Category Archives: Rant

iTunes Store Terms and Conditions Lunacy

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Last night, while attempting to download an application on my iPod Touch, I was asked to confirm new iTunes Store Terms and Conditions.  The screen looked like this:

You have to scroll down, and then I saw this:

Apple wants you to click through 55 pages of Terms and Conditions.  I would like to see their usability statistics and find out how few people click through (somehow I think that’s what they want you to do).  I didn’t.  All I wanted to do was “purchase” a free application.

To me, this is just another sign of our legalistic American society.  We use “terms and conditions” 55 pages long to keep consumers from actually understanding the legalities of something they seek to undertake.

Georgia Football Season Predictions

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David Hale posted his “11 Bold Predictions” for the 2010 football season and Georgia Bulldogs football. I agree with most of his predictions, but David, and a lot of others, are beginning to predict the Dawgs will do well this season, and that concerns me.

When fans (or me, specifically) think Georgia is going to have a poor season (or what we like to call a “rebuilding season”), the Bulldogs do well – think about the 2005 season or the 2007 season. Those were “rebuilding” seasons, and the Bulldogs accomplished so much, including the SEC Championship in 2005 and a Sugar Bowl win in 2007. When we thought the Dogs would do well – think 2008 – they perform pitifully.

As such, I am torn on whether to believe the Georgia Bulldogs will do well this season or will do poorly.  I truly don’t know how the Bulldogs will do this season.

So here is Georgia’s 2010 football schedule, with my predictions.

  • September 4, 2010 (home) – Louisiana-Lafayette
    • Do I even need to say anything?  Louisiana-Lafayette will try the same thing Southern Miss tried last night (against South Carolina): the no huddle offense, which will work for the first 3 series, and then Georgia will blow them out of the water.  Win.
  • September 11, 2010 (away) – South Carolina
    • This will be a tough start for Aaron Murray, but behind the veteran offensive line, Georgia’s receivers will open up the running game.  Win, but close.
  • September 18, 2010 (home) – Arkansas
    • This is going to be a tough game against Arkansas’s offense, but I think the 3-4 defense will stand tough.  Win, but close.
  • September 25, 2010 (away) – Mississippi State
    • This is a real tough call, because we’re playing in Starkville.  But, I think the new version of the Miss State Bulldogs, with their new-ish coach, will take us.  Loss, but real close.
  • October 2, 2010 (away) – Colorado
    • Georgia football comes out my way, to play in Boulder against the Buffaloes.  Georgia handles the altitude well, and the defense pounds the Buffs.  Win, all the way.
  • October 9, 2010 (home) – Tennessee
    • The Volunteers have this game marked on their calendars, but I think we make quick work of the new Vols coach.  Win, but close.
  • October 16, 2010 (home & homecoming) – Vanderbilt
    • Although I like Vandy’s new coach, Georgia dominates at home.  Win.
  • October 23, 2010 (away) – Kentucky
    • Kentucky could be tough, but if Georgia concentrates on this game and not the next week, they take the day.  Win, but close.
  • October 30, 2010 (Jacksonville) – Florida
    • Why can’t we schedule the bye week before the Florida game?  It worked well in 2007 (think Endzone Celebration).  I really can’t decide on this game.  On one hand, I think Florida comes more prepared to this game and blows out Georgia.  On the other hand, the Georgia team has to want to win in Jacksonville again.  Loss, close but heartbreaking.
  • November 6, 2010 (home) – Idaho State
    • I don’t know who scheduled the Bengals from Pocatello, but we rock this game at home.  Win.
  • November 13, 2010 (away) – Auburn
    • Auburn on their own turf.  I think Georgia forgets how to play this week, and the more prepared Tigers maul us.  Loss.
  • November 27, 2010 (home) – Georgia Tech
    • A nerd-whooping in Athens.  We learned how to stop this offense last year, and we’ll do it even better this year.  Win.

That puts the final tally at 9-3 (excluding any postseason games), but I’ve identified 6 close games (welcome to the SEC folks).  Those six games can really go either way.  And since I’ve predicted they’ll do well, the Dawgs will likely disappoint this season (see above).  Just remember, when David Greene started at quarterback his true freshman year, the Dawgs went 8-4.  The next season, they went 13-1 and were SEC and Sugar Bowl champions.

Stay tuned tomorrow, I’m going to post some great Georgia videos to pump us up for the season opener.

Why I Don’t Depend on Apple

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Why don’t I depend on Apple products?  Because you need a translator to read Apple’s press statements (the writer of that, John Gruber, is an unabashed Apple fanboy).  That press release is the laughing stock of the internet right now.

My cellphone is something I depend on everyday.  If it can’t get a signal (because I can’t hold it correctly or AT&T’s horrible service) or if I can’t replace the battery (batteries hold less of a charge over their lifespan, and with the iPhone, I can’t change the battery), I can’t trust it to work when I need it.

Don’t get me wrong.  I love my first generation iPod Touch (seriously, love it).  The apps are incredible, and everything just works.  But the battery will barely last an hour now, and it crashes frequently.  My iPod Touch is just an extra, something I love, but I can live with out.

My cell phone (a Blackberry) is always there for me.

HOPE Scholarship is a Privilege

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I had a nice Letter to the Editor in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution today:

It shouldn’t be the responsibility of the state and its citizens to continue a students’ education beyond graduation requirements. Smart and applied students can continue their learning at graduate institutions, rather than continue to use up taxpayers’ dollars. Rather than worrying about “earning without fear of financial burdens,” why not invest in your own future? I would imagine if students paid their own college tuition bills, they would graduate in four years (or maybe even sooner).

Chris M. Lindsey, Denver (UGA ‘08 in four years)

My letter was written in response to an editorial published December 14th that explained why “super seniors” who have high grades should get continued support from Georgia’s HOPE Scholarship beyond the mandated 127 hours:

What I don’t comprehend is why students with the highest level of pride in their studies, students who dedicate time and energy to rising above the norm, are not given the chance to continue or even finish their goals [...]

My proposition allows students with a 3.5 grade-point average or better to be granted the chance to appeal scholarship revocation due to exceeding the 127-credit-hour limit [...]

I felt compelled to bring this injustice to the public’s attention. Yes, I could have earned one degree and graduated last May, but my résumé would have been void of a much-needed internship, and I would have had to sacrifice the presidential role of a club I have invested my heart into at UGA.

If you must have more experience, more degrees, or more résumé fillers (injustice?), please pay for your own classes. It is what students everywhere else are forced to do for their own education.  Stop wasting the money of the taxpayers of the State of Georgia. It is not their job to help you with your résumé.  It is this mindset, that people have the right to HOPE Scholarship, that will eventually run the HOPE Scholarship fund dry.

An undergraduate degree paid for by the State of Georgia is a privilege.  Enjoy it, but remember that it might not always be there.

And to Hell with Georgia Tech

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Ahh, what a weekend.  Both football teams representing the division champions in the Atlantic Coast Conference (or American Cupcake Conference, if you will) were beaten by unranked Southeastern Conference teams.  Clemson was knocked off by South Carolina, and Georgia Tech got stomped by the University of Georgia Bulldogs.  What an accomplishment, winning the ACC.  Westerdawg even asked if the ACC Championship was a real thing (no way).

The best part?  All the Georgia Tech fans talking trash for the past 365 days.  You’d think they might watch out, since they’ve beaten Georgia once (ONCE!) in the past nine years.  But no, they shot their mouthes off for a whole year.  And now they can eat crow.

Some highlights:

And as the words go:

Glory, glory to old Georgia.  And to Hell with Georgia Tech!

Go Dawgs!