I’ve recently seen a lot of ads and billboards around New York City suggesting ways for New Yorkers to reduce their junk mail, and providing a simple online form that allows residents to opt-out. Interestingly, the USPS has come to rely on junk mail to make up lost revenue, as fewer and fewer people mail actual letters. It’s compelling … Continue reading Postal Conundrums
Story of Monetary Policy: A Fed. Reserve comic from the ’90s. Found in my in-laws basement, more pages coming soon! Continue reading The Story of Monetary Policy: A Federal Reserve Comic Book from the 90s.
This morning, I gave the time-lapse feature in iOS 8 a spin. Continue reading Time Lapse in iOS 8
It’s been well-documented that Twitter is phasing in “buy now” links on products featured in sponsored tweets. But this offer from Foreign Policy is something I haven’t seen before. I do wonder what discount Facebook Foreign Policy readers get. Continue reading A (Twitter) Offer You Can’t Refuse
There’s definitely a lot to digest from yesterday’s iPhone and iWatch announcement. My primary thought is this: I’m more interested in Apple Pay than I am in Apple Watch. Since my goal is to streamline my tech existence – and ultimately carry fewer devices or amenities – Apple Pay offers the greatest benefit, since I … Continue reading Paying it Forward
I recently read an article about bringing one’s iPhone back from the dead, after a nearly-fatal drop into water. As someone who destroyed his fair share of gadgets in water, I took the precaution of purchasing a FRIEQ Waterproof Case for my iPhone 5 in advance of my recent trip to the Caribbean. I had been initially … Continue reading Waterproofing
Having just moved down south, far from family and friends, I was faced with a real decision to make. My choice would change my life forever. Clearly, the selection of the proper tomato product to purchase at the grocery store would make or break my dinner. But being a naive and uninformed shopper, I assumed that Tomato Paste was basically unflavored Tomato Sauce. Boy was I wrong.
No matter how much I simmered, seasoned, or diluted, the “sauce” that I made had an incredibly strong, sickeningly sweet and acidic taste. What I was really looking for in the store was Tomato Purée. Unfortunately, my pasta was not great that night, but I learned quite a few Tomato Terms™ (which I will share below): Continue reading “Tomato Tribulations”
Several months ago, I wondered why American Express didn’t offer some sort of tailored “$5 off $25” perk at Uber. After all, Amex is pretty aggressive when it comes to targeted promotions, and actively inks deals with retailers that cater to the tech-friendly and mobile-oriented crowd – the same crew that gets its lifts in Uber. In recent months, Amex has offered deals at iTunes, Dunkin Donuts, J. Crew, and Zappos – all brands that try to tap into the mobile audience. And, as I experienced firsthand, Amex’s app uses geolocation to provide targeted reminders of nearly-redeemed offers.
The verdict in the Trayvon Martin case brings to mind the Casey Anthony trial from two years ago. In response of the public’s displeasure, Alan Dershowitz wrote a stirring and even-handed article in the Wall Street Journal, where he examined the nature of “not guilty:” A criminal trial is never about seeking justice for the victim. If … Continue reading Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
Twitter is gearing up to imminently release some sort of music recommendation service, thanks to its recent acquisition of We Are Hunted. It’s hard to tell what exactly the service will offer, but it may not directly compete with heavyweights like Spotify, Pandora, or the upcoming Apple radio service – opting instead to serve as … Continue reading Social Singing
Silicon Spatula 