Jeff_I's Blog

So there's this new viral video that's been storming the intrawebs. Apparently, people have been using their cellphones to pop kernels of popcorn. Four phones can pop about four kernels. Yeah, it sounds like a Weight Watchers diet sponsored by Verizon, but it's actually pretty cool.

Check it out.




Pretty wild. But is it real?

Our top viral videologists just tried the experiment in the break room and the results were not that great.

By not that great, I mean, nothing happened except a waste of some daytime minutes.

So are the YouTube videos a hoax? Are they using stronger phones (did they get the 3G iPhone early)?

I wonder...

I have almost nothing in common with marathoners. I occasionally binge on pasta, but that's about as far as it goes. Despite this, I love the Boston Marathon. Patriots Day is my favorite completely arbitrary holiday (Flag Day is 2nd, FYI). The Marathon, the Sox, the barbecues... it doesn't get much better.

Growing up I'd always watch the Marathon at my Great Aunt's along Washington Street in Newton, but this year I decided to make the ultimate trek into downtown Boston.

Here are some observations, photos and failed attempts at witticisms from the 112th Boston Marathon.

• I'm convinced the only thing more difficult than running a marathon is planning your trip into Boston on Marathon Monday. Boston isn't exactly a world class city when it comes to public transportation (hint: when your public transportation stops running before your bars close, you may want to rethink things.) After planning my trip about 20 different ways, I finally chose one that was relatively painless and easy. I'm convinced Rosie Ruiz was a genius.

• This was the first time I'd ever been behind the Finish line. When you're tens of miles away, the area seems like it would be some sort of a runner's mecca, with masseuses at the ready, food at hand and all the seemingly innocuous weird silver blankets you can handle. Not so; it's just a bunch of tired people being cattle-called to a recovery area while they sweat, cry, vomit, etc. Not even every runner had a weird, seemingly innocuous silver blanket! Also, a lot of runners have to walk back on the overcrowded sidewalk amongst the fans.

• Bruins fans were out and about all over the city for the first time in far too long. It was a sight for sore eyes. Of course, naturally, they'll lose tonight and continue to be the butt of jokes.

• Companies were out all day handing out free schwag to the fans. The four most prevalent: Adidas, Nike Livestrong, New Balance and.... Dianetics. Hmmmm..... one of these things is not like the other.

Speaking of Livestrong, two Lance Armstrong related notes:

• Lance didn't get the biggest of all ovations when he passed by. Of course I was packed into some tiny Public Alley when he passed by and everyone was hard to pay attention to the road. Also, they were playing a Sheryl Crow CD at the Finish Line. I'm not sure what this means, but look, it's Lance!:

• The biggest rockstar of them all: Mayor Menino. People just flock to the guy and he was swarmed with well-wishers after he left the Media area.

Well, that's it after an awesome Marathon Monday now it's on to a sadly nickname-less Tuesday.

I hate flying, I really do. But, I find driving days upon days to Texas and then back even less appealing, so here I am.

If you’re afraid of flying, a good way to ease your fears is to take the Logan Express. Nothing gets you more prepped for several hours of shakiness inside a small cabin with recycled air than taking the Logan Express through increasingly dangerous tunnels, and way-too-small streets. That’s what I did. At 3:45 AM. On no sleep. Aside from the fact that I kept nearly getting off at the wrong airline, I’m doing alright for an all nighter.

I better get some sleep on this plane or I will be a real joy to deal with (I won’t, and I will be).

I was forced to check my bags, which stinks. I’m convinced they will be lost. I will be rocking Austin City Limits in whatever they sell at a combination of my hotel and Target. Thankfully, the second Dave, and third part of my ACL travel group is arriving at Austin an hour or so after me, so I’ll have that whole hour to neurotically pace around the luggage carousel waiting for my bag to appear.

To complicate matters, Logan’s touted “Free WiFi” is total B.S. It is free to log onto the Logan WiFi website and buy internet access and that’s about it. I’m writing this installment of my travel blog on Microsoft Word and I won’t be able to update it live like I wanted.

So, in hours from now (it’s 5:01 AM on Wednesday), read this first part, then wait the according amount of hours and read what follows. Or don’t. I’m too tired to be picky.

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Let's skip ahead about 29 hours.

It's nearing noon on Thursday, and I'm here in lovely Austin, Texas.

To answer some questions: Yes, my flight was fine. No, I didn't lose my luggage. No, I didn't sleep.

You read that right, I was awake from about 9A.M on Tuesday until about 12:30A.M on Thursday. Part of that was over tiredness, part of it, vacation high.

Just a quick note for now, in a few I'll post highlights from last night which includes a Battle Of The Bands, and oh yes, Bats!