tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47895197587002242152024-03-13T12:58:20.475-04:00Being Skippy ThorsonThe Good, the Bad, and the Fault with Everything. The Home of Skippy.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.comBlogger164125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-51821159137360758762015-11-21T17:08:00.001-05:002015-11-21T17:08:32.826-05:00Batman After Arkham: What's Next Without Rocksteady?<span style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"> I'd like to see a Batman game, where you play as a cycling cast of villains all trying to find out who's under the mask these days. It would be a completely new spin on the series, exploring the inner-workings of the criminal underbelly within Gotham. Along the way, you'd encounter the usual suspects trying to protect the city, like Catwoman, Nightwing and Robin, with maybe even a little bit of good-guy Jason Todd.</span><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"> You'd get to take turns across the city, as every story weaves a bigger web, with a healthy dose of playable villains: Harley as the master-criminal-on-the-edge, aided closely by the likes of Ivy, with a sprinkle of the "very" dynamic Two-Face & Penguin duo, and a few pinches of Riddler (sans-trophies), Mr. Freeze, and some other long-awaited obscurities further explored. Icing on the cake; wouldn't it be great to even get a little nod to the beginnings of the Suicide Squad?</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"> I'd personally like a Batman game where the Joker is nearly absent after his death, where the only mentions of him are Harley on a rampage. Keeping in trend, Bats would only appear as a character you're bent on defeating (likely getting the ultimate upper-hand at the end), and only popping up at each villain's near-success with whatever dastardly deed they're up to. He'd almost act as the game's target rather than the anti-hero we've come to know, (play) and love.</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"> The seedy underground of Gotham is begging to be explored. It would be somewhat of an Origins game, but not in the sense of the origins of the criminals. What you'd be introduced to was how the underground continues to operate even after Batman rounds up all of those baddies in every story. Maybe we'd even be introduced to how one of those daring prison riots goes down, as all of our villains make it back on to the streets and right in to their old habits.</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"> The game could lead off with our villains; locked up, and right at the start of a jailbreak. A minor chain of events, say someone nabbing keys off Sharp's or Cash's belt loop, suddenly balloons and quickly explodes in to an all out war. The villains we've worked so hard to capture in every other Batman saga are now suddenly the focus of the story. The plot twist is, whomever this new, mysterious Batman is has become the player's worst enemy and greatest fear.</div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"><br></div><div style="color: rgb(69, 69, 69); font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; text-decoration: -webkit-letterpress;"> For once, the entire cast of characters trying to take over Gotham would have to put their differences aside and work together for one common goal. You'll spend the entire time discovering what makes each of these villains tick, all while trying to discover what has become of Batman after Arkham.</div>SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-45614606261488209772014-10-27T11:44:00.004-04:002014-10-27T11:51:20.872-04:00Apple's First Generation iGameSo... It's been a while since my last post. Since the passing of Steve Jobs... I couldn't ignore an epiphany I just had. It was so good, I had to write it down. So good in fact, that it could only come from the mind of Skippy. <br />
<br />
I have a theory about first generation Apple products within the past 10 years.<br />
<br />
The original iPhone, iPod Touch, iPad, and AppleTV all had 3 things in common. I don't see the AppleWatch being any different.<br />
<br />
<b>1)</b> Core lacking feature made it in to the second generation.<br />
<b>2)</b> The following model was overhauled, and outlasted the original.<br />
<b>3)</b> Support for the first gen product saw premature EOL due to specs.<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
<u>The original iPhone...</u><br />
<b>1)</b> Lacked 3G at a time where Edge networks were on the way out.<br />
<b>2)</b> Was replaced with the iPhone 3G, and the original metal design was scrapped for the plastic 3G. The 3GS after that kept the same form-factor<br />
<b>3)</b> Was kicked to the curb and stuck on iOS 3 fairly early, whereas the iPhone 4 got iOS 7 and the 3GS got iOS 6. By that logic, the first iPhone should have gotten iOS 4. (And the 3G, iOS 5, but neither happened.)<br />
<br />
<u>The original iPod Touch...</u><br />
<b>1)</b> Lacked a speaker, which was odd for a device that was basically an iPhone without a phone. Thinness was the winner over the speaker.<br />
<b>2)</b> Was replaced by the 2nd gen iPod Touch with the rounded back and black antenna spot. The black bezel was also dropped, and this design again lasted through the 3rd gen product with higher capacity.<br />
<b>3)</b> Once again, the original iPod Touch was abandoned at iOS 3, but the second and third generations followed suit at iOS 4 and 5, respectively - unlike the iPhone.<br />
<br />
<u>The original iPad...</u><br />
<b>1)</b> Lacked cameras, but this wasn't a big deal at the time.<br />
<b>2)</b> The iPad 2 was again a total redesign. It gained cameras, a better speaker, much better internals, and third party accessory manufacturers had a field day with this design because the size and style lasted not two, but three generations.<br />
<b>3)</b> This was possibly the biggest sting on the list. The original iPad would only last through iOS 5 and then get snubbed. Meanwhile the iPad 2, released a year later, is still current on iOS 8.<br />
<br />
<u>The original AppleTV...</u><br />
<b>1)</b> Was a complete departure from the AppleTV 2 and 3 that would follow, so really, the complete concept of the original was scrapped.<br />
<b>2)</b> The AppleTV 2 was a total redesign in and out, in every way. Instead of containing a HD for storing content, the redesign was a box meant from streaming content hosted by another device.<br />
<b>3)</b> Didn't even run what was considered "iOS", so support its unique OS was knocked off fairly quickly. The small black design that we know now has been the only other design since the original.<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
Even the first generation of Intel iMacs, MacBooks, and Mac Minis with the Core Duo follow this path slightly, but that was Intel's release schedule at work. The original Mac Pro even got the cold shoulder because of specs.<br />
<br />
Some people are going to disagree with me, I know, but the list I just made is an example of how Apple tends to snub first-generation products to favor the redesign after the product takes off.<br />
<br />
The AppleWatch will see a substantial overhaul in its second generation. This is a small market segment, in which Apple is fantastic at either creating from nothing or dominating and where the market exists, no matter how small at the time. That market will boom when the iProduct comes out, because that's just how it works.<br />
<br />
I have a theory to go with that as well...<br />
<br />
...<br />
<br />
Apple likely designs the dream product they want. AFTER THAT, they design the first generation. A bulkier, more-feasible version of their dream product that could hit the price-point and release date they want. That version of the product is released. The dream product they dreamed up is then released, but as the "second generation" product, after the first is kicked to the curb due to its unique design and lower specs. By the time component costs go down, they add in the missing feature to the second generation the following year, and people end up getting everything they wanted from the first generation.<br />
<br />
Apple isn't stupid. They don't leave features out because they didn't get to it. Those features are obviously planned. They hold back to leave you wanting more, and they're right every time. I also believe the AppleTV was the exception to that philosophy due to a market shift in streaming rather than buying. The original AppleTV was simply a victim of the time.<br />
<br />
I wish I could get some insight to really, officially prove all of this, but for now, it remains just that - insight. Speculation. Which is what brings us all here. The rumor community around Apple exists (see, MacRumors) because of this company's obsession over secrecy - which actually, might be the most genius, well-thought-out concept around.<br />
<br />
Everyone thinks they know about Apple, because very few of us actually know so very little.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-15103041200367869612011-10-06T15:03:00.006-04:002011-10-06T15:08:44.799-04:00Farewell, Steve Jobs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw8yEPulKoNvtizg9Wip6nPX3nIBUM5yFPhkKVSW8rue6j7JknNLZodekh7flhbFKeWwZW0zb8DiOFjI4Yf6EQQnM2SibAgFQd_lITp67wUJ5j96C7BPD6gAA1A-tWGajD_nm1xeL9XFs/s1600/jobs.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 268px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbw8yEPulKoNvtizg9Wip6nPX3nIBUM5yFPhkKVSW8rue6j7JknNLZodekh7flhbFKeWwZW0zb8DiOFjI4Yf6EQQnM2SibAgFQd_lITp67wUJ5j96C7BPD6gAA1A-tWGajD_nm1xeL9XFs/s400/jobs.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660458149749245314" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Remembering that I'll be dead soon is the most important tool I've ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure — these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart." - Steve Jobs</span><br /><br />Not once did I meet him, but Steve Jobs has touched my life in a way that many so-called icons and heroes of our time couldn't. I feel that God was gracious enough to put me on this planet at the same time as Steve. I was extremely lucky to witness the awesome presentations he gave, use the innovative products he dreamed up, and learn to really live a little from his inspirational way of perceiving life.<br /><br />No words can describe what I really feel, and I can't believe he is really gone, but the legacy he created will never leave us. That's the most reassuring thing - that I'll always have a little bit of my hero with me every time I need to measure myself against someone truly great. He changed the world for the better, and it's always awe inspiring to realize that. We will all miss you Steve. Your impact on me has changed my life. Steve, I can't imagine life without your influence.<br /><br />Last night, I learned about Steve's passing from a very close friend; a friend who equally holds Steve in a light brighter than most. A text read "Call me", and I did, knowing what we'd discuss. I was working on another project, and my concentration was blown. I opened up Safari to Apple's default start page. Three things I never thought I'd see were glowing on the screen in front of me. A large picture of Steve, his name, and below it, a set of years, "1955 - 2011", all in black and white. Ominously prominent, but very real.<br /><br />I spent the evening looking up every major news outlet for articles about Steve. Some great, namely one by Walt Mossberg, and others very brief, but all of them had a common theme. A mythical titan of a man had left us, and no one again in creation will ever be able to step in to fill those New Balance shoes. I really thought hard about something; Steve Jobs lived for 56 years, each year seemingly more fulfilling than the last. Since the dawn of time, there has never been another Steve Jobs. Somehow, some way, I was given life at a time where I was able to watch him do what he did best. Innovate. I hope I can be an innovator someday.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxn_usIhj97bwqI86oaAOYVOWax26t5HrIC9Z1ofrxQ4SjQUCrRjewW-043oXmH14yXyEg8DyHyVwFZjtLXaiE_cYxJxJQLPos4YoDf1zThyJ3f9OWMB2EBJFYGCAUS831dwKtMFg4uVWJ/s1600/Steve+Jobs+Apple.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxn_usIhj97bwqI86oaAOYVOWax26t5HrIC9Z1ofrxQ4SjQUCrRjewW-043oXmH14yXyEg8DyHyVwFZjtLXaiE_cYxJxJQLPos4YoDf1zThyJ3f9OWMB2EBJFYGCAUS831dwKtMFg4uVWJ/s320/Steve+Jobs+Apple.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5660457496347342658" /></a><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"No one wants to die. Even people who wanna go to heaven don't wanna die to get there." - Steve Jobs</span><br /><br />Think back to the scientific minds and philosophers you've read about in the history books. Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and Isaac Newton all come to mind. Did you ever believe that you'd live to witness a man work who was equally as great, if not better than those minds? Steve Jobs belongs among those names so rightfully so, that already, you can open any book that relates to business in any way, and find some reference to Steve, Apple, or a product or industry they've created or changed. Some day, you'll be asked about this time, and you'll be able to talk about it because you were there.<br /><br />This morning, when I woke up, I went for a drive. I came to a stretch of road between two towns where spreading fields surrounded you, and the road seemed to go on forever. I hoped in a way that it would, and that I wouldn't have to face reality for a while. A flock of geese flew overhead, and when I looked up, I noticed that there wasn't a single cloud in the clear blue sky. I didn't stop moving, but the world seemed to, if only for a moment, and I realized how lucky I am to have life in the face of death, especially here and now. Unfortunately, I had to turn off of that road, and I arrived at work, where I am a Network Administrator and Technician. I arrived at this job only because I was inspired years ago to get in to computers. I only got into computers because of Apple. In a way, I am where I am today because of Steve.<br /><br />Two sets of dates will live forever in my mind; the 10 year period from 2001 to 2011. I remember where I was and what I was doing when the world lost Dale Earnhardt. An All-American hero in sports. I remember the shock of hearing that music legend Johnny Cash's house being burned to the ground. Now, I'll always remember the evening of October 5th, 2011, that I spent wide awake, reading and consuming everything I could about Steve Jobs. How I clung to the belief that I could somehow measure up one day. Maybe something I've done will mean something to someone, hopefully something I've said has helped somebody, and maybe what I just wrote made you realize that life is equally as fragile and precious for everyone.<br /><br />Farewell Steve. You will truly be missed. You have touched my life, and endless others. I will always miss you.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma — which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." - Steve Jobs</span>SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-81278564819575102902011-10-04T10:36:00.007-04:002011-10-04T11:08:48.392-04:00Skippy's iPhone Event Predictions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2011/09/iphone_oct4_event_invite1-150x165.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 165px;" src="http://cdn.macrumors.com/article-new/2011/09/iphone_oct4_event_invite1-150x165.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />"It's been a long time. How have you been?"<br /><br />To quote Aaron Lewis, "It's been a while" since I've done a prediction post regarding an Apple Event. So I figured I owed it to you.<br /><br />You should suspect that there is no redesigned iPhone, given that we have very little to go on regarding new hardware leaks. I'll go on the record and say that the iPhone 4S / 5 is an updated iPhone 4. Apple is all about how the iPhone "feels in the hand".<br /><br />The iPod Touch is the polar opposite of that mantra. It feels like crap holding it to your ear, and rightfully so, since it's not made to be held like that. A tapered iPod Touch certainly is. All of these tapered rumors are for the iPod Touch, and those might not even happen this year. The iPod Touch is only going to go white and gain the A5 this year. Tapered designs are on hold, if not for next year, then indefinitely. I'm 99.9% certain.<br /><br />Will the iPod Classic hit the end of the road? Good news. No. It's still too early, and to give a product the axe so close to its 10th anniversary at Apple would insulting to the iPod itself. It says that no matter how long a product works well and remains wholly unchanged, there's always a chance that it's on the chopping block. It's strange, but it's the only explanation I have. The Classic will not only go unmentioned again this year, it will be <span style="font-style:italic;">untouched</span> - pun intended.<br /><br />The iPod Shuffle on the other hand is not safe. It's the iPod that no one really ever talks about. You don't hear that often how "I love my iPod Shuffle" or "I wish Apple added (Insert worthless feature here) to the iPod Shuffle" - it just doesn't happen. Maybe the iPod Shuffle is perfect the way it is? Hell, Apple went right back to what it was two generations ago with minor alterations. HELL! Even the iPod Nano is now based off of the iPod Shuffle!<br /><br />That all adds up to a big problem. The Nano has now evolved to handle the only thing the iPod Nano is good for - a clip-on-and-go music player. Its design was proven the way it was a few years back, and it proven again now that Apple brought the design right back. How do you evolve it without upsetting people? You don't. Everyone gets pissed off when you do.<br /><br />The Shuffle is closer to the end of its life than the Classic, and no one realizes it. At least with the Classic, people always want a storage bump. People never request the Shuffle gains anything. There's a reason for that.<br /><br />So that leaves the Nano. It's possible that it will get a storage bump, a price drop, or maybe even both. There was also a rumor a while back that referred to the implementation of a camera in the Nano. How cool would that be? The world's most compact and portable camera? I might buy one just for that reason. AS LONG AS IT CAN TAKE STILL PHOTOS IF IT CAN TAKE VIDEO. Excuse me, fifth generation Clickwheel Nano? HEAR THAT?<br /><br />Referring finally to iCloud, I believe that our hopes of seeing it under Snow Leopard are bogus. A screenshot went around a while back that <span style="font-weight:bold;">v10.6.9</span> would include it. You know the only problem with that? The <span style="font-weight:bold;">v</span>. Apple NEVER adds little V's in front of an OS version number. iCloud, for us iUsers will be Lion-Only.<br /><br />Yes, to get the free iCloud, you need to upgrade to Lion for $29. Would you expect anything less? I think not. Either you get your PPC apps under 10.6, or you get iCloud under 10.7. You can't have both. Apple doesn't roll that way.<br /><br />Did I hit it all? I think so. Two and a half hours to go now, folks! We'll find out soon enough, won't we? I'll grade myself after the event. Stay tuned.<br /><br />I'LL ACE IT. LIKE I ACE LIFE. FTW... Or whatever the kids say.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-3657395327862626412011-06-29T14:15:00.004-04:002011-06-29T14:25:59.583-04:00Who Wants To Buy Ad Space?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWM8xrW1-IrpBRZ6pO0mDVRi8whq8GSz0G_TOqP_axaAToi3wpxXN_atlpK5OxZ6UVz9wBtFJxDoP0aL6KmZnlrd8u_o82cAQ8Qxkcyc4UxHTqvHuHLP3e_OKqw503UJ9n78VVIVGQDFJe/s1600/Billboard+Blank.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWM8xrW1-IrpBRZ6pO0mDVRi8whq8GSz0G_TOqP_axaAToi3wpxXN_atlpK5OxZ6UVz9wBtFJxDoP0aL6KmZnlrd8u_o82cAQ8Qxkcyc4UxHTqvHuHLP3e_OKqw503UJ9n78VVIVGQDFJe/s320/Billboard+Blank.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5623709727557419218" /></a><br />So I had another epiphany. I want to make money because I'm greedy. I have ad space on my blog. This makes me put 2 + 2 together. It comes out to something around 5, actually.<br /><br />I want to know if there are companies, advertisers, businesses, websites, or anything / anyone at all that is willing to buy ad space from me. Now, this is where things get interesting.<br /><br />Maybe I can expand beyond my blog. Let's think Nascar. A giant company ad on the hood, trunk, fenders, and doors costs a certain amount of money. I'd be willing to sell ad space on my car, which gets parked in the lot of 2 local colleges as well as countless grocery stores. I'd be willing to sell ad space on the lid of my laptop that everyone sees. I'd be willing to walk around in company t-shirts for what it's worth.<br /><br />Out of absolute curiosity, I'm wondering if anyone is willing to start buying out little bits of potential advertising space that already travel with me regardless.<br /><br />Let the offers flow!SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-3131234141001866072011-04-27T14:51:00.005-04:002011-04-27T15:26:45.726-04:00We're All Going To Die<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8ICsVvGeqGLIXWiax5doiW_qV59Yfwc6YQzfn_yCqnfDC2xhJUW5fQPVPBnKfi_AwmxxFIOOeIb4KNQ7VO0AEPcyEpsZlvgaVQ45Vid46pdF0JRqOwxf_sGNx3GaWvph-GskUE2fPwnJ/s1600/wereallgonnadie.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE8ICsVvGeqGLIXWiax5doiW_qV59Yfwc6YQzfn_yCqnfDC2xhJUW5fQPVPBnKfi_AwmxxFIOOeIb4KNQ7VO0AEPcyEpsZlvgaVQ45Vid46pdF0JRqOwxf_sGNx3GaWvph-GskUE2fPwnJ/s400/wereallgonnadie.gif" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600339668864991682" /></a><br />That being said, and that amazing helmet idea (<a href="http://www.explodingdog.com/index.html">thanks to explodingdog</a>) taken into consideration, I have to say... We're all going to die.<br /><br />I was falling asleep last night pretty early. It was about 2:00am. Just after I washed my feet Lord-Style and climbed into bed, I heard a voice. Yup, 'twas none other than <a href="http://www.techible.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/jesus_phone2.jpg">good buddy Jesus</a>. I wasn't necessarily listening because I was watching my recorded episode of American Chopper, and there was something about death and chocolates going on... Or something close.<br /><br />Jesus was all like, "Yo, listen up. I've been thinking. Stuff's going down, and it's gonna go down hard. Bears are melting and the polar ice is slowly dying off, or so I was told." I was all, "I know Jesus, I know. What's the issue?"<br /><br />Jesus was all like, "Yo, you aren't listening. <a href="http://centralny.ynn.com/content/top_stories/541309/tornado-spotted-near-rome--no-major-damage-reported/">I SENT A TORNADO YOUR WAY</a>, and no one seems to care. You're in the Mohawk <span style="font-style:italic;">Valley</span>. Things like this don't happen in places like that. The <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-13045341">second largest Nuclear disaster EVER</a> is happening right now - and that shit just got kicked up to a SEVEN - a <a href="http://articles.cnn.com/2011-03-11/world/japan.quake_1_hokkaido-tsunami-east-japan-railway?_s=PM:WORLD">huge earthquake</a> happened under water that <a href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42037498/ns/world_news-asia-pacific/">sent aftershocks well into the next month</a>, <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2289354/">Walmart is getting sued</a>, and people are <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2011/04/25/federal-lawsuit-filed-over-apples-location-tracking-in-ios/">blaming Apple for something bad</a>. Does this all add up yet? Does it add up to anything good if it does?"<br /><br />I was all... "Well, it means that the Apple products sold at Walmart containing primarily Japanese components will all be going on sale pretty soon."<br /><br />Jesus just shook his head.<br /><br />Then he said, "I was actually looking at the white iPad 2."<br /><br />I was like, "There you go, Jesus." We had a good laugh.<br /><br />Then Al Gore came in, <a href="http://www.partypants.co.uk/pirate/king-crab-costume.jpg">dressed like an Alaskan King Crab</a>. He started yammering about animal conservation in colder regions. I promptly told him to go "<a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=pound%20sand">pound sand</a>", and that "I love seafood."<br /><br />Then I woke up.<br /><br />Moral of the story: No pizza before bed, no terrors in your head.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-40348385412258430812011-04-15T15:04:00.005-04:002011-04-15T15:23:19.131-04:00Apple Employees Speak On Behalf Of The Trevor Project<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="512" height="312" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/iWYqsaJk_U8" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe><br /><br />After watching the full video intently about <a href="http://www.thetrevorproject.org/">The Trevor Project</a> on <a href="http://www.macrumors.com/2011/04/15/apple-employees-contribute-to-it-gets-better-project/">MacRumors</a>, and reading 19 posts in to the accompanying thread, I was trying to see what morons could have voted negative on a video and write-up like that.<br /><br />I was wrong to think that only a moron could vote negative on it, and even though I didn't need to admit what I thought, I'd rather admit that what I thought was wrong. 20 posts in, there was a comment from a user that I really liked:<br /><br />"<span style="font-style:italic;">I have a couple problems with this approach. There's so much attention brought to this issue of specifically gay bullying that it's hard to see this outside of the framework of identity politics. <br /><br />Where's the videos and support for fat kids being bullied? Aren't they suicidal, too, or are we saying here that gays have a particular emotional defect and weakness? They're not strong enough to tough this out? Is that the image the gay community wants to promote?<br /><br />Man, being a fat kid in high school. That was rough. There were a number of cool, popular gay guys in my school. I'm sure they took some crap from some people, but oh how I would have rather been one of them! But hey, I'm still here, I'm still alive.<br /><br />Bullying is a universal problem that affects just about anyone with some kind of difference others choose to pick on. It seems like everyone is just ignoring all that for this hip, trendy cause.</span>"<br /><br />I see where he's coming from. I believe that this movement was primarily brought on my the hit TV show GLEE, with that main character that is gay, and is bullied all the time. I have to say, I've yet to see a movement to reach out to the overweight - those "<span style="font-weight:bold;">fat</span>" people. <span style="font-weight:bold;">In which, I hate that F word more than Fuck.</span><br /><br />I have seen many outreach programs to the homosexual; gay, whatever you'd like to call it. I see a massive arm hugging that community and embracing them with sympathy and kind words.<br /><br />Then I turn on the television.<br /><br />I see Dr. Phil ripping people's personal lives open, along with their fridge, to pry and interrogate why they're overweight. I see reality shows about the half-ton-teenager. I see no love. I see a society condemning heavy people just because they're overweight.<br /><br />I similarly see many "For Homosexual Children" programs at school. I see no "For Overweight Children" programs - I see absurdly emphasized Physical Education programs, where emphasis is on playing Basketball and Baseball well, and if you can't handle it, then too bad; learn.<br /><br />I do have to say, I voted positive on that article, because this video and this cause is excellent. My argument here seems negative because we've only begun to cater to one group. We need to embrace and care about everyone for all reasons - not just because everyone else is doing it. Doing that, don't we just get right back to where we started?<br /><br />Damn...<br /><br />That was extremely Un-Skippy.<br /><br />Holy crap.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">News about the hysterical side of natural disaster coming up soon!</span>SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-29835763014895019402011-02-17T12:38:00.001-05:002011-02-17T12:40:05.829-05:00Enquirer Picks On Steve Jobs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAdRmKit5vPNLe_F699-KVZxBNV9huS0t-xHMjMqxnLlMleKVkuibFeUm4VB5bj_ha048-HXJeeTBYu3dlWwlQaKUJbTumWCc10ZbI9HDupXyBwi2xikrZURRwG6MvQP2HY1aHTQWckvn/s1600/Steve+Jobs+Enquirer.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAdRmKit5vPNLe_F699-KVZxBNV9huS0t-xHMjMqxnLlMleKVkuibFeUm4VB5bj_ha048-HXJeeTBYu3dlWwlQaKUJbTumWCc10ZbI9HDupXyBwi2xikrZURRwG6MvQP2HY1aHTQWckvn/s400/Steve+Jobs+Enquirer.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574714653282527330" /></a><br />On one hand, I have to say that even if it's true, it's like Mike said. I've had relatives in for cancer treatment, and each time, the end result was 'cancer-free'. However, those people still see cancer treatment specialists for check-ups. Cancer is a thing where, once you get it, you get checked in on for the rest of your life. That's the only way there is to learn anything about it.<br /><br />On the other hand, I do actually believe this one is bogus, for a number of reasons.<br /><br />A) When have we ever seen Steve wear a button down? I'm not saying mock-turtlenecks are all the man has, but I've yet to ever see him in a button down anything. Not even a full button down suit.<br /><br />B) In the picture on the left, look at his hair. Steve has always had very short salt-&-pepper hair. The person in this picture has a rather long little tuft of hair flapping in the breeze. Let's remember that he had cancer. The last thing that would happen is a sudden burst of hair growth.<br /><br />C) In the picture where his hand is circled (for who knows what reason) he's leaning up against a car. Unless he stepped off a curb, stumbled, and caught himself, I don't think he'd just lean up against a car. A car which certainly does not have a Mercedes-Benz tail light.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-72568978062364621002011-02-16T16:04:00.004-05:002011-02-16T16:31:16.791-05:00So, Intel Is Building MacBook Pros Now<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhlYxiKxczCfTtPVDxxanKo_46A10_PW48sJRVYPjPNN-xV2va79b_zTGuwBAXWfxoWwO6W9cs0OWdwJ6BFnU5jYXYYTdh_ossSobV8Qb8Urt4c60osWiltjgWSLNMxUbgFKDkc0TLJJ1/s1600/Intel+Black+Mac+Sandy+Bridge+Image.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 382px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRhlYxiKxczCfTtPVDxxanKo_46A10_PW48sJRVYPjPNN-xV2va79b_zTGuwBAXWfxoWwO6W9cs0OWdwJ6BFnU5jYXYYTdh_ossSobV8Qb8Urt4c60osWiltjgWSLNMxUbgFKDkc0TLJJ1/s400/Intel+Black+Mac+Sandy+Bridge+Image.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5574402582970496626" /></a><br />Let me make my triumphant return by explaining something about the above image that's sparked my interest.<br /><br />It's not a Mac.... Well... Anymore. Here's why.<br /><br />First off, see that glaring reflection on the screen, coming from the top right and going diagonal to bottom left? I challenge you to find an image of a Mac, of any sort, that DOESN'T have that exact same glare. It's identical to Apple's stock computer desktop images.<br /><br />However, going across like that, they would have had to edit the entire image to depict the new screen. Would they go through all that trouble?<br /><br />Second, the top left of that window with the car, you see that? On the very top left, are window controls functions. Where have we all seen those? They're the little traffic-light-looking-icons that represent the Close / Minimize / Expand functions of any single application on the Mac. Albeit small, you can certainly make them out. Even if you're one of the few that can't, there's no disputing that they're on the top left, and not top right, like any Windows computer would be.<br /><br />However, the interface of that open window isn't exactly the spitting image of any Mac application that I've ever seen.<br /><br />Third, on the main desktop of the computer, take a look at the bottom right. There's a little volume slider. You can tell it's a volume slider because of the icons on either side of it, and the color of the bar (and even the way the slider itself is) seems to resemble the iPhone volume sliders of the iOS.<br /><br />However, that's one of the easier potential Photoshops on the page, if you really want to dispute it.<br /><br />Fourth, is on that little window with the surfer off to the right. Nothing in particular I guess. It's just a little window of a program. <a href="http://images.apple.com/macbookpro/images/overview_gallery20110121.png">That little surfer with the yellow board has been somewhere else, though.</a><br /><br />However, does it not look similar to the new iMovie?<br /><br />Fifth, I have to note the machine itself. As we can see, it's black. You're thinking, Apple hasn't offered a black computer since the black plastic MacBook. To take it a step further, if you want to compare screen sizes, it looks like more of a 16:10 ratio than 16:9. <a href="http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/9759/mbpintelgeneric.png">Let's just compare it to the available laptops...</a> Looks a bit different. It's also shockingly thin if it's smaller than the MacBook Air since it has less of a tapered edge.<br /><br />However, if you take a silver Apple laptop, and put it up against a white background, perhaps the easiest thing to do is to simply darken the image so much that it looks black. Something I do to my own pictures on occasion.<br /><br />However, that can be construed completely wrong, and that's a story for another day.<br /><br />Back to the Mac...<br /><br />It's up to you to decide. Is Intel the culprit that should be locked up for leaking a new or redesigned Mac, or is it just the best mash-up of available laptops we've ever seen for a generic ad? Something to think about.<br /><br />I always did say that Apple didn't change their own website for nothing. <a href="http://obamapacman.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/Apple-Liquid-Metal-MacBook-Pro.jpg">They darkened the color of their navigation bar, among adding some other effects. The color before was oddly close to their signature anodized aluminum unibodies.</a> Someone didn't just go in and change that color without reason.<br /><br />LiquidMetal has been rising in Apple's eyes, and maybe it's become the apple of their own eyes.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-7425347703281665412010-10-20T08:33:00.005-04:002010-10-20T09:06:27.690-04:00Back To The Mac PredictionsYou know what I haven't done in a while? Told you what Apple plans on doing today.<br /><br />I want to keep it short at 3 main points, so here goes.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A)</span> Steve will come out and give financial stats. Best quarter Apple's ever seen. Stock way up; milestones broken. iPad selling like hotcakes, iPhone constraints are finally easing up. That "10's of millions of FaceTime devices" claim will be happening soon.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">B)</span> Steve is going to move on to software. Two software discussions today - the new iLife, more than likely skipping that 2010 or 2011 dating issue, and Max OS X Lion<br /><br />iLife is going to see some minor updates to Garageband, iMovie, and iPhoto, but the new program is so tightly under wraps that the only thing I can say is that it's going to be software creating software. It'll be schweet.<br /><br />OS 10.7 is going to integrate a lot of what people have become accustomed to in the iOS. There's a chance that the auto-correct typing feature just may make an appearance in the desktop OS. Rubber-band scrolling is a definite future feature.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">C)</span> The MacBook Air. Are we kidding? Of course we know there's going to be a new air. I can't definitely confirm the dual USB thing, but it seems very likely. It is closely going to resemble the MacBook Pro screens, with the black bordered screen, but to keep price and weight down, it may not be glass - or at least maybe not the same glass.<br /><br />The cool little feature about the lack of an optical drive means that there's a key on their standard keyboard that the MacBook air doesn't need. To save just that extra bit of room, and make it look more minimal, the eject button that's on most keyboards will be the power button for the Air.<br /><br />The new version is going to look even thinner, and be a combination of the curvy and shapely white MacBook and the aluminum back of the iPad. It will definitely be 11.6", because as a widescreen laptop, the smallest you can go without downscaling the keyboard... Is the half way mark between 11" and 12". Anything smaller, and the keyboard takes a hit.<br /><br />There you have it. Now, let's wait and see.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-81671793477224958332010-09-22T12:18:00.012-04:002011-01-25T12:22:34.715-05:00My Feelings About Ricers<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEcnD3mdDz7DG3d8W_Kh5Rv5N2Mlrbei3seFx60Yg4Wr1hfw9IMNIr6OCSDVH6MjfbWV9I9DTedXQSeKquDoJLxlihotEL6J8X23gP-sdR2aqvHLc1QyBl-TI8m7QJKDwbUpz4bNl4Zeh/s1600/Ricer+Diagram.jpeg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEcnD3mdDz7DG3d8W_Kh5Rv5N2Mlrbei3seFx60Yg4Wr1hfw9IMNIr6OCSDVH6MjfbWV9I9DTedXQSeKquDoJLxlihotEL6J8X23gP-sdR2aqvHLc1QyBl-TI8m7QJKDwbUpz4bNl4Zeh/s400/Ricer+Diagram.jpeg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519776977781718418" /></a><br /><br />Have you ever gotten passed on the freeway by a Civic that looks like it could combust at any moment? Ever been challenged to a red-light showdown by some punk in a Subaru Impreza with a sail on the back that's 10 times more dangerous to you than the Cadillac rear fins from days long gone? Ever just want to shoot those people in the face with mace, or something else?<br /><br />I have my reasons. You may not, or you may just not understand, but I'll clear it all up. Skippy's been gone for too long again, and the voice of wisdom hasn't helped you good folks for a long time. Every once in a while, I really need something to piss me off and push my buttons to get me going. Well. That happened recently. I'll explain my frustrations if you bare with me.<br /><br />You know those kinds of people. The local college kids that all work at McDonald's and don't have a pot to piss in. You know exactly what I mean. Don't deny it, assface. Think about it. You hate them too, and you know all the reasons. Do I need to spell it out? Ok.<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">Consider the following:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">A)</span> The stereo with a sub in the trunk - because all good music belongs in your ass, enclosed in metal, and under the seats of your backseat drivers. See: Colon Cleansing.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">B)</span> The windows that are tinted so dark you don't know where they end and the paint / trim begins - because you're blocking UV rays from other suns in other galaxies? Who the fuck knows.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">C)</span> The spoiler that looks like it belongs on a boat in the Bahamas - because you really need REAR DOWNFORCE IN A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE IMPORT CAR, for those times where you hit +200mph supercrazyfastGforcespeeds.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">D)</span> The exhaust tip that's the double the size of a Folger's coffee can - because when your supercrazyfastRicer overheats, the only method of cooling is a tube the size of a fucking dryer hose.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">E)</span> The amazingly huge wide-body fiberglass kits that weren't even made for that year and model car - because when you can't drive, the one thing that'll help is making your hatchback the width of a Dodge 3500 dually 2-ton pickup. How do you make it look better? Make sure it's not your car's color, and never, EVER paint it.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">F)</span> The relieving pressure of the bowls of the engine when your car farts a giant hiss - because your turbo is struggling to keep up and not explode, killing everyone in a quarter mile radius.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">G)</span> The need to accelerate at every single stop sign and green light at every corner of every city in America - because the one thing that's totally impressive to me is watching a car accelerate and smoke, reach 35mph, and need to hit their squeaking non-performance brakes so they don't fly into the living room of the house on the corner.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">H)</span> The urge to recline your seat as far as it can go, put one hand on the wheel, and the other, I don't even know, in your pants - because nothing says "hip" quite the same as looking like a woman in her hundreds who can't see over the steering wheel.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">I)</span> The dying pressure on themselves to cut me off while merging into traffic off of a ramp - because when I signal, that doesn't mean I'm getting in that lane or anything. OH, NO. That means that I want you to swerve as fast as possible, and cruise exactly where I'm going, at the same speed, so that I have to cut you back off, and flip you the finger. I have to. No questions.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">J)</span> The bumper stickers of companies, products, and brands that you like, or that you think are cool, that you put on the sides of your car - because it's really awesome to give your ride some Nascar sponsors, so that it looks like you're raking in money from all your awesome classic illegal street racing days.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">K)</span> The neon aftermarket DuPont colors you spray paint your car - because as we all know, just painting it yellow makes it faster. Just. Add. Yellow.<br /><br />A close friend of dear Skippy had the following to say, and it rings so true, how could I not share and post it here? Read away!<br /><br /><span style="font-style:italic;">"I just think it's ridiculous to take the smallest engine we can find and put it in a midsize economy car and pretend it's a sports car. Maybe these people can find a new job other than McDonald's that pays better and buy a real car. I don't have problems with nice Acuras or Infinitis (other than I would rather a Cadillac or Mercedes Benz) but these 1992 econo-boxes turned Ferrari looking sports cars are getting on my nerves. Other than that I'm fine.<br /><br />There's nothing like seeing an inline four Honda Civic (or whatever is fashionable this week) decked out with a body kit and a huge sail on the back with a turbo rolling down the street with loud ignorant rap music pouring out of it. These people say it's cheaper and more fuel efficient. I say it is cheaper. It's shit. You could rub my balls with how cheap it looks, feels, and just is.<br /><br />With today's V6 / V8 advancements i4s are no longer the only efficient route for engines. Ford's 30+ mpg 305 hp V6 is an example. So basically their lack of education is blatantly apparent in not only what they buy but how they show it off. <br /><br />I have a Stratus and I know it's a piece of shit, and it looks like one too. It's okay to have a shit car if you at least understand it's a basic automobile. But these people are proud to have the bottom of the line, not because they worked for it, but because they (naturally) think it's the best.<br /><br />So there you have it."</span><br /><br />Yes. Yes you do. Suck it, youth.<br /><br />Anti-Civic 4eva... or something like that.<br /><br />(Vtec... lol...)SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-9575514022150985632010-08-16T02:08:00.000-04:002010-08-16T02:09:05.926-04:00I Thought This Needed To Be Shared"One evening last week, my girlfriend and I were getting into bed.<br /><br />Well, the passion starts to heat up, and she eventually says, "I don't feel like<br />it, I just want you to hold me."<br /><br />I said, "WHAT??!! What was that?!"<br /><br />So she says the words that every boyfriend on the planet dreads to hear...<br /><br />"You're just not in touch with my emotional needs as a woman enough for me to satisfy your physical needs as a man."<br /><br />She responded to my puzzled look by saying, "Can't you just love me for who I am and not what I do for you in the bedroom?"<br /><br />Realizing that nothing was going to happen that night, I went to sleep.<br /><br />The very next day I opted to take the day off of work to spend time with her. We went out to a nice lunch and then went shopping at a big, big unnamed department store. I walked around with her while she tried on several different very expensive outfits. She couldn't decide which one to take, so I told her we'd just buy them all. She wanted new shoes to compliment her new clothes, so I said, "Lets get a pair for each outfit."<br /><br />We went on to the jewelry department where she picked out a pair of diamond earrings. Let me tell you... she was so excited. She must have thought I was one wave short of a shipwreck. I started to think she was testing me because she asked for a tennis bracelet when she doesn't even know how to play tennis.<br /><br />I think I threw her for a loop when I said, "That's fine, honey." She was almost nearing sexual satisfaction from all of the excitement. Smiling with excited anticipation, she finally said, "I think this is all dear, let's go to the cashier."<br /><br />I could hardly contain myself when I blurted out, "No honey, I don't feel like it."<br /><br />Her face just went completely blank as her jaw dropped with a baffled, "WHAT?"<br /><br />I then said, "Honey! I just want you to HOLD this stuff for a while. You're just not in touch with my financial needs as a man enough for me to satisfy your shopping needs as a woman."<br /><br />And just when she had this look like she was going to kill me, I added, "Why can't you just love me for who I am and not for the things I buy you?"<br /><br />Apparently I'm not having sex tonight either....but at least that bitch knows I'm smarter than her."SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-58579737119205573902010-07-26T12:24:00.008-04:002010-07-26T17:05:16.682-04:00The Government Legalizes iPhone Jailbreaking?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nnlWeV4hVAQwUcSVjCm1A8Jcgg2zuBsdyDk0jLgIiqRLWuWOEA2DwOjXI037G1Dj5zKnLMiceT_w8JRCyRGS8Kb1wv14M1y8J-zzZneGZjrX6jG3t1ougQPsMFFJji8kAF3M0aap75wj/s1600/Obama+iPhone.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3nnlWeV4hVAQwUcSVjCm1A8Jcgg2zuBsdyDk0jLgIiqRLWuWOEA2DwOjXI037G1Dj5zKnLMiceT_w8JRCyRGS8Kb1wv14M1y8J-zzZneGZjrX6jG3t1ougQPsMFFJji8kAF3M0aap75wj/s320/Obama+iPhone.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5498262708034008962" /></a><br />Wow, what a great idea! This is entirely useful, I must say. Sounds too good to be true, right? We can all do whatever the hell we want, thanks to the Gov., regardless of what rules any number of companies put in place.<br /><br />"<i>Owners of the iPhone will be able to break electronic locks on their devices in order to download applications that have not been approved by Apple. The government is making that legal under new rules announced Monday.<br /><br />The decision to allow the practice commonly known as "jailbreaking" is one of a handful of new exemptions from a federal law that prohibits the circumvention of technical measures that control access to copyrighted works.</i>"<br /><a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100726/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_digital_copyright">- The Associated Press</a><br /><br />No. No no no. This is not useful. This is the exact opposite. This is interference. This is the Gov. attempting to remdy something that NEEDS NO CHANGING. If people want to Jailbreak their devices, they assume 100% responsibility for what happens to it when they think they know what they're doing.<br /><br />Has anyone really gotten to use a Jailbroken device? Those that answered yes, how many can say that the experience was optimal? Are we kidding ourselves here? Anyone can Jailbreak the iPhone if they want. Why should the Gov. come in and say that now Apple has to provide service to the suckers that do, when something gets screwed up, because THEY did it?<br /><br />What is left to gain? Some really poor applications that didn't make the cut? Use of tethering when you didn't sign up for it with AT&T? Use of T-Mobile's network that explicitly breaks the AT&T exclusivity that's legally in place between them and Apple? What is there to gain from this?<br /><br />This is bull. I'm sick of the Gov. sticking their noses and other appendages where they don't belong. It's about f'n time that SOMEONE with real power steps up in regards to this. What hand does the Gov. have in the consumer electronics market? NONE. 0. Bill Gates / Steve Jobs / Al Gore better do something, before the Gov. regulates what can and can't be on my iPod -- OH WAIT...<br /><br />I'm sick of the Gov. having everyone by the cajones, while whatever they say goes, whether the vast majority of the American people agree or oppose. King Obama, ball's in your court, and naturally it's your best sport.<br /><br />I didn't vote for these people. I voted for one president who was the lesser of two evils. I never said that person could do what is being done, the way it's being done.<br /><br />Let me break it down even further...<br /><br />In the current situation, Apple is against jailbreaking, and if they find you have jailbroken your device, they can deny service in regards to voiding their terms. In the new proposed situation, Apple can now not deny service to those who have jailbroken their devices. The user owns the phone, and can do what they want, and Apple can not say no to the user.<br /><br />The problem with this is, Apple has set up a environment where they can control the quality of the product after it has left the hands of any Apple employee, and entered the hands of the user. If the user takes that product home, and jailbreaking - some third party's work - screws up that user's product, why should Apple help the user, when the third party is to blame, and neither Apple or the third party can affect one another? The only contact the user and the third party has, is through the product, when one or the other directly affect it in any way. A vs C via B / C vs A via B.<br /><br />In the words of my main man Charile Brown:<br />I just can't stand it.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-59194286990448058782010-05-26T07:25:00.004-04:002010-05-26T08:05:39.110-04:00BP Stalls - Implies Oil Is Good<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvYImxyZEqjVlzSeQ6ihw9b9IeOtI5Wq_fW9roqUM5sG2HNz9oQ2gnz2LxRcb2kpKlF3nXAYqNlThhS2vouidz6lR25FexDo-LhxPN4nyJBLrjxYhxqOE9_877MSpsnxcS4rY4GcqrL48/s1600/BP+Logo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 122px; height: 160px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTvYImxyZEqjVlzSeQ6ihw9b9IeOtI5Wq_fW9roqUM5sG2HNz9oQ2gnz2LxRcb2kpKlF3nXAYqNlThhS2vouidz6lR25FexDo-LhxPN4nyJBLrjxYhxqOE9_877MSpsnxcS4rY4GcqrL48/s320/BP+Logo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5475548553588827426" /></a><br />That's why the oil keeps pumping into the Gulf.<br /><br />Al Gore called them up and was like, "Guys, we needta get on dis thang, cause the fishies are dyin'."<br /><br />Then, that really mellow drugged up BP dude was like, "Well, we're doing everything we can to get this thing under control, and we're happy with our success, and last weeks Success Bonus we all received, and we can't wait to get things kicked off, but we're saddened by the lack of acceptance with our idea on how to make the water more slippery for the fishies."<br /><br />That's how it went down. It went down like that because, quite obviously, I was told, in person, by who else; <a href="http://www.techible.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/jesus_phone2.jpg">my good buddy Jesus.</a><br /><br />Anyway, I'm here to bring good news for all of those who are longing to watch that <a href="http://globalwarming.house.gov/spillcam">live feed of the oil spill</a>, that almost never works, because of the thousands all trying to watch it at the same time.<br /><br />BP, of all people, have posted a <a href="http://www.bp.com/liveassets/bp_internet/globalbp/globalbp_uk_english/homepage/STAGING/local_assets/bp_homepage/html/rov_stream.html">delayed-live feed of the spill</a>. It works by not actually being live, but loading a recorded clip of live feed, which when loaded, will be about 10 minutes behind live, but at least it works.<br /><br />Hopefully we'll get a real show soon, when the leak changes color more, because word is that we may have just tapped into a well of less gas-rich and more pure-oil-rich goodness. You can expect that camera to go down whenever BP tries something new too, because they don't want you seeing them fail live.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-92100899411516006682010-05-03T13:54:00.003-04:002010-05-03T14:03:01.190-04:00Google Acquires BumpTop<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9jyGNyXIBIMKw2jT5UIHE0F06HIjO21s_9peIP8Zw5hVY5ZbWwowtcm4oo8XePfqcwZTLFK_-oQZpnc4lKC_tp4Dii_-cKUcWgcQgZoVjI_PP0nZk9FB8Ye9PLyGpEmPCTutFyXf0_n3/s1600/Google+King.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 177px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ9jyGNyXIBIMKw2jT5UIHE0F06HIjO21s_9peIP8Zw5hVY5ZbWwowtcm4oo8XePfqcwZTLFK_-oQZpnc4lKC_tp4Dii_-cKUcWgcQgZoVjI_PP0nZk9FB8Ye9PLyGpEmPCTutFyXf0_n3/s200/Google+King.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5467105856725566514" /></a><br />I can't take this crap. Must they just buy everything with no actual intention to link it all?<br /><br />This is EXACTLY what killed General Motors.<br /><br />They have their greedy fingers in a little of everything, and they have no real ideas on what to do but acquire things and move forward with them, all snowballing as they go.<br /><br />This is absolutely lunatic. BumpTop was one of the little guys I was rooting for, and they made a really cool useful product. Now it's going to be yet another bump (no pun intended) on the bigass pile of endless <a href="http://robinheyden.files.wordpress.com/2009/01/google-beta.jpg">Google Beta</a>.<br /><br />Well, at least they still offer it free for another week.<br /><br /><a href="http://bumptop.com/">Check out the message on their page.</a> They're actually happy about it? My condolences, folks.<br /><br />Damn you Google.<br /><br />That's all I have to say.<br /><br />Damn you.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-43062248242403717992010-04-20T02:08:00.002-04:002010-04-20T02:15:33.335-04:00Apple to Gizmodo: Gimme<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaEB4TC0z55E_sox_kW1WV3YzV7Sj7KJDo7GDtzDyMVYq1FOqNV9HStz4tkiJKgXHhIhmnKPU8c9pNA7-5wNuPBTXt7gdOUXTNvA-KTXfG2fghqmrAhWoFmgd4wTY6SN4yOv769ZQrGU4/s1600/Apple+To+Gizmodo.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 246px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQaEB4TC0z55E_sox_kW1WV3YzV7Sj7KJDo7GDtzDyMVYq1FOqNV9HStz4tkiJKgXHhIhmnKPU8c9pNA7-5wNuPBTXt7gdOUXTNvA-KTXfG2fghqmrAhWoFmgd4wTY6SN4yOv769ZQrGU4/s320/Apple+To+Gizmodo.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462097784697990194" /></a><br />So, that iPhone that everyone is raving about now? You'll never see it again. It's gone, thanks to one drunk employee who left it at a bar, where it was picked up by some schmucks, sold to some more schmucks, and then torn apart by Gizmodo.<br /><br />Well. Now they officially ruined it. Not the iPhone. The child-like wonder.<br /><br />Do you REALLY think Steve is going to unveil a product on stage, to tons of people (intelligent tech-people) that the world over has already seen months before?<br /><br />Hell no.<br /><br />You people aren't getting it now.<br /><br />So there.<br /><br />You'll get an iPhone with no camera(s), removable Energizer batteries, and with Flash support. You'll all be pissed off with it, and you'll all wonder why. You'll all know why, though. You pissed off Steve... and Steve will not take that kind of shit from you kind of people. Steve will punch you in the chest, rip out your beating heart, and squish it, beating, into the pavement.<br /><br />That is, unless Jony Ive doesn't stab you in the eyes with a soldering iron.<br /><br />...and unless Scott Forstall doesn't code you to death.<br /><br />Be afraid. Be very afraid. Revenge of the nerds, bitches.<br /><br />More as this unveils.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-77026481986154392492010-03-22T00:50:00.004-04:002010-03-22T01:23:31.129-04:00Universal Health Care PASSED?!?!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3Xdls7HQMgMI1IELFixnhxnbUYmgrtvnW7Ep70FS43p5iQZdtr1nryPy_R25XCYIzoz31NZ8CuGPvjpK1TW-344cEoKY8_2voyiHYQXy3-szXNIS2AY0fMjRduXH2qKfcmYbWpzJbynD/s1600-h/Health+Care.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC3Xdls7HQMgMI1IELFixnhxnbUYmgrtvnW7Ep70FS43p5iQZdtr1nryPy_R25XCYIzoz31NZ8CuGPvjpK1TW-344cEoKY8_2voyiHYQXy3-szXNIS2AY0fMjRduXH2qKfcmYbWpzJbynD/s320/Health+Care.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451316396983244882" /></a><br />So this fucking thing passed? are you kidding me?<br /><br />I've been gone enjoying the freedom that the world has to offer. I really have. To be honest, I gave a big old fashioned "SCREW THE INTERWEBZ"...<br /><br />I got a summons from my <a href="http://www.techible.com/wp-content/uploads/2007/06/jesus_phone2.jpg">good buddy Jesus</a>, and he said "You know what you've gotta do? You've gotta spread the good word."<br /><br />I'm like, "Listen, I go to church, I like you, a whole lot, but I don't know enough to preach-"<br /><br />He cut me off. "I'm talking about <a href="http://weblogs.cltv.com/news/local/chicago/obama.jpg">that black dude.</a> You know, the one that's only called half white when he does something stupid? Like now. Now that the Health Care Bill passed, he'll be half white."<br /><br />"Oh. Yeah, Jesus. I know who you mean. That one. The one with the oversized gas hogging custom pimp limo. Right."<br /><br />So I'm here now. I won't rest until this thing is sent back to the void and emptiness from which it came. Which is kind of odd, because I don't quite know how you'd fit a bill / law / novel between <a href="http://www.rolandsmartin.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/nancy-pelosi.jpg">Nancy Pelosi's</a> ears...SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-20569484985927932912010-01-27T23:26:00.004-05:002010-01-31T16:33:36.087-05:00I Win Again<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://g.media.macrumorslive.com/m/article/2010/01/27/145334-hardware-01-20100127_500.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 194px;" src="http://g.media.macrumorslive.com/m/article/2010/01/27/145334-hardware-01-20100127_500.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />For my 150th post, I tell you one thing.<br /><br />Ha.<br /><br />That's Right.<br /><br />Ha.<br /><br />I was right. I told you. A big flat iPhone. Sure the black strip didn't go <i>all</i> the way across, but I can be wrong every now and then right? Else my perfection just gets a little boring. I can't wait to get my hands on this thing.<br /><br />Thank you again, Steve.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-55121383794798229252010-01-22T09:18:00.004-05:002010-01-22T09:30:16.104-05:00iPhone To Directly Influence The Tablet<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWh53kX_UTN5iOZsC_v1TcfQObRP7oWZRqIIRhgQjSsIi_1cMhyphenhyphen2PA5AcfzGgnmaqT1-kAoBIuogmjFPC40QcpytGLWwBngoWpsYHNYeQtEaAO8v19F0Yn3VhDR8po9r5zhRhDVAmjDzv/s1600-h/iPhone+Rear.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 340px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqWh53kX_UTN5iOZsC_v1TcfQObRP7oWZRqIIRhgQjSsIi_1cMhyphenhyphen2PA5AcfzGgnmaqT1-kAoBIuogmjFPC40QcpytGLWwBngoWpsYHNYeQtEaAO8v19F0Yn3VhDR8po9r5zhRhDVAmjDzv/s400/iPhone+Rear.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5429568967244089762" /></a><br />Oh, have I missed this place - but hark; I come bearing gifts of good news.<br /><br />Jobs' and Ive's design ideas were spot on the first time around. The metal back of the first iPhone was a hit on all design fronts: simple, elegant, bold yet subdued. The only problem was that it was almost <i>too flat</i>, if you can believe that.<br /><br />Too flat or too thin? iProducts? Never! No such thing, right?<br /><br />Wrong.<br /><br />That same form factor is coming back. Albeit, with more tapered edges, like the MacBook Air, you're going to see a giant iPhone next Wednesday. Until you actually turn on the device, it will look exactly like a wider, longer iPhone. From the glass and black front, to a metal bezel, to the anodized aluminum back - complete with that black plastic strip across the length of the device.<br /><br />Ever see that story about the iPhone that got run over by a truck? Now imagine the truck was carrying a house. That's the idea of what you're going to be seeing here. <b>The ultimate hybrid.</b> Something that looks just like an iPhone, but with something that looks just like OS X. The happy marriage in the middle is what we're all going to have to wait and see.<br /><br />I'm right again, and you'll all see come next Wednesday. If not... Well then I'll just disappear in cowering fear for as long as I have been.<br /><br />Oh, happy 2010 fellow Interweberz.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-28800870698981825842009-12-28T23:45:00.002-05:002009-12-28T23:48:41.092-05:00Operation Surrender. Decent name? We'll see.Plan:<br />On AT&T's website, everyone has the option to select "Not My Device" on their AT&T dashboard. At the same time, we all switch our "Not My Device" to some random phone of our choosing.<br /><br />Why:<br />If they don't want New York City to have the iPhone, then the entire state of New York should go along with their thinking. We won't have the iPhone. We'll have something else. If they really want us to, they'll have to switch it back.<br /><br />When:<br />December 31st, 11:30pm. It'll be more than a simple few account fixes at that time. Everyone at AT&T will be gone or drunk or both, and who knows what kind of chaos this could create.<br /><br />I say it's worth a shot. Let's go New York. Show AT&T that they're really the ones making the choice here. Stick it to them with a healthy dose of literal sarcasm. It's their call. Let them live with the consequences.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-24610989321682240822009-12-04T15:50:00.002-05:002009-12-04T15:55:25.976-05:00So I download Coconut Battery...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeUJb0mIOX0ZzTQkTPEPIJlWrQD0ysRI31wuiaZHdxGJPkbOtwe_qJhQTpDIn8qidl5h2IsBzzhYYZP5yHoJh0uYWl6El2VFDYFU6nuGBUit2yuz3EChGkALETmARa6TatjfJeGFqiZW5/s1600-h/CocoBatteryLife.png"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 208px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEeUJb0mIOX0ZzTQkTPEPIJlWrQD0ysRI31wuiaZHdxGJPkbOtwe_qJhQTpDIn8qidl5h2IsBzzhYYZP5yHoJh0uYWl6El2VFDYFU6nuGBUit2yuz3EChGkALETmARa6TatjfJeGFqiZW5/s320/CocoBatteryLife.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5411486428748502514" /></a><br />...and those are my current stats.<br /><br />Obviously, I used it on the only laptop I have; my iBook G4.<br /><br />Why does this matter? <b>That's the original battery</b>...<br /><br />From the final production run of these little powerhouses back in I believe 2003. I have the 1.33ghz model. The very last.<br /><br />It's now 6 years old. On its way to a great big shun from even receiving Apple repairs or service of any sort. Still it lives. Rock on, little iBook. Rock on.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-12712754312101494092009-11-22T23:33:00.003-05:002009-11-22T23:39:55.404-05:00Dear Martha Stewart...You're an asshole. You are a wretched asshole.<br /><br />You and your amazingly upscale foreign accent... from Connecticut.<br /><br />Oh, and Rachel Ray is 10 times the cook you were, and 100 times over the person you think you are.<br /><br />...because you so read this blog. Shove your folded napkins too.<br /><br />Much love,<br /><i>Skippy</i>SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-63785022354649744072009-10-09T07:37:00.002-04:002009-10-09T07:39:51.755-04:00Exclusive NASA Quote:"Billions of your tax dollars just went poof,<br />and you didn't even get to see it."SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-14735399615365825262009-10-06T13:20:00.008-04:002009-10-06T13:54:30.032-04:00LBG SkippyT on Xbox 360 and Skippy on Sony<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://fidgit.com/PSN_Xbox_Live.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 333px; height: 231px;" src="http://fidgit.com/PSN_Xbox_Live.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />So I've been gone for ages... Sue me. Would you believe me if I told you it was because of Microsoft? Yes, that's a gamertag.<br /><br />So I got it... The Xbox 360 Pro. I urge everyone not to pick this one up. Just pass. Why? It will consume your life.<br /><br />I found the Pro still for sale on Walmart.com, and used my discount. Complete with all the extra goodies, but without the expensive black paint job. So far, I have Halo 3, The Godfather II, and Nascar 08. It's a great system, and it makes me sorry I stuck with Sony for so long.<br /><br />See now let me explain something to everyone that irritates me, now that I mentioned Sony... The Playstation was the first system. It was only called the PSONE when they released the smaller white one, replacing the fatass grey one. The Playstation 2 with the fans and tray loading drive was not called the PS2. The PS2 name accompanies the slim one with the car-hood-opening drive, no fans, and the built in internet capabilities. The Playstation 3 was the first there to - the rounded fat gloss black and chrome football-like console. The new slim version is the PS3. Do we understand that now Sony fans under the age of 5? Do we?<br /><br />1) <i>Playstaion</i> > 1.5) <i>PSONE</i> > 2) <i>Playstation 2</i> > 2.5) <i>PS2</i> > 3) <i>Playstation 3</i> > 3.5) <i>PS3</i>... The <i>PS</i> stands for Piece of Shit when they change a good thing. I refuse to buy the third in the line. There's no reason why they should discontinue the one console they had that could play all of the Playstion 1, 2, and 3 games. I don't want a software emulator, and I don't want one that can't do anything else at all. <b>I want the hardware that was built in, left in.</b><br /><br />I therefore abandoned Sony, because I have a Playstation 2 that works fine, and can play all of the Playstation 2 games just fine. All my gamer friends own an Xbox. I have two friends with a Playstation 3. Therefore, they are <i>obviously</i> not gamers. The only good thing about the Playstion 3 is Gran Turismo 5, but I am not about to wait until 2015 to play it. <i>Let's face it, it ain't coming any time soon...</i><br /><br />Long story short, <u><b>LBG SkippyT</b></u>. Find me, friend me... I may or may not accept, depending on my mood that hour. We'll see. I just love kicking ass in Halo.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4789519758700224215.post-26255536816839419932009-09-16T22:16:00.002-04:002009-09-16T22:44:47.862-04:00Saturn = AT&T: A Different Kind of CompanyNever before have I gotten a return personal call from a higher up at a major company. So today, when a call showed up from a 405 area code, I was hesitant in picking it up - not knowing who it was.<br /><br />It ended up being from Oklahoma, as my iPhone's Recent Calls told me after I hung up. A reverse lookup of the number confirmed it, though I can't find the caller's name. While, yeah he told me as I said 'Hello', but when he said "...calling from AT&T about that MMS issue..." I admittedly was so blown away that a company called me back, that I didn't catch his name.<br /><br />From Oklahoma City, OK, all I could gather was a Tim or a Bill, but whoever it was helped out a lot. So much so, I switched my own tone. We talked for only about 10 minutes, but we actually both listened to one another as we each talked - which is a lot more than what happened with any of the customer service reps. He said I had some great points, and a great idea in one thing I suggested.<br /><br />I told him how through all the agreements, terms of service, notices, statements, and right down to FAQs, there is no definitive clear understandable explanation on how AIM clients are regarded and counted as both Data and Text. He now told me they will certainly consider remedying that. They may do some sort of a bill insert, email notice, or post something on the website, but that something indeed needs to be said to put it out there clear and precise.<br /><br />They're right. I admit it. Now the problem is trying to see what Apple is going to do to educate their staff. Will I do anything beyond this? Probably not. We'll see though.<br /><br />Not only did AT&T refund my $3.65 overage, the guy that called offered me a complimentary month of service, waving my typical $72.43 bill for September for "pursing this matter as much as I have" and spending the time to stay on it.<br /><br />I thank AT&T. I thank Apple. I also trust that something truly gets fixed. Thanks Tim or Bill.SkippyThorsonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13494578163256297115noreply@blogger.com0