ElectricNews.net:News:Say 'cheese' to mobile fridge camera
A digital camera in your fridge. It takes a picture everytime you shut the door (I'm assuming the light is on for that!). Why? Simple... if you have a picute enabled phone or handheld, you can log into the system and see the picture to see what you are missing... say, if you are at the grocery store. "Hmmm.. More milk, and who keeps drinking the sodas?"
Out of all the weird things I've seen in 'enabled' kitchen ware, this one makes the most sense, but it does have problems. Until then, the best solution remains the 'Honey-Check' method...
"Hello, honey... I love you too. Just calling to tell you I love you... oh, could you look in the fridge?"
Friday, August 01, 2003
New Scientist
Sumulated food! It's a device that mimics the feel, texture and taste of food, but they are still working on smell, a very important factor in taste.
The use put forth is for companies to use computers in making food stuff, making it a quicker process. Me, I very much doubt it will ever come close to what came out of my Mom's Crock Pot on Sundays, or the whole experience that is her red beans and rice... which tastes great no matter how much mustard Dad puts on it. ;)
Sumulated food! It's a device that mimics the feel, texture and taste of food, but they are still working on smell, a very important factor in taste.
The use put forth is for companies to use computers in making food stuff, making it a quicker process. Me, I very much doubt it will ever come close to what came out of my Mom's Crock Pot on Sundays, or the whole experience that is her red beans and rice... which tastes great no matter how much mustard Dad puts on it. ;)
Thursday, July 31, 2003
Blogging for better bins
I talked generally about our leaders using blogs to keep in touch with the people (or more likely, to blow smoke at us). But as my Mother pointed out, I didn't really put a link to the Brits that were doing it. Here is a story about it.
Mom... always correcting me. Gotta love her. ;)
I talked generally about our leaders using blogs to keep in touch with the people (or more likely, to blow smoke at us). But as my Mother pointed out, I didn't really put a link to the Brits that were doing it. Here is a story about it.
Mom... always correcting me. Gotta love her. ;)
Digging for Googleholes - Google may be our new god, but it's not omnipotent. By Steven Johnson
We all use Google, but now some problems with using it are coming up. Here many are listed, and it's something to think about. The most interesting one to me was that, as we are researching more and more by net rather than book, and books aren't on the net, it's making for a very big collective blind spot.
At some point, we need a system where a book can be on the web and able to be searched, with maybe paid access or some other system.
I knew for years (just ask my Mom) that we would have a global information market. We ain't there yet, and we are going though the growing pains now.
We all use Google, but now some problems with using it are coming up. Here many are listed, and it's something to think about. The most interesting one to me was that, as we are researching more and more by net rather than book, and books aren't on the net, it's making for a very big collective blind spot.
At some point, we need a system where a book can be on the web and able to be searched, with maybe paid access or some other system.
I knew for years (just ask my Mom) that we would have a global information market. We ain't there yet, and we are going though the growing pains now.
Thursday, July 24, 2003
Ransom Center: Exhibitions & Events: Permanent Exhibitions: The Gutenberg Bible: Introduction
For anyone interested in the bible and it's history, here is one of the best copies of the Gutenberg Bible fully digitized. Each page, in flip style like a book, or you can zoom in on one page and see the lovely lettering.
Also included is a good overview of it's history, and of the history of books.
For anyone interested in the bible and it's history, here is one of the best copies of the Gutenberg Bible fully digitized. Each page, in flip style like a book, or you can zoom in on one page and see the lovely lettering.
Also included is a good overview of it's history, and of the history of books.
Tuesday, July 15, 2003
I've only been doing this blog thing for a bit, and to a very, very small crowd (OK... can't really call 'em a crowd either), but I've been hearing some stuff that got me thinking.
There have been some stories about two people in England that are in office who blog (no links... linking isn't working well right now. I'll try to add some later). This strikes me as a great idea. And the very reasons it's a great idea is why we won't see it happen much here in the US... for now.
The reasons it's good are the very reasons why blogging work... it's a clear, close connection to the people. If you have comments, you even have a way to see what people think about what you say, both from those that agree with you and those that don't. It's also a great way to get your side of the story out, and do it even before the press does if you do it right.
But you see, most of our guys don't want that. They don't want a clear connection, or instant communications to the people. They want filtered access... both ways. They want a dozen people to parse what they say before you hear it, and they want even more people picking who gets to talk to them. I'm not picking sides here... both parties are this way.
It's going to take a dark horse runner that uses blogging to gain votes to get this started. Nobody is going to do this until someone makes it work for them.
Sadly, even if it gets going, it will just be filtered anyway. Can you imagine anybody that has a staff going over his each word blogging his actual unfiltered thoughts?
I sure can't... and it's a shame.
There have been some stories about two people in England that are in office who blog (no links... linking isn't working well right now. I'll try to add some later). This strikes me as a great idea. And the very reasons it's a great idea is why we won't see it happen much here in the US... for now.
The reasons it's good are the very reasons why blogging work... it's a clear, close connection to the people. If you have comments, you even have a way to see what people think about what you say, both from those that agree with you and those that don't. It's also a great way to get your side of the story out, and do it even before the press does if you do it right.
But you see, most of our guys don't want that. They don't want a clear connection, or instant communications to the people. They want filtered access... both ways. They want a dozen people to parse what they say before you hear it, and they want even more people picking who gets to talk to them. I'm not picking sides here... both parties are this way.
It's going to take a dark horse runner that uses blogging to gain votes to get this started. Nobody is going to do this until someone makes it work for them.
Sadly, even if it gets going, it will just be filtered anyway. Can you imagine anybody that has a staff going over his each word blogging his actual unfiltered thoughts?
I sure can't... and it's a shame.
Sunday, July 13, 2003
Just saw a great story on CBS News Sunday Morning. It's about a Red Hawk that made it's home in NYC, putting a nest up on one of the most exclusive buildings with a park view. It's been there for a deacade, and raises chicks even.
It seems quite a group has formed around watching him and his family. Here is a website put out by them. Interesting stuff, and lovely pictures.
Saturday, July 12, 2003
It's dumb, over the top, strange... and a must see. Think of it as the Japanese version of the Super Bowl, or Boxing... except with cooking. No... really. It's really interesting. The Chairman (always in an over the top outfit) shows the theme food that the cooks must use and focus on. The channeling picks an Iron Chef to take on. And they both spend one hour cooking as many meals with the theme in focus using the arena style kitchen (no, really... it's exactly as you'd imagine such a thing!) to fix them all. A group of judges taste each dish, and vote for a winner.
Is it as strange as it sounds? No, of course not... it's stranger. It's a mix of sports, cooking, campy fun and culture clash... with a dash of actual cooking knowlege that you learn as you watch.
If you have the food network and never bothered to watch it before (and really, I don't blame you... I didn't either when we first got it), watch this. Give it one show to see if you like it. You'll either find it boring or utterly love it.
Sea blob a sperm whale, experts say
Big, huge sea creatures... yep, another post about that. This one is a dead whale that some thought was a dead squid. The bit about why they are often confused is very interesting.
Big, huge sea creatures... yep, another post about that. This one is a dead whale that some thought was a dead squid. The bit about why they are often confused is very interesting.
I'm soooo glad our Cable got upgraded!
Just recently, our cable company (TCI, then AT&T, now Comcast... don't ask, long story) finally made good on promises made years ago... they improved the channel lineup! Not only do we now have several more Discovery and History type channels, we have a channel about video games and ! And Tech TV has a show called Screen Savers, which gave me this tip for a great little program for publishing my blog. It's a real program, not a web page... and it has word processing type controls, so it's easy to use. And my Mother will be glad that it has a spell checker! Hey, Mom... I might even use it!
It's called w.blogger, and I'm liking it so far. I may be using it for all but my quickie web link entries. Just have to make sure I don't go nuts and start making posts with tons of funky formating in it!
Hmmm.... just checked the spell checker out. Oddly, it doesn't have the word 'blog' or 'blogger' in it. Kind of funny for a program that is for blogging, isn't it?
Just recently, our cable company (TCI, then AT&T, now Comcast... don't ask, long story) finally made good on promises made years ago... they improved the channel lineup! Not only do we now have several more Discovery and History type channels, we have a channel about video games and ! And Tech TV has a show called Screen Savers, which gave me this tip for a great little program for publishing my blog. It's a real program, not a web page... and it has word processing type controls, so it's easy to use. And my Mother will be glad that it has a spell checker! Hey, Mom... I might even use it!
It's called w.blogger, and I'm liking it so far. I may be using it for all but my quickie web link entries. Just have to make sure I don't go nuts and start making posts with tons of funky formating in it!
Hmmm.... just checked the spell checker out. Oddly, it doesn't have the word 'blog' or 'blogger' in it. Kind of funny for a program that is for blogging, isn't it?
Friday, July 11, 2003
OK... I'm back now. My DSL line was again down, and again it took longer than Qwest claimed it would. 24 to 48 hours became a week and a half, including the 4th of July weekend. sigh...
I'm back now, and I'll be posting interesting things again starting this weekend. Hope you all had a good 4th of July!
I'm back now, and I'll be posting interesting things again starting this weekend. Hope you all had a good 4th of July!
Thursday, June 26, 2003
Lady Liberty Fireworks
Fun, pointless site. Make the fireworks fly over NYC! Good for a few moments fun, and a good site to show friends.
Fun, pointless site. Make the fireworks fly over NYC! Good for a few moments fun, and a good site to show friends.
Browse the San Francisco Historical Photograph Collection - SFPL.org
Hey, I already posted this, but they 'updated' blogger on me. I had to reset up my stuff!
If you like old pictures, this is a great site. It's all in catagories, so you don't download a bunch of graphics, making it work well for phone line users. Banks, bars, churches, cemiteries, earthquakes ( it is San Franciso, after all! ) and more can be found there.
Hey, I already posted this, but they 'updated' blogger on me. I had to reset up my stuff!
If you like old pictures, this is a great site. It's all in catagories, so you don't download a bunch of graphics, making it work well for phone line users. Banks, bars, churches, cemiteries, earthquakes ( it is San Franciso, after all! ) and more can be found there.
Tuesday, June 24, 2003
I Can't Stop Thinking! #2 - July 2000
Geek that I am, this is an online comic book. But this one is more like an artcle told in comic book form. The art is easy on the eyes, and the topic is a good one.
It talks about how, beyond the legal questions of downloadable musci, there are lots of possitives for it as well... if a working system can come out of it.
Very interesting, and a very easy read. Check it out.
Geek that I am, this is an online comic book. But this one is more like an artcle told in comic book form. The art is easy on the eyes, and the topic is a good one.
It talks about how, beyond the legal questions of downloadable musci, there are lots of possitives for it as well... if a working system can come out of it.
Very interesting, and a very easy read. Check it out.
Monday, June 23, 2003
9NEWS.com - Newsroom
DON'T test safety gear on a whim. An uncle, in an effort to see if a jacket would protect one from a knife wound, stabbed a 26 year old, and killing him.
Such safety gear is there as a last case protection. No protection scheme is perfect, and you shouldn't depend on them alone.
DON'T test safety gear on a whim. An uncle, in an effort to see if a jacket would protect one from a knife wound, stabbed a 26 year old, and killing him.
Such safety gear is there as a last case protection. No protection scheme is perfect, and you shouldn't depend on them alone.
Sunday, June 22, 2003
Moblogs By TextAmerica ::.
Mobile Picture Web Logs! Yah! Um... not yet. Not only do I not have the equipent for it (a picture taking web enabled phone), but I'm not sure the world is ready to see my mug all over a picture web log.
But here is something to think about... it won't be long before you can assume that more than one person in any group of people have a picture taking phone, which can send said picture over the net. now that cell phones are not seen as odd where there is people, will this bring up new concerns? What will it mean to people when your picture in any public event can be on the net in less than a second?
Something to think about.
Mobile Picture Web Logs! Yah! Um... not yet. Not only do I not have the equipent for it (a picture taking web enabled phone), but I'm not sure the world is ready to see my mug all over a picture web log.
But here is something to think about... it won't be long before you can assume that more than one person in any group of people have a picture taking phone, which can send said picture over the net. now that cell phones are not seen as odd where there is people, will this bring up new concerns? What will it mean to people when your picture in any public event can be on the net in less than a second?
Something to think about.
Wired News: Happy Birthday, Dear DNS
Remember when my site was here, but you couldn't get to it? Short historical note about the system that allows us all to find web pages.
Remember when my site was here, but you couldn't get to it? Short historical note about the system that allows us all to find web pages.
Friday, June 13, 2003
Honeywell, Lebanon firm locked in dispute
In simpliest terms, Honeywell is claiming to own the circle shape, at least when it comes to thermostats. Another company is claiming the shape is functional, so it can use it. from the story..
"Shapes are entitled to trademark protection, but they don't qualify as trademarks if the shape is functional," said Bauer, who specializes in intellectual property issues. "The argument of what qualifies as functional figures to be the case law dispute."
An interesting look into how trademarks work... or don't work, I guess. Now, here is the question... when you see a round thermostat cover... do you think Honeywell? Honeywell thinks so!
In simpliest terms, Honeywell is claiming to own the circle shape, at least when it comes to thermostats. Another company is claiming the shape is functional, so it can use it. from the story..
"Shapes are entitled to trademark protection, but they don't qualify as trademarks if the shape is functional," said Bauer, who specializes in intellectual property issues. "The argument of what qualifies as functional figures to be the case law dispute."
An interesting look into how trademarks work... or don't work, I guess. Now, here is the question... when you see a round thermostat cover... do you think Honeywell? Honeywell thinks so!
Wednesday, June 11, 2003
Spiky Bra - your sexy accessory
A bit racey comparied to what I normally blog, but I had to. Spikybras.com says it all. The odd thing is I've seen lightbulbs with the same spike effect.
A bit racey comparied to what I normally blog, but I had to. Spikybras.com says it all. The odd thing is I've seen lightbulbs with the same spike effect.
Saturday, June 07, 2003
My site (and my e-mail) was down for a couple of days. It caused me to think about a few things.
First of all, it made me really think about why I like having my own domian. When it was gone, I honestly felt disconnected. I had my net connection, and every other thing, but my site and my main e-mail was gone... and it was MINE! It sounds silly, but that was how a felt.
Besides that odd feeling, there are some very practical reasons why having one's own domain is a good thing. You have e-mail that you control with whatever name you want ( I can have up to 30 accounts based on '@maximumword.com', and for very little more I could have unlimited ones) along with access to all those accounts if I wish (great for families that have kids, isn't it?). And then there is the server space... not only do I have a site that I can say whatever I want to the world, but I can also store things that I can access anywhere in the world that I have net access.
I may just write up an article about it. I'll let you know if I do.
The other thing is the problem. My site was there, my server was working.. nothing really was broken! Then why couldn't you get to it? It is what is called a name server problem. You see, the whole internet is actually addressed with numbers. Yes, like phone numbers. So what happened was that my information got changed... so the information in the name server, the server that looks at the the URL that you type in the address bar of your browser and points it to the actual site, had bad information.
I could still get to it, but I would have to type in the actual number address. A real pain... think if you had to use longitude and laditude addresses instead of street addresses to find anybody!
First of all, it made me really think about why I like having my own domian. When it was gone, I honestly felt disconnected. I had my net connection, and every other thing, but my site and my main e-mail was gone... and it was MINE! It sounds silly, but that was how a felt.
Besides that odd feeling, there are some very practical reasons why having one's own domain is a good thing. You have e-mail that you control with whatever name you want ( I can have up to 30 accounts based on '@maximumword.com', and for very little more I could have unlimited ones) along with access to all those accounts if I wish (great for families that have kids, isn't it?). And then there is the server space... not only do I have a site that I can say whatever I want to the world, but I can also store things that I can access anywhere in the world that I have net access.
I may just write up an article about it. I'll let you know if I do.
The other thing is the problem. My site was there, my server was working.. nothing really was broken! Then why couldn't you get to it? It is what is called a name server problem. You see, the whole internet is actually addressed with numbers. Yes, like phone numbers. So what happened was that my information got changed... so the information in the name server, the server that looks at the the URL that you type in the address bar of your browser and points it to the actual site, had bad information.
I could still get to it, but I would have to type in the actual number address. A real pain... think if you had to use longitude and laditude addresses instead of street addresses to find anybody!
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