"Remember, the President likes his twinkies arranged around the plate like a spongecake Stonehenge"

It's amazing how easy it is to get sucked back into something. My current vortex: Podcasts on iTunes. I started last week and haven't been able to stop. Neither has Jim.

Last week we found Crista Flanagan (of MADtv fame) has a podcast called Hope is Emo. She does miserable really well, and at times you see a lot of Wendy Walker in Hope. The misery gets to be a bit much, so do it in smaller doses.

I'm also catching up on Wait, Wait, Don't Tell Me. If you've never listened, you must. It is a non-participatory game show, where four people play silly word games. I just listened to the February 11th episode and Paula Poundstone is charming (as is the rest of the cast). All droll, witty and funny as hell while reviewing current events. Please, please check this out. You'll love it. Found here.

UPDATE: One more. SF Chronicle corrections podcast. Here. For the love of all that is holy. Now. NOW. Episode about the Oakland homicides.

If it could make a panini, that would be a bonus, too.

I was at dinner tonight with some friends and we, predictably, began discussing the features of the iPhone. Everyone agreed in the end that it looks to be great, with the obvious hesitations (Cingular, price, can it be insured?, battery replacement). By far my personal favorite feature is the Multi-Touch screen. I'm not as excited about it on teh phone as for the potential for future variations of that.

From day one in my graphic design I have been bothered by the input barrier put between the user and the computer. Only when we can tactilely and immediately affect the screen – as we would the real world – will designers take further leaps in productivity and, indirectly, creativity. I'm imagining a 30-40 inch platform where you can maneuver objects around as you would if they were in front of you. This is not a new idea: See here.

Of course, the phone will be great, but I'm more looking towards future, more helpful uses for the technology. Oh, and I think they will print money with this thing, as has been said before.

UPDATE: Read this Macworld article for more potential flaws. I don't like that this is a closed operating system one bit.