I know I’m posting a lot of videos, but it’s my blog so deal with it. This time, a one hour long video of stand up comedy by Russell Peters. If you’re not going to watch all of it, then I recommend starting at 31:15 for around 10 minutes.
The Toilet Paper RSS Reader
RSS is a way to consume news from different websites. I use RSS to manage my daily readings of technology, news and blogs. However, even though I do read in the restroom, when I go there I can’t take my RSS updates with me.
That’s why they created the RSStroom Reader, which actually prints your RSS feeds on toilet paper. I wouldn’t buy one of these, but I think it’s pretty cool.
(via Engadget)
The System Administrator Song
I love Google Video because you can just go in there, find cool videos and watch them on the spot, no hassle. This time I found the system administrator song.
Star Wars Nerds
This movie I got by email really made me laugh. This comedian (I think he appears on Conan O’Brien’s Late Night Show) makes fun of geeks in line to see the new Star Wars movie.
My del.icio.us Bookmarks
I mentioned del.icio.us, the social bookmarking service, before when I talked about tagging, and since then I started using del.icio.us extensively myself. I’m very happy with this service.
Before I used it I didn’t know which bookmarks are “worth” saving and which are not. I used to have a “Temp” bookmarks folder on my computer, but managing it was always a problem (usually I would just forget what I put there). del.icio.us really solves that problem. I just save everything and tag it appropriately. This is even easier now, with the del.icio.us Firefox extension.
Another benefit is, of course, looking at what other people are putting in their bookmarks. This is the social part of del.icio.us.
So… without further ado, my del.icio.us bookmarks (updated every day or two).
10 Intermediate Ways to Speed Up Windows XP
Following a very successful Simple Guide to tweaking Windows XP, now comes the Intermediate Guide. Use it on your own responsibility – some of the advice there I wouldn’t do.
(via Digg)
Puzzle Bobble
Just a quick link to an enjoyable old game, Puzzle Bobble. Enjoy.
USB Missile Launcher
Now, how cool is that? A USB Missile Launcher. Instead of throwing stuff at coworkers or shooting rubber bands now you can launch actual missiles at them.
(via CNET News)
The Beerbelly Gadget
The Beerbelly is a so-called gadget, which lets you sneak in beer into places where you are usually not allowed to in a container you put under your shirt and looks… well… like a beer belly. Ah… if only I drank beer.
(via Gizmodo)
An observation about my cellphone
I own a Sony Ericsson T630 mobile phone. To turn it off I have to press and hold the power button for about one second. Then I hear the turn off sound and I know the phone will be shut down. To turn the phone on, I have to do the same action. However, the same sound will only be played after about two seconds of holding down the power button. The delay is different. This means that if the phone is off and I hold the power button for one second it will turn on, but will not make the sound.
The reason for this seems pretty obvious to me, although from here on I’m just guessing: the difference in the delays is not a choice the designers of the phone made. It was forced by the fact that the moment the phone is turned on, it is still not ready to produce sounds. The operating system needs to boot and sound drivers have to be loaded.
So now a design decision: let’s say the phone is off and the user holds the power button for one second only. The phone is now on. Should it make the sound to alert the user that it is working or not? I would say that it should. However, the designers of the T630 decided that it shouldn’t. You can only hear it if you hold down the power button long enough.
The last thing I think about is how much code is there in the phone’s software to make sure the sound can me made as soon as possible, to give the user the best experience. The answer to that I’ll probably never know.