I love podcasts. I mean, I really, REALLY love podcasts. I have a black 30GB iPod that has over 2,500 songs on it, but lately 60% of my iPod time consists of me listening to podcasts. I don't have a lot of friends who share my exact interests, so it's my way of listening in on conversations that I normally don't have the opportunity to be involved in. I can't talk back, of course, but it's cool nonetheless.

Anyways, I was listening to a podcast called "Windows Weekly with Paul Thurrott." Now, I know what you're thinking--Ryan is a die-hard Mac fanboy. I understand that, and you know me well. I like to listen to this podcast because, first of all, Leo (the host) and Paul talk about Macs, iPods, or the iPhone in almost every podcast. Leo is a Mac user, and Paul usually has some pretty good things to say. Plus, I like to keep up with Windows, even though using a Windows PC (from time to time) has degenerated into torture for me personally.

Paul said something interesting on the latest podcast. I'm paraphrasing, but he said that he often has to remind Windows users of what their relationship is: they are paying Microsoft money, and Microsoft is supposed to be serving them. The focus should be on making the customer happy. Paul's comments got me thinking about Microsoft's relationship with its customers, and inevitably I had to consider Apple's relationship with its own customers. I started comparing the two, and eventually the rabid devotion which Mac users develop to all things Apple began to make even more sense.

Microsoft users don't care what Microsoft puts out. They are going to use whatever Microsoft forces them to use, and it doesn't matter if they like it or not...they have to use it. When 90% of the market is Windows-based (especially the business end), then people are going to just swallow the bitter pill of mediocrity that Microsoft has forced them to take in regular doses. They don't realize there's a viable alternative that might actually make sense to them. Microsoft is not going to improvise; they're not going to dazzle anyone with the latest and greatest idea. They're followers, not leaders. Now, they're VERY good imitators, and that helps them put a thin coat of luster on their dull ideas.

Mac users laughed when Vista's "revolutionary" features like Sidebar, Windows Search, and Windows Flip 3D were unveiled. When Vista hit the market, we had been using most of Vista's most-hyped features for over a year and a half in Mac OSX 10.4 "Tiger." Watching Bill Gates squirm in his chair and get visibly upset when probed about Vista's similarity to Mac OSX was one of the funniest things I've seen on YouTube.

Microsoft does what is has to, while Apple goes above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that its products LOOK better, FEEL better, and most importantly, OPERATE better. They like to make it easy for the user. Microsoft doesn't. They love to blow their fan's minds during Steve's keynotes. Bill Gates succeeds at putting CES to sleep every year. Apple provides simplicity, aesthetic beauty, and security. Microsoft provides complexity, ugly design, and vulnerability.

Apple tries its best to make its users excited to user their products. Microsoft simply knows their users are required to use their products, so they put only their half-hearted efforts into their OS and other devices. I don't know if Microsoft just doesn't have any capable artists working for them, but everything they touch has ugly and outdated written all over it (when compared to every beautiful Apple product). It seems the only branch of Microsoft where any innovation is going on is the XBox department.

Apple knows what you want. Microsoft knows what you have. Apple wants you to give them a try. Microsoft wants nothing more than to keep you from ever dabbling in another OS, especially Apple. They know very well what's at stake, and it's only a matter of time before their wells dry up. If it's not because of Apple, it will be because of web-based programs from Google and such. Microsoft is the Titanic of the technology industry: apparently unsinkable...but...

I can't sleep.

It's 3:39 AM at the moment. I want to sleep. I need to sleep. But I just cannot even get myself to the point where I can sleep.

I blame it on Senior Camp. I was up until 4 and 5 in the morning for 3 nights in a row. It's not like we were doing anything particularly hilarious or memorable. The guys weren't sneaking out and causing damage to the campgrounds (thank God). They weren't blowing air horns deep into the night in efforts to hack off the monitors (that story is legendary). They were just talking. I talked with them. In theory, it should've been mundane enough to doze off at about midnight...but that just wasn't the case.

So now, having been home for over three days, I'm still feeling the effects. Sure, I'm no longer suffering from the problems brought on by the mold in the boys' dorm. And my stomach problem seems to be doing better (not upset stomach; something weird). I just can't sleep.

So instead of sleeping, I read up on Thierry Henry's move away from Arsenal. I watched YouTube videos of babies laughing hysterically. I kept up with the latest Drudge Report headlines. I even did some studying up on my future fantasy football draft, which is 2 months away. And of course, I posted a blog.

I would have taken some Tylenol PM or Nyquil (spell check), but those things conk me out for 12 hours at a time. I can't do it.

So instead I'll sit here on the couch, waste time, read a bit, play DS a bit, and finally drift away into blissful rest.

At least that's the plan.

"We'll Always Have Paris...Unfortunately"

Unless you’ve purposely buried yourself away from the world for a the past few weeks (and I could certainly see why you would), you’ve been bombarded with the media’s covered of Miss Paris Hilton’s stint in jail. It’s rather interesting—that is, if you cast aside the fact that she has done nothing worthy of the attention and money that has been heaped upon her.

Paris is an heiress. If she wanted to, she could relax on the beach, do some shopping, and hang out with friends all night, every night. She wouldn’t have to draw attention to herself at all. She could just be Paris and spend her parents’ money.

Unfortunately for us, this is not the case. She’s constantly putting herself in the limelight. She’s recording herself with her boyfriend (I’ll elaborate no further), showing up at Hollywood award ceremonies that she has no business attending in the first place, and generally making herself a public figure for all the wrong reasons.

But Miss Hilton was apparently not above the law (feel free to gasp in shock and awe…hey, that all rhymed). She is currently spending time in jail, a result of driving under the influence multiple times, even while her license was suspended. Evidently the state of California’s legal system isn’t as impressed with you as 14-year-old boys are, Miss Hilton.

Today, Paris’ interview with Barbara Walters was released. Among other things, Paris is claiming she has become more spiritual and has turned her life around. I sincerely hope this is the case, but forgive my skepticism.

When asked about what happened during her first few days in jail, Paris responded with this: “"I was not eating or sleeping. I was severely depressed and felt as if I was in a cage…it was a horrible experience."

A few observations…

1. Paris, you never eat. The proof is in the rack of ribs that you incessantly display to the paparazzi.
2. You’re in jail. It’s not happy/happy time. We’re not shocked and horrified that you’re depressed..
3. Let’s see, you were in a room. The room has bars on one side, and the other three walls are solid. The door is locked and you’re not allowed out. Yep, sounds like a cage!
4. Again, jail is not supposed to be an uplifting experience. It is meant to drill some sense into your empty little dyed head.

I’d like to say that today is the last day that I click on a “Paris in Jail” story, but I think we all know that everyone will be keeping up. We’ll read the stories, smile deviously, and share our joy with others.

What is this fiendish infatuation we have with public enemies who wind up getting what’s coming to them? Is it right to feel this way? Are we justified in our contempt? Personally, I’ve felt a little bit guilty for being so pleased with the outcome thus far. Maybe we all should make a one-eighty-degree turn and feel sorry for Paris, instead of kicking her while she’s down!

…

…NAH! *kick*