03.10.08 Briefing
From the desk of Steve Elliott

Big Brother on the Web; Bozell's Warning for McCain; Ahhh... iPhone 2.0 is coming

Big Brother on the Web?
Have you noticed that banner ads are starting to mirror your desires? If you haven't yet, it's probably because you thought it was just a "coincidence" that you saw that ad for a Dodge Caravan the day after you visited Dodge.com. The trend is clearly narrowcasting and the web has it hands-down over television and radio. From today's NYtimes:
The Web companies are, in effect, taking the trail of crumbs people leave behind as they move around the Internet, and then analyzing them to anticipate people’s next steps. So anybody who searches for information on such disparate topics as iron supplements, airlines, hotels and soft drinks may see ads for those products and services later on.

Much of the data is being gathered through searches (Americans did 14.6 billion searches in January and google et. al tracked some 336 billion "transmission events" according to the Times).

Is this bad? I think it's inevitable and the public may not resist as long as the gathering is done on the back-end and the data is not disclosed. A good friend of mine considers it a service that the ads target his interests. I started a little blog for my church the other day and within 24 hours all the google banner ads were for church-related items. Interesting article on who's Tracking web traffic.

Bozell to McCain: Don't count on conservatives
Brent Bozell's op-ed in Sunday's Washington Post is both a strong warning and a blueprint for sucess to John McCain. Bozell chronicles how recent history shows that conservatives have NOT followed so-called moderate candidates and have not rewarded the G.O.P. when the party left the issues of concern to the base. Bozell closes with a clear road map for McCain to resore credibility with the base, including this on border security:
[McCain] should secure our borders by a date certain. In every great struggle, the citizenry -- everyone, not just the country's military -- has been challenged to participate. McCain could make this the clarion call for volunteerism, for national service.

IPhone 2.0
Apple announced that in June it will release a major software update called IPhone 2.0 that will open the iPhone up to business email and third party applications. As a Mac guy, I was an enthusiastic early adapter of the iPhone, and remain enthusiastic. It is far superior to the other smartphones I have used -- in ease of use, ability to sync, surf the web, play vidoes, music, access You Tube, Google maps/directions with GPS-like finder, amazingly precise touchscreen -- and it works as a phone!

This update will address the two of the three major criticisms of the iPhone. Apple is not totally opening up the architecture, which I think is good. All new apps will be managed through an Apple-run App Store so that Apple can maintain high quality control.

To me, the most interesting part of the announcement was the reveal of a $100 million venture capital fund (being called the iFund) specifically to back developers of software for the iPhone. Apple must still address the slower 2G internet interface (the third major criticism), but that said, if you want to see what your phone will look like in five years, get an iPhone today. FAQ on the release.

CA bans homeschooling
The recent decision by a California Appeals Court, if upheld, would make it possible criminal event to home school in that state. The uproar among pro-family citizens is building. This is a story to watch. CNSNews.com. Dr. James Dobson.

On the web:
Dick Morris to Hillary: It's Over
National Review on the Bush Veto
Thoughts of McCain Veep...
MSNBC cancels Tucker