CE Pro: This Week in Haiku (3)

Bad economy
And yet, Control4 raises
Seventeen million

H.A. systems still
For middle-aged geeks, writes Ross
Has anything changed?

Onerous survey
From Microsoft Hohm yields this:
Buy Energy Star

More ...

On communism

Well, if the Economist provided bylines, I'd credit the author for these gems ...

Well, I never!

Is 'orifice' really a dirty word?

My own Web site bleeped me, I kid you not.

I was trying to post a story about Crestron's new patent on a whole-house humidifier, and CEPro.com wouldn't let me use the word "orifice" as in a "a precision orifice [that] gives unexpected and desirable results that are directly applicable to residential humidification."

That's just prude.

Reminds me of when I tried to boast about my academic credentials on CEPro.com, and it came out like this: magna ### laude.

Action Figure: David A. Goldenberg

Convicted of corporate espionage, the former AMX VP will have a tough go against the Randy Klein action figure.

Thanks, 39 Cent Stamp

The official EHX dunking thread

We've already got a poll going -- see it at the top of the right-hand sidebar.

If we had a dunking booth at EHX, who would you pay (for charity of course) to dunk?

Feel free to add your write-in candidates in the comments below.

Job advice from an industry veteran and convicted spy

David A. Goldenberg will be needing his own advice.

The former AMX VP, on 3-years probation for intercepting emails from a Crestron rep, has a blog called Job Search Advice and Tips.

There, he gabs about social networking, job hunting, cover letters and such.

In one of his posts, he addresses the touch issue of age -- should you mention it, avoid the subject, hide it? He says nothing, however, about how to address felony convictions like corporate espionage in a cover letter or resume.

From CE Pro's This Week in Haiku:

David Goldenberg
Avoids jail, gets probation
And psych counseling

New Sonos controller

Automated Home unearthed this image of the forthcoming CR200 controller from Sonos.

The Web page promoting the little gem has been taken down for now, but the capacitive touchscreen was listed for $349 -- less if purchased with a bundle.

We'll take the free press

Thank you, CEA Smartbrief for linking to our story on the sameness of home automation after 15 years. But there are a few issues with CEA's blurb, for example, CEBus, LonWorks, ZigBee and Z-wave are not companies...

ZigBee, Z-Wave battle for home-automation standards crown
Fifteen years ago, two companies named CEBus and LonWorks were in a competitive race to come up with an overriding home-automation standard. According to this opinion piece, a clear winner never emerged and today that battle is still being fought, only by two new firms named ZigBee and Z-Wave. CEPro.com

CE Pro: Today in Haiku

Seventeen point three
Million for Control4 funds
Smart energy stuff

Favorite A/V company names

Who isn't tired of company names that include some combination of audio, video, interiors and other tired terms in the home technology industry?

Here are a few of my favorite integrator brands:

Supercalibrations (White Bear Lake, Minn.)
Goosebumps (McMurray, Penn.)
Wow Factor (Pace, Fla.)
John the Alarm Guy (Lenexa, Kansas)
Sure Lock Homes (Burnsville, Minn.) -- OK a little corny but still...
Wireless Home (Naples, Fla.) -- and they just acquired the url

Crappy wireless transmitters?

Don't quite know how I stumbled across this one, but it appears to be a place to hide your wireless transmitters.

Officially, it's the Dakota Alert BH-1-UF (DK-BH-1-UF) Birdhouse unassembled kit, sold by ASIHome for $10 plus shipping.

So what if a bird really does nest there? That would make for a pretty crappy transmitter.

Auto-correct takes over, makes an ass of me

I recently emailed a dealer about A-Bus via my iPod Touch. Thinking it was smarter than I, the auto-correct agent changed it to "anus" and sent it off to the dealer who (not surprisingly) thought I did it on purpose.

Add another to the do-not-like-Julie list

Charlie Redmond of SE2 took a stab at my email address and got it wrong. She was dismayed by the auto-response ... as am I:

My first attempt to reach you got rejected for the following reason below: I wondered what you did that they do not like you, I thought everybody loved Julie.

<Julie@ehpub.com>:

64.18.6.14 does not like recipient.

Of course, as we all know, not everybody loves Julie. Not everybody even likes her. Many in fact despise her.

My own colleagues at one point even called for my execution. Sad indeed.

73-year old jailed after fatal fight over remote control

Would that all battles over the remote were this playful.

What would you do if she wanted to watch "The View" and you wanted to watch a Civil War re-enactment?

Sane adults might compromise, say, with a neutral program like "The Price is Right." But 73-year-old Donald Zampini stabbed his 63-year-old female companion instead.

Zampini was sentenced to 18 years in jail yesterday for killing Barbara Morris in her East Windsor, N.J., home in 2006.

He says he doesn't remember why the couple fought over the remote control but evidently Morris's choice was so despicable that Zampini stabbed her 27 times.

Jailmates beware ... let this guy watch whatever he wants!

Believe it or not, this stabbing was just one of many violent remote-related outbursts.

[via nj.com] [thanks, Hank!]

World's most hideous trunk slammer

JJ gives a spanking

In response to many of you: I did not do this graphic. 39 Cent dreamed it up on his own.

Dealers over at RemoteCentral.com were complaining about the fee being charged by Electronic House for Home of the Year entries.

I suggested, in a very polite fashion, for them to quit their whining.

Charging a modest fee (everyone else does it) helps us whittle down the inordinate number of entries (400+) we receive every year. Plus, it's by far the most expensive issue of the year, and the fee helps subsidize the photography.

My friend 39 Cent responded with this classic illustration.

Note: Julie Jacobson, Electronic House, EH Publishing and other affiliated organizations do not condone the use of corporal punishment.

Feeling nostalgiac? Revisit Frox

System integrator Rich Jackson passed this piece of nostalgia along.

He picked up some Frox literature at the Great America Music Hall at a 1991 CEDIA event, where the product debuted.

Now the laughing stock of home automation, Frox was followed by many notable failures. Send yours to me for posting.

New!! Randy Klein Action Figure

Collect them all!

CE Action Figures.

Thanks, 39, best GUI Guy ever.

PC Alchemy goes under

The economy has claimed PC Alchemy, a beloved boutique PC maker.

An industry friend wrote:

Went to order an upgraded TV Tuner card for my HTPC from my favorite vendor and *poof* - gone – bummer.

These guys were GREAT!

Great service, built really nice HTPC’s at several price points.

When I'm not writing...

New!! Gary Shapiro Action Figure

CEA’s Gary Shapiro Assails Govt. Regulations, Certain Union Activities

Consumer Electronics Association chief says, we are "quickly putting our American way of life at risk."

Collect them all: Jeremy Burkhardt Action Figure, Noel Lee Action Figure, Bob Carver Toy, Matthew Polk Action Figure

[Thanks, 39 Cents. You rock my world]

Don't beat your kid over remote control

I have no qualms about stabbing a husband over the remote control, but for goodness sake, don't smack your kid.

In Tampa, Fla, Jacqueline Williams allegedly grabbed her 13-year-old son by the throat and struck his face and head, according to a police report.

She was charged with felony child abuse.

[via Tampa Bay Online]

New!! Matthew Polk Action Figure!

Matthew Polk, founder of Polk Audio, is retiring. In his honor, we have created a limited-edition action figure, available for $59.99.

Also available: Jeremy Burkhardt Action Figure, Noel Lee Action Figure, Bob Carver Toy

Thanks, 39Cent @ Guijaboard