‘10 things to scratch from your worry list’

This article has nothing to do with media or advertising specifically. However, it’s summer, and everyone takes vacations and everyone worries. This was a fun little list of things from the NYT that you shouldn’t worry about during your vacation. (The full article is much funnier, so read it.)

1. Killer hot dogs.

2. Your car’s planet-destroying A/C.

3. Forbidden fruits from afar.

4. Carcinogenic cellphones.

5. Evil plastic bags.

6. Toxic plastic bottles.

7. Deadly sharks.

8. The Arctic’s missing ice.

9. The universe’s missing mass.

10. Unmarked wormholes.

Certain sites up, despite summer decrease in traffic

A recent comScore report says travel, moving, and gaming sites had increased traffic, but the gain was under 4% for all three categories. Internet traffic as a whole was down and user time online decreased by 4%, a typical trend for the summer season.

(MediaPost “ComScore: Travel, Gaming Sites Gain In June”)

TechCrunch web tablet

Image Courtesy TechCrunch

I know next to nothing about software and hardware development. But this web tablet idea by TechCrunch sounds awesome to me. Of course, I have no idea of its feasibility.

Anyvite – because I’m almost too old for Facebook events

A new online event planning and invitation service, Anyvite, just launched yesterday. I agree with TechCruch that Evite could stand to be a tad less cluttered and more user-friendly, so I gave Anyvite a try. I can only use Facebook to send invitations for so long…

The website is clean and easy to navigate. Registration took no time, and creating an event was just as easy. The Google-powered search bar on the side of the event creation page is a nice touch – it automatically enters the address and contact information for the selected site (and can display a map as well). The other features are relatively standard…you can upload photos or video, invite friends by email or from your address book, etc.

Another plus is the ability to RSVP to the event directly from your email, without having to navigate to other pages. Other handy features include one-click additions to your calendar (Google, iCal, or Outlook), automatic emails when event information is updated, and a mobile site. I’m sure I’ve missed something, but I definitely recommend giving Anyvite a try.

how many earths?

Many consumers are concerned about their “footprint” – how much of an impact their habits have on the planet. Several websites have “footprint calculators” that allow you to complete an interactive quiz to determine how many earths it would take to sustain the population if everyone had your same lifestyle and habits. The calculator on footprintnetwork.org breaks down your consumption by category and describes how many global acres are required for what purpose to support your lifestyle, and also allows you to see how to reduce your footprint.

(In case you were curious, it would take 4.1 earths and 18.2 global acres to support 6.6 billion of me. And i consider myself relatively eco-friendly.)

how we read online

Read this. It’s very interesting (and true).

hydrogen-powered Honda now in production

It looks like an ordinary family sedan, costs more to build than a Ferrari and may have just moved the world one step closer to a future free of petroleum. (NYT)

On Monday Honda started production on their new hydrogen-powered FCX Clarity. The automotive company will manufacture only 200 of these cars in the next 3 years, which they plan to increase in the future. Currently hydrogen refueling stations are few and far between (around 60 compared to around 180,000 gas stations in the United States.

Celebrities and other uber-wealthy VIPs are the only customers who can afford this and other hydrogen-powered vehicles at this time. Manufacturers say they are working to bring down the costs so these cars are not seen only as toys for the rich and famous.

(Source: NYT “Latest Honda Runs on Hydrogen, Not Petroleum”

LAT “Stars test the waters with hydrogen cars”)

(Image Courtesy NYT)

flash for iPhone in development

Adobe has created a version of Flash for the iPhone that is currently operating on emulation software. However, pending an agreement with Apple, they may not be able to incorporate the software into the iPhone.

(Source: CrunchGear “Adobe already has iPhone version of Flash running on emulator”)

the wonderful (free) world of Disney

Throughout the summer, Disney will offer free ad-supported streaming of some movies. After a specific movie airs on Saturday on their “Wonderful World of Disney” program on ABC, it will be available online Monday through Friday. Finding Nemo was the first film to air, to be followed by Monsters, Inc., Haunted Mansion, Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen, Princess Diaries 2, Freaky Friday, and Peter Pan.

Source: (Reuters “Disney to offer free movies online”)

green manbag (not officially ad-related)

• solar panel and battery pack
• untreated hemp and cotton canvas
• Shibori dying (soaking in natural dyes for up to three days)
• rhubarb and walnut tanned leath

The new Logan messenger bag from Noon.