To everyone who’s frittered away countless hours trying to get that last ratings star…
Archives for SpinRants
My Journey to the Dark Side is Complete
Published on November 11, 2010
The first iPod was the gateway drug; then came the video iPod–harmless enough. Then I opted for an iPhone when I abandoned my Blackberry; the signs were ominous but I heeded them not. Not long after, my workplace switched us over to the newest 27″ iMacs for development; OS X started seeming commonplace. The iPad purchase sealed my doom.
MacBook Pro
Yes, Virginia: I’ve fallen over the precipice of (gasp) Apple Fanboi-hood. My 17″ MacBook Pro is being custom-built as I type this, and I shall soon be placing my Alienware M17x on the market.
Know anyone who wants an over-powered monster laptop?
Signs of Sanity
Published on November 4, 2010
So unless you’ve been living in self-imposed exile you’re aware of the Stewart/Colbert rallies recently held in DC. Apart from the standard observation that it’s a sad commentary when we’re getting comedy from “real” news sources and sanity from comedians, one has to note that there were some damned funny signs displayed that day. Various compilations have been shared around the Intertubes ever since; my personal favorite was gleaned from one such collection.
Without further ado…
Don't for a minute think the irony escaped me.
Internet Election Coverage
Published on November 2, 2010
I’ve been checking in on how things are going with today’s election now and then, visiting all the usual suspects, including the various social media venues. As the day has progressed, I started to detect something odd about the various comments left by readers–a certain commonality seemed to emerge. Hmm…
Curious, I did some sleuthing, only to discover the truth: all the comments are coming from the same small group! Imagine that!
After further digging, I was able to track down this small but extremely prolific group to their lair; here’s a picture:
Internet Forum Commenters
Shooting Craps on Wall Street
Published on October 20, 2010
Okay, I admit it: I’m not a stockbroker. My understanding of the market ins and outs is confined to looking glumly at the latest statement from my 401(k). As is probably common among people who don’t understand a complex system, I don’t trust it. Not one bit. My confidence isn’t bolstered by such events as the publication of a recent academic paper that says, basically, that gauging people’s moods from Twitter posts can predict market behavior better than three out of four times.
Um, buh? The stock market can be closely correlated to TWITTER?
Do we really want to place important financial matters in the figurative hands of a system that’s so…well, just plain bonkers?
This comic sums up my feelings about the stability and integrity of the stock market and the majority of the people who play therein (apologies in advance to those who don’t fit this mould, but damn: you sure do rub elbows with some weirdos):
Picking Your Relatives
Published on October 10, 2010
If your Uncle Bubba offers to play Santa for the family Xmas party? Think twice.
Just saying.
Stop Being Afraid!
Published on September 27, 2010
I try to avoid getting political here, but sometimes I just gotta. I believe that if a huge subset of Americans bought into the philosophy of this poster, another huge subset of our politicians would suddenly be out of support and then out of a job. They survive by making you afraid and then by getting you to believe they’re going to protect you. Not gonna happen. You’re already safer than anyone in our history and it’s certainly not through their efforts; they wouldn’t know how to protect you if their lives depended on it–and it doesn’t. Make sure you don’t step out in front of a bus, and that removes the greatest threat to your safety you’re going to find in this country.
Just stop listening to the fear-mongering, people!
Poster by Al Haug, discovered thanks to a Facebook post by Alejandra Ospina.
Consumer Watchdog’s Anti-Google Ad on YouTube
Published on September 21, 2010
What do you think: over-the-top hype, or appropriate cautionary tale? None of the above?
Extra points for asking, “What’s Google?” 
World History as Seen through Facebook
Published on September 19, 2010
Does it already feel as though Facebook has been around for, well, forever?
What if it had?
Politically Incorrect Golf Terms
Published on August 23, 2010
Try some of these next time you’re out on the course (courtesy of one of my league mates, with a little editing of my own).
WARNING: locker room humor follows…
- Rock Hudson – a putt that looked straight, but wasn’t.
- Saddam Hussein – from one bunker into another.
- Yasser Arafat – butt-ugly and in the sand.
- John Kennedy Jr. – didn’t quite make it over the water.
- Rodney King – over-clubbed.
- O.J. – got away with one.
- Princess Grace – should have used a driver.
- Princess Di – shouldn’t have used a driver.
- Condom – safe, but didn’t feel very good.
- Brazilian – shaved the hole.
- Rush Limbaugh – way to the right and out of bounds.
- Keith Olbermann – see above, but for lefties.
- James Joyce – a putt that’s impossible to read.
- Ted Kennedy – goes in the water and jumps out.
- Pee Wee Herman – too much wrist.
- Sonny Bono – straight into the trees.
- Paris Hilton – a very expensive hole.
- Tiger Woods – wrong hole.
- Dubya – wrong course.
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