xtalya's shared items in Google Reader

Etsy Transaction - hunter orange bearded stocking hat

(author unknown) — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 10:08:29 PDT

http://pinktentacle.com/2010/07/idish-for-ipad/

xtalya — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 02:23:11 PDT

http://pinktentacle.com/2010/07/idish-for-ipad/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/twcableuntangled/4733706156/sizes/o

xtalya — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:57:31 PDT

http://www.flickr.com/photos/twcableuntangled/4733706156/sizes/o/

http://www.petapixel.com/2010/08/12/how-to-photograph-darth-vade

xtalya — Mon, 16 Aug 2010 02:46:27 PDT

http://www.petapixel.com/2010/08/12/how-to-photograph-darth-vader-riding-a-chipmunk/

Frame Napkin is a framed white napkin. So, you...

SPGRA — Thu, 01 Jul 2010 06:17:04 PDT

Frame Napkin is a framed white napkin. So, you can create your own art with mess and stains! By Kouichi Okamoto for Kyouei design.

(Want more? See NOTCOT.org and NOTCOT.com)

One Good Reason to Allow Pop-up Windows in your Browser

Amit — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 07:02:40 PDT

Pop-up windows are considered evil as they open on your screen without asking and can sometimes lead you to annoying websites.

That explains why most browsers now block pop-ups by default but here’s one good reason why you may want to temporarily disable that blocker and allow pop-ups.

Stewart Smith has created an highly addictive and fun version of the Pong game using nothing but pop-up windows while your entire desktop becomes the playing table.

You can either play the game with the computer or invite a friend and both of you can use the same keyboard to control your racquets. You play with Up & Down arrows while he uses the A & Z keys on the other side to move the racquet up or down.

Browser Pong is done in HTML5 and you may therefore want to use Firefox or Chrome while playing pong. Thanks @Maguay and @Smashing for the tip.

One Good Reason to Allow Pop-up Windows in your Browser

Originally published at Digital Inspiration by Amit Agarwal.

USB Typewriter Will Make Your iPad Feel Ancient [VIDEO]

Stan Schroeder — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 03:28:29 PDT

Looking for a USB keyboard device to accompany your iPad? If you want fast typing, you should probably look elsewhere, but if you’re the pipe-smoking, monocle-wearing type, you might want to check out the USB typewriter.

The name really says it all: It’s a manual typewriter with a USB connection, and since it’s handmade, each one is different; you can even send your own typewriter to project author Jack Zylkin and have it made USB compatible. The price, however, is quite steep, ranging from $400 – $500 for a finished product and $75 for a do-it-yourself kit.

Check out a short demo video below.

For more technology coverage, follow Mashable Tech on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter

Tags: apple, Gadget, ipad, USB typewriter

Ten Amazing Performances from Sesame Street

(author unknown) — Sun, 16 May 2010 11:05:47 PDT

Continuing our collection of Music and the Muppets.

13 Alien Vegetables You Can Find On Earth

(author unknown) — Sun, 16 May 2010 01:24:33 PDT

10 Awesome Webcam Feeds From Around the World

Amy-Mae Elliott — Wed, 05 May 2010 07:48:00 PDT

Googling the phrase “live webcams” may not return the most insightful or educational content available on the web, but there’s certainly some great stuff out there.

To save you the bother of trawling through such results, we’ve pulled together a list of ten fascinating webcam feeds from around the world that offer a scintillating glimpse into other people’s lives, and fascinating looks at famous landmarks.

We’re in no way suggesting that viewing an event or landmark on a computer screen can compete with a real-world experience, but, let’s face it, it is better than nothing! Check out our selection below that armchair explorers can enjoy (dependent on time zones of course) right now.

1. The Northern Lights

The Northern Lights are one of the great sights of the natural world, with their breathtaking display of seemingly magical illumination. While they can be viewed across the polar regions at certain times of the year, few have the chance to travel and enjoy them in person. Even those who do may be disappointed by a no-show.

Thank heavens for technology then. Though no substitute for the real thing, webcam feeds allow you to see the show from half way around the world. This webcam is located in Swedish Lapland, the northern part of the country, in a tiny village called Porjus, which is said to be a great destination for seeing the aurora borealis.

2. A Las Vegas Wedding Chapel

If you enjoy a good wedding, but don’t get invited to as many as you’d like, check out the live streaming over at the Viva Las Vegas Wedding Chapel, where you can watch couples tying the knot Vegas-style. The 24-hour cam also captures the cleaning crew during off-hours, which isn’t quite as fascinating, but might hit the voyeuristic note for some. Watch out for Elvis and various theme-weddings, complete with props, lighting and colorful outfits.

3. Loch Ness

Since the 1930s, people have been traveling to Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands with the hope of catching a glimpse of Nessie, the monster said to inhabit the lake. Fast forward 70 years, and all you need to indulge in a little plesiosaur-spotting is your browser and Mikko Takala’s excellent live webcams. Enjoy some lake views now, and stay tuned for a soon-promised underwater cam that sounds very exciting.

4. Underwater Cam at Bonaire Marine Park

If there’s ever a webcam that will make you want to get scuba-certified in a hurry, this is surely it. This live feed, which can be refreshed up to every two seconds on a speedy connection, provides an underwater view of the Bonaire National Marine Park in the Antilles islands. The cam is located 15 meters below the drop-off at the “Something Special” dive site. It offers a particularly clear glimpse of the marine world, thanks in part to the instructors and dive masters from Bonaire who help to keep the lens clean.

5. London 2012 Olympic Park

By the time the 2012 Olympic Games roll around, you might take the backdrop for granted, but the major venues for the games are currently under contruction in Stratford, East London. These official webcams capture the various builds, including the Olympic Village, Basketball Arena, Velodrome, Aquatics Centre and the Olympic Stadium. The images from each can be viewed on a speedy timeline, offering a cool stop-motion perspective on the multi-billion dollar undertaking.

6. The Abbey Road Zebra Crossing

This may look like an unassuming “zebra” (pedestrian) crossing on an anonymous British street, but it is in fact the famous Abbey Road crossing, as featured on The Beatles’ 1969 album of the same name. Besides getting a glimpse at how the street has changed over the last 40 years, there’s also a good chance you’ll see plenty of tourists posing for the camera and emulating the Fab Four’s iconic walk across. The webcam is provided by the Abbey Road recording studios and broadcasts images 24 hours a day.

7. The Hollywood Sign

Those big white letters have been gracing the Hollywood Hills area of Mount Lee in L.A. since 1923. Now synonymous with all things movie, the 14-meter tall letters are actually captured by a webcam all hours of the day. Multiple cams let you grab a great view of the hill, or check out things from the sign’s perspective as well.

8. Africam

If you fancy catching a glimpse of lions, elephants, hippos and hyenas going about their daily business, then the Africam service can help you out. You can monitor four streaming feeds and eight refresh feeds, and follow the related Twitter account, which will give you a heads-up when any beasties are in view — a great way to click right into some live safari action.

9. The Haunted Willard Library

While a library may not strike you as the most exciting subject for a live feed, this is no ordinary library. It is, in fact — should you buy into such things — haunted. The Willard Library in Evansville, Indiana is purportedly inhabited by the “gray lady,” who floats around scaring the bejesus out of anyone and everyone. There are also reports of other “sightings” in three rooms that can be monitored via webcam; the main research room (in which some truly terrifying ghoulie pics have been grabbed), the children’s room, and the basement.

10. The Bow of the Greenpeace Ship Esperanza

Greenpeace’s largest ship, the Esperanza (Spanish for “hope”), is currently on a world-wide tour to highlight the damage being done to the oceans. As such, you can expect to see some pretty interesting (and at times when it’s on a protest mission, downright exciting) images captured on the webcam, which is located on the bow of the ship. The cam’s perspective gives you a lofty view of wherever the vessel is pointing.

For more technology coverage, follow Mashable Tech on Twitter or become a fan on Facebook

More tech resources from Mashable:

- 10 Must-See Google Street View Sightings
- 5 Must-See Google Easter Eggs
- 10 Fantastic Websites for Spotify Fans
- 5 Free Ways to Identify that Song Stuck in Your Head
- Top 10 Modern Gadgets with Retro Styling [PICS]

Reviews: Facebook, Twitter

Tags: List, Lists, tech, trending, webcams

"Is there a use case for that?" is the new "Fuck you."

nobody@flickr.com (factoryjoe) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 09:49:11 PDT

factoryjoe posted a photo:

twitter.com/zeldman/status/12292725142

Auto Smiley

Aram — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:38:05 PDT

Sooooooooooooo gooooood !!!
Auto Smiley – Computer vision smiley generator on F.A.T. by Theo Watson

Auto Smiley – Computer vision smile generator

A FAT + openFrameworks speed project!

Auto Smiley – Computer vision smiley generator from Theo Watson on Vimeo.

Online Shopping in the UK

swissmiss — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 12:50:49 PST

Rion discovered some unexpected options, while online shopping in the UK. Note that Prince and Princess were also in the list. Made me smile.

אנטייטלד התחפשו לפייסבוק http://www.untitled.org.il

(author unknown) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 12:17:55 PST

Shared by xtalya

מעניין אם פייסבוק יתבעו אותנו
:)

#27920 - Tea Sub. Little yellow submarine for tea...

NoquedanBlogs — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 08:41:14 PST

Tea Sub. Little yellow submarine for tea infusion, designed by Ototo.

(Want more? See NOTCOT.org and NOTCOT.com)

Changes/Feature Requests For Google Buzz

(author unknown) — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:23:00 PST

Google announced Buzz today, a photo/videos/link/status sharing service. The big news here isn’t really the functionality of ~~Pownce~~ Buzz, but that Google is boldly integrating this directly into Gmail - essentially taking the product from zero to millions of users in a matter of hours. If Buzz is a success it will mean real competition for Twitter and useful real-time public data for Google.

After giving it a go for a couple hours, here are a few changes/feature requests for the Google Buzz team:

It sounds stupid, but you need a simple url for public profiles, http://google.com/profiles/kevinrose is a mouthful. Imagine a CNN host trying to plug their profile and having to say “google dot com slash profiles slash larry king”, can we just have google.com/larryking? (side note: /profile/kevinrose should redirect to /profiles/kevinrose not 404)
Speaking of public profiles, this entire page needs to be redesigned. Adding custom backgrounds and a design that feels a little less utilitarian would be a good start.
This auto-friend stuff is just straight confusing. I get it, but just because I’ve emailed with someone a few times doesn’t mean I want to auto-follow them. Where is the setting to turn this off?
Is there an option to prevent the Buzz(es?, i?) from coming directly into my inbox? When Buzz starts feeling like a task (email), that bothers me.
Where is the ‘Compose Buzz’ link? Only within the Buzz tab? Can an email be converted to a Buzz? Having Buzz in my inbox but no way to compose a Buzz from my inbox seems odd.

Not sure where Buzz fits in my arsenal of social media tools, how often I’ll use it, or if it will eventually feel too much like unread email — but I’m happy to see Google taking social media seriously. It’s early days, let the attention/follower wars begin.

Have a feature suggestion for Buzz? Add it to the comments!

Using Google to learn what boyfriends and girlfriends want from each other

Mark Frauenfelder — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:08:45 PST

From Dan Ariely's "Predictably Irrational" blog:

This shows Google’s remarkable power as a source of data on a range of human behaviors, emotions, and opinions. It gives us insights into what people might care the most about concerning a given topic. When people search a particular political leader, what are their main concerns? What are people secretly guilty about? For better or for worse, Google’s obsession with collecting and refining data has given us a window into each other’s fascinating and telling curiosities.

Sad, hurdy-gurdy Happy Birthday rendition from dying electronic candle

Cory Doctorow — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 21:10:16 PST

A reader writes, "This was our birthday candle a year ago, one day the candle just started playing again (maybe heat change...) and was pathetically trying to get "happy birthday" to sound right... You can't imagine how badly one candle can get this tune."

It's got a sad, defiant, haunted hurdy-gurdy sound to it, like the ghost of Tom Waits was trapped in it, playing a Casiotone.

Happy Birthday to YOU

Happy Anniversary, Sesame Street!

(author unknown) — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 07:39:31 PST

When Life Imitates Art:

MUPPET DOPPELGANGER

Big Bird and Queen Elizabeth II

Harvey Kneeslapper and Nick Nolte	Grandpa Grouch and Don Imus	Sleeping Beauty and Lindsay Lohan
Grover and Dustin Diamond	Telly and Zach Braff	Ernie & Bert and Jimmy Kimmel & Adam Carolla
Captain Breakfast and Brody Jenner	Count von Count and Adam Sandler	The Amazing Mumford and Billy Zane
Benny Rabbit and Martin Scorsese	Buster the Horse and Haylie Duff	Sherlock Hemlock and Jeff Foxworthy
Guy Smiley and Ben Affleck	Kermit the Frog and Justin Long	Forgetful Jones and Alan Jackson
Cookie Monster and James Earl Jones	Count von Count and Andy Garcia	Elmo and actor Paul Dano
Grover and Dave Chappelle	Beaker and Carrot Top	Janice and Donatella Versace
Gorg and Bruce Vilanch	The Swedish Chef and Dr. Phil	Fozzie Bear and Jack Black
Rowlf the Dog and Whoopi Goldberg	Miss Piggy and Tori Spelling	Sam the Eagle and Brad Garrett
Fozzie Bear and comedian Steven Wright	Pepe the King Prawn and Steve Buscemi	Animal and Adrian Grenier
Waldorf & Statler, Joan & Melissa Rivers	Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Al Roker	Miss Piggy and Suzanne Somers
Crazy Harry and Chris Robinson	Beaker and James from "Big Brother"	Janice and Gwyneth Paltrow (looks more like Amy Smart)
Dr. Teeth and Flavor Flav	Scooter and Andy Dick	Gonzo and Adrien Brody
Dr. Bunsen Honeydew and Michael Chiklis	Rowlf the Dog and Jorge Garcia	Lew Zealand and Jason Lee

Nothing ever beats Kermit Bale

WHY SO SOURCELY

Bag Check

(author unknown) — Sun, 18 Oct 2009 21:00:00 PDT