J Larsen

That's true as of this moment, but it is changing. As commercial hardware improves, software developers are taking advantage. I used to be able to do my work on a machine with just 64MB RAM, running at around 200MHz. Now, just a few years later, I need ten times those specs to do the same work if I want to be using the current versions of all the necessary software. Of course, the new software is much better and can do a lot more, but you need the new hardware whether or not you're taking advantage of the new software features. This isn't just limited to my work - just look at how fast the demands of new operating systems are growing. BTW, Apple's hyperbole of calling the G5 a "supercomputer" is one of my many Apple advertising pet peeves. It's more like a workstation. BIG difference.

The advantages of the PowerBook are that they are notably faster, they sport FireWire 800, they have (I believe) larger HD capacity, they have large RAM capacity, their caches are 25% larger, and I think they are a bit lighter. I'm not sure if this is still the case, but at least until recently SuperDrives were only packaged in PowerBooks. My experience has also been that the casings are much better made for the PowerBooks than for the iBooks. If you're regularly doing a lot of computationally intensive stuff, the speed, RAM and cache differences point you towards the PowerBook. That's why I went with the PowerBook - I use it primarly for numerical modeling. If you're doing modeling, software development, video editing, etc, you'll want the PowerBook. If you like downloading MP3s, storing video, or storing lot of digital pictures, the HD difference points to the PowerBook (of course, you could always get a FW external HD to supplement the iBook, but the cost of the external drive may exceed the price difference between the notebook models you're looking at). If you really want to use your notebook to burn DVDs, for the price difference the inclusion of the SuperDrive with the PowerBook is a great deal. If none of these things matter to you, and you're sure that the upgrade limitations on the iBook aren't going to bite you in the ass in the future, then the iBook will do just fine for you.

I don't think there's that much difference. There will be a lot more people crossing the bridge on the weekends, but it never gets prohibitively crowded (except on July 4, anyway). Also, the SI ferry may get crowded during rush hour.

And the same guy who caught 660 caught 661. Crazy.

Il Bagatto - it got a 24 for food, which is VERY high. They got slammed on service, but the est. cost is just $30, which easily qualifies as a bargain in Manhattan. I'm going to have to try this one out myself! Now that you mentioned "Italian" and "East Village" in the same sentence, I've remembered Lil' Frankies on First Ave. between First and Second. The pizza isn't the greatest, but the Italian dishes are excellent. They make this salmon baked in a paper bag dish that's amazing.

Jazz Record Center is the best. Kim's (and the other stores on St. Mark's) will occassionally have some good used discs.

Thanks, 7/4. Have you eaten there? I've never tried it. BTW, ua, I have one more recommendation on cheap-ish Italian restaurants for you: Piccolo Angolo on Hudson and Jane. However, I've never eaten at this place - I only noticed that it's in Manhattan and that it got a very high food rating and low cost rating in the 2004 Zagat. BTW, I highly recommend picking that book up - it's only $13 and it's very rarely lead me astray. Just be very skeptical of any high food ratings for places near Columbia or NYU - the college kids tend to be very easily impressed and seem to inflate the ratings of anything near their dorms. In fact, that's the only way I've ever been burned by Zagat - otherwise I've found it to be spot-on.

Hey ua - I'm probably in the minority here, but I think Virgil's sucks. Two qualifiers: I've had REALLY good BBQ in my life, and I used to work in close proximity to Virgil's, so I've had a lot of take-out from them - I may have just gotten sick of their food. I find it bland compared to authentic southern BBQ. Actually, I think you can find better BBQ even in Manhattan - there's a place called Tennessee Mountain that a few friends swear by. For affordable yet excellent Italian, try Genarro (est. cost ~$35/person, provided you don't go too crazy with wines and other extras). Babbo and Il Mulino are, IMO, the gold-bar standards, but they fall into the "special occasion" realm of the price spectrum for most people (Babbo is around $70/person with basic wine, Il Mulino is more like $100). I think Genarro is your best bet. If you've decided that you're going to the AMNH, Genarro is right in the neighborhood. A nice afternoon/early evening could be: Lunch at Barney Greengrass, AMNH, early dinner at Genarro (if you don't go to Genarro early you won't get in). All three things are a stone's throw from one another. Do you like French? There are quite a few good, moderately priced bistros in the city. Asian and Indian are also both great for bargain dining. BTW, sorry for derailing your thread with my SI comment - I really meant it to be innocent and got carried away with the controversy!

Next season is the last season (though it's going to be a short season - just 10 episodes next time).

I have to say, so far this season is a damn sight better than the previous two. The last couple episodes were very strong.

I know this has little to do with what you're talking about, but it's cool all the same. Humanoid robots have been with us for a few years. The last couple of movies on this page, with the robot going down a flight of stairs, are particularly impressive. Honda Robot Project Movies

It's one of the best cast movies I've ever seen - everyone is perfect for their role. I thought it should have been movie of the year over the last Rings movie.

Doesn't their saliva contain a lot of enzymes lacking in humans for breaking down food particles (or whatever else) is sticking to their teeth and gums?

How about Blitzkrieg Bop or Sheena is a Punk Rocker by the Ramones?

If you're talking about the EP, it's a great record. If you're talking about the box set, I listen to discs one and two all the time, five (pre-Ubu demos) every now and then, and three and four rarely (Mayo Thompson era). You get all the best Ubu and a bit more. Give it time to grow on you.

Not really a fan of the group, but if you're going to talk about antemic songs, U2 has to be mentioned somewhere. "In the Name of Love", "Sunday Bloody Sunday", and "Where the Streets Have No Name" immediately come to mind.

There's a local group called Dick van Dick. It made me laugh the first time I heard it.

While I'm at it, there's a horrible indie group out called Volcano, I'm Still Excited, and there's another band called Hal's Whoops I'm an Indian Writer. There's another called What is it Like to be a Bat? I can't think of anything to top the clit/puppy group, though.

There was a band from the 1950s (I kid you not) called Clitoris that Thought it was a Puppy. But you don't have to take my word for it: AMG Link

The Classical! Thanks for saying the name - I'm terrible with song names and it was really bugging me. I know what you're saying about Pavement - those guys didn't even try to pretend that they weren't ripping off The Fall! Can you get any more blatant than that Conduit for Sale song? Oh well, I loved Pavement back then anyway, because 1) I was from SF 2) indie rock had (IMHO) been in a bit of a rut for a year or two before that record came out and 3) I started buying Pavement records in their noise-pop era (Demolition Plot J7, etc) when they weren't quite so derivative. I always felt that Pavement got worse the poppier they got, and they got poppier from record to record.

The first track on Hex Enduction Hour is brilliant! That is probably my most-listened to Fall song.

Have you tried Bags Unlimited? I'm not sure how good their prices are.

One thing I'll say about the Fall is not to skip the later albums. The Infotainment Scan, in particular, is a very strong album. For the classic 80s material, Bend Sinister, Wonder and Frightening World and This Nation's Saving Grace are my favorites. I never got too into the really early stuff. On Pere Ubu, I'm a longtime fan and will be the nth person to say that Modern Dance, Dub Housing and some form or another of the Datapanik EP (a compilation of the early singles that has been released multiple times in various formats, packaging, and with various titles) are the only truly essential recordings. The others all have their moments but are inconsistent.

Anyone else NOT surprised that the only publication to give this movie a lukewarm review was the New Yorker? (I love the New Yorker, and after what Kaufman did to one of their staff in Adaptation I understand their not wanting to embrace the movie, but I still thought it was funny.) I liked Eternal Sunshine better than BJM, which was a good movie but didn't feel fully developed to me. I'd say this film is destined to be a classic. PS: Did anyone else think that Carrey looked like Nate Fisher from Six Feet Under in this film?

I can't stand full-grown adults that don't cover their mouths when coughing. I run into this on the subway all the time. If I can ever afford it, I'll start taking cabs everywhere.