Blah Blah Blah

Much to the chagrin of some of my readers (you know who I'm talking about), I haven't been able to get a post in edgewise with all these finals throwing their weight around like they're all some kind of bigshot. So to make it up to you, I'll throw in one of my personal favorites. This site's got an amalgamation of data visualization, media art, and collective intelligence put together by Martin Wattenberg. Alright, whoa there, take a step back and think about what that means.

Okay finished? Let me continue: I'm definitely going to put this post under the "Entertainment" category, because I can guarantee that you'll be perusing all of these projects for quite some time. For example, who new that names that begin with "Kr-" peaked in the 70s, or that "I-" names wax and wane like the tides of the sea? Alright maybe that isn't the best example, but you'll be hooked once you check it out. The links to the actual pieces are to the left of the page once you've clicked on a specific piece that you want to look at.

So check it out:
bewitched.com

Don't Be Afraid To Make It Your Own

Alright this next one I've got is quite a pretty little ditty...and if you're a fan of block posters then you'll love this site. The Rasterbator creates huge, rasterized images from any picture you can imagine. All you have to do is print the resulting image off your regular old printer...or take it to Kinkos to give it that extra special touch.

Anyways, in case you're wondering, a rasterized photo is composed of a bunch of small dots, which can give the total image a look reminiscent of 1960s Pop Art, such as this piece by Ray Lichtenstein:


So go out there and impress me with what you come up with; here's my favorite from their gallery:


Here's the link, now go on and give it a whirl:
RASTERBATE!

A Couple Quick Updates

Hey everyone, I just wanted to say a couple things to start the cold month of December off right:

Well, first things first, thanks to everyone that's emailed me input; I'm really going to work your suggestions into the blog. And for those of you that haven't, you're more then welcome to send me whatever the hell is floating through your mind; it's always appreciated. Secondly, don't forget to check out some of the older posts, there's plenty of stuff here that will keep you interested...especially if you're a new reader. And lastly, thanks for checking this site out in the first place, because it wouldn't be possible without you.


So I'll leave you with a few words of wisdom from the people over at engrishfunny.com:

(Even better, replace "beach" with "Beezness.")


Vaya Con Dios

Military Collectibles = Amazing Fashion?

I'm not quiet sure how I came across this one, but it was definitely in one of the most obscure corners of the Internet.
Alright, stay with me on this one. Think military surplus, but on a global scale and with actually worthwhile merchandise. This site has an array of incredibly varied items. Take for example these Czech army issue glasses that have bullet proof frames and look incredibly like retro Ray-Bans...I can guarantee no one on the block will be sporting these but you.
Or how about this French Navy seabag that looks like it could be the new South Beach fashion statement?The point is, there's a number of worthwhile items on this site that deserve a look. From the Italian Army issue blanket that's made out of suit-quality wool to a 10L French Army Wine Canister (Imagine showing up to a party with that...), I'm sure you'll find something you like. This place definitely has some interesting finds, you just have to search through the random to get to the good. Oh and if you're ever looking for outdoor gear this is undoubtedly the place to go, because nothing's better than military issued gear, and since most of this stuff is vintage, you'll look even more like the hardcore outdoors-men and -women you really are.

So take a look:
deutscheoptik.com

By the way, don't be warded off by the meat grinder they're selling on the front page, I honestly can't believe that with all of the great products these guys sell they decide to slap that on the homepage...sometimes I seriously wonder if these people are actually trying to make a profit...

It's Like Always Having a Flash Drive.

I'm a big fan of googledocs for sharing/uploading documents that I'm too lazy to move to a flash drive. But what about all the other junk I keep on my flash drive, or what about the times when I don't want to convert my word docs to googledocs? Well, that's what I use drop.io for. It's perfect for uploading any kind of file on a temporary site that is viewable by only the people you allow. For example, I just uploaded some of the logos for the fencing team as illustrator files and it worked perfectly. You can also set passwords to protect your stuff even more. What's also great is that you can set an expiration date for your data, so even if you do forget about it you'll still be protected.
PLUS, you can upload new data by calling the drop itself, and also use the drop to conference call.
So,
drop.io = amazingly easy to use, free, no sign ups, and incredibly flexible.
I guess it really is "The simplest way to share online."

Wall Art Wall Art Wall Art

Looking for something else to spruce up that plain white wall you've been staring at for the past few months? Really want to try blockposters but just don't know what image to use? Well take a look at memory.loc.gov for inspiration. This website is chalk full of vintage posters from the Library of Congress's American Memory collection. They've got everything from classic tourism posters to slightly cheesy public health messages. And as if that wasn't sexy enough, you can download the high res images straight from the site or order a print for yourself. The best part is that there's no copyright issues because they're all public domain!
Check it out for yourself:
memory.loc.gov

Retail = Online Shopping

My roommate Matt would agree that I do all of my shopping online. As long as I can finagle free shipping, 10% off, and a free cup of coffee out of it I don't see a reason why I shouldn't. But how exactly does one go about finding these mischievous coupon codes that give you all of this? Well, retailmenot is a good place to start. Just put in the website name of the place where you'd like to get something, and presto, it spits out a long list of coupon codes that'll give you anything from 20% off to free shipping to god knows what. I personally like that it allows people to leave feedback about the codes so you don't waste your time putting in b.s. codes. So check it out, there's a couple of other sites similar to it, but this is my favorite.
www.retailmenot.com

Chainlove, Woot, and Others

Alright I've talked about whiskey militia and shirt.woot before, but now I've gotta throw out their amazing sister sites: chainlove and woot.
Chainlove is the same idea as whiskey militia...one item up, sells ridiculously fast, then the next item is put up. Only this time everything is bike related. Yep, same cool idea as whiskey mlitia, except ridiculously cheap deals on bike stuff.

Woot is the same thing as shirt.woot...except its everything electronic. And by everything, I mean everything. From 64" HDTVs to microwaves to HD cameras, they'll sell it. and cheap. Did I mention it's the same format as whiskey militia? Once it's gone, it's gone forever folks. So grab the deals while you still can.
Here they are:
chainlove.com
woot.com

Da Font is Da Bomb

Okay so the title for this post is a little cheesy, but that doesn't discount this next site. Dafont is a place to get every kind of font you could possibly imagine, for free! The fonts on the website are either freeware, shareware, demo versions or public domain. Most have plenty of good glyphs and print fantastically. It's definitely worth a shot to check out this site before you start your next big job...or if you just want your next party invite to look snazzy. AND they're incredibly easy to install. Even if you don't know how to do it there are instructions on the site to guide you through it.
Here it is:
dafont.com
And of course naturally, as expected, its free.

Campus Food

Alright now that I've moved in (for the most part) I can get back to the Beezness.

If you have ever been hungry at school, then this site's for you. Campusfood is a place where you can check out the menus from every kind of local restaurant and order online, at no extra charge. Not only that, but you can have it delivered to your place or have it ready for pick up. The site's suuuper easy to use and gives you a million ways to search for great places. I'm impressed by the selection, they've got all of the great spots in Westwood and then some.
BUT HAVE NO FEAR IF YOU DON'T GO TO UCLA!
The site works for billions of schools, so go ahead and check it out for yourself.
campusfood.com

Have I mentioned that Google runs my life?

What I'm sharing with you today is not just a website that creates giant block posters, nor will it help you create your own radio station.
This, my friends, is the greatest invention from Google yet...

It is the ability to text Google!

Now, this isn't something that's brand spankin' new. In fact, I've been using it for about a year now. But most people don't know about it! Here's the deal: text Google anything, literally, and you will get your answer in a matter of seconds. Whether it's searching for a local sushi place (i.e. send: sushi, Los Angles), checking the Dodgers score, the weather, or even getting directions to places (this saved me the last time I was in San Francisco), Google's got you covered.
The list of things that Google SMS can do is practically endless, and the crazy thing is, everything is ACTUALLY HELPFUL. And did I mention the best part? It's free! So now you can cancel your GPS and mobile web subscription on your phone, and use Google, which works just as well, if not better. And there's no registration either. It's fairly easy to use, especially the driving directions, which have never steered me wrong.
To learn how everything works, and give it a test drive, check out the website:
Google Mobile

Super Trendy Music...a la Viva Radio

If Pandora stunned you with amazing music or just opened your eyes to the wide world of online radio...then you have to check out this new site. Head over to Viva-Radio, which "offers a unique broadcast medium for music enthusiasts to communicate." In other words, they provide excellent music from almost every genre ever created.

From the illest OLD SCHOOL Hip-Hop, to the rarest American soul music in the world, to the dank caverns of Nordic Metal, to disco, rock, house, techno, and everything else in between, this station's got it all. Plus, this Viva-Radio has remixes of some of the hottest stuff out there that you will not here anywhere else.

I've found that the best feature is the ability to rummage through past shows by all of the contributors. This means that you can listen to whatever is playing live, or play any show that was aired over the past few weeks. And since the list of contributors is almost endless, you're bound to find one that you'll enjoy exploring for hours. My personal favorite is "Slow and Low," with Rob Low. He's on Fridays at high noon (12:00).

Here it is:
viva-radio.com

And naturally, as expected, it's free.

This site is like Social Networking 2.0

IM + Email + Social Networking.
Yep, that's exactly what digsby.com promises. The site lets you manage all of your IM accounts, from AIM to Google Talk to Yahoo, all on one program. Plus it's an email notifier. And believe it or not, as if you weren't plugged into the social pipeline enough, it's also a social networking tool that alerts you of new messages and updates.
The downside is that it as of right now it's only for Windows, but they are working on Mac (and Linux?!) versions.
I know for a fact that this isn't going to help with my facebook addiction. :'(
Here's the link:
digsby.com

BY THE WAY! Don't forget to give some love to the older posts on here. They're under the "Older Posts" link. They don't have cooties, so don't be shy.

Your Own Personal Online Radio Stations

This website is one of my personal favorites when it comes to music. Not only is it a great way to keep up with the music you love, it also introduces you to some goooood music.
Pandora is the most comprehensive analysis of music ever undertaken. Pick a song or artist that you enjoy, and Pandora will create a "radio station" based on the musical details of the song, such as melody, harmony, rhythm, lyrics, and other aspects.

You can create as many "stations" as you want. And you can even refine them. If it's not quite right you can tell it so and it will get better for you.

Check it out:
pandora.com

p.s.
Naturally, and as expected, it's free!

Amazing Animation

Take a look at this animation, err, interactive flash movie, that takes playing cards to a whole new level. I haven't seen an animation like this before, where the user decides the pace and it plays just as smoothly backwards as it does forwards. If the way I'm describing it sounds a bit odd, take a look at the animation, and you'll see exactly what I'm talking about. Thanks to my friend Maria, who posted this on facebook.
adobecards.com

The Top Rated Online TV and Movies Site (Free n' Legal)

hulu.com
Free online t.v. has been around for sometime now, but for those of you who don't know which is the best site, or just haven't checked it out before, take a look at this site. It's completely legal because it's ad supported, which means you have to see a 7 second ad spot before the show, but everything's high quality and there's a ton of shows to choose from that come from dozens of networks.
PLUS you can watch movies on there as well. The selection is a bit random (ghostbusters and the girl next door? Really now?) but it's free...and they're always putting new ones up.

Free Music...legally (presumably)

www.jimmyr.com
This here is one powerful site. The Google MP3 Search is an amazing way to search people's online music indexes for a song/album you've been dying for. Just type in the name of a song, artist, or album and the site will do a "Super Google Search" that spits out a list of indexes that you can download the music from. No viruses or ads, completely clean. Click a song to play it, or just right click whatever song you want and save the link. Fo Free.
My suggestion is searching for Santogold, specifically the song "Creator." Good stuff.

Cool Shirts for Only $10!?!

Alright now for the next great website...
shirt.woot.com
Here's the deal: 1 Shirt gets put up everyday for only $10...nothing more. That's right, free shipping, no hidden fees...just $10 dollars. What an idea, right? And they're usually well designed. If you don't like the shirt, just come back the next day and they'll be a brand spankin' new one.
Just tie this with what I talked about earlier and you'll be good.
Same warning as whiskey militia: They sell until they sell out, which means if it's a good shirt don't waste your time debating over whether or not its worth it. It's only $10!!

Google's One Step Closer to Controlling My Entire Life!

Google Chrome's coming out! Google has an open source web browser that can practically read your mind! And of course, it's free! Can't wait till it comes out for Macs...
GOOGLE CHROME!

Phase One Complete...

...Incoming Translation...

Alright now that we've made our introductions and we've completely redone your room with wall to wall posters of your favorite locales (or your favorite pet goldfish named Godzilla), let's move on to the clothing department. My next great website is one that I have been following for over a year. You don't have to buy everything on there, but I've saved boocoo money on it. Alright here's the link:

whiskeymilitia.com

An Insider tip, buy things as soon as you see them, but only if you like them!
They put one item up, then sell it 'till it's gone...which really varies depending on the item. My friend missed out on a Sector 9 longboard cuz he didn't grab it quick! Careful with buying junk you don't really want, that can definitely happen with this site. And everyone knows the words of Confucius, "Buying junk you don't want can ruin your credit." Well, maybe that wasn't what Confucius said exactly...but you get the idea.

...End of Transmission

Favorite Me

Little fyi to the millions of people who read this blog, you can add me to your favorites.

Can someone tell me how to just stick this on the side bar? Pretty Please?

Inventive Way to Make Your Own Posters

Wow, alright so first off this is an amazing website. Put one of your photos on it...and BOOM! You've got yourself a gigantic poster. Actually, it can be as large or as small as you want. It splits the photo into a grid of 8.5 x 11 squares, you print it out on regular printer paper from your own rinky dink printer, and slap it on your wall. And the best part of all...it's free! Ahhh, nothing like finding a website that provides an excellent service for free ninety nine, talk about a college student's dream.
Here's the link:
blockposters.com
Check out the gallery they've got too, it'll give you some ingenious ideas.

First Post

Well, here it is. The first post of many...or if this doesn't end up being very fun, the last. Well, welcome to my blog.
The Beezness: Hellbent on trawling the Internet for handy sites, exploring the fathoms of elements I enjoy, and most of all, keeping things captivating. Take a look around, or if it ain't yo thang, do something else.