Mindless Meanderings of a Curly Haired Girl: October 2005

Happy Halloween

Okay - so I guess I need to post something because I've been out nearly every night this week... so here goes with just the highlights.

Tuesday Night
As always, Tuesday was filled with fabulous choiring and some QT with Jess, Zach, and new friend Rebecca at the Burren. While I had to make an unplanned exit, I had a very good time while I was there. Rebecca is good people and I think I might keep her.

Wednesday Night
I went to the Comedy Connection with Dan and his roommates:

Benefit for Family of Leroy Alexander
"Comedy Connection house manager and booking agent, Ryan Cott, has set up the "Alexander Benefit," an innovative fundraiser for the family of Staff Sgt. LeRoy Alexander of Dale City, Virginia. Alexander who graduated C.D. Hylton High School in Virginia with Cott, was killed in Afghanistan after a bomb destroyed the convey truck he was driving. The 27 year old Staff Sargeant's wife and high school sweetheart, Marissa is expecting twins this month". - Comedy Connection

It was a very good cause and a very funny performance. I was excited because Joe Wong was there, but he wasn't in the show, he was just supporting the cause. Dan says Joe performs a lot there, so maybe we'll try to go see him.

Thursday Night

Where else would I be? I was at Iron Chef with Jess and Cindy. My "prom date" got sick, so it became a ladies' night. It was truly a fun time. The International was the hosting venue and none of us had been there before. It was a nice place and the DJ was having fun spinning some old 80's records and some new stuff too. The food, as always, was quite good. The individual pumpkin pies for dessert were the most tasty little things in the world.

Friday night

After a quick nap, a beer and three shots, Dan and I headed into the city to meet up with his friends. A quick stop at Beantown Pub (come on, it's tradition) got me my first shot of yager in quite a while. We headed to Trinity where I got to dance. I was intoxicated and dancing... I was a happy girl. Two more beers later, Dan and I were about ready to go home. The last time I remember on the clock was 3:00 am... and that was right after we got back to East Boston. A very good night. Nice to use a Go-Card too.

Saturday night

Paul and I headed over to Cindy's for some Halloween fun. I went as Jack Osbourne and Paul went as himself. Whatever happened to that Elf costume Paul? Oh well. I finally met Cindy's boyfriend: Mikey-mikes. He's a keeper and I am now on a mission to convince Cindy to stay in Boston and convince Mike to move up here rather than her moving to NYC. I then headed up Highland Ave a few blocks to Zach's party. I was home somewhat early and hit the sack for some much needed sleep.

Overall, a fantastic week!

The ROKR follow up

If you bothered to read the actually intelligent post I wrote about the ROKR and its questionable success in the marketplace... here is a brief follow up from my good friends at Wired. For the most part, I think they second what I was saying, for a few different reasons... and a few I didn't think of. Apple doesn't want to cannibalize the iPod... didn't think about it in those terms. Definitely an interesting article to skim. There's also a snippet on boingboing.net.

Ling Ling's twin Brothers

This is why Dan makes me laugh.

Click here for two chinese people lip synching to backstreet boys.

no, really.

Pictorals

C$'s Boston Pics from Servathon Y2K5

FIRED UP

October 22, 2005 marked the second annaul Megan, C$, Broser, and Andrea Servathon!~ This year's site the Margaret Fuller House located in Cambridge needed quite a bit of work. Luckily with 150 volunteers at our site, the work went quickly. We scraped and painted an entire side of the house with several members from Dyax's community outreach program. I certainly had a wonderful time doing this project. I would say it wasn't quite as fun as raking up leaves in the ghetto (Lena Park, Dorchester MA)... but it was still a good time.

The morning started early, with departure from Somerville Ave at 8:02 AM. We arrived at Government Center to load up on free bagels, waters, jucies, and Go-gurts (i remain to be scared of go-gort). We listened to Mayor Menino and several members of City Year (the parent organization of Servathon). We then got FIRED UP doing some Physical Training. We headed off with Alan, our core member, to the site. We got up and running and had our side of the house scraped in no time. The whole process seemed to move along quickly... and although I sustained a minor injury (and was awarded a Purple Heart), the day was great.

We escaped just as the rain started to fall. Servathon 2005 - SUCCESS! I certainly look forward to 2006, and hope that a few more people come out to serve. It really is a very fun time.

SU Athletics

Any article that calls Otto a "Tubby Disoriented Outpatient Fruit" is worth a read. Go Orange

When you gonna ring it? When you gonna ring it?

I've been thinking about my doorbell
When you gonna ring it?
When you gonna ring it?
~White Stripes "Doorbell"

~~~~

What a fabulous weekend. A few road bumps, but overall a good time. Friday, in the pouring rain, Cindy and I made our way down to Avalon to see Liz Phair. I only new a handful of songs, but live music is always a good time. I do not, however, love her more than life itself and hope that she shows up on my doorstep with a dozen roses. The funniest part about Friday night, was the man standing in front of me. If you've seen Forty Year Old Virgin, then you'll know exactly what I am talking about. This guy was wearing a purple and green plaid button down shirt, probably flannel, tucked in to his khaki dockers. His red hoodie was sinched around his waist so tightly, that I was pretty sure he wore a 28 inch waist. His hair was parted to the side and neatly combed over. Oh and he was wearing glasses. After the show got done, he turned to a large man wearing a blue sweatshirt and said "that was the best." Sir, you're clearly not getting laid.

Saturday was also a good day. I got up at 8:33 am... first early morning on a Saturday in a long time. I got myself to the gym and had a good, but tough workout. I had birthday lunch with Pete who is now twenty-five. We hadn't seen each other in a long time, so it was nice to catch up with him. We reconfirmed our annual trip to the brewery and enjoyed lunch at Uno's. I felt bad, but when bringing my change, the waitress brought me a five dollar bill, a one dollar bill, and some coins. Usually, I would have left a four dollar tip... however, because the waitress left me no choice but to leave the five... I left the one and the coins. I felt bad, but I felt like it was her own fault. I wasn't going to ask her to change the five, that's what she should have done as a professional waitstaff. Alas, I continue to be a service snob. Sorry server at Uno's, but you screwed yourself out of three dollars.

I headed over to Jess' to enjoy her new couches and watch a movie. Yeah, it was the ninth day of rain, so I figured some couching was totally justified. The Princess Bride is really quite a fabulous movie. It was nice to hang out with Jess and her homies.

Back at home, Paul and I got dinner, showered, and got pretty for a night on the town. The r'mates and I headed over to Tequila Rain to enjoy some drinking and some dancing. Other than the birthday girl having to leave early, I had a great time. Met some new fun people, hung out with some old fun people, and danced my pants off. Ass shaking never felt so good.

Sunday, the day of rest... lots of basketball, gym, and movie.

And so the week begins. :)

Fair Weather

...the coldest day of the year. It's simply freezing; the dogs are sticking to the sidewalks; can anybody explain that? The Skin of Our Teeth by Thorton Wilder
~~~~

Did four years in Central New York make me hard and immune to the cold? Am I the only person who thinks that 55 degrees is comfortable? Yesterday I walked to work, took the T to Davis Square, walked home from the square, and walked to/from Tacos Lupita. I did not wear any of the following items: hat, scarf, gloves, mittens, coat. During my travels, however, I did notice that apparently 55 degrees is fair weather to dawn all of those items. To those people, I say, simply: "you're fucked." If you can't handle fifty-five degrees without bundling up inside a down jacket, woolen scarf, or knit cap, you're just fucked. It's not even freezing out, I can't see my breath, I can't see anyone's breath. There hasn't been one serious frost yet people are layering.

Layer like an onion, not a banana
Mrs. Kimpton, my 12th grade English teacher.
~~~~

To my catering manager came in wearing a coat yesterday, a long, thick coat.
YOU ARE FUCKED

A woman on the T was wearing a matching scarf and mitten set. Mittens? Are you serious? Are your fingers that cold? Do you really need to wrap your digits in a cacoon of lamb's wool? It's fifty-five degrees! YOU ARE FUCKED.

A man walking down Garden Street was wearing a knit cap. My only hope here, is that this man was bald. If you're bald, I can understand that perhaps you need a lil something there, but still, a baseball cap would suffice. YOU ARE FUCKED.

A woman on Elm Street: boots with the fuzzy tops, long sleeved shirt, long sleeved jacket, vest, scarf, long skirt, tights. YOU ARE SO FUCKED.

I expect to see these types of things when it's 32 degrees, or perhaps 0 degrees... but at fifty-five degrees, no, I don't think so. Put on your jeans and your hoodie and call it a day. Even with forty fewer pounds of fat to keep me warm, I am still comfortable in a hoodie. One must condition his/her body to prepare for the frigid months ahead. Middle of October

... still shorts weather in upstate New York.

And maybe they're really magic, who knows.

If you know what you want,
Then you go and you find it
And you get it.
and you give and you take
And you bid and you bargain,
Or you live to regret it.
There are rights and wrong and inbetweens
No one waits when fortune intervenes

MotoROKR

It's finally here. A fairly versatile phone that also is mp3 (i-Tunes) compatible. However, has the market missed its opporunity? Apple and its i-Pod have already saturated the market probably sitting around 70-80% of the market share. So let's say, conservatively, that seven out of ten people are proud owners of the i-pod in some form or another (full-sized, mini, shuffle, nano, etc). On average, let's say each proud owner has spent 200 dollars on this prized possession.

In comparison to this, let's briefly examine the cellular phone market. (I am a pseudo expert on this from completing an industry analysis on mobile phones during SOM122) On average these days, pimps with cool phones are spending an average of $150, with a monthly plan of $45. Market share in the mobile phone market belongs largely to VerizonWireless, with Sprint Nextel, T-Mobile, and of course Cingular Wireless (the communications portion of the new MotoROKR) sharing the remainder of the market in a highly competitive race.

I just don't see it happening. If you already own an i-pod and a cellular phone, are you going to purchase a combo pack. Priced competitively at $249, the MotoROKR is a great idea in theory. But what are the switching costs? If you subscribe to a service other than Cingular, you have to either (1) wait for your contract to end or (2) pay the fee to unsubscribe early. You then have to join a carrier who has not had the best reputation. Other than the early adopters, people will generally stay with things that make them comfortable. The fear of change can be enough to scare off even the most technie of nerds. Next, the big question - what do you do with your old i-pod? Do you sell it on e-bay/craigslist/amazon.com? Out of the 80 some odd percent of the market who does not subscribe to Cingular, and the 70% of the market who already owns an i-pod, I am guessing the overlap (ven diagram) between those two groups is huge. I see the switching costs as being too high for the average mobile or i-pod user. At least, switchers can keep their phone numbers. This lowers the relative switching costs, but the other considerations may be too large.

Is it convenient? Yes. But who is going to purchase this new product. The 15-25 year old segment would be the likely target. The group with the most disposable income... The early adopters, people who have been waiting for this technology? The first moved advantage on this product is huge. It could be the turning point for Cingular. It could be the wheels that Cingular will use to run over VerizonWireless.

The product does have a few things going for it. First, it's new - exactly what the market has been waiting for. It's the Blackberry of the young generation - the combination of two technologies released in one tour-de-force. Secondly, branding. Apple has done an outstanding job of branding its i-pod. Without question, the i-pod is the singular reason apple has not gone stem first into the ground. It has been a long time since a portable, digital technology has built the brand strength that surrounds the i-pod. Think for a minute how just a few minor changes have caused Apple to completely differentiate itself from all the other portable digital devices (both mp3 compatible and non)... Simply changing the color of the headphone was enough of a difference that an entire advertising campaign exploded around it. The headphones are so closely associated with the expensive portable device that cities have started campaigns to remind users to be weary of the notary brought upon themselves by dawning the white ear buds. Along with this brand strength, has come the rapid acceptance of the Apple user interface. People are comfortable with Apple's technology because they have been using it in their i-pod for years.

With the October release of this product, I am certain that Cingular is planning to bank on the Christmas/Chanukah. The ad campaign behind this product has to be in the millions. Apple has the advertising budget of a Goliath and isn't afraid to dish it out to reach the target. Then there's Cingular who can help sound the call of the new baby, handing out cigars to all targets great and small.

So here I am. Single, white, female, 24 years old. Verizon subscriber. Have been telling everyone that I will not get an mp3 player until it comes out in conjunction with a mobile phone. I am in the 30% who does not have an i-pod... will *I* be switching to Cingular?

Only time will tell.

I guess this is goodbye

I guess this is goodbye, old pal.
You've been a perfect friend.
I hate to see us part, old pal,
Someday I'll buy you back.
I'll see you soon again.
I hope that when I do,
It won't be on a plate.
~Jack

Things I am looking forward to:
Swinging Johnsons with Dan
Liz Phair with Cindy
Lunch with Peter
Out with Jess

Shalom

To all my friends who are observing Yom Kippor: Shalom

Dumb Girl Quote of the Day 10.12.2005

Dumb Girl: Does tomorrow have two r's or two m's

Little Red

And I know things now,
many valuable things,
That I hadn't known before.
Do not put your faith
in a cape and a hood.
They will not protect you
the way that they should.
And take extra care with strangers,
even flowers have their dangers,
And though scary is exciting,
Nice is different than good.
~Stephen Sondehim (Into the Woods)

Apple's Earnings

The below is a portion of an article from CNN.com. The remainder of the article can be found here: http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/10/technology/apple_preview/index.htm

iPods still white hot
In addition to looking at how PC sales fared during the critical back-to-school season, analysts will also be paying close attention to iPod sales.

UBS analyst Benjamin Reitzes and his team estimate Apple shipped 6.75 million iPods in the fourth quarter. They based these projections on an estimated 10 percent growth in iPod sales from quarter to quarter and on solid shipments of both the iPod mini and its successor, the nano.

"Our checks indicate a very solid possible build plan ... that could top 10 million nanos (in the current quarter) alone," the analysts wrote. Through its innovative design, competitive pricing, and a knack for figuring out what it would take to get consumers to adopt digital music, Apple has crushed competitors. The question some are asking is when the iPod juggernaut will finally slow down, and what that will mean for Apple.

"There's a sense the iPod market is in full flood and not going to be much bigger than it is, (and that) we're at peak growth right now," said Roger Kay of Endpoint Technologies Associates, a market research firm.

But Michael Gartenberg, an analyst at market research firm Jupiter, said that the iPod may have caught on in urban areas, but it's far too early to call a time of death on its growth prospects.

"If you live in New York City, it's like one big Apple commercial," he said of Apple's dominance in the portable MP3 player market. "But if you're not in New York or San Francisco, you don't see this same level of technology penetration. Right now the market is Apple's."

And one more thing...

It's a news-heavy week for Apple. Interestingly, the company has chosen the day after its earnings report to make an announcement that it won't talk about but what many expect will be a video-enabled iPod, upgrades to its Power Mac and Power Book lines, or both.
Either way, Apple watchers note that trying to predict what Jobs is going to do next can be an object lesson in how to look foolish.

"When Steve Jobs says 'one more thing', that's usually pretty big; it's probably going to be an event of some significance," said Jupiter's Gartenberg.

Reitzes at UBS said that while Wednesday's event may not launch the video iPod, his firm believes one is in the works, along with changes to Apple's iTunes software that will enable users to download related content.

Reitzes added that he and his team believe Apple may be planning a Tivo-like product and service that could eventually serve as a home media hub. - http://money.cnn.com/2005/10/10/technology/apple_preview/index.htm

On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship, 1492

Lord, we take this journey
To find a promised land
Lord, we take this journey
To find a promised land
And we believe in your power
But the end is so close,

Lord, these men are hungry
There just hasn't been enough
And the journey's been so rough
And, Lord, these men are hurting
They implore me to go back
As the planks beneath them crack

And I know it's my responsibility
But I'm starving too
And I hurt, I do
And I'm lost
I believe in my responsibility
But I need to see
If the fruits will be worth the cost

So I'm begging you, Lord
You gotta stop, take a look
At your children who believe in this promised land
Have mercy, Lord
Stop their suffering and their woe
Stop, shine your light on these children
Who have faith in your guiding hand
I'm just begging Lord
‘Cause there's no place else to go

Lord, this ship is crowded
And the men are tired an worn
But another baby's born
And, Lord, this ship is broken
And the sails are ripped and old
But the winds are rough and cold
And I know it's my responsibility
When I ride the sea
These men turn to me for a sign
I believe in my responsibility
But I can't be sure
When it's time for your light to shine
~Jason Robert Brown (Songs for a New World)

Thank you Columbus, you found America, but didn't earn me a day off

It's about one moment
That moment you think you know where you stand
And in that one moment
The things that you're sure of slip from your hand
And you've got one second
To try to be clear, to try to stand tall
But nothing's the same
And the wind starts to blow
And you're suddenly a stranger
In some completely different land
And you thought you knew
But you didn't have a clue
That the surface sometimes cracks
To reveal the tracks
To a new world
~

What a good weekend. I needed that... I needed to remember what it was like to be with someone and laugh. Laugh a lot... for someone to tell me I was cute, to tell me I was funny, to want to take me to breakfast. It feels so good to spend time with a guy who gets my sense of humor, doesn't take life so seriously, and is willing to laugh both at me and himself. I had forgotten that dating and getting to know someone doesn't have to be so heavy all the time. It was nice to feel alive again, to smile, to laugh, to enjoy myself.

Did anyone else see the announcement on Iron Chef Louie's website? The theme for the halloween bash is "my senior prom." I nearly peed my pants when I read this, after Brie had purchased me that fabulous book of old prom photos. Now I have some ideas! Should be a great time. Can't wait!!

Saw Camelot this weekend with Momma. It was good, lengthy, but it had been a while since I had seen "real theatre" so it was a nice change of pace. I didn't realize until today that Camelot was done by the same people who did My Fair Lady... but once I learned that, it all made sense... I was like "oh, THAT's why it seemed so familiar."

I managed to get Frank on the phone this Saturday to wish him a happy birthday! I miss him so much. I can't wait to get out to Chicago to visit him. He and Marcos moved to a new apartment, and I am dying to see it! Maybe sometime in the next few months I can put together enough scratch to go out there. Anyone want to go with me? Chicago is a freakin' great place. I am hoping the White Sox win the world series... if it can't be our sox, it might as well be their sox.

Harvard Law Recruiting is almost over, and soon October will come to a close. I am worried, our numbers don't look quite as strong as I remember last year's numbers being - but I suppose we'll see how they fall at month's close.

So does anyone want to head out to Salem to do some Halloween related things? I still need to find a day to buy and carve a pumpkin. Didn't get to do it last year, this year I will make the time!

Dumb Girl Quote of the Day 10.6.2005

Judy: By unanimous decision we've picked number 4 for our holiday card
DG: Oh, well what else did people vote for?

Vacation Time

~Pleasant day, pretty sky, life goes on, and here I lie. Not bad, not bad at all.~ Snoopy

As it turns out, I had the best five days off ever. Just the right balance of busy and quiet, friends and family, travel and downtime. After a truly exhausting week at work, I wrapped up my Friday afternoon and headed off to quite a good first date. Call me a loser, but my favorite first date place is still RF O'Sullivans. I think the way a man orders a burger and eats a burger says a lot. So after a delicious dinner of medium rare red meat (the burger, not the date) we walked up to Davis and enjoyed refreshments at the Some Day Cafe.

Saturday morning, got up early, showered and headed to the airport via the new Silver Line. My flight to Philly was flawless and the boys met me at the airport. Kenny had driven in from NYC and I had flown in from Boston and we couldn't find a bar within fifteen miles of Jarad's house showing the Sox Yanks game. Oh well, we spent some time at the local pub watching a myriad of other sporting events... Then back to Jarad's to watch the Phillys.

I had a great time seeing my boys. It really had been far too long since we had all gotten together and made each other laugh. We made a few decisions - Vegas in the spring and we again solidified our plans for Beijing in 2008 (where we will drink shampoo). It did wonders for me to spend a few days with Kenny and Jarad... I am sincerely appreciative of the escape!

Monday and Tuesday I spent with the parents, getting pampered with home cooking and parental lovin' .

I am refreshed, awake, and with new perspective on life, I am ready to move ahead (boldly). No more living in the past. I realized a lot this weekend. I am not afraid to move on from unhealthy relationships, to break connections with people who squash my happiness, or enjoy the company of those whom I enjoy. I would have to say - in the next six months you will see big, bold things happening in my life. I am ready, bring it on.

Mindless Meanderings of a Curly Haired Girl

Monday, October 31, 2005

Happy Halloween

Wednesday, October 26, 2005

The ROKR follow up

Monday, October 24, 2005

Ling Ling's twin Brothers

Pictorals

FIRED UP

Monday, October 17, 2005

SU Athletics

When you gonna ring it? When you gonna ring it?

Friday, October 14, 2005

Fair Weather

Thursday, October 13, 2005

And maybe they're really magic, who knows.

MotoROKR

I guess this is goodbye

Wednesday, October 12, 2005

Shalom

Dumb Girl Quote of the Day 10.12.2005

Little Red

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Apple's Earnings

Monday, October 10, 2005

On the Deck of a Spanish Sailing Ship, 1492

Thank you Columbus, you found America, but didn't earn me a day off

Thursday, October 06, 2005

Dumb Girl Quote of the Day 10.6.2005

Vacation Time

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