Wall Street Lays Another Egg: Politics & Power: vanityfair.com
If, like me, you want to try and understand what’s going wrong with the financial markets but are confused by credit default swaps and your eyes glaze over at the mention of securitised debt obligations, then I heartily recommend this piece by British historian in Vanity Fair. Extraordinary events explained in plain English.
For more of Ferguson’s erudite work, visit his site: www.niallferguson.com
Last year it was Office Max’s ElfYourself, but my prize for this year’s best Xmas online gag is the “Channel 6 TV News” – a clever Google-powered gadget that allows you to place a friend’s name into a TV news report about a Christmas crisis surrounding the naughtiest person in the world. Very clever and bound to bring a smile to desktops everywhere.
Stampede for ‘Bush shoe’ creates 100 new jobs | World news | The Guardian
Memo to Bill Zuill, editor of the Gazette: suggest recruiting a Muslim reporter or two just for the chance of seeing a Brown shoe thrown in anger at future Government press conferences?
The iPhone is Apple’s Netbook: Almost Half of All Traffic from WiFi Networks – ReadWriteWeb
If there’s one product that seems to be missing from Apple’s product range, it’s a netbook – something in the handy 9-10-inch screen range. Steve Jobs has said in the past that Apple doesn’t go in for making budget hardware and maybe these figures about the wi-fi usage of iPhones back him up. Certainly the growing functionality of the iPhone means I may buy one instead of a MacBook. But to me these figures also indicate that Apple could make a killing by just beefing up the iPod Touch (call it the iTouch or MacTouch) and giving it a slightly larger screen. Do that and it surely opens up the whole netbook/tablet market to them.
Just happened to be in Cellular One’s Reid Street store today and saw they had an iPhone in the window. I got all excited until I saw the price tag: $999 !!!! – and that’s WITH a one-year contract. When I bought one in Toronto for my daughter it was $299 with a two-year commitment. I’m guessing that the high price is because Cellular One doesn’t have an official deal with Apple and it is having to buy them unlocked (A quick look online confirms that unlocked iPhones are going for anywhere from US$550 to US$750). It remains to be seen, of course, how they’ll perform on CellOne’s 3G network due early next year. In the meantime, at that price it’s going to have to be a toss up betwen a phone and a new MacBook.
Not sure if I’m the first person in Bermuda to take delivery of the amazing new Pulse Smartpen from Livescribe but I’m sure there aren’t many.
Ever since this pen was first talked about late last year, I’ve been dying to get my hands on one and once they released a Mac verson of the desktop software last month, I plonked my $149 down. Well it finally arrived on my doorstep yesterday and I have to say it’s an impressive piece of kit. Basically the Smartpen works a bit like the Leap Frog kids books you may have seen (not surprising as the guy behind those invented the Pulse too) – it writes like a pen but, unlike other digital pens, records synchronised audio too so that, to quote the company ads, “you never miss a word”. You write on special “Dot Paper” notepaper and books that are printed with Leap Frog-style commands and navigation and you can upload your notes and drawings to your computer via a USB cradle. Tap on any part of your notes and the Smartpen will play back the audio from that point. It’s an amazing tool for anyone who takes notes in meetings, lectures or – like me – you’re a working journalist.
I haven’t tried it out “in the field” yet but having just scribbled down a page or so of trial notes from a TV newscast, I’m very impressed. It’s easy to use and will become indispensable once apps to convert notes and audio to text are available. The former is already available for Windows users (Mac users can use MyScript Notes via Boot Camp or Parallels) and audio-to-text is in the works.
If you’re looking for more Best of 2008 lists, here are two good ones. NPR listeners voted for Fleet Foxes while The Guardian critics went for Bon Iver.
I’ve enjoyed some great music this year. Here’s my top ten and other favourites ….
Intense, driving rock-pop from the Glasgow band accurately described as “every great Scottish band rolled into one”. The black humour of James Allan’s lyrics put them in a class of their own.
Favourite track: It’s My Own Cheating Heart That Makes Me Cry
That someone my age is still producing fresh and relevant music like this is astonishing. As good as anything he’s done since the breakup of The Jam, 22 Dreams distills every influence Weller has drawn on in his illustrious career from Motown to Folk via psycadelia. All this and the epic Weller At The BBC CD/DVD set too. A vintage year for Weller fans.
Favourite track: Have You Made Up Your Mind
3. Dig!!! Lazarus, Dig!!! (Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds)
Another vintage rocker still doing remarkable work. I came late in life to the Cave canon and am working my way steadily through his back catalogue in which Dig will proudly take its place. The Sunday Times called it “a snarling, feral, self-deprecating, libidinous, hilarious work of genius”. Couldn’t have put it better.
Favourite track: We Call Upon The Author
The Eighties polished off and given a V8 thrust by Las Vegas’ finest. An extraordinary third album that’s part Bowie, part Roxy and part Pet Shop Boys but thrilling throughout.
Favourite track: Forget About What I Said
To have as much talent as Adele has at 19 is frightening. Her “heartbroken soul” owes much to the greats and Alison Moyet but is none the worse for that. One of the most impressive debuts of the year.
Favourite track: Cold Shoulder
Great soulful songs and a voice to die for. The cute Welsh lass is going to go far.
Favourite track: Delayed Devotion
Swedish pop is going through a golden era and Lykke Li Zachrison is one of the brightest new stars. Hypnotically eccentric performer of infectious and refreshingly unusual pop/dance music.
Favourite track: I’m Good, I’m Gone
The Rilo Kiley lead singer delivered a killer follow-up to her Rabbit Fur Coat that swings effortlessly from country to soul and gospel via the White Stripes. Wonderful from start to finish.
Favourite track: Acid Tongue
I’ve not been a huge Coldplay fan in the past but this was a terrific collection of well-polished, if unthreatening, pop that seemed to get better every time I listened to it. And the iPod doesn’t lie: the title track was the most-played track of the year on our family car stereo. The deluxe edition released in December with Prospekt’s March only added to the lustre.
Favourite track: Viva La Vida
10. For Emma, Forever Ago (Bon Iver)
This would probably have ranked higher had I listened to it earlier in the year. Am only now just discovering why so many critics love this beautiful and haunting album, recorded deep in the Wisconsin woods one winter by a depressed Justin Vernon with a guitar. Favourite track (so far): Skinny Love.
Best Greatest Hits Compilation:
The Sound of the Smiths (The Smiths) – How mighty were Manchester’s finest. This definitive hits collection, curated by Morrissey and Johnny Marr, still has the capacity to awe more than 20 years later. Incredible to think they were only together barely four years. Do yourself a favour and download the deluxe 48-track version with extra live tracks, extended 12-inch mixes of How Soon Is Now and This Charming Man and video. Favourite track: How Soon Is Now.
Also in heavy iPod rotation this year:
YouTube is again letting users send videos as Greeting Cards. Cool idea – choose from some sentimental rubbish to the more amusing Frosty The Inappropriate and the Annoying Drummer Boy. And check out the new HD videos too, like Heather Nova’s Always Christmas, below:
It’s probably about time someone made a movie about the Mac – now two are set for release. Welcome To Macintosh seems to be more a historical documentary about the Apple story from Apple I to iPhone 3G (Trailer quote: “It’s like a sausage factory. You really don’t want to know how this stuff is made.”)
MacHEADS looks more at the zealots, geeks and others who make up the Mac community and asks whether Apple is now just another brand. Trailer quote from Mac user: “I’ve never knowingly slept with a Windows user. Ever.”
