DogsOfWar

542 posts
Dogs of War was born in a crossfire hurricane. He wrestles alligators in the pouring rain.

Santa Would Like to Leave You a Voicemail

6 comments

Google really knows how to make people like them and shill their products at the same time.  They have setup a Google Voice line just for Santa so you can have him call someone and leave a message.  I’m sure it’s aimed at convincing kids Santa really does exist but I have a suspicion that about 90% of these calls will be directed at adults and be slightly naughty, though this is tough to accomplish.

The basic idea is that you enter your name, the recipient’s name and then select various messages to include.  I sent one to the wife and she chuckled.

Since having only one Santa related product tie in isn’t enough for a company of their size, Google has also entered the highly lucrative Santa tracking game.

More info at the Google Voice Blog.

Technology Will Get Your Lazy Ass Out of Bed

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The most patented device is the US is the mousetrap, but I’m sure number two is the alarm clock.

Science has long promised us a graceful awakening based on our own body rhythms giving us a nice way to start the day. Instead we have been given alarm clocks that are loud, alarm clocks that run awy from us, ones that play only music you don’t like, ones that donate money to causes you hate for every minute you stay in bed. This kind of stick instead of carrot system has gone on far too long.

Now you can finally have a gentle marriage of technology and body rhythm to get your lazy ass out of bed.   WakeMate.

The website even lets you track your sleep paterns so you can obsessively search WebMD for sleep disorders that you have diagnosed yourself with.  Now wake up, fall out of bed, drag a comb across your head and get some coffee so you can really wake up.

What’s in a Name?

22 comments

Let’s talk about names. Please make sure to use a name we’ll recognize when commenting so that we know who you are. Even if you had to register with a name you didn’t prefer you can always add an alias or screen name so that it displays with what you want.

Change Your Passwords

15 comments

If you still have the default Crasstalk password then you need to change that to something else. Don’t use dictionary words, use upper and lower case and use special characters. And for the love of Jeebus don’t use your Gawker password here.

Apple Hates Your Freedom

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Tomorrow Apple is going to announce some BS about iTunes, probably streaming and probably the Beatles catalog.  No matter what they say just remember that Apple doesn’t care about music they care about money.

Streaming audio services have a history of living for a short time and then leaving their users in the lurch.  Apple is a big company but they can choose to exit the business at any time if it’s not making money.

The moral of the story is to own your music and have it free of digital rights management.  Rip it from a CD you own, buy it from Amazon MP3 store or even from Apple’s DRM-free tracks on iTunes.  The catch being that the Beatles probably won’t be available DRM-free.  I’m not saying to do anything illegal, just don’t get caught in the DRM trap.  Buy music, pay artists, but be free to listen to your music how you want, on the device you want at the time you want.

Exploding Snails Will Ruin Your Birthday Party

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Bickers Dinner: EscargotQuiet Marin County California was the scene of a devastating snail explosion at the birthday party of 59 year old Danville, CA resident Chadwick St.-OHarra.  The birthday boy is now suing the restaurant over the explosive injection of garlic butter and snail juice into his eye and tear duct that occurred when he used a fork to attempt to eat the snail.  One can only imagine the snail would be satisfied with the situation had it survived the frying pan.

San Jose Mercury News