…
Current Mood – frustrated
Current Music – Sirius Satellite Radio, Channel 26 playing Modest Mouse — I don’t know the title, Dish’s information is missing
Website Of The Day – Have a cool word like “Hallefuckinglujah” that you think should be in some dictionary? Go add it to Addictionary and see what happens.
Exercise (b)Log – nothing
Monthly Foot Mileage – 32 miles
Monthly Wheel Mileage – 0 miles
Mode Of Transportation To Work – my car
Monthly Marta Rides – 0
Consecutive Days Of Bed-Making (Longest Streak) – 37 (110)
Books To Read To Earn Kindle – 4
Vegetarian Days – 13
Carnivore Days – 7
October Goals
1) Lose no fewer than three pounds
2) Drink nothing but water, coffee, beer, wine
3) Run no fewer than 75 miles
4) Bike no fewer than 125 miles
Cheers,
Paulie [eatl/ga]
The “Stop for Pedestrians” signs in crosswalks bug the crap out of me. A) It’s a law ANYWAY and drivers should know this and B) idiots stop for it EVEN WHEN THERE ARE NO PEDESTRIANS. Arrrrrrrrrgh!
Yeah, and when you get that “Keep Moving” sign on your lane when you exit the interstate…. KEEP MOVING!
I had never had the hot and numbing rolls before but I must say they have a new fan. In fact, I must agree that it was all, indeed, tasty china yesterday. Great food, great company, great day. Thanks guys!
@Stacy: It was good to see you and hear what is going on in your life — like going skydiving last weekend! If only you had an outlet to tell people about such events…..
Oh har-dee-har-har.
Okay, I will blog more, I promise!
Only a Clif Bar for dinner? I figured you’d find more meat for your meat eating day. I had a bowl of clam chowder…..
Only a Clif Bar. I really wasn’t going to eat anything since I wasn’t hungry. However, into my second beer I thought that I should eat something and the Clif Bar was convenient.
I think it would be easier if we just all blogged here.
> I think it would be easier if we just all blogged here.
Hmmm, if I could only figure out how to monetize that…..
You’ll get nothing from me !!!
Ugh, I was lame last night, I drove to meet Jenka…I was thinking it was colder than it turned out to be.
Tonight is my night off, got nothing planned…maybe figure out my costume for Saturday.
I’m so sorry I didn’t send out personalized invitations to the Highland Games, I was a little busy setting the damn thing up! You’re lucky I didn’t know you were at Stone Mountain Sunday evening, I’d have shown you what fun we have after the Games.
As for the annoying road humps- I get the point they slow down traffic- if drivers could understand the difference between “interstate highway” and “neighborhood street” then they wouldn’t be necessary- but they can’t.
-FP
@Martha: No costume for me. Or more specifically, I’ll be wearing the costume I’ve worn for the past two Monday nights on Saturday. I’m going to be taking a photography workshop Saturday afternoon and then attending a housewarming gathering Saturday night.
@Steve: Well if your taking all of that time to set it up you should let people know about it so they can attend!
I should have known that they were happening last weekend, but I completely forgot. Did things go well this year?
Yeah, drivers are just stupid. But treating every one of us like criminal is just wrong in my book.
I’m skipping the house crawl this year as well – I just haven’t thought of a good costume, and Allan is working, so I’ll probably just go bike riding.
I read somewhere that if you hae speed humps on your street, the police are less likely to patrol that street too.
> I read somewhere that if you have speed humps on your street, the police are
> less likely to patrol that street too.
Yeah, it keeps knocking the powdered sugar off of their doughnuts.
HEEEEEY YOOOOOOO! I’ll be doing two shows in Huntsville, Alabama this week! Try the veal!!!
Do they make an invisable belt…I don’t want to hide everything just my big belly. I guess now that it is cold I can say I’m preparing for hibernation.
Nope, no belt. It’s an “all or nothing” proposition.
The Games went reaqlly well. Our gate was a little off, but in this economy, you can’t expect much else. We had the official closing ceremonies at 5PM on Monday- the ceremony of closing the doors to ourtrailers loaded with all our stuff, that is.
I’m glad to be back at work so I can get some rest!! And I have a little over 3 weeks to get in shape for a 9 mile trail race.
-FP
darn, I guess that means tonight will be an ab night. (I think the entire suit would be overkill)
Steve, what race are you running? I’d like to try more trail runs…if I survive Mystery Mountain.
Speaking of suit… Martha, you still have my wetsuit, right? I can’t remember if I loaned it out after you or not!! I don’t have need for it now (alas!) but maybe next spring. Figure if I tried to remember where it was now, I might actually locate it by then!
And, yup, blogging here makes so much more sense than in my own. Now if only I could figure out how to add photos to this blog….
Yep, Stacy I still have your suit, if I ever see you again I will make sure I get it back to you
@Martha: Sounds suspiciously like the Peachtree City 15k.
@Stacy: First skydiving, now water diving? What’s after that, mountain climbing?
ps – look for the img html tag.
A new trail run at Serenbe in Palmetto-
http://www.goodrunproductions.com/gettingaround15k/
Ms. Tynes and I are already in…
-FP
Darn, that is the same weekend as Providence Canyon (and an event at Dausett I would have liked to go to), Novermber is full of fun stuff.
Hahaha Paulie. Actually, I’ve been SCUBA certified for years. Just haven’t been back out in a while. MOUNTAIN CLIMBING though? You nuts? That’s actual *exercise*, sheesh. Zip-lines or bungie, maybe. But man, don’t make me exercise.
Martha – sounds like an excuse to get together! And for you to forget it at home so that we can get together again.
@Martha: I am sure you can get up early, run the 15k, drive back to Providence Canyon, and then lay the trail live. Stop underestimating your abilities.
@Stacy: Funny, I don’t ever recall you mentioning scuba (and stop screaming) it before. Good on ya!
I’m so freakn’ lame…I did everything for my SCUBA cert. except for the open water dive…that was all a year ago and I’ve forgetten everything.
@ Paulie, Don’t tempt me….
Martha- yes you are lame!! While we haven’t been in over a year, it is fun… just no time with the farm. We didn’t even practice in the pool! We did our open water in PC and had a great time.
-FP
Yeah, I know. My own fault. I hate to travel alone and never could find anyone to go with plus the single supplement would have doubled the cost of the trip. Oh well…know anyone that needs some basic gear…all small
My officemates are driving me nuts, 2 of the people have 20 something sons that live at home, no job etc. When the rest of us say “kick them out!” they say….. it isn’t that simple. But all they do is bitch about it. I’m so glad I don’t have children.
I’m case you haven’t already heard…
http://www.insidethesprawl.com/2008/10/21/yuengling-is-coming-to-georgia/
Barb, let me guess. You have co-workers on Facebook so you can’t vent there? One of my co-workers is my ‘friend’ so I can’t complain too much about work or say when I’m goofing off.
Martha guessed it right!!!
@Brenan: I had heard strong rumor when I was down in Florida in July.
@Barb, @Martha: Funny, I have bitching I’d like to do but can do it in any public venue.
Yuengling is coming to Georgia!?!? My life as a beer mule is over… whatever shall be my purpose. I just arranged for Steve to get 2 cases delivered by one of my clients; guess that was a little overkill.
I made a strategic Facebook error by having one of my clients be my friend, doh, what was I thinking! Now I have to be all pc; and not log on during the day.
Oh, we’ll figure out other things you can mule.
Have you had any Top Pot donuts yet? If no, WHY NOT?
Hey Debbie – you could get to Cincinnati & mule us some Skyline chili?
fwiw, I have an older G4 mac mini w/ 1gb that runs OSX Leopard just fine.
Thanks Andrew, that’s actually good to know. I might get a”family pack” of Leopard and update all my machines then.