Microsoft’s Zune Music service seems to be a good deal by letting you Download for Keeps ten songs per month while subscribed to its $15 monthly buffet of music. But there are 2 major drawbacks:

1.  The buffet is not as big as you would expect. It disappoints, sometimes big time! Most of Led Zeppelin’s catalog must be purchased. And many popular albums are only partially downloadable without buying. But if you like Savage Garden, you’re in luck…

2.  The Zune service is accessible via the web and on your PC, but the only mobile device on which you can download is the Zune Player.

* revision: the Zune desktop software only wants to connect with a Zune device. But, you can use other means to get the .wma files onto your non-Zune device. Windows Explorer is tricky / tedious because you have to click through the path to each album. But, if you have Real or Rhapsody software you can import all of the .wmas into your library at once.

Uh-oh, I just discovered that Rhapsody uses the same catalog. Even though the songs will play on my nifty little $45 Sansa, I can’t get the Led out! What gives?

Rhapsody, Sansa, Zune

The good folks at Top Story Weekly used a joke of mine regarding AT&T dropping its sponsorship of Tiger Woods. My contribution was the obvious, "But they will use his image in ads for a new $60 Unlimited Sexting Plan."

Top Story didn’t use my example ad series:

"Something Might Stop You From Sexting .. but not AT&T"

ATT, Tiger Woods

I read an article today about the president of the channel formerly known as The History Channel. Now it is titled History (no channel) and has the slogan "History is Made Everyday" which allows it to pass off any show as pertaining to history regardless of the setting / subject. Pretty interesting.

It’s the work of Susan Dubac, installed three years ago as network chief. Her policy is to make the shows more appealing to the most appealing demographic so that it receives more advertising revenue. So far her approach has been successful. The money is rolling in. And if you’re wondering how it was that each of the quality, educational channels have come to resemble a marathon of "Behind the Music" you should understand that young whizzes like Ms. Dubac are in command and making makeovers. She is determined to excise the elements that earned it the nickname "The Hitler Channel" and yet lacks the imagination and humor to come up with something like "Youtube Hitler." The result is a lot of fluff that wouldn’t earn a place in Wikipedia but is given the "Real World" treatment of odd camera angles and other modern techniques such as "being loud." How loud? Well, on par with the volume of commercials. And thus, the viewer cannot distinguish between the programming and the ads. That’s good for business.

Dubac, History

Canada Dry’s Diet Green Tea Ginger Ale pleases me to no end. My brother and his wife introduced it to me. It might be the perfect beverage. Once you get hooked, you’ll understand the need to drink the Zero Calorie diet version. A regular 12 ounce serving would otherwise be 140 calories. Six of those per day would add 840 calories to your intake! No, no, this Diet version is the way to go. Alas, since I’ve came to California, I haven’t been able to find it.. until tonight. I found a 20 ounce bottle—my first time, allowing me to see that the ale is as gorgeous as the packaging . The convenience store charged $2.25. Normally, I turn around and protest such high prices… but I needed it! Oh gosh! I can’t wait until tomorrow—I’m going to drink some more of it!

beverages, review, soda

The Angels have hurt the Red Sox, winning the first two games of their 5 game series out in California. Today is an off-day as the teams will next meet in Boston Sunday. During this break, the Sox and their fans will try to conjure up the usual gimmicks to imply that they are the ‘proper’ team to advance in the playoffs:

WEATHER
It will be cold, so when the camera scans the crowd, you’ll see folks bundled up and stirring about to stay warm. The implication is that autumn should be cold; Boston is cold; therefore, Boston deserves to play in autumn.

TRADITIONAL COSTUMES
The Red Sox have been around for more than a century, and they have the uniforms to prove it. For all the talk of Yankee pinstripes, the Red Sox also have a storied home uniform. And within Boston, Brahmins are not alone in giving a disproportionate weight to looks and lineage. Everyone in Boston is a snob who instinctively identifies with the BoSox home uniform, especially when the stirrups are worn in the old knee-high style—the fans eat it up and it fuels their confidence. But it’s just a big sock worn by a jerk jock.

BEN AFFLECK
Actor Ben Affleck will be spotted in the stands, probably in a very good seat. He might be interviewed by TBS. Plus, he might be with an actor friend such as Matt Damon. To Boston fans, this is proof that the Lord is smiling on the Sox—the Angels would be wise to hop on the next plane. But Affleck’s presence is even more superficial than uniforms and overcoats. There is nothing daunting about it.

YANKEES’ ONLY TRUE FOE
According to Sox and Yankees fans, the best rivalry in sports is between the … Yankees and Red Sox. An Angel victory would prevent that ‘ideal’ match-up, so the Angels must be prevented from winning. In case the Angels themselves don’t get this, Sox fans will be petitioning all Americans to in turn petition the Angels to quit, as the best thing for the country.

But all of the above is hogwash with nothing to do with pure baseball talent and fielding a team. The Angels have a superb and superior ball club. They will prevail. It might take a fourth game, but the Angels will advance to play the Yankees.

baseball