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Podcasting Deux

posted by Brad at 4/23/2005 03:25:00 PM | permalink | 3 comments

3 Comments:

• also check out http://www.jon-wright.co.uk/podcasting/how_to_podcast.htm

  By  Brad, at 4/23/2005 8:17 PM 

• I'm truly not juding, but I feel like as a certified grown-up, you should quit cheating the system and just pay for your hot spot use. I feel like this is part of being a fully employed, house and car owning adult - you start paying for things you're supposed to. Do you still steal soda from the grocery store by hiding it in the undercarriage? I'd think no?

  By  Laura, at 4/23/2005 10:49 PM 

• In response to Laura's comment on paying for the hot spot---I will have to disagree, especially under the conditions of the before mentioned hotspot. Unlike stealing soda by having it underneath the cart in which a product is take taken from the retailer (at cost to the retailer mind you), the internet connection is already at there---the retailer is not losing anything by users actually using the product (in this case, the internet connection). Furthermore, the said user (Brad) is purchasing other items (coffee) that he would not normally stop at Borders to purchase unless he had the free internet connection. So instead of Borders losing money as one could infer from Laura’s posting, Borders is actually making money by allowing Brad to use their connection (a sunk cost) and gaining from his purchase on coffee, which has a consumer markup anywhere from 70-90%. Moreover, Mr. Johnson is actually giving Borders a new model for doing business, one in which could give them an edge over the competition.
  Jason

  By  Anonymous, at 4/24/2005 2:21 PM 

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Friday, April 22

Mr. A-Z

If you're a Jason Mraz fan, you probably already know that his new album drops on July 26th. I just got an "exclusive" street team e-mail with links to a "Making of Mr. A-Z" video. Not sure if these will work for the general public, but it can't hurt to try.

Windows Media: 100K | 300K | 450K
Real Player: STREAM
Quicktime: 56K | 100K | 300K | 450K

posted by Brad at 4/22/2005 06:18:00 PM | permalink | 1 comments

1 Comments:

• What I always wonder is this:
  
  Is Jason Mraz in anyway connected to the Mraz Center for the Performing Arts at Burnsville High School? And is either one of those connected to the band teacher at my son's junior high?
  
  ????

  By  Unknown, at 4/22/2005 9:36 PM 

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Dawn & Drew

I listened to my first ever podcast this morning on the way to work. What's a podcast you ask? Wikipedia has a decent explanation:

...publishing audio files to a website that allows users to subscribe and receive new files as they are posted. Most podcasts are spoken word...they allow individuals to have a self-published, syndicated radio show...can be thought of as an audio magazine subscription...the internet equivalent of TiVo (for audio).

The Dawn & Drew Show is produced by self-described "married bestest buddies, podcasting from our 1895 farmhouse living room in southeast Wisconsin." The combination of their racy banter and the fact that I'm from SE Sconnie made this seem like a logical first step into the podcasting world.

Show #92 features some amateur jaw harp performances, several anecdotes about bodily fluids in strange places, and discussion of an adult video that a listener sent to their dog Hercules.

Listen at your own risk...

posted by Brad at 4/22/2005 03:19:00 PM | permalink | 3 comments

3 Comments:

• How do you subscribe - what do you need to do to get this to work (in laymen's terms)? Is it easy? Are there other good radio programs available?

  By  Laura, at 4/22/2005 4:26 PM 

• I am also intrigued by this new podcast---especially since everyone who is anyone is currently living in SE Wisc.
  Jason

  By  Anonymous, at 4/22/2005 4:32 PM 

• What I want to know is how to create a podcast.

  By  Unknown, at 4/22/2005 9:37 PM 

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Thursday, April 21

The System is Down

What are the odds that Blogger is "temporarily unavailable due to planned maintenance" at the exact moment I decide to finally blog? It says they should have been done 30 minutes ago, so it must not be going well. I suppose I can't complain too much, since it's a free service and all.

Anyways, I wanted to comment on how much I hate pop-up ads, with
the exception of those awesome Orbitz flash games. The plane, hotel & car-shaped mini golf course had me entertained for a good 15 minutes, but I can't seem to consistently ace the plane hole (#1), so I gave up with 4 as my best score.

Speaking of free services, Google yesterday launched a beta of My Search History, which keeps track of what you're searching for and uses "Automatic Related History Detection" to remind you of related searches you've done in the past. Talk about locking a user in your service, nice work g00g.

Blogger isn't the only site affected by system outages - Homestarrunner.com has been affected two times.

posted by Brad at 4/21/2005 09:58:00 PM | permalink | 0 comments

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Monday, April 18

Not Recommended

Especially avoid taking these together, the side effects are undesirable.

posted by Brad at 4/18/2005 11:59:00 PM | permalink | 1 comments

1 Comments:

• I thought the honeydew melon and green apple flavors really added the viewing of Taxi, but i guess that is just my opinion---you are the wine expert.
  Jason

  By  Anonymous, at 4/19/2005 6:44 PM 

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Free Cone @ Ben & Jerry's Tomorrow

posted by Brad at 4/18/2005 11:23:00 AM | permalink | 0 comments

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Sunday, April 17

Does Pekoe look like an Ewok?

We went for a walk in the park today, and a passer by made a comment that our dog resembles an Ewok...

 

I think he might be right.

posted by Brad at 4/17/2005 11:30:00 PM | permalink | 2 comments

2 Comments:

• he definately has the Ewok gene! And it definately comes from your dad's side of the family! Mom

  By  Anonymous, at 4/18/2005 7:52 AM 

• This is all I have to say.

  By  MICHAEL, at 4/18/2005 8:41 AM 

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startsomethingpc.com

It appears that Microsoft and the Industrial Designers Society of America are up to something. They've got a dramatic video posted to startsomethingpc.com, which promises that

• something is coming
  
• something fun
  
• something you create
  
• something with reward
  
• something with recognition
  
• something with style
  
• something inspired
  

...but not until April 25th. Don't worry about subscribing to the RSS feed, I'll keep my eye on it and report back when "something" is revealed.

posted by Brad at 4/17/2005 03:07:00 AM | permalink | 1 comments

1 Comments:

• Ugh. It's their new 15-month "Start Something" ad campaign.
  
  Waste of time. "Your potential. Our Passion", "Where do you want to go today?" These are horrible taglines.
  
  Why not be bold and choose something original and gramatically incorrect, like "Think Different". No?
  
  Not surprising.

  By  MICHAEL, at 4/20/2005 12:41 PM 

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Saturday, April 16

It's 9 PM

Even with daylight savings time helping out, it's dark out there. Yet, our neighbor to the north just started operating a weed whacker in his back yard? What?

Anyways, Susan is out "buying things she doesn't need with money she doesn't have" (her own words, although out of context here), so I've had to entertain myself today. I polished off Bringing Down the House, which was a pretty interesting read about card counting MIT students (thanks Alicia).

Most of the day, however, was spent hanging drywall in the garage. I'm going to pretend that I know how to tape the seams tomorrow, so hopefully I'll have a before & after picture that just might blow you away.

Pekoe got a haircut today, so now I'm the lone shaggy male of the house...

posted by Brad at 4/16/2005 10:55:00 PM | permalink | 0 comments

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Friday, April 15

DaGoogle

Heather knows I love artsy Google so much, she called me the instant she saw it...

posted by Brad at 4/15/2005 11:04:00 AM | permalink | 1 comments

1 Comments:

• I love that you love artsy google. It's been on my desktop all morning! The real ? is...who's birthday is it today! Mom

  By  Anonymous, at 4/15/2005 11:49 AM 

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Thursday, April 14

Tax Shenanigans

Over 55 million people have e-filed their 2004 IRS returns as of last Friday, but only 7% have taken advantage of the IRS' Free File Program (which has no restrictions). At roughly $40 per e-filed return, that's over $2 billion in unnecessary fees paid to the likes of Intuit (TurboTax) and H&R Block.

Why are people throwing their money away?

posted by Brad at 4/14/2005 06:07:00 PM | permalink | 0 comments

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Tuesday, April 12

98 Phillips Vineyards Lodi Syrah

Our libation of choice this evening to accompany salmon persillade, sauteed mushrooms & horseradish mashed potatoes. Definitely showing it's age with sediment on bottle neck - I was steered away from buying more of this wine on a recent trip to Michael David (formerly Phillips) Vineyards, since it is apparently "past it's prime."

All I know is that if Susan likes it, then we've got a winner. Very soft, with muted cherry and tar flavors.

posted by Brad at 4/12/2005 11:16:00 PM | permalink | 2 comments

2 Comments:

• Mmmmm... tar. I know that's what I look for in a wine

  By  Anonymous, at 4/13/2005 8:16 AM 

• Kudos to the individual who posted the smart ass remark about the tar—I just wish I would have read the blog earlier to make previously stated comment.
  Jason

  By  Anonymous, at 4/14/2005 3:14 PM 

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Tree

Squaw Valley, Olympic High run

posted by Brad at 4/12/2005 11:08:00 PM | permalink | 0 comments

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Monday, April 11

Mild Heart Attack

I think I just suffered a mild heart attack, when I looked at my work calendar in Outlook to discover that EVERYTHING WAS GONE! I was especially concerned because of a new policy at work where old Outlook e-mail, tasks & apppointments are "cleaned up" (aka deleted) automagically.

As it turns out, Susan had changed the system date last night while trying to figure out what day we officially became California residents. All is well now, but it's kind of scary how much I rely on something that can disappear so easily.

posted by Brad at 4/11/2005 11:01:00 AM | permalink | 2 comments

2 Comments:

• Isn't that funny how we depend so much on computers for communication, organizing our lives and for entertainment?! I have a planner sitting on my desk but it might as well be a paperweight for as much as I use it.
  Rebecca

  By  Anonymous, at 4/11/2005 12:25 PM 

• Speaking of mild heart attacks, my roommate and I ordered MLB extra innings to allow us to watch multiple baseball games/day...much more than one could physically watch w/o multiple TVs. For whatever reason, the twins game against the sox (that was listed) was blocked. I consider myself an avid twins fan and a big fan of MLB in general. My roommate on the other had is crazy about baseball. He took openning day off so he could watch all the games and is in general a huge fan. I thought said roommate was going to punch a hole in my TV when he saw the game was blocked. This occured only after he stated every profanity I have ever heard and I am pretty sure he made some up as well.
  Jason

  By  Anonymous, at 4/11/2005 9:38 PM 

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Owie

A significant percentage of my face is wind/sun burned from skiing at Squaw Valley today - should make for interesting explanations at work in the morning. I shouldn't complain too much though, since conditions were 1000x better than the first time we were there - and the lift ticket was free due to our previous hijinx.

That was about the highlight of the weekend - Susan was nice enough to come along despite the fact that her torn ACL will keep her off the slopes for (at least) the rest of calendar 2005. Thanks to our 4th goaround with a free T-Mobile hotspot trial, she was able to slay her taxes while sipping a latte in "a cute area."

Seems like everywhere we go (except Stockton) has "a cute area" according to Susan...

posted by Brad at 4/11/2005 01:15:00 AM | permalink | 0 comments

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Friday, April 8

Taxes Taxes Taxes

True to my propensity to procrastinate, I'm just starting to do my taxes this week. I've been rather quick to plug in a couple W-2 forms on some website and pray for a refund in years past, but being audited made me want to try and understand taxes in general a bit better - not to mention that relocating and buying a house have thrown in the whole "itemized deductions" thing. Throw in the fact that I'm somewhat anal and the upshot is that I've condemned myself to hours of printing & reading huge PDF files from various .gov websites.

Cry me a river, right?

posted by Brad at 4/08/2005 01:27:00 AM | permalink | 1 comments

1 Comments:

• Brad,
  
  I would suggest leaving up filing your taxes to an accountant...why spend the time or money to read all that boring tax info when for $100 you could get it done for you?
  
  Just my suggestion...take it for what it is worth

  By  Anonymous, at 4/08/2005 5:02 PM 

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Wednesday, April 6

Infidel!

My linkblog is back up on the right over there - still not sure why it disappeared though... Speaking of links, this LA Times article is interesting - I can't believe that 19% of wine sold in the US is blush?!?

Highly random story - an unfamiliar screenname popped up on my AOL Instant Messenger a long time ago (at least 18 months) and made some random comment, but was offline before I could reply to see who the heck it was. Fast forward to present day, and that same screenname pops up...

RANDOM Hi honey, how has your day gone?
bradleypjohnson who is this?
RANDOM Amy
RANDOM This is Brad right?
bradleypjohnson yes
RANDOM Well, hi. Why did you ask who i was you dork
bradleypjohnson because i'm confused
bradleypjohnson amy who
RANDOM Confused?
RANDOM WHAT?
RANDOM You know who I am, don't you?
bradleypjohnson i don't think so
RANDOM Is this really Brad or are you screwing around
bradleypjohnson this is really brad, but i can't think of someone i know [with that name]
RANDOM Then why are you on my buddy list
bradleypjohnson i'm not sure
bradleypjohnson how do i know you?
RANDOM Have you ever talked to this screename?
bradleypjohnson i think i tried to once before
RANDOM Why?
bradleypjohnson but i don't remember adding it to my buddy list
bradleypjohnson i can't remember
bradleypjohnson it's been on my list for a long time
RANDOM How did you get it?
bradleypjohnson i don't know
RANDOM Sir, I have to go, do not contact this screename again because I need to speak to you and my mother can't know I have talked to you. I will contct you in a halfhour from [another screenname]. OKAY???
bradleypjohnson okay
bradleypjohnson i guess
RANDOM This is [RANDOM's] son and it is very crucial I speak to you and vital my mother does not find out
bradleypjohnson that's fine
RANDOM You will understand later, I PROMISE!!!
bradleypjohnson great thanks
RANDOM Thankyou, goodbye
RANDOM signed off

Weird enough yet? 30 minutes later...

CONCERNEDSON My mother is married to my father and in the last year, we found ou that my mother was having an affair. Once it was "over", she had told my dad the name of the man. She said his name was Bradley Peter Johnson. What is your middle name?
bradleypjohnson peter
CONCERNEDSON What are the odds that you were on my mom's buddy list and she just happened to use "your" name as her lover? That is why I said, "Hi honey. How has your day gone"?
bradleypjohnson i'd say pretty remote odds
CONCERNEDSON I was hoping to collect some personal info from "you" to carry on to my dad
bradleypjohnson you've got to be kidding me
CONCERNEDSON Are you sure that you do not remember ever talking to [RANDOM] or putting her on your buddy list?
bradleypjohnson i'd say about 99% sure that i did not add [RANDOM] to my buddy list
bradleypjohnson i've been wondering who that is for a long time
CONCERNEDSON Because if not, this is a really weird situation. If she didn't get the name from seeing yor email, than she guessed and just happened to then get you on her buddy list!!!!!!
bradleypjohnson here's my guess - your mom met this "bradley peter johnson" on AIM, and maybe had to reinstall or re-add him to her buddy list
bradleypjohnson and she guessed that his screenname was bradleypjohnson
CONCERNEDSON The odds of something like this happening are like one in a million, honestly
bradleypjohnson probably made some random comment to me a long time ago, and that's why i've been wondering who the heck johnstun9 is
bradleypjohnson i don't think that is totally unbelieveble
CONCERNEDSON But we found out "his" name before you were on her buddy list. I had checked her email for my dad just a couple days after the discovery
bradleypjohnson when was "the discovery"
CONCERNEDSON About Feb. of 2004
CONCERNEDSON no no no
CONCERNEDSON before then because we had CHRISTmas seperately because of it. My parents were sperated then
CONCERNEDSON Id guess Oct. 2003
bradleypjohnson i'd believe that, like i said it has been awhile that i have been wondering this

I have no reason to belive this isn't a true story, but at least now I know who the heck that person is on my buddy list!

posted by Brad at 4/06/2005 06:04:00 PM | permalink | 1 comments

1 Comments:

• That is some funny stuff. Thanks for the blog and breaking up my most boring night of writing papers.
  Jason
  p.s. I overheard an Indian man say the other day "my pants were open and my mouth was bleeding." What does that mean? Oddly enough I seem to have heard that before...

  By  Anonymous, at 4/06/2005 8:40 PM 

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Syndication Overload

I need to unsubscribe from some RSS feeds - I seriously can't get my head out of the aggregator long enough to write in my own blog! Since I read a lot of blogs in related categories (wine, technology, GTD), there are often multiple posts on the same/similar topic. Can someone please invent some technology that is smart enough to eliminate those duplicates for me? That would be great.

I'm watching the 2004 US Poker Championship when I should be heading to bed - why do I enjoy watching poker on TV so much? I must think I'm learning something. Or something.

The Twins are undefeated won last night - no surprise since the best pitcher in baseball was on the mound (not that he exactly dominated today). I sure hope Gopher Hockey can follow in their footsteps this weekend....

posted by Brad at 4/06/2005 01:10:00 AM | permalink | 2 comments

2 Comments:

• If by undefeated you mean 1 win - 1 loss then yes, they are undefeated. And Go Gophers!

  By  Anonymous, at 4/06/2005 7:48 AM 

• I find myself watching way to much poker on TV as well. When you think about it, it is probably one of the most boring things you can do. You are sitting on your couch watching other guys play cards. Not only that, but a card game in which roughly 70% or more of the player fold their hands and simply watch the other players. Damn poker on TV
  Jason

  By  Anonymous, at 4/06/2005 8:34 PM 

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Tuesday, April 5

Battle of the Box

If this is true, what are we going to do with our new wine fridge?!?

posted by Brad at 4/05/2005 12:16:00 PM | permalink | 0 comments

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SNL Weekend Update

...and we're back. Not that I actually went anywhere, since the plans to use that Squaw Valley voucher were dashed late last week. Hopefully this weekend will work out, except I should probably get those pesky taxes done soon.

Susan partied hard with coworkers on Friday night - I sat home and wept about not having any work friends. At least I learned a lot about Schedule A & D deductions though. Except, isn't A & D the ointment my mom used on diaper rash?

I played 8 excruciating hours of poker on Saturday night, highlighted by the fact that I didn't actually lose any money. Note that this is quite an accomplishment, considering that I was playing against Miss "I've never played before but have ridiculous cards every single hand."

Sunday was landscaping day - we moved 11 or so plants in the backyard and planted some sweet purple flowers in the front. It's really awesome that our garden doubles as a litter box for the neighborhood cats...


Violent, but good.

posted by Brad at 4/05/2005 12:57:00 AM | permalink | 0 comments

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Friday, April 1

Introducing Brad.com

As many of you know, I'm somewhat of a computer/internet enthusiast. I was trolling around WHOIS records the other day, and boy was I surprised to see that brad.com was available!!!

I registered it immediately, and only then started to think about what I would do with the new domain. Since my dad has some unused server space at discountasp.net, I decided to create a free web hosting service to encourage others to publish their own websites.

Many of you (including Bob himself) might not realize that bobinsurance.com is actually hosting several websites already...

• bradleypjohnson.com
  
• bellissimafoto.com
  
• bellecitybrassworks.com
  

Brad.com will occupy the rest of the server, and hopefully we will see lots of little websites popping up soon!

posted by Brad at 4/01/2005 03:17:00 PM | permalink | 1 comments

1 Comments:

• April Fools!!! I was was like "Holy Cow, Brad has hot lady ads on his website!" And then I was like "Holy Cow, this isn't really Brad's website!" Holy Cow, it appears I also registered my own website and...I like Great Dane's?

  By  Anonymous, at 4/01/2005 3:47 PM 

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No Joke

I rolled up some Sushi for dinner last night, and managed to cut myself for the 3rd consecutive time. The first couple happened when the knife slipped as I tried to "stab" the core out of an avocado - you'd think I would have learned after the first time, but apparently not.

Most recently, I sawed into my left index finger while making the final slice of the evening. This one is a real pain in the, uh, finger - since I spend a shameful amount of time using a computer keyboard every day...


Did I do a good job wiping the blood off?

posted by Brad at 4/01/2005 01:39:00 AM | permalink | 0 comments

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