Jeremy Toeman: iPhone appeal drops daily. 

After four years is it really necessary to continue to say "Radical Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr." Isn't that like saying Compassionate Conservative President George W. Bush?? 

Two-way mapping 

Like everyone else (and the guys in Lazy Sunday) I use Google Maps to plot out routes, even walking routes, which isn't something it's really good at.

Yesterday I used it to map out a route to the BART station, it was a long walk, so when I returned I took a cab home. He took an odd left turn, and then when I realized what he did, I saw that this was a much better route. The road was wider, no traffic lights, less traffic, and it was a straight road, no curves and bends. It was probably faster, and it was definitely easier on the nerves.

So I went back to Google and looked at it on the map, and it's even more direct than the route they mapped out.

So -- when does mapping become a two-way app? I'd be willing to tell their software that I have a better route, it's one that comes from living here, and being a cab driver here.

A missing product? 

Last weekend I went to a Marc Canter's birthday party, it was great, but it would have been even better if they had my favorite soft drink.

I know what the host likes, it's good stuff, but I prefer a little artificial sweetness and bubbles. These days I really like the black cherry vanilla flavor Diet Coke.

It's not his fault, there's a missing product. I have the same problem when I shop for a party -- how to stock up on at least three or four of every popular soft drink, beer or wine. The missing product? A 24-pack that's got a variety of stuff. A couple of Sprites, Diet Pepsi, Tejava -- you get the idea. Of course Coke would have their own special pack, and Pepsi would have theirs. No problem. I'll buy three of each.

BTW, I got Marc a Sansa 2GB MP3 player. Expect some convergence over there in CanterLand.