iPod Speaker Review, Part 2

Here is the second part of Cool Hunting's iPod Speaker Review. For part 2, Cool Hunting focused on larger systems designed to take the place of the traditional home stereo. Check out Part 1 here.

YouTube's Success: Ease of Use

Xeni Jardin at Boing Boing commented about YouTube today. I couldn't agree more with both her and the commentary by Slate's Paul Boutin.

Xeni Jardin:
A terrific Slate piece by Paul Boutin about the factors contributing to YouTube's success: it's easy to use, and it doesn't "tell you what to do." Snip:
The guys behind YouTube hit the sweet spot. Most important, they made it head-slappingly easy to publish and play video clips by handling the tricky parts automatically. Given up on BitTorrent because it feels like launching a mission to Mars? If you've sent an e-mail attachment, you've got the tech skills to publish on YouTube.

To post your own video, sign up for a free account and go to the Upload page. Select your file, click the Upload Video button, and you're done! YouTube's servers convert your vid to a standardized format, but you don't need to know what that format is. If you send the URL to your aunt, it'll play in her browser without spraying the screen with pop-ups and errors.

You don't have to upload video to use YouTube. If you just like to watch, it's even easier. There's no software to install, no settings to muck with. The video auto-plays as soon as you load the page, without launching more windows—why can't CNN do that?

Three months ago, I predicted Google Video would become the hottest thing on the Net. I was wrong, and I think Google has failed to take off for the simple reason that it's more annoying to use than YouTube. To begin with, you have to install Google's special uploading application. When I tried to upload the same clips I'd posted to YouTube, Google's app wouldn't let me. I combed through the FAQ and found this: "While we also support other digital formats such as QuickTime, Windows Media, and RealVideo … submitting your files in these formats may significantly delay us from using them on Google Video." Come on, guys. Whatever happened to "I'm Feeling Lucky?"

Don't miss the lip-sync clip he links to. And Sam Anderson has a separate piece on Slate that takes a kiddingly serious look at the lip-sync genre.

(Via Boing Boing)

Animated Courier Movement Map

Here's a cool animated map (4MB MPEG) of eCourier's courier movement and routes in London over a three day period. It's pretty neat to see, in time-lapse, the routes and how busy this courier gets!

(Via Cartography)

Tipping Etiquette

The Washington Post has a great article about the etiquette of tipping, what's expected and not as well as tipping abroad. It's a helpful insight into tipping; check it out!

Safety Procedures

Check out We Make Money Not Art's post on Safety Procedures.

It's a funny and interesting collection of article/posting on airtravel. Thanks, Regine! :)

(Via We Make Money Not Art)

Map of the World's Billionaires

Ever wondered where the world's billionaires are located? To satisfy our curiosity, Forbes has mapped them out for us!

(Via Neatorama)

Rumor: Britney Spears is pregnant again

MSNBC is reporting (from source US Weekly) that Britney Spears is pregnant with her second child with husband Kevin Federline. Apparently she and hubby KFed were spotted at one of the pools at Caesar's Palace in Vegas last weekend. Britney looked visibly pregnant and sources also confirmed the pregnancy to US Weekly.

If this is true, it looks like Britney will be mothering two children. So is her singing career on hold? What will come of her? Only time will tell.

(Via MSNBC)

Vote for the World's Ugliest Dog

Have your say at determining the "World's Ugliest Dog". The Sonoma-Marin Fair (June 21-25, 2006) is having a contest to determine the "World's Ugliest Dog." This year will mark the 18th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest Championship. The winner gets a $1,000 prize and the honor of the title of "World's Ugliest Dog".

Is having a really ugly dog something to be proud of? Check out and vote for your "winner".

(Via Random Good Things)

Disney Reuses Animation Scenes

Nothing wrong with this. After all, the animators worked hard on the first movie/scene, if it worked well the first time, why not reuse it?

The site with the images and commentary is in Russian. Check out the striking similarities in some of the scenes. Anyone able to translate a summary of the site?

(Via Random Good Stuff)

UV Tatoo

Here's a funky new twist on tatooing. Black light always makes things more interesting, so why not have a tatoo that is only visible in black light? A surprising, if not somewhat spooky addition to body art.

From Random Good Stuff:

Tattoo artist Richie of Electric Soul Tattoo uses this blacklight-reactive ink for this tattoo.

Blacklight reactive ink is a great way to have a tattoo that no one can see but under the blacklight or to add a little something special to trip out your friends.
Really how safe is Chameleon Blacklight Tattoo Ink?
Given its extensive testing of FDA approval, with absolutely no adverse reactions to it in over ten years, it is all in the proof, this ink is most likely the safest ink on the market.

Here is the bottom line:

- It contains NO phosphors
- It is NOT radio active
- It DOES NOT contain EverGlow
- It does NOT cause cancer
- It has FDA approval as a Spectral Marking [tattoo] Pigment that was developed for use in tracking [tattooing] animals and fish - and yes the same ones we eat, and has been tested and used with NO adverse reaction in humans for over 10 years.
- the florescent dye is completely safe and has NO carcinogen and is human safe and does not spread or “blow out” because the dye is contained and it never even touches the skin because of the PMMA shell.
- the white (clear)

(Via Random Good Stuff)

Rubber Duck Travels

In this interesting website, check out one rubber duck's dream to travel around the world, flying from one exotic holiday destination to the next.

Includes fan photos as well as the actual travel's of a couple's rubber duck.

The Disappearing Rabbit

Check out the picture above, perhaps twice, just to make sure you see it correctly.

From the website:

Follow the rabbit tracks. BAM! The tracks suddenly end where the wing prints of an owl start. This picture was taken by a friend of a friend who teaches in Bethel,Alaska. Photo by Susan Barstow.

(Via Neatorama)

Most Expensive ZIP codes

Forbes has complied their annual list of most expensive ZIP codes in the U.S. The 500 most expensive ZIP codes are listed by Forbes and include Beverly Hills, 90210, some towns that are well-known for harboring ritzy residents, and neighborhoods that few besides locals have ever heard of.

Check to see what ZIP codes made the list and why.