Capitalogix

The Egg Trick: TV From a Different Age

Here is a skit from Johnny Carson and Dom DeLuise.  It's funny to see how talk shows have changed.

It is a different kind of clean ... and a different kind of dirty.

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Valentine's Day Cartoons as a Sign of the Times

It is often a bit of uneasy truth that spices up the best editorial cartoons.

Here are a few cartoons that capture the spirit and sentiment underlying our economy and markets.

Belt-tightening and under-employment are a focus when Cupid needs a pawnshop or gets laid-off.

 

And it is tough to fix the structural issues when politics become more important than progress.

For more cartoons, click here to visit Cagle's site.

Helping Haiti Videos - Everybody Hurts and We Are the World 25

Here are two videos worth watching, in part for the music ... and in part for their larger purpose.  They were made to draw attention and raise funds to support humanitarian efforts in Haiti.

The first is a remake of the R.E.M. classic, “Everybody Hurts”.  Simon Cowell-produced it; and it is very well done.

Here is the link if you want to watch the Making of Helping Haiti - Everybody Hurts documentary.  And here is the link to read the story behind the video.  And, here is a longer version.

The second is a re-make of We Are the World.  Quincy Jones is at again, with a different list of stars and a different cause.  Here is the video.

And here are links to the We Are the World website. and the story behind the re-make.

Waving Goodbye to Last Year

As you start making progress on your New Year's Resolutions and 2010, I thought I'd share these two videos to put last year in perspective and chronicle some of its happenings.

One of the new technologies to generate a buzz last year was Google Wave. Even if you don't understand what it can do, you can appreciate how it's used here.

Finally, JibJab brings a little humor its retrospective.

Best Wishes and Good Luck in 2010.

Palin and Shatner's Strange Word War

Words alone, won't do this justice.  You should watch for yourself.

Sarah Palin and William Shatner channel something strangely reminiscent of beatnik poetry or Haiku.

Enjoy.

It is like a competitive poetry performance, except they are reading each other's words out of context.

Other Resources:

• This is generating some press.
• Here is a link to Palin's book, Going Rogue: An American Life.

 

A Bohemian Rhapsody in Three Parts

Compare the original to the Muppets' version and a parody. Some things are classic. Some things are good enough to stand-up no matter who performs it.  You be the judge. 

A Little Background.

"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song written by Freddie Mercury, originally recorded by the band Queen for their 1975 album A Night at the Opera.

The song is a parody of a rock opera and has a very unusual musical structure for a piece of popular music. Its three different sections have no chorus but both a cappella and heavy metal arrangements. Despite this, it was released as a single and became a huge commercial success, marking a decisive point in Queen's career.

The single was accompanied by a groundbreaking "promotional video", which helped establish the visual language of the modern music (and helped make the music video a must have accessory for any performer).

Muppets - Video of Bohemian Rhapsody:

The Muppets have created their own version of Queen's classic song and video.  This version has very quickly gone viral, as people around the world flock to see it.

The Muppets released their version of Bohemian Rhapsody as a funny and endearing tribute marking the 18th anniversary of Freddie Mercury's untimely death. 

While there will never be another Freddy Mercury, neither will there be another Gonzo, Fozzie Bear nor Miss Piggy.  Here is their attempt at rock opera:

Bohemian Bankruptcy - A Tragedy by Drag Queen.

This, completely different, take on the classic is a witty parody of our economic times.

The Original: I Saved the Best for Last.

Here is the original.  After all this time, it still speaks for itself.

Here is a link to that video with the lyrics superimposed.

New Version 4 of Shift Happens Video

Last week I wrote that my son (and his generation) won't communicate the way we do.

For example, he used 9,827 text messages and 564 MB of data on his phone this month.

I'm not going to pretend that I understand how I would use that many messages ... But I'm beginning to understand that he does.

A decade ago, I couldn't have conceived the way we use trading technology today.  The scope and scale of what's possible would have seemed like an improbable science fiction plot.

And that is the point.  Some things seem like nonsense (or magic), until they become science and way things are done.

New Version 4 of Shift Happens Video

Fascinating presentation of facts, stats, and insights about how technology (like the internet) has been changing the world. Some of the tech that we take for granted is now at an inflection point because of the sheer mass of late-adopters.

It is worth watching and thinking about ... as someone living in these changing times ... and in terms of how these changing times shift the game and create a whole new set of opportunities.

While similar to the post on how Social Media is changing everything ... this presentation focuses on the bigger picture and has a more general business tone. 

I like the new design and the added content; yet, found the music a bit distracting.

We are moving forward more quickly than ever.  What you thought you knew about the economy, technology, innovation, and the world are probably out-of-date. I can't wait to see what comes next.

• Here is a link to a transcription of the presentation.
• Here is a link to the author's blog.
• Here is a link to the Shift Happens Project.

Here's a List of Fun iPhone Apps Worth Using

I wanted to create a list of the coolest iPhone apps. However, cool doesn't necessarily mean useful. Instead, this is a list of the applications that I use most.

This week I'm listing the lighter and more fun iPhone apps.  Here is the link to the list the business and productivity apps that I use most.

I limited myself to the top two applications per category.  Hope you find some cool stuff in here.

Social Media

• Facebook
• TweetDeck

Food & Fun Finders

• Yelp
• IWant

Games: Strategy

• Flood-It
• Block-Out

Games: Puzzle

• Sudoku
• DropSum

Games: Pattern Matching

• Moonlight Mahjong
• Triazzle

Games: Text

• TextTwist Turbo
• Scramble

Music

• Pandora
• Rhapsody

Photo Fun

• Photo fx
• ColorSplash

Health & Fitness

• iFitness
• Lose It!

Relaxation

• Pzizz Relax
• Ambiance

Sports News

• Sportacular
• Plusmo Football Plus

Shopping

• SnapTell
• Amazon.com

Even if you don't have an iPhone, check-out the links to see what is available.  I am amazed at how much of my computing and basic research are now done on a Smartphone.

That's it for now.  Let me know if I forgot your favorite or you found something worth sharing.

Timeless

Listen to the clever word-play in this Louis Armstrong and Danny Kaye duet and you'll hear the seeds from which a bunch of modern music sprouted from ...

If this doesn't make you feel better after you watch it, please contact me and I will send the fun police by your house!

(hat tip to Perro Grande)

Click here for more Louis Armstrong music videos.

Screen Capture Software Worth Snagging

I'm so glad I found Snagit.  It is one of the un-sung heroes that I use all the time but don't think about because it is so reliable and stable that I forget how good it is.

What Can You Do With Snagit? 

Capture anything you see on the screen. Edit and combine those captures. Add text, arrows, or highlights to make the image better.  Then share them through your favorite applications. Organize and find them again later.

I end-up using it several times a day.  It is my default image editor.  I use it to create or edit the graphics for the blog, presentations and e-mails.  I use it to capture and annotate certain financial transactions ... and to get or give tech support. Bottom-Line: the more you use Snagit, the more ways you'll find to use it. 

Here is a two-minute video that will give you a quick overview of some of the things Snagit can do for you.

Techsmith makes several other cool tools too.  I'm not affiliated with them, other than as a satisfied client.  Just thought it was worth sharing.  Hope it helps you too. 

Click here to go to the product page for Snagit.

Click here to download a trial.