« 2005 September | Main | 2005 July »
Tuesday, August 30, 2005
!@@ SIGN THE PETITION VOTE 5 IF YOUR SICK AND TIERD OF IMIX PITITIONS THANX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Monday, August 29, 2005
Dreams within dreams
I am the best
Saturday, August 27, 2005
GAP iTunes Promotion
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Goat?
Quote of the Night
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Warming up the blog after a brief unannounced hiatus
iPod Shuffle
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Quoting myself again
Not just me this time
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Comic Life Software
Infinite Flickr
Ridiculous
SPAM of the day
Multi Million Dollar Corporation moving into the Austin Metro
Loan Originators/Branch Managers/Account Executives
Have Full Time and Part Time Positions Available Immediately
All Bi-Lingual Candidates Are Encouraged to Apply
Corporation Managers will be in Austin Interviewing
Thursday August 11, 6:30 PM
First American Bank Bldg.
7800 North MOPAC
Suite 130, Austin 78759
1-866-358-9552
Special Consideration to All Highly Motivated Individuals
Full Training Provided
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Glad I don't have to watch this year's camp video
Monday, August 08, 2005
.Mac exclusive widgets: Actually coming soon? (Rumor)
Facebook
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Wicked
Saturday, August 06, 2005
I'm still here
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
I wasn't phoning it in. I was telecommuting.
Re: Abstract of previous entry
This kind of stuff was probably more effective when I used AIM, which had time stamps showing the exact second of the message.
Monday, August 01, 2005
First Mac Orientation
Another Amazon Link to SmartDeck
Bonus Savings Club Membership Cards
Of Course
!@@ SIGN THE PETITION VOTE 5 IF YOUR SICK AND TIERD OF IMIX PITITIONS THANX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Censorship can be annoying, but uncensored idiocy
can sometimes be worse. Like spam. We block the spam messages and most people
support that, so why not remove those annoying petition iMixes in
iTunes?
They are abuse of the system, and have nothing to do with the original intents of the feature. Plus, they don't even work. Apple Corps hates Apple Computer, so forget about the Beatles for now. And a lot of the other bands won't be listed unless every song of theirs is album-only, and Apple has rejected that idea. If you really want to get music on iTunes, contact the band or label directly, or use the request music feature of the iTMS store so Apple can go to the bands with a more comprehensive report than, "Dude, just look at those iMixes!"
Apple should either ban these types of iMixes altogether, or come up with an indirect way of discouraging them, such as prohibiting vote solicitation in the iMix title or description.
I wanted to email Apple about this problem, but their "feedback" link changed to "request music" a long time ago and was never changed back. Instead, I am going to ask for people to vote on this anti-petition petition iMix that I found yesterday. If we have to see petition iMixes, why not make this one #1? Vote 5 stars!!!!!!!11!11!!!
If you started this iMix, let me know and I'll give you credit.
They are abuse of the system, and have nothing to do with the original intents of the feature. Plus, they don't even work. Apple Corps hates Apple Computer, so forget about the Beatles for now. And a lot of the other bands won't be listed unless every song of theirs is album-only, and Apple has rejected that idea. If you really want to get music on iTunes, contact the band or label directly, or use the request music feature of the iTMS store so Apple can go to the bands with a more comprehensive report than, "Dude, just look at those iMixes!"
Apple should either ban these types of iMixes altogether, or come up with an indirect way of discouraging them, such as prohibiting vote solicitation in the iMix title or description.
I wanted to email Apple about this problem, but their "feedback" link changed to "request music" a long time ago and was never changed back. Instead, I am going to ask for people to vote on this anti-petition petition iMix that I found yesterday. If we have to see petition iMixes, why not make this one #1? Vote 5 stars!!!!!!!11!11!!!
If you started this iMix, let me know and I'll give you credit.
Monday, August 29, 2005
Dreams within dreams
I kept dreaming that I was waking up. The first
time I woke up (or dreamt that I woke up), I knew that I was in a dream, and
tried to regain consciousness. I couldn't move easily, because that thing
happened where my mind woke up before I was given control of my body, and I was
aware of this at the time. I managed to move towards the edge of my bed, but i
fell head-first. Fortunately, the whole thing happened in slow motion, which I
even thought was weird during the dream, and I couldn't feel
anything.
The second time, or maybe it was the first, or possibly the third, I dreamt that I woke up with something hard in my mouth. I chewed it for a second and then took it out of my mouth. It was a yellow Skittle. I then, in my dream, assumed that the Skittle was on the floor, and I placed it in my mouth while half-asleep but wasn't conscious enough to chew it. The idea of eating a Skittle from the floor disgusted me in the dream, and I'm grossed out now.
I can't remember which when it was, but in one part of this waking up dream I started laughing a lot.
Once I dreamed that I had a totally pimped out car, with a secret underground garage that I entered directly from an elevator built into a city street. It just looked like I was parallel parking, but then I got lowered down. Oh, and another time, I knew that I was dreaming, and the dream was about taking finals in my senior year of high school. I had just taken my finals in reality, so I went up to the teacher and complained that I had already taken them, it was summer, and I knew it was all a dream. I also had a dream that I was in middle school, and there was all this glass everywhere, so I just walked around breaking stuff because I knew it was a dream. In one of these dreams I thought it would be cool to jump out of a window because it wasn't real, but I got too scared.
And I just thought the cursor on the screen was a fly.
The second time, or maybe it was the first, or possibly the third, I dreamt that I woke up with something hard in my mouth. I chewed it for a second and then took it out of my mouth. It was a yellow Skittle. I then, in my dream, assumed that the Skittle was on the floor, and I placed it in my mouth while half-asleep but wasn't conscious enough to chew it. The idea of eating a Skittle from the floor disgusted me in the dream, and I'm grossed out now.
I can't remember which when it was, but in one part of this waking up dream I started laughing a lot.
Once I dreamed that I had a totally pimped out car, with a secret underground garage that I entered directly from an elevator built into a city street. It just looked like I was parallel parking, but then I got lowered down. Oh, and another time, I knew that I was dreaming, and the dream was about taking finals in my senior year of high school. I had just taken my finals in reality, so I went up to the teacher and complained that I had already taken them, it was summer, and I knew it was all a dream. I also had a dream that I was in middle school, and there was all this glass everywhere, so I just walked around breaking stuff because I knew it was a dream. In one of these dreams I thought it would be cool to jump out of a window because it wasn't real, but I got too scared.
And I just thought the cursor on the screen was a fly.
I am the best
BuffyPrep5:
i was in pa
today
Michael Wyszomierski: so was i!
BuffyPrep5: you're really not the ! type
BuffyPrep5: in fact, i think you're the antithesis of the !
Michael Wyszomierski: you didn't call me, so now i can not feel guilty when i drive past your house and hope you don't see me
BuffyPrep5: why would you drive past my house? that's kind of creepy
BuffyPrep5: i was at bryn mawr, i didn't think you'd want to visit
Michael Wyszomierski: bryn mawr needs more vowels
BuffyPrep5: so does wysz
10:45 PM
Michael Wyszomierski: wysz is awesome
Michael Wyszomierski: and awesome has 4 syllables
Michael Wyszomierski: or voels
BuffyPrep5: no it doesn't
Michael Wyszomierski: woerl
Michael Wyszomierski: voellse
Michael Wyszomierski: vewolws
Michael Wyszomierski: voewlse
Michael Wyszomierski: voesle
Michael Wyszomierski: vowles
Michael Wyszomierski: vowels
BuffyPrep5: i'm gonna just ignore that
Michael Wyszomierski: it's quadra-vowelcular
BuffyPrep5: same with that
Michael Wyszomierski: i wanted to say quadrasyllabic
Michael Wyszomierski: but that would be incorrect
Michael Wyszomierski: ugh
BuffyPrep5: yeah, considering it's bisyllabic
BuffyPrep5: not that there's anything wrong with that
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm awesome
BuffyPrep5: so anyway, i was in PA...that's the end of the story
Michael Wyszomierski: you suck at stories go home
Michael Wyszomierski: go back to england
Michael Wyszomierski: where you came from
BuffyPrep5: i hate england
Michael Wyszomierski: you brit
Michael Wyszomierski: wow you are not tolerant of other cultures
Michael Wyszomierski: i can't speak to you anymore
BuffyPrep5: i have issues with england
Michael Wyszomierski: some of my best friends are english
BuffyPrep5: sucks to your friends
Michael Wyszomierski: to my friends?
BuffyPrep5: you never read lord of the flies?
Michael Wyszomierski: no it is in french
BuffyPrep5: when the kid goes "i have asthma" and the other kid says "sucks to your asthma!"
BuffyPrep5: no it's british actually
BuffyPrep5: and most middle schoolers have to read it
Michael Wyszomierski: not the french edition
Michael Wyszomierski: i didn't go to middle school
Michael Wyszomierski: i went to junior high
Michael Wyszomierski: or JH
Michael Wyszomierski: Johns Hopkins
BuffyPrep5: ...
BuffyPrep5: your stream of consciousness never ceases to amaze me
Michael Wyszomierski: don't be amazed; i actually did go to middle school
Michael Wyszomierski: i placed out of junior high
BuffyPrep5: whatever
BuffyPrep5: i got a new facebook picture
Michael Wyszomierski: i know
Michael Wyszomierski: i was just on facebook
BuffyPrep5: that's kind of weird
BuffyPrep5: it's a good picture
Michael Wyszomierski: i was making fun of john young
Michael Wyszomierski: you have glasses
BuffyPrep5: yeah i have since freshman year
Michael Wyszomierski: the picture is so girly
Michael Wyszomierski: you obviously cropped out of a group photo
Michael Wyszomierski: typical girly pic
BuffyPrep5: my last one was cropped too
BuffyPrep5: did you want me to leave the other 4 girls in it?
BuffyPrep5: at least i don't have a pepsi box on my head
10:55 PM
Michael Wyszomierski: whatever i get good money for that pic
BuffyPrep5: you look like a moron
Michael Wyszomierski: so was i!
BuffyPrep5: you're really not the ! type
BuffyPrep5: in fact, i think you're the antithesis of the !
Michael Wyszomierski: you didn't call me, so now i can not feel guilty when i drive past your house and hope you don't see me
BuffyPrep5: why would you drive past my house? that's kind of creepy
BuffyPrep5: i was at bryn mawr, i didn't think you'd want to visit
Michael Wyszomierski: bryn mawr needs more vowels
BuffyPrep5: so does wysz
10:45 PM
Michael Wyszomierski: wysz is awesome
Michael Wyszomierski: and awesome has 4 syllables
Michael Wyszomierski: or voels
BuffyPrep5: no it doesn't
Michael Wyszomierski: woerl
Michael Wyszomierski: voellse
Michael Wyszomierski: vewolws
Michael Wyszomierski: voewlse
Michael Wyszomierski: voesle
Michael Wyszomierski: vowles
Michael Wyszomierski: vowels
BuffyPrep5: i'm gonna just ignore that
Michael Wyszomierski: it's quadra-vowelcular
BuffyPrep5: same with that
Michael Wyszomierski: i wanted to say quadrasyllabic
Michael Wyszomierski: but that would be incorrect
Michael Wyszomierski: ugh
BuffyPrep5: yeah, considering it's bisyllabic
BuffyPrep5: not that there's anything wrong with that
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm awesome
BuffyPrep5: so anyway, i was in PA...that's the end of the story
Michael Wyszomierski: you suck at stories go home
Michael Wyszomierski: go back to england
Michael Wyszomierski: where you came from
BuffyPrep5: i hate england
Michael Wyszomierski: you brit
Michael Wyszomierski: wow you are not tolerant of other cultures
Michael Wyszomierski: i can't speak to you anymore
BuffyPrep5: i have issues with england
Michael Wyszomierski: some of my best friends are english
BuffyPrep5: sucks to your friends
Michael Wyszomierski: to my friends?
BuffyPrep5: you never read lord of the flies?
Michael Wyszomierski: no it is in french
BuffyPrep5: when the kid goes "i have asthma" and the other kid says "sucks to your asthma!"
BuffyPrep5: no it's british actually
BuffyPrep5: and most middle schoolers have to read it
Michael Wyszomierski: not the french edition
Michael Wyszomierski: i didn't go to middle school
Michael Wyszomierski: i went to junior high
Michael Wyszomierski: or JH
Michael Wyszomierski: Johns Hopkins
BuffyPrep5: ...
BuffyPrep5: your stream of consciousness never ceases to amaze me
Michael Wyszomierski: don't be amazed; i actually did go to middle school
Michael Wyszomierski: i placed out of junior high
BuffyPrep5: whatever
BuffyPrep5: i got a new facebook picture
Michael Wyszomierski: i know
Michael Wyszomierski: i was just on facebook
BuffyPrep5: that's kind of weird
BuffyPrep5: it's a good picture
Michael Wyszomierski: i was making fun of john young
Michael Wyszomierski: you have glasses
BuffyPrep5: yeah i have since freshman year
Michael Wyszomierski: the picture is so girly
Michael Wyszomierski: you obviously cropped out of a group photo
Michael Wyszomierski: typical girly pic
BuffyPrep5: my last one was cropped too
BuffyPrep5: did you want me to leave the other 4 girls in it?
BuffyPrep5: at least i don't have a pepsi box on my head
10:55 PM
Michael Wyszomierski: whatever i get good money for that pic
BuffyPrep5: you look like a moron
Saturday, August 27, 2005
GAP iTunes Promotion
Earlier today*, I read Gary Allen's blog
entry about the iTunes cards being given out at the Gap and their
alleged illegibility. Just a few hours later, I was given two of these cards,
and I just tried them out. This is what they look
like:
Gary wasn't the only one who ran into trouble with what looks like ordinary scratch-off gunk. I started scratching with a quarter, and noticed that the silver was difficult to remove, so I scratched harder. This was the result:
The gunk still obscures some of the characters, and where I was able to get the stuff off, I ended up removing almost all of the digit "3" in the code! Afraid to scratch any more, I started typing the possibilities in iTunes. First try: YPFL3AMEEERM. Rejected. Second try: YPFL3AMLEERM. Nope. Third try: YPFL3AMLEERH. Success! One free song! I also noticed some redundancy in the confirmation page.
Determined to find a better way and share it with the Internet, I placed the second card on a hard flat surface and attempted a new technique. Instead of scratching hard, I scratched very lightly but rapidly, cleanly revealing the new code:
So there you go folks, head out to the Gap and get your free songs, but remember to scratch lightly and rapidly.
*I just realized that it's actually almost 5 AM, so this hardly counts as "today" for most people, and for many early risers is already "tomorrow."
Gary wasn't the only one who ran into trouble with what looks like ordinary scratch-off gunk. I started scratching with a quarter, and noticed that the silver was difficult to remove, so I scratched harder. This was the result:
The gunk still obscures some of the characters, and where I was able to get the stuff off, I ended up removing almost all of the digit "3" in the code! Afraid to scratch any more, I started typing the possibilities in iTunes. First try: YPFL3AMEEERM. Rejected. Second try: YPFL3AMLEERM. Nope. Third try: YPFL3AMLEERH. Success! One free song! I also noticed some redundancy in the confirmation page.
Determined to find a better way and share it with the Internet, I placed the second card on a hard flat surface and attempted a new technique. Instead of scratching hard, I scratched very lightly but rapidly, cleanly revealing the new code:
So there you go folks, head out to the Gap and get your free songs, but remember to scratch lightly and rapidly.
*I just realized that it's actually almost 5 AM, so this hardly counts as "today" for most people, and for many early risers is already "tomorrow."
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
Goat?
Bill Speier:
you misspelled my
name
Michael Wyszomierski: maybe that's why they didn't delivef
Michael Wyszomierski: derire
Michael Wyszomierski: dleive
Michael Wyszomierski: ledloer
Michael Wyszomierski: deliver
6:45 PM
Bill Speier: it might be why they didn't deliver
Bill Speier: they probably didn't do the rest because they are too awesome
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm awesome
Bill Speier: not sure how one delivefs
Bill Speier: maybe the goat knows
Michael Wyszomierski: the goat?
Bill Speier: our goat
Michael Wyszomierski: we have a goat?
Bill Speier: I had a typo
Bill Speier: goal became goat
Bill Speier: never mind
Michael Wyszomierski: oh
Michael Wyszomierski: i think i remember something like that
Michael Wyszomierski: Bill Speier: wasn't that the goat to begin with
Michael Wyszomierski: yes, that was our goat
Bill Speier: thought so
6:50 PM
Bill Speier: we then talked about it later
Michael Wyszomierski: hmm
Bill Speier: I don't remember the context
Bill Speier: I think I said it was just about dead
Bill Speier: like our plant
Michael Wyszomierski: ah
Michael Wyszomierski: we have a plant?
Michael Wyszomierski: maybe that's why they didn't delivef
Michael Wyszomierski: derire
Michael Wyszomierski: dleive
Michael Wyszomierski: ledloer
Michael Wyszomierski: deliver
6:45 PM
Bill Speier: it might be why they didn't deliver
Bill Speier: they probably didn't do the rest because they are too awesome
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm awesome
Bill Speier: not sure how one delivefs
Bill Speier: maybe the goat knows
Michael Wyszomierski: the goat?
Bill Speier: our goat
Michael Wyszomierski: we have a goat?
Bill Speier: I had a typo
Bill Speier: goal became goat
Bill Speier: never mind
Michael Wyszomierski: oh
Michael Wyszomierski: i think i remember something like that
Michael Wyszomierski: Bill Speier: wasn't that the goat to begin with
Michael Wyszomierski: yes, that was our goat
Bill Speier: thought so
6:50 PM
Bill Speier: we then talked about it later
Michael Wyszomierski: hmm
Bill Speier: I don't remember the context
Bill Speier: I think I said it was just about dead
Bill Speier: like our plant
Michael Wyszomierski: ah
Michael Wyszomierski: we have a plant?
Quote of the Night
Blake: What kind of chicken did you have [for
dinner]?
Meghan's Dad: Dead.
Meghan's Dad: Dead.
Saturday, August 20, 2005
Warming up the blog after a brief unannounced hiatus
Michael Wyszomierski:
I'M
AWEWOMSEA
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm waser
6:15 PM
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm aweosme
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm aesom
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm awesome
iccarus906: 5ths time's the charm
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm waser
6:15 PM
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm aweosme
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm aesom
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm awesome
iccarus906: 5ths time's the charm
iPod Shuffle
John Young:
i purchased an ipod this
week
Michael Wyszomierski: shuffle?
John Young: indeed
Michael Wyszomierski: 512 or 1 GB
John Young: 512
John Young: but it's made of platinum
(Buy one)
Michael Wyszomierski: shuffle?
John Young: indeed
Michael Wyszomierski: 512 or 1 GB
John Young: 512
John Young: but it's made of platinum
(Buy one)
Thursday, August 11, 2005
Quoting myself again
Michael Wyszomierski:
thanks to the internet, i now know
that:
Michael Wyszomierski: A) Wawa is in north carolina
Michael Wyszomierski:
they sell beer there
Michael Wyszomierski: ok sorry bout the smiley
Michael Wyszomierski: that was supposed to be a B followed by a )
Michael Wyszomierski: stupid ichat making me look like a 14 year old girl
Michael Wyszomierski: who apparently enjoys beer
Michael Wyszomierski: A) Wawa is in north carolina
Michael Wyszomierski:
they sell beer thereMichael Wyszomierski: ok sorry bout the smiley
Michael Wyszomierski: that was supposed to be a B followed by a )
Michael Wyszomierski: stupid ichat making me look like a 14 year old girl
Michael Wyszomierski: who apparently enjoys beer
Not just me this time
Michael Wyszomierski:
would you finish typing your message
already
Michael Wyszomierski: i want to get some sleep
preppypunkster: o. it was jus a period lol
Michael Wyszomierski: ugh
Michael Wyszomierski: i hate that
preppypunkster: lol
Michael Wyszomierski: but i have to admit i've been known to type nonsense for a minute or two before finally sending an "ok"
Michael Wyszomierski: drives people nuts. it's awesome
And now comes the part where I keep blogging the conversation, even though it is no longer relevant or remotely interesting:
preppypunkster: urgh.. dont get netflix
preppypunkster: u feel compelled to watch every sigle movie youv never seen before
Michael Wyszomierski: haha
preppypunkster: an then mail them bac the next day
Michael Wyszomierski: lots of people like netflix, everyone tries to convert me
preppypunkster: well i use blockbuster..
preppypunkster: but i call it nextflix.. easier then saying blockbuster online
Michael Wyszomierski: ugh i used to use blockbuster (the actual stores) but ever since those stupid "no late fees" commercials, which are blatant lies, i don't feel like doing more business with them
preppypunkster: yea.. they are lies
Michael Wyszomierski: i want to get some sleep
preppypunkster: o. it was jus a period lol
Michael Wyszomierski: ugh
Michael Wyszomierski: i hate that
preppypunkster: lol
Michael Wyszomierski: but i have to admit i've been known to type nonsense for a minute or two before finally sending an "ok"
Michael Wyszomierski: drives people nuts. it's awesome
And now comes the part where I keep blogging the conversation, even though it is no longer relevant or remotely interesting:
preppypunkster: urgh.. dont get netflix
preppypunkster: u feel compelled to watch every sigle movie youv never seen before
Michael Wyszomierski: haha
preppypunkster: an then mail them bac the next day
Michael Wyszomierski: lots of people like netflix, everyone tries to convert me
preppypunkster: well i use blockbuster..
preppypunkster: but i call it nextflix.. easier then saying blockbuster online
Michael Wyszomierski: ugh i used to use blockbuster (the actual stores) but ever since those stupid "no late fees" commercials, which are blatant lies, i don't feel like doing more business with them
preppypunkster: yea.. they are lies
Wednesday, August 10, 2005
Comic Life Software
I recently learned about Comic Life by plasq while hanging out in Flickr. Comic Life is an
application which allows you to create your own comics from any pictures on your
computer, and of course offers direct access to your iPhoto library. I
downloaded the free trial today, and within seconds was creating a comic with
content from my iPhoto library. It's extremely intuitive and easy to use, yet
also very powerful, just what we've come to expect from Mac OS X software. If
you have a couple seconds, that's all the time you need to give it a try.
Infinite Flickr
Do you Flickr? Then contribute to this
pool!
The rules are simple:
Load the latest picture from the pool on your screen and view it at a large size. Then, take a picture of yourself looking at the picture, with at least two previous images clearly visible in your submission. Upload yours and send it to the group as fast as you can, and that's it. Once it's up, remember to number your photo and add the common description to let viewers know what's going on.
The rules are simple:
Load the latest picture from the pool on your screen and view it at a large size. Then, take a picture of yourself looking at the picture, with at least two previous images clearly visible in your submission. Upload yours and send it to the group as fast as you can, and that's it. Once it's up, remember to number your photo and add the common description to let viewers know what's going on.
Ridiculous
I'm glad I didn't go to Kutztown. 13
students are facing felony charges for misusing their school-provided
iBooks. Their infractions were obviously against the school's acceptable use
policy, but from what I've read, they didn't really do anything malicious. And
how did they first bypass the system's security measures and commit crimes such
as installing iChat? They typed in the administrator password, which was
taped to the backs of the
computers.
It looks like the school district got embarrassed by their obvious incompetence and went to the police out of desperation and for revenge. I think that's even more embarrassing. Wouldn't a more appropriate course of action be to hire competent IT staff and to punish any rule-breakers by suspending their iBook privileges?
An uncle of one of the students has created this website in defense of the students, and to give the issue some publicity.
Now that I have at least one diploma in my hand (on my wall, actually), I'll admit that I first learned a password of a school computer back in 5th grade, when I noticed that the school had not set an administrator password for At Ease. Since there was no administrator password, anyone could view the teacher's password in clear text and gain access to the Finder by simply opening the At Ease preferences, which were openly accessible from the menu bar. I found this just out of curiosity, as I like to explore software by simply looking at all of the available commands. And no, I didn't abuse my knowledge of the password. I didn't tell the teachers about it either, because after watching so many of them struggle with operating a VCR, I figured it would only confuse them. Plus, I liked having something that might offer me an advantage someday, just in case.
It looks like the school district got embarrassed by their obvious incompetence and went to the police out of desperation and for revenge. I think that's even more embarrassing. Wouldn't a more appropriate course of action be to hire competent IT staff and to punish any rule-breakers by suspending their iBook privileges?
An uncle of one of the students has created this website in defense of the students, and to give the issue some publicity.
Now that I have at least one diploma in my hand (on my wall, actually), I'll admit that I first learned a password of a school computer back in 5th grade, when I noticed that the school had not set an administrator password for At Ease. Since there was no administrator password, anyone could view the teacher's password in clear text and gain access to the Finder by simply opening the At Ease preferences, which were openly accessible from the menu bar. I found this just out of curiosity, as I like to explore software by simply looking at all of the available commands. And no, I didn't abuse my knowledge of the password. I didn't tell the teachers about it either, because after watching so many of them struggle with operating a VCR, I figured it would only confuse them. Plus, I liked having something that might offer me an advantage someday, just in case.
SPAM of the day
Not a lot of spam makes it to my inbox, but today
one did, and they were stupid enough to leave both a physical location and a
phone number where angry recipients can contact them. If you've received this
email and you don't think you ever signed up for their mailing list, call them
at 1-866-358-9552 and leave a message after the recording asking to be removed.
I politely explained that I only called them because I was unable to find an
unsubscribe link in the email.
If you're in the are in the area and bored on August 11th, you could stop by for an interview and ask lots (and lots) of questions, even if you have absolutely no intention of working there.
Below is the original email, send by NLC_Texas@hotmail.com, so people Googling to see if it's spam can find it. For your convenience, I've reduced the CNN headline-sized text and eliminated the double spacing.
If you're in the are in the area and bored on August 11th, you could stop by for an interview and ask lots (and lots) of questions, even if you have absolutely no intention of working there.
Below is the original email, send by NLC_Texas@hotmail.com, so people Googling to see if it's spam can find it. For your convenience, I've reduced the CNN headline-sized text and eliminated the double spacing.
Multi Million Dollar Corporation moving into the Austin Metro
Loan Originators/Branch Managers/Account Executives
Have Full Time and Part Time Positions Available Immediately
All Bi-Lingual Candidates Are Encouraged to Apply
Corporation Managers will be in Austin Interviewing
Thursday August 11, 6:30 PM
First American Bank Bldg.
7800 North MOPAC
Suite 130, Austin 78759
1-866-358-9552
Special Consideration to All Highly Motivated Individuals
Full Training Provided
Tuesday, August 09, 2005
Glad I don't have to watch this year's camp video
John Young:
my 3.5 hour lawerence of arabia parody for
the opener should go over pretty well
Monday, August 08, 2005
.Mac exclusive widgets: Actually coming soon? (Rumor)
As someone who relies on Backup and complains
about the lack of promised .Mac widgets, I was happy to read that Apple will be
releasing a new and improved version of Backup (v.3) and finally deliver the
widgets "soon." Tuesday is a pretty big update day in the industry (or
patch day for Microsoft), so we could see something
today.
This is only a rumor, but it comes from Think Secret and has detailed information about Backup, so it is probably accurate.
This is only a rumor, but it comes from Think Secret and has detailed information about Backup, so it is probably accurate.
John Young:
i just kinda assume anyone who isn't on
facebook is dead or in jail
Sunday, August 07, 2005
Wicked
Turns out she was just
misunderstood.
Saturday, August 06, 2005
I'm still here
One of my readers just informed me that I haven't
blogged in four days. Sorry, kids, Wysz is busy learning how to use Flash.
Wednesday, August 03, 2005
I wasn't phoning it in. I was telecommuting.
I don't usually wake up until a few minutes
before I'm supposed to be in the car to be somewhere, so I count on eating in
the car for many of my meals. Unfortunately, I often don't even allow extra time
for the preparation of my order. Many times I will past multiple franchises of
the same company on my route. Chain businesses could take advantage of their
multiple locations to offer a more convenient way of ordering and delivering
food.
For example, if I need to order a burger at a McDonald's or Wendy's, I can place my order, and pull up to the first window to pay. Then, instead of waiting at the next window for my food, I would drive to the next location on my route and trade my receipt or ticket for my order. They would have plenty of time to prepare it, so there would be no waiting.
Wawa could work the same way. Along with choosing what you want on your hoagie, you also use the computer to choose where you want to pick it up. Simply get your order marked with the "PAID" stamp and proceed to the next location, where it will be waiting for you.
Just a thought. And here's another thought: Drive-throughs were designed for people on the move, who want to get out quickly. Therefore, I don't think it is appropriate to use it for buying dinner for the entire soccer team, especially when everyone has a special order, and you insist on inspecting every sandwich and requesting extra napkins before pulling your minivan out of the way.
Also, why did both a McDonald's and a Wendy's give me free fries, and in the same week?
For example, if I need to order a burger at a McDonald's or Wendy's, I can place my order, and pull up to the first window to pay. Then, instead of waiting at the next window for my food, I would drive to the next location on my route and trade my receipt or ticket for my order. They would have plenty of time to prepare it, so there would be no waiting.
Wawa could work the same way. Along with choosing what you want on your hoagie, you also use the computer to choose where you want to pick it up. Simply get your order marked with the "PAID" stamp and proceed to the next location, where it will be waiting for you.
Just a thought. And here's another thought: Drive-throughs were designed for people on the move, who want to get out quickly. Therefore, I don't think it is appropriate to use it for buying dinner for the entire soccer team, especially when everyone has a special order, and you insist on inspecting every sandwich and requesting extra napkins before pulling your minivan out of the way.
Also, why did both a McDonald's and a Wendy's give me free fries, and in the same week?
Re: Abstract of previous entry
Bill Speier:
nor are you an evening person or a night
person
Michael Wyszomierski: haha
Bill Speier: you pretty much move straight from angry because you just woke up to grumpy because you've been up for 36 hours
Michael Wyszomierski: haha
Bill Speier: you pretty much move straight from angry because you just woke up to grumpy because you've been up for 36 hours
This kind of stuff was probably more effective when I used AIM, which had time stamps showing the exact second of the message.
Michael Wyszomierski:
i'm bill: http://www.flickr.com/photos/wysz/15222755/in/set-367246/
Bill Speier: no, I am
Bill Speier: I've seen that already
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm not bill
Bill Speier: I know, you're awesome
11:30 PM
Michael Wyszomierski: ture
Michael Wyszomierski: ture
Michael Wyszomierski: ture
Michael Wyszomierski: ture
Michael Wyszomierski: urter
Michael Wyszomierski: trure
Michael Wyszomierski: trure
Michael Wyszomierski: trure
Michael Wyszomierski: true
Bill Speier: that was up there, but probably not a record
11:35 PM
Michael Wyszomierski: yeah probably not
Bill Speier: no, I am
Bill Speier: I've seen that already
Michael Wyszomierski: i'm not bill
Bill Speier: I know, you're awesome
11:30 PM
Michael Wyszomierski: ture
Michael Wyszomierski: ture
Michael Wyszomierski: ture
Michael Wyszomierski: ture
Michael Wyszomierski: urter
Michael Wyszomierski: trure
Michael Wyszomierski: trure
Michael Wyszomierski: trure
Michael Wyszomierski: true
Bill Speier: that was up there, but probably not a record
11:35 PM
Michael Wyszomierski: yeah probably not
Monday, August 01, 2005
First Mac Orientation
Brendan, creator of Automata
and the X&Y
Album Art Generator, will be in possession of his very first Mac within
days. While I don't think he considers himself a full-blown switcher
just yet, (he claims that he will now have two ways of doing things) it is a
start. He went with one of the new iBooks that were announced last
week:
• 12" screen
• 512 MB of RAM (plus another 512 we will
install)
• 80 GB HD
• Combo
Drive
He of course also took advantage of rebates on a printer and iPod mini.
I find the opening of a new Apple product to be an exhilarating experience. It is Christmas morning, every single time. I even get excited when it's not mine. I installed computers at a school for four years, and didn't even get tired of opening the boxes when we had a shipment of 50 iMacs. I was thrown for a bit when the first eMacs came in boxes which required eight steps to open (including one point where it was turned upside-down), but it was still fun.
Apple has the entire user experience designed well from the beginning. While most computers arrive in nondescript brown boxes, a Mac arrives in style, in a jet black or glistening white box, with a large photo of the product where everyone can see it. I can spot PowerMac boxes from a mile away when they're delivered on campus, and I saw a FedEx cart carrying one the other day in Philly. I scrambled to get my camera, just because I wanted a picture of it.
Once the box is opened, the real thrill begins. The iPod and iSight boxes are especially fun; someone once said that the box "tells a story." Of course turning on the Mac is the grand finale of a wonderful prelude to the real user experience, the Mac OS. The music and animation show that the Mac is alive, and the painless setup and optional registration procedure is complete before the song ends. The default desktop picture appears as the Dock and menu bar move into place, and then you're off and running, as the experience is no longer about the computer, it's about what you want to do with it.
I know that was a long and sentimental introduction, and don't worry, It's over. Well, sorta, I will mention and link to the intro music a bit later, but I promise I'm really here to ask for some practical advice. As with most Mac users, I have tried (and in some cases succeeded) in convincing Windows users to make the switch. If I know the person, I also offer to be there when they first open the computer, to help set it up and cover the basics, as well as any cool tricks I think they may be interested in. I'm pretty sure I'm going to make the time to be there when Brendan's iBook arrives. Even though he is perfectly capable of setting it up and using it alone, I really have a thing for that new intro music. What I want to know from you, experienced Mac users and Windows users with questions, is what I should cover during these first couple of hours to provide the best introduction to the Mac experience. Obviously I can't cover everything, and it is also fun to have the user discover things on his or her own, but this is what I have come up with so far:
He of course also took advantage of rebates on a printer and iPod mini.
I find the opening of a new Apple product to be an exhilarating experience. It is Christmas morning, every single time. I even get excited when it's not mine. I installed computers at a school for four years, and didn't even get tired of opening the boxes when we had a shipment of 50 iMacs. I was thrown for a bit when the first eMacs came in boxes which required eight steps to open (including one point where it was turned upside-down), but it was still fun.
Apple has the entire user experience designed well from the beginning. While most computers arrive in nondescript brown boxes, a Mac arrives in style, in a jet black or glistening white box, with a large photo of the product where everyone can see it. I can spot PowerMac boxes from a mile away when they're delivered on campus, and I saw a FedEx cart carrying one the other day in Philly. I scrambled to get my camera, just because I wanted a picture of it.
Once the box is opened, the real thrill begins. The iPod and iSight boxes are especially fun; someone once said that the box "tells a story." Of course turning on the Mac is the grand finale of a wonderful prelude to the real user experience, the Mac OS. The music and animation show that the Mac is alive, and the painless setup and optional registration procedure is complete before the song ends. The default desktop picture appears as the Dock and menu bar move into place, and then you're off and running, as the experience is no longer about the computer, it's about what you want to do with it.
I know that was a long and sentimental introduction, and don't worry, It's over. Well, sorta, I will mention and link to the intro music a bit later, but I promise I'm really here to ask for some practical advice. As with most Mac users, I have tried (and in some cases succeeded) in convincing Windows users to make the switch. If I know the person, I also offer to be there when they first open the computer, to help set it up and cover the basics, as well as any cool tricks I think they may be interested in. I'm pretty sure I'm going to make the time to be there when Brendan's iBook arrives. Even though he is perfectly capable of setting it up and using it alone, I really have a thing for that new intro music. What I want to know from you, experienced Mac users and Windows users with questions, is what I should cover during these first couple of hours to provide the best introduction to the Mac experience. Obviously I can't cover everything, and it is also fun to have the user discover things on his or her own, but this is what I have come up with so far:
1. Convince FedEx driver to deliver the package
in a limousine, which I will be waiting in dressed in a tuxedo, à
la 20th Anniversary Macintosh.
2. Stretch. Always remember to
stretch.
3. Cleaning and disinfecting of the surface on
which the iBook and any peripherals will touch.
4. At this point, I will probably request a cold
Pepsi.
5. Opening of the box.
6. Dramatic reading of the license agreement
performed by James Earl Jones, to be interrupted by The Breaking of the
Seal.
7. Short discussion on why we think Mr. Jones
agreed to travel to somebody's home just to read a license
agreement.
8. Set the thing up, turn it on, register, get
out of the numbered list, and get
serious.
User Interface/OS X Basics
User Interface/OS X Basics
⁃ Basic key commands (app switching, window
management, Dashboard)
⁃ Dock (add/remove items, size,
location)
⁃ Views (icon, list, column, View
menu)
⁃ Customization (menu bar, toolbars,
sidebar)
⁃ Drag and drop (text clippings, drag to
and from any app, drag onto app in Dock or Finder, drag from title
bar)
⁃ "Get Info"
⁃ Connect to server (Finder or
Terminal)
⁃ Font Book
⁃ Where stuff is (Home folder, plist files,
why you should obey the Documents/Movies/Pictures/Music folders
⁃ Eject removable media and
servers
⁃ Burn CD or DVD from Finder
⁃ Network and Sharing
preferences
⁃ iLife, Safari, Mail, and
iChat
⁃ Standard windows (Color picker, text,
inspector)
⁃
Spotlight
Security
Security
⁃ Administrator, keychain, password on
sleep and screensaver, FileVault, encrypted disk
images
Maintenance and Utilities
Maintenance and Utilities
⁃ Software Update
⁃ VersionTracker
⁃ Disk Utility
⁃ Force Quit (Dock, key command, or
Activity Monitor)
⁃ How to boot from CD or DVD
⁃ How to get help (Help menu, Knowledge
Base, Apple Discussions, MacFixIt, Google)
⁃ XCode (he's smart, he will write an
app)
Download apps that aren't preinstalled
Download apps that aren't preinstalled
⁃ Firefox
⁃ Real Player
⁃ Windows Media Player
⁃ Stuffit Expander
⁃ NetNewsWire
⁃
1001
That's where I am right now. Email any suggestions to wysz@mac.com. If I get enough good ones, I will probably republish a list so others can use it as a reference for similar events.
That's where I am right now. Email any suggestions to wysz@mac.com. If I get enough good ones, I will probably republish a list so others can use it as a reference for similar events.
Another Amazon Link to SmartDeck
Today is August 1st and my SmartDeck
is still on pre-order, which means that it didn't ship by the end of July as
promised. This is the second shipping deadline they have missed. I
called them today, and this time I was told that it would ship in "mid to late
August" because they had "seen some initial articles" and wanted to "work out
all the kinks" so everything was set before they ship to the
customers.
Now that you know Griffin is putting so much effort into producing a flawless product before it reaches the customer, you can confidently order one from Amazon and await its mid to late August arrival.
Now that you know Griffin is putting so much effort into producing a flawless product before it reaches the customer, you can confidently order one from Amazon and await its mid to late August arrival.
Bonus Savings Club Membership Cards
I can't stand those things. If I ever go into
retail, which I can't see happening anyway, I will refuse to participate in any
such program.
But, funny story...
Today at CVS, after spending almost half a minute of my day looking for my card, I handed it to the clerk and she dropped it under the register. She couldn't get it out, so she had someone else pull out the register while she retrieved it. She scanned the card, and after all that, I didn't even have any savings on the items I purchased. She thought that was pretty funny. I did too. I'm awesome.
But, funny story...
Today at CVS, after spending almost half a minute of my day looking for my card, I handed it to the clerk and she dropped it under the register. She couldn't get it out, so she had someone else pull out the register while she retrieved it. She scanned the card, and after all that, I didn't even have any savings on the items I purchased. She thought that was pretty funny. I did too. I'm awesome.
Of Course
preppypunkster:
hey mac guy.. why is the free
download of the week not
free??
Michael Wyszomierski: they are updating the store right now, give it an hour
preppypunkster: oo
Michael Wyszomierski: they do this every tuesday morning
preppypunkster: ofcourse u would kno
Michael Wyszomierski: they are updating the store right now, give it an hour
preppypunkster: oo
Michael Wyszomierski: they do this every tuesday morning
preppypunkster: ofcourse u would kno