3D Mouse From NTT Cyberspace Labs : Gizmodo

Just what I need to cure my carpol tunnel!



3D Mouse From NTT Cyberspace Labs : Gizmodo

Leapster Multimedia Learning System

Ah the pressures of patenthood. I thought peer pressure amongst kids to have the latest computer game wouldn't start until Ben hit his teens. Not so! We just bought one of these.

Leapster Multimedia Learning System: "B00009IM6O"

But mom, all the kids at pre-school have a Leapster ... I'm the only one who hasn't learnt 30 words of Spanish vocabulary ...

Gun Hair Dryer : Gizmodo

Great way to find out if the neighbours spy on you while you're in the bathroom. The samaritans or police at the door while you dry your hair would be the giveaway!

Gun Hair Dryer : Gizmodo

Amazon.com: Imaginarium.com: Leapster Multimedia Learning System

Ah the pressures of patenthood. I thought peer pressure amongst kids to have the latest computer game wouldn't start until Ben hit his teens. Not so! We just bought one of these.

Leapster Multimedia Learning System: "B00009IM6O"

But mom, all the kids at pre-school have a Leapster ... I'm the only one who hasn't learnt 30 words of Spanish vocabulary ...

OCR Programs : ABBYY FineReader Optical Character Recognition Software

When I scanned a load of old printed documents (what I'd written myself in the past) to put on my Rik's Workbench section I was struck with a problem. The PDFs I made are not indexible by Google 'cuz they're just scans - not text.

So I had a nosey around the web and I found this product from ABBYY. I have to say it did a pretty good job of converting my docs into real text and retaining the page layout of the original. It features a built-in spell checker, so I've even got better text in the scan than was in the original document.


OCR Programs : ABBYY FineReader Optical Character Recognition Software

VEX: Robotics Design System

More toys for Rik and Ben!! Radio Shack have some new robot design kit coming out. Looks like Mechano to all intents and purposes ... but with BRAINS!

VEX: Robotics Design System | Teaser Site | Full Site Coming Soon

Hand-Cranked Blender

Something to take on our next camping trip ... how else will I make Marguaritas?



Hand-Cranked Blender : Gizmodo

Rik's High Tech Workbench

I managed to find an old folder of electronics projects that I made in the 90s. At the time I was playing with being a free-lance tech writer and did some articles to be published in electronics mags in the UK (Practical Electronics, etc.).

Some of them got published - which was a hoot! Others didn't. Anyway, I've scanned all the articles in that I wrote and put them in a new section of the website which I lovingly call ... Rik's High Tech Workbench.

I plan to augment with some of my crap software projects in the coming weeks ... a-hem, as I have nothing better to do all day with my time ;-)

Resigned today!

Well, I guess there's no turning back now! Just told the boss (and
HR) that I plan to leave and start working at P_One on April 18th.

Actually, I could turn back if I wanted, as the old boss would love to
keep me. But anyway ... glad the pressures off.

CleanHotels.com - OR Hotels that the rest of us should AVOID!!

Some right-wing conservative bible bashing wankers have set-up this excellent website.

Are you the type of person who's looking for somewhere to take the boys your local church choir and don't want your 'evening entertainment' spoilt by nasty images on the in-room TV? For example, facials, butt-fucking, girl-on-girl action, etc.

Then this website is the place for you.

Alternatively, if you're like me, it's a great resource to find hotels to avoid.

Firefox Bookmarks Synchronizer

Seriously useful tool for those of us who have multiple computers and don't like manually updating bookmarks.

I can't understand why something like this hasn't been built right intop the browser for the past decade.

Afterall, the whole point of the internet is access to data anytime-anyplace-anywhere (tm) yet your own bookmark file is welded to a single computer.

Because of this I've not used bookmarks at all since about 1998. Now finally a way to get back into bookmarks!

Mozilla Update :: Extensions -- More Info: Bookmarks Synchronizer

Nails

Nails, I'm talking 3" steel nails used to hold shelves to walls.

I hate people who use nails. Why can't you use screws? Nails are so amateurish. People who do DIY projects around the house with nails have no class.

Who's laughing NOW!!

Bwwww-aahhh-haa-haa-haaaaa!

You laughed at me for buying these 'light glasses' - back in the '90s.
But who's laughing now!! They were indispensible on my current
wardrobe building project.

Yes, I've been chuckling quietly to myself in the back bedroom all
weekend with these on.

Gosh, I'm so kewl.

TIX Led Clock -- Another Great Gadget at Think Geek

Better even than the binary watch I raved about recently. Ok, ok, I know they guy who makes it! But he has one in his cube and it's really great - see!



ThinkGeek :: TIX Led Clock

And here's one in action (my own movie!);



It's 5:33!

iTunes files are only DRM'ed after you've downloaded them to your computer

WTF!!

Hands up if you're an Apple executive who knew this and didn't shoot someone in the fcuking head as soon as you found out about this.

Here's an analogy.

Hi this is Rik. I'm going to send you a bar of gold and a safe by pony express. When you receive them, can you please put the bar of gold inside the safe so on one can steel it.

Quiz, the best time to steel the bar of gold is;

1. Next week, once it's been delivered and is stored in the safe
2. During transit while it is unprotected.
3. Oh, too hard, ask me another one

E-Commerce News: Legal: New Windows App Buys iTunes Music Store Songs Without DRM: "Realizing that the iTunes Music Store adds the DRM to purchased tracks after the songs have been downloaded -- which enables them to be tied to specific buyers -- the authors of PyMusique created a front-end to the iTunes Music Store that allows tracks to be purchased and downloaded as 128 kbps AAC files, but doesn't add the DRM at the end."

Giant spiderbot: not your average John Deere offering - Engadget - www.engadget.com

At first glance this looks like it should be one of those 'fake robot' websites, but it appears to be a real tractor thingy.

They even have videos of the thing walking up hills and in circles.




Giant spiderbot: not your average John Deere offering - Engadget - www.engadget.com

BBC NEWS | Europe | Italy 'to pull troops from Iraq'

I was shocked at the number of troops different countries have sent ot Iraq.



BBC NEWS | Europe | Italy 'to pull troops from Iraq':
"Main international troops in Iraq
US: 150,000
UK: 8,000
South Korea: 3,600
Italy: 3,085
Poland: 1,700
Ukraine: 1,600
Georgia: 898
Romania: 730
Japan: 550
Denmark: 496
Bulgaria: 450
Australia: 400
Source: Global Security"

AdSense ! Capitalist Copout?

Yes, I've added the google ads to my page! Why not, everyone else seems to have it on their page, might as well get in on the act while there's still money to be made.

If it detracts from the blog too much (and isn't making me rich) I'll knock it off!

Washington Wines

While I naturally recommend Californian wine first to anyone, here are a couple of nice wines I sampled while on my last business trip to Seattle. They're from vineyards in Washington ... who knew grapes grew up there in Washington!?

• Camaraderie Cellars - 2003 Sauvignon Blanc
• Harlequin Wine Cellars - 'Sundance' - 2002 Syrah
  

Gizoogle - Fo all you beotches who wanna find shiznit

Are presentations from your top corporate executives leaving you a little flat?

Why not use Gizoogle and imagine Snoop Dog is your CEO!

For example: this, could become as pop-cappin' exciting as this!.

Your Eminence, Mr Vice-Chancellor, Mr Chairman, professors, invited guests, friends, colleagues and family members. Zzzzz....

Yo Eminence, Mr Vice-Chancizzle Mr Chairman, professors, invited guests, friends, colleagues n family memba
Word!

Gizoogle - Fo all you beotches who wanna find shiznit

Q-Tips - Not the domain of the heterosexual

I challenge the sexuality of any man that buys Q-Tips (Cotton Wool Buds as we call them in England).

Guy behind me in Safeway yesterday was buying some. Can't recall when I last (if ever) bought any, there's no need for a man to be buying them. Clearly a homosexual.

RS's RSS RSS

Rather than using
someone elsea podcast crawler, I'm working on my own.

I plan to call it
Rik Sagar's Really Simple Syndication Really Shite Spider. Gives me the joyous accronym of;

RS's RSS RSS

Got to admit, it has a ring to it!

Version 0.1alpha will be posted on the site soon. It's Java based!

Site Updates

Check out the updated Boys Toys page. New and Improved! Same goes for Rik's Reads.

Find out what a former employer would say about you !

I was amazed that such a company exists ... but I suppose I should have expected it!

Find out if your former boss (or co-worker) is a back-stabbing SoB!

This is not to be considered an endorsement, or suggest that I have been using their services.

Reference Letters: Personal References, Job & Character Reference Letters: "CHECK YOUR REFERENCES!!

Do you know what your former boss would say about you if he or she were contacted by a prospective employer? One of the most common reasons a highly qualified job applicant is turned down for a position is because he or she received a BAD JOB REFERENCE from their former employer."

Fossett Breaks Nonstop Solo Flight Record

ABC News: Fossett Breaks Nonstop Solo Flight Record: "Steve Fossett celebrates with a drink of champagne after landing the GlobalFlyer at the Salina Municipal Airport in Salina, Kan. Thursday, March 3, 2005. Fossett landed the craft 67 hours after taking off from Salina becoming the first to fly solo around the world without refueling. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)"