21 posts tagged “the worse your life is the better we sound”
In Your Face Viewbase
iPhone/PMP Stand
Link: In Your Face USA
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
The In Your Face Viewbase has an adjustable grip that holds all models of the iPhone and iPod Touch, or any PMP up to 2 inches wide, at the end of a flexible 8" neck, which you can clamp on to a tray table on a flight, your monitor, or above the dashboard. Do not mistake it for the iFlyz which Dick did in Episode 783, even though it costs the same $29.95. The Viewbase does not use a suction cup as does the iFlyz. To salvage his pride, Leo tells us that he first saw this product in January at MacWorld Expo, way before Dick did the iFlyz, and you can use it as a hands-free device in the car, and in the gym, and sock yourself in your face, as Leo deftly demonstrates.
Airport Accommodation
Back in Episode 616, Dick and Leo complained how airports seem to have been designed to do everything to prevent you from sleeping or lying down. Shashank Sivaji recommends the Dubai Airport, which has long wide lounge chairs.
NOT PR
Phil Baker, who wrote in Episode 795 about his book From Concept to Consumer, explains that he is no PR guy, but an engineer/product developer, and offers to show Leo gadgets in production in China. Dick thinks he bought a Sham Wow towel from Phil, but he's obviously mistaken - a reference to This Week In Tech Episode 188.
Airport Accommodation
Back in Episode 616, Dick and Leo complained how airports seem to have been designed to do everything to prevent you from sleeping or lying down. Shashank Sivaji recommends the Dubai Airport, which has long wide lounge chairs.
NOT PR
Phil Baker, who wrote in Episode 795 about his book From Concept to Consumer, explains that he is no PR guy, but an engineer/product developer, and offers to show Leo gadgets in production in China. Dick thinks he bought a Sham Wow towel from Phil, but he's obviously mistaken - a reference to This Week In Tech Episode 188.
Flexii USB Optical Mouse with Fan
Computer Accessory
Link: Vavolo
A USB optical mouse, from Flexii, available at vavolo.com, with 800 dpi resolution. The difference is it has a built in fan. Ideal for people with sweaty palms. Vavolo sells other fun stuff. Check out their USB Gadgets.
Labour Day Weekend
Fingers crossed, Leo might be celebrating the end of the Roz Savage's first leg of her trans-pacific rowing voyage, when it is hoped she will be landing in Hawaii.
Wait-For-Dick
The doorbell rang again for Dick, and it's another gadget delivery. It's a boating gadget (a Casio watch) which Dick might review on DGW.
Muncie and Laporte
Chris Hileman, who did the original design for the TWiTLive website, has noted that Leo keeps suggesting that things he has lost are in Muncie. Chris is from Muncie, Indiana, and has looked all over town, and there's absolutely nothing there, just like Petaluma. He suggests Leo look in Laporte, Indiana. Leo's father did a tour over the country of Laporte towns, and he thinks that there is a Laporte town in most states of the USA.
Listen to Episode 646
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Labour Day Weekend
Fingers crossed, Leo might be celebrating the end of the Roz Savage's first leg of her trans-pacific rowing voyage, when it is hoped she will be landing in Hawaii.
Wait-For-Dick
The doorbell rang again for Dick, and it's another gadget delivery. It's a boating gadget (a Casio watch) which Dick might review on DGW.
Muncie and Laporte
Chris Hileman, who did the original design for the TWiTLive website, has noted that Leo keeps suggesting that things he has lost are in Muncie. Chris is from Muncie, Indiana, and has looked all over town, and there's absolutely nothing there, just like Petaluma. He suggests Leo look in Laporte, Indiana. Leo's father did a tour over the country of Laporte towns, and he thinks that there is a Laporte town in most states of the USA.
Listen to Episode 646
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Franklin Speaking Spelling Bee
Educational Toy
Link: Franklin
The Speaking Spelling Bee from Franklin is a handheld game station with a qwerty keyboard, for playing spelling games.
You can compete against the machine itself, or against your friends (up
to 6 players). It also has a Merriam-Webster Dictionary, Thesaurus and
Rhyming Dictionary. For children ages 8 upwards.
Happy Birthday
... to Henry Laporte who turns 14 today. Dick wonders what Henry is getting for his birthday, which explains his expressionless face resembling those depicted in Grant Wood's painting American Gothic. Henry is getting, with the help of Colleen, a skateboard made of aircraft aluminium, and Corinthian leather, just like the Chrysler Cordova, as advertised by Ricardo Montalban.
A Family Affair
The Epistle of the Day is from Brian Drake again, of Gallatin, Tennessee. Jennifer Laporte thinks the slogan "The worse your life is, the better we sound" terrible. Since she is a mental health professional, she should start treating listeners of DGW.
Listen to Episode 645
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Happy Birthday
... to Henry Laporte who turns 14 today. Dick wonders what Henry is getting for his birthday, which explains his expressionless face resembling those depicted in Grant Wood's painting American Gothic. Henry is getting, with the help of Colleen, a skateboard made of aircraft aluminium, and Corinthian leather, just like the Chrysler Cordova, as advertised by Ricardo Montalban.
A Family Affair
The Epistle of the Day is from Brian Drake again, of Gallatin, Tennessee. Jennifer Laporte thinks the slogan "The worse your life is, the better we sound" terrible. Since she is a mental health professional, she should start treating listeners of DGW.
Listen to Episode 645
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Yes Man
Voice Activated Talking Doll
Link: Rau Creations
Dick's Gadget Warehouse
If you need a bit of reassurance and affirmation in your life, the Yes Man talking doll would be perfect for you. Ask the Yes Man a question, and it would give you one of 8 affirmative, back-patting answers. You could also record your own answers. It also appeared on the Disney movie "My Favorite Martian". The Yes Man was from about 15 years ago, and the company Rau Creations is still in business.
It certainly sounds better than Squawkers McCaw (Episode 413), but it can't beat Real Talkin' Bubba (Episode 246).
Multiplying Rabbits
Karl from Phoenix, Arizona wants to know if Dick has in the Gadget Warehouse the Rabbit Video Multiplier (made by Gemini Industries), which was a VCR receiver-transmitter, that allowed you to watch a video in any room in the house from one VCR . Karl's version was a wired one. Dick once had the wireless version. A current version of the Rabbit seems to be available still, and there are other choices, including the Wavecom Junior, and Belkin's Pure AV Remote TV (Episode 57).
Calvin and Jobs
Mad's current issue has a spoof comic strip called Calvin and Jobs (being Steve Jobs), based on the much-loved Calvin and Hobbes. Someone has scanned it and posted it on Flickr. Dick was annoyed that no credit was given to the original artists, and he meant Mad writer Jacob Lambert and artist Gary Hallgren, not the original original artist Bill Watterson.
Listen to Episode 640
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
It certainly sounds better than Squawkers McCaw (Episode 413), but it can't beat Real Talkin' Bubba (Episode 246).
Multiplying Rabbits
Karl from Phoenix, Arizona wants to know if Dick has in the Gadget Warehouse the Rabbit Video Multiplier (made by Gemini Industries), which was a VCR receiver-transmitter, that allowed you to watch a video in any room in the house from one VCR . Karl's version was a wired one. Dick once had the wireless version. A current version of the Rabbit seems to be available still, and there are other choices, including the Wavecom Junior, and Belkin's Pure AV Remote TV (Episode 57).
Calvin and Jobs
Mad's current issue has a spoof comic strip called Calvin and Jobs (being Steve Jobs), based on the much-loved Calvin and Hobbes. Someone has scanned it and posted it on Flickr. Dick was annoyed that no credit was given to the original artists, and he meant Mad writer Jacob Lambert and artist Gary Hallgren, not the original original artist Bill Watterson.
Listen to Episode 640
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Dress For Dinner Napkin
Apparel
Link: Spoon Sisters
A napkin available at Spoon Sisters with a tie printed on it. Four designs to choose from. As Leo suggests, it might go with your tuxedo T-shirt.
For a much earlier implementation of the same idea, by Al Jaffee for Bill Gaines, listen to a Mad story told by Dick in Episode 21.
The Few, The Proud, the Depressed
Leo's wife Jennifer doesn't like the slogan "The worse your life is, the better we sound". She doesn't understand that the Daily Giz Wiz is made for the few, the proud, the depressed.
For the origin of the slogan, listen to the last few minutes of Episode 391, the letters section.
At Two With Nature
During his summer break at the Gray Eagle Lodge at 6,000 feet altitude, there were no internet access, no cellphone access, no subway, no buses, no Starbucks, and what's more, no oxygen, which gives Leo a headache. There were board games with missing pieces, and crushed ping pong balls. A great holiday then.
Dane in New York
Dane Golden visited Dick in New York and was given a tour of the Mad Office. He also treated Dick and his friend Dennis to lunch which Leo kindly offered to pay with the TWiT credit card (Visa of course), with a cap of $20 for 3.
Sucker City
Mad did a spoof of a Circuit City ad and called it Sucker City. An employee at Circuit City did not like the parody and decided to pull Mad off the shelves at some of the outlets. The PR found out about the bruhaha and wrote an interesting letter of apology to Mad, offering a Powerpoint presentation of at least 300 pages and a Circuit City gift card of $20 towards the purchase of a Nintendo Wii, if Mad could find one. The letter is reproduced on Dick's home page.
For some interesting reactions by people or names who have been spoofed by Mad, see Episode 74 and Episode 426.
Making Noises
Randal Schwartz's story of party lines and modems (Episode 623) has prompted a letter from a New Zealand listener David McLoughlin, who drew our attention to a 56K Modem Emulator at LazyLaces.com. If you miss that familiar dialing tone, you can click "Connect" on that page to listen to it again.
Listen to Episode 636
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
For a much earlier implementation of the same idea, by Al Jaffee for Bill Gaines, listen to a Mad story told by Dick in Episode 21.
The Few, The Proud, the Depressed
Leo's wife Jennifer doesn't like the slogan "The worse your life is, the better we sound". She doesn't understand that the Daily Giz Wiz is made for the few, the proud, the depressed.
For the origin of the slogan, listen to the last few minutes of Episode 391, the letters section.
At Two With Nature
During his summer break at the Gray Eagle Lodge at 6,000 feet altitude, there were no internet access, no cellphone access, no subway, no buses, no Starbucks, and what's more, no oxygen, which gives Leo a headache. There were board games with missing pieces, and crushed ping pong balls. A great holiday then.
Dane in New York
Dane Golden visited Dick in New York and was given a tour of the Mad Office. He also treated Dick and his friend Dennis to lunch which Leo kindly offered to pay with the TWiT credit card (Visa of course), with a cap of $20 for 3.
Sucker City
Mad did a spoof of a Circuit City ad and called it Sucker City. An employee at Circuit City did not like the parody and decided to pull Mad off the shelves at some of the outlets. The PR found out about the bruhaha and wrote an interesting letter of apology to Mad, offering a Powerpoint presentation of at least 300 pages and a Circuit City gift card of $20 towards the purchase of a Nintendo Wii, if Mad could find one. The letter is reproduced on Dick's home page.
For some interesting reactions by people or names who have been spoofed by Mad, see Episode 74 and Episode 426.
Making Noises
Randal Schwartz's story of party lines and modems (Episode 623) has prompted a letter from a New Zealand listener David McLoughlin, who drew our attention to a 56K Modem Emulator at LazyLaces.com. If you miss that familiar dialing tone, you can click "Connect" on that page to listen to it again.
Listen to Episode 636
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
AutoTether
Boating Safety
Link: AutoTether
An important device for boating is the emergency stop lanyard, which is connected to the engine kill switch and worn by the boat operator, so that if the operator falls overboard, the engine will stop. However, it does restrict movements and can cause false emergency stops when the connection gets pulled off accidentally.
The AutoTether solves this problem by doing it wirelessly. The main unit, which has a wireless signal receiver, is connected to the engine kill switch. A mobile remote unit worn by the operator (or any passenger) sends radio signals to the main unit. If the operator or passenger falls overboard, the radio signal transmission is cut off, since radio signals cannot travel through water. The main unit detects the signal cut-off, stops the engine and sounds an alarm at the same time. The system operates by AAA batteries, with low-battery warning indicators.
The AutoTether kit comes with one main unit and 2 mobile remote units. It can accommodate a total of 4 remote units (extras can be bought separately). Other applications include using it at a beach or around a pool, if you don't want a young child to go into the water unsupervised. You can also set a range for the remote unit so that when the remote unit goes out of range, the main unit will sound an alarm.
Dick has written a fuller article on this gadget in PowerBoat Magazine. Here's the link.
Did you know?
... that Dick was involved in the production of a Playboy Club musical Little Annie Fanny, and Leo did a TV commercial for Clarks Shoes.
Party Line
The PhoneMate Just In Case Beeper (Episode 540) brings back memories for Paul Pigozzo from London, Ontario, not only of his grandmother's rotary phone with 30 feet of cord, but also her "party line" - one telephone shared by several households, and the telephone gives off different rings for different households.
Naturally, whenever a rotary phone is mentioned, Leo inexorably talks about Steve Wozniak's Rotary Cellphone again.
Listen to Episode 614
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
The AutoTether solves this problem by doing it wirelessly. The main unit, which has a wireless signal receiver, is connected to the engine kill switch. A mobile remote unit worn by the operator (or any passenger) sends radio signals to the main unit. If the operator or passenger falls overboard, the radio signal transmission is cut off, since radio signals cannot travel through water. The main unit detects the signal cut-off, stops the engine and sounds an alarm at the same time. The system operates by AAA batteries, with low-battery warning indicators.
The AutoTether kit comes with one main unit and 2 mobile remote units. It can accommodate a total of 4 remote units (extras can be bought separately). Other applications include using it at a beach or around a pool, if you don't want a young child to go into the water unsupervised. You can also set a range for the remote unit so that when the remote unit goes out of range, the main unit will sound an alarm.
Dick has written a fuller article on this gadget in PowerBoat Magazine. Here's the link.
Did you know?
... that Dick was involved in the production of a Playboy Club musical Little Annie Fanny, and Leo did a TV commercial for Clarks Shoes.
Party Line
The PhoneMate Just In Case Beeper (Episode 540) brings back memories for Paul Pigozzo from London, Ontario, not only of his grandmother's rotary phone with 30 feet of cord, but also her "party line" - one telephone shared by several households, and the telephone gives off different rings for different households.
Naturally, whenever a rotary phone is mentioned, Leo inexorably talks about Steve Wozniak's Rotary Cellphone again.
Listen to Episode 614
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
HP w2408h
Widescreen LCD Monitor
Link: HP Shopping
The w2408h is a 24" LCD Widescreen Monitor from HP. 1920 x 1200 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, 2000:1 contrast ratio, 5ms response time (on-off), with VGA and HDMI support (HDCP-compliant), built-in speakers. The double-hinge base allows tilt and height adjustment of the screen for best viewing angle. You can also rotate the screen to portrait mode. Plus 2 USB ports.
The slightly older model is w2408. The technical specifications appear to be the same, except for (1) input supports for VGA and DVI-D, not HDMI (but HDCP-compliant too); and (2) a lower contrast ratio of 1000:1.
Manual for TWiT Cottage Etiquette
Dane Golden has sent Dick a TWiT Cottage Welcome Pack, with clear instructions for etiquette at the TWiT Cottage. Call Leo Mr Laporte; never get closer to him than 3 feet; don't sit higher than him; always reach for the bill; no eye contact; never turn your back on Leo - leave the room facing him bowing and scraping. Look humble.
GizWizLive Available for Download?
William Lawrence goes back to the old episodes, starting with Episode 1, and it keeps getting better. He is delighted to hear that Dick will be appearing on TWiTLive on 20 June but is horified to learn that he will be away on a beach without internet access. Will there be a download for GizWizLive, the gadget event of the millennium? Leo thinks he might be able to record the show.
Listen to Episode 593
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
The slightly older model is w2408. The technical specifications appear to be the same, except for (1) input supports for VGA and DVI-D, not HDMI (but HDCP-compliant too); and (2) a lower contrast ratio of 1000:1.
Manual for TWiT Cottage Etiquette
Dane Golden has sent Dick a TWiT Cottage Welcome Pack, with clear instructions for etiquette at the TWiT Cottage. Call Leo Mr Laporte; never get closer to him than 3 feet; don't sit higher than him; always reach for the bill; no eye contact; never turn your back on Leo - leave the room facing him bowing and scraping. Look humble.
GizWizLive Available for Download?
William Lawrence goes back to the old episodes, starting with Episode 1, and it keeps getting better. He is delighted to hear that Dick will be appearing on TWiTLive on 20 June but is horified to learn that he will be away on a beach without internet access. Will there be a download for GizWizLive, the gadget event of the millennium? Leo thinks he might be able to record the show.
Listen to Episode 593
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
SkyScan 88825
Giant Atomic Clock
Link: SkyScan
Turn-The-Tables-Tuesday
Leo has a gadget ready waiting on his left, another on his right, but Dick wants one from behind Leo, which ends up being the SkyScan 88825. A giant atomic clock, about 15" x 9" x 2". SkyScan specialises in atomic clocks. Check out its more recent models on skyscninfo.com.
Photo above from eBay.
Criswell Poeticises
The Daily Giz Wiz has turned Criswell lyrical. He/She has written a GizWiz Nursery Rhyme:
Coming this Friday on TWiTLive
On the first day of summer, 20 June 2008, Dick will appear on TWiTLive to show some of Wild Planet gadgets, and spend an unspecified amount of time with Leo, including special programming for TWiTLive.
Special Appearance
Leo's wife Jennifer sensibly refuses to appear on camera during the recording of the show, but their puppy Ozzy makes a special appearance. Here's a photo of Ozzy. For Ozzy's story, listen to the Letters Section in Episode 353.
Jingle Singers Video: Coming Soon
Dick and Leo refer to a new video of the Jingle Singers performing the Letters Jingle. Leo has misplaced Dick's email for the time being. Keep listening. And Leo will be here.
Listen to Episode 592
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Photo above from eBay.
Criswell Poeticises
The Daily Giz Wiz has turned Criswell lyrical. He/She has written a GizWiz Nursery Rhyme:
Monday's GizWiz is full of glee®.
Tuesday's GizWiz is full of crap, you'll see.
Wednesday has a no-theme meme.
But oh, poor Thursday truly has no theme.
And the GizWiz we hear on the Friday day
Is a trip to Dick's Warehouse where he takes them out to play.
Tuesday's GizWiz is full of crap, you'll see.
Wednesday has a no-theme meme.
But oh, poor Thursday truly has no theme.
And the GizWiz we hear on the Friday day
Is a trip to Dick's Warehouse where he takes them out to play.
Coming this Friday on TWiTLive
On the first day of summer, 20 June 2008, Dick will appear on TWiTLive to show some of Wild Planet gadgets, and spend an unspecified amount of time with Leo, including special programming for TWiTLive.
Special Appearance
Leo's wife Jennifer sensibly refuses to appear on camera during the recording of the show, but their puppy Ozzy makes a special appearance. Here's a photo of Ozzy. For Ozzy's story, listen to the Letters Section in Episode 353.
Jingle Singers Video: Coming Soon
Dick and Leo refer to a new video of the Jingle Singers performing the Letters Jingle. Leo has misplaced Dick's email for the time being. Keep listening. And Leo will be here.
Listen to Episode 592
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Eagle Creek Multi-Function Travel Clock
Travel Accessory
Link: Eagle Creek
Made by Eagle Creek and available at Magellan's, the Multi-Function Travel Clock tells the times of 16 cities around the world, is an alarm clock (with snooze function), calculator, currency converter, and even tells the temperature.
Brand New Monday Jingle
It's a brand new week and a brand new day and a brand new Monday Jingle, from Dan Lueders again, which has incorporated Leo's Monday ditty, their occasional slogan "The worse your life is, the better we sound" and even the Gravy Slogan.
Rock My Teeth
Patrick Warn from Georgia, Vermont writes about Rock My Teeth - a musical tooth-whitening system. Attach the whitening kit to your iPod and the music, Professor Bocelli claims, helps line up the peroxide molecules to make it easier for them to penetrate through the enamel into the dentin to whiten the teeth. Watch the video here. Dick thinks the HydraBrush (Episodes 226, 480) - though Dick thinks it's called Turbo Brush - makes a lot more sense.
Cotati Accordion Festival
Dick is joing Leo at TWiTLive on Friday 20 June 2008, and Dick has had difficulty getting a room at the local hotels, because that weekend is the Cotati Accordion Festival. Dick manages to book himself a 2-night package at the Metro Cafe and Hotel, one of Leo's favourites. Kim from Wild Planet is going to demonstrate their Christmas toys and she'll come dressed as an elf.
Listen to Episode 566
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Brand New Monday Jingle
It's a brand new week and a brand new day and a brand new Monday Jingle, from Dan Lueders again, which has incorporated Leo's Monday ditty, their occasional slogan "The worse your life is, the better we sound" and even the Gravy Slogan.
Rock My Teeth
Patrick Warn from Georgia, Vermont writes about Rock My Teeth - a musical tooth-whitening system. Attach the whitening kit to your iPod and the music, Professor Bocelli claims, helps line up the peroxide molecules to make it easier for them to penetrate through the enamel into the dentin to whiten the teeth. Watch the video here. Dick thinks the HydraBrush (Episodes 226, 480) - though Dick thinks it's called Turbo Brush - makes a lot more sense.
Cotati Accordion Festival
Dick is joing Leo at TWiTLive on Friday 20 June 2008, and Dick has had difficulty getting a room at the local hotels, because that weekend is the Cotati Accordion Festival. Dick manages to book himself a 2-night package at the Metro Cafe and Hotel, one of Leo's favourites. Kim from Wild Planet is going to demonstrate their Christmas toys and she'll come dressed as an elf.
Listen to Episode 566
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
The Safety Stick
Car Emergency 4-in-1 Tool
Link: SafetyBright
Another "What's In The Box?" session with Dick and Leo. It's the Safety Stick from Safety Bright, a 4-in-1 emergency tool for the car. It combines a flashlight, a blinking emergency light, a seat belt cutter and a hammer for breaking glass. The base is magnetic for easy attachment to a metallic surface for use as a flashlight or emergency light. Operates on 2 AA batteries.
Where Have I Heard It Before?
Rick from Zanesville, Ohio was surprised to hear his hometown mentioned on DGW by Leo. Leo can't remember that he did, or why, only that he used to have a girlfriend called Sue from Zanesville, Ohio, about 35 years ago. Dick advises Sue that if she's not married yet, she'd better do something about it soon, coz if she waits too long for her ship to come in, her pier might collapse. Leo can't remember where he's heard it before either.
Leo's memory is being obsoleted pretty quickly. For where we've heard about Zanesville before, and Leo's obscure reference to it, think Dick Cheney, or listen again to Episode 507.
For the ship and pier joke, think Johnny Olson, or listen again to Episode 535.
Listen to Episode 541
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
Where Have I Heard It Before?
Rick from Zanesville, Ohio was surprised to hear his hometown mentioned on DGW by Leo. Leo can't remember that he did, or why, only that he used to have a girlfriend called Sue from Zanesville, Ohio, about 35 years ago. Dick advises Sue that if she's not married yet, she'd better do something about it soon, coz if she waits too long for her ship to come in, her pier might collapse. Leo can't remember where he's heard it before either.
Leo's memory is being obsoleted pretty quickly. For where we've heard about Zanesville before, and Leo's obscure reference to it, think Dick Cheney, or listen again to Episode 507.
For the ship and pier joke, think Johnny Olson, or listen again to Episode 535.
Listen to Episode 541
Go to TWiT
The Giz Wiz Home Page
