daydream. jai.

Over the past two years (especially since iTunes added podcasts) I've been watching/listening to more and more internet/online content. Between iTunes and YouTube, plus all the normal content I enjoy via TV, Tivo, and Netflix, I almost haven't had enough free time to keep up with it all. It's getting to the point where I not only bring my iPod everywhere to listen to audio podcasts, but I also carry around my PSP I've loaded with video podcasts so I can watch those on the go as well. It's almost getting a bit out of hand. Okay, okay, maybe it already has. Anyway, this gives me the perfect topic to cover for another edition of my high five posts.


video podcasts/shows
Tiki Bar TV¹
Cranky Geeks¹
Diggnation¹
Sam Has 7 Friends²
Lonelygirl15²

audio podcasts
TWIT¹
MacBreak Weekly¹
Buzz Out Loud¹
Daily Giz Wiz¹
East Meets West¹

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¹ you can also find these programs on the iTunes Store in the podcast directory.
² you can also follow these programs via YouTube.

[note: If you are thinking of renting/watching the documentary movie, Who Killed The Electric Car?; it's a great movie (it's worth checking out), I won't go into much detail about the movie itself outside the one point I want to comment on, but if are the type to not want anything discussed then this is your fair warning: proceed at your own risk.]

Last week I saw the documentary, Who Killed The Electric Car?, and I was pleasantly surprised by it. I do enjoy watching documentaries now and then for my own enjoyment and I generally find them interesting, but this one I really liked. It also surprisingly got me thinking about hybrid cars and alternative fuel sources for cars. It surprises me to admit, but I think I will seriously consider some kind of hybrid car as my next car.

Anyway, on to the thing that really struck me about fate of the electric car. I can't say I completely agree with many of the conclusions the movie raises about why it failed, and that possibly could be because I generally don't buy into conspiracy theories nor base my convictions after only hearing one side's argument, but one fact really caught my attention, and though they did go into it to illustrate people's love for the car (GM's EV1) I wished they explored it more. It was the fact that you couldn't actually purchase the EV1, GM only ever leased it to consumers who then had no option to renew or purchase the car once the lease ran out. Now maybe I'm too dense to get GM's logic for why they did it that way, but ultimately it would seem to me that GM never intended to produce the car beyond "two trial years", success or not. My thinking is that no matter what the car (porsche, Mercedes, Hummer, take your pick) it wouldn't succeed under such a model. Who wants to make payments on a car that in two years they will have to give back no matter how they felt about it. I know I wouldn't. Then add the fact that you had to apply for one before getting put on a waiting list (GM says it was a mere 50 "serious applicants", the film implies it may have been as high as 5,000 applicants) and it's no wonder the EV1 failed.

By the way for those who have no clue what the EV1 was it actually was only released from 2000 to 2002 in California and Arizona so I guess most people wouldn't have heard of it. I do remember seeing a few on the road back then and thinking it was funny looking, but now I'd totally want one. It's too bad that GM totally destroyed every single one of them except for a few, that are disabled so they could never be driven, that a handful of museums and universities have.

Wow, so it's over a month since I've last posted here. It doesn't feel as though it's been that long, but I guess life does has a way of slipping by when you get busy. Okay, I probably shouldn't imply that I've been anymore more busy than I had been before my absence, but it does feel that way. Maybe it's just that when certain aspects of life take us away from the small things we used to do, it just seems like we are more busy. What I mean is that there is a definitely a difference between being busy doing the things we would do anyway and those we do because we've obligated ourselves to. And even though at times we may actually be more busy doing the former than the latter it's only the latter that really makes us feel busy. Anyway...

The real truth here is that I've spent more time than I'd have wished to writing papers and whatnot for school. It's just that then the last thing you want to do after spending a few hours writing at your computer is spending your "free time" writing at your computer. I've thought about maybe doing those audio post things, but if you think my writing is long winded, then you couldn't begin to imagine me talking. At least in writing, my thoughts can be kept somewhat in check due to my inability to type fast enough to keep up, but with talking no such boundary exists. Yes, I can be a bit of a chatty person, but only to the right audience and thankfully, that audience is further and further between now-a-days. Or maybe it's just that I'm finally outgrowing my need to get every thought I have out in words to anyone who will listen. It's more likely thought that I myself am finally sick of hearing myself talk. Although, if I asked, I doubt the kids I work with would agree. I do sometimes have a habit of turning a simple thought into a wordy speech. God help my kids because I just get that sense I'm gonna be that dad who goes on and on about old stories and life lessons.

I did a couple of these posts when I was participating in the writing project a few months back and I'd like to bring them back again. I'm starting it all off again with music, because music is so important to me and also, if I remember correctly, I had a music related list in my first high five. Anyway, I plan to do a few a month and if anyone has a catagory they'd like me to do I'm all ears.

current favorite songs
"Before He Cheats" Carrie Underwood
"Call Me When You're Sober" Evanescence
"I Don't Feel Like Dancin'" The Scissor Sisters
"Save Room" John Legend
"Suddenly I See" KT Tunstall

recently purchased albums
Evanescence "The Open Door"
Sonya Kitchell "Words Come Back To Me"
Madeleine Peyroux "Half The Perfect World"
The Killers "Sam's Town"
John Mayer "Continuum"

I took the oppurtunity of Monday's holiday to do a little simple cleaning of my room and I have to say it totally feels good to have it so clean. Not that it was all that messy to begin with, but it's funny how a few small things can make a world of difference.

The biggest change was one I thought would be the most beneficial, but so far has frustrated me endlessly. I thought that if I moved my clock from where it had been, over the door, which is behind me from where I sit at my computer as well as where I watch tv from, to a spot above my window, which is basically in front of me, just upward, it would be easier. So far, not so much.

For the past three days now, I've been turning all the way around looking for the clock which is no longer there. It's as if my mind is torturing me, or something, knowing it's not there because it seems I'm checking the time way more than I ever had been. It's killing me. I'm sure I'll get used to it and I'll finally get to realize how much easier it will to see the time now.

Anyway, the odd side effect in all this is that by moving the clock I had to move my cross - basically switching there places. I've always had the cross in my room and I have to say I never thought about it or even really noticed it at all before. But now that it's above my door it almost seems creepy. I've never been one to place much importance in symbols, but now seeing it, especially since I keep expecting to see my clock there, is really freaking me out. It just looks so huge now hanging there. I never really thought about it before (in fact it had been virtually invisible before) and now it's there almost staring back it me.

I'm religious I guess - I cherish the values, I just don't exactly live my life by it - it's just that having that cross now in my mind is odd. The weird thing is that it's the only remotely religious thing in my place and now I feel as if I'm one of those people who has crosses and whatnot everywhere in their home. Thinking about it now, though it was hidden away to me, it had to stick out to others when they walked into my room - my window is straight ahead as you walk in. And even though now it will probably be the opposite others won't notice it as much, it's bugging me that now I'm noticing it so much.

I've talked about Stickam before, but I hadn't exactly "participated" in the site until last night. So yesterday I borrowed a webcam and I went live for the first time last night. Now, I can't say it was as exciting as I guess I had thought it might be.

Before last night, I'd visited the site a few times (I even have a profile and all that set up), but I'd never done anything more than "peek" in on a few people now and then. At first that was kinda fun to see and watch other people for 10, 15 minutes or whatever while I was bored, but I guess the novelty of listening in on other people's conversations loses it's luster quickly. You actually can still chat with the people on cam in a chatroom each person "live" hosts individually, but since I don't know the people I never actually entered anyone's room.

Anyway, as far as me going live I realized a few things I guess I hadn't considered before trying it. First and foremost (I guess sometimes we miss the obvious) I remebered I don't really like chatting in chatrooms. That is essentially what the site is - a bunch of chatrooms hosted by people on webcams. Second, I felt kinda obligated to have to chat with the few people who trickled into my room. Although, I guess a few people were just anonymous "viewers" like I had been before. And even that seemed a bit creepy when I stopped and thought about it. Then I started thinking about what I was even doing allowing people to see me doing nothing in the bedroom of my place. Weird. And last I came to the conclusion that I just can't type fast enough to keep up with people. I should note that if you have a mic you can just talk to people for all to hear, but I guess that's only useful if the person you want to talk to can talk back to you.

The few people I chatted with at first were cool. A few were telling me about what actually goes on in the rooms and what people talk about. Seemed all the usual stuff. They were even telling about the sex stuff that goes on. Typical online cam shows and whatnot I guess. Nothing ever changes. Apparently, there's even an "in" crowd of members. And yes, there's even "that girl" using her Stickam "fame" to pimp her Myspace in search of Paypal donations for a boob job. Classic! Oh and what I most wondered about; they confirmed that some of the poeple I always see live are in fact live for hours on end and spend most their days at their computers on the site chatting. And some of these people I would never have guessed were the "I have no friends so I stay at home all day on my computer" types. Not sure why I figured their was a type for that, but I guess it just goes to show people aren't always as they seem. Although, I will say, as I assumed, their are alot of "troubled" teens that I guess have nothing better to do but waste away time on webcams. And young single moms it appears as well. Funny how that works.

What turned me off real quickly to being live (and I was only live maybe two hours before I stopped) is the realization the sexual stuff happens the both ways. Now, I knew any half decent looking girl on the site probably got tons of requests to show stuff, but I never thought girls would ask the same back of guys on cam. And I think it only took me maybe an hour being live before I started getting "girl" (I quote girl because I can't be sure they all actually were females) after "girl", seven in a ten minute stretch even, asking for sex chat or for me to whip it out. I was honstly shocked and horrified. Of course as soon as I declined and stated I wasn't online for that they would immediately leave. I just couldn't take it after a while. I know I'm decent looking (I've never considered myself "hot" though, even though I did model for a very brief time), but I just wasn't prepared for it. And I was actually warned by the very first person to visit me to chat. I didn't really believe her. I should have listened. Boy was I wrong.

Long story short, I'm just gonna be content just sticking to my blog(s). Maybe, I'm simply getting too old (if your 20s can ever be considered old), but I just can't handle the "fast life" of the internet. My experience being live was almost like going back to the days of the high school world for a few hours. I came across all the sterotypical high school "types" in the span of a few hours. I've pretty much decided that my two hours of "fame" is enough for me. Now I just don't know whether to pity, or admire the people who actually do hangout on the site live on webcams. In the end, I guess it's good I satisfied my curiousities and I'm good knowing a simple "lame" blog is enough online expression for me.

I can't believe I missed that last week was Banned Books Week, and it's 25th anniversity at that. I just love the fact that the ALA (as well as other groups I suppose) maintains such a list. I find it even funnier that there are people that think certain book actually are banned in this country. Seriously, people do... and I know some of them. I just haven't yet figured out whether it's a blessing, or curse, that I know these people.

Okay, I know the list highlights the books that have been banned by different orgainizations around the country, world, and whatnot, and so in a sense, yes books are in fact banned as far the people participating (willing or otherwise) within those organizations are concerned. And yes I realize this potentially can be troubling especially when it comes to what children are allowed, as well as prohibited, from reading based on the beliefs of people who may not have the same beliefs as those charged with these children's upbringing. I get it. Yet, I can't help laugh at the humor of it all.

Sometimes it's hard to tell whether I should be laughing because of the book in question or the reasons the organization is outraged. Maybe they are even the same. My point is I'm laughing at the obsurity of it all. I'm sorry, I just can't, with a straight face anyway, be outraged by the fact that [insert title of your favorite classic here] has been banned by [insert name of righteous organization here]. I guess, as with most things, I take the cynical view that whether you turn left or right, you do or you don't, someone will be outraged, someone will be offended, and without a doubt they'll condemn you for it. Get over it. You can't change people's irrational views (please just take my word on that and let it go) and in most cases you shouldn't even bother trying.

The truth is, if you care enough, you can actually read the book, the fact that the "Big Bad Wolf's School of Blowhards" says you can't is ridiculous. So I'm sorry, I just can't buy into the whole, "we need to do something about this injustice now before all books, ideas are banned," crap. We don't exactly need another special week to point out the irrationalities of society. I think the calender is already far too short to hold all the out of control injustices to begin with. I can't even keep up with what I'm supposed to be outraged by as it is. Every week it's something new. At least I can take comfort in knowing, no matter what it is, it's always something equally obsurd. The world isn't going to stop because Johnny's school won't allow him read "Where the Sidewalk Ends" in class just as it didn't stop when the school forbid Christmas carols from being sung in the Winter Holidays Extravaganza. Trust me, we all have our ridculous battles. Too bad we are all too proudly perched on our high horses to truly look at one another to see that.

The sad thing in all this is that people do run around thinking that books actually are banned in this country. They think the government, police, or whatever have banned books and people will come after you if you read those books. Seriously, I can't make this stuff up. In this day and age you can't throw a rock without hitting somebody, or some group, who has publicly proclaimed an idea so insanely stupid if they didn't have an audience equally as stupid to listen to them they might actually realize how stupid they in fact do sound. Then again, what do I know? I've probably just been too traumatized by reading "James and the Giant Peach" that my mind has been too warped for me to ever acknowledged the damage it's cause me. Oh the outrage.

It took forever, but I finally decided on a profile name and set up my Vox blog. There are no blog entries posted yet, but if you are still curious or whatever it's J-Izzy.

Oh and I keep forgetting to post about the impressions I recieved from my part in the writing project so I'll do that now. In short they were pretty close, but far off at the same time. Unfortunately for me, that sorta presents a bit of an personal conflict. I don't know whether I should be proud I was a mystery (although that wasn't exactly my intention) or worried what people think of me based soley on my blog posts. I probably make a better impression in person.

Anyways, I was thought by a majority (not all though thank God) a single girl, early 20s, most likely living alone in an apartment (as opposed to a dorm or something) in suburbs (some of this stuff is too easy to guess) middle class, white. I wish I had the questioniares my friend had that went along with the guessing part, but then I'd probably babble to much about this. That's the gist of it though. They were actually pretty close considering, aside from thinking I'm a girl anyway.

I guess that's long enough for tonight. I should go and make myself some dinner before it gets too late.

They say you learn something new everyday. Well here's two things I learned today.

There's a school in Norway (I think it's Norway anyway) that has told boys they are not allowed to stand while urinating in the bathroom. Bad aim is to blame, no joke. It should be noted that boys and girls share the same bathrooms at this school. I couldn't even begin to imagine the possibilities here, but somehow I'm thinking that particular problem should be the least of their concerns.

You can actually pay a pilot to join the "mile high club." Yes, that's right, sex on a plane! There's a guy in Georgia who for $300 will take you and your partner up into the friendly skies for an hour in his private jet. You even get to keep the sheets. And before you start thinking, "how perverted can a guy be," apparently 75% of the bookings are reserved by woman.

Of all the crazy diet, zero calorie, caffine free, sugar free, soft drinks out there I've come across the one that may top them all. Celsius. What makes this one different is that it claims to actually burn calories! Yes, I don't know the science behind it, or even if it is possible, but somehow by merely drinking this soda you will end up with less calories in your body than you did before you drank it. Now I'm no genius, but I was always under the impression that consuming food/beverages either added calories or not, it couldn't take them away. That just sounds crazy. The process is called thermogenesis and the claim is that it accelerates your metabolism for three hours after drinking thus reducing the calories in your body to a net negative. That totally sounds like a pitch you'd hear from one of those shady "who knows what it does to your body" health solutions you see on tv at 4 o'clock in the morning in one of those aweful infomercials. Yet, despite FDA evalutions to back up their claims suppossedly it's scientific fact. Okay?

Unfortunately, I don't drink soda and from I can tell they don't even sell this stuff in any stores within hundreds of miles from me so I can't exactly go out and try this stuff to satisfied my curiousies, but I have to admit I am intrigued. Now, I don't see myself drinking this stuff regularly, and I'm totally the opposite of those people running around with vitamin water who jump on every drink fad that comes along, but I would at least like to try Celsius. If nothing else it at least come in a cool bottle.