I know it’s a bit harsh making fun of people who fail, but it’s like watching a car crash. You know it’s wrong, but you just can’t look away.

1. The “during an NBA game” approach

For those who don’t already know, the Gimp is a powerful, open source image editing application. For more info on the Gimp visit gimp.org. GIMPshop is essentially the same program with some cosmetic changes.

If you’ve never used Photoshop before, you may not appreciate the GIMPshop hack. What Scott Moschella’s done is renamed and reorganized GIMP’s tools, options, windows, and menus to closely resemble Adobe Photoshop’s menu structure and naming conventions. Many of the menu options and even whole menus were recreated to faithfully reproduce a Photoshop-like experience. After running this GIMPshop hack, you’ll find that Photoshop and the GIMP are strikingly similar.

The latest version is available for Linux and Mac, and there’s also an earlier release available for Windows users. Updates are frequent so a Windows version should be available soon. So for all of you designers and photo enthusiasts that can’t afford to buy Adobe Photoshop this is a fantastic solid and free alternative.

For more information, screenshots and downloads visit plasticbugs.com.

Came across a couple of really funny photos this week. Enjoy!

Safety first! The new Windows XP Firewall…

Current solar airplanes are not designed to store energy and therefore have to land in cases of insufficient sunlight (clouds or night time). In so doing they mark the limits of solar energy. Other projects are seeking to fly remote controlled solar drones or hydrogen-powered airplanes. To demonstrate the formidable potential of renewable energies, Solar Impulse intends to place the bar much higher and have a piloted aircraft fly night and day without fuel.

Solar Impulse is building the first prototype airplane that aims to demonstrate the feasibility of flying day and night, only propelled by solar energy.

For Bertrand Piccard, the initiator and president of the project, this airplane is the symbol of the new technologies that our society ought to be capable of rallying behind it in order to economize the energy resources of our planet.

Solar Impulse, in this sense, really means what its name says. The sun provides the energy, but the impulse to use it has to be transmitted to people who are ready to receive it and carry it further. In any case, it demonstrates the importance of tomorrow’s adventures being linked to the search for a better quality of life.

The first test flights will take place in early 2009.

In 2011, Piccard and André Borschberg (CEO) will fly around the world with five stopovers.

IATA will help make this dream a reality by providing support including assistance in obtaining air traffic control clearance.

“In one year’s time, Solar Impulse will fly without any polluting emissions, but will carry only one person. To achieve IATA’s vision there are a little more than 40 years left to find a way to increase the payload to a few hundred passengers,” said Piccard. [Source]

Now, for the first time, Microsoft is giving its valuable software developer and design tools directly to students worldwide at no charge*! This site enables students to download professional-level Microsoft developer and design tools to unlock creative potential and set students on the path to academic and career success, by supporting and advancing learning and skills through technical design, technology, math, science and engineering activities (according to themselves).

Who can get this right now?

Microsoft are kicking this off in 11 countries/regions, giving DreamSpark to millions of students in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, China, Germany, France, Finland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Belgium. If you are not residing in one of the countries listed keep checking back, more countries will be added throughout the year.

* In order to get this software from Microsoft at no charge, you will be asked to establish or verify your student status once every 12 months. This process is built into this DreamSpark site itself. Verification of valid student status will enable students from around the globe to download Microsoft developer and design tools at no charge. Note: You must be at least 18 years old or have otherwise reached the age of majority in the place (province, state or country) where you live, or if not, your parent or legal guardian must accept the Microsoft DreamSpark software license terms on your behalf, in order for you to download and use the software.

So what does this mean?

Unless you are a student you wont get anything. On the other side students probably have these products already via P2P or bit torrent. I assume Microsoft are doing this to try and capture students before they turn to the free (and better) open source solutions. What’s your take on this?