Matt Booher

When Apple announced the iPad, my first response was "neat...I'll have
to check that out." Well...time has passed and after some prodding by
a colleague to participate in the discussion, I'll share my thoughts:
I'm intrigued by the iPad, but don't see myself buying one. While not
terribly expensive (though more expense than a netbook), it just feels
a bit like deja-vu. And while I love the idea of that people might
start living their lives through something other than a 3.5-inch
screen, I just don't see this working. It seems like a cool device and
will likely spark a new round of innovation in personal computing. But
I have a hard enough time typing with a real keyboard and its too big
to sneak into the bathroom at work.

The iPad has been dubbed the next e-reader killer. Cue the doomsday
scenarios for the Amazon Kindle, Sony e-Reader, B&N Nook, etc because
Apple's now in the game. I'm not so sure. I quite like my Kindle, have
the software on my iPod Touch, and since the device is no different
from an iPod, the need to upgrade isn't there for me. My library is
with Amazon. Plus, its a just a damn book. Unless the book comes to
life in ways I haven't imagined, I'll stick to reading on my Kindle
and iPod Touch when I want an e-book.

Another "sell" of the iPad is its convenience, especially for those of
us that like to consume media while multi-tasking. Well, the lack of
multi-tasking functionality is well documented on the iPhone and I
don't see any plans to change that. So ix-nay on another beneficial
use. Even if I tooled around on the iPad while watching television,
what exactly am I going to be doing with it that I can't already do on
my laptop? Check email? Laptop. Draft a blog post? Laptop. Watch two
shows at once? Laptop.

Finally, the iPhone/Pod/Pad is a closed network. With a computer, I
can configure it to fit my preferences. The iPad works one way,
Apple's way. I don't like that. In addition, I have to pay to play. I
could buy the Wi-Fi version only, but otherwise I have to purchase
another data plan for 3G access when wi-fi is not available. When is
that? While I'm driving between cities or on the go? That seems like a
bad idea.

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Ohio State football critics might joke that Jim Tressel's The Winners
Manual is incorrectly named. Given the program's struggles in the BCS
spotlight, its an easy joke. But make no mistake, regardless of the
Buckeye's performance on the field, Tressel's simple compilation of
anecdotes, advice, and life guidelines is a solid read - especially
for Buckeye faithful.

For the most part, the book stays off the field and chooses to focus
on the programs the Buckeyes head coach puts in place to help his
players develop into leaders on and off the field. Tressel introduces
the reader to concepts such as the "Block O of Life" and "Big Ten
Fundamentals" and explains how the football program uses the tools in
the book to help his players define success both in terms of football
and life. Question and answer space at the end of each chapter and a
blank "Block O" provide the reader an opportunity to jot down their
own reflections and thoughts to the concepts put to paper by Tressel.
Overall, there is plenty for everyone.

While I generally enjoyed the insight into the Buckeye football
program and many of the stories Tressel relays about his formative
days at Youngstown State, the book itself came up a bit short for me
in an autobiographical sense. There simply wasn't enough. For every
detailed story about a part of the winners manual, dozens of other
components go untold. Tressel also shares stories about his players
and how they put the Winners Manual into practice to fulfill personal
ambitions and goals. Again, these are really good but you're left
wanting to learn more about the players and what drives athletes that
perform at the highest levels of collegiate football.

Buckeye fans should read, though those looking for an autobiography
will need to turn elsewhere.

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Every sports discussion I've ever had about football and soccer inevitably devolves into a "at least we don't have hooligans" rant. Really? An NFL game is free from drunken idiots doing stupid things and hurting people? Jets fans harassing women on the Meadowlands concourse. Colts fans assaulting Jets fans. I've been to enough away games in my Browns gear to endure the verbal nonsense and physical taunts to know we aren't any better.

Its only a matter of time before this gets out of hand. The NFL needs to recognize this is a simmering pot ready to boil over, and when it does, it isn't going to be pretty. Just ask England.

This North Jersey-Indianapolis Turf War Is Getting Out Of Hand [Nfl]

via Deadspin by Barry Petchesky on 1/29/10

No Taser this time, just a Jets fan getting his skull broken in a fight after Sunday's game. No suspects yet, as Midwesterners don't snitch, out of politeness. [Staten Island Advance]

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The Google Analytics IQ test used to accept C students. That is no longer the case. In a change that seems entirely reasonable, 80% will be the new requirement. Given the growth in the sector, raising the bar is a good thing.

We're raising the bar on Google Analytics IQ

via Google Analytics Blog by Alden DeSoto on 1/26/10

Since the Google Analytics IQ launch, people from all over the world have taken the online course and test. Web analytics is increasingly important to all kinds of organizations. Online retailers, agencies, large consumer brands and non-profits are just a few of the many kinds of organizations that rely on people who are trained in Google Analytics. So, we've decided to raise the bar on what it means to be Google Analytics qualified and increase the minimum passing score from 75% to 80%.

If you're already Google Analytics qualified, but you received a score less than 80%, don't worry. This change doesn't affect your current qualification. But be sure to review the online course when it's time to renew your qualification (18 months after you initially qualified). At that time, you'll be expected to score at least 80%.

For details or to start the course, visit ConversionUniversity.com. There's a FAQ with details and a link to the Google Analytics IQ test. Best of luck to everyone!

Posted by Alden DeSoto, Google Analytics Team

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Click here to download:

waa_knowledge-required-for-certification.pdf (406 KB)

The Web Analytics Association (WAA) released a document detailing the educational requirements necessary for an individual to sit for the WAA’s recently developed certification program. The document outlines the skills and educational requirements necessary for earning the certification. The WAA web site link follows: http://webanalyticsassociation.org/education/certification/knowledge/

This is a fantastic step and the most comprehensive detailing of web analytics responsibilities I’ve seen to date. Kudos to the WAA Educational Committee for putting this together. I’m confident this will help even the most seasoned professionals out there to find areas for improvement and growth.

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So I've spent the better part of today switching my Wordpress blog over to Posterous. No real good reason other than I wasn't updating it regularly and really liked the promise of simplicity. Note, however, that Wordpress is not complicated. Nor was I unhappy with it. It's just my nature to try something different and see what happens - even if it costs me some search engine rankings and goobers up my analytics for a few months. I'm sure my dozen readers won't mind, or notice, the change.

One of the main reason I switched over from Wordpress was to reduce the amount of tinkering with presentation and spend more time actually creating content to read. I won't go into how much time I've wasted online over the years messing with blog layouts.

I'd have to give myself low marks already as I toyed with the custom style sheet section for about three hours before reminding myself why I made the switch. So I just left well enough alone save a few color changes.

Going forward I'm increasing my emphasis on simplicity and drafting this post via email and sending it to a simple email address meets that end. So far so good. 

I'm looking forward to seeing how the nine different supported formats will work on Posterous. I'm also looking forward to toying with Autopost to see how much content I can get out there and what different tools drive return traffic to my blog. Check back in a month or so to see what I've learned.

**UPDATE**

Note the awkward formatting of this post. After you post via email and make edits via the Posterous interface, you're forced to wrestle with carriage returns, <br> tags, and the like. Big thumbs down.

**UPDATE2**

Worked to correct all the awkward line returns. Hope this settles it.

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Two weeks ago today my daughter McKenna Felice Booher entered the world. 6 pounds,15 ounces. 19 1/4 inches. Enjoying my new perspective on life.

         

Click here to download:

McKenna_Felice_Booher.zip (6945 KB)

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The dismissal of George Kokinis as General Manager of the Cleveland Browns sounds like an act of desperation and these are desperate times for the franchise. But make no mistake, this move was no act of desperation. Kokinis's dismissal was a direct shot at head coach Eric Mangini as Mangini personally selected Kokinis as GM. But Mangini is no longer in control.

After Sunday's game owner Randy Lerner said the team needed to hire a "strong, credible, serious leader." He took the first step on Monday by letting Kokinis go. The second step is around the corner as Lerner will likely seek a personality similar to Martin O'Niell, the man running his Aston Villa soccer club - an experienced, credible, and highly respected manager of men. The difficult thing about the Kokinis firing is how it sounds a bit criminal - as if the Browns could not tolerate his presence any longer and they needed to escort him from the premises.The only criminal behavior at this point is the Browns performance on the field and the fact that the players actually get to collect paychecks after increasingly sad and pathetic performances.

Kokinis did leave the Browns with a solid salary cap situation and did manage to find a taker for Kellen Winslow and his creaky knees. But it appears he all to often rubber stamped Mangini's player personnel plans and didn't act like the boss. It's clear this saga is far from over. The firing and hiring of a strong football leader is only the start. But as this soap opera unfolds, we can only wonder what's coming next? My guess is its not nearly as predictable as a Browns incompletion on third down.

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Well Tribe fans, this one is a head scratcher. The Cleveland Indians introduced Manny Acta as manager yesterday afternoon, and, while very little is known about him by the fans, you have to wonder what Mark Shapiro and Larry Dolan are thinking. Less than six months ago Acta was let go by the anemic Washington Nationals - a team that lost 103 games and actually improved once Acta left. Under Acta the Nats were 22-61. And now he is manager of the Cleveland Indians - a 97-loss team that fell on its face under Eric Wedge.

Shapiro cited Acta's communication skills, energetic leadership, and positive mindset as reasons for the hire. Hmm...didn't see winning in there. And I guess you'll need a positive mindset when you look at a roster that no longer has an All-Star catcher and two consecutive Cy Young winners that will be each starting Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday for someone else. It's getting hard to take the Indians front office seriously anymore. They couldn't wait for Don Mattingly and decided a guy with some experience, even if some of it is a circus act, didn't fit their master plan, er, budget in Bobby Valentine.

But with all that said, it would be unfair and unreasonable not to give Acta a chance. If anything, we'll no longer have to listen to monotone monologues about how the guys need to grind it out during another season of unmet expectations. But in truth, Acta didn't have a lot to work with in Washington. He's starting with a team that's starting over in Cleveland and maybe the fans can hit the reset button themselves. Perhaps its somewhere on the top of our heads. For more, check out Cleveland.com's rundown of what others are saying about Acta and the hire.

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