I’m subscribed to several RSS feeds through the program I use, RSS Bandit. Recently, after becoming active again on Flickr I decided to subscribe to several feeds. I have Des Moines, Iowa, and television as feeds, as well as my own feed for my photos so I can check to verify they were uploaded correctly.
Let’s just say not all tags are what they appear to be. In other words, television and tv do not have the same meaning all the time. You have been warned.
Excuse me a second while I write a quick note to the Iowa Department of Transportation (also known as the I-235 Department of Destruction). You know those hundred thousand dollar signs that you’ve installed along the freeway and overhead the interstate? Especially that one at 31st Street eastbound… Use them!! Thanks, Bye.
So last night on my way to work I decided to take I-235. I know, that was the first mistake, but really only the west bound exits are being affected by closures right now, I was running a little late, so I figured it would be okay. Well, not so. I get to the 7th St. exit… and it’s closed! So is the 5th street one. AWESOME!
I finally get to an open exit ramp (NE 14th St.) and have to get off there so I can turn around and come back west bound and get off at 7th street. Now, sure, I could have avoided all this by not taking the freeway at all, but it’s 8 pm at night, so heavy traffic shouldn’t have been a problem. My issue is had they used the sign at 31st street, I would have exited at MLK. Problem solved! Seriously, I don’t know why they put up those damn signs anyway. The only time I’ve seen it used was for wrestling and basketball. Then it was only for out of towners who probably didn’t know how to read anyway.
All right, I feel a bit better now… 
Welcome to night four of my sign-off shifts. It’s fine and all, but seriously, why do I have to watch this crappy show twice. It’s bad enough to watch once, but two nights in a row? Wow.
Granted, the musical guests on the show aren’t that bad, but the comedy is…bad. I realize they started out as a radio show, but really… stay on the radio. At least I don’t have to watch Soul Train again. They, too, once in a while have good guests, but most of the time it blows. I won’t even get into the whole lip-syncing they do. At least I can tell Joyner’s guests are actually playing and singing.
Happy Earthday. Now, go outside and do something earthy. Or don’t, and stay inside… It’s up to you. 
I put some more night photos on my Flickr page, along with a couple shots from work too. I wasted a little bit too much time after work taking pictures, though. By the time I made it back home the sun was already starting to come up. :-/
According to an article on CNet’s news.com, Royal Philips Electronics has filed for a patent for a technology that would effectly prevent a user from fast forwarding or changing channels during commercials. WHAT??
That’s a seriously stupid idea. I’m going to go ahead and play the “I know a bit about what I’m talking about because I work at a TV station card” here to say I hope they don’t deploy it. First off, nothing is ever flawless. The way the technology is supposed to work is when the network or show goes to commercial, a command would be sent to the box instructing it to not allow fast forwarding or changing of the channels. Once the break is over, a command would be sent again allowing the user to change channels or fast forward and rewind to his or her heart’s content.
Now let’s fast forward (hah) to this scenario. You’re watching the latest episode of the Access Inside Hollywood Entertainment Edition Report. A commercial break starts and you get locked onto that channel. Suddenly a tornado warning is issued for your county, so the television station you’re watching breaks in with a report. Since your receiver already received the lock command, you are stuck with the report. (That’s not the problem… yet.) The weather guys do their report and get to you back to the show, but only after the break has finished and the show is already in progress. But, you want to check out what the other station in town is saying about the storm and whether you’re going to die. Guess what? Your receiver didn’t get the unlock command, so you’re stuck hearing about how Tom Cruise ate his newborn daughter’s placenta right after birth. In other words… You’re screwed!
Philips says the technology is only meant to be used for Pay Per View events, but we can be assured that if the technology is used, it’ll be used to keep you from doing the above during commercials. Wow.
Well, it took about 5 tries or so, but I’ve finally got the site up and running. I actually had it working for a while and then pissed off the server. So, note to self, don’t piss off the new server. 
Eventually I’ll be uploading some of the old applications onto the website. For now, the only things that have made it back to the site are the AMBER Alerts, the Des Moines Traffic page, and the live Clarksville, Iowa weather.
