Francesca Lanzavecchia’s ProAesthetics supports
Francesca Lanzavecchia's ProAesthetics supports via pan-dan.
August 31st, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | Comments Off
DIY IKEA Headphone Stand [DIY]
All-things-IKEA weblog IKEA Hacker details how to make an attractive headphone stand for your desk—complete with cable-wrapping posts for cord management—using roughly $15 worth of returned parts from IKEA. The outcome, which you can check out at IKEA Hacker or in the many larger pics at the original forum post, is really impressive. The headphone stand seems like a perfect addition to any desk, particularly if you do any sort of editing or you just like zoning out with headphones when you're working.
August 31st, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | Comments Off
Is The US Becoming A Part Of The Internet Backwater?
For most of the life of the Internet the United States has played the biggest role in the development and managing of it. At one point all the data that flowed on the Internet went through the US and US companies. I don’t there are very many companies involved with the Internet infrastructure ever imagined a day would come where this wasn’t the case. That day however may very soon be upon us; if it already hasn’t started happening.
In the past week we have heard that Comcast is going to be introducing download caps which follows on the heels of Time Warner announcing trial runs of the same idea. Not that long ago universities in Canada were seriously considering moving the US based servers they were using for research for more localized options.
Their concerns revolved around the US Patriot Act and the immense powers for surveillance of activity within the US Internet infrastructure. It was also suggested that if this became more of a trend than just a couple of Canadian universities could the Patriot Act end up hurting business like Google.
Then today we have John Markoff from the New York Times writing a post about how Internet traffic is starting to bypass the US. It is his point that companies are more interested in their profit margins instead of creating technological advances regarding the Internet.
While companies like Comcast or Time Warner are trying to boost their bottom lines by any means possible without improving or advancing Internet connectivity the US is; quite rapidly in some cases, being surpassed by foreign countries. As John points out in his post:
Internet technologists say that the global data network that was once a competitive advantage for the United States is now increasingly outside the control of American companies. They decided not to invest in lower-cost optical fiber lines, which have rapidly become a commodity business.
He also ties in the fact that other countries are beginning to realize that the Internet is an integral part of their economic development. This means that they are wanting to start gaining control of how the Internet enters and leaves their countries.
Along with that there are growing concerns outside of the US about how it’s intelligence agencies believe that they need to have access to all the data that flows through the Internet. This doesn’t sit well with a lot of countries and as a result we are beginning to see a lot of the Internet traffic being routed around the US
Ms. Claffy said that the shift away from the United States was not limited to developing countries. The Japanese “are on a rampage to build out across India and China so they have alternative routes and so they don’t have to route through the U.S.”
Andrew M. Odlyzko, a professor at the University of Minnesota who tracks the growth of the global Internet, added, “We discovered the Internet, but we couldn’t keep it a secret.” While the United States carried 70 percent of the world’s Internet traffic a decade ago, he estimates that portion has fallen to about 25 percent.
This has to lead one to wonder what is going to happen to the US in the large global Internet scheme of things. When you consider that it is being run by companies who don’t appear to be interested in advancing the technology anymore and you have countries going around them for various reasons it doesn’t bode well for the country. More importantly where does this leave the US people as the Internet is obviously starting to leave them behind.
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Related Articles at Mashable! - The Social Networking Blog:
Tioti - Tape it Off the Internet!
eMusic Launches 10 Internet Radio Mashups
Google Still Against Microsoft-Yahoo Deal
Sony Adds 8 Channels to Bravia Internet TV
eBay Exec Warns Against Internet Taxes
comScore Releases Video Streaming Study
Internet Brands Looking for $45M with IPO
August 31st, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | Comments Off
Direct Line Takes You Straight to an Operator [Featured IPhone Download]
iPhone only: Inventive iPhone app Direct Line navigates automated phone systems to get you directly to an operator without having to sift through menu options yourself. To use it, just launch the app, tell it who you want to call (it supports hundreds of searchable companies), and let it take care of the rest. You can simply turn on your speakerphone and let Direct Line do its work. When the operator answers, you're ready to go. A lot of the time it appears to just stick with the old hit-zero-until-it-goes-to-a-human trick, but in most of my tests it worked really well. Aside from the convenience of going straight to the operator, it's also just a nice repository of phone numbers for your utilities. The biggest downside: Direct Line will set you back $.99 from the App Store—so it's not free, but it is definitely cool. Don't have an iPhone but still want to get to an operator with minimal effort? Try previously mentioned Dial a Human.
August 31st, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | Comments Off
In MN, Massive Police Raids On Suspected Protestors
X0563511 alerts us to events in Minneapolis and St. Paul in advance of the Republican convention (which has been put on hold because of Hurricane Gustav). Local police backed by the FBI raided a number of homes and public buildings and confiscated computers and other material. From Salon.com: "Last night, members of the St. Paul police department and the Ramsey County sheriff's department handcuffed, photographed and detained dozens of people meeting at a public venue to plan a demonstration, charging them with no crime other than 'fire code violations,' and early this morning, the Sheriff's department sent teams of officers into at least four Minneapolis area homes where suspected protesters were staying. Jane Hamsher and I were at two of those homes this morning — one which had just been raided and one which was in the process of being raided." Here is local reporting from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune: "Aided by informants planted in protest groups, authorities raided at least six buildings across St. Paul and Minneapolis to stop an 'anarchist' plan to disrupt this week's Republican National Convention. From Friday night through Saturday afternoon, officers surrounded houses, broke down doors, handcuffed scores of people and confiscated suspected tools of civil disobedience... A St. Paul City Council member described it as excessive, while activists, many of whom were detained and then released without charges, called it intimidation designed to quash free speech."
Read more of this story at Slashdot.
August 31st, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | Comments Off
Life with PlayStation delayed, destined to be free
Filed under: Gaming
August 31st, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | Comments Off
Gustav: Online resources are up, Blackwater gears up, Twitter blows up.
(1) Mercenary army outsourcers Controversial private security contractor firm Blackwater is gearing up for disaster in the Gulf, as Hurricane Gustav approaches. Snip from a "help wanted" ad on the firm's website:
Blackwater is compiling a list of qualified security personnel for possible deployment into areas affected by Hurricane Gustav. Applicants must meet all items listed under the respective Officer posting and be US citizens. Contract length is TBD.Via Clayton Cubitt.
(2) Sean Bonner of metblogs writes:
This morning I've stumbled across a good number of online resources for Hurricane Gustav and New Orleans and thought it would be good to start a list here to keep track of them. Feel free to add any in the comments and I'll try to keep this list updated with any links posted.Gustav resources online (hub.metblogs)
(3) You can follow Twitter chatter about #gustav here. Needless to say, the search string updates very frequently right now.
(4) Wikipedia says the Swedish name "Gustav" means "Staff of the Goths."
Previously on Boing Boing: New Orleans mayor: "We really don't have the resources to rescue you after this."
August 31st, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | Comments Off
Microsoft Tells Apple and Google to Wait Up; Hints at Skymarket
So Microsoft saw Apple and the iPhone 3G and adjoining App Store pass its stoop slapping fives with its oh-so-cool friends, and executives in the Windows Mobile division perhaps thought it best to come up something with their own. Then, just last week, Google unveiled plans to introduce something called Android Market to complement its mobile software platform when it arrives sometime in the next few months. Now Microsoft is letting slip its own message about third-party unity. The company’s buzzword: Skymarket.
There isn’t much detail as to what Skymarket will be. One can venture a guess, though. Something in the vein of those other two labels up in that first paragraph there. What we can confirm is that, according to job listings discovered by istartedsomething, Microsoft is seeking both a “senior product manager” and “product manager - commercial integration.” Both would be tasked with pushing “the launch of a v1 marketplace service for Windows Mobile.”
This is admittedly good news, as it’s better for progress to be made in the industry within as many major mobile platforms as possible. But as Long Zheng writes, the Windows Mobile world has for a long while been living a heavily scattered existence, and only now has Microsoft seemed pressed to coalesce its personal universe. A universe purported to claim 18,000 applications, much of which is presumably best described as anti-matter. Or dark matter. Or just no-good matter. Which says quite a bit. An adventurous biggie, it is not.
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Related Articles at Mashable! - The Social Networking Blog:
Confirmed: Google Takes on PowerPoint
Microsoft To Buy 24/7 Real Media Ad Network?
Apple Tops $200 Per Share
Google News Now Looks Beautiful On Your iPhone
Google to Buy Apple?
Apple Movie Rentals On its Way?
Google Apps Updates for Businesses, Schools and Orgs
August 31st, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | Comments Off
Get the Most Out of Your New Town [Ungeek To Live]
Editor's Note: Welcome my San Diego-based pal Kelly Abbott, founder of Dandelife and all-around good guy. His new weekend post series, Ungeek to Live, will highlight the ways you can get things done without always involving a computer or gadget.
Not all things analog can go digital, and let's face it, most things worth a hill of beans in this world are analog through and through. Life is all about people, places and things. The best life hacks should be as much about getting the most from what we can smell, touch, and taste as the things we see and hear. Today, I kick off a guest-column "Ungeek to Live" as the new kid on the block here at Lifehacker. In that vein I've got a few pointers on making the most out of one's new surroundings. Whether it's a move to a new city for a new job, a sacrifice for an old squeeze, or retirement for better surf, what we need are strategies for getting snug and staying long in our new digs. Photo by Old Yankee.
Buy Local
When you move to a new place, you need to tend to the usual matters. Move in. Check. Get a driver's license. Check. Register to vote. Check. Now what? There are a couple of things you want to do that make all the difference when establishing yourself in a new city.
First, get a local phone number. There's a tendency to ignore the importance of appearing to be from the city you're now living in. That's a bad move. I can understand the reluctance to spend money on a home land line just for the sake of appearances. Also who wants to change numbers? It's a hassle. But you don't need to do that anymore. Get a Grandcentral number. Point it to your mobile. Now everyone you meet doesn't think you're here today and gone back home tomorrow.
Photo by doviende
Second: subscribe to your local newspaper. I'm not kidding. Forget the web. Get the print edition. Fine, Sunday's only. If you have any intention of being a part of the fabric of your new locale, this is indispensable. It's amazing how in-tune your the daily rag really is. Bonus: for house guests it's a quaint sign that you're up early with coffee on the weekends and thus beyond suspicion.
Get a Map
You know, the kind that folds. Tape it to the wall next to your door. Every time you leave for the day, you'll have a look at it. Over time places will be remembered. And in idle moments serves as a reminder that there's a whole city waiting for you.
Buy Lunch
Photo by moriza
Everyone needs to eat. Please, please, please don't eat at your desk. One of the most difficult things to do when you get to town is not just meet people but meet the right people. For example, you've done your research on LinkedIn and you know who you need to add to your professional network. Great. You've contacted them directly, but you have nothing to offer because you're the new kid in town. What do you do? Buy lunch. Do this once a week and soon people will be taking you to lunch.
Play Hard
Photo by marvinkuo
Because you'll be gaining weight from all those lunches, you'll need to have good places to be social AND work out at the same time. The gym is not such a place. First of all, it stinks. Second, working out is not usually a team effort. In the gym, your iPod is your best friend and force field against unsolicited come-ons. If your aim is to be social, join a softball league. Play soccer. Kickball, dodgeball, frisbee golf. Join a team. Form a team and get new people to join. The point being, the people you see week after week will soon become your crew for BBQ's and beer. Here are two resources.
Sportsvite - Covers the major markets but as yet not as comprehensive as it could be.
FanFinder - Find fellow sports fans who live where you do and come from where you do. Go to a local sports bar and catch the game together.
Jesus and Wine
I love Meetup.com's tagline: "Use the Internet to get off the Internet!"
Meetup has all kinds of wonderful categories for finding meaningful connections with others. Be it beer or wine; darts, dirt or dreams; Mormons, Wiccans or atheists; or whether you're a Republican, Democrat, independent or Libertarian, there's little more than booze, religion and politics that can help you feel right at home again.
If you're looking for more traditional fare, try these directories for churches, temples and mosques.
Mosques
Churches
Temples, Synagogues and Chabad Centers
Coffee, Tea, Me
I love working out of the house. It's good on many levels. It gets your creative juices flowing. It also satisfies the desire we have to just be around people. If you work in public enough you will inevitably catch someone's eye. Vice versa. Coffee shops are great for lingering. If you want a tighter group, find a co-working space locally and get a desk.
Get Involved
Nothing will get you deeper in a community than volunteering. My best business contacts and most loyal friends are those whom I've met on the soccer field but who've thought enough of me to respond to my calls asking for donations. By being a dedicated volunteer in a local non-profit, you're doing the right thing all around. In addition to helping your new community directly, you're also giving yourself a shot in the arm with good cheer. Being the new kid in town can be tough and you'll need all the karma you can corral.
Try these sites for finding the right charity to dedicate yourself to:
- Charity Navigator - Animals, Arts, Culture, Humanities, Education, Environment, Human Services, Public Benefit
- Network For Good if you want to donate OR volunteer - Volunteer Match - (a service of Network for Good)
Tip: don't just volunteer. Ask to join the board or be the head of a committee. Ask to help with IT or their web site. Charities have regular everyday needs, but they have other needs that you might be a better fit for if you dig deeper.
Alternatively: How to Disappear Completely
How did you make the most of your new surroundings last time you moved? Tell us in the comments.
August 31st, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | Comments Off
New Facebook for iPhone Teaser Shows Why Touchscreens Kick Butt
As an iPhone owner, this pleases me. But more basically, as a owner of a touchscreen-enhanced device, this pleases me especially so. Truly custom tagging of photos, just as one would through an typical Web browser, is yet one more of those small, relatively insignificant options that prove just how useful something of the iPhone’s design can be.
There’s really no question that the iPhone is the software benchmark in the mobile market. The platform itself has something to do with Facebook’s ability to built this next iteration of the iPhone software. But the fact that the application’s engineers have design the upcoming edition this way - it’s safe to assume, as does Nick O’Neill of All Facebook, that this clues us in on what’s next to arrive in the App Store - shows just what one can do given the freedom of that pocket-sized canvas. There are occasionally rumblings about the lack of complete openness for third-party software development. Which is true. There isn’t. But if something such as this manages to pique the interest of the desired audience, well, objective achieved, no? If you can’t have everything, is a lot enough? Maybe so.
As numerous Android Challenge finalists and winners have similarly shown, a touchscreen is very much the necessary means to achieve all possible ends. There’s no getting around it. Yes, you can create outstanding mobile software which functions exclusively via a keypad. But media-rich applications which require user interaction to the detail shown in the video posted are clearly done best in a world of touch. You get less hassle on the user side, and there’s a good bit of comfort on the developer end as well.
Furthermore, seeing as how Android users and developers get the benefit of “open,” it may not be too much to think of touchscreen devices as the kill-switch for the buttoned, non-touch, plebeian masses. For the time being, the iPhone remains the stellar dream machine, giving software makers the ability to bring the unmatched intuitiveness of the hardware into the employ of their applications and services.
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Related Articles at Mashable! - The Social Networking Blog:
STUNNING: Facebook on the iPhone
World’s Simplest iPhone App
Multiply Launches iPhone Edition
AWESOME: Meebo on the iPhone
Social Networks Optimized For The iPhone
Palm Users Get Their Own Optimized Facebook App
Track What’s Hot at the iPhone App Store with Medialets
August 31st, 2008 - Posted in Uncategorized | | Comments Off
