Danish Desk, I wish you came with a cherry danish.

Here are the ebay lising pics of the desk Meg and I just bought. It's on it's way to us, and I couldn't be more pleased. After shipping it was a steal at $250. It's TEAK BITCHES. I'm excited. Megan did well on this one. She is the master of all auctions.
- posted by Mason @ 12:24 PM (0) comments

Literally, an entire palette full of computers.

My friend David, who is our CIO at work has to dispose of 34 500Mhz PIII Gateway Towers. So I said "well, I'll just take them," and Dave said "Ok, but you have to take the monitors too".

My big plan is to load the spanish version of Ubuntu on them and sell them a the flea market. Or part them out and ebay them, or assuage my white guilt and find an East Dallas school or afterschool program that needs computers and donate them. I wish I could go back in time six years and sell them for $3,000 a piece.
- posted by Mason @ 11:41 AM (0) comments

IT WORKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My Fostex 250 4-Track works thanks to Bob at Vintage-Electronics.cc. I would HIGHLY, HIGHLY recomend him for any and all repairs/parts/information for any older tape deck, stereo amp, reel to reel, or turntable. He wasn't sure which belts went to the 250, so he had me mail the belts out of mine in, and I had my new belts within five days. Thank you Bob, you are a god among men.
- posted by Mason @ 10:49 AM (0) comments

Birthday

(this is a picture from a review. i would NEVER use those gay-ass today menu items, my desktop is clean, and that applies to handhelds as well)

So it was my birthday on Tuesday, but it was too hot in my house to post anything. Megan is the best girlfriend alive and purchased me a Dell Axim X51v to replace my badly aging and broked-assed Dell Axim X30. Because she is the greatest human alive, she also got me a 4GB compact flash cart with it, and the double life battery, instantly giving me the power of PMP that has web access. Oh it is sweet, let me tell you what. I've been downconverting video to 320x240, loading it on the Axim and watching it on my breaks at work using the Total Core Pocket Media Player. I highly recommend it for any PPC 2000-2005 user, as it's codec handling is un-fucking-paralleled.

I'm watching all of PBS's "Steven Hawking's Universe" series at the moment, and it's fantastic. As you well know, I don't believe in anything at all, but listening to Prof. Hawking's synthesized voice tell me how small and insignificant we are in our incomprehensibly vast universe fills me with what I can only describe as a tingling of religiosity. I'm so ScienceChurch it hurts.
- posted by Mason @ 6:18 PM (0) comments

Back in Action
I realize that it's been six days since I updated, but it's been hot in my house.
After ninety six hours my A/C finally got fixed. Every day our apartment manager kept saying "oh yeah, bud, it's gonna get fixed" "it'll be done in an hour" "oh yeah, i'll git ya some cold air here real soon bubba". Ad Nauseam to the point of me honestly not believing that it was ever going to get fixed. Four days it took this bastard to fix my fucking air conditioner. What a prick. Now it's back on, and everything's ok.
- posted by Mason @ 6:16 PM (0) comments

I got new shoes, and they're blue.

My parents came down for my birthday (again, what did you get me?) this weekend, and bought me these wicked ass Merrell Water-Pro UltraSports. These are for "canyoneering" apparently, but they're totally water-proof and quick-drying and super-meshtastic. (You can see my toes through them if you look really closely). Anyway, I love them. Thanks mom and dad.

[INSERT COMICAL CLIP ART OF ANTHROPOMORPHISED THERMOMETER ALMOST BURSTING WITH MERCURY AND WIPING HUGE BEADS OF SWEAT FROM HIS FOREHEAD]

In other news, IT IS SO FUCKING HOT IN MY HOUSE!!!!!! It's pushing 95, hopefully our A/C will be fixed tomorrow or I might die. It's not me I'm really worried about, I'll be at the office all day. I'm really worried about coming home from work and finding Megan sprawled out on the floor, dead from heat exhaustion. It's so hot that Megan's (apparently poorly ventilated) ThinkPad T23 keeps overheating and just shutting down when you try to use it, which sucks. Fortunately, the tower has giant fans in it which keep me computing strong in the SuSe-osphere.
- posted by Mason @ 10:52 PM (0) comments

The International Network of "Somewhere In Time" Enthusiasts



Now, I'm a fan of a lot of things. A really, big fan. And I understand that people get really, really heavily into things, but this is just too much.

I found a copy of their quarterly newsletter at the Northwest Highway Half-Price Books here in Dallas, and it's sheer weirdness blew me away. I spent the requisite 11 seconds googing them, and was further floored at their total insanity. Here's their membership pitch from their official site.

A joining of like minds and hearts. Bringing people together to celebrate love and romance.

INSITE is a family of those who appreciate beauty, believe in the power of love, and feel displaced in our violent and chaotic world, and wish for a better one.

Our elegant quarterly magazine is designed to be a respite for all who cherish old fashioned values.

Founded in 1990, INSITE has published over 1,000 pages on this beautiful love story, and takes pride in creating the most elaborate publication ever produced by a fan society.

Celebrating Somewhere in Time, "The Most Romantic Love Story Ever Filmed,” INSITE keeps the love alive all year round. Every issue is bursting with photographs, articles and features about our movie, and its creators, as well as Edwardian fashion and lifestyle. You’ll LOVE our magazine! Join in all the phenomenal fun we've been having honoring this cinematic treasure!

Bizarre.
- posted by Mason @ 9:37 AM (0) comments

It's like a million degrees in my apartment...
So our A/C is out. Dear god it's 90 degrees in here. No more posts until it gets fixed because I can't stand to be in here. FYI, Tuesday is my birthday. Did you get me a present?
- posted by Mason @ 9:27 AM (0) comments

Estate Sale Madness

This might be the most hideous things I've ever seen. A mirrored, coppertoned dresser and vanity set (the dresser faced this vanity) at the estate sale Megan and I hit this morning. Wow. How could you stand to look at that? I was truly, truly blown away. This picture doesn't even come close to adequately capturing how horrendous this piece of furniture is.

I shouldn't have been surprised, since only seconds before, I had walked past this bathroom:


and these horses:


At an unrelated estate sale in South Dallas, I was very tempted by this television:


Fortunately for all parties, my ever level headed LTG (that's "long time girlfriend" for those not in "The Know") Megan advised against it, citing it's lack of DVI port, Bluetooth compatibility or wireless networking, and I came to my senses. In my defense, it was only $30.
- posted by Mason @ 6:53 PM (0) comments

Tom Schotz of Boston is Awesome




I love Boston. I think that Schotz is a fantastic guitarist and a great songwriter. But more importantly, I think that Tom is a great inventor. If you have no idea what I'm talking about here, then move on, this post is not for you. But if you're like me, and that sweet, sweet 500khz midrange boost is the holy grail of guitar tone... then you've come to the right place.

In my search for the somewhat elusive Rockman X100 Guitar Module I came across this site, which is pretty lame, but has some cool (though sadly lo-res and not nearly guitar p0rn enough) stills of Tom's live setup (pictured above), and some fascinating reading on his gear.
- posted by Mason @ 11:24 PM (0) comments

Bart Sanchez

This ebay auction is awesome. Megan found it while looking for a birthday present for me. If it wasn't a small, it would be mine.
- posted by Mason @ 1:30 PM (0) comments

I weigh in on the AOL Search Phenom


Pretty much everyone has been covering this VERY extensively, and very well, but I feel there is a real element of pathos that's being missed. Yes, "how to murder your wife" and "do niggers have x-ray vision" are completely fucking hilarious. Endlessly entertaining. But what about the drama, as well as the comedy? I found user 98280, maybe the saddest, most pathetic person on earth. I'll offer no more commentary, but instead, make up your own mind:

98280 symptoms of cocaine addiction 2006-03-17
98280 affects of cocaine use if you are diabetic 2006-03-17
98280 diabetic's use of cocaine 2006-03-17
98280 i am diabetic and use cocaine 2006-03-17
98280 gastrointestinal problems associated with cocaine use 2006-03-17
98280 dealing with abuse from a spouse with mental disorder 2006-03-22
98280 dealing with spouse that has bipolar disorder 2006-03-22
98280 spouse is cruel to everyone in family including animals 2006-03-22
98280 coping with abusive spouses 2006-03-22
98280 what do i need to do to become an actress 2006-03-28
98280 how do i get auditions for acting gigs 2006-03-28
98280 how do i get an agent for acting jobs 2006-03-28
98280 prayers to plead the blood of jesus against problems 2006-04-09
98280 how does a male's cocaine use affect a fetus 2006-04-10
98280 birth defects caused by father's cocaine use 2006-04-10
98280 are chainletter scams ever successful 2006-04-10
98280 how to kill lice in hair 2006-05-09

Don't you see how the WHOLE picture of someone's search history is infinitely more interesting than one or two funny lines? It's all part of my "subtle and oblique is the new slapstick" concept.
- posted by Mason @ 8:30 PM (0) comments

Fort Worth Guitar Show Wrap-Up

It was pretty amusing. We did a swift business at our GHS Strings booth (more pics dans moi FLICKR), and had a grand time screwing around and watching my dad sell guitars.

He's amazing, quite frankly. It's rare to watch a true artist at work, but he's the best ever. I swell with pride listening to my father's speil about product. If I'm only 1/4 as good at customer service as my dad is at retail, then I'm on top of my game for certain. Come see us at the Arlington Guitar Show in October to experience this first hand.

I came out of the deal with a Fostex 250 4-track, which is totally boss. I haven't take a picture of mine, but here's one as an example:

The little fucker needs new belts, but otherwise she's top flight. In 1984 Tom Robinson said it was his favorite unit for home demos. And you know how I feel about The Tom Robinson Band...
- posted by Mason @ 11:23 PM (0) comments

A Burning Car. A Car On Fire That Is.



Taking I-30 back from Fort Worth this weekend, I was held up in traffic by a stream of lookie-loos gawking at what appeared to be a Ford Probe about to be engulfed in flames. Being the responsible citizen I am, I slowed down to take pictures. I wish they'd come out better, but it was dark, I have a camera phone and I was moving. I think they came out OK considering.
- posted by Mason @ 11:20 PM (0) comments

It literally brought tears to my eyes...


Our friend Austin from Planet of Sound had this velvet R2-D2 at the Fort Worth Guitar Show this weekend. It was not for sale, or it would be hanging in our living room right now.
- posted by Mason @ 11:17 PM (0) comments

Huge Rack of AV Equipment, Will You Marry Me?

I went on a huge tour of the Meyerson where I work yesterday (more pictures on my Flickr), and I found these two racks of equiptment in a conference room. This Tascam rack-mount mastering deck makes me want to cry it's so beautiful.


This AV selector was also in the rack, and it's NASA style lighted punch buttons are truly a wonderous sight to behold. I prostrate myself before it's design aesthetic.
- posted by Mason @ 11:27 AM (0) comments

Young and Modern Magazine
Remember the “Say Anything” section of YM Magazine, where girls write in about their most embarassing moments? Well, here’s mine from today:

Dear YM,
Oh my god, today was the most terrible thing ever! I was more embarressed than I’ve ever been before in my life! Here’s what happened: Today at work I went to lunch with my friend Higa and we ate a TON of terriaki noodles. After lunch I had a really long and boring meeting to sit through. About halfway through, my stomach started rumbling. I could feel trouble starting to “brew” if you get my drift! After the meeting I rushed to the elevator and as the doors closed I cut a series of the biggest, longest, loudest farts of all time. I was feeling pretty relieved until the elevator stopped and the doors opened and my boss and co-worker were waiting to take the now fart-filled elevator back up to the 4th floor! Of course they didn’t say anything about it when I saw them later, but it would have been impossible for them not to have noticed. I’m sure they spent the 3 floor ride up laughing about what a smelly fart-layer I am. It was easily one of the most embarassing moments of my entire life, and I would give almost anything to take those farts back.

Signed,
Mr. Smelly Pants
Dallas, TX

YM sez, "RATE IT":
*Glad It Didn't Happen to Me
** Friends Must Still Be Talking About It
*** Total Embarrassment
**** Better Switch School Districts!

Tell us your horror stories! Send your mortifying moments to SAY ANYTHING via e-mail at ymsayanything@condenet.com. All Letters become the property of ym.com and may be reused in any other media. You must include your first name, age, birthday, city, and state.
- posted by Mason @ 7:09 PM (0) comments

I'm an office worker...

This is my angry worker face. I work in an office.


This is my cubicle. Today I got a silvery plastic plaque that says my name on it. I was pretty excited. I guess that's sort of sad...
- posted by Mason @ 7:07 PM (0) comments

Dave and Buster's is fun after all

me totally destroying some zombies in house of the dead III


star trek voyager first person shooter. oooohhhh, i love it. even though i hate st:v. note to companies: brand anything as star trek and i'll buy it, eat it, play it, or wear it.


seriously, who the fuck calls it a "malted"? what the hell is that about? i love that because dave and buster's is for "grown-ups" they have shitty appliances to buy with your tickets.
- posted by Mason @ 6:39 PM (0) comments

He's Dead Jim... my Gateway Solo that is.
It finally happened.
After it got dropped by my brother's girlfriend two years ago.
After the screen stopped working because of the drop.
After I got if for free and fixed the screen with tape, a block of wood and a spring clamp.
After I took the screen completely crapped out and I pulled the screen off to use with a monitor.
After I wiped it and spent weeks tweaking and customizing SuSe till it was perfect.
After I'd just gotten REALLY comfortable using LINUX.

Ka-Blooey. Nothing. It overheated and it won't boot now, the cd-rom won't spin up, and the fucking BIOS crashes when you try to save alternate settings.

It's time for it to go to laptop heaven.

The upside is that I'm buying my brother's desktop and will be TRIPLE BOOTING the bad boy with SuSe, XP and OSX. I'll be rolling 500 gigs of storage and pushing some sweet divx video to my big TV via DVI. Pretty bad ass really.
- posted by Mason @ 6:30 PM (0) comments