Fabulous Spellos Brothers

Twitter & Rhymes with Doomberg

Hi Gang...

What do you get when you combine Google AdSense, a hot keyword (Twitter), and an incumbent mayoral candidate who has oodles of money?  Domination of social media political placement in a campaign, you say?  You're probably very right.

In the next few days, take notice of websites with a heavy Twitter presence that uses Google AdSense (my site, it appears, is one of these).  You will frequently see an ad for a candidate, who's name I won't mention so that it doesn't give more fuel to the campaign...however, his name does rhyme with Doomberg.  Here's a link to a blog that confirms this.

So...you like the new politics...social media style?  Does it give an unfair advantage to those who can overbid on keywords, or does it level the playing field?  Either case, I think it's here to stay.  However, it may make me rethink if I really want AdSense on my site.

Jim

More Google-licious - Google Maps Navigation on Android

Hi gang...

It is a seriously cool time for new tech announcements.  Wave, Raindrop, Droid...and now Google Maps Navigation on the Android 2 phones.  Free GPS, connected to the cloud with Google Maps,on your Android smart phone.

As always, here's a video for you to see & learn more.

I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

Jim

Walking (Tweeting/Emailing?) Between the Raindrops

Hi Gang...

The "let's change email" wars are on!  On the heels of the still in preview Google Wave, Mozilla (makers of FIrefox browser) is introducing Raindrop.  The idea is to reinvent email to be able to better separate personal from bulk communications, as well as integrating social media.

Here's a video (a bit geeky, but it's not too dry) about what to expect from Raindrop when it is released (when is that going to be, anyway?).

Jim

Soupy & Captain Lou

Hi...

Tough week for humor on the planet.  Soupy Sales and Captain Lou Albano left us.  Both may have been acquired tastes (especially Capt. Lou).  Many of you probably know him from his appearance in the Cindi Lauper video.  Here's a wiki page about the Captain (who for a while managed one of the world's best rock n' roll bands, NRBQ).  Peter just mentioned Capt. Lou in his blog post as well (A View from the Unabridged...check it out below).

As for Soupy, well, if you're not old enough to remember his show, here's a brief clip.  Silly you say??? Of course it was.

Tell me that's not funny.  We'll miss you both.

Jim

A VIEW FROM THE UNABRIDGED

A VIEW FROM THE UNABRIDGED

things you may have missed this week

by Peter Spellos

FRIDAY OCTOBER 23rd - SPORTS N' STUFF

 

Dateline: Orchard Park, NY

Didn't you folks in Buffalo realize that T.O.'s initials stood for Totally Over-The-Hill?

 

Dateline: Athens, Greece

The Olympic Torch was lit yesterday in celebration of the 2010 Winter Olympic games in Vancouver, Canada, but I do not understand why. There were no Winter Games when my ancestors started this formerly naked sporting event. I dare you to name three Greek ice skaters. You can't. Greeks hate the cold. Remember, some games you win, and some games you luge..........

 

Dateline: The 1980's

On October 14th, at the age of 76, Captain Lou Albano died. If you don't know who that is, then you proabaly don't like the old WWF, rubber bands for earrings, or Cyndi Lauper. What scares me most is not that a terrific showman died, it's that I continue to look more and more like him everyday. Could be worse.

This blurb could have been about Gorilla Monsoon...

 

Dateline: Your TV on Wednesday Night

If you haven't seen the new comedy MODERN FAMILY on ABC, yoiu are missing the funniest thing on TV next to Glenn Beck. The old sitcom format has been taken out of the studio and merged with this pseudo-doctumentary filming style. If this show does not make you laugh out loud, then you've probably advance ordered the Sarah Palin autobiogravy.

 

Dateline: Bristol, CT

Watching the media circus surrounding ESPN analyst Steve Phillips marraige/affair mayhem, I"m reminded of many things. One, most of this country wantonly salivates over a celebrity sex scandal, big or small. Two, nobody evercerates their own like the media and three, there will be someone in your neighborhood plugged in at Starbucks today on their 5th Pumpkin Latte that is already working on the teleplay.

I think William Peterson would be perfect for Phillips!

 

What folks don't seem to understand during this media freenzy, is that Phillips was just following the mantra of Hall of Fame Great Ernie Banks, who was always quite fond of saying, "Let's Play Two!!!"

 

That's all for now. And remember, Tony Romo has never won a playoff game.

 

Peace and Plenty -

Peter

Twitterfountain

Hi gang...

There's more and more usage of Twitter at events.  If you're considering it, or looking to embed it onto a blog or webpage, consider Twitterfountain.  Here's an example of how it works, using my tweets.  It can also pull from pictures tagged in Flickr.  Great to use with your event hashtag (consider posting it on your website for the conversation to be watched before, during & after the event).

The look & feel of it is customizable.  Really nice tool.

Jim

A Reason I Have to Get an iPhone/iTouch....Really....Me???

Hi Gang...

If you know me, you know how it pains me to write that Blog title.  But...the musician side of me is actually salivating over the product from MooCowMusic (yes, that's the company's name).  You can play guitar, bass, piano, right on (say it, say it) your iPhone (and I haven't found it for Android yet, which is what's really irking me).

Wanna see it?  Take a look.

Waaaaah.  I want one!

Jim

In Case of Emergency

Thanks to my wife (and some great folks at her school) for telling me about this.  Did you know...that to assist first responders in case of any critical situation requiring medical attention, you should have ICE as a contact in your mobile phone, with the number of the person they should contact.  It was tough finding a website that spells this out, however, thanks to the great Wikipedia, here's a link to their page which confirms this.  And here is a short You Tube video that gives some more good info.

I'm glad I found out about this, and you know that I'll put that into my mobile phone.  You should too...please.

Jim

Let's Do The Wave!

No, no, no, not that awful 80's baseball stadium pseudo-stretching exercise, but Google's version of the Wave.  If you haven't heard, this fall, Google will release Wave, their new tool for collaboration and communication on the web (their words).  Some folks are calling it "real-time email".

Hard to fathom?  Check out this video from cnet (always a great source of tech info) that helps explain how it will work.

It should be out in beta form this fall.  I, for one, can't wait!

Jim

Baseball & technology & stats, oh my...

So what can be better?  For me, it's the ultimate combination.  In today's New York Times, an article revealed the coming of the next generation of camera & software system that was announced & presented yesterday to folks in the baseball community.  Not sure yet, but it seems this is the real deal in the next iteration of marrying baseball stats with technology.  A must read article (and watch the video contained in the article as well) if you're into baseball at all.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/10/sports/baseball/10cameras.html?_r=2&hp

Enjoy.  Can't wait to see it in action!

Jim