Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Jeff Han on a Better Interface
The inventor of the multitouch screen that influenced the iPhone displays his work.
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid79489195/bclid60818931/bctid1078637479
http://link.brightcove.com/services/link/bcpid79489195/bclid60818931/bctid1078637479
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Dyson Air Blade- 400 mph & no hot air!!!
Dyson Airblade: 400mph, No Hot Air
James Dyson, billionaire inventor of expensive vacuum cleaners, has time on his hands to worry about bathroom bacteria, so he created the Dyson Airblade, a supercharged hand dryer that pumps room-temperature air through a tiny slot at 400mph. Dyson claims the device uses a "windshield-wiper" effect, drying both hands in 10 seconds. Since it doesn't use any hot air, he says it uses 83% less energy. Must be noisy, though. To go on sale in the UK next month, Dyson's reverse vacuum cleaner for hand drying will cost 549 (around $1027), and will also be available for lease.
This might be a great device for those of us who really don't want to touch anything in a public bathroom, and don't much like standing around for 30 seconds at a noisy hot air blower waiting for the hands to dry. – Charlie White
Dyson goes 400mph in toilet
James Dyson, billionaire inventor of expensive vacuum cleaners, has time on his hands to worry about bathroom bacteria, so he created the Dyson Airblade, a supercharged hand dryer that pumps room-temperature air through a tiny slot at 400mph. Dyson claims the device uses a "windshield-wiper" effect, drying both hands in 10 seconds. Since it doesn't use any hot air, he says it uses 83% less energy. Must be noisy, though. To go on sale in the UK next month, Dyson's reverse vacuum cleaner for hand drying will cost 549 (around $1027), and will also be available for lease.
This might be a great device for those of us who really don't want to touch anything in a public bathroom, and don't much like standing around for 30 seconds at a noisy hot air blower waiting for the hands to dry. – Charlie White
Dyson goes 400mph in toilet
Home away Villa rentals
Compare the prices for you get on a nightly basis at a hotel for some of the villas-
http://www.homeaway.com/
http://www.homeaway.com/
Metro 9 Steakhouse in Natick
http://www.metro9steakhouse.com/menu.htm
Something new and for a little less than the in town places. Handy after an IMAX show at Jordan's
Something new and for a little less than the in town places. Handy after an IMAX show at Jordan's
What's Inside: Red Bull
Meat Sugar, Caffeine, and Bile!
Glucose
Like most popular soft drinks, Red Bull is largely sugar water. But don't count on its glucose to "give you wings," as the ad says. Multiple studies have debunked the so-called sugar high.
Taurine
Also known as 2-aminoethanesulfonic acid, taurine was originally isolated from bull bile in 1827. Now made synthetically, it is the magical elixir said to bring out the kitesurfing extremophile in any Web-surfing nerd. Taurine's actual effects, while not as drastic as the hype, are pretty wide-ranging, even from the amount found in a single can: Not only is it an inhibitory neurotransmitter (in some cases acting as a mild sedative) and an age-defying antioxidant, it even has the potential to steady irregular heartbeats.
Glucuronolactone
Glucuronolactone
Internet rumors claimed this was a Vietnam-era experimental drug that causes brain tumors. Luckily, that's not true. But don't crumple up your tinfoil hat yet — hardly anyone has looked into exactly what this stuff does. So little research has been done on glucuronolactone (and most of it 50 years ago) that almost all information about it is mere rumor. Users generally believe it fights fatigue and increases well-being, but that could turn out to be bull, too.
Caffeine
Ah, here are Red Bull's wings. All the things this drink is supposed to do for you — increase concentration and reaction speed, improve emotional state, and boost metabolism — are known effects of this white powder, a distant cousin of cocaine.
Niacin (niacinamide)
Also known as vitamin B-3, niacin increases so-called good cholesterol (HDL) by preventing the formation of triglycerides, making it a terrific cholesterol drug. Unfortunately, there isn't enough niacin here to have this benefit. And it's not even pure enough to give you the mild head rush dubbed the "niacin flush."
Sodium citrate
Commonly used as a preservative in soft drinks and spreadable cheeses, sodium citrate also helps convert glucose into lactic acid during exercise, producing a measurable effect on athletic performance. In at least one test, it shaved an average of 17 seconds off a 5K run.
Inositol
A carbohydrate found in animal muscle (sometimes called "meat sugar"), inositol is turning out to be a wonder drug that significantly reduces depression, panic attacks, agoraphobia, and obsessive- compulsive disorder. It might even be what makes whole grains effective cancer fighters. Instead of being a bit player in Red Bull (you'd need to drink as many as 360 cans a day to get its benefits), inositol probably deserves a drink of its own.
This day in History, world's first nuclear power plant opens
1954: The world's first nuclear power plant becomes operational in Obninsk, outside of Moscow.
The nuclear reactor, used to generate electricity, heralded Obninsk's new role as a major Soviet scientific city, a status it retains in the Russian Federation where it carries the sobriquet of First Russian Science City.
Obninsk, population 108,000, currently houses no fewer than 12 scientific research institutions and a technical university. Research is focused on nuclear-power engineering, nuclear physics, radiation technology, the technology of non-metallic materials, medical radiology, meteorology and environmental protection.
Since the plant opened in 1954, most of the industrialized west, along with countries like India and China, have embraced nuclear power. But the backlash against this energy source continues in the wake of accidents such as those that occurred at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. Italy, for example, has decommissioned its nuclear plants and two other European countries, Germany and Sweden, are considering doing the same thing.
Obninsk claims Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as a sister city -- another town that has more than a passing relationship with nuclear power.
The nuclear reactor, used to generate electricity, heralded Obninsk's new role as a major Soviet scientific city, a status it retains in the Russian Federation where it carries the sobriquet of First Russian Science City.
Obninsk, population 108,000, currently houses no fewer than 12 scientific research institutions and a technical university. Research is focused on nuclear-power engineering, nuclear physics, radiation technology, the technology of non-metallic materials, medical radiology, meteorology and environmental protection.
Since the plant opened in 1954, most of the industrialized west, along with countries like India and China, have embraced nuclear power. But the backlash against this energy source continues in the wake of accidents such as those that occurred at Chernobyl and Three Mile Island. Italy, for example, has decommissioned its nuclear plants and two other European countries, Germany and Sweden, are considering doing the same thing.
Obninsk claims Oak Ridge, Tennessee, as a sister city -- another town that has more than a passing relationship with nuclear power.
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Greek and Roman galleries at the Met
http://www.metmuseum.org/Works_of_Art/installation_gr.asp?&HomePageLink=special_c2a
There is no event in the upcoming season that is so defining for the life of this institution, for New York, and for art lovers around the world than the completion of the New Greek and Roman Galleries, involving the installation of thousands of works of classical art from the collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Dyson's Super Slim Vacuum: The Lamborghini of Filth
Dyson’s vacuum cleaners have a superpower: They make you want to vacuum. The unparalleled suction, the storm of debris sweeping like a funnel cloud in that transparent chamber—it’s all more exciting than any vacuum should be. You’re happy to scour every nook and crevice in your home, and even happier to dump the resulting block of filth in the garbage. The only drawback, for any Dyson, is a price so steep it’s practically a joke. The DC18 Slim, the company’s newest and lightest upright model, costs $470. But this is no mere Porsche of vacuums. The Dyson Slim is a screeching Lamborghini Gallardo, and a new benchmark for the entire industry. (That would be the vacuum industry, of course.)
And I know, I’m extremely late to the party in reviewing the Slim. But months after its release, this impeccably engineered vacuum is still leading the competition. It uses Dyson’s Root Cyclone technology, which pulls debris and fine particles out of the air into multiple centrifugal chambers. It also uses an innovative hinge design similar to the one introduced in Dyson’s Ball vacuums, but manages to be much lighter than previous models. It’s still 15.8 pounds—turning trips up and down the stairs into surprise workouts—but for Dyson, this is uncharted territory.
According to Dyson, it’s not as powerful as the 20.79-pound DC17 Animal, but there’s no way you’ll tell the difference. And when you’re not lifting it, the Slim feels much lighter than it is, thanks to that swiveling ball-hinge design. It moves with surprising grace (for a vacuum), swerving instead of merely pivoting as you slalom across carpet and hardwood floors. It glides under furniture, and, true to its name, it is slim enough to fit between most chair legs. Every inch of this thing is a feat of industrial design. It even has a handle that pops off while the vacuum is still running, turning into a telescoping wand to clean ceiling fans and tight corners.
The Slim kicks out essentially zero odors or fine particles, though that’s nothing new for Dyson. All of this model’s impressive design features showed up first in the Ball, but the Slim still feels like the dirt- and carpet fuzz-inhaling Lamborghini that it is. And to finish beating the metaphor to death, it’s turned me into one of those idiotic car commercial characters, looking for any excuse to jump back behind the wheel and hit the twisties. Even if the twisties, in my case, are a few rooms in a railroad apartment and a couple of chairs I’m too lazy to clear out of the way.
The Slim is more vacuum than most people need, but it’s the first Dyson I’ve used that looks and feels precisely as expensive as it is. At the risk of sounding completely misogynistic, it’s an excellent gift for a girlfriend, wife, mother, etc. Despite the initial look of confused horror (Wow! You got me... a vacuum...), she will use it, and you will be thanked, and the world around you will become shockingly clean. —Erik Sofge
And I know, I’m extremely late to the party in reviewing the Slim. But months after its release, this impeccably engineered vacuum is still leading the competition. It uses Dyson’s Root Cyclone technology, which pulls debris and fine particles out of the air into multiple centrifugal chambers. It also uses an innovative hinge design similar to the one introduced in Dyson’s Ball vacuums, but manages to be much lighter than previous models. It’s still 15.8 pounds—turning trips up and down the stairs into surprise workouts—but for Dyson, this is uncharted territory.
According to Dyson, it’s not as powerful as the 20.79-pound DC17 Animal, but there’s no way you’ll tell the difference. And when you’re not lifting it, the Slim feels much lighter than it is, thanks to that swiveling ball-hinge design. It moves with surprising grace (for a vacuum), swerving instead of merely pivoting as you slalom across carpet and hardwood floors. It glides under furniture, and, true to its name, it is slim enough to fit between most chair legs. Every inch of this thing is a feat of industrial design. It even has a handle that pops off while the vacuum is still running, turning into a telescoping wand to clean ceiling fans and tight corners.
The Slim kicks out essentially zero odors or fine particles, though that’s nothing new for Dyson. All of this model’s impressive design features showed up first in the Ball, but the Slim still feels like the dirt- and carpet fuzz-inhaling Lamborghini that it is. And to finish beating the metaphor to death, it’s turned me into one of those idiotic car commercial characters, looking for any excuse to jump back behind the wheel and hit the twisties. Even if the twisties, in my case, are a few rooms in a railroad apartment and a couple of chairs I’m too lazy to clear out of the way.
The Slim is more vacuum than most people need, but it’s the first Dyson I’ve used that looks and feels precisely as expensive as it is. At the risk of sounding completely misogynistic, it’s an excellent gift for a girlfriend, wife, mother, etc. Despite the initial look of confused horror (Wow! You got me... a vacuum...), she will use it, and you will be thanked, and the world around you will become shockingly clean. —Erik Sofge
Artificial Societies and Virtual Violence
How modeling societies in silico can help us understand human inequality, revolution, and genocide
http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/18880/
http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/18880/
Converting DVD into HD DVD
Converting DVD into HD DVD
Software for multicore computers could add resolution to video in real time.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/18970/
Software for multicore computers could add resolution to video in real time.
http://www.technologyreview.com/Infotech/18970/
Asus ultra portable
A massive notebook has its perks, but there’s something to be said for a laptop that can actually fit on your lap. This ultramobile PC weighs in at just under two pounds but is packed with enough RAM and flash memory for anything you’d need on the go. A built-in camera, mic and Wi-Fi are just some of its perks. Eee $200; asus.com
iWay iPod transfer card reader
iTransfer
Love scrolling through photos on your iPod but hate the unwieldy uploading process? This tiny card reader plugs directly into your video iPod and lets you skip the computer to instantly transfer photos from your camera’s SD card. iWay $70; herringtoncatalog.com
Monday, June 25, 2007
Friday, June 22, 2007
Philips' iPod-friendly universal remote
John P. Falcone
The Philips SJM3151 controls your iPod--and your other home theater gear as well.(Credit: Philips)
It's easy to hook up your iPod to any home audio system, but finding a good remote solution--one that doesn't require you to scurry from the sofa to the stereo every time you want to change a song--is a bit more of a challenge. Personally, I'm only interested in those that let me completely browse the iPod's music collection: the DLO HomeDock Music Remote, Belkin TuneSage 2, and Keyspan TuneView come to mind.
But why clutter the coffee table with yet another remote? That's where the Philips SJM3151 comes in. The remote does double duty as a standard six-device universal remote and a full-service iPod remote, complete with a built-in LCD screen that mirrors that of a docked iPod. Based on the Philips SRU9600, the remote can be programmed to control via infrared the usual bevy of home theater gear--TV, cable/satellite box, DVD player, AV receiver--but it also uses the Zigbee RF wireless standard to communicate with the included iPod dock at distances up to 300 feet. That means you could have the music cranked up a couple of rooms away and still be able to navigate to a new song, artist, or album at the touch of a button.
Look for the Philips SJM3151 to hit stores in the fall of 2007 for $180. For those who wish to control PC-based music files instead, a similar version that ships with a USB dongle instead of an iPod dock is also expected.
John P. Falcone
The Philips SJM3151 controls your iPod--and your other home theater gear as well.(Credit: Philips)
It's easy to hook up your iPod to any home audio system, but finding a good remote solution--one that doesn't require you to scurry from the sofa to the stereo every time you want to change a song--is a bit more of a challenge. Personally, I'm only interested in those that let me completely browse the iPod's music collection: the DLO HomeDock Music Remote, Belkin TuneSage 2, and Keyspan TuneView come to mind.
But why clutter the coffee table with yet another remote? That's where the Philips SJM3151 comes in. The remote does double duty as a standard six-device universal remote and a full-service iPod remote, complete with a built-in LCD screen that mirrors that of a docked iPod. Based on the Philips SRU9600, the remote can be programmed to control via infrared the usual bevy of home theater gear--TV, cable/satellite box, DVD player, AV receiver--but it also uses the Zigbee RF wireless standard to communicate with the included iPod dock at distances up to 300 feet. That means you could have the music cranked up a couple of rooms away and still be able to navigate to a new song, artist, or album at the touch of a button.
Look for the Philips SJM3151 to hit stores in the fall of 2007 for $180. For those who wish to control PC-based music files instead, a similar version that ships with a USB dongle instead of an iPod dock is also expected.
Concorde parts up for auction
With the demise of the Concorde fleet, spare parts from the scrapped fleet are to be auctioned at the Hotel des Ventes Saint-Aubin in Toulouse, France, from September 28th to October 1st of this year. Interested in buying a piece of history? Have a look through the catalog, and bone up on your aviation French to avoid accidentally buying an “arbre d’entrainement” (drive shaft), when you really wanted the machmètre (mach meter). The iconic instrument (which tells you the airplane's speed relative to the speed of sound), sold in lots 310, 568, and 791, respectively, is estimated to fetch between 1500 and 2500 euros, but you can bet some aviation nutcase is going to drive the price higher than that. Even if you can’t attend personally, you can send bid orders online.—Jacob Ward
Silent Green- SunLawn EM2
The Sunlawn EM2 will be available to purchase July 15, 2007The EM-2 represents the highest level of innovation, power and performance in rechargeable mower technology. Utilizing two long lasting but easily replaceable 12 volt SLA batteries, the EM-2 mows for a full hour on a charge. The EM-2 features the original Sunlawn flame hardened non-contact cutting system in a seven blade configuration. It quietly does a beautiful job of grooming all North American turf types including Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine, Fescue, Bluegrass. For the person who wants a truly “perfect” appearance to their lawn with minimal pushing effort the EM-2 is an excellent choice.
• Mows one full hour on a single charge; recharges in 5 – 8 hours• Weight 39 pounds (17.8kg) with batteries• 24V power system utilizes two commonly available 12V 7Ah SLA batteries• Precision 7 blade contact-free cutting system - flame hardened, bearing mounted blades• Cutting swath 40cm (16 inches)• Cutting height .4 – 2.25 inches (10 – 55mm ), easily adjustable• Suitable for all North American grasses• Expected blade life without sharpening 6 – 9 years• Rigid full-width handle with foam grip• Nine inch wheel diameter• Segmented rear roller• Grass Catcher included
Sunlawn Universal Grass Catcher
• woven nylon with metal frame • fits all sunlawn & Brill models • weight 3 pounds
View All Accessories
All Sunlawn mowers come with a 2 year warranty.
1 2 3 Next
“Powered By 100% Vegetable Oil” Bumper Sticker Triggers $1K Fine!
Today’s world of “choice” for what you can use to power your vehicle may in fact cost you lots of money. As one man found out in Charlotte, NC simply promoting your independence from oil can cost you thousands of dollars. From the article,
“Bob Teixeira decided it was time to take a stand against U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
So last fall the Charlotte musician and guitar instructor spent $1,200 to convert his 1981 diesel Mercedes to run on vegetable oil. He bought soybean oil in 5-gallon jugs at Costco, spending about 30 percent more than diesel would cost. His reward, from a state that heavily promotes alternative fuels: a $1,000 fine last month for not paying motor fuel taxes.
He’s been told to expect another $1,000 fine from the federal government. And to legally use veggie oil, state officials told him, he would have to first post a $2,500 bond.”
Holy shit! We should be exempting these people from oil taxes, not punishing them! Unfortunately, most state laws have strict penalties for those that do not partake from the traditional pump. It’s almost like the Spanish Inquisition has come to the fuel industry. States understandably receive an immense amount of money from taxing fuel to help pay for road repair costs. Still, a $2,500 bond, $1,000 fine, and another $1K from the federal government? It’s enough to make any American think twice about making the switch. Then again, that’s probably the entire point.
Word to the wise: If you use veggie oil, make sure your bumper sticker reads “100% Powered By Big Oil & Loving It!” You’ll probably actually receive a check…..
“Bob Teixeira decided it was time to take a stand against U.S. dependence on foreign oil.
So last fall the Charlotte musician and guitar instructor spent $1,200 to convert his 1981 diesel Mercedes to run on vegetable oil. He bought soybean oil in 5-gallon jugs at Costco, spending about 30 percent more than diesel would cost. His reward, from a state that heavily promotes alternative fuels: a $1,000 fine last month for not paying motor fuel taxes.
He’s been told to expect another $1,000 fine from the federal government. And to legally use veggie oil, state officials told him, he would have to first post a $2,500 bond.”
Holy shit! We should be exempting these people from oil taxes, not punishing them! Unfortunately, most state laws have strict penalties for those that do not partake from the traditional pump. It’s almost like the Spanish Inquisition has come to the fuel industry. States understandably receive an immense amount of money from taxing fuel to help pay for road repair costs. Still, a $2,500 bond, $1,000 fine, and another $1K from the federal government? It’s enough to make any American think twice about making the switch. Then again, that’s probably the entire point.
Word to the wise: If you use veggie oil, make sure your bumper sticker reads “100% Powered By Big Oil & Loving It!” You’ll probably actually receive a check…..
Thursday, June 21, 2007
Miracle Diet Pill with a teeny-tiny side effect
Read the whole article especially towards the bottom, where he compares the saying form the company webpage
http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2007/06/20/miracle-diet-pill-with-teeny-tiny-side-effect/
a video verison:
http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2007/06/20/laugh-i-nearly-shit-my-pants/
http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2007/06/20/miracle-diet-pill-with-teeny-tiny-side-effect/
a video verison:
http://angryaussie.wordpress.com/2007/06/20/laugh-i-nearly-shit-my-pants/
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
iPhone to have YouTube player built in
iPhone has a special YouTube player that you can launch right from the home screen. So now you can access and browse YouTube videos wherever you go. And when you find a video you want to send your friends, iPhone can even create an email with the link in it for you.
http://www.apple.com/iphone/internet/?feature=feature05
http://www.apple.com/iphone/internet/?feature=feature05
Las Vegas Neon Museum
www.neonmuseum.org
Pretty cool if you are looking for your very own Binions Horseshoe neon sign for your garage roof!
Pretty cool if you are looking for your very own Binions Horseshoe neon sign for your garage roof!
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Spyware - using an old browser
Interesting story of someone who re-installed Win-XP sp2 hoped on the internet and the spyware that followed
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000888.html
http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000888.html
Monday, June 18, 2007
Painted balls
Top Redskins pick Landry misses practice with paintball injury
June 15, 2007
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- A paintball shot in the groin left rookie LaRon Landry unable to practice when the Washington Redskins opened their minicamp Friday.
The No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft was injured during a team-building outing Wednesday, when coach Joe Gibbs allowed the players to leave early at the end of the voluntary spring workouts. Some players went bowling or had lunch together, while many of the defensive players went to play paintball.
"I didn't know paintball was that dangerous," linebacker Marcus Washington said. "I hope it wasn't friendly fire."
Landry was on the sidelines when practice began, but within minutes he left and began laboring slowly up the hill toward the team's main building, appearing to favor his left leg.
Gibbs said Landry should be fine after a couple of days' rest.
"It's kind of bizarre," Gibbs said. "Almost anything can happen in life, so every now and then something like that does happen."
June 15, 2007
ASHBURN, Va. (AP) -- A paintball shot in the groin left rookie LaRon Landry unable to practice when the Washington Redskins opened their minicamp Friday.
The No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft was injured during a team-building outing Wednesday, when coach Joe Gibbs allowed the players to leave early at the end of the voluntary spring workouts. Some players went bowling or had lunch together, while many of the defensive players went to play paintball.
"I didn't know paintball was that dangerous," linebacker Marcus Washington said. "I hope it wasn't friendly fire."
Landry was on the sidelines when practice began, but within minutes he left and began laboring slowly up the hill toward the team's main building, appearing to favor his left leg.
Gibbs said Landry should be fine after a couple of days' rest.
"It's kind of bizarre," Gibbs said. "Almost anything can happen in life, so every now and then something like that does happen."
Paper Airplanes
While we all wait for the arrival of Chismillionare's Paper Airplane Book:
http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/guides/paperplanes/0,,,00.html
http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/guides/paperplanes/0,,,00.html
Friday, June 15, 2007
Video Report: New Toys at NYC Holiday Toy Preview
I want a Havoc Heli and an ICoaster!!!!!! http://www.wired.com/gadgets/miscellaneous/news/2007/06/toy_preview
Thursday, June 14, 2007
Urban Camping
Check the meter! The newest take on urban camping
Sometimes you come upon a product that makes you go: Uh, what? The thing in the picture is one of those. At first we thought it was a Fisher Price attempt at a car cover, until we noticed the scaffolding and the woman -- who's standing up -- "unzipping the door." But when we realized what it actually is, we had all kinds of questions that began with "Why would anyone ...." Wait until you see what's inside. We won't spoil the surprise. And Mr. or Ms. Inventor, would you mind coming down to the station? We have a few questions we'd like to ask you.
[Source: Make]