My Brother is a Blogging

Not sure what got into to him, but my brother is a blogging.  Food blogging to be exact.  I like this a lot because I get to be one of his taste testers.  It works out pretty well for me.  He's new to the world of blogging and a man, so you'll have to excuse his lack of design on his blog thus far, however the content will be awesome!

Here's his blog: kaisersfoodblog.wordpress.com

Pop Art

It's been awhile since I posted, because I don't have much to post about currently.  So I thought, what a better time to use the camera on my computer and use the pop art effect.  I've never really been a fan of this effect, but today for the purpose of having a blog post, it works.  Besides, look how cute my cat is...and how not too chunky my bangs look.  (See my tweets from earlier this week about my chunky bangs.)

Would I buy an iPhone?

I've been a big advocate for the Android platform here on my blog.  I've had an Android based phone for about the last year.  In August, I got my first iPod when I bought my computer (yes, first), then in November I got my second (I realized I needed waaaaaaay more storage than I got with my free one).  When I got my iPod in November, I got an iPod Touch again and got the most recent generation that Steve Jobs himself called "an iPhone without a contact."

At first, I found the lack of personal controls on the iPod a little annoying.  I couldn't tweak every little thing about the iPod, like I can with my phone.  However, my annoyance quickly wore off, because some of my desire to tweak had come out of necessity to optimize my phone.  For example, I have several apps on my phone that help manage and control the running activities of my phone so my battery won't drain completely half way through the day.  There are certain things I eventually just got over, like being able to customize where I do and don't want icons on my home screen like I can with my phone and being able to put widgets on the screen to make my life easier.  However, eventually I just didn't care enough to care.  This is the magical key that Apple has figured out.

I realized that Apple has figured out that most people who would like to use a smartphone want and need simplicity.  Only a small percentage of us are willing to take the time to learn all the in's and out's of a phone and then put the time and effort in to optimizing it.  For most people, it's like having a camera or camcorder (or insert other complicated device) that you know does so much more than you do with.  Ever had one of those?  A device that you don't use every function that it has, or even know how to use those functions.  Eventually you wonder why they couldn't make it do exactly what you want it to do when you want to do it.

That's exactly what Apple has done with the iPhone.  They figured out the things that are most important then, as they do with their computers, made it simple.  They already optimized the battery for me.  They realized that most people aren't concerned with making pretty designs out of their icons on their home screen.  And then they through it in a tiny package with a beautiful user interface.

I now use my iPod more than I use my phone, which is basically a paper weight.  I have to think less with my iPod and focus on fun more.  I don't want to think.  Apple did all the thinking for me.  They took out features that are unnecessary and through research (I assume) figured out how I would like most of my settings.

So yes, I would buy an iPhone.  It's simpler.  More beautiful.  More intuitive.

Verizon iPhone

Rachel asked a good question:

Here's my point of view:

It's a good thing.

It means those who want an iPhone don't have to sacrifice service by going to AT&T.

It also means that Apple can put out an iPhone that can run on a 4G network, because let's face it, I bet Apple was really hoping that the iPhone 4 could have been named the iPhone 4G, but no AT&T couldn't hold up there end of the deal (during the original talk about an iPhone existing, Apple and AT&T had a little chat about how AT&T would build there network to keep up with Apple's innovation). 

It means that Apple will take a bit out of the growing Android market share, which let's be honest had a lot to do with the lack of a decent phone on various networks.

It means Apple's going to roll out one badass phone, expect your world to implode.

It means that all of us who have come to appreciate our Android phones will have some serious thinking to do.  It's easy to embrace Android when the option of iPhone isn't available.  Will Android be as awesome as we once thought it was?  Probably not.  (I have other reasons for this, but that's another blog post).

Hopefully, with network alternatives it might mean that there will be a price point competition for plans.  But don't hold your breath.  Apple has a short lesh on the price of their products and I doubt plans will drop much, if at all.

It really means we're about to see a million more iPhones and Apple will officially begin making a huge dent in Microsofts world.  With Verizon iPhones will reach the hands of millions - of Window's users who are going to get curious about this awesome Mac world and when their PC burns up (as they all eventually do), they will begin looking at our dear friend Mr. Mac.

Maybe as I'm lying in bed sick tomorrow, I'll come up with a few more things, but for now, these are my initial thoughts to help bring clarity to this very confusing world.

Christmas

For some reason, I can't sleep.  I blame the bed.

So I thought I would take this time to wish everyone a very merry Christmas.

And show you what my cat got for Christmas this year.

So cute.  It's adorable when he walks around with one of them in his mouth.

Merry Christmas!

Today's Adventure

My car is getting a makeover.  Ok, not really, but it will have been at the car shop for nearly 6 hours when it gets done.  Guess who decided to wait for her car today instead of arrange something else?  That's right me!  However, I'm not upset, because thankfully I knew coming in that it would take about 4 hours, so I came prepared.  I brought a fully loaded backpack of entertainment and had shops picked out that I could shop at in the surrounding area using the wonderful shuttle service to pass the time.  So when the guy said that it would take another 1.5 to 2 hours to fix the other problems, I didn't even break a sweat.  (Apparently, I've not had any brake lights for awhile and a leaky hose…and of course, the alignment).

Here's been today's adventure:

1st hour: in the waiting room, playing with Garage Band and mixing songs while drinking a lovely grape soda (which I thought was a grape Fanta, but didn't realize until grape soda #2 that it was not).

2nd hour: Took the shuttle, hung out at Borders, looked at the book Outliers, but decided to wait since it was $27 and then debated purchasing The Pioneer Women's cookbook.  Ultimately, I decided to wait until after Christmas in case I get it for Christmas and I'll have more dough in my pocket, because it was also $27.

3rd hour: Pier One and Old Navy.  I got a Techno Hoodie at Old Navy.  So cool.  It has the headphones built in and the cord to hook it up in the pocket.  AND it's washable.  This is particularly awesome, because I have a bit (that may be the understatement of the year) of anxiety and my iPod and headphones are like a security blanket.  So having my headphones built into something is AWESOME.

4th hour: Brief trips to a few stores including Target.  I had to cross 119th Street during this hour and 119th is not pedestrian friendly.  I waited at the crosswalk for several turns of the light then realized that the light clearly didn't work and I was just going to have to risk it to make it across the street.  Thankfully I was only carrying an Old Navy sack and a backpack.

5th Hour: Took the shuttle back to the car place.  Chatted with the other people in the waiting room.  Watched part of Are You Smarter Than A Fifth Grader?  Changed into new Old Navy Techno Hoodie and tried it out (it works!)  Broke out the laptop again and started typing this blogpost while drinking Grape Soda #2.  

1:59pm: Finish blog post, but realize there is no wifi to publish it, so I decided to give a run down of my next few minutes.

2:04pm: The guy next to me asks me what I'm doing, I explain writing a blog post and listening to music, then we engage in a nice discussion about how makes are awesome.  His wife reminds him he's not supposed to read over peoples shoulders, but he explains that it's impossible to read the tiny type on my screen (I'm writing it in Text Edit).

2:11pm: Decide to document everything in my back pack

Backpack contents:

Dried mangos from Whole Foods

The Whole Deal (Whole Foods coupons and recipes)

Stuff Christians Like book

My very first Bible EVER, given to me for Christmas in 1998 by Caroline Helmers.

Wallet

Power brick for my mac

Therapy Journal (just incase I decide to do my therapy homework early)

Macworld magazine

Mac Life magazine

3 of my favorite pens - Precise V5 Black

1 Sharpie - Black

1 Post-it highlighter with sticky tabs built in

Silly Putty - Blue

Check book

Renters insurance policy to remind me to call and inform them of my new place

Pair of sunglasses I broke this morning

A wine key (you never know when you might need it.  Okay kidding, it was in another bag for another adventure I had involving glass bottled soda and got transferred to this bag on accident.)

New car insurance cards

Bottle of random meeds (e.g. ibuprofen)

Saline mist (I'm having a lot of nosebleeds, never can be too careful)

Bucky Balls (216 VERY magnetic balls, so awesome)

2:30pm: Car finished!

Holy Hip-Hop

One of my favorite songs from the last month and a half:



Another favorite, a little holy hip-hop: