insight :: the evolution of broadcast media
Archive for March, 2010
STALK TALK :: PHONE HARASSMENT :: SO MANY QUESTIONS!! I AM ONLY ONE PERSON
Mar 30th
I have received such a huge response to these stalker posts, and so many personal stories and questions from readers, regarding calls from blocked numbers and restricted calling. Look, when you see “Blocked Number” come up on your phone, it is because who ever is on the other end does not want to be identified, which usually indicates something is not right. They went out of their way to use *67 to block their number or they choose to set their Mobile phone to not share their caller I.D.
Regardless of whether you are being harassed by a stalker, ex-employee, psycho from no where or a telemarketer, who ever it is is not someone calling with your best interest in mind, am I correct? Of course I am. More >
I STILL H8 CRAIG'S LIST :: IT'S FULL OF GRIFTERS :: A.K.A. ANYONE NEED AN AIRUSH 14 FOR KITE BOARDING?
Mar 30th
So, my honey says he has a Kite for Kite Boarding and can I please post it for sale on “Greg’s List” [sic] – of course I get that sinking feeling in my gut because I watch “Help Me Howard” and he always does stories on Craig’s List scams. So I say, sure… here it is. Shortly there after I receive a highly suspect email that inquires “Is the item still available ?: – to which I think, “Of course it is! I just posted it with a crappy picture and not much of a description and if I were a buyer I wouldn’t even respond to such a shoddy post.
Anyway, I respond kindly and say “Yes, still available”
I get a second response which reads as follows:
Hello, Thanks for getting back to me,I am satisfy with the price and I am really in need of this item, and i want you to take the ads of Craiglist,I will give you an additional $50 for taking it off, so I will need your full name and address so my secretary can issue a check to you hopefully tomorrow morning,and it will be cashed instantly without any delay, My mover will come for the pickup as soon as you got it cashed, Kindly get back to me asap so we can finalize this transaction in a timely manner. XXXX
To which I respond, (*getting annoyed since the typos tell me this is a scam… )
“Do you even know what I am selling? This is a scam and I am reporting you.”
I went to the “Greg’s List” complaint form and filled it out, and here is a lovely video made available by the kind souls over at the Federal Trade Commission for those of you who are gullible enough to move beyond the ridiculous first email correspondence:
How to File a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commision
US RANKS 5TH :: The Global Information Technology Report 2009-2010 :: GEEK RANT
Mar 27th
What is holding back the US & the FCC from Broadband progress? We know what it is, a lot of willy-nilly, self obsessed (i.e. Verizon and AT&T, et al) corporate posturing that really doesn’t proactively lead to positive results! What do we have now, the negative results we CAN see in black and white are, the US falling even further behind in the Global ‘race’ for broadband…
If I have to listen to one of my U.K. colleagues poke fun at my crappy Verizon DSL service here in the U.S./NYC, I am going to move to a country where I can get affordable broadband that isn’t barricaded on all sides by the even crappier through points along my digital path and excessive installation fees!
The pontification of decision makers is totally counter-intuitive to their ability to realize a common goal – the insidious dialog we hear on the subject of Broadband in the US has seriously caused eco-socio-psychological damage to our Nation’s ability to be a technological Global leader. Here is the what the Wall Street Journal wrote:
According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. dropped from third to fifth in the World Economic Forum’s latest rankings of national information technology systems. Sweden topped the rankings, and, to nobody’s surprise, China and India made huge gains.
But, they also say:
The U.S., which fell from third place, last held the first-place spot in 2005. But the report says the U.S. is “one of the world’s most innovative countries,” as reflected by the patents it produces. Usage of technology, particularly by businesses, is high, although the country ranks 72nd in the percentage of people who have mobile subscriptions.
Thank goodness for small favors…
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SUSPENDED ANIMATION SUCCESS :: CHECK OUT THE VIDEO :: NOT JUST SCIFI
Mar 22nd
If you have had a fascination with Buck Rogers, Sleeper, FUTURAMA or any other scifi movie/t.v. series about someone who is frozen and wakes up in the future, here is a story you can obsess over:
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle, Washington, thinks that short-term suspended animation can be used to help stabilize trauma patients on their way to the hospital. In his new TED talk, Roth explains how his technique differs from the cliche of freezing people until science finds a cure for their disease, and how it might drastically increase survival rates both on the battlefield and at home.When in a suspended state, the body can better cope with the deadly oxygen deprivation that results from shock, massive blood loss, and heart attacks.
[ted id=796]
FLYING FOR REALS, Y'ALL :: THE HOVERCRAFT@HOME PROJECT :: GEEK FEAT!
Mar 16th
As a kid there were two things I asked Santa Claus for every year:
1. a robot clone that would do my homework and clean my room and
2. A hovercraft of my very own
** Yes, I ordered the one advertised in the back of the comic book and was sadly disappointed when it was too small to actually fly around in. However, that dream could soon be realized!! At least the second one – and I tell you what, if I come across $13K in the next year – and find somewhere to park the thing in NYC – I am definitely going to buy one! Imagine flying over the traffic in NYC’s rush hour! Ahhh, to dream a little dream… this is exactly one of those things that makes life worth while!!
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ih_KBru6Co]
The hovercraft functions as a stand-alone vehicle, but with the detachable wings in place it becomes a small aircraft capable of a top cruising speed of about 60 miles per hour. While it doesn’t fly very high, the 1.8-liter engine pushes the craft to a ceiling between around 10 feet — plenty high to clear fences, cars and the inevitable slack-jawed onlooker — and has a range of 140 miles.
YOUTH TAKE::THE FUTURE IS OUR FUTURE:: KID GEEKS!!
Mar 13th
NYC FIRST Robotics LIVE Webcast at NASA.robotics.gov – Kids, Technology and Streaming Media!! Oh my! Recently me & my honey took the kids to the SONY Wonder Labs, which is a FREE interactive playground in NYC at the SONY building, It was indeed “wonderful” and it also made me sad… Sad that I had missed out on so much back in the days of my misspent youth! Of course, none of this existed yet… so, what can you do?
Alas, NYC is finally becoming a breeding ground for fabulous geekdom!
Celebrating Kids Working Smart in Science and Technology
All FIRST programs are organized around two components:
- engaging teams of students in the process of technological innovation through the use of robotics; and
- bringing communities together to celebrate the achievements of students working smart in science and technology.
Check out the webcasts and from NYC FIRST Robotics LIVE Webcast at NASA.robotics.gov
I love the CAPSELA@
Nico’s Deep Thought: I love to see the next, youngest generation as they enter the wonderful world of genius, geekdom!! There wasn’t a competition around here in NYC for me in High School, we didn’t have computers in the schools yet!! Not much Robotics (I did do Lego but Capsela was always my FAVORITE!!) and a lot of Rube Goldberg, but that’s mostly physics!!
Oooh! Have I said too much? Well, I suppose I should keep the mystery alive and focus on tomorrow!
Defined: Rube Goldberg designed inventions that made simple tasks much more complicated. Like this! (Who didn’t love watching Zoom growing up???)
Always the same, sad Family Circle & Teamster magazines at City Offies
Mar 5th
The best of NYC, waiting area for the Manhattan Borough Rent Office.
