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I ran across this article on CNET about RFID being used to send drivers of Mini’s a personalized message on billboards as they drive past. I think it is a pretty novel marketing idea, but at what cost? This will be fine and dandy until some jerkoff tries to take a picture with their phone at 60mph and kills someone because they weren’t paying attention. Then I will be pissed off. The only problem is I won’t know who to blame.

The boards, which usually carry typical advertising, are programmed to identify approaching Mini drivers through a coded signal from a radio chip embedded in their key fob. The messages are personal, based on questionnaires that owners filled out: “Mary, moving at the speed of justice,” if Mary is a lawyer, or “Mike, the special of the day is speed,” if Mike is a chef.

And what is with the big insurgence of creatively fresh billboards and large-scale advertising mediums. I have been noticing a lot of companies are starting to alter the urban landscape with huge testaments as to why their product is right for you.

I was recently talking to an old friend about the Hi-C Ecto Coolers and drinking them as a child. First off, excellent product tie-in Hi-C. That match was made in heaven as the Ecto Cooler became far more popular than expected and the flavor actually lasted for almost 20 years. It was in 1997 that Minute Maid changed the name from Ecto Cooler to “Shoutin’ Orange Tangergreen”. Shoutin’ Orange Tangergreen was then renamed in 2006 to “Crazy Citrus Cooler”. This leads me to the point of this story.

The conversation about Ecto Cooler involved it’s flavor. My friend made the argument that Ecto Coolers were simply Hi-C Orange drink renamed. I felt that there were some modifications to the formula to change the flavor. I do not believe that the Ecto Cooler was simply a re-colored orange drink but instead a new citrus blend. We were not able to settle on an agreement.

After doing a bit of research on the product I have come to the conclusion that I was correct. If you look at the current and previous naming schemes, both indicate either “citrus” or “tangerine” which leads me to believe that there is more than orange flavoring in those drinks. So to you oh arguer of argue, I say bring it on, because Slimer’s got my back on this one and no proton pack can stop us.

I’m starting to feel old, I remember when Hi-C came in CANS!!!!! And notice the reference to “citrus cooler” in the commercial.

How cool would this be. I would just ride around town with the siren on and speed like hell. I mean who in their right mind would pull over the Ghostbusters.

Probably someone who hasn’t heard of Zuul.

What does the flux capacitor have to do with blenders?

I sometimes enjoy the retro game, I was actually playing Road Rash 3 for the Genesis the other night. I had never played it and thought I would give it a shot. Synopsis: you ride around on a sport bike and beat your opponents with a pipe, fist, or chain - just don’t hit that deer lying with its babies IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD!!!

But what happens when you just can’t get enough gaming. When you are a gaming madman who needs the ultimate gaming pad. Well, you build it of course. Kotaku has a few prime examples of game room madness. Now if that isn’t to you liking then do I have the ULTIMATE in portable TV based videogame goodness. Imaging a NES controller that could play dozens of games by simply plugging it into the TV. Well this guy did, and made one for his girlfriend. The NES in a controller. Pretty sweet.

“But what can I play on the computer today at work?” you ask me, what do I have to entertain the masses on their mid-afternoon break? How…. about…. WARCRAFT!!!!

Watch around the one-minute mark. There is a business man in a suit with glasses. He pauses a moment to write on his Newton. I absolutely LOVE those glasses. Watch until 1:13 when he walks away. Ooooh I need a pair like that. No joke.

A new hand gel is starting to appear on drug-store shelves promising more than just an end to germs or dry skin — this one claims to satisfy users’ tobacco cravings for up to four hours.

Walgreen Co., the largest U.S. drugstore chain by sales, is now stocking its more than 5,500 stores with packets of Nicogel, a quick-evaporating gel made with tobacco extracts.

This is all fine and dandy until kids starts using it accidentally because “mommy uses lotion on her hands”. What mommy didn’t tell you sonny is that she also take a shot of the stuff before breakfast and dips her cigarettes in it to make them more potent.

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Lets start the day with some quick info on making a new set of fingerprints. You never know when the government will start hunting you so you need to be repaired.

In order to fake a fingerprint, one needs an original first. Latent fingerprints are nothing but fat and sweat on touched items. Thus to retrieve someone else’s fingerprint (in this case the fingerprint you want to forge) one should rely on well tested forensic research methods. Which is what’s to be explained here. (Figure 1).

Now if making your own fingerprints is too complicated or not necessary for your daily lives, then this is sure to be of use. How about a face-mounted lucid dream mask. Thats right, this baby is sure to get your dreaming in no time, and the kind of dreams where you “choose your own adventure”.

I was determined to find an easier solution. I thought that maybe measuring skin resistance (Galvanic Skin Response), an indicator of stress levels, I would be able to isolate the REM state. It was upon this basis that I built the first iteration of my Lucid Dreaming mask.

Click on the image for more info

I am pretty excited about the technology involved with this device. I was just watching Steve Jobs at MacWorld give his presentation of their new technology for the year and this thing is slick. Unfortunately Apple partnered with Cingular to bring the phone to market. I refuse to use Cingular because they are AT&T, and frankly I will not support such a monopolistic evil empire. And the prices are bit steep. (4GB = $499 with 2yr contract, 8GB = $599 with 2yr contract) I guess fashion has its price.

You know what I just noticed this phone is missing is a calendar function, and the ability to sync with my calendaring program. Maybe this is a hidden feature or something not discussed on Apple’s website. Give me full syncing with my calendar and I might be interested. Although what is it like to type on. The keyboard on my blackberry is easy (once you get used to it) so maybe the touchscreen is the same once you get the hang of it.

Are you sick of the same old blue or silver or olive themes in Windows XP? Are you looking for a way to change the way your desktop looks without spending upwards of $35.00 for add-on theme and style programs? Here is your answer:

The UXTheme Patcher

Download and install and you can now use non-Microsoft “msstyle” styles and themes for you Windows XP system. Here are a few sites for your GUI goodness:

StudioTwentyEight
ThemeXP

Make sure when you download a theme that it is a “Visual Style” or “msstyle” and you are set. Enjoy the prettiness.

I ran across this and now I want one really, REALLY BAD. The SMS Guerrilla Projector. This is the ultimate bagaki experience advertising and harassment tool. Just think of the possibilities. Shirts, cars, windows, walls, bald heads (and there are quite a few of you heading down this road), et cetera. I love it. A great idea. Now we need one of these and some of those TV-B-Gone remotes from Cornfield Electronics and we are set for some guerrilla marketing at its best. Well, maybe I forgot the bottle of scotch. Everything in life is better with a glass of scotch.

If you have a sexual fetish that requires serious masks and costumes then stop over at this website and fantasize until your fantasies come true.

There are some pretty crazy masks over there, not your typical leather masks. Hey guys, don’t forget the codpiece. Now you too can be like Tom Jones!!!

For those looking for something a little more in the status quo, the nightmarefactory might have what you are looking for. You know, the sexy maid, nurse, police woman, barbarian, cowgirl, and just about every other profession out there. Good thing there are no mortician costumes.

PS3, Meh! Maybe I’d get one if it were endorsed by Shatner.