Monday, January 14, 2008
snotty holier-than-thou types
As a followup to my previous post (Children with Blogs) about Gizmodo, I thought I'd pull a posting off their own blog about the device used in their CES prank.
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/notag/tv%20b%20gone-23694.php
Here's the posting in its entirety:
Copied Text Below -------------------------------------
Mitch Altman is an asshole. And not just any asshole, but one of those snotty holier-than-thou types who has nothing better to do with the money he made as a founder of 3ware than to develop a device with the sole purpose of imposing his viewpoint on others. See, Altman hates the television and its encroachment into public space. Rather than just doing what most everybody else has done—which is either not really caring or, failing that, getting the fuck over it—Altman has invented a device called the 'TV-B-Gone' (obviously having expended every last vapor of his creative ability developing the product, he was left to co-opt the most obvious name schtick ever). Essentially a universal remote that cycles through every possible code, the TV-B-Gone has a single purpose: to power off televisions whenever the user feels like being a dick.
Read the Wired News profile, where Altman wanders through a city, turning off other peoples' televisions, peppering his behavior with such gems as, "We just saved him several minutes of his life." Maybe after making his tens of dozens of dollars on the TV-B-Gone, Altman can invent a gadget that transports self-important cocks who think they're waging a subversive culture war to a log cabin coffee shop where they can reassure each other how awesome they are for hating television. Free berets for the first 100 pricks to use the word "Sheeple!"
http://gizmodo.com/gadgets/notag/tv%20b%20gone-23694.php
Here's the posting in its entirety:
Copied Text Below -------------------------------------
Mitch Altman is an asshole. And not just any asshole, but one of those snotty holier-than-thou types who has nothing better to do with the money he made as a founder of 3ware than to develop a device with the sole purpose of imposing his viewpoint on others. See, Altman hates the television and its encroachment into public space. Rather than just doing what most everybody else has done—which is either not really caring or, failing that, getting the fuck over it—Altman has invented a device called the 'TV-B-Gone' (obviously having expended every last vapor of his creative ability developing the product, he was left to co-opt the most obvious name schtick ever). Essentially a universal remote that cycles through every possible code, the TV-B-Gone has a single purpose: to power off televisions whenever the user feels like being a dick.
Read the Wired News profile, where Altman wanders through a city, turning off other peoples' televisions, peppering his behavior with such gems as, "We just saved him several minutes of his life." Maybe after making his tens of dozens of dollars on the TV-B-Gone, Altman can invent a gadget that transports self-important cocks who think they're waging a subversive culture war to a log cabin coffee shop where they can reassure each other how awesome they are for hating television. Free berets for the first 100 pricks to use the word "Sheeple!"
Sunday, January 13, 2008
My new Tivo
I recently bought TiVo HD DVR
from Amazon
. It's my fourth Tivo (yes, fourth.) I waited until recently because some lame politics and corporate BS prevented Tivo from being able to enable the multi-room functionality of the new HD Tivos, and I wanted all my Tivos to work together. The wait was worth it. I can now have HD content on my HD TV. It also has dual tuners allowing me to record 2 things at one time. They typically sell for around $300, but Amazon has them for just under $260. The Tivo HD is also expandable via the Western Digital MyDVR drive. Best of all, the familiar and user-friendly Tivo interface is the centerpiece of the DVR.
from Amazon. It's my fourth Tivo (yes, fourth.) I waited until recently because some lame politics and corporate BS prevented Tivo from being able to enable the multi-room functionality of the new HD Tivos, and I wanted all my Tivos to work together. The wait was worth it. I can now have HD content on my HD TV. It also has dual tuners allowing me to record 2 things at one time. They typically sell for around $300, but Amazon has them for just under $260. The Tivo HD is also expandable via the Western Digital MyDVR drive. Best of all, the familiar and user-friendly Tivo interface is the centerpiece of the DVR.
Children with Blogs
I've seen a lot going around the web about Gizmodo's CES stunt. If you want the short version, Gizmodo, a gadget blog, went to CES (Consumer Electronic Show) and began turning off TVs with a device that turns off TVs. I suppose someone with a Homer Simpson-esque sense of humor might find it funny to turn off a wall of TVs that potential customers are looking at, but they then proceeded to interrupt a product presentation by Motorola that was showing on a set of TVs during a press conference.
CEA, the company that runs CES, obviously banned the person responsible, but they are being unclear what, if any, further actions will be taken. I think when it comes down to it, there were 2 partys harmed in a clear way by the prank, Motorola and CEA.
The harm to Motorola was clear when Gizmodo interrupted their press conference. For those that don't know, companies compete for press coverage at this even, and often a good presentation can raise the value of a company's stock (or lower it.)
Before CEA meters out the final sanctions, I'm hoping they realize what this prank has done to their credibility. Companies pay unbelievable amounts of money to participate in the convention, millions in some cases. They do this with the belief that they will be in an environment with professional press, and retail buyers from around the world. For the first time, it became clear that children are being let into the event. Spoiled children who get gadgets for free because they have a successful blog, but children nonetheless. I can't help but wonder what the fallout will be from this next year. Obviously, a few pieces of electrical tape over the IR recievers of the devices would prevent this from happening again, but will someone try to outdo them next year?
Honestly, the prank wasn't even funny. It wasn't creative, it wasn't harmless, it just wasn't funny. I'm sure that some people got satisfaction watching someone "stick it to the man," but beyond that, there wasn't much funny about it.
CEA, the company that runs CES, obviously banned the person responsible, but they are being unclear what, if any, further actions will be taken. I think when it comes down to it, there were 2 partys harmed in a clear way by the prank, Motorola and CEA.
The harm to Motorola was clear when Gizmodo interrupted their press conference. For those that don't know, companies compete for press coverage at this even, and often a good presentation can raise the value of a company's stock (or lower it.)
Before CEA meters out the final sanctions, I'm hoping they realize what this prank has done to their credibility. Companies pay unbelievable amounts of money to participate in the convention, millions in some cases. They do this with the belief that they will be in an environment with professional press, and retail buyers from around the world. For the first time, it became clear that children are being let into the event. Spoiled children who get gadgets for free because they have a successful blog, but children nonetheless. I can't help but wonder what the fallout will be from this next year. Obviously, a few pieces of electrical tape over the IR recievers of the devices would prevent this from happening again, but will someone try to outdo them next year?
Honestly, the prank wasn't even funny. It wasn't creative, it wasn't harmless, it just wasn't funny. I'm sure that some people got satisfaction watching someone "stick it to the man," but beyond that, there wasn't much funny about it.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Browser Game of the Year
The folks over at Galaxy-news.net have announced the nominees for Browser Game of the Year. My favorite game Weewar was nominated for no less than 6 of 15 categories! Way to go guys!
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Mint.com
Mint.com sounds like a great idea, but frankly, I'm a bit hesitant to put all my financial information into a single website like that. I believe the technology can be safe, but quite frankly, humans are involved...
I might just register and check it out.
I might just register and check it out.
Still playing Weewar
Ok, since I've had my fourth kid now, personal time is at a premium. Luckily, I can still manage to get 10 minutes here or there to play some Weewar.
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Pet Peeve
A series of my pet peeves involve the molestation of the english language. While not perfect, I make some attempt at correct spelling and punctuation. Superfluous commas, apostrophes, and quotation marks are at the top of this long list of things that cause spontaneous eye rolling, sighing, and outright expletives from me. Imagine my amusement when I found a blog that seeks to call out offenders of the excessive quotation marks!
the "blog" of "unnecessary" quotation marks
the "blog" of "unnecessary" quotation marks
WeeWar
If you like the board games Risk or Axis and Allies, you might like WeeWar. It is a browser-based online game against other players. It is turn-based, and the person that starts up a game can control the pace of the game by limiting the time that a person has to make a move. This type of game is great from someone like me who likes strategy games but doesn't want to sit down for hours at a time to play, but instead can allow up to 3 days to make a move. It's nice to have a limit, so that if you are playing with a stranger, they can't just disappear from the face of the earth.
Anyway, it's a hoot to play if you like strategy games instead of the run-around-and-shoot-em-up stuff that's out there.
Anyway, it's a hoot to play if you like strategy games instead of the run-around-and-shoot-em-up stuff that's out there.
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Why didn't someone think of this earlier?
In an effort to slim down one's wallet, one might wish that they didn't have so many membership cards in their wallet. You have a few choices:
1) Take them out and try to remember to bring the right one along when you shop at the store. (Good luck with that and let me know how it works out.)
2) Store the info electronically using a program like eWallet on your PDA. (You obviously have to have said PDA.)
3) http://www.justoneclubcard.com/
While I've gone to using option number 2 personally, I think the third option is a stroke of genius. Actually, I suppose it's probably common sense, but I'm glad someone stepped up and did it.
Justoneclubcard lets you submit your barcode numbers (up to 8 of them) via a web site and then generates a card you can print and put in your wallet. I would like to see them offer a premium service where you are sent the bar codes on a laminated card for a small fee, too.
1) Take them out and try to remember to bring the right one along when you shop at the store. (Good luck with that and let me know how it works out.)
2) Store the info electronically using a program like eWallet on your PDA. (You obviously have to have said PDA.)
3) http://www.justoneclubcard.com/
While I've gone to using option number 2 personally, I think the third option is a stroke of genius. Actually, I suppose it's probably common sense, but I'm glad someone stepped up and did it.
Justoneclubcard lets you submit your barcode numbers (up to 8 of them) via a web site and then generates a card you can print and put in your wallet. I would like to see them offer a premium service where you are sent the bar codes on a laminated card for a small fee, too.
Friday, July 13, 2007
Trampolines
If I ever opened a trampoline store, I don't think I'd call it Trampoland, because you might think it was a store for tramps, which is not the impression we are trying to convey with our store. On the other hand, we would not prohibit tramps from browsing or testing the trampolines, unless a tramp's gyrations seem to be getting out of control.– Jack Handey
Thursday, July 12, 2007
When you feel like killing someone...
Sometimes when I feel like killing someone, I do a little trick to calm myself down. I'll go over to the person's house, and ring the doorbell. When the person comes to the door, I'm gone, but you know what I've left on the porch? A jack-o-lantern, with a knife stuck in the side of its head, with a note that says "you". After that, I usually feel a lot better, and no harm done.– Jack Handey
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Your Choice
I'm in IT and I can't tell you how many times someone calls me and trys to tell me that their whatchamacallit is broken or their thingamabob isn't working right. Then after figuring out what they are talking about, I try to explain what it's called. Instead of taking the opportunity to learn something I'm met with either severe apathy, or in some cases, an accusing tone when they tell me I'm being too picky about stuff.
My new policy will be to offer them a choice:
A) You can tell me what the problem is, using correct and specific terms.
or
B) We can spend the first three quarters of our converstation with me trying to figure out what you mean, then when I finally figure it out, I can help you.
My new policy will be to offer them a choice:
A) You can tell me what the problem is, using correct and specific terms.
or
B) We can spend the first three quarters of our converstation with me trying to figure out what you mean, then when I finally figure it out, I can help you.
Monday, July 09, 2007
Alternative Energy
If you're interested in alternative forms of energy, specifically renewable forms, check out Heliotropic.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
The Transformers Movie
The Transformers movie was very entertaining. I really enjoyed the mix of ordinance and epic robot battles. The transforming action wasn't quite realistic, but enjoyable nonetheless. They did choose some pretty sweet vehicles to model the Autobots after. Megatron was pretty lame, he was some generic spaceship, and Spielberg must have known that Megatron was lame, because there weren't any cinematic shots of Megatron as a spaceship. There were no shortage of sweet shots of the Autobots as the cars, probably at least partially because GM paid through the nose to have their cars be the models for the Autobots, and it was just good paid product placement.
Friday, July 06, 2007
Fire
If you ever catch on fire, try to avoid looking in a mirror, because I bet that will really throw you into a panic.– Jack Handey
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