when the lights go down in the city

Technology at work for me

nobody@vox.com(Krissy) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 13:30:53 -0700

Rudy and Steve logged in for a quick video chat! They made my day.

The biggest thing I miss about being in the office is the camaraderie with my coworkers (and their dogs) so this was a real treat. Camera-derie, if you will. Now I want to buy a webcam!

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Internet Radio At My Fingertips

nobody@vox.com(Krissy) — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 10:08:13 -0700

I just figured out I can customize my Windows Live sidebar thinger on my work laptop. At first I thought, woo great, now I have a clock and the current temperature on my desktop (boring!) But then I browsed through the widgets you can download and discovered this ugly but handy little guy (thanks to Michael for making it):

Windowsvistaplayer

Oh hai, internet radio at my fingertips! You can customize your buttons, which I've done for about half of them so far. This means that I can click around to BAGeL, KEXP, KCRW at will by the click of a button!*

Other than BAGeL, KCRW and KEXP - oh, and I'm about to add SOMA - what are the other wonderful internet radio stations I need to add?

And does the KEXP stream cut out intermittently for the rest of you like it's doing for me?

*I'm sure there are five more elegant options that I don't know about and that Macs handle this much better than a PC, blah blah blah, but I found this option and it made me happy so don't burst my bubble! That said, I'm open to suggestions.

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The Tipping Point: Paramore

nobody@vox.com(Krissy) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 13:58:24 -0700

I started to write about Paramore a few months ago -- I'd just heard them and I could feel a mild yet surprising obsession starting to brew. By now it's in full swing. I love Paramore, yet another fine offering from Fueled By Ramen.

The tipping point for me was watching their half hour live performance on MTV. Here's a low-quality clip that will probably soon be yanked from YouTube for copyright violation:

That's What You Get - Paramore (MTV live)

I was going to write about my excitement over a female-fronted emo band rising to the pinnacle of popularity (she writes, she sings live, she's fully dressed!), but right now I'm just happy to sing along to their record on Rhapsody.

Their music isn't going to change my life or yours, but I know young Hayley Williams' phenomenal vocals and songwriting talent (along with bandmate Josh Farro) will inspire many of her young female fans. And as long as the pop machine in which they're currently percolating doesn't immolate them, I'm looking forward to what they have in store for their next record.

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I Think I Skipped A Step

nobody@vox.com(Krissy) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 10:28:55 -0700

Img1E850252.jpg

Clear evidence I waited too long to make myself a latte this morning. These beans aren't going to grind themselves. Luckily I caught my mistake before I put it on the stove.

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Waiting to see Joanna Newsom

nobody@vox.com(Krissy) — Sat, 27 Oct 2007 17:26:07 -0700

Img527A02A0.jpg

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Joanna Newsom + The Austin Symphony Orchestra

nobody@vox.com(Krissy) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 17:27:34 -0700

I have an extra ticket to see the mesmerizing and magical Miss Newsom with the Austin Symphony Orchestra at Riverbend Centre tomorrow night. If you or someone you know wants it, send me a message.

Joanna Newsom - Clam, Crab, Cockle, Cowrie (Jools Holland)

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Ask Mr. Owl

nobody@vox.com(Krissy) — Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:59:41 -0700

After I've opened about 40+ tabs in Firefox, it gets me wondering...

"Mr. Owl, how many tabs can you open in Firefox before it crashes?"

Also wondering: why don't they make commercials as awesome as this anymore?

Tootsie Pop

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Where The Bloggers Live: Austin?

nobody@vox.com(Krissy) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 13:32:26 -0700

Where The Bloggers Live: Austin?

http://blog.wired.com/business/2007/1...

A report released Wednesday by Scarborough Research reveals that Austin, Texas has the highest percentage of residents who read or write blogs. In Austin, 15% of adults had read or contributed to a blog in the past 30 days, while #2 Portland followed with 14% and tied for third was San Francisco/Oakland/San Jose (an odd clumping, we must say) and Seattle/Tacoma, both with 13%. Other top cities: Honolulu, San Diego, Dallas, Columbus, Nashville, Colorado Springs, and Washington D.C.

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QotD: I Detect A Riot

nobody@vox.com(Krissy) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 17:04:23 -0700

Does Sasha Frere-Jones' latest New Yorker article have you up in arms like it does some other people? Did you have to look up the meaning of the word miscegenation like I did?

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Do Not Want

nobody@vox.com(Krissy) — Mon, 22 Oct 2007 16:20:37 -0700

Do Not Call Me

Thanks to the shrewd bundling tactics of Time Warner Cable, we actually saved money by throwing in a digital phone line to our order for cable and internet. I figured it would be good for the handful of work conference calls I have each week. All three services were hooked up two weeks ago but I just got around to buying a phone yesterday.

I set up the phone last night and already I've had six telemarketers call. SIX! Well, some were human telemarketers and some were just robots. I don't even know my own home phone number, but the robots do.

I want to know -- who are the people who actually talk to the robots and give them the information they seek? Who are you? There are enough of you out there to make it worthwhile for the robots to keep calling. 'Fess up so I can set you straight.

Now I remember why I haven't had a landline for several years. Hopefully my registration this morning on the National Do Not Call list will help. Oh yes and the Texas No Call list. DO NOT CALL. That means you, robots.

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