Coolest iphone app yet
July 22nd, 2008This is really just a test. I’m writing this on my iPhone, using the just made available wordpress for iPhone app from the app store.
For good measure, here’s an attempt to post a photo directly as well.
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what i did on my summer vacation…
July 20th, 2008Well, it’s the last day of my vacation, and I’m just about ready to get back to work. Things I did:
Movies: saw Wall-E, Wanted, Hellboy II and The Dark Knight (which was super fantastic awesome go see it now!).
Cycling: took several trips down to battery park, and up to fort washington. In total, I biked about 70 miles over the past two weeks (usually in 12-14 mile increments every couple of days). Also, about to sign up for the NYC Century Bike Tour.
Friends: saw several friends, including one friend who I haven’t seen since college, and another who had a baby three weeks ago. Also managed to catch a cold from another friend’s 11 month old.
Culture: not quite as much as last year, but I did go see the Dali exhibit at the MoMA on wednesday. That was pretty awesome. Although my dad and I both decided that the films would make much more sense to someone if they were on drugs.
That’s about it. I also read a few books, took a lot of naps, and generally learned how to not check my blackberry every 5 minutes. oh, and I got an iphone.
Posted in cycling, friends, miscellaney, movies, new york city | Comments (0)
happy (belated) birthday!
July 15th, 2008In all of my distraction over my new iphone, I completely neglected to notice that this blog had a birthday on Sunday. I’ve been keeping this thing going (at varying rates of posting) for five years. Started on June 12, 2003, so that I could essentially have a place to vent, it’s been through elections, moving, renovations, living in foreign countries, and lot’s and lot’s of customer service issues. It’s also been reinvented a few times (anyone remember when it was hosted on .mac and was bright orange?). About a year ago, I finally moved into the blogging equivalent of the 21st century and moved to wordpress, which I have pretty consistently loved since then (I can post from my phone!). So, here’s to another five years.
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iphone!
July 11th, 2008Yes, I actually got up super early this morning, got on line at the apple store in midtown, and got a new iphone. I’d like to point to the fact that I never bought the first one as some sort of proof that I don’t immediately jump on every apple bandwagon that comes my way, but…who am I kidding. In any event, there were massive problems at the apple store, which I got to experience firsthand. In addition to the activation problems there was a big problem with the AT&T servers that allowed us to sign up for accounts, so I probably ended up spending over 2 hours in the store once I had gotten inside (that was after waiting on line for two hours). It wasn’t unpleasant though. I basically hung out with the apple nerds (ahem, i mean “geniuses”), who were stuck not being able to do anything because they couldn’t access the iTunes store. They spent a non-insignificant amount of time trying to get me to go get their manager to let them download movies off of itunes so that we could at least “entertain” all of the people stuck in the store. I didn’t do it, because I am a pill. The guy behind me on the activation line though - seriously needed some stress management classes. Little hint to those people who “need” their phone immediately? Don’t decide to port your number on the first day of the friggin’ launch. You’ll be much happier waiting a few days until they work the kinks out. Anyway, I think the nerds liked me so much because I was extremely calm and patient about the whole thing. It helped that I had nowhere else to be.
And then…
about 30 seconds after I walked out of the store, I decided to take the iphone out of the box because it was buzzing (most likely with ‘welcome’ texts from AT&T), and the phone slipped out of the box and landed face down on the cobblestone sidewalk of central park south and the screen cracked into about a gazillion pieces. I thought I was going to have a heart attack.
But I calmly walked back to the store, got the security people to let me cut the line (after showing them the devastation), and the store people were very very very nice and very sorry about what happened, and exchanged the very damaged phone for a new one. It took a little while, because we had to re-port all of my account information, and they said I was actually pretty lucky that it was launch day, because tomorrow they might not have been allowed to do this, but in the end, I’m home with a shiny, fully functional, non-broken iphone currently syncing with my computer. And I’m keeping it in the soft-sided pouch that I used for my iPod Touch.
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photographic proof that I biked to battery park
July 8th, 2008Photos that I took on Tuesday while biking from the upper west side to battery park
Hudson River Greenway and Battery Park 2008
Posted in cycling, new york city, photos | Comments (0)
vacation update, day 2
July 8th, 2008I promise I’m not going to do this every day. Frankly, no one wants to read repeated blog entries about just how little I can do every day. But today was exciting - I took my bike out for a “real” ride (i.e., not going in a circle around the park). The plan was to go down to Madison Square, or Union Square, and maybe get a shake at the shake shack. Anyway, I got going down the Hudson River Greenway, and before I even realized it, I was all the way downtown at ground zero. So I tooled around Battery Park for a little while, took some pictures, drank lots of water (it was really warm out), and then got back on my bike and rode all the way home. it was a 13-14 mile round trip, and I was gross and sweaty and desperate to get in my shower at the end, but not “tired”. In fact, my legs didn’t hurt at all. I actually thought at the time that, but for the oppressive heat and humidity, I could have kept going.
This is a really big change from a year ago, when i took my bike to the park and could barely go 3 miles without exhausting myself. That was the day I decided to join the gym.
Plans for the rest of the week? More bike rides, although tomorrow is a personal training day, so I probably won’t be biking around the island. All you can eat sushi tomorrow night with my dad and brother (have I mentioned that it’s kind of weird to have my brother actually living in the city again? good, but weird. I was so used to our regularly scheduled Friday afternoon IM sessions with him on the other side of the world). Tentative dinner plans with a friend from college who I haven’t seen in about 13 years, thanks to Facebook (and yes, I’m totally addicted now).
As far as Friday, I’m currently debating whether to attempt to go get a 3G iphone. I certainly didn’t plan my vacation around the iphone release, but since I’m definitely planning on getting one, it does seem kind of stupid to NOT get one while I’ve got plenty of time to wait on line. Although I’m definitely not going to be one of those people who is already waiting on line…
Posted in apple, cycling, family, friends, new york city, weather | Comments (0)
What I’ve done (so far) on my summer vacation
July 7th, 2008Ok. So I’m only one day in (not counting the July 4 holiday, which everyone had off), and I’ve gotten just about nothing accomplished, except…
Saturday: ran my typical saturday morning errands. Then took my bike out to the park. where I proceeded to end up soaking wet when the skies opened up and dumped ginormous buckets of water on me when I was halfway around the park. Needless to say, I only did one lap around the park (whereas I managed 2 on Friday).
Sunday: helped my brother move into his new apartment, which consisted of (1) sitting in the car while my dad and brother actually carried everything upstairs, (2) putting together some shelves, and (3) buying my brother a sandwich.
Today: Half day at Bliss (deep tissue massage and super facial). Extra added bonus of getting home to discover that my laundry hadn’t been picked up, so annoying phone calls about that.
Not a bad three days. Particularly given that the two big things I had planned are now out of the way. I just have lots of sleeping, bike riding, and meals with friends and family for the next two weeks. Maybe I’ll go see the Dali exhibit at the MoMA.
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Happy July 4th!
July 4th, 2008When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government…
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I’m Free!
July 4th, 2008My staycation started today, although since everyone is off today, it’s a bit too “weekend-y” in the city at the moment. When I took my bike to the park this morning (2 laps! 12 miles!), it seemed that every single horse drawn carriage (and the corresponding horsesh*t) was out on the drive. I’m very excited though. Over two whole weeks without having to do anything. Except visit a friend who had a baby the other day. And help my brother move. And clean out my closets. Somehow, as always happens, I’m going to get back to work on the 21st, and discover that I didn’t do half the stuff I originally planned to. At least this year I feel fairly certain that my stepmother’s company isn’t going to completely restructure, eliminating her entire department and cause me to spend at least 2 hours a day at my parents’ apartment teaching them the wonders of Gmail. Because I got to do that last year! At least I no longer have to sit around waiting for the cable guy tomorrow. Looks like it’ll be another good day for a bike ride (maybe this time I’ll remember to bring my camera).
And yes, my day at Bliss has already been scheduled for Monday…
Posted in good things, miscellaney, new york city | Comments (0)
voila!
July 2nd, 2008So, after a week without internet, and multiple phone calls to time warner wherein it was determined that nothing could be done except send a tech out next Saturday, I got home tonight, sat down on my couch, looked at my cable modem (which is normally perched on top of my cable box), and noticed that all of the lights were back on. And now I have internet again. As evidenced by this post. which I’m writing from home.
I almost don’t know what to do with myself. There’s so. much. information!
Although I’m not cancelling my service call until Friday, because I need to see if this sticks for more than 24 hours.
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ahh, internet…sweet, sweet internet…
June 30th, 2008No, my internet at home hasn’t been fixed. It just happens to be Monday, meaning that I’m back at work.
This is not to say that I didn’t try to get my internet working this weekend, even going so far as to trek down to the time warner office on 23rd street to swap out my cable modem. But when I plugged the new one in, I had the exact same problem I was having before. Apparently, somewhere along the line, there’s something preventing my modem from communicating with the time warner server. So unless it somehow fixes itself (which is obviously doubtful), I have to wait for my scheduled “appointment” of 2-6pm on Saturday. I really, really, really, really hope this works.
I know I’m a particularly heavy internet user, but even I didn’t realize how much I had come to rely on it. E-mail actually wasn’t the problem. My blackberry still worked for basic communication. But everything from ordering food delivery to checking the weather is now done, at least in part, through the web. I had to hold off returning some films to netflix because I didn’t know what was next in my queue. When I decided to go see WALL*E last night, I had to hope it wasn’t sold out because I couldn’t check fandango. And let’s not even get into the fact that Google Reader has stopped counting how many unread articles I’ve got, because when you hit 1000, all it says is “1000+”. Oh, and updating my blog. Or checking facebook. Or paying bills(!).
I haven’t faced withdrawal this bad since I gave up diet coke.
Posted in bitching, blogging, technology | Comments (0)
yet again, Time Warner blows goats
June 26th, 2008I’m posting this from my blackberry because my internet has completely gone kaput at home. Which I was very happy to discover when I got home from work after 10 tonight.
Then, of course, I called time warner, where, after wading through 18 menus of phone tree, I finally got through…or so I thought. No. Now they have what is known as an “automated troubleshooter”, so I have to answer about 1800 questions (reconfirming each time) that are on the technical “support” level of “did you unplug and replug in the modem?”
Finally, I just started shouting “operator” into the phone. At which point I spent another 10 minutes on hold before getting connected to some person who claimed to be technical support. Who refused to help me until I figured out how to connect my computer (in my office) with my modem (in my living room), because they won’t even speak to you if you use a wireless router that you don’t pay them for. Nevermind that the issue has nothing to do with the computer end of the phone and is entirely due to the fact that the “cable” light is no longer going on.
So then, after she does the ridiculously minimal “live” troubleshooting that just repeats what the automated voice made me do, she defaults to having to set up a service appointment. Which of course sets up another argument about the fact that the “emergency” service group that could maybe come this weekend is closed, and it’s looking like I’m going to have to wait until july 5th to get someone here.
Of course, normally I’d consider bagging on a weekday next week, but given that it’s the last week I’m in before I go on vacation, AND some work kind of blew up today meaning that next week might be kind of busy anyway, I thought actually going to work would be a good idea. Particularly since I CAN’T WORK FROM HOME WITHOUT INTERNET!
Maybe its time to find out if my building is wired for FIOS.
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Even a stopped clock is right once in a while…
June 20th, 2008I don’t often (read: pretty much never) have good things to say about the current administration, but once in a blue moon, I’ve got to give credit where credit is due, since it was apparently Secretary Rice who pushed this through the UN Security Council:
Believe it or not, the U.N. Security Council has only now declared rape a war crime. In fact, just last year, a similar resolution to define rape as a weapon of war failed to pass; China, Russia and South Africa deemed it an unfortunate byproduct, rather than a strategy, of war. But during a special Security Council session Thursday, led by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, that stale baloney was belatedly tossed in the garbage. “I am proud that today we respond to that lingering question with a resounding yes,” Rice said. “This world body now acknowledges that sexual violence in conflict zones is indeed a security concern. We affirm that sexual violence profoundly affects not only the health and safety of women, but the economic and social stability of their nations.”
So…one genuine good thing in seven and a half years. That’s about right.
Posted in current events, feminism, politics and law | Comments (0)
First mistake of the day…
June 20th, 2008Reading David Brooks.
Brooks, is shocked, just shocked! that Obama has turned out to be (gasp!) a politician!
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things I like to read
June 18th, 2008One of the less typical blogs that I read with regularity is Arthur Frommer Online. Frommer, who has been writing about travel for 50 or so years, has some really good insights into the travel industry. While he does, of course, often post about travel deals and whatnot, much of the time his writing takes on a more…political…bent. He writes about how to travel cost effectively even in the era of the declining dollar. Whether you should or shouldn’t travel to various unstable parts of the world, and lately, he’s been on a tear about Amtrak.
I’ve never quite understood why we have such crappy rail service in the US, compared to Europe. Over there, I could bicycle across France secure in the knowledge that if I got tired, there was a nearby train to take me and my bike to the next town. And it was completely sensible and both time and cost effective to travel by high-speed rail from Brig, Switzerland to Paris, France. A distance that would have pretty much required flying in this country. As someone who regularly used amtrak to go between philly and nyc when I was in school, I’m very excited to see some real movement to encourage train use in this country. It’s too bad that it took getting completely screwed by the oil industry to get there.
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