bookofjoe

What is the provenance of these pictures?

Answer here

this time

tomorrow.

Twitter For TechnoDolts™

Catchy, what?

After yesterday's crash and burn (related here) with trying to direct message via Twitter, I got to thinking that there must be a "Twitter For Dummies."

Duh.

It's on its way as you read these words.

Then I got to thinking that if past is prologue (quick — which play?), the bulk of the book will be unintelligible to me, as "For Dummies" is about two standard deviations above the intellectual pay grade (sorry about the mixed metaphor) of a hypothetical "Twitter For TechnoDolts™."

Then I got to thinking, who better to write that book than me?

So here's what I've decided to do: from now on, whenever I have a great idea that belongs in that book, I'm gonna post it on Twitter as a Tweet.

When I get a critical mass I'll collate them and voilà, my new book.

I like it.

Genius, stupidity or both? Populate commercials with your friends

Watching the same old tired series of mute the sound/avert my eyes commercials from atop the treadmill just now, it occurred to me how much more amusing and appealing they'd be if technology existed that let me substitute my friends for the idiots pretending to love the stuff they're being paid to flog.

I could ignore the fakery because I'd be so amused at the antics of familiar faces and their voices going through the routines.

Wait and see if this doesn't happen within ten years.

Or your money back.

Wait a minute....

Time Squared Clock

From the website:

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TimeSquared™ Clock

Wake up to TimeSquared, a one-of-a-kind clock melding nostalgia with advanced LED lighting technology.

The intense blue light provides the perfect level of brightness day or night, with an eye-catching cubic design to accent any room.

Includes multi-function alarm.

9.5"W x 4"H x 1.75"D.

Plastic.

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$59.98.

BehindTheMedspeak: Does water temperature matter when you wash your hands?

Long story short: No.

Anahad O'Connor's "Really?" column in yesterday's New York Times Science section had the back story; it follows.

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The Claim: Always Wash Your Hands With Hot Water, Not Cold.

The Facts: With swine flu sweeping across the country, health officials are reminding Americans to wash their hands often to reduce the spread of the disease.

Soap and warm water have long been said to prevent the spread of infections, but is warm or hot water really more effective than cold?

In its medical literature, the Food and Drug Administration states that hot water comfortable enough for washing hands is not hot enough to kill bacteria, but is more effective than cold water because it removes oils from the hand that can harbor bacteria.

But in a 2005 report, in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, scientists with the Joint Bank Group/Fund Health Services Department pointed out that in studies in which subjects had their hands contaminated, and then were instructed to wash and rinse with soap for 25 seconds using water with temperatures ranging from 40 degrees Fahrenheit to 120 degrees, the various temperatures had “no effect on transient or resident bacterial reduction.”

They found no evidence that hot water had any benefit, and noted that it might increase the “irritant capacity” of some soaps, causing contact dermatitis. “Temperature of water used for hand washing should not be guided by antibacterial effects but comfort,” they wrote, “which is in the tepid to warm temperature range. The usage of tepid water instead of hot water also has economic benefits.”

The Bottom Line: Hot water for hand washing has not been proved to remove germs better than cold water.

Extendable Shower Rod

In the ongoing shower wars, the curved rod may have met its match.

From the website:

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Extendable Shower Rod

Extend It™ shower rod creates extra space and comfortable elbow room in your shower.

Rod extends 7.5" and offers 60% more space than curved extended rods.

Patented leak-resistant design prevents drips.

Retracts to save space when not in use.

Plastic brackets with iron rod.

Fits showers 34" to 68".

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$39.98.

WheresMyCellPhone.com

That's different.

[via Milena]

Moule en silicone Entrelacs (Interlace pattern silicone mold)

From the website:

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Moule en silicone Entrelacs

C'est moi qui l'ai fait!

Réussissez à coup sur un gâteau original décoré de motifs arabesque en relief, grâce à ce moule à manqué en silicone de qualité professionnelle.

Nettoyage au lave vaisselle.

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€21.90.

[via O VALOR DO DESIGN]