"Band can be sold separately"

Some classic craigslist advertisements.

Most definitely not safe for work. The final one (Nissan) is the best.

Nap euphemisms

• Taking a tour of the napper valley
• Scoring high on a naptitude test
• Downloading naplications using napster
• A napstronaut travelling to Naptune

One door closes, another opens

A few days ago, Darlene was asking what the name of the restaurant back home (my original home) was called. She said it stood out because it had a bread bar. That is to say that you helped yourself to a variety of breads, buttered them up with your choice of butter (including garlic of course) and tossed it on a grill to toast it. Last night, we headed for a restaurant we hadn't been to in a while and en route, Darlene wondered aloud how much longer the place would stay open (it hadn't ever been jam packed). Well, it turns out she might have sensed something because alas, the place was closed. On our way to an area where there is a cluster of restaurants, I took a somewhat scenic route past the airport and we came across a new restaurant, attached to a new airport area hotel. The hotel is called Acclaim. The restaurant is called Pacini. We turned in. Darlene was excited to finally get to try a new place and after we walked in, her face got all excited. It turns out this is the place with the bread bar that we were talking about days ago. Calgary finally has a Pacini. It was great.

Dubai airport free of invasive scanners

Here's a switch - because full body airport scanners "contradict Islam, and out of respect for the privacy of individuals and their personal freedom" the head of the Dubai police force airport security assured travellers that Dubai would not be using them.

Isn't that weird? Dubai has more respect for privacy than the West does in this instance.

Super hero tee

Minimalist style.

I heart it.

Share and share alike

I really, really, really like this concept.

NeighborGoods is like Craigslist for borrowing. NeighborGoods helps people get more value out of stuff they actually want to keep. Members can safely borrow a lawnmower, lend a bicycle, or earn some extra money by renting a DVD collection. NeighborGoods provides all the tools to share safely and confidently including transparent user ratings and transaction histories, privacy controls, deposits, and automated calendars and reminders to ensure the safe return of loaned items.

Did I mention that I like this?

A change would do you good

I am always fascinated by humanity's resistance to change and fighting for the status quo on the grounds of tradition when change is offered.

Consider that decades ago, women were effectively treated as second class citizens, some would argue not even as citizens due to their ineligibility to vote. Although inequalities still exist between men and women today, things are better than they were - at least in Western culture. But I'm certain that back then, men fought like the bastards we are to prevent changes and came up with all kinds of excuses why treating women better was just generally a bad idea. But things eventually changed.

Fast forward to today. There are folks who feel very strongly that the way we use animals in events like our Calgary Stampede Rodeo amounts to cruelty. Those involved as participants and avid spectators would argue that rodeo events are tradition and offer a slice of culture and history that showcases skills and practices that are all but forgotten in many parts of the world. Although this is true, the pundits counter-argue that just because we used to do something as part of our heritage or was considered a necessity at some point in our past doesn't mean that it should still be condoned today. Rodeo supporters claim that the animals are treated very well and that injuries are just part of the game. Animal rights activists suggest that it's time for everyone to see the events for the inhumane acts that they are and finally put a stop to them.

When it was first suggested that the act of smoking should be physically isolated from non-smokers, businesses especially cried foul, but reason won the day in due course and now non-smokers are no longer subjected to second hand smoke at work or in commercial establishments. I recall a time when I was smoking in a classroom (for adults). Those days are long gone, never to be seen again.

I remember when I was in the military, the culture evolved from one of essentially all men to one of a quickly increasing number of women. When human rights legislation was introduced by the government, a lot of things men in a men-only working environment would take for granted as acceptable behaviour were suddenly categorized as harassment. The outrage, exasperation and complaining were palpable. The older guys (who happened to be in charge) especially felt that conforming to a new set of behavioural standards would be too much work. No longer could offensive jokes be told. No longer could nude calendars hang on shop walls. No longer was physical flirting appropriate - by rule of law. They got their revenge by alienating the guys from the women by making the guys do all of the laborious tasks in the field, even though the women were willing and capable of doing it themselves.

Other changes that are being resisted in some manner, depending on where you live:

• Gay marriage
• Abortion
• Embryonic stem cell research
• Dedicated bicycle lanes
• Euthanasia
• Outlawing distracting actions while driving
• Government and election reforms
• Forcing developers to plan neighbourhoods that are sustainable.
• Universal health care for everyone.

Can you think of more?

Look how beautiful, robust, secure, portable and scalable it is....

I'm not even a programmer, but I do know the basic difference between dot Net and Java. So when I saw this (rated PG) fake trailer for a movie about the same, a platform independent grin spread across my Windo... err face.

A tee with a ROFLcopter pilot insignia

Want!

What I gots

This is my version of Cory Doctorow: What I Do.

• Hardware: My main system is a 5 month old custom built PC running 64-bit Windows 7. I bought a custom made computer because it uses all brand name quality parts that tend to perform better and last longer than what the brand name box builders (Dell et al) make. I also have a latest generation aluminum Macbook, which I use only when I can't access my Windows box. Darlene has a PC too.
• External storage: 3 external hard drives. It's not enough. What all am I storing you might ask? I could tell you. But then.... you know the rest.....
  
• Phone: iPhone! Yeah, I know... It's my first foray into the realm of the smart phone and I figured it would give me all the things I need and not offer anything I don't. So far, so good. I don't even miss my old Palm and even Darlene, who is technophobic, has expressed an interest in inheriting the phone when I move up to an iPhone 4.
• E-mail: I don't use an email client because webmail is just more convenient. It's easier to use email when all messages are always available online and enables you to use other devices to access the messages.
• Mobile device: See phone...
• Mobile media: Creative Labs Zen. Now that I can store some of my music collection on my iPhone, it only goes out on road trips. I need a new device because Windows 7 doesn't support it.
• eBook Reader: Read? If only I had time....
• Browser: IE at work (to maintain familiarity (I teach IT subjects). Firefox at home.
• Calendar: See phone....
• RSS: None. I find RSS too limiting. I need all of the details, pictures, everything.
• FTP: Filezilla
• Text editor: Notepad
• Graphics: IrfanView and Picnic online.
• Screen capture: ScreenSeize at home. Snag-It at work.
• Accounting: N/A
• Office suite: Microsoft Office 2007. Office for Mac on my Macbook.
• Writing: All my writing ends up on my blog now, so I guess Blogger.
• CD ripping: CDex or EAC.
• Music player: Winamp.
• Audio editing: Audacity.
• Blog: Blogger.
• Car audio: iPhone or Zen mp3 player through an FM transmitter through my stock Acura stereo.
• Other tech stuff: I have a world domination unit.

I passed on the wish list. I likely have enough tech. OMG! What the heck am I saying?!

Ha ha! W00t!

W00t!

No, I mean 'W00t!', the company that sells one thing per day at a nicely discounted price, just got bought by Amazon.

But that's not the real news. AP decided to quote from the W00t! blog, which is funny, because AP is trying to insist that bloggers pay AP to quote anything AP released. So W00t! sent AP an invoice.

Ha ha! W00t!

How secure is your password?

Go here. Find out.

It might take them a while to crack mine....

No corkscrew required

How to open a wine bottle with just a shoe.

Why was I not told of this before?

Sneakers the way you want

Custom painted sneakers.

Like these Watchmen sneaks.

Message to the government agency that regulates food labels

....in particular, the nutrition information:

Labels should not be offering information based on a 250ml portion if the container you're holding is 375ml. I'm not an instant math whiz, I want to know how many calories I'm holding in my hand right now. If it's a question of making fair comparisions, standardize a serving or comparison volume and compare that, then show the figures for the actual container.

So in the case of a 500ml drink bottle, say "80 calories per 250ml (or the agreed upon industry standard) / 160 calories per this 500ml bottle."

No more trickery because the consumer misread the misleading label please.

Wheeeeeee!

Volkswagen decided to manifest their 'fast lane' promotion by putting a giant slide alongside one of the entrance stairways into the Alexanderplatz subway station.

If you can't seal 'em, nuke 'em

In an effort to fix the still-broken oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, now they're talking about using nukes. The idea is that a well placed nuke should seal the well. There are some tiny issues.

For one thing, the biggest lobbyists for this idea are the Russians. They claim to have sealed a runaway well decades ago with this tactic. Forgive me if I don't get very optimistic about a nuclear-related solution coming from the Russians.

Next, what would a nuke do to the Gulf? You think the shrimp fishing is bad now? Actually, never mind. With all the radiation, the mutant sea life spawned from such an explosion will surely solve the fishing crisis in a few decades.

Lastly, imagine if setting off a nuke on the ocean floor was all it takes to agitate the biggest fault lines in North America...

Science Advisor: Mr. President, I have good news and bad news.
Obama: Go on.
Science Advisor: The good news is, the oil well is sealed.
Obama: That's fantastic! What's the bad news?
Science Advisor: Uh. California just slipped into the Pacific Ocean and a sink hole the size of Kansas just opened up in the mid-west.....

Salsa is what gives a Jedi his power

Obi-Juan Kenobi.

"When it's a number two, I look like number one"

When I saw this commercial for Huggies denim diapers, I thought "This has to be a spoof..."

Turns out, I was wrong. This is a real commercial.

Ways to get out of a bad date

• Make sure to get food all over your mouth
• Keep mentioning how great your ex is
• Offer to pick the dandruff out of their hair
• Sneeze as loud and as animated as possible
• Order three double scotch and sodas for yourself like it's the usual thing
• Talk about yourself allowing no interruptions
• Claim there’s a problem at home between the babysitter and your 6 kids
• Put your wedding ring back on
• Keep mentioning how awful your ex is
• Call other people on your phone at regular intervals
• Yawn and stretch and show off your underarm sweat
• Show off your cleavage if you’re male
• One word: puns!
• Keep yelling “Seacrest out!” over and over

Anti-LOLz

I can haz laughs now?

[monotonous] Buy this

OK, I'm not a huge Futurama fan, but seriously, this brain slug crocheted headband is awesome.

[monotonous] Seriously.

Running on empty

Beautiful, eerie, time-lapse video of the LA area where there are no cars or people on the roads / streets.

Cat meets coin bank cat

What I like most about this video is not how the one cat tries to play with the fake coin bank cat, but how the other cat is just looking at him like "You're a dumbass..."

Heeeeere's Cookie!

ROFL.

"I was caned..."

A spoof iPhone 4 ad. Or as they put it : "Jane rips the iPhone 4 a new apps-hole."

Hey, I'm just the messenger.....

Jane Lynch rocks my world.

Liquid mountaneering

This is one of the funniest hoax videos I've seen in a while.

Some guys perfecting the art of running on water like a lizard can do.

Spoiler: transparent bridge.

ICE is cool (Microsoft ICE)

I used a new free photo stitching tool (from Microsoft - called ICE) to put this panorama of Alki Beach in West Seattle together.

I think it did a marvellous job. That sucker works fast too.

Did I mention it is free?

Click the pic for a bigger view.....

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♫ Ca......na.......da ♪

Happy Canada Day everyone. We're 143 today. By 'we' I mean our country.

And.... we just reached 34 million!

COOKIE! om nom nom nom nom

I don't think I've seen cooler cupcakes than these Cookie Monster cupcakes.

The concept is so simple too.