Monday, June 25, 2007 at 2:58pm by The Free Geek
Conventional wisdom holds that you only get what you pay for, but the real free geek knows that with the right knowledge (and maybe a charming smile) pretty much anything, even the good stuff, can be had for less or in the best case scenarios nothing at all. Despite this, there are a number of things out there that don’t seem to scream “free” majority of the time (MIT being one). Here’s a list of a few free things that might surprise you.
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Thursday, June 21, 2007 at 2:32pm by The Free Geek
A scientific duo at Tel-Aviv University discovered this past month that the injection of a chemical stimulant into an artificial culture of live neurons at crucial points in time could create an environment that can store multiple rudimentary memories. While many individuals might be disturbed about the fact that artificial intelligence has become a reality, advocates might applaud the scientists’ conclusion that chemical stimulation may be crucial to learning about memory formation in living organisms. Still other individuals might wonder if a middle ground in this debate about artificial intelligence is possible, or if any semblance of humor can be injected into a serious subject to lighten the atmosphere.
Individuals who resist the artificial intelligence development often believe that this technology bodes nothing but evil, especially if research falls into nefarious hands. Others are grateful for this research. Witness Jesse Sullivan, an electrician who accidentally touched an active cable that contained 7,000-7,500 volts of electricity in 2001 and, as a result, lost both arms at the shoulder. Since then, he’s become the recipient of a ‘bionic arm’ created by scientists at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago. His experience, while truly unique, may help others lead active lives in the near future with these life-like prostheses.
The middle ground, perhaps, comes when society realizes that progress is inevitable, “evil” may exist alongside altruism, and — while hindsight is 20/20 — a little foresight and humor can help to create a gray area for a future where machines may outsmart a Mensa member. Even if you live on a limited budget, you can try a few of the following ideas on for size. Who knows? You might decide that you enjoy being less human and more resistant to all the limitations that the flesh endures.
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Monday, June 18, 2007 at 1:27pm by The Free Geek
As any geek can tell you, the smaller and more portable a gadget is, the better that gadget becomes. You can’t get much more portable than USB drives, which can be carried in a pocket, around the neck, or even on a key chain. This, in and of itself, is already a pretty cool and a relatively inexpensive way to carry around a few extra gigs of whatever it is you need to carry around. But there are ways to make your USB drive even more useful, and these processes allow you to take many of the functions of your desktop with you to any computer you might want to use.
You can find numerous programs designed to run specifically from a USB drive. Best of all, almost all these programs are free, so put that Amex back in your wallet. Simply install them on your USB drive and they’re ready to travel with you anywhere. Here’s a list of 55 of the most useful USB programs around. (more…)
Tuesday, June 12, 2007 at 3:17pm by The Free Geek
People say there’s no such thing as a free lunch, but we can prove them wrong. Not only can we tell you how to get a free lunch, we will throw in breakfast, dinner and a light snack. If your wallet is as empty as your stomach, you shouldn’t have a problem trying some of these proven tactics, even the more unorthodox ones. The next time you go out for a bite, leave that credit card at home, as you won’t need it. Below, we unveil 14 ways you can eat for free.
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Monday, June 4, 2007 at 2:59pm by The Free Geek
There are many different definitions for the word “geek”. Although the title was originally used for carnival performers who ate live animals or non-food items, we probably all think of a geek as someone much less offensive than that. Indeed, your notions of a geek are probably that of a harmless loner who works in computers or reads science fiction novels. Although once a word used pejoratively, there has been a movement to reappropriate the label of geek and make it something to be proud of. Call it “geek chic“, if you will, and in the politically correct climate we live in today, you’d better educate yourself on what is or isn’t characteristic of a geek. Below are 10 common myths about geeks that just don’t always ring true for everyone in the category.
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