learn the edge

This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of goviral. All opinions are 100% mine.

Times seem to changing faster than ever lately, this past week we've seen another friend of mine having ditched his land line telephone for a mobile only option, for big changes on the immigration debate in the United States thanks to the state of Arizona and the first live TV debate in the United Kingdom with the main party leaders. After the rather untimely comments made by the Prime Minister.

The independent education foundation Edge has collated public responses to MPs Ed Balls, Michael Gove and David Laws on what they would like changed in the education system– but who or what is Edge? They are an independent education foundation, who have dedicated themselves to raising the stature of practical and vocational learning. Their team comes from a variety of backgrounds, but what they all share is a passion to make a difference for the youth of today, the workers of tomorrow, and to ensure the UK’s future workforce is equipped with the skills needed to succeed in the global culture that we call the 21st century.

See what people are saying then have your say - as they say, there are many paths to success, so add your voice and shape the future by shaping the eduction of tomorrow.

Lala.com Shutting Down May 31

Popular (?) streaming music service Lala.com is shutting down May 31, 2010 and already no new users are being accepted. If you recall, Apple acquired Lala in December, 2009.

Existing Lala users will receive an iTunes Store credit for all Lala web song purchases and wallet balance.

--could it be because it requires Flash to work?

Stop. Look. Listen. Act!

Space Monkey from Leo Burnett on Vimeo.

Space Monkey is a collaboration between World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Ben Lee and Leo Burnett. Created to carry a message about our planet, it features Ben Lee's track, "Song for the Divine Mother of the Universe".

you gotta see the winners

Long time faithful readers out there will remember the “You Gotta See This” video contest I told you about sponsored by Abbott Medical Optics, but if you have forgotten or are new here, it was a contest where people were invited to make a video where they showed how improving their vision would or had impact their lives. I know more and more people these days who are opting to have the procedure after years of fussing with glasses and contacts. I am still undecided & leaning toward waiting a bit more but if I keep having to get up an midnight, two and four in the morning to check on the baby, I can see where being able to ditch the glasses could be quite a benefit. Maybe if they run another contest like this one I can get someone to film me knocking over the night stand as I hunt for my glasses in the dark. It won't be pretty but it does make the point!

Well, the contest is over and the results are ready to announce to the world! AMO, the global leader in laser vision correction, has picked the winners are they are impressive, well worth the $5,000 Grand Prize, although I certainly don't envy having to pick just one. Fortunately there were lots of prizes and awards to go around!

So, in order, here are the winners of the iLASIK Video Contest:

$5,000 Grand Prize went to “You Gotta See This Music Video” by Alex

[link : http://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/86875]

"My Contacts Are Getting In The Way Of My Good Time":
First Prize: “You Gotta Be Kidding Me! A True Story” by Robbo ( — a $2,500 HDTV package)

[link: http://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/124414]

Second Prize: “Contacts Stink” by windysail (Flip UltraHD™ camcorder — a $199.99 value)

[link tohttp://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/94403]

In the "My Favorite Sport Or Activity Would Be So Much Cooler With Better Vision" Category

First Prize: “iLASIK Would Make Surfing More Enjoyable” by jhbmw007 (HDTV package)

[link: http://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/124399]

Second Prize: “Foggy Riding” by Snowman (Flip UltraHD camcorder)

[link: http://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/87936]

Category 3: You Should See Life After The iLASIK® Procedure
First Prize: “Orbs Of Perfection” by Danny V (HDTV package)

[link tohttp://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/86870]
Second Prize: “Army LASIK” by ahowalton (Flip UltraHD camcorder)

[link tohttp://www.gottaseethisnow.com/contests/showentry/123970]

So there you have the big finishers for the iLASIK Video Contest, let's hope they do this again next year!

FYI:This is a Sponsored Post written by me on behalf of Incendia Health. All opinions are 100% mine.

San Jose Does Dine Downtown

Make plans to visit downtown San Jose for two things: the beautiful weather and a choice of quality restaurants. From June 2nd thru the 12th, the weather should be warm, and the dining deals hot: extraordinary prix fixe menus at more than thirty of the top restaurants during the second annual Dine Downtown event.

Restaurants will roll out the red carpet for both new customers and regulars alike with 3-course meals running $20-$40. The week will kick off with "City Bites," a special event offering FREE samples from the participating restaurants, 11:30 am until 1:30 pm on June 2nd.  For lunch that day, explore downtown and preview each restaurant's chef specialties, served at the establishments' doorsteps.

For more information, call (408) 279-1775, or visit www.sjdowntown.com .

name? your price

Last night the discussion of where to watch TV show online came up and naturally YouTube was the first name mentioned along with the usual sites named after the network that airs them or the show name it self. When we got around to hulu, it was asked, "does that name stand for anything," to which most people were of the opinion that no it did not, it was just catchy, somewhat memorable (or memorable after all the TV commercials staring NBCs Alec Baldwin and FOXs Seth MacFarlane) and more than likely, available. I have read recently that Flickr originally wanted to include the 'e' in their name but that domain name was already taken and not for sale.

So how do you go about getting a company domain name if you are starting up a new website? Well, you can brainstorm all you want and try the obvious i-something or x-something but those have more or less been played out by now, as have the missing vowel names. Maybe seek professional help to get that name that will be the next website that is on everybody's lips. You hire professionals for other specific tasks, right? Why not this one?

There's a Crown For That

Between the Flash smack-talk, the app store only and now this, John Stewart is right, 

Apple (has stolen) the evil empire crown from Microsoft in their handling of theGizmodo lost iPhone incident. 

Made of 100% recycled material.

New word I learned today thanks to The New Yorker: Hibernaculum.

In reference to the Aeolus Cave, a large cave in New England where in
2007, an estimated 300,000 bats over-wintered.

Sadly, due to white-nose syndrom (a fungal disease) Vermont officials
feared there would be far fewer or even none this year.

Anchor Steam Brewery Sold!

In today's paper: 72 year old Fritz Maytag, the washing machine heir
who many say launched the microbrewery movement when he bought a
struggling San Francisco brewery in 1965, has sold Anchor Brewing Co.
to a pair of Bay Area entrepreneurs who say they plan to preserve and
expand the iconic brand.

No terms were disclosed for the sale of the 70-person Mariposa Street
brewery and distillery but Maytag will stay on to serve as chairman
emeritus.

Let's hope this works out better than the Schafenberger sale!

back to school

Time passes so slowly sometimes that you never really notice it until something or someone causes you to stop, take stock of things and see just where the years have gone. I did a double take today when I read that as of next year, Sony will discontinue the manufacture of the 3.5" floppy disk. I remember when Apple first offered them on their new Macintosh computers as an alternative way to store your data (and your programs!) and I remember when Apple phased them out with the introduction of the first iMac. What really hit me was the fact that the iMac debuted in 1998! Where had the time gone to?

I bring it up because I got my iMac after I finished my Masters degree which means I have not been in school since then. Have times changed? You bet! So, when was the last time you were in school? Have you thought about getting more education? Maybe an m.s. in education or maybe a B.S. in Nursing? Or what about an even more advanced degree, say a Ph.D. in Psychology?

You can get any or all of these as well as classes in many more subjects by enrolling at Walden University– the school where they challenge you to find out what their online higher education community can offer you. This has been a sponsored post.

Sony Says 2011: 1.44MB Floppies "Die"

Thirteen years post iMac, Sony, the inventor of the floppy disk, has officially announced that they are killing the 1.44MB storage device. As of next year, Sony will no longer manufacture the floppy disk.

Apple gobbles up chip maker Intrinsity for $121 million

gleaned from Google Reader

Apple gobbles up chip maker Intrinsity for $121 million

TUAW reports on the latest Apple purchase. Should this worry intel as well as future hackintoshers? Stay tuned!

Apple's buying spree for chip technology companies continues, with The New York Times reporting that the company has acquired Intrinsity. The Texas-based fabless semiconductor company was widely thought to be the engineering brains behind the iPad's A4 system-on-a-chip. Intrinsity's 1 GHz hummingbird processor was developed in partnership with Samsung last year, and the A4 is believed to be based on that technology.

Intrinsity's acquisition by Apple continues the trend of the Cupertino-based electronics manufacturer bringing more chip expertise in-house, with the 2008 purchase of P.A. Semi being the most widely-publicized example.

(I thought this was interesting, too)

Apple-watchers expected this deal to be closed this month after many Intrinsity employees changed their pages on LinkedIn to show their new job titles at Apple.

Rainforest Friendly by 2011

Some good environmental news from our favourite mid-west coffee house:

Caribou is proud to announce that we are the first major coffeehouse retailer committing to 100 percent Rainforest Alliance certification for all of its coffees, a goal we plan to achieve by the end of 2011.

We recognize that a good cup of coffee goes beyond taste, it starts with farming practices that are environmentally and socially responsible. One-hundred percent certification is a very aggressive goal but one that we're proud to set. We're helping to ensure that our customers get premium coffee and our sourcing partners benefit environmentally, socially and economically. 

Made of 100% recycled material.

iPotatoes need iPad

My theory regarding the slacker-ization of America & Apple:

Apple offers you the ability to "Rip Mix Burn" your own music mixes
and people left their iPod on shuffle. Apple says ok, here have an
iPod Shuffle and software generated Genius mixes.

Apple creates iMovie to let you edit your own movies and people mostly
ignore it and Apple sells movies on iTunes and makes iPods able to
show them.

And now, the iPad. Yes, it can let you read books but early reports
show few books being bought. Add in the total lack of iPads I have
seen on the train and all I can conclude is that Apple's braintrust
has decided all people really want to do is sit on a couch and watch
old movies and maybe tap out a random Facebook status update. To the
tune of over a million sold in the US, I'd say their right.

The days of making your 'zine in PageMaker and printing it on your
LaserWriter or mucking about in HyperCard have ended, sadly.

__
Made of 100% rant material.

Stamps to the Rescue

	Adopt a Shelter Pet goes on sale April 30, 2010 Photographer Sally Anderson-Bruce found some beautiful, adopted pets in her hometown of New Milford, Connecticut. Each of these animals was given a good home thanks to animal rescue shelters and the families who adopted them. Now you can help by buying these stamps. The Post Office will mail them direct to you house for only a buck....

Vintage Disneyland t-shirts

Vintage Disneyland attraction t-shirts

Retro Matterhorn Bobsleds and Flying Saucers t-shirts on sale at D Street at the Downtown Disney District as well as inside Disneyland park.

Made of 100% recycled material.

Spam from Kangaroos?

Two spam messages, both with an Aussie flair today!

Subject: Re: Re: yo mate
yeah finally :)
thanks a lot mate! you really saved my life,

-and-

Subject: G'day ! Come in

Help Lufthansa Get in Touch with Gray Powell, They'd like to fly him to Munich

From the great minds at the marketing and PR people of Lufthansa:

Footballers Pick Books for Boys

Boys lag behind girls at school – and one reason is their resistance to reading. But (English) Premier League footballers are coming to their rescue.

Guardian UK cites a new survey, from the National Literacy Trust which shows a third of the 17,089 boys surveyed (ages 8 to 16 ) agreed with the statement "I can't find anything to read that interests me".

pick me up

Are you looking to enhance the value and usefulness of your pickup and need to protect your pickup truck cargo box? If you answered with an immediate YES then you need to consider the bakflip truck bed cover.

Available for most pickups, a bakflip is a folding tonneau cover offers truck owners like you the security you need with the head turning looks you want. The folding design makes it so easy to use, and installation is easy using the handy clamps provided with your cover, plus you are sure to increase your fuel mileage by eliminating the drag that an open bed can cause– depending on the miles and driving style, this can pay for itself in gas costs alone in mere months, not to mention the increased safety.

Available in in 4 different models: the Bakflip G2, Bakflip HD, Bakflip F1 and Bakflip CS, you are sure to find one with the looks and price that fit your life and your budget. Check them out and remember this has been a sponsored post.

Free Lonely Planet iPhone Guides

Due to the widespread chaos caused by the eruption of Iceland’s Eyjafjallajokull volcano, Lonely Planet is offering 13 of its European iPhone guides free.

‘Travellers stuck in unfamiliar places need access to practical information as well as suggestions on what to do whilst stranded’, said Tom Hall, Lonely Planet Travel Editor. ‘That’s why we’re giving away iPhone city guides to major affected destinations.’

The 13 guides will be free until Thursday, 22 April from the iTunes app store.

The cities included are:

* Amsterdam
* Barcelona
* Berlin
* Budapest
* Copenhagen
* Istanbul
* London
* Moscow
* Munich
* Paris
* Rome
* Stockholm
* Vienna

do more with less and save

Walmart and Target are both saving money and being more profitable by carrying more cargo in their trucks and making fewer trips. There is nothing that says the little guy can not learn from the big guys by doing the same thing. Plan your trips in order of distance using online mapping tools, leverage the power of the internet to find the cheapest location to buy your fuel and upgrade your truck or van with a ladder rack– freeing up the inside of the van for more cargo.

Be an energy efficient hauler by choosing from a huge selection of van racks, van roof racks and ladder racks for vans. Designed for both contractor use as well as personal use, these racks are made of light weight aluminum to provide durability as well as prevention from oxidization or rust. All Hauler Racks fit both American and Import pickup trucks and vans and many come with an instant rebate.

See how you can green your business today and start saving the Earth and your bottom line. This has been a sponsored post

Koford's Latest Triumph

Park Guide Is Equally Bright Eyed and Bushy Tailed

The parks department's new mascot, Pearl the Squirrel. knows where acorns are buried.

News from the CBC

Barbara Budd's recently announced that she'll be leaving the CBC's As It Happens after 17 years as a co-host.  Sadly, it seems her departure was less that mutual and more along the lines of the CBC's decision not to renew her contract.

Pressing Stop to Make DVD Go

News you can use from the good people at Lifehacker: Pressing stop, stop, play (or stop, stop, stop, play) often can trigger a skip to the startup menus on DVDs.

Can't wait to go home tonight and try this one out!

make that connection

Not that long ago just getting onto the internet was considered a major accomplishment, and listening to your modem connect was the sound of a type of freedom. Eight bits, no parity one stop was a phrase every teenager knew all too well, even if you had to go to a friend's house to get online. Now, NOT having an internet connection is almost unheard of, they even come bundled with your voice or cable TV connection, but of course not everyone lives near the fiber they need to get the speed they need or want. So what to do about it? It would be a shame to have to move just because of the internet and waiting all day for a file to download is just as ridiculous. So, if this sounds like you, what to do?

Have you heard of internet satellite? No connection needed from the phone company or cable provider needed, instead use a small dish on your roof or in your backyard and practically anyone in the lower 48 US states can get online. Experience the always on, lightning fast connections to the internet you have been wishing for. No delays, no more dialing in and tying up the voice line. No more checking if ore when high speed internet will arrive in your area. Get connected and get going because the internet waits for nobody. Share your photos and videos on social networking sites and watch the latest viral video and the latest Hollywood releases - with high speed internet from wild blue satellite you can have it all, the internet and the rural lifestyle, probably for not much more than what you are paying for dial-up right now.

See how your life can change and check it out today.

Healthy Development: Opera Tops ALL of Apple's 22 App Stores

Since the beginning, iPhone and iPod touch users have been forced to use the mobile version of Safari, the Apple browser. On April 13th , 2010, the  the Opera Mini browser finally made it's way into the App Store and went right to the top.

Is it better, can't say right now, but it is a CHOICE which is better treatment them we have had in a while on the Apple side.

Have you tried it? Thoughts?

via Appletell

Finding Your Grandfather's Card at the Swapmeet

Once in a while while out hunting the swaps something happens that trips you out. In the past I have found some great thing by taking at turn down one row instead of another. You think about it later and it almost seems like it was meant to be for some odd reason or another.

Read it all at tikiranch: One of those days

wave water woes goodbye

Water covers three-fourths of the earth’s surface and comprises some 90% of the human body and may be one the most important things needed to sustain life but when it appears in the wrong place or at the wrong time, quite often it can also be a right honorable pain in the neck, or worse - to the pocketbook. Who doesn't know someone who has had water problems with their iPhone, their water-heater, their roof or their basement walls?

Thankfully, there are small steps you can take in all of these cases to prevent the damage or at least minimize the impact. If you have an expensive phone, get a case and use care with where and when you use it. Have someone inspect your roof on a regular basis and keep the gutters free of leaves and other debris. If you are worried about your basement the best thing to do is read up on how to go about Waterproofing Basement Walls. I didn't know a sump pump from a French Drain but after a short read can say I feel quite the expert now and will rest just a little bit easier about the Christmas decorations and important papers we have stored in cardboard boxes down there in our basement now.

I just saved $4.95!

iPhone OS 4 Compatibility

iPhone OS 4 will work with iPhone 3G, iPhone 3GS, and the second- and third-generation iPod touch this summer, and with iPad in the fall. Not all features are compatible with all devices. For example, multitasking is available only with iPhone 3GS and the third-generation iPod touch (32GB and 64GB models from late 2009).

Thus making my Gen1 iPod Touch officially obsolete! Or dead-ended, anyway.

Stay Awake

I just did, and you should too.

[SPAM] Speech of welcome

Job Possition [670 USD/week].

I am a representative of the HR department of a large international company. Our company has been working in different fields, such as:

- bank accounts opening and maintenance
- private undertaking services
!!^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

We are making a regional managers' team in United States now:
- salary 2.300 euro + bonus
- 2-3 working hours per day
- free timetable

**So USD or Euro's, make up your mind! Although, to be fair, having a timetable would help me figure out when the trains are due, so maybe I *will* contact them.

Retiring Ronald

"McDonald's, and its iconic clown, is not only the face of the epidemic: it is the engine behind it. No corporation has done more to hook kids on unhealthy food," said Stacey Folsom, spokeswoman for Corporate Accountability International.

The group kicked off its campaign to retire the clown at press conferences around the country today, including an event at San Francisco City Hall.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/cityinsider/detail?entry_id=60322#ixzz0jsJxZ0D1