Not original, but funny!
Following in the grand tradition of United States senators commenting on technology topics they know nothing about (See Senator Ted Stevens), Senator Joe Lieberman recently penned a letter to Google CEO Larry Page. Seems Joe was pretty upset that Jose Pimentel – an alleged al-Quida sympathizer who planned to bomb military and police targets – had a blog on Google’s personal blogging site, Blogger.
According to Verge, Joe wrote that “As demonstrated by this recent case, Google’s webhosting site, Blogger is being used by violent Islamist extremists to broadcast terrorist content.” Joe continued that “Blogger’s Content Policy does not expressly ban terrorist content nor does it provide a ‘flag’ feature for such content.”
Huh? Content Policy? Blogger already has a ban on “hate or violence.” That’s not enough? Doesn’t terrorism fall under “hate or violence?”
But a flag? Serious? We don’t have enough Facebook “Like” and Google “+1″ flags? Joe thinks we need a “Terrorist” flag for blogs?
Hm, please don’t be offended, but I’ll get to work on my “Terrorist” flag just as soon as I finish my “Uninformed US Senator” flag …
Whether Android or Apple fanboys, mocking them is fun …
The funniest line occurs at 0:43 …
Fanboy #1: “I could never get a Samsung. I’m creative.”
Fanboy #2: “Dude, you’re a barista!”
Life was simple back in the old days. There were .gov sites, .com sites, .net sites and .org sites for government, commercial, networking and non-profit websites. Somewhere along the line, .mil snuck in for military sites, and then the organization (ICANN) that assigns TLDs (Top Level Domains) went crazy with ccTLDs, or country code TLDs.
Today you can buy a .us domain, ,.uk or .de domain or some with more interesting applications like .ly or .to – I would imagine planning.to would be a great domain for a procrastinator. (Don’t bother, someone already grabbed it.)
But back to simple TLDs. They expanded as well with .biz, .info, .travel and 20-30 more. But more recently the .xxx TLD for adult sites became available. When new TLDs become available, there’s a procedure for selling domains.
Companies or individuals with trademarks get a sunrise period to protect their brand. That ended Oct. 28 and I would imagine ibm.xxx, ford.xxx and vatican.xxx have already been snapped up by their owners to prevent them from falling into the wrong hands. Next is a landrush period for members of the sponsored community – In this case the adult community – To grab their favorite domains. For .xxx, that period is Nov. 8 to Nov. 25. Then, general availability begins, and for .xxx, this period begins Dec. 6. That’s when you and I can buy .xxx domains to our heart’s content.
The reason I know this is because my registrar sent me a note suggesting I “Protect your brand, secure your .XXX” They’re giving me an opportunity to ensure no one else buys “woodp.xxx.”
Hm, their motive is obvious profit driven – Domain registrations is their business – But I don’t recall a similar email when .biz, .info, .travel and the 20-30 other options were made available. Clearly, they’re hoping I react to some evil person grabbing woodp.xxx, and perhaps .xxx versions of the other domains I own.
So? I’ve decided I’m not going to grab it or any other .xxx options. It’s too desperate a move by my registrar. Will I regret it years from now? Time will tell.
Two checks in three days? Wow, I’m on a roll!
Once again, I’m not completely sure what I did to deserve this class action settlement check. It seems that some time between April 21, 2005 and August 26, 2009, I listed something (or I purchased something) at ebaymotors that incurred a $26.65 fee. I was buying and selling motorcycles and motorcycle parts back then. Maybe that’s where the fees came from?
In any case, this settlement check is a measly $1.78. The earlier $18.04 was better. Hey, I got a check – Perhaps I shouldn’t be complaining? After all, I’m up by $19.82.
Wonder what surprises will lurk in tomorrow’s mail?
Boy, if I had a nickel for every one of those class action settlement letters I receive, why then by now I’d have maybe two dollars and change!
You know what I’m talking about? Every now and then someone thinks they got a bum deal in some financial transaction, and sue as a class. I don’t fully understand – If some broker did me wrong, I’d want to go after them by myself rather than including 80,000 of my closest friends who now share in my booty. I mean, it seems to me that the only people who profit from class action suits are lawyers. What am I missing here?
I know I’m party to a class action suit against Yahoo because I held a couple hundred shares back when they turned down Microsoft’s $33 offer. I have long since sold the shares (at $12) but I wonder where that lawsuit is …
Anyway, today I received a disbursement check! I’m pretty sure it’s the first one I’ve ever received. Reading the check’s fine print suggests that I purchased something overseas using one of my credit cards. I’m guessing that the credit card company gave an unfavorable exchange rate (and pocketed the difference) and this lead to the class action suit.
There’s not enough information to know which overseas trip, nor which credit card, nor even how much I spent, but appearently it was enough to qualify for $18.04 of damages!
$18.04! Wow! The big question now is … Do I invest my gains in lottery tickets or a cheap bottle of wine? Hmm..
Earlier today I was made aware of a poo-powered motorcycle. Seriously! I’m not making this up. Read about it here.
Essentially, a toilet manufacturer in Japan has conceived a portable poo-to-biogas converter attached to a small, three-wheel motorcycle, and then sponsored a 1,000 km (620 mile) ride through Japan. There is a blog but it’s in Japanese and I’m unable to follow.
My reaction?
If the intent is the stated 50% CO2 reduction, then to be realistic, the overall footprint (including human fuel) must be considered. Salads and greens would have a small carbon footprint while beef/pork would have a huge carbon footprint. But if beef/pork to biogas conversion is more efficient (volatile?) than greens to biogas conversion, then wouldn’t any (biogas) fuel-based footprint reduction be offset by a (human) fuel-based footprint increase, thus negating the entire concept? What am I missing here?
Back to the drawing board on this one!
In the late 70s, a regional electronics distribution firm, Arrow, made a bid for its larger rival, Cramer. As the two negotiated the merger, customers logically started moving their business to Arrow. In the process, Cramer became weaker (and less valuable) and Arrow used its leverage to reduce the offering price. It was in Arrow’s interest to drag out negotiations to further weaken Cramer and in the end their strategy worked. Arrow bought Cramer for pennies on the dollar, is now a world-wide distributor and Cramer was erased from the map.
The 80s saw Osborne Computers pull a similar stunt, this time self inflicted, by announcing a newer and better version of their product. People stopped buying the original version while waiting for the “new and improved” version. Without an income stream, Osborne ran out of money and closed without ever shipping the new version of their product.
And in the 90s Delta worked the time factor in their purchase of Pan Am. Pan Am was bleeding money and needed Delta’s financial infusion. Delta had time in their favor, and more than once changed the terms of their agreement. After Delta had negotiated what it wanted (international routes), they changed their mind about a Pan Am acquisition and Pan Am ceased operation within hours. The vultures picked up the pieces for pennies on the dollar.
Today, AT&T is making an offer to buy T-Mobile. The federal government is opposed to the acquisition and has requested documents, hearings and more information. Meanwhile, jittery T-Mobile customers are leaving in droves not knowing if the phone they buy today will be supported after AT&T takes over. This delay and uncertainty weakens T-Mobile and further strengthens AT&T’s position. Our federal government, in its zeal to maintain a competitive marketplace with four major cell providers, is in fact, hastening T-Mobile’s demise. There will be no T-Mobile two years from now.
Why do I care? Among the four major cell phone carriers, only T-Mobile offers UMA. UMA gives GSM phones the ability to use local WiFi as an alternative to the cell signal. Which means that even if you’re in an area of poor coverage, as long as you’re near a WiFi signal, you get “Five Bars.” Most work places have WiFi, my friends all have WiFi and I have WiFi at home. Bottom line is I have “Five Bars” just about any place I need to use a phone. “Can you hear me now?” just doesn’t apply to me.
AT&T, the only other major GSM supplier, has shown no interest in offering UMA.
UMA is a terrific technology – I really hate to see it (and T-Mobile) go away with no suitable replacement on the horizon.
My Time Capsule
You’re always hearing about time capsules being dug up in places across the country. One in Mississippi was almost 100 years old and contained still-legible newspapers. Another in Pennsylvania was just bottles and containers from the day. And so on. Communities and individuals – All have created time capsules.
Today is my turn – After ten years, it’s time to replace/update the kitchen tile. The installer won’t let me place a plastic bag containing documents under the floor – The thinset won’t set. Any he won’t allow anything with thickness for obvious reasons. So I’m doing the next best thing – I’m writing my note right on the back of the tile.
It’ll be sealed for years – Who knows when it’ll see the light of day again? And what will be their reaction?
I’m just bummed I won’t be around to see it!
… to hack a copy of Microsoft Office …
