Monthly Archives:

November 2009

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CNN.com: Palin slams ‘sexist’ Newsweek cover

From CNN.com: Palin slams ‘sexist’ Newsweek cover

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Palin took aim at Newsweek’s eye-catching cover this week that shows the former vice presidential candidate in her running outfit – an image that was apparently lifted from a Runner’s World photo shoot months ago.  Writing on her Facebook page Monday night, Palin said the depiction is flat out “sexist, and oh-so-expected.”

“The choice of photo for the cover of this week’s Newsweek is unfortunate. When it comes to Sarah Palin, this ‘news’ magazine has relished focusing on the irrelevant rather than the relevant,” Palin wrote. “The out-of-context Newsweek approach is sexist, and oh-so-expected by now.”

I think this is the first time that I actually agree with something that Sarah Palin has to say.  I think it’s totally inappropriate to take photos that were intended for Runner’s World and use them out of context for the cover of Newsweek.  The picture is pretty standard fare for a running magazine, but used as the cover of Newsweek for a political story about the GOP, it becomes a “titillating” photo of Sarah Palin showing off her legs.  Used like this, the photo becomes demeaning and sexist, conveying a message that was not the intent of the photograph.

Quitting on your state during the worst recession in recent memory and avoiding all the hard decision governing requires for a money grabbing book tour is a serious issue, but this is not the way for Newsweek to comment on that.

Newsweek should definitely do better than this.

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AppleInsider.com: Microsoft official admits Windows 7 design inspired by Mac OS X

From AppleInsider.com: Microsoft official admits Windows 7 design inspired by Mac OS X

One of the things that people say an awful lot about the Apple Mac is that the OS is fantastic, that it’s very graphical and easy to use,” Aldous said. “What we’ve tried to do with Windows 7 — whether it’s traditional format or in a touch format — is create a Mac look and feel in terms of graphics.

Microsoft is just pitiful.  A company with the resources that Microsoft has should be pushing the envelope of computer design.  Instead, compared to Apple and Google, Microsoft is like the old GM, old and slow and unable to innovate.  GM’s profits and market share masked the problems the company was having, but the lack of innovative design caught up.

UPDATE:
From AppleInsider.com: Microsoft denies Apple had influence on Windows 7 design

On the official Windows Blog, Brandon LeBlanc said that the widely circulated quote was “inaccurate.” He flatly stated that the style of Windows 7 was not inspired by Mac OS X.

“Unfortunately this came from a Microsoft employee who was not involved in any aspect of designing Windows 7,” LeBlanc said. “I hate to say this about one of our own, but his comments were inaccurate and uninformed.”

Anyone can see Microsoft copies from Apple, from retail stores to Windows 7.  It’s a surprise that they even have an R&D department.

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thrfeed.com: Twitter user ‘Shit My Dad Says’ gets CBS deal

thrfeed.com: Twitter user ‘Shit My Dad Says’ gets CBS deal

Twitter sensation Shit My Dad Says is headed to television.

CBS has picked up a comedy project based on the Twitter account, which has enlisted more than 700,000 followers since launching in August and has made its creator, Justin Halpern, an Internet star.

You know you’re officially bankrupt of ideas when you’re signing deals with people who Twitter.  I guess making TV shows staring GEICO cavemen wasn’t the bottom of the idea barrel.

Shitmydadsays on Twitter is kind of an amusing read, but trying to expand the concept into a 30 minute sitcom just doesn’t seem like a great idea.

Cincinnati

Why don’t the Cincinnati Bengals discount tickets to sellout PBS?

The Bengals are winning, but every week the Bengals seem to be 5000 seats short of a sellout.  Without a sellout, the Bengals are blacked out in the local television market.  The matchup with Baltimore is a compelling one, but the next three home games after this with bad teams- Cleveland, Detroit, and Kansas City most certainly will not sellout.

My first thought about the problem is price.  The price vs. location of the seats makes absolutely no sense to me.  Football tickets are expensive, but the differential between the worst ticket and the best ticket is only $18.  Why would someone pay $62 dollars to be in the upper reaches of the stadium when really good seats only cost $18 more. 

The remaining 5000 tickets are most likely the worst seats left in the stadium.  Why not charge half price and fill the stadium?  In a down economy, the Bengals could lure some new fans to the stadium by charging $25 or so for tickets.

If the Bengals don’t want to discount individual tickets, discount tickets drastically if they are bought for all four games.  The Bengals offer “Who Dey” packs, but instead of discounts, they offer somewhat better seat locations and a few other perks.

The Bengals are finally good, but the marketing team seems to be stuck with the old marketing playbook.  Why not try a sale to shake things up?

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ESPN.com: Woods’ influence crossing generations

ESPN.com: Woods’ influence crossing generations

“Tiger’s China trip changed my daughter’s life,” said Feng Delin, 54, Cindy’s father. “Lots of kids from her generation took the path of golf all because Tiger came to China and introduced the game to the Chinese people.”

Interesting article about Tiger’s influence on one particular girl in China who’s now a golf prodigy in the United States.  How many people have the ability to inspire like Tiger Woods?

UPDATE: Another Tiger Woods in China article
ESPN.com: Woods’ appeal hasn’t fully hit China

Nike, one of Tiger’s biggest partners elsewhere, largely limits the use of his image to in-store promotions, whereas Kobe Bryant, another high-profile Nike athlete, is nearly ubiquitous in China, with China-specific campaigns.

“This will definitely change,” Paull said. “Golf is going through the fastest change of any sport in China right now. There were more golf courses completed in the last three years than the previous thirty years.

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Banner Pictures

The Journey is the Reward Banner Pictures

I recently added a script that allows me to rotate the banner pictures on my blog.  Here’s a little information about each picture.

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Lake Manapouri, New Zealand

Arc.jpgChamps-Élysées, walking towards the Arc de Triomphe, Paris

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Gardens at the Palace of Versailles, Paris

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Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris

trainstation.jpgEarl’s Court Underground Station, London

Product Review

Sanyo Eneloop Mobile USB Booster for iPhone Review

When traveling with my iPhone 3GS, I find myself using up battery charge much more quickly than while at home.  Whether it’s the use of the GPS, entertaining myself browsing the web, playing games, or watching movies, I am always worried about whether I’ll have enough charge to make it through the rest of the day.

The Sanyo Eneloop Mobile Booster is a compact and inexpensive solution to my traveling battery issues.  The Eneloop Mobile Booster is a 5000mAH Li-Ion battery pack that can recharge your iPhone 3GS a whopping four times!

I used it during my recent trip to Europe and it worked extremely well.  I used my iPhone for nearly the entire flight back as there was no personal entertainment system.  The Eneloop Mobile Booster kept the phone completely charged the whole time.  You just plug in your iPhone USB cable into it and your ready to go.  With this, you never have to worry about finding a plug at the airport again.  I highly recommend it

Right now, the Sanyo eneloop Mobile USB Booster for iPhone is being sold at Amazon for only $38.95.  I think this is an amazing deal for something that anyone who travels with their iPhone shouldn’t be without.

UPDATE Feb. 10, 2010:  It looks like Sanyo discontinued this particular Eneloop charger.  As an alternative you might try the ImaxPower IMP500 External Backup Battery 5000mAh white which has the same amount of charge as the Eneloop or the massive ImaxPower IMP880 iTouch External Backup Battery 8800mAh.


 

Eneloop1.jpgHere’s the size of the Eneloop Mobile Booster in comparison with the iPhone 3GS.  It’s about twice the thickness, but compact.
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NYTimes.com: Iraq Swears by Bomb Detector U.S. Sees as Useless

NYTimes.com: Iraq Swears by Bomb Detector U.S. Sees as Useless

The small hand-held wand, with a telescopic antenna on a swivel, is being used at hundreds of checkpoints in Iraq. But the device works “on the same principle as a Ouija board” — the power of suggestion — said a retired United States Air Force officer, Lt. Col. Hal Bidlack, who described the wand as nothing more than an explosives divining rod.

Still, the Iraqi government has purchased more than 1,500 of the devices, known as the ADE 651, at costs from $16,500 to $60,000 each. Nearly every police checkpoint, and many Iraqi military checkpoints, have one of the devices, which are now normally used in place of physical inspections of vehicles.
….
The Iraqis, however, believe passionately in them. “Whether it’s magic or scientific, what I care about is it detects bombs,” said Maj. Gen. Jehad al-Jabiri, head of the Ministry of the Interior’s General Directorate for Combating Explosives.

This is insanity.  I’m definitely in the wrong business.  Thinking of crap to sell to the Iraqis is what I should be doing.