"I was being facetious, Jim, because if this were said by John McCain, I think we both know what the coverage would be... he's old and confused." - Shawn Collins
"Actually, yes. If I inadvertently broke any terms and found out about it, I'd correct it.
Do you see something here that appears to be a violation?" - Shawn Collins
"That's a nice lesson, but the relevance here?
I never claimed to be a saint, but I also don't condone cheating with a wink and a smile." - Shawn Collins
"I made the mistake of upgrading right away without checking if my key plugins were compatible.
Turns out Podpress (for streaming and providing reporting for podcasts) doesn't work with it.
Ugh." - Shawn Collins
"He sought the endorsement of Hagee, but I hardly think that's comparable to a 20 year relationship.
I still don't get the fuss about the OJ. He could have displayed better manners, but forgivable in such a frenzied atmosphere. Not newsworthy." - Shawn Collins
"I really don't see much in the way of hero stuff on McCain or anti-Obama in the MSM, which to me is ABC, CBS, NBC, Washington Post, New York Times, and LA Times.
Maybe my definition is too limited?
I don't even know what you're talking about with the orange juice.
And I strenuously diagree on McCain having a similar pastor problem. McCain was never a member of Pastor Hagee's church and he never had a relationship with him.
Hagee endorsed McCain, but their relationship didn't extend from there.
Far different from a 20 year relationship with Reverand Wright and his church, having been married by him, having children Baptized by him, having him as a spiritual mentor, and naming a book (The Audacity of Hope) after a sermon delivered by Wright.
Come on - a similar pastor situation?" - Shawn Collins
"I don't agree that McCain hasn't done enough to get attention. They just choose not to cover him.
When he traveled to South America recently, he was criticized for going there instead of meeting with Americans during an uncertain economic time.
Somehow that criticism doesn't emerge for Obama.
As far as the media going easy on McCain, if you search Google News for McCain maverick, you'll see that most of the references are negative or patronizing.
I watch news on a variety of stations, and I can't remember the last time I heard McCain as maverick in a positive mention outside of Fox News." - Shawn Collins
"Hi Steve -
Glad we could be helpful - feel free to reach out at any time if you have any questions or need anything.
Typically the fastest way to get an answer is to use the contact form on our site: http://www.affiliatesummit.com..." - Shawn Collins
"> It's really just for the UK merchants though.
That's why I was mentioning it, because they want to get a US version going.
That cool how you have your face on the small screen in the video - what did you use to make the video? All in Camtasia?" - Shawn Collins
"I hope you get some good eyeballs today - it's the biggest day to date for Obama 2.0 for traffic, due to the New Yorker cover.
I posted about it this morning and lucked into good indexing on Google for it." - Shawn Collins
"It's ironic that they were mocking the people that spread rumors, but they end up aiding them with this cover.
Then again, maybe they brainstormed this controversy, so they'd be talked about all day on the news channels and have their best selling issue of the year." - Shawn Collins
I agree with most of the points in the first list post. Similar reasons why I quit myspace years ago and started a blog that is restricted to just my personal friends (and why I think friendfeed is such a great idea). I still believe in openness. But until the tools are in place to put the trolls in their place, it'll continue to be a place where few can ruin it for the rest. I'd like to see the list posts made public but then ... not too different from a blog. - nicerobot
Interesting that you translate "first to sign up" as "top 2%" - would seem that you think speed is indicative of quality. Might not be the truth there, Jason. Good luck with the new project tho. - Lucretia Pruitt
A very good point, Lucretia. Given that, how do you determine who the top 2% are? People Jason knows already? People who give responses he likes? Does he remove people from the mailing list if they don't answer his questions often enough? - Charles LePage
I'd say it's a pretty good bet that the first few % to sign up for a list are people that are actually interested in the list. Not intended to exclude those that are interested and just slower to respond but to most assuredly exclude the haters. You can probably still join the list. It's just not open to anyone at this point. I'd also bet, opening it at this point, haters would flood in, it's a peculiar nature of people that like to take the wind out of people's sails. - nicerobot
you make some good points jdawg for sure, you also have taken us back (in thoughts and medium) in order to take us forward. good show. - sean percival
This is one of the stupidest things I've seen in a long time -- honestly. Blogs are full of trolls, so the solution is an email newsletter? Jesus. Jason, you've really hit rock bottom this time. I liked it better when I thought it was a gag. - mathew ingram
The Fact that a CEO is still trying to personally communicate with people outside of his company is monumental even in web 2.0 - Anthony Farrior
How is it 2% of the audience if the other 98% doesn't hear what you have to say? Not to mention the problem mentioned below, that the method of determining what constitutes the "top 2%" is laughable. Enjoying the attention, though, I bet. - Jake W via twhirl
Jake, I'm not saying this happened but how do you know Jason didn't go through every post to his blog and determine that 2% is the amount that really affected/interested him (positive or negative) and decide to not waste his time with the rest?! Additionally, there is value in intimacy. Not that quantity isn't also valuable. But intimacy seems to be of interest to him. I'd hardly say the "method of determining" the 2% is laughable. See my post above. - nicerobot
"Don't you know about the LinkShare Special Forces department that infiltrates black hat forums and associates affiliate IDs to the user names, so they can black out commissions?" - Shawn Collins
"Hey Jeff -
The continual drum beat from Democrats is that Republicans are rich and out of touch. I merely wanted to share an example of the Dems being guilty of what they condemn.
Not every American got a variable rate on a mortgage for a home they couldn't afford.
And I disagree that a $600 check doesn't make a difference.
Not so long ago for me, it would have made a hell of a difference." - Shawn Collins
"I think there were many factors in the demise of these mythical creatures.
You've got the democratization of tools and technology. It's not so exotic to put up videos and podcasts anymore.
And the companies releasing the latest Web 2.0 vapor service stopped making these guys the gate keepers. The invites started going to the unwashed masses, too.
Not to mention that the "a-list" shifted from being cutting edge to tacky and entitled. A smarmy bunch with multiple devices on their belts and inside jokes.
In the end, they were the last to realize the punchline, for it was them." - Shawn Collins
Great post! All in all, I'd say Apple is better-positioned to weather this "storm" than Microsoft would be (not that *that's* the competition at hand): 1) they can probably react quicker to make the fixes necessary (Microsoft REALLY needs to overcome their "build lethargy" and be more nimble in that regard) and 2) the fanbase & the detractor base is much more forgiving of Apple-the-up-and-comer than they are of Microsoft-the-evil-behemoth. - Craig Eddy
Good point! Apple is the only one that can do that. Any other company would get flames! - fbrunel
It means that products are so good that people can endure anything for getting them. - fbrunel
I'm trying to want to go get an iphone.. really. Can someone tell me something it does that I need? Specifically, I'm rarely more than 5 minutes away from a computer so I'm struggling with upgrading my 40$ att plan to a $100 one? I passed the first time around, but I serious need a new phone and waited for launch hoping to be wowed. - Doug Brooks
I still can't download the iPod touch firmware. I wondering if I ever will be able too. - Jim Williams
Robert, I think you're right about nothing else coming close to the iPhone. But I'll tell you what - I wouldn't repeat today's frustration. As someone once told me "one 'oh, shit' cancels five 'atta-boys'." Let's all learn something from this. - Tom Landini
I can't even fully describe exactly why I love my first iPhone. It's just amazing, despite the activation problems. Long term, Apple will recover from this hurdle...and I'll buy iPhone 4G! - Brian Wilson
I bitch. But you know I have to agree as well. - MG Siegler
So Robert, was the atmosphere in line as interesting as it was while waiting for the original iPhone? Was it worth being in line from the social aspect? Do you think you will bother waiting in line for the third gen iPhone? - Jeff P. Henderson
Funny, but I never have any such issues with my blackberry - no queues, no activation nightmares. I still say it's the corporate choice... - Tom Quinn
Jeff: I only waited in line a couple of hours. The Palo Alto store is geekier but last year was extraordinary. The lines were fun, though. - Robert Scoble
Just linked to the piece ... bottom line ... it's true :) - Charlie Anzman
I waited in line 4 hours in NJ. Well worth it! Better than my stupid work Blackberry. - Ernie Oporto
hmm let me try a different approach.. does anyone know if you can return a phone and cancel a plan if it's not your thing? - Doug Brooks
I agree, it was worth it. Nice article Robert. - Eric Thompson
It just amazes me that microsoft, sony, google, nokia et alia have let Apple get away with this massive coup. They must have all seen the iphone coming a mile away and yet all these years later none of them has yet managed to launch a decent competitor. How hard is it just to copy? - Charlie
The reasonaApple gets away with it is they appeal to the desire to feel elite and special. Features wise the iPhoen is sadly lackign and the companies support for it is miserable. They picked the worst carrier on earth to boot. But since they can make folks feel special for having one, they win the mindshare. The same 10% will pay any price to get that feeling. - Soulhuntre via feedalizr
"Apple is an amazing company. One that can abuse you, and make you love it at the end of the process. " I've dated women like this. :) - Adam Turetzky
CHarles - why copy it? Honestly. No MMS to speak of, a bad camera, no video, no copy / paste, no background tasks, weak gps, locked in OS and a difficult developer kit. Yes, it loosk cool... but other than that the hardware and software is well below current standards for Blackberry and Windows Mobile systems. I know, I'm a heretic. - Soulhuntre via feedalizr
Not loving Apple today-- My cool aid appears to be tainted - Mark Nassal via twhirl
It really wasn't so bad at all. The launch today was a bottleneck of too many people and: 1) not enough technology (the servers), and 2) knowledge (AT&T). I was inconvenienced for a while in the afternoon, but once the servers opened back up, It was all systems go with the 3G and I was back in a state of wonder at what a great product this is. - Steve Isaacs
Did you really cut the line with your son? Just to be first?Tell me, was it worth it? How many people were there before you? Do you really think that it was fair, or are you both that "special" that you get to jump the line. I am sorry, but to brag about jumping the line is tacky. You didn't even acknowledge, nor thank those who supposedly let you jump the line. Talk about gratitude or lack of. Oh well. - R.A.K.
The moral of the story, son... it's good to be King (Douchebag) - Shawn Collins
I thought he jumped the line so he could film the event, not to get his own iPhone. - Victor Ryden
RAK: I didn't cut in line. I was invited into the line by the group of people in the front. Everyone saves spots. We did it last year for people, too. Or did you forget that I bought Dave Winer and Steve Gillmor's iPhones last year? (I waited in line, they did not). - Robert Scoble
I think that the kool-aid the tech world is drinking has not caught on mainstream. Not even close. Was talking to a group of friends today, they don't even know what the iPhone 3G is. Awesome phone (over-hyped of course), great tools, app store launched, etc. But it'll take some time for the average, non-wealthy Joe to care why it exists ...maybe the iPhone is not really changing the world the way everybody thinks it is... - David Adewumi
In the meantime, new iPhones are now selling on Ebay for close to $2,000 :-) Definitely worth the hell... ;-) - Jesse Stay
They should have put big hamster wheels along the lines, so that people waiting could get some exercise. - Tal Ater
Hamster wheels a good idea - we should get them to generate electricity by connecting them to the grid - the queue could get some excercise and actually do something useful - Brian Sullivan
Glad to hear your son made it out of there ok. :) - David Cook
"Well, if you search for Obama, you get a bunch of positive videos about him. Do a search for McCain, and you get mostly negative videos about him." - Shawn Collins
