tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-114734952024-03-07T10:50:34.575-08:00The Discriminating OmnivoreThis is a random place to collect random thoughts. Hence the <b>"omnivore"</b>. But I don't like absolutely everything, so I'm also <b>"discriminating"</b>. Or pompous. Take your pick.The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.comBlogger123125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-35734493046364732192009-01-06T12:57:00.000-08:002009-01-06T13:15:35.935-08:00End of an Era: No more free Budweiser samples<div>Sad but true<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfQZkrmt-TbDDrmk1sF2F1eN-XOi5xdF9JX_FVxo-4HhyfjucBIdT523ew-Su_3AK9hDT8ZwPE0GYmYmH2vJHmkvwKmpHC-yTLNaj9PqgAuLGk206B7Og27GbzUWSbqpc-k0/s1600-h/breweryWilliamsburg.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5288292241229378722" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUfQZkrmt-TbDDrmk1sF2F1eN-XOi5xdF9JX_FVxo-4HhyfjucBIdT523ew-Su_3AK9hDT8ZwPE0GYmYmH2vJHmkvwKmpHC-yTLNaj9PqgAuLGk206B7Og27GbzUWSbqpc-k0/s200/breweryWilliamsburg.jpg" border="0" /></a>: this was a time-honored ritual for <a href="http://www.wm.edu/">William and Mary</a> students who turned 21. The rite involved driving over to the <a href="http://www.anheuser-busch.com/breweryWilliamsburg.html">Anheuser-Busch brewery</a> near <a href="http://www.buschgardens.com/BGW/default.aspx">Busch Gardens</a> to check out the hospitality room...and get free samples. Not full beers, mind you, just six ounces or so.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>What is weird is that the coverage is making it sound like they were <a href="http://www.wvec.com/news/williamsburg/stories/wvec_local_010509_no_free_samples_busch.3ffc6be4.html">handing out free beer right in the middle of the theme parks</a>, in which case I can understand why they might have killed the program. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Well, that and the expense of operating said program, especially in college towns. </div><br /><div></div><br /><div>But I never saw anything like what they're talking about, where it was co-located with the theme park. The brewery was entirely separate.</div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Then again, I haven't been to Busch Gardens "Europe" since they added <a href="http://www.4adventure.com/BGW/dp_grogans_pub.aspx">Ireland</a>.</div>The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-83690698512711244102009-01-05T13:58:00.000-08:002009-01-05T14:06:37.530-08:00NPR: "Murals Depict Power of Law and Justice"<a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=98783331">Really cool story</a> on <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/rundowns/rundown.php?prgId=3">NPR Morning Edition</a> today about the murals on the walls in the US Department of Justice.<br /><br />It wasn't all that long ago that we still used public art to instruct and provoke thought because people were actually paying attention. It reminds me of the <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/rldock/sets/72157594373930325/">murals</a> at <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coit_Tower">Coit Tower</a> in San Francisco, those were also very cool.<br /><br />Of course, the general public cannot actually <strong>see </strong>the murals at the USDOJ...The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-83889943881924865832009-01-02T13:48:00.001-08:002009-01-02T13:57:28.502-08:00Late to the game - Google AdwordsI am just now getting involved in this online marketing tactic, <a href="https://adwords.google.com/select/Login?sourceid=awo&subid=ww-en-et-ads-r3_b_top&hl=en_us">Google Adwords</a>. The smoke and mirrors are endlessly fascinating.<br /><br />No wonder an entire industry has sprung up around <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Search_engine_marketing">Search Engine Marketing</a> and Google's <a href="http://finance.yahoo.com/q?s=GOOG">share price</a> is through the roof.The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-21601557010954494192008-12-30T13:51:00.001-08:002008-12-30T14:09:46.412-08:00Take shots! 11! He Shoots! He Scores!!I have a confession to make: I am a hockey fan. My affliction began with a fateful playoff game in 1998, when I bought a single ticket to the first round of the <a href="http://www.sjsharks.com/">San Jose Sharks</a> vs. the <a href="http://stars.nhl.com/">Dallas Stars</a> and watched <a href="http://sharks.nhl.com/team/app?page=HistoricalPlayerDetail&pkey=8465250&service=page">Andrei Zyuzin</a> <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/1998/04/29/SP10581.DTL">win it in overtime</a>. When I could not get tickets for the next round, I bought season tickets for the next year to guarantee playoff tickets.<br /><br />So began five years of season-ticket-holder fun, the residue of which is being felt today with nightly indulgences in <a href="http://www.comcast.com/Corporate/Programming/sports/nhlcenterice.html">Center Ice</a>. My husband is currently obsessed with the <a href="http://www.iihf.com/channels0809/wm20/home.html">World Junior Championship</a> tournament, meaning that most of our waking moments are spent watching the <a href="http://www.nhlnetwork.com/">NHL Network</a> or live feeds from other rinks around the country. My two year old son already knows the word "hockey" and can recognize it instantly.<br /><br />I even tried playing it, but it's too time-consuming and expensive to find the right equipment and get ice time. But I do get to belong to what feels like an exclusive club - in the US anyway - of people who can talk comprehensively about the game.<br /><br />I don't get to see the Sharks much now that we're on the East Coast, and they play half of their games at 10:30. But every once in a while, I get to hear the greatest play-by-play team in the world, <a href="http://sharks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=11866">Randy</a> and <a href="http://sharks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NHLPage&id=17768">Drew</a>.<br /><br />And now, I am agog about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Claude_Lemieux">Claude Lemieux</a> <a href="http://sharks.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=400866">clearing waivers</a> today. Wha??? The guy was mean in his prime, but he started in the league in 1983.<br /><br />Not everyone can be <a href="http://sharks.nhl.com/team/app?service=page&page=PlayerDetail&playerId=8450978&tab=prf">Jeremy Roenick</a>.The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-57549842697058557792008-12-26T11:21:00.000-08:002008-12-26T11:38:29.997-08:00There are no random events.In my new role in a <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_telephony_integration">new industry</a> (to me, anyway), I am doing a lot of research into efficient and cost-effective ways to get the word out. While reading an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Effective-E-Mail-Marketing-Successful-Campaigns/dp/0814471471/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1230319258&sr=8-1">ancient book</a> - publication date, 2002 - about email marketing, I came across a sample of an email newsletter that was cited as an effective way to keep a reader's interest and decrease the number of opt-outs.<br /><br />Lo and behold, the sample included mentions of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BroadVision">BroadVision</a> and <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inktomi">Inktomi</a>, two players that were prevalent in my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enterprise_search">previous life</a>. Fair enough, most people have heard of these two companies, particularly since Inktomi did some <a href="http://www.stupidmarketing.com/The_Clammy_Awards.html">eye-catching TV </a>and print ads back in the day...but then the article in this newsletter also made mention of my employer for eight years, the <a href="http://www.autonomy.com/content/News/Releases/2005/1230.en.html">now-defunct</a> enterprise search company, <a href="http://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/Verity-Inc-Company-History.html">Verity, Inc</a>.<br /><br />Whaa? No one has ever heard of them outside of the industry. I mean, come on now. That's like finding out that the <a href="http://www.kmworld.com/Articles/Editorial/Feature/View-From-The-Top-Verity,-Inc.,-Anthony-Bettencourt,-President-&-CEO-9650.aspx">former CEO of Verity</a>, whom I knew very well, was working on a <a href="http://www.nationalbanana.com/#105-105">new web project</a> in LA with my younger brother a few years back. Honestly! What are the chances?<br /><br />There are no random events. Obviously, all roads lead back to me.The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-83680686880625179202008-12-24T06:46:00.000-08:002008-12-24T06:47:37.228-08:00Happy Holidays!Just wanted to share the <a href="http://www.typepad.com/t/trackback/2123/37363500">fantastic picture</a> featured today on Seth Godin's blog.<br /><br />Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-51827187461632026842008-12-24T06:18:00.000-08:002008-12-24T06:25:17.426-08:00Where in 2009?2008 was interesting. In both senses of the word, positively and negatively.<br /><br />Moved back to my hometown (that's a whole other long, intense story); spent 8 months looking for work before landing a great opportunity with a new technology and industry to learn about; celebrated my son's 2nd birthday; participated in a <a href="http://http//news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/us_elections_2008/7709978.stm">landmark election</a>; watched the economy go <a href="http://www.npr.org/templates/topics/topic.php?topicId=1017">down the tubes</a>.<br /><br />Turning toward 2009, it can only get better, right?<br /><br />Then again, given this year's bevy of surprises, who's to say what will happen?The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1141687940515459592006-03-06T15:32:00.000-08:002006-03-06T15:33:31.013-08:00TiVo = software provider?Looks like they're still traveling further down the software path according to this bit from <a href="http://www.engadget.com">Engadget</a>:<br /><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/06/tivos-future-software-only/"></a><blockquote><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2006/03/06/tivos-future-software-only/">TiVo's next act: software only?</a>:<br />In recent comments to analysts, TiVo CEO Tom Rogers said that he envisions much of the company's future growth as coming from partnerships with cable operators. 'We're a total software upgrade when you think of the cable side of our business. The more that are out there, the more we have an opportunity to roll out to, the more we have the ability for cable subscribers to become TiVo subscribers.' While risky, the strategy might be TiVo's best bet to stay alive in the industry it helped create, given that many cable operators are already providing DVR service using boxes and software provided by companies such as Scientific Atlanta. </blockquote><br />Again, this is what I said a while ago... and apparently I was not the only one to notice it.<br /><br />The problem still remains convincing potential users that the TiVo interface is worth the extra money. Having seen what's available from the cable company, I would say that it is definitely a better solution.<br /><br />But then, I already have a TiVo that I use every day.The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1141346194122391852006-03-02T16:36:00.000-08:002006-03-02T16:42:35.886-08:00From Digg: "Alarm Clock - Snooze Button + 4 Piece Puzzle Puzzle = Awake"<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7743/932/1600/puzzle_alarm.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7743/932/320/puzzle_alarm.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a>The purpose of this entry is two-fold. Firstly, I'm testing the ability to blog items directly from the Digg website. Secondly, because there are days when SigO could really use something like this. >snort< <blockquote>This mild challenge apparently will wake you up. So, for the snooze button kings, this is for you.<br /><br /><a href="http://us.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/puzzle-alarm-clock-presents-mild-challenge-wakes-you-up-157999.php">read more</a> | <a href="http://digg.com/links/Alarm_Clock_-_Snooze_Button_4_Piece_Puzzle_Puzzle_=_Awake">digg story</a></blockquote><br />Well it looks like it takes a bit more work to make it pretty directly from Digg, but it's a good start.<br /><br />I just need to work on my rudimentary HTML...The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1141332955722809582006-03-02T12:55:00.000-08:002006-03-02T15:38:34.250-08:00Keano! Fergie Still Loves YouAccording to the BBC, there are no hard feelings from Sir Alex after four months away from Old Trafford for Keano:<br /><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4765338.stm"></a><blockquote><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4765338.stm">Ferguson tips Keane for greatness</a>: Sir Alex Ferguson says Roy Keane will go on to make a fantastic manager.</blockquote> The love fest continues in the article.<br /><br />So does this mean that the problem was that Keano couldn't keep his mouth shut when he was unhappy with other players and overstepped his bounds? Or does it mean that Sir Alex was just ticked off that he didn't get in the first public tirade?<br /><br />Whatever anger or resentment the leaked <a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/4449396.stm">interview-that-wasn't </a>caused between Keano and the manager, it sure lit a fire under the rest of the players.<br /><br />And they needed it!The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1141161096873599242006-02-28T13:03:00.000-08:002006-02-28T13:15:55.873-08:00Modern Life: DisruptedIt's amazing how easily one can adapt to doing things a certain way.<br /><br />This past weekend I not only had my debit card arbitrarily (as far as I can tell) killed off for "suspicious activity" on Friday, but my car developed a slow leak on the right front tire on Saturday night. Thus, by Sunday morning, I was left with no ready access to my money and a gimpy car.<br /><br />Fortunately the tire place I use is nearby and was able to repair the flat for free on Monday. Unfortunately, despite a visit to the branch location for the first time in about three years, my credit union was only able to issue an ATM card since a debit card had already been ordered for me. That would arrive in 10-14 business days.<br /><br />In the meantime, I had to rack my brain to remember what we used to do in olden times when we needed to pay for something. So yesterday, for the first time in perhaps five years, I was forced to <span style="font-style: italic;">write a check in a store</span>. Twice. Don't get me wrong, I still pay rent and other miscellaneous bills with checks, but everything else is electronic or debit.<br /><br />It really felt like it took forever to sit there and fill out the amount...sign my name...make a record of it... It also made me flash back to an internal discussion I had a few years ago:<br /><br /><blockquote>Me: "I love bacon. Wonder how I would cook it if I didn't have a microwave?"<br />Myself: "Ummm.... how about a pan on the stove top? Duh?"<br />Me: "Riiiight."</blockquote>The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1140728694228441192006-02-23T13:04:00.000-08:002006-02-23T13:07:14.463-08:00How does one handle disappointment?How does one handle disappointment?<br /><br />This is a question that I'm finding myself faced with these days. Yesterday brought less-than-good news on two fronts, and I'm finding myself wondering about this.<br /><br />Notice the qualification in the description, though -- these are not necessarily tragedies, travesties or life-changing events, just disappointments.<br /><br />The disappointments in question are the kind that should be relatively easy to get over because they are each part of an ongoing process right now. It just means that I didn't get the outcome that I was hoping for. The results I did get were mainly because of events that were outside my control.<br /><br />So, I've done a little moping, had some discussion with SigO and am moving on. Sometimes it also helps to have some sort of distraction to lighten the mood.<br /><br />It strikes me that there are many different kinds of disappointments, ranging from the "I didn't make the team" variety to the more serious <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Havisham">Miss Havisham</a> sort. The true test is in how deeply one lets these little setbacks affect one.<br /><br />Personally, I'm striving for the "I didn't make the team" nonchalance at the moment.The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1140224852356036432006-02-20T15:40:00.000-08:002006-02-20T15:57:00.093-08:00TiVo has Brain Wave, Smacks ForeheadI've written about <a href="http://domnivore.blogspot.com/2005/03/tivo-getting-some-brains.html">this</a> before in my blog, as well as about how wondrous and sticky TiVo is. Now they're finally figuring out what one of the big issues is (from <a href="http://techdirt.com/articles/20060217/1345201_F.shtml">TechDirt</a>):<br /><br /><blockquote>Davis Freeberg writes 'In a candid interview with Bloomberg news, TiVo CEO Tom Rogers...offered a lot of great information, but the most interesting piece is that TiVo is considering offering a subscription only model for their subscribers. Once someone uses a TiVo it will be difficult to go back to the generic PVR. By giving new consumers the opportunity to try TiVo without making a $300 investment, the company can expand their appeal beyond just the early adopter crowd'...That's funny... it's been almost three years since we suggested TiVo should do exactly that and people thought we were crazy.</blockquote>I've also suggested <a href="http://domnivore.blogspot.com/2005/03/tivo-comcast-sitting-in-tree.html">something along those lines</a>. Once the novelty of recordable TV wears off, there has to be some other differentiator.<br /><br />For TiVo, that's going to be their user interface and programming functionality. They need to go this route in order to stick around... because I need them.The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1140220784621815382006-02-17T15:57:00.000-08:002006-02-17T16:01:43.530-08:00Google Does Jeux Olympiques d'Hiver<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7743/932/1600/olympics06_luge_res.gif"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer;" src="http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/7743/932/320/olympics06_luge_res.gif" alt="" border="0" /></a><br />So Google has gotten into the spirit. Where is Yahoo with this? They usually keep pace.<br /><br />I like seeing what they do with these things. Google has a whole slew of sketches <a href="http://www.google.com/doodle11.html">available here</a>.<br /><br />The Winter Games are particularly kickas$ in HD.<br /><br />[Hat tip to the <a href="http://googleblog.blogspot.com/2006/02/gamesmanship.html">Official Google Blog</a>.]The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1140218562958280132006-02-17T15:19:00.000-08:002006-02-17T15:40:36.483-08:00Review: Dune - Extended VersionIn order to continue to maintain my geek street cred, I must confirm that I am in fact a huge fan of the David Lynch film Dune. Call it the product of a Youth Misspent Watching Cable.<br /><br />When SigO told me that there was a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=as2&path=ASIN/B0007PAMR4&tag=thediscrimina-20&camp=1789&creative=9325">new DVD</a> coming out that included the extended version, I was all over it. Pre-ordered from <a href="http://www.amazon.com">Amazon</a>, it arrived on its release date, January 31st.<br /><br />Imagine my surprise when we got the disk -- flashy metal DVD case -- and put on the extended version. I'll just quote from <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com/vine/showthread.php?t=449599">my review</a> over at <a href="http://www.rottentomatoes.com">Rotten Tomatoes</a>:<br /><blockquote>It's labeled as an Alan Smithee film so that should tell you something... they've recut the beginning to remove Irulan and done some other very strange things, even down to making some soundtrack changes. I don't know the full extent as I was too aghast to make it too far in. Will have to steel myself to get through the rest of it.</blockquote>Overall, great if you're a fan because of the behind-the-scenes stuff. Otherwise, <span style="font-style: italic;">eeewwww!!</span> And actually, that may be your reaction even if you are a fan.The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1140047164475997682006-02-16T15:21:00.000-08:002006-02-17T15:40:11.253-08:00Review: The MoonstoneFinished reading <a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=as2&path=ASIN/0192100289&tag=thediscrimina-20&camp=1789&creative=9325"> The Moonstone</a> by Wilkie Collins. I can't remember how I got turned on to this book, which is touted as one of the first mystery stories.<br /><br />One thing that is unusual about it is that it is long. There are still the same twists and turns, but the length is attributable to the fact that a lot of the characters get to contribute their own perspectives and memories about the events.<br /><br />Bottom line: I enjoyed it, but I kept saying GEEZ this is long!The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1140048668340900192006-02-15T16:08:00.000-08:002006-02-15T16:13:55.200-08:00brrreeeport lemmingsQ: "So just because <a href="http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/">Robert Scoble</a> tells you to <a href="http://scobleizer.wordpress.com/tag/brrreeeport/">put brrreeeport </a> on your blog you're going to do it?"<br /><br />Domnivore: "Yes."<br /><br />Q: "And if he jumped off a bridge would you do that, too?"<br /><br />Domnivore: "We're talking a virtual bridge, right?"The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1140046902737308352006-02-15T15:39:00.000-08:002006-02-15T15:43:17.686-08:00How to Blow an InterviewSome suggestions if you'd like to not create the best impression when meeting someone about a potential job for yourself:<br /><br />1) Show up late<br />2) Chew gum<br />3) Roll eyes<br />4) Respond to all questions with a dismissive "tchuh!"<br />5) Forget your interviewer's name<br />6) Eat a turkey lunch right before an afternoon interview<br />7) Pick out your office decor<br />8) Ask interviewer: "Are you going to be my admin?"<br />9) Talk about how much you prefer another company, preferably a direct competitor<br />10) Ask interviewer: "If I'm totally late a lot, is that like, a problem?"<br /><br />I avoided most of these things yesterday, fortunately, which means that I am now short-listed for a potential position. Hooray for me!<br /><br />The one thing I did not get right was the turkey lunch before going in. Sure it's supposedly an urban legend, but couple that with a boiling hot conference room and there's trouble. Somehow I pulled through without a nap -- and I guess it really doesn't need to be on the list since I'm into the finals.The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1139449425496605802006-02-10T09:14:00.000-08:002006-02-10T08:35:26.583-08:00Carrier LemmingsThis article amused me because I find that there are two types of people: those who are consolidating into Treos and whatnot, and those who are just discovering the joy of gadgets like iPods and Crackberries and cell phones and the like.<br /><br />Interesting angle with the whole "dispens[ing] with sources of shared stability" idea.<br /><blockquote><br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/43Folders?m=490">Washington Post: Why do we carry so much around?</a>:<br />Burdens of the Modern Beast<br /><br />***<br /><br />It’s the perfect posture for the Age of Insecurity. We fret about our jobs, families, country, manhood or womanhood, ability to be a good parent. We believe someone is out to get us. And to get our things. So, like the homeless, we carry our stuff with us. Just in case something, or anything, happens.</blockquote><br />After all, one must be prepared for any eventuality. Just ask any woman with a purse big enough to carry herself in.The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1139453474508093512006-02-10T08:20:00.000-08:002006-02-10T08:27:57.916-08:00Review: The Philip K. Dick Reader<a href="http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/redirect?link_code=as2&path=ASIN/0806518561&tag=thediscrimina-20&camp=1789&creative=9325">This book</a> is amazing. I know the name of course because of how many movies have been made based on his stories -- he could give Jane Austen a run for her money.<br /><br />Each one of the stories in <span style="font-weight: bold;">The Philip K. Dick Reader</span> is a morsel of paranoia and fear covered with Twilight Zone secret sauce. It was interesting to read how much he was a <a href="http://www.philipkdick.com/aa_biography.html">product of his time</a>, with plots centered around a world struggling with the aftermath of a nuclear war between the Russians and the States as well as futuristic dystopian societies.<br /><br />I actually found myself unable to finish the last story in the set, "Second Variety", because the sense of dread was too much for me to bear. I had to stop reading this book before going to bed because it would rev me up too much to sleep.<br /><br />Another interesting aspect of reading the book was seeing how the germs of ideas were developed into films such as "Total Recall", "Blade Runner", "Paycheck" and "Screamers". The directions that the screenwriters and directors chose to take are enough to make one very cynical about the whole practice of adaptation to the screen.<br /><br />At the least the original stories are still out there.The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1139444483155177162006-02-08T18:32:00.000-08:002006-02-08T18:36:16.273-08:00Keano! Celtics update<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20060208/capt.sge.iqn91.080206222913.photo00.photo.default-276x380.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px;" src="http://us.news2.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/p/afp/20060208/capt.sge.iqn91.080206222913.photo00.photo.default-276x380.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />He's still out there kicking ass... I just don't get to see him at work anymore.<br /><br /><blockquote><a href="http://us.rd.yahoo.com/sports/rss/sow/SIG=129hneei2/*http%3A//sports.yahoo.com/sow/news?slug=afp-fblscopr&amp;prov=afp&type=lgns">Keane helps Celtic stretch lead as Rangers and Hearts stumble (AFP)</a>: Celtic took a huge step towards the Scottish Premier League title with a narrow 2-1 win at home to Falkirk.</blockquote><br />Keano!The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1139439000481227412006-02-08T17:50:00.000-08:002006-02-08T18:27:22.193-08:00LinkedIn: Part Deux<a href="http://jeremy.zawodny.com/blog/">Jeremy Zawodny</a> and <a href="http://www.heynorton.org/">Ken Norton</a> put in their two cents on <a href="http://www.linkedin.com">Linked In</a>.<br /><br />Ken uses it in much the same way that I do:<br /><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/HeyNorton?m=79"></a><blockquote><a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/HeyNorton?m=79">LinkedIn is becoming people search</a>: I noticed something interesting today. I was introduced to somebody new for a job opening at JotSpot. When I wanted to learn more about them, I went to LinkedIn and searched for them. In the past, I would have used Google to search for somebody, but LinkedIn gives me much more context - where they've worked, what they've done, and - most importantly - how I might know them (and who I know that knows them).</blockquote> And Jeremy found one of the <a href="http://jeremy.zawodny.com/blog/archives/006246.html">problems</a> that I've noticed:<br /><blockquote>I, too, have used LinkedIn to find people a few times. When it works, it works pretty well. But in my limited experience, it only solves half the problem. LinkedIn works well for finding someone when you already know their name. But if you're looking for someone in your network of connections who can help with a woodworking project or has a special skill, it's a different story.<br /></blockquote>Trying to find the right query to bring up the right contacts can be frustrating, but the search results are also limited by how much the participants want to share about themselves. Especially with folks they don't know. These are acceptable limitations because they show a respect for privacy and for individual preferences.<br /><br />Not so fun for those searching for something in particular and not finding it.<br /><blockquote></blockquote>The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1139342927355167952006-02-07T12:08:00.000-08:002006-02-07T12:10:47.140-08:00Gmail even more sticky!I've written <a href="http://domnivore.blogspot.com/2006/02/google-reader-beta-old-news.html">before</a> about how sticky Google is making everything -- including the ability to blog from Google Reader like I am right now -- and they've gone and integrated something that makes complete sense. No more downloading a separate app to chat aimlessly with your coworkers and friends. We relied heavily on <a href="http://messenger.yahoo.com/">YIM</a> during my last full time gig.<br /><br /><a href="http://google.weblogsinc.com/2006/02/07/chatting-in-gmail/"></a><blockquote><a href="http://google.weblogsinc.com/2006/02/07/chatting-in-gmail/">Chatting in Gmail</a>: One of the big holes in Google Talk is about to be filled--in a proprietary manner. Google is in the process of rolling out Gmail Chat, a feature that will save chat transdcripts within Gmail, and subject them to search. Saving and searching archived chats was impossible when Google Talk was rolled out. This integration of Google Talk with Gmail also helps explain why owning a Gmail account is a requirement of Google Talk.</blockquote>I am proud to say that I am one of the few who has seen the intermittent rollout in my Gmail accounts. Now I just need someone to chat with...The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1139263238358417942006-02-06T16:00:00.000-08:002006-02-06T17:44:53.110-08:00Super Bowl XL = Medium.Sure, I'm ignoring the <a href="http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs05/columns/story?columnist=smith_michael&id=2320683">controversial missed calls for and against both teams</a>. I wasn't really interested in the outcome, I was more interested in the commercials. And even <a href="http://video.google.com/superbowl.html">those</a> were a bit disappointing.<br /><br />After a million hours of pregame coverage, the game and its accoutrements are anti-climactic. At least the Stones were <a href="http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=entertainmentNews&storyID=2006-02-06T181843Z_01_N069079_RTRUKOC_0_US-MEDIA-SUPERBOWL-STONES.xml">pretty good</a>, and SigO and I went all out on snack foods. Very important.<br /><br />[Side note: Stones were censored to not say word "cocks" in the context of animals, but a commercial can refer to <a href="http://sports.aol.com/nfl/superbowlads">jackasses</a> (see 3rd quarter CareerBuilder Donkey ad).]The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11473495.post-1138905174013360212006-02-06T11:09:00.000-08:002006-02-06T11:18:18.446-08:00Apple sued over iPod hearing risksSometimes I'm not too proud to be an American... even if you discount our questionable activities as the self-appointed World Police Force.<br /><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/02/apple-sued-over-ipod-hearing-risks/"></a><blockquote><a href="http://www.engadget.com/2006/02/02/apple-sued-over-ipod-hearing-risks/">Apple sued over iPod hearing risks</a>:<br />Just when you thought disgruntled iPod customers couldn't find anything else to complain about, a Louisiana man has filed a lawsuit against Apple, complaining that the iPod can cause hearing loss. </blockquote>Litigation is not always the answer. And this is why there are gigantic warning labels on hair dryers that say "DO NOT REMOVE".The Discriminating Omnivorehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15668372212743106228noreply@blogger.com0