From the monthly archives:

June 2007

Nirvana Via the iPhone

06.29.2007

Today’s the day. For everyone who patiently and not so patiently waited, the iPhone has arrived. Those dedicated individuals who waited in line are eager to get their hands on Steve Jobs’ next American revolution. They’ve dreamed of widescreens, Apple’s famous interface design, and combination voice/data plans. Today’s the day the dream comes true. Below [...]

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Getting danah All Wrong

06.28.2007

I’ve finally figured out why the mainstream media struggles to stay relevant—they’ve forgotten how to read. The response to danah boyd’s recent post on Facebook and MySpace class differences has been interesting to watch. Beyond the issue of having any discussion about class in America (that’s for another post), danah’s post and essay roughly outline [...]

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Lifelong Entertainment

06.27.2007

Growing up, I loved watching cartoons on Saturday morning. My absolute favorites were the Looney Tunes. They always made me laugh. Now that I’m older, I’m struck by how many small things went over my head. Bugs Bunny as the Barber of Seville is one example of the timeless quality that Chuck Jones put into [...]

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The Illusion of Safety

06.25.2007

By: Niels Heidenreich, You know a product has made an impact when cities start banning it. Gavin Newsom, San Francisco’s mayor, has banned city departments from buying bottled water. (SF Exec. Order) Like most everyone in the Western world: San Franciscans have responded to marketing campaigns to purchase bottled water and record amounts of bottled [...]

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Meeting Expectations

06.22.2007

Where do you fit in your family? Oldest? Youngest? Peace-lovin’ middle? A recent study out of Norway indicates that, once again, there’s a possible connection between your birth order and how you’ll turn out. In this instance, the results had less to do with your actual birth order and more to do with how you’re [...]

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Memorization is Not Education

06.21.2007

We’re in the middle of summer, but I’ve been thinking about school. I attended public school for 12 years. I received an acceptable education and had both excellent and poor teachers. I suspect I owe my writing skills to a string of above-average English teachers. However, except for my math and science classes (hated geometry, [...]

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How Not to Appease A Customer

06.20.2007

I feel like I’ve been cheating the last few days on my posts, relying on personal events as fodder. But I couldn’t resist given today’s story. I saw firsthand how not to deliver customer service in a situation that could easily lead to a lawsuit. I met one of my best friends for lunch today. [...]

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Gathering Information

06.19.2007

I’m a little late getting to my post today because of errand running this morning. My trip included a quick visit to the bank. On my way out, I noticed a sticker on the door with numbers running vertically—4, 5, 6—it took a second for the light turn on. Ah yes, must give bank employees [...]

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Losing the HP Way

06.18.2007

I could no longer ignore the squeaking and grinding from my printer. A few months ago, I decided to buy a Hewlett-Packard multi-function model. During checkout, the helpful associate asked whether I wanted an extended 3-year warranty. I said no, my usual response to extended warranties. What he said next surprised me. “Are you sure? [...]

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Can You Afford Your Credit Cards?

06.15.2007

How many credit cards do you own? I have four and don’t carry a balance. Credit card companies hate me. I’m a deadbeat—that’s their definition not mine. My favorite excuse for turning down helpful sales associates with their “save 10% when you sign up today?” “Sorry, I’m out of card slots.” The average American has [...]

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