11:56 PM PST — Paperback music. One of the first examinations of the prerecorded CD vs. MP3 debate that sums up my thinking. I use MP3s. Hell, I've got a Rio. Still I buy a significant number of CDs — certainly several hundred dollars last year. Why doesn't the recording industry embrace digital files for singles and other promotional uses? Why has the mass media bought the MPAA's hype over Napster? Doesn't anyone remember that movie studios claimed that television and then later VCRs were going to put them out of business? Will we ever learn that show business is nothing but a bunch of weasels?

11:41 PM PST — So long time no type.

It has been a yucky week from a work point of view. The malaise that's affecting others here around the Bay has hit my world as well. I spent much of the week that was figuring out how a smaller creative department will function. This coming week, I get to deliver the news to real live people. Fun times.

Having played the ad game all of my adult career, I've been on the receiving end of "um sorry, you have no job" multiple times. Now I can attest that it's no better from the delivery side of the desk.

Hopefully you will understand why I haven't been my usual chatty self.

On a happier topic, I dived head first into the awkwardly named Mac OS X 10.0. Two computers are living quite happily thank you. I won't say much else because I've been told, in no uncertain terms, that these missives get boring when I switch into semi-geek mode.

Guess that means I should stop now.

6:25 PM PST — Until I can pull amusing words from my brain, enjoy the silliness.

2:22 PM PST — Walking back from lunch, I happened to mention the drinking game "Hi Bob!" and was shocked to discover that neither of my companions had heard of it. Of course, I had to do a quick web search when I got back to my desk. Fortunately there are a couple of links that validate my college experiences. Definitely seems like a promotional opportunity for TV Land though.

9:49 PM PST — Happy Birthday, Aunt Bunny!

10:14 PM PST — Well Mir is coming down and it's going to hit something. Any more opportunists out there?

10:00 PM PST — I'm very afraid of Boot Camp — Fox Style, as the latest Survivor cash-in-amatic is being promoted. Mainly because the prospect of watching major eye candy contestants develop hard bodies will force me to watch at least weekly. Damn!

9:54 PM PST — Gideon Yago. Be still my heart.

9:03 PM PST — Odd Dream Dept. I'm sitting on my parents' porch in central Texas when an alligator attempts to climb the steps, its eyes set on the poodle.

Obviously there are a minimum of two serious problems with that scenario. First, the Texas hill country has been too arid to host water-borne reptiles for at least an eon or two. Second even if one showed up, I doubt a nelly queen with hands on hips (that would be moi) would cause it to turn tail and waddle.

Just a hunch.

9:44 PM PST — A weekend in the country provided just the recuperative powers that I needed. The weather was summer perfect and flowers were in full bloom. A whole passel of pals and generous helpings of wine helped, too.

Now I'm feeling all of myself. Just in time for Monday morning.

4:04 PM PST — Home sick. 103° fever is the only symptom. Probably a virus. Rich has a milder version last week. I hate this.

9:59 PM PST — You've got to be kidding me.

10:04 PM PST — I hate it when television attempts to show how an ad agency works.

9:46 PM PST — Tiredness descends. Busy weekend winds down. Saturday was Rich's birthday. As you might imagine, party preparedness dominated the day. Hundreds of calories, a dozen bottles of wine and a handful of wigs later, I'm done for it. Sunday turned out to be a day of not enough rest. Though we did enjoy a rather nice dinner and sunset on the edge of the Bay.

10:58 PM PST — Yes! An extended remix version. Too bad Exene still doesn't speak.

10:28 PM PST — Old links don't die. They get better databases.

By the way, I stumped it by pretending to be the obscure but memorable character Twinks McFarland from The Mary Tyler Moore Show.

9:45 PM PST — There's a lot I don't care about.

9:27 PM PST — So much for the weekend without rain.

9:14 PM PST — I've been toying with the idea of posting my AIM screen name in a public place. Though I'm not sure anyone will really use it.

8:56 AM PST — A very big deal.

11:14 PM PST — Best use of celebrities that I've seen in ages.

5:53 AM PST — Don't get too excited but I think I finally prodded Network Solutions actually move my domain. Of course if you can't see this message, it didn't work.

Then again, if you can't see this message you don't know what I'm talking about anyway.

11:53 AM PST — "Ad criticism and blatantly fake news." Yeah, it's an insider thing but since I am an insider I can love it.

11:30 AM PST — Thing to look forward to: Lunch with David.

Thing to dread: Remainder of afternoon.

11:08 AM PST — A lesson in how to enjoy a rainy weekend:

1. Stay inside
2. Wear fuzzy fleecy clothes
3. Great friend who arrives with groceries to cook dinner for you and your husband with open arms

9:41 AM AM PST — Totally inappropriate if you're at work like me department: the latest installment of Nightcharm's Lurid Digs. (Hey! Click on that and you're getting a screen full of naked men.) Four sharp-tongued taste masters critique the interior decorating skills of guys who post nude self picts on the net. Priceless. [Courtesy of Steve G]

3:46 AM PST — A link for web logger types only. I got a 72%. Of course now, I should also go back and change my answer to the last question but I prefer to ignore that small detail.

3:45 AM PST — Insomnia. Indigestion. Insanity. Take your pick.

11:15 PM PST — It was funny then. It is funny now. And if they can't take a joke, ignore them as I do.

2:05 PM PST — Love the new Apple iTunes + iMac ads. Especially number 3, which I've dubbed "The Radio Still Sucks."

Previously