Scoble and Microsoft Missing Out on A Big Opportunity

A month or so ago, I wrote Robert Scoble of Microsoft to tell him about my daughter Jackie Kennedy who turned two the other day. She is a big-time computer user and I am building her a PC (you can read the first article in the series about this in the upcoming issue of Eastside Business Monthy.

I told him I am interested in getting her some additional training and she would make a great spokes-toddler for Microsoft. He seemed to think it was a "fun" idea and I believe he must have posted it somewhere in Microsoft-land, as a couple days later I heard from a Softie in the UK who wanted to get her daughter spending more time on a pc.

Unfortunately, that was the only reply that I got to my inquiry. I know that Microsoft has a lot bigger issues on their plate and that they generally move VERY slowly, but they are missing out on a great opportunity here. A two-year old who uses Windows XP, iTunes and Windows media player..... She'll be programming by the time she types with the proper training (only sort of joking).

Microsoft hasn't shown any interest in Jackie or this opportunity, so I guess we will have to make some offers out of state. Apple and Google are a couple of key prospects.

Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?

Supes Starting to Play D, Rebound and Find Their Shooting

It starting to look like Bob has finally got the team playing some defense, rebounding and making the extra pass. As a result, they are getting better shots and their shooting percentage has gone up. Bottom line is they are going to start winning more often.

It does help that their upcoming schedule is packed with games against sub .500 teams. We're still at the bottom of the division, but I look for that to change in the next couple of weeks. (afterall Portland is currently at top with a 3-3 record)

Go Supes! (Keep playing that tough D and rebounding)

Wizards blow out the not so Super Sonics

As the announcers noted at least a couple times tonight, the Sonics line-up is not so different from last season. They are sans Jerome James and Antonio Daniels, but otherwise is much like the roster that made the playoffs last year.

I'm not sure if the difference is in the coach, but Weiss sure isn't making them play much defense this year so far. At the same time, he can't go out there and shoot for them. They continue to take terrible shots, throw the ball away and not rebound at all.

I don't know how many shots Potapenko took tonight - but way too many. He shouldn't be shooting the ball at all. Ray Allen is getting some points, but gives up a lot more than he puts in.

This is a very discouraging start to what looks to be a long and losing season. Tonight is the 3rd game in a row that they lose by more than 25. They keep playing this way and they'll be lucky to win 15 games.

I'm still rooting for them to turn it around, but they need to make some changes and do it quick.

Sonics make Grizz look like an All-Start team

The Sonics are getting blown out bad in the 4th quarter and have only scored 59 points total so far. To a man, they have been outplayed all night. Our centers all got worked hard with none being effective at all, except Danny Fortson who was successful at knocking a couple Grizzlies on their butts.

Our "shooting team", was anything but, currently shooting 33% and 19% from the 3-point line. Our passing was bad and our defense stunk it up. We made an incredible number of turnovers, leading to a huge number of points on the other end.

It's usually tough playing two games in a row on the road in the NBA, but we looked sick tonight and tomorrow get to play King James and the Cavs in Cleveland. It's going to get worse before it gets better.

A 2 Year Old Microsoftie?

My daughter is a computer geek, which in itself is not unusual. What is unusual is that she's not even two years old and has been actually using a PC for about six months or so.

Jackie loves her music and listens to it on iTunes. She can turn her computer, monitor and speakers on, open iTunes, find and play her favorite music. She can turn the volume up and down, turn on the visualizer and make it full-screen.

Lately she has been teaching herself about other computer programs and features of Windows. She has even taught me a thing or two. It is a little scary.

Currently our friends at Microsoft are considering giving Jackie further training and maybe even hiring her as a spokesbaby. If they don't take advantage of the opportunity, I'm sure Apple , Yahoo or Google would probably love to.

I'd love to hear from other parents who have young children using computers.

Sonics Opener - Death by our own 3 pointers

Although the Clippers aren't exactly a formidable opponent, the Sonics choked away the first game of the year. With the game firmly in control for most of the first 3 quarters, they simply fell apart in the 4th. The most glaring deficiencies were their inability to play defense - and their need to take terrible shots.

Ray Allen can still shoot and score, but still refuses to play defense. He, Radman and Rashard all took some terrible shots that they had no business taking. No team can win while shooting fall away threes while guarded - especially the Sonics.

A pleasant surprise is rookie 7 foot center Johan Petro - who can run the floor, play D and take the ball to the hole. He will make a lot of people forget about Jerome James very quickly - he's simply a better play and in much better shape (he's only 19!). I felt like Weiss should have kept him in the game.

Another pleasant surprise is Flip Murray, who along with his usual scoring has actually been playing defense and making some nice passes (although he did make a crucial turnover in the last three of minutes).

Tonight the Sonics proved that they are still a jump shooting team - and that they will live and die by the three pointer. Tonight they died.

It will be a long season unless they start playing some defense and taking better shots.

Sonics Opener

I'm sitting here watching the entire Sonics team being introduced before the game. I find it ironic that the background music being played is "Baba O'Reilly" by The Who. Most of you probably know that this song is also known as "Teenage Wasteland". Although I've always loved the song, it seemed a little inappropriate for introductions for a NBA opener, but after thinking about it - many of my friends and I did waste a lot of time during my teenage years both playing and watching basketball. I wish I had spent the time working or learning about computers.

Maybe the song works?

Sonics First Game

OK, the games on local tv last night were a bore - particularly the (VERY boring SA Spurs), but I'm looking forward to the real start of the season tonight when the Sonics host the LA Clippers.

Go Sonics!

This is a great day - opening day of the NBA Season

Despite the ongoing gray days and thousands of gallons of water being dropped on our heads today, this is one of my favorite days of the year - Opening Day of the NBA Season!

After the (very BORING) Spurs were virtually given the title last year, I swore I would never watch another game. I lied. I've been a Sonics fan since I was 7 years old listening to Bob Blackburn on the handheld am radio and don't think I can ever give that up. I'm sorry that we let Nate defect (that "Mr. Sonic himself was able to be bought), but glad he's the one who will have to live in Portland ...

I couldn't even tell you where Jerome landed (NY?), I was sorry to see him go, but he's getting overpaid wherever he went. I guess in reality they all are ...
Regardless, today and forever - Go Seattle Super Sonics!

First Post - Joey's Rants and Raves

Thanks for stumbling by here, this is my first post in this new blog. When I was a kid, I hated being called Joey, but now that I'm an old fart, I'll try anything to make me feel young again ;-)

I will be using this site to get out my personal frustrations, as well as tell about as many positive things as possible.