News behind the iPad – Carriers are now irrelevant

Dumbpipe

I will admit, I want the iPad.  But I was super surprised when I saw the options for 3G avaliable for it.  No contract.  What started with the iPhone has been finished with the iPad.  

Cell Phone carriers are just a commodity.

After fighting for so long to keep control of everything on the phone, they finally let users decide with the App Store.  And after fighting to not become just another electricity or water pipe they are.

I can imagine in the near future being able to buy any phone and use it on any carrier with no contracts involved.

Google Translate – Getting there

Media_httpblogspoutco_qnneg

The ability to translate on the fly is a dream for many people.  In the movie Iron Man, Pepper Pots translates a terrorist video on the fly.

Here is an article about the tech in Iron Man, actually pretty interesting. (http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn13815-iiron-mani-the-science-behind-the-fiction.html)

While we can't do that yet, Google does have a translate email option.  I recently received an email relating to the nonprofit HelpCapeVerde.org/

Here is the Google Translation

Good Days joshua.

We are betting on a new technology, and we want this year to initiate us in the Commercialization of our products. As you've found in our website, we are manufacturing various items, with the first technology. (lamiandora 0.43 m)

We are in the early stage as a company and also hope DE1 mill finish, 3 meters long, she would be making modular homes and closings to cost even more competitive with respect to other materials.

We are still subject to finalization of an investment for her.
My fondest greetings and if you, can you tell me a bit in which they are specifically interested.

And here is a Spanish speakers translation.
Good day Josh,

We are taking position on a new technology and this year we want to begin the commercialization of our products. As you may have noticed in our web page we are manufacturing several items with the first technology. (lamiandora 0,43 m)

We are clearly in the first stages of business and we also hope to finish the laminadora of 1.3 meters length. With that we would be making modular homes and cementing at more competitive costs, as well as with other materials.

We are still awaiting an investment in order to finish the product.
Best regards, if you could please let me know what exactly you are interested in.

They are close but the Spanish speaker is much easier to understand. (of course)

Translation is getting close, but not quite there yet.

Howard Dodson – Chief of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Media_httpwwwafricawi_hfhht

I was unable to go to the Marriott Center to hear the forum with Howard Dodson, Chief of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. I was able to watch it online and I was glad I did. 

I took running notes of the ideas and quotes I found interesting. 

He had a number of interesting quotes and points.  Some of them include.

Of the original settlers 1 million were European, 5.5 million were African.

Of the 10 million slaves who survived the middle passage, half a million came to the US.  The majority went to Brazil and the Caribbean. 

There are 40 million blacks in the US today.  Most consider that as a Census under count.  Mr. Dodson said "There are at least 40 million people in the Baptist Church."

Except for Nigeria, no nation in the world, including those in Africa, has a higher black population than Brazil.

When we celebrate black history, we should do so, knowing that we are also celebrating American history, it is one and the same. 

We have turned Dr. Kings "I have a dream" speech into the sum total of his life. 

Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere.

Mr. Dodson said that he is concerned by a number of things such as,

Poverty revealed in the aftermath of Katrina.

Constantly growing budget deficits that will mortgage this countries future for years to come.

Nations moral crisis.  Our eroding morals internally and our moral standing internationally. 

He made it clear that he is not just criticizing the US.
"I raise these questions about this country because I love this country."

True patriots are not those who say my country right or wrong but those who love and live by the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and the US Constitution. 

He then returned to the theme of Martin Luther King.
Dr. Martin Luther King was, a self proclaimed, "drum major for justice".

A nation that year after year continues to spend more money on military defense, than they do on programs of social uplift, is nearing spiritual bankruptcy. 

Most have turned to Dr. Kings message of peace, instead of the justice one.

Howard Dodson – Chief of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.

Media_httpwwwafricawi_hfhht

I was unable to go to the Marriott Center to hear the forum with Howard Dodson, Chief of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. I was able to watch it online and I was glad I did. 

I took running notes of the ideas and quotes I found interesting. 

He had a number of interesting quotes and points.  Some of them include.

Of the original settlers 1 million were European, 5.5 million were African.

Of the 10 million slaves who survived the middle passage, half a million came to the US.  The majority went to Brazil and the Caribbean. 

There are 40 million blacks in the US today.  Most consider that as a Census under count.  Mr. Dodson said "There are at least 40 million people in the Baptist Church."

Except for Nigeria, no nation in the world, including those in Africa, has a higher black population than Brazil.

When we celebrate black history, we should do so, knowing that we are also celebrating American history, it is one and the same. 

We have turned Dr. Kings "I have a dream" speech into the sum total of his life. 

Injustice anywhere, is a threat to justice everywhere.

Mr. Dodson said that he is concerned by a number of things such as,

Poverty revealed in the aftermath of Katrina.

Constantly growing budget deficits that will mortgage this countries future for years to come.

Nations moral crisis.  Our eroding morals internally and our moral standing internationally. 

He made it clear that he is not just criticizing the US.
"I raise these questions about this country because I love this country."

True patriots are not those who say my country right or wrong but those who love and live by the principles of the Declaration of Independence, and the US Constitution. 

He then returned to the theme of Martin Luther King.
Dr. Martin Luther King was, a self proclaimed, "drum major for justice".

A nation that year after year continues to spend more money on military defense, than they do on programs of social uplift, is nearing spiritual bankruptcy. 

Most have turned to Dr. Kings message of peace, instead of the justice one.

Great Article on a Great Manager

Screen_shot_2010-01-23_at_10

Reading this article was an eye opener for me.  I have held a few jobs in various industries. (manufacturing, retail) Not once has my manager asked me any of these questions.  We never had a system like Nick uses at his restaurants.  I don't really like working for other people, but I wouldn't mind at all working at Nick's Pizza. 

Managers need to trust and track and not just say "because I told you to."

Great Article on a Great Manager

Screen_shot_2010-01-23_at_10

Reading this article was an eye opener for me.  I have held a few jobs in various industries. (manufacturing, retail) Not once has my manager asked me any of these questions.  We never had a system like Nick uses at his restaurants.  I don't really like working for other people, but I wouldn't mind at all working at Nick's Pizza. 

Managers need to trust and track and not just say "because I told you to."

Push (the movie) Review – Seriously?

Push-movie

Sometimes I wonder who reads the scripts.  

Push was ok.  Sometimes exciting.  Too many plot holes.  And one horrible ending.  It is almost like they ran out of money and decided to call it quits.  

This movie is maybe a Redbox, maybe a free one.  Don't go out of your way to see it.  And don't expect it to make much sense.

Push (the movie) Review – Seriously?

Push-movie

Sometimes I wonder who reads the scripts.  

Push was ok.  Sometimes exciting.  Too many plot holes.  And one horrible ending.  It is almost like they ran out of money and decided to call it quits.  

This movie is maybe a Redbox, maybe a free one.  Don't go out of your way to see it.  And don't expect it to make much sense.

Why Apple Really Bought Lala

Screen_shot_2010-01-22_at_4

Apple changed the online music industry with their "99 cents download and own" policy with the launch of the iTunes Music Store.  Since then, iTunes has come to dominate the online music industry with up to %90 of the market share. (http://www.ipodhacks.com/article.php?sid=2191

Apple of course wants to maintain this position.  They are realizing that the market is now moving away from "buy-download-own" to "stream-listen-move on" model.  I recently started using Lala, and Spotify, and my musically tastes are far larger and diverse when I don't have to worry about paying 99 cents for each song.

Apple purchased Lala to integrate it with the bare bones web iTunes they currently offer. (http://joshuadance.com/itunes-preview-apple-missed-the-boat)  By offering a dual buy-or-stream model, they can keep their cash cow of 99 cent downloads and still stay on top of the rapidly expanding streaming services.