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Geek’s Dream Girl

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Geek's Dream Girl
It looks like the stereotype for the love-hungry geek is not about to disappear anytime soon. If websites and games are any indication, then people still do think that geeks can use all the help they can get when it comes to dating and relationships. There was Cupidtino – the dating site specifically for Apple geeks. Soon, there will be Cloud Girlfriend.

But have you heard of Geek’s Dream Girl? ((Geek’s Dream Girl)) Strictly speaking, this web site is not a dating site. The services that they offer do cater to geeks who are looking to online dating sites to find a partner: “Geek’s Dream Girl is a small business focusing on online dating profile writing for geeks, by geeks. We’re copywriters that know how to make geek guys shine and attract those ever-elusive girls!”

Basically, they’re geeks who are good at spinning words so that they can make you look good online. I guess they are assuming that geeks may not have the skills to come up with a profile that will get the attention of their dream partner. And once you have gotten her/his attention, it is up to you to make things work. Oh, they do profiles for girls, too.

Don’t get me wrong – I can see the value in the service they provide, but the premise might just be wrong. I do believe that there are “geeks” out there who can write kick-a#$ copy that will make any girl/guy drool. More so, if the “geek” is indeed challenged when it comes to communicating, how will he get further than the online profile? The site must be doing something right, though, as they have been in the business since 2008.

Has anyone tried Geek’s Dream Girl yet?

Have Your Book, and Eat It Too!

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Have you ever read a book that was so good that you wanted to actually eat it? Probably not, but if there are such things as edible underwear, why can’t we have edible books? I have no idea if that ever occurred to the founders of The International Edible Book Festival, but the event is held in various parts of the world – Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, England, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxemburg, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, United States of America, Romania, Russia, Singapore, and Sweden – on the first of April, or thereabouts.

Everyone may be busy thinking of April Fools’ jokes and hoaxes, but unbeknownst to many April 1 is also Edible Book Day. The idea was born to commemorate the birthday of French gastronome Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin (1755-1826), who became really famous for his book . The festival is attributed to Judith A. Hoffberg and Béatrice Coron, who thought of holding an event where books that can be – literally – eaten are made, displayed, and of course, devoured.

Anyone can hold his own Edible Book Festival, as long as the following rules are followed: ((Books2eat))

  1. The event must be held on April 1st (or close to that date)
  2. All edible books must be “bookish” through the integration of text, literary inspiration or, quite simply, the form.
  3. Organizations or individual participants must register with the festival’s organization (go to Registration) and see to it that the event is immortalized on the international festival website.

Check out these fun edible books that have been created in the past years.



If that isn’t enough to entice you to hold your own Edible Book Festival…

DIY Super Mario Coin Block

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Every person who has played Super Mario has probably dreamed about having real life versions of some of the items found in the game. What better item to have in real life than the coin block that spits out coins when hit from the bottom? I mean, come on, we could all use a few extra coins here and there.

An Instructables member, who goes by name brunoip, has created a do-it-yourself Super Mario coin block and by golly, it works!
Real-life-coin-block
At first glance, the box may seem unassuming. Indeed, the main material that was used to create it can be described as “blah”: cardboard. If you gut this thing, though, you’ll find some interesting things inside:

  • An mp3 player
  • A servo motor
  • A couple of circuit boards

The mp3 player gives you that oh-so-familiar sound that the box in the game makes when coins pop out. The other elements give you the possibility of gaining real coins when the box it tapped. Here is the block in action.

You’re probably reeking with envy now – wanting your very own coin block. If you have the time and the skill, you can actually make one for yourself. The brilliant Super Mario fan who is behind this project has provided all the information that is necessary to make a real life coin block. ((Instructables)) And if you’re just that good, then why not create more than one and give them away? I am pretty sure that this coin block can come in handy. You even get to choose what currency to use!

DIY Turing Machine

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Now why would anyone want to build a working Turing Machine with scrap metal? I wouldn’t know the creator’s real reason, but if I think “Just because I can” is a darned good answer.

Let’s go back a bit in time and refresh our memories about the Turing Machine, which was created by English mathematician Alan Turing. Wikipedia tells us that the machine is “a theoretical device that manipulates symbols on a strip of tape according to a table of rules. Despite its simplicity, a Turing machine can be adapted to simulate the logic of any computer algorithm, and is particularly useful in explaining the functions of a CPU inside a computer.”

The name Turing may also ring a bell because of the Turing Test, which is the basis of measuring artificial intelligence. Think robot movies!

Anyhow, a guy named Jim MacArthur has showcased his hardcore DIY skills when he created his own Turing Machine from scrap metal, and he uploaded a video on YouTube earlier this month. His short description of his creation:

This is a mechanical universal Turing machine (given an infinite track). It uses ball bearings as its memory and has no electrical components, other than a small motor used to drive it. This is a quick overview video filmed at Maker Faire UK 2011.

What’s the use of this machine? Not much, especially if you are not into computer science, but MacArthur still deserves kudos for drumming this up! Think you can one up him?

Books2Barcodes: Books in QR Codes

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Have you ever heard of QR codes? They’re barcodes in two-dimensional form, and they are fast gaining popularity. They have been around for a while, and some people have even resorted to using QR codes for their tombstones!

I just discovered a more “intelligent” use for QR codes, though. A group of archivists, engineers, and library scientists have put their heads together to start a project called Books2Barcodes. Basically, their goal is to convert classic works to QR code form. People can then easily access the books via their web site.

The thing is, you will need a barcode-scanning app to read the QR codes and re-convert them to text that you can actually read. Practically any mobile phone with a camera and the app installed can do this for you. Here’s an example – parts of Lewis Carroll’s The Adventures of Alice in Wonderland.
Alice in Wonderland QR Codes

Obviously, no human can make sense of those images, but with the tools mentioned above, it is no issue. I know what you might be thinking – what is the advantage of converting books to QR codes, only to have to re-convert them to readable format? The brains behind the project state:

“…to make the classics of yesterday accessible to today’s technology. Although the task of converting books to barcodes is difficult, time-consuming, and impossible to automate, we believe this cultural contribution is necessary, regardless of the logistical difficulties.”

One possible advantage I can see is regarding storage – this format may take less space, but I am not sure. In any case, if you are interested in reading some classics in QR code form, check out the other titles at Books2Barcodes.

A Sea of Tweets: Another Way to Show Japan Your Support

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It has been over a week since the first earthquake hit Japan and tsunamis wreaked havoc. Some of us may have already moved on with our lives, reading the occasional news report of what’s going on in Japan. Others may be getting their act together with regard to disaster preparedness. Have you showed your support for the victims of the quakes and the tsunamis in one way or another?

Last week, we published an entry about a fundraising drive for Japan. It is not too late to chip in. You can also check with the Red Cross to see what you can do to help. While not everyone may have a lot to spare, there are other ways by which you can express support.

Here is one interesting initiative that I discovered: A Sea of Tweets. This movement is spearheaded by artists Mark Skwarek, Tamiko Thiel, and John Craig Freeman, who are converting tweets into paper cranes and placing them in front of Mt. Fuji and along Japan’s coastline. The act is purely symbolic, but the message is strong and clear: there are people who care and want to show their support.

How do you participate? It is rather simple: just use the hashtag #seaoftweets to your tweet, and it will be counted and converted to a paper crane.

To learn more about this movement, visit A Sea of Tweets. More than using the hashtag, please remember to look at other practical ways you can send some help. Even the tiniest bit of help will be appreciated!