Episode 860

The Missing "Missing Button"

The Missing Button is missing from the web, but you can see a photo of it in Dick's post today.  On eBay, you can find a company called Softlife Products Company selling the "Panic Button", which is a similar idea.

The "Panic Button" Tie Tack
Ronco's Buttoneer
Another button kit, says Mark Sukoenig in the chatroom, was Ronco's Buttoneer, another old solution. See stuffwelove.co.uk.

Ronco's Buttoneer
Winning Lottery Numbers
In Episode 844 (again), in the Letters section, Dick told listeners never to delete a Daily Giz Wiz show, as they may miss a lot - money and even lottery numbers: 21, 6, 3, 4, 1. Chad Forsmaier can confirm this to be true. These were the winning numbers for an Indiana lottery on June 23, 2007. It was the Midday Lucky 5 lottery. Try LottoStrategies.com's Match Finder.

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Episode 859

First Alert
The company which makes today's gadget Aqua Alert is called First Alert, which also made the Tundra fire extinguisher (Episode 321).

And On The 8th Day, Verizon Said ...
... "Let there be a dial tone." Dick's telephone hell (see Episode 853) finally ended. With the help of Lil from the TWiT Army (DrMom), Dick managed to get the contact number of the CEO of Verizon. While talking with a Verizon executive, Dick received an email from Ooma (see Episode 779) informing him that XO Communications would be releasing Dick's telephone number in 24 hours. It turned out that when trying out Ooma, Dick transferred his telephone number to Ooma which used XO as a provider. When Dick terminated his service with Ooma, his number became an unused number, and got lost along the way. Dick was not slammed after all, and it was just a bad mix-up. The sacrifice Dick has to make in the name of gadget review!

The Question to the Answer "Sis Boom Bah"
John Struse from Wayne, New Jersey solves the answer "Sis Boom Bah" from the Carnac the Magnificent segment in Episode 844. The question was, "Describe the sound made when a sheep explodes." Leo wasn't far off. You can watch the clip at johnnycarson.com.

johnnycarson.com - Sis Boom Bah

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Episode 858

SmartSwipe Security
According to NetSure Technologies, which makes SmartSwipe, although traditional SSL encrypts the data in transit from your computer to the secure server of the e-commerce site, hackers may still be able to access the information while it's on your computer or its memory before the data is encrypted.  SmartSwipe uses a technology which they call Dynamic SSL, that interacts with traditional SSL.  It encrypts the data at the SmartSwipe hardware itself and initiates the SSL key negotiation from SmartSwipe (and not from the personal computer), so that the encryption is extended further back to the earlier point in time when the information is read from the credit card.  SmartSwipe works only on Windows XP and Vista and only on Internet Explorer.  If you're interested in the security side of the technology, you may want to read up on NetSecure's documentation on Dynamic SSL to see if the claims of security are made out.  Dell is now selling it as an accessory.



Squirrel iPhone Credit Card Swiper
Rumour has it that Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey is going to make an iPhone hardware and software solution, codename Squirrel, for accepting credit card payment on a card swiper connected to the iPhone.  Here's the TechCrunch article.

Waterproof Housing for the Canon 50D
Alessandro Abate is taking his Canon EOS 50D and a 300mm lens on an Alaska cruise to celebrate with his wife their 25th wedding anniversary.  He wonders if Leo can recommend a waterproof housing for his cherished camera while kayaking.  If he doesn't need to take photos while kayaking, Leo suggests a waterproof cinch bag, but if he wants to shoot through the protective cover, it's going to cost him.

Warnings from Sandrino
If Leo is going to name his autobiography "Just One More Podcast" (see Episode 812), Sandrino's wife, who is an attorney, is ready to collect their share of the royalties.  Also, his daughter has just been accepted into the San Francisco Institute of Art and they may pay a visit to the TWiT Cottage while in the neighbourhood.  Leo will be ready with his TWiT Mat.

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Episode 857

Polar from Finland
Polar Electro Oy, the maker of today's gadget the Polar F6, is from Finland, not Germany.

Second Rate Snacks
Dick and Leo have often referred to Totino Pizza Rolls, and even fantasised about getting a sponsorship from Totino.  Ted Kekatos has written in about pizza rolls vs pizza bites, and lots more.  On the website Second Rate Snacks, you can find a lot of snacks "taste-off", where famous snack labels are pitted against less well-known brands, such as Totino Pizza Rolls v Mr P's Pizza Bites, Cola Challenge, Cheez-It v Cheese Nips etc.

SysAdmin Appreciation Day
Leo remembers the name of today's letter-writer, but forgets that Ted Kekatos is the founder of the annual SysAdmin Appreciation Day, the last Friday of every July.  This year it's on 31 July.

A Totino Wrap-Up
If you've missed out on earlier episodes and wonder what all the fuss is about Totino pizza rolls on the Daily Giz Wiz, it all started in Episode 253, when Leo received a letter from Eric, a reliability engineer from General Mills, who said he would love to get the company to sponsor the show.  That's when the jocular begging for sponsorship began, which continued for a number of shows.  Back in those days, it was difficult enough to persuade ad agencies to consider podcasts for advertising, but the cause was certainly not helped by Dick and Leo's constant references to the product as "Tostino" pizza rolls and Leo's complaint that one couldn't even find "Tostino" on Google (Episode 263).  By the time their mistake was pointed out to them by listeners (in Episodes 269, 271), it was too late, as confirmed by Eric in Episode 284, and all the begging had been in vain.

But Dick and Leo could pat each other's virtual backs for not getting the sponsorship deal, as General Mills had to recall some of its Totino products due to E. coli contamination in 2007 (Episode 443).

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Episode 856

Contigo's Autoseal
Credit to fellow-listener Jeffrey Vento, today's gadget is Contigo's beverage-ware. Autoseal may not be rocket science but it's a neat idea that should work for many people.

And here's a demo of the Contigo Hydration Bottle, available from Amazon in a 3-pack:

Leo's routine
As is Leo's wont, he pooh-poohs Dick's gadget, then as soon as he learns that it pours smoothly, he rushes off to order a Contigo stainless steel coffee mug from Amazon.

TWiT Mats
Leo has referred to the TWiT Mat a number of times now.  After the recording of this episode, Leo shows off a non-slip rubber TWiT Mat given to him by a TWiT fan, and an embroidered mat from another fan.

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