Chris Ullrich @ micro dot blog

It’s still Tuesday. At least for another hour and a half. We just came from a great dinner at Border Grill. It was fun. It was also fun when one of the ladies that owns the place, Susan, came to the table to see if everything was going ok. That was a nice touch and made the wife feel special and look cool to her High School buddies.

Plus, they sent over two giant plates of every dessert. They were all fantastic but I especially liked the Pastel Rufina, which is layers of puff pastry, sweetened cream cheese, chocolate chunks, and fresh berries. Man, that was good.

Anyway, here’s a few tech tidbits of news and stuff to get you through the night:

The fantastic people at the MPAA are suing two microchip makers, alleging they sold their products to makers of equipment that can be used to illegally copy DVDs.

Also, students at Northern Illinois University are testing a legal file downloading service. It is made by Ruckus Network, and was developed by a group of MIT students. NIU pays 5$ a month per student, and the students can get music, movies, TV shows, local content and community features.

John Dvorak over at ABC News is starting to question if it’s time to kill Microsoft Word. With Viable options like Open Office.org available for Windows and Mac OSX, as well as AbiWord and others, do we really need this bloatware anymore? I still use it but only because I already have it and I get it for free. If I didn’t, I would take a hard look at Open Office for sure.

Apple has issued a recall for Powerbook batteries. If you have a 15" Powerbook, be sure to check and see if yours is affected and get it replaced.

Lastly, if you are searching for great Mac deals, Wired has a story about dealmac, a site devoted to finding the best deal on everything Mac. To be fair, their is also a great site devoted to the Windows PC and other tech bargains. Check it out here.

Oh, one more thing. The Iraqi soccer team still has a chance to win a medal at the Olympics. They play Italy on Friday night to see who gets the bronze medal. Count the seconds before the Bush Campaign uses this in a commercial, especially if they do end up winning a medal. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Gotta have the political fix.

That’s all I can do right now. John Stewart has John Kerry on The Daily Show tonight. I don’t want to miss a minute of that. Although, ever vigilant TiVo will certainly record it.

Later.

It’s still Tuesday. At least for another hour and a half. We just came from a great dinner at Border Grill. It was fun. It was also fun when one of the ladies that owns the place, Susan, came to the table to see if everything was going ok. That was a nice touch and made the wife feel special and look cool to her High School buddies.

Plus, they sent over two giant plates of every dessert. They were all fantastic but I especially liked the Pastel Rufina, which is layers of puff pastry, sweetened cream cheese, chocolate chunks, and fresh berries. Man, that was good.

Anyway, here’s a few tech tidbits of news and stuff to get you through the night:

The fantastic people at the MPAA are suing two microchip makers, alleging they sold their products to makers of equipment that can be used to illegally copy DVDs.

Also, students at Northern Illinois University are testing a legal file downloading service. It is made by Ruckus Network, and was developed by a group of MIT students. NIU pays 5$ a month per student, and the students can get music, movies, TV shows, local content and community features.

John Dvorak over at ABC News is starting to question if it’s time to kill Microsoft Word. With Viable options like Open Office.org available for Windows and Mac OSX, as well as AbiWord and others, do we really need this bloatware anymore? I still use it but only because I already have it and I get it for free. If I didn’t, I would take a hard look at Open Office for sure.

Apple has issued a recall for Powerbook batteries. If you have a 15" Powerbook, be sure to check and see if yours is affected and get it replaced.

Lastly, if you are searching for great Mac deals, Wired has a story about dealmac, a site devoted to finding the best deal on everything Mac. To be fair, their is also a great site devoted to the Windows PC and other tech bargains. Check it out here.

Oh, one more thing. The Iraqi soccer team still has a chance to win a medal at the Olympics. They play Italy on Friday night to see who gets the bronze medal. Count the seconds before the Bush Campaign uses this in a commercial, especially if they do end up winning a medal. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself. Gotta have the political fix.

That’s all I can do right now. John Stewart has John Kerry on The Daily Show tonight. I don’t want to miss a minute of that. Although, ever vigilant TiVo will certainly record it.

Later.

I’m sitting at a Starbucks. I know, big surprise. I’m on the Third Street Promenade in beautiful Santa Monica. I’m here with the wife, although she is dozing in a nearby chair. We are hanging out waiting to go to dinner with two of her friends from High School who live in LA now.

But wait, I just heard we need to get going. I thought I had more time. But, you never have enough time, I guess. I’ll finish up with some news later tonight.

Later.

I’m sitting at a Starbucks. I know, big surprise. I’m on the Third Street Promenade in beautiful Santa Monica. I’m here with the wife, although she is dozing in a nearby chair. We are hanging out waiting to go to dinner with two of her friends from High School who live in LA now.

But wait, I just heard we need to get going. I thought I had more time. But, you never have enough time, I guess. I’ll finish up with some news later tonight.

Later.

Just in case you were worried. Don’t be. I’m not dead or horribly disfigured or anything of that nature. I’m fine. I’ve just been working and also dealing with some “life” stuff. You know what I mean. Like:

What are we going to do? How are we going to make ends meet or will we even have ends soon? Will I stay in my newest career or will something happen and I will need or want to switch? Will they call and give me good news or bad news or some other kind of news? What’s up with Donald Trump’s hair? Is Tom Cruise really gay? Will Mary-Kate stay out of rehab or will she go back to the pipe? You know, life stuff.

It’s fantastic that the wife found a job that she actually likes and looks forward to doing every day. It’s a welcome change for her and for me, to be sure. The only downside is the cash. The ducats. The moola. The dead presidents. In other words, the pay. Unfortunately, we had gotten used to a certain level of dough coming in and now that has been cut. And I mean cut.

Her new fantastic job pays way less than her old miserable job. Isn’t that just like life though? Something you hate pays way better than something you love. Should it not be the other way around? Bummer indeed.

I’m no better. I am doing something I really love too but it pays less than what I was doing before. Actually, on a strictly hourly basis, the new career pays more. However, what I gain in hourly I loose in volume. In other words, I just don’t have enough work and consequently, less dinero. Basically, I will have to give up the independent, freelance life and sell out to the man (or woman) who will grant me full-time, gainful employment or I will end up living in a box near a freeway overpass. At least I will still have lots of tech gadgets and a big tv! I’ll be the envy of the other homeless guys!

What’s a pretty intelligent, hard-working, fun guy like me to do? Why bitch about it right here of course. Glad you asked! I like this space because I get to say whatever I want and it actually helps to get all this out. I’m pretty sure only a handful of people are reading this and none of them actually know me personally so I can pretty much say whatever I like without fear of embarrassment or recrimination. That’s a good feeling. And Tom, if you are reading this, go fuck yourself. Man, that feels good. Wow!

If any family or friends are out their reading this feel free to comment or call us and offer your words of advice. More important though, please make your checks out to . . . well, you know if you know. I’m only joking. Really. . . Just send cash. Or gold. Gold is good.

It’s odd. When you are young (under thirty) you feel like you can do anything and nothing really gets you down (at least that’s how it was for me). Now, I have come to the realization of late that I can’t actually do anything I want. I guess it finally happened. Sometime in the last year or two I grew up. Double bummer (no, that’s really bad. Let’s go at least triple bummer for that one).

What does all this mean you may be wondering? Is their a point sometime soon? Here it is. Be sure to do everything you can to get what you want while you still feel like you have all the time in the world because someday, you won’t. But, when that day comes, you can bitch too. Just like me. So you got that going for you at least, which is nice.

Later.

Just in case you were worried. Don’t be. I’m not dead or horribly disfigured or anything of that nature. I’m fine. I’ve just been working and also dealing with some “life” stuff. You know what I mean. Like:

What are we going to do? How are we going to make ends meet or will we even have ends soon? Will I stay in my newest career or will something happen and I will need or want to switch? Will they call and give me good news or bad news or some other kind of news? What’s up with Donald Trump’s hair? Is Tom Cruise really gay? Will Mary-Kate stay out of rehab or will she go back to the pipe? You know, life stuff.

It’s fantastic that the wife found a job that she actually likes and looks forward to doing every day. It’s a welcome change for her and for me, to be sure. The only downside is the cash. The ducats. The moola. The dead presidents. In other words, the pay. Unfortunately, we had gotten used to a certain level of dough coming in and now that has been cut. And I mean cut.

Her new fantastic job pays way less than her old miserable job. Isn’t that just like life though? Something you hate pays way better than something you love. Should it not be the other way around? Bummer indeed.

I’m no better. I am doing something I really love too but it pays less than what I was doing before. Actually, on a strictly hourly basis, the new career pays more. However, what I gain in hourly I loose in volume. In other words, I just don’t have enough work and consequently, less dinero. Basically, I will have to give up the independent, freelance life and sell out to the man (or woman) who will grant me full-time, gainful employment or I will end up living in a box near a freeway overpass. At least I will still have lots of tech gadgets and a big tv! I’ll be the envy of the other homeless guys!

What’s a pretty intelligent, hard-working, fun guy like me to do? Why bitch about it right here of course. Glad you asked! I like this space because I get to say whatever I want and it actually helps to get all this out. I’m pretty sure only a handful of people are reading this and none of them actually know me personally so I can pretty much say whatever I like without fear of embarrassment or recrimination. That’s a good feeling. And Tom, if you are reading this, go fuck yourself. Man, that feels good. Wow!

If any family or friends are out their reading this feel free to comment or call us and offer your words of advice. More important though, please make your checks out to . . . well, you know if you know. I’m only joking. Really. . . Just send cash. Or gold. Gold is good.

It’s odd. When you are young (under thirty) you feel like you can do anything and nothing really gets you down (at least that’s how it was for me). Now, I have come to the realization of late that I can’t actually do anything I want. I guess it finally happened. Sometime in the last year or two I grew up. Double bummer (no, that’s really bad. Let’s go at least triple bummer for that one).

What does all this mean you may be wondering? Is their a point sometime soon? Here it is. Be sure to do everything you can to get what you want while you still feel like you have all the time in the world because someday, you won’t. But, when that day comes, you can bitch too. Just like me. So you got that going for you at least, which is nice.

Later.

I just read this article about Scramjet Technology. Very cool so check it out. Actually, the whole website is pretty interesting, if you are a tech geek like me. Or, if you just like cool things that go fast.

Short entry today as I am late for an appointment.

Later.

Happy birthday Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) which turns 30 this year. NPR even has story about it. Also, Gamespy is doing a bunch of stuff in honor of the birthday as well.

I used to love the game. It was fun and helped you use your imagination. Once, we played for three straight days. Even got our pictures in the paper (it was a pretty small town back then). To top it off, I sent a letter to E. Gary Gygax, one of the inventors of the game, and told him about our “marathon” game of D&D.

He was impressed and wrote a nice letter back. He also sent me a bunch of free adventure packs and levels so we could keep on playing. Also during that time, we almost went across the country to go to the Gencon convention so I could play D&D with hundreds of other geeks just like me. Unfortunately, I ended up getting sick so we didn’t go. But my parents would have done it. They were pretty cool and helped me do quite a few things if I showed an interest. It was nice and I appreciate it to this day.

In other news, Jane Pauley is bipolar. And John Kerry is pissed off. I don’t blame him. They guy saved someone’s life and now they are calling him a liar. Isn’t politics wonderful?

More and more each day I really dislike our President and his goons. If by some miracle the country has a giant brain fart and votes to keep him in office, I am seriously considering moving. It’s a shame, I really like it here. I just don’t know if I can be part of George Bush’s vision for America and watch him run this country into the ground. Let’s hope the decision is made for me and he loses, big time.

Sorry, I really was going to try and stay away from politics but this stuff makes me angry sometimes. I’ll be fine though, don’t worry. Deep breath. Deep breath. Deep breath. . .

Later.

This is really great. 16-year old Carly Patterson wins Olympic Gold in the women’s all-around gymnastics for only the second time in history. The first time was in 1984 during the boycotted Olympics. Not to take anything away from Mary Lou but this was the first time where all the gymnasts showed up, including the Russian diva Svetlana Khorkina, so its especially great for Carly and the US.

I didn’t think I would care but over the last few days watching the competition, I realized that these girls (and guys) have worked the asses off trying to get to Athens and its the least I can do to watch them. So, there it is. Plus, despite all of NBC’s forced drama, the competition still is very dramatic in itself with some pretty close swimming races and gymnastics events decided by tenths of points.

On a much more somber note, do we really need this. I have read a few reviews already and they all agree that it was a very bad idea and turned out to be a giant piece of crap. Even though I worked in the business, and still do, I can not understand how complete hacks keep getting work. Didn’t the people at Morgan Creek see “Driven”? I just don’t get it.

I will get into this more but now I must go and do some work (gotta pay the bills and all).

Later.

It’s nice to know that when I make a mistake I correct it in a public way. Yesterday, I tried to use my Dell Laptop which, as we all know, runs Windows XP Pro, to post some thought to this here blog. Suffice to say it didn’t not go exactly as planned.

I do not fault the good folks who make ecto, my blog software of choice. They have written and provide a nice bit of instruction for any and all users to look at and follow. Sadly, I did not partake of the bit of knowledge. In short, I did not RTFM. But now, all is well and I can get back to doing what I like to do without fear of mushed up text.

I realize that as a human being, I am prone to mistakes. Sometimes, really stupid mistakes. This is one of those times and I am sure more are to follow. I’m not trying to be hard on myself just to be hard on myself. But I am a technology consultant for corn sake. If I can’t use the damn software correctly, and I’m supposed to know how, then who can? Oh yeah, RTFM and all will be well.

They really need to teach that in school. All I learned in my early days of school was that girls had cooties and it was fun to play Dungeons and Dragons all day instead of doing any actual school work. If you are not familiar with Dungeons and Dragons, its what we nerds did before we all got these fancy computers at home and started playing “Call of Duty” or “Medal of Honor” or “Madden 2004” or whatever is the hot title du jour.

I was sort of an oddity in the world of nerddom. I was, and still are, quite a geek, loving the tech and gadgets as I do. However, I was also a jock too. Kind of an odd mixture. I had friends that played sports and friends that played video games. I guess I was lucky and had a pretty good time in high school. Although, I did not go to my 10 year reunion and have no plans to attend the 20 year either when it arrives.

My best friends in high school are still my friends and I am still in touch with them. None of them live in LA so getting together is sometimes difficult but we manage. In fact, one of my friends, Steve, is planning a big party in a few weeks which me and mine will be attending. I expect some good amounts of various cocktails will be imbibed that day (or we will all get tired and go to bed by 10).

Perhaps I will remember to take some pictures and post them somewhere. Maybe even here or on the Moblog. Probably, I will just snap a few and forget about them until I discover them again down the road. That’s kind of fun actually.

Well, I actually have to do some work tomorrow pretty early so its off to bed for me to try and go to sleep. Wish me luck.

Later.

Ok, I’m dumb. The mushed together thing is fixed. We now return you to the Olympics already in progress.

Later.

I don’t know why the previous post was all bunched together like it is. Curious. I guess that’s the difference between the Macintosh and Windows versions of ecto. Bummer. I hate it when its all mushed together like that. I guess I will get over it.

Before I forget, go check out The Red Venus Love Army at their website. They are a cool band based in Portland and are starting to get noticed. Also, my brother-in-law is in the band so I might be a little biased. Whatever, their still a great band. Actually, my brother-in-law, Sam, is really in at least three bands. He’s that good.

The other two bands are thebrotheregg and twinklelingus. Go check them out immediately as well. And buy their cd and other stuff. Support independent artists.

Ok, now I really gotta go. It’s the women’s gymnastics team competition and I just love that Carly Patterson and Courtney Kupets. I know its already over but TiVo got it for me. Thanks TiVo.

Later.

Yeah, I know. I hate test posts too. But I gotta check out the new version of ecto for Windows and I am also testing out my Dell laptop now that I have applied Windows XP Service Pack 2. I have to say, so far, so good on both counts. SP2 seems to have not broken anything, at least so far and the version of ecto for Windows seems to work well too. So, that’s good.

In case you don’t know, ecto is my prefered blog software on the Macintosh. Now, they have it for Windows too. It works with all the popular services like Moveable Type, Typepad, Blogger and Atom so no worries. I use Typepad myself and would use MoveableType if I was running my own server at the moment, but I’m not. I will again in the future but right now, it is easier to have someone else do it for me.

And I really like the folks at Typepad so go check them out. Also, check out ecto as well for the best blogging software around for the Macintosh and so far, for Windows too.

Also, I have some new links to your right and especially find the Starbucks one pretty interesting. As many of you know, I frequent Starbucks so this bit of insider info is pretty cool. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

And, much to my surprise, I am actually watching the Olympics way more than I thought I would. Maybe its because of the lack of anything else on TV. I don’t know. I still think NBC should have had more coverage of the Democratic Convention but are doing and ok job covering the Olympics. Not too much over the top family stories of courage or anything like that. Some, but not over-the-top yet.

What can I say? I guess you can call me a flip-flopper.

Later.

So, that thing I mentioned a few posts ago that I was waiting to hear about, I heard about. One thing isn’t going to work out but another thing is still in the running. So, I’m still waiting. Now, however, I need to see some more people and then have them decide if I’m cool enough for school.

Whatever the outcome, it was an interesting process. I have not gone through this process in my entire life. It’s all new to me so therefore, not annoying and pretty interesting. I still don’t want to divulge what I am talking about for fear of something happening or not happening. I’ve just been conditioned over the years not to talk about things until they actually happen. So, there it is.

I think its just a defense mechanism to prevent me from investing too much into something for fear of being disappointed. Although it doesn’t always work as evidenced by the last week or so and my troubles going to sleep. Too much thinking going on. Not always good. I guess I really will never learn.

Ok, enough of that, let’s talk about some news and tech stuff:

Happy birthday Alfred Hitchcock. One of the greatest film directors of all time. Windows XP Service Pack 2 is now available through Windows Update. However, some problems have been reported. Might be worth waiting a bit before upgrading. I’m going to try it today and see what happens.

Jeffrey Lee Parsons, a 19-year-old from Minnesota, has plead guilty to creating and spreading the Blaster-B worm. He based it on the original Blaster whose author remains at-large. Parsons is not the brightest banana in the bunch - he simply rewrote the original virus to make it nastier, and then distributed it under his own chat handle, making it easy for cops to track him down. It’s unlikely they’ll ever catch the guy (or gal) who really started it.

DVD Jon is at it again. First he breaks the CSS encryption on DVDs, then he cracks the iTunes Music Store copy protection, now he claims to have broken the encryption in Apple’s Airport Express Wi-Fi device, allowing it to be used for more than just iTunes music sharing.

Google’s Initial Public Offering was almost delayed again, this time because founders Larry Page and Sergei Brin have revealed too much in the pages of Playboy. The auction is scheduled to begin today amid fears that the interview may have violated the SEC mandated Quiet Period. No action has been forthcoming from the SEC so if you registered in time, point your browsers to ipo.google.com and let the bidding begin.

Oh, and I think the Olympics are going on. The USA has won a few medals for swimming and some other stuff. I have a hard time watching the Olympics because I can’t stand the other things that are shown besides the sports. I just want the sports. I don’t need the tales of human tragedy that it took to get to the Olympics. I just want to watch the sports.

The other thing that puzzles me and angers me is that NBC is showing something like 2000 hours of Olympic coverage. How many hours of the democratic National Convention did they show? 3. Something’s wrong there. Is it because NBC is owned by General Electric and GE is a big Bush supporter? I’m sure that’s not it.

Later.

Ok, here’s an entry. So what? Fine, I’ll try. For fun, I went to the Electronic Arts party last night. EA makes a crap-load of video games including many sports titles and other FPS (first-person-shooter) games that I play. It was fun.

Why was I at a party for a company that makes video games you may ask? Because of the free beer and food. Duh? Really, I was there because a good friend was putting on the party for EA so I got the hookup. Also, there is a remote possibility that I may do some work in one form or another for EA so that was the other reason for attending. Cash.

If I had any complaints I would say that my main one was the fact that the attendees consisted mostly of dudes. Many of them pizza-faced and pale from too many hours playing a LAN game of “Battlefield:Vietnam” or far too many hours of “Everquest”. Or, as many people refer to it: “EverCrack”.

I realize that they comprise the majority of game players and game makers but for my money I prefer a few more females, if only for something more interesting to look at. My other complaint was that some of the food wasn’t fantastic. But again, it was free so I did not nor will I ever complain to anyone. I’m not stupid, I want to be invited back.

It’s a very nice “campus” as they call it complete with fitness center, cafeteria, full-size basketball court and all the other perks that while on the surface seem cool but if you think about it are really there so you don’t have an excuse to go home very often. What they want, and I would be prepared to give, is a long-term commitment of time and energy.

It’s much like the movie business in that the games are to be released on a certain day in time for the xmas rush or whatever and you will make that deadline even if it means sleeping, eating, working out and shitting at the office. Oh, the restrooms were very clean and well-appointed as well. FYI.

I don’t have a problem with this approach as long as everyone knows what they are getting into. People are adults, for the most part, and have to take responsibility for their own decisions, no matter how stupid they may be.

Hey, we are all stupid sometimes. Just look at those morons who are doing the anti-Kerry add calling themselves “Swift-Boat Crews for Truth” or some similar bullshit. I bet they feel pretty stupid. At least I hope they do. Man, I hope they do. . .

Later.

It seems that in this crazy world the time just slips away. I can’t believe that I haven’t done a blog entry in 6 days. What’s wrong with me? Do I not have anything to say? I find it hard to believe that I don’t what with all the political, social, economic and other stuff going on in the world today. But really, let’s just talk about me for a minute.

I have been, as the kids say, hella busy these last several days. It’s nice to be busy and to have things to do but it sure gets in the way of other pursuits that I find much more fun than working. You know what I’m talking about. Taking pictures, reading a good book, seeing a show, going to Starbucks so I can get my fix and many of the other things that make life great.

I know we all have to work but man, what a pain in the ass. Why wasn’t I smart enough to get into the tech world while the dot boom was still going on? Then I could have just made my millions and seen the world. Too late.

The real trick now is to figure out what the next big thing is going to be and get in on it while its still big and before it blows up in everyone’s face. If I only knew what that thing was I would be in good shape. I will keep my eyes and ears open.

Oh, I might have some good news in the next few days so if I do, I will report it here. If it doesn’t work out like I think it will I will not mention it ever again. However, if you feel like it, wish me luck or tell me to “break a leg” or any other positive saying you care to contribute. I need all the luck and good wishes I can get.

Now, the news. ENIAC, the world’s first all-electronic digital computer, was turned on on this day in 1947. So was Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Francis Crick, discoverer of the structure of DNA, has died at the age of 88.

Apple is calling Real Networks reverse engineering of the iTunes DRM “breaking and entering.” “We are stunned that RealNetworks has adopted the tactics and ethics of a hacker to break into the iPod, and we are investigating the implications of their actions under the DMCA.” They also say that it’s highly unlikely that Real’s technology will work with future firmware updates.

Microsoft demonstrated its “google killer” today, an all-in-one search that can find things on your hard drive as well as on the Internet. Maybe it can find the Longhorn engineers whose jobs are going to India.

Also, CNN has a story about six people being beaten to death because of an XBox gaming console. If they had asked, I would have given them mine. I don’t need it that bad.

Later.

It’s Saturday and I’m sleepy. Just had lunch at Mo’s and I ate too much so now I feel like sleeping. Fortunately, we are going to Starbucks and I will be able to get the much-needed jolt I require to make it through the rest of the day. It’s sad, really, that it has come to this. I go to Starbucks pretty much every day, at least once.

On average, my drink, an iced, grande, soy, two-pump mocha costs about four bucks. So, if I go to get one at least once a day every weekday, that’s 20 bucks a week or 100 bucks a month. That can add up. I never thought that much about it but that’s at least 1200 bucks a year. My car insurance isn’t that much and I live in Los Angeles. Interesting.

I’m sure Starbucks appreciates my business. If I’m a typical patron then It’s no wonder that I see a new Starbucks pop up on almost every corner of any town I visit. I even saw one in India when I was there so how about that? The most blatant was when I was in Vancouver a few years ago and on one corner of a four-way intersection was a Starbucks and on the opposite corner was another one. The best part: they were both packed with people.

Back then, I didn’t understand the need for the fix. I wasn’t a junkie then. I actually don’t think I am addicted now I just like to go and get a drink. It’s more of a social thing much of the time. I go with people and hang out. Or, I take the laptop as I am now and write something in the blog or check e-mail or whatever.

I do have one big problem with Starbucks, though. They charge way to much for internet access. It’s pretty lame, actually. It’s probably T-Mobile’s fault, the bastards. There are places in LA where I can go and get free internet and coffee but I don’t go there. Even though I think the price is a rip-off I still use it, as I am now.

What the hell is wrong with me? To answer that would take way too much time and goes beyond just Starbucks so we will leave the self-analysis for another time. I can hear the collective sigh of relief now.

I think it really comes down to the fact that their are more cute girls at Starbucks. Or, I actually like the coffee. It might be both. It probably is. Plus, they have big chairs so that’s nice too. And, they let you hang out all day for the price of one drink. All that’s great and must be the reasons.

No, it’s probably just the girls.

Later.

It’s the second day of the Democratic National Convention. This is the place where all the major Dems gather to tell us why their ideas are better than the other guys and also where they anoint the team that will make a run for the Presidency. Really, why bother with al of this? We all know who is going to be the Democratic team that is running for President. Does anyone think it will be Al Sharpton or Ralph Nader? Probably not.

Instead, let’s just focus on getting the Kerry/Edwards message out and have them come to the stage and say what they have to say. This whole process could be over in one day instead of four. Do we really need to hear four days of speeches? Although, it was nice to hear from President Carter. He’s still pretty spry for an 80-year-old.

Really though, four days? If it wasn’t for all the bashing of the other guys I might be able to watch more of it. Does anyone really believe that the Democrats are going to do anything other than promote their ideas and say how stupid (not in so many words) the other guys are. I think President Clinton said it best with his “Strength and Wisdom are not mutually exclusive” statement. That was pretty good. Still, four days is quite a bit.

I guess the real problem for me is that they are preaching to the converted or insert colorful metaphor here. I am already going to vote for John Kerry and John Edwards. Done deal. I can’t think of anyone who isn’t except maybe my parents who are old school republicans, much to my disappointment.

I think they vote republican because they have always voted republican not because of the issues, necessarily. Although my parents are pretty smart so I don’t know. We try not to get into very many political discussions. It never goes well.

The good news is that we have the Republican convention to look forward to in a few weeks. Whatever the Democrats say here I’m sure will be expertly countered by the brain-trust that is our current administration. It will probably be something to the tune of “oh yeah, so what” or something equally brilliant.

Sadly, their are still people in this country who love George Bush. I feel for them. I really do. Although, they probably think I’m stupid for voting Democrat. Oh yeah, so what?

Later.