Andy Small's Blog http://andy-small.com a blog by Andy Small posterous.com Wed, 27 Jan 2010 13:57:39 -0800 iPad: my first thoughts http://andy-small.com/ipad-my-first-thoughts http://andy-small.com/ipad-my-first-thoughts

Apple’s newest product has me unimpressed.  Here are a couple of qualifiers for that comment:

 

1.       I want one device for everything outside of my house.  That’s why I love my iPhone.

2.       I never wanted, or even considered a Kindle.  Not once.

3.       To me netbooks are a waste of time.  My 17 inch Dell isn’t that heavy to carry around.

 

Now that I’ve said I’m unimpressed here are the things I like about it:

 

I’m sure that Kindles are going to take a dive in sales because this thing blows the Kindle out of the water.  Apple has done the eReader right. 

I like that you have the choice of either WiFi or 3G.

I really like the price point of $499 for a 16gig.  That puts this little guy right in line with netbooks.

 

I guess I just want less stuff that does more things.  For me my iPhone does most everything I want and my Dell takes over with the rest.

 

I won’t buy this little guy but I see the point of it all.

 

 

 

 

 

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Tue, 12 Jan 2010 13:38:38 -0800 Conan is a class act. http://andy-small.com/conan-is-a-class-act http://andy-small.com/conan-is-a-class-act

People of Earth:

In the last few days, I’ve been getting a lot of sympathy calls, and I want to start by making it clear that no one should waste a second feeling sorry for me. For 17 years, I’ve been getting paid to do what I love most and, in a world with real problems, I’ve been absurdly lucky. That said, I’ve been suddenly put in a very public predicament and my bosses are demanding an immediate decision.

Six years ago, I signed a contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show in June of 2009. Like a lot of us, I grew up watching Johnny Carson every night and the chance to one day sit in that chair has meant everything to me. I worked long and hard to get that opportunity, passed up far more lucrative offers, and since 2004 I have spent literally hundreds of hours thinking of ways to extend the franchise long into the future. It was my mistaken belief that, like my predecessor, I would have the benefit of some time and, just as important, some degree of ratings support from the prime-time schedule. Building a lasting audience at 11:30 is impossible without both.

But sadly, we were never given that chance. After only seven months, with my Tonight Show in its infancy, NBC has decided to react to their terrible difficulties in prime-time by making a change in their long-established late night schedule.

Last Thursday, NBC executives told me they intended to move the Tonight Show to 12:05 to accommodate the Jay Leno Show at 11:35. For 60 years the Tonight Show has aired immediately following the late local news. I sincerely believe that delaying the Tonight Show into the next day to accommodate another comedy program will seriously damage what I consider to be the greatest franchise in the history of broadcasting. The Tonight Show at 12:05 simply isn’t the Tonight Show. Also, if I accept this move I will be knocking the Late Night show, which I inherited from David Letterman and passed on to Jimmy Fallon, out of its long-held time slot. That would hurt the other NBC franchise that I love, and it would be unfair to Jimmy.

So it has come to this: I cannot express in words how much I enjoy hosting this program and what an enormous personal disappointment it is for me to consider losing it. My staff and I have worked unbelievably hard and we are very proud of our contribution to the legacy of The Tonight Show. But I cannot participate in what I honestly believe is its destruction. Some people will make the argument that with DVRs and the Internet a time slot doesn’t matter. But with the Tonight Show, I believe nothing could matter more.

There has been speculation about my going to another network but, to set the record straight, I currently have no other offer and honestly have no idea what happens next. My hope is that NBC and I can resolve this quickly so that my staff, crew, and I can do a show we can be proud of, for a company that values our work.

Have a great day and, for the record, I am truly sorry about my hair; it’s always been that way.

Yours,

Conan

I have to say I agree with what Conan says in his open letter.  I mean the Tonight Show has always been right after the late local news since, well forever.  Just because Leno's show is tanking doesn't mean NBC should move Leno to 10:35.

 

I don't watch either show so I don't really care but I do remember watching Johnny Carson when I was young and I did like Leno for a while.

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Mon, 21 Dec 2009 09:42:59 -0800 The Senate is getting tense http://andy-small.com/the-senate-is-getting-tense http://andy-small.com/the-senate-is-getting-tense
 
For whatever reason I enjoy parlimentary proceedure.  If I could be anymore of uber geek I dont' know how but I do enjoy it.
 
My take on this matter is, yes allowing a few extra minutes to complete a floor speech is USUALLY accepted, USUALLY.  But with this healthcare bill debate going hot and heavy imagine if all 100 Senators wanted two extra minutes to complete their floor speeches.  That's over three hours of extra time alloted!  Senator Franken was trying to keep the floor speaches moving (under order from Senator Reid for the record). 
 
This all goes to prove that the tension is so thick in Congress right now you can cut it with a knife.

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Mon, 02 Nov 2009 17:01:04 -0800 Class D Here I am! http://andy-small.com/class-d-here-i-am http://andy-small.com/class-d-here-i-am I have been waiting for this:

Promotions are a very fun part of iRacing.

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Tue, 20 Oct 2009 10:22:41 -0700 Computer Repair on Site: The Basics http://andy-small.com/computer-repair-on-site-the-basics http://andy-small.com/computer-repair-on-site-the-basics

A Co-Worker today asked me what I brought with me if I had to fix a PC in the field.  Since I do this from time to time for family and friends I made a check list of sorts:

 

·         Screwdriver – Multi-Head Phillips in case you need to open the box

·         Live Linux Boot CD – I like Ubuntu’s live CD

·         Can of Air – All PC’s get dusty

·         Flash Drive with Portable Apps – Firefox and an AV with the latest deffs.

·         Latest exe of Firefox to put on their system

 

Even then I never have exactly what I need.  If  the person has an internet connect that lends itself to you plugging in your laptop (if you have a laptop) all the better to be able to download drivers or whatever else you need.

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Sat, 17 Oct 2009 10:08:22 -0700 My iRacing Rides http://andy-small.com/my-iracing-rides http://andy-small.com/my-iracing-rides
Pontiac Solstice


600 Legends

These are my Rookie Class cars.  Please note the numbers on the cars aren't always what are on there. iRacing numbers their cars by entry into the race. IE: If I was first to enter a race I'd be number one.
Only sponsor on the cars is my racing club which is the Great Plains Region.

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Sat, 17 Oct 2009 09:44:38 -0700 Testing My Posterous account, don't mind me! http://andy-small.com/testing-my-posterous-account-dont-mind-me-0 http://andy-small.com/testing-my-posterous-account-dont-mind-me-0 Testing 1...2...3
mic check mic check

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