http://www.salon.com/comics/tomo/2008/09/23/tomo/

I use mint along with google to track my traffic to wetwired.  One thing can be said about wetwired’s demographic: It’s very large.  Not that we get a ton of traffic, by large I mean we have technical people that come here for tutorials and we have people who live in Austin come to see the articles written about the local scene, and we have people who come here to read up on our political commentary.   We’re not niche on one subject, which is also our downfall in some cases but that’s not what we’re about - we have multiple interests and they span multiple subjects, wetwired is a group personal blog so to speak.  So coming back to the subject, based on our traffic spanning multiple demographics, here is something that you most likely already knew.

Out of our platform specific traffic, 73% of our traffic is Microsoft Windows based.  Out of that traffic 51% is Windows XP while only 19% is Vista.  On the other hand, Apple based traffic 14% is Leopard vs 6% Tiger.

So we can look at these statistics and do what all people do with numbers - we can make an assumption.  My assumption is that based on this: more than 50% of users have not upgraded to the latest platform Microsoft has provided which is nearing 2 years of being on the market.  Where as Apple’s Leopard 10.5 has been on the market for less than a year (a year in October) and has more than 50% of its users that have upgraded to the latest version.

What does this mean?  It means two things: users have less faith in Microsoft’s product releases than they do in Apple products.  BUT.  Before you wankers jump ahead of me, you also have to look at the adoption rate and user type, the majority of licensed uses that are utilizing XP are businesses as they are always the slowest to adopt.  Apple is slowing coming into the business world so things are changing but, currently the demographics for Leopard vs. Vista are totally different.  Even said,  it’s a pretty good assumption that with each release of the current platform of Apple OS 10.4, 10.5, 10.6 that they are building on pretty solid footing and while there are bugs, users are more comfortable(in general) and trusting (on the whole) of Apple’s bugs than they are of Microsoft’s. Proof in point is wetwired’s traffic.  Of the people who are Apple users and of the people who are Windows users, more of the base of Apple has upgraded vs More of the base of Windows has stayed the same or downgraded.

What to take from this, Apple is breaking into the business world more and more.  Microsoft has it’s work cut out for it, flashy commercials with Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates showing them trying to get in touch with the common man is not going to help, nor is the Mojave commercials (honestly all I can see during these commercials is Rick Moranis in Space Balls saying “foooooled yooou”).  Coming out with a reliable OS that is not bloatware will help you.

This is a late follow up to Jailbreaking the latest Apple 2.1 software update with the latest version of QuickPwn 1.1.  You will as always need to ensure that you have backed up.  Download the latest version of QuickPwn here.

Note: You have to be at version 2.1 on your iphone for this to work.  I’ll go over breifly the update in this tutorial, you can also look at previous tutorials on the update such as here.

1. Launch iTunes and have your phone plugged in and you should receive the message about updating as I’ve covered before in previous tutorials - it will run through these screens as you update to 2.1 version of Apple iPhone Software

2. And it will continue to update, your iphone will flash and reboot at some point as well.

3. Once it’s done make sure you have your quickpwn on your desktop and double click on it.

4. Then the usual screen will come up with the usual we’re not responsible if you brick your phone.

5. Connect your iPhone if you haven’t already - click ok. It will auto-detect your phone and continue.

6. Choose to replace the original boot and logos and click yes.

7. Put in ye’ old username and password.

8. And wait while it builds the new firmware package.

9. Now it needs to xfer the information over - follow the onscreen instructions for getting into DFU mode - if you have problems refer to the previous tutorial here.

10. QuickPwn will send the package to your iPhone

11. The software part is done on your mac now you need to watch your iPhone.

13. Here is the new screen, apologies for the blurryness.  This go around you get a status update about what is going on which is very cool.  Plus it didn’t hang like last time for me or the other iPhone of Prax’s that we jailbroke.  Once its done, you’re good.

14. You may want to install boss pref’s and run through the reset of directory permissions.  I didn’t have this issue before but I did after updating to 2.1.  Check here for instructions and issue.

And that’s it.

This will be the official blog post that we’ll update throughout the day/evening with information for the premier of Kevin Smith’s new flic here in Austin at the Paramount. This will be the US Premier of the film as well. While its been shown in Toronto, it will premier in the States here in Austin first. This is also the 2nd premier that I have been to of Kevin’s here in Austin. The first was Clerks 2.

This is brought to Austin by Fantestic Fest and Alamo Draft House. Where Kevin Smith is kicking it off.

Harry Knowels will be in attendance of course. You might remeber we have an interesting history with him. Well I don’t but Finley does…and Finley also got a response from the writers of Harold and Kumar as an apology to what happened…so he has that going for him.

Tickets were may still be available for purchase here. Update the good seats (up close) are sold out.
Update - looks like sold out for good now.

Larky, Davis and I will be heading out this afternoon and hopefully will be able to do some live blogging prior to and during the event.

Update: Looks like several groups are meeting up prior to the event downtown - follow the chatter on that here at the forums of View Askew.

Out front 5:20pm

6:19pm Other web news peeps looking for kevin to arrive

6:50pm Handing out wrist bands to the after party

7:00pm Kevin is here doing interviews picture later from the good camera. Harry Knowels is also here in all his… Harryness

7:20pm fantastic fest is open

7:25pm Kevin is on stage talking about breaking a toilet he broke a toilet off the wall. Don’t worry we are getting audio

9:08pm Movie over. Holy crap that was funny. Larky said that she felt strangly violated but she was ok with it. Were waiting for follow up.

9:23pm Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier answer questions about the R rating.

9:34pm Kevin “The movie is about how we made clerks except we didn’t fuck.”

What is the shit made of? Corn.

9:56pm Airsex championship is about to start

11:58pm
And I got some video of the air-sex as well as full audio of Kevin’s pre-movie and post-movie discussions I’ve got to edit etc so it could be some time before I have it up, and it might be better if I waited until after the movie comes out so we don’t spoil it.  But holy crap.  That was good. Tell your friends, see Zack and Miri Make a Porno when it comes out.  Much thanks to Tim at the Alamo Draft house, once again put on an amazing event and this weekend should be awesome also.

I’ll post high-res pictures tomorrow.

Update 9/19/08: Here are two pics from the event

Fantastic Fest: Zach and Miri Make a Porno & Air Sex Championship

Kevin on the red carpet being interviewed

Tim from the Alamo introduces Kevin Smith

Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier talking about the film

Tomorrow night Davis, Larkynn, and myself are heading down to the Paramount theatre to see Kevin Smith Premier Zack and Miri Make a Porno.

http://www.austintheatre.org/site/Calendar/1032804605?view=Detail&id=18161

Lifelong platonic friends Zack (Seth Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) look to solve their respective cash-flow problems by making an adult film together. As the cameras roll, however, the duo begins to sense that they may have more feelings for each other than they previously thought.

Director Kevin Smith will be live in person to introduce the screening and answer questions after the film.

Following the event, attendees are invited to stay and enjoy the Air Sex World Championships, presented by Fantastic Fest & the Alamo Drafthouse. Think “air guitar” with more sizzle.

We will be taking pictures and hopefully get some audio or video of the premier.

Update (9/18/08): Check out our live blog updates here.

CNN Reports that stocks plundged and then came back up after the S&P lowered WaMu’s stocks as Junk.  Holy crap.  This is of course one of the companies that has been marketing constantly this year, hell I’ve gotten a request to get a mortgage as well as a credit card through them at least once a week.

Seeking to reassure investors, the bank said late Thursday that it had sufficient capital and liquidity to see it through these tough times. It reported that it plans to set aside $4.5 billion in the quarter for loan losses, down from $5.9 billion in the prior period but more than two times expected charge-offs, or uncollectable loan losses.

See, these are things you say when you’re trying to shore up everything and make yourself look ‘not as bad’ as you could be so you can be bought by JP Morgan.  Food for thought.

And in case you were hoping that the Fed would cut the interest rate (thus drive up inflation even higher you dumbass) you’ll be disappointed because they didn’t.  Thank god.  The Fed can’t and shouldn’t consider cutting rates any more at this point or we risk watching the dollar sink lower.

Sounds like a cat hacking up a hair ball.  Or like she had a kitty cat and strangled it while she sang.. Seriously she was booed for singing it, how bad can you get?  Remeber when I was talking about real musicians? Yeah she’s not one.

This is a problem with the permissions on your iphone after jailbreaking.  

1. Open Cydia and download Boss Prefs.

2. Open Boss Prefs

3. Choose More

4. Click on Fix User Dir Prefs

What happened over the weekend here? Really the question is, what the hell is wrong with this country right now?

1. Lehman Brothers will file for bankruptcy and layoffs.

2. American Group (Bank of America) will buyout Merrill Lynch

3. Mr. Sulu beams up his gayness. (He’s been with Brad for 21 years or so, this is nothing new).

4. Greenspan says we’re in the once a century crisis.  (no shit).

5. Ike destroyed Galveston and Houston.  (Will this top Katrina’s damage? I think its possible.)

6. A train crashed in California, potential text messaging blamed.

Seriously, what the hell else could go wrong?

I’m currently running through the updates, should have a tutorial soon.

I think all bands suffer from little issues when they do their first album.  Second Day Red is no different in that aspect.  Forgetting about Momo’s sound engineers issues last night, and the fact that the CD distributer botched up a batch of CD’s for them, and the fact that every time I tried to get a decent picture some ass-hat walked in front of my picture….the party went really well.  What does make them different is their unique sound, and great collaboration. 

All people who showed up at Momo’s for the party received a free CD and the band Second Day Red hopped up on stage and played through their songs.  Unfortunatly the sound engineer seemed to have some issues, but, even with that,  Second Day Red did not disappoint. 

Stephen’s vocals are fairly wide, while he’s got a great low-end, he works a lot in the the higher register which will remind you of Billy Corgan, but not as grainy, and because he has a wide range you don’t get the feeling like he’s whineing like most of the Smashing Pumpkin Songs..so yes, considerably more unique. 

Drew’s violin drops in key points in the songs and brings the quality of their music up a notch that they just wouldn’t have with out him. 

Todd who is the keyboardist has some great melodies and helps drive the songs along, I actually wish in some of the songs I would have heard more harmony or a reiteration of the melody.  Some of the songs that use an organ sound remind me very much of U2.

Frank aka (motorboat) never looses a beat, and if you listen you’ll hear some great cymbal work as some of the songs crescendo to a point - vocals, meet cybals, meet, fast violin, very cool. 

And without Roel, we wouldn’t have the thump thump of the bass guitar and the subtle rhythms.

Notable songs - I’ve been out, Dark Green Light, Wake Up, Giving me away (I think they noted on stage that they liked this one), and Phoenix Tonight.  

Influences: Better Than Ezra, Billy Corgan (vocals), U2, Dave Matthew’s Band, Blue October

Gallery of Strangers Album is available for purchase here. Or you can download it (.99 cents song) here.

Making landfall right now, local restaurant Brennan’s burnt to the ground - without any water - since it was cut for the down, firefighters couldn’t do anything , plus its a hurricane.

Awaiting the release Frank, drummer for second day red displays a cd

Second Day Red CD Release

Second Day Red is releasing their first ever CD tonight at Momo’s (which is the same location of Katz’s on 6th).  Never heard of them? Me either, maybe it’s because they used to be called the “Stephen Clarke Band”.  But if you have not heard of them either, their music (which is original and not cover band crap) can be compared to U2, Dave Matthews,   or maybe even Blue October (who had similarly humble beginings here in Texas).

What do I like about them? I like the fact that they are true muscians.  While austin has a ton of artists and the same can be said for much of Austin, I want to point out that the industry is full of people who are not true musicians.  When you have a band that has to have studio musicians come in to make them sound better, or a band that has to have a producer that alters their voices in post production just to make sure that they remain in key when they are singing, that’s not a true musician.

Here, with Second Day Red(and many other local Austin artists), we have true professionals that actually can read sheet music as opposed to certain American Idol winners that can’t even read.  Anyway off of my soapbox.

Tonight 11pm (Get there earlier).  I’ll be there with my camera and will do a follow up review of the party with some pictures.  Side note: I also checked out the Austinist to see if this made the weekely “IST” list.  And it didn’t which was sad to see.

From Fox News here in Austin:

Austin ISD - All AISD Schools are going to close Early on Friday.  The times are listed below:

• Elementary Schools will let out at noon.  there will be no after school care for students.

• Middle Schools including Kealing Magnet Students who ride Capital Metro Buses will let out at 2:00 p.m.

• High Schools will dismiss at 2:00 p.m.  Ecept LBJ and Liberal Arts & Science Academy which will dismiss at NOON 

Round Rock ISD - Schools will be release early on Friday 9/12.  Elementary Schools will release at 12:45 p.m.  Middle Schools will release at 1:30 pm.  High Schools will release at 2:00 pm.  Breakfast and lunch will be available for students before dismissal.

Hutto ISD - Elementary Schools release at 12:10 pm.  Middle Schools will release at 1:15 pm.  High Schools will release at 1:30 pm.

Del Valle ISD - Will close early Friday 9/12.  Elementary Schools will dismiss at 1:00 pm and Secondary schools will dismiss at 1:00 pm

Giddings ISD - Will cancel school on Friday 9/12.  Classes will resume on Monday 9/15.  ACT Testing scheduled for this Saturday has been rescheduled for Saturday, 9/20.

Kingdom Academy I, II, and Kingdom Academy Christin School in Bastrop - will release 1:30 p.m. onf Friday 9/12.

Pflugerville ISD - All PISD campuses will release students two hours early on Friday.  High Schools relases at 2:15, Middle Schools relase at 1:35, and Elementary Schools release at 12:50 p.m.  All buses will according to this release schedule.

Bastrop ISD - Busses will be running Friday according to early release schedule.  Students will be released early on Friday. Pre-K classes in the afternoon will not occur. Elementary will release 11:30 and secondary grades at 12:30.

Manor ISD - will release two hours early on Friday 9/12.  Friday’s afternoon pre-K classes are cancelled and all after school events for Friday and the weekend have been canceled.

The Children’s Health and Safety Fair at VFW post 10427, originally scheduled for 9/13/08 has been rescheduled for Saturday 10/04/08

McDade ISD - will be closed on Friday 9/12 due to traffic concerns related to Hurricane Evacuations.  

The SAT Test at Burnet H.S. on Saturday has been cancelled and rescheduled for Saturday 9/20.

Smithville ISD - Students will be dismissed two hours early on Friday Sept. 12. Bus will run their normal route, but earlier

Hays ISD - High schools will be released at 12:30 on Friday, middle schools will be released at 1:45 and elementary schools will be released at their regular time at 2:40. Buses will run according to the earlier schedule.

Waelder ISD - All campuses will be closed Friday.

Elgin ISD - Has canceled school on Frid