Song Lyrics

I love the efficiency of some song lyrics. I was on the subway home this afternoon and heard these lyrics

I sailed my ship of safety till I sank it,
I'm crawling on your shore.

How seriously cool is the imagery involved in just those two lines. Love it.


Cheers,
Dean

Hulu Plus

Free Ride Almost Over? Hulu Plus Launches Subscription Service
Pressed to start making real money, Hulu -- the big premium TV program Web site -- is finally launching its subscription fee service, called Hulu Plus. But advertising still remains a key piece of its financial puzzle.
Hulu senior executives maintain that the service, which will be offered at $9.95 a month, is not a replacement for the free, advertising-supported Hulu service.

 
Hmm so i pay $9.99 a month...and i still have to watch ads :(
 
Sorry dont think so. Want to run a betting pool for how many paying users they’ll have at the end of 12 months?
 
I think they need more than content in order to attract users, I've got an idea of what they need.... not ready to share the sekret yet :)
 
 
Cheers,
Dean
 

Bilski Vs. Kappos

This is the best explanation i can find of today's decision.

http://www.patentlyo.com/patent/2010/06/bilski-v-kappos-business-methods-out-software-still-patentable.html

Basically.....my take is we're screwed, just as much confusion will reign over the next decade and this decision has not provided a "golden rule" to clear up future cases.

Break out the champagne lawyers...you're going to get paid and retained en-mass.


Cheers,
Dean

Another ZipCar convert

Hired a ZipCar for 2 hours last weekend to run down to HomeDepot for some gardening supplies for the deck.

I totally get why everyone is raving about them so much, basically jumped onto the website, checked which car park had a car avaialable for me to check out for 2 hours, walked down 10 mins later, used my magic card, opened the doors and grabbed the keys to drive it away.

Did what i needed to do at HomeDepot, dropped it back, use the card to lock it up and walked away.

All for $11 an hour on weekends and $8 during the week including gas and insurance..... hmmm I find it very unlikely i'll ever own a car here in NY ever. In Australia sure it makes sense as i'd probably drive every day but basically in NY with all the parking hassles etc....  ZipCar just makes too much sense.

Add me to the ZipCar converted list.


Cheers,
Dean

Retargeting ads really need a forget me button

Retargeting ads really need a forget me button, basically i was browsing for some "deck furniture covers" on http://www.potterybarn.com/ and http://www.westelm.com/ a few weeks ago (I dont know but i think maybe 30 minutes of general searching then placed the order.

Within 12 hours I noticed that i was continually being bombarded with "retargeted ads" for both companies, basically every 10th site or so i visited there it popped up again, and again, and again. Basically it is the same 4 or 5 ads in different sizes showing exactly the same product (that i'd already placed the order for) over and over again.

I understand that websites need to make money, and i understand that they get paid if people click on these retargeted ads (though personally i'm against CPC ads, i think all ads should be CPM which is why http://www.livechatconcepts.com/ prefers to display CPM ads, do you think FOX or CNN etc care if no one calls your 1800 number or visits you showroom after you buy their tv ads for $100k - nope, want to display then pay is my motto).

My issue is basically i bought the product already, there is no need to continue marketing to me, i just think there could be some real value in "Dont display this ad to me" anymore button.


Cheers,
Dean

William Kunstler

Watching a documentary on William Kunstler a radicalised american lawyer from the 60's/70's/80's called "Disturbing the universe".

Very powerful ideas. If you are in the USA and get PBS channel then seek out this documentary, if not in the USA then google this guys name and understand why he was moved to do what he did.

His comments about his actions in the Bobby Seale's case is some of the most moving television I've ever watched, only topped by his speech about the terrible myth of organized society which blew my mind and my own personal position which i had held for years.


Cheers,
Dean

The Watchmen

Wow, for whatever reason i had never watched it before but just watched The Watchmen , kickass movie, definitely worth watching.

Anyone know if there is a plan for a sequel?

Website TOS legal or not?

Very interesting and legally critical case being considered in the USA at the moment.

Can public websites decide who is and is not a criminal through their terms of service? A brief EFF filed yesterday argues no. http://digg.com/d31UoUE

It's weird i actually see this argument from both sides so i'm not sure which side i support yet, i totally agree failure to comply to TOS is not criminal, but should a website have the right to sue users - I dont think so, the rights to ban user? sure "he who brings the bat and ball to the game decides when the game ends", so basically, websites have the right to delete your account and ban you but to "take legal action against you", not sure about this.

Will be interesting to see how this one plays out and what it means for third party tools like Power Ventures.


Cheers,
Dean

Aging Disgracefully

Max Sharam has a VOICE - it's powerful, it's loud, it's brash, it's quirky.

Just caught an amazing set of hers at RockWood Music Hall - There is nothing to describe her style, it's like a velvet sledgehammer washing over you and laughing outrageously as it goes.

Here’s the commercial version of the "Coma" video clip http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8NOqVuUaiE from her album but there is also a bootleg earlier version that much better describes the emphasis of her current style  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WigObHdbzR0

She's going to be doing some other gigs later in the year so if you are in NY get on her mailing list at http://www.maxsharam.com/


Cheers,
Dean

Panama

wow i had no idea that 5000+ people died in the panama invasion, thats fucked up considering it was of the USA making in the first place (sort of).

Also interesting to know that 1 in 5 panamanians have chinese ancestry (1st to 4th gen).

( I'm watching Anthony Bourdain)

Telstra sells it's copper

Really really interesting announcement in Australia this weekend;

- http://www.crn.com.au/News/216001,nbn-co-and-telstra-strike-11bn-agreement.aspx?
- http://delimiter.com.au/2010/06/20/telstra-signs-up-to-nbn-for-11-billion/#more-5191
- http://laurelpapworth.com/telstra-nbn-goodbye-copper-networks

Not sure about all the ramifications yet but very surprising (and progressive move by the govt).


Cheers,
Dean

Scanbuy implement QR codes

Jim Orenberg posted in Facebook about Scanbuy implementing QR codes - my comments are below.

Hi Jim, good to hear that Scanbuy have finally given up on their proprietary EZcode however..... why would i ever use scanbuy to create a QR code, i would be tieing the operation of my qr codes to paying scanbuy their monthly fees (eg they use server redirection).


It makes far more sense to use a QR code where the terminating urls are urls that YOU own/operate and not be held hostage by a 3rd party that can turn your codes off at any time rendering them worthless (for either payment or bankruptcy reasons).


Cheers,
Dean

Android Apps

Someone just said they got an Evo as a test and as this was their first android handset what apps should they dowload; after downloading them i thought i should post here as well -

Essentials -
AppAware-app recomendation

CamCard-business card ocr
Meridian-music/video player
TouchDown-exchange client
SipDroid - voip softphone... See More

then the rest -
10001 cocktails
aircontrol
nyc buss and subway map
pdanet
voice recorder
wifi analyser
MoxierWorld

Sure there are a lot of other apps, eg skyppe and docs to go etc but i posted the ones you might not find on your own that i use.


Cheers,
Dean

Google TV initial thoughts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS0la9SmqWA&feature=player_embedded#!

Hmmm having tried to design something very similar in 2006 using CableCard I'm very curious about how this is really going to work.


There is not a chance it is going to work as cleanly as described in the video - the devil is in the details but i fear Google TV will be another Wave - sounds good but is all vapourware.
 
Looking forward to seeing how it really works when launched.
 
 
Cheers,
Dean

Orchid revival

I have a love hate relationship with orchids, basically i love having them in my home and am happy to shell out $50 each for them; but hate that 4-6 weeks later they lose their flowers and in the past i've always just thrown them out.

About 6 months ago i decided to keep 2 of them and just keep them on the bathroom window sill - surprise surprise i noticed that one of them was throwing up a new stalk and budding.

This is the first time i've ever had an orchid revive on me, anyone know how often this is expected to happen? maybe i should have kept them instead of throwing them out.

Cheers,
Dean

Breaking Bad back for 4th season

http://www.tvweek.com/blogs/tvbizwire/2010/06/amc-renews-breaking-bad-for-fo.php

based on last nights show i think this is a great decision, this show rocks.


Cheers,
Dean

Google has a brainfart

FFS!! google is adding images to their homepage (eg like Bing) - which brainfart at google thought this was a good idea and allowed this to "go live".


What happened to clean and less than 32 words??

The worst part is you cant seem to change it back to clean design without always being signed into your google account??


Cheers
Dean

Apple screws the pooch

lol, love the comments in this article - http://www.businessinsider.com/admob-officially-responds-to-apple-2010-6


freddybee on Jun 9, 12:17 PM said:
"hhheeeeeere comes the government....."
or
Androidforme on Jun 9, 12:32 PM said:
"Can you imagine the outcry if Microsoft did this with Windows? They were taken to court for less".


I think the shareholders of Apple should insist on Steve Jobs having a MRI or a psych test for brain issues - he is going into directions that are just plain insane even for the control freak that we know he is.


Cheers,
Dean

Hotel Des Canettes

Dale went off to Switzerland this morning so i got to move out of the last minute hotel we had a meltdown finding.

As fate would have it new hotel that i found by googling yesterday was within a 5 minute walk at 17 Rue Des Canettes and was cheaper than the flea bag place i spent the last 2 nights in.

The originally put me in a small room at the top back but i couldn't get wifi so they moved me to the front 3rd floor overlooking the front alley..... lol the room was bigger but if you plan on going to bed early better to stay in the back as boy it's loud with the party that happens in the streets...... of course if you are like me it doesn't matter, I was out partying until 5am the next 2 nights.

Hotel Des Canettes is a basic hotel at a medium price but very very clean and simplistic. The best part about it is that it is literally on top of 4 blocks of bars and clubs that are open until 3am, so dont plan on going to bed early, and if you are still awake head down to the river you're sure to make some great friends hanging out enjoying the night.


Cheers,
Dean

Leaving Paris

Today is my last day in Paris, there are very few cities that i actually miss but this is one for sure and i'm still not sure what it all means for my future.

The last 48 hours here alone in Paris have just been nothing short of sublime. So many special events have occured that i will remember forever, I'm not sure how many of them i will blog about but my backpack seems a little lighter today because i'm leaving part of my soul here forever.

Cheers,

Dean