Ever wonder if that job application you sent was read? Does your mother, brother, sister, lover, friend read the emails you send?

Introducing, SpyPig.

SpyPig takes all the guesswork out of emails. The newly launched site with a catchy name uses the same sort of technology spammers use to see if your email is real and actively read. How? you ask. Spammers embed images in their emails. Once you open your email, the image loads and, a unique identifier is sent back to the spammer letting them know that yours is a valid email address. With SpyPig, you enter your email address, message title and then choose from a small selection of SpyPig images to embed. They range from a cute little pig, to a little text graphic reading "I know you’ve read my email!”. Or if you want to go incognito, choose the deceptive white box. Type up the email and then send as normal. SpyPig will send you an email back letting you know the email was read. SpyPig works with Gmail, Outlook, Hotmail, AOL, Yahoo,etc. However, it’ll only work with HTML email, so people who read their emails in plain text will find the image as an attachment rather than an embed. Rich-text emails don't work either. Regardless, it’s free.

Although I'm all for supporting the school for various things, I can't help get my head around the price of textbooks. When I had to buy a fairly thin one for one of my classes, I was surprised to have to put down almost a hundred. To this end, and having learned how much I could save by doing some work, I must say that I:

1. Support buying books from other students.
I like to do this through the site comegetused which is owned and operated by a Berkeley alumnus and an UCLA student (and dedicated to promoting the exchange of textbooks among fellow students). My profile and books, should you want them are located here.

2. Use one of two sites, as they allow you to see a wide range of offerings and sometimes coupons that can be applied, ecampus and alibris.

3. A combination of buying books from the student store, buying the same books online for serious savings, receiving these books, then returning the student store ones. In this manner you always have the books you need, but are able to get the best price.

Slightly underhanded, but tis what you need to do sometimes :P

I think there's something really exciting about the New Year. Can't just help but feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. Here are some videos of displays from around the world :)

Sydney

London

Moscow

Hong Kong

Taipei

Paris

Auckland

New York

Orlando Disney Land

Of course the best would be saved for last ;)

My favorite dance song right now, has still got to be, "In The Dark" by Tiesto. The beat, the sounds, the base... oooooh. Almost makes me want to go back to those days when I wanted to be a VJ (Video Jockey), almost.

Introducing, the Pacemaker - the world’s first professional pocket-sized DJ system.



Created by Tonium Laboratories, it features 120 GB of music storage that can be plugged in to the nearest sound system, so that you always have the ripest jams to get the room moving. It also features a table-top to mix and match your favorite songs.

Pacemaker's software automatically works out the BPMs (beats per minute) of each track, enabling you to quickly learn to match the beats between two tracks and create a DJ mix. Pacemaker works with both PC and MAC and supports all the major audio formats including MP3, WAV, AAC, OGG and FLAC files. It also features two output channels and equalizer for even more fun!

Check out this image called "The Map of Humanity."



See if you can find your closest major city. What do you think about its placement? Also, see if you can find Disneyland. I remember seeing it once, but now I can't seem to find it :P

I remember visiting my friend at the Getty Museum, while he was working there over the summer, and getting a badge for the day that allowed me to see his workspace. Anyway, it was really cool, in that, by the end of the day, the badge had slowly changed color to reveal that my badge should be voided. What a fancy way of increasing security, eh?

I think heat reactive technology is really cool. Just below, is a calendar that uses a similar process except backwards.





And here are more images of reactive wallpaper:

New update!

Some people say that I have too much time on my hands. I would have to agree, but it is still break after all. I would have to say that these people have far more time on their hands.

Who has the time to draw up a new method of nomenclature, to find all of these small items, or to process them, for that matter?

I'm not saying anything negative about this group at all; after all to have this much imagination and fun doing something, I must give props.

However, it is slightly weird us outsiders.


Onliwhol Buildiaripest blakesymmehairibiggerlik (otherwise known as a fly)


Nelipart Machapplimecho metalicircuhardunlik (otherwise known as a cog)


Nelipart Houseconjoin metalicylishinibiggerlik (a screw?)


Onlipart Porchedeco multicoirresoftotherlik (a flower?)

As someone who has worked with print for quite some time, this is somewhat humorous:



As it turns out, the mother company behind T-Mobile, Deutsche Telekom AG, has put in a legal claim to register the color Magenta with the European Brandoffice. Not sure exactly what this means but it is slightly frightening to see that something like this...



Where companies own colors like they do stadiums, broadcasts, parks, etc., can actually happen.

Following are just a couple of humorous and inquisitive protest images created by the concerned.







For more, click here.

I'm all into items that serve multiple uses (think about my desk and bed which are both very sturdy but can fold to save space), but this is crazy.


It's laughable, but practical at the same time.

Think about all those times when you heard someone other than a family member or a roomie and you had to go and check with nothing more than maybe a pen in your hand. You know you want one. Hahaha, check it out here at James McAdams

Are you simply infatuated with updating your status every other minute? Or perhaps, looking for a new way to market a new idea/product/space?

Introducing, Twitter - What are you doing?

As the site reveals, Twitter is "a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question: What are you doing?"

It comes out of the idea that "basic updates are meaningful to family members, friends, or colleagues—especially when they’re timely."

(I think these ideas are funny)
* Eating soup? Research shows that moms want to know.
* Running late to a meeting? Your co–workers might find that useful.
* Partying? Your friends may want to join you.

Twitter allows you to control how much or how little you want to know what others are doing, or what you're doing--for that matter. I've just used it for a little bit, so I haven't customized hardly anything or posted that many Twitters, but it seems pretty cool. It also seems useful in atypical ways, including as a marketing tool, flash mob tool, and means for information to be put on quickly in times of emergency.

It's pretty crazy thinking about all the things that have developed as a result of Google's influence. Perhaps one of the least looked upon side of this influence is its ability to be a reputation wrecker.

With one story gone horribly wrong, searching your name, you might find things friends, family, and even future employees might cringe at. To this end, here is a list that I found of ten things that can be done to get that negative result off of the first search page.

1. Get your own web site
2. Start a blog
3. Add a sub-domain
4. Create a social networking profile
5. Create your own social network
6. Create a business profile
7. Share your photos
8. Claim your identity
9. Create your own Wiki
10. Get a free page from Google

Additionally, this site, Ziki.com, is pretty helpful in finding out what content is available on the web with your name on it. Just type in your name and/or variations of your name and it will draw up results with your name on it.

For more information on this list, click here.

I saw this information and immediately fell in love...

Why are these among the best, most recognizable logos in the world? Put simply: They can be burned on to the butt of a cow.

While "branding" has come to mean a large-scale marketing philosophy, let's not forget where the word "brand" comes from. One of the things that makes these logos so powerful is that they are simple without being simplistic; even tiny and without color, they are easy to identify.


In the larger sense, branding is an attempt to garner an emotional response to one's products and/or services. This may include specific color schemes, design styles, advertising focus, research and development, even hiring practices. The success of a company is determined by how well they empathize and interact with their market, which is an extremely complex and long-term process. I just want to get that out of the way because this is not an article about branding in the larger sense. This is an article about the logo.

It would be hard to argue that a company's success is determined by how well their logo is designed, that simply isn't the case. It is the case, however, that quite nearly every successful company has a well designed and often iconic logo.*

Humble Beginnings

Logo-centric branding is actually an extremely new phenomenon. Some of our most beloved logos were introduced years after the companies were founded. The Rolex Watch Co. was in business for more than a decade before they registered the now-famous crown. Almost 30 years after he started making shoes, Adi Dassler added 3 stripes to the design, but it took another 22years for adidas to give us the Trefoil. Levi's distinctive red tab made its first appearance 63 years after Levi Strauss and David Jacobs patented their unique design for making pants.

These days, of course, the process works in reverse. A logo is typically the first concrete evidence that a company even exists. Most entrepreneurs have a plan for their business cards before they have a plan for their business. Something about having a logo makes a business plan feel official (even if, as it happens so often, it is doomed to fail). The logo has become such a ubiquitous necessity that entire companies devote themselves almost exclusively to turning out thousands of logos every month.

So, since we can no longer take the time to learn our market before conceptualizing a logo and since the world is already flooded with symbolic imagery, how does one decide on a logo that actually stands out in the market?

I have no idea. Remember, your branding philosophy will determine how successful you are, not your logo. However, there are some extremely important principles to remember when you decide on the face of your company.

The Great Misconception

The generally believed first-rule of logo design is that your logo should represent your company. If you are a plumber, you should try to incorporate pipes or water. If you make yachts, use the outline of a boat. A DJ should use a record. Are you in the sports industry? Make your logo look fast.

This idea is almost totally wrong. What does a bunny have to do with naked women? What can I learn about a car company when I see a stylized bowtie? What does a peacock say about a television station? Nothing. Nothing. And nothing. Your marketing strategy, not your logo, will define your business. If you are doing it right, your market will make the association no matter what your logo looks like.† It simply has to feel right.


This is one of the most hard-to-accept design doctrines, probably because it seems so counter-intuitive. The point is to create an iconic image that people will associate to your larger message. Going back to my original example, what does a rotated "15" have to do with herding cattle? Nothing. But when would-be cattle rustlers see that symbol, they understand, "This cow belongs to the Lazy 15 Ranch and if you steal it you will be shot by John Thomas." That is branding at it's finest.


Wordmark

Perhaps there is no better way to illustrate this principle than through the wordmark. Since it is nothing more than the company's name, having the wordmark send any kind of specific message is difficult. In time, this will only strengthen its associative power. Your marketing message (not the logo's look) will be exclusively responsible people's emotional reaction to your company.

Here is a frequently used illustration of the wordmark's effectiveness. These are six world famous companies:

Disney - Miller - Panasonic

Coca-Cola - Ford - Spalding

On their own, there is nothing to distinguish one from the other. However, displayed like this:


...each company comes to life. I'm willing to bet you didn't even read the names of all six companies until you saw their logos. Never underestimate the power of the wordmark. I admit, burning a cow with an intricately created "Coca-Cola" brand would be downright cruel, but that sad image doesn't diminish from the strength of that particular logo. When designed correctly (i.e. not simply typing the company name in an existing font, but creating a unique font in an appropriate style), the wordmark can be an impressive image.

Get a Designer

Which brings us to our last principle: Get a designer. The most oft-neglected step, especially for small, start-up, or local companies. Whether because of money constraints, time limitations, or simply an aversion to the creative indistry, too many companies shortchange their own image. Many decide to design their own logo, some will farm out the design to one of the aforementioned logo companies, and others will rely on someone under- (and in some cases un-) qualified to design a logo at all. Like any other part of a business, graphic design is best left to a specialist.

Take your time when deciding on a logo. Insist on several drafts with various examples. Have fun with it and allow your designer some creative leniency. You're going to be burning this image on a lot of cow butts, it may as well be professionally created.

Breaking the "Rules"

Finally, it would be naive to think that every great logo is able to be turned into a hot-iron brand. In fact, some of the best logos are far too intricate. These logos are based on a more traditional "Coat of Arms" design. Generally, coat-of-arms logos denote more class than symbol logos. They are much more elaborate and sometimes more colorful than their symbolic counterparts, but can generate the same types of emotional response.

Whatever final product you end up with, remember to treat your logo with near-parental care. Ideas drive marketing campaigns. Don't expect your logo to sell itself and certainly don't expect your logo to generate business all by itself. Build it a home, give it some room to grow, and surround it with positive influences. Slowly (very slowly) your logo may just begin to stand on its own. If you're lucky, your logo will come to symbolize not just your specific company, but your actual business philosophy.

Take one more look at those original logos and think about their humble beginnings. Apple, Volkswagen, McDonalds, Nike, Shell. Without thier long-term branding campaigns, those images mean nothing. What does an apple have to do with computers? How could a stylized "M" possibly make me hungry? And what is that silly orange shape, anyway? Now, however, they stand tall and proud. Those silly, unrelated shapes perfectly embody a grand message without saying a single word.

I'm going to get a burger...

*Not every major company has a good logo. Notable exceptions might include Berkshire Hathaway or Group 1 Automotive, both Fortune 500 companies – though it should be noted that neither company actually use their own logo to advertise their business or perform their services. MySpace is another wildly successful company with a remedial logo, though I suspect a design team at News Corp. is hard at work redesigning, modernizing, and web2.0-izing the original.

†Though almost all major companies have avoided product-specific imagery within their logos, there are also notable exceptions to this rule including Burger King, the NBA, and New Line Cinema.

‡It's interesting to note that BP and Greenpeace have recently set aside some of their differences to actually work together on some issues. Regardless of where you stand politically or how you feel about either organization, this may be the greatest evidence that BP's re-branding has been a massive success.

Here's another way to save money, coupons! I know when I heard one of my friends talking about how he had spent most of the day cutting up coupons I thought he was crazy, but if you really think about it, it's not at all. Perhaps the time involved may be crazy, but even if you're doing shopping online, it doesn't at all hurt to spend a couple minutes looking for a coupon that may, at the very least, be worth a couple dollars in savings.

There are many sites out there, but one that I like is called Retailmenot.com. It is a spin off of it's successful sister site, Bugmenot.com - login with these free web passwords to bypass compulsory registration. Retailmenot.com has numerous coupon codes for those sites that you might typically shop at online, supported by users like you.

In any case, if you're looking to save a couple bucks, try these sites. It couldn't hurt, anyway, to learn something new.

I know it's kinda of sketchy but have you ever wanted to get someone else's number yet didn't want them to have your real number in the exchange? Or have you wanted to sign up for any number of things only to feel unsure about giving out your real phone number?

Introducing, two services:

Numbr.com
Numbr offer free disposable, real phone numbers.

You can get numbers in any area code that you want. You then select when you want the number to expire – an hour, a day, a week or a month. The disposable number is discreetly forwarded to your real number, so you can get a verification call if needed by the company. After said time the phone number becomes invalid so you never have to worry about any more calls.

Brring
If you need a number that is going to last for longer than a month and you want to make money off of your callers then Brring might be for you.

You get paid every time someone calls your Brring number. The caller calls your Brring number and listens to a short (5 second) advertisement. They are then forwarded right to your normal number without ever knowing what your normal number is.

They have ads about travel, cars, electronics, fashion, politics, etc.

Although I haven't used this service, I was just thinking that one could use this number for those free offers you might see at expo's, fairs, etc. that involve a phone number (since they will not know your real number and you'll be getting money from it).

I don't normally like toys, but this is pretty awesome:







It makes me want to step up from the mascot costume I made for last Halloween to make something even better, a box robot costume.

So simple and yet so complicated. Hahah, more images can be found here.

Playing Apples to Apples yesterday, it was interesting to see how many Japanese references there were. Not sure if it was wholly a good thing or not. I mean with things coming out of Japan like Human Tetris and Anime, I'm never really sure the things Japanese culture becomes tokenized as is beneficial or hurtful to an otherwise very rich and diverse culture. Anyway, similarly related to the at times bizarreness that comes out of Japan is this dude.



He creates instruments out of vegetables. Slightly amusing, though I would be more impressed if he were to play some songs from any Zelda game with that Ocarina of his.

Similarly related to the colorful artistry of Chuck Anderson, is Daniel Eatock and (in particular) his Pantone Pen Prints.



He set pens in a frame and stood them, on their nibs, on a large stack of paper.

Here are the specs from his site:

Pantone Pen Print
Dimensions: SRA1 640 x 900mm
Edition Size: 73 original prints

– One complete set of Letraset TRIA Pantone markers
– arranged in the colour spectrum
– left for one month
– resting on their nibs
– on a stack of 500 SRA1 sheets
– 70gsm uncoated white paper

The edition number was determined by the number of sheets the ink bled through from 1 through the possible 500.

The numbering of each sheet corresponds to the position it was within the stack and also determined its value.

The final sheet the ink reached, (furthest from the top) was numbered 1 / 73 and valued at £1, the one above numbered 2 / 73 and valued at £2 etc. The top sheet (the sheet the pens rested on) was numbered 73 / 73 and valued at £73

I find this simply amazing. I think I'm even more amazed by a statement that came with his work:

Eatock's predictive construct removes the artist's hand from the pen, reverses the role of the paper, and allows its characteristics and positioning to become the most influential aspect of the work. Balanced on their nibs each of a set of 288 felt tip pens releases ink that expands into the layers of a ream of paper, making each layer of this multi-print different. This predicted variety is translated into a gambling tension for the consumer that chooses to purchase an unknown result on an unseen layer.

Makes you wonder, huh. "Why didn't I think of that?"

-Ethereal
-Colorful
-Contemporary
-Bold
-Sparkly
-Magical
-Optimistic
-Multilayered
-Powerful
-Urban

Here is Chuck Anderson's Site. I really like "Godlike" and "Humanlike."


Must be the color :P

Not sure why I notice things like this, but for better or worse have you ever noticed how hot dogs wieners and hot dog buns don't come in equivalent pack numbers (for instance, 8 wieners and 10 buns)? What about the ties on bread colors?

Apparently, bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a week (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday). Each day, consequently, has a different color twist tie. They are:

Monday - Blue

Tuesday - Green

Thursday - Red

Friday - White

Saturday - Yellow

The colors go alphabetically by color Blue - Green - Red - White Yellow, Monday thru Saturday, which is fairly easy to remember. Not sure if this is an industry standard but it is mostly applicable. It'll help you tell, for instance, if it's Tuesday, that you shouldn't buy that week old red tie bread.

To that special person out there ;)

Ever wanted to turn a hobby into, at the very least, income on the side? The answer to your dream isn't that far off with the explosion of the web.

First of all, although most all websites have a webmaster, do they have a graphic designer? Not likely, unless the webmaster also has this skill. There are, as a result, many places where webmasters will look for freelancers to do logo/banner design work.

http://www.getafreelancer.com
http://www.freelancedesigners.com
http://www.marketingtools.com

If you're more creatively inclined, there are any number of contests out there.

Digital Point
Photoshop Contest
Worth 1000
SitePoint

If you're into something a bit more tame, but still necessary, there are lots of jobs for photo retouching.

Picwash - Has a young consumer base
Glenn Feron - A little bit more professional

If you're into designing something for use by a lot of people, design high quality photoshop brushes. There are apparently people that will pay for really nice, high definition brushes. Plus, they're not too hard to make.

Lastly, there is some demand for ebook and report cover designers as most of these sellers are of a business mindset.

Hands down it has got to be the name for the Thai capital, Bangkok (heck I don't even know if I spelled it right).

Krung­thep­maha­nakorn­amorn­ratana­kosin­mahintar­ayut
thay­amaha­dilok­phop­noppa­ratrajathani­burirom­udom
­rajaniwes­mahasat­harn­amorn­phimarn­avatarn­sathit
­sakkattiya­visanukamprasit

I love my Thai friends, but I'm glad I don't have a friend with a last name this long :P

This site is pretty cool. It gives you a daily recipe to try out.


Here is the recipe for today, Fresh Apricot Thai Salad.

Prep: 10 min.

* 2 cups sliced fresh apricots
* 2 cups diced cooked chicken
* 1 cup sliced cucumber, peeled and seeded if necessary
* 1 cup bean sprouts, rinsed
* 1/4 cup rice vinegar
* 1 Tbs. chopped fresh cilantro
* 2 tsp. sugar
* 1/4 cup vegetable oil
* 1/2 tsp. chili oil
* 1 package leafy salad greens
* 2 Tbs. coarsely chopped peanuts
* 1 lime, cut into wedges

In a large bowl, combine apricots and next 3 ingredients; set aside. In a small bowl, combine vinegar, cilantro, and sugar; whisk in oils. Toss salad with vinaigrette and arrange on plates that have been lined with salad greens. Sprinkle with peanuts and garnish with line wedges.

Courtesy: California Fresh Apricot Council

Per serving: calories 396, fat 27.8g, 61% calories from fat, cholesterol 65mg, protein 21.4g, carbohydrates 18.3g, fiber 4.0g, sugar 11.8g, sodium 65mg, diet points 9.9.

Dietary Exchanges: Milk: 0.0, Vegetable: 0.7, Fruit: 0.7, Bread: 0.0, Lean meat: 2.5, Fat: 3.5, Sugar: 0.1, Very lean meat protein: 0.0

The only problem with this is that you need to have the items available to create this delicious goodness.

For a student who may only have the bare minimum at any given time, this site is very helpful. All you do is put in the quantity of various items you have in the fridge or that you want to cook with. It'll give you a recipe based on the food you have.

Cooking made easier.

PS: Happy D(ivorce)-Day by the way!

With the new year, of course, came new laws. One of the more significant ones was one which furthers California's consumer identity--You're now able to get a redemption on gift cards that are $10 or less.

As the San Jose Mercury writes:

On Jan. 1, consumers will be able to redeem gift cards for cash if the balance is less than $10, thanks to a new law sponsored by state Sen. Ellen Corbett, D-San Leandro.

Currently, gift cards worth less than five dollars can be subjected to dormancy fees and a store can refuse to give the remaining value back in cash no matter how small the value.

Richard Holober, Executive Director of the Consumer Federation of California, which is based in San Mateo, said, 'Consumers should be aware that any dormant gift cards they have worth less than $10 can be redeemed for cash starting Tuesday.'

Holober said, 'As long as the card was bought 1997 or later, you'll get your cash back. After all, the retail store or restaurant chain was already paid for the full value of the gift card.'

The new law, SB 250, makes California the most consumer-friendly state in the nation when it comes to gift card laws. Vermont allows cash back for up to $1, while Washington and Montana laws give money back up to $5.

This means that if you wanted to, you could see some rewards using credit cards that give you X percent rewards.

For instance, with 10% you could buy a $10 gift card at an art store, buy a wooden pencil (let's say worth 10 cents), redeem the $9.90 card for cash, and see 90 cents in profit.

Just a thought. Anyway, there are a couple provisions to this law:

1. If the card can be used to buy goods or services from multiple unrelated stores, such as an American Express™, MasterCard™, or Visa™ gift card, it is not covered by this California law.

2. Cards can have a redemption date, by which the recipient must use the card (or else receive a full refund of the amount paid for the card).

3. Although gift cards cannot charge a service fee, they can charge a dormancy fee for non-use.

4. This California law does not apply to prepaid calling cards, cards distributed to consumers without charge under an awards, loyalty or promotional program; cards sold below face value at a volume discount to be used for fundraising purposes if the expiration date is 30 days or less after the date of sale; or cards issued for food products or grocery items.

Make your own Paper Bird!









My only question, why no bird saying ano or 什么?

Paperbirds

In hearing that BART raised its prices, I intended to check to see what was going on, but instead got sidetracked by this:


Hahaha, get it? Bay Area Rapid Transit...

Kk, so anyway, BART did raise it's fees slightly at least for the most part. At the same time, it also increased train frequency, lengthened lines that stopped at Daly City, and made some time changes.

Following is the complete low down, so that you don't get shortchanged next time you need to use the real BART:

New year brings more trains more often; 33% increase in service, faster commutes, better SFO/Millbrae service and modest fare adjustment.

The new year has brought new and improved BART schedule with more trains, more often - especially at night, on weekends and along the San Francisco International Airport (SFO)/Millbrae extension. To see how the changes affected your trip, use the BART QuickPlanner, download a mobile BART QuickPlanner for your Apple iPod, Palm or Pocket PC device or check schedules by line or station.

Starting January 1, 2008, BART began providing enhanced service including:

* More trains, more often after 7 p.m. Monday-Saturday and all day Sunday
* Double the trains to most stations on the San Francisco International Airport (SFO)/Millbrae extension
* Faster commutes times and direct service from Millbrae to downtown San Francisco
* Earlier start time for train service to SFO

33% SERVICE INCREASE MEANS MORE TRAINS, MORE OFTEN
The schedule change means more frequent service after 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday and all the time on Sunday. During this time period trains run every 15 minutes instead of every 20 minutes.

FASTER, MORE FREQUENT SERVICE ON SFO AND MILLBRAE LINES
Also with the new schedule, the popular Pittsburg/Bay Point (Yellow) line began serving SFO at all times and the Richmond (Red) line now goes directly into Millbrae Station. This means that commuters going from Millbrae to downtown San Francisco see a six-minute (16%) drop in their travel time.

MONDAY - FRIDAY 4 AM TO 7 PM:

* Pittsburg/Bay Point (Yellow) line goes directly to SFO instead of Dublin/Pleasanton (Blue) line
* Richmond (Red) line goes directly to Millbrae

MONDAY - FRIDAY AFTER 7 PM, WEEKENDS AND HOLIDAYS:

* Pittsburg/Bay Point (Yellow) line goes directly to SFO instead of Dublin/Pleasanton (Blue) line
* Dublin/Pleasanton (Blue) line replaces the Richmond (Red) line and goes directly to Millbrae

The two lines combined provide San Bruno, South San Francisco and Colma commuters with double the number of trains - so there will be a train every 8-10 minutes compared to the old schedule, which had waits of up to 20 minutes.

OTHER ENHANCEMENTS/CHANGES:

* New train to SFO Station from downtown San Francisco for those catching early morning flights on weekdays. The train

arrives approximately 16 minutes earlier than the previous scheduled arrival
* Richmond or Red Line starts one hour earlier (around 4 AM) with direct service to downtown San Francisco and Millbrae
* Direct service from Millbrae to SFO is eliminated, however during most times there will be a timed transfer to SFO at San Bruno

MODEST FARE ADJUSTMENT - BETWEEN 10 AND 30 CENTS

Starting January 1, 2008, the second in a series of four, CPI (Consumer Price Index) based fare adjustments also took effect.

But the modest, 5.4% increase still offers commuters a significant savings over driving especially when you consider gas prices have shot up a whopping 30% in California since BART last had a fare increase.

Most BART commuters are seeing between a 10- and 30-cent increase in fares, making the average fare $2.92 or 21 cents/mile. That's less than half the cost of driving a car, which the American Automobile Association puts at 52 cents/mile. Since BART fares are distance-based, the fares on the shortest trips have gone from $1.40 to $1.50. The longest commute trip, between Pittsburg/Bay Point and Millbrae, has gone from $6.30 to $6.60.

In May 2003, the BART Board of Directors approved raising fares every other year based on the average of inflation over the course of two years minus 0.5% to force BART to find cost savings instead of relying on inflationary revenue increases.

Here is Imagineering Loo's first post. It's really touching, hopefully it will make you smile too :)



Don't miss out on more exciting entries by the way! Click here to subscribe to a savory feed.

Although there are a lot of people already on this service, I haven't gotten into Skype until recently with the purchase of a webcam (which is a cool little thing that provides "the best possible images no matter what kind of light," hence makes me happy).

Anyway, Skype is pretty nifty in that you're not only able to talk to anyone with an account for free but contact businesses and other locales with phone numbers, as you might normally, though from the convenience of your computer with the help of your computer/webcam's microphone.

It's also just like AIM in that you're able to talk with others online, except there's no typing involved (a plus for those wanting to multi-task) and you do not always have to have your video on (a plus for those who might not look their best at the time).

I think it's pretty cool overall, so I'll probably be using it for a while--especially to contact friends who are great distances away.

Don't know if you've ever checked out Gizoogle, which is a client that translates web pages for you. It's fun at first, but then it gets kind of old.

Recently, I've been playing around with two other clients:

Google H4x0r which is their service in leet speak, and

Elgoog which is Google spelled backwards (pretty self explanatory).

These search engines add a unique spin to the otherwise robotic functions they serve on a daily basis.

Somewhat related to these alternate means of searching for queries, is Googlism which shows you to see what Google "thinks of you, your friends or anything!" You simply type in someone, somewhere, time, place, etc. and Googlism tells you what it knows about that query.

In terms of the Bay Area, Googlism reveals (amongst a host of results):

bay area is stunning during spring
bay area is a very popular tourist destination
bay area is a veritable cornucopia of museums
bay area is said to be the size of 52 football fields
bay area is an art oasis
bay area is undergoing rapid changes and facing serious challenges
bay area is home to one of the most dynamic and vigorously growing economies in the nation

For those who still haven't had their boredom solved after checking out this post, there are still two more things you can do related to this whole Google subculture.

The first is called, Googlewhacking. This is a Google search query consisting of two words, that returns a single result.

Seems simple enough and yet it's not that simply done. For instance, an example of such, before being publicized, was "ambidextrous scallywags." I've come close with a few queries, but it's still fun to try.

The second is called, Google Dueling. This is when you play with a friend to create two related searches and award points based on who has more results (ie. searching food and drink).

As Firefox and Google have partnered together, to make participation in all of these activities much easier, make the switch or at least try out what I think is a very good browser. See the link at the very bottom of this page and have fun Googlewhacking and/or Dueling!:P

Having taken Political Psychology, I've developed a new fondness for psychology and how it impacts our lives. Particularly, this is with regards to matters that are fairly intrinsic to how we operate.

Here is a collection of surveys, test, and articles that I've found particularly interesting about this topic :)

Tests and Surveys

Have you checked out what your Personal DNA is? I'm an Advocating Director which does actually seem pretty accurate. What are you? NOTE: This test takes a little while, but the results are really intriguing (including ways to change any given facet of your personality as you see fit).

Academic ones care of the BBC:

Memory training
Try to improve your recall using World memory champion Andi Bell's technique.

Explore your memory
Stretch your memory with fun challenges designed by experts.

Art and personality
Is there a connection between your personality type and the art that you like?

What sex is your brain?
Take the Sex ID test and find out more about 'brain sex' differences.

Do you see what I see? - Sagiv and Ward, UCL
Is Wednesday red? Take part in our experiment to test whether your senses overlap.

Do you hear what I hear? - Sagiv and Ward, UCL
Do melodies have a color? Take part in our experiment to test whether you hear colors.

The 'What am I like?' personality test
A test where you discover if you are a Big Thinker, an Idealist or another of 16 personality types.

Disgust - Dr Valerie Curtis
What makes you squirm and say "yuck"? Test your sensitivity to disgust.

Spot the fake smile - Prof Paul Ekman
Can you tell a real smile from a fake one?

Personality - Neil Scott
Who do you think you are? This psychology test scores you on five aspects of your personality.

Morals - Dr Keith Coaley
Are you a pillar of society, or do you look after number one? Find out how moral you are.

Lonely hearts - Prof Robin Dunbar
Make your lonely hearts advert to reveal the hidden message of attraction.

Careers - Neil Scott
What style of work suits your personality?

Self-control - Paul Rincon
Are you a slave to your habits? Test your self-control against the rest of the nation.

Perfectionism - Dr Randy Frost
Do your friends tell you you're fussy and meticulous? Find out if you're a perfectionist.

Articles

For those who use urinals, have you ever thought about how long it takes to urinate in relation to how personal space is violated? Check out this study.

Cognitive Dissonance is the tendency to deal with things that don't fit into our norm. For instance how we might be Catholic but support abortion. How do we deal with this? Find out more, here.

Isn't it a scary thought to think that if you decide to get with someone, or are with someone, you're probably going to end up looking like your partner? Hahaha, I think it's scary at least. Check out this study.

War technology is pretty complex nowadays, but what about Pigeon-Guided Missiles?

Are we programmed to laugh when tickled? I don't know what I think, because whenever I'm tickled I don't really laugh... it's more vocalized anger... but then again, I am slightly awkward :P

Fear and panic are really interesting matters, especially with regards to politics (remember 9/11?). Heheh, here are two studies that might strike a fancy.
Alien Invasion
Stop Staring at Me!

There are so many antidepressants out there, why not use semen as well?

Switching gears... the Agentic Shift is a pretty big deal in Political Psychology, coming out of Milgram's various experiments. It really helps reveal why Professor Zimbardo's experiment to emulate a prison setting, went so wrong.

...Awww, how I miss Political Psychology :P

There are a lot of interesting offers out there promising this and that, and although they may look great in the beginning, things may not continue to pan out that way after subscribing.

Despite the fact that I had not had any real problems with one called InboxDollars, I still couldn't help but think, what do they have going on? This was because, despite the fact that you get a certain number of cents for each email read, the minimum to cash out is exorbitantly high. Check out this math:

You get $5.00 upfront and lets say $.02 for each email.

Furthermore, you need $30.00 to cash out.

That means, if you don't do any of the deals listed on their site (which in some cases are sketchy, involving credit cards and whatnot) you must read...

30=5+.02x
25=.02x
x=1250 emails

1250 EMAILS?

Think of all the cookies they must install on your computer, and how much advertising revenue this must all accumulate to.

Luckily, I only did this for a little bit before checking. Consequently, I have canceled my account.

So yes, this is just a warning about signing up for this and that. On the outskirts of this page are sites that I am registered for and have seen returns from. Also posted are relevant ads from google about content on the page :)

I just received $1.16 from The UpDown for beating the S&P 500. Time to go out and buy a pack of gum.



Hahaha, seriously though, if you've ever wanted to learn how to invest or even play around in the stock market, this is an excellent opportunity to do so.

Check out this link to receive a personal invitation to The UpDown, so that both of us can profit from each other's experience :)

I don't recall why I had to use Internet Explorer a few days ago, but I do recall me constantly asking why. I mean, having used Firefox for quite sometime, I've gotten used to such perks as user-friendly tabbed windows, weather reminders, and mouse shortcuts.

It would be kind of nice if IE could bear some resemblance to it's more hip cousins, kind of...

So Firefox is cool, but what could be cooler? Firefox and your best friends of course!

Introducing, Flock - the browser for people who like to be connected.

Internet users spend a lot of time going from one site to the next, keeping up with a variety of friends and interests. Flock pulls all of your favorite people, places and content together in a convenient view and delivers a more personal experience of the web, where its users are more easily connected to what's important to them.

Flock features the ability to sync with:
-Facebook so you always know what's going on (including when you receive new messages and invites)
-Flickr so you can have quick access to your favorite pictures
-Your favorite rss feeds so you know what's going on (you can subscribe to your favorite news sources and your choice blogs... hint hint)
-And so many more services

In all, though the extensions need to get up to where Firefox is, Flock is still a pretty amazing browser at least worth trying, especially, for the person wanting to be in the know!

You know, Karel Capek, the playwright who first used the word "robot"... except in an alternate way?

Hmmm, not really, now that I think of it... what the heck am I trying to write. Oh, I know!

Have you heard of HIT? HIT stands for Human Intelligence Task and it is the means behind Amazon's newest deal.

Introducing, Amazon Mechanical Turks: Paid to Write, Search, Review & More.

A fairly interesting way to earn a couple bucks. As technology has increased exponentially, so has the need (apparently) for tasks that only us humans can do.

After registering, you can choose from any number of tasks (ie. Writing reviews, descriptions and blog entries for websites; filing out surveys; looking for images). Upon completion, you submit your work. The company then reviews it, and after approval, you get your money.

Upon last check you could earn $15 for one task, but I was rather appalled by the amount of work it involved (finding 200 professional documents in 24 hours? Even if you find them, that is still 62.5 cents per hour). It seems kind of like a sweatshop to me more than anything else.

Anyway, if this is your kind of thing, more power to you; but this is one thing that I would want to stray away from.

In preparation for future videos and images, posted here, I wanted to try this out.



Here is a quickly edited video I made after waiting for dinner to arrive with friends.

Don't know why I watched The Price is Right today with Brian, but when I did, I was thoroughly impressed.

Out of all the shows, Samahang Pilipino was making an appearance;
Out of all, the people in the audience, one of their members was chosen;
And out of all the contestants, this member had won the showcase.

Apparently, it had happened a while back, but I digress...

I saw this information and was equally impressed. It has to do with using a site's URL to your shopping advantage. Specifically with regards to Amazon.com you have the following nodes (or numbers that correspond to categories--think Dewey Decimal System):

Node 16310091 - Industrial &; Scientific
Node 172526 - GPS and Navigation
Node 165796011 - Baby
Node 404272 - VHS
Node 1036592 - Apparel & Accessories
Node 1040668 - Shoes
Node 3367581 - Jewelry & Watches
Node 599858 - Magazines & Newspapers
Node 283155 - Books
Node 5174 - Music
Node 130 - DVD
Node 16261631 - Unbox Video Downloads
Node 468642 - Computer & Video Games
Node 229534 - Software
Node 13993911 - Amazon Shorts
Node 172282 - Electronics
Node 1065836 - Audio & Video
Node 502394 - Camera & Photo
Node 301185 - Cell Phones & Service
Node 541966 - Computers & PC Hardware
Node 1064954 - Office Products
Node 11091801 - Musical Instruments
Node 1055398 - Home & Garden
Node 1057792 - Bed & Bath
Node 1057794 - Furniture & Decor
Node 3370831 - Gourmet Food
Node 284507 - Kitchen & Housewares
Node 286168 - Outdoor Living
Node 12923371 - Pet Supplies
Node 15684181 - Automotive
Node 228013 - Tools & Hardware
Node 16310101 - Grocery
Node 3760911 - Beauty
Node 3760901 - Health & Personal Care
Node 3375251 - Sports & Outdoors
Node 165793011 - Toys & Games

Furthermore, you have any combinations of percentages (ie. &pct-off=70-80 [for 70% to 8% off] or &pct-off=95- [for 95% or more off]

Using the following URL, you can get the items(s) you're looking for at lower prices (where you would replace the bold blue numbers with your desired combination):

www.amazon.com/gp/search/?node=1065836&pct-off=75-90

I used this to search for a new speaker system and was able to a find awesome savings.

Try it too!