My faltering first generation iPod Shuffle is acting up again. For awhile, it was working fine, but while out for a run yesterday, it went back to playing only a few songs over and over.
I always use my Shuffle in shuffle mode so by chance, I tried the “other” mode where the music plays in sequence. Hey, all the songs play in this mode! Good enough for me and sure beats hearing the same songs over and over.
Technorati Tags: iPod
Myong’s Madness and Beagles Are People Too recently featured posts about what music’s playing on their iPods. Here’s my list of 16 songs playing on my Shuffle:
Some slow stuff but mostly remix and techno music.
After two years, the Drew Crew still got it. Do you remember how the Drew Crew brought it during the finals of Season 2 of Dancing with the Stars? Drew Lachey made a surprise appearance on the results show joining former partner Cheryl Burke during a country western number performed by some hoboes. Fatherhood hasn’t slowed him down as his dance moves were precise, and he was entertaining as ever.
Oh yeah, there won’t be any more entertainment tonight with Leeza Gibbons getting the heave ho.
Technorati Tags: Dancing with the Stars, television
Week 4 of Dancing with the Stars was dominated by the Judges. However, I have to agree with their assessments. There was some horrible dancing this week but then again the dances, the waltz and paso doble, are challenging. After four weeks of practicing, the Judges must have agreed that the grace period for the dancers is done, and it’s time to get to work.
Laila Ali got game, but she got to get in the game.
Apolo Anton Ohno and partner Julianne Hough were on it this week. A great performance for this young couple. Julianne’s look differs week to week and this ability to transform will work to their benefit. She reminds me of a little bit of Melissa Joan Hart of Sabrina the Teenage Witch, the blonde bombshell look of Christina Aguilera, and Portia De Rossi. While front runners of the competition, I worry about their youth and perhaps lack of mature charisma.
Billy Ray Cyrus actually looked decent compared to the horrendous performances of some others. Yeah, he ain’t graceful, but you can tell he’s trying. From what I noticed, Billy Ray works the crowd after his performances to bolster his vote. While walking to the Judges, he’ll look into the stands to seemingly acknowledge individual fans.
Clyde, Clyde, Clyde. You got a problem. Nicknamed The Glide, your style simply isn’t matched to this competition. Your movements are too effortless on the court and on the dance floor, and this hurts you. The judges don’t believe you’re trying hard enough. Like Sam “The Big Smooth” Perkins, your demeanor and movements don’t convey a sense of urgency or passion. That and the significant height difference with your partner is too distracting. You may survive this round with NBA supporters but by May, you’ll be gone.
Leeza Gibbons’ paso was stunted. All her movements looked half done and incomplete. During her after performance interview, she pretty much conceded getting booted off the show. You’ll probably go this week unless…
John Ratzenberger gets the boot first. The paso is not for older guys. This is a fact. When you see Cliff Claven and Jerry Springer do the paso, it just doesn’t work. The older guys don’t have the physique or flexibility to do the motions of the paso.
Ian Ziering and Cheryl Burke were solid yet again. Showing improvements each week is important for the judges. Len Goodman likes Cheryl.
Heather Mills continues to do well and amaze everyone with her dancing ability. I think she’ll end up in fourth place behind the trio of Ziering, Ohno, and Fatone.
Speaking of the Fatone, he rocked again this week. His paso was crisp and clean. No gimmicks or stunts, just passionate dancing. As the last performance of the night, it was easy to give their dance a 10.
Technorati Tags: Dancing with the Stars, television
…Or how Apple’s product line reminds me of the 1985 St. Louis Cardinals batting lineup.
Tommy Herr was the switching hitting second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals back in the mid-80s. For whatever reason, when I saw the AppleTV in action, I thought of Tommy Herr. Let’s discuss…
The Cardinals of ’85 featured a run-scoring batting lineup starting with Vince Coleman, Willie McGee, and Herr.
But before we get to Tommy Herr, we have to lead off with 1985 Rookie of the Year, speedster Vince Coleman who swiped a league best 110 bases. Vince’s job was to get on base, cause disruption, steal some bases, and score runs. Does Vince’s job remind you of the origin of the iPod?
Apple’s iPod wasn’t the first music player on the market. But once released, it surely caused disruptions in the music player industry. It stole market share and boy, it’s still scoring runs ala its sales figures.
Once Coleman was on base, next up was Willie McGee. The 1985 National League MVP, McGee could do everything. He could hit (.353), steal bases (56), and roam the outfield, but his main task was to advance Coleman on the base path. Sound a little bit like iTunes?
iTunes (and the iTunes Store) does a little bit of everything. Music, videos, television shows, movies, audiobooks, podcasts, and games are all there with iTunes. But the main function of iTunes is to advance the iPod in the marketplace.
Now we come to Tommy Herr batting third for the Cardinals. Herr was not a power hitter, but he sure could drive home the runs. In 1985, Herr hit .302 and drove in 110 runs while only hitting 8 homeruns. Driving runs home but yet not a power hitter… ahhh, the AppleTV…
The AppleTV is not a power hitter in Apple’s lineup but is designed to bring the runs home straight to your living room. Like Herr, the AppleTV makes contact and keeps the iPods and iTunes content moving towards home.
And like the rest of the Cardinals lineup, Apple’s product line is flexible enough to change up the batting order and star different players. Andy Van Slyke, Terry Pendleton, and Ozzie Smith moved around the lineup while Apple’s Macs, MacBooks, iLife, iWork, and Pro apps can get it done as well.
No, I didn’t forget about the cleanup hitter who knocks the ball out of the park, clears the bases, and brings in the runs. Jack Clark had the duty for the Cardinals in ’85, and in Apple’s lineup, the cleanup hitter will be none other than the iPhone.
Technorati Tags: Apple, AppleTV, baseball, iPhone, iPod, MacBook, Macintosh
I was wrong about Dwyane Wade being able to make a comeback to the rigors of NBA play as he made his first appearance in a loss to the Charlotte Bobcats. Having a dislocated shoulder or two (or seven), it’s simply amazing he could come back after six weeks and actually be effective, scoring 12 points in 27 minutes.
And he just wasn’t an outside shooter, taking it to the rim on occasion. Most impressive. Converse has the right advertising campaign with “All In” describing Wade’s play and determination.
So I was wrong urging Dwyane Wade of getting season ending surgery.
Technorati Tags: basketball, Dwyane Wade, NBA
The Associated Press has a lukewarm-bordering-on-bad review of the AppleTV. The article claims the main detraction of the AppleTV is the poor display of non-HD content.
I would agree after seeing an AppleTV in action. Apple got to get their HD game going to make the AppleTV a true game changer.
The Gators of Florida repeated as National Champions beating the Ohio State Buckeyes, but in either case, Nike claimed another victory in collegiate men’s basketball and solidified its place as the shoes of champions. With this Gators win, Nike-wearing teams have won 7 of the last 8 championships.
In their honor, here are pictures of Florida’s starting five wearing their Nikes.
Sadly to say, I’ve been stumped. I haven’t been able to identify the Nikes worn by Al Horford and Taurean Green. Horford’s wearing a slightly older sneaker that’s no longer on sale. I think it’s some type of UpTempo model. For Green, I couldn’t find any clear shots of him and his shoes. Also, that black on black colorway with little highlights make it tough to pick up details. Can anyone help me out here?
Congratulations Gators.
The second dancer eliminated on Dancing with the Stars is Miss USA 2004, Shandi Finnessey. Who’s that? Exactly, as the Tabasco Man says. Even though there were worst performances and lower scores, Shandi just doesn’t have the fan base to vote her to the next round.
I think Dancing with the Stars needs to drop this beauty pageant connection. The past two beauty queens, Finnessey and Shanna Moakler, have both been eliminated in Week 2. While they may have the look and some dancing talent, no one knows who they are. Clyde Drexler and Billy Ray Cyrus performed worse than Finnessey, but people still remember them and therefore vote for them.
If Dancing with the Stars wants to keep the beauty queen angle going, they’ll need to go after higher profile people like Vanessa Williams. Maybe former Miss Hawaii USA and Miss Universe, Brook Lee, or Miss America 2001, Angela Baraquio, might have a chance if the state of Hawaii backs these pageant winners.
How about going after television show hosts like Brooke Burns or Brooke Burke?
‘Nuff said, ’nuff Shandi.
This is the first week I got to watch all the contestants dance, and I must say there’s some tough competition this year. I had seen Ian Ziering and Cheryl Burke dance the past two weeks and thought they had a good chance at winning, but after seeing some of the other dancers, I’m not so sure anymore.
Laila Ali is good, but she has to watch that she doesn’t go Vivicia Fox while dancing.
Billy Ray Cyrus needs to go. He tries hard but… he has to go.
Clyde Drexler will probably go before Billy Ray though. The judges are hard on this NBA Hall of Famer who has a hard time moving and pointing his size 14 dogs.
Joey Fatone. He is a contender, a little goofy, but he’s in it. His dance to the theme song from Star Wars was good and entertaining with the light saber action and his padawan pony tail. Of course, having Kym Johnson costumed as a bikini-clad Princess Leia ain’t going to hurt either!
Shandi Finnessey. Who? ‘Nuff said.
Leeza Gibbons. So nice, so sweet. Solid, safe dance. Will make it to the mid rounds but not a contender.
Heather Mills. Yet another good week for her and her artificial leg. Eventually the hotness of the other female dancers will be a deciding factor.
Apolo Anton Ohno. Another contender who has a good chance of winning with partner Julianne Hough. They have good chemistry and interact well on the dance floor. I feel like I’m watching the Ice Capades when I see Ohno dance.
John Ratzenberger. Isn’t too bad but ain’t the greatest either. He should be around until the going gets tough when even his partner Edyta won’t be able to save this pair.
Ian Ziering. Still is a contender with reigning champ Cheryl Burke, but they have to keep improving each week but not peak too early in the competition ala Mario Lopez.
Technorati Tags: Dancing with the Stars, television
EMI has announced that is will remove any DRM protection from its music catalog offered through the iTunes Store. These DRM-free songs cost a bit more, $1.29 versus $0.99, but are of higher audio quality (256kbps versus 128kbps AAC).
Complete album purchases still cost the same but will be of the DRM-free and higher audio quality variety. Users will be able to “upgrade” previous EMI song purchases to the DRM-free versions by paying $0.30 per song.
This is the type of game changing activity that revolutionizes everything. Other music companies are sure to follow in the near future to stay competitive. I’m not sure how much direct influence Steve Jobs had in this DRM-free proceedings, but I think EMI struck a good balance typified in Apple’s moves in the music and movie distribution channels. The desires of the users are taken into consideration and implemented to the greatest extent possible without sacrificing the solvency of the company. What you get is a win-win situation where both users and service providers (the music companies in this case) both prosper.
This year it’s easy. A Nike wearing team will win the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. The Nike Zoom LeBron wearing Buckeyes beat out the Jordan-clad Hoyas while the Swooshed Gators overcame the Bruins of Adidas.
It’s an all Nike finals. Just do it.
