Chris' Linkjockey blog links to unique, fantastic sites on the web that you haven't seen before.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

On this day: Inventor of Tupperware was born in 1907

July 28, 1907: Tupperware’s First Burp – Wired.com

Re-sealable plastic container magnate, Earl S. Tupper, the creator of Tupperware, was born on this day in 1907.  Put a lid on it!

 

 

Monday, July 27, 2009

Outsmarting Facebook

Outsmarting the Facebook Lobster Trap: Three Worries, One Guideline, Seven Principles

I’ve grown weary of using Facebook, and am increasingly mistrustful of the cloud of hype surrounding the platform.

 

“Facebook is basically designed like a lobster trap with your friends as bait.”

This brilliant quote is from an article in the Nonprofit Online News explaining that Facebook is an example of Enclosure; the economic principal of privatizing the commons.  The article goes on to explain some of the risks, opportunities, and suggestions for organizations using Facebook to bring people together.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

How to tether your iPhone

Apple - iPhone - Share your Internet connection with your laptop


In Canada, Rogers and Fido allow iPhone users to tether their computer to their iPhone.  That is, if you have an iPhone, you can use your iPhone as a modem to connect your computer to the internet.  The only limitation is the amount of data in your monthly plan.  Pretty cool...

Sunday, July 19, 2009

Data Dashboards

Seth's Blog: Dashboards

Digital marketing maven, Seth Godin, writes about creating effective dashboards to understand data.


Computer Hardware Poster

Computer Hardware Poster

Have you ever had trouble trying to identify what kind of computer components you're dealing with? "What is it, and how do I plug it into my computer?"

This link is a big poster that will identify what you're working with, including:  notebook Ram, desktop Ram, hard drives, ports, processor card slots, processor card sockets, peripheral cards, CPU sockets, desktop card slots, and power connectors.  While I can identify some of these connections as a novice, there's no way I can identify all of these component connections, so this list will be a big help to those FAQs.  Print it off, and post it at your desk.  

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

2009-2010 NHL Schedule Announced

NHL schedule kicks off with Pens hosting Rangers

It's the middle of July, so let's talk about hockey.  The 2009-2010 NHL Regular Season kicks off on October 2, with Pittsburgh playing against the New York Rangers.  The most interesting part of this hockey news was the break for the Vancouver Winter Olympics in February, and the Vancouver Canucks' record 14-game road trip for the duration of the Winter Olympics and Paralympics.  That's a lot of time on the road!
 

Friday, July 10, 2009

Michael Pollan: We Are Headed Toward a Breakdown in Our Food System

Michael Pollan: Garden Fresh - The Tyee

When Michael Pollan visited Vancouver in June, The Tyee interviewed the prominent food writer for his thoughts on Obama, the 100-mile diet, climate change, and picky eaters.  
Thanks to the Alternet.

Bono on Obama's visit to Ghana

Rebranding Africa - NY Times

In the NY Times, U2's Bono writes about the reasons that President Obama is visiting Ghana; not because of sentiment or tragedy, but because it is an inspirational success story.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

Ebert on "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen", twice

"Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" is a horrible experience of unbearable length, briefly punctuated by three or four amusing moments. One of these involves a dog-like robot humping the leg of the heroine. Such are the meager joys. If you want to save yourself the ticket price, go into the kitchen, cue up a male choir singing the music of hell, and get a kid to start banging pots and pans together. Then close your eyes and use your imagination.
The plot is incomprehensible. The dialog of the Autobots®, Decepticons® and Otherbots® is meaningless word flap. Their accents are Brooklyese, British and hip-hop, as befits a race from the distant stars. Their appearance looks like junkyard throw-up. They are dumb as a rock. They share the film with human characters who are much more interesting, and that is very faint praise indeed.


The Fall of the Revengers - Roger Ebert's Journal

The day will come when "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" will be studied in film classes and shown at cult film festivals. It will be seen, in retrospect, as marking the end of an era. Of course there will be many more CGI-based action epics, but never again one this bloated, excessive, incomprehensible, long (149 minutes) or expensive (more than $200 million). Like the dinosaurs, the species has grown too big to survive, and will be wiped out in a cataclysmic event, replaced by more compact, durable forms.


Roger Ebert cared so strongly about the Transformers sequel, that he chose to review the movie twice, and write about it eloquently and hilariously.  These are just the opening paragraphs from both reviews.  After seeing the "Revenge of the Fallen" last night, I totally agree with Mr. Ebert.

Wednesday, July 1, 2009

Our True North - New York Times

Our True North - New York Times

Eleven Canadians living in the US write in the NY Times on what they miss about Canada.
Happy Canada Day!