These reports from campus make the monthly wireless payments seem worthwhile.

fred — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 16:04:50 +0000

“Today I was sitting on the uga bus listening to my ipod. Sometimes the bus drivers listen to music played throughout the bus and the guy today was. With my headphones in I could still kind of hear some of this music. And it sounded awful. All I could hear was the singer and it sounded like a wailing dying animal. I figured it was just some awful blues alternative weird shit. Finally it got so bad I had to take my headphones out to figure out what this shit was. It was bob dylan
Sent via BlackBerry by AT&T”

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I have plans for this.

fred — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:17:41 +0000

This first verse could have been written by Steve Martin.

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UPDATE: The Chord Progression that won’t die.

fred — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:14:06 +0000

Yes, I know I’ve promised to stop actively monitoring the unchecked proliferation of the chord progression that won’t die, but I still receive emails in which people express their horror, most recently, the following from the Son Unit. I pass it on because, raising awareness of this trend is the only way to fight the problem. Before your sticklers get in a wad about punctuation and capitalization, he writes on a Blackberry, so I support his decisions to avoid such conventions in the email context.

SUBJECT: wowwwwwww. shit-ton of emcgd

BODY: its getting worse. as if the three in a row at that coldplay concert
we saw wasnt enough. Its everywhere. people are sampling other peoples
emcgd. its an endless cycle of pop that will end the earth. or at
least drive me insane.

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And the gear spoke to me…

fred — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 03:09:24 +0000

It said, “Your next track must have a cowbell.”

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Are you a developer? Spend a worthwhile day about it.

fred — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:17:50 +0000

I’m not,but I know a guy, Cal, who knows such things inside-out and diagonally, and he’s doing a Day Camp for developers who want help on their “soft skills,” growing the career, tech writing, resume tweaking, that kind of thing. Here’s the link. Tell him Fred sent you and that I understand why he’s too busy to help me get my brilliant idea off the ground, the bastard.

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If Jeff Dunham’s Achmed were a Pete Droge Fan.

fred — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:06:46 +0000

The things I do for you people.

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Twitter Weekly Updates for 2010-08-29

fred — Sun, 29 Aug 2010 21:52:00 +0000

I'm still on the DM mail list of a furniture store I haven't set foot in since 1988. #
Every so often, when I'm weary of domestic nutbaggery, I go for a little international crazy, archived by Memri. http://bit.ly/ay1Dbg #
@SmeltzieLA Did you go with immortal teeth? in reply to SmeltzieLA #
@CalEvans That's an excellent role for Thought Leader! Maybe he formed the League of Experts, but then turned eeeevil. in reply to CalEvans #
Sure seems like a lot of feet are washing up on beaches these days. #
Totally missed both bits of political theater today. #
Adding character to new animated series idea,"Guru! Ninja! Rock Star!" New entity is "Thought Leader." He appears only as a head on TV. #
@brian_sack That does seem to make the whole encounter oddly efficient. in reply to brian_sack #
Best Buy is a *wonderland* of very cool stuff I refuse to buy. #
Camille Harp has some nice pipes. http://bit.ly/9n0CSG #
@brooksbayne That kind of outfit can get you kidnapped into a life of landscaping Post Apartments complexes. in reply to brooksbayne #
I think there could be fundamental comedy in AARP's over-50 speed dating event. #
The story of this yard sale: "I've no more need for this small biz office gear, nor these hooker shoes. They put a hole in my floormats. #
@brian_sack It might be time to add more functions to the Paris Hilton game controller. in reply to brian_sack #
I've been trying for a week to penetrate a doctor's group to express my administrative needs. Next week I'm just going with registered mail. #
@GrupGirl OAll this time I never recognized McGinley from "Office Space." in reply to GrupGirl #
Seems that last track came from these guys, http://www.flannerybrothers.com/. If you have kids, these guys have music for them. #
I've lived in Maine. It's possible to go pleasantly insane there, especially in winter. This guy's in Bangor. http://bit.ly/atJtrL #
Pretty sure the woman with the tambo in my blog header was extracted from a wreck with the jaws of life. The body parts don't line up right. #
@adchick22 @adchick22 rejected tagline a: "For the mature woman too busy prowling to worry about konsonants." in reply to adchick22 #
@thedoggiedaily I'm going to add Barney Frank to that list. in reply to thedoggiedaily #
Green chutes! The plain plywood that covered broken windows at nearby guest worker slums was upgraded with pressure treated plywood! #
Legal question: Does this mean we can plant GPS devices on government vehicles? 'Cause I'd biuild an app on that. http://yhoo.it/cmmUud #
Economic anecdote. A guitar that would have brought $600+ two years ago didn't draw one bid at $350 on eBay. #
@jetpacks I think J.J. Cale lived in one of those for a decade or so. in reply to jetpacks #
@GrupGirl Oh, I know. Just nagging you in case the broader view somehow makes it easier. in reply to GrupGirl #
@GrupGirl Stop bragging. in reply to GrupGirl #
@amandacarpenter If my my parents made me a billboard for their politics, as an adult I'd, um, well I'd be very, very slow to return calls! in reply to amandacarpenter #
@jetpacks I'm subscribing to him because of "erm — in a frying pan?" in reply to jetpacks #
@Ronnie6969XXX Damned right on the tub action, and half the time there's a hematoma involved. in reply to Ronnie6969XXX #
@mtlb movie waiting to happen. Loved "'No touching 'now reads 'ouch.'" in reply to mtlb #
;0. I'm using this as my emoticon for "having a minor stroke." #
@zoneviii I made it :55, but now I'm weak, very weak. in reply to zoneviii #
Had not heard the term "Catfood Commission." http://bit.ly/b8WPvu #
@webnews20 Need some help with English? I know some people. #
I imagine political operatives are drooling. http://bit.ly/9QOqIB #
Kind of undignified when you go by "Sir." http://bit.ly/byBf8O #
@LillyLyle That's a nicer term for it, certainly. Thank you, Sweden. in reply to LillyLyle #
@zoneviii Well, I'll stick with "Harvard Pause" for now. . http://bit.ly/9IZsBI in reply to zoneviii #
correction –Lavigne — whatEVER (eyeroll) #
The terror suspect auditioning an Avril Levine song on Canadian Idol takes me back to college surrealism class. http://youtu.be/MHwTja3KBGo #
#ff @czelticgirl @calevans @jetpacks @mtlb @lillylyle @ObliviousBloke @adchick22 @adamsconsulting @zoneviii @brian_sack @lunaticonedge #
@LillyLyle It's more than a pause – when all conversations in a room derail into utter silence at once just coincidentally. in reply to LillyLyle #
Help me out. What's the term for when conversation inexplicably and suddenly dies?–Harvard silence? Yale silence? I know Ivy is involved. #
RT @rebelraising: Anyway. Enough of that. Let's all go and hug a tree, eat some muesli and calm down.| ah, memories of meusli… #
@czelticgirl Good point. Plus they say if you feed a peeing guy in your alley quiche, he'll just keep coming back. in reply to czelticgirl #
@czelticgirl Well now you can offer some to the guy peeing in the alley! in reply to czelticgirl #
@petedroge Keep claiming it no matter what the number because exceptions are always more exciting. in reply to petedroge #
I think the ratio of potential unintented to intended consequences is roughly ∞/1. #
I'm sending all the teachable moments back a grade. #
When I watch the news, this appears on my forehead. http://bit.ly/9WkNHo #
RT @PasteMagazine: Bathroom Brilliance: http://bit.ly/bbvs5d | I want to shake the hand of the bacon commenter. #
I am ambivalent on wire mesh trash cans. Yes, trendy, but I'm not really interested in staring at what I've tossed out. #
Unknown Gillette scribe, I salute you for your instructional shampoo work: "Lather, rinse, and get on with your day." #
Asked Wife Unit how she liked a new song: "Pretty! I like it! Depressing!" Mission accomplished. #
I love the look of this guy. He looks ready-made for "Always Sunny in Philadelphia." http://bit.ly/bwrmQG #
In response to this: http://bit.ly/bLlIZ7 I suggest no more booth babes, just booth dogs. Actual dogs. #
@Marilyn_Res I'm glad Joe Klein landed on his feet, his big clown-shoe feet. in reply to Marilyn_Res #
@adtothebone You could just say that anyway. If you do, please video their reactions. in reply to adtothebone #
RT @HeyHosey: Look for me in the afterlife, sitting next to an empty bus seat, pointing at the stain, mouthing helplessly "It wasn't me." #
Dad Life music video. Ornamental turtles, oh, yeah. http://bit.ly/cnL3Xq #
@jetpacks: Re: Man's scooter stolen during dialysis| The more I know of people, the more I love my dog. #
I think one of the reasons I have no sense of time is that the music I prefer doesn't really age. Also, the 70s. #
If I read this in disbelief for an hour, can I be one of the "lives touched?" http://bit.ly/cNYQSP #
Okay, this is my fave headline of the day. http://bit.ly/bp0UVT #
RT @adchick22: RT @sleepandstore See? It comes apart so moves up tight stairwells! …-no tools!.. http://bit.ly/ca36Tl (that *is* cool) #
Factoids! My fave is the % of people who think random people from phone book could do better than Congress. http://youtu.be/FiACil9SMz0 #
@brian_sack Polite graffiti, missing the obvious one as it did. in reply to brian_sack #
@Slate Their link for the plugin doesn't work for me. in reply to Slate #
A Demhead just said : "We're still bleeding, but we're not hemorrhaging, and that's a big, big difference." http://twitpic.com/2i3dn7 #
@GrupGirl That's too good to be just for writers. I'd like one on foreheads to indicate a response in conversation is still processing. in reply to GrupGirl #
RT @reasonmag: Oh Look, Another CBO Report on the Effects of the Stimulus! http://ow.ly/2uC6a (helpful tips in the comments) #
@GrupGirl Could you write that tweet, I dunno, a little more Tom Bodetty? in reply to GrupGirl #
@BradPassons Sounds hit-tastic in reply to BradPassons #
RT @BradPassons: @ThisIsRobThomas Retweet this I'll give you $5 and 3 full frontal hugs lol it's a free song:) http://bit.ly/cIAgbX #
There's something different in every Activia commercial that irritates me. The new one? Why is that lounging woman squirming and smiling so? #
RT @JanSimpson:" Pls sign Petition regarding Murder of a Defenseless Dog by Williamsburg KY Animal Control http://bit.ly/bYFyBU&quot://#vegan #
@SpaceyG I can never forget what Cheney looks like because my late Aunt Mary looked like him. in reply to SpaceyG #
@SpaceyG It seems that fellow's argument presumes a former president has more influence on the issue than the current one. in reply to SpaceyG #
Apparently wingtips, white socks and plaid shorts are the latest in thiefwear. http://gizmo.do/c2dIhl #
Okay who else in Dekalb County just got your water bill with a 70 percent hike all the sudden? #atl #dekalb @dekalbwater #
@Nick_Nolte Just hang tight. It will be a cool front in a few minutes. in reply to Nick_Nolte #
@zoneviii Good idea! That might carry some weight. Your Klout score is better than mine. in reply to zoneviii #
I see no reason why the bank won't accept my klout score and eBay rating as loan qualifications. #
@teedubya Nice job on that labor of love. in reply to teedubya #
@teedubya Best love song ever written. in reply to teedubya #
I believe I'll dust my broom. If that goes well I might vacuum my ShamWow. http://youtu.be/JSbZBZjIDVI #
News sez Dekalb Co. will today vote to fund (with your $) private development at old GM plant. Call to protest. 404-371-2086. #atl #dekalb #
Very bright people in Massachusetts. So why would they re-elect Barney Frank? http://youtu.be/BC88oox9TBo #
@twishtoo Great idea! Then wouldn't it be nice to have a little button to *hear * tweets if you chose in within tweetdeck or seesmic? in reply to twishtoo #
Behold the brilliance of the Dekalb County Commission. http://bit.ly/cj6CEj #atl #dekalb #slowlearners #
@tank7700 HaH! Well, that saves me the trouble of what I'd planned next. Niiice! in reply to tank7700 #
@CalEvans You have a kid in college who wants to stay in touch? Well done, Evanses! in reply to CalEvans #
I've decided to have all my tweets made in China for economic reasons. Also to secure valuable shelf space at Dollar Tree. #
@GrupGirl Glad we're not alone there. We couldn't follow MI5. because of the accents. Watching it was too much like work. in reply to GrupGirl #
@twishtoo Thanks! Found the reference. http://news.cnet.com/8301-11386_3-10461376-76.html in reply to twishtoo #
This story has it all — if you're only interested in toilets and death. http://bit.ly/b3dVcO #
@GrupGirl Heck yeah. We loved it. So naturally, there was only 1 season. Really good acting, and we could understand the accents. in reply to GrupGirl #
@kelsiesma I agree on Petty. Saw them in Atlanta, finally. I recommend "Runnin' Down a Dream" book and DVD if you haven't yet read and seen. #
I would like to hear every tweet in the actual voice. #
@grupgirl — er, ehm…"Jekyll." #
Sometimes, especially in this news cycle, I'm grateful that my parents raised me fallen-away Unitarian. #
@grupgirl "Hyde" was pure quality. Great actor and good production. I assume that's why it's only one season. Argh #
I wonder which Wilbury came up with "Daycare centers and night schools." Verbless but says volumes. #

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What I didn’t buy today.

fred — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 22:48:56 +0000

As I mentioned in a previous post, not buying things has become a revolutionary act of which I’m proud and committed these days. Every weekend, when my wife uses the vacuum that could drown out A Lear, I leave for non-shopping. Today I went to Best Buy, and as genetically programmed, a person asked if they could help me, so I asked about a digital SLR that would shoot 24 fps “film look” video. He pointed me to an $1800 Nikon, and I managed to carry on more conversation with him on technical matters until he finally asked,” Would you like to take one home today?” And then the laughter I’d been suppressing could be contained no more. That was the last I saw of him, but another salesperson answered my question about the lowly Kodak Zi8, dutifully directing me instead on the costlier Sony Cyber-Shot because it had an optical zoom, which I’d asked about. I didn’t buy that either. So today I didn’t buy somewhere between $300 and $1800 worth of stuff that will be, if not obsolete, less that state-of-the-art in a year. To offset this Summer of Recovery savings event, however, due to an error in communication, the Wife Unit and I managed to double-feed the family Canine Unit. Still, I’m claiming victory as consumer revolutionary this week. The dog is going to be very, very gassy.

fredleo.com: “Small enough to care, big enough to feel cramped in coach.”

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Random music links.

fred — Fri, 27 Aug 2010 01:59:31 +0000

I was going to write something on my fear that we’re losing the cultural glue music has provided, touching on the suspicion that we may no longer enjoy bands that join us for generations. But I have no answers, just questions. And links. Here, have some!

mandatory

System is plum tore up.

95% of downloaded music is unpaid. (or in my case 100% of 1407 downloads untipped. Call me, Guinness.)

On file sharing, from the people who gave us our current president.

The musical industry climate from a working guitar pro.

Good times.

fredleo.com: music for licensing, songs, voiceover, concepting and such.

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Well, this is just fun as hell. Fountains of Wayne Hotline.

fred — Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:43:53 +0000

Lyrics here.

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