Complainers: You Get $100. Me, Notta.
All these complainers who are whining over feeling like they got ripped off by buying an iPhone. Why you whining. You’re only creating more news and buzz and PR for Apple.
As for me, a quick four (4) days of trial. Returned and payed a “restocking” fee of ten (10) percent of the phone. I paid $60 for just 4 days use. Too bad I couldn’t get a piece of that back ;-).
BYU Ranked #1 Regional MBA Program
The WSJ released their MBA ranking today (probably need subscription to see).
Congrats to my many friends with an MBA from BYU. Congrats to my friends who teach at BYU’s Marriott School.
Zimbra Goes to Yahoo
I was interested to read that Yahoo had acquired Zimbra today for $350M. I’ve played around with Zimbra and think it’s a real alternative to Microsoft Exchange / Outlook. I will be interested to see the integration and evolution of Zimbra once inside Yahoo. Hopefully Zimbra can survive and flourish.
American Health Choices Plan Revealed
I have not had a enough time to do a full review of the plan released by the Clinton Campaign today. However, the plan is available as a PDF document from the Hillary Clinton web site.
Not sure what to believe on tax savings / spending. Not sure that access the same benefits offered Congress is a good or bad thing. Like this:
“End to Unfair Health Insurance Discrimination: By creating a level-playing field of insurance rules across states and markets, the plan ensures that no American is denied coverage, refused renewal, unfairly priced out of the market, or forced to pay excessive insurance company premiums.”
I’ll be reading, reviewing, responding. More to come.
AC/DC Moment Today
For those of us AC/DC fans. Like this twist: Dirty Deeds Dirt Done Cheap.
Thank heavens for camera phones. American Fork, Utah. 500 East. Heading toward I-15.
WSJ Highlights HillaryCare and Other Plans
Laura Meckler at the Wall Street Journal offers a front page story that covers the 2008 presidential candidates and their focus for healthcare reform. Apparently Mrs. Clinton has a more detailed plan to come on Monday, Sept 17.
Say what you want about Clinton. However, you must admit Clinton has real experience with the politics required to change healthcare at a national level. BTW, I find the political tone and negative use of the term “HillaryCare” by Republicans a bit offensive. Again, come up with plan worthy of your name, and let everyone scrutinize it.
My Vote Goes to the Healthcare Reformer
In the future, my political votes will be prioritized and centered around one thing: Healthcare Reform.
We are a family who does not “use” the system. We’re healthy. We haven’t been in the hospital. No major “diseases.” We are seeking insurance as an individual policy, not a group. This week, we were denied again after waiting and resubmitting an application as recommended by the insurance company. Among other things, we were deemed “uninsurable” for things as silly my teenage son’s “diagnosis and treatment of acne with medication.”
I’m tired of the power that healthcare insurance companies have. I’m frustrated with the way candidates take money from big business in healthcare and then allow them to behave the way they do in the “free market.” Overall healthcare expenses and the insurance system is broken in the United States. While I’ve always been pro “leave business alone,” this is one industry that needs the full power and weight of the Federal government to scrutinize and reform bandits who care little about their customers who are the source of insane revenues and profits.
Clinton, Obama, Edwards, Giuliani, Thompson, Romney. Are you listening? I don’t care if you are Democrat or Republican. Male or female. Black or white. Pro or anti gay, abortion, war, etc. Show me a plan for healthcare reform at the federal level.
I’m casting a vote for someone who will make this a top priority and drive for change.
Video on Computer or TV: It’s all in the Length
Good market data in AdAge showing where consumers prefer to watch video content — on their TV or computer. Not surprisingly, people prefer shorter videos on their computer and longer videos on their TVs. Frank Magid Associates’ research shows 18-24 year olds are twice as likely to watch a 60 minute video on their computer compared to older age groups.
Is Microsoft Begging Students to Buy/Use Office
Interesting. When I was in at college, I spent about $135 as I recall for WordPerfect. The software came on 5 1/4″ floppy disks. I was glad to have it compared to the typewriter, a bottle of whiteout, and lots of wasted paper.
Now Microsoft is is begging students to pay just $59.95. That’s a $620 discount off the retail price of $680 or a 91% savings. That throws out the standard pricing models the rest of the software industry use to calculate value. And what’s included in this “Ultimate Package:”
* Word
* Excel
* PowerPoint
* Oulook (with Business Contact Manager)
* Accounting Express
* Publisher
* Access
* Infopath
* Groove
* OneNote
Is this another sign that the monopolistic power in Redmond is nervous about Google’s and others web-based apps that allow today’s students to collaborate and work on any computer at any location on or off campus — or even on mobile devices like the iPhone? Maybe so.
My Son’s on the AF High Golf Team
Dallen qualified for the American Fork High School Golf Team as a Freshman. Man was I a proud Daddy.
Excited for all the experience he’ll get in tournament settings. Glad he will find others to play with that he can learn from and compete against. Golf is a great builder of character. Fun to see him get excited about being part of a team.
Results:
09/11/07 :: Hobble Creek Golf Club = 99
09/05/07 :: Fox Hollow Golf Club = 103 [DQed for scoring error]