The Truth in Our Hearts...

Well, tomorrow was not quite right. I didn't get most of the ornaments on until Sunday and the last trickled onto it Monday. Sadly my Tie Fighter and Defiant (Star Trek) ornaments do not fit in the new light sockets and I have yet to see about jury-rigging them. Otherwise the decorations and ornaments were a success!

The lack of tinsel, which I love, is due to our cats adoring all things glittery and we have enough trouble keeping Lana from knocking all the balls off the lower branches without enticing her to go higher on the tree.

Now if the slushy freezing rain will just change to snow, it might be a white Christmas. At least my parents home in NY seems to be getting a seanal coating of fluffy white :-).

Merry Pre-Christmas to ALL!!!!!

Posted by Heart at 6:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Wow. It has certainly been a long while since I last posted on this blog and especially about my iPhone, since I last ranted about my favorite device of 2007.

So, where am I now? I have updated to the latest firmware version 1.1.2, soon to be surpassed by the rumored 1.1.3 version coming any week now. I have jailbroken my iPhone again (did this as soon as there was one available for version 1.1.2 - I didn't have to wait too long) and added all my favorite third party applications again (voice notes, NES, Netflix, DropCopy, Blackjack, etc.). The iPhone is still my all-time favorite phone and iPod.

Of course Steve Jobs did Finally give in to the obvious necessity of allowing third party applications and development on the iPhone, with an official SDK expected in February of 2008. It doesn't mean that all the apps my fellow jailbreakers and I have enjoyed will be safe from the next update, but perhaps by the Next one after that they will be. Happy Days! (does a snoopy dance)

In any case, I just wanted to let me regular readers (ha ha!) know that I am still a devoted iPhone addicted and Apple geek. My second favorite device of 2007 was and is my MacBook Pro with Boot Camp. Nothing like having the fastest Mac laptop and fastest PC laptop all in one box!

Posted by Heart at 1:21 PM | Permalink

So it seems...

That's right folks, the people who regulate what we can and can not bring on planes have decided that using lithium batteries on airplanes is too big a fire risk. What??? I didn't even know that a lithium battery had EVER caught fire on a plane. Sure, we hear about one catching fire once in a long while ( say 1 out of every billion or so sold - just speculating here) but seriously how often do you hear about this type of thing, much less on an plane?

I learned of it first on Thom Hogan's Nikon site, which has a link to the article on the new travel regulations.

What I can't believe is that No one is making a stink about this! Doesn't anyone realize what this means? No ipod playing or watching movies on your laptop when traveling across the country, across the ocean or around the World! Good bye to working while you fly for business travelers. Good bye casual ipod listeners who enjoyed tuning out to their favorites bands on a flight. Say "Hello" to bad in-flight movies, pay-for-play airline alternatives, and hanging with your fellow crowded, bored passengers twiddling their thumbs and drumming their fingers on their now useless laptops and mp3 players.

Yes, this was a stellar move by people putting our tax dollars to work. Nice one guys! Thanks for protecting us from something incredibly rare and potentially pointless so we can be further inconvenienced because you all had nothing Better to do with your time....

Posted by Heart at 1:01 PM | Permalink

Can you tell that I am 'addicted' to my iPhone? (huge grin)

Well I am, and I love it. It is still my best and favorite new gadget/toy/phone/ipod and techno-device even though Apple, its maker, would try to stymie my joy and micromanage how I choose to enjoy this device. Kinda like how Radiohead wants to force us to "enjoy" their music only as an Album and never by the individual songs. Geez, what does that say about the songs if they can't stand on their own or needs Other songs to 'complete them' and the experience? But I digress... iPhones!

That's right, Apple has again taken a fairly nasty stance and let loose the long awaited update that includes the WiFi Music store, which even *I* thought would be cool! Word! But it comes at the cost of my "harmless" and yet Very Useful, unsupported by Apple, 3rd party apps. Do I really want to give up my NES games, Black Jack, TapTapRevolution(TTR) and other games just so I can make an impulsive iTunes purchase? Should I trade the ability to have custom FREE Ringtones of my own creation, a Terminal that I can use to check my servers, and Voice Notes for the ability to have some iPod controls on my screen without unlocking it every time?(hey, the headphone skip and pause/play function will suffice for now and when I use Good headphones I can cope)

No. See Erica Sudan's article on tuaw.com for useful info before YOU upgrade.

I have lived with these "limitations" since the beginning and Apple's small enhancements are not worth trashing the hard work and inventiveness that the 3rd party hackers and developers have done on our behalf. Why Apple choose to do so, and with no real legitimate explanation I might add, is a mystery to me and sadly an indication that my always adored Apple, maker of my favorite computers and tech equipment, is becoming warped and twisted and corrupted by their own size (greed?) and perhaps the "new friends" they seem to be making in the corporate and international world.

Having a Soul is now too costly Steve? Did you loose your Daemon?

Sure, I understand about having to honor the agreements with your phone carriers and making sure only they can provide service for you phone, but that should not mean f*cking over the 3rd party developers. Hell, WTF didn't you give us all an SDK in the first place? Is the iPhone software just Beta still? Or even Alpha? And you aren't done tweaking it enough to issue a supportable SDK? Then SAY so. At least you would alienate less of your devoted fans. WE would understand. And don't think that this new found "Fame & Fortune" means you can forget your "roots". Shun us and it will be your own demise. Read your Ancient Literature!

So, what does it mean for me? I won't be updating any time soon. Not until Someone has re-jailbreaked the iPhone and allowed me to customize it again with Summerboard and other cool apps. Either that, or Apple will continue to pull Microsoftian moves like updating iTunes so that only iPhones running the latest firmware will sync properly... Don't do it Apple! Just don't go there!

In the words and voice of Luke Skywalker, "I know there is still some Good in you!"

From Geek Culture's Joy of Tech.

Posted by Heart at 11:58 AM | Permalink

Well, we got our rebates! Hooray! Apple came through one week later, as Steve said they would (good job Jobs!), and issued $100 credits for each iPhone we purchased. The Extra $100 we spent still 'stings' but I think we'll live... certainly they won't snub us Again... not our Apple Good Guys!

But available NOW to iPod Touch Users! (tough luck iPhones!)

(Mmm mumph murrumph) Eating your own words is not too tasty (sighs). You know, I really though Apple had "seen the light" regarding their treatment of their more devoted, fervent believers, and early adopters of their usually Wonderful technology, but apparently not. Like more plebian companies they seem to be fracturing under the pressure of their recent successes.

With the new WiFi Music Store imminent and the promise of an iPod Touch by the end of the month, it seemed to Me like a perfect opportunity to show their loyalty and thanks to the iPhone owners and roll out the new store for That crowd First! Especially considering that the Touch would ship with the WiFi store already on it. Well, we waited with hopeful stares at our updaters and Apple pages for signs of our new iPhone update with WiFi Store...

But no. Instead I walk into my local Best Buy and see an employee showing off the iPod Touch to a customer, including the WiFi Music Store! OUCH! Surely when I get home there will be an update waiting...I must have just missed it.

Nope. It is now Tuesday and the enabled Touch's are in many hands now and us iPhone users are left wondering When we will be included again? Well Steve, thanks for snubbing the early iPhone devotees again! I was sure that Apple would do the "smart" and responsible thing and open the WiFi Music Store to its devoted iPhone users before it released the iPod Touch to the rest of the world with the WiFi Store enabled. It would have gone a long way to assuaging our loyal hearts, but no, they stay bruised and a reminder that no longer does Apple really "care" about its customers. Sure they will 'service' their customers, but "caring" about them seems to be far less important now. Slowly it seems to be abrading under Apple's own new found glory... I only hope that Steve takes a break and gets some perspective back. Apple with Ideals and heart is a Wonderful Company. Apple with $$ signs as its Goal and Soul is a dead end story.

Get your Sh*t together Apple and stop being so "Microsoftian".

Posted by Heart at 3:34 PM | Permalink

Well, well! You heard my thoughts Steve! Thank you! Should these words prove true and work out as indicated, you will have truly redeemed Apple in my eyes and reaffirmed one of the reasons Why I Believe in you...

.. a good heart and awesome technology on the inside...elegance and simplicity on the outside.

And a Soul too. ;-)

Posted by Heart at 10:28 PM | Permalink

Ouch! That Hurt, Apple! (rubs cheek where I am sure it is quite red) Is that how you reward your loyal and sometimes fanatical devotes of your truly wonderful and often amazing products? Especially for those like myself who have been champions of your greatness since the days of Apple IIs! That's right. We waited a few weeks but broke down and upgraded our phones to iPhones in July.

Well, we broke our banks to do it, devoted fans that we are and bought two new 8G iPhones. And to be Sure, we Do Love our iPhones to death. But Apple, is that how you Thank us? Make us pay $100 per Month for each of the two months we have the privilege to own a new iPhone? We had considered the option of waiting for the price to drop but assumed that the price would remain stable for a long while and that newer versions with more features would arrive at the same price spot, as generally happens with other ipods and macs. Who knew it would drop so drastically in 2 months time? Would we have waited 2 months to Save $400 ($200 per phone)? Absolutely YES! We may be devoted but we are Not complete fools or so rich to take such a savings lightly! Sure, we expect that sooner or later newer versions will come out and older models will drop in price, but to shaft people with such a precipitous depreciation in value after only 2 Months is an insult to Every one of us who Believed in you at the start. Ccertainly some sort of milestone for a company to alienate its most devoted fans. After all, it was us early adopters and our enthusiasm that made the iPhone such a success!

The very LEAST you could do is credit the "early adopters" such as ourselves, with some iTunes credit or a refund coupon to our local Apple store for accessories...say about $100 worth for the 8G buyers and $50 for the 4G folks, perhaps evan as a "credit" when the WiFi-iTunes store comes online later this month?! (serious look) Take the "sting" out Apple...show a little Gratitude to those devoted stalwarts of yours and say "Thanks" to us as well!!

Otherwise, 'thanks but 'no thanks' for your inconsiderate price drop, making our early belief in you quite costly...sorry to seem whiney, but I never thought buying an Apple product would become a "gamble" for a good deal.

A slap in the face.

Ouch! That stings Apple! ... have some 'healing' iTunes for us?

(Comments are open for this post - If you have one or have experience with this issue feel free to post your thoughts, but no spammers please. We'll see how this works...)

Posted by Heart at 4:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I watched a movie the other day. A documentary perhaps. Why 'perhaps' a documentary? Well, Michael Moore calls his films "documentaries" so I don't want to place such a broad definition on the term, nor imply things I am not entirely sure of, which is the facts as presented. In this highly political climate there are too many filters in place before I get to absorb what has to suffice for information. So while I am open minded, I am skeptical. Unbiased, yet doubtful. I must test and corroborate what I learn before assimilation takes place. (I know, so 'Borgian")(g)

Oh, yes! The movie... it was "America: Freedom to Fascism" by Arron Russo.

I watched it not knowing what it was about, but I do worry about our Nation's course these days. And I see our children worrying as well. So I was intrigued. I always try to get information from all sides and truth be told, today's American Media does indeed bend to the 'Corporate Winds' more than it heals to its unbiased high purpose. But I digress...

It unsettled me. It was chilling. I think mostly because I am a person of Reason and Logic. ("ha ha" to all my friends who are joking at me for saying that - it's true. I was not an "A" student by 'accident') And I am an Idealist and philosopher like our founding fathers were, and had to be, to seed the soul of our Country. Basically, if true, their (our founding fathers) vision has been seriously corrupted in the worst way by people lacking ethics and filled with a pompous and distorted view of themselves and the world. If so, we are indeed in danger of losing our American (and every soul's) birthright; Freedom... it's More than just another word for nothing left to loose. It is Everything.

But I never take anything at face value without exploring further. Time will tell on this one and I surely hope to God that they are wrong. Or that our children have the souls of our forefathers and not the ones of today's sheep.

By the way... I am a Patriot. I love My Country. I am Proud of our Troops, all over the world. They are the Best. This would not have upset me if I did not truly care...

Posted by Heart at 12:08 PM | Permalink

My resolution:

To begin speaking... to end my silence...

To love and learn... to teach and inspire...

And for all of You, my Hope and Love.

Happy New Year!

P.S. That's my Grandmother with her first car at 18. She hopes to be enjoying many more New Years'... I hope so too!

P.P.S. That goes for you too Mom & Dad!

Posted by Heart at 11:26 PM | Permalink

Never where do we all go
One day one time one week ago
Today is now a day for sure
Tomorrow yet a dream unsure

I must look now within us all
To see what lies before
For nothing that concedes the time
Is ever there for sure

And now we go about our ways
Different each in every way
But same we are within our minds
Even skins of untold kinds

To all and all the outside thieves
A doorway lies we seek the keys
Forever will our souls transpire
To light the ways within the fire

The spark does fly
A dream can lie
The tear will dry
We all could try.

Posted by Heart at 10:26 PM | Permalink

Goodbye (deep racking sob) my Beautiful Darcie Marie, you will be in My Heart forever....

Posted by Heart at 11:57 PM | Permalink

You scored as Xena, Warrior Princess. I am Xena, Warrior Princess. I have done some bad things in my life, but I am committed to helping other people. I like to laugh, though my sense of humor can be rather sarcastic. I have several close friends, including Gabrielle. Xena, Warrior Princess 100% Elizabeth I 92% Boudicca 92% Cleopatra 79% Joan of Arc 75% Which Female Heroine Are You? created with QuizFarm.com

Posted by Heart at 9:50 PM | Permalink

Yes, I was.

Unsuspecting that a trip to a nearby Gallery (on Sunday October 23rd) would take my breath away.

I wasn't expecting that. Sure, I have been to Art Galleries and Art Shows before. In fact, I have been to most of the well known and famous galleries in NYC and the surrounding area. So when I had a chance to go see the Barnes Foundation Gallery I thought, "Great! I look forward to seeing some beautiful artwork again! It has been a while." I just wasn't expecting the impact that that particular Gallery would have on me.

It was AWESOME. Humbling. Breathtaking. To be in the presence of such Master painters... Wow. This was GREAT, no, Exquisite Art. Just Wow. And not just one or two Picasos or a Matisse and two Renoirs. No. How about 50 Renoirs? And 30 Picasos and as many Cezanne? And almost as many Rousseau, Monet, Matisse and Rubens and the list goes on. It was all so Beautiful!

And I think that one of the things that made it so impressive was how it was displayed. Dr. Barnes was correct in having his collection displayed exactly as he wanted it to be in his own home. Brilliant.

Posted by Heart at 12:49 AM | Permalink

If I were a Vampire, I would be....

You scored as Marius. You are the quiet cool. You are so mellow people are lulled into a false sense of security. When you are pissed god help anyone who crosses you. Marius 100% Lestat 92% Dracula 92% Armand 83% Blade 83% Deacon Frost 75% Spike 67% Akasha 33% Angel 25% Louis 25% Whose your Vampire personality? (images) created with QuizFarm.com

Wow. Who would have guessed such... accuracy.

Posted by Heart at 9:29 PM | Permalink

I have always tried to BE a "Good" person. Indeed, I have always strived to be the "best" person one could be.

Seriously.

In that pursuit I have constantly searched for the wisdom to "do the right thing" in everything I do, all things considered. And I mean ALL things and not just those personal conundrums found in everyone's day to day life complexities. It may be my most important task.

Posted by Heart at 8:51 PM | Permalink

Thank You God, Goddess, Creator of All, Is that IS, Essence of Us All...

Thank you for all that you have given me of Life.
Thank you for having any Life at all.
Thank you for all that I have seen, done, met, shared, experienced.
Thank you for the beings that surround me, that I love.

Thank you for this Day.

Thank You.

Posted by Heart at 10:56 PM | Permalink

Well, ok. I am not really "gun" shy. Guns don't scare me, just the people holding them - sometimes.

But I am "shy" of posting my thoughts for all my brash bravado of previous posts. Why? Well, there are many reasons I suppose, but mostly it is akin to stage fright. Even though I know that few if any will read this, my "words" are still Mine. They "speak" of me. Words are sacred.. The ideas they weave are magical. They are to me anyway. I try not to take them lightly.

Therein perhaps lies the reason for my hestitancy. I am taking them too seriously? Whatever. The fact is, I need to write. I need to let the words flow, even if some are "rough" around the edges.

Posted by Heart at 8:18 PM | Permalink