Monthly Archives: April 2008

The Golden Age of Wireless

Posted on April 17, 2008 by paul

The April 12-18 issue of The Economist has an intriguing special section on wireless telecomm that you can read here. The series’ premise—reduced to ridiculous simplicity—is that the technology has had an enormous impact on the way we live, work, … Continue reading →

Posted in Business, Media | Tagged , | Leave a comment

DirecTV:

Posted on April 16, 2008 by paul

The promotions make it sound so enticing: motion pictures and events on demand, high picture quality, a variety of channels, and service that rivals cable. Then there’s the tagline: “Friends don’t let friends subscribe to cable.” Let’s just say that … Continue reading →

Posted in Crossing Madison Avenue, Gear, Television, Two Minutes' Hate | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Radio Daze, and a Blog Review: WFMU

Posted on April 14, 2008 by paul

Maybe it’s just a byproduct of being in the New York media market, but it seems like radio is a fickle place. Radio stations don’t last, and the few that have seem to have mutated beyond all recognition. At any … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Web | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Work and Circuses

Posted on April 12, 2008 by paul

Disgruntled employees are a dangerous lot. Just ask the postal service. Or ask the guy who, inspired by equal amounts of frustration and creativity, one day decided to staple a ham sandwich–on a paper plate, no less, with a napkin set … Continue reading →

Posted in Business | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Butterflies

Posted on April 11, 2008 by paul

I remember walking down Park Avenue in East Rutherford one day years ago and wondering why, in the spring, one of the trees was a brilliant autumn orange. It stood out, even from several blocks away. When I got closer, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Rear-View Mirror | Tagged | 1 Comment

V8 V-Fusion (or not)

Posted on April 9, 2008 by paul

Have you ever eaten or drunk something, disliked it intensely, decided to give it a second chance, and then wondered why you bothered? I bring this up because today–for the third time, no less–I had V8 V-Fusion. You’ve seen the … Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Cuban Pete’s

Posted on April 5, 2008 by paul

One of the best things about northern New Jersey is an abundance of good restaurants that don’t charge Manhattan prices. It’s especially good if you’re a fan of Latin American and Caribbean food.  But if you don’t feel like going … Continue reading →

Posted in Food | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Lost in the Supermarket

Posted on April 4, 2008 by paul

Supermarkets try too hard. You can’t walk into a supermarket anymore that doesn’t have a full selection of “Home-Cooked Meals”: hermetically sealed roasted chicken, baked hams in little plastic coffins, and ribs sulking in oversweetened barbecue sauce. One day, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Food, Humor, Re-Make/Re-Model | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Chris Hedges: I Don’t Believe in Atheists

Posted on April 3, 2008 by paul

Douglas Adams famously referred to himself as a “militant Atheist,” mostly so that people would know he did not, in fact, believe God existed; he didn’t want to be confused with a garden-variety agnostic. However, the last few years have … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Religion | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Future of Medicine?

Posted on April 1, 2008 by paul

This being an election year, we’re reminded constantly that somewhere in the neighborhood of 45 million Americans have no health insurance. An additional 30 million people (give or take a few mil) are temporarily without health insurance in the course … Continue reading →

Posted in Humor | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment