By John Gruber
Mux — Video for developers
Linked List: November 3, 2008
Monday, 3 November 2008
- Porsche Breaks the Hedge Funds ★
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Speaking of The Economist, they have a great summary of how Porsche more or less pantsed a bunch of hedge funds and stealthily took a controlling share of Volkswagen.
The story itself is interesting, but there’s a larger lesson. Common sense would suggest that it would be Volkswagen taking over Porsche, not the other way around. I see Volkswagens on the street everywhere; I sometimes go a week without seeing a single Porsche. But unit sales are not the goal of business, profit is — and Porsche’s is a more profitable business. (Insert your own analogy between Porsche and Apple here.)
- The Economist: ‘It’s Time’ ★
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Another good example of conservatives making a strong case for electing Obama. Their previous endorsements are rather interesting (e.g. Bill Clinton in 1992 but Bob Dole in 1996).
- A Conservative for Obama ★
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Some of the most interesting and thoughtful endorsements for Barack Obama that I’ve seen are those from conservatives. My favorite is this one from Wick Allison, former publisher of The National Review.
Conservatives are skeptical of abstract theories and utopian schemes, doubtful that government is wiser than its citizens, and always ready to test any political program against actual results. Liberalism always seemed to me to be a system of “oughts.” We ought to do this or that because it’s the right thing to do, regardless of whether it works or not. It is a doctrine based on intentions, not results, on feeling good rather than doing good.
But today it is so-called conservatives who are cemented to political programs when they clearly don’t work. The Bush tax cuts—a solution for which there was no real problem and which he refused to end even when the nation went to war—led to huge deficit spending and a $3 trillion growth in the federal debt. Facing this, John McCain pumps his “conservative” credentials by proposing even bigger tax cuts. Meanwhile, a movement that once fought for limited government has presided over the greatest growth of government in our history. That is not conservatism; it is profligacy using conservatism as a mask.
- Tap Tap Revenge NIN Edition ★
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Brilliant idea. Take a very popular free game (Tap Tap Revenge), work out a licensing deal with a popular band (Nine Inch Nails), and then sell a special version of the game using music from that band for $5. The comments on the App Store page for the game are effusive.
While most of the recording industry continues to plot ways to frustrate its customers, Trent Reznor is finding ways to make money and delight his fans.
- Fraser Speirs on Apple Retail Store Field Trips ★
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Sounds like it would be a great thing for Saturday mornings. That the educational aspects of the trip are well-done makes no difference with regard to my criticism, however. Nothing will convince me there’s any place for something so blatantly commercial on a school day.
- Amazon Frustration-Free Packaging ★
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This is such a great idea.
- This. Fucking. Election. ★
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Sums it up.
- Tony Scida on the Sonos iPhone App ★
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The iPhone is the ultimate programmable remote for Wi-Fi-enabled home entertainment equipment.
- No Labs Love for Google Apps ★
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Dan Benjamin on the differences in IMAP support between regular Gmail and Google Apps.