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PETA Makes Scary Version of 'Cooking Mama' Game, Majesco Replies

by Terrence O'Brien, posted Nov 20th 2008 at 7:15PM

PETA Grinch Tries to Steal Thanksgiving
Animal rights activist group PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has never been known for its subtlety. Actually, that's an understatement. PETA has long been known for its over-dramatic publicity stunts. It's not that we always disagree with PETA's goals, it's just that their methods make us so uncomfortable we start to think that maybe Ted Nugent isn't such a bad guy after all.

The group's latest target is Thanksgiving. PETA has created a flash version of the Nintendo Wii hit 'Cooking Mama' (we hear the lawyers warming up their suing pens right now) that gruesomely details the steps involved in gutting and dressing a turkey.

Even if you lose, PETA still rewards you with a video that shows off the terrible conditions at commercial turkey farms. We agree it's not pretty, but they're gonna have a hard time convincing people that their food should be treated better. Especially if their main method of preaching is a flash version of an incredibly frustrating video game.

Majesco (publisher of 'Cooking Mama') responded with a press release noting that the new title 'Cooking Mama: World Kitchen' features plenty of vegetarian dishes, including miso soup and rice cakes. The gaming publisher doesn't appear to be taking the offense too seriously, since half of the release consisted of quotes from the fictional game's protagonist, 'Mama,' including her claim that her, "...only goal is to ensure you leave the table well fed."

We don't know about you, but we're hungry now. Maybe the Nuge can go kill us some grub. [From: Download Squad]

FOX News Anchor Shows His Creepy Facebook Page on Live TV

by Lee Bains, posted Nov 20th 2008 at 6:35PM



The host of FOX News's 'Fox & Friends,' Steve Doocy spends a good bit of time on Facebook, according to a video of the morning show on ValleyWag.com.

Apparently, Steve updates his Facebook Status every day with such mundane notices as, "Steve is tired from a busy weekend," and posts marginally creepy profile pictures, like the one of him, as a kindergartener, in a Santa suit. All weirdness aside, Mr. Doocy is in clear violation of Facebook Guidelines One and Eleven.

We'll let one of you Doocy fans send him a private Facebook message informing him of his infractions, since he's "pretty much maxed-out" and hasn't yet accepted our friend request. [From: ValleyWag.com]

Irish Use Cell Phones the Most, Report Says

by Tom Samiljan, posted Nov 20th 2008 at 5:46PM



Maybe it's the vast green pastures separating towns and cities or just the lousy weather, but in 2007, residents of the Republic of Ireland spent the most time per head talking and sending text messages on their mobile phones. This is just one of several statistics disclosed on the International Communications Market report by British regulator Ofcom, Reuters reports.

The Finns may have more mobile phones, but it's the folks who live on the Emerald Isle who take the cake for actually using those mobile phones a lot. But enough about mobile phones and Ireland -- this report shared the gadget-use-superlative love among many countries.

China, for example, added 88 million new mobile phone subscribers last year, while Russian cell phone use rose a whopping 1,000-percent. And let's not forget the U.S., where folks spent the more time online per week -- 15 hours -- than any other country (followed by the UK at 14 hours per week). The U.S. and Britain also watched TV shows online more than any other country, but Canadians, it turns out, like to get on Facebook, MySpace, and Bebo the best, since more than half of them (55-percent) are on social-networking sites.

Unfortunately, the U.S. also tops the list for TV-watching, on average 4.5 hours a day. Does that mean that, like our economy, we're a nation of depressed couch potatoes? [From Reuters]


Do you prefer making phone calls or text messaging on your cell phone?




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'Bottoms Up' Beer Dispenser Pours 10 Pints in 10 Seconds

by Lee Bains, posted Nov 20th 2008 at 5:01PM


In keeping with the close kinship between beer and technology, the Scotsman company has introduced the innovative Trufill beer dispenser, Uber Review and Foodbev report.

With Trufill's pioneering design, beer enters the glass through the bottom, allowing a bartender (or overly enthusiastic drinker) to pour as many as 10 pints of beer in 10 seconds. This speedy dispensing technology could be a boon for crowded bars and concession stands, who often lose sales with the time it takes to pour a headless beer.

Scotsman Beverage Systems' Web site explains that the Trufill's functionality depends upon a 'non-return valve' in the bottom of a specially designed glass. That's too bad; we'd really hoped that the folks at Scot-Bev had invented some sort of fluid-teleportation device. [From: Foodbev via Uber Review]

Orb 2.0 Streams Live TV to Your iPhone

by Nilay Patel, posted Nov 20th 2008 at 3:52PM


We knew Orb was working on an iPhone port of its media-streaming app, and it looks like Orb 2.0 just stealthily went live in the App Store. The $10 app lets TV junkies watch live TV from a tuner connected to a Windows PC, as well as stream music, videos, and photos from their libraries. Even cooler, Orb allows you to monitor a Webcam, so you can finally nail those Diet Coke thieves from the comfort of your cube (or keep an eye on your infant, whatever.) Sadly there's no date for the Mac and Linux versions, but Orb says they're on the way. Alright Sling, looks like the ball's in your court.

[Via jkOnTheRun]

Is E-Mailing, Texting, and Chatting Online Really So Bad for Teens?

by Lee Bains, posted Nov 20th 2008 at 2:56PM



While many a parental unit is concerned about his or her teenager's constant texting, instant messaging and Internet surfing, as well as the impact such activities could have on a developing personality, researchers at the MacArthur Foundation are assuring parents that the kids are alright, the New York Times reports.

Much of the cause for parents' trepidation, according to lead researcher Mizuko Ito, is a basic confusion about how kids are spending time online. Primarily, Ito says, kids are socializing with friends, not making themselves vulnerable to "stranger danger."

Conducted over a three-year period, the study demonstrates the extent to which new media -- including cell phones and social networking sites -- have become integral to young people's social lives. Far from calling this a problem, Ito claims that this new form of socialization prepares kids for the tech-heavy work environments they will undoubtedly encounter in their later years.

If Ito is, in fact, correct in her assessment, and this article is correct in its own, it might be Facebook that winds up getting us out of this economic crisis. [From: The New York Times]

Cat Takes a Ride on Roomba

by Lee Bains, posted Nov 20th 2008 at 1:49PM



Our dear friends at Engadget posted this video of a kitty taking a joy ride on a Roomba, the world's finest vacuuming robot. As we all know, cats and technology have long been embattled opponents, so we find a lot of hope in this instance of feline-robot cooperation.

In the interest of perpetuating cuteness, we encourage you to introduce your kitty to a Roomba. Just keep him away from this Roomba. [From: Engadget]

Shaquille O'Neal Joins the Twittering Craze

by Lee Bains, posted Nov 20th 2008 at 1:10PM


After witnessing the success of an impostor Twitter page, Shaquille O'Neal has started his own Twitter account, reports SportsByBrooks.

Although it's no news to sports fans, the Phoenix Suns Center is a little, well, eccentric, and his Twitter page does not reveal anything different. Although new to the mini-blogging service (he started his Twitter page two days ago), Shaq is Twittering at a good clip, dropping 40 nuggets of Shaq science in that short time.

Some highlights:
LORD B, DNT B SKEPTICAL, ITS ME GIMME A NUMBER I WILL CALL U

Question were is dikembe mutumbo??

B BACK LATER

About to sit in the cold tub for about 20 min, then i'm a shoot some free throws

SHAQ
Really, he poses an excellent question: Where is Dikembe Mutombo? And, even more importantly, where is Shaq Diesel? [From: SportsByBrooks]

Searaser Floating Pump Taps Ocean Motion to Generate Power

by Joseph L. Flatley, posted Nov 20th 2008 at 12:32PM


A twist on the idea of the underwater turbine, the Searaser also uses the motion of the ocean to generate power. The device consists of two independent floats that move with the waves, pumping out seawater as they do. The water can then be pumped inland for hydroelectric power, irrigation, or to hilltop reservoirs for later use. One unit should be able to power 470 homes, and a six-month preproduction trial is currently being planned. You know, as quirky energy solutions go, this one doesn't actually seem all that far-fetched. At the very least, it seems better than going Micro-Nuclear.

[Via The Times]

Should Employees Be Paid While Slow Computers Boot?

by Tim Stevens, posted Nov 20th 2008 at 11:42AM

Should Employees Be Paid while Computers Boot?
If you spend your day sitting at a desk at a computer, when do you boot up your machine? If you do it when you get in, do you count that time spent booting toward your overall workday? Or, do you come in ahead of time to let it boot up? We're guessing there aren't many people getting out of bed 15 minutes earlier just to make sure their computers are logged in and warmed up precisely at 9:00 am (or whenever their workday starts), and whether or not they should is a subject currently being debated in a legal battle between employees and companies like AT&T, United Health Group, and Cigna, a case many will be watching.

The employees contend that installation of Windows Vista on aging hardware, plus the enforcement of some rather draconian security policies, result in machines that take somewhere between 15 and 30 minutes to complete. That's upwards of an hour lost per day, during which time the employees can't really do anything about it.

The companies contend, however, that those employees go take smoke breaks or head to the water cooler while their machines boot, meaning they're not getting any work done, anyway. Who is to blame? That is something the courts will decide, but it seems a wee bit crazy to give your employees slow hardware and then punish them for it! What do you think? [From: Electronista]

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