Month: May 2011

My Day with the iPad Kindle App

Posted on by Gentlemanly Productions

This summer my resolution was to determine if I wanted to join the ebook revolution. Like many people, I felt like I would miss the joy of holding a physical book and turning the pages. With a real book, a quick 90 degree turn could tell you how much of the book you have left. I knew I would miss these little joys, but nonetheless as a technology geek, I needed to give ebooks a chance. Memorial Day was the gauntlet was set.

10:30 – After breakfast, I set out with my bike and my iPad for an exercise/reading excursion. I have been reading the ESPN book since Wednesday on my iPad Kindle app. Using the app at home has been real enjoyable. Real Books 0. iPad 1
11:43 – I stop off at the World Financial Plaza for a hot dog. I read a couple of pages of the ESPN book, but the glare on the iPad is really annoying. I can barely read the screen, but I gotta take the good with the bad. Earlier this week, I was reading in bed, in the dark. That was a great experience. Kindle’s can’t do that unless you have a little wiener light.
12:15 – I stop at Pier 17 for some more reading. Again no matter if I am in the shade or not the screen is very hard to read.
1:30 – I stop at Central Park for some Great Lawn reading. Once again no matter my position, I can’t get a clear view at the screen. My eyes are starting to hurt from straining. Real Books 2. iPad 1.
1:45 – iPad overheats and shuts off midpage.
2:00 – Walk into Best Buy. Buy $114 Kindle.
2:15 – Get home, sync Kindle with Kindle app. ESPN book loads to the furthest page I have read.
2:30 – Head to the roof. Lay down on bench. Bend right leg up. Rest Kindle on right leg. Enjoy 3 hours of relaxing hands-free reading (except when I have to press the next page button)
5:30 – Now that was amazing. Real books have been replaced by my Kindle. Daryl was on to something.

The revolution will not be binded. It will not be backlit

Fast Food Burgers as NCAA Teams

Posted on by Gentlemanly Productions

This was hastily written.

McDonalds = UCLA
Storied history. Very popular at one point, number one in the land for many years, but that was before I was born

Wendy’s = Syracuse
Close to my heart. My favorite forever no matter who comes along. Can do no wrong. Not quite top of the heap, but every now and then it is the best thing you’ll ever eat. Face of the program is an old guy with white hair that everyone loves, but he is smart and makes sure an attractive woman related to him gets just as much attention

In and Out = Gonzaga
Since they are on the west coast you tend to forget about them. In a tournament, they are always a threat. Everyone out west loves them

Burger King = Western Kentucky
I guess they were good at some point. Still have a loyal following that swears by the team. Awesome mascot with shit eating grin that could simultaneously be hilarious or secretly be a serial killer

Five Guys = Maryland
Crab cakes and football that’s what Maryland does

Bill’s = UConn
Bit of a newer franchise but has had lots of success. Currently #1 in the land

Shake Shack = Kentucky
So good all the time, so they must be doing something illegal

87 Degrees of Duran Duran

Posted on by Gentlemanly Productions

The first song I listened to at work today was Rio by Duran Duran. From there I will only be listening to songs that were linked to from the previous song. No clue where I will wind up, but this should be fun:

1. “Rio” – Duran Duran
2. “Jack & Diane” – John Mellencamp
3. “Small Town” – John Mellencamp
4. “Learning to Fly” – Tom Petty
5. “Free Fallin” – Tom Petty
6. “Don’t Come Around Here No More” – Tom Petty
7. “Round Here” – Counting Crows
8. “The Difference” – The Wallflowers
9. “How Far We’ve Come” – Matchbox Twenty
10. “Hold my Hand” – Hootie & the Blowfish
11. “Only Want to be with You” – Hootie & the Blowfish
12. “Three Marlenas” – The Wallflowers (Flashback: Jackie’s house party)
13. “Mr. Jones” – Counting Crows
14. “Counting Blue Cars” – Dishwalla
15. “Shine” – Collective Soul
16. “Lightning Crashes” – Live
17. “Heaven” – Live
18. “Dolphin’s Cry” – Live
19. “Knights of Cydonia” (Live at Wembley) – Muse
20. “Uprising” – Muse
21. “Resistance” – Muse
22. “Stockholm Syndrome” – Muse
(Turned down a Keane exit strategy to hear my favorite Muse song. Tempting fate and heading a little deeper down the rabbit hole)
23. “Feeling Good” – Muse (Still stuck in the Muse loop)
24. “Bliss” – Muse (Don’t even have any exit options)
25. “Starlight” – Muse (Nothing rhymes with Muse)
26. “Somewhere Only We Know” – Keane (finally)
27. “You Found Me” – The Fray
(Not happy about this pick, but it was either this, more Keane, or Gaga. Weird choices)
28. “The Pretender” – Foo Fighters
29. “Best of You” – Foo Fighters
30. “Monkey Wrench” – Foo Fighters
31. “Learn to Fly” – Foo Fighters
32. “Closing Time” – Semisonic
33. “Glycerine” – Bush (‘Show more suggestions’ opened up a bunch of options)
34. “Machinehead” – Bush
35. “Comedown” – Bush
36. “Do the Evolution” -Pearl Jam (a pick for Eddie O)
37. “Alive” – Pearl Jam
38. “Smells Like Teen Spirit” – Nirvana
39. “Malibu” – Hole
40. “Volcano Girls” – Veruca Salt
41. “Perfect Situation” – Weezer
42. “Say It Ain’t So” – Weezer
43. “El Scorcho” – Weezer
44. “Loser” – Beck
45. “Pork & Beans” – Weezer
46. “Troublemaker” – Weezer
47. “Laredo” – Band of Horses
48. “Paper Planes” – M.I.A. (Big left turn. Watch out)
49. “Love the Way you Lie” – Eminem feat. Rihanna
50. “Airplanes” – B.o.B. feat. Hayley Williams
51. “Pursuit of Happiness” – Kid CuDi feat. MGMT
52. “Memories” – David Guetta feat. Kid CuDi
53. “Club Can’t Handle Me” – Flo Rida feat. David Guetta
54. “I Like It” – Enrique Iglesias
55. “Dimelo” – Enrique Iglesias
56. “Hero” – Enrique Iglesias (Always forget JLH and Mickey Rourke are in this video. It is amazing)
57. “Bailamos” -Enrique Iglesias (Trying to get to Escapar, but no dice. Need to get out)
58. “I Need to Know” – Marc Anthony
59. “Jenny from the Block” – Jennifer Lopez
60. “Hips Don’t Lie” – Shakira
61. “Cooler Than Me” (Live) – Mike Posner
62. “Dynamite” – Taio Cruz
63. “Dirty Picture” – Taio Cruz feat. Ke$ha
64. “Knockout” – Lil Wayne feat. Nikki Minaj
65. “Rockstar 101” – Rihanna feat Slash
66. “Your Love is my Drug” – Ke$ha
67. “Heart Heart Heartbreak” – Boys Like Girls
68. “Animal” – Neon Trees
69. “My first Kiss” – 3OH!3 feat. Ke$ha
70. “Kids” – MGMT
71. “You’re Gonna Go Far Kid” – The Offspring
72. “Dammit” – Blink 182
73. “All the Small Things” – Blink 182
74. “The Reason” – Hoobastank
75. “Zombie” – The Cranberries
76. “More Human Than Human” – White Zombie
77. “Space Lord” – Monster Magnet
78. “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” – Warrant
79. “Livin’ on a Prayer” – Bon Jovi
80. “Sister Christian” – Night Ranger
81. “Faith” – George Michael
82. “Keeping the Faith” – Billy Joel
83. “Dreams” – Fleetwood Mac
84. “Refugee” – Tom Petty
85. “Hurts So Good” – John Mellencamp
86. “All You Need is Now” – Duran Duran
87. “Rio” – Duran Duran (This is my thesis!)

It all comes back around.

Greatest. CoG. Picture. Ever.

Posted on by Gentlemanly Productions

By the narrowest of margins we have a winner. And Daryl has pulled off the double. Congrats to the GotY

The best part about all these pictures is that each one captures a moment. And in each moment, when you break it down to the lowest common denominator, we are all on the Pursuit of Happiness

And now, the transcript of Daryl’s victory speech:
Members of the Greatest CoG Picture Ever voting public,

I have been informed that the entry for “All Hail Daryl” has been selected as the Greatest CoG Picture ever. Even though I have been asked to give a speech such a picture wouldn’t be possible without the other subjects in the photograph. I would like to take this opportunity to thank former Gentlemen of the Year Jim$ and Joyce, former Gentlewoman of the Year Jenn$, the current Gentlewoman of the Year Theresa Power, yearly Gentleman of the Year tournament powerhouses Dougla$ and Jurgen as well as Danielle and Melissa for elevating the aura of this entry to what many already consider to be the pinnacle of photography. This pristine shot could not have happened without such a collection of gentle-people to be in frame at the same time and I owe much of that to the CoG collectively as they ensure I only associate with individuals worthy of such recognition. You know, some people may say that the ultimate achievement in CoG history may have happened the night before at the Green Rock when we were able to prove it is possible to run up an $800 tab on dollar beer night. However, this photograph shows that associating with upstanding individuals such as the subjects pictured will never permit the great moments shared amongst friends to end. Once again, a heart felt thank you goes out to the voting public and of course the CoG collective.
Thank you.

Sincerely,
Daryl Daryl Baker
Undisputed GotY 2010

Greatest. CoG. Picture. Ever. CHAMPIONSHIP GAME

Posted on by Gentlemanly Productions

After weeks of voting, we are down to just two pictures. All Hail Daryl v Safari Dmo
Bracket Here

All Hail Daryl

From Greatest Pic Ever?

Defeated:
Los Mineros de Chile
Peg & Poppers
Rick’s First Shot
Shopping Cart Daryl
Group CoG

vs

Safari Dmo

From Greatest Pic Ever?

Defeated:
Ostrowe Cigar
White Jurgen Down
Ostrowe Tan
Ostrowe Farts on Rasho
Clubster Poppers

Which Picture is Better?customer surveys

Five Boro Bike Tour

Posted on by Gentlemanly Productions

Last April, I saw posters for the Five Boro Bike Tour (a 42 mile bike bike through get this, all five boroughs) taking place in May of that year. When I tried to sign up, it was full. This year, I made sure to sign up on the first possible day. The only problem was that I don’t have a bike, and have only been bike riding once in the last who knows how long (February 2010). Little details. Tuesday April 26, I solved the bike problem with 5 days to spare. A couple of warm up rides and I was ready. What follows are the live Twitter updates I made during the ride:

6:45 The subway on 5 Boro morning http://twitpic.com/4rvuvj

7:15 Meet up with Jim$. He is a gentleman

7:34 Time to play the waiting game http://twitpic.com/4rw4jt

33 minutes after the scheduled start time. Cynical Rick makes his first appearance
8:33 Another pic from the 5 Boro bike walk http://twitpic.com/4rwsun

8:55 Got here at 7. Still walking at 9, but the start is in sight

9:27 5 B0ro Highlights of the first 20 minutes: Hipster played frogger by running across the street and almost got clocked about 5 times.
Guy screams out “Officer where can I cross.” Nowhere.
Girl making a walk of shame encounters 30K bikers blocking her from crossing 6th ave. Gonna be hard to cross in those stilettos

9:31 Stopped again. Despite my cynical tweets I am thoroughly enjoying myself. This is awesome http://twitpic.com/4rxiag

10:02 Glad to see I’m not the only cynic in the tour. Lot of people making the “at this rate we’ll get to Staten Island on Tuesday” joke

10:39 Frowned upon update mid ride 5 B0ro http://twitpic.com/4ryi10

11:05 Can’t help but think of Cam in Modern Family today. 5 B0ro

11:15 Crossing the bridge 5 B0ro http://twitpic.com/4rz83q

11:18 Jim$ sees someone covered in blood on the 59th street bridge. Not good

11:21 As silly as bike helmets look, wearing a baseball cap under one looks worse 5 B0ro

11:37 Mile 18 http://twitpic.com/4rzifu

12:11 Entering Brooklyn. Beware of hipsters 5 B0ro

12:20 The infamous Pink Flamingos 5 B0ro http://twitpic.com/4rzxqh

12:36 Yikes just saw a little kid careen off the road into an on looker 5 B0ro

12:39 Once upon a time in America 5 B0ro http://twitpic.com/4s05lb

12:42 Brooklyn Bridge 5 B0ro http://twitpic.com/4s0712

12:55 @ThoroughLizE Rick keeps tweeting about the 5 B0ro wondering how he is multitasking on the bike…
@thoroughLizE I’m just that good

1:01 Sends a text to Rachel. She is on line for the ferry already. As is Adrian from work. Jim$ and I have 10 miles to go. Shouldn’t take too much longer (foreshadowing)

1:04 And my butt is officially numb 5 B0ro

1:13 So close, yet so far 5 B0ro http://twitpic.com/4s0fuq

1:19 hits mental barrier. Tweets about it

1:21 LizE: Rick must be stopping 😉
Rick: good motivational tweet. And no I am not stopping. I tweet on the move

1:25 Mr. Diercksen presides over the 5 B0ro bike stop http://twitpic.com/4s0jma

1:31 I won’t admit it, but I now enjoy when we have to stop. Or God Save The Queen http://twitpic.com/4s0l6p

1:36 The 5 B0ro: brought to you by Jamaica, Queens & Jamaica, Jamaica http://twitpic.com/4s0n3n
Jamaica. Once you go, you know

1:46 Far in the distance. Ms. Liberty. In the foreground. Bikers walking 5 Boro http://twitpic.com/4s0rda

1:53 Coming up on 30 minutes of standing still

1:59 Woman gets fed up with waiting, jumps the barrier and heads the other way on the BQE….with the cars. Juevos

2:04 Rules no longer in effect for some people. They are jumping the jersey barrier on the BQE5 B0ro http://twitpic.com/4s0z2o

2:10 Another 3/4 mile of walking we are told. Has to be at least of mile or two of stoppage behind us

2:13 Oh my god! That’s Cynical Rick’s music! To everyone jumping the jersey barrier, I hope all your hopes and dreams come true

2:15 People to the left of the jersey barrier now backed up. People go left of that http://twitpic.com/4s13oj

2:16 This bike is named Topenga. BMWFTW 5 B0ro http://twitpic.com/4s147g

Updates coming fast and furious. Since we are stuck on the BQE

2:29 @5BoroBikeTour I loathe the people who jumped the jersey barrier on the BQE. Just FYI http://twitpic.com/4s19ps
@5BoroBikeTour make them wait until everyone passes them

2:44 Now taking random pictures 5 B0ro http://twitpic.com/4s1fye

2:50 Moving? 5 B0ro

2:54 It’s like seeing Oz for the first time http://twitpic.com/4s1k6y

3:04 At base of Verrazano. Wish I was at base of bed

3:12 Verrazano. Kill me

3:16 Almost. Not walking. Will defeat the Verrazano http://twitpic.com/4s1t5h

3:25 Finally! I made it! http://twitpic.com/4s1wyl

3:40 I hope I never see Staten Island until next year

3:44 Un poco mas http://twitpic.com/4s244i

3:55 Where have I seen this before. Tired Rick is tired. He just wants to go homehttp://twitpic.com/4s25ht

3:58 The “15 minute wait for the ferry” sign was a lie

4:02 Next year I’m doing the #4boro bike tour

4:10 I’m so exhausted the crazy Jesus guy is starting to make sense http://twitpic.com/4s2anx

4:14 Marvin the Martian FTW 5 B0ro http://twitpic.com/4s2b9f

4:31 Can almost see the Ferry Terminal

4:35 Tweeting Rick is fed up. He is done tweeting

4:48 Finally on a Ferry

5:15 Finally back on the island of Manhattan. Thank god. Now I need to find food.

5:55 God bless Shake Shack

9:35 Strawberries on the knee. I’m so old http://twitpic.com/4s5xi5

Despite my frustrations, it was a great day. The route was an A+, the weather was an A, it is just a shame the congestion was an F, and the Ferry wait was a D.

https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf