Real Time Population Counter

Here's a neat website that allows you to view the birth and death rate of any country in real time. Watch the birth and death rates rise and fall. The deaths come with a brief description like "Adult, 30 - 49 years old (Male)" and it also tells you if the birth was a boy or girl. The most active countries are China and India, so check them out if you want to see the numbers run.

The population numbers are based on information from the U.S. Census Bureau. The numbers presented are not real figures, but merely estimates. The notes (on the people's age and gender) are also simulated, but are properly dispersed according to the percentages found in census data.

It's pretty cool site, so check it out.

(Via Digg)

The Most Innovative Companies

Business Week has released its annual list of Most Innovative Companies. For the second year in row Apple is ranked #1. Google and 3M round out the top three spots.

Apple's successful iPod has become thinner and lighter with each new product release. It has evolved from playing songs to displaying pictures and now playing video. Business Week's list doesn't only showcase high-tech companies and their successful and innovative products. The list also includes, Toyota, Proctor & Gamble, IDEO, Ikea, Target, Virgin, and Southwest.

(Via Business Week)

The Woofer

This tongue-in-cheek interpretation of a woofer is sure to bring not only sound to your ears, but also a smile to your face.

Created by Buro Vormkrijgers, a Dutch design studio founded by Sander Mulder and Dave Keune, this headless dog speaker system is available as a single woofer or a pair of stereo speakers. Also in the works is the Tweeter, a bird-like desktop speaker system.

Check out this and other fun things on their website.

(Via Cool Hunting)

BMW + iPod = Love

Although I have temporarily given up on the iPod, (see rant below for an explanation) the recent announcement by BMW that iPod integration will be standard on all models beginning in July 2006 has made me very excited. Two things that get me excited, the iPod and BMW will be easier to enjoy as one! Yes, the iPod integration kit has been available on BMW models as an additional option for a while, but making it standard really cements what a "lifestyle item" the iPod has become.

I have neither a BMW nor an iPod but I am accepting gifts! :) So if you are feeling generous write a comment and let me know! Here's my wish list for both the iPod and BMW

iPod
Black 4GB Nano - $249
and/or (it's a wish list, after all. Why not ask for both?)
Black or white 60 GB iPod - $399

BMW
325Ci (Monaco Blue Metallic, Sparkling Graphite Metallic, Silver Grey Metallic)
Black with leather upholstery interior
Heated seats
(plus many more options, my dream car is about $44,000, not including taxes. Ouch! Guess that's why it's still a dream!)


iPod Rant:
Four failed hard drives in 12 months and finally they wouldn't replace my iPod because it was "out of warranty". Tangent alert! While I may understand that, I offered them my frustration at a product that had failed on my four times within a year. How was I supposed to trust and a company that had consistently failed my expectations, multiple times. All they (the guys at the Genius Bar) had to say was "the technology is improving and the next generation Ipods are much better". Or I could replace my hard drive myself, by looking online for instructions and a new hard drive. Neither answer was what I was looking for. So although I loved the portability of carrying every song in my music collection with me on my 60 GB iPod, I have seriously downgraded to a 128 MB flash MP3 player. I'd really like a black Nano for the gym and maybe a video iPod for it's storage and nice color screen, but I'm waiting. Maybe my confidence in Apple and the iPod will return and I'll venture to an Apple Store to get my fix.

(Via Gizmodo)

Amanda - A new kitchen timer

A fun tetris-like twist on the common kitchen timer, the Amanda kitchen timer provides a standard count-down timer or a display of tetris-like blocks. When the blocks fill up the screen, the time is up. I think the novelty of the display filling up with blocks to indicate your time is up is a fun and modern take on the traditional hourglass.

Available in either black or white for about $42.

(Via Gizmodo)

Not quite New Orleans...

Kimberly Williamson Butler, a mayoral candidate in New Orleans, is running a campaign photo (seen as a header on her website) of her standing in what appears to be the French Quarter. However, upon closer inspection, the photo seems to be the simulated French Quarter in Disneyland's New Orleans Square.

Blending images with Adobe's Photoshop and other photo editing programs are popular and easy to do, but isn't using a picture of the French Quarter in Disneyland a little bit of a stretch? If you're going to use the Disneyland picture, at least remove the obvious trash can! We're all used to politicians stretching the truth and often times doing anything to get elected to office, but didn't see or her campaign manager think that somebody might notice that Kimberly wasn't posing in the New Orleans that she was running for election in?

(Via Boing Boing and Wonkette)

Google Maps Mashups

Here's a cool blog that profiles the different mashups that users have created using Google Maps, improving their functionality and offerings. There are some really cool ones that people have developed!

Google Maps + U.S. Census Information = Graphical Information at your Fingertips

Here's a neat site that combines Google Maps with the information from the most recent (2000) U.S. Census. It gives you average and demographic information based upon any address you input and provides three levels of information in a 1, 3, and 5 mile radius. You can also zoom around on the map and click an area with your cursor and the census information will also display.

If you're looking for straight-up Census information (direct from the source) go here.

(Via Digg)

This week in history

What happened this week in history? Below are just some notable events from this week throughout the ages.

April 10, 1849 - The safety pin was patented by Walter Hunt in New York City. Hunt was a mechanic from New York, whose other inventions include a knife sharpener, streetcar bell, and many others. The safety pin was invented while Hunt was twisting a piece of wire, trying to think of something that would help him pay off a $15 debt. Hunt thought little of his safety pin and soon sold the patent for $400.

April 9, 1859 - Samuel Langhorne Clemens received his steamboat pilot's license. Clemens operated boats until the Civil War. He then returned to writing, using as a pen name a term used on the Mississippi River. "Mark Twain" meant the water was only two fathoms deep (12 feet), the minimum needed for safe passage.

April 12, 1961 - Aboard the Vostok 1, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin becomes the first human to travel into space. The spacecraft was launched from the Baikonur launch pad in Kazakhstan in what was then part of Soviet central Asia. Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin orbited the Earth for 108 minuttravelinging at more than 17,000 miles per hour (27,0kilometersres per hour) before returning safely to Earth.

April 15, 1912 - Former frontierswoman Molly Brown survives the Titanic disaster to become an international heroine known as the “unsinkable Mrs. Brown.

Floppy Disk Brush

Remember floppy disks? Some of you may not recall them, for you're used to flash drives, burning data to CDs or DVDs, or other removable hard drive storage devices. But I do remember floppy disks. Both the 3 1/2 inch and 5 1/4 inch variety. Those 5 1/4 ones were the true floppys, the 3 1/2 ones much sturdier than their larger predecessors. And their storage capacity? 1.44 MB That was pretty much good for the average user, as those were the days before widespread use of digitized music and media. Nowadays, 1.44 MB seems so tiny! But enough of my tangent.

If you're wondering what someone has done with the floppy disk, look no further than the Mock Floppy Disk. It's a 3 1/2 disk with a spring-loaded brush. A simple, yet fun way to clean your keyboard.

It's available for $1.95 in three colors: translucent lime, tangerine or grape.

(Via Strange New Products)

Potato Crisp Commentary

Apparently Evan Orensten the Executive Editor of Cool Hunting made a recent trip to the England and got a chance to indulge himself in the taste sensation that are potato crisps (or as American's refer to them, potato chips.) Then English have a particular fascination for the potato crisp, consuming more than 10 billion bags of crisps each year!

Evan sampled some of the adventuresome and subtle crisps that England offers. Read more about his crispy tastebud escapade here.

Radio Frequency Locking USB Flash Drive

This flash drive also includes a RF transmitter. What is this transmitter for? I'm glad you asked! Once the transmitter is 2 meters out of range the drive will lock, rendering the data on the USB drive inaccessible. If you forget or manage to damage the transmitter, a password can unlock the flash drive. There is also a timer that can lock the flash drive anywhere from 1 minute to 8 hours.

No word on the size of the flash drive, but this "peace of mind" is available for a mere $29.

(Via Gizmodo)

Innovative Advertising/Awareness Technique

This advertising campaign by Grey Advertising for Childcare, India is an effort to help the more than 20 million children that beg in India each day.

I can say from personal experience that the streets are just littered with children begging. It's quite a sad and heart-wrenching sight and this ad campaign provides another reminder of the poverty present throughout India (as if one could forget.)

I am reminded of many times when we'd be in a car and while stopped at a light, the children would make their way towards the cars, hands outstretched, with longing in their eyes, asking for money.

(Via Things you don't see everyday...)

OCZ Ultra-Slim Mini-Kart USB 2.0 Flash Drive

Looking for a small and thin USB drive with a large amount of space? Look no further than the OCZ Ultra-Slim Mini-Kart USB 2.0 Flash Drive. With capacities from 512MB to 2GB this tiny USB drive will satisfy your need for storage in a small package. Just make sure not to loose it!

(Via Gizmodo)

Google Calendar has Launched!

As of tonight, Google calendar has launched!

calendar.google.com is now live and redirects to the real CL2 login screen.

It has the typical Google interface (pretty slick) and looks like a cool application. I'm excited to use it and compare the Google calendar to MS Outlook. I'm glad there's an import feature where I can import my MS Outlook calendar.

There's a cool little bar on the upper left hand corner of the screen that links you between google products: search, gmail, calendar. Useful and well placed! Now if that button would only be present throughout Google, that'd be nice. Also, I'm a fan of color coding my events, so I'd like that feature added as well.

Yeah for Google and their Calendar! :) Now we'll have to see how practical it is. Will it replace my Outlook? Probably not, as that's what I use for work, but it'll be good to compare the two.

(Via ZNet Googling Google Blog)

Lying in Hollywood - Wilmer Valderrama

You may recall that Wilmer Valderrama dished on Howard Stern's Sirius radio show about all of his conquests with Hollywood ladies. Turns out that one of those ladies, Jennifer Love Hewitt, is calling his bluff.

Hewitt responded to Wilmer's bragging with laughter: "I was told, like, that we had all these very steamy encounters, and I was like, really! Well, I would have loved to have been there!"

Oh the tall tales that are weaved in Hollywood. Makes you wonder what else he said that wasn't the truth.

(Via Popsugar and Tittle-Tattle)

Great parking note!

"Please look your car over for the dent and scratches and when you see them remember not to park in two spaces."

I caught this post on DoubleViking's blog. Check out the full note and explanation on Flickr.


(Via DoubleViking)

Google makes 12 cents for every search performed

A dime and two pennies may not sound like much cash, but when you consider the number of searches perfomed, it really adds up! According to figures gathered by Nielsen/NetRatings, Americans alone did more than 2.7 billion searches on Google in January 2006. So just in Jan 2006, Google made $324 million. Wow, what a cash cow for Google!

For further information, check out the full story courtesy of BBC News.

(Via BBC News)

New 'Tenth Planet' is Slightly Larger than Pluto

This is an artist's concept of Kuiper Belt object 2003 UB313 (the tenth planet, nicknamed "Xena") and its satellite "Gabrielle."

From the HubbleSite Newsdesk:

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has resolved the "tenth planet," nicknamed "Xena" for the first time, and has found that it is only just a little larger than Pluto.

Though previous ground-based observations suggested that Xena was about 30 percent greater in diameter than Pluto, Hubble observations taken on Dec. 9 and 10, 2005, yield a diameter of 1,490 miles (with an uncertainty of 60 miles) for Xena. Pluto's diameter, as measured by Hubble, is 1,422 miles.

"Hubble is the only telescope capable of getting a clean visible-light measurement of the actual diameter of Xena," said Mike Brown, planetary scientist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, Calif. Brown's research team discovered Xena, and their results have been accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal.

It only required a couple of Hubble images to nail Xena's diameter. Located 10 billion miles away, but with a diameter that is a little more than half the width of the United States, the object is 1.5 pixels across in Hubble's view. That's enough to precisely make a size measurement.

Because Xena is smaller than earlier thought, but comparatively bright, it must be one of the most reflective objects in the solar system. The only object more reflective is Enceladus, a geologically active moon of Saturn whose surface is continuously recoated with highly reflective ice by active geysers.

Xena's bright reflectivity is possibly due to fresh methane frost overlying the surface. It is possible that Xena had an atmosphere when it was closer to the Sun, but "froze out" at its current large distance, and material settled on its surface as frost.

Another possibility is that Xena is also continuously leaking methane gas from its warmer interior. When this methane makes it to the cold surface it immediately freezes solid, covering craters and other features to make this Kuiper Belt object (KBO) uniformly bright to Hubble's telescopic eye.

Xena is officially catalogued as 2003 UB313. Its orbital period is about 560 years, and the KBO is now very close to aphelion (the point on its orbit that is farthest from the Sun).

Brown next plans to use Hubble and other telescopes to study other recently discovered KBOs that are almost as large as Pluto and Xena. The Kuiper Belt is a vast ring of primordial icy comets and larger bodies encircling Neptune's orbit.

Finding that the largest known KBO is a virtual twin to Pluto may only further complicate the debate about whether to categorize the large icy worlds that dwell in the Kuiper Belt as planets. If Pluto were considered to be the minimum size for a planet, then Xena would fulfill this criterion, too.

For more information, contact:
Ray Villard
Space Telescope Science Institute, Baltimore, MD
(Phone: 410-338-4514; E-mail: villard@stsci.edu)

Robert Tindol
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
(Phone: 626-395-3631; E-mail: tindol@caltech.edu or

Mike Brown
California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA
(Phone: 626-395-8423; E-mail: mbrown@gps.caltech.edu

For a related story, see here.

(Via HubbleSite)

A better way to tie your shoes

Ian's shoelace site brings you not one, not two, but sixteen different ways to tie shoelaces! The site not only brings you many ways to tie your laces, it also give tips on lacing shoes, discusses shoelace lengths, FAQs and much more.

(Via digg)

Antisocial Networking

Antisocial networking sites, created in the backlash to the popular social networking sites like Myspace and Friendster, allow you to create lists of people who you don't want to be friends with.

Snubster lets you create a list of people that you don't want to be friends with. Simply enter a person's email address and they'll get a message to says they are "dead to you", or "on notice" along with a reason, if you see fit to give them one.

Other antisocial networking sites include isolatr and introvertster.

(Via New Scientist Technology Blog)

Candle with built-in matchbox

This fusion of a candle with a matchbox is pretty neat. Originally designed by Jeremy Walton in 2002, Hygge-lys is a candle with a built in matchbox. The candle has 40 hours of burning time and extinguishes before the flame reaches the matchbox.

Made in Denmark, it's available at the MoMA Store for $18.

(Via Cool Hunting)

Janet Jackson - Fat no more

It appears that Janet Jackson has lost much of the weight that she had gained. (the three-part photo progression above is courtest of TMZ) At her peak weight in October, an estimated 250 lbs, she's been following a strict fitness regimen to loose the weight and get back into the hard-body shape that we're all accustomed to seeing her in.

It must be hard to be a celebrity. Looking good all the time must be real work. And when you're not looking your best, you're sure to have a photographer there, willing to take your picture and sell it to the gossip mags. Seeing celebrities not at their best humanizes them, reminding us that they are just people too, albeit famous ones.

Go Janet! Go Janet's trainer and chef! Go Virgin Records, whip her back into shape so she can produce a hit (or several) in her upcoming album release this fall!

(Via TMZ)

Advertising on sheep

Found somewhere in the Netherlands, these hotel-supporting sheep demonstrate that advertising is everywhere. Even on livestock.

Where will ads turn up next?

(Via Gizmodo)

Starbucks may soon outnumber McDonald's

According to a Reuters article, the number of Starbucks locations worldwide may soon top that of McDonald's. Starbucks has set a goal of having 30,000 stores worldwide, but according to Reuters, Starbucks' chairman has recently said that the figure is too low. Already the world's biggest coffee shop chain, Starbucks' store count has soared to over 11,000 from less than 200 since the Seattle-based company went public in 1992, and at current growth rates it could hit its target (30,000 stores) in about five years.

Currently McDonald's has roughly 31,000 locations worldwide, making it the largest fast food chain in the world. (Love the dollar menu!)

CIBC analyst John Glass says that the United States has room for as many as 22,000 locations, compared with the company target of 15,000. He also projects that Starbucks would raise that goal later in the year.

Seattle, Starbucks' hometown, has one coffee shop for every 11,754 people. As a Seattlie, I can confirm that there are Starbucks everywhere, but as I'm a fan of the chain and over-priced coffe, I'd be happy to see more of them around.

(Via Reuters)

MTV's 'Real World' coming to Denver

"The Real World" - a true story of seven strangers (who are often-times stereotyped and dramatic, but it works for the ratings) picked to move into a house, work together and have their lives taped and find out what happens when people stop being polite and start getting REAL.

MTV announced Monday that the show's 18th season would be filmed in Denver. As the longest-running reality TV series, spanning 14 years and cities throughout the United States as well as some in Europe, the Denver housemates will live in Lower Downtown Denver.

I'll be interested in seeing how the Denver installment of 'The Real World' plays out. I had been a fan of the series, but lately I've found it to be boring and too stereotypical. Yes, stereotypes are one of the things that makes the series popular. That and drama and the willingness of people to have their lives taped and shown. Only time will tell see if Denver and the new housemates have what it takes to get me back and watching the drama. Never mind that the latest incarnation of the series, set in beautiful and idyllic Key West, has attracted nearly 100 million viewers. Perhaps I'll tune in this time around and stay with it.

(Via Denver Post)

World's Most Expensive Sandwich

The BBC reports that the world's most expensive sandwich is now available in London. The McDonald sandwich, named after its creator Scott McDonald, the chef at London department store Selfridges, is said to be the world’s most expensive sandwich. The sandwich consists of 24-hour fermented sourdough bread, wagyu beef, fresh lobe foie gras, black truffle mayonnaise, brie de meaux, rocket, red pepper and mustard confit and English plum tomatoes. The BBC reports that there have been least five advance orders placed for the 21oz meal that costs $148.

(Via BornRich)

World's 20 Best Restaurants

I haven't eaten at any of the world's top 20 restaurants, nor do I plan to in the near future (as I'm sure they're all expensive), but it's a really cool look at what Restaurant Magazine has dubbed the top 20 restaurants in the world.

According to Restaurant magazine, El Bulli, Ferran Adria's iconic restaurant in northern Spain tops the list, upsetting last year's winner, the U.K.'s Fat Duck, now number two, where El Bulli was last year. Both restaurants specialize in experimental cuisine. The top U.S. restaurant is French Laundry at number four.

1. El Bulli (Spain)
2. The Fat Duck (U.K.)
3. Pierre Gagnaire (France)
4. French Laundry (U.S.)
5. Tetsuya's (Australia)
6. Bras (France)
7. Restaurant le Louis XV (Monaco)
8. Per Se (U.S.)
9. Restaurant Arzak (Spain)
10. Mugaritz (Spain)
11. Can Fabes (Spain)
12. Nobu (U.K.)
13. Gambero Rosso (Italy)
14. Gordon Ramsay Royal Hospital Road (U.K.)
15. Restaurant Alain Ducasse (France)
16. Jean Georges (U.S., New York)
17. Le Cinq (France)
18. Daniel (U.S., New York)
19. Oud Sluis (Netherlands)
20. Chez Panisse (U.S.)

(Via The Luxist)

Blue glowing water

Here's a cool twist to the night light idea. If you're groggy and looking for a glass of water but don't want to be shocked by turning on all of your kitchen lights, just grab a glass and turn on your faucet. The Blue LED faucet light attaches to any faucet and emits an eerie (but cool) blue glow when the faucet is turned on.

Available at ThinkGeek for $15.

(Via Gadget Review)

The Mood Light Shelf

The Mood Light Shelf from Generate Design is an illuminated, color-changing shelf with the possibility of dazzling the viewer with millions of colors. It comes complete with an RF remote and can be mounted vertically or horizontally. Containing ultra-bright LEDs, it's the newest member of the multiple award-winning Mood Light Collection. It is available for $229.

(Via Gizmodo)

Luggage with a built-in scale

Courtesy of Richard Beverly Hills, The Solution Luggage Collection comes in a 25-inch and 28-inch sizes should cost around $200. These suitcases feature a built in scale and display the weight of your luggage. So no more surprises on excess baggage charges (or thinking you'll be able to sneak an extra five pounds in those bags, either!)

These bags are available in maul teal, crushed berry, or black. They are expected to hit Macy stores and Ebags.com this month.

More info here.

(Via Gadget Review)

Dolphins Stadium unveils world's largest 720p display

We've all heard of companies or organizations claiming they've got the world's largest, smallest, fastest, first, or most unique product. Most of the time that's just the marketing and advertising people and their grand claims. In the case of the newly unveiled display at Miami's Dolphin Stadium, they hype may be justified. The 720p display is a staggering 137 feet wide by 50 feet high, making its diagonal dimensions 1,750 inches. So, when stadium officials boast that it's the world's largest HD display, it just may be!

Just imagine the picture clarity and the "in your face" factor of anything they'd put on that! Amazing! (Yes, the picture above is not a billboard, but the actual display.)

(Via Engadget)

A human skin-bound book

According to Boing Boing, in the 18th and 19th century, it very was common to bind accounts of murder trials in the killer's skin - known as anthropodermic bibliopegy. Apparently, one such volume was found on the street in Leeds, England. It's a 300-year-old ledger written mainly in French. According to the BBC, police say that might have been tossed after a burglary.

(Via Boing Boing)

New York's Duncan Mansion For Sale

John Duncan’s mansion, New York’s early architectural legend, is up for sale. The exceptional 5.5 story limestone mansion was originally built in 1902, and is situated in Manhattan’s premier townhouse block. Well preserved and meticulously restored, the mansion features luxurious interiors with grand rooms, extraordinary ceiling heights, a sweeping staircase and elaborate detail. No mansion is complete without an elevator, this one has a four passenger elevator serving all floors! In addition to six bedrooms, seven full-baths and four half-bathrooms the mansion also includes a double-height library, wine cellar, and servant quarters. Listed at Sotheby’s for $31,000,000.

(Via BornRich)

Adagio See-Thru Tea Kettle

The Glass Water Kettle, by Adagio Teas, is a neat take on the traditional tea kettle. Its glass construction allows you to watch water boil! This brings to mind the old saying "a watched pot never boils" and I tend to agree. Waiting for water to boil can seem like forever, but this way you'll be able actually watch the boiling take place. This kettle works with all types of heat (gas stoves, electric cookers, ceramic hobs) and is also dishwasher safe.

Available from Adagio Teas for $29.

(Via The Luxist)