French Skiier Takes a Flagpole to the Nuts

French Skiier Takes a Flagpole to the Nuts - Sports - Gawker.TV.

How Can I Ditch Cable and Watch My TV Shows and Movies Online?

If you're going to unplug from the cable company, prepare to exercise some patience when it comes to watching your favorite shows as soon as they air—it can take anywhere from a day to a week for them to appear online. Also, be ready to do some digging around to find who's streaming special events, sports, and other programming outside of the drama/sitcom variety. Let's take a look at ways to find certain types of programming without relying on your cable company.

via How Can I Ditch Cable and Watch My TV Shows and Movies Online? - Streaming Television - Lifehacker.

Jon Stewart Sums Up Everything That is Wrong with America in Under Four Minutes

Yesterday, the new Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure act went into effect—but not without controversy. And tonight on The Daily Show, Jon Stewart brilliantly laid out both what's wrong with American consumers and with credit card companies.

via Jon Stewart Sums Up Everything That is Wrong with America in Under Four Minutes - Comedy Central - Gawker.TV.

Restore Previous Versions of Files in Every Edition of Windows 7

Have you ever accidently deleted a file, or removed a crucial part of a document only to realize it no longer makes sense?  Windows 7 is smart enough to protect you from yourself, and here we’ll see how you can restore files in any edition of Windows 7.

via Restore Previous Versions of Files in Every Edition of Windows 7 - the How-To Geek.

Pirating vs Buying a Movie

The Case For Movie Piracy.

Booking a Flight the Frugal Way

It used to be so simple. You wanted to go to Paris, so you called a travel agency, gave them your dates and budget, and with any luck, you soon had in your hands a real paper ticket with a real dollar value. Even in the early days of the Internet, it was easier. You went to one of the few booking sites — Travelocity or Expedia, most likely — searched for your route, paid with a credit card and that was it. Maybe you even got a paper ticket in the mail. Those were the days!

via Booking a Flight the Frugal Way - Frugal Traveler Blog - NYTimes.com.

Google Voice Launches A Series Of Videos To Explain Its “Awesomeness"

Google Voice is a great service, one of the best things Google has released in a long time. Unfortunately, most casual web users have no idea what it is. Or more specifically, what it’s purpose is.

via Google Voice Launches A Series Of Videos To Explain Its “Awesomeness,” Gibberish.

Newbie Fashion Tips for Grown-Up Men

Pay attention to your shoes. Everyone else does. It’s hard for the non-fashion-maven to tell a more expensive suit from a less expensive one, a high-quality shirt from a medium-quality one, and so on. But everyone can tell cheap or poorly cared-for shoes. Buy the best ones you can afford, and take care of them.

via Newbie Fashion Tips for Grown-Up Men - Stepcase Lifehack.

Tiger Woods Press Conference to Be Broadcast Live on Ustream

If you were waiting for the next huge online video event, this is it. Tiger Woods is set to break his silence on Friday morning with a press conference that will be broadcast live at 11 a.m. ET on Ustream, via the company’s partner CBS News.

via Tiger Woods Press Conference to Be Broadcast Live on Ustream.

US Skier Trashes NBCs Olympics Coverage On Twitter -- And It Gets Automatically Posted To NBCs Web Site

We are pleased to say that NBC covered Lindsey Vonns amazing downhill run live today...  on its blog. The network wont actually show the race until tonight, of course, when everyone knows the results which most people now do, because the NBC TV network may be the only news organization on the planet that hasnt reported them.

via US Skier Trashes NBCs Olympics Coverage On Twitter -- And It Gets Automatically Posted To NBCs Web Site.

YouTube - Stargate Studios Virtual Backlot Reel 2009

Almost everything you see on TV is done with a green screen.  Watch this video...



YouTube - Stargate Studios Virtual Backlot Reel 2009.

TuneGlue° | Relationship Explorer

Discover new artists with this website.  Type in an artist that you like then click on their name.  Click expand and you'll see a web start to build of similar artists.  It's a neat way to learn about new music.

TuneGlue° | Relationship Explorer.

HBO's Answer To Hulu Preps For Big Debut

HBO's streaming video service, which offers movies and series from The Wire to Big Love online, currently works for Comcast and Verizon FiOS subscribers, according to the New York Times. But a big HBO Go press announcement is coming tomorrow, which might mean more viewers will be able to access the site.

via HBO's Answer To Hulu Preps For Big Debut.

Air Video Streams Your Videos to Your iPhone with Minimal Effort, Is Incredible

Not only do videos take up a ton of space on space-constrained devices, but converting videos for the iPhone gets painful quickly. Air Video streams videos straight to your iPhone, converting them on-the-fly if theyre incompatible.

via Air Video Streams Your Videos to Your iPhone with Minimal Effort, Is Incredible - Streaming Video - Lifehacker.

RIM demos new WebKit-based BlackBerry browser at MWC -- it's fast! -- Engadget

Apparently RIM has decided to actually step into the battle, just a little bit too late.  I don't know about anyone else but I got fed up with Blackberry being a little behind the times with their browser.  You would think the as the first "smart phone" on the market they would have figured it out.  I guess better late than never right RIM?

We weren't expecting much out of RIM'ss presser here at MWC this morning, but the company managed to bust out one surprise -- a demo of the company's new WebKit-based BlackBerry browser. We're assuming this is what came out of that Torch Mobile acquisition, and the early build shown off on-screen looks pretty solid, rendering Amazon.com quickly and scoring a full 100/100 on the Acid3 test. Unfortunately, there's no word on when BlackBerry users will actually be able to get their hands on this, but rest assured we're digging for more info. Video after the break.

via RIM demos new WebKit-based BlackBerry browser at MWC -- it's fast! -- Engadget.

YouTube - Cafferty on Pelosi

Let's get rid of her already....



YouTube - Cafferty on Pelosi.

3 Ways to Prepare for the CARD Act

On February 22, 2010, the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility, and Disclosure Act, better known as CARD, will go into effect and consumers can start breathing a little easier as some of the worst abuses in the industry are curtailed. Don’t start celebrating just yet, though. We predict that issuers are going to get creative seeking profits elsewhere, so it’s important to take the time to understand what changes may be coming in a few weeks — and how to protect yourself now.

via 3 Ways to Prepare for the CARD Act.

Whats the Easiest Way to Share Large Files and Media with Friends?

Very cool program that I've never heard of.

Sharing files publicly has always been a subject of hot debate, but put aside any legal concerns for the moment and consider: What if you want to just share some home videos or music privately with a few friends rather than the internet at large? Whats the easiest way to share large files?

via Whats the Easiest Way to Share Large Files and Media with Friends? - File Sharing - Lifehacker.

Windows Phone 7 Series: Everything Is Different Now

Today Microsoft announced their first endeavor into the phone world however, just like every other company they are only making the software and calling on the manufacturers to make the hardware.  I will be sticking with my Droid mainly because I don't own an XBOX, and I am on Verizon.  I'm still wondering why AT&T gets everything new?  Is it because they are willing to be bend over and take it from all the Phone/Software makers just to sell phones?  I think so.

Today, at Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Microsoft is publicly previewing Windows Phone 7 for the first time. The brand new, totally fresh operating system will appear in phones this year, but not until the holidays. All of the major wireless carriers and every likely hardware maker are backing it, and they'd be stupid not to. It's awesome.

via Windows Phone 7 Series: Everything Is Different Now - Windows phone 7 - Gizmodo.

Samsung i8520 'Halo' Android 2.1 phone with 3.7-inch Super AMOLED and pico projector

The i8520 Halo packs a 3.7-inch WVGA Super AMOLED display (bigger than the Wave's 3.3-incher), 8 megapixel autofocus camera with flash (VGA on the front), 720p / 30fps video encoding / decoding, DivX and Xvid playback support, Bluetooth 2.1, standard 3.5mm headphone jack, 802.11b/g/n WiFi, A-GPS, 16GB of internal storage and microSD expansion, stereo speakers, DLNA support, and -- get this -- a DLP pico projector integrated.

via Samsung i8520 'Halo' Android 2.1 phone with 3.7-inch Super AMOLED and pico projector (updated) -- Engadget.

Two Dozen Carriers Worldwide Unite Against Apple’s App Store

Two dozen of the world’s largest mobile-phone companies are teaming up to create an “open international applications platform,” which is obviously in direct response to Apple’s success with its own iPhone App Store.

via Two Dozen Carriers Worldwide Unite Against Apple’s App Store | mocoNews.

Use This Bookmarklet to Easily Get Albums

Drag the following link to your bookmarks toolbar.  Clicking the link will open a pop-up where you can search for albums via Google.  Let me know what you think.

Google Music Search

Use This Bookmarklet to Easily Get Albums « Productive Geek Forums.

CNN's Ali Velshi Receives a Prank Call On the Air

This is just too funny....

During CNN's blizzard coverage yesterday, Gene Lasker called in to advise everyone to "Stay in and contemplate Howard Stern on American Idol." Ali Velshi did not pick up that this was a prank call until Gene called Ali a dumbass.

via CNN's Ali Velshi Receives a Prank Call On the Air - Cnn - Gawker.TV.

Microsoft Releasing Windows 7 Anti-Piracy Update Later This Month

Uh oh...

In the next week or two, Windows Update will list a new, "Important" update for you to download. It'll be called "Windows Activation Technologies Update for Windows 7," and if you're running a bootleg copy of Windows 7, beware.

via Microsoft Releasing Windows 7 Anti-Piracy Update Later This Month - Windows 7 validation - Gizmodo.

Gmail Banned By Iran; Is Twitter Next?

"The Iranian government has officially banned the use of Gmail in the country, reports The Wall Street Journal. In place of Google’s email platform, Iran will allow citizens to use a State-sponsored national email service."

via Gmail Banned By Iran; Is Twitter Next?.

YouTube - Banned iPad Promo

YouTube - Banned iPad Promo.

LookInMyPC Is a Must-Have Tool for Computer Troubleshooting

"Whether you're a tech guru who knows your way around your computer better than the company that built it, or a novice just getting acquainted with your system, LookInMyPC is a free app you'll want to download and run at least once, even before you need its diagnostic help. It's like a big verbal X-Ray of your PC, detailing everything from the brand of network adapter you have to the number of user accounts on your system."

via LookInMyPC Is a Must-Have Tool for Computer Troubleshooting - Troubleshooting - Lifehacker.

AVI Joiner Combines Split Video Files into One

"Ever download a movie from—oh, I don't know—some far-reaching nether-region of the internet, and when your download finishes realize the video is split into multiple parts? AVI Joiner quickly combines those split videos in just a few clicks."

via AVI Joiner Combines Split Video Files into One - Videos - Lifehacker.

Darth Vader's Voice Pre-Dubbing is Decidedly Wimpy

"This inside look at the making of the original Star Wars shows the on-set performance of David Prowse, the actor who created the physicality of Darth Vader. Later the voice-over would be dubbed by James Earl Jones.

It's amazing what a difference a voice can make!"

via Darth Vader's Voice Pre-Dubbing is Decidedly Wimpy - Star Wars - Gawker.TV.

Grill a Perfect Grilled-Cheese Sandwich - Lunch - Lifehacker

"If your grilled-cheese sandwiches never achieve that perfect diner-style golden grill but instead end up a shade too far into burnt-marshmallow territory, a simple tweak or two can make your sandwich perfect."

via Grill a Perfect Grilled-Cheese Sandwich - Lunch - Lifehacker.

FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited

This would suck...

"The FBI is pressing Internet service providers to record which Web sites customers visit and retain those logs for two years, a requirement that law enforcement believes could help it in investigations of child pornography and other serious crimes."

via FBI wants records kept of Web sites visited | Politics and Law - CNET News.

How To Fold A T-Shirt In 2 Seconds - Explained

This is crazy.

via How To Fold A T-Shirt In 2 Seconds - Explained (Lifestyle & Home: Folding).

Football Games Have 11 Minutes of Action

"According to a Wall Street Journal study of four recent broadcasts, and similar estimates by researchers, the average amount of time the ball is in play on the field during an NFL game is about 11 minutes."

via Football Games Have 11 Minutes of Action - WSJ.com.

Five Browser Secrets of Power Web Surfers

I already do all of these tricks.  Just thought I'd share them with the rest of you.

"Whether you're working or wasting time, you spend a lot of time on the Web every day. You've already ditched Internet Explorer and switched to Firefox or Chrome; in fact, Net Applications' browser marketshare stats show Chrome inched past Safari for the first time in December to take the No. 3 spot behind IE and Firefox. But are you using your browser';s best features? Power Web surfers know the settings and shortcuts that make getting what you need online fast and efficiently. Here are five browser tricks that can streamline your surfing session, whether you're on Facebook or the company intranet."

via Five Browser Secrets of Power Web Surfers | Work Smart | Fast Company.

Is Windows 7 causing battery problems in laptops?

"A growing contingent of new laptop users are experiencing extremely poor battery performance, and complaining about it loudly online. The thing is, the problem doesnt seem limited to be any one laptop manufacturer, or even any one battery manufacturer. Its starting to look like the only common denominator for the users experiencing problems is Windows 7."

via Is Windows 7 causing battery problems in laptops?.

Motorola Droid's next update to be Android 2.1, includes multitouch browser

"We've just gotten the inside line on the next Droid update that's making the rounds through Verizon's testing department from one of our trusted sources, and overall, it looks like this should take users 95 percent of the way to curing pangs of Nexus One envy. Here's what we've got:"

via Motorola Droid's next update to be Android 2.1, includes multitouch browser -- Engadget.

YouTube - Parisian Love

Google's fantastic Super Bowl ad.  I love its simplicity.  It's how we all use Google in our daily lives.

YouTube - Parisian Love.

Optimizing µTorrent for Speed

"This guide shows how to speed up downloads in the freeware bittorrent client,  µTorrent. All bittorrent programs need to have their incoming and outgoing communications flow freely in order to achieve the highest download speeds and that is what this guide is about."

via Optimizing µTorrent for Speed.

Feb. 8 is Clean Out Your Computer Day

"It can be hard to remember to routinely clean out your computer — whether that means running virus scans or organizing your files. That’s why having a day devoted to making sure that your computer is working well and that you can find anything you need on it is a good idea. The Institute for Business Technology originally sponsored a National Clean Out Your Computer Day several years ago, assigning it to the second Monday in February. It’s a holiday well worth adding to your calendar."

via Feb. 8 is Clean Out Your Computer Day – WebWorkerDaily.

How To Create An Awesome Soft Focus Effect In Photoshop

"Soft Focus is a much sought out effect in photography. You can find it used commonly in glamour shots and to some extent in wedding photography as well. There are special lenses you can use to create the soft focus effect using your cameras. Some modern cameras come with a settings that let you create soft focus effects as well. In any case if any of the above options are unavailable you can easily mimic this effect inside Photoshop (or GIMP for that matter)."

via How To Create An Awesome Soft Focus Effect In Photoshop.

Obama Cancels Kennedys Dream

"Once upon a time, a President thought that taking humans "to the Moon and the planets beyond" was not only good for the economy of the country, but also would push US technology decades beyond everybodys else. He was right."

via Obama Cancels Kennedys Dream - Constellation - Gizmodo.

Astronaut Tweets Stunning Images of Earth From Orbit

Astronaut Tweets Stunning Images of Earth From Orbit

The astronauts on the ISS sent their first tweet from space just a short time ago. Now they've upped their game, using Twitpic to send us breathtaking shots of significant locations all around the world.

via Astronaut Tweets Stunning Images of Earth From Orbit - twitpic - Gizmodo.

Apple TV Review

A few months ago I bought an Apple TV.  I thought between the size of the actual device and the ability to plug in to my already extensive iTunes music library that it would be a great purchase.  I’ve been meaning to write this review for awhile, but in that time I actually sold the Apple TV on EBay.  I’m very happy I did so and I even recouped most of the purchase price.  It basically came down to one thing; the Apple TV is not powerful enough.

The Apple TV is an interesting device.  Apple has even said themselves that it is a hobby for them.  The box holds so much potential but it just lacks in too many ways.  At least for me.  Before I go and bash the device I’m going to let you know that there are some positives. 

1. It’s a wonderfully designed piece of hardware.  It’s small and nice to look at. 
2. If you live in the iTunes world it’s also a great piece of hardware.  It connects beautifully with iTunes and if you purchase all of your music and video from Apple, the device makes it easy to put it on your TV. 
3. It makes a great remote speaker for playing music from your computer via a wireless network.
4. It can be hacked

The fact that the Apple TV can be hacked made me hold on to the device a little longer than I expected.  I was able to install XBMC and Boxee and open the device up to my own video collection and to some great internet video via Boxee.  The problem was with my own video collection.  I’m starting to collect higher quality video and the Apple TV just cannot handle it.  Now, I could re-encode my video collection so that it still looks good and the Apple TV can handle it but it is a huge pain in the ass (I actually started to do this and realized there had to be a better way).  Also, the device wasn’t capable of handling some Internet video and the playback would be very choppy.  Even moving around the menus was a laggy experience.  So, I had enough and I sold it. 

I know am the proud of owner of a custom built home theater PC.  It has a quad-core processor with 4gb of RAM and a very nice onboard video and audio card.  I even threw in a Blu Ray drive.  It has HDMI out for easy connection to my TV (just as the Apple TV did).  I could have put it in a small case but I chose a case that looks like a big audio receiver.  It currently has 2.3 TB of storage and I plan on adding another 1.5TB very soon.  This machine can play back any file type I throw at it with ease and is very quiet.  I plan on making another write-up about the machine with pictures and a list of the products I chose to install in it.  I’ll also talk about the software I’m using to power the system.

Anybody else have an Apple TV experience?