Author Archives: Ryan Olson

About Ryan Olson

Ryan is living every week like it's Shark Week.

Taking errors to new heights

We rely on computers for a lot in public — scoreboards, timetables, ATMs, etc. For the most part, it’s seamless. When it fails in a harmless way, it’s funny. During a vacation last summer, I saw two displays “crash” with … Continue reading

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Newspapers cutting back on delivery days

If I blogged every time a newspaper reduced the days it published, I would’ve been a fairly busy man. Thankfully (and sadly), the Associated Press has compiled all of these papers in a list. The lengthy list details publications that … Continue reading

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Saturday DVD release of “Twilight” is brilliant

Although I’m not the target audience to watch “Twilight,” I have to say the Saturday release for the DVD is a stroke of brilliance. If you need a refresher about what the movie is about, it’s a tale of “forbidden … Continue reading

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Corned beef and pizza — a winning combination

When someone says St. Patrick’s Day, one might typically think about the traditional foods — corned beef, potatoes, cabbage, etc. Like most holiday foods, people try to mix things up with variations often with mixed results. I can report that … Continue reading

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Another angle on the Facebook privacy row

The social-networking Web site Facebook decided to roll back its terms of use after its users protested. As I understand it, Facebook removed a clause stating that users could remove their content at any time. Many users want to ensure … Continue reading

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Ticketmaster and Live Nation to merge and devise new fees

Today’s announced merger of Ticketmaster and Live Nation is big news. The two companies are trying to quell fears that the deal will increase ticket prices. Here’s what Ticketmaster Chairman Barry Diller said about prices: “Ticketmaster does not set prices. … Continue reading

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No stinkin’ diet needed with ‘Bacon Explosion’

Going through old e-mail messages can be rewarding. For example, I was introduced to the meaty goodness that is the Bacon Explosion. The New York Times delved into the creation and publicity of the 4-pound roll of bacon and sausage. … Continue reading

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Searching for Super 3D glasses

I nearly missed kickoff for today’s Super Bowl XLIII. I was running errands … and trying to find 3D glasses. The glasses are for an iced tea commercial airing during the game, but I wanted them for the 3D episode … Continue reading

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The calm before a riotus storm

I was chatting Thursday with a colleague who noted that this week’s police log was relatively quiet although Chico State University students were back in town. I theorized students might have been more studious because the economic downturn. Well, Thursday … Continue reading

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Sacrificing online friends for a burger?

Burger King is definitely on top of the fast-food heap when it comes to viral marketing. Even if people would never wear the restaurant’s meat-scented cologne, they would sure talk about it. Their latest campaign was called “Whopper Sacrifice” where … Continue reading

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