************************************************************ Yak Facts 16 October, 1998 Issue #3 Hey there ************************************************************ In This Week's Issue: o It's the Cheese o $10,000 Book o On the Web o Call to Action o This Week in Be Dope o Credits ****************** It's the Cheese ****************** I am a native New Yorker, only recently transplanted to my current abode in Silicon Valley, California. As such, there are plenty of things about California it will take me some time to get used to. Like people who actually wait for the light to cross the street, for example. But one thing I just don't get is this whole "It's the Cheese" campaign. If you live here, you know what I refer to. It seems like California has suddenly realized no one is coming here to pan for gold anymore and they need some other reason for people to go west. Their solution: It's the cheese. On buses and billboards you are informed that the reason your relatives keep coming to visit you here is so they can sample California's fabulous cheese. On the one hand, I sympathize with California's motives: on the east coast the two things most associated with California are earthquakes and weirdos. On the other hand, I can't imagine why they would decide cheese would lead them to salvation. I've tasted this fabled cheese. It's good, but nothing I would pack my family into a covered wagon and travel thousand of miles through harsh landscape for. It's not even anything I would go out of my way to look for while grocery shopping. Why not focus on the pleasant climate? The fabulous parklands? I would have let it go at that if it wasn't for the latest commercial in this campaign, where some people from Wisconsin are attempting to sneak across the California border to obtain California cheese (or perhaps they are trying to smuggle it out - I wasn't paying that much attention). Trying to build up a cheese industry from nothing is one thing. But is there really need to attack the industry of another state? Cheese and Wisconsin go together like cheese and crackers. I've been to Wisconsin and here's what I found: - Lots of cheese - Lots of those cheese hats - Lots of beer (needed so people will wear the cheese hats) Take away cheese from Wisconsin, and what will they have to promote themselves? The freezing weather? Let us not become greedy for cheese hats. Besides, where will it end? Will California next claim New Yorkers come here for the bagels or New Jersey folks come here for the pollution? Let's hope they can find something of their own to focus on. ***************** $10,000 Book ***************** Do you like funny yet intelligent writing? Do you like trivia? Do you like money? If you answered yes to any of these questions, check out _The Totally Terrific $10,000 Trivia Challenge_ (ok, the name is a bit goofy, but you know how it is when some marketing people take over). Available soon in bookstores everywhere and on the web right now at: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0425163598/bedope This book is written by the talented and lovely Wendy Hall. Not only does it provide clever brainteasers to challenge your mind while you read at home, sit in traffic, avoid work or spend time in the bathroom, it also gives you a chance to prove your mental prowess and win US$10,000. Even if you're not that clever it's still a fun read. This book makes a great gift item: "I got you $10,000 for Chirstmas/your birthday/National Alligator Day!" "Great! Hey wait, this is just a book" "Those are the instructions on how to claim the $10,000. It's not my fault if you're not smart enough to follow them." Please note that while the book is claimed to be authored by "Seth Godin and Wendy Hall" that the only thing Mr. Godin wrote was his name on the cover. One of those "co-branding" things. ***************** On The Web ***************** My favorite story this week isn't strictly about the web, but is too good too miss: http://www.wired.com/news/news/business/story/15644.html In a Be Dope-esque story, some French trader sent French bonds into a plunge because he accidentally leaned on the "Instant Sell" key, flooding the trade floor with 145 sell orders and causing a panic. I just keep picturing this guy, sitting on the edge of his desk (and keyboard) chatting it up with the girl in the cube across from him, trying to get a date, while his computer screen is no doubt flashing all sorts of warning messages unseen behind him. Just reminds me that true things are always the funniest. If you're looking for some great web art, visit: http://www.noeticart.com/ They provided the lizard I use for Be Dope, the dog in use for The Be Line and several other graphics Be has been using lately on their homepage. Speaking of The Be Line, the word on the street is a new issue will be up some time today. What does everyone think of this Be-provided site/ezine? I'm interested in your thoughts on it. If you haven't seen it yet, find it here: http://www.thebeline.com/ **************** Call to Action **************** First, thanks to everyone who responded to last week's call to action by joining Team BeOS in the RC5 effort. Our team has jumped two spaces to #28. Thanks especially to Tave Software (http://www.tave.com/) for joining in with a lot of power and promoting the team on their website. So Be Dope has been evolving (or mutating) a fair amount lately. I'm looking for feedback on the future of the site. We already have humor, interviews, files, a bookstore and now a portal to other Be sites. Is there something not there you'd like to see? Are there things you'd rather see more of? Less of? Things that could be improved? Speak out now! ********************** This Week In Be Dope ********************** This week Be Dope examines hidden consequences of R4, chows down on the first edible OS and features guest appearances by Robin Williams and Jeff Goldblum. ************************************************************ Credits! Editor, Writer, Biker: Mike Popovic Copyeditor: None, obviously Yak Facts is published more-or-less on a weekly basis. Be Dope is conveniently located at http://www.bedope.com/ and 550 on exit 9 off the Saw Mill River Parkway. To contact us, email yak@bedope.com If you would like to cancel your subscription to Yak Facts, simply send an email to newsquit@bedope.com To sign up yourself, friends or enemies to the newsletter, visit http://www.bedope.com/newsletter/ All content Copyright 1998 Mike Popovic except where noted otherwise. You may not reuse, reprint, repost or otherwise fondle said content without my permission. This especially includes you Be news site folks. If someone wants to know what's going on here, they have to subscribe. Feel free to say something like "The Be Dope newsletter went out today and it was fantastic! So go subscribe at http://www.bedope.com/newsletter/" That said, you are free to forward this newsletter, IN ITS ENTIRITY to someone as an encouragement for them to subscribe. Heat until hot. ************************************************************