SoapBoxRants.net

Thank you, Steve Jobs

Michael — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 02:39:57 +0000

My mom got an Apple ][e when I was 9 years old. During these formative years she taught me BASIC programming on Apple DOS 3. I used that computer for games and learning and even as a presentation tool for my elementary school project that year. Over the years I played around with a huge [...]

Dracula Is A Sparkly Vampire Compared To AT&T

Michael — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 18:00:34 +0000

So here’s the deal…Tuesday, June 15 I woke up early to pre-order my new iPhone 4. I had an iPhone 3g and being 2 1/2 years old, it was getting a bit long in the tooth. While the AT&T servers were committing seppuku for being unprepared for the onslaught of orders, I somehow managed to [...]

Passings

Michael — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 04:04:37 +0000

Roads converge and separate Paths can cross and undulate The sun will rise and darkness falls Doves and ravens let out their calls

Alone I watch and scrutinize Alone I wait to see the signs Alone I sit in patience still Alone I ponder greater will

Seasons come and seasons go Round again, to and [...]

True Friends

Michael — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 15:49:36 +0000

This is not a true “rant”…as you will see by the style in which I wrote it. However it is something that needs saying and so…

What makes a true friend? I suppose that depends on who you ask. It also depends on what the term “true friend” means to the one you are asking. [...]

Big Tobacco – Little Minds (an e-cig story)

Michael — Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:25:08 +0000

Last year the FDA put out a report about how e-cigarettes (personal vaporizers) are toxic and dangerous. Their unbiased tests and fair results reflect a huge cross-section of – oh who am I kidding. They tested two brands that are generally regarded as crap and found faint traces of a couple of potentially harmful substances [...]

An e-Cigarette Story

Michael — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 19:02:36 +0000

I have a 13 year old daughter. She has been on my case for years for me to quit smoking. Now understand that I started smoking Marlboro Reds when I was 15. I’m 35 now and over the years my list of brands includes Marlboro Reds and Lights, Camel Filters, Wides, Lights, and No. 9′s, [...]

Women Are Frustrating

Michael — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 00:31:06 +0000

No, I don’t have a witty title for this post. I know that’s out of the ordinary. Yes, I am making a new post. I know that’s also out of the ordinary. But with the start of a new year and me having some time on my hands to contemplate life, the universe, and everything…I [...]

I Cannot Call Myself A Frugalista

Michael — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 02:57:45 +0000

So if you have been following the saga of the “Frugalista” trademark silliness, then what I say here probably won’t surprise you. That is especially true if you are a frequent reader of my blog. This has irritated me and I feel I need to explain why.

Let’s start with the fact that the term [...]

I Don’t Own Words Like Frugalista

Michael — Fri, 18 Sep 2009 17:49:01 +0000

So the current viral story is the Jackson, Mississippi blogger being targeted by the Miami Herald for use of a word. That word…which will assuredly earn me a C&D of my very own…is “Frugalista”. I’m not opposed to branding. I also understand that if you have a trademark, you are required to defend it or [...]

Hashtags to Cash Bags

Michael — Sat, 04 Jul 2009 06:33:20 +0000

The first I heard of this marketing method was with Squarespace. Now I had already heard of this hosting company because I listen to several of the TWiT (no relation to Twitter…besides, TWiT was first) podcasts and they are an advertiser there. But then I caught wind of a marketing campaign they were kicking off…using [...]