American Dialect Society chooses Word Of the Year for 2006

The honor goes to the word 'plutoed' named after the ex-planet Pluto and its downgrading from planet status. "To pluto" is to demote or devalue someone or something, as happened to the former planet Pluto when the General Assembly of the International Astronomical Union decided Pluto no longer met its definition of a planet.

The next runner up is "climate canary" or an organism or species whose poor health or declining numbers hint at a larger environmental catastrophe on the horizon.

Other worth while mentions are:

Macaca Moment - treating an American citizen as an alien.
YouTube - a video placed on YouTube's Website for the ridicule of others.
SuriKat - referring to Katie Holme's child.
Cambodian Accessory - referring to Angelina Jolie's adoption of Cambodian children.
Waterboarding - an interrogation technique in which the subject is immobilized and doused with water to simulate drowning.

The ADS meets in Anaheim every year to elect the word of the year. They have been meeting every year since 1990.

Apple Announces IPhone

Apple announced the IPhone today. Take a look at the interface that they have set up. It uses OSX technology and uses the touchscreen as the input device. This is a whole new generation of Ipods and cell phones. Expect to see this phone in June 2007. Unfortunately, Cingular is the only carrier of this phone.

Happy New Year!

Well, 2007 is upon us so I would like to wish everybody a Happy New Year!

Free Astronomy EBook

For all you astronomy buffs out there, here is an Ebook that will interest you. Link.

LG Makes Touchscreen Cellphone

LG has come up with a cellphone that has a full touchscreen interface. This would mean that the screen would fit the entire face of the cellphone and there would be no need for a physical keypad. This is definitely the way of the future because there is more screen than buttons. Imagine viewing a movie in full screen on the phone! Sweet!

Wii Wifebeater

The Wii Remote make good wifebeaters. Check out the pic below. It seems that a man accidentally hit his wife in the eye while playing the Wii when he was highly intoxicated.

Asimo Faceplant x2

Honda's Asimo has some problem going up and down the stairs. Check these videos out:

Water From Thin Air?

Just when you thought it was crazy to produce fresh water from seawater, Aqua Science Corp has developed a way to make it out of THIN AIR! Apparently there is enough water in the air, even dry desert air, to produce substantial water. The machine's workings are a trade secret but the CEO of Aqua Science did give us a clue: "Think of rice used in saltshakers that acts as a magnet to extract water and keeps salt from clumping." That still seems like rocket science to me. Link.

I Would Not Step Into This Elevator!

And you might not, too. But alas, the elevator with no floor is just an eye illusion print on a solid floor that is so realistic that it just about fools everybody. This kind of reminds me of Indiana Jones when he had to make thate Leap of Faith over the canyon for the Holy Grail only to find that there was a passage way painted so real that it was camoflage against the background. In this case, the artist on the elevator even put up a sign to say "work in progress." I wonder what else it says. Maybe my Chinese-reading audience may translate for me.

Red One High Tech High Def Camera

This is the latest high definition digital camera called Red One from Red Digital Cinema. This company was founded by the same guy who founded Oakley sunglasses in Rancho Santa Margarita. This camera boast high resolution pictures in a camcorder the size of any other camcorder. There is no need to lug around an IMAX camera to get the eye-popping and neck straining picture. The camera seen here is just a prototype though. Full production is still unknown. There was a scare last week when thieves broke into the building and stole documents. However, the prototype is still safe in the hands of RDC. Link.

Asahi Bot Demonstration

Finally, a robot that can pour your favorite Japanese brew (as long as it is Asahi). Check out the way it does that glass tilting and letting the foam settle before pouring some more!

Guitar for 6 Hands?

This is one strang looking guitar. I can only imagine how you would play it. Anyways, it incorporates an ordinary 6 string acoustic with two 12 strings. Buy one of these babies up and you will have a guitar orchestra strapped to you chest. Only available for right-handed(s) people.

Users to Be Allowed to Create Games for XBOX360

Microsoft announced that it was getting together a toolset that would enable individuals such as you and me to create games for the XBOX 360. On top of that, those games can be shared through their Creator's Club network. The software is free and runs on Windows XP. However, joining the Creator's Club will cost you $99 annually.

Japanese Land-Walker

Some crazy people in Japan have created a Land-Walker reminiscent of those in Star Wars. They even fitted it with guns which are not real powerful considering they fire out rubber balls. But fit that with a mini-gun and rocket launcher and you will be ready of Robot-Wars! This robot is 11 feet tall and costs only $315,000.

Diet Coke and Mentos Rockets

Remember those Diet Coke and Mentos Fountains as covered by me earlier? Well now people are starting to make Diet Coke and Mentos Rockets. Check out the video below:

Spontaneous Laptop Combustion

While this laptop was sitting in standby mode, it caught on fire and set off smoke alarms. The whole building had to be evacuated as the fire fighters came in to investigate. From the looks of it, the battery caught on fire hence the smoldering battery compatment. After all the smoke had cleared, the laptop top portion was plastic-welded together with the bottom. And yes - it is a Dell. Just in case you guys did not catch the first reported case of SLC, a Dell in Japan caught on fire too. Link.

Microsoft Zune Teaser

Rumor has it that this is the Microsoft Zune Teaser. You do not get to see the Zune in it (but the Zune does get to see you) but everything suggests that it is genuine. The graphics are professionally done and you get to see a guy holding out a miniature multimedia device. Can any Microsoft people please confirm that this is truly the Zune teaser?

Google Maps Mobile Now has Realtime Traffic Reports

Google Maps Mobile is now offering realtime traffic reports for 30 metropolitan cities. So if you want to know how bad the traffic is while you are stuck on the 405 freeway, log on to GMM and you will find out if you are going to be stuck there for long. Link.

Monopoly Now Accepting Visa

That is right folks. Upcoming versions of Monopoly will now not have cash. Instead there is the credit with the name Visa printed on it. Now think of all the time you can save by using this cashless system. Also best of all, there is not money to loose or wondering if the banker short-changed you.

Water Powered Car

They said it was not possible but here it is - a water powered car.