February 27, 2005
File Under: Stupid Network Execs
Amy Gahran has a fascinating post on her blog, Contentious, examining the dearth of women narrators in the documentary business. My favorite quote from Jason Kottke's article on the topic is:
An acquaintance of mine is doing some documentary work for the History Channel. One of the channel’s guidelines for their documentaries is that they don’t generally allow the use of female narrators…men only. The History Channel’s audience is mostly men and they want to continue to target only men.Of course, there is nothing more attractive to a man than...another man's voice! These people are geniuses!
Personally, I enjoy (shall I even go so far as to say I prefer?) the voice of a female. In fact, I listen to Nicole Simon's Useful Sounds not only for the interesting blog/tech commentary but the German accented female voice delivering the material.
Oh well, hopefully Nickolas Davatzes will realize that men actually do enjoy listening to a woman's voice.
February 17, 2005
Gmail nearing exit from Beta?
Just got this email from the good folks at Google:
Hi there,I received the same email from two different email addresses that I had given Google when Gmail first launched.Thanks for signing up to be updated on the latest Gmail happenings. We hope it's been worth the wait, because we're excited to finally offer you an invitation to open a free Gmail account! Just click on this link to create your new account:
http://gmail.google.com/gmail/-------------------(url deleted)
Since last April, we've been working hard to create the best email service possible. It already comes with 1,000 megabytes of free storage, powerful Google search technology to find any message you want instantly, and a new way of organizing email that saves you time and helps you make sense of all the information in your inbox.
And here are just some of the things that we've added in the last few months:
- Free POP access: Take your messages with you. Download them, read them offline, access them using Outlook, your Blackberry or any other device that supports POP
- Gmail Notifier: Get new mail notifications and see the messages and their senders without having to open a browser
- Better contacts management: Import your contacts from Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail, Outlook, and others to Gmail in just a few clicks. Add phone numbers, notes and more. Even use search to keep better track of it all.
We also wanted to thank you. For showing us your support and for being so patient. And to those who have already signed up for Gmail, thank you for giving it a try and for helping us make it better. Our users are what have made this product great. So whether you're just signing up for your account or you've been with us since the beginning, keep letting us know how we can build you the best email service around.
That's it for now. We hope you like Gmail and will share it with your friends. We've got lots of cool new stuff planned and we can't wait for you to see our work in your Gmail accounts! Stay tuned...
Thanks,
The Gmail Team==
We sent you this message because you signed up to be updated on Gmail. If you do not wish to receive such updates in the future, you may opt-out of receiving Gmail updates by visiting:
http://services.google.com/inquiry/gmail_unsub_link?email=----------(If clicking the URLs in this message does not work, copy and paste them into the address bar of your browser)
1600 Amphitheatre Parkway
Mountain View, CA 94043
It looks like Gmail is going public soon...
February 06, 2005
Excuse the Hiccups
In the first of a number of transitions, we're in the process of moving to a new server. If you see any problems with the site, please let me know at doug@all-encompassingly.com.
Thanks for your patience with the move.
December 27, 2004
about tsunamis
Contrary to public perception, a tsunami is not typically a single monstrous wave. Usually, a series of giant waves roll ashore during the course of two or three hours.
"A lot of the casualties are not from drowning - they're from blunt trauma from people being smashed up by debris," Dudley said. [source]
- - - - -
If you imagine a tsunami to be merely a scaled-up version of the waves that extreme surfers ride at spots like Hawaii's Banzai Pipeline or the infamous Maverick's in California, think again. A tsunami can cross the ocean faster than a jet aircraft, and hit land with a force that makes an atomic bomb look like a firecracker. [source]
a tsunami in southeast asia last weekend may have killed more than 20,000 people. it was the result of a 9.0 earthquake that struck off the coast of indonesia. [news]
UPDATE--december 30: the death toll has reached 120,000 and is expected to climb still more. donations can be made securely online at http://www.lds.org/humanitarian. 100% of all donations will go directly to those in need.
December 25, 2004
Merry Christmas
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed.
And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city.
And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem…
To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.
And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.
And she brought forth her first-born son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.
And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.
And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes,lying in a manger.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God,and saying,
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men."
1 Luke 2:1, 3-14
all-encompassingly would like to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas.
May this holiday season bring peace, joy, and happiness to you and yours.
December 10, 2004
christmas gifts we recommend (books, movies, & music)
with two weeks left until christmas, you have probably already finished your holiday shopping. unless you are like my dad, who is notorious for his yearly christmas eve shopping dash (in that case, this list could be very helpful). i've read a lot of books and seen a lot of movies lately that i feel have been worth my time. here are some recommendations and reviews of my favorites, in no particular order. follow the links to read more reviews at amazon:
recommended books
the last two years of salvador allende by nathaniel davis:
"written by the US ambassador to chile during the allende years, this is perhaps the only book that deeply explores--and meticulously documents--the utter failure of the democratically-elected communist president's leadership and form of government. most books dealing with chilean history between 1970 and 1990 blame only agosto pinochet for the extreme levels of domestic turmoil. davis points out the leftist leader's culpability for sparking (and ignoring) the chilean decline. the author's seemingly endless provision of facts and figures became a bit tedious during my reading of the book, but the volume is worth it's price for davis' electrifying retelling of the coup-de-etat, alone. also recommended: the capitalist revolution in latin america by paul roberts and karen araujo. not recommended: a nation of enemies by pamela constable and arturo valenzuela. 'i wouldn't soil my cat's litter box with the worthless, empty pages of a nation of enemies.'" --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and former resident of chile.
at any cost by bill sammon:
"sammon thoroughly and methodically refutes the concept that al gore won florida in 2000. sammon shows how completely ridiculous the claim is that george w. bush 'stole' the election, and sets the record straight: it was the democratic candidate who tried to steal the presidency. this is one of the most satisfying books i've read in a long time, especially considering the fact that some, including keith olberman of MSNBC, have still not conceded the 2004 election." --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and political junkie.
music and the mind by anthony storr and the aesthetics of music by roger scruton:
"these two books almost convinced me to pursue a graduate degree in aesthetics. but what do you care?" --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and amateur musician.
how to know if someone is worth pursuing in two dates or less by neil clark warren:
"i read the book and i'm happily married. the proof is in the pudding. but seriously, this has got to be the most straight-forward, useful relationship book in existence. dating can really suck. to minimize suckage, read this book and take notes. dr. warren's new book falling in love for all the right reasons looks to be a rehashing of this book, plus some information about marriage--probably another extremely useful book. i would recommend anything by this author." --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and married man.
be thou an example by gordon hinckley
"the most inspiring book i have ever read." --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and god-fearing man.
shut up and sing by laura ingraham
"a well-researched and timely book in which liberal, blue state elite-think is the butt of the joke. very enjoyable read." --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and 2004 values voter.
tricky business and big trouble by dave barry:
"dave barry's first two forays into fiction writing (as opposed to 'whatever you call it' that he was doing before). these books are hilarious, though somewhat crude. they (blatantly and unapologetically) follow similar plot patterns, which might turn you off if you are some kind of literature snob who uses terms like "denouement" on a regular basis. but if you like hilarious characters, complex, knee-slapping plot twists, and access to a new side of dave's humor, these books are must-reads." --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and uncouth literati outsider.
the screwtape letters by clive staples lewis
"an interesting perspective on temptation. funny, enlightening, and inspiring. my only complaint is that it is so short." --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and frequent target of tempters.
joseph smith the prophet by truman madsen
"full of amazing stories from the life of the prophet joseph smith. a must-read for any latter day saint, it should be part of the missionary packet." --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and latter day saint.
truman by david mccullough
my favorite history writer, david mccullough, goes on for more than 1100 pages about president truman. about the length of president clinton's memoirs, only this book is actually worth your time. --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and history buff.
the proper care and feeding of husbands by dr. laura schlessinger
i don't know how much work of her own dr. laura put into writing this one. if we were to add up all of the emails, letters, and other comments from listeners that she uses in the text, her commentary might be shown to constitute a minority of the book. however, the true stories from actual couples are compelling and shocking. and the advice dr. laura gives is uniquely family-friendly, and to some extent (despite the title) the instruction she gives can be used by both husbands and wives. --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and simple-minded biped
give me a break by john stossel and a national party no more by zell miller
i am neither a libertarian nor a democrat, but these were two of the best books i read this year. in fact, i'll just say it: give me a break was THE best book i read this year. stossel, my favorite news personality of all time, advocates a strict libertarian approach to government and markets while using the book to look back on some of his most memorable moments as a journalist. just like his pieces on 20/20, this book alerts the audience to government policy, spending, and political-correctness outrages that need to be addressed.
about miller's offering, a national party no more: i have never felt such a desire to moderate my conservative views as i have since reading this book. he spares nothing in attacking the democratic party, and doesn't go much easier on the republicans. if anything, i've come to find great respect for senator miller through reading this book. i recommend it to everyone with an interest in politics. his chapter two (pages 9-20) provides a most-timely discussion of the blue-red hate-fest going on in america right now. highly recommended to such people as my sister and other church-going democrats. for recent stuff on the hate-fest, try scrappleface or philosophical blitzkrieg." --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly', bush supporter, and former resident of a former slave state. [are those last items a matter of coincidence? wackos think not.]
childbed fever by k. codell carter and barbara carter:
"this book should be made into a movie, or at least a history channel documentary of some sort. it is filled with outrageous tales exposing the guessing-game that was 19th century medicine. it's rare and out of print and it took me about a year to get my copy. if you're interested in the book, contact me or email the professor and encourage him to reprint it independently." --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and former student of the author.
recommended movies
"i continue to be impressed with tom hanks' movies, and his versatility as an actor. first forrest gump, castaway and saving private ryan, and now ladykillers and the terminal. you may not recognize hanks from one movie to the next, but these movies are all worth your time, and perhaps money. in ladykillers, hanks plays a likeable southern gentleman and bank robber, but the surprise protagonist turns out to be the devout christian lady from whom hanks' character rents his room. the terminal is a heartwarming film and, like ladykillers, hanks has mastered a strange accent for his role in it. i have seen over 100 movies this year, and the terminal was my favorite." --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and a guy who is not afraid to walk out of a movie if it sucks.
it's a wonderful life and a christmas carol:
these two DVDs will be part of our family's christmas tradition every year. starting now. --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and holiday tradition advocate.
"visually stunning and fascinating, even for someone like me who knows nothing about birds. contains footage compiled over a three-year period, from practically every corner of the earth. this is an epic documentary. --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and bird-liker.
endurance and touching the void
"two of the most incredible survival-story documentaries out there. both are true stories. in touching the void, the retelling is done by the survivors of the peruvian mountain climb, accompanied by recreated video footage. in endurance, historians, journals, and logs tell the tale of shackleton's 1914 antartic expedition, in the which recreated footage is mixed with surviving video and photography. endurance is probably a PG-ish film, while touching the void, for the EXCESSIVE use of the F-word, is R." --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and survivor of the 1999 lonquen missionary hiking disaster, lonquen, chile.
band of brothers (HBO's WWII movie series)
"ahh, to remember the days when 'liberation' wasn't a bad word!" --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and war-movie fanatic.
"completely unique, a future cult classic, and infinitely better than 'revenge of the nerds'--in addition to being family friendly." --travis, senior reviewer from the unheardofly popular blog, 'all-encompassingly' and former nerd.
recommended music
the newest sunfall CD will be available here soon, but for now just go stream some awesome songs for free.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - -THE END- - - - - - - - - - - - - -
those are my recommendations. i like them; you might not. either way, good for you. if you want more music recommendations, my favorite artists haven't changed since this post, and i really don't feel close enough to the music scene to recommend any new artists. if you have recommendations for me (music or otherwise) i welcome them. please email me or leave them in the comments below this post.
***one final thing: if you are a close friend or family member who wants 1/20th of your amazon purchase price (whenever you shop there) to go to all-encompassingly, the gesture is much appreciated and welcomed. you may drag the link from the box below (the text in the box's black background has the code "allencompassi-20" embedded in it) into your internet browser and make it your amazon bookmark, or you can come here to search amazon's inventory any time you need to do online shopping. thanks again, and merry christmas.
December 02, 2004
i exist, therefore i am (being spammed to death)
hate spam? lycos is giving it's european users the option of fighting back against spammers in an interesting way:
Internet portal Lycos has made a screensaver that endlessly requests data from sites that sell the goods and services mentioned in spam e-mail. Lycos hopes it will make the monthly bandwidth bills of spammers soar by keeping their servers running flat out. The net firm estimates that if enough people sign up and download the tool, spammers could end up paying to send out terabytes of data. [source]
despite lycos' focus on its european customers, north americans can participate, too. it is the world wide web, after all. here's how:
1. go here and select a country (the UK might be best, if you're interested in combating english-language spam).
2. download the screensaver (please. for the love of all that is holy, download the screensaver). file size is less than 2MB.
3. while you're at it, enter the URL of some spam websites. this is a feature we will be using here at all-encompassingly from this day forward. every spam (comment or email) that comes in will have its URL submitted to lycos for inclusion in the anti-spam program. it's payback time.
i hope everyone with a computer and a modem will participate. read the full article from the BBC. via kottke.org
UPDATE: the "make love not spam" server appears to be down right now. the conspiratorialist in me says that the spammers are on the counter attack. but (perhaps more likely) it is the overwhelming response from lycos users that is to blame.
UPDATE: both wrong. it was the lawyers, of course.
November 09, 2004
Lead a Happier Life: Get Firefox.
Are you sick of popups and other weird things happening to your internet when you use Internet Explorer?
Then you need to make the switch that millions of fellow web surfers have made. Get Firefox!
The wait is over. Firefox 1.0 empowers you to browse faster, more safely and more efficiently than with any other browser. Join more than 8 million others and make the switch today — Firefox imports your Favorites, settings and other information, so you have nothing to lose.Go here to download it now! You won't be sorry.
November 02, 2004
No New Design Yet, But Tons of Blogging Tonight!
As with most things on this blog that I am responsible for, the new design is behind schedule and over budget. But don't worry, since I have returned early from Colorado, both Travis and I will be blogging tonight!
October 19, 2004
Looking to buy a laptop?
Today would be a great day to do it.
Follow this link for $750 off Dell Inspiron laptops. The original price must exceed $1,500. So you basically can get a system for half price. Very nice...
clusty search (beta)
try our new search tool in the sidebar. it's called 'clusty'. it wants to be your friend.
[Clusty organizes] search results by grouping similar items together into folders. Thus a search for ‘pearl’ organizes the top 250-500 results into subjects such as Jewelry, Pearl Harbor, Pearl Jam, Steinbeck Novel, and Daniel Pearl. Clusty allows users to focus on their area of interest without all the chaff. [more at clusty.com]
or try it here:
October 15, 2004
Google Desktop vs. X1
Many have probably heard about the launch of Google Desktop.
However, there seems to be a more mature product already on the market, with features that (at least on paper) beat Google hands down. It is called X1. And the blogger who runs "the unofficial google weblog" swears by it.
an all-encompassing redesign
In the next two weeks, in anticipation of wild election night blogging by travis, we are designing the web site.
So, if the current design has always bugged you, or you just have a suggestion or two, email doug@all-encompassingly.com. All ideas and suggestions of what the new site should/should not include are wanted. In addition, lists of favorite blog designs are also welcome.
Thanks!
!#%$&^@ comments!
comments have been re-enabled in their ORIGINAL form. we are working out the bugs in with typekey, and we intend to require typekey registration for commenting in the future. we hope it will eliminate comment spam. but for now, comment away.
go ahead. try it.
October 12, 2004
Comments on this site
In order to combat the ever increasing amount of spam comments that Travis and I are forced to delete throughout the day, we are going to require that readers register in order to comment.
The site is not setup right now for registration, so we ask for your patience as we make the necessary changes.
In the meantime, please email doug@all-encompassingly.com or travis AT all-encompassingly.com with any comments. Thanks much.
October 08, 2004
google does it again
do you think it's outrageous to pay $0.75 every time you need a phone number? so does google.
do you ever hesitate when you're shopping because you want to check prices online first? google understands.
are you tired of lugging that heavy dictionary around, everywhere you go? google is, too. also, they told me to tell you that you have unsightly sweat spots under your arms.
October 07, 2004
"death to clear channel"
finally, howard stern says something i can agree with. clear channel has ruined american radio, by monopolizing markets and narrowing the scope of songs that get airplay.
but i dislike howard stern. he has a popular show because he is willing to be perverted. on free radio, he was already a complete degenerate. just wait until he gets on the private airwaves.
"Will you ever go back to broadcast radio?"
Howard Stern, Radio Host: "I am done with broadcast radio. Death to broadcast radio, death to Clear Channel, this is the end. A new beginning has arrived." [link]
if you read the comments, you'll find that my argument with doug eventually fizzled out, leaving no definite conclusion. there is an excellent article here, discussing the way the limitless capacity of the internet has opened up the big business of niche markets. wired.com/wired/archive/12.10/tail.html
October 04, 2004
Four Gmail Invites
To celebrate the onslaught of new features that Gmail is offering (Atom feed, email forwarding, ability to save drafts, etc) we're offering 4 Gmail invites to anyone who already doesn't have a Gmail account.
The first four comments get the invites. Good luck!
September 27, 2004
best news article EVER
i recently found an article tacked to my cork board that i had ripped out of the daily universe back in october 2002. you know it means a lot to me because it survived 5 moves. here it is; i've bolded my favorite parts.
Around 10:30, James Norlem, 23, a junior majoring in Theater and Media Arts, from Omaha, Neb., was walking down Wilkinson Way, heading toward the Tanner Building on a work errand, when he saw a male on rollerblades, said university police information specialist, Greg Barber.
"My husband and I don't like seeing people on campus blatantly disobeying rules and laws," said James' wife, Casey Norlem, 22, a junior majoring in pre-home economics, from Farmington, N.M.
James Norlem approached the man to inform him that rollerblading is not allowed on campus.
"James, out of courtesy, told him it was against the law to save him from a $300 fine," Casey Norlem said.
When the man responded rudely to Norlem and proceeded to leave, Norlem ran after the man and grabbed his backpack. The skater then did a 360 on his blades, and pushed Norlem, throwing him to the ground, said Casey Norlem. The skater fled the scene and not been identified.
Eyewitness Saia Uluave, 22, a sophomore majoring in pre-management, from Provo, Utah County, was sitting on the west side of the Bookstore when the incident occurred. He said he did not think the rollerblader caused Norlem's fall.
Norlem broke his femur and chipped a part of his knee, Casey Norlem said.
She said because of the type of break, Norlem will have to undergo surgery and have pins placed in his bone, after which he will be in a lower-body cast for several weeks. She also said he will not be fully recovered for five to six months.
"It makes me angry that one student decides to not follow the rules and my husband decides to do something about it and now he's going to be in pain and out of function for months," she said.
James Norlem said in the future, he will not try to follow rule-breakers, but rather just get a better description and turn them in later. [out of "courtesy", right, james?)
"Any citizen has the right, when they see a crime occurring, to apprehend or detain the person and turn them over to law enforcement so they can be dealt with appropriately," Barber said.
If the suspect is apprehended, he will be cited in court for a minor offense, similar to a speeding ticket, Barber said.
Casey Norlem said she thinks it is pathetic that a student would purposely break a law, and furthermore, that he did not care that he injured her husband. [link]
i was going to provide a point-by-point fisking of this exhibition of utter stupidity by both the norlems and the reporter, (and even the university police guy who recommended that the norlems tackle and subdue any future "rule or law" breaking recreationists until proper authorities can be procured to deal with them) but the article is just too hilarious, too filled with crap, and too unreal. every single thing that casey norlem breathlessly claims is refuted by eyewitnesses or the laws of probability. that is why this is, indubitably, the best news article ever.
September 16, 2004
thx 1138
From all-encompassingly reader Briant:
While perusing the entertainment section of my school paper the other day, I read a review about last week’s re-release of THX 1138, a 1971 film by George Lucas. The critic based the bulk of his evaluation on the fact that the theater was empty on a Saturday night and therefore the film must be bad. The astute reader may have noticed that I am no longer in Provo, Utah because the was at least one empty theatre. I recently moved to Athens, Georgia I thought that living here would expose me to a more culturally aware student body than that expressed in the daily universe. I thought wrong. Apparently, if a movie does not follow the normal Hollywood script with explosions and exposures every five minutes laced with trendy music in the background then it has no value, even in Athens.
I will be the first to admit that this movie is not easy to watch because I got sick to my stomach the first time I watched it (my friend subsequently fired an arrow through the VHS cassette because he was so mad at it). However, THX 1138 has a lot to offer if you watch it with the right frame of mind because creates the mood as good as any movie I have seen. By that I mean it makes you feel as if you were there. If you are interested in knowing what it feels like to be under a totalitarian regime where you are sedated and there are no means (not to mention ideas) to escape then this is the movie for you.
Although the world in THX 1138 seems surreal, the main elements are simply extremes of a tyrannical government. There is lack of person, freedom, and expression, along with oppression, surveillance, and conformity. THX helps an American, who otherwise might have trouble comprehending anything outside life in the free world, understand oppression. On the other hand, it offers hope that the free mind can conquer all, and there is a really cool chase scene where a car peels out for over a minute. It may not conform to the usual Hollywood movie, but that is the whole point.
DISCLAIMER: I do not recommend everyone watch this movie. For example, I love my mother-in-law because she treats me like a king and she has funny quirks. When it comes to movies (a lot of people are like this, and it’s not a bad thing), there are certain elements that a movie can and cannot have. There can’t be any intensity, plot twists, or bad guys who don’t die in the end. I was really proud of her when she watched Spiderman: that was a big step for her. She needs slow pace, romance, a little comedy, and, more importantly, a predictable script. If you share these views, do not go and see this film.
For more see http://www.cnn.com/2004/SHOWBIZ/Movies/09/13/film.thx1138.ap/
September 10, 2004
New Movie Looks at September 11th
Thanks to Whitney for bringing to our attention a new movie dealing with September 11th. This time, it looks at the events of 9/11 from the hijackers' point of view.
While certainly an interesting endeavor, I wonder if a film looking at the 1930's and 40's from say, Hitler's point of view, would play well. Oh wait, it probably would in France...
September 06, 2004
Movable Type 3.11
We've upgraded to the newest version of Movable Type. There seem to be a few hiccups. Please bear with us while we work on them. :)
September 01, 2004
Google Instant Messenger?
Google seems to be continuing their march towards world domination. There is a lot of whispering on the net this week about the development of a Google instant messenger (gIM?).
August 30, 2004
Can Gmail Kill Email Marketing?
Read an interesting article yesterday about how Gmail poses a huge threat to traditional email marketing (those annoying, yet legitimate emails, from companies that you have given your email address to).
For example, lets say I enter a contest on American Airlines' web site. Now they have me email address. Before long they start sending me emails with travel deals.
BUT, here's the catch. If I signed up with my Gmail account, then when I open up American's email, three ads appear to the right of the message also advertising travel deals. Why? Because Gmail looks at your email message and displays ads that may be relevant to what the email content is.
So what's the big deal?
Well, American Airlines is spending money to send me their promotional emails offering their products. But now Gmail could also be showing me ads for competing products.
This is a big drawback to email marketers. Imagine if Coke had to give Pepsi 20% of the TV screen when they ran ads...
If other webmail services start to implement Gmail's contextual advertising model, this will seriously cramp the style of most email marketers. Hoora! :)
Find Out Anything About Any Website
For all my fellow web geeks out there. If you aren't using URLinfo, you should be. It is the best one-stop tool for investigating/researching any web site.
July 26, 2004
what people are saying about all-encompassingly
i went through our comment history this weekend and looked for remarks hurling insults or praise in our direction, and i found quite a few. we've had some great discussion on the blog in our first 16 months. if you want to see what inspired a particular spewage of hate or love, just click on the comment to go to the post that inspired it. all of the comments are real. where remarks came in an email, there is no link. now, without further ado, here's what people have to say about our blog, all-encompassingly:
"Gives me heartburn and makes me want to hurt people." --Carina, Hollywood Film Critic
"blatantly misleading and sensationalistic" --comment, Jul 2003 [link]
"Travis, you are a gift to humanity" --comment, Jul 2003 [link]
"d***head...I'll use regular punctuation for a week in honour of your great thinkings, master." --comment, Aug, 2003 [link]
"I just don't think I can do it [choose between Travis and Doug]." --Kerri, Sept 2003 [link]
"I'm insulted." --comment, Sept 2003 [link]
"You [are] all sniffle and twaddle, an ignorant piece of squidflesh fit only to exist on the bottom of [Helen] Thomas's shoe" --comment, Sept 2003 [link]
"9 times out of 10 gives me a good laugh." --Ashley, Mother of Three
"Made me into the man I am today" --The Captain[link]
"a self-absorbed bunch...take yourselves a bit too seriously. [You publish] gossipy, bitchy drivel...[you are] just another inbred hobby group...[your writing is] babble, and...is irrelevant." --comment, Nov 2003 [link]
"you guys need to get out more." --comment, Jan 2004 [link]
"bordering on retardation." --Dan, Feb 2004 [link]
"Doug, it's becoming more and more clear that you're not terribly bright." --comment, Mar 2004 [link]
"This website is pretty funny." --Tiffany, Apr 2004 [link]
"deeply mistaken" --professor of english, bruce young, letter to the editor, Jun 2004 [link]
"Travis, stop pretending you know anything about the War on Terror, even with your degree in philosophy." --Jeremy Bransom, letter to the editor, Jun 2004 [link]
"F*** you. I hope you die of oil inhalation." --comment, Jun 2004 [link]
"Enjoying your Blog...but don't forget your school work...(unless you are being
paid by the Blog people?)." --My Mother, Bless Her Heart [link]
July 24, 2004
how far have we come?
here's a scenario for you from just 10-15 years ago:
curious son: "dad, who invented plastic?"
busy father: "uh, look it up in the encyclopedia, boy."
curious son: "but these are grandpa's old encyclopedias. they were published before plastics were invented. and they smell like him, too."
busy father: well, then i guess you'll just have to head down to the library to do some good 'ol fashioned research."
curious son: i think i'll just waste away my life playing atari and get ADD by watching cartoons all day.
busy father: sounds good, boy.
or, imagine this: google circa 1960. now, the same problem, and how it would be resolved today:
curious boy: [click][click][click][click][click][click] (typing)..."dad, did you know that leo baekeland invented the first all-artificial plastic in 1907?"
busy father: [click][click][click][click][click][click] (typing)..."huh? uh, son that's great. listen, i'm in the middle of a multi-billion dollar stock trade, right here on my laptop, so could you just email me the link and i'll read it later?"
curious boy: "sure, dad. i really love you!"
busy father: "i love you, too, son!"
as you can see, the internet makes the world a better place for everyone.
for a long time, i have told my friends that my firstborn son will be named google; the search engine (and the evolution of the internet) has changed my life.
when i was in elementary and middle school (and even high school before i got wise to the technology) if i wanted to find something out, i had to go to the library, or ask someone who knew...or (let's be honest) just forget about it altogether (i mean, who's going to spend five hours on a tuesday night researching the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow? there is a ton of knowledge/information out there that is only disseminated because it is now so easy to obtain [see one example here]
i cannot begin to count how many times i've been hanging out with friends when a question comes up, and we instantly find the answer by consulting the first page of our google search results. call me weird, but that is exhilarating.
once, there was an argument between some californians and the normal people in our group. the californians argued that "bell peppers" is the correct term for green peppers. the normal people (me included) argued that, in fact, "green peppers" was right. we consulted googlefight a site that compares the number of google results to see which is more common. [what did we find? did you even have to ask?]
i suppose i just have a huge love for the conveniences high-speed internet affords me.
just yesterday, a beautiful girl asked me what perennial means, exactly, and we were able to look it up together on dictionary.com within seconds, and were provided with five (not one, but FIVE) different entries on the matter. that sure beats lugging a huge dictionary (or five) around.
it saved us so much time, we were able to make-out extensively to maroon 5's "she will be loved" which i acquired via the internet using a variation of one of the google searches suggested here. i also bought the CD (online, incidentally, on ebay) yesterday. it was competitively priced, even with shipping included, and will be delivered to me fresh like a pizza within a few days.
with gas prices being what they are nowadays, the cost of driving to the store is probably about the same as shipping. online shopping is becoming an incredibly viable alternative to the hubbub and hassle of shopping at "brick and mortar" stores.
ah, the internet age.
July 20, 2004
jackpot
UPDATE: er, uh...not enough said...see also mp3fresh.net. do not click on the links--they'll only lead you to a string of opening browser windows. however, the search bar is very useful for finding MP3s.
April 30, 2004
marty stephens. ready. now.
here are my sarcastic thoughts on the candidate for utah governor's compelling slogan, via cell phone:
April 29, 2004
April 19, 2004
a9.com = Amazon + Search
In a break from the political satire...
There is a cool new serch engine competing with Google now. It is a9.com.
Run by Amazon it has a couple cool features:
1) Search history, that you can access anywhere from any computer.
2) A toolbar with a "Diary" feature. Allowing you to take notes on specific web pages you visit.
3) It will search within books that Amazon sells.
The "uncool" feature is that you'll have to register to access the features. Which also means that Amazon can track what you're searching for, what pages you visit, etc.
April 14, 2004
April 01, 2004
doomsday scenarios
the most dangerous substance you've never heard of may be dihydrogen monoxide. go [here] to read about the hidden dangers of the substance.
and (supposedly friendly) robots from japan. [link]. yeah, right.
it is a scary world we live in, i tell you.
March 09, 2004
McDonald's and "Healthy Food"
Drudge linked to this hilarious article today, which you don't really need to read since the title says it all:
McDonald's Salad Has More Fat Than Cheeseburger
March 06, 2004
Our Prayers Are With Venezuela
The situation in Venezuela has crossed the line of ridiculous and entered into the Danger Zone. Seriously...
After invalidating the petition which could have led to being recalled, Chavez is acting like the brutish thug we've always known him to be.
March 02, 2004
The Cutest Infestation
Like the Mitch Hedberg monologue, koalas make the cutest infestation. Or do they? Interesting animal rights/conservation issues are being raised as koalas literally overrun an Austrailian island.
February 28, 2004
donny osmond: still a dork
maybe you can't tell from the picture...here's a bigger one with the interesting portions highlighted. donny's working arsenio's signature fist pump, and marie...well...let's just say she got her outfit from a humble wyoming trapper back when tassled leather was 'in'. but hey, who cares if the osmonds are dorks? the honoree at the event (a big donor to the university) seems happy. [story]
and let us not forget that now-famous pepsi commercial:
KELLY OSBOURNE: Dad?
OZZIE OSBOURNE: Not now. I'm just...
KELLY OSBOURNE: We really want to show you something.
OZZIE OSBOURNE: I have got something to do. I'm trying to...
JACK OSBOURNE: You really should see this.
OZZIE OSBOURNE: What is it then? What is it?
JACK OSBOURNE: These aren't Pepsis. They're Pepsi Twists.
OZZIE OSBOURNE: You're a bunch of bloody magicians.
KELLY OSBOURNE: And we're not the Osbournes.
OZZIE OSBOURNE: You're not?
DONNY OSMOND, MUSICIAN: We're the Osmonds.
MARIE OSMOND, MUSICIAN: We're the Osmonds.
MARIE OSMOND: I'm a little bit country.
DONNY OSMOND: I'm a little bit rock 'n' roll.
OZZIE OSBOURNE: Sharon!
February 13, 2004
No surprise here...
In case you hadn't heard: Ryan Anderson, a tank crewman in the National Guard, has been charged for passing military secrets to al-Qa'eda.
White, mid 20's, from Washington state. Hardly your profile of a terrorist...except for his...ummm...conversion to Islam.
February 11, 2004
Ripley's Believe It or Not
The story on CNN this morning caught my attention:
Swimmer drives with shark on legSo this guy down in Australia got bit by a small shark, but the shark wouldn't let go. So, he swims almost a quarter-mile to shore and drives to the nearest surf station to get help removing it. My favorite line from the article:
But he said Tresoglavic (the swimmer) remained in good spirits throughout the ordeal. "There was a side of humor to it," he said.
January 25, 2004
new blog showcase
my vote this week goes to notes from the (legal) underground for trial lawyer's prayer.
you can see all the entries here.
January 08, 2004
January 07, 2004
Lost Lottery Ticket Woman...
For anyone who has been absent from the United States for the past three days, catch up on the most important news item the media has been following:
Woman claims she lost winning lottery ticket, then sues the individual who turned the winning ticket in
Ahhh...but the plot thickens. Apparently the woman who "lost the ticket" has a history in the legal system. She's been involved in everything from credit card fraud to suing McDonald's over a "tainted milkshake."
Read about it here. Hat tip to Drudge.
