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Finishing a fabulous dinner at Lucia’s.

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Checking out Tammy and Mazie’s 2008 Folk Festival chairs. Tammy has a footrest!

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Game Over: 65,265 points – 226 lines.

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2007 Winnipeg Folk Fest via Twitter

This was the first Winnipeg Folk Festival since I started using Twitter. I sort of “micro-blogged” using Twitter while I was there. Here it is. I realized afterwards that SMS messages internationally aren’t included in my plan. Oops!

  • At the Festival 10:10 PM July 05, 2007 from txt
  • Listening to Indigo Girls 10:18 PM July 05, 2007 from txt
  • Gearing up for the first full day at the festival 09:24 AM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Eating at the Winnipeg Original Pancake House 10:18 AM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Folk Festival in full swing now. 12:51 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Blazing hot in the sun. Yikes. 02:38 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Relaxing in the shade. Quintessential Folk Fest afternoon 02:47 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Just got Tammy on Twitter. Tekester. 02:54 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Waiting for Crooked Still. Thinking about food. 02:59 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Crooked Still just started playing. 03:33 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Agnostic Gospel Choir rocks! 04:56 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Noting a significantly increased police presence at Folk Festival. 06:08 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Main stage acts have started. 06:09 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Shocked and in awe at how readable the iPhone is in direct sunlight 06:15 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Thinking how the Folk Fest could be leveraging SMS 07:49 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Wondering what drugs Rushad from Crooked Still is on. 08:45 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • The Nields just did a tweener (shout out to Alona). The Flatlanders just started. 09:31 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Sun is setting, temp is dropping. Great! 09:49 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Spearhead just started. Wow! 10:53 PM July 06, 2007 from txt
  • Survived first night ever in Festival campground. It settled down at 6am. 09:57 AM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Standing in line waiting for Festival gate to open. 09:58 AM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • 30 minutes on the phone with AT&T “fixing” my account for my new phones. 10:48 AM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Front row seat at the morning stage 10:51 AM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Main stage tarp staked out for tonight. Too far back. 🙁 12:07 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Super humid at the Shady Grove stage listening to my new favorite, Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir. 01:04 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Rockin Out! 01:52 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Swearing off shoes for the rest of the weekend 02:06 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Buying CDs 02:38 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Just woke from crazy nap in the shade 05:11 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • My voice is completely ravaged by this cold and the Festival. Barely anything left to it. 07:04 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Leo Kottke just started on the main stage. 07:04 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Time for the Tavern tent. Yep! 08:12 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Big shouts out to Bricker! Drink up! 09:16 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Time for Whales Tails! 10:02 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Listening to the Flecktones. Going to check out DJ Medina in the alternative tent shortly. 10:08 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • At the DJ tent at the folk festival. Very surreal. 10:30 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Listening to this crazy one man band called “That One Guy” 11:02 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • The Cat Empire takes the stage to close out the night. 11:04 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • Passing on Cat Empire and heading to camp. 11:37 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • In tent. Beginning last night ever in Festival camping. I may try to capture some of this for posterity. 11:51 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • The party is arriving in the campgrounds. 11:59 PM July 07, 2007 from txt
  • That One Guy has been playing for 3 hours IN THE CAMPGROUND. 04:41 AM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • People next to our tent being loud and obnoxious. 04:42 AM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Last night ever in Festival camping is lasting forever. 05:11 AM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Up and making coffee on my camp stove. 07:07 AM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Drinking coffee. Interesting sounds coming from tent 10 feet away. 07:44 AM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Brewing another kettle of camp coffee. 08:39 AM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Campsite all packed. Couple cups of joe and then time to haul everything a half-mile to the car. 09:03 AM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Waiting to put tarp down for main stage. 10:21 AM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Watching the Tarp Run. 10:25 AM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Sunday morning gospel workshop just starting. Perennial favorite. 11:00 AM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Getting very soulful. 11:08 AM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Relocated to a better spot in the shade. Nice music. I think it’s nap time. 01:21 PM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Listening to a drum workshop and sipping lemonade. 03:34 PM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • At workshop titled “Whiskey, Women & Death” 04:45 PM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Being forced to move out of shade by security. 04:45 PM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Final night at the main stage. Los Lobos and Randy Newman taking it home. 06:43 PM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Folk Festival traditional finale! 10:19 PM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • The Mary Ellen Carter 10:20 PM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Wild Mountain Thyme 10:25 PM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • Amazing Grace 10:30 PM July 08, 2007 from txt
  • The 2007 Winnipeg Folk Festival ends. Be back next year! 10:37 PM July 08, 2007 from txt

I think the shoes tweet is my favorite from the whole weekend. 🙂 Note that my cold turned out to be a sinus infection, ugh.

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Final preparation underway to leave for Winnipeg Folk Festival.

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Sitting by the pool at a friends house watching people jumping off the diving board.

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Happy Independence Day everyone!

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Tweeting about my iPhone “just cuz”.

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Tammy is watching a show on TLC about 1,000 pound dude that hasn’t stood up for 7 years. OMG!

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Tiger Woods for Wii rocks!

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iPhone Activation

One of the ways in which the iPhone claims to be revolutionary is how you activate it. Rather than sitting in the store and having someone press a few dozen numbers on your phone, you simply take it home and plug it into your computer and follow a few easy screens in iTunes. Sounds great!

And great it is! On Tammy’s phone, it was flawless. I changed her phone on her existing account and it flowed with ease through iTunes. Everything was great. No issues. Bliss.

Then it was my turn. I knew this would be more complicated since I decided that I was going to move my phone to my individual account and no longer submit it through my business. During the weekend I called AT&T and the service representative said I had to call back on Monday, but I could just activate now on my individual plan and they could fix it up on Monday. It turns out that was incorrect. After about 90 minutes of time on the phone with AT&T this is what had to be done.

  1. Transfer my existing account from the business to a new individual account.
  2. Move my existing individual account to the same “market” as my business number was. (This seems totally odd to me.)
  3. Cancel the activation I did on my iPhone before.
  4. Get a new SIM card for iPhone. (Once you activate a SIM card it’s toast, trip to the store!)
  5. Reactivate iPhone.

I came within millimeters of just giving up and changing numbers. I’m going to be astounded if there are no billing issues the first couple of months.

Note: there was some concern on various sites about replacing your SIM card. I can say with confidence that replacing your SIM card is very painless on the iPhone. Just pop a new one in from AT&T and re-activate in iTunes. All of your existing sync settings will be retained.

The story has a happy ending. After getting a new SIM card, and having the AT&T people get my account all prepared for it, activation was flawless on my phone as well.

There are many people complaining about activation problems. Perhaps Apple didn’t spend enough time on this process. Or, in my opinion, they are just trying to do something that isn’t possible. The complexity required to move my phone would be incredibly hard to code around, and expensive. Solving the problem seamlessly for 80% is great, but the other 20% are probably thinking it’s easier than it really is.

∞

I got my iPhone

I stood in line for a few hours on Friday at the Southdale Apple Store to insure a shiny new 8G iPhone would be in my possession for the weekend. My reactions to it coming soon!

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iPhone Day via Twitter

I didn’t get an “I was there on June 29, 2007” t-shirt or anything, but the iPhone wait via Twitter is entertaining.

  • #53 in line for iPhone! 01:59 PM June 29, 2007 from im
  • They have closed the Apple Store and covered the windows in black fabric. 02:13 PM June 29, 2007 from web
  • Watching Christopher getting lots of attention for being first in line. 02:18 PM June 29, 2007 from twitterrific
  • Christopher getting his taken picture with some random person at the mall. 02:20 PM June 29, 2007 from twitterrific
  • Just finished pizza in line. 02:52 PM June 29, 2007 from twitterrific
  • Random person turns out to be former CEO of Cray Research. 02:53 PM June 29, 2007 from twitterrific
  • Taking a survey for Piper Jaffray on a cell phone being passed down the line waiting for the iPhone. 02:56 PM June 29, 2007 from web
  • Just passed the phone on to the next person in the line. 02:57 PM June 29, 2007 from web
  • Kent’s taking survey now. Awesome. 02:59 PM June 29, 2007 from web
  • “Which iPhone you getting?” “8 gig. Go big, or go home.” – Kent 03:00 PM June 29, 2007 from twitterrific
  • Christopher just polled the crowd regarding which model people plan to buy. 03:08 PM June 29, 2007 from web
  • Drinking a Heath Bar Chiller from Caribou. Oh how I’ve fallen. 03:41 PM June 29, 2007 from twitterrific
  • Got a chair! Thank you to my wonderful wife! 04:55 PM June 29, 2007 from im
  • 40 minutes left! 05:18 PM June 29, 2007 from im
  • Apple store window unveiled with iPhone displaying countdown to launch on it. 05:30 PM June 29, 2007 from im
  • Crowd is now queued up to the gated storefront. 05:50 PM June 29, 2007 from im
  • Line is compressed and standing. The smell of anticipation lingers. 05:51 PM June 29, 2007 from im
  • Store is open! 05:59 PM June 29, 2007 from im
  • Line is moving! 06:00 PM June 29, 2007 from im
  • Line is stopped. 06:05 PM June 29, 2007 from im
  • Inside the store. 06:15 PM June 29, 2007 from im
  • Success! Two iPhones in hand! 06:26 PM June 29, 2007 from im

One of the tweets highlighted in my MarketWatch Farewell Video.

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Push Conference 2007

Listening to director of National Institute of Play.

Listening to Clyde Prestowitz, author of Rogue Nation and leader of Economic Strategy Institute.

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At Oceans 13

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Tammy declares that I cannot wear my new fishing shirt to work, citing that “there has to be a line somewhere”.

One of the tweets highlighted in my MarketWatch Farewell Video.

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Watching AllThingsD Gates/Jobs interview. Transcript.

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Getting even happier with my iTunes-centric music world. I should have caved years ago. 🙂

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Mazie's First Baseball Game

Grandpa Bruce came into town for the Memorial Day weekend. It was a nice time, and the most time that Mazie has gotten to spend with Grandpa Bruce since he lives so far away. I think the highlight of the weekend was the Twins game. Mazie’s very first baseball game and the Twins put a “W” on the board for her.

Alona, Bruce and I went to the game and Tammy hung out with Mazie while she finished her nap. Mazie and Tammy joined at the top of the 7th inning which was perfect timing for her. There is just no way she could have sat through an entire baseball game. I got to have some great Dad time with Mazie on my lap. I explained that our guy throws the ball to this other guy and that one of their guys stood in the middle and tried to hit it with the bat. If he did hit it, our other guys out there would try to catch it. Baseball redux for a 2 year old. I brought my crazy camera lens and got some great photos.

Shortly after she arrived the Twins had a big play and drove 2 runs in. The crowd roared with enthusiasm and Mazie was a little freaked out but held it together with a lot of thumb sucking and me holding her. I think she actually had a pretty good time, particularly when we got some ice cream. 🙂

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Cold Press Coffee

I had a great coffee moment today that I just have to share. It’s worthy of sharing because there is information here that is new to me, and it highlights why small, local coffee shops are great.

I have two “coffee moments” each day. The first one is at home with my DeLonghi Espresso machine that I’m still loving. Two shots easily obtained with the press of a button. Just great. The second one is in the afternoon with a quick walk to One on One and get some afternoon espresso.

It’s summer now, or at least summer enough, and I’ve now switched to iced drinks in the afternoon. My typical drink is iced espresso. It used to be a triple shot over ice, but I’ve brought it down to a double shot over ice to reduce the shakes later in the evening (too much caffeine!).

iced_coffee_beans.jpg

I like my iced espresso, but it’s not very much liquid and just disappears too fast for me. So, I presented my problem to our favorite barista.

me: So, I want an iced drink – but there just isn’t much liquid in iced espresso. What do I do?
barista: Well, you could add water to the espresso.
me: That sounds horrible.
barista: Or how about iced coffee?
me: Brew sucks.
barista: Hmm… how about a cold press?
me: Huh? What in the world is a cold press?
barista: It’s great. We take a pound of beans and cold brew it with 80 ounces of water for 12 hours…

The conversation about cold press continued for quite a while. I got one, and it was perfect! The cold press is never heated, and slow brewed for 12 hours and then pressed through a cloth filter. It’s incredibly smooth and wonderful. I’ve got a new favorite drink!

Your not going to find something like this at most coffee shops. And your also not going to find such a helpful person with their headset on punching your order through their assembly line. What a great discovery. Try a cold press the next time you can. If you like serious coffee on the colder side, you’ll love it.