Asymptomatic

There must be intelligent life down here

Stuck in my Head

When I get tired, weird things get stuck in my head. The soundtrack to Wicked had recently been plaguing me, for example.

Today, I have words stuck in my head. Odd words. I would like to share them with you. Hopefully this release will also free me of them to think of other things. I doubt it, but maybe in sharing others can join my misery.

vip622 Software Update Woes

I guess that Echostar/Dish Network decided to roll out a new version of their software onto my satellite receiver recently. There has been talk of it on the forums, but I’m still wondering just what benefit this software supposed to have to me.

I only noticed that the software update had taken place because the receiver is now completely unable to play back a HD show while it is recording it. As an example, I was recording 24 in HD last night but wasn’t watching it. About 45 minutes into recording the show, I turned on the TV and started to watch. I tried to, anyway.

The Standard

In the Standard Hotel lobby, behind the reception area, there is a large glass enclosure. Inside the enclosure, hanging from the ceiling, is a makeshift claw apparatus. This claw is not unlike the claw you might find in a midway game to pick up stuffed creatures to deposit in a chute as a prize.

Like the midway game, this claw enclosure is filled with stuffed white teddy bears. Also like the midway games, there is a single special prize that everyone attempts to grab, but nobody ever seems to accomplish, leading to much profit for the midway operator.

A Mock Me

After work in the client’s Hollywood office, I took some time to walk down Sunset looking for something to do and/or eat.

What strikes me as an oddity in bars in LA is that there doesn’t seem to be any draft beer. Surely, I haven’t been in many bars here, but of the ones I have been in (and there are a few within walking range of my hotel on Sunset) there isn’t a single tap. It’s all about cocktails.