Steel velcro

Germans have invented a steel version of Velcro capable of withstanding a tensile load of up to 35 tonnes per square meter at temperatures as high as 800°C. It's called Metaklett.

The world is going to be a very different place in a few years' time.

No frills flights

Here's what I predict airline fares will be like in about a year, if not before:

Flight from Calgary to Montreal: $150 one way. Sounds good right? Wait for it.
Choose your seat: $15
Second carry on bag: $25
Meal: $10
Fuel surcharge: $25
Airport improvement fee: $15
Booking administration fee: $10
Airport security surcharge: $15
Ensure your luggage arrives with you: $20
Pillow: $5
Beverage: $5
Seat that reclines: $5
Pay toilet: $5
Overhead storage rental: $3
Open the window shade: $3
Close the window shade: another $3
In flight entertainment: $2
Magazine: $2

I guess I should stop now before the airlines get any bright ideas.......

Many boats come, few leave

If you want to see a glimpse of the effects of the recent recession that apparently is being purposely hidden from the world, check out this article. In it, they describe how a ghost fleet of container ships and supertankers sit idle and empty off shore of Singapore.

We're talking about 500 ships. It turns out that 12% of the world's shipping fleet sits idle at the moment and this could affect what's on store shelves this holiday season.

Let's go to IKEA to chill out for the day!

When people in Beijing need a place to hang out for a while (or in some cases all day), they like to go to IKEA. That's right.

They go for the hot dogs, the ice cream, the refillable drinks. They go for the air conditioning, the comfy beds and chairs (to rest and nap no less). They go to dream of what it would be like to have modern, Scandinavian furniture (truly a novelty in China I suppose). Couples even get pictures taken with the new furniture as some kind of fake posturing, "Look at us with our new Hamra and Lack".

Facebook applications sure are nosy

I was about to take what had the potential to be a fun quiz on Facebook (regardless of the R rated title) because the results some people were getting looked kinda funny. Then I saw the disclaimer in accessing the application.

OK, I made most of that stuff up, but not all of it.

"Obamacare bad! I don't know exactly how but....."

People who protested in Washington against 'Obamacare' don't seem to have a clue about what they're protesting. Or they're just making stuff up. Apparently, if you're a charismatic speaker, you're like Hitler.

Wait.... what?

Lobbyists need to learn math

Check out how Canadian Private Copying Collective, who collects a levy on every blank CD and DVD sold in Canada is once again pushing for a levy on every mp3 player sold.

Too bad their own argument doesn't stand up to a thing called 'math'. Great article.

The future of motorbikes?

The latest in concept motorcycles is seen here.

Some of them are quite radical. This tight little BMW electric bike is the most outrageous. The back end steers - like a boat.

I know.... it's really not your fault

I will attempt to list all the possible reasons why a driver would drive in the left-most lane of traffic and then suddenly and without warning (and often without signalling) get over x number of lanes to barely make an exit.

1. You're absent-minded.
2. You just have to always be in the left lane so badly, you wait until the last second to leave it even if it means missing your exit.
3. You habitually drive without any clue where you're going.
4. You think you're a stunt driver.
5. You're a butt-head.
6. You were abducted by aliens while driving and as soon as they put you back in your vehicle, you realized you were about to miss your exit.
7. You lost track of where you were while talking on your cell phone.
8. You suffer from ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder).
9. It's hard to steer with Big Mac sauce on your hands.
10. Texting is very distracting.
11. You're high.
12. You're driving a Dodge Neon but dream you were driving a BMW.
13. The sheer momentum from all that bling you wear makes it harder to change direction.
14. You thought you saw a merge left sign up ahead but then realized you were about to miss your exit.
15. Your mascara wand went into your eye.
16. A giant pot hole forced you to veer right - you really didn't mean to exit at all.
17. You're drunk.
18. The convertible top is down and the wind blew your hair into your eyes.
19. You had to spit out your chewing tobacco into the median before exiting.
20. You are channelling Ayrton Senna.

Prolific

I just noticed that 2 posts ago was my 6000th blog post.

I think we refer to that in the biz as prolific.

For anyone new to my blog, I gave you a lot of archives to read.

"They will in a minute"

I'm will blog something else about TED, the wonderful ideas conference held each year in California (and now other places). Later. But I wanted to direct your attention to this clever presentation about the world's education system and why it is flawed. This is great fodder for anyone in education of any sort, but also for managers, parents, people who breathe.......

Just go watch it already. You might learn something and laugh at the same time.

The big bag game

Since I have plundered the internets looking for great games and exercises for my upcoming Improv workshop, I thought it only fair that I share one that Darlene and I invented with the rest of the world. If this game already exists - I didn't know about it....

I'm calling it "Big bag". Two improvisers are at a bus stop, one has the big bag (of secret props). The improviser without the bag asks to borrow a pen (or tissue, something normal). The actor with the bag reaches in (without looking) and pulls something out. They hand it to the other to hold (so that they may dig for the correct object) and must tell the story behind the object.

Preparation: The bag can be a large purse, but I chose a small backpack for my 'big bag'. Darlene and I have been filling it with all manner of unique and interesting objects.

Foods not related to their geographic name

Here are some foods that have nothing to do with their ethnic or geographic descriptor.

• Swiss steak - nothing Swiss about it at all.
• Canadian bacon - known in Canada as back bacon (as it is in the rest of the world). Nothing uniquely Canadian about it.
• French fries - not from France, sorry.
• Michigan red hot (hot dog) - not from Michigan. Originated at Coney Island (NY). Elsewhere in the US, the dog is called a Coney Island dog. Michigan hot dogs are popular in Quebec too, where they are actually called Michigans.
• Spanish rice - not from Spain, more likely Mexico.
• Baked Alaska - not created in America.
• French toast - not from France either.
• Belgian waffles - OK - they are from Belgium, but they are actually called Brussels waffles. The guy who introduced them to Americans realized that nobody knew where Brussels really was, so he renamed them. Moving on....
• Italian Ice - not from Italy.
• Swiss roll - not from Switzerland.
• Creme Anglaise (English Cream) - not specific to the UK.

More:

• German Chocolate Cake - not German at all. Originally called German's chocolate cake because the essential ingredient was Baker’s German’s Sweet Chocolate, made by Samuel German.
  

The battle that could drive consumers over the edge

Now all of the major television networks in Canada are joining together to get the consuming public on their side regarding a push to charge cable and satellite companies carriage fees to carry their signals, which of course the cable companies oppose.

I had to think a while about this issue. I am no friend of the cable company considering what they charge me for the channels I want, the lack of real choice in terms of a-la-carte programming, the sheer lack of on-demand programming and the constant increases in monthly fees with no perceptible increase in performance or quality or value.

But I have to say that I kind of see the cable companies' point. People don't have to pay any carriage fee (or any fee at all for that matter) to watch Canadian networks over the air, so why should cable companies have to pay Canadian networks? And why should they be expected to 'suck it up'? It could be argued that cable companies pay foreign networks for access, but they wouldn't be able to get access otherwise. Can you believe this? Karl arguing on behalf of the cable companies. Be afraid.

But I see this for what it really is - a cash grab by networks to get some of cable TV's profit pie. Unfortunately for cable, this just helps the case for consumers getting their entertainment for free online. You can already stream movies from online providers for a nominal fee. As more and more online entrepreneurs find a (legal) way to undercut cable's monopoly by offering options that cable refuses to (such as real on-demand programming), their empire could come crashing down.

More and more people are walking away from watching network television as it is (which is one reason ad revenues are down so much) and this kind of bickering doesn't help the industry's cause. Think about this for a moment - consider the entertainment value and potential you get with your internet connection based on the price you pay for it. Does cable TV compare? If you could watch your favourite shows online and even hook your TV up to the internet directly or indirectly, would it be worth it to keep cable TV around anymore?

Best Google logo ever

Crop circles.

I have a theory: The theory of feather shift

In a feather duvet, the feathers will always shift away from the side of the bed occupied by the person who is always cold (typically - but not necessarily - the woman). This shift is unstoppable and will even occur if the duvet has baffles to prevent said shifting. Feathers are so attracted by some mysterious force to the person who needs the protective insulation of feathers the least, that said feathers will actually pierce through the fabric and escape the bonds of the duvet closest to the person who is always warm.

Discuss......

CC picture by Andrew B47.

Trip beard

One of the coolest time lapse videos I've seen in a long time, showing a guy who walks across China (over 4600km) and you witness his beard and hair grow over time. With breathtaking backgrounds of course.

Thank God it's Thursday

Utah has been trying an experiment with the work week that seems to be getting very positive feedback.

Utah mandated a 4 day work week (for state employees). The salaries and number of hours per week remain the same because the workday is just longer, allowing State offices to close on Fridays. Utah found that its compressed workweek resulted in a 13% reduction in energy use and estimated that employees saved as much as $6 million in gasoline costs commuting to work. 82% of state employees say they want to keep the new schedule.

Other states and businesses are looking at trying this '4-10' schedule out.

Ahhhh technology. It hath brought us closer together eh?

The 10 levels of intimacy in today's communication.

Ways to make work better - Vol 3

[Warning - this piece is tongue-in-cheek. Please..... no flame wars]

In this episode, I'll briefly talk about a real no-no at work: Unsolicited personal advice.

A sure fire way to alienate and offend your colleagues is to lecture them on how they could be living their lives differently. This is true especially if they weren't asking - but even if they were. If a co-worker asks your opinion about a life issue, it doesn't mean they care to actually adopt your philosophy or lifestyle or advice. In fact, they're looking for your offering in the form of a non-judgmental personal observation, not a manifesto. Your co-workers don't want you telling them or even hinting that their fashion sense is askew, or that they could stand to lose a few pounds or that the person they're dating / wed to isn't as nice as that adorable person in accounting. They could care less if the food in front of you at lunch is gluten-free, low sodium, high fibre and low fat if they're obviously enjoying chowing down on some warmed-up, left-over mac 'n cheese, because they know what it is that you're insinuating.

The last thing you should be doing at work is judging people or comparing their pitiful lives to your apparently superior one. Remember, just because you spend 7+ hours per day with someone doesn't mean they're your BFF. The only personal things you all have in common is your place of work and your desire for it to be Friday already.

BTW, those BBQ flavoured rice cakes you're eating look delightful. [snicker]

United steaks of America

E pluribus mignon.

Found at Bits & Pieces.

What's the first food you think of when you think 'smart choice'?

What's a poor consumer to do, trying to find nutritious food in the grocery aisles? They don't have time to read labels. So American food manufacturers are doing consumers a favour by identifying 'Smart Choices' with a trademark green check mark. Among the foods that are selected as smart choices? Mayonnaise, Fudgsicles, Cocoa Krispies and Froot Loops.

The president of the Smart Choices board basically said "Well, Froot Loops is a smarter choice than a donut." Yep. And a 3000 calorie Heath Bar shake at Baskin Robbins is a smarter choice than Drano too. Those supporting the Froot Loop selection also argue that even though the cereal is 40% sugar by weight, it has a lot of important nutrients too.

Read the article..... it's mind boggling.

55 random thoughts of young people

Some highlights of the whole list:

2. More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.
5. Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed to be going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.
9. There is a great need for sarcasm font.
11. I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.
14. I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
15. The only time I look forward to a red light is when I'm trying to finish a text.
18. Lol has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".
22. How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?
28. I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.
29. Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty, and you can wear them forever.
32. Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!
37. Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.
39. I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
41. I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello? Damnit!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
44. I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle, then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.
48. I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.

I'd like to biggy-size my Google please

No, you are not imagining things - Google has changed its search page and made the search field bigger.

They certainly have the room.....

Cheesy fun...... or is it fonty fun?

Here's a fun time waster for you. Cheese or Font. You are presented with a series of names and you have to guess if it's a cheese or a font.

Not as easy as it sounds.

First item sold on eBay....

11 Internet firsts. Not much more to say about that really. Just go read it already.

Where to?

I've been patiently searching for a decent localizer app for my iPhone for a while. By localizer app, I mean a program that will tell you where the nearest [pick a point of interest] is from your current location. There is plenty of competition in this genre of app so I had to do a lot of research and after a few false starts, I think I've found my app.

The first one I tried (for free) was AroundMe. Not a terrible app for something that's free, but I found it extremely lacking in terms of what it was able to tell me about my closest services. I put it through its paces trying to find my nearby Shell gas stations and Tim Horton's coffee shops and it didn't fare well at all.

The next one I tried was the Yelp app for iPhone. Yelp is already a fairly well-known web site for the purpose of finding and rating restaurants and many other services, so I figured it would make a decent iPhone app. It's certainly better than AroundMe, but I still felt I could do better.

Then I came across Where To? It sells for $2.99 at the iTunes Apps Store, but I found it on sale weeks ago for $0.99. So I gave it a try after reading several reviews. This is the real deal. What I like is that you can get as specific as you want or not. Select Services > Gas stations > All brands > Shell. Now I'm looking at all the Shell gas stations nearby. In Google maps no less. Select the one you want, then get a route to get from where you are to the place you just chose.

Meeting a contact for lunch? Select the name of your contact and the map opens to their location, then continue in your search for the perfect..... steak house. If the site has a URL link in the Where To? database, you can then go directly to the web page in Safari, to say, check out the hours, or menu, or just call them. Then you can email the location you've picked to your contact.

This is what convergence is all about folks.

"Did you bring it?"

One of the creepiest ads you'll ever see for one of the biggest brands in the world. This ad would never air in North America.

I'm guessing it's Aussie.

Guess who the music companies are suing now?

Ellen Degeneres. And rightfully so, as she's been dancing to thousands of un-licensed songs on her show without paying a dime. I'm kidding. I don't want Ellen to get sued.

So OK, record companies aren't actually suing Ellen, they're going after the producers of the show. What's interesting is that the show is produced by a part of Time-Warner, which means if you look at the lawsuit in a certain way, the company is suing itself.

This has been an Ernest contribution.

For n00bs

Oh! Look! It's Facebook for folks who are overwhelmed by regular Facebook - Facebook Lite.

I'm not joking. About the 'lite' part.