Justin Frankel
If you don't know who Justin Frankel is, I suggest you stop what you're doing and read this article2 at RollingStone.com3 immediately. I've read snippets about him for years, but this is the most comprehensive overview of him that I've seen. I guarantee that Justin is having a social, technical, and legal influence on your life far beyond anything you may realize. He's the man behind software like Winamp4, Gnutella5, and Waste6 (more on Waste7). From one controversy8 to the next9, it doesn't look like Justin is going to stop making waves any time soon.
Friday, January 23, 2004 @ 11:40 » 
Comments
Pats vs. Cats
After spending the long weekend skiing with friends in Canada, I'm really looking forward to the Big Dance10 in two weeks. I was in Boston to watch New England upset the Rams (and to catch the post-game craziness) two years ago, so I can't imagine being anywhere else on February 1st.
Tuesday, January 20, 2004 @ 11:30 » Comments
I'm sailing!
Well, not quite ... cruising would be more like it. Cunard11 will launch a new ship, the Queen Mary 212, on its maiden voyage tomorrow. Why does that matter? Because I'll be taking the QM2 on a transatlantic crossing and spending a few days in London this June. I haven't been overseas in almost a year, so I'm dying for this next adventure. Just looking at the deck plans13 and taking the virtual tour14 has really gotten me excited about exploring this magnificent ship. And I'll have a whole week to do just that.
Sunday, January 11, 2004 @ 12:12 » Comments
Thanks, I'll be in bed.
So the outside temperature right now is 0° with a RealFeel15 of -22°. Brrr ...
Update: It's 3.00a now and -5°/-20°. Welcome to New England, Tennessee16!
Friday, January 09, 2004 @ 11:42 » Comments
2004 North American Invitational Auto Show
I got a call from Mark last night that went something like this:
Mark: What are you doing next Thursday? Wanna go to Detroit and catch the auto show17?
Will: You're kidding me, right?
Mark: Nope, I'll take care of the flights and we'll go for the day.
Will: Umm, how can I say no?
So I'm going to Detroit for a premiere auto show, where I'll get to check out the latest crop of hot concepts and new production vehicles. Last year they introduced 61 new vehicles and the event was attended by over 800,000 people in a few short days. This year's show is even bigger, so I better start doing my homework. There's already plenty of buzz18 about how Chrysler unveiled a new supercar, Ford built an updated Shelby Cobra, and Range Rover debuted a gorgeous SUV. Now if I can just get to CES19 (also going on this week) one of these years ...
Update: We bagged the trip. Mark's had a flu-slash-fever all week and tomorrow's forecast is a little iffy. As much as I'd like to go, I'm wary of hopping on a Learjet20 in weather that's best described as "iffy" ... besides, I don't want to get stuck in Detroit and miss this weekend's ski trip. We'll either go next year or try to scam our way into the (closed to the public) SEMA Show21 this fall.
Friday, January 09, 2004 @ 08:52 » Comments
F.U. Hacker/Spammer Mofos
It's a safe bet that the e-mail you're reading is crap when it tells you that "Anti-virus software programs may interfere with the installation of Windows XP SP1. Please disable anti-virus software while installing the service pack." and then instructs you to install some .exe file. And while I'm on the subject of hackers and spammers, have you ever taken a look at Moxio22? They're one of the biggest spammers I know of and yet their website says exactly nothing about what they do (it's all of three pages long, and two of those are forms where you can submit your e-mail address for more spam ... I mean to unsubscribe). What a sleazy way to run a business. Can the Attorney General please drag these mofos through the courts and put the rest of us out of our spam-addled misery? Please?!
Friday, January 09, 2004 @ 01:13 » Comments
Ski Conditions
Just one more week until Mont Tremblant23!
Bulletin des Conditions de Neige / Snow Report
Jeudi, le 8 janvier, 2004. Dernière mise à jour à 7:57:51 AM
Conditions
Surface: Poudreuse damée / Groomed powder
Base: Ferme à durcie / Firm to hardNeige depuis / Snow since:
24h: 0 cm
48h: 5 cm
7jours / 7days: 29 cm
Saison / Season: 194 cmPistes / Trails
82 - 65.97 km, 544.4 acres
Sud / South: 31/39
Soleil: 13/15
Nord / North: 31/33
Edge: 7/7Météo / Weather
Aujourd'hui / Today
Temp. bas/low: -34°C
Temp. haut/high: -22°C
Vents / Winds: 20km/h
Temp. sommet / Temp. summit: -31°CDemain / Tomorrow
Temp. bas/low: -33°C
Temp. haut/high: -21°C
Vents / Winds: 5km/h
Thursday, January 08, 2004 @ 11:50 » Comments
Dive Bars
Stuff just came out with its annual listing of America's best dive bars. You may recall that the BHP was selected last year, so I was curious if some other local favorites would be included in this year's round-up ... and I wasn't disappointed!
Representing D.C. was the Rhino Bar and Pumphouse. Formerly known as Winston's (renovated and renamed in 1997), this was a frequent stop during my freshman year at Georgetown24. It was right up there with Champion's and Chadwick's as the bar of choice for those pretending to be 21.
Whether you're a lobbyist or a law student, no bar in the capital gets more skeezy ... Rhino Bar employs some of the quickest competition slingers in D.C.
Here in Boston Stuff picked Our House West, which is sure to please the BC25/BU26 regulars and annoy the Northeastern27 crowd that sticks to its sister bar across town (Our House East). My first trip to West was on my sister's 21st birthday and I've only been back once or twice in the intervening five years, but it's been interesting each time, to say the least.
The layout is just like your grandma's place in the suburbs: a bunch of interconnected living rooms with comfy couches, coffee tables aplenty and hundreds of anonymous strangers exchanging bodily fluids all night long.
Wednesday, January 07, 2004 @ 19:41 » Comments
Just Say No
One of the bigger stories in the sporting world this week is the admission of Pete Rose that he gambled on the game of baseball as a manager. The mere suspicion that he was guilty earned him a permanent ban from the sport, but after 14 years of lying to everyone he's finally decided to 'fess up. As Dan Shaughnessy points out in an excellent article28, the timing couldn't be better for ol' Pete. I agree wholeheartedly with Dan and think that Pete Rose should never, ever be admitted to the Baseball Hall of Fame. Although some people will point out that other players have been admitted despite their transgressions (Babe Ruth and his womanizing come to mind), none of those shortcomings had a direct effect on the game itself. There's a big difference between behaviour on and off the field, but when your behaviour off the field has a clear and simple correlation with outcomes on the field (or even the hint of it) then your actions warrant culpability. Some things must be held sacred at all costs and I believe this is a perfect example. I hope that enough sportswriters agree with Dan to deny Mr. Rose his shot at the Hall of Fame.
Wednesday, January 07, 2004 @ 11:56 » Comments
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