Nxt Blog Index
Technology
April 17, 2009
The Scanner The hipster grifter, the Dork Yearbook and deep fried Cadbury Eggs

We've reached a landmark on The Scanner. For the first time the Scanner has dug up a use for bacon that even I'm not entirely comfortable with. That should tell you something.

Also, deep fried Cadbury Creme Eggs. That's when Easter hurts.

Continue reading "The Scanner The hipster grifter, the Dork Yearbook and deep fried Cadbury Eggs"
Posted at 09:30 AM
Comments (1) | Permalink

April 03, 2009
The Scanner: Superhero day jobs, bacon-up your life and 100 ways to destroy a Peep

We just seem to be running behind schedule on the NXT Desk this week. Fear not, I think The Scanner will make up for it this week. It's got peeps, bacon, cute pets and a horrific new twist in The Snuggie.

Continue reading "The Scanner: Superhero day jobs, bacon-up your life and 100 ways to destroy a Peep"
Posted at 11:42 AM
Comments (0) | Permalink

March 13, 2009
Westbound and Down: Heading to SXSW Interactive

My weekend plans got thrown out the window the other day. Why?

I found out I would be going to South By Southwest Interactive.

So much for college basketball...time to pack the multimedia jump kit again.

Continue reading "Westbound and Down: Heading to SXSW Interactive"
Posted at 10:20 AM
Comments (4) | Permalink

March 12, 2009
The Scanner: Stealing from Girl Scouts, beer wars and private ping-pong clubs

You know, when I first started up the Scanner a few years back, I really wasn't sure what to make of it. All I knew is I needed some place to collect and run down all the hilarious/awesome/bizarre/amazing stuff that pops up on the Internets.

There really is no other way to explain how Tom Brady's wife, a cover of Rush's "Limelight," Dr. Mario and more Facebook shame fit together.

Continue reading "The Scanner: Stealing from Girl Scouts, beer wars and private ping-pong clubs"
Posted at 11:54 AM
Comments (0) | Permalink

February 26, 2009
The Scanner: 25 years of Ninja Turtles, gold parties, the couch dress and Pac-Man ascendant

When you flip the on switch to The Scanner each week it's impossible to know what you're going to get. How else could we end up with legislators trying Cocaine, a Twitter War, gold parties and ethical questions on porn?

The answer is meh.*

(*Why "Meh?" See below.)

Continue reading "The Scanner: 25 years of Ninja Turtles, gold parties, the couch dress and Pac-Man ascendant"
Posted at 11:04 AM
Comments (0) | Permalink

February 19, 2009
The Scanner: Recession sex, The Snuggie Bar Crawl and 'Pride & Predator'

How do Michael Jackson's garage sale, the Large Hadron Collider, the Snuggie and booze "shot guns" all fit together?

In the Scanner of course. He insanity (and inanity) of a week's worth of the Interweb's best.

Continue reading "The Scanner: Recession sex, The Snuggie Bar Crawl and 'Pride & Predator' "
Posted at 02:56 PM
Comments (0) | Permalink

February 04, 2009
Google: Enabling the Stalker in All of Us

It's no secret to anyone who has spent 5 minutes online that the Internet has made snooping on your friends, family and neighbors a lot easier.
But these days, as new social networks, mobile devices and location-based applications continue to spring to life, the question is becoming "what's acceptable stalking?"

Continue reading "Google: Enabling the Stalker in All of Us"
Posted at 02:55 PM
Comments (1) | Permalink

January 08, 2009
The Scanner: Yes We Canned, BBQ Bacon Explosion, and The Oregon Trail

First time I fired up the Scanner in 2009 and it ran like a dream. I take it as a good sign that no matter how times change or how crappy the economy gets, the Internet never seems to run out of hilarious, disturbing and downright bizarre stuff.

Dive in.

Continue reading "The Scanner: Yes We Canned, BBQ Bacon Explosion, and The Oregon Trail"
Posted at 01:58 PM
Comments (0) | Permalink

December 10, 2008
They Can See You: Google Expands Street View in Maine

The long arm of Google has finally reached Maine, and now a lot of us are going to be spending time reading maps.

Google quietly increased its coverage of the "Street View" feature of Google Maps, and it now includes Maine.

Observe Press Herald Plaza.

Continue reading "They Can See You: Google Expands Street View in Maine"
Posted at 10:59 AM
Comments (4) | Permalink

October 27, 2008
The Monday Fix: Bottle smugglers, Oprah and final thoughts on Pop!Tech

The weekend that was, uh, was, a tiring one. Pop!Tech put a serious drain on the batteries, but I won't let that stop me from serving up some of things you may have missed in the last 72 hours.

Continue reading "The Monday Fix: Bottle smugglers, Oprah and final thoughts on Pop!Tech "
Posted at 12:22 PM
Comments (0) | Permalink

October 06, 2008
The Monday Fix: Coffee Brandy, Fey and Palin and Apple Rumors

The Monday fix was a bit of a necessity for me this morning, as I was off in Chicago over the weekend and in somewhat of a media blackout. No news, no blogs, not even a single Tweet for two days.

Actually, that was kind of nice, now that I think of it.

Continue reading "The Monday Fix: Coffee Brandy, Fey and Palin and Apple Rumors"
Posted at 11:09 AM
Comments (2) | Permalink

October 02, 2008
The Scanner: Lil' O'Reilly, pop-up bars and Calvin and Hobbes explain the bail-out

In these unsure times of financial turmoil, rest assured that some things are always constant, like The Scanner.

That is until The Scanner becomes insolvent and has to file for bankruptcy or gets bought out by AOL, who in turn gets bought out by General Electric, and so on.

So, relax. Really.

Continue reading "The Scanner: Lil' O'Reilly, pop-up bars and Calvin and Hobbes explain the bail-out"
Posted at 04:31 PM
Comments (0) | Permalink

September 18, 2008
The Scanner: Mustache hats, bacon charts and Michael Scott

Oh sweet Internets, you'll never let us down. You're like the cow that never runs out of milk. Really, really bizarre, sometimes unfortunate, milk.

Uh...that means it's time for The Scanner!

Continue reading "The Scanner: Mustache hats, bacon charts and Michael Scott"
Posted at 11:16 AM
Comments (2) | Permalink

September 15, 2008
Rob Caldwell and John McCain - A match made in viral video heaven

Typically the only Mainers who get national exposure for their viral videos are the guys over at Eepybird.com whenever they roll out a wacky new experiment.

But over this last weekend, it wasn't a couple of guys in lab coats and some exploding Diet Coke - it was a local TV anchor and a presidential candidate.

Continue reading "Rob Caldwell and John McCain - A match made in viral video heaven"
Posted at 02:32 PM
Comments (2) | Permalink

September 11, 2008
The Large Hadron Collider: Cosmic Rays? Black Holes? Anti Matter?

Deep below a picturesque village on the Swiss/French boarder, scientists are toying with the very bits that may have started life in the universe.

Scientist! Toying! Universe! Doesn't anyone else see what this means?

SUPER SCIENCE!

Continue reading "The Large Hadron Collider: Cosmic Rays? Black Holes? Anti Matter?"
Posted at 10:06 AM
Comments (3) | Permalink

September 08, 2008
It's All Connected: The life you lead online

I think I'm pretty typical of people my age in that I've got an online presence that doesn't take too much digging to find. I'm on the usual collection of social networking sites - MySpace, Facebook, and Twitter among others.

And like most folks I hopped on the social networking train with the same general concept most people have - staying "connected."

But what does that really mean?

Continue reading "It's All Connected: The life you lead online"
Posted at 12:40 PM
Comments (0) | Permalink

September 05, 2008
The Scanner: Category 4 weather reporters, GunO'Clock and McCain to the Future!

We're back at full strength here on the NXT Desk, and we've got the Scanner all fired up and ready for another week's worth of fabulous Internet treasures.

Continue reading "The Scanner: Category 4 weather reporters, GunO'Clock and McCain to the Future! "
Posted at 09:50 AM
Comments (0) | Permalink

August 27, 2008
Guest Post: Portland, Maine - The Way Web Should Be

Rob Landry asks why you wouldn't want to start up a web business here in Portland?

To begin a story about Web design in Portland, Maine, I'll start in the Atlanta airport.

That was where, while I was waiting to board the connecting flight that was to take me to the 2007 SXSW Interactive conference, that I found myself standing next to Andy Clarke. He isn't exactly a household name, but in the world of Web, Clarke - an expert on CSS and a member of the Web Standards Project - is a rock star (he even actually looks like a rock star, a cross between someone from the British Invasion and Austin Powers. You have to admit - he's got style).

Continue reading "Guest Post: Portland, Maine - The Way Web Should Be"
Posted at 10:08 AM
Comments (3) | Permalink

August 18, 2008
Thanks again for ruining the party, music industry (Pandora Edition)

Though I was kneecap deep in local stories while I was working at Press Herald Plaza over the weekend, something that came across the NXT Desk shocked me.

"Pandora Close to 'Pulling the Plug."

Wait...what?

Continue reading "Thanks again for ruining the party, music industry (Pandora Edition)"
Posted at 11:18 AM
Comments (7) | Permalink

August 13, 2008
Barack's blowin' up your cell phone ('Standard rates apply' edition)

By now most of the free world has gotten the word that Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama plans to announce his choice for vice president over text message and e-mail soon.

Aside from the gee-whiz (yesterday was neat-o, now it's gee-whiz. I can't explain it) and "shaking up tradition" factors, what does it really mean that a major party candidate for president is sending out major decisions the same way you make weekend plans with your friends?

Continue reading "Barack's blowin' up your cell phone ('Standard rates apply' edition)"
Posted at 11:36 AM
Comments (1) | Permalink

June 09, 2008
SOUND OFF: Mac Mysteries and iPie Dreams

One of the more inescapable news stories today is Apple CEO Steve Jobs' speech at Apple's Word Wide Developers Conference today.

Apparently it's a widely held rumor that Jobs plans to announce a next generation iPhone today.

But what if he doesn't?

Continue reading "SOUND OFF: Mac Mysteries and iPie Dreams"
Posted at 10:45 AM
Comments (3) | Permalink

March 03, 2008
Winners and Losers in High Def

Since DVD was effectively snuffed out of existence (by its own maker, how tragic), there are questions that need answering.

Most importantly – if you completely bought in to one format or another, were you setting yourself up for a fall?

Continue reading "Winners and Losers in High Def"
Posted at 10:57 AM
Comments (2) | Permalink

February 28, 2008
The Scanner: Have snacks, will travel

Get an energy bar and a Red Bull, it's time for the weekly dose of all things tasty, techy and pop-culture-y (yes, that is not a word.).

Time for to fire up The Scanner.

Continue reading "The Scanner: Have snacks, will travel"
Posted at 12:16 PM
Comments (1) | Permalink

February 11, 2008
Monday Morning Round–Up (So that happened part. II)

Was there something going on at Portland High School yesterday?
I drove past there and it looked like the entire city was trying to get in there.

Continue reading "Monday Morning Round–Up (So that happened part. II)"
Posted at 10:33 AM
Comments (0) | Permalink

January 10, 2008
The Scanner: CES edition

Since I'm the closest thing to a "technology" reporter for this fair establishment, I'm setting aside the pop culture in this week's Scanner in favor of more gadgets, toys and expensive high–tech goodness.

Why, you may ask?

CES.

Continue reading "The Scanner: CES edition"
Posted at 03:17 PM
Comments (0) | Permalink

December 06, 2007
The Scanner: Where every day is Repeal Day

Sure you like to think your time is precious, especially at work, but come on ... don't fight your inner procrastinator.

Succumb to The Scanner, it will waste your time in ways you won't feel so bad about.

Continue reading "The Scanner: Where every day is Repeal Day"
Posted at 10:20 AM
Comments (1) | Permalink

November 28, 2007
Don't like your cellphone service?

Here are a few things I'm wondering from yesterday's big news that Verizon is opening up its network to any device with wireless capability.

The big footprint here obviously is that if you like your phone (and it's not an iPhone), you can take it with you over to Verizon.

Continue reading "Don't like your cellphone service?"
Posted at 10:23 AM
Comments (0) | Permalink

November 08, 2007
Poll watching and a mini scanner

It's been a busy week here at NXT, what with all the Democracy in action, late nights, meat pies and cocktails.

Wait, that's another story entirely.

Anyway, I haven't been around blog-town much this week, and for that I apologize. Not that anyone's looking forward to a daily dose of NXT, but what good is this thing if I don't update it regularly?

Continue reading "Poll watching and a mini scanner"
Posted at 02:46 PM
Comments (0) | Permalink

October 15, 2007
The Fightin' iPods of iTunes U

In recent years Apple has become a behemoth, known for its unrelenting release of new products and software innovation. (Also well known for forcing the lower-case "i" onto the world and Steve Jobs' love of black turtlenecks. All that money, where's the style Jobsy?)

Continue reading "The Fightin' iPods of iTunes U"
Posted at 11:05 AM
Comments (1) | Permalink

August 08, 2007
Apple wants to own you, and other Tech news

In case you did not hear, Apple is making yet another stab at global domination, or at least cornering the coveted "Back-to-School!" market. They have released the newest iMac. It is sleek, cold and exhilarating ... according to all the news coverage and geek lust.

Continue reading "Apple wants to own you, and other Tech news"
Posted at 12:32 PM
Comments (1) | Permalink

Justin is a former newspaper intern and has the scar tissue to prove it. Justin has been a staff writer for the Portland Press Herald/Maine Sunday Telegram since 2003, and in 2004 began writing a weekly column in the Monday Magazine.

If he had to pick a label, the column would fall under "youth culture," covering everything from high school dance etiquette, dealing with college debt, the resurgence of Roller Derby and Portland's one-of-a-kind music scene. This of course has not stopped him from answering letters to Santa Claus or writing about his experience riding shotgun in a drift car.

Justin is an export from the Midwest. He is a graduate of the University of Missouri and is originally from Minnesota. He enjoys bacon, cheap beer, redheads, Burt Reynolds jokes and wondering what the soundtrack to his life would sound like.

When he grows up he wants to be an international art thief. Or Captain America.

Until then he'll be bringing you dispatches about "the young people" and what they do.






WAYS TO LISTEN
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2) Subscribe
ITUNES other podcast client

3) Direct Download
IE: Right-click select 'Save Target As
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Bring on the Tights: Free Comic Book Day
Celebrating Vinyl at Enterprise Records
The NXT Roundtable: The economy & doughnuts
South by Southwest Interactive: Talking with Jay Smooth
The Night at Greendrinks
The NXT Roundtable
Day at the Newseum
Subject Bias: How to Feel
ROFLing with "Stuff White People Like"
Geekspeak with Pop Candy
A Green Eye for Fashion
Not My Job
What's next for Justin Alfond
Sittin' down with Stew n' Crew
Lessons with the Portland Music Foundation
Catching up with Opportunity Maine
Discussing Freedom Space
Spinout's Class of 2007
Free for All in Space
Flipping Records: WMPG's Annual Record Sale
An evening at the MECA art auction
Beats, award shows and life with Mike Clouds
The NXT Halloween Special
Chat with Davy Rothbart of FOUND Magazine
When Turtles Make Love *Warning: mature material
Derby night in America
The debut of Halo 3
A sit down with Santiago




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Most Recent Comments
The Scanner The hipster grifter, the Dork Yearbook and deep fried Cadbury Eggs (1)
AC wrote: My NPR name is Ammy Stanstead (Ammy pronounced like Tammy w/out the T). To...

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Justin Ellis wrote: It is extremely geeky. I'm gonna need a guide to the schedule. Thanks for ...

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Sharky wrote: I'm having a hard time with your loose definition of "stalking," although i...

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BOO wrote: I just checked and it sure the heck aint my yard they have for my address!...

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Senseless Babble wrote: Wow! I missed this one somehow. Just caught the interview online... I wo...

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Paul wrote: Or, if that isn't clear enough, http://www.hasthelhcdestroyedtheearth.com/...

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doug wrote: I can think of a lot of reasons a technology person wouldn't want to live i...

Thanks again for ruining the party, music industry (Pandora Edition) (7)
Zachary Bernstein wrote: The music industry is going to shoot themselves in the foot. If they do, I...

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JEB wrote: What is text messaging? I hear these young people talk about it but I don'...

SOUND OFF: Mac Mysteries and iPie Dreams (3)
Silence is golden wrote: In response to MH's comment: "Simply by saying the word" - ha! Maybe by say...

Winners and Losers in High Def (2)
Grammar Goddess wrote: Hi there, Just a quick note about a typo in your first line: by it'...

The Scanner: Have snacks, will travel (1)
Alex Steed wrote: I saw that Slate video a little under a month ago and I laughed heartily. S...

Monday Morning Round–Up (So that happened part. II) (0)
The Scanner: CES edition (0)
The Scanner: Where every day is Repeal Day (1)
Dylan wrote: USM is all set now. My friends and I took care of the mumps zombies. They n...

Don't like your cellphone service? (0)
Poll watching and a mini scanner (0)
The Fightin' iPods of iTunes U (1)
Carol Meerschaert wrote: USM School of Business graduate students have podcasts on iTunes. You can a...

Apple wants to own you, and other Tech news (1)
Brandon wrote: If Apple is going to pwn anything it'll need more than 5% of the PC market ...