May 18, 2009
Liffr takes social media world by storm
Step aside Twitter, Facebook and MySpace. Liffr, is the latest new hot website to catch the attention of the digerati.
The site seems simple on first visit. A dark black background greets you with one simple space for text and the question “What did your life mean?”
You have 141 characters (one more than Twitter) to sum up your entire life. Rabbi Rafael Lowe explained the startup is meant to give your existence the same boost Twitter gives your lunch.
“People love sharing what they are doing on somethign like Twitter,” said Rabbi Lowe. “So think of the amazing love they’ll generate distilling their whole life. It will engage them in a kind of introspection that can only lead to revelation. Plus we have a business model. Selling ads to Life Insurance and estate planning companies.”
some have criticized Liffr for not being useful more than once. They say it lacks so-called ‘stickiness.’
But Rabbi Lowe disputes this. “Your life changes from moment to moment.” Liffr may only list one post from you, but unlike other social media services, it lets you change that post as your life evolves. Some of our users keep redefining their life every few minutes. That’s wonderful!”
Liffr also includes a history of revisions, similar to Google Docs, so people can look back on changes they’ve made.
“With Liffr, you CAN go back and relive parts of your life. It’s transcendent. And for a small fee we’ll even let you revert to previous versions. Micropayments are hot right now.
Celebrities have already started using Liffr, the most famous so far being Johnny Depp who’s Liffr post simply reads “pain.”
April 12, 2009
GM announces hybrid car with horse
General Motors announced the new Chevy Caballo Hybrid with ‘ComesWith Horse’ technology at the New York Auto Show this week.
The Caballo includes a fairly beefy V-6 engine paired with a natural gas engine. But the big selling point is the included space for a horse.
“Our new Equus module allows you to add horsepower. Literally,” said GM spokesperson Pat Mitchell.
The module makes it possible to put a horse inside the car to provide drive train power and fuel.
“Because all four hooves of the horse leave the ground at the same time, it’s not efficient to use it as direct propulsion. So the horse is placed on a treadmill that creates energy for the drive train,” said Mitchell.
“The Equus module does take up cabin space, but we make up for that with the entertainment and green value it provides,” Mitchell added.
The module sits in the rear part of the SUV-like cabin and fully encloses the horse except for roof ventilation slots. Passengers can look through windows in he side of the module to see the horse in action. Feeding drawers allow them to give the horse snacks like sugar lumps and hay. GM calls all this the entertainment value.
The green value comes from the fact that any waste created by the horse is collected and reclaimed as fuel for the natural gas engine.
GM expects the vehicle to be very popular in the horsebelt of the United States.
“We see this as combining the best of old and new,” said Mitchell. “Eventually we hope to sell add-on modules, even trailers that allow you to add as much horsepower as you like.”
April 4, 2009
Vampires threaten to strike for darker working conditions
The Union of caulkers, bagmakers, vampires and hedge fund manager assistants (UCBVHFMA) called for a general strike of all vampires if darker working conditions are not met.
Organisers have been negotiating with several large businesses that employ significant numbers of vampires, but the talks broke down Friday.
“Our members work in buildings with excessive light that is damaging and sometimes fatal,” said organiser Vladimir Hudson. “They are left to either attempt odd hours that conflict with co-workers schedules, or burden themselves with large coverings and dark cube nets.”
The UCBVHFMA wants special entrances from underground tunnels, protected hallways away from large windows and certain floors or work areas with standardised gloom-lighting.
Companies like IBM, Citigroup and Pillsbury all would face large workforce outages if the strike is held. That’s an economic issue many of them don’t want to face. But meeting the demands is also costly.
“It’s not that we aren’t sympathetic,” said a management negotiator. “But tunnels are expensive as is tinted glass. In these troubled times, the best we can offer is company-issued parasols and flex scheduling.”
That’s not good enough according to the union and the vampires have approved a strike deadline for next Wednesday if an agreement is not reached.
March 5, 2009
World Government reconsiders recession
The world government has determined the recession is not such a good idea after all and fear it may have gotten out of control.
A secret world government spokesperson said the recession was meant to teach Republicans a lesson by costing them the election in the United States. But plans for the economy to rebound in the early part of 2009 have failed to materialize.
Secret economists have tried several methods of restarting the economy, including slightly pressing the gass while turning the key, putting the economy in neutral while getting out and pushing and then jumping in and trying to start it, as well as dynamite.
Experts believe that once the economy has warmed up a bit, it should restart just fine in the spring.
January 24, 2009
Agnostics possibly angry about Obama snub
CHICAGO – While moderates, Christians, Hindus, and even atheists reveled in the inclusive nature of President Obama’s inaugural address, one group feels left out in the cold.
“We want recognition, rights, and we want them now. Probably,” said agnostic minister Pete Handsworn at a rally here Friday night.
Over 50 people gathered in Grant Park to protest what they feel was a Presidential snub.
In his address on Tuesday, President Obama acknowledged Christians, Muslims, Hindus and even, significantly, “those who do not believe”.
“So you throw a bone to the atheists but leave us to fend for ourselves,” said handsworn, “We’re not sure how we feel about that.”
The agnostics would have preferred Obama say “And those who do not believe or are not sure whether they believe or not.”
Signs at the rally expressed the group’s feelings. Placards bore the slogans “We’re here, we’re agnostic, at least for now!” “Obama may have forgotten us!” “Uncertain Rigths!” and “We demand inclusion if possible!”
Although Handsworn tended to speak most for the group, an official leader had not yet been chosen for the movement. “We’re holding off until we get more information about each other,” said one participant who was unsure whether to give her name.