In a word, no.
But a multifaceted, octopus-like reach is a trait we’ve come to expect from the stalwart giant Google as of late. The company is moving so quickly and in so many directions & markets that anything it does would hardly seem surprising - with the exception of becoming a utility company, which is now another card Google has up its sleeve. Read the rest of this entry »
OK, this is actually a bit frightening. I must admit that the first thing that came to mind here was the disturbing bunny from Donnie Darko and all the nightmarish imagery he brings with him. But after getting past the initial fright, I found the concept rather interesting.
So you thought that the cuddly teddy bear holding the little red heart box of chocolates really nailed it today didn’t you? You thought you scored with your special Valentine, right? Well, talk about thinking totally outside the box: a company called DNA 11 offers you a gift that is so intensely personal, so unique and yet rather unusual that it will never be forgotten.
DNA 11 offers you a chance to provide your own DNA sample, which they will then process and place on an artistic screen, either in mini-portrait form or on a canvas that you could use as artwork. Now, we’re not talking that kind of DNA sample. Read the rest of this entry »
There it was —at just over 2 hours into the Super Bowl, just after the Saints scored a touchdown in the 3rd quarter, we got the news via one of the many commercials. This Tuesday, we can go into any Denny’s from 6 am to 2 pm and order a Grand Slam meal, which is really breakfast, absolutely free.
The so-so commercial warned chickens to get “out of town” before Tuesday because it’s “gonna be a tough week for egg layers”, asking them to take some vacation time off, etc., because there would be a whole lot of eggs cracking to make those Denny’s breakfasts. Read the rest of this entry »
On her website, Marcela Valladolid recounts how almost 12 years ago, she went to Food Network and initially proposed a Mexican food cooking show. She approached Food Network exec Bob Tuschman, who is still the head cheese by the way, but nothing really came of it. Back in 1998, the Food Network was still admittedly a mini-wasteland of basic, uninteresting fare like “Emeril Live” and a lot of infomercials.It’s hard to believe that Mexican food would be given much space back then. Read the rest of this entry »
Isn’t it a coincidence that on the day that Yahoo! had a screaming news story declaring that Sandra Bullock’s enormous smash “The Blind Side” just passed the $200 million domestic gross mark –an impressive feat never before done by any other major actress—we have a magical piece of news from two corporations that don’t normally like each other: Warner Brothers and Netflix.
In a press release today, both companies agreed to essentially force Netflix and its customers to wait out a 28-day period before Warner Bros. distributes its new releases to them. Read the rest of this entry »
The former Jordan Roseman, raised in rural Iowa and schooled on a diet of 70s disco and 80s Depeche Mode and OMD that he tried to crank out on his Apple II computer, probably should prepare himself for some much-deserved fame right about now. He might also think about leaving his job as DJ at many of the hot locations in the city. Read the rest of this entry »
Before I get started, let me preface this by saying that I’m a big fan of the bay area favorite: Mary’s Pizza Shack. The “Shack” serves a variety of homemade Italian food including pizza, pasta, sandwiches, soups, salads, breadsticks, appetizers and desserts at moderate prices. Now the part about “moderate prices” shouldn’t be ignored, as Mary’s does indeed offer great food at equally great prices.
But what also shouldn’t be overlooked is the fact that Mary’s breadsticks are indeed on offer — but despite the advertised “complimentary” (FREE) teaser, they come at a price. Read the rest of this entry »
I don’t think there’s a quick explanation for it, but what is up with so much red plaid everywhere? Honestly, it can’t just be about the holiday season and the obvious red color scheme because this has been around for much of the year. And while this is a completely unscientific observation, I think I have a few hunches as to why this bold print seems to linger, and probably will so, even after we all take down our Christmas trees and store our ornaments from this holiday season. Read the rest of this entry »
If you’re like me, still dreading the thought of having to buy those last Christmas presents and thus be even further in debt for the momentary pleasures of another loved one, then I suggest a viewing of Rob VanAlkemade’s “What Would Jesus Buy?, recently aired on the Sundance Channel and produced by noted documentary filmmaker himself, Morgan Spurlock (“Super Size Me”). Read the rest of this entry »
Funny, when I go to McDonald’s, it’s usually for fast (emphasis on “fast”) food—a quick burger, fries, drink. Nothing special, really. But did you know you could also linger around, open up your laptop and surf the web as you stuffed your mouth with Chicken McNuggets and Filet-o-Fish sandwiches?
Well, at approximately 11,000 (out of 14,000) Mickey D’s around the country, you can get this Wifi service, except that it will cost you a little less than the #1 (Big Mac) meal deal –a whopping $2.95 for two hours of access time. That’s just enough time to linger at a McDonald’s perhaps without people thinking you have no life. But why pay for this service? Why not go to a place like Starbucks, or even park outside and access what is essentially free Wifi access, as long as you have some kind AT&T phone service? Read the rest of this entry »
It’s been a long time coming. Finally, after 50 years of enduring nationwide noise pollution, the House passed a bill yesterday that would turn down the volume on loud television advertisements. There’s even a cutesy acronym slapped onto the act: Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation, or CALM. Read the rest of this entry »
Before the main US trade show for cars, held next month in Detroit at the North American Auto Show, Los Angeles holds an annual display, bringing together many new models and concept vehicles for the public to see.
Overall, the show at the LA Convention Center is important for the volume of cars held in three cavernous halls. And even if Detroit still rules supreme because it attracts the world media for the occasional “world” debuts and the annual announcements of the cars of the year, LA is still a pretty fine show.
Here are some of the more impressive new models that I saw last weekend: Read the rest of this entry »
I defy anyone not to like this amazing clip from a 5-year-old boy in Japan who, armed with a ukulele, plays the hell out of one of the most endearing yet also annoying pop songs, Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours”. You must know this song –it’s the stuff or earworms, the kind of sing-songy, melodic dross that, according to Billboard Magazine, has spent the most weeks in the Hot 100 (76), received triple Platinum status and has sold over 4 million copies worldwide. Read the rest of this entry »
Along with Entertainment Weekly I celebrate the weekly wonder that is Jane Lynch, who plays the balls-to-wall coach on one of this year’s most vibrant new TV shows, “Glee”. Read the rest of this entry »
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