2007
11.27

Packaging

I bought a Logitech QuickCam Communicate Deluxe and a Logitech MX518 Optical Mouse for my Ubuntu desktop. They’re fine products, but what really impressed me was their very reasonable packaging. Typically consumer electronics come in a clear plastic thermoformed clamshell that is welded at the seams. These packages are nearly impossible to open. However, the Logitech packaging was a paperboard box around a clamshell with mating snaps. I sliced just one piece of tape and out came the product. What a nice surprise. I didn’t have to wrestle the plastic with a pair of scissors until the package was completely mangled and ended up with lacerations all over my hands from the cut plastic.

2007
11.27

The Hunger Myth

I was listening to the Tavis Smiley Show a couple days ago. He had a segment regarding hunger in America. His guests were Maura Daly of America’s Second Harvest and conservative analyst Robert Rector of The Heritage Foundation. I’ve gleaned the audio of the segment.


So, let me see if understand Mr. Rector’s argument correctly: Many Americans are overweight, including those with incomes lower than the federal poverty level. Families with very low annual income are at risk of going hungry. Therefore, hunger does not exist because many poor people are also overweight. Government should not fund programs for a problem that doesn’t exist. I don’t think that’s an unfair assessment of his crack research.

What a jackass.