I think that this video should be required viewing before anyone is given their interweb rights...
(source: Wil Wheaton's Tumblr)
Showing posts with label Internet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Internet. Show all posts
Sunday, May 1, 2011
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Ravenclaws - An Awesome Rebecca Black Parody
Unless you've been living under a rock, you've no doubt heard of Rebecca Black's song Friday (see the original video here). Black's slightly annoying, but frakkin' catchy, tune is the most disliked video on YouTube and has spawned dozens (maybe even double-dozens!) parodies.
But this morning, YouTube user GinnyisaPrincess flat out owned any and all parodies I've seen thus far with her Harry Potter spoof called Ravenclaws.
What better line to get stuck in your head than: "What the Hell is a Hufflepuff?"
But this morning, YouTube user GinnyisaPrincess flat out owned any and all parodies I've seen thus far with her Harry Potter spoof called Ravenclaws.
What better line to get stuck in your head than: "What the Hell is a Hufflepuff?"
Geeks Are a'Tumblin'!
Hi, geek gang! If you're one of the intrepid readers that have been eagerly awaiting a new Hyde and Geek post, I offer my apologies. I haven't had the time to devote to this blog as much as I'd like (translated: I've been studying a lot and thus unmotivated to write anything very lengthy).
However, I have been posting lots of awesome photos over at the Tumblr blog that I set up as a sort of little sister to this one. Check it out. I'm sure you'll find something there that will make you laugh.
However, I have been posting lots of awesome photos over at the Tumblr blog that I set up as a sort of little sister to this one. Check it out. I'm sure you'll find something there that will make you laugh.
Click the Image to Visit...
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Monday, March 14, 2011
Library Girl (music video)
Here's a cute little ditty that about the girls who hang out at libraries and bookstores.
"Extra frothy!"
I have a feeling that this one will go viral. It's just too awesome not to.
Check out the rest of musician Reina del Cid's videos on her YouTube channel.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Hyde and Geek Comic Test Run
I've been toying with the idea of doing a comic strip here at Hyde and Geek but I haven't decided on the art direction or final characters. Below is the first strip I've created just to test the waters of what it might look like. Keep in mind that this isn't the final strip nor is there any promise that there will be any more. Enjoy!
Also, I know some of my readers are artists and webcomic creators. If you have any advice and/or input, I'd appreciate it greatly.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
The Kids Need to Read 36 Hour Tweetathon
Update: The Tweetathon is now OVER! However, the page will remain live for a while so you may still be able to CLICK HERE TO DONATE!
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Followers of my Twitter will know that I am a huge Browncoat (that's a fan of the TV show Firefly for the uninitiated). One day around a year ago, Firefly star Nathan Fillion tweeted about a charity that he co-founded called Kids Need to Read.
To assist them in their goal, I am holding a 36 hour charity tweetathon this coming Tuesday and Wednesday, August 3rd and 4th in an attempt to raise $4000 for charity. That means that, beginning at 10am EST on Tuesday, I will be sitting at my computer on Twitter and tweeting at least once every 10 minutes for the duration of 36 hours straight. That means no sleep and no cheating by using Twitter from my phone or iPod. I haven't stayed awake for 36 hours straight in almost two decades so, if you're following me on Twitter, be prepared for some insane drivel to be spouted after the 20 hour mark or so.
How can you help with this event? Just follow me on Twitter, retweet my links during the tweetathon to help spread the word and, most importantly, donate! CLICK HERE TO DONATE NOW! Also, if you have any inside lines to celebrities on Twitter to help spread the word, that would help immensely. I set my goal high for this event and I have no doubt that my geeky followers on Twitter will help me to blow this one out of the water!
Now buckle in, folks! It's going to be a bumpy ride!
And again... Click here to donate!
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Related links:
Thursday, July 8, 2010
io9 Presents an Awesome 1980's Firefly Video
io9 has made the most awesome YouTube video I've seen in a while. Imagine, if you will, an even more awesome version of the 1980s where Joss Whedon has already created Firefly. Got that in your head? Okay... now watch this video and pretend that you remember how awesome it was 25 years ago!
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Scott Pilgrim vs. Scott?
The latest rage this past week has been the Scott Pilgrim vs The World avatar creator.
Just for random fun, here's mine...
Friday, June 11, 2010
12-Minute GeekSix Interview featuring Me
Last evening, I was interviewed by Josh of GeekSix.com in the second of his 12-minute spontaneous interviews. In that short time, we discussed my blog name, who's my favorite tweeter and who's better: Kirk or Picard? Maybe it was in my head but I was sure that I could hear Twitter nearly exploding with the overload of our combined awesome! But I'm sure it was more like this...
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Snoop Dogg is a Jedi Master!
I just came across this new ADIDAS ad hawking their line of Star Wars clothing and shoes and it is made of pure win! It's a revision of the cantina scene and it's much better than the last time George Lucas revised it with the idea that Han shot first. It stars Snoop Dogg, Daft Punk, David Beckham, and Oasis' Gallagher brothers. 'Nuff said! Just watch!
Monday, May 31, 2010
Wil Wheaton Does Gaga with Bonus: Felicia Day
This is a video of Wil Wheaton and Felicia Day doing Rock Band to Lady Gaga's Pokerface at this year's Phoenix ComicCon! Need I say more? Enjoy!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Everybody Needs "Validation"
I had to watch this short film for class and it's just become one of my favorite pieces of film ever! It's sheer brilliance! I won't give anymore away but if this doesn't make you smile, you probably aren't human.
Friday, December 11, 2009
The Muppets: Ringing of the Bells
While not as uber-awesome as the recently posted Bohemian Rhapsody, this Muppet tune definitely got me more in the Christmas spirit... and proved yet again that the Swedish Chef is awesome!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
100 Essential Geek Skills (My Results)
I loved the 100 Essential Geek Skills post over at GeekDad so much that I decided to count up and test myself on how geeky I am by their standard.
These are things that every geek should know or be able to do.
Below are my results. I got 85 out of the 100 skills. Not to shabby if I do say so myself.
Now be sure to reply with your own scores!
GeekDad's 100 Essential Geek Skills
[X] 1. Properly secure a wireless router.
[X] 2. Crack the WEP key on a wireless router.
[X] 3. Leech Wifi from your neighbor.
[X] 4. Screw with Wifi leeches.
[X] 5. Setup and use a VPN.
[X] 6. Work from home or a coffee shop as effectively as you do at the office.
[X] 7. Wire your own home with Ethernet cable.
[X] 8. Turn a web camera into security camera.
[X] 9. Use your 3G phone as a Wi-Fi access point.
[X] 10. Understand what “There’s no Place Like 127.0.0.1” means.
[X] 11. Identify key-loggers.
[X] 12. Properly connect a TV, Tivo, XBox, Wii, and Apple TV so they all work together with the one remote.
[X] 13. Program a universal remote.
[X] 14. Swap out the battery on your iPod/iPhone.
[X] 15. Benchmark Your Computer
[X] 16. Identify all computer components on sight.
[X] 17. Know which parts to order from NewEgg.com, and how to assemble them into a working PC.
[X] 18. Troubleshoot any computer/gadget problem, over the phone.
[X] 19. Use any piece of technology intuitively, without instruction or prior knowledge.
[X] 20. How to irrecoverably protect data.
[X] 21. Recover data from a dead hard drive.
[X] 22. Share a printer between a Mac and a PC on a network.
[X] 23. Install a Linux distribution. (Hint: Ubuntu 9.04 is easier than installing Windows)
[X] 24. Remove a virus from a computer.
[X] 25. Dual (or more) boot a computer.
[X] 26. Boot a computer off a thumb drive.
[X] 27. Boot a computer off a network drive.
[X] 28. Replace or repair a laptop keyboard.
[X] 29. Run more than two monitors on a single computer.
[X] 30. Successfully disassemble and reassemble a laptop.
[X] 31. Know at least 10 software easter eggs off the top of your head.
[X] 32. Bypass a computer password on all major operating systems. Windows, Mac, Linux
[X] 33. Carrying a computer cleaning arsenal on your USB drive.
[X] 34. Bypass content filters on public computers.
[X] 35. Protect your privacy when using a public computer.
[X] 36. Surf the web anonymously from home.
[ ] 37. Buy a domain, configure bind, apache, MySQL, php, and Wordpress without Googling a how-to.
[ ] 38. Basic *nix command shell knowledge with the ability to edit and save a file with vi.
[ ] 39. Create a web site using vi.
[X] 40. Transcode a DVD to play on a portable device.
[ ] 41. Hide a file in an image using steganography.
[X] 42. Knowing the answer to life, the universe and everything.
[X] 43. Share a single keyboard and mouse between multiple computers without a KVM switch.
[X] 44. Google obscure facts in under 3 searches. Bonus point if you can use I Feel Lucky.
[X] 45. Build amazing structures with LEGO and invent a compelling back story for the creation.
[X] 46. Understand that it is LEGO, not Lego, Legos, or Lego’s.
[X] 47. Build a two story house out of LEGO, in monochrome, with a balcony.
[X] 48. Construct a costume for you or your kid out of scraps, duct tape, paper mâché, and imagination.
[X] 49. Be able to pick a lock.
[ ] 50. Determine the combination of a Master combination padlock in under 10 minutes.
[X] 51. Assemble IKEA furniture without looking at the instructions. Bonus point if you don’t have to backtrack.
[X] 52. Use a digital SLR in full manual mode.
[X] 53. Do cool things to Altoids tins.
[X] 54. Be able to construct paper craft versions of space ships.
[X] 55. Origami! Bonus point for duct tape origami. (Ductigami)
[X] 56. Fix anything with duct tape, chewing gum and wire.
[X] 57. Knowing how to avoid being eaten by a grue.
[X] 58. Know what a grue is.
[X] 59. Understand where XYZZY came from, and have used it.
[X] 60. Play any SNES game on your computer through an emulator.
[X] 61. Burn the rope.
[X] 62. Know the Konami code, and where to use it.
[X] 63. Whistle, hum, or play on an iPhone, the Cantina song.
[X] 64. Learning to play the theme songs to the kids favorite TV shows.
[X] 65. Solve a Rubik’s Cube.
[X] 66. Calculate THAC0.
[X] 67. Know the difference between skills and traits.
[X] 68. Explain special relativity in terms an eight-year-old can grasp.
[ ] 69. Recite pi to 10 places or more.
[X] 70. Be able to calculate tip and split the check, all in your head.
[X] 71. Explain that the colours in a rainbow are roygbiv.
[X] 72. Understand the electromagnetic spectrum - xray, uv, visible, infrared, microwave, radio.
[X] 73. Know the difference between radiation and radioactive contamination.
[X] 74. Understand basic electronics components like resistors, capacitors, inductors and transistors.
[ ] 75. Solder a circuit while bottle feeding an infant. (lead free solder please.)
[X] 76. The meaning of technical acronyms.
[ ] 77. The coffee dash, blindfolded (or blurry eyed). Coffee [cream] [sugar]. In under a minute.
[ ] 78. Build a fighting robot.
[ ] 79. Program a fighting robot.
[ ] 80. Build a failsafe into a fighting robot so it doesn’t kill you.
[X] 81. Be able to trace the Fellowship’s journey on a map of Middle Earth.
[ ] 82. Know all the names of the Dwarves in The Hobbit.
[X] 83. Understand the difference between a comic book and a graphic novel.
[X] 84. Know where your towel is and why it is important.
[X] 85. Re-enact the parrot sketch.
[X] 86. Know the words to The Lumberjack Song.
[X] 87. Reciting key scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
[X] 88. Be able to recite at least one Geek Movie word for word.
[ ] 89. Know what the 8th Chevron does on a Stargate and how much power is required to get a lock.
[X] 90. Be able to explain why it’s important that Han shot first.
[X] 91. Know why it is just wrong for Luke and Leia to kiss.
[X] 92. Stop talking Star Wars long enough to get laid.
[X] 93. The ability to name actors, characters and plotlines from the majority of sci-fi movies produced since 1968.
[X] 94. Cite Mythbusters when debunking a myth or urban legend.
[ ] 95. Sleep with a Cricket bat next to your bed.
[X] 96. Have a documented plan on what to do during a zombie or robot uprising.
[X] 97. Identify evil alternate universe versions of friends, family, co-workers or self.
[ ] 98. Be able to convince TSA that the electronic parts you are carrying are really not a threat to passengers.
[X] 99. Talk about things that aren’t tech related.
[X] 100. Get something on the front page of Digg.
These are things that every geek should know or be able to do.
Below are my results. I got 85 out of the 100 skills. Not to shabby if I do say so myself.
Now be sure to reply with your own scores!
GeekDad's 100 Essential Geek Skills
[X] 1. Properly secure a wireless router.
[X] 2. Crack the WEP key on a wireless router.
[X] 3. Leech Wifi from your neighbor.
[X] 4. Screw with Wifi leeches.
[X] 5. Setup and use a VPN.
[X] 6. Work from home or a coffee shop as effectively as you do at the office.
[X] 7. Wire your own home with Ethernet cable.
[X] 8. Turn a web camera into security camera.
[X] 9. Use your 3G phone as a Wi-Fi access point.
[X] 10. Understand what “There’s no Place Like 127.0.0.1” means.
[X] 11. Identify key-loggers.
[X] 12. Properly connect a TV, Tivo, XBox, Wii, and Apple TV so they all work together with the one remote.
[X] 13. Program a universal remote.
[X] 14. Swap out the battery on your iPod/iPhone.
[X] 15. Benchmark Your Computer
[X] 16. Identify all computer components on sight.
[X] 17. Know which parts to order from NewEgg.com, and how to assemble them into a working PC.
[X] 18. Troubleshoot any computer/gadget problem, over the phone.
[X] 19. Use any piece of technology intuitively, without instruction or prior knowledge.
[X] 20. How to irrecoverably protect data.
[X] 21. Recover data from a dead hard drive.
[X] 22. Share a printer between a Mac and a PC on a network.
[X] 23. Install a Linux distribution. (Hint: Ubuntu 9.04 is easier than installing Windows)
[X] 24. Remove a virus from a computer.
[X] 25. Dual (or more) boot a computer.
[X] 26. Boot a computer off a thumb drive.
[X] 27. Boot a computer off a network drive.
[X] 28. Replace or repair a laptop keyboard.
[X] 29. Run more than two monitors on a single computer.
[X] 30. Successfully disassemble and reassemble a laptop.
[X] 31. Know at least 10 software easter eggs off the top of your head.
[X] 32. Bypass a computer password on all major operating systems. Windows, Mac, Linux
[X] 33. Carrying a computer cleaning arsenal on your USB drive.
[X] 34. Bypass content filters on public computers.
[X] 35. Protect your privacy when using a public computer.
[X] 36. Surf the web anonymously from home.
[ ] 37. Buy a domain, configure bind, apache, MySQL, php, and Wordpress without Googling a how-to.
[ ] 38. Basic *nix command shell knowledge with the ability to edit and save a file with vi.
[ ] 39. Create a web site using vi.
[X] 40. Transcode a DVD to play on a portable device.
[ ] 41. Hide a file in an image using steganography.
[X] 42. Knowing the answer to life, the universe and everything.
[X] 43. Share a single keyboard and mouse between multiple computers without a KVM switch.
[X] 44. Google obscure facts in under 3 searches. Bonus point if you can use I Feel Lucky.
[X] 45. Build amazing structures with LEGO and invent a compelling back story for the creation.
[X] 46. Understand that it is LEGO, not Lego, Legos, or Lego’s.
[X] 47. Build a two story house out of LEGO, in monochrome, with a balcony.
[X] 48. Construct a costume for you or your kid out of scraps, duct tape, paper mâché, and imagination.
[X] 49. Be able to pick a lock.
[ ] 50. Determine the combination of a Master combination padlock in under 10 minutes.
[X] 51. Assemble IKEA furniture without looking at the instructions. Bonus point if you don’t have to backtrack.
[X] 52. Use a digital SLR in full manual mode.
[X] 53. Do cool things to Altoids tins.
[X] 54. Be able to construct paper craft versions of space ships.
[X] 55. Origami! Bonus point for duct tape origami. (Ductigami)
[X] 56. Fix anything with duct tape, chewing gum and wire.
[X] 57. Knowing how to avoid being eaten by a grue.
[X] 58. Know what a grue is.
[X] 59. Understand where XYZZY came from, and have used it.
[X] 60. Play any SNES game on your computer through an emulator.
[X] 61. Burn the rope.
[X] 62. Know the Konami code, and where to use it.
[X] 63. Whistle, hum, or play on an iPhone, the Cantina song.
[X] 64. Learning to play the theme songs to the kids favorite TV shows.
[X] 65. Solve a Rubik’s Cube.
[X] 66. Calculate THAC0.
[X] 67. Know the difference between skills and traits.
[X] 68. Explain special relativity in terms an eight-year-old can grasp.
[ ] 69. Recite pi to 10 places or more.
[X] 70. Be able to calculate tip and split the check, all in your head.
[X] 71. Explain that the colours in a rainbow are roygbiv.
[X] 72. Understand the electromagnetic spectrum - xray, uv, visible, infrared, microwave, radio.
[X] 73. Know the difference between radiation and radioactive contamination.
[X] 74. Understand basic electronics components like resistors, capacitors, inductors and transistors.
[ ] 75. Solder a circuit while bottle feeding an infant. (lead free solder please.)
[X] 76. The meaning of technical acronyms.
[ ] 77. The coffee dash, blindfolded (or blurry eyed). Coffee
[ ] 78. Build a fighting robot.
[ ] 79. Program a fighting robot.
[ ] 80. Build a failsafe into a fighting robot so it doesn’t kill you.
[X] 81. Be able to trace the Fellowship’s journey on a map of Middle Earth.
[ ] 82. Know all the names of the Dwarves in The Hobbit.
[X] 83. Understand the difference between a comic book and a graphic novel.
[X] 84. Know where your towel is and why it is important.
[X] 85. Re-enact the parrot sketch.
[X] 86. Know the words to The Lumberjack Song.
[X] 87. Reciting key scenes from Monty Python and the Holy Grail.
[X] 88. Be able to recite at least one Geek Movie word for word.
[ ] 89. Know what the 8th Chevron does on a Stargate and how much power is required to get a lock.
[X] 90. Be able to explain why it’s important that Han shot first.
[X] 91. Know why it is just wrong for Luke and Leia to kiss.
[X] 92. Stop talking Star Wars long enough to get laid.
[X] 93. The ability to name actors, characters and plotlines from the majority of sci-fi movies produced since 1968.
[X] 94. Cite Mythbusters when debunking a myth or urban legend.
[ ] 95. Sleep with a Cricket bat next to your bed.
[X] 96. Have a documented plan on what to do during a zombie or robot uprising.
[X] 97. Identify evil alternate universe versions of friends, family, co-workers or self.
[ ] 98. Be able to convince TSA that the electronic parts you are carrying are really not a threat to passengers.
[X] 99. Talk about things that aren’t tech related.
[X] 100. Get something on the front page of Digg.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Blogs I Read Regularly and (More Importantly) Why You Should Too!
See that little box down on the right hand side of this page?
Not that one. Look further down.
The one that says "Blogs I follow". There you go!
Those are all cool blogs. But rather than just trusting in my personal tastes, I'm going to give you my reasons that you should be reading these too. So, in no particular order...
Now that you know my reasons for reading this fine selection of blogs, you can feel safe adding them to your bookmarks. You're welcome!
Not that one. Look further down.
The one that says "Blogs I follow". There you go!
Those are all cool blogs. But rather than just trusting in my personal tastes, I'm going to give you my reasons that you should be reading these too. So, in no particular order...
- GeekDad:
One of a series of blogs hosted at Wired.com, the GeekDad blog is aimed at, well... geek dads (and moms). It covers toys, science, cool books, video games, movies, robots and many other cool things that you, as a geek, will likely enjoy. What's better? Many of the posts tell you how you can relate these things to your little geeklings. As a GeekDad myself, I really love this site.
A couple of great posts:
Descent: Dungeon-Crawling, Pure and Simple
Treasure Hunting with Kids
- DC Universe: The Source:
Still fairly new as blogs go (it's younger than mine), DC Universe is the official blog of DC Comics. There's not many articles yet as it seems they're still finding their footing. Most blog posts tend to be of prerelease art and pages from upcoming comics. Still, as DC Comics fan, this is the ultimate fodder for comic geek debate.
A couple of cool example posts:
A Little Batman and Robin Treat for You
Get a First Look at Batman: Streets of Gotham #1
- Squees of a Geek Girl Diva:
As an avid lover of all things toy-related, it only seems natural that one of the first folks I met via Twitter was a user called GeekGirlDiva. Her blog, the very aptly titled Squees of a... is a hit combination of toys and irreverent fun. It never fails to being a snigger to my day. (And as a bonus, if you dig around a bit, you may find a post or two from someone you might recognize. Ooo! Ooo! It's me!)
A few fun posts:
I Kissed a Girl...
I Wanna Be Like Ashton and Oprah! Don't I?
- Frankensteinia:
Readers of my blog will already know of my affinity (read: obsession) with all things Frankenstein. With that in mind, it should be no shock that the Frankensteinia blog is one of the first blogs I ever started reading regularly. As the title suggests, Frankensteinia covers Frankenstein in all forms: movies, books, tv, artwork, comics, toys...the list is endless. If you have even a passing interest in this classic monster, you have to visit Frankensteinia!
A couple o' creepy posts:
Bernie Wrightson's Frankenstein
The Bride Unwrapped (NSFW)
- WWnD: In Exile:
If you're reading my blog, odds are you're already aware of the musings of Wil Wheaton, geek extraordinare. In case you've been living under a rock, Wheaton's the unrivaled guru of geekdom. Sure. He played on Star Trek: The Next Generation and Stand By Me but that's not what makes him the go-to guy in the geek universe. Wheaton plays RPGs, video games, collects toys, codes and... the list could go on. I won't go into massive specifics here since Wil's covered any questions you might have here. He will tell you that he's Just a Geek, but you don't get elected of Secretary of Geek Affairs above luminaries like Steve Wozniak and Joss Whedon without some serious geek cred. It doesn't hurt that Wheaton's also a GeekDad.
A couple of geeky posts:
this is for uncle warren
Phoenix Comicon Rock Band Video Roundup
- Felicia Day's Blog:
Felicia Day is probably most recognizable as Penny from Joss Whedon's web sensation Dr. Horrible's Sing Along Blog and her own web series The Guild. (She's also cameos in the hilarious Legend of Neil). She's also become the cute pixie-like face of Twitter. So much so that she was the spokesperson for Microsoft's E3 announcement of the integration of Facebook and Twitter into Xbox Live later this year. Her blog tends to be a mix of updates from her professional side and a good bit about fantasy novels. (If you skip over Felicia's obsession with hunky romance fantasy and the related covers, there's quite a few good recommendations here.)
A few twitterific posts:
#feliciadayrumors
Interview with Patrick Rothfuss: Author of "Name of the Wind"
Now that you know my reasons for reading this fine selection of blogs, you can feel safe adding them to your bookmarks. You're welcome!
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
The 8 Coolest Things about Google Wave
Later this fall, Google plans to release another attempt at taking over the interwebz. This morning, I watched the Google Wave demo video over on YouTube and I'd say that Google may come close.To save you the time watching the 1 hour 20 minute video with a lot of inane babble and tech/business talk, I took notes as I watched it and now pass those along to you. To put it simply, Google Wave appears to be a real-time mixture of e-mail, IM, bulletin boards and file sharing. It's actually quite cool, especially since it's all done from within your web browser of choice (i.e. no software to download and install). So without further ado, here are the...
8 Coolest Things about the Google Wave Application.
1. You can instantly add a friend to a conversation.
A couple of you are waving (remember...a wave is sort of like an e-mail with IM built in) back and forth and want to add a friend or two to the conversation. Easy peezy! Just drag and drop their picture or avatar into the wave and they're sent the entire conversation and can now participate.
2. The Playback Feature
After a friend has joined your convoluted and lengthy conversation on the merits of DC vs Marvel comics, rather than try to figure out who said what and when. He can simply click the "playback" button and it'll show him the original wave that started the conversation. Then by clicking next, he'll see step by step when comments were added. Now he can jump in wherever he likes and show you how Dark Horse trumps both of the big two.
3. Instantly Add Files
You know how your mom still can't figure out how to attach a photo to an e-mail? Well with Google Wave, it's easier than ever. Your photos from your "my photos" folder are show on screen. To add them to a wave message, just drag and drop them to the wave window and you're done! It still doesn't mean your mom can figure it out but at least it'll take less time for you to explain over the phone when she calls to ask you how for the 18th time this week.
4. Instant Blogging
For me, this one was a show stopper. You can write a wave complete with photos and links and then just drag the avatar from your blogging service of choice into the wave and it's instantly posted to your blog. No more logging in and editing from within the blog service. You can do this from any wave. Say you and your friends have a cool conversation that you want to post to a blog? Done.
5. Mobile Waves
There will be apps for cell phones to do a lot of waving while on the go. The demo showcased a couple for android phones and the iPhone but they didn't work due to alleged network problems. It's still a work in progress and the Google reps say it'll be ready by Wave's launch.
6. Collaborative Waves
Another cool feature from a writing standpoint. Have you ever co-write a story or blog post with a friend or two? Now you can do that without passing files back and forth. The way it works is that you write the first draft and send it to your collaborators. They edit it and you see instantly what changes they made via color-coded highlights. Then you can just toss it back and forth until it's done. Then hit that blog service avatar and it's posted within seconds. Brilliant!
7. Combining Waves
I can see this becoming the successor to forwarded e-mails so prepare to get a lot of cute pictures of animals, spooky chain waves and sappy inspiring stories this way. If you want to forward a wave to friends, you simply drag the wave title from it's appropriate box into a new wave and it's added as a link. Then select the recipients and "Viola!" you're done!
8. Yes/No/Maybe Gadget
Say you're sending a message to friends or associates and need to know who's going to join you at the premiere of the new G.I. Joe movie, just click on the gadget button and recipients of the wave can select yes, no or maybe and add comments. Example: "No. The Joe's power suits look like Power Rangers. Ack!"
What makes all these functions even cooler is that they're done in real time. If you send, edit or comment on a wave, it'll appear on your friends screens within a split second. For example, in the section of the demo on adding photos, the recipient had thumbnails of the photos on his end even before the full image file was uploaded from the sender.
Oh and there's a bonus #9 for those like me who are Twitterholics, rather than try to top the coolest social networking idea to come along since...well...e-mail, Twitter is integrated into the Wave app so that you can tweet and read tweets without logging in or using a specialized app like TweetDeck or Twhirl.
In the end, the demo showed off a lot of cool functions of the Google Wave. Yes, a few didn't work and one or two crashed...but it was a test so I forgive them for that. I can't wait to see the finished project and see if it's as simple and fast as the scripted demo made it look.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Help Resurrect Ecto Cooler
As a kid in the '80s, it was my goal to be a Ghostbuster when I grew up. I rushed home every day after school, tossed my bookback in a pile and rushed to plop my rear on a beanbag to watch The Real Ghostbusters cartoon. After the cartoon was over, I headed to Ghosbusters HQ (a shed in my yard with a hand painted Ghostbusters logo nailed above the door) to hang with friends, stop ghosts and sip Hi-C's Ecto Cooler.Ecto Cooler was this awesome orange/tangerine drink made by Hi-C with that loveable little spud Slimer on the box. And, best of all to me as a kid, it was green!
Well. Time has moved on. I didn't grow up to be a Ghostbuster. Instead, I'm a father, blogger and geek which I've come to realize is just as cool...except I don't get to lug around an unlicensed nuclear accelerator on my back. Now I want to share those childhood loves with my kids. I have access to my DVDs of the original 2 Ghostbusters films and the original run of the Ghostbusters cartoon. But, sadly, there is no longer a way to get Ecto Cooler. Coca Cola (the makers of Minute Maid and Hi-C) let their license expire some time around 1997 and Slimer was taken off the box. This was a good 6 years after the Ghostbusters cartoon had ended I might add. But Ecto Cooler proved so popular, it was still made sans Slimer until 2001 when the name was changed to Orange Tangergreen. Shortly after this, the green coloring was dropped. Then, in 2006, the name was changed again to Crazy Citrus Cooler. Finally, in 2007, this drink too was discontinued and Ecto Cooler vanished altogether.
Now we fast-forward to the year 2009. It's the 25th anniversary of the original Ghostbusters film. Atari is releasing a much anticipated Ghostbusters video game written by and starring the original writers and cast. There are rumors flying of a Ghostbusters 3 film coming in 2012. What better time to revive Ecto Cooler for a new generation of Ghostbusters fans?
So I have started a grassroots campaign to get my beloved childhood beverage back on the shelves. If you're a fan of Ghostbusters and remember Ecto Cooler or if you're just someone who would like to help this old geek bring back a childhood memory, please click the link below and contact Minute Maid (the branch of Coca Cola, inc. that makes Hi-C) and ask them to bring back Ecto Cooler.
Then Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, Digg, Fark, e-mail (links for many of these are conveniently supplied in that little button at the bottom of this post) and whatever else you have a link to this page to anyone who might be interested. Spread the word!
Contact Minute Maid here and demand your Ecto Cooler!
Update (05/14/09): While preparing to start a petition to bring back Ecto Cooler, I came across this petition already started. So sign that too while you're at it. Once it gets 10,000 signatures, it'll be sent to Minute Maid.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
7 New Official Star Trek Images
In case you haven't turned on your television lately, the marketing blitz for J.J. Abram's new Star Trek sequel is in full swing! You can't turn on any channel without seeing Kirk picking a fight with a bar full of Starfleet officers...and I couldn't be more happy!
That blitz has obviously spilled over onto the interwebz and I've collected a few goodies for my loyal readers.
First up is, Trek Yourself - a website where you can turn a photo of yourself into a Star Trek character including Vulcan and Romulan.
And below are the latest 7 images released by Paramount (Enjoy!):
Live long and prosper!
That blitz has obviously spilled over onto the interwebz and I've collected a few goodies for my loyal readers.
First up is, Trek Yourself - a website where you can turn a photo of yourself into a Star Trek character including Vulcan and Romulan.
And below are the latest 7 images released by Paramount (Enjoy!):
Live long and prosper!
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