Java Jane's Good Stuff

Pssst! Giving Away My Secrets:

nobody@vox.com(Java Jane) — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 15:00:11 -0400

BLOG ROVER

Well I've been using Blog Rover for more than a week now. I really wanted to "test drive" it really well before I recommended or panned it. What is Blog Rover? Think of it as a value added "side car" plug in for Firefox which helps deliver chosen related value added content from other blogs you like to read as you surf.

For instance, if I am reading a post on a digital scrapbook blog about using the pen tool, it will search all the other blogs I've chosen/read on digital scrapbooking (or any other blogs I've chosen) for similar topics and a small sliding pop out (which can be disabled at any time) will show me links to other related blog posts. You can add or delete blogs on the fly or import an OPML or XML file of all your current feeds from any reader. It will also allow you to select pre-packed suggested blogs based on topics and if you so chose, it will suggest blogs based on your reading habbits if you enable that option.

Don't worry, despite the functionality of it, it's not constantly "talking" while you surf every web page. Still, although it's easily slid back in or disabled, some might be annoyed by it. I personally think it's pretty sweet, although once or twice I was like, "not that again", even if it takes up minimal real estate. All in all, I'm keeping it enabled and I have to give it the javajane 4 stars out of 5 rating. The thing rocks!

Download the Blog Rovr Plug In for Firefox

Are you still not using CoolIris? I've previously reviewed this plug-in that I've been using since it debuted, but if you are not using it, you're missing out. It just keeps getting better with added functionality with each update. Need ringtones in a jiffy? Tired of using Audacity, to edit your MP3's into ringtones? Yeah, Audacity is a great freeware audio editing program, but you still have to labor to figure out which part of the song can be sliced down to make the best ringtone. CoolRinger uses an algorithm which calculates that for you, and it does so flawlessly. I use it to make tones for both my Moto RAZR V3m and my Moto Q. I just updated my Q with 4 ringtones today in less than 2 minutes. Now that is TOTALLY sweet!

Stay tuned for more secrets...

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Going "Dutch" Can Be Fun!

nobody@vox.com(Java Jane) — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 16:06:42 -0400

I have found over the years that "going Dutch" can be fun. Saturday my whole little contingent and I attended another fabulous get together thrown by decades long friends, most who hail originally from Netherlands. Unbelievably, we all met while commuting into Manhattan on the Shortline bus system, years and years ago.

Unlike many social gatherings, there generally are no posers, no cliques, no posturing, no people sitting alone - everyone is having a blast! People of all ages and all walks of live, as diverse as diversity can imagine, yet they are the most all inclusive, interactive parties where all the guests let down all airs or pretense and mingle and have a great time. I'm sure that is a tribute to the host and hostess as they chose their friends because they are "real" and not because they fit some sort of socio-economic or other profile.

This year's bash was to celebrate 40th birthday parties for two of my Dutch friends, even though neither of their birthday's are in August. Call it an excuse to, as they say it "make a party". This bash was at a 14 acre McMansion of a friend of theirs, complete with tri level slate and stone salt water pool and jet tub, 7 horses to ride, chickens and bunnies to entertain the kids, a live blues/jazz band, a dj spinninng everything under the sun, and food and drink enough to feed an army (as usually) all absolutely delish!

It was great to see long time friends I hadn't caught up with due to time and distance and meet new friends too. Yep, going Dutch can be fun, as they always throw the best parties, (I'd also have to include in that list the parties my fellow long time friend and fellow Voxer from L.A. Melissa Ann Lambert to that short list) I've been to outside of when I lived in Spain! Thanks my great friends - you make going Dutch or getting together a blast, as always and I look forward to the privilege of attending many more gatherings.

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meg ryan - my closest celeb look alike?

nobody@vox.com(Java Jane) — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 00:04:30 -0400

celebrity look alike

Maybe back in my youth (I'm in my mid 40's as you can see from my current picture) or the good old days when I was a size 0 I looked closer, but not now, but flattering to put in that company, even if it's for face shape alone. Notwithstanding, I'm not displeased with who the face recognition software picked. All I can say is "don't I wish". LOL Shout out to Budd, aka Hermione who reminded me this site existed by his post!

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Plastic Clogs [Crocs] Wreak Havoc, Provokes Potential Ban

nobody@vox.com(Java Jane) — Wed, 09 May 2007 18:27:43 -0400

Since I just ordered these brown and cotton candy Cleo Crocs:

and desperately (I knew I should have ordered them weeks ago, when my first impulse was to do so!) want these Crocs Sassari Wedges, which are so hot they are sold out everywhere except one upscale store, which is gouging for them, I thought the article below would be appropriate. ;) I like to cause disruption everywhere I go... :P

Plastic clogs disrupt machinery in Swedish hospital

Associated Press
Thursday April 19, 2007
Guardian Unlimited

Crocs of the type that may be banned in a Swedish hospital. Photograph: David Silverman/Getty

A Swedish hospital wants to ban its staff from wearing Crocs plastic clogs, saying they generate static electricity that can knock out medical equipment.

Blekinge hospital in southern Sweden suspects the slip-on shoes, made by US firm Crocs Inc, are to blame for at least three incidents in which respirators and other machines malfunctioned. The mishaps caused no injuries.

Hospital spokesman Bjorn Lofqvist said staff wearing the clogs could turn into "a cloud of lighting" because of the static electricity.

He said there were similar problems with other shoes not designed for hospital use, but the popularity of the Crocs had raised the issue to a new level.

"It's been a problem for many years, but now there are so many people that have them," he said, adding that officials were discussing whether the shoes should be banned throughout the hospital or just in certain sections.

A spokeswoman for Pforce AB, the Forsberg-controlled company that imports Crocs to Sweden, said the company was performing tests on the shoes.

"We take this very seriously," she said, adding that the shoes were very useful for hospital staff. "They are good to work in and have a shock absorption that really helps people who do strenuous work."

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80s Music Friday (Uh, a Day Early...Ooops...)

nobody@vox.com(Java Jane) — Thu, 03 May 2007 23:05:05 -0400

from Java Jane of Generation 80s Retro Radio

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Scrapbooking Digital Freebie Coordinating Page Kit

nobody@vox.com(Java Jane) — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 19:35:27 -0400

Free Digital Scrap Download for the month of March
.:also:.
Online Phrase Book for Scrap Titles and Tags
@ Peppermint Creative.com

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Restored Heritage Photos

nobody@vox.com(Java Jane) — Sun, 18 Mar 2007 20:40:14 -0400

My Mom at 8 Years Old

Baby Margie Photo 1933

I am working S-L-O-W-L-Y at putting a heritage scrapbook together with the plethora of old family photos from as far back as the late 1890s. Although I'm blessed to have access to them, most of them are worn, scratched, badly damaged and faded. Every photo has to be scanned and then lovingly and painstakingly restored in Photoshop. I'm a PSCS2 novice, but I've done my best to learn on my own and apply my traditional art skills. My life is so busy, it's hard to make time to learn and do the things I want to do. Anyway, to appreciate the work that went into these, I'll have to post the original photos sometime. These two are of my mom, who was born in 1932 to Italian immigrant parents in NYC.

The photo on the left needed to be desaturated and then I tweaked some things, but it's one of my favorites of her. The one on the right was badly ripped, scratched, had spots all over it and had pieces missing and was almost completely yellow. The original was hand tinted at one time. This is what I came up with the limited time (and skill) I had to work on it. (If anyone knows of tips/tutorials for this, please drop a link in comments, thanks!) I still need to go back and work it some more, but compared to the original, I think mom will be pleased. In working on the photos, it's hard not to be amazed how much my 8 year old daughter, looks like my mom.

People say my daughter looks like me, and although I look for the most part like my mom, my daughter looks more like her. That's a good thing, for my mom has aged beautifully, and even after last year's bout with breast cancer taking it's toll on her and hip replacement on the horizon, for a nearly 74 year old woman she is aging gracefully and looks phenomenal, without any outside enhancements.

Anyway, my life is so busy and the business of scanning and retouching and printing enough photos to even begin putting the scrapbook together has taken more time than I anticipated. It's my parents 50th anniversary this year, so I may put some of them in a simple Picaboo album, so they can enjoy them, and continue the slow and easy pace I'm on for the art book heritage album I'm planning on crafting. Hopefully that will get done in my lifetime or my daughter will have to take over where I left off!

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One of My All Time Favorite CD's:

nobody@vox.com(Java Jane) — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 14:52:17 -0400

Ministry - Say You're Sorry

Ministry with Sympathy.
Desert Island material for me.
"Say You're Sorry" is probably my favorite track.
Can you believe big Al ever made this album???
Also love the 12" Singles CD which features
"Everyday Is Halloween"
"Cold Life"
and
"All Day"
All this music is played on:
Generation 80s [alternative] Retro Radio

With Sympathy

Ministry

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Enjoying My XM Satellite

nobody@vox.com(Java Jane) — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 01:43:35 -0500

One of my two cars is a GMC Acadia crossover (white). Yeah, I know, many people despise SUV's and crossovers, whatever. Hate me, hate me. Now get over it! I chose it because it suited many of my needs, including all wheel drive for North East winters, room for 6 adults or 7 passengers (and it isn't thank god, a minivan), something that didn't guzzle gas, lots of safety features, didn't look or ride too much like a truck and finally, had the feel of being inside a luxury car.

One of the features that came standard with the car was a free 3 month subscription to XM Satellite radio. I must say, I am thoroughly enjoying it. So much so that I've already extended my subscription after only having the car a week and a half. That allows me online access to the music as well, though I still primarily listen to my own online iTunes station when I'm home, but it's nice for a change. I'd say it's programming is really geared for the 18 - 45 year old demographic with a few stations for "everyone else", but no matter how young or old, there is something for everyone.

My music taste really runs the gammut, and except for country music and hard core hip-hop, I can listen to most anything else, although of course, I have my favorites. Even though my car has an arsenal of CD's and a fully loaded 30GB iPod, I'm enjoying branching out from my typical listening fare. They do have a pretty good classic alternative station (but not as good as Gen80s, so "Don't even think abboud it!") and I do have that dialed in often. Right now I'm on a kick listening to a station that plays hits [not bubblegum] from around the world, but primarily the UK. I also must be hitting midlife crisis, as out of nowhere I've taken a shine to a station that reminds me of my old club days called BPM (Beats Per Minute), which plays amazing club dance tracks a la NYC, Miami, SF and Ibiza. I have a 10 speaker Bose system in said "ride" with a subwoofer, and I have my own virtual front seat dance party. Best of all, like my own station, I don't have to contend with any commercials and get crystal clear reception.

Definitely a nice variety of genre's, specialty stations from talk to comedy, along with real time weather and traffic for most major cities. There are several other choices for dance, ambient, dub, downtempo, chillout, and trip hop. Of course I like the pure moods station, classical, the 1940s station (big band/swing), and a few of the alternative rock and indy style stations have found there way on my presets. Too bad they don't have KCRW. I can get it online, but still not in the car. Guess I may have to resort to rippin' those streams and downloading that onto the iPod, but for now there is plenty to keep my overactive mind somewhat sated.

If you live in the NYC metro area and see some blonde biddy driving a white Acadia (there's not that many on the road right now - limited distribution) with the music cranked, and rocking out in the drivers seat, good chance that might be "yours truly". I refuse to grow up and won't make excuses. So if you're not too embarrassed, honk and wave, but I still might not hear ya over that XM Satellite. Sweeeeet!

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