Saturday, December 28, 2013
Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Whaaaaat? Bruce Lee
The ping pong with nunchucks is almost unbelievable.
Sadly - Our crack staff has discovered that this is a digital creation intended as a viral advertisement for the Nokia N96 Limited Edition Bruce Lee cell phone, produced in 2008 (thirty-five years after Lee's death) by the Beijing office of the JWT (J. Walter Thompson) advertising agency. Such a good idea. The video employed a Bruce Lee look-alike actor pretending to play ping-pong against an opponent, their movements sychronized to the sounds of a genuine table tennis match, with the final audio and the visual image of the ball being added to the clip in post-production.
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/photos/advertisements/pingpong.asp
Sadly - Our crack staff has discovered that this is a digital creation intended as a viral advertisement for the Nokia N96 Limited Edition Bruce Lee cell phone, produced in 2008 (thirty-five years after Lee's death) by the Beijing office of the JWT (J. Walter Thompson) advertising agency. Such a good idea. The video employed a Bruce Lee look-alike actor pretending to play ping-pong against an opponent, their movements sychronized to the sounds of a genuine table tennis match, with the final audio and the visual image of the ball being added to the clip in post-production.
Read more at http://www.snopes.com/photos/advertisements/pingpong.asp
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Monday, July 1, 2013
Saturday, May 4, 2013
Lefsetz' Buyers Guide to this and that. Why not?
Bob Lefsetz has an opinion about most things. I'm not sure if I like the guy (haven't met yet) but he has a way... Here, he hammers out sort of a nice little buyer's guide:
MOBILE PROVIDER
Verizon.
You live by your connection. It's the key to your life. We live in an era of communication and information, and if you don't have a signal, you're out of the loop. Verizon has more service in more locations and more LTE than any other provider.
Sprint is LTE challenged.
AT&T is a bit better, but still sucks.
T-Mobile is so lame, they had to reinvent their business model.
Don't be afraid to change. Just because tens of millions of people are on AT&T, that does not mean it doesn't suck.
You can either live in nirvana or nowheresville.
Switch to Verizon immediately.
(And don't trust me, trust "Consumer Reports," where Verizon is at the top and AT&T at the bottom in every survey. And, of course, Verizon is not perfect, it doesn't work at your house, get the service that does.)
MOBILE PHONE
iPhone 5.
I'm not going to get into an Android versus iPhone debate. If you are a power user and happy with your Android, that's fine by me. But the reason you use the iPhone is because of uniformity, they all work the same, support, you can just walk into the Genius Bar, the curated app store and its lack of malware, and the ability to upgrade the software easily.
iPHONE TO BUY
The iPhone 5.
Do not cheap out and buy a 4S or a 4. That's just plain ignorant. You think you're saving $100 or $200, but the real story is you're paying for these phones over two years, the life of the contract, so you should get the best. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish.
And the reason you want the iPhone 5 is not the faster chip or the extra row of icons, but LTE. Surfing on LTE on Verizon is faster than many people's home connection. The 4S and 4 are 3G devices only. LTE is to 3G as cycling is to walking.
COMPUTER
The one you've got.
Don't buy a new computer unless yours is broken or doesn't do something. Yes, if you upgrade you'll get something faster, but you're mainly surfing the web, and that's more a function of your Internet connection than your chip/hardware.
IF YOU BUY A NEW COMPUTER
Get a Mac. Because Windows 8 sucks. Trying to be everything, it's nothing.
INTERNET CONNECTION
Cable or FiOS, that's it. Absolutely do not buy home DSL, it's positively glacial in speed. You think you're saving money on the triple-play, but the joke is on you. You want at least 15 down and 1 up. Go to speedtest.net and check your speed. If it does not reach these numbers, upgrade.
AUTOMOBILE
Japanese.
German cars are better engineered and provide a better driving experience.
Despite the hype, American autos still aren't as problem free.
Just buy a Toyota and forget about it. If you need European status, know that you're gonna pay for it.
California leads in automobiles. The best-selling model? The Toyota Prius.
Yes, the Tesla Model S is a dream, but if you don't think there's a penalty in being an early adopter, you've never been one.
STREAMING MUSIC SERVICE
Unclear.
Spotify is the leader, but its search sucks and there are too many pauses. MOG, soon to be Daisy, has high quality streams, but a bad interface. The problem with Rdio is no one else is on it. And first and foremost, music is social.
You must have a streaming service subscription. Otherwise, you're out of the loop. You need to be able to check out new music instantly. There are no long term contracts. Sign up for Spotify today and be prepared to switch if something else is better and that's where all the people end up going.
DOWNLOADS
Don't buy 'em. A waste of money. They sound bad and are not forever. Oh, they'll last forever, it's just that technology marches on and today's formats are left in the dust. Just try opening a Word 1.5 document in today's program.
Streaming wins.
Just about everything available on iTunes is available for streaming. And when new, higher quality formats come online, you won't have to upgrade your collection.
CDs
For the ignorant. Vinyl sounds better. But they're both impractical, and we live in an era of convenience.
ONLINE VIDEO SERVICE
Forget Vimeo, DailyMotion is only good for porn, YouTube wins. That's what the old guard doesn't understand about the Internet. There's one winner. One iTunes, one Amazon, one YouTube...
TELEVISION
Samsung.
Everything's good, but Samsung is the best, and no more expensive than its direct competition. Of course you can buy a plasma with better blacks, but that format is not forever, just ask Pioneer.
BEST HOME COFFEE MACHINE
Technivorm Moccamaster.
It's about the water, getting it hot enough.
Don't cheap out. You drink coffee every day, you spend so much on beans, lay out the almost three hundred dollars, you'll thank me.
BEST PRINTER
HP.
Because they own the market. Competitors are good, but HP will update drivers first. In tech, you want to go where the swarm does.
BEST COLLEGE
The best one you get into. You can employ the ratings at the "U.S. News & World Report" to guide you. I'm not saying they're accurate, but they reflect perception. And you don't go to college to learn in the classroom, but outside of it, by interaction with the students. You'll upgrade your game by hanging with smarter, sharper, more worldly students. If you need training, go to graduate school. If you're worried about the money... Top tier colleges are worth it. They're worth borrowing for. If you don't get into one and are worried about cash, go for the cheaper option, save money, your mileage will be the same at the second or third tier liberal arts school as it will be at the state university.
BEST NEWS SOURCE
"New York Times" or "Wall Street Journal."
Because they both still have reporters. The locals have cut back too far and there's no depth in TV coverage, all they've got is the reporters you see on screen. Forget the financials, forget the supposed liberal bias, the "New York Times" sets the agenda for both parties, because it provides the most comprehensive coverage.
BEST PREMIUM CABLE CHANNEL
Showtime.
You really need both Showtime and HBO, but even though HBO shows get most of the press, there's more risk and more depth on Showtime.
BEST CABLES
Monoprice.
Don't waste your money on anything more expensive.
BEST E-MAIL PROVIDER
Gmail.
Get off of AOL, it's too slow. You could receive e-mail days late. Gmail's got all the features you want and Google keeps investing in it, everybody's there for a reason.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
MOBILE PROVIDER
Verizon.
You live by your connection. It's the key to your life. We live in an era of communication and information, and if you don't have a signal, you're out of the loop. Verizon has more service in more locations and more LTE than any other provider.
Sprint is LTE challenged.
AT&T is a bit better, but still sucks.
T-Mobile is so lame, they had to reinvent their business model.
Don't be afraid to change. Just because tens of millions of people are on AT&T, that does not mean it doesn't suck.
You can either live in nirvana or nowheresville.
Switch to Verizon immediately.
(And don't trust me, trust "Consumer Reports," where Verizon is at the top and AT&T at the bottom in every survey. And, of course, Verizon is not perfect, it doesn't work at your house, get the service that does.)
MOBILE PHONE
iPhone 5.
I'm not going to get into an Android versus iPhone debate. If you are a power user and happy with your Android, that's fine by me. But the reason you use the iPhone is because of uniformity, they all work the same, support, you can just walk into the Genius Bar, the curated app store and its lack of malware, and the ability to upgrade the software easily.
iPHONE TO BUY
The iPhone 5.
Do not cheap out and buy a 4S or a 4. That's just plain ignorant. You think you're saving $100 or $200, but the real story is you're paying for these phones over two years, the life of the contract, so you should get the best. Don't be penny wise and pound foolish.
And the reason you want the iPhone 5 is not the faster chip or the extra row of icons, but LTE. Surfing on LTE on Verizon is faster than many people's home connection. The 4S and 4 are 3G devices only. LTE is to 3G as cycling is to walking.
COMPUTER
The one you've got.
Don't buy a new computer unless yours is broken or doesn't do something. Yes, if you upgrade you'll get something faster, but you're mainly surfing the web, and that's more a function of your Internet connection than your chip/hardware.
IF YOU BUY A NEW COMPUTER
Get a Mac. Because Windows 8 sucks. Trying to be everything, it's nothing.
INTERNET CONNECTION
Cable or FiOS, that's it. Absolutely do not buy home DSL, it's positively glacial in speed. You think you're saving money on the triple-play, but the joke is on you. You want at least 15 down and 1 up. Go to speedtest.net and check your speed. If it does not reach these numbers, upgrade.
AUTOMOBILE
Japanese.
German cars are better engineered and provide a better driving experience.
Despite the hype, American autos still aren't as problem free.
Just buy a Toyota and forget about it. If you need European status, know that you're gonna pay for it.
California leads in automobiles. The best-selling model? The Toyota Prius.
Yes, the Tesla Model S is a dream, but if you don't think there's a penalty in being an early adopter, you've never been one.
STREAMING MUSIC SERVICE
Unclear.
Spotify is the leader, but its search sucks and there are too many pauses. MOG, soon to be Daisy, has high quality streams, but a bad interface. The problem with Rdio is no one else is on it. And first and foremost, music is social.
You must have a streaming service subscription. Otherwise, you're out of the loop. You need to be able to check out new music instantly. There are no long term contracts. Sign up for Spotify today and be prepared to switch if something else is better and that's where all the people end up going.
DOWNLOADS
Don't buy 'em. A waste of money. They sound bad and are not forever. Oh, they'll last forever, it's just that technology marches on and today's formats are left in the dust. Just try opening a Word 1.5 document in today's program.
Streaming wins.
Just about everything available on iTunes is available for streaming. And when new, higher quality formats come online, you won't have to upgrade your collection.
CDs
For the ignorant. Vinyl sounds better. But they're both impractical, and we live in an era of convenience.
ONLINE VIDEO SERVICE
Forget Vimeo, DailyMotion is only good for porn, YouTube wins. That's what the old guard doesn't understand about the Internet. There's one winner. One iTunes, one Amazon, one YouTube...
TELEVISION
Samsung.
Everything's good, but Samsung is the best, and no more expensive than its direct competition. Of course you can buy a plasma with better blacks, but that format is not forever, just ask Pioneer.
BEST HOME COFFEE MACHINE
Technivorm Moccamaster.
It's about the water, getting it hot enough.
Don't cheap out. You drink coffee every day, you spend so much on beans, lay out the almost three hundred dollars, you'll thank me.
BEST PRINTER
HP.
Because they own the market. Competitors are good, but HP will update drivers first. In tech, you want to go where the swarm does.
BEST COLLEGE
The best one you get into. You can employ the ratings at the "U.S. News & World Report" to guide you. I'm not saying they're accurate, but they reflect perception. And you don't go to college to learn in the classroom, but outside of it, by interaction with the students. You'll upgrade your game by hanging with smarter, sharper, more worldly students. If you need training, go to graduate school. If you're worried about the money... Top tier colleges are worth it. They're worth borrowing for. If you don't get into one and are worried about cash, go for the cheaper option, save money, your mileage will be the same at the second or third tier liberal arts school as it will be at the state university.
BEST NEWS SOURCE
"New York Times" or "Wall Street Journal."
Because they both still have reporters. The locals have cut back too far and there's no depth in TV coverage, all they've got is the reporters you see on screen. Forget the financials, forget the supposed liberal bias, the "New York Times" sets the agenda for both parties, because it provides the most comprehensive coverage.
BEST PREMIUM CABLE CHANNEL
Showtime.
You really need both Showtime and HBO, but even though HBO shows get most of the press, there's more risk and more depth on Showtime.
BEST CABLES
Monoprice.
Don't waste your money on anything more expensive.
BEST E-MAIL PROVIDER
Gmail.
Get off of AOL, it's too slow. You could receive e-mail days late. Gmail's got all the features you want and Google keeps investing in it, everybody's there for a reason.
--
Visit the archive: http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Always true?
 |
Tennessee Williams |
Monday, February 25, 2013
"A Slow Drag With Jospehine"
Put this in the category called Great Stuff.
The snitch, the snoop, the tattletale lead a threadbare up the stairs
Adieu, my little ballyhoo, you broke my heart in two
And now I haunt the bars and scent those trite affairs
She went home to gather her comb and caught him unawares
And there was her man enjoying the lay of the land
He took a walk in the dark with a dish from the stand
Girls and their creations, tight in the brightest grenadine
But I'd take all that I've seen for a slow drag with Josephine
Josephine, Josephine
But I'd trade all that I've seen for
A slow drag with Josephine
Gavotte, garrotes, Cotillions and slow Arabesques
Drum rolls and Farandoles were all made in jest
But when you make that move, I can't resist
When will you declare your armistice?
Josephine, Josephine
But I'd trade all that I've seen for
A slow drag with Josephine
In another time and place, a different fate was cast
He tried to skeddle-daddle-do, she might have slapped him
Just for saying, "Grant one more chance before you pass
Then curse the nurse that named me the first or bury me at last"
And in three-quarter time, the true and the false
Dancing the 'Hesitation Waltz'
Then comes the flirtation and temptation
Hip, hip, hooray, listen to what I say
Then you can take it away
The snitch, the snoop, the tattletale lead a threadbare up the stairs
Adieu, my little ballyhoo, you broke my heart in two
And now I haunt the bars and scent those trite affairs
She went home to gather her comb and caught him unawares
And there was her man enjoying the lay of the land
He took a walk in the dark with a dish from the stand
Girls and their creations, tight in the brightest grenadine
But I'd take all that I've seen for a slow drag with Josephine
Josephine, Josephine
But I'd trade all that I've seen for
A slow drag with Josephine
Gavotte, garrotes, Cotillions and slow Arabesques
Drum rolls and Farandoles were all made in jest
But when you make that move, I can't resist
When will you declare your armistice?
Josephine, Josephine
But I'd trade all that I've seen for
A slow drag with Josephine
In another time and place, a different fate was cast
He tried to skeddle-daddle-do, she might have slapped him
Just for saying, "Grant one more chance before you pass
Then curse the nurse that named me the first or bury me at last"
And in three-quarter time, the true and the false
Dancing the 'Hesitation Waltz'
Then comes the flirtation and temptation
Hip, hip, hooray, listen to what I say
Then you can take it away
Monday, February 4, 2013
Who's spying?
Today Show - How web cams are easily hacked and used to watch you. Actually, any ports in any device are susceptible. The camera sends images, other ports send data. "Put tape over the lens"... really?
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Thursday, January 17, 2013
Zombies?
Since getting involved in media production, movies and TV, I have always sensed that a lot of the people in the biz were way too fascinated with Zombies. It seems like every other idea includes Zombies. What is it with you people? There are no Zombies.
I thought... stop writing stories with Zombies in them. Geez.
Then I watched The Walking Dead. Love it. Forget that the Zombies are in it. They're part of the circumstances. The filmmaker's tongues are in their cheeks. I'm only up to Season Two and the stuff may find a shark to jump but so far... Nice! Terrific use of music. This highlight reel includes a song used in the show. It's a Wang Chung tune (Space Junk). Good stuff.
Zombies... yup, Zombies.
I thought... stop writing stories with Zombies in them. Geez.
Then I watched The Walking Dead. Love it. Forget that the Zombies are in it. They're part of the circumstances. The filmmaker's tongues are in their cheeks. I'm only up to Season Two and the stuff may find a shark to jump but so far... Nice! Terrific use of music. This highlight reel includes a song used in the show. It's a Wang Chung tune (Space Junk). Good stuff.
Zombies... yup, Zombies.
Friday, January 11, 2013
Four reasons your version of better might not be enough
- I might not know about your better, because the world is so noisy I can't hear you.
- I might not believe it's better, because, hey, people spin and exaggerate and lie. Proof is only useful if it leads to belief.
- The perceived cost of switching (fear, hassle, internal selling and coordination, money) is far higher than your better appears to be worth.
- Your better might not be my better. In fact, it's almost certainly not.
Seth Godin
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