Photo ageing

Is it just me or does Camryn Manheim look like Drew Barrymore might look 15 years (and 50 pounds) from now?

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America, the beautiful

If anyone has ever wondered about (traditional) American economic superiority, I'd like to enlighten you with a simple example of the types of tricks, deception and fraud that has been a mainstay of American business. We won't get into the intimidation, threats and empty promises in this piece, but they, too, are part and parcel of what makes America "great".

Subpoenas have been issued by the New York State attorney's office to three marketing companies: Webloyalty, Affinion and Vertrue. These firms have allegedly misled consumers for years into joining membership programs and paying monthly fees. Typically, the three firms present pop-up ads to online shoppers when they're finalizing a transaction with one of as many as 22 known "respected" web retailers such as Staples, 1-800-Flowers.com and Orbitz. Some consumers have said the ads appear to be a discount coupon from the retailer.

From ZDNet: The ads offer discounts or cash back coupons if the shopper will only provide an e-mail address or username. Buried in the fine print however, are the full terms, which state that by providing an e-mail address, the customer is agreeing to sign up for a membership program and authorizing their credit card to be charged sometimes as much as $20 a month. How can these marketers charge credit cards without the owners giving them their card information? Simple, they buy it from well-respected merchants, such as Continental Airlines, Priceline and Buy.com.

Gimme a break. These bastids are happy to sell their loyal customers' credit card numbers to unscrupulous, perhaps criminal companies. Proof, once again, that when it comes to ethics, morality, and relationships, the almighty dollar trumps...especially in America.


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The future is here

NASA recently said that it is working on a personal flying suit.

Called “Puffin,” the conceptual and highly experimental project is part one-man stealth plane, part personal jet pack.

Unveiled at a San Francisco meeting of the American Helicopter Society on Jan. 20 by Mark D. Moore, an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center, the Puffin promises — on paper at least — a self-contained design with proper “cockpit” and helicopter-style blades that allow for high-altitude flying up to 30,000 ft.

The Puffin is intended to be 12 feet in length, with a total wingspan of 14.5 ft., and would tip the scales at 300 pounds, empty. It will be powered by a 60 horsepower electric motor for simplicity, reliability and low environmental impact.

The reason for this conceptual device? Covert military missions (”swoop and shoot”) or rescue operations.

Take a look at the video:

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Pizza lovers!

I hereby declare a name for the unknown force which during baking moves all pizza toppings that have been placed right to the edge of the pie inward about two full inches. It's like the opposite of centrifugal force. Instead of stuff gravitating outward, it goes inward. It shall henceforth be referred to as "Vinny's Edge".




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Chris Bosh is a wild man

No offence to Chris Bosh, who is one of my favourite basketball players and an all round stand-up guy, but from the moment I saw him with his relatively recent new hair style, it reminded me of someone. You tell me if there's a resemblance:

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