Well, it's almost here. After weeks, months, years of waiting, the iPhone is only about 24 hours away! After 6 months of a slow build in anticipation, the last couple of weeks have seen a cascade of exciting new information about the thing. Details like new features, good rate plans, videos on features and how-to's... every day there's an exciting new revelation. For example:
- You don't have to go through a long in-store activation process as like you normally do with new cell service. You do it through iTunes.
- Apple has a page, updated nightly, where you can check iPhone availability at Apple retail stores. Who else does that for any product?!
- The first batch of official reviews have all been good; the thing's living up to the hype.
And just today...another testament to the greatness of Apple...at a company-wide meeting at their headquarters, His Steveness told employees that every employee who's worked there for at least a year, including part-timers...everybody...will get a free iPhone next month! And not just the 4gb one, but the 8gb one. Isn't that amazing?!
If you want to follow along as obsessively as I do, add TUAW and AppleInsider and iPhone Matters to your frequently-checked sites. And no, I'm not camping out in line to get one, like some people have been since Tuesday. I'm not even going to get one anytime soon. I like to wait awhile, to let any bugs get worked out. Still, I will go to a local AT&T store tomorrow to check it out and see the frenzy. For those of you with an Apple Store in town, go forth and partake in the madness, 6pm tomorrow!
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Monday, June 25, 2007
Livestock!
I went down to the beach over the weekend. Going through Robertsdale on the way back, I noticed something I'd never seen before: the Robertsdale Livestock Auction! Right off 59, it's a brick front-building with a long open-air shed behind it full of pens for livestock. Something that caught my eye right away was a rooster wandering around the adjoining parking lot, so I got out of the car and discovered many more chickens of all ages milling about. Chickens in downtown Robertsdale! It's great to see things like that still around.
Aside from the poultry, there were also many cows (as seen above) which, in addition to just bein' purty, called to me with their mellifluous moos and satisfying scent.
Beach + Livestock = a Good Day in Baldwin County.
A Handsome Fellow
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Potus Visit
Bush was in Mobile this afternoon. The article about it in this morning's paper began with a funny, telling sentence:
The president and first lady are scheduled to visit Mobile today in the first presidential visit in more than 30 years unrelated to weather damage.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
June in Mobile
It's been a quiet couple of weeks here in Mobile, getting back to day-to-day life after the glory of Chile. I'm doing more interesting things at work now, more lawyerly things, so that's good.
And I've been drinking the shit out of mate, that South American tea-like elixir. It's so good! It gives you a boost, but a smoother one than coffee, and it's a bit of an appetite suppressant, so I don't have the urge to constantly graze that reading or writing legal stuff usually gives me. It has indeed partially supplanted coffee in my daily routine, and one day last week I even did not have coffee for a whole day! I cannot remember the last time I went a day without any coffee, but it had been years.
The benefits of the mate, combined with the slight weight loss that I achieved while in Chile (it's so much easier to eat better and be more active when you leave AL), inspired me to focus in fitness again, so in addition to cutting way back on calories, I've been running more. Soon I'll be a steed again.
That is, if I don't get waylaid by the new Waffle House going in across the street from my office! It's just off the intersection of Hillcrest & Grelot. A month ago, it was an empty lot; now, this new beacon of hope and goodness has popped up less than 100 yards from my workplace. I do believe I am the only one of us who can boast of this. It is surely the closest any of us has ever lived or worked to a WH, and it is glorious!
And one last thing about food... I had dinner with Randy, Michael, and Caleb (8 mos) last weekend. They're good. They're moving to Monterey, CA in a couple of weeks! I'm damn jealous.
Finally, speaking of better places: As if health care and public transportation aren't enough, here's yet another example of the little things that give Europe a higher quality of life than here: Supermarkets Offering Personal Scanners. At least they're beginning to be rolled out here. We'll see if they ever make it beyond high-end East Coast & West Coast stores. Of course, that's where I aim to get back to (or abroad), so why am I carping?
And I've been drinking the shit out of mate, that South American tea-like elixir. It's so good! It gives you a boost, but a smoother one than coffee, and it's a bit of an appetite suppressant, so I don't have the urge to constantly graze that reading or writing legal stuff usually gives me. It has indeed partially supplanted coffee in my daily routine, and one day last week I even did not have coffee for a whole day! I cannot remember the last time I went a day without any coffee, but it had been years.
The benefits of the mate, combined with the slight weight loss that I achieved while in Chile (it's so much easier to eat better and be more active when you leave AL), inspired me to focus in fitness again, so in addition to cutting way back on calories, I've been running more. Soon I'll be a steed again.
That is, if I don't get waylaid by the new Waffle House going in across the street from my office! It's just off the intersection of Hillcrest & Grelot. A month ago, it was an empty lot; now, this new beacon of hope and goodness has popped up less than 100 yards from my workplace. I do believe I am the only one of us who can boast of this. It is surely the closest any of us has ever lived or worked to a WH, and it is glorious!
And one last thing about food... I had dinner with Randy, Michael, and Caleb (8 mos) last weekend. They're good. They're moving to Monterey, CA in a couple of weeks! I'm damn jealous.
Finally, speaking of better places: As if health care and public transportation aren't enough, here's yet another example of the little things that give Europe a higher quality of life than here: Supermarkets Offering Personal Scanners. At least they're beginning to be rolled out here. We'll see if they ever make it beyond high-end East Coast & West Coast stores. Of course, that's where I aim to get back to (or abroad), so why am I carping?
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
Pollos!
Another great thing about my trip to Chile is that it has enabled me get back to the original theme of this blog: chickens! I saw many chickens out in the countryside when we were down in Araucanía. Here are a couple of pulse-quickening shots...
Thursday, June 07, 2007
Post-Chile
So I've been back from Chile for almost a week now, back to the grind. The trip was amazing, nine days of one surprise after the next. The only disappointment was that it was cloudy most of the time, so I never really got to see the southern stars. But it was neat to see the sun and moon cross the sky along a northerly route rather than a southerly one. And it was by far the farthest south I've ever been, reaching far enough (in the Villarrica area) to be farther south than the Australian mainland, roughly even with Tasmania. Oh yeah, I tested the water drain thing...it drained counterclockwise in my sink in Santiago, just as it does in my sink here in Mobile...so no Coriolis effect. As for weather, it was really chilly, being in late fall/early winter. And the leaves had turned! Used to be, when I thought of Latin American flora, I thought dense and green. But central Chile is at such a latitude that there are seasons like in the US, so there was a lot of colorful fall foliage, reminding me of New England at times. Some leafy parts of Santiago even looked like Brooklyn or the Upper West Side or something.
All in all, it was an incredible trip, with so many great sights and activities and people, especially considering that two days before the trip I didn't even know I was going there. This week I've been trying to edit the roughly 950 photos down to a manageable number to post online. They should be on Flickr soon. In the meantime, here's a shot of Julie and I in Pucón, on the shores of Lake Villarrica.
All in all, it was an incredible trip, with so many great sights and activities and people, especially considering that two days before the trip I didn't even know I was going there. This week I've been trying to edit the roughly 950 photos down to a manageable number to post online. They should be on Flickr soon. In the meantime, here's a shot of Julie and I in Pucón, on the shores of Lake Villarrica.
Monday, June 04, 2007
D-Day on XM
For everybody out there with XM Radio, check out this awesome show that's airing in a couple of days.
Relive the D-Day Invasion
June 6 at 12:41 AM-June 7 at 5:45 PM ET
The '40s - XM 4 brings history alive when it presents a 40-hour real-time re-creation of NBC Radio's coverage of the the massive Allied landing on the Normandy coast of France on June 6th, 1944.
Beginning with the first bulletin on that morning, which aired at 12:41 AM Eastern War Time (same as Eastern Daylight Time), The '40s - XM 4 will provide minute-by-minute coverage of the invasion for 40 hours as heard on the National Broadcasting Company's radio network.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
Happy Birthday Jim!
Happy Birthday to One James Lakey! 31 years of Unchecked Fury!
Also, happy birthday to my mom Betsy and uncle David.
And I'm back from Chile...photos soon.
Tuesday, May 29, 2007
Villarrica
Ahora Julie y yo estamos in Villarrica. We took the overnight bus from Santiago last night, and I awoke this morning to the sight of three massive volcanoes just visible at dawn. Today we explored this town and nearby Pucón. We planned to trek up to the crater of Volcán Villarrica tomorrow, but the weather up there is too bad, so we rented a car to explore more of this amazing area.
Monday, May 28, 2007
En Vivo de Santiago
¡Buenas noches!
So the trip has been great so far. On my nearly-free standby flight down here, I wound up in first class! First class for a 10 hour transcontinental flight is fantastic. Even the food was great. And I made a friend...the guy next to me was this nice young chileno named Francisco.
In fact I´ve made so many friends here! The first day, I met Julie from Quebec City and Tina from Germany, who are studying here. They´ve been great to hang out with. That first night they took me to a party and to a salsateca; my first day in Santiago and I was out until 4am. Increible. Friday night we went back to the salsa place and met Sebastian, a young lawyer here. Really nice guy, he invited is to a barbecue today, where I met even more cool locals. It´s great, because when traveling alone you usually meet nice other travelers, or encounter locals in the streets whom sometimes have to be wary of, so it´s great to meet nice, normal, fun locals. Y chicas bonitas y simpaticas. After the barbecue ended tonight, a bunch of us went back to the salsa place for the Sunday night class. Y mas cerveza.
As for sidetrips, on Friday I went to Valparaiso, a great old port city. Yesterday Julie, Tina and I did the wine tour at Concha y Tora. Good stuff. And I was thinking about going to Mendoza, Argentina for a night, which entails a great bus ride through the Andes, but that didn´t quite work out. And I was happy to hang here instead. Tomorrow night Julie and I will take an overnight bus to Pucón, a town well south of here near volcanoes and other natural beauty. Then I´ll be back Thursday for my flight home.
There haven´t been many bumps in the road, mainly just the stress of having to be careful with myself and my bag when walking through the more crowded, crazy areas. But I´m getting more comfortable, and my spanish is coming back nicely. I can converse pretty well now, and the socializing I mentioned is mostly in spanish. It´s challenging and exhilarating, y las chicas piensen que puedo hablar muy bien. Y lo que es la mas importante, no?
So, that´s the report from the southern latitudes. Until next time, soy,
John de Chile
One more thing...vocabulario: un submarino = a delicious hot chocolate consisting of thick bars of chocolate sunk into a cup of steamed milk, to melt at your pleasure. Wonderful.
So the trip has been great so far. On my nearly-free standby flight down here, I wound up in first class! First class for a 10 hour transcontinental flight is fantastic. Even the food was great. And I made a friend...the guy next to me was this nice young chileno named Francisco.
In fact I´ve made so many friends here! The first day, I met Julie from Quebec City and Tina from Germany, who are studying here. They´ve been great to hang out with. That first night they took me to a party and to a salsateca; my first day in Santiago and I was out until 4am. Increible. Friday night we went back to the salsa place and met Sebastian, a young lawyer here. Really nice guy, he invited is to a barbecue today, where I met even more cool locals. It´s great, because when traveling alone you usually meet nice other travelers, or encounter locals in the streets whom sometimes have to be wary of, so it´s great to meet nice, normal, fun locals. Y chicas bonitas y simpaticas. After the barbecue ended tonight, a bunch of us went back to the salsa place for the Sunday night class. Y mas cerveza.
As for sidetrips, on Friday I went to Valparaiso, a great old port city. Yesterday Julie, Tina and I did the wine tour at Concha y Tora. Good stuff. And I was thinking about going to Mendoza, Argentina for a night, which entails a great bus ride through the Andes, but that didn´t quite work out. And I was happy to hang here instead. Tomorrow night Julie and I will take an overnight bus to Pucón, a town well south of here near volcanoes and other natural beauty. Then I´ll be back Thursday for my flight home.
There haven´t been many bumps in the road, mainly just the stress of having to be careful with myself and my bag when walking through the more crowded, crazy areas. But I´m getting more comfortable, and my spanish is coming back nicely. I can converse pretty well now, and the socializing I mentioned is mostly in spanish. It´s challenging and exhilarating, y las chicas piensen que puedo hablar muy bien. Y lo que es la mas importante, no?
So, that´s the report from the southern latitudes. Until next time, soy,
John de Chile
One more thing...vocabulario: un submarino = a delicious hot chocolate consisting of thick bars of chocolate sunk into a cup of steamed milk, to melt at your pleasure. Wonderful.
Monday, May 21, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Local Cheese and Other Developments
Some recent news from the northern Gulf Coast:
Two weekends ago, I found out I passed the bar exam and and bunch of the old gang was in town for Merritt's wedding. That was a good weekend.
Last weekend I was in New Orleans for Jazzfest and other festivities. It was a big time, as usual. Saw many good acts and ate some serious boudin, meat pies, etc. Another highlight was going to Sucre, a great new chocolate shop.
This past weekend was big for Mobile. First, it was announced that we'll be getting a big steel plant, then, the Battle House Hotel and RSA Tower had their gala openings. They both look great. Here's a picture I took a couple nights ago.
Also, Mobile's Market on the Square has opened for the season, every Saturday morning in Cathedral Square. I found out from The Bread Lady (that's her name) there that there is a cheesemaking farm in the area! I had no idea! Sweet Home Farm, down in Baldwin County near Elberta, not far from the beach. Looks like a great place!
Otherwise, I've just been working and catching up on projects and organizing. Exciting times.
Two weekends ago, I found out I passed the bar exam and and bunch of the old gang was in town for Merritt's wedding. That was a good weekend.
Last weekend I was in New Orleans for Jazzfest and other festivities. It was a big time, as usual. Saw many good acts and ate some serious boudin, meat pies, etc. Another highlight was going to Sucre, a great new chocolate shop.
This past weekend was big for Mobile. First, it was announced that we'll be getting a big steel plant, then, the Battle House Hotel and RSA Tower had their gala openings. They both look great. Here's a picture I took a couple nights ago.
Also, Mobile's Market on the Square has opened for the season, every Saturday morning in Cathedral Square. I found out from The Bread Lady (that's her name) there that there is a cheesemaking farm in the area! I had no idea! Sweet Home Farm, down in Baldwin County near Elberta, not far from the beach. Looks like a great place!
Otherwise, I've just been working and catching up on projects and organizing. Exciting times.
Friday, May 11, 2007
French Elections
I was just catching up on some news, reading about the French elections...did you know they had 84% turnout?! Amazing. That's my stat of the week; anytime I hear an American disparaging France, I'm going to mention that and say something about how they participate in their democracy. Of course, the riots at the end of voting day aren't exactly as respectable. Then again, you gotta love the interest & participation & sort of old-fashionedness of it ... when the French don't like something, they take to the streets!
That's even mentioned in this article, which also includes a nice few paragraphs comparing the French socioeconomic system with that of the US/UK; how it is cumbersome and all, but has helped maintain their great way of life.
Also, I enjoy the last sentence of this article, describing the transfer-of-power ceremony: "The Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor will make Mr. Sarkozy Grand Master of the Order."
GRAND MASTER OF THE ODRER!!!
Lastly, here's a photo from a victory celebration in Place de la Concorde. Ah, the Greatness of France...
That's even mentioned in this article, which also includes a nice few paragraphs comparing the French socioeconomic system with that of the US/UK; how it is cumbersome and all, but has helped maintain their great way of life.
Also, I enjoy the last sentence of this article, describing the transfer-of-power ceremony: "The Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor will make Mr. Sarkozy Grand Master of the Order."
GRAND MASTER OF THE ODRER!!!
Lastly, here's a photo from a victory celebration in Place de la Concorde. Ah, the Greatness of France...
Monday, April 30, 2007
Chicken Store in the News
Today the New York Times had a little article about spending a day in Key West, and it mentioned the beloved Chicken Store! Check out this passage and the subsequent photos:
Holding a sweet hen at the Chicken Store
Chasing a big cock in Mallory Square (a time-honored Key West activity)
3 p.m.
5) CHICKEN RUN
People in this town don't kid when it comes to chickens. They're on the loose everywhere, and it's a battle — half the island is trying to save the little cluckers, the other half is endlessly annoyed. And then there are the kids stealing them for cockfights. Learn all about the Key West chicken wars at the Chicken Store (1229 Duval Street, 305-294-0070; www.thechickenstore.com), where you can hold a fuzzy baby chick, feed a rooster or buy a clever T-shirt. If the heart is swayed, you can even file for adoption.
Holding a sweet hen at the Chicken Store
Chasing a big cock in Mallory Square (a time-honored Key West activity)
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Recent Purchases
I recently made two great new purchases, one to create heat, and one to dissipate it.
Creating heat is the exciting new Pentax K10D. After years of waiting for the right camera at the right price, I'm finally making the switch to digital as my primary photography medium. The old ZX-5 served me well for over 10 years and it will soon begin a well-earned retirement. I've got a steep learning curve to maximize the potential of the K10, but it's gonna be fun.
And dissipating heat is my new beaded seat cushion. The cockpit of the Explorer gets hot in the summer, and I have long sought a solution to my heat-trapping seatback. For years I toyed with the idea of the cabbie-style wooden beads, but just didn't have the guts. No longer. I'm now sporting the beads, in all their taxicab glory. Stay tuned for a report on how well they actually work.
Creating heat is the exciting new Pentax K10D. After years of waiting for the right camera at the right price, I'm finally making the switch to digital as my primary photography medium. The old ZX-5 served me well for over 10 years and it will soon begin a well-earned retirement. I've got a steep learning curve to maximize the potential of the K10, but it's gonna be fun.
And dissipating heat is my new beaded seat cushion. The cockpit of the Explorer gets hot in the summer, and I have long sought a solution to my heat-trapping seatback. For years I toyed with the idea of the cabbie-style wooden beads, but just didn't have the guts. No longer. I'm now sporting the beads, in all their taxicab glory. Stay tuned for a report on how well they actually work.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Around the Web
This was in the news a couple of months ago, but I'm just now getting around to mentioning it. Have you seen the new Wikipedia competitor Conservapedia? Amazing. Check out the entry on dinosaurs.
Good news for your stomach: Mandina's, another old favorite, is back open (website by Christy Soto!). Great turtle soup.
Are you familiar with Mims' hit song "This Is Why I'm Hot"? I wasn't, until I sampled it on iTunes after reading this excellent "graphical dissertation" on the song.
And here's a cool site...Worldometers. World statistics updated in real time.
I leave you with a line that still tickles me:
Jack Abramoff??? But I hardly even know Abram!
Good news for your stomach: Mandina's, another old favorite, is back open (website by Christy Soto!). Great turtle soup.
Are you familiar with Mims' hit song "This Is Why I'm Hot"? I wasn't, until I sampled it on iTunes after reading this excellent "graphical dissertation" on the song.
And here's a cool site...Worldometers. World statistics updated in real time.
I leave you with a line that still tickles me:
Jack Abramoff??? But I hardly even know Abram!
Monday, April 23, 2007
Camellia Grill Reopens!
Another Nola recovery milestone - the Camellia Grill reopened Saturday! And the AP photo even captures my favorite waiter, Melvin! This is huge. Word?! Go here for more on the new owner and his plans.
Saturday, April 21, 2007
Apple Store Birmingham
Is there any doubt that an Apple Store in Alabama was long overdue? Check out the crowd on opening day last weekend.
And here's a post from a guy who was third in line. He got there at 6am for the 10am opening.
Modern times are a'comin', slowly but surely.
And here's a post from a guy who was third in line. He got there at 6am for the 10am opening.
Modern times are a'comin', slowly but surely.
Friday, April 20, 2007
My New Home
I'm finally catching up on my photo processing. Here's a picture of me at my new home in Mobile, taken when I got here in late January. Cute place, huh?
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