Archive for July, 2008

Step 4: Make A Searching and Fearless Moral Inventory of Your Hard Drive

Thursday, July 31st, 2008

Yes, it’s time for yet another story about Internet addiction. This one even made Drudge for a coupla days.

If Internet addiction genuinely concerns you or someone you know, here’s a test you can take. Otherwise, what the hell — might as well just click here .

Goodbye Scrabulous. Hello Hackers.

Wednesday, July 30th, 2008

About five months ago I blogged about Hasbro’s stupidity regarding the Scrabulous phenomenon. They may be in the legal right, but they’re in the marketing wrong big-time.

Hasbro has taken legal action against Scrabulous, which was just pulled off of Facebook. So the hackers have targeted Hasbro.

Let the games begin.

Pronounced “Cool”

Tuesday, July 29th, 2008

Dude, stop stalking me!

In case you were lounging under a rock yesterday, Cuil made its debut to a ton of press due to the fact that it was created by ex-Google engineers. Silicon Alley Insider called it the worst launch ever.

I have to think the coming weeks and months will be spent refining algorithms and fixing errors and tweaking the display and all the rest of it.  Generally speaking, I like Cuil. Search for “Bob Newhart,” for example, and look at how results are categorized by tabs across the top and related categorizations on the right. Cuil has preferences for safe search and typing suggestions, and my guess is more will be forthcoming.

(Oh, and as for that name: Be sure to type it properly. Don’t transpose the last two letters. No link, this is a family blog, but I’m just sayin’.)

I do have two questions, though. First, where are the ads going to be placed? It’s inevitable, of course, since those millions of dollars in venture capital are betting on some significant dollars coming back their way. And second: Who the hell is that guy in the fuzzy hat? I search for “Craig Peters” and he’s on every results page. What’s up with that? Dude, stop stalking me!

Font Conference

Monday, July 28th, 2008

It’s Monday, so why not start your week by spending three minutes watching this smart video about a font conference.

Smoke ’em If You Got ’em

Sunday, July 27th, 2008

Don Draper in Grand Central Station

Mad Men returns tonight. While you await the start of the second season, check out this Adrants interview with the show’s creator, Matthew Weiner.