Before Apple launched its then mythical tablet computer, it was assumed that Amazon’s Kindle’s days were over. But after watching video from Apple’s event announcing the iPad, it became clear that it would be the opposite, that Amazon has much to gain from Apple’s new device. Not only did Amazon have its own device to push (sell) content to from its own store, but it now has a second device to offer its content, via the Kindle iPhone app. (I always thought the iPhone/iPod Touch wasn’t suitable for reading books due to its small display, but the iPad looks like its definitely adequate from what I’ve gathered, so far.) Whether the Kindle (or the iPad) fails is beside the point. Remember, unlike Apple, Amazon isn’t so much in it for the hardware than they are for ways to sell content to the user, through any device it deems capable (look at its MP3 music store, which supports any music player). As for so-called e-readers from Sony and all the companies that announced them at CES, I’d worry if I had to sell one of them.

Interesting how I thought about this just last month. I hope Amazon does come out with a great iPad app.

UPDATE: Hmm, maybe not.

Read the review here.

This story reminded me of a Los Angeles Times piece from 2005 about Asian American women spending a fortune on pursuing and maintaining white skin.

Of course, this opens up a debate on race and what’s considered beautiful that I’m not sure I’m ready to tackle, although I do know a few people of color who do consider having lighter skin an advantage in society.

What’s this about Google not being evil?

I suppose it’s trivial if you’re not a Cablevision customer or, even if you are one, not a HGTV or Food Network viewer. I, however, am. When I moved to my current area of Brooklyn, New York, I was bummed that Cablevision would become my provider. (Not that Time Warner Cable, my old provider, is a great company, mind you, but I was content with its service and programming.) It didn’t carry BBC America, its store locations are located in inconvenient, dicey areas, its equipment and onscreen menus are horrific, and, shockingly, I was paying more than I ever did for cable. I would have to constantly turn the cable box on and off because the onscreen display would pop up only to bring up a black screen. I was paying a lot for one of its top-tier packages, yet I don’t get a channel like IFC, a Cablevision-owned network (the company doesn’t want to pay more for Scripps programming, but it has no problem demanding its customers pay extra for programming the company doesn’t pay much for). Worse, I realized I was paying a lot of money for very little programming that I want to watch, and that cable TV basically became a way to kill some time and not because I find it to be enjoyable media consumption.

So when HGTV and Food Network went off the air, I found myself with almost nothing I want to watch. Hundreds of channels, yet I found myself heading to Hulu to watch my shows. I wrote a letter to Cablevision, telling them that I am not happy about paying a lot of money for subpar programming. I had hope Cablevision would offer some sort of refund or promotion for its customers. Instead, they sent me a response saying they are innocent, and that we customers should direct our anger at Scripps.

Whether the issue lies with Scripps or Cablevision, I don’t really care. It’s their spat and they should sort it out immediately. But even if the problem lies with Scripps, my anger is towards Cablevision. I don’t pay Scripps directly for its programming; I pay Cablevision. Therefore, I expect Cablevision to fix the problem. Telling me to tell Scripps I’m angry shows Cablevision’s disregard towards its customers, and it’s the reason why I will be terminating my cable TV subscription. It would not have taken Cablevision much effort to retain my patronage, but it is my conclusion that, after a year of service from them, they may as well dump garbage on my front steps and could give a rat’s ass.

Here’s the letter I received in response to my complaint:

“Thank you for taking the time to contact us regarding Scripps Networks. There are several important points that we want to share with you:

Cablevision offered Scripps the ability to continue delivering HGTV and Food Network to our customers while we negotiated a new agreement.  This is common practice in the cable industry, and such an extension occurred in the recent dispute between Time Warner Cable and the Fox Network, ensuring no disruption of programming.

Cablevision did not take HGTV and Food Network off.  Scripps took their own channels off and they did so without warning. We were as surprised as you were that they would take this sudden action– effectively holding their own viewers hostage in order to pursue dramatically higher fees.

This dispute is about huge fee increases that Scripps is seeking for HGTV and Food Network. They are looking for more than a 200 percent increase for their channels. In effect, Scripps Networks is asking Cablevision customers to bail them out of their financial difficulties. If every programming service demanded such increases, your cable bill would be astronomical. In fact, Cablevision’s cable rates are increasing by less than 4 percent this year, but the costs we are paying for programming are increasing at double that rate.

HGTV and Food Network claim to be in the top 10 most popular networks. In fact, they rank in the lower half of basic networks watched by Cablevision viewers. However, we do understand that it is important for us to carry all of the networks that our customers want us to carry, but we need to do so in a way that does not dramatically increase all customer bills.

The channels where HGTV and Food Network appeared on Cablevision remain available and Scripps could put their programming back at any time while we negotiate a new agreement.  We believe it was irresponsible for Scripps to take the channels off, and it is irresponsible for them not to put the channels back on.

We understand the inconvenience this disruption has caused you. Scripps knows that we care about our customers, and that is why they abruptly removed their channels. They want you to believe that Cablevision took these channels off. We did not.

Tell Scripps to turn these channels back on and come to the bargaining table with a reasonable offer.

We will continue to bring you the best quality and value in telecommunications today and everyday.”

“He was nicknamed ‘Master of the Bias,’ reflecting his skill with the bias cut — a technique for cutting cloth diagonal to the grain of the fabric, enabling it to cling to the body.”

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