Offbeat posts

When one thinks of Tesla, they think of high-end electric vehicle performance. The company is known for putting out some of the best-performing, visually stunning vehicles available in the market. Now, Tesla is going for the family market with a minivan that goes 0-60 mph in 4.4 seconds. According to CEO Elon Musk, there’s a market for the fastest minivan in the world, one that’s faster than a Porsche 911 Carrera… and that’s not even the performance version. “With the Model X we’re addressing the rest of the SUV market and the minivan market,” Musk said in an interview with GigaOM. “We think there’s…

There are definite distinctions between users of various social sites. They’re often easy to spot based upon their look (Tumblr), activities (FourSquare), and attitude (Pinterest), but the combination of the three can help us identify Yelp users very easily. Our friends at Flowtown take a humorous look at the Yelp phenomenon and the people who drive it. Reviews are important for businesses so the ability to spot a Yelp user as they’re walking in the door can be the best defense against negative comments that can haunt a business for years. Click to enlarge. (H/T: Peoria Chevrolet Dealer)…

Has Western culture grown too attached to their social networks? It’s possible, according to a recent study led by Wilhelm Hofmann at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. While the nuts and bolts of the study were far from a compelling, comprehensive bit of scientific research (205 adults were put into a heavily-weighted situation and were told to describe their “conflicts” via text) it is apparent just looking at how we go about our lives on a daily basis that many of us are indeed addicted. This video by SourceFed gives us the details of the study. …

As more offices become virtual and more employees work from home or on the go, the logistics of keeping devices and computers secure can be a nightmare for any IT pro. Cybercriminals are rampant looking for targets who are accessing their data from low-security connections. Businesses are at risk of data breaches more now than ever before. There are cost considerations, which is why the workforce is becoming more mobile. It makes sense thanks to technological advancements for many employees to hit the streets, make connections, and have “face time” with clients and potential clients, but every…

The Potter-era may be over in Hollywood, but those who want to reminisce without sitting through 16 hours of film can get their fix in under 15 minutes with this epic fan-made homage titled, “Harry Potter: A Tribute to the Magic”. There are spoilers, of course, so only watch it if you have either already seen the whole series or never plan to (but want a Cliff’s Notes version). Compiled beautifully by YouTube user themanbatman, this video takes us through on a chronological journey through the world of wizards as defined by J.K. Rowling in her 7-book/8-movie master series. As the description says,…

It’s one thing to take a handful of foam into one’s hand and apply a 7,000-degree torch to it for 20 seconds. It’s another thing to then take a large spoonful of the foam and eat it. The demonstration by the Aarmourtherm Foundation is both crazy and fantastic. The possibilities of having a bio-degradable insulated foam like this deploying during plane crashes, covering homes, or filling our lunch boxes are endless. …

The company that many blame in part for the downfall of many large and small retail stores around the world is going to try its hand at the very thing they helped to weaken: retail store chains. Within the next few months, Amazon plans to launch retail store in their home town of Seattle that will focus on their emerging Amazon Exclusives like of books as well as tablets and other e-readers. This isn’t the first rumor that has circulated about Amazon hitting the brick-and-mortar path and the report is still unconfirmed, but it stays in line with their recent strategies. The eCommerce giant has shown…

Social media and the internet in general had dramatic effects on the election in 2008. This year is proving to give even more influence to online opinions and news aggregation as bumps are going up and down dramatically both with the GOP primaries and with the general public’s opinion of all candidates, including President Barack Obama. This infographic by MDG breaks down how social media has impacted the election so far and what effects it will have come November. Click to enlarge. …

Nearly a year ago, Corning put out a video called “A Day Made of Glass.” In it, they showed a future that was enhanced by the use of touchscreens and other variations of glass products that seems less like “Minority Report” and more like a not-so-distant reality. This week, they’ve added to the video by releasing another titled “A Day Made of Glass 2: Same Day. Expanded Corning Vision.” First, here’s the original video: It was inspiring to see the potential, but didn’t quite take the world to the next level that many of these technologies promise. Now, their most recent video finishes the job with kid-attacking…

Gadgets and gizmos are top of mind when people start talking about technology. It’s in the phones that we carry. It’s at our desks in our offices and at home. Technology is becoming a part of everything. Starting tomorrow in Las Vegas, new technologies will be highlighted at the NADA conference where members of the automotive industry converge once a year to see the latest and the greatest. This year’s event is a little different than it has been in the past. The industry has always been somewhat isolated from the rest of the technological world in a way similar to pharmaceuticals and space exploration….