LED Projector for less than $200?!

High Definition Projectors are a very good way to get 70-inch-plus-sized video imaging at home, but the price of initial purchasing and bulb replacement can accumulate to many thousands of dollars. Generally the average cost of a standard HD projector with mid-range resolution is about $1600.00, with bulb replacements running about $130 each. More than anything the "constant" need to replace the bulbs themselves has been the biggest deterrent for this television alternative (each bulb has roughly 2000 hours of life, compared to the average plasma TV life rated at about 60,000 hours). But what if it was possible--with a little work and some home repair skills--to make an LED projector yourself?

Besides the incredible long lifetime of LEDs eliminating the need for lamp replacement (the average LED is rated at 70,000 hours at maximum efficiency), other advantages of LED projectors include instant-on operation and improved color tones. Ordinary LED technology doesn't produce the intensity and output required to provide the same illumination as arc lams. PhlatLight LEDs changed all that (designed and manufactured by US based Luminus Devices).

With a little ingenuity, we can all get our very own projectors. Find the link here!

http://www.instructables.com/id/DIY-Multimedia-LED-Projector/

Bones: TV Drama meets Indiana Jones

Since my apathy today is unusually strong, I'm going to talk about one of my newest favorite television shows: Bones. A good summary of the plot would be best described as a forensic science drama, with each episode focusing on different FBI case files concerning the mystery behind murder victims on behalf of FBI Special Agent Seeley Booth and the forensic anthropologist Dr. Temperance "Bones" Brennan. The action and drama of the series itself is good, but not groundbreaking on its own; the two starrring characters played by Emily Deschanel and David Boreanaz have an amazing chemistry and charisma with each other on screen that brings emotion and real life relevance to the everyman's intellectual and emotional battle. More than anything this back-and-forth between them is what has made the story and show great, (the fact that they're both attractive actors nonwithstanding).

The series has been running since late 2005 and is currently in the middle of its fifth season, with a scheduled 6th season contract recently renewed for next year. Honestly I love the fact that the show is going to be around for another year at least, seeing as how the supporting cast has helped to add a lot of depth to the storyline especially in the past two seasons. Though I am a bit worried that they lost a crucial comedic relief source in the socially inept but brilliant Zach Addy played by Eric Millegan. After the third season his character was largely removed from the show as a constantly reoccurring role, with small cameo appearances in various episodes throughout the fourth and fifth seasons. The writers and directors haven't replaced his character with any substantially-accommodating new character, and as such it feels like a aspect of the show has been lost.

I will say that anyone who gets a thrill out of discovering unique and interesting facts and connections with areas of the world's politics, economy, culture, and jokes (while secretly being a hopeless romantic with a touch of optimism) will love this show. If you can't classify yourself as such don't worry in the slightest however; Bones will make you fit that mold in due time.

Too far?

Currently only out in Japan, Konami just released their newest game "Love Plus" for the Nintendo DS that is classified as a dating simulation game, letting the user "court" several different virtual girls and in the end (hopefully) one of which will start to fall for you.

Then in real time, the gamer has to take his fake girlfriend out on dates and even start "planning" the couple's future together. Depending on how good you are at the game, she might ask for a kiss (which requires touching her on the lips with the stylus) or even ask you to whisper compliments and praise to her via the DS microphone).

Love Plus apparently has generated a lot of talk in Japan, both good and bad, as some wives are getting angry that their husbands are 'cheating' on them by spending too much time with their virtual significant others. Of course it's just a pixelated 2-D girl on a screen, but apparently that's enough to cause tension to mount among spouses. What the heck does this mean for society's future? Crazy talk, that.