De South Reviews

iPhone to be Sold at Radio Shack and Best Buy?

2008-06-30T09:55:00.001-07:00

Mobile Mag is reporting that the iPhone 3G may be sold at Radio Shack and Best Buy. Best Buy we can see â" Appleâs already been making inroads there. Radio Shack, though, â¦ugh. Sure, since the iPhone 3G is being sold pretty much just like any other smartphone now, itâs not crazy that it could be sold by any of the usual suspects â" Radio Shacks, Mall Kiosks, that one guy down the street who inexplicably has an AT&T store in his garage. Butâ¦ Radio Shack? Maybe Iâm old, but I remember a time

Kojinsha S130 Mini Notebook

2008-06-30T09:39:00.001-07:00

After release mini notebook PC E8, Kojinsha unveiled their new mini notebook S130 on the Korea market with 7 inch touch screen. Powered by Intel Atom processor Z520 (1.33 MHz), memory 1GB and HDD 60 GB. The S130 notebook also equipped with GPS module, navigation map software which is not add at Asus EEE and RazorBook 400. Another feature with DMB function for a variety of dictionary content including English, Japanese, Chinese and Korean. Weighing only 798g, the S130 comes two different col

HOT TIP: Paul van Dyke Ditches Central Park For Pier 54 As His Summer Stage in NY

2008-06-30T09:26:00.000-07:00

Paul van Dyke, the Berlin-based electronic music pioneer, has made Central Park the home of his annual summer concert in New York for 5 years running. This summer he breaks with tradition and holds his peerless outdoor bacchanalia river-side at Pier 54. Paul van Dyke @ Central Park Summerstage, Rumsey Playfield, NY 8/18/07 Here's the deets, courtesy of the lovely rephlektor ink peeps: For five consecutive years Paul van Dykâs annual concerts in Central Park have been one of New York Cityâ

Losing Your Rights on the Cheap

2008-06-30T09:13:00.001-07:00

Between now and last March 94 Congressman that call themselves Democrats switched their position on retroactive telecom immunity and flopped to the telecom side. How did that happen? What spectacular global event precipitated this mass migration to the dark side? You don't suppose money from the telecoms had anything to do with do? Our Congress persons are above that kind of stuff aren't they? Not so fast.House Democrats who flipped their votes to support retroactive immunity for telecom compan

The Clown Criminal Cabal's venture into broadcasting, with predictable results

2008-06-30T09:00:00.001-07:00

Lost in Translation: Alhurraâ"Americaâs Troubled Effort to Win Middle East Hearts and Minds by Dafna Linzer An Arab-language television network and radio station, founded by the Bush administration to promote a positive image of the United States, has aired anti-American and anti-Israeli viewpoints, has showcased pro-Iranian policies and recently gave air time to a militant who called for the death of American soldiers in Iraq. So far, U.S. taxpayers have spent nearly $500 million to fund th

Local and the Future of Ad Serving

2008-06-30T07:52:00.001-07:00

Last week I had two separate conversations that were very interesting thematically; both involved Yahoo! The first was with ShopLocal and the second was with Yahoo! itself regarding its deal with Publicis (specifically about mobile). The ShopLocal meeting was in part a discussion of the companyâs recent Yahoo! deal and the mechanics of the dynamic ad serving and distribution of retailer content. Similarly, in the Publicis mobile case, Yahoo!âs platform is now going to determine the right ad t

Who will control your computers?

2008-06-30T07:39:00.001-07:00

There is a broad disparity between the views of software manufacturers and their customers with regard to who is ultimately in control of the software running on the customer machine. Businesses (and consumers) like to think that they own the machines they have paid good money for, and that they are ultimately in control of what runs on the processors which they are paying to feed with electricity day in and day out. Software manufacturers view their creations as perpetually their own, regardle

Double Blue Impusle

2008-06-30T07:26:00.001-07:00

On two occasions last year, we indulged my need for a "flying fix" by going to "Air Festivals" put on by Japan's Air Self-Defense Force featuring their aerobatic team "Blue Impulse". The Blue Impulse team flies Kawasaki T-4s, a Japanese designed and built jet trainer used by its Air Self Defense Forces (JASDF). Article 9 of Japan's Constitution prohibits the use of military force for any reason except self defense. This is why the armed services in Japan are not called "Navy, Army, and Air

David Caminer the first person to use Computers in business is no more.

2008-06-30T07:13:00.001-07:00

David Caminer died at the ripe old age of 92, but he has left a rich legacy behind. He worked in one of the legendary chain of British tea shops Lyons, but his calling came when he a found the earliest ways to use a computer for business purposes, including standardizing flavorful, cost-effective cups of tea. The Leo Computers Society, whose purpose is to keep alive the memory of LEO, the computer Mr. Caminer helped develop for J. LYONS & CO, announced his death. Guinness World Records certifie

Billy Idol - Idolize Yourself

2008-06-30T07:00:00.001-07:00

Billy Idol - Idolize Yourself Posted in Album Reviews, Billy Idol, Music on June 30, 2008 by rockofages Details : 2008, EMI, CD A new compilation sees former âGeneration Xâ frontman Billy Idol celebrate his career collecting together all of his solo hits and adding a couple of new tracks for good measure.Â Due out on July 17th there is also a deluxe edition that adds a DVD with 13 promos most of which will be remembered from heavy music television rotation towards the end of the 80s. Iâll be

Online Attacks for Political Reasons

2008-06-30T05:39:00.001-07:00

It seems that the only time that state-sponsored online attacks are covered in the media is when someone wants to create a short term scare campaign that is focussed on driving business to a company, or on increasing funding or perceived relevancy for a government agency or group of agencies. Perhaps the best known case in the last few years was in Estonia, though there remains contention about who exactly was behind the attacks. Even though the official story is that an ethnic Russian in Eston

CitizenM Hotel Amsterdam Airport Schiphol Opening (3): Final Observations

2008-06-30T05:26:00.001-07:00

I have uploaded my photos to my Flickr Account. Some final observations: The name Correctly spelled the name is CitizenM and not Citizen M. I cannot change this in my prior posts because of the archiving system I am using here. The Launch Party After the Press conference there was the official opening. Rattan Gandha and Micheal Levy held a speech and then everybody attending got a piccolo of champagne with the request to have the cork popping out at the same moment after a count down. The p

BitTorrent: An Educational Autopsy of the Hydra

2008-06-30T05:13:00.001-07:00

The Disclaimer comes first The following post is a ton of fodder I have collected over the last year or two on BitTorrent and its implications for education institutions. This will all be fodder for an article in the EDUCAUSE Quarterly I have been promising for months, and the only way to get it out, was to blog it âcause Iâm a sick addict. If you are brave enough to read through it all, feedback and some healthy peer review, additional sources, and perhaps a public flogging would be greatl

Piracy-lovinâ librarians: How typical? Not very, as I see itâbut read e-novelist Cornelia Amiriâs complaint

2008-06-30T05:01:00.001-07:00

"We all love e-books because you can take that one download and send it to all your friendsâ"so you have twenty of them instead of just one, and the publisher canât track you down or do anything about it.â Did a librarian from Baytown, Texas, really say that at a "Sci-Fi Fantasy Convention" in Houston? If so, whatâs the full context, and might she want to apologize? The quote comes to us by way of Cornelia Amiri, a fifty-one-year-old novelist with 5,580 friends on MySpace. I donât know Corne

NEWS ALERTS 25.6.2008 15:00

2008-06-30T03:52:00.001-07:00

25.06.2008 Has Google bitten off more than it can chew with Android? In the past few days, Google has had it rough with Android. While the 3G iPhone release date is approaching, Google has had to delay its plans for getting the Android platform onto mobiles, and in the meantime Nokia has just bought the leading smart phone operating system Symbian for â¬264m. â¦ 25.06.2008 Spanish Point lands â¬400,000 OSI contract Irish start-up company Spanish Point has landed a â¬400,000 contract to provide Ord

Search Engines Preferred for Product Research

2008-06-30T03:39:00.001-07:00

Just in case anyone out there was having a crisis of faith, the Opinion Research Corporation has good news for you: search engines are still the preferred method for conducting product/service research. In a survey of 736 adults released yesterday (PDF), ORC found that not only do most people prefer to use search engines for product research, they also read âonline customer feedbackâ heavily. That THAT, totally skewed Pew findings! 61% of respondents said they read âonline reviews, blogs and

Blogging Questions

2008-06-30T03:26:00.001-07:00

Blogging Questions Iâve been researching student blogging in higher education. I find mainly 3 kinds of university blogging: 1.Student blogs run by either student services or admissions that aim to provide a âwindowâ into student life. I assume that these are supervised in some way. Perhaps the writers are even paid. These exist in abundance. 2.Completely open blog site where anyone can publish are much more rare. These havepolicies but individual blogs donât seem to be heavily controlled

White House illegalities: Worse than Nixon

2008-06-30T03:14:00.001-07:00

FISA Compromise Bill Undermines Law Our laws matter, and they should be applied equally and fairly to the President, Congress, telecommunications companies, and every other citizen.By Rep. Tim Walz (D-Minn.) June 23rd, 2008 There are many parts of this bill that I support. It reaffirms that FISA is the exclusive means for electronic surveillance, and it strengthens protections for Americans at home and abroad. If this was all that this bill included, I could support it. Unfortunately, the bill

CLS announces sale of one Leicester Square, WC2 ans Conventry House, SW1 for Â£57.2m

2008-06-30T03:00:00.000-07:00

The Board of CLS is pleased to announce the sale of One Leicester Square and Coventry House, Haymarket to Aziz Family Trust Companies, represented by Criterion Capital, for a total price of Â£57.2m. One Leicester Square is a nine storey leisure and retail building occupying a prominent position on the north side of the square. It comprises 37,920 sq ft (3,523 sq m) and is let to Nickelodeon Huggins, Planright Limited, Sound Too Limited, Crest Trading and Empire Cinema. The property produc

Sony Ericsson Gets Best Marks In Greenpeace Green Electronics Guide

2008-06-30T01:52:00.001-07:00

Having reported in an earlier journalistic lifetime on many of Hewlett-Packard and other electronics companies' efforts to green their products, it was a bit disappointing to go through the latest Greenpeace Guide To Green Electronics and see no one company can claim to be outstanding in designing, packaging, and safely recycling or disposing of the gadgets we all so rely on. Winner Sony Ericsson, for example, only recycles between 1 and 3% of its offerings. Wii not green In fact, tougher e-was

Bay Street Buzz

2008-06-30T01:39:00.001-07:00

This information courtesy of Bill Vlaad, of Vlaad & Co.: âDoug Guzman has been promoted from the Head of Investment Banking, Canada of RBC Capital Markets (âRBC CMâ) to the Head of Global Investment Banking. In New York, RBC CM has brought on seven investment bankers from Bear Sterns into their Municipal Finance Healthcare group. Kathy Costine, Rae Boylan and Nelson Luria are joining as Managing Directors while James LaVigne is a Director. Additionally, Marcella Finkel and Evie Wang are joini

Open Thread and Diary Rescue

2008-06-30T01:26:00.001-07:00

This evening's Rescue Rangers are Got a Grip, Yashua, ezdidit, jlms qkw and noddem, with claude in the editor's chair. Momentous events this past week have led some Kogs to new, Political Insights NCrissieB shares their practical approach to politics in A pragmatist's view of principles, policy, and politics. (jlms qkw) fitz2 reflects on current news and their own views in A Week of Lessons About Politics. (jlms qkw) and some Recurring Concerns Humanity must come first. That is the argume

STORM FROM THE SHADOWS - Snippet 05

2008-06-30T01:13:00.001-07:00

STORM FROM THE SHADOWS - Snippet 05: No one in Task force Eighty-Two â" or anyone in the rest of the Royal Manticoran Navy, for that matter â" had ever heard of the control system Shannon Foraker had dubbed "Moriarty" after a pre-space fictional character. If they had, and if they'd understood the reference, they probably would have agreed that it was appropriate, however. One thing of which no one would ever be able to accuse Foraker was thinking small. Faced with the probl

EZIO MEGA4

2008-06-30T01:00:00.001-07:00

Phone features: â¢ Camera and camcorder Use the camera module on your phone to take a photo or record a video. â¢ Music player Play music files using your phone as a music player. â¢ FM Radio and Recording Listen to FM Radio with search function and schedule FM Record â¢ Bluetooth Transfer media files and personal data and connect to other devices using free, wireless Bluetooth technology. â¢ Multimedia Message Service (MMS) Send and receive MMS messages with a combination of text, images, video, an

Crime: Not Reported; Not Punished

2008-06-29T23:52:00.001-07:00

It's not surprising that crime statistics in the U.S. show crimes against people and property are diminishing! A couple of personally-observed incidents make me realize that more and more crimes are not being reported to the police. These stories and other factors make me believe that significantly over 50 percent of crime is now unreported. Add to that the problem of relatively few captures of criminals and even fewer convictions, and you realize a huge and growing problem is not being dealt w

Rovio Wi-Fi Robot Webcam

2008-06-29T23:39:00.001-07:00

Rovio an astonishing is compatible Wi-Fi robot webcam, moves easily in any direction and distance. It is by the same people, we led the field Robosapien and one of its developers has been done with the NASA space program. These costs novelty gadget can also be an additional cost to you at home and network security solutions. You can view and interact with the environment in Rovio by its streaming video and audio on his neck-mounted integrated digital camera of your own living room - or anywh

Porteur de LâImage - Through a Glass Darkly

2008-06-29T23:26:00.001-07:00

Porteur de LâImage - Through a Glass Darkly Genre: Ambient, Electronica Don Hillâs music project Porteur de LâImage is both strange and inspiring, sort of a âDark New Ageâ to coin a phrase. It appears that most consider this to be post-industrial, a description I will grudgingly concede. Through a Glass Darkly, which has the subtitle of âElectronic Sounds of Faithâ, was originally released in 2003 from Epiphany records as a limited release but is now available as a free and legal MP3 album. O

âPrivate Market May Correct Over 3-6 Monthsâ: KP Balaraj

2008-06-29T23:13:00.001-07:00

Sequoia Capital India is clearly one of the largest funds in India - if not in terms of fund size but in terms of portfolio. They currently manage four funds (one of them being a growth stage private equity fund) with over $1 billion in assets. Half of the funds have been invested in 49 companies at last count. The money has gone into a variety of sectors such as IT/ITES, healthcare, financial services, retail, consumer internet, mobile and even FMCG and infrastructure sectors. Some of the rece

Blogging and Presenting at LegalTech West 2008

2008-06-29T23:01:00.001-07:00

I was at the LegalTech West Convention in Los Angeles last week. There were several good presentations on e-discovery at this massive event, but the best by far was Craig Ballâs E-Discovery Jeopardy. This was part of the Game Showtheme that he dreamed up for three e-discovery CLEs.Â If you think that is surprising, you might also be taken aback by the sign on the front row seats of each event: âReserved For Bloggers.â These seatsÂ were equipped with power strips to plug in blogger notebook com

How to choose an ecommerce product?

2008-06-29T21:27:00.001-07:00

What is ecommerce? Ecommerce (www.ritecart.co.uk) can be described as a commerce conducted electronically. It is the whole process of being able to make a sale of the product over the World Wide Web. Electronic commerce that is conducted between businesses is referred to as Business-to-business or B2B. B2B can be open to all interested parties (e.g. commodity exchange) or limited to specific, pre-qualified participants (private electronic market). Electronic commerce (www.ritecart.co.uk) is g

Computer pioneer and tea-shop-automator David Caminer dies at 92

2008-06-29T21:14:00.001-07:00

In today's NYT, an obituary for David Caminer, "the first corporate electronic systems analyst." He worked for the Lyons chain of tea shops in the UK, and developed early ways to use computers for business purposes in the 1950s, "including standardizing flavorful, cost-effective cups of tea." He died June 19 in London, at age 92. Snip: The death was announced by the Leo Computers Society, whose purpose is to keep alive the memory of LEO, the computer Mr. Caminer helped develop for J. Lyons &

EA brings Brain Quest to Nintendo DS in Autumn

2008-06-29T21:00:00.001-07:00

EA brings Brain Quest to Nintendo DS in Autumn Posted in Screens, Nintendo DS, Games by Adam Riley on June 29th, 2008 at 22:21 For all those that are growing bored with the Brain Training duo, Big Brain Academy and the wealth of other copycat games that have so far flooded the market following Nintendoâs success with its DS training titles, Electronic Arts may well have the perfect answer in the form of Brain Quest, a translation of a very popular book series. (moreâ¦)

Tirupati Gomataram Conference

2008-06-29T19:52:00.001-07:00

âThe entire culture of ancient India was based on cows and cow progeny.Â Cow Protection means to protectÂ the cows and bulls too from slaughter or physical harm According to Vedic standardsÂ cows and bullocks are âAGHNYAâ,one which must never be killed.â The following is a bit of a long read but if someone is interested in cows, Vedic culture or varnashram, I think it is well worth the effort.Â This was received from Labangalatika dasi, former New Vrindaban resident and current cow protector

Korg DS-10 synthesizer in your pocket

2008-06-29T19:39:00.001-07:00

Ok I was catching up with the 1up show and they had a segment on the Korg DS-10. Finally, one of the most powerful new drugs to hit the market is introduced for the very first time outside of Japan by Korg scientists Kazuhito Inoue and Masanao Hayashi. The DS-10 is set to out-perform even its predecessor, the mighty MS-10 thanks in part to its much smaller size, which leading musicology experts Torrey Walker and Ryan O'Donnell have declared to be "almost swallow-able!" Side-effects of the

Sonics Trial Is Done Son

2008-06-29T19:26:00.001-07:00

After six days of draining testimony, the heated trial between the Seattle Sonics owner Clay Bennett and the City of Seattle officially ended Thursday, just hours prior to the NBA Draft. Judge Marsha Pechman announced she will issue a ruling by Wednesday of this coming week. The Judge will take all the testimony and evidence into account when deciding if the team will be forced to honor the lease at KeyArena and stay in Seattle for two more âlame duckâ seasons (according to Clay Bennett and his

Are Newspapers Doomed?--Posner

2008-06-29T19:13:00.001-07:00

A newspaper is a bundled product. A bundled product is one that combines a number of products the demands for which may be quite different--some consumers may want some of the products in the bundle, other consumers may want other products in the bundle. (Another good example is the Windows operating system, a bundle of a number of different programs.) Bundling is efficient if the cost to the consumer of the bundled products that he doesn't want is less than the cost saving from bundling. A par

Freethinker Sunday Sermonette: George Carlin, gone but not forgotten [Effect Measure]

2008-06-29T19:00:00.001-07:00

This week we lost George Carlin. I only saw him once in person, sometime in the early seventies or maybe late sixties. He was already wildly popular and Mrs. R. and I weren't too flush with disposable income so we wound up sitting in the stratosphere of a gigantic theater, stuffed to the gills with Carlin fans. He was a tiny figure on stage from our altitude, but up close and personal with his hilarious routine. While electronic traces of that hilarious presence remain on YouTube and recordings

Sonyâs Will Smith Stream Dreams

2008-06-29T17:52:00.001-07:00

The Will Smith super-hero actioner Hancock hasnât even hit theaters yet, but Sony already has big plans for the movieâs debut in your home. The company announced a new service that will deliver movies like Hancock directly to Internet-connected TV sets without the need for a set-top box or heck, even a cable or satellite subscription. The move is part of Sonyâs overall vision to enable video downloading services to all of its main products like the PS3 (which has a video content service launc

Save a Tree or Two, Buy a Used Book

2008-06-29T17:39:00.001-07:00

Iâm usually an organized person. In the past, if I needed to find something, most generally I could have it in my hands within minutes. Thatâs all changed. Although Iâve sorted, filed, packed away and gave away many items that I no longer use since my illness, Iâm swamped. Iâve never been a materialistic person, and am consiously trying to simplify my life, and my surroundings. It doesnât take long for things to pile up. One area that needs a complete overhaul and sorting out is my collectio

What a Great Weekend....

2008-06-29T17:26:00.001-07:00

It has been a great weekend. I just love the feeling of getting off work on Friday knowing the weekend is stretched before you and you have two days of freedom with no time schedule (except for church on Sunday). Saturday morning I woke up with feelings of PURE GLEE just getting to sleep in, which is usually never late. I was able to sip coffee and relax, not worrying about the clock. Saturday was cloudy and rainy at times. My kind of day as long as it is not like this EVERY day. I work

Review: Sony Mylo Personal Communicator COM-2

2008-06-29T17:13:00.001-07:00

If you are wondering why Iâm reviewing a gadget, itâs because the Sony people sent me a unit. Iâm guessing you guys are their target audience. The Mylo is an âinternet communication device,â which means itâs a tiny laptop. The prime feature is you can use it like a phone with Skype because it has built-in wireless internet (there is a microphone and ear speaker). Mostly youâll be using it to surf the internet but add a Sony memory stick (no SD cards unfortunately) and you can use it to open fi

Featured: Marcus McFly

2008-06-29T17:00:00.001-07:00

Itâs imperative I bang on something or play something on a consistent basis. Not because Iâm fearful of getting rusty, but because itâs a major part of my life. Thereâs no doubt in my mind Iâll be making music, in some capacity, my entire life. illRoots: Whatâs up man? Marcus McFly: Peace fam. How are you? iR: Good, good. Do you have any new music coming? MM: Not in the immediate future, but Iâve been working on the EP behind closed doors. So I should have some demos wrapped soon. iR:

Sermon: Genesis 22:1-18

2008-06-29T15:52:00.000-07:00

I have posted my sermon for today on my sermon blog. Itâs based on Genesis 22:1-18 and entitled: Can You Pass The Test? I have never liked exams. I am one of those people that has âtest-itisâ when it comes to taking tests. I didnât look forward to exam week in school. I donât even like examinations by doctors. I donât even like those electronic tests they do on your automobile engines. Iâm always afraid itâs going to cost me a lot of money. Do you have âtest-itis?â Do you fear those mome

Marking work in Google Docs

2008-06-29T15:39:00.001-07:00

What is the best way to give feedback on a piece of work produced in Google Docs? What formatting tools are most appropriate to use when leaving comments? How do you organise 30 to 60 pieces of work handed in to you? How do children hand in work? What new possibilities does this process uncover? These are some of the questions which will be driving my thinking in this post about assessing and giving written feedback on work that children have produced in Google Docs. It was at the beginning of

Cream Ibiza - Paul van Dyk

2008-06-29T15:26:00.001-07:00

Cream Ibiza - Paul van Dyk Leading global clubbing super-brand Cream are proud to announce the latest Cream Ibiza mix album mixed by this yearâs exclusive resident: Paul van Dyk. Grammy-nominated artist DJ, label owner and global megastar Paul van Dyk needs little or no introduction. Dominating electronic music charts and appearing at the top of Top DJ lists the world over it is clear to see why Paul is not only resident at the best club in Ibiza but has also been drafted in to mix their bran

Tired of Being Lied To

2008-06-29T11:52:00.001-07:00

Are you tired of being lied to? I am. We supposedly live in a democracy. We supposedly have the mechanisms for an informed citizenry. We supposedly have mechanisms in place to protect the our health, security, and environment. Yet time after time we find we have been lied to. Unfortunately, the generally comes out way after the fact. What is even more frustrating is to be called names for trying to talk about the truth. While it may not silence those who are trying to inform and alert the popul

Orange Alert Music Minute

2008-06-29T11:39:00.001-07:00

The backbone of hip hop is the DJ, and one of the best DJ's of the late nineties was a man out of Boston named Fakts One. His beats and scratches played a big role in the early albums by Mr. Lif among other Boston emcees, and he was a member of The Perceptionist. His solo debut album, Long Range, was scheduled to be released just after the first Perceptionist album back in 2005. However, the label stalled and finally folded before the album could reach the shelves. A devastated Fakts completely

Shopping for a Stove

2008-06-29T11:26:00.001-07:00

Shopping for a Stove June 29th, 2008 As I think Iâve mentioned before weâre in the process of putting on an addition to our house. Weâre three weeks into the process and weâve taken hundreds of pictures. I really need to start posting about the processâ"itâs been very interesting. The new addition will, among other things, expand our little galley kitchen into a full eat-in kitchen. A few days ago we started considering new stoves actively and I must say Iâve found the process very discourag

Three from Brian Beletic

2008-06-29T07:39:00.001-07:00

Basement Jaxx - Red Alert (1999, 10.5MB, 3:42) Fatboy Slim - Donât Let The Man Get You Down (2003, 9MB, 3:08) Lady Sovereign - Love Me or Hate Me (2006, 12.2MB, 2:43) Three videos from the funky fresh Brian Beletic. (Why doesnât a music video director have a website?) In any case, Beleticâs work spans the last decade, these posted in chronological order. Basement Jaxxâs video is conceptual: what if music was illegal? Love the idea and execution. The track itself takes me back to

The Crash Moderns: Where Did All The Scene Girls Go

2008-06-29T07:26:00.001-07:00

(VOTE us to play WARPED TOUR!) âA mix of Pop/New Wave rock and modern sound, Goodnight Glamour Good Morning Disaster, the debut release from NYCâs The Crash Moderns is full of catchy songs that will remain in your head for days. There are so many tracks on this album that have single written all over itâ¦The electronic vibe, hand claps, and instant rock gratification is sure to turn your frown upside downâ¦â [Melodic.net] Download | Subscribe | Subscribe in iTunes Links thecrashmoder

Search

2008-06-29T07:13:00.001-07:00

Microsoft just made a 100 million acquisition of semantic search engine Powerset in its bit to improve existing Internet Searching Technologies for its Live Search. I use Live Search regularly and would say the results are now very comparable to Google and in the case of Image Search much better organised. Better search is always good, but as a lot of people have been expressing, searching in natural language (âwhat is the capital of France?â) is not too useful for anyone who has used the Inte

Permanent link to Random Inspection of Your Laptopâs Content at U.S. Border

2008-06-29T07:00:00.001-07:00

Random Inspection of Your Laptopâs Content at U.S. Border June 29, 2008 at 9:34 am Â· Filed under Politics, Gadget, Travel & Places Iâve travelled quite a bit in the past, but I didnât even know about this: US Customs and Border Protection agents can "randomly" seize your laptop, camera, cell phone and other electronic devices at the border for inspection - meaning theyâll take a peek at what youâve got stored in your machine: Bill Hogan was returning home to the U.S. from Germany in February

Some Photos form my office's Desktop

2008-06-29T05:26:00.001-07:00

It is Sunday, and I'm checking my old photos... And then, I found my office's desktop photos. You may want to see them. Sometimes, my desk is clean but sometimes, it get horribly messy... This is the average looks of it. Working on these Wireless Rain Gauge development have build up my skills in linux bash programming and I learn a lot on how Single Board computer works. In the beginning, we just create a daughter board and attach it to a hacked LinkSYS WRT45GS board which I've installed Op

Sony PRS 505 E-Reader Reviewed

2008-06-29T05:13:00.001-07:00

Itâs been six months or so since I received the Sony PRS 505 E-Reader from my last employer as a generous going away present, and I forgot that I hadnât posted my thoughts on the device yet. After six months, I can safely say Iâve been relatively pleased with the device. For those that havenât seen or played with the device, the Sony PRS 505 is an electronic book, one of the first commercial application of âelectronic inkâ, a passive display technology from E Ink Corporation. Unlike a traditio

Controlling the email monster

2008-06-29T05:00:00.001-07:00

Intriguing account by Luis Suarez of IBMâ¦ EARLIER this year, I became tired of my usual morning ritual of spending hours catching up on e-mail. So I did something drastic to take back control of my productivity. I stopped using e-mail most of the time. I quickly realized that the more messages you answer, the more messages you generate in return. It becomes a vicious cycle. By trying hard to stop the cycle, I cut the number of e-mails that I receive by 80 percent in a single week. Itâs not t

Random Inspection of Your Laptopâs Content at U.S. Border

2008-06-29T03:52:00.001-07:00

Iâve travelled quite a bit in the past, but I didnât even know about this: US Customs and Border Protection agents can "randomly" seize your laptop, camera, cell phone and other electronic devices at the border for inspection - meaning theyâll take a peek at what youâve got stored in your machine: Bill Hogan was returning home to the U.S. from Germany in February when a customs agent at Dulles International Airport pulled him aside. He could reenter the country, she told him. But his laptop co

Plodding along in my slippers

2008-06-29T03:39:00.001-07:00

I'm on the train headed for Manchester, NH and a work meeting. I always wonder why I choose the train right before I have to board at some ridiculous hour (because 3:15 am is indeed ridiculous). Nevertheless, once I claimed my seat this morning I was reminded of how pleasant the train can be. Unlike an airplane, my seats (because, let's face it, you can usually score a pair) are like my own private oasis. I have a plug for all of my electronic gadgetry, a seat that can recline and also not be b

Riding on the P.E.A.C.E. Scooter

2008-06-29T03:26:00.001-07:00

Orin OâNeill photos I didnât get to meet Alix Bryan when her P.E.A.C.E. Scooter ride arrived in Seattle, due to scheduling difficulties on both our parts. Luckily, this year scheduling for both of us worked considerably better. A year has made a considerable difference. Where last year P.E.A.C.E. Scooter went from concept to departure in 40 days, there was almost a whole yearâs worth of planning in this yearâs ride, which follows a route designed to draw the circle in the peace sign. Expe

Mobile Phones Could Save the Airlines Millions

2008-06-29T03:13:00.001-07:00

Filed under: Cell Phones, Summer Fun A consulting firm working with the airline industry seems to think that mobile phones are the secret to saving the beleaguered industry millions of dollars. The firm, SITA, says that if the airline companies learn to properly leverage the features on high-end cell phones, it could save $600 million in the next few years. SITA suggests using location-awareness functions like GPS to track passengers within the airport and to text message them with importa

NHS Scotland eHealth Strategy 2008 - 2011 Launched

2008-06-29T03:00:00.001-07:00

The eHealth Strategy for 2008 - 2011 was formally launched by Nicola Sturgeon at this year's NHS Scotland Event. The vision for eHealth supports the goals as set out in the Better Health Better Care Action Plan. This is about exploiting the power of electronic information to help ensure that patients get the right care, involving the right clinicians, at the right time, to deliver the right outcomes. It is therefore as much about transforming traditional processes as it is about technology.

iGadget TY-425 Sudoku Electronic Puzzle Game $10 at Buy.com

2008-06-29T01:52:00.001-07:00

Get the iGadget TY-425 Sudoku Electronic Puzzle Game for $50 - $40 instant discount = $10 shipped at Buy.com. The iGadget TY-425 is a portable Sudoku electronic push-button game with a backlit screen and 3 difficulty levels. It runs on two 'AAA' batteries (included). Sudoku is a puzzle game based around a 9x9 grid, divided into smaller 3x3 sections. Some cells are pre-populated with the numbers 1 to 9. Your task is to fill the remaining empty cells, so that each row, column and region contai

XtremeMac Tango Studio iPod Speakers Product Review

2008-06-29T01:39:00.001-07:00

While it is not as portable as perhaps a headset, XtremeMac Tango Studio iPod Speakers weigh just over 1.5 kilograms and take up a space measuring only 16.5 centimetres in height, less than 30 centimetres in width, and under 10 centimetres in depth. Since it is not a large unit, some may find it lacking in the bass range, particularly at a distance. It is also lacking radio presets, although the next model in the line includes this feature for an additional Â£40 or so.

So Many Uses, So Little Crime

2008-06-29T01:26:00.001-07:00

All for your own good, of course. MSNBCâs Alex Witt talked to Newsweekâs Michael Isikoff about a new proposal by the Bush administration to use satellites for domestic surveillance. Isikoff told MSNBC, âThe Homeland Security Department is talking about expanding the program to use military satellites really, for domestic purposes. They say the primary driver is natural disasters â" like the recent flooding in the midwest â" to pinpoint areas that are most hard hit and to help with responses, fir

Polivoks

2008-06-29T01:13:00.001-07:00

images via this auction "The Polivoks is the most popular vintage Russian synth made in the early 80's - it was among the first synthesizers produced in the USSR. It had 2 oscillators with pulse or triangle waves, and 1 noise generator, the levels of which were controlled via the internal mixer. You could also connect an external input (guitar, electric piano etc) for mangling with the Polivoks' switchable high/low pass filter and LFO. Polivoks had been produced since 1982 by Formanta electroni

Obamaâs Suspect Birth Certificate

2008-06-29T01:00:00.001-07:00

After some questions about whether Barack Obama qualifies as a ânatural born citizenâ under Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, the Barack Obama campaign released an electronic copy of what they purported to be Barack Obamaâs birth certificate.Â Thereâs a bit of a problem, however.Â The document that the campaign released does not appear to be legitimate, and officials of the State of Hawaii say they cannot authenticate it.Â At this point not only are some asking about whether he is lega

Playing Indoors (Temporarily!)

2008-06-28T23:52:00.001-07:00

One of the crazes that came after my childhood that never caught my attention was the video game in its various incarnations. Pong showed up when I was fifteen, followed closely by Space Invaders when I was eighteen. If I was going to get hooked, those were the primo ages to do it. It never happened. I always preferred pastimes that required physical involvement of real objects, rather than those electronically produced. I guess that's why I'm so baffled by the generations of kids who followed m

ANDERSON BRUFORD WAKEMAN AND HOWE - Anderson, Bruford, Wakeman and Howe (1989)

2008-06-28T23:39:00.001-07:00

Some albums age gracefully, some do not. ABWH is in the later category. If you heard this back in 1989, when the only good prog releases were by relatively obscure bands, you were blown away by it. The classic Yes lineup (minus Squire but with the just as competent Levin) released an album that seemed to show an intention of getting back to their prog roots. Nowadays, when prog is much more easily found, this albums flaws are much more noticeable. Back in the day, though, this album generate

The mysteries of packaging

2008-06-28T23:26:00.001-07:00

I sometimes wonder at the amount of packaging for certain products and how they are packaged. Why do they stuff paper inside shoes, for example? Why do plastic fruit juice containers have seals which need to be prised open with a crowbar? Why do electronic gadgets come in plastic thatâs harder to open than a medieval maidenâs chastity belt? Why does a tub of noodles, which is adequately sealed, have an extra layer of flimsy plastic to get through before you can remove the cover? Sigh.

Black Gold 360 2nd Album

2008-06-28T23:13:00.001-07:00

Beluga Recordings are proud to announce the release of the album: âSUITE 17â by Black Gold 360 If you like dirty electronic jazz, youâll probably like Black Gold 360âs 2nd album âSuite 17â. If you donât like dirty electronic jazz then you might like the album but you also might think itâs a load of old toss, I donât know, just download and see anyways â" itâs free. Black Gold 360 AKA Beluga label boss Simon Sixsmith has teamed up with Hollandâs finest jazz musicians to bring you this project.

Why We Shouldnât Ban âEnderâs Gameâ From AP Reading Lists

2008-06-28T23:00:00.001-07:00

I was interested to read about a recent kerfuffle erupting over Orson Scott Cardâs Enderâs Game. A parent protested the bookâs status as required reading in AP English at a junior high school in Alvin, Texas (near Houston). The parent was concerned about violence and profanity in the book. It has been a while since Iâve read it, but I donât recall being annoyed by the level of profanity in Enderâs Game. In contrast, I recently finished Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. This book was overly la

farewell, heads

2008-06-28T21:52:00.001-07:00

Severed Heads are no more. This 5-disc boxed set collects a bunch of their earlier work. I only became a full-on fan at the start of the 90's (thanks, again, to a little show on 3PBS-FM that played lots of interesting electronic music on Sunday evenings), but collected whatever I could since then. There's plenty of other good stuff still available, too. It started with Cuisine - the CD shop at Monash Uni used to let you rent discs back then - I rented it, and ended up buying it. Bulkhead, a

Ladytron w/ Datarock, Sonar, Baltimore, 6/27

2008-06-28T21:39:00.001-07:00

Ladytron w/ Datarock, Sonar, Baltimore, 6/27 Filed under Reviews/Live Show Review by Sam E. Running the sound for a live band is one of those thankless jobs where itâs your assigned task to make yourself invisible. If youâre doing it well, no one notices you â" everyoneâs attention is focused on the music. But should you fail, you become very, very visible, and you do it very quickly. I spent an awful lot of Ladytronâs 6/27 show at the Sonar acutely aware of the sound guy. In fairness, I t

EA drops the ball

2008-06-28T21:26:00.001-07:00

After almost a year and half year since the Wii launched, Electronic Arts has yet to produce a hockey game for the Wii, even though they have made numerous games for other sports.Â What makes matters worse is that EAâs rival, 2K Sports, just announced recently that they will have an NHL game for the Wii ready by this October. I donât understand why Electronic Arts would not want to make this game. I think the Wii remote has the most potential in a hockey game than any other sport. You could b

Personal Health Records on the Hill

2008-06-28T21:13:00.001-07:00

Last week, I joined the Project HealthDesign grantees in DC as they shared their projects on Capitol Hill. It was an opportunity for the grantees to brief members of Congress and their staff about personal health records (PHRs) and the importance of engaging patients in the design and functionality of PHRs. We've talked about Project HealthDesign before on this blog, so you may remember that Project HealthDesign focuses on the patient or end user. (Conversely, most PHRs available today respond

Good News

2008-06-28T21:00:00.001-07:00

I get the occasional migraine, but I know people who are severely handicapped by almost-daily migraines. This would be a real boon to them: ScienceDaily (June 27, 2008) â" A novel electronic device designed to âzapâ away migraine pain before it starts has proven to be the next form of relief for those suffering from the debilitating disease, according to a study conducted at The Ohio State University Medical Center. Results of the study, to be presented Friday (6/27) at the annual American Hea

My Town: SydneyThe Presets on Their Beach-City Paradise

2008-06-28T19:52:00.001-07:00

The Presets, comprised of Kim Moyes and Julian Hamilton, have been taking the dance world by storm for several years. Known for hypnotic electronic pop beats, the boys from "Down Under," have moved many dance floors with their debut EP in 2003, Blowup and LP, Beams in 2005, the latter of which attained international acclaim and premier status within DJ circles. Their sophomore album, Apocalypso, released on Modular Records in May of 2008, topped with singles âThis Boy's in Loveâ and âMy People.

Used Cars

2008-06-28T19:39:00.001-07:00

The price of new cars has steadily climbed over the past few years, making used vehicles more attractive than ever. Because new vehicles lose so much of their value as soon as theyâre purchased, car shoppers are increasingly turning to previously owned cars as a smart financial alternative. Today, thanks to manufacturing and maintenance advances, used vehicles are better than ever and still a great value. Independent Used-Car Dealers - Independent used car lots are a potential source of afford

That sucking sound you've been hearing all week

2008-06-28T19:26:00.001-07:00

It has been not quite a decade since Scott McNealy (then of Sun Microsystems) told a crowd of reporters, "You have zero privacy; get over it." That sucking sound you've been hearing all week is what's left of your privacy and freedom, circling the drain. Monday the postman brought a "privacy policy" notice from Verizon, our internet service provider, that reveals this company has granted itself the permission to monitor everything that passes from my computers through their servers, on the sus

UNKLE Goes Widescreen, Remixes X-Files

2008-06-28T19:13:00.001-07:00

James Lavelle's electronic supergroup of sorts is back, and this time it's got an ear on cinema. It always has, to some extent: UNKLE's first effort Psyence Fiction, thanks to the able turntablist skills of DJ Shadow, kicked out the jams with audio from Star Wars and Blade Runner. This time around, UNKLE is without Shadow, but still neck-deep in sci-fi. Its latest effort is called End Titles...Stories for Film, and like every 21st-century musical release with a brain, it's going digital first

weekly legislative update (partial?)

2008-06-28T19:00:00.001-07:00

Special note: There is a problem with the distribution of the daily legislative emails. Nothing has yet arrived for Friday and I think the legislature is in session this weekend also. If any bills were passed on Friday or this weekend a supplemental legislative update will follow. This may also be why only one of the legislative caucuses has posted a weekly update. This is a list of bills that passed the Pennsylvania House or Senate this week, and mention of any noteworthy resolutions. Standar

Al-Qaeda Chief U Freed To Remain In Prison

2008-06-28T17:52:00.001-07:00

âSECOND AL-Qaeda chief to be freed in Britain,â screams the Times. Secret negotiations have taken place to arrange the release from a British jail of one of al-Qaedaâs most important operatives in Europe, The Times has learnt. The prisoner, who can be identified only as U, is expected to be released from the high-security wing at Long Lartin jail next week. Itâs too, too terrible. Times readers are outraged: The suicidal urges of the West are simply without historical precedent in the face

Interview: William Fowler Collins

2008-06-28T17:39:00.001-07:00

There is nothing like driving across the country. Although it might sound a bit antisocial, I prefer to go it alone. There are no distractions, and nothing to stop you from completely losing yourself in your surroundings. Out of sheer desire (I assure you it is not boredom) you are compelled by unknown forces to try unusual new things and do what you would ordinarily choose not to do. I strayed from the beaten path whenever possible. I was constantly observing, listening to, and recording my c

Quon v. Arch: Curb Your Enthusiasm

2008-06-28T17:26:00.001-07:00

The media got a little carried away with its praise of a recent federal court ruling that assigns certain privacy rights to text messages. The coverage, by and large, suggests that weâre on the verge of a revolution in workplace wireless communications that will see workers rise up and seize control of their electronic content. Sounds like fun. But itâs not gonna happen. Why not? Because the ruling in Quon v. Arch Wireless Operating Co. is significant for some employees but less so for others.

U.S. gives Mexico no-strings $400 million for drug war

2008-06-28T17:13:00.000-07:00

HUETAMO, Mexico - Victor de la Paz was riding back from school on a January evening with a friend, just three blocks from home, when uniformed men emerged from the darkness and motioned for them to stop. Moments later, a soldier opened fire with an assault rifle. De la Paz, 16, slumped to the ground in his bloodied school uniform, already fatally wounded as the soldiers wrestled his body from the car. The army said the boys ignored commands to pull over, but Victorâs father said shots were f

Google Adsense Sucks

2008-06-28T17:00:00.001-07:00

Well, I've lost my advertising here. Looks like Google is insistent that I validate my address by entering a PIN that they supposedly sent me. I've requested that it be re-sent twice, and still have not received one. They won't send me another. So I'm trying to deal with their customer service people, who apparently don't exist in any real form. My address is correct, I check the box a couple of times a week, and still nothing has arrived. They provide no other way for validating your existense.

British to Free Another Al Qaeda Leader

2008-06-28T15:52:00.001-07:00

Clearly there's some sort of sick death wish going on here. Is there any adult supervision in the UK or did they put the Kos Kidz in charge?Secret negotiations have taken place to arrange the release from a British jail of one of al-Qaedaâs most important operatives in Europe, The Times has learnt. The prisoner, who can be identified only as U, is expected to be released from the high-security wing at Long Lartin jail next week. Appeal Court judges ruled in April that the man, a 45-yea

If youâve got nothing to hide..

2008-06-28T15:39:00.001-07:00

Two good (even entertaining, on a serious subject) articles in the Guardian: Jan Morrisâs Davis fight is not just for liberty: It is for Britainâs soul. (This was published a couple of days ago but itâs well worth reading just to remind yourself that the whole world is not mad.) She says that Britain is becoming divided into two camps - those who care about freedom and those who are happy to give it up: of the contemporary two nations, it seems to me, by far the greater is giving up on liber

Yacht Insurance Is Necessary For Yacht, Since It Is Costly Like Charter Private Jets

2008-06-28T15:26:00.001-07:00

Due to demand in business private jet there are many companies who are in aviation sector. The trend of flying in expensive private jets was set quite a long time ago. And there is also demand of yacht by many people.It is not uncommon for people to charter a yacht for only a few hours which isnât a real problem but those who decide on hiring of a day or more have certain things to think about. This can be an extremely enjoyable way to spend a few days but it is surprising how many people negle

"Five Myths About the New Wiretapping Law"

2008-06-28T15:13:00.001-07:00

Patrick Radden Keefe (SLATE): Sometime today (maybe not-Howie), the Senate is likely to approve the most comprehensive overhaul of American surveillance law since the Watergate era. Unless you're a government lawyer, a legal scholar, a masochist, or an insomniac, chances are you haven't read the 114-page bill.. Don't beat yourself up: Neither have most of the 293 House members who voted for it last week. Ditto the mainstream press, who seem to have relied chiefly on summaries provided by the sam

Hey Kids: Less Electronic Media, More Make Believe

2008-06-28T15:00:00.001-07:00

Psychologist Susan Linn believes that children are loosing touch with their natural ability to pretend and use their imaginations. In her new book, The Case for Make Believe: Saving Play in a Commercialized World, she says that electronic gadgets and toys with a premade story are stifling kids exploration of new ideas. Creativity, empathy, learning and problem solving are all byproducts of make believe and Linn thinks weâre boxing in and distracting the younger generation with all these commerc

Life with PlayStation yields news and weather

2008-06-28T13:52:00.001-07:00

The Wii won't be the only console with news and weather channels. In the future Sony will release Life with PlayStation, a service with worldwide news and weather with a 3D Earth interface for the PlayStation 3. You can choose to read online news with Energetic, Relaxing, Dramatic, Happy, or Electronic background music. Alternatively, you can use your own music loaded on the PS3. It looks like the Sony presentation chose "Sunday Morning" from Maroon 5. "Everytime" from Britney Spears was ano

New Chemical Brothers album - Brotherhood

2008-06-28T13:39:00.001-07:00

New Chemical Brothers album - "Brotherhood" Following their fifth consecutive number 1 album last year, the Grammy award winning 'We Are The Night', The Chemical Brothers return with 'Brotherhood' a best of collection with a kick and a twist, set for release on 1st September 2008. The Chemical Brothers have established themselves as true pioneers of electronic music and have become one of the most popular dance acts of all time. Now seems the perfect time to take stock of their seminal

BOWIE, DAVID - Changes One (1976)

2008-06-28T13:26:00.001-07:00

Review Permalink | Submit a review for this album | Buy this album from PA partners Prog Folk (Studio Album, 1973) 3.12/5 (27 ratings) GRYPHON â" Gryphon Review by ExittheLemming - A Third of the Way to the Court of the Crimson Queen - Hey Nonny No - Although Gentle Giant and Gryphon may appear rather strange bedfellows (and who fancies either cleaning up the feathers afterwards or sitting on the eggs ?) they do share some common ground by their use of source materials and derive

Disney shows off E3 titles that will earn it some gamer cred

2008-06-28T13:13:00.001-07:00

LOS ANGELESâ"Disney Interactive Studios previewed what it said was the best of its E3 video game trade show line-up last week, as part of a tour for game critics. After failing to garner critical praise for its re-launch of the dinosaur-shooting game âTurokâ earlier this year, Disney is going after the hardcore racing gamer with the off-road ATV game âPureâ on PC, PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. This is the first title from Disney-owned, UK-based Black Rock Studio (formerly Climax Racing), which i

Credit Reporting Agencies

2008-06-28T13:00:00.001-07:00

by Ray Lam Credit reporting agencies maintain electronic records of your credit activities. Today, there are three major national credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian and Trans Union. If you are planning on applying for a loan or credit anytime in the near future, itâs a good idea to obtain a copy of your credit report. There are three nationwide consumer reporting agencies, which compile the credit reports. These can also be purchased form any of these three agencies, or any other company, that

Michael Geistâs 61 Reforms for C-61

2008-06-28T11:52:00.001-07:00

p2pnet news P2P:- | Politics:- Ottawa, law professor Michael Geist has taken on an ambitious project. âToday marks the first day of the House of Commons summer recess, yet there are just 61 weekdays until it is scheduled to resume on September 15th,â he said on Monday, going on: âThere are just 61 weekdays until it is scheduled to resume on September 15â³. So, âIn light of that numerical coincidence,â he launched the first of a 61 Reforms for C-61 series whichâll feature a, ânew necessary r

Letâs make Northfield a train âquiet zoneâ

2008-06-28T11:39:00.001-07:00

In the Northfield soon to be without a cineplex discussion thread, Anne Bretts wrote about a theater chain owner/developer: When he was still excited about the project he said that the Q-block wouldnât have enough parking and the property owners werenât to sell. But he said the key problem was that he wouldnât put a movie theater next to railroad tracks because there was no effective way to soundproof the building. When Heidi Hamilton was City Engineer, she began pursuing the possibility of

Of many evergreen songs....

2008-06-28T11:26:00.001-07:00

I was surfing through Youtube for many songs that were popular in the 90s. Since i did not have the means to purchase that many CDs back then, many of the songs were either played frequently on radio or I somehow managed to listen to friend's discmans and walkmans then. Those were considered luxury goods and to be able to afford 1 is certainly something. By the way, my Panasonic discman purchased in 1997 is still running strong and Angela is still using it today. Nowadays, electronic goods are n

OrtzRoka: Planets

2008-06-28T07:00:00.001-07:00

And now for a head-trip around the planetary systems. From the UK, experimental electronic duo OrtzRoka has been recently described as âhalf mental techno, half down tempo mint and waterâ by Fluokids. I have no earthly idea what that really means although it sounds like a sobering glass of water to the face at the end of a mildly eye glazing headphone session on the summer patio. OrtzRoka cut their teeth DJing, and creating remixes for more established artists such as Simian Mobile Disco, Blo

MOVIE REVIEWS: Defending Your Life, ID4, Andromeda Strain

2008-06-28T05:52:00.001-07:00

Movies I've seen recently, two on DVD, one recorded on the DVR. Defending Your Life (1991), lent to me by a co-worker, is an Albert Brooks movie, by which I mean he directs, writes, and stars in a film that's about what happens after one dies, a vaguely familiar version of one's earthly existence. But everyone gets to see the highlights and lowlights of their past and have to explain their actions. Brooks' character meets and falls for another of the recently deceased, played by Meryl Streep.