Where do I find this stuff?

Latest Sony Bravia Ad

2006-11-24T17:37:00.001-08:00

Sony really knows how to advertise an LCD..

6 years in 5:45

2006-11-24T17:35:00.000-08:00

Noah takes a picture of himself every day for 6 years.

Flickr Minicards from Moo.com

2006-10-13T04:59:00.000-07:00

Take your favorite Flickr pics and turn them into Business cards. A hundred cards for twenty bucks.

Random Facts

2006-09-17T13:29:00.000-07:00

This is one of those vintage, oldie-but-goodie emails that have been circling the net for years, and I felt it was worth casting permanently in hardened blogcrete.

If you yelled for 8 years, 7 months and 6 days you would have produced enough sound energy to heat one cup of coffee.
(Hardly seems worth it.)

If you farted consistently for 6 years and 9 months, enough gas is produced to create the energy of an atomic bomb.
(Now that's more like it!)

The human heart creates enough pressure when it pumps out to the body to squirt blood 30 feet.
(Awesome!)

A pig's orgasm lasts 30 minutes.
(In my next life, I want to be a pig...)

A cockroach will live nine days without its head before it starves to death.
(Creepy. But I'm still not over the pig.)

Banging your head against a wall uses 150 calories a hour.
(Don't try this at home, maybe at work)

The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off.
(Honey, I'm home. What the...?!)

The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field.
(30 minutes..lucky pig! Can you imagine?)

The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds.
(What could be so tasty on the bottom of a pond?)

Some lions mate over 50 times a day.
(I still want to be a pig in my next life...quality over quantity)

Butterflies taste with their feet.
(Something I always wanted to know.)

The strongest muscle in the body is the tongue.
(Hmmmmmm.....)

Right-handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left- handed people.
(If you're ambidextrous, do you split the difference?)

Elephants are the only animals that cannot jump.
(Okay, so that would be a good thing)

A cat's urine glows under a black light.
(wonder who was paid to figure that out?)

An ostrich's eye is bigger than its brain.
(I know some people like that. I guess that's why ostriches don't shop at Best Buy)

Starfish have no brains
(I know some people like that too.)

Polar bears are left-handed.
(If they switch, they'll live a lot longer)

Humans and dolphins are the only species that have sex for pleasure.
(What about that pig??)

All the news that's fit to search

2006-09-06T06:17:00.000-07:00

Google will scan 200 years of news content from Time, NYT, Lexis-Nexus and others, and give users the option to buy full articles. I hope their scanner operators have carpal tunnel protection...

The Ultimate Blog Post

2006-09-06T05:46:00.000-07:00

I think this writer at Wired Magazine hit the nail on the head in explaining exactly what a blog is. From the article: "Creating your own blog is about as easy as creating your own urine, and you're about as likely to find someone else interested in it."

Stick Figure Fights with the Animator

2006-08-22T05:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a link to the latest in the world of Stick Figure Animation. Stick Figure man fights it out with his animator. Very fun.

Infernoptix Digital Pyrotechnics Matrix Display

2006-07-27T09:40:00.000-07:00

A combination backyard grille and computer display, the Infernoptix Digital Pyrotechnics Matrix Display would make a neat toy to have on my deck connected to the ipod. Check out the fun video.

Shameless Plug for Howard

2006-06-23T11:50:00.000-07:00

My friend Howard has fallen in love with the Mac application Quicksilver, so much so that he's decided to take on the task of writing the documentation manual for it. See a an initial blog review of it here, along with a direct download of the manual here.

Oh, and why do I care?
Cuz a)he's a friend of mine, b)it's a very cool app, and c)my picture is on page 21.

You got chocolate in My bacon!

2006-06-23T11:13:00.000-07:00

If you ever had an urge to mix chocolate and bacon for two great tastes that taste great together (?) here's a recipe.

Frankly, I think this would be a great accessory to the WAKE n' BACON, a fine product developed by Matty Sallin, a designer and cousin of my wife. Matty made many a headline and even a visit to the Today Show as a result of his somewhat unkosher timepiece.

iPotty

2006-06-14T05:24:00.000-07:00

I need one of these for the new bathroom.

A Kids-only ring tone

2006-06-12T07:28:00.000-07:00

This article in the NY Times explains "the misquito", a cell phone ring tone that only kids can hear. It jumps on the fact that most adults lose some portion of their hearing over time and can't hear high-pitched noises.

I personally can hear it, just barely, despite my 20% hearing loss according to my doctor. It's faint, but it sounds like the high-pitched noise a TV or monitor makes when the CRT tube is messed up.

Now, what this has over the "vibrate" function, I'm not sure.

The Avant Santelubain

2006-06-12T06:55:00.000-07:00

You know, this thing makes a lot of sense. We do it to our dishes. To our clothes. Why not to ourselves? Most importantly, I think this would reduce a lot of bath-time stress in our house. Instead of the kids splashing around, arguing about who gets the Ariel Mermaid doll, thrashing around in an attempt to avoid removal from the tub, and tracking wet throughout the house, we could just lock 'em in one of these and walk away. Come back ten minutes later and a day's worth of sunscreen, ice cream sandwich-stained fingers, Crayola-painted knees, a dribbled Hi-C would be gone.

Make sure to check out the first-hand (translated)account from iSpot.jp. It's very amusing.

World's most annoying alarm clock

2006-06-08T13:36:00.001-07:00

It wakes you up by firing four puzzle pieces up in the air, and then it is your task to get the pieces and put them back in the alarm clock - it won't turn off until then.

World's most annoying alarm clock

2006-06-08T13:36:00.000-07:00

It wakes you up by firing four puzzle pieces up in the air, and then it is your task to get the pieces and put them back in the alarm clock - it won't turn off until then.

Yakko's country song

2006-05-21T10:15:00.000-07:00

A lost classic. Perhaps one of the greatest bits of animation ever. Yakko from Animaniacs doing the Country Song...

Recycling Computer parts

2006-04-21T05:18:00.000-07:00

CNET had an interesting set of articles on computer and electronics recycling today. It started with a brief (and not nearly descriptive enough)description of a tour of the HP computer recycling center, which contains shredders the size of houses that canother article called "Trash Your Old Tech", with descriptions and details on what options are out there for safely and effectively recycling everything from computers and monitors to inkjet carts and PDA's. Very useful information. I think more people should take this sort of thing into account. It's nice to hear, for example, that several of the big injet printer companies provide free take-back programs for old printers. I wish I had thought to look into that before I tossed my old one six months ago. And, going forward, I'm going to make sure to recycle my ink carts, because there just ain't no reason not to.

Clerks II Trailer

2006-04-20T12:10:00.000-07:00

The trailer for Clerks II can be found here...

One red paper clip

2006-04-18T04:56:00.000-07:00

Here is a story of a man, Kyle MacDonald, who is on a quest to to trade his way up from a single red paper clip to his very own home, solely through the wonders of the barter system. Neat stuff.

Blue Hippo is for morons

2006-04-15T18:41:00.000-07:00

Blue Hippo, a company that seems to have a vested interest in providing the computers to the downtrodden and poor, is also in the business of completely screwing folks who don't know any better. A basic low end machine for ONLY $99 down and $39.99 per week. Oh, and that's for 52 weeks. That's well over two thousand bucks for a machine that Dell sells for about $500.

Bush's Map of the world

2006-04-14T16:55:00.000-07:00

A highly detailed and accurate Map of the World according to Dubya.

What's kosher for Passover?

2006-04-11T10:01:00.000-07:00

Interesting article that gives one rabbi's take on what should and should not be kosher for Passover. For example, why can't we eat peas? Peas aren't used to make bread, right? They aren't leavening agents, right? I like this rabbi's way of thinking, which is that "To observe unnescessary restrictions can lead to ridicule and disrespect for Torah". Amen to that. Hmm, unnecessary restrictions...sounds like some other religions we've heard of on the news lately....

Joke: Al-gebra movement

2006-04-06T07:22:00.000-07:00

At New York's Kennedy Airport today, an individual later discovered to be a math teacher was arrested trying to board a flight while in possession of a ruler, a protractor, a setsquare, a slide rule, and a calculator.

At a morning press conference, the Attorney General said he believes the man is a member of the notorious Al-gebra movement.

He is being charged by the FBI with carrying weapons of math instruction. Al-gebra is a fearsome cult," he said. "They desire average solutions by means and extremes, and sometimes go off on tangents in a search of absolute value. They use secret code names like 'x' and 'y' and refer to themselves as 'unknowns,' but we have determined they belong to a common denominator of the axis of medieval with coordinates in every country.

As the Greek philanderer Isosceles used to say, "There are 3 sides to every triangle."

When asked to comment on the arrest, President Bush said, "If God had wanted us to have better weapons of math instruction, He would have given us more fingers and toes."

CNET's worst products of 2006 (already)

2006-04-05T05:44:00.000-07:00

CNET posted a rather enjoyable article about what's already out there as the worst new tech of 2006. And it's only April. This is gonna be one long list by December.

Jump The Shark

2006-04-05T05:36:00.000-07:00

It's that defining moment when you know your favorite TV program has reached its peak, and from that point it's all downhill. Way downhill. Like when Terri Hatcher remarries her ex in order to get a splinectomy. Or when Colonel Henry Blake's plane went down. or When Joey tried doing his own show. It's called jumping the shark, and it's not good.

Wednesday April 5, a special time

2006-04-04T13:43:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday APRIL 5th, at two minutes and three seconds after one pm the time and date will be: 01:02:03 04/05/06. This will never happen again.

Why are Gas Prices Rising?

2006-04-03T12:48:00.000-07:00

An article forwarded to me from my brother-in-law, who sells propane and propane accessories, which states:

The February release of a report by the Energy Information Administration that said the rapid switch from methyl tertiary-butyl ether to ethanol as an oxygenate in gasoline could lead to supply shortages and resulting prices spikes during the peak summer demand period triggered hearings by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee last week, with lawmakers hearing testimony by several experts on the impact of removing MTBE from the nation’s pool of gasoline supply.

When I Come Home

2006-04-03T08:35:00.000-07:00

My wife's cousin is a retired movie producer and director who, as a former member of both the Marines and Air Force, was concerned that many of our fellow citizens were not truly aware of the personal sacrifices made by those who commit to the service of our country.

So, Bob created When I Come Home as a purely personal statement. In his words, it's an expression of gratitude to the men and women who serve in every branch of our military services --- those who fight, are harmed and die. It honors them and their families who also serve. And wait. And grieve.

The film has gained momentum among friends, colleagues and even complete strangers at a more profound level than Bob anticipated. He has already received letters of thanks from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and from The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer saying how much they appreciated and enjoyed the film.

See the film here. And be very patient with the link. While it's slow to download, it's worth the wait.

The Federal Reserve...a kids' page

2006-04-03T08:09:00.000-07:00

Here's a website designed for kids to better understand what the Federal Reserve is and the role it serves in America. Of course, you and I know everything there is to know about the Fed, don't we. Of course. This page is really only for kids to learn from. We couldn't possibly learn anything from it ourselves, now could we?

My slippers are gone again!!!

2006-03-28T10:43:00.000-08:00

So picture this. You're sitting at the breakfast table. You've just finished your eggs, read the classified, and downed the last of your now-lukewarm coffee. You feel the need to head to the bathroom and perform your morning ritual. Your ensocked feet feel around for the slippers that you left under your chair. And dammit, they're gone again! Stolen by the well known but never seen slipper swipers. What to do?

Oh, doesn't anyone have an answer?

At last your pleas are heard. Introducing the Anti-theft slipper. They not only come with little rings at the heels into which you can slip your chair legs, but if someone (such as a family pet, two-year-old, or resident munchkin) steals said slippers, a horrifying alarm will sound, sending your blissful Sunday morning into turmoil.

Someone invented it, so someone will buy it.

Teleworkers do it in the buff

2006-03-27T07:09:00.000-08:00

According to an article in Network World, One in eight male teleworkers and one in fourteen female teleworkers say they do their jobs in the nude, according to a new survey on the habits of remote and mobile workers worldwide. Additionally more than half the women don't shower on work-at-home days and men are even worse, with only about one in three washing.

I must remember to point that out to my wife who hates when I skip the Saturday morning shower.

Irish Yoga

2006-03-27T06:17:00.000-08:00

Click here to see the traditional version of Asanas, an ancient yoga position requiring considerable strength in the neck, shoulders and back, requiring years of practice to achieve.

Click here for the Irish version.

Just can't get enough of them Luftballoons

2006-03-24T13:01:00.000-08:00

CNN reports that VH1 Classic will present a full hour of the English and German music videos for Nena's 1984 hit "99 Luftballons," The music video presentation airs Sunday (2 p.m. EST), as part of the station's "Pay to Play for Hurricane Katrina Relief," One viewer requested this for a $35,000 donation.

MS Vista not People Ready

2006-03-24T07:49:00.000-08:00

Forbes Magazine has an article about Microsoft's latest "event" regarding Windows Vista, and how wonderful it's going to be. That is, how MS thinks it will be wonderful, not how Forbes thinks. In fact the writer spelled out in no uncertain terms what a waste of time the event was, and what a joke Vista is turning out to be.

"Why the hell did they drag us here? we wondered. We'd been promised big news and some earth-shattering announcements by Microsoft flacks who insisted this was something we shouldn't miss. Instead, we got a demo that was about as compelling as a root canal followed by a 15-minute press conference with Ballmer, the Microsoft chief executive who seems incapable of speaking at any level softer than a bellow."

Love it.

More on the Australian Subway

2006-03-24T05:45:00.000-08:00

Man, I really gotta travel there...

15 Ways to whack your boss

2006-03-23T07:38:00.000-08:00

This is tremendous fun. Find all 15 ways to whack your boss, and have fun with it.

And, if you get all 15 ways, you can then proceed to learn about the ten different ways a superhero can poop.

Warnings on the Australian Subway

2006-03-22T12:28:00.000-08:00

Okay, I can't say I even knew there was a subway in Australia, but it certainly looks like a fun form of transportation.

What to do with an empty iPod box

2006-03-22T11:05:00.000-08:00

...Why, make it into a speaker, of course!

Pittsburgh Roller Derby

2006-03-22T07:45:00.000-08:00

And they said there were no good looking women in Pittsburgh. I think Miss Assfault begs to differ.....

Zubbles...we're still waiting

2006-03-17T09:53:00.000-08:00

I came across this article last year in Popular Science about the invention of colored bubbles. Since then I've been awaiting the release of Zubbles Colored Bubbles. Still waiting...

Flying Luxury Hotel

2006-03-17T09:45:00.000-08:00

That's one big plane. This Popular Science article tells teh story of a huge airship that takes off and lands like a helicopter: straight up and down, and dwarfs the size of any airplane around.

Reaching for the Darwins through grilled meat

2006-03-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

Looks like the guys at Denny's Beer Barrel Pub are trying their best to assist someone in winning the next Darwin awards by introducing their latest contender in the race for the biggest burger, the 15-pound Beer Barrel Belly Buster.

Please, won't someone think of the children?

Performance Evaluations

2006-03-16T08:05:00.000-08:00

A classic for review time....for everyone who has ever had an evaluation: just remember, it could have been worse...

1. "Since my last report, this employee has reached rock-bottom and has started to dig."
2. "I would not allow this employee to breed."
3. "This employee is really not so much of a has-been, but more of a definite won't-be."
4. "Works well when under constant supervision and cornered like a rat in a trap."
5. "When he opens his mouth, it seems that it is only to change feet."
6. "This young lady has delusions of adequacy."
7. "He sets low personal standards and then consistently fails to achieve them."
8. "This employee is depriving a village somewhere of an idiot."
9. "This employee should go far, and the sooner he starts the better."
10. "Got a full 6-pack, but lacks the plastic thingy to hold it all together."
11. "A gross ignoramus - 144 times worse than an ordinary ignoramus."
12. "He doesn't have ulcers, but he's a carrier."
14. "I would like to go hunting with him sometime." (...did Dick Cheney write this one?)
15. "He's been working with glue too much."
16. "He would argue with a signpost."
17. "He brings a lot of joy whenever he leaves the room."
18. "When his IQ reaches 50, he should sell."
19. "If you see two people talking and one looks bored, he's the other one."
20. "A photographic memory but with the lens cover glued on."
21. "A prime candidate for natural de-selection."
22.. "Donated his brain to science before he was done using it."
23. "Gates are down, the lights are flashing, but the train isn't coming."
24. "He's got two brains cells, one is lost and the other is out looking for it."
25. "If he were any more stupid, he'd have to be watered twice a week."
26. "If you give him a penny for his thoughts, you'd get change."
27. "If you stand close enough to him, you can hear the ocean."
28. "It's hard to believe he beat out 1,000,000 other sperm."
29. "One neuron short of a synapse."
30. "Some drink from the fountain of knowledge; he only gargled."
31. "Takes him 2 hours to watch 60-minutes."
32. "The wheel is turning, but the hamster is dead.

MemoryMiner: a world of stories awaits us all

2006-03-15T07:30:00.000-08:00

MemoryMiner is a Mac-based application used to data-mine a vast collection of photos. It's interface is somewhat similar to iPhoto's, but its focus is on the addition of metadata, categories, and groupings to your photos. Overall, it's pretty mind-blowing what this application can do, but also pretty daunting to think about what would need to be done in order to set up an effective data mine.

The goal of MemoryMiner is lofty: "...the creation of the world's most extensive network of first-person accounts of modern society and culture."

The app allows you to drag and drop from iPhoto, set relationships between yourself and others like a family tree, to filter media by life periods, to add location info and plot location markers on a world map, and to provide an extensive collection of ways to present your information.

The video demo explains the app quite nicely.

I love the concept, but I can't imagine having the time or energy to make full use of this. Additionally I'd be concerned about the setup of the images (can you link to iPhoto's database, or are you copying images to a second database? Can you share databases with others?)

I see this being bought by Google and becoming completely internet-based, in hopes that mini-societies get created and link themselves together. Actually, it would make a sweet Flickr plugin.

Quite a juggling act

2006-03-15T05:22:00.000-08:00

Check this guy out. His name is Chris Bliss, and he does quite a juggling act. I don't know what's more impressive...his overall skill, the fact that he makes a juggling act this creative out of using just three balls (something any basic juggler can do), or his rather interesting choice of music to go with the act. By the way you will waste a good 4 or 5 minutes getting sucked into this.

Scarface...abridged

2006-03-13T18:20:00.000-08:00

you know, if you take out all the words in the script to Scarface that AREN'T the f-word, you've still got a complete movie

How not to go....

2006-03-09T10:06:00.000-08:00

An unfortunate story of a father and son who met their end in a manure pond...

Another classic...

2006-03-09T05:27:00.000-08:00

The Lone Ranger and Tonto went camping in the desert. After they got their tent all set up, both men fell sound asleep.

Some hours later, Tonto wakes the Lone Ranger and says, "Kemo Sabe, look towards sky, what you see?"

The Lone Ranger replies, "I see millions of stars."

"What that tell you?" asked Tonto.

The Lone Ranger ponders for a minute then says, "Astronomically speaking, It tells me there are millions of galaxies and potentially billions of planets. Astrologically, it tells me that Saturn is in Leo. Time wise, it appears to be approximately a quarter past three In the morning. Theologically, the Lord is all-powerful and we are small and insignificant. Meteorologically, it seems we will have a beautiful day tomorrow. What's it tell you, Tonto?"

"You dumber than buffalo shit. Someone stole tent."

A classic..

2006-03-09T05:25:00.000-08:00

One afternoon a wealthy Bevery Hills lawyer was riding in his shiny Limousine when he saw two men along the roadside eating grass. Disturbed, he ordered his driver to stop and he got out to investigate.

He asked one man, "Why are you eating grass?"

"We don't have any money for food," the poor man replied. "We HAVE to eat grass."

Shocked, the lawyer said, "Well, then, you can come with me to my house and I'll feed you!"

"But sir, I have a wife and two children with me. They are over there, under that tree."

"Bring them along," the lawyer replied.

Turning to the other poor man he said, "You come with us, too."

The second man said, "But sir, I also have a wife and six children with me!"

"Bring them all!" the lawyer answered. They all jammed into the huge limo.

Once underway, one of the poor fellows turned to the lawyer and said, "Sir, you are too kind. Thank you for taking all of us with you."

Genuinely touched, the lawyer replied, "Glad to do it. You'll really love my place; the grass is almost a foot high!"

Stockholm's new traffic congestion solution

2006-03-06T13:50:00.000-08:00

Though I'm guilty of not utilizing mass transit, I'm very much a fan of it. Living in the North Hills of Pittsburgh, it depresses me that the metropolitan area build a huge highway corridor (279 North) but never gave any thought to a T-line. I used to take the Metro North line into NYC for work from Westchester County, and loved it. I would love for Pitt to have the same thing.

On that note, I found this story that Stockholm, Sweden is testing an RFID-based traffic congestion system. Everyone slaps an EZPass on their window,and gets charged to drive certain roads at certain times of day, in an effort to relieve congestion. It's gawd-awful ugly and it would never fly here. Too bad.

Think she'll survive the drive home?

2006-03-06T13:44:00.000-08:00

Is it me or does this woman make a surprising amount of sense?? It's a .mov clip from Al Jazeera TV of a woman presenting her point as to why radical muslims should re-evaluate their priorities.

The Armstrong Cork Building

2006-03-06T11:32:00.000-08:00

Next store to my office is the Armstrong Cork Factory, a long derelict factory now being turned into loft apartments, retail, etc. It's a huge building and an exciting project. After 11 years of working next door to this beast, it's great to see progress on it.

This site is really nice collection of photos managed by a guy doing a photo diary of the work on the building.

(A little late) Valentines for Star Wars freaks

2006-03-06T09:44:00.000-08:00

If you're a Star Wars freak having trouble communicating with women (how could that be, I know), you need these. Of course, if you are a Star Wars freak who thinks these might be useful, one might wonder whom or what you would use them on....

That's a lotta balls

2006-03-06T09:36:00.000-08:00

A truly remarkable and delightful commercial by Sony, and filmed with real balls.

Real life Simpsons Intro

2006-03-06T09:32:00.000-08:00

Someone took the time to put together a live-action version of the opening to the Simpsons. Brilliant. First I must say that this is definitely a sign of someone with too much time on their hands. But it was very impressive. I was especially impressed by the likeness of the Lisa's band teacher - an exact match. I was disappointed that they couldn't get the uranium rod to bounce into the back of Homer's shirt. I also thought it was amusing that Marge is driving on the wrong side of the car (I know...English...). And as a final comment, very impressive stunt by Bart, leaping over the fence off the car's roof. Kudos to him.

Here's a better version in higher definition, though it takes longer to download.

More Flickr: subscribing to a photocast

2006-03-06T08:54:00.000-08:00

iPhoto 6 users can subscribe to someone's Flickr feed as a photocast viewable in iPhoto6. Check it out. Can't wait to try it out.

Red Rain (was) falling down

2006-03-06T08:48:00.000-08:00

I can't say I'd ever heard of this, but according to an article in the Observer that says studies are being done on "...one of the strangest incidents in recent meteorological history. On 25 July, 2001, blood-red rain fell over the Kerala district of western India.". the article states that one researcher believes the redness is caused by alien bacteria from a comet. Perhaps our first evidence of alien life.

Perhaps this explains the Peter Gabriel song.

Microsoft redesigns the iPod box

2006-03-05T15:05:00.000-08:00

What if Microsoft's marketing team were in charge of the packaging for the iPod? Let's find out.

Multi-touch interaction video

2006-03-04T12:17:00.000-08:00

I came across this video on Multi-touch interaction technology. this is enormously cool stuff. In fact I could see applications for this at my work. One of the products my company produces is a corporate scheduling system for printing companies. Basically it's an electronic version of a big scheduling board. Imagine being able to project the board on the wall and move jobs around in this way. Wow.

Flickr-riffic

2006-03-03T04:45:00.000-08:00

I've been a flickr user for close to a year now, and agree with many out there that it is by far the best photo-sharing website there is. Because it's nothing like any photo-sharing website there is. It's viral and addictive, virtually ad-free, and gives you the ability to discover both your own photography and the amazing pictures of others out there (a couple of my favorites are from Joe and Dan)

I came across this site called Flickrnation, which is a blog about all things Flickr. Lots of interesting stuff there. From there I discovered both this article about the origins of Flickr, along with information on all kinds of "Flickr Hack" sites. Flickr Hacks are another thing that make Flickr so great. There's a whole world of add-ons, handy tools, and other neat stuff that either work with Flickr, grab pics from Flickr, or reference Flickr information in some way. Picture it.

Target has a crime lab?

2006-02-09T19:02:00.000-08:00

According to Anderson Cooper's blog, Target (yes, the store) has a crime lab. Whoda thunk? No wonder they take such good pictures in their photo lab.

pbWiki...it changed my life

2006-02-02T04:56:00.000-08:00

A couple of months ago I was getting extremely frustrated with the amount of crap I had to do at work. There was way more coming in than going out, and I was drowning. After talking with a friend of mine, I downloaded the audio version of "Getting Things done" and set about figuring out a way to get myself organized.

One thing I was determined to do was set up some sort of website or application, for myself, to keep track of all the crap I had to do. I had been using Outlook's tasks area, and found it to be of no value. I had also been using VoodoPad on my Mac at home, but that didn't help me much at work since I use a PC there.

Then I discovered PBWiki.

Their tagline is PBwiki makes creating a wiki as easy as making a peanut butter sandwich.

We use a wiki site here at work, for group collaboration, storage of docs, etc. It's essentially a free-for-all, where anyone can publish, update and change documents. PBwiki is a site that uses this Wiki concept, giving you the freedome to create pages that link together in a ridiculously easy format. If you want to create a new page, you simply put the name of the page in brackets and boom - it's created.

I use my pbWiki site to keep organized. I have a page containing an ongoing to-do list, an "inbox" where I can jot notes for filing later, a page listing ongoing projects with details on these projects appearing on other pages, and several other miscellanous pages with notes and information. The killer feature of it is that it's non on my computer, it's on the net. Thus, if I have a thought, I can add it from any computer rather than having to boot up my laptop, start up outlook, etc. the best part about it is that you have complete and total freedom to use it as you wish. It's also password protected, so you can either keep it private for yourself, invite only certain other people to share and contribute, or open it to the entire world.

I confess I am using the basic (free) version currently, and haven't hit any sort of a limit where I need to go to the premium model, but I am considering giving my financial support.

Try it!

W and the animal lobby

2006-02-02T04:48:00.000-08:00

I found this blog posting through Slashdot, which takes on George W's comment from his State Of The Union speech, "Tonight I ask you to pass legislation to prohibit the most egregious abuses of medical research, human cloning in all its forms, creating or implanting embryos for experiments, creating human-animal hybrids, and buying, selling or patenting human embryos".