Android KitKat

So if you don't follow along, Google has been naming their Android OS versions after desserts for some time (I think since "D").  The latest two were Ice Cream Sandwich and Jellybean (I'm running Jellybean on mine).  The latest version?  KitKat.

In response, Nestle launched new KitKat candybar ads that mock the way Apple positions its products with artsy-yet-techy language.  Quite humorous.  Enjoy.

Tip of the hat to dad's alma mater

Heard this great welcome to the freshmen speech this morning from a Georgia Tech student.  Since my dad is a GT alum, thought I would share...

Blurred Lines

I often don't find Jimmy Fallon that great, but this is awesome.

Funny - conversations with my 2 year old

This is funny, and I have totally had similar conversations occur in our household.

The second episode is pretty great too....  Subscribed.

Hysterical - Sad Dog Diary

Some Friday funny for you.

Buttermilk "plays" with her "friends"

THIS.

This is why I like goats.  Go Buttermilk!

Tech Talk: Google Glass

Image from Google Project Glass Google+ page (linked)

Forget tablets.  While I had been debating Android versus iPad for a while as to what tech "toy" to pick up next (yes, I have a Kindle Fire, a Samsung Galaxy S2 Skyrocket Android phone, and an iPad 3 for the family, but there's always another toy you can buy), I really came to a conclusion not too long ago that none of those make a sufficient laptop or computer replacement (particularly in terms of writing capabilities, etc.), and that if I were to head down a "PC replacement" path, I might start saving my pennies for an Ultrabook.

That said, there's still a market for "web toys" where I classify all of the tablets, etc., so I still may want to have something to play with.

But Google has now made the decision for me.

Forget 10 inch versus 7 inch.  Forget Android vs. iOS (well, don't forget it because Android's going to win here).  Google Glass has changed the entire game with a completely different device footprint altogether.

With a tiny eyes up display, you can augment your world with the web.  OK, maybe not entirely, but that's the concept.  Overlay information on reality.  It's all futuristic.

With development pre-versions selling for $1500 next year, it will be a while before I grab this little toy, but I definitely want one - wave of the future, wave of the future.

Check out this video that Google released to demonstrate (and potentially oversell, but we will see) the capabilities.




 And then this video from Google I/O just shows some of the capabilities from a video capture format. Enjoy!

Chicken Fried Bacon and other delights

So I did not get a chance to try fried beer or fried frozen margaritas this weekend at the State Fair of Texas, but I did get to check out Chicken Fried Bacon, a corn dog, frito pie (not the deep fried type), and some curly fries.

It was a much less adventurous food outing than last year, but I did squeeze in a football game (although we lost by a touchdown).  I am still confused about how you can "change your mind" on accepting or declining a penalty.

Anyway, the food at the fair was good and greasy, as per my expectations, and I will just have to file away fried beer as something to try out next year.  I may have to try riding the "Windsurfing" ride as well - it's a crazy ride that appears to flip you repeatedly and occasionally spray you with water.  Here's a video of it in action (at another fair):

Good Podcast

So I suppose that it is appropriate as we near Thursday, September 2 (that's right, the beginning of NCAA College Football for 2010 is just one week away), to share a (pretty well known) podcast that I enjoy throughout the year (even though it is more frequent during the fall): 

ESPNU College Football Podcast with Ivan Maisel and Beano Cook. 

I'll admit, when I first subscribed to the podcast last year, it took me a while to get used to Beano's nostalgic moments, but overall, I have to say I enjoy the insight they give week after week.  And when I went all "crazy insane about Big 12 Realignment news" day after day this summer, it was interesting to get two or three podcasts from these guys with their speculations (which were less accurate than my "prediction" that it was done realigning and the Big 12 would stop at 10).  Then again, not even I thought that was going to be the outcome.

Over the summer, there was even a fleeting reference to I think the 1980 Baylor conference championship in the old Southwest Conference.

Who knows, maybe we'll hear some Baylor talk this year as well.

Entertainment Anywhere

Hey, I didn't say that every day this month would be some mountainous, meaningful content.  Just something.

So today, wanted to share a link to a quite entertaining "urban improv" group called Improv Everywhere.  They basically go around and perform scenes or sketches out in public, video them all, and post them on their site for all to enjoy.

I initially saw their Ghostbusters video (filmed at the New York Public Library) on a link from my friend Stacy, and then just last month was entertained again, when they shared this lovely gem:

The Halfway Point and Monkeys on Twitter

Rhesus Macaque by Paul and Jill (Not the Tampa Monkey)
Licensed under Creative Commons

So here we are, at the halfway-ish point through the month, and in reviewing what's been posted so far, there seems a healthy mix of things worth posting and junk that was just a day's filler.  Hopefully it gets better for you, but I can't promise much.  Today's post is this (filler).

It is a little odd to call this the halfway-ish point, though, because as I am putting this out there, there are really only three more posts to write, so I'm really 90% done with the month, but August 15, 21, and 22 were not finished.  So here's your August 15 post, and I'll come up with SOMETHING of value for August 22, I am sure, though my thoughts right now are for a walkthrough of what to find on my blogs which you probably have already found or an analysis of why I don't like Facebook anymore, which really amounts to little more than I think the CEO seems like an insolent little jerk, but then again I was probably an insolent jerk ten years ago, too. (Who am I kidding, I probably still am)

Anyway, I do wish to sincerely offer my hope that the "chasing content around my pages" exercise for the past two weeks has been fun (and fun enough that you keep doing it through August 31), as it has certainly been a challenge to create that much stuff (hence the filler posts).  Still, it has inspired me in different ways (one of which is now going to be my topic for a post next weekend on either the 21st or 22nd.  See how the thought process works?).

And that said, let me introduce you to one of my favorite Twittererererers to follow:  The Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay.  This monkey lives in the Tampa Bay area and tweets often about his monkey exploits.

OK, seriously, I know it is not a real monkey (probably).  But it's funny.  And the truth is, there is a REAL MONKEY that lives in Tampa Bay and is referred to as the Mystery Monkey of Tampa Bay.  And yes, I think ABC needs a proofreader to tell them that "Simeon" is a name and "Simian" refers to primates.  But whatever.

Regardless, the twitter account is still funny and worth checking out if you do such stuff.

Hope you are having a nice weekend, and enjoy reading about Weihenstephaner Vitus tomorrow on my beer review.

Llamas.

If you have not seen these, you should.  And be disturbed.  And enjoy.  I think this is appropriate for Friday the 13th.  I mean, it's no Templar Massacre of Friday, October the 13th, 1307, but, you know.  Llamas!






And once you're done with those, you can stop over at FilmCow and see all their other weird disturbing things like Charlie the Unicorn.  Banish paraskevidekatriaphobia!

Good Podcast

So, since this is my blog for actual blogging, and not really talking about projects (because I have like 20 other sites for talking about specific things), I thought I might throw random interests and things on here.  Yes, because I'm blogging like it's 1999.

But, as you may or may not realize, I have about a 30-40 minute commute every day back and forth from work.  That's a lot of empty driving time.  So, I choose to fill it up with podcasts.  That said, I thought I might throw some recommendations to a podcast or two from time to time.

Today's Podcast recommendation: The Scotchcast - Since I like Single Malt Scotch Whisky, these guys are interesting to listen to, if not just to get a little bit of the pretentious talky-talky about what flavors are hidden in the nose of various drams.

I will say, that they have, in fact, even influenced my purchasing decisions on one occasion, when I went out and purchased the Caol Ila 12 Year - an Island malt that got an average 8.25 score.  While I was a bit surprised at first based on their description, I did find that I liked it after a few attempts.

I may have to pick up the Dalmore 12 Year on their recommendation, too (especially since it is not particularly expensive).

Listen on!

Lollyphile

Stumbled across this while browsing another interesting link, figured I'd save it and share it.

Caffeinated Maple Bacon Lollipops don't sound awesome to me, but Absinthe?  Bourbon?  Pomegranate Tangerine?  Hmmmm.

What I can't get over is ten bucks for a single lollipop, but it still sounds intriguing enough.

http://www.lollyphile.com/