Cuts on the Bias

Fast-forward Future

My love of computer technology stems partially from its speed of evolution. I'm stunned by how fast it improves and progresses into areas thought impossible only a few years ago. Most industries are content to pop out a few subtle innovations every few years. We get a new teeth whitening formula, a re-sealing bag or stain resistant khakis and we're supposed to be thrilled. But how can you get excited by incremental, slower than slug improvements when the computer software and hardware developers are lobbing out radical inventions practically every week? 

Here's Mirror, a device that gives computer powers to every day objects. And Pauchub, a service that lets you "tag" and share sensor data (about the weather, about movement, about objects, etc) with a community. Or FourSquare which tells your cell phone which friends are nearby and what things you can do in the area. And this is only what's coming from tiny start-ups. The big boys keep their developments under wraps until announcing to the world and forcing you rethink your "must have" list.

Yes, sometimes I get "new stuff" whiplash, especially when I'm trying to learn how to use all these things. But I'll take that over "bored numb by me-too-ness" any day.

Saving Sarah

I've been worried about Sarah lately. After all, Ms. Palin quit her job unexpectedly with no backup plans as far as anyone knows. It's evident she's the bread-winner in the family, so I'm thinking who's going to feed all those the kids?

To help her out, I typed her job qualifications into Monster. I said she's been a governor, newscaster, hunter, mom, basketball player and candidate for Vice President - not a bad start unless you value consistency. I sat back and let the magical algorithms do their stuff. Within seconds, I had a list of new job offerings for her to consider:

Top of the list was "Vice Presdident, Sales" for MRI in Providence, Rhode Island. I think this is a reasonably good match as her smoozing chops are state of the art. And she's already got the wardrobe. I'm thinking this is a red suit kind of job.

Further down on the list is "VP, Level Equity Derivative Quatitative Analyst." This may be a mismatch; although it sounds like a job where no one really knows what you do, so she could be perfect. There's a position for "IT Security" but since she hasn't been able to protect her own email, I can't see this working out for her. Her run for Veep apparently qualified her for most of the listings as nearly all start with "Vice President." Her hunting and ball handling skills are less in demand.

Oh, here we go -- "Oil and Gas Broker" for some company called KForce in Godforsaken, Texas. Go for it, Sarah! Make your mark.

Boxee Bugsmee

Technology is a bitch. I love it. I hate it. I love it. I hate it.

In our household we NEED to have everything cordless, digital, glossy, shiny, mounted, invisible, weightless, you name it, and secretly I do appreciate hiding all the ugliness that comes with new toys.
But when it's early morning and the coffee isn't done yet and multiple reports need to go out, why must playing a single song be so motherflippin complicated.

I want to listen to a single classical song, maybe 2.

Read my lips!

Wrap dresses aren't my thing, they just don't fit my figure well. I've tried many times to wear them and the front flies open and the belt doesn't hit me in the right spot-also my boobs become a spectacle. When the dress does fit however, I find it very attractive, and the whole concept of it is brilliant.

Diane von Furstenberg has been in this business for a while and this year alone her sales are estimated to be around 200 million. There's a great interview with her in the Times , she explains how she survived bankruptcy, stuck to her guns and fought to be financially independent. A great role model for anyone who's feeling a little lost in this recession.

*Side Note-She's the sexiest 64yr old around, no?

Economatrix

As a nation we seem to need someone to beat us up regularly. In recent decades we've found people to criticize us for being fat, lazy, uneducated, aggressive, sinful, staid, provincial, liberal, greedy and a host of other descriptions usually preceded by the word "too." I spent much of the 80's and 90's avoiding televangelists who could spit out all our collective failings while crying and raising enormous piles of money. The dotcom era introduced us to people who were way smarter than the rest of us and way richer. Then, with Bush in office, we met people who were way dumber than the rest of us and damn proud of it.

I was beginning to think we'd entered a new era of self-confidence and positive influence, but now I'm starting to doubt that. We seem to have found a new dominatrix to flail us into submission: the economist.

Whether he's toting a Nobel prize or a popular blog, economists have become our newest critics endlessly pointing out that we spend too much, save too little, buy too little and hoard too much. Confusing? Contradictory? Doesn't matter. The point is we're still bad, worthless beings who need to reform.

If we must continue to beat ourselves up, couldn't we at least do it for something enjoyable like fashion or wine?

Kathie Lee's First

Lovely piece on the Today show with Kathie Lee and Hoda. They reviewed a number of clever kitchen items including our wonderful, chic Smocks!  Favorite lines:  "Finally, Smocks that aren't unattractive," and from Kathie Lee as she puts on Ashley "This will be a first!"

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Oh you clever minx

I know this is for Runners World but the running outfit with the updo and the draped flag is just a wee bit much, no? And red again. The lady loves red, and Alaska, and oily legs, and multi-tasking and ugly sconces.

Style and Substance

Imagine a site with the attitude of The Onion and the content of Wired. If this takes more than a few seconds to envision, visit Ars Technica, a Conde Nast technology news site that is like a really good spouse, useful and enjoyable. They started my day with an article that could have been a lead for Onion: "Printed Blog Publication Fails; World Dies of Shock."  Just how I like my tech news--with a little more tongue-in-cheekiness and a little less self-grandiosiness.

Speaking of tongue-in-cheekiness, if you missed Maureen Dowd's column today on the adventures of our wilderness diva, Sarah Palin, take a break and read it. Mighty Mo has a fine way with words when she's on and in this column she's definitely "on." God help you if you ever offend Maureen's sensibilities--particularly if you're a woman.

California Dreaming

Think you're good at saving money? Perhaps you are if you were able to read Kelley's post and not buy the dress. If so, you can advance to the next level and balance California's budget.

The Los Angeles Times created a tool that lets you choose from an assortment of cost savings and additional taxes. You can review all the different areas and make your choices, finding $24 billion in your spare time. I managed to balance the budget, but not without taxing myself (and nearly everyone in the state) significantly more than the very high levels we already pay. Legalizing pot is starting to sound like a very workable idea.

Sale of the day

This is a dress from Calvin Klein that's pretty darn cute and only $128. You can add a belt, throw on a cropped jacket, pair it with a turtleneck in the winter-GREAT investment if you can pull off strapless. If this dress isn't your thing or $128 is still too pricey check out their SALE section, great pieces like summer anoraks, thin long cardigans, heels, swimsuits even work out stuff. I'm always surprised at how reasonably priced their mass market line is-get these deals now and I bet you can still wear it next Spring or Summer. Treat yourself.

Fly Me

An article in The Economist today caught my eye: a brief write up summarizing the latest developments in flying cars explaining why I won't be able to buy one any time soon. The usual challenges were cited--regulation unprepared to handle the traffic, operation too complex for normal folks, technology not quite ready. All of these excuses could have been offered to prevent the development and distribution of computers, but they weren't. Perhaps the inventors of flying cars could learn something from Gates and Jobs.

I've been obsessed with flying cars since I was 9 years old and my friend Stephen, the nerdiest kid in class, promised to build one for me. It was a simple design involving a large fan and a lever or two. We remained grounded, but I think he had the right idea. Instead of crafting a car that flew, Stephen was just trying to get me airborne.

If an inventor took a clue from Gates and Jobs, they would make a personal flying machine. It would be smaller and much less powerful than a plane or car. It would be easier to operate. It would be pretty. And it would only need to get its single passenger about a foot off the ground, moving about the speed of a bike. I would buy two.

Coffee Art

In my ever-vigilant search for good graph communications here's a new entrant: a chart that beautifully and simply explains how to make nine different coffee drinks. I wish I could find an entire cookbook like this.  I want an expresso machine just so I can try each of the recipes.

The illustration is the work of Lokesh Dhakar, a Baltimore based designer who has kindly created a store where you can buy T-shirts or (oddly) coffee cups with the coffee graphic. He's also thoughtfully created a PDF file so you can print a pocket-sized version to carry with you--uh, in case you need to whip up a coffee drink on the fly?

Clever. Considerate. Caffeinated.