Better Than an Apple Shuffle?

XD405-1

I want! This little gem looks like it could kick arse from here to St. Paul. I saw my first Shuffle in person today, it was pretty neat but a little lacking in the feature department. This one looks like it will fit the bill quite nicely.

The 2-color, 4 line organic display player supports MP3/WMA/ASF formats and a bit-rate between 8~320kps. Japanese ID3 tags and lyric displays are also supported.
The included MP3 encoder allows for simple MP3 recording of voice via integrated microphone, recording from the integrated FM radio, or from an analog audio input source. It also includes an automatic recording feature, which records when it detects audio, and variable playback speed control. Songs can be transferred to the player without an special software.
It connects to a USB 2.0 port via a rotary type plug, which is part of the unit. When it’s necessary, the USB plug is readily available. It can also be used as a mass storage device.
… Finally, if there aren’t enough features, there is also a built-in LED flashlight.

Too bad you have to go to Japan to buy it. 🙁

Everything But the Kitchen Sink from E-Kai – Organic Electro-luminescent Display MP3/WMA Player

(mp3, Japan, cool, technology)

Shark Skin Inspires Ship Coating

By looking at the way shark skin is structured scientists have discovered a way to lower the amount of algae and critter build up on the hulls of ships. Might not sound like much but that could slow a ship down like crazy. I wonder if this new surface might be able to lower the normal drag of a boat. It must not hurt it all that much or it would slow aircraft carriers down too much.

Using a combination plastic-and-rubber coating, Brennan replicated a version of shark skin that is made up of billions of tiny raised, diamond-shaped patterns, visible under a microscope. Each “sharklet” diamond measures 15 microns, or 15 thousandths of a millimeter, and contains seven raised ribs that resemble different lengths of raised horizontal bars.

Wired News: Shark Skin Inspires Ship Coating

Trendy Pro-Communism Purses

I wonder what the Chinese equivalent of ‘Engrish’ is. I love stuff like this, my boss tells me that he has seen a shirt, written in Chinese, that says ‘Here comes old whitie’ on the front and ‘There goes old whitie’ on the back. It was being worn by an old white guy in Taiwan. He thinks that the guy knew what it said and has a fully developed sense of humor. 🙂

Trendy Pro-Communism Purses

(Chinese, fashion, Engrish)

Mount St. Helens is at it Again



Mt. St. Helen’s Eruption 03-08-05

(Originally uploaded by GoBot.)

I commented on the last eruption or St. Helens a while back (BURRP!), now it’s gone and done it again!
Here is the Johnson Ridge webcam, this will show you the last 2.5 hours in 30 seconds.
Mount St. Helens (Johnston Ridge Observatory) Webcam Loop
Here is the latest nerws from Google about St. Helens.
I have friends in the Pac/NW, I hope that the mighty volcano quiets down soon.

(volcano, Mt. St. Helens, nature)