Monday, January 26, 2004

Review: Nestle Butterfinger Hot Cocoa Mix Why does this make me laugh? Perhaps because it feels like one of those late nights in college, when you'd heard yourself say something like, "hey, what would this and that taste like together?" and your buddy says, "well, let's find out." Whatever happens, do not consume this product. Even if a Nestle representative has a gun to your head, I recommend carefully weighing your options before making your decision. Nearest approximation: Melt a Butterfinger candy bar in a wood-burning stove. Blend the chocolately, peanut-buttery ash with 8 oz. water. Serve boiling. To say that this "peanut-buttery" cocoa tastes vile is to do a disservice to vile things everywhere. To drink it is to ingest a steaming mug of Satan's vomit. Avoid. [~stevenf] Poor Nestle, being introduced to the power of weblogs like this... :-) 9:45:22 PM    trackback []

garage band tennis, anyone? Well, it’d be challenging from a logistical standpoint if you’re recording a lot of live instruments, but.. I could see this being a really neat way to collaborate with someone on music. It basically makes you break down all your sound sources into loops, so.. use anything you want, (logic, cubase, any VST or AU effect or instrument, reason, anything) just make some loops or a live recording, and we’re on the same playing field. [my weblog] There was a company called Rocket Networks, which created real-time music collaboration technology like your describe. Many of the pro music tools incorporated support for Rocket. Then in April 2003, Avid bought Rocket. The old domain name is gone, and I haven't investigated further. So, if we're dreaming out loud, how about integrating iChat with GarageBand? 8:52:33 PM    trackback []

MoveOn has launched a campaign to convince... Another amplification: MoveOn has launched a campaign to convince CBS to change its policy. Here’s the polispam they’d like people to send: Subject: The ad CBS will not air Dear friend, During this year’s Super Bowl, you’ll see ads sponsored by beer companies, tobacco companies, and the Bush White House. But you won’t see the winning ad in MoveOn.org Voter Fund’s Bush in 30 Seconds ad contest. CBS refuses to air it. Meanwhile, the White House and Congressional Republicans are on the verge of signing into law a deal which Senator John McCain (R-AZ) says is custom-tailored for CBS and Fox, allowing the two networks to grow much bigger. CBS lobbied hard for this rule change; MoveOn.org members across the country lobbied against it; and now the MoveOn.org ad has been rejected while the White House ad will be played. It looks an awful lot like CBS is playing politics with the right to free speech. Of course, this is bigger than just the MoveOn.org Voter Fund. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) submitted an ad that was also rejected. We need to let CBS know that this practice of arbitrarily turning down ads that may be “controversial” – especially if they’re controversial simply because they take on the President – just isn’t right. To watch the ad that CBS won’t air and sign the petition to CBS to run these ads, go here MoveOn.org will deliver the petition by email directly to CBS headquarters. Thanks. [Lessig Blog] [my weblog] 8:52:18 PM    trackback []

The Myth of Google I thought this was worth amplifying: I'm sure you're aware of Orkut, Google's new social networking application. It's definitely generating a bunch of buzz on the Net today. The way that Google released the news about Orkut, and the story that is spreading around it, is very telling of the nature of Google as an organization. If you know about Orkut, you are also aware of the fact that Google allows its engineers to spend 20% of their time on personal projects. In the old days of the new way, we would call that bit of information a "meme"--some idea that gets passed around. That bit of info is really not relevant to the features or benefits of the Orkut system itself. Rather, it helps to illustrate something about Google: that, at its core, it is a company of smart programmers doing cool things with technology. Social networking is hot, but Google gets into the fray not because of board meetings and strategic consultations. Rather, they are into it because--from the depth of their technology group--someone came up with a cool implementation. ...or, at least, that's the story. And stories are brands, and brands are the basis of relationships between companies and consumers. The fact that the community of consumers are the ones currently perpetuating the story, in the form of the 20% Time Meme speaks volumes about the strength of the brand. [Gary Stein] 8:51:27 PM    trackback []