Ok, putting this one, with it's old layout, old technology and lack of posts, to bed.
I'll be playing with new things at http://diogenes21.blogspot.com.
Good Hunting!
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Monday, October 30, 2006
Social Networking, social climbing?
We all see how Social Networking sites such as MySpace have taken off andbeen a big deal here in 2006. Many companies are having a little difficulty monetizing the traffic they have, because of the proverbial 800 pound gorilla in the room getting the majority of the ad revenue.
But they're starting to try to do some different things. For example, MySpace is working on generating revenue (and avoiding lawsuits) by offering to sell popular songs from major labels so that users can put them on their pages. Users can already do this with music they have acquired anywhere, so why should they pay for it next? I don't know how they'll get this implemented, but you can bet they're going to try.
This leads to some ideas and questions regarding how people justify paying a premium for what can be had elsewhere for a discount or even free. Hence, the luxury goods market can be examined for some answers (acceptable or not).
Essentially, scarcity (real or perceived) creates the perception of value. One way to create the perception of scarcity is to associate a high cost (value) with something in the presence of an uninformed market. As long as enough people share the perception and have the disposable income sufficient to create a market, there's a business to be made.
So what "features" of MySpace pages or other social networking sites can we create for sale and assign some level of scarcity to in order to drive the price up. This has always been a conundrum with digital goods, because the effective replication cost is zero and the effective distribution cost is zero. Difficult to impart scarcity on something that is free to make and deliver.
If anyone comes up with an answer to this and makes a few bucks, I want a cut.
But they're starting to try to do some different things. For example, MySpace is working on generating revenue (and avoiding lawsuits) by offering to sell popular songs from major labels so that users can put them on their pages. Users can already do this with music they have acquired anywhere, so why should they pay for it next? I don't know how they'll get this implemented, but you can bet they're going to try.
This leads to some ideas and questions regarding how people justify paying a premium for what can be had elsewhere for a discount or even free. Hence, the luxury goods market can be examined for some answers (acceptable or not).
Essentially, scarcity (real or perceived) creates the perception of value. One way to create the perception of scarcity is to associate a high cost (value) with something in the presence of an uninformed market. As long as enough people share the perception and have the disposable income sufficient to create a market, there's a business to be made.
So what "features" of MySpace pages or other social networking sites can we create for sale and assign some level of scarcity to in order to drive the price up. This has always been a conundrum with digital goods, because the effective replication cost is zero and the effective distribution cost is zero. Difficult to impart scarcity on something that is free to make and deliver.
If anyone comes up with an answer to this and makes a few bucks, I want a cut.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Quantum information teleported from light to matter - Yahoo! News
Quantum information teleported from light to matter as reported this morning.
This is so cool I can't even see straight.
This is so cool I can't even see straight.
"It is one step further because for the first time it involves teleportation between light and matter, two different objects. One is the carrier of information and the other one is the storage medium," Polzik explained in an interview on Wednesday.
The experiment involved for the first time a macroscopic atomic object containing thousands of billions of atoms. They also teleported the information a distance of half a meter but believe it can be extended further.
Thursday, September 28, 2006
If I were a New Hampshire American...
I am a Canadian and I hold no political affiliation, and nor do I ever plan to. The very idea of declaring myself to be PC, Liberal, NDP, Marxist, or even Green seems rather strange. And the fact that so many people do so, I consider strange. But since I am in the minority of undeclareds, perhaps, I am indeed the strange one.
To be honest, in my younger years, I used to lean much, much more left (I actually used to visit the MichaelMoore.com website and blindly nod in agreement to everything I read. However!!!! then, I started thinking for myself. But, this does not been I am now right-wing though! "Screw them all!"
My vote goes to the person who closest reflects my beliefs and ideals at the given moment in my life. But, since my point of this post is to talk about the US democrats, I will keep my focus there.
When I heard that Lieberman lost to Lamont in the NH primary (if that is what it is called), I kind of giggled. I was not surprised though, because of the great efforts the democrats went to in the last presidential election to garner support from the anti-war movement, they likely signed-up a number of extreme anti-war followers into their party. And it was the Anti-war votes that really forced Lieberman out.
When I heard that Lieberman was going to run as an independent, I was happy, because it got me thinking, "Good for you Joe... win your seat back and say 'Screw you!' to all those who tossed you."
When I read about this poll today, I once again drew satisfaction out of the fact, that the Democrats have screwed themselves again. "Satisfaction?" you ask.
Yes... because the Democrats are not the Democrats of old. They have been infiltrated by the extreme left, who have given up on their green party who always get slaughtered. Now the extremes are now betting on a horse that at least is in the picture when there is a photo-finish.
I realize, that this 1 seat will not make the entire election, but it will speak volumes towards the direction that the Democrats have inadvertently taken.
Anti-war? That is the problem with the democrats... there is to much irrational support for this losing issue. This anti-war argument did not help Kerry win the presidency... and it was his for the taking. Sure he seemed to support the troops staying in Iraq, but his past actions and affiliations sank him.
Do I support war? In general, no. I cannot rationally support something for which I would not be willing to go and do myself. Then what are my thoughts on the Iraq war? I support the theory behind what is being attempted. Is my stance hypocritical? Perhaps... but at least I am being honest with myself.
If the Democrats want a hope-in-hell of winning again, they have got to drop this anti-war persona which has been crocheted to their jersey, even if they didn't sew it themselves.
To be honest, in my younger years, I used to lean much, much more left (I actually used to visit the MichaelMoore.com website and blindly nod in agreement to everything I read. However!!!! then, I started thinking for myself. But, this does not been I am now right-wing though! "Screw them all!"
My vote goes to the person who closest reflects my beliefs and ideals at the given moment in my life. But, since my point of this post is to talk about the US democrats, I will keep my focus there.
When I heard that Lieberman lost to Lamont in the NH primary (if that is what it is called), I kind of giggled. I was not surprised though, because of the great efforts the democrats went to in the last presidential election to garner support from the anti-war movement, they likely signed-up a number of extreme anti-war followers into their party. And it was the Anti-war votes that really forced Lieberman out.
When I heard that Lieberman was going to run as an independent, I was happy, because it got me thinking, "Good for you Joe... win your seat back and say 'Screw you!' to all those who tossed you."
When I read about this poll today, I once again drew satisfaction out of the fact, that the Democrats have screwed themselves again. "Satisfaction?" you ask.
Yes... because the Democrats are not the Democrats of old. They have been infiltrated by the extreme left, who have given up on their green party who always get slaughtered. Now the extremes are now betting on a horse that at least is in the picture when there is a photo-finish.
I realize, that this 1 seat will not make the entire election, but it will speak volumes towards the direction that the Democrats have inadvertently taken.
Anti-war? That is the problem with the democrats... there is to much irrational support for this losing issue. This anti-war argument did not help Kerry win the presidency... and it was his for the taking. Sure he seemed to support the troops staying in Iraq, but his past actions and affiliations sank him.
Do I support war? In general, no. I cannot rationally support something for which I would not be willing to go and do myself. Then what are my thoughts on the Iraq war? I support the theory behind what is being attempted. Is my stance hypocritical? Perhaps... but at least I am being honest with myself.
If the Democrats want a hope-in-hell of winning again, they have got to drop this anti-war persona which has been crocheted to their jersey, even if they didn't sew it themselves.
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Someone at IBM can once again "Think."
Today from TechDirt (yeah, I know, I need to expand my sources of news...but they do such a good job there with the technology coverage), they cover what IBM is doing to deal with the horrid state of the U.S. Patent system.
I think Joe is a little generous to IBM in this post, forgetting some of the last 30 years of history over at Big Blue. But the point is still valid. It's refreshing and encouraging to see one of the major industry players finally call bullshit on these shenanigans.
The company acknowledges that by posting its patent applications to the web, years in advance of when the patent is accepted, it's tipping off its competitors as to what technologies the company is working on. But ceding this competitive advantage is a small price to pay, if the overall technology market grows because of it. In fact, having competitors develop competing and complementary technologies to IBM's is critical to developing a thriving ecosystem.
I think Joe is a little generous to IBM in this post, forgetting some of the last 30 years of history over at Big Blue. But the point is still valid. It's refreshing and encouraging to see one of the major industry players finally call bullshit on these shenanigans.
Saturday, August 12, 2006
Gore isn't quite as green as he's led the world to believe - Yahoo! News
"Gore isn't quite as green as he's led the world to believe" states the headline from of all places, USA Today!
Finally it seems like the main stream media is discovering that - SHOCKER! - the leadership on the left wing is just as, if not more, full of shit as other politicians who use popular issues to manipulate voters.
Finally it seems like the main stream media is discovering that - SHOCKER! - the leadership on the left wing is just as, if not more, full of shit as other politicians who use popular issues to manipulate voters.
Public records reveal that as Gore lectures Americans on excessive consumption, he and his wife Tipper live in two properties: a 10,000-square-foot, 20-room, eight-bathroom home in Nashville, and a 4,000-square-foot home in Arlington, Va. (He also has a third home in Carthage, Tenn.) For someone rallying the planet to pursue a path of extreme personal sacrifice, Gore requires little from himself.
Then there is the troubling matter of his energy use. In the Washington, D.C., area, utility companies offer wind energy as an alternative to traditional energy. In Nashville, similar programs exist. Utility customers must simply pay a few extra pennies per kilowatt hour, and they can continue living their carbon-neutral lifestyles knowing that they are supporting wind energy. Plenty of businesses and institutions have signed up. Even the Bush administration is using green energy for some federal office buildings, as are thousands of area residents.
But according to public records, there is no evidence that Gore has signed up to use green energy in either of his large residences. When contacted Wednesday, Gore's office confirmed as much but said the Gores were looking into making the switch at both homes. Talk about inconvenient truths.
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