when I started this blog five years ago, I was a pet sitter and the name animal-crackers made sense. now I'm a stay-at-home-dad and freelance writer, but rather than confuse everyone by getting a different blog, it's just easier to keep posting things here.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
unscrabulous
It's a sad day today. Facebook removed Scabulous after Scrabble-creator Hasbro sued.
Facebook itself is a weird experience. Imagine gathering people from high school, college and other previous lives in one room. Most of the people don't know each other. They move in their prescribed circle of friends, and maybe they look at the other people in the room and wonder what their deal is.
I imagine it's like an intervention.
Facebook is like that, except online. So no one actually has to talk if they don't feel like it.
While I was figuring out whether Facebook has a place in my digital life, a friend turned me on to Scrabulous. It's a total Scrabble rip-off. Even the color-scheme is the same.
About 1 million people play Scrabulous. So Hasbro decided it wanted a piece of the action. (Although I don't see how anyone is making money in this deal.)
Rather than strike a deal with the Scrabulous creators, Hasbro had them shut down. And now it's launched an official version of Scrabble on Facebook.
It looks glossy, but it moves too slow. I'm not impressed.
Without Scrabulous, I need to reevaluate my relationship with Facebook.
It's just weird.
Facebook itself is a weird experience. Imagine gathering people from high school, college and other previous lives in one room. Most of the people don't know each other. They move in their prescribed circle of friends, and maybe they look at the other people in the room and wonder what their deal is.
I imagine it's like an intervention.
Facebook is like that, except online. So no one actually has to talk if they don't feel like it.
While I was figuring out whether Facebook has a place in my digital life, a friend turned me on to Scrabulous. It's a total Scrabble rip-off. Even the color-scheme is the same.
About 1 million people play Scrabulous. So Hasbro decided it wanted a piece of the action. (Although I don't see how anyone is making money in this deal.)
Rather than strike a deal with the Scrabulous creators, Hasbro had them shut down. And now it's launched an official version of Scrabble on Facebook.
It looks glossy, but it moves too slow. I'm not impressed.
Without Scrabulous, I need to reevaluate my relationship with Facebook.
It's just weird.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Destroy Roy now on Amazon!
Yes, you can own a digital copy of the comedy that will change the face of journalism!
Get Destroy Roy on Amazon Unbox for only $1.99.
Please note: You will need to download and install the Unbox Player. This requires a Windows PC or Tivo. Sorry all you Mac users. You're still too cool for us.
We've test-driven Amazon Unbox and found it a little tedious. It takes 10-20 minutes to download and install Unbox Player and another 10-20 minutes to download Destroy Roy.
For those who don't know the deal -- Andrea and I wrote and produced Destroy Roy. Andrea directed and Josh and I have cameos.
The cast is a mix of actual newspaper reporters and professional (but unpaid) actors.
For trailers, bloopers and behind-the-scene footage check out www.destroyroy.com.
Enjoy the movie!
Get Destroy Roy on Amazon Unbox for only $1.99.
Please note: You will need to download and install the Unbox Player. This requires a Windows PC or Tivo. Sorry all you Mac users. You're still too cool for us.
We've test-driven Amazon Unbox and found it a little tedious. It takes 10-20 minutes to download and install Unbox Player and another 10-20 minutes to download Destroy Roy.
For those who don't know the deal -- Andrea and I wrote and produced Destroy Roy. Andrea directed and Josh and I have cameos.
The cast is a mix of actual newspaper reporters and professional (but unpaid) actors.
For trailers, bloopers and behind-the-scene footage check out www.destroyroy.com.
Enjoy the movie!
Monday, July 07, 2008
sign o' the times
A hand-painted sign outside of the local Denny's restaurant:
"Denny's Defensive Driving Class: Great Meal Included"
"Denny's Defensive Driving Class: Great Meal Included"