Terrapin Tables

WiMax

So I'm using WiMax for my internet (basically, all of Baltimore is one 'hotspot' I log into - no need for cable). The company that rolled it out is Xohm. Basically you pay $80 for a modem, and plug it in anywhere in your house. You pay $25/mo. with no contracts or other fees and get broadband internet. In my apartment, the speeds are about half of what I got with Comcast. It's all new (Xohm has already been bought out by Sprint's competing Clear service), but so far things are great. I even did an interview with a freelance reporter about it earlier this week, so they're still working on just getting the word out about it.

I'm not really sure why I'm posting this. I suppose that with free HD being broadcast by the major networks and this new internet option, it's easier to just stop getting cable altogether to save some money if that's high on anyone's priority list. One other advantage is the unintentionally funny error/status messages:

This never would have happened back in the days of NO MA'AM

Jefferson, how could you?

"We can’t do this all day"

Nothing personal against the Sham Wow guy (who's name is apparently Vince Offer), but he reminded me of the Jim Carrey "Ride the Snake" skit on SNL.

Anyway, apparently he joined Scientology, directed a terrible movie, got kicked out Scientology and now hocks the good stuff Germans make.

Triceracopter

Who amongst you will buy this for me?

The only way this site could be better

Mmmm

Inauguration!

So I was going to wait until I got the pictures developed (thanks to Roy and Paige we have a few wedding-themed disposable cameras we're using instead of me taking my digital camera to events), but that might take a few days.

So a brief recap of my trip to DC for the Inauguration:

• 4:30 Got up and put on 6 layers of clothes. I somehow inherited a Ravens hoodie, which I assume is John's. It came in handy.
• 6:30 Arrived at the MARC station. None of the Baltimore ones - they were sold out. I was on the line that started in West Virginia. At least I'm allowed to ride the trains there.
• 7:45 Get off the train. I am amused by the sheer number of government agencies represented at the Porta-potty depot.
• 9:00 On our way around the Capitol building to avoid security we get snarled in the Blue line. Each of the four lines into the ticket area had 60,000 people in it.
• 10:00 We are finally near an open entrance to the Mall. As Beth and I jump over some jersey barriers and cut through some bushes with some other people, Army soldiers kindly escort us back to the designated walking area. As we pass one soldier, he tells everyone the entrance is now closed.
• 10:03 The group that made it past the soldier get surrounded on three sides by other Army soldiers. They will not tell us why they're holding us. There is basically empty space right past them - the Mall is the least populated area I'd seen all day since the train station.
• 10:10 As people slip by the soldiers, we're told the "sector is closed" and we won't be allowed access to the Mall. The crowd eventually slips through and we run past the line to the Mall.
• 10:30 We enjoy the most spacious, warmest area of the day and watch the ceremony. We're so far back that we can't even make out the flags the guards carried in. But the Jumbotrons were great so it was very enjoyable.
• 11:30 As Bush is seen on the Jumbotron we hear people sing "Hit the road Jack" and "Hey, hey, hey, good-bye!". As for Obama being sworn in, we hear "Thank Jesus!" We even have a miniature American flag to wave, which prompts me to quote the Simpsons several times.
• 12:45 Because it took us 3 hours to get from Union Station to the Mall, we decide to go to Union Station immediatly for our 5:30 train.
• 2:00 We have made it two blocks, and are funneled into an area with only Porta-potties and fences. We're told to all turn around and go back, but there is 1,000 people blocking us. We chant "Let us out!" to the Army/National Guard. Eventually, they open up a barracade for us, which was great. Our group made the Washington Post.
• 2:30 We're finally shuffling at a consistent pace up 18th street. We learn that running behind the ambulances gives you a nice little boost in the crowd.
• 3:00 We finally get to Union Station. We're told it's "closed" for security reasons and are told to turn around and go wait in the street. We decide to go to the far entrance through a parking garage. They let us in after we show them our tickets.

• 4:00 - 7:30 We eat dinner on the floor, get on our train, and head home.

All in all, it was great. The crowd control could have been much better (they closed more streets than they had planned), but the crowd was nice and patient, and actual ceremony was great to be a part of.

Next time: Bring celebatory booze (no security for Mall people), more food, and leave even later to allow more time.

Create Your Own Campaign Poster

"Your image in a style inspired by Shepard Fairey's iconic poster." Or you can just look at some of the ones other people have made. I couldn't figure out how to save them to my own computer without having to create an account, but rest-assured I amused myself by creating one entitled "CRACKERS"

50 Most Loathsome People of 2008

This seems like the type of thing some of you would find amusing:

The Beast 50 Most Loathsome People of 2008

I liked this, "Olbermann is an infuriating conundrum—a person who adopts mostly correct positions for mostly erroneous reasons," and this, "In the end, Palin had the beneficial effect of splitting her party between her admirers and people who can read."

Damnit. As soon as I went to double check that my link was right, the site says it's down for either maintenance or capacity problems. Hopefully it's back online soon.

Man admits having sex with 1,000 cars

That's right, with. Not in 1,000 cars. With. This is old, so perhaps you have seen this. As funny as the Mercury Mistress SNL skit was, this is as disturbing:

He says that his most intense sexual experience was "making love" to the helicopter from 1980s TV hit Airwolf.

Not Airwolf! I really liked Airwolf. Not, 'I'd f*ck a helicopter' liked Airwolf, but I liked it. Also, I wonder if the phrase "f*ck a helicopter" has ever been utterly, previously, in the history of time.

Rain Delay is Up in Arms

Don't mean to kick down the Beer Pong post, but the quote from Rain Delay was "they stole our idea!!"

Actual Beer Pong Links

Article on the World Series of Beer Pong

The Official Rules of the World Series of Beer Pong.
My favorite part of the rules was under Playing the Game B:3 where it states that:
Bounce Shots: Players ARE allowed to let their shots bounce off of the table before making it to the cup.. In accordance with B(2) above, bounce-shots may not be interfered with until they have made contact with a cup. It should be noted that bounce-shots\do NOT count for two cups.

This means I get to categorically dismiss the whole thing and suggest that it should be named the World Series of Beer Pong for Women who something equally sexist and/or demeaning. There are also some other crappy rules, but fortunately not too many BS rules like 'sinking in the same cup the game is over,' etc, etc.

And finally the trailer for a Beer Pong Documentary . I think there should be suggestions for what the movie should be called. For example, "Innumerable Angry Men," Dr. Strangelove or: I Wish I Had Learned To Not Take Myself So Seriously", and "The Douchebags Cometh"