I was searching for Halloween related news for Utter Oddcast’s October Oddness 2008 and was shocked by what pops up at Google.  Just check out this image and let me know what’s wrong with it.

Am I missing something here? One of these things is not like the others.

Popularity: 11% [?]

I haven’t bought or listened to a Nine Inch Nails album/CD since high school, but I do think it’s cool that they’re going Creative Commons with Ghosts I-IV and The Slip.  And guess what?  People are still buying the CDs too.

Popularity: 60% [?]

I’ve heard people talking about Twitter for months now and I’ve looked at Twitter before and just didn’t “get it”.   But I finally broke down and registered an account to figure out first hand what the big deal is about Twitter.  From what I can see, you just post little snippets like what you’re doing, a link, some random thought or whatever else you want (limited to 140 characters) via their website or your cell phone (sms — text message).  I can see some personal uses for something like that, but am still  undecided on the usefulness of informing people what I ate for breakfast (that sounds like a great way to get a stalker, right?).

Anyway, we’ll see how my “Twittering” goes and I’ll subscribe to the Twitter blog to get some ideas.  If you’ve had experience with Twitter, I’d love to hear your stories and take on it.

Popularity: 51% [?]

Birthday present idea #1…

As I was looking through my Taser news alerts this morning (yes, I have a Taser news alert…if you have to ask why, you need to listen to some episodes of Utter Oddcast), I saw a post on the LA Times site about the new Taser MPH which is a version of the C2 Taser that has a 1GB MP3 built in.

I think I need one of these before some throws a fit and they’re pulled off of the shelves.  Apparently they only offer a semi-manly version which comes in red.  But hey, it’s still a Taser and I can paint it, right?

Popularity: 60% [?]

Audacity 1.3.4 has been released!

The Audacity Team is pleased to announce the release of Audacity 1.3.4 (beta), which includes several new features and user interface improvements, such as:

• New Welcome Screen with introduction to Audacity.
• New ‘Mix and Render to New Track’ command.
• Support for VAMP audio analysis plug-ins.
• More keyboard shortcuts and navigation.
• Reworked solo/mute handling.
• New preference: Select all audio in project, if none selected (on by default).
• New preference: Beep on completion of longer activities.
• Envelopes: Many fixes when copying, pasting, or repeating.
• Many translation updates.
• Metadata editor added for OGG, FLAC and WAV/AIFF exports. Metadata import improved.
• Muted tracks are no longer audible in the exported mix.
• Improvements to latency correction.

Popularity: 29% [?]

CompUSA is going out of business and it looks like stores will begin closing early next year. While I like CompUSA and it’s sad to see it go, the one in Indy just isn’t convenient for me to go to and shopping online or heading down the street to Best Buy is much easier (and often cheaper).

Related to the closing, I wonder how this will affect Chuck if NBC brings it back after the Writers Guild of America Strike is over.  (From what I’ve heard, parts of Chuck are shot inside of a CompUSA store outfitted to mock Best Buy.  Circuit City might be an option as long as their financial situation has gotten better.)

Popularity: 45% [?]

I decided to check out NFL.com/Live again tonight since I don’t have the NFL Network.  The stream seemed a little better than last week, but that’s probably because the game wasn’t such a “must see”.  Also, I did spot a “full screen” option, that like most online full screen videos is a bit blocky (I’ll save you the tech reasons as to why), but OK from across the room.

I do find the video feed a bit annoying with them going to people talking instead of showing the whole game.  And the whole mess of other things going on is a bit much.  I think I’d rather listen to the game on the radio instead and then catch the video highlights afterward.

I am still a bit irritated with the whole Comcast/NFL Network dispute that’s going on.  Please grow up and act like adults and come to some sort of reasonable agreement.  Right now you both just look childish with your finger pointing.

Popularity: 85% [?]