Is it me, or does the ubiquitous iPod advertising campaign (bottom) -- launched in September 2003 -- appear to be a total ripoff of the cover image from Blackalicious's album Blazing Arrow (top) -- released in April 2002? Maybe it's just my imagination.

Whilst hunting for the iPod image, I also found parodies featuring Bender and -- even better -- Jebus.

I Love GarageBand!

As I noted in an earlier post, Apple's fantastic music production app GarageBand is one glorious package. It's never been easier for me to make high-quality music tracks -- and it takes me 1/3 of the time it took with my old software! I love it to pieces.

I Hate GarageBand! I Keel You, Apple!

GarageBand is ruining my spring break. Just like many other folks around the web, I'm experiencing bone-crushing problems with this evil app. It won't launch some songs; it completely mutates others to the point where they won't play at all.

On Monday I did an Archive & Install, and then -- when that didn't fix it -- I backed up my data and did a total Erase & Install. All was well for a few hours, but then it happened again. Fun! Hand me that machine gun!

I think there may be a conflict with the program Amadeus II, since I had it open this time when the demons returned. I suppose I can do another E&I, and avoid using Amadeus. See if that gets me anywhere. Meantime, the Apple Support People are consulting among themselves and promised to have an answer for me in "a few days". (TPCQ: "In several hours? Do you know that I lost a customer last week because of your .. silliness!") I only get 90 days of free customer support, so combined with my having time during the day, this is the best time for it to happen (if it has to happen).

While I remain steadfast in my commitment to nonviolent principles, I'd like to strangle someone right now.

Life Imitates The Simpsons

"Did you really have to handcuff the children?" "No, ma'am, I did not." (Which episode?)

Et Cetera

So much for labor rights!

Republican governors in a few spots across the country are angering state employees by removing one of organized labor's strongest tools - the right to collective bargaining.

Within hours or days of taking office this year, Mitch Daniels in Indiana and Matt Blunt in Missouri eliminated collective bargaining agreements for state employees, affecting about 50,000 workers. Kentucky Gov. Ernie Fletcher did the same when he took office in 2003. In each case, the agreements had only been granted by executive order, not by law.

Sigh. Meantime, NoWayWolfowitz is an interesting warehouse of news about Captain Spitcomb and his nomination to be the new president of the WB.

TimeWaster™

Check out these videos of walking octopi. They're coming to get us! (Imagine the chaos when they team up with the killer robots!)

Today I'm listening to: Orbital!