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So yes, I’ve become an iPod fanatic, because frankly it has added a new distraction to some of the duller parts of my life: commuting, flights, airports, expense reports. Well that, and that it has allowed me to dust off parts of my CD collection that I haven’t listened to in the Great State of California.

But let’s set the record straight: the iPod’s shuffle algorithm is NOT random. No way. I don’t care what Apple says. I have noticed that the same bands come up over and over…and I’m not sure this is a bad thing.

Being an inquisitive one, I did today’s equivalent of “in-depth research”; I did a Google search.

I didn’t find anything to substantiate my claim…although there are several pages dedicated to this topic, including lots of denials from Apple. Personally, I think that Apple should tout this “smart shuffle”. I think that it makes “random” more like how a DJ would program an iPod.

Let’s take my current shuffle session. I have 1153 songs today. About 30 of them are from Yes. I have heard 3 in the past hour. And honestly, every 5 songs since I have owned this iPod HAS TO BE from U2. (Tell me that Apple doesn’t favor U2.)

Anyhow, I think that the iPod is 1) clustering songs as it randomly selects artists, 2) favoring newly added items, and 3) repeating recently played items. This is smart programming, and I love it.

But, I can’t prove it and I’m rambling and you really came to this blog to see pictures. Tomorrow.

What a nice weekend. We spent it primarily enjoying the sunshine in the garden, although we did get out for a couple of nice long drives. Our garden activities were primarily spring prunings, repotting, and fertilizing. Temperatures haven’t turned warm yet, so most of our plants are still holding out for the real deal.

Friday night, we went out with Chris to one of our favorite restaurants: Lime in the Castro. Fun music, cool ambiance, very fine mojitos, and mini-hamburgers. Oh, and mini-ice cream cookies for desert! Last night, we all went out to El Torreador in West Portal–one of our favorite Mexican restaurants.

And one other fun photo…something you just don’t see every day.

[Oh, by the way…there were no lollypops. Just teasing.]

At work yesterday, I read the recent press release from the White House announcing the nomination of a new ambassador to Lithuania (on the same page as a change at one of my clients…so yes, it was work.) Anyhow, the official title of the position is Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to the Republic of Lithuania.

OK, I admit that I had to look that up. Plenipotentiary refers to “a diplomatic agent invested with full power to transact business”. Makes sense, but hard to put on a business card!

Hmmm, maybe he slips it in at parties to get chicks 🙂

[For the record, blogger spellcheck (which still thinks ‘blogger’ should be ‘blocker’) had no problem with Plenipotentiary.]

I could easily have spread this entry over five updates, but out of kindness, I’m cramming all these juicy bits into one overstuffed uber-entry! Trust me…these are all worth wading through. Consider these titles to whet your appetite:

1. Streets of Philadelphia…
2. Dirty talk in the airport
3. I’m sure that I’m carrying the bird flu…
4. Elena #1 returns…
5. Benjamin Franklin kicks ass…

So first, we begin with my warm afternoon stroll through Independence National Park yesterday afternoon. My coworker Jen and I had a couple of hours to kill before our flight home, so we took a stroll in the 80-degree sunshine.

Truly a lovely day to see the the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and various other colonial buildings. Now, I do love that period of American history, but it does make you chuckle to visit buildings “OVER TWO HUNDRED YEARS OLD” so soon after visiting Rome and its 2000-year old structures. Oh, but I’m not here to pick.

Although, yes, I will.

So, Benjamin Franklin’s final home a couple of blocks from Independence Hall was torn down after his death. Now, you can “peer underground” at the bricks that were once his house. Nice try, but the Coliseum is still standing.

Oh, but here is the brick hole where Franklin’s bathwater and toilet used to drain.

So, from Independence Park, I took a short cab ride to the airport, where I grabbed a bite at the TGIFridays. It was there that I was reminded how good my job is and why I could never be a traveling salesman. Seated next to me were two middle-aged men and a young women who clearly worked in sales for the same company. One of the men (clearly with no brain-to-mouth filter) made two classic conversational observations:

“If I could do what a dog can do, I wouldn’t be married.” and “This store had some of the nastiest magazines. Stuff like ‘Hemaphrodites’ and ‘Women Over 40’.”

Let me remind you that he was talking with a female coworker, and that nobody at the table was under 40. Can you just imagine this guy trying to charm his way to closing a sale?

On to item #3…the bird flu. I would just like to state that for the entire flight home, the woman to my left and the two men across the aisle to my right were all sneezing. I’m doomed.

Jumping to Elena…Elena #1 to be precise. Yes, she wrote back. Jealousy perhaps? Anyhow, her storyline is advancing nicely, and for the first time we hear about sending money!! This is a good one:

My dear and love. Today I woke up with fine mood. Do you know why? Since that time when I got acquainted with you I thank destiny. I think that soon we shall together. The visa will be given to me for the period of 3 months. Do you you imagine? We can see 3 months each other and feel each other. It as in dream. Yesterday I and my girlfriend sat counted charges which will be for trip to you my honey. It approximately 1200 US dollars. I have available 330 dollars. Yesterday I could agree with the chief on work that he gave out to meholiday for 3 months then when I shall ask him. All goes well. It pleases me. … I am glad that I have an opportunity to devote the life to the fine person as you my dear. I love you and this finest feeling. I can not wait our meeting.

Signed: “Your beauty”.

Awesome.

And finally, I leave you with the best tourist trinket ever: the Benjamin Franklin action figure! It capped off a fine week.

First of all, let me say that my trip to Philadelphia has been wonderful so far. My very favorite colleagues. Amazing spring weather. Flowers in bloom. Wonderful food. And, our meeting is just two blocks from Independence Hall. In the scheme of business trips, this one is pretty nice.

But no pictures.

Anyhow, I do have an email from Elena #2. I don’t know if its the same person writing, but this Elena sent blonde pictures, and the other brunette. It was a long email, so here are the highlights:

Hello my the new friend. I am glad to receive your letter. I am very happy that now I write you this letter. I want to speak much more about me. Ok??? My name is Elena. This very much widespread name in Russia. I was born and now I live in Russia. My city a name Kirov City. I very much love children but I have not children and I was never married. You probably want to know why I was not married??? In Russia it is a lot of men and they use many alcoholic drinks and want only sex. And I want to find the man of my dream and to create happy family. It is very difficult in Russia. Also I have overlooked to speak you that I do not drink and I do not smoke, but I do not mind if people have this hobbits. … I hope that you will not ignore me and write to me and we shall learn each other better because I think from one letter we do not learn each other. I shall wait for yours the letter.