Archive for the ‘Technology’ Category

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Geek Girl Con


27 Feb

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Posted in Advertising, Authors & Books, Games, Reading, Role Playing Games, Roller Derby, Science, Software, Technology, Television | 3 Comments »

Geek Girls Unite! Or at least come together for a great party. Boy geeks are invited, too.

I have sent in my volunteer application for the Geek Girl Con this October in Seattle. Besides being a geek girl myself (and no, I don’t care how old I am, I will never think of myself as a “woman”), I think it’s always nice to remind actual girls (you know, the young ones) that they are not alone, and that it is fun to be a geek.

If you’re looking for something to do in October, keep the Geek Girls in mind.

Violent Video Games do NOT Desensitize us to Violence


26 Feb

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Posted in Games, Science, Technology | Comments Off

There is a study out that suggests violent video games don’t desensitize people to violence. However, the article I read about the study does its best to make sure that when you finish reading, you still believe video games are BAD for children, because of course, this is just one study, and well, we all KNOW violent games lead to violent kids.

I don’t mind the restraint, (Though I’m against the reasoning behind it.) I just wish reporters could show the same restraint over studies that appear to prove our assumptions as they do the ones that go against it.

My Velocity Micro Cruz eReader


09 Feb

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Posted in Finances, Games, Reading, Software, Technology | 1 Comment »

I bought myself an eReader for birthday/Christmas. I’d spent a lot of time researching the different brands and functionality, and finally settled on the Velocity Micro Cruz Reader. It came pre-loaded with the Borders app, but because its 3rd party, I can download the Kindle or B&N apps, too.

In addition to being an eReader, the Cruz has some tablet functionality. I’m able to browse the web and download games and other apps from the Android app store. Its tablet functionality is not perfect, but considering I paid eReader price ($120), I’m not complaining. And still reading books on it.

Challenger: My First Memory of Tragedy


28 Jan

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Posted in Science, Technology, Television | Comments Off

I remember seeing the Challenger explode on TV at home, the whole family watching it on the Today show as we ate breakfast, like we watched all shuttle launches. I was 10.

It happened too late in the day for that memory to be fact. But I remember the important parts, the shock and the sadness, the disbelief, and gratefulness that our teacher hadn’t been chosen, the bad jokes that came perhaps too soon.

My father recorded the news coverage. He still has VHS tapes of the Challenger exploding. 25 years later, I don’t think I could watch without crying.

Kitchen Gadgets I Love (2)


10 Jan

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Posted in Food, Technology | 2 Comments »

We fell in love with electric tea kettles when we went to England. While some of our hotel rooms did not have clocks or phones, they all had an electric kettle. Considering we are both tea drinkers, especially when we’re sick, we quickly determined that we needed one of those at home.

During the summer, it often gets put away. But as soon as the nights start cooling down, it’s time for hot cocoa and tea.

Besides boiling water faster than on the stovetop, the kettles have an auto-off switch, which prevents them from being boiled dry when distractions arise.

Kitchen Gadgets I Love (1)


04 Jan

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Posted in Food, Technology | Comments Off

I am not the cook in the family, but I do occasionally have to do the cooking. To that end, there are some kitchen gadgets I could never live without. Number one is our rice cooker.

We used to have a small rice cooker, perfect for two people, but when it dies, we bought an industrial sized one that also doubles as a steamer. Most of the time, we make the minimum amount of rice required by the cooker, but its nice to have the option for more for lunches and dinner guests. We’ve never used the steaming function, though.

 

Terrestrial Alien Life


02 Dec

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Bonus Science Content!

NASA held a press conference today to say that a way has been discovered for life to develop on a non class M planet. (Okay, that last bit is Trekkie speak, but still.)

There are certain basic chemical building blocks to life as we know it, there’s now research showing that one of those building blocks can be altered, changing it to a chemical that is normally poisonous.

There needs to be more research, but finding extra-terrestrial life may be easier if we can challenge the paradigms of what’s needed to create life right here on Earth.

Word Counts


27 Nov

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Posted in Software, Technology, Writing | Comments Off

We recently replaced my computer. I love my faster processor and better graphics card. Plus, we got my old computer set up in the office as a print server. I planned ahead and got a copy of Windows 7, which I have no problems with. The one thing I forgot, a new version  of Office. I don’t have a copy for this new computer, and WordPad doesn’t count words. Word Press has a guestimate word counter- it counts characters, assumes each word should be x characters long, and then guesses. So for now I am counting my own words.

Jobs, Gates, and shades of gray


17 Nov

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Posted in Technology | Comments Off

In a customer review for a (non-iPad) tablet on Amazon, someone wrote that all they wanted was to be able to use MS Word, right out of the box. Imagine their surprise, and discontent when they realized it didn’t come with any Microsoft products!

Here’s the thing– the tablet is not a Microsoft product. It’s not even Windows based. In fact, the description clearly states it has an Android OS. So why would they think it should be pre-loaded with MS products? Is it because for some people, if it’s not from Steve Jobs, it must be from Bill Gates?

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