Websnapr

Just added some new blog bling to the site. Links will now include bubble screenshots when you mouse over them, giving a preview of the page that is linked. Specifically I am using the Snapr Wordpress Plugin that easily integrates the Preview Bubble JavaScript.

Samples:

• CNN
• NYTimes
• Google News

iPod Family Tree

A great graphic from Engadget on the iPod evolution. Also makes me want to upgrade to video soon.

SweetRiot

While at the AIESEC US 50th Anniversary Gala this weekend, I was updated on a company of another aluumnus, Sarah Endline. She founded SweetRiot a year ago.

Experience the cacao bean — true chocolate. sweetriot covers small ‘peaces’ of the cacao bean in yummy dark chocolate.

I am a huge fan of mission-based companies, also know as Corporate Social Responsibility, and I am very impressed with what Sarah has done.

They have a blog, and of course you can buy online. They also retail at Whole Foods, MOMA Design Store and The Little Grocery on my block.

16 West 19th Street

The first place I worked in NYC was Iguana Studios located on the 9th and 10th floors of 16 West 19th Street. Back when I started in 99, Iguana took over the 10th Floor from Wired. Upstairs was Shoelace Productions which at the time I thought was founded by Tim Robbins (which I did ride in the evelavator with a few times) but it seems to be Julia Roberts’. After I left, Iguana was bought out by Change Technology Corporation, which later went under. In 2005, I was talking to a vendor of mine and found out they had moved into the space. Industry Brains recently had to move out for the condo converation.

So now the building is Jade, with sqanky pod living. “We never had pod’s at Iguana…” was aptly said by Ben, but we did have bagels and beer on Friday’s and a good working envirnoment. Of course he is Splukin’ out in Cali now.

Sales Mantra

A funny version of Jack Nicholson speech A Few Good Men, except for sales.

You_can_not_handle_the_truth.mp3

Thanks to TC for the forward.

Google Image Labeler

Came across an interesting feature of Google Image Search. They have created a game to do user testing as well as labeling/tagging.

You’ll be randomly paired with a partner who’s online and using the feature. Over a 90-second period, you and your partner will be shown the same set of images and asked to provide as many labels as possible to describe each image you see. When your label matches your partner’s label, you’ll earn some points and move on to the next image until time runs out. After time expires, you can explore the images you’ve seen and the websites where those images were found. And we’ll show you the points you’ve earned throughout the session.

Feed Updates by Email

A while back I added Feed Updates by Email to the site, using FeedBlitz. The free version of the service sends a very FeedBlitz branded email, with the complete feed or summaries. A good service but the orange looks a little rough. For $5 or $10 a month you can create a customized template for the email.

I recently noticed that FeedBurner also provides this as an add-on to their service. I’m a big fan of FeedBurner so I have switched over. Not only is this consolidated into one service, but the email has a much cleaner look without the bright colors.

Current Firefox Extensions

As a follow-up to my last Firefox Extensions post since I have to rebuild my office computer.

My current extensions I find useful for Firefox 1.5:

• FlashBlock – Only see the flash images you want to.
• AdBlock – Easily block banner ads.
• IE Tab – Sometimes websites don’t work with Firefox, so opening IE in a tab is handy.
• PDF Download – Allows to open in a new tab or download a PDF document.
• Tabbrowser Preferences – Access to tab options.
• Stop-or-Reload Button – Combines the Reload and Stop buttons.
• All-in-One Gestures – Mouse customizing.
• Minimize to Tray – Sends Firefox to the task tray.
• Search Keys – Adds a number and quick key to the top Google results.
• Spelbound and Dictionaries for spellcheck for anything in the browser.
• Google Browser Sync – saves tabs that are loaded

These are nice to have but I have stopped using them, either for annoyance or I migrated to other applications.

• NoScript – Allows you to disable JavaScript by default and easily allow it on sites you trust.
• Forecastfox – Add the weather forecast to the bottom of your browser.
• FoxyTunes – Controls for your music player.
• SessionSaver – Saves your current tabs to view later.

Defective Yeti

First off, the good news is that a friend got interviewed on Bloggasm, nice job! He mentions the difficulty of writing humor, and one blogger that has not failed to make me laugh is Matthew Baldwin of Defective Yeti fame.

Matthew also writes on The Morning News, and the latest post likens Congress to He-Man. Quoting won’t do it justice.

Great stuff!

All of his writing on TMN cracks me up.

I first heard of the Yeti from Jeremy Zawodny.