Sunday, December 30, 2007

About Santorini Greece

Santorini is a small, circular archipelago of volcanic islands located in the southern Aegean Sea, about 200 km south-east from Greece's mainland. It is also known as Thera forming the southernmost member of the Cyclades group of islands, with an area of approximately 73 km (28 mi) and a 2001 census population of 13,670. It is comprised of the Municipality of Thíra (pop. 12,440) and the Community of Oía (Οία, pop. 1,230, which includes 268 inhabitants resident on the offshore island of Therasia, lying to the west). They have a total land area of 90.623 km, which also includes the uninhabited islands of Nea Kameni, Palaia Kameni, Aspronisi, and Christiani (all part of the Municipality of Thira).

Santorini is essentially what remains of an enormous volcanic explosion, destroying the earliest settlements on what was formerly a single island, and leading to the creation of the current geological caldera. Its spectacular physical beauty, along with a dynamic nightlife, have made the island one of Europe's tourist hotspots.

Watch videos of Santorini Greece and see why travelers call it one of the most spectacular islands in the world.

Saturday, December 29, 2007

Xtrememac Portable Battery Pack for iPods

The MicroPack delivers power to your iPod no matter where you are. In a low-profile package, the MicroPack's battery offers up to 80 hours of audio playback. You can use the dock to power, recharge and sync your iPod or even as a stand for watching video. MicroPack sports two independent headphone jacks, each with its own volume control. Enjoy music or video on an airplane or train. XtremeMac added the latest technology in smaller, lighter and recharges Lithium-Ion batteries. Syncs and charges iPod with Apple USB or FireWire cable.

It's almost hard to believe how much is jammed into such a low-profile package. MicroPack's battery offers up to 80 hours of audio playback (varies by iPod model and settings). You can use the dock to power, recharge, and sync your iPod and as a stand for watching video. Willing to share some of that power? MicroPack sports two independent headphone jacks--each with its own volume control. Perfect for enjoying music or video on an airplane or train. We matched the brawn with brains in MicroPack's Lithium battery. This latest technology is smaller, lighter, and recharges more times than older Lithium-Ion batteries.

Find the Xtrememac Portable Battery Pack for iPods

Royal Rumble Tickets Go On Sale

- Tickets for the WWE Royal Rumble on 1/27/08 at Madison Square Garden go on sale tomorrow morning at 10AM. Ticket prices are $400, $90, $75, $50, and $35.

- Also added to the RAW taping tomorrow night is Randy Orton & JBL vs. Jeff Hardy & Chris Jericho. Ric Flair vs. Triple H with Flair's career on the line is also set for the show. The show will air on 12/31.

- Smackdown tonight will be a "Best of 2007" show.

Source: 411info

> Find tickets for the Royal Rumble

Friday, December 28, 2007

Deal Alert: Franklin Merriam Webster Dictionary with MP3 Player

Franklin Merriam Webster Dictionary with MP3 Player

Designed to help you communicate effectively, it combines high-quality language reference with state-of-the-art search technology, providing instant access to over 200,000 words and 500,000 synonyms. over 274,000 words with spelling and definitions. Enjoy instant access to 274,000 definitions with the Merriam-Webster Dictionary & MP3 Player. The right words are easy to find with Franklin's patented phonetic spell correction feature, and the right tunes are at your fingertips with the included MP3 player. Listen to music, audio books or podcasts and enjoy learning.

Ecost has the Franklin Merriam Webster Dictionary with MP3 Player for 28.99 as of today.

More features include:

  • Over 274,000 word dictionary with complete definitions and phonetic spell correction
  • Built-in audio player compatible with MP3/WMA files
  • SD™/MMC™ slot for memory expansion (card not included)
  • Interactive word learning exercises and games
  • Includes batteries

New Years Eve Recipe

After gorging yourself at Christmas, Alan Brown suggests light courses, festive cocktails, and fruit desserts to see the new year in.

In his recipe the smoky flavour of the prawns is softened by a cauliflower topping. For more flavour, puree roasted capsicum and smoked paprika into a mayonnaise as a topping.

"It's a tasty, light dish which can be prepared in advance," Brown says. "The prawns can easily be replaced by salmon or scallops."

Make a smoker with a roasting pan, cake rack and a lid. Add cinnamon and lemon zest to the woodchips and smoke for about five minutes.

To wash it down Brown recommends a Sauvignon Semillion or a Pinot Gris. Alternatively you could have a classical cocktail, the Kier Royale, by adding cassis (blackcurrant) to champagne.

For dessert, summer berries add colour and a healthy option to your meal.

"You're probably still full from Christmas so serve plated fruit, sliced or marinated, with sorbet or parfait. And don't serve anything hot."

INGREDIENTS

* Handful of prawns

* 4 cups water

* 1/2 cup sugar

* 1/2 cup sea salt

* 1 potato, grated

* 1 kumara

* 1 egg

* 1 onion, finely chopped

* 1 tbsp coriander, chopped

* 1 tbsp flour

* Salt and pepper

1 Make a brine for the prawns by boiling the water, sugar, and sea salt. If you want, add flavouring - cloves, peppercorns, dried chilli, or allspice berries. simmer for 10 minutes.

2 Soak prawns in the brine for 20 minutes.

3 Remove and wash under cold water. Dry.

4 Smoke prawns with wood chip until cooked through.

5 To make the lalkes mix the potato, kumara, egg, onion, coriander, flour, and seasoning.

6 Make spoonful-sized fritters in hot oil, turning once, until cooked. Drain.

7 Blanch half a cauliflower in boiling water. Sweat in butter until tender.

8 Add a little milk and cream, before pureeing in a food processor.

Source: NZHerald

Warner Now On Amazon MP3

You'll be hard pressed to find anyone outside of the Music Industry who thinks that DRM is a good thing, and today it looks like more people in the Music Industry are seeing the error of their ways. Warner Music Group has announced that starting today people can buy their entire digital catalog via Amazon MP3 (see our review of Amazon's digital music store front here). The unique thing about Amazon MP3 is, as you might have guessed , they only sell music in the MP3 format sans DRM. That's right, all those lovely Warner Music Group tracks are yours to have without DRM and, generally, for less than what you'll pay in the iTunes Store (Amazon MP3 has a sliding scale of prices but most tracks cost $.89 or $.99).

Some might say, 'Why should I care about this? I'm on a Mac!' The beauty of this is that these MP3 files will play on your Mac, your iPod, your iPhone, and even that Zune you got in a box of cereal. No DRM means more flexibility in how you can consume your media, and we all like that.

Source: tuaw

Thursday, December 27, 2007

H20 Audio Protects iPod

You can now protect your iPod from weather, rain, water, sporting activities... you name it, with the H20 Audio iPod enclosures. Apparently, they are the only ones that can withstand the constant pummeling of action sports and gives you complete control of your iPod playlist underwater. Now that's a feat.

Features of this enclosure include:

  • Submersible up to 10ft/3m (when paired with SV Waterproof Headphones)
  • Commander Scroll Wheel (allows function of the iPod Click Wheel underwater or while wearing gloves)
  • Sport Armband Included
  • Waterproof headphones included with silicone earplugs

Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Learn How To Play Guitar - Review

If you are learning the guitar as a beginner, as a slightly more advanced player or as someone coming back to playing the guitar, you can appreciate how frustrating it is learning the skills and techniques without seeing any noticeable results. The time and effort that many put into exercises don’t seem to be reflected in their standard of playing. There also seems to be a frustration in the lack of quality information on the market.

Ben Edwards and the team at Jamorama have bucked the trend with the latest version of Jamorama. They had considerable success with their first release of Jamorama, and given the positive feedback from the success of this package, the team decided to develop the product further. They have come up with a new package that is unrivalled in terms of quality and its comprehensive nature. This package truly does enable guitar students to accelerate their learning, and includes an impressive array of features.

In addition to the quality information in the glossy two book series, the team at Jamorama has spent 1,000s of hours developing 148 video examples and exercises so the student can hear and see exactly what they should be doing. The Jamorama team have also included two exa exclusive educational computer games to develop your skills in reading and training your ear to transcribe music. They also included the pro version of Jayde Musica and GuitEarIt! as free bonuses that give the student the ability to train their ear to recognize notes and transcribe songs from the radio. Both of these programs are very well made and presented, and most of all are easy and fun to play.

Add to this package the two additional free bonus ebooks "Advanced Learning Techniques for Guitar”.and “How to tune your guitar”. Advanced Techniques introduces the idea of mental visualization, which is a powerful tool in speeding up your rate of learning. Mental visualization uses the same pathways inside your brain other than the fact you are not performing the activity physically. The second bonus book, “How to tune your guitar” solves the problem with tuning guitars, and introduces the reader to the most effective way of tuning a guitar.

If that weren't already enough the Jamorama Metronone also comes with the package at no additional cost.

With all of the information in this package there really is no excuse to delay learning to play your guitar. The Jamorama team has given the reader four high quality books, two fun educational games and access the Jamorama forum with all the resources you need to play like a professional in no time.

This package is by far the most complete and fresh approach to guitar playing that I have seen in a long time. I highly recommend this product because I do believe it will deliver results and have you playing popular songs like a professional using the most effective techniques. There is something here for every guitar player, regardless of ability. And at the current cost, it really is worth every dollar spent!

Click here to find out more…and accelerate your guitar playing today!

Learn How To Play Guitar

Looking To Start Your Apple iPod with iTunes?

If you just received an Apple iPod and don't have the latest iTunes software, you can download it by visiting:

http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/

If you're looking for: "apple.com/ipod/start" just click on the link above, the link goes to the same location to allow you to download the latest version of iTunes (7.5 as of this writing) to get your iPod started.

> Search for iTunes Cards and Accessories

> Search for Apple iPod Accessories

How To Update Your Zune Software at www.Zune.net/setup

If you received a Zune for Christmas and when installing it receive an error message like:

"To start, visit www.zune.net/setup"

"To start, update the Zune software on your PC at www.zune.net/setup"

Then you'll need to update your Zune software to the latest version.

You can update the Zune software that is installed on the computer. To update the Zune software, do one of the following:

• In the Zune software, click Settings, click GENERAL, and then click CHECK FOR UPDATES.
• Visit the following Zune Web site to download and then install the current version of the Zune software:

http://www.zune.net/setup

> Search for Zune Accessories

Monday, December 24, 2007

New Wireless iTunes Link on the JVC RX D301S 770 Watt Receiver

The JVC RXD301S adds JVC's new wireless USB-PC link so users of the iTunes® Music Store and other online music stores can play their files back through their component audio system using the RXD301S. It also offers a power output of 110W x 7 and a dual-mode CC converter. For analog audio, there are four inputs and two outputs, while audio digital inputs include two assignable optical inputs, one optical output and an assignable coaxial input. The video side features S-Video (three inputs, three outputs), composite (three inputs, three outputs), and component (two inputs, one output).

Connect the Home Theater Receiver to your TV and treat yourself to a world of perfect sound. Listen to Dolby Surround Sound while viewing your favorite TV shows and movies -- the reciever delivers 110 watts of multichannel DVD sound. Center channel alignment and Virtual Surround Back offers fantastic sound that reaches every corner of the room filling it with rich, dynamic audio. It also features a close-captioning system, multiple analog & digital connections and other options that allow it to fit anywhere in your home entertainment system. Also available in black. All CH stereo Video up-conversion from Composite to Component/S-Video Virtual Surround Back 3D Phonic Surround Sound Hybrid Feedback digital amplifier AV COMPU LINK for one-touch playback DAP for 2-channel & multichannel digital sources DSP digital equalizer Multibrand A/V remote control Digital Connections - 2 optical in, 1 optical out, 1 coax in (assignable) Analog Connections - 4 in, 2 out Video Connections - Component(2 in, 1 out), S-Video(3 in, 3 out), Composite(3 in, 3 out) Color - Silver.

Features:

  • Stereo: 110 watts per channel, 6 ohms, from 20Hz to 20kHz, with 0.8% THD
  • Surround: (Front) 110 watts per channel, 6 ohms at 1kHz, with 0.8% THD; (Center) 110 watts, 6 ohms at 1kHz, with 0.8% THD; (Surround) 110 watts per channel, 6 ohms at 1kHz, with 0.8% THD; (Surround Back) 110 watts per channel, 6 ohms at 1kHz, with 0.8% THD
  • Dolby Digital EX/Dolby Digital/Dolby Pro Logic IIx/Dolby Pro Logic II
  • DTS/DTS-ES/DTS NEO:6/DTS 96/24
  • DVD Multi-Channel Audio Compatible
  • Hybrid Feedback Digital Amplifier Ver. III
  • Wireless Connection with PC — The receiver is equipped with a USB terminal on the front panel and a USB Wireless Antenna terminal on the rear. By connecting a USB wireless antenna (supplied) to the USB Wireless Antenna terminal and a USB wireless transmitter (supplied) to your PC - you can enjoy playback of music files from PC. (USB Wireless)
  • CC Converter (2 Modes, Front Channels) — offers two modes for improving the sound quality of compressed audio and non-compressed sources, respectively
  • USB Input for receiving audio signals from PC
  • Center-Channel Alignment
  • Virtual Surround Back for creating even wider sound field without a surround back speaker
  • 3D-PHONIC
  • DAP for Multi-Channel Digital Sources: THEATER 1/THEATER 2/HALL 1/HALL 2/DANCE CLUB/LIVE CLUB/PAVILION
  • DAP for 2-Channel Sources: MONO FILM/THEATER 1/THEATER 2/HALL 1/HALL 2/DANCE CLUB/LIVE CLUB/PAVILION/ALL CH STEREO
  • 3D Headphone
  • 192kHz/24-bit P.E.M. D.D. Converter (Front Channels)
  • Video Up-Conversion (Composite to S-Video/Composite to Component)
  • Quick Speaker Setup
  • One-Touch Operation
  • DSP Digital Equalizer
  • AV COMPU LINK
  • Multi-Brand A/V-STB (CATV/DBS) Glow Remote Control

Inputs/Outputs:

  • Audio: Analog – 4 Inputs and 2 Outputs, Digital – 2 Optical Inputs, 1 Optical Output and 1 Coaxial Input
    (Assignable)
  • Video: Component – 2 Inputs and 1 Output, S-Video – 3 Inputs and 3 Outputs, Composite – 3 Inputs and 3 Outputs
  • USB Input
  • Pre-out: Subwoofer – 1 Output
  • Speaker Terminals: Front L/R (Banana Plug), Center (Banana Plug), Surround L/R, and Surround Back x 2
The JVC RX D301S is $168 at Amazon and as low as $137 at eBay as of today. Enjoy!

Sunday, December 23, 2007

Can Eharmony.com Help?

That's the question may of us singles have, can a dating site like eHarmony.com help find the man or women of our dreams?

Well, personally I believe it can. Why?

First, the number of available singles that may fit the criteria you have is much higher online than those you'll meet in your area. Let's face it, how many people can you meet in person during your normal daily routine? Even if you went out socially every day (which is probably not the case) you still wouldn't meet more than a handful.

And the key here is singles that you know already meet your criteria of what you're looking for. Using an online dating service like eHarmony.com will allow you to pre-screen those you'd like to meet and perhaps get to know better. You can't do this in person on the scale you can online.

And especially with eHarmony.com, they do a good job of only accepting singles into their service that meet their standards, which compared to most every other online dating site is a huge advantage to using their service.

DatingSiteGuide.com
helped me by providing a guide to popular online dating services, and allowed me to try out the services that made the most sense for my situation.

For me, I prefer online dating.

Good luck on your search!

Yule Log Video

Why have a real fire when you can watch one on your computer?

You can avoid the pollution and enjoy the warmth from your screen. Oh, the fun we can have!

Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

Reflexology Can Produce Change

Reflexology is the physical act of applying pressure to the feet and hand with specific thumb, finger and hand techniques without the use of oil or lotion. it is based on a system of zones and reflex areas that reflect an image of the body on the feet and hands with a premise that such work effects a physical change to the body.

There are many theories but in our approach we look at the nervous system as the explanation of reflexology's working.

Pressure sensors in the feet and hands are a part of the body's reflexive response that makes possible the "fight or flight" reaction to danger. Feet ready to flee and hands ready to fight communicate with the body's internal organs to make possible wither eventuality. The sudden adrenal surge that enables a person to lift a car is an example of this reaction. Reflexology taps into this reflex network, providing an exercise of pressure sensors and thus the internal organs to which they are inextricably tied.

Around the world and throughout history reflexology has been rediscovered and reinstated as a health practice time and time again by peoples around the globe seeking to deal with health concerns. Archeological evidence Egypt (2330 BCE), China (2704 BCE) and Japan (690 CE) points to ancient reflexology medical systems. In the West the concept of reflexology began to emerge in the 19th century, based on research into the nervous system and reflex. While no direct evidence of direct cross-fertilization from ancient times has been discovered, the practice of foot and hand work in a variety of cultures, belief systems and historical periods speaks to reflexology for health as a universal bridging concept.

Source: reflexology-research

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Vermont Wooden Toys Popular Due To Toxic Concerns

Mr. Voake, the owner of Vermont Wooden Toys, has been deluged with orders from customers leery of buying toys made in China after millions of toys manufactured there were recalled this year because they have lead paint.

“Every time there was a story about a toy recall, I got flooded with orders,” Mr. Voake said. “This year stacks up as preposterous. I’ve never had a year like this, and I hope I don’t have another one.”

Makers of wooden toys say they can barely keep up with demand and are hiring extra employees.

“A lot of people are just generally concerned with the whole lead paint issue, the recall issue, the safety issue, all of that,” said Mike Rainville, the owner of Maple Landmark Woodcraft in Middlebury, Vt. “We’re used to a Christmas rush, but not for three months and not to the level that it’s been. We’re all tired.”

Mr. Rainville said that he and his holiday staff of 45 were working 16-hour days, and that toy orders were up about 60 percent this quarter.

Mr. Voake said he had made more toys this season than at any other time in his 34 years in the industry. Some holiday orders will not be ready until March.

“There’s so much — too much — business,” he said. “I can only make so many things.”

Mr. Voake, 61, who works alone in a basement shop with a springer spaniel named Snifflefarg, never thought there would be such a clamor for his products, which include arks, doll carriages, blocks, trains and other toys made from hard maple.

All his wood is bought from dealers in Massachusetts and Maine, and he finishes his products with linseed oil and a nontoxic stain.

Mr. Voake started woodworking in the early 1970s, when he and his wife were teachers in Southern California. He had little experience — he took wood shop in junior high school, but had to wear a mask because he was allergic to sawdust.

He started making toys for his wife’s classroom anyway. When the couple moved east in 1973, Mr. Voake’s wife took a teaching job, and he decided to make toys full time.

“I wanted to see if I could get away with doing it because I liked doing it,” Mr. Voake said. “Vermont was the right place. There was a hangover from the ’60s, a lot of the back-to-the-earth stuff.”

Mr. Voake said the crisp air here also cured his sawdust allergy, and he no longer wears a mask.

He first sold his wares at the Vermont State Craft Center, and branched out to phone and Internet orders. He taught himself how to make more complicated pieces by experimenting and adding details. He also had three sounding boards — his daughters, who are now in their 20s, and were never shy about telling Mr. Voake which toys worked and which did not.

Business has not always been great, and there have been a few bumps — like when Mr. Voake sliced off the top part of his right middle finger with a saw.

Source: NYTimes

Vermont Wooden Toys offers 125 varieties of fine wooden toys. They feature wooden toy trucks, wooden toy trains, rocking horses, wooden building blocks, riding toys, wooden toy boats & airplanes, wooden pull toys, doll furniture, doll cradles & doll carriages, wooden Noah's arks, unit block sets, and much more.

The wooden toys are constructed of the finest quality Vermont hard rock maple accented with occasional contrasting tones of Pennsylvania cherry, birch, oak, and mahogany. They are finished with our own special nontoxic blend of hard-drying stains and sealers which protect and enhance the natural beauty of the woodgrain. Our toys are displayed both in toy shops and in galleries, and recommended by respected books and periodicals which site our creations' furniture-quality craftsmanship and durability within the playspace. Our toys have been acclaimed both in museum exhibitions and art festivals for their originality and integrity of design. Many of our toys are designed to be ridden and all are created to endure the rugged play of several generations of children.

Related Post: Are Your Child’s Toys Safe? HealthyToys.org Report High Toxic Levels

Lake Las Vegas Resort Announces New Development

Lake Las Vegas Resort Announces Plans for Hilton Hotels Corporation to Develop 200-Unit Hilton Grand Vacations Timeshare Resort and 50-Unit Waldorf Astoria Fractional Project

Lake Las Vegas Resort announces that Hilton Hotels Corporation through its timeshare division Hilton Grand Vacations Company, LLC, will build a spectacular resort featuring 200 Hilton timeshare units and a 50-unit luxury fractional Waldorf=Astoria component within the Lake Las Vegas Resort in Henderson, Nevada.

The Lake Las Vegas Resort project will be developed on a 17.5 acre lakefront parcel overlooking the 17th hole and the 18th tee of the Jack Nicklaus designed Reflection Bay Golf Course. Development of the project is currently in the design phase, with groundbreaking targeted for early 2008 and an opening date projected for fall of 2009.

About Lake Lake Vegas Resort

Sculpted from the rugged desert terrain of Southern Nevada, Lake Las Vegas Resort lies nestled within the desert mountainside just 17 miles from the world renowned Las Vegas Strip. Boasting world class hotels and spas, championship go
lf, and spectacular residential communities from amongst the finest builders in the nation, Lake Las Vegas Resort offers both guests and residents alike an unmatched experience centered around the 320 - acre privately-owned lake.

Reminiscent of the towns in northern Italy, Lake Las Vegas Resort is tucked into the desert’s mountainside just 17 miles from the famed Las Vegas Strip. Descending from the mountains to the serene water’s edge, Lake Las Vegas Resort is a spectacular residential and resort oasis offering both guests and residents alike an unparalleled experience centered around the 320-acre private lake.

The 3,592-acre premier, Tuscan-inspired destination highlights world-class resort hotels, including the AAA Five Diamond rated The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas, Loews Lake Las Vegas Resort, and the charming MonteLago Village Resort.

Among Lake Las Vegas Resort’s wealth of amenities are a collection of three challenging signature golf courses, pampering spas, gourmet restaurants, elegant casinos, a convenient helipad, a full service marina with watercraft rentals and yacht cruises, luxury residential offerings, and MonteLago Village, a bustling enclave of shopping and dining.

Read more at LakeLasVegas.com

Source: Huliq

In Good Company Soundtrack

The soundtrack In Good Company and the movie are very good. I really liked the song Glass, Concrete, and Stone by David Byrne. This is a song about the routine of daily life. It is also about how hard everybody works to earn a living. The track Besame Mucho by Diana Krall is another highlight for me. Her rendition of this classic song is very soothing and sensual. Naked as We Came by Iron and Wine is a very pretty song about we all feel insecure at some point in our lives.

Peter Gabriel's hit song Solsbury Hill is included on this soundtrack. I think this song is very uplifting and optimistic. I haven't heard it in years, and I really enjoyed it. Steely Dan's classic Reeling in the Years is just a feel good song. Composer Stephen Trask contributes three wonderful instrumental tracks that enhance the movie well I'm Psyched is a beautiful lively instrumental piece about working together to get the job done. This is one of my favorite tracks on this soundtrack. In Good Company is an excellent soundtrack. I highly recommend it.

Source: Amazon

Friday, December 21, 2007

After Christmas Sales Start Early

It seems holiday shopping season starts earlier every year and today marks the beginning of the after Christmas sales. Funny though, it's only December 21st!

SharperImage looks to be the first to have their Yellow Tag Event, which starts today, offering up to 70% off.

Find more SharperImage coupons and sales at SecretCoupons along with savings for all your online shopping.

Sharper Image Yellow Tag Event
Online Coupons - SecretCoupons.com

Samsung LN-T5281F LCD HDTV

The LN-T5281F ($4,499) not only uses LED backlighting, it also employs an innovative new technique aimed at improving blacks and contrast called "local dimming," which dims the LEDs that light the screen in localized areas. Samsung is so high on this technique it claims an attention-grabbing 500,000:1 contrast ratio. So, let's see if it delivers!

The Samsung's shiny black bezel is framed on the left and right sides by a thin gray "wing" that's spaced a fraction by of an inch from the frame itself. The set's controls, located on the right wing, are mounted flush and are nearly invisible from just a few feet away.

The other function of the gap between the frame and bezel appears to be sound. The upper midrange and high frequencies come from midway up in this space at the left and right, presumably from small drivers mounted inside the frame, and the audio is given greater weight by two larger speakers mounted on the back of the set.

Only those two speakers, bolt anchors for wall mounting, and the input panel and power connector interrupt the smooth black of the Samsung. Another, supplementary input panel is located on the left side of the set. If you use a tabletop setup rather than a wall mount, the set comes pre-attached to a stand that swivels a specified 20 degrees in either direction (I measured closer to 30 degrees).

As with other new Samsung flat panel sets, the LN-T5281F has a highly reflective screen. It's more like that of plasma glass than the diffusive screens found in most LCD televisions. Many LCD computer monitors now use shiny screens to provide a punchier, brighter image, and that might be the intent here. But you'll need to position the set carefully relative to the viewing position to avoid distracting reflections.

New Features
The only increasingly common feature it does not include is 120Hz operation. Most of the Samsung's main features and operating characteristics, including inputs, picture modes, video controls, aspect ratios, remote, and more, are identical to those of Samsung's LN-T5265F, which I reviewed recently. Rather than plow over that ground again, I'll refer you to the discussion of the features and controls in that review. My preferences—the features I used and the ones I chose not to—were essentially the same here. This included the use of a modified Movie mode for nearly all of my viewing and measurements.

But there are some important additions to the LN-T5281F. The biggest, gee-whiz new feature is LED SmartLighting. This uses LEDs for backlighting rather than the fluorescents most common in LCD sets. Samsung's LED implementation goes even further with the local dimming technique referred to in the opening. The LEDs are positioned behind the panel in a number of clusters that can be illuminated independently depending on the amount of light required in each area of the picture.

Read More

Source: GuideToHomeTheatre

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Yale Book of Quotations Names Official Catch Phrase of 2007

It's a phrase that's been played over and over again across the nation. Now a line yelled by a Florida student can be used in every day life.

"Don't Tase Me Bro" has been named the official catch phrase of 2007 according to the Yale Book of Quotations.

It's so popular, people are now trying to use the phrase more often.

Its new definition: a retort to intimidation or pressure. So if someone says "Hey, this is a disabled parking spot! You're not disabled," you can say "Don't tase me bro."

Source: KGMB9

The First Match, Poinsettia Bowl

Poinsettia Bowl
[tickets]
Utah (8-4) vs. Navy (8-4)

The first bowl game will be everything for the future for Navy. Will it be able to move on and be a yearly bowl participant without head coach Paul Johnson, or will the program go back to being, well, Navy?

This is the fifth straight bowl game in the most impressive and productive run in the program's long and storied history, but with Johnson off to coach Georgia Tech, it'll be up to Ken Niumatalolo to take over and keep the train rolling. There won't be any major changes, Navy will still run the option as effective as ever, but will Niumatalolo be able to bring the same sort of magic that Johnson did, or will Utah continue to be one of the nation's best bowl teams?

Utah has won six straight postseason games and one in each of the last four seasons, and it turned around its 2007 and got here with an even hotter run. Banged up, bruised and with the season going nowhere, the Utes were 1-3 in late September after hitting rock-bottom with a 27-0 loss to UNLV. As the year went on, the team got better and better, beating Colorado State, Wyoming and New Mexico by a combined score of 105-13 over a three-game span before losing a heart-wrenching 17-10 battle against BYU on a painful final Cougar drive.

By not making mistakes on offense, tightening up the defense and getting tremendous pressure from the front seven, Utah turned into the team many expected it to be at the beginning of the year. While the early losses to Air Force and UNLV killed any shot of a Mountain West title, the Utes played harder and harder with each game and now look to bring the same intensity and precision to San Diego for their first meeting with the Midshipmen.

Navy came up with yet another improbable, bizarre season with a 59-52 loss to Delaware the week before breaking the 43-game losing streak to Notre Dame. It survived a 74-62 shootout with North Texas and outlasted Pitt in two overtimes, but lost to Ball State in overtime and needed everything in the bag to get by Duke.

Phenomenal in some areas and flat-out awful in others, Navy is a team that's great at what it's good it. The defense was among the worst in the country, but the running game led the nation. The passing attack was 119 out of 119, but the offense averaged 39.92 points per game. The punting game is abysmal, but the overall return game might be the best in college football. Can the ground game be enough to overcome all the deficiencies against a hot Ute team? That'll be the big test for Niumatalolo.

Navy should be able to get its 300-350 rushing yards, but if Utah's offense is picking apart the Midshipmen secondary, the passing game isn't there to make a comeback. Utah already played an option team in Air Force, which Navy beat 31-20, and gave up 334 yards, but that seems like several years ago. Niumatalolo has to get his offense, and it's now his offense, rolling well enough to keep Utah off the field.

It should be this simple: If Utah QB Brian Johnson is on, this could be a long, long opening game of the bowl season. If he makes a few mistakes, and Navy takes advantage of every break, this could be an extremely entertaining 60-minute battle. If nothing else, this will be the best Poinsettia Bowl ever. Of course, that's not saying much with only two played so far with TCU crushing Northern Illinois 37-7 last year and Navy running by Colorado State 51-30 two years ago.

Read more at Fox Sports

> Find Poinsettia Bowl Tickets

Flexible and Low Cost Soyo Freestyler 500 Bluetooth Headset

The FreeStyler 500 is a simple, straightforward Bluetooth headset with excellent sound quality. With its sleek sliver and gray finish, this Soyo FreeStyler Bluetooth Headset has a particularly attractive design and a comfortable fit yet the ear loop can be easily removed. The headset is so light, that you will almost forget that you are wearing it. The headset can be connected to your mobile phone and PDA. It is the perfect compliment to your mobile phone. Also allows "wireless" VoIP phone calls (like Skype) through Bluetooth enabled computers and PDAs.

Amazon has the Soyo Freestyler 500 Bluetooth Headset on sale for $19 now.

> Find the Soyo Freestyler 500 Bluetooth Headset

> Search for the Soyo Freestyle 500 Bluetooth Headset at eBay as low as $1.99

Ultra Zoom Fujifilm Finepix S700

The FujiFilm FinePix S700 ($249) is Fuji's new entry-level ultra zoom camera. It replaces the FinePix S5200, and sits below the S6000fd, which was introduced last summer. The S700 lacks the SuperCCD sensor, face detection, and SLR-styling of the S6000fd, but it still has a plethora of features, including a 7 Megapixel CCD, 10X zoom lens, full manual controls, VGA movie mode, and more. It's also one of the first Fuji cameras to have a memory card slot that accepts the xD and SD formats.

What's in the Box?

The FinePix S700 has an average bundle. Inside the box, you'll find:

* The 7.1 effective Megapixel FinePix S700 digital camera
* Four alkaline AA batteries
* Lens cap w/retaining strap
* Neck strap
* USB cable
* A/V cable
* CD-ROM featuring FinePix CX software
* 178 page camera manual (printed)

Like so many cameras these days, Fuji built memory into the S700 instead of bundling a memory card. The S700 has 27MB of built-in memory, which holds just seven photos at the highest quality setting. That means that you'll want to buy a memory card right away. As I said in the introduction, the S700 supports both SD and xD memory cards, which is a big win for the consumer. As far as I can tell, the new high capacity SDHC cards are not supported. If you are going to buy an xD card, make sure it's a "Type H" high speed model -- it makes a big difference. I recommend picking up a high speed 1GB card to use with the FinePix S700.

Read more at DCResource

I've owned other Fujifilm digital cameras and my personal experience has been very good. The cameras are well made, have extensive features and the photos turn out well. I wouldn't hesitate recommending FujiFilm. You can often find the FinePix S700 under $200 online.

Find the FujiFilm Finepix S700

Wednesday, December 19, 2007

Samsung F700 Release Date

I have sad news to report to all the touchscreen device fans. In case you’ve wanted to grab the U.S. version of the Samsung F700 this Christmas, you’ll have to wait a little longer. And while we don’t have an exact release date, the fact that today is December 18 and that the Samsung U940 just recently passed the FCC don’t exactly tell us you’ll be able to play with one under the Christmas tree. Then again, if you still haven’t spent money from your “gadget fund” maybe it’s time to relax and take it easy…

Source: IntoMobile

Update: A quick search led me to a bunch of Samsung F700 units available now.

LightGlove, Gaming, Control Your Devices Without A Remote



Imagine sitting on your sofa and turning on the TV without a remote. Next you open the onscreen menu to select either checking email, watching the news or playing a DVD.

Using a small wireless device worn on the underside of your wrist, you merely extend your finger into a beam of light to push a "light button" to control your electronics.

This versatile new platform is how we will interact with our electronics in the technology convergence. This wireless intuitive device allows operation from
the comfort of your ideal location and hand position.

Because your whole body will be comfortable, it will reduce the risks of Carpal Tunnel. In addition, it can assist those with limited access and provide a sterile interface for medical professionals and staff.

With Bluetooth 2.0 technology, your computer and Lightglove on your wrist like a watch, your experience becomes virtual. Nothing in your hand and buttons made of light. Way cool.

Combine your gaming, remote control & mouse functions into one elegant and cool device.

Souce: LightGlove.com

Shallow Hal Soundtrack

Love or hate the Farrelly brothers' excessive comedies, you've got to admire their taste in music. Most notably that means their placement of Jonathan Richman at the center of There's Something About Mary, but don't forget the best of Me, Myself & Irene's Steely Dan covers. Shallow Hal, their smartly conceived romance starring Jack Black and a fat-suited Gwyneth Paltrow, scores with a soundtrack album conceptually driven by strong-willed, full-hearted women's song--Shelby Lynne's "Wall in Your Heart," PJ Harvey's "Good Fortune," Rosie's "Afterlife." Not everything here is as worthy; Sheryl Crow's stab at '80s nostalgia, "Members Only," is a weak joke, while Darius Rucker (Hootie and the Blowfish) is unlikely to start a '90s-nostalgia craze with his solo "This Is My World." --Rickey Wright

Source: Amazon

Rock Band Special Edition PS2 To Hit Stores Any Day

Ready to hit the store shelves any day now, the Rock Band Special Edition Bundle for the PlayStation 2 system features a wireless Fender Stratocaster guitar controller, an electronic drum kit, real drum sticks, a microphone and software and has a suggested retail price of $159.99. Standalone Rock Band software for the PlayStation 2 system is also available for the suggested retail price of $49.99. Rock Band for PlayStation 2 and PlayStation 3 use the same instruments so players do not need to buy new instruments if they upgrade their console.

Harmonix, the leading worldwide developer of music-based games, and MTV Games, part of Viacom’s MTV Networks (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), along with distribution partner Electronic Arts (NASDAQ: ERTS), announced today that the Rock Band Special Edition Bundle for the PS2 computer entertainment system will ship to U.S. retail stores on Tuesday, December 18, 2007.

Developed in collaboration with Pi Studios, Rock Band for the PlayStation 2 system showcases many of the same challenging modes and rock music featured in the PLAYSTATION®3 computer entertainment system and Xbox 360 video game entertainment system from Microsoft versions, including Band World Tour and Score Duel, which allows drum vs. drum, guitar vs. guitar and vocal vs. vocal play.

  • Purchase includes: game + microphone, guitar and drum set peripherals
  • 58 tracks available in the game plus full support for downloadable content delivers never-ending challenges. New content will be available every week.
  • Download full albums for play with Rock Band including the iconic rock album "Who’s Next" by The Who.
  • Mold a unique rocker avatar using Rock Band’s Character creator. Chose from gender, body shape, face, hair, clothes, tattoos and signature moves. Don't forget to pick your specialized rockin' instrument.
  • Showcase a real drum solo with Rock Band's freestyle drum fill Windows featured in each song. Break out your own rhythm and style as anything goes!
  • Call out the crowd! Vocalists can bring the crowd to their feet during Rock Band’s freestyle vocal fill windows. Ad-lib your own words or shout to the crowd to raise the rock intensity of the performance.
  • Band mates can fail out of a song for poor performance, but the band still plays on. Rescue your failing mate by busting out signature moves and blistering solos to wow the crowd with showmanship.
  • Boost your bonus! Earn bonus points for your band during Rock Band’s Unison Phrase opportunities if everyone plays perfectly.
Source: Gamezone
Find the rock band special edition ps2

iRobot Roomba 510 Vacuum Today Only

It’s the iRobot Roomba 510, one of the next generation of the popular vacuum cleaning robots and woot.com has it $100 less than anywhere else for today only.

With this iRobot, we’re talking about more cleaning power, easier maintenance, improved navigation. We’re talking about anti-tangle technology to deal with cords and cables. We’re talking about a larger dustbin, and sensors that reduce Roomba’s impact on walls and furniture. From its new side brush to its new beater brush, the Roomba 510 is a smarter, faster, stronger robot, to deal with the terrifying new superparticles found in 21st century carpets.

Find it at woot.com today only.

iTunes U Helping Universities Turn Courses into Podcasts

Delivering lectures via podcasts no longer is the province only of those universities on the cutting edge of technology: Through the use of software and programs that make it easy to produce and distribute podcasts, colleges and universities increasingly are making course lectures available for downloading online.

Most of today's college students are "digital natives" who have been surrounded by technology nearly their entire lives, and they expect their college or university to create a collaborative experience that integrates familiar technologies such as podcasting and on-demand video into their learning environment, supporters of the phenomenon explain. Their beliefs are supported by data: Three of four young adults download and view internet videos daily, according to the Pew Internet and American Life Project, while Burst Media reports that college students spend more time online than they do using any other form of media, including TV and radio.

At the University of California at Berkeley, a survey of incoming freshman this past fall revealed that students considered podcasting to be just as important as wireless internet access or campus eMail. Video podcasting storage and distribution via Apple's iTunes U and Google's YouTube have necessitated a scalable network for Berkeley's open-content initiative: webcast.berkeley.

Berkeley's associate vice chancellors, Susanna A. Castillo-Robson and Shelton Waggener, sponsored the study, called "Information Technology at UC Berkeley: The Student Experience." Eight Berkeley staff members participating in the university's Leadership Development Program conducted the survey.

Its objectives were to evaluate the technology needs and expectations of incoming students, provide recommendations for closing the gap between these expectations and what the university currently offers, and propose a method for ongoing, campus-wide evaluation of student IT needs.

When asked if they would like to be able to download a greater number of class lectures in the form of podcasts or webcasts, 72.5 percent of students said yes. Students said they could use the podcasts or webcasts in case they missed class, and they would be able to review their notes more easily while listening to the lecture.

"Since we launched the [podcasting] offering in 2006, we saw 2 million downloads of our podcasts in the first year alone from our iTunes U channel. We have had 650,000 views in the first two weeks of our YouTube channel launch. Interest in our content has exploded," said Adam Hochman, project manager for Berkeley's Education Technology Services department.

Like its iTunes Store, Apple Inc.'s iTunes U has become enormously popular since its launch in late 2005. Now, hundreds of colleges and universities use the free service to distribute their digital content to students and the world at large.

Berkeley also has started a movement to develop free podcasting software, and more than 30 other colleges and institutions have joined in the effort. Although the project is only in its initial phases, many say it indicates that the podcasting movement is thriving at colleges and universities.

Read more: eSchool News

Xeko, A Fun and Environmentally Aware Game

Xeko is very simple yet interesting. You place a hotspot that is a card with the region you are playing in (in my case madagascar) and then you start playing species on the table in a way you create an environment were species live. This is made by following easy rules.

I have to confess that I hate collectives mainly because I love them. Yes I know it sounds weird but I hate to be force to buy every new expansion a game has yet this game is definitely something worth trying. The gameplay reminded me the feeling of playing magic the gathering somehow. There is a cool strategic factor (and I only have one starter), and the artwork and materials are top notch.

I love to have a game that is finally made of recycled paper, even the booster's wrapping is made of recycled material and they encourage on their website the collectors to send the wrapping materials so they recycle them again giving points to access to online goodies.

This is a truly environmental friendly game that teaches about the species on several ecosystems that might face extinction, and they even donate money to those hotspots in order to save those animals.

It is a pity this game is so hard to find for somebody outside USA. I would love to have extra cards to play with so if you know of somebody willing to sell the unused give me a geekcall :D

I give it a 10 of 10 because this game is so much more than a game. I do not think is a game for kids only but be sure it will improve his/her knowledge of the world certainly encouraging him/her to learn more.

Source: boardgamegeek.com

Find Xeko Games

Tuesday, December 18, 2007

iBlast: All-In-One iPod Station

Radian iBlast iPod Docking Speaker System - 2.0-channel - BlackThe iBlast from Radian is a powerful speaker system that allows you to listen to your tunes, download new tunes from your PC and charge your iPod all at the same time. Two neodymium drivers (speakers) provide excellent hi-fi quality sound and bass response. Connecting to your iPod and iPod Mini is easy using the dock connector.

Here are some specs:

Manufacturer
Radian Technologies
Standard Warranty
2 Year(s) Limited
Color
Black
Manufacturer Part Number
RS2526
Interfaces/Ports
iPod Connector
Headphone Jack
Speakers Details
1 x Right/left Channel Speaker
Dimensions
9.1" x 4.7" x 3.5" - System
Manufacturer Website Address
www.eradian.com
System Power
12W (RMS)
Product Name
iBlast iPod Docking Speaker System
Controls
On/Off Switch
Volume
Product Type
2.0-channel Speaker System

MagicJack Makes Calling Cheap

The MagicJack looks like a simple USB thumb drive for your computer, but plug a standard telephone into the other end and for $40 the first year, $20 a year thereafter, it allows you to make unlimited phone calls in the U.S. and Canada. That includes calls you make to the U.S. and Canada even if you happen to be overseas. It also offers some of those nifty premium features you'll find from more established online phone services like Vonage or Skype, like virtual voicemail and a system to find you when you're not at a computer.

“If this is unplugged or if your computer is turned off, you program in up to three numbers to find and when someone calls the phone number associated with this it finds that other number,” says Mel Arthur of Magic Jack.

Source: News14

Nanosolar Leverages Recent Technology For Ambitious Plans

Nanosolar, Inc., is setting the standard for solar electricity generation with solar cell technology of unprecedented cost efficiency, versatility, and availability. Our mission is very simple: A Solar Panel on Every Building -- so that buildings everywhere will be hybrid energy buildings, synergistically switching between clean locally-produced solar energy (used during peak-time electricity usage hours just when electricity is the most valuable) and grid-delivered backend power (delivered in the evening or whenever the solar resources are not available). Leveraging recent science advances in nanostructured materials, Nanosolar has developed proprietary high-yield high-throughput thin-film process technology based on the economics of printing (non-vacuum / solution coating). For the first time, this makes it possible to simply print solar cells that are efficient and durable, and fundamentally change the cost efficiency and volume availability of solar electricity...

Source: BizJournals.com

Arizona Calendar Girls 'Wild Women of Williams" Raise Money for Research

Looking at the shelves of the average magazine rack, you're unlikely to find anything but airbrushed, young bodies.

But looking through the pages of a new calendar of Arizona women, you'll see nothing needs retouched.

When thinking of ways they could raise money for cancer research, one of the "Wild Women of Williams" thought of the world famous "Calendar Girls" in England who inspired a movie.

Twelve ladies decided to bare it all and pose nude in a tasteful photo shoot. Some say they were a little shy, but glad they ventured out of their comfort zone for a good cause.

The calendar features women in their 40's, 50's and 60's and will raise money for the American Cancer Society.

The ladies say it was such an amazing experience, they joke they'll be talking about it when they're in nursing homes.

In just the first month, sales from the calendars have raised five thousand dollars for cancer research.

Source: WOAI

Connect Your iPod Anywhere with the Belkin FM Transmitter

Many of us have Apple iPods and a new product from Belkin will let you connect portable music players to car and home stereo’s.

The Belkin TuneCast Mobile FM Transmitter uses its own FM frequency and you can connect any FM stereo receiver to that frequency, although I have not used this device I do know about the trouble I have had with FM signals around home wireless networks…lets hope this same device does not have these problems.

You just plug the Belkin TuneCast Transmitter into the headphone jack of your cassette player, CD, MP3, PDA, iPod or laptop and PC. Once you have tuned the receiver or car stereo to the clearest FM frequency, you can then enjoy digital music with full sound and convenience.

Source: Product-Reviews

> Find the Belkin FM Transmitter

Yankees Release 2008 Schedule Opening March 31

The Yankees released their 2008 regular-season schedule Monday. They will open their final season in the current Yankee Stadium at home against the Blue Jays on March 31. They conclude the season in Boston Sept. 26-28, with their final home game against the Orioles on Sept. 21.

Schedule highlights include a home series against the Mets on May 16-18 and a series against the Mets at Shea Stadium June 27-29, and home series against the Red Sox on April 16-17, July 3-6 and Aug. 26-28.

Source: Newsday


> Find Yankees Tickets

Monday, December 17, 2007

Lead a Balanced Life with Rolfing

The definition of Rolfing is to use physical pressure to stretch and guide the connective tissue in the body to allow for a better, more flexible movement in the body. Moving and breathing techniques are taught to the patient in order to help facilitate the process.

The myofascial system of the body supports all soft tissues, defines how the bones are positioned and spaced, and basically is the cause of the shape of one's body. When the patient has been realigned properly, they report less depression and anxiety and have more energy. They have also reported less pain and better coordination.

Patients who seek Rolfing as an alternative medicine usually do so as a result of stress or injury (neck pain) from physically demanding jobs or jobs where they must be in one position for long periods of time, such as at a computer. Sports injuries are also cause for seeking relief through Rolfing.

Students of a balanced life use Rolfing as well. People who seek a balance and harmony in their physical and emotional life consider Rolfing along with yoga to be the ultimate in good health keeping. Professional Rolfists treat all age groups from infants to the elderly.

Source: American Chronicle

Winter Special at Coventry Log Homes

Coventry Log Homes has been producing the finest quality Log homes since the early seventies. The homes are delivered to you straight from our mill in Woodsville, New Hampshire.

And for the first time ever, Coventry Log Homes is offering a Limited Lifetime Warranty on their log home packages.

What is covered in your warranty: All log wall materials included in a pre-cut package manufactured by Coventry Log Homes Inc., when used in conjunction with a residential structure, are warranted to the original purchaser to be free from defects in manufacturing for the lifetime of the original purchaser, commencing at time of delivery.

Now that the snow has arrived, the pine trees glisten with a white blanket and old man winter has nestled in Woodsville, New Hampshire, in just a few short months, the ground will warm and spring will be here. Now is the perfect time to buy your new Coventry Log Home! While the offer lasts....take 10% off our regular prices.

We’ve heard from many cabin manufacturers that despite the housing downturn, the demand for cabin kits remains high. It’s mainly because cabins are pretty easy to afford and to build: You can usually get a log cabin package, ready to be built on your vacation lot, for the price of a small car. (Several companies provide a ready-built cabin, but shipping can add to the cost.)

Source: Coventry Log Homes

Moving To Florida? Find Real Estate Listings

If you're moving to Florida and looking for a house, there is now a new resource to find Florida real estate listings. You can quickly search for Florida homes in all cities including Orlando, Miami, Jacksonville, Fort Lauderdale and more.

There are also real estate articles to help with the entire house buying process.

To search now visit: FloridaRealEstateHub.com

Orlando Real Estate
Fort Lauderdale Real Estate
Jacksonville Real Estate
Miami Real Estate

Discount Coupon for Revolve Clothing

More holiday sales! Get 25% off Revolve Clothing with the promo code DCREVOLVEH07 at checkout. But unfortunately, this discount doesn't include True Religion, Seven, Citizens, Paige, Nudie, Botkier, Kooba, and Joe’s.

Find more holiday coupons at SecretCoupons.com

EVGA To Support New NVIDIA nForce 780I, the Must-Have Gaming Platform

SANTA CLARA, Calif., Dec. 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Just in time for the big guy's annual holiday sleigh ride, NVIDIA Corporation , the world leader in visual computing technologies, today introduced the Company's next-generation NVIDIA nForce(R) 780i SLI media and communications processor (MCP), designed specifically for 1333FSB Intel QX9650 (Yorkfield) processors. The new nForce 780i SLI MCP brings a multitude of new functionality to Intel platforms, including support for the new Enthusiast System Architecture specification and PCI Express Gen 2.0. It is also the first motherboard solution to support the Company's new 3-way SLI(TM) technology, the industry's preeminent multi-GPU platform solution based on NVIDIA(R) GeForce(R) graphics processing units.

"Our customers aren't going to bed with visions of sugar plums dancing in their heads. They're dreaming of playing games like Crysis in their entire splendor, running on NVIDIA SLI technology," said Kelt Reeves, president of Falcon Northwest. "With nForce 780i and an Intel Yorkfield CPU under the hood, those visions will quickly become a reality. We're excited to offer our customers fully-equipped rigs with not one, not two, but three of NVIDIA's most extreme gaming GeForce graphics processors, the perfect platform for experiencing the most advanced games ever developed."

NVIDIA 3-way SLI technology offers an unmatched PC gaming experience, delivering up to a 2.8x performance boost over traditional single graphics card platforms. For playing this year's most cutting-edge games, including Crysis and Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, 3-way SLI technology lets gamers ratchet up the resolution to 1900x1200 and 2500x1600 respectively, while partaking in all of the tasty eye candy, including high-dynamic range lighting, motion blur, and realistic environmental effects.

"You can forget the cookies and milk this year," said Alabaster Snowball, administrator of the North Pole's naughty & nice list. "What Santa really wants is the ability to play Bioshock on a new gaming rig configured with an nForce 780i SLI-based motherboard and 3-way SLI graphics."

Global system integrators and industry-leading motherboard partners planning to offer NVIDIA nForce 780i SLI MCP-based products include: Arlt, Asus, Atelco, Biohazard Computers, Chiligreen, Colorful, CyberPower, Digital Storm, Ditech, EVGA, Falcon Northwest, Gigabyte, HP, Hypersonic, Ibuypower, K&M Elektronik, Maingear, Meijin, MSI, Puget, Rombus, Vigor Gaming, Voodoo PC, Warmachine, XFX, Xi, and more.

For more information on the NVIDIA nForce 700-series, which today includes the nForce 780i SLI and nForce 750i SLI MCPs, please visit: http://www.nvidia.com/object/nforce7_intel.html

Source: PRNewswire

Ideeli, An Innovative Way To Get You Discounts On What You're Shopping For

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- ideeli.com, http://www.ideeli.com/, the first red-rope online shopping community that connects luxury brands with the consumers who covet them -- via computer, email or cell phone -- announced today that it has secured $3.8 million in Series A funding from Kodiak Ventures and angel investors.

ideeli offers a curated selection of in-style luxury accessories at 50 to 90 percent off, plus weekly giveaways, to their affluent membership base. By combining pre-sale editorial coverage, last-minute alerts of sale starts, an innovative mobile platform and a variety of community features, ideeli creates a fun and social way for members to shop. This environment drives a high level of anticipation and engagement, which provides ideeli's luxury and fashion partners with an opportunity to tell a more detailed story about their products and brands.

"ideeli's multiplatform shopping experience provides more than just an opportunity to get luxury goods at great values -- it's engaging and fun," says ideeli founder and CEO Paul Hurley. "Our members tell us that they lunge for their mobile phones when they receive ideeli alerts to make sure they don't miss a giveaway or the start of a sale. We have been able to translate member excitement into a deeper connection with established and up-and-coming brands."

ideeli works in concert with a growing list of the world's top luxury brands. Brands view ideeli as a way to drive demand in their retail channel for current season items. Brands also sell past-season merchandise via ideeli to not only have a safe, discreet place to clear excess inventory, but also to turn that inventory into highly effective integrated advertising. Many luxury brand partners have recognized the company's innovative and immersive approach and are utilizing ideeli's innovative take on Web 2.0 as one of their first social media efforts.

"The demand for luxury products online is large and growing rapidly. The challenge for many brands is to find online partners who can protect and enhance their high-end reputation," said Chip Meakem of Kodiak Ventures. "Luxury brand gatekeepers have been looking for the right ways to leverage Web 2.0 tools to build their brands while continuing to increase revenue, and we think ideeli has come up with a winning solution.

"Since its soft launch in May, the company's enthusiastic membership has driven rapid viral growth, aided by the fact that 75 percent of first-time visitors become members. Now, with an expanded roster of brand partners and the successful completion of their financing, the company plans to greatly expand membership in the coming months.

About ideeli

ideeli, Inc. was founded in 2006 by Paul Hurley, a serial entrepreneur who wanted to create a shopping community that would usher luxury brands into Web 2.0 and connect them with a desirable consumer audience. The company is based in New York. The executive team is comprised of seasoned Internet and Fashion leaders from companies like Oracle, Aveo, Gloss.com, DoubleClick, Ralph Lauren and Gucci. ideeli is backed by Kodiak Venture Partners and prominent angel investors.

Source: PRNewswire

Kodak Easyshare V803 8 Megapixel Digital Camera, Great Pictures, Short on Pricey Features

Another popular choice among digital cameras this year is 8-megapixel Kodak Easyshare V803 is a stylishly slim point-and-shoot camera that may lack some of the features of pricier offerings, but makes up for it with bright, highly detailed photos.

I've found it as low as $71 as of this writing.

Here are more specifications:

General Features:

· Color: Cosmic blue
· 8.0 Mega Pixel
· 3x Optical Zoom
· 4x Digital Zoom
· Lens: 36–108 mm (35 mm equiv.) f/2.8–4.9
· 32 MB internal memory
· 2.5-inch LCD
· SD/MMC Card Expansion slot
· On-camera Share Button
· Dimensions: 4.1 x 2.1 x 1.0-inches (W x H x D, approximate)

Still Capture:

· Still format: JPEG/EXIF v2.21
· Compression: JPEG Standard
· Color Modes: high color, natural color (default), low color, sepia, black and white

Video Capture:

· Format: QUICKTIME MPEG 4 with audio recording and playback
· Quality: VGA (640 x 480) at 30 fps, QVGA (320 x 240) at 30 fps

I/O Interface:

· A/V output (NTSC or PAL, user-selectable)
· KODAK Camera Dock/Printer Dock Interface
· USB 2.0 connection

Find the Kodak Easyshare V803 8 Megapixel Digital Camera

Save With The Kodak Easyshare 5100

And one of our favorites for the holidays is the Eastman Kodak EasyShare 5100, a desktop multifunction printer shaking up the print industry with the "pay a little more upfront" concept followed by big color- and black-ink savings. With savings up to 50 per cent on ink, the stylish printer can function without a computer for scanning and copying documents or printing from connected digital cameras or flash memory. Versatile, great prints and savings all in one.

> Find the Kodak Easyshare 5100

Sunday, December 16, 2007

Kiss Songs and Easter Egg in Kissology

According to KissKollector.com, KISS' forthcoming DVD box set, "Kissology - Vol. 3 1992-2000" features a great Easter egg: the band's soundcheck for their performance under the Brooklyn Bridge for the MTV Video Music Awards back in 1996.

VH1 Classic Records will release "Kissology - Vol. 3 1992-2000", the third installment of the definitive collection, on Tuesday, December 18. The set will contain nearly 10 hours of KISS live on stage, including songs that didn't make it into the broadcast or CD version of the MTV "Unplugged" performance; and the much-heralded Queens, NY Coventry Show from December 1973 — the band's first-ever Find concert filmed in makeup in its entirety.

"Kissology - Vol. 3 1992-2000" has been super-expanded to four DVDs, featuring over 100 live performances, commentary from Paul Stanley, Gene Simmons, Bruce Kulick and Tommy Thayer as well as a 20-page full-color booklet.

Five concerts are included:

* Detroit – 1992
* Detroit – 1996
* Los Angeles – 1998
* New Jersey – 2000
* Queens, NY - 1973

One version of the release will feature a fifth bonus disc of KISS' performance at the KROQ Weenie Roast on June 15, 1996. Tracks include: "Deuce", "Love Gun", "Calling Dr. Love", "Firehouse", "Shock Me", "100,000 Years", "Detroit Rock City", "Black Diamond" and "Rock and Roll All Nite".

For the complete track listing, click here.

According to a posting on KISS' official web site, the band's DVD box set "Kissology: Volume 2 1978-1992" has been certified sextuple platinum, which comes out to around 150,000 copies due to the fact that the set consists of three discs; platinum certification for a single-disc release is 100,000 copies. It was released on August 14, 2007.

"Kissology: Volume 2 1978-1992" includes seven hours of live KISS on three DVDs. A bonus fourth DVD was made available via exclusive distribution outlets.

Source: Blabbermouth.net

Find Kiss Songs and Videos

Note: The official release of Kissology Vol 3 is Dec 18th, although it's available for presale now.

Gaia Online Will Make Movies Available

SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 4 /PRNewswire/ -- Gaia Online, the leading online hangout for teens, today announced that Warner Bros.' movies will be made available through Gaia's virtual theater, the Gaia Cinemas, starting today. The more than 2.5 million teens who visit Gaia Online every month will be able to watch the legendary studio's films with daily free screenings as well as pay-per-view screenings. Movie titles will include box office smashes such as "The Matrix"; and "Batman Returns"; comedies including "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective"; "Caddyshack 2 & 3"; and classics including "Superman 2 & 3"; and "Risky Business".

The Gaia Cinemas boasts a true community experience where users and their friends watch movies together. In typical teen fashion, there is more to do inside the theaters than simply watch movies. Concession stands offer virtual popcorn and other items, including laser pointers, to enhance the viewing experience. Users can also chat during the films to share insights, commentary and jokes with other users. Virtual movie posters allow users to access information about the films or participate in a related Gaia Online forum without leaving the cinema experience.

"Teens spend hours each day on Gaia Online because there are always new ways to have fun and socialize. The Gaia Cinema is already abuzz with activity, and bringing a wide selection of films from Warner Bros.' incredible catalogue is another huge bonus for the Gaia Online community," said Craig Sherman, CEO, Gaia Online.

The premiere of the first Warner Bros. feature films in Gaia Online including "The Matrix," "Space Jam" and the classic "King Kong" takes place this week. Additional movies from Warner Bros.' library will be added to the Gaia Cinema schedule every Monday. While select movies will be available for free, recent releases will operate on a pay-per-view basis at $1.99 per screening.

"Virtual communities such as Gaia Online are reinventing the way that people experience entertainment. With the Gaia Cinema, teens can now enjoy Warner Bros.' movies with their friends regardless of where they are physically -- just across town or on the other side of the country," said Andrew Mellett, Senior Vice President, Video on Demand, Warner Bros. Digital Distribution. "At Warner Bros., we are committed to identifying new channels to reach as many fans as possible and this partnership with Gaia provides a great new way for movie fans to experience our films."

Gaia Online is a social environment where teens come to hangout, have fun and express their individuality through customizable avatars, cars and homes; casual games; arenas for creative writing and artwork; discussion forums on thousands of topics; and virtual spaces such as movie theaters, drag races and towns. The Gaia community boasts more than 2.5 million unique users per month and is growing rapidly, with members spending an average of more than two hours on the site per day. Gaia's forums have exceeded a billion postings with a million new posts being added each day, and the Gaia economy sees upwards of 100,000 transactions per day.

The Gaia Cinemas opened earlier this year to the delighted approval of the community. Public domain classics such as "Night of the Living Dead" have been viewed well over a million times. More recently the Cinema has hosted a film festival, showing winning shorts made by Gaia members.

Gaia Online previously worked with Warner Bros. to conduct immersive promotions for its movies "The Last Mimzy", "Gracie" and "Nancy Drew". Members engaged in short quests in which they viewed trailers, performed other activities, and were rewarded with virtual goods related to the movies. Hundreds of thousands of virtual goods, such as soccer balls associated with "Gracie", were claimed by Gaia's members.

About Gaia Online

Founded in 2003, Gaia Online is the leading teen hangout on the web. Millions of teens come to Gaia every month to make friends, play games, watch movies in Gaia Cinemas, Gaia's virtual theaters, and participate in the world's most active online community. Gaia provides a fun, social environment that inspires individuality and creativity. With everything from art contests to discussion forums on poetry, politics, celebrities and more, to fully customizable profiles, digital characters and cars, Gaia is a place where teens can create their own space and express their individual style. For more information, visit http://www.gaiaonline.com/.

Gaia Online is a trademark of Gaia Interactive, Inc. in the United States and other countries.

Source: PRNewswire