Ploafmaster General

Trident gum doesn't usually freshen my breath as I'm more an Orbit fan.

Yesterday, however, I grabbed a pack at Target to try out a new flavor (Wild Berry Twist) and noticed that the packaging had changed dramatically since last I chewed their wares. You can see an example below courtesy of Flickr user SoopahViv:



You'll notice arched line below the glue spots on the lid - this, as you may suspect is the foil. only that arched portion adheres to the lid, so when you open it for the first time it pulls the foil open for you. No little cellophane strip to tear the package. No shredding the foil every few pieces. No plastic sleeve to keep the whole thing fresh until you buy it. And the red you see in the picture is more of a card stock than paper, so the whole thing holds up quite a bit better without squishing the contents. Judging by the date of upload on the picture, it seems that Trident has been using this style of packaging for a couple of years now.

I like that a lot of thought seems to have gone into the design of this package - sure, it's colorful and eye-catching - it has to be to please the folks in Marketing. But the actual functionality of something so humble as gum packaging is oft overlooked - relegated to the old stand byes such as blister packs and paper wrapping.

The gum itself, unfortunately, could use a little more thought :-)

Apple doesn't seem to when it comes to computers, and John Gruber nails it on why. Solid, succinct analysis.

This morning I broke fast at one of my favorite Richmond locations - Can Can Brasserie.

Can Can is an authentic slice of French style and cuisine in the heart of Carytown, and I particularly enjoy heading over there on Saturday mornings before most of the stores are open. Parking close by is easier and the crowds haven't yet arrived. At this earlier time you simply walk up to the bar, place your order, choose a seat, and wait for your coffee and pastry. This morning I ordered a large cappuccino and a small brioche - twice - and a single espresso before I left.

Let me tell you...the coffee is the finest I've had in Richmond as far as espresso-based drinks are concerned. They still import their beans (whole, of course), but at least they're using LaVazza instead of Illy. Considering the smoother taste and richer crema, I think they're using a blend that has some Robusta mixed in. I personally prefer this, but I know there are some coffee snobs out there who insist on 100% Arabica :-)

It's also worth noting that the barista practices latte art, and it's quite well done, too. They seem to be fond of rosettas. Why is this worth noting? Richmond doesn't exactly have much of a coffee shop culture, so when I see this practice, I feel more confident that the barista has mastered the brewing enough to focus on presentation (you need good micro foam anyway). This means that my coffee isn't just pretty to look at, it's likely to taste better, too. And you know what? It tastes freakin' awesome.

The pastry is made fresh every day, and my brioche was buttery and delicate. They also bake their own bread every day, and you can sample several excellent varieties whenever you order lunch. Of course, lunch is the only other meal I've ever eaten at Can Can, and I admit I've only had one item on the lunch menu. But oh! what a fantastic selection. The croque monsieur is the classic French take on grilled ham and cheese, layered on delicious bread and covered with a rich bechemel sauce before popped in the broiler.

The dinner menu is a bit steeper which is what's kept me from further exploration of the menu, but someday (or Samedi?) I'll have to try one of their wine dinners which seem to include quite a bit for the money.

We'll see how Can Can fares after I've been to Paris, though I suspect it'll remain the closest thing to serious French cafe and dining life for 100 miles in any direction.

You know, Dragon Wars: D-War already looks questionable (if not outright stupid), but it doesn't help when you're trailer looks like it was captured by a camcorder in a movie theater where the projector was out of focus.

So it seems that the NFL has found Belichick guilty of cheating by using a camera to record defensive signals by the opposing team. This disgusts me...either their record is now as questionable as Barry Bonds' home run "record" or they're simply despicable since winning three recent Super Bowls seems not to be enough.

I hope this blows over quickly, even though my inner cynic knows it won't. The incident is crappy on its own without the media dragging it out for months, equating it to the NBA referee case or the MLB steroid abuse.

Just in case this news upsets you as much as it does me, here's a moderately light-hearted response to the affair (though a little too harsh on Tom Brady in my opinion - we don't know if he was in on this):
[youtube [www.youtube.com/watch](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EU1O-hGxgg&w=425&h=350])

Even though the keyboard-in-the-dishwasher is old news, I enjoyed Coudal Partners' short film on the subject. It has a very "1950's Documentary" feel to it. Very clever camera rig, too.

I just read Gruber's analysis of Apple's fore into the nasty ringtone business, and I have to agree with him. But I wonder if he's aware that some phones already allow owners to use their own sound files as ringtones - with a catch - you have to tolerate Redmond's finest on your phone.

I own an HTC Wizard, better known in the States as the Cingular 8125, and it's running Windows Mobile 5. One of the first things I checked after I purchased the phone was whether I could use my own music for my ringer. It turns out I can - anything that Windows Media Player can play (so it seems) can be used as a ringtone, including .WAV files I record on the phone myself. This is why when my buddy Dave calls I hear my crappy impression of Sol Rosenberg.

I imagine a number of consumers would consider the iPhone more favorably if they knew they could create and/or use their own ringtones natively. I can't, however, imagine many people who's opinion of a Treo or Blackjack would be affected by the ability to choose any song to play when a friend calls. Wow, I can hear my favorite Big Wreck song when Valerie dials me...but hooray...I'm still using Microsoft's clunky mobile platform on my hardware.

As crappy as Apple chose to handle ringtones, I still look forward to replacing my "smart phone" with an iPhone in the future...even if I have to futz around to hear my own music when somebody calls.

I'm currently listening to "The Pelican" off of Menomena's 2007 release, Friend and Foe.

Dang, it's hot.

That's really all I have to say right now.

Today I took delivery of the 500 GB version of the LaCie Ethernet Disk mini - a network attached storage (NAS) device.

I've spent some time this evening fiddling with the settings and hooking it up to the network so I can begin backing up my laptop and such.

I've gotta say, for the first time in many years...How am I gonna fill all that space?

...And yes, I'm perfectly aware of many ways to fill the hard drive space, thank-you very much :-)

So my brother Mugs is blogging...again! Check out "What the Thunder Said" in the side bar.

He's started and stopped several times, but each new incarnation compels me to notify my visitors. You see, Mugs is a total computer nerd like me now...except he has an English degree because he loves to write, and is WAY better at it than me. Don't believe me? Just check out his stuff, and keep an eye out as he updates the world about his scripting and programming exploits and whatever else strikes his fancy.

Nice find from swissmiss:

Yesterday I was speaking to my mom on the phone when she said, "Sorry if you hear me eating something - I'm eating a pear." I remarked that I hadn't eaten a fresh pear in several years, to which she said, "Oh, you should, they're in season now."

So when I went grocery shopping with Val last night, one of the first things I looked for was the pear basket in the produce section...and oh my, there were some ripe bartletts that smelled absolutely amazing. I bought three and brought them home.

Last night I sliced one up and ate it while watching Wine Library TV at the computer, and I tossed a second in with my lunch this morning. I have one more at home that's perhaps approaching over-ripe, but I'll be sautéing that one with some cinnamon and brown sugar which should take care of it quite nicely.

Seriously - go buy some pears while you can find them fresh at the grocery store. They'll likely be unripe because of how easily they can bruise in transport, so let them sit on the counter until they smell right and start to soften. You'll be left with something natural and tasty that makes a fine dessert on its own.

Looks like you'll still be able to order pints in merry-old England. That's good, because "Gimme a half-litre of lager" doesn't exactly roll of the tongue.

Thanks to Gary Vay-ner-chuk for this one...

It would seem that the New England Patriots like to spy on other teams. Sounds pretty shady if you ask me, and I sure hope it's not true, but if this is for real then the Pat's reputation as a squad that's excellent because of pure execution and teamwork could be fairly well tarnished.

Yeah, Trey, it was your link in Twitter that borked my instance of Firefox :-)

It reminded me of something else, though - I have absolutely no idea, most of the time, what the links are that I see in Twitter messages when folks use TinyURL to fit their finds into that brief 140 character space. Had I known that Trey's link would take me to a page that contained embedded QuickTime (and as a fan of Apple's movie trailer page, I'd have known), I could have held off until I was at home (or, GASP! used IE...).

This got me thinking - is there any way that you could improve TinyURL so viewers could know in advance where they were clicking? More folks than just myself browse from highly restrictive corporate networks, and I inhale a sharp breath every time I see that "restricted content" page here in the office (they claim to be logging the incident...but I've never been contacted).

So I surfed to TinyURL's site to double check the process for creating the contracted resource locators, and lo! you have the option to provide a preview URL. Sure, this preview link creates an extra step for the casual web surfer, but it's certainly safer than blindly clicking links.

Where do we go from here? Well, I wish Twitterrific provided a choice in the preferences to use a standard TinyURL or a preview URL instead of only using the standard TinyURL. But there's part of me that doesn't want the browsing experience broken in such a way. What I really want is some sort of tool tip when you hover over the link - something that provides a short description, or perhaps the full URL. Of course, not being a web developer, I don't know how to accomplish this without using some sort of script.

Any ideas? I think this is a useful itch to scratch.

I'm sure it's a consequence of the unique amalgam of running applications, Firefox extensions and plug-ins, and my nasty Win2k OS and not a problem with QuickTime. Really.

But here's the deal...on this revolting work PC of mine, Firefox crashes shortly after I open any file that defaults to QuickTime. That'd be any .MOV or .MP3 files on my 'puter. It's driving me bonkers.

Yeah, I know...I'm not really supposed to use Firefox on my computer at work - it's not "officially supported."

Yeah, I know...I'm not really supposed to be browsing the internet at work - it's "unproductive."

Yeah, I know...I'm not really supposed to be downloading/streaming videos and music at work - it's "preventing me from killing myself out of boredom."

I found this gem via Coudal Partners' website (pardon some harsh language later on):
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SXKKtATfASY&w=425&h=350]

This short film is like an amplified version of how my mind works. Sigh.

Apple announced this morning that it sold it's one millionth iPhone over the weekend. That's just crazy astounding, especially considering the sales were essentially limited to the US market. I'm sure the ever imminent European deals will expand sales even further, and the sure-to-come next versions (and likely cheaper versions) will push the sales figures higher even than Apple's goal.

Either way, it's rather difficult for the anti-Apple set to call this device a failure anymore :-)

The third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking.
- AA Milne

Today is like a holiday to me. Today is the season opener for the NFL Football season.

I'll be glued to the tube for the pre-game analysis, the game, half-time report, and maybe even some post-game action if I'm not too tired. Yeah, I've got both Fantasy Football teams set up - one for work, and one on the side, and I have one of each of tonight's quarterbacks on each of my two teams.

I'm looking forward to what's sure to be a dogfight - two incredible passers facing off in Indianapolis.

I love football season :-)

AAAARRRGGGH. Apple's making it tougher for me :-)

The iPhone price was just dropped by $200 today on the 8 Gb model. Still not enough storage for my needs, but dang. I'm confident in a year or so they'll have what I'm looking for to replace my clunky HTC Wizard.

Full disclosure...my dad works for IBM, but I don't want anybody to get the idea that it's influencing my opinion towards them, good or ill.

So have you noticed these new ads on television yapping about innovation? IBM has a few spots of this nature - one featuring "Innovation Man", another about "innotation" (innovation meditation) and various others which appear to mock the widespread corporate speak and pompousness of our day. I'm still having trouble finding any YouTube clips. Either they're too new, or hey, maybe IBM commercials aren't that exciting :-)

Regardless, I can sum up the gist of the campaign with the screen-clip below:


Now I don't know how sincere International Business Machines is about this slogan, but they have a clever (albeit HEAVILY Flash-ified) page that delves further into the concept and sarcastically decodes contemporary corporate jargon. I think my favorite example is their explanation of "bleeding edge":

It's what you call the "cutting edge" if you think the term "cutting edge" isn't "cutting edge" anymore. Of course, the term "bleeding edge" isn't "cutting edge" anymore, either. If confused, just say "new."

I really like the point they appear to be making here, and it's often echoed by one of my favorite firms, 37signals. Too often companies and teams get bogged down by the details. They over plan, build mountains out of mole hills, and beat around the proverbial shrub. People use stupid phrases and jargon instead of just spitting out what they mean.

I am SO FREAKING TIRED of attending meetings where we endlessly argue about the fine points of a project instead of diving right in. I'm sick of start-dates moving back again and again because nobody can make up their minds. I'm sick of myself coming up with ideas and letting them stew in my head or in my Moleskine.

I want to start doing. I want to see my ideas on the Internet, not simply sketched out or half-completed in TextMate.

I need to get pissed off enough to take my own advice :-)

I'm currently experiencing the same pride that warms my heart after introducing a friend to a band I love (particularly when they have the same resulting musical epiphany I did). But my satisfaction isn't musically related.

Yesterday, my mother-in-law bought her first Mac.

After plenty of build-up over the past year as her 8-year-old Gateway accelerated towards its own demise, she came down to Richmond and rode to the Apple Store with Valerie and I where she purchased a 20" iMac. Yes, that glorious new iMac clad in soft-toned aluminum with the hot new keyboard. Val's mom also purchased a copy of iWork '08, and I spent the better part of yesterday evening and today helping her set it all up and transition files from her old machine to the new baby.

I have to say, after using that keyboard yesterday and today - WOW. I want one. It's more than simply usable - it's enjoyable.

Now I have the pleasure of playing tech-support to my wife's mother while she learns the joy of computing on a Mac :-)

Thanks to John Gruber for linking up one of the funniest ads I've seen in ages:
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4wsGndlpQRs&w=425&h=350]

If you'd like to see the version that was too wide for my blog, check out the original.

Hot Fuzz is the second film (that I know of) to feature the excellent comedic duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost. Whereas Shaun of the Dead tackled zombie flicks, however, this fine film provides a loving mockery of/homage to the action movie genre.

I mean it - this movie is absolutely hilarious, expertly blending slapstick, innuendo, irony, and that classic British absurdism stuff that I dig so much. Beyond the comedy, though, we have a movie that is not only an excellent action flick in its own right (the last 30 minutes! WOW!!!) but also shines as a beacon of real creative film making amidst a sea of otherwise visually bland comedy films. Sure, I know Guy Ritchie's films can be humorous, but they're hardly comedies...more like "crime capers" that have some funny parts. Hot Fuzz, on the other hand, is humorous start to finish.

There's a level of gore more commensurate with the aforementioned zombie tour de farce, and one of the central premises divulged late in the movie is a bit flimsy. I consider these to be trivial in light of the movies broader aims, and don't for a second foster hesitation in my rating.

This is five stars out of five, hands down. I'll be buying this DVD in the very near future.