DAMMIT

They've re-blocked gmail. I hate the IT department.

-t

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I, For One, Welcome Our New Google Overlords

Two points to make regarding Google

(1) YouTube is now the second largest search engine in the world, surpassing Yahoo (finally, man, the only thing Yahoo seems to have left is sports (which is still top notch!)).

and
(2) Google just updated their iGoogle hompeage, including the gmail widget so that now I HAVE FULL ACCESS TO GMAIL FROM WITHIN THE GOOGLE HOMEPAGE!

Which is totally wicked.

Previously, google (helpfully) displayed the number of unread messages in the inbox and displayed the senders and subject line of the most recent 10 emails received.

NOW I HAVE FULL ACCESS!

Which is great, since gmail.com itself is still blocked at work.
I am going to enjoy this until the IT department figures out a way to block it.

Way to go Google.

-t

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Axel F.

Suck it, Verizon software!

I've been trying for a while to set custom ringtones on my cell phone. This weekend, I finally got it.

The construction of the custom tone is a piece of cake. Take any mp3 file, upload to an audio editing program, chop it down to the bits you like, add echo, fade in, fade out, whatever you like, save it, transfer it via bluetooth to the phone and then...

Then it gets sticky. Verizon phones ship with crippled software. I can save the bluetooth transfer to my phone under "My Sounds" and play it whenever I want. I cannot, however, set it as a ringtone from the "My Sounds" section of the phone, no, the only way to get a new ringtone is to purchase and download over the air.

Until I figured out the workaround, that is.

Which is, actually, very simple. So simple, in fact, that Verizon really should just let me add the ringtone from My Sounds. All I need to do is select my sound, then send it to myself as an attachment to a text message.

When the txt arrives, it gives me the option to set the sound as a ringtone.

It's this whole other, entirely redundant step, built into the software. I have to send the file to my phone via bluetooth from the computer, then, send it to my phone via txt from my own phone.

Seems a bit ridiculous.

But now I've finally got the Beverly Hills Cop Theme playing for all incoming calls, and I couldn't be happier about it.

-t

PS - Did you know Beverly Hills Cop was the second highest grossing movie in 1984? The first was Ghostbusters. Two SNL alum movies in first and second place at the box office! SNL, how far you've fallen.

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Live-Blogging The Financial Crash

Ok, this is the greatest thing ever. Live-blogging a sporting or television event is one thing (omg! episode two of season three of dancing with the starz, omg!)

But live-blogging the floundering stock market? Awesome.

2:45 p.m. | The Crash of 2008: If the S.&P. 500 closes where it is now, (1009.07, down 8% for the day) it will have lost more than 13% over the past three sessions.

The only other time declines of that magnitude occurred since World War II was in the crash of 1987. Prior to that, the last one was in May 1940, when France fell to Germany.

-Floyd Norris

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Inventing an Industry

Henry Ford basically invented an industry out of nowhere. Before Ford, the auto industry didn't exist.

Now consider this: If you were going to buy a car, and you had the choice of two models, identical in every facet (style, shape, color, features, AWD, brakes, warranty, price, range etc etc) save the motor, which would you choose? The electric, or the gasoline-powered internal combustion engine?

Two Corvettes, one gas, one electric. Same torque, acceleration, top speed, etc etc.

Two H2's, one gas, one electric.

Two Civics, one gas, one electric.

All other things being equal, wouldn't you choose the electric car? Cheaper to charge a battery than fill a gas tank, right? Who wouldn't pick the electric car? Purely an economic decision, and as a bonus, reduces carbon emissions.

If one, just one, auto company had started researching electric power twenty years ago, and today released a full line of totally electric cars, wouldn't they wipe out the competition?

If Chevy unveiled an electric SUV, sports car, sedan, coupe, economy, mid-size, full-size truck, van, minivan, and motorcycle wouldn't they clean up? They would have a virtual monopoly on the electric powered world. Name brand charge stations would pop up all over the place to replace gas stations.

Instead, the car companies have focussed on bringing us bigger, faster, louder, more expensive versions of their gas-powered engines.

It's a missed opportunity to make mountains of money, and it still baffles me. Why didn't they do it?

Seriously, I'm asking. Is there a good explanation?

-t

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Everyone In The World Is Perfect

Artist Mike Mitchell found a box on his doorstep. Inside was a note and an improbable object from Mitchell's past

As one of my photographer friends, Brett Littlehales, pointed out later, it was even amazing that the tape had lasted for 45 years. He also observed in a typically exuberant way, "the chances of this happening are...are...like winning the lottery...no!...no!...more like winning the cosmic lottery!"

via kottke

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The Inventor Of Carbon-Copies Should Be Punished

Here's a snippy email thread that bounced back and forth today between our new settlements group and the international Vienna team. I am, as usual, caught in the crossfire. Instead of pasting in all the email subjects, headers, signatures, etc, I'm going to parse it for you as a bitchy conversation between coworkers:

Matt: Hi, going forward, can you please email myself and Susan anytime the books are opened so we can avoid booking entries to a prior accounting period? Thanks.

Vance (Vienna): I don't really understand your request. Opening the accounting period is Tom's responsibility, we don't open or close. Can you clarify?

Matt: Vance, this was directed at both you and Tom. If you request the books be opened I just wanted to make sure Susan and I were also on the email so we are aware of it.

Vance: In that case isn't it possible to put your email addresses on the master mailing list?

Matt: No, I don't want to get all of the email concerning every fund in the bank. We only need a heads up if these two funds are being opened.

Vance: And what about setting up a rule in that mailbox to forward all the emails to you in which the subject references these funds, or any coming from my Vienna team? I would like to avoid cc-ing one hundred people in every email. It is so easy to forget someone...

Matt: Fine. I will just have the trades team notify us. Tom, can you please make sure to let us know if the books are opened? Thanks.

Vance: Thanks for that.

TXT

When I flip open my phone and start punching keys a new text message automatically pops up. Instant composition.

My computer does not do the same thing. This has led to a lot of wrong, incorrect, and bad keystrokes.

I just booked a trade for "What are you doing later on tonight?" number of shares.

-t

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Books I Love To Hate And The People That Love Them

GAH. My manager and the new girl are talking about books they love.

"What was it? Five People You Meet In Heaven! Yeah, I love that."

"Yep, that was good."

"But nothing beats Tuesdays With Morrie."

Augh. The left side of brain my just shut down. I'm typing with my left hand now. Induced stroke. Are my ears bleeding?

"And OH! The DaVinci Code! Remember that one! I'll have to bring in some books for you to borrow."

Help help help help...Whew. Ok, I found my headphones. Can't hear them anymore. Wow that was close.

Oh, also, has anyone read Infinite Jest? Opinions?

-t

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DeSean Jackson Is A Dope

I wanted to knock that depressing post off the top of the page. Instead, I'm substituting this post, which should only depress Philadelphia Eagles fans (or anyone who picked Donovan McNabb for their fantasy squad).

Last night McNabb hit Eagles receiver DeSean Jackson for a 40-yard TD, except Jackson started his celebration early, dropping the ball on the one yard line. By rule, the play ended before possession changed, the Eagles ran it in and got the seven points, but McNabb didn't get the credit for the touchdown, and Eagles fans are all smacking their heads in incredulity.

Unfortunately, the video isn't up yet, however, there is "this video showing a similar gaffe he made in the Army All-American bowl.

-t

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This Weekend In Review -or- The World Is Falling Apart But It's Cool, Because I Think I've Got Some Duct Tape Around Here Somewhere

I was away this weekend at a wedding (Congrats, Dave & Penny!) and so missed most of the big news as it was happening. For any of you similarly in the dark, here's a recap, and we'll start with the lighter stuff:

• Brewers Bad At Baseball:
  The Brew Crew lost both halves of a double-header in Philadelphia, meanwhile, in their home park a displaced Cubs-Astros game was happening (Astros playing "at home" since hurricane Zebulon (what letter are we on now?) forced them out of Texas) and at the game Cubs ace Victorino Zambrano, and Milwaukee nemesis (coming off two weeks rest for a sore shoulder) threw a no hitter. Tough to lose away, and watch the rivals win at your home. Tougher still they haven't yet replaced the giant beer mug in center field.




• Palin Fodder:
  Tina Fey returned to SNL's season premiere to play Alaskan govenor and VP hopeful Sarah Palin. The sketch, by all accounts, was hilarious (called by one entertainment blogger "The funniest thing ever presented by Lorne Michaels productions"). My worry? Fey's interpretation of Palin will become so beloved by the populace folks will vote the Alaskan in so we can see more sketches. (Don't discount it! People like Will Ferrel's George W. Bush way more than Darrell Hammond's portrayal of Gore - SNL as political bellwether)



• Landmark Financial Institutions Fold!:
  From the WSJ:

  The American financial system was shaken to its core on Sunday. Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. filed for bankruptcy protection, and Merrill Lynch & Co. agreed to be sold to Bank of America Corp.link

  It started with the collapse of the mortgage industry, and there are fewer and fewer options left for the big firms. Shares tank, brokers bankrupt, good news, though, I sold short on Simpson News Syndicate and made a killing.



• Journalistic Integrity Fouled By Crazy-Ass Photog:
  Jill Greenberg, photographer to the stars (manipulator.com) shot a cover of Senator John McCain for Atlantic Monthly but, disregarding protocol (and possibly her contract with Atlantic) she kept the outtakes indecentized them. Really. The controversial photos, and some analysis here.





• Some Good News:
  The Large Hadron Collider is practically guaranteed not to create a planet-swallowing black hole and end life as we know it in this solar system.

Braid: Best Official Walkthrough Ever

The artwork and story have been praised for the whimsical visual style, haunting
score, and perception-bending effect on the player.

I tried the demo. I'd say I'm familiar with the side-scrolling platformer mileu.

But then I visited the developer's page, and I am going to buy this game based solely on the official walkthrough. (It's a relatively quick read, don't worry, you can take a look:Braid walkthrough)

Best walkthrough ever man.

-t

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Dan Goldin Day Reminder

Dan Goldin Day is night upon us! Mark your calendars!

November 17th (as if you'd forgotten)

*Bonus* This year DGD falls on a Monday! Three day weekend!


-t

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*Footnote* DGD is always observed on the closest Monday or Friday in order to maximize three-day weekends.

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It Takes Twice That Just To Get Me Out Of Bed In The Morning...

As those of you who are regular readers (probably in the billions by now, as I'm no longer firewalled in China) know, I occassionally write a bit about the Red Sox.

It's certainly no regular feature, but I am a fan of baseball, and Boston sports in general, and do take the opportunity, from time to time, to comment on the current sports scene.

Well, turns out, WEEI, a local Boston sports radio station, is looking for bloggers at the new weei.com to do just that. In fact, they have decided to hold a contest.

So let me tell you why I will not be participating:

(1) The required 500 word entry isn't long enough to encompass the typical blogger's ramblings (see joeposnanski.com)

(2) They get the rights to the winner's content, because the winner will be hired to blog for a year on weei.com

(3) and be paid $5,000.

$5,000? Five grand? That's barely pocket money!

And I know, I know, you're thinking "Hey, if I were a blogger who regularly commented on the Boston sports scene for free, why wouldn't I want to upgrade to a nice $5K paycheck?"

I'll tell you why: Because it's peanuts. You could hire Jerry Seinfeld to blog for maybe a week with that $5,000. And my Red Sox commentary is worth at least Seinfeld money.

Yes, I realize Seinfeld's a comedian, but most bloggers are (trying to be) comedians too! Funny sells! Funny does not sell out. Not for a measly five grand.

Hell, that's not even enough for a hood ornament on one of these bad boys.

Other bloggers are with me on the boycott of the contest (for different, more defeatist, reasons) at Sox and Dawgs

You Can't Spell Courtesy Without Curt

I was quietly asked to step into the conference room this morning to meet with my supervisor.

One glance at the troubled look on his face and I guessed immediately that the discussion might center around a sarcastic reply I'd sent in response to an email from one of the girls on the tax team.

The original email went something like "The client wants us to check on this, please check on this and get back to me," and the email was, as per the custom here, cc-ed to basically everyone, including her supervisor, my supervisor, and the head of the division.

In a joking and sarcastic manner, which I truly believed was in character with the working relationship I have with this particular member of the tax team, and not in any way mean-spirited, but one-hundred percent in jest, I replied to her email with "Actually, as this is a tax request, and tax is your job, please do your job."

Which, as I said, I believed to be well within the established framework of office joking and good-natured ribbing that I had established with the tax team.

I did, please note, NOT reply-to-all and cc the whole freaking company, which is a crucial point that this member of the tax team overlooked.

Because she assumed that I had copied everyone on the email in my response, basically critcizing her professionalism, work-ethic, and ability, she responded to my response, cc-ing everyone with a curt response which included a cut-and-pasted excerpt of my job description as it pertains to client tax requests.

So, as I was called into the conference room I had an inkling of where this conversation was headed.


"Tom," my supervisor began, "I wanted to talk to you because, well, someone...higher up...pulled me aside and mentioned that someone on the tax team had become a little, upset, about something... Do you know what I'm talking about?"

You mean the email I sent to the tax team. I was actually planning on walking down there later today and talking to her about that. I don't think she realized my response was direct to her, not to the whole company.

"Right, yeah, well. I think, it, well, it would probably be good to realize that, if you think you sound a certain way in an email, that maybe some people might not take it the way you mean it, and that can be... less than constructive to building bridges between teams...and for your own business relationships. Do you know what I mean?"

You want me to be nicer. Got it. Is it just the email, or has this come up before?

"It's just that your manner... Look, I know it can be frustrating - believe me I know - there are sometimes, like with the international team in Vienna, they can be a little demanding, they call all the time, there are sometimes where I just want to fire off an email and really let 'em have it, you know? But - but, you have to take a deep breath, and be a little more... Maybe don't think about correcting them, even when it's clearly their fault, but instead, trying to accomodate and respond with something that will be better for building a connection with them.

"I understand your manner can be a little...curt, at times. The way you work, technically you're very strong. You know the software, you've gotten to know the funds and the glitches that can come up, and how to deal with them, or prevent them, which is great. But, your, building relationships...maybe can use a little work. Sometimes, like, maybe with the people you train, your manner might seem a little....rude. And I know you just want to get the job done, but like I said, the way you behave might not be taken the same way by the other person. Ok? That was all I wanted to mention."

So.

Be nicer. I have decided to embrace this idea of niceness, and in that vein, I have updated my email auto-signature from "Thanks-comma" to read instead, "Thanks-exclamation-point" and that should make the difference.


Thanks!
Tom

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Reading Writing About Writing

Alternate Title: Latin Is Dead, Alivey English!

Today on boston.com Erin McKean takes critics of the English language to task. In a nutshell: Embrace English evolution.

...if all these words look wordish, sound wordish, and act wordish, why are they all hedged about with the namby-pamby "I know it's not a real word" disclaimers? (Note: wordish is a perfectly good word.)

They shouldn't be, I agree. I make up words all the time, right here.

Like, "besotted," or "interrobang."


It's a clever little op/ed and I found the payoff right here:

Whenever I see "not a real word" used to stigmatize what is (usually) a perfectly cromulent word, I wonder why the writer felt the need to hang a big sign reading "I am not confident about my writing" on it.

-t

Overheard:

Leaving work yesterday
Woman on cell phone (whiny, contempt-y): "You probably shouldn't be there... Because it would be uncomfortable for me, it would be uncomfortable for John, and, potentially, uncomfortable for you - except, maybe not, because you 'aren't ever uncomfortable,' and you're not 'bothered by circumstance'..."

Walking home from the train
Guy outside a laundromat on his cell phone (matter-of-factly): "No, no, black. Like, priest black. With that collar thing. A little white collar..."

Bear: "Um...that's probably trouble."

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Agony Of Defeat

This should replace the pinwheeling skier on the opening credits of Wide World of Sports



Yeah. Take a good look. That used to be his elbow.

World class competition, world class hurt.
-t

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Impulse Control

If you have a problem controlling impulse spending, especially for $0.99 purchases, like songs from iTunes and Amazon's mp3 store, do not, I cannot stress this enough, DO NOT visit pandora.com and enter an artist you like.

Because Pandora will start playing other songs that you will like. And you will like them. And then you will buy them. All of them.

They even let you bookmark songs so you can easily keep track of what you haven't purchased yet.

Gah.

Clearly This Problem Has Been Resolved

Internet is down at work.

Official IT response" "We are aware of the problem and will communicate with you when the issue has been resolved. No ETA."

We can't even kill time.

-t

*UPDATE*

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To: Eblake@cashteam
Subject: Net Outage

Have you guys lost the internet? We've got intranet access but can't get to the web. I'm wondering if it's company wide or if they're finally on to me.

-t

To: tom@work
Subject: Re: Net Outage

It's just you - I can see this:

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