The Outsidr

Ahh multitasking. The epitome of a smartphone. One of many factors that combine to push mobile handsets ever closer to computer status. As passionate as people are where their handset manufacturer of choice is concerned, the advent of push notifications gave new ammunition to those whose mobile phone allegiance lie elsewhere. Ha ha ha, the iPhone can’t multitask so it uses push notifications as a band aid! Of course those who take the time to do even the smallest amount of investigation know this statement couldn’t be further from the truth.

First, let’s set the record straight. The iPhone can multitask. So can the iPhone 3G and the iPhone 3GS. At any given time, Apple’s handset is running several processes simultaneously… The very definition of multitasking. The accurate statement — and actual complaint people attempt to make — is that the iPhone does not allow third-party applications to run background processes. This is a less than desirable truth no doubt, but the introduction of push notifications doesn’t just provide a band aid for functionality that is lacking. In more instances than you might think, it provides a better solution than background processes offer. That’s right, I said better.

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Wow, it’s been a while huh? Just testing the iPhone’s WordPress app… Nothing to see here…

Categories don’t seem to be working but it’s pretty smooth aside from that.

By now you must have read about the widely-covered TechCrunch / Last.fm fiasco. To recap very, very quickly: TechCrunch posted what turned out to be a completely unsubstantiated rumor that Last.fm had handed sensitive user data over to the RIAA, Last.fm said it was completely false several times, Ars Technica revealed that not even the RIAA knew what TechCrunch was talking about and then Last.fm clarified the situation one last time in a blog post entitled, “Techcrunch are full of shit”. Zoinks.

To be fair, I can definitely empathize with Erick Schonfeld’s situation. I am a tech blogger and I know what kind of pressure bloggers can be under to be the first to cover an exclusive scoop. At the same time, when dealing with a sensitive topic that essentially accuses a company of violating the trust of its users, one must exercise some restraint. Schonfled did the right thing by reaching out for comment and Last.fm did the wrong thing by responding with PResque bullshit: “To our knowledge, no data has been made available to RIAA.”

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Marijuana has dangerous and harmful side effects. Smoke it, children, and you will be throwing your life away. Just look at this picture of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps. He had all the potential in the world going into the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing. But he smokes weed. With the world watching and the pressure on, only a drug-free, straight and narrow golden boy could rise to the task and crush the competition. Phelps was destined for failure…

Oh wait — he became the greatest Olympic champion of all time.

I’m not a smoker but I most certainly support the legalization of marijuana, especially in this day and age. Economic crisis, a staggering unemployment rate, bailouts, recession – now would be the perfect time. Just think of all the jobs that would be created, businesses spawned and tax revenue collected. The health implications? Please. Lung cancer is the best health-related argument against marijuana and our government clearly does not care if its citizens are dying of it, in droves, as long as there is plenty of tax money flowing back to papa.

With Obama under the microscope it will never happen of course, but it’s a shame. Make marijuana legal, control and monitor it as with cigarettes and alcohol, regulate pricing, charge a 50%, 75% or even 100% tax and then swim in gold a la Scrooge McDuck — or Michael Phelps, as it were.

[Image source: News of the World]

Barack Hussein Obama is your 44th President. The inauguration was fantastic, Obama’s speech was outstanding and now we begin to see if Obama can deliver. I am uncharacteristically optimistic.

“Your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.”

A poignent quote and part of a message to leaders of hostile nations. Now, however, it is time to see what Barack Obama can build.