Keith Olbermann: ‘Vin Scully Is a Legend, but He’s Not a Saint’

Keith Olbermann: ‘Vin Scully Is a Legend, but He’s Not a Saint’ -

Keith Olbermann, writing for GQ, has the best appraisal of the retiring Vin Scully I’ve seen:

It is mind-bending to consider that he has not just been on 22 of the 94 annual radio and television World Series broadcasts ever, but been alive for 87 of them. It is goose-bumpy to recognize that the season he began broadcasting major league games, Connie Mack was still the manager of the Philadelphia Athletics (Mack had become A’s manager in 1901 and we’ve just passed the 130th anniversary of Mack’s debut as a major league catcher). And it almost requires the language of Light Years to realize that if you start a new job the day after his last scheduled regular-season Dodger broadcast and you stay in that gig as long as Scully has in his, you will not be leaving your new position until Sunday, September 26, 2083.

You will also have to be almost flawless at that job over these next 67 years. Lost in the pilgrimages and the longevity is the reality that unlike almost every other great broadcaster in any field and of any time, there is not only no long list of Scullyian Gaffes, there is almost no list. Amid the Kirk Gibson call, and the Bill Buckner call, and the Hank Aaron call, and the Larsen Perfect Game call, and the Koufax perfect game call — there just aren’t many mistakes.

I’ve been watching as many of his calls for the Dodgers down the stretch as I can. At 88 years old he’s still the best there is.

 ★ 

(Via Daring Fireball.)

International Photography Hall of Fame adds Apple co-founder Steve Jobs

International Photography Hall of Fame adds Apple co-founder Steve Jobs - The International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum -- based in St. Louis, Missouri -- on Friday announced the posthumous induction of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, citing the iPhone's contributions to the photo world.

(Via AppleInsider.)

Biggest US total solar eclipse in decades happens next year

Biggest US total solar eclipse in decades happens next year - Lunar eclipses are pretty amazing, but statistically speaking, they aren't really all that rare. Catching a full solar eclipse, on the other hand? That's hard. The moon blocks our planet's view of the sun about ever year and a half -- but …

(Via The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW).)

Apple Introduces Major Retail Changes, Including New Pro-Level Positions and Credo

Apple Introduces Major Retail Changes, Including New Pro-Level Positions and Credo - Apple held all-hands meetings with retail employees this weekend to introduce major new changes, including new and renamed positions, a new credo, and new store layouts, according to multiple retail sources.


Apple is implementing three new retail positions in the United States and United Kingdom, and likely elsewhere, including two pro-level positions and an all-new Technical Expert position to complement the Genius Bar/Grove:

• Pro: A new sales position above Expert. These employees are considered the most knowledgable about Apple products and services.
• Creative Pro: A new learning position above Creative. These employees are considered the most knowledgable about Apple products and services.
• Technical Expert: An all-new customer support position in between Technical Specialist and Genius. These employees will be able to provide mobile repairs, a task previously limited to Geniuses, and troubleshooting for software and products like the Apple Watch and Apple TV. The position will help reduce Genius Bar/Grove and service wait times.

In addition to the new positions, Apple is renaming several of its current retail positions:

• Red Zone Specialist → Specialist
• Family Room Specialist → Technical Specialist
• Business Specialist → Business Expert
• Back-of-House Specialist → Operations Specialist
• Inventory Specialist → Operations Pro

Meanwhile, the Back-of-House is now called Backstage, where the Inventory and Operations teams work, and the Red Zone, which encompasses the sales floor, is now called the Product Zone. Apple's existing retail locations will use the same tables from the old Red Zone for the new Product Zone.

Apple has also updated its credo, a motto that the company encourages its retail employees to follow. The new credo:

 Enriching lives.

We are here to enrich lives.
To help dreamers become doers,
to help passion expand human potential,
to do the best work of our lives.

AT OUR BEST

We give more than we take.
From the planet,
to the person beside us.
We become a place to belong
where everyone is welcome.
Everyone.

We draw strength from our differences.
From background and perspective
to collaboration and debate.
We are open.

We redefine expectations.
First for ourselves, then for the world.
Because we’re a little crazy.
Because “good enough” isn’t.
Because what we do says who we are.

We find courage.
To try and to fail,
to learn and to grow,
to figure out what’s next,
to imagine the unimaginable,
to do it all over again tomorrow.

AT OUR CORE

We believe our soul is our people.
People who recognize themselves
in each other.
People who shine a spotlight
only to stand outside it.
People who work to leave this world better than they found it.
People who live to enrich lives.

Last, Apple said it now has over 30 retail locations based on its new design language, including the flagship Apple Union Square. The new layout includes a combination of The Avenue, Genius Grove, The Forum, The Plaza, and The Boardroom. Apple is renovating dozens of locations with the next-generation design, and all new locations since mid 2015 have been based on the new design language.

Juli Clover contributed to this report.

Related Roundup: Apple Stores
Tag: Apple retail

Discuss this article in our forums

(Via MacRumors : Mac News and Rumors.)

New Snowden docs support claim of NSA cyberweapon hack - CNET

New Snowden docs support claim of NSA cyberweapon hack - CNET - The Intercept publishes files from leakmeister Edward Snowden that appear to confirm the NSA's secret malware software is out in the open.

(Via CNET News.com.)

How to find the right baby monitor - CNET

How to find the right baby monitor - CNET - The four questions every new parent should ask while searching for the best video monitor.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Barbra Streisand: I called Tim Cook to get Siri to pronounce my name right - CNET

Barbra Streisand: I called Tim Cook to get Siri to pronounce my name right - CNET - Technically Incorrect: In an NPR interview, the singer says she dislikes how Siri says her name and the Apple CEO agreed to make the change.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Apple under Tim Cook: A nicer company, but a better one? - CNET

Apple under Tim Cook: A nicer company, but a better one? - CNET - Cook hits his five-year anniversary as CEO this week. CNET takes a look at how Apple has changed during his tenure.

(Via CNET News.com.)

Razer Reinvents Mechanical Keyboards for an iPad World

Razer Reinvents Mechanical Keyboards for an iPad World -

Razer's mechanical keyboard for the iPad Pro uses some clever engineering to bring a great keyboard feel to shallow keys. The post Razer Reinvents Mechanical Keyboards for an iPad World appeared first on WIRED.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)

Pointers: Create a WordPress website

Pointers: Create a WordPress website - You've been putting this off for long enough. Let's make a website, let's make it right now –– and let's use all that is great about WordPress while avoiding all its nudges into spending money. We have nothing against spending money, we'd rather you spent it getting the best value for yourself. Perhaps we're wrong and unfair, but feel as if WordPress is always crossing its fingers and hoping you won't notice how it cajoles you into options you don't need ...

(Via MacNN | The Macintosh News Network.)

The Most Dazzling Photos From Space This Year

The Most Dazzling Photos From Space This Year -

From water on Mars to a little something called Pluto, WIRED presents the best photos of the cosmos for 2015.

The post The Most Dazzling Photos From Space This Year appeared first on WIRED.

The Biggest Security Threats We’ll Face in 2016

The Biggest Security Threats We’ll Face in 2016 -

This year was a busy one for security and hackers. We expect more of the same in 2016, with a few new twists.

The post The Biggest Security Threats We’ll Face in 2016 appeared first on WIRED.

(Via Wired Top Stories.)