What I Hate About MySpace

Teaser emails...

It's like MySpace is taking a cue from the evening news previews. They don't tell you the whole story right away. Breaking News! Details at 7! Now watch this commercial...

You have been invited to join a MySpace Group! But you must log in to see which group. Oh - and make sure that the banner ad across the top loads first so that we can get paid. Yes - I know it's a free service - but how about a text ad at the bottom of my email? I don't want to take the time to open my browser and log in just to find out that I'm invited to join the fanclub for a band in Kalamazoo...

/end rant

MUST see TV

You really must see Steven Colbert at the 2006 White House Correspondents Association Dinner. Truthiness, indeed!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Colbert_at_the_2006_White_House_Correspondents%27_Association_Dinner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U7FTF4Oz4dI

Homeowner

It's official! Ellen and I closed on the townhouse downtown and we'll be moving in tomorrow! Yippe! Ask me if you need the address.

In other news:

I made an unexpected trip to Washington, D.C. March 1-5, to help out Dad. It was certainly a relief to see him doing well after his surgery and to be able to help him on the road to recovery. As a happy bonus, I was also able to meet my newest niece!

I saw my favorite jazz pianist, Chick Corea, on 3/12. He played with...

Touchstone featuring world-class Flamenco/jazz musicians, formerly members of guitarist great, Paco de Lucia's band; Jorge Pardo -— sax and flute, Carles Benavent -— bass, Rubem Dantas -— percussion, and long-time Corea collaborator Tom Brechtlein on drums. Special guest appearance by Spanish Dancer, Auxi Fernandez.

Ellen and I have also recently invested in some new downtown transportation. We're planning to take our Breezer bikes pretty much everywhere we can including grocery shopping, and for me, to work a few days a week. So far we've been making quite a few evening and weekend trips around town. The weather has been perfect for riding. My short-lived infatuation with the Kronan is over... for now.

End of Another Era

As if a new place to live wasn't enough, I found a new job too! After eight years of working at Insurers Administrative Corp., I've finally decided to move on.

I'll be working with Phoenix Fuel Co. Now, now, don't be like that! I know it's an oil related industry, but you drive a car, right? You buy things in stores that need to be delivered by trucks and trains and such, right? Now that I've justified... I'm really excited about the opportunity. I'll be their first programmer so I have the opportunity to start doing things "the right way" for the new company and shaking off some of my bad "get-it-out-the-door-quick" programming habits. They have a big pile of data waiting for me so I also hope to have a nice variety of projects that I can work on rather than being stuck as a one-trick pony. I'll let you know how it goes!

End of an Era

This weekend, I moved into a temporary home downtown until the townhouse is finished. If you need to send me some cookies, I can be found here:

W. Lewis Ave.
Phoenix, AZ 85003

My cell phone is the best way to reach me.

Mr. Wilson, it has certainly been a fantastic run. Thanks for the memories, my friend. Ellen, here's to the future!