Somehow, by some miracle, the small amounts of money I could gather and put against my goal, was joined, and joined and joined, added to by friends and completely anonymous strangers over the last few days and now I am within striking distance of enough money to buy a backup computer.

Still a little more to raise, but we’ve managed to raise almost all of it. So if you want to pitch in, we’re still trying to make it.
Read more…

I sighed deeply, before I started typing. What a week this has been. So here’s what’s happening with this sad, sad iMac story I am telling.

Last week when I first wrote about what the last two months have been like, I cross posted my blog post to Apple’s discussion forum. I got a number of responses and a few of these were extremely rude, I must say.

A few people read (you must read ‘skimmed’ here) my first post and made a couple assumptions about how my computer went on the fritz, and decided that my case had no warrant.

Read more…

I must start at the beginning, for those of you who have not been following my reported travails in this situation through my Facebook and Twitter posts over the last couple of months.

Almost two months ago, electricity surged through my building and killed my iMac. At least that is what I thought had happened. I don’t actually know what happened. I had three other laptops on, plugged into the same surge suppressor, hard-drives plugged in all over, and none of them experienced any problems.

However, in searching forums online, I found numerous people reporting similar or close enough for me to figure something serious was up. Bottom line, my computer that had never given me trouble previously, suddenly went AWOL. And has remained decidedly so ever since.

Read more…

FastMac, a well-known Apple resellers, just released a collection of limited edition t-shirts to celebrate Apple’s 25th anniversary; and they totally rock.

Using classic Apple iconography the t-shirts are reasonably priced, and good quality. Even if like me you live in a relative Mac Lover’s desert, and the joke will largely be lost on the population, these designs are delightful.

Although the Anniversary shirts only number three, there are some other designs available as well.

My current favourites are the shillouette of the 80s jogger and sledgehammer from the iconic 1984 ad that launched the Mac, and the ‘Obamac’ variations… those totally mash two of my favourites up together… what more can a third world geek girl want in a t-shirt? I want all, and I want a real Obama t-shirt too.

My birthday is in two-and-a-half months, so if anyone is so inclined, this is on the list.

Now all of my previous PDAs have been Palms, and I have always loved the sturdy nature of Palm devices. I was in fact, also a fan of the former Palm Os.

When Apple released the iPhone as a lover of all things Apple, I immediately started to lust for it. For a number of reasons–not the least of which is money–I have opted to hold off on an iPhone purchase.

I think this is largely because we in the Caribbean have been screwed over when it comes to telecommunications. Totally screwed over. Every option is expensive.

However, with Palm’s impending release of the Pre, which from all reports is a better product that Apple’s, but liable to be more expensive, is making me wonder if I should return to Palm’s fold or if in fact, an iPohone is a cheaper alternative.

To be honest, I really have secretly wanted someone in Apple to revive the Newton, which I have wonted for more than ten years (even an old working one for archival reasons would be delightful.) However, despite rumours of such a monumentous event, one has to find a solution.

When I was in Grenada in November, I had an opportunity to play with a client’s Blackberry Bold, and I cannot lie, it was cute. However I don’t really like the keyboard and that is always what keeps me away from the Blackberries.

What is attracting me to the Pre is it’s slide out keyboard and it’s form factor. It’s quite adorable.

So while it’s one of my goals this year to upgrade to a smart phone, the jury is still out on which one I will actually get.

Under the cut you will find some video from the Pre launch.

Read more…

Odes to Mac Os X continue. My new blog skin works perfectly in Safari RSS, but in no other browser. Hence, a new tinkering with the template round begins.
Partially, this is because of the interview yesterday. Chile, meh could tell ya the whole drama, but let’s just leave it at delays and miscommunication and finally, intense traffic delays. Eshu The Trickster at work.

There was a test I didn’t expect, and although I know my stuff, it’s been so long since I took a test, and some of the questions asked me to use information I hadn’t accessed in so long that I can tell you now, I know I didn’t ace it. That kind of bothered me, but you know… I knew most of the stuff, but I didn’t have enough time and because I’ve been working at other things for the last year, :sigh: I did the best I could.

Also, I was using pencil and paper to write code and that is like trying to carve on a delicate surface with sword. In any case, I don’t think I did badly, but I was not prepared for that and it showed in some ways it’s too late to fix now.

The experience has sent me into code junkie mode though. I have blogged often enough about my code glut mode, so let me not repeat myself. However, with Sunhead turning 9 (O MI GOD! How could that time just fly so?) on July 1, I see a serious look at all my sites in terms of code, standardisation and optimisation and to operating practices. So watch this space for more info.

I guess this is how it goes with me. A challenge is placed before me, and I dig deep and rise to it. I cyan help myself.

Could you lovely people so inclined, please, please visit my JS devblog and post your browser version and OS? All you feedback helps me to refine the template, and gets the new layout go live faster.

My cousin oyasdawta had her baby prematurely; a girl and of course named Kehinde. My thoughts and prayers are with her and her baby at this time. I am hoping she is alright.

Other than that I am glad to be at home. No more interviews this week, thank goodness… but I’m up for a good few things, so feedback is imminent one way or the other. It’s down to who is offering me the best opportunity now. I’m glad that I’m getting to talk with people at some large companies, I’m hoping one will turn out to be the role that feels right for me. I’ll soon need to decide one way or the other… my money will run out eventually, no matter how careful I am.

I am not feeling rushed, and I am not worrying… I am just taking as much sleep as I can… doing research and trying to be as proactive as I can be.

I am off to code darlings!

Today I was going to get up early, go do my laundry, sweep and mop my flat and maybe make a small grocery run.

I have done none of these things. In fact, all I have done today is play on my laptop; actually all I have done this weekend for the most part, is play with my laptop. But I am getting ahead of myself.

On Friday, I popped out of bed around 10.30am (I forced myself to sleep!) and slowly began to make myself ready for the Apple launch. I called Mahie and told I was off to line up like a freak at the Apple Store on Regent St.. I felt sad for her, because she’s knee deep in exam fever and couldn’t come. She said she’d lend me her camera so I could take pictures, so I passed by her before I went up to Regent St. I got there about 1pm, and the place was busy, but there wasn’t a queue.

I think I had pretty much decided to spend some money. I’ve been reading up on the Mac market, researching and researching for months about configurations, release dates… the works. I’ve become an obsessive reader of AppleInsider.com and Macrumors.com as well as my perennial favourites MacUser and MacWorld. (There’s a few great English Mac mags, iCreate and Mac Format available, but iCreate is seriously expensive at £7.99 and Mac Format appears to be missing in action.)

I asked a few questions, namely when they were going to open the doors. Nice guy, Ben G advised me a little on a few matters and off I went on a nice little ramble around the store.

I left around 3pm to go get something to eat (wolfed it down mostly) and then came back and milled by the door and noticed a few other lurkers. Around 4.15pm store security came outside and erected some barriers and we moved over to where they were. I managed to get there in the number three spot and there I remained all afternoon until 6 o’clock.

I chatted with the other hopeless, lifeless geeks in the line and had a good time. We made sarcastic replies whenever someone passed by and asked us why we were queueing. High on the list was kidney donation, admiration for the building across the street and free grape koolaid.

Promptly at 6, the doors opened and in we walked to the almost dizzying volume of all the Apple staff whooping and cheering. It was a little unnerving. When I recovered my wits, I grabbed the first one near and told him I wanted a laptop.

He was very helpful and calm, and in no time I was in the queue wrapped around the top floor.

By the time I got up to the register, my laptop was there, but the guy behind the counter was confused about my name. I can’t get vex about that anymore, I’m 31 and I know my name confuses people.

Anyway, I bought the laptop and got a big ass hard-drive (it’s kind of weird going from 10gb to almost 200gbs in no time flat.)

Once I had my stuff in nice sturdy snow white Apple bags, I went and joined Gareth and the Number 1, 2 and 4 in the screening area and took in a demonstration of Tiger… which is mind boggling. However I got impatient after about an hour or so and took my new kit home to play with. My pictures from the whole experience are live on my regular site, but they ain’t sexified…. I did a quick little export from iPhoto so it’s quite plain. Here the are…. enjoy! (I did!)

After a quick install of Tiger, then began the process of migrating and consolidation of years of MP3s, software, files, mail backups…. etc. etc…. I was in geek heaven. I went to sleep at 4am.

And every night since then has been like that.

Monilove came over on Saturday night and spent the night. We talked, laughed, had dinner and caught up. I burnt a couple of CDs for her to play on the train. I was up early and playing on the laptop, but then went back to sleep. Eventually we stirred and we watched a whole bunch of music videos and chatted again. It was really nice.

Until my fucking landlord came to collect the rent. The fucker charged my card £320 more than what I owed him, plus the late fees etc. from last month. Then flippantly told me he’d credit me so I’ll can pay less money less month. This time I know he just trying to squeeze me for every cent. All I can say is a good thing I ain’t no jamette, because I coulda cuss like a fish wife when he told me to ‘be quiet now or I’ll make another mistake.’

Chile…. ah as vex whole day over that.

I’ve been playing with all the cool shit the lap top give me access to. My Mp3 library is up to 30Gbs, I’ve been Skyping with UT (anybody wanna skype me jess let me know!) you know… lemme tell you, my favourite part is organising my music.

I’ve been downloading album art, rating stuff, playing around with export tools. I just love this little machine and my lovely iPod.

I figure even if I have to go back home if I run out of money and can’t find work, at least I’ll have a decent machine to work on.

So last night I went over to DJ Tillah Willah (aka rentaempress), and met her family here, and hung out with her friends. It was really nice. Sheldon Blackman was there to my surprise, and I bounced up a chick I hadn’t seen in 20 years and was in 1st form with at Combermere. We spent a goodly chunk of the evening chatting away and catching up.

Later, yet another friend came by and brought even more of my backup data that Tillah had at her house holding to for me. I also met some really nice people, and Sheldon sang two beautiful tunes, there was poetry recited, Tillah’s dad sang… it was just a lovely evening out… right down to the vegan accra and bake.

I didn’t get home until about 1.30am, because I missed the last train and only got as far as Oxford Circus before I had to go up ground and find a bus… and wait a long time for that fat-bottomed bitch I did. Anyway, once home I played on the laptop for another couple hours before collapsing in bed.

Today I slept until 11am, and have done nothing but play with the laptop. I’ve been slowly bringing it up to speed…

I’m going to have to tear myself away tomorrow and go back into a Windows infested world, so I reckon I am glutting myself. I’ts just been so long since I’ve had a brand new computer (about five years; the last one was second hand) and it’s been months since I’ve done any work on a Mac… it’s been blissful and I haven’t even begun to code on it yet… just playing with Tiger and getting used to new OS.

:sigh: I am such a geek.

Well looky, looky, Big Mami make the Internation News!

Here’s the link: Big Mami Rings in Tiger

Apple mobs flash their cash

By Wil Harris

Friday, 29 April 2005, 20:48

THE APPLE STORE in Regent Street, London saw a mammoth queue of people lined up to pick up the Tiger OS, this evening.We also spied more than the usual amount of hacks clamouring to get their free copies. While one hack from Blueprint magazine, the top title for architects, confessed that ’some of my friends have PCs’, the Apple press core was out in force.

Crowds of punters were queued around the block from the store, and those at the front of the queue had been there for 2 hours before the launch at 6PM, British Summer Time.

They were greeted by hordes of Apple staff lined up, whooping and cheering as Jobs’ Mob poured through the door. All were dressed in Jobs-a-like black, and all were, typically, beautiful. It seems Apple attracts the aesthetically minded.

Apple’s latest theme music, U2’s Vertigo, rang out over the store speakers, inviting users to say ‘Hola!’ to Tiger. We even spotted one lady in horrendous tiger-skin jogging bottoms, but the less said about that the better.

My full report is coming tomorrow, hopefully with pictures so watch this space.

I’m getting to this dontcareish point where I just not letting myself get worked up over anything anymore. Where are my feelings?

I am getting fat!!! I’ve put on weight over the last three months, and a lot of it has to do with not being able to settle down and worrying. I wish money wasn’t an issue. I wish I…. I don’t know what I wish to be truthful.

My line manager is trying squeeze out as many days, managing to extend my contract by almost two weeks, which is good, because that gives me more time to figure out what the ass I’m doing.

I am quite eager now for the fat hairy bitch with crabs and constipation that this commute to stop being a regular part of my life. Now that I know that I’m leaving for sure, and there’s a date attached to this, I just wish it would hurry up and finish so I can get on with my life.

In a very real way, I’m preparing myself for the possibility of going back South for a few months at least… however, like always my belly is telling me it won’t come to that.

For now, it’s good enough for me to know that I am getting a couple more weeks of work (and since I’m on a daily rate, it’s the days that count!!) and tomorrow I begin a four-day weekend!!

Oh yes, oh yes! Four days of not battling the train… of sleeping until 9am (I’ve tried and I simply can’t sleep past 9am anymore.)

Tomorrow is also the worldwide launch of MacOsX Tiger and I want to go to the launch party at the Regent St. Apple Store. I want to line up like a geek for hours so I can say I did that shit. Those are experiences you don’t get down South, so I’d like to soak it up.

I spoke to my mother twice yesterday, and I didn’t tell her about the contract not getting renewed. I don’t know why, but I simply didn’t have the energy to deal with her disappointment, her negativity and such. It’s not that she’d say it’s my fault or anything, it’s just I can’t handle the disappointment in her voice, and knowing her, she could quite easily say something she considers to be the ‘truth’ of my situation, but in fact is quite mean. I just can’t face that.

This is weird for me because I usually tell my mother everything as it happens. So to have known such life effecting news for now two whole days and not called her and told her, feels very weird. It feels grown up too, I must say. In a way it’s my independence from having to report all my activities. I’m accountable certainly, but to myself, not my mother.

At any rate, more possibilities and opportunities are presenting themselves. I’ve been steadily sending out at least ten CVs a day, and getting call backs so at least I’m not desolate…

This weekend as well, is a White Bath weekend and I plan a feast for my Egun. Prayer helps… helps one to focus on that which is important: the balance between the temporal and spiritual.

God is good!

So it’s not quite that I’m dontcareish. It’s more like I am not sweating anything anymore.

Right now, I just want to focus on spiritual growth and dropping poundage. I’m getting fat ya’ll… it’s terrible. My eating habits have never been good, and I’m feeling it catching up with me, no joke.

Well, now that I’ve rejoined the iPod revolution, let me just say after something like ten years of Apple watchin (maybe a little longer) I am pleased to hear that the company is doing so well.

So Steve may be a bastard, but I think he did what no one else could, bringing Apple back to life.

In terms of my own feelings, I’m glad because I’ve switched some of my friends and done my part for the Mac/Apple cause… right up to spending my hard-earned moolah to keep the company afloat.

I see nothing changing any time soon.

—–

Apple takes lead in flash market, continues domination

During its second quarter conference call with press and analysts, Apple revealed that the iPod shuffle was the No. 1 selling flash-based MP3 player worldwide in February with 43 percent market share. The iPod shuffle is expected to be the top-selling flash player in the coming months, but NPD Techworld (which calculates the sales numbers) has not yet released reports for March.

Apple’s iTunes Music Store remains the clear leader in online music sales with a share of 70-75 percent, according to Nielsen Soundscan. The company said over 350 million songs have now been purchased and downloaded from iTunes.

In addition, Apple’s share of the worldwide hard drive-based MP3 player market stands at over 90 percent. With Apple’s quick takeover of the flash market, the company now accounts for more than 70 percent of all MP3 players sold.

Apple also said that Hewlett Packard’s share of the iPod market dropped last quarter to only 3 percent of iPod sales.

From: iPodlounge | All Things iPod