radio shack

tinkerer writes:

Cute. Techie gizmos are awesome, aren't they?

But, what DO you want it for, Squirrel? I guess *I'm* the dork, here. Why on God's green Earth would anyone want to spend so much money on a gadget that will merely tether them even more firmly to the incessant, overwhelming flow of humanity? Carry the weight of the world in your pocket...I think my seems would split. What is this fascination people have with being connected in every conceivable way to society, only a click or keystroke away, 100 percent of the time? Is it to prevent the world from getting away from them? Don't they ever want to get away from the world???

Or is it that you keep forgetting your --> workout (gym)<-- appointments and need a place to jot them down? I laughed my head off at that entry in their sample. Duh! Where else would a person "workout" but a gym? Oh, then again...I suppose it depends on the "workout", eh? lol!

flying squirrel writes:

You can turn them off...

I've mentioned I hate telephones, right? There are, however, rare times when a cell phone is vaguely useful. Travelling on the highway, for instance. On the way to Kingston the other weekend my parents and I were stuck behind a nasty accident for an hour and we had no way of contacting my sister to let her know our circumstances. Or at these convention things I'm going to more and more lately, it's nice to be able to phone people you're expecting to meet and find out where they actually are and when they might get there, rather than standing around wondering for an hour or two. Or this trip I'm going on. It would really suck if we lost somebody in Winnipeg. That sort of thing.

That said, I still really do hate phones. I'm a big fan of the Internet, though. And I do like instance message things. The nice thing about those is that they're asynchronous. You don't have to answer right away. If you're in the middle of something, you can ignore it. Or I can actually keep up an IM conversation with somebody if I'm waiting around somewhere with nothing better to do.

The other neat thing about these things is that they're computers. With real Internet connections. So I can, say, update this page with it, if, say, I come up with something brilliant whilst waiting in line at the grocery store. I could log onto my server at home and... I don't know, do stuff. If I was feeling really adventurous, I could write nifty little applications for them. Things that have been done a bazillian times in Windows, sure, but would be new and novel if I did them on a handheld.

I think I'd rather get a hiptop (http://www.danger.com/), but they're more expensive and have lousy coverage. Cooler toy, though.

1 writes:

First, I'd like to ask why *you* of all people do not have your links to elsewhere open in fricking other windows? I know it is annoying when people use pop up blockers to keep new windows from opening but to have to hold down the CTRL key, right click, and then choose Open in New Window, is more annoying. I'd rather hold down the CTRL key and click on the link to let it open in its own fricking window.

Second, I am guessing that Squirrel does not use dial up connection to access the internet from home (I'd be shocked if you do). Therefore a cell phone makes better sense than keeping a land line in the first place. I, myself, am not the most sociable person, especially when it comes to the phone, have had a cell phone, and may soon be getting one again when and if I move to a lake cabin in the next month, and found it to be a really convenient tool (maybe the criticism of my writing is just especially looking at the last sentence. I wonder if I got the punctuation right in it?). I'd say all cell phones have caller ID nowadays, free long distance, free minutes on the weekends and later in the night, etc., so they are actually easier on the pocket book when you are able to get rid of a land line. Oh, and I most plans come with voice messaging and IM also. In most instances they really allow to disconnect from the world then land lines and they are really nice in case of emergencies (as long as you keep the batteries charged).

"Or at these convention things I'm going to more and more lately, it's nice to be able to phone people you're expecting to meet and find out where they actually are and when they might get there, rather than standing around wondering for an hour or two. Or this trip I'm going on. It would really suck if we lost somebody in Winnipeg."
This actually does point out a very common problem.
*Why should I actually show up on time when I can call, or more appropriately be called, and then come up with an excuse.*
If people are usually reliable, then a rational person would figure out that there has been an incident that has delayed them and go about their business as best as they can (especially people toteing around gameboy advances and other technological gadgets or those of us that go about bringing books with them) and have faith in their Family/friends. On the other hand, there are the family/friends that are perpetually late and therefore one can go about their business as best as they can (especially people toteing around gameboy advances and other technological gadgets or those of us that go about bringing books with them).

Nextly, Squirrel my friend, you really do need to unplug a bit. Sure I'd miss the entertainment (so you can always come here and plug in) but if you do want to get around to the date (you could plug in for that too I suppose) you need to spend the majority of your time with people who you can actually hear rather than read. I know that is a hard thing to do especially after spending a day working with and dealing with people but that interaction is only a small, although mostly the annoying, part of being.

Lastly, oh well, I'm running out of babbling, or maybe it's motivation, of which I do have a test in tomorrow that I should be studying for (pretty amusing when you think of the time I've spent typing) but I do wish you great enjoyment on your trip. I do think that it would be better to drive across country rather than the train though. That way you could actually explore different paths. I daydream often about being rich, buying a van, and spending a year or two driving across N. America. Spend as much time as necessary/interesting at each stop and then moving on. I could do it while being poor but I'd prefer to spend nights in 5 star hotels, or at least in dingy motels with, at minimum clean, beds.

Lastly the second, three of my teams have made it into the second round of the NHL playoffs yet I've been stuck watching frickin Detroit and Nashville for the last two damn weeks. Happy I should be but I know that I'll get stuck watching uninteresting games the next couple of weeks too, probably Calgary vs. Detroit. Did I mention how much it sucks to be a oldtime hockey fan on the West coast?

flying squirrel writes:

Oh, I never do that. If you're using Firefox like me, you probably want things to open in a new tab, not a new window. target="_blank" won't do that for you. It's also more typing.

To me, a hyperlink is a hyperlink. How it is displayed or openned is up to the user and their browser.

I've considered dumping the land line in favour of a cell. No, I don't use dial-up (you wouldn't be reading this if I did), but I do have DSL, and I need the land line for that. I can't get cable Internet in this apartment (cable wouldn't allow me to run servers anyway).

Skipping down a bit, we're actually not staying in five-star hotels. Or even dingy motels with clean sheets. We're stying in hostels where you have to bring your own sheets. This wasn't my idea. But I think my compatriots view the hostelling thing as de rigeur. This, for them, is a Europe-substitute after all. I hope it doesn't become a bone of contention, but I think I will point out that for the same money, the five of us could get two beds and a cot in a normal business-traveller type of hotel. To avoid having two of the guys doubling up (or one from sleeping on the floor), it's not that much more to get two rooms. I may be missing the point, though. I'm trying to think of it as part of the adventure.

tinkerer writes:

But in a train it is never your turn to drive, plus you can actually stand up and *strech* when your body starts screaming from the physical inertia of travel. The older I get, the more attractive such an option sounds...

Winnipeg would *definitely* be a sucky place to get left behind. Unless you like polar bears. :P

Yup, Detroit and Calgary. Calgary will lose, I suspect. After tonite Detroit will come back spitting--they always seem to underestimate their opponents, but unless the opponents really are bad or slumping (and get swept despite the Wings handing them a prime chance to one-up), they bounce back and show why they are grossly over-payrolled. Actually, I think Philadelphia stands a good chance of making the finals. If they can get past Toronto, of course. I shouldn't think that would be *too* hard, tho', as Toronto seems to lack true depth throughout their lines. And I rather expect Colorado will make it in for the West, but it should be a very, very close series-- unless Detroit takes too much for granted or the newbies for the Avs simply get worn out. It would be fun to watch Toronto make it. :>

By the way, don't you two boobs know that cell phones mess with your brain waves? I should think I would rather play russian roulette...

flying squirrel writes:

Well I, for one, am going to stay cell phone free for at least a while longer.

Honestly, though, who doesn't like polar bears??

1 writes:

What the hell is Firefox? Is that some kind of Macintrash program? (Maybe I won't be too lazy and look this up after my rant.)

"More typing for you means less typing for me." Confucius (damn, I actually had to get off my a** to get to my dictionary, which is usually sitting by my computer, for that one) 1 says.

Hlle, I myte as wlle psell tings dffernt four I no dat tit wood drv tat weast on fo u craezee if not moor. 'Most clock for nother bear.

A hyperlink is not a hyperlink, and as a consumer I must say that your disinterest in my complaint makes me *feel* unimportant. Really, what kind of pseudo-liberal are you? I think Nader would be most displeased since you are more interested in your own savings above your clientele's (maybe I should stick to words with no more than two syllables and sentences with a subject/action/object syntax, such as "you bad web-guy." I'm not sure if it's the amount of alcohol that I consume or the brain-draining that is school that makes me right so not goodly.) safety. (Just be happy that I don't start writing using phonetics, which had been an interesting yet disapointing class.)

Oh, just pulled this one out...

"How it is displayed or openned is up to the user and their browser."

Sounds like something Bill Gates would say.

Two boobs...

"He, he he he, the thaid boobs," Butthead.

"Fire, fire fire fire," Beavis

You know? I actually came here to say something but I'm having too much fun amusing myself right now.

I have a one shot pistol if you want to play Russian Roulette, you go first (is that passive aggressive or just blatantly aggressive?). I am joking about that but it does make me wonder if we'll/I'll ever resolve things.

What's wrong with Winnipeg? If you're there and things suck, eventually they'll move you to Phoenix.

The sleeping accomodations...1 say that since your friends are just graduating and you actually make real money, do not bring up anything about the arrangements (God, I feel whipped looking this crap up). Can you take your bike with you?

Here's an idea (only for the brave at heart). Your mission, even though I know you won't except it over the entire course of your trip, is to find a women to spend the night with at each stop of your travels (condoms are very important unless you want to catch diseases or have children across Canada). At least get a nice looking local, female, to show you around the town. Go find a waitress and tell her that you're travelling and need a guide to the interesting parts of town. If she says no, find another one. "There's always another one," Confucius 1 says and many others say.

"It's not a real adventure if you spend it with people you know," Confucius 1 says, probably not original but I haven't heard it before that I know of.

"But in a train it is never your turn to drive, plus you can actually stand up and *strech* when your body starts screaming from the physical inertia of travel. The older I get, the more attractive such an option sounds..."

What's wrong with driving? It gives you the freedom or the power to go where you want when you want.

Stretch? It isn't possible to pull over in the many small towns, rest areas, or on the shoulder whenever the desire comes about? You could probably do all of this at your leisure and still outrun a train, and still have the largest selection of location.

I will place my laptop on the line (vs. at least a case of Bud Light) that Detroit will not beat Calgary. Come on, they lost two games to Nashville and Calgary is a much better team than they were. By the by, where's Federov? Fun to see Toronto make it? Maybe when Daryl Sutler was playing. But...?

I guess Polar Bears are OK but watch out for the Bipolar Bears (it either had to be said or I have spent too much time in the Psych department).

flying squirrel writes:

Dude, you only get to complain "as a consumer" when you start paying me money. My website, my rules.

http://www.mozilla.org/firefox/ -- I consider it a public service.

One in every city, eh? I guess if I'm going to be a man-whore, I might as well start big.

As for the rest of it, I'll leave the two of you to sort it out amongst yourselves...

1 writes:

I guess I should have stopped at ten last night because I was sure as hell a whole lot weirder last night than normal. Alcohol abuse is a bad thing.

tinkerer writes:

Right click, "open link in new window". Man, do these directions get any harder? Like, make me sprain a finger, dude! ROFL

Federov went down with the Ducks. Now if the Wings would just ditch Hull and Shanahan and resign Drake, they'd be the total team. And actually, as much as I like McCabe, I really do miss Gilmour. *Sigh*

Squirrel, you just go about your train ride and have as much fun as you can. Heck, buy yourself some nice comfy flannel sheets, and *really* make your adventure sparkle! And don't forget, it is very European to have a bar of chocolate with you to munch as needed. Don't ever forget the chocolate, dear. :>

1 writes:

You forgot the hold down CTRL key part. I could sprain two fingers.

Since you didn't except the bet I take back the offer. I can't count on a team that manages only 8 shots on goal over two periods, didn't see the total after the third. Detroit may make it by Calgary, but they won't make it to the finals.

After watching todays game I won't be surprised to see a San Jose/Tampa Bay final. Especially if the referees are going to be so blatantly biased.

Dude, I always get to complain. Anyway, I've already given you a good idea to make money, that's better than just giving you money. It will instill a work ethic and it will lead to a nice sense of accomplishment. :P

Man whore? You have to get paid to be a whore. Man slut would be a more appropriate term.

flying squirrel writes:

Fuck, you're drunk again, aren't you?

1 writes:

No, I've given that up for a while. The other night was actually the first time in a long time where I over imbibed. I'm going to avoid drinking until after the semester is over and until my friends and I go out before I move since I'd like to drop about ten pounds by July.

Watch your language, I don't think your mother would approve.

flying squirrel writes:

My mother gets a stern look whenever she says anything about it. It's rare that I stoop to such language, and it's usually with good cause.

Dan writes:

Hee hee, I love reading your comments, 1. : )

It's like watching someone stand on top the tall building and jerk himself off with a fistfull of razor blades while dressed as a pokemon... only less intelligent, less funny, and more masochistic.

Anyway, dude, you totally need to make your own website. How about www.WinMyLaptop.com?