Happy Birthday Neolex!

Happy Birthday Neolex! A.K.A. DAD!!!!!!! ^_^

Neoboy, KidSpeak! http://kidspeak.pineda.ca

Bye Bye, Floppy Disk

Ummm...  Who here still uses floppy disks?  I haven't even seen one in a looong, long time.

Though to be fair, my cousin had posted something about needing to buy floppy disks a few weeks ago.  It made me laugh so much I had to ask why.  It turned out that he needed to submit data to the bank for something or other.  The bank needed the data to be in a floppy disk.  Seriously.  I thought that was a hoot.  I mean, haven't they upgraded their machines yet?  The bank must still be using computers from the 90's or early 2000's.  Tsk tsk...  They really should get constant upgrades.  You know, keep up with the times and all that.  Thank goodness I don't bank there.

But I digress.  This post is all about saying good bye to the darned things, so ciao, floppies!  You had a good run but your storage cap is just too darned small these days.  Cheers!  You will not be missed.

source:  TechCrunch 

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Driving Using Your Eyes

Wow.  Talk about high-tech driving.  I believe I've already blogged about blind people driving and technology that allows blind people to drive.  And the coming of KITT.

This, though, is something new and different.  It allows a sane person (as sane as sane be) to drive by using their eyes.  Yes.  Look at the road to drive.  Nice.  Well... ok.  It sounds wonderful next to fighter pilots using their eyes to aim at targets then just use their fingers to press the trigger.

Think about it.  You're driving.  Then you see a billboard (remember that billboard I showed you?)  You naturally look at it and... boom!  You see a pretty girl walking by... boom!  You see an exotic car drive by and your head follows it... boom!  An accident on the road?  Boom!  You're imagining what I'm saying, right?

As great a deterrent as this wonderful driving method is to the argument against distracted driving, it's equally important that most humans (read 100%) are never not distracted.  There's no such thing as 100% focus.  Especially when it comes to driving.  Agree or disagree?  The comments are open below.  :D

 

EyeDriver Lets Drivers Steer Car With Their Eyes

via Sla! shdot by timothy on 4/23/10

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Face-Off!

Who here remembers the movie Face/Off?  That was one heck of an action film with two great stars, wasn't it?  The plot device of the movie, for the benefit of those who have not seen it, was the switching of the two stars's faces.  You could say it was a transplant but the movie showed complete transformation which included the body shape, size and mass.

True, it was an action movie which bordered on science fiction but it seems that science fiction and fantasy are being caught up by reality again.  A Spanish medical team has reported the world's first ever face transplant.  And from the description, it wasn't a simple one, either.

It apparently involved bones, veins and other tissue from one head to another.  Of course, the person who reported it can't tell if the recipient looks more like Sean Archer or Castor Troy.  Still, overall, it's nice to know that if your head coveri! ng gets damage, there's hope.  It will just feel weird to see someone else's face in the mirror after you get operated on.  ;)

 

The World's First Full Face Transplant

via Slashdot by Soulskill on 4/23/10

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Age and Learning

It always amazes me to meet people who, despite their age, continue to seek new challenges.  To learn new things.  I have a friend who started learning to play the piano when he was past 60 years of age. True.  And he speaks 5 languages quite fluently, too.

The post I've linked to below is from Download Squad which speaks of a 99 year old woman who is learning to use a computer for the first time.  Using Apple's iPad.  Of course, this could simply show how easy it is use one that even a 2 year old could use it.  And I bet that if my dad were alive right now, he'd also probably be asking me to buy him one.  Click through to see the original post and watch the video.

Here's to learning new things and new challenges!  Cheers, granny!

 

Apple iPad: not just for 2-year-olds but also for almost-centurions

via Download Squad by Sebastian Anthony on 4/23/10

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Box It!

Early this week I had an enlightening conversation with a friend at work.  We were talking about his wife's laptop which is seriously sick with something.  Their near brand new laptop is dying and they don't know why.  The techs they have brought it to can't diagnose the problem properly.  Until today they don't have an answer.  My suspicion is they got hit by a particularly mean and vicious malware.  Or a virus.  Something that dug its way into the BIOS of the laptop and so no matter what they do becomes an exercise in futility.

The whole conversation (as we were later joined by some friends) made me realize that few people use proper protection when surfing the world wild web.  Especially when they visit websites with unknown credibility.  They don't read the URL on their browser's address bar, either.  <shudder>

One of the solutions I brought up, if they ever get the chance to get their PC fixed, i.e., is to use a sandbox program.  Particularly when they surf new websites.  Or even if it's just to test out a new program they've downloaded.  The whole concept was foreign to them I might as well have been speaking Klingon.

The whole concept of the sandbox is to let programs run in a box where data can be received and played with but will not do any damage to your overall system.  Think of a pest, a rat, for! example.  You catch one and want to keep it for observat! ion and study but you certainly don't want it to run around amok destroying your home.  So you do the same with unknown or untested programs.  You put them in a cage where you can put food (data) in but nothing gets out.

One such program which I use and make sure is the first installed on a fresh new system is Sandboxie.  Sandboxie is a free program for personal use to ensure your system's health and safety.  What it does is ensure the program you run sandboxed doesn't do any damage to your system (as I described above) whether temporarily or permanently.

Download it.  Install it.  It's easy to configure that it works right after you install it.  Run a program inside it and then let it rip.  Surf all the unsafe web you want.  Pr0n.  Games.  Whatever.  It will be guaranteed that once you're done and close (throw away) the box, you! r system will have remained just the way it was.  No change at all.

This is just for individual programs.  There's also a way for you to sandbox your entire computer system so that no matter how rough or carelessly you play with it, after a reboot is done, it will all be back to the way it was.  Perfect when you have kids who borrow your computer.  But that's for a later post.

For more recommended programs go see my Mentat Bundle.  Be sure to share your thoughts below in the comments after you've given Sandboxie a spin.  As always, stay safe, everyone!  It's a jungle out there.

advice, challenges, computers, control, decisions, downloads, files, help, internet, machines, microsoft, operating, operatingsystems, os! , reviews, security, software, support, systems, technical, virus, windows, malware

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The Assistant

The alarm blared loud and incessant.  He opened his eyes slowly, picked up his phone and shutoff the alarm.  Lying in bed, he concentrated on the dream he just had, which was slowly fading into nothingness.  Another one to be forgotten.  It wasn't important anyway.  Just that it was a beautiful dream.  Time to get up.

When he got to the kitchen, she was sitting there, waiting for him.  "Good morning, Clarice.  Eventful night?" he asked.

"It was pretty uneventful.  There was a short spike in sales in your e-store about two hours ago.  Your sons emailed to greet you a happy birthday.  Your daughter emailed to confirm your dinner date at Friday's tonight.  Your stock portfolio looks to be! healthy for a few more weeks.  How was your sleep?"

Grumbling for the reminder on his age, his reply was a simple grunt.  He went to get his coffee which Clarice had brewing shortly before his alarm woke him up.  "Wonderful coffee, as usual, Clarice.  Did you fall asleep last night?"

"You know I do not sleep, John.  Not so long as there's power in my batteries."

"Right.  I'm sorry.  You look so much like her that it's hard for me to remember that you are what you are."  Apologetic as he was, there was nothing condescending nor discriminatory in his statement.  As he sat down at the table, he took a good look at her.

"Apology accepted."

Clarice was beautiful.  She had big, doe-like black eyes which were slightly slanted.  A pert nose and a small round mouth with lips which some would describe as sensual.  Her face was moon shaped.  Very oriental looking, m! atched with long straight, raven-black hair that reached the m! iddle of her back.  Her skin was smooth but was made of a rubber like substance based on silicone.  She was an android.  Not perfect as she still has a wheelchair for legs but he's working on that.  At least the artificial mind behind the face was close to perfect with an equally biting wit.

Thinking about that, he thought to himself, "why did I ever think programming her with a high IQ was a good idea?"  It was already done, however, and he liked the results.  Even his daughter seems to think so.  At least she was helpful and useful in making his life easier to bear.

His coffee done, he gave instructions for her to carry out for the day pertaining to his business and other personal matters.  As he got up to head for the shower, he was already thinking about the date he's gonna have tonight with his daughter and wishing his sons also lived nearby to enjoy this day with him.

references:  Walking, Talking Living Doll, Geminoid-F, Creepy, Creepier, Japan's New Android

artificial, assist, computers, entertainment, fiction, fantasy, help, ideas, intelligence, literature, machines, robotics, robots, science, scifi, stories, technology

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International symbol for Marriage

Hmmm...  This symbol is applicable to...  On second thought, it's best I don't mention any names.  But if you want to go right ahead, come out and admit it, the comments portion is open for all.  Write 'em up.

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@Home: Strange and Creepy

left:  without flash, right:  with flash

There I was, about to cook my pasta.  I've prepared the pot with salt, pepper and oil in water to cook the pasta in (like I usually do) and what do I find in the pot after 20 minutes of letting the mixture sit?  The pictures I took above!  I couldn't believe it so I had to get my cam and take shots.  This is the first time this has ever happened to me.  Usually the oil would just look like numerous individual globs on water since I always put the water in last.  So strange, and creepy at the same time... interesting.  What could have brought this on?  It's like having my own personal crop circle except it's oil on water and not on a field of corn. Thoughts of gods, omens and signs come to me because last night I went to watch the remake of Clash of the Titans (in 3D, of course) and after I got home, I watched the original version of the same movie.  Maybe the gods want to tell me something?  That the current decisions I'm making for myself and my family will be good or are good?  Or something else?  What could this all mean? Or maybe there's a logical explanation to all this?  hmmm...  I have to admit, this is an intriguing turn of events.  Maybe it is a sign from the gods or some sort of alien visitation.  Thoughts, anyone?

The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca

Holy Week Meal

Just finished uploading the pics from my vacay and here's what we had over the holy week.  Our very own recipe for Bacalhau.  Yummy...  Here's a little history on the dish clipped from Wikipedia.

Salt cod has been produced for at least 500 years, since the time of the European discoveries of the New World. Before refrigeration, there was a need to preserve the codfish; drying and salting are ancient techniques to preserve nutrients and the process makes the codfish tastier. The Portuguese tried to use this method of drying and salting on several varieties of fish from their waters, but the ideal fish came from much further north. With the "discovery" of Newfoundland in 1497, long after the Basque whalers arrived in Channel-Port aux Basques, they started fishing its cod-rich Grand Banks. Thus, bacalhau became a staple of the Portuguese cuisine, nicknamed Fiel amigo (faithful friend). From the 18th century, the town of Kristiansund in Norway became an important place of producing bacalhau or klippfish. This dish was popular in Portugal and other Roman Catholic countries, because of the many days (Fridays, Lent, and other festivals) on which the Church forbade the eating of meat. Bacalhau dishes were eaten instead. Bacalhau is also popular in Sfax where this dish is eaten in the first day of Eid ul-Fitr with charmoula.

All this time eating the dish and I thought it originated from Spain.  Shows what I know.  ;)

The Mentat http://www.pineda.ca

Men owe women for 'creating beer'

One of man's greatest pleasures might be a bottle or more of beer at the local bar – but an expert has claimed it would never have existed without the entrepreneurial skills of women.  I say AMEN to that.   May we have more to drink!  Cheers!

________________________________ 

By Nick Britten 
Published: 1:47PM BST 30 Mar 2010

Between the eighth and tenth centuries AD the Vikings spread terror by rampaging through Europe, fuelled by women-made ale Photo: AP

Jane Peyton, 48, an author, said women created beer and for thousands of years it was only they who were allowed to operate breweries and drink beer.

The drink is now almost exclusively marketed to men - with television characters such as Homer Simpson ! the epitome of the beer-loving male.

!

Miss Peyton has conducted extensive research into the origins of beer for a new book and reports that a woman's touch was found on beer throughout the ages.

Nearly 7,000 years ago in Mesopotamia and Sumeria, so important were their skills that they were the only ones allowed to brew the drink or run any taverns.

And in almost all ancient societies beer was also then considered to be a gift from a goddess, never a male God.

Between the eighth and tenth centuries AD the Vikings spread terror by rampaging through Europe, fuelled by women-made ale.

Women were the exclusive brewers in Norse society and all equipment by law remained their property.

And Ancient Finland also credits the creation of beer to the fairer sex, with three women, a bear's saliva and wild honey the apparent first ingredients.

In England ale was traditionally m! ade in the home by women. They were known as brewsters or ale-wives and the sale of the drink provided a valuable income for many households.

It quickly became an essential staple of the diet and even royalty indulged in the tasty beverage.

Queen Elizabeth I, like most people of the era, consumed it for breakfast and at other times of the day.

But by the start of the late 18th century and the Industrial Revolution, new methods of making beer meant women's contribution slowly started to decline and be forgotten, until now.

Miss Peyton said: "I know men will be absolutely stunned to find this out, but they've got women to thank for beer."

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Marathon!

What:A marathon of my brothers drawing for 4 days! Where:Here in Kidspeak! When:April 4 , 2010 (tomorrow) Who:By me Neoboy By Who:By my brother and me Percentage of By Who: Ok MY BROTHER: 80% ME(NEOBOY): 20% Comment for more details ^_^

Neoboy, KidSpeak! http://kidspeak.pineda.ca