Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Google Wants to Map Indoors, Too

just when you thought that google couldn't get any more intrusive than "street view"...

 
 

Sent to you by David via Google Reader:

 
 

via Slashdot by timothy on 9/30/09

An anonymous reader writes "Google maps are getting extended indoors next month with a new app called Micello that takes over where conventional navigators leave off — mapping your route inside of buildings, malls, convention centers and other points of interest. You don't get a 'you are here' blinking dot yet — but they do promise to add one next year using WiFi triangulation. At the introduction next month, Micello will only work in California, but they plan to expand to other major US cities during 2010."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.


 
 

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Find Flu Shot, Cheap Generics With Medtipster [Medicine]

if you care...

 
 

Sent to you by David via Google Reader:

 
 

via Consumerist by Chris Walters on 9/29/09

Medtipster is a website that locates nearby sources of discount generic versions of prescription drugs, as well as flu and other immunization shots. You enter the drug (or shot) you're looking for and your zip code and it spits out a list of nearby pharmacies. Currently they don't list H1N1 vaccination sources, but they say they're going to add that info as soon as it becomes available.

medtipster


 
 

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Thursday, September 24, 2009

Picasa 3.5

fyi...

 
 

Sent to you by David via Google Reader:

 
 

via Photography Bay by Eric on 9/23/09

Picasa 3.5

Google has released Picasa 3.5.  This new version of the popular, free photo photo editing software adds a number of features for organizing and sharing online.

In Picasa 3.5, you can now import to Picasa's desktop client and upload to your Picasa Web Albums account in one step.  Additionally, Picasa 3.5 has added face detection technology and will help you tag faces of individuals in your photo library (see above screen capture).  You also get geotagging integration with Google Maps for easy drag and drop to the location you got the shot.  Google also improved the tagging system for better bulk tagging, quick tags and tag counts.

To read more about the updates and download Picasa 3.5, see picasa.google.com.

Not a SmugMug member? Upload UNLIMITED photos to gorgeous galleries! Free Trial.


 
 

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Friday, September 18, 2009

Red Ryder

EVERY kid...

 
 

Sent to you by David via Google Reader:

 
 

via Cool Tools on 9/18/09

By far the best air rifle for a kid. There is nothing to break and it has a 650 BB capacity. You can fill it once and wander around in the woods all afternoon. All of my nieces and nephews get one when I think they are old enough.

-- K.G.

I recommend the Daisy Red Ryder. They're inexpensive and don't break.

-- Dale C Snyder

Every child should have one.

-- Dave Culp

Daisy 1938 Red Ryder
$40

Available from Amazon

Manufactured by Daisy Outdoor Products

Related Entries:
Science Toys You Can Make With Your Kids Flybar Theo Gray's Mad Science


 
 

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Thursday, September 17, 2009

UMASS Soil Testing

 
 

Sent to you by David via Google Reader:

 
 

via Cool Tools on 9/17/09

If you take gardening seriously, then you know it all starts with soil health. But you can't just look down and analyze it. The University of Massachusetts at Amherst offers cheap soil tests that will provide you with a comprehensive rundown of what your soil contains and what it needs.

I first had the soil test done back in 2001, and it showed low phosphorous, and very low levels of heavy metals. It gave specific instructions for adding nitrogen, phosphorous and limestone. For $9 they perform a standard soil test resulting in the following information: pH level, buffer pH, extractable nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B), extractable heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr), and extractable aluminum, cation exchange capacity, percent base saturation. For $13 you get everything in the standard soil test and the amount of organic matter in your soil.

One of the most vital tests is the extractable heavy metals. Anyone planning to grow food near an old house that may have been painted with lead-based paints should perform this test to make sure you're not growing your organic veggies in poisoned soil, which pretty much defeats the purpose.

The soil test also provides specific fertilization recommendations, based on what you're growing. This helps you customize your fertilizing practices, by letting you know what you need to add to make your soils more fertile. More importantly, you can use that soil test to cut back on the stuff your soil doesn't need.

These are some of the cheapest soil tests available anywhere, and they provide immensely useful information. I first heard about them during my Master Gardener training a couple of decades ago. My only caveat is that the test is only as good as the sample provided. Make sure you follow their directions carefully.

I'm planning to redo the soil test, since I had raised beds added recently. The raised beds were filled with topsoil from a local company that composts yard and food waste. Now that I have good raised beds and drip irrigation, I'm gardening on a much larger scale and need better information. I took half a dozen large plastic sacks full of lettuce and spinach to the local food bank last year, and am hoping I'll be able to do that again next year.

-- Amy Thompson

Standard Soil Test
$9

Standard Soil Test With Organic Matter
$13

Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory
Univ. of Massachusetts Amherst, Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences

Related Entries:
Spear & Jackson Rabbiting Spade Hori Hori Dramm Fogg-It


 
 

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UMASS Soil Testing

 
 

Sent to you by David via Google Reader:

 
 

via Cool Tools on 9/17/09

If you take gardening seriously, then you know it all starts with soil health. But you can't just look down and analyze it. The University of Massachusetts at Amherst offers cheap soil tests that will provide you with a comprehensive rundown of what your soil contains and what it needs.

I first had the soil test done back in 2001, and it showed low phosphorous, and very low levels of heavy metals. It gave specific instructions for adding nitrogen, phosphorous and limestone. For $9 they perform a standard soil test resulting in the following information: pH level, buffer pH, extractable nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B), extractable heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr), and extractable aluminum, cation exchange capacity, percent base saturation. For $13 you get everything in the standard soil test and the amount of organic matter in your soil.

One of the most vital tests is the extractable heavy metals. Anyone planning to grow food near an old house that may have been painted with lead-based paints should perform this test to make sure you're not growing your organic veggies in poisoned soil, which pretty much defeats the purpose.

The soil test also provides specific fertilization recommendations, based on what you're growing. This helps you customize your fertilizing practices, by letting you know what you need to add to make your soils more fertile. More importantly, you can use that soil test to cut back on the stuff your soil doesn't need.

These are some of the cheapest soil tests available anywhere, and they provide immensely useful information. I first heard about them during my Master Gardener training a couple of decades ago. My only caveat is that the test is only as good as the sample provided. Make sure you follow their directions carefully.

I'm planning to redo the soil test, since I had raised beds added recently. The raised beds were filled with topsoil from a local company that composts yard and food waste. Now that I have good raised beds and drip irrigation, I'm gardening on a much larger scale and need better information. I took half a dozen large plastic sacks full of lettuce and spinach to the local food bank last year, and am hoping I'll be able to do that again next year.

-- Amy Thompson

Standard Soil Test
$9

Standard Soil Test With Organic Matter
$13

Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory
Univ. of Massachusetts Amherst, Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences

Related Entries:
Spear & Jackson Rabbiting Spade Hori Hori Dramm Fogg-It


 
 

Things you can do from here:

 
 

UMASS Soil Testing

 
 

Sent to you by David via Google Reader:

 
 

via Cool Tools on 9/17/09

If you take gardening seriously, then you know it all starts with soil health. But you can't just look down and analyze it. The University of Massachusetts at Amherst offers cheap soil tests that will provide you with a comprehensive rundown of what your soil contains and what it needs.

I first had the soil test done back in 2001, and it showed low phosphorous, and very low levels of heavy metals. It gave specific instructions for adding nitrogen, phosphorous and limestone. For $9 they perform a standard soil test resulting in the following information: pH level, buffer pH, extractable nutrients (P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, B), extractable heavy metals (Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr), and extractable aluminum, cation exchange capacity, percent base saturation. For $13 you get everything in the standard soil test and the amount of organic matter in your soil.

One of the most vital tests is the extractable heavy metals. Anyone planning to grow food near an old house that may have been painted with lead-based paints should perform this test to make sure you're not growing your organic veggies in poisoned soil, which pretty much defeats the purpose.

The soil test also provides specific fertilization recommendations, based on what you're growing. This helps you customize your fertilizing practices, by letting you know what you need to add to make your soils more fertile. More importantly, you can use that soil test to cut back on the stuff your soil doesn't need.

These are some of the cheapest soil tests available anywhere, and they provide immensely useful information. I first heard about them during my Master Gardener training a couple of decades ago. My only caveat is that the test is only as good as the sample provided. Make sure you follow their directions carefully.

I'm planning to redo the soil test, since I had raised beds added recently. The raised beds were filled with topsoil from a local company that composts yard and food waste. Now that I have good raised beds and drip irrigation, I'm gardening on a much larger scale and need better information. I took half a dozen large plastic sacks full of lettuce and spinach to the local food bank last year, and am hoping I'll be able to do that again next year.

-- Amy Thompson

Standard Soil Test
$9

Standard Soil Test With Organic Matter
$13

Soil and Plant Tissue Testing Laboratory
Univ. of Massachusetts Amherst, Dept. of Plant and Soil Sciences

Related Entries:
Spear & Jackson Rabbiting Spade Hori Hori Dramm Fogg-It


 
 

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Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Watch Wizard Of Oz For Free Online Starting Oct 3 [Wizard Of Oz]

too scary for the boys???

 
 

Sent to you by David via Google Reader:

 
 

via Consumerist by Ben Popken on 9/16/09

wizard of oz free netflixYou can start watching Wizard of Oz for free online via Netflix starting October 3rd. The promo is part of the 70th anniversary of Dorothy and the gang's epic adventure. Yay, free flying monkeys!

Netflix.com/Wizardofoz [Official Site]


 
 

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Friday, September 11, 2009

PlayOn Media Streaming Software for Xbox 360, PS3, & Wii $20

the company offers a 2 week free trial. i think it's worth trying.

 
 

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Thursday, September 10, 2009

Squash Minimum Purchase Fees With Wallet-Sized Merchant Agreement [Your Rights]

if i weren't afraid to anger the DONUT MAN, i would slap one of these in her face...

 
 

Sent to you by David via Google Reader:

 
 

via Consumerist by Alex Chasick on 9/8/09

Fed up with stores not knowing the rules for credit card purchases, Andy at NonToxicReviews created this handy credit-card-sized PDF of the relevant portions of Visa's and MasterCard's merchant agreements.

We asked Andy if he'd had the occasion to use this pocket smackdown yet, but he said no one has tried to require a minimum purchase since he started carrying it a couple months ago. We hate credit card transaction fees, minimum purchase requirements, requests for ID, and all the other bogus crap that stores try to pull when you try to use a credit card, so we're going to print out a copy for ourselves and see what happens.

If any readers have tried carrying a pocket merchant agreement or tried a similar method to fight these charges, let us know in the comments.

Don't Fall for Minimum Credit Card Purchases Again [NonToxicReviews]


 
 

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