Facebook’s sheer size and awful handling of monetization and evolution of its platform has raised a number of awkward teenager moments for the site; indeed, I wrote about it repeatedly on my last blog. Two new reports from this past week about Facebook’s plans for modernization show a platform continuing to struggle with how they get the message out. Continue reading
I almost let the entire day slip by without a post, breaking an almost month-long daily post string, so instead of letting that happen just yet (I’m sure it’ll happen at some point soon), let me just say happy holidays to those of you checking out the site, and note that I do have a lot of content getting ready to go, and there’s some good stuff to come. Thanks to those of you reading and commenting!
My work vacation just kicked in today, so I’m hoping to do some additional sprucing up around here during the time off.
The song “Carol of the Bells,” with its elaborate musical progression, opens up a lot of options for arrangement. As such, while I love The Bird and the Bee’s version a lot, this year Pentatonix has released a version I also very much enjoy. Continue reading
I work in a hectic environment, which isn’t new for me, and given the state of things today, many people are working at companies attempting to do more with less. However, the constant ping of the email box, ringing phone, blinking IM window or knock on the door may be killing our productivity.
Last week, the Wall Street Journal reported the results of a study which showed that many users find themselves being distracted (or self-distract), on average, once every three minutes, and once distracted taking 23 minutes to get back on track. It’s a devastating figure, if true. Continue reading
In my introduction to the Christmas Present series, I panned Christina Perri’s attempt at covering Karen Carpenter’s “Merry Christmas Darling” for playing it too close to the original, but without having the vocal warmth of Carpenter. Fortunately, Perri’s “A Very Merry Perri Christmas” (ugh, the rhyme), released this year, has a gem of its own. Continue reading
Louie C.K. opened up a revolution in comedy specials: sell them directly to the consumer, letting the consumer directly benefit the performer. As part of the Required Viewing series, I’ll be sharing some of my favorites, starting with a performer who has long been due for a special: Wendy Liebman. Continue reading
One of the latest Christmas albums, released this year, comes from Cee Lo Green, who’s been a pretty creative force in music the past few years. A few of his tracks have been added to the “Christmas Present” playlist this year. Continue reading
When my family first moved to Connecticut, we signed up for accounts at People’s Bank in Bridgeport. We ended up there solely because my father, who had moved up to the state a few months before, got an account there. Going on 20 years later, the now-renamed People’s United Bank, excepting a brief, horrid flirtation with Fleet (now Bank of America) when I was in college), has been my steady,long-term relationship of a bank. Continue reading
Programming note: I had planned to write up something relating to the Newtown incident, as it invoked a bit of my history, but I hadn’t planned on having my car being hit by a truck while I was heading in to the Connecticut Post today. So that’ll wait. But I’m OK.
Christmas Present post (written already) is scheduled for tomorrow, and I have a couple of other things in the works, but I’ll probably post my thoughts about Newtown sometime tomorrow.
I hope all is well, and safe, during a difficult time.
OK, so here’s something completely crass, but it fits the “fun” element of the playlist: a song found on a number of Bob & Tom Show collections, where the song originated. Continue reading