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Kim Coco Iwamoto is an at-large candidate running for a position on Oahu’s Board of Education on September 23. Who is she and what does she stand for?

Kim Coco is a Civil Rights activist. Translation: she fights for the little people.

Kim Coco is an advocate. Translation: she wants to maximize the educational opportunities for every student and has many ideas on improving Hawaii’s public school system.

Kim Coco went to Saint Louis High School. Translation: as a private school alum, she is cocky.

Kim Coco went to Saint Louis High School? Translation: she is a transgender.

Kim Coco is endorsed by the Honolulu Advertiser. Translation: if you’re good and worthy, you’re good and worthy. Simple as that.

Make your own decisions and be sure to vote in the upcoming 2006 Primary Election on Saturday, September 23.

…Or the lost art of telling which way an elevator is going. Had to return some stuff at Ala Moana today and as usual, elevators are now an essential part of our shopping trips. I think we were on three elevators today and at all three times, someone wanted to know which direction the elevator was going.

Understanding which way an elevator is going must be a lost art. Okay, I have to admit that it is a little backwards. You push the elevator call button to go up or down, and the button lights up. When the elevator arrives, the button dims. Usually, things light up to get your attention but not for elevator buttons. What does light up is the up and down arrow usually above the elevator door or somewhere thereabouts. If the up arrow is lit then the elevator is going up. If the down arrow is lit then the elevator is going down. Not too hard to understand, or so I thought.

At an elevator three times today, three times someone asks if the elevator is going up or down.

Robert X. Cringely is at it again. This week’s post outlines Apple’s long term strategy with its iPods and iTunes Store offerings. While his column is independently generated and I don’t think he has any Apple insider information, what he says is very plausible and basically makes good sense.

Can Apple “disintermediate” the cable TV companies? Read the article.

Why aren’t the shows and movies available via iTunes in the High Def format? Read the article.

Can Apple really go without Wal-Mart? Read the article.

I love the way Cringely simplifies topics so that I can understand not only the topic in question but the long term aspects of the topic. Good stuff!

For another view, be sure to check out Mark Cuban’s Blog Maverick about Apple’s recent announcements.

And for some self promotion, don’t forget my crazy idea about turning the theaters in Kahala Mall into a gigantic Apple Store/Theater.

Technorati Tags: Apple, iPod, iTunes

Had to call Dell today to place an order (not for me unless Dell starts selling Macs or iPods). After calling their toll free number, I had to enter a 7-digit extension! Seven digits?! That’s like a phone number by itself. Wow, I actually had to enter in the numbers slowly since it was so long. I can remember a 3 or 4 digit extension after looking at it but not a 7 digit number.

Maybe Dell could increase their sales or at least boost customer satisfaction by doing small things like making it easy for customers to connect to their sales people. Common sense, no? But then again, I went private school, so I no more common sense.

Technorati Tags: Dell

ABC is giving away 1 million downloads of the season finales of Grey’s Anatomy, Lost, and Desperate Housewives on the iTunes Store. These episodes will remain free of charge until they’ve been downloaded one million times.

You can also download mini guides of each show to catch up with what’s going on.

I got Grey’s Anatomy and Lost downloading right now. Only 999,998 more downloads available!

Technorati Tags: iTunes Store, television

Engadget has the latest about the launch of Microsoft’s Zune player. Check out the Zune’s stats and colors of black, white, or brown.

This really can’t be their web site can it?

Technorati Tags: Microsoft, zune

Could this be the rebirth of one-time sensation Whitney Houston? After 14 years of marriage to New Edition member, Bobby Brown, the couple is now legally separated though not divorced.

Married in 1992, Whitney fell off the pop scene as trouble brewed in her personal life. Bobby was arrested several times for drug and alcohol use and had physical altercations with Whitney while the diva herself struggled with substance abuse problems.

Houston has twice been in drug rehab programs recently, but this separation from Bobby may be the intervention she needs to get herself together.

Such a waste of talent. For 14 years, Whitney could have ruled the airwaves with her music. I’m just hoping that natural talent is still with her and she can revive her spirit and career.

Technorati Tags: music

Britney Spears and rapping sensation hubby, Kevin Federline, have their second son. The yet-to-be-named baby arrived just in time to celebrate older brother Sean Preston’s first birthday coming up on Thursday.

Technorati Tags: baby, Britney Spears

The Special Events is on-going and some neato stuff is being released and old stuff is being revamped. The new aluminum Nanos are there. A smaller aluminum Shuffle is out. iTunes version 7 provides a much richer experience. Cover Flow is now part of iTunes.

And the codenamed iTV made its beta appearance. Though not shipping until early 2007, this is the missing link between your computer and television. About half the height of a Mini, this thing has wired and wireless connections to get your shows, music, movies, and videos to your home entertainment system. No more sucky DVD-watching experiences!

Check out Engadget’s live coverage of the event (with great pictures!).

Apple is in your den
Apple is in your living room
Apple is in your car
Apple is in your pocket

Technorati Tags: Apple

I don’t know why this wasn’t done before, and I hope it’s a continuing trend with Nike kicks. Let’s talk about retro kicks for a moment. You know, these are your favorite blasts from the past. Maybe you slept on them and there were gone just like that. Maybe you were younger and didn’t have disposable cash on hand. Maybe you just didn’t dig the kicks until now.

In any case, retro kicks are big now, and this trend doesn’t look like it’s slowing down soon. New variations and colorways keep the retro scene fresh.

But the problem with retro kicks is the cost for what you’re getting. Often times, retros cost the same or even more than when they originally were released. So for a $150-pair of retroed Air Max 95, you’re still getting 1995 technology at premium costs by today’s standards. I don’t recall many kicks (if any) costing $150 a decade ago, maybe the Pippens. And to make matters worse, retros usually aren’t built with the same quality as the originals. You’re getting old shoe technology for a higher price and the quality is sub-par. Good for business for Nike, but bad for the kicks fiends.

Enter these new hybrid models that combine the styling of retro shoes with modern shoe technology. Here are a pair of Air Max 95 and Air Max outfitted with Nike’s latest Air Max 360 cushioning system.

You can keep the retro look but still get great performance out of these sneaks. What took so long developing this idea?

I regrettingly passed on the neon yellow AM95 when they were recently retroed, but I can’t pass on these hybrids if they’re actually made.

Technorati Tags: Kicks, Nike, shoes, sneakers

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) has a rumored basic agenda for Apple’s Special Event tomorrow. The agenda covers the announcement of iTunes Version 7, the Movie Store, a new iPod Nano, a new widescreen iPod, and the TubePort(!).

Despite the stupid name, the rumored TubePort will be the mystery interface between Macs and televisions to watch downloaded movies. Movies formatted for the small iPod screen will cost $10 while large, stream-only movies will cost $15. Bought together the iPod version and the streamed version will be $20.

The TubePort? The TubePort? Please let this name be a rumor.

Technorati Tags: Apple

Before every Apple endorsed event, there’s ALWAYS rumors about possible announcements. It never fails, and it never gets boring.

Rumor mongers have figured out crafty ways of predicting Apple’s announcements checking for applied patents, inventory of Apple items at stores, missing advertisements from Sunday ads, partnerships with oversea suppliers, insider information, and lastly sneaking around and taking pictures.

This picture is supposedly from the inside of the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts Theater, the site of the Apple’s September 12 Special Event.

What’s that under the stars? THE video iPod?!

Bust out your Timex Social Club/Club Noveau and starting singing along, “How do these rumors get started…”

Technorati Tags: Apple