Scrabble, Get your Game On!

So in case you have not got a Facebook account, and had the recent displeasure of attempting to make the switch to the Scrabble Beta application, let us assure you that it is not a pretty picture you are missing out on. But don't take our word for it, no, let us present you with the screenshot to the right. Taken from the Discussion Board for the Scrabble Beta application. We'll refer to this as "Exhibit A".

So, if you read the post titles shown in blue from Exhibit A, you will see that Scrabble Beta is not getting very favorable user feedback at this point. Not so much!

While we would like to add a more personal twist to this product review, we are sadly unable to join a game we've been invited to attend. :: super sad, super sad ::

Our recommendation is we hope you throw some serious developer and hardware super powers at that sh*t STAT Hasbro! First impressions count. 

Peace out yo,

Mystery Dinner Guest & Claude

Personal note from Claude:

So I just want to add that I am also pissed off right now about the recent Red Sox games. I mean, Manny's jog to first base the other night was just bullcr*p! Manny, you better get your game on too mister! We're watching you.

Not Cuil Enough for School

Ex-Googlers launched the new search engine cuil on Monday, what was touted to possibly be the "next google killer". C'mon now, really?

How many search engines have we seen try and enter the market to chip away at Google? And out of those, how many have actually been able to put a dent into Google's market share? Ok, just wanted to recap on that. 

cuil, pronounced "cool", is sadly another example of a product launch before it's time. From this launch, I have the following three cents:

• PLEASE, for the love of GOD, STOP USING WEB 2. 0 NAMING CONVENTIONS WHEN INTRODUCING NEW PRODUCTS. I can't STAND IT. IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE and it makes me THINK YOU'RE A TWENTY-SOMETHING SHOULD BE ATTENDING COLLEGE BUT TURNED YOUR DORM INTO A WEB SERVING MORASS.
• Can people please put more emphasis on stress testing and application QA before these gigantic go-lives? It only spells disaster when you don't, and reinforces that you come across looking like a 20-something skipping your calc and algebra classes. 
• Could you please just accept that Google is here to stay? You can't compete with it, Microsoft can't compete with it, and Yahoo! certainly can't compete with it, so just call it a day and spend the money you are sinking down the toilet on some nice Gucci sunglasses, a villa in Tuscany, and bring all your friends along for the biggest and baddest bash you can throw. It'll still be cheaper than trying to fight this fight.

[MDG side note: Ok, so the third point I kinda disagree with, in theory, but still like to daydream about a fabulous party in Tuscany with all my entourage]

And, for those of you who think I'm being too harsh on the new cuil, here's a random sampling of AP headlines on their launch:

• Why Cuil Is No Threat to Google
  
• Cuil is cold
  
• Cuil? Not So Much

What do you think?

Firefox for your Computer's Health

In case you didn't get the memo, Firefox web browser by Mozilla is the best computer protection you can use when surfing the internet. Period.

Recent AP reports are saying that malware is undeniably on the rise; the sheer volume of computers being compromised by viruses, spam, botnets and malware is going through the roof.

But what can you, the innocent and unsuspecting web surfer do? You can start by ditching Internet Explorer as your web browser and using Firefox by Mozilla instead. Firefox is a free web browser, easy to install, and a gazillion times less likely to expose your computer to the crap that IE is all about.

So what are you waiting for? For heaven's sake, run *don't walk* to this URL address and download free Firefox today:

http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/firefox

Peace Out,

Mystery Dinner Guest & Claude

p.s. For those of you who recently signed onto your Facebook account and found Claude missing from your Friends and Entourage, you can read about what went down in our last post. Now Claude Rolls with 1.

RIP Claude 7-10-2008

It's a very sad day in Claude's life. Today he got kicked out of Facebook. Yes, we're sorry to report this news but it is in fact the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. So help us G*d. Upon trying to login to Facebook this morning, instead of his Facebook profile, he got the not so nice message "Your account has been disabled by an administrator. If you have any questions or concerns, you can visit our FAQ page here."

Well, zoinks!!! We are just flabbergasted, in shock and awe, more disturbed by this than the Reverend Jesse Jackson comment about wanting to cut Barack Obama's nuts off. Or however he phrased it.

So kids, when you login to your Facebook accounts and are scratching your head wondering why your Friends count is minus one, this is why.

RIP Claude's Facebook Account ~ Wiped clean from the virtual world on 7-10-2008.

Top 10 Reasons Converse Rocks The House, Y'All

As a little sidebar intro, so we admit that at first we were a little bit sweatin' it, wondering if we were gonna catch any heat from Verizon... you know, from our postings on their lack of environmental concern. However, thank our lucky stars, we came across this recent article available on Andy Beal's Marketing Pilgrim blog "New Survey: 55% of Companies Not Prepared for Online Reputation Crisis". Big sigh of relief. Moving on, we feel much better about posting rants, raves, or anything in between. Oh, and perhaps the occasional restaurant review for Cape Cod.

So without further ado, here are our Top 10 Reasons Why Converse Rocks The House, Y'all...

1. check the sweet logo design
   
2. they're an American company
3. they bring back vintage in mad style
4. they're in vogue every decade
5. converse chucks
6. their attention to detail
7. their cool factor is off the charts
8. they keep their advertising clean (***cough, Facebook, cough***)
9. their sneakers look good with everything
10. Target sells them
    

All this being said, we must admit that upon visiting the Converse web site, we might suggest a few minor tweaks for a better user experience: more obvious navigation, faster loading pages (suggestion: nix the song launching by default), and a more obvious way to turn volume down or off on "My Drive Thru". While the song is catchy and all, it's early here yet and I'm trying not to wake the neighbors. THANKS!

Happy 4th of July everyone!!!

Peace out,
Claude & Mystery Dinner Guest

What's That, Verizon? We Can't Hear You Now.

Status check for our faithful blog followers, as of today, July 3rd, no response has been communicated by Verizon regarding our "Open Letter" dated back on June 26th. We guess that maybe like the government, Verizon takes the month of July off and didn't have time to prepare an AP Press Release statement before break. Yah, that's gotta be it.

We just want you to take a more leadership role in putting our environment first. Actions speak louder than words, and we really look forward to hearing about your new eco-friendly missions.

Peace Out.
Claude & Mystery Dinner Guest

Citizen Cope - this song is dope!

So we got another great beat for your consideration. If you haven't heard them before, we are totally grovin' to Citizen Cope these days. Check out "Let The Drummer Kick"



Good beats y'all.
Peace Out.
Claude & MDG

David Cook's version of MJ's Billie Jean

In case you didn't watch American Idol, and, yes I am aware that there are people out there who downright refuse to, take a listen to this version of Michael Jackson's Billie Jean, performed by the amazingly talented 2008 winner David Cook...





We heart you David Cook, you really rock the house and we're psyched you won!

Peace Out,
Mystery Dinner Guest & Claude