Cable companies across America have developed “Triple Play” plans. These are one-bill packages that deliver TV, phone and Internet service – each at a “discounted” rate.

In theory, it makes perfect sense; the more services you use from one company, the greater the savings. But here is the rub… More →

There’s only one thing I hate more than a high-pressured sales pitch and that’s when someone tries to sell me something I already have.

These people mean well. After all, they are being complimentary. But the Jack of All Blogs knows what he has…that’s why he bought it in the first place. So feel free to pour on the praise, just keep the sales pitch at home. Allow me to illustrate… More →

The printed store circular must die…at least in its current, unearth-friendly form.

Several times a week there is bunch of paper rolled up into a plastic sleeve that is left on my lawn. This special delivery bothers me for several reasons: More →

I’ve sat in on dozens of Webinars, conference calls, and meetings on how to leverage the power of social media. And every time I am tempted to tell the fat cat corporate as*hole who set the whole thing up that they are wasting their money and my time. One day I might just do it.

The reality is, people are making serious money pedaling their so-called expertise on this “exciting new medium.” Meanwhile, as they waste our time, some kid is sitting in a basement in Converse County, Wyoming making up his own rules – and enjoying Web success. More →

I’ve often struggled with career decisions. Even back in school I was always unsure about what I wanted to do. But over the weekend the stars aligned, I heard a voice from above and my idea of a dream job crystallized:

CIVILIAN DRIVER EVALUATOR More →

“The summer went by so fast.”

No it didn’t. The Earth moved around the sun at relatively the same speed as last year…and the year before…and so on.

OK, so maybe summer only lasts 90 days this year instead of 93. Whatever. Each of those days consisted of 24 hours. No more, no less.

I get it. You don’t mean the words literally. What you’re trying to say is that you filled your time up with so many fun, sun-soaked activities, that the time “flew” while you were having fun. Or, since so few people enjoy the cold weather, you are playing the odds – appealing to the masses – with your impending dread of the winter solstice.

Jack of All Blogs realizes that Labor Day is the “unofficial” end of summer (put away those white shoes!) but there are still 15 days of summer AFTER the holiday. Don’t shortchange yourself. It’s up to you to squeeze every last drop of enjoyment out of the warmest season. The days are still “long” (until we foolishly change back the clocks and return to “standard” time) and the weather warm enough. Get off your ass and enjoy it!

Now settle in for a long winter. And let the “I can’t wait for summer” chatter begin.

SCENARIO 1: You’re sitting at a traffic light. There’s a car stopped behind you. Out of boredom and impatience you ease gently off the brake and roll forward. You move mere inches. A quick glance in the rear-view mirror reveals the car to your rear is doing the same.

SCENARIO 2: While waiting on a slow-moving line at the supermarket, you begin to grow impatient. So much so, that you feel you need some sort of ‘release.’ You start to mutter aloud about how many items are acceptable on the express lane. Guess what follows…before you know it the other people online start to mutter also. Now everyone is expressing their annoyance.

Tap your feet – so will they.
Gotta sneeze? They will too.
Don’t even get me started with yawning!

Has this kind of copycat behavior always existed? I have trouble picturing two horse and buggys jockeying for position as the approach the Deadwood saloon. But anything is possible.

Next time you find yourself slipping into parrot mode, I am challenging you to be part of the solution – not the problem.

It’s OK to be influenced by mentors, intellectuals and other people you hold in high regard. But when you’re mimicking the uneducated jackass sitting in that beat up Camaro, it might be take to take a look in the mirror and ask yourself: is that who I want to be like?

You are an individual…now go act like one!

The only thing worse than a shitty economy are the shitty businesses that use a shitty time to gouge the consumer even more than they usually do.

In Jack of All Blog’s crosshairs today is American Express Blue. I’ve been the owner of the funky translucent card since 2001, and overall, I have been a satisfied customer. The interest rate has been competitive, the rewards program fair, and customer service stellar.

Much to my surprise I received a letter in the mail from Amex Blue that looked a bit more important than the usual credit card company junk mail. It stated that despite my 8-year history of paying on time, I would no longer get to enjoy a fixed interest rate. My first reaction was how dare they change the rate of a long-time, low-maintenance customer. But then the next day my wife received the letter. Then my mom. My friends. And so on.

It was nice to know that I was not being singled out, but the costly proposition of a variable rate is too much for this consumer to stomach. But here’s where I went from pissed to incensed… More →

Why can’t everything just be left alone. Do you realize that in our lifetime we will probably see a remake of everything we have ever held dear. Shawshank Redemption. Hunter. Cuckoos Nest. Back to the Future. Rockford Files. Three’s Company. Facts of Life. Matlock. Murder She Wrote. Boy Meets World. You know, at this rate, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Kung-Fu the Legend Continues…continue!

You can add just about any movie or television show to the list above – even if it’s already been remade.

Enough people, enough! More →

Techcrunch author MG Siegler reminded the hole world and every TC reader of what we all already knew here at JOAB: nobody cares about A-Listers. Sadly his reminder to Jason Calacanis is an epic post, that long it might have been written by JCal himself. Luckily we only need to quote MG (with minor editing) to resume his entry, and the influence of A-Listers on the real world market:

While Calacanis may have spent $20,000 on Apple products over the years, everyone else has spent billions upon billions more.