The Latest Invasive Web Technology- Re-Targeting Advertising

By becksta on 8/30/10 4:15pm
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Minority Report: Re-Targeting Advertising's PrecursorMinority Report: Re-Targeting Advertising's PrecursorJust because I liked the film "Minority Report" does not mean that I like the idea of advertising targeted specifically at me- it tends to make me paranoid and does little to endear me to the product. Sites like Facebook and Gmail have long used targeted advertising, but now advertisers are able to use a special technology which enables them to follow customers from site to site online.

Re-targeting, as those in the advertising industry refer to the intrusive Internet advertising technique, uses cookies to track your on-line movements. If you visit a site selling a particular toy, for example, you may find the toy advertised on several other sites that you also visit.


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The Bloom Box

By dfunzy on 8/30/10 1:17am
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The Bloom Box -- The same people who brought the world evolutionary change in communications, Internet related technology and applications, are backing this evolutionary change in energy production. I think we are going to have an amazing tomorrow.

The Bloom Box: sounds like the energy breakthrough of the 21st century. It is "a new kind of fuel cell, which is like a very skinny battery that always runs.Oxygen is (fed) to it on one side, and fuel on the other. The two combine within the cell to create a chemical reaction that produces electricity. There's no need for burning or combustion, and no need for power lines from an outside source."

The Bloom Box is ones own home backyard plug-in power plant, very futuristic. The beta customers say it works and saves them money?

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The Scary Truth About Gas Stoves

By sarajean on 8/28/10 5:34am
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We have a gas stove drama constantly unfolding in our home. I am terrified of our gas stove and use it as little as possible, opting for the microwave, oven, blender, and simply serving raw food whenever I can. We had the opportunity to install an electric stove a few months ago when our gas tanks were empty—we even had the stove, as my parents had just received a new one from a friend and given us theirs; but we didn’t. Apparently my father and husband—who would’ve been responsible for overseeing and installing it, respectively—felt that it was too much work, not a great fit, and that since the house we live in was my grandparents’, it might also cause a conflict among family members.

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Mattel Introduces a New Barbie- With a Video Camera

By becksta on 7/31/10 10:23am
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Video Camera BarbieVideo Camera BarbieThe Bionic Woman has nothing on the Barbie Video Girl Doll who comes with a hidden AVI camera inside her necklace. If that isn’t enough, Mattel’s Video Girl Doll Barbie even has her own screen on her back.  Videographers and young film makers can make up to 30 minutes of video using the camera, which looks as if it is easy to use for young kids. Because the camera is well hidden, it may be difficult to spot for any unsuspecting people or dolls in its vicinity.



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10 Cell Phone Courtesy Tips, Part II

By sarajean on 7/15/10 8:25pm
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7. Refrain From Answering During Inappropriate Times

No one wants to hear your “Poker Face” ringtone going off during a movie (unless it’s one from the Twilight series). All joking aside, there are places that having your phone on just isn’t appropriate—such as the doctor’s office, the movie theater, libraries, museums, churches, and restaurants. People are out to have a nice time together, not listen to your obnoxious conversations. If you are waiting for some kind of emergency call—about a job, or maybe your wife is expecting—put your phone on vibrate, please.

6. Don’t Talk and Drive at the Same Time

This isn’t just bad etiquette—this is actually very dangerous. In fact, some studies liken it to driving while intoxicated. If you must talk on the phone while you drive, please wear an earpiece so your hands are free to drive.

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10 Cell Phone Courtesy Tips

By sarajean on 7/15/10 8:23pm
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July is Cell Phone Courtesy Month, although I wish it were every month. Unlike the seemingly 99% of the rest of the population, I’m not attached to my cell phone every day. I don’t text. In fact—get this—I don’t use one! We have one, but my husband keeps it on him since he works away from home. Since I’m pretty much either around here most of the time, or with him and our daughter, I don’t really need one, do I? That just boggles some people’s minds, but it’s true.

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Japan Baby Bot!

By dfunzy on 7/15/10 11:38am
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Japan continues on the road to create cyborgs. Cyborgs? Or the Borg!? Or Daleks?!

Resistance is futile. Luddites will be exterminated, right? The future will belong to the robots? Right?

The Japanese seemed determined to replace every human with -- Well, their researchers are sailing into the unknown country. Japan has created a BABY bot -- Frankenstein Revisited?

What does Japan hope to do? To create intelligent robots! Why? Shouldn't we have intelligent humans first?

Japan tells the world that we need robots that can live with humans. What? Live with humans in which way?

Japan says it is building baby robots "based on assumptions about child development"  Why? So these robot will be like us humans? Now that is a very scary notion. See the video.

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Tell Dell to Ditch the PVC

By sarajean on 6/15/10 8:39am
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Polyvinyl chloride—it’s in so many things that we bring into our homes, you’d think it would be a safe ingredient. From shower curtains to water hoses, toys to even school supplies, it’s certainly everywhere—but it’s far from harmless. You may already be aware of the dangers of PVC, but just in case you aren’t, here are a few of its effects:

  • Its composition is carcinogenic, explosive, and highly toxic
  • Its production releases harmful chemicals into our environment; in fact, it is known as the most environmentally toxic plastic
  • It creates dioxins, the most harmful chemicals known on Earth, when burned
  • Known as “the poison plastic,” PVC
  • PVC released in the air, ground, water, and homes has been linked to causing cancer, hormonal disruption, immune system problems, and more

It’s not a very nice plastic!

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Techie Gifts Dad Will Love

By sarajean on 5/21/10 3:23pm
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Father’s Day is June 20, giving you plenty of time to find something Dad will enjoy. (It seems to come much later in the month than Mother’s Day does, which is just plain unfair; shouldn’t we have an extra week to plan out what we’re getting Mom, too?) Here are a few cool gadgets that will knock Pop’s socks off this year.

The Big Screen: If Dad hasn’t upgraded to a flat screen TV but has been dying to, maybe you can help him out. This gift is a great idea for siblings to go in on together, making it easier on your wallets while simultaneously getting something Dad will love. There are even good-sized 37-inch screens available for under $500 these days.

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New York City Library's Book-Sorting Machine

By becksta on 4/22/10 3:49pm
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  1. Book Sorting MachineBook Sorting Machine



My dreams of being a library book-sorter in New York City have been destroyed by yet another automated machine. For the past two months, the New York Library has had a gigantic book sorting machine to send books to different branches. I am not kidding when I say the machine is large- according to the NYT, one side of the machine is roughly two-thirds as long as a football field and contains 132 bins, each representing a specific branch of the New York Library System.


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