Todd The Vinyl Junkie Portable Slim amplifier

cnet reports: [edited]

The Todd The Vinyl Junkie Portable Slim amplifier ($349) really works and will take the sound of an iPod, or any portable player, to the next level. The amp's chassis is a similar size to an iPod Classic.

The Slim's rechargeable lithium ion battery provides 15 hours of playback time. It recharges in about 2 hours from a USB port or a USB wall charger; you can also operate the amp while it's plugged in. The Slim hooks up to an iPod's multipin connector, or other types of players' headphone jacks.

The amp uses a microprocessor analog-stepped rotary volume control. Each of the 32 steps changes the volume level by a precise 2dB. The volume setting is indicated by the color of the front-panel LED (red at low volume, green at moderate volume, then light blue, then dark blue, and so on). There's also a switch to select 0dB, 10dB, or 20dB of gain to accommodate all sorts of headphones.
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Horoscoped

Information is Beautiful have published an excellent 'infographic' using the most common words used in star sign predictions. The similarity of the words used is striking. There is also a handy meta-horoscope reading.

via kottke
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Nintendo 3DS

Nintendo's latest portable game console will go on sale in Europe on 25 March, list price £220. The US gets it two days later for substantially less ($250, c. £156).

For all you need to know about the new machine, Register Hardware have published an excellent overview.

For Nintendo's glossy online brochure click here.


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Intelligent Life for the iPad

Intelligent Life reports: [edited]

"Intelligent Life is the quarterly lifestyle and culture magazine from The Economist. It covers the arts, style, food, wine, cars, travel and anything else under the sun, as long as it’s interesting."

And, for a limited time, the iPad version is available for nowt.
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Tron Ancestry T-shirt

Very nice.

Available for $15 from shirtwoot.
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Negative Space

theroxor reports: [edited]

There are millions of logos in this world, which makes it even harder for companies to stand out from the rest. Some designers try to tackle this problem by using negative space in their logos.

They are able to link this negative space to the brand so it becomes an important aspect of the corporate identity. In this case, the negative space of the logo forms some kind of ‘hidden message’. In this article you’ll find 25 examples of the creative use of negative space in logo design.
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Pompadour - Free Fat Numerals

Andy Mangold reports: [edited]

I have finally gotten around to wrapping up the numeral set I finished a year ago into a nice, downloadable .eps to share with the internet. I hereby dub it ‘Pompadour.’ I have licensed it under the Creative Commons, so feel free to download, use, modify, and share the numbers as you see fit, just please give props where props are due.
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Weekend Reading, 14-01-11

Stuff that I have found enjoyable/challenging/thought-provoking:

"In his new book 'The Price of Everything: Solving the Mystery of Why We Pay What We Do', Porter explores the surprising ways prices affect every aspect of our lives, including where we live, who we marry, how many kids we have, and even how religious we are."

Introduction

- - - - -

Egypt's Muslims attend Coptic Christmas mass, serving as "human shields

Heartwarming stuff.

- - - - -

Part One of a five part series investigating the relationship between sedentary behaviour and health.

- - - - -

The last words of Bill Zeller

Bill Zeller was a talented programmer who decided to take his own life. He left behind a carefully-written 4000 word piece explaining why he made this decision. Be prepared to be disturbed and moved in equal measure.
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Lego iPhone 4 case

SmallWorks reports: [edited]

Our 12 year old is a LEGO Brickmaster, with many multi-day, multi-thousand brick builds under his belt. So it wasn't too surprising when he came up with this idea:

"This phone would be cooler if it had LEGO bricks on the back."

The BrickPhone4 retails for $19.99 and is available from Amazon.com in black, white and clear.
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Kitara

Misa Digital Instruments reports: [edited]

The digital party has been going on for some time. The studio engineers were invited. The keyboard players were invited. Even those damn drummers were invited. While the guitarists have stood waiting for the call.

We all know the reasons. Those pesky strings are tough to digitize. MIDI guitars are too temperamental. If guitars were really meant to be digital, they’d have buttons instead of strings.

That’s why we created Kitara.

Sudan voting day, in pictures

The Big Picture has published an excellent photoset recording events surrounding Sudan's 9 January polling day.
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Ion Book Saver

Register Hardware reports: [edited]

Ion, the company best known for its USB turntables, is readying a gadget that will help you digitise your paperbacks, hardbacks, magazines and comics.

Called the Book Saver, it's a large frame into which you place an open book. Tap the Scan button and the spread is digitised and dropped onto an SD card, ready to be transferred to your computer. Each page is saved separately, thanks to the unit's two flash-equipped cameras.

Book Saver angles the tome to prevent as little as possible pressure being placed one the spine. You don't have to hold the pages down to get a flat, even surface.

The upper section sits on top of the book. When a pair of pages have been snapped, just lift Book Saver up, turn the page, and put it down again to take the next shot. Scanning a spread takes around seven seconds, Ion said.

The gadget will come with character-recognition software, allowing you to extract the text from the images.

Book Saver is due out in the March-April timeframe. No price has yet been set.
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Casio Tryx

Register Hardware reports: [edited]

Every once in a while a camera comes along that causes a bit of a stir. The original Flip video camera was certainly a game changer and at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) Casio unveiled Tryx, a camera that has every chance of achieving a similar response.

While the 12.1Mp CMOS sensor and Full HD video and wide-angle 21mm lens don’t exactly offer anything new in the way of imaging, what makes the Tryx different is in its handling. Rather than having an articulating screen anchored to a camera body, the 3in LCD touchscreen on the screen moves within that body that effectively frames the display as well as housing the lens.

This variable frame can act as tripod, propping up the camera like a photo frame or used like a half open book. You can even hang the camera up from it or hold onto it as you would a camcorder with a typical flip-out panel display. The difference here though is it can be configured for use in either hand.

Tryx also has a motion sensor so you can trigger the camera’s self-timer with a gesture. Other features include sweep panorama, slow motion video (captured at up to 240fps at 432 x 320) and touch shutter control that focuses on the area you tap on the screen before shooting.

Also on-board is Casio’s new HDR-Art. This is an interesting adaption of conventional HDR (high dynamic range) shooting that combines multiple images are captured over a range of exposure settings to deliver the best image from a composite. With HDR-Art, those multiple images can be processed with different saturation and colour options with eye-catching results.

The Casio Tryx will be on sale in April for $249.
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Best movie posters of 2010

Indie-orientated

Mainstream

via kottke
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Samsung WB700

Digital Photography Review reports: [edited]

Samsung has released the WB700 ultra-compact with 18x optical zoom. The camera offers an equivalent zoom range of 24-432mm, optical image stabilization, RAW format shooting, P/A/S/M shooting modes and Smart Filters. It can also shoot 720p HD movies in H.264 format.

Available from April 2011. Price: £249.99.
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ArtRage for iPad

Mail Online reports: [edited]

Using the ArtRage app, Kassan, whose Realist portraits are often mistaken for photographs, has embraced a new method of painting. Painting with just your finger has its benefits - no mess and, of course, the invaluable ability to effortlessly correct a mistake or undo the last stroke.

But, says Kassan, it can never replace 'real' painting: 'There are a number of concept painters who only paint using digital tools, and they make some really amazing work. But I think I'd miss the tactile feel of an oil painting and its luminosity too much to go completely digital.'
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Resolutions 2011

1. Study Genesis - Deuteronomy using commentaries.

2. Begin design/building work on house.

3. Get Pilates progress professionally assessed.

4. Improve guitar-playing skills, at least 30-minutes per week.

5. Continue de-cluttering of house.

6. Continue to work at not picking at fingers.

7. Work through two 'expert' books on use of Photoshop.

8. Complete, frame and hang 'kidz kanvas 2011'.

9. Watch 24 movies.

10. Watch 3 television series.

11. Continue book/DVD purge.

12. Do 3 of Andrew Duncan's 'Favourite London Walks'.

13. Develop/mix-up/improve Pilates & weight-training.

14. Digitise mum & dad's 35mm slide collection.
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Resolutions 2010 assessed

1. Get building work done on house
Nope: ongoing insurance company negotiations prevented this.

2. Clear out remaining clutter from house
Partial success, consider an ongoing project.

3. Write a piece on 'inhabiting space' concept
See 2.

4. Watch or dispose of the unwatched DVDs in my collection
See 2.

5. Work at ways of not hating weight training/running
Success!

6. Book at least one 'proper' holiday
Fail.

7. Stop biting/picking at fingers
Biting: yes, Picking: no.

8. Read through Bible using iPhone
Yes: moved to using iPad mid-year.

9. Read at least one novel
No, unless graphic novels count.

10. Supplement journaling using iPhone
Yes.

11. Work on '66 Books' blog
Yes. Although, in doing so decided that other people do it a lot better than me, so will not be pursuing it as a public project.

12. Update Bible commentary collection
Yes. Now got to read them!

13. Develop understanding and practice of Pilates
Yes.

14. Learn how to use Dreamweaver CS4
Yes. Still loathe it though.

15. Gain a greater understanding of CSS, PURLs, etc
See 14.

16. Redesign X1 web site
Fail.

17. Build time into journeys to allow for taking photographs
Yes.

18. Complete a large painting with kidz
No. But have a plan for what to do.

19. Practice guitar for at least 30 minutes per week
Fail.

20. Design & produce Christmas card
Yes.
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London, Somerset, London, 29 & 30-12-10

London to Someret, 29-12-10
Alisha Rules The World - Alisha's Attic
I Haven't Stopped Dancing Yet - Gonzalez
Never Do A Tango With An Eskimo - Alma Cogan
Don't Stop Believin' - Glee Cast
I Love You Always Forever - Donna Lewis
I Think I'm In Love With You - Jessica Simpson
Yoshimi Battles The Pink Robots Pt. 1 - The Flaming Lips
I Can Talk - Two Door Cinema Club
Quiet Life (7" Version) - Japan
Where's me jumper - Sultans of Ping
Paper Planes - M.I.A. (XL)
Don't Cha - The Baseballs
Skinny (Radio Edit) - Lo Rider
Baby Loves Me - Eels
Give It (Radio Edit) - X-press 2 featuring Kurt Wagner
Tramp - Otis Redding & Carla Thomas
I Want You To Want Me - Letter To Cleo
Fancy Footwork - Chromeo
Bad Karma - Ida Maria
Superstar (Radio Edit) - Aeroplane
Look At Me (When I Rock Wichoo) - Black Kids
One More Time - Daft Punk
Get It Get It - Girl Talk
Moving to New York - The Wombats
If Loneliness Was Art - Allo Darlin'
Cauliflower - Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip
Golden Skans - Klaxons
How To Make Gravy - Paul Kelly
This Momentary - Delphic
All Night Garage - Joe Cornish
Baby (feat. Ludacris) - Justin Bieber
Rollin' (Ballad of Big and Rich) - Big & Rich
Electric - Melody Club
Dance The Way I Feel - Où Est Le Swimming Pool
A Bit Like You - Wubble-U
Rio - Duran Duran
88 Lines About 44 Women - Nails
No Social - The Shortwave Set
Charlton Heston - stump
Oh Lori - Alessi brothers
I Want an Alien for Christmas - Fountains of Wayne
It's Not Over Yet - Klaxons
Last Christmas - Jimmy Eat World
Shake It - Metro Station
My First Kiss - 3OH!3
iPod Xmas - Hello Saferide
Must Be Santa - Bob Dylan
Animal Rights - Deadmau5 & Wolfgang Gartner
Monster - The Automatic
Hungry Like The Wolf - Reel Big Fish
Big Wave - Jenny and Johnny
Birdhouse in your soul - They Might Be Giants (TMBG)
I'm Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend How to Dance With You - Black Kids
Have Yourself A Bitter Little Christmas - David Ford
Promise This (Mayday's Drum & Step Mix) - Cheryl Cole
Drunk Girls - LCD Soundsystem
Girls Girls Girls - Sailor

Somerset to London, 30-12-10
Won't Go Quietly (Radio Edit) - Example
Ugly Woman - The Mighty Bomber
Honky Tonk Badonkadonk - Trace Adkins
I Am Europe - Gonzales
Forget You - Cee Lo Green
Dance Floor - The Apples In Stereo
Just Like Christmas - Ingo Star Cruiser
Untouched (single) - The Veronicas
Seems Fine - The Concretes
Write About Love - Belle and Sebastian
Lonely Pup (In A Christmas Shop) - Adam Faith
Ruby - The Wurzels
Christmas Must Be Tonight - The Band
Give Him A Great Big Kiss - Shangri-Las
Who's That Chick? (feat. Rihanna) - David Guetta & Rihanna
Bitty Boppy Betty - Pink Martini
You're Moving Out Today - Carole Bayer Sager
Jessie's Girl - Rick Springfield
If I Can't Change Your Mind - Sugar
Secret Smile - Semisonic
It's Hard To Be Humble - Mac Davis
Green Light (Radio Edit) - Roll Deep
Video Killed The Radio Star - The Buggles
Your Hand In Mine - Liam Frost & Martha Wainwright
Beaches & Friends - French Horn Rebellion Vs. Database
A Bar In Amsterdam - Katzenjammer
Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) - Slow Club
Santa Claus Is Comin to Town - Joseph Spence
Christmas All Over Again - Tom Petty
It Takes A Muscle - M.I.A.
Rose Garden - Shad
Bleeding Love - The Baseballs
Love On A Mountain Top - Robert Knight
Everything's Gonna Be Cool This Christmas - Eels
Punching In a Dream (Single Version) - The Naked & Famous
Too Shy - Kajagoogoo
Nature Boy [Edit] - Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
A Christmas Song - Shawn Phillips
Derezzed - Daft Punk
We Will Become Silhouettes - The Postal Service
Goo Goo Muck - Ronnie Cook & The Gaylads
She's So High - Tal Bachman
Hot N Cold - Katy Perry
All I Want For Christmas Is You - Mariah Carey
Your Love Is My Drug - Ke$ha
Nobody Move, Nobody Get Hurt (single) - We Are Scientists
You're Not Alone - Tinchy Stryder
Hey Ruby, Shut Your Mouth - Ruby and The Party Gang
Joy To The World - Aretha Franklin
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Luke 1:26-45

In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a village in Galilee, to a virgin named Mary. She was engaged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of King David.

Gabriel appeared to her and said, “Greetings, favoured woman. The Lord is with you”. Confused and disturbed, Mary tried to think what the angel could mean.

“Don’t be afraid, Mary”, the angel told her, “for you have found favour with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be very great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his ancestor David. And he will reign over Israel forever; his Kingdom will never end”.

Mary asked the angel, “But how can this happen? I am a virgin”.

The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the baby to be born will be holy, and he will be called the Son of God. What’s more, your relative Elizabeth has become pregnant in her old age. People used to say she was barren, but she’s now in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible with God”.

Mary responded, “I am the Lord’s servant. May everything you have said about me come true”. And then the angel left her.

A few days later Mary hurried to the hill country of Judea, to the town where Zechariah lived. She entered the house and greeted Elizabeth. At the sound of Mary’s greeting, Elizabeth’s child leaped within her, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit.

Elizabeth gave a glad cry and exclaimed to Mary, “God has blessed you above all women, and your child is blessed. Why am I so honoured, that the mother of my Lord should visit me? When I heard your greeting, the baby in my womb jumped for joy. You are blessed because you believed that the Lord would do what he said”.
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