Ok, when I think of stuff on Etsy … I think of crafty stuff like birdhouses made out of old fence wood or home made tshirts made with iron on transfers … but when I saw this on trendhunter … I was blown away by this stuff. Even though I did go to steampunk’s etsy site … I could not find this particular “wrist cuff”. There are some wild artsy things for the biker at streampunk.

from this article.

This leather wrist cuff from Steampunk Sweet Shoppe is a fixed-gear bike rider’s dream. It’s essentially steampunked biker jewelry, with vintage-looking industrial gears adorning the face of the cuff and an adjustable strap so that it can fit both men and women.

Click through the gallery above to see more images of this steampunk wrist cuff, and keep clicking for more steampunk accessories and fashions.

Source: Trendhunter
http://www.trendhunter.com/trends/steampunk-wrist-cuff

I admit it … I need all the help I can get to win at Fantasy Football. This year I was so ready for my draft day … then I was struck in the gut by a tiny, tiny kidney stone. How can anything so small cause so much pain. Never mind that … I could not go to the draft and had to settle for a live skype connection …. not fun … but better than not being included at all. I had been involved in a couple of mock drafts and chose the same position that I would be at in the real draft … 9th. Yuck … you are stuck waiting in both directions. So, I was ready. But then someone takes Drew Brees like in the first round!! What? I didn’t see that coming … even though I had done it last year … anyway … that pretty much jacked up who I would pick in what round … because once one person starts picking quarter backs in the first round … everyone thinks … oh no … they will all be gone. Yep, that’s pretty much what happened. I tried to stay with my plan … but ended up cratering to the pressure and picked a QB in the second round … and all that was available at the time was Eli Manning … not too bad, but … ehh. Now who I wanted.

Anyway … not that I think any of these sites can really help me at this point … I will check them out.

wg

Source: Mashable
http://mashable.com/2010/08/28/fantast-football-sites/

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California Set to Ban Plastic Bags

from this article.

In a move experts say could domino across the country, California is poised to become the first state to ban single-use plastic bags. Approved by the state assembly in June, a bill to that effect is due before the senate on Tuesday, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has said he will sign it if he receives it.

The bill, which would ban single-use plastic bags in grocery stores and pharmacies beginning in 2012, and in liquor stores and convenience stores in 2013, has met widespread acceptance, but is not without detractors.

Environmental groups are strongly in favor of the measure because of the growth of the “great Pacific garbage patch,” a mass of non-degradable plastic trash floating about 1,000 miles off the coast of California which is said to be twice the size of Texas. California’s 38 million people use an estimated 19 billion bags a year.

the rest of the article here.

Source: CS Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0830/California-set-to-ban-plastic-bags

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I thought this article was kind of humorous. In a world of 10 or 12 reasons … here is  5.  I’m sure there are more. Of course I love Florida,  or at least the 10 or 12 people I know there. Thanks Art … I also thought it was Vitamin D you got from the sun … not B … but maybe it is B. If it is B AND D … that could give you reason #6.

Five Reasons To Live In Florida
By Art Gib

With the economy in the state that it’s in, more and more people are forced to relocate for job opportunities. Every now and again, someone is lucky enough to get to choose between a few different states for their potential career change. It’s important to do some research into the potential states to ensure it will be a good fit. That’s why this article lists five reasons one should consider choosing Florida if they have the option.

The first reason one might consider moving to Florida would be the health effects of the Vitamin B from all of the sunshine. After all, it’s not called the sunshine state for nothing. The fantastic tropical weather is the number one reason why people want to move there and tourists flock there by the masses. Anyone who appreciates a good tan and the warmth of the sunlight on their skin will really appreciate what this state brings to the table.

Beaches are another fantastic reason to consider Florida. Those who can afford living in Vero Beach condos or on the coast of Miami beach will be the first to vouch for how spectacular they are. It is a common consensus that Florida offers some of the most pristine beaches in the continental United States. With about 1,350 miles of coastline and every point in Florida only 60 miles or less from the beach, it’s a great place to live.

With ocean comes sea food-fresh seafood. The difference between fish in the Midwest and fish in the East is the difference between night and day. Those who like to get their Omega-3 intake through fresh fish flock by the masses to get to Florida. The fish there tastes great and has several health benefits also.

Of course, if anyone has access to Indian River County property, they should snatch it up in a second. That is because the Indian River area of Florida is famous for producing only the best-ever oranges. Those who have a craving for citrus on a regular basis might want to consider moving to Florida just for this reason alone.

Everyone likes to live in a place where there’s lots to see and do. Florida invented the concept of having lots to see and do. Perhaps that is why they have basically decided that anything that can be made into an amusement park, will be. Indeed, with the fabulous weather, gorgeous beaches, fresh seafood, delicious citrus and fantastic opportunities for entertainment, it’s a wonder why more haven’t made Florida their permanent residence.

Article Source: Articles Engine

I confess. I am an avid twitterer. No, I don’t understand everything that I need to know about tweeting. See, I’m not a famous actor or an important person … but I do think I have interesting things to say … it’s just that not a lot of people think so. So, I am trying to learn … How to Write Tweets that get clicks. I tweet pretty much to market my business and get people to my website. Heck … that’s what a bunch of people do … in fact … it looks like millions of people twit about their business and try and get people to click those little nonsensical website addresses.

The main thing that I am learning is … you need to be a master at using words. The pros say …

If you are using Twitter to send tweople to your blog or website you need to write tweets that get tweople clicking on your links.

I approach writing these tweets like writing a headline.

A hot and compelling headline will promise benefit or reward for the reader, in exchange for the valuable time it takes to click through and read more. via(twitter-howto.com)

So, Hot Tip … #1 … Write a Good Headline. Ok, but what if I don’t know what a good headline is. They say a good headline should be simple and direct. I researched some good headlines from KU .

Example #1 — Jaycees do windows

Example #2 — Gates admits mistake

Example #3 — Dr. Seuss, man of rhyme and reason, dies at 87

Now, I know that these were obviously lectures notes from a university journalist class. Hey, I wanted to learn from the best. But would these really be good twitter headlines to get you to click a link. Oh, that was something else I found out. You need to need the words … “you” and “because” .. touted as the two most important words (via copyblogger). Man … my head is swimming. No wonder very few people click my links. I must be a complete doofus. I’m afraid I fall into the category of bad headlines like these –

Example #1 — Potential witness to murder drunk
(What someone murdered a drunk? Oh … no the murder witness was drunk)

Example #2 — Professor of Greek thought dead at 59
(We think he’s dead? Ah, a professor of “Greek thought”)

Example #3 — Teacher strikes idle kids
(Is that abuse?)

The real thing that I am learning is … yes,  you may be able to write a good blog, have a good marketing plan, have tons of followers … but, you have to be willing to give back to your followers than just taking that coveted click of the link. It’s all about trying to build some type of twitter trust and relation with the 1,000’s of followers you have.

Hopefully, I’m getting better.

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from this article.

In late 2007, friends Michael Gooden and Jon Cook decided to focus and change directions from previous musical attempts and formed Shapes Stars Make. “Shapes Stars Make sound exactly the way you would expect a band with this name to sound like. The music is airy with gentle flickers that light up small and large. The music consumes the listener like the lights in the night sky and lets you dream out loud.” (AbsolutePunk)

Shapes Stars Make crafts emotionally-rich indie rock, heavy in post-rock influence. The band’s songs are well-crafted harmonies that balance beautifully layered melodies and lyrics. In January 2008, Shapes Stars Make recorded their debut album with Producer/Engineer John Congleton (The Appleseed Cast, Explosions in the Sky, This Will Destroy You). The self-titled album was recorded and mixed during six rainy and cold days in Texas.

More here.

Source: Zvents

Los Angeles

From a distance – Google Earth, perhaps? – the brouhaha over the Internet search giant’s overture to the major television networks to join Google TV sounds familiar. A highly-disruptive new technology without a clear fix on how everyone in the game will make money arrives to deliver yet another dose of choice and freedom to the modern consumer: the proposal is to make every TV show from “Gilligan’s Island” to “Lost,” searchable and viewable on Internet-enabled screens whether in a living room or the palm of a hand.

Much of the attention in reports of the negotiations between Google and the network executives this week has focused on the studios’ reluctance to jump the broom with a new partner before a proper pre-nuptial deal has been signed.

But while echoes of earlier collisions between new gadgetry and old business models hover in the air, the reality, say industry insiders, media experts and brand specialists, is that Hollywood has learned a thing or two from the past.

more here …

Source: CS Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0819/Google-TV-why-Hollywood-isn-t-running-scared

Within the next few months, subscribers to Verizon FiOS service could watch live TV through an application on their tablet computers. That’s the word today from Verizon, which says it expects to roll out a full range of television programming to tablets, including the top-selling Apple iPad – and presumably the influx of Android- and Chrome-powered slates expected by the holiday season.

Verizon reps announced at a press conference that the application was, in a technical sense, ready to go. But Reuters is reporting that Verizon will still need to “convince content providers like Time Warner or Walt Disney Co to give it permission to extend live TV viewing to devices such as tablet computers and home appliances.”

It’s important to note that what Verizon seems to have in mind here is not a stream-on-demand service such as the one Netflix offers. Instead, tablet owners would be able to watch television programs and sporting events at the same time they hit the cable box. Over at GigaOm, Ryan Lawler runs down some details from the Verizon press conference:

There will be certain limitations at the launch of the app. At first, subscribers with an iPad will only be able to watch linear programming within their own home, which allows Verizon to authenticate and make certain that the users have access to whatever content they’ve paid for. Verizon CIO Shaygan Kheradpir said in a press briefing that the iPad app takes advantage of Verizon’s architecture, which he characterized as “cloud TV.” The experience is similar to what’s available today on FiOS set-top boxes, and takes advantage of the same software that Verizon uses for its set-tops.

more here ….

Source: CS Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2010/0819/Verizon-FiOS-TV-may-be-coming-to-tablet-computers

Searching for Cameron Diaz online carries a one-in-ten chance of landing on a website festering with malicious software that can infect your computer, according to security tech company McAfee.

Diaz topped this year’s list of McAfee’s Most Dangerous Celebrities, knocking last year’s riskiest search bait Jessica Biel down to number three. (Both stars have coincidentally dated Justin Timberlake, who did not make this year’s list.)

Crafty cybercriminals infuse some of the internet’s most popular searches such as movie stars, musicians, athletes and politicians, with malicious software, or “malware.” These unsavory programs include spyware, adware, computer viruses, email spam and phishing scams.

McAfee has published the list four years in a row now to boost sales of its SiteAdvisor program that vets websites for malware and performs other online security pat-downs.

“This year, the search results for celebrities are safer than they’ve been in previous years, but there are still dangers when searching online,” said Dave Marcus, security researcher for McAfee Labs in a statement.

Source: Christian Science Monitor
http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/0820/How-Googling-Cameron-Diaz-can-mess-up-your-computer

Friday Night Lights fans can now watch every episode of this critically acclaimed show again, when ABC Family begins airing Friday Night Lights, weeknights, at 6:00 PM ET/PT, starting September 7, 2010. Better yet, for anyone that has never watched this wonderful show, perfect for both parents and teenagers, they can start now.

Source: Connect with your Teens
http://connectwithyourteens.blogspot.com/2010/08/friday-night-lights-coming-to-abc.html