Ryan Thomas Goodenough

Well, I don’t know how to say this. But let’s just say that I happened to show up at the Apple Store at the exact right time and got herded into the store without having to wait in line for hours/days…In fact, I waited 2 minutes…I feel bad, but not really.

Anyway, the iPhone is amazing! It’s beyond words, really…My favorite features so far have been Google Maps, conference calling, and YouTube. And I’m just beginning to get started.

I snapped some photos outside. What do you think? I think they look nice!

Since I skipped the iTunes single review, I thought I would review the concert I just went to.

Every year, Albany has a weekly concert on Thursday on the Hudson Riverfront called “Alive at Five.” Today’s concert was Quicksilver Messenger Service and Jefferson Starship. I arrived a little late so I missed most of QMS, but got down right in front of the stage for all of Jefferson Starship.

What a concert! Jefferson Starship was a phenomenal concert. The “older” members include David Freiberg (who is also a long-time QMS member), Airplane founder Marty Balin (who was actually not an original member of Jefferson Starship, but joined during the recording of the first album and is responsible for many hits), and Paul Kantner (another founding member of Airplane).

Newer members are Diana Mangano (replacing Grace Slick and doing a very good job of it!) and Slick Aguilar (Marty Balin’s main guitarist dating back to the mid-90s). This version of Jefferson Starship played mainly Airplane material, meaning no “We Built This City” and most of the later stuff. If you had told me this before, I would have been *slightly* disappointed. As it turns out, this was one of the best concerts I’ve ever been too. For being an older band, they rocked harder than anyone I’ve seen (real rock, not just screaming).

Highlights of the night included watching Mangano impress every member of the audience with her tremendous vocals. One of the best performances was an instrumental featuring the drummer, keyboardist, and Slick, probably the best solo guitarist I know I have ever had the joy of listening to live. By the end of it, the audience was on its feet, applauding, and a lot of people were crying. It wasn’t really emotional, it was just that good.

Fantastic concert A+

[cpg_album:50]

When Eric and I left AIER this afternoon, we knew we were in trouble. With temperatures pushing 100, the sky quickly turned dark. A call from Eric’s daughter let us know that power was out in the Albany area. However, we didn’t see any rain until we were right outside of Albany. But then, it hit really, really hard. Strong winds, lots of lightning, and cars pulled over all along the Thruway. This video doesn’t do it justice, but yes, most of those flashes are lightning.

Apple has released details of the service plans that will be available for the iPhone. Three special monthly plans are available:

- $59.99 for 450 voice minutes
- $79.99 for 900 voice minutes
- $99.99 for 1,350 voice minutes

All three plans include unlimited data (email & web), Visual Voicemail, 200 SMS text messages, roll over minutes and unlimited mobile to mobile calling. Plans have a $36 one-time activation fee and are two year contracts. Family plans will also be available, but were not disclosed at this time. In addition, any standard AT&T service plan may be chosen.

Apple also clarified that activation of the iPhone and account setup will be done completely through iTunes.

Apple® and AT&T Inc. today announced that iPhone™ users will be able to activate their new iPhones using Apple’s popular iTunes® software running on a PC or Mac® computer in the comfort and privacy of their own home or office, without having to wait in a store while their phone is activated. Activating iPhone takes only minutes as iTunes guides the user through simple steps to choose their service plan, authorize their credit and activate their iPhone. Once iPhone is activated, users can then easily sync all of their phone numbers and other contact information, calendars, email accounts, web browser bookmarks, music, photos, podcasts, TV shows and movies just like they do when they sync their iPods with iTunes.

iPhone goes on sale at 6:00 pm local time on Friday. Apple Stores will be closing at 2:00 pm on Friday in preparation.

At around 6am, I awoke to the sound of water dripping. When I realized it was more of a pouring than a dripping, I ran into the bathroom to find our sink overflowing and about an inch of water on the floor. I threw the trash can into the sink and started dumping the water into the tub. Apparently, our drain was clogged, but that doesn’t quite explain the gallons of water coming from the drain without the faucet being on. Long story short, the maintenance man came by, vacuumed up the water, tore up our carpet and put a fan underneath it to dry it out. All day I have been watching the carpet move around like it’s an ocean wave. Sort of fun, very annoying.

I found out this week that my brother is engaged! Congratulations Suj and Adam!! We are all very excited here in Albany! Isn’t it a nice ring?

ATTENTION CITIZENS: We are starting to drive the Martians back! Commander Johnson says that the front line is in need of people who “don’t take c**p from nobody.” We need people who posess confidence, self-righteousness, and an amazing amount of ego. If this description fits you and you know that you “could kill those d*mn Martians,” please go to your local NASA headquarters now. Thank you!

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I really get annoyed by people who walk around saying that they don’t take c**p from nobody. Okay, okay, I understand…stop sayin it. On to this week’s personality profile: People who speed through work zones.

So, you’re in a rush. And that 45mph work zone is really going to delay you like…30 seconds. And clearly you’re more important that everyone else on the road, including the workers who the speed zone is supposed to protect. But do you really need to go 20, 30 miles over the speed limit? Actually, you don’t need to speed at all.

Speaking of work zones, if the sign says to merge left or right, DO IT! Don’t try to wait until the last second to get in. I mean, come on, we’re all upset that we have to go through a work zone!

Clearly, if you think you’re that much more important, then by all means go to Mars and do something worthy of your self-importance. I hope the Martians feel the same way about themselves, capture you, and force you to do road work while they speed by you at 600mph.

Another success in the kitchen: While Emily was busy making some delicious hummus, I was busy using the new breadmaker she got me to make some pita bread. I really hate store-bought pita, but this stuff is really good! It tastes fresh and moist–mmmmm!

For the longest time, I have been trying to find “frog run” or “butterfly run” maple syrup. Basically, this is the last tapping of the season. The later the tapping, the darker the syrup and the more robust the flavor. Back when it used to be grade A, B, and C syrup instead of Grade A Light, Medium, and Dark, this syrup would be considered a D. Nowadays, it’s called grade B.

Anyway, we have an old family recipe for maple pie that my great grandmother used to make with real, dark “frog run” syrup. I was lucky enough to pick some up two weeks ago near Emily’s house after many phone calls and made a pie with it yesterday. If using grade A syrup makes a maple syrup pie, then using grade B makes a maple sugar pie–it’s so dark and maple-y. Doesn’t it look scrumptious?