Why Are Established Brands Using Kickstarter?
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Switchbot, Eufy and Aqara are all using Kickstarter to launch new products.
1 hour ago
"Melville! Who are we voting for again?"
10/22/2008
Labels:
funny,
mccain,
obama,
politics,
sarah palin
are you a real american or not? the daily show quiz
first a really really good daily show tour of wassilla:
and here is the real american quiz:
‘Throw Away the Blackberry and Enjoy Life’
Labels:
economy,
inspiration
"Andrew Lahde, the head of Santa Monica–based hedge fund Lahde Capital Management, who quit after posting an 870 percent gain last year, became something of a folk hero today after his awesome, Jerry Maguire–like farewell letter to clients made the rounds."
"I was in this game for the money. The low hanging fruit, i.e. idiots whose parents paid for prep school, Yale, and then the Harvard MBA, was there for the taking. These people who were (often) truly not worthy of the education they received (or supposedly received) rose to the top of companies such as AIG, Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers and all levels of our government. All of this behavior supporting the Aristocracy, only ended up making it easier for me to find people stupid enough to take the other side of my trades. God bless America."
Today I write not to gloat. Given the pain that nearly everyone is experiencing, that would be entirely inappropriate. Nor am I writing to make further predictions, as most of my forecasts in previous letters have unfolded or are in the process of unfolding. Instead, I am writing to say good- bye. Recently, on the front page of Section C of the Wall Street Journal, a hedge fund manager who was also closing up shop (a $300 million fund), was quoted as saying, “What I have learned about the hedge fund business is that I hate it.”
I could not agree more with that statement. I was in this game for the money. The low hanging fruit, i.e. idiots whose parents paid for prep school, Yale, and then the Harvard MBA, was there for the taking. These people who were (often) truly not worthy of the education they received (or supposedly received) rose to the top of companies such as AIG, Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers and all levels of our government. All of this behavior supporting the Aristocracy, only ended up making it easier for me to find people stupid enough to take the other side of my trades. God bless America. There are far too many people for me to sincerely thank for my success. However, I do not want to sound like a Hollywood actor accepting an award. The money was reward enough. Furthermore, the endless list those deserving thanks know who they are. I will no longer manage money for other people or institutions. I have enough of my own wealth to manage. Some people, who think they have arrived at a reasonable estimate of my net worth, might be surprised that I would call it quits with such a small war chest. That is fine; I am content with my rewards. Moreover, I will let others try to amass nine, ten or eleven figure net worths. Meanwhile, their lives suck.
Appointments back to back, booked solid for the next three months, they look forward to their two week vacation in January during which they will likely be glued to their Blackberries or other such devices. What is the point? They will all be forgotten in fifty years anyway. Steve Balmer, Steven Cohen, and Larry Ellison will all be forgotten. I do not understand the legacy thing. Nearly everyone will be forgotten. Give up on leaving your mark. Throw the Blackberry away and enjoy life. So this is it. With all due respect, I am dropping out. Please do not expect any type of reply to emails or voicemails within normal time frames or at all. Andy Springer and his company will be handling the dissolution of the fund. And don’t worry about my employees, they were always employed by Mr. Springer’s company and only one (who has been well-rewarded) will lose his job. I have no interest in any deals in which anyone would like me to participate. I truly do not have a strong opinion about any market right now, other than to say that things will continue to get worse for some time, probably years. I am content sitting on the sidelines and waiting. After all, sitting and waiting is how we made money from the subprime debacle.
I now have time to repair my health, which was destroyed by the stress I layered onto myself over the past two years, as well as my entire life – where I had to compete for spaces in universities and graduate schools, jobs and assets under management – with those who had all the advantages (rich parents) that I did not. May meritocracy be part of a new form of government, which needs to be established. On the issue of the U.S. Government, I would like to make a modest proposal. First, I point out the obvious flaws, whereby legislation was repeatedly brought forth to Congress over the past eight years, which would have reigned in the predatory lending practices of now mostly defunct institutions.
These institutions regularly filled the coffers of both parties in return for voting down all of this legislation designed to protect the common citizen. This is an outrage, yet no one seems to know or care about it. Since Thomas Jefferson and Adam Smith passed, I would argue that there has been a dearth of worthy philosophers in this country, at least ones focused on improving government. Capitalism worked for two hundred years, but times change, and systems become corrupt. George Soros, a man of staggering wealth, has stated that he would like to be remembered as a philosopher. My suggestion is that this great man start and sponsor a forum for great minds to come together to create a new system of government that truly represents the common man’s interest, while at the same time creating rewards great enough to attract the best and brightest minds to serve in government roles without having to rely on corruption to further their interests or lifestyles. This forum could be similar to the one used to create the operating system, Linux, which competes with Microsoft’s near monopoly. I believe there is an answer, but for now the system is clearly broken.
Another kind of Obamacon - Obama confederates
10/20/2008
Labels:
mccain,
obama,
politics,
sarah palin
The guy who created these signs is named Clinton Slagle. He's got a confederate tattoo on his arm. He strolled into our headqtrs back during the primary looking for a sign, saying Obama was the only person who made any sense to him.... - Lisa Bocook and The Field.
$1 Image Stabilizer For Any Camera - Lose The Tripod
$1 Image Stabilizer For Any Camera - Lose The Tripod
$1 Image Stabilizer For Any Camera - Lose The Tripod - video powered by Metacafe
Janelle Monae
Labels:
pop culture,
video
hmmmmmmmmm -
This is “Many Moons”. She seems like blending of Outkast, Gwen Stefani, Grace Jones, and The Cocteau Twins. Maybe a little of "The Avengers" too. Sort of in the tradition of Lady Gaga’s high concept persona based pop even though I wouldn’t credit Gaga with having invented it or anything, really. I still don't quite get what Gaga is about. She's all so vague and "Fashion", "Fame", "internal", "external", multi-media metanarrative with three props and some severe hair. Monae seems like she’s got this delightful, 60s Mod brightness juxtaposed against a visceral involvement with the music. http://reluctantwhore.blogspot.com/
Gogo Bordello's new movie - and, oh yeah, some lady named madonna produced it
Labels:
pop culture,
video
Actually looks kinda smart and fun.
"Mrs. Guy Ritchie seems determined to step out of her husband’s shadow and make a name for herself. First there was that whimper of a music career, and now there’s this. ‘Filth and Wisdom’ is her directorial debut, and basically looks like ‘Snatch’ but with more mustaches and less Brad Pitt."
Palin Draws Biggest Ratings In 14 Years For 'SNL'
Labels:
mccain,
obama,
politics,
sarah palin,
video
The mcain/Palin recent turn towards humour is probably the best thing they could have done at this point. America appreciates self deprecation.
First Minute Of Palin-Inspired Porn (VIDEO)
Labels:
funny,
mccain,
obama,
politics,
pop culture,
sarah palin,
video
The plot involves stranded Russian soldiers who's tank breaks down on Palin's front lawn and the four-eyed brunette lady of Alaska played by Lisa Anne.
America's Most Overrated Product: the Bachelor's Degree
Among my saddest moments as a career counselor is when I hear a story like this: "I wasn't a good student in high school, but I wanted to prove that I can get a college diploma. I'd be the first one in my family to do it. But it's been five years and $80,000, and I still have 45 credits to go.
http://chronicle.com/free/v54/i34/34b01701.htm
The ‘O’ Flag
Labels:
mccain,
obama,
politics,
sarah palin
O laaaaawered! Doesn't this guy have even the research skills of a 3rd grader?
"Radio host Bob Grant alerts listeners to the 'O Flag'. “That looks like an American flag, but instead of having the field of 50 stars representing the 50 states, there's a circle.” Turns out it's Ohio's state flag. Clearly this means Ohio is in the tank for Obama."
http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlLA/radiodispatched/the_o_flagbob_grant_figures_it_out_97827.asp
or
http://www.buzzfeed.com/tinafbla/the-o-flag-1fr?w=1
"Obamacons" continue to pile up, Powell, Sullivan, Smirconish, Schaeffer, Buckley
Labels:
mccain,
obama,
politics,
sarah palin
UPDATE:
An avalanche of ordinary Obamacons.
If you were trapped in the Andes Mountains after a horrible plane crash and spent the weekend eating your fellow passengers in order to survive then you missed Colin Powell's endorsement of Senator Obama. It's kind of a big deal i guess, Powell being a former appointee of Bush the First, incredibly popular former Joint Cheif of Staff of the US military during the first Iraq war, Bush the Second's Secretary of State who told the UN all about the weapons of mass destruction that later turned out to be non-existent, an (until this weekend) darling of the right wing teevee and radio hosts, a registered Republican etc etc etc.
But there have been many other fairly influential conservatives who have been saying enough is enough is enough is enough and have decided that, for this election at least, to hit for the other team and have chosen to endorse Barack. Here is a shaort list of Republican and independent conservatives who have said they will NOT be voting for the Republican candidate this time around:
Michael Smerconish - "For the first time since registering as a Republican 28 years ago, I'm voting for a Democrat for president. I may have been an appointee in the George H.W. Bush administration, and master of ceremonies for George W. Bush in 2004, but last Saturday I stood amid the crowd at an Obama event in North Philadelphia. Five considerations have moved me:" "I've decided"
Andrew sullivan
Scott McClellan - Former Bush aide voting for Obama
Frank Scheaffer
Former Republican Minnesota Gov. Arne Carlson has endorsed Obama
Buckley
Ken Alderman - Why a Staunch Conservative Like Me Endorsed Obama
CC Goldwater -Why McCain Has Lost Our Vote
The libertarian former governor of Massachusetts William Weld said he's never endorsed a Democrat for president before, but in the last six weeks or so, it became "close to a no-brainer."
Chicago tribune - "The Chicago Tribune endorsed Barack Obama Friday, marking the first time in the paper's 161-year history it has backed a Democrat for president."
William Randolph - "When I read something like this, it makes me realize: there are only so many times I can tell people that I'm a conservative, but not that kind of conservative before it becomes clear that I'm using the wrong word. Like all words, the meaning of “conservative” emerges from a complex communal process. It's not mine to control. So do I spend the next few years putting the word in dissociative quotation marks? Or do I just let it go free, knowing that if the word does not come back, then we were never meant to be together in the first place?"
It might be fun to try to keep the word for contrarian purposes, or just out of sheer stubbornness, but: what's the point?
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