Archive for January, 2006
Google rumour round-up
It might be buying Napster.
It might be preparing to release a Google-branded Linux.
In more concrete news, there’s an updated Google Toolbar (IE only so far).
Email down, again
Either 1&1 Internet (my host) or 123reg (my domain registrar) is broken.
*sighs*
At least I don’t need email to get my work done! o noes! I do!!!!!!!
Rowr rowr rowr
This is Megan, a 10-week-old black Lab retriever and a new addition to the Marshall household. Right now she’s a bundle of fur and sleep, but it’s just a matter of time before she reveals her true identity as Megan The Merciless, Destroyer of Furniture.
Nifty photoshop tutorial
How to make Jessica Alba hot in 11 steps shows how to turn this:
Into this:
[Via Digg]
Things that make you go “eh?”: sex spam
With most junk email, the selling point is pretty obvious: particular types of adult images, or treatments for embarrassing conditions, or whatever. But two spams in the last few days have baffled me. The first:
Let’s assume the claims are real and the tablets are too (which isn’t likely). Why on earth would you want a 36-hour erection? I’ve heard of such things happening via illegal drugs use, and the story always ends in a hospital. And it’d put you off your work, stop you sleeping and I suspect, get you thrown out of Marks and Spencer.
The second one, on a similar note:
Increase volume by 500%. Cover her if you want.
Swiftly moving on from the question of why you’d want to “cover her”, 500% isn’t very spectacular: the average male ejaculation is between 2 and 5 millilitres, so if you increase your volume by 500% then you’ll get between 10 and 50 millilitres. That’s about 5 teaspoons, so if your desire really is to “cover her” then you’ll not only need the tablets; you’ll also need a very, very, very diminutive partner.
You’d never guess that I’m bored and waiting for a bunch of work emails to arrive, would you?
Is Microsoft making an Xpod?
Businessweek suggests so, although the article does say that MS hasn’t decided whether or not to go ahead with it.
BusinessWeek has learned that the software giant is working on plans to develop its own portable digital media device to rival the iPod, rather than just providing technology to partners… Xbox boss Peter Moore says any Microsoft media device would have to leverage the company’s most significant consumer strength, video gaming. “It can’t just be our version of the iPod,” says Moore, who nonetheless would not confirm that Microsoft is considering making such a device. So in addition to playing music and videos, a Microsoft device would include games. Microsoft would probably use the Xbox brand to market the gadget. “I think the brand is an opportunity,” Moore says.
If Microsoft really is planning an Xpod, it’s a very risky strategy: Nintendo’s DS and Sony’s PSP are already well established, and of course Apple makes a little white box called an i-something or other. More to the point, Microsoft would be actively stepping on the toes of its partners. With the Xbox, Microsoft didn’t have anything to lose, because it didn’t have lots of firms making gaming consoles that used Microsoft’s systems. With portable media, though, Microsoft already has a legion of firms making MP3 players, portable media centers and so on. Becoming a direct rival could seriously backfire.
Perhaps there’s a related option: an Xpod specification, backed up with an Intel Inside-style marketing deal, that sets the minimum requirements and key things such as the interface for add-ons such as speaker systems. Partners would still build it and put their own stamp on it, but Microsoft would have a more consistent suite of iPod rivals.
Or it could assassinate Steve Jobs.
TV downloads are more profitable than TV broadcasting
The Hollywood Reporter has a fascinating look at the economics of iTunes video downloads, which give $1.44 per clip to the networks:
Such hit primetime series as “Desperate Housewives,” “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” “Survivor” and “Lost” command about $440,000 per 30-second advertising spot, which implies a $26 cost-per-thousand rate. With a typical 17 million viewers and 13 minutes of commercial time per hour, one episode of such a hit series generates about $12 million in gross ad revenue…
By comparison, even in the worst-case scenario — with 20% of TV viewers opting for downloads, 100% of which overlap with existing programs — downloaded episodes of such popular series can generate an estimated $15 million in revenue.
[Via WebProNews]
Un-evolved
It’s easy to laugh at the US creationism Intelligent Design movement, because us Brits are made of smarter stuff. Aren’t we? Nope:
More than half the British population does not accept the theory of evolution… more than 40% of those questioned believe that creationism or intelligent design should be taught in school science lessons.
OK, any survey should be taken with a pinch of salt, but the Flying Spaghetti Monster needs to give these people a good slap with his Noodly Appendage. [Edit: by "these people" I mean anyone who wants creationism/ID taught in science classes.]
Update
There’s a good point being made on Davblog:
Smylers rightfully points out some loose thinking on my part - which actually stems from some loose questions on MORI’s part (or maybe loose reporting of the questions on the BBC’s part). The point is that evolution does nothing to explain the origin of life. It only considers the development of life. So if you’re asked what best describes your view of the origin and development of life then evolution shouldn’t really be considered a possible answer.
Personally I don’t think that most people would have considered the question that deeply. And most people see it as a binary choice - evolution or creationism. So I’m still very surprised and worried by the data.
101 dumb business moments for 2005
Business 2.0’s annual survey of dumb business moves uncovers “2005’s shenanigans, skulduggery and just plain stupidity”. I like this one:
Jessica recognizes that she has a very broad fan base.”
– A spokesperson for Jessica Simpson, explaining the size-2 entertainer’s introduction of a plus-size line of jeans in August.
Unaccustomed as I aaaaaaaahhhh
Need to make a speech or presentation? Nervous? Having sex immediately beforehand improves your, ahem, performance.
Bad news if you’re single, though:
Stuart Brody, a psychologist at the University of Paisley in Scotland, said it has to be full sexual intercourse to get the best results.