Email notification to Brandon Starr's blog has been shown to reduce bad cholesterol in two-toed sloths, and has been used as an effective exfoliant.
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Wednesday, October 06, 2004
Howard Stern goes to Sirius radio
Howard Stern moves to Sirius Satellite Radio.
Because of this news, I purchased shares in Sirius Satellite Radio, even though it's jumped today already.
Maybe the timing of my buy isn't great, but I think in the longer run it'll be a good purchase. Here's why:
Sirius is the #2 satellite radio company, behind XM Satellite Radio. Stern will have an even bigger impact at Sirius than he would have at XM Satellite Radio.
Stern has had a lot of success doing a similar thing with his TV show: his network-friendly E shows are being "uncensored" and put up for a fee on his website, with many takers. Therefore, there are a lot of folks who want his shows not under the thumb of the FCC. Because satellite radio is a pay service, it's like HBO--the FCC has no say as to language, etc.
Because Stern won't do Sirius until he finishes his contract, there's time for Sirius to get the word out and build up their subscriber base.
Sirius is giving Stern three full channels to program.
Stern has one of the largest, most loyal fan bases in radio. Many will make the move, to continue hearing Stern, or simply curious to see how the show will be different in a free environment.
It's possible that Stern will leave early, if the bill fining broadcasters individually is signed by Bush.
It isn't often that a major move by a major star can help build a whole new medium. But it's just the sort of catalyst that's needed to turn Sirius from a relatively struggling business to a new media standard.
Anyway, now I have a position in Sirius satellite (symbol: SIRI) and you know why.
Tuesday, October 05, 2004
Answer to trivia question of the day
(If you didn't see the question in the first place, scroll down to yesterday's blog entries to find the question. Then come back here for the answers.)
The business slogans, and the movies they come from:
"We scare because we care." -- Monsters, Inc. -- slogan for the title company
"We're ready to believe you!" -- Ghostbusters -- slogan for the title company
"Amity means 'Friendship.'" -- Jaws -- tourist slogan for Amity, the city where the movie takes place
"Service guarantees Citizenship." -- Starship Troopers -- recruiting slogan for the armed forces of the corporation/government entity that controls Earth
"Tastes great! Bounces high!" -- Amazon Women on the Moon -- ad slogan in the skit "Silly Pate"
"Smoke New Testament, and all is forgiven. I smoke 'em. HE smokes 'em." -- Bananas -- ad appearing in the film
"Ars est pecunia" -- Silent Movie -- corporate logo appearing on slogan of Big Pictures Company. It means "art is money" and is a satire of MGM's "ars gratia artis," meaning "art for art's sake."
...is out of chances for respect: dead at 82.
It's ironic that that bit is exactly what launched his career and gave him genuine respect--from fellow comics, many of whom he helped launch with his Dangerfield's comedy clubs, and from his many fans.
It also led to two very funny comedic roles I love--in "Caddyshack" and "Back to School."
You've gotta respect that.
I saw the debate. Although I thought Edwards won, it wasn't as interesting as the Bush/Kerry debate.
Mostly it was back-and-forth, and Edwards did a good job within the time allowed of not letting Cheney get away with the usual Bush/Cheney B.S.
The strongest point I think Edwards made was in the corruption of Cheney as seen through the lens of his time as CEO of Halliburton--dealing with enemies of the U.S., using offshore shell businesses to avoid taxes, failing to properly give financial information to the SEC.
The only thing I think Edwards should have done that he didn't was to stress more the ethical failings of the Bush/Cheney Administration. He had a chance when he was given the question about uniting the country. How can you expect to unite the country through lies? There's no way Bush and Cheney can do it.
...well, new-ish: they're better versions of the "parody logo" ones.
Here's my favorite of the four I did today.
I think they work better than the old ones. It may be a bit too close to the election for these designs to sell, but what the hey. The cool thing about Zazzle is you can throw things up against the wall and see what sticks.
I have plans for more shirts soon...some anti-Bush, some not. Obviously, I'll be doing the Bush ones first--or not at all.
If Bush is reelected, I'll keep the designs on the site as is. If Kerry is elected, I'll probably move them to an archive or something.
I hope I'm put out of business on November 2.
Partial answer to Trivia Question
Here's part of the answer. Can you get the rest?
(Full question below, from yesterday's blog entries.)
"We scare because we care" -- from Monsters, Inc.
Monday, October 04, 2004
Speculation going on that Bush was wearing an earpiece during the debate.
If so, it didn't help him very much. Still, if true, it would have been better than him on his own--since he's notoriously lazy, he then wouldn't have to spend so much time "working hard" getting ready.
I'm not quite convinced, but the arguments are interesting: at one point, when Bush has about 30 seconds left for an answer, he all of a sudden points (to Lehrer?) and says, "now let me finish." But no one was interrupting him. At another spot, he may be making a gesture towards his ear that (if it was a gesture) he quickly changes to awkwardly resting his chin on his fist. There's also a picture of Bush taken from behind during the debate that clearly shows a rectangular bulge in the middle of his back--though the debate microphone was attached to the podium. Other arguments for: the rules stating that no shots will be taken from behind, etc. (which the networks threw out), the pauses--especially at the beginning of answers--and a few others.
Again, I'm not quite convinced, but it's an interesting thought--and one which did run through my mind that night.
One thing's for sure: you'd never see the earpiece. Modern spy tech is so good and so small it would be invisible to TV cameras--not sure about high-definition, but even then, the shot would have to be right into the ear canal.
But a piece that small would need a rebroadcast boost to get any distance at all--thus, the bulge in the back of his coat jacket? Hmmmm......
One thing's for sure: Kerry was debating the old-fashioned way: using his brain. He took a lot of notes while Bush spoke, and seemed to have some sort of system worked out. I noticed that after certain important points were made, especially by him, he made a quick jot with his pen--as if marking off a checklist. If you've ever done any debating, you know that's a pretty common way of dealing with all the information you need to get across.
Oh, one last thing I liked about the debate: Kerry using the word "outsourcing" to describe the use of Afghan warlord troops by Bush to go after Osama bin Laden. It has a nice thematic resonance with the Outsourcing President and his tax breaks that benefit businesses when they move jobs overseas. I noticed the other day that Kerry used the word "outsourcing" again in reference to Bush in some other context. It's a reminder, even when the subject is not jobs, that Bush is the Great Outsourcer.
Trivia Question of the Day--movies
From what movies do the following fictional business slogans come? (in generally easier to harder order--sometimes the business is the focus of the movie, sometimes it's just one joke in a larger flick.) Answers tomorrow (or maybe the next day, since this is being posted pretty late).
"We scare because we care."
"We're ready to believe you!"
"Amity means 'Friendship.'"
"Service guarantees Citizenship."
"Tastes great! Bounces high!"
"Smoke New Testament, and all is forgiven. I smoke 'em. HE smokes 'em."
SpaceShipOne wins X Prize
Congratulations on winning the X Prize, SpaceShipOne!
The point of the X Prize is for private companies or groups to make two flights into space within a few weeks of each other using the same craft. In other words, the first step to commercial flights into space--breaking the monopolies of the few countries with space programs.
And what amazing space-age fuel did they use?
Nitrous oxide (laughing gas) and rubber. Apparently the two are explosive when mixed. Amazing.
I'll bet al-Qaeda is already putting people through dental school. "No, I don't want to know how much laughing gas to give to a patient; just teach me how to turn the knobs."*
Anyway, congrats to Brian Binnie, the pilot on this flight--but not for the first one a few days ago--and the whole SpaceShipOne team.
You're a real inspiration.
* (Explanation of joke deleted)
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