It all seems to be set, now we just have to wait. 16 of us, Whiteface Mountain, Cozy accommodations at http://www.birchtreelodge.com (yeah, we had to ditch the swanky cabin) for 3 days. I think the whole trip is going to be a sweet video opportunity too, so I hope we can get lots of footage.

I've stopped using Twitter. I like the service, it's hella-cool, but it's just something else to do all the time. Actually, I think that Facebook is ruining the whole internet in some ways.

I used to update this blog all the time, but now I don't. If I have something to say, I usually just make a quick FB status update. Usually that is enough. I used to use Twitter to post quick little blurbs here on the blog, but FB has taken over that function with the whole status thing. I was thinking about setting Twitter to update my FB status at the same time. Lots of people I know do that, but it kinda looses the whole 3rd person flavor of the old-school Facebook thing...which I actually still do, even though FB doesn't pre-start your status entry with your name...which is how the 3rd person thing started.

What I still like about this blog, which Facebook lacks, is the ability to control the layout and add additional content, like the Twitter Updates, Greek Peak Countdown, Digg Stories and such. Plus, on the blog I can write long, boring posts like this one, where on FB I can really only post a short update...similar to a 140 character Tweet.

So, Twitter is kinda falling by the wayside. I still look at it to see tweets from some of the people I follow on there. Mostly Dane Cook and Daniel Tosh...I was following Paris Hilton, for the comedy aspect of her tweets...although I think she's serious about the things she posts, but that got really annoying after a while. I really don't care which club she's going to every night. Maybe Twitter is just done for now...which is beat cause I got on that bandwagon right as it was pulling out of the barn.

But, as some other parts of my life are turning out, some long time traditions just have to end (that was really vague and cryptic, I know. I might expand on that in a later post...maybe).

Ok, I think I have found a way to explain my opinion of rap / hip-hop 'music'.

The Broken Welfare System of the Entertainment Industry.

You have to understand that my impression of welfare is influenced by the face that I live in New York...where the system is broken. There are people in New York who are career welfare. They don't work, yet they live a better life then many of the 'working poor' who have to deal with the inconvenience of going to work everyday and make less money then the Welfare Professionals...

How does this apply to Rap? The Entertainment Industry supplied the label Rap, which is also called Hip-hop. People who want to be entertainers, but have no musical talent or ability, are able to get on the system and churn out 'music' by talking over a beat and they are instantly 'artists'. Hip-hop is the welfare of the music business, only it pays a lot better then regular welfare.

I drove past Greek and Song yesterday on my way home from Billy-Boy's wedding. Of course you can't see Greek when you're truckin down 81, but you pass the exit, and it makes me get all misty...not really misty, but it makes me think about winter.

As of last season, I have been on every trail at Greek, with the exception of Zeus, and that's just because that trail is always closed. So this season will be all about waiting for that trail to open. It's always covered in ice with crazy bare spots. But it's the last one I need for my Greek Peak collection!

I'd also like to hit Song this season. I've never been there...but heard some stuff...some good some bad, but what does all that mean? It means I need to go check it out for myself.

I'm just thinking about boarding...

Yeah, it's August 4th, and I'm posting about Snowboarding. I'm starting to feel the anticipation for the 09/10 season already...4 months before the season starts.

I was just looking at the Greek Peak webcam, watching some kind of tractorish looking truck drive around. I know, if you go to GreekPeak.net, the cam says it's off-line for the season. But, you must remember that I have tricks up my sleeve from time to time. If you want to look at the cam, click here. We're probably not supposed to be looking at this feed...and I'm very sure that someone there can look at the cam-server's access logs and see your IP address if you look...but what are they going to do? So what? You're a fan. Is that a crime? Yearning for the snow to come so you can come to their 'resort' and enjoy the trails? Spend money in the pub or cafeteria? Buy crap in the shop? We love Greek Peak and we want to scratch the itch...this little glimpse is like some lotion, to stop the itch for a little while.

Yup, the Palm Pre turned out to be a fail, but it looked good while failing. I started having second thoughts about the Pre within a day or two of getting it. Then, once I had it out in the world, it was tough to defend the Pre's short comings. Finally, when I realized that the basic functions of the device were not working properly, I decided that it had to go.

The Pre was really easy to setup. I just entered my Google username and password and it imported my email, calendar and contacts automatically. It was also really easy to learn how to use. The operating system is fantastic. Everything is almost too simple! Of course, with something so new, there's going to be bugs. Palm was unfortunately unwilling to offer comfort to us early adopters. Pleas for assistance went unanswered on Palms User Community Forums. Battery life, defective screens, the flimsy slider mechanism (Oreo effect), and numerous software issues prompted frequent posts on the site. Palm only responded to people who became frustrated enough to post foul language or questionable comments...and the responses were just the Palm Forum Moderators threatening to delete posts and memberships.

Finally I realized that I was not receiving text messages. I was getting some, but not all. It also became apparent that people were not receiving messages that I was sending them. I restarted the phone, which is something that you don't want to have to do often because it takes a long time and drains your battery 3% to 5% every time you do it... Once the phone finally booted up, people received messages that I had sent days prior! With that I decided that I was going to take advantage of the 30 trial period and return the Palm Pre.

I went to the Sprint Store to look at the Blackberry Curve. I looked at it online, read a few reviews and liked the response the phone was getting from people. When I got there, the sales guy asked me if I needed help. I asked him where the Blackberry Curve was. He show me the phone and asked if I was planning on upgrading my phone. I took the Pre out of my pocket and said "Well I have this, but I hate it." He looked horrified. I was dissing the God that he prayed to every day! I explained all the problems and he denied ever hearing about these issues. I showed him the twisty slider, he said it must be a defective unit. Then I picked up one of the display units and it twisted too. He was feeling the fail. Then I told him that I was going to change to the Blackberry, but not at the store. I buy my phones directly from Sprint, so that's how I have to return the Pre. I thanked him for his help, went home, called customer service and the Blackberry was at my house 2 days later.

The Blackberry is sweet. At first I was having a tough time getting used to a totally different OS and format. But, it quickly grows on you. The BB isn't perfect, but it works...and it has a lot more apps then the Pre did. Once Palm works out the problems with the Pre...mechanical and software, the phone is going to be a real iPhone killer...or at least comparable option. The potential is there, but I think that Sprint and Palm jumped the gun...by a mile. They took a leap and rushed the phone to market to beat the iPhone 3Gs and they landed flat on their face, leaving a streak of bloody failure all the way.

Man, I am bored.  This is usually when I'd get some good ping-pong action going, but there is nobody around to play against.

I also just realized that I have another hour of work when I thought it was time to go home...  I wish I was playing ping-pong.

-- Sent from my Palm Pre