Random Pattern Weekly 10/2/2007
Taboo Plaza
The World Runs
The World Runs
The world runs on people wanting success.
The world runs by people covering their asses.
Do enough to get by. Sitting.
Waiting for someone a little bit slower.
Waiting like predators- in effect carrion eaters.
Growing slow from fat cells adding to laziness.
No longer functioning in the capacity that took them to the top.
Growing stupid from excess and self interest.
When all of these conditions are right they start growing into carrion eaters.
Awaiting the arrival of those who may be dumber.
Those open to suggestion. Short on opinion.
The world runs on people liking their own opinion.
Every now and again appears the paradigm shaker.
Some look to them as saviors.
Others see them as nothing but nuisance.
The people running the world have no time for revolutions.
Revolutions are messy. Revolutions are unpredictable.
At first you have their support.
Then you're in the shitter.
If Jesus lived today- they'd still shoot him.
The world runs by people covering their asses.
Do enough to get by. Sitting.
Waiting for someone a little bit slower.
Waiting like predators- in effect carrion eaters.
Growing slow from fat cells adding to laziness.
No longer functioning in the capacity that took them to the top.
Growing stupid from excess and self interest.
When all of these conditions are right they start growing into carrion eaters.
Awaiting the arrival of those who may be dumber.
Those open to suggestion. Short on opinion.
The world runs on people liking their own opinion.
Every now and again appears the paradigm shaker.
Some look to them as saviors.
Others see them as nothing but nuisance.
The people running the world have no time for revolutions.
Revolutions are messy. Revolutions are unpredictable.
At first you have their support.
Then you're in the shitter.
If Jesus lived today- they'd still shoot him.
Current Affairs
The iDebacle
Apple and AT&T's iPhone continues to generate press demonstrating the danger of hype. The iPhone debuted to the general public a little more than three months ago. The chatter up to that point bordered on orgasmic.
"...customers won't be able to pre-order and so will have to (in all likelihood) stand
in line on a day yet-to-be-determined in order to get their hands on one of the hot items.
I know I'll be in line..." (Original story cited)
"...customers won't be able to pre-order and so will have to (in all likelihood) stand
in line on a day yet-to-be-determined in order to get their hands on one of the hot items.
I know I'll be in line..." (Original story cited)
Some mobile wireless companies do a much better job at generating buzz around a particular new handset. I work for a mobile wireless company that doesn't do such a good job. We sell handsets and we service the handsets we sell. That means lots of angry customers coming into our stores with a range of expectations that range from reasonable to un-fucking believeable.
When press generates significant demand for an item like the iPhone, the reality of the
device leaves little room for anything but disappoint for a large portion of your customer
base.
"The bottom line: Despite some important missing features, a slow data network, and call quality that doesn't always deliver, the Apple iPhone sets a new benchmark for an integrated cell phone and MP3 player."
These folks gave the iPhone an 8 out 10 rating. That score seems remarkable in light of
why consumers purchase wireless devices today. Most people purchasing a mobile handset expect calls to be delivered reliably to the device. Calls not ringing and rolling to
voicemail are unacceptable by many consumer's standards. Dropped calls are a reality of the business- few wireless providers are willing to express this fact openly.
Let me clear up any confusion. If your phone doesn't have a wire connected to it, dropped calls are a fact of life. That doesn't negate (or excuse) the pattern/perception that the more features built into a handheld device seem to negatively correlate to the reliability of the call quality.
The data speeds just leave me scratching my head. If you have a kick ass device that has great web browsing capability (something that has been lacking prior to the introduction of Windows Mobile handheld devices) why would you put it on a network with dial up speeds. All of the bells and whistles on a handheld device mean you have to have- at a minimum- 3G technology, if not WiMax. For those of you that don't know what that means, it's the difference between being able to download anywhere from 2 megabytes per second to 70 megabytes per second.
AT&T in comparison offers:
"Average downlink data speeds of 400 to 700 kilobits per second... " (Source cited)
The users on CNET (sited above) gave the iPhone a 6.3 out of 10. This rating seems to either reflect dissatisfaction with the two qualities I've just pointed out, or a third area of
confusion created by wireless companies themselves. Consumers don't realize how much these devices really cost because wireless providers have subsidized so much of the cost. When you sign up for service with AT&T, AT&T is offering you their network. That is what AT&T sells.
confusion created by wireless companies themselves. Consumers don't realize how much these devices really cost because wireless providers have subsidized so much of the cost. When you sign up for service with AT&T, AT&T is offering you their network. That is what AT&T sells.
You bought the iPhone from AT&T, but the product is Apple's. Apple charges $600 for that device and it sounds like AT&T is not subsidizing any of that cost. The consumer sees the $600 price tag and scratches their heads. These phones are supposed to secretly be subsidized by the wireless provider so that the consumer is left to think the device is only worth a couple of hundred dollars.
This results in negative buzz that the device costs too much money. Welcome to reality.
Wireless devices are very expensive pieces of equipment that shouldn't be dropped, or thrown, or run over with your car because you want an upgrade to the latest device without paying for it.
Now the buzz is coming home to roost and I'm glad that I don't work for AT&T. I have enough issues with Treo's and Pocket PC's and Blackberries and such. The headache of trying to explain to people that the manufacturer covers the warranty and the wireless provider will do what it can to help is frustrating at best and at worst it becomes an attack on your selfhood.
"Around the country iPhone owners continue to confront the effects of the software update Apple introduced yesterday. The lucky ones see a new icon for a wireless iTunes Music Store and a host of tweaks to the user interface. The unlucky ones own a shiny black piece of glass." (Source cited)
These people that "own a shiny black piece of glass" are all going into an AT&T store pissed off. What's AT&T going to do to take care of this? I paid $600 for this piece of shit and I want something done or I'll just cancel my contract and go somewhere else. The arguments are usually pretty much the same, the device is the only thing that changes. These consumers will do everything short of holding their breath and kicking their feet in AT&T stores.
This is one time I'm actually glad I work for Sprint. We're usually the target of that kind
of shit. Good luck with that AT&T.
This is one time I'm actually glad I work for Sprint. We're usually the target of that kind
of shit. Good luck with that AT&T.
Getting to Know Your Government
Joseph Lieberman
9/26/2007 Lieberman labeling the Iranian State sponsored Revolutionary Guard terrorists:
This amendment makes it clear both to our enemies and our friends that the United States will not retreat in the face of Iranian terrorism.
9/26/2007 Lieberman labeling the Iranian State sponsored Revolutionary Guard terrorists:
This amendment makes it clear both to our enemies and our friends that the United States will not retreat in the face of Iranian terrorism.
9/27/2007 Lieberman's view on Taiwan joining UN ;through the eyes of Taiwan diplomat Joseph Wu:
9/27/2007 Lieberman calling out Mahmoud Ahmadinejad:
9/27/2007 Lieberman trying to stir up a war with Iran:
9/27/2007 Lieberman speaking about of both sides of his mouth:
9/17/2007 Lieberman on health care in America:
Question of the Week
How long will incompetence be tolerated?
Tip of the week
Have the courage of your own convictions and let the chips fall where they may.
Birthday Shout Outs (9/30 to 10/6)
9/30
(1917) Buddy Rich- Amazing
(1924) Truman Capote- He started a very interesting line of inquiry.
(1961) Eric Stoltz- He always winds up in some interesting flicks.
10/1
(1920) Walter Matthau- Few play grumpier.
(1924) Jimmy Carter- He's the 39th President of the United States of America.
(1927) Tom Bosley- It's Mr. C.
(1928) George Peppard- I love it when a plan comes together.
(1936) Stella Stevens- Hotty from way back. (Her photo's featured on the site this week.)
10/2
(1890) Mahatma Gandhi- Beyond words.
(1890) Groucho Marx- A very funny man.
(1900) Bud Abbot- A great straight man.
(1928) George McFarland- He was Spanky from Our Gang. That's cooler than the Beatles.
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(1951) Sting- He sang some righteous jams.
(1967) Floyd Gaugh- Any member of Sublime is okay in my book.
(1951) Sting- He sang some righteous jams.
(1967) Floyd Gaugh- Any member of Sublime is okay in my book.
10/3
(1941) Chubby Checker- Let's do the twist.
(1949) Lindsey Buckingham- Fleetwood Mac is possibly one of the best bands ever.
(1954) Stevie Ray Vaughn- He had soul.
(1962) Tommy Lee- Motley Crue's first two albums rocked.
(1969) Gwen Stefani- Loved her ska style with No Doubt.
10/4
(1822) Rutherford B. Hayes- He was the 19th President of the United States of America.
10/5
(1829) Chester A. Arthur- He was the 21st President of the United States of America.
(1902) Louis Fineberg- He was a Three Stooge (i.e. Larry) and that is cooler than the Beatles.
(1943) Steve Miller- One of the best concerts I've ever attended.
(1947) Brian Johnson- AC/DC man.
10/6
(1846) George Westinghouse- He's responsible for trains stopping on time.
(1950) Thomas McClary- The Commodores were bad.
Belly Laugh
Sam Kinison sneaks some philosophy in at the end. This clip also goes to show just how
awesome David Letterman was. There was nobody else capable of killing time like Letterman.
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