Hey, I was hacked by the Chinese. Yep, my iTunes account was drained of the remaining total I had (pumped up by gift cards, no less) yesterday morning. I could not even access my account to change the password until this morning. It's like they took the account over for their exactly prescribed 12 hours.

I was able to change the password back, but I felt just enough pain here to get a new credit card. I didn't need that number floating about in China (not sure it really was as they negated the card on iTunes), so I opted for a new one. Not a lot of pain, as Apple is investigating, and I have already been compensated. But it's not a way I wanna spend a few hours on a day off, chasing things beyond my control.

Meal of Links

While watching some of the NFL playoffs that were blowouts this weekend, I noticed some things about the commercials:

Motorola has an airport scene where a guy is going through security. The security screen shows his phone as a PC, because it's so damn powerful. The security guy? Eddie Charles from that old Martin Tupper show, "Dream On".

When the iPad clicks on a TED lecture, that's Jamie Oliver walking across the stage.

The Sprint commercial with the injured football player and the team doctor with a Sprint phone? They must be channeling the Browns. There are three lameass "Division Winners" banners on the wall. One is from 1971-72, another in the '90s, the last one in the oughts.

Not liking the Bud Light "schmeplicate" ad. Don't like the women left behind at all in this commercial.

Borders. Tick...tick...tick. I suggest using gift cards from there quickly.

Matthew McConaughey has trouble standing.

The Horseshoe. Lego-style!

Uh-oh. I started watching "Lights Out" on FX this week. Here we go again. It's ratings-challenged at the start.

More commentary on 2010's bad movies. Ballots are here. Very funny.

Exercise Yard

Strange way to boost attendance. Lap dance contest for the mascot at a lacrosse match. Love the "boing" sound effect!

Visitor

None, on a cold Sunday.

This is unusual, but on a good note. I got an e-mail from the passport folks about the progress of my renewal. Lo and behold, it's in the mail. It looks like it's going to take only five weeks from when I sent the application. I guess the added help arrived or the fact I didn't need it for the summer worked to my advantage.
















But they were sticking to the 10-12 week turnaround for regular processing. So, I was pleasantly surprised to hear it moved along. Now I gotta fill it up.

Meal of Links

Here is another program that will convert videos. I tried it and the speed is pretty good.

Apple put out the iPhone without the Phone part and called it iTouch. It reeks of cool.

The Joy Division movie, "Control" finally has its own website. It reeks of cool even more than that iTouch. And what if I got an iTouch and then downloaded "Control" to it? I don't know if I could stand it. "Control" is my must see flick for the fall.

Exercise Yard

I decided to check out this list of NFL Power Rankings. Where are the Browns? Scrolling...scrolling...wait for it....scrolling...oh, there they are. 31st of 32 teams. Can't wait for that opening game on Sunday.

Visitor

35 Across: He led his team in homers for 18 straight years (3 letters) Answer: Ott (Did you know Mel Ott can sign his name 3 times faster than Franklin Gutierrez?)

This is the first I've heard of Sports Illustrated swimsuit model Marisa Miller. I like the fact she's technologically savvy.

Meal of Links

On the day Kurt Cobain would have been 40 (Yikes!), a list. The Top 100 Indie Songs. Good list, but as with all lists, debatable.

Is TV better than movies? Series television offers a chance for more character development and wacky situations. If I'm at a movie, I want Arnold beatin' up people. I've only got 2 hours, don't give me Sensitive Arnold.

How to put stuff onto your iPod, without iTunes.

Exercise Yard

The World Cup needs to get here before I'm too damn old (thinking of last week's shoveling) to enjoy it. They'll still have beer in 2018, no?

Visitor

1 Down: '70s-'80s New York soccer team (6 letters) Answer: Cosmos

One of the things I enjoy about having XM Radio is the variety of programming. I was listening to the Christmas podcast of Harry Shearer's "Le Show" when Harry told everyone that his show was now on XM, Sundays at 3:00. That's good news. It gives another outlet as WCPN airs this at 1:00 on Sundays. He played some cool Christmas tunes, including "Jesus Was A Dreidel Spinner".

"Le Show" is one of my favorites and his "Donald Rumsfeld Christmas Special" was really funny. It had special guests Yakov Smirnoff and Al Franken. Al was Santa and he was dropping in on Yakov, who was living in Iraq. Al bitched about not having a chimney to enter the house, so he had to knock on Yakov's door. Yakovisms: "In Russia, starlets put panties ON." and "Iranis remind me of my brother-in-law...come for two weeks, stay for two years!"

Meal of Links

I can account for the iTunes Store being all fouled up earler in the week. I wasn't even trying to buy anything. I wanted to redeem some gift cards and had major troubles until late Tuesday.

I applaud the Gordon Square Arts District effort. This is the type of vision that is sorely lacking in the city. Note that neither Mayor Jackson nor any City Hall official are quoted. Detroit-Shoreway is quickly becoming the coolest place within the city limits and it's all because of the local (non-Downtown) input. Outside of Tower City, this will be the only movie house in the city. I can't wait for "Happy Dog and a Movie Night". Perhaps, one day, we'll be like Dubai.

They are piling on the Bears fans this week. First, the Packer game gets moved to the evening for NBC. Next, no beer after halftime.

Exercise Yard

Mike Tyson in trouble. Again.

Visitor

22 Across: Major character in the bestseller "Disney War" (6 letters) Answer: Eisner