This idea kind of falls in line with my other ones, which include optimization and data correlation - the Demographic Correlation Web. This hypothetical tool would link all the possible variables regarding people together, for example, weight, hair color, age, gender, location, siblings, interests, dislikes, etc. This tool would probably primarily be used by advertisers.

As far as I know, advertisers can only make educated assumptions and guesses at the interests of particular demographics and whether the demographic would be interested in a product, service, etc.

I'll just use the example of Kraft Cheese Nips, because I have a box of this nasty stuff on my desk. (Cheese Itz are better.) So say they want to advertise Cheese Nips on television. They have no way of knowing what kind of people like Cheese Nips. Other than making educated guesses like "kids ages 10-20" or something like that, and slapping their Cheese Nips ad on Cartoon Network or something, they have no way of knowing whether this is the only way they can successfuly target their ad. Perhaps there is a geographic targeting opportunity they are missing. It's said that Hawaiians like Spam. Obviously this can be attributed to historical reasons probably, but the point is that the tool would open up new methods of targeting. It could potentially eliminate the trial and error that goes into advertising, because there would be a database that relates different factors together.

Interests
Music
Movies
Likes
Dislikes

Physical
Age
Weight
Gender
Hair Color
Siblings

Location
Geography

The extent to which I'm taking the idea is obviously possibly unreasonable, but the data would be anonymous, so it could work. But it would be impossible, since the data would be impossible to collect. But alternatively, perhaps I could custom code a tool (with coding skills I do not have) to do exactly this (an outrageous plan that would ultimately do nothing?), using resources I have like Facebook and MySpace, both of which have really cool demographic targeting features. The tool would run through all of the possible combinations, and in theory it would spit out pure gold and allow the person who created it to retire to live the good life.

This could be carried out. Probably would need a very powerful, dedicated computer, some h4x0r coders, and intestinal fortitude.

But if there is a tool like this, I'd like to know about it...

So there's no doubt that paper is out, and Amazon seems poised to control the Ebook market, but apparently Apple is developing their own tablet or ebook reader of some sort according to Fast Company. The article suggests that Apple could essentially leverage its existing iTunes store to start pushing ebooks and stuff.

But the success of this supposed ebook store would seem to rely partially on Apple's existing user base, which hardly seems like a demographic that reads books very heavily. This isn't to say that they might make sales from customers not using Apple products, but it seems that at least trying to push ebooks on its existing user base would fail.

Earth 2100 was a recent ABC show that analyzes the potential outcomes of current environmental trends. Mostly doom and gloom, capped off with an optimistic outcome if we "take action".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHNSLxDmMCM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ADwIgn14RU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OfPYDDQ2zHk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEQBN5_UUEg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jWCxH0T-p8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c9qzByexh38
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fLQMw5BD1uQ
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09j9Jy7uvS0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tQMfeAW-hU

I think some of the scenarios are definitely possible, and I can definitely imagine most of that happening.

So a while back I had been thinking about kaizen, and applying it to my life. I believe I first heard this term while reading The Lexus Story, a behind the scenes look at the establishment of Toyota's luxury division.

I have decided to apply it to my daily life. This post is mostly so that I will have no excuse if I don't follow through with it. My plan to focus on kaizen involves -
 
1. Keeping a list of problems that need solving always in mind
2. Preventing "boredom" from ever occurring, and should not because of #1
3. Keeping a list of 5 areas to improve on personally always in mind
4. Constantly being aware of time spent on all tasks, as well as a focus on efficiency wherever possible
5. Crushing the "id" which is rather overpowering and results in foolish decision making as it disregards investment. (This is all assuming my understanding of the concept of id is correct, as it seems to basically be the force that demands immediate satisfaction).
6. Constant learning about everything.

The only problem I see is that setting specific time goals for certain tasks might interfere with the quality of work. Alternatively, it could train you to produce the same quality of work at a faster rate, but it's hard to say which would result.

Plot was significantly worse than the first two. It was mostly a bad amalgam of various aspects of the legend of Qin Shi Huang Di. Obviously, I wasn't watching for the plot. I do enjoy my mummy, zombie and horror films, and on the basis of sheer entertainment, it did deliver.

Most inspiring part was probably the credits . Some beautiful brushstroke animation there. Would be perfect if applied to an Asian themed web design.

http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:expandcategory?current-catalog-id=12F0696583E04D86B9B79B0FEC01C087&current-category-id=1BBF8032E5314C7BACC6315B57622815&tab=3#tab-container-3

Better design by... Lenovo? Unexpected. Don't care about the hardware that much. It's hard to find a PC that looks this good. Mac good looks, with PC style.
Want!

To college and whatnot.