As you may have noticed, I've neglected my blog as of late. The last few weeks have been hectic. I've been very busy preparing for the holidays as well as a recent job change. I'm in the process of writing a few new product reviews, which I hope to have completed by the first of the year. I also hope to launch a newly revised blakehelms.net first of next year. My goal is to get back onto a weekly or semiweekly posting basis. Have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful new year!

Tonight Jason Calacanis sent an email to his list in an attempt to rebut  Randall Stross attack on Tesla Motors. If you are not on the list it has been reposted here

My thoughts

I completely agree Jason. I can't afford a Tesla Roadster ( Although I REALLY want one) but people like you offset the R&D and startup cost so that people like me can afford them. I'm glad we did not stop development on computers simply because they once cost 100's of thousands of dollars and filled whole rooms. At that time a computer with more than a few kbs was a pipe dream. It took corporations, universities and the government buying them and contributing to the R&D to create better, faster computers. This spawned competition which led to further development and we now have computer for under $300. Amazing how capitalism works!

As far as a bailout for the auto industry, I am completely against it. I am a hard-line capitalist and I do not believe that we should suspend capitalist ideas because a company made foolish business practices. American's love to hold up our capitalist ideals until they stop working for us, and then want the government to bail us out. I think the money could be much better spent on companies like Tesla who want to advance the industry. Companies like Tesla are playing on an uneven field they are expected to play by the rules of traditional capitalism while GM, Ford and Chrysler get the benefit of the deep government pockets. No one company is important enough to be bailed out. I know a lot of people will disagree. I'm not saying it will not be an extremely difficult road for many people but if a company makes decisions that cause it to get into this state then it deserves to fail. The beauty of capitalism is another company will step in and fill the void. We would not be in this state if we let capitalism work the way it was designed.

Stross' argument about battery technology is flawed. Battery technology has not advanced for the same reason the auto companies are going bankrupt. US Auto makers became complacent and continued making SUVs and never advanced other technologies because they did not have to, people were buying their SUVs. The same is true of battery manufacturers. No company has stood up and taken the lead demanding a cell phone battery that can last a month, a laptop battery that can last a week or a car battery that can last 1,000 miles. Maybe this could be another X-Prize.

Unlike some local radio stations I was able to show restraint and not launch my blog Christmas design until Thanksgiving. So here it is. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.

I recently purchased a new MacBook Pro. I can not say enough good things about the laptop. It is solid, fast and stable.  One of the new features was the mini DisplayPort. It is this "feature" which causes the problem. I recently sat down to watch a movie on my Apple Cinema Display. This movie was freshly purchased from the iTunes store. I click play and what do I see? A black screen and en error box "This Movie Cannot Be Played Because A Display That is Not Authorized to Play Protected Movies Is Connected"!

You have got to be kidding me! I could play them when my ACD was connected via DVI on my old MacBook Pro. Now just because I "upgrade" to a newer "better" laptop I can't play it. I tried several different movies and TV shows to no avail. After a little checking it seems that this is a widespread problem and the only solution is to buy a new native DisplayPort monitor. Currently Apple does not even offer one (the new 24in has not been released). Worst there are no 30in alternatives. Apple it is not wise to tick off a customer who just spent several thousand dollars upgrading then take away features and the only solution you give him is to stop using your products and use a competitor. 

If you have experienced this problem please leave a comment

Great video of the Presidential candidates having a good time roasting each other at the Alfred E. Smith Memorial Foundation Dinner.

We are in the midst of one of the most important election seasons in the history of America. Now is the time to practice the great responsibility of voting and select the leader who will guide us through these difficult times. Whether you are Republican, Democrat or Independent you should vote on November 4 but you won't be able to unless you register. Depending on your state it may be too late so time. If you have moved since the last election you need to register again. If you are not sure you should contact your county registrar. Google has setup a great site to help to find out more registration information.

Google Voting Information

Here's a tag cloud to visualize it. Wordle via EricLee.us

Tonight I watched the 2nd 2008 Presidential debate moderated by Tom Brokaw. During the pre-debate commentary it was made very clear that every aspect of the debate had been carefully crafted, negotiated and agreed to by both candidates, nothing was left to chance. Throughout the debate Brokaw reprimaded the candidates for not staying to the format at the expense of actual debate. The questions were very targeted and completely against the spirit of the "townhall" format.

Gone are the days of true debates when the League of Women Voters kept the debates neutral and did not let the parties dicatate every aspect of the event. Today's debates are nothing more than inspiration for Saturday Night Live writers and a fraud on voters.