Marc said 22 minutes later

This certainly won't replace e-mail, but this will be a great tool to use for communicating in groups.

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GJ said about 18 hours later

For those that use it, it will replace email. It looks kind of like a blackberry for the web. The key for me--does it work seamlessly with other users who do not use Wave? Can it interact with traditional email, IM, etc.? (I didn't watch much more than 20 min of this, so maybe they covered that).

Looks neat, but it's not definitely a home run--yet.

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Marc said 1 day later

It doesn't look like it integrates with regular e-mail just yet. Integrating with regular IM is practically a given...they have a relatively extensive API, so you can bet that will be developed.

I can see this being extremely popular in the college scene. All of the team projects would benefit greatly from the threadlike e-mails and collaborative document editing.

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GJ said 1 day later

It'll be popular with the Facebook crowd, too. :) Business crowd, I'm not sure if this will catch on or not. In order for it to be successful, it'll require a change to the mindset of the average business user in how they approach email. I don't see this necessarily reducing the amount of time people spend in email--and that's one thing that most folks want to see drop.

GJ said about 1 hour later

Did you actually read that article?

They are not hoarding, they can't sell it. The demand market for oil crashed. Cars don't consume oil (usually--for the most part, they consume gas made from refining oil). So, if you can't get good prices for your product, you sit on it. It's not like oil expires--in fact, what will eventually happen (if the economy doesn't recover soon enough) is some *very* low prices as they run out of storage for their "hoard" and have to start getting rid of it at whatever price they can get for it.

The price of gas in this country has a lot to do with our refining capability (or lack thereof). All the oil in the world is useless to our gas needs if we don't have the ability to refine it to gasoline in the first place. If the price of gas was really killing people, demand for gas would shrink. It shrunk quite a bit with the recession in the first place, which is why prices began to tumble. The demand is still pretty high for gas, though, so prices won't drop back below $2/gal anytime soon--and the prices are high because we are limited in how much gas we can refine, not how much oil we can buy.

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Marc said about 5 hours later

"The price rise is a function of optimism that better things are coming in the future." Optimism usually means lower prices, no? If they were so optimistic, they would keep prices stable, continue the normal output and be rewarded from customers by keeping prices low or at least competitive. But because the whole oil industry is corrupt and the demand for the product is to the point of a necessity, they raise prices with whatever explanation they deem appropriate and continue their 200% profit per quarter.

I'm sure food sales are down too, so farmers are suffering. But instead of coming together as a collection of farmers and raising rates, they find ways to keep the rates reasonable and competitive. Sure, farmers' profits suffer, but they should be equally hit by a recession as the rest of us. Why aren't oil companies held to the same standard?

They can sell it, just not as much as they'd like to. Too bad.

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GJ said about 11 hours later

Marc, try reading this to learn what helps determine the price of gas.

Oil companies didn't create the need for oil. They are simply profiting from it. What's the big deal? If you don't want to pay so much for gas, there are ways to "beat the system" but mostly it involves loss of convenience. You pay a price for that convenience.

Marc said 3 minutes later

That's not all. I forget where I read it, but it was another interview with Dan Akroyd verifying that Ghostbusters 3, the movie is coming out. Supposedly is likely to start filming in the winter. The rumor has been floating around for quite some time, but this was straight from Akroyd himself and he verified all of the original Ghostbusters are back to pass the torch on to younger, and female, Ghostbusters. Likely will be terrible.

The game looks pretty cool, graphically, but based on the videos it looks like it will lose the fun factor after capturing 2 or 3 ghosts.

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GJ said about 1 hour later

Actually, don't write off the game. I think it could well succeed due to the quality of the writing. It'll be more than just capturing ghosts, methinks. It's being hinted that there is enough original material in the game to equal a movie--no small feat. I'm looking forward to it.

As for the movie, it's hard to say. First order, the movie isn't a done deal--the game is supposed to "test the waters." However, writers have been commissioned, so that's a very good sign. I think filming could potentially start this year if the studio likes the script. The younger ghostbusters won't all be female, btw, but expect at least one female cadet.

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Marc said about 2 hours later

I saw a video preview on Gamespot of the game and they said the script is really well written and pretty hilarious, but the gameplay does get old pretty fast. I imagine it will be successful due to the script, but likely won't hold my attention. Every game that focuses on storyline never holds me, but I'll certainly give it a shot and see how I like it.

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GJ said about 3 hours later

Thanks for the linky, I'll have to check it out. Me, I like the story-based games just fine--that's partially what drew me to things like Wing Commander back in the day. So long as the game duties don't become totally mind-numbing, it should work for me.

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Geoff said about 21 hours later

Looks pretty cool from the Gamespot review.

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GJ said about 22 hours later

The gameplay looks interesting, but the graphics were too jumpy for my tastes. Here's to hoping that's cleaned up some by launch. Wonder how it'll look on the Wii.

Marc said about 16 hours later

Poker racing looks like fun!

Darcy said about 2 hours later

It is also could be called the "marriage ending game" as well. Right GJ?

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GJ said about 2 hours later

:) Yep. Especially if your spouse goes "darklinging!"

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Darcy said about 3 hours later

I wouldn't know anything about that :)

Marc said about 2 hours later

I'm a big side projects/to do lists guy. However, every couple of months I just go through and clean house. I hate the people that have the install files. That's usually a clear sign of a typical computer user.

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Geoff said about 3 hours later

That's alright, I had a guy try to convince me that Vista was the greatest thing since sliced cheese and said anyone with a Quad Core processor (which I have) that is having performance problems with Vista doesn't know his a#$ from his elbow. Silly rabbit.

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GJ said about 3 hours later

I have a quad core with XP, and no issues. :)

My desktop is somewhat similar--even the exe files, tho I do clean those up on a somewhat regular basis. PDF files--holy crap, that's me. To do lists--have an app for that. Side projects aren't on my desktop--that's what the file system is for.

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Kristen said about 10 hours later

You have an app for To Do lists?? Please share!

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GJ said about 24 hours later

I use CheckList, made by Task Solutions. It works pretty well for what I need, but it's not cheap.

GJ said about 16 hours later

And here we go: soda can kill you!

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Geoff said about 20 hours later

welp, I knew one day it would kill me. I'll enjoy it while I can. I have switched to diet though for the most part.

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GJ said about 20 hours later

Somehow, I doubt you're drinking a gallon a day, either.

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Marc said about 21 hours later

Diet soda will just give you cancer...and then kill you. So you're only slowing the process a little. :)

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GJ said about 21 hours later

See the above diagram, Marc. I assume you're referring to either saccharin or aspartame. Neither have been shown to do much of anything to humans, other than those suffering from phenylketonuria, a fairly rare disorder.

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Marc said about 23 hours later

I was doing my best Grandma impression. :)

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GJ said 1 day later

hahahaha

GJ said about 3 hours later

(or whatever the Scientists want to call it.) FTFY.

Clarkson's reviews of eco-boxes, being a petrol-head himself, are always fun to read. Maybe they'll think of something fun to do with one on TopGear.

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Geoff said 1 day later

I had the distinct honor of driving a Prius while my car was being worked on a few months ago. I can agree with much of what this reviewer had to say. While the Prius was the opposite of loud, you could definitely feel it switching between engines which felt horrible at times, especially when coming to a stop. It also had an annoying tree-hugger display constantly telling you how much fuel you were consuming, and patting you on the back.

I couldn't be more happy with my V8 gas hog myself. Comfortable, fast, well designed and constructed. Opposite of the Prius. The only good thing was the gas mileage, which averaged about 45mpg. I think I would strap a cardboard box around my bike and cycle to work before I buy a hybrid that looked and felt that bad. I did hear great things about the Ford Fusion Hybrid though...

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GJ said 1 day later

Obviously, though, a hybrid isn't marketed to someone like you, Geoff. No plain old gasoline econobox is, either.

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GJ said 1 day later

That's not a dig, either. I don't find them attractive, either. I have the funds to "waste" gas, and I choose to do so, for today, because I like this kind of car. I dare say most people view cars as appliances, and they are the ones that like things like the Prius so much. Don't expect the Chevy Volt to impress you, either. :)

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Geoff said 1 day later

I spend a could portion of my life in my car, so me personally, would like an enjoyable ride. I will no doubt own some eco friendly vehicle in due time, but until then, I'm going to ensure these polar ice caps melt at a steady rate. This weather has been great! ;)

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GJ said 1 day later

Trust me, if the temperature models are right (I'm not saying they are), you will definitely not like what happens with a four degree worldwide temp average jump.

But I'm a realist--humans really like to fix things only after they're really screwed up. And doomsday soothsayers have been wrong every time in the past. Still, while a temperature jump wouldn't wipe us out, it would make for a considerably more hostile planet (and a corresponding decrease in sustainable population). Translation: much famine, drought, and war.

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Steve said 2 days later

From the bottom up -

I don't think the temp rising will cause draught - just the opposite, bigger oceans probably mean more rain, but bigger oceans mean much less land, so big wars for land to farm and live on. I'm just going to buy an aircraft carrier from an army surplus store to live on. Nuclear powered, it's quite environmentaly friendly, until I dump the wasted uranium overboard.

You'd be surprised how fun some econoboxes are to drive. Take the first gen Neons (like my old red one). They were a blast, and got 30-38 mpg, depending on the model. How about the older Honda Civic and CRXs? They are a lot of fun to drive too, and got anywhere from 35-50 mpg. Why can we build cars like that now? We could, but everyone wants whisper quiet cars, and cars that can withstand a 70 mph rear impact without the fuel tank busting open, or slamming into someone from behind at 50 mph and not resulting in life threatening injuries.

Clarkson and the rest of the top gear cast are freaking hilarious. I'm addicted to their show. He'll tear apart anything, including the well respected Porsche 911 GT2.

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GJ said 2 days later

Actually, the temperature rising will cause various things in various places, but Steve is correct about increased rain. It's not so much from the oceans being larger, it's more due to the ocean being warmer. That rain will cause severe erosion for some locales, turning them into deserts (yeah, I know--how does rain cause a desert?? When there's no more arable soil, rain or not, you're not growing anything there anymore). Other places that currently are not planting friends due to lack of rain will become much more hospitable to plant growth.

The fun part is, we don't have anything but models to figure out what else this does to the weather. Increases in the intensity of storm systems seems a good bet--warmer air will help charge those system up. Meanwhile, there is the specter of Venus--a planet with a runaway greenhouse problem. There is significant concern that the additional rise in temperature, coupled with the continued decrease of the world to absorb C02, could set off a similar chain of events here. That's something worth studying--because if that occurs, it's game over for us here on Earth.

Unfortunately, there are all these calls to action, but the science hasn't been fully flushed out. We can't put our heads in the sand over it (the GOP and oil industry likes this approach), but we also can't legislate over early findings in climate research (Democrats: guilty as charged).

GJ said 43 minutes later

Spiders in cars has nothing to do with age...I've had them in my car since day 1. A sunroof left cracked is the usual culprit. I'd often find a web strung across my steering wheel in the morning when setting off for the commute. In any given period, I have 2-3 of them wandering around in my car.

You'll never beat this one--I once got the old G-20 van infested with ants. It took me the better part of a month to get rid of them. :)

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Steve said about 1 hour later

I had a mouse living in the engine compartment of my old Omni GLH turbo. Boy did that thing get scared when I finally fired it up!

I feel bad, I accidentally killed a little baby garden snake the other day while trimming grass around my house. :-(

I still have three snakes living in my yard. Momma snake died two years ago, but not before giving birth to three little ones. Two of those are now grown and in the yard, and two new little ones were around...now down to one. They are great for keeping wandering sales people at bay - the big one lives under my front porch step, and likes to sun himself on the walkway leading to my porch. I had a guy walk up to the door a couple years ago, got startled by the snake, and screamed like a girl - I fell over laughing at him.... Snakes are cool, right Abby?

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Marc said about 4 hours later

I have this 6 lb furry creature that follows me around the apartment and nips at my ankles constantly. I sorta bought her though, so I guess I can't complain...

How many swats did it take to finally take that sucker down, looks like a meaty one!

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GJ said about 11 hours later

Snakes are awesome--we only see them occasionally, though. Mice, I have far too many of--they keep my traps pretty active. Maybe if we had more snakes.... :)

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Kristen said about 13 hours later

I killed that sucka with one blow! Meaty is correct, you know how we grow em! I just hope he wasn't in my hair.

I have a family of bunnies in my yard, a squirrel in the attic of my shed, and a new family of little blackbirds in one of the vents in my master bath. Yes Geoff--that's probably the animal you saw in my attic. The baby birds hatched about a week after you left. I can't wait until they learn to fly!!

No snakes yet, but that would be kinda cool. As long as they aren't in my car. Or hair.

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Geoff said about 13 hours later

Wow, no interesting critters for me other than the usual household creatures (spiders, silverfish, ants in the spring time). As long as they aren't bigger than me, I should be safe.

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GJ said about 15 hours later

Ah, yes, birds in vents. We dispatched a pair of them last year with our Blendo 2000 kitchen fan. Very fun to clean up.

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Kristen said about 15 hours later

Ew!! Poor birdies. I have opted not to use my bathroom until they have flown the coup.

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Darcy said about 16 hours later

Oh yes, the bird in the exhaust fan. I would really like to forget that one. Not a fun clean up job.

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GJ said about 16 hours later

Kristen--you would do well to put an updated screen guard on the exhaust vent. We though ours was functional until we found we had birds--and then we tried to blow them out of the vent. Little did we realize, they seemed to take that as an invitation to attack the fan. The fan won that match up 2-0.

If you can reach the exhaust fan port from the outside of the house, you can remove the nest at your discretion. Just remove the existing fan covering (if it's even still blocking the entrance, which I doubt). I have a duct extension cleaner if you want me to bring it to M&D's sometime that would be perfect to extract the nest if it's a ways into the duct. Think it's called Lint Eater, you can find it at hardware stores for about $10-20.

Depending on the type of bird, they may not leave the nest of their own accord for some time.

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Geoff said about 17 hours later

I found this worked well for blowing out wood from my exhaust fan (some old cedar shake from my room fell in...and very difficult to get out. Just turn the fan on, put a cover on the vent for about 10-15 seconds, and then take the cover off and get out of the way!

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Eric said about 19 hours later

We have a family of rabbits living under our deck. Some years they are there, some not. One year, we had a family of opossums. I didn't let them stick around. Captured the male and the rest left, never to come back. We have moles, too. They are a pain to get rid of. Haven't found a good way yet. An exterminator (friend of mine) told me to stop watering my grass. That works but the grass goes dormant (looks dead) in the middle of the summer. I would rather have soft, green grass than prickly, brown grass so I guess the moles are staying.

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GJ said about 20 hours later

You guys don't get any rain in Michigan? It's rare that you *have* to water lawns in NY, except during droughts.

Geoff--other than shortening the life of your exhaust fan, I'm not sure what else that's going to do. It's not like you're blowing up a balloon. :)

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Geoff said about 22 hours later

it cleans out your exhaust vents...trust me :)