tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46669860231202663762024-03-06T23:46:16.970-05:00Beat It, NerdSheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-53400186676800126322006-11-13T19:31:00.000-05:002006-11-13T19:36:08.694-05:00Well, I'm BackSweet Jesus, has it really been like 2 weeks since my last post? Good golly Miss Molly! I didn't intend to be away that long, but, you know, things get in the way. Like, ridiculous levels of attention paid to the mid-term elections. Oh, and a lot of time spent reconfiguring my computer so it can use many of the visual bells & whistles of Windows Vista without actually having to buy Windows Vista.<br /><br />And, uh, just kind of sitting around. Some books were involved. And some movies. And some sloth. I'm only human.<br /><br />So, I'm going to ease back into the whole regular posting thing. Oh, and hey, how <span style="font-style: italic;">'bout</span> dem liberals, huh? Good going, guys. Try to not lose it to the conservatives again for at least 12 years, if not longer. Things get real crazy real fast when they have complete control...Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-77308024089600594092006-10-31T19:26:00.000-05:002006-10-31T19:57:57.166-05:00Wayne Huizenga Will Burn In Hell<img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/miami-dolphins.jpg" alt="" border="0" />Happy Halloween, readers. Despite the holiday, I'm in no mood for trick-or-treating -- I'm in the mood to mete out swift vengeance to the man most responsible for the downfall of what was once the world's greatest (American) football team.<br /><br />The team? The Miami Dolphins. You might know them as the only NFL team to <span style="font-style: italic;">ever</span> go undefeated. The man who ruined them? A sleazy scumbag should-be slumlord by the name of H. Wayne Huizenga, a.k.a. the Dolphins' owner. Who shall henceforth be referred to in this column as the Trash Man.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/huizenga.jpg" alt="" border="0" />Why "Trash Man?" Because that's how he got his start: the "waste management" business. And because he's turned the 'Phins into pure garbage since buying them a little over a decade ago. I bring this up because the <span style="font-style: italic;">Miami Herald</span>'s David J. Neal summed up the Dolphins' demise quite nicely in a recent <a href="http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/sports/football/nfl/miami_dolphins/15876720.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">column</span></a>, and reading it renews my urge to punch someone until the Dolphins start winning again. Might as well be the Trash Man. He's old, and will break easily.<br /><br />Regarding the phenomenon discussed in Neal's article, I've seen it at work here in Baltimore. Locals tell me that, due to a combination of Don Shula's B-more connection and the theft of the Colts in the '80s, the 'Phins had a sizeable fan base in this area at one point. Nowadays, though, if you see a Baltimorean wearing aqua-and-coral? They're homeless. Homeless! <span style="font-style: italic;">The humanity!!!</span>Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-66678945472886989272006-10-26T20:57:00.000-04:002006-10-26T21:15:12.187-04:00You Too Can Make Crappy Indie ComicsShelton here, with a hot tip for you that I got from the latest issue of the <span style="font-style: italic;">Stone</span>: <a href="http://www.com-mix.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">www.com-mix.org</span></a>.<br /><br />Long story as short as possible, the site basically works like Colorforms, using art presumably donated by a bushel of indie artists. You select the characters, the background, props, word balloons, etc., then paste them all together into one of six pre-set panel selections. Once done, you save it, and the cartoon is stored on the com-mix website for other visitors to see. Here's some of my handiwork, writing gags for artists Fay Ryu (the dude), Sakura Maku (the lady), and Paul Hoppe (the background); click for a larger version:<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/1600/strip.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/strip.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />The selections are pretty limited, and there's a handful of annoying inconveniences (for example, I wasn't able to get the above example to save on the site with the background intact; am presuming it was a strip memory limitation or something), and outside of doing a screenshot, there's no direct way to save a cartoon to your computer. But, worth a visit if you're into such stuff.<br /><br />No "sa-<span style="font-style: italic;">lute!</span>" for it, though!Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-44717663549750560192006-10-25T22:24:00.000-04:002006-10-25T22:55:24.896-04:00Robert Moore, You're One Crafty Son Of A Bitch<img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/robert_moore.jpg" alt="" border="0" />Guess what? <a href="http://www.usatoday.com/news/offbeat/2006-10-25-boy-vending-spongebob_x.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Another kid</span></a> managed to climb inside a one-armed bandit. I say "another" 'cause, seriously, a report like this seems to surface once a year. Which also makes me wonder if this has been happening as long as one-armed bandits have been around and we're just hearing about it more because of around the clock media coverage that constantly needs more fodder.<br /><br />Either way, too bad Dubya-B didn't have this experience as a kid. Might have taught him an important lesson about having an exit strategy <span style="font-style: italic;">before</span> you go into something. Zing!Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-9062635182612519712006-10-24T23:10:00.000-04:002006-10-25T14:14:01.769-04:00Hopefully The Stupidest Goddamn Marketing Statement You'll Read All DayFrom this <span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">Toronto Star</span> <a href="http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1&c=Article&cid=1161684109353&call_pageid=968332188492&col=968793972154&t=TS_Home" target="_blank"><span style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">article</span></a>, about Taco Bell promising a free taco to every man, woman and child in America (and potentially Canada?) if a home run got hit "into the left-field or centre-field [remember, it's a Canadian article] stands during tonight's World Series Game Three."<br /><br />Here's a Taco Bell spokesperson re: the promotion:<br /><br /><span style="FONT-STYLE: italic"><blockquote>"We can't think of a more fitting way to celebrate America's favourite pastime than by giving fans a chance of winning America's favourite taco," said Bill Pearce, chief marketing officer for Taco Bell Corp.</blockquote></span><br /><br />Really? You can't think of any better way to celebrate baseball? Di-a-<span style="FONT-STYLE: italic">bolical</span>.Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-42581784190445551692006-10-24T19:56:00.000-04:002006-10-24T21:57:27.560-04:00Robert Fiveson Contra DreamWorks y Los Warner Bros.<img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/811-parts-clonus.jpg" alt="" border="0" />Good news from <a href="http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117952416.html?categoryid=13&cs=1&query=island" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Variety</span></a>: a federal judge has ruled that the lawsuit filed by Robert S. Fiveson & the awesomely named Clonus Associates against DreamWorks & Warner Bros. can move forward.<br /><br />Why does this matter? Because Fiveson is the creator of a little-known '79 sci-fi/horror flick called <span style="font-style: italic;">Parts: The Clonus Horror</span>, and claims that DW/WB's <span style="font-style: italic;">The Island</span>, starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson, is a ripoff of his film. After hearing this last year I made it a point to watch both movies, and in my opinion Fiveson has a very good case.<br /><br />Plus, DreamWorks really isn't helping itself with a defense like this:<br /><br /><blockquote style="font-style: italic;">...DreamWorks also has argued plaintiffs were not entitled to any damages because "The Island" wasn't profitable.<br /><br />The judge, however, said the defendants' method of calculating was highly contested by the plaintiffs and that the defendants did not provide supporting documentation when filing a declaration saying "The Island" made zero profit.</blockquote><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/200px-The-island.jpg" alt="" border="0" />In other words, DreamWorks -- implying a place where dreams are made in factory-like conditions -- <span style="font-style: italic;">feels that it's perfectly all right for them to steal other people's ideas so long as they don't make any money off the project</span>. That's a very progressive stance for a media conglomerate to take.<br /><br />Incidentally, unless you have a subscription to Variety.com, you probably won't be able to read the linked article after a day or so. Tough titty for you, eh?Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-28911930280895085862006-10-21T14:36:00.000-04:002006-10-21T19:40:41.607-04:00Farewell To A Champion<img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/vans_maestro.jpg" alt="" border="0" />When it comes to sneakers, I've primarily been a Vans man since my teenaged years, though I did have a Chuck Taylor's phase as well. Still, I always found Vans to be more comfortable, and have worn them exclusively since my early 20s. (<span style="font-weight: bold;">Note</span>: Should the Vans people want to reward me for this taste-making endorsement with free sneakers, I'll gladly accept.)<br /><br />My last pair were perhaps the greatest shoe ever created in the history of footwear: the Vans Maestro (pictured above). But they were two years old, and it was time for some replacements. So, a couple weeks back, I found myself near a local Vans discount outlet and went in. Good news was, they had the Maestros -- and in what I call Confederate Army colors, no less -- but they didn't have 'em in my size. No worries, I thought. I'll find a pair somewhere.<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/vans_emory.jpg" alt="" border="0" />I thought that would be today, when I took a trip to an even-closer, but non-discount outlet Vans store, planning to walk out with a brand-new pair of Maestros. Then came the even worse news: the Maestro line had been discontinued, and I was lucky to have seen any at the discount joint.<br /><br />Long story short, I settled for a pair of Emorys, in what I call Imperial Navy colors. They're no Maestros, but they're close and pretty damn comfortable in their own right. Sa-<span style="font-style: italic;">lute!</span>Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-33061760264546461412006-10-20T19:31:00.000-04:002006-10-20T19:45:01.044-04:00Chimps Are 20 Years Behind Us In Video Game ProwessIf this <a href="http://www.filecabi.net/video/gochimpypac.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">video</span></a> is to believed, chimpanzees have learned to play <span style="font-style: italic;">Ms. Pac-man</span>. Color me unimpressed; I've finished <span style="font-style: italic;">GTA: San Andreas</span> (without cheating), after all.<br /><br />Alright, a chimp playing a video game is pretty cool. Too bad they didn't go with a more obvious choice, though. I'd pay money to watch a chimp play this classic -- double for an ape.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/donkey_kong.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br /></div>Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-51101596393807881862006-10-19T20:33:00.000-04:002006-10-19T21:35:02.048-04:00Quite Possibly The Most Awesome Japanese Characters Ever<img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/angus_young.jpg" alt="" border="0" />First, as a bit of backstory, about six months ago I expanded or wrote every <a href="http://www.wikipedia.org/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Wikipedia</span></a> article about Bon Scott-era AC/DC albums, most of the articles for those albums' songs, and even ones for <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_in_Black" target="_blank"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Back in Black</span></a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ACDC_Lane%2C_Melbourne" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">ACDC Lane</span></a> and more. I also strengthened a few other music articles, but <a style="font-style: italic;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Voltage_%28Australian_album%29" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">High Voltage</span></a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highway_to_Hell_%28album%29" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Highway to Hell</span></a> was my primary focus. A lot of man-hours were involved, but I like the concept of Wikipedia and felt, as a writer/editor, that I had a duty to help them out in whatever small way I could. I'm sappy like that.<br /><br />Back to the present, I still patrol those pages on a fairly regular basis -- you know, make sure no jealous Brian Johnson fans are messing up the place, that sort of thing. And every now and then, I go check out other countries' AC/DC pages, just to see what they've got cooking. Tonight, I hit up Japan's page... which is why I'm now pleased to present six series of Japanese characters you can wear without fear that they say something unflattering. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you -- <span style="font-weight: bold;">AC/DC, THE BON SCOTT VERSION, IN JAPANESE!!!</span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">エーシーディーシー</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:130%;">ボン・スコット<br />アンガス・ヤング<br />マルコム・ヤング<br />クリフ・ウィリアムス<br />フィル・ラッド</span><br /></div><br />Thank you, Tokyo! Goodnight!<img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/bon.jpg" alt="" border="0" />Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-41830712786936631192006-10-18T19:42:00.000-04:002006-10-21T19:42:50.373-04:00Homina HominaIf you're a Scarlett Johansson lover, and you wear a pacemaker, I don't recommend picking up the new <span style="font-style: italic;">Esquire</span>. Or clicking <a href="http://www.wwtdd.com/photo.phtml?post_key=1479&photo_key=968" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>, <a href="http://www.wwtdd.com/photo.phtml?post_key=1479&photo_key=969" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>, <a href="http://www.wwtdd.com/photo.phtml?post_key=1479&photo_key=970" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>, <a href="http://www.wwtdd.com/photo.phtml?post_key=1479&photo_key=971" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>, or <a href="http://www.wwtdd.com/photo.phtml?post_key=1479&photo_key=973" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>, and definitely not <a href="http://www.wwtdd.com/photo.phtml?post_key=1479&photo_key=972" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>. Yowza.<br /><br />Incidentally, I found the Urban Dictionary's <a href="http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=homina" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">entry</span></a> on "homina" to be quite chuckle-worthy, especially sentence two. A-woo-gah a-woo-gah indeed.Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-64139034357829279892006-10-17T22:43:00.000-04:002006-10-17T23:18:34.759-04:00A Relatively Lazy Post About The Rolling StonesI call this a lazy post because I wrote most of it before posting it to this here blog-a-roo. It all started when I did a drive-by past fellow On Time!er <a href="http://farnorthend.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Far North End</span></a>, and found him having an <a href="http://farnorthend.blogspot.com/2006/10/i-need-some-help.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">existential dilemma</span></a> regarding one of my favorite bands, the Rolling Stones. Besides asking for Stones album recommendations, <span style="font-style: italic;">FNE</span>'s question was: why does anyone consider the Stones to be equals to, if not better than, the Beatles? The rest of tonight's post is my reply to that question, spiced up with some stolen pictures. Enjoy!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/stones.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">* * *</span><br /></div><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/mick.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/keith.jpg" alt="" border="0" />For me, the answer to “Beatles or Stones?” will always be “Stones.” Almost exclusively because of the song “Sympathy for the Devil.” But I don’t see the Stones as being more innovative or influential as the Beatles. More talented? I’d call that a draw. Ultimately, I think it’s kind of like, whether a person believes in [INSERT PREFERRED CREATOR NAME HERE] or [INSERT PREFERRED CREATOR-OPPONENT NAME HERE], chances are they still believe that the creator is more powerful and influential than (and may have in fact created) the opponent.<br /><br />I didn't live through the '60s, so I can't speak for the hippies, but that's how I've always viewed their rivalry: the Beatles were yang, and the Stones were yin. People just kind of go with whatever vibe they like the most. And yes, the Beatles were probably a more groundbreaking group than the Stones... but you’d be hard-pressed to prove they were cooler.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">* * *</span><br /></div><br />Two other things I just now thought to add -- first, the Stones gain a lot of props due to the fact the core members have been working together for 40-some-odd years, whereas the Beatles only lasted about a decade.<br /><br />On a more superficial level, the Beatles couldn't boast anyone as awesome as Keith Richards, and the Stones weren't hampered by anyone as toolish as Paul McCartney (though arguments could be made in Mick Jagger's favor on that point). Discuss.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/macca.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br /></div>Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-25544634768672853522006-10-16T19:28:00.000-04:002006-10-20T19:48:13.974-04:00Awesome Album Covers #3Here's the thing: the topic of the long-overdue third installment of Awesome Album Covers was going to come from the Rolling Stones' canon. Then I said to myself, "Self -- the first two AACs came from Dylan and the Pink Floyd, respectively. Go with the Stones tonight, and you'll be labeled a hippie!"<br /><br />"Can't argue with that," I replied. "And as you well know, there are few things I detest more than being labeled!" So with that in mind, myself and I went back to the album cupboard and came up with tonight's decidedly-not-hippie-music Awesome Album Cover selection...<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size:180%;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Iron Maiden's<span style="font-style: italic;"><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;">Somewhere in Time</span>!</span></span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/1600/somewhereintime.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/somewhereintime.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Click for larger version!</span><br /></div><br />I'll be honest: I'm not a real big Iron Maiden fan. I do like a number of their tunes -- at least two off of each of their first seven albums -- but they don't get a lot of five-star ratings on my iPod ("Running Free" being a very notable exception that probably deserves six or more stars). That said, I <span style="font-style: italic;">love</span> their album covers, and tonight's selection is no exception.<br /><br />Like all Iron Maiden cover art, this piece prominently features the band's mascot, Eddie, front and center. More importantly, it marks the culmination* of a series of ever-more-complex cover images from artist Derek Riggs, beginning with the band's eponymous debut in 1980. In fact, this one's so detailed that I decided to post both the front and back images -- an unprecedented move for Awesome Album Covers!<br /><br />If you're familiar with Iron Maiden history you'll see a lot of nods to their previous albums, not to mention a cameo by the band itself. But why waste further words on this awesome illustration when you can viddy it with thine own eyes? Click the above image for a much larger version, and feast on what may very well be the greatest sci-fi-influenced album cover of all time! Bon scottetite!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE</span>: For a MUCH larger version of Riggs' original <span style="font-style: italic;">SiT</span> album art, go <a href="http://derekriggs.ballconsultinggroup.com/Pages/maiden.dir/20.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">here</span></a>. And while you're at it, why not groove on everything <a href="http://www.derekriggs.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">www.derekriggs.com</span></a> has to offer? That dude rules.<br /><br />----------<br />* Yes, I know Iron Maiden put out a bunch more albums after this one, some of which also had interesting album covers, but none that followed came close to matching <span style="font-style: italic;">SiT</span> for its detail and overall coolness. And when they dropped Riggs after 1990's <span style="font-style: italic;">No Prayer for the Dying</span>, the covers weren't even worth looking at anymore. That's not opinion, that's scientific fact.Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-16894661023487122552006-10-15T18:21:00.000-04:002006-10-20T19:58:29.691-04:00Beat It, Nerd 2.0 Is Online And Fully OperationalWhew -- the dust is all but settled, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Beat It, Nerd</span> is officially nuzzled in sweet momma Blogger Beta's warm embrace. Lest she be forgotten, though, here's one last look at the original site (click for a larger image, if you're into staring at dinosaurs):<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/1600/old_BIN.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger2/1160/569700442275423/320/old_BIN.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /></div><br />If you're a current Blogger user, and have the option of switching to Blogger Beta, I highly recommend it. If you're not getting an update invite on your Blogger dashboard, it's still possible to switch your blog -- as seen here, duh -- but it will take a good amount of time. Especially if you have a large blog. That said, here's some of the new features offered by Blogger Beta:<br /><br />* First, my favorite addition: post topics/meta-tags, with the option to post a complete list of your blog's topics in the sidebar (or elsewhere if you want to get real crazy).<br /><br />* Faster blog & post editing with tons more options for each.<br /><br />* HTML-free color, font, layout & blog features editing (though you'll still need to go to the HTML editor for some things).<br /><br />* Better archive layout and options.<br /><br />That's not all, but those are the things that caught my eye. Give it a spin yourself if you wanna know more, or don't. What do I care?Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-81200202116280976672006-10-15T13:17:00.000-04:002006-10-15T14:28:08.216-04:00Moving DaySwank new digs, no? And it's on the even swankier new "Blogger Beta." Only thing is, Blogger didn't deem the original <span style="font-style: italic;">Beat It, Nerd</span> swanky enough to extend an invitation to migrate to Blogger Beta, so I had to take a very long route to get here. Fortunately, and almost by chance, I found out that deleted-blog URLs are now instantly available. So, it was "just" a matter of deleting the original beatitnerd.blogspot.com, starting a Blogger Beta account, relaunching the old URL on the new account, and now the fun part: transferring the old posts, having already saved the HTML for each in Microsoft Word documents. Quite a fun afternoon ahead of me...Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-23956115910562972802006-10-11T19:53:00.000-04:002006-10-15T18:20:13.389-04:00My Tax Dollars Have Allegedly Helped Kill More Than A Half-Million Iraqis, And I Didn't Even Get A Lousy T-ShirtWell. If you're a United States citizen like yours truly, then all you can really do is hope that <a href="http://www.cnn.com/2006/WORLD/meast/10/11/iraq.deaths/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">this report</span></a> isn't true.<br /><br />I mean, fuck. 655,000 dead Iraqis? In a war that was supposed to liberate them, with very limited enemy response during the invasion stage? You'd think a relatively small country like that would be just about empty at this point. Hell, isn't that more than we lost in WWII? And remember, that's not just dead soldiers. It's dead old folks, women, babies and halfwits, the whole kit and caboodle. A hell of a lot of people. Poof. Just like that.<br /><br />Of course, the warhawks will pooh-pooh the whole thing. "This is just one study," they'll harrumph. "Inconclusive. Probably biased. And in the end, they're just numbers. Right?"<br /><br />Well, sure. Whatever gets you through the night, old bean. Personally, I just hope my tax dollars wound up in the pneumatic tube that goes to the Department of Education or some such shit. I wasn't in the market for dead Iraqis, and certainly don't want the government buying any on my behalf.Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-80193461144029935562006-10-07T21:57:00.000-04:002006-10-15T18:18:37.299-04:00Get Motivated<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/1600/Darwinism.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/Darwinism.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />I was going to let the staff of <a href="http://farnorthend.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Far North End</span></a> spread the word about this, seeing as they were the ones who tipped off the <span style="font-style: italic;">Beat It, Nerd</span> offices, but I haven't seen mention of it over there yet so I'm stealing his thunder: Ladies and gentlemen, can I interest you in Despair.com's <a href="http://diy.despair.com/motivator.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Motivational Poster Generator</span></a>!<br /><br />If you're not familiar with Motivational Posters, you probably don't work in an office. Traditionally, they're black-bordered images of some tranquil or interesting scene, with one large word printed beneath the image, and smaller text about said word below that. For example (taken straight from a <a href="http://www.allposters.com/-sp/Perseverance-Cliffhanger-Posters_i113373_.htm" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">real M.P.</span></a>), "Perserverance: What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve." Underneath a picture of a dude hanging off a cliff, no less. In short, they're the 21st century-equivalent of those "Hang In There" cat posters.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/1600/Sedated.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/Sedated.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />In retaliation, Despair.com launched its own line of "<a href="http://despair.com/viewall.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Demotivators</span></a>," a.k.a. the Bizarro Superman version of M.P.s. Now, they've taken it one step further by letting YOU create whatever kind of motivational or demotivational poster you want -- sky's the limit, baby, and it's all free!<br /><br />And yes, the ones that accompany this post are my own creations (click 'em for larger versions). Have fun making your own!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/1600/Meat.0.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/Meat.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-8542996480836381972006-10-06T20:12:00.000-04:002006-10-15T18:40:17.787-04:00Dum Da Da Dum Da Da Dum Dum Da Da Dum Dum Dum Da Da Dum Dum Dum Dum<img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/bsg_galactica_400.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br />So here's the thing: season 3 of <span style="font-style: italic;">Battlestar Galactica</span> premieres tonight, and I'm pretty damn excited. Admiral Adama's really got his work cut out for him, that's for sure -- those Cylons don't fuck around!<br /><br />And yeah, I know the new show doesn't use the original show's theme song, as arguably implied by this post's headline. Too bad. When I think <span style="font-style: italic;">BSG</span>, I think that tune. Sue me if you don't like it.Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-38821798059793850272006-10-05T19:49:00.000-04:002006-10-15T18:15:52.822-04:00Some Album RecommendationsWe've been doing a lot of music downloading lately at <span style="font-style: italic;">Beat It, Nerd</span> -- all legal, of course -- and as with all things in life, some of it was good and some of it sucked. As a result, I have some fresh album recommendations for you. And though I didn't originally mean "fresh" in the old-school rap kind of way, I just now decided that it's <span style="font-style: italic;">exactly</span> what I mean. So here we go:<br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/alicedonut.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br />• <span style="font-weight: bold;">Alice Donut: <span style="font-style: italic;">Bucketfulls of Sickness and Horror in an Otherwise Meaningless Life</span> </span>(1989): The sophomore release from this punk-influenced NYC band known for its noisily harmonic music and love-him-or-hate-him lead singer. Though "known" probably isn't the right word, 'cause they're not a particularly well-known band. Regardless, this album saw the Donut evolve from a novelty song-type band into a bona fide artistic force. If you like Sonic Youth, Pussy Galore, maybe even the Butthole Surfers, you'll probably enjoy this... if you can get past Thomas Antona's voice. I can, but then again I think Johnny Rotten is the greatest rock singer ever. Really. <span style="font-weight: bold;">4 out of 5 thumbs up.</span><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/gogol.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br />• <span style="font-weight: bold;">Gogol Bordello: <span style="font-style: italic;">Gypsy Punks - Underdog World Strike</span></span> (2005): If you're not familiar with Gogol Bordello, they offer a fusion of traditional eastern European music, rock, dance and dub. And their lead singer/mastermind Eugene Hutz sports a ridiculously bushy mustache. That said, this isn't some kind of goofy front on the band's part; it's primarily comprised of eastern European immigrants. If you're looking for something decidedly different, you can't go wrong here. Fun album! <span style="font-weight: bold;">4 out of 5 thumbs up.</span><br /><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/petertosh.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br />• <span style="font-weight: bold;">Peter Tosh: <span style="font-style: italic;">Equal Rights</span></span> (1977): Another sophomore release! I was never really into reggae -- where I come from, it's goddamn hippie music -- but have been playing around with it of late. Some of it, especially the political stuff, ain't bad. And few come more political than Tosh. He's got some crazy sounds going on with the bass and presumably synthesizers here, especially on "Stepping Razor" and his take on "Get Up, Stand Up," which rules all over the Wailers' version. We'll call it even at <span style="font-weight: bold;">4 out of 5 thumbs up.</span><br /><br /><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/kicked.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">• <span style="font-weight: bold;">AC/DC: <span style="font-style: italic;">Kicked in the Teeth Again</span></span> (1977) & <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Rarities VIII</span> (1978): Yes, I saved the best for last. These bootleg releases -- which again, I obtained in a completely legal manner -- document live Bon Scott-era recordings in San Francisco, CA on 9/2/77 and Columbus, OH on 9/10/78, respectively. Both capture what became, for a time, the World's Greatest Rock 'n' Roll Band, before they became that band, rocking hard enough to tear a hole in the space-time continuum. Unfortunately, <span style="font-style: italic;">Kicked</span> suffers from bad sound quality, and <span style="font-style: italic;">Rarities</span> appears to have been pieced together from multiple sources (including radio broadcasts), but that won't stop me from giving both of 'em <span style="font-weight: bold;">5 out of 5 thumbs up!</span><br /></div><br /><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/rarities8.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br />That's it for now. Oh, and a big "Sa-<span style="font-style: italic;">lute!</span>" to the good people at <a href="http://farnorthend.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The Far North End</span></a> for a hot tip about one of these, the identity of which will remain hidden to protect the innocent. Ciao, babies.Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-38790168845594411632006-10-03T21:27:00.000-04:002006-10-15T18:14:23.531-04:00Don't Worry, I'm Not DeadHey, what's up. Been awhile, huh? Yeah, I've been busy. Family was in town, plus I got a new cell phone -- the Sanyo "Katana." I.E., Sprint's version of the ubiquitous "Razr." Only we use all our vowels here in Sprint Country.<br /><br />A new piece of technology, or god forbid a video game, is guaranteed to sap my interest in all other extracurricular activities for at least a week, as was the case this time. If it'd been a grade-A new video game, you might not have heard from me for a month. You've been warned.<br /><br />But anyways, the phone: it's pretty sweet. Should you be in the market for a new phone, and are a Sprint customer, or don't mind switching to Sprint, I strongly recommend the Katana. For one, it has a cool name. It flips open, which is a feature the <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span> fan in me demands of all cell phones. And it's <span style="font-style: italic;">ridiculously</span> slim.* I think it might even be two-dimensional. More importantly, though, conversations sound great on both ends, and it has unbelievably good reception. In fact, I was using it while putting clothes in the dryer in the laundry room of my apartment building's basement, and the call was still clear as a bell!<br /><br />That said, if you're a phone-gadget fiend, this is not the model for you; a web browser and a VGA camera (no video) is all it offers.<br /><br />Still, it's perfect for my needs. Strange thing is, it's not the phone I set out to buy: the one I really wanted was the Samsung A640. Why? It looks just like Spock's coffin from <span style="font-style: italic;">Wrath of Khan</span>! Plus, it has a '70s-style external display that only shows red & blue colors, making it a cell phone that would've been right at home on the Death Star. But, Sprint stopped selling it the day before I went to buy one -- apparently the reception was shit. B-Side wins again!<br /><br />And no, I don't sleep in <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Trek</span> sheets. Or <span style="font-style: italic;">Star Wars</span>. Get a life, man.<br /><br />----------<br />* The downside to this is, Sanyo felt it necessary to print "ultraslim mobile phone" on the phone's exterior. Thank christ they didn't build my car or it would say "small fuel efficient car" across the hood.Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-35194216577990751452006-09-25T19:30:00.000-04:002006-10-15T18:12:06.891-04:00Northerners Are Weird, Hive-LikeHuh. I was tipped off to this by <a href="http://www.janemag.com/yournews/blogs/guest/2006/09/whats_your_movi.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Jane</span></a> via <a href="http://www.gawker.com" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gawker</span></a>: NetFlix has a feature called "<a href="http://www.netflix.com/LocalFavorites" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Local Favorites</span></a>," which lets you see the most popular rentals in your area... or any area in the U.S.! Well, any "area" that's a major city.<br /><br />The thing that struck me about Manhattan's Top 10 is that so many of the movies are New York-centric. I know it's the "greatest city on earth" and all, but one would think one wouldn't mind being transported to other places via cinema every now and again. The same was true to an extent for the other NY boroughs, but Manhattanites really take it to an extreme.<br /><br />So I say to myself, "Self, ain't no way Baltimorons can be this proud of their environs -- that place is the city equivalent of a zombie!" But lo and behold... the Baltimore NetFlix Top 10!:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1. Liberty Heights</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2. The Corner (2-Disc Series)</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3. Avalon</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4. The Wire: Season 2 (5-Disc Series)</span><br />5. L'Auberge Espagnole<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6. A Dirty Shame</span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7. Hairspray</span><br />8. G<br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9. Homicide: Life on the Street: Seasons 1 & 2 (4-Disc Series)</span><br />10. Steve Harvey: Don't Trip, He Ain't Through with Me Yet<br /><br />Gah! 10 movies (or TV shows), and at least seven are directly related to Charm City! By now, I'm panicking -- could it be that anyone who lives in a city is so in love with said city that all they want to watch are movies about the city?!? Feeling woozy, I tested my home state's two biggest cities:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Miami, FL</span><br />1. The Waiting List (Lista de Espera)<br />2. Bitter Sugar (Azúcar amarga)<br />3. Marc Anthony: Concert from Madison Square Garden<br />4. Guantanamera<br />5. For Love or Country<br />6. Strawberry & Chocolate (Fresa y Chocolate)<br />7. Secuestro Express (Kidnap Express)<br />8. The Dark Side of the Heart<br />9. Conversaciones con Mama<br />10. Balseros<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Orlando, FL</span><br />1. Forest of the Dead<br />2. Star Wars: Episode VI: Return of the Jedi: Original Theatrical Version<br />3. Meet the Browns<br />4. Why Did I Get Married?<br />5. Somewhere in Time<br />6. Eurotrip<br />7. Star Wars: Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back: Original Theatrical Version<br />8. Pink Floyd: Pulse (2-Disc Series)<br />9. Three Kings<br />10. HellBent<br /><br />Whoa! Look at all the goddamn variety down there! And not a single flick about the cities they live in! Now those are some reasonable, sane people!<br /><br />God bless Florida. I surely do miss it at times.Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-1135387036069477342006-09-23T22:41:00.000-04:002006-10-15T18:08:27.192-04:00Willie Nelson Has Earned The Right To Smoke The Occasional Bong<img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/willie_nelson.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br />It's surely not easy to be a classic country singer these days. Johnny Cash? Dead. Hank Williams Jr.? Accused of <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0922061willie1.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">choking a woman</span></a> with the improbable name of Holly Hornbeak. And Willie Nelson? Hit with <a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/uslatest/story/0,,-6089551,00.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">four misdemeanor drug citations</span></a> after a "routine"* traffic stop turned up a <a href="http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/0922061willie1.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">beatnik's paradise-worth</span></a> of marijuana and psilocybin mushrooms on his legendary tour bus.<br /><br />Not particularly shocking, considering how open Nelson has always been about his drug use. But it does underscore the utter ridiculousness of making certain all-natural drugs illegal. I'm not a doctor, lawyer or psychologist, so I don't feel qualified to speak on the many medical, legal and social fallacies involved. That said, I know a victim when I see one, and I fail to see one in a case that involves four old people smoking weed and doing 'shrooms on the back of a bus. And if there's no victim, why is it slowing down the courts and infringing on the accused's pursuit of happiness?<br /><br />Besides, if Hank Williams Jr. can get away with choking waitresses, Willie should certainly be allowed to get stoned. He's Willie fucking Nelson!<br /><br />----------<br />* Can a traffic stop involving Willie Nelson's tour bus, or any tour bus, really be considered routine? A Toyota Camry, that's routine. A tour bus, not so much.Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-78616913547955722112006-09-22T20:32:00.000-04:002006-10-15T18:10:11.107-04:00Greetings From The FutureL'chaim. I'm from the year 5767, and I'm telling you it's great here. The air is clean. The water's clean. Even the <span style="font-style: italic;">dirt</span> is clean. Bowling scores are way up. Mini-golf scores are way down. And we have more excellent water slides than any other planet we communicate with.<br /><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/Roshhashana.0.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br />Ha! Just kidding. I'm not from the future; I'm Jewish. Rather, half my family's Jewish, but I was raised Catholic. Long story. Another long story is Rosh Hashanah, which started at sundown tonight, meaning it's now the year 5767 as far as non-goyim are concerned. So, Happy New Year! Unless you're a nazi. We dropped you bastards from our Friends & Family list a long time ago.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">p.s.</span> I must admit that most of my lede was swiped from another source. If you know which one, you are a well-cultured individual. Sa-<span style="font-style: italic;">lute!</span>Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-25791448995059797332006-09-20T21:42:00.000-04:002006-10-25T22:49:36.381-04:00Man, I Really Worked Blue Last NightOh my. I just looked over last night's drunken defense of Bocephus, and it even made me blush. Sure am glad I haven't told Mom about this site.<br /><br />If any regular readers were offended, please accept my most heartfelt apologies. I mean it. You deserve better. You liberal motherfucking decent human beings, you.<br /><br />But hey, speaking of working blue, how about that boxer <a href="http://www.deadspin.com/sports/boxing/boxer-told-to-knock-it-off-with-the-smurf-crap-201996.php" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Smurf</span></a>, huh? Get it? Smurf? Blue? Yeah. Alright, I'm getting out before I fall any further behind. Later.Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-85908700835647262872006-09-19T23:30:00.000-04:002006-10-25T22:49:48.166-04:00Hank Williams Jr. Has Earned The Right To Choke The Occasional Bitch<img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/bocephus.jpg" alt="" border="0" /><br />Alright. I'll be honest with you. I was out drinking tonight. That's right, "into my cups" as they say. An old, old friend -- like, since elementary school-old -- was visiting, and he leaves town tomorrow, so we had a good old-fashioned pub crawl before he hit the road. Don't worry about me though; I told my boss I was coming in an hour late tomorrow before I left work tonight. Plus, he and I are now old men so I was home well before midnight, as you can see by this post.<br /><br />That's right, old men. Or at least, sailing into middle age. It happens. As the wag who runs Superficial.com (or was it WWTDD.com?) recently said: "Hey time, fuck you."<br /><br />But look, that's not the point. Point is, my main man Hank Williams, Jr. is back in the news, this time 'cause the latest bullshit lawsuit against him is <a href="http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=37952" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: bold;">moving forward</span></a>. Unless you live in a cave, you already know the deal: Bocephus is accused of choking some waitress, amongst other indignities he allegedly foisted on her. But you know what? Fuck that waitress. And before you get all, "Hey you misogynistic motherfucker!" on me, let me assure you I'd say the same thing if it was a waiter.<br /><br />Why? What the fuck has that waitress ever brought to the table that can outshine Bocephus' accomplishments, that's why. Huh? Tell me that. Did she write "All My Rowdy Friends Are Coming Over Tonight?" "Country Boy Can Survive?" Is she Hank fucking Williams fucking Jr.? Is she the son of motherfucking Hank Williams? Or is she just some dumb piece of shit who won't be remembered 3 fucking weeks after she's dead?<br /><br />Don't get me wrong. I'm not calling for carte blanche for <span style="font-style: italic;">all</span> celebrities. What I am saying is, there are regular people, there are celebrities (a club that any halfwit can join), and there are <span style="font-style: italic;">icons</span>, and Randall Hank Williams is certainly the latter. And if an icon wants to choke one of us regular people every now and again? Well, fuck. I'd certainly say Hank motherfucking Williams fucking Jr. has earned that motherfucking right. Wouldn't you?<br /><br />Alright, so I'm kidding about most of this post. Not when it comes to my undying loyalty to any member of the Hank Williams family, though. Besides, you should see the look on your face right now, you liberal motherfucking decent human being. Haw haw on you, madame or sir. Haw haw on <span style="font-style: italic;">you</span>.Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4666986023120266376.post-91768635973194137382006-09-16T09:51:00.000-04:002006-10-20T19:47:26.255-04:00New iTunes = HOTWell blow me down! If you're a regular iTunes user like the staff at <span style="font-style: italic;">Beat It, Nerd</span>, then you've probably already downloaded the latest update. If not, I'd recommend you do so immediately.<br /><br />Unlike the last update, there are some big graphical upgrades with this one. For one, you don't have to manually add album art for songs that you don't buy from the iTunes Music Store -- there's a new option that will automatically find art for just about any album under the sun! Plus, there are two new "view" options; instead of just looking at an endless list of tunes, you can: a) view all songs by album, with the album art displayed to the left of each album's track listing, or b) use the new "cover browser," which puts a big window above the song tracks. In the center of this window is the album you're listening to, with the previous and next albums to the left and right, respectively. Kind of like looking at a jukebox! Sweet!<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/1600/album_view.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/album_view.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">iTunes' new "grouped by album" view -- click it for a larger image!</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/1600/jukebox_view.jpg" target="_blank"><img style="cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/8073/3599/320/jukebox_view.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The "jukebox" view -- click this one for a bigger version, too!</span><br /></div><br />And no, Apple didn't pay me for this post. I wish. Those who know where I work know I could use the money.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">UPDATE</span>: Sweet! The iPod-interface features are super-upgraded, too! Bon scottetite!Sheltonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12969814489069229254noreply@blogger.com0