Sign offering a free ride in a police car...

Free Ride in a Police Car
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger.

... but only if you shoplift. Pity the store was shut as this seems like a great offer!

Sped up video of 4 mile long bridge

Astoria-Megler Bridge
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger

Another speeded up video. This one is of driving along the Astoria Bridge. It really does look 4 miles long when you get to the top and look down!

Dismal Nitch Sign

Dismal Nitch
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger.

This place is actually quite nice - shady with good views of the Astoria bridge.

Funny name.

Part of the Lewis and Clark National Park. This site is in Washington.

Today's Sad iPhone Story

Guard iPhone
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger.

Today I left home at 6:30 and got in line at the Apple store for a 3G iPhone. I was there at 6:45, listening to my old phone and ready to wait (no coffee!). I was excited; I don't usually do this sort of thing, I thought it would be fun to be part of the moment (especially as I had been there when Steve Jobs announced it).

At 7:54 they opened the doors and the first people went in. We watched and waited... and waited.. at 8:45 some of them came out, it was taking 45 minutes to activate the phones! Wow. At this point several people left the line, including some people in front of me. The Apple staff were very friendly, told us what was happening and saying they hoped it would get better.

It got better. By 9:30 I was in! The Apple employee who helped me had purple hair and sparkly purple boots, he seemed as happy as I was. I picked my phone and additional stuff (Apple Care etc). Then I tried to pay.

The computer said no.

The computer said that I had a corporate discount so I needed to go to an AT&T store to buy a phone. Nooooo! I used to have a corporate discount but it didn't apply to the iPhone so I wasn't using it. So they gave me a phone to call AT&T, who said they had taken off the discount. Still no joy. They called AT&T. They put them on to me. It was not possible to activate at the Apple store period. They put me on hold and called around. The local AT&T stores were already out of phones. They had no process for me to buy a phone at the Apple store but activate it at the AT&T store. I was not allowed an iPhone.

So I left the Apple store and went to the AT&T store. I waited another 30 minutes to pre-order an iPhone which will take 10 days to arrive. (I didn't want to wait again and AT&T stores have so little stock).

Maybe one day I will have a new iPhone... I'll think twice about waiting in line again. I blame AT&T. Interestingly the Apple people did not blame anyone - the AT&T people blamed Apple. I blame AT&T's crazy processes.

Little video of my first spore creature!

My first spore creature
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger

Isn't he sweet? www.spore.com.

Yet another funny portland sign, "A word to the wise..."

A word to the wise...
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger.

"A word to the wise is not necessary the stupid ones need it"

Latest sign on the Beaverton-Hillsdale highway.

The sign is in Portland, Oregon. (On the Beaverton-Hillsdale Highway,
between Portland and Beaverton). I have no affiliation - I just drive
or ride the bus past the sign most days. The sign is located here (via mapquest).

Here is a cool link to Flash Earth which gives a satellite image of the sign!

Charging station at Sacremento Airport

Charging station at Sacremento Airport
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger.

Lots of different plugs and wires for the dedperate gadget lover!

Sea Lions look like Sea Dogs to me!

Sea World: Another Sea Lion
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger.

Here is a picture of a Sea Lion I took at Sea World. They look so much like dogs!

(A few other pics from Sea World here).

Morning View in SD

Morning View in SD
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger.

Not too shabby. But what is that strange tower exactly?

Pixs of Amazing Blown Glass, San Francisco

In San Francisco I took some pictures of the totally amazing Chihuly glass exhibition. Here is a Flickr Slide Show of the best pictures. The exhibition was awesome!

WWDC: Bare Naked Ladies, from behind!

WWDC: Bare Naked Ladies, from behind!
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger.

San Francisco.

My current iPhone wallpaper... Tonks!

My current iPhone wallpaper... Tonks!
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger.

Tonks reaching out to grab the phone! Her ears make me laugh.

WWDC pic - see the nerds, all in a row...

See the nerds, all in a row...
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger.

A row of people using the plug-in station at WWDC. Laptop batteries do not last all day.

Waiting for Steve Jobs: 24s video - huge Press Corp and Japanese reporter

Waiting for Steve Jobs: 24s video - huge Press Corp and Japanese reporter
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger

I was sitting right next to the press. There was a Japanese reporter trying to do something but the music was so very loud.

(Taken at the Moscone West Conference Center, San Francisco).

Waiting for Steve Jobs: 14s panoramic video of crowd while waiting

Waiting for Steve Jobs: 14s panoramic video of crowd while waiting
Originally uploaded by Major Clanger

The music was really loud. Steve Jobs was about to come on and announce the 3G iPhone.

(Moscone West Conference Center, San Francisco).