Today, I stumbled upon this incredible and inspiring article about Wonders of Life, the Epcot Center pavilion created back in 1989 and closed in 2006. Below is a small passage from the article:

 Approaching the attraction, I didn’t know whether to jump for joy or shake my head at the posted “0 Minute” wait, I didn’t have time for either – I blew straight past that and jumped on the ride. I don’t think I have ever ridden a more intense simulator, the jolts and turns were on a level that made the former Back to the Future attraction look like the train at the local mall, and the headache I walked off with rivaled those that Mission: Space had ever delivered. Curse words and bruises (literally) aside, I didn’t care. I was revisiting my childhood, I was traveling through time, I was living it up, I was… riding it again! The only thing that stopped me from riding a third time was the fact that the giant LCD countdown timer for the next show in front of “Cranium Command” had reached mere seconds.

To view the whole article, just click here. I hope this article has been a inspiration as it was for me, a Blast from the Pass!

So the rising discontent with Apple’s new habit of selective feature enabling got us thinking — while we’re not experts on the subject, the generally accepted reasoning for the $20 iPod touch upgrade fee is the accounting requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act: iPhone and Apple TV updates are free since revenue from those products is realized as a subscription over a period of time, but iPod touch updates can’t be free since Apple just records that revenue directly. That certainly makes sense to us when applied to things like the 802.11n Enabler, which was trivially cheap and turned on unadvertised hardware features, but it strikes us as being a pretty big stretch when applied to a $20 package of new software applications. iPod name or no, the iPod touch is essentially a little computer, and the whole purpose of software is to enable “significant unadvertised new features” on a computer. For Apple (or anyone) to say that a mail app is a “significant new feature” for a computer is pushing the line just a bit far, and it makes us wonder how the company accounts for new versions of iTunes, QuickTime, and Safari, each of which add new features to already-sold Macs — and how things are going to play out when the iPhone / iPod touch SDK is released next month. We’ve got a call into Apple to get to the bottom of it all, we’ll let you know what (if anything) we find out.

Disclaimer: Although this post was written by an attorney, it is not meant as legal advice or analysis and should not be taken as such.

[Via Engadget]

Title: D-Pod Live Show #1

Date & Time: Monday, January 21st, 2008 at 8:00PM EST

Description: D-Pod Live is an interactive show where the listeners and call-ins interact with the hosts of the show. Join Jose Castillo, Tom Corless, Luke Manning, John Corigliano, Steve Swanson, Jason Diffendal, and Nick McLamb live. In a discussion of many, we will be discussing various topics and then you call in, let us know how you liked it and join us for discussion. Join us and many more in a fun filled evening.

10 Easy Steps On How TalkShoe Works:
1. (Optional) Visit www.talkshoe.com and register. (Registration is optional)
2.    Then visit www.talkshoe.com/tc/13539 and click “Join In Talkshoe Live Classic”.
3.    Once in, you can chat with us live and even listen to our streaming audio by clicking on the “Play” option.
4.    Now, are you ready to call in and talk to us live? Alright, click on “Dial Info” next to the Streaming Audio option.
5.    Now a window shows up giving you two ways of calling in. Follow the directions on either option to call in.
6.    First, if you call via Skype Out or Landline, dial the phone number (724)444-7444. Once you are on the phone, dial in the call in ID which is “13539” then the “#” sign.
7a.    You then will be asked for your Call In PIN, if you registered to Talkshoe, enter the 10 digit PIN you wrote, followed by the “#” sign.
7b.    If you didn’t register, then just type “1” and the “#” sign, though you will be unknown as the user.
8.    Once you do this, you will be on our live show and we will unmute you to chat with us live.
9.    That’s it ?
10. Umm, yeah something is suppose to go here….

Schedule (This schedule is subject to change)
8:00-8:10pm: Introduction
8:10-8:30pm: Live Call-Ins to Insult Luke Manning
8:30-8:50pm: Discussion Segment
8:50-9:00pm: Discussion Call-Ins
9:00-9:10pm: John Rick Discussion
9:10-9:20pm: Questions for John Rick Call-Ins
9:20-9:30pm: Jason Discussion
9:30-9:40pm: WDWCelebrations questions Call-In
9:40-9:55pm: Live Call-Ins
9:55-10:00pm: Conclusion

To subscribe to the WDW News Today podcast on Itunes, go to this link. If you do not have Itunes, visit podcast.wdwnewstoday.com to download our latest shows

After weeks without a regular show, we have returned with our longest and biggest show ever. Join host Tom Corless and a cast including Jason Diffendal, John Corigliano, Luke Manning, Jose Castillo, Nick McLamb, and John Rick. So sit back, relax, and enjoy all the amzing content we have to offer this week.

John Corigliano and Jason Diffendal join me for Walt Disney World news and rumors this week as we discuss the name change over at the Studios, all the construction going on at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Spa, a new parade that’s coming to the Magic Kingdom, and the future of the Wonders of Life pavillion at Epcot.

Next up, It’s the debut of what will be a weekly Disney Pin Trading segment with John Rick of the Central Jersey Disney Pin Traders (www.cjdpt.com). While this inaugral segment is over 1 hour long, it offers a look into the full spectrum of news and events in the Disney Pin Trading community. We hope in the coming weeks that we will be able to inform and entertain all of you pin sharks out there, and perhaps introduce those of you new to this hobby to all that Disney Pin Trading has to offer. I apologize for the sometimes bad audio quality, we will have that corrected for next week.

Finally, we have the first of what will be weekly discussions about eating at the Walt Disney World Resort. This week, we take a look at Counter Service Dining locations throughout the Magic Kingdom with Luke Manning (www.podisney.com), Jose Castillo (www.kryptonlogic.com), Nick McLamb (www.dnwproductions.com), Jason Diffendal (www.wdwcelebrations.com), and John Corigliano (www.mousetimes.com).

Coming up on Episode 27 (1/26/08):

Walt Disney World News and Rumors, another Disney Pin Trading Segment, A discussion on Table Service Dining locations at the Magic Kingdom, Our first WDW ’Back To The Future’ segment on the history of the ABC Theater in Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and much more!!!

To subscribe to the WDW News Today podcast on Itunes, go to this link. If you do not have Itunes, visit podcast.wdwnewstoday.com to download our latest shows

 [Via WDW News Today]

Right now, Listen or talk in the live Skypecast and chat HERE!!!

Here is some news from a partner site I am very proud to be a part of,  WDWCelebrations.com:

WDWCelebrations is proud to offer a new method of user-to-website communication where guests of WDWCelebrations.com have a chance to ask open questions and speak with the team working on upcoming WDWCelebrations events. Skypecasts are very much like conference calls, though designed to allow for proper queuing of questions and speakers in an organized fashion.  All Skypecasts will be recorded by WDWCelebrations staff in order to review all comments and questions for further review.

Skypecasts are a voice-only method of communication; therefore certain applications and hardware are required to participate.  Depending on the level of hardware, two options are available:  listen-only and interactivity (listen and speak).

Skypecast interactivity requires:

The most recent version of Skype (download at http://www.skype.com/)
A computer microphone or webcam capable of supporting online voice chats
Soundcard and speakers or headphones
In addition, a broadband or DSL internet connection is recommended
Please be sure to test your microphone by calling “Skype Test Call” (echo123) before joining the Skypecast.

Skypecast listening (no interactivity supported) requires:

The most recent version of Skype (download at http://www.skype.com/)
Soundcard and speakers or headphones
In addition, a broadband or DSL internet connection is recommeded

Our next Skypecast is scheduled for:

Saturday, January 19, 8:00 pm EST

The link to join the Skypecast will be posted here approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.

For guests participating in listen-only mode, the link to join the text-only Skype Chat will be posted here approximately 30 minutes before the scheduled start time.

This Skypecast will be extremely pertinent for those planning on joining us for the Animal Kingdom 10th Anniversary Event from WDWCelebrations, “A Wild Decade”, or any other future WDWCelebrations special events.

Yesterday, we came across these badass OSX pillows which we believed were one of a kind. However, it appears that the creator will be cranking out a limited run of these handmade beauties for $20 apiece.

Visit The Product Page

Rumors of Microsoft’s successor to Vista have been cropping up virtually since day one, and if this latest one is to be believed, it looks like one of the earliest may have been right on target after all. According to TG Daily, “several industry sources” are now saying that the a very early version of the so-called “Windows 7″ OS has already shipped to “key partners,” and that Microsoft is now eying the second half of 2009 for a release of the real deal. That’s a slight revision from the most recent rumors, which had pegged the debut as late as 2010 or, more vaguely, sometime within the next three years. As if that wasn’t enough, Microsoft’s apparently also lined up the next two early versions to be released, with the so-called M2 build slated for April or May of this year, and the M3 release slated to drop sometime in the third quarter. Given recent history, however, it’s probably not the best idea to start marking your calendars just yet.

[Via Engadget]

Seems that rumors are going around the net about the Wonders of Life pavilion over at Epcot is going to be reopening starting February 1st, 2008. From the official disneyworld.com website, Wonders of Life has been removed from the closure page and the pavilion has been re-added to the park map listing the attractions of Body Wars, Cranium Command, and The Making of Me. Stay tuned to our blog to see what officially happens on February 1st. This could be a great deal and hopefully it will open, but personally Wonders of Life needs a new sponsor very soon. This after an article posted by Luke earlier today.

BRING BACK WONDERS OF LIFE!!!!!

Read

Well, this was inevitable. When Steve Jobs dramatically presented the MacBook Air by removing it from a manila envelope, two enterprising artists saw an opportunity, and the result is AirMail.

It’s a vinyl laptop sleeve for the MacBook Air that looks just like — you guessed it — a standard issue manila envelope. They’re lined with fleece and even feature a tie enclosure. Each hand made bag costs $29.95US, and they begin shipping two weeks from today.

It’s not the most durable bag available, but among the most clever.

Link; http://www.ManilaMac.com/

Join Luke Manning, John Corigliano, Tom Corless, Jose Castillo, Nick McLamb, & many more people in a chat about Disney & other stuff going on in the world. Call in & chat with us, add something to say… You are the host in this first ever live show! Brought to you by Pod Disney, WDW News Today, Disney News Weekly, & The Kryptonlogic Studios Weblog.

Date: January 21st, 2008

Time: 8:00PM EST

Place: http://www.talkshoe.com/tc/13539

What you need to do: Register & download the client to call us or chat with us live.

If you have any questions, please contact me (Jose) by using our lovely Contact Us page.