The more I watch the X-Files, the more I realize that Chris Carter probably has no prior plan of the who/what/why/how/where of the conspiracy mythology. Nothing seems to fit! There's so many types of aliens and alien/human hybrids and sinister plots. I'd sure love for Chris to explain things a little better... the last time we got a good hint was on the hidden track of the X-Files movie soundtrack.
posted at 11:14 PM

I've got a new picture of me online, and I look very fly. Here's a link to it.
posted at 8:52 PM

[Update: Russ claims that it was not him on the IM transcript. Therefore, I've pulled it.]
posted at 5:20 PM

Apple seems to be out for the holiday weekend, and the iPod just synched again. I wish this fit some sort of pattern, because I'm stumped as to why it will synch one minute and not the next.
posted at 4:51 PM

DAMN IT! I spoke too soon again. It seems that my iPod doesn't like me, and isn't synching yet again. I am now calling Apple myself.
posted at 3:58 PM

I'd love to see the actual propaganda that occurs if or when the Chinese actually make it to the moon.
posted at 12:46 PM

After lots of heartache and misery, my iPod is finally synching reliably again! And Jim, I didn't even have to call Apple. :P (Though I thank you for calling them on my behalf.)

Surprisingly, the problem didn't involve my PowerBook or the iPod unit itself. Inspired by Macintouch, I headed over to the store and bought a spankin-new Belkin FireWire cable. It fixed every problem I've been having! Who would have thought that such chaos could be caused by such a crappy little cable...
posted at 4:56 PM

Happy Turkey Day! Thanksgiving holidays equal Poultry Slam time on This American Life.
posted at 9:50 PM

A couple of days, while I was at school, I had an idea for a long, interesting post. When I got back home, the idea was gone. :( Hopefully, I'll find it again.
posted at 10:49 AM

For the past couple of weeks, I was supposed to be working on my assignment for music theory class -- writing the exposition section of the first movement of a sonata in the 'classical' style. I haven't been, because I haven't had any flashes of inspiration. However, starting yesterday, I've had a lot of inspiration. Most of it comes from the fact that it's due Monday, and the rest of the inspiration comes from my total lack of enthusiasm about the assignment. :)
posted at 10:40 PM

Q: What's the difference between Czerniak and Czernicki?
A: Czerniak (that is, me) has never had sex in a classroom.
posted at 8:05 PM

GOD DAMN IT! My iPod synch problems are back! Didn't Apple test this thing on Pismoes?
posted at 7:58 PM

Truth in advertising. [link via As The Apple Turns]
posted at 7:29 PM

Before I continue with this post, I need to link to the techweblog because they linked to me. Continuing -- I have increased the synch reliability of my iPod by 1) deleting every trace of iTunes 2 and iPod software off of my computer and 2) reinstalling iTunes 2 from the iPod CD. So far, iTunes 2 has seen my iPod each time I've plugged it in since the reinstall, and I'll let you know if that changes.
posted at 7:14 PM

Eeergh! Religion drives me nuts!
posted at 8:46 PM

Mac OS X 10.1.1 is a great update. It makes the boot process quite a bit faster, and everything is once again snappier in the GUI. Unfortunately, it doesn't fix the problem I've been having with my iPod. About 50% of the time, when I plug my iPod into the computer, iTunes doesn't automatically launch and sync the music files. A subsequent launch of iTunes reveals that it can't even see the iPod. Even more troubling is that Apple System Profiler can see the iPod, and the iPod's screen has a big fat FireWire icon indicating a connection. What's going on here?!
posted at 8:33 PM

I saw Shallow Hal tonight because the male lead is from the greatest band on earth. I have three comments about the movie, all positive.

1. This movie is funny. The Farrelly Brothers pull off a script that's humorous without going too far into the realm of gross. Jason Alexander's dirty little secret is hilarious, and probably worth the price of admission.
2. This movie had a fabulous soundtrack. It was scored by the band Ivy (whom I had a passing familiarity with), and they had help from Tom Wolfe with song choices. Each piece of music was perfect in its placement, and all of it was satisfying. I'm buying the soundtrack, if that means anything to you.
3. Usually when you watch a movie's credits, you don't get a feel for who people are since they're just names. But in Shallow Hal (and perhaps other Farrelly Brothers movies, I don't know), they went through the trouble of putting a picture of every single crew member in the credits. It gives you a good feel of the family spirit that must have permeated the production. Another really nice touch was that they listed the name of every single extra in the film. I applaud the creators of the film for giving credit where credit is due.
posted at 12:04 AM

Tonight's Simpson's episode had an interesting blackboard mantra: "Nobody reads these anymore".
posted at 8:45 PM

I never got around to writing the album's worth of songs I told myself I'd write this summer. I have very little internal melody, except for when I hear a piece of music that's already been composed. Then my mind plays it over and over and creates variations on the themes. But I can't come up with original music very well.

This is not good, because I have to write the exposition section of an imaginary first-movement of a sonata in a little more than a week. I'm waiting for some wonderful inspiration to punch me in the head and move my fingers to the right piano keys.
posted at 10:24 PM

I apologize for the lack of posts in the last week. I promise that when I get the chance, I'll post something brilliant that will surely rise to the top of MetaFilter.

Or I may just tell a crude joke.
posted at 1:01 PM

Blah. I hate winter.
posted at 9:22 PM

Ooh! Now my blog shows up on the biggest most recently updated list!
posted at 6:15 PM

Sounds like Apple had a minor fiasco on their hands this morning, when it was discovered that the OS X version of the iTunes 2 installer sometimes wipes out hard drive partitions. I'm glad it wasn't me (but the only reason it didn't happen to me is that I didn't find out iTunes 2 had been released until the OS X installer was pulled from Apple's site).
posted at 6:12 PM

If you've been wondering what that really groovy song was in the Gap commercials with the robots and the well-figured girl, wonder no more! It's called Digital Love by Daft Punk.
posted at 12:26 AM

I bit the bullet an ordered an iPod today. It's just too cool... I had to have one.
posted at 8:34 PM

Sometimes, it's really nice to know that there's someone out there who feels similar feelings.
posted at 11:02 PM