April, 2008

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27
Apr 08

Game: Splume

I just ran across the game Splume from Flashbang Studios. A very very fun game. It’s weird – sort of like sticky water balloons with an eye. Connect 3 of the same color and … pop! Easy to learn, tough to master. Sort of like the classic Bejeweled game.

This started eating up hours of my weekend in no time, and I got up to level 29 (or there abouts). I highly recommend checking out the great game play.

Splume requires a browser plug-in (Unity), but once you have it, there are other great games like Off-Road Velociraptor Safari (drive over dinosaurs with a jeep). What’s amazing is really just how great of a game you can load up inside a browser window.


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24
Apr 08

Video Chat – it’s here, now what?

Video Chat technology is finally easy enough and available enough for the masses. It isn’t the phone replacement everyone thought it would be. But like SMS, IM, Twitter, Email, Snail Mail, Land Lines, Cell phones, Newspapers, etc: more communication is generally a good thing and using the right format always enhances the message.

This week I got to catch up with the family and even read the kids a bed time story from half-way across the country. It was nice to have a few minutes that felt “at home”, and this was certainly the right format for the “communication” today (it sounds so cold when I say it like that!).

So my question is:

1) For those of you using Video Chat on occasion, when do you use it? When do you skip it even though there are no technical reasons preventing it?

2) For those that never use it, why? Is it a lack of video camera? No one to talk to? Prefer the phone?


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22
Apr 08

Library of Congress Photos

Recently read about Color photos from the 1930′s & 40′s which linked to the Library of Congress’s own Flickr account. There are 1000′s of photos that will keep you mesmerized for hours. Highly recommend checking it out.

Right field grandstand at Polo Grounds – 1912 World Series (link)
Burman & his “Benz” (link)
J.M Johnson in Bleriotype [plane] (link)


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22
Apr 08

Baby Three On The Way

Cut to the chase: We have two adorable kids already (ages 4 and 2) and Number Three is on the way. Estimated due date is November 7th.

The first trimester has been hitting Sarah pretty harshly this time around and we’ll all be glad when Three settles into a nice easy pace for growing. After all, November is a long ways off still. No need to rush.

While we wait for Three to arrive, I follow a number of baby/parenting sites. If you have kids or grandkids, I think you will find something interesting here too:

  • Babygadget – “contemporary finds for modern tots”
  • Clever Parents – “for moms and dads who are figuring out ways to get the most out of every day and every dollar and who do it in a way that’s healthy, fun, and… clever. “
  • Daddy Types – “the weblog for new dads”
  • Parent Hacks – “parenting tips from the real experts: actual parents”
  • BabyCenter – “baby, pregnancy, toddler, baby names, and parenting community” (good for weekly updates)
  • Baby Name Wizard: NameVoyager – “visualizes a century of baby name trends” (try it out- it’s pretty cool)

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16
Apr 08

Bank by Text Messaging

In yet another way to eat up my limited 200 text messages a month, I can now check my checking account balance by text message. Not sure how long this service has been around, but it was new to me. Thank you Wells Fargo!

Beyond generic text messages with your friends, getting your schedule from Google Calendar, being reminded of tasks in Backpack, researching the price of homes, or asking Google just about anything (weather, directions, showtimes, flight schedules, etc)… What do you use text messaging for?


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