schlagging.com

Windows…

Posted on April 9th, 2008 by Josh.
Categories: technology.

Is like an 8 year old kid.

You tell it not to do something, but it goes it anyway, and then is proud of it.

I have told my computer to download updates, but let me decide when to install them. Instead of doing what I say, it downloads the updates, waits a while, and if I don’t tell it to within x amount of time - it does it anyway.

AND then it restarts itself, with no regard to any reasons I may have for keeping my computer on. So guess whose secondary alarm doesn’t go off this morning because the computer is waiting at the sign on screen? Yeah. Awesome.

Further, when it does start back up, it gives me a friendly message in the corner telling me what just happened. How nice. Now go to your room, and stop doing that, dammit.

1 comment.

Joyeux Noël

Posted on December 14th, 2007 by Josh.
Categories: movies, technology.

Netflix is great. I have rated hundreds of movies I have seen on a five star scale; and, based on that feedback, they have given me some good movie recommendations.

I got the latest one yesterday, and I watched it immediately. It’s a French film from 2005 called Joyeux Noël (translated: Merry Christmas), and it is about the Christmas Truce of 1914 during World War I. I remember hearing the story as a side note during a high school world history class, but the true meaning of the temporary truce was lost on me until I saw this movie.

If you’re looking for a movie that captures the Christmas spirit of humanity and caring for your fellow man, this one is worth the rental.

Edit: After reading over this post, I feel like I could be in one of those Reading Rainbow book reviews. Just saying… it has that feel, no?

0 comments.

Cheap tequila

Posted on October 25th, 2007 by Josh.
Categories: random, technology.

Last night, I had a dream where I was taking shots of cheap tequila with Bill Gates.

I’m not sure what to make of it.

0 comments.

The Yellow Pages should die

Posted on June 21st, 2007 by Josh.
Categories: technology.

Am I the only one who truly hates the Yellow Pages/Yellow Book/Qwest Dex?

Every time that useless directory shows up on my doorstep, I become infuriated. To me, it’s like those people handing out fliers at concerts. They’re telling me: “Here, you throw this away.”

I used to pick it up and toss it over the balcony in a fit of rage. Then I met the maintenance guy here and realized he probably had to pick it up, and my wrath was being taken out on him and not the Yellow Pages jerks. Once I tried to rip it in half, like those guys do on Trinity Broadcasting Network in the name of God. Turns out, the man upstairs did not grace me with such abilities. Instead, I just leave it there until I get the chance to take it with me to the dumpster.

I really wish they wouldn’t deliver that thing to everyone. Just leave a stack of them at the front of the grocery store next to the rental and auto sale guides. Those of us living in the stone age can pick them up.

To me, it’s just a big waste of space. The same answers and so much more are on the internet. If I’m ever stuck with no connectivity in my apartment and in need of an emergency foosball table repairman, well - I guess I’d be screwed. I’m willing to take my chances.

1 comment.

Baseball Nerd

Posted on April 26th, 2007 by Josh.
Categories: sports, technology.

My employer gave me a laptop yesterday for work and personal use. I took full advantage of this right off the bat (haha, sorry, I hate puns too) and brought it with me to Chase Field for the Padres/Dbacks game.

Why would I do such a thing? Well, if you had read my earlier post, you should know that I like to keep score at games when I fly solo. However, I kinda suck at it, and tend to make a mess and eventually give up after missing something.

To solve that problem, I found a program that lets me keep score on the computer. From there, I can create box scores/summaries, and upload them to this site.

To me, that’s quite exciting. To many of you, I’m sure you’re groaning and rolling your eyes at the uninterestingness of it all.

If you care to see, here’s a link to my first game using this software:
http://www.schlagging.com/baseball/2007.04.25_BOXSCORE.HTM

The only problem I ran into was not setting the lineups correctly with positions. Not a big deal. Other than that, I managed to get every out/hit/run/etc. Whoo!

P.S. - Darrell wrote a post that got me thinking about the WWE. If you’re at all interested in pro wrestling these days, head on over here and read his article (and the ensuing comments).

0 comments.

Stop copying me!

Posted on March 15th, 2007 by Josh.
Categories: technology.

From a chat w/Sarah today on Gmail (note that the replies were one right after the other - if this were a face to face chat, we’d have said the same things at the same time):

Sarah: bleh
  not my call
me: not your call, obviously
  haha yeah
Sarah: haha yeah
  whoa
me: stop that!
Sarah: lol
me: lol
  ahhhhhhhhhhhh
Sarah: geezus!
  we’re ridiculous right now
me: just a bit

0 comments.

Bracketology

Posted on March 14th, 2007 by Josh.
Categories: sports, tv, technology.

It’s official. I love March Madness.

If I didn’t already have tickets to see Flogging Molly on St. Patrick’s Day, I would have booked a room in Vegas and spent tomorrow through Sunday in the sports books. But I do, so I didn’t.

To satisfy my bracketlust (it’s a new word, I just made it up, maybe it’ll be on urbandictionary.com by the end of the day), I’ve filled out ten eleven brackets, all with the same picks. Why ten? The prizes, man! Why the same picks? When it comes to sports and betting I can be superstitious and if I have different sets of picks, then my lack of faith will be found disturbing by the sports gods and I will be spited.

• Yahoo (via Orbital)
• Yahoo (via U-Haul)
• ESPN (via Josh Phillips)
• ESPN (via Deadspin.com)
• Facebook (Bear Down group)
• Facebook (Zona Zoo group)
• Cingular/ATT Wireless (through my phone.. and yes, it was painful to make my selections via the mobile web - can the iPhone come soon enough?)
• CNNSI
• CBS Sportsline (via Mike)
• John McCain (I’m not even kidding, I think it’s hilarious, as much as I support the guy)
• azcentral (via Dad)

Thanks to technology, I have avoided becoming this guy, and have just kicked back and let everyone else set things up. I just have to make sure my picks are right.

And now, before I go, some stats on my picks without giving too much away:

• Arizona makes it to the second round before being eliminated - if they make it to the Sweet Sixteen I’m figuratively burning my brackets in a fit of joy
• six double digit seeded teams to make the second round
• one double digit seeded team in the sweet sixteen
• two number ones and two number twos in the final four
• a number two seed wins it all

Edit: Here is my bracket. Feel free to praise/criticize.

Also, if you’re not close to a TV, never fear, CBS is streaming games online! Go here to sign up: http://www.ncaasports.com/mmod/welcome

0 comments.

Introducing.. iPhone

Posted on January 9th, 2007 by Josh.
Categories: technology.

Sometimes, I follow the “live bloggers” who post updates as they happen from various tech conferences. Macworld 2007 was about to fly under my radar, until Mike sent me a link.

Man, am I glad he did that.

Today, Apple unveiled everything people have been speculating about for months and months. The thing is, though - it’s all in one product!

Widescreen iPod? Yup. Apple phone? You got it. Internet browser? Definitely. The iPhone. It looks absolutely amazing.

It’s seriously the sort of device I’ve always dreamed of having. I’ve tried to make my RAZR into a similar sort of device - by adding internet access and installing apps like Google Maps and Gmail.. but I’ve always known it could be better. So as of June (when it’s likely to have FCC approval), it will be. And hopefully I’ll have one.

$599 for the 8GB model. Cingular Wireless. Count me in.

0 comments.