Bill Gates seems to think interactivity will save the television industry. He seems to think splitting the television screen and showing text ads on one part and the program itself on the other will make everyone happy. Uh, wot? Like the writer of the linked article, I would be appalled at such a monstrosity. I already have trouble standing most tv programming and the times when I do watch TV, it is generally to NOT make any decisions. I already have to navigate endless ‘interfaces’ just to get through my day now. I don’t want to have to work for my mindless entertainment. I mean, c’mon. Like the article says, only better programming will save television. I feel like there has already been a bit of an improvement in the past few years, perhaps pushed along by HBO, and hopefully the trend will continue.
October, 2004
14
Oct 04
The Terrible Future is Coming
The FDA has approved an RFID chip designed to be implanted in humans. RFID chips are the things used by major store chains to track inventory electronically… sort of a digital barcode. The chip is intended to be used for medical purposes, and I do see some benefits there, but it sounds like they haven’t put a lot of thought or effort into the privacy issues. There’s some interesting commentary on Ars Technica. Apparently, the Bush administration plans to push for RFID-based passports. Somebody save us from our country, and quick!
14
Oct 04
Mobile phones may cause brain tumors
A study conducted by the Institute of Environmental Medicine at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm has found that the longterm (10 or more years) use of cell phones can dramatically increase the risk of developing a benign tumor on the auditory nerve. If this study is corroborated by more evidence I predict the market for cell phone headsets will grow very quickly.
14
Oct 04
$100 bill
On the way to work this morning, I walked by a homeless woman holding a $100 bill. She had it in her left hand and was busy writing in some sort of journal with the other. I didn’t get a good look at what she was writing, but it looked like it might have been some sort of accounting register. I assumed that because she was holding the money out right there on the street and from that I assumed she must be saving up for something. She may not have really been homeless but she was standing next to a shopping cart full on nondescript stuff and using it as her writing table. She was also dressed in the sort of random manner that you expect to see on a homeless person. Yeah, so I guess the lesson learned is save those pennies and look to the future.
6
Oct 04
DreamHost 7th Birthday Crazy Sale!
DreamHost is having a crazy sale for our 7th Birthday (I started it with some friends way back when so I have more than a passing interest). If you sign up with Promo code ‘777′, you can get our Crazy Domain Insane plan for only $0.77/mnth. You have to sign up using a credit card and you have to sign up for a full year to get the sale price. Oh, and we’re only giving this sale price to the first 777 people who sign up. Yay!
3
Oct 04
Kid Beyond
Tonight I was out and I saw a guy named Kid Beyond perform. He started out with a fun bit of multi-genre beatboxing including some breakbeats, some drum n bass, some techno, and a cover of Nine Inch Nail’s “Closer”. Then he incorporated a multitrack audio looper into the performance and did a cover of a Portishead song that sounded surprisingly close to the original. He also did a few of his own original songs and they were all pretty good to very good. He has an album coming out next year, too. Overall, he’s a really entertaining performer and worth checking out if he plays near you.
