I'm getting confused! There seems to be lots of places for us Powncers to go, but I don't want to sign up for all of them and end up with too many things to check! I might just stick with ff and twitter until things settle down a bit.
That's what I'm thinking. Hopefully people will get on the 2 staples of networking until that one solution comes back. I know there is something in the works, we just wait..
- Mike Lewis
that's what I figure. I thought having this room, would be good hold over till someone builds a clone or alike. Some sites exist on donations alone.
- clarke thomas
I'll donate to have that community back.
- Ben Burris
"The site is the brainchild of Ariel Waldman, recently named one of the most influential individuals in Silicon Valley. Waldman was previously a program coordinator at NASA CoLab, which connects communities inside and outside NASA to collaborate. She agreed to answer a few GeekDad questions about the new site."
- clarke thomas
from Bookmarklet
hmm I wonder if I pay $20 today if I can get a premium account at a service I don't like and probably won't use.... heheh
- Wolfman-K
Agreed. I already have/had a blog and I doubt I will use the TypePad account.
- simon
Is a premium typepad account something you would have to renew in a year? They are also offering a free typepad to laid off journalists. I think it used to be a big deal but ever since wordpress.com has been out I think its been superior. MT was the best back in the early days of blogging. Its were the cool kids were.
- Christian Burns
Ugh, I pay $100 a year for all of my domain names (well, $40 this year because I cut down a bit) and $200 a year for hosting (What can I say, MediaTemple works well for me?).
- Jessica Sideways
I will just cancel it. It's free and I like free. But I'm still pissed.
- Ben Burris
Why would you Twitter when you have groves of fans on Pownce that miss you with a blinding passion.
- Mike Lewis
I do both. I use Twitter for little one-off comments that I don't expect to generate conversation. I use FF for things that I actively expect or want feedback on.
- Akiva Moskovitz
I turned some friends onto Twitter and they're happy there so I can't completely abandon it. If I had a choice though, I'd switch them to FF and give Twitter a fond hug and a "take care, good buddy."
- ♥patricia♥
Hehe, Mike... Do they still actually talk about Tad on Pownce? I know he was a minor celeb there at one point but I think it's been months since he posted anything there.
- Lindsay
Everyone I've tried to explain it to has said "people actually USE that?"
- teh Dork Knight aka Kenny
Lindsay, yeah his name comes up from time to time. Some of the old hats have come back but Tad is still holding out.
- Ben Burris
There's more interaction here, but Twitter is good too.
- Tamar Weinberg
Actually there have been several threads on Pownce with people looking for Tad, if he went back and did a vanity search he'd be blown away. Why am I talking about Tad like he's not here. Shh, I think he's coming, talk about something else.
- Mike Lewis
from twhirl
"Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote."
- Ben Burris
from Bookmarklet
This is why you do not go to conventions. This image is NSFW...or anyone..ever...really. Don't look. I warned you. - http://fuku.catsonmars.com/otaku...
I warned you not to look. Your eyes are burning now, aren't they?
- Candace
My eyes? My eyes? You're concerned about my eyes? What about my poor brain? I may even have permanent genetic damage from that. ARGH!
- ha3rvey, not a sweetheart
I said don't look. No one listens...or reads..?
- Candace
My wife is grossed out but not dissuaded. for some reason she has an unreasonable desire to go to a furry convention.
- Mark "Rizzn" Hopkins
Keep her locked in her room...wait..give me five minutes to txt a friend. Then, show your wife what I post. She'll NEVER GO.
- Candace
Oh so... I think no one who is one anyway of course Candace you realize that if you tell people not to go what are we going to do run to it...
- Cecil Sandus
In all honesty, she's a great looking chick but..let me find the character she is supposed to look like. You might understand. ..Hey, I'm very comfortable with myself but, there are just some things I won't wear in public...that tops the list.
- Candace
Hmmm, I don't know her personally, but I could. On the other hand, I go to several conventions a year either as a panelist or as a Game Master. Yes, I have admitted to extensive geekdom! And chubby girls in revealing clothing deserve at least once a year to feel special and desired, right?
- Alexander Williams
from NoiseRiver
@Tad Donaghe (tad): The fact we get to oggle them and lust in our hearts is just added bonus. Yeah, I'm an old creepy guy. What of it? :P
- Alexander Williams
from NoiseRiver
@Cecil Sandus (cecilsandus): Actually, I know a number of people in Georgia who make fursuits. It's ... a fairly hard process, actually. I'm always impressed.
- Alexander Williams
from NoiseRiver
@Alexander - I was looking for a decent one of Felicia. I don't consider that "furry" really...just not the best costume choice (and she's not chubby!). Anyway, I'm off teh laptop! Bedtime!
- Candace
@Candace Holly (candaceholly): The Furries consider Felicia furry, which says enough, I guess. But, hey, net win for me! I'll make sure things don't degenerate lower than 4chan in your absence ... ;)
- Alexander Williams
from NoiseRiver
"The disparity between rural America and the rest of the country is a matter of simple home economics. Nationwide, Americans are now spending about 4 percent of their take-home income on gasoline. By contrast, in some counties in the Mississippi Delta, that figure has surpassed 13 percent."
- Bret Taylor
Wow, this really put things into perspective for me: " Workers at the plant are trying to find ways to cope. Josephine Cage, who fillets fish, said her 30-mile commute from Tchula to Isola in her 1998 Ford Escort four days a week is costing her $200 a month, or nearly 20 percent of her pay. “I make it by the grace of God,” she said, and also by replacing meat at supper with soups and...
more...
- Ginger Makela Riker
What you are seeing is a contraction of geographic freedom that should hopefully reduce sprawl. Worse than actual georgraphic limitations is that energy costs are built into every other item, which should make everything more expensive.
- RAPatton
Sprawl is not the enemy, It would be nice if the work was sprawled so that people did not have to drive so far.
- Christian Burns
Modern (post-war) zoning mandates that work spaces cannot be too close to residential spaces, essentially forcing you to drive or commute to work. Sprawl (low-density housing) mandates that public transit will be less effective, since each bus-stop is within walking distance to fewer houses.
- Brian Johns
High fuel prices raises the price of cheap, undeveloped land on the fringes of metropolitan areas; of course it will raise the price of land within the metro areas making mass transit less likely, because, in truth, it is all about the land when you are trying to implement any sort of rail; you need to build it before the people get there
- RAPatton
Every time the neocons issue threats to attack Iran, the price of oil rockets upward. If they actually do attack, we may see oil prices rise to $300 a barrel and the collapse of the American economy all across the board. An exaggeration? Consider that the neocons originally estimated that the Iraq War would cost absolutely nothing. The actual cost, according to expert analysts, will be several trillions of dollars.
- Sean McBride
You would be more likely to see the collapse of the Indian and Chinese economies under those $300 a barrel according to a friend of mine that is an energy analyst. He has told me for a while that a collapse of the Indian and Chinese economies under the duress of high fuel prices is the only way gas will ever be cheap like it was in the 90s in the wake of the collapse of the Soviet Union.
- RAPatton
I am trying to picture a healthy and functioning American economy with the price of gas at $10 a gallon or more, which is where it will be if the neocons attack Iran (or even continue merely to threaten to attack Iran) -- it doesn't compute. I would be interested, however, in reading a scholarly paper developing your friend's theory. Americans are hugely dependent on affordable oil to conduct their daily business.
- Sean McBride
Sean sounds to me like you want to punish America. you sound almost sadistic. Foreign oil is not a good idea, but you are being silly about this cause and effect orthodoxy. The US actually had great prices compared to other nations. The price of oil is not the result of supply because there is plenty in the short term in reserve, but actually the price is related to the fact that the oil companies see the writing on the wall and realize that profit from oil is a short term business.
- Noah David Simon
oil knows that we are trying to switch fuels and that their product will not be in the profit model in the future. in the mean time they have a captive consumer. Do the math and you will realize supply in the short term is not a factor. In fact many oil companies were very against the invasion of Iraq because it would be hard to explain high prices if our own country controlled the pipeline. Ever wonder why Republican oil people like former secratary of state Baker is against Iraq war?
- Noah David Simon
The only good thing to come out of high oil prices is the increasing incentive to find cheaper alternatives, which might in turn be cleaner alternatives. Our economy needs the equivalent of $1/gallon. That would help turn the world around. It's coming.
- Internet's Tad
from fftogo
the price of oil is directly related to the future of the business. If there is not a future then ExxonMobile will not spend the money and look for new places to drill. While this might be a "Green" win, the energy companies intend to make us pay for our insolence. Corporate PR from Chevron to BP are pro-green. Why? Energy has figured out how to make a profit out of our better intentions. If you turn on the TV, the station that is most against the war in Iraq is PBS, one might call PBS the BP TV!
- Noah David Simon
seriously. public media is funded by mostly energy companies. doesn't that raise any eyebrows in the blue states at all? you seem to want to point the blame, but the oil companies are laughing their way to the bank on your self righteousness. don't believe the hype people. support the troops. Iraq is the right thing to do and is part of the "Green" solution. the best way to convert to alternative fuel is to survive the short term.
- Noah David Simon
$10 a gallon gas would be great. Then we'll have the political will to turn some freeway space into railways, and mass transit will be a reality again.
- Piaw Na
don't fall for green corporate PR. there is a profit incentive to this. It is so sad that they have used the left as a tool to increase profits and spit on American soldiers. You are lemmings if you believe a newscast promoted by an energy company. Always look at the sponsor when watching the news. It will give you an idea of who is benefiting from the news slant. How many energy company ads do you see on FOX NEWS? not many
- Noah David Simon
I live in rural VA and usually this time of year you have to pass farm equipment on the road daily. I've noticed quite a bit of equipment for sale and foreclosure announcements in the local paper. It really saddens me that we people not in the densely populated areas are the ones forgotten in the ever growing tide of greed. These are good hard working people, maybe not what you would call highly educated; but good people nonetheless.
- Ben Burris
don't you realize that the higher the price goes of crude the harder it will be for us to switch fuels? There is no silver lining to high oil prices! The incentive to switch is already there. Corn is already cheaper then petrol. The business model switch is already there. Now we are just punishing ourselves if we don't find more oil. I understand you think in terms of disposable technology, but our culture will become a polluted ghetto with the model you are cheering.
- Noah David Simon
Noah - I'm not sure what you mean by harder to switch fuels? It's going to be a bear either way, but either we do it or eventually humanity collapses back to the Stone Age. I'm betting it's a successful and only moderately more painful switch. I have faith in science, technology and profit incentive.
- Internet's Tad
from fftogo
when the car doesn't run, one can't get it to the shop to switch engines.
- Noah David Simon
trust me. Chevron, BP and ExxonMobile are laughing their so called "GREEN" ass off to the bank on your good intentions. They are benefitting from our social collapse and sadistically whipping the people. They don't need to drill. They have a captive consumer who is forced to pay higher prices. just think about it for just one second. this is the big dupe of the 21st century and historians will be laughing at our folly. No one thinks that alternative fuel is bad, but to stop drilling locally? duh!
- Noah David Simon
and the NYTimes is almost like a PR piece for Dubai 99% of the time. it is not a reliable news source either. you blame the Neo-Cons? you are pathetic. The Neo-Cons are your best friends right now and you don't even realize it. It is the old school oil boys like Baker who are against the war who you should be scared of. The Iraqi Report was a farce!
- Noah David Simon
I hate to interrupt with facts but before we bash big oil to vehemently we should look at the market and source of gas prices. http://tinyurl.com/59s29v
- Keith - @tsudo
@Noah The neocons who engineered the multi-trillion-dollar disaster in Iraq, and who are now agitating for an even bigger disaster in Iran (all the while driving up oil prices) are our best friends? Worst enemies is the more accurate description. They may well succeed in destroying the American economy and America's status as a superpower forever. The best minds in the oil industry (like James Baker) have opposed the neocons on the grounds that they are a nightmare for the American economy.
- Sean McBride
You know, the only two people mentioning "Big Oil" in this thread are you, tsudohnimh and Noah. People are talking about cheaper alternatives, not burn down the oil companies. It doesn't matter who benefits from the high prices: it's about how do we make energy cheaper. The lady doth protest too much, methinks.
- Mark Trapp
I used to point out to my dad that I thought higher gas prices would be great, since it would force people to buy smaller vehicles. Then he kindly pointed out that it wasn't the fancy SUV drivers who would suffer since they were the kind that could also afford to pay more for gas, it was the folks at the lower end who would get the short end of the stick. Who runs the farms when the farmers can't afford fuel?
- Kirk Kittell
exactly Kirk! don't throw out the baby with the bathwater. the people who use stupid words like those "Neo-Cons are baaa---ad" because they are "pro war" are just ignorant. The war was caused by a renegade power structure that betrayed our country. It has not been the first time a power has turned on us. Stalin did after world war 2. Using the Obama model, FDR and Churchill were the bad guy.
- Noah David Simon
Sean McBride... James Baker is a NAZI and has been quoted as saying some very nasty things. It isn't a matter of conservative vs. liberal. It is a matter of who is loyal to the American people, despite fiscal theory I happen to be flexible and believe if we can win in Iraq then we will have money for social spending. James Baker is the problem. He is loyal only to his pocket. He does not care about our future. I would like to talk about some options other then self destruction on the oil issue
- Noah David Simon
@Noah There is no conceivable way to "win" a war in which we are pouring trillions of dollars down the drain with the effect of: 1) greatly increasing the strategic power of Iran in the region, 2) turning the Iraqi people against a foreign occupation and the United States, 3) reducing the flow of oil from Iraq and 4) greatly increasing the price of oil. The neoconservatives who engineered the Iraq War got everything absolutely wrong and upside down. Even some former neocons have admitted their errors.
- Sean McBride
last I checked things were going well. war is messy... it is a war. Iran has actually been marginalized and it would seem ceased nuclear work when we entered the region in 2003.you are talking about opinions, but the reality is way different then a PBS James Baker PR stunt. YES WE CAN WIN THE WAR IN IRAQ! reducing the flow of oil in Iraq? so Iraq can sell to China and Russia for more money so they can fund more terrorism. What is your real motive here? Being Green or punishing the American people?
- Noah David Simon
again... the oil companies are laughing their way to the bank on your self righteousness. don't believe the hype people. support the troops. Iraq is the right thing to do and is part of the "Green" solution. the best way to convert to alternative fuel is to survive
- Noah David Simon
Since this is my entry, can I request an end to the Iraq war debate? No more, please. I will just start deleting everyone's comments at some point - go debate on your own feed ;)
- Bret Taylor
I've been deeply involved in the electricity industry in the U.S. over the past decade and have my own thoughts on the current situation with fuel costs. You can follow the link to see those thoughts if you like. http://www.cleanenergydigest.com/2008...
- Rob Safuto
the two issues are linked. our green future depends on our ability to maintain our economy without reverting to a continental slum. you just can't throw out one issue without dealing with the other, but here is a different tangent coming out of the mid east (where most of the world's oil is from). I'm sorry we can't agree, but this issue would not create 30 comments if we knew all the answers. Economic arrogance will not make the mid east go away http://www.youtube.com/watch...
- Noah David Simon
Here is one place among many to comment on connections between Mideast politics and the price of oil: http://tinyurl.com/4ywxmp Chris Hedges is one of the smarter pundits on the American scene.
- Sean McBride
here in Finland one can write off his taxes all annual home-to-work transport costs above 500 EUR own responsibilities, granted used cheapest mean to reach workplace and vacation time is not paid
- A.T.
I wonder, would it be Ok if I submit few tinyURL-ed refs to few blog posts written in Russian but translated with e.g. Google translate, or... ?
- A.T.
yes Craig Eddy... we do hold a lot of oil that we refuse to use in Florida because we prefer Cuba to do it instead... but there simply is not an immediate supply issue right now. it isn't the problem. the problem is the industry is trying to make a buck right now because they won't later. the writing is on the wall for them. best way to beat the system is to drill of course and create competition, but the oil industry is cooperating in lockstep with the environmentalists and it is a union made in hell.
- Noah David Simon
they protest and scream about Bush, and the oil companies raise the prices... the answers are let the free market push us into corn, but we also have to stop investing in petroleum with our hand behind our backs. the free market will change energy sources now. it could of earlier, but corn was more then petroleum and the dollars weren't talking till now.
- Noah David Simon
Why don't they broadcast Apple keynotes on MSNBC or CNN? All this makeshift jury-rigged michegas. It was cute for a while. But this has been going on for 25 years!
It would be like an hour long Apple commercial. I'd rather Apple just broadcast it in HD on their on site.
- Internet's Tad
from fftogo
yes, this just proves that MSNBC and CNN are becoming more and more irrelevant each day
- Lasse
It all about the spin apple has the charisma but not the spin. politics seems to be much more fun for these networks
- Fuad Arshad
from twhirl
thought that too. on the iphonealley wwdc live audio stream there are already over 10.000 viewers...
- Alexander Marktl
Okay so they can rent the Discovery Channel. But this is silly. It's 2008. I have a slingplayer on my second Mac screen. I have an HD antenna out the window. I have two kinds of Internet. And we're using tin cans with string to communicate. It's feudal.
- Dave Winer
Totally agreed with you there Dave. At the very least they could make a killing with Geek Pay per View. :D I'd guess most of us here on FriendFeed might be willing to fork over $5 to watch the KeyNote live as it happens.
- Internet's Tad
from fftogo
I'd rather watch it streamed live on the Apple site than all this faffing around. You could watch, point, click, buy and go pick up in minutes.
- Sally Church
Serious - who cares about the presidency? iPhone!
- Soulhuntre
from twhirl
I'm not paying $5 to watch an infomercial. What's next -- pay $20 to watch a show about Ginzu knives or how cat food is inspired by Fine French Cooking. Now I might pay $5 for a half-hour commercial for Beggin Bits (dogs don't know it's not bacon) or 2 hours with the Comcast turtles.
- Dave Winer
Geez Soulhuntre give Dave break ;-) - he has generally been posting non stop about Obama vs Clinton vs McClain for many months. One slip up and you are all over him ;-)
- Brian Sullivan
It would be nothing more than an Apple commercial. Plus in the grand scheme of things, Apple is still just a electronics company. The majority of the world could care less what swami Steve has to say.
- Ben Burris
WWDC costs money to go. One of the reasons to go is to see the keynote live. QED
- Sam Pullara
This comes right after a deluge of reports that eBay sellers are jumping ship and customers are leaving for low fixed prices from other retailers. Go Apple! Innovate like there's no tomorrow!
- Ben Burris