One has to wonder if Microsoft senior strategists ever have their own ideas. This job posting for a number of US cities clearly is an ad for “genius bar” staffers. The big question is in what venue? Since Microsoft doesn’t operate retail, they’ll need a partner for their Guru Trial. Surely anti-Vista fanboys need not apply.

My guess is this is being pushed by their new ad team: Crispin Porter + Bogusky.

NASA nerds are chugging the bubbles. Wapo reports “There were champagne corks popping in the downlink room”… Not something you hear often from our space team. Of course the reason is that they have formally, and scientifically verified water on Mars. Cheers to the team at NASA for putting another space myth to rest.

Where even justice is corrupt.

§ 482 “…to ‘establish justice.’ This must for ever be one of the great ends of every wise government; and even in arbitrary governments it must, to a great extent, be practiced, at least in respect to private persons, as the only security against rebellion, private vengeance, and popular cruelty. But in a free government it lies at the very basis of all its institutions. Without justice being freely, fully, and impartially administered, neither our persons, nor our rights, nor our property, can be protected. And if these, or either of them, are regulated by no certain laws, and are subject to no certain principles, and are held by no certain tenure, and are redressed, when violated, by no certain remedies, society fails of all its value; and men may as well return to a state of savage and barbarous independence. ”

Joseph Story, Commentaries on the Constitution, 1833

Great camera work on this Dave Temple breakfast piece.

Saw this poll tidbit on AlaskaReport.com - but it’s the picture that really stood out.
So who’s using who here?

“President George W. Bush’s disapproval rating is at 69% — which is not only the highest of the Bush administration, but the highest disapproval rating in Gallup Poll history” (Gallup).

“Bush’s current 28% approval rating ranks among the lowest in Gallup’s polling history”. (Gallup)

Video Egg has, for a while now offered a next generation video advertising solutions for publishers and advertisers called EAP, or Eggnetwork Advertising Platform. It looks like Google has decided to go head to head with their offering using a product dubbed AdSense for Video as reported in this NY Times article today.

EAP on Video Egg does foot-roll ads very well. It will be interesting to see if big G takes a similar approach. Their earlier video ad offerings, while timely, have been less innovative when it comes to in-stream placements. Of course the bigger picture for entire web-video marketplace is time code - something all the players have been silent on.

I’ve just posted significant updates to INTV.com — hope you’ll take a look. The new site includes a video search page, plus an integrated channel viewer. Try INTV.com today.

Word from Dave is that a premier event is imminent. Till then, have a look see at the trailer:
Poke the sleeping bear (via YouTube):

Swingin Richards band that is. Last night David Jordan and I took in the tours, sounds and fun times at the NC Music Factory holiday party. A good time was had, friends we’re seen, and new ideas we’re hatched. In case you missed it, we missed you.

The factory, while seemingly out of the way, is smack on the west site of downtown Charlotte on the back side Elmwood Cemetary. Map and directions here.

Good luck to the NC Music Factory team. Their hard work is starting to pay off.