When can you expect the unexpected? When your crystal ball is working at full pelt.

I received this email yesterday from a vendor we do some work with:

Subject: ACME Corp. will experience an unexpected power outage tomorrow between 8 am and 12

Dear Client,

We have been notified of an unexpected power outage in between the hours of 8 am and 12 noon, Thursday 15th May, 2008. This means that we will be without power, network and phones.

I’m hoping to get them to visit our site to help us predict any unexpected issues we might have with our own systems.

“Chads” are those little circles of paper left when you punch a hole in it. You may know of the controversy chads caused in the 2000 USA election. It seems to have become quite a problem.

You see, in the USA, some voters are required to punch a hole on their nominated vote. When the small circle of paper remains stuck to the sheet, this is called a “hanging chad.” Obviously problematic when counting votes.

Chads are now a problem for us in the tally room.

Because the paper used for printing the running tallies of votes for each seat has arrived at the tally room, but the chads haven’t been punched out.

- The Poll Vault

We now have our very own “chad puncher.” Gary, is there to ensure all the chads are clear from the paper so that printers don’t jam during the election coverage on Saturday night.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qymxCMz3Uzo[/youtube]

Straight out of a Wallace and Gromit film (actually, it’s from France) comes this automatic pet washing machine, that “eliminates the stress produced by current pet cleaning methods.” Yes, they actually say that. Not only does the Pet Spa safely wash your pet with hydro massage jets, it’s also able to deliver “a variety of medications and chemicals” (like flea powder, I’m guessing). After the wash, your pet gets to enjoy a nice relaxing blow-dry.

It’s designed to be totally safe for your pet, with continuous air circulation and water jets that come out of the floor to avoid eyes and ears. Designed for large pet stores, the Pet Spa costs over $30,000. Suggested cost per wash is $15; actual cost in shampoo and stuff is only 45 cents. Although you can stuff yourself inside the compartment to keep your dog company, based on the video, I would not recommend doing the same thing with your cat.

Hat tip to OhGizmo!

How else do you get a dog to do this? …

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziDeUbifKIM[/youtube]

Check out more of Tyson’s adventures.

This is totally my kind-a-thing. A little morbid, but something we gotta think about one day.
I’m gonna be stuck in the ground somewhere for no-one to ever see again. Or, as I prefer, I’d be burnt into a smouldering pile of ash and shot out into space Star Trek style.

So … why should I burden people with the expense of purchasing an ornate, body-preserving coffin?

Well here are a few options I might enjoy. Recycled, paper based, eco-coffins.

• Eco Coffins
• Life Art (an Aussie company)
• Another blogger’s perspective
• DIY Ikea Coffin
• This is not my style at all

Hat tip to Boing Boing.

Yes, you heard right, they went to court to figure this one out.

“Breaking! News! Flash! “A sandwich is not commonly understood to include burritos, tacos and quesadillas, which are typically made with a single tortilla and stuffed with a choice filling of meat, rice, and beans,” wrote Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Jeffrey Locke in a decision issued last week.”
From: Boing Boing

The fact they called in “food experts” to testify in this case is absurd. We can all sleep soundly now, the sanctity of the humble sandwich is preserved. Even Google Fight thinks so.

Full article on Yahoo! news.

Perhaps I’m just making excuses but this guy should really find a new career. Kerien Fitzpatrick is the founder of HyperActive Technologies. He looks like he could do with a little more hyperactivity if you ask me. Unfortunately for Kerien, his creation “HyperActive Bob” will do more harm than good.

Kerien has created a system which helps get that super-sized, fat filled burger in your gob a few minutes faster. By analysing incoming drive-through traffic, Bob orders around the workers to tell them how much food needs preparing.

So next time you’re in a rush to get your deep fried oil drenched fries, spare a thought for the pimply teenager being bossed around by a hyperactive computer.