Facebook's new Update Status box is creeping me out:
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| Anyone else hear HAL's voice asking these questions? |
My iOS 6 App Store Update All Mock Up
Who am I to propose changes to one of the most frequented screen in iOS:
Proposed:
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| Proposed Change: Swap 'Search' and 'Update All', make buttons flush with icons |
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| Original |
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| iPad change will make Update experience consistent with iPhone Update All placement |
Why Klout Isn't Going Away
Look what I found! Did you know it was even possible for a Google-auto-suggest to depart so much from what was typed! Maybe this is an "Easter egg" from a rogue non-brogrammer, or maybe there is a new type of Google bomb going around. As I talk about on NeuroMoney.com, products that elicit such passionate opposition - particularly ridicule - often have tremendous staying power. Sometime people do not dislike the product itself, but instead dislike themselves for wanting the product, hence the outlash to resolve the dissonance. If we are at that stage right now, get ready for more Klout in the future:
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| If ridicule is a leading indicator of success, Klout isn't going away any time soon |
The Other Adam J Ecker
Murphy's law: if someone with your name gets arrested, he'll also have your middle initial and kind of look like you.
If you perform a search for my name, which I know you do :-), seven of the ten results on the first page of Google and Bing point to adamecker.com, or a profile of me, or other websites I run. One of my search-doppelgangers, however, has unwittingly one-upped me, because the most visually intrusive result, Google and Bing's inter-page "Images of Adam Ecker," shows a big smacking mugshot of another Adam Ecker as the top match. This other-Adam also regrettably shares my middle initial J, as evidently our parents were kindred spirits in the "maybe he'll go by 'A.J.'!" club back in the 80s.
If you perform a search for my name, which I know you do :-), seven of the ten results on the first page of Google and Bing point to adamecker.com, or a profile of me, or other websites I run. One of my search-doppelgangers, however, has unwittingly one-upped me, because the most visually intrusive result, Google and Bing's inter-page "Images of Adam Ecker," shows a big smacking mugshot of another Adam Ecker as the top match. This other-Adam also regrettably shares my middle initial J, as evidently our parents were kindred spirits in the "maybe he'll go by 'A.J.'!" club back in the 80s.
Of course this is not me, but because this image is on page one of Google's results, I'll proactively and protectively mention it here to drive traffic to this clarification instead of the mugshot page.
Now of course I too use a "mug" shot as my social media avatar, expect I use actual mugs!
Now of course I too use a "mug" shot as my social media avatar, expect I use actual mugs!
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| Some other Adam Ecker (who is not me!) had to go get himself arrested |
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| My "Mug" Shot: I'm the one in the middle! (Adam Ecker) |
Alright potential employer/investor/date/date's-mom, you've done your homework! See how easy that was.
The B---- in APT 23 is Flight Club's Marla Singer?
Pro Tip: Don't include the symbol 'B-' in your show's title.
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| It's more than looks - in this scene she has just taken cash out of someone's wallet while describing herself as "part of the great digestive system that is New York City." |
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| "I am Jack's raging bile duct" -Fight Club |
No High Fructose Corn Syrup; Ingredients: Corn Syrup & Liquid Sugar
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| No High Fructose Corn Syrup; Ingredients: Corn Syrup |
Shape of Chipotle's Pigs Evokes Shape of Burrito
Am I just hungry or do the stars of the new Chipotle commercial resemble burritos to anyone else?
Z is the new X
It is strange to talk about the tone or connotation of a letter, but 'X' has one
Keep your eyes open for a slew of new products and companies with the letter 'Z' in their title. It's not just Zynga, Zillow and Zite - personally I can attest that my larger domain name sales have been words starting with the letter Z, such as 'Zing."
As a voiced-fricative, "Z" as pronounced stimulates the lips and voicebox when said. Perhaps that is an objective measure of how "fun" the letter and sound is.
The similar sounding 'X' has reigned supreme for some time (from X-Men, to Xerox to OSX to X-Factor and many more). Lexicon Branding predicts a further rise in the use of the letter, and the letter usually sounds like a 'Z' when used before a vowel.
Even though 'X' does sound like 'Z,' it isn't always clear that 'Xoom' and 'Zoom' have the same pronunciation. Does anyone read the word 'Xax' as sounding like "Zax"?
It is strange to talk about the tone or connotation of a letter, but 'X' has one. The appearance of the letter X is harsh. The crossed lines suggest something akin to "do not enter." There was a time before the recession when symbols of skulls and crosses were common and popular (e.g., Ed Hardy, Affliction, Damien Hirst), and the letter X did fit that aesthetic. It seems that the market crash and subsequent recession fulfilled whatever death-drive was present, and these symbols have since fallen out of favor. With out collective id satisfied, the softer stimulation of "Z" should be poised for a rise.
So if you look for me on Twitter, you'll find me at SupX. But from my new Pinterest account I've placed my bets on the handle zove. We'll see.
Keep your eyes open for a slew of new products and companies with the letter 'Z' in their title. It's not just Zynga, Zillow and Zite - personally I can attest that my larger domain name sales have been words starting with the letter Z, such as 'Zing."
As a voiced-fricative, "Z" as pronounced stimulates the lips and voicebox when said. Perhaps that is an objective measure of how "fun" the letter and sound is.
The similar sounding 'X' has reigned supreme for some time (from X-Men, to Xerox to OSX to X-Factor and many more). Lexicon Branding predicts a further rise in the use of the letter, and the letter usually sounds like a 'Z' when used before a vowel.
Even though 'X' does sound like 'Z,' it isn't always clear that 'Xoom' and 'Zoom' have the same pronunciation. Does anyone read the word 'Xax' as sounding like "Zax"?
It is strange to talk about the tone or connotation of a letter, but 'X' has one. The appearance of the letter X is harsh. The crossed lines suggest something akin to "do not enter." There was a time before the recession when symbols of skulls and crosses were common and popular (e.g., Ed Hardy, Affliction, Damien Hirst), and the letter X did fit that aesthetic. It seems that the market crash and subsequent recession fulfilled whatever death-drive was present, and these symbols have since fallen out of favor. With out collective id satisfied, the softer stimulation of "Z" should be poised for a rise.
So if you look for me on Twitter, you'll find me at SupX. But from my new Pinterest account I've placed my bets on the handle zove. We'll see.
Does "Whitney" on NBC Take Place in the "Friends" Apartment?
And is the laugh-track meant to be ironic?
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| Note: the decoration of the apartment changed after episode 1. |
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| Friends Apartment |
New Girl = Young Liz Lemon (30 Rock theme and all)
The pitch: Liz Lemon's twin sister cryogenically unfrozen after 15 years gets a Katy Perry-y make-over and moves in with three guys who are part Scrubs, part How I Met Your Mother. The theme song is a nod to 30 Rock pilot, and the show uses quick flashbacks, a la 30 Rock, with identical sound effects.
Perhaps should be called '20-Something' Rock
"30 Rock" pilot (mock) theme:
Perhaps should be called '20-Something' Rock
"30 Rock" pilot (mock) theme:
"Who's that? I know that you're wondering. That’s her! Who’s got the kind of charisma, the boys prefer? That’s her!"
"New Girl" theme:
"Hey girl, whatcha doing? Hey girl where are you goin? Who's that girl? It's Jess!"
http://www.NewGirlOnFox.com/
http://www.NewGirlOnFox.com/
ABC "Revenge" - Labor Day Leak, Logo
Somehow the first episode of ABC's Revenge leaked to the Internet today. The episode opens in the Hamptons, on Labor Day. Today is Labor Day...
The script has been available for free on Amazon/Kindle as for sometime. This may be because the pilot is somewhat (needlessly) complex, and at times inspires nothing but incredulity (no spoilers here, but there are undeniable "oh, come on!" moments). The show may be worth a watch, especially ahead of the full Fall season, but I don't see how the show can goes for much more than ten episodes.
A final pet peeve - why does the show have two logos? If the sideways "infinity" doesn't work as a 'G' out of context (it does look a little like "Reven-8E"), then rework the logo. Why use one logo in promos and another logo in the show?:
The script has been available for free on Amazon/Kindle as for sometime. This may be because the pilot is somewhat (needlessly) complex, and at times inspires nothing but incredulity (no spoilers here, but there are undeniable "oh, come on!" moments). The show may be worth a watch, especially ahead of the full Fall season, but I don't see how the show can goes for much more than ten episodes.
A final pet peeve - why does the show have two logos? If the sideways "infinity" doesn't work as a 'G' out of context (it does look a little like "Reven-8E"), then rework the logo. Why use one logo in promos and another logo in the show?:
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| ABC Revenge Show Logo |
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| ABC Revenge Promo Logo using different branding |
Weird Al and 30 Rock's Jenna Maroney, Twins?
A still from Weird Al's upcoming "Perform This Way" (parody of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way") next to Jenna Maroney from 30 Rock.
UPDATE: Weird Al later appeared on 30 Rock as Jenna in an April 2012 episode
The Social Network: Great movie, bad math
Eduardo Saverin begins owning approximately 1/3 of Facebook shares, but ends up owning approximately 1/27 after signing his "own death certificate" by allowing for the eventual issuance of 24 million new shares. He characterizes this ownership dramatically as "point zero three percent" (.03%).
In actuality this is roughly 3% after dilution. Yes, 1/27 = ~.03 (the likely source of the number in the movie), but expressed as a percent this is ~3%, not .03%.
Original ownership: 1,328,334 / 3,861,436 (34.4%)
Diluted ("you issued 24-million shares..."): 1,328,334 / 27,861,436 (4.7%)
In actuality this is roughly 3% after dilution. Yes, 1/27 = ~.03 (the likely source of the number in the movie), but expressed as a percent this is ~3%, not .03%.
Original ownership: 1,328,334 / 3,861,436 (34.4%)
Diluted ("you issued 24-million shares..."): 1,328,334 / 27,861,436 (4.7%)
Yale College Class 2002 Facebook Group:
Yale College Class 2002 Facebook Group: www.Y02.org
Or: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_187066974664052
Or: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_187066974664052
Charlie Sheen Rap Lyrics (rough)
They say you get ready, we'll get ready
It happened so fast; I heal quickly
Got the docs in my pocket, show I'm totally clean
(Unless they tested for a drug called Charlie Sheen)
Cured my brain with a blink
So start spilln' ink
On checks for me, my crew, and eight more scripts
Tiger blood in my veins
Adonis DNA
Pick a fight with a warlock
Winning's my only game
Banging 7-gram rocks, cause that's how I roll
I've got one speed, one gear, one rule: GO
Survive it all with ease, 'cause I'm me
Still got marquee names on my caller ID
Say once a woman was afraid she'd OD?
Read the rule book loser, what's that got to do with me?
I'm proud of my creations - magic no one's ever seen
Couple ladies overdose... I'm sorry
Spent ten long years, effortlessly
Turnin' your tin can words into pure gravy
Shut my show down now, expect a showdown now
Lorre must be smokin' crack... socially
App is for Apple: Neurolinguistics in Apple and Microsoft ads
Perhaps Apple's most brilliant chess-move, and they've had a lot!, was getting the smartphone industry to converge on the word "App" for software that runs on the small screen. Because of this word usage, even an Android "App" primes the word "Apple." Brilliant devils.
However, Microsoft now gets some credit in this same arena. They originally marketed Bing.com as a "Decision Engine." At first this was received as a little silly, because Google results provide information to allow you to make decisions, too. Aside from some search-results presentation differences, was Bing really a new kind of decision engine? Now the endgame is at hand with Microsoft's new slogan: "Bing and Decide." Yes, it superficially awkwardly means, “use Bing to make a decision, because it's a Decision Engine." But it also, and much more importantly, means use Bing and decide if you like it better.
Hat's off to Microsoft for getting in the game here, after clever re-naming of Project Natal to "Kinect" (kin = 1) family, 2) motion, + "connect" invokes a) web, b) friends)
However, Microsoft now gets some credit in this same arena. They originally marketed Bing.com as a "Decision Engine." At first this was received as a little silly, because Google results provide information to allow you to make decisions, too. Aside from some search-results presentation differences, was Bing really a new kind of decision engine? Now the endgame is at hand with Microsoft's new slogan: "Bing and Decide." Yes, it superficially awkwardly means, “use Bing to make a decision, because it's a Decision Engine." But it also, and much more importantly, means use Bing and decide if you like it better.
Hat's off to Microsoft for getting in the game here, after clever re-naming of Project Natal to "Kinect" (kin = 1) family, 2) motion, + "connect" invokes a) web, b) friends)
IBM's Watson also an incredible work of Psychology on Jeopardy
Feb 16, 2011
IBM's Watson computer provided pure joy to watch, answering questions about The Beatles and common idioms, but perhaps more fascinating were Ken Jennings' reactions. Watson clearly "psyched out" Ken. Watch carefully and notice Ken not ready to buzz-in on the (albeit few) answers Watson got wrong. The ultimate confirmation of Watson winning the "mind-game": after Watson buzzed-in but before any response, Ken put down his buzzer on the last clue of regular play (video below).
IBM's Watson computer provided pure joy to watch, answering questions about The Beatles and common idioms, but perhaps more fascinating were Ken Jennings' reactions. Watson clearly "psyched out" Ken. Watch carefully and notice Ken not ready to buzz-in on the (albeit few) answers Watson got wrong. The ultimate confirmation of Watson winning the "mind-game": after Watson buzzed-in but before any response, Ken put down his buzzer on the last clue of regular play (video below).
Not withstanding the feat of knowledge displayed today, perhaps the most amazing moment of television was watching Ken concede the match's last question to Watson.
I now wonder if there were a method behind Watson's Double and Final Jeopardy wagers ending in odd unit-digits, beyond making other players think there was a method to the madness.
I now wonder if there were a method behind Watson's Double and Final Jeopardy wagers ending in odd unit-digits, beyond making other players think there was a method to the madness.
A Rare Progressive Win in Framing with New "Lean Forward," by MSNBC
In what may be a landmark event for the left, Fox News has responded to MSNBC's "Lean Forward" campaign with a "Move Forward" campaign of their own. Fox has accepted the "framing" put forward my MSNBC. As "forward" becomes synonymous with "Progressive," Fox only digs deeper by claiming to be "Moving Forward" faster than MSNBC "Leans"
This is historic in that the "left" (e.g., "sincere/evil" vs. the "right/correct") successfully laid out a frame work to elicit a response from the largest "lean right (backward)" media arm took the bait in its entirety. All from a brilliant pairing of two simple words: "Lean Forward"
See Mediaite for the FoxNews response video (video at bottom of page).
This is historic in that the "left" (e.g., "sincere/evil" vs. the "right/correct") successfully laid out a frame work to elicit a response from the largest "lean right (backward)" media arm took the bait in its entirety. All from a brilliant pairing of two simple words: "Lean Forward"
See Mediaite for the FoxNews response video (video at bottom of page).
Don't Vote: Then vs. Now (30 Rock '08 vs. GOP '10)
In a matter of two years, absurd satire has become reality:
30 Rock, Have You No Shame?
The EXACT subplot of a Sarah Silverman Program episode from 2008 is repeated in tonight's 30Rock episode. 30 Rock calls it Vertical Integration, Sarah called it a "conspiracy." Judge for yourself (updated with better audio):
Small World Labs Powers ScotTrade's Chinese Social Network
Props to my previous company for this impressive accomplishment:
http://technorati.com/blogging/article/scottrade-investment-firm-now-speaks-chinese/
http://technorati.com/blogging/article/scottrade-investment-firm-now-speaks-chinese/
In honor of Memorial Day, text from a letter from my grandfather to his parents during WWII:
May 6, 1945
Dear Folks,
Today has been by far the most important day of my life so far. We released 18,000 Jews from a Concentration Camp. The details are indescribable and even as I think of it all now I can't believe it. All the things you read about don't begin to describe the horror of it all. Those walking skeletons didn't seem at all human any more. Mom you would be proud of me if you saw me today...
I got rid of all my cigarettes and candy. I am proud to be a solider, proud to be in the Infantry and now I know why I fight...
I may not be much of a hero ma but I sure felt like one today. You would be proud to see me today...
Love
Danny
Dear Folks,
Today has been by far the most important day of my life so far. We released 18,000 Jews from a Concentration Camp. The details are indescribable and even as I think of it all now I can't believe it. All the things you read about don't begin to describe the horror of it all. Those walking skeletons didn't seem at all human any more. Mom you would be proud of me if you saw me today...
I got rid of all my cigarettes and candy. I am proud to be a solider, proud to be in the Infantry and now I know why I fight...
I may not be much of a hero ma but I sure felt like one today. You would be proud to see me today...
Love
Danny
The Value of a Domain Mentioned on The Daily Show (UnionVictoryAppreciationMonth.com)
Domain good for over 1,200 clicks. Details below:
Via a j.mp (bit.ly) link in order to use bit.ly's public analytics, it was forwarded to my Twitter Profile. You can still view the on-going bit.ly statics.
The episode reruns 5 times total, Friday at 1:30am, 10am, 2pm & 7pm, and Monday at 10am (Eastern). From the traffic patterns it is clear that people do watch The Daily Show Live. After the 2:00pm rerun, the domain had received a modest 341 visits, with a clear spike at the 2:15 mention:
The biggest spike was at the 7pm rerun:
The site received 571 hits by 7:20pm Friday. In the next 20 minutes, the site would only receive another 7 hits. As Friday night rolled on past the last spike, the site maintained a steady 35 hits per hour, ending Friday with 738 hits.
UnionVictoryAppreciationMonth.com was good for 258 clicks on Saturday, even though the episode did not rerun that day. Sunday, with also no rereuns, the site received a steady rate of roughly 12 clicks per hour (151 total).
So far Monday as of this 10:30am post, the site has received 47 more clicks, with a modest traffic increase of 6 clicks between 10:15-10:30.
In total www.unionvictoryappreciationmonth.com has received 1,203 clicks.
The domain also yielded 11 new followers on Twitter. Far and away, the most conversions came from the tweet:
"Follow me for stats on www.unionvictoryappreciationmonth.com, posted after final rerun of Thursdays' Daily Show, #dailyshow" .
6 out of the 11 started while that "call to action" post was up, even though it was up only 6 hours (2:08pm - 7:57pm).
Maybe a reader can suggest a future use for unionvictoryappreciationmonth.com? While we're at it, any suggestions for the Colbert-inspired wikiality.org? Other questions? Leave a comment or send me a message. Or help me achieve my goal of getting more followers than @vitamuffin and follow me on Twitter.
A note to aspiring domain snatchers: remember that because unionvictoryappreciationmonth.com was not registered at airtime, it is impossible to determine the initial traffic spike. An earlier mention of William & Mary in the same episode was enough to temporarily bring down their website.
@KeithOlbermann gets a Twitter Follower
Yesterday Keith Olbermann announced he was going to "give up" and join Twitter. Someone had to be his first follower, so at 7:35pm EST, I took the plunge.
The fact that John Hodgman, who was Tweeting from the green room, was to be his final guest hinted that this announcement was eminent. Even before the official TV announcement was made, @KeithOlbermann had seven followers.
Keith Olbermann surpassed 25,000 followers inside of 24 hours. In the spirit of Keith, I'm going to take most of the credit for that.
K.O., when you get to a million, remember the first.
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