January 05, 2005
The new Royale theme!
Have you checked out the newest XP theme, Royale? Looks pretty cool.view screenshots.
Download it now.
November 17, 2004
Man attempts to convert lions into Christians
A Taiwanese man identified only as Chen shouts "Jesus will save you" in the lions' den before things go awry.
Taking hold: Chen gets a bite while fishing for Jesus.
Detail.
October 31, 2004
Sauce Reader - Two thumbs up!
Download Sauce Reader (RSS News Aggregator) now!
Check out the screenshots.
October 08, 2004
June 17, 2004
Check your email for the $10 coupon from eBay.
What's good about this coupon is that there's no minimal purchase. So redeem it or lose it!
May 04, 2004
April 29, 2004
April 28, 2004
Jasc Paint Shop Photo Album 4 Made Free
Jasc Paint Shop Photo Album 4 is free on Amazon after a $30 rebate. No tax and free shipping. Make sure to select the free shipping, it is not the default.
Features:
- Everything you need to enhance, organize, and share digital photos
- Enhance photos with fun tools and effects
- Bring photos to life with captions and sound
- Organize and archive your photos
- E-mail photos automatically optimized for quick downloads
Just passing it along...
April 26, 2004
The Japanese Ramen Boom ($6.36 billion)
ooOoo.. Look at those Ramen, delicious isn't it?
Did you know Japanese "slurp down an estimated $6.36 billion worth of noodles annually?" The market size for it is definitely larger than some of the software markets we have here in the US!
Forget about programming, let's start a ramen store!
But, gotta hurry because people have already started.
Slurp~~ mMmm..
-via Yahoo.
Secrets to Winning the Powerball!
Kuro5shin.org has an article that reveals the number of tickets you should buy to achieve the optimal return on investment!
So, how many tickets should you purchase? For the optimal return on investment, you should definitely purchase ...
Wow, what a great read! I'll leave it up to you to find out.
April 25, 2004
One of My Favorite Childhood Drink
Oh... All the childhood memories came back when I saw the "Super Supau" drink at 99 Ranch Supermarket. They finally brought it here from Taiwan. I've been waiting for it for a very loooooong time!
Another thing they should bring it here is the flan ice-cream bar. *mmmMmmm..., sooOOo good*
Nice Realistic Looking Screen Saver: Holding Pattern
Other screenshots here and here.
Holding Pattern turns your idle computer screen into an airplane window, complete with a moving aerial view. Each time the screensaver plays a unique sequence.
Check out the cool screen saver: Holding Pattern.
April 22, 2004
Man Fly High With Jetpack (46 meters ~ 12 stories)
Read more about rocketman Eric Scott and his jetpack/rocketbelt here.
April 21, 2004
The Most Addictive Flash Game I've Play
Check out Internet Tennis here.
WARNING: this is an extremely addictive flash-based game. Do not play if have any school work due soon. You have been warned.
;-)
via someone who'd like to call himself a prince.
April 19, 2004
Behind Google's Master Plan
Take a look at the techincal papers published by people working at Google.
Psychologists Creates False Memory
People can "easily" be manipulated to believe they met Bugs Bunny at Disneyland when no such event ever occured.
[S]ubjects were asked to examine three advertisements that had pictures of Bugs Bunny standing next to the Magic Castle at DisneylandThey were then asked to recall any memories at Disneyland that included meeting Bugs Bunny. Thirty-six percent of the subjects recalled meeting Bugs and some included specific sensory details such as shaking his hand and touching his fur.
One fact was forgotten--it is impossible to meet Bugs Bunny at Disneyland because Bugs is a Warner Bros. Character.
via New University
---off topic---
Money & David Hu.
From now on, when you see money, David Hu appears in your mind. The harder you try to forget, the more you'll think about Money & David Hu. It is stuck in your head now (like songs you can't get out of your head.)
Money & David Hu.
David Hu & Money.
...let me know if this bothered you...
April 18, 2004
Virtual Church Seeks Approval In Church Hierarchy
This is quite interesting.
[T]he preacher and members of the congregation will actually be real, connecting via the web to each other to take part in real services.The church, to be known as the Church of Fools, is being created for the Christian website Ship of Fools, which last year ran a virtual reality gameshow based on Noah's Ark.
Virtual worship & a congregation of online volunteers
Although an unofficial move, the virtual church may well receive approval in the church hierarchy. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, has called for the church to become more "mission-shaped" by adopting new forms of worship, which could include new ventures such as "cafe churches".
via BBC News.
Maybe we'll hear some phrases like this: "I didn't go to the church this sunday because the internet was down."
April 17, 2004
April 16, 2004
A Marathon of Random Lines
- Only in America......do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.
- Only in America......do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.
- Only in America......do banks leave both doors open and then chain the pens to the counters.
- Only in America......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put our useless junk in the garage.
- Only in America......do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in packages of eight.
- Only in America......do we use the word 'politics' to describe the process so well: 'Poli' in Latin meaning 'many' and 'tics' meaning 'bloodsucking creatures'.
- Only in America......do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.
EVER WONDER ...
- Why the sun lightens our hair, but darkens our skin?
- Why women can't put on mascara with their mouth closed?
- Why don't you ever see the headline "Psychic Wins Lottery"?
- Why is "abbreviated" such a long word?
- Why is it that doctors call what they do "practice"?
- Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?
- Why is the man who invests all your money called a broker?
- Why is the time of day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?
- Why isn't there mouse-flavored cat food?
- Why didn't Noah swat those two mosquitoes?
- Why do they sterilize the needle for lethal injections?
- You know that indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?!
- Why don't sheep shrink when it rains?
- Why are they called apartments when they are all stuck together?
- If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?
- If flying is so safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?
Oh no! Restrain me from posting spam!
I anticipate your snappy comments.
April 15, 2004
Dalai Lama Visiting UCI tomorrow!
Dalai Lama is visiting UC Irvine tomorrow. Free tickets were given to students earlier last month. Unfortunately, I didn't get one. By the way, people are selling those tickets on E-Bay each for up to $200!
For more information, click here.
UC Irvine ranked 14th for being the "most unwired college campus!"
According to Intel, UCI is ranked 14th for being the "most unwired college campus" in the nation.
If we only consider California, UCI is ranked #1!
The Top 20:
1. Indiana University - Bloomington (Bloomington, Ind.)
2. Purdue University (West Lafayette, Ind.)
3. The University of Texas at Austin (Austin, Texas)
4. Case Western Reserve University (Cleveland)
5. Dartmouth College (Hanover, N.H.)
6. Carnegie Mellon University (Pittsburgh)
7. University of Akron (Akron, Ohio)
8. Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, Mich.)
9. American University (Washington, D.C.)
10. St. John's University (New York)
11. Colorado College (Colorado Springs, Colo.)
12. Albertson College (Caldwell, Idaho)
13. CUNY - Queens College (New York)
14. University of California-Irvine (Irvine, Calif.)
15. University of Southern California (Los Angeles)
16. University of California-Riverside (Riverside, Calif.)
17. Tulane University (New Orleans)
18. University of Miami (Miami)
19. Boston College (Boston)
20. Iowa State University (Ames, Iowa)
For the complete list, see here.
Former eMachine Owner Rewards Employees $72.5 million USD
After selling eMachine to Dell, Orange Country Entrepreneur, John Hui, distributed half of his profit totalling $72.5 million to his employees as bonuses (equivalent to 30% of each worker's annual income). He, himself, kept only $57 million.
Source: NBC4 News (Online article here) or via Google News
Hmm... I wish I had worked for him... (I mean, this happened here in Irvine!)
Probably, he's the one who anonymously donated $20 million to School of ICS of UCI.
Off topic, but seems like someone donated $50,000 to UCI last month. View chart here (By the way, I created this site for UCI. It even recieved an award!)
Lindows renamed to Linspire (Offer Free Download for Limited Time)
Lindows, the Linux based Operating System (OS) company that was sued by Microsoft, has been forced to rename its product and company name from Lindows to Linspire.
"What better marketing to promote your new company name than to give away your products, completely free of charge?" as I.T. Vibe has pointed out.
To download a ligit copy of Linspire for free, go to its order page and apply the coupon: LINDOWS.
NOTE: Its retail price is $49.95 and "offer is good for the next couple of days."
Click to Enlarge. (entire gallery here and five-minute flash demo)
April 14, 2004
Amazon A9 Search Engine (Based on Google) Competes with Google
Check out A9, the search engine that Amazon has rolled out.
April 11, 2004
Car Designed for Women, by Women.
Take a look at these cars designed for women, by women. Reminds me of that episode of Simpsons when Homer designed a car for his brother's company. Hehe.
The YCC does include a few feminine touches. Small compartments in the ceiling were designed to store sunglasses and tissues, and the seat covers and floor mats come in a variety of colors and textures.
Click to Enlarge.
Refilling the window-washer fluid is done through an opening behind the driver side door, so there's no need to open the hood.
That shouldn't just be for ladies' cars, it should be for all cars.
Via Wired News.
April 10, 2004
April 09, 2004
Put A Bear In Your AIM Profile.
Copy and paste to following piece of code to display a bear in your profile when someone clicks on the link:
Pass on this creation.
What's special about this is that the image is composed of SPACES with colors. I've written a piece of code to convert any jpeg, png, gif, bmp, and etc image file into a HTML code. The html code, in AIM's profile browser, of many tiny character spaces of different color, will represent an image.
Oh well, you gotta be an old AIM user to appreciate this, because in the past, displaying a image in profile wasn't possible.
April 08, 2004
A More Challenging Flash-Based Maze
Challenge yourself with The Mystery of Time and Space. Be prepared.
April 03, 2004
More Money or No More D'oh!
The actors who do the voices for the Simpsons characters is ON STRIKE! Oh man, please don't replace them! If Homer's voice changes, I'd be able to pick it up, ... or will I?
Girl Abducts Herself!
Seiler told police that after taking her at knifepoint, her captor used duct tape, rope, cold medicine, a gun and a knife to keep her under his control.Although those items were found in the marsh where she was found, buttressing her account, police obtained videotape Thursday that showed Seiler entering a store in Madison and buying those items, he said.
Source from CNN.
Sorry for the "hundreds of police, relatives and community members" who searched for her.
Sad. Can't believe anyone would cry wolf like that... Too much...
April 02, 2004
Drink Soda = Obesity
The average 12-ounce (360 ml.) can of soda pop contains about 40 grams of refined sugars. That's 10 teaspoons of pure calories. Would you ever eat 10 teaspoons of sugar at once? ... Calories from liquids -- like soft drinks -- don't seem to register as food in the same way that solid candy, like jelly beans, do. That means consuming soft drinks with your meal instead of water or another calorie-free beverage could really make a difference to your weight and waistline. "Beverages are a huge contributor to obesity," researcher Richard Mattes, told CSPI's Nutrition Action Healthletter. "They're major players that often get overlooked."source
Being a big fan of soft drink, I must admit, it did put on weight on me. If I continue to drink this stuff, I'd be fat sooner or later...
Beware, better check with the death clock.
March 31, 2004
Blackouts Gone Wild (at Irvine)!
Irvine had at least 3 blackouts today. Why at least 3? That's because I re-logined to my computer 3 times today. The first time was in the morning, the 2nd when I got back from work and the last one happened just a few minutes ago. It's sad, blackouts are the only time when I don't hear my computer fan chirping.
March 28, 2004
Google made new UI public!
Google made new UI public! The user interface that Google has been secretly testing is finally made public! No more hacking with bookmarklets!
March 25, 2004
Magnetoids Yelp
Magnetoids found by Siqi.
Magnetoids are set to become the hottest new stress relieving gizmo/desktop plaything, and are so enthralling you'll forget your worries, your work and everything else in between. Try pulling the Magnetoids apart and holding them on your desk with the tips touching. Then let go. What happens next is truly mesmerising and the first time you witness it you may emit a somewhat amazed yelp.
Early x'mas present?
March 24, 2004
Find Your Way Out: Takagism.
Here's a game for you to solve. Your objective: find your way out of the room.
Note: This game is solvable and isn't a joke. Check it out. Thanks to Patrick for showing me this game.
March 23, 2004
March 22, 2004
Oh My! It's William Hung!
Wow! William Hung's first album, "Inspiration", has finally arrived! Check out the track samples!
Full Track Listing
- William Hung Words of Gratitude
- She Bangs
Real Media - [Hi/Lo] Windows Media - [Hi/Lo]
- Bailamos
Real Media - [Hi/Lo] Windows Media - [Hi/Lo]
- William Hung's Inspirational Thoughts (Passion)
- I Believe I Can Fly
Real Media - [Hi/Lo] Windows Media - [Hi/Lo]
- Hotel California
- Can You Feel The Love Tonight
- Two Worlds
- William Hung's Inspirational Thoughts (Perseverance)
- Rocket Man
- Free
- Circles Of Life
- William Hung Inspirational Thought (Be Yourself)
- Y.M.C.A Featuring The Gonnabees
- Shake Your Bon-Bon
Real Media - [Hi/Lo] Windows Media - [Hi/Lo]
via williamhung.net
Hackers Hit Jackpot!
Ralph Gray, 18, and a friend, hacked into 9 e-commerce sites and stole credit card information related to 26,000 people in the United States, Canada, Thailand, Japan, and Britain.
Among those credit card numbers was Bill Gates'. However, the guy and his pay got busted by government authorities...
Hmm... I wonder what did he buy?
March 21, 2004
"Psychoacoustics of a Chilling Sound."
Nails on a chalkboard and squeaking of styrofoam are said to be universally irritating. For me, I'm only affected by the former. However, there's another thing that annoys the hell out of me, and that is CORN STARCH. Whenever I try to scoop a spoonful of corn starch, even though I can't hear it, I can FEEL it. It annoys me the same way how nail on chalkboard does. I suspect the friction between each fine corn starch particles generates the same annoying nail-scratching-board sound but at a higher frequency (like the different octaves of sound).
I suggest people should study more into this subject. If people are annoyed by a unique frequency, the military can possibly be able to create a weapon out of this. In this case, the weapon holder may use it to generate piercing sounds without annoying themselves.
A team of researcher has done a research on this and titled it "Psychoacoustics of a Chilling Sound." Here's a summary:
It appears that the sound (and certain other sounds at the same frequency) plays havoc with a middle ear muscle known as the stapedius. Normally, this muscle contracts just before we speak or chew, and helps to protect the inner ear. If something disrupts its function, the piercing sound goes right through to the sensitive eardrum.
Anyways, if you TOO feel the same way about CORN STARCH, please LET ME KNOW!
March 14, 2004
Google News - MISLEADING SOMETIMES
... if you get what I mean.
March 05, 2004
Don't Steal My Ideas!
Wired News has a story about how prominent bloggers steal ideas from less prominent ones. By steal, I mean, duplicating the idea without attributions. Due to this, a new ranking system, iRank, has been devised to measure not the popularity of a site but "how good they are at injecting ideas into the mainstream." In addition, the team that conducted this research have also provided their research online in the form of a java program called Blog Epidemic Analyzer which shows the linkings between blogs visually and interactively.
February 27, 2004
"The Luxury of Ignorance"
There are reasons why Linux is not yet widely adopted. One, or should I say the most important, reason is because of it's poorly designed GUI (graphical user interface, i.e. the layout of the textboxes, buttons, etc on your screen). Here's an essay that describes this issue.