http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss en randmiranda@mac.com 2005, Rand Miranda Tue, 03 Jan 2006 20:26:55 +0800 Tue, 03 Jan 2006 20:27:23 +0800 iBlog 1.4.6 Rand Miranda Miranda Writes (Blog) More musings, opinion and other good stuff in the daily (mostly daily) goings-on for an American journalist working in Southeast Asia. Rand Miranda randmiranda@mac.com Miranda Writes (Blog) Audio Blogs http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C2029788800/E20060103202529/index.html To paraphrase the old cliché, reports of this site's demise have been greatly exaggerated. We'll be coming out soon with a new and improved Podcast, more blog entries and other good stuff.

Stay tuned. ]]> Tue, 03 Jan 2006 20:25:29 +0800 http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C2029788800/E20060103202529/index.html http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1100160177/E20051111184802/index.html My dad and brother Gary are veterans of the military, Dad served in the Army and Marines and fought in the Korean War while Gary served in the Air Force. I also have a number of friends and distant relatives who have also served with honor.

With Iraq, lots of people wonder about soldiers and military service. And while it wasn't for me, I do respect those who have served their country in this manner. I'm just glad to see that most Americans seem to now feel this way, even if it does take the deaths of young men and women to create this mindset.

God bless.

On a personal note, I will try and get a few more blog entries next week and a new Podcast of Miranda Writes will be out early in the week. ]]> Fri, 11 Nov 2005 18:48:02 +0800 http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1100160177/E20051111184802/index.html http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C2029788800/E20051031173940/index.html I've been published in a number of newspapers around the world, I've been on CNN and excerpts of a story quoted by USA Today. Still, I think it's damn cool to have my feedback/promo played on Adam Curry's Daily Source Code (episode 267).

Thanks Adam, that made my week (though I sounded terrible with my cold and some kind of audio feedback that made it sound like I was recording the message on top of a running washing machine (on heavy cycle).

I would say this has to rank right up there with the time Howard Stern read my review of his Miss America book on the air and was nice about it (though he couldn't tell if "Rand" was a boy's or girl's name.

And even though I'm still in the final stages of shaking off a head cold, I tried to piece together a new Podcast (click on the link at the left or subscribe via the iTMS). Episode 12 has my In Our Lives mashup, travel tips for the long-haul air traveller, a talk on Vietnam as a travel destination and Podsafe music. ]]> Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:39:40 +0800 http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C2029788800/E20051031173940/index.html http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1100160177/E20051031172711/index.html Mon, 31 Oct 2005 17:27:11 +0800 http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1100160177/E20051031172711/index.html http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C433821192/E20051014223014/index.html You can check it out here now or wait until it's featured in my next Podcast. Basically, I took the idea that it's Podsafe to run 30 seconds or less of a published song as fair play. Add that to one of my favorite songs as you have a mashup (though it's more of a mix-up than a mashup).

Obviously, you won't find any Beatle versions at the iTMS (linked at the sidebar on the right), but you can find most of the artists there (name followed by a * if the songs are available in iTunes)in this mix-up. The artists lending their musical talents to this include the Beatles, Ozzy Osbourne*, Johnny Cash, Spyro Gyra*, Sean Connery*, Jackie Robinson, José Feliciano* and Astrud Gilberto*.

Check it out and let me know what you think of it. Enjoy. ]]> Fri, 14 Oct 2005 22:30:14 +0800 http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C433821192/E20051014223014/index.html http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1991313693/E20051014175158/index.html The iMacs look interesting. The iSights are a nice touch and the Front Row app looks interesting.

I do like the videos on the iTMS (iTunes Media Store?) and I'd love to see more TV shows available, especially ones I can't get here in Asia.

As far as the iPods. I don't really see a need to upgrade. If the screens were much larger, or the hard drive was at 80GB (I have about 58.5GB full on my iPod photo), I'd consider one. Especially the black. Plus, I'm not enthused about giving up FireWire for USB.

Now, to see what is in store for the PBs. I do hope I can make things last until the rev b Mactel PowerBooks come out.
]]> Fri, 14 Oct 2005 17:51:58 +0800 http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1991313693/E20051014175158/index.html http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1185611406/E20051012004509/index.html And we're working on a normal Randcast with some Mac advice, more reviews and a follow-up on the trip. I'll also try and get some blog entries done as well. Click on My Podcasts or the iTMS link at the right.

Photos can be seen here. And I may add others later on. Enjoy. ]]> Wed, 12 Oct 2005 00:45:09 +0800 http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1185611406/E20051012004509/index.html http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1185611406/E20051011060802/index.html Great trip. Quick but we did a lot. Will have more to write later but I wanted to be fair to the airline. Speed is decent and no problems getting online (I'm typing this at 35,000 feet). More later. ]]> Tue, 11 Oct 2005 06:08:02 +0800 http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1185611406/E20051011060802/index.html http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1185611406/E20051006021213/index.html Yes, I'm aboard a Lufthansa flight headed to Zurich. We're about 2 hours out of Singapore.

I wasn't even going to bring my PowerBook, figuring a few days away from the computer and the Internet would be a good thing. But then I heard that Lufthansa has on-board Internet access.

Being such a whore to the Internet and the airliner promising decent speeds, I figure I could surf a little, blog a little and keep up on my emails. And with the service being offered as a pay-per-hour or flat flight fee, I figured I didn't have to be Richie Rich or the Prez to stay connected, even while in mid-flight.

I was even going to work on my Podcasts, getting the skeleton in place for the upcoming soundseeing tours of Zurich and Milano.

But whoever designed the stupid system must also be the genius who programs StarHub's cable.

Cuz there is no Internet service.

A stewardess (after waiting an eternity for one to come by) finally told me the system wasn't working.

So, here I am lugging a 17-inch PowerBook across two continents.

OK, I can do a few things on it... but still.

All this advertising and hype by Lufthansa and it's less than a failure.

Someone from that company is going to get an email, once I get somewhere where I can actually connect to the Internet.

That's what is irksome. All the promotion and nothing. And to top it off, no announcement. I'm sorry but someone could have said at the begging of the flight, we're sorry but technical difficulties have occurred, blah blah blah.

Oh, to be on Singapore Airlines right now (even if weren't with an Internet connection). And for the record, I didn't pick the airline. Next to United, Lufthansa has been the biggest disappointment of any airline (and that includes the likes of Vietnam Airlines' domestic routes).

Sharon's boss picked the airline for her business trip and it made sense for us to come back on the same flight, if not the same class (she gets business class since it's a company function she's attending).

So, there you have it. A big thumbs-down to Lufthansa for false advertising and a bigger thumbs-down for hiding it. It's a good thing I wasn't in urgent need of a connection and needing it for an important work-rrelated matter. ]]> Thu, 06 Oct 2005 02:12:13 +0800 http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1185611406/E20051006021213/index.html http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1100160177/E20051004225420/index.html Tue, 04 Oct 2005 22:54:20 +0800 http://homepage.mac.com/randmiranda/Blog/C1100160177/E20051004225420/index.html