Amber Sparks

Entries categorized as ‘technology’

Wired Readers School BP on the Proper Use of Photoshop

July 29, 2010 · Leave a Comment

I love that half these readers sent in Godzilla-flavored mashups. Also love the MST3K reference.

Categories: contests · cool stuff · technology

Congress Investigating Genetic Testing Companies

May 25, 2010 · Comments Off

I say good.  I’m glad to see that Congress is looking into this…there’s no proof that these genetic testing kits work, and while maybe they do, they could also be a huge expensive rip-off taking advantage of people’s worry over disease and death. Which is very not cool.

Categories: politics · rabid consumerism · technology

In the Long Ago Techless Days

May 19, 2010 · 2 Comments

So as I’m  out walking down K Street today to grab lunch, this chick walks by wearing striped black and white tights and big, clunky Doc Marten mary janes. And this huge, massive wave of nostalgia hits me so hard it almost knocks me right into the guy selling fake Gucci purses off the sidewalk.  I was like, oh, man, remember when I used to wear EXACTLY THOSE THOSE TOGETHER? That was back in college. Many many years ago.

So many years ago, in fact, that although I wanted to immediately go home and find a picture of myself in witch tights and Docs, I couldn’t. Because there are very few pictures of me in college, even in late high school. (Which is, no doubt, for the best.) Why? Because not only was there no such thing as a camera on a phone–there was practically no such thing as a cell phone on campus. I sure didn’t know anybody who had one. No MP3 players, either. Just lots of people hanging out and talking to each other.

And while I do love my iPhone, and I couldn’t live without it, probably, I am a little nostalgic for those long ago days when people couldn’t take pictures of each other and post them on Facebook every five minutes; when there was no such thing as a social network except for the people you met at the afterparty; when nobody wore headphones or had their ear glued to a phone, and where nobody was Tweeting where they where and what they were doing every sixteen seconds. I mean, if I traveled back in time to then, I’d probably die of boredom–my attention span has shrunken like a hunger victim’s stomach. But I’m kind of glad I was young then. It was nice to have all the time in the world.

Categories: technology

Bradbury’s Stories Still Sing

May 11, 2010 · Comments Off

Great piece in Slate on the continuing relevance of one of my favorites, Ray Bradbury:

…the reason Bradbury’s stories still sing on the page is that, despite all his humanoid robots, automated houses, and rocket men, his interest is not in future technologies but in people as they live now—and how the proliferation of convenient technology alters the way we think and the way we treat each other.

Read the whole thing here.

Categories: Writing · favorites · technology

The Digital Book Wars

April 26, 2010 · Comments Off

Interesting article in the New Yorker on ebook pricing wars and Apple’s pricing strategy re: iBooks.

Categories: Books · rabid consumerism · technology

Oh Noes! Exploited Hoomans at LOLcats?

March 9, 2010 · Comments Off

Gawker investigates the Cheezeburger empire and gets the inside scoop:

Ben Huh ‘s media startup is focused on LOLcats and other internet animal memes. Things are less cute behind the scenes, where underpaid and overworked humans lurk, according to several company veterans who answered our recent request for information .

Categories: WTF? · cats · technology

I am unimpressed by the iPad so far.

January 27, 2010 · 2 Comments

I’m watching the live coverage here.  I mean, it’s just a giant iPhone, yes? And still no flash. The e-reading stuff seems pretty cool, and maybe if I was in college I’d embrace it for the textbooks–but no eInk and it’s a backlit screen, so I’d rather read on my nook for now.

Plus it sounds like a feminine product. Meh.

Categories: technology

So, I pre-ordered a Nook.

November 3, 2009 · Comments Off

Nookpanel_1It just looked so cool. So much prettier than the Kindle. And appealed to my great love of gadgets and books, all at the same time.

Plus, you can download all kinds of free books. And when I travel, which I do a lot, I won’t have to load my suitcase down with 87 books like I usually do. This certainly isn’t going to replace the walls of books I surround myself with, but it will be a nice way to read on the Metro or the bus, or when I’m out of town.

But now there is a lawsuit. Will I still get my Nook? Damnit.

Categories: Books · rabid consumerism · technology