</dying of embarrassment>

My friend Todd is usually up on current technology trends, so I was excited when he sent me an article from my hometown’s very own newspaper, The Free Lance, about a new portable entertainment device! I couldn’t wait to find out more. Apparently it’s a machine called an “iPod”.

It’s a little contraption – about the size of a deck of cards – but it can almost literally put heaven and earth at your finger tips.

Almost in disbelief, I checked and re-checked, but there was no denying it: this article was dated today.

What other gems did this article offer up? It continues:

A podcast is almost like an electronic version of a magazine or radio show that people subscribe to for free. The term is a combination of the Apple MP3 player “iPod” and the word “broadcast.”

So this will be helpful if you ever need to explain what a podcast is to your grandma. To learn more about iPod, find the whole mortifying story here: Becoming Pod People

No Rapport on Report

I was watching an episode of Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report where Stephen interviewed author Norah Vincent and I have one request — can Stephen please stop interrupting his guests? I get the whole pomposity / cult of personality thing he’s doing in toying with the guests, but when his questions are…

“Wh… what did you learn most about men? Anything surprise you?”
“Wh… what did you… what did you learn? What surprised you most of all?”
“What did you expect to find out, what did you expect to find out, and what did you learn in reality?”
“But you did learn things that surprised you?”

That just smacks of poor interview skills. Yes, we heard the question, Stephen. Now let us hear the answer. Except he next undermines his own question by — instead of allowing her to answer — asking Vincent for a ‘man-shake’ (which sounds dirtier here than it did on the show).

So please, let your guests speak. You just might hear a bit of truthiness.

Scourge of 21st Century REVEALED!!

Spotted on the mean streets of Hollywood, or rather the boulevard of Hollywood to be more precise, the city has posted a hefty fine for what is most assuredly the biggest threat facing America, Halloween and, oh, let’s say freedom:

Now I’m no legal expert, but the quotes around “ILLEGAL” imply that the sign is either meant sarcastically, or that this sign employs a loose definition of the word ‘illegal’. A kind of ‘wink, wink’ illegal. According to the wording of the law…

Individuals, businesses and/or vendors possessing or selling Silly String on public or private property in Hollywood will be given the option to voluntarily discard the product or face a maximum $1000 fine and/or six months in jail.

…so apparently it’s ask nicely first, 6 months in jail second.