Archive for March, 2007
« Previous EntriesThe relevance of car chases
Wednesday, March 28th, 2007Monday, I saw an interview that baffled me for the assumptions of the interviewer. I wanted to post something but I had a difficult time being nice about it. Tuesday, I found an article (from the same source!) that offered another perspective and seemed to prove my point. But I still wasn’t sure I wanted [...]
The fun of flying
Friday, March 23rd, 2007It’s strange to be old enough to remember a time when airline travel was somewhat luxurious; even in coach. Back when actual silverware was used, entire meals were served in abundance (always more than one could possibly eat), and the whole experience had the potential to be romantic and engaging.
I used to enhance the drama [...]
Feelings, productivity, and profits
Wednesday, March 21st, 2007Two items of note have come flying my way in the past several days, as follows:
1. “Many airlines are Institutionalizing the apology.” That comment from this New York Times article, dated March 18.
2. Stanford University professor Robert Sutton’s new book, with the partial subtitle, Building a Civilized Workplace. (See also a quick summary in Business [...]
Happier housewives
Tuesday, March 20th, 2007A quick note regarding a forum at TVPredictions.com, on why people love TiVo and hate DirecTV. In which, a delightful guy named Andy refers to the “Wife Usability Factor” (WUF) of TiVo and explains how his wife, who holds an engineering degree, had difficulty with previous set-ups that were more complex.
Brains are not the issue [...]
Classical ipod wanted
Monday, March 19th, 2007It’s not that I always want to listen to classical music. Far from it. But I do, often enough, that I have noticed what a hostile environment my iPod provides for symphonies or opera.
For starters, you wouldn’t want to use the random shuffle play. Skipping from the first movement of the Brahms violin concerto to [...]
Showing employees some trust
Saturday, March 17th, 2007Best Buy decides to go all “Rowe” with a “results-only work environment.” Because, speaking of results, it seems to work! Productivity has increased by a third overall, across those departments that put the Rowe philosophy into action.
When everyone focuses on results, I imagine you have fewer conversations about time constraints, and more conversations about what [...]
Beating up on the little guy
Friday, March 16th, 2007I really enjoy it when companies take risks and try something new. Because it means somebody is trying. Which also means that maybe they care.
Perhaps I read too much into things. But it’s a pleasure to even see a photo of the little FlipStart personal computer introduced by Vulcan, Paul Allen’s venture.
Walter Mossberg is probably [...]
Strange brew
Thursday, March 15th, 2007Sleep-driving lately?
If you’ve been woken up by the highway patrol, and the last thing you remember, you were in your pajamas on your Sealy Posturepedic; you might be under the influence of quite a surprising sleep aid. With fascinating side effects.
I know. This is old news! Heard the one about the guy and his Lunesta [...]
You are recommending what?
Wednesday, March 14th, 2007Netflix seems to think that because I enjoyed The Third Man and Eddie Izzard’s Dress To Kill, that I shall enjoy My Neighbor Totoro.
Eclectic tastes abound. We all have them.
But I believe that these recommendations, from the likes of Amazon, Netflix, et al, will work much better when we can explain the reasons why we [...]
More hdtv on demand
Wednesday, March 14th, 2007A reader reports that the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong is also offering HD on demand in their rooms (in reference to this blog’s March 7 post regarding that service at the LA Hyatt Regency).
So for those of you headed to Hong Kong, a public viewing announcement! Enjoy. And since the high temperature for Hong [...]