Adding this to my long list of Quotes I Love,

“You cannot win improv. [...] And like improv, you cannot win your life.”

I love this bit at the end that contains the above excerpt,

[typed by me] “There are very few rules in improv but one of things I was taught earlier on is that you are not the most important person in the scene. Everybody else is. And if everybody else is more important than you are, you will naturally pay attention to them and serve them. But the good news is you are in the scene too. So hopefully to them, you are the most important person and they will serve you. No one is leading. You’re all following the follower. Serving the servant. You cannot win improv. And life is an improvisation. You’ve no idea what’s going to happen next. And you are mostly just yanking ideas out of your ass as you go along. And like improv, you cannot win your life.”

[more from official transcript] “EVEN WHEN IT MIGHT LOOK LIKE YOU’RE WINNING. I HAVE MY OWN SHOW, WHICH I LOVE DOING. FULL OF VERY TALENTED PEOPLE READY TO SERVE ME. AND IT’S GREAT. BUT AT MY BEST, I AM SERVING THEM JUST AS HARD, AND TOGETHER, WE SERVE A COMMON IDEA, IN THIS CASE THE CHARACTER STEPHEN COLBERT, WHO IT’S CLEAR, ISN’T INTERESTED IN SERVING ANYONE. AND A SURE SIGN THAT THINGS ARE GOING WELL IS WHEN NO ONE CAN REALLY REMEMBER WHOSE IDEA WAS WHOSE, OR WHO SHOULD GET CREDIT FOR WHAT JOKES.

THOUGH NATURALLY I CREDIT FOR ALL OF THEM.

BUT IF WE SHOULD SERVE OTHERS, AND TOGETHER SERVE SOME COMMON GOAL OR IDEA – FOR ANY ONE YOU, WHAT IS THAT IDEA? AND WHO ARE THOSE PEOPLE?

IN MY EXPERIENCE, YOU WILL TRULY SERVE ONLY WHAT YOU LOVE, BECAUSE, AS THE PROPHET SAYS, SERVICE IS LOVE MADE VISIBLE.

IF YOU LOVE FRIENDS, YOU WILL SERVE YOUR FRIENDS.

IF YOU LOVE COMMUNITY, YOU WILL SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY.

IF YOU LOVE MONEY, YOU WILL SERVE YOUR MONEY.

AND IF YOU LOVE ONLY YOURSELF, YOU WILL SERVE ONLY YOURSELF. AND YOU WILL HAVE ONLY YOURSELF.

SO NO MORE WINNING. INSTEAD, TRY TO LOVE OTHERS AND SERVE OTHERS, AND HOPEFULLY FIND THOSE WHO LOVE AND SERVE YOU IN RETURN.”

Real Beauty Sketches

Evolution

The Making Of Evolution Of Dove (I just found this “making of”, it looks like a bad copy but I can’t find a better version to use)

(note: cartoonist and television producer of “Producing Parker” Stephanie Betts play the “pretty, but ordinary girl” in the ad)

Stephanie Betts‘s Kids Screen Summit bio:

“VP Kids Development, DHX Media

Stephanie Betts is responsible for managing, fostering and expanding the kids development slate for DHX Media, across the companyâ�™s three Canadian offices. Stephanieâ�™s expertise and focus is on building strong creatively-driven teams and series, which will appeal to domestic and international broadcasters, and mostly importantly kids! Prior to joining DHX Media, Stephanie worked at Breakthrough Films and Television for 6 years on award-winning series such as Atomic Betty, Miss BG, Captain Flamingo and Jimmy Two Shoes. She most recently developed and produced, My Big Big Friend and Producing Parker.”

Background of the “key” piece of evidence

Now that Calgary Parking Authority (CPA) has settled the Parkplus parking management system ownership dispute and disclosed some key information (see endnotes), this reporter feels comfortable in sharing an exclusive inside look at one piece of evidence against Mr. Dale Fraser’s ownership claim without risking harm to the city and CPA’s legal case.

This key piece of evidence (you can judge for yourself to see if you agree it is “key” or not) was an August 2008 video interview with Mr. Dale Fraser conducted by this reporter. In the extensive August 2008 interview (where Alderman Dale Hodges was also interviewed), a variety of ParkPlus topics (including patents) were discussed. This video evidence was almost “lost” at one point as it was originally uploaded and stored on the now discontinued Google Video service!

Fortunately, after some help from a Google engineer friend, the August 2008 interview was recovered along with a few hundred uploaded videos. The video interview was useful enough that Calgary Parking Authority licensed it to help its case which is why I’m claiming this as an “exclusive inside look“.

Unlike the parties involved in the legal settlement (Calgary Parking Authority, City of Calgary, Mr. Dale Fraser, and Mr. Allan Bazar), I am an independent reporter and not bound by any confidentiality agreement.

An exclusive inside look at a key piece of evidence

In the August 2008 interview, former Calgary Parking Authority General Manager Mr. Dale Fraser told this reporter,

”Calgary Parking Authority did create the proprietary approach to this new parking system. And we [CPA] do have a patent-pending on this approach at this time.”

During the 30+ minutes interview, at NO point did Mr. Fraser leave this reporter with the impression the pending Canada/US ParkPlus patent was his (or his & Mr. Allan Bazar’s) personal invention or intellectual property. In fact, Mr. Fraser seemed to me quite clear in explaining the system was developed by MTS Allstream with the funds/resources from Calgary Parking Authority.

As suggested in “The Patents” section in the 2008 August report “ParkPlus by Calgary Parking Authority – Reimagining the Wheels“,

US patent is one of the most important ones to apply for, simply because the US is one of the largest markets and it has a reasonably strong patent protection regime.

Here is my 2008 interview video (pay attention to time code ~3:40 to ~3:50).

[Please note that the interview is protected by copyright. License and use requests (including for press and media) are to be submitted via email and will be handled promptly.]

This article is cross-posted by me to examiner.

Endnotes: Although the settlement agreement has confidentiality clauses, the parties agree to disclose the following information (emphasis added) and I quote from the Media Release – ParkPlus Settlement – April 2013,

“(1) The Defendants, Dale Fraser, Allan Bazar and 1707626 Alberta Ltd., (now Intelli-Park Corporation) acknowledge that the City of Calgary and CPA are the exclusive owners of the ParkPlus SystemTM and that none of the Defendants has any right, title or interest whatsoever in the ParkPlus SystemTM;
(2) While the ParkPlus SystemTM is valuable and all necessary consideration for settlement is acknowledged, there is no payment by the City of Calgary or CPA of any money whatsoever to any of the Defendants or any other person;
(3) The claims and counterclaims in the action will be wholly discontinued without costs; and
(4) The parties release each other from all claims and counterclaims in the action including any claims relating to the ParkPlus SystemTM or the employment of Dale Fraser and Allan Bazar with the City of Calgary and CPA.“

“Be curious. Have empathy. Wonder what it is like to be someone else. Make a friend who is not like you.” – Roger Ebert‘s final words from his 1994 PBS 11th Hour speech

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak & I talk Pentalobe Screws

Please contribute to help me ScrewYouApple and spread the words.

I love how Ebert writes about movies and can bring out things that I miss even though sometimes our tastes are not quite the same.

Goodbye Ebert. I know wherever you are, they will be playing movies you love non-stop.

“Roger Ebert dead at 70 after battle with cancer” Apr 4th, 2013, Chicago Sun-Times obituary

EW, “Werner Herzog on Roger Ebert, ‘the good soldier of cinema’ — EXCLUSIVE“

I then read these two pieces by Ebert, “A letter to Werner Herzog: In praise of rapturous truth” and “review of Encounters at the End of the World“

Apr 5th, 2013 update:

via PBS, “In this 1994 clip, Roger Ebert answered the question: What final message would you leave for future generations?“

TorStar, “For Roger Ebert, it was always about the movies: Howell“

CBC, “Roger Ebert mourned by world leaders, film industry vets“

The Hollywood Reporter, “THR’s Todd McCarthy Remembers Roger Ebert“

Long Hair Revolution 長毛革命 @ national archive of Canada

Happy 92nd Birthday to Professor Emeritus C.C. Kelly Gotlieb, (Wikipedia) “Father of Computing in Canada”, Department of Computer Science, University of Toronto. I am happy to be able to reach Kelly today to wish him happy birthday, good health and all the best!

In recent weeks, I had the honour and pleasure to interview Kelly extensive twice, once via video using Google+ Hangout On Air, another time using Skype audio. Have a watch & listen. Enjoy. Happy 92nd birthday Kelly!

eps02 chat with “Father of Computing in Canada” Prof. Kelly Gotlieb (Ref original article)

Interview with “Father of Computing in Canada” Prof Gotlieb re Google Car, Google Glasses, Alan Turing (Ref original article)

Documentary ScrewYouApple - Director’s Summary

ScrewYouApple is a tiny Pentalobe screw-inspired film of action that plans to formally ask Apple to stop screwing customers & Think Different again! ScrewYouApple will explore Apple’s multi-billion dollar cash-generating machine (possibly including the powerful App store) and also document my journey to formally ask Apple to stop screwing customers and get Apple to return to the inspiring ideals set out in Apple’s iconic Think Different “The Crazy Ones” Ad campaign. In a creative manner for a documentary, I intend to use a Shareholder Proposal as defined by the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (specifically Rule 14a-8) to formally ask Apple to Think Different again!

Please support the making of ScrewYouApple by choosing a perk on the right of the screen to join us on this epic journey, to try to change the world for the better.

(NOTE: If you are in China & unable to access YouTube video link, please try Youku.com.)

ScrewYouApple – Indiegogo fund raising promo2

“The code says that LAC staff, which includes Canada’s leading librarians and archivists, who set foot in classrooms, attend conferences or speak up at public meetings on their own time are engaging in “high risk” activities.

Given the dangers, the code says, the department’s staff must clear such “personal” activities with their managers in advance to ensure there are no conflicts or “other risks to LAC.”

The code is already having a “chilling” effect on federal archivists and librarians, who used to be encouraged to actively engage and interact with groups interested in everything from genealogy to preserving historical documents, says archivist Loryl MacDonald at the University of Toronto.“

Please support my  Indiegogo Funding Campaign for my second documentary “ScrewYouApple”!

ScrewYouApple – Indiegogo fund raising promo

Documentary ScrewYouApple - Director’s Summary

ScrewYouApple is a tiny Pentalobe screw-inspired film of action that plans to formally ask Apple to stop screwing customers & Think Different again! ScrewYouApple will explore Apple’s multi-billion dollar cash-generating machine (possibly including the powerful App store) and also document my journey to formally ask Apple to stop screwing customers and get Apple to return to the inspiring ideals set out in Apple’s iconic Think Different “The Crazy Ones” Ad campaign. In a creative manner for a documentary, I intend to use a Shareholder Proposal as defined by the US Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (specifically Rule 14a-8) to formally ask Apple to Think Different again!

Please support the making of ScrewYouApple by choosing a perk on the right of the screen to join us on this epic journey, to try to change the world for the better.

(NOTE: If you are in China & unable to access YouTube video link, please try Youku.com.)

ScrewYouApple - Director’s Statement

If the 1989 documentary “Roger & Me” could be simplistically summed up as a film about director Michael Moore pursuing General Motor CEO Roger Smith to confront him about GM’s harm to Flint, Michigan, then may be ScrewYouApple could also be simplistically summed up as a feature-length documentary about crowd funders & supporters of ScrewYouApple combining our voices to try toformally ask Apple senior executives and shareholders to stop screwing customers and to Think Different again.

The creative spark for ScrewYouApple came from the tiny Pentalobe screws inside a MacBook Pro (see picture). I wondered what design/engineering purposes would the five-pointed Pentalobe screws have in serving Apple or its customers? After doing some research (CNet & iFixit), I learned the tamper-resistant Pentalobe screws (now used in wide range of Apple devices including iPhones) are there to stop customers from performing simple upgrades/repairs like replacing a battery, etc (in a sense to “screw” the customers) so that Apple can make more money. These tiny screws can be viewed as tips of Apple icebergs floating on top a sea change.

With your support, ScrewYouApple will explore the Apple’s multi-billion cash-generating machine (possibly including the powerful App store) and also document my journey toformally ask Apple to stop screwing us (one possible question: stop the use of Pentalobe screws) and get Apple to Think Different again (returning to the inspiring ideals set out in “The Crazy Ones“). (more about “formally ask” in Q&A #2)

Specifically, ScrewYouApple will include a look at the changes/evolution happening in Apple from the 1997 Think Different days to the 2013 Apple of today holding billions of cash. And to reach out to “screwed” Apple customers/former fans to hear and collect some of their stories. By makingScrewYouApple a crowd-supported feature-length documentary, the film aims to transform our singular voices into something loud and clear enough for Apple to notice. The making of ScrewYouApple can be viewed as an example of Marshall McLuhan’s famous quote, “The Medium is the Message.” (more details in Q&A #3)

Please support the making of ScrewYouApple by choosing a perk on the right to join us on this epic journey, to try to change the world for the better. The film’s current target completion date will depend on when I can “formally ask” Apple but you will receive many updates and video clips to watch from me along our epic journey if the fixed-funding campaign goal is met by the deadline!

Thanks for your support in making this film possible,

Kempton Lam (director & producer)

P.S. I don’t hate Apple. In fact, you may be surprised by Q&A #1.

Kempton’s filmography

In 2004, Kempton single-handedly directed, produced, shot, and edited his documentary directorial debut “Long Hair Revolution“. The 71 minutes Long Hair Revolution is a film about the then newly elected Hong Kong legislator Leung Kwok-hung (nickname “Long Hair”), a Che Guevara t-shirt wearing rebel/activist. In 2005, Long Hair Revolution world premiered at the Calgary International Film Festival.

In 2009, Long Hair Revolution was acquired by the Canadian government’s “Library and Archives Canada” permanent collection where it “collects and preserves Canada’s documentary heritage, and makes it accessible to all Canadians.“

Questions & Answers

Q1) Do you hate Apple? Have you ever bought any Apple products?

A1) No, I don’t hate Apple! In fact I’ve been using Apple computers for 20+ years, from my first computer all the way to my current computer: Apple II to Macintosh Portable to Quadra 660AV to TiBook (Titanium PowerBook G4) to Power Mac G5 up to my current aging mid-2009 MacBook Pro!

Q2) What’s your plan to “formally ask” Apple? Do you plan to finish the film in 2015 or 2014?

A2) I plan to use a “Shareholder Proposal” which is not hard to understand but very complicated to execute correctly and not be rejected by the company! Based on my research of Rule 14a-8 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (see also sec.gov), I will need to hold “at least $2,000 in market value” of Apple shares, “at least one year by the date” the proposal is submitted, and follow many rules & steps. And then I may be allowed to submit an official Apple Shareholder Proposal to “formally ask” Apple senior executives and shareholders in the following annual meeting and have it included in Apple’s Company’s Proxy Materials (following SEC rules and regulations). Since the 2013 Apple annual meeting was just held, it is likely too late to make it for the 2014 annual meeting, so the 2015 annual meeting seems, based on what I know now, the earliest achievable date. The 2015 vs 2014 meeting date will obviously affect the completion date of the film. And I expect Apple to do everything it can to reject a Shareholder Proposal it doesn’t want to see. So careful thinking and planning will be needed to get everything in the Shareholder Proposal right, I will see what I can do and I may ask for help as well.

Q3) Why use crowd-funding? Why is “The Medium is the Message” relevant here?

A3) Making ScrewYouApple a crowd-funded documentary project ensures we have wider support from many people and not just individual voices that Apple can easily discount. Marshall McLuhan‘s famous quote, “The Medium is the Message.” is right on here. The fact of a successfully crowd-funded documentary project with the title ScrewYouApple is a message in itself to Apple. For your enjoyment, I’ve curated a YouTube playlist of 7 video clips entitled “Marshall Mcluhan in his own words (and others)“. Have fun.

Q4) How do you plan to used the funds raised?

A4) Equipments purchase (cameras, memory cards, computer, audio recorder, etc), travel expenses for on location interviews and filming, film crews’ time, license songs, and other expenses.

Q5) Do you see yourself facing more challenges making “ScrewYouApple” than ”Long Hair Revolution“?

A5) When I made “Long Hair Revolution“, because Mr. Leung (Long Hair) was a regular anti-government protester, I had to be careful to stay neutral and avoid getting myself arrested. So I was mostly safe except a few dicey incidents which turned out well for all, at the end of the day.

With respect to making ScrewYouApple, I am trying my best to understand & follow US & Canadian laws. Including US Copyright laws (Fair Use & Parody laws, supreme court and federal court rulings, and expert opinions, etc) and Canadian Copyright laws (Fair Dealing, etc) to make a solid and uncompromising film, speaking truth to power while respecting the laws. And this starts with using Apple’s Think Different legally following the laws.

Q6) What is one of the major differences between the “style” of Long Hair Revolution vs. ScrewYouApple?

A6) When I made Long Hair Revolution, I was very strict on a self-imposed “non-interfering rule” that at one point I refused to loan an equivalent of US$20 to Long Hair for boat fare to attend a protest! In ScrewYouApple, I am effectively putting myself in the driver seat by “formally asking” Apple. In a sense, the funders and supporters are a riding along with me in this epic journey to try to get Apple to listen and change. And I will be sending frequent updates to funders and supporters.

Q7) What about music and songs in the documentary?

A7) I’m excited that my UK-based musician friend Justin Hill has agreed to be the soundtrack composer of ScrewYouApple. Have a listen to Justin’s “Orchestration” even it is too early to decide what styles of music will work.

I’m also looking for some cool songs with fitting lyrics/titles by lesser known artists to use in the film. For example, the ccmixter song “Hear Us Now (poptastic mix)” sounds nice and has a fitting title. Let me know if you see something nice, fitting, and affordable.

Q8) Are all levels of contributions appreciated?

A8) Absolutely! All levels of contribution are very much appreciated. Again, your contributions to this crowd-funding film is an example of Marshall McLuhan’s “The Medium is the Message.” so each and every single contribution counts in the combined message we send together!

Q9) What are some other ways I can help?

A9) Besides monetary contribution in exchange for the awesome perks, you can help this campaign by getting the words out to your friends and relatives (start with telling five to ten people) about this campaign. ScrewYouApple can use all the help you can provide! You can use the Indiegogo share tools as well!

Share this link: http://www.indiegogo.com/ScrewYouApple

Like us on Facebook: PentalobeUApple (Facebook censors the word “screw”.)

Follow us on Twitter: @PentalobeUApple Twitter hashtag: #ScrewYouApple

Malcolm Gladwell at University of Pennsylvania 2/14/2013

Feb 15, 2013, DP, “Gladwell’s condemnation of football raises eyebrows – Students reacted negatively to the speaker’s suggestion that Penn boycott the sport“

Feb 20, 2013, The New Yorker, “HOW MUCH PROOF DO WE NEED?“

P.S. I would really really LOVE to know what the discussion was like at the post-talk dinner table ! :)

P.P.S. I am aware that some hockey players are affect by CTE as well and we Canadians should be ashamed of ourselves in doing nothing about it while enjoying our hockey games!

“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.” – Mark Twain (full copyright free project gutenberg text)

[HT Leila Boujnane]

update: See bottom for further updates.

—–

1) I don’t have a Harman JBL Charge unit of  to test my concern yet, so this KemptonTestLab - Yellow Flag Caution note is based on my review of FCC filings and understanding from my previous “Review of six Harman/JBL Flips“.

2) Yellow Flag Caution: I did a FCC ID search using Grantee Code: API Product Code: JBLCHARGE to downloaded all 12 of the FCC filings for the JBL Charge (full list) to take a quick look of what kind of Bluetooth antenna it is using. Note: I encourage you to do the FCC ID search yourself and share your findings in the comment.

First off, the electromagnetic field characteristic of the JBL Charge may be very different from the JBL Flip even they look similar enough on the outside (see my extensive in-depth “Review six Harman/JBL Flips, two with new Bluetooth antenna design – KemptonTestLab“).

The fact that the Charge seems to be using the same faulty 1st generation JBL Flip antenna concerns me greatly. I have enough concerns (just to be safe) that I am issuing a Yellow Flag Caution to tell people be careful and make sure they check their units and see if they have any Bluetooth problems. If you ask me, I would much rather see the more robust 2nd generation Flip antenna being implement and used inside the Charge instead!

Harman JBL might be able to get away with using the faulty 1st generation JBL Flip antenna inside the Charge but I won’t know until I put the Charge under the very rigorous testing performed in KemptonTestLab!

Remember: KemptonTestLab: Only best products pass our tough tests!

Harman JBL Flip 1st gen antenna vs 2nd gen antenna

The six Harman JBL Flips in KemptonTestLab

Harman JBL Charge antenna - Yellow Flag Caution

3) As usual, I expect the JBL Charge to make great sound like the JBL Flip if you hardwire them. And the spec for the Harman JBL Charge seems quite awesome on the surface quoting the JBL promo document, ”10-watt portable stereo speaker with a high-capacity 6,000mAh Li-ion rechargeable battery, a built-in bass port and wireless Bluetooth® connection“

4) Let me point out that if the Charge is playing music directly from the device being charged (e.g. a phone), then the Bluetooth problem is not much of a concern because the transmitting devices (the phone) and the receiver (the Charge speaker) are right next to each other!

March 15th update: I read that YouTube user “6FeetDeep4U”‘s JBL Charge’s Bluetooth seems to be performing very well. I would love to see a test video made (and have suggested that). If 6FeetDeep4U does make a test video and embeddable, I would share it here and possibly revise my comments/”watch” temporarily until I’ve got a chance to find and test a JBL Charge myself in my own KemptonTestLab to benchmark against the other JBL Flips I’ve tested!

[HT this Japanese webpage for the FCC ID info]