Would you share your vehicle with others? Well I wouldn't but that's because I love cars and think of them as a very personal expression. But for someone that lives in a very developed urban area, a car might not be needed 90% of the time.
And vehicles are expensive to maintain and use. There would be many advantages to only renting a car when its needed, but renting cars is often a very expensive and exhausting process. Enter Zipcar.
Zipcar is a sort of social car ownership company. Cars are used on an hourly basis, reserved online or with a cellphone. A membership fee is charged but, compared to the cost of car ownership, it is minimal. I think its a great idea, and one that could revolutionize car ownership in urban areas. Check out Zipcar for yourself.
Zipcar
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Hit the Wave
After its introduction awhile back, Google Wave has been largely off the map. But tomorrow more then 100,000 invites go live and users can begin giving feedback to Google. Lets hope this means Wave is about ready for prime-time.
As a bonus here are some things users think Google could fix.
As a bonus here are some things users think Google could fix.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Speed.
I hear people complain a decent amount about the loss of service in the modern world. But I'm not sure I completely agree.
Yes often times service is lacking at stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, McDonald's, Taco Bell, etc. These places often have high employee turnovers and most workers are not overly concerned with your store experience. But at the same time you can order enough food to feed an entire family in under 5 minutes or pick up enough groceries and house goods to last a month in one trip to the supermarket.
We have traded personal experience, people smiling and being helpful, for speed and convenience. People have started to feel very entitled. That is my opinion. People who go to a big box retailer and expect some high school kid to fall all over himself to help them pick out a crappy toy for their annoying kid upset me. Especially since that employee is probably making minimum wage.
Maybe if shoppers had a different mindset, their experience would be better. If great service wasn't expected, and indeed demanded, maybe employees would be more willing to help.
Yes often times service is lacking at stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, McDonald's, Taco Bell, etc. These places often have high employee turnovers and most workers are not overly concerned with your store experience. But at the same time you can order enough food to feed an entire family in under 5 minutes or pick up enough groceries and house goods to last a month in one trip to the supermarket.
We have traded personal experience, people smiling and being helpful, for speed and convenience. People have started to feel very entitled. That is my opinion. People who go to a big box retailer and expect some high school kid to fall all over himself to help them pick out a crappy toy for their annoying kid upset me. Especially since that employee is probably making minimum wage.
Maybe if shoppers had a different mindset, their experience would be better. If great service wasn't expected, and indeed demanded, maybe employees would be more willing to help.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Ford's New Big Truck
Ford has announced it's new Super Duty pickup truck. And it is a monster. The grill is a little overpowering but I like the huge Ford logo. The truck has many high tech features and is built around the idea of being a true work truck.
Ford has long been a leader in the truck market and is looking to expand its lead with the new Super Duty. Ford has put a lot of work into the new 6.7L diesel engine, along with a gas 6.2L V8. I link the info, you can catch up after the jump.
I'm rather positive I'll never need a truck of this size or capability, but I still like to read about them. I seem to be strangely enamored by excess. This truck seems to be bringing together a wide range of capabilities, allowing owners to do new and productive things. Trucks are becoming much more then large towing machines.
New Super Duty.
New 6.7L diesel.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Greatest Stock Index Ever?
Puma has a plan to keep you happy if your stocks are down. Take a look at the greatest stock index ever.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Ford's CEO Alan Mulally to headline the next CES
Alan Mulally is set to be the opening keynote speaker at this years Consumer Electronics Show. An automaker executive keynoting at CES?
Yes. And I am excited to hear what Mr. Mulally has to say. Ford has been making great investments into technology. From green tech to consumer oriented Sync systems, Ford is becoming a technology leader in the car market. Mulally is largely credited with the turnaround at Ford. The automaker was the only American car producer not to enter bankruptcy or accept Government aid.
Mulally has put a focus on becoming a more efficient, cohesive car company and is so far pulling away form the domestic competition and even breaking even with the Japanese imports. It will be interesting to see where Mulally believes technology in automobiles is headed.
Ford's Sync tech.
Ford's Mulally at CES.
Yes. And I am excited to hear what Mr. Mulally has to say. Ford has been making great investments into technology. From green tech to consumer oriented Sync systems, Ford is becoming a technology leader in the car market. Mulally is largely credited with the turnaround at Ford. The automaker was the only American car producer not to enter bankruptcy or accept Government aid.
Mulally has put a focus on becoming a more efficient, cohesive car company and is so far pulling away form the domestic competition and even breaking even with the Japanese imports. It will be interesting to see where Mulally believes technology in automobiles is headed.
Ford's Sync tech.
Ford's Mulally at CES.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Quick Update.
My friend Erik has started a blog, and one of his recurring themes will be NFL picks, he has asked me to give it a shot along with him. So I'll be posting a comment response to his blog posts with my own picks.
Erik is a big NFL buff so I wont feel too bad if I loose by season end. You can catch his blog here: Erik's Blog.
Erik is a big NFL buff so I wont feel too bad if I loose by season end. You can catch his blog here: Erik's Blog.
Sorry about the lack of posts.
Well a good friend of mine was married yesterday. Congratulations to him.
Now I should have a little more free time. I've been running around a lot lately, so it will be nice to have things calming down again.
Some news:
Microsoft may be planning a phone for 2010, to be announced at CES.
Microsoft's project pink.
Jay Leno has a new prime time show. Jay is an avid collector of cars and has brought his love for automobiles with him. The car he picked to be in his show? The Ford Focus EV for electric vehicle.
Leno's Focus EV
The Zune HD seems to be selling out all across cyberspace. Microsoft has put together an amazing device and I would buy it, if only it was a phone. (see story one)
Zune HD selling out.
Now I should have a little more free time. I've been running around a lot lately, so it will be nice to have things calming down again.
Some news:
Microsoft may be planning a phone for 2010, to be announced at CES.
Microsoft's project pink.
Jay Leno has a new prime time show. Jay is an avid collector of cars and has brought his love for automobiles with him. The car he picked to be in his show? The Ford Focus EV for electric vehicle.
Leno's Focus EV
The Zune HD seems to be selling out all across cyberspace. Microsoft has put together an amazing device and I would buy it, if only it was a phone. (see story one)
Zune HD selling out.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
New Google Chrome release.
Google announced it would enter the browser war a little over a year ago. I was one of the earliest adapters. I downloaded the new Google browser the day it was released, needless to say I never looked back to Firefox (I haven't used Internet Explorer for years).
Now I have a disclaimer on today's post. It is largely an opinion piece. So here goes.
Google has become much more then a search engine in recent years. I hadn't noticed until about two years ago, when I started using Gmail, that Google had much bigger ambitions then paid search results. Google's wide range of online hosted applications is focused on keeping users away from their regular desktop software (usually Microsoft's ubiquitous Windows) and in "the cloud". The cloud is just information stored somewhere other then your computer and easily accessible on the Internet.
Google has gained some attention, most notably from Microsoft. This competition will become one of the hardest fought battles in the software space. Microsoft's most profitable businesses are becoming less and less essential due to Google's offerings. Microsoft has taken notice and is shifting effort to stop Google's pesky attacks. And Microsoft has crushed past competitors. But this story just might end differently. Google has a strong brand name on the Internet and is leveraging that beautifully. Microsoft has struggled to gain minimal success on the Internet, and is pouring money down a seemingly endless pit in an attempt to gain traction.
Google now announced it will enter the operating system space, which is home turf for Microsoft. Microsoft's Windows operating system is on 95% of all personal computers, a moat so wide as to be almost impassable. Still Google will try because it makes money when you are on the Internet, and it wants as few barriers to the web as possible.
Now I'm a fan of both companies. And this competition is good for consumers. Microsoft hasn't had much to worry about for years, now with Google offering many services that can replace Microsoft's for free, Microsoft has had to change its product plans. Recently announced is Microsoft's free version of Office Online, this is to compete with Google Docs. Anyone who thinks Microsoft would have offered a free version of their software, without Google's competition, is crazy. This will be a interesting competition to watch.
On one last note, Google has released a new version of Chrome today. You can find the information here: Google Chrome 3.0
Now I have a disclaimer on today's post. It is largely an opinion piece. So here goes.
Google has become much more then a search engine in recent years. I hadn't noticed until about two years ago, when I started using Gmail, that Google had much bigger ambitions then paid search results. Google's wide range of online hosted applications is focused on keeping users away from their regular desktop software (usually Microsoft's ubiquitous Windows) and in "the cloud". The cloud is just information stored somewhere other then your computer and easily accessible on the Internet.
Google has gained some attention, most notably from Microsoft. This competition will become one of the hardest fought battles in the software space. Microsoft's most profitable businesses are becoming less and less essential due to Google's offerings. Microsoft has taken notice and is shifting effort to stop Google's pesky attacks. And Microsoft has crushed past competitors. But this story just might end differently. Google has a strong brand name on the Internet and is leveraging that beautifully. Microsoft has struggled to gain minimal success on the Internet, and is pouring money down a seemingly endless pit in an attempt to gain traction.
Google now announced it will enter the operating system space, which is home turf for Microsoft. Microsoft's Windows operating system is on 95% of all personal computers, a moat so wide as to be almost impassable. Still Google will try because it makes money when you are on the Internet, and it wants as few barriers to the web as possible.
Now I'm a fan of both companies. And this competition is good for consumers. Microsoft hasn't had much to worry about for years, now with Google offering many services that can replace Microsoft's for free, Microsoft has had to change its product plans. Recently announced is Microsoft's free version of Office Online, this is to compete with Google Docs. Anyone who thinks Microsoft would have offered a free version of their software, without Google's competition, is crazy. This will be a interesting competition to watch.
On one last note, Google has released a new version of Chrome today. You can find the information here: Google Chrome 3.0
Friday, September 11, 2009
Football!
Hello dear readers, it is that time of year again. Football season. I'm excited to watch my favorite teams fight for playoff spots over the next 16 weeks. But one thing I noticed this year was the revamp of the NFL website.
The NFL has taken a lot of time to gain traction over alternative media distribution for its main content, football games. Letting broadcasters bid on the rights to air football games has been lucrative for most of the NFL's history, but the Internet has changed that. Real-time game updates over the Internet have made watching the games less essential. The NFL has had to look to alternative forms of media distribution.
The Internet is, I believe, a great platform for alternative media distribution of sporting events. Streaming live football games would be very bandwidth intensive but radio broadcast over the Internet coupled with live drive-chart updates makes a viable alternative to someone who can't watch a game. Subscriptions could be charged, advertisement could be displayed, etc. but basically the NFL is looking into new ways to monetize its content and is heading in the right direction. Take a look at the new media rich website.
NFL.com
The NFL has taken a lot of time to gain traction over alternative media distribution for its main content, football games. Letting broadcasters bid on the rights to air football games has been lucrative for most of the NFL's history, but the Internet has changed that. Real-time game updates over the Internet have made watching the games less essential. The NFL has had to look to alternative forms of media distribution.
The Internet is, I believe, a great platform for alternative media distribution of sporting events. Streaming live football games would be very bandwidth intensive but radio broadcast over the Internet coupled with live drive-chart updates makes a viable alternative to someone who can't watch a game. Subscriptions could be charged, advertisement could be displayed, etc. but basically the NFL is looking into new ways to monetize its content and is heading in the right direction. Take a look at the new media rich website.
NFL.com
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Health Care.
Is it easy to agree with Allan Sloan or what?
In my most recent issue of Fortune magazine Allan has an opinion piece about the health care debate. One of Allan's key assertations is that health care is not a free market. Allan makes the comment with certainty, as he should.
I hear, during debates, that a free market will equalize costs and competition will help consumers. But there is no free market. Consumers are hard pressed for choices in health care. If you have a medical emergency, you don't pick the hospital with the lowest admission costs, you pick the hospital that is closest to you. Your insurer negotiates costs and often treatments, by threatening not to pay the health care provider.
This brings up the fundamental question, do we Americans have a right to health care? People often scream socialism if you bring up the topic of universal health care. Another favorite point is that the Constitution doesn't mention free health care for everyone. I believe we have a fundamental right to health care and I didn't come to this conclusion easily.
I'm a conservative by practicality, and a liberal in belief. I wish many of the pure ideals of liberalism where executable in real life, but many simply are not. I hope, as a country, we find a way to provide health care to all citizens. We spend too much on health benefits already. Health care in Australia is universal and in 2005 health care spending made up 8.8% of GDP. In the U.S.A. we spend approximately 15.3% of our GDP on health care and care is not universal.
Clearly something is wrong, and we need to fix it.
Allan Sloan on health care.
In my most recent issue of Fortune magazine Allan has an opinion piece about the health care debate. One of Allan's key assertations is that health care is not a free market. Allan makes the comment with certainty, as he should.
I hear, during debates, that a free market will equalize costs and competition will help consumers. But there is no free market. Consumers are hard pressed for choices in health care. If you have a medical emergency, you don't pick the hospital with the lowest admission costs, you pick the hospital that is closest to you. Your insurer negotiates costs and often treatments, by threatening not to pay the health care provider.
This brings up the fundamental question, do we Americans have a right to health care? People often scream socialism if you bring up the topic of universal health care. Another favorite point is that the Constitution doesn't mention free health care for everyone. I believe we have a fundamental right to health care and I didn't come to this conclusion easily.
I'm a conservative by practicality, and a liberal in belief. I wish many of the pure ideals of liberalism where executable in real life, but many simply are not. I hope, as a country, we find a way to provide health care to all citizens. We spend too much on health benefits already. Health care in Australia is universal and in 2005 health care spending made up 8.8% of GDP. In the U.S.A. we spend approximately 15.3% of our GDP on health care and care is not universal.
Clearly something is wrong, and we need to fix it.
Allan Sloan on health care.
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Greed.
Greed is a strange thing. It makes people act in strange ways. I present to you a case study.
How would you feel about receiving $25,000? I'd feel pretty good. And John Schnatter, Papa John from Papa John's Pizza, gave that to a couple from Indiana named the Soalnes. Schnatter was running a promotion to find his old Camaro. He offered the owner of the Camaro $250,000 and the Soalnes owned the car before selling it to Jeff Robinson. The Soalnes helped Schnatter get in contact with Robinson. Schnatter gave $25,000 to the Soalnes for their help. And now the Soalnes want more then that little sum. The Soalnes are threatening to file a lawsuit.
Sometimes I don't understand why people can't be happy with the good fortune the receive. Sure $250,000 would have been much nicer then $25,000 but to sue because you where given free money, just not enough of it, seems disgusting. Now it is easy for me to say this, I'm not out almost a quarter of a million dollars because I didn't hang onto a Camaro for a few extra years.
I just ask that everyone take some time to appreciate what we receive in life. It is over too fast.
Papa John gets sued.
How would you feel about receiving $25,000? I'd feel pretty good. And John Schnatter, Papa John from Papa John's Pizza, gave that to a couple from Indiana named the Soalnes. Schnatter was running a promotion to find his old Camaro. He offered the owner of the Camaro $250,000 and the Soalnes owned the car before selling it to Jeff Robinson. The Soalnes helped Schnatter get in contact with Robinson. Schnatter gave $25,000 to the Soalnes for their help. And now the Soalnes want more then that little sum. The Soalnes are threatening to file a lawsuit.
Sometimes I don't understand why people can't be happy with the good fortune the receive. Sure $250,000 would have been much nicer then $25,000 but to sue because you where given free money, just not enough of it, seems disgusting. Now it is easy for me to say this, I'm not out almost a quarter of a million dollars because I didn't hang onto a Camaro for a few extra years.
I just ask that everyone take some time to appreciate what we receive in life. It is over too fast.
Papa John gets sued.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Laptops are great!
Wow. I wish I'd bought a laptop sooner. These things are great.
I'm still setting my new computer up and getting all the updates. But I'm already excited to start posting new and expanded content to my blog. I'm more personal news, I received my new accounting class homework.
I hope everyones week is going well.
I'm still setting my new computer up and getting all the updates. But I'm already excited to start posting new and expanded content to my blog. I'm more personal news, I received my new accounting class homework.
I hope everyones week is going well.
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