Wednesday, March 5, 2008

Slurm Lives!

Like the rest of the sane world, I'm a huge fan of Futurama.

Though as an entrepreneur, I can't say it doesn't make me a little nervous to see this announcement: apparently, we're all going to have a chance to try Slurm in the near future.

In addition to the fact that Slurm sounds a lot like Squizz (which is going to launch any day now... stay tuned for a big announcement!), which might cause confusion, I sent a sample of my drink (on the recommendation of my so-called PR agency) to Futurama co-creator David X. Cohen some eight months ago... and never heard back.

Look, I've been told that i can get a little paranoid from time to time, but it does seem a little weird to me, the timing of all this. Eh, but what are you going to do? I"m sure it's just a weird coincidence...

Monday, March 3, 2008

Blast Off! (Rip Off?)

Amazing how the world works in tandem sometimes.  You think about an old movie, and there it is on television the next day.  I came across this website by chance earlier this morning, the day after thinking of my old friend Dr. Woolf.  The product is called "Blast-Cap Technology", and is another attempt at an "interactive" beverage.  

Now, granted, two people can have the same type of idea at the same time, but I really hope these guys aren't trying to poach Ipifini's rather unique product.  

I'm sure it's a pure coincidence, but if you guys at Blast-Cap are reading, don't be to quick to sell to Coca-Cola.  Protect yourselves, and stay true to this interesting concept. 

Magnetic Kid. Film at 11.

The one thing that sucks about the Internet is it makes news of the bizarre... well, normal. There's so much crackass stuff out there that it makes even the unthinkable pretty boring.

That's why it was nice to see the story of Joe Falciatano III, a mild-mannered 12-year old who has apparently become magnetic, disrupting prtety much every computer he comes into contact with. (You can see the video here.)

Man, I'd love to have that power. Fluoridization, anyone?

Sunday, March 2, 2008

Great Idea! (Bad Result)

Here's an amazing idea that never came about.  A company called Ipifini, (in the interest of full disclosure, run by an associate of mine, PH.D Tod Woolf) envisioned a return to the customizable soda of day's past.  Buttons on the side of the bottle could be triggered to inject various flavors into the soda water, thereby allowing the user to truly define their own taste experience.  Lime-Ricky?  Cherry-Lemon Bomb?  Rasperry Jim-Jim?  Whatever your nostalgic taste might be, it could be recreated on the go.

The entire sales presentation (subsequently snapped up by a tiny company you've never heard of: "Coca-Cola" ;-)) can be viewed here.  Millons were payed, hands were shook, backs patted.  

No product was released.  Ever.  Will it be?  Some day?  No.

Why?  Again, legally I can't say.  What I can say is that Dr. Woolf never saw any of that money, his business (and life) partner Mark Van Nuysen now lives here, and Coca-Cola Co. continues its campaign of terror.  

Make no mistake about it, capitalism is a rough business.  Guard your ideas, keep your head firmly on your shoulders, and when someone pats you on the back, make sure they haven't inserted a knife. 

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Just lost my appetite.

And not just because of this (though that does really make me sick)!

One of my favorite foodie blogs, Slashfood, just showed me a new site called TrashyEats and, man, do they show off some nasty stuff to eat.

Who in god's name would create such a thing? Actually, I do kinda like Frito Pie.

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Shame on you, Engadget!

Look, I'm as bad as anybody when it comes to giving someone a rightfully deserved kick in the ass.

But when Engadget decided to tear the Neux Corp a new one earlier this week for its soda can MP4 player, they definitely overstepped their boundaries.

Look, I haven't used the thing, I don't know much about the technology in it, I don't even think it's something I would buy necessarily but that's beyond the point, why would you criticize someone for tyring to come up with a new (admittedly kind of strange) vision of the classic music player?

I mean, jesus, someone tries to do something different and all you can do is throw unadulturated cynicism at it?

Sure, it is a stupid idea, but let the dreamers be. I don't know these Neux Corp. guys, but I'll say this, they're trying something new. What have you done lately, Engadget? Oh, that's right, you squeezed one out over the most disgusting looking box I've seen since the VHS recorder.

Monday, February 25, 2008

Got this blogging thing all wrong...

Looking around the internet, it seems that the 'best' bloggers or whatever you want to call them share every last detail about themselves, personally or professionally.

I guess I'm kind of the opposite. I've had a lot of personal and professional stuff go down in recent months but have gone completely dark on my blog. Probably why my site stats are terrrible.

It's funny, I've writtena boatload of drafts over the last few months, but every time I've looked at this site I haven't been able to complete anything. I don't know if it's because everything I've tried to communicate felt too painfully personal or whatever given all that's been going on (not to mention it probably isn't a good idea to air legal laundry in public), but I just didn't feel comfortable putting anything out there.

But I'm here today to tell you, my fellow Squizzies, that I'm back. (Yeah, I know I said that in the last couple of posts, but I mean it this time.)

Now, I could say that I'm going to be posting a lot more frequently, etc., etc., and leave at that.

I'm actually going to do you one better.

In the next couple of weeks, for those of you in New York, get ready for your first taste of the new Squizz. Later.