I acquired Gwen Stefani’s new album last night, and have been listening to it all morning. I figured I’d write up a review, for a couple of reasons. First of all, I haven’t done one in a while. More importantly, this album is really NOT what I was expecting. I think a lot of people are going to be disappointed, simply because they have certain expectations for the album. I’d have to say I am enjoying the album, but I don’t think it will become one of my favorites.

The album is a typical studio release in terms of what you get – 12 tracks for a total running time of just over 52 minutes. Nothing spectacular. On the other hand, the CD is appropriately priced, being 10.99 in the US and 12.99 in Canada. The first single off the album is the very catchy tune, “What You Waiting For?” I really liked this song when I heard it on the radio for the first time, and I still like it quite a bit. Just something about it! I guess you could describe that song as “electric-pop”, and unlike a lot of first singles, it is quite representative of the overall sound of the album. Basically, “Love, Angel, Music, Baby” is like an electric version of 1980’s Madonna.

Other tracks on the album include “Rich Girl”, featuring Eve, “Hollaback Girl”, “Cool”, “Bubble Pop Electric”, “Luxurious”, “Harajuku Girls”, “Crash”, “Real Thing”, “Serious”, “Danger Zone”, and “Long Way to Go” featuring Andre 3000. I think my favorite song so far is “Serious”, which sounds very much like something Madonna might have put out and then remixed. A lot of the songs are catchy, and sound very polished. “Rich Girl” and “Danger Zone” are probably my next favorite tracks (and no, the latter sounds nothing like Kenny Loggins’ song of the same name).

Overall I think the album is worth the money. I think Gwen has gone and made an album that she wanted to, but that is different than most people would expect, so kudos for that. I don’t know how she could possibly perform any of these songs live, at least not without backup synths and samples. If you’re not into electric-pop music, you probably won’t like this release. And if you’re expecting something that sounds like No Doubt, you’ll be disappointed. Otherwise, I think you’ll probably enjoy Gwen’s first solo effort. I know I am!

Wondering what Jeopardy! god Ken Jennings is doing now? The game-show-winning-streak-record-holder has become the official spokesman for Microsoft’s 2005 Encarta line of products. From BetaNews:

Jennings will embark on a nationwide media tour called “Quiz the Whiz” that challenges news desks to stump the human encyclopedia with questions from Microsoft’s Encarta Reference Library Premium 2005.

Pretty good deal if you ask me!

This has got to be the most expensive dance party ever (Windows Media Player required). It comes from Engadget’s test feed for “broadsnatching”:

The other feed is our test feed here that has a robot dance party, really we’re not kidding, it’s a dance party with robots.

Notable robots include a Segway, Aibo, and Roomba.

Read: Engadget

This is absolutely priceless:

An American T-shirt company says its “Go Canadian” package is the perfect solution for U.S. travellers weary of dealing with questions on politics while on vacation. It includes a T-shirt showing the flag and the words “O Canada,” a flag lapel pin and sticker, and a maple leaf patch for luggage or backpacks.

It also comes with a quick reference guide called “How to Speak Canadian, Eh?!” to help people answer any questions about Canada while travelling.

All that Canadian goodness for only $24.95 USD. Check it out at T-ShirtKing.com. All kidding aside, it’s probably a good idea for traveling Americans. I remember back to 2000 when I went to Australia. Even then Canadians were more warmly welcomed than Americans. I can’t imagine what it would be like now!

Read: CBC News

Just came across The Departed, a Martin Scorsese movie slated for release in 2006 starring Matt Damon and Leonardo DiCaprio. I was reading about Ocean’s Twelve and came across this article on Brad Pitt, in which he says:

All that Pitt, 41, would say about any immediate plans for himself and Aniston is he’s “going to dabble in producing for a while. “I’m producing Matt Damon’s next movie The Departed, and Jenn and I are putting together a movie for her.”

The Departed is based on a trilogy of Chinese action movies about a Hong Kong police officer’s battles with a charismatic gang leader. Martin Scorcese is directing.

I immediately thought of Infernal Affairs now that I have seen it. The IMDB page for The Departed is really scarce, but the story looks the same, and user comments in the message boards all seem to think it is a rip off of IA. Does anyone know for sure? Was there a Chinese movie called The Departed, or is this really a remake/adaptation of Infernal Affairs?

As regular readers will know, I tend to follow news regarding China. The latest news all seems to be related to big business deals. China today signed 22 agreements with Germany, valued at billions of US dollars, ranging from financial co-operation to the purchase of Airbus jetliners:

Other agreements include bilateral co-operation in sectors such as railway, small and medium enterprises, technology, finance, purchase of aircraft and railway locomotives as well as the establishment of several joint ventures.

The bilateral trade volume between the two countries is expected to reach US$50 billion this year, said Schroeder at the press conference, adding the volume will be doubled in 2010.

Also inking deals yesterday with China was Italy. Fiat, Pirelli (Italian tyre manufacturer), and Skylogic are just some of the Italian companies involved.

Closer to my passion (technology, duh) is Lenovo, China’s largest PC maker, who is said to be in talks to buy IBM’s PC business:

And it is emblematic of the ambitions of emergent Chinese industrial giants to create global brand names and capture market share beyond their own borders. Formerly relegated to a low profile as the cheap assemblers for the rest of the industrialized world, Chinese companies now have their sights set on becoming global powers in their own right.

Looks like China is indeed becoming a force in the world marketplace! For related stories, click here.

I have been meaning to post about religious spam for a while now, but never got around to it. This BoingBoing post which links to a creepy Baby Jesus head reminded me. Thanks to our new mail server I don’t get as much spam as I used to, but a large portion of the spam I have been getting is religious in nature. And frankly, I find that rather disturbing.

It’s one thing to send me deals on Vicodin and Viagra, but it’s quite another to send me email asking me to share your religious beliefs. At least Viagra is useful. I know it’s probably just a few radical fundamentalists with too much bandwidth and time on their hands that are doing it, but religious spam certainly doesn’t make religion seem any more appealing. These spammers are like the 21st century equivalent of missionaries. Pretty sad if you ask me. Why can’t they just be happy with their own beliefs and keep to themselves?

One day I think we’ll get rid of spam. Until then, I will continue to check my inbox to see what impotence drugs Jesus has brought me today.

Just couldn’t resist posting this:

India’s top software exporter Tata Consultancy Services has won a multimillion-dollar deal with Italian sports car maker Ferrari to design Formula 1 engines. Teams of engineers and specialists from Tata Consultancy will assist in the development of a Formula 1 racing car engine, beginning next season.

Read: Wired

I just finished implementing BlogosphereRadio.com‘s newest feature – Episode Notes! Since the beginning we have included relevant links on an episode’s details page, but it was always just an unhelpful list. Not anymore!

The details page for all new episodes will have a nice tree structure outlining the time certain segments start, relevant links from that segment, and other cool information where applicable (like emails, pictures, etc). Other podcasters call these “production notes” or something similar but we’re calling them “Episode Notes”. Additionally, all Episode Notes are available in a version 1.0 OPML file. If you know what that is, you’ll probably be happy, otherwise, don’t worry about it!

The RSS and Atom feeds will continue to include the links the old way (as we cannot embed controls and stuff as easily), but they will also have a link to the episode’s OPML file included. Anyway, check it out! I have updated three episodes to include Episode Notes – Blogging With…Eric Rice, Blogoversial: Crisis in Ukraine, and Special Report: Blogger Auctions. As always, feedback is welcome and encouraged!

I hate needles. I don’t exactly know why, they just freak me out. Anyway, no matter how strongly Canadian Blood Services believes that it’s in me to give, it ain’t gonna happen. And maybe in the future, they won’t even have to ask.

Normally I don’t read much about war, but a new article on Wired called “Army Wages War on Modern Menaces” caught my eye. Basically it is a roundup of a number of emerging technologies being developed for use by the U.S. Army. One such technology is a “temporary blood replacement”:

The magic ingredient comes in a tiny bottle, which is filled with small bubbles just 2 microns across. The bubbles in this dodecafluoropentane emulsion swell to double size when they get in the lungs. Once they flow to the rest of the body, the bubbles distribute oxygen more efficiently than normal red blood cells. Forty cubic centimeters — just 8 teaspoons — would be as good at delivering oxygen as all of the blood flowing inside a person.

Sounds pretty intense right? This is the quote that did it for me, however:

“We’ve taken mice, drained out all of their blood, and replaced it with a saline solution and this,” Col. Bob Vandre, of the Army’s Medical Research and Materiel Command said. “They walk around like nothing’s happened.”

Of course, the bubbles lose their fizz after about a half hour and then the mouse needs it’s blood back, but still. Think of the possibilities! What if someone found a way to kill HIV without harming blood cells? You could take all the blood out of the person, clean it, and put it back! Or what if they figured out a way to make the bubbles last forever?

Read: Wired