2D Beauty

Um, 2D Sleeping Beauty that is. Check out the video below. Very creative and extremely entertaining.

Droid Does have an interesting website

Ah, I love teaser sites. They leave so much to the imagination. The same is true of the new contender in the smart phone battle: The Verizon Droid. It's got all the bells and whistles, but we won't know if it's all that for another week. Still, it does have a very interesting site and logo. Did you check out that little robot-looking thing in the "R". Pretty creative.

Birdbrain is no longer an insult

Apparently, birds are pretty ingenious. Makes you wonder if they should switch from studying monkeys and choose birds instead.

Something I "Wii"ll buy

November 15th? I'm all over it. You can pre-order now, or you can wait until it drops.

Beauty in monogram

This is a nice animation that I saw last year sometime. I just want to show this to anyone who hasn't seen this before. Doesn't it make you think of Fringe?

Dvein for Tocame
by sabotage

This should make you laugh.

Did that image bring back memories?

via StumbleUpon

Xerox is switching from paper to plastic?

That's right, boys and girls. Xerox has discovered a way to print onto fabric and plastic. They are using a kind of silver ink that is printed several times to create computing power. This could make several changes in our society—some very amazing ones and lots of not necessarily good ones. Check out CNET for details.

image Xerox

Bumbershoot haiku

So, I am no poet, but this is one haiku that I created today while walking through the rain. Hope you enjoy Bumbershoot.

Throngs of shielded masses
Unforeseen approach
Destined meeting

Image flickr/flavita.valsani

Orisinal

Ferry Halim's impressive flash games aren't new, but I thought I would share these with people that aren't familiar with his work. Ferry Halim's work is amazing, well-executed and highly entertaining. Even people who "don't like games" may find something they like. Take a look at Orisinal.com for more.

Hunchwear

So, apparently my Hunchession (Hunch obsession) has paid off. I got a t-shirt and hoodie for all my contributions. I have pictures of the t-shirt above. I'd say this gives me an adequate reason to continue hunching. If you decide to join, follow me. My alias on Hunch is rhapsody1386.

The candyman can knock you out

Whenever I have a song in my head, I have to listen to it so I can get it out. Are there others out there like this? Well, I had "The Candyman Can" from Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory in my head and I was looking at the related videos on YouTube. Imagine my surprise when I ran across this video. Ouch.

Library ladies

Today, my sister and I went to our neighborhood library for the first time (we've been in this town for over a year too!). A huge book sale sign lured us over and we went inside to see if it was any good. There were rows of books available for purchase. Most hardcovers were $4.50 and trade paperbacks were $3.50. A deal like this could not be missed. However, they only accepted cash and they didn't hold books, so while my sister ran to grab cash, I held our books and decided to open a library account.

This is where the true story begins. A library patron asked the lady behind the information booth (where I happened to be filling out paperwork) why the internet wasn't working. This is a somewhat verbatim version of the conversation:

Man: Why is the internet not working. It was working before.
Library lady 1: Did you put in your password?
Man: Yes, and the wireless had been working before.
Library lady 1: Ah, the wireless? Well, I can't help you with the wireless. Hold on, I'll ask her.
Library lady 2: What is it? (exchange of issue) Ah, this is a wireless problem? Well, is your antenna up?
Man: (something mumbled)
Library lady 2: Or did you get us as a suspected window? You have to accept us if we are suspected window.

The conclusion? Don't trust library ladies with your wireless issues, trust a professional. This issue was probably not resolved either. I love the library, but old library ladies should not be asked technology questions—especially when they refer to wireless as the wireless. BTW, what exactly is the antenna she is referring to?

Cellular symphony

I stumbled across this video today. Using 1000 cell phones, Vodafone created a symphony by playing text message jingles. Hats off to Vodafone New Zealand.


Music: Tchaikovsky's Overture 1812

What I saw on the subway today was...

I think that sketching is an art unto itself. Being able to sketch a person or action quickly and with detail is difficult to achieve. Therefore I must point your attention to António Jorge Gonçalves' website ++Subway Life++ where he sketches images of people from the subway. Not only are the sketches interesting, but the site is very creative. It's been around for a while, so check it out—there might be a book available if you are looking for a more tangible means of viewing these.

Nudge webtoy

Nothing is quite as fun as a webtoy to give you a distraction. This particular webtoy, Nudge, allows you to create a musical masterpiece by adjusting individual instruments. It's a lot of fun. For more about Nudge, visit JayIsGames.com.

Small discovery

So, I'm obviously obsessed with Disney as it is. Now, I've discovered the blogs of people who work at Disney (yay!) This one guy, Eric Tan, has a very impressive blog. If you get a moment, check it out.

Elementary, my dear readers

Remember arts and crafts when you were a kid? Macaroni letters, glitter pets, stick-figure families? Ah, the nostalgia. One of the ultimate childhood crafts was the kaleidoscope. You can now make your very own animated kaleidoscope via the world wide web! Try this zefrank Drawtoy vs. Byokal.

via zefrank.com

An icantbelieveable journey

If you've ever looked at my blogroll, you'll know that I am following Icantbelieveable. Well, on her blog, she explained that she is trying to win a trip through a volunteer organization called i-to-i. She needs at least 100 votes to make it happen. Please read her entry and vote for her under the Campfire section. In order to vote, you have to sign up for a free account. It's fast and easy and only requires a working email address. For more about the contest and Icantbelievable, visit her blog. She has until October 31, so that's 10 days!

Let's be spezific

I have to love Hunch. I find out such interesting information there. I am behind the loop, but I just discovered an awesome search engine. Even though you might know about it already, I'm still going to tell you. Spezify is a unique search engine in the sense that you get a visual representation of your search. This is my first time seeing this and I'm impressed. Try it yourself.

Barnes & Noble e-book Nook

So, I received an update from B&N and saw that they have an eReader to challenge the Amazon Kindle. Meet the Nook. It is an eReader, it has Wi-Fi capabilities (enough to download an eBook in seconds), it has large space and it is rather stylish if I might say so myself. It will set you back by $259, but I think it's a good investment. You will be able to access free Wi-Fi at every B&N store. Several free eBooks come up often and you can use the free eReader available for Mac, PC, iPhone and Blackberry to pick up where you left off. Basically, you have a book with you at all times. For a 360º tour, click here. More about its features are here. Naturally, B&N already has great accessories for your Nook. You can pre-order today.

Rain, rain go away

Last week, it rained almost constantly and dreary days make me somewhat sluggish. However, I wish I had let the inner photographer in myself loose so I could create images like these. Some other beautiful images are available online at Smashing Magazine for your viewing pleasure.

via Smashing Magazine/images (top, middle, bottom) Séverine Cousot aka Sey; Agnieszka Borkowska; Yauheni Attsetski

Timeless

Recently, I spoke with my sister about logos. We were talking about the Holiday Inn rebrand. I was saying that for many companies, routine brand updates are essential. However, one company that we both agreed looks good no matter what is Coca-Cola. Despite its age, it has such a fresh look. Of course, this can be attributed to their unique commercial and print ads, however, I believe that Frank Mason Robinson did something great with Coca-Cola's logo. I don't regularly like script typefaces, but this is one that I can get down with. Hit the jump for some classic and recent Coca-Cola advertising.

My next game purchase

Since the holiday season is fast approaching, I have basically scaled down all my "me" buying and I am focusing on "others" buying. However, I want a new game so I can stop playing Rhythm Heaven and Zelda: Twilight Princess. Therefore, I have decided that I will purchase Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days. You ask why? I like the juxtaposition of Square Enix's characters with Disney characters (I'm a big Disney fan), I like the storyline and I have already played—and beat—the PS2 Kingdom Hearts and Kingdom Hearts 2 games. This is just a nice in-between title for the DS or DSi. Trailer below.

Homecoming glory

I love homecoming. It's something about the festivities and the morale. There is something about people from all backgrounds and walks of life coming together for one united reason. The parade with its floats and banners; the tailgating and parties; the stadium and the homecoming court; and of course, the football game. It's such a nice feeling. This weekend, I went down to Greenville, North Carolina to attend East Carolina University's homecoming (my Alma Mater). Although the Pirates were pitted against the Rice Owl's (apparently not a tough team), the bounty was in our favor and we took the game 49–13. Aaaargh!

image via The Daily Reflector/Rhett Butler

Cheep fun

Although I don't have an iPhone, I won't keep that from me recommending some cheap and fun apps. If you have an iPhone, consider getting Must. Eat. Birds. It's a funny, random game with good appeal during those odd in-between times when you have nothing to do, but you don't have enough time to devote to something serious. In other words, it's a great combat for boredom. You can try it online for free at their site before deciding to buy.

Blog Action Day 2009 | Climate Change

Today is Blog Action Day. It is a day for bloggers worldwide to all blog about one common theme and it is held every year on October 15. Since I am new to the blogosphere, I thought I would give it a try. The theme for this year is climate change. Climate has been changing for quite some time. I remember when global warming was the biggest myth ever and people denied its occurrence—kind of like the ozone layer and hairspray.

Well, obviously, climate has changed and it is affecting the way everything lives its life. Animals are either adapting to these changes or going extinct. Polar bears will probably be a thing of the past, joining the do-do bird. Sharks and other aquatic creatures will move closer and closer to the shore making a trip to the beach a life-or-death situation. All of our vacation spots will slowly lose their seasonal luster. Storms will become more intense and more deadly costing lives, money and resources.

The way I see it, we have to start making the changes ourselves. Instead of giving options to be "green", products should be made "green". Eco-friendly shouldn't be a choice, it should be the standard. The only issue with this change is that once people become used to one way of living, they get stuck in it. But if we continue in this direction, our greedy and lazy culture is going to be the downfall of us.

So, how can you start making the change? Reduce, reuse, recycle—it has been taught for years. The less you use, the less waste you produce. The more you reuse, the less you need to get rid of and the more money you save. Recycle your goods so they can make new goods. It's simple, but it has to be done globally for an impact. Luckily for you, there is Hunch to help you make these decisions.

What's a good way to go green? - make thousands more decisions on Hunch.com

Final Update | 40 Days of Holiness

For readers that have been interested in this topic, the 40 Days of Holiness ended yesterday. Overall, I feel that I have become a better person. Not like I was the world's biggest jerk before the challenge, but I did not always have the holiest attitude. I feel that I have learned to be more patient. I am more accepting of people and situations. I am definitely more optimistic. I suppose the way that I can sum it up is to say that even though the 40 Days of Holiness ended, I don't think I will ever stop being holy.

If you took the challenge, let me know how it is for you. If you would like to start, don't delay. It's easy and it could change your life. For background about the 40 Days of Holiness, check the archives.

Toy Story 3 — Newest trailer

The latest trailer for Toy Story 3 is below. As expected from Pixar, it looks better, but still carries the same atmosphere as the other Toy Story productions. I am still sad about Slinky's voice.

Film Review | Fame

Ah, fame. The very mention of the word brings to mind flashing lights, glitz and glam, and success. However, I do not think that Fame was a successful film. Certainly, it appeals to the younger crowd that has somehow become infused with a love of musicals and musical film. However, nothing changes the fact that this film was nothing amazing—and definitely not worth $10.50 for a ticket.

The problems with Fame? Like its predecessor, the newer rendition of Fame left too much of the story untold. When you became interested in a situation, the story would immediately change perspective or time and you would be left wanting. Some of the characters had no purpose in the overall film. The dialogue was often meaningless and amounted to nothing.

The good things about Fame? Well, the music wasn't too bad. There were several nice dances and lots of jumps and freezes and other camera tricks that always tend to make me smile a bit. However, I would save this film for rental or onDemand.

Film review grade: C-

Creative flip book animation

Warning: A bit graphic (weapons, fighting and blood). Now that that is over with, the following Flip Book animation by Donato Sansone is very innovative and extremely interesting. Working with such a large space, he made something so intricate and entertaining. The entire work comes full circle. View below.

VIDEOGIOCO by Donato Sansone from Enrico Ascoli - Sound Design on Vimeo.

This needs to move from concept to production

The issue I have with umbrellas is that they are so impractical. They don't truly shield you from the rain and when you have to fold them down, they are wet and you have to place them somewhere to dry. However, this concept shows an umbrella that doubles as an umbrella bag. More images after the jump.

Acewiches for your card games

These might be nice for a casino theme party. From what I could glean, the "acewiches" are made from tortillas and the ink is edible marker. I can't guarantee the taste, but very interesting nonetheless.

via Insandwiches.com

A view from inside the wave

Absolutely picturesque vistas of ocean waves. Hit the jump for even more beautiful "tube" photos.

This really is epic

Oswald the Rabbit vs. Mickey Mouse. Two rivals in an interesting plot. The unsuccessful cartoon characters against their successful counterparts. Mickey Mouse plunges into a world controlled by Oswald. Is anyone else as excited as I am that this is going to be on the Wii? To stay up to date on the game's progress, check out Game Informer.

via electro^plankton

Vintage soda cans

As many of my readers are well aware, I have a slight obsession with the decision-making website hunch. Well, I'm making a new topic on hunch about breaking Guinness World Records. One of the current record holders has a vast collection of Pepsi soda cans. This made me think about vintage soda packaging which led me to a gallery that has a nice display of old soda cans. It's interesting how packaging changes over time, isn't it? Hit the jump for some more images.

2009 Pentawards

Truly gorgeous packaging design is difficult and challenging to create. Those who rise to the challenge deserve all the kudos and recognition they receive. One of the award ceremonies, the Pentawards, is the only worldwide packaging competitions. Those who win truly have created something innovative and noteworthy to be praised on a global scale. Look at some of my favorite winners after the jump.

Hunch SWAG!

If you don't already know, I am obsessed with hunch. I'm a real hunchaholic, trust me (my alias is rhapsody1386 if you decide to join). Hunch is giving away some SWAG in the form of buttons with either their logo or the iconic banjo. In order to get your buttons, all you have to do is send a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to:

Hunch Inc.
Attn: Gimme some SWAG!
54 W. 21st Street, Suite 1001
New York, New York 10010
USA

Note: If you are in the US, the envelope will need to have $.64 postage (for some reason, the buttons make the whole process more difficult). Anyway, if you need more info, check out the hunchblog.

Images and info via hunch

DIY | Cat Crackers

Thanks to Free Cat Health Tips, I have been taught how to create my very own homemade cat treats. I cannot vouch for the other recipes on this page, but I made Dallas cat crackers today. They were extremely simple to make. Just follow the directions below:

6 ounces of undrained tuna
1 cup cornmeal
1 cup flour
1/3 cup water

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Measure all of the ingredients into a bowl and mix thoroughly with your hands. Roll out to 1/4 inch thickness and cut into treat sized pieces. Place on a greased cookie sheet. Bake for about 20 minutes or until golden. Let cool. Give to your cat and watch them gobble it up.

Crashing the party

So, we are all invited to watch NASA crash a rocket and a satellite onto the moon to look into this new claim of water on the moon. Well, I'm all for science and discoveries, but this feels like a bit of a waste. Anyone else think so too? What would moon water be like anyway?

• It will probably taste chalky and be cloudy
  
• The atmosphere on the moon is probably completely different from our resulting in some strange disease contracted from drinking moon water
  
• Surfing on moon water will be zero-g extreme.

Well, none of these things will probably happen, but imagination is important.

via CNN

In the pocket

Remember when NewfoundJoye first debuted? Yeah, it's been a little while. Anyway, I posted about the Name A Kodak contest. For the first time ever, I actually won something! Unfortunately, I didn't win the naming contest, but I was fortunate enough to win one of the 100 Kodak Zi8 cameras that was offered for submitting a name. So look forward to my very own videos as I put this camera to work. You'll find all of my uploads here at NewfoundJoye or on my YouTube channel.

Great car commercial

Usually, I do not like car commercials. I hardly pay attention to them, but I really like this Toyota car wash commercial. I think it does a great job of getting the message across while still being subtle and creative. Kudos to the advertising agency for a job well done. For more information about Toyota, read here.

Update | Fall television

In an earlier post, I mentioned that I was excited for Fall television. Well, now that many shows have had a chance to premier and make their mark, I'm forced to admit that I already dropped two shows from my Fall lineup.

Glee, the popular musical show on Fox, was too sporadic and pointless for me. The music doesn't make it worth watching either. Promising as it was, House (also on Fox) ended up being a major disappointment from episode one. I dropped it then. I'm still watching my other shows and Ugly Betty debuts Friday so we'll see how that goes, won't we?

Don't judge a man by his heels

Dean Gardener and Jason Fender will think twice before accosting transvestites on the street. The two, aged 19 and 22 respectively, were both very drunk and had already had a pretty rowdy night, already engaging in several fights. The particular transvestites they decided to throw punches at were cage fighters. Talk about fierce. The video below shows the beat-down.


via Daily Mail

Relaxing vision

Sometimes, images speak for themselves. This is Valencia Island, County Kerry.

image via tarzanpanorama.net

Graffiti with a meaning

If you have never heard of Banksy before, I am shocked; I am disappointed; and I pity you. Banksy is an English graffiti artist whose works are often satirical, political and amusing. You will find that some of his works were removed by the city while others are kept and maintained. For the full experience, check out his site. Seeing is believing, after all.

image Banksy

Take a deep breath

For some reason, October feels like such a rushed, busy month. Maybe it is due to the imminent holiday season or the nearing New Year, but something about October in particular makes you wish that you could just relax. I have something that can aid you in your endeavors. I was stumbling and came across Paul Neave's site. Here, he has one virtual idea of a way to relax—blow a dandelion. And if you are interested in how he created this, you can download the source code on his site!

Beauty in industry

There are times when a simple factory or machinery become art. Usually, the ones who capture this aspect of ordinary objects are photographers. In this case, I tip my imaginary hat to Nicolas Crovadore for his image, Beauborg.

via FWAPhoto and image Nicolas Crovadore

Audrey's clothing auction

I absolutely adore Audrey Hepburn. She is one of my favorite actresses and she seemed like a great person while she was alive. However, I cannot afford any of her clothes or accessories that will be auctioned this year—but I don't think I could fit them anyway. Still, I believe her wardrobe would do better in a museum or as an exhibition, but hey, that's my opinion.

via newKerala.com

Dallas, a star among kittens

This is the kitten that I have been waiting countless months for. Dallas is the new man of the house. He's going to be really spoiled living in a house of women.

DIY | T-shirt memory blanket

With the recent closure of my college storage unit, I have discovered that I have tons of t-shirts. Although I am too attached to them at present to do this, I am considering making a T-shirt memory blanket in the future. The above image is from an Etsy shop that will make the blanket for you. However, if you would like to get your hands dirty, try this seven step plan to make your very own memory blanket today! I would suggest choosing like or complementary colors and using solid squares as buffers between shirts. Another route to try is to use t-shirts from the same theme (i.e. yearly events or sports teams). If I ever decide to "up-cycle" my t-shirts, I'll post an image of my blanket up here.

NewfoundRhapsody

I spoke earlier about my plans to create a blog similar to that of the Blue Sky Studios Challenge blog. Well, I have created a new blog! (pause for applause) NewfoundRhapsody will be the home of my very own illustration challenges. My themes will be based upon random words or user generated ideas. For more about NewfoundRhapsody and to be a part of the project, visit the blog. I look forward to your ideas and comments. The first theme kicks off on Monday, October 5th.

Update | 40 Days of Holiness

Today leaves 10 more days in my 40 Days of Holiness challenge. If you are not familiar with the topic, please, check out earlier 40 Days posts.

Basically, the pastor of my church, Alfred Street Baptist Church, challenged the attendees of September's Come As You Are (or CAYA) service to be holy in all that we do. This really takes "What Would Jesus Do?" to the next level. It becomes, "You Do What Jesus Would Do."

As of this moment, I am feeling pretty good about myself, my walk with God and my attitude. I've become a lot more optimistic and confident in myself. If you have taken the challenge, feel free to comment below about your progress. If you would like to start, I recommend that you begin now. There is no one to criticize or test you—this is completely between you and God.

Whipped on this one!

I was delighted by Whip It. Drew Barrymore directed a phenomenal film. The music is great, the acting is superb and the story is intriguing. I did not know that the film is based upon a novel, but it really is a great watch. I hate giving away too much of the film's plot so I'll give a basic synopsis. Bliss (Ellen Page), a seventeen-year old high-school girl, works as a waitress at the Bodeen "Oink Joint" in Texas and is forced into beauty pageants by her mother. One day, she discovers the world of roller derby and the film explores her involvement in the brutal sport.

So, you want the skinny? Here goes. Whip It is very entertaining. It targets women, so already you know if you might want to see something else. There is some bad language and adult content (so the rating holds a purpose people). Overall, you should be happy with the results. I say it's worth the $10+ you spend at the movies.

Film review grade: A

Image via NY Daily News

Yo!

I am really feeling the Taiko drum. If I could play it, I would definitely be in good shape—it looks like it takes a lot out of the body. Anyways, here is a video for you to see a really good medley by Auckland's Haere Mai Taiko.


Here's another one by Kyodo Taiko. They performed in UCLA.

Game on

I have just been introduced to Ben Heck's marvelous modified electronic media. The latest is a PS3 Slim laptop (uses a Gateway LCD screen). Now you can travel and play your favorite games. Check out the video. If you are interested in more about Ben, you can subscribe to his videos on YouTube or check out his site.

Devastation

You know, people throw around the word "devastation" a lot. One scenario: two girls wearing the same dress to a public function is "devastating". Not being able to get tickets to a popular concert or event is "devastating". However, true devastation to me is losing everything you have—materials, people, hope, happiness. My heart goes out to all those in the Philippines who are dealing with true devastation. If you would like to help, read here (you'll have to scroll down a little).

via The Big Picture and image Reuters/KHAM

High fives ARE great

I would totally do this if I saw this sign. Kudos to Telegraph for the info and Ryan Laughlin for the design.