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Tuesday, January 31, 2006

Placebo Addict
I've been the occasional human guinea pig here at Hopkins, and that's probably what made me think of this shirt.

Front: "I'm addicted to placebo."
Back: "Human Test Subjects of America"

Shirt that says 'I'm addicted to placebo.'

Available in:
Organic cotton
White
Ash Grey
Value

Make sure you check the "Store" section of the sidebar to your right (if you're viewing in a brower), to see if there's a sale going on.

My book arrives on campus
I went into the school bookstore yesterday (excuse me, the "Johns Hopkins University Bookcenter"), and found three copies of 50 Boyfriends Worse Than Yours in the Humor section.

Once again, I resisted the temptation to hold an impromptu book signing. Mostly because I didn't bring a table.

ABC's Perspective
From this article on the ABC News website:
That may not thrill some employers fighting to keep their staff from spending too much time on the Web rather than their work. But to partner with America Online, it could mean a lot of perspective customers.

Perspective isn't the word they're thinking of. It's not even an adjective. Perspectival is an adjective. So is prospective.

Monday, January 30, 2006

sbemail one forty three
If I taught technology at a school, I'd totally use this, because then the kids would think I was cool.

I don't know what to title this.
From: Leah Friedman
Subject: you should link to this
Date: January 30, 2006 8:00:48 PM EST
To: wysz@mac.com

Sunday, January 29, 2006

Tomorrow: My Last First Day Of Classes!
Tomorrow is the first day of my final semester as a student. That's pretty cool.

Now I just need to find a job...

Saturday, January 28, 2006

Christopher Walken's "Census" SNL Sketch on iTunes
I've often been tempted to download shows like The Office on iTunes, but I've been holding back since I don't have a video iPod and I think the resolution is too low for the amount of money they charge. However, there was one video I couldn't pass up. I just downloaded SNL's Census, starring Christopher Walken and Tim Meadows. Oddly enough, the only other video I've paid for on iTunes (excluding videos that come free with albums), is another Christopher Walken video. I downloaded it as a test when they first started charging for music videos. Remember, they used to be free on iTunes, although the catalog was a lot smaller.

The Census sketch is probably my all-time favorite on SNL, as it works even better on repeat viewings than Walken's other classic, "Cowbell." Another favorite is from the 2000 election in which Al Gore claims that the ballot was the "single most confusing document in our nation's history."

You can find more SNL material here. May I suggest The Best of Christopher Walken?

Tuesday, January 24, 2006

Cat Eyes
Buy this. (If you want to. No pressure.)
Black t-shirt with cat eyes in the pocket area.

Monday, January 23, 2006

Stuff you should buy
So check this out, Leah just sent me a link to The Must List for this week from Entertainment Weekly. What's #6? 50 Boyfriends Worse Than Yours! Coincidentally, the book is also #6 on a list by the Cincinnati Enquirer.

In other purchasing news, Amazon is offering some great rebates on new Apple's new Intel-powered hardware purchased by February 7th, 2005:
$150 rebate on 1.67 GHz and 1.83 GHz MacBook Pro
$150 rebate on 20" iMac
$125 rebate on 17" iMac

Also, for an unknown amount of time, they are offering instant savings on iLife, iWork, and .Mac.

Portrait of a cat
As much as I hate to admit it, blogs serve two main purposes: To preach to the choir about politics, and to share pictures of pets, especially cats. I never discuss politics, but I just had to post this picture of Harry. If you're a "dog person" who's offended by cats, go here or buy this.

picture of a white cat posing for the camera

Now if I could only get Potter to pose like this...

Inspired by John Young
On Engadget's podcast again
Listen for me 40 minutes and 10 seconds into Episode 064 of the Engadget Podcast, when I complain about cell phone interference. I sound kinda sick, but that's just because it was about 3 AM and I couldn't get to sleep.

This is my second appearance on the podcast. I was also the last voicemail in the 50th episode. I'm kinda disappointed they didn't play one of my other prank calls. I did this one about the Talkboy (from Home Alone) that was simply awesome. Oh well.

Sunday, January 22, 2006

Blake: A true dope.
Blake Mattern: and for the record
Blake Mattern: i never stayed in on friday nights just to watch "SNick"
Blake Mattern: i stayed in fridays night because I had no life, and since there was nothing else on I watched "SNick"
Blake Mattern: my mouse pad is thrashed
7:35 PM
Michael Wyszomierski: wow you are an idiot
Michael Wyszomierski: you totally didn't get my comment
Blake Mattern: let me read again
Blake Mattern: 1 sec
Blake Mattern: oh

Saturday, January 21, 2006

Re: The probable upcoming iTunes billionth song promotion
Michael Wyszomierski: but the prize is going to be awesome, they are going to have a golden ticket in the winning song, and i will fly out to cupertino and tour apple's campus, and then at the end of the movie, steve jobs will take me in his flying glass elevator and give me the company

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

The Onion
I like listening to the Onion Radio News, but I usually only check in every few weeks. Now I won't miss a thing, because it's been added to iTunes as a podcast! Check it out.

Wysz: Daredevil.
Today will be the second day in a row that I'm going to a museum. How do I get through it? I pretend I'm Ted Ferguson.

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

Just in case there was any confusion...
I'm awesome.

Re: Tell me what you want
Ugh, now I have to have a party. Me and my stupid ideas. I should have written some official rules or something. Or official rulez. Eh, that would be lame.

Animusic 2
I just watched Animusic 2 in its entirety for the second time, and while I initially was disappointed in its lack of variety when compared to the first album, I now believe that it really is worth repeated viewings, and Gyro Drums alone is enough to justify the purchase price.

It feels good to be a gangsta
Michael Wyszomierski: i put my ezpass on the bottom of my windshield, instead of behind the rear-view mirror where it is traditionally mounted, and i wanted to know if that would constitute "gangsta style"
John Young: ha no, its actually where its supposed to go for suvs
Michael Wyszomierski: oh
Michael Wyszomierski: well does it constitute "conformist style?"
John Young: no way, its straight gansta
Michael Wyszomierski: awesome
Michael Wyszomierski: plus i have blacklight in my car, which doesn't work, so i believe i'm sufficiently pimped out for my urban baltimore lifestyle

Upcoming t-shirt
John Young: i think lasers should be our highest national priority

Monday, January 16, 2006

Playing with my new camera
Hey, nerds! Stop reading and look at pictures:

blue fiber optics plasma ball

3 new store items!
I'm so sorry card with puppy dog on front

Check them out:

1. A mousepad for people like me who are protective of their computers.
2. "I'm sorry you found my blog" card for Mom.
3. "For anyone" blog apology.

Tell me what you want
The first person to email me with an idea for the next episode of my podcast will get to see their idea used during the podcast. If you have a website or something you want to plug, I'll do that too.

Facebook Monkey
Yeah, I know you kids like Facebook, but I have an issue with it. You see, I used to be proud of the fact that I remembered my friends' birthdays. "Quiz me!" I'd yell, "Quiz meeee!" I even mailed cards a few times. I'm sure this gave me bonus points, which I really needed since I lost so many due to my home's incredible distance from everyone else's.

But now this talent of mine is useless, because stupid Facebook blabs to everyone about whose birthday is coming up. I feel like a person whose job has just been taken over by a robot or trained monkey. I don't send cards to my friends anymore. Now I just write on their walls.

Friday, January 13, 2006

So many labels!
After a week of using Das Keyboard in my apartment, I came home today and sat in front of my Apple Pro Keyboard. I was shocked at how intimidating a labeled keyboard now looks to me. Every key has something written on it, and many have two labels!

No class today
According to the registrar, the Intersession course I'm taking meets five days a week. So, today I went to the BMA (Baltimore Museum of Art) where we were supposed to meet in the lobby for class. I got there right on time, but didn't see anyone. Then I thought that maybe I misheard in class, and that we were actually meeting at the Homewood House (a small museum on the Hopkins campus) first. I went there, now only a few minutes late, and asked where the class was. The woman working there told me that my class wasn't scheduled to meet there until Tuesday. I was starting to think that the absence of any mention of Friday on the syllabus was no a coincidence. Just to be sure, I went to our usual classroom and found it empty.

I was mad at first, because this means that I stayed in Baltimore longer than I had to, and could have had an extra-long weekend at home. However, I was able to justify my extended stay by the fact that I went bowling last night. Time to pack for home!

Going home!
If any of you kids will be in PA this weekend, let me know.

Thursday, January 12, 2006

3 down, 1 to go
Yet another one of my PCI slots has now been filled. Starting today, I now have two USB 2.0 ports on my Quicksilver PowerMac G4. This baby now has USB 2.0, FireWire 800, DVI, and about 18 FireWire 400 ports.

Look for it on eBay this summer or contact me now with an offer. wysz@mac.com.

Flawed but still awesome
The Office is one of my favorite shows. I have season 1 on DVD, and tonight when I was watching "Hot Girl" for the second time, I noticed a mistake. When Michael and Ryan go outside to clean Michael's car. a PA license plate is mounted on the front of his car. In Pennsylvania, license plates are only displayed on the rear of vehicles.

I've reported this to the IMDB as the first goof for "The Office."

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Don't ask, because I have no idea...
...what is going on here.

Video courtesy of Jackie, Carly, and "Turtle."

Imagine it in HD
Anyone know if Apple and Intel will be running their new ad during Super Bowl XL? I'm surprised the rumor sites aren't taking bets on this yet.

I won!
Time to call off the job search... I just hit it big!

Alright, not really, but if you were ever curious about what happens if you actually do call the number in a spam email, listen to this. Oh, the things I do when I should be writing a paper...

Here's the original message:
THE PROMOTION DIRECTOR
RESULTS FOR THE SECOND CATEGORY DREW
INTERNATIONAL PROMOTIONS DEPT STAATSLOTERIJ NL.
REF: FAS/22315/SAP,
BATCH: SAT/2333/MUT

ATTN;WINNER,


We are pleased to inform you of
the release, of the long awaited results of the
STAATSLOTERIJ/INTERNATIONAL PROMOTION PROGRAMES NL held on 9th of
January 2006. Reference Number: FAS/22315/SAP, and Batch number BATCH:
SAT/2333/MUT.

Your email address attached to the ticket number:
TK/4693659BV that drew the lucky winning number, which consequently won
the loterij in the second category in four parts. You have been
approved for a payment of 1,000,000.00Euro (ONE MILLION EURO) in cash
credited to file reference number:HPL/4247159609/WP1. This is from a
total cash prize of TEN MILLION EUROS Shared among the ten
international winners that won the second categories.

Congratulations!!!

All participants were selected through our
Microsoft computer ballot system drawn form 42,000 Names, 6,000 names
from each continent, as part of International "E-MAIL" Promotions
Program, for our prominent MS WORD user all over the world, and for the
Continues use of E-mail.Due to mixed up of some names and addresses, we
ask that you keep this award personal, till your claims has been
processed and your funds remitted to you.

This is part of our
security measures to avoid double claiming or unwarranted taking
advantage of the situation by other participants or impersonators.To
begin your claim, do file for the release of your winning by contacting
our accredited agent:

Mr.Smith Roland.
Foreign Transfer Manager.
First Diplomatic Finance
Tel:+31-633-789-420
Email:
infofirstdip@netscape.net


Please note in order to avoid
unnecessary delays and complications please remember to quote your
reference number and batch numbers in all correspondence.They are your
agent, and responsible for the processing and transfer of your winnings
fund to you.

YOUR SECURITY FILE NUMBER IS 55/23432/7B (keep
personal) Remember, your winning must be claimed not later than (17-1-
2006) After this date, funds might be returned to the unclaimed.
Furthermore, should there be any change in your address, do inform your
claims agent as soon as possible.

Yours truly,
Mrs. Anita
Vlutglaan. 
STAATSLOTERIJ. NL
THE PROMOTION DIRECTOR.
INTERNATIONAL
PROGRAM (NL).

N.B. Any breach of confidentiality on the part of the
winners will result to disqualification.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

iTunes Update
Starting today, content from Saturday Night Live is available for download from the US version of the iTunes Music Store. Sketches are $1.99 each and "Best of" compilations are $9.99.

Also released today was an update to iTunes (6.0.2) which, in addition to "performance and stability" improvements, adds a "MiniStore." The "MiniStore" is a compact view of the iTunes Music Store that appears while you browse your library or playlists. It's really just an ad, and doesn't even show relevant content based on your music library. (Update: Actually, it does update to reflect the artist of the song you're playing.) If you want to get rid of it (I'd especially recommend this for users with lower resolutions), simply choose Hide MiniStore from the Edit menu of iTunes. You can always choose to view it again from the same menu. The keyboard shortcut is Apple-shift-M.

Google Earth for Mac OS X
If you have Mac OS X 10.4 or later, check out Google Earth, a free application from Google that's totally awesome. It's fun to zoom in and out on our planet (a fast connection and a scroll wheel make it better), and flying from one location to another is awesome.

The Boyfriendster
50 Boyfriends Worse Than Yours is now shipping from Amazon.com. I'm right there on page #1 as The Boyfriendster. I'm sure my family is very proud.

Monday, January 09, 2006

Fun With Dick and Jane
Better than I expected. Now I need sleep.

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Ouch!
TiVo recorded Ted's game against Auburn, so I watched some of it tonight. At one point, Ted was standing under the basket, and the ball went in and hit him in the face. It was awesome.

But seriously they had a good game and I even got to see Ted get a few points.

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Absolute Wyszdom now iPod-friendly!
Well, sorta. All of the episodes can at least now be copied to the iPod.

You see, I recently learned that only the first two episodes of Absolute Wyszdom v.Video played on iPods, while the rest didn't even transfer. The first two were created with Apple's non-customizable iPod preset in both QuickTime Pro and iMovie, while I created the later episodes in Compressor with a lower bitrate to reduce download time. A visit to Apple's discussion boards confirmed that Compressor cannot create H.264 movies for iPods, but helpful instructions and a handy command-line utility from burro.allhyper.com allowed me to convert my existing videos without re-compressing. Unfortunately, my iPod-with-video-owning audience of one reported that while the first two episodes play without a problem, the converted ones stutter during playback on the iPod. I'm just happy that they play at all, and I don't have the full-quality original videos to compress at different settings, so I'm just going to wait until Apple releases faster iPods and my entire audience upgrades.

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

Digital Interactive Tours
Don't feel like reading my rambling? Go straight to the demo.

This is totally an ad for something I work on, but I'm only mentioning it on the blog because it's cool. I've been playing around with virtual tours ever since I documented our old house before we moved in 1999, and now I'm doing it professionally with DVTime Studios. We'll shoot anything: a house, a hotel, or even an entire campus, and create an awesome tour that you can put on your website. This tour is the best of all worlds. It has the usual 360° view that you can rotate by dragging, but it's presented as a spectacular large widescreen image. And it's got a map that shows you where you are. And descriptive text about the room. And audio that you can turn on and off. This is all really cool, but the best part is... it uses Flash and only Flash. That means that it works on any computer... with no QuickTime installation or clunky Java applets. And it loads super-fast.

But don't take my word for it, try it yourself or learn more. Then call us today because we're really inexpensive and really good.

Wysz in Print! (Again) Wysz reading 50 Boyfriends Worse Than Yours with a surprised look on his face

I was as excited as Steve Martin in The Jerk when I got listed in the phone book, and now I'm as thrilled as ever to see my picture in a book! No, it's not a yearbook (although that is coming), I'm in 50 Boyfriends Worse Than Yours by Justin Racz. Naturally I'm #1, because I'm awesome.

Back in May, this screenshot of a failed iChat connection that I uploaded to Flickr was added as a favorite by another user. Two weeks later, the same user sent me a message asking if he could use a picture from the series in a humor book about boyfriends. He originally thought the picture was of Ted, since his name is in the title bar. I called up Ted and asked if he liked the idea, and Mr. Image-Conscious Basketball Celebrity wanted no part of it. But I had a feeling Justin wanted the picture which just had me in it (since it was the one he favorited), and asked him if that was the picture he wanted. It was. I'm not nearly as picky as Ted when it comes to getting my name or picture seen by anyone, so of course I gave my permission for him to use it and sent him version with Ted's name edited out. Anything for fame.

I've been waiting to see the book for months, and today I finally got a copy. It's pretty thrilling to see myself in an actual book that I picked up off the shelf. I'm the first boyfriend in the list, playing the part of "Boyfriendster," the online dater. What makes me so bad? Buy the book today and find out.

Justin Racz is also the author of J. Crewd, 50 Jobs Worse Than Yours and 50 Relatives Worse Than Yours.

Monday, January 02, 2006

Happy New Year
John Young: happy new year sucka...hopefully I will not be attacked by robots from the future like i was last year

They
Lauren: They moved it.
Me: Who's they?
Lauren: People who aren't me.

Sneaky
Now they need to do a version that detects your OS and browser, and adjusts the look accordingly.

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