I love Macs and technology in general. Combine that with my work ethic-like approach to new things, and you can see how I could burn out. It became a job. An endless job of trying to turn a few grains of actual information into an expansive network of information. At one point, the site was effective enough to give you a way to track what I did minute to minute.

I’m not by any stretch of the imagination famous and it seemed to be too much. I began to feel paranoid about who knew what. It’s not even that I necessarily did anything bad or worth being ashamed about, but being approached by people about things you didn’t even give a second though to has a strange effect on one’s psyche.

As an aside, I feel that now that I’m back on Twitter. A casual mention of a product is enough to get a response from a corporate representative. Empowering and creepy at the same time.

Backing off from this site and eventually my Mac blogging job gave me some relief. It also afforded perspective about what’s really important to me. As much as I like keeping up with the latest in the technology world, treating it like a competition wasn’t making me happy. It made me frustrated.

By treating it as I should have all along, I could start to enjoy technology once again. The thrill of poking around at software had returned. I was doing it for fun and not to write another article late at night that ultimately was filled with information to keep commenters from turning into hecklers.

Make no mistake. The internet is filled with anonymity-empowered asshats. You can’t publish something to the internet without some basement dwelling, pop-tart scarfer correcting you on some minor, inconsequential piece of information. These are people so frustrated with their own situation that they’ll do anything in their power to transfer their angst to you.

The worst part is that it works. It gets to you. You can do great work. You can do it for years. You can bring great information to the table. The moment you have a typo, you’ll get the most vicious comment. It’s enough to drive you to rage and want to forsake the whole lot of them (and by whole lot of them, that include people genuinely appreciative of what you do, but don’t want to seem like sycophants by chiming in with “Great article” comments).

There are times when rather than using reason and wit to address and embarrass a jackass, you’d rather tell them “fuck you and the horse you rode in on.” You can almost taste that anger relief. It’s so sweet. You suck it up, try to be the bigger man, and bottle it.

It’s been a while since I’ve dealt with it, but it’s not far from my mind and in my travels across the web I find instances every day. These are established people in the industry that I respect and are generally the most patient I’ve found.

I think it’s time I return to the web at large, or, more aptly, a return to small portions of it. No longer am I going to try to be part of every growing trend. If the last couple of years have taught me nothing else, web services come and go. As much as I enjoy Twitter, the people that are proclaiming that it’s taking over the web are so far up their ass that they can’t see that Twitter will have its day and fade to the background, just like every other fad.

Twitter is the new Usenet. And I mean really, who remembers Vox? Do those web “experts” that proclaimed the death of email realize that all those email killers are dead?

I’m not going to get as invested as I once did. I’ll move with software and web services as the times dictate, but never build anything up as the solution to everything. Being obsessive sucks the fun out of things.

So… I’m back.

PS You’re still a towel.

12:11:04 AM mmskmmskmmsk: dlong
12:11:08 AM mmskmmskmmsk: get the fuck outta here
12:11:16 AM mmskmmskmmsk: posting garbage on digg
12:11:24 AM mmskmmskmmsk: trying to promote your own shitty site
12:11:44 AM mmskmmskmmsk: like you broke a story or something
12:11:48 AM mmskmmskmmsk: you didnt break shit
12:12:00 AM mmskmmskmmsk: the article on that site was not proven fake
12:12:11 AM dbasstard: oh, you’re an ewoky guy!
Changed status to Online (12:12:11 AM)
12:12:12 AM mmskmmskmmsk: so stop trying to get press off it like you owned them
12:12:15 AM mmskmmskmmsk: nope
12:12:24 AM mmskmmskmmsk: but ive followed this since last night
12:12:34 AM mmskmmskmmsk: and you’re acting like a retard trying to cash in
12:12:51 AM dbasstard: so, is it Chris? or Lethal?
12:13:00 AM dbasstard: why are you so obsessed about this?
12:13:05 AM mmskmmskmmsk: because you are
12:13:15 AM mmskmmskmmsk: because you’re trying to fuck up someones site
12:13:21 AM mmskmmskmmsk: the shit was explained
12:13:29 AM mmskmmskmmsk: but no, you had to go and fuck with them
12:13:30 AM dbasstard: no, I’m pointing out a fraudulent article
12:13:38 AM mmskmmskmmsk: no you’re not
12:13:41 AM mmskmmskmmsk: it wasnt proven
12:13:45 AM mmskmmskmmsk: its speculation
12:13:50 AM dbasstard: dude, I wrote to Apple
12:13:58 AM mmskmmskmmsk: and why are you on it anyway? bored? no real news to report?
12:13:59 AM dbasstard: it was fraudulent
12:14:03 AM mmskmmskmmsk: you suck as a reporter
12:14:09 AM mmskmmskmmsk: prove it then
12:14:15 AM mmskmmskmmsk: you suck as a journalist
12:14:27 AM mmskmmskmmsk: be a man
12:14:30 AM dbasstard: how would you like it proven?
12:14:30 AM mmskmmskmmsk: dont be a girl
12:14:38 AM mmskmmskmmsk: actual evidence
12:14:43 AM dbasstard: like what?
12:14:51 AM mmskmmskmmsk: fuck you anyway, your article will die soon
12:14:56 AM dbasstard: besides the email from Apple PR?
12:15:03 AM mmskmmskmmsk: fucking wannabe reporter
12:15:06 AM mmskmmskmmsk: watch your back
12:15:10 AM mmskmmskmmsk: dont fuck with people asshole
12:15:14 AM mmskmmskmmsk: warning u
Changed status to Offline (12:15:20 AM)

Real mature.

Hopefully I’ll come across as insightful. I’ll try to post the link once it appears on the website.

Update: The article is up. The print version lacked my picture. I don’t know why, but I’ll suggest it’s because I’m so attractive.

The Day Job

I’ve been involved in a task that’s rather new to me, high pressure, and interesting. Overall I’m enjoying it, but it’s still soaking up my free time.

Softball to the Face

I managed to take a softball to the face 2.5 weeks ago. I was wearing my glasses and as a result, I managed to shift my nose over. I didn’t feel any pain and the initial swelling hid the fact that my nose became crooked. I had a nose bleed, but it went away quickly, so I didn’t get it looked at immediately.

Once I found out if it was fractured, I signed up for surgery I underwent Wednesday. My phobia of needles nearly made me faint as they put in the IV. Luckily, I didn’t and moments after they started pumping drugs into me, I was out. They straightened my nose and now I’m in a good deal of pain. I went to work Thursday, which was a total mistake, but the new task was acting rather needy. Luckily, my real coworkers could tell I wasn’t doing well and told me to go home.

I’m taking this week off, so I should be normal again by the time I go to work.

MacUser, Gadgetbox, and iPod Case Reviews

MacUser, Gadgetbox, and iPod case reviews for Playlist Mag are fast becoming more than a part time job.

After blogging on the former two sites, it’s usually just too late for me to do it here. I miss it. I have a bit more freedom here and I’m not really obligated to find a picture to go with my posts, which takes up a surprising amount of time.

Nintendo DS Lite

I bought a Nintendo DS Lite and I love it. I got the New Super Mario Brothers, Mario Kart DS, Brain Age, and Zelda: the Minnish Cap. If you have Mario Kart DS, let me know. I want to play you.

The Future

I want to resume normal posting, but it’s all time dependent. I get a surprising number of compliments from people that I contact for MacUser on this site and it’s made me realize that I was building a readership that’s likely rather disappointed I went on such a long hiatus. It’s time I returned.

Jade Hansen wrote:
We came across your web log regarding our Morf Ball. We are sorry to hear of the trouble you encountered with it leaking. As a result, we’d love to send you a complimentary Cyber Gel Squeeze Ball, our other popular stress reliever. Rest assured, this item will not explode or leak. Please provide us with your shipping address, and I will have them sent out to you ASAP.

Website: handstands.com

Naturally I’ll take them up on the offer. This is a new level of customer service. Not only are they going to replace a product, but they searched me out. Take a look at their site and order anything that catches your eye.

I’ll be writing extremely regularly over there, though the pieces will be much, much shorter compared with my pieces here. I will be writing the occasional extended rant on MacUser, but nothing compared to here.

The downside is that as a side effect, my posting here will probably continue at its current slow pace. I originally intended to post daily here, but I’ve since figured out that’s not quite my style and I was always searching for something to comment upon, even when there wasn’t anything that really interested me. I also didn’t want to write one liners because my analysis seems to garner much more positive attention.

At any rate, check the site out if you’re interested in or use Macs. I hope to see some comments!

What are yours? Have any suggestions for me?

Tags: newyears, resolutions

Imagine my surprise when I found out that there was a story about me as a camel. I know everyone thinks of me as a camel because I have foul breath and spit a lot. Ha ha. Seriously though, the story is priceless as is the following repeated phrase.

Derik, Derik, has no hump. Derik, Derik, what a chump!

It’s official. I have no hump and I am a chump.

Tags: camels, chump, derik, hump, vanity

Hopefully I’ll have a big announcement to share with y’all soon.

I hope all of you are in good health and have much to celebrate. Don’t forget to save room for some pie!

Anyway, I submitted my photo and it was accepted this morning. It won’t ship for 4-6 weeks due to high demand (geez, free $50 device, who thought that’d be popular?). I can’t wait so my lazy ass can have coffee every morning.

Technorati Tags: coffee, free, senseo

Unfortunately, it’s invitation only. If you’ve got an account, please invite me.

Please?

The steps he took were:

1. Re-sat the Airport card. I didn’t know that could be a common cause.
2. Reset the power manager. I did that.
3. Reset the open firmware. At this point, the screen was working. When I did it, I had to use my external display.

All is well again and seeing as a little bit of my pride saved me several hundred dollars, I think I can suck it up. I’ll have to hold off a little on applying for a part-time Genius position though.

Visiting Hours

My friend Scott finally freed up some time to see the new place, which he now calls a sweet setup. I’m inclined to agree.

He came out Friday night and got the full tour. Naturally, the four floors of my place were a high point. So far, no one has really had a bad word, but then again maybe they’re all being polite and saving the criticism for later.

He stayed until this morning, allowing us to catch up and even figure out that the nearest theater (in Lowell) wasn’t all that far. Given, it can’t beat the theater just 5 minutes down the street in Northborough, but it’ll do.

Anyway, entertaining makes it hard to keep up with the online life (among other things, read on).

Waterworks

I spent most of the day helping father pull his boat out of the water. Ok, it took all day. My dad didn’t realize that at high tide, the ramp’s slope is really slight and as such, the trailer doesn’t get deep enough into the water to drive up on. That forced us to wait several hours.

I did get a footlong meatball sub out of it, so it’s not all bad, but it did prevent me from doing certain things today (read on).

And the Lights Went Out

So I decided to check some directions while Scott was dropping a nasty deuce into one of my toilets. I opened up my laptop to see the screen blink on and then off. That’s right, the screen died.

Being the troubleshooting wizard I am, I started going through things that would help (hopefully).

1. Shut down and started the computer. Nada.
2. Pressed the brightness keys. Nada.
3. Shut down the computer for an hour while at breakfast. Nada.
4. Reset the PRAM (waited for three dongs). Nada.
5. Reset the power manager. Nada.
6. Connected an external display.

The external display worked correctly, but when I visited Displays in System Preferences, only the external display was listed. Not good. System Profiler implies that the display is disconnected/off. In the words of Andy’s Dad, we are fucked, completely and utterly fucked.

I wanted to take it in Saturday to the Apple Store, but with Scott around, that seemed rude. I waited until Sunday, but I got back really late, so that was out. I’ll have to go tomorrow after work because I can’t live without the mobility. Sure, the desktop is certainly essential, but life sucks without my trusty Powerbook.

I’ll have to hope that I can afford the repair bill (and obligatory Amazon page plug). Oh, and thanks to whoever bought that big screen TV. I love you!

I’m glad that Henry is well.

I suggest donations be made to the Salvation Army.

I got to review one of my favorite pieces of Mac software, Growl. In short, it manages all kinds of alerts. It’s still not 1.0, so the review is a “Promising Prospect” piece. I hope that by the time it reaches 1.0, it’s part of every good Mac user’s arsenal; it’s part of mine.

Somehow we ended up behind a police cruiser. Normally, that’s not an issue because they speed. This morning, we ended up behind that rare police officer that doesn’t. In fact, according to our speedometer, he was below the speed limit (by an MPH or two). We normally end up in the left lane because one has to turn left into Raytheon anyway.

With that setup, you can understand why my father changed into the left lane, and increased his speed to the blazing 40 MPH that was allowed on the street. As the cruiser was going slightly less, we ended up passing him… very… slowly. When I saw the cruiser then change lanes behind us into the left lane, I knew something was up. Either he was about to turn left, or he was going to pull us over.

Being the rational person he was, he turned on his lights and pulled over my 70 year old father. The cop strutted over and after the usual “license and registration” spiel, asked my father if he knew why he was pulled over. Good old Dad must have figured that Because I passed you, therefore drawing your masculinity into question wasn’t the right answer, so he went with I have no idea. You were speeding, said the police officer, I clocked you and got you with the radar gun.

I’m sure you’re dying to know what dangerous speed we were traveling. 43. The speed limit was exceeded by 3 MPH (if we are to believe that the cops speedometer was that much more accurate than the one in the Celica). Can anyone say waste of tax payer money? Naturally dad responded by saying My speedometer read 40 MPH exactly. This is when the real cop’s real motivation was revealed. I was going the speed limit. It’s common sense that you don’t pass a cruiser.

Hold up. He was lecturing us about passing him. Exactly what law prohibits the passing of police cruisers? My father argued that his speedometer indicated 40 MPH, so it was well within his legal bounds to pass. The cop then suggested that my father decided to pass because he “had somewhere to go and couldn’t wait.” He marched back to his cruiser and proceeded to make us wait an excessive amount of time. Keep in mind that I can see the Raytheon building and walk to it in probably a minute or two. The cop had the balls to suggest that my dad callously ignored the law to get somewhere faster. The problem here is, of course, our speedometer indicated that we were not speeding.

I was closing my eyes, trying to take a nap when the officer returned. He then lectured my 70 year old father about speeding. He layed out in careful detail that Massachusetts had a mandatory $100 speeding ticket along with insurance sucharges that could get rather expensive. My dad isn’t a teenager. He knows all the details and didn’t think he was speeding. The cop then said “It’s not that you were speeding all that much.” No fucking shit, genius. He continued, “It’s common sense that you don’t pass a police cruiser when it’s going the speed limit.” Hello! Is anybody in there? We didn’t think he was going the speed limit.

After all that, he gave us a warning. The reason for that is abundantly clear. He knew he didn’t have a leg to stand on. A quick visit to the local courthouse and the court magistrate to fight the ticket would have ended in its immediate dismissal. He knew the ticket would have been completely bogus. It was completely fueled by some immature, macho, testosterone-driven response to being passed. He wanted to stick his chest out, beat it a little bit, and show my father who was the boss. Color me unimpressed, jackass.

Don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against cops as a rule. My brother was one this summer in Cape Cod and will likely go on to be one permanently once he graduates. I’m quite proud of him. I sincerely hope this isn’t indicative of the entire Woburn police force. I want to believe this is the only idiot on their staff.