iDon'tCare: Apathy for Apple's New Delights

A cult that needs a new name. . .

I am no stranger to "new product lust." When I get something into my head that I want to possess, I tend to obsess about it. Particularly if it's not going to be available right away. I'll read all the reviews. Set a Google alert. Sign up for blogs and forums dedicated to the subject. I might even make a custom wallpaper for my computer monitors.

There was a time when I went to Office Depot at midnight, in order to be among the first to get Windows 95. And believe me, in those days, getting the information was much more difficult! I attended the "Start Me Up" launch event earlier in the day, with Jay Leno! These days, I've obsessed about the Samsung Galaxy S4, about granite for countertops, faucets, sinks, appliances, and most recently, the upcoming Jeep Renegade. But the so-called "Cult of Mac" eludes me.

Cult of Mac is the name for Apple fan boys and girls, and is sort of out of date as a term, since it isn't limited to must Macintosh derivatives. These are the folks who hang out at the Apple store, and wait in days-long lines to be the first to get the latest iPhone, iPad, iPod, etc. And "cult" is really close to the right term. Some of the things that come close, are Disney, Star Wars and Star Trek fans, sports fdespises my beloved Renegade, as well as the latest Cherokee).

Calling Dick Tracy, Calling Dick Tracy!
Images from source, Reuters.

ans, and the Jeep community (which, it should be noted,

It's probably a little unhealthy to have such devotion to a corporation. And frankly, I'm really glad this particular obsession passed me by. I mean, I have had three MacBooks, but all used. They're fine, but not thrilling. The bug just didn't bite me. I gave my only iPod to my sister, because I never used it. I use my Galaxy S4 phone for music, podcasts and radio, I don't need an iPod.

I can't imagine needing an Apple Watch either (and they probably should have stuck with iWatch, or iChronos or something). It seems kind of clunky to me, and a bit superfluous. But I could be wrong. Who would have thought we'd decide we have to pay thousands of dollars a year to have data/texting/cellular service that we used to manage to do just fine without? Who would have thought that tablet computing would bloom into desktop/laptop-killing segment in just four years?

You read that right, the iPad came out four years ago. That's it. So, maybe the Apple Watch can manage to get people to pay $350 for a watch that only works if they also have an iPhone? Maybe.

What a big phone you've got, Apple!

Also in this news were the expected upgrades to iPhone, the 6 and the 6 Plus. These phones--finally--approximate the size of the rest of the world's smart phones. Which is borderline hilarious, considering Apple fan boys have been belittling larger screens for years, as unnecessary, cumbersome, and not user friendly. And now? They won't even have the small size available to them unless they buy--horrors--an outdated model!

There is no doubt that Apple knows how to put on a show. It knows how to create buzz. And it has a sizeable chunk of the populace on the hook. It is baited and set, and they will land most of them! Kudos to Apple. I'm just glad I'm not in on this particular obsession.

[Excerpt]

Apple unveils watch, larger iPhones in bid to retake innovation crown

Apple Inc unveiled a watch, two larger iPhones and a mobile payments service on Tuesday as Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook seeks to revive the technology company's reputation as a wellspring of innovation.The first new product to be developed and introduced under Cook's reign is a timepiece tethered to the iPhone that will combine health and fitness tracking with communications. It will price at $349 and go on sale in early 2015. . .

Read more at: Reuters 

Ohio "Personhood" Effort Fails

What drives these people? Image from Raw Story.

I've said many times that abortion isn't my issue. There is virtually no one in my life who is affected by it, or will ever need to first-hand contemplate having one. But these "personhood" measures are so incredibly stupid, it isn't hard to come up with an opinion on it. Yes, there is a problem deciding where the line is, between sex and "personhood." When does a clump of cells become a person? But what I can say? The day after you have sex? I don't care how fertile you are, there is no "baby" the day after. And when you're talking about hormonal birth control, you're talking about preventing ovulation. No way, no how is an ovum a person. Thankfully, my home state--and this was not a foregone conclusion--was not willing to go along with one of these ludicrous "personhood" dealies. . .or at least they were unwilling to sign the petition. Thank you, Ohio, for not embarrassing me. This time.


[Excerpt]


Ohio personhood campaign aborted after signature drive implodes

An Ohio campaign that sought to change the state’s constitution to ban all abortions and hormonal birth control drugs was itself aborted on Tuesday evening after organizers revealed that they had failed miserably at collecting the necessary voter signatures. . .

Read more at: Raw Story

Blast from the Past: Bad 80s Videos!

One of the funny things about getting older, is that you can no longer distinguish music that was actually good from nostalgia for songs that were good at the time. For me, these four songs are all smothered with nostalgia. I still think they're all fun, some genuinely good (#1), some catchy (#3 & #4), and one probably not so good (#2, but it was my favorite at the time!).

One thing nostalgia cannot conquer though, is the atrociousness of the videos. Strange imagery, storylines that seem like the "non-sex" footage from a bad porno, hideous hair and makeup, hysterical wardrobes. . . All four of these videos are a visual assault, quite distinct from each other, but very 80s.

#1 - The Warrior - Scandal (Featuring Patty Smythe)
#2 - Obsession - Animotion
#3 - Safety Dance - Men Without Hats
#4 - Come on Eileen - Dexy's Midnight Runners