Credit where credit's due

From the credit where credit's due department:

Last week, I bought the Sony Ericsson T610 Phone. I didn't get around to blogging it for a few days, and between then (as I noted) the price had dropped $50. I remembered today that the phone had a 30 day money-back guarantee, so I called up Amazon and said, "I could send this phone back, order another one, and it'd cost me $50 less and be a pain for you, so isn't there a better approach?" It turned out that Amazon does price matching, and about an hour later I got an email saying that they'd credited my card for $50. Yay me!

Moral of the story: keep an eye out in the future for Amazon price drops for merchandise I've just purchased. This might be especially useful when buying computers (hint, hint).

Mac OS X Unwired shipping!

As of today, Amazon has Mac OS X Unwired shipping in 24 hours and available in time for Christmas delivery. You want one under your tree, right?

Bush secrecy

If the sheep are kept in the dark, they can't bleat: The Bush administration has clamped down secrecy to an unprecedented level, classifying more documents in their first two years than the Clinton administration did in its last four years. Included are things like reports on drinking-water quality and auto tire safety. More info in the new issue of US News. The article isn't online yet, but here's the press release, which is pretty damning all by itself.

We gotta get rid of Bush and the GOP Congress next fall. These people don't want to govern; they want to rule.

Greedy Grandparents

I was saying something just like this to Tom the other day: Meet the Greedy Grandparents - Why America's elderly are so spoiled.

T610 update

I finally did end up making a decision about a new cell phone, and I ended up getting the Sony Ericsson T610 Phone. When I bought it last week Amazon was selling them for -$50 after rebates (yes, that's a negative sign; they pay you), but I'm kicking myself now because since then, the price has gone down to -$100. And they're still throwing in a free Jabra FreeSpeak Bluetooth Headset, too.

So far, so good. Here's an O'Reilly Network review of the T610. And yes, it's a camera phone, too; here's the first pic I took with it:

Sean's getting the old phone (yikes!), so we're going on the family plan and we'll all be able to stay in touch with each other while Tom and I are on the road. Yay for free mobile-to-mobile minutes!

Affrus

A product to keep an eye on: Affrus 1.0 from Late Night Software. If they can do for Perl what they did for AppleScript with their Script Debugger, it's gonna be cool.

Massive geekitude

A while back, the lovely and talented Jodie Gastel pointed to a Digital IQ test at MSNBC. I tested out at 183, which apparently makes me a Total Nerd. Big surprise there.

Macworld Expo hotels

We don't actually go out of our way to stay at a different hotel every time we go to Macworld Expo SF, but it sure seems to work out that way. Here's the list of Macworld conference hotels; our pick this year was the Hotel Palomar. Why? Well, once you cross off the Pickwick (we stayed there once before—three stars, my ass), the Palomar is the least expensive place within two blocks of Moscone and it has free DSL.

If you're going to Macworld Expo and want to get together (whether or not you're staying at the Palomar), let us know. Our schedules are booking up fast.

NY Times Link Generator

A reminder to myself, and a heads-up to Tom: in the future, use the New York Times Link Generator. NY Times articles that don't expire!

Wacky holiday tunes

Having trouble getting in the holiday spirit, but you don't want to hear another Muzak version of Silver Bells or you'll scream? Here's your hot tip:

• Launch iTunes
• Under "Source" on the left, click on "Radio"
• Click on the arrow next to "Holiday" to make its options appear
• Click on "Xmas in Frisco—SomaFM's eclectic, irreverent holiday mix"
• Wait; some times it takes a while to come in

I take no responsibility if you feel that it's warped your brain, but they've played some cool stuff yesterday and today.

Later note: Here's SomaFM's site, and here's what they've played recently. We say, check 'em out.

Nice Jewish kids

Salon's got a good article about Judy Dean in Dr. Dean, medicine woman. And it finally answers the question I've been wondering about:

Though Howard Dean was born a Catholic, raised Episcopalian, and became a Congregationalist, he has said that his two children "consider themselves" Jewish and celebrate Jewish holidays.

Dean Endorsements

The rumor mill says that Gore to Endorse Howard Dean tomorrow. That's way earlier than anyone expected Gore to make any endorsements, and if it's true, it seals up Dean's status as the nominee. What's really interesting about the story (to me, at least) is the bit in it where it says that Gore

has agreed to endorse Dean in New York City's Harlem neighborhood on Tuesday

The location is now driving the rumor mill completely insane—what if it was conveniently located to someone's office, so that he could pop over and also endorse while Dean's in the neighborhood? If that happens (and that's a real unlikely if), expect several dropouts from the race later this week.

A real getaway

If you're looking to really get away this holiday season, but just can't afford an expensive trip, how about taking a Virtual Trip to Black Holes and Neutron Stars? You'l find a bunch of short MPEG movies of what close approaches to these objects would be like. It's very weird and cool how light bends around these objects. Via NASA and Paul Music.