Monthly Archives: March 2014
Goodbye Joyce Steinman
Joyce Steinman is retiring from Learfield Communications (the place I worked for 29 years) after 34 years on the job. Friends and coworkers lovingly roasted her yesterday to say goodbye. Lots of funny stories, lots of love.
I had the sense I was watching a dying tradition. Will people work at one company for 34 years? Can the same strong bonds be formed in the mobile 21st century?
Our company was very successful and it was a lot of fun. Joyce gets a lot of credit for both.
Floor Plan app
Yes, I’ll need a pair of trousers as well
I’d guess one of the most common reasons for owning and carrying a firearm is self-defense. If someone tries to break into your home or your car, you can shoot them. If someone starts shooting in the bar (or church or classroom) you’re at, you can shoot them, to save your life and the lives of others.
If you expect to find yourself in some place where getting shot seems like a real possibility, why not wear a bulletproof vest? For example, if I was going clubbing in a rough neighborhood, wouldn’t a good kevlar vest be more useful than a glock?
No good against a head-shot, granted. But I’ll bet the data would show those are more rare than taking one in the torso.
Would wearing a vest be less “manly” in some way? Would like to know what percentage of hand gun owners also have body armor of some kind.
What does that ‘Check Engine Light’ mean?
Last time I called my MINI service rep to ask about an engine light on my Cooper, he said there are more than 100 things that could cause the light. If I’d taken the time to dig out my manual, it would probably have listed all of those but I’m not sure how I would know which was the culprit.
The light came on last night so I opened my Automatic app, clicked on the alert icon and learned the problem was “incomplete combustion in cylinder 4.” It also gave me easy-to-follow instructions for clearing the light and nearby mechanics.
This feature alone is worth the price of Automatic ($99). But the device/app has made me a better driver. Fewer jack-rabbit starts; less hard breaking; and I’m keeping my highway speed at 70mph.
Augmented Television
Watch a few minutes of this and tell me you don’t want one of these. This is clearly where things are headed. I can’t wait.
Secrets of the Vatican
This Frontline documentary was… damning. I’m sure “defenders of the faith” have ready responses to every charge although I’m not sure what one would say to 8-year-old Monica Barret who was raped by her priest (“If You Tell Anybody, Your Parents Will Burn in Hell”). A middle aged woman now, Ms. Barret’s dry-eyed account of that event was chilling and heart breaking.
I suppose you argue that the producers and Frontline and the media (and all non-Catholics?) are out to ‘get’ the Catholic Church. Fuck if I know. Has anyone said, “I don’t want to be part of this. I’ll find another place worship. Call me if you get your shit together.”
Sounds like the new Pope might be trying to make some changes but the corruption runs deep and high and any real house cleaning is gonna be ugly.
Location-aware Wi-Fi lets fans be part of show
Company I used to work for is big in collegiate sports marketing so this story probably more interesting to me than many of you. But this tech will almost certainly show up in lots of places. A few excerpts from full post:
The system, developed by UK start-up Mobbra, will let organisers *send football replays, backstage interviews with pop stars, or area-specific food deals direct to fans’ phones*. It will also encourage the audience to become part of the show.
With Mobbra’s system, dubbed Massivity, organisers can *take control of fans’ phones to create spectacular effects*. For instance, the camera flashlight on each phone could be activated remotely, turning the crowd into a glittering star field. Or a team’s colours could sweep around the phone and tablet screens in the venue like a Mexican wave.
These kinds of applications are possible because Mobbra has found a way to deliver Wi-Fi to every user in a large crowd. A typical wireless access point can supply just 50 connections – so unless a venue can afford to run an access point for every 50 or so people, Wi-Fi is not guaranteed. Even then, simple radio interference can destroy any chance of stadium-wide access.
The phone side of the equation is choreographed by an app called Fangage, which tweaks the phone’s Wi-Fi settings. It will launch on the Apple and Android app stores later this month. *During a game, all phones could vibrate to tell the crowd of a betting opportunity, or a special food and drink offer*, says Walton. “You can have four streams of video, which could be replays or goals from other matches that are on at the same time. At gigs you’ll get behind-the-scenes news and backstage interviews with the stars.”