11 posts tagged “texas”
Philips SpotOn
Motion Sensing Portable LED Light
Operating on 3 AA batteries, the SpotOn from Philips is a free-standing (no installation required) LED light with a motion sensor which turns itself on when motion is detected. Particularly useful for lighting up cupboards and closets when the doors are opened.
GizWizLive
Dick and Leo thank Kim and Robin from Wild Planet for turning up for GizWizLive in their elf costumes (a feat they repeated in New York when visiting the Mad Office), and giving them a 600th anniversary cake and a TWiTLive Spork Clock to Leo. For details of GizWizLive, see the blog post for Episode 596. DGW listeners who could not watch GizWizLive, including Jeff Coddle, have asked Dick if the video will one day be available. Leo has the video but at present does not have a channel for distributing the video. One day it will come.
Upcoming New Sponsors
After Leo's recent visit to Audible's headquarters at Newark (during which Leo recorded an audible children's book "Little Golden Riding Hood"), Audible is going to return on DGW as a sponsor next month. So will Visa. As Leo explains, donations from the audience are applied towards TWiT overheads while only sponsorship money is shared among the TWiT hosts.
DGW Disclaimer
Thanks to Dan Lueders's recent prolific output, DGW will have a Thursday Theme, and a Disclaimer (which Leo plays at the end of today's show). The musical portion for the Disclaimer is a reprise of part of Dan Lueders's earlier Gravy Jingle Submission which was lost and found, and finally played in Episodes 313 and 314.
Confounding a Jury
Kevin Selle from Dallas, Texas (previous letters in Episodes 428, 551) was called upon for jury service and went prepared with his iPod loaded with DGWs. While the jury panel were waiting, he learned about the Plantronics Discovery 925 in Episode 597. When he got to the UroClub, Episode 598, he started convulsing in laughter and tears in the company of his potential fellow jurymen. Leo warns us about the dangers of listening to DGW, with a little help from Dan Lueders.
To learn about the most severe side-effect of DGW so far, see Episode 188.
Listen to Episode 601
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
GizWizLive
Dick and Leo thank Kim and Robin from Wild Planet for turning up for GizWizLive in their elf costumes (a feat they repeated in New York when visiting the Mad Office), and giving them a 600th anniversary cake and a TWiTLive Spork Clock to Leo. For details of GizWizLive, see the blog post for Episode 596. DGW listeners who could not watch GizWizLive, including Jeff Coddle, have asked Dick if the video will one day be available. Leo has the video but at present does not have a channel for distributing the video. One day it will come.
Upcoming New Sponsors
After Leo's recent visit to Audible's headquarters at Newark (during which Leo recorded an audible children's book "Little Golden Riding Hood"), Audible is going to return on DGW as a sponsor next month. So will Visa. As Leo explains, donations from the audience are applied towards TWiT overheads while only sponsorship money is shared among the TWiT hosts.
DGW Disclaimer
Thanks to Dan Lueders's recent prolific output, DGW will have a Thursday Theme, and a Disclaimer (which Leo plays at the end of today's show). The musical portion for the Disclaimer is a reprise of part of Dan Lueders's earlier Gravy Jingle Submission which was lost and found, and finally played in Episodes 313 and 314.
Confounding a Jury
Kevin Selle from Dallas, Texas (previous letters in Episodes 428, 551) was called upon for jury service and went prepared with his iPod loaded with DGWs. While the jury panel were waiting, he learned about the Plantronics Discovery 925 in Episode 597. When he got to the UroClub, Episode 598, he started convulsing in laughter and tears in the company of his potential fellow jurymen. Leo warns us about the dangers of listening to DGW, with a little help from Dan Lueders.
To learn about the most severe side-effect of DGW so far, see Episode 188.
Listen to Episode 601
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
LifeGear NOAA AM/FM Weatherband Radio LGTF-38
Multi-functional Emergency Radio
Another multi-functional gadget from LifeGear. The Model LGTF38 has a 4-LED reading light on the handle that lights up when folded up, a flashlight in front, AM/FM radio, NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) weather alert, alarm, 2 NiMH rechargeable batteries, and a hand crank for emergency power. It even charges your cellphone.
Dick reminds us again to make sure that any hand crank device should have a rechargeable battery that can store up the power.
For a previous LifeGear multi-functional gadget, see the Safety Cross PSD (Episode 249). For another hand-crank radio, see the Eton FR300 (Episode 16).
The Land of the Rolling Hills
Daniel Bingham from Houston, Texas writes to Dick about the meaning of Petaluma, the Land of the Rolling Hills. Also the land of the man who rolls on the big ball, according to Dick. Daniel quoted this blog (for Episode 549) for Leo's previous explanation of the term. Neither Dick nor Leo could make sense of the blog post, understandably, as it assumed logical consistency and quality on the part of Dick and Leo.
Not on this show, say Dick and Leo, we just ramble far and wide.
Dick and Leo continue to speculate on the identity of InsideDGW. For their previous discussion, see Episodes 494 and 507.
Match Game on YouTube
Leo thinks that since the Game Show Network started showing Match Game, there have been a lot of past episodes of Match Game on YouTube, going as far back as 1964 (and the show started in 1962). To hear the original theme with announcer Johnny Olson, with guests Joan Fontaine, Betty White, Peggy Cass, Bennett Cerf, Henry Morgan and Robert Q Lewis, click here. The theme was taken from an instrumental piece written and recorded by Bert Kaempfert, called Swingin' Safari, though the version which made a hit on the Billboard was the cover version by Billy Vaughn. The internet cannot decide which version was used on the Match Game. You can decide for yourself.
For Bert Kaempfert's version, click here. For Billy Vaughn's version, click here.
Mad Minute
Today's guest on Mad Minute is the world's least informed gossip journalist.
Listen to Episode 584
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Dick reminds us again to make sure that any hand crank device should have a rechargeable battery that can store up the power.
For a previous LifeGear multi-functional gadget, see the Safety Cross PSD (Episode 249). For another hand-crank radio, see the Eton FR300 (Episode 16).
The Land of the Rolling Hills
Daniel Bingham from Houston, Texas writes to Dick about the meaning of Petaluma, the Land of the Rolling Hills. Also the land of the man who rolls on the big ball, according to Dick. Daniel quoted this blog (for Episode 549) for Leo's previous explanation of the term. Neither Dick nor Leo could make sense of the blog post, understandably, as it assumed logical consistency and quality on the part of Dick and Leo.
Not on this show, say Dick and Leo, we just ramble far and wide.
Dick and Leo continue to speculate on the identity of InsideDGW. For their previous discussion, see Episodes 494 and 507.
Match Game on YouTube
Leo thinks that since the Game Show Network started showing Match Game, there have been a lot of past episodes of Match Game on YouTube, going as far back as 1964 (and the show started in 1962). To hear the original theme with announcer Johnny Olson, with guests Joan Fontaine, Betty White, Peggy Cass, Bennett Cerf, Henry Morgan and Robert Q Lewis, click here. The theme was taken from an instrumental piece written and recorded by Bert Kaempfert, called Swingin' Safari, though the version which made a hit on the Billboard was the cover version by Billy Vaughn. The internet cannot decide which version was used on the Match Game. You can decide for yourself.
For Bert Kaempfert's version, click here. For Billy Vaughn's version, click here.
Mad Minute
Today's guest on Mad Minute is the world's least informed gossip journalist.
Listen to Episode 584
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Safe-T-Bug
LED Light
Link: Panther Vision
From Dick's favourite LED gadget makers Panther Vision, the Safe-T-Bug has 5 ultra-bright red LED flashing lights which you can attach (by pin, adhesive or magnet) to your cap, backpack, clothing or even your dog's leash for showing you the way. It is so new it's not even on Panther Vision's website yet. A real scoop by Dick!
The Queen Mary 2
Dick had a great time on the Queen Mary 2. Listen to Dick's account of how well-equipped the Queen Mary 2 is, and learn what is the difference between a boat and a ship.
Dick has posted some of his QM2 photos on Flickr. Here's the link.
More Gas
Ray from San Antonio in Texas was prompted by the recent references to the Mad "It's A Gas" recording to look for his Mad CD which had Alfred E Neuman on its cover. Lo and behold, or Hark, It's A Gas was on that CD.
Leo was sent a disco version of "It's A Gas" which Leo plays on the show. The belches were made by Dick and Sara Fowler. Leo also found a big-band version of "It's A Gas" on seeqpod (thanks to the chatroom), which he likes better.
Mad Minute
Alfco FastFoods's new service: Ordering by Letters.
Listen to Episode 581
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
The Queen Mary 2
Dick had a great time on the Queen Mary 2. Listen to Dick's account of how well-equipped the Queen Mary 2 is, and learn what is the difference between a boat and a ship.
Dick has posted some of his QM2 photos on Flickr. Here's the link.
More Gas
Ray from San Antonio in Texas was prompted by the recent references to the Mad "It's A Gas" recording to look for his Mad CD which had Alfred E Neuman on its cover. Lo and behold, or Hark, It's A Gas was on that CD.
Leo was sent a disco version of "It's A Gas" which Leo plays on the show. The belches were made by Dick and Sara Fowler. Leo also found a big-band version of "It's A Gas" on seeqpod (thanks to the chatroom), which he likes better.
Mad Minute
Alfco FastFoods's new service: Ordering by Letters.
Listen to Episode 581
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Cruzer Titanium Plus
USB Thumb Drive
Link: SanDisk
The Cruzer Titanium Plus series from SanDisk is to replace the previous Cruzer Titanium line, at least in the US. It comes with 6 months' free online backup service with BeInSync, and 2 years' free service with BoomerangIt.
You need to create an account with BeInSync which gives you 4GB of online storage. The backup program automatically backs up the content of your Cruzer Titanium Plus. Any files deleted from your flash drive are retained online for 30 days, unless the total of the backed up files and deleted files exceeds 4GB, in which case the oldest deleted files will be discarded first. All backed up files can be accessed via any web browser, without the Titanium Plus itself.
Data transfer is done through an SSL secure connection with BeInSync, who stores the backed up files using 448-bit Blowfish encryption, and uses Amazon S3 Web Services to provide authentication. And while we're on Security Now!, the backup program on the Titanium Plus is launched using the U3 smart drive program and is therefore supported on Windows only.
BoomerangIt is a lost and found service. It requires registration, during which you submit the serial number of your Cruzer Titanium Plus. Anyone who finds your flash drive in case of loss is encouraged to contact BoomerangIt who will establish contact between you and the finder.
The Cost of DGW
Truck driver Jeff Royal from New Braunfels, Texas invites that "guy from Poland" Ludwik Trammer (who last wrote to tell Dick and Leo that the total length of DGWs had passed the 5-day mark, in Episode 527) to add up how much money is required to purchase all of the gadgets ever covered in DGW. Whatever it is, it's an arm and a leg.
Listen to Episode 563
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
You need to create an account with BeInSync which gives you 4GB of online storage. The backup program automatically backs up the content of your Cruzer Titanium Plus. Any files deleted from your flash drive are retained online for 30 days, unless the total of the backed up files and deleted files exceeds 4GB, in which case the oldest deleted files will be discarded first. All backed up files can be accessed via any web browser, without the Titanium Plus itself.
Data transfer is done through an SSL secure connection with BeInSync, who stores the backed up files using 448-bit Blowfish encryption, and uses Amazon S3 Web Services to provide authentication. And while we're on Security Now!, the backup program on the Titanium Plus is launched using the U3 smart drive program and is therefore supported on Windows only.
BoomerangIt is a lost and found service. It requires registration, during which you submit the serial number of your Cruzer Titanium Plus. Anyone who finds your flash drive in case of loss is encouraged to contact BoomerangIt who will establish contact between you and the finder.
The Cost of DGW
Truck driver Jeff Royal from New Braunfels, Texas invites that "guy from Poland" Ludwik Trammer (who last wrote to tell Dick and Leo that the total length of DGWs had passed the 5-day mark, in Episode 527) to add up how much money is required to purchase all of the gadgets ever covered in DGW. Whatever it is, it's an arm and a leg.
Listen to Episode 563
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Seiko Global Atomic Travel Alarm Clock
Global Alarm Clock/Travel Accessory
Link: Magellan's
Dick hasn't done a Magellan's gadget for a while, and this time, the travel accessories specialist is offering the Seiko Global Atomic Travel Alarm Clock. It distinguishes itself from previous atomic clocks (which are usually tied to a local transmitter) by synchronising itself with radio signals from time transmitters in various continents where they are available, and automatically adjusts the time to the correct time zone, which makes setting your alarm much less cumbersome while travelling. Where atomic time transmitters are not available, it works just like any other quartz clock.
You can also choose to de-activate the reception of radio signals, or set the time zone manually.
At the base are a set of blue LED lights, which light up automatically when you pick up the clock, acting as an LED flashlight. A control switch allows you to keep the flashlight at always on, always off, or auto. The clock also displays the date, day of the week, and even temperature. 5-minute snooze function. Operates on 4 AAA batteries.
Back from Australia
This is the first episode of DGW recorded after Leo's return from Tasmania, where he took 3,600 photos (but still well behind photographer Peter Krogh who took 12,000), picked up some fair dinkum Ozzie slang, and spent a few roos (better known as the Australian Dollar). He along with some photographers on the trip found the Lowepro Slingshots (Episode 547) very handy.
Surprise Visit
Optometrist Dr. Mark Sukoenig, one of a handful of DGW listeners, was in town for an ophthalmologists' conference and paid a surprise visit to Dick's office. He tried again to correct Dick and Leo's pronunication of his name, after his previous attempt in Episode 354. Dick thinks it sounds something like Mark Forrester. For Dr. Mark's previous contributions, see Episodes 280, 342, 354.
The Internet Weather Toaster
Kevin Selle from Dallas, Texas tells Leo that his idea in Episode 546 for the ultimate toaster was great, only 7 years late. Back in 2001, Robin Southgate, a student from Brunel University, invented the Internet Toaster which dialed up every morning for the weather forecast and printed out the weather icon on the toast. It made its appearance at the JavaOne Conference in San Francisco. Read the article on The Register.
Listen to Episode 551
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
At the base are a set of blue LED lights, which light up automatically when you pick up the clock, acting as an LED flashlight. A control switch allows you to keep the flashlight at always on, always off, or auto. The clock also displays the date, day of the week, and even temperature. 5-minute snooze function. Operates on 4 AAA batteries.
Back from Australia
This is the first episode of DGW recorded after Leo's return from Tasmania, where he took 3,600 photos (but still well behind photographer Peter Krogh who took 12,000), picked up some fair dinkum Ozzie slang, and spent a few roos (better known as the Australian Dollar). He along with some photographers on the trip found the Lowepro Slingshots (Episode 547) very handy.
Surprise Visit
Optometrist Dr. Mark Sukoenig, one of a handful of DGW listeners, was in town for an ophthalmologists' conference and paid a surprise visit to Dick's office. He tried again to correct Dick and Leo's pronunication of his name, after his previous attempt in Episode 354. Dick thinks it sounds something like Mark Forrester. For Dr. Mark's previous contributions, see Episodes 280, 342, 354.
The Internet Weather Toaster
Kevin Selle from Dallas, Texas tells Leo that his idea in Episode 546 for the ultimate toaster was great, only 7 years late. Back in 2001, Robin Southgate, a student from Brunel University, invented the Internet Toaster which dialed up every morning for the weather forecast and printed out the weather icon on the toast. It made its appearance at the JavaOne Conference in San Francisco. Read the article on The Register.
Listen to Episode 551
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Honeywell H316 Pedestal
Kitchen Computer
Link: Old-Computers
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
Listener Jacob ran across the Honeywell H316 Pedestal produced in 1969. It weighed 150 pounds, and its primary use was to store recipes. No screen, no printer, but it had a cutting board - a true kitchen computer. It retailed for just over $10,000, and even came with a cookbook, recipes, and an apron! A real classic.
Leap Day
The Leap Year was introduced during the reign of Julius Caesar. People born on Leap Day (such as St Mattias) are called leaplings.
RainStick
Dan Martin from Houston, Texas wrote to tell Dick that he has been using the RainStick (Episode 500) for 10 years and it is still available at GardenScapeTools.
Listen to Episode 515
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
Leap Day
The Leap Year was introduced during the reign of Julius Caesar. People born on Leap Day (such as St Mattias) are called leaplings.
RainStick
Dan Martin from Houston, Texas wrote to tell Dick that he has been using the RainStick (Episode 500) for 10 years and it is still available at GardenScapeTools.
Listen to Episode 515
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
Zipit Wireless Messenger 2
Portable Wireless IM Device
Link: Zipit Wireless
The Zipit Wireless Messenger 2, or Zipit Z2, is a pocket-sized wifi-enabled (802.11b and g) device for instant messaging, which supports AIM, MSN and Yahoo IM clients. Enter all your login information for your IM clients, and your contacts will appear on the MyFriendz list. It has a mini-SD slot, up to 2B, for playing music (via My Tunez) and displaying photos (via My Photoz). MyTunez also lets you stream your favorite music from the interne, and My Stationz plays internet radio. Dimensions are 3.74" X 3" X 0.9", with a 2.9" LCD screen and a stereo headphone jack.
Old Tricks
The recent Bose press event for the Computer MusicMonitor (Episode 414) which Dick attended reminded Kevin Selle from Arlington, Texas of a similar experience he had in the 1980s when he went to Bose Mountain for sales training. The idea was to trick the audience into thinking that they were listening to the Bose 901, when in fact the music was being played from the then new Acoustic Wave Music System.
New GizWizBiz Gagdet
Dick is developing quite a cottage industry. New to his website is the GizWizBiz USB Smart Button. Plug it into a USB port and the LEDs will light up and change colours. Press the button and it will take you directly to Dick's website. Selling for $17.99 plus postage.
Listen to Episode 428
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
The recent Bose press event for the Computer MusicMonitor (Episode 414) which Dick attended reminded Kevin Selle from Arlington, Texas of a similar experience he had in the 1980s when he went to Bose Mountain for sales training. The idea was to trick the audience into thinking that they were listening to the Bose 901, when in fact the music was being played from the then new Acoustic Wave Music System.
New GizWizBiz Gagdet
Dick is developing quite a cottage industry. New to his website is the GizWizBiz USB Smart Button. Plug it into a USB port and the LEDs will light up and change colours. Press the button and it will take you directly to Dick's website. Selling for $17.99 plus postage.
Listen to Episode 428
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
NeverLate 7-Day Alarm Clock
Alarm Clock
Link: ThinkGeek American Innovative
Made by American Innovative and available at ThinkGeek, the NeverLate 7-Day Alarm Clock allows you to have different wake-up times for each day of the week. Perfect for shift-workers and students with different class times every day. It comes with an AM/FM tuner, and sleeper functions and snooze or nap timer functions.
The Mode Dial on the top of the clock makes it easy to set the wake-up times. Turn the outer dial to set the day of the week, then turn the inner dial for the wake-up time.
Dick's Alarm Clocks
Dick has an alarming range of alarm clocks in the DeBartolo Manor, 8 or 9, including the NeverLate, a storm warning alarm clock, the Wind Chime Alarm Clock (Episode 336) and his favourite of all, the Westclox Nap Timer (Episode 40).
Jingle Singers
Jan from Austin, Texas, a molecular biologist, listens to DGW whilst doing experiments in the lab. He's finally worked out why the "girls", the Jingle Singers, never sing on time: it's because they're not girls, it's George Wood. For another reason why they are always late, see Episode 401.
Leo insists that they are girls, and come in high heels, short flounce skirts, fishnet stockings and bellboy caps, and that he paid them $1,000 each from last year's ad revenue.
Listen to Episode 421
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
Dick's Alarm Clocks
Dick has an alarming range of alarm clocks in the DeBartolo Manor, 8 or 9, including the NeverLate, a storm warning alarm clock, the Wind Chime Alarm Clock (Episode 336) and his favourite of all, the Westclox Nap Timer (Episode 40).
Jingle Singers
Jan from Austin, Texas, a molecular biologist, listens to DGW whilst doing experiments in the lab. He's finally worked out why the "girls", the Jingle Singers, never sing on time: it's because they're not girls, it's George Wood. For another reason why they are always late, see Episode 401.
Leo insists that they are girls, and come in high heels, short flounce skirts, fishnet stockings and bellboy caps, and that he paid them $1,000 each from last year's ad revenue.
Listen to Episode 421
Go to TWiT
Read Dick's Write-Up
Bose Computer MusicMonitor
Computer Speakers
Link: Bose
Dr Bose
Dick spoke to Dr Amar Bose again at a recent event at Bose Mountain, complimenting him on the care he took of his employees. For another of Dick's encounters with Dr Bose, and the Bose 901 speakers which Leo refers to, see Episode 294.
DGW Hall of Shame
Steve Leuschner from Keller, Texas has inducted the Zelco PurseGuard Ultra (Episode 406) into the DGW Hall of Shame, along with the infamous Titanium Spork (Episode 182) and Toothpick Bird (Episode 282).
Listen to Episode 414
Read Dick's Write-Up
Go to TWiT
Reelsmart Garden Hose
No-Crank Hose Reel
Link: Reelsmart
The No-Crank line comes in different models to suit your needs. After hosing your lovely garden, the hose reel rewinds itself, like the electrical cord on your vacuum cleaner. The auto-rewind is powered by water pressure. Pity it doesn't come with the water-sprinkler sound effect made by Leo.
Yale Reunion
Leo had just come back from his 30th college reunion (when he recorded the show).
300th Episode Prizes Arrive!
Michael from Texas has just received via FedEx the Verbatim Store 'N Go USB Drive. It works on his Mac too. Thanks to Marken Communications!
Yale Reunion
Leo had just come back from his 30th college reunion (when he recorded the show).
300th Episode Prizes Arrive!
Michael from Texas has just received via FedEx the Verbatim Store 'N Go USB Drive. It works on his Mac too. Thanks to Marken Communications!
