Dual-Screen Laptops?! Yes, They’re Real (and Coming Soon)
The computer nerd in me really, really wants one of these.
Having your browser, iTunes, IM, TweetDeck (
), Word, Skype (), Photoshop, video editing tools, folders, and more open at the same time…well, it just takes up a lot of screen real estate. On a 15.4″ laptop, you can only fit so much before your screen is piled with program after program.
gScreen, an Alaska-based notebook designer and manufacturer, aims to solve that problem, no matter where you are, with what can only be described as the PC version of a two-headed hydra: the dual-screen laptop.
Don’t believe us? Here are a few pictures that Gizmodo got its hands on:
Each monitor slides, so that you can move the gScreen around compactly. Now that is awesome.
Here are the specs for this beast, listed on the gScreen website:
- 2 LED backlit display screens
- Windows VISTA ()/ WIN XP PRO (optional)
- Intel Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26-GHz
- 4 GB of RAM (2GB DDR2 SO-DIMM x 2)
- 320GB 7200-rpm HD
- NVIDIA® GeForce® 9800M GT with 512MB dedicated memory (or)
- NVIDIA® Quadro FX 1700M Graphics with 512MB dedicated memory
- 9-cell battery
- IEEE 1394 1 Graphics Card Output (15-pin, D-Sub) X 1, HDMI X 1 Mic-in X 1, Line-in x 1, Headphone X 1 PCI Express Card X 1 AC Power Adaptor Output: 19V DC, 90W Input: 100~240V AC, 50/60Hz universal Battery Pack Li-ion 9 cells
This laptop is clearly meant for professional designers, programmers, filmmakers, and others that regularly need two monitors to get work done. Two-screen set-ups just allow you to get more done (thus why I use a two-screen set-up). There are disadvantages though, like the power drain two screens will cause and the sheer weight, estimated at 12+ pounds. And, of course, the price may be a deal-breaker: around $3000.
Still, this thing could do wonders for the productivity of digital professionals everywhere. And you may not have to wait long to get your hands on one; the company hopes to have the gScreen on the market by Christmas.
Source & Credits: Mashable.com
What do you think? Would you buy one of these two-headed beasts? Let us know in the comments.
Things That You Never Noticed About Pokemon
by Gregory Gay - 08.29.09
Pokemon is a pretty crazy franchise. Sure, any series that has had that many titles is sure to get complicated, especially one full of hundreds upon hundreds of characters. There are bound to be tons of cool little facts and references that have fallen through the cracks.
Fortunately, I’m crazy enough to have put in the time and effort to research a few of the cooler ones. Did you know about the relationship between Pokemon and the Sega platformer Pulseman? How about the origin of Mareep’s name or the reason why certain Pokemon occupy certain Pokedex positions? Oh, and do you know truth of what lies beneath Cubone’s mask?
Do I have your interest? Read on, young Pokemon trainer.
Shocking Pulseman references
Anyone remember Pulseman? It was a sweet little platformer for the Sega Genesis. Did you know that it was developed by Game Freak, the creators of Pokemon? Well, it turns out that Game Freak has been hiding little references in their Pokemon games all along.
This is Rotom, an electric ghost Pokemon. Take a look at the picture of Pulseman. Now take a look at Rotom. The design look familiar?
These guys are members of Team Galactic, the antagonists in Pokemon Diamond and Pearl. Their Japanese name is “Ginga Dan,” or “Galaxy Gang.” The bad guys in Pulseman were also called the Galaxy Gang. Coincidence?
If that wasn’t enough for you, Pulseman’s special move is called the voltteccer. Pikachu’s final smash in Super Smash Bros. Brawl just happens to be the “volt tackle.”
Goldenrod City Gym needs a new decorator
Goldenrod City is pretty big. There’s tons of stuff to do, but I imagine the first thing that you did was run straight for the gym. Hey, I’m not blaming you. It’s pretty likely that I did the same.
So, you get into this gym. The first thing that you probably noticed was that they arranged a bunch of massive flowerpots in a maze that forces you to fight every person lurking in the place. How rude of them. Anyways, did you notice what shape those pots form?
Goldenrod City Gym’s flower pots have been arranged to form a Clefairy when viewed from above. It’s almost like they knew that you would have a flying overhead camera viewing your trainer’s every movement.
Oh, and girls, way to spread the stereotype that girls only like pink fluffy things.
Mareep dreams of electric sheep
I’ve always liked Mareep. Not in the Scotsman-with-a-fetish kind of way, mind you. Mareep is just a cute name. It’s catchy. Ever wondered where it came from?
Well, the most obvious way to look at the name is in a literal reading. Mareep is a combination of Mary (who I hear had a little lamb) and sheep. Of course, the scientist in me also digs that Mareep is an anagram of ampere, the measure of electrical current.
Speaking of interesting names, we have Girafarig, a giraffe with a head on both ends of its body. Appropriately, it’s name is a palindrome, the same both forwards and backwards.
Switched at birth?
Take a look at Venonat there. Isn’t it a cute little ball of fluff? Focus for a second. Take note of its eyes, nose thingie, and hands.
Now take a look at Butterfree. Butterfree is Metapod’s evolution, but if you didn’t know that, you’d probably swear that it was Venonat’s evolved form. All of those features that I told you to focus on appear to be almost identical on Butterfree. The same is true if you compare Metapod to Venonat’s evolution, Venomoth.
Were they switched at some point in the design process?
An obsession with numbers
So, you know the Pokedex, right? Every Pokemon has a number. Well, those Pokemon weren’t just numbered randomly. There is some interesting placement in there. For instance, take Pikachu. Yell rat, everyone knows who he is. Well, Pikachu is number twenty-five in the original Pokedex. By itself, that’s meaningless, but consider that Meowth is number fifty-two. Yep, twenty-five and fifty-two are opposites, as are the cat and the mouse. Clever. That also explains why Team Rocket used Meowth as their main Pokemon!
Want another one?
Meet Little Mac, the puny 107 pound boxer from Nintendo’s Punch-Out series. On the right is Hitmonchan. Anyone remember Hitmonchan’s Pokedex number? Yep, it’s 107.
Speaking of numbers, the Pokemon namers seem to have a slight obsession with the topic. Of course, there’s the obvious Mewtwo. He’s the clone of the god-like Mew. Slightly less obvious are the legendary birds. Remember them? Articuuno, Zapdos, and Moltres.
Oh, and who could forget the glitch Pokemon - Missingno!
Your tour guide to Japan?
Too poor to go to Japan? I feel your pain. Turns out that the Pokemon games (red/blue/green/yellow and gold/silver/crystal) might just be half-decent tour guides. Sure, everyone knows that the regions that you hike in those games are named after regions of Japan (Kanto and Johto, for instance). What isn’t so obvious is that their geography is also vaguely modeled after those real-world regions.
That image up there not enough to convince you? Here are a few more examples.
Oh, and it isn’t just the outlines. Certain landmarks correspond as well. Did you know that Saffron City is Tokyo? That Indigo Plateau is Mt. Fuji? How about that Cinnabar Island is the Oshima Volcano?
One more thing - did you know that there are only two real-world locations mentioned in the Pokemon games? If you read the diary in the mansion on Cinnabar Island, it states that the explorers were searching for Mew in Guyana. Also, the gym leader Lt. Surge has the nickname “The Lightning American.” Which, I guess, is an indication that America exists in the Pokemon universe.
Cubone is kind of messed up
[Note: This one is fully based on rampant internet speculation and likely has no truth to it. It stays in because it’s a fun theory anyways. So there.]
Yeah, I’m stating the obvious and all. The guy wears his mom’s skull on his head. Have you ever wonder what a Cubone might look like without that skull on? Prepare to have your mind blown.
Yeah. Cubone could be a Kangaskhan. Now, this should leave two thoughts in your head. If you’re me, the first thing that comes to mind is, “How does wearing your mom’s skull make you a separate species?” I’m willing to just let that one drop, Pokemon isn’t exactly something that you hold to strict scientific standards. I mean, Slowpoke evolves when a Shellder attaches to its tail? How is that a real change in its species? Also, why the hell are Dugtrio and Magneton considered evolutions when they just combine three Pokemon of the prior form? Why aren’t they just three Pokemon that like to hang out?
The second thought? “This is totally fucked up.”
Kids, that is why poaching is bad.
Source: 4colorrebellion.com
The top 10 hacks of all time
Even as the National Association of Software and Services Companies (Nasscom) is collaborating with Mumbai Police to observe Cyber Safety Week, DNA takes a look at the top 10 hacking incidents of all time -- instances where some of the most seemingly secure computer networks were compromised Early
1990s
Kevin Mitnick, often incorrectly called by many as god of hackers, broke into the computer systems of the world's top technology and telecommunications companies Nokia, Fujitsu, Motorola, and Sun Microsystems. He was arrested by the FBI in 1995, but later released on parole in 2000. He never termed his activity hacking, instead he called it social engineering.
November 2002
Englishman Gary McKinnon was arrested in November 2002 following an accusation that he hacked into more than 90 US military computer systems in the UK. He is currently undergoing trial in a British court for a "fast-track extradition" to the US where he is a wanted man. The next hearing in the case is slated for today.
1995
Russian computer geek Vladimir Levin effected what can easily be called The Italian Job online - he was the first person to hack into a bank to extract money. Early 1995, he hacked into Citibank and robbed $10 million. Interpol arrested him in the UK in 1995, after he had transferred money to his accounts in the US, Finland, Holland, Germany and Israel.
1990
When a Los Angeles area radio station announced a contest that awarded a Porsche 944S2 for the 102nd caller, Kevin Poulsen took control of the entire city's telephone network, ensured he is the 102nd caller, and took away the Porsche beauty. He was arrested later that year and sentenced to three years in prison. He is currently a senior editor at Wired News.
1983
Kevin Poulsen again. A little-known incident when Poulsen, then just a student, hacked into Arpanet, the precursor to the Internet was hacked into. Arpanet was a global network of computers, and Poulsen took advantage of a loophole in its architecture to gain temporary control of the US-wide network.
1996
US hacker Timothy Lloyd planted six lines of malicious software code in the computer network of Omega Engineering which was a prime supplier of components for NASA and the US Navy. The code allowed a "logic bomb" to explode that deleted software running Omega's manufacturing operations. Omega lost $10 million due to the attack.
1988
Twenty-three-year-old Cornell University graduate Robert Morris unleashed the first Internet worm on to the world. Morris released 99 lines of code to the internet as an experiment, but realised that his program infected machines as it went along. Computers crashed across the US and elsewhere. He was arrested and sentenced in 1990.
1999
The Melissa virus was the first of its kind to wreak damage on a global scale. Written by David Smith (then 30), Melissa spread to more than 300 companies across the world completely destroying their computer networks. Damages reported amounted to nearly $400 million. Smith was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison.
2000
MafiaBoy, whose real identity has been kept under wraps because he is a minor, hacked into some of the largest sites in the world, including eBay, Amazon and Yahoo between February 6 and Valentine's Day in 2000. He gained access to 75 computers in 52 networks, and ordered a Denial of Service attack on them. He was arrested in 2000.
1993
They called themselves Masters of Deception, targeting US phone systems. The group hacked into the National Security Agency, AT&T, and Bank of America. It created a system that let them bypass long-distance phone call systems, and gain access to private lines.
Source & Credits: DNA India
1990s
Kevin Mitnick, often incorrectly called by many as god of hackers, broke into the computer systems of the world's top technology and telecommunications companies Nokia, Fujitsu, Motorola, and Sun Microsystems. He was arrested by the FBI in 1995, but later released on parole in 2000. He never termed his activity hacking, instead he called it social engineering.
November 2002
Englishman Gary McKinnon was arrested in November 2002 following an accusation that he hacked into more than 90 US military computer systems in the UK. He is currently undergoing trial in a British court for a "fast-track extradition" to the US where he is a wanted man. The next hearing in the case is slated for today.
1995
Russian computer geek Vladimir Levin effected what can easily be called The Italian Job online - he was the first person to hack into a bank to extract money. Early 1995, he hacked into Citibank and robbed $10 million. Interpol arrested him in the UK in 1995, after he had transferred money to his accounts in the US, Finland, Holland, Germany and Israel.
1990
When a Los Angeles area radio station announced a contest that awarded a Porsche 944S2 for the 102nd caller, Kevin Poulsen took control of the entire city's telephone network, ensured he is the 102nd caller, and took away the Porsche beauty. He was arrested later that year and sentenced to three years in prison. He is currently a senior editor at Wired News.
1983
Kevin Poulsen again. A little-known incident when Poulsen, then just a student, hacked into Arpanet, the precursor to the Internet was hacked into. Arpanet was a global network of computers, and Poulsen took advantage of a loophole in its architecture to gain temporary control of the US-wide network.
1996
US hacker Timothy Lloyd planted six lines of malicious software code in the computer network of Omega Engineering which was a prime supplier of components for NASA and the US Navy. The code allowed a "logic bomb" to explode that deleted software running Omega's manufacturing operations. Omega lost $10 million due to the attack.
1988
Twenty-three-year-old Cornell University graduate Robert Morris unleashed the first Internet worm on to the world. Morris released 99 lines of code to the internet as an experiment, but realised that his program infected machines as it went along. Computers crashed across the US and elsewhere. He was arrested and sentenced in 1990.
1999
The Melissa virus was the first of its kind to wreak damage on a global scale. Written by David Smith (then 30), Melissa spread to more than 300 companies across the world completely destroying their computer networks. Damages reported amounted to nearly $400 million. Smith was arrested and sentenced to five years in prison.
2000
MafiaBoy, whose real identity has been kept under wraps because he is a minor, hacked into some of the largest sites in the world, including eBay, Amazon and Yahoo between February 6 and Valentine's Day in 2000. He gained access to 75 computers in 52 networks, and ordered a Denial of Service attack on them. He was arrested in 2000.
1993
They called themselves Masters of Deception, targeting US phone systems. The group hacked into the National Security Agency, AT&T, and Bank of America. It created a system that let them bypass long-distance phone call systems, and gain access to private lines.
Source & Credits: DNA India
18 cool things Windows 7 does that Vista doesn't
From Windows 3.1 to Windows Vista, the Windows operating system has taken many giant leaps. And while Vista received a lukewarm reception from some users, Windows 7 is likely to be remembered for addressing those criticisms.
In fact, there aren't many changes to the overall look of Windows 7 when compared to Windows Vista. Instead, Microsoft seems to have paid attention to the feedback it received and created an OS that is not only stable, but also very capable.
So what is new in Windows 7? Here are 18 cool things Windows 7 does that Vista doesn't.
1. Shake 'em away
Ever had 10 Notepad, two Powerpoint and 50 Outlook windows open? Want to minimise all of them except the most important one? In Windows 7, you can grab the top of the window and shake it about to scare away all of the other open windows. Simple.
2. Jumplists
Jumplists are a new feature that give you the option to view a list of recently accessed files by application, even when the application isn't open, by right-clicking on the application's icon in the taskbar. It also allows you to quickly access a favourite playlist without opening your media player. Jumplists can also be found integrated into the Start Menu.
TIME-SAVER: The Jumplist for Windows Explorer – pretty useful
START HERE: A Jumplist integrated into the Start Menu
3. A step forward in previewing
In Vista, hovering over a minimised window on the taskbar would provide a preview of the window. In Windows 7, a similar preview pops up which also gives the option to close a window (within the preview), along with a full-size 'peek'. You can also press Win + T to scroll along previews in the taskbar.
PREVIEW PLUS: A smaller preview, along with a full-size 'peek' with the ability to close the window
4. Snap into place
Simply drag your window to the left or right edge of the desktop to snap and resize the window to one half of the screen. Drag the window to the top to maximise it. A pretty neat idea made neater by the use of the keyboard shortcuts (Win + respective arrow keys). No longer do you have to frustratingly position the mouse at the edge of the window to resize it.
5. XP Mode
This time, you do not have to slap your head that same way when Vista would not run an XP application. For those XP applications that do not work under Windows 7, you can download XP Mode free from the Microsoft website and run XP applications in an emulated XP environment in Windows 7. Imagine Parallels on Mac OS X without the need to fish out money on an extra OS.
6. An easier and quicker way to adjust multiple displays
Do you constantly connect your computer to different external monitors or projectors, especially at work? Try Win + P, and duplicating or extending your display to the other monitor takes just a second. Win + P presents you with an Alt + Tab style menu, which is ideal if you give a lot of presentations at work on your laptop.
7. A personalised Stage for your device
With the new 'Device and Printers' button on the Start Menu, devices which are connected to your computer can have their own Stage. This Device Stage presents supported devices with a photo-realistic render and a link to the vendor's website, along with other updates and useful information (such as firmware updates and manuals).
8. (Almost) eliminate the notification area!
What, I can even get rid of the clock and volume icons? Yes. Click the arrow that gives access to the overflow icons in the notification area and click 'customise'. Select each icon and click 'hide icon and notifications' to remove it. Clean.
QUIETER: Stop all those notifications – but you might want to keep the clock there
9. Problem Steps Recorder
The 'Problem Steps Recorder' lets you record a particular problem you are having with your PC so you can send it to someone who may be able to help. Click 'Record', and a screenshot is taken with every mouse click, allowing comments to be added in between if required. These screenshots (and comments, if any) are placed in a well-formatted HTML document that is placed inside a zipped folder on your desktop - ideal to be attached to an email.
A PROBLEM HALVED: Simple, yet so effective. Send this to tech savvy friends or even manufacturers
10. A brand new Magnifier tool
If you are, or someone you know, is visually impaired, then the Windows 7 Magnifier provides two options for providing a bigger display. One of which is using the traditional dock (which took up a lot of the screen) and the other being a rectangular lens that is stuck to the cursor (meaning there is no loss of workspace).
UP CLOSE: A sleek new magnifier that follows your cursor, without decreasing your workspace
11. A new way to preview your music files
Opening and listening to an MP3 is a lot more snappier with Windows 7 due to its new smaller preview player, presenting you with album art, basic music functionality and a link to the full-blown Windows Media Player. This is an obvious attempt to mimic the preview feature of Mac OS X, but it is very well executed.
MUSIC PREVIEW: The new preview is simple – and loads up very quickly
12. Homegroup Networking
In Vista (or, frankly, any Windows OS), creating a shared folder over a network at home could be a bit of a pain. In Windows 7, using the 'Homegroup' wizard, check the default folders you would like to share. This will give you a passcode that will have to be entered in another computer on the same network to share the files. Sounds too good to be true? There is a catch: only a Windows 7 computer can join a Homegroup.
13. Stream Music directly to another computer
If you do create a Homegroup, Windows Media Player allows you to stream music directly to another computer. So, instead of listening to music through your measly laptop speakers, you can wirelessly stream to the 7.1 Surround Sound Speakers of your PC in your living room, without stepping away from your laptop. Sweet.
14. Action Center
The Action Center is the new Security Center for Windows 7, along with other notifications such as updates and access to the improved troubleshooting and recovery using restore point facilities. Basically, it is everything windows usually annoys you with, rolled into one place with one icon in the notification bar. If you find the alerts irritating, you can check out this tip to make the Windows 7 Action Center less annoying.
15. Pin just about anything to the new Windows Taskbar
Imagine a blank Mac OS X Dock with the start menu, the notifications bar and the improved 'Show Desktop' button added to it. Drag just about anything on to it and the associated application will place itself on the translucent taskbar, with an option to open the file in the Jumplist.
16. Improved Touch Navigation
Windows 7 has much improved touch navigation. The larger taskbar with squarer icons makes it a lot easier to navigate with your fingers, and Macbook-like multi-touch gestures on various applications could change the way you interact with windows. Subtle enhancements such as a larger Start Menu appearing when Touchscreen hardware is detected also help.
17. Native ISO Burner
There are those times when you inevitably have to burn an ISO file (such as when you have to copy a downloaded Windows 7 beta or RC) to a DVD. With Windows 7 you do not need to download third-party software (some of which are pretty confusing to use). Double-clicking on an ISO file will take you to a window that allows you to change the disc burner drive. Click 'Burn'. After a while, your disc is ready. Simple.
FINALLY: Burning an ISO file has never been so easy
18. Native calibration tools
If you tend to hook up your computer to an HDTV or care about getting the highest quality from your monitor, then the in-built basic and easy-to-use calibration tools built into Windows 7 will please you.
Source & Credit: TechRadar.com
Top 10 Things Better Than Sex
While researching this article I found so many things listed as “better than sex” that I started to wonder why anyone bothers at all anymore…
We’ve had sliced bread for quite a few years now so I guess the saying “it’s the best thing since sliced bread” has lost it’s impact because the new catchphrase for the ultimate comparison is that it’s “better than sex”.
Of course some people prefer food to sex so I guess sliced bread is better than sex in some cases… Confused yet? Keep reading!
10. Housework?
Photo by by Ciorra Photography
Over 30% of women surveyed claim that “cleaning gives them more satisfaction than sex”.
These are the results of a survey of two thousand women for the National Housework Survey of Great Britain 2006. Regarding this survey, the Independent Daily reported that “even in an age when women are making economic strides and excelling in the workplace, the one thing that gives the majority a sense of empowerment is a good go around the house with the vacuum cleaner — followed by some cleaning and dusting.”
These must be the same women who don’t find Mr. Muscle or the Brawny paper towel guy the least bit distracting. I mean who wouldn’t like a ‘good go around’ with one of these guys?
9. Dating A Vampire
Uploaded by Roberto Rizzato ?pix jockey?
Fans of the book or the movie Twilight know that you can’t have sex with your vampire boyfriend or he will probably kill you in a passionate fit. But you’re willing to make that sacrifice because you just love him so much.
He’s so wonderful that it’s all worth it – he’s extremely handsome, drives an expensive car, and he actually glitters in the sunlight. (Now what teen girl isn’t a sucker for glitter?)
Did I mention that he might sneak into your bedroom and stare at you all night while you are sleeping? Or that he’s condescending, emotionally distant, and rather sarcastic? Oh, and his body is ice cold, he’s murdered people in the past, and his friends and family instinctively want to drink your blood?
But I don’t care, mom, he’s dreamy!
8. Weight Loss
Photo by Laura Jones
According to a survey at AOLHealth.com, 26% of the moms who participated would rather “lose 10 pounds” than “have more sex”. Even more of them (30%) would rather “make more money” (not surprising, since you don’t actually get paid anything to be a mom…).
7. Music
Photo by by Shery Han
Findings from a survey conducted by Marrakesh Records: “Music is hugely important… 60% of 16-24 year-olds would rather go without sex than music for a week. This increases to 70% for 16-19 year-olds.”
Okay, I now have this whole teen sex/abstinence thing figured out – the RIAA (Recording Industry Association of America) should only prosecute pregnant teens and their boyfriends for downloading music illegally, that should be more effective than Bristol Palin’s Abstinence Campaign! Once a few kids are prosecuted and word gets around, teen pregnancies will decrease (of course, music downloading may increase…)
6. In Vitro Fertilization (IVF)
Photo by zetson
On the opposite side of the sex spectrum, I propose that IVF is better than sex if you’re trying to get pregnant…
Why take your chances with the genetic lottery system that is lovemaking when you can go embryo shopping with in vitro fertilization (IVF)? With IVF, you can get a Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis (PGD) – described in an article written by William Saleton at Slate.com as “a technique for weeding out flawed embryos”. At first PGD was used to identify (and reject) embryos that had fatal infant diseases. It was also only offered to high risk couples. But now, it’s being used to select an embryo based on a much wider scope of criteria (gender, non-fatal diseases and disorders). Just imagine what the possibilities are going to be like in the future (hair color, IQ, athlethicism, etc).
Now why would any practical (and wealthy) person choose to have a baby the old way- where you don’t know what you are going to get- when you can create your own custom kid? Think of the children! Is it fair to send your natural spawn to school with a bunch of genetic super kids?
5. Sports
The term better than sex is described as “a euphoric experience, often food-related, quite similar to an orgasm. Usually used by women, as for most men there is nothing better than sex” (urbandictionary.com). Nothing except sports, that is –
Why sports are better than sex:
1. People watch and cheer when you score.
2. If you don’t like your team you can wait until your contract ends and then play with someone else.
3. You can count on it all season.
4. You can watch it going on in your local bar.
5. It lasts over an hour and might even go into over time.
6. You can have a coach on the sidelines while you are doing it.
7. Action replays.
8. Protective equipment can be washed and re-used.
Apparently a lot of people have spent a lot of time coming up with lists of reasons why various sports are better than sex. I guess if you’re not ‘getting any’ you have the spare time…
Why soccer is better than sex:
1. You can be on top for 80 minutes and still come in second.
2. You can score using your head or your feet.
3. Size doesn’t matter. (jokewallpaper.com, The O’Byrne Files http://homepage.eircom.net/~nobyrne/choc.html)
Why hockey is better than sex:
1. A two-on-one or three-on-one is common.
2. People still play hockey after they are married.
3. Periods only last 20 minutes.
4. You can change players on the fly.
Why juggling (…juggling?) is better than sex:
1. You can juggle your balls in front of your grandma.
2. You don’t need a partner.
3. There’s nothing wrong with having blue balls. (thespoof.com)
Of course if you are a professional juggler you might as well pretend you don’t like sex very much, because you probably have the opportunity… unless there’s a cute mime who has the hots for you, or perhaps a unicyclist –
4. Sleep
Video by DonovanGroup
According to the Sleep Well website based out of Stanford University there are at least ten reasons why sleep is better than sex.
Among them: “sleep can last a good eight hours (or more)” and “while sleeping you can have sex with anyone you want”.
UK website The Independent reported that “almost 80 per cent of Britons prefer a good night’s sleep to sex”. This comes from a study conducted by the Edinburgh Sleep Centre where “79.2 per cent [of over 8,500 people] admitted they preferred the thought of extra sleep to sex.”
Of course, this could be one of those win-win situations: if you make sleep your priority at night that might give you more energy for all sorts of activity during the day (hint, hint)…
3. Food
Photo by Bob.Fornal
Food wins out over sex in so many ways. Most obviously, because you can order it in or enjoy it all by yourself without being judged…
There are 326 recipes called “Better Than Sex Cake” at Cooks.com alone. There is also one recipe at the same site called “Almost Better Than Sex Cake” – I’m guessing this is by the one home chef who has actually sampled both?
Of course if you prefer cookies, here is a better than sex cookie recipe.
I’ve also never heard anyone use the saying, “eat your brains out”… In fact, many foods are actually good for your brain. An article at cnn.com cites a study at Wheeling Jesuit University (West Virginia) that indicates that chocolate can improve “memory, attention span, reaction time, and problem-solving skills”.
Not convinced? Compare this to having sex “on the brain”, which has the exact opposite effect, causing: forgetfulness, distraction, and the inability to think clearly.
Chocolate is also an aphrodisiac, so if you choose chocolate over sex you may still end up with both…
2. Cell Phones
A survey conducted by Dial-a-Phone, a cell phone retailer in the UK, reported that “24 percent of women, but zero percent of men, would rather give up sex than their mobile phone for a month” (itwire.com). This makes sense, since I’m sure at least 24 percent of women have realized that a cell phone is better than a man (or woman, if that’s your thing):
1. You never have to prepare meals for your phone: in fact, it will help you get food delivered.
2. You can tell a phone to be silent or choose to ignore a phone without hurt feelings.
3. You can turn a phone on several times in a row – it’s always ready to go and it’s energy will lasts for hours (if not, you can just replace the battery).
4. A cell phone doesn’t care if you talk while the basketball game is on. In fact, the cell phone will let you watch Pride and Prejudice for the 27th time instead, if that’s what you want.
5. It has a call history that you can easily access to see if anyone else is pushing your phone’s buttons.
6. A cell phone is a silent witness to your long chats with your friends and does not make any sarcastic comments about them afterwards.
7. A cell phone doesn’t keep you from asking for directions, in fact it will get them for you.
8. A cell phone is almost always in your car yet it never comments on your driving.
9. A cell phone set to T9 mode will hang on to your every word and anticipate what you are trying to say.
10. And there’s always that handy vibrate mode if you get lonely…
1. The Internet
According to Judy Mottl’s article The Internet: Better than Sex?, an Intel-sponsored survey found that “46 percent of women and 30 percent of men would rather abstain from sexual activity for two weeks than go without Internet access for the same timeframe. The percentage spikes higher, to 49 percent, among women ages 18 to 34 years old and to a whopping 52 percent for 35 years old to 44 years old.” (wi-fiplanet.com)
Reasons given by the same article for why the Internet is so important:
1. The ability to stay in touch with family and friends.
2. More efficient shopping.
3. A better grip on personal/financial activities thanks to online services.
I’m pretty sure that making any of the above claims about your sex life would just get you into trouble!
Honorable Mention:
The Microwave -“A survey of 1000 Australian women found most women voted for the microwave as the most liberating invention of the past 30 years” says an article on Australian website news.com.au. This survey was sponsored by Lean Cuisine, the frozen meal company, so I find it a bit suspicious. The dishwasher came in second and the pill lower on the list. Australian microwaves must have different features than the ones around here. Or perhaps, if you stand in front of one long enough, you don’t need the pill?
Source & Credits: Toptenz.com
23 Sweet things to say to your girlfriend - She would love to hear them
Here is the truth: girls love compliments. They are very emotionally sensitive and tend to be more affectingly sophisticated to words than guys.
They react like little girls whenever some part of their astounding attributes (especially physical) are noticed and loose control whenever it happens. They need a lot of attention to satisfy their emotional needs and giving compliments can one of the best ways to do so.
The following might be considered romantic things to say to your girlfriend, but at the same time can also be poetic, funny, Philosophical, silly, weird, etc, but I prefer saying that they are sweet.
Sweet things to say to your girlfriend:
Silly
1- You're so sweet. I might go diabetic
2- If I was superman, you will be my kryptonite
3- Thanks to you, I’ve fallen in love and I can’t up
4- I wish I had glasses so I can see you with four eyes
5- You are my girlfriend because you’re more than just a girl, you’re my friend
6- A million dollars is nothing compared to the number hugs of I can give you
Normal
7- You are my best friend
8- Your voice is sweeter than honey
9- Our love is friendship, but set on fire
10- If it wasn’t for you, there would be no me
11- To me, your smile is brighter than the sun
12- When I close my eyes at night the first thing I see is you
13- If I had a million words to say, they will all be I love you
Poetic/Philosophical
14- Without you, a second is infinity and with you, infinity is a second
15- Your name is the drumstick that strikes the instrument of my heart
16- If my love for you was visible, it would not fit in the space of the universe
17- When you’re away, I feel 50% empty, when you’re with me I feel 101% complete
18- I think about you every second of every minute, 25 hours a day, 8 days a week of all the 13 months of the year and in the undefined infinity of all eternity
Rhymes
19- Without you am just simply blue
20- Your voice sounds better than all my favorite songs put together
21- If one plus one equals two, than me and you would equal a number that is new
22- Tonight I have the right to hold you tight with all my might for the rest of my life
23- If you were to give me a kiss overload, I would faint because my chest would explode
The above quotes can also be considered nice things to say to your girlfriend because they are not rude, but polite and stay within the limits of respect. If she becomes your wife one day, she might remember these quotes with a pleasant memory. Unfortunately, we men have little consideration at times for the emotional needs of our partner and forget that women love to hear similar sayings once a while.
Source & Credits: Article alley
They react like little girls whenever some part of their astounding attributes (especially physical) are noticed and loose control whenever it happens. They need a lot of attention to satisfy their emotional needs and giving compliments can one of the best ways to do so.
The following might be considered romantic things to say to your girlfriend, but at the same time can also be poetic, funny, Philosophical, silly, weird, etc, but I prefer saying that they are sweet.
Sweet things to say to your girlfriend:
Silly
1- You're so sweet. I might go diabetic
2- If I was superman, you will be my kryptonite
3- Thanks to you, I’ve fallen in love and I can’t up
4- I wish I had glasses so I can see you with four eyes
5- You are my girlfriend because you’re more than just a girl, you’re my friend
6- A million dollars is nothing compared to the number hugs of I can give you
Normal
7- You are my best friend
8- Your voice is sweeter than honey
9- Our love is friendship, but set on fire
10- If it wasn’t for you, there would be no me
11- To me, your smile is brighter than the sun
12- When I close my eyes at night the first thing I see is you
13- If I had a million words to say, they will all be I love you
Poetic/Philosophical
14- Without you, a second is infinity and with you, infinity is a second
15- Your name is the drumstick that strikes the instrument of my heart
16- If my love for you was visible, it would not fit in the space of the universe
17- When you’re away, I feel 50% empty, when you’re with me I feel 101% complete
18- I think about you every second of every minute, 25 hours a day, 8 days a week of all the 13 months of the year and in the undefined infinity of all eternity
Rhymes
19- Without you am just simply blue
20- Your voice sounds better than all my favorite songs put together
21- If one plus one equals two, than me and you would equal a number that is new
22- Tonight I have the right to hold you tight with all my might for the rest of my life
23- If you were to give me a kiss overload, I would faint because my chest would explode
The above quotes can also be considered nice things to say to your girlfriend because they are not rude, but polite and stay within the limits of respect. If she becomes your wife one day, she might remember these quotes with a pleasant memory. Unfortunately, we men have little consideration at times for the emotional needs of our partner and forget that women love to hear similar sayings once a while.
Source & Credits: Article alley
Dangers in the Deep: 10 Scariest Sea Creatures
10. Moray Eels
Snakelike body, protruding snout and wide jaws. These primitive creatures just look like death. They're fish, by the way, and they can be up to 8 feet long.
A bite from their razor-sharp teeth and powerful, locking jaws will produce ragged wounds that are prone to infection from the bacteria inside the eels' mouths, according to NOAA. The good news: If morays bite out of fear or by accident (especially when foraging for food), they will usually release their grip and let you go.
They tend to hide in crevices and holes during the day, then hunt at night. They'll eat any fish or other creature they can catch.
Some expert advice, from NOAA, on how to avoid being bitten by one: Keep your hands out of submerged, rocky holes and crevices. Oh, and avoid this common diver gaffe that leads to many moray eel bites: Don't feed them!
9. Sea Lions
Really? Sea lions? Yes, because they're very territorial.
They're considered cute, trainable and are major attractions at zoos, but have been known to bite people.
In California, a spate of vicious sea lion attacks reported at Manhattan beach, Newport beach and San Francisco back in 2006 led to growing concern among caretakers and scientists. Some researchers suspect the sea lions may have eaten fish contaminated by toxic algae, which may explain the uncharacteristic behavior.
The city of San Diego warns on its web site "Like all wild animals, seals and sea lions are unpredictable and can become aggressive quickly. They have sharp teeth and may bite, particularly if cornered or harassed."
8. Stingrays
Just the name practically qualifies these creatures for this list. And the death of "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin by stringray in 2006 certainly solidified the reputation of these shark cousins as dangerous beasts.
The tail of of a stingray is capped with a roughly 8-inch spear made of the same stuff that makes up shark scales, known as dermal denticles. The spear, which stiffens when the stingray feels threatened, is serrated like a steak knife and packs a venom that can be deadly to predators.
"The venom itself is a largely protein-based toxin that causes great pain in mammals and may also alter heart rate and respiration," according to the Mote Marine Laboratory.
Stingrays don't typically attack humans, however.
7. Crocodiles
Saltwater crocs have earned a reputation as one of the wild kingdom's most ferocious predators.
They can grow more than 20 feet long and weigh 3,000 pounds, and they have been known to hunt a wide range of prey, including monkeys, kangaroos, buffalo and even sharks.
Relying on purely brute strength, they are capable of dragging down water buffaloes and have occasionally victimized humans. Using an attack method known as the "death roll," crocodiles kill their prey by latching on with their jaws and then taking down the dinner with a powerful, twisting roll. The technique is also employed to break apart large animals.
6. Lionfish
Popular in home aquariums, these docile fish sport a striking fan of venomous spines.
Although not fatal to humans, the spines deliver a painful sting that can cause headaches, vomiting, and respiratory distress, according to NOAA. The worst of the pain typically lasts only for about an hour, but some people report pain and tingling sensations for weeks.
Lionfish are not aggressive. So the fact is home aquarium owners are more likely to be stung by lionfish than divers or fishermen.
5. Sea Snake
The innate human fear of snakes propels these slithering swimmers to the list. However, the truth is that while sea snakes out-venom their terrestrial counterparts, they're highly reclusive and so not much of a threat.
Still, sea snakes are related to cobras, so when it comes to venom, they know what they're doing. Their bite paralyzes and kills prey in seconds. They rarely attack humans though, preferring to hunt eels, shellfish and shrimp.
4. Pufferfish
You don't even have to be near water for this creature to kill you. The pufferfish, also known as a blowfish, packs tetrodotoxin -- stronger than cyanide. Specially trained Japanese chefs prepare safe parts of the fish as a delicacy, but every now and then a diner dies.
The puffer, named for its ability to suck in water and swell to twice normal size, could end up saving people: a drug made from the puffer's toxin has been tested for treatment of withdrawal symptoms from drugs like heroin.
3. Stonefish
This one nearly tops the list for two reasons: It's the most venomous fish in the world, and it's a master of disguise, hiding in plain sight on the seafloor, looking like any other rock.
The stonefish doesn't attack, but you don't want to step on it. Its spines are used as defense against sharks and other predators. The venom can cause temporary paralysis and death if not treated.
2. Tiger Shark
Yeah, yeah, the great white shark gets all the attention. But reality is tiger sharks kill more people. And few things (other than snakes) automatically terrify people more than sharks.
Tiger sharks will eat anything: fish, seals, birds, squid, small sharks, dolphins, license plates and pieces of old tires, according to NOAA. They can be up to 18 feet long and weigh a ton. Take that, Jaws!
Tiger sharks are found in many tropical and temperate waters, and they are especially common around islands in the central Pacific. For the record: Great whites do attack more people each year, on average.
Oh, and a little detail that explains why sharks aren't No. 1 on this list: The number of people attacked by sharks worldwide each year -- a few dozen -- is roughly equal to the number killedby lightning just in the United States. Only four people around the world died from shark attacks last year.
1. Box Jellyfish
These gelatinous creatures are flat-out deadly.
While no official tallies exist, anecdotal evidence suggest dozens of people and perhaps more than 100 or more die each year from the many species of box jellyfish that exist in all oceans.
Some 20 to 40 people die from stings by box jellyfish annually in the Philippines alone, according to the U.S. National Science Foundation. "But because death certificates are not required in many countries within the range of box jellyfish, worldwide fatalities from box jellyfish may be seriously underestimated," the NSF states.
One Australian box jellyfish can have dozens of tentacles, each up to 15 feet long, with enough toxin to kill 60 people. The sting of a Chironex fleckeri box jellyfish can kill a person in less than three minutes. Species of box jelly fish in Hawaii, Florida and other U.S. locations are known to induce heart failure.
Honorable mention goes to the Portuguese man-of-war, a jellyfish with a sting said to be as painful as a lightning strike -- though it's not clear how many people are actually able to make that comparison.
Source: LiveScience.com
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