Amber Mac

My favourite gadget blog Shiny Shiny reviews Sony's answer to the iPod Shuffle.

I'm doing a Web Workshop segment about blogging, so if you have a blog and want it reviewed on Call for Help please post it here (thx!)

On a blogging roll, here is some blogging news and other blogs on my mind today.

• White House admits first blogger
• Are bloggers reporters too?

• Photoblogger Rannie just tuned me into one of the best photoblogging resources
• Blogs from my work friends: Leo, Andy, Mikey, and The Rad Blog (by Jon)

-Amber

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Thx to Tackie for another great CFH illustration (welcoming us to Australia).

Today is (was) the first time Call for Help 2.0 aired on the How-To Channel in Australia. As one viewer (Peter from Sydney) explained in an email, he's thrilled to see us Up Over (AKA Down Under). I also just got an email from Andre who manages a tech (and gadget) review site for Australians (and I'm trying to convince him to let me do an on-air Web Workshop review).

Now if only we can get some Down Under weather Up Here...actually, I think it's coming...finally seems a little like spring today ;).

-Amber

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

The napkin sketch by Bruce Mau that started it all (Massive Change).

If you're not into egocasting 24-7 or setting up your pooch on Dogster, you might want to check out the future of global design at the Massive Change exhibit in Toronto (starts March 11th). "Massive Change explores paradigm-shifting events, ideas, and people, investigating the capacities and ethical dilemmas of design in manufacturing, transportation, urbanism, warfare, health, living, energy, markets, materials, the image and information."

If learning about the power of design isn't your thing and bowling is, find out if Lebowski Fest is happening in a city near you.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend ;).

-Amber

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

1. You accidentally enter your password on the microwave.

2. You haven't played solitaire with real cards in years.

3. You have a list of 15 phone numbers to reach your family of three.

4. You e-mail the person who works at the desk next to you.

5. Your reason for not staying in touch with friends and family is that

they don't have e-mail addresses.

6. You go home after a long day at work you still answer the phone in a

business manner.

7. You make phone calls from home, you accidentally dial "9" to get an

outside line.

8. You've sat at the same desk for four years and worked for three

different companies.

10. You learn about your redundancy on the 11 o'clock news.

11. Your boss doesn't have the ability to do your job.

12. You pull up in your own driveway and use your cell phone to see if

anyone is home.

13. Every commercial on television has a website at the bottom of the

screen.

14. Leaving the house without your cell phone, which you didn't have the

first 20 or 30 (or 60) years of your life, is now a cause for panic and

you turn around to go and get it.

15. You get up in the morning and go on-line before getting your coffee.

16. You start tilting your head sideways to smile. :)

17. You're reading this and nodding and laughing.

18 . Even worse, you know exactly to whom you are going to forward this

message.

19. You are too busy to notice there was no #9 on this list.

20. You actually scrolled back up to check that there wasn't a #9 on this

list.

Thanks to Marc for sending this along!

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Check out these hilarious videos (filmpjes)!

The first "show" with the DJ puppet is the best ;). The site is available in a few different languages, so click the GB link on the bottom to get to the English version. Thx to my roommate Jenna for sending this along!

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (1)

Welcome to the world of misheard lyrics! I did a segment on Call for Help about finding lyrics online (AZLyrics), but this site (Kiss This Guy) is even better. Written by Mr. Misheard himself, it includes what he thinks the lyrics are (see Pearl Jam sample below) and what they actually are. His interpretations are amusing ;).

DAUGHTER - By Pearl Jam (by Mr. Misheard)

The real lyrics were:

Don't call me daughter, not fit to

The picture kept will remind me.

But I misheard them as:

Don't call me daughter, that's not me

My facial hair will remind you.

Check out more samples (thx to Garry from England for sending me this site).

-Amber

P.S. If you have questions about online safety and security or want to submit a website for review (Web Workshop), post 'em here. (I'm looking for ideas for our next shoot week, and I'd love your help...)

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

They (tech toys & Le Tigre) don't have a lot in common, except for my Friday afternoon. During our last show of the day Mara Gulens (tech journalist and mother of three) joined us on CFH to talk about her top three tech toys for tots.

CFHers playing with words

Lots of tech toy talk in the news lately after the recent American International Toy Fair, including Wired's full report. And these toys aren't just for kids! Check out the Silverlit "Spy" X-Plane (with a built-in camera on the bottom) and the Canadian-made PlasmaCar (no batteries, no power-cells, no liquid fuel are required).

As for Le Tigre, I got hooked during my drive home on "Tell You Now," a song from their 2004 album The Island. If you're looking for a new tune to download, this is a must ;).

-Amber

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

This show will air in a month or so, but if you want to know more about audio blogging before then visit audioblogger.com (don't forget to check out Tom Green's audio and video blog!)! Tom went to high school with me (a few years ahead), so it's great to see him doing so well ;).

"Talk" soon...

-Amber

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Today a viewer called in to find out what kind of marker to use on her blank CDs, so (aside from the beloved Sharpie!) we also mentioned a relatively new technology that etches (via laser) directly onto your discs for a more professional - and cleaner - look.

Here's how LightScribe works

More about LightScribe from HP

What you'll need to do this on your own (from HP's site):

*Hardware: LightScribe-enabled optical disc drive

*Software: LightScribe-supported software applications

*Media: LightScribe-specific discs with a thin dye coating

Post more tips + trends about music + technology here on my blog! Thx ;).

-Amber

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)

Just got home from LA last night. We saw lots of old friends and met some new friends. I also stopped by for a tour of the G4TechTV studio in Santa Monica and grabbed lunch with Joshua, one of The Screensavers producers. He suggested that we head out to Miyagi's on Sunset Blvd. Friday night, which was delicious (especially the "Island" sushi rolls). We spent the last few days of our trip in Manhattan Beach, stayed at the Seaview Inn (recommended by CFH guest and travel expert Johnny Jet - thx!).

Road trippers (Marce, me, Caroline) out on the town for sushi

Biking in Manhattan Beach (just before I tried to jump a curb and wiped out!)

Recognize the 90210 house in Manhattan Beach?

Back just in time for the snow ;)

We're in the studio this week. Stay tuned for the new shows starting March 15th (how to audio blog, how robots help kids, how to take your music on the go, the latest in GPS gadgets, online travel tips, how to make your websites better, and more!).

Send me more of your tech segment ideas! ;)

-Amber

March 14th, 2008 | Permalink | Comments (0)