I get a cool email from Speck about a 50% off sale. I love the clear clase for my MBP. adds a little bulk but takes a beating and kinda looks cool!

So I follow the link which redirects to....

I mean come on. Firefox 3 was in beta for like 1,000 years and has been in the wild since the 18th, I think it is.  What the hell is on the site that is so browser specific you'd rather turn away business?

That's just plain not a good idea. I'm glad the coupon is good for 5 days, hopefully they get their act together in that time.

<update> I completely missed the tiny orange font "Continue anyway" link. Missed it when I screen grabbed, missed it while I wrote this. Almost missed it as I went to close the tab. </update>

I watched the WWDC keynote with only mild interest. 3G iPhone, done, we all knew it. To not announce it would be suicide.

What I wasn't prepared for, was yet another raping of iPod touch owners by Apple. I paid what? 400 bucks I think for my 16gb iNewton. Then I paid, what? 15 bones for the 1.1.4 firmware update. Now I'll have to pay another 9.99 for firmware 2.0?

Why? If I remember right, the excuse was something lame like like SOX accounting or some bullshit. SOX is a whack excuse, and a whacker still law. All it's accomplish is making "SOX compliance consultants" and Lawyers rich. Great job government.

I'm seriously weighing whether or not the 2.0 iPhone will be a crackberry replacement for me, and a large part of that is I'm tired of apple screwing me on firmware updates. I didn't need a phone, but the iNewton functionality is great. Apparently it's also taxable, since Apple has twice now levied a tax against me for owning an iNewton.

Denver has limited ATT 3G coverage so I'm not 100% sold. When it comes out, i'll go look, but the Crackberry is such a great device. I've no complaints other than build quality about it. The iPhone has a lot to measure up against, but we'll see. I'll need to practice more on my iNewton, for the keyboard.

Apple sure is clever. I feel completely taken as an iNewton owner. Add to that, no new enhancements to the device itself, Shoot, hook it up with GPS! Give it some location awareness, at least!!

Nicole and I were in CA this past weekend. We were in Big Sur for a wedding, and on the way to the airport we swung by Carmel to do the famous 17 mile drive. One of the stops was a famous Cypress, the "Lone Cypress". It was quite beautiful. It was copyrighted.

WHAT THE FUCK!?

The text didn't come out in the pic, but that plaque essentially says that the lone Cypress is copywrighted by the Pebble Beach Company, and any use of the image of it is prohibited. Personal use was ok, but that was it.

To which I say, that the hell!? Can i copyright the Sun as my logo? Can I demand a usage fee from everyone on earth when they wake up and make use of the suns light? Did the Pebble Beach Company plant the lone Cypress?  Can I use the Rockies as my logo? Not the Coors Rockies, but the real ones? Can I then charge skiers for every photo they take? Can I charge the resorts that take action shots on the slopes?

Our copyright office must be a bunch of complete idiots. Copyright "A" Cypress tree, sure. But a real life Cypress tree? that exists and is a work of natures wonder? That's just crap!

So CBS in their infinite lack of vision, once again killed Jericho. I'm guessing no amount of nuts will save the show.

As an aside I miss the days when a show had a full season, some times two to come into it's own.

If you're interested in the story, here's the wikipedia reference.

Now if it's not #1 after two shows, they start talking of cancellation. While ER jumped the shark 6 years ago, if not longer.

Oh yeah and as Jericho ends, CBS trots out, Secret Talents of the Stars. I'm guessing the same mind numbed Big Brother, Hell's Kitchen, reality clap trap watching public will flock to it. I'm sure next Season will see the smash hit, "Gut getting kicked in the crotch", thirty minutes of nothing but a guy getting in the crotch, that's what seems to entertain Americans.

Jericho certainly had it's rough edges and even some times a plot twist or two to rival Lost (thankfully no polar bears), but the story was deeply engaging.

Think about it. If some one told you a story about a large (haliburton comes to mind) government contractor perpetrating the nuking of 22 cities, then propping up a fake government, and rewriting the constitution (President Bush wishes he was in that story I'm sure) to strip the public of any rights that were inconvenient to the government or it's corporate controller.

Hard to imagine? Not really. Scary? Hell ya.

The story ends (I hope it finds a home on FX or something, it'd be a better show probably) with what is the beginning of the second American Revolution. What a freaking deep story, and interesting. I don't give a shit if George Takai can sing country music! I don't give a flying fig who's getting kicked out of the house, or off the island (Sorry mom and Portia, I know you guys love that stuff). I've got  a brain and I want to have it be engaged by an interesting story. A story that after 44 minutes, sends me to bed thinking of what happens next, what would it be like in that world, that's not so far from ours.

CBS, I've never been a fan of your shitty network and the one thing that interested me, you've killed (again). enjoy celebrity boxing, singing, dancing, maybe next we can do celebrity soccer, think Britney can play soccer?

I should rephrase that. I'm commonly the one who's "the asshole" in my business, however it's more for being the one who doesn't dance around fragile egos, and incompetents . A weakness of mine, for sure.

Tom sent me this Forbes article and it really hit home. Some of it.

This quote really hit home, Tom even included it in his email to me.

From James Sorenson, the largest shareholder in Abbott Laboratories.

From there it sort of degenerated I have to admit. I have great respect for anyone who can "Make it" as it were, but I worry that "making" it leads more often than not to becoming an ass hat ego maniac.  Clearly some are better able to resist basking in their own shadow, but many, at least of those Forbe's spoke to, weren't

When asked about their favorite book, many said it was either a book they had written or whichever book they were writing. Really? You see yourself as that good of a writer? No one else has anything to say or write, worth hearing or reading? I've read plenty of business books and most are so full of shit it's sad. Most are simply vessels for ego stroking "I'm successful because I'm great and this is how I did it." shit like that, that is useless as far as actually teaching anything.

When asked who'd they like to sit down for a drink with, many said themselves. Really? You're so into yourself that there's no one you'd like to sit and talk with? Not the Dali Lhama? Not a great writer? Not another business person who's been successful? No many said they'd like to sit and talk to themselves, no one else is worthy or your time and or attention?

I have to say, knowing that, I'm in no way inclined to ever WANT to talk to some of these men. I don't believe you have to act like that to be successful, I don't believe that success makes you the center of any universe. Know now how these people feel, I don't feel that they have anything to tell me that will help me in my business. That's sad.

The only thing that comes to mind, when reading this NPR story, is "Oh Snap!!!!"

Below is an email that the Obama campaign sent out, in response to an email the Clinton campaign had sent.

What amazes me, is that despite the repeated drubbings that the Clinton campaign has been taking from Obama, and despite the overwhelming evidence that the populace at large IS NOT INTERESTED in politics as usual, the Clinton campaign continues to try and campaign like politics as usual, using disinformation, spin, and all forms of un-honest nonsense. Why? Get with it Hilary, you're going to lose, but you could at least lose by treating the voters like we're not morons. Your campaign deserved this.

To: Interested Parties
From: Clinton Campaign
Date: Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Re: Keystone Test: Obama Losing Ground [Get ready for a good one.]

The path to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue goes through Pennsylvania so if Barack Obama can't win there, how will he win the general election?

[Answer: I suppose by holding obviously Democratic states like California and New York, and beating McCain in swing states like Colorado, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Virginia and Wisconsin where Clinton lost to Obama by mostly crushing margins. But good question.]

After setbacks in Ohio and Texas, Barack Obama needs to demonstrate that he can win the state of Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is the last state with more than 15 electoral votes on the primary calendar and Barack Obama has lost six of the seven other largest states so far -- every state except his home state of Illinois.

[If you define "setback" as netting enough delegates out of our 20-plus-point wins in Mississippi and Wyoming to completely erase any delegate advantage the Clinton campaign earned out of March 4th, then yeah, we feel pretty setback.]

Pennsylvania is of particular importance, along with Ohio, Florida and Michigan, because it is dominated by the swing voters who are critical to a Democratic victory in November. No Democrat has won the presidency without winning Pennsylvania since 1948. And no candidate has won the Democratic nomination without winning Pennsylvania since 1972.

[What the Clinton campaign secretly means: PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE FACT THAT WE'VE LOST 14 OF THE LAST 17 CONTESTS AND SAID THAT MICHIGAN AND FLORIDA WOULDN'T COUNT FOR ANYTHING. Also, we're still trying to wrap our minds around the amazing coincidence that the only "important" states in the nominating process are the ones that Clinton won.]

But the Obama campaign has just announced that it is turning its attention away from Pennsylvania.

[Huh?]

This is not a strategy that can beat John McCain in November.

[I don't think Clinton's strategy of losing in state after state after promising more of the same politics is working all that well either.]

In the last two weeks, Barack Obama has lost ground among men, women, Democrats, independents and Republicans -- all of which point to a candidacy past its prime.

["A candidacy past its prime." These guys kill me.]

For example, just a few weeks ago, Barack Obama won 68% of men in Virginia, 67% in Wisconsin and 62% in Maryland. He won 60% of Virginia women and 55% of Maryland women. He won 62% of independents in Maryland, 64% in Wisconsin and 69% in Virginia. Obama won 59% of Democrats in Maryland, 53% in Wisconsin and 62% in Virginia. And among Republicans, Obama won 72% in both Virginia and Wisconsin.

But now Obama's support has dropped among all these groups.

[That's true, if you don't count all the winning we've been up to. As it turns out, it's difficult to maintain 40-point demographic advantages, even over Clinton]

In Mississippi, he won only 25% of Republicans and barely half of independents. In Ohio, he won only 48% of men, 41% of women and 42% of Democrats. In Texas, he won only 49% of independents and 46% of Democrats. And in Rhode Island, Obama won just 33% of women and 37% of Democrats.

[I'm sympathetic to their attempt to parse crushing defeats. And I'm sure Rush Limbaugh's full-throated endorsement of Clinton didn't make any difference. Right]

Why are so many voters turning away from Barack Obama in state after state?

[You mean besides the fact that we're ahead in votes, states won and delegates?]

In the last few weeks, questions have arisen about Obama's readiness to be president. In Virginia, 56% of Democratic primary voters said Obama was most qualified to be commander-in-chief. That number fell to 37% in Ohio, 35% in Rhode Island and 39% in Texas.

[Only the Clinton campaign could cherry pick states like this. But in contrast to their logic, in the most recent contest of Mississippi, voters said that Obama was more qualified to be commander in chief than Clinton by a margin of 55-42.]

So the late deciders -- those making up their minds in the last days before the election -- have been shifting to Hillary Clinton. Among those who made their decision in the last three days, Obama won 55% in Virginia and 53% in Wisconsin, but only 43% in Mississippi, 40% in Ohio, 39% in Texas and 37% in Rhode Island.

[If only there were enough late deciders for the Clinton campaign to actually be ahead, they would really be on to something.]

If Barack Obama cannot reverse his downward spiral with a big win in Pennsylvania, he cannot possibly be competitive against John McCain in November.

[If they are defining downward spiral as a series of events in which the Clinton campaign has lost more votes, lost more contests and lost more delegates to us ... I guess we will have to suffer this horribly painful slide all the way to the nomination and then on to the White House.]

I fly a lot these days, and without fail, some ass-burgler is in front of me causing trouble.

Whether it's "I'll never fly Delta again!" Douche in ATL bitching because he was 1 lb over the 50lb limit,

or mr. I'm gonna give the ticket checker before you get to Security a hard time, guy.

or my favorite, "My laptop can't be in the bag?" Idiot.

I'm no fan of the TSA, We've been at threat level Orange now for what? a year? Why even have colors if you're never going to change the level? We were at yellow once that I remember. Now apparently we're always at Defcon 2 flight security wise. WEAK!

HOWEVER. since they make the rules, freaking follow them! Wired has an article on ways to breeze through security.It's all very straight forward advice, and for anyone who's flown this decade, retardedly obvious, but for the rest of you! READ IT! commit it to memory. Yes it's a pain in the arse! Yes it's probably over kill, yes it didn't used to be like that, and yes maybe if we get a democrat in office, the government and TSA will stop trying to make it sound like we all like in Beruit. BUT until then, get in line, shut up, take off your shoes, belt, outer shirt! Take your laptop out! Have your shit ready before you get to the bins. Don't fill the bin while it's on the stack, thereby bin blocking the guy (usually me!) behind you!

"Wal-Mart's digital media chief departs for Apple"

I don't know if it was his brain child or not, but he was in charge, so whether it was his idea or not, he helmed the ship as it crashed in a ball of fire to the ground... I've talked about Wal-Mart's retarded attempts at getting into digtal media, and how those attempts, almost exactly when i said they would, folded.

Of all the things, Apple does that make me shake my head and wonder if Steve isn't getting a little to full of himself, this move makes me shake my head in a different way. Granted he'll be over the international market, so the chances of him doing any real damage are slim, but still, why would Apple bring in someone from Wal-Mart? I'm sure he was one of the more visionary execs in AR, but really? A kid off the street, with an iPod and a computer, would IMO be a better choice than any one from Wal-Mart.

Wal-Mart is hardly the breeding ground for executive decision making I'd want in a high tech company. Well any company for that matter, but Apple, no less?

Hopefully not a sign of things to come, I'd really hate to have to switch back to Dell or something, what's next, "we're moving to all plastic laptops, they're lighter. Lighter is better!"

While I'm no fan of the TSA, I gotta say, I applaud their efforts to be more open, and in their words, transparent. The blog went live yesterday and already has hundreds of comments. I run my conference business as transparently as possible, we tell attendees at the end of the event, what we made, or lost, what things cost, etc. If having this blog helps the TSA to better understand their customers, which I believe 100% that they do not at the moment, then rock on fellas!

I can't even count the times, I've left an airport hoping that if there IS a bomb in a pair of Nike's that it goes off only in the TSA zone. I know they're working as hard as they can, I'm sure they're overworked. I'm also sure, the same as nurses, flight attendants, and police officers, they should work on controlling their emotions. They're dealing with stressed out, ofton moronic folks, hell I wanna brain the guy in line in front of me! Taking it out on us, not cool. I hope this helps. I also hope it helps us better understand them, something I sure can't hurt.

So I've gone around and around with different folks on this MacBook Air thing, Apple Insider has an article reporting that "those in in the know" say it takes only three minutes to replace the battery in the MBA.... well, three minutes and $129.00!!

"The mail-in repair process normally takes 5 business days, the company says."

5 days? granted, this won't be anyone's primary machine! but how that makes sense to anyone, I simply can't see how this makes sense to anyone.

5 days without an iPod, ok, no biggy.

5 days without an iPhone, no thanks, but I don't own one, for that among many other reasons.

5 days without a laptop, even if it's not my main one... oh hell no!

"Given the simplicity of the upgrade, however, it's possible that Apple will in time offer the service on-demand at its retail stores."

Ya think? How was that not something they already had in place? I'd be more inclined to buy one if I could go in and get a new battery lickity split! But 'maybe' we'll offer in store service? WEAK

I'm sure there third party market will pick the slack, sounds like there's not much to taking the machine apart, but still, i just don't get it.

The reality distortion field is one thing, it's well documented and always presumed to eminate out, from Steve to us. I think there's another field acting on him. The NYT got some time with his ego-ness and more or less everything he had to say was such a load of horse crap, it almost made me want to go buy a Dell.

It's bad enough iPods have to be so tiny they don't hold a music library, but get to be called "the thinnest blah ever" a Title he seems to want for all his gear. And Now the MacBook Air, a very expensive "device" that looks like a laptop.

"Still, the machine is a reversal of field for Mr. Jobs, who in the past has insisted that less-than-full-featured laptops are undesirable."

Uh, that's still the case... Sure it'll sell, it's an iProduct, but people want useful AND sexy. Sexy alone is just lame and over priced, look at Bang & Olufson. I'd deck my whole house out in their stuff... but it's 8x the price and not more useful.

"Some of the competitors’ machines are so flimsy, he said, they require a fifth or even sixth pad to keep from sagging."

Well, that's good, I'm glad the MBA only needs four pads, I've been thinking, "There's just too much pad being used by these flimsy WinTel machines."

“It doesn’t matter how good or bad the product is, the fact is that people don’t read anymore,” he said. “Forty percent of the people in the U.S. read one book or less last year. The whole conception is flawed at the top because people don’t read anymore.”

Ok Sure. A lot of folks don't read. A few never read, a few even don't know how. 40%? I think that's an exageration. I find it funny, that since no one reads, Apple isn't interested in eBooks, however "no one" was buying music in the numbers they are now, prior to the iPod, and "no one" wanted a phone with out a tactile keyboard prior to the iPhone, so I'm sure that when Steve decides the world is ready to read again, Apple will be all over eBooks, until he's decided that though, it's a terrible idea, doomed to fail. Sheesh

"Having created a phone its a lot harder than it looks,” he said. “We’ll see how good their software is and we’ll see how consumers like it and how quickly it is adopted.”

LOL, "having created a phone..." Yeah Steve, Apple is an old hand at handset manufacturing now. And uh, in case no one told you, the iPhone is probably more unlocked and Jailbroken, than it is not. I recall a load like "People don't want third party apps, They want a stable OS" speaking of phones, turns out, yeah most want third party apps, especially if you're not gonna provide any yourself. Also turns out, a "stable OS" is harder to accomplish too, since the iPhone isn't V1 any more..

It sucks, I'm really started to get tired of Apple and Steve's ego in product creation. I'm sure when Steve reached Shambala and lists his accomplishments and being the creator of the thinnest (every piece of tech ever) will be impressive, but consumers, in general, I don't think car... Shit look how many SUVs are on the market still...