Interesting Idea: Would you buy this?

I came across this new product while scanning my favorite tech blog Gizmodo today. Normally, I'm not for cutting corners, but after being in Wisconsin Dells and making my fair share of pancakes last weekend, the idea seems pretty appealing.

Basically, it takes the same idea as Readi-whip in a can, but sprays out USDA certified organic batter that becomes tasty pancakes or waffles. The convenience and presumed tidiness compared to having the inevitable batter drips around the griddle seem to overcome the awkwardness of using a pressurized can.

I can also see this being an ideal solution for camping trips - presuming one has access to to cooler to keep it refridgerated.

One can reportedly makes 8 pancakes, so I'm guessing the convenience will cost you. And be sure to post in your comments whether you'd buy this or not.

Check out their website to search for avaialability near you.

How NOT to Handle One's Comcast Problems

I've blogged about my dislike for Comcast's VOIP phone service in the past. (read HERE, then HERE for all the details and horrid reminders).

But apparently, Comcast knows how to treat their other customers just a crappily (I just made that word up) as they did to me. A 75 year-old woman, Mona Shaw decided to switch from Verizon for Comcast's Triple Play service package. When they couldn't get the service operating, Mona took her trusty hammer and drove to the local Comcast office - and then proceeded to use said hammer to bash all sorts of Comcast property while shouting "Do I have your attention now?"

(Aside: I don't think that it was intended by Mona, but that's an AWESOME parody to Verizon's marketing slogan. "Can you hear me now?")

Mona, I can sympathize with your dilemma, but violence rarely works in these types of situations. Keep good notes, demand fair compensation, and blog about it so you can vent instead of releasing your rage in more physical iterations.

[Washington Post via Gizmodo, photo from Washington Post]

An MP3 player I WON'T be purchasing...

I'm all about sharing my faith with others, and I'm definitely a geek to the core. So just as two great things like chocolate and peanut butter are best together, one would think this would be the ideal end to my new MP3 player odyssey. But mixing two good things sometimes creates very bad results: brownies with Ex-lax, electricity with water, and drinking with driving come immediately to mind.

This thing makes me ill just looking at it - for geeky and spiritual reasons...

(and yes, it's real. You can buy it in 1, 2, and 4GB sizes here. )

[Source: CNet via Engadget]

Airwolf: Donations for Memorabilia Needed

Normally I have a healthy dose of sarcasm in my posts, but I'm totally serious with every word I'm typing. My all-time favorite show growing up was Airwolf (far beyond Knight Rider).

• It started with the smokin' theme song
• that awesome helicopter pictured above (with retractable guns and rocket launchers, "sun burst" defense system, bullet-proof exterior, and in later episodes the lazers).
• The way "the lady" looked in the "lair": Airwolf's hidden hangar in a butte in some desert.
• The characters: Strinfellow Hawk (Jan Michael Vincent), Dom Santini, Archangel.
• The cool air battles at the climax of each episode showed off what this fine specimen this vehicle and it's writing truly was.

Right now, I have to find creative ways to purchase one of the 26 helmets on eBay that are available from the show. Bids start at $700 and Buy Now is $900. This is geek memorabilia in it's purest form.

Please help!

It's Back!!! Basement Update

Although I haven't received any requests for updates on our basement, I'm sure you're all eager to read what's up...

I've steadily (my wife is more inclined to think that "slowly" is the appropriate word) been working on the basement when time allows. We've passed all the necessary inspections to be able to sheet rock the office and bedroom down there. The office is pretty much rocked now, with only a few small, quick touches needed before we tape/mud.

I'm not sure of any dates when these rooms will be completed (more like all my estimates from before have been wrong), but I'm hoping it's by the end of the year.

My MP3 Player Odyssey hits a bump

Ok, so I had posted before that I'm ruling out the new iPod Touch and Nano as replacements for my now officially "crappified"4G iPod 20GB. In that same post, I said I intended to purchase the Creative Zen since it offers more features at the same or lower prices to the iPods (FM tuner, expandabale SD memory card slot).

Well, that plan hit a bump when I stumbled across this review of the Zen on a site called anythingbutipod.com. This guy has reviewed most MP3 players made by any company other than Apple, and seems to know his stuff really well. On his review of the Creative Zen, he noted a major flaw - that the Zen's SD memory expansion slot has been crippled so that it provides minmal functionality/real world usage.

So instead, the writer suggest that one look at the Cowon D2 player (pictured above), which I'd never heard of. After reading the review, then checking CNET's thumb's up review, and finally checking out the features and price points, I'm impressed. It's quite compact, has a touch screen interface, SD expansion slot (that actually works), and good product support. Too bad it's not available in the at any mass retailers so I can try it out myself before buying - so I may have to buy it from an online etailer with a liberal return policy in case it doesn't meet my expectations.

I'm also now reconsidering it the iRiver Clix2 player (above). I had heard about this great player back in January when it was announced, and the 8GB just started shipping a couple weeks ago. However, I had ruled it out since it didn't have any memory expansion. But since the reviews on CNET and anythingbutipod rated it so highly, it's back in the running again.

Another, though less likely, option is the new Zune 2 from Microsoft. These players are bigger than I prefer, but I like the usability and feature improvements that Microsoft has made from the first generation that launched nearly a year ago. While I generally don't pull for Microsoft - they're doing quite well in case you haven't heard - they are one of the first MP3 player manufacturers to upgrade prior models with new features that will be on upcoming models. I'm not referring to firmware updates, but a major system upgrade that adds significant new features. In particular, the Zunes offer wireless synchronization, so you can recharge the Zune without wires. Sweet stuff, and I really wish Apple would take note of this instead of forcing existing customers to upgrade when new features come out on new models. Microsoft is also improving their Zune online portal to give iTunes a run for it's money. The new flash memory Zune 2 will ship in mid-November. It's a long-shot, but I'm keeping my eye on it.

So maybe I'll just wait a little longer...

uuugggghhhhh.