Friday, May 26, 2006

Free Music

Tech site ExtremeTech picks eight of the best music recommendation engines, including Pandora, Last.FM and Liveplasma.

The picks were based on navigation, community and media (text lists
versus streaming music) among other criteria. I've had great success
with Last.FM recommendations - which makes sense, since they know a
whole lot about what I like to listen to, though Pandora's nice because
it streams recs on the spot. What's your favorite destination for
discovering new music? Let us know in the comments or at tips at
lifehacker.com.


Extreme Tech [via Lifehacker]


I personally use rhapsody to listen to music, however these various services are a excellent way to discover new artists. If you want to save the music to you computer for personal use, you can use software like replay music to record them while they are streaming.

Friday, May 12, 2006

World cup rules for (female) signicant others

Extremely important advice and recommendations to be passed on to
wives, girlfriends, fiancés, mothers, sisters, daughters, etc. (to all
women in general) These rules are to be communicated prior to the World
Cup in June/July this year... FAILURE TO ADHERE TO THE RULES STIPULATED
AS PER BELOW WILL RESULT IN SEVERE REPERCUSSIONS.

List Of Rules.

1. From 9 June to 9 July 2006, you
should read the sports section of the newspaper so that you are aware
of what is going on regarding the World Cup, and that way you will be
able to join in the conversations. If you fail to do this, then you
will be looked at in a bad way, or you will be totally ignored. DO NOT
complain about not receiving any attention.

2. During the World Cup, the television is mine, at all
times, without any exceptions. If you even take a glimpse of the remote
control, you will lose it (your eye).

3. If you have to pass by
in front of the TV during a game, I don't mind, as long as you do it
crawling on the floor and without distracting me. If you decide to
stand without clothes in front of the TV, make sure you put clothes on
right after because if you catch a cold, I wont have time to take you
to the doctor or look after you during the World Cup month.

4. During the games I will be blind, deaf and mute, unless I
require a refill of my drink or something to eat. You are out of your
mind if you expect me to listen to you, open the door, answer the
telephone, or pick up the baby that just fell from the second
floor....it wont happen.

5. It would be a good idea for you to keep at least 2 six
packs in the fridge at all times, as well as plenty of things to nibble
on, and please do not make any funny faces to my friends when they come
over to watch the games. In return, you will be allowed to use the TV
between 12am and 6am, unless they replay a good game that I missed
during the day. This rule however is discretionary. (please refer to
rule 2)

6. Please, please, please!! if you see me upset because one
of my teams is losing, DO NOT say "get over it, its only a game", or
"don't worry, they'll win next time". If you say these things, you will
only make me angrier and I will love you less. Remember, you will never
ever know more about football than me and your so called "words of
encouragement" will only lead to a break up or divorce (not necessarily
in that order).

7. You are welcome to sit with me to watch one game and you
can talk to me during halftime but only when the commercials are on,
and only if the halftime score is pleasing me. In addition, please note
I am saying "one" game, hence do not use the World Cup as a nice cheesy
excuse to "spend time together".

8. The replays of the goals are very important. I don't care
if I have seen them or I haven't seen them, I want to see them again.
Many times.

9. Tell your friends NOT to have any babies, or any
other child related parties or gatherings that requires my attendance
because:
a) I will not go,
b) I will not go, and
c) I will not go.

10. But, if a friend of mine invites us to his house on a Sunday to watch a game, we will be there in a flash.

11.
The daily World Cup highlights show on TV every night is just as
important as the games themselves. Do not even think about saying "but
you have already seen this...why don't you change the channel to
something we can all watch??", the reply will be: "Refer to Rule #2 of
this list".

12. And finally, please save your expressions such as "Thank
God the World Cup is only every 4 years". I am immune to these words,
because after this comes the Champions League, Italian League, Spanish
League, Premier League, etc etc.

[props to Yaty]

Now you can't say you haven't been warned.   Currently looking for people to spend the month at lucky bar... inquire within.

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Gaydar Malfunction

For the last month or so, I started attending to the gym in the middle of the day.  It’s less crowded, splits the work day in two and allows me to enjoy the weather for a hot second.  Yesterday, during my work out I noticed a gentleman was looking at me. Not thinking much of it, I gave the customary head nod followed by “what up”.  And he responded. No big deal.  Then it occurred to me that the same gentleman was also checking me out last week.  But I again I didn’t think much of it, because I usually look at the other people when they are doing an exercise I have not seen before or if I want to make fun of them when they are using way too much weight.  I finished my work out, showered and got dressed.  On my way out the locker room, the gentleman approaches me. And our exchange goes as follows:



<guy holds my right arm>
Guy: “Can I introduce myself?” 
Me: “yeah”
Guy: “I’m {insert name here}”
Me:  “Henri, Nice to meet you”
Guy:  “Can I take you out for drinks some time?” <holds out a white piece of paper that I’m assuming had his number or email written on it.>
Me: "nah I’m straight” <no pun intended>
Guy: "Aight."
Me: "Have a good one."
<guy exit stage left, me exit stage right>


Seriously???!?!  What part of me screams gay?  The only brain exercise I get these days is thinking about WOMEN (except when playing/watching sports).  It’s true that I’ve been accused of being very metro at times but never gay.  And even so that was about a year.  Not in recent times.  I knew my gym was full of gay people (nothing wrong with that) but I thought they all had a “gaydar.” I guess his must have been malfunctioning or something.


On the other hand part of me is flattered.  It’s not every day that you get asked out for by somewhat attractive man.  Part of me was considering taking the offer; I do drink a regular basis and to have drinks paid for once in while by a member of either sex is not such a bad thing, provided they don’t expect anything in return.  I have to the give the guy credit for the having the balls to ask me out for some drinks, but there in lies the rub:  he had balls.


I will keep my workout schedule as is but I will ask my female friends for some better rejection lines just in case.


Friday, May 05, 2006

Freet TV shows

"Not sure who is responsible for this or what kind of jailtime wish they
have, but the PeekVid web site is offering hundreds of television show
episodes for viewing and download for free."

PeekVid [via lifehacker.com]


Free tv shows on the web, slightly suspusious but worth enjoying while it lasts.

Tuesday, May 02, 2006

Immigration: Losing sight of the real issue

I’ve grown very frustrated with the new Immigration movement over the last few weeks (one of the many reasons I paused on my series on immigration).  Why you ask?  The first part of my frustration stems from the fact that we are letting the opportunity to make serious changes across world turn into a U.S. vs. Mexico issue.  Seriously is the American public that clueless about our immigration issue as to believe that it only revolves around people entering the country from Mexico?  The fact that the journey of people from South and Central America to this country is more documented than the journey of other immigrants groups does not mean by any way, shape or form that are the only immigrants.  If you haven’t noticed yet, not all immigrants to this country are Hispanics. There are people here from Africa, Asia, East Europe and more. There are people in all these groups that are also here illegally.  Just because Hispanics (not even Mexicans) comprise the majority of the immigrants (legal or not) here does not mean they are only one we should be paying attention to.  To do so will fail to address the immigration problem in its entirety.


The other part of the frustration is rooted in the media coverage.  On every radio talk show (including NPR), evening news and etc all the panelists are either Hispanic “leaders” representing “Let everyone in” model and or someone equally idiotic person representing the “Law enforcement” model.  Is that really all we have to throw at this issue?  What happened to trade laws? NAFTA?  Addressing poverty? Addressing corruption?  Come on people!


With all that said I’m glad we’ve got a debate started on Immigration.


UPDATE:



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