Widgets take the spotlight

Adding to the American love affair with gadgets are web based widgets. Most people have used them, but have no inclination of what a widget actually is.

For those few, a widget is anything that can be embedded within a page of HTML (ie, a web page). A widget adds some content to that page that is not static. Generally widgets are third party originated, though they can be home made. Widgets are also known as modules, snippets, and plug-ins.

Think you got it? See the little counter in the right-hand column of this page - it's a widget. Double click any word in this blog. The bubble that pops up is the result of widget programming. Pretty cool, eh? Many new online companies have begun to offer widget-creation services for other businesses.

According to media week, companies are just beginning to see the mass potential for profitability from these nifty little creations. What a surprise! Now that we've finally figured out a way to block all those annoying pop-ups of the past, widgets are the answer to personalizing consumer outreach.

So here's the big idea: by creating personalized widgets through host servers, consumers are basically creating free advertising for companies through blogs (like this one) and online businesses. Say hello to the newest form of invasive advertising, only this time, everyone wins with a cool gadget and free publicity.

Down the drain and back again

Let me begin by saying that the United States still fares far better than the rest of the world in public water (both in quality and availability). Just ask anyone who's taken a trip down south. Far south. Water is so easy to get that most of us just take it for granted; which is why it's no surprise this recent study has been receiving national attention. Better go get your Brita filter now before they sell out tomorrow.

The study maintains that the city water distributed to more than 40 million Americans has traces of everything from "medicines used to treat anxiety, epilepsy, asthma, angina, and in some places, traces of a sex hormone." No, seriously. That's quite a cocktail. Fortunately, the research states that each drug is found only in the parts per thousand and would take massive amounts of consumption to yield any undesirable effect. Unfortunately, most people won't pay attention to that part.

Long live the bottle.

So after reading several articles similar to the one linked above, I began to wonder what the ultimate response will be to all these shenanigans. Bottled water, anyone?
By coincidence (or not), Pepsi & Starbucks have recently gotten a little smitten with one another, launching a new bottled water campaign.



I'm not necessarily implying that all of this media is premeditated, but who's to say it isn't? Bottled water has long been on the rise.

And to think I drank out of the garden hose as a child.

America's affair with sex scandals

In you've been able to evade recent political scandals, here's your official update.

New York Governor, Eliot Spitzer was recently implicated on charges regarding his involvement with a high-class prostitution ring. The guy was caught on a federal wiretap. If this goes as expected, his PR team will be spending the remainder of his term (which will probably be his last) recovering from the embarrassment he has brought to himself, his family, and the New York legislature. Good goin', Eliot.

Now take a moment to get beyond his sleaziness. Everyone, to some degree has some skeletons in the closet. Spitzer's case, however, surfaces after he gained some national attention for his work fighting corporate money scandals and indicting prostitution rings. No joke. Loads of people undoubtedly feel some outrage, especially since his salary is paid with New York tax dollars. But here's my question:

Are the sexual endeavors of politicians, no matter how twisted, the biggest issue concerning voters? Should they ever be?

Of course, everyone would like to see a squeaky clean JKF take the stage. But in the light of the Moncia Lewinsky 'blow job in the Oval Office' scandal, Jerry Springer's removal from mayor of Cincinnati (he wrote a check for a prostitute), and countless other American political sex scandals... what purpose does the prosecution of these individuals really serve? Without a doubt, Spitzer should be punished, just like Bill Clinton was for lying. At most, though, this news should be given a day to live and should die.

Spitzer is going to get what's coming to him, one way or another. There are far more important issues that deserve the media spotlight, though.

Here's the bottom line (pay attention MSNBC, CNN, C-SPAN, and FOX):

Leave the social drama for E! and MTV to make a reality show. Let's keep American media classy while we still have a fighting chance.