This is the first entry to ES.com that I'm posting with the iPod touch so bear with me if I make any mistakes...

Yesterday being April Fools Day, the internet was all atwitter with random-ass pranks. Some of them were lame: MacUser, one of my favorite Apple blogs, chimed in with a dizzying array of occasionally-funny news stories. But the prank I found most amusing came from Woot. On top of it being 2-for-Tuesday, they had a woot-off! Only, everytime an item sold it was replaced by an identical item. Pure hilarity.

The real April fool was on us though because this snow is goddamn ridiculous. On top of that, the wet snow pack is gonna make it almost impossible to reach 55 this weekend like it was supposed to before the snow fell. DAMN IT. Oh well, welcome to Minnesota, guys.

[photo credit: houseofglass' Flickr]

now playing on iPod: Josh Kelley "Small Town Boy"

Labels: internet, local, mac, weather

... or at least that's what the calendar says.

I swear, sometimes spring in Minnesota feels like karmic retribution for the awesome summer and autumn we usually get. Or maybe I've just been spoiled by the past few springs. Every day, when I log on to weather.com, I'm greeted by the same dismal forecast: clouds and a high of 40° with a chance of snow showers. Then, I click on the ten day forecast and see the high bounce between like 35 and 41 for the rest of the week. When does this shit stop? Alls I want is a chance to not have to wear my pea coat everywhere, and maybe break out the flip flops. Doesn't seem like too much to ask.

In site-related news, I am trying to tweak things in the design to allow my recently-created Twitter account to have a place on the page. You know, right below the "about me" box. And another thing: you may have noticed a Google AdSense box on my page. That's not a mistake; I'm seeing if there is money to be made here. I'm also going to be putting in direct links to the iTunes Music Store where I log my currently playing song. So, if you approve of the website and would like to help me out a bit, think about clicking through here before buying stuff from the iTMS.

Thanks, dudes.

Your pal,
Ehren

now playing on iPod: Matt Nathanson "Angel"

Labels: internet, personal, site, weather

We got some winter finally, dudes. Ever since I started seriosuly blogging on ES.com back in 2004, and even before that, I have bitched at length about the pussified winters we have had of late. This year though, even with the snow being late to arrive. the chilly teps set in early enough to get the ground frozen and allow any snow we do get to stick around. You know, like the six or so inches we got this past weekend and the three more due to us today and tonight.

Why am I so gung-ho about winter? I'm glad you asked: I'm driven by the need for a Norman Rockwell Christmas setting and that is something that has been seriously lacking here the past few years, especially with the way it has been secularized. Now, I'm not about to go all Bill O'Reilly war-on-Christmas on you, because that's just nonsense, as well as ignorant. But it is nice to go into a store or a mall now, and see and hear "Merry Christmas" alongside "Happy Holidays" as well as hearing songs about Christ's birth instead of just Santa and commercialism.

One favor, guys: remind me of this post on like four months when I get sick of snow and cold. Kay, thanks.

Labels: christmas, local, personal, weather

now playing on iTunes: Stephen Kellogg 'Predisposition'

Labels: local, personal, weather

Now playing on iTunes: Blackstreet "Take Me There"

I'm so awake it really isn't all that funny. It was beyond hot today and yet somehow someone made the decision that the best mode for the air conditioner was 'off'. 85 degrees Fahrenheit in the hizzle? no prob.

Things on my mind currently:

John Fogerty is vastly over-rated. Seriously, just listen to him. His songs are alright, but after hearing them so many times, they just get OLD. I love CCR, but I can only hear 'Fortunate Son' so many times before I want to similtaneously vomit and plug a bullet in my head.

I still love my iPod. Seriously, how can one little device be so damn cool? I just put a grip of mp3's on it and I think my total is at around 23gb. just too cool. that and it's seriously like being in a tight knit community. when I see someone with the trademark white earbuds or navigating the scroll wheel, a smile and/or nod is sometimes exchanged, and occasionally I've switched iPods for a few seconds to see what the other person is listening to.

I really miss Phil Hartman.

the Followers musical happened on Sunday. and Leigh just happened to be there. I know it's been forever but I still like her a lot, and I just wish there was more time to talk to her yesterday. but there was barely enough time to say hi, give her a hug and just look at her for a little bit. sigh. I really suck sometimes.

Labels: ipod, music, personal, weather

Now playing on the iPod: Train "Meet Virginia"

Hah.. I guess I'm not making this as regular as I would have liked. What has it been now, a week? Anyhoo..

Today I was actually able to go to school without a jacket. Sweet. The other thing on my mind right now is the iminent season opener for the Twins. A lot of negativity has surrounded those cats recently and I for one am extremely optimistic for the 2004 season, what with the new "Soul Patrol" outfield of Stewart, Jones and Hunter, and the solid infield, and spanking-new local boy Joe Mauer behind the dish. The only thing that really gets my panties in a bunch is this whole fiasco with Victory Sports One and the fact that there may only be 27 games available to me to watch. That fucking sucks, my friends. How am I supposed to watch my Twins on TV if nobody will pick the channel up? Thanks a lot, Carl Pohl-ass.

I'm putting up fliers Friday to sell my PC. I'm hoping to get $1500 out of it, which would mostly pay for my Mac. I figured that if it comes to that, where I can't personally migrate files from my PC to my Mac, I can devise an elaborate system of pulleys, smoke and mirrors to make sure I keep all my files. The main thing I'm worried about is losing my MP3's. Oh well, we'll see.

Labels: mac, personal, twins, weather

Ben Folds is accompanying the clicks from my keyboard, but that doesn't help the fact that THERE'S STILL SNOW ON THE GROUND. It got up past 50 desgrees on Sunday. That made me happy because I foolishly thought spring was almost here. Instead, it rained/snowed yesterday, with a sharp decline in temp, and it was about the same today. Cold, dark and dreary. Perfect. Anyhoo, TWC says mid-50's highs will return next week, and I hope the sun comes back too.

On other fronts, John Kerry apparently crushed John Edwards (horrible first names but I'll touch on that another time) in the Super Tuesday caucases that virtually no one goes to. To contrast this predictable outcome, here's a picture of Dennis Kuchinich and Al Sharpton looking baffled:

I don't know why, I just thought it was funny.

I also found out today through third-party fan info that apparently John Mayer is an arrogant bitch when it comes to impromptu meetings with his fans. This made me sad. Mayer is a guy I love listening to and occasionally watching bad shows like Leno and Today in order to catch him live. So I'm secretly holding out hope that this simply isn't true. But knowing the internet and its widespread reputation for airtight factual accuracy, I'm not too optomistic. John or any fans are wlcome to let me know what's up.

well.. that's pretty much what's going through my head. Later.

Labels: internet, personal, weather