Ramblings and Tidbits

Video


Response shortly after:
"Just to be clear, I almost always buy the products I review, mostly because I don't like "owing" the PR folks and I hate the "when are you planning on covering it" phone calls, but also to avoid the appearance of conflict of interest. My policy is to always return the unit and buy one if I want to keep using it. In this case I accepted a review unit because I was concerned that I wouldn't have one in time to review it on the radio show. It's a 7-day return, as I told Mike. The proffer of a review unit IN NO WAY affects my opinion of a product. It is a standard industry practice to accept review units. Palm never implied or asked for a positive review and they know that if they did so I would never deal with them again. I've worked for 30 years to prove my integrity. Mike's insinuation that I was somehow "on the take" with Palm was about the worst insult you can offer any technology journalist. It's not true. It's never been true. My opinions are my own and have never been influenced by any vendor at any time."

FriendFeed thread is here for those that want to keep up: http://friendfeed.com/twit-conversations/1d37431c/live-now-gillmor-gang-with-steve-mike-arrington

UPDATED:  Michael Arrington seems remorseful via this TechCrunch post - http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/06/ouch/

• Fine print "shows up" - http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Gimped-Skype-release-ATT-TOS-Changes-Annoy-Advocates-101719
  
• Fine print "in error" - http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/101737 [Which turned out to be a blatant lie]
  
• Fine print "returns" - http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Slingbox-3G-Fine-Print-Returns-102184 
• Fine print reason iPhone SlingPlayer crippled - http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/12/atandt-issues-official-statement-on-slingplayers-3g-blackout-for/

Click here to download:

8th Grade Test.pdf (45 KB)

1895 TEST
This is the eighth-grade final exam from 1895 from Salina, Kansas. It was taken from the original  document on file at the Smoky Valley Genealogical Society and Library in Salina, Kansas and
reprinted by the Salina Journal.

I've posted a couple videos regarding the Xbox 360 and the PS3 and reasons why to choose one over the other.  I'm getting all kinds of comments over my statement:

"A good reason to choose a PS3 over an Xbox 360 is if you don't want to pay monthly fees"

To which people replied:

"You don't have to pay monthly, you can pay yearly"

Newsflash geniuses:  A yearly fee is simply a monthly fee paid up front (with a discount).  It's still a fee.  I find it disturbing that people think there's such a difference between the two that they need to point it out.  I guess that's the thinking of some people when it comes to total cost of ownership.  Yet and still, I'm still getting comments today that insist that you can pay yearly and not monthly.  It's the same thing people:  You're paying for the service, up front, or split up monthly. 

This came in my inbox today.  It's a LEGEND according to Snopes, but still funny

http://www.snopes.com/business/consumer/firedrill.asp

A fire alarm rang at 4 pm in a large office campus when almost all employees were present ( approx 5,000 people ). As per past fire-drill practices, the entire office was quickly evacuated within 3 minutes, and all employees gathered outside the complex in designated areas waiting for further announcement. Before long, the fire drill officer in-charge made the following broadcast over their loud-speakers system : " My dear colleagues : With sincere regret, I have been asked to announce that for many of you, this will be your last evacuation drill with us. Due to the on-going recession and bad business climate, the company is laying off almost 50% of its staff. So when this announcement finishes, I ask all of you to move back into the building.  And if your swipe-card does not work, then it means that you have been laid off, in which case you will not be allowed inside, and all your personal belongings will be couriered to you by tomorrow. The company is using this innovative, never-before approach as we do not want to choke our email system with lay-off notices and farewell messages going by the thousands, and we also wish to avoid any fighting inside the office and the consequent security issues for all staff. We hope you have had a rewarding career with us.  Now please move back in... and good luck ! "