Going Out Of Business Sale
When I was young there were all these stores in New York City that had huge "GOING OUT OF BUSINESS" sings on them.
"EVERYTHING MUST GO!"
"TOTAL LIQUIDATION SALE!"
"UP TO 90% OFF"
These stores stayed in business for years while they were going out of business. I guess that had lot to liquidate...
I guess you could say that BackingIn.com has been in a similar situation for the past few months as well. It's sort of been "Going out of business" but never goes away...
@D’oh!
This is totally embarrassing to admit, especially since I'm a 'tech' guy, but I accidentally deleted my Twitter account for BackingIn.com. I thought I was just suspending the account, but I deleted it, and there is no way to restore it. Never mind that Twitter warned me, like, 20 times before deleting the account...I still did it. Am I too young to claim a 'senior' moment? This means that I lost all my followers, my tweets, and who I was following. I didn't have a big following, but it was bigger than zero. This all happened because today I thought my Twitter and WordPress accounts had been hacked (they weren't, BTW), so I temporarily closed down BackingIn.com, and then I blew up my Twitter account.
So, if you would like to follow BackingIn.com on Twitter, my new name is @BackingInBlog.
I do have one excuse for my absent mindedness. I recently went back on Weight Watchers (new PointsPlus is way confusing, and where is my Android E-Tools app dammit!), and I was a bit woozy from lack of carbs. I need to get into shape so that I can look half as good as my beautiful wife-to-be on our special day (TBD). :-)
I’m Back?
I think I'm back. We'll see how it goes, but this is my first post it over two months? Where have I been? Too tell the truth, I was trapped under something heavy, and I couldn't quite reach the keyboard. Actually, I'm still struggling to find my 'voice', but my attitude is that I'm going to try to just write and let my 'voice' find me.
I've been house hunting lately, and I came across a beautiful little house in a great neighborhood that fits my needs (and my wallet) perfectly. I contacted a realtor and found out that the house was owned by the County and was being sold via a federal program called, "Neighborhood Stability Program" or "NSP". I was informed that you had to qualify to purchase the home and one of the qualifications was to make under a certain salary. As it turns out, to my surprise, I'm really rich! At least the NSP program thinks so. Just once, ONCE, I want to get a break from the government. I guess the mayor of Orange County saw me driving around in my 2009 Rabbit with the 15 inch steel rims and guessed that a guy with a whip like that must be a player! Maybe it was my Wal-Mart shirt or my Sketchers that really clued him in on my gansta bankroll. I know, it was when he saw me at Olive Garden eating all the salad and bread sticks that gave him the impression that I lived so large, but the salad and bread sticks at the Garden are unlimited damn it. UNLIMITED!
Still Not Ready
I planned on writing a big article on my experiences, thoughts, and feelings on 9/11, but 9 years later I still can't bring myself to reopen those wounds. This is not like me. I usually wear my heart on my sleave. I will just wish you all peace and love. Amen.
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American Chopper
I've been a big fan of the reality TV show, American Chopper, since its inception. I can't stand most reality shows...just so much trash, but this show was great because it combined the art of building custom motorcycles within the framework of a a dysfunctional yet loving family business. Well, I guess the dysfunction won over the love, because this season, Paul Sr. and Paul Jr. are competing against each other with rival bike shops (after Paul Jr. was fired last season). What a pity. What kind of father get jealous of his own son? My father always wanted, and was so happy, when his children succeeded. Isn't it every parent's dream that their children have a better life then they did? I mean, Paul Jr.'s success and fame is a result of how his parents raised him and the opportunities that his father gave him in the business he created. Everybody that watches the show knows that, so why did Sr. feel the need to alienate his son and steal the limelight back? Paul Sr. is a man in his 60's with a large and imposing frame, biker tattoos, etc., but I guess even when you look like a tough guy you can still be a frightened and immature child. Shame on you Paul Sr.
Lost
It's been a while since I last posted on BackingIn.com. Quite frankly, I feel a little lost on where to take this thing. Should I keep writing whatever is on my mind or narrow the focus to technology or pop culture or something else? Lately, I feel like anything that I have to say has or will be said a thousand times on other blogs so why bother writing at all. Perhaps I'm just going through a bit of 'writer's block'. My good friend and founder of TheOther46.com suggested that I write from the heart, even if it is just a couple of sentences, almost every day. He has advised me that I don't have to craft a long article every time. I think I will take his advice and give it shot. Stay tuned...
TheBron
I am a casual fan of NBA basketball, but I am a baseball fanatic. With that said, I do and do not understand the controversy surrounding LeBron James’ decision to leave Cleveland for Miami via free agency.
Professional sports are a spectacle, as much theater as athleticism. I love the soap opera dramatics that play out in the press...very entertaining. I 'love' the Mets and 'hate' the Yankees (and Braves and Phillies and...), but these are 'sports' emotions not real emotions. I've been known to chant "Yankees suck! Yankees suck!" during games, but if fact, the Yankees actually don't 'suck' they are really good. It doesn't matter though. When I'm involved in watching a Mets game I play the part. If David Wright, my favorite Met, leaves the Mets for the Yankees when becomes a free agent I will 'hate' him. If he makes his decision on a prime-time ESPN special, I will REALLY hate him. But again, baseball (like all sports) is a business, and you can't really blame a person for doing what's best for themselves. Likewise though, that player has to realize that what's best for them may not be what’s best for the fans, and they are going to let them know it! That's part of the deal. In the end, always remember: you can't really love or hate anything that can't love or hate you back.
This is why I am enjoying the LeBron James free agent drama so much. LeBron probably could have made more money and have become a bigger star playing in New York, but he chose to join a team that has great chance of winning a championship very soon. I admire that. I might be the only one. Sports writers are accusing him of taking the easy way out and being a coward! It's true that if LeBron had stayed with his hometown Cavaliers and won a championship, he would go down in NBA history as a Michael Jordon type player. Jordon spent years leading the Bulls from failure to glory, but that's not what James wants to do. He has chosen to become one of three superstars on a team that might win a bunch of championships. I don’t' see why that is bad.
With all that said, the way he left the Cavs, with the whole "Decision" ESPN special, was pathetic. And I loved it! Now, the best thing EVER is how the owner of the Cavaliers responded: with an emotional open letter posted on the front page of the Cavaliers web site! I had no idea that the NBA allowed owners to post anything they want on team pages! I would think that all the content is very closely scrutinized. I bet his letter was typed by him personally on his computer then copy and pasted onto the site. He used the Comic Sans font, a font not used by any respectable web designer. Yikes! This is no press release reviewed by the Team's or the League's PR people. What I like about the letter is that it is 'real', dripping with emotion. You just don't see that much anymore on official websites. I don't agree with a bunch of what the letter says, but I absolutely love that he has poured his heart out.
In the end, none of this matters. The Magic will win the Championship next year while the three Heat superstars will have a massive clash of egos. They probably won't even make the playoffs. ***Jinx!!!***
Open Letter to Fans from Cavaliers Majority Owner Dan Gilbert
Laps
Sitting poolside, listening to the 'All Sade' easy-listening radio station, basking in the glow of an Orlando sunset. I just completed 20 laps in the community pool and feeling darn good about it. I finally found a workout that I don't hate. Do you sweat when you swim? I just blew my mind. Damn! The radio switched from Sade to soprano sax jazz. What a buzz kill! Between swimming and Wii Boxing, I might just get in shape...and steroids...lots and lots of steroids. It's a joke! Relax!
BTW, a woman just brought her toddler into the hot tub. That can't be good, can it? Kid seems happy, but still it must be a bit dangerous, no?
Ahhhh! Michael McDonald...easy listening gold!
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Windows Ocho
When I started this blog five months ago, I never thought that I would someday be lucky enough to break a huge story, let alone one with an anonymous source deep inside one of the largest corporations in the world! I've been sitting on this story since April 1st of this year, but my source would not allow me to print it until he could verify the information.
According to my source, a high-level employee of Micr0soft, the next version of Windows (Windows 8) will have an app store in which ALL Windows software will be distributed! Modeled after the hugely successful Apple app store for iPhone and iPad, the Windows app store will be a 'one stop shop' for all software applications that a user wishes to install on their Windows system.
Apparently, the idea for a Windows app store (not to be confused with the app store available for Windows Phone) had been kicked around for a couple of years in Redmond, but it was the successful launch of Apple's iPad that convinced Microsoft that customers are willing to give up some freedom in exchange for the perception of increased security and quality. My source says that the Microsoft sees the iPad as a full computer, not a 'large format' iPod or iPhone. They are convinced that Apple will, over the next few years, make the iPad more and more powerful, phase out their notebook computers, and eventually all of Apple's products will be tied to app stores. Not wanting to fall behind Apple any further, Microsoft will introduce the Windows app store for Windows 8 first.
Below is my source's list of benefits and restrictions for software deployment on Windows 8:
- All software for Windows 8 will be distributed via the Windows App store including both consumer and enterprise applications.
- Software developers will need to submit their applications to Micorosft for approval. Microsoft will use the approval process to weed out malware (spyware, viruses, etc), poorly written software that impedes the performance of Windows 8, pornography, hate speach, vulgarity, and anything else that Micosoft thinks customers will find offensive.
- In addition to applicaitons developed by large vendors, such as Adobe and Apple, all custom developed software will need to be aproved by Microsoft via the app store.
- Microsoft will continue to allow Adobe Flash on Windows 8, but other software has not yet been approved (and may never be ): Firefox, Chrome, iTunes, Safari -- just to name a few.
The shift to a closed system controlled by Microsoft is a bombshell, no doubt, but the biggest news is that 'Windows 8' is just the code name for the next version of Windows. The real name will be Windows Ocho! It seems that MS execs want to capitalize on the popularity of NFL wide receiver Chad Ochocinco, in an attempt to appeal to the 'kids'. Not THAT is a little hard to believe, wouldn't you say?
