#@%* That Matters Technology, Electronics, Psychology, Sports, and Ninjas.

25Jul/110

Golf, Another Thing Will Ferrell is Better Than You At [PIC]

18Jul/110

Facebook Bans Google+ Ads

Ingenuity is surely something to be admired. Commercial ingenuity is something to be revered.

Sometimes, though, it seems that certain tech companies only revere their own ingenuity. That seems to be the case with Facebook, which, as reported by TechCrunch's Erick Schonfeld, has removed a piece of fine commercial ingenuity from its site.

App developer Michael Lee Johnson, conscious of the need to be big on Google+ or be nobody, wondered what the best way to levitate his Google+ circles might be. He hit upon a fine idea: he placed an ad on Facebook. It was a simple thing that was headlined: "Add Michael to Google+."

The copy read: "If you're lucky enough to have a Google+ account, add Michael Lee Johnson, Internet Geek, App Developer, Technological Virtuoso."

If those words weren't enough to persuade Facebook users that Johnson was a must for their Google+, he added a fine picture of himself wearing a jaunty cap.

The offending ad:

You're not guessing what happened with the ad, are you? You know what happened, don't you? Facebook didn't, according to Johnson, merely erase this heinous horse of Troy from its pages. It reportedly banned all his other campaigns too.

The message he received read as follows: "Your account has been disabled. All of your adverts have been stopped and should not be run again on the site under any circumstances. Generally, we disable an account if too many of its adverts violate our Terms of Use or Advertising guidelines. Unfortunately we cannot provide you with the specific violations that have been deemed abusive. Please review our Terms of Use and Advertising guidelines if you have any further questions."

Because my life's purpose is to be helpful, I scanned Facebook's Terms of Use and Advertising just to see what specific clause might have been besmirched by Johnson's chutzpah.

Perhaps it was Clause 11 in the "Special Provisions Applicable to Advertisers" section: "You will not issue any press release or make public statements about your relationship with Facebook without written permission." Johnson had shamefully declared on Google+ that he was placing the ad.

Perhaps it was Clause 4d of Facebook's Advertising Guidelines: "Ads cannot insult, harass, or threaten a user." He was, some might say, harrassing and insulting Facebook loyalists by his mere suggestion that there might be another place to socially network.

Or perhaps Facebook, its nose feeling tweaked, merely decided to reach for 6a of the same Advertising Guidelines: "We may refuse ads at any time for any reason, including our determination that they promote competing products or services or negatively affect our business or relationship with our users."

Read more:
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-20080054-71/facebook-bans-google-ad/#ixzz1STBbaRye

15Jul/110

Breaking News: K-Swiss Signs Kenny Powers!


15Jul/110

Dear Noah [PIC]

7Jul/110

How Twitter Began

What did Twitter look like before it was Twitter? Let us begin the story with an image…

We’re taught from a young age to avoid errors and failure at all costs, yet as any successful creator or entrepreneur will attest, breakthroughs don’t happen without them.

So we have to be willing (and able) to think differently. Instead of trying to develop elaborate plans or perfect ideas, we need to make small, affordable bets in order to learn quickly, build momentum and networks, and expand our abilities and resources in order to discover unique ideas and opportunities.

Consider how Twitter came about. It didn’t happen overnight. Jack Dorsey had been, in his words, “obsessed” by how people moved, interacted, and communicated since the early 1990s. So, he learned basic computer programming, created maps with dots on them, and used information from Manhattan dispatch systems to track the movement of bike messengers, taxis, police, firefighters, and couriers. It was a start.

Dorsey then transferred to New York University and got a job as a programmer with the largest dispatch company in the world. He learned a lot in the role and eventually focused on the short format messages that people sent to large dispatch boards. “This became the basis for all of my work going forward,” he recalled.

After moving to the San Francisco in 2000, Dorsey continued to tinker with short messaging ideas. He started a company that dispatched emergency and taxi services from the web, but soon realized how little he knew about start-ups. Coming at the end of the dotcom era, the timing was bad, too. “The company scuttled and was more or less a failure,” he acknowledged.

Yet he would learn from it.

Dorsey continued to use instant messaging and LiveJournal (the early blogging platform) to post updates on what he was doing – simple things like, “I’m on the phone” or “I’m listening to the Black Eyed Peas.” Once again, these were small, achievable steps toward Jack’s larger interests.

Then one night, Dorsey couldn’t sleep and sketched out an idea on a white board. The idea was to exchange short “status update” emails with friends using his RIM 850, a predecessor to the BlackBerry. The device had four lines of text good for short format messaging, but unfortunately his friends didn’t have RIM 850s.

So that experiment didn’t go anywhere either, but Dorsey got little bit smarter, a little bit better, and a little bit closer to a big idea.

Around that time, Dorsey sketched out what would become the basis for Twitter several years later. On top it reads “STATUS,” followed by a short fill-in the blank where he wrote “Reading.” But lacking resources, Dorsey had to get a real job while continuing to tinker on the side.

Dorsey was eventually hired as an engineer at Odeo, a podcasting company where people weren’t in love with podcasting. The company was, in fact, going nowhere, so founder Evan Williams asked employees for new ideas.

One night in 2006, Dorsey’s colleague sent him the first text message he ever received. “I had no idea what this thing was,” he remembered. But as Dorsey and his colleagues talked more about text messaging, he realized the short message format could be the missing link.

Williams gave him two weeks and another programmer to develop the idea. After the prototype was a resounding success internally at Odeo, Williams upped the ante for a six-month project then launched a full-scale version publically in July 2006. Twitter would consume more and more resources until Williams spun it off as a separate company in 2007.

Of course, luck was an important factor, but Dorsey’s approach was brilliant. He focused like a laser on short messaging and made hundreds (if not thousands) of small, affordable bets in that area, most of which failed. But with each step he got slightly smarter, better, and closer until he ultimately achieved a remarkable feat.

It’s an approach that the best entrepreneurs and creators have learned to do well, but anyone can do it. Jack began when he was a programmer.

It begins with a little bet. What will yours be?

5Jul/110

Improve Memory Tips – Advice on how to improve memory! What causes terrible memory?

Improve memory tips -- Should you actually want to do much better in life and be prosperous, you have to begin improving yourself. You are not perfect and you cannot be perfect but the least you could perform would be to improve some elements inside your personality as well as your self. Just one way of giving you better character is to improve your ability to remember and recall information successfully. Your own memory is to base your intelligence and your capabilities. Knowledge is actually stored info in your brain, purchased through different sources. In case your ability to keep in mind and remember things isn't not even close mediocre, that could definitely an issue. You might want to find methods to improve your storage simply because in our lifetime, in the event that we actually want to stand out, we will fulfill lots of different individuals, as well as remembering all of these will be very difficult if you have an undesirable memory.

Here are a few improve memory tips:
one.Eat nicely -- what food you're eating could determine what you are since this is wherever we obtain nutrients. If we are not eating properly, we'll certainly have a very poor carrying out entire body.  The mind requirements nutrients as well as nutritional vitamins too, therefore much better follow a nicely and well balanced diet plan that you should enhance your power to remember things and recall points rapidly.

two.Sufficient rest / rest -- a good memory exercises memory is also because of proper rest as well as sleep. Stress adds within the destruction of the health, and a good unhealthy entire body signifies an harmful thoughts additionally so renew through sleeping correctly as well as sleeping once in a while.
three.Exercise -- exercise isn't just beneficial for your system's health and fitness but your brain as well. This promotes proper blood circulation which the brain requirements to do some manta procedures. So the more fit you're, the faster the procedures tend to be executed and also the better your own store as well as remember info in your head.

four.Memory enhancers -- there are several dietary supplements which assist within giving you better storage, you could attempt some of theses if most detrimental concerns worst.
5.Practice - lastly, you should never let your brain be boring. The mind is much like steel, if you remaining it outdoors and never use it for a long period, it might rust. So takes place mind, do psychological exercises every now and then, it might really help. You might attempt recalling the things that happened the whole previous day you are sleeping. As you lay down, recall all the occasions, the brand new titles, information as well as every thing that you have kept in your own memory. Attempt tough to recall this. Do that every evening, like that, you would certainly commit to memory things simpler and you've got much less tendencies of failing to remember.

Significantly improved you know a few improve memory power, apply it inside your daily life and be an improved person. A good memory could improve your character and that signifies a spectacular change that you experienced too. You won’t have a problem with your work, college functions and other things because you know; a person can handle recalling things.

5Jul/110

Techniques For Deep Meditation

There are quite a lot of techniques for deep meditation. . Here’s the one that always has worked well to start a new spiritual journey:

1. Set aside time in a quiet place, where you will not be disturbed. Place your journal and a pen/pencil close at hand. When you first begin meditating, you may prefer a dimly lit room, using a candle to focus on. Some people imagine a bright star in their minds, but this is a bit more difficult to hold constant.

2. You may add music to “jump start” your meditation in order to elevate your connection to the universe and control your thoughts. With practice, train your mind to continue meditating at the higher level, after the music stops. You even may prefer to use one piece of music (with or without words) that immediately connects you to the universe at the level of your soul and spirit. You’ll know if this happens, because it will bring tears to your eyes and a swelling in your chest; yet once you connect to your source, you are awash with a feeling of happiness and peace like you’ve never before felt.

3. Set comfortably but staying alert in a comfortable chair or on a pillow on the floor.  You may lie in bed in the morning after waking or at night before sleeping; but it’s very easy to fall asleep.

4. Focus on the candle flame, empty your mind, and still your body. At first, you will find your mind taking control and wondering all over the place. This is normal. When you realize that your mind is wondering out of control, just refocus on the candle flame and empty your mind again.  It takes practice over time to be able to keep your mind blank for any length of time. Focus until you’re no longer aware of your physical body.

5. Once you have your focus, you have many choices of what to do next:

a. Be still and let God. Just allow the universe to merge with you, letting you feel its presence. You may do an entire meditation like this, if you wish.

b. Use a mantra, especially helpful at first. It keeps your attention on your source, controlling your wandering thoughts.  Some individuals and religions believe a mantra connects with evil or pagan spirits, but this is not true.

c. Conversing with the universe within your mind is another choice. Don’t ask for things or pass along information here. The universe already knows what you and everyone else in the world needs and desires. This is the time to turn over your problems and concerns to the universe, then make an affirmation statement. For example: Problem: “I am afraid I can't fulfill my financial responsibilities”.

Affirmation:  “I know my needs are already provided by you, and I am not concerned.” 

d. Then, be still in the silence and pay attention for the response. As to the type of response you receive, this will depend upon your proficiency in meditation. You may hear a voice (thoughts that aren’t your own) in your mind that speaks to you, or you may see pictures/video (visions) in your mind.

Once you have this first awareness that the universe is responding to you, you’ll begin to get many more pictures (visions). So, pay attention to what you “see” within your mind during your meditation. Sometimes, the visions move so swiftly and there are so many that you can’t recall them all after the meditation, but let them flow. Once you begin trying to remember, you engage your brain and the visions stop. Just pay close attention to what you “see”.

e. Be sure to thank your source, not only for this time/response but also for all it provides to you. After completing the meditation is over, immediately record any experiences you had in your journal. Don’t worry if you didn’t feel that you had a “good” meditation — there is no such thing as a bad one. Something is accomplished at all meditations, whether you are aware of it or not. Just keep at it and observe all the mental pictures and “chatter”; then, write everything you remember in your journal. Eventually, you’ll see responses and/or patterns starting to emerge. This is the start of your spiritual awakening.

Keep your experiences to yourself, especially in the beginning. Otherwise, you may find yourself having to explain and defend ideas and insights you were given. Then, the ego comes in and manifesting (the universe-driven process) stops.

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3Jul/110

How Inception Should Have Ended [VID]

30Jun/110

The Loudest Animal in The World


A tiny water boatman is the loudest animal in the world (relative to its body size). Scientists from Europe recorded the aquatic bug "singing" at up to 99.2 decibels -- the equivalent of sitting in the front row of a full orchestra. The booming sound is created by rubbing its penis against its abdomen in a process known as "stridulation," which researchers say is a courtship display (and a damn impressive one!).

"We were very surprised. We first thought that the sound was coming from larger aquatic species such as a Sigara species [of] lesser water boatmen," said Dr. Windmill from the University of Strathclyde, Glasgow.

Although 99% of the sound is lost when transferring from water to air, the songs were still loud enough to be audible to the human ear.

"The song is so loud that a person walking along the bank can actually hear these tiny creatures singing from the bottom of the river," said Dr Windmill.

Most of the loudest animals in the world are also the biggest, with blue whale songs reaching 188 dB and elephants' rumbling calls measuring 117 dB.

"If you scale the sound level they produce against their body size, Micronecta scholtzi are the loudest animals on Earth," said Dr Windmill.

Without any clear adaptations to amplify the sound, the question of exactly how the insects physically make such a loud noise remains a mystery.

"These very small bugs create sound at very high level, and it could be very useful for future ultrasonic systems to learn how they do that," said Dr Windmill.

29Jun/110

The Google+ Project


There's a lot to like about Google Plus, the new social network from everyone's favorite search engine: the design, the thoughtfully created and easy-to-use privacy settings (Circles), the built in mobile chatting (Huddles) and video chatting (Hangouts) features, the smart news reader (Sparks), and more. But if Google Plus had one "killer" feature, it would definitely be the instant photo uploads from Android.

In many ways, Google Plus is a Facebook-inspired clone. Google hasn't rethought social so much as re-engineered it. You can almost visualize the checklist that went into the social network's creation. Do we have a like button? Check! (It's the+1 button.) Do we have a News Feed? Check! (It's the "Stream.") Do we have privacy settings? Check! (They're called Circles.)

That's not to say that Google hasn't done a great job with the implementation - Google Plus is already a much better product than the half-baked experiment that was Google Buzz, the mashed-up social networking aggregator that was smooshed into your Gmail inbox.

But for the mainstream user, a Facebook-like experience isn't necessarily enough of a draw to lure them away from a social network where their friends already hang out, to a new one populated with their email contacts, no matter how pretty it looks.

Unless, there's a reason. And in Google Plus's case, that reason is photos.

Android is Google Plus's Secret Weapon

There are now half a million Android phones activated each day. As of May 2011, there were over 100 million Android devices worldwide. Consider this Google Plus's potential install base.

And what's the key to social networking success? Photos. Facebook, if anything, is simply the world's largest online photo sharing service. All those status updates and Farmville sessions are just icing on the cake. This summer, Facebook is expected to cross the 100 billion photos mark, which is an impressive statistic, to be sure. However, Facebook still struggles on the mobile front, and even more so on Android, which is less developed than its iPhone counterpart.

Have you ever tried uploading a group of photos to Facebook from your phone using the native app's uploader? Isn't it fun to upload pictures one-by-one to albums you have to first create and name? Oh, it's not?

Well, don't worry then, Google has you covered.

While much of what Google offers feels like a Facebook alternative, the Android application is Plus's real innovation. With an opt-in feature called "Instant Uploads," your mobile phone's photos are immediately online, and are, by default, private only to you. Later, you can visit you that private album's page, and reshare individual photos with the appropriate group. Baby photos? Maybe just share with family and/or close friends. Photos of a beautiful scenic view you took on your nature walk? Share with everyone. And so on. You decide.

This photo-sharing idea in Google Plus isn't so different, really, than what Apple is introducing with iCloud. Via iCloud's PhotoStream service, your mobile photos are synced to all your devices instantly: computer, mobile. "cloud" (Apple's servers). But iCloud has an Achilles' Heel: if you don't manually move those photos into photo albums on your Mac or PC, they'll eventually disappear. iCloud, you see, only stores the last 1,000 images in the "cloud."

Google Plus, however, will store them all, forever. (Or at least for as long as Google exists.)

Out of everything that Google has launched, this one feature stands out as having the potential for the most disruption and the most viral impact, not only because of this instant upload and free cloud storage, but also because of the "share by email" feature. That's right: your "friends" don't have to be on Google Plus before you initiate the sharing process.

















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