What’s In The Suitcase? Day Six

General

A few years back I got this t-shirt from some outdoor festival on Church Street and was shocked at the blatant copyright infringement – where were the Skywalker Police? That was before I knew about “fair use” (or whatever it’s called up here in Canada) where artists can remix ideas freely and call it pop art. (guilty as charged)

I love this shirt because it’s an arty version of something burned into our collective conciousness. However, it’s not entirely obvious to most people what it is, right off the bat. I’m all mytheriouth that way.

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Urge to Early Adopt – RISING!

iPhone, Tech

All the tech blogs out there are speculating that Apple will announced an event for January 27th (or the 26th, or the 19th) where they most likely will announce the “iSlate” or “The Overgrown iPhone”. Definitely something “small enough to carry in a handbag but too big to fit in a pocket”.

Sigh. I’ve learned my lesson with being an early adopter for Apple. You wait until the 3rd version of whatever Apple makes. Usually, the first version of a new product from Cupertino is always somewhere near “prototype” quality – amazing functionality with shockingly beautiful design all packaged in reality-distorting hype. But after 6 months a battery explodes here, a screen dies there, or some glaringly obvious feature is left out (Cut ‘n paste on the iPhone!). The second version is always “We heard your comments and look! We made it white!” where they address enough issues to satisfy another push of sales (the reality distortion field is turned up to 11). Finally, the third version always has a faster processor AND most of the issues resolved.

I know all this. I’ve gone through it three times with the Blueberry iMac, the iPod and the iPhone. I know enough to wait. But why do I tingle like a zombie Jesus on the third day of Easter?

Flash back to Dec 26th in Vermont. We decided it was time to visit some shops for some post season sales and we enter a Barns and Nobel (Canadians will know them as “Chapters” up here). Right at the entrance was a pre-order desk for their new eReader, called “The Nook“. The excitement around the table itself was incredible. With the crowd chattering on how interesting this new thing was it was obvious that people want an eReader. With all the options promised by the Nook (free connection/download service from B&N, book preview, colour touch screen instead of physical buttons like The Kindle, etc) there’s a good chance that the iSlate will do the same, but in colour and with a lot more functionality. Such as magazine subscriptions and/or movie rentals via iTunes.

And have a hybrid of OS X running it.

And have internet connectivity over 3G.

And a web cam for chatting/messaging.

And will cure cancer.

Of course, SharkBoy has forbidden me to even think of getting one this year. Damn I hate being behind in technology. But keeping up with technology is like you’re a horny salmon in an Alaskan river: you can only go so far and then you’re fucked and die.

What’s In The Suitcase? Day Five

General

SharkBoy figured it out, I’m sure you all did. Yesterday’s Day Four picture has a lot more than 3 shirts folded into it. Yes. I am pre-imaging some of these posts. I had to because the Xmas tree wasn’t down this weekend and I only had a few stolen moments to set up a few shots before the deconstruction. After Day 6, it’s all new, baby.

On to today’s pic: I’ve started a thread over on Cruise Critic’s Gay and Lesbian board seeing if any other ‘Mos were travelling on the trip we’ve booked. After two months, lots of views, but no response. SharkBoy and I have resigned ourselves to the possibility that out of 3600 guests, we’re the only to homos on The Explorer and that we’re only going to find cruisers well into their 70s (no offense, Da) who might have dubious religious beliefs that don’t include Canada’s Rights of Marriage. I know, I know – the odds are highly unlikely – besides, who says all the travelling gays read Cruise Critic?.

I digress. When I use to work at the bar, I’d wear leather/bear/cock shirts out in public, proudly. These days I’m not one to overtly advertise my sexuality via a t-shirt but this one is as close as I get (other than my first Gay Day shirt).

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iSick

Celebs and Media

I’m at home with intermittent headaches from my shitty glasses and sinus cold. I’ve already watched my fill of SpongeBob and Pokemon.

When I was a kid, staying home from school was a gentle see saw of actually being sick and pretending to be sick so you could watch The Price Is Right, The $10,000 Pyramid and countless befuddling soap operas. But I think kids today have it harder – you can’t fake it a lot or you’ll wind up being medicated for ADD or something. They’d probably squander their free home time on Xbox360 or something because there isn’t anything great to watch on daytime TV these days other than half crazy chat show ladies that discuss serious social issues. Like supermodels in fat suits. No, back when I was staying home, I recall Match Game and re-runs of Hollywood Squares where B and C list celebrities pushed the daytime TV envelope with racy jokes:

Blarg my nose is running again and is raw from wiping. I need Puffs Plus.

What’s In The Suitcase – Day Three

General

I think it’s important when you travel, to let people know where you’re from. Being Canadian a few years back meant that you were either smiled at, as if you were the “slow cousin” at a holiday dinner, or you were given a big hug of “Thank God You’re Not American”-ness. Seeing how our ever sensitive Prime Minister cocked up the whole Geneva/Global Warming seminar thingy, I’m not too sure how Canadians are perceived these days. Probably somewhere on the same level as Bolivians and New Zealanders. Anywhoo… SharkBoy got me this shirt since all the Official CANADA Winter Olympics tees are unavailable. I like this one better, purely because it’s felt and it’s 10000% different from the rest.
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Until next time, Travellers!

What’s In The Suitcase – Day Two

General

What do I christen this trip with? Don’t get me wrong, I got some fantastic clothes from SharkBoy this holiday, but I have to be selfish here and say the best t-shirt I got was from… me!

I know. I’m a pig.

Over on Red Bubble, superiorgraphix (re)imagines logos from popular Sci Fi movies and TV shows and lovingly places them on t-shirts for you. I couldn’t pass up the chance to be one of the doomed crew of the ship Nostromo

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‘Til next time, travellers!

What’s In The Suitcase? Day One

General

We’re 43 days away from our trip to the US/Caribbean and with all the hoopla going on with what you can and cannot bring with you, either on board or in your luggage, I’m going to save some inspector a lot of time by documenting everything I am putting in my luggage. One day/one shirt/one short at a time. Sit back and pack with me! Remember to click to embiggen!

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You have to start with a good case. By the looks of this one, you’d say I’ve had it years and years. Actually it’s only been on three major trips. The brunt of all those scrapes you see is from my first trip with it – damaged greatly by some overzealous handler inbetween Florida and Ontario. Imagine my dismay when it rolled down the ramp at Miami Airport after it’s inaugural flight, all bunged up and such – words from all of our Moms echoing in my head: “We can never have nice things!!” Now, I relate each scrape as a travel battle scar. Much like the oatmealy lumps on my ass.