Wednesday, April 01, 2009
The makers of dinosaurs finally becomes a dinosaur.
I'd like to think that the following is an April Fools Joke, but given the recent history of Silicon Graphics, this is probably true:
Today, a legendary Silicon Valley company goes out with a fizzle.
Rackable Systems (RACK) announced that it will buy most of the assets of Silicon Graphics (SGIC), the long-time provider of high-performance computers, for $25 million in cash and the assumption of certain liabilities as part of a pre-packaged Chapter 11 filing by Silicon Graphics. the deal is expected to close within 60 days.
And with Silicon Graphic's current stock price of 18¢ (no, not $18, 18¢), such a move would put the company out if its misery.
Shame really. I remember using their computers in the 90s. In fact, I had near exclusive use of one when I worked at FAU and it was such a sweet machine. Except for having to continually replace the fan unit. Oh, and the motherboard at least once. And the graphics board. And the monitor at the end had a decidedly green tinge to it. And that when new, it cost $35,000.00 but after four years might have been worth $1,500 (even worse than your typical car).
Hmm … when put in those terms …
(Oh, and the title? It's in reference to their little commercial from the early 90s)
Some notes on a non-April Fools joke (or, Metaposts are bad)
For the past several years, I've radically changed the style sheets for The Boston Diaries on this day. It was the easiest thing I could think of to mess with my reader's minds on this day (and if you are using Firefox, you can view them by, a) coming directly to The Boston Diaries and b) selecting “View → Page Style” and selecting a year).
This year, I did no such thing. The reason was I couldn't think of a crazy theme (oh, I could have reversed all the text with a single change, for instance, but eh … ). Oh, a few months ago I did have an idea, but I neglected to write anything down, and now for the life of me I can't recall what it was.
But I suspect that the majority of my readership read me elsewhere, thanks to my syndication feeds and thus wouldn't see any changes. I suppose I could do some silly post where I say something outrageous but plausible (you know, something like “President Obama finally figured out a way to get tax cheats to pay their taxes—by nominating them for a cabinet post”) but a) I would have to think of something outrageous but plausible, and I didn't, and b) I really do think that President Obama finally figured out a way to get tax cheats to pay their taxes—by nominating them for a cabinet post (again, another example of real life trumping satire).
These guys really know how to do it
Besides, anything I do for April Fools Day will pale in comparison with these guys:
![[Save IE6]](/2009/04/01/banner_saveie6.gif "Yeah, right!")
At least … I hope it's a joke …
MTV's The Real World: “This is the end my only friend, the end.”
About time, too!
MTV's “The Real World” and this week's episode: “This is the end my only friend, the end.”
Tempers flair as first the boys get into a barroom brawl at a local restaurant. Then they flair even more as the girls try one last prank on the boys and attempt to pin it on JD. They're found out and everbody hates everybody. Then, one by one, they're voted off the island out of the house (and there was much wailing and knashing of teeth), with Katelynn as the last person standing.
The end.
And thus ends all the posts about MTV's “The Real World.”
MTV's The Real World: “One Last Word”
Okay, I lied. This is the last post about MTV's “The Real World” (Ha! This can be my April Fools Joke! … okay, maybe not).
There was a special “reunion” episode after the last episode of “The Real World” where they got all eight members (including Iraq-bound Ryan) together and it's painfully clear that MTV picked a volatile bunch of people (I'm really surprised a fist-fight didn't break out on set).
And we also learn what the cast has been up to since filming stopped in late November/early December:
- Sarah
- Back in San Fransicso with her “love-forevah” boyfriend, and hardly recognized on the street at all.
- JD
- Back in Miami training dolphins and swimming with his fans.
- Katelynn
- Back in Montana living with her boyfriend and working at the local college in IT, with the occasional speaking engagement.
- Scott
- Living in New York City persuing his acting and modelling career, and apparently making a decent living at it to help afford a $3,000/month apartment (ostensibly with roommates, more on that below).
- Devyn
- Living in New York City and sharing an apartment with Scott, and persuing her career in singing and high fasion.
- Chet
- It was hard to determine from the show, but I think he's living in the New York City area, either for MTV or some other company that's allowing him to do interviews.
- Baya
- Living in New York City sharing an apartment with Scott (and Devyn) and persuing her career as a DJ.
- Ryan
- Just about to leave for Iraq. He and Chet are “Best Friends Forevah!” (not only that, but he met Chet's parents out in Utah, so that makes them hetero-life partners). Also not terribly surprising (and I called this in the second episode), he and Baya are now officially “an item.” I guess his former girlfriend Belle dumped him when she found out he was headed back to Iraq.
And with that, we end thirteen grueling weeks of angst.
And no, I'm not watching this show again (well, unless I know a cast member personally).
