Seafoam Suds

Thursday, March 31, 2005

The Engrish FAQ

Engrish can be simply defined as the humorous English mistakes that appear in Japanese advertising and product design.

ThinkGeek :: Marshmallow Shooter

The Marshmallow Shooter is an excellent addition to the office arsenal, shooting calamitous confections over 30 feet. It is easy to fire and reload, making it perfect for quick attacks (or rapid defense). The Shooter holds up to 20 marshmallows for extended office campaigns, and is capable of rapid fire for laying down cover for coworkers.
The Shooter comes equipped with 20 foam pellets (non-edible, but squishy) which are also fun to shoot. Marshmallow ammo is sold separately to maintain freshness. Each Ammo bag is 4.4 oz of some of the tastiest (and deadliest) mini-marshmallows imaginable – straight from Marshmallowville (where, we hear, even the trees are tasty). Truly Ammo-licious!
The Marshmallow Shooter is a Creative Child Magazine 2004 seal of excellence winner – which means it is perfect for the office. The warning on the box says, "Do not eat marshmallows after shooting," but Chris M. thinks when velocity and distance are incorporated into the equation, the 5 second rule is dramatically increased. He agrees with "Do not eat foam pellets," however.

Shoots over 30 feet.

Magazine holds 20 rounds of ammo.

Shoots foam pellets or mini-marshmallows.
20 foam pellets included.
Mini-marshmallows not included, must be purchased separately.

Caffeinated and Mapped - Vancouver Wireless Cafes

Caffeinated and Mapped - Vancouver Wireless Cafes
Google map of wifi hotspots in Vancouver

Tuesday, March 29, 2005

Top 10 songs "NOT" to pick for your wedding song

Here are 10 songs to circumvent as you flip through your CD collection in search of the perfect wedding song. Not only are the following tunes cheesy, but they also share a common thread: They're grossly overused at weddings. And at the risk of sounding picky, some don't even relate to wedded bliss. Give these tunes their swan song:

10. "Every Breath You Take"

-- The Police

Nothing says "I love you" like a song about obsessive love. This is, in essence, the classic stalker theme. Just look at the lyrics, or even the title for that matter. But, hey, if you want to inform your guests that from this day forward your marriage will be a testament to intense scrutiny and infatuation, go right ahead. I'm not here to judge you .

9. "Against All Odds"

-- Phil Collins

Remember: When you pick this song, you're not telling your beautiful bride that you'd fight for her no matter what the obstacle. This song is about a guy who keeps reminiscing about the good times and can't believe his woman walked out on him. Hence, you won't come off as romantic; in fact, guests who know the lyrics will think you're an idiot.This is a classic example of how a title can be misleading. Even if it seems like a gooey love song, it is anything but. And twirling your bride around the dance floor to it won't make you seem very bright.

8. "Without You"

-- Mariah Carey

It's one thing to pick out a song that demonstrates your devotion and quite another to pick one that painfully reiterates how you can't breathe without her in your life. Originally Harry Nilsson's hit, this song was made popular by Air Supply and again by none other than shrilly-voiced Mariah Carey. This tune reeks of desperation. Opt for a song that celebrates life and love, and not the loss of such things.

7. "This I Promise You"

-- 'N Sync

Although it requires little explanation, 'N Sync's tearjerker begs the question: Do you really want a bubblegum boy band past its prime kicking off the night's festivities? Even if this was the song playing at the precise moment you locked eyes for the first time, avoid the novelty ballad and opt for a classic with a longer shelf life.

6. "Wicked Game"

-- Chris Isaak

It's easy to get wrapped up in Isaak's steamy and seductive ode to a woman who has infiltrated his heart. And I'm willing to overlook the fact that it's really about a man's mixed feelings. But in the end, the song caters to emotions that are far too X-rated for a PG party. Don't despair, though. This makes for a great lovemaking song once you kick off the honeymoon.

5. Back At One

  - Brian McKnight

McKnight's signature song does offer an original R&B vibe that appeals to a more contemporary crowd. But listen closely and you'll realize that what you're getting is, in actuality, nothing more than a tacky list of reasons why your woman is so special. Chances are you've already expressed those same sentiments in countless cards and poems; there's no need to have someone number them off on the dance floor as well.

4. You Are So Beautiful

- Joe Cocker

While you wife to be may be as beautiful as they come, why in the world would you want to have a man who sounds like he's having a conniption serenade her? Add to that the fact that the song moves along too slowly -- even for an intimate wedding dance -- and you've got yourself a song that no one should be playing at their reception.

3. (Everything I Do) I Do It For You

  - Bryan Adams

On paper, this Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves track has all the must-haves of a classic wedding anthem, as the poignant lyrics and emotional, albeit powerful chords come together in one harmonious masterpiece. Any couple could make this ballad their own...

..And just about every couple has. Although things seem to have cooled off, there was a time when you couldn't escape this runaway hit. If only it had been given some time to rest, perhaps the greatest wedding song of all time wouldn't have turned into such a cringe-inducing annoyance.

2. I Will Always Love You

  - Whitney Houston

No one can belt out a tune like Whitney Houston, and she would be a great addition to anyone's wedding track list. But as much as I hate to burst your and your woman's Bodyguard-loving bubble, this iconic tune has more to do with separation than union. After all, she does admit in the song's opening verse that she would "only be in the way" if she stuck around. So while I'm not denying that this is a killer track, it may be better-suited for couples going through an amicable divorce than those tying the knot.

1. My Heart Will Go On

  - Celine Dion

Where does one begin? This Oscar-winning theme song from Titanic will likely go down in history as the most misused love song of all time.

Picking up where Whitney left off, Celine sings her heart out about a couple forever separated (you know how this story ends), but due to the film's immense popularity -- and the fact that it is a love song, after all -- couples were somehow tempted to turn the song's bittersweet message into an all-out love fest. The result? Millions of couples dancing to a song chosen more for its origins than for what it's really about.

The airwaves are inundated with great love songs, so stop settling for one that doesn't even apply. Well, at least listen to the lyrics before making your choice.

Honorable mention

Unchained Melody

  - The Righteous Brothers

This is one of those classics that never goes out of style. The distinct vocals and unforgettable melody can immediately set the stage for heightened romance. Too bad the song became synonymous with 1990's Ghost; if you opt to dance to this, you'll veer the attention away from you and your lovely bride and fill the guests' heads with visions of Patrick Swayze and Demi Moore engaging in an erotic pottery session.

song yet to be sung

Even though your sole criterion when picking out a song is that it should be special to the two of you, keep in mind that the more original and relevant a song is, the more spectacular your night, and memories, will be.

"Heart on my sleeve" the real meaning

Re: Heart on my sleeve
There you have it boys and girls the real meaning behind that phrase. It sounds all nice but the real meaning of it is just the opposite. Tell just enough of the truth to sucker someone.

It's kind of like these songs: Top 10 songs "NOT" to pick for your wedding song

In Reply to: Re: Heart on sleeve posted by bob on May 20, 2000
: : Where does the phrase "I wear my heart on my sleeve" come from. I know Shakespeare quotes it in Othello but what does it mean and where does it come from?
: I don't know of any uses before Shakespeare, but there may have been. Or... Will was known to coin a phrase or two. It means I do not conceal my feelings; my emotions (usually love and devotion) are visible for all to see. The sense also includes a feeling of vulnerability: when you wear your heart on your sleeve, you risk rejection and pain.
From "Brush Up Your Shakespeare!" by Michael Macrone (Gramercy Books, New York, 1990):
"Heart on My Sleeve.
IAGO:
It is sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago.
In following him, I follow but myself;
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end;
For when my outward action doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
In complement extern, 'tis not long after
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve.
For daws to peck at. I am not what I am.
Othello, Act 1, scene 1, 56-65
.when your heart is displayed so openly, as if upon your sleeve, the 'daws' (jackdaws) will accept the invitation to pick away at it. By admitting to his treachery, Iago would seem, in effect, to 'wear his heart on his sleeve' for Roderigo. Yet, while Iago tells the truth, he doesn't tell all of it, and keeps hidden his true 'native act and figure' - his intention to dupe Roderigo out of even more jewels and cash."

Linux system squishes into Ethernet connector

German electronics company Kleinhenz is shipping a network-enabled Linux system barely larger than a standard RJ-45 Ethernet jack. "Picotux" is based on the DigiConnect ME module from NetSilicon, along with a 2.4.27 uClinux port that was probably developed by German embedded system specialist FS Forth Systeme.
NetSilicon's DigiConnect ME measures 0.75 x 0.75 x 1.4 inches (19 x 19 x 36mm), and weighs 0.64 ounces (18 grams), packaged in a metal housing only slightly larger than a standard RJ-45 module.

The DigiConnect ME is based on a NetSilicon NS7520 SoC (system-on-chip), which features a 32-bit ARM7TDMI core supporting clock rates of 36, 46, or 55MHz. Kleinhenz lists 55MHz as the clockspeed for Picotux. The NS7520 integrates a 10/100 Ethernet MII and ENDEC MAC, as well as a serial port, external memory controller, JTAG, and 13-channel DMA.

According to Kleinhenz, Picotux is based on a 2.4.27 uClinux kernel, and includes a shell based on busybox 1.0.

Picotux is available now, priced at 99 Euros, from Kleinhenz.

Review: Schick Quattro Midnight Razor

Just tried the new Quattro razor. I've tried the Sensor, Mach 3, Mach 3 Turbo and Xtreme 3 razors. The Quattro does give the best shave out of all of them, but it's not at smooth as the Mach 3. The Mach 3 glides better but the Quattro still shaves better.

The best thing about the Mach 3 is the way the head connects to the handle, there is nothing behind it so it rinses clean really easily. That's the problem with the Quattro, it's mounted like a traditional razor so it's a pain to clean, mine still isn't clean.

PRO:

good shave
wires actually seem to prevent nicks
traditional head attachment give a more controlled shave

CONS:

just as expensive as the others
can't clean the thing

Product Site
Another Review

Thursday, March 24, 2005

Two SF gamers wait 40 hours for PSPs - PSP News at GameSpot

Suffice it to say, Richard Roth and Jossle Sison both really want a PSP. Determined to be first in line when the portable goes on sale at midnight tonight, the two 20-something gamers (pictured) arrived at San Francisco's Sony Metreon on Tuesday…morning. "We've been here 30 hours and 28 minutes," Roth said at 2:28pm PST, meaning they had arrived around 8:00am the previous day--and will have been there nearly 40 hours when the portable goes on sale. The pair brought outdoor clothing, sleeping bags, chairs, and even a tent in preparation to spend the night outside...in the rain.

Blaupunkt Woodstock DAB 54: MP3, Bluetooth and DAB

Blaupunkt - Car Radios - DAB Tuners - Woodstock DAB 54
Requires the optional bluetooth accessory, but at least it's available.

The Woodstock DAB 54 provides fully integrated digital radio with MP3 technology, and recordable feature! The 2-Timer-Concept allows you to set two programmings at the same time and thanks to the 10 second rewind buffer you will be able to record your favourite song from the very beginning to the end even if you missed the first seconds of it. Apart, you can also connect your personal PDA to the head unit (optional Bluetooth adapter necessary).

LG Bluetooth Car Mirror (MobileBurn)

LG Bluetooth Car Mirror (MobileBurn)
I'm surprised this didn't come from Magna Donnelly since they make all the other high end rearview mirrors.

In addition to the caller ID information, you also get a speakerphone function for hands free use of the phone while driving. The mirror is powered off of the car, as you would expect, but also has a battery built in that will allow for 150 hours of standby or 7 hours of talk time.