March 2010
23 posts
Social networking: Your key to easy credit? →
Erica Sandberg reveals that what we do online can actually effect our credit.
Creditors look at who we are connected to, what we post, and how we conduct ourselves when determining how much of a risk we are — making it yet another reason why we need to be aware of what we share with the online world.
[via Consumerist]
February 2010
29 posts
Become a Gmail Master Redux →
Ahh. Two of my favorite web flavors, together again.
Lifehacker shows us how to be a Gmail ninja, and believe me, there’s a lot of cool stuff packed in there. If you’re a Gmail user and like power tools, you’ll find everything you need to take the best webmail service to the next level in this article.
WatchBegone Dull Care, 1949
by Evelyn Lambart & Norman McLaren
Music by the Oscar Peterson Trio
When using open source makes you an enemy of the... →
The Guardian’s Technology Blog discusses the ridiculous discovery that lobby groups are trying to equate using open source software with piracy.
Governments that encourage the use of free software save their citizens money and promote innovation.
It’s infuriating to think that merely encouraging such a sound practice may get a country on the “bad pirate state” list we use...
Synth Britannia: BBC documentary about synthpop... →
Boing Boing unearths a treasure trove series of YouTube videos about one of my favorite forms of music: Synthpop.
It’s in nine parts, and it features the best of the scene, starting with Kraftwerk and moving on to Gary Numan, the Human League, Cabaret Voltaire, Ultravox, New Order, Soft Cell, and more.
I am in heaven.
Booking a Flight the Frugal Way →
If you’d like to find out how to book the best (and least expensive) flights, check out this article from Matt Gross on the New York Times Frugal Traveler blog.
I can personally vouch for Kayak, Farecast, and SeatExpert, and look forward to trying the other tools and tricks mentioned.
[via Kottke]
No Time Like the Present to Choose Strong... →
Time and time again, I see people choosing bad passwords and I can’t figure out why. Sure, it’s a little more work to keep your stuff more secure, but isn’t it worth it?
Check out this Lifehacker post to see what I mean, and how easy it is to get secure.
Replacing Chocolate with ... wait ... Water? →
The University of Birmingham (UK) says that it’s found a way to connect water particles to fats including cocoa butter and vegetable oil, creating ultra low-fat versions of chocolate, mayonnaise, and oatmeal.
The oatmeal, in fact, is formulated to keep us full for 5-6 hours to help curb between-meal snacking.
If this turns out to be the real thing, I’m all for it. I have no problem...
Free Games: Command & Conquer 1-3 →
In celebration of version 4, coming out soon, Electronic Arts has released versions 1-3 of this excellent real-time strategy game for free.
If you like the genre, you can’t get much better than these classics.
[via Kotaku]
Toshiba Develops 1TB SSD That Fits On A Postage... →
Remember floppy disks? USB flash drives quickly made them obsolete.
The same technology is making our computer’s hard disk drives just as inferior. Solid state drives (SSD’s) are starting to take over, and for this geek it’s very exciting.
They use much less energy, are much faster, and can be much more reliable because they have no moving parts.
Right now they’re...
Bundle →
This new service lets us see how people spend their money by using anonymous data collected by the US Government, Citibank, and others.
Find out how people in your neck of the woods compare, or check out the cost of living for other areas of the country.
[via Consumerist]
How HTML5 Will Change the Way You Use the Web →
I’ve been asked about the future of the web lately, and can’t think of a better way to show you than this Lifehacker article on HTML5, which is coming to a browser you should be using soon (if not already).
Flash has been a great add-on to the web, allowing games, animation, video, and other interactivity that the old HTML couldn’t handle — but Adobe owns it and controls...
OK Go - This Too Shall Pass →
Unfortunately I can’t embed this OK Go music video on the blog, but I still love it so much that I’m linking to it.
It put a smile on my face, and warmth within my heart.
[via VSL]
The Cost of an E-Book Will Be Going Up →
The NY Times explains that because publishers expect so many people to buy new e-readers in the coming months and years, it’s better to raise the price now.
Their logic is that new folks won’t know how “cheap” e-books are now, so they won’t balk at higher prices. My contention remains that even $9.99 is fairly outrageous for an electronic text that costs next to...
Free Speculative Fiction Online →
Dive into this free collection of sci-fi and fantasy works from favorite authors, new and old.
When I have more time, I’m all over this.
[thanks, SeltzerLizard!]
WatchDerek Sivers: Weird, or just different?
Google analyst: U.S. Internet needs to get faster →
Google gets it, and wants us to get it, too.
Here’s hoping they’ll be successful in their efforts to bring open, fast Internet access to every home in the United States.
CNN’s interview with Derek Slater at Google reveals a concerted effort on the part of the Internet giant to bring us back to where we should be — global leaders in broadband access and innovative online...
Paying Zero for Public Services →
I love the idea of this Zero Rupee Note, given to corrupt officials in India and other East Asian nations, actually gets some of them to clean up their act.
Yet another fascinating way that Internet connects us together.
[via Kottke]
If Global Warming Is Real Then Why Is It Cold →
Here’s a blog that collects cartoons made by people who can’t seem to tell the difference between climate and weather (or choose not to).
Wow.
[via Waxy Links]
Jelli →
This is a fantastic concept whose time has come — radio stations where online users control every song that’s played.
I’d love it if one of the terrestrial stations was in my area! For now, I’ll have to content myself with streaming online and try not to get too distracted by voting on, rocketing, and bombing songs.
[via Lifehacker]
Paid Holidays/Vacation Days in the U.S. Versus... →
I’ve been enjoying lots of posts on Sociological Images lately … this one compares U.S. policy on paid holidays and vacation days with other developed countries.
I’ll leave it for you to discover and draw your own conclusions, but I was certainly stunned.
20 Things That Happen in One Minute →
[via Sociological Images]
