mrghort

not. that. great.

I suddenly have an urge to listen to the Harry Potter audio books. How do I do that? Here’s how it’s supposed to work:

1: Go to www.google.com.
2: Type in “harry potter”.
3: Click on “I’m feeling lucky”.
4: Click on “buy the audiobook on mp3”.
5: Put it my credit card shit.
6: Download.

How does it really work?

1: Try steps above; can’t find mp3s or even link to where i can buy mp3s.
2: Try itunes: 33 dollars for just the first book and I can only play it on certain computers using Apple’s crummy client and only when they give me permission? Suck my balls.
3: Get the feeling this is going to take a while; find about 10 different torrent in 10 seconds on google; start downloading in case nothing else works.
4: Googling….
5: Find Random House audio book site; they appear to be selling the books on CD for… $49.95. For 1 fucking book. Suck my balls.
6: Fuck this, I’m ranting to LJ and listening to a free NPR podcast or something while the torrent downloads. I’ve just lost 20 minutes of my life, which is already worth more than the cost of the book even at itune’s preposterous prices.

Look, people who set this up: I am willing to pay for you simply for the convenience of not having to deal with this bullshit. Sell me your warez properly or I will download them for free.

Made it back to zürich just in time for august 1, swiss national day, whereupon all citizens are encouraged to set off weapons-grade fireworks for about 5 hours straight.

holy crap, my mom just handed me a box containing:

1 nintendo entertainment system
2 regular nes controllers
1 nes zapper (the gun that about 2 games used)
1 nes advantage joystick controller
2 BOSS joystick controllers with commodore 64 connectors (??)
1 super mario brothers 3 nintendo power strategy guide

spy hunter
super mario brothers/duck hunt
super mario brothers 2
super mario brothers 3
adventure island
metroid
duck tales
r.c. pro am
1943
days of thunder
gauntlet
spot the video game
skate or die 2

anybody want this stuff??

The Heart of Illinois Fair came to Zürich this weekend, almost entirely unchanged.

Hypnotic rides with strange names & airbrushed 80s pictures (complete with loud rap music blaring!), plenty of mullets, fried dough things, cotton candy (die Zuckarwatte), CARNIES, booths selling wolf/eagle/metal/nascar tshirts & danzig wallets, that FAIR SMELL of mud, sugar, fried meat, livestock, human filth, etc., bad yet fun music, crappy beer tents, an airplane show, fireworks. It was all there.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ghort/

From: mpackard
Date: Wed, 04 Jul 2007 02:50:11 +0300
Subject: magnificent sheriff

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yes

Arif & Sylvia’s Tram Game Rules:

—

TRAM GAME: Official Rules

Each team will receive a list of 10 tram stops at 18:00. On each list, one of the stops will be highlighted. The team must start by going to this stop. After that, you can choose 7 more stops on the list and go to these stops in any order you choose. The game will start at 18:30 so you have a little time to plan your route. We will provide you with a tram map. At each stop, you should take a picture of at least one team member standing in front of the sign for that stop.

There should be no problem to finish one bottle of wine during the game. If you want to drink more than one bottle, that is also fine. But, you will have to bring the extra drinks yourself.

Points will be counted based on how each team performs. The team that has the most points is the winner and gets the prize. Points are awarded as follows:

Take picture at 8 stops and get to Milchbuck first: 50 points

Take picture at 8 stops and get to Milchbuck second: 25 points

Take picture at 8 stops and get to Milchbuck third: 10 points

Drink extra bottles of wine after first bottle: 5 points each

Take a picture of billet control guys: 5 points

Take a picture of you with billet control guys: 10 points

Silvia and I will play the game, but even if we do finish with the most points, we cannot win the prize. The prize is a secret!!!

If you trust us to buy the wine, that’s ok. If you prefer to bring your own bottle(s), that’s fine too. Just let us know. So, see you on Sunday at 18:00. Happy tram hopping!!!

I just got plane tix from IL to CA:

Tue Jul 24
Depart Chicago (MDW) at 8:20 PM
Arrive in San Diego (SAN) at 10:35 PM

http://www.wnyc.org/shows/radiolab/

sciency, noisy, nerdy