Here’s a cool new search tool from web site Addict-o-Matic. It’s cool because you specify the sites to search (Google News, Yahoo News, Youtube, Flickr) and results are displayed in movable boxes, categorized by site. This makes it easier to scan top results from numerous sites (as opposed to Google results which show a top to bottom list of results that are not categorized by where they were found).

Link: Addict-O-Matic

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I’ve always wondered why restaurants can’t automate the process of ordering and paying for food. While I like interacting with (most) waiters/waitresses - I’ve had enough unpleasant experiences that given the choice I’d rather plop into a booth and key my own order into a terminal. One restaurant chain does have this self-ordering feature. The restaurant is uWink. They currently have one location in Woodland Hills CA and are opening two more in 2008 in Hollywood CA and Mountain View CA. The chain was founded by Nolan Bushnell who was also responsible for the Chuck E. Cheese chain as well as the founder of video game maker Atari. Unfortunately after about two years on the market it doesn’t seem that this concept has caught on too well. Check out the next page for a YouTube video report that explains the concept, then read a review posted on May 2, 2008 titled “uWink: A Cold Greasy Plate of Fail” to hear about one reviewers experience.

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Later this year NASA is scheduled to launch an LRO (short for Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter). The unmanned ship’s mission is to scout safe landing sites and indentify lunar resources. It will also study how lunar radiation environment could affect humans (Prediction: Not well). Starting now and running through June 27, 2008 you can visit a special NASA web site and enter your name into their database. When the LRO launches in late 2008, NASA will load the information onto a microchip and integrate it onto the spacecraft. Let’s hope that if it’s integrated outside that they use something stronger than whatever is supposed to hold those troublesome space shuttle tiles.

Link: Send Your Name To The Moon With New Lunar Mission
Link: More Information About NASA’s LRO

I just received my Geek.com Weekly Newsletter (which I highly recommend subscribing to, by the way), and tucked near the bottom was this little tidbit from my friend Joel:

Want to be a Geek Intern?

Geek.com is looking for a few driven individuals for our newly-launched summer internship program. If you are interested in technology and you want to write about it someplace aside from your Facebook wall, then this could be your chance.

The hours will be long, and the work thankless, but you’ll have access to some cool gear and as many press releases as you can handle. If you are in the NYC area, then there will be a few events as well. We need people who have an excellent understanding of current technology, strong writing skills, and at least a basic understanding of HTML and image editing.

If interested send us an email to joel at Geek dawt com with “Intern” somewhere in the title. Send along a resume, a link to your blog (if you have one), and a sample post that is up to 300 words. Candidates can be based wherever, but NYC would be ideal.

This would be a great summer opportunity for anyone who is considering a career in tech journalism, or someone who just wants a crack at a paid position writing for one of the oldest and most respected tech blogs on the internet. Hey, you never know where an unpaid intern position can lead!

Joel is a personal friend of mine, so I am sure that he will forgive me for listing a couple of hints that will give you an “in” with him as a writer: be opinionated yet fair, be concise, and be dependable!

Are you up to it? Send Joel an email!

I first saw a post regarding a concept shoe with convertible heels on Book of Joe back in 2005, and now it looks like an easier to operate variation of the same idea has actually come to pass. Say hello to CAMiLEON, a company which produces women’s shoes with heels that can adjust from a pratical walking height of 1½” to a sassy 3¼”.

CAMiLEON’s heels contain “mechanisms that hold it into place for both the high heel and low heel positions and a stainless steel rod, which runs through the entire length of the heel. The portion of our heel that is stowed underneath the arch region of the shoe, when in the low heel position, is actually made out of aluminum. Additionally, every heel is coated with 6 coats of paint, resulting in a beautiful high-gloss finish. While essentially every other brand of high heel shoe attaches its heel to the shoe with nails, or nails and glue, we attach every heel with four screws.”

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Image Via: Ars Technica

Evernote now has an iPhone specific site for the latest beta release of their highly praised note taking software. The site - http://preview.evernote.com/iphone - supports adding and searching all notes. Prior versions of Evernote supported iPhone access via iMap or a generic mobile web site.

Link: Evernote Beta - iPhone Specific Site
Via: Ars Technica Review of Evernote

Free online dating site DatingDNA.com today unveiled their iPhone optimized site. Dating DNA approaches online dating differently by issuing a unique “Dating DNA” number based on answers to questions about dating preferences. To use the site, exchange DNA numbers with other users. By using the unique Dating DNA number of the other person, you can view compatibility at a glance. The site provides the option of disallowing contact by anyone failing your compatibility criteria.

Through a patent-pending system devised by Carmony, Dating DNA encapsulates over 300 pieces of information down into a single 9-digit number, including all the particulars about a person and the type of people they prefer to date. For example, encoded in the number is a person’s hair color, height, line of employment, religion, if they have children, political leanings, and hundreds of other pieces of information. Also encoded in the number are the person’s dating preferences, such as do they prefer to date a non-smoker, someone who likes pets, someone who wants children, someone who owns their own home, and so on, as well as the weight a person places upon each of the different criteria.

Link: DatingDNA iPhone Specific Site
Link: DatingDNA Web Site
Link: iVillage Online Dating WebSite (Share war stories with other online daters)

Jailbreak vs Pwnage? Should I unlock my iPhone? What if I brick my iPhone while unlocking it? Are you as confused and afraid about unlocking your iPhone as I am? Join Patrick, Dan and Judie tonight (Monday 4/28/08) at 11pm EST at JustAnotherIphoneBlog for a live chat / talkcast TONIGHT . Join this free chat through this link. If you prefer, there’s also a phone number to call and ask questions. I’m planning on calling in and asking for recommendations for password management software for the iPhone. Join us tonight at 11 EST and ask your questions of the iPhone experts.

Link: Just Another iPhone Chat - 11pm EST

Here’s a dirty secret of many online weather services. I’ve also seen this secret used by TV and RADIO weather forecasters for many years. Timely United States weather forecasts are distributed primarily from one organization. And they’re available online, for free and without any annoying banner advertisements or user registrations.

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United States Economic Stimulus Payments are now due to arrive starting on Monday (calculate the amount you may receive here and find out WHEN your check will arrive here). Leave it to the Government to reward poor fiscal management by providing free money with which to practice more poor fiscal management. Retail stores are getting in on this concept and many such as Sears, Staples, SuperValue and Kroger are offering additional bonus amounts if you bring your entire check to them and exchange it for one of their gift cards. PS - How funny would it be if mortgage companies got into the act and offered lower rates and even shadier terms in exchange for your stimulus check…

Link: Fatwallet Economic Stimulus Deals
Link: IRS Official Economic Stimulus Payment Calculator
Link: IRS Chart Showing When Your Check Will Arrive