Will eBay Auction Skype?

3 Years ago, Skype was the hottest thing in town. Then the bidding started, and when it comes to bidding no one knows how to do it better then eBay, who, with plenty of woo ha, paid a modest sum of $2.6 billion for their new toy. But, a while later, eBay, who also own PayPal, realized, that its harder to integrate the technology into its auction business then they first thought, Skype has become the hot potato that no one wants, even the appointing of Josh Silverman as the new CEO in February did not seem to help, and now eBay is considering selling the VoIP provider. Skype is quite good actually, it allows free PC calling, and saved me a lot of money when I used it to call computers internationally.

It’s Good to Be Green…With Envy

I’d take Sergey over Marc any day of the week. That’s why when I first heard about Facebook’s new chatting utility from Gina Trapani over at Lifehacker, I didn’t really care. Google rolled out a similar item years ago and as far as I was concerned, Gmail chat was my staple. I was reluctant to get too excited over what seemed like yet another device that exposed my whereabouts onto a largely disinterested or conversely, overly gawker-ish audience. Truth be told I use Facebook relatively scarcely, mostly taking advantage of the feeds feature to see if friends have updated their profiles with new pictures.

On the flipside I use my Gmail chat quite often, preferring this over most of the other instant messaging and chat features offered by services such as AOL or MSN. The good news about Facebook’s new chat is that, like Gmail chat, it’s not a downloadable external client, and it pre-populates your buddies based on your contacts list. Facebook has capitalized on the trend of the passive user (and those of us who sometimes forget that we even have Facebook open on a tab in our internet browser) to incorporate an application that ensures we click on our accounts a little more often during our days and/or depending on how often we get pinged by a contact. It’s a savvy move for the company and an obvious next step in terms of features on the site, but the utility lacks a certain efficiency in multi-tasking various simultaneous chats. Clutter erupts at the bottom of the screen which makes attempting to integrate it as an activity during the work day all the more difficult. And I can’t speak for everyone else, but if I can’t use it as a diversion during my day, I’m certainly less inclined to use it as a past time on my time off.

Recycling is Good For You

I recently discovered a new site, Linkory.com which allows you to connect with others through memories and shared experiences. It’s Web 2.0 facade aside, Linkory is more than just another one of those community sites geared to make people feel less lonely. Through surfacing stories of childhood and memorable events, users get to evoke their experiences and make them come alive again using media such as text, photo, and video. Even cooler, you can “send” any of the memories (video, photos, etc) you find on Linkory to Facebook buddies. Like most sites out there these days, you don’t have to pay to use the service which is always a nice bonus feature.

What I enjoyed most scrolling through some of these memory threads is realizing how much history I’d neglected or forgotten. I could scarcely remember Elian Gonzalez and yet the little boy preoccupied so many of our lives for months in 2000. Taking a stroll through Linkory is like cuddling up with a cozy warm book you’ve read at least twice, but whose in company you will undoubtedly always find an old friend.

Kobe Vs. KG

Last weeks Sports Illustrated cover featured Kevin Garnett and Kobe Bryant, expressing what I think is many Basketball fans’ fantasy, to see the Lakers and the Celtics, head to head, in the finales. As a Lakers fan, who lives in Boston, and as a result is also a Celtics fan(…) And is old enough to remember the great rivalry from the 80′, I can say that it will be a dream come true. I’m sure that Lebron and Tim Duncan will have something to say about SI’s selection of championship material, so we’ll have to wait and see, but so far this year’s Playoffs looks very promising.

Blog Watch: Craigslist Gets Sued According to Craigslist Blog

There is redemption in getting sued. Just ask Jay Buckmuster, CEO of Craigslist, who publicly voiced his disappointment over Ebay’s “petty” war on Craigslist after they filed suit against the company on the basis that Craigslist was diluting their shares in the company. Ebay has 28.4% stake in Craigslist. While confidentiality restrictions prohibit too much information from being leaked to the public on this, some cynics believe that eBay is banking on either of two scenarios: 1) eBay is trying to back Craigslist into a corner and buy them out and/or 2) eBay is trying desperately to sell their shares in Craigslist at a most optimal rate.

Whatever the case may be, don’t feel too bad for Jay Buckmuster. At the very least, he’s garnering some serious sympathy out of this whole ordeal, not to mention some innovative food for fodder in the way of comments on his post. Our favorite: the missed connection.

Missed Connections

You (eBay): Middle aged, bitter, nerdy.
Me (craigslist): young, indie, hip

I saw you at the flee market. You told me own it … like I’d be impressed. You offered me a ride on your Harley … again like I’d be impressed. Your not cool.

C

Wii Fit is For the Biggest Loser in All of Us

Set to be released in May, Wii Fit is already making headlines with its slew of aerobic exercises designed to get even the most inactive/dormant of couch potatoes off the proverbial couch. The system can support up to 660 lbs of weight (although it stops measuring activity after 330 lbs) and features the following activities:

Strength-training exercises, including a push-up/yoga combo (which sounds devilishly difficult), single-leg extensions, arm/leg lifts, a variety of squats and lunges, and side planks (ouch). There’s also plenty of aerobic action, including steps, runs, and rhythm boxing. Then there’s the yoga, complete with your standard deep breathing, half moons, a potpourri of poses, you name it.

For soccer fans waiting for some sort of fix, the new Wii Fit boasts a soccer ball head-butting game. Head trauma aside, rave reviews and a price tag of ? (yet to be publicized), Nintendo’s new game package has already sold 1.4 million systems in Japan alone.

Hollywood’s New Clothes

I want to know.
I want to know if George Clooney’s ass has some sort of a mythical flavor to it. Because, otherwise, I can’t understand why everyone who is someone in showbiz, have their tongue stuck in there for so long.
We all know Hans Christian Andersen’s tale about The Emperor’s New Clothes, and how the crowd realize the emperor is actually naked only after a small child cries out, “But he has nothing on!” Hollywood and the entire entertainment industry is exactly like that Emperor. They wear George Clooney because they were told that it is the most beautiful cloth, and only those who are smart enough can see it. They even compare him to Cary Grant…. But in the end, you know what; someone, maybe a child, or someone else in the crowd will figure it out and will cry: “But they have nothing on!”
No offense Clooney I really don’t hate you, it’s just thet much ado about nothing around you I dislike.
Have a nice weekend.

Funny (Ha-Ha) Photo of the Day

Photo taken outside of Craigslist headquarters & courtesy of Craigslist’s new blog.

Cry Me A Weight Loss

I like The Biggest Loser; in fact I think it is the only realty TV show worth watching. It actually helps people do something positive, and encourage others as well. Also, I was very happy to find out that the brothers Jay and Mark are from around here, right outside of Boston (Go SOX!!!) But GOSH, did you see how much they cry?
Is this the way to lose weight? Tears are heavy you know…
They give a new literal meaning to Cry Me A River… (It’s actually a song from the 50’s, written by Arthur Hamilton, and sang by Julie London. Sorry Justin, no hard feelings, but it’s not yours, like many other things…) OK you got my point.