The Middle Years (2006-2009)

Well, at least I think it’s been 9 days since I picked up my Macbook. So - to report - the switching experience has been quite easy, and everytime I’ve brought out the computer I’ve inspired gadget envy. I did get my first Mac crash on day #1 (Firefox quit unexpectedly), which horrified my friend at Apple, who promptly blamed the Firefox extensions. But otherwise everything’s been smooth. The Bluetooth integration is great, actually - just being able to send photos to my computer or Hotsyncing my Palm with it

My assistant editor Alice and I used to always eagerly await the Fiver back when I was editing for Let’s Go (hey, you know how hard it was to get football news in the US?) Here’s a snippet from today’s gem (admittedly the humour writes itself):

So it’s Germany-Italy in one semifinal. If it’s England-France in the other, we can all play Axis and Allies.

I have to say, this intersection of the Apple logo and Magritte’s “Son of Man” is a damn fine idea.

Got my Macbook today (and am blogging on it while watching Brazil play Ghana). Have followed Adri’s useful guide to what to do with a new Mac, including downloading Adium for IMing, plus tried out Delicious Library. Very, very lovely. Except for the overheating - if I keep this on my lap too long (as opposed to on a cushion) I might sterilise myself…

Random thought about the new wireless broadband network that’s supposed to cover all of Singapore - beyond the obvious idea of people tapping into the network to check e-mail, I think it would also be (geekily) cool if the always-on network was used by standalone devices. Such as a vending machine that sends e-mails back when it’s out of Coke.

I was impressed by this video of a 3-D Desktop Prototype created by the folks at the Dynamic Graphics Project.

About to be a groomsman at one of my best friends’ weddings today. And, on an unrelated note, have an incredible craving for a doughnut. The Zen philosopher Basho once wrote, ‘A flute with no holes, is not a flute. And a donut with no hole, is a danish’. Funny guy.

The urban economist and the SimCity lover in me loves the fact that the Metroquest computer sim (based on SimCity, natch) is being used to see future consequences of decisions.

Back from my time in the sun (and the rain) at the firing range. Watched Germany-Sweden in the World Cup - nice to see Singaporean representation on the field, even if today it was only in the form of a fourth official (Shamsul Maidin). That Shamsul’s the top-rated ref over at Soccernet is pretty impressive. Certainly he was miles better than Graham “can’t count to two” Poll…

Well, in reservist at least: will be off for my annual jaunt serving the country for the next couple of days, so all will be quiet on the eastern front here.

The weird thing about reading this story about a woman who attacked a dog breeder with the dead puppy she had bought is that without seeing the byline I knew it took place in Missouri. I guess I’d just read too many horror stories about puppy mills there.

Keyring My main souvenir from Bonn was something not very German at all: the Alessi “Girotondo” Key-Ring, by King Kong Design (if we’re going to get fancy-schmancy: King Kong are Stefano Giovanni and Guido Venturini, key ring designed 1996). Only got the boy one - but it looks like it would be cute as part of a his-and-hers thing.

Yesterday, I caught a severe case of gadget lust at seeing the new MacBook - decently priced, decent power, and in any case I’d been looking for a laptop so that I can surf while downstairs. Mmm. (Yes, that smacks of self-justification, but oh well.) So today - man of impulse that I am - I plonked down the money for a MacBook. But 3 weeks’ wait! Groan. I’m not all that good with delayed gratification. I’d been looking forward to trying out Delicious Library.

Last night, over a delicious dinner at Da Paolo (mmm… squid ink pasta), the topic came to what the most traumatic name you could give your kid would be. I put forward a whole host of names from tragedies: Clytemnestra, Ulysses (oh yeah - missed Bloomsday a couple of days back - down with allergies), but my personal favourite was Oedipus. Now that would really screw your kid up.

Book/band mashup titles. I like “The Natalie Merchant of Venice” and “The Sun Also RZA”. On the Chinese gaming business. Actually the entire issue of the Escapist on the subject is good to read.

DJing at the Butter Factory was lots of fun - thanks go out to all of my friends who showed up, and thanks for the compliments. Glad y’all liked it - it was great doing the side room, got to showcase a whole range of everything, really, from Lyn Collins to Diplo to Nelly Furtado covering Gnarls Barkley’s “Crazy” to, of course, that staple of my sets, the Postal Service.

Meanwhile, I was slightly confused a couple of days back by The Great Hatsby AIM bot, but this clears it up.

Why is it when I get up in the morning, I have to spend time putting gel on my hair to achieve the “out of bed” look?

I have been asked to DJ this Wednesday (14 June) at the Butter Factory, #01-03 Riverside 48, 48 Robertson Quay, from 11pm-1am. I’ll be spinning eclectic grooves in the chillout area while the usual bangin’ hip-hop goes on in the main room. It’ll be “eclectic” and not necessarily obscure - just trawling through the more interesting corners of my MP3 collection. Motown, soul, 80s, kitsch covers, house, and whatever floats my boat, actually.