tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24039042024-03-08T16:32:25.233-06:00StratVantage StratletsA periodic consideration of trends big and small that may affect business use of the Internet.Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.comBlogger94125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-33094377411421766612009-07-15T14:43:00.001-05:002009-07-15T14:46:25.866-05:00Twitter is for Old Fogies, Teen SaysA 15-year-old London teenager is shaking up the staid business world with a report he wrote as an intern, called How Teenagers Consume Media.
In the report, Matthew Robson describes a bizarro teenage world that, according to the London Times, is "a confusing place where the PC is a radio, the games console is a telephone, the mobile telephone is a stereo and text-message machine, the DVDs are Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-2401743120810053762009-01-28T17:24:00.003-06:002009-01-28T17:32:42.526-06:00IE7 and the Infinite Page (Sadness)Why does www.hannoverconsulting.com generate infinite pages when print previewed in IE7? Good question.
A buddy of mine made some changes in his site, hosted at GoDaddy, using their WebSite Tonight (r) wizard. All of a sudden, none of his pages print in IE7. They print fine in Firefox.
I've examined the HTML and found it's predictably too verbose, lots of divs, some don't appear to be closed (IMike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-84532383845861835392009-01-18T17:58:00.006-06:002009-01-18T18:44:38.206-06:00Operating Systems That Make You Go Hmmmmm . . .Recently I was reminded of an unforgivable quirk in Microsoft's directory system. I had run into this some time ago, but a friend's adventures in trying to transfer files from his daughter's W2000 PC to his XP PC called it to mind again.
My friend, we'll call him "Roger", reported: "So I am backing up [her] computer and it keeps failing. It takes me some time, but I find out that the folder Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-89675088886974521152008-12-23T10:14:00.005-06:002008-12-23T10:42:12.628-06:00Top 10 hot jobs of 2012What a motley list! CNBC selects 10 hot jobs in 2012 and somehow "space tour guide" gets on the list! this is apparently based on the following statement: "With about 200 reservations already, SpaceAdventures plans on hiring about 10 space tour guides to start, said spokeswoman Stacey Tearne."Sure, it may be a desirable job, but hot jobs are generally those with more than a few dozen workers. Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-11023122135649072932007-11-04T00:32:00.000-05:002007-11-04T01:07:47.241-05:00The Wisdom of Crowds vs. The Masses Are AssesI've been thinking this one over for months and have yet to make the time to post it. So, coming soon, and actual essay on the above title!
I may add snarky comments such as, "If you (the masses) are so smart, how come [Survivor's still on, Britney gets more ink than Iraq, nobody cares we lost habeus corpus, {add your own carp here}, and so on].
Or maybe not.
Anyway, the gist is, it's Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1151019430122000882006-06-22T18:36:00.000-05:002006-06-22T18:55:17.010-05:00Net Switzerland in DangerNet Switzerland in Danger
Switzerland
is famous for cheese, chocolate, numbered bank accounts, and for being a
neutral country, which probably enabled those numbered accounts in the first
place. High worth individuals felt comfortable stashing their well- or
ill-gotten gains because they knew Switzerland wasn’t likely to kowtow to law
enforcers or snooping governments from other countries – they Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1146168045053426952006-04-27T15:00:00.000-05:002006-04-27T15:03:20.363-05:00You're Hit! What Next? . . . A Slight ReturnFour years ago, SNS ran an issue about what to do after a hacker attack called You’re Hit! What Next? It focused on what to do immediately after you’ve been attacked.
A recent unfortunate attack by a disgruntled former employee of one of my clients brought this article back to mind and encouraged me to revisit the topic for two reasons: to update Alert SNS Readers on the state of computer Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1140044397597883422006-02-15T16:58:00.000-06:002006-02-15T16:59:57.606-06:00AOL Taxing Email?AOL Taxing Email?
One of the persistent urban myths that continues to circulate around the Internet concerns various forms of taxes: a tax on modems, a tax on email, and so on. Despite being thoroughly debunked, such legends have a life of their own and periodically show up in my email box.
But as we all know, things do change, not always for the better, and so, like my long-ago exhortation Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1140044254381791692006-02-15T16:55:00.000-06:002006-02-15T16:57:34.403-06:00High Tech Food, Low Tech ScienceHigh Tech Food, Low Tech Science
As the boomers enter their silver years, they're going to be watching what they eat much more carefully, according to research from my old employer, ACNielsen. ACNielsen compiles data on consumer purchases in grocery, drug, and mass merchandiser stores and also runs consumer panels.
Alert SNS Reader Roger Hamm sends along a fascinating ACNielsen newsletter Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1140043978589063522006-02-15T16:51:00.000-06:002006-02-15T16:54:52.923-06:00REAL Pen ComputingREAL Pen Computing
You may have heard about pen-based computing, but I guarantee you haven’t heard about pens-based computing. Yes, pens, plural. Your old pocket protector will never be the same again.
I’m not talking about toys like the Fly Pentop Computer, which is actually pretty cool, but about a prototype of a real, full-featured computer comprised entirely of transmogrified pens.
Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1140043639426185082006-02-15T16:46:00.000-06:002006-02-15T16:53:15.873-06:00Replace Your Boat AnchorA couple of issues ago, I asked the question, “Why Do We Have Personal Computers?” The article dealt with the frustrations of dealing with Windows-based computers (yes, now all you superior Mac users can stand and jeer and claim you never have any problems with your transcendently fabulous computers; at least one guy begs to differ.)
Yes, at least once a day I threaten to drop-kick my laptop intoMike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1133494792600146532005-12-01T21:39:00.000-06:002006-02-14T18:41:09.806-06:00Seriously, What’s Google Up To?With the release of the oddly titled Google Base, Google promises to dominate yet another market: online classifieds. Not content with trying to index the world’s Websites, the new beta service allows people to create even more content, including “all types of online and offline information and images.”
While the company insists Base is not a classified ad service, since this content will be Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1130532744993850912005-10-16T15:52:00.000-05:002006-02-15T16:42:34.763-06:00Why Do We Have Personal Computers?<!--
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li { font-family: Arial, Helvetica, Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1128709962377235932005-10-06T13:30:00.000-05:002005-10-07T13:32:42.420-05:00What’s Google Up To?, Error Breeding Error, Dotcom Bust a Conspiracy?What’s Google Up To?
As you know, I am now a Google business partner, having taken their coin to the tune of a righteous $9.47 since I started offering AdSense ads on the Website version of this newsletter. As part of the deal, I had to agree not to “engage in any action or practice that reflects poorly on Google or otherwise disparages or devalues Google’s reputation or goodwill.”
Despite Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1128709810638784422005-09-29T13:28:00.000-05:002005-10-07T13:30:10.656-05:00Mainlining Broadband, You Saw it Here First, VoIP Gathers Momentum, DSL Prices Drop: Competition? You’re Soaking In It, Stupid Name AlertMainlining Broadband
Well, I’m not betting that the latest monopoly to attempt to give you broadband options is going to set the world on fire. Broadband over Power Lines (BPL) has been on the verge for about as long as there’s been a broadband verge. What a great concept, though. People talk about making broadband Internet as ubiquitous as power, so who better to bring it to you than the guys Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1128709658683238912005-09-19T13:25:00.000-05:002005-10-07T13:27:38.703-05:00Success has many fathers; failure has many analysts, BuzzKill, Comedy is Easy. Predicting the Future is Hard, Sweating the Small Stuff, ASP, moreSuccess has many fathers; failure has many analysts
Yes, that’s right. I said it. You can Google it to be sure. It’s one of my better bon mots, if I do say so.
The cool thing is, it’s undoubtedly true. Take a look at the uncharacteristically fierce journalistic bashing the Bush government is undergoing in the wake of their truly historic bungling of Katrina. Our president actually admitted a Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1128709420948137072005-09-15T13:18:00.000-05:002005-10-07T13:23:40.980-05:00No Longer Free, Enlightening and Frightening for Half a Decade, Alert SNS Reader Hall of Fame, Support SNS, No Telling How Long This Will Remain TrueYes, that’s right. The StratVantage News Summary is no longer free – of advertising, that is. Of course, you can still receive SNS for free, but now you’ll be seeing Google AdSense ads along with the brilliant commentary.
This reversal of a long-standing SNS policy was not an easy decision, especially considering how much I hate advertising. It was based on a need to derive some value for the Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1126116233401855532005-09-01T13:02:00.000-05:002005-09-07T13:03:53.416-05:00Bits & Pieces Again
I need to do a little end of summer house cleaning, so here are a bunch of interesting tidbits that have been gathering dust here at StratVantage Central.
Stop the Credit Card Madness: If you’re like me, you get several credit card offers a week, or perhaps a day. I hope you’re shredding the applications forms, because these persistent annoyances are a great source Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1126121640898111042005-07-18T14:29:00.000-05:002005-09-07T14:34:00.916-05:00Bits & Pieces
A lot of interesting tidbits have been accumulating here at
StratVantage Central, so without further ado, or lengthy blather, here they are.
Human TV: We’re used to Asia
setting electronic trends, but it’s usually Japan, not China. At a recent
property fair in China, models carried LCD monitors on their backs all
around the show floor showing real estate videos. Hmmm, women Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1120599571556193072005-07-05T16:32:00.000-05:002005-07-05T16:39:31.566-05:00Just a Random Hoax
Did you know that Bill Gates:
Will give you lots of money if you forward an email to test Microsoft’s email tracking program?
Once posed for Tiger Beat magazine?
Will team up with AOL and do a survey with NASA, whose astronauts will collect prayers from school children all over America and take them up to space so that the angels can hear them better, all to help a Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1120598514707114022005-06-28T16:12:00.000-05:002005-07-05T16:31:12.180-05:00A Different Kind of Outsourcing – Noshoring
Outsourcing of US jobs, especially in highly-skilled areas such as Information Technology (IT), has been a hot topic for the past few years. Decried by demagogues and alarmists, it is nonetheless an inexorable trend in corporate America, and one that will not go away.
Those of you who have been following the outsourcing trend may be familiar with Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1120596687793444272005-06-06T15:50:00.000-05:002005-07-05T16:10:58.290-05:00
The News – 06/06/05
You Have No Privacy. Get Over It!
Scott McNeely, CEO of Sun Microsystems, said this famous quote many years ago, well in advance of the recent privacy compromises from trusted institutions like ChoicePoint and Lexis/Nexus.McNeely admits he was trying to be provocative, to get people thinking, but his real views on privacy – albeit from 2000, which is so pre-, well, Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1114740845440028702005-04-28T21:03:00.000-05:002005-04-28T21:29:15.796-05:00The News – 04/27/05Contribute to SNS or I Will Kill My Cat!Sound like extortion? Well it is. I’m totally serious. The cat gets it. Soon. Unless you help.I’m inspired by a similar plea to save a rabbit named Toby. Toby’s owner and one-time savior promises to eat his pet unless the good people of the Web come up with $50,000.Toby is the cutest little bunny on the planet. Unfortunately, he will DIE Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1126122069302507892005-04-15T14:40:00.000-05:002005-09-07T14:41:09.310-05:00Yub-a-Nub-Dub, a Mall in the Web
Shopping on the Web is far from new, and social networking (see a previous SNS) is becoming commonplace. But startup Yub has combined the two to create a virtual mall for people to hang out at, meet others, and do some shopping.
The concept of the virtual mall has been kind of the Holy Grail of online retail from the very beginnings of the commercial Web. Years Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2403904.post-1126122829052966622005-04-06T14:50:00.000-05:002005-09-07T15:05:30.983-05:00Something New in IT Market Research
– Real Data
During my 15 years in the marketing research business, I
developed a healthy respect for the power of data turned into information
turned into insights. I worked in Information Technology (IT) with ACNielsen
from the dawn of the business PC to the flowering of online Web applications.
You may know the Nielsen name from the Nielsen TV ratings folks, Mike Ellsworthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02840249723409709080noreply@blogger.com0