bookofjoe

Brightcove — Home of joeTV?

Could this be it?

The beginning of my media empire?

As you read this my video specialists are working feverishly out back in the bookofjoe skunk works™ on my premiere.

Stay tuned.

But don't stay up too late waiting.

When my technical team gets involved the results are seldom pretty.

That is, if there even are results.

More on Brightcove in Peter Grant's story in yesterday's Wall Street Journal.

Hummer Grill

From the website:

Hummer H2 Portable Gas Grill

Perhaps no car has come onto the scene as dramatically as the Hummer.

And now the style and attitude of that larger-than-life SUV is reproduced in the ultimate tailgating equipment: The Hummer H2 Portable Grill.

With its die-cast aluminum frame and stainless steel burners, it’s ready for any mission.

Uses your propane in 1 lb bottles or 5 gallon tank.

Includes built-in folding stand and side tables.

Expands to 34"H x 19"W x 46 1/2"L.



Closes to 15.5"H x 11"W x 27"L [top] for easy storage in any car.

Exterior Dimensions (in.):

• Overall Height = 34.0

• Overall Width = 19.0

• Overall Length = 46.5

• Standbase = 22.5

Interior Dimensions (in.):

• Cooking Grill Area = 286 square inches

• Grill Clearance = 23.6

Cargo Mode Dimensions (in.):

• Length = 26.0

• Width = 13.0

Ground Clearance (in.):

• With Stand = 22.1

• On Tabletop = 4.0

Weights & Capacities:

• Gross Weight (lb.) = 35.6

• Fuel Capacity = 1 lb. bottles - 5 gal. tanks (not included)

• BTUs = 8,300

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$259.95.

Cheese Steak Wars in Philadelphia — Episode 2: Pat's King of Steaks v Rick's Original Philly Steaks

When last we touched on this topic — on July 27 of this year — it was to note the passing of Harry Olivieri, co-inventor of the cheese steak, at the age of 90.

Now, as with the fracturing of formerly stable states after the collapse of Communism, the uneasy truce between rival cheese steak emporia — Pat's and Rick's are each owned by cousins, grandsons of Harry Olivieri — has erupted into open warfare, with news of a trademark infringement lawsuit traveling all the way to England, where the Economist deemed it newsworthy enough to devote most of page 41 of the current issue to the battle.

Here's the article.

Whiz wit?

A sandwich is the star of a lawsuit

Chicago is famous for its deep pan pizza. Maryland has crab cakes and Boston baked beans. New Orleans has gumbo, New England clam chowder and Buffalo its wings, but no American dish is as closely identified with its hometown as the Philly cheese steak. “Rocky” Balboa, Philly's favourite son as played by Sylvester Stallone, ate one while training against Apollo Creed back in 1976. It's so much part of the city that when Men's Fitness magazine named Philadelphia the fattest city in America in 2000, the cheese steak got hit with a lot of the blame.

The famous dish, usually served with onions on an Italian roll, is in the middle of a trademark infringement lawsuit. According to the complaint, Pat's King of Steaks claims Rick's Original Philly Steaks has been illegally trading on Pat's name, crown logo and trademarked phrases. The two eateries are owned by cousins, grandsons of Pat and Harry Olivieri, the famed sandwich's inventors. So much for Philadelphia being the city of brotherly love.

Scott Pollack, the lawyer for Pat's, said the obvious customer confusion is damaging, especially as his client is well-known both nationally and internationally. Although Rick's has been opened for two decades, Pat's only filed the suit last week, possibly because in April Rick's opened a seasonal shop at Citizens Bank Park, home to the Phillies baseball team. A few weeks later, Rick Olivieri, Rick's Steaks owner, allegedly made reference on TV to Pat's, which has been in business since the 1930s, and from which he is accused of implying descent for his own business.

Companies can have the same trademark name as long as they are in different geographic or product markets. This may not work for Rick's, as the restaurants are less than two miles apart. Rick's may well use the popular nominative fair-use argument. This defence means a person may use the trademark of another as a reference or as a comparison.

This is not the first Olivieri family feud. A dispute over ownership arose in the 1970s, but was eventually resolved with one side buying out the other. Over the years Pat's has had a few run-ins with other pretenders to the logoed crown. Trademarks, unlike patents, cannot be used to stop others from copying goods or services. Little wonder then there are thousands of cheese-steak restaurants in Philadelphia.

The Philly cheese steak is serious business. Ordering etiquette must be adhered to. Customers must state their preferred type of cheese and whether onions will or will not (“wit” or “witout”) be added. John Kerry, when campaigning for president in 2004 in Philadelphia, botched it badly, asking for Swiss cheese instead of the more traditional Cheez Whiz, a processed cheese spread. Even provolone or American cheese would have been better. George Bush ordered “Whiz wit” like a local.

Giant Personalized Pen

No one'll slip this in their pocket "by mistake."

From the website:

Really Big Personalized Pen

For big ideas, long lists, and loads of homework... this really big pen is really fun.

At 11" long x 1" diameter, it's also really hard to lose!

We'll personalize it.

Specify name: limit 1 line, 9 letters/spaces.

Assorted colors; we'll choose for you.

Features rubber grip and black ink.

$8.99.

standinaqueue.com — 'Standing in queues across Britain'

It is what it says.

Rainbow Finger Hooded Mittens

From the website:
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Alpaca Gloves — Hand-Knit, Hooded Mittens In Fun Colors

Work-at-home moms in the Bolivian Andes hand-knit these wonderfully soft, incredibly warm, lightweight Alpaca Hooded Mittens.

Slide back the top of the mittens

and they'll instantly become open-tip gloves that let your bare fingers handle difficult items.

100% Alpaca wool.

One size fits all.
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Lime Green (top), Black, Red or Light Blue.

$17.95.

The tough love of Bill Parcells

I found this past Sunday's New York Times magazine "Play" supplement cover story on Bill Parcells by Michael Lewis the most interesting thing I've read all month.

Long story — and I mean long, it's about 10,000 words* — short: I wish I'd grown up in New Jersey with Parcells and remained friends with him.

Reading the piece, you get a sense of what it is that drives driven people to do what they do: they have no choice in the matter.

Carl Icahn is Bill Parcells in bespoke suits and hand-made shoes: there is absolutely no difference in their driving forces' overwhelming, relentness need for more of the same.

Is this a good thing?

You decide.

*Recent sharp increases in the costs of ink and newsprint make reproducing the article in its entirety here untenable.

Tea Egg

Variation on a theme.

From the website:

Tea Egg

Brewing tea is a breeze with this stainless-steel egg.

One-handed operation makes it easy to scoop up tea leaves, close the egg and brew tea in any size cup.

Small enough for table or travel, yet it provides enough space for tea leaves to expand for maximum flavor.

4 tsp. capacity.

6-7/8"L x 2"D.

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$9.99 (tea not included).