Pardon the pun, but it was absolutely necessary. I’m posting right now from within Flock, the new browser that is an offshoot of the Mozilla browser code. Right off the bat, I can say a few things about it in the 5 minutes I’ve been using it:

1. I really like the blog integration. In fact, I like it better than the actual Blogger interface. Plus, all my Flickr pictures load at the top of the screen when I change a little button called “Topbar” to Flickr. Then I can simply drag them into my post! Fabulous.

2. The use of del.icio.us in place of a favorites list. Who doesn’t like social networking services?? Now everyone can see the bookmarks that you create and want to share. And if you’re not at home, you can log into your account to show someone your favorite page (which, assumably, you can’t remember the address for…).

3. The interface is cute, and I haven’t yet gone around looking for alternate skins. I’m guessing they exist, although it’s probably too early in the game for people to develop their own. Well, it has been a full day… must be some somewhere.

4. Firefox crashes my Mac. I’m not sure why, or how, but I’m not the only one this happens to. Even though it’s based on the same code, maybe I’ll have better luck using something other than Safari at home.

5. There are easy RSS reader capabilites built right in, but I already use Bloglines. I’ve been happy with that web based reader, and have no desire to change as of yet, but maybe I’m missing something.

Overall, as Tom said on the podcast today, there’s nothing here that you can’t already get somewhere else. But it’s definitely a step in the right direction.

UPDATE! After I wrote all that, the Publish tool didn’t work. Soooo… thats to be expected. They’ll work the bugs out soon enough, I’m sure. Still happy with it!

Last night was the first Bay Area Engadget Reader Meet-Up. This is how I got my friends to go:

Veronica: “Change in plans. We’re going to the Engadget party.”
Naomi: “Will there be alcohol present?”
Veronica: “Probably, nerds love to get drunk.”

And so we made our way to a non-descript warehouse in the Mission. I knew I was in for a treat when I noticed the Segway parked inside. I managed to obtain a t-shirt based on the promise to Ryan that I would wear it to the CNET offices and take my picture. We’ll see about that!

It was there that I met Julian and Noelle from Escape My Head. We chatted for a bit, and then I realized that I probably had enough to drink when I asked Julian if he went to school locally, and he answered “No, Colorado actually.” Then I said “Oh, you commute?” Sorry, guys. I should have known you were joking. *sigh*

The crowning glory of the evening was Jeremiah winning the OQO model 01+. And yes, you owe me big time for:
1. Inviting you.
2. Making you get a raffle ticket.

You can repay me by fixing my bike!
More pictures on the Flickr account.

Google Inc.’s wrath is short lived, it turns out.

The Mountain View search engine has ended a one-year boycott of reporters from Cnet Network’s online technology news service News.com 10 months early.

Eric Schmidt, Google’s chief executive, granted an interview with a Cnet reporter for an article published Monday night.

SF Chronicle

That boycott sure lasted.

I thought these pictures are beautiful, albeit a little disturbing. I just love the way they’re shot. See them here.

I’ll probably have bad dreams about those too.
I have to wait another day to move now because they “forgot” to shampoo the carpets, even though I’ve called twice to remind them. I promise, soon I’ll stop complaining about the move, I swear.