The folks at brand autopsy take a useful look at the many alternatives available to godaddy.com vs. a one time, expensive superbowl ad. Interesting reading.
Monthly Archives: December 2004
State School Tax Levies rise 7.3%
I noticed a number of “property tax” searches in my logs today. I imagine it has something to do with the increases we’re all seeing this year. Alan Borsuk reviews the data, and provides a useful chart on school spending around the state. It’s interesting to see Madison’s total tax receipts compared to other areas.
Toyota’s Walker Robots
Toyota is showing off some robots, or mechanized mobility units. These robots are designed to help disabled people move around. Via Gizmodo.
Barry Bonds Grand Jury Testimony
Lance Williams, Mark Fainaru-Wada for the 2nd day reveal grand jury testimony in the BALCO case. This time, it’s Barry Bonds:
Barry Bonds told a federal grand jury that he used a clear substance and a cream supplied by the Burlingame laboratory now enmeshed in a sports doping scandal, but he said he never thought they were steroids, The Chronicle has learned.
Federal prosecutors charge that the Bay Area Laboratory Co-operative, known as BALCO, distributed undetectable steroids to elite athletes in the form of a clear substance that was taken orally and a cream that was rubbed onto the body.
It will be interesting to see how Milwaukee based commissioner Bud Selig deals with this…..
Ukraine: The Revolution via VR Scenes
Powerful stuff: Andrew Jakowleff has published several VR scenes from Kiev. Check it out.
10 Gigabits Per Second to the Home – Free!
This makes sense. True, 2 way broadband should be a public good, like roads and local utilities. Danish IT executive Finn Helmer has urged his government to bring fiber to every home. David Isenberg has more.
Giambi & Steroids
Mark Fainaru-Wada, Lance Williams break the steriod testimony of ex Athletics and current NY Yankee slugger Jason Giambi’s grand jury testimony that he injected himself with human growth hormone in 2003 and had earlier started using steroids.
Broadband Shackles, or the power of telco lobbying
David Isenberg references a broadband report that tells us that Japan, with half the population has about 10 times as many fiber to the home installations as the US.
At the same time, naturally, entrenched telcos are successfully lobbying to kill local givernment’s ability to deploy municipal broadband services. This is bad news all around. SBC certainly has not been rushing to bring Wisconsin broadband services up to 21st century standards. Nope, we’re stuck in the 1990’s here. Jonathan Kim takes a look at the telco lobbying… Xeni has many links on Philadelphia’s plans to offer free or low cost wifi access and the deal that Verizon cut with Ed Rendell, Pennsylvania’s Democratic governor to give them the right to veto any other municipal broadband plans.
Wisconsin Banks & Tax Shelters
The Wisconsin Department of Revenue continues to pursue local banks that have setup subsidiaries in Nevada to avoid Wisconsin’s 7.9% state corporate tax rate. More power to the DOR, but the $26M in settlements seems rather small. I wonder if this is done for effect? Paul Gores has more.
Beautiful Sunset VR Scene from the Eiffel Tower: Paris
Eric Rougier has posted a gorgeous full screen Quicktime VR scene from the 2nd floor of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. Enjoy.Quicktime.