Lisa Nova at NewTeeVee LIVE - Originally uploaded on flickr by stevegarfield.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Etrade Financial: Little Risk Of Bankruptcy
When you do a search for Etrade news on Google, all you get are older negative stories.
The news has taken a positive turn. Frederic Ruffy writes Sector Watch: Banking on the Brokers - Optionetics Commentary:
"a rebound in shares of Etrade Financial (ETFC) also helped. Earlier in the week, on Monday, shares of the online broker plunged $5.04, or 58.7%, to $3.55 after warning of write-downs tied to subprime mortgage securities. However, Tuesday, analysts at BMO Capital came to Etrade’s defense. According to an article on Bloomberg (ETrade Bankruptcy is “Highly Unlikely” by Jeff Kearns, November 13), the analyst believes the online broker can absorb $1 billion in write downs and there is little risk of bankruptcy. In addition, given the recent decline in the share price, there is a better chance of a takeover. TD Ameritrade (AMTD) is reportedly in talks to acquire ETFC, according to the Wall Street Journal. Shares of Etrade Financial stabilized and then rose $1.45, or 40.9%, on Tuesday."MarketWatch also has better results with more current and positive news about Etrade.
E-Trade scores double-digit gains on big volume
You got to be an intelligent consumer of news on the web if you want to make smart decisions.
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
Monday, November 12, 2007
Stuttering and blurry videos, NOT
I'm tired of media reports that call online video "stuttering and blurry." It's just not right. Video are not, as a rule blurry. If producers compress them correctly web video can look great, HD quality even. As for stuttering, that depends mostly on your internet connection speed.
Here's the article: New Intel chips promise to improve online videos - The Boston Globe:
Epic-Fu - Art+Tech+Music for Geeks
RGTV News - Independent Video News From Around The World
Depending on your connection, videos might stutter, but all you have to do on a slow connection is pause hte video until it completes loading, and then play it. No stuttering.
Vimeo HD
Here's the article: New Intel chips promise to improve online videos - The Boston Globe:
"SAN FRANCISCO - Intel plans to announce a family of microprocessor chips today that it says will speed the availability of high-definition video via the Internet. Sean Maloney, Intel's chief marketing officer, said the chips' increased computing power would begin the transformation of today's stuttering and blurry videos, the staple of YouTube and other video streaming sites, into high-resolution, full-screen quality that will begin to compete with the living room HDTV."Watch some video on the net that doesn't look so bad over here:
Epic-Fu - Art+Tech+Music for Geeks
RGTV News - Independent Video News From Around The World
Depending on your connection, videos might stutter, but all you have to do on a slow connection is pause hte video until it completes loading, and then play it. No stuttering.
Vimeo HD
Sunday, November 11, 2007
Join Me For A Thirsty Bear in SF
I'm heading over to the Thirsty Bear tonight at 6:00 PM for a few beers. If you are in the area, stop by.
Thirsty Bear
661 Howard St
San Francisco, CA
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Will Write Jokes For Beer
Will Write Jokes For Beer - Originally uploaded on flickr by stevegarfield.
Watch the VIDEO Pilot #2: Writers Strike Affects Presidential Candidates
Quarterlife: My So-Called Terms of Use
I'm excited about the new website/series Quarterlife by Marshall Herskovitz and Ed Zwick. I joined up. I almost clicked right through the terms of use, but took a quick look. Here's the interesting part:
5. CONTENT POSTED ON WEBSITE.Now read this article by Marshall Herskovitz for more info on the changing TV landscape and the future of ambitious content on the web:
a. You understand and agree that Company may review, modify, or delete, without notice, any data, text, software, music, sound, message, photograph, graphic, image, video, profile, Mash-up, work of authorship, or other material or expression (collectively, "Content"), whether posted publicly or posted privately to other Members, that in the sole judgment of Company violates this Agreement or which might be offensive, indecent, or illegal, or which might harm, violate the rights, or threaten the safety of any person. Company is the final arbiter of what IS and IS NOT allowed on the Website.
b. You are solely responsible for the Content that you publish, transmit, upload, communicate, or display (collectively, "post") on the Website and/or through the Service, whether posted publicly or posted privately to other Members. You understand that Company has no obligation to monitor the Website, or monitor, control or edit the Content thereon, or monitor any use of the Service by Members, or remove inappropriate Content. Company is not responsible in any way for the Content posted by Members on any area of the Website or otherwise posted through the Service. By posting Content on the Website and/or through the Service, you agree to bear all risks associated with the accuracy and completeness of such Content.
c. If you post Content to any public area of Website or submit any Content, including, without limitation, any scripts, treatments, casting reels, video clips, or Mash-ups via the Website, you automatically grant to Company, its licensees, successors, and assigns, an irrevocable, perpetual, non-exclusive, royalty-free worldwide license to use, reproduce, publicly perform, display, modify, adapt, repurpose, alter, edit, publish, translate, distribute, access, view, store, prepare derivative works of, incorporate into other works, and/or otherwise exploit such Content, or any part thereof, including but not limited to any copyrighted material, and your name, image, voice and likeness, for any purpose and in any form, media, or technology, whether now known or later developed, including but not limited to featuring such Content, name, image, voice or likeness on any page of the Website or on a third party website or mobile application, or in connection with any television program/series, motion picture, web or mobile program/series, or in any marketing, promotional materials or advertisements, and to grant and authorize sublicenses of the foregoing (the “License”). You further agree to permit anyone to access, display, view, store and reproduce such Content for personal use. You further agree to permit Company to display, feature, integrate, or exhibit advertisements in connection with Content, including, without limitation, banner advertisements, and pre-roll, post-roll, and interstitial video advertisements. You further waive any and all so-called "Moral Rights" or similar rights of any jurisdiction, now or hereafter recognized, with respect to Company’s exercise of such right and license.
d. By posting any information about or photographs, videos or images of yourself on the Website and/or through the Service, you thereby waive any rights of privacy or publicity to such information, photographs, videos or images. In connection with your applicable submissions via the Website, you hereby irrevocably grant to Company the nonexclusive right to photograph, film, tape or otherwise record or capture your physical likeness and movements in any manner it desires, to use your name (or a fictitious name) and biographical data, and to record and reproduce your voice and other sound effects in any medium (now or hereafter known). Without in any way limiting the foregoing, you acknowledge that Company has the right to change, modify or manipulate your name, likeness, movements and voice in connection with its exercise of said rights. You agree that Company shall have sole discretion in determining the extent and manner of use of your name, likeness or anything else granted herein and that Company is not obligated in any way to use your name, likeness or anything else granted herein or any portion thereof in any medium.
e. You further represent and warrant that: (1) You exclusively and irrevocably own the Content posted by you on the Website and/or through the Service or otherwise have the right to grant the License set forth in this section; and (2) any Content posted by you on the Website and/or through the Service does not violate or infringe the privacy rights, publicity rights, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, patents, moral rights or other intellectual property, contract, or proprietary rights of any person or entity. You agree to pay all royalties, fees, and other monies owing to any person or entity by reason of any Content that you post on the Website and/or through the Service.
Are the suits ruining TV? ; Network control and media consolidation are wringing the creativity out of entertainment.
Here's an excerpt:
Zwick and I have joined that migration to the Internet. We've created a project called "quarterlife" -- a series and a social network -- that we own and control, and we had to give up our TV deal in order to do it. The series will premiere Sunday on MySpace and then on our site, quarterlife.com, the next night. We've worked very hard, and spent a great deal of our own money, to make it as good as anything we've ever done on television. And we've gotten calls from every guild and virtually every producer we know, all of whom are curious to see if this little experiment can succeed. Because if it does, it will prove that there's a way to independently produce, finance and distribute ambitious content on the Internet. And if we can do it, others can do it. To be sure, there's every possibility this series will end up on television after it's established on the Internet, but only if we still own it and control it creatively, which would make it unique in today's landscape.I think it's ironic that the terms on the Quarterlife site mirror the big company control of TV.
The problems of network ownership and creative control are not directly at issue in the current strike by the Writers Guild of America. What's at stake is how writers will be compensated, given the control everyone assumes the big companies will exert over new methods of delivery.
But make no mistake -- deep resentment in the entire creative community over the absolute power now wielded by these companies is the fuel that feeds the strike.
I wonder if Marshall and Ed have read their own site's terms of use?
Update: Yes. Marshall Herskovitz responds in the comments...
We've been fighting for better terms on video hosting sites for years now. We'll just have to start a conversation to see what we can do, to participate in future revenue derived from our work.
Power to the people!
Friday, November 09, 2007
My GL2 is now on the Firewire Bus
After getting my GL2 back from the Canon Service Center, my GL2 is once again visible on the Firewire bus.
Yay!
Apple iPhone and Nokia N95 Living Together
Picture 022 - Originally uploaded on flickr by jeremiah_owyang.
Kinda like cats and dogs. :-)
I'm like Robert and have both phones too. I heard that in Europe, carriers allow you to have SIM chips in more that one phone with the same phone #, so you can use more than one device.
I'd like to be able to do this too with my iPhone and Nokia N95.
Do you know if AT&T supports this in the US?
UPDATE:
Just got off online chat with ATT rep.
My feedback:
The ATT rep suggested I call ATT International to learn if they support a second SIM for an additional phone, with the same phone #. But I want to get that here in the US and as far as they know, you can't. I asked for them to escalate, but it seems like they just put the monkey on my back by telling me to call ATT International. I'd prefer that they took ownership of my question. It's a possible business opportunity for ATT and the info is probably now lost.I wonder if ATT will see this blog post.
The only thing I can think of doing is to buy a Friends and Family second phone # for $9.99/month.
I wonder what Scoble does.
24: The unaired 1994 pilot
I'm amazed that the producers of this video could assemble so much technology from 1994.
Enjoy!
via [ Valleywag ]
Thursday, November 08, 2007
Steve on Tilzy.TV
Steve on Tilzy.TV - Originally uploaded on flickr by stevegarfield.
Jamison Tilsner interviewed me at Video on the Net.
Here's the video: What's New for the Paul Revere of the Blogosphere?
Wednesday, November 07, 2007
Cup O Politics Pilot featured on Dailymotion
Tube Mogul, in addition to make it easy to upload to multiple site, let me know that traffic at Dailymotion was up 878% which made me go check and see that our Cup O Politics pilot was featured on the Funny Channel page...
Dailymotion - Share Your Fun Videos.
Yay!
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Election results - City of Boston
Unofficial Results for Municipal election Tuesday, November 6, 2007 - City of Boston.
As I was driving home tonight at around 7:30 it was sad to scan the radio stations and find NO ONE at all talking about tonight's election.
As I was driving home tonight at around 7:30 it was sad to scan the radio stations and find NO ONE at all talking about tonight's election.
He saw the Girl of His Dreams on the Subway
Patrick discusses the girl of his dreams from Jakob Lodwick on Vimeo.
Visit NY Girl Of My Dreams for more.
via [ Julia ]
Monday, November 05, 2007
Howie is Coming Back
Im waiting for the day when I can turn on the radio and hear a talk show.
Sometimes I want to turn on the radio and talk about local issues. Like the City Council race, or why traffic to the airport is slow.
I'm not interested in hearing diatribes by right wing wind bags on why they are the smartest people on the air.
I don't want to hear yelling and arguments between show hosts.
I don't want to hear your favorite chewing gum of all times.
I wonder what would happen if radio stations had open phones lines where people talked to each other.
Isn't that how it used to work with Larry Glick and Roy Foxx.
Sometimes I want to turn on the radio and talk about local issues. Like the City Council race, or why traffic to the airport is slow.
I'm not interested in hearing diatribes by right wing wind bags on why they are the smartest people on the air.
I don't want to hear yelling and arguments between show hosts.
I don't want to hear your favorite chewing gum of all times.
I wonder what would happen if radio stations had open phones lines where people talked to each other.
Isn't that how it used to work with Larry Glick and Roy Foxx.
The Issue of Iran takes Center-Stage | Veracifier
The Issue of Iran takes Center-Stage | Veracifier:
"As American sanctions against Iran increase and tensions mount, it has become important for Presidential hopefuls to clarify their policy."
Sunday, November 04, 2007
fake internet names
Jakob Lodwick says what I feel, fake internet names:
"I'm officially fed up with people who use nonsensical 'screen names' on websites where they're interacting with real people. In the AOL days, it made sense to pick a name like sweet16md1981 because 'Jake' was not available. But most modern websites don't make you pick an exclusive name. If you're uncomfortable giving your full name, just use your first name instead. I am getting really sick of finding out that 'brooklyndude' liked my Vimeo videos, or zipzappizzazz is my tumblr follower. I have no idea who you people are, nor will I ever, unless you use a real name. Look, I'm not mad. I just want to know who I'm dealing with. I understand you might be worried about privacy; if that's the case, like I said, your first name is enough."
Where's the Ballot?
Boston has a NOVEMBER 6 MUNICIPAL ELECTION for At-Large and Districts 1-9 All Wards and Precincts.
I've contacted the Election department but they have not provided a copy of the ballot. There is a link to the 'ballot order' that's a pdf. It wasn't working until I told them the link was bad.
PRE-POLL
I've created a little PRE-POLL where you can share your support for UP TO FOUR CANDIDATES in the Councillor at Large Race.
Here are the official candidates in the Councillor at Large Race:
Stephen J. Murphy
David James Wyatt
Martin J. Hogan
John R. Connolly
Sam Yoon
Felix D Arroyo
Mattew Geary
Michael F. Flaherty
William P. Estrada
This poll is not scientific an any way.
MY THOUGHTS
My thoughts, when you vote in the final election, only vote for those candidates that you actually want to win. You DON'T have to vote for all four.
VOTE
VOTE IN THE Boston City Councillor at Large PRE-POLL. For entertainment purposes only.
Please add your comments to this post to let us know who you are voting for and who you support.
I've contacted the Election department but they have not provided a copy of the ballot. There is a link to the 'ballot order' that's a pdf. It wasn't working until I told them the link was bad.
PRE-POLL
I've created a little PRE-POLL where you can share your support for UP TO FOUR CANDIDATES in the Councillor at Large Race.
Here are the official candidates in the Councillor at Large Race:
Stephen J. Murphy
David James Wyatt
Martin J. Hogan
John R. Connolly
Sam Yoon
Felix D Arroyo
Mattew Geary
Michael F. Flaherty
William P. Estrada
This poll is not scientific an any way.
MY THOUGHTS
My thoughts, when you vote in the final election, only vote for those candidates that you actually want to win. You DON'T have to vote for all four.
VOTE
VOTE IN THE Boston City Councillor at Large PRE-POLL. For entertainment purposes only.
Please add your comments to this post to let us know who you are voting for and who you support.
NewTeeVee LIVE
I'm excited to be going to NewTeeVee LIVE in San Francisco on November 14th... Looking forward to seeing you there.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Madarin Gourmet in the Rain
Madarin Chinese in the Rain - Originally uploaded on flickr by stevegarfield.
I shot a video too with my Nokia N95, but I shot it sideways. I remembered that I had to export it in the right dimensions instead of just changing it in the Qucktime settings to get it to display properly....
It's kinda cool and looks like a watercolor.
Maybe that's where they came up with the idea of watercolor paintings, from inside a car waiting for Chinese food in the rain.
Watch the Mandarin Gourmet video on Vimeo (480x640).
Watch the Mandarin Gourmet video on blip.tv.
Connolly Just Lost My Vote
Connolly Committee Statement - BostonHerald.com:
That's not right.
Poor judgement.
"On Thursday and Friday of this week, the Connolly Committee sent two mailings to highlight facts about Councilor Steve Murphy who has sought to leave the City Council on numerous occasions including entering negotiations for a government job just this year."The mailings were sent anonymously.
That's not right.
Poor judgement.
Friday, November 02, 2007
Travel Tips: Palm Springs and Palm Desert
Carol and I recently went to Palm Desert, California after the Podcast and New Media Expo in Ontario, California.
Here are some of the highlights in case you are ever in the area.
Where To Stay?
We stayed at the Marriott Palm Dessert. The hotel recentl;y had a multi-million dollar make over of the lobby and spa. Too bad we didn't get to sleep in the lobby or spa. the rooms and hallways are in need of updating. Seriously. The hallways are in pretty bad shape. If you are considering it, call and ask if any rooms have been updated.
The lobby has a few bars including a sushi bar. We had a nice pizza and a few beers and watched the Red Sox from a couch in front of a nice sized big screen tv.
Where to Eat and Shop?
El Paseo is known as the Rodeo Drive of Palm Desert. It's a lot nicer than the main stretch of road in Palm Springs. Palm Springs wasn't that impressive. Kind of run down.
For breakfast we went to Sherman's. It's a great Jewish deli. The first time I had the usual eggs and toast and the second time I had the challah french toast. Amazing!
Cafe des Beaux-arts was a nice place to go for lunch.
We had dinner at Pacifica Seafood Restaurant, Palm Desert one night. Great bar to have a meal and some drinks. Fun staff.
There's a Tommy Bahama's here that also has a restaurant on the top floor. We enjoyed it so much, we went there twice. The first time we ate out on the rooftop deck and the second time we ate at the bar.
The Chop House, Palm Springs was really great for a nice steak dinner. We split the meal and had some nice wine. There's also a Chop House in Palm Desert.
How can you pass up a restaurant that has the world's largest selection of draft beer? We went to the Yardhouse one night. Although they have the largest selection, a local place here in Boston has a larger selection of belgian beer. Good place for a burger and a beer. It's HUGE.
For shopping there's the Desert Hills Premium Outlets.
Here are some of the highlights in case you are ever in the area.
Where To Stay?
We stayed at the Marriott Palm Dessert. The hotel recentl;y had a multi-million dollar make over of the lobby and spa. Too bad we didn't get to sleep in the lobby or spa. the rooms and hallways are in need of updating. Seriously. The hallways are in pretty bad shape. If you are considering it, call and ask if any rooms have been updated.
The lobby has a few bars including a sushi bar. We had a nice pizza and a few beers and watched the Red Sox from a couch in front of a nice sized big screen tv.
Where to Eat and Shop?
El Paseo is known as the Rodeo Drive of Palm Desert. It's a lot nicer than the main stretch of road in Palm Springs. Palm Springs wasn't that impressive. Kind of run down.
For breakfast we went to Sherman's. It's a great Jewish deli. The first time I had the usual eggs and toast and the second time I had the challah french toast. Amazing!
Cafe des Beaux-arts was a nice place to go for lunch.
We had dinner at Pacifica Seafood Restaurant, Palm Desert one night. Great bar to have a meal and some drinks. Fun staff.
There's a Tommy Bahama's here that also has a restaurant on the top floor. We enjoyed it so much, we went there twice. The first time we ate out on the rooftop deck and the second time we ate at the bar.
The Chop House, Palm Springs was really great for a nice steak dinner. We split the meal and had some nice wine. There's also a Chop House in Palm Desert.
How can you pass up a restaurant that has the world's largest selection of draft beer? We went to the Yardhouse one night. Although they have the largest selection, a local place here in Boston has a larger selection of belgian beer. Good place for a burger and a beer. It's HUGE.
For shopping there's the Desert Hills Premium Outlets.
Follow the Signs to AirTrain
Follow the Signs to AirTrain - Originally uploaded on flickr by stevegarfield.
On a recent trip to NYC I tried to find information about the AirTrain online. Other than the official AirTrain site, I couldn't find any really helpful information about the AirTrain. I wanted to know what it was like. So on my trip I took a bunch of pictures to share.
Here's the AirTrain station at the JetBlue terminal:
Here's what an AirTrain car looks like:
Here's the AirTrain on the track:
Here's the Jamaica Station sign:
Yesterday morning I saw a twitter from CC Chapman that he was taking AirTrain for the first time.
So I gave him a call on the phone and suggested he try the LIRR instead of the subway because, after my experience of a long subway ride, I heard the LIRR was the way to go.
I also asked on twitter and a bunch of people agreed.
CC rode the LIRR into Penn Station and it only took him 20 minutes for $7. Good deal.
Podcast: A Sit-Down With "The Vlogfather"
Jose Castillo was in Boston recently and we made time to get together in Cambridge for lunch. Jose is one of my favorite podcasters. You might know him from his ThinkJose T-Shirts that say things like "Your Podcast is Lame." Ha Ha!
Here is a podcast he recently recorded with me.
Enjoy!
Streamingmedia.com: Podcast: A Sit-Down With "The Vlogfather":
"Jose Castillo chats with vlogging pioneer Steve Garfield. Jose and Tim talk briefly about the upcoming 2008 Streaming Media Industry Sourcebook, and then Jose interviews 'VlogFather' Steve Garfield who explains the difference between a Vlog (video blog) and a video podcast."What was really fun was listening to the world through headphones with his amazing microphones. Everything sounded so great!
Thanks Jose!
Thursday, November 01, 2007
It Takes 24 Hours to Update the System
I just got an estimate to fix my Canon GL2 from Canon Online Repair via email. It says in part:
Dear Steve :When I went to the website to pay online, there was NO PLACE TO PAY ONLINE.
We have received your equipment for evaluation and repair. We have re-estimated your repair as detailed below. Upon your approval and payment remittance we will start the necessary repairs. To accept this estimate, please choose from one of the following methods:
1.Online:
You can approve and pay for this repair service online at
www.usa.canon.com/repair
2.Telephone:
Contact the Canon Factory Service Center at : 1 800-828-4040.
3.Mail/Fax
Print and fax/mail this form using the contact information above.
So I called hte phone # and the customer service rep informed me that it takes 24 hours for the online system to be updated, so you have to pay over the phone with a credit card.
That's not right!
Canon needs to immediately update the system when their email goes out.
How many people log on to pay and then find they have to call? Maddening.
Pranking the Prank Lady
Nalts is my online viral video prankster hero:
A lady called me about a potential network show on prank videos. I considered that she may be pulling a prank on me. So I took the mature, proactive approach. I pranked her. Pitched her on some ridiculous ideas for pranks...
Two Thumbs Up from Loic
Two Thumbs Up - Originally uploaded on flickr by stevegarfield.
Check out pictures of Loic at Video on the Net 2007 in Boston!
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