Snow In Helsinki

(Back ground story)

A fellow Canadian I am in contact with here in Kuusankoski recommended me adding someone to my Friends list on Facebook. He is a fellow metal head and seems as though we would really get along. Well Derek was right. Lukas and I do get along. We met last weekend for a beer before the Korpiklaani gig in Kouvola, had some time to chat and get to know each other. It went really well. Lukas sent me a text Friday afternoon seeing if I would like to go to Helsinki to see the Ulver gig. Well I have heard of Ulver but wasn’t familiar with the music. But I love road trips, haven’t been to Nosturi in ages and thought, “what the hell? Lukas is a great guy!”

So we made the trip. I was re-modeling the office. Didn’t take nearly as long as I had planned and yesterday I managed to put up the shelves and curtains so Sanna can begin organizing her fabrics and working materials there. Still lots of organizing and moving of shelves to be done but eventually it will be complete. I hope to post some photos soon.

Helsinki was covered in snow. We have almost a metre of snow here (though we have warm weather now and it is beginning to melt) which meant that Helsinki had at least 50cm. Even though the weather has been quite warm as of late I know it will take months for this much snow to completely melt.

The narrow streets of Helsinki were filled with snow. All the parking spots had become areas to pile up snow. Some cars were absolutely covered in snow and still had little tractors pushing snow up on top of them. Those are the cars that don’t get used in the winter… or at least won’t be used now!

After we parked directly in front of Nosturi we were getting out of the car when six huge trucks drove by filled with snow. Are these dumping their loads into the Baltic Sea? I don’t really know but I can only imagine that they are working around the clock to get the snow out of the city. I wonder if it will cause a lot of chaos when the snow finally begins to melt.

I really wish I had brought my Nokia phone with me to allow me to get some nice photos of the amount of snow. I just don’t trust the iPhone’s camera… ever. With no plans to return to Helsinki anytime soon it seems as though the one opportunity has passed by. The gig itself was great. I really enjoyed it. Quite an odd David Lynch type atmosphere developed even before the show began. But after a few beers I was able to shake it off and enjoy the performance. It makes me want to get into Ulver and see what gems can develop.

[Via http://onnila.wordpress.com]

CNN Poll: Majority says government a threat to citizens' rights

February 26, 2010

It would not be much of a reach to suggest that the 37% of Americans that don’t believe our government represents a threat to citizen’s rights are beneficiaries of government programs where wealth from those that work for a living is directly transferred to those that enjoy government-funded, with our tax dollars, programs.  It’s also interesting to me that CNN would put forth the results of their poll.  They must see the writing on the wall, with a plummeting audience maybe, they are waking up and deciding to tell the truth.  I’ve noticed some good objective things come from CNN of late. This could be an ominous sign for the party currently in power. Random thoughts while observing the passing parade, J.C.

From CNN Deputy Political Director Paul Steinhauser

Fifty-six percent of Americans say the government poses an immediate threat to individual rights and freedoms.

Washington (CNN) – A majority of Americans think the federal government poses a threat to rights of Americans, according to a new national poll.

Fifty-six percent of people questioned in a CNN/Opinion Research Corporation survey released Friday say they think the federal government’s become so large and powerful that it poses an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens. Forty-four percent of those polled disagree.

The survey indicates a partisan divide on the question: only 37 percent of Democrats, 63 percent of Independents and nearly 7 in 10 Republicans say the federal government poses a threat to the rights of Americans.

According to CNN poll numbers released Sunday, Americans overwhelmingly think that the U.S. government is broken – though the public overwhelmingly holds out hope that what’s broken can be fixed.

The CNN/Opinion Research Corporation poll was conducted February 12-15, with 1,023 adult Americans questioned by telephone. The survey’s sampling error is plus or minus 3 percentage points for the overall survey.

[Via http://dancingczars.wordpress.com]

5 good things I'm doing lately

1. Being nice to service people

Often I’m unintentionally rude to those in the service industry. It’s a tic I’m actively trying to resist. I engage restaurant servers, chat with cashiers. The interactions are easier this way.

2. Homemade salsa

This is fast and easy. Chop the tomatoes, cilantro orange, yellow, and jalapeño peppers. Add salt, pepper and a little olive oil. Delicious and cheap. Store bought salsas are inferior.

3. Writing first thing when I wake

Before anything else in the morning I’ve been sitting down to write. I never tried this before, but I find it is a strategy that works. I’m more intuitive, less analytical. Confident opposed to critical. More productive.

4. Not accommodating others’ bullshit

I’ve been known to suppress thoughts and feelings. The reasons vary. It can people pleasing, feelings of indebtedness or other dynamics of powerlessness. Frankly there have been time I lived for years in a state of foggy guilt. I came to a year and a half ago practically blinking and found I had very little to identify in my life reflected back at me. That feels like lifetimes ago. And lately it is as if I’ve stepped up my ‘authentic’ game even more. Increasingly, if I’m ethically or personally at odds in a situation, I find I’m less accommodating. Depending on your point of view this comes off as: being an asshole, being negative, burning bridges, being assertive, being honest. There are downfalls (such as I’ve had to avoid our landlord because I think he’s a creep and it shows, but we need the reference when we move in 2 months. In that case it’s best for now I keep my ‘authenticity’ to a minimum) but generally this is a good thing. I feel lighter and clear headed. I feel at the helm in my life.

5. Spending less time on the internet

Last summer I axed Facebook. I started a blog based on Miranda July’s Learning To Love You More project in order to fill my internet procrastination void, but eventually even that felt obnoxious and I quit that too. I usually leave my tweetdeck application open so if I’m working at my computer I get a little notification every time something happens on twitter, but twitter is boring so that is like, who cares? Other than this blog and a few I follow, I find these daze the internet distracts me less and less. The result: I’m reading more. I’m writing new fiction. I’m scribbling in all these little moleskin notebooks I leave lying around the house. My thoughts are longer than 140 characters.

[Via http://aarongolbeck.com]

A Lesson from Aloft Hotels

Aloft Hotels, the tech-savvy brand, owned and operated by Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Inc. recently announced the launch of their new Smart Check-In pilot program. This new initiative caters to the “new generation of guests, who are more interested in high-tech than high-touch”.

Currently being tested in Lexington, MA, select guests, who opt into the program receive an enhanced Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) / Aloft-branded key card to participate in the program, which runs on radio frequency identification (RDIF) technology. On the planned arrival date, a text is sent to the guest’s mobile device with their room number, allowing them to skip check-in and go straight to their room.

The hotel plans on expanding the key cards abilities into an “all-access pass” for cocktail, food, retail and sundry purchases through the building.

What can a spa learn from this innovative approach?

With new technology, even the most remote spa can attract customers from far and wide. With Aloft Hotels, they entice people to stay at their hotels to experience their high-tech approach to comfort. With a spa, it could be something as simple as a text message appointment reminder or a web site that allows you to book and confirm appointments. You don’t have to spend thousands (or millions) to use new tech, you just have to keep an ear to the ground and understand what works best for you.

Whether it’s a group-purchasing site like DealOn; social networks like Twitter and Facebook;  or RDIF technology-led keycards there are choices and those choices can help you stand out.

Click here to read the entire article at Hospitalitynet.org.

[Via http://robotm.wordpress.com]

AdAge: Why Culture Will Become Crucial for Success in 2010 and Beyond

Here’s an article I co-authored:

It’s 2010: a new year, and a new opportunity to consider how the massive cultural and technological shifts of today are reshaping the way we think about tomorrow. These evolutions are not only changing how we navigate our public and personal lives, but the way we relate to businesses and brands as well. At this starting block of a new decade, it is imperative that we consider the cultural shake-ups and changes in how we work, think and play that will prove relevant to our business in 2010 and beyond.

1. AMERICA RE-ENVISIONED. As this year’s Census will soon show, we are a country comprised of increasingly diverse and expanding “nations within a nation.” By 2042, it is projected that non-Hispanic whites will no longer represent the dominant ethnic group in the U.S. — an evolution of our demographic makeup that will turn our soon-outdated dichotomy of minority/majority on its head. The 2010 Census will be, in many respects, a preview of things to come, and is primed to serve as a catalyst for the reimagining of our old conceptions of the American story and dream. Over the last decade, brands such as McDonald’s, Nike and Toyota have made bold attempts at targeting a growing non-”general” market, earning accolades and success for authentically connecting with a multi-dimensional U.S. audience. In 2010, we expect to see more brands rising to the challenge of understanding consumers that defy traditional segmentation and tried conventions — an emerging business imperative.

2. CULTURE AS A SELLING POINT. As the composition of the country grows more complex, brands must also rely on their understanding of culture beyond ethnicity to stay relevant, and must invent strategic ways of harnessing it. Anthropologist Grant McCracken sees culture as so integral to brands that it should have its own executive position (the CCO, or Chief Culture Officer) in today’s corporation: “Culture is an essential piece of the intelligence an organization needs in a turbulent world. …The corporation cannot hire in [or farm out] its cultural intelligence any more than it can surrender financial decisions to a visiting bookkeeper. Some things are too important to be left to outsiders. Some kinds of intelligence must be integral to the organization.”

A deep connection to culture has always been a necessity for brands but going forward, we will see it manifest in more lateral ways. One that we’ve seen building momentum is the mainstream adoption of niche-cultural branding: ingredients, foods and products with heritages rooted around the world (i.e. kombucha, acai, shea butter, matcha tea, Greek-style yogurt, bubble drinks) are gaining mainstream popularity, and global brands as backers. This embrace of the foreign points to a widening of our palates and growth of a cross-cultural consumer that sees “exotic” as refreshingly unique and bold rather than alien.

3. GAME ON. Gaming and gamers are more pervasive now than ever. The average adult plays games an average of 7.6 hours per week, and is followed by a generation of digital natives that grew up on PSPs, iPhones, and Farmville. Games are all around us — on our phones, desktops, in our living rooms and workplaces. But not only is gaming as leisure becoming more commonplace, many aspects of our day-to-day lives are starting to take the form of gameplay as well. Mobile apps such as Foursquare and the karma-building CauseWorld are adding a bit of friendly competition to nights out and visits to our favorite venues and stores, while the social sport of Twitter and Facebook continues growing more ubiquitous. Most brands and organizations have already put their chips in the social-media game, but savvier ones will look to the more nascent opportunities.

4. MICRO GOES MASS. Amidst the devastation of the Haiti earthquake and the aftermath of the economic collapse, the optimism that often accompanies the arrival of a new year (and new era) is running thin in 2010. And yet, we’re coming together to offer hope in smaller pieces, in the form of simple micro-actions. One of the most catastrophic natural disasters in recent history has been met with more than $22 million in $5 and $10 text-message donations, an unprecedented show of charitable giving made possible by the ease of small-scale mobile donations. And beyond these times of need, micro-support is gaining traction as a straightforward, accessible way for everyday people to support the causes they believe in, finance promising new businesses, and make their creative visions a reality in small, easy steps. Sites such as Kiva.org and Kickstarter.com hinge on this low-entry generosity and trust and have succeeded in bringing their users’ ideas to life thanks to their growing communities of micro-lenders and funders. Pepsi’s Refresh Everything campaign has given novice entrepreneurs the opportunity to do good on a large-scale as well as small.

5. A HUMANIST REVIVAL. The 2000s were a mix of highs and lows for Americans. We witnessed some of the most horrific, perspective-altering events in our nation’s history, as well as some of the most glorious, awe-inspiring, and unprecedented moments, the election of President Barack Obama perhaps the most unforgettable of them all. The first year of this brave new decade is the turning over of a new leaf, one we’re happy to see met with a defiant return of humanism. By choice or circumstance, many of us (individuals as well as businesses) find ourselves with the task of starting over. This moment has proven fertile grounds for experimentation in finding joy and self-definition (see Living Oprah and The Happiness Project), thoughtful business innovation (see the new agency for “(human) brands,” Lovely Day), and a return to the simple pleasures of life (see Coca-Cola’s Expedition 206 and The Art of Eating In). The victors in 2010 will be those who see in this challenging moment an opportunity to connect with the human spirit of reinvention, resilience and yes — hope.

~ ~ ~

Christine Huang is head of cultural trends at GlobalHue.

Ozioma Egwuonwu is VP-director of cultural strategy at GlobalHue.

http://adage.com/bigtent/post?article_id=141849

[Via http://culturepluscreativity.com]

UPSTATE HOMELESS COALITION OF SOUTH CAROLINA'S BLOG, TWITTER, AND FACEBOOK

The social media group has created a blog, a twitter, and is helping with the Upstate Homeless Coalition’s Facebook Fan Page.

The upstate Homeless Coalition of South Carolina’s BLOG is here.

The Upstate Homeless Coalition of South Carolina’s TWITTER is here.

The Upstate Homeless Coalition of South Carolina’s FACEBOOK is here.

The Upstate Homeless Coalition of South Carolina’s WEB SITE is here.

I hope that you all will start linking to the UHCSC’s blog, following UHCSC on Twitter, and becoming a fan of the UHCSC on Facebook.

[Via http://madisonelizabethfisher.wordpress.com]

Web 3.0: Background and Understanding

Tim Berners-Lee, pioneer of the Internet, refers to Web 1.0 as “read only” web. Web 1.0 was simple with very little available interaction. The purpose was to make information available for search and read.

Web 2.0 has been termed “read-write” web, allowing users to contribute content and interact with applications. Many Web 2.0 technologies rely on users, such as YouTube and Facebook. Web 2.0 applications are more user-involved with the information that has now been made available.

Web 3.0, the new web frontier, can be described as “read-write-execute.” The focus of Web 3.0 technologies is understanding. Semantic markup is language understood by software. Through semantic markup, computers can interact with other computers through web service. A combination of semantic markup and web service encourages applications and computers to interact directly. By adding meaning to data, computers can perform intelligent searches through reasoning and combining. Web 3.0 can potentially create broader searches through simpler interfaces.

Web 3.0 software is an evolution in technology with the goal of creating communication among applications. Web 3.0 is closer to completing the circle of developers, users and applications.

[Via http://dustinjharris.wordpress.com]

Blogging with Windows Live Writer. 9

Adding some plug-ins.

What on earth are plug-ins? And why should you use them in Writer?  Plug-ins are usually small additional programs that you can download to your computer to enhance the use of Writer. They add such useful  additions as sending an announcement automatically to twitter or facebook as your new post is published,  so that  all of your friends/contacts on Twitter/Facebook etc are made aware of it.  They add other features to Writer such as being able to show a picture as a Polaroid for example. There are quite a few Writer plug-ins to choose from, and there is certain to be at least one that you will find useful to add to Writer.

Let’s now take a look at some of my favourite plug-ins and how to use them in your posts.

In the choice of items to insert on the right hand side of the compose window  at the bottom of the list you will see Add a plug-in next to a green plus sign. Click on it to be taken to the Windows Live Gallery where all the different Writer plug-ins can be found.  At the top of the list you will see the Polaroid Picture plug-in.  Of course Writer already has the ability to make your photo or picture look like a Polaroid picture by default, but this plug-in will also let you write a caption underneath your picture as well , so download it and then we can take a look at it. Don’t worry if you receive a warning before installing any of the plug-ins that we are trying out, I use them all the time and I can assure you that they are quite safe to use.

The next plug-in to download is the Twitter Notify one which should also be available from the first page, so download that one as well.  Many of my readers know that I often insert an Emoticon into my blog posts and one of my favourite plug-ins to enable this is the Cool Emotion one so let’s download that as well.  Yet another very useful plug-in for writer is the TweetMeme plug-in coded by my friend Scott, and this will place a button inside your post once its published that allows your visitors to click onto it in order to send a Tweet about that particular post.  To find more Writer plug-ins, just type in the name of the plug-on if you know it into the search bar at the top, or alternatively select Writer from the Gallery list on the left hand side of this webpage. The plug-ins such as the TweetMeme and the Twitter Notify plug-in will not be visible in the Insert list in Writer, you enable them in the Edit Blog Settings under the Blogs tab. NOTE. The TweetMeme plug in will only work in Blogger at this time.

The Cool Emotion and the Polaroid Picture plug in will now have been added to the Insert  list. Let’s try the Polaroid Picture one.  Click on Polaroid Picture and all of your picture files will open in another window in Writer. Now simply choose one of your pictures from your files. When you click on it once it is placed into your post, you will see a familiar Menu appear on the right hand side. This is the Polaroid Picture Menu. At the top you can choose your pictures size, followed by a Caption box where you can add a caption to your Polaroid picture including choosing the font and the size of font to use, you can then choose to tilt your picture to the left or right by varying degrees, have the text wrap around your picture either to the left or right hand side, and lastly add some corners to your Polaroid picture so that it looks as if it is placed in an album.  Try them all out in your blog post.  The Cool Emotion plug-in contains loads of Emoticons for you to add to your posts. Just simply click on it and check them all out.

In order to invoke  the Twitter/TweetMeme/Digg/or Facebook plug-ins in your blog post you will need to enable them by clicking on the Blogs tab at the top of Writer, choosing Edit Blog Settings from the list and then clicking on Plug-ins. You then just need to tick those that you wish to invoke as you publish your post. NOTE. At this time the TweetMeme plug-in will not work at the same time as the Digg This plug-in, you will need to choose just one of them.

So there’s a lot of choice in available plug-ins for you to add to Live Writer in order to enhance its already great features. Have a browse in the Gallery and try some more of them out.

TG

[Via http://technograns.wordpress.com]

"Boner" Lost in Vancouver

I thought it was a joke at first, but I guess this story is real.

Andrew Koenig, best known for playing “Boner” on ‘Growing Pains,’ has gone missing in Vancouver.

From Pop Eater:

Koenig, 42, was last seen on Feb. 14 and he missed his flight out of the Olympic host city two days later, according to a statement from TV host Dave Holmes on MaximumFun.org. Authorities are searching for the actor, who has recently been working as a camera operator on the comedy podcast, ‘Never Not Funny.’

While in Vancouver, he was staying with burlesque artist Jenny Magenta, who took to Facebook on Friday to ask for help in finding Koenig, whose parents told her he may be “severely depressed” about something.

[Via http://kreuzer33.wordpress.com]

(Some) blogs I'm following

So far, I have only posted photos of my own work on this blog.  As far as I know, I don’t have any followers yet.  The real reason for setting up this blog was to have a free place to direct non-facebookers (like my mother and some friends) to see what I have been creating recently.  This has generated quite a few orders, so it has definitely served its purpose!

The reason for this post, though, is to share some of the blogs/websites that I follow on a regular basis (through google reader – what a GREAT invention!!!).  Most of what I read is about decorating, jewelry, crafting, etc – generally anything you can imagine that has to do with art, in any form. 

• http://makeandmeaning.com
• www.bluecricketdesign.net
• www.completely-coastal.com (because I LOVE anything that has to do with the beach)
• www.trolleycards.com (great cards, all $4.95!, and they print your message and mail them for you!)
• http://indiefixx.com
• http://itsthelittlethingsthatmakeahouseahome.blogspot.com (the name is too long, but I love the projects she takes on)
• http://thepioneerwoman.com/confessions – this is my current favorite because she is FUNNY!  She’s pretty famous for her cookbook, too

I also follow several ADD/ADHD blogs, but I’m not sure any of you want to see that stuff, unless you have a personal connection to such a crazy problem – like ME! 

Anyway, these are only a few of the blogs on my list.  I’ll post more as time goes on, but this will give you somewhere to start.

Enjoy your day!  Julie

[Via http://jevansdesigns.wordpress.com]

Some Days You Just Need To Have An Adventure With The Girls.

Had the most awesomeest day today. I went to Bondi with LMS and Food, and we went shopping, i got the most cumfyiest pants from Peter Alexander, and we stuffed a bear at the build a bear factory and were gonna swap it around each week, its name is Bam Bam, and its sitting right next to me at the moment, i also got a cute little bracelet with the eiffel tower on it to remind me of my dream to live in paris, and we got one of those corny best friends bracelets.

it was sooo fun

took my mind of numerous other matter like shaun and brad and turtle (whom i got in the biggest fight with) ,  not the mention the sex case which we are yet to hear from the police and its killing me.

[Via http://see1saw2in3an4igloo.wordpress.com]

James Bond characters on Facebook

The old tagline was “JAMES BOND DOES IT EVERYWHERE!” and that’s certainly true of Facebook, the social-networking site. It appears that even 007 characters feel compelled to set up Facebook profiles.

One of the most amusing is Ernst Stavro Blofeld. Under relationship status, we’re told, “It’s complicated.” And, of course, his birthdate is listed as May 28, 1908. Ernst provides frequent status updates such as, “SPECTRE always delivers what it promises. Our entire organization survives upon the keeping of those promises. We’re kinda like an evil UPS.” Or, “Catch me soon as the new band leader on ‘The Tonight Show with Ernst Stavro Blofeld’.” Ernst also regularly trades quips with his Facebook friends.

One of those friends is none other than Jane Moneypenney, listing her birthdate as Feb. 14, 1927 and being single. However for those who believe Moneypenney is “Britain’s last line of defense,” may be in for a shock. She inquired with Ernst about a job in SPECTRE. This Facebook saga has yet to play out.

Auric Goldfinger has also surfaced on Facebook (reports of his death, like Mark Twain’s, were apparently exaggerated. He lists his birthdate as June 5, 1917 and his relationship status is also listed as “It’s complicated.” Gold bullion is listed as both his reglious views and interests.

Felix Leiter is also around and, not surprisingly, is listed as a fan of the Felix Leiter fan page.

Others include Franz Sanchez, Emilo Largo, Carl Stromberg, , and John Kaufman. (There are others, but hey, we don’t have room for everyone.)

Finally there is Bond James, taking on the guise of the mid-1960s Sean Connery, who seems to enjoy trading quips with Ernst and playing Mafia Wars.

[Via http://hmssweblog.wordpress.com]

Just a long day!

Well today was a long day for me, school and work. Also just to let y’all know, I have changed a few things on my site, so the header you will see says photography and blog. I am usually on facebook most of the time, but have decided to deactivate it at this moment. I really want to get into my website and trying to develop it more and more. I started a blog a few months  back, and then deactivated it, I tend to have a problem keeping up with stuff and get bored quickly, but I have promised myself this will be it, so pray for me to continue to blog and post photos my favorite hobby thus far.

[Via http://jbonillaphotos.wordpress.com]

A week later. Are you buzzing?

Almost a week ago Google released Buzz. It’s launch was met with a huge amount of criticism over Google taking our private contacts in Gmail and exposing them and their email addresses to the world. Google has sense implemented some privacy features and changed the auto follow to a suggestion system. They have also said that their implementation needed more beta testing. In my last article I mentioned I would be switching away from Gmail due to Buzz and I still am. I’m a Mac an iPhone user.  I have 2 Macs at home and I’ve learned how wonderful the Mobile Me service is, especially when it comes to syncing multiple Macs. So my question is are you buzzing?

Even though I am working on changing email addresses which is a lot more difficult than I thought. I have clicked on Buzz to see how many of my contacts are actually using it. From the looks of it not many. Right now there are two people I know that use it. I am not following them but they are following me and have set up profiles most of my other contacts still have not set up profiles. From talking to my friends none of them are interested in using it. Why you ask? They all say the same thing. They have Facebook some use Myspace as well, and some use Twitter. They have no interest in posting the same thing so many times. I think we are hitting a social network overload. It’s beginning to feel like work to keep them all up to date.

Are you buzzing please post a comment or answer the poll below.

View This Poll

poll

[Via http://anotherboringblog.com]

facebook casebook

Hey everyone I’ve started stalking all relevant business’ on facebook and have added their pages to my page. It’s a great way to learn new and exciting brands / labels and keep up to date with awesome events. Click it —- Shopping is my best friend p.s hope everyone had a good V day….as much as I refuse to ‘celebrate’ it

much love xx

[Via http://shoppingismybestfriend.wordpress.com]

How the smartphone made Europe look stupid

The European giants that pioneered the mobile telecoms industry are now stumbling in the wake of American and Asian rivals

When Eric Schmidt, chief executive of Google, takes to the stage in Barcelona on Tuesday evening to deliver the keynote address to hundreds of mobile phone industry executives gathered for the Mobile World Congress the industry’s biggest trade show, the message will be clear: well done, Europe, for getting mobile communications this far. We’ll take it from here.

For two decades, Europe’s mobile telecoms sector has considered itself to be a world leader. It had the biggest names, the technological knowhow, the most customers. Over the past year, however, that hegemony has been smashed. At a time when Europe is mired in economic turmoil and ­facing a demographic timebomb, one of its great hopes for fuelling future growth is ­slipping away.

“Europe has become the ‘flyover states’ of the mobile industry,” says a ­senior European executive, referring to the disparaging term used to describe middle America by high-powered business travellers shuttling between California and New York.

“All the service innovation is being done on the west coast of the US, and all the manufacturing and technical innovation is being done in the Far East. All we’re doing is selling other people’s products.”

His customers now care only about access to services such as Google, Facebook and Twitter on their phones, and the devices they covet are the iPhone or the latest BlackBerry, which has proved a great hit with teenagers. This year’s hot handsets, the executive says, are being made by HTC, the Taiwanese manufacturer, which will use this week’s show to unveil its latest devices, featuring Google’s Android software. While Apple lords it over the high end of the market, China’s Huawei and ZTE are creating cut-price smartphones that will democratise the mobile internet in the coming years.

Sensing the change blowing in the wind, even Microsoft’s chief executive, Steve Ballmer, is turning up in Barcelona to front the software group’s latest attempt to break into a market that it was once shut out of by Europe’s gatekeepers, Nokia and Ericsson. As for Apple itself, the iPhone maker would never do anything so vulgar as actually appear publicly at the event, or have a stand in one of the eight exhibition halls; but its executives will be in town, holding meetings behind closed doors with suppliers and networks as it looks for more wireless partners to back its latest invention, the iPad, outside the US.

After a week in which the turmoil in Greece has shown the fragility of the eurozone and a new acronym, “Pigs”, has entered the economic lexicon as a harbinger of doom, the evidence the Mobile World Congress will provide of Europe’s loss of control over the mobile phone industry is a harsh blow.

It leaves European policymakers, many of whom have bought in to the idea that the future lies in the creation of innovative technologies, to pin their hopes on new areas such as green ­energy or fall back on old stalwarts such as biotechnology. But the green sector has yet to prove the breakout ­success that will give Europe its own version of Silicon Valley, while biotech has always been the saviour that never quite seems to arrive. After the dotcom crash at the start of this century, biotechnology was looked to expectantly, especially in the UK, as the next big thing. In America, meanwhile, graduates from Stanford and drop-outs from Harvard were quietly getting on with building Google, Facebook and Twitter.

The impressive lead in mobile communications that Europe once held over the rest of the world was created by the European Union. In the 1980s, when wireless communications went mass-market, America’s Motorola vied with Finland’s Nokia and Sweden’s Ericsson for dominance of the nascent global market. Europe’s players were handed the advantage when the EU officially adopted and set aside specific wireless spectrum for a digital mobile technology called GSM.

The first networks appeared in 1991 and overnight the European technology players that had helped create the standard had a huge market. Seeing its success, other countries soon adopted GSM, expanding the market for Ericsson, Nokia and others throughout the 1990s. Even America’s largest network, Verizon Wireless, is switching to the super-fast version of GSM later this year. So where did it all go wrong?

“As soon as the mobile business opened itself up in such a way that internet technology could become available on mobile networks, that was the end,” according to Mark Newman, chief research officer at Informa Telecoms & Media. “Maybe Europe had a chance but it blew it, in my view, because there are too many sets of interests, each so obsessed with their own sphere of influence that they could not co-operate.

“You had operators and device manufacturers never pulling in the same direction, and I cannot see any way in which Europe can regain the ascendancy. Essentially the future of communication services is that people want access to the cloud of services called the internet.”

The industry did see it coming. It tried several times to create a mobile internet that was not going to be beholden to the American giants. In the late 1990s, a pared-down wireless internet service called WAP was being pushed by several GSM operators. Customers, many of whom were used to dial-up internet access, were unconvinced and soon started summing up the service by replacing the “w” with “cr”.

A few years later, O2 tried to create its own mobile web by importing the i-mode standard from Japan. Again, it was a dire failure. When the “true” web started turning up on the next generation of 3G phones, the operators tried to keep their customers within “walled gardens” – as they were called – creating content portals that offered customers what the operator thought was the best of the web. Usage was paltry. Having spent billions buying licences to run 3G services, the operators had to prove to investors that there was consumer appetite for mobile internet services, so they demolished their garden walls.

Ironically, the operators’ initial intransigence over the mobile web brought both Apple and Google into the industry. The former saw a way of bringing the vertically integrated approach that had worked so well in music – where it controls both the device, the iPod, and the store, iTunes – into the mobile market. The latter made its move because it feared that the combined effect of Apple and market leader Nokia could shut it out of the mobile internet altogether.

In fact, Google needn’t have worried about Nokia because the runaway success of the iPhone changed the game. The arrival of the 3G version of Apple’s device a year and a half ago dramatically altered the mobile industry and proved that consumers, given the right device, will do much, much more than use their phone to make calls and send texts.

Nokia is still the largest mobile phone manufacturer in the world. But the Finnish giant, a former rubber boot manufacturer whose success created hundreds of millionaires and helped pull the country out of recession when the Soviet Union collapsed, has been sideswiped by the success of Apple and the encroachment of Google’s Android platform. It has been forced to make Symbian, its own software platform, free to developers and handset manufacturers, as Android is, and last month took the desperate decision to give users of its smartphones free access to its satnav services to make its devices as attractive as the iPhone. Only three years ago it spent €6.5bn on the map firm Navteq but it is now effectively giving that intellectual property away as it tries to protect its market share.

The crisis into which Nokia has been plunged by Apple has pushed it into bed with another American giant, Intel. The two companies will use Mobile World Congress to announce new microchips that Nokia hopes will help it to compete with HTC’s latest devices. Apple already has its own in-house chip design team, having bought fellow Californian company PA Semi two years ago.

Ericsson, meanwhile, spun its handset business into a joint venture with Sony. However, after initial success with ­”featurephones” based on Sony’s Cybershot (camera) and Walkman (music)technologies, Sony Ericsson’s share of the billion-device-a-year market has collapsed under the onslaught of Apple and BlackBerry, halving from about 10% three years ago.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, says Olaf Swantee, who runs Orange’s mobile operations across Europe. He reckons that Europe’s big mobile phone operators, such as Orange, Vodafone and O2, have the opportunity to leverage their huge customer service bases to get themselves back into the game.

“Yes, the [US] west coast and Asia have really taken very strong positions,” he admits. “If you take equipment manufacturing, companies like Huawei have grown really strongly and we have seen traditional software manufacturers like Google and Apple enter the mobile market as it becomes a more software-driven environment. But, as the market moves to a more mature phase, what is becoming more and more important is the customer interface.”

The importance of direct customer contact, whether that be through shops or call centres, was proved this year when Google launched its Nexus One mobile phone. It sold it only through its website, and those customers who had problems with the phone had to email Google, rather than talk to its network partner, AT&T. Many found themselves waiting days for issues to be dealt with.

In the race to increase revenues – not least to pay for the network investment required to deal with the traffic generated by devices such as the iPhone – the mobile phone operators have the chance to claw back money from the likes of Apple and Google, which aggregate other people’s content through their iTunes and Android marketplace stores.

“Once the markets top out,” says Patrick Bossert, director of strategy at global billing services expert Convergys, “and growth slows and margins get tighter, then those aggregators will be looking to solutions for local-language customer care and marketing.

“They cannot afford to establish a base in every market in which they operate, but the service providers are already there. They may not have a lot of leverage now but, boy, do they have a lot of assets that are actually quite desirable.”

It’s a theme that the GSM Association, which represents all these networks, will be picking up this week as it tries to wrest some of the initiative back from Google and Apple.

“I don’t feel that we are being left behind, but there are areas that the mobile operators need to address,” says Michael O’Hara, the GSMA’s chief marketing officer. “And getting their assets into the developer world, finding a way to get into the value chain, is really key.”

Being great at customer service is hardly the white heat of technology, but for Europe it might just be the start of some sort of fightback. For now, though, the story is going to be – for home-grown talent, at least – depressingly familiar. As Informa’s Newman warns: “In 2010, Apple is going to make hay. I can’t see anyone catching them up this year.”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2010/feb/14/mobile-world-congress-phones-networks

[Via http://virginonmedia.wordpress.com]

Google Buzz - a massive launch failure?

On second thought, I should not put the ? in the title. I think it is universally accepted that Google Buzz launch was a huge failure. The concept is cool, and I somewhat understand where they were going (email is social, other networks show the notifications in emails anyway, etc.) but the launch itself was an utter disaster.

So let’s take a step back and see, GMail was launched many years ago as a beta, and an invite-only beta. Even though most people agreed that it was ready for prime time, and even though large businesses were using it as their company email system, it was still in beta.

Google Reader started as a labs project (“pre beta”?), moved to beta and then got out of beta.

Google Chrome, the browser, was in beta for some time, and perhaps for the first time, was hurried through the beta cycle and turned into general release overnight. But the point remains – it started as a beta.

Why then, was such a high-visibility project with such major implications as Google Buzz, hurried through its launch? Why was there no private beta? Why no beta at all? I am hoping someone in the Google Buzz team knows why.

And just like that, before they knew it, the risky move backfired on them. The launch was grand, with an event and everything but horrible events started unfolding. Some of the things that went wrong and were prominently discussed on the internet were:

• Just like Google Wave, Buzz was enabled as a rolling launch. As a result, a lot of people saw it and had nothing to do with it. After all, a “social” app needs social ineraction! So the first impressions were mostly underwhelming.
• Then came the outrage and more people started seeing what Google was trying to have us do – A public Google profile was required! Why? So that I could be found? It is one thing when you make your information available in the walled garden of say, facebook. But Google? No way. Especially because it was all automatically opted in, which brings me to the next point.
• By default, all the people you frequently contact on Gmail, were added as your followers and you were set up to automatically follow them. This was of course pitched as “you don’t need to do anything to get started, it is all there for you already”. But the problem was, and I was not a fan of this when they did it with Gchat as well, I don’t want that! It is one thing to add frequently contacted email addresses in the compose window drop-down but it is completely different when it goes to chat and even worse when it becomes a part of your “social life” without your consent, and automatically, and with no real way to undo!
• There was no good way to “start from scratch”. Meaning, I could not start with a clean slate of followers and people who I follow. I could unfollow very easily, but I think there is a bug, which keeps putting me back, perhaps because I was following some of the people on Google Reader. And there was no way to remove someone as a follower (“block”) if they did not have a public Google profile! What? So it is ok to set them up as a follower but there is no way to stop that? MY followers and I cannot control them? Kidding, right?
• Since Google profiles were linked to gmail email addresses, not only was a lot of information becoming public by default, but the information INCLUDED email address. That is totally unacceptable. Messaging capability is one thing, but exposing email address “as a design” is ridiculous.
• Not only that, using “@” notification in a buzz exposed their NON-gmail address to the world! Again, this is something that *should* have been thought through in design, but if not, it should/could have been caught in any sort of beta.
• I got sick of the initial experience very quickly, so I went to find “delete buzz” but there was no such thing. There was a disable buzz which only made buzz disappear from my gmail interface, but I had to go through several steps to clean out my profile before deleting it. Another important design issue, comes as a shock since it is a company that prides itself in the statement “you can leave Google any time you want and take your data with you”.
• There was no way to expand/collapse items or sort them in any way. Some items showed up expanded, and some showed collapsed and there was no toggle button. It is ok to have an algorithm to sort it “optimally” but at the same time, provide the option to see the river in some chronological order.

Hindsight is 20-20 so whatever I write now can seem like a Monday Morning Quarterback’s thoughts. Some of these annoyances are also being fixed rapidly, as we speak.

But the point of this post is not to talk about what should be fixed, or what should have been Google Buzz, but more about the fact that a product was launched by Google directly to general public, directly as “gold” version, with several HUGE privacy, usability and functionality issues.

Is Google feeling the pressure of say facebook with its upcoming WebMail product? Is Google unable to make any significant dent in the social arena (like Microsoft failed with the internet early on) so they feel anything is better than nothing? It is ok to believe in and practise rapid deployment, but it is very easy and convenient to apply a beta tag. Is Google trying to prove something to someone about their launches?

Whatever it is, it completely baffles me. And has increased my distrust in Google. I use Google’s mail (regularly), Reader (regularly), Picasa + Web (sometimes), Finance (regularly), News (regularly) and Blogger (regularly) and am actively looking at viable alternatives to make sure I have a plan to move away from Google if they continue this trend with other projects/products.

In some ways, it is up to us to realize now that Google is big and is trying desperately to diversify their revenue streams. Google Apps for Enterprise is one promising avenue but it does not have the power of millions of consumers which potentially directly influence the power of Google Search. But just like Microsoft started going crazy in the late 90’s and most of the 2000’s I am sensing a desperation on Google’s side, maybe as a combination of:

• facebook and twitter being completely dominant in social networking
• Bing constantly eating up search market share
• The impending Yahoo/Bing tie-up
• Increasing scrutiny from anti-trust lawyers, especially in EU
• Wall Street’s expectations

Am I saying this is the beginning of the end of Google? Absolutely not. They have too many smart people to let the ship sink. As I mentioned above, they have already made some changes to the Google Buzz experience and will continue to react quickly because that is how they work. I just hope that they don’t take us consumers for granted.

ps: I am still having an issue, after going through CNET’s walkthrough on how to disable buzz in that when I log in now, I see “1 connected site” but when I click on it, it gives me 0 sites. It is very annoying!

[Via http://rawmeeter.wordpress.com]

Valentine's Day for the Broken Hearted

Romantic dinners at candlelit restaurants, Godiva chocolates, two dozen long-stem roses, sentimental Hallmark cards- the stuff Valentine’s Day is made of.

But what if your relationship is on the rocks and Valentine’s Day is just another painful reminder that your life isn’t what you hoped it would be? Then what do you do? I know, this isn’t exactly an uplifting topic, but the truth is, the vast majority of people in my practice are not exactly big Valentine’s Day enthusiasts. My practice generally consists of one spouse who desperately wants out of the marriage and the other who wants nothing more than to live happily ever after. So, February 14th often means hurt, confusion and loneliness. And I would venture a guess that there are many, many non-clinical couples who, though not on the brink of divorce, feel an emotional distance that has them wishing Valentine’s Day would just pass without fanfare.

So, what can you do if a romantic dinner and words of affirmation are not on the agenda for you this year? First, have a plan regarding how you will approach the day. Get some feedback from friends, family or a therapist regarding questions like, “Should I buy my wife a card or get her a gift when I know she is pulling away?” “Would it be a good idea to simply ignore the day or would my spouse take offense?” “I would love to plan a romantic dinner but I don’t know if my husband would feel too pressured.” “We’re separated. Should I even email or text my wife?”

Next, if you’re not going to be with the one you love, plan something nice for yourself.

When I asked people on my Facebook page about what they could do to avoid throwing a pity party on Valentine’s Day, here’s what some had to say:

On my own without kids, I would have a nice hot bubble bath with a good book. Perhaps go for a walk and maybe call my mom or dad and say I love you.

With kids, make it about them. Bake cookies and decorate them and if there is snow outside go sliding or have a snow ball fight.

I’ll get a pedicure, massage, fashion magazine and a bubble bath, single girls day out, good book and hot tea

Even in a relationship, I get myself something nice for V-day. That reminds me to love myself. A gym membership, a manicure/pedicure, a cashmere sweater. Just something nice for me.

And I like this one the most-

How about doing something loving for someone else who may not have anyone with whom to share the day? Bring lotion to a nursing home and give hand massages? Take a widow to lunch? Sometimes shifting my focus helps when I’m poised to throw myself a pity party.

So, while those of us who are fortunate enough to be with spouses who share our desire to celebrate our connection, years together, children, and history, we should be mindful of those who, for this year, at least, have missed Cupid’s arrow.

Michele Weiner Davis is the creator of the Divorce Busting Centers, learn more on how you can solve marriage problems and stop divorce. Follow me on Twitter @divorcebusting, add my Divorce Busting Facebook Page, and subscribe to the Divorce Busting YouTube Videos for more advice and upcoming marriage saving events.

[Via http://divorcebusting.wordpress.com]

Top 4 flaws in Google Buzz: Privacy, Noise & Integration

Have you still not seen the Buzz icon

The best way to get the correct reviews on a product is start with a negative post and if the user like that product then they will contradict you using all the arrows from the quiver. I did the same buzz for Gbuzz on Gbuzz ….let me show you the response that I got from my pals…

The response I received from my friends shows that Gbuzz score 1 in “Simplicity of Usage” …But lets flash light on the points where Gbuzz not even managed a

O  but -1 1. Privacy

The world’s number one search engine claims Buzz allows users to “share updates, photos, videos, and more”. But users have discovered that unless privacy settings are changed, Buzz publicly shares details of users’ contacts. Buzz automatically builds a buddy list based on names in Google mail account. It then makes this list public on your profile. It is a bit like someone being able to peek inside your email folders. Obviously this is the major concern raised by those who don’t seem to like Google Buzz and who are so concern about  privacy.

Take my call all you privacy lovers

Gbuzz is not the utility you are looking 4

2. Noise

GBuzz Advertisment or Cheap Promotional Trick

When I checked my Gmail account my Buzz counter was showing an unbelievable number. I browsed through the buzz, this stuff caught my attention. I am pretty sure he is not friend or i should say nobodies friend….then what this buzz is doing in my buzz book. This is just the beginning, when the hackers get hand on this utility we will more often see such irrelevant buzz  in our buzz book.

3. Integration

Something is Missing

You got it right…..Facebook is missing.

Why Google has not provided connectivity with Facebook while you can see twitter made the cut?

Have you ever seen a contestant putting publicity banner of other’s

Or IPL publicizing ICL

You will laugh on the face..n even question on my intelligence. Because the simple answer is – why would they…

Then how can you expect the same generosity from Google. It is an Open secret that Internet giant has launched Gbuzz to compete with Facebook, no ways they are going to provide connectivity with social networking giant, Facebook.

4. No Indicator for New Buzz

When a new buzz is posted on the Buzz link, Gmail Inbox shows a count of how many new buzz have been posted but the problem is when one open GBuzz, One has to scan and guess which are the newly posted  buzz. And if your new buzz count has increased to a big number then this is a whale of a problem.

[Via http://kunalsingla.wordpress.com]

Hancock Fabrics

One of my latest favorite pasttimes is sewing, so I was really excited to find out I could get a 10% off an entire purchase coupon for becoming a fan of Hancock Fabrics on Facebook. Once you become a fan, click on the “Special Offers” tab and click through until you get to the coupon. There’s also a “Free Projects” tab, where you can currently get three different patterns for free.

I just finished up sewing curtains for my bathroom, so now I’m planning to use the 10% coupon to get material to do a matching shower curtain!

[Via http://unitedwesave.wordpress.com]

Blackberry Facebook Application Issue Resolved!!!

This morning at around 03:00 PST the Blackberry Facebook application issue had been resolved. I have to question the initial reasoning given by the Facebook team as no Blackberry update or fix was required. Facebook were adamant that the source of the issue was not within their control but rather that Research In Motion the developers of the Blackberry application would be required to provide an update for the application in order to resolve the issue.

My only assumption can be that when Facebook recently upgraded their website no compatibility testing was done with the Blackberry smartphone resulting in the connectivity issue’s we have all been experiencing.

[Via http://slash24.wordpress.com]

Full Moon Dinner at Back Forty

To continue our Snail of Approval dinner series, Slow Food NYC presents a Full Moon Dinner at Snail of Approval winner Back Forty. Well known for both the caliber of its cuisine and its sustainable sourcing, Back Forty has garnered great press and a devoted following. The dinner will feature a four-course selection of seasonal plates for 8-12 people at Back Forty’s communal table, with optional wine pairing, presenting a great opportunity for members and friends to share an intimate meal that will most certainly be good, clean and fair.

Prices include service gratuities. Do not call Back Forty to reserve.

Where: Back Forty – 190 Avenue B (@ 12th Street); Manhattan

When: Sunday, February 28th – 7:00 pm to 9:00 pm

Four Course Market Dinner

With Wine Pairing:

Slow Food Member: $80

Non-member: $90

Without Wine Pairing:

Slow Food Member: $55

Non-member: $65

TICKETS: Tickets are available ONLY at:

http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/96281

[Via http://slowfoodnyc.wordpress.com]

To Friend or Not to Friend: THAT is the question!

No, we have never met, but I love to meet people on line and share ideas, especially people who may have very different viewpoints or experiences from me, because that is how I grow and exercise my mind and understanding. And, you can easily un-friend me if I am boring or have views which you might find unsettling. Thanks for writing, and thanks if you take a chance and check out my posts and profile. As they say, everyone’s life is worthy of a novel or movie.

[Via http://williambuell.wordpress.com]

2010+ Technology Forecast: The Internet of Things Slowly Comes of Age...

In this post I want to discuss some ideas about the direction technology may take over the next few years. As will all forecasts, I want to remind the reader that nobody can see into the future:

I believe a major theme continues to be the movement toward ‘The Internet of Things‘.  Despite that this idea has been around for some time it is observable as a long-term, or over-arching, theme governing media and telecommunication technologies. Furthermore, irrespective of the mode (i.e. RFID, GPS etc…) that ultimately binds the ‘Internet of Things’, it is the theme of objects, services and individuals networked with one another that is important. The important point here is the transformation of a world of atomized objects into a world of objects capable of communicating with one another.  In earlier posts I have suggested thinking about ideas such as (1) the “anthropocene” (i.e. the most recent point in the earth’s history where the earth itself is no longer ‘natural’, but conditioned by the effects of human civilization) and (2) the present age understood as, in Heidegger’s words, forcing “the world [to] appear as re-presentation ‘for man’ “. One also ought to consider Nietzsche’s 1863 comment that “As a “rational” being, [man] now places his behavior under the control of abstractions. He will no longer tolerate being carried away by sudden impressions, by intuitions. First he universalizes all these impressions into less colorful, cooler concepts, so that he can entrust the guidance of his life and conduct to them.” with the utmost seriousness. In this comment, Nietzsche spells out the theoretical desire for an ‘Internet of Things’: “the metamorphosis of the world into man.” Now, let’s move into more concrete territory and observe some of the ways this is being carried out:

One long-term trend is the Disappearance of the Screen. The last two years have seen a smaller, thinner and more interactive screens on iphones and other smart phones. But aside from this qualitative shift we have also seen a quantitative shift amidst concepts such as Pranav Mistry’s “SixthSense” device (featured in a popular TED talk). Rather than a screen, the SixthSense device projects visual information onto the user’s immediate environment. But less conceptual than the “SixthSense” are devices such as Light Blue Optics’ “Light Touch”, an interactive projector that transforms flat surfaces into a touch screen. Listen to how Light Blue Optics describe the Light Touch: “It frees multimedia content from the confines of the small screen, allowing users to interact with that content just as they do on their hand held devices – using multi-touch technology.”

On this theme of the disappearance, or transformation, of the screen, I’ll point out that a number of companies and research facilities are working on glasses – and even contact lenses – capable of superimposing a digital display over the wearer’s vision. Vuzix now has listed “The Wrap 920AR” among its new products. Vuzix calls the Wrap 920AR “the world’s first consumer video eyewear … that ‘looks’ into the world, bringing mixed and augmented reality to life. The stereo camera pair, … can be viewed in 3D stereoscopic video on the Wrap eyewear displays.” Future development of this sort of technology will likely not be glasses but some sort of less bulky and awkward contact lens. Prototypes of such a contact lens, that uses small circuits and LEDs, do already exist. Check out this concept for a digital contact lens by Babak Parviz who works with bionanotechnology and nanofabrication at the University of Washington.

There seem to be three possible futures for the screen. (Future 1.) Simply a continuation of the status quo. Think about how the iPad, for example, resembles a larger ipod/phone touch display. (Future 2.) Exemplified by the SixthSense or Light Touch. (Future 3.) Exemplified by digital glasses or digital contact lenses. But I believe we will not see a continuation of the status-quo. The screen, I think, is undergoing not only a quantitative, but a qualitative change.

What runs common through these possibilities for the screen is the importance of another likely long-term trend Augmented Reality [AR]. Over the past year AR has hit it big and app. developers have nowhere exhausted their possibilities. One of the finest AR apps this year, Layar, is an augmented reality browser. Its tagline – tellingly – is “Browse the World”. Layar allows the user to use their smartphone camera to lay digital data overtop the external world. For example, when I aim my iphone camera at a specific location/object, information about that location/object appears overtop it. Do yourself a favor and head over to Layar’s site and familiarize yourself with what they’re up to.

This, obviously, raises questions about the status of individual people and augmented reality. When will apps capable of identifying something like Facebook images/data from the faces of individuals walking down the street come into the mainstream? Here, we find a means of identifying people that does not rely on some sort of RFID chip or GPS tracking device, but the very architecture of faces: biometric image recognition apps. On this theme, I’ll note a clever image recognition search engine called TinEye. TinEye allows users to search saved photos for similar photos on the internet. One can imagine the many ways something like a TinEye smartphone app could be linked up with Flickr and Facebook accounts. One might also develop a headache at all the privacy issues such an app would raise!

Each of the themes I have suggested in this brief post (1) Augmented Reality Browsers, (2) Biometric Image Recognition Applications and (3) The Disappearance of the Screen (either into the eye [AR glasses/ AR contacts] or into the world [SixthSense/LightTouch]), is part and parcel of the burgeoning Internet of Things. The Internet of Things is part and parcel of what Nietzsche, and later Heidegger, diagnosed as the Modern drive to bring the world into the purview of the anthropocentric (human) will. Thus, at the outset of the 21st century, surrounded by the ‘death of nature’, the world we find around us is increasingly one created for, and meant to be observed by, technological apparatuses.

—–Cybject is only a thought experiment ——-

[Via http://cybject.wordpress.com]

In Defense of Obama 3 -- This No Longer Has Anything to Do with Obama

Alright. I know what you’re going to say. “What are you doing talking to this guy still?” I have no good reason. I just have a bad case of the Schadenfreudes.

This argument no longer has anything to do with anything except the sick twisted pleasure I get from it. Here is the 3rd installment of the Gabe vs. Alan series:

Alan Lastnameremoved

I don’t argue with homess people either….as soon as I read your joke of a resume, I realized that you are pathetic and destitute and there is no point in trying to educate you. Its like you are a dog watching a TV….you know something is going on but you are not sure what it is.

7 hours ago

Jenny Lastnameremoved

This should cheer everybody up!!http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=108290565853047&ref=mf

7 hours ago

Gabe Caruso

Thank you so much for that Jenny. That was heartwarming and put me in a good mood.

Alan,

Few bullet points I wanted to shoot your way

• What are homess people? And why are you bringing them up? This is known as irrelevant material.

• That wasn’t a joke of a resumé. It was a joke resumé. If you would have read the whole thing you would have realized that.

• Why do you assume that I am destitute. I don’t have two cars, but what kind of jack ass would I be if I bought two cars? I can only drive one.

• I like how you say there is no point in trying to educate me. I’ve tried to educate you on multiple instances by showing you cold hard data from respected sources, and you’ve decided to turn a blind eye. How is it that you interpret this as uneducable?

• Great analogy. I like how you linked opinion to real life. Unfortunately, you still have yet to make one factual claim. You’re not gonna win a lot of debates this way.

7 hours ago ·

Alan Lastnameremoved

A guy who thinks “serving his country” is joining the Americorps” shouldn’t use the word “bullet”. Save your energy for finding a job Gabe…..that way you can pay some tax money and feel good about how the money is spent.

6 hours ago

Alan Lastnameremoved

OH, and your band….It sounds like someone is torturing a goat!!!

6 hours ago

Gabe Caruso

First off, you have never heard my band. If you’re talking about Jenny Sizzler, you don’t know what you’re talking about. Are you aware that your nephew plays in that band?

And you’re right. Working for a wage below the national minimum in order to help homeless Americans, some being veterans, surely isn’t serving your country. You have to kill people to serve your country, right? Volunteering in the most dangerous city in the country isn’t enough, right? Gotta have a gun to do good.

6 hours ago ·

Alan Lastnameremoved

OK, Gabby….either you name is pronounced “Gabby” or it should be spelled Gayb, like Gayboy…since your into english I though you might agree. And….really…go get a job…I’m sure you have 10’s of thousands of dollars in student loans to pay off. Come talk to me when you pay some taxes and we can debate how the money is spent. Since you got a degree in philosophy and english…good luck with that job thing…..back to stacking crates of veggies I guess.

6 hours ago

Alan Lastnameremoved

Oh, I’m sending Steve a check for more music lessons. See….you did do some good today!!

6 hours ago

Gabe Caruso

Alan,

First of all, working in a warehouse is a real job. Any job where you go home covered in sweat after working in refrigerators for 12 straight hours is a real job. You obviously don’t realize that many Americans wear their blue collars proudly.

Secondly, this is something like your third allusion to paying taxes. This conversation was never about taxes. And you’re contradicting yourself by bringing them up. First you showed that your mindset is one where nothing is more important than money. Then you reinforced this ideal by naming expensive possessions you have. Then you bring up paying taxes. Guess what. The really rich don’t even pay taxes. They influence government with the use of lobbyists. Your ideals have you chasing material possessions, and you’ll always be chasing these things because someone will always have a newer Corvette than you. (Even though everyone knows new Corvettes are garbage compared to what they used to produce.). So I wish you luck on your journey to everlasting jealousy and disappointment.

And go ahead and just start typing ur for both you’re and your. Sure it says, “I probably don’t know the difference between you’re and your,” but at least it holds onto that slim chance of doubtful intelligence. Better that everyone in the room think you’re stupid than for you to open your mouth and prove it.

5 hours ago ·

Rusty Russell

I have not laughed so hard in a very long time.

4 hours ago

Alan Lastnameremoved

Gabby, you are really so stupid that you should just stop talking. Get a job, pay back your student loans and contribute something to the country. I know your first instinct is to run your mouth then just grab your family and leave your country when things get tough like your relatives did…..refugees are different than revolutionaries….sorry to have to tell you that!

4 hours ago

Gabe Caruso

Alan,

I want you to know that no one who is reading this thinks I’m stupid, except you. Time and time again you have changed the topic to something else you know less than me about. My first instinct isn’t to run. Along with my ancestors, I usually wait until my life or one of my family member’s lives is at stake. One thing I don’t run from is ignorant people who result to name calling when they have been intellectually bested.

Refugees are different than revolutionaries, but they’re not mutually exclusive. One person can be one of these things, both of these things, or neither of these things. Therefore, pointing out that they’re different has not in any way shape or form shown that my ancestors weren’t both of these things. For example, a douchebag is something totally different than an asshat, but you are both of these things.

You’re digging your hole deeper and deeper. Ask Rusty Russel. He’s not laughing just at the situation. He’s also laughing directly at you, your incredibly fallacious arguments, and your pettiness.

Oh I get it. Gabby is a girl’s name. That’s the most clever thing you’ve come up with. I mean, barring making fun of dead people. That’s really clever. And it’s pretty hard to do, since they can’t stand up for themselves.

Now which one of us is the coward?

3 hours ago ·

Alan Lastnameremoved

If you are so smart….why are you a broke ass with no job? The economy is just as bad for me as it is for you. I have a job and got offered 2 more jobs last week both for over 120k a year. If you get much smarter I fear you might starve to death without welfare!!

3 hours ago

Alan Lastnameremoved

oh…and your the coward….come kick my ass….i’ll buy you a ticket!!

3 hours ago

Gabe Caruso

Once again, Alan, I am not broke. I’ve told you already that I planned ahead and saved up money to responsibly allot for my time being unemployed.

We all understand that you have a job, and I’m happy for you that you had two more jobs offered last week. I know how important money is to those who are phallically challenged, so I wish you the best with those opportunities.

And which of the Fox News members told you that having a job was a sign of intelligence. I’ve worked with people who were dumber than rocks, but they worked hard so they were allowed to keep their job. Please show me your equation or your premises that come to the conclusion of intelligence = employment.

Fuck it. Show me any equation. Any equation at all.

And I’m the coward? You’re picking a fight with someone at least ten years younger than yourself, insulting dead people, and I’m the coward. Why do I need a ticket? Pick me up in your 4×4 and your Corvette at the same time. And wear your Rolex. God, two guys in a Corvette… Everyone is going to think you like dudes.

3 hours ago ·

Alan Lastnameremoved

Your like one of those yappy little dogs, all bark no bite.I know you are proud to not have a job. Typical socialist. Its time to put up or shut up. Get a job or come kick my ass!!

3 hours ago

Gabe Caruso

See the thing about thinking rationally, Don, is that I can see beyond your little traps. You are convinced that there are only two sides to every dice. Well guess what. This is facebook, and showing the world how vapid you are doesn’t require me to have a job or come kick your ass.

Odds are I couldn’t kick your ass. While you’ve been doing pushups and lifting weights I’ve been wasting my time reading books and articles and filling my brain with facts, or at least well-formed intellectual opinions. I choose to stay right here and continue showing you up.

Also, hit me up on your real account, Don. We all know that you’re hiding behind your brother’s facebook mask.

And you would’ve gotten away with it too if it wasn’t for this meddling kid!

3 hours ago ·

Alan Lastnameremoved

Your so stupid…you don’t even know who you are talking to. What a complete fucking moron…you really are too stupid to live. Meddling kid gives you the credibility of scooby doo and shaggy….too bad that is light years beyond you!

3 hours ago

Alan Lastnameremoved

Dice is plural….its die Einsrein!

3 hours ago

Gabe Caruso

You did it. I was waiting for it, and it finally paid off. I knew that eventually you would start a reply with a grammatical error. It only took one word for you to prove your prowess as facebook’s greatest literary delinquent. Then you called me a “complete fucking moron.” Sounds like a great premise. Can’t wait to hear the conclusion.

“you really are too stupid to live.” Here we have what is called a self-defeating statement. The very fact that I am alive proves that either

a) i’m not too stupid to live, so being alive, I’m not stupid or

b) you’re too stupid to come up with a legitimate argument.

Meddling kid was a direct allusion to Scooby Doo, (again with the capitals,) so you pointing that out doesn’t really hurt my credibility at all. And how is that light years beyond me? Are you even aware that light year is a measurement of distance and not time? Please explain to me how Scooby and Shaggy are millions of miles beyond me. I’m confused. Not stupid, just having a hard time understanding your idiocy.

Then you clicked post, and then you realized that dice was plural. You had me! You had the opportunity to get on the scoreboard and set the score at Gabe 99 Alan 1, and you jumped at it! You had it too, until everything began to fall apart after three words. “Its” should have been “It’s” since you were trying to make the contraction of it and is, and not talking about the attributes of it, and then the wheels fell off. You went for a eight letter word and completely butchered it. Einstein was a great genius, but Einsrein was just a word created by an intellectual inferior to showcase his lack of genuine intelligence. It was a good try, but a complete failure.

Please, give me more ammunition. I look forward to further embarrassing you in a public forum. Not that you need my help.

about an hour ago ·

Alan Lastnameremoved

Say all you like…the facts don’t change…you are a broke ass with no job and worthless degrees. You are from coward stock that abandoned their country. Your Cuban relatives would be ashamed of you. Get a job, pay taxes and pay off your student loans! You are part of the problem not the cure!

about an hour ago

Jenny Lastnameremoved

O.K. you don’t like SIZZLER?? You’ll love this.http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4219322

about an hour ago

Alan Lastnameremoved

cute…

about an hour ago

Gabe Caruso

Why is it so important to you that I get a job and pay taxes? I’m pretty sure that this is a free country and it isn’t against the law to be jobless. You’re right about the facts not changing, but that doesn’t work in your favor. You’re still a homophobic materialistic racist who only finds self worth in possessions, and I’m just a college grad. I’d much rather be jobless in my shoes than be you. Now tell us how strong you are and list some more of your possessions. It won’t make you any more respectable or credible, or correct for that matter, but it’ll make you feel better.

Pretty sure this isn’t over. Pretty sure he just went to bed.

We’ll see.

[Via http://soygabe.wordpress.com]

Are We Connecting Enough?

Don’t get me wrong.  I love Twitter and Facebook.  I have to put restrictions on my time or else I will be on Facebook all day long.  But a few things got me thinking.  In church last week the Pastor’s sermon was about staying connected.  I read a headline about trouble spots in a relationship and on the top of the list was no longer texting each other during the day.  And on Twitter I saw a post stating the cell phone was the new cigarette.  What does all this mean?

Yes, we are a very connected society.  We text, we post, we call.  But is this really connecting?  I think we can and should connect more personally.

So pick up the phone.  Call you mother, your father, your kids, your BFF.  Don’t just talk on the phone.  Invite them over for dinner.  Really connect – in person.

What ever happened to talking to your neighbor over the fence?  I  love doing this.  It usually ends up with a big neighborhood cookout of some kind.

Do you own some sort of business?  When was the last time you made visits to your clients?  Sending out newsletters or postcards is great, but think of what could happen if you stopped by their offices.  You might actually find out what they really need.

Staying connected is great, but take it a step further and really connect.

[Via http://adminetcetera.wordpress.com]

[BALADA MOCENK] lagi lagi mocenk

[MOCENK MSH Di JKT] Mocenk naik bis kota. Dia ingat pesan teman2nya bhw di Jkt byk orang penipu, jgn percaya sm org lain. Waktu turun dr Bis Kota, kernet bilang kaki kiri dulu. Krn ingat psn jgn percaya org lain Mocenk turun kaki kanan. JATUHLAH DIA.

[MOCENk]: Bener jkt byk penipu, aku turun kaki kanan aja jatuh, PALAGI KAKI KIRI…!!!

—————————-

[SENYUM PAGI2]

MOCENK KE JAKARTA- Mau beli Buah…

[Mocenk]: Duku berapa sekilo???

[penjual]: Goceng…

[Mocenk]: (bingung) GOMENG boleh ga???

[Penjual]: (heran) Berapa tuh GOMENG…??

[Mocenk]: Kasih tau dulu berapa tuh GOCENG???

——————————–

[Mocenk Mudik]

Suatu hari mocenk diajak mamanya mudik ke kampung Neneknya di pedalaman…. Ketemu dia sam Nenek-nya, org pedalaman tapi gaul…

[Nenek] :Kerja apa kamu di Kota Cu???

[Mocenk] : Pengangguran….

[Nenek] : Syukurlah… daripada lontang-lantung ga jelas….

[Mocenk] :*&^&%$$^… (bisa juga mocenk bete…)

————————————-

[Mocenk di Bis]

Mocenk duduk di Bis bersebelahan dgn seorang pemuda…

[Mocenk]: Mas ini Pasha Ungu ya???

[Pemuda]: (tersenyum) bukan…

[Mocenk]: (tdk berapa lama) Mas ini Pasha ungu ya???

[Pemuda]: (mulai BT) bukan…

[Mocenk]: Mas ini Pasha ya???

[Pemuda]: (BT.. Akhirya) Iyaaa

[Mocenk]: KOK NGGAK MIRIP…???!!!

———————————————–

[Sarapan Senyum]

Pagi2 Mocenk sudah mainan HP buka FB… Tiba2 anda datang…

[Anda]: Lg ngapain Cenk???

[Mocenk]: Mancing…

[Anda]: Mancing?? Mancing Apa???

[Mocenk]: Mancing makhluk konyol tidak berotak…

[Anda]: (tersenyum heran) Wekekeke… (Iseng nanya lagi) Udah dapat berapa???

[Mocenk]: Anda yang ke-13….

—————————————-

Tiga orang calon ayah sedang menunggu istri mereka melahirkan. lalu suster memanggil mereka.

[Suster]: Selamat ya pak, bapak dapet kembar…

[Bapak 1]: Wah, kebetulan say kerja di PT. Dua Putri Dewi

[Suster]: Selamat pak, bapak dapet 3 putra kembar…

[Bapak 2] : Wah, kebetulan saya kerja di PT. SEMEN TIGA RODA…

Bapak 3 mendadak pingsan. Ternyata dia kerja di PT. BINTANG TUJUH…

———————————-

[BIASAKAN AWALI PAGI DGNSENYUMAN]

Mocenk mencoba motor barunya…. Dia ngajakin pacarnya untuk boceng…. Aneh si Mael mau aja di boncengin Mocenk yg terkenal sering tabrakan… (Wakakak piss cenk) Eeee bener.. Baru diomongin ga berapa lama langsung nabrak pohon…

[Mael]: Gimana sih kamu cenk… Bisa sampai nabrak poh…on begini…

[Mocenk]: Iiii bukan salahku… Tapi pohonnya yg nyeberang jalan sembarangan….!!!

[Mael]: toeng…!!!

———————————-

[cerita bonus nih]

seorang lelaki baru pulang belanja dari mall, ditengah jalan ia berpikir rasanya ada yg ketinggalan tp apa ya, diperiksa dompet, masih ada, HP, masih ada, daftar belanjaan, sudah semua dibeli, setelah yakin tdk ada yg ketinggalan ia pun pulang ke rumah…sesampainya di rumah anaknya bertanya, loh, pa, mama mana?

————————————-

Seorang pemabok pulang dengan sempoyongan. Istri yg setia berusaha meolong supaya tidak jatuh… [Istri]: Mas.. Sini aku tolongin.. [Pemabok]: Tidak usah Dik… Tolong pegangin PINTU aja supaya tidak goyang2…

——————————

Pulang Kerja Mochenk sakit perut…

[Mochenk] : Aduuuh Ma Sakit Peruttt…

[Mama] : Itu Karena Perutmu Kosong… Makan sana… bla bla bla… (Keesokan Harinya Mochenk ketemu pacarnya… Mail…

[Mail] : Aduh… Kepalaku sakit…..

[Mocenk] : (sok tua) Itu karena KEPALAMU KOSONG…!!!

————————————

>>>>>>>>> GABUNG DENGAN IDE KONYOL on Fesbuk >>>> klik sini: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Balikpapan-Indonesia/Ide-Konyol/191317230893?ref=mf

[Via http://idekonyol.wordpress.com]

Ian Ziering Engaged

Beverly Hills 90210 actor Ian Ziering announced his engagement on his Facebook account when he changed his status from “In a Relationship” to “Engaged”.  Ziering, now 45 years old, was previously married to Nikki Schieler Ziering and they were divorced in 2002.  In and out of various relationships, Ian hooked up with Erin Kristine Ludwig on Labor Day in 2009.   Gee, that’s so long ago.

At least she has met the one of his prerequisites, which is to have 3 or more letter I’s in their name.  That is just weird. None of my dozens of close friends have more than 2, but yet he has three in his name (Ian Ziering) his ex-wife Nikki has a whopping FIVE in her name when she was married to him (Nikki Schieler Ziering). And when he gets married to Erin, she will also upgrade from four to five I’s (Erin Kristine Ziering) and if she does that multiple name thing and does Erin Kristine Ludwig-Ziering, then she’ll have them all beaten with SIX.  Is it strange that I noticed that?  Must be a German thing.

Anyway, their shooting for a Spring wedding.  Erin a nurse and Ian is obviously a well known teen star from the original Beverly Hills 90210 back in the 90’s (when he wasn’t even a teen) and he made a comeback on the 4th season of Dancing With The Stars with dancing partner Cheryl Burke.  Everyone seems to think the couple is happy together and well, the “I’s” have it.  Sorry. I had to do that one more time.

[Via http://weddingpros.wordpress.com]

Barrett Hawker

Barrett Hawker

Proof of Avatar Existence: http://world.secondlife.com/resident/53b08ae5-cc93-451b-bfd1-18aa315508b0

Paste:  This person is using a fake avatar name from Second Life.  Please see proof at http://world.secondlife.com/resident/53b08ae5-cc93-451b-bfd1-18aa315508b0  Please uphold your TOS and remove this fake profile that is not using a real name.

How to Report

[Via http://banfakefacebookprofiles.wordpress.com]

The Big Bang Theory - The Einstein Approximation

Sheldon has been up all night trying to view his work peripherally. Penny says she’s not any good until she has her coffee. Leonard walks in as Sheldon is now running around in weird loops around his board. He tells Penny, “Penny, I told you, if you don’t put him in his crate at night, he just runs around the apartment.” Sheldon then tries to look at his board through a peephole made with his hands, and Penny asks what he’s doing now. Leonard says he’s either trying to focus in on one aspect of his work, or he’s trying to find the alligator that ate his hand after Peter Pan cut it off. Sheldon corrects him by informing them that it was a crocodile, and if you’re going to mock him at least get it right. “Aye, aye, Captain.” Leonard suggests that Sheldon may want to get a fresh start to his work, as that might help him get unstuck. Sheldon thinks this is a great idea. He takes the board, opens the window, drops it out, and grabs a new one. In the background you hear cars crashing and horns going off.

In the breakroom, Sheldon is still working on his problem. Wallowitz asks how long he’s been stuck. Leonard says that it’s been 30 hours on the problem, but emotionally about 29 years. Wallowitz asks if he’s tried rebooting him. Nope, it’s a firmware problem. Raj wants to go to Disco Night at a rollerskating rink. Leonard and Wallowitz decide to turn it into a double date, but now Raj is disappointed that he’s not going. They look back on Sheldon. He apparently used butter as deodorant, and hasn’t been this stuck since the third Matrix movie. He’s willing to use lima beans and peas to work on his problem, but not corn.

After skating, Bernadette and Penny are talking about how horrible it was. Penny says the worst part was that people saw them leaving with them. Then you see Leonard and Wallowitz extremely happy about how well it went, their killer movies, and their boogie zone. They’re even wearing sequins and headbands. They walk into the apartment, and Sheldon has covered the floor in marbles to symbolize his formula. Penny and Leonard fall on their coccyx(s), and Bernadette realizes that it’s been at least three days since Sheldon slept. She uses science to force him to realize that he needs to go to sleep. When he says he doesn’t want to go to bed, she starts counting to three. After one, he goes. Penny and Leonard are asleep when a creepy laugh wakes them up. It’s the Joker from Batman. It creeps Leonard out, but he paid $3 for it. The call is about Sheldon. He’s escaped and is terrorizing the village. Penny tells him to go and have fun. Leonard finds him in a kids’ ball pit. The size ratio was too small, and he needed bigger carbon atoms. Sheldon refuses to leave, and starts hiding in the balls. Leonard goes after him, and he keeps popping up and “Bazinga”ing him.

Sheldon wakes Leonard and Penny up standing over their bed. He apologizes, and lets them know that Leonard’s cellphone is off. Leonard says he knows, he turned it off because they wanted privacy. Sheldon mentions that it didn’t work too well. He then tells them that he’s figured out the problem. It’s not the formula. He figured out how to figure it out. Penny tells Leonard that she knows she told him that she could handle his roommate, but she can’t and they have to break up. Sheldon has decided to work in a menial job to get his creative juices going – just like Einstein. He then leaves, but has a parting comment about how the snoring is better when they sleep on the side.

Penny says that Leonard doesn’t snore, and Sheldon says “I know, I wasn’t talking about him.” Leonard says a quick told you so. At the employment office, Sheldon says that he wants a menial job, like the interviewers. She thanks him for noticing – she was menial employee of the month. They start talking positions. He likes the idea of construction, but doesn’t know what sheetrock is. A floral delivery person is shot down, because he doesn’t drive. She asks what his last job was, and he tells her. She heads off for security. At the Cheesecake Factory, Sheldon shows up in an apron and starts bussing tables. He gives an explanation to Penny, and she’s just flabbergasted. Bernadette takes the whole thing in stride. Penny can’t believe they just gave him a job there. He says they didn’t, because he doesn’t need to get paid, he just grabbed a tub and started. When Penny points out that she’s not a busboy, he agrees with her, and starts waiting tables. The guys show up and he handles their orders perfectly. Penny gets upset. Then you hear a crash. Sheldon has dropped his tray, and suddenly he’s figured out what’s wrong with how he’s been working on his formula. He leaves. Penny stops him and asks him about the mess. “I don’t work here.” It’s Disco Night again. You see Raj and Wallowitz at the rink. Wallowitz is skating in neon pink spandex pants and you hear “One Night in Bangkok” in the background. Raj says he’s on a cloud, and they start spinning each other and doing the Saturday Night Fever poses.

We also got a final shot of the ball pit with Sheldon “bazinga”ing Leonard.

Giggles all around on this one.

What did you think of this week’s episode?

Comment below!

Be sure to become a fan of The TV Duchess on Facebook!  Or follow me on Twitter (@TVDuchess)!

[Via http://tvduchess.wordpress.com]

The Two disease

“Hey take my picture” said my friend. I clicked. After some time he ran to other place and asked me again the same. I was not irritated but was confused “is he here to take the picture only? If he wanted to do this he should have gone to a photo studio those people give much better background”. Now people are more interested in taking picture at that point and not seeing it after they go home. I don’t get there state of mind they lose the moment at that place and then regret that thing. I still remember when I used to go with my parents they used to make sure the reel the camera is new and also the battery. And the whole 15 days trip used to get over in that one reel of camera. I agree those days the camera used to expensive as compared to now. Now I have also seen people taking picture of the bride and groom in their marriage. When there is no place left for the Photographer whom they called. And yea those people delete the picture the very next day. I don’t get a point why people try to spoil the moment where they can enjoy and be the other side been shot in the picture with bride and groom. I call this disease call as mear-pic-lo-too.

People try to find something which they can put as a Facebook status message. When people go on a trip they try to think what all can I put up as my facebook sm and how could I make it more funner. This disease I call as sm-forgeto-phobia.

There are many more disease coming up like twitterify and you-me-tube. People I request you live like Human not like a machine. As we human tell the machine what are doing what have we done.

PS: this is not intended to hurt anyone. I am not sorry if it does. But ya I am also into these diseases Please Help !!!! .

[Via http://arjitgupta.wordpress.com]