Why Windows Software Could Use a Rush of Fresh Air--by Randall Stross, N.Y. Times Digital Domain

Randall does a very good stating what a few know too well, and what many could care less about. Microsoft Windows is a bloated, terrible operating system. There's a reason many in business are remaining with XP rather than getting on upgrade train-wreck that is Vista. M$'s latest failed to live up to the hype (when it came out) and the fact that most of its compelling features were stripped out to come in as late as it did. As well, the author makes the case that all of the legacy code that drags it down should be scrapped--ala what Apple did earlier this decade when it brought out OS X. Criminy, it needs to start over!!! Will Redmond do it? In a word, no.

The company is so big and successful that it'll coast for the next version (with the intriguing code name of Windows 7--spare me), and the years to come. So what that it no longer increases it's large lead on the desktop--continuing to lose percentage points each year to OS X and Linux (again, for good reason). Unfortunately, Redmond doesn't know how to lose money--at least for Windows OS and Office (it's got plenty of $-losing experience with its other products). It should start over, but it won't risk it. When Apple did it, it had to (to survive, that is). M$ is more of a successful (AKA, cut-throat) marketing company than a (smart) technology firm. And, marketing companies don't take risks.

Pixar's Done It, Again!

You know, when an animation studio, like Pixar, has a track record for producing great films, one either worries that the next one can't be as good as those that came, or expects it to be extraordinary. I'm of the latter. This morning, I took the kids and one of their friends to the first (9:30 AM) showing at the AMC Century 15. Man, what a wonderful film. Wall-E, the last idea during a legendary lunch among the creative minds that would stable at Pixar, it is that good. It's part dystopia, part comedy (with a touch of sci-fi/corporate-intrigue), and part love story. Criminy, it doesn't even have any dialog for the first 30 minutes in! Though, it doesn't sound like it would work as a G-rated family movie, it most certainly does. It has simply overtaken all of my favorite films in 2008 (The Bank Job, In Bruge, Iron Man, Get Smart). Now, I'm trying to talk my wife into seeing it (so I can watch it, again).

PhotoshopDisasters blog

It's always easy when amateurs, like me, mess up using a powerful image app like Photoshop. Hey, it's a given. But, what's downright riotous is when paid, talented professionals do it on a public canvas like posters, ads, and what-not. I hereby recommend, for your entertainment pleasure, the PhotoshopDisasters blog. If you've ever dabbled at misaligning pixels on an image, you won't be disappointed.

George Carlin, Cultural Renegade

Dead at the age of 71, George Carlin was a genius for his acerbic wit, insights on the human condition, and someone who fought back against the status quo--and was just plain funny, at it. For being the one that began what would turn out to be a landmark Supreme Court ruling (re: The Seven Words you can't say on the air), Carlin said:

"So my name is a footnote in American history, which I'm perversely kinda of proud of."

George, you will be missed.

Addicted to Oil? How About One More Hit?

Mr. Bush, Lead or Leave by Thomas L. Friedman, N.Y. Times Op-Ed

Friedman does a great job pointing out King George's "massive, fraudulent, pathetic excuse for an energy policy." As much as I hate putting gas into my car, and emptying my wallet in the process, we need this shock to the system to instill the change that'll drive the investments in renewable energy.

And as for Bush II, I can't say it better than the bumper sticker I saw last year:

Worst. President. Ever.

Nuff, said.