Corey Gouker's Machine Inside the Mind

So this is one I don't think I'll ever understand. I've got a WaMu Online Savings account, and somehow they're providing 3.93% interest / 4% APY. How is this possible when they basically went under and got bought out. 4% is one of the best rates around. Meanwhile looking at my 401K is rather depressing, since January 28th, it's -23.4%. I know it's stupid to look at it short term but it's just lame to think I would've been better off putting my money in a failed bank than putting it into a well diversified 401K (not counting the tax stuff of course). Either way, I don't think I'll ever get over the way credit and savings works. Seems like a complete sham when we can be charged 10% or more in interest yet we're lucky to even be getting 4% on the money the banks hold for us. Sure banks are a bit more reliable at paying up but still. I think maybe I should just invest in salt for the forthcoming apocalypse.

First, Jon points out the BSOD screenshot in OS X. And now tonight I notice the same music from a Zune viral used in an iPod ad during Heroes.

Even more amusing is the story behind the ad.

As is finding humor in old comments from others...

Talked to Bryce of the most awesome band ever, Instant Winner... And he was pointing me to some crap about his band.

"Insant Winner? Bah! Ask anyone in the area and theyll probably refer to them as Instant Bizkit or Instant Whiner. Shitty Rap - Metal with horns, and they only attract preppy ass little highschool whores, best band my ass."

So I started checking out crap from my past. First thing that came to mind was the awesome comments I got after Dom slashdotted my amazingly long winded review of the PMC. I was called a smug little prick, and people even thought then that it was a grand Microsoft scheme and that I wasn't a real person. And that I was a huge Apple hater. Oddly enough I now work at said company. And even more odd I almost worked for Apple on the iPhone. But then again, they didn't exactly hire me now did they. Oh and I guess technically I work for Volt not Microsoft anyhow.

But going further back in history. Back to the days of cj8309@telis.org. My first email... There's this gem from the alt.tv.star-trek.voyager newsgroup.

I both hate and love the fact that when I'm old and grumpy there'll be these greast pieces of information out there just floating. God save me if I ever get into politics or become famous.

 

What can I say really. This has got to be the stupidest thing I've ever heard. It's about as good as saying something causes cancer when these days everything causes cancer. Oh and I guess SeaTac better be on the look out since there's this webcam and the terrorists are watching. Heck it's even broadcast over cable, oh my. I wonder what they could be planning with all those traffic cams!? The horror of it all.

After following the madness on Gizmodo. It really makes you wonder. Out of all the units sold so far, exactly how many are or will end up on eBay within 48 hours of the purchase. Insane.

Finally went outside to get the mail this morning. It being boxing day and all. Sadly I think UPS is still taking their sweet time with my replacement Hitachi HDD. In the mail though in addition to another 7 movies from Netflix, I received a statement from BofA for a credit card I cancelled a month ago. Apparently there was a periodic finance charge at some point after I already closed the account, who the hell knows. So I call up, go through their really stupid voice system, end up just saying customer service to get a human. The recording says their branch offices are closed on Monday and will be open tomorrow. I think crap, does this mean they'll hang up now and I'll have to call back tomorrow at work?

Nope, I get through, talk to the lady and just give my details, say that I received a statement today for an account I paid in full and closed a month ago. I let her discover the finance charge. She doesn't say the amount or anything but just says I'll go ahead and remove that to close the account out permanently. Fantastic, Ferris powers work again. This time to the tune of $7.33 . Sure it's only seven bucks but under Corey's Law no little amount goes unnoticed. It all adds up, hence why the Law continues to work.

Though besides the point, I'm curious why the finance charge was at the cash rates not the purchase rates since I've not done any cash advances or anything of the sort. Oh well.

Shame the same sort of things don't happen with women I meet.

Jon and I were both shocked this morning when we noticed that Dom actually updated his blog on MSDN. The shocking part was probably that one of the many Microsoft blogs that have made their way into our "Abandoned" folders actually got a new post. Dom's post gap? 10 months to the day, 304 days total! The shame. What's the point?

So I've got a question. How many blogs at Microsoft and other corporations and such have been like this? I ask why bother? I mean so many softies have blogs that are like this. They post 5 or 6 posts within the first 2 months. Then every so often (every 304 days) they post a random thing asking for opinions or feedback or about a meeting or something along those lines. Then expect to get some sort of response or readership.

Dom, I already know your argument for not posting so often. You want there to be some value for your reader and yet you can't talk about some things that are under NDA. Plus you don't want to mix personal life and work. Plus you don't want to drop your other commitments at work. Make up your bloody mind already. Keep the blog and post something or just kill it.

There is of course the exception. But generally I think the majority of softies that started a blog have probably just let them die.

So many personal blogs are like this as well so corporate blogs definitely aren't in the minority. I suppose I'm not one to talk either, if you look at my archive you can definitely see the gaps and low posting trends every so often.

My closing point may be that could it be a good time for corporate bloggers to change the way they go about blogging?

So pretty much since I started hosting my server locally on my home Internet connection I've had a trusty Intel CS430 webcam (now CS431 as well) connected to the world. I've always used ConquerCam set up as a service and it's just worked.

For the longest time I honestly lived my entire life 24/7 on the net totally exposed. Hence the reason why the page is called the Naked Truth of... And it's honestly got nothing to do with the fact that on numerous occasions I forgot it was on after I walked out of the shower naked. Believe me when I say I immediately checked the IIS logs to make sure no one actually grabbed the blackmail worthy JPG's. It's also been the topic of many Messenger chat's as well. One resulted in this little site where Matt Coy just started saving random images and giving them ridiculous captions. And yes most of them I posed for, and all are totally innocent. I really didn't have any hang ups about just sitting in front of the stupid thing not even bothering to notice the camera on 24/7 even whilst I slept, even while I was sitting around in boxer briefs.

After searching eBay I purchased 4 Intel CS431's for about $40. I gave one to Sam just because it had a built in mic, and for the rare video chat. I had planned to use the other for my main system for Messenger use if needed. Then I had been dying to do a 3 webcam set up for my website. One would show me. One would show the room. One would show outside my window. Sadly it didn't quite work because ConquerCam couldn't recognize the 3 devices separately in the way I use it as a service. So anyway while I'm still working that out I figured I'd post up the most recent idea which is the 24/7 Money Tree cam. Now anytime day or night you too can watch money grow on trees . Enjoy.

UPDATE: Just had another idea... Jon, could you make a quick mod to that webcam app of yours and have it capture my webcam say, every 15 minutes (I think that's a good amount, but you might have a more logical idea about it). Since it'll be capturing once every 5 - 30 minutes I'll grab all those images after, I don't know, 3 months and then turn it into a fancy little time lapsed WMV . Anyway, bed time now...

And they say time flies when you're having fun .

http://dubya.auroravisions.com/

[02:04:14 AM] Corey: brb, have to blow my nose again (it's getting
              worse; maybe a good sign that my cold is almost over),
              oh and gargle with water and hydrogen peroxide to clear
              the phlegm (which has just started up now that the cold
              is waning )
[02:04:40 AM] Jonathan Kay: lol
[02:04:44 AM] Jonathan Kay: get better
[02:12:23 AM] Corey: wow
[02:12:27 AM] Corey: that was disgusting
[02:12:29 AM] Corey: although
[02:12:44 AM] Corey: I think I just found a sure-fire way to self
              induce vomiting
[02:12:50 AM] Jonathan Kay: lol
[02:12:52 AM] Jonathan Kay: thanks for that
[02:12:59 AM] Corey: seriously
[02:13:14 AM] Corey: mix 1:1 water and hydrogen peroxide
[02:13:35 AM] Corey: gargle 1/3 of it at a time till it's gone
[02:13:48 AM] Corey: gargling until you just have to spit it out
[02:13:58 AM] Corey: by the 3rd time you'll feel like vomiting
[02:14:01 AM] Corey: I nearly did
[02:14:14 AM] Corey: close enough to lift the toilet seat in fact
[02:14:39 AM] Corey: yes I know TMI
[02:14:45 AM] Jonathan Kay: lol
[02:14:46 AM] Jonathan Kay:
[02:15:09 AM] Corey: but it might come in handy for any person that
              wants to become another Kate Moss
[02:16:21 AM] * Corey has changed his/her name to Corey  Da
              Vinci's Notebook - Ally McBeal (minute long clip here)
[02:16:23 AM] Corey: or
[02:16:24 AM] Corey:
[02:16:51 AM] Corey: what was her name...
[02:17:13 AM] Corey: Calisto
[02:17:19 AM] Corey: err duh Calista
[02:17:21 AM] Corey: Flockhart
[02:17:28 AM] Corey: right... new blog entry
[02:18:19 AM] Corey: wow the song even mentions "like a Kate
              Moss clone. without no muscle tone. like a skeleton."

I should explain how that entire McDonald's thing came about... It started off with this link that Jon sent me. Normally it wouldn't be that big of a deal, but with all the recent crap about iTunes and Pepsi, and McDonald's pondering WiFi access, etc etc... It all just got to be a bit much.

While I enjoy the idea of sitting down in a Starbucks with my laptop chatting with Dom and Jon on Messenger about how sexy the G5 case design might be, taking all the time in the world sipping my delicious mocha. I can't stand the idea of McDonald's doing WiFi, especially when doing it with all those kids yelling and screaming, playing with their happy meal twenty minute toys and the throwing of plastic balls in the Ronald McDonald play area is even worse.

Then there is this entire Adult Happy Meal with the stepometer. That's just sad. Hmm I'm McDonald's marketing, “oh we're sorry we got you super fat with our Big Mac's, how about a bacon ranch salad instead? we'll throw in this stepometer too... just to remind you to take that extra step to burn off the calories and fat from that Big Mac you'll just have to give in to because the salad wasn't enough”.

So after all that... now get a free music downloads with your meal!? WTH is going on with these nuts!?

Oh and while browsing their site... yet another example. I-Am-Asian.com. Now I'm not Asian, which you can mostly likely gather from my webcam, but is this not offensive? I'm not even Asian yet I find this to be somewhat offensive, and no, I'm really not the type to be easily offended or sickened. But geez, could it get any worse, “sipping green tea or enjoying a Big Mac sandwich, we're helping make the magic mix called America become even richer”. If that Big Mac didn't make me puke, their marketing sure will. What in the world is with the AIMesque teeny messages in the background? Subliminal messages to go to McDonald's?

Is it just me or does it seem like a lot of marketing departments are as in touch with their targeted demographic about as much as Bush is with the American and global population?

The year is 2004, the great empire of iTunes and Napster are delivery more and more <finger-quotes>legal</finger-quotes> music, the house of Starbucks has had a lasting trade agreement with T-Mobile to delivery weapons through the air for quite some time now. But the evil Borg still rule the Delta quadrant. The last hope for the Alpha quadrant is the Federation of McDonald's, they alone hold the key to resisting and destroying that which previously seemed impossible. Giving people hope and dreams that their prior attempts weren't totally futile. By slowly and infectiously planting a command in the Borg collective they believe they can overcome that which was unstoppable. By reducing the Borg to their primal needs, the need to feed! And with the knowledge that the Borg's vast supply of caffeine in the form of Mt. Dew, Coke, Vanilla Coke, and for the weak of heart assorted flavors of fruit juice, is dwindling and could soon meet its end. The Federation of McDonald's has taken the offensive. Witness the evidence for yourself! Love it!