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27 Apr 2010 11:10

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Offbeat: We don’t know whether to laugh or cry at this video

  • So we just chose to do both. This clip, by the way, is from an episode of A&E’s “Intervention,” so before you crack up too much, keep in mind that these guys really mean what they’re saying. Have you cried much lately? Let one out at this post.

25 Apr 2010 21:50

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Offbeat: Here’s a 104-year-old video of pre-quake San Francisco

  • Since films were silent back then, we’re guessing you won’t mind the Air soundtrack that comes with and fits the tone of the whole thing pretty well. One think we’ll note about the cityscape here: Nearly all the buildings you see here no longer exist. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake flattened them. Either way, it’s a pretty awesome clip. source

23 Apr 2010 15:12

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Offbeat: Feel-good story: 99-year-old woman’s first computer an iPad

  • Admit it, you needed a pick-me up. Good thing we have Virginia Campbell, the 99-year-old woman and nursing home resident making sense of her new digital toy. The poet and writer had never owned a computer before, but read a lot. Unfortunately, her eyesight was going bad, so the hype around the device sucked her in. And now she can read on this device really easily. Man, she’s gonna be so upset when she realizes it doesn’t run Flash. source

19 Apr 2010 11:04

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Tech: Gizmodo says that iPhone lost in a bar isn’t fake, but actually real

  • The phone was remotely killed. The Daring Fireball dude says he called around and believes Apple lost a prototype. iTunes recognizes it as an iPhone. It uses MicroSIM, which no phones use (but the iPad 3G does). Most importantly, the guts of the phone are all labeled “Apple.” Holy crap. This is major. This may be the biggest leak to ever get out of Apple. source

18 Apr 2010 12:12

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Offbeat: If an octopus steals your digital camera, pray you get it back

  • Don’t you just hate it when an Octopus tries to steal your video recording gear? One lucky/unlucky guy had his expensive digital camera nabbed by a quick-moving eight-legged underwater creature, only to recover it. Which means that what could’ve been an entirely too depressing story is now an awesome one complete with video. source

18 Apr 2010 10:48

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Culture: “SNL” nails the, uh, appeal of the “Shake Weight” commercial

  • Somehow, they made it dirtier. Last night’s “SNL” had a spot-on parody of the infamous “Shake Weight” commercial, an exercise device that looks like, uh, something else. The sketch show’s angle? The commercial is so good that they might as well sell it on DVD.

17 Apr 2010 12:10

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Culture: False advertising: Your Nike shoes won’t be as awesome as these

  • Unfortunately, the blurb that goes with this Nike commercial gives some devastating news: “The NIKE FREE RUN+ is absolutely a running shoe. Shoes sold at retail will NOT make music when bent or twisted.” So, don’t get your hopes up that your shoes can double as a beat machine.
 

17 Apr 2010 11:05

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Offbeat: A year later, Bo Obama does his presidential pedigree proud

The Christian Science Monitor has a ton of photos of the First Dog, and by golly, is he a fun little pup. source

15 Apr 2010 20:31

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Music: Scott Stapp of Creed relegated to singing about baseball

  • We’re pretty sure when he was singing the lyrics to “With Arms Wide Open,” this is exactly what he was thinking about when he said something about his life changing. We’re not sure what we love more about this – the clumsy baseball references, the fact that he sings about them the same way he does about Jesus, or the fact that this song probably paid his rent this month. source

15 Apr 2010 20:12

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Offbeat: Let’s face it: This guy’s beard is more impressive than yours

Slate has this killer gallery of beards up today, and as you might suspect, Julius is getting a little jealous. See, robots can’t grow facial hair. source