I did something that I used to think I would never do. I bought an iPod. I’ve changed my mind on it at least 3 times in the past couple of days, but I finally placed the order today.

I’ve gotten the idea of getting an mp3 player in my mind several times over the past few years, but I always change my mind. I really don’t need one. All the stuff I can do on an iPod I can do on other devices. I can even do it better on other devices. However, the iPod has a convenience factor and a coolness factor. Although I am rarely in situations where I have to use the iPod, I’m sure I will WANT to use it once I have it.

At one point I thought that I would buy a Zune if I bought any mp3 player. I’m kinda anti-Apple lately. I changed my mine on getting a Zune after a friend of mine got an iPod. I’ve already ripped all of my CDs to my hard drive using iTunes. I still don’t understand why people get so excited over iTunes. It is something awful. I’ll have to get used to it I guess. I’ve also started organizing the mp3s I already had. I can see myself obsessing over this for many hours, but it’ll be great to be able to listen to any of my songs whenever I want.

I’m excited about finally making it into the 21st century in this area. It should be here by the end of the week. I think I’m going to buy some accessories today.

The email address that this is sent to has my first and last name in it. The person that these emails are supposed to be going to has the same first and last name as me, but his middle initial is different than mine. HIS middle initial begins with the same letter as our last name. My theory is that somebody entered the email address incorrectly.

I tried calling OnStar and explaining everything to them, but I couldn’t convince the customer service representative that I wasn’t this person and I don’t own the kind of car mentioned in these reports. Because we have the same first and last name, we had to be the same person, right? People don’t realize how common my name is. Finally, she agreed to take my email address off the account, but a few days later I got another welcome email and diagnostic report. I checked my bank and credit card transactions and I’m not being charged for OnStar, so I won’t worry about it anymore.

What else have I learned from the emails?
• He just purchased more hands-free calling minutes today
• His hands-free calling number is a Florida number (supports the old guy theory)
• He has 86% of his oil life remaining
• He has 1507 miles on his car
• 3 out of his 4 tires have low air pressure, but everything else on the car checks out okay
• He has XM Satellite Radio

I almost wish I had OnStar now.

Update, 09/30/2008
I got another email from OnStar yesterday asking me to complete my online account setup.

Someone from OnStar left a comment here asking me to call her to address this situation. I’m leaving it in moderation so it won’t show up here. She was in a meeting when I called here earlier this morning. I’m still waiting on a return call.

The VR elements of this book reminded me of Snow Crash. I liked this one a lot better, but I still wasn’t blown away. I guess cyberpunk just isn’t my thing. It’s a funny book and good satire. I liked how at the end it was making fun of authors like Tom Clancy and Michael Crichton, whose books I do like to read. Enjoyable book, but I’m ready for something else. Next I’ll be reading Watchmen.

• Headcrash, Bruce Bethke
• Childhood’s End, Arthur C. Clarke
• Timeline, Michael Crichton
• Unshapely Things, Mark Del Franco
• Finding Serenity, Jane Espenson
• Serenity Found, Jane Espenson
• On Bullshit, Harry G. Frankfurt
• On Truth, Harry G. Frankfurt
• The Appeal, John Grisham
• Playing for Pizza, John Grisham
• The Taking, Dean Koontz
• Playing for Keeps, Mur Lafferty
• The Night Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
• The Day Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
• The Twilight Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
• The Final Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
• Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
• His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
• Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik
• Black Powder War, Naomi Novik
• Empire of Ivory, Naomi Novik
• Victory of Eagles, Naomi Novik
• Lyra’s Oxford, Philip Pullman
• Unholy Domain, Dan Ronco
• Elantris, Brandon Sanderson
• Titus Andronicus, William Shakespeare

He gets along well with everybody. He learns quickly and hasn’t been that mischievous yet *knocks on wood*. I wish I could work at home so I could hang out with him all day, but I can’t do that.

There was this one commercial for a lawyer in Tupelo that came on almost every commercial break during the first week or so of the Olympics. It’s so bad that it’s funny and if you see it enough it gets stuck in your head.

It turns out that this commercial ripped off another commercial, which I think is done better.

PfK is about group of people that are part of the Third Wave of superheroes. The Third Wavers have super powers, but their powers are kind of lame. Their powers are so weak that they’re considered useless in crime fighting. The main character is Keepsie Branson. Her power is that anything that she owns can’t be taken away from her. Third Wavers are looked down on by the powerful superheroes.

The Third Wavers get involved in a battle between the heroes and the villains in the city. As the story goes on, they learn that their powers are stronger than they initially realized. I really enjoyed the book. It makes me think that characters like Dazzler might not be so worthless after all. Next, I’m reading Headcrash.

• Headcrash, Bruce Bethke
• Childhood’s End, Arthur C. Clarke
• Timeline, Michael Crichton
• Unshapely Things, Mark Del Franco
• Finding Serenity, Jane Espenson
• Serenity Found, Jane Espenson
• On Bullshit, Harry G. Frankfurt
• On Truth, Harry G. Frankfurt
• The Appeal, John Grisham
• Playing for Pizza, John Grisham
• The Taking, Dean Koontz
• Playing for Keeps, Mur Lafferty
• The Night Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
• The Day Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
• The Twilight Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
• The Final Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
• Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
• His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
• Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik
• Black Powder War, Naomi Novik
• Empire of Ivory, Naomi Novik
• Victory of Eagles, Naomi Novik
• Lyra’s Oxford, Philip Pullman
• Unholy Domain, Dan Ronco
• Elantris, Brandon Sanderson
• Titus Andronicus, William Shakespeare

That’s probably why the one season per book TV show thing wouldn’t work like they’re doing with A Song of Ice and Fire and The Sword of Truth. Speaking of The Sword of Truth, its series starts up in November.

The book is divided into 3 sections and each section could be its own little short story. At the end you’ll see just how the sections are connected. In this world there are supernatural beings called Others. Others are magicians, vampires, etc. There’s a balance between good and evil Others and 2 groups maintain that balance. The Night Watch (good Others) keeps tabs on the forces of evil and The Day Watch (evil Others) keeps tabs on the forces of good. The story focuses on a Night Watch programmer named Anton who has just been thrust into field work. I really like the book except for the last section. I got bored and just wanted it to end. I didn’t like the ending much either, and I can’t remember if its the same ending they used in the movie. I’ve committed myself to reading the second and I hope the story gets better.

I’ve gotten 4 new books in the mail this week. I don’t think I’m going to finish my 2008 list this year.

• Headcrash, Bruce Bethke
• Childhood’s End, Arthur C. Clarke
• Timeline, Michael Crichton
• Unshapely Things, Mark Del Franco
• Finding Serenity, Jane Espenson
• Serenity Found, Jane Espenson
• On Bullshit, Harry G. Frankfurt
• On Truth, Harry G. Frankfurt
• The Appeal, John Grisham
• Playing for Pizza, John Grisham
• The Taking, Dean Koontz
• Playing for Keeps, Mur Lafferty
• The Night Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
• The Day Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
• The Twilight Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
• The Final Watch, Sergei Lukyanenko
• Watchmen, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
• His Majesty’s Dragon, Naomi Novik
• Throne of Jade, Naomi Novik
• Black Powder War, Naomi Novik
• Empire of Ivory, Naomi Novik
• Victory of Eagles, Naomi Novik
• Lyra’s Oxford, Philip Pullman
• Unholy Domain, Dan Ronco
• Elantris, Brandon Sanderson
• Titus Andronicus, William Shakespeare

I moved out of my apartment. Everybody else was leaving and I didn’t want to stay either. Management became bunch of bitches after the cool lady had a baby a left. They pissed me off so many times with all the stuff they didn’t want you doing to their precious apartments. I can understand why, but I need more freedom. A lot of people left and I can’t think all of them graduated. Anyway, the process of moving has kept me busy. For the past couple of weeks it’s seemed like the only thing I’ve done every night was pack, clean, or unpack. I ready to spend my free time having fun again, but there’s still a lot of stuff to do.

I now live kinda of the edge of town in a residential area without a billion apartments around. I have to drive about 5.5 miles to work instead of less than 2 like before. I like it because it gives me time to plan and listen to my new Sirius satellite radio. I’ve been getting up early on weekends lately and I’m starting to like it. Is that another sign of getting older? I might have to start eating breakfast again.

When I first came to Starkville, I didn’t think that I would still be here 11 years later. I do have an idea of where I want to go from here, but that’s something you’ll have to talk to me about in person, over the phone, through IM, etc.

Work has been busy for the most part lately, and that’s how I generally like it. I’m hoping to get involved in more interesting things. I also want to do some traveling for my job, but there doesn’t seem to be a lot of opportunities for that.