If I don’t follow you on Twitter, don’t take it personally. Unlike many on that service, I actually read all of the tweets in my feed, which is why I have to limit the amount of people that I follow. Here’s the problem, there are some really smart folks that I want to follow but they tweet like jackasses.

So, here’s my humble (and unsolicited) advice:

Don’t

• Don’t post all of your Foursquare check-ins. That’s what Foursquare is for. I can follow you over there. (Note: This is where you brag about going to the gym, not Facebook or Twitter!) Do Tweet it if it’s a cool badge or a concert/festival, though. Discretion!

• Don’t post all of your Instagram uploads. Again, I can follow you over there (But won’t if you just post pictures of your cat all day) BTW, my Insta username is ‘dandriffill’. Shocker, right?

• The “Shit I Read” Daily is out! I don’t care about your automated aggregation. If you find something really interesting or valuable, tweet it alone, not packaged with other crap, every single day. Nothing is more narcissistic.

• Simple rule: Don’t tweet more than 5x/day. If you’re live-tweeting an event, warn followers beforehand. If you have brilliant and original thoughts more than 5x in a day, write it down and save it for a slow brain activity day.

• Stupid, stupid, stupid retweets. You don’t need to retweet every pastor’s morning message or your favorite athletes comments about a missed foul. Retweets are sort of an expression of yourself, if you agree with a tweet, retweet it! If a tweet really makes you lol, retweet it! Just don’t do it 10x/day in a boring fashion.

These are the main reasons that I don’t follow people, and I want them to be known. If I don’t follow you, don’t take offense, I just don’t have the time to read through pointless drivel, and we all know there’s enough of that online.

Building something that someone is willing to pay $1B for. This is going to be a short post; I just want to note a few things:

I was surprised like a lot of people when Facebook made its largest acquisition to date, snapping up the mobile photo-sharing company for a billy. I retweeted Chris Dixon’s comment that eliminating your biggest threat for 1% of your market share (based on Facebook’s IPO valuation) was savvy. My initial thought was, “Wouldn’t Twitter be a bigger threat to Facebook than Instagram?” Short answer, no. Instagram’s advantage was that it was mobile, and it’s no secret that all tech is moving toward portable/cloud for functionality and access. Also, at its real core, Facebook is basically a photo-sharing site. Instagram’s massive growth threatened that competency. Twitter is for sharing opinions and links to a global audience, Facebook (including Instagram) is about sharing your more intimate personal experiences with a much more closed social circle. It wouldn’t surprise me in the slightest if Google acquires Path to shore up their newly improved G+ service.

My second, and more important point, is that building a company that could potentially be valued at $1M, let alone $1B, is HARD. I heard too many people last week say that they could have easily created Instagram or that it was ridiculous to pay $1B for a photo filter service. The small Instagram team deserves their exit because getting to that exit alone proves that they worked their collective asses off, and I am all for rewarding hard work. Getting positive press is hard. Finding good employees is harder. Getting funding is really hard. Building a popular app is super hard. User acquisition is about fucking impossible. Releasing a successful API will seriously mess up your calendar. Negotiating a $1B deal in ~48 hours is a lot more complicated than a shake of hands. A great team laid the preconditions of success, executing on a near-perfect strategy, over the course of many nights and weekends- that’s the real story, not an overnight photo filter app that got lucky. Now that’s cool.

Please, take these two points away: If someone is willing to pay price X, it is worth price X. Don’t criticize success, it is almost always justified and you’re just hurting yourself.

The Eastman Kodak Company filed for bankruptcy this week. When I saw it on Twitter shortly after midnight, I gasped. Everyone has known that the film company would be declaring, sooner rather than later, yet it still saddened me. It comes as no surprise, like a sick relative, but it still stings when it finally happens. I am proudly from Rochester, NY, born and raised, and Kodak’s shadow has largely loomed over this city all of my life. My Dad was a long time worker at Kodak, my Uncle, my girlfriend’s Aunts and Uncles, countless friends’ parents, high school teachers, and college professors- all former employees of the yellow box. I have been to “Take Your Kid to Work” days, eaten in the cafeteria, been to many events at the Theater on the Ridge, and have an antique George Eastman metal coin on my bookshelf (formerly given to employees with 25 years of service). The company has always meant something to me, long before I learned how to analyze financial statements- Kodak was a symbol of what an entrepreneur could achieve with ambition and hard work. While the Kodak we once knew is now gone, it does not do well to ignore past mistakes and hope to avoid repeating them going forward. Let’s take a look at a few lessons that can be learned from Kodak’s demise.

1) Mind the Product Life-Cycle

Companies simply can’t afford to be afraid of cannibalizing their existing products with innovative solutions. Kodak had digital photography before anyone, but their cash cow film product led them to sit on the technology. Products age, now faster than ever, and if you do not update your offerings, it is very difficult to catch up. Apple, for example, had no real qualms about hurting iPod sales when they launched the iPhone. If Kodak had ushered in the digital age of photography, maybe they would still be industry leaders.

2) Be Skeptical of the Company Line

Loyalty to your company is important, in and out of the workplace, but it is prudent to formulate your own judgments in the interest of self-preservation. You can be a good employee, investor, or speculator without blindly taking the company’s PR releases as indisputable fact. In the era of transparency, Kodak was almost laughably quiet about their true performance or future expectations. There was a constant corporate shout of a “return to profitability at date X after our strategy shift.” It was complete and utter bullshit, most people knew, but you can bet that someone out there picked up what management was putting down and loaded up on some $EK stock. Where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.

3) The Customer is Always Right

It is easy advice, but foolish to diminish. Businesses often become preoccupied with competition, meeting quarterly expectations, maintaining efficient operations, or securing more cost effective supplier relationships that they forget what is most important. No customer means no sales, which means no operations, which means no cash flow- it happens quickly. Kodak largely ignored consumer preferences and trends. Their digital cameras were late, their software was bloated, their online store was cumbersome, and they put their future in printing pictures at home when very few people care about physical photos. You can’t stop systematic risk events, but idiosyncratic signs need to be defended against, and Kodak failed to keep their eyes open, maybe due to arrogance.

4) Don’t Focus Just for the Hell of It

Focus is a very common bit of advice in business. Steve Jobs told Google’s co-founders to quit screwing around in 50 businesses and stick to what they do best. In the Saunders Summer Startup program, I was told by mentors to “focus” almost every single day. If a company does one thing better than anyone else in the world, they will probably be successful, Kodak just picked the wrong thing. They banked on film and spun off entities like Eastman Chemical and healthcare imaging divisions. Kodak is now in Chapter 11 and those divisions are quite successful. You can’t be afraid to evolve your business model, especially with a century-old firm.

5) Don’t Hang Your Hat on IP

Patents and trademarks are advisable and all, but when it comes down to it, they will not save your company from consumer preference. Kodak has desperately tried suing Apple, Fuji, HTC, Samsung, and probably others because it was the only hand they felt like they could play; “If we can’t beat em’, let’s try to at least get them to pay us a little to stay afloat”. Now more than ever, especially in America, patent reform is necessary and I believe is on the cusp of radical change. So consider it a necessary step in your company’s process, but don’t expect a letter from a corporate lawyer to stop anyone else from offering the public a great product. The fight is now, the courtroom battle can be kicked down the road.

I do not want to bang on Kodak or remember it as a failure, because it was not a failure. Kodak and its founder, George Eastman, gave so much to my hometown and really helped build the city into the great place that it currently is. People can put Rochester down, but I love it here. I have no doubts that this will be a successful hub of entrepreneurship and innovation, as so many small companies (many led by former Kodak people) are already proving.

The titan of industry Kodak is forever gone, but it was one hell of a run.

When I was younger, a holiday tradition that I enjoyed was the breaking of a wishbone. My Mom would let the wishbone of the turkey sit to dry out and let my sister and I pull it from different sides, with each of us attaching a wish to the success of our side of the bone prevailing dominant. I believed in the authenticity of this wish many times (and I often lost), but the realization that luck was absent from the equation did not hit me until many years later.

Now when I see a wishbone, I can clearly see which side will hold up to pressure. It is very slightly larger, it has more girth at the “flex-point”, and simply, has become second nature to visually detect.

Why am I sharing this experience? It relates to a lot of our lives; business, relationships, shopping, etc. “Hell, I either make it or I don’t”, or “I either get lucky with this or I miss”. It’s a bullshit philosophy. We see many signs over the course of our lives’ experiences to enhance the positivity of our decisions. We learn what works, we realize what does not, and we gradually evolve to become better at living in this society.

My kindergarten teacher, (If you’re out there, find me! I’d love to buy you dinner) taught us “to do our homework”. Funny thing is, my 1^st grade teacher (You get dinner too!) had a large sign up that exclaimed, “Knowledge is Power.” I have heard the phrase, “All you need to know in life, you learned in kindergarten”- I think that meant sharing and generosity, but these two other lessons prevail. If you do your homework in life, you’ll be rewarded with knowledge, both directly and indirectly. Read, study, analyze, watch, listen, be humble, practice, persevere- you must do all of these things. The knowledge gained will allow you to choose the right side of the wishbone in life. Trust that all of the ups and downs will eventually correlate into positive decision-making when it really matters.

Life, in rare instances, is indeed left to chance and ends in arbitrary results, totally regardless of our input, but not often. We have the power to frame our lives based on proper decision-making. Make a plan. Trust your intuition. Be confident in your choices. If you know what is going to happen (or at least can make an educated-guess) before you make your choices, it makes life an awful lot easier. Make the right decisions, and those decisions will take care of you.

For much of 2011, I have been working with a team of people (primarily from RIT) on a project that brings wind energy to the citizens of developing nations. The first country of interest has been Kosovo, due to our team’s experience abroad at the American University of Kosovo. If you’re not aware, Kosovo is the poorest country in Europe and is also the youngest. The energy infrastructure is so weakened, that citizens suffer common (usually daily) blackouts. This obviously makes their work productivity and attracting foreign investment a difficult task. The work of corporate and social responsibility has basically been just buzzword PR fodder, but it means a lot to me, and we’re working hard to solve some really difficult problems.

I was recruited to the team to write a business plan for the Dell Social Innovation Contest, where we finished in the Top 20 of over 1400 applicants. We were also a member of RIT’s startup pilot program, where we were mentored by industry experts and counseled with angels and VC’s about funding options.  Things have pivoted over the course of the year (as they do in almost every startup), but it has been a rewarding experience thus far, and we’re just beginning to start some really exciting new things.

I could write 20,000 words on the issues and details, but if you’re interested in learning more about the project, head over to KosovoWind.com, and if you’re feeling extra ambitious, we’re trying to crowd-source some capital as a part of another competition. If you’re interested in learning more, get in touch.

My good buddy Mike recently wrote about stats in baseball and hockey and I found it a worthy topic to discuss. One of the things about me is that I am very quantitative, I love statistics and going through data. To many, numbers look jumbled and confusing, which can be the case if what you’re looking at is raw, but there is a clarity in numbers that I naturally gravitate towards. And when you make sense of a number puzzle, there is no better feeling of satisfaction.

So couple my interest with my long-time sports fandom and I bring data analysis to athletics. Baseball has been the best sport at doing this in my lifetime, mostly led by Bill James and his sabermetric revolution. The “Sports Guy” Bill Simmons wrote a really good introduction to baseball sabermetrics last year that’s definitely worth a quick read. Basically, baseball had been overvaluing the wrong statistics for far too long. The ironic part about baseball being the first major sport to adopt more reflective stats is that baseball has long been considered the aging dinosaur of American sport, as football and basketball have become more popular events. The stat school of thought has even left the front office and entered into play for managers. The best indication of this movement really having significant traction in the baseball community was when Seattle Mariners’ pitcher Felix Rodriguez won the AL Cy Young award last year on a team that was very bad. Traditionally, MLB awards go to players on teams that finish well. The writers who voted recognized, through more indicative statistics, that Rodriguez was the best pitcher in the American League last year (and he was), and justly awarded him with the honor. For more stat porn, check out Baseball Prospectus.

But now that baseball is playing ball, why aren’t other sports utilizing their data more effectively? I know that baseball has a greater sample size and is largely a 1-on-1 game of statistical probability, but there are indicative figures that give you reasonable assumptions in other sports. Take for example the +/- stat (originated in hockey) in basketball. It’s really simple- if a player’s team outscores the other team while they are playing, whatever the differential in the game’s score while they are on the court is that player’s +/-. This is accumulated all season long, and ultimately tells a very strong story of what happened that season and who were the most valuable players. It’s widely believed that the Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose is going to win the NBA MVP award this year for leading his team to 1st place in the tough Eastern conference, but I believe the true most valuable player is either LeBron James or Dwight Howard. If you look at the NBA’s +/- for this season, you see that Miami’s Big Three take up three of the first four spots, likely because they’re so much stronger than the rest of their team. If LeBron is able to make his team that much better through his passing and defense, that should make him the most valuable. Rose is arguably the best PG in the NBA, but LeBron took the Cavaliers to the #1 seed and look at them now. The Bulls would very likely still be a playoff team without Rose.

Additionally, the NFL needs to better recognize  and develop some more quantitative stats, especially for QB’s. For example, incorporating completions:attempts for routes within certain yards down field, some kind of production-per-play metric for defensive players, and better analyzing the success rate of offensive lineman. There are so many eyes and ears plugged into NFL games on Sundays that this wouldn’t be hard to initialize. As a society, we are getting smarter, so there is no reason why other professional sports leagues can’t begin to give their fans a clearer view of what’s actually going on during the course of play, besides the mundane figures that we are used to.

Before you say that it’s too complicated and that fans won’t want better statistical data, remember that it was also said about stats in baseball. And the stat revolution brought the Red Sox a long-awaited World Series (still haunts me) and a SP on a terrible team, the recognition that he certainly deserved. So just keep an open mind about advancing athletic statistics, and let one stats nerd dream for more in the future.

“Today, Apple is going to re-invent the phone.” – Steve Jobs, Macworld 2007 keynote.

He was right. The iPhone was amazing. Tech history. The iPhone alone pushed our society toward the post-pc computing era. Jobs also said that Apple was five years ahead of everyone else in mobile. Not quite. Google’s Android is now the market share leader in the mobile space.

I’m writing this because I’m bothered by the super smug ads that Apple recently ran (1 2 3). No Apple, I don’t have an iPhone, but I do have an app store, I do have my music, and I do have my books (let’s face it no one reads books on their phone).

I didn’t get the first iPhone (Too expensive, EDGE network sucked). I did get the second edition, the iPhone 3G. Boy, was that thing good. Everyone wanted to play with it, know what it could do, test out features and apps. The overwhelming consensus was that they wanted one. So I had the iPhone 3G from the summer of 2008 to the summer of 2010. I decided not to update my contract at that point for a few reasons.

I was pretty sure that the iPhone was going to go to Verizon soon (I was correct), I didn’t want to thus re-sign with AT&T again for two years (I love being on Verizon now), and most importantly, I really wanted to give Android a shot. I have been using Android for almost a year now, and I really, really love it. There are a few nitpicky things that I preferred on the iPhone, but the results have been way more good than bad.

• Customization: Pluggable launchers on Android are reason enough to leave the iLife. Set how many screens you want, how many rows and columns on each screen, how many docks and apps in the dock you like, and nifty expose-like functionality between screens and fun screen transfer animations. Not to mention live wallpapers, customizable widgets, themes, custom ROM’s, lockscreen replacements, different keyboards (Swype is my jam), and lots more to explore. With Android, you make your phone work any way you like.

• Notifications: The notification system on Android is brilliant. It’s not obtrusive or annoying, it’s simple and organized. The notification system in iOS is horribly invasive. It’s so bad that I’d be shocked if it isn’t updated in iOS 5 (Which will probably be released at WWDC in June). If I’m reading an article or my Twitter feed, I don’t want to be interrupted by an email like iOS does, I want it to show up in the top bar and let me get to it when I want.

• Hardware: The iPhone is sexy and all, and I wouldn’t mind a better screen on my Droid X, but I could never go back to the 3.5″ screen on iPhone after using a 4.3″ screen for a year. In comparison, the iPhone feels like a little toy. There are some reports that iPhone 5 has some size envy and will bump up to 4″, but that remains to be seen. The big screen really makes web browsing and video playback a much better experience. Speaking of hardware…

• Buttons: Buttons? Buttons suck. I thought so too, but I don’t know if I could go back to a phone that doesn’t have a universal back or search button. Back doesn’t just go back a page in the browser, it goes back through apps, emails, and games. It’s a de facto multitasking client without even trying to be one. Search is also great. Any app, BAM search, super convenient. Menu is maybe the biggest change going from iWorld to Android. In iOS the app’s menu is buried deep (at least a few clicks), on Android you just hit the Menu button within any app for instant settings control.

• Flash: Look it’s not perfect, but it largely works well. There have been many times when I clicked a link from the Twitter or Facebook apps that brought me to a site with Flash video, and I love knowing that I can play that video. It’s the whole web in your palm. I know HTML5 is advancing, but there is still loads of Flash online, and I’m really thankful Android allows its users to experience the full web.

NSFW language in the vid. Funny though. <cough> headphones </cough>

Not to mention, Android stands for openness in their platform. Which means developers don’t get their apps blocked or pulled from the app market. The app market itself is quite good, it’s improved a lot in the past year and still getting better. Every app I had on iPhone is now on Android, equal in quality or sometimes better (And largely free!). I’ve made the same points that many others have regarding Google as the Microsoft of mobile platforms going against Apple, which means developers will eventually prefer the Android platform and push more innovation in the ecosystem.

I’m in a weird place. I still admire Apple (Love my 15″ MBP and will buy an iPad when it gets a retina display). The iPad will be king of tablets for at least two more years until Android catches up (Honeycomb tablets already look great). Jobs is one of my entrepreneurial idols. Woz is a man I wish to emulate in so many ways. It’s just that when it comes to mobile phones, I’m with Android for the time being. And since it doesn’t look like there is going to be an iPhone 5 this summer, I think many others will also jump to Android (especially those with LTE).

As an iPhone-loving ATT employee friend recently told me after testing out Android for a few days, “I like Android a lot. iPhone is still #1 to me but it’s much closer that I thought.” If you’re thinking about making a switch, you probably won’t be disappointed, I wasn’t.

To follow up on the last post, I wanted to discuss some of the problems I have encountered while using Twitter. I’ve blogged about Twitter a few times (1 2), and I have a very favorable impression of the platform as a whole. I encourage those who are interested in Twitter to see what all the fuss is about and join in.

As amazing as I think Twitter is, there are a few things that bother me about it.  Let me dive into some of the specifics.

• I was the #15,013,814 person to join Twitter. Charlie Sheen was the #259,379,883 person to join. I have 599 posts. He has 28. I have 62 followers (brutally pathetic) and he has 1,915,653 followers (constantly increasing). Math: I have 9.66 followers for every tweet, Chuck has 68416.18 followers for every tweet. My point? I know I don’t have #tigerblood but Twitter can at times feel like an echo box if you aren’t accumulating followers. It has turned into a gaming mechanism of sorts. And that’s a problem- why?
• Twitter whoring is rampant. Some off-my-head examples include: Constant @ mentioning users, following everyone & hoping for a re-follow, constantly thanking users for RT’s and mentions, and spamming #FF all day long on Fridays. I see people following thousands of people and I can’t help but wonder, why? What’s the value of that? It’s impossible to stay current with a feed stream of that size. Let’s say someone follows 1500 people who tweet 2x/day. That’s 3000 Tweets per day! Your feed is/will get so large and jumbled that Twitter will just turn into background noise like most of the web.
• That’s where it becomes a problem. Too many people are utilizing Twitter as a marketing platform, not a communications platform. Twitter is supposed to be about sharing interesting links, news, projects or whatever that you find interesting enough to share with the rest of the world. Instead, users blast scheduled tweets 10x a day about their check-ins, Mashable articles that everyone has already read or seen in their stream, and utilizing the whoring procedures outlined above. When Twitter becomes a chore, it loses its value.
• This has been discussed at great length, but some people just don’t know what to tweet, so they tweet bullshit just because they feel like they are supposed to. What’s the value in me hearing what you’re eating, how hard you’re working out, what your pet just did, your inside jokes, referencing how many followers you have, how sick/hungover you are, the 4-part tweets that link to a site where you can use more than 140 characters, etc. Get my drift? Bullshit becomes noise. Noise = Bad.

The good news is that you have the freedom to follow anyone you want. The bad news is that while Twitter’s growth is still surging, only about 20%-30% of accounts are actually active. So you’re left with a smaller pool of valuable people to follow. Even worse, those who are of value to follow are starting to cave into the annoying practices stated above to stay relevant with the likes of celebrities gaining a million followers in 24 hours.

My advice? Just like anything else, quality over quantity. Follow people you actually enjoy showing up in your stream. Unfollow the people that you immediately glance over. Twitter is a really fantastic publishing/communication resource, but it takes the users to drive the platform’s direction, and some of the current user activity is troubling. /rant

Hello loyal reader. It’s Dan. You may remember me as the author of this blog. I haven’t written a blog post since last June. I haven’t developed a dislike toward blogging. It’s not like I stopped coming up with ideas for topics. I kept notes on potential ideas (lots of them), kept reading many other blogs, and even wrote a few posts that I ultimately decided not to publish.

A few weeks ago, the New York Times published an articled called “Blogs Wane as the Young Drift to Sites Like Twitter“. I would still like to consider myself as part of “the young” despite my rapid aging, and my activity certainly does correlate with the article title, no?  From the article:

Former bloggers said they were too busy to write lengthy posts and were uninspired by a lack of readers. Others said they had no interest in creating a blog because social networking did a good enough job keeping them in touch with friends and family.

Sound familiar? As you can see on the right, Twitter has taken over much of my sharing via the tubes. It goes like this in my head: “Does this deserve a post or can I say enough about it in 140 characters?” A perfect example is the tweet to the right about the SkyFire browser for iPad. No Flash on the iPad really annoys the hell out of me and is still a breaking point for me in purchasing one. So I discover there is a new app that can render Flash; I research it, download it on my girlfriend’s iPad, and explore its functionality. To blog it or tweet it? It’s not great, but it doesn’t suck- that’s the essence of it. I could have written a lengthy analysis but to what purpose? I’m not a review site, and anyone interested in hearing my opinion on the topic would be fine what what I said in the tweet.

SkyFire for iPad isn’t perfect but it FINALLY brings some Flash support to the device. Worth the $5 for South Park alone. #Kudos to the devs

So this leaves me back at a place with this blog where I am not sure where I want to go. Is it important to maintain a blog for personal branding purposes in this “Google first” professional environment? Is it just important to maintain a blog even if you have no readers? There is clearly still a place for long-form writing. Books are still selling. WordPress and Tumblr are still growing. I still use blogs for information that can’t be conveyed well in 140. Can the blogosphere and the twitterverse co-exist?

Well, I’m back. So I hope they can. Stay tuned to this space for updates to come. Twitter is a great tool but it has its problems. Maybe I’ll even blog about it : )

I wasn’t alive for much of the 1980’s but I sure know the history that unfolded in technology during the time- and they say that history repeats itself. Except that this time, Microsoft nor IBM is involved- it’s Google and Apple this go around. And this time the war isn’t centered around the PC, its focus deals with the mobile computing platform. Apple is still building their own hardware bundled with their own software without licensing and their foe is still licensing its software to various hardware manufacturers. The only real difference this time around is that Apple is the favorite, and with Apple’s new market cap, Steve Jobs isn’t going to be fired this time.

I wrote last August (Apple vs Google?) that there was a rift developing between the two titans of tech. That apparent rift has escalated into a full blown war. There are battles being fought between the two on several fronts; OS (Chrome vs OS X), mobile (hardware & software), advertising, TV, and even search.

It’s an intriguing story. Two companies that probably considered Microsoft their chief villain for so long now find themselves in such positions of strength that they have no one else to turn their attention toward except each other. Google’s co-founders have idolized Steve Jobs with open praise, consider him a mentor, and were regular visitors to Jobs’ office in Google’s early days. Sergey Brin was even close enough to take regular walks with Jobs where they discussed the future of technology and potential collaborative projects. When Apple unveiled the iPhone in 2007, Google CEO Eric Schmidt was present on stage saying, “Steve, my congratulations to you, this product is going to be hot.” Of course Google was the default search engine on the device and also provided their Maps technology in a native app. They shared board members, praised each other lavishly, and shared the valley in peace. Relations were so cushy that observers ofen used the term “AppleGoo” to describe the two companies.

Fast forward to the present. Apple has sued HTC (makers of many popular Android based phones), the iPhone now has Bing for their search, Apple is getting serious about mobile advertising (a direct strike to Google’s core competency), Jobs has called Google’s motto of “Don’t Be Evil” “bullshit”, and has also made it clear who’s at fault for the sudden new feud (“We did not enter the search business. They entered the phone business. Make no mistake: they want to kill the iPhone. We won’t let them.”)

This time the battle is for mobile supremacy. That means phones and tablets. The days of the desktop and laptop are coming to an end. Apple knows it, Google knows it, and startups are forming to be at the forefront of the surging mobile platform. Google is vocally serious about the cloud and Apple is at least making moves that hint their strategy also includes the cloud (1 2).

I love both companies and their products. I use GMail, Google is my go-to search engine, I use an iPhone, a MacBook Pro, and even love my girlfriend’s iPad (Despite what I wrote!). Should we be excited about the increased competition that will ultimately raise the bar and benefit consumers? Or should we be worried about two huge platforms that don’t play nice together making syncing and collaborative work carry technical implications? And is Steve Jobs repeating the same mistakes he made in the early-80′s?

Even with the official announcement of the iPhone 4, and my complete satisfaction with it over the past two years, I’d be lying if I told you I wasn’t seriously considering a switch to a Verizon Android-based device when my contract expires in July. Android phones have made some quantum leaps in the past year and there are two big devices that are supposedly about to hit the market for Verizon in the next month or so (Samsung’s Galaxy S and Motorola’s Shadow X). I still haven’t made up my mind, but that fact that I’m pondering a switch is a win for Google.

Ultimately, it comes down to two sensational companies evolving with the natural ebb and flow of market demand and technological innovation. We’re on the cusp of the mobile platform becoming the de facto way in which we access our information. And while the notion that two locked platforms could inhibit cross-use (thus stifling productivity), we should be excited that someone has decided to at least take on the role of challenger to Apple in the battle for mobile market share. I’ll close with a quote that Vic Gundotra (Google VP Engineering) used during  Google’s recent I/O conference, a quote that I believe will be remembered for a long, long time.

If Google didn’t act, we faced a draconian future. A future where one man, one company, one device, one carrier would be our only choice. That’s a future we do not want. If you believe in openness, choice, and innovation, then welcome to Android.

EDIT: The Motorola “Shadow” I referenced is actually called “Droid X”, and Engadget got their hands on it.

“I got the shotgun, you got the briefcase. All in the game right?”

First, I enjoy television. I think it gets a bad rap for the most part. I was raised in a wonderful era of endless cable stations, the height of the sitcom, and programs that had real staying power. The Simpsons undoubtedly offered me some worthwhile life lessons. ABC’s TGIF was a weekly family highlight. Saved by the Bell showed how awkward the teenage years would be, South Park provided hilarious societal satire, and Star Trek: TNG showed an advanced universe where intelligence trumped race and physical differences. Unfortunately, television is definitely in a downward trend. In efforts to save costs, reality shows are spreading and quality programs are dwindling…fast. We live in a world where Arrested Development barely scraped out two seasons while The Hills is thriving.

It’s not all bad. South Park continues to shine brightly into its 14th season. The Sopranos gave us some great years. Seinfeld was the last and greatest show of its genre. The aforementioned Arrested Development was brilliant on top of brilliant. New shows like Breaking Bad and Dexter are sensational to say the least, and lots of 2nd-tier shows are carving out their own niche (Curb, Modern Family, Weeds, Mad Men, and 30 Rock to name a few).

So on the urging of two friends, I decided to finally cave into The Wire. It had been called the “greatest show ever” (1 2 3 4) and President Obama even calls it his “favorite show.” I mistakenly judged it in the past as a simple cop drama that would not hold my interest. Call me an optimist, but most of these shows tend to solve the case in 55 minutes- that’s just not for me. I couldn’t have been more wrong.

As soon as I jumped into season one (of five), it was pretty clear why the show never built a huge following (despite winning multiple awards)- it moves very slow, certainly not the norm in today’s entertainment environment of oft-plot twists and constant cliff hangers. I could probably explain the entire first season in five minutes, and the entire series in half an hour. At first, this served as a deterrent, I doubted I would enjoy the show, let alone finish all five seasons. But slowly, I came to appreciate the complexity of the characters and the greater messages being conveyed.

The Wire is the most realistic television program ever. I don’t know if it’s the best, but there is no doubting the excellence of its sometimes brutally honest nature. It highlights the social stratification our society has rooted itself in and how we have marginalized those in urban areas to an inevitable cycle of perpetual poverty. It shows how a modern city operates behind the tourism brochures and political bullshit. Its content, and its brilliantly written and acted characters, serve as a mechanism to enlighten viewers to a world most of us intentionally shield ourselves from.

Season one introduces much of the show’s core characters while revolving around the illegal drug trade. It’s a fascinating take on the process that doesn’t sugarcoat any realities and also does not dumb-down the lingo, hardships, or externalities. It’s interesting from a logistics standpoint (the drug operation), but more so in the compartmentalization of the people in poor urban communities. No internet, no TV (definitely no cable), near-absolute poverty, and little-to-no direction from any authority figures. It illustrates why so many young (often black) men turn to the criminal subculture; there’s no other option to survive. The characters are dynamic, layered, and sympathetic in their continual string of poor decisions. The plot moves slowly, but it’s methodical and ultimately results in a rewarding narrative. Season one was not the greatness some describe it to be, but it lays the foundation for the show while weaving situations from season one back into the plot as the seasons progress. In this scene, an experienced member of a local trade teaches new members the game of chess by relating it to the drug game.

In season two, the show continues to follow the drug trade and its core characters while also introducing to the city’s fabric the faltering port system and its struggling union of blue collar workers. It’s an appropriate story, middle-class workers are struggling to “keep up” as the income distribution gap in America continues to widen. The port workers in season two are disgruntled, their hours are being cut, young men can’t find an identity in the union or at home, and police pressure and new trade regulation leaves them drinking heavily after work, longing for days past- where things were better for them. Season two is usually referenced as the show’s weakest season, but I found it fascinating. The characters portray realistic economic struggles and the losing battle to achieve or maintain the American dream. It’s a unique dichotomy to season one; the dogmatic struggles of white and black men in Baltimore. Both feel pressure from society to earn individual wealth, both struggle to find legitimate avenues to achieve such, and both turn to deviance in their attempt to reach that financial prestige. It adds a veiled layer of cohesion to the differences of race and social status.

Season three adds a new layer to the city bureaucracy, a legitimate grouping but no less corrupt- that being the city’s government. The intricate nuances of politics are foreign to most people, they don’t see the 24/7 campaign schedules, the dreaded hours upon hours seeking donations, the extensive time away from family, or realize the pressure of the bubble that politicians subject themselves to. Season three offers, IMHO, the most realistic look at politics ever on TV (sorry West Wing). We see the long-term strategies of ambitious politicians aligning themselves for future position coups, the backdoor deals that we don’t like to acknowledge exist, and government’s direct effect on the people of a city. Season three is in many ways my favorite chapter of the Wire saga; there are new conflicts, great new characters, climatic events, a progressive  and controversial strategy to combat the drug trade and its violence, and continued sensational dialogue.

Season four introduces the Baltimore public school system into the metropolitan realm of the show’s reach. It was a superb transition because it also highlights a former police officer character who becomes a teacher, directly linking what he sees in the classroom to his experiences in fighting crime. It also shed realistic light on the urban school system, an organization that most in America feel is broken. Common citizens will blame the mayor, the school board, school administrators, and teachers for abysmal graduation rates, but that’s like blaming a six-month old baby for not being able to walk. The baby, and the urban children, lack the necessary preconditions to succeed in their charged task. A baby doesn’t have the physical strength or coordination to walk and the vast majority of the poor youth lack the direction, discipline, desire, and respect for authority necessary to succeed academically.

The show does a great job of focusing on four particular friends, all students, whose differing family structures, talents, and future lives are directly molded by their respective educational experiences. Season four also follows the political fallout of a post-election atmosphere in disturbingly candid terms. There are also tied-in elements from each of the season’s previous story-lines, a great new drug “boss”, and the subtle tension that everyone’s existence could be radically altered at any given moment. That fragility and woven conflict often make season four a fan favorite.

The fifth and final season introduces the print news media (Baltimore Sun) to the show’s ambitious plot arch. Like many industries, the newspaper business is dying and the Sun is forced to layoff longtime staff as a more educated and white-collar subset of Baltimore’s population joins the struggles of a staggering economy. We follow the police’s never-ending battle to stop violent crime related to drugs, an ambitious young reporter tired of the banal daily news with Pulitzer aspirations, a recovering drug addict, a puzzling serial killer, the paths of the four students introduced in season four, a Mayor who wants to be Governor, and are given clarifying resolutions of all of the show’s characters. You get a sense of what the show achieved in its past seasons and  realize that The Wire provides a welcomed new context that leads one to second-guess their own judgments of society.

The Wire isn’t popcorn fluff. You’re not going to find Michael Bay explosions or Megan Fox. It doesn’t cater to the masses and refuses to compromise its intentions. Yet, I promise you that you’ll find value in its content. While the pace can seem lagged at the onset, there are no shortage of fulfilling epic scenes that define seasons and the series as a whole. If you’re looking for a new show, I urge you to consider it, it might be the most important TV ever made.

You'll never look at Baltimore the same.

“Shit is fucked. You wake up like any other day. You eat, think about bills, dry cleaning and shit. Fucking vacation and your retirement plan. And just like that…(snaps fingers).” – Det. Bunk Moreland, The Wire

In the reality of the 24/7 news cycle, we’re inundated with a constant flow of news and information. Television, radio, billboards, internet, newspapers, books, magazines, and more all compete to bring you your news better. How do we define better news?

Faster news? Dramatic news? Accurate news? Popular news?

Just because newspapers are dead doesn’t mean news is dead, far from it. As technology improves communication channels, we crave more outlets for information. Wikis, blogs, message boards, Twitter- if you really think about it, technology’s primary accomplishment through time has been to connect people to spread information.

Yet as we adjust to the new digital world, there is a grind of mediums distributing the news. There is so much confusion following every revolution and the internet is no different. Activity of news dispersion is everywhere online; Facebook, Twitter, Digg, Tumblr, WordPress, Flickr, YouTube- it’s all information dispersion. And with any abundance, there is bound to be some bad in the offering.

We live in a world where millions of people get their “news” from Glenn Beck. We also have millions who get their “news” from Keith Olbermann. No wonder partisan tension is so severe. There are people who think Stephen Colbert is a staunch conservative. Millions of people read dummy-websites that are built by marketers pushing their product. Medical blogs with little to no fact are everywhere. Websites guarantee you’ll lose 25% of your body weight by ordering a pill from Taiwan. Anyone with access to the internet can spam ideologies or spread false propaganda.

So it’s important to find the appropriate filter for your news consumption.

To our generation, news is like just about everything else in our lives; portable, instant, and easy. FoxNews is the most watched cable news network because their base demographic is older. Older tends to mean more conservative. Older also tends to mean a preference for traditional news outlets. That’s fine, human mortality ensures Murdoch’s cash cow won’t last forever.

So if you’re like me, you get your news online. But, as aforementioned, not everything online is reputable (far from it). So what’s my filter?

If you’re on Twitter, you can follow @BreakingNews. They do a fantastic job of providing instant information to the world’s major news stories without being excessive. If you haven’t been bitten by the Twitter bug, you can simply follow their feed at BreakingNews.com. (Note: It is run by MSNBC)

If you don’t need your news instantly, a great new site I can recommend is Newser. It’s an intuitive interface that gives you the news in a tiled thumbnail format. You can dig deeper by hitting the picture, and then dig even deeper by clicking through to the original source for the whole story.

If you want to know what is currently news on the internet, hit up PopURLS.com. It also serves as a wonderful homepage.

If you like your gossip, there isn’t a better (or increasingly reputable) source than TMZ.com. They have ears and eyes everywhere.

Political news – Politico.com | Technology news- Techmeme.com | Media news – MediaGazer.com

Economics/Finance news- Economist.com | General news- NPR.org | Social Media- Mashable.com

There are obviously more fragmented subsections of these news divisions that cater more to diehard enthusiasts, but these serve as a good base set.

Everyone will find their appropriate combination of information, but it remains important to be aware of where our news is coming from and how we interpret it. I’ll close with two quotes that may strike a chord.

A really great teacher once told me, “Grow aware of your own assumptions.”

Another professor told a class that whenever we hear or read anything, always stop and wonder, “Who is saying it? Why would they be saying it? Might they have some sort of personal agenda? And are they possibly biased?”

If you bring that type of critical thinking into your news filter, it’ll be easier for you to discover the good information and avoid the bullshit.

By now you’ve learned that yesterday Apple, Inc launched their latest and greatest addition to their immensely successful product line. If you haven’t, you don’t use the internet, read much, or have very interesting acquaintances.

The iPad (Why not iBook or iTab?), is a 9.7″ touchscreen tablet device that allows users to play music, watch YouTube, browse the internet, read books, manage calendars and contacts, work with word processing, spreadsheet and presentation software, and also is readily available to download and run the +140,000 applications in Apple’s dominant mobile market share App Store.

It is, according to many reports, the final byproduct of over a decade of design, research, prototypes and the tears of Steve Jobs (Not! Steve Job doesn’t cry). And at a shockingly low Apple entry price point of $499, what’s not to love?

Well, lots actually.

• The Actual Physical Design – Essentially it is just an iPhone with enhanced graphics, processing, and touch real estate. Yes, it’s shiny. Yes, it’s lightweight. Yet, where was the innovation? No touch enabled sensors on front or back, a large outer black bezel, and why only the 9.7″ screen when rumors had it larger?
• No Multitasking – It is bad enough that iPhone OS software hasn’t allowed multiple applications to run simultaneously, but on a device that is supposed to destroy netbooks not being able to run AIM and Safari at the same time? That is ludicrous and a single dealbreaker, for me at least, in the purchase decision.
• No Camera – I really have no clue what Apple was thinking here. Even the software on the thing indicates there should be a camera. This is meant to be a casual mobile device for consumers. Casual indicates light browsing and media functionality in my opinion. So much of light browsing on today’s internet is user-generated. Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, DailyBooth, etc. No camera = Lack of content generation. No iChat, no Skype. Apple missed a big opportunity for easy video-conferencing with this new device.
• No Flash – I’m still bothered that I don’t have Flash support on my iPhone, but I can live with it since I know it is only a phone. Not having flash on the iPad, an almost solely dedicated internet device, is outstandingly stupid but typical Apple. There is no secret that Cupertino’s 1 Infinite Loop isn’t fond of flash, but they’re ignoring a popular segment of the interwebs. You want to watch streaming video do ya? Not on the iPad!
• Adapters Suck – I think Apple made a big mistake in limiting the iPad’s native functionality. There is a touchscreen keyboard (I’m pessimistic but will save judgment until I try it), but they go and offer a full keyboard adapter. There is no SD slot for easy image sharing, but there is an adapter. There is no USB, so you need an adapter. These should have all been built-in without question. Adapters are something you’d expect from Sony or Dell, not Apple.
• The iPad Name – It just sucks. Forget the obvious jokes in reference to female hygiene, the iPad name doesn’t do enough to really identify the product. It sounds too much like iPod (Think Boston “iPaawwdd”) and fails to leave a resonating mark in terms of use. Since the inherent iBooks app is so prevalent, why not iBook? Or since the MacBook line was scrapped and made entirely MacBook Pros, why not MacBook? Or even to differentiate the line further, why not iTab?
• Not Widescreen! – It is 2010, I’m confident consumers don’t want to return to a 4:3 aspect ratio from the standard widescreen 16:9. These omissions are almost laughable at this point.
• No HDMI Out – Want to watch the 1080p movie you just downloaded from iTunes on your big screen? Sorry, no HD out component. Unbelievable.
• AT&T. Again. – While WiFi support is built-in, 3G coverage is only available from AT&T again. Apple customers are further locked into a single telecom. Although there should be points for the $30 per month unlimited terms without a contract (You pay month-to-month as you wish). Although the optional $15 plan per month for 256MB is a blatant insult to every consumer.

Don’t get me completely wrong, this idea (just not this device), is groundbreaking. Apple is trying to bridge the gap from notebook computers to mobile phones. It’s revolutionary and has promise. Unfortunately, most people won’t need it right now. If you have a laptop and a smart phone, this device is simply unnecessary.

The only conceivable way I’d buy this, as is anyway, is if I only had a desktop computer and a phone without a data plan. Then this component could find a place in my digital lifestyle.

The original iPhone had flaws as well, and has gone on to become an amazing product and the nation’s most popular data mobile phone. This iPad has severe limitations now, but count on Apple to rectify these initial problems as new versions roll out in their carefully constructed product launches in years to come. We’re increasing mobile and lead increasingly time specific lives. Static computer use is eroding. Apple is aware. In five years, everyone might have an iPad to call their own. Just not this version.

Dear Mr. Cowher,

Hello sir. My name is Dan. You do not know me but your reputation precedes you. I am a Buffalo Bills fan(atic). When we finally let Dick Jauron go this season, my number one choice of potential next coach for my beloved Bills was, you guessed it, yourself. Also on my short list were Jon Gruden, followed by Mike Shanahan. Yet you stood far and away the dream candidate. The perfect pipedream option.

As a Bills fan, I have come to expect questionable-at-best football operations. Take for example drafting Aaron Maybin over Brian Orapko and Brian Cushing, as I screamed obscenities at Mel Kiper’s meticulously groomed hair, but I digress. With the expectation of poor management, I was sure Buffalo would target mid-level coaching prospects. No disrespect to the likes of Jim Haslett, Brian Billick, or Jim Fassel – I was just sure we wouldn’t spend the money to target a professional of your caliber. Especially since we seem to target coaches who are largely irrelevant, since our franchise has been just that, largely irrelevant.

Then came the reports that Buffalo reached out to Mike Shanahan, Jon Gruden, and yourself. Shanahan was the lone candidate to agree to a meeting (But was simply leveraging himself for an extra 0 or two from Mr. Snyder’s checkbook), Gruden declined the outreach (and re-signed with the worldwide leader), and you simply refused to consider coaching options until the end of the season. I was sure you were blowing us off like everyone else. Hell it is not just me, even the local media practices the continual self-loathing that Bills on-field results have inevitably ingrained in our sports DNA.

Then there were reports of a stealth meeting between the Bills and yourself.  The collective hopes of a franchise in limbo were briefly ignited again. After all, this is a fanbase that only had 1000 tickets available to watch a meaningless game in January – in a brutal blizzard – for a 5-10 team – amidst a decade long playoff drought – with an interim coach – against Curtis Painter – in the league’s 3rd largest capacity stadium. Dedication exemplified.

No better fans in football.

There is no mistaking it, we want you to come to Buffalo. Hell, we have a billboard going up urging our owner to think along our thoughts. At your roots, you can’t be Jerry Jones’ whipping boy. You’re old school. A blue collar guy from near Pittsburgh that earned every success in your life. Your hard work ethic and commitment to loyalty mirrors our values.

I’m sure Leslie Frazier deserves to be a Head Coach in this league. Perry Fewell (Very Cool) will be a Head Coach in the NFL. Brian Billick carries serious merits and will return to coaching sooner or later. Jim Harbaugh won’t be at Stanford long. Ron Rivera has always been highly regarded. There are dozens of legitimate and worthy candidates for this position. But there is only one perfect fit: Bill Cowher.

This franchise is treading in three foot quicksand. Not sunk, just stuck. Our next Head Coach needs immediate credibility. We need someone who can fire up his players, fire up the rabid Ralph fans, and coach the game of football the way it was meant to be played, with toughness.

By all accounts the offer is on the table to make you the highest paid coach/executive in the league. I’m sure it is not about the money, but Mr. Wilson is showing a commitment to enable your visions as he desperately seeks a title at his young-at-heart age of 91.

I understand there are newer and better stadiums to base yourself. I understand New York’s tax structure is brutal. I understand our team’s talent is subpar at nearly every position. I understand the apprehension of returning to a 24/7 stressful job with a family. I understand every conceivable reason for not coming to Buffalo. But one thing I will not understand is the notion that there will be “better” jobs out there eventually.

Mr. Cowher, you’re a football coach to your core. It is your calling. A professional in every sense of the word. There is nowhere else in this league where you will be as supported like Buffalo will support you. You can choose to come to Buffalo and immediately become an iconic figure. This is a real place to cement your legacy as one of the game’s greatest football minds. A place where you can give the fanbase hope and inspiration for a title we so rightfully deserve. You can leverage us against another team, go back to yucking it up with Shannon Sharpe predicting whether or not the Raiders will run more than 22 times, or you can be a Head Coach in the NFL of a proud franchise that is a perfect fit for your coaching and personal style.

This does not have to be a pipedream. We want you Bill. No, we need you Mr. Cowher.

The question is: do you want us?

With hopes,

Dan Driffill

Final Season Awards

MVP – Peyton Manning

In a season where no one threatened any league records but still put in worthy appearances, no one stood out brighter than Mr. Peyton Manning. Most Valuable should be reflected in the votes, who is more valuable than the greatest quarterback to ever toss the pigskin? Is Indianapolis an 8-8 team without Manning? He should tie Brett Favre as the only player to win the award three times.

Coach – Jim Caldwell

For the second year straight, a first year head coach wins the award. Despite Caldwell pulling his starters last week against the Jets, effectively ending the chance at a perfect regular season record. Yet if you ask the Patriots, it isn’t about 16-0, it’s about the Lombardi Trophy. Caldwell has the Colts poised as the team to beat going into the postseason.

Rookie – Percy Harvin

Despite sagging statistics late and noble efforts from Austin Collie, Beanie Wells, and Jeremy Maclin Harvin is my pick for top-impact first year player. Defensive Rookie will be Brian Cushing hands down. Kid was all over the place this year.

Last week: 6 – 8 – 2

Season total: 117 – 117 – 6

Sports Meister: 124 – 113 – 3

Sports Guy: 123 – 111 – 5

I suppose over the course of 17 weeks the math missed a game or two. Oh well, let’s work on the assumption that Simmons’ count is the accurate one. After all, he’s the only one getting paid for this picking embarassment.

Colts (+8) over Bills

Apparently Vegas thinks Buffalo will play strong in their season finale at home against the Colts’ backups, unfortunately I know the real Buffalo Bills. An 8-point cover from Ryan Fitzpatrick would literally shock me. Please, for the love of all that is good in this world, football Gods; BRING US BILL COWHER!!

Jaguars (+1) over Browns

Because Cleveland really sucks. Point of note, why can Cleveland get their man (Holmgren) in weeks but the Bills are spurned by every notable name despite a seemingless blank check being thrown at them? Life as a Bills fan.

Bears (-3) over Lions

Jay Cutler is uniquely talented to play the position of quarterback in this league. If, sorry when, he gets the weapons and protection he needs, Chicago will have nothing to worry about.

49ers (-9) over Rams

Despite their great start, San Francisco and Coach Singletary couldn’t overcome their lack of talent. But finally there is football hope in the Bay area once again.

Steelers (-3) over Dolphins

Pittsburgh needs a win. Enough said.

Vikings (-8) over Giants

Minnesota needs a bounce-back game and after New York’s effort at their home finale last week versus Carolina, I can’t think of a better team for Favre and Co to jump on moving into the playoffs.

Falcons (+2) over Bucs

Tampa beat the Saints, I officially can’t refer to them as the “Yucks” anymore. Congrats to Raheem Morris, you should definitely retain your role next year. Especially given the rumored interest your ownership has in Bill Cowher.

Panthers (-7) over Saints

New Orleans with no Drew Brees is like wearing mismatched socks. It may be acceptable but you know something is not right.

Patriots (+7) over Texans

Brady and Bill with 7 at the end of the year? Hard to root against.

Eagles (-3) over Cowboys

I’ve been dogging Dallas and praising Philly all season – have to stick to my guns at this point.

Broncos (-10) over Chiefs

Josh McDaniels and the Denver brigade need a win. The Chefs are a nice target.

Ravens (-11) over Raiders

Harbaugh and the Baltimore brigade need a win. The Raiders are a nice target.

Packers (+3) over Cardinals

Aaron Rodgers probably deserved MVP consideration. Go Pack Go!

Chargers (-4) over Redskins

The Jim Zorn era was interesting to say the least. Don’t worry DC fans, Mike Shanahan is waiting in the wings.

Titans (-6) over Seahawks

Chris Johnson over Adrian Peterson in next year’s fantasy draft? Let the debate begin.

Jets (-10) over Bengals

Rex Ryan need a win. The Bengals are likely to sit most of their players in this one.

Read the rest of this entry »

Last week: 9 – 6 – 1

Season total: 111 – 109 – 4 (Are these adding up?)

Sports Meister: 117 – 104 – 3 (I should make a GPA joke right about now)

Sports Guy: 115 – 104 – 4 (What a late season drop-off. That’s what the NBA does to Simmons.)

Chargers (-3.5) over Titans

Even Chris Johnson can’t stop Rivers in December. Can Norv Turner finally make some playoff noise?

Bills (+9.5) over Falcons

Let the Brian Brohm era commence. For the love of all things holy, throw for 300 yards! For those that are not enlightened, the Bills haven’t had a 300 yard passer in over 50 games. Seriously. Oh, and they’re probably going to become the first team in 30 years to not have a 2000 yard passer, 1000 yard rusher, or 1000 yard receiver. It’s miserable.

Bengals (-13.5) over Chiefs

If I were actually betting this, I’d probably take Kansas City. Something tells me Cincy is due for a letdown game. But the safe pick is the safe pick.

Raiders (+3) over Browns

Is there anything more random than Jerome Harrison going off for 286 yards last week? I’ve never seen a baby do that before.

Packers (-14) over Seahawks

Is there an Aaron Rodgers fan-club? If so, would one kind soul send me the appropriate literature? Thanks.

Texans (+2) over Dolphins

Both teams need this game to be playoff sniffing come week 17, so I will stick with my preseason guns and try to pick Houston again. They’re killing me, but I’ll go down with the ship. Two rookie corners versus Schaub/Johnson.

Patriots (-9.5) over Jaguars

Tis the season for the Grinch (Bill/Tommy) to do their winning end of season ways. Despite the excellence of the Colts and Bolts, does anyone want to face the Patriots on the path to Miami?

Saints (-13.5) over Yucks

The Saints need a statement game following their loss to Dallas. Luckily for them, Tampa is a greasy hangover snack.

Giants (-8) over Panthers

The Giants have been rooted in turmoil and struggle all year but finally might have it clicking when they need it most. GGGGGG-MEN!

Ravens (+3) over Steelers

I’m excited about this game. Huge divisional rivalry with playoff implications. Good stuff. No, great stuff.

Cardinals (-15) over Rams

I would rather be a Bills fan that have to root for St. Louis. It is that bad.

Lions (+14) over 49ers

You don’t try to blow up a plane to Detroit. You just don’t do it!  Let’s go Lions!!

Colts (-5) over Jets

Listen folks, the Colts want desperately to go undefeated. They hate the Patriots and want to steal anything they may have. They’ll loot and plunder New England’s place in history by any means possible. Behind those Gandhi appearances, Caldwell and Manning more accurately resemble Attila the Hun.

Eagles (-7) over Broncos

Andy Reid was so busy prepping for this game that he ignored his level 80 Night Elf for over 48 hours. Beware the Eagle NFC.

Cowboys (-7) over Redskins

I will take January 22nd in the Mike Shanahan to Washington pool.

Vikings (-7) over Bears

Brett Favre with late seaon drama. YOU DON’T SAY!

Last week: 9 -7

Season total: 102 – 103 – 3

Sports Meister: 109 – 97 – 2

Sports Guy: 109 – 96 – 3

Colts (-3) over Jaguars

I’m picking undefeated teams no matter what,

Saints (-8) over Cowboys

Oooops.

Patriots (-7.5) over Bills

As a Bills fan, there is no reason to think Buffalo can win this game. If Perry Fewell does pull this miracle out of his hat, he becomes a legitimate coaching candidate for the long-term at One Bills Drive.

Cardinals (-13) over Lions

Arizona needs a bounce-back game from their terrible effort Monday night and I’m just a about done picking the Lions to cover.

Dolphins (+5.5) over Titans

Dear fantasy gods, don’t let my 11-2 team lose to a 6-7 team in the semifinals. Let Chris Johnson rush for 400 yards. Do this, and all will be right with the world. Be sure to monitor lunar activity also.

Chiefs (-2) over Browns

Spike Lee has a new movie coming out: “Jamaal Charles Doin Work.”

Rams (+14) over Texans

Hey, uh fantasy gods, Dan again. Could you by chance also limit Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson’s production today? Thanks, you’re the best.

Falcons (+7) over Jets

J-E-T-S, Suck Suck Suck! Just kidding, I’m only bitter. But I’m rooting for Hotlanta.

Raiders (+14) over Broncos

Has their been a more fickle team this year than Oakland? The answer is no.

Bengals (-7.5) over Chargers

San Diego might be the best team in the league. The pick is for Cincy getting the win for the late Chris Henry.

Eagles (-8) over 49ers

The Fightin Amish need another big week out of DeSean Jackson. Maybe I’m getting a little greedy with this fantasy push. Moving on.

Packers (+3.5) over Steelers

Why not right? Go Pack Go!

Seahawks (-7) over Yucks

Tampa is just awful. Just plain poor.

Ravens (-11) over Bears

Gay Butler can’t do it by himself.

Vikings (-9) over Panthers

Me thinks one could have a strong argument that Minnesota is the best team in the NFC.

Giants (-3) over Redskins

Must win status for the G-Men. And the Bills lose Mike Shanahan. (Heavy sigh).

Meme: (as per Urban Dictionary)

an idea, belief or belief system, or pattern of behavior that spreads throughout a culture either vertically by cultural inheritance (as by parents to children) or horizontally by cultural acquisition (as by peers, information media, and entertainment media)

Internet Meme: (as per Urban Dictionary)

A short phrase, picture, or combination of the two that gets repeated in message boards and for far, far longer than anything ever ought to be. Imagine a small child being surprised by a jack-in-the-box every single time the toy springs out and you’ll have a fairly good idea of what the collective internet considers witty.

So we come to the end of 2009. Many of us had hoped we’d have flying cars by now, or at least a Doc Brown time machine! Cool thing is about this year, a select few of the minute-to-minute blips that try and strike a chord within the viral video culture actually, you know, went viral.

And so the webs adorn attention to the average. The culturally mundane, but noticeably relevant. Not Cronkite or King of Pop, but of the real life common ground. And after all, isn’t that what the internet is good for?

Who doesn’t love a list?

Honorable Mention: Mountain Three Wolf Moon Short Sleeve Tee, Susan Boyle, & Balloon Boy.

5) Beyonce Dancing Baby

Babies are frequently the source of both viral (and human) legacy. Let’s put the children first folks. This video, featuring baby Cory from New Zealand (then just 13 months old), became viral right after the VMAs. I mean, every human on earth must find a smile in these events, right? Kids got swagger!!

4) Christian Bale Potty-Mouth

In February, someone leaked an audio recording of actor Christian Bale going ballistic on a crew member. The actual demeaning nature of the comments was probably uncalled for but the hysteria of the message lives on. It’s actually pretty hilarious. “OH GOOD FOR YOU!”

3) David After Dentist

The story is exactly like it sounds. Young David went to the dentist to get a tooth pulled and was treated with some pretty heavy sedatives. Armed with a Flip Cam and a good sense of humor, David’s Dad decided to videotape the aftermath. One of 2009′s firs big meme’s, the video spawned such hits as David After Divorce and many others. I’ve been in many tense moments where I echoed David’s sentiments of, “Is this real life?”

2) JK Wedding Dance

When the video first hit the web in late July, the awesomely choreographed dance by the super-cool wedding party down the aisle during Jill and Kevin’s wedding became a huge hit, especially after being featured on the Today Show. Then the video went super-viral.  In October, NBC’s ‘The Office’ recreated the dance with cast members of “The Office” for Jim and Pam’s much anticipated wedding. The homage proved a huge uptick for the video (assuming Office fans flocked to the origin). The popularity also spread to embattled R&B singer Chris Brown, who’s single, “Forever”, climbed the charts after both hits went increasingly viral.

1) Kanye West and Taylor Swift at the VMA’s

Video here. Thanks for the lack of viral trust MTV. (BTW, Your station sucks)

We can all thank Kanye West for providing us so much endless entertainment. The guy makes hits and no one can deny his talent. Even his counter-part in all of this is getting increasingly lame with her, “WHAT?!? I WON?!? (shy face) I’m so humbled, I can’t believe it! I want to thank everyone that bought a Fearless ticket and all of my Twitter followers”. Taylor, you’re a star, quit acting like a you’re 12 years old love. Even Obama called Kanye a “Jackass” for these events. It provided MTV.com with a record number of unique views. All in all, “Yo world, I’m happy for you and I’m gonna let you finish, but I had one of the best meme’s of all-time!” — Kanye West

Jeff "The Real Situation" Reed

Last week: 8 – 8

Season total: 93 – 96 – 3

Sports Meister: 99 – 91 – 2

Sports Guy: 101 – 88 – 3

Browns (+13) over Steelers

I expected the Browns to get close to their cover at home in bad weather on a short week. I didn’t expect them to win. To see the Steelers lose five straight games just doesn’t seem real. They’re officially out of the playoffs with their remaining schedule, their interior lines have corroded, and questions remain across the board. They have pieces. They have coaching, a quarterback, skill players, a secondary, and less aging problems than other teams of their caliber- so what is it? The kickoff coverage might be the worst in NFL history for starters. Big Ben’s concussion should draw some concerns. Hines Ward calling out his QB isn’t Steelers typical. Sometimes things just don’t go right. The 2009 Steelers just didn’t go right.

Saints (-11.5) over Falcons

Last week I picked the Falcons at home because they were undefeated there. They lost 34-7 to Andy Reid’s perpetual cycle of success. So this week, I go back to the VP of Common Sense and realize Chris Redman isn’t a very good QB. Matty Ice has to be excited about Gillette dropping Tiger. And Sean Payton has said publicly his team will try to go 16-0. So, sorry to Atlanta and their generically named Head Coach.

Packers (-4.5)  over Bears

Chalk this seemingly too close line to division rivals in December always playing a tough game. The Packers are clearly the better  unit and seem to be playoff bound. Their record isn’t even indicative of how good it could be with tough losses early in the season. Clay Matthews has to be the front-runner for Defensive Rookie of the Year right?

Colts (-7) over Broncos

I’ve been pushing the “Peyton Manning is the best QB ever” card heavily this year and the movement got its first piece of traction this week. Former Colt WR (and current Bronco) Brandon Stokley echoed my sentiments. Mike Nolan has his hands full this week.

Chiefs (-1) over Bills

Here’s the dilemma: These are the types of games Buffalo wins. When they’re already gone from postseason discussion they beat teams and hurt their draft position. But the VP of Common Sense came knocking and told me the Bills have the league’s worst defense, Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB, and are playing against a deceptively dangerous Kansas City offense with Cassel, Chambers, and Charles; or C cubed. Do I have to watch this game?

Vikings (-6.5) over Bengals

Nice match-up here. I like Cincinnati but I think Minnesota, and Favre in particular, need to make a statement game at home against a good foe to alleviate fan and media concerns. Not having Percy Harvin in the offensive mix should hurt downfield production but the Vikes still have #28 in the backfield.

Panthers (+13) over Patriots

Classic trap spread. Trouble in New England. Rumors of discipline concerns, broken relationships, etc. Then giving up 13 to a poor team. I have to pick Carolina but I wouldn’t be shocked to see the Patriots win this game 48-13. Which would be a very bad happening since my #1 seeded Fightin Amish play against Tommy Terrific in the first round of my fantasy playoffs. BTW, Brady had a kid this week. It’ll look something between this and this. Take it easy out there Bill, don’t run it up, that child needs his Dad healthy, and I need him under 300 yards.

Jets (-3.5) over Yucks

The Jets will run the ball all day. Good news for them: Tampa can’t stop the run. Wondering if Tampa would remove Raheem Morris after only one year on the job. There is an abundance of free agent coaching talent currently out there.

Jaguars (+3.5) over Dolphins

I wonder how many fans will be at this game. 40,000? Seriously. Jacksonville has a decent run stop defense and I think largely Miami is overrated. These teams are very familiar to one another. From coaching to running backs to bland quarterbacks, to lack of WR talent, to above-average defenses. Should probably be a close game.

Lions (+14.5) over Ravens

Not really anything else here than a lack of respect for Baltimore’s offense and a chance to root for Detroit. Let’s go Lions! COVER PLEASE COVER!

Seahawks (+7.5) over Texans

I’m finally coming to grips with the failure of a season in Houston. Sorry Kubiak, but this team has the talent to go to the playoffs right now. I wouldn’t be at all surprised to see owner Bob McNair pull the plug on Kubiak and get in on the quest for a coach carousel.

Titans (-13) over Rams

Chris Johnson > St. Louis’ entire 52-man roster

Raiders (+1) over Redskins

Remember when these were beloved and relevant franchises? Me neither.

Chargers (+3.5) over Cowboys

Great game. The difference? It’s Dallas in December and San Diego in December. Look that up and you’ll understand my pick.

Eagles (-1.5) over Giants

Colossal Sunday night game for battle position in the NFC East. This game is essentially rendered “must win” for both parties. The Giants were thoguht to be out of it but had a great win last week to keep them in the hunt. Philadelphia hasn’t really been the model of consistency this season, but they still have a ton of talent on both sides of the ball and the most underrated Coach/QB combo in NFL history. Chew on it.

Cardinals (-4) over 49ers

The Cardinals are rolling and we can finally put the dirt on the 2009 San Francisco season. I like what they’re doing with Coach Singletary and emerging player personnel. They need a franchise quarterback first and foremost which they’ll probably be able to address in the draft given the weak quarterback class that’ll be available. If they can grab Sam Bradford for example, they won’t hesitate to make that pick.

3rd Quarter Awards

MVP – Peyton Manning

It seems like a two-man race between Manning and Brees taking their undefeated teams down the stretch here, but watch out for Favre and Chris Johnson making their cases as the seasons draws to a close.

Coach – Jim Caldwell

The first year coach has his team undefeated and staying admirably humble. Yes they’ve had some close games, and yes they have Peyton Manning, but the way Caldwell has run this team has been nothing short of fantastic. Sean Payton will also be in the discussion.

Rookie – Percy Harvin

Harvin is the pick at this point because his team is playing well, but there are at least 10 people close that could surpass him with strong finishes to the year. Knowshon Moreno, Austin Collie, and Jeremy Maclin come to mind offhand.

Week 12 picks: 6 – 10 (I’m so glad this is almost over)

Season total: 85 – 88 – 3

Sports Meister: 93 – 81 – 2

Sports Guy: 97 – 76 – 3

Jets (-2.5) over Buffalo

Watching this game was just a brutal turn of events. I had to go out and watch it because the NFL Network and Time Warner don’t play nice. The bar filled up to such extreme proportions that you couldn’t order a drink. The game itself was almost as monotonous as the 6-3 Browns loss and the lackluster Toronto crowd depressed the hell out of me. I left at halftime because I was more excited to watch Oregon – Oregon St. Yep, the life of a Bills fan.

Falcons (+5.5) over Eagles

Possibly the first time I’ve picked against Philadelphia this season but Atlanta is 5-0 at home and in desperate straits for a win to remain in the competitive NFC playoff picture. Not having Desean Jackson in the lineup means that Jeremy Maclin and Jason Avant have to step up for Donovan McNabb.

Rams (+9.5) over Bears

Until Chicago proves that they can score points and actually stop the rock, there is no sense in picking them regardless of the spread. No Harris, No Urlacher, No offensive line, and no legitimate downfield targets for Cutler equates to a disappointing year in the Windy City.

Lions (+14) over Bengals

I can’t seem to catch Cincinnati in the right week but I’ll try, try again. Cedric Benson seems like he’s back which puts recently acquired Larry Johnson back on the bench following a 100 yard performance last week. Will that sit well with LJ? OchoCinco has also promised a fine-worthy touchdown celebration if he hits paydirt today, just a heads-up.

Colts (-7) over Titans

I like Chris Johnson, he’s alone carrying my fantasy team, but I still think this Tennessee run has been a bit of a mirage. I don’t think Vince Young will have sustained success in this league but I hope I’m wrong about that. Peyton Manning needs about 300 yards to move past Warren Moon for 4th all-time in passing yards. This isn’t a guy winding down in his career, he’s the MVP frontrunner and he’s about to be 4th all-time. Absolutely amazing player. Can the Colts stop the NFL’s hottest team and remain undefeated? Should at the least be entertaining.

Broncos (-6.5) over Chiefs

I’ve been trying to root for Kansas City all year but there is just too great a shortage of talented personnel. Pioli and Haley will right the ship, fear not Chefs fans, they’re smart guys. Josh McDaniels need a win to at least pressure the super-hot San Diego Super Chargers.

Patriots (-4) over Dolphins

Belicheck and Brady coming off a devastating loss against a Ronnie Brown devoid Miami team only giving up 4 points? Seems like a no-brainer, which is your typical spread trap bet. Let’s move on.

Raiders (+15) over Steelers

One of these weeks, Oakland is going to cover a spread. Other point of interest, there is a billboard in outside of Los Angeles asking Al Davis to step down from his role as General Manager. Things as a Bills fan could be worse, could be a Raiders fan.

Saints (-10) over Redskins

Here’s hoping the trouncing New Orleans put on New England Monday night carries over to today’s game. Brees relaunched his MVP candidacy Monday night and to sustain that momentum he needs a big-game. Reggie Bush is back and the Redskins lack a certain level of enthusiasm at this point. Has the makings of a blowout written all over it. If it gets out of hand, is Jim Zorn fired tomorrow?

Panthers (-5) over Yucks

To quote the Sports Meister’s blog verbatim: “I’d like to quote Joe Namath here, but with a minor substitution, “I could care less about the NFC South bottom tier teams ‘strug-a-ling.’” He’s a quality, class quarterback. A thrower, not a passer. Joe Namath- single most overrated player in the history of sports.

Texans (+3) over Jaguars

Jacksonville has been that tease in the bar that is showing more skin than the other girls in the place and keeps flirting with you but you secretly know the situation is going nowhere. At some point, the Texans need to put all their talent together. If I’m Steve Slaton, I’m real worried about Ryan Moats getting the start today. If I’m Gary Kubiak, I’m real worried about my billionaire boss who is praying to Tebow for a franchise first playoff berth.

Chargers (-14) over Browns

I suppose I should probably start picking San Diego. I’m not real happy about it, and I don’t think this team will make any noise in the playoffs, but they’re playing Cleveland.

Cowboys (+2) over Giants

New York just doesn’t have it this year. Since Manning hurt his foot he hasn’t been the same. The secondary is in shreds and the offensive weapons aren’t translating to sustained success over the course of a season. Dallas is a good team, not a great team. I think they only have one player that can be called ‘great’ (Ware). They probably won’t be able to win when it counts but I like their chances of beating a down division rival.

49ers (+1) over Seahawks

I could care less about NFC West teams strug-a-ling. These teams suck.

Vikings (-4) over Cardinals

Brett Favre has been simply amazing over the past few weeks. Now all he needs to do is get popped for doing 100 in his ’91 pickup to really be a team player!

Packers (-4) over Ravens

I wrote that Baltimore was one of seven teams I thought could win the Super Bowl a few weeks ago, I suppose that wasn’t the best foresight. Aaron Rodgers is playing at an absurd level right now and I couldn’t be happier for him. I hope he breaks all of Favre’s single season Green Bay records, as he’s on track to do it. Is Donald Driver a Hall of Famer?