Google Drive is now live.... http://drive.google.com

Go beyond storage. Collaborate.

Google Drive lets you do more than just store your files. Share files with exactly who you want and edit them together, from any device.

Google Drive gives you instant access to Google Docs, a suite of editing tools that makes working together better – even when your teammates are miles away.

No matter what you think about Apple, the company, and how they do things, the cost of their equipment, etc... You cannot deny the impact that their Co-Founder, Chairman and Chief-Executive, Steve Jobs, has had on our world.  His ideas, his drive, his enthusiasm has driven the computer industry forward, quickly... Changing how we use computers for ever.  

Apple themselves didn't realise his impact, they fired/forced him to resign 10years after he setup Apple Inc, in 1985.  After that Apple was starting to fade into the background.  Steve went on from there to set up Pixar and everyone knows how successful they are!  Apple continued to fade into the background.  In 1996, Apple bought NeXT which was founded by Steve, bringing him back to Apple and once again as CEO... Since then, Steve's vision has turned Apple around from making machines for publishing to the must-have systems that everyone knows today.   First there was the iMac, then the iPod, the iPhone and the iPad. 

This is the legacy that Steve Jobs leaves behind. One button does it all.

Even Google, who are in direct competiton with Apple, recognise Steve's impact on us all. Today, they have added "Steve Jobs, 1955 - 2011" on their main page.

There is no better man to tell you about Steve Jobs, than the man himself.... If you have 15 minutes, you should listen to his Stanford Commencement Address from 2005:

Steve, you leave behind an legacy that has touched everyone. Rest in Peace.

QR Codes are becoming more and more popular. They are going to start popping up everywhere. Therefore, it is important that you know what to do with them!
The video above from appJudgement is a great introduction to what QR Codes are and how to read them.   

You can easily create your own QR Codes for use on your websites, business cards, clothes... Whatever! Just search Google for "QR Code Generator".
Here is a QR Code I made that links to this very blog article. Try it... give it a scan with your phone!

I created another one for my twitter profile picture that links to http://storeebud.com:

I came across this gem while clicking on related videos on YouTube.... They've taken the universal Periodic Table of Elemets and given it a modern twist..... Videos on YouTube explaining the elements one by one... With some great demonstrations and explosions.... Nice!   Go on, admit it, you never thought the Periodic Table of Elements was this interesting before!   And then they go one better.... Add in QR Codes with links to the appropriate Element Video and you have a another great way to reach the boffin' wannabies!

Such a great idea.... I will enjoy going through each element.... over time of course!

Go give them a visit... well worth it.... Get your scanners out and start watching!

http://www.periodicvideos.com/

The film maker, Brady Haran, is coming to the Science Gallery in Dublin on July 19th to give a talk on the Periodic Videos.  Details of the talk can be found here. 

As Space Shuttle Atlantis sits on the stand at Kennedy Space Center this morning, it brings with its launch, the end of an era. Today is the last launch of NASA's Space Shuttle Program.  You can watch the launch live on NASA TV here: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html   In HD here: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/6540154

The program started just over 30 years ago, in April 1981, with the launch of the first space shuttle, Columbia. Followed by Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour.
There have been 134 space shuttle missions. Today will see the launch of the 135th space shuttle mission. It truely has been a remarkable time for exploration, technology and human spirit.

The last mission is a 12 day mission to the International Space Station with supplies and spare parts. Upon it's return, Atlantis will be the last Space Shuttle to land, knowing it nor either of the two surviving shuttles, Discovery and Endeavour, will never take to the skies or the heavens again!

Here's wishing the Atlantis crew Godspeed and a safe return.

Some othe NASA resources worth a visit:

As the Altantis crew get ready for their mission, they took some time out to discuss what's next for NASA.... The Journey Continues .... http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/videogallery/index.html?media_id=100229421

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/main/index.html
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/shuttle/flyout/index.html
https://www.facebook.com/nasa2explore

If you are wondering why some countdown clocks are showing less time than others, have a look at this Countdown 101 page which helps explain the differences.

Regardless if you liked Mary Byrne or not, you must admit she could sing and belt 'em out.... But, back in the in December 2010 her X-Factor journey ended over a controversial judges decision despite the start of the show declaring the final places would be decided by public vote only.... So, Mary found herself in the bottom two against Cher Llyod.

Now, Cher also gave it socks, but it was becoming apparent that there was no originality to her. She was even declaring the "raps" as her own, despite them being clearly ripped off from actual artists.

Anyhow, my point is this.... Mary Byrne was ejected from X-Factor to make way for Cher Llyod who was going to be a superstar.... Apparently.... But, not with this trash! Swagger Jagger my arse!

Tom Cruise posted a link to a trailer for Mission: impossible - Ghost Protocol, via his website: tomcruise.com (Great site... well worth a visit!)....

The fourth in the series is set to be as good, if not better than the ones that came before it, is due out in December 2011. One of my favourite lines from the series so far is in MI2: 

This is not Mission: Difficult, Mr Hunt. It's Mission: Impossible.  Difficult should be a walk in the park for you....

One of the things I like about the MI series (and indeed most of Tom's movies) is that he does pretty much all of the stunts and action sequences himself.... Cause, let's face it, that's what we wanna see... the hero being up close and personal with the live action... Making it more realistic for the fans! 

Tom Cruise is a legend in his own time. One of the acting greats of our generation.

Tom, next time you're in Ireland, give us a shout, we'll have a BBQ! :-)

Here are the trailers for MI 1, 2 & 3 to whet your appetite.....

Mission: Impossible (1996)

Mission: Impossible II (2000)

Mission: Impossible III (2006)

Being second is to be the first of the ones who lose.

Ayrton Senna was truly a great sportsman of his generation. His passion for perfection, for victory... His love for driving for the thrill of victory, the raw power of the machine and how he was able to make it do things others could not. No politics, just emotion. He brought hope to a nation and to his people. He was a hero to so many, young and old.

I don't know driving in another way which isn't risky. Each one has to improve himself. Each driver has its limit. My limit is a little bit further than other's

His legacy lives on, saving millions of children from the poverty trap. Senna was the people champion. I don't think we've seen anyone quite like him since.

Wealthy men can't live in an island that is encircled by poverty. We all breathe the same air. We must give a chance to everyone, at least a basic chance

On May 1st 1994, on Formula 1's darkest weekend, one of the worlds finest sportsmen, a true legend was taken from us. Such an amazing story. Such a tragic ending.

These things bring you to reality as to how fragile you are; at the same moment you are doing something that nobody else is able to do. The same moment that you are seen as the best, the fastest and somebody that cannot be touched, you are enormously fragile.

SENNA is showing in cinemas worldwide now.... Even if you know nothing about formula1 or Ayrton Senna (as hard to believe as that is!), you should go see his story!

Ayrton, never forgotten.... Rest in peace.
Eamon.

His legacy continues under the guidance of his sister Viviane

If there’s anyone out there who still doubts that Ireland is a place where all things are possible;

who still wonders if the dream of our ancestors is alive in our time;

who still questions our capacity to restore ourselves, reinvent ourselves and prosper…..

Today… is your answer.

Because… today….on this day….the President of the United States, Barack Obama, comes to visit.

To show he believes in Ireland…..

To make that precious connection with his Irish family, his Irish roots, as thousands before him have done.

Today….. the 44^th American President….. comes  HOME.

When Falmouth Kearney started out on the long Atlantic crossing……

He might have dreamed…….but hardly imagined……

That, one day, his great-great-great grandson would return as the President of the United States.

That boy said goodbye to a ravaged island.

Millions had died.

Or were leaving.

Packing their hopes and dreams…. in beside the remnants of a life….

Stepping onto ships…..

Which, for some…. was like stepping into space.

Every one of them…..and all their people……are our people…..ár muintir féin.

Their past is our past.

Their story is our story.

This evening, my call is directly to those 40-million Irish-Americans…..

Whether you’re listening or watching in New York or New Haven… or in San Diego or St Louis…

Whether you’re Irish by blood, or by marriage, or by desire….

We…..your Irish family… are right here…….

To welcome you.

To follow your President home.

Last week, Queen Elizabeth came…

And bowed to our dead….

The Irish harp glittered above the heart of the English Queen…

With pride and happiness, and two words of Irish … we closed a circle of our history.

 

A cháirde

Today, with President Obama…..we draw another circle.

One in which we tell the world of our unique, untouchable wealth.

Wealth that can never be accumulated in banks, or measured by the markets or traded on the stock exchange.

Because it remains intact and alive….deep inside our people.

In the heart-stopping beauty of our country.

In the transforming currency of the Irish heart, imagination and soul.

This is our Uaisleacht….. it has sustained us over the centuries.

We pass from mother to daughter, father to son…

In our dreams and imagining….

In our love for our country…. our pride in who we are..

Long into what must be….and will be…. a brighter and more prosperous future .

President Obama is part of that proud past….. part of that prouder future.

In 1963, the 35^nd President of the United States stirred our hearts.

In 1995 the 42^nd President lifted our country’s spirits.

But the 44^th President is different.

He doesn’t just speak about the American dream.

He is the American dream….

The American dream…… come home….

Ladies and gentlemen, I’m honoured to introduce….. the President of the United States….. Barack Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama.

These guys are great.... They rock! Literally!
They sing your tweets... turning your 140 characters, or less, into a little melody specially for you (at the world at large). Pure genius!

So, I posted a tweet, they liked it.... so the re-sweeted it!
Go visit their site for details on the sweet, re-sweet lingo.

Rock on dudes! :-)

... and they even pronounced my name right too... Nice!

So, i've decided to try and eat a bit healthier. Looking for that snack food that will kill the craving but not have lasting effects on the auld health, right? Where better to look than the negative-calorie powerhouse that is celery!
Everyone knows that chewing on celery burns more calories that it contains*, so it is the perfect snack food, right?!

I remember when I was younger how much I liked chewing on celery, but back then the health aspects of it were just wasted on me.  I also remember enjoying the odd celery stick presented as a nibble at many a party. Always seems that the celery sticks out lived their carrot counterparts and got letf on the plate... But, I always tucked in anyway.

So, I headed off to the shop and bought myself some celery, washed and chopped it into sticks.  They are sitting in a glass on the desk, beside me now, as I type.  I have been chewing on them for a while now and it got the thinking....

I thought I liked celery.

But, as i struggle to chew this last bit, I realised what, in fact, it was that I actually liked. Not the celery itself, cause let's face it.... it's pretty boring, right!?  No, what I liked about celery was...  the dips!

Celery is indeed dull and boring without the dip!   So, as a snack food, celery is rubbish.... Calories or not, it just wont cut the mustard!  .... hmmm, mustard.... laters!

*Myths about Celery:
fitday.com
wiki.answers.com

... plus lots more... just searh for myths about celery 

Let's make our phone better by, well, changing the colour from slick black to poxy white.... Nice one Apple!

Oh, and if you rush out to buy this phone now, you'll probably find yourself being very sad and dissappointed in September/October when they launch their iProne 5 (this is not a typo BTW) .... with a whole new set of bugs and handling instructions!

If you want to improve your iProne, get an Android!  Simples.

The poor russian guy hadn't a chance... Some one should have prepped him to be ready for their, let's face it, unique interview style and antics! Is there any interviewer out there brave enough to take this pair on?!? "Frost vs Jedward" perhaps?

Jedward1: "We're John and he's Edward and together we're Jedward"
Jedward2: "I so need to go to the toilet!"

You cannot deny their energy.... they are doing exactly what they wanted to do.... Living their dream! .... Although some may say it is a nightmare... But I say: Rock on guys... Fingers crossed for you tonight!