Media Storage Format of the Future???

Written by Aaron on December 6, 2006 | No Comments

Every few years or so there’s a new format that is supposed to revolutionize the way we store and transfer our data. In my opinion, storage has progressed in a manner that practically defines Evolution, not Revolution. Wether this is because of consumer quirkiness, Govenrment conspiracy, or Big Biddness reluctance to swerve from the status quo is an interesting question…for another time.

 A student at Muslim Educational Society Engineering College in Kuttipuram, has developed a storage format that has the potential to change the way the world stores data. Time will be the judge of whether or not it has the legs to go the distance, but I love the concept.

So, the short and sweet of it is that using “Rainbow Technology” one can essentially “Print” data onto paper, then it can be “Read” from a scanner. This would mean cheap and disposeable data storage. The article describes “Rainbow Cards” which would be SIM card size and store 5 gigs of data, predicting their cost to be somewhere in the neighborhood of 4 cents US. Sure that’s the manufacturer cost…they’ll probably mark it up at least 50% for consumers.

This concept is the kind of thing that causes the fabled “Nerdrection.” Buying a game or program that is stored on a piece of paper the same size as the reciept, having your resume stored as data on the back of your buisness card, saving a season of your favorite TV show to a couple of sheets of paper…make those Pee-chee folders useful again!

 And anything “Star Wars” related could come printed on Toilet Paper! Hey, George wipes his ass with it. Why can’t we?

I would have linked Star Wars to one of Lucas’ crimes against his fans but I can never decide which he should be shamed by more, the unfinished consistently buggy games, his violation of the original trilogy, or the slightly decreasing sins that he called the prequels.

Ciao, Bella

Written by Ben on December 4, 2006 | 1 Comment

My sister is off on vacation– an outdoor-adventure trip somewhere in Central America. I must say that I am jealous of that trip because I want to do one, myself, one day. But while she’s away, I am charged with doggy-sitting services for a super hyper-active cute friendly puppy beagle. Our BadPopcorn mascot, Bella:

Jones, my favorite, soda

Written by Moe on November 21, 2006 | No Comments

I like Jones Soda, ok fine…I love Jones Soda. Why? Because their strawberry soda is freaking delicious. This holiday package might be freaking disgusting but I still want it!

After introducing the world to new soda flavors like fish taco and salmon, Seattle specialty beverage maker Jones Soda Co. is offering a new flavor: Green pea.Green pea, along with other unusual sodas such as turkey and gravy, dinner roll, sweet potato and antacid flavor, will be part of the company’s $10 to $15 “holiday pack” of bottled drinks available nationwide.

-some yahoo article

The company is even based off customer suggestions. From the label on the front to even the name of the drink. Since 1997 Jones Soda has been taking suggestions off their site and actually putting them to use. I was wondering why they had a drink named “Whoop Ass”. I love the fact that every label of the soda has some picture a random person sent in, or the name is a dumb name that a random person one day came up with, but best of all…they make really good drinks. Sodas, Natural, Organic, even Energy drinks.

Jones Soda Co. founder and CEO Peter van Stolk has his own secret ingredient. It has created buzz, produced 30% yearly revenue growth in a flat beverage market, drawn major distribution partners such as Starbucks and Target, and brought in $30 million in annual revenue. That ingredient: you. Virtually everything about a Jones Soda, from labels to flavors, comes from customers. That’s important because “the reality is that consumers don’t need our s — -,” van Stolk says unapologetically.-FastCompany.com

In honor of the console launch Weekend

Written by Aaron on November 17, 2006 | No Comments

I know it’s shallow to mention this right after the excessive force post but I fear it was launch day.

So PS3 has 3 robberies at gunpoint, one near riot, a stampede, and a BB-gun drive by resulting in a total of one shooting, one stabbing, one dislocated jaw and no small number of welts.

Now IF the vast majority of those people wanted the systems to use them it would be different, but most admit to buying them to re-sell them. Turns out that videogames do cause violence…just not among gamers.

Plus, if the following video is to be believed, the Wii is a far superior system.

UCLA Student Tasered

Written by Ben on November 16, 2006 | 5 Comments

The officers use of force was so wrong. In my opinion, these officers ABUSED this student without cause:

Take my knee…Please

Written by Aaron on November 8, 2006 | No Comments

Well Sunday night around 10 I went to stand up and my left knee suddenly hurt… this was different from normal because usually it is my right knee and I can simply straighten it and it pops(audibly) back in. After a few attempts to get it to pop back in I got a lift to the emergency room and sat for a couple of hours waiting for an x-ray.

They say I sprained my knee and prescribed Vicodin, Ibuprofen, and put my leg in a frikkin’ immobilizer, and told me to stay off of it (they gave me no crutches however, curse them). I bought myself a cane so I can get around, and diagnose the most mysterious medical cases ever seen on Tuesday nights (I really hope somebody gets the “House” reference) or shake said cane at the blasted punk kids that skateboard on my lawn.

I visited a general care doctor Monday morning and she told me to go to an orthoscopic specialist, where I have an appointment to get checked out next Wednesday. I guess if I had paid more attention when my brother Stef was getting his knees worked on I’d have a better idea what exactly I was in for, I’d be willing to bet I’m in the same sort of situation. Heh look at that, 30 and still getting hand-me-downs, luckily knee problems never go out of style and these fit just fine.

San Diego Trolley

Written by Ben on November 7, 2006 | No Comments

I was in San Diego for Monday night, and I headed back up the next morning to Orange County to vote for the Tuesday Midterm Elections. I took the train back up, but in order to get to the SD Amtrak station I made my first trip on the SD Trolly system.

I was surprised by the quality of the system. The cars were modernized, with automated stop announcements; signs at the stops were clear; I had a very easy time transferring lines; and it reminded me of Vienna’s trolley system. Pretty good for a state whose reputation leans heavily on the use of automotive transportation.

All they need now are more stops and more lines.

Facebook, News Feed Ad

Written by Moe on | No Comments

I read about this last week, but personally noticed it earlier today. Facebook has thought up a clever advertising technique, imprints in news feeds. I say it’s clever because you don’t really notice it, but it could get kind of annoying with more ads. But I’m not going to bitch and complain, well not just yet. I got a couple questions.

1. Are the ads at random or are they relevant to my profile. Facebook tags everything in our profiles so technically they could shoe us relevant ads. If I remember correctly, Facebook struck a deal with Microsoft on some kind of advertisement engine/module/other smart word here.
2. Are the ads going to show up on walls, profiles, groups as well or just news feeds? If you anyone sees them someplace other then news feed do let me know.
3. Facebook is big on privacy, so are they going to give members privacy rights on seeing ads in their news feeds.

How I Roll

Written by Aaron on November 3, 2006 | No Comments

I have previously mentioned my love for the D most notably when partnered with that other D.

Well the most wonderful time of the year is back. It’s WorldWide D&D Game Day!

Much like all other religious holidays, Worldwide D&D Game Day has a loveable fictional character that goes around doling out rewards to the faithful.

Every year, on Worldwide D&D day, the Dragon-God-King Bahamut visits Munchkins all over the world, blessing them with good die rolls for the coming year. At the same time, the vile Whiny-Goth Drizzt visits Role-Players, giving them coffee and cigarettes to enjoy as they talk about their backstories and wax their Girl-Parts…

Yeah, I said it. And I won’t un-say it, I play games for fun, not to be an artsy pretentious bitch… And by the way…the drow are the goth versions of evles…you know that right? The race for people that are too artsy and pretentious to play elves! Go write Fan-fiction!

I’m not sure where that came from…I’m sorry dear readers…you didn’t need to see that, it was not in the spirit of WorldWide D&D day. 

Anyway, Happy D&D day to all and may Bahamut bless your die rolls!