Get a Treo 650 for $99

I took advantage of this deal in September, when it was available for two days. It was a great investment and my Treo is the most useful electronic tool I've ever owned
Treo 650 + Earthlink Service...$99Everything Treo Store >> Treo Smartphones >> Treo 650

Paris by night

A wonderful 360 view of Paris with soundtrack...Paris by night

Amazon.com: Ridata 8x 4.7 GB DVD+R Spindle (100 Discs): Electronics

Amazon has the Ridata 8x 4.7 GB DVD+R Spindle (100 Discs) selling for $37.99 with a $25 rebate (exp. 12/31/05) making your cost $12.99 with free shipping. Apply coupon code CUSTAPPRSAVE (5% off - exp. 12/20/05) at checkout making your final cost $11.09 after rebate.

Downloading Movies Re-Visit

Okay, I've been downloading movies now for a week after cancelling the online blockbuster subscription service and now I've discovered the reason that these services (CinemaNow, MovieLink, RealPlayer MoviePass) are not ready for prime time. They don't have the most recent DVD's available at your local blockbuster or through Netflix/Blockbuster. I'm not sure why they would not have the same type of access to recently released videos, and I can't imagine it will be too long before we see the same type of offerings, but for now it's a a big shortcoming. Netflix is supposed to be offering downloads any time now and when they do I might return as a customer. Hopefully we'll see someone offer $.99 for any download, which would be a real winner for consumers and should be possible by eliminating the shipping and processing costs that the current subscription business eat.

The Christmas Spirit

Happy Holidays....!?

What to expect from Web 3.0 | Software as services | ZDNet.com

Why Web 3.0?

Well, here's an article that leapfrogs the whole Web 2.0 questions altogether. Interesting article which implies that the web services, API's and new clients are the foundation for a 'Web 3.0'. I think this only contributes to the confusion by not asking or pointing to what we can do now, but instead implying that it's not here now.

If you look at Yahoo Widgets on your desktop and Microsoft Gadgets in Live you'll see Web 2.0 happening now and you can start putting it to use today. For developers it appears to be an exciting time, with incredible new possibilities.

? Web 2.0? It doesn't exist | IP Telephony, VoIP, Broadband | ZDNet.com

It's a common thing now for pundits to dismiss and criticize the notion of 'Web 2.0', which is a lot easier than taking the risk of trying to explain what it could mean and how it might prove to have value for consumers and businesses.

One thing that the pundits can't deny is that the concept of the desktop is disappearing and if you use sites like 'Live.com', Google Desktop or the new Yahoo Widgets you'll find that they do a great job of replacing the traditional desktop. They also provide networked services, a development platform and pushed content. This new set of services is a watershed for the Internet and is transforming the way consumers, developers and business thinking looks at what a year ago was the browser and pages.

Instead of dissing Web 2.0, why don't these pundits get excited and add to the dialog about how it can continue to coalesce and grow. I'm excited by what should prove to be a completely new OS and transformation of the web client over the next two years. The hard part is going to be tracking which of the competitors is doing the best job, who developers are gravitating toward and which one businesses are betting on...

Movie Reviews, Music Reviews, TV Show Reviews, Game Reviews, Book Reviews - Metacritic.com

My first encounter with this review aggregation site. Looks good.

NPR : The Best Music of 2005 Countdown

NPR 'All Songs Considered' best of 2005 list...

CBS News | Poll: Creationism Trumps Evolution | September 27, 2005?09:34:43

65% of Americans are in favor or teaching creationism and evolution in schools?
I really think that it's time to divide the red and blue states into two different countries.
Let all of the red states do their thing (teach creationism, stop stem cell research, promote very large families and focus on fundamentalist pursuits) while letting the blue states pursue their beliefs (freedom of thought and speech, let women control their own bodies and let those who are in love marry, pursue science and not dogma, create egalitarian society). Then we could see how different the two countries are after twenty years and decide if it was the right path... Of course you'd have to include Canada with the blue (socialized medicine, care for the young and elderly, legalized marijuna...) so that there was a common border.

Amazing Deal at Amazon.com: on AudioSource IC8S Round Ceiling Speakers: Electronics

If you want to install high quality speakers into your ceiling or walls, you can't miss this deal at Amazon... $200 off list. I bought two sets.
$49.99 (80% off!)

TechCrunch ? Google releases GTalk API, Puts Gun To Skype?s Head

It has a name, and it's 'VoIP 2.0' the race by the big guys to dominate the next generation of telephony. Google is making available a public API which will allow 3rd parties to create a range of interesting services and plug them into other Google tools, which seems like a very wise approach. I still think that the best overall commercial offering is going to be very attractive... per my earlier post about Yahoo Messenger VoIP for $29 a year w/ all the regular bells and whistles (voicemail, call forward etc..).
Talk the talk.

Recipe: Simple Chocolate Layer Cake - New York Times

If you can apprciate good chocolate cake and would like a rock-solid recipe w/ a video article on the process... this New York Times online article is a great source. I made it yesterday and it was met with enthusiastic reviews.

let them eat cake

Yahoo Phone Service

Another recent discovery and one that I've been anticipating is the beta release of the new Yahoo Messenger with phone service. I'm calling Qwest and saying goodbye this month. Yahoo will be offering one year of phone service (unlimited) for $29 and supposedly provide a wireless headset. I spend more than that per month for Qwest. This release of the beta does not have the phone service active, but the link is in place and should support phone service as soon as the service sign up page is in place. This is really what a phone should be...! Yahoo!!!!!

Movielink - Movie downloads for your PC, TV, or laptop

Recent Discoveries... after switching from NetFlix to Blockbuster for their DVD delivery service, I've now cancelled Blockbuster and am downloading my movies. With Comast cable DSL I can download a feature film in 18 minutes. This is the future now. I also have to say that with Blockbuster/Netflix I was always receiving films in my queue which I was not particulary interested in when they arrived. With the download services I'm a little more selective. Check out CinameNow too... they have HD content and a lot of alternative material. http://www.cinemanow.com/default.aspx?grpID=0

Calif. Regulators Unveil Solar Power Plan - Yahoo! News

California is leading the way in identifying renewable energy options and making them a practical solution for citizens. It's a shame that the Federal government only can throw up roadblocks (tax deductions for large SUV's and trucks). I also have heard a number of stories recently that suggest Portland is a hive of entrepreneurial activity for renewable energy and alternaritive energy.

There has to be some great business opportunities for these green initiatives as our nation and planet face the reality of letting so much regulation slide for the last six years.

Sleep less, live longer?

Health study indicates that you really only need 6.5 hours sleep a night, but 7 hours will give you the best survival rate and 8 hours can get you killed...!

start.com

Many pundits have been dismissive of the new Microsoft Live software and Internet inititiave, but I have to say that there new Start page is great. The ability to build a MyYahoo type page with drag and drop and to plug in RSS feeds is really cool and useful. It's akin to the user sandbox where you can experiment incrementally until you arrive at a really cool personalized page.

Yahoo! Widgets Gallery

If you aske me, this is evidence of Web 2.0. These are a new type of application (widget), which can be deployed on the desktop independent of the browser and provide utility or an application.

A Record Amazon Drought, and Fear of Wider Ills - New York Times

With Clinton speaking out on the reality of global warming, and the worst drought on record in the amazon, it seems that the legacy of lack of interest for the environment is making itself evident.