BlackBerry: More to do.

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 08/06/08 at 10:08:56 pm

I stumbled across this video tonight, it’s a stop motion advertisement that was created for BuiltForBlackberry.com. It was conceived, shot and edited in just over two weeks by Helios Design Labs. This company has done a number of interesting online animations for companies like RIM and Coca-Cola that you’re not going to see on television, check it out.

New Viral Video among the Blogosphere

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 08/05/08 at 03:08:50 pm

It’s funny how I read all of these different blogs on a daily basis and often times they will all post the same content once it becomes popular. It makes my Google Reader look like I’m just obsessed with one article.

Although this was already featured on TechCrunch, John Chow.com, and ProBlogger (seemingly in that order) I thought I would post this on here also, to give the exploit even more exposure in hopes that FeedBurner addresses it.

How to get Thousands of FeedBurner “subscribers” overnight by using Netvibes and an OPML file:

So why is this a problem? Well, I feel that artificially inflating your FeedBurner count can only hurt the system. Good content, dedication, and keeping things fresh and interesting is the only way a blogger will succeed in gaining real readership outside of their immediate family. By using tactics to make it appear as if your blog is more popular then it really is it only shows how much you care about actually building a quality blog and it defeats the purpose of the system for those who actually use to improve their blog.

Plus I wouldn’t bother trying now, chances are the loophole is already fixed.

1 Year Ago, Today.

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 08/01/08 at 11:08:01 am

35W Bridge Collapse

At 6:05PM on August 1st 2007 a catastrophe hit Minnesota when the Interstate 35W Bridge spanning the Mississippi River suddenly collapsed. A critical artery that carried nearly 200,000 vehicles every day including over 6,000 commercial vehicles was instantly destroyed, killing 13 Minnesotans and injuring nearly 150 people.

A year ago today, pictures and videos of the disaster could be found on every news channel and website across the globe, pictures and videos of a disaster that hit so close to home. The collapse not only had an impact on the victims and their families but our metropolitan economy, transit systems, sporting events, even the upcoming 2008 Republican National Convention going on in Saint Paul next month, over a full year after the accident. The bridge collapse has launched full-fledged investigations into our nation’s bridges and infrastructure. It has given our country a heightened awareness of what structural deficiencies really mean and the potential catastrophic outcome if their not addressed.

My thoughts and sympathy go out to the victims and their families, and everyone else that was impacted in one way or another on that day. In this time of sorrow we can only be thankful that there was construction and lanes closed on the bridge making the potential number of causalities minimal, but devastating nonetheless.

Skip the navigation. Get straight to business.

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/31/08 at 08:07:02 pm

Fonolo.com is a new service (currently in private beta) that promises to offer an easy way to navigate corporate phone menus - by letting them do all of the dirty work. Fonolo has spidered and archived companies’ entire customer service phone “trees” so all you have to do is click on a chart online and tell it where you want to go. Fonolo calls the company for you, navigates the call to that point, and calls your phone when it’s ready. Just like that you’re transferred in without any waiting or sudden urges to slit your wrists from listening to Kenny G’s Billy Idol cover for hours on end.

Best of all the service is free, just enter your email address on the front page and they’ll hook you up with an invite.

Favorite Song of 2008

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/28/08 at 05:07:41 am

The Beatfanatic Remix of José González - Killing For Love. This song has been popular on SIRIUS Chill lately and for some reason I’m finding myself humming it randomly at work or when I’m just lying in bed. It’s a song that I could listen to over and over, and I think it’s my favorite new release so far this year.

Movie Review: X-Files - I Want to Believe

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/27/08 at 10:07:05 pm

X-Files: I Want to Believe

Well, what can I say? I expected a lot from the return of Mulder and Scully in The X-Files: I Want to Believe. The X-Files was one of my favorite television series of all time, the last X-Files movie (X-Files: Fight the Future) definitely makes my top 20, so I really wanted the new movie to live up to my expectations.

When you compare ‘I Want to Believe’ to the 1998 classic ‘Fight the Future’ and the X-Files television series, as a sequel or a continuation to the X-Files legacy this movie fails. You quickly realize that it doesn’t tie in with what happened in the series or the past movie at all, the cliffhanger left at the end of the final season remains as if it all never happened. However, to his credit, Carter did write I Want to Believe as a stand-alone story similar to the “Monster of the Week” episodes The X-Files became famous for. As a stand-alone story I still feel that the new movie is severely lacking, the story is just not compelling and it offers too few thrills to feed a feature-length adventure.

When compared to ‘Fight the Future’ the movie felt short in duration, and it fell short in not only detail but an interesting plot overall. I don’t want to give away the big mystery but I can guarantee it won’t be the impressive 10 years later return of the X-Files that the advertising hype would lead you to believe. Then again, it is hard to beat government conspiracies and aliens right? So why even try?

X-Files: I Want to Believe

The acting in ‘I Want to Believe’ was solid, David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson still look great and they do a good job, but even they seem bored with re-visiting the same old questions that were asked throughout the last movie and the series — Does their quest serve a real purpose? Does Mulder still really believe in the supernatural and does Scully have faith in her work as a healer? Finally, do the two heroes belong together as lovers?

In the end I found myself wanting to believe that there was more to the new X-Files sequel but in reality it took far too long for anything genuinely suspenseful to happen — leaving any would-be audience only wanting more for its money. Did the movie suck? No, however I did have some high expectations for The X-Files: I Want to Believe and they were far from met.

Google: Behind the Scenes

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/26/08 at 08:07:06 pm

This article was actually featured on DailyCognition.com but with its recent attention on Digg it’s down for the count, check out the original here when it returns.

Inside Google

We already knew that working for Google had certain advantages but, believe me, this giant of the search engine takes the welfare of its employees seriously, as shown by this decompression (stress) capsule that is impermeable to sound and light.

Inside Google

Work Stations: Each employee has at least two large monitors. There are 4-6 ‘Zooglers’ per office.

Inside Google

Moving around: A slide allows quick access from different floors. There are also poles available, they are similar to the ones used in fire stations.

Inside Google

Food: Employees can eat all they want from a vast choice of food and drink.

Inside Google

Innovation: Large boards are available just about everywhere because “Ideas don’t always come when seated in the office”.

Inside Google

Leisure: Pool tables, video games etc. are available in many areas.

Inside Google

Communication: On each floor, there are private cabin areas where employees can attend to personal affairs.

Inside Google

Technical Support: Problem with your computer? No problem. Bring it to this area where drinks are available while it is being fixed.

Inside Google

Health: Professional masseurs are available.

Inside Google

Rest: This room provides massage chairs while you view relaxing aquariums.

Inside Google

Ambiance: There are many books in this library, even some about programming.

I’m one of ‘those’ types now.

Posted by Markus Langenfeld - 07/24/08 at 10:07:14 pm

Over the last year or so I’ve really expanded my horizons when it comes to politics and current events. I’ve always been a news buff, but recently I’ve started listening to Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) when there’s nothing on SIRIUS. It’s a nice change of pace from my usual blaring loud music on the way into work and I think it’s important to stay in tune with what’s going on in Minnesota.

I got into talking about this with a friend of mine today and she asked if I was becoming the type of guy that listens to talk radio. Apparently I’m cracking into a whole new universe that warrants its own classification - The Talk Radio Advocates. I’ve created a mental picture of the typical talk radio advocate and now that I’m becoming one I’ll have to try my best to meet the requirements, allow me to share my vision:

First off, I have to start drinking coffee. I’m not a coffee drinker presently but the talk radio advocate needs his cup of Joe to assist in focusing on the issues at hand… On the radio. If I spill the coffee it’s not a big deal, the talk radio advocate is known for dumping his morning brew in the crotch region while he’s stuck in traffic because the talk radio advocate likes his coffee blazing hot. Speaking of traffic, the talk radio advocate works a white collar job in the city which means everyday I’ll be stuck in traffic for hours on end, giving me plenty of time to enjoy my beloved talk radio. The talk radio advocate is also a firm supporter of car pools and the mass transit system, but in my vision this particular partisan of non-stop ramblings about politics and the headlines happens to drive a crap box mid-90’s Toyota with one of those diagonal antennas that sticks out of the roof.

Sounds like a dream come true right? Just wait until you become a Talk Radio Sponsor! Tote bags, coffee mugs, bumper stickers, the cheap gifts are endless.

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