Sony Headphones: The missing manual

I bought a new pair of Sony earphones (MDR-E818LP) last week.

Thankfully, the packaging came with some helpful instructions. While this was an exceedingly helpful diagram, I was disappointed that there was no documentation helping users to couple their new headphone purchase to their corresponding MP3 player/Walkman/Discman (sold separately).

As a public service to others who were dismayed by Sony's lack of commitment to their customers, I've created the following to help you complete the headphone installation process.
Additional help can be found in my upcoming book, Earphones: The Missing Manual by O'Reilly Media! You'll find these, and 2 other helpful diagrams for the reasonable price of $39.99!

All kidding aside, was there just some empty space on the packaging that Sony decided to commission the first illustration above?

Was their technical support department being inundated by calls from people who couldn't figure out that ear phones are supposed to go in their EARS?

Was there been a sharp increase in accidental asphyxiation due to inappropriate headphone use?

If you need that diagram to figure out how to use earphones, I can't imagine you'd be able to operate the MP3 player/Walkman/Discman that you are trying to use it with.

Currently playing: The Commodores - Easy
Currently colouring: Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four vol. 12!
Proudly in my fourth Cola free year!

Digital Photography: Taking great group shots!

A few weeks ago, I attended the wedding of an old friend from my University days.

It was great to hang out with a few old friends from that time in my life again. As you can expect, at the end of the night we all lined up for the obligatory group photo. A lot of times, pics like this end up seeming a bit stilted and forced. So how, you may ask, did we end up with this gem of a photo with everyone smiling, happy, and energized?
I handed off my camera to a gentleman who volunteered to take the photo. My friends and I made the obligatory happy smile and waited for the flash to go off.

We barely had a moment to let our guard down after the photo was taken, when we were met with a second flash. Then an even more unexpected third flash hit us.

It was a little awkward, and created a momentary bit of confusion. A fourth flash flew from the camera's bulb. None of us knew what to think!

There was nothing else for us to do but laugh as this stranger kept flashing. Twelve photos in all were taken in a span of 20 seconds, and his refusal to give any hint that the stream of flashes was going to end sent everyone into hysterics.

It was nothing short of brilliant. Below is an animated gif of the twelve photos snapped. The first 4 capture the awkward moment where no one knew what was going on. The next four captures some great laughing faces. And by the last four, sheer chaos has taken over.So my advice? If you're looking to take some great, natural group shots, just keep shooting. Refuse to stop, or even acknowledge that taking 12 photos in rapid succession is in any way out of the ordinary.

I'll guarantee you, one of those shots will be a complete success.

Currently playing: Alessi Brothers - Savin' The Day
Currently colouring: Marvel Masterworks: Fantastic Four vol. 12!
Proudly in my fourth Cola free year!

Running on empty

Just my luck. My 1995 Pontiac Firebird ran out of gas this morning.

On the plus side, I'd just dropped our 19 month old daughter at day care, so I should consider myself lucky that she wasn't stuck in this predicament with me. My day would have been pretty challenging if I'd had to try to lug a toddler around with me trying to find gas.

The bad thing? Check out the below map, courtesy of Google Maps. (Which is the best! True that! Double true!)
My car died at the spot labelled "A".

The gas station? The one institution that could possibly help me in this crisis? Well, that's labelled "B".

One hundred and fourteen feet away. (Thanks Google Maps!)

Sigh. I had to get an attendant from the Petro Canada gas station to help me get it across the busy intersection during morning rush hour before the light changed. It wasn't a lot of fun, but in hindsight it could have been a lot worse. I could have died a few kilometres away instead!

It just seems like a kick in the teeth from an iron boot to be so close to a gas station and run out of gas.

Currently playing: Running on empty - Jackson Browne
Proudly in my fourth Cola free year!