Technology Gadgets Food Toys Fun and Games

Link: http://www.betanews.com/article/Second-thoughts-about-Google-Buzz/1268321089

Personally, I stopped using it for anything about 3 days in. It's just not all that - proving that even the big players on the net can make mistakes.

So it's been a few weeks since Google Buzz launched, and because I'm a good little geek-soldier who eats his own (figurative) dog food, I've invested lots of time to learn how it works and, more importantly, how it can work for me. Although I'm doing my best to be an optimist, I can't seem to warm up to Buzz. Yes, folks, I think I'm falling out of like with Google's new social media darling service.

Or, to be blunt, Google Buzz sucks.

Link: http://thefreewarejunkie.com/2009/10/pc-world-reviews-free-antivirus.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ConfessionsOfAFreewareJunkie+%28confessions+of+a+freeware+junkie...%29

In the latest issue of PC World, they review the top free Antivirus solutions available including (but not limited to) Avira, AVG, Avast!, Comodo and others.

Not surprisingly, Avira comes out on top.

Good read, second place was taken by Avast. The article runs down the hows and whys each got ranked where it did.

It's kinda making me wonder if I should switch my personal rigs protection off AVG.

Either you like Google or you don't - but no matter which way you go this video sure makes it's point.

THE BEAST FILE: GOOGLE from Hungry Beast on Vimeo.

Link: http://gas2.org/2010/03/08/transonic-claims-75-increase-in-internal-combustion-engine-fuel-efficiency/

As always take things like this with a grain of salt -

A California-based company called Transonic claims that its fuel injection system increases fuel efficiency by 75% while cutting emissions in half. No electric motors, no gimmicks… just a supercritical injection process. Which is what, exactly?

It's actually plausible - and with their to market time we'll get to see the results sooner rather than later.

Transonic says it is getting ready to test a fleet of up to 100 cars with its technology, and it is in the process of talking to two automakers interested in the technology. They want to bring their system to market by 2014… not that far away.

Link: http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/48753

This is something I never really gave 2 seconds of thought to. Once I did really give it a ponder I found the article a good read... and this gem of fun came out of it...

The Knocker-Up (also referred to as a Knocker-Upper) gained prominence during the Industrial Revolution by using a long stick with wire or a knob affixed to the end to rouse customers at a desired time. Clients would agree verbally, in advance, or simply post a preferred time on doors or windows. For a few pence a week, clients could rest assured knowing their Knocker Upper would not leave until he (Knocker Ups were almost always men) was certain a person was awake. Larger Factories and Mills often employed their own Knocker Ups to ensure laborers made it to work on time.

Hehe - the knocker upper ....

Link: http://www.billshrink.com/blog/7636/the-12-biggest-ripoffs-in-america/

And what's ugly is that we still deal with being ripped off on a too frequent basis.

Yet still, a 50 tablet bottle of 200mg Advil somehow costs $8.49, while Duane Reade charges “just $5.29 for the exact same bottle of generic ibuprofen.” So unlike the age-old “store brand” debate where there is a qualitative difference between a generic and branded product, painkillers are the rare exception of being, literally, the very same product for a lower price.

Link: http://www.aestheticecho.com/

I dunno what more to say except the landscape keeps moving and it reminds me of Zaxxon or Yars Revenge.

Link: http://www.cracked.com/article_18449_the-tlc-experiment-just-how-dumb-learning-channel.html

Was the Learning Channel EVER really about learning? Cus the shows are downright horrible - It's worse than the uglyness of the Discovery Channel.

In today's super ultra modern world, learning is as easy as getting crabs from a public toilet seat. Just sit there long enough and it'll happen. Feeling confident that this itch-inducing belief is pretty much 100 percent accurate, I ventured forth to do what few men dared do before me. I would watch the Learning Channel for five days and, in the process, learn everything there is to know. About everything.

Link: http://www.slashfood.com/2010/02/19/ignore-use-by-dates/

Think those dates are the end all and final authority on when the cheese has gone bad? Well, wrong again three martini lunch breath!

The fact is, the "sell by" date that appears on that questionable gallon of milk serves as a guideline for stores on when they should pull products from their shelves -- not when you should indulge in a last sip. Rather than being an indicator of the product's safety span, the date implies when a food's quality -- its taste, aroma and appearance -- would be at peak conditions.
What's even more confusing is the lack of consistency in "open dating" descriptors and regulations on labeling. In addition to "sell by," certain products contain "best if used by (or before)," to indicate peak quality, "use by," to establish a finite don't-ingest-after-this-date or simply the jumble of numbers that is a "closed date," for those long-living shelved goods.

While funny - some little bit of the human side of me hopes this was a demo computer and not someones actual laptop.

Link: http://www.sevenby7.com/colourfields/colourfields.html

I don't know what this is or why this is but it certainly is - so there you have it.

Link: http://www.avatara.com/builder/

This is pretty cool, but if you want to add your own face you'd better have exactly what they want ( which I don't so that's why I don't have me on here)

Link: http://www.neatorama.com/2010/02/09/why-do-people-push-placebo-buttons/

You'd be surprised (after reading this article) how many buttons you use each day that don't actually do anything ... but apparently we all feel better after pressing the heck out of 'em.

Link: http://lifehacker.com/5462520/remove-a-stripped-screw-with-a-rubber-band

Here's an idea - and it's a good one. Well ok - in my case the screw is so far stripped it's now time to get the drill... but, if you catch it early this just might work.

I'd be curious to know if this really works - cus honestly I enjoy drilling and re-tapping too much to try it.

Link: http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/analysis/1590073/apple-mac-os-x-secure-windows

It's a Unix OS - and it's not hardened for security.

However Apple is also actually more insecure because of the attitude of its customers. A computer's security, if it exists, is only as good as the user. Unfortunately in the case of the Mac the user is a smug, technologically illiterate person who believes they are invulnerable because they use a Mac. Such people randomly press buttons, visit sites that sensible people don't and download things carelessly because Apple's marketing tells them they are safe.

Amen brother! - that about sums it up....

Link: http://www.amazon.com/Hirts-Beneficial-Insects-1500-LadyBugs/dp/B000MR6WRG

Right, and if you use this for a creative puropse... - send video !

Link: http://blogs.zdnet.com/security/?p=5365

Yep, does not surprise me - tho I don't think it represents the whole - in other news 48% of car owners have not changed their oil - 48% of oil burners haven't been cleaned - etc etc...

Link: http://www.boingboing.net/2010/01/26/make-your-own-mossarium.html#more

Boing Boing has a great post on building a moss terrarium. Real easy to maintain and it stays green and happy with almost no effort. Want to get fancy? Add a small turtle or frog.

Link: http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/new-cars/news/2010/01/2010-car-brand-perceptions-survey/overview/brand-perceptions-ov.htm

Kinda funny to see what the general perception is these days .... now this isn't actual rating- it's how people perceive the brands. Ford at #2? Heh, really? I'll give ya mine.

Time Piece is an experimental short film produced, directed, and written by Jim Henson, who also played the leading role. Henson began the project in the spring of 1964 and continued to work on it for nearly a year, between commercial projects and various Muppet television appearances. The short film premiered in May 1965 at the Museum of Modern Art

Yep, the channel really kinda sucks lately - here's why.

Link: http://www.sun-sentinel2.com/features/ftlaudNEISS/ftlaudNEISS08_list.php?orderby=anarrative

The Consumer Product Safety Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) is a sample of 100 hospital emergency rooms in the United States and its territories. Patient information is collected from NEISS hospitals for every emergency visit involving an injury associated with consumer products. Make no mistake: Many injuries found here are the result of accidents or carelessness and not the fault of the product itself. More than 374,000 injuries were reported in 2008, the latest available year for NEISS data.

Heh - ok some are not stupid but when you look at entries like #8......

Link: http://autos.yahoo.com/articles/autos_content_landing_pages/1273/cheap-car-from-india-could-cost-8000-in-us

How about a brand new car for $8000 ? Though you won't be getting any extras....

Tata Motors already has made a European version of the four-seat car that will cost about $8,000 when it debuts in 2011, and a Tata Technologies official said privately that the U.S. version is expected to have a comparable price. The official did not want to be identified because the price has not been made public.

Link: http://www.webmii.com/

This is going to work better for some people than others, I've been pretty careful but there are references to me here and there. This search engine didn't find any.

It's good to use I spose if you're looking to see if there's anything uncool or unsafe on the web about yourself or someone else.

By no means though count the engines results as authoritative.

Link: http://www.darwinawards.com/

This years winners took themselves out of the Gene Pool with fantastic flair. - I always love reading these, makes me feel smart.

...For the first time ever, a woman--yes, a member of the safer sex--made it into the year's Top Darwin Awards Contenders! 2009 Antepenultimate Winner is the North Carolina woman who jumped into a swollen creek to rescue her drowning...moped.

Link: http://www.listzblog.com/top_ten_fun_christmas_holiday_facts.html

Popular modern customs include gift-giving, music, an exchange of greeting
cards, church celebrations, a special meal, and the display of various
decorations, including Christmas trees, lights, garlands, mistletoe, nativity
scenes, and holly. I have collected some interesting facts surrounding the
origins of Christmas.

And who couldn't use a few cool facts to throw around at the office party eh? ( Hint* small talk )

Link: http://www.ifc.com/news/2009/12/meet-the-muppets-again.php

I was just talking about this - The last 2 videos I've seen from the Muppets seem to capture that magic that used to delight me. Apparently I'm not the only one thinking so.

This article goes pretty in depth on the whole concept but what it says I agree with. The Muppet Show was the best of the Muppets. That was comprised of short skits - and You Tube is the perfect venue for short skits.

I just hope things continue to be as interesting and fun in future clips.

Link: http://www.mania.com/6-annoying-things-hollywood-needs-to-stop-doing_article_119391.html

Apparently I'm not the only one with these thoughts. I actually cringe each time I hear they're remaking another classic into a failure. What are all the new ideas used up or something ?

Why is it that for every good movie that comes out of Hollywood that there’s at least three times as many that leave viewers shaking their heads in disbelief? Have you ever sat in a theater as a movie trailer played and thought to yourself, “Somebody approved the spending of millions of dollars for this?”

Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/programmes/click_online/8396103.stm

Nice little spot from the BBC trying to predict where things are headed into the next decade. I don't think any of these are completely correct but I like watching 'em anyway as they get some stuff right.

Link: http://www.zug.com/live/83255/Can-a-Fruitcake-Stop-a-Bullet.html

What do you think ? Follow the link for video goodness.

Link: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=pompeii,+italy+ruins&sll=40.716428,14.537315&sspn=0.061672,0.132351&ie=UTF8&hq=pompeii,+italy+ruins&hnear=&ll=40.748902,14.484834&spn=0,359.991728&t=h&z=17&layer=c&cbll=40.748902,14.484834&panoid

Most of us will never get the chance to go walking around Pompeii - but now you can do it virtually - got some time? go take a stroll around the ruins and be amazed.

Link: http://www.google.com/intl/en_us/press/zeitgeist2009/

The Zeitgeist displays the most popular searches and trends on Google for '09.

2009 Year-End Google Zeitgeist

Methodology

To compile the 2009 Year-End Zeitgeist, we studied the aggregation of billions of queries people typed into Google search this year. We use data from multiple sources, including Insights for Search, Google Trends and internal data tools. We also filter out spam and repeat queries to build out lists that best reflect "the spirit of the times." All of the search queries we studied are anonymous—no personal information was used.

Except where noted, all of these search terms are most popular for 2009—ranked in order of the queries with the largest volume of searches this year. In some cases, we list the "fastest rising" queries, which means we found the most popular searches conducted in 2009 and then ranked them based on how much their popularity increased compared to 2008. Conversely, "fastest falling" queries were very popular in 2008 but flattened in popularity in 2009.

Link: http://theoatmeal.com/comics/beer

Presented in a neat graphical way....

Link: http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/enterprise-architecture/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=221900487&cid=nl_IW_daily_2009-11-21_html

Did you know that the Air Force had a Playstation Supercomputer? I didn't (thanks Osh)

The PlayStation 3s will be used at the Air Force Research Laboratory's information directorate in Rome, N.Y., where they will be added to an existing cluster of 336 PlayStation 3s being used to conduct supercomputing research.

The Air Force will use the system to "to determine the best fit for implementation of various applications," including commercial and internally developed software specific to the PS3's Cell Broadband Engine processor architecture. The research will help the Air Force decide where Cell Broadband Engine processor-derived hardware and software could be used in military systems.

Link: http://www.worldmapper.org/index.html

This in from Bill....

Here's a nifty site if you want more out of your map than directions to the package store. My favorites:

- cause of death
- income (by daily living expenses)
- prevalent diseases
- disasters (how many killed by volcanoes is a favorite subcategory)