When it comes to securing the data I have on my computers, I take the task seriously. I use Ubuntu and Windows on my laptop. The Ubuntu installation is fully encrypted. There’s a performance hit but I feel pretty sure that if my laptop is ever stolen or lost or needs service by a third [...]
I’ve been researching espresso machines a bit some months ago with the intent of buying one. (I’ve eventually decided against it.) I found that good machines are expensive. I also found a fairly peculiar bit of rationalization in discussion forums.
Cessna has put out a piece of propaganda containing this gem:
Study after study shows companies operating business aircraft outperform competitors that don’t.
The implication is: buy a business aircraft for your company and you’ll outperform your competitors. Dear Cessna, is this really the logic you want to espouse? Has it occurred to you that [...]
Readers will notice that I’ve added Google ads to my site. I’ve tried to make them as unobtrusive as possible. This is an experiment I’m running to experience for myself what the fuss is all about.
I’ve been ranting several times here about how journalists in the US have abdicated their role. They’ve stopped asking the hard questions. Does this mean that all journalism has gone to hell? No. There are still journalists out there doing a spectacular job. I have for evidence an episode [...]
A few minutes ago, I came across yet another AP news item about the current financial crisis in the US. The article reports that Barack Obama “said the final product must protect U.S. taxpayers and include a commitment to new regulatory reforms.” My first thought was “hell, yeah!” there has to be some [...]
Executive Summary: On November 28, 2007, I put in a request through CatalogChoice.org to stop receiving Pier 1’s catalogs. I visited Catalog Choice’s site on January 25th to find that Pier 1 refused my request. In effect, Pier 1 is refusing to collaborate with Catalog Choice. When I complained to Pier 1, the CSR told me that Pier 1 accepts requests to stop receiving their catalog only through the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) or if contacted directly but not through Catalog Choice. In my opinion, this clearly shows that Pier 1 has decided to adopt aggressive practices when it comes to advertising to potential customers.
Chris Anderson, editor at Wired, claims that print publishing does not emit more carbon than web publishing. I find his analysis extremely unconvincing. I am noting here some of the problems with his analysis and also with a Swedish study he claims supports his conclusions.
Paulo Coelho has shown that giving away intellectual content for free helps boost sales and in the end help boost profits. It is a matter of visibility: a product has to be visible before people will want to buy it. DRM and unreasonable pricing both are obstacles to visibility and ultimately hurt profits.
Dell is doing something great by helping people recycle computers.
