by Maximilian Lemos on May 13, 2011
Ever since I was a child and even more so these days, my parents have told me that it’s “the little things in life that count.”
Small acts of kindness, focused and manageable goals, and always being appreciative for what a blessed life I live, have always been corollaries to their initial statement.
Hearing these wise yet cliché words for years now, they have nestled themselves into how I live my life everyday. It effects my morning routine, the way I work, and how I spend my free-time. However, pondering the significance of these words and actually looking at them literally I can see a connection between something very little and it’s potential to change the face of our earth in huge way: The Honeybee.
The little things in life often hold the most potential for massive change. And not always for good…
It’s no secret that the world’s honeybees are disappearing. Their rapid decline is often attributed to a phenomena called Colony Collapse Disorder, and more and more it looks as if the problem is only getting worse.
This terrible problem has repercussions that could absolutely devastate our world.
Did you know that of the 100 crops that makeup 90% of the world’s food, over 70 of require the pollination of Honeybees? Couple that with a report from the UN that has found localized drops in bee populations all over the world and we are facing a global problem of a magnitude never seen by people.
Why are the honeybees dying off?
Well it’s hard to say definitively, and I am far from an expert, but there are a couple good theories out there that I have read. One possible explanation is the types of chemicals that we use in agriculture. Climate change has also been linked in creating problems for bees by disrupting the blooming cycles of certain plants. Another possible problem could be virulent fungal pathogens that are spread via trade and commerce. These have been some of the leading theories for quite some time, but another promising theory accounting for the demise of the honeybee may be a little closer to home than you think. [click to continue…]
by Maximilian Lemos on May 5, 2011
The irony of this post is I am about to praise a Mac, while writing on my PC.
Traditionally, I have always been a Windows person. Every computer-bearing member of my immediate family also owns and uses a PC, with the exception of my brother who recently made the shift to Mac (and he loves his Macbook Pro.)
Every computer I have ever owned has been a Windows-based PC, and more often than not, I would always have recommended buying a PC over a Mac.
But…I am having a change of heart.
Does that mean I’m ready to convert? Well…
Since starting here at FoleyPod I have begun to work primarily on an iMac, mostly because there isn’t a PC in sight. (I’m quite comfortable working on my personal machine, but I don’t dare use it, partly because Chris is Windows-phobic, and somehow I feel it might stifle his creative energy.)
Joking aside, I am taking the opportunity to sharpen my Mac skills and I am beginning to really like it. The tipping point for me was a pretty simple moment, as I was working Tuesday afternoon, Chris introduced me to Spaces. This changed the way I worked in literally a minute.
I went from bumbling around window to window, to soaring from Space to Space. My productivity increased exponentially. This brief introduction to what seems like a commonly known feature for Mac users, changed my Windows-trained brain in a beautiful way. The closest tool I know of for Windows is Alt+Tab, but that is so clunky compared to the design and ease of use found in Spaces. [click to continue…]
by Maximilian Lemos on May 2, 2011
Are you in need of some HDMI Digital Video cables? Here’s how NOT to get ripped off.
It is a hobby of mine to walk into Best Buy and pretend I have no idea what I am talking about, just to see what kind of BS some sales associate conjures up. One scenario that never ceases to amaze me is the HDMI cord sales pitch. That lovely cord that keeps our HD world happy and sharp, has been at the mercy of fancy marketing and preying on the ignorant since its introduction at big box stores everywhere.
Essentially, it begins with a sales associate offering to explain the benefits of a $60 cable vs. a $12 cable. He proceeds to tell me that the $60 cord has better performance and faster speeds. And most of it sounds good, the 24k gold plating, the composition of the wiring, and so on and so forth… This kind of rhetoric can be quite convincing. It all sounds logical. Buzz words like “24k gold” naturally carry that “wow factor.”
Despite the fancy language all HDMI cords are created equal.
Without going into the gritty details (but you can find them HERE via CNET) HDMI cords all send the same digital transmission called Transition Minimized Differential Signaling, or TMDS. That’s essentially a fancy way of saying 1′s and 0′s alternating. When those packaged 1′s and 0′s make it to the other end, that’s that. There is no in-between, HDMI cords either work, or they don’t. That’s why when a company promises faster speeds or better performance, it’s BS. [click to continue…]
by Maximilian Lemos on April 29, 2011
One of my biggest fears when I travel, is returning to my hotel room to find my camera missing. I try not to take too many of my tech toys with me on the road, but there are some things that simply can’t be left behind.. like my laptop, my camera, my iPhoneS, battery chargers, iPad… wait.. Yeah. I’m just begging to be robbed, aren’t I? And chances are, so are you. So, we can either rethink traveling light, or we can complicate matters even more by finding another one of those “you can’t live without it” applications.
I came across this great web app this morning that could potentially save you a whole lot of grief, should you find yourself with a stolen camera. StolenCameraFinder attempts to do exactly what it says: Find a missing or stolen camera, in a very clever way.
Now there is no promise that this will work 100% of the time, because some cameras simply do not store the essential EXIF data for this process to work, nor does it guarantee that the theif has even posted the needed photos to the web . However, what it can offer is peace of mind to those who have lost a camera. At least they can say that the serial numbers of other photos have been crawled, and if nothing turns up, it is one less thing to feel helpless about.
Heck, if you are lucky enough to get a match, all I can say is good luck in handling that awkward conversation.
Do you have a camera (or laptop) that was stolen? Share your story with us, and hopefully in the mean time something comes up for you. Good Luck!
[click to continue…]
by Maximilian Lemos on April 28, 2011
Craigslist is a pretty ugly website, there is no doubt about that.
Functionally, however, Craigslist does exactly what it’s supposed to do.
So how can we go about improving our user experience while also stimulating performance? Enter Craigslist Helper, a browser extension that does all of that with minimal effort on your part. Craigslist Helper is available for Chrome, Firefox, and Safari.
When I discovered Craigslist Helper on Mashable the other day I was really pleasantly surprised. I found I was able to browse through Craigslist much more efficiently and was able to pinpoint relevant listings much quicker, all while enjoying a more aesthetic design. [click to continue…]
by Maximilian Lemos on April 24, 2011
ARTICLE UPDATE:
The white iPhone was released on April 28th, and quite frankly, I’m entirely tired of hearing about it.
The final word we’re going to put in about this thing, is to point to this excellent article from Fast Company, entitled The Great White iPhone: How Apple Spun A Tech Fail Into A PR Win.
It’s a great read. Check it out HERE.
END ARTICLE UPDATE:
Rumors of Apple’s white iPhone have been circulating like mad lately. Based on some of the evidence presented by many of the reputable sources we follow here, it’s safe to assume that the white iPhone 4 will be hitting stores very soon (perhaps even this week). Much like any product Apple puts out, the quality and craftsmanship will be unparalleled. However, is it worth the fuss?
Fundamentally, my grievance is not with the product itself. It is certainly a nice phone, featuring the same great specs that drew people to the black iPhone 4 when it first came out. The inherent problem, however, is where it fits in to Apple’s product cycle given the impending release of iPhone 5 and the recent injection of the Verizon iPhone 4 into the marketplace.
Once you understand what Apple’s plans are for the future of their products you will understand why we offer caution to all those in the market for a new phone. [click to continue…]
