Blog of Josh Hall

So, I’m trying to transition over to itunes (version 9) after being a hardcore winamp user since the late 90s.  Winamp’s keyboard shortcuts are the cat’s pajamas though, and I’m missing them tremendously.  Specifically, the shortcut to jump to a song.  Hit "J" and just start typing in a title or band and it dynamically searches for you.  It’s great when you can’t remember who sang a song and you just remember the track name or vice versa.  Nothing like that in itunes, and surely not as simple.

I also miss the visualizations of winamp.  I loved having that in a mini window.  Infact, plugins alone are lacking dramatically in itunes.  It’s weak.  I want skins!  that’s one of the main reasons why I have a jailbroken iphone.  I don’t like your interface, Mr. Jobs.  LET ME CUSTOMIZE IT.  I AM A UNIQUE SNOWFLAKE.  I AM THE ALL SINGING ALL DANCE CRAP OF THE WORLD.

The another shortcut key I’m missing is queue.  In winamp, I could click a song, hit "q" and winamp would play that song next and then go right back to where it was on the playlist.  As far as I can tell, there is no way to do this.  That’s based on forum posts through google that date back to 2003, and Apple still doesn’t listen to their users.  How they crap do they have such product loyalty when they don’t listen to their users?  cough cough mindless droids  cough cough.

I feel like winamp was a baseball.  Intricately laced, tight, filled with strings and cool stuff and was pretty solid.  Itunes is more like a basketball.  It’s bigger, bounces better, but it’s filled with a lot of air.  I guess I’m the anti-michael jordan in this analogy?  Whatever, Apple is refusing to play ball regardless.

Although there are famous people that play World of Warcraft, people that play World of Warcraft do not then become famous.  By famous, I mean known for things outside of World of Warcraft that do not include their raid in Azeroth.

Do you want to go to the Carnegie Museum of Art or Carnegie Museum of Natural History?  Want 2 free tickets from me?  If so, read further.

Here’s how we’ll play this.  Tell me the activity you are most excited to do this year in or around Pittsburgh this year and why.  If you post your reply on facebook, you’ll earn 1 entry.  If you post your reply (which requires registration) through my blog post, you’ll earn 2 entries.  After 1 week, I’ll count all the entries and pick someone at random.  Sound cool?

_{If you’re wondering how I came about the tickets, ask me how my search for used cars in Pittsburgh is going.}

Pardon the political post.

United States of America.  My arse.  I am terrified about the Health Care Reform billed being passed this past Sunday.  I’m not terrified about the unknown long-term impacts or affects, or even the reconciliation package that is outstanding.  What I’m most scared about is that NOT A SINGLE REPUBLICAN voted for it.  There are 178 of them, and not a single one voted, "YES"???  That’s effing scary for quite a few reasons.

1. Can we honestly believe that every single district they represent didn’t want the bill?  Do we really assume that each one was overwhelming enough against it, that not a single representative teetered on voting "yes"?
2. If members of the Republican party are all going to vote the same way, can’t we just get rid of them and their salaries and get 1 person to represent the group?  Making this a Dems vs Reps opposition is not productive.  Get over yourselves and start thinking for yourself  THE PEOPLE YOU REPRESENT.

So they aren’t being true to their responsibility to the American people, they are wasting tax-payer money and time, and they are also creating a schism in the way our government works.  Our government was not set-up to be 2 entities deciding what is best for our country.  THAT’S EFFING WHY WE HAVE SO MANY OF YOU SUITS IN WASHINGTON.  If all they do is echo the sentiments of everyone else in their cute little party, then let’s get some consolidating going and get rid of everyone without a brain of their own and save some money and time listening to them ramble on and on.

Even George Washington said, "The common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.
It serves always to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration. It agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection."

Having agendas based on parties is like having big businesses run the government.  I can’t think of any argument in favor of that happening.  Each representative loses their individuality and becomes part of the group think machine.  They are no longer defending the views and rights of the people who elected them.  

And now we’re talking about creating new political parties???  These things are popping up like fraternities.

Watch this Jesse Ventura interview on Larry King – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yr46X8f4ww

#26 – Never date your sister’s friend.

#27 – Yes, she counts as your sister’s friend.

The Pittsburgh Penguins’ slogan this season is "defy ordinary".  Might not be all that great of a sports team promotion, but this little video they put together is a pretty good ad for Pittsburgh life in general.  CMU, Andy Warhol, South Side Works, Consol Energy Center, and a bunch of other key landmarks are highlighted.