Monthly Archives: September 2010

iTunes Store Terms and Conditions Lunacy

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Last night, while attempting to download an application on my iPod Touch, I was asked to confirm new iTunes Store Terms and Conditions.  The screen looked like this:

You have to scroll down, and then I saw this:

Apple wants you to click through 55 pages of Terms and Conditions.  I would like to see their usability statistics and find out how few people click through (somehow I think that’s what they want you to do).  I didn’t.  All I wanted to do was “purchase” a free application.

To me, this is just another sign of our legalistic American society.  We use “terms and conditions” 55 pages long to keep consumers from actually understanding the legalities of something they seek to undertake.

More on Social Media and Boulder Wildfire

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Here are some more good links discussing the impacts of social media during the Boulder wildfire:

Denver Post – Evacuees use social media to keep up on Boulder wildfire disaster developments

The Huffington Post – Boulder Fire Stokes Community Through Social Media

iDisaster 2.0 – Social Media are being used in response to Colorado Wildfires

Websites Coordinating Response to Wildfire

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There is currently a major wildfire burning in Boulder, Colorado (northeast of Denver).  More than 3,000 homes have been evacuated, and, according to that same Denver Post:

Emergency reverse 911 systems are not working properly and residents are expected to evacuate before they get an alert.

So how are people getting information about this fire?

Folks are getting up to the minute information (and more information about localized evacuations) through Twitter and Facebook.

The Boulder Office of Emergency Management maintains an excellent website with an updated Emergency Status page (and runs on Joomla!).  The Status page has been heavily updated throughout the day.

But the Boulder Office of Emergency Management also maintains a Twitter account and a Facebook page.  Both are continuously updated, and their updates are making the rounds on both social networks.

I’ve long said that small cities and counties can use social networking tools instead of licensing expensive texting software to notify citizens of emergencies (outside of reverse 911 systems, that is).  And even in this situation, when reverse 911 systems aren’t working, it is useful for all to have a backup that is easy to post to (text messages for Twitter and Facebook).

Georgia Football Scoreboard Videos

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The scoreboard video is a major part of Saturday in Athens (aka, Georgia football).  Here are some of my favorites.  This first one is done by Paul Westerdawg, a mockup if you will, of what we should see on Saturdays.

I can’t watch that without the hair raising on the back of my neck.  I love Georgia football.

I love this one, from what I call the “David (Pollack and Greene) Era”.  This was used at a majority of the football games while I was in school.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZ0SF_pT85o

This one will supposedly be played this year, between the third and fourth quarters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0EFEjlVtvCs

Another mockup:

I snapped this video myself (sorry for the shaking) the week after the Blackout game (Auburn).  It’s got some great clips of the Blackout (and shows the energy in the student section):

Georgia Football Season Predictions

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David Hale posted his “11 Bold Predictions” for the 2010 football season and Georgia Bulldogs football. I agree with most of his predictions, but David, and a lot of others, are beginning to predict the Dawgs will do well this season, and that concerns me.

When fans (or me, specifically) think Georgia is going to have a poor season (or what we like to call a “rebuilding season”), the Bulldogs do well – think about the 2005 season or the 2007 season. Those were “rebuilding” seasons, and the Bulldogs accomplished so much, including the SEC Championship in 2005 and a Sugar Bowl win in 2007. When we thought the Dogs would do well – think 2008 – they perform pitifully.

As such, I am torn on whether to believe the Georgia Bulldogs will do well this season or will do poorly.  I truly don’t know how the Bulldogs will do this season.

So here is Georgia’s 2010 football schedule, with my predictions.

  • September 4, 2010 (home) – Louisiana-Lafayette
    • Do I even need to say anything?  Louisiana-Lafayette will try the same thing Southern Miss tried last night (against South Carolina): the no huddle offense, which will work for the first 3 series, and then Georgia will blow them out of the water.  Win.
  • September 11, 2010 (away) – South Carolina
    • This will be a tough start for Aaron Murray, but behind the veteran offensive line, Georgia’s receivers will open up the running game.  Win, but close.
  • September 18, 2010 (home) – Arkansas
    • This is going to be a tough game against Arkansas’s offense, but I think the 3-4 defense will stand tough.  Win, but close.
  • September 25, 2010 (away) – Mississippi State
    • This is a real tough call, because we’re playing in Starkville.  But, I think the new version of the Miss State Bulldogs, with their new-ish coach, will take us.  Loss, but real close.
  • October 2, 2010 (away) – Colorado
    • Georgia football comes out my way, to play in Boulder against the Buffaloes.  Georgia handles the altitude well, and the defense pounds the Buffs.  Win, all the way.
  • October 9, 2010 (home) – Tennessee
    • The Volunteers have this game marked on their calendars, but I think we make quick work of the new Vols coach.  Win, but close.
  • October 16, 2010 (home & homecoming) – Vanderbilt
    • Although I like Vandy’s new coach, Georgia dominates at home.  Win.
  • October 23, 2010 (away) – Kentucky
    • Kentucky could be tough, but if Georgia concentrates on this game and not the next week, they take the day.  Win, but close.
  • October 30, 2010 (Jacksonville) – Florida
    • Why can’t we schedule the bye week before the Florida game?  It worked well in 2007 (think Endzone Celebration).  I really can’t decide on this game.  On one hand, I think Florida comes more prepared to this game and blows out Georgia.  On the other hand, the Georgia team has to want to win in Jacksonville again.  Loss, close but heartbreaking.
  • November 6, 2010 (home) – Idaho State
    • I don’t know who scheduled the Bengals from Pocatello, but we rock this game at home.  Win.
  • November 13, 2010 (away) – Auburn
    • Auburn on their own turf.  I think Georgia forgets how to play this week, and the more prepared Tigers maul us.  Loss.
  • November 27, 2010 (home) – Georgia Tech
    • A nerd-whooping in Athens.  We learned how to stop this offense last year, and we’ll do it even better this year.  Win.

That puts the final tally at 9-3 (excluding any postseason games), but I’ve identified 6 close games (welcome to the SEC folks).  Those six games can really go either way.  And since I’ve predicted they’ll do well, the Dawgs will likely disappoint this season (see above).  Just remember, when David Greene started at quarterback his true freshman year, the Dawgs went 8-4.  The next season, they went 13-1 and were SEC and Sugar Bowl champions.

Stay tuned tomorrow, I’m going to post some great Georgia videos to pump us up for the season opener.