"And, also, remember, Alaska is the closest part of our continent to Russia. So it’s not as if she doesn’t understand what’s at stake here. " - Patrick Veverka
The best work out song is The Crystal Method's "Born to Slow!" - RAPatton
For me...Blondie's "One Way Or Another", Blur's "Song 2" or Feeder's "Buck Rogers" usually does the trick and makes me work out that little bit faster! :) - Emma
I just sent this to our internal staff list. I'm so proud to be a librarian. This is why I got the degree. - W!cKeD
Great letter. It's always good to describe the content of the book. (the complainer often never reads it) I had a challenge to The Stupids Die, but the person never read the book. (Spoiler: the lights go off and the family thinks they are dead) :) - Jeff Scott
Just left a comment on that post linking to this thread. - Steve Lawson
that is inspiring. jamie larue ROCKS. - amy buckland
What an awesome letter. I definitely agree that this should be a blueprint letter for dealing with challenged books. It also brings in the perspective that despite the challenger's views, there is another side and there will be tax-paying parents that will also want these books in the collection... I think this is sometimes overlooked by many who are passionately against certain materials in a library's collection. - Heidi Hansen
“Is it worth it to spend a few days on a long blog post covering a topic that everybody talked about for a few days and then got bored talking about it?”
I'm writing a massive blog post about something that people stopped talking about a few days ago. I'm trying to figure out whether it's worth finishing. I already have 14 screenshots... - possible248
14 screenshots means you have to write it. Or just post the screenshots with no text to totally confuse. - Patrick Veverka
that depends. If you really are adding something new to the conversation, then definitely finish it and post it. If it is more of an opinion, then the time basis is lost. Personally, I would post it anyway, just because you worked on it for so long. - Rob Diana
Okay, now I have to freak out about adding to the conversation. :) - possible248
"Wonderlic himself says that basically, the scores decrease as you move further away from the ball, which is interesting but unsurprising. It’s sort of obvious that a quarterback needs to be on the smarter side" - Patrick Veverka via Bookmarklet
Wow interesting article -- many would have thought linemen where the "less intelligent" ones. - Shey
"Wonderlic himself says that basically, the scores decrease as you move further away from the ball, which is interesting but unsurprising. It’s sort of obvious that a quarterback needs to be on the smarter side" - Patrick Veverka via Bookmarklet
Evan Williams just put away his checkbook from the summize deal but needs to get in touch with these guys! THIS is what twitter.com needs to look like! Good stuff. - paisano
oh Orli - this gives me hope! With the auto-refresh we might even be able to have a half-decent conversation on Twitter! Do you know what it's using under the hood for the real-time updates? Ajax? Keep us posted on this please!! - Matt Hooper
Thanks for the positive comments everyone. Our team is really dedicated to providing the best twitter experience possible via the web. There are a few bugs left to work out, but we're hoping to get those ironed out over the weekend and do a soft launch next week. - Derek Gathright
Oh, and follow @tweenky for the latest updates with the application. Matt, this application uses the Summize & Twitter APIs, and heavily uses ajax (jQuery). - Derek Gathright
Whats going on with this people! Is IE secondary ?? "It looks like you are using Internet Explorer. We are still in early early early beta and haven't had the chance to properly test in IE yet. In the meantime, go download Firefox! =)"................. - Jigar Mehta
Jigar, Ugh... IE is such a pain in the ass. we're hoping to get IE7 support, but really, we're targeting power twitter users, and they don't use anything but Firefox & Safari. Right now we're at 4% of our traffic is IE users so not sure it is vital to get working during a beta launch. - Derek Gathright
Sounds interesting. Would love an invite. Thanx! - Barbara K. Baker
Alright derek, any idea where to get invite from?] - Jigar Mehta
The screenshots look really nice. Would love an invite. Thanks! - Sudar
No invites... but hopefully Tweenky will go public soon. - Orli Yakuel
I need something looking like gmail like I need a hole in the head - James Tenniswood
@derek - Thanks for letting us know a bit more about it - can't wait to have a closer look! - Matt Hooper
Wow! it's so cool to see that lots of people liked Tweenky. Really something that worth waiting for. - Orli Yakuel
wheres the innovation ? I Agree with James, do I need another gmail type interface ? to me its just a skin being applied to Twitter, you can do all the makeup you want, but that will not hide the twitter illness beneath a skin !! - Peter Dawson
@Duncan, convenience. But you know what, it's not a second Gmail, it's just some colors an elements that resemble to Gmail, and make it easy to understand and work with the applications. Duncan, this application rocks big time, wait till you try it yourself :-) - Orli Yakuel
Orli, " this application rocks" - this is just a UI app , as much as I hate sayin this, but building an interface on a "rocky" /unstable application will certainly lead to what ? another mini fail whale experience ? - Peter Dawson
Peter, you're talking like Twitter is to be close tomorrow... come on... we all know that this "UNSTABLE" thing, didn't stop none of us from using it. And I'd like to think that Twitter will be stable eventually. - Orli Yakuel
Tweenky.com seems to bring up only a white page... So is this a full Twitter-like platform, or just a UI that talks to Twitter itself? - Jason Carreira
I can't reach at the site.is tweenky under construction?? - Chris Qie
Yes. (even for me, and I miss it already since yesterday) - Orli Yakuel
"Dr. Horrible is good!
And that’s exactly his problem. The title character of the landmark new Web musical, “Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog,” played by the lovable and unmenacing Neil Patrick Harris, dreams of gaining admission to the vaunted Evil League of Evil, home of the baddest baddies in the land. But he’s kidding himself. Dr. H. is too skittish to harm innocents or wreak much havoc. The ray guns he invents never seem to work that well, and his cackle is so wimpy he’s hired a voice coach." - RAPatton via Bookmarklet
The fact he answers his fan email makes him a likable character ;) - Michael W. May via twhirl
"The absence of Heath Ledger dominated The Dark Knight's world premiere in New York last night, amid increased speculation that his performance as the Joker could be up for an Oscar next February.
The traditional red carpet was black in the late actor's honour, while his co-stars, including Christian Bale, Michael Caine, Gary Oldman, Aaron Eckhart, Morgan Freeman and Maggie Gyllenhaal, wore dark-coloured outfits.
While the cast was posing for photographers outside the IMAX cinema, Ledger's relatives quietly slipped into the venue. All the time crowds of fans thronged the theatre on Manhattan's 68th street, to the point where they overflowed on Broadway and shut down traffic over one block during rush hour." - RAPatton via Bookmarklet
Meanwhile, early reviews are broadly enthusiastic. Entertainment Weekly reckons The Dark Knight is a "labyrinthine and exciting sequel to Batman Begins" [the last Batman film, also helmed by British director Christopher Nolan]. "The movie exudes a predatory glamour that makes the comic-book films that have come before it look all the more like kid stuff," writes Owen Gleiberman, noting that Ledger offers a "mesmerizing, scary-funny performance" and Bale "once again captivates as the haunted caped crusader". - RAPatton
Associated Press' Christy Lemire writes that The Dark Knight is "an epic that will leave you staggering from the theater (sic), stunned by its scope and complexity". "Ambitious, explosive set pieces share screen time with meaty debates about good vs evil and the nature of - and need for - a hero," says Lemire, adding that "there's nothing cartoony about [Ledger's] Joker. Ledger wrested the role from previous performers Cesar Romero and Jack Nicholson and reinvented it completely." - RAPatton
Finally, Peter Travers in Rolling Stone reaches for the superlatives, rating the movie 3.5 stars out of four. The Dark Knight is an "absolute stunner", Ledger is "mad-crazy-blazing brilliant as the Joker", Bale evokes "Al Pacino in The Godfather II in his delusion and desolation". In conclusion, he gushes that "the haunting and visionary Dark Knight soars on the wings of untamed imagination". - RAPatton
RAPatton did you post the whole article here? - Toby Graham
Any stats on market share of Xbox 360 vs. PS3? - Larry Kless
This will become interesting to me if & when Netflix expands what is available on their Watch Instantly selections. - Mike Doeff
@mike true but the xbox 360 has new releases available too separately remember, this is the ultimate living room box in my opinion now - hands down. - MG Siegler
More iPhones were sold over the last 3 days than AppleTVs in its entire history. The good news for Apple is that when you have 0 market share, announcements calling for your decimation don't fluster you as much. - Robert Seidman
I own nothing Microsoft right now. But Netflix + Xbox .... hmm. - Chris Baskind
@MG But for how long will they be better? A month? A week? A day? For someone like me who just wants a way to play video/audio podcasts, watch video from Hulu, and rent on-demand from a place like Apple, Amazon or Netflx, I want a simple and cheap box that I can hook up to me TV. I would prefer my Tivo to do it, but that won't happen for quite a while there. - Mike Wills
@mike - i suspect hulu could be the next shoe to drop in the living room wars. if some service gets them it's on again. apple needs to respond in someway, not sure how they will yet. - MG Siegler
Makes me almost want to return to Netflix, but we get so much more value from our Blockbuster Online membership that I can't justify it. - Craig Eddy
I hope everyone noticed that they said they are bringing the "Watch Instantly" feature to the Xbox 360. I used that feature once, and I hated it to death. There were barely any good movies on it. Now, I'm not saying that this couldn't change, but unless the movie studios agree to it, it isn't that big of a deal. - James Mowery via twhirl
So, to recap, this is not big news UNLESS the movie studios change their acts. Of course, what on earth could possibly lead us to believe such a thing? There is no proof that movie studios want to change, yet. I wish this Netflix coming to Xbox 360 news was a big deal, but it isn't. So, please, if you are blogging, check your sources and facts, and point out the fact that the movie studios have to do it right if this is going to be worth talking about in the future. - James Mowery via twhirl
@James Mowery - I think youre missing it. Watch instantly combined with the new releases from current Xbox offerings make it a pretty good package from a device many already own. So you get new releases and older stuff now. It's a whole movie store at your fingertips. - Jay Martin
@Jay Martin Do you use this feature on a daily basis? Do you believe it coudl really compete with Hulu? I'm all over it Jay. I've already pointed you out to several resources that state that "Watch Instantly" is no big deal. Why? Because the selection is horid, the quality is horid, and the DRM is stupid. Using this feature just empowers movie studios to believe that DRM is the way to go. - James Mowery via twhirl
Hmmm very sweet news. Now, what are the plans for Blu-Ray on XBOX? - Jason Kaneshiro
If I was Hulu, I would say "Netflix ain't got **** on me!" So, people can play this up as a big deal, but those people are wrong. I've presented the facts. Maybe people are just biased to Microsoft or Netflix, but the "Watch Instantly" feature is pathetic, and until they prove it to me otherwise, it is a shame to see people jump for joy when we have nothing to cheer about. Apple TV has nothing to be worried about. Nor does Hulu. Blockbuster, well, they are already screwed. However, this Netflix on Xbox thing is no big deal. - James Mowery via twhirl
It's a matter of opinion..and yes I own an Roku. I use Netflix watch instantly 3-4 times a week. Love re-runs of Office, A-Team and Rockford Files. New stuff too like the ten part "Carrier" documentary and much of Ken Burns work...It's worth it to me. My new release come to me via DVD mailers. I'm happy for $9 a month. - Jay Martin
@jason - that's the only piece left missing, blu-ray. i fully expect an add-on sooner rather than later. maybe the holidays? - MG Siegler
Here is what I'm saying... let's actually see what Netflix and Microsoft produce BEFORE we jump for joy with all our praise. I would prefer people to criticize the fact that "Watch Instantly" hasn't been a big success. This way, Microsoft and Netflix know what the people want. I am completely open to the idea what Watch Instantly could revolutionize the Xbox 360 and vice-versa, but there are no facts (or few legitimate opinions from the past) that should give anyone that opinion just yet. - James Mowery via twhirl
For example: we know nothing of the video quality that will be provided to us. Don't you think that video studios will be a bit concerned to stream 720p movies to an Xbox 360 if people have a way to capture it? You surely must see how much DRM Microsoft and Netflix have integrated into "Watch Instantly" It does nothing but make the experience a huge frustrating mess. I just hope that these two companies will find a way not to cripple the experience like they have already done. I want people to be critical of their past so that we can have better products in the future. - James Mowery via twhirl
well, hold on. the 360 is a closed system, like Comcast's OnDemand. It is a big step in Microsoft's digital household strategy. Up until this point, you had to pay Microsoft for the privilege of renting the movie via the Media Store on the 360. If you could use your Netflix account to "Watch It Now", then Microsoft gives up some direct revenue for increasing lockin for their console, and Netflix gets...well, I don't know what Netflix gets. Companies tend to get burned when partnering with Microsoft. - Justin Whitaker
@James Mowery - that does it! I'm subscribing to your FF! - Jay Martin
@jason I think Microsoft has made it obvious that they want digital distribution to be in their future and avoid Blu-ray at all costs. It would make sense for them to do just that. If they can find away to make the Xbox 360 the ultimate media machine without Blu-ray integration, it would just make Sony's position that much more difficult in the long run. I thought Sony was catching up, but the announcements from Microsoft are starting to make me wonder if Microsoft can still prevent Sony from catching up now. It is an interesting trwist in the console wars. PS3 has some excellent titles lined up, but Microsoft has some tricks up their sleeves still. - James Mowery via twhirl
There were already 3 Windows Media Center plugins for Netflix (http://is.gd/Tds) and now this! Awesome! - Sarah Perez
@sarah - yeah i use my xbox to stream everything from my computer to my tv -- even though I have a mac! it's a great living room hub that just got 10000 times better in my book. - MG Siegler
At this point I don't see a reason to pay for a BlueRay player... digital distribution is so close that I couldn't see investing in the disks anyway. So far my Xbox Live subscription has done a great job with movies and TV - adding Netflix will only help. - Soulhuntre
It's wrong to laugh at those who bought the Roku, right? Early adopter my butt. I prefer smart adopter. ;) - Cyndy
Soulhuntre: thats why WB caved to Bluray - to try and quickly sell some sort of HD discs before digital distribution takes over. Have to say, I much rather renting in HD on my AppleTV then buying a disc. I usually only watch a movie once. - James Hull
Holy shit! This is the best news all day :D - Lindsey Smith
wow, this is awesome move by M$... the masses are gonna mobilize to this one! - Susan Beebe
They may have destroyed it if they can get new releases and HD. Maybe I'm asking for too much. - Harrison Hoffman
