RandomFailure

I went to the movies over the weekend, and saw a poster for a Transformers movie. Checked out the Web site today. It looks like some CGI/live action mix. Directed by Michael Bay (see the IMDB entry or the WikiPedia entry). I couldn’t stop laughing when I saw that last part. Pff! Michael Bay! Pfft! Transformers! Bwah-ha-ha-ha! Then I looked at the IMDB entry for this movie – they’re getting serious with a big-name cast. I wonder how much it’s going to suck. Oh, I guess this comment means I can’t join their Webmaster affiliate program (a blantant ploy for viral marketing).

Next, it was over to the movie trailers at Apple’s Web site for a little browsing. And I saw a trailer for a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. This one looks like CGI animation. But no Michael Bay.

Also teaser trailers for Spider-Man 3 (with villians Sandman, Hobgoblin, and perhaps Venom) and Casino Royale (not with cheese). Be advised that the Casino Royale trailer does not use QuickTime, but rather some different download (I think it’s a Java applet).

For anyone who stopped watching or paying attention to pro bicycle racing just because Lance Armstrong is no longer competing, you are missing one hell of a Tour de France. As of right now, the top three riders are separated by 30 seconds. That’s equivalent to 0.005% or so of the total time raced. In other words, pretty damn close.

The only thing missing is live audio feeds from OLN. They had them before, but I don’t know why they’re not offering them this year.

Well, I thought I hit post #200 the other day, but it turns out that due to a hiccup between Blogger and my Web browser, I seem to have posted the same thing three times. Plus, it was a post that I was glad didn’t make it, since I wanted to rewrite it. Stupid Blogger! (Take that in whatever sense suits you best, meaning either the program or me.)

Yes, I know I can go back and edit, but once released into the ether, I’d just rather leave things where they are. Especially since a Web Crawler probably picked it up anyway.

First, I just noticed that this is Post #200. Yea! Or something like that. A silly numerical milestone that indicates how often I’ve plopped my arse in front of the keyboard to bloviate. (For the unaware, here’s a nice Dictionary.com defintion for you.)

• Got up early to go running. I generally do that, to be able to get into work on time.
• Saw neighbor Bob up and smoking at about 6:10am. I guess the quitting thing isn’t going so well (sorry about that Bob).
• Almost got hit by a car whose driver believed the stop sign was optional. (AKA, the South Philly Slide; count down to #13 on this list.)
• Caught the first wet metallic garbage smell of the day a few minutes later. Sure sign that it’s going to be hot.
• Thinking about shooting a DJ who plays “Summer in the City” today, since it’s supposed to be about 100. (See the lyrics in case you’ve forgotten or just don’t know.)
• See the old couple walking (from the opposite way this morning, since I changed directions) – him in a ridiculously thin white button down shirt, her in a house dress. I have no idea where they go, but I see them almost every morning.
• Most interesting sight/sound of the morning: the definitely South Philly couple arguing at Broad and Snyder.
• Got on the bus to go to work around 8:20am. Made the mistake of getting on this bus; it’s insanely crowded. I’m standing just behind the yellow “stand behind this line” line, and the driver is still picking up people. About five stops later, he just drives by people.
• Buy Powerball tickets. At $100 million, I figure why not?
• Dodge people in the crosswalks at lunch to run a few errands.
• Spend 20 frickin’ minutes in line at the bank to cash two checks. Morons at PNC only have one teller working during lunch.
• Bought some Krazy Glue to help keep the rearview mirror on the Jeep in place. The new sticky pad to hold it in position isn’t 100%.
• Got a ride home from my wife today, who didn’t want me to “suffer” having to ride the bus home. I love her; she’s awesome!
• As I type and edit this post, I wonder why Apple doesn’t make a mouse with a scroll wheel. Then I checked and found out that they do, and it’s called the Mighty Mouse. And then I see the picture with the cord attached. I prefer my cordless keyboard and mouse.

OK, this is a little bit overdue, but a sure sign that the world is about to end is the fact that my father finally got a cell phone. Now this is not as sure an omen as the sea on fire or something like that, but it’s rather severe. However, since he only wants to use it for emergencies during his now hour-long commute each way to work (sorry about that, Dad), he has a prepaid model. I guess that’s better than nothing…

Here’s yet another article (this one from CNet) that demonstrates that the average journalist doesn’t know anything about patents, yet insists on writing about them with authority. The key problem here is the differentiation between a published patent application and an issued patent. The article treats published applications as if they were issued patents.

A published patent application is not necessarily the final form of a filed patent application (and most often is not, since the publication is generally made before prosecution begins and the claims are amended). The big difference is that a published patent application is interesting reading material, but has little value unless the application ultimately issues as a patent (the notice provisions and prior art value of the publication notwithstanding). An issued patent carries legal weight, based on the scope of the claims (the dense text at the end of a patent that defies normal grammatical rules).

It would be refreshing to see someone get it right. Or at least show some initiative to learn about the subject matter on which they write.

To: Ken Lay (ken@enron.com)
From: Saint Peter (saint.peter@pearlygates.org)
Re: Your death

Ken:

Word travels quickly nowadays (see, for example, this Houston Chronicle story, and hopefully you will receive this message before it’s too late to pack your Earthly possessions. Hint: pack asbestos underwear.

Normally, we here at PearlyGates do not pre-judge people, but since your sentencing was not going to be for another couple of months, you leave us with no choice. (See this article with some folks discussing justice in regards to you.)

Unlike your mortal days, we will not hide the truth: you’re going to Hell®. While in Hell®, for every penny of shareholder value you destroyed, you skin will be peeled from your body and then you will be dipped in rock salt. And when you’ve reached the target amount, they’ll start all over again. I’ve heard that’s rather painful.

Kindly report on time, or we will be forced to collect you. I can assure you that the latter will not be pleasant.

Regards,

Saint Peter