21st Century Video Fireside Chats

In Culture, Politics, Video on Nov-15-2008 with no comments

Obama as President-Elect turned his turned his first weekly radio address into an online fireside chat, via a new YouTube channel.

Online political observers say President-elect Obama’s innovative, online-fueled campaign will likely evolve into a new level of online communication between the public and the White House—the Internet-era version of President Franklin Roosevelt’s famous “fireside chats” between 1933 and 1944.

Here’s Obama’s first video address. His transition team, potential cabinet members, and other experts will also be recording videos in the coming weeks.

Post Traumatic Obama Disorder

In Humor, Video on Nov-14-2008 with no comments

Teacup Bird Feeder

In Design on Nov-13-2008 with no comments

[Found via Etsy]

Mark Cuban to Obama: “Entrepreneurs Will Lead ….”

In Business on Nov-12-2008 with no comments

Mark Cuban has a post the other day offering president-elect Obama who he ought to be looking to for insight on the worsening economic crisis:

If we are going to solve our current economic problems, our President needs to get first hand information on the impact his proposed policies will have on real Joe the Plumbers. People who are 1 person companies living job to job, hoping they get paid on time. We need to know what the impact of his policies will be on the individually owned Chrysler Dealership in Iowa. The bodego in Manhattan. The mobile phone software startup out of Carnegie Mellon. The event planner in Dallas. The barbershop in LA. The restaurant in Boston.

Entrepreneurs that start and run small businesses will be the propellant in this economy. PE Obama needs to have the counsel of those who will take the real risk inherent in creating companies and jobs. Those who put their money and lives on the line with their business.

Without it, the rules of unintended consequences of any economic policy could hit you in the mouth in ways you never expected. Things like forcing companies from being taxpayers to the underground cash economy, or forcing new hires to be independent contractors to avoid having to pay their insurance or higher matching social security amounts. Your current group has no one with 100pct of their networth on the line. I promise you that the possibility of losing it all will provide a completely different perspective than any of the “knowledge” the esteemed, learned members of his current advisory team offer.

From a political point-of-view I am often not in agreement with Cuban. But I rarely disagree from a business point-of-view. And as Cuban noted (and I noticed) Obama’s Transition Economic Advisory Board doesn’t include a single small business owner. I’ve always worked for businesses with less than 100 employees, and the needs of a firm of this nature are nothing close to the needs of a billion dollar public company.

Finish Line Doormat

In Design on Nov-12-2008 with no comments

[Found via Fred & Friends]

MSNBC Extends Keith Olbermann’s Contract

In Media on Nov-12-2008 with no comments

News that is a couple days old, but still good news:

The announcement came less than two years into Mr. Olbermann’s current four-year deal. MSNBC essentially tore up his Feb. 2007 contract (reportedly worth up to $4 million a year) and wrote a new one, according to two employees with knowledge of the agreement. The new contract is valued at about $7.5 million a year, one of the people said.

Mr. Olbermann will continue to anchor “Countdown” and co-host NBC’s “Football Night in America.” Reinforcing Mr. Olbermann’s value to MSNBC, the network said he would “play a prominent role” in “all major news events.”

Mr. Olbermann has anchored “Countdown,” the most popular program on MSNBC, since 2003. The program now draws more viewers than CNN in the 8 p.m. time slot.

Wow, Armstrong & Cash Sing Blue Yodel #9

In Music, Video on Nov-11-2008 with no comments

New Pixar Movie Trailer: Up

In Movies, Video on Nov-11-2008 with no comments

It is clear Pixar makes movies that other studios can only dream of.

Steve Jobs On What Design Means

In Design, Quotes on Nov-11-2008 with no comments

Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” — Steve Jobs, The New York Times, 2003.

“Alcohol Was Believed To Have Been A Factor”

In Culture, Sports on Nov-10-2008 with no comments

After #1 Alabama beat #15 LSU in overtime Saturday, it would appear Dennis Smith, an LSU fan living in the heart of Alabama, called Michael Williams, an acquaintance and Crimson Tide fan. Words were exchanged. Smith and his wife decided to pay him a visit and things went downhill from there:

Soon, the Smiths arrived at Williams’ home and the men wound up in a physical altercation, officers said.

Smith retrieved a pistol from his vehicle, and threatened Williams, who armed himself with a shotgun and fired two blasts, striking and killing Dennis Smith, officers said.

Donna Smith then threatened Williams, who shot and killed the woman, they said.

Investigators said alcohol was believed to have been a factor in the killings, and the investigation was ongoing late Sunday.

Sad, but I guess not unexpected when you mix large amounts of alcohol with guns.