This past weekend I went out to Seattle to see a good friend, and while I was out there I also had a chance to hang out with another good friend of mine, former LiB editor Yuri. Now, Yuri is seriously the go-to guy for cool sites/music/videos, and he actually gave me a lot of awesome recommendations, but the COOLEST thing he showed me this weekend is this music video by a Japanese group called Sour. For their single Hibi no neiro (Daily Melodies), they asked their fans from all over the world to submit videos of themselves singing along to the song, holding up signs, doing whatever, umm, you just have to watch it. It is SUPER creative and brilliant, not to mention MAJOR props for the editors who pieced it all together into what I am now dubbing the COOLEST MUSIC VIDEO EVER (Sorry Kanye, Beyonce has nothing on this). Just check it out below (the song is not bad either) and thank Yuri for this find!
Thursday, October 15, 2009
The Coolest Music Video EVER.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Movie Posters of the Day
Design company Antrepo4 designed these really awesome looking movie posters. Instead of focusing on the plot or stars, they highlight the product integration found in the feature.
The design is super minimalist and they look amazing. If I had $30 to spend, I'd totally buy one here.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
New Gift Cards are Two Gifts in One
As much as you may not want to think about it, Christmas is coming soon. And if you're already dreading the idea of finding "perfect gifts" for people, Best Buy and Target have you covered.
Best Buy has just released a gift card that also doubles as a speaker. The sound quality probably won't be great, but the concept is very cool.
Even better, Target has gift cards that are also mini digital cameras. The gift cards have 1.2 megapixel sensors and enough memory to hold 50 pictures on them. They also come with the necessary wires and 40 free prints from the store.
Both of these gift cards won't cost you any extra cash, though you will have to spring for at least $50 worth of credit to pick one up.
Uhm, I wouldn't be surprised if these sold out relatively quick, so if you want to get this kind-of-thoughtful-kind-of-impersonal gift, you probably should aim for sooner rather than later.
Friday, November 7, 2008
While watching the election results on Tuesday, a friend of mine refused to watch CNN because he doesn't like their magic screen. Something about it being frivolous.
And then we had our own editor hate on CNN's hologram effects. I, for one, welcome our new-fangled technology overlords.
That's why I'm super excited about Microsoft's SecondLight. This new technology is based on their Surface project where, by throwing a piece of paper on the screen, a completely different image appears. It is damn sexy and worth watching the demo.
I can't wait for election coverage in 2012, where we'll see a map of the US, then the piece of paper will break down who in the state likes ice cream and how it will affect their vote.
Or an image of a person and then the SecondLight screen shows how too much black bile and not enough yellow bile makes them more likely to choose a political candidate. Yes, the four humors as a science will be back in 2012.
I Really Want a Canon 5D Mark II
The newest innovation in professional digital photography is the ability to record video on them.
A lot of people who don't know much about DSLR's might say, "psh, my digital camera has always been able to record video!"
Trust me, it's not the same.
The Canon 5D Mark II, which retails for $2,700 shoots in full HD and allows you to use different lenses to create very impressive videos.
Don't believe me? Watch the proof. The video posted on top was done by a random guy with just basic supplies. This video, Reverie, was done by a professional photographer with a bunch of lenses and top-notch editing. Both look awesome.
Well, now you all know what to get me for Christmas!
Monday, November 3, 2008
[Feature] Leaving on a Jet Plane
I, Yuri Kim, will no longer be an editor for Life in Boxes effective November 14th. I am leaving because I recently joined the Americorps and I'll be moving out to Seattle for a year to work for the United Way of King County. It's such a big change that my life will be a bit too hectic for me to regularly post on the blog. So because of that, I'll be bowing out for the time being.
To give you a little more detail....
A few months ago, I found myself in a bit of a rut. I had been looking for a full-time job, but everywhere I wanted to work, I wasn't hired, and everything that I was hired for, I had no real interest in. After some soul searching, I realized that I was at a juncture in my life, post-college and pre-mortgage, where I could try something different. To that end, I joined the Americorps. I've always had a strong interest in public service and I saw the Americorps as an opportunity to do something I was interested in and at the same time go somewhere I'd never been. So when I got offered to work for United Way in Seattle, I took the chance.
Even though I'm leaving, I feel like I'm embodying the concept of Life in Boxes more now than ever. In less than a month's time, I need to once again put everything I own in as few boxes as possible and move to somewhere I've never been to before. And even though I roughly have a year of my life planned out, the details are very murky and anything past December of 2009 is still a mystery to me.
It's going to be different. I'm sure my year will be exciting, nerve-wrecking, sad, and enjoyable all at the same time. I think the most important thing is that I will be making a drastic change for the better. I'll be moving, living on my own and doing something I have a passion for.
Hopefully, I'll be able to make some time to keep you all updated on the trails and tribulations that comes with living below the poverty level in a strange new city. But for now, it's goodbye.
PS.
With my decision to leave, I've obviously shaken this blog up, so some changes are coming to Life in Boxes.
As you may have noticed, our "What are you doing this weekend?" posts are no more. The work started getting tedious and we feel like we can better utilize Fridays.
Also, our weekly features are going to change to monthly features. As editors, we found ourselves sort of forcing out features instead of becoming inspired to write them. Now, we'll have time to think carefully about what we want to write and give you something nice and meaty to chew on.
With the loss of one editor (me :x), there will be a slight drop in posts, but it should still be more than enough for you voracious readers!
Life in Boxes will still be around, sans me, and it'll probably be better than ever. Keep reading, I know I will!
Friday, October 31, 2008
Free Wifi @ Starbucks for iPhone / Blackberry Users!
Another good reason for me to switch out of Verizon and join the AT&T bandwagon? Free wifi at Starbucks with an iPhone or Blackberry.
The fine print includes that you need a Blackberry Bold (though Pearl users, and maybe even other phones, will be included in the future) or an iPhone with an unlimited data plan.
Even with those extra details, it still seems like a very good deal since you can find a Starbucks pretty much everywhere, including in most Barnes and Nobles.
So if you're lucky enough to have an iPhone or are planning on getting a Bold, go get yourself some free wifi.
His and Her Blog: Uncrate and Outblush
Two weeks ago, I posted about Bargainist.com, a simple deal blog. This week, I want to plug two more websites run by the same corporation, which fittingly enough for today, is named Zombie Corp.
Uncrate and Outblush are the like the his and hers blog of the interwebs. They both post about cool things you can buy, with Uncrate focusing on men's goods and Outblush on women's products.
The things they post range from afford things like video games to the more drool-worthy Lamborghini's and jewelry. And both websites have the same straightforward feel of the Bargainist.
The blogs are great when you're feeling very consumer-like (for me, that's always) or when you're looking to find a cool and unique gift. Uncrate is a blog I check daily, so you should do the same.... Well, if you're a girl, you should hit up Outblush.
Album of the Day: Viva La Hova
Uhm, I like Jay-Z and I like Coldplay. So what do I make of Viva La Hova, a mixtape mashup of Jay-Z and Coldplay done by Terry Urban and Mick Boogie? Consider my mind blown.
Okay, okay, I've only heard one song so far, but to be fair, it was a good song ("What If We Cry" - Jay-Z's "Song Cry" and Coldplay's "What If").
I'm currently downloading the album, which is free here, and will probably like the rest of the album too.
Friday, October 24, 2008
Waterfalls: Seoul > New York City
In June, I wrote about New York City getting waterfall installations. The exhibit, which recently ended, was a big success, bringing the city $69 million dollars.
That's all great and good, blah, blah. But seriously, after visiting the waterfalls a few times in person, I was tremendously underwhelmed. Unlike the artist's renditions, there was not enough waterflow to cover up the industrial-looking metal poles that made up the structure. It just wasn't as awesome as I had hoped.
If you really want to see some good water/urban combos, you apparently need to visit Seoul, Korea....
Since September, the Banpo Bridge in Korea has had 9,380 water nozzles shooting out water off the bridge.
Not only does this thing have lights, the nozzles also move up and down, allowing for some neat designs.
The pictures look nice, but they do not do as much justice as watching the video of them in action (below).
Who wants to go to Korea with me?
Video of the Day: Crazy Yoyo Guy
When was the last time you played with a yo-yo? For me, it was, like, 10 years ago. I was really into yo-yo'ing back then, but eventually the interested faded.
For some people though, these things don't become boring. Instead, they become crazy good at it and go to Jamaica for yo-yo contests, like Hiroyuki Suzuki.
No matter how much I would want to make fun of him or say he's a loser, I can't really do it. He's amazing at what he does and that's more than most people can say, even if it's at something so... non-traditional :x
Friday, October 17, 2008
Deal Blogs of the Day: Bargainist.com and DealHack.com
Bargainist.com and DealHack.com are two blogs that I have been checking daily for the past few weeks.
They are deal blogs, where they post coupons and other good savings happening around the internet and in stores.
The reason I like these blogs as opposed to, say, checking Slickdeals all the time is that Slickdeals gets flooded with lots and lots of posts. These blogs cherry pick the best the find online, doing some of the dirty work for you.
Yes, you'll miss things here and there, but for pure simplicity and convenience, these blogs are a good way to keep up with good deals.
Getting Out of Verizon Wireless Without Paying Early Termination Fees
One of the biggest forms of buyer's remorse is signing with a cell phone contract. If you decide to go for a two-year contract, that means that you're forced to stay with that service through thick and thin, no matter what. The only way to get out of it is to pay them exorbitant Early Termination Fees (ETF).
For this very reason, I used to only sign up for one-year contracts. But with my previous phone, I kept it for two years anyway and thought that, with my new phone, it would be worth saving the $50 and signing for two years. Of course, a little over a year into my contract I want to ditch Verizon Wireless for the greener pastures of.. well anything but Verizon.
So now I'm stuck with three choices. First, I could just pay the ETF and deal with it. Second, I could just stay on Verizon for 10 months (bleh). Or third, I could go through a long, arduous, hassle of getting out of my contract sans ETF.
Ely Rosenstock of Crastinate.com put up a very interesting video on how he got out of his Verizon contract by arguing that government taxes (which shouldn't really be passed down to the consumers anyway) constitute a breach in his contract. He said it took him a few days and multiple calls to finally convince Verizon to drop him, but it's worth the effort if it saves you money.
I'm not sure if I have the resolve to deal with all of this, but if I do try it, I'll let you know how it goes.
Friday, October 10, 2008
Hilarity of the Day: Dramatic Readings
The internet is full of stupid people (except you guys; you guys are cool) who write really ridiculous things and don't bother to make sure they aren't coming off as completely brain dead.
What's even funnier than reading these comments is this and this: having someone giving a dramatic reading of their ridiculous writing.
Pronouncing "babby" and "WORLDDDDDDDDD" ftw.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Become a Budget Hero
With the country at the state it's currently in, you've probably thought to yourself, "Hell, I can run this country better than this!"
Well, you can kind of try to prove that with the flash game, Budget Hero.
Basically, you are able to decide how you want the government budget to look like. You can take away or give services as you please, which affects how big the government becomes and how much debt the country has. Obviously, the more government welfare plans you add, the bigger and more expensive government will be. If you cut all discretionary spending, you'll end up with more surplus and small government. After you decide how you want to set the budget, it simulates how well your budget perseveres through a span of 10 years.
The game obviously has certain flaws. Like, no repercussions for getting rid of all military spending or cutting all school aid. But it's a good time killer and can help you figure out what kind of government you think would be best for the country.
Kill 15 minutes, play the game.
Monday, October 6, 2008
[Feature] Why Buying Generic is Awesome (Spoiler: It Saves You Money)
Uhm, I'm not sure if you've noticed, but the economic sky is falling.
In times where every penny needs to be spent carefully, it seems fitting to talk about the pros and cons of buying generic goods.
There is a very powerful stigma around buying generic. You can mostly blame genius marketers and their ability to sell you their brand instead of the contents itself.
While some claims of generic goods not being as good as brand names are true, many more are completely unfounded. A lot of times, the generics are literally the same product packaged differently and sold for a few bucks cheaper.
Buying generic can usually save you a lot of money on your grocery bills without suffering any quality. So what should you go generic for and what should you avoid? Let me tell you how I roll....
Things I Buy Generic:
Over-The-Counter Drugs
I used to work at a drug store, so I have first-hand experience with the awesomeness that is generic medicine.
Things like Tylenol, Robitussin, and Claritin are all brands of medical ingredients. Usually, the drug companies that originally created these products hold exclusive patent rights to these formulas for around 7-12 years. Once that time is up, other companies can make generic versions with the exact same formulas! What's more, they sell the same active ingredients for a lot cheaper.
So next time you're sick, save yourself money and buy that Target Tussin instead of Robitussin.
Milk
Honestly, I didn't even know that milk had brands. Really. I just look for the cheapest milk and then dig to the back for the one with the best expiration date. Milk has always tasted like milk to me, whether it was the bottle with the flying cow or not.
One thing that I've always wanted to try though, is the milk in the glass bottles. Those just look like they would taste better (even though that's probably not true at all).
Batteries
While it's much better to invest in rechargeable batteries, if we're talking generic batteries vs. Duracell, it's generics for the win. Some argue that the charges don't hold as long or that they're more dangerous. First, even if the individual battery charge is weaker, chances are that cumulatively, the generic pack has more energy than the brand. Secondly, we have government agencies to make sure things like batteries are made safely and properly.
Especially when it comes to low-maintenance items (remotes, clocks, etc), generics batteries save you a butt-load of money in the long run.
Disposable Paper
By disposable paper, I mean any paper product that you throw out: paper towels, paper plates, toilet paper, etc.
I used to be a type of person who would not buy no-name toilet paper, but then I went to a friend's house and told them their toilet paper was really nice (TMI? -___-), to which they replied that it was Kirkland brand toilet paper. I was surprised and now will buy the oxymoronic high-end generic toilet paper. Because really, you end up throwing all of this out anyway. So why pay more?
The Generics Rule of Thumb
I'm not saying that everything generic is better and buying brand name is always a waste of money. Generally, Buying generic only works when the product has a simple, imitateable formula, or when they are identical to their brand name competitors.
That's why buying generic soda doesn't work. Coke keeps their formula secret for a reason. America's Choice just creates their own drink by attempting to deduce how Coke is made. It's not the same and that is evident in the taste.
The best way to figure out what you should buy generics or not is to compare two products side-by-side. Are they the exact same ingredients (generic drugs)? It is something that is not very difficult to mess up (milking a cow)? Will it even matter if the quality is a little worse (paper products)? If you can say yes to any of those, you're probably better off saving the extra money and going generic.
Of course, if you don't agree, tell me what you do/don't go generic for in the comments section!
Friday, October 3, 2008
Sad News of the Day: RefundPlease.com is Now Useless
A couple of months back, I wrote about how Amazon has this great policy, where if you buy something and the price goes down within a month, Amazon will refund you the difference.
I wrote how Amazon was awesome for doing this and how it helped buyer's remorse, etc., etc.
Unfortunately, Amazon has recently removed the post-order price guarantee. That means no more refunds and that RefundPlease.com is pretty much useless.
Amazon, you have just become a little less cool in my book.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Google Goes Retro
I know that this has already permeated pretty far into the blogosphere, but it's cool enough to get another mention....
As part of it's 10th anniversary, Google put the 2001 version of their site up, content and all. That means you can click here and see what search results would have popped up in 2001.
iPods, Youtube, and MySpace, are all either non-existent or don't relate to what we know of them today. You can even view the old version of the sites to see how ugly web design used to be.
I think the weirdest/creepiest search term is 9/11. The first hit is a review of a Phish concert.
Times certainly have changed in a short 7 years.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Petition of the Day: McDonald's Breakfast All Day
You know what always tastes good? McDonald's breakfast menu. I was thinking about this one morning and it got me craving a Sausage McMuffin with a hash brown side.
But sadly, while it was morning for me, it was already lunch time for McD's. And that made me sad.
So I thought, "They should really fix that. They need to make breakfast items an all day thing. Hell, I should make an online petition for my breakfasty goodness cause!"
So I went online, but it turns out somebody beat me to it. As of this writing, the McDonald's Breakfast Menu Extension Petition has 435 signatures.
I signed it. And if you want breakfast all day, sign it too.
Because greasy sausages and fake eggs shouldn't be limited to morning hours!
Thursday, September 25, 2008
The Worst Possible Thing That Could Happen To A Man (Possibly NSFW)
This story got me so freaked out, I had no choice but to post it.
Philip Seaton, some guy from Kentucky, went to his doctor to get circumcised, and when he woke up after the surgery, he found that HE WAS PENIS-LESS!
Apparently, the surgeon, Dr. John Patterson, decided to cut Seaton's manhood after finding a cancer on it. He did this all without getting the patient's consent, which is why he is getting sued.
There are no words to describe the anguish and sheer shock I would feel if I woke up to find that my penis was gone.
Poor guy.. asked for trim, they gave him a crew cut.
Click here to read/watch the full story.
