Newsmagazine tv troubles, Bush's twin, laptop mods, webcam fun

Still raining, when is it going to stop? If you're cooped up indoors with the weather, here are some links to keep you busy:

• TV newsmagazines are struggling to survive, due to reality TV. Apparently people are more concerned with contrived conflict situations than with real news.
• So it's awful when Saddam Hussein has lookalikes, but funny when George W. Bush does? Actually, it is really funny. Watch the video linked with the story.
• Got an old laptop to play with? Check out these 5 laptop mods.
• I don't really do any webcam stuff, but the Logitech QuickCam Orbit looks like it has some really cool and fun features, including real-time video effects (see the video in the review).
  

Freeware, Koreiran, penny pricing, big blu-ray, wheeee!

Well, it's been raining non-stop today (which is actually probably good for my garden), and work has been horrible this week (long hours on several critical problems); I'm working today, but am taking a couple hours break where I'm not needed.
So, here's some links:

• Here is a huge list of freeware utilities; sure to be something you need on here.
• Iran gets North Korean missiles. Maybe if they just merge, we'll have only one country to consider attacking.
• It actually costs the US Mint 1.4 cents to make a penny. I'm going to go buy a ton of them since their selling them below cost.
• TDK develops a recordable Blu-ray disc that holds 200GB. Better start stocking up on content to record on it.
• Nintendo has renamed the forthcoming "Revolution" console, as the Nintendo Wii (pronounced "we"). Yeah, that's almost as good.
  

Gas by county, easy police catch, new monopoly, secret Jasons, 8-bit memories

Hey, what happened! It went from beautiful this weekend, to cold, windy, and rainy today. I don't mind the rain since I just planted some items in my garden, but this is way too cold!

In other news:

• US Gas Temperature Map, which shows gas prices by county, not by temperature.
• I guess this is one way to lure the dumb criminals out: teen busted trying to steal fake drugs from a display at a police expo.
• You can have a say in the Monopoly: Here and Now edition by voting for landmarks to include.
• A secret society of scientists called the "Jasons" works for the government. Dan Brown to start a book on this once he finds out.
• Did you grow up in the 8-bit age like I did? Try this gamer test to see how well you remember the classics. I'm at 8/16 so far (but I haven't cheated yet):

I played too many games. I got 8/16 on the 8-Bit Gamer test. Take the test!

Summertime and gardening, debit theft, cheap Chinese DVDs, not cheat oil

A huge project installation has been going on all weekend at work, but thankfully, my presence hasn't been required. It's been so beautiful out this weekend, that I've enjoyed being out and getting the first lawn mowing of the season, fertilizing, getting some things planted in the garden (though most I'm still trying to start from seed indoors) , and I put some decorative edging around my garden. (and I spoke too soon, because I just was called from work as I write this.)
But here's some other news, not about me:

• Largest debit card hacking theft could cost customers $500 a piece.
• Movie companies may sell DVDs in cardboard packaging for $1.50 in China to combat piracy. And we pay $15 - 20? Who really is the pirate here?
• Gas prices really aren't that bad when oil could reach $90 a barrel later this year.
  

Googol of Google tools, word wonders, extinction of cash, sleep, robo-chair, religion, gas prices

Here are some items:

• Want to make the most of Google? Wikipedia has a good list of all Google services and tools.
• I didn't see anything too eye-opening here, but here's an article with top ten things that MS Word users should know.
• Cash is finally on the way out... in the UK at least where debit card use has overtaken cash.
• A good night's sleep boosts long term memory.
• The machines are closer to taking over: check out the video of the self-assembling robot chair. I can't imagine how useful that is.
• An interesting demographic view: US maps of religion concentration.
• You think gas prices are bad? How about going to Venezuela, where gas is $0.14/gal? Wait, that's actually much better!
• And also, a good night's sleep boosts long term memory.
  

Review: Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom

It's been a while since a review, so I thought I'd do another. I picked up the book Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom for cheap at a discount book store. It is a fairly short book that takes place at an undetermined, but far off point in the future.

The basic story follows Jules and his relationship with his current girlfriend and college friend. They work in Disney World as part of an "ad hocracy" that tweaks and enhances the Haunted Mansion. The story takes place at a point where essentially all needs are provided, there isn't any money, people can do pretty much anything they want, and everyone tries to earn "Whuffie" (which while it isn't defined, I take it to be credibility, respect, etc. Basically a point system where people all over rate people based on their accomplishments and behavior). Jules is murdered early on in the book, but in this society, death is no big deal. He gets restored from his last backup. People are very integrated with technology (phones, data inputs/outputs are all built into them).

There are a lot of neat ideas, but given the size of the book, maybe there is too much packed in. While some of the futuristic technologies and concepts are pretty straightforward to understand, other things are left to you to figure out, and that is a bit frustrating. (Maybe the book would be better on a second reading.)

I also thought the plot was a bit meandering, where big things would be dropped for while and weren't really resolved to a satisfying end. The main character is hard to like mainly because he gets on a very self-destructing path. The very futuristic setting also made it a bit harder to connect with the characters (I've read other sci-fi that does a lot better job of making relateable characters).

The Disney World setting is kind of fun, though it focuses almost exclusively on the Haunted Mansion and the Hall of Presidents. I did like the concept of basically gangs (teams) that take over the management of the rides and exhibits, and they focus completely on bettering the rides.

On the whole, I really can't recommend this book. You might like it if you're really into concept sci-fi or futurism. The Disney setting is fun, but pretty narrowly focused.

Big display, homemade dvr, Google calendar, mousetrap, photocakes

Wow, what a beautiful day here! I got home with enough sunshine left to go for a nice bike ride (a nice chance since I've been working long hours lately). This was my first ride of the year, and yeah, I can tell I'm a little out of shape at it. But, if the weather stays nice I should get back into regular riding form again.

Some good stuff on Make: lately:

• I've got 2 monitors hooked up to my computer (and the coolness outweighs the frivolousness), but this guy went a bit overboard with 12 30 inch monitors hooked up.
• I mentioned Windows Media Center in my last post, but if you are interested in alternatives, you can always build your own DVR.
  
• I gave Google Calendar a try yesterday. Looks like a pretty good online calendar.
• Ever play the game "Mousetrap"? Someone's built a life-size version of it.
• Finally! A way I can add photos to cupcakes and cakes.
  

New PC, leak news, races and speeders, hair art

I received my new PC (pretty quickly, though I had some trouble with UPS), and have been busily going through the frustration of getting it all set up the way I like it and getting my files and accounts moved over (actually, it has been going pretty smoothly). One frustration I hadn't been thinking about: the new PC has no parallel or serial ports, so I can't use my printer or scanner with it (so, that's something new I need to replace. The printer I have is really old, and the scanner was a very cheap one to begin with).

I got Windows XP Media Center Edition with this PC, and I have to say it is pretty slick. You can easily navigate it with the remote, and the interface is very intuitive.

In other news:

• Bush and Cheney reportedly authorized the Plame leak. So when Bush swore to find and punish those responsible, was that the equivalent of OJ searching for the real killers?
• "Malcom" jumps from acting to racing. Part of the aging child actor placement program.
• Oh, the sale is over! But you could have had a driveable replica landspeeder!
• Amazing paintings on human hair. It would cost a fortune to have all of your hairs done, though.
  

DeLay news, Iraq PM, movies online (legally), bbq bad news, classic car

Here are some stories:

• Another ex-DeLay aid pleads guilty, and then mysteriously DeLay to leave re-election race. Could they be connected?
• US and Great Britain want Iraqi Prime Minister out of office. Well, maybe we should invade?
• Major Hollywood studios to sell movie downloads online, but the popcorn will cost a fortune.
• Bad news, men, science is linking barbecue with prostrate cancer.
• Got an extra 1982 Trans Am sitting around that you don't know what to do with? You could turn it into a replica of KITT.
  

Super Mario Troubles, Brain Age, DST, big screen Simpsons

Some items:

• Playing Super Mario Bros. may cause you to face criminal charges.
• For a different type of game, "Brain Age" for the Nintendo DS is released in the US this week. Check out this article on eToyChest for a video of the author getting totally schooled by it.
• Hope you remembered to set your clocks forward for DST. Here's a brief history of Daylight Savings Time.
• The trailer is in theaters now: 'The Simpsons' are coming to the big screen.
  

New PC on the way, KH2 available

Well, I broke down and ordered a new computer today from Dell. Not the first one I customized. I really made an effort to minimize the cost this time, and one thing that helped was I found a 30% off coupon on DealCatcher. Ahh, the Internet... how did we live without you?
Given my hobbies, schooling, and job, I'm fairly literate when it comes to computer stuff (though, I've slipped a bit in my knowledge of the latest components), but I think Dell's site is getting to be very busy and cluttered. I think it could really intimidate someone trying to buy a computer.

I don't know how it slipped my attention but Kingdom Hearts 2 is available in the US now for the PS2. I don't play games nearly the way I used to, but the first Kingdom Hearts was one of my recent favorites, so I picked up the sequel today. It is a weird blend of Disney properties with Final Fantasy properties (a totally unexpected mix of two of my favorites that ends up being the digital entertainment equivalent of a Reese's peanut butter cup). Kingdom Hearts had a great story, great voice acting, and was just plain fun.