My friend suggested that Google would be more interested and I think he’s right. I thought I saw Larry Page at my local inet cafe here in Honolulu a couple of months ago. My wife then told me about the same time that one of Google’s founders bought a house of someone we know of on the North Shore. It could have been Larry.

Anyway…I don’t care who does it.
I just want completely free cell phone calls all over the world for the one time cost of a phone and I’d even listen to short audio ads before and after the call. I originally thought that Apple could kick butt at this since they opened up their iPhone, but since Steve never even bothered to send any reply I’m giving this idea to Larry. Who knows maybe they’re working on it already… Maybe google will get this to work on all phones, maybe google will even have someone manufacture a gPhone…Heck yeah. I’d buy a gPhone right now.

Hello Google…This idea is for you…

Dear Steve (Jobs) or Larry,

I have an idea that could help Apple sell a ton more iPhones and help Google sell a boatload of more ads.

Maybe Google is already working on this. Maybe here’s some new ideas for either or both of you…

I use free wireless on my laptop with Google’s googletalk application and make phone calls around the world for free to other googletalk users and most of the time the quality of the call is better than my regular
local cell phone.

As you know Google has an SDK called Android and other phone manufactuers are slow in rolling out their phones using google’s network because they haven’t figured out a way to get value added revenue from it yet…(my opinion).

Here are some BIG Ideas…

1. Get iPhone to work on a free wifi signal anywhere and to make calls to anyone in the world for free using google’s server and google talk application-like program right now. Since google will give away bandwith in order to sell ads later, leverage their network to allow free calls for all people who use iPhones. The more calls being made the more ad audio call ad space that google can sell. You would sell more iphones and google will sell more ads. Win/Win.

2. Initially reseller revenue from ATT contracts and others will decline, however, if Apple becomes a google ad affiliate, Apple will make a percentage of every ad that is listened to on every iPhone that uses the google network once the technology becomes live. This could end up being comparatively more revenue in the long term than what is earned now through ATT or other networks.

3. If Apple’s iPhone allows free calls to anyone in the world, so many more people would buy it right now. I currently don’t own an iPhone but would buy one today if I could make free google talk calls all over the world and I would tell everyone to buy one too.

4. Partnering with google on this and being the first to make it work would bring endless publicity to Apple.

5. Next down the line, develop an algorithm so that each person’s email (gmail) address becomes a unique 15 digit phone number (12345-12345-12345). Why? Because we are used to dialing phone numbers when making phone calls from a handset. The current google talk technology requires that the person’s gmail be in your contact list to be able to call them. But with a free google “phone number” people would be able to call anyone. ‘Why 15 digits? Because that gives 999 trillion different phone numbers without area codes or country codes, which would be more than enough to support the world population, and allow people and businesses to have multiple phone numbers without ever running out of numbers for a long time. Also, I did a little research and I believe there is an existing patent submitted for an algorithm based on 12 digits for a similar idea, so by using 15 digits Apple and Google would become a telecommunications category killer, just like it did with the PC and Digital Music but even in a bigger way.

So anyone with a gmail address or any email address for that matter would be able to get a unique google assigned 15 digit tele number XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX this would be a “phone number for life” and no area codes or country codes would be required to call and the numbers would be unique to the google talk network…Every time someone made a call they would hear a 20 second google audio ad and after each call same thing before any other call could be made.

6. I don’t own an iPhone but I would get one right now if it was able to use a googletalk type application and allow me to make free calls to anyone else in anyone else in the world through google’s servers and free wireless or a home/office connection with the same application and a gmail account. I would not only buy it right now, but tell everyone to buy it so they could get free calls too. Again the quaility of calls through google’s servers are awesome. I’ve turned a few friends on to googletalk and they all agree it’s better than a cell phone in sound quality.

7. Risks…
a. Google might stop offering their calls for free….highly unlikely since they want to sell more ads and since they have the most bandwith to give away in silicon valley they will not stop it but only expand it.
b. VOIP may become regulated and taxed…not for years, almost impossible right now the way tech is moving so quickly.
c. Google may scrap the service. doubtful. they are just in the infancy of rolling it out and seeing what they can do with it.
d. The FCC may try to regulate it. So what, they are trying to regulate VOIP but essentially these calls would be 100% VOIP to VOIP over google’s servers so what can anyone really do here?

8. Bottom line…investing a team of developers to make it work asap with googles open source could pay off with millions of additional unit sales of iPhones fast…”reverse engineering” the current google talk application on laptops would be a good place to begin. They even already have voice mail programmed into it.

9. Just the headlines alone would be so much buzz and free publicity to apple and to google.. Apple + Google = Free Phone Calls Anywhere In The World.

10. This could be the biggest telecommunications idea ever since the invention of the phone and VOIP. Free wireless broadband wife VOIP cell phone to cell phone or PC to PC or PC to cell phone and vice versa calls.

11. This would be a category killer and the existing landlines and traditional home phones as we know it would become obsolete.

If you’d like to talk about this over coffee, let me know.

Zig Noda
Honolulu, HI
zignoda at gmail dot com

“Profile of a Competitor and Things to Come…”

Colt Brennan has now seen several minutes of play in games in the NFL preseason in his rookie year with the Washington Redskins.

In watching replays on YouTube this is what I’ve come to understand about Colt:

In Hawaii he was the most prolific player in ALL of college football in just two short years. The most awesome thing he did for the State of Hawaii is that he passed on a NFL draft and guaranteed position somewhere in the NFL in his junior year to return to play football again for UH. He passed on several million dollars because he loved Hawaii and the people and his team and wanted to come back for another winning season.

Living in Hawaii I witnessed the greatest two seasons that Hawaii football experienced under the leadership of Colt Brennan. The whole state was alive with energy during the last few games of their historic season.

But also at the time I remember myself criticizing his playing and his game.

I remember saying several times to friends that as soon as he gets slammed and hit in the NFL he is going to get hurt and crumble and his career will be over. I constantly said he was too skinny and small for the NFL and he was a “little cocky” when it came to the game. As a person he is humble as anyone, but his confidence in what he is capable of doing as a player sometimes came across as cocky, but now we can see it is simply his pure passion and fever for the game.

Despite his smaller physical stature at the time he put up impressive stats and broke all kinds of NCAA passing records and led UH to an undefeated season and also led the team into their first BCS game in the Sugar Bowl against Georgia.

UH was outclassed and out coached by a well oiled Georgia Bulldogs Football team and lost, and Colt Brennen fizzled out in the game, and then in his following final post season game at the Senior Bowl as well.

The critics including armchair critics like myself rode him hard saying “told you so”.

As a person, everyone living in Hawaii including myself loved Colt and what he gave to Hawaii and we still do.

But after the BCS game in Georgia, many started to question his true ability as a player.

One of my criticisms other than his weight at the time was that even though he was the #1 passer in the NCAA, he was playing in a less competitive league than say the PAC 10 or the SEC. Football is pretty big in Hawaii, but come on, compared to the BIG SCHOOLS, the budget and the schedules just don’t match up. So many including myself said “Who cares if he’s putting up big numbers, it’s just the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) we’re not playing the big schools and the big teams.” And so after the BCS game against Georgia, many of us just said “See. Told you so.”

Now it seems that many are criticizing his play with the Redskins saying “Ah, he’s just playing preseason right now and against 3rd string defenses.”

“Who cares if he’s putting up big numbers, it’s just the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) we’re not playing the big schools and the big teams.”

Hindsight is 20/20. Now the pieces are starting to come together.

Here’s my observations about Colt and what his coaches see about him and why Jim Zorn is giving him time to run plays even if it’s just the preseason right now…

1. Colt is a competitor.
2. Colt has raw skills that with some refinement will make him the best. In other words he has “it” or “instincts” or just that intangible factor that the best have.
3. He will get better with time and as he plays with better competition.
4. He learns from his mistakes.
5. He WANTS to WIN. (see #1)
6. All the critics say he is UNCONVENTIONAL. All his coaches know that this is what makes him potentially great…No one great is NORMAL. Everyone great has some things that make them different and unique. The great ones know that they are unique. They leverage their uniqueness. This is what makes them great. Colt knows he is unique.
7. He works HARD and he is HUMBLE. He is grateful.
8. He is a smart player and understands the game.
9. He is a leader. Takes responsibility for mistakes and gives credit to others for his success.

Colt responds well to right coaching and great team mates.

Hawaii had a shot at winning the BCS against Georgia and making history. In hindsight, June Jones head coach of UH at the time was in contract negotiations with SMU during the time of the BCS game. It’s very obvious that Jones really didn’t care if UH won the Sugar Bowl or not at the time. He was already satisfied with his accomplishment of getting the team there, and his mind was elsewhere on his next possible coaching job away from UH and his million dollar contract negotiation. It’s just my opinion but I don’t think June Jones really expected his team to do well at all, and just wanted them to have fun and enjoy the experience. He had lower expectations based on the circumstances. June Jones was not focused on winning or doing their best or even his best at the time. His focus was elsewhere. The season had been won already and just being at the BCS Sugar Bowl already insured UH millions of dollars in revenue. He had already accomplished his job. In turn Colt did not really have a coach that was “all there” during the Sugar Bowl.

The following game during the Senior Bowl Brennan had a case of stomach flu and went down to 185 pounds. This just proved even more that he was too small for the NFL. He also dealt with a hip injury.

Things did not look good for the upcoming NFL draft.

Fast forward to 2008

Colt Brennan had good training camp workouts enough to have teams be interested in him.

He gains weight to over 210 pounds.

He gets surgery on his hip and works out to recover.

He continues training and rubbing shoulders with the best in the NFL.

Now with three NFL games behind him with the Redskins, he is starting again to show how great of a QB he really can be and is again starting to put up impressive numbers and stats if only even in preseason.

Colt is the type of player that rises with the tide of great coaching and great team mates.

All his coaches could see it…Especially his head coach now Jim Zorn who was also a starting NFL quarterback for many years. Colt couldn’t have a better coach at a better time than right now.

Colt is now bigger, stronger and faster than ever, and now he is playing in the NFL and will continue to get bigger, stronger and faster and smarter.

Colt is the type of QB that throws it out there and expects his receivers to get it. TV announcers call him a “gunslinger”.

Now in the NFL he will also have the fastest and strongest receivers and linemen working with him. His level of play is just going to go up.

He is a leader. He takes responsibility for mistakes and gives credit to others for his success.

This is what all his previous coaches knew about him…That he has what it takes. That is has the same qualities as the best in the NFL.

In watching his replays from his UH season last year and watching replays from the last two games with the Redskins Colt is a much faster and quicker player who plays with much more speed, confidence and energy than he ever did in college…and he is just getting the feel for the NFL right now.

He is going to be great. Not just good, but GREAT. The NFL is going to make him better than ever.

My armchair prediction is that he could be starting QB for the Redskins before the end of the year and lead the Redskins into the playoffs his rookie year.

The following is what has been said about him by announcers and coaches.

“He takes responsibility for losses and credits his team mates when he wins.”

“Colt Brennan just finds a way to get it done.”

At the Hall of Fame game a few weeks ago…Where the Redskins played the Colts, Brennan threw for 9 out of 10 completions and for 2 touchdowns.

[The critics can say he was playing against a 3rd string defense but those stats would be just as impressive if a first string quarterback was throwing against a 3rd string defense..something to think about...9 out of 10 completions even if it was a 3rd string defense].

This is what John Madden said of Colt Brennan:

“I like the way he plays. I mean you can just feel his energy. He brings a certain energy to the game. A certain energy to that team, and [when] we talk about throwing you know… and not throwing always the way you’re supposed to, but throwing from every angle.”

“He brings a certain energy to the game.”

Others have said…

“Colt Brennan just finds a way to get it done.”

“He is a player’s player.”

This is what was said of Colt when he was playing for UH…

“Pure talent has a way of overcoming the critics.”

So true.

Here is a fun video of Colt when he was in Hawaii and NOT PLAYING FOOTBALL…Not only do we get to see a little glimpse of how Colt is off the field but we can see why Hawaii loves him and why he loves Hawaii…

Mugi cha is a popular drink in Japanese families especially in the summer (served refreshingly cold) and also in winter (served warm). It is a drink made of roasted barley and water. It is also a popular drink in Korea (called Bori cha).

Barley itself is a “super green food” high in minerals and amino acids, so it goes to make sense that Barely “tea” also contains those same elements.

It is not really a “tea” and it does not contain caffeine. It has an earthy taste closest in color and flavor to a weak coffee. Depending on the time and strength of brewing it can taste somewhat sweet to more earthy in flavor.

The traditional method of preparation calls for boiling roasted barley and then letting it sit and then cool in the fridge. However in these modern times the more popular and convenient way is to use pre-bagged Mugi cha that you drop in a liter to a liter and a half of water and let sit in the fridge for an hour or more. After the first hour to few hours it tastes kind of sweet, but left for more than 24 hours it is much stronger and “smoky” in flavor, it is best consumed within 12 hours.

The health benefits from my personal experience and observations are that I believe it regulates my blood sugar as I don’t succumb to “sweet tooth” cravings as much. Thus consumed long term it could help lead to losing weight, this could partially explain why many Japanese and Koreans are slender. Another anecdotal observation is that it seems to lessen the growth of my gray hairs if consumed regularly everyday. I once read somewhere online that barley and Mugi cha have a high copper content, and according to my sister and brother in law, copper is a good supplement that prevents gray hair (my 50-something-ish brother in law is living proof of this since he supplements his diet with copper and does not have ANY grey. Amazing.)

There are also sources online that say Mugi cha lowers cholesterol and purifies the blood, both being excellent benefits.

The amazing thing about Mugi cha is the cost. For example the brand I am drinking now is from Japan and distributed by Ito En in Honolulu. It is a bag of 54 serving packs each good for a liter of barley tea or more. It is distributed in Japanese markets. The cost? My wife bought it for less than $5 (yes…less than five dollars for the whole bag. Amazing.) We bought ours at “Don Quixote” a Japanese supermarket chain from Japan located in Honolulu for $3.99 (3 dollars and 99 cents).

The bottom line here is that Mugi cha tastes good, and is easy to drink, HEALTHY, and inexpensive.

Cheers!

Just about everytime I speak on the phone with someone on the Mainland or overseas I get asked the same question…

“What’s The Weather Like In Hawaii?”

The answer is always the same.

“It’s nice.”

As a matter of fact ever since I’ve lived here for the last 7+ years the weather has never sucked.

It’s typically warm and breezy or warm and humid.

Sure sometimes it’s so humid that it’s somewhat oppressive but it’s always replaced within a few days or a week with another picture perfect warm sunny breezy day with zero smog.

Of course there are days of “vog” (volcanic pollution) and we have our version of “Santa Ana Winds” or “devil winds” when the breezes blow “backwards” and the air is thicker with congestion and heavier. But it is soon replaced with another warm and breezy day.

Other than the stretch of rain last year where it rained every day for 40 days straight (this is no biblical exaggeration, it did rain 40 days and streams were over flowing into the roads)…but even then it was warm.

Sure we have our winters here where we have to bundle up with long sleeves or wear long pants to bed for about 10 days, but for the most part it’s warm sunny and breezy.

Even today as I look outside, it’s warm sunny and slightly humid…but it’s still nice.

So to answer your question “Hows the weather in Hawaii?”

“It’s nice.”

Last updated: 8 April 2010

This Privacy Policy applies to matters relating to the handling of personal information on the “ZigNoda.com” website (the “Website”), located at http://www.ZigNoda.com.

We will comply with all applicable laws and regulations concerning privacy protection in handling your personal information.

We will only collect personal information that is given to us by appropriate and fair means.

We will not provide third parties with your personal information without your consent.

We will not use your personal information beyond the scope of the purpose of use that has been previously specified.

We will regularly review this Privacy Policy to help ensure that appropriate safeguards are maintained.

We will respond appropriately to requests from our users to disclose the personal information that we maintain concerning them, to correct any inaccuracies in such information or to cease use of their personal information.

Handling of Personal Information

We may disclose aggregate information regarding users (not including personally identifiable information) to third parties that we believe to be reputable. Please also see “About Cookies” below.

About “Cookies”

We use “cookies” to improve your experience on our website. Cookies are small files that are stored on your computer’s hard disk through your web browser. This technology allows us to recognize preferences and to facilitate effective site administration. We use the information we collect to enhance your visit to our website and provide you with information tailored to your needs.

We do not collect personally identifiable information through cookies; however, you may opt out of their use by modifying the configuration of your web browser.

Our website makes use of cookies which are small digital files that are stored in your web browser that enable us to track your return visits to our website.

Your browser settings may allow you to block these cookies, but we recommend you have them enabled to help us personalize your experience of our website.

Additionally, 3rd party advertisers on our site may use cookies for tracking purposes.

Google, as a third party vendor, uses cookies to serve ads.

Google’s use of the DART cookie enables it to serve ads to visitors based on their visit to sites they visit on the Internet.

Website visitors may opt out of the use of the DART cookie by visiting the Google ad and content network privacy policy.

Children

We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 18. If a child under 18 has provided us with personal information without parental or guardian consent, the parent or guardian may e-mail us, and we will remove such information from our database.

Disclosure, Addition, Correction, Deletion

When we are requested by a user in accordance with procedures we have specified:

To disclose his/her personal information, we will disclose such information as soon as practicable, unless such disclosure would be in violation of law.

To correct, add to, or delete his/her personal information on the basis that such information is inaccurate, we will review the facts relating to such request without delay and will correct, add to, or delete the information on the basis of such review.

Suspension of Use

When we are requested by a user to stop using his/her personal information on the basis that such information was collected improperly or is being used for purposes other than those specified without his/her consent, we will review the facts relating to such request without delay. If we find a valid reason for such request, we will cease use of such personal information.

Additional Disclosures

This policy is valid from April 8, 2010.

This blog is a personal blog written and edited by me. For questions about this blog, please contact  “zignoda at gmail.com” (replace “at” with “@”).

This blog accepts forms of cash advertising, sponsorship, paid insertions or other forms of compensation.

The compensation received may influence the advertising content, topics or posts made in this blog. That content, advertising space or post may not always be identified as paid or sponsored content.

The owner(s) of this blog is compensated to provide opinion on products, services, websites and various other topics. Even though the owner(s) of this blog receives compensation for our posts or advertisements, we always give our honest opinions, findings, beliefs, or experiences on those topics or products. The views and opinions expressed on this blog are purely the bloggers’ own. Any product claim, statistic, quote or other representation about a product or service should be verified with the manufacturer, provider or party in question.