If you’ve noticed lately, Friendster seems to be upping the ante to catch up to Facebook by adding those application widgets. I hadn’t really been paying attention to Friendster, because it’s just soo Web 1.5, PLUS, Multiply had become more my thing, because almost all my churchmates hang out there. But after the major migration to Facebook, and with people denouncing Friendster even on Friendster’s own Bulletin Boards in favor of Facebook, Friendster seems to have made an about-face.
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Archives for March 2008
A Remote Controlled Ducky
My Obsessions with the toy Rubber Ducky I don’t know why but for a grown-up (somewhat childish) man like me, I think it’s normal. I recently posted the Star Wars Rubber Ducky which I want to add to my ever growing collection of rubber duckies, and also a previous post by Rogue : An RC Rubber Duckie!. I want one, I really, really want this one.
The RC Duck for IWantOneOfThose.com
Costs about $26 bucks
Features
- An extremely cute remote controlled duck.
- The duck is totally waterproof.
- The control unit is totally waterproof.
- The little fella sports the traditional chirpy yellow colouring.
- The remote control has four buttons to control the two propellors on the duck’s derriere.
- The duck will trundle forwards, backwards, left and right.
- The duck charges directly from the control unit.
- A 5 minute charge is equal to a 15 minute run time.
- Suitable for ages 3 years+.
- Requires 6 x AA Batteries (not included).
- Size: 10 x 9 x 8cm.
This is A good addition to my legions of rubber duckie collection. Hahahah!
The Lightning GT
Yes, it’s another scarily fast GT (hence the name, Lightning GT), but with a few differences. First of all, it isn’t from one of the big manufacturers such as Ferrari or Lamborghini (or Aston Martin, if you misguidedly think it looks a bit like a DB9). Second, it is powered by electricity. Third, it has 700bhp (well, the equivalent anyway).
Yes, that’s right. A car that looks sleek, sophisticated and is apparently incredibly fast – all in a carbon-fibre, Kevlar, spaceframe chassis and a 0-60 time of about 4 seconds. The fuel cell it runs on is based on 30 batteries. They are about the size of a normal car motor battery but are dubbed NanoSafe as they don’t contain the normal ‘heavy metals’ contained in a standard battery.
Amazingly, this unique (so far) power set-up means that the car can be charged in just 10 minutes to give a full range of 250 miles – staggering isn’t it? More importantly, they will have a life expectancy of 12 years before requiring the usual replacement (a bit like your TV remote).
Of course, the amazing technical prowess of this machine doesn’t just stop there. The motors (one at each wheel) give instant four-wheel drive, without the need for complex differential set ups (so less mechanically to go wrong). Regenerative braking also returns power to the battery store – which could be up to 30% in city driving.
Frankly, I like the sound of this. It really is about time we started to move toward greener motoring on a serious scale. This is just the move. The only problem however is that deposits are being taken to the tune of £15,000. This means that the car has a potential street value of £150,000. Oh my word. A little expensive? Well, with zero emissions and a vehicle you don’t buy fuel for then it should save on day-to-day expenses anyway…
Take a Dump. Clean Your Clothes.
The WashUP concept, created by Sevin Coskun, stacks a washing machine on top of your toilet.
Let me start off by telling you that the toilet water doesn’t clean your clothes. In fact, it’s the exact opposite. The water that’s used in the washing machine is stored for later use to eliminate your waste.
PROS:
– Water conservation. Instead of just flushing all of that perfectly good H2O away, it can be used in a practical manner.
– The washing machine takes up less space, utilizing an often unused piece of real estate in your home – the area above your toilet.
– Loading and unloading is easier due to the upright nature of the WashUp. No more bending over to move clothes in and out.
CONS:
– The bathroom is the worst smelling room in the joint, regardless of how much fabric softener you use. I would not want to spend any extra time in the loo.
– The washing machine would likely be more narrow, accepting smaller loads than we are accustomed to.
– Human waste is simply a bit too close to clean clothes. There’s something just not right about the whole thing.
On Watching Horror Movies
For some time I have been paying more attention to watching horror / suspense movies rather than my usual movie line ups. I got so caught in this whole horror movie watching thing. That I even start to dream that I’m inside one. So here’s My list on why I liked watching horror movies.
- Every time the bad guy steps into the scene or is lurking somewhere in the scene. The bad guy’s theme song is played or a sort of weird, eerie music to maximize the horror effect.
- The Characters or the “good guys” tend to split up at the wrong time, it’s dumb, I know and we know that being alone is probably the most dumbest thing to do especially when you know that you are either being watched of followed and that would get a first class ticket to be killed. Cliche move…
- Things always go wrong at the most critical time, like a door won’t open or the car won’t start, or the lights go off when you definitely need it and even sometimes the shower spews up blood or something. Almost all horror movies has this. I don;t know why but this the reason for the screams as you’re desperately trying to get away but can’t because the stupid door is jammed. Cliche, I know.
- The villian or bad guys never die, as they always come back for some reason, think Jason Vorhees, Freddie Krueger, Mike Myers. It can be pretty annoying because sooner or later the sequels would just keep getting cornier and cornier. It was great the first 3-4 movies but when it comes to 10 times would you think it would still be that scary good?
But there are still good horror movies that are original and don’t have to use cliches, but that ‘s the fun part in watching horror movies over and over again, once you get over the fact that it’s not scary start looking for something hilarious on that movie. Trust me you will find them.
Got any ideas or discoveries. Leave me a comment I’ll be glad to add it on the list
Pretend Geek
I was strolling in a mall while listening to Leo Laporte and Amber McArthy on Net @ Night. They were discussing about technology and how it has evolved many many times over. I was quite struck from strolling to steps as Leo was clever to relate that his son was saying he was a geek. Knowing who Leo Laporte is, I also said “yes, Leo, you’re a geek” (in my mind of course).
But Leo went on to a light-bulb statement. He said, “You know, my son says I’m a geek dad because I can do sooo many things. But you see, he’s geekier than me, yet he clearly doesn’t admit it. I had to learn all that I know, he on the other hand is doing this naturally. So call me a learned geek… he’s a geek since he’s born!”
10 years ago, flashback, high school days. To me, being a geek meant carrying this HP scientific calculator. I made sure it was seen when I carry it with my binder. I was high-tech then. I could imagine how silly I’d look now if I did that same thing.
20 years ago, flashback, elementary days. To me, being a geek meant carrying a slider ruler. Or maybe a pencil case with those “groovy” secret areas where by the click of a hidden button a hidden drawer pops out. I was high-tech then. I could imagine how my daughter would stare me down if I offered her that!
I have a 10-year old daughter, and she’s a geek. She has 3 friendster accounts, 2 my space accounts, a .Mac account, a YouTube account, a gmail, a macmail, a yahoo mail, a yahooID of course… SHE’S A GEEK!
But like Leo’s son, she’s a natural geek. She doesn’t know it, because what’s around her is all too natural for her. An iPod, a creative Zen, a Macbook, a Nintendo DS, a Sony PSP, a Dell Laptop, a Toshiba Laptop, WIFI at home, a slider cellphone, a cybershot camera, a cybershot cellphone…
Arggghhh… SHE’s a geek!
I’m… well, a pretend-geek next to her!
My PhotoBucket.com Annoyance
I think I’m collecting pet peeves per encounter, and I know one new blogging pet peeve for me now: Photobucket’s new interface. Back in the “days of old,” you can upload any ole photo in Photobucket, and that’s that. Nowadays, you have to jump through hoops in order to just finish uploading one picture. One picture!
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An Office/Productivity Geek’s Love Affair
I was, at “two points” in my existence, a call center lackey agent and as lackeys agents go, we are barred from viewing “fun” sites. So, to kill time and maximize productivity, I am writing my time away, while everyone else goes out to get fatter. I just lost mondo poundage, and I have no intentions of regaining those.
Now while I learned new things, like the software our team supports, I learned one gizmo that has all the bang, wham, boom! Bells and whistles galore that I never explored before… And you’ll never guess what it is…
Okay! I hate being left hanging, so I am telling you now, so that I won’t “Do unto others what I don’t want others to do unto me.” :p
It’s… [Read more…]
Game Ratings In The UK
Following the approval and subsequent release of Manhunt 2 in the UK (it was given the highest certificate possible, an 18 rating, as there is no AO over here), game ratings have come under fresh scrutiny. After a 9-month wait and a battle between the BBFC (the British Board of Film Classification) and Rockstar, Manhunt 2 met with mixed reviews.
I’m not sure if any of them commented on the “unremitting bleakness and callousness of tone” which David Cooke feels that the game possesses. In fact, I think they rather picked up on the repetitive gameplay and similarity to the first. In the U.S., the game was met with an A.O. certificate for Adults Only – something I’m quite happy to accept. The fact that an 18 over here is effectively the same thing leaves me wondering why the BBFC took a decision to ban it in the first place. But I digress.
Currently, eminent (and reasonably fair) investigation into these matters is being carried out in the form of the Byron review – headed up by Dr Tanya Byron. This looks into the effects of video games and content on the Internet on children. Of course, this beggars the question of why children are being assessed for content that is clearly not suitable for them (if Manhunt is involved that is).
In the UK we use BBFC legislation for games, as well as the PEGI system, which is based on a set criteria whereby publishers answer questions on the games themselves. I’m not sure that either system is fair – I mean a few people deciding for the whole of the populous? I suppose with PEGI then producers can match content to fit an age rating.
Overall, the system in the UK is liable to change, no doubt because the Byron report will be part of a government white paper. Realistically though, the whole industry (especially publishers) should really push the fact that age rating 18 games really are for 18 year olds. David Braben asked whether there should be something above 18 – well I don’t think so. Barring pornography, here in the UK we don’t have a rating above 18 for film, so why should we do so for games?
Ultimately, there’s still a prejudice surrounding the media of gaming, and that is one based on the thought that gaming is for kids. Therefore, children will play any game, even an 18 rated one. This is something I disagree with and I sincerely hope that the Byron report is fair and sensible, either forcing a change in marketing (so that games like GTA aren’t marketed to children) or ensuring that the public are educated about the medium as a whole.
You Tube Awards: A Quickie
Have you ripped paper and just laughed your pants off? Sure (!) maybe after the 10th glass but really, sober and all, have you tried ripping one and just laughed a hoot (in a not so creepy way)!
March 21, YouTube announced the second annual iteration of its YouTube video awards and yes, under the “Adorable” category, a baby won the coveted bragging rights prize (which included a trophy and an invite to the YouTube awards night). Posted by YouTube user gsager1234, “Laughing Baby” garnered 25.1% of votes from out of 12 vying for the prize.
Check it out right here… and laugh away with this Laughing Baby. It’ll cheer you up I’m sure.
The YouTube Awards is a yearly event showcasing the top 12 videos (based on votes) from each of the 12 categories as follows: Adorable, Commentary, Comedy, Creative, Eye witness, Inspirational, Instructional, Music, Politics, Series, Short Film & Sports.
Checking out the Comedy category, click on David Blaine’s street magic bit. Hilariuos (posted by ThoseLilRabbits). Though I seem to be missing Happy Slip, somehow I didn’t see her as part of the nominees even. Does anyone know what rank Happy Slip is in? This is sad.
Oh one more video to check out is in the “Series” category. It’s a clip called “The Guild”. This has gotten a lot of podshow time, the last I saw the guild actors was from a clip of Mahalo Daily at the PC Gamers Convention. Ignored it once thinking it was too geeky for me, but was very curious to check out episode 1 and got hooked. I mean imagine the line:
“Well it’s two weeks already and I don’t have a job yet … yey! My therapist said it would be ok, but finally he broke up with me….”
Please check out The Guild and view episode 1… laugh with me.
Ha ha ha!