Question: Whether tele-education, Internet classes, virtual colleges and
streaming lectures will be the standard for American higher education in
the next generation?
*
Probable
Online (Virtual) education makes a major change in the structure of the
higher-education market. It globalizes it. Even if you are sitting on a
camel in Egypt with your wireless laptop parked on hump #2, you can interact
with the world. Already, online universities like Kaplan, Phoenix, and Capella
are creating gigantic student populations with comparatively little infrastructure.
Kaplan University, where Robin works, has over 25,000 students and fits
all the personnel needed to take care of them in 3 small buildings in Ft.
Lauderdale the total is which is smaller than the size of Thomas Hall at
EIU. Brick-and-mortar Univs are scrambling to compete with these private
schools. Numerous students are taking some classes live and some classes
online, even though they are residing at the University. Look for more online
content at every level, even the middle- and elementary-school level. Them
3rd graders are smarter than you think. Question: Whether Internet gambling
will be legalized to generate more federal tax revenues? * Beyond a Reasonable
Doubt The current economic downturn has governments scrambling for funding.
Every wacky idea known to the human race is flowing through governmental
bodies at every level. California is even beginning to discuss the possibility
of legalizing dope to bring an extra billion or two into the state coffers.
Gambling ranks right up there with liquor and smokes as "sin" taxes. If
there is tax money to be had, the government will consider taxing it. After
all government funding is sacred and cannot ever reduce in amount, right?
Question:
Whether major league baseball's weak attempt at controlling Internet game
broadcasting will strike out as a policy for its new MLB Network?
*
Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
MLB
is no different than any other sport. They are much like the government
and Wal-Mart when it comes to money. They are whores for it. If they can
suck a couple of million down from their own network, then more power to
them. With more people staying home or at least, local, the market for baseball
viewed either live, on CATV, or online viewing is ripe for new revenue.
For business in this climate, it's all about the revenue. But even if they
don't succeed, there is always a government bailout for America's Pastime.
February 1, 2009 Question: Whether American people will ever get a full
accounting of all of Obama's Internet campaign donors? * Vapor Dream A politician's
balance sheet is more sacred than the priest's confessional. It doesn't
matter what era we are in, there will never be a full accounting of ANY
politician's finances.
Question:
Whether the iPhone iApp Store will generate more revenue than the iTunes
store?
*
Doubtful
The
iTunes base of users is MUCH larger than is the base for the iPhone. Having
said that, an iPhone app usually costs more than a downloadable song. So
it's difficult to say whether or not there will be a crossover. However,
Apple's margins on the songs is razor thin, while it's much more in the
App Store. So it's a good bet to say that, even though the gross revenue
is less, the profit from the App Store will be more at some point. Question:
Whether blogging will fade away like the podcast mania from a few years
ago? * Vapor Dream Blogging is more than just typing stories onto a blogging
client. There are photo blogs, video blogs and audio blogs. So what has
happened to blogging in the past 2 years has been a shift from old media
to new media. In the future audio and video will become more prevalent,
but the regular style word processed blogs will be with us forever.
December
29, 2008
Question: Whether in the next four years Google will have antitrust suits
against it like Microsoft has had to face in the last decade?
* Possible
The
big question here is whether or not Google will be sued for antitrust SUCCESSFULLY.
That answer is simple. No. The internet is so wide open that its distribution
cannot be controlled like other retail and wholesale channels can be. If
Google were indeed sued for antitrust now, they could bring on example after
example of competitors who have come and gone by the wayside. The only way
that Google could be a monopoly is in users' narrow little minds.
Question:
Whether the computer mouse will be replaced with full touch screens?
*
Vapor Dream
The
QWERTY Keyboard survived manual typewriters, electric typewriters and now
computers. The only reason mice aren't on cell phones is because they would
be larger than the cell phone itself. It took a few years for the mouse
to be adopted by users (remember those dark pre-windoze days?). To use a
touch screen, one must raise one's hand all the way up to the screen. To
use a mouse, one must only move one's hand laterally to one side of the
keyboard or other. So no, the mouse will not be replaced anytime soon, especially
not by a touch screen.
Question:
Whether Rocky, our Tech Guru, will ever submit for publication his assignment
on current technology trends in education?
*
Vapor Dream
There
are no technology trends in education. It's a stagnant game right now, especially
in these economic times.
November
30, 2008
Question: Whether the Obama administration will lessen Internet freedoms?
*
Probable
In the name of cyberstalking, child abuse, and kiddie porn, the Internet
will get locked down much like the Aussies are experiencing. Dumbocrats
believe that everything must be regulated and the Internet is no exception.
The Fairness Doctrine will work its way to political websites, especially
those that champion conservative values. Instapundit will be labeled Òkiddie
pornÓ. Just watch.
Question:
Whether Congress in the next four years will pass a new National Sales Tax
on all Internet transactions?
* Possible
With
Americans being energy savvy and using less gas, the gas tax will be going
up too. Liberals are constantly looking for ways to tax and the Internet
is now established well enough to tax. And besides, only rich people have
high-speed Internet access, right? So we need to tax the shit out of the
Internet so those poor welfare families with 2 cars, 2 cellphones and 3
TV sets will be able to surf on their government provided laptops.
Question: Whether the next North American terrorist attack will involve
the disruption of telecommunication systems?
*
Possible
Who
knows what these peckerhead terrorists will come up with? I honestly donÕt
believe they are smart enough to do anything but the crudest most basic
things. Running planes into buildings is quite simple when you look at it.
But disrupting the Internet takes a lot more skill. Unless they bomb the
13 regional Internet hubs, there wonÕt be a huge effect on communications.
These vermin would much like to duplicate 911 and probably could, considering
the sad state of airport security.
And
finally, an email from him on November 8, 2008:
“Jeezus,
I look like Mr. Garrison!! ”
