The Cooler
Off of the concept of push polls and other dirty politics, I have this idea that we may be seeing soon — the concept of a YouTube Cooler.
Let’s say you’re Apple and want to put the hurt on the Zune. All you have to do is hire the most annoying, ugly, irritating person you can find and have them make a webcam YouTube video talking about the Zune. You have them show it off in their fat, greasy hands, waving it around and saying it’s rad as hell and people who don’t buy one are stupid.
The video will go viral under links like “FAT IDIOT GOES OFF ABOUT ZUNE” and “LOSER LIKES HIS ZUNE”. The cooler’s attributes rub onto the product in the public’s mindset.
Sure it’s devious. But it’s not illegal and it’ll probably play well with those who don’t like Senators with “illegitimate black babies”.
Five Freakin’ Blades
The razorblade model of product consumption: Sell the consumer the razor at a low price, then make money off of the replacement blades. This model is used in ink jet and label printers, electric toothbrushes, and notably, video game consoles. Like the PS3, on which Sony is actually taking a loss on each console sold — the intention is to make money off the licensing and distribution of the actual games.
Now Gillette is giving away Fusion razors.
It’s true — I got one in my mail. It has a metal handle, five freakin’ blades (four on the front and one on the back) and looks like a trail running shoe. I may use it for a while but I can’t see myself buying blades for it. It looks like something Buzz Lightyear would use to shave his huge, clefted chin.
I want my razor to be less toy-like and more dangerous looking. It would be black metal and have a skull on it. It should also glow and play death metal when you push a button. And any follicles it shaves off should be sent to a giant pile of hair in hell that is being used to knit a toupee for Lucifer. Yeah.
Kramer Krisis Kontinues
Probably the funniest thing I’ve seen on National Lampoon since OC & Stiggs. OK, probably not nearly that funny, but still incredibly funny. The above link almost approaches the level of art. Possibly NSFW.
Giant Insect Attacks Germany
James (my friend with the burritos) emailed us to let us know that on google maps he had spied a giant earwig in the vicinity of Germany:
If you look at the current map image you will see that it is gone. They are crafty insects, these earwigs. I believe it is hiding under the field waiting to strike!
But I’m Still Wearing Shorts
As I said in the previous sideblog post, IT COLD! But when I run (always at night) I still have to wear shorts and t-shirt. I can’t move too well in anything else.
What ends up happening though is after the first mile warmup it feels like it’s ten degrees warmer than it actually is. And by then you’re sweating and it’s all good. My favorite part of running in cold weather is to be so heated up that you can see steam rising off your body. Except at that point it isn’t steam anymore — it’s awesome.
The Gloves are On
Okay, it’s beginning to get kinda cold now. It’s like someone flipped a switch over Thanksgiving weekend and it went from warm Pacific breezes to bonecutting wind.
Trekked to the UCLA library again tonight and I had to have a microwaved vending machine burrito to warm up my hands. I have warm memories associated with those things from middle school when you could buy a thigh-sized bean and cheese burrito at lunch. Also in high school my friend James would never be without a burrito. I’m not sure why. It was almost magical.
Got into the library, worked for a few hours, then left. In and out. Again, I was not tasered.
Where Does He Get Those Wonderful Toys
(Via Apple Gazette 
The Apple Museum’s Prototype Page
Lots of fun things to look at here for mac and design nerds. Lots of cool crap with cool nicknames like “Stumpy” and “PowerBop”.
My Work in Print
Year Zero
Available from Samuel French and Amazon.com
Cowboy Versus Samurai
Available from Samuel French and Amazon.comFor a complete list of books containing my work, please click here.
