a2z WordFinder Expands Your Vocab, Makes You a Better Scrabble Player

Check out this website I found at a2zwordfinder.com

When you've got some down time in between Scrabble games, it pays to brush up on your knowledge of obscure high-scoring words. a2z WordFinder is a handy site for learning new words that you can unleash on unsuspecting opponents.

This free online Scrabble dictionary lets players enter a combination of letters then coughs up playable words ranked according to how many points they'll earn you. (It's not pretty, but it's effective.) Stick with the American dictionary, or search the British and International dictionaries to broaden your horizons.

a2z WordFinder also helps you build words against what's already on the board and even figures out how to create words that span open rows or columns. If you need the results to contain specific letters in a particular order, the site can do that, too.

a2z WordFinder was designed as a way for Scrabble aficionados to enhance their vocabulary skills, not cheat against other players—because that would be uncool.

World's largest indoor waterpark

Seagaia Ocean Dome

from wiki and all over internet: The Seagaia Ocean Dome is the world's largest indoor waterpark, located in Miyazaki, Miyazaki, Japan. The Ocean Dome, which is a part of the Sheraton Seagaia Resort, measures 300 metres in length and 100 metres in width, and is listed on the Guinness World Records. It opened in 1993, and visitor numbers peaked in 1995 at 1.25 million a year. Entrance cost was ¥2600 per adult and ¥1600 for children, depending on the season. The Ocean Dome was officially closed on October 1, 2007 as part of a renovation and partial re-branding of the resort. Luckily, the renovations were completed on Novemeber 13th, 2009, and the dome has been reopened. Ever since the reopening of the waterpark, the amount of customers has nearly doubled, and the price has increased to ¥3000 per adult and ¥2000 per child.

Miyazaki is only a breath away by plane, 1 hour 30 minutes from Tokyo’s Haneda Airport and 1 hour 5 minutes from Kansai International Airport. Buses to Seagaia leave from Miyazaki Airport as well as from the JR Miyazaki station, and take less than 30 minutes.

Oh i wish i could visit this once...
  • a fake flame-spitting volcano,
  • artificial sand 
  • the world's largest retractable roof, which provides a permanently blue sky even on a rainy day.
  • The air temperature was always held at around 30 degrees celsius and the water at around 28.

Ponyo - Cliff by the Sea

Gake no ue no Ponyo Theme Song – Hiragana Lyrics
ポニョ、ポニョ、ポニョ、さかなのこ
あおい　うみから　やってきた
ポニョ、ポニョ、ポニョ、ふくらんだ
まんまる　おなかの　おんなのこ

ペタペタ、ピョンピョン、
あしって　いいな　かけちゃお
みぎみぎ、ぶんぶん、
おてては　いいな、つないじゃお

あのこと　はねると　こころも　おどるよ
ぱくぱく、ちゅぎゅ、ぱくぱく、ちゅぎゅ、
あのこが　だいすき

まっかっかの　ポニョ、ポニョ、ポニョ、さかなのこ
あおい　うみから　やってきた
ポニョ、ポニョ、ポニョ、ふくらんだ
まんまる　おなかの　おんなのこ

Gake no ue no Ponyo Theme Song – Romaji Lyrics
Ponyo Ponyo Ponyo sakana no ko
Aoi umi kara yatte kita
Ponyo Ponyo Ponyo fukurannda
Manmaru onaka no onna no ko
Peta-peta pyon-pyon
Asitte iina kakechao
Migi-migi-bun-bun
Otetewa iina tunaijao

Anoko to haneru to kokoro mo odoruyo
Paku-paku chu-gyu, paku-paku chu-gyu
Anoko ga daisuki

Makkakka no Ponyo Ponyo Ponyo sakana no ko
Aoi umi kara yatte kita
Ponyo Ponyo Ponyo fukurannda
Manmaru onaka no onna no ko

Gake no ue no Ponyo Theme Song – English Lyrics (first draft)

Ponyo Ponyo Ponyo, it’s a fish kid
It came from the blue ocean
Ponyo Ponyo Ponyo,
She is a round bellied girl
Peta-peta pyon-pyon
How nice to have feet! I’ll try to run!
Migi-migi-bun-bun
How nice to have hands! I’ll try to hold hands with!

When I jump with her, my heart dances along
Paku-paku chu-gyu, paku-paku chu-gyu
I love her so much!

Ponyo Ponyo Ponyo, it’s a fish kid in red
It came from the blue ocean
Ponyo Ponyo Ponyo,
She is a round bellied girl

From Garry: You can't separate visual design from interaction design.

Quoting from Garry at posterous...

In 86 slides, Stephen Anderson explains why it's impossible to separate visual design from the core of the product. You can't just make it pretty later. Visual design has to be baked in from the beginning.

Visual design and understanding of gestalt give you the tools to realize your intentions. Interaction design is knowing what a user should be able to do on a given step. Visual design is making something that allows the user to do it, quickly, efficiently, easily, and all the while feeling good about themselves.

In consumer products, how the customer feels when using your software is make-or-break.

New 'old' car

Just back from Netz Higashi Saitama with my new 'old' car. (old=2nd hand).
Head straight back to Waseda for the Medical Open Source Software Seminar at 19-610,GSAPS.