I am Matt Thomas » Asides

Travelers’ laptops may be detained at the border

Matt Thomas — Sat, 02 Aug 2008 21:04:02 +0000

Travelers’ laptops may be detained at the border

Federal agents may take a traveler’s laptop or other electronic device to an off-site location for an unspecified period of time without any suspicion of wrongdoing, as part of border search policies the Department of Homeland Security recently disclosed.

Memo to foreign travelers from the U.S. government: Don’t bother trying to do business in the U.S. Or visit, for that matter. It’s not like our economy’s in any trouble.

IOC agrees to Internet blocking at the Games

Matt Thomas — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 23:12:57 +0000

IOC agrees to Internet blocking at the Games

The Chinese government and the IOC had repeatedly suggested up until two weeks ago that the 20,000 journalists covering the games would have full Internet access. Jacques Rogge, the International Olympic committee president, declared that the foreign media would be able to report and publish its work freely in China and that the Internet would be uncensored.
On Wednesday [...] the International Olympic Committee quietly agreed to some of the limitations.

Pathetic.

Dumbest Political Ad Ever

Matt Thomas — Wed, 30 Jul 2008 21:48:22 +0000

The McCain Campaign has released what has to be the dumbest political advertisement ever produced, featuring 30 seconds of attractive footage of his rival while crowds chant his name: “Obama! Obama! Obama!” 60 Minutes’ Leslie Stahl could’ve told him… nobody’s listening to the voiceover.

Obama’s Berlin Poster

Matt Thomas — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 03:52:07 +0000

Obama’s Berlin poster is causing consternation on the right wing because they see its nod to Bauhaus design as “arrogant.” Granted, Obama can’t get out of bed these days without being called arrogant, but it’s interesting that the Republicans are now equating taste and design with arrogance and liberalism. Makes me pretty proud to be an arrogant graphic designing liberal.

I honor the place where your blog and my job become one

Matt Thomas — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 07:53:30 +0000

I honor the place where your blog and my job become one Fake Steve Jobs — the Real Dan Lyons — is back with a bitchin’ new blog now hosted on WordPress.com.

WordPress for iPhone Available Now

Matt Thomas — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 05:34:58 +0000

WordPress for iPhone is available for download from the App Store! If you’re the blogging type, download it and give it a go. It’s been a lot of fun and we’re just getting started.

Cheap Gas for Jesus

Matt Thomas — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 19:46:49 +0000

Cheap Gas for Jesus I don’t usually set out to be a curmudgeon, but things like this tend to bring it out of me. If you sit in your car for 20 minutes burning gasoline to save 20 cents a gallon, you’re a fucking moron. Extra kudos to Deeper Life Fellowship, Harvest Church, and Moffett Road Assembly of God, who encouraged this gross display of consumption—that’s definitely what Jesus would have done.

WordPress in Pencil

Matt Thomas — Sun, 20 Jul 2008 09:38:04 +0000

WordPress in Pencil I used to hate doing it, but in the past few years I’ve begun forcing myself to draw at least one rough sketch of each idea I have when beginning a new design project. Every time, that one sketch turns into a complete set, and before I know it I’ve begun ripping out pages, erasing elements, redrawing, revising before I ever touch the mouse. Here’s a glimpse at the first set of ideas for the upcoming WordPress for iPhone app, including a few things we did better and a few things still to come. (It turns out that Field Notes are just about the perfect size for roughing up an iPhone app).

Kensington LiquidAUX

Matt Thomas — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:33:30 +0000

Speaking of using my iPhone in the car, the Kensington LiquidAUX seems to be the best solution available for cars with built-in aux audio jacks. The (expensive) Volvo iPod kit that I bought for my XC90 didn’t work well with my original iPhone (charged, but no audio), but it didn’t work at all with the iPhone 3G. I ripped it out and installed the LiquidAUX in about 10 minutes, and it not only works and sounds great, it does so with very little clutter, thanks to the Volvo’s well-hidden power and audio connections. It comes with a steering wheel remote that controls the iPod functionality wirelessly; it looks very cool but I haven’t bought a battery for it yet. The LiquidAUX Deluxe integrates everything into a dock, but I prefer to keep the iPhone free to pass around so passengers can control the music.

AOL Radio for iPhone

Matt Thomas — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:27:02 +0000

AOL Radio for iPhone is quickly becoming one of my favorite new apps. I didn’t see the use for it until driving home tonight from a friend’s house. We’re limited in the number and quality of public radio stations down this way, but I was able to easily listen to the BBC World Service on KCRW tonight, streaming beautifully over an old-school EDGE connection. I’d been strongly considering satellite radio for my car, but it doesn’t look like that’ll be necessary now. Sweet.