Inspiration is really a devine experience and one that is often taken for granted. Rarely do I have such ambition bestowed upon me by the day and from the looks of others' work around me they too are short on this gift. The inference is not that others do poor work because there are many fine works available in a variety of disciplines. However, there are truly very few inspired efforts. In my life I've generally only had a dozen or so inspired moments, the grand majority of which I ignored in favor of another sandwich.

That being said, most of the work that one Cory Doctorow has undertaken appears to be quite inspired. Science fiction authors are not normally accused of being graced with such capabilities unless their name happens to rhyme with or be Gaiman, Sterling, Dick, Asimov, or Huxley. Yet, Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom was one of the better if not great little works of said genre.

Now, Mr. Craphound himself is on the verge of releasing a collection of short stories entitled A Place So Foreign and Eight More which you may preorder at Amazon.

If this edition is anything like his previous works of fiction then expect something that not only is inspired but inspiring. I might even be willing to forsake a sandwich for such a moment.

I watched The Last Picture Show today. Actually going on my second showing to be precise. I must have seen Giant about a dozen times in the last few months too. It's hard to get tired of either one of these films. Getting lost in stories about Jacy, Duane, and Sonny or the rivalry between the Benedicts and Rinks is quite easy. The melancholy of either film sucks me in every time they hit the screen. Makes me miss Texas even though I'm not sure the periods represented in these movies exist in modern West Texas.

The Last Picture Show is a stark depiction of teen life in a small town where class struggles are played out via sexual trists while Hank Williams croons. Duane and Sonny are the town football stars who can't seem to win a game and are generally more interested in chasing Jacy, the daughter of an oil barron. Their efforts to just get along are portrayed in glorious black and white and feature young Timothy Bottoms, Cybil Sheppard, and Jeff Bridges.

Giant is also a film about class struggles. James Dean plays Jett Rink, a wildcatter who lusts for riches and Bick Benedict's wife. Benedict is the established oil rancher who owns Reata. Over the decades, Rink strikes it rich and quickly sets his sights on Reata and Benedict's daughter. Giant is a wonderful film that chronicles the cycle of wealth that exists in a small oil town. This was James Dean's last film and he starred opposite Rock Hudson and Liz Taylor.

Finally, Texasville is the 1990 followup to The Last Picture Show and picks up with Duane deeply in debt as his oil company fights off OPEC. Sonny has taken over for Sam as the town hero but is losing his mind as Ruth Popper cares for him. Duane's family life is a mess--his daughter breaks hearts on a routine basis, his son romances every woman he sees, and his twins are the terror of the town. Duane's life become more complex as Jacy Farrow returns to town igniting his passion for her. Jacy quickly takes more interest in the rest of Duane's family than in Duane.

Anyway, give either flick a chance and if you're up for a double feature like they used to run at the Royal rent Texasville, the sequel to The Last Picture Show.

I'm certainly an Americana music fan. It's closest to what I remember playing on the radio in my father's beat up red Chevy pickup on our way to the barbershop Saturday mornings. My childhood was filled with Charley Pride, Conway Twitty, George Jones, Ferlin Husky, Willie Nelson, and touches of the Eagles and Fleetwood Mac. Until I heard Van Halen blasting on my older brother's boombox I didn't know any other music. As a result the sound of classic country and roots rock is firmly ingrained in my being.

As I continually listen to The Jayhawks' Rainy Day Music I find myself dreaming of the Replacements and Don Williams all at the same time. It's almost like riding along with my Dad on Saturday morning again. We wouldn't talk that much but rather roll down the windows and soak up the sun while Eddie Rabbit sang "Every Which Way But Loose" and I'd remember Clyde the orangutan from the movie with a little grin. My father would hang his left hand out the window to feel the wind as he smoked a Pall Mall as he did in those days. Loose ink pens rattled amidst the chunks of dirt on the floorboard but through the wind and AM radio it was just a silent dance in tune. It was only a 20 minute drive to Bob Rusk's barbershop where old men gathered to read hunting magazines, tell stories, and have Bob give them their ritual trim.

At the time those 40 minutes spent listening to the music didn't mean much. In fact at times I secretly cursed the open windows and filthy floorboards. It wasn't until I picked up my own guitar and found my own voice that Americana music became important to me. Even then as I wrote my first songs I didn't recognize that what I thought was an homage to Elvis Costello was really as much part of my past as it was some kind of modern punk effort. Upon further refinement my music quickly sounded more and more like classic country and AM radio from the 70s and 80s. Bluegrass creeped into my work and my tastes. Then I bought this album and it all became very clear--I am a product of a tinny radio program on Saturday morning trips to the barbershop.

Things change though. Where once was boyish face in the cool morning air is a straggly goatee. My little fingers have grown to be worn and calloused but proud. Saturdays I have to get a haircut by myself even if they are less frequent due to the swap of my floppy childhood hair for a receding hairline of stubble. Yet the music remains and my love for it and my roots only grows.

Yesterday I said I wanted to work less. Today I'm just thankful to have a job. I keep reading about how the consumer confidence isn't what it should be and how we're at risk of deflation. There's stories about about how production is up which means unemployment will likely grow. It can be a scary place out there and right now.

This all started when I read that Robyn and Todd over at TampaTantrum recently have just come face-to-face with the new reality of the working world:

We're certainly not the first family in Bush's America to lose our job -- and unfortunately we won't be the last. Somehow like cats, we always manage to land on our feet.

Of course another Todd, of the Odd variety, knows a thing or two about getting up after being knocked down. At least he has a sense of humor about it.

Heck there are even websites dedicated to helping you cope with unemployment. Check out Laid Off Central and I Got Laid Off. If you're a little bit angry check out Fucked Company. If you're a victim of the dot-com bust in the Silicon Valley visit Laid Off In SV.

Anyway, after reading Robyn and Todd's sad news I had to feel OK to have a job and not be left to worry about how to make it.

I wish I could make six figures working 20 hours a week doing something easy like flipping burgers. Tony Pierce does too. I'd spend my newfound freedom cruising my hometown enjoying the beach life and tacky little restaurants. I'd eat ice cream every day on a picnic table in the sun, rushing to finish before the sun melts it. The afternoons would be spent driving slowly with the windows down, listening to whatever tunes I can find on AM radio. In the evenings there would be time to write like I've been meaning to do all these years. On my breaks I could play my guitar with the windows open so the bums in the alley below have something other than traffic to hear.

Then when the weekend arrived there would be no pressure to get all the entertainment in because everyday would be a little less stressful. No ringing phones or email to answer. No longer would I be inclined to introduce myself and what I do when I meet people but rather it could be a conversation between two people--not two employees. Mornings wouldn't be rushed without breakfast and no longer will I fight rush hour.

Today however, I need to earn my paycheck. At times I wonder if I'm really paying more writing checks with my lost dreams and stifled creativity. There's no time for that, or even this, but I can spare a little creativity today. Not much, but enough for this little bit, whatever it is worth.

MoveOn.org is holding an online primary to help decide who to endorse for the Democratic nomination in 2004. They've conducted interviews with the candidates and given each candidate the opportunity to address their members. MoveOn's polls are open through Wednesday for voting. Should one candidate receive over 50% of the vote they will receive the endorsement, otherwise an online run-off is possible.

To vote, you must register online first. After registration you receive an email to vote for a candidate you prefer as well as all candidates you would support in 2004. Should you change your mind prior to the poll closing you can actually change your vote. It also provides easy links to your chosen candidate's website and asks if you'd like to provide volunteer and/or financial support to that candidate.

Setting your political leanings aside, this is a very interesting experiment in online voting. I particularly liked the opt-in/out of the candidate's donation/participation lists. The ability to change your mind was very nice although I did not have a need to do so as a result of the quite in-depth interviews with the candidates they provided prior to voting. Security would have to be improved for me to feel comfortable doing this for a regular election as would the documentation as to the process by which votes are counted. I have a fear of mistaken counts due to poor software quality--not that the manual process is much better.

What do you do when an endangered shark gets locked in a fish farm? Me, I let the shark eat what it wants and ask for it's opinion on the preparation after the meal. They are planning on a) trying to lasso it b) tranquelize it c) kill it for distracting Fonzy as he attempted his daring feat.

Regardless, $1 million worth of experiments on fish are endangered by a shark in Australia. What the hell are experimental fish anyway?

Read Great White in Fast Food Heaven at the Sydney Morning Herald. (via TampaTantrum).

Is it just me or is Johnny Depp channelling Adam Ant in his new role?

Well his Steveness just got off the stage at the WWDC. He gave us everything we'd hoped to see including Panther, the G5, and even some little surprises. Once again he also is giving us a $129 upgrade fee should we wish to take advantage of Panther's new capabilities.

That got me thinking, what's the difference between purchasing a new version of the OS from Apple each year versus paying a rental fee to Microsoft? Both get you upgrades annually. Both cost approximately the same (100% of original purchase price). Here's the kicker: Apple puts the goods up and then asks for the dough; Microsoft says pay the fee and says, "We might upgrade this year." Other than that it is essentially the same plan.

Maybe I'm wrong here but that's how I see it. Since my distorted view of the world is the focus here at Sharkbitten, I have to ask: why is everyone bitching about the $129 upgrade price? Don't upgrade! You could have the alternative which is DRM built into an OS that built on outdated technology and is bound to require hordes more hardware to run in a reasonable manner. Further you can wait until Bill is good and ready to release the next version of his OS and then not have anything reliable until the first service pack. And for that honor you may pay in nearly the same manner as the Apple deal. Or you could download RedHat or another Linux distro and get it free. Of course that will take quite a bit of bandwidth and unless you have broadband it's gonna take forever. It's a nice OS--I use lots of Linux flavors--but it also is nowhere near as polished as OSX. It also doesn't have near the software that OSX has. So you could get it free but then have a rougher time getting your PC to do what you want it to do. It wouldn't be fair if you just purchased your Apple in the last month or so but they always offer the free upgrade to those folks. Considering the alternatives the $129 sounds like a good deal to me.

Hey Jaguar owners...you don't have it so bad! Pay the money if you value the software and shut up!

The Jayhawks have certainly been influential in Americana since their 1986 self-titled debut album. They've been a part of the evolving genre for as long as the argument over what to call it. While Uncle Tupelo gets most of the credit for defining the current iteration of American the Jayhawks may be the only group that has actually stayed current with that evolving sound.

Their lastest album, Rainy Day Music, is something of a return to their hometown. Their previous effort, Smile featured a British pop sensibility that pops out during Rainy Day Music from time to time but overwhelmingly this is a roots album. The musicianship is remarkably crisp and the songwriting delightfully undertoned. At times it's darker and brooding, as displayed aptly on "Eyes of Sarahjane" which for a moment sounded like a direct descendent of a drugged-out night of passion between Brian Wilson and the Eagles' Don Felder. At other times the album certainly shares a recognizable misery that is common to the Jayhawks fans.

I'm a fan of both the California-inspired alt-country as well as the traditional stuff and this is a perfect blend of both. I'm beyond impressed with the retro sound they sport on this album. It's perfect for a rainy day or even a bright sunny trip to the beach.

MousePlanet has a great preview of Epcot's new Mission:Space. Probably has the best pics to date as well as a thorough preview of the ride. Most of the pics are of the queue and the post-ride areas but the description of the ride has me fired up!

Due to today's little rainshower I've actually taken the time to sit down and think about a few things. It's not that I don't think unless it happens to rain but rather that I don't devote time to just thinking. In my opinion I'm a cerebral sort although others may disagree. Regardless, the rain has brought on some much due down time.

In the last few hours I've managed to turn off the TV, not check email, or even read a newspaper. Instead, I've played my guitar, listened to the rain, and thought about how lucky I've been recently. The last few months have brought more time with my family, the most productive professional period in my life, enough time to work on a race team and rebuild my own truck, and plenty of writing here as well as a few other places. My family is healthy and closer today than ever, my wife has secured tenure in her school district, and we have a new kitten. There's not much else I could want.

Anyway, enough rambling. Just felt pretty good and thought I'd share.

Why do spammers always offer to transfer $860 into my account? Why not $241 or $359? I must get five of these each day:

You have not contacted us regarding the $860 in cash we've set aside for you. Don't you want the money?

This money is real Casino cash, good at any one of over 100 different casino games. $860 in total cash.

To claim your free bonus money, simply click on the button below, download the free casino software, and follow the simple instructions to set up your account. Come play in the finest virtual casinos on the Internet, and play with OUR money.

I'm imagining a few cheap bastards who make their wage by running a spamhouses sitting around a table their United Spammers of America Local 213 branch talking about ways to increase their clickthroughs while smoking cigars. Joey Fingers mentions that he's had luck with the "Enlarge Your Penis sxj4mdhg9" campaign while Tommy Free-Offers brings up the "Transfer to your account" idea. Joey doesn't understand how it will work as well as the "Free Lunch at Burger King" thing has been but knows that if you offered him $860--no more, no less--he might just bite. Either way they have to do something or the damn Nigerians are gonna run them out of business.

To celebrate the new French holiday "Blog Ta Musique" or "Blog Your Music" on June 21 I've compiled a list of great Americana records for your enjoyment prior to the big day. Run out and buy them all...or sit on your ass and get them from iTunes:

• Near Truth's And Hotel Rooms - Todd Snider
  
• New Connection - Todd Snider
  
• Happy to Be Here - Todd Snider
  
• Freedom's Child - Billy Joe Shaver
  
• American IV - Johnny Cash
  
• 89/93: An Anthology - Uncle Tupelo
  
• Wide Swing Tremelo - Son Volt
  
• Gravitational Forces - Robert Earl Keen
  
• Live No. 2 - Robert Earl Keen
  
• West Textures - Robert Earl Keen
  
• Prime Prine - John Prine
  
• Home Away - Will Kimbrough
  
• The Tiki Bar Is Open - John Hiatt
  
• Pretty Good Guy - Chris Knight
  
• Country Sunshine - Bruce Robison
  
• Wrapped - Bruce Robison
  
• Will the Circle Be Unbroken - The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band
  
• El Corazon - Steve Earle
  
• Copperhead Road - Steve Earle
  
• Live at the Old Quarter - Townes Van Zandt
  

A few years ago my truck got bent up pretty badly. I never got it fixed because it drove OK and I intended to fix it myself. When it happened I had just started working on a cars and knew enough to be dangerous but not enough to repair one properly myself. At the time all I knew was how to live a fast life and shun responsibility, two things I excelled at doing. My talents lent themselves to wrecking cars, not fixing them.

About a week ago I decided that it was time to rebuild my truck. It was not about having a truck with a few dings but rather taking responsiblity in rebuilding things I destroy. So I ordered the best parts I could find and set out to fix my wrongdoings.

It wasn't long after the first beaten parts came off that I realized how I'd started this journey. My wreckless nature came from trying to prove my value to my father. He was pretty good with cars, pretty good with anything he tried really. He always knew what to do when things were broken but I always was the one breaking things. I rarely fixed anything but rather provided my father with ample opportunity to hone his skills. As he fixed my wrecks, whether they were mechanical, emotional, or otherwise he never took the time to show me how it was done. All I knew was that it was done and I could return to my previously planned carnage. When I tried to learn he never taught but instead did. I assumed it was because he didn't feel I had the capacity or interest to learn.

All these years later as I nurtured new perfect parts into place all I could think is how I wish he could see what I had done. I wanted so badly for him to see that for the first time in my life I've figured out how to fix my own mistakes and that I learned it all from him even if he didn't teach. If only he could see my truck, my filthy roughed-up knuckles, and the smile on my face he would know how much he really means to me.

I routinely write Java, PHP, PERL, and ASP for my job. Each has a very specific task and most are for legacy applications which means that converting to a single language would be most troubling. Daily I find myself forgetting or confusing syntax when I switch languages. I'll use the wrong data types or functions and only find out upon testing. Sometimes my editor's color coding helps but rarely does blue mean something different than orange to me because I only code it bits and pieces--maintenance stuff. Actually I don't know what the colors mean other than the basic comment stuff.

My question to other geeks out there is this: anyone have any tricks to help remember the correct syntax. I've been thinking of creating some little cheat sheets, laminating them, and sticking them to my desk's hutch to help out. Maybe I'll color code the tags too. Any other ideas? Bueller? Bueller?

It seems that Madame Tussauds in London is creating an interactive wax museum. Their latest creation is a wax figure of Britney Spears with inflatable throbbing breasts according to Reuters:

"There are plans to make a new figure of Britney Spears," a spokeswoman said Friday. "She'll be very sexy and she'll have heaving bosoms. But this is only in the very early stages of planning."

She said the model would be based on one of Britney's videos, in which she dances breathlessly around a pole, and would be accompanied by professionals who would teach museum visitors the tricks of the trade.

I wonder which breast size they'll use for her since it's always changing (see Britney's Mystery Breast Size)

For several years I've read Ain't It Cool News for inside information on new movies. Harry uncovered great stuff before many other media outlets. He wrote like a fanboy and his view was very personal.

All that changed last week when one of AICN's reporters called folks trading an unfinished version of The Hulk online "pirates." Well that stirred things up enough. Since AICN has routinely seen rough previews from illegal sources and has reported on those viewings, I find it odd that this view would end up on Harry's site.

It got worse because Harry weighed in with his view that he's entitled to previews and we're not because he's a journalist. What makes Harry more of a journalist than others now expressing their view? What is the difference in two different parties who don't own a film viewing it illegally? Harry and his crew write a weblog about movies. Lots of other people do too. Harry may never publish a script or share a movie but he sure spoils plenty of movies with what he learns at those showings.

Shame on AICN for their hypocrisy and seeming class-motivated judgment. You'll notice no links on this site or in this story to AICN as a result.

My appetite for news is best described as "voracious." I read everything I get my hands on and it often leaves me very empty. As I was reading about Lane McFadden's failed attempt to leave the Internet behind for a month he commented that by getting his news from other sources he realized not as much happens in the world as he previously thought.

That got me to thinking about how much is happening around me that I never notice. I live in a great place with great art and tons of live music. Hell, I'm a musician and I don't even play out anymore. When I moved here news to me was garnered across a bar from other locals. CNN can't have the only important story to tell. I fell in love with this town because it was a little campy, had an ample supply of alcohol and sunshine, and never looked down its nose at anyone. The stories told over a lukewarm beer were plenty of news at that time.

That aside, I don't plan to walk out on my surfing habits but perhaps make a more concerted effort to include and make time to be a local. Maybe it will fill in a slow news day.

So I'm a Todd Snider apologist! Well it made my day to notice that his official website (ToddSnider.net) linked to my review of his most recent album. What a nice surprise! I didn't know anyone was reading but getting noticed by one of my favorite people's people made me feel good.

To put in a little plug here for Todd, catch his live shows this summer as they're each unique and feature what may be the most entertaining folk singer of our generation. He's wry, witty, and genuinely a great guy. In a rather maligned world his voice stands out as one of a kindred spirit. Go to the shows and if you're lucky he'll tell you a story or two he claims is true.

We're heading to Tampa to catch his show at the great Skipper's Smokehouse on July 5th. To give you a little lesson on Skipper's, it has been home to Americana, rock, and blues for many years. You might recognize the name as one of those bright stickers on Robert Earl Keen's guitar case featured prominently in the artwork of No. 2 Live Dinner. It is a great venue and one at which Todd is at his best.

Hope to see you there.

The San Francisco Gate has a great piece from Friday that covers the basics of life in lean economic times. Included in the guide are frugal dining, dating, fashion, and fitness tips:

Most, if not all, movie studios offer passes to advance screenings of their films: According to publicists at various local advertising agencies, a diligent shopper for screening passes can pick up freebies by trolling radio-station Web sites, especially those stations operated by Clear Channel

At least that's one thing Clear Channel is good for. Regardless, if your pockets are a little bare and you have a hankering for something more upscale check out Good Living/Lean Times.

We've probably all read something somewhere by or about Searls, Lessig, Dash, or even my favorite--Cory Doctorow. Well now you can find a guide to understanding these Bloggers with a capital "B" with the Simple Guide to A-List Bloggers. Yes, your guide to the stars of the technocracy. (via Ben Hammersley)

One of the things that make the blogosphere so interesting is the fact that you can follow a conversation pretty easily throughout it's various participants' websites. While most of us say, "Yeah, commenting is a huge stride in communities," the fact is that without the idea of permanent links to stories we wouldn't have the opportunity.

Tom Coates has an execellent story called On Permalinks and Paradigms... in which he discusses their importance:

At the time I honestly didn't believe that they'd take off - that anyone would use them. But of course they did...

But why did it take off? What was so important about the permalink? It may seem like a trivial piece of functionality now, but it was effectively the device that turned weblogs from an ease-of-publishing phenomenon into a conversational mess of overlapping communities.

One of the more enjoyable reads about the blogging world I've read in a while. (via BoingBoing)

OK so BIND9 was a heck of a lot easier than I assumed it would be. Getting Tomcat 4.1 and Apache 1.3 running was another story. Indepently they run fine. After reading about twelve different ways to get mod_jk to run I think I'm just going to run Tomcat by itself. We have less than 10 HTML files...the rest are JSP so I don't think Tomcat's slowness serving HTML will be a problem.

Working on a Saturday. My wife is at the beach. I'm watching the gorgeous day out my office window...at work. Regardless, it's OK because I have Johnny Cash and a hot cup of java.

OK...so any DNS/Bind geeks out there? I really need some help with getting BIND9 running and configured properly to be a primary DNS as well as caching. I know that BIND isn't everyone's first choice so spare me the gripes. Like I said, I need a good simple tutorial to get me running as quickly as possible. I might even pick you up something from your wishlist if you can get me up and moving.

Have a lovely day!

There's a raging debate on one of my favorite websites, Workbench, over a recent RSS exploit Mark Pilgrim unleashed on his readers. Pilgrim took advantage of a problem with some HTML-based news aggregators by using CSS to deliver lots of platypi to unsuspecting readers. Rogers, being a Radio user and writing a book on the subject I might add, was none too happy about said exploit given the fact that Radio users were by far the largest population beseiged.

To add my two cents without getting in the fray, it appears to be a momentary lapse of judgment on Pilgrim's part. Rogers aptly points out that there is a protocol when an security flaw is found in software. Responsible developers notify people in ways other than exploiting it. Even Mark's regular readers are commenting on the lack of good decision-making on his website.

Somewhat redeeming however is the very-well stated proposal for writing news aggregators on Mark's site.

Not being a Radio user and having a non-HTML based aggregator, I was unaffected but I can say that I have removed DiveIntoMark from my list of daily reads.

Wired reports that the FTC has put the responsiblity for spam on the shoulders of thousands of Nigerians, Russians, and those damn Canadians. As a result they are asking for expanded powers in pursuing said spammers.

In related news, President Bush today said that "those countries who harbor spammers shall not be safe from the watchful eyes of democracy" and that "Al Queda has been known to gain assistance from Nigerians, Russians, and Canadians and may be hiding among those citizens." Later Bush commented that spam was a "vile meat that no one should circulate to the extent that we see today and a threat to our way of life."

I've recently been working with XML and PHP which I must say I was a bit hesitant about. After two or three days I can honestly say that PHP has surprised me with its rather adept handling of XML. I started out with the default SAX parser and soon found the linear nature to be quite difficult to deal with. I tried DOM but quickly found that PHP and XSLT work quite nicely together. I'm really enjoying the ease of use and have quickly developed several little tools.

Which brings me to this question: although RSS is great for syndicating weblogs, what other uses of XML have you guys found on your own website? I'm so pumped up I want to find new things to do!

Geeky anyway. Maybe next week we'll try python.

As I drove to work this morning I noticed a chap in a rather run-down mid-80s Toyota who was obviously rocking out to some hair rock from the same period. He was easily 20 pounds overweight and hadn't bothered to touch a razor in what looked like a week. Clipped onto his dash was one of those cheap cup holders that look as if they could topple at the slightest turn. Both holders had an empty plastic bottle of Mountain Dew--geek wine. As if that were not enough, he had a new Mountain Dew in his right hand to keep the juice flowing. In his left was a cell phone into which he was screaming between head bangs. Needless to say he was weaving between lanes at about 80 miles per hour.

I thought to myself, this is why car insurance is so expensive. So I put my double mocha grande in my other hand, turned down my iPod, and squished my cell phone to my ear to tell all my friends...

Rogers Cadenhead digs the wingman song. Of course, those of us who have always been wingmen know how it feels. Rogers points us to the Salted Wound for discussion, chords and lyrics to the song.

For those of you who do not get Maxim in the mail, check out their Wingman Training Manual so they next time you're asked to take one for the team you're prepared.

Also, you might watch Jim Fleigner's movie of the same title at ifilm that tells the story of the best wingman ever.

So you know Monster Garage. Well meet Monster House. Just like it's turbocharged brother, Monster House turns something mundane into something hideously wonderful--in this case a house. Likewise, the crew is a motley bunch of experts who are selected by what seems to be their liklihood to get angry with one another. In the first episodes, they turn suburban living into a racecar house, a tiki god's alter, and a 70s shag shack.

The show is hosted by Steve Watson, an actor transformed by the process of buying his first house into the Monster foreman. Loads of fun with power tools.

Jason Kottke has a great little summary about the blurring of online and real world economies. He points out that some online endeavors lead to real money including those selling game items, ICQ numbers, and those damn Slashdot karma whores.

The most interesting item Jason highlights is The Game Neverending which describes itself as "social game" with a real economy. How long until we're on Chew-Z playing with Perky Pat? I can't wait until the new beta opens and I can see what the fuss is all about.

OK...so I'm not the only one who thinks that Jewel should fix her teeth, go back to the Birkenstocks, and definitely give up poetry:

• Tony won't let Jewel on the bus
• Satan likes Jewel--nuff said
• Jewel endorses a razor--she shaves?

Anyway, I caught Jewel during the halftime of the NBA game yesterday and wanted to throw something through the TV. Luckily my cat isn't hard enough to break anything.

The Detroit Free Press is honoring Ford on it's 100 birthday by highlighting Ford's lesser achievements. Sure enough, the often riduculed Edsel tops the list.

(via Fark)

My iBook power supply is broken. The very end of the little gold tip is missing on the male connector that goes into the iBook. I went out and looked for a new one and Apple wants over $100 for a new one! eBay is selling them for $65-80. So I ask, is there an alternative? Anyone?

Me and half a gazillion other people are writing about Sammy Sosa, his corked bat, and his just-announced eight game suspension. I don't want to focus on what Sammy did or did not do at the game, to the game, to the Cubs, or even to his own legacy. Those are well-bantered points that no one really knows.

Today I care about what Sammy will do during these eight games. If I were Sammy I'd do the following:

1. Eat a hot dog at the Cubby Bear or Wrigleyville Dog
2. Sit in the outfield bleachers and bow to the fans for their support
3. Spend some time in Gary, Indiana to remember how good it is in Chicago
4. Have a bite to eat at Gene and Georgetti's--what a steak
5. Climb the lightpoles at Wrigley and break all the lights
6. Teach the Bears' QB Kordell Stewart how to throw a baseball because his football career stinks
7. Go to the Sox Sleepover at the cross-town ballpark

You see, there's plenty to do in Chicago when you're not wasting time corking your bats.

The Fulifier is a nifty little tool tool to take your website back to 1993. Check mine out:Sharkbitten 1993 style. Thinking of 1993, you might want to check out the BBC's I Love series which brings you the trends and topics of the year you'd like to recall.

(via kadyellebee)

Saw Nickel Creek last night at the Freebird Cafe in Jacksonville. If Eddie Van Halen played mandolin he would dream of being Chris Thile. They are amazing masters of their instruments and pretty good vocalists as well. Highlight of the show may have been the clogging interlude which was quite unexpected. It was a fun show but boy did this morning come fast...

WKMG in Orlando reports that a Christian group, Family Policy Network, wants the recently declared no-fly zone over Disney World to be opened so they may fly banners over the park during "Gay Days." In a battle between the first amendment and homeland security , a pending lawsuit may decide the outcome.

Rogers Cadenhead notes the online petition to support the Public Domain Enhancement Act, better known as the Eldred Act. As I pointed out previously, the act would provide great protection for owners of copyrighted material while allowing a vast majority of abandoned works to enter the public domain.

Go sign the petition and help out.

The Harvard Business Review published a story entitled IT Doesn't Matter which argues among other things that information technology is no more valuable to a company than other resources the company requires. The fundamental view is that all companies have basic technology resources and those that do not cannot compete effectively. Further, that technology is not and should not be a strategic advantage for a company.

Fortune has the best set of responses including several well-written columns, views from major CEOs and CIOs, and an awesome rebuttal by David Kirkpatrick.

After a few days to think about the statement, I'd like to add my own thoughts on the subject since it actually refers to my chosen career. First, it is a faulty assumption that technology is required to compete. Some small businesses operate very effectively with minimal technology. Second, those companies who can use technology as a strategic advantage already know that the technology itself isn't the source of the advantage. The real value is the understanding and capability to transform business using technology for stakeholder interests.

I shouldn't have started watching American Juniors. I generally only watch the first week of American Idols--when the rejects are plentiful. Watching children do their best while their parents watch them crash and burn is really tough! Some of the kids are great--most are just a product of overbearing parents. The parents are really just like that one dad during my Little League games who insisted his kid was a star when he was barely capable of drooling on his bat.

Parents, be kind to your kids. Let them do what they want and try not to ruin it for them by insisting they become stars. Look what happened to Cory Haim.

If you have ever heard of the Blogging Ecosystem or its associated applications, you'll recognize applications that can determine how things are linked together. Well some folks at the University of Virginia have applied this concept to the Kevin Bacon game in a cool app known as The Oracle of Bacon. The tool uses freely available Internet Movie Database data. Also of note is their Oracle of Baseball and Downhill, a similar tool to find the shortest routes between weblogs.

The Gothamist has an interesting tale of Fotolog.net, a popular free photoblogging site and the ensuing battle for control between photobloggers and camgirls.

Considering the geek factor in both of these communities I'm surprised there is even a rivalry. I'm quite sure there are photobloggers that prefer to take pictures of camgirls. I know Tony Pierce digs pics of hot chicks...

Reebok has found a three year old hoops wonder kid and has video to prove it. Mark Walker is three and has canned 18 straight shots in a pretty nifty home video. At three he's already got a shoe deal and has been on TV with Beyonce Knowles...what a life.

markwalker.reebok.com(via Kottke's Remaindered Links)

KC Star - Lil Mark Story

Today we went to Orlando for a little Arena Football. The Orlando Predators squared off in a second round game against the New York Dragons (formerly Kurt Warner's Iowa Barnstormers). The game was fun, entertainment excellent, and cheerleaders were smoking. It felt like this is what the XFL should have been.

The game aside, I must say that the food at the TD Waterhouse Centre was pretty good. The hot dogs had been set in the buns a little too long but were big and beefy. The beer, wine, and liquor selection, while a bit spendy, was as good or better than some bars I've been in. The pizza was pretty good for stadium food. The pretzels weren't very good but that was overlooked by the perfectly salted popcorn.

Oh and the Orlando Predators won setting up a game with Tampa Bay next week.