http://myphoneblaster.com/

What is it?  In short, you call people and when they answer they hear an MP3 you have uploaded through the site.  You select the number to call, set the caller ID (which is the best part, he he…) and upload a MP3 from your computer or select from a few “default” tracks.

Although I’m first reminded of the days of ‘ole (before everyeone had caller ID) when you could prank call people without being immediately called back or reported to the authorities, I’m sure you can use this site for things other than getting into trouble.

For example:

• Send your significant other a sweet song
• Express your anger through music instead of screaming
• Bug your co-workers (as I have already found this effective)
• Brighten up someone’s day
• Fill-in-the-blank

Give http://myphoneblaster.com/ a try.  I think you will quickly find it fun a addicting.

At home I use Linux and Windows, at work I use a Mac.  I enjoy aspects of all three OS’s but for a while Mac’s have had a killer app that was not available on any other OS.  This applications biggest asset was what it didn’t do — Get in the way!

The app is called Growl and it provides useful notifications only from applications you want to monitor.  For example if you are chatting with someone and reading an intriguing article from Wired but your browser is taking up the entire screen.  With Growl there is no need to flip back and forth between the browser and the IM client, instead Growl pops up a small, non-obtrusive “bubble” with the message from your friend which “floats” there for a few seconds, then goes away.  Growl works with a grocery list of applications to display useful information you may want to be aware of like completed downloads, new IM’s, new e-mails and so many other things.  If you want tend to the notification you can click on the bubble and the appropriate application will be made active, if not, it will just fade away after a few seconds.

For you Linux users out there an application with the same idea in mind is available called Mumbles.  It works with the Gnome desktop and can be installed via a source or a .deb package.  The range of supported applications is not as vast but the ones that matter to me work out of the box — Pidgin, Firefox and Thunderbird.  More support is coming and what is available is already a must-have.

Finally, for you Windows users an app called Snarl is available.  The current issue with Snarl is application support.  I believe it’s on its way to being a great app — just give it a few months.  It does have a developers guide available for anyone who wants to add Snarl functionality into their existing application.

While all three apps serve the same purpose Growl is by far the pack leader.  It has been around the longest and provide support for tons of applications. (Both of the others are admitted attempts to bring “Growl” functionality to the respective OS.) If you are on the computer even half as much as I am I can assure you that once you use these apps you will wonder why someone didn’t think of this a long time ago.  Don’t just take my word for it, download the apps and give them a test run!

Growl – http://growl.info/

Mumble – http://www.mumbles-project.org/

Snarl -  http://www.fullphat.net

In a twist of irony I came across IloveJackDaniels.com (I don’t drink). The site has nothing to do with drinking but instead is the home of a web designer/developer from the UK who happens to prefer Jack Daniels if given the choice. The particular page Stumbleupon took me took was a literal goldmine for someone like me. It was a page full of Cheat Sheets for things I constantly have to look up in a book; CSS, SQL, RoR, PHP and so many more. I have a good working knowledge of most things but I don’t use them enough to not need some reference books.

If you are anything like me and don’t use CSS, HTML and PHP enough to know every command at the drop of a hat then this page is for you. Print them, use them, frame them — whatever you choose, just check them out. Until you are a pro they will surely save you a ton of time.

IloveJackDaniels.com Cheat Sheet’s

Although there are hundreds of distributions they can be separated into four main categories based on the way packages are managed (or are not managed) in each.

1. RPM Based

RPM (Red Hat Package Manager) based distributions are the mostly widely used. They account for approximately 50% of total Linux distributions (unverified source). Some of the more popular RPM distributions are: Red Hat, Fedora, CentOS, Mandrake and SUSE. For more information on what RPM is and can do, see the Wikipedia article on RMP.

2. Debian

Debian based package management is handled by a powerful software tool called “apt” (Advanced Packaging Tool) Without digging too deep into apt, in short, it handles “.deb” files, installs and configures them. A simple command like apt-get install kde would install the entire KDE window management program and configure it for my system. Some of the more popular Debian distro’s are Debian (the original), Ubuntu, Knoppix and Linspire.

3. tar.gz based

G-zipped tar-balls are used as the primary installation source for installing and upgrading packages on some Linux distro’s. Managing a system using this type of installation source is usually reserved for advanced users. Although a package manager is used (generally pkgtool) it doesn’t check for dependencies. If you want to install software that needs other software to make it work, the system administrator is responsible for making sure the required dependencies are installed. The most popular distribution of this type is Slackware.

4. Source (all packages are complied from source code)

Linux distro’s that compile packages from source are often used by only the most “hardcore” users that want to control every aspect of system configuration and installation. The benefit is complete system control but the downside the time it takes to install packages. Because each package is installed from source code it has to be complied before it can be used. If you want to become a Linux expert (or already are one) then source code-type Linux distro’s are the best way to go. The most popular source-code based Linux distribution is Gentoo. See my previous post on Linux from Scratch if this sounds like something you would like to tackle.

She reminds me when to do things without being rude, stops talking when I tell her to, doesn’t bother me if I don’t want to talk, never forgets anything, and probably best of all, she never costs me a penny.

Doesn’t she sound perfect? In reality Sandy is from iwantsandy.com and she can do some pretty cool things. She is a virtual assistant that you access through something most of you probably use everyday — your e-mail. There is not software to install, nothing to download and no cost.

Sandy can:

• Help you remember something
• Set a reminder
• Make to do lists
• Add contacts that you can lookup with a quick e-mail.

For a more complete list, check out the Quick Guide. Just send her an e-mail and she will remind you whenever you tell her to (or at a default time). One of my favorite things is you can CC: her on an e-mail about something important and Sandy will remember and remind you when it’s time via e-mail, text message, Twitter or all three.

There are all kinds of reminder programs, calendar programs and the like available for download and purchase but what makes this one different, at least for me, is that it integrates so well with my life. I use check my e-mail all the time for work and personal reasons and the options of text reminders are nice when you’re on the go.

If you are looking for an easy way to manage your appointments and save some time, give Sandy a try. She won’t let you down.

Command-Line interface – A non-graphical user interface that utilizes text commands entered at a prompt to complete operating system tasks. Windows is on the left, Linux/UNIX on the left (click for bigger picture)

As you watch, think of what technologies like this could bring to your daily life then think, “If we can do this now, what will it be like in 10 years.” Leave me your thoughts on the future of computing in the comments. I will make a post out of them. For more information check out the official Microsoft page.

This is a short “intro”:

This is an “in-depth” overview that took place on the Microsoft campus.

I came across a unique page today. It’s called the Antiriddle Project.

“The goal of the Antiriddle project is to not only entertain those who enjoy intellectual challenges, but also to teach a certain degree of computer literacy and to foster a sense of cooperation in solving an issue.”

The riddles you are asked to solve are extremely involved and complex. The riddles can only be solved by using a computer and technology you can access through your web-browser.

From the site:

“Try to find a group of people to work with, solving all of the riddles on your own can be hell. Large community forums are usually the best places to advertise when looking for a group of other people to help you solve riddles. Solving in a group is more fun than solving on your own! Please remember though, that you don’t want to ruin the fun for everyone else: if you need help, give hints, or send a personal message to another user. Please, do not give out spoilers.

You will need to rely on external sources, such as search engines or online information databases, such as encyclopedias, translators and dictionaries. You will often need other programs, such as graphic editors, sound editors and text readers. Most of these programs should be available as freeware. Only programs that are deemed in common circulation are needed to solve these riddles.

Most of these riddles will require you to learn things which you previously did not know. Many of those that have made it this far have already learned how to view source code, how to alter address bars and how to see everything on a webpage. Though you may get frustrated, remember that none of these riddles are impossible and can always be solved. Try not to miss the obvious!”

I currently read a lot of the blogs that are on the list and was surprised to see that my blog was towards the top. How could I not share in this train? The obvious answer is, “I couldn’t.” So here it is, my first “link train”. This one also has the feeds of each blog. Give them a look. You may find something you like.

Here’s the list of blogs so far:

Subscribe to BobmeetsWorld
Subscribe to LifeisRisky
Subscribe to Thoughtsfrommylife
Subscribe to CountRamblings
Subscribe to TheThinkingBlog
Subscribe to NotsoBoringLife
Subscribe to DoshDosh
Subscribe to KumikosCashQuest
Subscribe to Fuery
Subscribe to Jemmille.com
Subscribe to Alien Hunter
Subscribe to Bryan-Baker
Subscribe to GorillaSushi
Subscribe to Ubertramp
Subscribe to Queen of the Surf Pirates
Subscribe to South Side Star
Subscribe to Vrtualme
Subscribe to Its Monkey Mamou
Subscribe to Paula Mooney
Subscribe to Tisha! / Serendipity Quest
Subscribe to Groovy Lady
Subscribe to Blog Band-Aids

My additions:

Subscribe to BlogPaul

Subscribe to GoogleTutor

Subscribe to SocialTwister

Here is a copy of the orignal “rules”:

Copy the (above) link list to your blog, hence creating linkbacks for your blogging friends. And then click the RSS feed link to subscribe to all of the blogs on the list.

Add yourself and up to 3 other blogs and their feeds to the list before you post it.

Show some love! Just imagine if 10 people would do this and then 10 more after them. That would get your blog 100 extra linkbacks and 100 extra feed subscribers!