randomwalks/dj

When Hitchens is on, he's just so damn on. Slate:

Romney does not understand the difference between deism and theism, nor does he know the first thing about the founding of the United States. Jefferson's Declaration may invoke a "Creator," but, as he went on to show in the battle over the Virginia Statute on Religious Freedom, he and most of his peers did not believe in a god who intervened in human affairs or in a god who had sent a son for a human sacrifice. These easily ascertainable facts are reflected in the way that the U.S. Constitution does not make any mention of a superintendent deity and in the way that the delegates to the Constitutional Convention declined an offer (possibly sarcastic), even from Benjamin Franklin, that they resort to prayer to compose their differences. Romney may throw a big chest and say that God should be "on our currency, in our pledge," and of course on our public land in this magic holiday season, but James Madison did not think that there should be chaplains opening the proceedings of Congress or even appointed as ministers in the U.S. armed forces. Trying to dodge around this, and to support his assertion that the founders were religious in the Christian sense, Romney drones on about a barely relevant moment of emotion in 1774 and comes up with the glib slogan that "freedom requires religion just as religion requires freedom." Any fool can think of an example where freedom exists without religion—and even more easily of an instance where religion exists without (or in negation of) freedom...

According to the admittedly very contradictory scriptures of the New Testament, Jesus of Nazareth warned his disciples and followers that they should expect to be ridiculed and mocked for their faith. After all, how likely was it that God had decided to reveal himself to only a few illiterate peasants in a barbarous backwater? Those who elected to believe this stuff were quite rightly told to expect a hard time, and the expression "fool for God" or "fool for Christ" has been with us ever since. That concept has some dignity and nobility. Entirely lacking in dignity or nobility (or average integrity) is the well-heeled son of a gold-plated church who wants to assume the pained look of martyrdom only when he is asked if he actually believes what he says. A long time ago, Romney took the decision to be a fool for Joseph Smith, a convicted fraud and serial practitioner of statutory rape who at times made war on the United States and whose cult has been made to amend itself several times in order to be considered American at all. We do not require pious lectures on the American founding from such a man, and we are still waiting for some straight answers from him.

That last paragraph practically sings, and its impossible to read it without hearing Hitch's voice in your head. Maybe one day I'll learn to write like this...

Originally posted by (author unknown) from Good People Better Rise Up!, on December 8, 2007 8:58 AM

88 Speakers representing the 88 notes on a piano, by sound artist An-Ting Chung, with the audience inside a circle of speakers.

surround sound 4 real.

http://insidethepiano.com

Originally posted by iansen from Protein® OS -, on December 8, 2007 8:40 AM

(From WGA Member and Negotiating Committee Member, John Bowman)

Today, after three days of discussions, the AMPTP came back to us with a proposal that included a total rejection of our proposal on Internet streaming of December 3.

They are holding to their offer of a $250 fixed residual for unlimited one year streaming after a six-week window of free use. They still insist on the DVD rate for Internet downloads.

They refuse to cover original material made for new media.

This offer was accompanied by an ultimatum: the AMPTP demands we give up several of our proposals, including Fair Market Value (our protection against vertical integration and self-dealing), animation, reality, and, most crucially, any proposal that uses distributor’s gross as a basis for residuals. This would require us to concede most of our Internet proposal as a precondition for continued bargaining. The AMPTP insists we let them do to the Internet what they did to home video.

We received a similar ultimatum through back channels prior to the discussions of November 4. At that time, we were assured that if we took DVD’s off the table, we would get a fair offer on new media issues. That offer never materialized.

We reject the idea of an ultimatum. Although a number of items we have on the table are negotiable, we cannot be forced to bargain with ourselves. The AMPTP has many proposals on the table that are unacceptable to writers, but we have never delivered ultimatums.

As we prepared our counter-offer, at 6:05 p.m., Nick Counter came and said to us, in the mediator’s presence: “We are leaving. When you write us a letter saying you will take all these items off the table, we will reschedule negotiations with you.” Within minutes, the AMPTP had posted a lengthy statement announcing the breakdown of negotiations.

We remain ready and willing to negotiate, no matter how intransigent our bargaining partners are, because the stakes are simply too high. We were prepared to counter their proposal tonight, and when any of them are ready to return to the table, we’re here, ready to make a fair deal.


John F. Bowman
Chairman, WGA Negotiating Committee
Contract 2007

Originally posted by Kate Purdy from United Hollywood, on December 7, 2007 5:34 PM

On-set photos of David Lynch and cast members from the final episode of Twin Peaks. (via waxy)

Behind-the-scenes of a Gucci perfume ad directed by Lynch, referencing his own most recent feature, Inland Empire. Finished commercial here. (via spoutblog)

Upon watching Inland Empire, I was so immediately immersed, my first thought was that David Lynch should only ever shoot video. Apparently, he feels the same.

(link)

Originally posted by lisagor@lonelysandwich.com from kottke.org, on December 7, 2007 3:34 PM

As Patric Verrone explained today, last Thursday, the AMPTP promised to offer up the second part of their "breakthrough" proposal. A week later, they still haven't added to the initial and unacceptable offer. The back channel conversations have only increased the widely-held impression that the AMPTP wants to prolong the strike. During the week, we've heard that two PR firms specializing in crisis-management have been hired by the studios at great expense, in an apparent effort to put an avuncular mask on the scowling face of the AMPTP negotiators.

Every indication from the AMPTP is that their negotiators are getting ready to storm out of the room, exiting with their usual hand-wringing lament that writers are an unreasonable bunch of emotional artists.

Clearly the AMPTP would like us to think that we are victims in a trap of their making. They would like us to fear that they hold all the cards, that we have no power, that we are doomed. All that will save us is to accept their offers (whatever they actually are) and return to the comfort of their bosoms.

As much as the AMPTP wants us to feel helpless, the facts of the past week suggest otherwise. We've all read here and in the news that the companies are being hurt by the strike.

Television networks are having to give back advertising revenue because ratings have fallen off, especially in late night, normally a cash cow. Targeted by fans, advertisers are actively considering pulling their ad dollars from networks until the strike is concluded. More and more financially important tent-pole movies are falling off the studios' production schedules. The stock prices of the AMPTP member companies are dropping.

The public sees through the AMPTP charade and sees that they aren't wearing pants. $130 million, a "breakthrough," but no explanation how the calculation was made. Who would hire a contractor who won't explain his numbers much less accept a deal with an employer without explanation?

The holidays are coming, what will be the AMPTP's seasonal gift? More cynical manipulations in an effort to break the spirit of the strikers? That was the Thanksgiving turkey served up the last time they were in a 'giving' mood.

This holiday season we all have much to be thankful for. In the past month we have seen that the WGA membership is united. That writers have shown they can forge a powerful community of union members throughout Los Angeles. That fans are loyal, dedicated, and energetic allies in a struggle against a formidable foe. That the public isn't fooled by the AMPTP's silly, arrogant pronouncements.

This holiday season we will continue our many strike efforts. We'll find time to recharge so we can continue the struggle, no matter what the AMPTP throws at us, no matter how much money they waste on PR-Crisis Management Firms.

The WGA has said repeatedly, writers want the strike to end. There's too much at stake; too many people are being hurt by the continued work stoppage; the city of Los Angeles itself is at risk.

As Patric Verrone said in his email, "The Writers Guild will remain at the table every day, for as long as it takes, to make a fair deal."

Originally posted by David Latt from United Hollywood, on December 7, 2007 3:15 PM

taken on the set of the final episode by the actor who played Benjamin Home [via] 

Originally posted by (author unknown) from Waxy.org Links, on December 7, 2007 2:46 PM

Recent interesting catchwords from the Double-Tongued Dictionary are:

facetimer n. Cornell University slang for a person who only attends and event or appears in public in order to be seen by others.

moofer n. a person who works in a variety of places and not just in an office. Coined by Microsoft from Mobile Out of Office.

Originally posted by (author unknown) from The Lexicographer's Rules, on December 7, 2007 11:22 AM

Justin Timberlake was one of Barbara Walters's most fascinating people of 2007 and the pop singer had some interesting words on his undercover lover, Jessica Biel, and about how sexy he is.

When Babs dove in to Justin's relationship with Jess, and asked if he thought this one will last, Justin replied, "Well, I’ll work on that!” with a laugh.

As for his sex appeal, Babs said, “Rolling Stone called you the new King of Sex. Do you think you’re sexy?”

“I’ll hold on to the title for as long as I can!” Justin cracked back. “Ya know, Brad, George, you guys may be the most beautiful whatever but... eat your heart out boys!”

Justin as compared to Brad Pitt and George Clooney? Oh, I don't think so. We're talking a boy versus men. And I think there is no way Justin will age as beautifully as B and G have. Talk me to when you're 40, Justin.

Originally posted by Tracy Pepey from Daily Blabber, on December 7, 2007 10:27 AM

4 Months old today!!

She is as old relative to me as I am to the last Pharoah of the Old Kingdom in Egypt.

Originally posted by joshua mack from DefinitiveInk, on December 7, 2007 10:21 AM

After watching (and re-watching) the new Sex and the City trailer this morning, we’re convinced that, like many of the scenes filmed around the city, this trailer is a fake.

The proof:

1. You can hear Carrie say, “Hello, Lover!” This is not new- it’s from when she sees the Louboutins that she buys for Big’s last night in New York.

2. You can hear the quote, “trends come and go, but friendships never go out of style,” also from an old episode.

3. In one scene, she is wearing the same tutu outfit from the opening credits of the show (we’re just going to pretend that no one would buy a tutu twice in one lifetime.)

Not to mention that it also seems too short to be a real movie trailer, and so much emphasis is put on Carrie’s photo shoot in a wedding gown- we’re pretty sure there’s no way Carrie will be married by the end. That would just be too much.

Does anyone else feel like it’s a fake?

Originally posted by (author unknown) from Fashionista, on December 7, 2007 10:05 AM

Patric Verrone and Michael Winship just sent this message to the membership. The WGA is determined to stay at the table until we have a deal. If the AMPTP wants to negotiate in good faith, and end the strike, we are at the table.

Dear Fellow Members,

Before we head into negotiations this morning, we want to give you an update on where we stand.

On Tuesday, after the companies had requested a four-day break so they could work on their proposals, we returned to the bargaining table. We presented a counter proposal to their streaming proposal of November 29. They presented no new proposals. On Wednesday, the AMPTP again had no new proposals, but they did have detailed questions about our streaming counter proposal and other aspects of our overall proposals – and from the give and take of those discussions, we felt that they might finally be ready to engage in serious bargaining. They told us they would have new proposals for us Thursday. On Thursday, we met at 10am, and they told us their new proposals would be ready shortly. At 5pm, they told us their proposals still weren’t ready, that they would be working on them late into the night, and that we should come back this morning at 10am. The fact that we saw everyone from the AMPTP leave the building by 6:45pm is not a promising sign, but we will be at the table at 10am this morning, ready to receive their new proposal.

We’d like to address some of the disturbing rumors and back channel communications we’ve been hearing. For one, we’ve heard that one or more of the companies are prepared to throw away the spring and fall TV season, plus features, and prolong the strike. Aside from the devastating effect this would have on the unions, workers, and their families in this industry, it would certainly explain the AMPTP’s refusal to put any new proposals, even a bad one, on the table. Also, highly placed executives have been telling some of our writers that the companies are preparing to abruptly cut off negotiations. They say the companies plan to accuse the WGA of stalling and being unwilling to negotiate, and that the companies will use that as an excuse to walk out.

The Writers Guilds of America, West and East are going on record now that any such claims are absolutely untrue. We have been at the negotiating table every day, willing to bargain. Furthermore, we hereby challenge the AMPTP to negotiate in good faith, day and night, through the Christmas and New Year’s holidays – whatever is necessary – to get this done and get the town back to work. The Writers Guilds will remain at the table every day, for as long as it takes, to make a fair deal.

Thank you for your patience, support, and solidarity through these difficult times. Please come to the Fremantle rally today. We remain all in this together.

Patric M. Verrone
President
Writers Guild of America, West

Michael Winship
President
Writers Guild of America, East

Originally posted by Laeta Kalogridis from United Hollywood, on December 7, 2007 10:00 AM

I’m a big fan of cupcakes, huge fan. 30lbs overweight fan.

Anyway, a couple months ago, my wife gave her students some cupcakes and someone BLEW MY MIND with a simple hack that solved one of cupcakes’ few failings: sometimes there’s just too much frosting, they’re too tall for your mouth, and/or the frosting/cake mix is all wrong in your mouth.

Behold my illustrated guide to How to eat cupcakes

Originally posted by Matt Haughey from A Whole Lotta Nothing, on December 7, 2007 9:52 AM

Quick Post

These awesome photos make me want to grow my beard again. With wedding events beginning as early as March (!!), now is the time...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dubstyle/sets/72157602944817973/

Originally posted by (author unknown) from Capn Design, on December 7, 2007 9:48 AM

Penn Station concourse under West 33rd Street

Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer wants to trade parking spots for wider sidewalks and bike infrastructure on West 33rd Street, moving more Moynihan Station commuters above-ground.

AMNY has the story:

Stringer will float the idea to widen sidewalks and create bike lanes at a public hearing [Thursday] on the future of Moynihan Station. The pathway, which would run past the station, would link Broadway and the planned mega-development at the Hudson Yards.

Parking is already restricted along some of the stretch, and pedestrians need the space in the already congested area, his office said.

"During rush hours, 33rd Street could become a walkway and bikeway for commuters traveling to and from the new station, as well as a thriving, active retail corridor," Stringer said in a written statement. "During the day and on weekends, it could be a lively thoroughfare for New Yorkers to get from midtown to the West Side Rail Yards, and to the Hudson River waterfront beyond."

The plan is backed by Transportation Alternatives and the Regional Plan Association. The Empire State Development Corp., which is overseeing the station project, did not offer an opinion on Stringer's ideas or how it would impact parking in the area.

Photo: moynihanstation/Flickr

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Originally posted by Brad Aaron from Streetsblog, on December 7, 2007 8:20 AM

Fred Wilson’s Social Blogging chart

Originally posted by (author unknown) from shey.net, on December 7, 2007 7:13 AM

Now that the trippy stills have whetted your appetite, feast your eyes on the trailer for Speed Racer, in freaking HD no less. The race courses remind me of those in Mario Kart: Double Dash, particularly Rainbow Road, Dry Dry Desert, and especially Wario Colosseum. (thx, askedrelic)

(link)

Originally posted by jason@kottke.org from kottke.org, on December 7, 2007 7:10 AM

My fellow blogging cousin Angelina has created these cool little Thriller drawings so in the spirit of familial teamwork I have animated them!

Originally posted by Andrea from Andrea Harner, on December 7, 2007 6:09 AM

Chatting with someone from Random House's digital division on the day of the Kindle release, I suggested that dramatic price cuts on e-editions — in other words, finally acknowledging that digital copies aren't worth as much (especially when they come corseted in DRM) as physical hard copies — might be the crucial adjustment needed to at last blow open the digital book market. It seemed like a no-brainer to me that Amazon was charging way too much for its e-books (not to mention the Kindle itself). But upon closer inspection, it clearly doesn't add up that way. Tim O'Reilly explains why:

...the idea that there's sufficient unmet demand to justify radical price cuts is totally wrongheaded. Unlike music, which is quickly consumed (a song takes 3 to 4 minutes to listen to, and price elasticity does have an impact on whether you try a new song or listen to an old one again), many types of books require a substantial time commitment, and having more books available more cheaply doesn't mean any more books read. Regular readers already often have huge piles of unread books, as we end up buying more than we have time for. Time, not price, is the limiting factor.

Even assuming the rosiest of scenarios, Kindle readers are going to be a subset of an already limited audience for books. Unless some hitherto untapped reader demographic comes out of the woodwork, gets excited about e-books, buys Kindles, and then significantly surpasses the average human capacity for book consumption, I fail to see how enough books could be sold to recoup costs and still keep prices low. And without lower prices, I don't see a huge number of people going the Kindle route in the first place. And there's the rub.

Even if you were to go as far as selling books like songs on iTunes at 99 cents a pop, it seems highly unlikely that people would be induced to buy a significantly greater number of books than they already are. There's only so much a person can read. The iPod solved a problem for music listeners: carrying around all that music to play on your Disc or Walkman was a major pain. So a hard drive with earphones made a great deal of sense. It shouldn't be assumed that readers have the same problem (spine-crushing textbook-stuffed backpacks notwithstanding). Do we really need an iPod for books?

We might, maybe (putting aside for the moment objections to the ultra-proprietary nature of the Kindle), if Amazon were to abandon the per copy idea altogether and go for a subscription model. (I'm just thinking out loud here — tell me how you'd adjust this.) Let's say 40 bucks a month for full online access to the entire Amazon digital library, along with every major newspaper, magazine and blog. You'd have the basic cable option: all books accessible and searchable in full, as well as popular feedback functions like reviews and Listmania. If you want to mark a book up, share notes with other readers, clip quotes, save an offline copy, you could go "premium" for a buck or two per title (not unlike the current Upgrade option, although cheaper). Certain blockbuster titles or fancy multimedia pieces (once the Kindle's screen improves) might be premium access only — like HBO or Showtime. Amazon could market other services such as book groups, networked classroom editions, book disaggregation for custom assembled print-on-demand editions or course packs.

This approach reconceives books as services, or channels, rather than as objects. The Kindle would be a gateway into a vast library that you can roam about freely, with access not only to books but to all the useful contextual material contributed by readers. Piracy isn't a problem since the system is totally locked down and you can only access it on a Kindle through Amazon's Whispernet. Revenues could be shared with publishers proportionately to traffic on individual titles. DRM and all the other insults that go hand in hand with trying to manage digital media like physical objects simply melt away.

*     *     *     *     *

On a related note, Nick Carr talks about how the Kindle, despite its many flaws, suggests a post-Web2.0 paradigm for hardware:

If the Kindle is flawed as a window onto literature, it offers a pretty clear view onto the future of appliances. It shows that we're rapidly approaching the time when centrally stored and managed software and data are seamlessly integrated into consumer appliances - all sorts of appliances.

The problem with "Web 2.0," as a concept, is that it constrains innovation by perpetuating the assumption that the web is accessed through computing devices, whether PCs or smartphones or game consoles. As broadband, storage, and computing get ever cheaper, that assumption will be rendered obsolete. The internet won't be so much a destination as a feature, incorporated into all sorts of different goods in all sorts of different ways. The next great wave in internet innovation, in other words, won't be about creating sites on the World Wide Web; it will be about figuring out creative ways to deploy the capabilities of the World Wide Computer through both traditional and new physical products, with, from the user's point of view, "no computer or special software required."

That the Kindle even suggests these ideas signals a major advance over its competitors — the doomed Sony Reader and the parade of failed devices that came before. What Amazon ought to be shooting for, however, (and almost is) is not an iPod for reading — a digital knapsack stuffed with individual e-books — but rather an interface to a networked library.

Originally posted by ben vershbow from if:book, on December 7, 2007 4:19 AM

It’s Tiffany’s birthday.

Go over and wish her a happy birthday.

Originally posted by Reed A. Cartwright from De Rerum Natura, on December 7, 2007 2:22 AM

M-----l wrote me a letter! With underwear drawings!

http://outgoingsignals.vox.com/library/post/so-there-was-this-boy-and-this-girl-and-theyd-never-met.html

Read and post comments | Send to a friend

Originally posted by Krissy from david’s Neighbors, on December 6, 2007 2:27 PM

The Onion's Third Annual Surprisingly Specific Holiday Gift Guide on Michael Ruhlman's The Elements Of Cooking: "[He] has a different conception of the average American's baseline culinary competency."

Originally posted by raphael from Serious Eats: Main, on December 6, 2007 2:00 PM

Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Apple Corporate, iTS, iTunes

A report issued by Forrester Research suggests that contrary to conventional wisdom (or at least the comments here at TUAW), Apple is the loser in their feud with NBC-Universal. The on-going fight, which reached fruition last week, as all all NBC-Universal content was removed from iTunes, hurts Apple more than it hurts NBC. James McQuivey, an analyst for Forrest Research, urges Apple to make-up with NBC, otherwise they risk losing their spot as a major source in the distribution of online broadcast content. Why? Because although iTunes dominates the world of digital music sales, the same cannot be said for iTunes video downloads.

According to the report, which was quoted by CNET, Apple relies on NBC to deliver 30% of their video download sales. This is in line with the 40% figure claimed by NBC in October (I say we split the difference at 35 or call it a third). Furthermore, a Forrester study revealed that only 19% of users buy video content (either TV shows or full length movies) from iTunes and of that 19%, the average amount spent on videos is $30. Meanwhile, competing pay services like Amazon Unbox and the free offerings provided by the networks own websites and through services like the Fox and NBC collaboration Hulu.com make paying for an iTunes download, just so you can watch it on an iPod or Apple TV, less inviting or appealing to users.

Continue reading Report shows Apple needs NBC back, like yesterday

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Originally posted by Christina Warren from The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW), on December 6, 2007 12:30 PM

Type-design gurus Jonathan Hoefler and Tobias Frere-Jones find an awesome font rendered in chocolate. Text aus Schokolade, from € 0.60 a character. [via Print magazine]

Originally posted by Adam Kuban from Serious Eats: Main, on December 6, 2007 12:00 PM

This is the video the WGA doesn't want you to see! Studio Head and AMPTP Member, Roger A. Trevanti explains the AMPTP's groundbreaking new deal in a way writers can understand!

Originally posted by Lew Wasserman's Plumber from United Hollywood, on December 6, 2007 11:53 AM

Skirt steak is one of the more compelling reasons that a ridged, cast iron pan is a worthy investment for your kitchen. It’s one of the best cuts off the grill—a high fat-to-meat ratio helps keep it rich and moist—and it adapts incredibly well to off-summer adventures on the stove. This particular recipe is from The Best of Gourmet: A Year of Celebrations, an über-fancy, photo-laden dinner party cookbook that has hidden in its less-glamorous final 100 pages a collection of absolutely spot-on recipes.

A food-processor sauce comes together in the same amount of time it takes the steak to finish cooking and rest. Flank steak would also work for this recipe, a similar, leaner cut that’s sometimes easier to find, and which has a more profound beefy flavor (though with less fat, it’s harder to cook perfectly). Either way, cutting the meat across the grain is essential—on a flank cut, the grain usually goes lengthwise along the steak, while on skirt it's crosswise. You can further thwart the inevitable chewiness of both these cuts by slicing on the bias at a 45 degree angle, which helps make thinner slices.

At first I’d thought about serving the steak on a bed of greens with extra sauce, allowing the cilantro-garlic pesto to seep down and season everything. But if I’d had some flour tortillas in the fridge, this would have been rolled up with some chopped onions and another sprinkle of the cilantro.

Skirt Steak With Cilantro Garlic Sauce

- serves 6 -

Ingredients

For the sauce:
1 medium garlic clove
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup coarsely chopped cilantro
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/8 teaspoon cayenne

For the steak:
1 teaspoon ground cumin
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
2 pounds skirt steak, cut to manageable grilling sizes (you may have to do batches)

Procedure

1. Combine the steak spices in a small bowl. Pat the steak dry so that the surface is tacky, then rub the spice mixture into both sides. Turn on the burner to high under the grill pan to get it heating.

2. Meanwhile, mince the garlic and mash to a paste with the salt (the flat edge of a chef’s knife works well for this). Transfer to a blender or mini food processor with the rest of the sauce ingredients, and blend until smooth.

3. Rub the grill pan with a bit of oil, and grill the steak about 5 minutes per side for a typical cut (medium rare). Once it’s cooked and rested, slice thinly and drizzle with the sauce.

Originally posted by Blake Royer from Serious Eats: Main, on December 6, 2007 11:30 AM

Today's Lifehacker interview with Quicksilver developer Nicholas Jitkoff (neé Alcor) has struck a note of gloom into the holiday spirits around TUAW's home office (currently located in an unoccupied storefront of the West Edmonton Mall). While Nicholas is still planning to do what he can to improve stability for the existing b54 branch of QS, the road is less clear for future feature development; he doesn't have the time in his off hours to advance the wildly popular launcher to the next level, and the existing version meets his needs (other than the problem of stability). His words: "that branch is condemned to a long slow death," and "I'm inclined to encourage users to move over to the more stable and well supported alternatives like LaunchBar." Ouch!

This, of course, means an opportunity for some eager young guns to show the world what they can do with the source code to QS, available to one and all. A forked version of QS might never attract the attention and plug-in support of the original, but in the right hands... well, you never know. Check out Nicholas' Google Tech Talk video on QS for more behind-the-scenes info.

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Originally posted by Michael Rose from The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW), on December 6, 2007 11:30 AM

Don't get excited - really - but rumours have been zipping around the internet that Sega is considering dipping its unwisest toe back into the world of home console manufacturing. This all stems from the company's decision back in August,...

Originally posted by Keith Stuart from Guardian Unlimited: Gamesblog, on December 6, 2007 11:24 AM

Last week we all learned the new Apple store would be opening in the Meatpacking District just in time for a holiday spending spree. Since then, eager Mac fans have been stalking the place at night -- trying to get a glimpse into the shiny new tech haven.

Today we went inside for a sneak peak at what has to be the nicest of the three Manhattan stores so far. Upon entering you'll be greeted on the "Mac floor" by the concierge team, wearing light blue shirts and helping you navigate the three-story shop. There are helpful Applebots just about everywhere, and the store boasts 175 employees in all. Expect patrons and internet-less folk to be surfing the net on the ground floor, while others flock to the staircase.

Housed in a beautiful old building in the Meatpacking District, the centerpiece of the store is this glass staircase. While there is also one in Japan, this is the first to climb 3 floors in an Apple store (and we're guessing Steve Jobs likely has a design patent on them). At the top, on floor 3, you'll find their service level, this is where the Genius Bar is -- boasting 100 customer per hour capacity. Falling short of being the longest Genius Bar in the country by just 4 feet, it makes up for it's physical shortcomings by having 50% more total technical support space than any other store. This is also where the pro labs are, where they expect the creative types to gather.

In the midst of it all is the 2nd floor which will host all of the iPods, iPhones and iGottaHaveIts, as well as third party products. Just don't expect to purchase any of those things, or get any Mac emergencies solved post-Midnight, that's when they close up shop.

The latest in Apple's takeover of NYC is located on W 14th St and 9th Ave, and will open tomorrow at 6pm.

Originally posted by Jen Carlson from Gothamist Weekly Favorites, on December 6, 2007 10:08 AM

Filed under: Apple Corporate, Retail

Gothamist has some beautiful photos of NYC's newest Apple Store on 14th street, scheduled to open Friday, December 7th. According to Gothamist, customers are greeted by a concierge team upon arrival in the three-story store. There's a spiral glass staircase (the first to span 3 floors in an Apple Store) and a Genius Bar capable of managing 100 customers per hour.

If you're going to see this store over the weekend (doors open officially at 6:00 PM on Friday), please let us know! You can get subway directions here.

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Originally posted by Dave Caolo from The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW), on December 6, 2007 10:00 AM

50 Cent: I Get Money (I Dap Money Remix)

A Soul Sider (Andrew G.) sent this in: a remix of 50 Cent's "I Get Money" using a Sharon Jones and Dap-Kings song. Heck, if Jay-Z can flip about the "Roc Boys" over the Menahan Street Band, why not this? Reminds me of that Clipse/Lee Fields blend from last year.

Verdict?

Originally posted by O.W. from soul sides, on December 6, 2007 9:45 AM

Hi Coach Jenny! I am fairly new to the running world. (About 6 months) The furthest I’ve run is 5 miles on a treadmill. I am nursing a sore IT band. My question is whenever I get up early to...

ASK COACH JENNY! Coach Jenny Hadfield is the co-author of the best selling Marathoning for Mortals and the newly released Running for Mortals. She is a nationally recognized speaker, writer and co-owner of Chicago Endurance Sports, Chicago?s largest multi-sport training company.

Originally posted by jenny hadfield from Ask Coach Jenny: Everything you wanted to know about running but were afraid to ask., on December 6, 2007 8:34 AM

Alec Baldwin must relish the opportunity to channel his rage through Jack Donaghy, the beloved heartless media executive he plays on 30 Rock, a rage in evidence at The Huffington Post in his open-skewering of the suits who own and run his show's network.

On the problem of the studios in the ongoing WGA negotiations:

They are owned by huge, creativity-deadening corporations and operated by lawyers and marketing executives who lord over the worst creative decline I have witnessed in a long time, particularly in films. In television, companies like GE view properties like NBC the way realtors view square footage. GE does not care what is on NBC. So long as the programming is relatively inoffensive, they want to earn as much per square foot as they can.

I missed this at the time, but 30 Rock snuck in a last-minute subversive writers' strike joke for its last pre-strike show.

For some defictionalized 30 Rock goods, t-shirts for the parent company of 30 Rock's NBC, Sheinhardt Wig Company, can be had here.

(via glass shallot)

(link)

Originally posted by lisagor@lonelysandwich.com from kottke.org, on December 6, 2007 8:32 AM

Heh, thi