Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Medical mystery
I saw a neurologist, to ascertain if I were neurotic, but his test of my reflexes was normal. He speculated the cause was a viral inflammation around my upper spine, near the neck, and that it would probably clear up on its own.
It took a few weeks, but it does at last appear to be improving. First it migrated partially to the right, which was worrisome. My right shoulder blade is still hurting, but everywhere else is far less sensitive than before. Test results from my physical last week indicate nothing out of order, which I guess is a relief. I'm astonished that I continue to have such healthy checkups yet feel so crappy most of the time. I'm a pitta vata and wear out easily.
I was to have an MRI, if my insurance company ever approves it, but I think I'll skip it. I had one four years ago after hitting my head in a fall. It was interesting but still unpleasant. I don't like a medical mystery, but the neurologist said the MRI could only confirm his suspicion, not establish a cause.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Music purchases to dwindle in 2008
Ditto for El Perro del Mar's two albums, the latest of which came out in the spring with DRM, but by June was also miraculously free of it. I think I'll give her albums to anyone who asks. The new one is kind of boring, but free is free. I think her label can afford it, now that I've paid them $6 extra.
This upgrade policy has been worrying me for a while. When the major record labels finally allow their songs to sell DRM-free on iTunes, I'll have to pay hundreds of dollars to rid my library of DRM. Since Apple won't let you pick which ones to upgrade, nor simply remove the DRM from existing files, it makes no sense to me to keep buying tracks with DRM. I'm such an Apple fanboy that the DRM doesn't really keep me from doing anything I want to do with the music, but a ripoff is a ripoff.
And I won't go to Amazon or Rhapsody to buy music, either. If the record labels don't want to sell where I want to buy, then they lose the sale.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
I disabled Flash in Safari
Oh, and the last thing I want on my iPhone is Flash.
Sent by iPhone
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Hometown tragedy / Times have changed
Tragic story. I wouldn’t be surprised to see crystal meth in the killer’s toxicology report. My mother says its use is rampant, though not perhaps to the same extent as marijuana. I was relieved not to recognize any of the names but surprised that so many of them were Hispanic. When I left Henderson, in 1989, there were very few Hispanics in the county. In fact, I’m not even sure I ever met a Latino until college, where I learned to say “Latino” instead of “Hispanic”. ( “Latino” is too vague for my liking but that’s a topic for another day.)
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Picture this
The true revelation of Apple TV is the photo browsing. Photos are far more compelling on a big screen, so much so that I have recropped a substantial portion of my iPhoto albums to the 9x16 ratio. Better still, the Flickr browser is astonishing. I have rediscovered my contacts’ photostreams, and I have a whole new appreciation for the efforts they’ve put into their photos. Those 500-pixel default views just don’t do justice to the photos. My only complaint is that the Flickr browser has no login authentication, as the YouTube browser does, so you can only view public photos.
Now I’m working on the slow and tedious process of ripping DVDs to MPEG4. Since my not-so-old DVD player kicked the bucket, I’ve been missing my AbFab videos.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Big. Easy.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Look out microbrews—or don't
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
Release
Saturday, May 3, 2008
In the morning or not at all
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Stimulated
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Retaining asparagus
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
The most wonderful time of the year
Passover in New York, and out comes the Mitzvah Tank. It's irresistible, unlike that measly Mitzvah Mobile.
Naughty beans
clerk asks if I want them "grounded." Because the beans have been
really bad? Or violated FAA safety regulations? English is crazy.
What's that smell?
Bootie bumps
Monday, April 14, 2008
Another reason I'm glad I left Manhunt
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Oh goodie
this for ages.
Sent from my iPhone
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
Monday, March 31, 2008
Black out
Getting ready for the Black Party is always fun: the shopping for something suitably slutty or "heavy," the grooming, and then the pre-Party parties. Lots of gays come to the city for the weekend, so there's a strange quality in the air. I thought of getting a new outfit, but one gets so hot and sweaty that most of it will end up checked or lost. I went with my old standby, leather chaps, and a mesh jock for easy access. As if.
Everybody I knew there took E, but I thought it would be amusing and helpful to take Viagra, which had come in very handy at my first Black Party. I had little need for it this time, as no one would touch me. I felt too skinny, too fat, too old, and overdressed in those chaps. It was nice to have a ready bulge all morning, but by 6:00, eyes throbbing and fingers swollen, I regretted it.
Further thoughts:
- Why were the creative DJs sequestered in the balcony while the thud-thud zombies got the main stage? I'm so over crystal meth dance music.
- Is there any way we can get a one-night suspension of the blue law prohibiting the sale of alcohol after 4:00 am?
- Did anything sensational happen after 7:30? Because not much did before.
- Did I miss the fabulous outfits? Everyone was either in jeans, jocks, or less. And harnesses of course. Easy on the eyes, but hardly fabulous.
- Must a dark room be pitch black? I prefer to see protuberances before they start poking at me, not that this was an issue.
Anyway, see you next year.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Singing surgeon
Monday, March 24, 2008
Euro trashy
Sunday, March 23, 2008
I got picked up on Friday night
A guy named Spyro performed Patti Smith's "Because the Night," which I thought was a splendid choice (I downloaded it the next day, after my hangover passed). He sang it as Cher might, which is the new trend in karaoke. I thought it was just the shtick of a certain Irish guy here in Astoria, who can perform any song in the key of Cher, but apparently it is a widespread phenomenon.
So I'm enjoying my neighborhood gay bar a lot more again, meaning I get shitfaced more often, and I guess that's a good thing.