I don’t often recommend books during Geek News posts, but I think this one is pretty important for us not only as bloggers, but because we were all that dumb twenty-something who at one point or another thought it would be a swell idea to put a picture of us bowling topless online. Not me. I bowl pantsless.
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The book I’m referring to is Radically Transparent: Monitoring and Managing Reputations Online by Andy Beal and Judy Strauss. This book outlines ten tactics to help you deal with the consequences of people talking about you online. This book also strongly suggests assuming everything about you will make its way onto the web.
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The book is pretty business orientated, but there’s still plenty of useful tips for individuals who are trying to keep their online reputation clean. Have you google’d yourself lately?
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Tired of that obnoxious alarm clock buzz in the morning? If you’re like me and cringe every time you hear an alarm clock, even on TV, then try using the glo Pillow. The pillow uses an LED “fabric substrate” (wtf?) below the surface to wake the user using the light. This fancy little contraption also displays the time on the pillows surface. Neato!
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Forty minutes before the pre-set alarm time the pillow will begin to glow and gradually the light will glow brighter slowly bringing the sleeper out of his or her sleep. So essentially, it’s the sun in your pillow.
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Why does AT&T get all of the cool phones?
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Beatles tunes? Guitar Hero? Say it’s true!
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Ah ha! Take that Apple lovers! Your beloved Macbooks aren’t the best thing since sliced bread! Okay, maybe they are. But they’re polluting the Earth! Apple was listed as one of the top ten toxic companies. For shame.
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Have you met Barry? If not, please go meet him. And if you’re just as geeky as me, you’ll appreciate this list of tips and tricks for your Blackberry.
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Have you ever told someone you’re going to work from McDonald’s? Well now you can! (Depending where you live.) It’s rumored that McDonald’s, Starbucks and Jack in the Box will be offering free WiFi. I like WiFi and I like free!
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In the market for a new laptop? The folks over at PC World have put together a list of the best laptops under $1,000.
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Yeah. I went there.
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Alright, this, I am not okay with.
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Compulsive e-mailing. Check. Compulsive text messaging. Check. Did you know that according to an editorial in the American Journal of Psychiatry that Internet addiction is a common “compulsive-impulsive disorder” and should be added to the official guidebook of mental disorders? It’s true. Now we know what’s wrong with me. Will that make me think twice before texting or blogging? Nope. Sure won’t.
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I want Gmail soap.
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If I were going some place tropical this spring, I’d probably take along an Allsop Splash Pack DriPod. I could spash in the water with my tunes and not worry about killing my ipod.
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Okay I love this website I’m about to tell you about. Do you ever go to Perez or GeekSugar and find it’s not working even though someone just linked something to you? Ever feel like the Internet Gods are just against you? Well now you can find out. Go to Down for everyone or just me?, type in the website you’re checking on and find out if it’s really down or if the Internet just hates you.
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I just found this website but I’m a big fan already. I really like the mousepads.
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A Dubble Bubble gumball phone?! Uh, yes.

Many bloggers post often about their adorable puppies (I’m talking about you Lovely!) and I’ve been feeling out of the loop. I don’t have an obnoxiously cute puppy to share with you all and let’s face it, cats don’t have the same appeal as puppies do. But I do have a new addition to my mini family who I would like to introduce you all to as he will be a big part of my life:
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His name is Barry, Bar for short.So I decided to jump on board with everyone else and share pictures of my new pet:
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There he is with his toy. It’s his favorite.
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Aww good boy! Have a treat!
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Bar’s comfortable with his sexuality and enjoys sleeping in a pink princess bed.
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He ate the whole thing!
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Come on Barry, let’s go out for a walk!
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Who’s a good boy? Who’s a good boy? You’re a good boy!
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Thank you taking the time to welcome Barry into my family.

I eff’in hope not!!
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This morning I found this in my inbox:
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After weeks of pining over this phone, walking into the store and petting it only to leave empty handed, I was thrilled when I read about the early upgrade (my upgrade wasn’t due until May).
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So I thought about it all day…get it for $100…or watch the offer pass me by?
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I called up verizon:
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VZW: Hi, blah blah, I’m ______. How can I help you?
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Me: What’s the deal with this upgrade? What’s the catch?
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VZW: There is no catch. We offer early upgrades. We have for the last year at least.
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Me: What?
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VZW: What, what?
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Me: Are you saying that I can get this phone, right now, as long as I agree to pay $29.99 for Internet and email?
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VZW: Pretty much, yes.
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Me: And I get to keep my current plan? No cancellation fees or activation fees?
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VZW: Correct.
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Me: Are you sure you work for Verizon?
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VZW: Ma’am I can see your account right now.
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Me: So you’ll mail me my phone in 3-5 days. I activate it. Then I can use it?
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VZW: That’s what I’m saying.
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Me: Really?
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VZW: Yes.
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Me: Are you sure? (Vista isn’t the only thing that can inflict self doubt!)
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VZW: This offer doesn’t expire until the end of the month if you’d like to think about it.
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Me: Sign me up woman!
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VZW: What color would you like? Silver or pink?
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Me: Hmm…silver!
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VZW: Aw, most girls want pink.
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Me: Well this girl isn’t a fan of pink technology. (She probably thinks I’m less of a woman now and will spit on my phone.)
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Assuming this woman isn’t Satan, I should have my pretty little silver blackberry in my hands in 3-5 days. Mom, please be home because someone has to sign for it. Thanks! However, if something doesn’t work on the phone, or my account gets all possessed….oh man…watch out woman cause I know where you work! I’m trying very hard to contain my excitement out of fear that something WILL go wrong. What is it?! Paranoid much?
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Vanessa, I know you’re very much for the Curve. I’m sorry. But I couldn’t, I mean, LOOK at it! I just…it was like…oh my god. I e-love you?

Creepy: The Boston Retinal Implant Program seems to have created a prototype for a bionic eye.
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Ridiculous: A $500 pillow? No thanks. The perCushion is the epitome of laziness. It let’s people talk on the phone while laying down WITHOUT having to HOLD the phone.
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Gameboy shoes. I’m all for retro geek, but you’d never catch me wearing these bad boys. No way, no how.
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Heart monitors may be the next target of hackers. I’m pretty sure that’s called “murder.”
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While I don’t have fat fingers, I did complain about typing on my iPod Touch. Imagine my giddiness when I stumbled upon these.
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I’m not sure how I feel about Bedup. I’m all for organization and making the most of small spaces, but this kind of freaks me out. What if it gets stuck? What if I fall off?Finally! A website that doesn’t make me feel guilty for watching movies and TV shows illegally! Check out Hulu.
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Things You’re Dying to Know: 69 Uses for Duct Tape. Complete with examples, photos and tutorials.
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Squees for Wii: I am in love with the wireless nunchuck adapter. I don’t know how many times I’ve smacked myself with that cord while boxing.
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Mario Kart for the Wii is scheduled to be released on April 27th. Exciting!
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Is Chicago within commuting distance of San Francisco or New York? Technically I could commute there. Google, beware, Gizmodo is looking for two summer interns. I could be one of the lucky two (assuming Chicago suddenly becomes part of California or NY). One can dream!!!
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Zombie Survival Kits. While you’re at it, pick up a copy of The Zombie Survival Guide or The Zen of Zombie.
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Yay or Nay: The Walkman Radio Wristlet
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Remember the Dramatic Chipmunk? Well now you can have an oil painting of him hanging in your living room.
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Things I Want But Don’t Need

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Finger Drums
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1up Mushrooms
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Pre-printed Post-It Notes. Nice!

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Previous post on Vista

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Last week while complaining about one of the many things I complain about, I mentioned my hatred for Microsoft Vista. A couple of my fiercest readers wanted to hear more about that, so here we go!
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Last February I was in the market for a new laptop. I didn’t really need one, but my dad was offering and who am I to turn down such a good offer? Looking back, I should have waited. Not yet feeling the Mac vibe I was drawn to the Vaio’s lining the shelves at Best Buy. “Hello my darlings,” I whispered. I closed my eyes and for a second, I heard one say hello back. I walked over to it and ran my fingers over the keys. A built in cam and mic? Intel Core 2 Duo Processors? Bluetooth? A 180GB hard drive? Built in wireless card? Um…yes. “I’ll take this one kind sir.”
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While discussing the issue of money, the Best Buy man told me a bit about Windows Vista since it was pretty new then and I knew nothing about it. He said it’s new and a few older programs might not be compatible with it just yet, but not to worry. What he should have said is, “this computer will be the devil. It’s not convenient or user friendly at all. Every time you want to perform an action, the computer will make you doubt yourself by asking if you reeeally want to proceed. Oh, and about a year from now, Microsoft will unleash a doomsday update ‘accidentally’ that will ultimately crash your computer.”
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Not knowing any of that I skipped all the way home with my new laptop. Okay, actually I drove home and went back to pick up the laptop later. I had the Geek Squad install some crap for me. I was skipping in my mind though.
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To be quite honest, I liked Vista at first. The computer was ascetically pleasing. I was a bit overwhelmed by the changes because I was an XP fan. If it’s not broken, why fix it? I was excited. New software generally enables a person to do more with their computer right? Wrong. That ridiculous cancel or allow feature drove me nuts. If I wanted to install anything, update anything or even just play solitaire it would ask if I’m sure.
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Yes I’m sure I want to play solitaire.
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Are you really sure?
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Yes.
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C’mon, think about it for a minute. Couldn’t you be doing something else more important right now like…
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beating you with a hammer, returning you and saying my dog did it?
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Are you sure you want to do that?
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Yes I’m sure.
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Really?
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Uh huh.
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Positive?
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::smash::
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I didn’t have too many problems really until February of this year, a year after buying the computer. Microsoft apparently unleashed a shitastic “update” that eff’ed up people’s computers. According to the Soft, this update should only hurt a small amount of Vista users. I find it very amusing that out of the entire world of Vista users I was one of them. I don’t know all the details of this doomsday upgrade. I read about it a few days prior, but didn’t think much of it. Of course I didn’t realize that I hadn’t turned on my laptop in over a week.
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The minute it booted up, it began installing updates. Totally not paying attention to what’s going on, I resumed working on my desktop. The laptop then restarted itself and told me it was “configuring update 3 out of 3: 0% progress. Don’t turn off your computer.” I didn’t. I listen. It then restarted again and showed me the same screen. I sat in awe as I watched my computer die before my eyes.
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Okay it wasn’t that traumatic. It kept restarting and going back to this screen! What the hell is going on? Then I remembered what I read. Son of a bitch Vista. I tried starting it up in Safe Mode; no such luck. I went to Microsoft sites to see what they suggested which was a waste of time. I eventually, through a mixture of hitting the keyboard and crying, got my laptop to the system restore screen. Luckily it brought my system back to the last time it was working, pre-upgrade. At this point I was afraid to turn off my computer. I knew that upgrade was sitting there eyeing me, just waiting for me to restart so it could play it’s game with me again.
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Was it karma? Was this Vista’s way of saying “Fuck you for wanting to smash me! I’m just as good as any other computer!” It’s quite possible. Annoyed, I went to Best Buy to talk with the Geek Squad folks. I wanted to know how I could get rid of Vista and put XP back on my computer.
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Yeah hi, um, I hate Vista.
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So do the rest of the PC users.
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Okay, well fix it. Give me XP back!
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What kind of computer do you have?
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A Vaio.
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::insert the face of a man who is about to break a cute girl’s heart or that of an evil Vista man::
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Yeah um, you can’t.
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Wtf geek man?
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Sony’s drivers are all Vista drivers.
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Ooookaaay? And? Couldn’t I just download new drivers?
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So if you remove Vista and install XP, it’ll crash.
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Proof?
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We tried it.
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I think you’re lying.
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Well you can purchase XP for $200 and find out for yourself.
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Touche geek man, touche.
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So instead of wasting $200 to find out geek man was right, I’d rather set that money aside and save up for a Mac.
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Moral of the story, don’t trust Microsoft. Don’t upgrade to Vista. Don’t threaten to smash your computer.
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The folks over at Switched have ever so kindly put together a 10 Best-Bang-For-Your-Buck Gadgets list.
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Now you see why I couldn’t resist right?
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My favorites:
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• The Blackberry Curve ::drools:: One day it will be mine, oh yes, it will be mine. I swear, once I have this phone in my hot little hands I’ll stop drooling and obsessing about it on my blog. This sexy little piece of technology has everything one would need to manage their life: e-mail, IM, a built-in organizer, camera, a media player and even maps for directionally-challenged people like myself. Of course, some will argue “what does the Blackberry Curve do that your current phone does not?” Well, for starters I can actually stick the Curve in my pocket. If THAT reason alone doesn’t satisfy your thirst for knowledge, then it makes me feel high-tech and important. There, you happy?

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• Flip Video Ultra Camcorder. How cute is this?! Sure it only has a 1.5-inch screen, but I think you’ll be surprised when you see the resolution. Obviously you’re not going to shoot your first movie on it, but you can get 60 minutes of drunken fun! What I love the most is the built-in USB plug that allows me to plug in cord-free. I hate having a cord for every piece of technology I know.

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• As far as basic laptops go, I’m a big fan of Dell’s Inspiron 1525. The only thing I don’t like about it is that it comes with Vista (that’s a WHOLE other post my friends). It includes a wireless card, which makes it easy to explore the Interwebz wherever you may be….assuming there’s WiFi of course.

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• Very bad news: Crocs create cell phone cases. Because the shoes aren’t bad enough.

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• I just can’t believe it: Dexter will be getting it’s own video game. What will the concept be? Will it suck? I want to be excited but I’m nervous. Don’t ruin Dexter for me folks. Oh, and hello to everyone who is searching for Dexter and finding me!

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• This would scare me when I walked into my bathroom at night. Hell, even when I’m in the shower I’d get startled - obviously forgetting it was there when I walked in.

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• Oh how happy am I?! A keyboard that doubles as an organizer!

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**If I have to listen to “Teardrops On My Guitar” one more time, I’m going to scream**

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• Silly theories: Get robbed a lot? Blame your iPod. Maybe.

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• Idiots: In order to prevent waxters (thats people who walk and text at the same time) from walking right into a pole, Britain has padded their street lights.

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Wondering if that mug of coffee on your desk is still hot? Don’t want to risk burning yourself by grabbing it? Have no fear, the hot/cold mug is here to save the day!

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P.S. Oh, and uh, I got into UIC. (This will probably show up on the next 34789 blog entries.)
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P.P.S. What the eff is going on with the font size here? I’m too lazy to fix it.

- Ever Google yourself? I love that “google’ is a verb now-a-days. I googled myself today after the boss googled an applicant. I got nervous and wondered what about me is out there floating around on the web. I found a poem I wrote when I was 13, my facebook account, my Evite response to the Chicago blogger meet-up and some NaBloPoMo forum crap. Nothing too bad! I also found another woman with my same name. Down to the middle name even. She seems to run a lot. Go her!
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- Try to sign onto Windows Live this morning? So did I. It took about an hour to get logged on and that was after uninstalling and reinstalling the program. Seems that Windows Live has been down for about 11 hours now but the service status on their website thinks everything is peachy. Anyone know me on WL? If so, am I still logged on?
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- Matt Damon, be still my heart. Damon will play Jason Bourne one more time in the fourth installment of the Bourne series. After Identity, Supremacy and Ultimatium…what more can be done?
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- Cat fan? Please direct your attention to the anatomy of a cat’s brain. Thanks.
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- What’s better? Tetris ice-cube trays or Super Mario mushroom slippers?
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- Geeks everywhere rejoice! Recieve the March issue of Wired for free!! Act now because they’re only giving away 10,000.
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- Apple Woes?
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- If anybody would like to send me to the BlogHer ‘08 conference in San Francisco. I’d be very grateful. The ever lovely Jamie and I are trying to get volunteer gigs at the conference so we can go. Assuming the BlogHer Gods are against us, she’s already found some great deals on a flight & hotel. The only downside to the Gods being against us: Early Bird prices END February 28th. That’s two days away for those of you who didn’t know. TWO days to find out if we go for free, $283 or $383. No pressure!!! Luckily for her, she’s still a student and will most likely get a substantial discount. Another drawback to NOT being in school. Stay in school kids!!!
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- It’s about 79 degrees in my office today. Summer is here! It’s weird sweating inside and seeing five inches of snow outside my window.
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- New MacBook Pros. Celebrate.
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- Found at WonderCon 2008: I’m not entirely sure what these are, but I’d like one.
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- Would you bring your desktop computer into Starbucks? Please read.
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- I absolutely love the act2 - green smart laptop sleeves.

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Designed by Benedetto Bufalino
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Raelyn Campbell believes her missing laptop is worth millions. Campbell is suing Best Buy for $54 million after they lost her laptop and then denied it. Best Buy, like many sane people, believe her demands are a tad unreasonable. However Campbell disagrees and blames months of stalling and brush-offs by the company for her drastic measures.
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Campbell brought her new laptop to Best Buy in 2006 for repairs. The store told her they would take anywhere from two to six weeks. However, six months turned into forever it seems.
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Click here for the rest of the story.
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Darren Nixon was held at gunpoint, arrested and put in a police cell for listening to music. A woman informed the police about Nixon after suspecting he was carrying a gun. The gun turned out to be his 4GB Phillips MP3 player. No weapon was found on him, but he was taken into custody anyway on suspicion.
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It’s great cops act quick when it comes to MP3 players, Tech-Art shirts and Pears, but where are they when you actually need them? I’m pretty sure there’s hundreds of unsolved crimes out there and probably a hefty amount of crimes being committed as I type.
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It seems that the MacAir is wetting many palettes but few are biting. AppleInsider reports that customers “are more curious, but less willing to buy the MacBook Air than they were the original MacBook.”
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Well that’s what you get for selling a $1,800 laptop that has no optical drive and only two USB ports.
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Would you buy a bean bag made for your cell phone or iPod? Spoon Sisters seems to think so.

- Pink is not my favorite color but surprisingly I actually like these…especially the pink iPod Touch case. I love that it brightens up the black iPod and the design on the back is fun.
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Incase also carries accessories for the iPhone, iPod Classic, iPod Nano and MacBook and MacBook Pro. I’m not really a huge fan of the laptop sleeves, but hey, to each their own!
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- Something else I’m fond of right now is the Wii Belong Together print. It’s been around the webs for a bit and is rumored to be sold out. Sadness.
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- Adding to the list of things I’m fond of is FutureMe.org. This website lets you write an email to yourself and set it to send in the future whether it be 1, 5, or 10 years later. Seems fun! I always enjoyed reading letters I wrote to myself when I was starting 8th grade, high school, etc. Most of them were silly, but still, it’s for the memories!
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- Starbucks just made a lot of people happy! The coffee champions of the world have just announced that they plan to deliver free WiFi to about 7,000 Starbucks across the U.S. by early spring.
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- Not sure what to buy me for my birthday? Well here’s a hint.
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- Yahoo! turned down Microsoft stating that the proposal “substantially undervalues Yahoo!” Was that a smart move for Yahoo?