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Tips on Starting 2012 with Home Makeover and Renovation

geek mom — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 02:56:38 +0000

If you are thinking of a minor or even major home makeover to start your 2012, do not rush and make instant and impulsive decisions and shopping.

It’s important to plan, as in visualize first in your mind what you kind of renovation you wanted, the look you wanted to achieve for your home, and the kind of stuff and home accessories and materials you need to achieve that look.

Next, research a bit. Look at home magazines and websites for ideas on how to implement your home makeover plan. By browsing beautiful homes, furniture and accessories, you can concretize your ideas of the theme or look you wanted without employing an interior home designer.

Third, do not be an impulsive buyer. Canvass prices from different stores. Check out online sales and home depot coupons to save a lot of money in shopping. Malls and online shopping sites usually hold sales and promos during the first months of the year. This is the right time to shop, but do it wisely!

Lastly, Enjoy the whole process of renovating and doing a home makeover and take time to marvel at your output — your new and more pleasant-looking home.

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Asus Transformer Prime, the Must-Have Tablet

geek mom — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 07:30:36 +0000

In today’s highly-technological world, tech gadgets are in-demand and rule people’s lifestyle. The best and the latest top the market and developers and makers of electronics are bent on surpassing their competitors by introducing top-of-the-line computers, mobile phones, gaming devices, music players, and digital cameras.

Speaking of the “best of the bests,” one tablet PC (personal computer) running on Android is dominating the market — the Asus Transformer Prime. This tablet is the upgraded version of it’s predecessor, Asus Transformer tablet, which became popular because of its competitive features that exceeds the overpriced iPad by Apple but is cheaper in price.

Here’s the Asus Transformers Prime’s most popular features:

Quad-core CPU (NVIDIA Tegra 3 SoC), making it the first Quad-core tablet in the market!
Android latest 4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich ready but will be shipped with 3.2.1 Honeycomb
8.35mm thick slick chrome package (making it the thinnest tablet today)
16-hour battery life if put in dock and up to 14 hours if stand alone.

Great already right?

There’s more. The Prime also feature an 8-megapixel camera and 10.1-inch Super IPS + LCD Gorilla Glass display. It comes with a microSD slot and a mini HDMI port and like others, have Bluetooth and WiFi capabilities. With a 32GB storage under $500, this tablet is hailed so far as the best in the market today.

(photo: digitaltrends.com)

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Toyota Fun Vii, the Future of Concept Cars

geek mom — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:38:23 +0000

If a car looking like a smartphone which keeps on changing exterior design like a fancy touchscreen wallpaper past you on a busy street, won’t you stare with awe? I would.

The world’s leading car manufacturer, Toyota, unveiled their latest concept car which it named “Fun Vii.”

The car’s name sounds more like a video game but it’s functionality and features are more than virtual. The Toyota Fun Vii was unveiled during the 2011 Tokyo Motor Show and immediately caught on the interest of auto enthusiasts and tech geeks. “Vii” stands for Vehicle, Interactive, Internet. Auto bloggers call it a car which functions like a smartphone which surfaces (on and within) are like giant touchscreen that can change color and graphic design through the driver’s command.

One more smartphone-like feature of this car model is that it uses wireless connections that interact with other vehicles and the infrastructure of its surroundings which makes it shift to “Auto Drive Mode” if the driver so desire. There’s even a “hologram” or virtual female concierge that would assist you along the drive.

If you’re thinking if the car is good for families, I don’t think so. It’s a mini-auto which is 13-feet long and a small-sized 3-seater which is way cramped for a family.

(photo sources: techi.com, autoguide.com)

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Visiting Trade Fairs and Bazaars

geek mom — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 03:42:39 +0000

In the hope of finding unique gifts and Christmas tokens, I am planning to spend this coming weekend on visiting trade fairs, trade shows and exhibits, and bazaars.

Yes, malls are convenient to go to but if you want your gift or token to make an impact, you have to find ones that are really unique and not the type you regularly see in malls and department stores. These unique gift ideas are found in these special exhibits and bazaars which are usually organized and put up during the Christmas season.

Not only that, in these kind of occasional marketplaces, you’ll find exquisite and distinctive pieces of furniture and home accessories sold in special prices. In fact, in one of the trade fairs I attended last year, I was able to buy a tribal figurine from a Tradeshow booth showcasing indigenous products. It was really a steal.

So for this season, search online for schedules of bazaars and trade markets and plan your visit to these places. Have fun shopping!

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Facebook Users Complains Privacy Issues

geek mom — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 02:21:09 +0000

Facebook is now into the habit of changing and upgrading it’s features. Users have different opinions and feelings about these developments though, particularly when privacy issue is concern.

One of the recent feature of Facebook is found at the upper right side of your homepage when you log in to your Facebook account. In that corner called “Ticker,” you can view the activities of your friends — what they visited, commented, liked, and whatever is possible doing with this social networking site. This means though that your friends in your list may very well view your activities too.

This feature is by default. If you don’t want others looking at your activities, you may turn the feature off but how many Facebook users actually know and mind how to turn off features and applications that may very well invade their privacy.

It’s alright to be social, it’s now a popular way to connect with friends and share your life with people but make sure you know and you allowed the social networking site how much information it should give away about you.

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Asimo, the Human-Like Servant Robot

geek mom — Sun, 13 Nov 2011 01:57:03 +0000

We cannot deny the fact that communications era is all around us. We play, work and live in a communications world. And in this era, technology plays a vital role.

People invents everyday new technology that surpasses another. From personal computers to laptop to tablets and hybrid mobiles phones. From diskettes to CDs to DVDs and high disk drives. To play robots to functional and human-like ones.

Meet Asimo, the humanoid robot created by Honda.

A few years ago, Asimo amazed everyone with his human-like movements and some thought there’s just a short person in a suit rather than an actual robot. Give Honda some time and the all-new Asimo is now a full-pledge servant who can run forward, walk backward, hop on one leg (or two), and even serve drinks.

Honda calls it Human Mobility Technology. As they explained in their site:

The dream sounds simple. Design a robot that can duplicate the complexities of human motion and genuinely help people. An easy task? Not at all.

ASIMO took more than two decades of persistent study, research, and trial and error before Honda engineers achieved their dream of creating an advanced humanoid robot.

(photo from howintheworld.bizhat.com)

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Ford’s Electronic Bicycle

geek mom — Thu, 29 Sep 2011 02:14:29 +0000

Since everyone seem so environmental these days, giant automotive maker Ford jumped right in and created an eco-friendly motorized vehicle.

Ford showed it’s advanced in-vehicle communication in the Frankfurt Motor Show where innovative eco-friendly powertrains were presented to the the public. While Ford is knowmn for its line of luxurious cars and SUVs, it actually ventured into bicycle-making. Presenting the first Ford’s electric bike:

Ford signed their first e-bike design with the luxury and style it’s known for worldwide. The frame of the bicycle is made from aluminum and carbon fiber and is lightweight. Talk about “branded” with this automaker! the bike features carbon fiber Giant SLR stem, Selle Italia SLR XC saddle, Mavic Elipse wheels, Shimano Alfine 11-speed internal gear hub and Shimano Rapidfire shifters. (Thanks Techi.com for the information!)

One thing is for sure, though many companies now make electric bicycles, this one from Ford will stand out. With a a front-wheel, hub-mounted motor which can produce 350 watts plus a 9.3 amp-hour lithium-ion battery, it has a top speed of 15.5 miles per hour and can cover 53 miles on a single charge.

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Shopping Online for Baby Gifts

geek mom — Fri, 05 Aug 2011 02:40:54 +0000

Having a newborn child is always a delight. This month, two of my best girlfriends gave birth to pretty little baby girls! I am very excited as these babies will add to my roster of special godchildren. Sadly, because of my busy schedule, I still wasn’t able to see them personally but I keep myself updated through social networking sites where the proud parents are posting the babies’ photos.

To express my happiness for their arrival, I am planning to send new baby gift baskets and because I can’t even afford to hit the mall this week, I am doing my shopping online. One of the sites I discovered having cute baby gifts is Berries.com and I specially like this welcome baby pack for girls:

Maybe my fancy for baby girl gifts root from my desire to have a baby girl myself. I’m sure it would be fun to have a child you can dress up and buy girly stuff like I do. Just thinking of the idea makes me longing and excited.

To all new Mommies out there, congratulations!

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Facebook as a Personal Announcement Bulletin

geek mom — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 01:58:48 +0000

One of the many uses of the popular social networking site Facebook (FB) is being a personal announcement bulletin of its registered users. It has become a free marketplace of information for groups, organizations, businesses, and more importantly, for ordinary people.

With Facebook, the unwritten policy is ”no holds barred” when it comes to “posting” or expressing in written sentiments and feelings of users as well as in making announcements on different topics or events. Nothing is restrained: one can shout damnations or exagerrate; express happiness, confusion sadness, madness, or stupidity. The user’s “wall” (profile page) is his/her kingdom, it can be utilized anyway he/she wanted it up until that profile is flagged or reported as spamming or abusive.

One of the things I find positive about Facebook is that it serves as my updated reminder of the good news about distant relatives, friends, and acquaintances. It reminds me of birthdays, anniversaries, promotions and other celebrations. My personal favorite is birth announcements from friends who are grateful for the gift of a new life in their family. Recently, two of my girlfriends gave birth and posted the photos of their new baby girls at FB. At least, through the site, I was able to post my delight over the newborns who would eventually add to the select rosters of my godchildren.

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Captain America and The Avengers Movie

geek mom — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 13:15:35 +0000

The movie featuring Marvel comic character “Captain America” is still showing in cinemas this week. It features the hunk Chris Evans who plays Steve Rogers, the skinny and sickly aspiring soldier who was rejected several times by the military. He volunteered for an experimental program which turned him into a “super soldier” with extraordinary or super hero capabilities.

Captain America is Marvel’s “First Avenger” and in the remake of this classic film, Rogers is up against HYDRA organization led by Hugo Weaving named Red Skull.

The movie is much anticipated as it jump-start the coalition of Avenger heroes. In fact, there is a nice surprise at the end of the movie. After the long credits are rolled up — the sneak peek for the movie “The Avengers” which will show in May, 2012.

Marvel Studios together with Walt Disney created another superhero movie to watch for. The Avengers feature the joining of force of IronMan, The Hulk, Thor and of course, first Avenger Captain America.

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