Lee Wochner: Writer. Director. Writing instructor. Thinker about things.


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Archive for the ‘Thoughts’ Category

Angry about jobs, but not Jobs

Sunday, October 9th, 2011

So one of “the 1%” died recently — that being Mr. Steven P. Jobs — but the left isn’t angry at him. Here’s one person’s theory about why, and it rings true to me.  No matter what the laughably ill-informed Herman Cain says, the people in the streets aren’t anti-capitalism. They’re just pro-fairness, and they’re tired of getting ripped off by their own system.

The other side of the Gizmodo/Apple imbroglio

Sunday, October 9th, 2011

Remember when in April of 2010, Gizmodo got hold of an accidentally left-behind iPhone prototype, which proved to be the iPhone 4, ran with the story, and suffered Apple’s response? (I wrote about it here.) Now former Gizmodo editor Brian Lam details his behind-the-scenes email and telephone exchanges with Steve Jobs, and comes away with a little regret. Even though my opinion hasn’t changed that Gizmodo was in the right and Apple was extremely in the wrong (seizing the writer’s computer and files), this is well worth reading for what it says about Jobs, and the impact he made on one technology fan.

Fitting, or tasteless, or iconic?

Friday, October 7th, 2011

Is it fitting that St. Croix is running a promotion that enables you to wear Steve Jobs’ favorite style of mock turtleneck, and will donate $20 to cancer research? Or is it tasteless? Or, hang on, is it… ironic? Given that Jobs never asked the personal permission of Einstein or Lennon or Warhol or Gandhi or anyone else to promote the “Think Different” campaign, and now his spirit finds himself in the same boat.

Perhaps, ultimately, we’re all commodities.

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“Lee Back”

Friday, October 7th, 2011

The front page of the LA Times website says that it’s time for “Lee Back” to step down. They say this right beneath a photo of LEE BACA. So, question of the day:  Are there ANY copy editors left at the LA Times? I mean, Lee Baca is only the sheriff protecting just shy of TEN MILLION PEOPLE. (Kinda well-known, right?)

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Steve Jobs, R.I.P.

Wednesday, October 5th, 2011

I’m sad to learn that Steve Jobs has died.

For more than 30 years, he’s been America’s contemporary Edison, revolutionizing the delivery of computing, music, and movies, and putting all of them more readily into the hands of people around the globe. That you now carry the Internet on your hip is greatly due to Steve Jobs.

I saw him in person only once, many years ago, in San Francisco at the rollout of the second-generation iMac. But he’s been a daily part of my life for a long time.

Fallen apple

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

How much demand is there for the new iPhone 4S, announced today?

Apple’s site crashed.

That’s how much demand.

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Now that’s scary

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

The hot costume this Halloween? Disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner.

(I wouldn’t want him hanging around.)

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Friendly finale

Tuesday, October 4th, 2011

Why the potential closing of the Friendly’s chain might put a damper on Nicholson Baker’s output. (It’s where he does his rewriting.)

Why the GOP resents Obama

Tuesday, September 27th, 2011

Here’s the answer, staring us right in the face.

(No wonder he’s resistant to further cuts!)

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Who’s most likely to buy the iPhone 5?

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

This infographic shows who is most likely to buy the iPhone 5,  now expected to be released on October 5, and why. I looked hard and couldn’t find my picture in there. (I’ll definitely be upgrading.) Given that I have a 3G (yikes!) and corresponding account, I’m wondering if I have the grandfathered-in unlimited data plan. Hope so.