Commentary – Page 2 – Oddball Update

TiVo’s Big Announcement Is…WebTV?

March 4, 2010March 4, 2010 Chief Oddball

Last month, TiVo teased us with an upcoming announcement, saying that their inventing the DVR was just the opening act, or some such puffery. This week they finally revealed the meat and potatoes: it’s the all-new TiVo Premiere, otherwise known to us old hats as the Series4.

Quick, Act Like We Give a Crap

February 24, 2010February 24, 2010 Chief Oddball

Today the president of Toyota Motor Company, Mr. Akio Toyoda, appeared before a U.S. congressional committee to answer questions about the ongoing recall and safety/PR crisis that his company is currently suffering. My wife watched the proceedings on live TV, and as she put it, the result could only be described as “a serious culture crash.”

Shadow Politics

August 21, 2009January 4, 2012 Chief Oddball 2 Comments

I’m a regular reader of the Joystiq video game news blog, and this week my daily scanning of its pages revealed a lot of praise for a game I hadn’t heard of previously: Shadow Complex. This Xbox Live Arcade game by Chair and Epic Games is a 2D sidescroller built on the 3D Unreal engine, combining old-fashioned, Metroid-style gameplay with modern day graphics, effects and combat.

Apple (Computer) is Starting to Piss Me Off

August 6, 2009August 6, 2009 Chief Oddball 2 Comments

Today comes news that Apple has started blanket-rejecting third-party eBook reader apps, claiming that because those apps can be used to read illegally obtained copyrighted content, they will no longer be published in the App Store. So what happens to eReader, Stanza, et al?

I’ll Never Give You My Money

July 19, 2009July 19, 2009 Pooch 3 Comments

You may have heard: the Beatles’ albums are being re-released. On the surface, it’s a Beatle fan’s wet dream: the new discs have awesome packaging, (apparently) superior sound, and best yet — there will be mono releases, just like fans have been wanting for years!

Looking Out For Number 1

January 5, 2009August 10, 2012 Chief Oddball

This is going to be one of those rare politically-themed entries, so be forewarned. As we Americans prepare for the inauguration of our newly-elected president, I’d like for everyone to take a few deep, calming breaths. Because you’re not going to have time to stop and collect yourselves when the new Congress gets in session and starts trying to legislate from the bully pulpit, which — mark my words — is exactly what’s coming.

Saying And Doing Are Two Different Things

July 18, 2007July 18, 2007 Chief Oddball

Some 40 percent of Americans would curb their driving habits if retail gasoline prices shot up to $3.50 a gallon, according to a Reuters/Zogby poll released on Wednesday. Reuters Did Reuters go back in time to 1997 so they could write this story?

Set-Top DVD Recording: Not Your Father’s Fair Use Doctrine

May 15, 2007October 26, 2011 Chief Oddball 19 Comments

Yay! It’s pouring rain here in Florida for the first time in six months! Now perhaps we can finally stop smoldering, inhaling noxious smoke and — dare I say it — go back to washing our cars in our driveways without getting two-hundred dollar tickets.

Trash Bandit

July 12, 2006October 2, 2011 Chief Oddball

The garbage truck stopped by a few minutes ago, so I went outside to roll the standard-issue trash can back into the garage. In the process of checking to ensure that the can was empty, I discovered some unexpected new trash in it that hadn’t been there just two hours prior when I checked to see if the trash truck had arrived yet.

What Defines an American Car?

June 30, 2006September 30, 2011 Chief Oddball 3 Comments

CNN’s “QuickVote” polls, which they offer on their website for the public to take, are often of questionable value, or at least questionable objectivity. In light of the “Will Renault/Nissan buy a minority stake in GM?” story flying around in the press today, CNN made tonight’s QuickVote poll: “What defines an American car?”

Category: Commentary