What's exceptional are the people on this plane that helped each other escape the plane to safety, the pilot doing an incredible job landing the plane in the water, then walking the aisles to make sure everyone made it out safely, no one left behind.

Believe in God or not, it's some sort of miracle they all survived, and the following behavior of those people make me believe in humanity a little bit more than I did yesterday.

In the coming weeks I hope to blog my experience going from Windows XP/Linux usage as my main means of computing to nearly 100% OSX, which so far hasn't been without it's challenges. I got a MacBook Pro (unibody, late 2008), and it's a great machine for sure, but not without its quirks; both hardware-wise and in terms of the OS itself.

MacWorld 2009!

So MacWorld 2009 is officially underway. Having already gotten my new "unibody" MacBook Pro, I'm not looking forward to the computer end of things as much as perhaps some software updates, specifically iLife, and perhaps iWork, which if you judge by Apple's downloads page, will soon be updated.

Number 5 to the right shows a link for iWork '09. However, clicking on it brings you to a page for iWork '08. I guess the web guys updated that link text before they updated the corresponding page!

It will be interesting to see what this update holds for iWork. We'll find out in an hour and 45!

"I am smarter than you"

There seems to be an epidemic of arrogant and pompous behavior on the internet, especially on technology orientated websites. Opinions are touted as fact, and "experience" is worn like a badge or cape, ready to be flashed at a moment's notice to "n00bs" that haven't the slightest idea what they're talking about.

What's really comical about it is the so-called genius has succeeded not in proving his point, but in making him/herself look like an ass, and pretty much discrediting any opinion they have. They very well may be correct; but coming off in an aggressive manner does nothing to extend a sense of credibility to their posting on a forum or blog.

NAMM has come and gone.

The twice yearly North American Music Merchants (or something to that effect) show has come and gone, leaving its wake a multitude of new toys for us musician-types who love to spend money on things other than what they should be spent on.

Nothing groundbreaking, nothing spectacular, yet I still get the same feeling as I do every year despite noting that I already have everything I need/want to make music.

G.A.S.

This isn't an issue with bowels, or something that fuels a vehicle. It's Gear Acquisition Syndrome. It's the effect that new pretty and often shiny ojects have on an otherwise logical and intelligent being.

Must. Have. New. Amplifier. Must. Have. New. Guitar.

But why? You already have both. Why do you need more? Because. No other reason. Just because.

It's different. Or different enough to justify to one's self that money needs to be spent on it.

Ah yes......all musicians love/hate G.A.S.

I'm an IT engineer, so automatically I am an opinionated prick with computers. I've seen a lot of brands, worked with a lot, so therefore I know everything. ;)

Anyway, I try to be careful to recommend people what they really need, not what I need, when someone asks me what computer to buy.

This guy on another forum says he needs a laptop for documents, pictures, videos, internet, e-mail, and occasionally playing Flight Sim.

I recommended a build-to-order T61 Thinkpad off of Lenovo's site, because I just ordered a workstation class T61p for myself for $1548, I figure he can scale that down a bit to something more reasonable for his uses and easily hit his $1300 mark, while getting a fantastic laptop: light, reliable, great service, great performance.

This other assclown proceeds to recommend an Alienware cinderblock (M9750) with SLI and solid state drives. WTF? For internet, docs, and Flight Sim?

Not only is that bad advice, that's just being an asshole.

Happy New Year!

So another year older, another year wiser? Eh, probably not. Well maybe a little. Let's see how many grammatical/spelling errors I make.

Thank God for PABS (Polish Antilock Braking System). This consists of a Polish kid (in this case, me) pounding the brake pedal at about 160 beats per minute in the hopes of not colliding with the person in front, beside, and/or behind me. No accidents yet, even after today's delightful commute, which consisted of driving on freshly frozen sheets of ice/snow.

Perhaps one day IDOT will realize there's life west of Rt. 47 and send a plow or 3.