Vote!

I know I've been quiet for several months, but it's only because I've been crazy-busy. However, I will NO WAY be too busy to vote, as I've done even when I was living abroad.

Go vote!

Microsoft Xbox 360: Open Sesame

Reading Patricia Seybold's Outside Innovation post on Microsoft opening the Xbox to the world's coders, I had a thought that maybe this will be Microsoft's path to the living rooms of America.

How? Women dominate casual gaming. Yet Xbox games created by Microsoft cater to a different crowd. It may only take a few totally sick casual games (Diner Dash on steroids?) to get the CHEO (Chief Household Executive Officer, AKA Mom/Wife) to move the Xbox front and center.

Anyone for a little gaming before dinner?

Adios CompUSA?

I found out in December that CompUSA was closing its doors because it's losing money. I am not surprised; I've been in my local CompUSA and watched employees actively avoid engaging with customers who clearly were looking for help.

Really. I'm not kidding: I've watched employees in their red shirts almost run the other way. The Emeryville, California store is notorious for this.

Much to my surprise, however, was that I also discovered (when doing a bit of research on the supposed store closings) that the company was purchased by Mexico's magnate, Carlos Slim. So it got me wondering: could CompUSA's poor customer service -by American standards, mind you - be the result of cultural differences in customer service standards?

The stores appear still open, so now I wonder what's really going on.

Personalized Starbucks Card: Final Thought

This is a bit tardy, but just to wrap up ... the card looked pretty good, but most importantly, me mum appreciated the thought. And enjoyed her cuppa joe.