Hoodies Sale! Buy 1 and Get 1 50% OFF - Guys & Girls Sweatshirts from the Top Surf & Skate Brands
Footlocker.com
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Need to pay more bills!
Girls Panties - 3 for $15.50 at PacSun.com. FREE Shipping!
Hoodies Sale! Buy 1 and Get 1 50% OFF - Guys & Girls Sweatshirts from the Top Surf & Skate Brands
Footlocker.com
Hoodies Sale! Buy 1 and Get 1 50% OFF - Guys & Girls Sweatshirts from the Top Surf & Skate Brands
Footlocker.com
Friday, December 15, 2006
On Mario Adventure 2: Luigi Vs. Mario
Back in February, I posted a bit about RedWolf's in-depth coverage of what he called "The Best NES Game Hack of All Time", a Super Mario Bros. 3 rom hack called Mario Adventure. Now, he's back to school us on the sequel or sorts, Luigi Vs. Mario (aka Mario Adventure 2).
A sadly unfinished project, the game features SMB3-style gameplay and graphics, but with new levels, including character specific worlds, and new power ups, again with some unique to each Mario Brother. A handful of the new abilities include the Mouser Suit (which throws Bob-ombs) and the Panda Suit (which gives the plumbers the skill to walk on ceilings), but check the write up for the full exhaustive list.
There's even a link to the (warning: buggy!) rom hack, so you can check it out yourself. I'm off to find myself a new NES emulator.
Hacksterpiece Theatre: Luigi vs. Mario (Mario Adventure 2) [VC&G]
Super Mario's Hack Adventure [Kotaku]
Love Detector: Skype Edition
In honor of Skype 3.0 and the Skypeout announcements yesterday, we bring you the Love Detetor: Skype Edition. Similar to the Cellular love detector we showed you back in may, this Skype version analyzes "different levels of emotions and adoration" of the people you converse with on Skype.
Want to know if Maggie in accounting is being friendly or friendly? Get her on the line and fire up the Love Detector.
Yes, it's pretty gimmicky and probably only works 1% of the time. But can you risk passing on that chance with the Magster and her assets? We didn't think so.
Product Page [Love Detector]
Nintendo recalls 200,000 DS and DS Lite adapters
"Early and often" isn't quite the mantra you want when it comes to recalls (early is enough, thanks), but it looks like 200,000 Japanese DS and DS Lite adapter units is what's for dinner at Nintendo today. We don't have much more info than that -- sorry, we wish we could tell you if you were at any kind of risk or something -- but given N's kind of scary dominance in portable gaming, we'd imagine 200k units is a drop in the bucket, so the numbers are probably on your side. Stay tuned for a US announcement soon, we imagine it's likely to follow.
http://www.engadget.com
bathtub lights up. The walls are indestructible. So is the floor.
When building my house, I had no idea that simple lines on a bath tub face were impossible to find. Came up with this idea to put a cheap flourescent shop light back there and use skyglass as the face of the tub. There are access points on either side after putting fake cold air returns on the walls. And Voila! A built in, mega-cool night light.
Another noteable feature in this indestructible kids bathroom...the backsplash features a stainless steel (sheet metal) surround. So bring it on Transformers. Bring it on sharp objects...let's see you try to destroy these walls! Oh, go for the floors too, they're stained unpenetrable concrete.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Monday, December 11, 2006
What would you do?
If a group of gun man came into your work and held you and your co-worker hostage...
And turned to you and told you, you have to shoot one of your co-workers or you will die.
What would you do? or is there one person you could pick?
And turned to you and told you, you have to shoot one of your co-workers or you will die.
What would you do? or is there one person you could pick?
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Track your calorie intake at The Daily Plate
Wondering how much that slice of apple pie will really set you back on your diet this holiday season? Head over to the Daily Plate web site to find out.
In addition to nutritional content lookups, register at the Daily Plate to maintain a food journal, track your daily calorie, carb, fat and water intake and keep a fitness log as well. Similar to previously-mentioned FitDay, the Daily Plate site is a bit more modern-looking and dynamic. Free site registration is available, with a $30/year "gold membership" upgrade that gets you extra site features like weight goal tracking. Thanks, Owen!
Download of the Day: MusikCube (Windows)
Windows only: Rip CDs, build playlists, listen to your music collection and more with MusikCube, an open-source music player and manager.
The program supports virtually all music formats (except protected WMA, which in my tests crashed it) and lets you sort your library by any criteria: track, album, bitrate, etc. It offers both 6- and 18-band equalizers and works with any portable player that acts as a hard drive when plugged in.
But perhaps MusikCube's most impressive feature is dynamic playlists. It comes with a few, like "50 Last Played" and "Favorite Artist," but you can also create your own (though a little scripting is required).
Fast, compact, and easy to use, MusikCube should appeal to anyone seeking a music player that's not bloated with bells and whistles. Its only real shortcoming is lack of support for album art. MusikCube is free and requires Windows 2000/XP.
250 free templates for MS Office
Productivity blogger Dumb Little Man has compiled a monster list of 250 free Microsoft Office templates.
There's a lot here - everything from address books to wills. Templates are great because half the job is done for you before you even get started; it's a great way to make your worktime more productive. And there's such a wide variety on this list that I'm sure you'll find something right up your alley.
Ten bad things that are good for you
Chocolate, beer, coffee - they're all considered not so good for you, right? According to Live Science, you should think again - some of these traditional baddies in moderation actually can help you attain better health and well-being. The list of (former) pariahs includes:
- Anger: bursts of anger here and there are good for the health
- Sunlight: sunlight--even if indirect, such as on a shaded porch--is known to boost the mood.
- Maggots (for REAL!): These squirmy larvae are science's newest wonder-cure and were approved in 2003 as the Food & Drug Administration's only live medical device.
Not sure how happy I am about the maggots, but it's an interesting list nonetheless. What would you add to this line-up of bad 'uns? Let us know in the comments.
Speed up Rapidshare wait time and download limits
If you've ever used RapidShare to share files, you know that there can be a bit of a wait. Tech-Recipes has a few simple hacks you can use to speed up this process, including:
- Short-Out the JavaScript
- Use a proxy with SwitchProxy and Firefox
- use a bookmarklet to stop your wait times
Most of these tips include tweaking your IP address in order to get around the download limits (it's relatively simple). Got any other speedy RapidShare tips? Share 'em in the comments.
Download YouTube videos for your portable device
Web site Vixy's FLV Converter tool lets you download YouTube videos to any number of portable device-friendly formats, from MP4 for your iPod or PSP to 3GP for your mobile phone.
All you have to do is provide Vixy with the URL of any web page with an embedded YouTube video. Vixy will grab the embedded flash video, convert it to the proper format, then provide you with the new, freshly-converted video. I gave Vixy a try with a couple Lifehacker clips this morning and was very impressed with the speed. We've covered similar software applications that automate downloading and converting YouTube videos for iPods before, but this web-based converter is a great tool if you don't want to download yet another app.
Holiday decorating on the cheap
DIY site Curbly has a clever idea for turning framed photos and paintings into temporary holiday decorations: Wrap them like presents.
Just stock up on wrapping paper, bows, and maybe some old holiday cards, then set to work wrapping/decorating your framed art. Adds the author:
A really fun way to personalize these is to use old Christmas cards and tape them in the center of the wrapping paper. My personal favorite is to take pictures of my kids, print them out in black and white, cut them out and place them in a design (like four in a square) on the paper, and then put a huge bow on top.
There's actually a mistake in the tutorial--one step is repeated--but it's pretty obvious what the author intended. Sounds like a neat way to spruce up your home for the holidays without spending big bucks on decorations.
Lower your credit card interest rate with a phone call
Financial weblog Sound Money Tips says that chances are you can lower your credit card interest rate with one simple phone call, especially if you've done your homework.
Before requesting a lower rate from your credit card company, get an idea of your account history (any late payments?), grab your free credit report, school yourself on credit averages, and if you fail... call back. Granted, this may not work out if you've already got a killer interest rate, but either way it's worth a try. According to the post, an unscientific study of this method led to lower interest rates about half of the time. If you're ready to lower your credit card interest rate, head on over to Sound Money Tips for the nitty-gritty.
Sony planning iPod / iTunes-like infrastructure?
Given Sony's exploding battery crisis, followed by the launch of the the PS3 (and its aftermath), we figured that those two things alone (not to mention the PS4) have already given enough headaches to its board of directors. However, there may be a bright spot in Sony's future -- the company is now hinting at building an "MP3 player" and corresponding online music store that would go head-to-head with the iPod/iTunes combo and the new-kid-on-the-block, the Zune/Zune Marketplace. According to Wired News' Listening Post blog, Sony Electronics head Stan Glasgow earlier this week alluded to a new digital audio player that could be ready by December 2007. He also said that "DRMs are going to become less important," which may lead to us to the holy grail of media players, but we're not holding our breath just yet on either of these developments. Sony, drop us a line when you're ready to show something off.
Blockbuster Gives Netflix Customers Free IN-Store Rentals
Blockbuster's giving away free rentals to Netflix customers who bring in address flaps to any Blockbuster store until December 21. Intrigued? Well, it's all a promotion to educate Netflix customers about the Total Access system from Blockbster that lets you return Blockbuster Online DVDs for a free in-store rental.
Does that matter to you? Not really. All you need to know is that you can take a Netflix mailer to Blockbuster and get a free movie rental.
Blockbuster gives free rentals to Netflix users [Ars Technica]
FaxZero sends free faxes
The LifeClever blog raves about free outgoing internet fax service, FaxZero:
It's free and lets you send a PDF or Word document to any fax number in the USA. FaxZero prints an ad on the coversheet, but leaves the main pages uncorrupted (Ad-free faxes are about two bucks). The test fax I sent arrived quickly and with a very crisp, clear resolution.
You're limited to 2 free 3-page faxes a day, and your file attachment size limit is 10MB. The ad, while not something you'd like on professional business faxes, isn't too bad - oh, and the cover sheet with the ad doesn't count toward your 3 page limit. What do you use to send internet faxes? Let us know in the comments.
FaxZeroThe D’Vinci Forgiato Radurra: See-Through Rims!
By David Ponce
Doug McGoon (we love the name) has invented what may be the slickest set of wheels we’ve ever laid our eyes on: clear rims, made from a thick slab of polycarbonate. Now manufactured by D’Vinci Forgiato the wheels are made by
a technique known as bezel setting which only master diamond setters can know, where the diamonds are just slightly larger than the bezel they are set into and are held in place by pressure. Understanding this, we put the same care and consideration towards the Radurra as we would towards a fine watch. By eliminating the alloy center of a three piece forged wheel and setting into its place a hard coated polycarbonate center with a glass-like finish we achieve an amazing and stunning look, with a finished product that looks too good to be a wheel.
We agree, it looks too good to be a wheel, and costs too much to be bought, at least by us. At $5,000 per wheel, they’re mainly showpieces, though the video we link to shows a 350Z with the Radurras on, doing some rubber burning. We imagine people will talk about stress resistance, heat resistance and whatnot, though the company claim they’ve been “SAE tested, certified and passed Impact, cornering and radial tests.”
They were on display a month ago at the SEMA show, and are apparently available for purchase. A custom order takes 6 to 8 weeks to deliver. Keep reading for a bunch more pictures, and links to a video, product page and all that jive.
Martinsburg rated safe city
By LAUREN HOUGH / Journal Staff Writer
Farmers Insurance Group, which commissioned the study through data provider Sperling’s BestPlaces, lists the greater Martinsburg/Hagerstown area 14th on its third annual list of 20 secure mid-sized cities boasting between 150,000 and 500,000 residents.
In developing criteria for the rankings, data beneath average statistics was brought forward, explained Jerry Davies, director of media relations for Farmers Insurance Group.
First, crime statistics were addressed, along with data about how police and fire departments commonly handled incidents within their communities, through both resolving situations and keeping residents safe and secure, Davies said.
Also taken into account were each area’s risks of natural disasters, he added. While the Martinsburg/Hagerstown region may have experienced tornadoes in the past, it was the ways in which community leaders responded to such incidents that were taken into account for the study.
Other factors, such as the handling of extreme weather, namely how quickly and effectively roads are cleared in snow and ice storms, and methods about how environmental hazards are contained and dealt were also studied.
Since Sept. 11, every community in America has found individual ways to prepare for potential terrorism threats, Davies said.
“We look at how you are prepared for such emergencies, should they ever happen,” he said.
The number, security and steadiness of jobs in each region rounded out the list of workable criteria, Davies said.
While Hagerstown received mention in the 2005 list of Most Secure Places to Live, Martinsburg debuted in this year’s compilation, representing the Mountain State along with the Huntington/Ashland, Ky. region.
Many Americans use such studies to find their ideal place to live, said Davies, cited the example of friends who first researched the security, crime statistics and other data from several communities before moving to central Kansas for a new job.
“I think that’s the way people are today,” he said.
Berkeley County Sheriff Randy Smith cited a recent policy change mandating that all calls be handled in person as a contributing factor to increased police visibility in the community.
“We have more contact with the public,” he said. “We’re being seen on the roadway.”
Still, answering calls in person consumes more of the deputies’ time. Requests are prioritized by urgency, but still back up from time to time, he explained.
With local populations increasing at an extremely fast rate, Smith said having more officers in the community would make safety measures even greater.
“As the population grows, it brings in other elements of society that are involved in criminal activity,” he said. “We’re doing the best we can with what we’ve got. Evidently, we’re doing something right.”
Martinsburg Mayor George Karos said he agreed with the recently published study, and has personally found the region to be very secure for a number of years.
Grants and other sources of funding helped to staff and better equip the town’s police department — one of his first priorities after taking office as mayor.
The number of police officers patrolling the town, periodic sweeps of the community and neighborhood watch programs all helped to lower crime rates for Martinsburg, he said.
“We’re doing everything to keep up with the increase in population growth,” Karos said.
Continually updating emergency plans for the city has also improved disaster preparedness locally.
Davies congratulated the Martinsburg area on its positive ranking in the annual study.
“We’ll strive to be in the top 10 next time,” Karos said.
Build a Better wish list with WishRadar...
Been wishing for a better wish list than the ones available at sites like Amazon and Half.com? WishRadar lets you set target prices, create a wish-list feed, add tags and a whole lot more.
Seriously, it's only after trying WishRadar that you realize how anemic the Amazon and Half.com wish lists really are. The site makes simple work of importing your existing Amazon list, adding new items when you're browsing at Amazon (an available bookmarklet makes it a one-click affair), and notifying you when an item's price has dropped to your desired amount.
The site is also refreshingly funny. Too bad it's limited to Amazon and Half.com (try GiftHat if you want something a little more universal), but it's still a must for anyone who's serious about leveraging their wish list. Thanks, Diane!
Hot Enough For You?
After dying a grisly death in an Afghan cave, Osama made his way to the pearly gates.
There, he was greeted by George Washington.
"How dare you attack the nation I helped conceive!" yelled Washington, slapping Osama in the face.
Patrick Henry came up from behind. "You wanted to end America's liberty, so they gave you death!" Henry punched Osama in the nose.
James Madison came next, and said, "This is why I allowed the government provide for the common defense!" He took a sledge hammer and whacked Osama's knees.
Osama was subjected to similar beatings from John Randolph, James Monroe, and 65 other people who had the same love for liberty and America. As he writhed on the ground, Thomas Jefferson hurled him back toward the gate where he was to be judged.
As Osama awaited his journey to his final very hot destination, he screamed, "This is not what I was promised!"
An angel replied, "I told you there would be 72 Virginians waiting for you. What did you think I said?"
There, he was greeted by George Washington.
"How dare you attack the nation I helped conceive!" yelled Washington, slapping Osama in the face.
Patrick Henry came up from behind. "You wanted to end America's liberty, so they gave you death!" Henry punched Osama in the nose.
James Madison came next, and said, "This is why I allowed the government provide for the common defense!" He took a sledge hammer and whacked Osama's knees.
Osama was subjected to similar beatings from John Randolph, James Monroe, and 65 other people who had the same love for liberty and America. As he writhed on the ground, Thomas Jefferson hurled him back toward the gate where he was to be judged.
As Osama awaited his journey to his final very hot destination, he screamed, "This is not what I was promised!"
An angel replied, "I told you there would be 72 Virginians waiting for you. What did you think I said?"
Hot Enough For You?
After dying a grisly death in an Afghan cave, Osama made his way to the pearly gates.
There, he was greeted by George Washington.
"How dare you attack the nation I helped conceive!" yelled Washington, slapping Osama in the face.
Patrick Henry came up from behind. "You wanted to end America's liberty, so they gave you death!" Henry punched Osama in the nose.
James Madison came next, and said, "This is why I allowed the government provide for the common defense!" He took a sledge hammer and whacked Osama's knees.
Osama was subjected to similar beatings from John Randolph, James Monroe, and 65 other people who had the same love for liberty and America. As he writhed on the ground, Thomas Jefferson hurled him back toward the gate where he was to be judged.
As Osama awaited his journey to his final very hot destination, he screamed, "This is not what I was promised!"
An angel replied, "I told you there would be 72 Virginians waiting for you. What did you think I said?"
There, he was greeted by George Washington.
"How dare you attack the nation I helped conceive!" yelled Washington, slapping Osama in the face.
Patrick Henry came up from behind. "You wanted to end America's liberty, so they gave you death!" Henry punched Osama in the nose.
James Madison came next, and said, "This is why I allowed the government provide for the common defense!" He took a sledge hammer and whacked Osama's knees.
Osama was subjected to similar beatings from John Randolph, James Monroe, and 65 other people who had the same love for liberty and America. As he writhed on the ground, Thomas Jefferson hurled him back toward the gate where he was to be judged.
As Osama awaited his journey to his final very hot destination, he screamed, "This is not what I was promised!"
An angel replied, "I told you there would be 72 Virginians waiting for you. What did you think I said?"
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