Wakoopa tracks what kind of software or games you use, and lets you create your own software profile. Ready for you to share with the world. Why? Because what you use on your desktop is who you are! - Oliver Ortega Chua
Wakoopa tracks what kind of software or games you use, and lets you create your own software profile. Ready for you to share with the world. Why? Because what you use on your desktop is who you are! - Oliver Ortega Chua
Yourmusic.com is an exciting music subscription service that's as simple as it is inexpensive. All CDs are just $6.99 each, and shipping and handling is always FREE! - Oliver Ortega Chua
I'm a developer for a mystery shopping company in Orange County. My wife and I live in San Diego where I'm a progressive in California's infamous 50th District. I'm a political junkie, car nut, tech slave and social media whore! - Oliver Ortega Chua
I like it! I'm looking to add another media center and if it's really eco-friendly, it'll hopefully consume less power than my current media center so that I can always leave it on. Waiting for it to show on the Dell website so I can check out the specs... - Oliver Ortega Chua
Netflix: Signup - Log In - Free Trial. Starting at only $4.99/month. Free Trial. Over 100,000 titles on DVD. Free, fast shipping both ways. Free Trial. - Oliver Ortega Chua
Netflix: Signup - Log In - Free Trial. Starting at only $4.99/month. Free Trial. Over 100,000 titles on DVD. Free, fast shipping both ways. Free Trial. - Oliver Ortega Chua
My account seems to be OK, but I hardly use Twitter anymore. - Bill Sodeman
I had 77 yesterday afternoon and it returned back to 89 last night. I'm still ok. - Phillip Jeffrey
We have lingering issues. I still am missing approx. 250 followers, but more important to me, I cannot add anyone. I just met a number of great people ;this past few weeks who are adding me on Twitter, and I have to keep explaining to them why I can't reciprocate immediately. This is a real drag. There has been no indication from Twitter if this situation will ever change. I tried to post a comment about it (politely) on their blog, and they never approved my comment. They have not answered any messages.:( - Cathryn Hrudicka
"The plan is that by the middle of the next decade, they'll be able to mass produce a cost effective carbon fiber and use it to reduce the weight of cars by 40-percent. And when they're finished with it, they will also be able to recycle it to reduce production costs." - Oliver Ortega Chua
This one is hard to even explain, it's so bizarre. McCain, looking just awful on camera, made yet another major gaffe about national security policy, on CBS. So what did Katie Couric do? She aired the interview with McCain, aired the question that led to the gaffe, and then inserted an "answer" to the question that wasn't the real gaffe-filled answer - it was something McCain said in a total other part of the interview. It's absolutely astounding how far the corporate media is willing to go in order to defend John McCain. And seriously, take a good look at McCain in this video, I was kind of shocked by his appearance - he doesn't look well at all. - Cee Bee via Bookmarklet
it's crazy how blatant the mainstream media is and how much people swallow it up - Cee Bee
Apparently McCain canceled his weekly press conference today. One explanation for the cancellation is that McCain didn't want to face questions about this latest gaffe. - tim
Cee Bee: you mean traditional media, don't you? - Bren
well yeah, traditional and/or mainstream. i kinda place them in a similar category. - Cee Bee
cee bee how did i miss this??? thanks for this :) - Mona N.
good read. it was a bit confusing at first, but i think i agree with the last paragraph which labels mainstream more as traditional rather than one which addresses strictly a left or right wing dialogue. mainstream media still comprises opinions and discourse from both sides (ie -- cnn vs fox), but more as a way of complementing one another and thus maintaining cultural, social and political hegemony than informing its audience - Cee Bee
I'm no McCain fan by any stretch, but as I was reading this, I was wondering: how many people would have actually noticed his mistake if they had broadcast it? How many people even know the difference between the Sunni and Shiite Muslims, let alone the exact dates of when either group had a resurgence? - Frederic
THIS is where Social Media can SHINE by exposing this 'editing' - ric johnson
McCain knows these issues... he is on the camera 24/7 and sometimes says the wrong word. any experienced veteran media figure makes the same mistake. I hope Obama is elected so that I can spend four years showing his gaffes. it would be sweet revenge to show you that he is human... at least McCain makes a verbal typo, but Obama's doubletalk to AIPAC was no mistake - Noah David Simon
@Noah I don't think his gaffe is the issue here. I'm no McCain supporter but I let that slide. What's wrong here is the media's (i.e., CBS) cover-up of his gaffe. Aren't they supposed to be reporting THE NEWS?! - Oliver Ortega Chua
@Cee Bee, I've got to say that you're "on fire" this week! Keep the good stuff coming... - Anthony K Valley
I agree with what Oliver said. People make mistakes, gaffes will happen. I think we need focus a lot less on the game of "gotcha" - an unhealthy game at which much of social media and mainstream media's energy and angst is directed - and actually endeavor to drill down and discuss the substance of the issues. - Anthony Citrano
Frederic: You are right that most people don't know the difference between Sunni and Shi'ite, nor the date of either group's resurgence; then again, most people aren't running for president. McCain's 'gaffes' illustrate a basic lack of understanding of some of the core issues facing whoever assumes the mantle come January. In fact, he may know quite well the difference between the groups...but he fails to convey his understanding effectively. We already tried a Pres. who couldn't communicate. - Bren
Regardless of what you think of McCain, like Oliver stated, it's up to CBS to actually report the news...not make it up as they go along. - Mark Wilson
I know for a fact that John knows what a Sunni and Shia is. for one thing... unlike Obama he has experience visiting there and talked to the locals - Noah David Simon
What is news? The agencies reporting all rely on making advertising revenue from wealthy politically vested customers? News is not a compass always reflecting true north. It's more like one of those big wheels of fortune at those carnivals... - Mark Forman
yes... news is bullshit Mark. but a person's reputation does matter. - Noah David Simon
John McCain always spoke his feelings honestly and intelligently. I was especially impressed with how he campaigned in Michigan. John told the autoworkers the sad truth and didn't lie to them like Obama would. Romney tried telling his home state that he could bring back the 50's and won the state. John=Integrity! - Noah David Simon
If I had a tomato I would throw it at ms couric. - Rick Powell
These are not gaffes. A gaffe happens once, maybe twice. He continues to do it. He's on television stating policy. He doesn't even know the basic facts, and he's running on foreign policy expertise? Pathetic that the "non-partisan" media has to prop up the paucity of his intellect. - Rick Powell
I have seen John talk about Sunni and Shia before this election. stop it with the lies. everyone has seen the Lieberman correction. you are like children laughing because you got someone to say a curse word.... "9 year olds, dude", says Walter. "9 year olds" - Noah David Simon
not only does John know the difference between Sunni and Shia... but he has met with them many times. (Hence all your Neo-Con accusations of conspiracy) You can't have it both ways. Obama doesn't have the experience with these people... because he doesn't go there and is trying to deny his Muslim identity. - Noah David Simon
Did you actually read the article or are you just mouthing off? He is on record not knowing difference between Sunni and Shia, and now he is on record not knowing the basic facts of the surge vis a vis The Anbar Awakening. Defend him all you want, but kindly use facts to do so. Or is that not your style? - Rick Powell
when was the last time Obama went to the mid east? yes... read the video. waste of time. spin me another one. now about Obama and his AIPAC promises. what is it now? ...is McCain controlling the world through his Neo-Con connections or is he out of touch? seems like you want it both ways. I'm bored with this - Noah David Simon
Noah, you say "stop with the lies" and then go on propagating the lie about Obama being a Muslim. - Oliver Ortega Chua
@adamostrow: Now, if they'd have done this 10, 15 years ago when there were people asking for it, we wouldn't be where we are today on MULTIPLE fronts. Three guesses what groups are responsible for that and the first two don't count ... - Alexander Williams via NoiseRiver
Well, if we had put more into alternative energy 10-15 years ago, oil wouldn't matter so much today. Jimmy Carter put us on track to have 20% of our energy from solar by 2000. When Reagan took office, he promptly put a stop to it. Look where we are now! - Oliver Ortega Chua
I wouldn't be so against off shore drilling if the oil companies actually took responsibility for their actions. Just take a look at how the Exxon Valdez spill turned out... http://www.gregpalast.com/cour... - Oliver Ortega Chua
@ochua1: I'll be honest. 10,000 sea birds dying is just a giggle from me in exchange for $2 off gas prices and a lack of stagnation in the economy. Moreover, given that oil extraction has been allowed in areas where Parks doesn't even allow highways through and has left areas in better shape where they've left than when they got there ... Yeah, that's a silly argument. - Alexander Williams via NoiseRiver
How condescending! Good thing he no longer works for Netflix. Customers are NOT children. Children don't pay your bills and won't leave you. Customer do and they will! - Oliver Ortega Chua
Yeah, I had toric back in the day, but in 2003 I finally got myself the best present and did lasik custom vue and my life has been amazing since. No more worries about sleeping with them in or cleaning them. I am sure the price has dropped. Trust me, its the best investment. - Andrea Baker
I'm afraid to let anybody cut into my eyeballs with a laser... maybe in 20 years.. - Brandon
I was afraid too, but the technology has become so advanced and hey Tiger Woods did it, would he gamble the millions upon millions he makes if it wasn't safe. They give you a xanex and you can chill out and sleep it off, then the next day you wake up its clarity. - Andrea Baker
I also had LASIK done in 2003. I was worried, too, but the guy who did mine is one of the best in the world. Best $4K I ever spent. Period. - Oliver Ortega Chua
edythe and brandon, I am with you on not wanting to risk my eyes; I need my eyes to survive. My mom got lens implants this winter and says they are wonderful, but they don't do that until the cataracts are too bad. On they hand, you might like waking up and being able to see in the morning, and enough people have done it that it is reasonably safe. Edythe , if you do go this route, I expect you to still wear glasses on occasion; you look good in them :) - RAPatton
I'll go first. Last November I had a total of five phones with four different carriers because they all came out at once. Verizon-Voyager; T-mobile-SideKick and BB Curve; AT and T-iPhone; Sprint-Treo ....wow I ended up keeping my BlackBerry and iPhones.... double wow - Mona N.
First thought that came to mind: dildo LOL - Hao Chen
How is anyone supposed to top that?! - Shawn Farner
My addiction is really bad.... but I also hustle my way out of activation fees and in CA you can 'trial' the phone for 30 days. If anyone wants to know differences in features and functions + services I'll be more than happy to answer questions lol - Mona N.
...oh and I also signed up for T-mobile's Hot-Spot add on plus alpha my service =\ - Mona N.
Hao: .....I'm a few cocktails short of retorting with wit to taht haha - Mona N.
Pretty much the entirety of my awakened day involves something with a power switch. A little crazy when you think about it. - Jared Smith
I also bought the USB aquarium and the Hello Kitty Coffee maker. in pink =\ - Mona N.
How many surge protectors do you have in your house? ...am I seriously the only one who's going to keep spilling? Fine, I have three iPods... Two MacBooks (one core two duo and another simply intel), and a MacBook Pro... Two PCs (XPS and my janky put together from scrap PC), a Toshiba laptop, and one Linux server - Mona N.
Hmmm ok I don't think I can top you but so far this year I bought a new laptop, 5 different bose headsets, a canon rebel xti, sprint broadband card (returned), verizon broadband card (returned), spint-ppc6800 (returned), sprint-rumor, a sirius stiletto 2, and a tiny shuffle... yeppers - Brandon
@mona ... it's fun to spill but I usually end up deleting my entries =\ - Brandon
@b why? actually re-reading this.. i seriously am embarrassed for myself lol - Mona N.
My CrackBerry doesn't have a power switch, its on all the time. - Matt Donders via fftogo
@m ... awww, well that's pretty much how I feel after I spill. :( - Brandon
OK, Mona, I'll bite. XPS One (using as media center), XPS laptop (with me always), Inspiron laptop, another "beige box" (actually black) currently in pieces, 46" and 55" HDTV's, 2 Treos, 2 iPods, 3 bluetooth headsets, bluetooth GPS device (connects to Treo and laptop), Eneloop batteries (are awesome), a DVR, 3 DVD players, several external hard drives (totaling almost 3 terabytes), a couple scanners, a couple printers, two routers, a 22" monitor connecting to my laptop, and 3 electric toothbrushes! :) I had to intall 2 additional power lines in one room because I kept blowing the circuit breakers! LOL - Oliver Ortega Chua
Oh, yeah...I forgot my 4 shavers! Hair, face, nose and, um...you know. :) - Oliver Ortega Chua
I'm on FriendFeed, watching Jim Norton on HBO On Demand, uploading photos to Snapfish for printing deal, reading my blackberry, talking on my cell phone, and reading Google Reader - David Thomas
i just got rid of two computers on tuesday... including my imac from 1999... but there is nothing i can do to top Mona. :) @B, that's a good list. :) - edythe
@rizzn: Sadly, the iPhone and racism consume the minds of people not talking about plantsecks, anime, food, or video games. Ie. me. This clearly designates my inherent superiority. - Alexander Williams via NoiseRiver
That's why I've been messing with last.fm and strands tonight. A pleasant diversion. - J. Phil
Have you seen the Flickr video of the woman who was struck by lightning as she was filming? She's OK, by the way. - Ontario Emperor via fftogo
Yeah, that Flickr video was crazy... In less than an hour, I'm going on a social media blackout for the weekend. I'll be in "post-only" mode. I don't care about your phone! :) - Oliver Ortega Chua
Just saw you on Leo's live show. :) Anyway, I do want one eventually, but the only thing that catches my eye is the 3G. After watching others play with the new 2.0 version, it looks like the majority of the stuff I wanted to do is in the software update. For now I think I'm going to stick with my current iPhone, and use the new firmware. - Dennis Jackson
Yep. Been wanting a smart phone for a few years now. Wanted to get the first generation phone, but was trapped in a contract. - Justin Korn
Not right away. I don't really do much that would make use of the GPS and I'm not clear if the apps I'll be using will benefit greatly from 3G. - nicerobot
Yes... because last year... I waited 3 HOURS to get an iPhone. 8GB was sold out. So I got a 4GB. I can has more memory? Yes. I will has. ( LOLcat grammar breaking through ) Watching twitlive.tv and waiting until launch time! - Gary Bacon II
Not sure it's worth the upgrade. Too bad ATT has to sour the deal. - Jeremy Ross
the iphone is a great first "smart" phone, but i'm holding out until at least the blackberry thunder releases so i can make an informed comparison. - Cee Bee
Na, ver-1.0 still has it's merits. Don't see any compelling reason to upgrade from ver1.0 - captainsniz
No. 3G would be nice, but I mostly use my 1.0 version on WiFi and the 2.0 software is all I'm interested in. - Adam Turetzky
I will be, but not until the start of August as my Verizon contract is not out till August 5th. I've just graduated from college and still working on a full time job. I already have the money saved up the pull for the entire two years contract plus a good amount more. Yeah it might not be the wisest least expensive choice. It is going to be my one have fun thing until I get a job. Gotta have some fun things in life. Being a gadget nerd this fulfills it. - Dean Clark
Seriously, they even have instructional videos and docs on how to turn your 2g iPhone into a Wi-Fi iPod touch LOL - Mona N.
I am not, I ordered a new Blackberry 7100i today instead. I already have two phones on two carriers, I dont need a third phone on a third carrier otherwise I would consider it. That and I dont have the money. Luckily the new Blackberry is for work so I dont have to pay for it. - pcnerd37
had 2 blackberries, and only email works right - iphone means seamless syncing to leopard, and that's why i'm paying extra for the early upgrade. - Eric Marden
yes. yes. yes. and i will suffer windows mobile no longer. - Bob DeAmbra via twhirl
Of course. Paid someone to wait in line for me on iPhone 1 launch day and (the girlfriend still makes fun of me for it) I've loved almost every minute with it since. The unloved minutes are the ones being pissed about AT&T "service" and dropped calls. I love the iPhone dearly though, and wouldn't think of using anything else. It's an actual bona-fide new computing platform. An insanely great one. There's no way I wouldn't want to be right with it as it changes the industry again. - (steve isaacs)
Nope. I can't support a closed system. Besides, I willingly PAID to leave AT&T a few years ago! - Oliver Ortega Chua
It's not available on T-Mobile, so I'm waiting for BB Bold. - Jimmy Gleason
yes. I've held out for 2nd generation so it's time. - Tsega Dinka
It is time indeed, keeping my BB Pearl and getting my 1st iPhone. - Nicholas Kreidberg
No. Can't justify the cost - don't use the phone that much. - Wilson Afonso
People don't give the iPhone enough credit. It revolutionalized the cell phone industry in the US and reached a market that extends beyond business users (BB) and IM/texters (Sidekick) imho - Mona N.
i'm a maybe. I don't really want to pay more than i am already but I like shiny new tech gadgets as much as anyone. - Doug Brooks
Maybe, my Mom has the "first edition" iPhone and i like it. I'm not sure if the 3G technology is available in Buffalo. From what I've seen on twitlive it looks interesting. - Molly
i'm running 2.0 on the edge - and loving it. no plans to upgrade to the 3g. the location aware apps are good enough for my needs. however this all may change, if and only if, att gives a huge employee discount on the phone. we'll see. - Cole Orton
Yep. Using the old "wife needs a cellphone" ploy to upgrade. - Dylan Parker
I am not, I am really happy with the 2.0 software. I am going to try to wait because I dont need 3G or GPS that badly. - Rajiv Doshi
No - Data plans too expensive down under and I'm still not convinced about the openness of the platform. - Peter Kelley
Yep, at the Domain Apple store in Austin, TX! - Seth
Yes, at the Third Street Promenade because I want the GPS for loopt and i also would like the 3g for using MLB At Bat on the go. - Andrew Fielding
Yes, primarily because of the FAST data and the GPS is a nice add-on for me - Grant
FAST data? are you kidding me? If you want speed, get a real phone - Paul Moss via Alert Thingy
If only. Being a musician doesn't pay enough.....yet! - Joe Storm
I'm VERY happy with the new T-Mobile Blackberry Pearl 8120! I'd still like to play with a 3G iPhone but I LOVE my Blackberry! - Jeff Garlick
nope, not until it can surpass what i already have on my modded Tilt. i just hope the 3G net doesn't come to a screeching halt with the influx of new iPhones. - Jericho
nope, too expensive (here in belgium) and still isn't a decent smartphone - chris demeyere
Not yet. $15/mo extra on top of my current $95/mo bill is outrageous! - Justin Bradshaw
Not as long as my bum points downwards. Can't stand them, never have, never will. Also, being in the UK and being restricted to using the O2 network doesn't hold any favours either. Considering the size of the UK, 3G coverage is rubbish unless you are 2ft away from a basestation. - Chris Wright
Shouldn't Barack Obama subscribe to all of us for it to be a 2-way conversation? A FriendFeed town hall? You should start rooms & groups on all the social networks. I know, probably not enough staff, but there aren't as many people to add on FriendFeed. I just noticed you were not subscribed to me, and I'm subscribed to you. - Cathryn Hrudicka
1. Subscribing is not enough. He subscribes on Twitter, but doesn't interact. (But can you truly interact with tens of thousands?) 2. The FriendFeed account is not controlled by Obama or the Obama campaign. Robert Scoble has covered this. - Ontario Emperor via fftogo
The official Barack Obama profiles are listed on his website. Ontario Emperor is right. The FF account is not his (but I'm following it anyway). - Oliver Ortega Chua
I'm amazed that, seeing that the lightning apparently traveled from one arm to another, it didn't go through her heart. Insanely lucky, I'd say. - Daniel Bruce
"To suggest that the right thing to do is to be silent in the face of racist words, or worse, to suggest that not being silent, or that protesting or boycotting or threatening boycotts is wrong, is to wipe away and invalidate what, for me, is the part of American history that has made my life possible, that is, peaceful protest. And what is apparent to me is that there is a current, younger generation that has in many cases never known about things that are recent enough for me to actually remember." - J. Phil via Bookmarklet
Amazing, clear and powerful article, Hank. Thank you. - J. Phil
Outstanding article. As a historian of the civil rights movement, I'm amazed and often appalled at the lack of knowledge and understanding of the movement and Jim Crow among most Americans, especially among those who grew up after around 1980. My wife, who's African-American, was among those who desegregated her school in SC--in 1970! This is NOT ancient history, folks. - steplow via NoiseRiver
@steplow It's even worse here in Canada. NOTHING is taught about Black history about the US or even Canada. Oh the horror stories that folks don't know about. - Shey
Phil, thank you so much. And Shey, you're my kinda stalker! - Hank Williams
Hank, I wanted to post directly to your blog but I can't seem to get past the captcha. - Oliver Ortega Chua
Here's my post: (FF will probably strip the CRLF's...)
Hank, thank you for this insightful post. I actually found myself questioning racism this morning as I was waiting for my car to be washed, so this post is hitting me at the right time.
I was sitting in the patio reading the paper and overhear two kids greet each other as "Dog," as in "What's up, Dog?" The first thing that came to mind was that they were members of a minority, which is a racist thought (I must admit). I looked up and saw that they were white. Of course, I know that people of all races use slang. I caught myself and reinforced my goal to not be racist.
What came next was what caused me to question racism.
A common stereotype is for car wash employees to be Mexican. When the two (white) kids rode off in their bicycles, they started shouting in Spanish. I don't remember everything they said but I do remember them saying the Spanish equivalent to "f*** your mom" and that they didn't use any explicitly racist words... - Oliver Ortega Chua
...It's been a while since I've experienced racism firsthand and I was stunned.
I sat there questioning whether they were racist or just being kids trying to cause trouble. Deep down I felt they were racist. Why else would they yell in Spanish if not to antagonize the Mexicans (and other Hispanics)? I tried to justify it as "a couple of kids just having fun." I don't know what to think but I'm glad no one acknowledged what they were doing.
I'm 32 years old. I grew up in a city that was 80% Hispanic. (Where I live now is 80% white.) I experienced racism directed towards me as a kid. Not from whites, but from Hispanics. It made me real sensitive to racism then. Over time, I didn't notice it as much around me (maybe because I'm older) but I know it's still there.
I think racism will end when all the races have fully interbred. I'm Filipino/Chinese/Spanish/Mexican myself. I get asked what I am all the time.
My answer?
"Does it matter?" - Oliver Ortega Chua
I wish it would stop! Probably going into post-only mode tonight and through the weekend to escape the madness... :) - Oliver Ortega Chua
You know, the truth is, I probably really just have iPhone envy. Can't afford it, don't really need it, not going to be getting one any time soon. Some of the hype is fun, and I dig it, but this seems a tad out of hand. :) But, no one is getting hurt (i hope) - vidsaw
