Monday, August 18. 2008

Watch your words - US Patent office is giving out trademarks!

A word update:

cloud computing - Dell wanted a trademark. US Patent Office said no because the term is descriptive and generic.
- Sam Johnston

hyperlocal - HelloMetro got a trademark on that!
- Search Engine Watch

UMass with our without geographic reference?

Faculty and alumnae of UMass are hopeful the a new chancellor, Robert Holub will consider removing the Amherst from the main campus' name: University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The school has several other sites: Boston, Worcester (Med Center), Dartmouth and Lowell. The idea is to make the flagship campus more "flaghshippy," raise the profile, make it seem less of a commuter school, and bring more resources. Those on the other side suggest that having the geographic references makes all the campuses equal. They are not, of course, since you can only study medicine in Worcester. The other issue, for me, a long time Baystater, is that Amherst is way far away from the center of the Massachusetts population and action: Boston. That's fine; I think it's great to get students out of the city so they are not distracted (State College, PA anyone?)

I just don't want anyone from out of state thinking they are coming to Boston if they attend the main campus. Alas, Amherst is not as famous at State College. Besides, college names offer a great way to learn geography. As kid I had to look up this odd place called Miami of Ohio. And I love that there's UNC-Chapel Hill; what a nice mental picture. And, I've learned that it's the University of Alabama in (not at, no hyphen) Huntsville. No, keep the Amherst.

- Boston Globe

Advertising on Microsoft's Maps

Helen Leggatt at Biz Report summarizes two existing and one "in testing" ad program for Virtual Earth.

NetImperative reports on pan-Asian restaurant Wagaaama's, new ad campaign on Multimap.

Old Poll, New Poll

I hoped to prove we've got lots of Apple users reading the blog, but I was proven wrong by our small set of responders (35).

On what type of hardware are you reading this blog?

A Mac or something from Apple 6%
Another type of hardware 95%

Next up: Your take on the cloud... vote on the lower right hand side of our main page.

Off Topic: Teachable Moments at the Olympics

Yes, I watch the Olympics. I have for many years. When I was young I spent too much time in the North Suburban YMCA's pool which lead to the poster of Mark Spitz in my bedroom back in '72. (True story: My grandmother once stayed over in my room and woke up frightened there was "a naked man" in her room.) In college, it was all about rowing. I even knew the names of women and in the eights and fours. Now, I'm a runner and I'm tuned in to track and field. This spring I arranged my training so I could finish my Sunday run at the Charles River to watch Deena Kastor win the women's marathon Olympic Trials, held the day before the Boston Marathon. But I'm also older, now 44. So, I pay special attention when they note Dara Torres is 41 or that marathon winner Constantina Tomescu Dita of Romania is 38. The point I keep hoping the commentators will make about at least some of the athletes is that in addition to being fit, they are smart.

Continue reading "Off Topic: Teachable Moments at the Olympics"

Adrian Holovaty and EveryBlock Profiled

It's in the Chicago Tribune. The company is based in the Windy City.