10.09.2024

07.25.2006

Last Comic Standing

Filed under: a group of folks,neat!,useless @ 18:35

Jeff and Ariele inviteg Greg and me to a Last Comic Standing taping this afternoon at the Pasadena Civic Center.

It airs tonight at 9 (8 central).

Apparently you can see me several times during the show, so watch it and admire my too hot visage.

07.20.2006

TMNT — 15:22

3.30.07

07.11.2006

911 and cell phones

Filed under: random @ 18:23

I recently had occasion to call the Pasadena Police Department. Lacking their number, I dialed 911 from my cell phone hoping they would transfer me over without tying up emergency lines.

Instead, I was greeted with the following (potentially misremembered) message.

You have reached 911 emergency services. If this is an emergency, press 1 or say “one” now.

This was repeated in Spanish then English then Spanish before the other end hung up.

I’ve accidentally pocket dialed 911 before (even when the buttons are locked on most non-flip phones, you can still dial 911), and I wonder if this message has been put into use because 911 operators are being inundated with such unintentional calls.

Among the many possibilities, I mention three.

  1. All calls are greeted with this message.
  2. All calls originating from cell phones are greeted with this message.
  3. All calls originating from cell phones that have previously called in false alarms are greeted with this message.

Anyone know the real deal?

At any rate, the problem is an interesting one. How do you filter out unintentional calls that bog down the emergency response system? Either of the last two possibilities above seem reasonable. I’d rule out the first since the number of unintentional emergency calls from land lines must be minuscule. Additionally, I’d suggest recording the call no matter what so that if someone just starts screaming into the phone, the operator won’t miss anything.

Of course, it’d be best if people were aware of this “feature”. If, in order to get help in the event of an emergency, a person needs to dial 9111 (hmmm… war of escalation) when using a cell phone, I’d like some well publicized announcements.

Cancelling Amazon Prime is absurdly easy

Filed under: neat!,tech,useless @ 15:02

Through some random promotion, I was given a trial membership of Amazon‘s Amazon Prime, a service offering free two-day shipping on most items and overnight shipping for only $4 per item. It’s a really ncie service, but I just don’t think I shop enough to warrant the $80 per year fee for the permenant membership.

So I cancelled it, and it was ridiculously easy; no AOL is Amazon [2].

Check out these delightful screen grabs.

Amazon Prime Cancellation Before Amazon Prime Cancellation After

Not even a browser refresh between them; just click the button and, a little javascript fade later, it’s all done.

Nice job, Amazon.

07.06.2006

The Ballad of Lincoln and Chana

Filed under: neat!,slice @ 17:04

Standing at the docks Anacortes
Trying to get to Orcas by sea
The port it is packed
with friends it’s a fact;
Why can’t we get a minute of peace?

Christ, you know it ain’t easy:
too many people to greet.
We should have secretly eloped
Like you in Code Davinci.

Shabbat we had on Friday at dusk
having just settled into our yurt.
We stand in the cold
with friends young and old
The wine made everybody go “yurt!”

Oy, this wouldn’t be easy,
for him who parted the sea.
And Moses he never saw such
long lasting high revelry.

On Saturday we finally had time
to frolic in the sun and relax
We slipped and we slid,
and saw dudes wet and naked.
This Doe Bay policy is sure lax.

Heck, now this is real easy
right here just resting our feet.
Nobody making us think now
(’till Nava wanted to meet).

Mingling at the party on this sunny day
Love Cannon and the Bro having fun
Last night to be free
Ever then to be
a troth built up from chocolate and yum (Think!).

Sunday afternoon we were wed
chuppah over us and the fam.
We stomped on the glass and
made off through the grass and
we finally ran and hid on the lam!

Oh, our life it ain’t easy,
but at least it’s a blast.
This weekend is good fun,
now let’s go see that it lasts.

We dined with our family and friends.
They laughed a good laugh at our expense.
But the beer how it flowed!
The musicians they crowed!
(in their outfits bought that day for two pence)!

They say marriage ain’t easy,
but we’re as pleased as can be.
The way things are going
we’ll ever after happy be.
The way things are going
we’ll ever after happy be.

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