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August 2011

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Ptw This tree at work always gives up on summer early

Ptw This tree at work always gives up on summer early

Flickr: Mon 08-29-11 12:39:56 -0400



Sat 8/27/11 8:40pm #

Random Non-Sequiters

Things I'm sort of thinking about right now.

I'm interested in what Apple announces new in the next couple weeks. Is there anything innovative that they could come up with that would make me want to drop my evo and jump immediately to an iPhone 5? Do they have an interesting way to reinvent television on deck? It's one of the rumors, but probably just a rumor. I'm not sure how they would.

Could they make TV more social? That would require some synchronous component wouldn't it? I suppose they could integrate face time with televison watching. Let me watch show with people who aren't in my living room with me. With the ability to pause the show and such. I've done that with friends using a combination of VLC and Skype. It's sortof a fun thing. Syncing up your schedules to watch at the same time as someone else that's tricky though.

Otherwise I suppose they would just be mixing apps with tv shows. 1 vs 100 type quiz shows. Maybe instant voting people out of the house, that sort of thing. You could do that today with Touches and iPhones though too, it's surprising that's not happening more already.

There are some Apple rumors about desktops too. Maybe a screen on a neat swivel so that you can touch it, Star Trek Next Generation style. That would be cool I guess, not sure I'd want to race out and get a fancy new Apple desktop though.

Earlier today, I blogged about the Looxie 2 gen device that's kind of neat. I could see getting one of those later this winter if nothing else awesome pops up.

Amazon is supposed to announce a tablet or two this fall. Rumors are all over the place on that. Unless they had some crazy $150 or less price point, I can't imagine a compelling reason to get another tablet. Not with the iPad 2 and the Hp Touchpad in the house. I like the idea of a 7inch tablet. And if Apple released a 7" tablet, I might seriously consider one. But another Android one, not seeming that interesting for me (although for someone that doesn't want to spring for an iPad, I'm sure an Amazon tablet would be quite delightful.)

Any more new Social Networks, I'm thinking– meh right now. I like Google+ I like the circles idea. I don't know enough people to divvy up into circles though really. But Google+ is neat. I think Brands, Corps and Celebs once they are allowed on their, will really shake up the place. I think Brands, Corps and Celebs will have the ability to turn Google+ into a real information/entertainment/diversion powerhouse. Maybe drive the Google Reader type experience mainstream by hitching it up to the Twitter/facebook style social juice.

I really do think that sharing things isn't a problem I need much further solved at the moment.

Makerbot's are still one of the cooler things I think that are going. $1300 is a bit steep in price to play with yet though. It'd be really neat to see something similar around $500.

DC relaunches their universe next week. They also will have the comics day and date digital (meaning, you can buy them online the same day they hit stores. Should be interesting to see how the digital does. Personally I'm not really that into another reboot though. It's still fun to pickup the occasional well done story though. Well done being both the operative phrase and fairly few and far between.

I bought something off of Kickstarter a week or so ago. It is interesting to see Kickstarter growing to scale. Basically it just seems like the crowd sourced micro-lending dream of years ago made real, but just played out in reverse. Not sure it really changes the world, but it is another tool in the toolbox for an individual to get a good idea out there, and get the funds to make it real.

Foursquare just isn't it's own thing to me. Foursquare is a quick way to tell my Twitter or Facebook Peeps where I am, but Foursquare itself just doesn't interest me. And Foursquare deals? Meh, I'm not really a coupon guy. Location seems to be gaining a little more ground, but there doesn't seem to be much reason to me to tell people that you are at this restaurant or that store etc.

Sortof related on the location front-- I installed this Android Program: GeoNote It's a Geolocation alert/note system. You can set up locations in it, and leave yourself notes, so that when you are next in that location, the note pops up. Neat. I'd rather see Foursquare do more along that line, tell me things about the places that I'm in. Pop up the deals, or the movie times, or the restaurant menus etc. Know where I am and give me useful info.

I want to hear your



Ptw Laundromat

Ptw Laundromat

Flickr: Sat 08-27-11 17:24:42 -0400


Ptw Jennifer and Leki

Ptw Jennifer and Leki

Flickr: Sat 08-27-11 16:06:33 -0400



Sat 8/27/11 2:34pm #

- Official NASA MMO offering up swag for Kickstarter funding
source: DVICE

WTF? Is this what we've come too? NASA soliciting funding on Kickstarter?

I want to hear your




Sat 8/27/11 2:21pm #

Let's Go Surfing

- Are They For Real? iPad-Like Device Spotted in 1969 Movie, Used in Samsung-Apple Patent Suit (Video)
source: Tablet News



I like this scene from 2001 with two people having dinner while watching video on their iPads. Jenn and I totally do this, this part of 2001 is now! :)

- HP TouchPad Android Port May Come Sooner Than You Think
source: Tablet News

I just can't see putting Android on a Touchpad. WebOS is so much nicer an OS.

- Nine Foot iPhone Cable
source: Likecool

Hmm... not sure I see the point, couldn't you just plug your regular iPad cable into a $2 extention cord? Plus, let your iPad charge for 15 to 20 minutes and you'd probably be good for at least 2 or 3 hours anyway.


- The UFO Handbook
source: Likecool

See, the problem is, if you identify them, they aren't UFO's anymore now are they?

- Deploy All Monsters! Universal Monsters Series 2 Gets Carded
source: Action Figure Insider - Best Toy News on the Web!

I've got most of the Universal monsters covered, but I've never gotten a Bride of Frankenstein. Will probably be on the look out for this one.

- Papecraft Steve Jobs
source: Super Punch

I really should make a small one of these for my desk to put next to my little papercraft android.

- Looxcie Overview - Smartphone & Videos



The Gadget Guy in me really wants to get one of these version 2 Looxie cameras, but after having toyed around with more basic ones, I'm not sure how often I'd really use one. Still for $179 it's not too outrageous.

- How To Work Better
source: swissmiss


1. Do one thing at a time
2. Know the problem
3. Learn to listen
4. Learn to ask questions
5. Distinguish sense from nonsense
6. Accept change as inevitable
7. Admit mistakes
8. Say it simple
9. Be calm
10. Smile

That's a pretty good algorithm.

I want to hear your




Sat 8/27/11 10:51am #

Let's Go Surfing


- Omni Consumer Products
source: Super Punch

Nice shirt, abit pricey since it's out of the UK though.

I want to hear your




Sat 8/27/11 10:28am #

Let's Go Surfing

- In Action Figures illustrated by Boneface ::...
source: Hey Oscar Wilde!

Nice.

- The Joys of Working Outside Lifework
source: Unplggd

I like this little backyard office. The little writing pod, I'm not so sure of, looks dangerous if you get a bee up in there with you.

- Wolves
source: RIPT Apparel

Cool.

- Conde Nast Brings iPad Presentation App to the Enterprise
source: Mashable!



If everyone on your team has iPads, this would be a great app.

I want to hear your




Thu 8/25/11 10:58pm #

Let's Go Surfing



Rolling Fold Up Art Kiosk by Because We Can

This looks like it could make a neat little backyard stage too.

Getaway special: The day Spider-Man taught the Beyonder how to use the bathroom | The Beat

I remember reading this issue when it came out. It's such an odd scene, once it burrows in your brain, you'll have this issue pop into your brain like a bad Andy Griffith Whistle.












I want to hear your



Ptw Man-of-Bats

Ptw Man-of-Bats
Taken with Magic Hour

Flickr: Thu 08-25-11 20:30:47 -0400


Ptw Leki

Ptw Leki
Taken with Magic Hour

Flickr: Thu 08-25-11 20:23:09 -0400



Thu 8/25/11 8:03pm #

Let's Go Surfing

GM's Autonomous Pod Cars Are Coming To A Megacity Near You | Fast Company

I'd love to see a city with hundreds of these buzzing about, semi-autonomously.



I want to hear your



Ptw The single cookie I made

Ptw The single cookie I made
The chocolate cocoa powder made it a dark color, but very tasty.

Flickr: Wed 08-24-11 22:53:47 -0400



Wed 8/24/11 9:21pm #

Let's Go Surfing

Gradients

Some nice Gradient Examples for photoshop

How to Make a Single Chocolate Chip Cookie (with pictures) - wikiHow


1 tablespoon white granulated sugar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon butter
1-2 tablespoons chocolate chips
1 tablespoon water
1/8 teaspoon vanilla extract (essence)
Pinch of salt
Pinch of baking soda
4 tablespoons flour

15-17min at 350deg.



Rick Mereki's videos on Vimeo

Move is really good.

5 Free Tools for Recording Google+ Hangouts

I don't know about recording google hangouts, but there is the occasional time I want to record a tricky to record flash item, and I bet some of these would work for those.

I want to hear your



Ptw Classic Car show and free lunch at work parkinglot today.

Ptw Classic Car show and free lunch at work parkinglot today.

Flickr: Tue 08-23-11 12:06:19 -0400



Tue 8/23/11 7:28am #

Let's Go Surfing

Trailer: HBO Documentary Profiles Self-Taught Superheroes | Underwire | Wired.com
Link
Looks like this was on HBO back at the begining of the month. Looks fairly odd, but the looks of this clip.

Trailer: HBO Documentary Profiles Self-Taught Superheroes | Underwire | Wired.com
Link
Oh My.

AOL Launches Flipboard Competitor for the iPad
Link
I've used this very little

Viral Video: I Dare You Not to Cry - Kara Swisher - Media - AllThingsD
Link
Checkov.

Flying Macbook Air 2011 - YouTube
Link
Ha.

I want to hear your



Ptw Leki chillin on couch

Ptw Leki chillin on couch

Flickr: Mon 08-22-11 21:11:56 -0400


Ptw Sawgatuck Dunes State Park

Ptw Sawgatuck Dunes State Park

Flickr: Sun 08-21-11 22:21:47 -0400


Ptw Sawgatuck Dunes State Park today

Ptw Sawgatuck Dunes State Park today

Flickr: Sun 08-21-11 22:20:44 -0400



Sun 8/21/11 10:37am #

Let's Go Surfing

- Pic of upcoming 7" Robocop Toy
source: Wizard World (iPad) Magazine.

I'll be on the look out for this. Nice 80s nostalgia and the Detroit connection is fun.

- Fail

Amusing. In the Twitter iPad App, I clicked on a link that should have pulled up a twitter user's ipad stream, but first apparently Twitter's web app detected that I wass on an iPad, so before I could proceed it recommended I download their iPad App. Left hand meet right hand.

- Recycled Mail Sack iPad Case
source: uncommongoods

Nice.

- Some upcoming SciFi/genre television Fall Show Debut dates
source: Wizard World Magazine


- Sherlock Season One
source: Wizard World Magazine

Get ahold of Sherlock Season One. Three 90 minute episodes. Really great stuff, up there with Doctor Who and early Torchwood seasons. Find a way to watch it!

- This is My Next crew's take on the HP maddess of last week
source:

The former engadget team plus precentral guy had alot of fun talking over the recent HP news on this podcast. Settle in, and give some of it a listen.

- Hey, Cap's lost his mask
source: the beat

Looks like the upcoming Avengers movie is going to suffer abit from movie land's issues with keeping masks on their heros.

- Penmoto
source:

I got one of these pen couplers on Kickstarter. Videos at the link.

- DC Fifty-too

This site is sort of along the lines of Project Rooftop, various artists are taking a stab at their own "DC 52" Relaunch covers. There's some nice art here and it looks like it's continuing to grow.

- Make meta-pizza out of pizza flavored snack items
source: boingboing.net

What a neat party tray idea.

I want to hear your




Sun 8/21/11 8:18am #


Above is a pic of me stalking the twitter feeds, watching for live news of the Harvey Awards last night.

Harvey Awards

It was a very suspenseful evening. Adam and Comfort had two nominations one for Most Promising New Talent for Rainbow in the Dark, and their series they produced: The Uniques Tales was also nominated for Best Anthology. Rainbow lost out to Chris Samnee, for his work on that rainbow bridge traversing hero you may have seen on in the theater this past summer: Thor: The Mighty Avenger. And PopGun #4 (Image Comics) won in The Uniques Tales' Best Anthology category.

There is a list of Harvey Award winners on The Beat.

It would have been so exciting for them to win a category. But as cliche as it sounds, it really really is an honor to be nominated, and I'm still so very excited for them. And I'm sure they had an amazing time at the ceremony, and I can't wait to hear all about it soon!

I want to hear your




Sat 8/20/11 8:39pm #

Let's Go Surfing

- the quiet dispair of the starship enterprise
source: ze\'s page :: zefrank.com


- Three pages of photos on a tumblog at the moment. some neat quiet shots/stills from the Original series.

- On News and Advertising
source: Contrast | The Blog

Nice article on Online Ad presentation.


- The Market Bag by Linus
source: Likecool

Nice.

- DC DIRECT SOLICITATIONS FOR ITEMS IN STORES APRIL 2012
source: Action Figure Insider - Best Toy News on the Web!

No DCD figures for me for April 2012

- HTML5 And The Document Outlining Algorithm
source: Smashing Magazine Feed


- Hipster Thundercats
source: Super Punch


- Make your own custom gaming dice
source: The Red Ferret Journal - gadgets, cool sites, freeware and tech trivia



- Detailed Renderings Revealed: Apples Flying Saucer HQ [PICS]
source: Mashable!

Sure, we've all seen these pics by now. And yes, in many ways Apple is a very evil corporation. But they've got style don't they?

- UFO apartment ghost town reveals the future of human cities
source: DVICE

Evidently people did see that Arthur C Clarke video above and they tried to build this future at one point.

- This is what Blade Runner set in Paris would have looked like
source: DVICE

I'm reminded of something I read recently about comics set in France: Do you know how you can tell your comic story is set in France? You can see the Eiffel Tower from every window.

- 7 photos of NYC captured at day and night — at the same time
source: DVICE

What a neat photography project idea.

- $1 million gets you in orbit for a five-day stay in a space hotel
source: DVICE

I'm not really sure I'd be up for this. I still sort of have an inter monologue with myself every time I get on an airplane about how absurd an idea it really is to put yourself in a giant hulking metal cylinder not under your own control hurling miles above the ground across a continent. It's normal stuff, air travel, but when you really think about it, it's a daft undertaking, just to have a meeting or two with folk in another state in a hurry, or to ride spinning tea-cups in an amusement park etc.

- Pops, Skitch, Creationary and More [Video]
source: Gizmodo

I'm giving this Pops notification app a try right now.

- Create Web Animations Using HTML5, CSS3 & JavaScript With The Help Of Adobe Edge [Windows & Mac]
source: MakeUseOf.com

Haven't played with this much myself yet. But a co-worker of mine has been doing some neat stuff with this.

- Sphero is a smartphone-controlled R/C ball
source: The Red Ferret Journal - gadgets, cool sites, freeware and tech trivia

Neat video, and the LED/color-mixing/color-changing feature is slick, but $130 seems abit much when you can get an iPhone controlled mini helicopter for more like $70.

- Google Catalog: An iPad Owner's Best Shopping Buddy
source: Unplggd

This is a very nice app. Lots of good catalogs in it.

- Cheapass Games print your own free board and table games
source: The Red Ferret Journal - gadgets, cool sites, freeware and tech trivia


- HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Preware turns 2
source: PreCentral.net

I want to hear your



Ptw Photo from Camerless Touchpad

Ptw Photo from Camerless Touchpad
Oddly enough while the Touchpad does have a video camera that does Skype video conferencing. it does not have a camera feature. Ie, it can not natively take photos. There are two apps, one free and one for 99c in the app catalog that will allow you to take and save photos to your picture roll. The above is a picture from one of them.

Flickr: Sat 08-20-11 17:52:04 -0400


Ptw Haircut

Ptw Haircut

Flickr: Sat 08-20-11 13:39:33 -0400


Ptw Touchpad's new home base

Ptw Touchpad's new home base
On microwave in kitchen. Hooray for recipe pages, and grocery lists.

Flickr: Sat 08-20-11 11:14:33 -0400


Ptw Touchpad box pic

Ptw Touchpad box pic

Flickr: Sat 08-20-11 10:32:57 -0400


Ptw Green Lantern toys are discounted. I got the mask.

Ptw Green Lantern toys are discounted. I got the mask.
Comes with a light plastic ring (not pictured) too.

Flickr: Sat 08-20-11 10:31:02 -0400


Ptw Got a 32gb Touchpad this morning

Ptw Got a 32gb Touchpad this morning
Its a very nice device. There are just so many things about WebOS that are slick. Nice to have one again ( since my pre died.

Flickr: Sat 08-20-11 10:26:28 -0400



Wed 8/17/11 10:28am - Google Reader Post #

Adobe Muse Now in Free Public Beta, Makes Website Creation Easy
source: Mashable!

I've been playing around with the Adobe Muse Free Beta, this morning. I'm pretty impressed. If you are a print designer with an interest in the web, you should go to Adobe's Muse site and download this while it's Free. It's the most WYSIWIG HTML editor I've ever seen.

For simple brochure type sites, or presentation type sites, this is a pretty easy to use tool. You're still going to need to be the type of person to know your way around Photoshop/Indesign/Illustrator type apps as well has have some design sense to you, to really take advantage of this app, but if you have a little of that background, I think it's likely you'll find a niche in your workflow for something like this, even if it's only to put together a quick site for a presentation or pitch.

I want to hear your



Ptw Knight and Artemis action figures

Ptw Knight and Artemis action figures
Delivered in mail today.

Flickr: Mon 08-15-11 20:33:30 -0400


Ptw iPad scribblings: Lion-O

Ptw iPad scribblings: Lion-O

Flickr: Sun 08-14-11 20:51:07 -0400



Sun 8/14/11 12:57pm #

Random Non-Sequiters

Jennifer and I had Hungry Howie's pizza yesterday. First time for me in several years. I noticed on the box that they have changed the logo.He's a little less 70s and a little less Bazooka Joe now than he was. Also his tongue isn't sticking out any more.

- 872/365 - Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire, and More
source: Jennifer\'s 365 Project

Look it's me with a duck on my head. Read Jennifer's write-up of our brief trip to Silver Leaf Renaissance Faire last weekend.


Let's Go Surfing

- Pomplamoose

Been thoroughly enjoying listening to Pomplamoose's Youtube playlist this morning.

- Evolution of the Hipster
source: Likecool

Amusing video with puppets (the end of this video actually turned me on to Pomplamoose this morning too.)

- The Neglected Necessities Of Design
source: Smashing Magazine Feed


- Caffeine & Edibles : Soylent Green Crackers
source: ThinkGeek :: What\'s New

Serve them at your next vegetarian friend luncheon. (I'm not sure if they are only made from vegetarian people though.)


- First Look Batman Legacy Series 2
source: thefwoosh.com

Lots of great pictures.

- George Martin interviewed at Google
source: Super Punch

Nice hour long talk. I don't think there were any spoilers much for the TV show, but there were a few slips (I think) that made me wonder about some later stuff. Watch at your own risk.

- Interviews of Neca artists
source: Super Punch

Really neat video, nice look at an action figure sculptor studio.

- First Look Thundercats Classics Series 1
source: thefwoosh.com

Nice pics.


- Concept watch puts the power of Android on your wrist
source: DVICE

Neat looking device, I could see wanting a device like this if it had really really good integration with a smartphone, or if they both really well connected to the same well of cloud data.

- How My Cats See Me
source: Likecool


- Apple market capitalisation briefly exceeds Exxons
source: Boing Boing

Interesting headline, but I'm not really sure what this means.

- Phil Noto pays tribute to the Fantastic Four
source: Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources - Covering Comic Book News and Entertainment

Nice image, and also a nice argument for why certain characters work best in the time period in which they were created.

- Managing Your Life with a Simple Text File
source: Unplggd

I've tried many different programs, and I pretty much always come back to some version of an unformated text file (sometimes as it's own file or sometimes hosted within something else) for organizing.


- Use freeware to add a taskbar to your second monitor
source: The Red Ferret Journal - gadgets, cool sites, freeware and tech trivia


- Crime Syndicate of Amerika hits retail!
source: The DC Universe Classics (DCUC) Info Archive

Nice Pics.

- Harison Ford role illustrations
source: tumblr.MikeRapin

More pics at the link.

- These photos look… *sunglasses* Doctor-ed.
source: tumblr.MikeRapin

Brilliant idea. (Doctor Who added to famous photos)

- Google Chrome OS for Tablets: Divided We… Stand?! (Video)
source: Tablet News

I can't see a niche for this at the moment, but if the ecosystem changes, if wi-fi gets more ubiquitous, or hotspot functionality becomes more ubiquitous with phones, and if tablets get down below $100, I could see a niche forming for ChromeOS, but one problem it does seem to have is the UI on this thing (browser head and keyboard) turns the content area into a sliver, and that just doesn't work.


- Batman will pretty much put a Bat-symbol on anything
source: Every Day Is Like Wednesday

Amusing notice.

- Game of Thrones Before and After Special Effects for Season 1 [Video]
source: the How-To Geek


Nice look at the Game of Thrones Special Effects. There are spoilers here if you haven't watched the show yet.

- On Air Turns Your Android Phones Storage into a Wi-Fi Drive
source: the How-To Geek

The FTP works well.

- Make your own MREs for emergencies
source: The Red Ferret Journal - gadgets, cool sites, freeware and tech trivia


- Generatives
source: The Technium

Kevin Kelly always has good stuff... in this video he's promoting: Screening, Interacting, Sharing, Flowing, Accessing, Generating. topics he's spoken on before.

- Better Small Space Living
source: Cool Hunting

Interesting iPad mount. Should the iPad 3 make itself overwhelmingly necessary, I could see my iPad 2 eventually living in the kitchen in this way.

- 5-Minute Recycled Drawstring Pouch
source: Instructables: exploring - featured

My Grandma used to make these for all sorts of things when I was little. Useful little storage format.

- How to make cardboard Dominos
source: Instructables: exploring - featured

Not sure I'd ever be somewhere that I'd need emergency dominos, but this is a neat idea.

- Mod your Green Lantern movie ring and make it glow!
source: Instructables: exploring - featured

Neat, but I've never been a fan of just the center lighting up. In my opinion, the entire ring would be homogenous more or less and light up equally.

- Sonic Screwdriver
source: Instructables: exploring - featured

Neat. I still am looking to get one of these, either store bought, or made.

- A little boat
source: Instructables: exploring - featured

Neat little boat project.

- Create that Retro look for Free, with Pixlr-o-matic
source: The iPhoneography Blog

Probably do not need another one of these, but Autodesk has such nice iOS software, how can you not try this when it's free?

- Hipster Lorem Ipsum
source: swissmiss

I think I'll reach for this site instead of regular lorem ipsum on my next project.

- How To Make Edible Books
source: Neatorama

But can you make an edible eBook?

- Cities Are Immortal; Companies Die
source: The Technium

More Kevin Kelly.
The other question, also unanswerable right now, is: how does one make a company more like a city?

West's answer to that one was: bring in the crazy people! A city is full of crazies. You can't get rid of them, but they are the ones that keep the evolution going. Companies get rid of crazies, which in the long term will prevent them from evolving. I don't buy the crazies. Rather I think it is the defined boundaries of a company which prevent it from evolving. It is too closed, too bounded. Cities on the other hand or ill-defined, loosely coupled, permeable, center-less beings, and therefore capable of constant transfiguration without changing their essence.

- A definition of a leader...
source: Seth\'s Blog

Yep.

I want to hear your



Ptw Swamp Thing

Ptw Swamp Thing
Comes with a fair ammount of "environmentally conscience" packaging. Neat figure.

Flickr: Sat 08-13-11 11:41:33 -0400



Fri 8/12/11 7:02am #

Mitt Romney: "Corporations are People"



First off, they are not. Second off, if they were, they could not be viewed as very good people..

I want to hear your



Ptw Right before I polished off my 2nd loose. Yum.

Ptw Right before I polished off my 2nd loose. Yum.

Flickr: Sun 08-07-11 15:02:18 -0400


Ptw In a neat little resturaunt in Kzoo D'nicio Parlour

Ptw In a neat little resturaunt in Kzoo D'nicio Parlour

Flickr: Sun 08-07-11 14:42:35 -0400


Ptw Fanfare

Ptw Fanfare

Flickr: Sun 08-07-11 13:56:24 -0400



Sat 8/06/11 9:28pm #

Random Non-sequiters

Today was a rainy day. Mostly climbed into my office and burrowed into my Google Reader (as you can tell by all the link blogging below this post.)

On the news the US apparently avoided a default, but then got it's credit downgraded anyway by some private corporation that does such things. The thing I most think about this whole thing is, if the US is a bad place to put your money, where's a good place?

Obama is turning out to be fairly uninspiring isn't he? I mean, it's cool he hasn't had any scandals much to speak of, but nothing much has changed either has it?

If it comes down to Obama vs Romney it's going to be a pretty dull election next year isn't it?

You know what is still cool? iPad 2. Still rocking it as a magical device. Nothing else much tech-wise on my radar at the moment either.

Of course, we're a couple months away from Apple possibly announcing an iPad 3 so who knows, maybe that will grill hamburgers or make popcorn or something. probably another year to a year and a half before they start coming out with apps that no longer work on the 2 though.

A few weeks from the DC reboot. I'll probably checkout a bunch off the number ones but it seem very non interesting based on what has leaked out so far.

You now what turned out to be better than expected? The BBC show: Sherlock. We have watched the first 2 of 3 90 minute episodes so far and they are very good. I mean Doctor Who level good. There was one quote in particular in the 1st episode that really stuck with me: "Genius need an audience", what a great observation, and for the first episode at least that's all you need to know to understand Sherlock and Watson.

By the way, I'm typing this post on a small blutooth thumbkeyboard while lying down on the couch. My iPad is off to the side resting on an ottoman. The one thing that bothers me about all the gadgets I have is that their keyboards are all just a little different from each other and I always have abit of a ramp up time where I have to reacquaint myself with any one device's extended character locations and general spacing. Not sure there is a solution for that though although Im sure you could come up with some 4 row by 10 column universal key configuration that would be a start down the right path.

There are two genre movies out right now that I haven't seen yet: Cowboys vs Aliens and Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Not quite sure when I'm going to see them. There were just so very many genre movies out this summer and I've seen so many that I haven't been that anxious to go back into the theater lately. Maybe I might check these out in a few weeks though when they hit the Sunday $4 HotFM shows at Celebration Cinema.

So far I've been fairly unimpressed with Google+. Its a really great sharing service, but so far I think my problem is that I really don't have a large enough group of people to share with on it. sadly, the people I'm most interested in sharing information with are still best reached via email and are not very participatory on the other social networks. So Google+ is a nice enough service, but just lacks others to use it with.

I think my initial fascination with camera apps that stared with the iPod Touch acquisition last October has subsided some, mostly because I have so many and mostly to paraphrase the above Sherlock quote: because photo apps need an audience. iPhone photography is alot like Google+ in that regard, its just not as much fun unless you have a regular group participating with you.

I wonder if in the next year or so, coffee shops might embrace becoming iPad lounges. Sure there are lots of laptop friendly wifi enabled coffee shops out there but the iPad is a completely different vibe isn't it? It sort of begs out for comfier chairs and a less table centric experience. Probably within 2 years, just about everyone is going to have one of these things, so I imagine at some point someone is going to figure out how to cater to those that want to read and surf on theirs in public spaces.

Thats pretty much all the rambling for now, going to watch Thundercats and Torchwood now I think.

I want to hear your




Sat 8/06/11 7:33pm #

Let's Go Surfing

- DIY shopping cart bike by zieak
source: Likecool

Of course the real trick is to pedal it into the store.

- Torchwood: Miracle Day Episode 1
source: Law and the Multiverse

The episode looked at thru a legal lens.

- Torchwood: Miracle Day Episode 2
source: Law and the Multiverse

More.

- Comic Sans Fighting Back (video)
source: swissmiss

Language NSFW.

- Hey Tell
source: swissmiss

App that makes your iPhone into a Walkie Talkie.

- Toilet Paper Owls
source: swissmiss

Toilet Paper Owls.

- Build Your Own IKEA Pallet Desk
source: Unplggd

Neat.

- Digital comics: Turning the tables
source: Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources - Covering Comic Book News and Entertainment


- Ochobags
source: Cool Hunting

That's pretty brilliant the way the little bag shares the same strap with the big bag.

- Your video of the day | ‘Rise Above from Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
source: Robot 6 @ Comic Book Resources - Covering Comic Book News and Entertainment

Good Stuff.

- Acer Iconia Tab A100 Coming in August, Priced at $300
source: Tablet News

7" form factor is a nice size.

- Create a Wallet from a Single Sheet of Paper [Paper Craft]
source: the How-To Geek

Actually pretty neat the way this Wallet with cash and credit card sections is made from one sheet of paper.

- JellyCam Is a Super Simple Stop-Motion Animator
source: the How-To Geek

Nice stop motion animation software. Neat demo video too.


- Make your paper airplanes soar with this electric conversion kit
source: The Red Ferret Journal - gadgets, cool sites, freeware and tech trivia

Neat.

- Philippe Starck's Multi-functional USB LED Lamps
source: Unplggd

Neat shelf for an iPad.

- Make a Hypertufa Table Top This Old House
source: Apartment Therapy - Chicago

Interesting.

- One Simple Idea: Mason Jar Candles on Summer Nights
source: Apartment Therapy - Chicago

Simple.

- Three's Company: The Axel Three-Seater
source: Apartment Therapy - Chicago

Interesting.


- Hold-me Hoodie
source: Likecool




- DIY Propcasting: Mold and Clone Just About Anything
source: the How-To Geek

Nice Instructional.


- New iPad Magazine From Aol Picks Awesome Reads For You [Apps]
source: Gizmodo

It's a nice app, but the once a day delivery is an odd thing.

- Magazine Stack Stool
source: swissmiss

Neat.


- Piano Hanger
source: swissmiss

Neat.

- Chicago/CreativeMornings Video: Jim Coudal
source: swissmiss

Interesting video. Should advertising agencies become their own clients?

- Desk-It
source: swissmiss


- Social Media Propaganda Posters by Aaron Wood
source: Neatorama

These are neat. I have them hanging in my work office at the moment.

- Daniel Govars Justice Society of America Collection
source: Project Rooftop

I like this Golden Age Green lantern re imagining.

- Wifi Syncr: An App To Sync Files Between Your Computer & Android Device
source: MakeUseOf.com

This is a useful app, create a share on your pc then once set-up you have a 1 button sync you can do on your android.




- The Fantastic Four by Joe Quesada
source: Super Punch

Neat making various steps at the link.

- OLO
source: swissmiss

Fun simple iPad game you can play right in your Safari browser.

- Save 15% Printing a Photo Book with Poyomi
source: Digital Media Thoughts

I want to hear your




Sat 8/06/11 3:14pm #

Let's Go Surfing

- Tabco Tablet Once Again Gets A Viral Lemmings With iPads (Video)
source: Tablet News

Weird video. Doesn't work though, because Apple is cool. good advertising taps into an existing emotion and amplifies it, this is bad advertising trying to swim against the current of "truth".

- ‪Turn On or Turn Off?:‬ Workiture el BagPed
source: Unplggd

Neat idea for a backpack stand/stool. But I'd rather do one in wood.

- Tonight (D&D) Song



Well done song, but I can't help think, how much time to we spend trying to escape reality in alot of this geekery. Such fond heartfelt emaotion for unreality, is there anyway to channel that into making the world itself better? Or is it just the lack of real conflict leading to a lack of real drama that makes us romanticize slaying dragons and firing blasters?

- Final Frame: "Analogical Tetris"
source: Unplggd

Abit to long of an intro but there are some amusing bits in the video.

- iPhone Docks Made From Old, Recycled Books
source: Unplggd

Interesting idea.

- Thirteen tips for giving a well-organized and informative speech
source: Unclutterer

Nice article. Good bullet points.

- Nexus Contraptions, a new free game from Google
source: Super Punch

Cool little physics puzzle game.

- LEGO Gets Full DC Comics License
source: Action Figure Insider - Best Toy News on the Web!

I imagine there will be some DC Lego's in my future.

- Bam! Comic Book Guide Is a Crash Course in Digital Comic Reading
source: the How-To Geek

Nice Overview. Download their PDF.

- Gutters: Issue #165 - Mauro Vargas
source: The Gutters

Gutters is a great Comic book parody "webcomic". Always good stuff.

- CULLY HAMNER Defines His DCnU Costume Redesign Role
source: Newsarama.com

Interesting mention in the article that some of the characters we're designed using an iPad.

- Home & Office : Titanium Straw
source: ThinkGeek :: What\'s New

$18 straw at Thinkgeek.

- Enterprise crew at the Shuttle Enterprise, 1976
source: Boing Boing

Boldy Go back to the 70s!

- San Diego Comic-Con 2011 More Marvel 6-Inch Figures Preview Night
source: ActionFigurePics.com

6" Samuel L. Jackson Nick Fury, You're Mutha Fnckin' right I'm going to get that figure.

- DCUC figures from Comicon !
source: The DC Universe Classics (DCUC) Info Archive

I have the entire top row (except Proty in the center, it'd be nice to have some of those bottom row figures, like Karate Kid, Collosal Boy and Matter Eater Lad.

Always like that Wildfire costume as a kid too.

- SDCC11: First Look At Hasbro's Marvel Universe & Legends
source: CoolToyReview.com



Nice to see the return of 6" Marvel Legends. I'll probably pick-up these two.


- San Diego Comic-Con 2011 DC Direct Brightest Day, Flashpoint, and DCnU
source: ActionFigurePics.com

I'm a big believer that for superheroes underwear should go outside their pants but the new supes costume design doesn't look half bad in plastic.

- SDCC 2011 Thundercats
source: Toy: AFHub.com

Sadly, these figures look pretty bad. Bummer because I'd like to pick-up a 6" classic Lion-O.

- Mattels Proposed DC Collector Club
source: Action Figure Insider - Best Toy News on the Web!

Mattycollector.com is requiring sign-ups of a certain number before they run this "figure of the month" club. They just extended the sign-ups another 10 days because so far in the 2 or 3 weeks since announcement they've only gotten to 28% of their participation goal. I think their main problem is they are running a subscription service targeted at collectors and the 4 figures they have announced have all been made before in DC Direct line. As a DC collector, you aren't going to be as interested in a DCUC figure that you already have as a 6" DCD. Too bad they didn't find more original and obscure first time in plastic figures to launch their service with.

- Video: Watch Grant Morrison: Talking With Gods Free Online In The US
source: Bleeding Cool

Interesting 1hr 19min Grant Morrison Documentary.

- Marlowe
source: Likecool

Neat, arty video about a guy and his 40 year old Dodge Charger.

- Oak iPad Stand
source: Likecool

Interesting idea.

- Hadoken on the radar
source: Likecool

Well that explains today's rain.

- Madeon - Pop Culture (live mashup)
source: Likecool

Controller looks like something that should be straight out of an old Buck Rogers episode.

I want to hear your



Posterous Post #

Flipboard

Flipboard is a great app, if you have an iPad, download it immediately. Every now and then though their general catagories highlight how myopic the tech blogging world can be, like below where 5 different sites pretty much posted the same press release story at more or less the same time.

Photo

Sent from my iPad

Mobile Update: Wed 08-03-11 18:58:00 -0400

Ptw You can see the car thru window behind poster

Ptw You can see the car thru window behind poster
Brakes change

Flickr: Mon 08-01-11 16:36:51 -0400


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