"Facebook and McDonalds Do It" written by Paul on estrip.org

Category: web

05/09/10 12:09 - 37ºF - ID#51528

Facebook and McDonalds Do It

I have been busy building an app for my new phone. I have a whole lot of pictures to post soon as it is done. In the meantime I wanted to post about this before its already normal.

Facebook's attempt to push location based services is so commercial its disgusting. I can't believe the service is partnered with McDonald's. Maybe it is just because I hate McDonald's so much.

AdAge is reporting that Facebook is expected to challenge popular startup Foursquare by offering location-based status updates for its users later this month. McDonald's is allegedly building an application with Facebook to allow users to check in at one of its restaurants and have a featured product appear in the post.

I bet it is not long before most people's daily experiences are paired with matching advertisements. I for one do not want to become an advertising venue ever. Moreover, its really unfair for anyone when you think it is in exchange for some fucking coupons. Think about how much advertising normally costs - this is a brilliant use of people on faceboo and McDonald's part. I guess it's that other people don't care so much but it seems pretty disgusting to me.

Whats next facebook, a strategic partnership with BP gas stations?

tinypliny writes at 07:35:50 05/09/10 - Comment #56130: It's like the British colonial principle: divide and rule. All over again.

paul writes at 07:32:20 05/09/10 - Comment #56129: Ya but the sickest part is it will no longer be the company advertising to the people, it will be the people advertising to the people in exchange for coupons. Can you advertise cigarettes and alcohol on facebook?

tinypliny writes at 07:28:45 05/09/10 - Comment #56128

This is so worrying. I recently read an article* that reported that the National Bureau of Economic Research has estimated that eliminating fast-food restaurant advertising to children would reduce the prevalence of obesity by 18%. Most people are constantly hooked on to facebook nowadays. Imagine how much more kid-targeting this new strategy represents.

--------

If anyone is interested:

Chou S-Y et al. Fast-food restaurant advertising on television and its influence on childhood obesity. J Law Econ 2008;51(4):599-618.

metalpeter writes at 02:04:16 05/09/10 - Comment #56118: I just shared that on facebook.

I admit I don't get it all. I think who it really helps is people who are product loyal. Take me for example I Prefer Wedndy's and Burger King, but if they aren't around I'll hit up McDonalds's. There are many people though that love them and only go there for those people they now get a benefit. They aren't actors or famous so they would never be in an ad anyways. They love the food so they pass it along and get something for it.

I can admit I have no idea what that other company is. I'll use Mountain Dew as an example of the above. It is something that I like and I did post pictures of me drinking it on facebook, now what if that was part of the reward program where I got points for that, just like coke, pepsi and many other companies have had over the years..... If I was going to do it no harm anyways.

What I'm guessing they will turn this into is also a mobile app. You are driving or walking (say even in some city you have never been to) and You want those fries well the app tells you where the closet place is and how to get there.

I wonder if down the line someone decides to take this idea and make this work for any company. This way say spot coffee or mighty taco (or some local shop in some other city) wants they can use it for their customers. Cause lets face it if the cool kids are at spot then the non cool High School kids will want to go there. Then the punks will want to go to some other place maybe Tim Horton's , HA.

At the very least it will be interesting to see where this goes........

Permalink: Facebook_and_McDonalds_Do_It.html
Words: 221
Location: Buffalo, NY

05/07/10 08:42 - 49ºF - ID#51522

dr nameless bitch

we went to dinner at eagle house for nameless bitch's graduation tonight. Congratulations!

Permalink: dr_nameless_bitch.html
Words: 14
Location: Buffalo, NY
Last Modified: 06/03/11 02:14

Category: art

05/03/10 12:14 - 70ºF - ID#51495

Artists and Models

Had a crazy evening at Artists And Models on Saturday night. The event was pretty fun although I thought $4 per 1/2 cup of wine was expensive for something with a $20 entrance fee.

I actually had a really good time there and then afterward traveling around and hanging out with some people I just met and some I don't regularly see.

One of the best moments was with (e:holly) in the living room

This performance including dissecting a McDonalds meal as though it was at a biohazzard site.

This was one of my favorite visuals.

At the stimulus package stand you had to make a promise to yourself and then get approved. They gave you a set of cards to help to reach your goal. My goal was to learn wood turning. I got approved, got cards and then somehow lost them in 20 minutes. What does that say for my ability to commit to that goal. No seriously, I am interested.

Permalink: Artists_and_Models.html
Words: 168
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: linwood

05/03/10 12:11 - 70ºF - ID#51494

Bye Bye Birdies

I felt bad but your parents were making a mess of my house and it was time for it to end before you were even born. The tortoise enjoyed the eggs.

Permalink: Bye_Bye_Birdies.html
Words: 35
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: mobile

05/02/10 11:22 - 70ºF - ID#51493

Nexus One magic

The nexus one is magic in a lot of ways. One of those it the support for google voice. The way it works, you get voicemail, the voicemail is translated into text and then sent to you as email or text message.

Sounds awesome, right? Sadly, though I found it is not very accurate. This particular voicemail is pretty is from Rite Aid telling me that my medicine was ready for pickup. It is supposed to say "This is your rite aid store" What is especially weird is that it is also a robot talking. Apparently, google's speech-to-text translator cannot understand robot voice very well.

Here is the mp3

::DOWNLOAD SOUND::

Here is the translation:

Hello, this is your wife the door. We are calling to remind Paul Visco. There's your order is ready you can pick up your order until May 16th 20 parents this message will be repeated this is your wife needs door. We are calling to remind Paul Visco. Did your order is ready you can pick up your order until May 16th 20 padding this message will be repeated this is your wife needs door. We are calling to remind Paul Visco. Did your order is ready you can pick up your order until May 16th 20. Hey in.

Permalink: Nexus_One_magic.html
Words: 211
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: mobile

04/30/10 09:02 - 69ºF - ID#51482

Iphone OS user photo path

I needed to get to the old photos on my iphone before giving it to (e:Terry). Unfortunately, they they will not transfer to iphoto anymore. It seems like once I got over 900 in one folder it didn't want to sync on any mac. Anyhow, thankfully I had jailbroken it, so I just SCPed the photos from the iphone to the computer. The problem was trying to find the photos. I used updatedb and then locate. Find could have worked but it would have taken a while because my iphone was packed with so much crap.

Anyhow the point of the journal is to tell other people looking for the same data that it is in /private/var/mobile/Media/DCIM

Permalink: Iphone_OS_user_photo_path.html
Words: 121
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: mobile

04/28/10 10:12 - 47ºF - ID#51470

nighttime photo 2

this was a particularly tricky nightshot of a dim lamp in the dark

Permalink: nighttime_photo_2.html
Words: 14
Location: Buffalo, NY

Category: mobile

04/28/10 03:35 - 37ºF - ID#51465

So ready for bed - nexus one tether ya

I spent the last hour rooting my nexus one so i could tether and write this sentence. Interesting sidenote: once you have tethering enabled both fedora and windows can tether with USB. On fedora it is even easier than windows. I plugged in the phone and it shows up in the network manager as a internet source.

There is no way to get it to work on the mac. For that you have to use a wifi tethering option which sucks because its way less secure, slow and requires extra power to run.

It also has a flash and this picture was taken in darkness to give you an idea how good that works in dark.

The best part is being able to listen to streaming radio n the background. I am sure the new iphone will do that out of the box too.

Permalink: So_ready_for_bed_nexus_one_tether_ya.html
Words: 145
Location: Buffalo, NY

04/26/10 08:26 - 54ºF - ID#51456

Cleaning up

Because I was so sick all weekend and then ended up at cat houses in
the tour, I was ready to suffocate by today. Therefore, I spent all
day wearing a gas mask which actually helps in these situations.

My favorite is ricola and a gas mask.

We had to clean up for our block club home tour afterparty which is at
our house. I dusted each spindle on the stairs which takes forever.
Getting rid of some dust should help my allergies.

We also added a full size couch to the side parlour and it actually
fits. Once the fireplace works I may never leave the room.

Permalink: Cleaning_up.html
Words: 119
Location: Buffalo, NY

04/25/10 08:47 - 49ºF - ID#51451

The dark scary subway tunnel

This picture is dark and crappy. It's not because my iPhone takes
shifty pics but because there was only one light on in the tunnel by
Canisius. On the last set of steps I actually had trouble seeing the
stairs going down in front of me.