Ultimate Collisions

And people wonder how I got concussions playing Ultimate...

Anticipation...

If you can't tell by the changes to my Top 5, I am really excited about the upcoming Ryan Adams concert. I know, I know, it is still over a month away, but I have been wanting to see him in concert for so long now, the anticipation is killing me.
He is, by far, the top of my list of favorite artists right now and has been near the top for the last year after following his career and musical experimentation and expression since buying Gold and Demolition over 5 years ago.
His passion for music and love of creating new ways to open his life to the listener are truly captivating. His voice, sometimes biting and harsh, sometimes smooth and soft and on the verge of tears, tells the story of relationships gone bad, pain and hurt, struggles and difficulties, all of which come from his own experiences. It is as if his creative songwriting basket was overflowing with material to share and stories to tell that he was compelled to start writing and singing.

Anyways. Long story short, Ryan is the new Chris Carrabba, for me at least. While Chris captivated and spoke for the angst-filled and hurting teenagers from his own experiences, Ryan takes it to a deeper level, not only talking about relationships and hurt, but painting beautiful pictures with his lyrics and music. It often gives me chills, it's that good.

So excited. I need to go find a Halloween Head for the concert...

And this is why...

...I hate the new Jeep Wranglers. When you are being compared side-by-side with the H3, I think that is a problem. It is kinda like if I was in a band that prided itself on being independent and alternative and then read in a magazine that some music critic had compared us to Britney Spears (may her career R.I.P.). Whether you like it or not, it is all about image, and the Jeep marketing execs really need to consider where they are going with the image of The Jeep (a.k.a Wrangler, Renegage, Scrambler, CJ, YJ, or TJ)

You have forsaken what got you here in the first place, the attitude and image and power and utility of The Jeep. And when I say Jeep, I mean Wrangler, don't butt in and say, oh, you mean like my Grand Cherokee? No. That is made by the Jeep corporation, but you can't refer to it in the same way as the original Jeep.

I could go off on a tirade about them and how they are pandering to the soccer-mom, grocery-getter, frat-boy, daddy's-little-girl market instead of staying true to their roots. Jeep, don't you have an entire fleet of vehicles that fit that description and target that market? Why change the Wrangler to fit? Stupid. But ultimately, the extended and 4-doored Unlimited was Jeep's answer to the H2 and H3. Why do you feel you need to answer them? Let them do their thing and produce sucky cars that a minority of the world will actually want, but you can rise above that and keep your "franchise player," if you will, unsullied amidst this SUV / LUV crazed culture. I guess if you want to change all your goals and image as a car company and neglect the loyalty and uniqueness of the Jeep community in exchange for a new, ostensibly
cosmetic and superficial consumer base, then be my guest. I'm gonna go get a CJ-8 instead. Work back towards tradition instead of forward towards obscurity.

Where is the accountability?

As Week Two of the NFL season comes to a close tonight, there are a lot of surprises out there. But it seems that I am the only one who remembers all that pre-season chatter and all the predictions from the professional commentators. Sure, I know predictions are tough and you are probably guessing most of the time, but what I want to see is some accountability. I want to see those guys who get paid to talk about football get called out for their predictions that are wrong. Just say you were wrong, say you didn't see this one coming. Stop pretending you know everything, because you don't.

Some Examples:

• The Saints are 0-2 after two embarrassing games. It seemed everyone was picking them to go to the playoffs or even the Super Bowl. Last year it was an inspiring, emotional story. This year it isn't there and as commentators, you should be able to look past the daytime-drama story and see that the O-line and Deuce are a mess and that will not take them far. Also, their defense has already given up 72 points so far this season.
  
• The Houston Texans with Schaub and Johnson are lighting it up, winning both of their first two games. No one gave the Texans a chance. I don't hear anyone admitting they missed that one.
  
• Patriots do well, but Moss is the big story in Foxboro. Everyone was all over him about training camp and the preseason games, and then he comes out and puts up big time numbers. He's got attitude this, he isn't going to be game speed that. Moss made it look like he and Brady have been playing together since 3rd grade. I want to watch you eat your criticism of him.
  
• Cleveland beats the Bengals. Puts huge numbers up on the board. No one wanted to have faith in Jamal Lewis. Everyone predicted the Browns would be able to do nothing, meanwhile singing the praises of Cincinnati. Yeah Palmer this, Johnson that. Where is the Bengals' D?
• Let's see, who else were all you guys making love to in the preseason predictions? Oh yeah, St. Louis! Hmm... an 0-2 start with a pretty lackluster offense. I thought that was your main selling point guys? The dynamite, electrifying, high-powered offense of the Rams. Yeah. About that. I realize this week's game was a little closer than last week's shameful performance. You were just one fair-catch short of holding off those Niners. And no, Jeff Wilkins, I don't blame you. You have a good leg and that kick almost got there. But that isn't the story. Steven Jackson, where is he? I don't know, I don't know. Averaging 59 yards rushing and yet to find that painted rectangle at the end of the field...? And he wanted all the fantasy owners to pick him over L.T.
  
• The Rams have the Bucs next week, who just spanked the aforementioned Saints. No love for Tampa, either, if I recall. Cadillac looks like he may have his wheels back and Garcia is getting it done.
  
• L.T. and the Chargers, unimpressive and uninspiring. Way to win the all-defense opener only to be crushed by the Pats in Week 2. Did you do too many commercials in the off-season LaDainian? Time to play some football. A lot of people pick you guys to be in the Super Bowl...
• The Redskins defense looked great in their opener, but I wont say anything till after their second game tonight on MNF. Always have faith...
  
• And the last thing I want to mention is the off-season quarterback gossip you guys threw around. Romo's feelings are hurt so he will have lost all confidence and won't be able to play football. Uh huh? How about leading the NFL's highest scoring offense (82 points in 2 games), behind only Carson Palmer in fantasy points after passing for 6 TDs and 531 yrds in two games. And secondly, how about Brett Favre? I mean, I think he is a stud and is the man, but for all you people who were calling for him to retire and saying that he is too old and can't play anymore, he has thrown for 3 TDs and almost 500 yrds while leading his team to a 2-0 start. I know the Pack's new defense is impressive and has contributed to their success a lot, but I think you should still apologize to the man, the myth, the legend, Brett Favre.

With all that said, I know you have made a couple calls correctly and rightly so. I am not expecting you to be perfect, granted you do have the sweetest setup of anyone I know. You get to spend the day researching football and then get on TV and tell everyone what you think about what happened and what is going to happen, and they will drink it in and treat it like fact. And as stupid as I think it is, I know there isn't going to be any stopping the months of pre-season predictions and rankings (don't get me started on the college rankings, *cough*Michigan*cough*). It helps people get excited and we all want to guess what is going to happen. But admit that it is a guess and be willing to admit when you are wrong and screwed up and subsequently ruined half the country's fantasy teams, instead of just reminding everyone of the picks you got right. All I want to see is some commentator accountability. Call them out when they mess up. It's what would happen in any other business.

What is this, Russia?

Internet rationing? Ok, Stalin, you're going to restrict our access and ability to do what we want and say that it's "for the greater good?" I mean, are we experiencing an Internet shortage? Are we too reliant on foreign Internet and political tensions in those countries are affecting our supply? Or is Comcast just refusing to spend the time and money and effort to make sure their technology is keeping up with the public demand for higher bandwidth? Isn't that your job as a company that provides Internet access? Your customers want and need better service, so you should give it to them, not cut them back even more. I mean, are you going to equate your situation to the oil shortages in the 70s and cap people off and ration their access to the Web and shut them down? Wow, I didn't realize you had such a stranglehold over the seemingly free and unlimited Internet.

Solidarity, Comrades. Monopolize, control, restrict. For the greater good.

And the Beat Goes On...

As always, Steve Job's announcement today of the new line of iPods sent chills up and down my spine and formed a small puddle of drool on my desk. All their products are so amazing and so revolutionary, I always love watching his media events. But this one was even more interesting for me because of how much I love music and because I have been wanting a new iPod for some time. After watching wave after wave of new, sleek, cooler iPods come rolling off the line, I am finding it hard to fight back the urge for much longer. And today's presentation made it even worse.

A couple comments on the new line of iPods:

• The Ringtone Creator option is way overdue. However, it should work with any song in my iTunes library, not just specific songs that you say are ok. You shouldn't tell me what I can and can't use for my ringtone. Give me the freedom to use any song in my Library.
• The new iPod Nano looks weird to me. It is short, squatty, and the clickwheel now looks out of place, as if you didn't know what else to put there (or hadn't come up with a better option) so you just stuck it back on there.
• I like the new color options and the all-metal casings. I don't know if you should discontinue the old colors completely though. Think how popular those were. Are you expecting people to come in and get a new iPod just so they can have a different color that will accessorize better? Maybe there is a reason the original colors did so well.
• I think that Apple having (PRODUCT) RED options for the Shuffle and the Nano is great. I think it shouldn't just stop there. And I think that Apple can afford to give more than just 50% of that profit. What an opportunity to make a difference, Steve. Come on, Think Different...
• This new line sure does make the iPhone look more appealing, which I am sure was part of the reasoning behind it. I am sure Apple execs could sense the public's hesitation to jump to the iPhone. It is just like the whole Switch campaign they ran a while ago trying to convince people how easy it is to go from PC to Mac. Well, for a lot of different reasons, people are holding out and not snatching up the iPhone, like Jobs had hoped. Those who have bought one love it, but how to get everyone else in on it? Hmm, well Steve drops the price of the phone by $200 effective immediately. That is sure to raise some eyebrows. What about AT&T as the only service provider? No answer. But with rumors of hacks and ways around the monopolistic stranglehold, Apple better come up with an answer to appease the masses soon, if they want this gadget to sell. The customer is always right. Listen to them, ya know, like you used to.
• As far as the new iPod Touch goes, it is basically what people were expecting. But, put it side-by-side with the iPhone and you scratch your head and wonder, why not just get the iPhone? The iPod Touch looks like the younger, smaller, less-gifted, red-headed stepbrother of the iPhone. Yet, it still looks taller than it needs to be. What is that extra space up at the top for? Just so there will be an extra half inch sticking out the top of the carrying case or stuck in my pocket? Maybe I am picky, but the iPod Touch seems overpriced for what it offers, especially standing right next to the iPhone, which is only $100 more (8GB). Maybe that is the whole point behind this. Use the appearance of introducing a new, exciting product that caters to the crowd not looking for a new "smart phone," but really all you are trying to do is to get someone to look at this lineup and say, "Well, why not just buy an iPhone, then?" And if so, then congrats, you got me.

Anyways. Very exciting times. I am probably going to the Apple store tomorrow to drool over them in person. I know, predictable MacNerd move.

Does AppleCare really care?

This video is an extreme (disturbing to some) example of what happens when a company's need to be right comes before customer service. How else is the customer going to get the attention of the big corporations? Who is going to stand up for the consumer? Where do you go with a complaint when you feel like your words fall on deaf ears of millionaire CEOs or inept cubicle jockeys?

There is a rapidly increasing lack of good customer service in this country. Whether it is the pimply high school kid at Starbucks who has an attitude (and no, it isn't just because he is trying to be "emo") or the IT guys located in who knows which third-world country who are really hard to understand and talk down to you like you are an idiot, there is no accountability and there is no good way for the consumers voice to be heard. What happened to "the customer is always right"??

In Apple's defense, unlike Mr. Whitford in the video, I have never had a problem with AppleCare or any of the people on the other end of the phone. I have had questions and have had to get help from them on a couple occasions and they were very nice, very helpful, and didn't make me feel like an idiot for asking about something that I am sure was really simple. So, I can't really speak to his issues with Apple, but I do agree that in general, there is a problem with customer service.

Here is the article that featured the Macbook video.