Spring is finally here and fans of Rita’s Italian Ice can get a free treat to mark the first day of spring (also known as spring equinox).

For the past 17 years, Rita’s has been giving away a free, regular size Italian Ice to each and every guest to mark the first day of spring, according to their web site.  This is a sweet date for Italian Ice lovers, as each year, hundreds of thousands of guests visit Rita’s in search of the first taste of spring.

The giveaway is available on Saturday, March 20, 2010, from noon until 10 p.m. at participating stores. To find a store near you, click here.

A Wal-Mart store announcement ordering Black people to leave brought chagrin and apologies from the leaders of the company, which has built a fragile trust among minority communities.

A male voice came over the public address system at a store in Washington Township, in Southern New Jersey, and announced: ” Attention Wal-Mart customers: All black people, leave the store now.”

A manager quickly got on the public address system and apologized for the remark. And while it was unclear whether a rogue patron or an employee was responsible for the comment, many customers expressed anger to the store management.

A concerned customer who was shopping at the time asked the authorities, “I want to know why such statements are being made, because it flies in the face of our children about tolerance for all. If it was meant to be a prank, there is only one person laughing, and it’s not either one of us.”

Two other customers said they plan to boycott the retailer until they are assured that the issue has been addressed so it does not happen again. The pair confessed that initially they thought they had misheard, but later as it sank in, they got upset and angry.

One loyal customer said, “I am dependent on Wal-Mart for all my needs because the store has everything that you want. But until the issue is addressed in a way that I am comfortable with, I can’t walk through those doors again.”

Officials with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., based in Bentonville, Ark., said that the announcement was “unacceptable” and that they are trying to determine who made it and how it happened.

Xeon Wordpress Migration

I have completed migrating TechBanyan to much powerful servers. This is part of the testing process to ensure writers can write and that the Wordpress dashboard editor is correctly visible and functioning as per the design.

I can clearly see the Visual and HTML editor page. If you have problems correctly viewing the dashboard or editor, try refreshing a few times. Closing the browser and clearing the cache also might help. If not give me a buzz and we’ll look into it.

I will further continue to test the server and see if anything breaks. If you spot any differences, good or bad, let me know.

For the record, I have gone with a web hosting company called Server Point (formerly known as A+ Hosting) and I am using their XEON servers.

As part of the upgrade, I have had to update the IP address of the site as well. This update process usually takes about 24 to 48 hrs to have the cascading effect across the world.

To enable this migration, I exported the database using PhpMyAdmin and then imported the database on the new servers. The import and export was failing initially because the internet connection at my place was not the best. I tried it like thousand times but for the life of me I couldn’t figure out why the DB export and import was getting only partially done. Eventually I decided I will spend the weekend in a library to get a handle on this thing and within first try it worked.

Apparently when migrating big databases (over 4000 posts), it is important to have excellent internet connection. Thanks to Warner Library, I was able to get my job done in the most time efficient manner. This example underscores why it is so important to have excellent infrastructure in place to facilitate and grow business.

Had I been in some other part of the world or even in the country of my birth, I am not sure if I had similar options available to me.

PS: Incidentally, the second half of the process was completed in Greenburg Public Library.

Nine people have died in a major fire that broke out in the Carlton Towers, a high-rise office complex in Bangalore, India. The deaths were caused either by choking in smoke or injuries when someone tried to jump from the seven story building, fire officials said.

Nine, six men and three women, died and around 50 injured in the incident.

The fire broke out on the fifth floor office of an IT firm around 4 p.m., trapping several hundreds in the Carlton Towers, an office building on the busy old Airport Road in Bangalore’s central business district.

Visuals caught on cell phones and televisions showed a woman trying to jump from the seventh floor to the sixth, slipping and falling to the ground. Another showed a man jumping to the ground from the top floor. It is feared they are among the nine dead.

A large number of people were trapped in the building. A user stuck in the building tweeted about the incident:

“Carlton Towers is on fire and six of us are trapped inside the building. The fire’s above but there’s smoke everywhere. Saw people jump to their death. Don’t call me folks. You can’t help. Will keep you posted.”

The blaze suspected to have been triggered by a short circuit, created panic with several inside the building for help and many others breaking the window panes.

It wouldn’t be the Super Bowl without the commercials.  And this year is no different with ads expected from GoDaddy.com, Budweiser, Doritos, and even a controversial ad featuring an anti-abortion college football quarterback and his mother, according to reports.

Super Bowl

If you missed any of the advertisements during Super Bowl XLIV on Sunday (click here for start time and game details), you can view them all online here following the game:

CBS Sports 2010 Super Bowl Ads

Also, watch the video below for a sneak peek at a GoDaddy.com commercial featuring race car driver Danica Patrick (in the infamous Lisa/Kelly LeBrock ”Weird Science” role).

If you had a favorite commercial, be sure to place your vote here:

Super Bowl XLIV Ad Blitz

And lastly, share your thoughts on this year’s Super Bowl XLIV commercials below in comments.

For more about the 2010 Super Bowl between the New Orleans Saints and the Indianapolis Colts, read the following stories:

Super Bowl XLIV Reality Star Battle: Kim Kardashian Vs. Kendra Wilkinson

Super Bowl XLIV: Start Time, Half-Time Show

Fans Can Vote for Super Bowl XLIV MVP

iPad reviews are mixed. Some iPad reviews indicate that the Apple product is a big iPhone. Other iPad reviews say that the gadget is a revolutionary product.  So which is it?  Is the iPad nothing more than a blown-up iPhone, or is the new product the revolutionary product we have all been waiting for.

Nothing is quite as popular as the Apple iPhone. It allows you to talk on the phone, use Twitter, FaceBook, and it’s just all around a really cool gadget.  When news of a tablet computer from the Cuptertino, California based company started making its buzz, everyone was excited.

But are they let down? Well, there are two product lines that are most likely shaking in their boots because of the invention of the Apple iPad: the netbook and the eBook.

Amazon.com recently experienced a stock price increase after higher than expected earnings during the fourth quarter.  Their revenue went up 46% from year to year, and the company attributes some of the gain to the popularity of their Kindle.

The Kindle is an electronic product that allows you to read thousands of books in electronic format. For every 10 physical books sold, 6 Kindle books are sold.

The Apple iPad could hurt that.

In addition, those that want internet access on the go currently seek out netbooks.  The Apple iPad could hurt sales of these products as well. 

I’d much rather tote around an iPad than a netbook. It would be much easier to fit in my purse and would be much easier to discretely use.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH PEE WEE HERMAN AND HIS iPAD

CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT iPAD PRICING

Still yet, critics complain that the iPad is nothing more than a big iPhone. They don’t expect the sales of the product to take off, as consumers favor the smaller handsets.

There’s also the chance that maybe – just maybe – the iPad will revolutionize computing.  There are a few things that Apple could improve.  For instance, being able to have more than one application open at a time would be a great start.

They could also produce the tablet to be able to handle the same software as their MacBook line of laptops.

Toyota Model recalls affected are somewhat of a concern to many people.  The latest list of Toyota model recalls affected will affect not only current Toyota owners, but those in search of their next vehicle as well.  You see, Toyota models affected by the recall aren’t currently for sale, and the company is shutting down several plants in order to rectify the situation.

The Toyota recall has been ongoing.  It was noted sometime last year that the accelerators in certain Toyota models would stick, leaving a truck or car out of control.

The following information comes directly from the Toyota Web site:

2009-2010 RAV4,

2009-2010 Corolla,

2009-2010 Matrix,

2005-2010 Avalon,

Certain 2007-2010 Camry 

2010 Highlander except hybrid models,

2007-2010 Tundra,

2008-2010 Sequoia

In addition, several chains of rental cars are struggling with issues because of the Toyota recall.

If you have one of the models under the recall, take it to the dealership to discuss your options.  If you don’t feel safe driving a vehicle covered by Toyota’s recall – by all means take it back to the dealership.  It’s always better to be safe than sorry.

How much is the iPad? Is the iPad tablet a bank-breaker or a bargain? Today, Steve Jobs unveiled Apple’s newest creation, the iPad.  For weeks, the technology industry has been buzzing about the Cupertino, California based company’s newest invention.  Would the iTablet, iSlate, or iPad (at that point we didn’t know what it would be called…heck it could have been called MacBook Pad or something for all we knew) revolutionize computing as we know it?

So just how much is the iPad? Apple’s iPhones are $300 with some AT&T plans.  Some expected the iPad to cost well within the $1,000 range – after all, a simple laptop from Apple costs $999 – a far cry from the $250  bargain netbooks you can find at Office Depot stores across the nation.

CLICK HERE to view Artist rendition of the iPad before it was unveiled.

CLICK HERE to watch an artist rendition of the possible iPad commercial.

The iPad costs between $499 and $829, depending on which model you choose.  You can buy the Wi-Fi only models – which only pick up wireless networks when you are in range.  These are the most economical plans and cost $499 to $699, depending on what memory you buy.

The iPad is also available with 3GS from AT&T, meaning that you can connect to the mobile network wherever it’s available. These models cost $629 to $829 depending on how much memory you choose.  Data plans start at $14.99 but your best bet is the $29.99 unlimited plan.

The iPad’s cost could out weigh its benefit, especially for those (like me) that like gadgets.  As I write this on my little HP Netbook, I’m dreaming of typing on a phantom keypad on a sleek and sexy iPad.

Designer leaks Apple Tablet pictures? With Steve Jobs’ big announcement coming up, Apple Tablet talk is hotter than ever.  What will the Apple Tablet be called? iSlate? iPad? iTablet? Macbook Pad? What will it look like? Will it be a large version of the popular iPod touch?

A designer has “leaked” photos of Apple’s prototype, and photographed the new product on top of a Macbook Pro – just to give us an idea of the size of the unit.  However, the pictures could just very well be created to drive a stir.  After all, everyone and their brother is anticipating this product. Any indication of a glimpse of the product before it’s released is likely to be very hot.

The pictures that are posted on Dustin Curtis’s blog are pretty real looking.  However, there’s skepticism about if the product really is the real deal.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE POSSIBLE APPLE TABLET COMMERCIAL

For one, iTouch owners know that the touch screen is very shiny.  In addition, the backing is likely to be made out of silver chrome – not black plastic.  The photograph on the blog features a screen that looks rather dull.

That being said, it could be the camera quality interfering with the photo of the product.  The designer’s leaked photos could very well give us the most authentic glimpse until the real product is ultimately unveiled.

Apple tablet leaked? America’s favorite technology company, Apple, has worked on a tablet ever since the 1980’s.  Now, there’s light at the end of their tunnel and the Apple Tablet debut is said to come soon.  The Apple Tablet leak photos that are circulating on the web, creating quite a buzz…but are they real?

The iPhone/iPod Touch was the company’s last slam-dunk.  As a proud owner of a Touch, I can attest that the interface is sleek and sexy – and I have the first generation!

The Apple Tablet will be like the Touch – only bigger and better and more powerful.  I can only imagine taking the product everywhere – as it is very portable.

Now that there are videos on the web claiming to be the Apple iPad (or iSlate depending on who you ask) leaked commercials, and blogs are popping up from “designers’ that are “leaking” the “Apple tablet mock-ups.”  Is all this true, or are we being taken for a ride?

One thing to remember about Apple fans (and designers) is that they are very good with technology – meaning that creating an ad or photo of the tablet wouldn’t be too difficult.

The “Apple tablet leaked photos” can be found here, at Dustin Curtis’s blog.

While these leaked photos and ads are entertaining, don’t expect them to be the real deal.  Chances are Steve Jobs and the Apple crew have something far better than we could ever have imagined in store for us.

For entertainment purposes, the “leaked Apple Tablet ad” can be found below