New Apple Products are just OK

Today, Apple had a ‘Special Event’ to announce some new products.  The first thing is this iPod speaker thing, which does not excite me at all.  There have been several different iPod speakers that have come out from great brands such as Bose and JBL, and well, I guess Apple wanted to get in on it as well.  I still prefer to just hook my iPod up to my home stereo that I got for free, and has great sound.

 

The second item of today is really cool, but not ‘Special Event’ worthy if you ask me. They released a new Mac Mini, which is pretty cool.  Don’t me wrong, it is better than my mini, but again, this just does not meet the excitement level that I had for this event.  Then again, I’m still one of those people with the two color iPod.  What can I say?  It plays music and that’s all I really need.

 

SNES = Best System Ever

I found this article at XYZ Computing today, and it argues how the SNES is the best gaming system EVER (or at least until the Revolution comes out).  The author’s main points are that the SNES stayed true to its roots, the NES.  The SNES was also packaged better than other systems.  The PlayStation and xbox normally only come with one controller, and maybe a game, MAYBE!!!  The SNES came with TWO controllers and Super Mario World.  For these reasons, I agree.  Not to say that I don’t enjoy killing people in GTA III, but Nintendo will always have a warm spot in my heart, and I plan on pre-ordering the Revolution.  

You can read this guys article here.

 

 

It really gets you in the right posterior inferior frontal gyrus, doesn't it?

I have a little ammunition for all of you  like me who work in marketing and have ever had to argue with someone who contended that what we do (Marketing) is "not neuroscience". Researchers from UCLA did an in-depth study, measuring brain waves and reactions to commercials via functional magnetic resonance imagery.

 

The scientists compared levels of brain activity triggered by this year's troupe of commercials in a number of categories, from fear, to arousal, to empathy. Admittedly, this year was a pretty lame subject matter to study, but I found to be interesting, based on the overall volume of brain activity, which commercials were chosen as the winners.

 

a summary of the study

or, just the fun part

 

 

This is a test. I am going to see if I can post via email, since I cannot access this site from my office. Also, I wonder if I can make LINKS here. 

Welcome to Bobo

Ladies and gents, I would like to welcome our newest contributor to the AAVR blogging world. You may have heard his voice in one of our podcasts, and now he is here to let his thoughts run free with ours. So, welcome Bobo!

Now Bobo, to answer your question, and probably the question a lot of other people have, I will tell you what this is all about. Even though my most recent posts were about tech stuff, that does not mean we are all about tech. NO NO NO. This blog is about us. And it is about the crazy things we do. For one, I had actually wrote this long post about the BBQ place we went too recently, but the computer farted on me and I lost it. And since it took 20 minutes to write, I did not feel like writing that again. So that is what this is about. Like Sienfield, it is about nothing. And soon, we will be having more podcasts. They have really only been delayed because I am house sitting for the week, so I can't record with Justin right now. Oh well, soon enough.

New (better) voice recorder

I now have the Olympus DS-2, pictured to the left here. It is much better than the Sony which I have up on eBay right now. This is just a quick test to see it working. The included software works great for downloading the files and then just converting them into a format that I can then use in an audio editor. In my case, I use Audacity, and then convert into mp3. I hope that this will lead to the rebirth of quality podcasts.

PS3 = The Death of Sony

To some, the xbox 360 may seem expensive, but wait, there is another money hungry giant on the way. Rumors are going around about possible prices for the long overdue PS3 estimated to be upwards around $800 - $900. This is crazy! And even if it is just a rumor, it has been enough to make the public worry as Sony's stock has taken a major hit.

It seems that for a change, Microsoft did something smart by eating part of the price of the xbox 360. Nintendo has come out to announce that they will be keeping the price of their up coming Revolution under $300. Sony, you are coming too expensive too late.

Apple Event 2/28/06

Now this is not a tech blog, but we do love our technology. And for those that care, Justin and I are both Mac users. That's right, we are part of that group that gravitate to the little white boxes with half eaten fruit on them.

This of course means that we keep are ear to the ground, or the internet as it were, about interesting news regarding the Apple. Well, today Think Secret has announced that there is a special Apple event by invintation only on 2/28. Now, at Mac world there was some cool stuff, but we were still waiting for something really big to come out and maybe this is it. Or not and I just wasted your time and mine. I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Hello World

I would like to introduce myself as the second voice of AAVR. I previously posted under the name "BBQDudes" another blog that we had, but I think it is important to have unique identities here in this shared blog. So I'll be weighing in now and then on how we don't post enough, current events and the like.

My new Sony Voice Recorder

This is my new toy. It's a Sony ICD-P110 and this podcast was recorded on it. I hope that you enjoy.

The Deserted Island scenario

Every once in a while someone pulls it out. 'If you were stuck on deserted island, what would you want with you?" usually people say what three albums or three books, or just three things period. Now historically, people give ridiculous answers. There was a recent commercial for Budweiser and the guy picked a life time supply of Bud (which is just gross) and two women. That is just impractical. I know, it was supposed to be a joke, but today I have given this some serious thought and here it is.

If I was stuck on an island, with no one else, and I could only have three things, this is what they would be and why.

1 - A Hatchet

It is a versatile tool. I can use it to cut wood. This wood can be used for shelter, fire, and other tools such as spears for hunting. The other side also acts like a hammer. Now I can have another tool with just one item.

2 - The Bible

I thought about this and decided I wanted a book. A book keeps you occupied for long periods of time. Now the Bible happens to be a rather long book. Part Historical Document, Part Religious, all together a long read. Not only will it occupy me for long periods of time. It will keep my brain active as I will be able to really take it all in.

3 - Pencil and Paper

Ok, I know that technically it's two items, but they are useless without each other. Hence, they get to both be in this. Having a lot of time when alone allows you to think a lot, and there is nothing worse than losing those thoughts. So now with pencil and paper, I will have a way to right down thoughts and also keep a full account of everything that happens to me. This is great for when someone finds my body one day with a day to day account of my struggles. Or, if I get rescued, I have a number one bet seller to make me some cash, since by then I would have been declared dead and all of my money would be in other people's pockets.


That's it. As of today, right now, those are the things I would want with me. Of course a nice tent, a year supply of MREs, and other survival gear would be awesome. And even better is to not get left on a deserted island.

First show using garage band

This is a test run using garage band. Now, if you in the past just downloaded the show off the site and listened, this may not work for you. It it is kinda forcing you to use iTunes or a product that will play m4a files. Now iTunes is free, so if you ddon't have it, go get it and use it to listen. I really hope that this new method works.

A new year, and maybe a new us?

Well, it's a new year, and perhaps it's time for us to treat this blog with more respect. I haven't actual discussed this with my partner in crime, but I'm sure that he would be down for it. Since it's a new year let me update everyone on the world of AAVR.

First off, I got engaged. Yes, she said 'yes'. Now, before you ask, there is no date or anything like that yet, but there is a ring around her finger.

Second, well, that really was the big news. But there may very well be a resurgence of the radio show, as both Justin and I have the new garageband for the Mac which has made podcasting super easy.

And this is me hoping that it works out.

Halloween Party

We had a Halloween style party here at All American Valley Radio, and our microphone was there. Well the microphone is always there, it just so happens, that the party was next to the microphone. In any case, we recorded some things, and we are going to share them with you so please enjoy this Halloween show.

We Lack Commitment

No really, I think we do to some extend. Actually I think most people today, especially the younger generation lack commitment. Now let me explain.

I love new technology, and I love new projects. And a lot of times when something new is around, I want to jump up and start doing something with it. Much like this blog/podcast. It was cool, and new, and geeky. But with a busy schedule and really getting nothing in return, there is no incentive to keep going, hence why there hasn't been a new show in a while. Where as when we are involved with things that have a return on them, we tend to commit to it, and see it through to the end.

Now, I don't want to say it's a bad thing. After all, we are able to try many different things without a lot of capital, and really have no loss when you stop. But I do feel a little sad when I stop something that at one time I put effort into. So here is to trying to get back into this blog/podcast thing.

Not enough time

That's right, there is not enough time in the day anymore. I know I said that we would have a new show up soon, but it is easier said than done. I mean both of us are working more than one job, and have crazy lives. So the idea of sitting down to do a show isn't as easy as I would like it to be.

Well, since we are busy (and lazy) we (someone else) have come up with a brilliant solution. This Friday night we will be recording a show during our Halloween party. So prepare for crazy guests and crazy talking coming to a Podcast near you very soon.

They have stepped up there game

Who? Well, the folks at Free iPods.com, that's who. As part of an advertising style program, they offer you an iPod if you and some of your friends sign up for cool things. Well, now they have made it into a video iPod.

Where did we go

Ok, I know this was supposed to be a weekly PodCast, but with 2 busy people doing it, things don't always get done. I know this is heart breaking for all 5 of you out there, but hey, we are busy. I do however promise that soon we will have a new episode, and maybe we might even start doing mini episodes on our own to fill the void (I haven't told Justin about this idea yet).

Now something that I want to know is how did John Roberts get to be cheif Justice of the Supreme Court? Why didn't someone from the inside get bumped up and just put him on the bench. How many CEOs out there go from working at McDonald's to head of GE!? None, that's how many. They usually work in a VP job for a while. And in a related note, what is up with Brownie, former head of FEMA. He slips through to become the head of an organization that he has no right to be in charge of. Guess what America, he doesn't know what he is doing, and sadly it took a disaster and a poor response resulting in the death of too many American's to finally fire someone in the Bush Administration!!!

Episode Five

Hello and welcome to the overdue episode 5. New (old) mixing board, dinner parties, good wine, and close encounters with wrestlers. There isn't a moment out side of 30 minutes of the show that you should miss so listen now!!!

Star Wars, Lost in Translation

winterson.com: episode iii, the backstroke of the west

Here is an example of a bad translation job. Enjoy!