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Question: If you could have the singing voice of anyone, whose voice would you have?

My Answer: I have no idea - I like bands, and my favorite is R.E.M., but there's nothing terribly spectacular about Michael Stipe's voice. I'll go with "Josh Groban" because I know more than a few lady friends would pretty much do him after only a few notes, and hey, if I'm going to have a gift, I may as well use it for good. My own good, that is. 🙂

You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.

Less than a day later, and the site is back up.

Some people just don't get it.

I won't miss him any more than I'd miss Dvorak if he gave up writing and spouting drivel. Dave Winer is a prime example of "you reap what you sow."

Scripting News is taking a break.

The lack of support, even name-calling, from people who think of themselves as my friend, has got me thinking that maybe this isn't worth it. And the abuse from others, bordering on cruelty, is intolerable.

I'm thinking about all the services I provide and UserLand provides, for free, after years of pouring money and energy into community building, and the lack of appreciation for any of that in the community.

So I'm shutting down Scripting News now, to give me some time to think, and to give you all a demo of what it would be like if it weren't here. These last few days have been really awful. You can't imagine what it's like to have so many people screaming at you. It's inhuman, especially considering that my health isn't that good. The only conclusion I can come to is that I shouldn't be doing this.

Give it some thought. This is what it would look like if there were no Scripting News. What would it be worth to you, not in monetary terms, but in support terms, to keep this going.

I'm not willing to go on without more support.

Best wishes.
Dave

Question: If you were starting a new relationship, what's your distance limit?

My Answer: Poorly worded question (my apologies), but perhaps my answer will clear it up. I'd date someone four hours (by car) from me. Four hours is close enough that I could drive to see my gal any time I had two days off, or even some nights on a whim for a nice dinner (that I like driving helps). Any more than that, though, and I think I'd find myself making excuses to stay home too many weekends. Of course, for a serious relationship with some time behind it, there's nearly no distance too far.

You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.

From Carpe Aqua comes the news that Fastlane was cancelled. As you can see I've mentioned Fastlane several times. It is - correction, it was - one of my favorite shows, a sort of Miami Vice for the new millenia. The camera work, the writing, it was all very well done. Other TV shows I've liked that met with a quick demise: "That's Life" and "Hidden Hills." There are many, many others that I think of every now and again, but Fastlane was one of the best. Hrmph.

I went to the optometrist today for a checkup. I hadn't been to one in three years, since I lived in Pennsylvania, and now that I've got coverage, I thought I'd swing by, check out the effects of staring at a computer screen 18 hours a day, and get some new frames (my current ones are somewhat dated and will be turned into sunglasses).

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José and I went to a Honda dealer today to test drive a Honda Element. As I wrote before, I was considering an Element.

To make a long story short, the Element made me realize why I love my Aztek so much. The Element had two plusses: a polyurethane floor that can be hosed and/or swept and an auxiliary audio port (for an iPod or whatnot).

The Honda comes out to about the same cost, but has almost no standard features. Keyless entry? $150. Bungee cords on the back of the driver's seat? Extra. Everything is apparently available for an extra cost in a Honda. Moonroof? Non-mechanical and in the rear (wtf?). The entire Element felt "cheap" compared to the sturdy ruggedness of my Aztek. It was smaller, it was stumpier, and it didn't even have a passenger-side armrest.

The engine? Please. You don't pull a nearly 4000 lb load (the car and four passengers) with a 160 horsepower four-banger. Sorry. My 210 HP/V6/4000 lb Aztek had twice the kick the wimpy Element had. Though the Element and the Aztek are both rated for the same gas mileage, approximately, I get a realistic 25-35 MPG in my Aztek, and I think even the Honda would have a hard time matching that.

"Wimpy" and "Cheap" = Not the Car for Erik. Sorry, Honda. Your cars are bland and underpowered.

Question: If you could set the national speed limit, what would it be?

My Answer: 65. 55 is a bit slow, and at 65 most people go 70. 70 is decent - over a mile a minute - and yet not so fast that people go 100 (which some would if the limit was 75 or so). Another driver on the road going 100 MPH is scary, no matter how well they think they drive.

You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.

Since I have health care again, including a vision plan, I'm getting an eye exam tomorrow and I'll probably pick out new frames. My current ones are fairly simple: a turtle-shell copper half-rim (the top half). What's the style these days? Rimless? I guess I'll find out. The Lens Crafters Style Advisor was of little help, giving me only three choices, one of which follows:

P.S. Someone I know fairly well likes these.

I make no bones about the fact that Freshly Squeezed Software is a small company. We're three people, really. But (roughly) so are other great Mac software development companies, like Panic and even Omni Group to a certain extent. Other companies are only one person.

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Question: If you could have X-Ray vision or the ability to read people's minds, which would you choose? What if you couldn't turn them off?

My Answer: I'd choose to have the ability to read people's minds, regardless of whether I could turn it off or not. I'd have to learn to deal with other people's thoughts like I deal with noises I hear every day. Imagine the things you could achieve if you could read people's minds! Of course, you'd have to learn to control yourself, and not blow your cover, or you'd find yourself friendless pretty fast. In other words, don't say "yes" when a woman nearby thinks "I wonder if that guy thinks my ass looks fat in these jeans."

You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.

Read the MCI Backstory here.

Last Friday, a collection agency called me to attempt to collect on $158.89 they say I owed MCI. I paid because I take my credit rating very seriously, then immediately called MCI because the amount jogged my memory. The backstory tells me why - I'd effectively paid off someone else's account. MCI had not fixed the problem.

I called MCI again. I explained myself again. They said someone would call me back within six days. That's today. It's 7:50pm and nobody's called.

I've called twice, and they haven't got a clue what's going on. I got a call from MCI attempting to collect the $62 balance on my actual account - the account that's paid automatically from my VISA card every month.

MCI = Fucktards. As soon as I can get my money back, and a few months of free service, I'm done with them.

Question: What's your dream coffee maker?

My Answer: One that dispenses Coke.

You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.

Question: Jenna or Heidi?

My Answer: Gotta go with the girl from Pittsburgh, hands down. Mmmmm, brunettes.

You are encouraged to answer the Question of the Day for yourself in the comments or on your blog.

Not one, but both Heidi and Jenna (together) are in Playboy next month. Yes, both. If only Playboy could have found a redhead to complete the trio…

For what it's worth (jack squat, I know), Jenna is soooooo much more attractive. She's got natural breasts and brown hair. She's stuck up (or maybe she's overcome that by now, who knows?), and while Heidi's IQ may be high, her common sense and the way in which she, uhhh, "displays" her intelligence leave a lot to be desired.

I'm not sure if Jenna is the hottest Survivor ever, but she's certainly the hottest Survivor winner. How nekkid will they actually get? I guess that remains to be seen. From Playboy.com:

The glut of reality shows has made even the most ardent tube watchers glassy-eyed. But the latest offering from Survivor is burned into our memory thanks to a pair of gorgeous young contestants -- Jenna Morasca and Heidi Strobel -- who made isolation and deprivation seem sexy.

For what it's worth, the words "Jenna," "Heidi", and "Playboy" have come up three times before on NSLog();: Survivor 6.7, Survivor 6.10, and QotD: Jenna in Playboy.