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Here's an interesting article on the hi-definition format war. From the article:

Blu-ray and HD-DVD are as much a revolution as Video-CD was compared to VHS. They’re an evolution at most but of course that’s not something the companies pushing the formats want you to realize.

The author notes that HD could be achieved on standard DVDs (which it could, albeit compressed and sparing extras), but that companies are forcefully pushing new technologies onto consumer to make up for lost DVD player and disc margins. Can't say I disagree.

Assuming you're talking to the right person, offer more than just money, and ask the right questions. Tom Chiarella lays it all out in a 2005 Esquire piece examining what it takes to become a good haggler. It's a hilarious read to boot.

From the article: "When I asked if a price on a tube of Crest was firm, I was met with the blankness that only a haggler knows. But I found that if you ask the right questions, there are deals to be had."

I love "earning" a good Friday night and subsequent two-day weekend. By earn I mean having completed several items from you weekly to-do list. It just feels good.

I must say that Lindsey and I aren't the most adventurous folks. We're home-body, city-slickers by definition. Even so, it's a challenge to do creative activities with a little 2-year old and one in the cooker.

Lindsey and I have wedding festivities both tonight and tomorrow for two different couples followed by another baseball game tomorrow night (that's always a blast). So what are you doing this weekend?

The AP reports: “At airports, supermarkets and big-box retailers, ‘customer service’ in recent years has meant self-serve — aided by touch-screen kiosks. As digital kiosks become more user-friendly and capable of handling more complicated tasks, health care providers, fast-food chains and other businesses say trading face-to-face encounters for face-to-monitor transactions improves service and saves money.”

I consider myself one who prefers the personal touch in lieu of self-service kiosks, usually. At the post office, I bypass a line of 15 people in favor of the kiosks. I’m in and out in 2 minutes (because no one else seems to use the kiosk) while others can wait up to 45 minutes to send something. However, at Walmart and other stores employing self-service kiosk, I almost always opt to wait in line for 5 minutes to encounter a human.

I can appreciate the cost savings of kiosks from a business perspective, but the human element in me questions the so-called “improved service.” Our new motto as humans: Get in. Get out. Do your thing. Avoid humans at all costs because they get in your way by slowing you down. That doesn’t sound right…

Some recent developments and slow consumer adoption have Blu-ray slowly edging out HD DVD in the states. But things are completely as they seem, especially being that the latter format is performing better in Europe. I wrote a story on the current state of the HD disc format war over at NewTeeVee. For those interested…

Blu-ray adoption is gradually killing HD DVD, or at least that’s how it appears. Retail advantages, bigger support base in Hollywood, and a slightly cheaper PlayStation 3 all suggest that the Sony-backed medium will ultimately prevail over Toshiba’s HD DVD. “We are starting to see the pendulum swing slowly in [Blu-ray’s] direction,” says Chris Roden, analyst with Parks Associates. Continue reading…

The Associated Press reports: "The batting coach for the Tulsa Drillers was pronounced dead at a hospital Sunday evening after being struck in the head by a line drive as he stood in the first-base coach's box during a Texas League game with the Arkansas Travelers, police said."

Sad story. I'd wouldn't be surprised, however, if the coach was looking elsewhere when the foul ball was hit. That said, I still support wooden bats in both college and high school as both the majors and minors currently use.

I was out yesterday, but thought I’d chime in with my Independence Day thoughts. Note: Please don’t misunderstand the below comment for ethnocentrism or arrogance. It is only out of appreciation, pride, and in belief of the country which I call home.

“Despite its flaws, and there may be many, the United States is the greatest attempt at democracy the world has ever seen.” — some conservative Rodeo announcer I heard a few weeks ago while on leisure with family and friends.

I believe that statement to be true. I’ve hung my hat as an American abroad for two years in Brazil and would live there again in a heart beat, but I believe America really is the most progressive attempt at democracy the world has ever known despite our current and insipid executive branch (read: president). This is thanks in part to the Brits, the French, and the Greek before us, and I’m sure many others were influential as well.

UPDATE: Fixed “Greeks” mispelling. I’m a retard.

Originally published on Thursday, April 21, 2005.

Today I had the opportunity to meet with two potential clients in Salt Lake City. These meetings were “first contact” and are only second in enjoyment to “closing a sale” meetings. I really take pleasure in sitting down with people and seeing how our company can help improve their businesses. It’s a pleasure to discover their backgrounds; where they’re from, what they do, and what makes them tick. I think that’s why I like business so much. Lots of psychology involved. Hopefully my Father’s PHD in Psychology along with his wise influence on me as a boy helps me in that respect.

Robert (my partner and close friend) and I have really enjoyed this past year since formally graduating. Although we started Griffio while still in school, this day marks a full year in which we have been working full time for ourselves. We’ve learned a lot about failure, success, and have met literally hundreds of individuals. Large ones, small ones, funny ones, boring ones, rude ones, kind ones, fast ones, slow ones, shady ones, and sincere ones. The work we do is a blast. But it wouldn’t be worth anything without the people that work strives to serve.

Even if you’re not in the business industry, take every opportunity you can to meet someone new. It doesn’t take much, but the positive effects will carry you a long way.

UPDATE: I maintain my case.

First off, my heart, thoughts, and prayers go out to the families of 33+ dead from the Virginia Tech shooting today. It’s just a horrible tragedy; the worst shooting (not just at a school) in US history.

The BBC has compiled a piece on how the massacre unfolded on the internet, including a cryptic email blast sent out to all students that encouraged them to “stay put” and “avoid windows.” The article also includes a first hand instant message conversation between two brothers, one of which survived in a classroom where the shooter killed 9 out of the 15 individuals in the room, including the teacher.

Expect significant repercussions in university security.