Daily Bits

Angry Birds Rio Trailer

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angrybirds
That little game that pitted irate birds against green pigs has reached such proportions that everyone around the world knows about it by now. Angry Birds, the game, has converted many a self-proclaimed non-gamer into chronic casual gamers. From the iPhone to the iPad, you will see people swiping and cursing just to get those irritating viridescent hogs out of the way. And, I bet you know just how tough those pigs can be!

There have been several versions of the game, but now, the birds and the pigs are coming to the big screen! In a few months, we can all queue up at the theater to see Angry Birds Rio the movie. The plot – if it can be called that – is ridiculous, I think. Still, the game itself is so ridiculous that it is good, isn’t it? So anyway, the birds are shipped off to Rio for a “vacation”. READ: They are caged and kidnapped. Of course, the protagonists escape from their cages, and that’s when they discover hundreds of other captive birds.

Angry Birds Rio will also be released as a game to complete your avian experience. Here’s the newly released trailer to get your adrenaline going.

Oh, and if you are impatient and cannot wait till March, you can get the Valentine’s Day edition in a week or so. Of course, it goes without saying that this version will have lots of pink in it. 🙂

Theo Jansen’s Strandbeests

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Theo JansenWhat in the world is a strandbeest? It is an animal created by Dutch physicist, artisit, and kinetic sculptor Theo Jansen. While it may not be a living form in the strictest sense, the strandbeest might very well fool you.

Jansen has gotten a lot of attention by creating beach animals which are self-propelling. That succinct description may not pique your curiosity enough, but trust me, watching a strandbeest in action definitely will. Jansen created his strandbeests using simple materials such as recycled water bottles, plastic tubing, rods, and rubber rings. Glancing at a beest, you wouldn’t think much of it – just another piece of installation art, probably. Once it starts moving on its own, thanks to the wind that has been “caught” in the water bottles, you probably will find your lower jaw dropping involuntarily. See it for yourself.

In his web site, Theo Jansen gives some details on how he was able to make these things work. You can find concepts, theories, and math – even details on the 11 Holy Numbers. If you’re the sort who wants to figure out exactly how things work, then you ought to read what the mastermind himself has to say. In case you get converted and become a Jansen fan – which is likely to happen – you can also get his books and DVDs from the web site.

Mr. Potato Head Takes On Star Trek

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Star Trek Potato Heads

Mark your calendars, Mr. Potato Head lovers. The guys behind these adorably hilarious toy figures have come up with a brilliant idea – Star Trek Mr. Potato Heads. Everyone loves Mr. Potato Head. I think that’s why some of my friends have decided to “drop their interest” in them, actually. You know those kind of people who decide not to like something because everyone else likes it?

Anyhow, this development is something that one really cannot help but get excited about. A mash up of your favorite Star Trek characters and Mr. Potato Head. Pardon me, but it is an epic win! The series is going to kick off with none other than Captain Kirk and his original Klingon nemesis, Kor. This first set is going to hit the shelves in August of this year, but they are accepting pre-orders to cater to those who want to make sure that they are among the first to receive Potato Head Kirk and Potato Head Kor. For $30 – which will only be charged on your credit card once the delivery details have been confirmed – you can be among the first to receive this signature line.

I have to be honest and say that the first time I saw the image above, I was not sure how to react. One part of me was thinking “Hilarious!” while another part was saying “Oh, Kirk. That is so NOT you.” Then again, this is NOT Kirk. It is Potato Head Kirk. I guess the designers actually did justice to both brands.

Star Trek fans: what are your thoughts?

The Ultimate Guide To Blog Promotion

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In the time it takes you to read this sentence, 3 new blogs will have come into existence. There can be no doubt that the world wide web in general, and social media sites in particular, are becoming more crowded and more competitive every second.  The result?  Standing out from the crowd is getting harder and harder.

Social media marketing is both necessary and extremely challenging. Blogs are an integral part of SEM, but simply building one isn’t enough. You need to get people to read what you write!

That being said, there are myriad resources that have become available which can help you promote and measure the success of your blog. Below you will find a definitive guide to some of the best resources online.

Overview of Blog Promotion

Promoting Your Blog

Some sweet, simple and easily actionable tips for blog promotion from Google itself, although we also love their disclaimer: “This is in no way a science or guarantee; it’s simply a few suggestions with which many bloggers have found success”. If you know little to nothing about blog promotion, it’s a good place to get an idea of the basics without getting overwhelmed.

21 Tactics to Increase Blog Traffic

SEOmoz offers some great, detailed advice for bloggers who want not just more traffic but better, more targeted traffic. There’s a lot here to help diagnose why your blog might be fledgling, and what to do to remedy the situation. [Read more…] about The Ultimate Guide To Blog Promotion

Guinness World Records 2011 Gamer’s Edition

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So you think you’re the best Guitar Hero player ever born? Think again! You’ve seen all those YouTube videos about little kids kicking the butt of everyone else – never mind that we are twice or three times his age. If you want some “light reading” that is all about gaming, then Guinness has the perfect thing for you – the 2011 Gamer’s Edition. Just to give you an idea, here is an interview with the record holder for the highest scoring female Guitar Hero player. Hats off to you, Annie Leung.

It’s not all about “serious” records, though. In case you have ever wondered about all that swearing in video games, you can read up on that in this edition. Other pieces of trivia that you can start memorizing (to use as pick up lines, conversation starters, or whatever):

  • The oldest gamer included in the book is John Bates of Onalaska, Wisconsin.  He is 85 years old, a former high school principal, and is a certified Wii Bowling addict.  His feat?  He has the highest number of perfect games on Wii Sports Bowling: 2,850.
  • Mitsugu Kikai from Tokyo is only 25 years old and has 5,400 items of Super Mario-related memorabilia.  Does anyone out there have more? Let Guinness know!
  • Angry Birds is the Top Paid-For Apple App Store Game.  But then again, we already know that, don’t we?

Find out how to get your hands on the book from the Guinness web site.  If anything, it will be a good way to pass the time when you don’t have anything else to do.

Darth Vader Does the Blues

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We all feel the blues sometimes. There is no need to be embarrassed or ashamed when you don’t feel 100 percent. Heck, apparently, even the supposedly indomitable Darth Vader felt the blues! I guess that with a life story like that of Darth Vader’s, one really will feel down every now and then.

What do you think the father of Luke Skywalker does when he is down? He plays the harmonica like you may never have heard before! (What? You didn’t know that Darth Vader can play the harmonica?) This is a perfect example of how music spans cultures. 😉

Here’s a funny video that can get you through the mid-week slump. It’s several years old, but it should still do the trick for those who live in 2011. 😉