POODWADDLE CURIOSITY BLOG

A guide to everything you never knew you shoulda known

This blog reviews web resources, things to know, places to go, and things to do before you die. (Note: this blog was formerly Smart Ass Blog. I considered naming it deadcatblog. you know because curiosity killed the cat, but I can't imagine the Google ads I would get for that)

8/29/07 - BEST BUY EXPERIENCE

For the past month I have been struggling with Best Buy over a computer warantee issue. I wrote this report for the benifit of other consumers. Unlike other such Best Buy gripes, I have chosen to give the factual details and leave the analysis to the reader.

7/22/07 - HOW OLD R U?

I'm sure this little program will cause a bit of debate and feedback. If you don't read the help window you might think the calendar is off and is not showing your accurate birthday or age. But, in fact, it is showing the correct figures. It's your calendar that's screwed up. The calendar is divided into 365 days. In reality, the earth orbits the sun approximately ever 365.256363051 days. Therefore, the calendar is incorrect (even with leap year). This program shows exactly how old you are and can be set to many different time formats, even years on other planets. Have fun.

7/21/07 - REAL AGE

We all know that the choices we make and the medical conditions we have affect our lives. This little calculator shows how greatly we can alter our lives simply by cutting out that donut or smiling more. Unfortunately, there are some conditions we just can't change. No matter how much I smile, I will still be a short and bald man (and that subtracts 3 years from my life). It's not fair!
I can't wait to read all the emails I receive from others who think its not fair that their conditions subtract from their lives and insisting I should change the figures. Sorry, can't help you. Wouldn't if I could.

7/16/07 - ANOTHER CLOCK

Another Clock for all you clock lovers. This clock is available free for any website, blog, or social network profile. I invite suggestions of other cities you would like to see listed.

7/16/07 - POODWADDLE TV

Poodwaddle TV is another free program for any website, blog, myspace profile, or any other destination where you might like to embed it. I have collected 12 of my favorite youtube videos into this little program. Operating the TV should require no tutorial. Simply click and rotate the dials to change the channel or adjust the volume. This is the first TV program. Please send feedback with your favorite youtube videos and I will add the good ones in future TVs.

7/14/07 - FREECYCLE

Here's another one of those great ideas I wish I had thought of myself. The Freecycle Network is a non-profit network of local "gifting" groups. Their goal? To reduce landfill by finding happy homes for reusable goods. Got an old TV you don't want, but don't want to throw away either? Give it away through freecycle. Are you a pack-rat and need a little more clutter? Find it at Freecycle.

There are several Freecycle network resources online. I list a few here.
Freecycle Finder
Freecycle.org
Freesharing.org

7/13/07 - TIME ZONE CLOCK

Here is a new clock for all you clock lovers. It tells the time anywhere in the world. This is one of those deceptively simple appearing programs that has me pulling out my hair by the time I am done programming it. Turns out, there are dozens of different regions that interpret daylight saving time differently. And whats worse, they don't follow the same guidelines each year. I have done my best to accurately provide daylight saving time figures for all countries but if you find a mistake please let me know. As always, this program can be embedded on your own site, blog, or myspace profile free!

7/6/07 - HELP TRANSLATE THE WORLD CLOCK

I have had a lot of feedback about the world clock from other countries. Readers have requested its translation to Japanese, French, Spanish, and German. If there is anyone out there willing to assist me in translating the World Clock I would appreciate it. Thanks.

7/1/07 - WORLD CLOCK UPDATE

The World clock has generated a lot of interest, questions, and debate. I love to read the discussions and I try to implement all the suggestion (or at least the serious ones). Today I am releasing an update to correct certain flaws and clarify ambiguities.

Much of the stats I question myself. As I state in the help section, The figures are often contradictory. Many sources sensationalize stats to generate interest, funding, or whatever. For example, the number of species going extinct per year was estimated by the site I quoted as 216600. This figure is highly exaggerated and does not reveal the type of species. I have recently updated this to 27000 species extinct per year (estimated by American biologist Edward Wilson).

Likewise with the deforestation calculation. According to environmentalists (http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/news/2005/1000127/index.html) approximately 13 million hectares of forest are lost each year. Reforestation, however, has begun to reverse some of this loss so the actual figures are closer to 8 million hectares net loss per year and dropping. Still bad though.

Climate change scientists estimate that the world will warm by at least .02 degrees (F) each year. Of course this is an annual average of the entire earth and periodic fluctuations are inevitable. Every source quotes different figures. Some say 2006 reversed this trend. Others say it was the hottest year yet. The truth has been very difficult to find. I admit, I have had to interpolate my figures from what few sources seemed reliable. Although this counter seems to spin fast, it still only varies by .02 degrees per year.

Unless otherwise noted, the stats are world figures. Illegal immigration and divorce estimates were only available for a few countries so I chose to show only the US. On a side note, I find it highly odd that divorce rates are no longer recorded.

Abortion rates are not recorded as deaths by the WHO, but are instead estimates by activist groups. The figures vary widely from source to source. I have chosen the estimate of 46,000,000 because it seems to be the most prevalent.

The death rate stats are freely available to anyone on the WHO website, as are the population stats at the US census bureau.

Hopefully this has clarified most of questions you have about my clock. I am currently working on other clocks and programs and will add them here as I complete them. Check back soon.

6/14/07 - PARIS HILTON

The last 8 or 9 abandoned years of Paris Hilton's life have entertained, offended, and distracted us from more sober issues we would just as soon ignore. But where can she go from here?

Here is a brief compilation of her life accomplishments:

There is some talk that she has reformed her ways, that her 12x8 concrete home has taught her to respect the law. Part of me hopes this is true. Jail is hard. It forces one to reevaluate priorities. She is bound to come out a changed person. That's good for her but what about us?

Who can fill the dumb blonde void? What skinny skanky bimbo can replace her? How will the news fill a half hour without her?

Our economy thrives on her. Think of the poor paparazzi, the tabloids, the teaming masses of impressionable teenage girls, not to mention the great unwashed horde awaiting the sequel to One Night in Paris. Without Paris hundreds of low life, bottom feeding, scandal scouring reporters might have to find real jobs. Teenage girls might find a worthy idol, and men... well men wont change.

And what about the logistics? Her posters are plastered on too many high school locker doors. Her pictures and videos spin around on too many hard drives. Who's gonna clean all this up?

Consider the possibilities if Paris Hilton reforms. Paparazzi have nothing to photograph. Newspapers and magazines everywhere see drop in subscriptions. New York Times is first to announce bankruptcy. Americans, feeling stressed because there is no Paris Hilton to mock, loose confidence in the market. Stock market crashes. Planes fall from the sky. Civil war. Anarchy. All because Paris Hilton went straight.

Paris never change. It's just not fair to the rest of us. We need you just the way you are!

6/10/07 - WORLD STATS CLOCK

I have created a world statistics clock to replace the statistics counter below. This clock is free for your own website or blog. Get the embedding code at our Free stuff page.

6/8/07 - AVOID SPAM

Do you hate spam as much as I do. I doubt it. I hate spam so much I want to stick bamboo shoots under its fingernails. I want to break its kneecaps. I want to call its momma bad names. Did I mention I hate spam?

It seems that every site requires membership and thus compromises your email address. There can be only one reason they want this - spam. They want the right to email you with ads and notices. Especially unsavory sites may even sell your email to professional spammers. They naturally defend their motives with a logical defense, "if you don't like it go somewhere else!"

But you don't want to go somewhere else. Of course you could create an email address with someone like Yahoo mail specifically for verifying these memberships. An alternative I like is a service at http://spam.la/. This site can receive email to anyname@spam.la as publicly readable email thus you can give this name to sites you would rather not give your email to and read the response at spam.la without risking your own email. I love the concept of a web service that thwarts the unsavory spammers. Now if they could just figure out a way to track them.

Wait you can! Yes, you can discover the address, phone number, personal email and tons of other info about websites at a site called http://www.whois.net/ I received a paypal spoof request to validate my password. I almost fell for it. The site seemed real. In all ways it duplicated paypal, but just before I logged in I noticed the address was misspelled. Instead, I went to whois.net and tracked down the owner and his email. I sent him a nasty email for which I received no response (proof enough for me that I did indeed reach the perp) Of course I also reported the spoof to paypal and have the satisfaction of knowing that the site was shut down shortly thereafter.

I hate spoofers almost as much as I hate spam. I think I would hang them upside down by their toenails.

6/1/07 - TREASURE HUNT

Back at the turn of the century (2000) an odd new hobby was born and has grown to a worldwide phenomena. Its called Geocaching and its got the appeal and excitement of treasure hunting without the danger of sharks, tides, and backstabbing pirates. All except the appeal of eventual wealth.

Geocache enthusiasts examine clues on websites like http://www.geocaching.com/ The clues include the latitude and longitude of the cache, a description of the container, and perhaps a riddle to help find the treasure, a container of inexpensive knickknacks.

When (or if) you find the cache you take an object out and leave something of your own. You may also sign a log to tell the world that you were there. If you are a member (membership is free) of geocaching.com you can leave notes and pictures of the area around the cache.

My first hunt took me about an hour and I found a pink troll figurine. I cant wait for my next hunt so I can leave that disgusting toy for someone else. Hope you like trolls.

5/9/07 - VIRTUAL TOURISM

I love the idea of virtual tourism, to see and explore a part of the world without ever leaving my ez chair, risking malaria or loosing my luggage. Following I list my favorite travel sites:

Travel advice from travelers: virtualtourist, igougo
Tavel blogs and photos: travelblog, lonelyplanet, trekearth, gonomad
World Travel Guide: worldtravelguide, escapeartist
satilite Images: googlesightseeing (My favorites)
Search for best priced travel tickets: Kayak.com

4/21/07 - COUNTERS

Here are a few facinating (if not a bit depressing) real-time counters.

• National Debt clock
• U.S. Trade deficit
• Abortion counter
• African Aids deaths
• HIV Infection Clock
• World population now and in the past
• World population according to US Census Bureau
• Drug War clock
• Gun Defense Clock
• Illegal Immigration Counter
• Iraq war cost
• World Stats

4/13/07 - FINDING PEOPLE

Have you misplaced you spouse? Are you looking for an old girlfriend/boyfriend from high school? Are you stocking someone and can no longer find where they have moved to? Then you need help!

Finding someone can be like solving a riddle or crossword puzzle. Here are some valuable resources:

1. Check the phone book: Switchboard.com, anywho.com, WhoWhere.com, The Ultimate, Yahoo People
2. Google their name: Google.com
3. Check genealogy websites: Ancestry.com
4. Check public records: Public Records
5. Search college alumni: Classmates.com, Planet Alumni
6. If all else fails use intelius background check: Intelius.com

4/12/07 - GENEALOGY

I have a truly American heritage. My mothers family can be traced back to the Mayflower. My fathers family can be traced all the way back to French royalty. I might even be related to a few celebrities, but don't hold that against me.

The Mormon church has been gathering genealogy info for decades. Now they operate the best genealogy resource online, ancestry.com. There are other sources you might try if you are serious about finding your ancestors.

Cyndis List of Geneolagy Sites

4/11/07 - Bargains

Well we're discussing bargain shopping you should know about Deal News. No, I don't get a red cent for suggesting them. Bummer. I check them out every couple days to see what deals are out there. Then I wish I had a red cent to buy something. Bummer again.

4/9/07 - Travel Tickets

If you're a bargain hunter you probably check a dozen different travel sites before purchasing tickets. Or you could just go to kayak.com and let them search all the sites for you. But you won't, will you? You'll go to Travelocity, Orbitz, Expedia, Priceline, Hotwire, and the 50 or more other sites that sell tickets. kayak.com could search all of them in seconds, but you will spend 6 hours searching. Sometimes I wonder about you.

4/6/07 - CPR

OK, you know you should learn CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation). But who's got the time? This web site will teach you the basics and you wont even have to get close and personal with a mannequin. Learn CPR

4/2/07 - Unclaimed Property

Believe it or not there is an association with the sole purpose of giving you back your money! Hard to believe? The The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators has a web site, unclaimed.org, which can help you track down lost money and property belonging to you.

Each state has its own laws governing lost property, but most demand that businesses hand over unclaimed property to the state. The government holds this property until it is claimed by its rightful owner and keeps any interest accrued from its investment. Often the owner is never found but the government is faithful. There is no time limit to claiming the property and their records go back 40 years or more (each state varies according to when their laws were enacted).

Here are some other web sites you might try.
Missing Money Organization
Missing Pension Search
Lost treasury bills, notes & bonds