Dave Lucas' Archives

2009-06-04T06:46:00.000-04:00

Angelina Jolie, #1 in Albany, the Capital Region and Beyond!

So tired of that fat/slim/fat Oprah, easily duped by phoney-baloney authors and the people running her special school in Africa... it's about time we had someone like the Tombraider to idolize!

Forbes Top 10
1. Angelina Jolie.
2. Oprah Winfrey.
3. Madonna.
4. Beyonce Knowles.
5. Tiger Woods.
6. Bruce Springsteen.
7. Steven Spielberg.
8. Jennifer Aniston.
9. Brad Pitt.
10. Kobe Bryant.

Isn't it time you updated your bookmarks?

2008-07-06T10:53:00.002-04:00

When Bloggers Collide...

dave-lucas.blogspot.com

Blog Won't Die

2007-01-27T14:37:00.000-05:00

Months ago, I stopped blogging here, having moved to a NEW HOME. Nevertheless, this blog, fromerly known as "Capital Region People," continues to attract new readers everyday. I received email this week from two of the advertisers on this blog, congratulating me on pulling in "X" amount of business for them, and asking me if I would consider accepting larger ads. All this at a blog I no longer blog at!

Here's a list and links to some Capital Region blogs... you'll find more in the sidebar blogrolls!

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Halloween Posting Fun

2006-10-30T20:59:00.000-05:00

Still haven't updated your bookmarks and blogrolls? What are you waiting for?
http://dave-lucas.blosgpot.com
Look at what you've been missing... new posts from October 30 & 29:

Wee Shu Min (from the Straits times article "SINGAPORE: Teen blogger counselled for her 'elitist' remarks")
BlogStock 2006
Mahmood’s Blog Banned
Free Mp3 & Video from Afro-fusion group Freshlyground!
and... A mob of sex starved Egyptians decided to celebrate Eid by attacking and sexually harassing women on the streets of Cairo! (with VIDEO)

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Technorati Tag(s): Wee Shu Min, BlogStock 2006, Freshlyground, Mahmood

Dave Lucas Wants YOU...

2006-10-26T22:28:00.000-04:00

...to update your bookmarks, feeds and blogrolls! It's been awhile now, that the new blog has been up and running! Look at what you've been missing!

IZZY a/k/a Sarong Party Girl is just one of many bloggers participating in the BLOG ON series! Who else is in it? Well, Shamus O'Drunkahan for one!

Advice for Kirsten Gillibrand

Barack Obama

Bosnian Pyramids

Fulla

Ramadan SHOCKER! An Egyptian blogger tosses Ramadan traditions aside!

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GV Delhi 2006

2006-10-15T11:14:00.000-04:00

Complete information including agenda, schedule and sign-up forms for Global Voices Delhi 2006. There's also a link provided for the Global Voices Survey.

Technorati Tags: Global Voices, GV Delhi 2006
del.icio.us tags: GV Delhi 2006

RIP Michelle Gardner-Quinn

2006-10-14T09:19:00.000-04:00

Memorial post to slain UVM student Michelle Gardner-Quinn includes a photograph of Michelle with friends from a schoolmate's MySpace. CLICK HERE!

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Technorati Tag: Michelle Gardner-Quinn

Protect the AMBER ALERT!

2006-10-12T11:15:00.000-04:00

Just like those "missing kids" who are REALLY safely in the arms of a "non-custodial parent" dampen the concern over REAL MISSING PERSONS, we now have chronic runaways diluting the Amber Alert down to a Chicken-Little system! DO NOT LET THIS HAPPEN! Protest when amber alerts are issued for chronic runaways and juvenille delinquents!
Read Amber Alert Abuse now!

HOMEpage | Technorati Tag: Amber Alert

ONE Cause @ ST. ROSE

2006-10-12T10:54:00.000-04:00

One of the things I like about the Albany area is the "college presence." You have RPI, UAlbany, Union, HVCC, SCCC, Siena, Skidmore, AMC and The College of St. Rose, just to name a few. St. Rose just went LIVE with it's own Internet Radio Service. Check it out. I've been a long-time WRPI & WCDB listener, and I find the mix of music and personalities quite interesting. When I'm down in NYC I usually listen to WFUV and Hot97. I have varied tastes. I guess.

Something you might want to attend if you live in the Capital Region! I'm posting it now so you have time to plan!

HOMEpage | Technorati Tag: St. Rose

Health Savings Account vs. Traditional Insurance

2006-10-12T10:48:00.000-04:00

For many in the American workforce, now is the time (or soon will be) to select the medical and dental benefits you are eligible for via your employer. A new player in the mix is the HSA, Health Savings Account. As you will see when you read THIS POST, a lot of people are CONFUSED about the HSA. Some have it mixed up with a Flexible Savings Account, which is pre-tax and you have to use it up in a year.

HOMEpage | Technorati Tags: Health Savings Account, HSA, benefits, PPo

Time For An Update!

2006-10-09T18:55:00.000-04:00

If you haven't updated your feedreaders, bookmarks and/or blogrolls, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?

I've been blogging everyday at
http://dave-lucas.blogspot.com

Here's what you've been missing:

Technorati Tags:
Melinda Duckett, Debbie Harry, Moby, Anna Politkovskaya,
Columbia University,
Mark Foley

Where Social Networking May Go Next by Bambi Francisco

2006-10-04T10:17:00.000-04:00

What's next? Hiring virtual nannies to baby sit virtual children, sitting on virtual couches to speak to virtual therapists, or perhaps it's coveting a virtual neighbor's swanky new digs?
As more people spend time on the Web, increasingly they're porting their offline habits onto the Net. The social networking spaces are the biggest examples of this.

Many of my readers know that I refer to MySpace spaces as dorm rooms because they are the virtual equivalent of that one-room environment that reveals in a snapshot, who you are and what you like. In my day, posters of bands were plastered on the physical dorm room walls. Today, those virtual posters sing on demand in our virtual rooms.

The social networking blogging platforms have helped everyone create these public, dynamic virtual rooms. In the early days, the blog/social network hosters, which act as governing bodies, provided all the fundamentals for a community to thrive, like communications, mail and trash services. On News Corp's (NWS) MySpace, roughly 30 million emails are conducted a month, I heard. The governing bodies have also provided the virtual version of an interior designer so one can decorate one's space by using the cookie-cutter templates offered.

But a decorated space and a platform to communicate are just the beginning to living out our lives online.

With the proliferation of photos and videos, a number of Web-based services, like OneTrueMedia, have arisen to let anyone appropriate or manipulate images and videos to hang up, or should I say embed, in their particular space. (Sidenote: I've been a fan of photo/video-editing tools, like JumpCut, which was just acquired by Yahoo (YHOO). For other startups I noticed in the video space, read this prior column.

Most of these companies servicing this trend of putting our lives online, are making money via advertising or subscriptions. But one business model I found quite interesting, and one that really taps into human nature, is being developed by Wallop, a social networking company spun out of Microsoft (MSFT) Research Labs. This week, the company presented its new social networking service at Demo, one of the more popular events that highlight startups with potential.

Essentially, Wallop is banking on humans to be true to their nature as they find meaning and value in the tangible objects they collect, and as they covet their neighbor's assets.
Wallop wants to feed this desire by letting people buy all sorts of knick-knacks, as well as rugs, curtains, wall paper, furniture and collectibles to spruce up their Wallop spaces. The more people want to express themselves with new frilly items, the more they'll go to Wallop to buy these things. This is what Karl Jacob, CEO and founder of Wallop, is banking on. Now, it may be hard to imagine that people would spend a dime on silly items to decorate their spaces. It's just imaginary!

But in actuality, there is a significant market for such frills.
Jacob provided me with a list of examples. For instance, on CyWorld, the Korean social network site, about $125 million is spent annually on stuff to decorate the CyWorld communities. In the virtual-game market, about $900 million is spent by players sprucing up their environment with castles, bigger castles, castles with moats, castles with moats and big round tables, castles with moats, big round tables, and knights, etc. And, we can't forget ringtones. Consumers spent $2 billion in ringtones back in 2001. Today, about $7.4 billion is spent on personalized ringtones around the world.

So, Wallop is a neat idea, with a lot of potential. The challenge will be getting people in the door to set up yet another profile. I already have more than half a dozen profiles from MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, Yahoo's 360, MSN Spaces, Friendster, Tribe, Yelp, two blogs and Six Apart's Vox.

It's just unclear to me how many people will be drawn to the Wallop world, just for the sheer sake of being able to buy stuff to spruce up their spaces.

But if our online world feeds an alter ego that makes someone feel whole, then I can imagine their desire to spend on it, if only to give themselves a bigger role in a real world that often makes them feel so small. I'll give Jacob this, he certainly understands that a thriving online community is one that lets people be people. And, one thing people love to do, is to express themselves, be noticed and be heard.

Hmm. I guess down the road, Jacob will have to make available some virtual therapists. But, for now, I'll take that brown leather couch, please.

Tags : Francisco, Networking, bambi, social

Notes Gone Wild!

2006-09-29T12:43:00.000-04:00

Cyberbattle brewing between Michelle Malkin and Wonkette! Read ALL about it! I also have the links to a phoney Michelle Malkin MySpace page AND a set of photoshopped Flickr Michelle Malkin shots!

In the post PATRIOTIC, I have YouTube video links to the Marvin Gaye rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner," which was delivered live during an NBA all-star game! It's a keeper, and I'll tell you HOW to save YouTube video!

Finally, in "MySpace: Staying Ahead of the Curve" I explore what one local school district is doing about the popular Social Networking site and there's a link to a Bambi Francisco article about MySpace!

HOMEpage | Technorati Tags: Michelle Malkin, MySpace, Wonkette, Marvin Gaye, Bambi Francisco

New on Notes!

2006-09-26T09:37:00.000-04:00

SCAREY HIGH - What a day, what a mess at Albany High!

Those Bloody Christians! - Child forced to bleed on a Bible! You can bet your bippy if this story involved Muslims, the Pajamas Media crew would be lighting up the blogosphere with it...

Ugly Betty: woe unto us - America Ferrera: the ultimate success or failure of the Americanized "Ugly Betty" rests on this actresses' shoulders! But if it works, Salma will get all the credit... if not, America will be blamed!

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Technorati Tag(s): America Ferrera, Ugly Betty, Christians, Pajamas Media, Albany High

Weekend Notes

2006-09-24T07:24:00.000-04:00

LEESBURG, FLORIDA -- The Leesburg Police Department released a copy of both the 911 call reporting the disappearance of Trenton Duckett and a copy of a note allegedly written by Melinda Duckett. This ties in with my post To Live and Die in Cyberia. The note said that the focus on her was reflected from her son, whom she loved and only wanted "safe in my arms."

Through the note, Duckett explained that she is usually strong, but she stated that she was young and hard-working yet still faced "ridicule and criticism." Melinda ended the note by stating "time is short and I have more important people to speak to."

The 911 phone call began with an unidentified male speaking to the 911 dispatcher stating that young Trenton was missing. He described what Trenton looked like. Melinda then spoke to the dispatcher, and sounded like she was genuinely disturbed by the ordeal, unable to clearly describe what Trenton was wearing or how long he had been missing.

Here are the stories I'm following this weekend on Dave Lucas' Notes:

Girls Fighting Girls - the sad story of two young lives tragically altered forever after an adult forces a fight between two teenaged girls, Krystle Hernandez and Elsa Camacho.

Here's the latest on the latest brouhaha at Albany High.

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Technorati Tags: Albany High, Melinda Duckett, Elsa Camacho

This Week on Dave Lucas' Notes!

2006-09-21T09:05:00.000-04:00

Lessons Not Learned - Discussion of the impact personal MySpace pages featuring pages of Brittany Jones, Dori Marlin, Kimbo, Dawn Yang and more!
Ramadan 2006 - What is Ramadan? Ramadan 2006 / 1427 is the 9th month of the Muslim lunar calendar. It is a during this month Muslims fast during the daylight hours and in the evening eat small meals and visit with friends and family. It is a time of worship and contemplation. A time to strengthen family and community ties.
American Hiroshima - Is Al-Qaeda really planning a Nuclear attack on American soil?
Bloggers Muslim Witch Hunt - News analysis, with links to a YouTube video that features young Muslim women discussing why they wear hijjab, as well as a link to "A young girl's response to anti-Islamic sentiment."
To Live and Die in Cyberia - explores the Melinda Duckett and Avnita Ghuman cases.

HOMEpage | Technorati Tags: Brittany Jones, Melinda Duckett, Avnita Ghuman, MySpace, Dori Marlin, American Hiroshima, Dawn Yang, Ramadan 2006

Melinda Duckett & Avnita Ghuman

2006-09-17T07:56:00.000-04:00

Here's a heartstopping post ("To Live and Die in Cyberia") about the needless deaths of two young women, with a variety of photo and video links!
Click HERE!

HOMEpage Technorati Tags: Melinda Duckett, Avnita Ghuman

Friday's posts on Dave Lucas' Notes

2006-09-15T09:59:00.000-04:00

Have you subscribed to my new feeds and bookmarked my new blog URL? If you haven't, get on over to Dave Lucas' Notes and look in the right hand column for all the buttons and info you need to redirect your feedreaders and browsers!

Here's the latest posted on my weblog:

RIP Oriana Fallaci

Fallaci had serious disagreements with, and was no friend to Islam. In her book "The Rage and The Pride" she wrote that Muslims "multiply like rats" and said "the children of Allah spend their time with their bottoms in the air, praying five times a day." Fallaci was charged in Italy for the crime of "vilipendio", or vilification, for publishing her book The Force of Reason in 2004.

2 free mp3 Tunes

Free and easy downloads!
One is a Beyonce cover (actually, Beyonce has been OUTDONE here!) by Leah Andreone!
The other is a Teddy Bears tune with vocals miced in from Norwegian pop queen "Annie" of "Chewing Gum" fame!

HOMEpage | Technorati Tags: Oriana Fallaci, Leah Andreone, Teddybears, free mp3, Annie

Say it Ain't So!

2006-09-14T20:51:00.000-04:00

Kimveer "Trench" Gill, the VampireFreaks.com blogger who opened fire at Dawson College on Wednesday.

Other blogs are just getting around to the sad Melinda Duckett story: she's the lady the drive-by media drove to suicide!

Muslim religious leaders have accused Pope Benedict XVI of quoting anti-Islamic remarks during a speech at a German university this week.

Bounty Hunter "Dog" arrested. Bounty hunting is considered a crime in Mexico. Duane "Dog" Chapman, his brother, Tim, and son, Leland, were arrested this morning at the family home in Hawaii. The Chapmans each could face up to 8 years in prison if they are returned to Mexico and convicted on kidnapping charges. I've got links and video for ya!

I've also re-posted an article appearing on Global Voices about "Blogcamp Unconference."

HOMEpage | Technorati Tags: Kimveer Gill, Melinda Duckett, suicide, Dog, VampireFreaks.com, Blogcamp Unconference, yellow journalism, Nancy Grace

Lonelygirl15 Bree a Fake

2006-09-13T19:53:00.000-04:00

The full story and all the links.

Technorati Tags: Lonelygirl15 Bree

Project Joseph

2006-09-12T07:26:00.000-04:00

An African nation comes face to face with its role in slave trading.

Technorati Tags: Project Joseph, Ghana, slavery

RIP Melinda Duckett

2006-09-11T22:30:00.000-04:00

Did a CNN TV reporter drive a distraught mother whose child was kidnapped to commit suicide? Click HERE!

Technorati Tags: Melinda Duckett, Nancy Grace

Cellphones, Laptops, Modems, mp3's

2006-09-10T06:50:00.000-04:00

News about a program that lets you turn your phone conversations into MP3 files.
Call Corder can record phone conversation directly to your hard disk with a single push of a button. ALSO: Connect your laptop to your mobile phone… and communicate from anywhere, anytime.Here's the LINK!

HOMEpage Technorati Tags: Call Corder, use cellphone as modem

This is real...

2006-09-07T01:27:00.000-04:00

Here's the latest from my new blog site:
I've put up a post entitled "You Couldn't Make This Stuff Up!" featuring

Fox Newsman John Mattes gets beaten up on Video
A Mexican Gang dumps human heads on a dance floor
Photo of Laura Tennessen
Mahmoud Ahmadinejad coming to NYC to debate George Bush!

Now you understand the title of the post!
And Halloween is less than 60 days off...

Technorati Tags: Laura Tennessen, John Mattes, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Grunke

Steve Irwin & Joseph Longobardo

2006-09-06T15:08:00.000-04:00

In a post entitled "Barb to the heart" I convey a childhood story with similarities to the fate of crocodile hunter Steve Irwin. I also offer a link to more about slain New York State Trooper Joseph Longobardo.
Here's the LINK

Tags: Steve Irwin Joseph Longobardo Stingray Barb Barb to the heart