It Is About Time That Lee Got a Blog

Technology That I'm Thankful For

2008-11-28T13:56:00.003-05:00

Over the last couple of days, I've seen a lot of friends and technology has seemed to come up in most conversations (typically b/c I've pulled out my iPhone). I've been a bit surprised how little most people are aware of - I know that I'm a geek, but still....

Anyway, I thought that I'd post links to a few things that are worth checking out - if only to be aware that they exist (listed from the most mainstream to the more geeky):

Facebook: a social networking site to connect and interact with other people. It has something like 120 million users

Flickr: an image and video hosting site. A great place to share photographs (although I typically just use Facebook), the service hosts more than 3 billion images and has a great search feature.

Skype: software that allows users to make telephone calls over the Internet. Calls to other users of the service and to free-of-charge numbers are free, while calls to landlines and mobile phones can be made for a small fee. Skype also includes instant messaging, file transfer and video conferencing.

Chrome: a free Web browser developed by Google launched in September. While it only has about 1% of the browser market today, I was hooked right away because it is so much faster than Internet Explorer or Firefox.

Twitter: a "micro-blogging" service that allows its users to send and read other users' updates (known as "tweets"), which are text-based posts of up to 140 characters in length. The search feature is extremely powerful, especially during a big conference or when there is breaking news.

RSS: a family of formats used to publish frequently updated works, such as blog entries, news headlines, audio, and video, in a standardized format. An RSS document (which is called a "feed", "Web feed", or "channel") includes full or summarized text, plus data such as publishing dates and authorship. RSS feeds allow users to subscribe to timely updates from favored Web sites and to aggregate feeds from many sites into one place. I suggest signing up for an RSS reader, such as BlogLines and then adding feeds, which you can find on many Web sites (including virtually all blogs and mainstream media sites).

I know that many readers of this blog are familiar with everything I mentioned above - for those of you that aren't, feel free to drop me a line with questions about any of the above. You can reach me through my Facebook profile, Skype (Skype name "lee.kowarski"), my Twitter feed, or any other way you can imagine.

Voting and Commenting Comes to Google

2008-11-21T16:50:00.003-05:00

I'm excited about Google's latest offering: allowing users to vote and comment on results. While my initial response was concern over potential abuses of the system, I have decided to focus more on the potential improvements that can be made by adding the intelligence of all the users to Google's technology. I can't wait for this to roll out to my account! And I'm loving the Google voice search on my iPhone.

Trying to Understand Twitter

2008-11-13T20:56:00.002-05:00

I've been playing around with Twitter (@kowarski) and have to admit that I don't fully understand when/how I am supposed to use it. I linked it to my Facebook profile for a while, but have decided to separate them.

Anyone have any good insight on how/when Twitter is particularly useful? So far, I can see value when I'm at a conference or other big event - and it is kind of fun tonight to follow what other people are saying about the Jets-Patriots game.

I'd love your thoughts

Back From the Dead

2008-10-19T12:21:00.002-04:00

It has been five months since I've posted anything on my blog. There is no excuse for that. So I'm back now and promise to post more regularly.

For now, I'll just leave you with this great photo from this week's debate:

Social Networking Wars

2008-05-26T22:03:00.005-04:00

I really enjoyed this video that I found via ViralBlog.com. It should tickle the funny bone of anyone who has had a Friendster, MySpace, and/or Facebook account.

Chicago Overturns Foie Gras Ban

2008-05-14T18:05:00.000-04:00

I was pleased to read that Chicago has overturned its foie gras ban. The NY Times' bureau chief says that "the ban has been a source of embarrassment for the city" and indicates that the repeal was driven by residents complaining about the government trying to "micromanage people’s lives."

The other good news was that I've learned that producers have started to use "free-range" feeding to produce foie gras. The results have been surprising - Eduardo Sousa's company, Patería de Sousa, was awarded the Coup de Coeur by the Paris International Food Salon and was called "the best culinary experience of my life" by Blue Hill chef Dan Barber.

Simple Pleasures While Travelling

2008-04-12T10:34:00.002-04:00

After landing in Madrid today, I had one of those moments where you go "why doesn't everyone do that?" Upon reaching baggage claim #4, we were presented with a monitor showing the exact time that bags would be available (as shown at right). Instead of waiting for 15 minutes and getting annoyed, we were able to go to the restroom, get some Euros, and be back just in time for the bags to start coming out right on time. So simple and so obvious, but I haven't seen it anywhere in the States.

Good Things Come...

2008-03-23T10:08:00.002-04:00

What a great weekend! First, Duke lost. Then I wake up today and am able to get a reservation at Momofuku Ko, which is by far the hardest reservation in NY (and possibly the U.S.), for next Saturday night. I'm so excited, you can't even understand.

Chefs That Care

2008-03-10T10:47:00.000-04:00

Michael Ruhlman had a nice (albeit fairly fluffy) piece in the New York Times about the charitable work of chefs. The Emeril Lagasse Foundation, for example, raised nearly $8 million over the past six years, and Lagasse devotes 1,000 hours a year traveling and cooking for various charitable causes. Mario Batali, Paul Kahan, Aarón Sánchez, and others are also mentioned for donating time, food, and other resources. Given how successful "celebrity" chefs have become in our society, I was glad to hear that Jonathan Waxman said: "Chefs are very generous. We always bring our own food, our own staff, and if we have to pay for anything, we do it out of our own pocket."

BBQ-Smoker-Turned-'Robocop'

2008-03-07T10:33:00.001-05:00

CNN had an article and video with one of the best headlines that I've seen in a while: "BBQ-smoker-turned-'Robocop' chases off bums"

The facts are even crazier: "It's a barbecue smoker mounted on a three-wheeled scooter, and armed with an infrared camera, spotlight, loudspeaker and aluminum water cannon that shoots a stream of icy water about 20 feet."

Garfield Minus Garfield

2008-02-27T18:13:00.005-05:00

I'm getting all sorts of fun links today. Check out "Garfield Minus Garfield" (h/t Deadspin.com)

Denmark's Jyske Bank: Turning Services into Products

2008-02-27T09:39:00.003-05:00

My friend Laura's father sent me a link to this video about Denmark's Jyske Bank. They have taken some impressive steps to turn their banking services into physical "products" that customers can explore in their branches. Customers can grab a box labeled, for example, “My First Car Loan,” and pull out the brochures inside (as shown at right). They can also take these product boxes to a "TestBar" counter and scan the barcode on the box, bringing up a video on a computer monitor showing a fun to watch presentation.

It is a shame that more companies don't make it easier (and more fun) for customers to get to know their offerings.

Coolio's Cooking Show

2008-02-12T19:56:00.000-05:00

I'm not sure exactly what to say about the fact that Coolio (of Gangsta's Paradise "fame") has an online cooking show:

My Dad's Birthday

2008-01-13T12:35:00.001-05:00

I just spent a great weekend celebrating my dad's birthday. You can check out some photos from the weekend, including many fun photos of the food that we had at The James Beard House on Friday night and at Momofuku Ssam on Saturday night.

You can also check out the electronic version of the photo book I made for my dad if you want to see some old photos of me and my family.

Everything is Better in Chart Form

2007-11-27T14:06:00.000-05:00

My friend Ayaz pointed me to this Web page which proves that everything is better in chart form, even hip hop.

Unreal Ending to a College Football Game

2007-10-28T13:48:00.000-04:00

This is the craziest ending to a football game since the Cal-Stanford ending of 1982 that featured the band on the field.

Trinity University executed 15 laterals before scoring a touchdown at the final gun to clinch an improbable 28-24 win over Millsaps College:

Food Porn from James Beard

2007-10-24T14:59:00.000-04:00

I hadn't realized until today that the James Beard Foundation, of which I am member, has a "Gallery of Events" section on its Web site. The photos of the dishes are truly mouth-watering.

While there aren't pictures of all events on the site, Melinda and I do go about once a month and were at the following meals: 4/23/07, 6/12/07, 8/6/07, and 9/5/07

Slow Food NYC : Snail of Approval

2007-10-15T11:36:00.000-04:00

Slow Food New York City launched a Web site for its new "Snail of Approval" program: a directory of the restaurants, bars, food and beverage artisans, and stores and markets that, because of their contributions to the quality, authenticity and sustainability of the food supply of the City of New York, have been awarded the SFNYC "Snail of Approval." Restaurants include personal favs Blue Hill, Craft, Lupa, Prune, Savoy, and The Tasting Room, as well as stores like DiPalo's and Moore Brothers, and bars like d.b.a.

Staten Island Buses to Control Red Lights

2007-09-08T22:17:00.000-04:00

Eco Geek reports on a pilot program that Staten Island is trying that will enable public buses to control street lights - turning them green sooner (or keeping them green longer). This will (a) decrease the "horribly inefficient process of decelerating a ten ton bus" and (b) make riding the bus faster and more convenient. Very cool.

Seattle Trip Recap

2007-09-02T21:45:00.000-04:00

Melinda and I just got back from a great weekend in Seattle. Here is a quick recap of our trip with links to some more pictures:

Thursday
Mount Rainier National Park - about two hours from Seattle, Mt. Rainier National Park was the 5th national park in the U.S. The park contains 368 square miles including all of Mount Rainier, a 14,410-foot stratovolcano. The highest point in the Cascade Range, around it are valleys, waterfalls, wildflower meadows, old growth forest and more than 26 glaciers. (pictures)

Lark - until Saturday night's dinner (see below), this had been my favorite restaurant in Seattle. Had another great meal there (especially the crispy Liberty Farm duck leg with huckleberries and Walla Walla onion and the cuttlefish with bacon, lemon, and brown butter)

Friday
Monorail Espresso - Melinda had a truly amazing latte (they really know their coffee in Seattle)

Pike Place Market - Pike Place Market is a public market overlooking the waterfront, occupying over 9 acres. The Market, which opened in 1907, is the oldest continually-operated public farmer's market in the country. We had a surprisingly good breakfast at The Crumpet Shop (I had a crumpet with smoked salmon cream cheese and Melinda had one with ricotta, almonds, and honey), watched the fish fly at the Fish Market, had a so-so pastry at Piroshky-Piroshky, enjoyed some fresh fruit, bought some local cheese, and peeked into the original Starbucks (pictures)

Salumi - the main reason that we went to Seattle was to eat at this "restaurant" (basically a sandwich shop) run by Armandino Batali (Mario's father). The place is only open Tuesday-Friday from 11am-4pm and the line was already there when we showed up at 10:45. We didn't have to wait too long though to get in, however, and were well rewarded for our wait. We got a wonderful selection of cured meats (and cheeses and some warm food as well), and even talked the server into including some lardo (which was worth the trip to Seattle in itself). We sat at the communal table (wine is self-serve on the honor system) and enjoyed ourselves immensely. I can't wait to get back there (pictures)

Marjorie - the "Whimsical Chef's Tasting" was a little hit or miss (e.g. great flavor on the venison, but it was a bit overcooked), but the location was very cute, the drinks well mixed, the service friendly (especially Ben, the bartender), and the music wonderful (reggae, old school, and more).

Saturday
Boat Street Cafe - very good brunch and the location was close to the Sculpture Park

Seattle Art Museum's Olympic Sculpture Park - opened in January, the Park consists of a nine acre outdoor sculpture museum and beach (free admission). The former industrial site was occupied by the oil and gas corporation Unocal until the 1970s and subsequently became a contaminated field before the Seattle Art Museum transformed the area into one of the only green spaces in downtown Seattle (pictures)

Kerry Park - is a small park on the south slope of Queen Anne Hill. Kerry Park was given to the City in 1927 by Mr. and Mrs. Albert Sperry Kerry, Sr. "so that all who stop here may enjoy this view" which encompasses downtown, Elliott Bay, Bainbridge Island, and Mount Rainier (pictures)

Six/Seven at Edgewater Hotel - grabbed a quick drink at the waterfront restaurant at the Edgewater - nice view of the water

Ferry to Bainbridge Island - you can't be a tourist in Seattle without a ferry ride. For less than $7 a person, it was a nice way to see the city (especially on such a beautiful day) (pictures)

Zoe - the surprise of the trip - this was one of the best meals we have had in a very long time. Superb service and consistently surprising, interesting, and delicious courses from start to finish:

Fresh Ricotta Gnudi - tomato marmalade, corn citrus cream, and tarragon
Chanterelle Mushrooms - braised celery hearts, celery root puree, shaved parmesan, and pine nuts
Crispy Kurobuta Pork Belly Confit - roasted peaches, parsley puree, and endive
Peking Duck Breast - red beets, yellow wax beans, watercress, walnuts, and duck jus
"The Whole Hog" ("sausage" of pulled pork) - semolina gnocci, braised mustard greens, gold beets, currants, and pork sugo

Thanks to Abby, Austin, Elaine, Kelly, and Misty for the recommendations.

Cave Blogs: So True

2007-08-23T10:22:00.000-04:00

I thought that this "Rhymes with Orange" comic strip from yesterday was pretty amusing:

Less Than a Month Until Opening Day

2007-08-13T13:39:00.000-04:00

This video of Jets kicker Mike Nugent is one of many NFL commercials that has gotten me really excited for football season to start:

It took quite a bit of experimenting/filming, but he did those kicks.

NYC is a Small Food World

2007-07-25T08:34:00.000-04:00

I generally try not to write about new restaurants (or food in general) on this blog, otherwise I wouldn't write about anything else. I'm making an exception, however, because of a request from my neighbors during a meal last night at Wakiya, a new high-end Chinese restaurant run by the Nobu team and featuring food from chef Yuji Wakiya (who is already a star in Japan).

Being the first night that reservations were being honored (following an extended friends and family run which did a great job getting the place running smoothly), I figured some celebs might be around - however, I found myself too distracted by the food to look. While you can find amazing and cheap Chinese food in NY (e.g. XO Kitchen), this was the first time I've had Chinese food so refined. The Pork Belly with Chili Soy (photo) and Layered Spicy Soy Pidan Tofu (photo) were absolutely amazing - light, but with delicate and complex flavors. The Fiery Pepper Hunt (shown above-right) could have used a spicy dipping sauce, but was quite good and visually stunning. The only dissapointment was the Peking Duck which, while excellent, was shockingly small (when the menu says "4 pieces" it means four small pieces of crispy wonderful skin). The desserts were delicious, especially Wukiya's Signature Mango Pudding (shown below), which tasted truly wonderful despite the over-the-top presentation featuring dry ice.

When the desserts arrived, we struck up a conversation with our neighbors, one of whom turned out to be none other than Danyelle Freeman, a.k.a. Restaurant Girl. I'm not sure if she is going to post anything about Wakiya (I got the impression that she and her rowdy crew didn't enjoy the meal nearly as much as my table did), but I thought I'd post my photos here in case she was interested in linking over. A guy from Eater was also at the table with Danyelle and posted his review today (including a picture of my dinner companions taken with his iPhone).

Ron Paul on Colbert

2007-07-06T16:27:00.000-04:00

Ron Paul is a Libertarian (well, actually a Constitutionalist) that is running as a Republican for President. He has absolutely no chance of winning (and knows it), so is using his campaign to ensure that certain discussions (anti-war, anti-Patriot Act, etc...) get into the Republican political discourse. He has some nut-job policies as well, but this video from The Colbert Report was a lot of fun:

What's a 46 Year Old Woman Doing with a 22 Year Old Man?

2007-06-08T20:52:00.000-04:00

Melinda took the "What's Your New York Age?" quiz and found that she was 46 in "New York years." I took it and found that I was 22. I'm not sure what this says, but you can find out what your New York age is by taking the quiz online.

Wainwright: Banking on Values

2007-06-07T14:48:00.001-04:00

I met a friend of a friend the other day who told me about Wainwright Bank, which is based in Massachussets (where I am right now). The bank is a national leader in socially progressive banking. Since 1992, Wainwright has provided $570 million in loans to services for progressive causes, including women’s rights, homelessness, affordable housing, environmental protection, and gay and lesbian issues.

Based on some quick reading I've done, I found that co-founder Bob Glassman was the visionary behind the bank’s social agenda: he wanted to create a new model for the banking industry by demonstrating that "you can be profitable, you can be publicly traded, and you can make money for shareholders at the same time you are allocating capital to underserved communities." They offer largely the same products and services as all banks (online banking and bill pay, credit cards, debit cards, mortgages, etc.) with two differences: their people are excited and enthusiastic about what they’re doing and their branch offices are unique (their first cyber café branch opened in 2001 with Internet kiosks anyone can use, soft seating, a fireplace, free coffee and donuts, a TV, newspapers, etc.). Additionally, they provide a number of nonprofit services and are extremely active in the community.

I need to read more about Wainwright, but I'm excited to learn more about other organizations that, like kasina, are experimenting with a mix of profitable business, fun work environment, and social responsibility.

O's Got a Star Catcher (one day...hopefully)

2007-06-07T14:43:00.000-04:00

Not much has worked out well for the Baltimore Orioles in the last decade (although they are slightly ahead of the Yankees in the standings right now), but today the Orioles managed to draft Matt Wieters, a catcher out of Georgia Tech, with the fifth pick. Wieters was ranked by Keith Law of ESPN as the #1 overall prospect and gives me some hope for the future.

Wieters is described as an "outstanding offensive and defensive catcher. At the plate, he has an easy, fluid swing; sprays the field with line drives, but can really put a charge into balls, especially from the LH side. Behind the plate, he's got a laser arm, gets up out of the crouch quickly on pop-ups, looks comfortable. Biggest question is whether a guy his size (listed at 6-6) can handle catching long-term. Easily the best college bat in this draft."

LeBron: Staying Alive

2007-06-01T22:18:00.000-04:00

After LeBron James' amazing effort last night (photo below from Deadspin.com), I thought I'd link to this video from a few weeks back of LeBron singing along and dancing to the Bee Gees for an "American Idol" promotion, just to remind us that he is actually human.

Microsoft's Surface

2007-05-30T21:43:00.000-04:00

MSNBC (and a ton of other places) reported the announcement of Microsoft's new "Surface" computing platform.

From the MSNBC article: "To do things on Surface’s tabletop screen, you reach down, touch it and push it. To make the image you see on the screen bigger, spread your fingers. To make it smaller, squeeze your fingers together. To move something into the trash, push it into the trash with your hand. And it allows what Microsoft calls “Multi-Touch” and “Multi-User” interaction — namely, more than one person can interact with it at a time."

And "One of the most revolutionary aspects of Surface, though, is its natural interaction with everyday objects and technologies. When you place your Wi-Fi-enabled digital camera on the table, for example, Surface "sees" the camera and does something extraordinary: It pulls your digital pictures and videos out onto the table for you to look at, move, edit or send."

The possibilities are very cool - and it will be available late this year (which means mid-2008 in Microsoft time) at places like T-Mobile, Starwood Hotels, etc...

More info at www.microsoft.com/surface

Baltimore in the New York Times Travel Section

2007-05-18T20:56:00.000-04:00

Being a Baltimore native and current New York City resident, I'm always shocked when people tell me they went down to Baltimore for the weekend. Sure, I like Baltimore, but why would they (other than catching a game at Camden Yards)? Well, it turns out that Baltimore, "the forgotten middle child among attention-getting Eastern cities like Washington and New York," is having a "renaissance" and is a hot spot to spend a few days, according to an article in the New York Times Travel section this week. Who knew? If you are among those traveling to Charm City, let me know and I can give you some additional pointers...

Congrats to Victor Abiamiri - Gilman Grad & Eagles' 2nd Round Draft Pick

2007-04-29T13:04:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Victor Abiamiri, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles yesterday with the 25th pick in the second round of the NFL draft (#57 overall). Victor is, to my knowledge, the first ever graduate of my high school (Gilman School in Baltimore) that was drafted to the NFL. The 6-foot-4, 270-pound University of Notre Dame defensive end had been projected to be picked in the second or third round.

Good luck today to Stan White, Jr. (fullback from Ohio State) who could become the second Gilman grad to be drafted.

The Two Minute Haggadah

2007-03-29T08:32:00.000-04:00

From a friend of a friend who goes by the handle "The Cosmopolite:"

The Two Minute Haggadah*
(cover-to-cover)

Opening Prayers:

Thanks, God, for creating wine. (Drink wine.)
Thanks for creating produce. (Eat parsley.)

Overview:

Once we were slaves in Egypt. Now we're free. That's why we're doing this.

Four Questions:

1. What's up with the matzoh?
2. What's the deal with horseradish?
3. What's with the dipping of the herbs?
4. What's this whole slouching at the table business?

Answers To The Four Questions:

1. When we left Egypt, we were in a hurry. There was no time for making decent bread.
2. Life was bitter, like your grandmother's horseradish.
3. It's called symbolism.
4. Free people get to slouch.

A Funny Story:

Once, these five rabbis talked all night. Then it was morning.

(Note: Heat soup now)

The Four Kinds Of Children and How To Deal With Them:

Wise child - explain Passover.
Simple child - explain Passover slowly.
Silent child - explain Passover loudly.
Wicked child - browbeat in front of the relatives.

Speaking Of Children:

We hid some matzoh. Whoever finds it gets five bucks.

The Story Of Passover:

It's a long time ago. We're slaves in Egypt. Pharaoh is a nightmare -- a real yutz, as it were. We cry out for help. God brings plagues upon the Egyptians. We escape, bake some matzoh. God parts the Red Sea.

We make it through; the Egyptians aren't so lucky. We wander forty years in the desert, eat manna, get the Torah, wind up in Israel, get a new temple, enjoy several years without being persecuted again.

(Note: Let brisket cool now.)

The 10 Plagues: Blood, Frogs, Lice -- you name it.

The Singing Of "Dayenu:"

If God had gotten us out of Egypt and not punished our enemies, it would've been enough. If he'd punished our enemies and not parted the Red Sea, it would've been enough. If he'd parted the Red Sea ... etc.

(Note: Remove gefilte fish from refrigerator now)

Eat matzoh. Drink more wine. Slouch.

Thanks again, God, for everything.

SERVE MEAL

____________________________________

* Copyright pending.

Head Case

2007-03-22T23:31:00.000-04:00

Melinda (my wife) was included in a new book: Head Case: How I Almost Lost My Mind Trying to Understand My Brain, written by Dennis Cass. The review on Amazon.com from Publishers Weekly isn't great, but the one customer review was solid. It is likely that she was mis-quoted or that her was work was poorly described, but it is cool that she was included nonetheless. He is sending us a copy so I'll post more once I read it.

BeatboxMixer.com

2007-03-18T13:33:00.000-04:00

While it has been up for a few months already, I just stumbled across BeatboxMixer.com. I'm not really sure why Verizon launched this site, but it allows you to create your own mix using Rahzel, Masai Electro, and a bunch of other great beatboxers. There is also a fun series of videos about "The Scene" (click on "#3 - Beatbox Backstory" then on "The Scene") - the videos are hosted by my friend Baba.

Banning iPods In Crosswalks???

2007-02-07T12:22:00.000-05:00

According to a WCBS-TV article, New York State Senator Carl Kruger has introduced a bill that would ban the use of iPods, BlackBerrys, or cell phones in crosswalks in major cities in NY state. I am skeptical that this will get any political traction, but I was also skeptical about the smoking and trans-fat bans in NYC and we know how those turned out. Before this gets even further out of hand, I hope that you will take a moment to voice your displeasure with this inane idea (especially if you are a NY resident).

Refuse to be Terrorized

2006-11-26T01:16:00.000-05:00

While already a few months old, I just came across this article in Wired by Bruce Schneier entitled "Refuse to be Terrorized."

Marcin Ramocki on ABC News

2006-11-22T20:30:00.000-05:00

As you may have seen on Steven's blog, ABC News recently covered our friend Marcin Ramocki's documentary, 8-bit. You can view the video online (an ad comes up first).

Clean Your Mouse

2006-10-09T14:54:00.000-04:00

I just changed the batteries in my wireless mouse and I noticed that there was some built-up "stuff" (for lack of a better word) on the various "turny things" (again, for lack of a better word). 30 seconds with a Q-Tip and WOW! I now have amazingly improved control over my scrolling. Well worth a minute out of your day, since I would guess that you haven't cleaned your mouse in months (if ever).

You don't have to thank me - you are welcome.

Vote for Dave!

2006-08-22T18:21:00.000-04:00

A friend/client of mine, Dave McCalley, is a great musician and is in a band along with some co-workers that has been named as a finalist for the Fortune Battle of the Corporate Bands. I am sure that they would appreciate your vote for Fans' Choice by visiting http://money.cnn.com/sales/fanschoice. They are band #6 - Soul Focus - and you can hear their music there. The "Chrysler Fans' Choice Award" will be announced at the finals October 6 and 7 at Cleveland's Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.

Renaldo Balkman is a Monster

2006-07-08T00:05:00.000-04:00

Isiah got a lot of flack for his 1st round pick of Renaldo Balkman, but check out this Renaldo jam over Stephen Graham and rookie Daniel Gibson of the Cavaliers from Friday's summer league game in Vegas.

A Convenient Lie?

2006-07-05T20:21:00.000-04:00

I'm no expert on global warming, but I've often questioned the assumed "fact" that humans have caused, or are causing, avoidable damage to the Earth. From what I have read, it seems like much of the increase in global temperatures over the past 80-odd years can be attributed to long-term, unavoidable cycles.

Regardless, I do agree that much can be done to improve our environment and limit the detrimental effects that humans no doubt have on the planet. That said, I enjoyed Libertarian journalist John Stossel's latest RealClearPolitics column, which took aim at Al Gore's film and book.

Not Your Usual World Cup Statistics

2006-06-30T16:53:00.000-04:00

OnTheBall is a service that tracks all sorts of cool stuff about the World Cup, including the number of dives, fake injuries, tantrums thrown, wrong off-side decisions, complete miss-kicks (air balls), and players not singing their national anthem... Worth checking out

Smell-o-Phone a Reality?

2006-06-29T15:18:00.000-04:00

An article in The Daily Mail in the UK was so geeky and interesting that it reminded me that I still have a blog other than my company blog to post to.

The kasina Blog

2006-04-20T12:37:00.000-04:00

As you may have read on Steven or Mike's blogs, we have launched a kasina blog. I will be using that site to post thoughts that I think will be of interest to my clients and using this blog for more personal posts. Sometimes, I will cross-post things of interest.

Emerging Technologies

2006-03-27T13:01:00.000-05:00

I consider myself somewhat of a geek (ok - quite a geek), but I found myself unfamiliar with many of the "10 emerging technologies" listed by MIT's Technology Review magazine. The one with the most direct applicability to our industry is universal authentication, systems that allow users to "hop securely from one site to another after signing on just once." Many attempts have been made, including Microsoft's Passport service, but none have caught on. It is interesting to see that there are new efforts, such as Shibboleth, which may one day help us avoid having to remember so many usernames and passwords to multiple sites.

Charging for Seats vs. Rewarding with Seats

2006-03-23T12:58:00.000-05:00

When traveling to London last week on Virgin Atlantic, I inquired about the availability of an exit row seat and was shocked to find out that there were actually several available (which is rare on a red-eye flight). Then came the news that these seats cost an additional $75. I joked with a co-worked that they'd start charging for window seats next. I was wrong - but not by much. NWA (the airline, not the rap group) announced that it will begin charging passengers for the right to sit in aisle seats.

I definitely understand that these seats are valuable, but I think that American Airlines' current approach is far smarter for the airline - they choose to reward their best customers (Executive Platinum and Platinum AAdvantage members) with the ability to reserve the exit row seats. Other passengers can only get these seats at the gate if they are left over.

Travel is already so expensive - why add the extra frustration of additional charges and have the seats taken up by anyone but your best (most profitable) customers?

If you have extra seats left over, is the extra $75 really worth it, assuming you even get it? Most of the seats on my Virgin flight remained empty and were simply taken by smart travelers who moved over.

Think about the value instead of (a) rewarding your best customers and/or (b) providing an unexpected perk to other customers with any remaining seats. Remember, there are many ways to reach the end result (increased profitability).

How you are you rewarding your best customers? Do you even know who they are?

Blink/Blank

2006-03-22T10:50:00.000-05:00

A quotation that I find myself often sharing with clients recently (and one that I know Steven often mentions as well) is from Rick Nobles, who writes:

"A brand trying to appeal to everyone isn't a brand at all, just a watered-down commodity. And a commodity never attracts a raving fan -- it attracts indifference. In a crowded marketplace, indifference will kill you."

It is amazing how most firms (especially asset management firms) try to be all things to all people.

The writer Malcolm Gladwell, for example, isn't for everyone (which Gladwell touches on in his amusing Web site disclosure statement) and according to this guy, he looks like Sideshow Bob. Despite his detractors, both of his books have a ton of raving fans. For example, his most recent book, Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking, is #20 in Book sales on Amazon.com and features almost 500 customer reviews. His unique (and I think extremely enjoyable) writing style has now inspired an extremely humorous knock-off, Blank: The Power of Not Actually Thinking at All, by Noah Tall (say it out loud and you'll get the author's name).

Do you have a unique enough brand that people are out there talking about you, your company, or your product (either positively or negatively)?

Apocalypse Pooh

2006-03-21T23:35:00.000-05:00

This is not the deepest post I'll ever put out there, but I thought I'd share this movie on iFilm which is a 1987 mashup of Winnie the Pooh and Apocalypse Now. (there may be a short ad shown first, and the first 30 seconds are a bit slow, but then it is great if you know Apocalypse Now)

Just Say It

2006-03-21T13:31:00.000-05:00

Dave at Communication Nation has a good post about the various responses that people have when frustrated at work. I love working with everyone at kasina, but even still, every now and then somebody does something that makes me mad. As Dave writes, most people do one of the following:

a) Lash out
b) Write a semi-polite, yet seething email
c) Vent
d) Go through the chain of command
e) Do nothing

Historically, I would typically do (a), (c), or (e). Over the past few months, however, I have been working on improving my responses and encouraging those around me (friends, co-workers, clients, etc.) to do the same as nothing positive comes out of these options. Instead, I have found that it is crucial to address issues directly and work through them. Dave puts forth a nice process in his post:

1. Take a minute. Cool down. Try to see how the affront could have been unintentional.

2. Pick up the phone, or walk over to the person's desk. If they're not there come back later. Whatever you do, don't send an email.

3. Tell them what you are concerned about. Don't assume or judge them! Most of the time people are not aware that they stepped over a line. If something really bothers you or is unacceptable, you can say this -- but say it in a calm tone of voice.

4. Ask them what you can do to ensure that such things don't happen in the future. That's right, what you can do.

5. Listen. You're opening the door to a conversation. You will find that you are often surprised. Being open to the other point of view can enlighten your understanding of the situation and maybe even help you see a larger system dynamic.

Microsoft-Originated iPod Box Parody Video

2006-03-17T11:59:00.000-05:00

Sorry it has been so long since I've posted, but I was busy moving to my new apartment. Now that I am all settled, I'm hoping to post more regularly.

By now, you have probably seen the amusing video that shows what would happen if Microsoft redesigned the iPod packaging. Last week, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Microsoft confirmed that it had created the video for use as an "internal-only video clip."

Microsoft's packaging team commissioned the video in order to "humorously highlight the challenges...[regarding] packaging and to educate marketers here about the pitfalls of packaging/branding."

This self-awareness of poor marketing is rare, and I am glad to see someone as bad at marketing as Microsoft poking fun at itself in order to improve. This self-examination is necessary across most Marketing teams, especially in the asset management world, where firms have yet to embrace modern marketing concepts, such as Word of Mouth marketing, Permission Marketing, etc. and waste money on traditional approaches that are destined to fail.

Measure Map

2006-02-14T18:50:00.000-05:00

Google wrote on its official blog that it had acquired Measure Map, a tool to help you understand what people do at your blog and what influence you are having on the world. I love the trend towards better metrics, something that all of us "bloggers" need, and also something that every asset management firm could use (not only about their Web site, but also about their wholesalers' activity, marketing efforts, etc...)

Seth Godin's "Flipping the Funnel" eBook

2006-01-29T18:38:00.000-05:00

Seth Godin had a post today that featured his new eBook, Flipping the Funnel. This 18 page book attempts to explain how Seth believes some of the new Web 2.0 tools (flickr, de.licio.us, squidoo and others) combine with some of the concepts he has written about before, including ideaviruses and the Purple Cow.

While I think that Seth's focus is, as it has been recently, too much on technology, his concepts are (as usual) spot on. He writes in this new eBook that firms must:

"Turn strangers into friends.
Turn friends into customers.
And then... do the most important job:
Turn your customers into salespeople."

NY is a Small Town

2006-01-21T15:58:00.000-05:00

A small world story from New York:

I was up at PS/MS 95 in the Bronx this morning working on a mural with students as part of the kasina Foundation's efforts. On the way back, Steven and I stopped at Ideal Cheese on the Upper East Side (the city's best cheese shop) to pick up some snacks.

While there, Emeril Lagasse came in with two friends to buy a large amount of cheese, partially for a dinner this evening that he is doing with Mario Batali (Emeril is making the risotto). We halfheartedly tried to get an invite, and then went on our way with our cheese. Fast-forward 30 minutes later, and after dropping Steven and his son off, I was walking home from the garage when who should stop at the corner of 8th Street and Broadway but Mario Batali (on his lime green Vespa and wearing shorts, as always). I let him know that Emeril had picked up some great cheeses and that he was in for some great risotto - Mario laughed, said he was looking forward to it, and sped off. It wasn't my best celebrity interaction (most of you know my Meg Ryan story), but it did make me realize how small New York can feel sometimes.

Businesses Must Learn to Let Go

2006-01-13T18:19:00.000-05:00

BusinessWeek had a good article that spoke about the need for companies to focus on "core expertise and collaborating with partners in innovative ways." My clients (asset management firms), as well as every other company, can certainly learn from the lessons of (1) staying focused, (2) looking to outsiders for help, (3) thinking ahead, and (4) forming the right relationships.

Web Users Judge Sites in the Blink of an Eye

2006-01-13T13:53:00.000-05:00

This story from Nature (subscription required) got picked up in a lot of publications, but for good reason. Canadian researcher Gitte Lindgaard of Carleton University found that visitors to a Web page can make up their minds about the quality of the page within just 50 milliseconds. The article states that: "We all know that first impressions count, but this study shows that the brain can make flash judgments almost as fast as the eye can take in the information." This is why it is so important for firms to consider the image they want to convey. Users immediately make a judgment about a site (and therefore a company) - is this a site/company that is "all business," one that is fun, one that is easy to do business with, one that is accessible, etc...

Creativity Works

2006-01-12T22:59:00.000-05:00

Speaking of new marketing techniques (see the post below), The Washington Post reports on Alex Tew's million dollar idea, the Million Dollar Homepage. Alex's idea, charging per pixel for ads on his Web site, has garnered him over a $1,000,000, and generated lots of copycats.

According to the Washington Post, "More than 1,000 copycat homepages have cropped up hoping to duplicate his success -- from the Zero Dollar Homepage, which gives pixel blocks away and tries to make money from banner ads, to "The Most Expensive Pixels on the Internet" that sells space for $1,000 per pixel. Twists and oddities also abound: The Million Pixel Gallery tries to sell art and advertising from galleries and museums, the Cover Up Osama Bin Laden site sells pixel blocks to obliterate Osama's face from the screen, and the Million Booby Homepage, well, appears to still be in the training-bra stage of development."

What these copycats are missing, however, is the spontaneity and originality of Alex's idea. I see this all the time with my clients, who wait for someone else to push the envelope and then blandly try to follow in their footsteps.

As Alex says, "The lesson is that consumers are willing to go to good ideas, things that are unique, things that are novel. Rather than copy each other, spend time thinking up new things. . . . Creativity works."

Live Action Punch-Out

2006-01-12T22:49:00.000-05:00

At kasina, we talk a lot with our clients about modern marketing theories, such as viral marketing. One of the most viral videos I have come across (at least for those of us that wasted many an hour in college playing Mike Tyson's Punch Out on the NES) is this video of some kids doing a live action version perfectly matching the game (even with a live performance of the music). If you know the game, you'll love it.

Surviving Workers from Windows on the World Open Restaurant

2006-01-08T17:11:00.001-05:00

Newsday reports that some of the workers from Windows on the World (the restaurant at the top of the World Trade Center) are opening a new restaurant in my neighborhood. Colors, a 120-seat dining spot at 417 Lafayette St. (212-777-8443), will fully open to the public next week. The history of the workers and the proximity would be enough for me to want to check the place out (and encourage you to do the same), but on top of that, they have a unique structure where the employees are the owners. Let's hope the food is good, because I'd like to see them succeed.

Letterman to O'Reilly: 60% of What You Say is Crap

2006-01-07T14:05:00.000-05:00

David Letterman, uncharacteristically, went after Bill O'Reilly on his show this week, saying that "I’m not smart enough to debate you point to point on this, but I have the feeling, I have the feeling about 60 percent of what you say is crap." Hammer of Truth has text excerpts or you can watch a video to get the full sense of the enjoyable and unexpected interaction.

Attention Bay Area Readers

2006-01-04T13:08:00.000-05:00

A good friend lost two puppies recently in the Bay Area. If you live anywhere near the El Cerrito Plaza, or if you know anyone that does, please take a look at her posting on Craigslist. They are desperate for any help.

Update: Amazingly, the dogs have been found safe and sound.

Really Stressful Syndication

2006-01-03T19:24:00.000-05:00

François Joseph de Kermadec (which is a great name if you ask me) has a post at macdevcenter.com with his theory on why RSS adoption is so low. He writes that "the root of the issue is not to be found in how the technology is presented but in the technology itself." He feels that "RSS puts constant pressure on us" and that most people want to be able to "entertain the obviously false notion that [they are] on top of [their] material." While it is true that ignoring information is easier than processing it, I feel that RSS is an amazing tool to help people stay up-to-date with the huge volume of info out there - I think that the obstacle is that most people still don't have any clue what it is or how to use it.

Guy Kawasaki's 10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint

2006-01-03T19:20:00.000-05:00

I've been reading up a fair bit on presentation techniques recently. There are a ton of resources out there, such as Presentation Zen, with tips and techniques. I have come to the conclusion that most of my presentations use too much text and too many slides (and I'd bet that the same is true of your presentations). I am setting a goal for myself to improve my presentations in 2006. While I'm not sure how feasible this is in all situations, I was intrigued by Guy Kawasaki's "10/20/30 Rule of PowerPoint," which he defines as the fact that "a PowerPoint presentation should have ten slides, last no more than twenty minutes, and contain no font smaller than thirty points" - especially "for any presentation to reach agreement: for example, raising capital, making a sale, forming a partnership, etc."

Saturn Loves Even Competitors' Customers

2006-01-01T15:17:00.000-05:00

metacool points to a post with an amazing story about Saturn (the car company). He raises the question that "if your brand is the sum total of all the things you do in the world, then how far would you go to live up to the expectations of people in that world? Would you do something like this?"

Trade Your Used CDs for a New iPod

2006-01-01T13:45:00.000-05:00

Millennium, a CD store in Charleston, SC, is offering a free iPod in exchange for used (but good-condition) CDs. They'll take the discs by mail, so you don't need to get to South Carolina.

45 CDs = 512 MB iPod Shuffle
65 CDs = 1 GB iPod Shuffle
85 CDs = 2 GB iPod Nano
110 CDs = 4 GB Nano
130 CDs = 30 GB iPod
175 CDs = 60 GB iPod

Coldplay's New CD has Rules

2006-01-01T13:39:00.000-05:00

Boing Boing reports that Coldplay's new CD comes with a list of rules, including "This CD can't be burnt onto a CD or hard disc, nor can it be converted to an MP3" and the fact that the CD may not play in DVD players, car stereos, portable players, game players, all PCs and Macintosh PCs. Of course, users don't know about this until after they have purchased the product. I think that this is an amazingly short-sighted step by the music label, limiting customers from using the product in the way that they want to. It may be an obvious statement, but I think that all of us need to make sure that we create products that are easy for our customers to use. This is something that I consistenly see firms ignoring - you need to understand how a customer would ideally intereact with you and then create a profitable way to meet that desired customer experience.

Subscribe to My Blog

2005-12-31T18:46:00.000-05:00

In case you didn't know, you can subscribe to my blog using any RSS reader. I recommend using BlogLines (and have included a link for that service and My Yahoo! in the right-hand sidebar). For those that don't understand RSS, you can now subscribe via e-mail using FeedBlitz by entering your e-mail address in the box at right. Enjoy (and Happy New Year)!

Gawker's 123 Reasons to Love New York Right Now

2005-12-23T12:32:00.000-05:00

Gawker lists its "123 Reasons to Love New York Right Now" - a take-off on the New York Magazine cover article of the same name. There are many great (and very true ones), including "14. Because you can live in the same place for 10 years and never have to see or meet your neighbors" and "20. Because there’s always a secret room behind the VIP room" and "36. Because 'road trip' just means Ikea."

The Web's Father Blogs

2005-12-22T13:18:00.000-05:00

In time for the 15th anniversary of the World Wide Web, its founder (Tim Berners-Lee) has launched a blog (which unfortunately will focus on very geeky issues). In his first post, I am reminded of how visionary this man was/is. He writes: "In 1989 one of the main objectives of the WWW was to be a space for sharing information. It seemed evident that it should be a space in which anyone could be creative, to which anyone could contribute. ... Now in 2005, we have blogs and wikis, and the fact that they are so popular makes me feel I wasn't crazy to think people needed a creative space."

Broadband over Power Lines

2005-12-22T13:03:00.000-05:00

A check today of the Google News results for "Broadband over Power Lines" (aka BPL) indicated that a concept that I've been tracking for some time is becoming closer to reality. Two Texas companies have announced a plan to offer high-speed Internet service over the power grid (read more on c|net). This could be huge for making Internet access more widely available and affordable, as written about by the AP back in 2003. At the same time, some (such as David Coursey of ZDNet) have argued that this is a bad idea - mostly because of the negative influence on radio communication due to interference. I'm hoping that this pans out.

NY MTA Strike

2005-12-20T08:42:00.000-05:00

I am very glad that I am not in NYC today for the start of the transit stike, but I am worried about how I'm going to get home from the airport this evening. In the meantime, you can watch coverage at WNBC or NY1. It is an interesting issue, because it is illegal to strike. I support the workers demands (a 3% raise is crazy), but I don't support the workers breaking the law. However, I don't think that the law is legal. Good luck to all my fellow NYers in getting around.

Poker Applied to Business

2005-12-07T11:18:00.000-05:00

Mike Ma has a great post on his blog applying poker logic to thinking about ROI in a business situation. Some great thoughts that came to him during a negative travel experience yesterday.

kasina Foundation Web Site Launches

2005-12-06T22:00:00.000-05:00

We have launched a Web site for our non-profit Foundation. The Foundation is is dedicated to innovating and improving the education of our children. In the next ten years, we hope to:

Help 10,000 disadvantaged children fall in love with learning
Engage 1,000 corporate volunteers to get involved with education beyond fundraising

The Forbes Fictional 15

2005-12-03T16:27:00.000-05:00

Forbes named the fifteen richest fictional characters (including Scrooge McDuck, C. Montgomery Burns, and more). Fairly amusing.

Media Age Business Tips From U2

2005-12-02T18:06:00.000-05:00

The New York Times writes about how U2 has been able to, 25 years in, attract four million people to 130 sold-out shows this year and gross over $300 million next year. The author says that in order to understand that, "you have to look at U2 less as a band than as a multimillion-dollar, multinational media company." I would definitely agree with the author that they have been "one of the smarter [companies] around." U2 has never been among my top 10 bands (or probably even my top 20), but they are Melinda's favorite, so I have seen them twice in the past two months (including the show mentioned at the beginning of the article) and I have noticed that they are doing a lot of things right as their fans are die-hard loyal. The Times article does a good job of hiting on many of the reasons why.

AA's Return to Profitability

2005-12-02T14:20:00.000-05:00

The Christian Science Monitor featured an interesting article about how American Airlines (my preferred airline) returned to profitability after five years in the red. Interesting examples include:

"Two American Airlines mechanics didn't like having to toss out $200 drill bits once they got dull. So they rigged up some old machine parts - a vacuum-cleaner belt and a motor from a science project - and built "Thumping Ralph." It's essentially a drill-bit sharpener that allows them to get more use out of each bit. The savings, according to the company: as much as $300,000 a year."

"And it was a group of pilots who realized that they could taxi just as safely with one engine as with two. That was instituted as policy has helped cut American's fuel consumption even as prices have continued to rise to record levels."

Amazing where you can find better ways to do things when you empower your people to innovate.

Letting Data Speak to Data

2005-12-01T22:03:00.000-05:00

The science journal Nature today contains an editorial calling for scientists to "embrace a culture of sharing and rethink their vision of databases." Leveraging the shift to "Web services," Nature calls for scientists to make their research available to other scientists. I've been talking with clients for years about the concept of "content syndication" which is just recently coming to fruition across many industries with Web services, RSS feeds, wikis, and other technology (and still remains a ways off in the asset management world). This idea of sharing content is very exciting (for the future of science, the asset management world, and communication in general).

Salvation Army's $100 Strategy

2005-12-01T21:18:00.001-05:00

Waiting to meet a friend at the Knicks game this past weekend, I spent a few minutes watching the most successful Salvation Army fundraiser I had ever seen. Their strategy was to set a goal of $100. "Come on folks, only $14 to go to reach our goal." Amazing how willing people were to give $1 or even $5 when they felt that they were helping reach a goal whose end was in sight. Once they reached $100, they started over again with a goal of the next $100. Brilliant! Not quite as brilliant as the guy who started The Million Dollar Homepage, but brilliant nonetheless.

Pandora

2005-12-01T21:18:00.000-05:00

I had heard about Pandora.com a while back and read about it recently on Seth Godin's blog, but it wasn't until I read Mike Ma's post today that I really spent time on the site. Very cool - worth checking out.

NyQuil is Not NyQuil Anymore

2005-11-30T21:49:00.000-05:00

As mentioned on their Web site, Vicks has removed pseudoephedrine from DayQuil and NyQuil because of its use in drug manufacturing. In DayQuil, they have replaced pseudoephedrine with phenylephrine, while NyQuil no longer contains a nasal decongestant. While this is annoying because I do rely on NyQuil when I get a cold, the interesting part is the reasoning behind the decision.

As I learned from a family friend who runs R&D at a large drug company, firms are developing alternatives to pseudoephedrine simply because they want their products to remain over-the-counter. When browsing an aisle, marketing (especially packaging) plays a big role - you pick NyQuil over the store brand because of the NyQuil brand. When you go to the pharmacist at Rite Aid, however, to get a product with pseudoephedrine, they are going to tell you that the Rite Aid brand is just as good and far cheaper than NyQuil. Vicks even admits as much on their Web site: "We wanted to be able to continue to provide NyQuil on store shelves so consumers could get it without having to ask the pharmacist." As with so many issues in so many industries, it boils down to shelf space (location, location, location).

Brown Starting Disaster Preparedness Consulting Firm

2005-11-30T21:10:00.000-05:00

News Max reports that former FEMA Director Michael Brown is "starting a disaster preparedness consulting firm to help clients avoid the sort of errors that cost him his job." Now I know that firms need help (while still in college, I was on a Y2K consulting team for the Port Authority of NY/NJ), but come on - isn't there someone better qualified out there? I can just picture Brown's ads now....

End of the Crackberry?

2005-11-30T15:12:00.000-05:00

CNN reports that Research in Motion may have to stop selling BlackBerries now that a judge ruled that he won't enforce a disputed patent settlement with NTP Inc. I doubt anything will come of it, but I sure am glad that I have a Treo :-)

An Intro to Ajax

2005-11-29T11:01:00.000-05:00

Jesse James Garrett writes a primer about Ajax (Asynchronous JavaScript and XML), which is a Web development technique for creating interactive Web applications. (you have to subscribe to a newsletter in order to download it). I still need to read into the technology more, but I'm hearing quite a buzz among my techier friends about Ajax.

Amazon's Customer Wikis

2005-11-29T10:49:00.000-05:00

The "Church of the Customer" blog writes about Amazon's beta use of wikis in some of their product reviews. For those who don't know, wikis are a collaborative Web site comprising the work of many authors (example: Wikipedia. In Amazon's implementation, it allows multiple people to edit, delete or modify content in a product review. There are many applications of the technology, and firms are still experimenting, but I see lots of opportunities. One thing that my firm recently wrote about is the potential to use wikis internally for a firm's sales force, allowing them to collaborate asynchronously from disparate locations.

Harold's Pickles

2005-11-28T07:55:00.000-05:00

Seth Godin wrote about Harold's, a deli in NJ not far from my in-laws. Seth wrote about the "gimmick" of having "all you can eat pickles with every meal, including breakfast." He is absolutely right, but fails to mention the real gimmick of the place - the size of everything. The sandwiches serve 4 people easily. The slices of cake are huge (an entire cake would serve 40). And don't ask about the matzoh balls (not to mention the size of the average patron). It is the size gimmick (more so than the pickles) that allows Harold to serve 14,000 meals a week in a non-descript location in NJ. Just more proof that you have to have a story to tell in order to differentiate and succeed.

Knicks getting Garnett? Interesting.....

2005-11-22T14:31:00.000-05:00

ESPN Inside reports (membership required) that the Knicks (shockingly) are in preliminary talks with the T-Wolves about acquiring Kevin Garnett. According to Chris Sheridan, a "source told ESPN.com that the New York Knicks had made Minnesota an offer that included the expiring contracts of Penny Hardaway ($15.7 million) and Antonio Davis ($13.9 million). But for such a trade to work under salary cap rules, the Knicks would also have to take back Sczcerbiak. While that deal would be stunningly lopsided talent-wise, it would relieve the Wolves of $102 million in salary obligations over the next three seasons, allowing them to enter the 2006 offseason with approximately $25 million of cap space."

He continues that "one source close to several NBA players insisted that the viability of the Knicks' offer should not be dismissed, going so far as to say Garnett was making a private push through back channels to be dealt to New York and reunite with former teammate Stephon Marbury. "I'd bet money he'll be wearing a Knicks uniform by the end of February," the source said."

Free Flipbook Printer Software

2005-11-22T13:13:00.000-05:00

A Web site called DonationCoder.com offers free software that allows you to take a movie from your digital camera and turn it into an old school style flip book printed on business card paper.

City Crime Rankings

2005-11-21T12:07:00.000-05:00

The annual Morgan Quitno City Crime Rankings were released, finding that New York was the fourth safest large city and that my home town of Baltimore was the second most dangerous.

Bush Tried to Escape

2005-11-20T18:57:00.000-05:00

The Washington Post reports on Bush trying to cut short a press conference in China and then going to a set of double doors leading out of the room. The only problem was that they were locked :-)

There is also video of the scene.

Gas Thief Escapes on Tricycle

2005-11-19T20:40:00.000-05:00

National Geographic had an article with a great picture of a Chinese boy towing a floating plastic bag of stolen natural gas.

Who Really Owns the Internet?

2005-11-19T20:32:00.000-05:00

Hammer of Truth writes about the ongoing debate about who "owns" the Internet. While no entity owns the Internet, ICANN does maintain a limited amount of control over, as Hammer of Truth says, "how we arrive at our favorite Internet destinations," but thankfully the UN did not get the control that some members wanted.

Although, as Reason points out, this is not the end of the debate and government "control" still looms as a scary prospect.

RIP Kevin McCormick

2005-11-17T05:32:00.000-05:00

The Boston Globe reports on the unusual circumstances surrounding the death of Kevin D. McCormick, a high school friend of mine who I hadn't heard from in years. Kevin was always an odd duck, but I never expected anything like this from him. He was one of the smartest and geekiest people I ever knew - someone who set up a retina scan for entrance to his MIT dorm room and had a robot maid to vacuum his place way back in the mid-90s. I hope that the investigators can get to the bottom of this mess, and rest in peace Kevin.

Blog-Spotting With IBM

2005-11-16T13:39:00.000-05:00

According to an article at Internet.com, IBM has launched the "Public Image Monitoring Solution," software that monitors and analyzes blogs, wikis, news feeds, consumer review sites, newsgroups and other community-generated content to help companies keep tabs on their image. Not sure about the cost, but definitely something that large companies should consider (and something small firms should find a way to do cost-effectively).

Kazakhstan to Sue Ali G

2005-11-15T15:47:00.000-05:00

CNN reports that Kazakhstan's Foreign Ministry has threatened legal action against Sacha Baron Cohen (better known as Ali G) becuase his character, Borat, portrays the country as one "populated by drunks who enjoy cow-punching as a sport." Kazakh Foreign Ministry spokesman Yerzhan Ashykbayev may just be even funnier than Borat if he thinks that they have a case :-)

Being Buzz-Worthy Before Measuring Buzz

2005-11-15T12:44:00.000-05:00

The Brand Autopsy blog writes about a recent Adweek article on measuring "buzz" (article available in PDF here). One interesting line from the blog post is their assertion that "the major reason why word-of-mouth hasn’t taken off is not because marketers lack the metrics to measure it[, but] because most products, services, and businesses simply aren’t worth talking about." I definitely agree with this - it is an issue that most of my clients struggle with daily.

Gates, Jobs, & the Zen Aesthetic

2005-11-15T12:35:00.000-05:00

Presentation Zen writes about the contrasting presentation styles of Bill Gates and Steve Jobs. Be sure to scroll down and consider the images, which are key to the comparison.

Interview With Max Goldman, Corporate Blogger

2005-11-15T10:13:00.000-05:00

I came across this interview at if (a site for brand planners) with Max Goldman who was a good friend back in college. He is now a "corporate blogger" with the enterprise software company Success Factors.

Love in the Fast Lane

2005-11-14T12:34:00.000-05:00

Autoblog writes about a new service in the UK (drivetoromance.com) that allows you to send a message to someone that you see while driving by leaving a message based on their license plate number. Not so sure I can see this taking off, but then again I never expected Match.com or other services to get so big back when Melinda and I met online.

Google Analytics

2005-11-14T07:52:00.000-05:00

I don't mean to post about Google all the time, but Seth Godin reports that Google's Urchin division is about to offer their services for free: Google Analytics.

UPDATE: Google has posted to their official blog regarding Analytics.

It Is About Time That the Knicks Won!!!

2005-11-13T23:29:00.000-05:00

FINALLY! I was worried that we'd be 0-9 before our next home game.

Google Enters the Traveling World

2005-11-13T21:36:00.000-05:00

According to an article at CoolTechZone, Google is planning to enter the travel business. You can try a beta by visiting www.google.com/ncr and typing in the name of any two cities and clicking search. It can't beat SideStep right now, but I would never bet against Google.