Browser Wars Get Dirty

This is an all-time low, as far as anticompetitive policy decisions go. Microsoft has officially labeled Firefox as a security threat. It just so happens that Microsoft offers an alternative browser... which is conveniently already installed on your machine. In all fairness, this image appears to be from an early version of Microsoft's Anti Spyware product (now Windows Defender).

Casa Vlad is on the market

It appears that the sub-prime mortgage crisis knows no limits. Dracula's castle is officially on the market. The asking price? $78 million. If you're thinking about this, I did some of the math for you. With a 30 year fixed interest mortgage at 6% you'd have a monthly mortgage payment of $565,229.41

Of course that doesn't include your property taxes (perhaps 1.7 mil a year) and taxes (which if in the US would be approx $97,500). Roll those pennies!

If You Think You're Cold

And I thought it was cold here! Not compared to a beach in Newfoundland where apparently it gets so cold that the waves freeze as they crash on the shore.

SUV or Minivan? A Question of Psychology

Interesting article shows that drivers of SUVs are more paranoid about crime and others' perception of them than minivan drivers are. Interesting for me because i have driven both. Just sold my Ford Explorer Sport and got a Honda Odyssey EX-L. According to the article, I traded in my interest in others' perception of me for practicality. The article also mentions the switch is a sign of my comfort with being married. What would Freud say?

Overheard

Sometimes you overhear something that's just too funny not to share. I stumbled upon this site that literally made me laugh til i cried. Okay... not all of them are funny, but many are.
Overheard

Supermarket Puts Ideals Over Profits

I just read about this on Graham's blog...

My favorite grocery store, Wegman's, has done the unthinkable. And I couldn't possibly respect them more for it. They decided to stop carrying tobacco products. Remember, this is an extremely profitable product for retailers. Then why are they doing it? According to Wegman's CEO Danny Wegman, it's "the destructive role smoking plays in health".

It's inspiring when a company does the right thing... even if it puts them at a competitive disadvantage. But Wegman's is not new to this. I guess that's why they've been named one of the '100 Best Companies to Work For' by FORTUNE magazine for ten consecutive years. (ranking #1 in 2005 and #3 in 2007). And that's why I drive past 15 other supermarkets on my way to Wegman's.

Project: iPod Integration

The little Car Audio shop down the street offer the best in digital music integration, LCD displays everywhere from the passenger seat to the gas-tank cap... They do a hell of a sales job explaining everything they can do. But, should you ever wish to get something actually installed, they're too disorganized to find the parts. My neighbor SL says this confirms his belief that the shop is really just a drug front. I have been trying for 3 months to pay these guys to install an ipod jack to my 2003 Honda Odyssey factory stereo system. Anyway, with a quick trip to eBay and a little help from SL, I completed this entire project in about 30 minutes for less than $50. I really could've used this back in December when i traveled the entirety of i-95.

Project: Backup Camera

SL has a problem. He can't go to Costco without buying electronics every time. Call it a compusion, an addiction, or a skill. But this time he came back with something I objectively consider relatively unnecessary: a backup camera. Yes, a camera mounted to the rear license plate of a vehicle to aid in parking and backing-up. But, never to shun from an electronics project, I prepared to assist with the automotive surgical enhancement. Opening the package, I realize the device is completely wireless and transmits to the front-seat LCD wirelessly. Still cool, but this endeavor was far from surgical. All we had to do was stick the camera on the license plate with included mount, splice it to power source (license plate light), and plug the LCD into a power source up front. Believe it or not, this installation was as easy as my License Plate LED Frame. I may even considering getting one for the van.

Merry Christmas

Remind me to tell you about this:

Classic Piracy Ads

The MPAA would have you believe that digital information piracy is a new threat that will bankrupt entire industries. Here are some old classic anti-piracy campaign ads that show piracy is as old as computing itself. I don't condone piracy... but $ figure loss estimates are often bloated and claims are sometimes tantamount to insurance fraud.

Fireball that's not Too Hot to Hold!

This video includes directions to make a ball of fire that's apparently safe to handle. (insert extensive obligatory disclaimer here). Okay... not exactly sure I'm going to try this (and pretty sure that you shouldn't)... but check it out anyway:

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Turducken

I've never tried it... but am quite intrigued by the idea of Turducken. A chicken in a duck, stuffed inside a turkey. How could it not be delicious? If we move closer to family within the next year, hopefully i can host a Turducken Thanksgiving. Anyone tried this before? Post to the comments.

Got Junk Mail?

I get probably 3 or 4 "pre-approved" credit card offers per day. You'd think at some point they'd realize that I don't reply to these. I ran across a great way to make these mailings a bit more expensive for the credit card companies: Send your other junk mail back to them in the pre-paid envelopes. Just make sure to remove any identifying information.

Tattoo Removal has never been so easy

A humorous take on tattoo removal: The Magic Want Home Tattoo Removal System. The burn says it's working! I have no doubt that it's effective. Anyone care to demonstrate?