Japanese working late or taking trips can now feed their pets via the web using iSeePet. The device stores a few days of food and has a camera so that owners can watch the feeding process. I think for the next version they should add the ability to play back the sound of a can opening.

A fellow Wellesley alum sent along this Boston Globe article that goes into depth on the racial diversity issues of the student extras in the movie ”Mona Lisa Smile.” I completely understand their need for accuracy in casting mostly white students, but I know that if I were still a student there I would feel upset. My intellectual understanding of the situation (a multiracial student body in the movie would be as wrong as if they shot scenes at the modern Science Center) would conflict with my envy of fellow classmates. Hopefully we’d all come out ahead. The student extras would find it strange to be on campus in a manufactured world of Caucasians and those excluded would have a better appreciation for the opportunities available to them in the present.

The creator of bookkey apparently suffered from the same bookmark bloat that I do: “One day I realized, that I had a folder Shopping within the main folder Computer and a folder Computer in the main folder Shopping.” bookkey allows Windows users to organize browser bookmarks using keywords rather than the usual stiff folder hierarchy. I’ll have to give this a try to save me from the neverending woes of bookmark cross-referencing. (via Nooface)

Compare different digital pianos using a collection of mp3s generated from the same MIDI file. The first listing is a manual rendition of the MIDI file using an acoustic Steinway B. (via BrainLog)

“Founded in 1995, FLAVORx is on a mission to take the yuck out of medicine.” I heard about this on NPR (while I was driving of course since I always hear the interesting stuff when I’m unable to take notes). Luckily Mike Gunderloy linked to it. The creator of FLAVORx developed the system when his baby girl had trouble taking 4 daily doses of yucky medicine. When he made the medication more palatable her condition finally improved. The flavors have no sugars or dyes, and little or no alcohol so they do not alter the medications. There’s a selection of sweet and savory flavors such as bubblegum, watermelon, tangy apple, bacon, cheddar, angus beef, and roasted lamb. Veterinarians can use the flavorings for animals. Over 2000 pharmacies in the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Australia, and New Zealand have FLAVORx available.

Mmmmm, The Complete Works of Emily Dickinson, handbound in leather with gold tooling. It’s built to last by the Harcourt Bindery, which still makes books the old-fashioned way. (via sorta-ex-co-worker and fellow ex-resident of CT Seth who’s pursuing his bookbinding dreams)

The Easy Bake Oven has had a marketing makeover for boys. Feast your eyes on the Queasy Bake Cookerator (I guess “oven” sounds too girly). In addition to the usual baking pan and mixing bowl, this comes with a bug/worm mold and recipe mixes with appetizing names such as Chocolate Crud Cake and Foaming Drool. Oh yum. Allow me to perpetuate a stereotype and profess my preference for the Easy-Bake Powerpuff Girls Bake Set. It makes the cutest little pink muffins! (100-watt lightbulb not included.)

The home-brew robots battling it out on TV inspired Michael Mauldin to open a for-profit robot club of his very own. Mauldin founded Lycos and retired in 1997 (he’s 43 now, so it was a profitable retirement). The Robot Club and Grille in Pittsburgh promises “The best meal you’ve ever had behind bullet-proof glass!” You can throw a birthday party with rental robots or learn how to build your own machine. There are three arenas built with Lexan and steel. (via memepool)

“I’ve been smoking since I was 13 years old and during the Eisenhower administration I peaked at three packs a day. I’m not about to stop now.” Margaret Phillips began her acting career at the time most people retire to Florida. Her portrayal of Ruth Ann on “Northern Exposure” garnered her a supporting actress Emmy nomination (she wore blue jeans and sandals to the ceremony). She died on November 7th from lung disease. She was 84.

It’s all relative
Here’s a stunner for Joss Whedon fans: “Firefly has more viewers than Buffy or Angel, but it is also Whedon’s most vulnerable show. That’s because it airs on Fox, which has higher viewership expectations than UPN and the WB.” (from a Houston Chronicle article) Firefly has more viewers than Buffy and yet it may not survive? Grrr arrgh!