Anyhow, I ran across instructions on how to create this interesting cheesehead carved to look like Steve Jobs. I am not too sure about the accuracy of the carving but the resemblance is there somewhere. That’s actually the least of my concerns. Is it just me or is this whole set up NOT palatable at all?

I am sorry – I know the person who created this is an Apple fanboy and a passionate foodie. I bet he was all excited about the project – and probably still is. I just can’t imagine digging into a plate of nachos with THIS head right in the middle of everything!

Ken – the brains behind several Apple-themed recipes – gives full instructions in his blog on how to prepare all the dishes has created. The one showed here is the iPad Thai, but you can also learn how to create Spicy Steve Nachos and an Apple Cheese Plate. Of course, the center of attention is the cheesehead. Interested? Get ready to carve blocks of mozzarella cheese!

I have to give it to Ken – his creativity knows no bounds. I think I will pass on the cheesehead, though.

Geek The Library Week is basically an awareness campaign that aims to promote the local library. While there are people who totally get how important libraries are in education and self development, not everyone really gets involved. Indeed, in this age of instant information (via various media), hardly anyone ever goes to the library on a regular basis. Local libraries are in serious need of funding and might even be in danger of “extinction.”

The driving force behind the campaign is the famous couple Bill and Melinda Gates. Their foundation has partnered up with the OCLC as well as Leo Burnett USA. The former is a non-profit consortium of libraries while the latter is a marketing agency. With these kinds of players in the game, I have high hopes for the campaign.

So how can you get involved in geeking the library? The campaign is basically an awareness program and a chance for YOU and ME to show our support to the library. Whatever you do, it doesn’t have to be a big thing. Visit their web site at Geek The Library to find out various ways by which you can participate. When you visit the site, start by answering the questions in the pop up box. It won’t take you a minute, and you just might make a difference!

Let’s get our geeks on and support local libraries!

The official web site for this holiday can be found at Pi Day. Just to refresh your memory, here is a little something from the official web site:

Pi, Greek letter ( ), is the symbol for the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter. Pi Day is celebrated by math enthusiasts around the world on March 14th. Pi = 3.1415926535…

With the use of computers, Pi has been calculated to over 1 trillion digits past the decimal. Pi is an irrational number meaning it will continue infinitely without repeating. The symbol for pi was first used in 1706 by William Jones, but was popular after it was adopted by the Swiss mathematician Leonhard Euler in 1737.

Through the web site, you can actually send a greeting to your geeky friends who would love to celebrate Pi Day with you. The options via an eCard, via Twitter, or via Facebook. Whichever venue you choose, you will be sure to impress those who care.

Here’s another piece of trivia – today is Albert Einstein’s birthday as well! Now how’s that for coincidence? Check out your local geek hangouts; there’s probably free pie going around. No pun intended.

Ba-Donka-Donk Mouse

We all know how important it is to have a nice behind, and this mouse epitomizes that. I need a new mouse. I wouldn’t mind having one of those behind for real. I’ll settle for the mouse. I am sure a lot of guys would, too!

Glock Remote

Alright, I am no gangsta but I can appreciate a nice gun, and Glocks are as good as they come. You have to admit, this one’s pretty cool. Just in case someone decides to rob you at home while you’re watching TV, you may have the element of surprise by pointing the remote at them!

Boombox Sneakers

They probably won’t have one in my size, but Nike + iPod don’t have anything against these sneakers. You got speakers and a DVD slot. It looks like there are ports for headsets as well. Talk about all in one stuff!

It’s a pity these gadgets may not see the light of day, don’t you think?

I suppose that the answers are not cut and dried, as some might want them to be. Daniel Donahoo, the blogger, says it so much better:

Geek culture is strongly linked these days to brands, commercialism and cash. Apple, Wizards of the Coast, Star Wars, LEGO, Marvel, Pixar (and the list goes on) are all brands that link very strongly with any geek’s sense of belonging and meaning. They also, consequently, get a lot of our hard-earned cash.

We live in a highly commercialized world, and money helps make it go ’round. But, how much does geek culture need brands and how much do the brands need us geeks? What is the relationship like and are we being charged excessively for our passionate fandom and connection to brands like LEGO and Apple? How do we define our geekiness without these brands?

Indeed, how do we define geekiness minus the brands that have become part of our lives? If we didn’t have Apple, would we still be considered geeks? That question keeps haunting me, and sad to say, the answers are hard to come by. I was left even more speechless by Donahoo’s parting lines:

Let us build a generation of geeks who are, like us, critical thinkers. Children who engage with the world around them and see the value of the screen as a tool, and the value of building things with their hands in the back yard and of staring up at the night sky in awe.

Perhaps we’ll find the answers in the simple things – those that cannot be branded or labeled; in those moments when we tore apart our first radio set or digital watch, just to see what was inside; in those moments that we built our first exploding volcano kit; in those moments when we caught a dragonfly and simply marveled at its beauty…

What makes one a geek? You tell me what you think!

But just in case you are looking for some incentive to spend a little more time in the bathroom making yourself smell nice, take a look at these two soap bars that will definitely get you washing as much as you can.

That’s the Star Wars soap bar, obviously. I found it on Etsy, and the creator calls it the “greatest soap ever.” While I would not go that far, I think that it’s pretty cool. It’s obviously handmade using a custom mold. Each order is made as it comes in, making sure that you get only the freshest soap. The scent is mandarin sandalwood, and the soap contains soy and wheat proteins. No chemical foaming agents added! The bad news is that it’s currently sold out but I am sure they will make more if you order.

Here’s another one – I think it’s cooler: the Gmail soap bar. Well, the Star Wars soap looks cooler but the idea of having Gmail in your bathroom appeals to me more. Not everyone may agree with me – indeed a lot of people online call it ridiculous, but I still think it’s a pretty neat idea. The bad news is that no one seems to know where to buy one. Maybe you do?

The Origami Toilet Paper is just like any other toilet paper that you can find in the market today. You use it for, well, cleaning up after you do your business. You can use it for wiping up spills. You can even use it to wipe your hands dry after you wash them. The best thing about it, though, is that you can expand your cultural and artistic borders by learning the ancient Japanese art of origami!

I might be setting myself up for something here, but I have to admit that I have this thing about toilet paper. I just gotta have the nice kind, three-ply no less. There is nothing worse than using cheap and nasty toilet paper in my mind. If you’re on the hunt for the best kinds of toilet paper in the supermarket, you just have to ask me and I can point you in the right direction without even looking!

This is the first time I’ve ever seen something like this, though. A hundred feet of Origami – now that’s original! At $3.50 per roll, you might want to save it for special occasions, though. I am thinking parties, except that you risk having people line up outside your bathroom just to have some fun!

Here’s the top 10 list:

1. Has facial stubble
2. Is a bit geeky
3. Has a hairy chest
4. Avid book reader
5. Cries at soppy film
6. Sings along to a song while dancing to it
7. Grey hair
8. Sweaty after workout
9. Wears glasses
10. Has a passion for sports

Now why am I NOT surprised to see the work geek high up on the list? Come on, everyone knows that a little geek (or more than a little geek) is just irresistible, right? Think about Chuck (as in Chuck the guy from Buy More who is a secret agent spy). Think about Dr. Sheldon Cooper. That guy in Numbers. Why do you think the bigwigs in Hollywood are suddenly coming up with shows that feature guys with more brain power than muscle growth?

On the flipside of the coin, I am wondering what the secret list for guys would be. I am pretty sure facial stubble will NOT make it! I think there’s a fair chance that geeky would also be high up in that list. Guys, what say you? Anyone care to come up with his own list?

Anyhow, the voting is over and Barbie has two new careers – computer engineer and news anchor. One thing I am happy about is that this seems to be an acknowledgment that women can do whatever men can do (career-wise at least). Then again, the irritating matching pink outfits still do nothing to make me like Barbie.

Her computer engineer get up includes a shiny pink laptop, pink librarian glasses (I would have loved them if they weren’t pink), a pink wrist watch, and pink-lined binary shirt. The shirt is cool, actually, but I think they could have lost the pink!

So what are people out there saying? Some geeks shun the very idea – they say it is so NOT realistic. I think it’s pretty cool in a way. It may not be that realistic (somehow the people I know who love pink just don’t match the geek profile) but it just might bring out the geek in little girls. Now you gotta love that!

I think that many just might agree with that title. I have heard so many horror stories about Facebook has brought about some nasty things into relationships. Perhaps those things could have been avoided sans Facebook. Perhaps not. No one can really tell, can they?

However, some American lawyers were interviewed by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) in a survey aimed at looking at divorce cases. What did they find out? Jeff Bertolucci of PC World narrates:

The survey by the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (AAML) shows that 81 percent of the Academy’s members in the past five years have seen an increase in the number of divorce cases using social networking evidence.

Among the most popular social nets, Facebook has the dubious honor of being the leader for online divorce dirt, with 66 percent of survey respondents citing it as the primary source.

MySpace was second with 14 percent, Twitter third at 5 percent. Other online sources totaled 14 percent, according to an AAML release.

It’s not what you thought, was it? At least according to that survey, the most popular social network today is being used as evidence to put an end to problematic relationships. What I am wondering about is how Facebook comes into play in contributing to those problems? Much like any other social network, no one can deny the dangers of Facebook. I guess until someone actually does a study along these lines, we won’t know for sure, huh?

Not to be left behind by the hullaballoo that Apple is creating with the launch of the iPad, Panasonic has introduced their own tablet. Dubbed the H1 Field, this tablet is not your ordinary tablet. The specs are not that fabulous, to be honest. It is quite similar to a tablet that you would find many years ago. It runs on Windows 7 – downgradable to Windows XP if you wish – and has an Intel Processor (Atom Z540, clocked at 1.86 GHz). True, you wouldn’t find the Atom 5 years ago, but it’s still not that spectacular, don’t you think?

Perhaps the best thing that the H1 Field has going for it is the toughness aspect. First of all, it can survive a 6-foot-drop. I am pretty sure that no other tablet in the market today will survive that! It’s supposed to be in a sealed casing – I am not sure if that means it is water proof but I think it might be.

Having said all that, while I am pretty impressed with tough notebooks in general, I do not think I will ever be enticed to buy one. They say that the H1 Field will start shipping next month for a little more than $3,000. I say I’ll stick to the iPad if I wanted a tablet. Whatchathink?

You can then just imagine how awed I was when I caught a glimpse of this case mod:

Thanks to PCWorld, my eyes were treated to the sight of Kratos, the God of War (if you play that game, you’ll understand why it is him and not Ares who holds this title). It’s no ordinary model of Kratos, though. As “life-like” as it seems, it also holds more inside. There is actually a full-fledged gaming system – and yes, it works!

Check out this video:

Whoever created this case mod should get more credit than a YouTube video, don’t you think? On one level, the artistic value cannot be denied. The figure is amazingly life-like (though we know Kratos does not really exist) and the attention to the details is impressive. On another level, the tech know-how to put everything together inside and make it work is something else.

The guy at PC World who made the write up couldn’t give any details on the creator of this mod, but I agree with him that whoever created the case mod is amazing!

Firebox is selling this baby for a mere $46 and yes, it is in stock. The contraption will allow you to scoop up handfuls of fresh peanuts and churn out some peanut butter just the way you like it. I don’t know about you, but I am quite picky when it comes to peanut butter depending on my mood. Most of the time, I like the chunky kind (Jif please!) but there are times when I want the smooth and creamy kind. With this peanut butter maker, you can have any kind whenever I want!

I love the idea of being able to add salt and/or sugar to suit my taste at the moment. More than that, the gadget will also make butter out of any other nut. Cashews, almonds, pistachios – as long as it’s a nut, you can make butter using this thing. I may seem to be overreacting but if you have ever lived off of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, you will understand where I am coming from.

If you’re looking for the perfect V-day gift (it’s less than a week, by the way), then you can’t go wrong with this thing. That is, if the recipient is just like me. But who does not like peanut butter???

A Japanese company is giving us hope though. Eamex says that it has developed new technology that will extend the life of Lithium Ion batteries. Just how much longer will they last? If reports are to be believed, these new batteries can be charged and discharged for more than 10,000 times. Even better, they will last for 20 years. That’s far longer than most gadgets will last the average person!

Just to give us an idea of how the technology works, Eamex says that they have solved the main problem of short battery life: the weakening of the bond between the particles of an essential part of batteries: the tin-coated resin. If this bond is made to be stronger for longer, then batteries will last more than they do today. Again, Eamex claims that it has solved this problem. The forecast is that by the end of this year, they will be able to launch the new battery. Now I wonder how much this will cost?

With the MU Space portable pillow-bed, however, you can at least have the comfort something nice to lay your head on. Of course, since it is also a portable bed, you will have a layer of comfortable material between you and the hard bench (or floor). More than that, however, you also get the added plus of listening to music! There are rotating speakers inside, which will pipe in music to relax you as you wait for your flight. The unit is USB and memory card compatible.

As you can see from the picture, MU Space is easy to carry around, being a whole unit on its own. The casing actually reminds me of a bowling ball case or a makeup kit. To be honest, it doesn’t appeal to me that much – in terms of looks anyway; however, the idea of having a bed and pillow PLUS music (with no headphones, by the way) is just impossible to resist. And even if you don’t plan on traveling anytime soon, you can always stash the kit in your workstation and catch some zzz’s during your break!

UK charity Computer Aid is looking for people who are willing to donate their old gadgets. They are accepting ANY kind of gadget as long as it is still working. (So yeah, forget about that desktop PC that you’ve chopped into pieces trying to make good use of its parts.)

Computer Aid is an established charity that refurbishes computers and then donates them to those in need – usually in other countries. To date, the charitable organization has given more than 160,000 refurbished computers in 100 countries. You and I may take our computers – and other gadgets – for granted but we have to realize that there are so many other people in various parts of the world who do not have access to technology as we do. School children in many developing countries, for example, are hard pressed to gain access to computers that may be essential to their educational experience.

If you do not feel like just giving away your gadget (SCROOGE!), you may opt to sell it on eBay and give Computer Aid a cut. Does that sound better? Maybe, but your conscience will probably haunt you…

Anyhow, visit Computer Aid’s web site for more details. Come on, you know you want to give.

I don’t think that I know anyone – not even the geekiest and most gadget crazy person I know – who would need 80 USB ports at a single time, do you? I guess the people at Thanko might have bought one gadget too many. They’re the ones promoting this board with 80 USB ports, and they seem really excited about it.

As you can see from the picture, it does look like you have an army of shiny little things in a sea of red. It can look impressive, I have to admit, but impressive does not mean useful. Think about it, this board can accommodate 80 devices with USB connectivity but it doesn’t do anything but charge the devices. It does not even have the capability to store data! Sure, it has some features such as adjustable voltage (for different devices, obviously), but for almost $200, it’s just too steep!

Think what you can buy for $200. Even if I had that money to burn, I definitely won’t waste it on this thing. Is there anyone here who can change my mind? Maybe I am missing out on an important detail here.

It would have been perfect if I had one of these water bottles with me. I stumbled upon the LightCap 300 Solar Powered Lantern & Water Bottle at Amazon, and my interest was immediately caught. It’s really just a water bottle (definitely need drinking water on a camping trip) but it also has the added feature of 4 bright (super bright they say) white LEDs. That should be enough to light up my tent, shouldn’t it?

Even better, this lantern does not need to be plugged in to an electrical outlet to get charged. Just make sure to expose it to natural sunlight during the day and the installed solar panels will do the job. It really is perfect for where we’re going as there is nothing there but the sand, the sea, and the sun.

Other details: it weighs a mere 10.5 oz and has a translucent supposedly unbreakable cap. It also has focusing lens for brighter light.

How much will this nifty bottle set you back? Only $29.99 and shipping comes free. The bottle cum lantern comes in two colors: red and black.

From what I have read, what Lanier does in his book is to philosophically analyze what we take for granted on a daily basis: online tools and other related technology. An old saying came to mind: “Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are.” Perhaps, after reading what Lanier has to say, we can put a twist to that saying and come up with a modern one: “Tell me what your gadgets are (and how you use them) and I’ll tell you who you are.”

Amazon had a Q&A with Lanier and asked two important questions. The first one is “Two decades later, how has the internet transformed our lives for the better?” Lanier’s reply:

The answer is different in different parts of the world. In the industrialized world, the rise of the Web has happily demonstrated that vast numbers of people are interested in being expressive to each other and the world at large…In the developing world, the Internet, along with mobile phones, has had an even more dramatic effect, empowering vast classes of people in new ways by allowing them to coordinate with each other.

I couldn’t agree more. Just take a look at how easy it us to communicate with everyone now.

Looking at the other end of the spectrum, the second question is raised: “How has the internet transformed our lives for the worse?” Lanier’s answer:

The problem is not inherent in the Internet or the Web. Deterioration only began around the turn of the century with the rise of so-called “Web 2.0″ designs. These designs valued the information content of the web over individuals. It became fashionable to aggregate the expressions of people into dehumanized data. There are so many things wrong with this that it takes a whole book to summarize them. Here’s just one problem: It screws the middle class. Only the aggregator (like Google, for instance) gets rich, while the actual producers of content get poor. This is why newspapers are dying. It might sound like it is only a problem for creative people, like musicians or writers, but eventually it will be a problem for everyone. When robots can repair roads someday, will people have jobs programming those robots, or will the human programmers be so aggregated that they essentially work for free, like today’s recording musicians? Web 2.0 is a formula to kill the middle class and undo centuries of social progress.

I am not sure I get it. Perhaps I really do need to read that book. Interested?

You can get a copy at Amazon for $13.44.

Aside from that interesting look, this toilet has some useful features. Designer Dang Jingwie clearly cares for the environment and understands the need to conserve water. The contraption is a mixture of toilet bowl, sink, and vanity table. When you wash your face or brush your teeth (or even wash your hands), you may opt to save the used water to flush the toilet. There are two buttons to choose from: the green one will store the used water for flushing later on while the orange button will drain it. To give you more control, there are four settings that will allow you to adjust the water pressure. That’s sensible enough, right?

What about the vanity table? I guess that people who are constrained with respect to time will be able to find comfort in the fact that they can do their daily business while shaving. (Guys, will you be able to handle the multi-tasking that is required?) Those who need to put on make up and what not will also be able to do that. (Now I know women will have no problems with this.)

Now what I don’t get is that you have the option of heating or warming your espresso using the built-in warmer at the back. Why anyone would want to drink their morning brew while doing their business just doesn’t make sense to me.

Well, if you’re the Rev. Canon David Parrott, “blessed gadgets” are nothing new. The minister of St. Lawrence Jewry church in London took the activity one step further by blessing a bunch of laptops and phones (smart phones, no less!) on Monday. He says that it is a symbolic gesture. The aim is to remind the people of his parish that “God’s grace can reach them in many ways,” technology being one of them.

There is a precedent for this, albeit with a different nature. There is a traditional ceremony called Plow Monday, which celebrates going back to work. In the old times, a symbolic plowing tool was blessed, as the communities mainly relied on farming as their means of livelihood. Today, the church is right smack in the middle of London’s financial district – not a plot of farmland is to be found anywhere near it. As a result, the minister thought of creating a twist in the ceremony.

I think that it’s a brilliant move. For those who like staying in touch with their faith and spirituality in today’s technology-filled life, it’s quite a relevant ceremony. What say you?

Here’s my favorite: a dishwasher safe Wii controller. You may not think about it much, but that white bar can carry tons of germs in it, especially after Wii night with friends. I try to make it a habit to wipe it clean with alcohol but sanitizing it sound so much better. You can get these controllers at Seal Shield for anywhere from $30 to $70, depending on the package.

“Touchless” faucets and soap dispensers are becoming quite popular as well. They are not so new or novel. Hotels and high end buildings already have these gadgets installed. You can now buy home versions for relatively cheap, though. For as low as $300, you can get a kitchen faucet that will not require you to touch or turn a handle to get the water flowing. The same thing goes for soap dispensers – for about $30, you can buy a unit that will not require the touch of the hand.

There are so many other gadgets that out there – thermometers that you do not need to insert into the mouth or the underarms. I guess the question is whether or not these gadgets really help in stopping the spread of germs. What’s your take?

For sure, countless other people have similar stories to share. These stories might very well dwindle away to nothingness if this device goes mainstream. Dubbed the Gravity Ruler, the device provides you with an estimate of how much your bag weighs. It is not really a ruler the way we know a conventional ruler – it’s more like a weighing scale (but not quite).

From what I have read about the Gravity Ruler, it makes use of a cord (much like a bungee cord, I think). You loop it around your bag’s handle and hold it up. The weight of the bag will then place tension on the cord, which is used to estimate just how heavy the bag is. The design is purely mechanical, but it seems to work. In fact, designers Marcella Maltese and Lin Wei reportedly peddled their wares in a travels how in Milan and sold all of their units in less than an hour!

The 2009 Crunchies Awards was held last week – a relatively newcomer in its niche. It is held annually by three entities – GigaOm, VentureBeat, and TechCrunch. This year’s awards is only the third. The cool thing about the Crunchies is that the Internet community is involved in deciding who gets to win what award, and this year’s Best Gadget Award went to Nook. Not bad for something that came late in the game!

From the get go, the e-book reader was touted as a Kindle killer. It is Android-based (yeah, looks like Android is the way to go these days) and boasts a 6-inch ink screen as well as a colored touch screen. On top of that, it has Wi-Fi and 3G connectivity as well as the option to expand memory up to 16GB (on top of the 2GB internal memory). I also like the fact that it has mp3 playback capability.

On the downside, its battery only lasts for 10 days (Kindle’s lasts for 14 days) and it weighs 1 ounce more than the Kindle. More so, the Nook does not have a web browser nor does it offer a text-to-speech feature.

Based on the Crunchies, though, it seems that users are finding the Nook a much better deal than a Kindle. So if I were to buy an e-book reader this year, should I go for the Nook?

Electronics company RCA has the perfect solution for this situation: Airnergy. The name itself gives you an idea what it’s about. Airnergy is actually a system, more than a single device. RCA is aiming to get the whole thing up and running in order for devices to be able to “harvest” energy from Wi-Fi signals and use that to charge up batteries. Nice, huh?

Their flagship device is called the “Wi-Fi hotspot power harvester.” As it is pretty much in the testing stage, I am sure that they will find some other name for it before it is launched. This device looks just like the dongle used for wireless Internet services and can be connected to another gadget using a mini-USB port.

The gadget was shown at the recently concluded CES, and received quite a lot of attention. I wouldn’t mind having one myself! However, we will have to wait for several more months – at least – for RCA to release the dongle. The rumor is that it will go for $40. Too expensive? For what it can do, I don’t think so.

via iSmashPhone

Was this a mistake or a stroke of luck?

You tell me. I should receive some news later today about “my” iPhone, but I am thinking that maybe it is the Nexus One that I really want. It is available online now, but can be shipped only to destinations in the US, UK, Hong Kong, and Singapore (Republic of Singapore). Bummer for us who live in other countries! (Still, there are workarounds if you really want the phone.)

Anyhow, so which phone is better? One of the most useful comparisons I read can be found at iSmashPhone. The conclusion is that the Nexus One is better for users who are not heavily dependent on the apps available for the iPhone. If you belong to the latter group, then you are going to miss those apps. Then again, the Nexus One is so new – I am pretty sure that it will have its own array of apps before long.

Another plus point for me is that I can buy the Nexus One more easily than the iPhone – no tie ups with a network, no need to jailbreak, and CHEAPER!

So what’s it gonna be? I’d appreciate your input!

Some of the most popular kinds of gadgets I saw on TV last year had something to do with beauty and fashion. Girls, listen up. According to the New York Times, handheld aesthetic devices were some of the hottest selling items in 2009. These ranged from acne treatments to teeth-whitening toothbrushes to hair removal kits. Needless to say, they come at a high price. The question is: Do they actually work?

As with many things out there, different people have different opinions. Some industry experts say that to a certain degree, these handheld devices actually help consumers. On the other hand, there are those who say that “the science behind them is spotty” at best. The article quoted Dr. Robert Weiss, past president of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery:

“We tested photodynamic therapy on acne patients that was a hundred times stronger than what you’d find in a home-use device, and only 40 percent of those patients responded. From that clinical experience, I’m very skeptical about what these devices can do. The technology is possible, but not probable.”

Bottom line? You gotta decide for yourself. Me, I already have enough issues to worry about. As much as I love toys, I can’t take the risk of using these devices (not to mention the money involved). I’d much rather go to the doc. Yeah, where’d my adventurous spirit go?

Here goes…

1. Finally get myself an Apple iPhone for my birthday. I have been wanting one since it came out. I am so proud of myself for exercising an immense amount of self-control, but I fear I cannot wait any longer. I have three months – let’s see if I can give in and indulge myself this one little purchase in the first quarter of 2010.
2. Organize my files better. I am a hoarder, a packrat – whatever you want to call it, it’s BAD. I have files from 15 years ago, and I can’t make myself get rid of them even though I don’t even open them at all. My documents, photos, music, etc. are all over my hard disk. I can’t seem to finish putting them in order. I vow to start doing this in January. Oops – it’s January 4! Better get started…
3. Pay my bills on time. I am enrolled in all sorts of online banking and bill payment systems. That’s supposed to make things easier, right? Unfortunately, I still keep getting distracted with all the other fun things you can do online, and I end up paying some – alright, a LOT – of my bills late. This year, I will make use of the tools that I have and be a good consumer.

I think I have more I can put on this list, but these three things I am pretty sure I can achieve. Care to share your geek’s resolutions?

Photo courtesy of www.zazzle.com

What’s the point in that, you may be thinking. Well, how many times have you heard of stories about people getting their iPod snatched away by some low life scum? I remember when I got my first iPod – no one really recognized what it was so it wasn’t that “thief-friendly.” These days, though, iPods are prime targets.

With this cool Walkman iPod case, though, you can protect your iPod from hungry eyes and quick hands. As you can see in the picture, the case looks just like a Walkman that almost everybody used way back when. Now imagine walking around the city or taking the train or bus. If you are the type who doesn’t like other people staring at your modern iPod, you would find this case really handy – no one will take any interest in stealing your “Walkman.”

The case was made with the classic iPod in mind, I heard that they have some for the other models as well. One thing that I would like is a case that looks like the black Walkman. That looks so much better than this red shiny thing. Just because I want a nondescript case, it doesn’t mean that I want something that is not aesthetically pleasing!

If the stand of the New York Times is to be followed, though, everyone might have to pay more than they are paying now. They want Amazon to “spread its wealth” and start charging state taxes. How does it work? Amazon should pay state taxes to New York, and of course the consumers from New York will have to pay for it when they make any purchase – gadgets or otherwise.

What’s wrong with the scenario aside from the fact that we would have to pay more of our hard earned bucks? A writer at TMC News did the legwork for us. He quoted parts of the Constitution that shoots down the idea. The stand of the New York Times is due to the fact that the state is experiencing financial problems due to low tax income. Of course, they had to point the finger at online stores at once. While it might make sense to tax more, doesn’t it make more sense to try and cut spending? That just might solve the problem and make people’s lives much better. I am glad I will not be affected by this idea if it ever becomes a reality, but wouldn’t it suck to pay more taxes when you buy gadgets online?

In the United States, though, most airlines allow the use of electronic gadgets once the plane has taken off. In fact, there are many airlines that offer in-flight services such as WiFi. If the rumor is true, this means that these things are out of the picture.

The rumor stems from the recent terrorist attempt on a flight headed for the United States. As a result, the TSA posted an announcement saying:

“Passengers flying from international locations to U.S. destinations may notice additional security measures in place. These measures are designed to be unpredictable, so passengers should not expect to see the same thing everywhere.”

The “additional security measures” were not specified – yet. Naturally, this statement induced a considerable amount of (justified, in my mind) panic. People who already hate traveling in the first place will have no way of amusing themselves, especially on a long haul flight. People who just can’t live without fiddling with their gadgets are going to suffer even more.

But we should rest easy for now. After all, they are just rumors. We don’t know if anything is going to materialize. If something does, though, how are you going to take it?

From what I have been reading and hearing, consumers can get their hands on a wide variety of electronics for great prices. I guess it is how the stores are going to get rid of their stock from this year. After all, they need to free up space for the plethora of new goods that will be coming in early next year.

If you have been wanting to get an HDTV, this might be the perfect time to do so. Walmart will be selling some brands at almost half the original price! You might even be able to get one for only several hundred dollars. They are also slashing the prices on certain digital camera brands as well as cell phones.

Other stores which have announced similar promos include Dell, Circuit City, KMART, Target, and Best Buy. Here’s another tip: go to Circuit City for huge discounts on the PS3. For laptop deals, you might want to check out Best Buy and Target. If I were you, I would enjoy all day today and get ready for a day of shopping tomorrow.

I was mistaken, but what I found is still worth checking out: the Printing Your Toast design. Conjured by designer Othmar Mühlebach, this concept is inspired by your ordinary printer at home or the office. You stack bread slices up on the top part of the printer – err, toaster – and once toasted, the slice will drop conveniently to a plate underneath. Just like “real” printers, the bread slices will be toasted (printed) one at a time.

In this year’s Berner Design Awards, the printer-toaster got the second prize. Judges described the design as aesthetically pleasing as well as interesting. I get the first adjective but the second is just way too bland for me. Interesting? Come on! I think they could have come up with a better word to describe the toaster.

Anyhow, I wouldn’t mind having one of these things. It does look different and will match my espresso machine. I also like the idea of not having to burn my fingers trying to get the toast out of my old fashioned toaster oven. What say you?

A couple of weeks ago, just in time for the Christmas rush, Computer Choppers made PS3 fanboys’ mouths water when they showed off the 24kt Gold PlayStation Slim. Obviously, the specs are the same with the regular PS3 Slim, but this one glitters oh so much! Plating aside, you also get two controllers – both 24kt gold plated – and a 1-year warranty. For $4,999, I’d actually want more than a year’s warranty, wouldn’t you???

Computer Choppers is actually well known for pimping up gadgets and upping the price, presumably for those who have a lot of extra cash to burn and want to have gadgets that have that edge. They have all sorts of golden toys – Blackberry and Macbook. Other finishes included platinum and multi-colored anodized material.

So I was thinking, if I shout out to the Universe real loudly, maybe it will hear me? And while I am at it, might as well reach for the stars and wish for this golden PS3 Slim. Oh, and why not ask for a golden Sony Bravia (though I didn’t see one in the Computer Choppers’ web site) so I have a matching TV?

I actually found the article to be very informative and funny at the same time. A professor from Bennington College takes on a slightly different view, though. David Anderegg, a professor of psychology says that instead of trying to reinvent “geek” into “cool geek,” we should just stop using the term altogether. He likened the terms to racial slurs that are more damaging than one might think.

Damon Darlin wrote a blog post on this, as he got in touch with the professor. I like what he said about the labels changing meaning depending on the context. That’s exactly how language is anyway – it evolves over time! His example:

I noted that in Manhattan’s elite high schools being called a “cool nerd” is a compliment these days — denoting someone with intellectual and academic chops, unself-consciously so, and other interests as well.

I don’t even need to go far for more examples. At the office, people tend to call techies “geeks” in a fond manner. And no one is offended! I am sure that you have similar examples in mind right now. I don’t really see the problem in “cool-ifying” these terms, do you?

Photo courtesy of http://geeks.pirillo.com/