Robert Reich’s interesting 2 minute explanation of the economy. Dude, surely you jest!
In the interest of putting up good arguments *against* my general point of view (which I posted in “Shut up or Cut”, here’s the always-sharp-but- often-wrong Robert Reich. As with most tribal viewpoints, Reich makes several correct points and connects them in ways that are fairly rational. HOWEVER, what you miss with this type of analysis is the full and bigger picture that emerges when the many other factors in an economy are included. It’s a game super smart folks like Reich play super well, but for me it undermines their long term credibility since he’s more advocate and politico here than economist. Reich is a left wing economist and therefore focuses too narrowly on distribution issues as in this video. Compare with the CATO boys – the “right wing” economists who focus too narrowly on the *production* side of the equation. They largely ignore income distribution issues and mostly whine about how tax and government inhibit economic development (good points, but too narrow). On balance I line up more with the CATO views because I think they are far more representative of the forces and ideas that created our massive, vibrant, and mostly successfully economic powerhouse, but I’d like to see more from the right about the desirability of a more level income distribution. NOT so much because it would seem to be “fairer”, but simply because it is likely to create more stability both economically and culturally. So I’d agree with Reich about that part at least.
Once Upon a Time – Youtube Video exclusive
YOU are among the very first to preview one of ABC’s big budget TV series coming this fall. “Once Upon a Time” is a fantasy drama with a great cast adn what looks like a clever twist on many of our favorite fairy tales. Ginnifer Goodwin is “Snow White”. This is the journalist (!) release from ABC:
New Charlie’s Angels Video
A Joe Duck TV Exclusive! Sort of. Well, not really. So, who is YOUR favorite new Charlie’s Angel?
Charlie’s Angels – new TV Show Preview
The rumors … were TRUE! Charlie’s Angels are back on TV this fall in a new ABC TV series. The links below go to the preview videos on youtube. This seems to be a clever “viral marketing” play by ABC to release the vids to an “exclusive” group of bloggers, probably knowing that many of us will link on up. This is called “linkbait” in the SEO search industry and when it works it’s a great way to get big free buzz for projects. In this case I’m happy to help as it helps me understand how Google ranks content at this blog and also … I like Charlie’s Angels! We’ll see how the new version compares to the movies (which were great) and the 70s version of that show.
Download the Charlie’s Angels video – you will be among the first to see it in all the whole world! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19VFDlCnOXc
CHARLIE’S ANGELS
http://abc.go.com/shows/charlies-angels
http://www.Facebook.com/CharliesAngelsABC
http://www.twitter.com/AngelsABC
PRESS RELEASE from ABC:
Everyone deserves a second chance. Even a thief, a street racer and a cop who got in a little too deep. After all, the three women who solve cases for their elusive boss Charlie Townsend are no saints – they’re angels…Charlie’s Angels.
This big, loud, fun take on the 1970′s smash hit series introduces us to three new angels, all fearless operatives, head-turning beauties and close friends. There’s Abby (Rachael Taylor) a Park Avenue Princess who became a world-class thief. Then there’s Kate (Annie Ilonzeh), a Miami cop who fell from grace, losing both her career and her fiance. Finally there’s Gloria, a disgraced army lieutenant who has a way with explosives. When one of the angels’ missions ends in Gloria’s tragic death, Charlie persuades them to partner with Gloria’s childhood friend, Eve (Minka Kelly), a street racer with a mysterious past. They may not know each other yet, but one thing’s for sure–Abby, Kate and Eve will always have each other’s backs.
Leonard Goldberg (the original Charlie’s Angels) and Drew Barrymore (theCharlie’s Angels movies) join forces with Alfred Gough and Miles Millar (Smallville) to deliver the adrenaline rush of the season. Set in scorching-hot Miami, Charlie’s Angels delivers nonstop big screen action. With the help of Bosley 2.0 (Ramon Rodriguez), their hot, young technical expert, and the guidance of their enigmatic boss Charlie (Robert Wagner), these angels are an unstoppable crime fighting force.
SHORT:
Get ready for the knockout hit of the year. Charlie’s Angels is back and hotter than ever. Meet three ex-bad girls who are earning their wings by busting the really bad guys. Together with legendary producer Leonard Goldberg and Drew Barrymore, Smallville‘s Alfred Gough and Miles Millar re-imagine the popular 1970′s series with more action, more eye candy and more heart than ever before.
CAST
Annie Ilonzeh - Kate Prince
Minka Kelly - Eve
Rachel Taylor - Abby Sampson
Ramon Rodriguez - Bosley
Robert Wagner - Voice of Charlie
CREDITS
Production Company - Sony Pictures Television
Executive Producer - Miles Millar
Executive Producer - Alfred Gough
Executive Producer - Nancy Juvonen
Executive Producer - Leonard Goldberg
Executive Producer - Drew Barrymore
Director - Marcos Siega
Once Upon a Time – Preview of the New TV Series
I’ve been asked to preview and review the upcoming ABC series “Once Upon a Time” and thought it might be more fun to report reactions from folks at the blog – please comment below. I’m glad to see Robert Carlyle find a new gig after Stargate SGU was cancelled. He’s a fine actor and even better suited to this “older times” theme than to SGU.
You can view the Once Upon A Time preview video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz9VFa7Z6Y0
I’m not sure how exclusive this is, but based on the tiny number of views so far I think YOU and I are among the first to see it! Woo Hoo.
ONCE UPON A TIME
http://abc.go.com/shows/once-upon-a-time
http://www.Facebook.com/OnceUponATimeABC
http://www.twitter.com/OnceABC
Here’s the Press Release from ABC:
Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (Lost, Tron: Legacy) invite you to a bold new vision of the world where fairytales and the modern day are about to collide.
Anna Swan (Jennifer Morrison) knows how to take care of herself. She’s a 28-year old bail bonds collector who’s been on her own ever since she was abandoned as a baby. But when the son she gave up years ago finds her, everything will change. Henry (Jared Gilmore) is 10 years old now and in desperate need of Anna’s help. Henry believes that Anna actually comes from an alternate world… and is Prince Charming (Josh Dallas) and Snow White’s (Ginnifer Goodwin) missing daughter. According to his book of fairytales, they sent her away to protect her from the Evil Queen’s (Lana Parilla) curse, which trapped the fairytale world forever, frozen in time. Of course Anna doesn’t believe a word, but when she brings Henry back to Storybrooke, she finds herself drawn to this unusual boy and his strange New England town. Concerned for Henry, she decides to stay for a while, but she soon suspects that Storybrooke is more than it seems. It’s a place where magic has been forgotten, but is still powerfully close… where fairytale characters are alive, even though they don’t remember who they once were–including the Evil Queen who is now Henry’s foster mother. The epic battle for the future of all worlds is beginning, but for good to win, Anna will have to accept her destiny and fight like hell.
Brace yourself for a modern fable with thrilling twists and hints of darkness. Brimming with wonder, and filled with the magic of our most beloved fairytales, Once Upon A Time is a fitting follow up to Lost from two master storytellers.
SHORT:
Welcome to a world where fairytales are real. Anna Swan is like any other 28 year old, until she discovers she’s a lost princess destined to save her world from darkness. Experience the passion project of executive producers/creators Edward Kitsis and Adam Horowitz (Lost, Tron). Once Upon A Time is a thrilling twist of our most beloved stories.
CAST
Robert Carlyle - Rumplestiltskin
Josh Dallas - Prince Charming/John Doe
James Dornan - Sheriff Graham
Jared Gilmore - Henry
Ginnifer Goodwin - Snow White/Sister Mary Margret Blanchard
Jennifer Morrison - Emma Swan
Lana Parilla - Evil Queen/Regina
Raphael Sbarge - Archie/Jiminy Cricket
CREDITS
Production Company - ABC Studios
Executive Producer - Edward Kitsis
Executive Producer - Adam Horowitz
Executive Producer - Steve Pearlman
Executive Producer/Director - Mark Mylod
Table Tennis in Thailand
After some great Table Tennis in Saigon and Sa Dec Vietnam, Charley and I were having trouble finding online information about Table Tennis in Thailand. Luckily our excellent host at the Feung Nakorn Hotel knew that a bunch of Bangkok guys played in the park right across from the hotel. This is the park near the Wat Po Temple of the Reclining Buddah. The folks were very friendly after they saw we could play well, and we had a great time over the next few days playing over a dozen people at the Bangkok park. Although the tables are excellent quality, the conditions are not exactly the greatest – big bright lights on uneven concrete outside.
Pattaya: We’re now at the beach in Pattaya and despite a few online leads the only thing I found was a two table setup at the Fairtex Sports Complex which is near the “dolphin turnaround” at the north end of Pattya Beach Road. There are two nice tables but no “club” meets there, and the cost is 200-250 bhat per hour which is kind of expensive (about $7 per hour). We did not play there. I could not find the “Ping Pong Beer Bar” over at Jomtien beach today – that’s the beach area south of Pattaya Beach, and I don’t think they have tables anyway – it’s just a name.
Google’s 10 to the 10th project winners – spawning innovative solutions.
Google’s Project 10 to the 10th gathered 150,000 ideas and filtered them to five great ideas listed below. Each will receive huge funding from Google:
Idea: Make educational content available online for free
The Khan Academy is a non-profit educational organization that provides high-quality, free education to anyone, anywhere via an online library of more than 1,600 teaching videos. We are providing $2 million to support the creation of more courses and to enable the Khan Academy to translate their core library into the world’s most widely spoken languages.
Enhance science and engineering education
FIRST is a non-profit organization that promotes science and math education around the world through team competition. Its mission is to inspire young people to be science and technology leaders by giving them real world experience working with professional engineers and scientists. We are providing $3 million to develop and jump start new student-driven robotics team fundraising programs that will empower more student teams to participate in FIRST
Make government more transparent
Project funded: Public.Resource.Org is a non-profit organization focused on enabling online access to public government documents in the United States. We are providing $2 million to Public.Resource.Org to support the Law.Gov initiative, which aims to make all primary legal materials in the United States available to all.
Drive innovation in public transport
Project funded: Shweeb is a concept for short to medium distance, urban personal transport, using human-powered vehicles on a monorail. We are providing $1 million to fund research and development to test Shweeb’s technology for an urban setting
Provide quality education to African students
Project funded: The African Institute for Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is a center for math and science education and research in Cape Town, South Africa. AIMS’ primary focus is a one-year bridge program for recent university graduates that helps build skills and knowledge prior to Masters and PhD study. We are providing $2 million to fund the opening of additional AIMS centers to promote graduate level math and science study in Africa.
http://www.project10tothe100.com/
THANKS GOOGLE!
———— Joe rambles on —————-
I love the innovative spirit in contests and project like these, and also believe funding from deep pockets like Google is critical because I think in general innovations …. fail…. even in the for profit sector. However in that sector we reward success hugely, so we get a fair number of entrepreneurial “players” who are looking to win the innovation lottery, and these players tend to spin out a few good ideas among mostly bad ones.
The current USA system tends to dramatically reward success and ruthlessly kill commercial failure, which is probably a good approach to optimize business success. A common mistake by those who argue that “innovation is golden” is to only look at the few innovative projects that have had huge success (Apple Computer, Google, etc) and ignore the *thousands* of failed innovations, most of which most of us never hear about. One of the big lessons that should have been learned from the internet and real estate bubbles is that innovation does NOT foster success – it simply fosters new ideas. Most internet companies that were spawned during the bubble have failed where a few like Google have become global economic powerhouses.
But as usual I digress. THANKS Google for helping to spawn new ideas to do good. That’s cool.
HD TV Hookup Tips and links. Plasma TV, LCD TV, and LED TVs
Although many others could do a much better job offering these tips, I’m doing it out of the great sense of frustration I’ve had during the transition to High Definition broadcasting and the plethora of new TVs and video options. Please add links via the comments if you have a good source of hookup information.
For the folks out there who are easily frustrated and don’t like setting things up I’d encourage using your Cable folks or ”Geek squad” or other services to set up systems rather than working on them yourself, as the number of options has become so great it’s hard to “get it all right”.
HD TV Primer from “HowStuffWorks” | HD TV Primer from Wikipedia:
HD TV Hookup Help:
Generally you’ll want to follow the diagrams included with your cable box and/or TV set since individual items can vary. Try to visualize the “ins and outs” as best you can, recognizing that there are basically either audio or video signals coming in and out of each component. Sometimes these run on separate cables (as in the old style AV jacks), sometimes they run on the same cable (as in HDMI). You will generally only use a few of the total connection points available on a new device, so don’t get overwhelmed by the many options – most are simply different ways to skin the audio / video cat.
OLD Article with good summary of some issues
Why NON HD programs can have worse picture quality on your fancy new TV: http://forums.soundandvisionmag.com/showthread.php?75220-Non-HDTV-content-on-HDTV-worse-than-on-SDTV
I’m floored by how many people do not think this is an important and frustrating issue as we transition to “all HD all the time”. In general terms your expensive new TV will give you INFERIOR picture for standard TV. Eventually SD TV signals will go away but that’s not the case yet.
POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS: Play with your TV Video display options via the TV setup screen to see if you can improve the standard picture. For people with “mostly HD” channels this may not be important, but if you only get a handful of HD channels you may be frustrated with the new TV.
Hookup your OLD VCR to NEW TV: http://www.ehow.com/how_5783352_attach-vcr-new-lcd-tv.html
In general you’ll want to consider getting new DVD player (and perhaps “surround sound” audio equipment with your new TV. Even $150 will get you a decent HD disk player with a modest audio “surround sound” setup that offers a great movie experience. However if you have a lot of old video tapes you may want a combination DVD Video player.
TO BE CONTINUED …
Rome Colosseum, Forum, Palatine Hill
My son summed up the situation well about the Roma Pass, which probably isn’t worth the $25 Euros to most if they can avoid the Colosseum lines, which I think you can do if you buy that ticket as a combo ticket at the Palatine Hill Entrance to the Ancient Rome area.
It’s important you see the Forum and Palatine Hill as well as the Colosseum, and with an audio tour of these three you’ll spend perhaps a half to full day in this area for about half the cost of the Roma Pass. The Vatican is NOT included in the Pass so our 2.5 Rome days involved only one where we used the Pass. We DID get to skip a huge line at Colosseum but I think we could have done that with the combo ticket you get at Palatine Hill or Forum area where lines are likely to be much shorter.
Ben:
“We decided to buy the ‘Roma Pass’ which lets you skip lines, get into the Colosseum and stuff, and ride public transportation for free. We picked up the passes in the station for 25 euro each. The kit it’s contained within is well put together, it contains a little map and some tourist information. However, in hindsight we’ve determined it wasn’t worth the cost in our case – mainly since the metro here is cheap, only 1 euro a ticket.”
Life Created from Synthetic DNA = WoW
This is an OLD video from Craig Venter speaking at the TED Conference. Today he announced that his team has done it. Amazing.
-
-
Recent Comments
Gus on Palm Treo Problems Ayako on MicroHooBook rumors are very p…
Please subscribe to the feed
