Uni Qlo Robot

Uni Qlo Robot, originally uploaded by blackavar21.

We went by Uni Qlo on Saturday and ran across their new robot. His name is Wakamaru.

It was late enough that no one was really playing with him. I felt like I should have asked him something, but quite frankly, he creeped me out.

You Could Have Just Sent 1 Million People A Copy Of Vista

So apparently the Seinfeld/Gates ads were only a “teaser” and now we are going to get the next phase of the campaign.

Alllright…

Yet from the sound of it, those ads will have almost nothing to do with the rest of the campaign. So really, why make them at all?

I’ll admit I found the second one to have it’s moments, and they did get people talking, but they paid Seinfeld $10 million to make 2 commercials that wouldn’t have even been good “Seinfeld” episodes, neglect to mention your product, and that just the “start” of your ads? Talk about having money to burn.

But really the best you can come up with is some Microsoft engineers, a bunch of celebrities/real world users, and, worst of all, a John Hodgeman clone?!?!

Three hundred million dollars, and you get a Hodgeman clone. Ugh. Plus you just know most of the testimonials they get are going to be from a bunch scientists who do use windows, but mostly because the programs they use were written in DOS and they have no choice but to stick with it.

Look Microsoft why not just focus on the good points of Windows, like gaming, or enterprise (look I would love to have a Mac at work, but I sure as hell don’t want one for my server), or the fact that you can get a Windows box for WAY less then a Mac. (Not that I’m saying Mac’s aren’t worth their price, but there are times when being cheap is a plus, e.g., the netbooks.)

Focus on these in the ads, and you’ll do just fine. Sure, you can bring in some star power to do it, but not in a way were you neglect to mention the product at all, and definitely without a Hodgeman clone.

Oh, and please don’t go on the defensive with Apple. They had to attack you because you are the dominant player in the market. They found their opening and they took it. Please don’t turn this into the OS equivalent of a political attack campaign.

We have enough of those already.

(And I know it’s a little cliché, but I guess I should also throw in a bit here at then end where I point out that if you just spent $300 million on making your products better, you wouldn’t have to make all these ads asking people to use them. People use things because they work, not because a comedian tells them too. Although I’m sure that new Verizon ad where Greg Giraldo voices the talking dog would prove otherwise.)

Wow, We Found The Ghostbuster’s Firehouse

Wow, We Found The Ghostbuster’s Firehouse, originally uploaded by blackavar21.

The End Of Summer

Muxtape might be down while they work out things with the RIAA (and if the things they are doing to online radio are any indicator, things might not end well), but Mixwit is still going strong.

The main difference I’m told is that while Muxtape had you uploading your own tracks, Mixwit searches the net for the tracks you want. Not sure what the legalities are, but Mixwit’s still running so we’ll go with that.

So I figured I’d throw a mixtape together of some of the stuff that I’ve been listening to the most this summer. It’s a little Spoon/The Hold Steady/ Ted Leo heavy, but I’ve been listening to them the most lately. It also slows down a little in the middle, but I figured it would be cool to bring the mood down a bit.

It’s been awhile since I made a mixtape, or even a really good playlist (I prefer whole albums), so if it’s a little janky don’t get too mad, but these are some of the bands I’ve been getting into lately and I figured I spread them around a bit.

Enjoy.

more about "Test", posted with vodpod

Dessert Truck

Aug 21, 2008, originally uploaded by blackavar21.

I’ve been hearing about this dessert truck in just about every “Around New York” article I’ve read lately. Then today as I walked down the street to find a place to eat lunch I see the dessert truck parked on Park Ave.

Not one to put the end before the beginning, I sit down and eat my lunch, making a note to check it out after.

I finish my egg salad sandwich and walk up to check out the sandwich board they have out front, plying their wares.

I was hoping for maybe a brownie or possibly one of those cupcake cones I’ve heard about. Nope. Just cheesecake (yuk), creme brulee (eh, sure it’s good but pass), chocolate mousse, and molten chocolate cake.

Hmm… while I’m sure the mousse and the cake are good, I tend to shy away from overly sweet chocolate things since my throat tends to close up a bit after eating them. Not all chocolate, but I do notice that if I eat the really rich cookies they have in meeting here at work, I have a hard time swallowing after. Needless to say this makes me a little gun shy around some desserts.

So after hearing about this thing for months now I had to walk away empty stomached.

Oh well, according to their web page this is their new daytime spot, so maybe I’ll get a chance to try something once their menu changes.

The Hold Steady: ‘Radiohead have lost the plot’

http://www.nme.com/news/the-hold-steady/38990

I have to say as much as I liked “In Rainbows,” I have to agree the it seems like Radiohead is not sure what it wants to be anymore. And that whole, “We’ll only do a ‘Green’ tour,” is really a copout.

Harry, Please Put Down The Gun!!!

Georgia, originally uploaded by blackavar21.

Came across this great shot on CNN.com today.

I would want to sign a cease-fire too if I had a group of pissed off bigfoots mad at me for putting one of them in a freezer.

Just A Test Shot From My Desk

Just A Test Shot From My Desk, originally uploaded by blackavar21.

Just playing around, checking my post to blog settings are up to date.

Hula Girls

Hula Girls, originally uploaded by blackavar21.

This girls practice in Central Park about once a week.

Really fun to watch.

There’s usually more of them, but they have been dwindling down the last few weeks.

Great view.

Great view., originally uploaded by blackavar21.

So Jane and I got a chance to go to Nantucket on Monday and we just got back yesterday.

I won’t go into too much detail because most of the trip involves Jane’s job, but I have to say the whole island is gorgeous.

I might talk a little more about it later after I run it past Jane, but I’ll just say if you get a chance to go, do.

Only make sure you have someone who knows how to get around.