View the one for dark t-shirts here, and the one for light colored shirts here.
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Fried Jesus Fish!
I was driving to work the other day and saw a Jesus fish on the back of a car, and I got a hankerin' for some good ol' fried seafood. This image just popped into my head, so I had to make it!
View the one for dark t-shirts here, and the one for light colored shirts here.
View the one for dark t-shirts here, and the one for light colored shirts here.
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Zazzle releases Zazzle Store Builder 1.0!
Have a Zazzle shop and a website you use to promote it? Well, if your host supports PHP, have a look at the new Zazzle Store Builder. This script essentially allows you to pull a feed of products from any gallery, and render it onto your website in a nice looking grid:
The colors and grid size can be configured, and you can add your own associate referral ID to make the extra 7%. Oh, and want Google Analytics to track your site? If you have an Analytics account, just enter your account code and turn it on!
This is a project I was directly involved with and I'm very excited to see it live. It'll be interesting to see how everyone implements and uses the Zazzle Store Builder!
The colors and grid size can be configured, and you can add your own associate referral ID to make the extra 7%. Oh, and want Google Analytics to track your site? If you have an Analytics account, just enter your account code and turn it on!
This is a project I was directly involved with and I'm very excited to see it live. It'll be interesting to see how everyone implements and uses the Zazzle Store Builder!
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Sunday, August 10, 2008
Glass Flowers Keds shoe
This is my wife's latest design...I think it makes an amazing shoe!
Glass Ceiling Keds shoe from Zazzle.com
Glass Ceiling Keds shoe from Zazzle.com
Friday, August 01, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Keds & Zazzle Introduce WORLDS 1ST CUSTOMIZABLE SHOE!!
This is the first time in history that you can fully customize a shoe!! Upload your own photos or graphics to create a full custom shoe!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
The 2008 Star Wars Election!
Check out some of the amazing and funny designs inspired by Star Wars and the Election!LET THE WOOKIE WIN!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Found a cool gaming gallery that uses Zazzle
I love video games, so I'm always looking for gaming gear, games, news about games, etc. I even like to wear gaming related t-shirts (from Zazzle of course!).
Doing a search on Google for "game shirts" I found CustomGameShirts.com. When I saw the site, I instantly recognized the models being used as Zazzle's. And sure enough, it's a Zazzle gallery!
Check it out...they have some pretty cool stuff! I may have to do a little shopping! :-)
Doing a search on Google for "game shirts" I found CustomGameShirts.com. When I saw the site, I instantly recognized the models being used as Zazzle's. And sure enough, it's a Zazzle gallery!
Check it out...they have some pretty cool stuff! I may have to do a little shopping! :-)
Monday, June 16, 2008
I hate being an Apple hater
It's based on my long history with PC's. Back when it was Apple IIc versus TRS-80's. Back when I could hack around with my Tandy 1000 and add more memory. Back when I ran a BBS. It was all about PC's. They were more flexible, expandable, prevalent.
Apple was a curious sidenote...more expensive and less configurable. There was no reason for me to like it. As time marched on, it got worse for Apple. If you were into gaming at all (and I was...still am), then Apple was not the camp for you.
All this added up to a deep hatred for a cocky company that felt it was doing things better, yet I had no proof of it. If it was truly better, than I would have been able to get one at a reasonable price, open it up and add 3rd party parts to improve it, and play all the cool games i wanted to on it. But that was not the case. So in my mind, Apple = Crapple.
Fast forward to now. Apple is gaining market share like crazy, and they are being heralded as the best thing to happen to the industry since the Internet. Why is this? Here is what makes them the golden child right now:
Some of these have merits. Others are hyped up. But in this day and age, it's really a user preference to go Apple vs. Microsoft. You can accomplish the same things with either, so pick your favorite.
Vista has been getting bad press (I actually like it better than XP, but whatever). So Microsoft's image to the unwashed masses is marred by good Apple marketing and bad general press (maybe because many writers have switched to Mac? hmmm...)
In any case, Steve Jobs is the new hero, Bill Gates is a nerdy geek, and Steve Ballmer is...well, a little out of his mind. All these things add up to Apple market share.
So do I still hate Apple? Yes. It's hard not to given my history. But do I like hating them? No, I really don't.
Apple has done some great things with user interfaces. The iPhone's multi-touch display is revolutionary (though NOT invented by Apple...but they definitely brought that technology to the public's consciousness). How they captured the MP3 player market with the iPod is historically significant.
I hate being an Apple hater because many of my friends and colleagues are fans of Apple (to varying degrees), and are always talking about this cool new feature, or that cool new device. I bring up that there are similar solutions outside of Apple, but they just look at me and and say things like "whatever, Apple hater!".
Am I missing out on the new direction in the industry? Should I swallow my pride and join the crowd? Well, I'm probably not to that point yet. The only Apple product I own is an iPod, and mostly because it's the industry standard. Try finding a Zune adapter for your car.
With this post I am trying to open up and become less of an Apple basher. This is hard for me. I hate the fanaticism that surrounds the company. I hate Steve Jobs' cult like status. I hate all the hype. I hate the smear campaigns. But I don't hate the technology. I don't hate the user interfaces. I don't hate what they are trying to do...reach out to the common man and bring technology to their reach. A noble cause no matter who is doing it.
Apple was a curious sidenote...more expensive and less configurable. There was no reason for me to like it. As time marched on, it got worse for Apple. If you were into gaming at all (and I was...still am), then Apple was not the camp for you.
All this added up to a deep hatred for a cocky company that felt it was doing things better, yet I had no proof of it. If it was truly better, than I would have been able to get one at a reasonable price, open it up and add 3rd party parts to improve it, and play all the cool games i wanted to on it. But that was not the case. So in my mind, Apple = Crapple.
Fast forward to now. Apple is gaining market share like crazy, and they are being heralded as the best thing to happen to the industry since the Internet. Why is this? Here is what makes them the golden child right now:
- Marketing: Brilliant ads that make it cool to like Apple, and nerdy to like Windows
- Simplicity: A perception that Apple products are just easier to use
- Functionality: Whiz-bang, flashy apps (cover flow, iPhone UI, etc)
- Security: How many times do I have to hear "there are no viruses for the Mac"
- Dependibility: Apple zealots are always telling me "it just works"
Some of these have merits. Others are hyped up. But in this day and age, it's really a user preference to go Apple vs. Microsoft. You can accomplish the same things with either, so pick your favorite.
Vista has been getting bad press (I actually like it better than XP, but whatever). So Microsoft's image to the unwashed masses is marred by good Apple marketing and bad general press (maybe because many writers have switched to Mac? hmmm...)
In any case, Steve Jobs is the new hero, Bill Gates is a nerdy geek, and Steve Ballmer is...well, a little out of his mind. All these things add up to Apple market share.
So do I still hate Apple? Yes. It's hard not to given my history. But do I like hating them? No, I really don't.
Apple has done some great things with user interfaces. The iPhone's multi-touch display is revolutionary (though NOT invented by Apple...but they definitely brought that technology to the public's consciousness). How they captured the MP3 player market with the iPod is historically significant.
I hate being an Apple hater because many of my friends and colleagues are fans of Apple (to varying degrees), and are always talking about this cool new feature, or that cool new device. I bring up that there are similar solutions outside of Apple, but they just look at me and and say things like "whatever, Apple hater!".
Am I missing out on the new direction in the industry? Should I swallow my pride and join the crowd? Well, I'm probably not to that point yet. The only Apple product I own is an iPod, and mostly because it's the industry standard. Try finding a Zune adapter for your car.
With this post I am trying to open up and become less of an Apple basher. This is hard for me. I hate the fanaticism that surrounds the company. I hate Steve Jobs' cult like status. I hate all the hype. I hate the smear campaigns. But I don't hate the technology. I don't hate the user interfaces. I don't hate what they are trying to do...reach out to the common man and bring technology to their reach. A noble cause no matter who is doing it.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
600 miles on a single tank
I finally got 600 miles on a single tank of gas! My 2005 Civic Hybrid has an 11.9 gallon tank, but when I filled up (at 601.4 miles) I only needed to put in 10.22 gallons. So this tank gave me about 58.8 MPG!
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Want something for $10?
This is actually a pretty cool idea. You send them $10, they send you something...randomly...from their warehouse. Could be a nice leather wallet, or could be a USB Rocket Launcher. Who knows! It's the surprise that makes this fun!
Hey, now you can send yourself a gift on your birthday and not know what you're buying yourself!
Monday, April 28, 2008
Adding Twitter to my blog
Now that I have a fancy new phone, I decided to try Twitter, a cool service that allows you to keep friends updated with what you are doing at any particular time.
The concept is simple. You login and type a quick update, like "I'm eating a cheese sandwich...and it reminds me of summer." Or anything you want, really. But it can only be 140 characters long. No blog posts, no novels. Just a quick blurb. The cool part is you can use your mobile phone to text in your update, and receive updates from friends or people you are "following".
I added the Twitter feed to the top of my blog here, so quick updates will show there, while full blown blog posts are shown here.
The concept is simple. You login and type a quick update, like "I'm eating a cheese sandwich...and it reminds me of summer." Or anything you want, really. But it can only be 140 characters long. No blog posts, no novels. Just a quick blurb. The cool part is you can use your mobile phone to text in your update, and receive updates from friends or people you are "following".
I added the Twitter feed to the top of my blog here, so quick updates will show there, while full blown blog posts are shown here.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
Ok, I got the Moto Q9c
I know I said I had to wait until June, but apparently Sprint mixed it up (my WIFE has to wait till June to upgrade, but my account was ready now). So I was able to get the best discount (with a 2 year renewal, of course).
Saturday, April 05, 2008
OneNote 2007, Tablet PC's, and Smartphones
Been a while since I've posted anything here. Been busy. But now I feel I have something to share...and it's almost entirely not Zazzle related! :-)
So I've recently shifted positions at Zazzle (I said "almost"!). My new role is in our product group, specifically acting as an Interaction Designer. This means more mockups, prototypes, and wireframes. It also means being involved in a few more meetings every week, where I need to be a bit more organized about my To Do lists. Before, as an engineer, I was more focused on writing code, so it was always more obvious what I needed to be working on at any given time.
Getting digitally organized - The Hardware
Now, I am involved in more projects, and need to prioritize my time better. So I decided to get an old Tablet PC to take notes. I wanted a pen device because I wanted to be able to draw ideas and have it in a digital format. I searched eBay and found a Motion Computing M1400 Tablet PC, and got it for around $400.
Yes, it's a few years old, but it's powerful enough for what I need. It runs Windows XP Tablet Edition, which means I can install any Windows software I'm already used to or depend on. To that end, I installed Microsoft Office 2007 and noticed something interesting.
Getting digitally organized - The Software
I chose to do a custom install of Office because I knew I wouldn't need to install the whole suite. When I saw the list of programs that I could choose from, I saw something called OneNote 2007. I decided to try it out.
Here's what the Amazon product page for OneNote says:
Well that's perfect! So I set it up on my tablet as well as on my desktop, and now I can take notes in meetings using digital ink, and have it fully integrated into my work Outlook! I can even create To Do items in OneNote that automatically get added to my tasks in Outlook. And as long as my OneNote notebook files are on our network, I have access to it from both my desktop and tablet.
Going Mobile
So this now brings me to the Smartphone part of this post. I will be getting a new phone come June, when my current phone turns two years old and Sprint will give me a nice discount on any new phone to keep me as a customer.
While researching smartphones on Sprint, I liked the Samsung Ace (Windows Mobile), Blackberry 8130 (Blackberry, duh), and Moto Q9c (Windows Mobile). Sprint is also slated to get the shiny new Blackberry Curve soon, and I love the specs on that thing.
But now that I am using OneNote, it changes my view a bit. See, OneNote comes with a Windows Mobile version, but NOT a Blackberry version. Hmmm. So come June, I have a choice to make. I could get one of the Windows phones (which are pretty cool), or go with the slightly better specs of the new Curve.
Decisions, decisions. If I keep using OneNote and find it increasingly useful (as I do so far), then I'll probably lean toward a Windows Mobile phone. It's nice to be completely synced with all my devices (I hear push email on a Windows Mobile device is better than Blackberry if you are using Microsoft Exchange). But I still need to do more research and weigh the pros and cons.
I mean, I may not really need to use OneNote on my phone. At the office, I'll always have my tablet with me, so the phone is extra. But if I can sync offline notes I take on the phone with my OneNote notebook at work, it's a no brainer. Or, better yet, if I can open my office notebook remotely on my phone, that would rock! I kind of doubt that will be possible, however, since it resides on our corporate network.
But maybe I can VPN from a Windows Mobile smartphone....hmmmmm?
So I've recently shifted positions at Zazzle (I said "almost"!). My new role is in our product group, specifically acting as an Interaction Designer. This means more mockups, prototypes, and wireframes. It also means being involved in a few more meetings every week, where I need to be a bit more organized about my To Do lists. Before, as an engineer, I was more focused on writing code, so it was always more obvious what I needed to be working on at any given time.
Getting digitally organized - The Hardware
Now, I am involved in more projects, and need to prioritize my time better. So I decided to get an old Tablet PC to take notes. I wanted a pen device because I wanted to be able to draw ideas and have it in a digital format. I searched eBay and found a Motion Computing M1400 Tablet PC, and got it for around $400.
Yes, it's a few years old, but it's powerful enough for what I need. It runs Windows XP Tablet Edition, which means I can install any Windows software I'm already used to or depend on. To that end, I installed Microsoft Office 2007 and noticed something interesting.Getting digitally organized - The Software
I chose to do a custom install of Office because I knew I wouldn't need to install the whole suite. When I saw the list of programs that I could choose from, I saw something called OneNote 2007. I decided to try it out.
Here's what the Amazon product page for OneNote says:
- Digital notebook provides one place to gather and manage notes and information
- Offers powerful search capabilities to find what you're looking for quickly, and easy-to-use shared notebooks to help manage information overload and work with others more effectively
- An integrated part of the 2007 Microsoft Office system
- Helps consolidate various types of information-- including freeform notes, images, documents, files from other Microsoft Office system programs, and rich media-- and organize it in the way that works best for you
- Creates a living repository of group decisions and brainstorming sessions that adds continuity and context to business meetings and memos
Well that's perfect! So I set it up on my tablet as well as on my desktop, and now I can take notes in meetings using digital ink, and have it fully integrated into my work Outlook! I can even create To Do items in OneNote that automatically get added to my tasks in Outlook. And as long as my OneNote notebook files are on our network, I have access to it from both my desktop and tablet.
Going Mobile
So this now brings me to the Smartphone part of this post. I will be getting a new phone come June, when my current phone turns two years old and Sprint will give me a nice discount on any new phone to keep me as a customer.
While researching smartphones on Sprint, I liked the Samsung Ace (Windows Mobile), Blackberry 8130 (Blackberry, duh), and Moto Q9c (Windows Mobile). Sprint is also slated to get the shiny new Blackberry Curve soon, and I love the specs on that thing.
But now that I am using OneNote, it changes my view a bit. See, OneNote comes with a Windows Mobile version, but NOT a Blackberry version. Hmmm. So come June, I have a choice to make. I could get one of the Windows phones (which are pretty cool), or go with the slightly better specs of the new Curve.
Decisions, decisions. If I keep using OneNote and find it increasingly useful (as I do so far), then I'll probably lean toward a Windows Mobile phone. It's nice to be completely synced with all my devices (I hear push email on a Windows Mobile device is better than Blackberry if you are using Microsoft Exchange). But I still need to do more research and weigh the pros and cons.
I mean, I may not really need to use OneNote on my phone. At the office, I'll always have my tablet with me, so the phone is extra. But if I can sync offline notes I take on the phone with my OneNote notebook at work, it's a no brainer. Or, better yet, if I can open my office notebook remotely on my phone, that would rock! I kind of doubt that will be possible, however, since it resides on our corporate network.
But maybe I can VPN from a Windows Mobile smartphone....hmmmmm?
Monday, January 14, 2008
Zigg - Submit your Zazzle designs!
I've just created Zigg, a new website that allows Zazzle contributors to submit and rate Zazzle designs, a la Digg style.
Even if you are not a Zazzle contributor, you should visit and rate the designs you like! The website uses CoRank.com as the host, which made it super easy to create. So the full URL to Zigg is http://zigg.corank.com/
Even if you are not a Zazzle contributor, you should visit and rate the designs you like! The website uses CoRank.com as the host, which made it super easy to create. So the full URL to Zigg is http://zigg.corank.com/
Friday, January 11, 2008
Sunday, December 23, 2007
My Xbox now has a blog
In a geeky turn of events, I decided to let my Xbox 360 get its own blog. Yes, my Xbox now blogs. On its own. By itself.
"What on Earth would your Xbox blog about?" you ask? Simple. It talks about the games I play! Check it out!
"What on Earth would your Xbox blog about?" you ask? Simple. It talks about the games I play! Check it out!
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Mass Effect Conversation T-Shirt!
This is too cool not to share! So I've been playing Mass Effect on my Xbox 360. It's a sci-fi role playing game and it's quite an immersive, deep game with plot twists, side quests, and a great storyline. Love it.
The method used to select conversation choices is very easy, with all choices as a "spoke" on a wheel. It's so effective it becomes second nature.
That being said, I decided to see what if there was anything on Zazzle that was Mass Effect related. I found this shirt, which is a template that allows you to change each text option. Check it out!
The method used to select conversation choices is very easy, with all choices as a "spoke" on a wheel. It's so effective it becomes second nature.
That being said, I decided to see what if there was anything on Zazzle that was Mass Effect related. I found this shirt, which is a template that allows you to change each text option. Check it out!
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
IE8 passes Acid2 test for first time!
The IE Dev Team at Microsoft just announced that they have reached a milestone in development by having a build of IE8 that successfully passes the Acid2 Face Test.
This is a great step for IE's standards compliance. Watch the video interview with some IE devs explaining what this all means.
This is a great step for IE's standards compliance. Watch the video interview with some IE devs explaining what this all means.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Friday, December 07, 2007
Thursday, December 06, 2007
For all you guitar heroes out there!
Get this t-shirt on Zazzle. You can choose from hundreds of styles and colors with this design on it, customize this shirt with more images or text, or create your own t-shirts from scratch!
Monday, November 19, 2007
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Get outta my grill!
I just put this new design up on Zazzle. It's the first design I made starting from a pencil drawing. I drew the dog, scanned it in, then colorized it and added the text in Photoshop. Get it on a shirt!
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Get your Xbox Gamertag on a t-shirt!
Sorry folks, apparently this shirt has been removed due to copyright issues. But here are some other cool gaming related t-shirt sites I found:
CustomGameShirts
PlayFish
GameZone
CasuallyHardcore
Strk3
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Jack Thompson - GTA 4 Mission "clearly a reference to me"
GamePolitics.com reports that lawyer/crusader for video game legislation Jack Thompson is saying that Rockstar Games has put him in their next Grand Theft Auto game...as a target to kill. He is threatening to sue and try to block the sale of the game if he is not removed from the game.
Well, first, he is apparently not mentioned in the game. There is simply a lawyer character who believes in banning violent video games. Jack Thompson is sure it's a jab at him.
Hmmm, you know, come to think of it, I could be mistaken for Mario...maybe I should sue. Come on, Mr. Thompson. Seriously? The fact that the Florida Bar had to impose disciplinary action on you, and that you lost your license to practice law in Alabama says to me you're basically an idiot.
I wasn't planning on buying GTA 4, but now I may do so just so I can play that mission and pretend it's you.
Well, first, he is apparently not mentioned in the game. There is simply a lawyer character who believes in banning violent video games. Jack Thompson is sure it's a jab at him.
"...the fact that the lawyer, killed on Niko's first mission, would bring up video games, makes it clearly a reference to me..."
Hmmm, you know, come to think of it, I could be mistaken for Mario...maybe I should sue. Come on, Mr. Thompson. Seriously? The fact that the Florida Bar had to impose disciplinary action on you, and that you lost your license to practice law in Alabama says to me you're basically an idiot.
I wasn't planning on buying GTA 4, but now I may do so just so I can play that mission and pretend it's you.
Friday, September 14, 2007
Kathy Griffin tells Jesus to "Suck it"
Comedian Kathy Griffin, upon winning the award for Outstanding Reality Program for her show "My Life on the D-List" on Saturday, Sept. 8th, shouted "Suck it, Jesus, this award is my god now!"
Apparently, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has decided to censor the remarks from the E! taped airing of the award show this Sunday. This is in response to complaints from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.
Great. Now we have to start censoring comments from comedians that are not meant to be insulting, but rather funny.
How on Earth does her jokingly saying she is denouncing Jesus become a censorable offense? Who is she hurting with this? It's not like she called religious people idiots, or made derogatory comments about those who believe. She made a joke.
It's 2007, people. Why are we so Victorian in this country? Why can't we all laugh at an obvious joke, and stop being offended by the littlest things?
Oh, and by the way, suck it, Jesus. The Internet is my god now!
Apparently, the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences has decided to censor the remarks from the E! taped airing of the award show this Sunday. This is in response to complaints from the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights.
Great. Now we have to start censoring comments from comedians that are not meant to be insulting, but rather funny.
How on Earth does her jokingly saying she is denouncing Jesus become a censorable offense? Who is she hurting with this? It's not like she called religious people idiots, or made derogatory comments about those who believe. She made a joke.
It's 2007, people. Why are we so Victorian in this country? Why can't we all laugh at an obvious joke, and stop being offended by the littlest things?
Oh, and by the way, suck it, Jesus. The Internet is my god now!
Monday, September 03, 2007
The Top 10 Most Influential or Memorable Monty Python Sketches
The following list comprises my top 10 most influential or memorable Monty Python sketches. Each one of these has, to some degree or another, influenced comedy, or at the very least become a memorable part of American geek culture. Why is it that Monty Python is currently very popular amongst the geek chic? Maybe these little nuggets offer some insight:
10. Military Drilling
No need to be politically correct when it comes to the Pythons making fun of homosexuality. Right, stop that. It's silly.
First aired: December 7, 1969
9. How Not To Be Seen
Explosive comedy.
First aired: December 8, 1970
8. Ministry of Silly Walks
A more physical sketch for the Pythons shows Michael Palin trying to get a grant to develop his silly walk, which isn't very silly at all. At least not compared to John Cleese's.
First aired: September 15, 1970
7. Fresh Fruit
How about teaching us how to defend ourselves against someone with a pointed stick? I guess bananas are more dangerous.
First aired: October 26, 1969
6. Cheese Shop
Another John Cleese classic. Just how many cheese's are there?
First aired: November 30, 1972
5. Funniest Joke in the World
This sketch shows just how far the Pythons take an idea. Storytelling at it's craziest.
First aired: October 5, 1969 (first ever episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus)
4. Dead Parrot
The Dead Parrot sketch showcases John Cleese and his verbal prowess. How many different ways can he say the parrot is dead?
First aired: December 7, 1969
3. Argument Clinic
This sketch shows how clever the Pythons were for their time. Or at least that they were smoking something in the 70's.
First aired: November 2, 1972
2. The Lumberjack Song
It's so well known that, besides Spam, it's probably one of the most mentioned, mimicked, and memorable songs they have ever come up with.
First aired: December 14, 1969
1. Spam
Arguably the most influential Monty Python sketch ever. It brought life to the term "Spam" for unwanted junk email. (Wikipedia)
First aired: December 15, 1970
10. Military Drilling
No need to be politically correct when it comes to the Pythons making fun of homosexuality. Right, stop that. It's silly.
First aired: December 7, 1969
9. How Not To Be Seen
Explosive comedy.
First aired: December 8, 1970
8. Ministry of Silly Walks
A more physical sketch for the Pythons shows Michael Palin trying to get a grant to develop his silly walk, which isn't very silly at all. At least not compared to John Cleese's.
First aired: September 15, 1970
7. Fresh Fruit
How about teaching us how to defend ourselves against someone with a pointed stick? I guess bananas are more dangerous.
First aired: October 26, 1969
6. Cheese Shop
Another John Cleese classic. Just how many cheese's are there?
First aired: November 30, 1972
5. Funniest Joke in the World
This sketch shows just how far the Pythons take an idea. Storytelling at it's craziest.
First aired: October 5, 1969 (first ever episode of Monty Python's Flying Circus)
4. Dead Parrot
The Dead Parrot sketch showcases John Cleese and his verbal prowess. How many different ways can he say the parrot is dead?
First aired: December 7, 1969
3. Argument Clinic
This sketch shows how clever the Pythons were for their time. Or at least that they were smoking something in the 70's.
First aired: November 2, 1972
2. The Lumberjack Song
It's so well known that, besides Spam, it's probably one of the most mentioned, mimicked, and memorable songs they have ever come up with.
First aired: December 14, 1969
1. Spam
Arguably the most influential Monty Python sketch ever. It brought life to the term "Spam" for unwanted junk email. (Wikipedia)
First aired: December 15, 1970
Added Digg link -------------------->
I just added a link to Digg on each story in this blog. So, if you like the post, feel free to Digg it!
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
New cable modem, faster speeds?
The other day my old cable modem gave out. So I went to best Buy and got a new one, same model, just slightly updated. After calling Comcast and setting it up, I decided to run a speed test. Here are the results:
Ok, that's way faster than it ever was! So now my question is, was my old modem holding me back, or did Comcast do something?
Ok, that's way faster than it ever was! So now my question is, was my old modem holding me back, or did Comcast do something?
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Make your own Super Shirt!
Wear your super letter proudly. This is my latest Zazzle API product. Check it out and make your own!
Thursday, July 19, 2007
Vista better than OS X?
As you may or may not know, I am NOT an Apple fan. As a matter of fact, I have an irrational hatred for the company, which probably stems from some childhood trauma regarding a cracked monitor and a guy named Steve.
So I am probably not the right guy to write any sort of review of Apple's OS X since whenever I get near a Mac, my skin starts to burn and I inexplicably start vomiting pea soup.
But thanks to Meowcules, I can now read about how OS X is not all that...which is music to my ears after hearing nothing but brainwashed praise for Jobs and his minions.
So I am probably not the right guy to write any sort of review of Apple's OS X since whenever I get near a Mac, my skin starts to burn and I inexplicably start vomiting pea soup.
But thanks to Meowcules, I can now read about how OS X is not all that...which is music to my ears after hearing nothing but brainwashed praise for Jobs and his minions.
Wednesday, July 11, 2007
Best use of an iPhone!
Saw this on Engadget and just HAD to share! I think this is the best use I've seen for an iPhone yet!
The best part is in the comments section on Engadget. Apple fan boys talk about how impressed they are at how long the phone stayed on while blending, saying things like "Say what you will about the iPhone, it sure must have some serious durability." Come on, people! They're BLENDING an iPhone!
The best part is in the comments section on Engadget. Apple fan boys talk about how impressed they are at how long the phone stayed on while blending, saying things like "Say what you will about the iPhone, it sure must have some serious durability." Come on, people! They're BLENDING an iPhone!
Monday, July 09, 2007
Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock guitar designs revealed for all platforms!
Actvision has announced their partnership with Gibson Guitars and have revealed designs for new style guitar controllers for the PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii, and Xbox 360. The next iteration of the popular games gets a longer title, too -- Guitar Hero III: Legends of Rock!
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Aliens exist, but we're not looking right - Scientific Report
Recent discoveries of extremophiles - organisms living in conditions of heat, cold and dark and using chemicals once thought incompatible with life - have changed ideas of where life can survive. Prof Baross said lab experiments also showed water did not necessarily have to be the basis for life. Yet Mars Robots look for evidence of water.
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Tuesday, July 03, 2007
The Simpsons Chief Wiggum spotted at Mountain View Kwik-E-Mart!
From Habitforming's digg post: "I was checking out my friends iPhone and read about the 7-11 that was converted into a Kwik-E-Mart for the Simpsons movie that's coming up soon. To make things cooler, when I got there, there was a cop that looked some what similar Chief Wiggums... the resemblance is scary... This picture is hotter than Paris Hilton in the slammer!"
read more | digg story
read more | digg story
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Gates vs Jobs...ding ding ding!
Engadget has a recap of today's historical meeting between these two HUGE icons of the computer world. Here's the first 15 minutes.
Thursday, May 10, 2007
Starbucks...Anti-god? Pro-god? Whatever.
WorldNet Daily has a story about Starbucks' new "The Way I See It" campaign, and how it's causing an uproar.
The campaign is meant to collect different viewpoints from notable figures and customers, and foster debate and discussion by printing these quotes on their coffee cups. One such quote did just that...started a heated discussion on whether Starbucks is promoting anti-god sentiment.
This was written by a customer in Canada. It's his viewpoint. It is attributed to him...not Starbucks. They have also printed some quotes that could be construed as pro-religion. Two different viewpoints by two different people. Discuss.
So what really grinds my gears (as Peter Griffin would say) is that some people are so upset by this that they are boycotting Starbucks! WHA?!? Come on, people, this is in no way saying that they, as a company, are anti-god, pro-god, devil-worshippers, or Twinkie-eaters. It's plainly stated that they are simply trying to spur discussion. Done.
This is not a religious issue. It's an issue with people. People that are so sensitive to attacks on their belief system, that they are ready to make a stand when there isn't even anything to get standy about.
Starbucks...great job. Great job on a great campaign meant to start discussions. Mission accomplished. Great job on not buckling down to oppressors. And great job on making a damn good cup of coffee.
Oh shit...I hope saying your coffee is damned isn't going to get me in trouble now.
The campaign is meant to collect different viewpoints from notable figures and customers, and foster debate and discussion by printing these quotes on their coffee cups. One such quote did just that...started a heated discussion on whether Starbucks is promoting anti-god sentiment.
"Why in moments of crisis do we ask God for strength and help? As cognitive beings, why would we ask something that may well be a figment of our imaginations for guidance? Why not search inside ourselves for the power to overcome? After all, we are strong enough to cause most of the catastrophes we need to endure."
This was written by a customer in Canada. It's his viewpoint. It is attributed to him...not Starbucks. They have also printed some quotes that could be construed as pro-religion. Two different viewpoints by two different people. Discuss.
So what really grinds my gears (as Peter Griffin would say) is that some people are so upset by this that they are boycotting Starbucks! WHA?!? Come on, people, this is in no way saying that they, as a company, are anti-god, pro-god, devil-worshippers, or Twinkie-eaters. It's plainly stated that they are simply trying to spur discussion. Done.
This is not a religious issue. It's an issue with people. People that are so sensitive to attacks on their belief system, that they are ready to make a stand when there isn't even anything to get standy about.
Starbucks...great job. Great job on a great campaign meant to start discussions. Mission accomplished. Great job on not buckling down to oppressors. And great job on making a damn good cup of coffee.
Oh shit...I hope saying your coffee is damned isn't going to get me in trouble now.
Monday, April 16, 2007
Axe pics...
Finally got around to taking some pictures of my new guitar. Check them out below! Click on them to see them full size.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Guitar Hero II - It goes to eleven
How much fun can you have playing a video game without killing anything? Amazingly, quite a lot. Guitar Hero II for the Xbox 360 is the latest installment of the popular Guitar Hero franchise. For around $90 you get the game and a plastic Gibson Explorer guitar. Start the game and start jamming! GH2 is a rythym/timing game where notes fly at you and when they cross a certain point, you play them on the guitar. Miss enough notes and you fail the song.
The magic of GH2 is in the music and presentation. The HD video is great, and the music is even better. You get to play such classics as "War Pigs" by Black Sabbath, "Carry on Wayward Son" by Kansas, and "YYZ" by Rush. Freakin' sweet!
In easy mode, you only use 3 of the 5 fret buttons on the guitar, and few, if any, chords (holding down 2 or more buttons at once). In medium mode, you use 4 buttons, and more chords. I haven't gotten past medium mode, so I'm not sure how hard or expert mode fares, but I'm sure it's not simple!
Since I play real guitar, I wondered if this game would feel, well, cheesy. To my pleasant surprise, I actually felt like I was jamming with a band on stage. It's that cool. The whammy bar on the guitar also helps up the coolness factor.
Well, enough of my yappin'. Time to jam.
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Paul Reed Smith Sound on a Squier Budget
This beautiful piece of musical art is a Paul Reed Smith SE Custom guitar. It is the first line of PRS guitars which are manufactured (not hand made). PRS is known for it's amazing quality hand made guitars, with beautiful tone, great sustain, amazing looks, and one of a kind fat sound. How does the manufactured SE line stack up?Well, I'll know soon, since I just ordered this baby. I've played one at Guitar Center, and I must say the sound and feel of this instrument is great. Especially when you look at the price tag. A traditional PRS can run in the thousands of dollars...a bit too rich for my wallet. The SE Custom line goes for around $550. I happened to find a good deal online for $499 shipped. Can't beat that!
I've been reading many reviews on this guitar, and the general consensus is that you are getting a better-than Les Paul guitar for quite a lot less. Ok, yeah, it's not a traditional PRS...but this is as close as you can come without taking out a loan.
So what's the difference besides price? Well, PRS's can usually split their humbucker pickups into separate single coils...the SE cannot...at least without some modifications :-) Also, as I've mentioned before, the SE is manufactured on an assembly line, and therefore isn't quite as unique sounding (or looking) as a traditional PRS. But from what I've read, PRS personally inspects each and every SE that comes out of the factory to make sure it stands up to the quality PRS is known for.
I'll report more when I get a chance to play this puppy!
Sunday, April 01, 2007
I can see clearly now...
These days, you say "Comcast" and many people cringe. I hear horror stories about bad service, bad hardware, etc. Well, I've been a Comcast customer for years, and some of these stories ring true. We once downgraded from digital cable to regular cable because the cable box was so unresponsive that our Tivo had trouble getting it to change channels.On the other hand, I switched from SBC DSL service to Comcast Cable Internet and couldn't be happier. The speed increase is phenomenal, and the service has been very reliable.
So it was with mixed emotions that I looked at the Comcast High Definition offerings. I've actually waited quite a while before making this move because the HD box is the same Motorola series we used to have that was problematic. Also, I have heard about the rumours that Comcast would be offering the Motorola boxes with the Tivo software, known for it's amazingly simple user interface. The current software on the Motorola boxes is known to be a bit more complex and harder to use.
But we've had a 42" plasma widescreen hanging on our wall for over a year now, and we've only been watching standard definition video on it...truely a crime. Honestly, I was getting tired of waiting for the Tivo/Comcast deal to come through, and I wasn't about to spend $900 on a Series 3 HD Tivo (less now, but still expensive).
What it all comes down to is that after a discussion with some co-workers of mine who have the HD Comcast service and DVR, I came to the realization that renting this box from Comcast will provide me with better TV than I have now, and waiting isn't doing me any good.
So I called Comcast and asked what I needed to do. Basically, for an extra $20-ish more a month than what I was paying already, I could have a dual tuner, high definition digital video recorder, and tons more channels to watch, as well as On Demand access. The DVR still uses the Comcast user interface (though Comcast tells me the Tivo one is a few months away), and it can record two shows at a time. It holds roughly 15-20 hours of HD content, or 60-80 hours of standard definition video.
Suddenly, our TV is brand new. We can see the blades of grass on a baseball field. We can order many free on demand shows, including some Discovery documentaries that we enjoy. So far, I'm very happy. And it was not at all painful.
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Tepito: Crime Fighting the Silicon Valley Way
Engadget reports on an interesting way to bring crime down in the little Mexican town of Tepito, apparently known for it's high crime rate. The new mayor of Tepito, apparently a forward thinker, decided to hand out PC's and Xboxes in exchange for weaponry.
Let me repeat: They are handing out PC's and Xboxes...In exchange for weaponry...PC's...And Xboxes...For weapons.
Ok, so the idea is to cut down the violence by getting rid of high caliber street weapons such as machine guns (worth one $700 PC) and hand guns (worth an old Xbox...NOT the 360). The lucky gangsta's who receive the loot will hopefully stay inside and play games or go online (do they have Internet in Tepito?), instead of shooting people on the streets.
Now I see a lot of room for abuse of this system. I mean, I would certainly turn in my gun to get a PC, go online and find an old gun on eBay, and get another PC. Do this enough times and I could start my own "Dell" in Tepito...I'd name it "Del", and the marketing practically writes itself: "Del - Las Computadoras de Tepito, Ahora sin balas" (which translates to "Del - Computers from Tepito, now without bullets")
Ok, so it might still need some work. But this entire concept really sounds like it will start an entire new form of currency.
I gotta run...need to plan my next trip down to Mexico.
Let me repeat: They are handing out PC's and Xboxes...In exchange for weaponry...PC's...And Xboxes...For weapons.
Ok, so the idea is to cut down the violence by getting rid of high caliber street weapons such as machine guns (worth one $700 PC) and hand guns (worth an old Xbox...NOT the 360). The lucky gangsta's who receive the loot will hopefully stay inside and play games or go online (do they have Internet in Tepito?), instead of shooting people on the streets.
Now I see a lot of room for abuse of this system. I mean, I would certainly turn in my gun to get a PC, go online and find an old gun on eBay, and get another PC. Do this enough times and I could start my own "Dell" in Tepito...I'd name it "Del", and the marketing practically writes itself: "Del - Las Computadoras de Tepito, Ahora sin balas" (which translates to "Del - Computers from Tepito, now without bullets")
Ok, so it might still need some work. But this entire concept really sounds like it will start an entire new form of currency.
"One taco, a side of guacamole, and beans. That will be a .38 and 10 bullets please."
"You got change for a .45?"
I gotta run...need to plan my next trip down to Mexico.
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
Fro Patro! Support your favorite American Idol!
Support your favorite American Idol (if that Idol happens to be Chris Sligh)
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Muy buena Vista!
I recently upgraded my Dell laptop to Windows Vista Ultimate and have been running it for the past 11 days. I have used the betas and release candidates in the past but always in a dual boot configuration. This time, I took the plunge and decided to make Vista my primary operating system.
After backing up my files to my home network, I put in the DVD and let Microsoft take over. The install was smooth and painless, and in within the hour I was up and running. I had to install a few updates, and that was it. A brand spanking new OS on my old Inspiron 8600.
Now, my laptop is a few years old, but when I got it, it was pretty sweet. I have now upgraded it to 2GB RAM, but the rest is the same...a Pentium M 1700Mhz, 60 GB 7200 RPM hard drive, and ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 with 128MB RAM. Not too shabby, but definitely not a power gaming machine. Vista rates my laptop a 3.5 on the Windows Experience Index, a scale from 1 to 5.9, where the lowest number your PC gets in any of the five categories (Processor, RAM, Graphics, Gaming Graphics, and Primary Hard Disk) becomes your overall score. In other words, it's not an average. It's a "long pole", or "bottleneck" rating. In any case, I think a 3.5 is not too bad for a laptop. It allows me to run all the bells and whistles, including the Aero UI.
I was concerned about ATI drivers that supported OpenGL properly, since none have been seen with any of the betas or release candidates, and I need to be able to run Second Life, an OpenGL application. I decided to take the leap anyway, since I could still login to SL with my desktop machine if I couldn't get it to work in Vista.
The good news is that ATI had upgraded drivers, and OpenGL support was part of the update, but the bad news is that they still caused SL to crash on startup. After searching a bit, I found VistaSL, a homebrew version of the SL client that had removed some of the offending OpenGL calls to get it to run in Vista. Works like a charm! Granted, this is a temporary solution, and updated ATI drivers and a proper SL client from Linden Labs would be best.
In any case, in the 11 days I've been running Vista, I've managed to do a few things:
After backing up my files to my home network, I put in the DVD and let Microsoft take over. The install was smooth and painless, and in within the hour I was up and running. I had to install a few updates, and that was it. A brand spanking new OS on my old Inspiron 8600.
Now, my laptop is a few years old, but when I got it, it was pretty sweet. I have now upgraded it to 2GB RAM, but the rest is the same...a Pentium M 1700Mhz, 60 GB 7200 RPM hard drive, and ATI Mobility Radeon 9600 with 128MB RAM. Not too shabby, but definitely not a power gaming machine. Vista rates my laptop a 3.5 on the Windows Experience Index, a scale from 1 to 5.9, where the lowest number your PC gets in any of the five categories (Processor, RAM, Graphics, Gaming Graphics, and Primary Hard Disk) becomes your overall score. In other words, it's not an average. It's a "long pole", or "bottleneck" rating. In any case, I think a 3.5 is not too bad for a laptop. It allows me to run all the bells and whistles, including the Aero UI.
I was concerned about ATI drivers that supported OpenGL properly, since none have been seen with any of the betas or release candidates, and I need to be able to run Second Life, an OpenGL application. I decided to take the leap anyway, since I could still login to SL with my desktop machine if I couldn't get it to work in Vista.
The good news is that ATI had upgraded drivers, and OpenGL support was part of the update, but the bad news is that they still caused SL to crash on startup. After searching a bit, I found VistaSL, a homebrew version of the SL client that had removed some of the offending OpenGL calls to get it to run in Vista. Works like a charm! Granted, this is a temporary solution, and updated ATI drivers and a proper SL client from Linden Labs would be best.
In any case, in the 11 days I've been running Vista, I've managed to do a few things:
- Get a working version of Second Life
- Install Virtual PC 2007
- Get Windows XP SP2 to run in a virtual machine
- Get Linux (Ubuntu v6.10) to run in a virtual machine
- Install a sidebar gadget called Vista Hot Corners that provides Exposé-like window shuffling
- Install Outlook, Photoshop, Firefox, VNC, SnagIt, Trillian, Notepad++, and TweakVI
- Burn a DVD (with Windows DVD Maker) of short video clips I had laying around, complete with animated menus and scene selections.
And so far, it's been a treat! Being able to run Windows XP is great since I can still have access to IE6 if I need to test any web pages. Also, it's fun to play with Ubuntu as well. Windows DVD Maker was drop dead simple, and the result was very professional looking.
It seems to me that everything is running just as well or better as with XP (with the exception of Second Life, which seems a bit choppier, but that may be the result of ATI's bad OpenGL support mixed with an unoptimized SL client).
All I have to say so far is that Vista is a definite step up from XP, but could benefit from better driver support from ATI. Hopefully that will come in time.
Bottom line: Muy buena Vista!
Friday, March 02, 2007
Back to Google
Well, I've given yourminis.com a decent shot (see my previous post). But I am switching back to Google's personalized start page, mostly due to performance issues.
Yourminis looks way better and has some great features, but it just seems to run a tad on the slow side. Believe me, when you use a page several times a day, just a few milliseconds of delay to find what you want becomes annoying.
I'll keep my eye on them, since they are still very new and could actually optimize their platform for better performance. But until then, I'll stick with the lean, mean, HTML machine.
And to my friend Roy, I agree with your comments. Flash is a great platform and any company basing their product on Flash could be an innovation leader, if they know how to balance power, performance, and usability.
Yourminis looks way better and has some great features, but it just seems to run a tad on the slow side. Believe me, when you use a page several times a day, just a few milliseconds of delay to find what you want becomes annoying.
I'll keep my eye on them, since they are still very new and could actually optimize their platform for better performance. But until then, I'll stick with the lean, mean, HTML machine.
And to my friend Roy, I agree with your comments. Flash is a great platform and any company basing their product on Flash could be an innovation leader, if they know how to balance power, performance, and usability.
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
YourMinis...a flashy, widgety start page
I recently discovered YourMinis, a Flash-based start page/RSS feed reader/widget platform. My first impression is favorable, but time will tell if it deserves a space as my browser's home page.
What I like:
My questions:
So far, I really like what I see. It feels more polished to me than Netvibes or Pageflakes. They apparently have over 800,000 users so far, which is not bad, but still lags behind their competitors. But I still question the use of Flash...it's a great tool, but there are many people who would prefer to stick to standard HTML for a much lighter weight start page. We'll see!
What I like:
- Easy RSS feed addition
- OPML file import/export
- Interesting widgets built in (calendar, Gmail, clock, to-do list, Digg feed, calculator, notes, bookmarks, full browser, search, video, etc.)
- Beautiful default look
- Drag & Drop windows, lock 'em down, change opacity, colors, etc.
- Publish your "minis" or your whole tab of minis.
- Social feel. Very Web 2.0.
- Multiple tabs
- Inline web browser makes loading a news story convenient
- The ability to load any image as my tab's background
My questions:
- Is Flash going to be too heavy for my browser's start page?
- Are more interesting widgets coming?
- Do we need another widget platform? Can't we all just get along?
- Will we be able to further customize the look of our minis, or the basic mini windows?
So far, I really like what I see. It feels more polished to me than Netvibes or Pageflakes. They apparently have over 800,000 users so far, which is not bad, but still lags behind their competitors. But I still question the use of Flash...it's a great tool, but there are many people who would prefer to stick to standard HTML for a much lighter weight start page. We'll see!
Tuesday, February 13, 2007
Why I hate Apple
For those of you who know me, you've undoubtedly heard me say bad things about Apple computers, and probably think of me as a PC fanboy, or simply an Apple bigot. Let me explain my reasons, and say some things you may find surprising.
First, I started hating Apple way back when they were a small, proprietary hardware shop with an OS that was very closed to tweakers. Back then, it made sense to dislike them because anyone savvy with computers knew that an open hardware architecture meant you could do lots more, and the Mac of the day was anything but open, not to mention how much more money the hardware cost. PC's were cheap, modifiable, expandable. No brainer for me.
Apple floundered for a while to the point where I was getting ready to celebrate their demise. But then they had a turnaround (in part due to the success of the iPod), Steve Jobs rejoined, the fanatics rejoiced, and Apple actually did something I never thought possible: they switched their OS from a proprietary system to a UNIX based system which is much more open, mature, and expandable. Apple added their lipstick and made it pretty. Contrary to what you may think, I have always appreciated Apple's design skills. Their stuff always "looked" good.
My opinion of Apple, at this point, raised significantly and I now actually respect them for this decision. So why do I still dislike them in general?
First, the company is "elitist". What do I mean by that? Well, their attitude is basically "Our shit don't stink". That by itself is not a big deal, since they are a company and are entitled to profess their greatness. But they do take it to extremes, with Steve Jobs acting as the savior, prolonging and hyping product releases until people salivate and their heads explode. And those commercials, although funny, position Apple as the "cool" computer, and PC's as "nerds".
Ok, so the company is a little bit snobby, and I *could* look the other way, but what really grinds my gears are the elitist Apple "fanboys". Yes, that term gets tossed around a lot these days, but a fanboy is a good term for the most die hard of Apple worshippers. Now, I have lots of friends who use Macs, and are NOT fanboys. They simply use it because it's the best tool for them. Fanboys are the ones who look down on PC users and let them know it. They are the ones who "ooooh" and "ahhhh" when Jobs pulls a Shuffle out of his pocket. They are the ones who abbreviate Microsoft as M$. They are the ones who blindly buy anything and everything Apple just because it is made by Apple. They are, quite frankly, akin to religious zealots who can never have their faith thwarted. Honestly, these people give a decent platform a bad name...at least to me.
For example, I went to an Apple store to look for a case for my iPod (yes, I have an iPod and I DO like it), and the person behind the counter was a total fanboy snob. I simply asked if they had any other cases other than what was on the wall, and he gave me a look that said "omg, I can't believe how big an idiot you are, Mr. Uncool geek", and actually said to me, in a mildly condescending tone, "If it's not on the wall we don't have it", and then just walked away, all bothered. I felt like saying "get a real job", but held back.
For those that will inevitably tell me that Macs are just better than PC's because "they just work" or "they are virus free", well, you can all just eat me. Yes, I agree the Mac arguably has a better user interface. Yes, it does work well and it IS a solid machine. And YES, it has less viruses (because it has a lower market share and is therefore less of a target). But, NO it is NOT the platform of choice for anyone who considers themseleves gamers. And NO, it is not cheaper than comparably equipped PC's, although it has made strides in that direction. And NO, they are not perfect. Neither are PC's. Far from it.
But I will always be a PC guy as long as Windows remains the market leader. Compatibility with the rest of the world is useful. And yes, I know that the Mac can output Word files, write Excel spreadsheets, read email as good as any PC. But where do you go if you need any sort of tech support? It's a bit harder to find that geek friend who can help you with your computer if what you have is a Mac. Sure, the numbers are growing, but let's face it. Right now, the industry standard platform for most businesses (as well as the gaming industry) is Windows on a PC.
My bottom line here is that I respect the quality of Apple products, but severely dislike the environment in which the company thrives...faith and fanaticism from a crowd of sheep who think the company can do no wrong. Again, not everyone who uses a Mac falls into that category...but enough do to leave a bad taste in my mouth.
With that, I leave you with one of my Zazzle creations:
First, I started hating Apple way back when they were a small, proprietary hardware shop with an OS that was very closed to tweakers. Back then, it made sense to dislike them because anyone savvy with computers knew that an open hardware architecture meant you could do lots more, and the Mac of the day was anything but open, not to mention how much more money the hardware cost. PC's were cheap, modifiable, expandable. No brainer for me.
Apple floundered for a while to the point where I was getting ready to celebrate their demise. But then they had a turnaround (in part due to the success of the iPod), Steve Jobs rejoined, the fanatics rejoiced, and Apple actually did something I never thought possible: they switched their OS from a proprietary system to a UNIX based system which is much more open, mature, and expandable. Apple added their lipstick and made it pretty. Contrary to what you may think, I have always appreciated Apple's design skills. Their stuff always "looked" good.
My opinion of Apple, at this point, raised significantly and I now actually respect them for this decision. So why do I still dislike them in general?
First, the company is "elitist". What do I mean by that? Well, their attitude is basically "Our shit don't stink". That by itself is not a big deal, since they are a company and are entitled to profess their greatness. But they do take it to extremes, with Steve Jobs acting as the savior, prolonging and hyping product releases until people salivate and their heads explode. And those commercials, although funny, position Apple as the "cool" computer, and PC's as "nerds".
Ok, so the company is a little bit snobby, and I *could* look the other way, but what really grinds my gears are the elitist Apple "fanboys". Yes, that term gets tossed around a lot these days, but a fanboy is a good term for the most die hard of Apple worshippers. Now, I have lots of friends who use Macs, and are NOT fanboys. They simply use it because it's the best tool for them. Fanboys are the ones who look down on PC users and let them know it. They are the ones who "ooooh" and "ahhhh" when Jobs pulls a Shuffle out of his pocket. They are the ones who abbreviate Microsoft as M$. They are the ones who blindly buy anything and everything Apple just because it is made by Apple. They are, quite frankly, akin to religious zealots who can never have their faith thwarted. Honestly, these people give a decent platform a bad name...at least to me.
For example, I went to an Apple store to look for a case for my iPod (yes, I have an iPod and I DO like it), and the person behind the counter was a total fanboy snob. I simply asked if they had any other cases other than what was on the wall, and he gave me a look that said "omg, I can't believe how big an idiot you are, Mr. Uncool geek", and actually said to me, in a mildly condescending tone, "If it's not on the wall we don't have it", and then just walked away, all bothered. I felt like saying "get a real job", but held back.
For those that will inevitably tell me that Macs are just better than PC's because "they just work" or "they are virus free", well, you can all just eat me. Yes, I agree the Mac arguably has a better user interface. Yes, it does work well and it IS a solid machine. And YES, it has less viruses (because it has a lower market share and is therefore less of a target). But, NO it is NOT the platform of choice for anyone who considers themseleves gamers. And NO, it is not cheaper than comparably equipped PC's, although it has made strides in that direction. And NO, they are not perfect. Neither are PC's. Far from it.
But I will always be a PC guy as long as Windows remains the market leader. Compatibility with the rest of the world is useful. And yes, I know that the Mac can output Word files, write Excel spreadsheets, read email as good as any PC. But where do you go if you need any sort of tech support? It's a bit harder to find that geek friend who can help you with your computer if what you have is a Mac. Sure, the numbers are growing, but let's face it. Right now, the industry standard platform for most businesses (as well as the gaming industry) is Windows on a PC.
My bottom line here is that I respect the quality of Apple products, but severely dislike the environment in which the company thrives...faith and fanaticism from a crowd of sheep who think the company can do no wrong. Again, not everyone who uses a Mac falls into that category...but enough do to leave a bad taste in my mouth.
With that, I leave you with one of my Zazzle creations:
Wednesday, January 31, 2007
Bauer Power
It's been a while since I posted something. I've been too busy playing on my Xbox 360 (thanks, honey!)
So for all you 24 fans, here's a little something I whipped up.
So for all you 24 fans, here's a little something I whipped up.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Monday, January 01, 2007
Best wife EVER!
So I have to say that I have the best wife in the world. Why? Is it because she is beautiful? Is it because she loves me unconditionally? No. It's because SHE GOT ME AN XBOX 360 for my birthday!
She asked me at one point what I wanted, and I said I wanted an Xbox, but she said, and I quote, "I'm NOT gonna get you ANOTHER way to play video games!"
Well at that point, I thought the only way I'd ever get one is to buy it myself and risk a few days of rolling eyes and "whatever" glances.
But she surprised me. She decided that it's MY birthday and I should get what I want :-)
Now if THAT doesn't make her the best wife ever, I don't know what does!
She asked me at one point what I wanted, and I said I wanted an Xbox, but she said, and I quote, "I'm NOT gonna get you ANOTHER way to play video games!"
Well at that point, I thought the only way I'd ever get one is to buy it myself and risk a few days of rolling eyes and "whatever" glances.
But she surprised me. She decided that it's MY birthday and I should get what I want :-)
Now if THAT doesn't make her the best wife ever, I don't know what does!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Back from Belize!
My wife and I enjoyed a 10 day stay in Central America in the beautiful country of Belize.
The map on the left shows where we visited, which includes a couple of very cool Mayan ruins, and an amazing resort in the middle of the rain forest.
Click the map to see full size.
Wednesday, November 29, 2006
AJAX driven password management
How many username/password combinations do you need to remember? Does having so many make you re-use the same password over and over? If you're like me, you have dozens of website logins to remember, and only a few different names and passwords for them.
Obviously, this is insecure. If someone were to get a hold of your common password, they could theoretically login to all your accounts that use it.
In comes Passlet, a web based, AJAX driven, client-side encrypting password manager.
The theory behind this is that all encryption is done in your local browser, and the Passlet server never sees your passwords in unencrypted form. Of course, you will have to make sure that the browser you are using is on a trusted computer.
Passlet does provide disclaimers that no one should use the site to store sensitive financial information, and that they are not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the use of their service.
It's a good idea, but its security has yet to be really proven. It is in beta, and until more is done to verify the strength of their security, it should only be relegated to store the most mundane information (like other beta web sites you are testing, for example).
Obviously, this is insecure. If someone were to get a hold of your common password, they could theoretically login to all your accounts that use it.
In comes Passlet, a web based, AJAX driven, client-side encrypting password manager.
The theory behind this is that all encryption is done in your local browser, and the Passlet server never sees your passwords in unencrypted form. Of course, you will have to make sure that the browser you are using is on a trusted computer.
Passlet does provide disclaimers that no one should use the site to store sensitive financial information, and that they are not responsible for any loss or damage resulting from the use of their service.
It's a good idea, but its security has yet to be really proven. It is in beta, and until more is done to verify the strength of their security, it should only be relegated to store the most mundane information (like other beta web sites you are testing, for example).
Wednesday, November 22, 2006
Zazzle now has over 250 t-shirt styles and colors!
Zazzle just added over 150 new t-shirt styles and colors, bringing the total number of t-shirt options to over 250!
There's no better time to customize your own Zazzle shirt!
Friday, November 17, 2006
Tuesday, November 07, 2006
Online file conversions...free with Zamzar
Convert files from one format to another for free. Zamzar offers a web based service that supports file type conversions for hundreds of different file types, up to 100MB in size.This is cool since you don't have to download conversion software, and it works on all platforms since it is web based.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Bush does the Google
So we went from almost electing the inventor of the Internet, to electing someone who doesn't even use email. In a CNBC interview with Maria Bartiromo (as quoted in this article by the Washington Wire), George W. Bush was asked about his use of technology. That's like asking a 4 year old about his driving habits."One of the things I've used on the Google is to pull up maps."
Oh my. And when asked about his email habits, his answer (after translating from moron to English) is basically stating that he does not use email at all because he does not want a written record of what he says in emails. He's afraid of the media getting a hold of his email and having a field day. Heck, it's easier to deny something that is not written down.
Frankly, I'm embarrassed as an American to have "W" leading us. If he's supposed to represent Americans, then the world must think we're all a bunch of good ol' boys ready to drop a "nuke-u-lar" bomb and yell "yeee-hah!"
You know, democracy is great and all, but you have to question a system that allows someone like "W" to be elected. The electoral college seems to be the only college that our president has exceled in.
I propose to remove the electoral college system altogether and replace it with the "Let's-Make-Sure-We-Never-Elect-An-Idiot-Again" system. It will consist of secure voting of qualified candidates who know how to pronounce "nuclear" and know how to work a computer mouse. This, of course, will mean that we will never again have a president from Texas.
Friday, October 20, 2006
Welcome, IE7
With tabs, increased security, and better standards support, Microsoft Internet Explorer version 7 makes its debut. Yes, I am aware it was released on Wednesday, the 18th, but I've only just now had the time to write about it :-)I've been using the betas and release candidate versions for a while, and I quite like it. It took a little getting used to the location of the home button, but I'm there now.
My favorite trick is CTRL-Q. If you have multiple tabs open to various web sites, hitting CTRL-Q shows real time thumbnails (see below)
Some sites display very minor visual glitches, but I suspect that may have to do with sites that have made CSS hacks for IE6 that they don't need anymore for IE7.
So far, all sites have been fully functional, better behaved, and faster with IE7. A huge step forward!
Is it better than Firefox? Honestly, I can't say yet. It seems to render pages a lot like Firefox...at least a lot closer than IE6 ever did. Hopefully the days of CSS compromises and workarounds are nearing an end. Of course, we'll still have to support IE6 for some time to come, but with it being released through Windows Update, and Vista coming early next year, I believe IE7 will become the new dominant web browser in a matter of months.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Products galore...Zazzle's latest
It's 1:30AM Pacific Standard Time right now, and I'm at work at Zazzle, as are many others, overseeing the latest release of our website. We're really excited about this one! Why? See for yourself! You can now customize all these different products:
T-Shirts
Bags
Hats
Aprons
Ties
Zazzle Custom Stamps
Greeting Cards
Note Cards
Postcards
Posters
Canvas Prints
Framed Prints
Photo Prints
Photo Enlargements
Mugs
Travel Mugs
Steins
Mousepads
Photo Sculptures
Magnets
Keychains
Bumper Stickers
Round Stickers
Buttons
Many other features have also been added (image categories, private album sharing, optimizations, etc)
Tuesday, October 17, 2006
18 Startup Mistakes
Found this article by Paul Graham through Digg, and I thought it was interesting. It details 18 mistakes that cause a startup company to fail.
Here's a quick summary list. Read the article for details on each one.
Although some of these are pretty obvious, you'd be amazed how many companies make these mistakes.
Here's a quick summary list. Read the article for details on each one.
- Single Founder
- Bad Location
- Marginal Niche
- Derivative Idea
- Obstinacy
- Hiring Bad Programmers
- Choosing the Wrong Platform
- Slowness in Launching
- Launching Too Early
- Having No Specific User in Mind
- Raising Too Little Money
- Spending Too Much
- Raising Too Much Money
- Poor Investor Management
- Sacrificing Users to (Supposed) Profit
- Not Wanting to Get Your Hands Dirty
- Fights Between Founders
- A Half-Hearted Effort
Although some of these are pretty obvious, you'd be amazed how many companies make these mistakes.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
Bubble 2.0 - Now with more staying power!
SFGate.com published an article comparing the late '90's dot-com bubble, to the current Web 2.0 boom. Some quotes of interest:
However, there are warnings as well:
This article is a good read.
Startups now tend to sell themselves to bigger firms, rather than have an overly hyped initial public offering on the stock market.I think that's good. The stock market is too volatile to build foundations on.
A new emphasis on social networking and connecting people, rather than e-commerce, which was foisted on consumers before they trusted the medium.Very well said. Many people define "Web 2.0" as the social Internet. The new thinking is more about what you can DO on the 'net rather than what you can BUY. A good step forward.
However, there are warnings as well:
The big challenge remains figuring out how to wring money out of all the people using the InternetLet's face it. A company has to make money to be viable.
This article is a good read.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Blogger beta issue
I just recently upgraded my blogger account to use the new beta software. Because of this, all my old posts have been marked as new again, and if you use an RSS reader to view this blog, you may have received a flood of new messages that are not really new.
Just sayin'.
Just sayin'.
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
Buy.com fiasco update
Well, it took a week and several emails and one PayPal complaint later, but I finally got a refund from Buy.com. In the interim, I ended up buying a nice 32" LCD HDTV from Costco. It's great!
Also, all the other stuff I needed (wall mount, HDMI DVD player, cables) I ended up ordering from various places online that take PayPal, and guess what...the payments made it through no problem!
So I will never use Buy.com with PayPal again. They seem to have an issue with their PayPal integration and will cancel your order in 3 hours if they don't think they have the money. Sons of bitches.
Also, all the other stuff I needed (wall mount, HDMI DVD player, cables) I ended up ordering from various places online that take PayPal, and guess what...the payments made it through no problem!
So I will never use Buy.com with PayPal again. They seem to have an issue with their PayPal integration and will cancel your order in 3 hours if they don't think they have the money. Sons of bitches.
Thursday, October 05, 2006
Buy.com should be called TakeMyMoney&CancelMyOrder.com
First, let me just say DO NOT USE BUY.COM. In case you missed that, DO NOT USE BUY.COM! Ok, now let me explain what happened.
I've been in the market for a 32" LCD HDTV and found a nice one for a great price at Buy.com. I also needed an articulating wall-mount for it, and I figured I'd also throw in a new DVD player with HDMI capabilities. I was able to find all of that, plus an HDMI cable, for just over $1000 at Buy.com.
Great price for all that gear! I'm sold! And, they also take PayPal, where I keep the money I make from online ventures. This is what happened next:
Step 1, add all items to cart. Check.
Step 2, checkout using PayPal. Check.
Step 3, verify my PayPal payment on PayPal's site. Check.
Step 4, wait for products to arrive!
I thought everything was Kosher and I would receive my merchandise in about a week. Sweet! But three hours later I get this in my email:
Hmmm. Maybe there was a glitch. Ok, I'll re-submit. Of course, when I re-submit, PayPal gives me an error saying "You have already paid for that item." Ok, at least PayPal is smart about it.
A few hours later I get an email from Buy.com stating that my order was cancelled.
So I send Buy.com an email asking why they cancelled the order, and they respond with a form letter stating they never received payment from PayPal. Then, to my surprise, BUY.COM SENT A REFUND TO MY PAYPAL ACCOUNT! Ok, if they never received payment, how can they refund?
In any case, I still gave them the benefit of the doubt and decided to place a new order, since I had my money back anyway. So I followed the steps once again. And of course, in a few hours, I get the same email as before, stating that I need to complete my order!
Then a little while later, the order gets cancelled AGAIN, with the same explanation that they never received payment from PayPal. Except this time, I NEVER GOT MY MONEY BACK!
I have PayPal records stating that Buy.com got paid. And I have records from Buy.com stating that the order was cancelled for non-payment. So where is my $1000?
At this point, I called Buy.com. I explained the situation and they said that the case has been sent to their main office for investigation, and that I should have my refund shortly. Ok, when I get my money back, I'll just shop somewhere else.
A day passed with no money. So I call again. I get the same explanation, so I asked to speak to someone in the main office. They said no. THEY SAID NO! They are not authorized to give out any information about their main office, and that I would have to wait 3-5 days for a resolution!
So here I am, out $1000, waiting for a refund from Buy.com for an order they cancelled on me, and PayPal saying the money was sent. Where is the money? It seems to be stuck somewhere in cyberspace, although I tend to believe Buy.com has it at this point.
So what did I learn from this fiasco? Don't shop ay Buy.com, especially if you use PayPal. You know what? Forget that. Just DON'T SHOP AT BUY.COM PERIOD.
Ok, rant mode temporarily off...for now.
I've been in the market for a 32" LCD HDTV and found a nice one for a great price at Buy.com. I also needed an articulating wall-mount for it, and I figured I'd also throw in a new DVD player with HDMI capabilities. I was able to find all of that, plus an HDMI cable, for just over $1000 at Buy.com.
Great price for all that gear! I'm sold! And, they also take PayPal, where I keep the money I make from online ventures. This is what happened next:
I thought everything was Kosher and I would receive my merchandise in about a week. Sweet! But three hours later I get this in my email:
Dear Buy.com Customer,
This is to notify you that you did not complete your order #xxxxxxxx in which you selected PayPal as your method of payment. To complete your purchase please:
1. Log into your Buy.com account
2. Click on the order number for which you want to complete the payment transaction.
3. Click on the "Change payment method or re-submit to Paypal" link.
4. Select PayPal from the drop down and click on "Resubmit Information".
Hmmm. Maybe there was a glitch. Ok, I'll re-submit. Of course, when I re-submit, PayPal gives me an error saying "You have already paid for that item." Ok, at least PayPal is smart about it.
A few hours later I get an email from Buy.com stating that my order was cancelled.
So I send Buy.com an email asking why they cancelled the order, and they respond with a form letter stating they never received payment from PayPal. Then, to my surprise, BUY.COM SENT A REFUND TO MY PAYPAL ACCOUNT! Ok, if they never received payment, how can they refund?
In any case, I still gave them the benefit of the doubt and decided to place a new order, since I had my money back anyway. So I followed the steps once again. And of course, in a few hours, I get the same email as before, stating that I need to complete my order!
Then a little while later, the order gets cancelled AGAIN, with the same explanation that they never received payment from PayPal. Except this time, I NEVER GOT MY MONEY BACK!
I have PayPal records stating that Buy.com got paid. And I have records from Buy.com stating that the order was cancelled for non-payment. So where is my $1000?
At this point, I called Buy.com. I explained the situation and they said that the case has been sent to their main office for investigation, and that I should have my refund shortly. Ok, when I get my money back, I'll just shop somewhere else.
A day passed with no money. So I call again. I get the same explanation, so I asked to speak to someone in the main office. They said no. THEY SAID NO! They are not authorized to give out any information about their main office, and that I would have to wait 3-5 days for a resolution!
So here I am, out $1000, waiting for a refund from Buy.com for an order they cancelled on me, and PayPal saying the money was sent. Where is the money? It seems to be stuck somewhere in cyberspace, although I tend to believe Buy.com has it at this point.
So what did I learn from this fiasco? Don't shop ay Buy.com, especially if you use PayPal. You know what? Forget that. Just DON'T SHOP AT BUY.COM PERIOD.
Ok, rant mode temporarily off...for now.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
More Zune news: Form vs. Function
Jake Ludington's MediaBlab blog just published some pictures comparing a Zune device to an iPod. The iPod, of course, is sleeker and more stylish, having been built by the masters of form, Apple. The Zune is noticably blockier and bigger.
This may come down to the age old form vs. function debate. The Zune specs out with more features than iPod (Wi-Fi, FM radio, etc.), but the iPod looks better and still has enough features for most people. So is Microsoft's Zune an iPod killer? Well, that all depends on whether you lean towards form (iPod) or function (Zune). My guess is that at first, early adopters and techies will buy the Zune for its cool features. It may even catch on beyond the tech arena to some degree. But Microsoft has an uphill battle against Apple to topple the iPod's dominance in the marketplace. They need to pretty it up, because, let's face it, humans are vain creatures who like to look cool.
This may come down to the age old form vs. function debate. The Zune specs out with more features than iPod (Wi-Fi, FM radio, etc.), but the iPod looks better and still has enough features for most people. So is Microsoft's Zune an iPod killer? Well, that all depends on whether you lean towards form (iPod) or function (Zune). My guess is that at first, early adopters and techies will buy the Zune for its cool features. It may even catch on beyond the tech arena to some degree. But Microsoft has an uphill battle against Apple to topple the iPod's dominance in the marketplace. They need to pretty it up, because, let's face it, humans are vain creatures who like to look cool.
Zune matches iPod pricing
Microsoft has announced Zune pricing and availability.
Gear Factor has more...
Zune Pricing Announced
News Feed Source
Home Page: http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/
Feed Title: Gear Factor
Feed URL: http://wiredblogs.tripod.com/gadgets/rss.xml
Article
Title: Zune Pricing Announced
Link: http://feeds.wired.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/29076372/index.blog
Author: ~
Publication Date:
Brought to you by Attensa for Outlook (download it here)
Gear Factor has more...
Since a price war won't be waged as some expected, it seems Microsoft is relying on Zune's limited music-sharing capability, as well as the Zune Pass subscription -- which will let users listen to any of the Marketplace's approximately 2 million songs for $14.99 per month -- to drive people to the new music player. Users will also have the option of purchasing tracks with Microsoft Points, which lets them add money to an account, a system that's already used in the Xbox Live Marketplace.
[Via Yahoo!]
News Feed Source
Home Page: http://blog.wired.com/gadgets/
Feed Title: Gear Factor
Feed URL: http://wiredblogs.tripod.com/gadgets/rss.xml
Article
Title: Zune Pricing Announced
Link: http://feeds.wired.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/29076372/index.blog
Author: ~
Publication Date:
Friday, September 29, 2006
iPod vs. Zune SMACKDOWN!
Found this on Digg. I'm kinda rooting for the Zune :-)
iPod vs. Zune SMACKDOWN!
BBSpot takes it to the streets, throwing Chuck Norris, a Ford Excursion, and promises of everlasting health against the reigning champion of MP3 players and its scrappy challenger from a small company known as Microsoft. Lets get rrrreeeaaaady toooooooooooo rrrrruuuummmmbbblllleee!
News Feed Source
Home Page: http://digg.com/
Feed Title: digg
Feed URL: http://digg.com/rss/index.xml
Article
Title: iPod vs. Zune SMACKDOWN!
Link: http://digg.com/apple/iPod_vs_Zune_SMACKDOWN
Author: ~
Publication Date:
Brought to you by Attensa for Outlook (download it here)
BBSpot takes it to the streets, throwing Chuck Norris, a Ford Excursion, and promises of everlasting health against the reigning champion of MP3 players and its scrappy challenger from a small company known as Microsoft. Lets get rrrreeeaaaady toooooooooooo rrrrruuuummmmbbblllleee!
News Feed Source
Home Page: http://digg.com/
Feed Title: digg
Feed URL: http://digg.com/rss/index.xml
Article
Title: iPod vs. Zune SMACKDOWN!
Link: http://digg.com/apple/iPod_vs_Zune_SMACKDOWN
Author: ~
Publication Date:
Thursday, September 28, 2006
Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Attensa...RSS done right
If you're like most tech geeks I know, you spend the better part of your morning reading your favorite blogs and RSS feeds (including, of course, this one). Until now, I've simply been going to my Google homepage to read my favorite feeds, then opening my Outlook to get my email.Well now, Attensa has converted me to using their wonderful FREE reader...because it integrates fully with Outlook, and includes an IE toolbar and Firefox plugin for easy feed management. And now I can get my news just like I get my email...all in the same client, with pictures and links all intact. Yay!
Sunday, September 17, 2006
Need a job? Here's the top 10 programming languages you should know
eWeek posted an article called 10 Programming Languages You Should Learn Right Now, based on "picking the brains of Web developers and IT recruiters". So if you're looking for a Web job, peruse this list and pick up some books.
With the new buzzword being "Web 2.0", it's no surprise that AJAX and JavaScript are both on the list, even though the J in AJAX stands for JavaScript.
At least I've dabbled in a handful of the languages listed (PHP, C#, AJAX, JavaScript, and VB.Net)
With the new buzzword being "Web 2.0", it's no surprise that AJAX and JavaScript are both on the list, even though the J in AJAX stands for JavaScript.
At least I've dabbled in a handful of the languages listed (PHP, C#, AJAX, JavaScript, and VB.Net)
Friday, September 15, 2006
Add this Zazzle gadget to Google!
So I created my first Google Gadget today. It's a Flash Panel for the most popular Zazzle products. This is it below:
Click the button above to automatically add it to your Google homepage!
Click the button above to automatically add it to your Google homepage!
Thursday, September 14, 2006
Coming Zune...but I want it NOW!
I want one. It's cool. It's hi-tech. It's coming Zune! Microsoft's new Zune specs out better than iPods (built in Wi-Fi, FM radio, social music sharing, supports MP3, AAC, h.264, and WMA). Engadget posted information about Microsoft's Zune announcement today. Is this an iPod killer?
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Zazzle vs. CafePress
Let's vote, people! If you like Zazzle and have an eBay account, you know what to do!
Of course, if you prefer CafePress, well, then, you don't really HAVE to vote if you don't want to ;-)
Of course, if you prefer CafePress, well, then, you don't really HAVE to vote if you don't want to ;-)
Friday, September 08, 2006
Six degrees of...well just about everything!
WARNING: Time-waster Web site! So just how does Monty Python relate to Albert Einstein? Do bananas and network attached storage have anything in common? How can you link zits with airplanes?
Omnipelagos can tell you! Just enter two search terms, and the site finds how they can be linked. Even the most obscure terms usually comes up with a connection.
And yes, it can find links to Kevin Bacon, too.
Omnipelagos can tell you! Just enter two search terms, and the site finds how they can be linked. Even the most obscure terms usually comes up with a connection.
And yes, it can find links to Kevin Bacon, too.
Firefox-like search for IE!
Ever wish you could search web pages inline, like Firefox does, when using Internet Explorer? Well, with Inline Search, by Core-Services, you can! This nifty little add-on provides IE users with a much more useful search facility, and it works for IE5.5 and higher. Now I'm suddenly not so jealous of my Firefox colleagues :-)
Tuesday, September 05, 2006
How much is that Vista in the Window?
C|NET News announced today that Microsoft has published its pricing for Windows Vista, and expands testing to over 5 million "tech enthusiasts".Pricing for full retail versions of the software will be Windows Vista Ultimate, $399; Windows Vista Business, $299; Windows Vista Home Premium, $239; and Windows Vista Home Basic, $199. Start saving up now!
Saturday, September 02, 2006
Wolfblood - My senior thesis short movie
| I just uploaded my senior thesis movie to Google Videos. It was made in 1992 at Syracuse University, Newhouse School of Public Communications, and is based on a short story by Angela Carter. This video is 11 minutes long. | |
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