Kudos To Amazon

Posted on January 31st, 2010 in News Headlines,TJSky by TJSky

kindle2 01 300x300 Kudos To Amazon

The publishing company Macmillan is pulling their e-books from Amazon. The reason is that Amazon sells their e-books, even best-sellers, for $9.99. Seems a fair price. The over head is considerably less; the consumer is not getting a physical copy that required paper, skill and binding to place in their home library.

$9.99 just isn’t good enough for Macmillan though. They want $12.99-$14.99 for their e-books. I personally would rather have my books accessible to millions, and purchased by millions for $9.99 than the alternative. That being, limited access to my books, higher prices, thus selling significantly less. Let’s think volume. Let’s think value.

I understand the cost behind publishing. I’m not trying to take away from the considerations that go into authoring, editing, and publishing. However, the value of an e-book is limited. A consumer has made the initial investment into their expensive electronic reader, now they need as much bang for their buck as possible. And let’s face it, e-books encourage reading in our electronic age. The low price encourages downloading titles that may not have been sought out in the bookstore or library. You are able to expose new readers to new authors, get new followings….the long-term marketing advantages are truly endless.

Also, e-book reading owners will not forget that they had their George Orwell e-books deleted from their Kindles. Essentially, consumers are buying something that can be revoked at anytime. All the more reason that $9.99 is more appropriate.

And, Macmillan, don’t think that increasing the price, with the risk of losing what you purchased, will encourage people to buy physical copies. It won’t. We are a digital age. Convenience and low price is what entices people to try on more books for size.

Looking at the big picture, this is just a selfish move on Macmillan’s part and will hurt their reputation way more than it is going to affect Amazon’s.

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CBS: Anti-Gay & Pro-Life (Super Bowl Commercial Controversy)

Posted on January 30th, 2010 in Funny Pictures,News Headlines,TJSky by TJSky

CBS denied a commercial for a gay dating site, Mancrunch, to air during the Super Bowl — they also rejected a GoDaddy commercial that shows a retired football player pursuing a life as a flaming gay fashion designer.

That seems prejudicial enough…HOWEVER…they are allowing commercials from “Focus on Family” — which carries an anti-gay and pro-life message.

The American Family Association has tried to defend CBS stating that the Super Bowl is a “family” show and children are watching. Parents shouldn’t have to answer embarrassing and sensitive questions about homosexuality at that time.

Yes, children are watching — as Tim Tebow gives his anti-abortion message…..The children will be watching a commercial about ABORTION!  That’s always a fun family conversation. Maybe they can manage to throw in a KKK commercial while they are at it.

CBS has a history of banning advocacy commercials. They’ve banned commercials that attack the national debt and they’ve banned commercials that promote the idea that God loves EVERYONE, no exceptions. This year gets them the additional attention because they are choosing to allow advocacy commercials that suit right-winged positions and deny all others. This is the first year that CBS has clearly taken a political stand.

People are calling for a boycott of the Super Bowl, CBS shows, webcasts, and so on. I want to know what you think? Will this affect your viewing habits of CBS shows, and if so, how?

Tebow crying11 CBS: Anti Gay & Pro Life (Super Bowl Commercial Controversy)

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The Dirty Sun

Posted on January 28th, 2010 in UnPCBinDC by UnPCBinDC

**waiting for author’s approval**

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Republican “Purity” Test? What’s Next, The Return Of Witch Trials?

Posted on January 28th, 2010 in News Stories,TJSky by TJSky

The Republic National Committee is going to vote on their proposal for a “purity” test for their candidates. Basically, if you don’t agree, and vote in accordance, with 8 of the 10 Party’s positions, you get no funds or backing from the Republican National Committee. Didn’t Hitler have a similar “test”?

I’ve read the proposal, and honestly, there are items I agree with. Having said that, forcing someone upfront to vote and agree with the positions you want passed, is undermining what this country is suppose to be about. We are so quick to want to fix other governments, and promote equality, yet we can have mob-like proposals on the books affecting a candidates ability to even reach The People.

The mere existence of such a proposal makes the party look completely prejudicial and out-dated – as if their old ass candidates didn’t already make them look antiquated enough. I understand some of the party thinks their attempts to be moderate have failed, and they have to go hard-core conservative. But, really, your attempts to be moderate failed because the voters thought you were full of shit. It’s that simple.

Some members are opposed, including Chairman Michael S. Steele. He recognizes how ashamed those fools should be to even suggest such a test, and how dangerous it is to the Party as a whole. They are about to isolate a lot more of their supporters than what was probably imagined.

Picture This: you are a Republican, supporting a Republican candidate, who only agreed on 7 positions in the party. That candidate, who you rallied and voted for, no longer has the funds or support to continue to work for you. You’re a Republican, but you must just not be a good enough Republican, because the Party will not back up one of their own – the one that you’ve chosen. Where do you go from there?

Where’s the Democracy in that?

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iSpendMoreMoney

Posted on January 27th, 2010 in News Headlines,TJSky by TJSky

apple ipad tablet 300x180 iSpendMoreMoney

The announcement of the iPad…woo freaking hoo. A big ass iPhone. Take a kindle, an iPhone, a compass and there ya go. To be fair, it’s not the worse technicological thing I’ve seen come out. It has a nice big screen and clear picture. You can buy more Apple crap, like iWork, to use on it. It has a touch screen keyboard, and in the event that sucks when you are trying to type up a presentation on a completely flat key-less piece of machinery, you can attach a keyboard to it. Somehow attaching a keyboard seems like it defeats the “tablet” purpose. By the way, has anyone figured out if it prints yet? Anyone? No? Ok.

The craziest thing, to this electronics consumer, is the price. The cheap, crappy reception, no memory one is going to be almost $500! To get a nice one it is almost $900! Why don’t I just spend the extra hundred and get a MacBook? At least the MacBook is proven to be Bluetooth capable, print, have built in USB connectivity, and so on. The tablet just seems like an over-priced novelty.

This is coming from someone who actually likes the iPhone, alot. The iPhone was (is) so cool because it had so many features and apps conveniently on my phone. It was in a class of its own compared to alot of other mobile media devices availalbe at the time. Having these things on a large tablet, that requires perripheals in order to get the most out of my purchase, is just a waste. A waste of money, a waste of space, and a waste of another bag I’d have to drag around. I guess I could slip it into my laptop case and they can make sweet syncing love when I reach my destination — that would need a table for all this shit I have to unpack and hook up now.

The joy of syncing and a clean fresh-from-the-box screen will probably last the purchaser about a week. For their investment sake, I hope I’m wrong. If anyone gets an iPad, leave a comment. I’d love to know how you fair when it comes in. And if anyone isn’t getting one, leave a comment too :)

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Lobbying For The Economy

Posted on January 22nd, 2010 in News Headlines,TJSky by TJSky

The Supreme Court has stripped down the regulations on business and union and their contributions to election campaigns. Now everyone is gearing up to spend spend spend on their favorite candidate to influence. The government rides their high horse to regulate the financial industry, as they should, but it’s ok to de-regulate election funds. Hmmm.

All kinds of earmarks will certainly go to local and special interest projects instead of to, I don’t know, rebuilding the economy for the masses. Speaking of which, Obama is going to Ohio to address those he addressed two years ago to get elected.

There were promises of an upswing in the job market and reinforcing job security as he connected with the average working class American. Instead he bailed out ungrateful banks who have bonus receiving executives and are back to making a profit. He also created jobs for the limited environmental sect, and spent money on a rack of other things that didn’t try to save the factories that let down their dedicated workers.

Obama gets to meet back up, face to face, with “Main Street” Americans and do what? Make more empty promises? Apologize that these people who were employed two years ago are now jobless with nothing on the horizon because of their age, skillset, and the lack of options in the classifieds?

You can’t tell me many of those people are excited he is coming. You can tell me that most of them regret their choice on their ballot and will not exactly be helping to get him re-elected. I have a sneaking suspicion that a Republican will be in office next term…unless they nominate another Bob Dole or John McCain to run…then maybe Obama will have a chance to keep his spot.

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Gaming Companies Never Learn

Posted on January 20th, 2010 in News Stories,TJSky by TJSky

dj hero 300x163 Gaming Companies Never Learn

I’ve been contemplating purchasing DJ Hero. I can live out my fantasy of being a DJ to recognizable songs that I enjoy from the comfort of my own home. Now, it didn’t sell that well last year, but let’s face it, for $150 bucks in our economy, that was just a stretch. However, tax season is upon us. Even those who struggled to make Christmas magic will be spending at least some of their tax money on luxuries such as electronics. I am no exception.

But then I was reading that Activision already announced it’s working on DJ Hero 2 for 2011. Ok, so I can spend $150 next month, and a year later would be faced with dropping that money again for a better version. That happens all the time, but Activision, why warn us that you are doing that? It’s just not an intelligent business move.

It’s like when Sega released the Sega 32X, while announcing that the following year the Saturn would be coming out. Then when the Saturn came out they announced they were working on the Dreamcast to come out a year or two later. Why the hell would someone want to spend a significant amount of money on a product that the company who produced it doesn’t even think is the best? It’s like saying “Here, spend $200 on this, it will keep you busy until we release our really good product next year and you can dump another $300 into our pockets.”

Are gaming companies that egotistical to think we can’t wait to throw money their way, or truly just that ignorant to the fact that consumers may be turned off by the prospect of their purchase being obsolete in a year.

I may still busy the original DJ Hero because I really like the track list. I’m a little on the fence though. I’m certain that the vast majority who heard that announcement have canned their idea to get DJ Hero and will wait the year to get DJ Hero 2. A year of waiting can save you $150 and get you, what will probably be, a better product.

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The Government Wants To Restrict Our Diet Now

Posted on January 16th, 2010 in News Stories,TJSky by TJSky

The government wants to figure out a way to legislate the consumption of salt by Americans. Are you serious? Is this something to legislate? Someone should really have let the American consumer know that their freedom of choice had been revoked.

I love that while they are so concerned about the health of citizens, as too much salt consumption is a prominent cause of high blood pressure, they still allow cigarettes, cheap cigars, and other tobacco products to fill the shelves behind your friendly convenience store clerk. I can buy and indulge in five packs of smokes a day, but I best not be allowed to over consume salt — or under consume, as salt is necessary for life.

Maybe if the salt distributors flooded campaign funds, the way tobacco companies do, politicians would suddenly feel no need to mandate regulations on salt consumption.

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Pat Robertson’s Spokeman & Semantics

Posted on January 15th, 2010 in News Headlines,TJSky,Videos by TJSky

Pat Robertson, yet again, spews his insensitivity while justifying it with his brand of Christianity. According to Robertson, the earthquake disaster was the result of Haiti’s “pact with the devil” that they made to escape French slavery. Even if you feel that way (because your mind is as small as your heart), why would you want to insult all of those people, families, and friends affected by this act of Mother Nature?

Chris Roslan, spokesman for CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network), tried to do damage control by stating that Robertson never said the earthquake was “God’s wrath” as many reports claim. Okay…he didn’t, but it’s clear that was implied as he went on about Haiti’s misfortune and the Dominican Republic’s prosperity, the so-called “pact with the devil”, and how’s it’s a blessing in disguise to have the buildings leveled. Did we forget that 50,000 have died?!

I don’t generally have links in my posts, however, I am making an exception. At the bottom of this post is an outside link to a video; watch for yourself the hatred shared with his viewers. Perhaps he did not use the phrase “God’s wrath”, but the message was clear.

Men like Robertson give ALL Christians a bad rap that they don’t deserve. It paints all Christian as being hateful, intolerant, and, most importantly, unconcerned for their fellow man. As a very recognizable figure, his reckless use of his influence is truly unfortunate.

What is frightening is I know there were plenty of people at home cheering him on. *shivers*

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f5TE99sAbwM

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The Bankers Are Sorry…For Getting Caught

Posted on January 13th, 2010 in News Headlines,TJSky by TJSky

Bankers apologized to a special commission for their risky behavior that led to the great depression of the 21st century. However, they still said the behavior seemed appropriate at the time. Further, they have no remorse for increasing the salaries of the executives still employed thanks to the multi-billion dollar bailout funded by the taxpayers.

How is that an apology at all? That’s like saying “I’m sorry I killed your husband, but he was dressed like a moose so it seemed appropriate at the time…and hey, I bought 12 more guns, wanna see?”

Don’t bother apologizing. Don’t insult the commission or the citizens, just be honest: “We fucked everyone over. Thank you for fixing our mistake. And don’t worry, we’re going to keep compensating the offenders to make sure other financial consumers get fucked in the future.”

The federal government will be announcing some 2010 plans to recoup the taxpayers’ money. Fees and possible limiting of a financial institution’s size are some of the items on the table to regulate and recoup. No surprise that the banking industry is opposed to the proposals in their entirety. We said we’d help you out, and you continued to help yourself…time to pay the piper.

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