Filed under: Culture Shock, Environment, Technology | Tags: Acela, France TGV, high-speed train, Obama, Pittsburgh
the French high-speed train
I’m living in Pittsburgh for 3 years now, wondering why modern America is still favoring long, painful and unpredictable air transit over high-speed trains for medium distances. France has built a high-speed train network for decades, and I’m still not used to the hassle of air transportation to travel from Pittsburgh to cities as close as Philadelphia or Boston. Even though the two cities are “only” 560 miles distant, spending over 4 hours to fly from Pittsburgh to Boston via Detroit looks like a common thing to do, against geography (traveling almost twice the distance) and common sense (standing in hallways half of the time). Not to mention the risk of bad weather conditions, the two poor crackers you’ll get for lunch, and the overweight person overflowing your seat while staring at the half cracker you are sparing for dinner. A long journey indeed.
I understand that private investors alone cannot afford the cost of high-speed network infrastructure and long-term return on investment . And those who can might well be discouraged to do so by Boeing lobbyists. But when you think of the total hours of work lost daily due to deficient air transportation, the productivity loss for the country as a whole is huge! Despite that and an overwhelming 40% unsatisfied airline passengers, America did not invest in efficient ground infrastructure for decades.
Things might change in the close future as Obama unveiled a high-speed rail plan for America today. It might also be a great chance for the French technology to cross the Atlantic. But to succeed, high-speed trains will have to convince the American public that trains can actually move much faster than the existing Acela “high-speed” connection between Boston and Washington (over 6 hours for 440 miles!). As for the French technology to succeed in America, I’m afraid it would cost too much effort to convince the American public that France and Technology are actually compatible … Even though the TGV remains the fastest train in the world today, “world-class technology” (beside US technology of course) is a trademark by Japan and Germany!
Filed under: Politics, Technology | Tags: american constitution, change.gov, direct democracy, joe the plumber, Obama transition website, web marketing and politics, white house
Never stop a growing business. The Obama campaign successfully leveraged about all of the web marketing techniques available to inform, motivate, frighten, amuse and ultimately, raise money. Now, the Obama company continues making the most of its web marketing skills with a new website – change.gov – online since the day after the election.
The site is aimed at maintaining the interest and support of the Internet generation that forged Obama’s election, during the government transition. It features exclusive information about the transition team and the coming administration … and offers the visitors to participate in the nation’s effort for change by giving their vision of where the president-elect should lead the country!
“There is no resource more important to change the direction of this country and define the ideas that will transform America that the American people. Give us your ideas and take part in change”. The invitation is clear: this new government understands and intends to use the direct, real-time connection to the country and voters that the Internet is providing.
An e-mail address and zip code (geography is key in the American electoral system!) is enough to be assured of getting timely announcement of new presidential cabinet members. For viral marketing, you are offered to forward the invitation to your address book … and refer to this website for information about the president-elect agenda.
The promise of direct participation of citizens in the country policies is exciting and motivating. But it is also dangerous for a constitution that bases control of executive decisions on two representative chambers … not three! Suggesting that the President will consider direct e-mails from voters might well kill their motivation to appoint representatives over time. But more importantly, citizens might also get very angry as they’ll notice that none of their great economic and social proposals sent to the White House has been answered!
Average-Joe the Plumber has already almost changed the outcome of an election. He may well take advantage of a direct democracy to collapse a constitution.
Filed under: Technology | Tags: Apple, Bill Gates, Jerry Seinfeld, Microsoft commercial
So that’s it. The war is over already. After the second episode of this new-microsoft-anti-mac-ad-that-does-not-make-any-sense, Jerry Seinfeld takes his $10 million and says goodbye. What a coup!
Apparently, I’m not the only one not understanding the hidden meaning of these “killer-ads”. But that was the plan apparently. According to the agency, the purpose of the ads was only to create some buzz, not to sell anything. Okay then. It is very well done: I really speak about it without any intention of buying a Windows PC 
But Microsoft promises to come back with an even stronger commercial next time. Deal!
Any idea for the script? Like “Bill Gates goes to the hairdresser,” or “Bill Gates loves ravioli”? Watch out Apple guys! There will be blood!
Filed under: Fun stuff, Technology | Tags: Apple, Bill Gates, Jerry Seinfeld, Mac ads, Microsoft commercial, Steve Jobs
It’s been announced as the ad war of the year, if not of the decade. The Microsoft empire, tired of being cast as a stodgy oldster by Apple’s rebel advertising, would strike back with one of the largest advertising campaign in the company’s history and spend $300 million in a killer-ad featuring the popular Jerry Seinfeld. Wow! Gates vs. Job. The great old tycoon war revival. Can’t wait.
Well, here is Microsoft’s new weapon of massive destruction, launched September 4.
Okay! Is there something I don’t get? A new marketing 2.0 era with subtle hidden irony maybe? The “season premiere” of an exiting series of upcoming episodes?
$300 millions for that. I would be fired.
But more importantly, I certainly won’t give up on my Mac for a pair of cheap shoes
Want some pizza with it?
