Real-life anti-matter ray gun

Fox News is reporting that scientists at the University of North Carolina have produced the world’s most powerful antimatter beam. I prefer to refer to is as a Death Ray. I just wonder where they found enough dilithium crystals to power it.

Awesome. We’ll be flying to work in X-wing fighters in no time.

(Yes, I’m mixing my sci-fi universes, I know).

HD DVD or Blu-ray?

How about neither? I heard a show today talking about the differences between the two competing high definition video formats that have just been released.

I’ve heard the first generation players are not only expensive, they are actually slow to start. Some HD DVD players can take minutes to turn on (they are actually computers that need to boot up).

So should you buy one? Definitely not now. There are few movies available and the players are very expensive ($1,000+) and the two formats are competing. There are a lot of people who remember the VHS and Betamax format wars who will wait until the dust settles. That could take between five to 10 years. Both HD DVD and Blu-ray could be obsolete by then.

Technology is advancing so fast that within five years, HD content may just be delivered electronically. It’s already happening with music. Why not movies? If that is the case, most people will skip HD video players all together.

Tech toys

The video game wars are still raging. Nintendo’s new DS Lite is just getting to stores. Nintendo seems to have a hit on their hands. Reveiwers are impressed with it’s design and feel. Unlike the orignial DS, this one has a more sleek, grown-up look. Definitely iPod-ish with the white scheme.

Nintendo looks like it is going to keep its dominance in the hand held games category. They seem to have ceded the hardcore gaming market to the Sony PSP. Instead, they are marketing family-friendly games (as always) but tapping the adult market of casual gamers with games that might just make you a better person. Their Brain Age game is supposed to help improve you mental capabilities.

What a great market. Adults like games, but don’t have hours a day to play them. Brain Age only asks for a few minutes of play time a day. And unlike the Sony PSP which costs $250.00, the DS Lite will probably go for about $129.00 – much more affordable, especially for families with young kids.

I think I want one. After all, don’t we all need to improve our brains?

Unexplained mysteries

I actually spell checked my last post using Blogger’s spell check before I sent it. Yes, amazing I know.

My question is how does a spell checker on a blogging site not know the words “blog” and “blogging”? That would be like MS Word not knowing how to spell “word processor.”

Now here’s a corny idea*

The high cost of natural gas is encouraging people to look for other ways to heat their homes. One Colorado company is cashing in by selling stoves that burn shelled corn. The corn is about half the cost of natural gas and it burns so clean there are no restrictions on burning it.Now that is cool.

You know they say that the U.S. is the Saudi Arabia of corn.

*(I know that is a horrible pun. Please don’t report me to the blog police.)

Most ridiculous iPod accessory

Anyone who has an iPod knows you need a case for it. The problem with the new iPod is that none of the cases from the previous generation iPods fit it because they moved the headphone jack from the center to the right side.

So Apple’s solution? A sock. Yep a sock which they call “stylish” and “fun”. Really, it is half a sock. They do come in packs of six though. You have your choice of various colors too!

So what do you pay for this innovation in iPod protection?

29 fricken bucks! Yep, that’s $29 for six half-socks. What a bargain. I think that breaks down to $2 for the six half-socks and $27 for the Apple logo sewed on to each one.

Internet bill paying to grow

The U.S. Post office is asking congress to allow them to raise postal rates. They want to increase the price of a first class stamp to 39 cents.

It keeps getting more expensive to pay your bills if you mail them in. Watch Internet bill paying services get more subscribers as well as companies develop ways to pay them directly without have to send in a payment.

Stupid news of the day

We have the evening news cast on right now. They just reported a story about the space shuttle. Tuesday, during the launch, a window cover fell off the shuttle and damaged thermal tiles near the tail.

The local news cast reported that cover was held on by tape and that officials did not yet know why the cover fell off.

Something tells me that it fell off because it was held on by tape!

Xbox: The next generation

Microsoft revealed its next video game console today – Xbox 360.

While trying to appeal to video game enthusiasts, Microsoft also designed the product to become an entertainment hub. They hope we’ll be hooking up our stereo and playing our music through it as well.

The new Xbox is scheduled to be released this holiday season, way ahead of the next Playstation. Expect a $300 to $400 price tag.

Sony has been losing the edge on innovation in console games. Xbox may gain some more ground and even turn a profit with this one.

Tivo Reloaded

OK, the Tivo is now connected to the home network. Now, we have the ability to program the Tivo from any Internet connection. Say I’m at work and I realize the “A-Team” marathon is on. I can set the Tivo without having to call Honeybun at home. Why? Because I can.