Batteries still not included...

So, I tear up my fingers trying to open the hard plastic case on a new Brother P-touch Labeler (the PT-1280) sent to me for the holiday gift guide, only to discover that said labeler runs on 6 AAA batteries or an “optional” AC adapter, both which are not included in the package.

The funniest line on the package: “Operates on 6 ‘AAA’ batteries or AC Adapter (neither included).”

No kidding.

“AYER — State Police in Leominster responded to a report of three cows wandering close to the road on Route 2 westbound, near exit 38 on the Harvard/Ayer line. The cows did not cause any traffic hazards, but crept to within a few feet of the road, Trooper John McDonald said. Police released the cows into the woods, and it remains unknown where, exactly, the animals came from. McDonald said farm animals near a major highway is “not common” in the area.”
— Police: Cows wander near Route 2 - Sentinel & Enterprise

This is why I love video games...

New on Nintendo WiiWare (their online store for original games)

Major League Eating: The Game™ (Mastiff, 1-2 players, Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older—Crude Humor, 1,000 Wii Points): The ultimate chomp-off is about to begin. Grab your Wii Remote™ controller and dig into 12 different foods as you compete against the greatest major-league eaters in the world. This isn’t just a race to stuff your face—you’ll need strategy to master a smorgasbord of digestive attacks, defenses and counters. These include the Mega Burp, Gas Attack, Antacid and more. And don’t forget to keep an eye on your Barf-O-Meter, because if the food hits the plate twice, you’re out. Unlock more than 10 characters in single-player career mode, go gut-to-gut against your friends in versus mode, or compete online using Nintendo® Wi-Fi Connection. Online play supports friend codes, random matchmaking and leader boards.

On vacation, but...

I’m out of the office until July 8, but I’m still going to do some work. No heavy lifting, of course, but I now have some time at home to test out some gadgets and get ahead of the curve (or catch up, some might say). Right now I’m trying out the Pinnacle Video Transfer device, a gadget that lets you record video from a video source (camcorder, DVR, TV, gaming consoles) directly to a USB-based video storage device. This includes USB sticks, USB hard drives, Apple iPods and even the Sony PSP. All of this without a PC, which is kind of handy, especially for getting stuff off a camcorder. I’m currently transferring a saved DVR program (OK, it’s the Backyardigans) to a USB hard drive, and of course then I’ll transfer it to my PC for viewing later (I’m a bit afraid to connect my iPod directly to the device, although that’s possible too). Stay tuned to the Cool Tools Happy Blog for a full review after vacation is over…

“Neil Patrick Harris was gracious enough a couple months ago to tell us about Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, the online musical minisode series he’s starring in for Joss Whedon, in which he plays a hapless supervillain opposite Nathan Fillion (natch) as a stalwart hero named Captain Hammer and Felicia Day as the cute gal from the laundromat who Dr. Horrible can’t muster up the nerve to talk to. Now comes a teaser for the project (the official MySpace page is here). Suit up, folks, this one looks like fun.”
— Trailer blazer: Joss Whedon’s ‘Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog’ | PopWatch Blog | EW.com

Twisted goodness!

[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]
“Hyper for Hyper-V Jason and Keith discuss Microsoft’s virtualization efforts, whether broadband access is as important as hot water, and celebrate Second Life’s fifth birthday. (35:32)”
— Network World’s Twisted Pair

Who is Lindsey, and why does she want me to post something?

Lindsey from Tumblr wants me to post a text thing and then she’ll show me the Bookmarklet. OK, here goes.

The force is with me.

The force is with me.