Hmm, what to say?
I really don't know what to write at the moment. I feel like I should write something though. I thought I would mention that I didn't see a single iPhone out and about today, which is strange, because I really expected that people would be out flaunting the damn things.
Next week I am taking a short vacation from Wednesday (the 4th) through Sunday. I'm exciting to take a little time off work to sit on my ass and do nothing. Vacationing in sunny my living room. It's a beautiful thing.
And now, on to the reason you come here.
Funny Dog in Crocodile Costume... thing.
Alright, I'm not entirely sure what is meant by this... I mean, I get the idea, but it seems so vague. However, the point of the matter is that it's hilariously funny to see a dog in a 'eaten by a crocodile' suit.
Wall Socket Computer
Clearly I love all things computer and technology. I especially love some of the super tiny things that have been coming out recently. They're just so much fun.
Take this thing, for example, it's a computer that's small enough to fit in a double gang wall plate. It isn't exactly a powerhouse, but with a copy of DSL or Puppy Linux it would make a great web appliance that takes up absolutely no space.
AMD finally drops Quad Cores
I've been wondering, since the introduction of Intel's Core 2 Quads, how long it would take AMD to finally drop their own quad core processors. It seems, the wait is over.
It's interesting to me to see that they are dropping Opteron models rather than Athlons first, being that the Core 2's are geared more toward gamers / production consumers and the Opteron is a server processor. However, the simple fact is that the Opteron has historically made a great gaming processor anyway, and I'm sure there will be no exception here.
Wait, did I say no exception. Perhaps I'm speaking too soon. These models will top out at only 2.0 Ghz, rather than the 2.2+ we're seeing on the current and new Core 2's. It'll be interesting, now that there we are starting to see games that take advantage of dual core systems, how long it will be until there's games that use quad core capabilities. By then we'll have new Dual Core 4 Octo Core systems, I'm sure.
Synthetic Life?
I'm not 100% sure what this article is saying, at least not specifically. What I can glean from it is that they are darn near being able to just summon life at will.
This is different than cloning. When cloning, you are making a copy of something with already pre-designed DNA, it was born, originally, as all life is. In this case, however, they are talking about actually creating life, a completely new being that didn't exist before they did it.
To me, that's some pretty amazing implications. I'm not sure how I really feel about that. Of course they're not talking about creating some sort of word ending bacteria, or a more powerful species of humanoids.... yet. But, I can imagine the possibilities of this kind of research.
More Creative Business Card Designs
I've shown you some interesting designs in the past. I don't know why I enjoy looking at creative design work, but I do. Here you can see some pretty astounding ideas. Not all of them are winners, but most are pretty interesting to look at at least.
DOD Plays Sims
I've heard about this before, but it's still pretty interesting. The tone of this article is that it's all big brother and evil, but I feel like examining math based outcomes is a pretty good idea. Maybe I'm alone on this.
I would love to be able to do something like this, just to see what would happen if I, say, replaced the worlds food supply with pineapples.
And I'm good for now.
Thanks for stopping... peace!
Saturday, June 30, 2007
Friday, June 29, 2007
Not much going on, really...
My God it's been a lazy day...
And I'm really not sure why. When I say lazy, I mean for me. Everyone else around me seems interested in getting things done. I think perhaps I'm sick, or just tired, it's hard to say.
Today I brought Tristan in to get her arm casted. Of course, she opted for pink. So, for the next month or so, she'll be wearing a big pink cast. I did bust out the sharpies and started decorating it, so that's something.
In other news...
Autism Symptoms Reversed in Lab Mice.
It seems to be a big week for theoretical treatments of previously non-treatable problems. First I found this article that states that they've managed to reverse symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome in Lab Mice. Fragile X is a leading cause of mental retardation and autism in humans.
They've reversed the effects by inhibiting the action of an enzyme in the brain. It appears that this will work even in those people that have had symptoms for many years, in other words, adults who have severe autistic and mental retardation.
It's an amazing thing.
HIV Successfully Cut from Human DNA
More amazing that the above is the news that they may have found a way to 'cure' HIV by introducing an enzyme that cuts it directly from the human genome.
No, it's not a miracle cure that will be on the shelves within a few weeks, but it's another great start.
11 Broken Xbox 360's
1up.com has an article about one Jason Lowe, who has gone through not 1 or 2 Xbox 360's, but 11. He's on his twelfth unit, and hasn't had a machine for more than 2 months since his initial purchase.
It's an interesting read. Is there really that big of an issue out there? I know people that have machines that are still running since launch, even one friend that bought recently bought the Elite to replace his launch date 360 and has had more trouble with it than his original.
10 Strange Weapons
This article announces that it's the 10 strangest weapons through history, however, I don't really agree with that. I will admit that it is a list of really strange weapons, but I couldn't in good conscious agree that this is a list of the strangest. However, it has pictures and mildly amusing descriptions.
What the Buddha did not teach.
If you know me, you might be aware that I am not a Christian, per se. As a matter of fact, I have somewhat unique beliefs compared to the majority of humans on the planet. I believe that there is likely a higher power out there, but not necessarily that it is "God". I disagree with the concept of organized religion, especially those that would kill in their religion's name. The fact is that there is no way of knowing for certain what the truth is, at least not yet. I try to live my life the best way I know how and hope that when it's all over I've done my part.
The way that I came to my beliefs, however, was to study many other religions besides what I'd been taught growing up. I also looked at spiritual teachings as well, such as the Tao Te Ching. I studied Buddhism for about a year and a half, mostly looking at it from the outside. I was never quite comfortable enough to actually go into a temple, but I still feel I got what I needed from reading both religious texts and external studies. I did always feel, as I did with many religions I studied, that there was a lot of truth there. Of course, there's good reason for that, but I won't get into it now.
The point is that whenever I see an article about a religion, I will usually read it through just to see what it says, and whether it jives with what I've learned.
I found that this article was very interesting. It's a study of the often misinterpreted teachings of Buddha, and what he was really all about. I think it's great, because unlike what is often done in defense of the Christian Bible, the Pali Canon was meant to be taken at face value only, rather than deeply interpreted.
Wikipedia's article on Buddhism is surprisingly clean. Even if it's not what you believe, it's always good to learn about what others believe, and perhaps take something with you.
Thoof
No, that wasn't a sneeze. Thoof.com is a new user driven news site that has a slightly different take that others such as digg and slashdot.
Users submit news, and then, if they don't like the verbiage of the submitter's blurb, they are free to submit improvments, which are, of course, moderated.
It's very clean, and seems to be pretty interesting so far. If I wasn't already embroiled in 8,000 other feeds and sites, I would jump all over it. If you have the time, check it out. It's free.
Cursor Invisible
This piece of flash seems to be all about proving to me that I'm not only a gamer, but that I spend way too much time with my mouse in my hand. The goal of the game is to click on the targets, which sounds easy, except that - you guessed it - your cursor is invisible.
My high score is 427, which is only because I got tired of playing at that point. How long can you go?
The Air Blade
It amuses me that Dyson actually tries to pass off what is essentially 20 year old technology as new and brilliant, but either way, we're going to start seeing more efficient hand dryers here in the U.S. finally.
I can't help but laugh, though, because so often I hear people complain about hand dryers. I have never had a problem with them. They work fine, for me. The trick is to rub your hands together under them, but oh well.
Shadowrun
I was leery of this title, and for good reason. I like it, but it's already starting to get a bit boring for me. I mean, it looks fairly pretty, although even on my hardware, I have to turn the settings down a bit. I think if I'd been more of a Counterstrike fan, I'd get more out of it.
The idea is that it's a first person shooter with RPG-style magic spells wrapped up into a multi-player only game. There are 4 races which are Human, Dwarf, Elf, and Troll, and of course each has unique traits. The thing that irks me, besides the lack of interesting maps, is that there's not a great selection of weapons, either. This, I think, has to do with the fact that there's a pretty big selection of magic you can use, which is great, but it's hard to have enough of the right abilities in your (3) quick slots for any given map.
The biggest problem is that the game, while pretty, doesn't seem as polished as I'd like. The fact that it's Vista only (though that was fixed on day one so that it can be play on Windows XP) doesn't help much.
It's another somewhat disappointing title in the 'Games for Windows' series, but I'm still going to play for a little while longer.
I was going to post about the iPhone...
But, I'm actually sick to my stomach with the amount of press it's already received. You don't need my help on it. Instead, check out this watch (Pay close attention to the Pigeon English under 'Note')!
And that's it for now.
Back again, sometime.
And I'm really not sure why. When I say lazy, I mean for me. Everyone else around me seems interested in getting things done. I think perhaps I'm sick, or just tired, it's hard to say.
Today I brought Tristan in to get her arm casted. Of course, she opted for pink. So, for the next month or so, she'll be wearing a big pink cast. I did bust out the sharpies and started decorating it, so that's something.
In other news...
Autism Symptoms Reversed in Lab Mice.
It seems to be a big week for theoretical treatments of previously non-treatable problems. First I found this article that states that they've managed to reverse symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome in Lab Mice. Fragile X is a leading cause of mental retardation and autism in humans.
They've reversed the effects by inhibiting the action of an enzyme in the brain. It appears that this will work even in those people that have had symptoms for many years, in other words, adults who have severe autistic and mental retardation.
It's an amazing thing.
HIV Successfully Cut from Human DNA
More amazing that the above is the news that they may have found a way to 'cure' HIV by introducing an enzyme that cuts it directly from the human genome.
No, it's not a miracle cure that will be on the shelves within a few weeks, but it's another great start.
11 Broken Xbox 360's
1up.com has an article about one Jason Lowe, who has gone through not 1 or 2 Xbox 360's, but 11. He's on his twelfth unit, and hasn't had a machine for more than 2 months since his initial purchase.
It's an interesting read. Is there really that big of an issue out there? I know people that have machines that are still running since launch, even one friend that bought recently bought the Elite to replace his launch date 360 and has had more trouble with it than his original.
10 Strange Weapons
This article announces that it's the 10 strangest weapons through history, however, I don't really agree with that. I will admit that it is a list of really strange weapons, but I couldn't in good conscious agree that this is a list of the strangest. However, it has pictures and mildly amusing descriptions.
What the Buddha did not teach.
If you know me, you might be aware that I am not a Christian, per se. As a matter of fact, I have somewhat unique beliefs compared to the majority of humans on the planet. I believe that there is likely a higher power out there, but not necessarily that it is "God". I disagree with the concept of organized religion, especially those that would kill in their religion's name. The fact is that there is no way of knowing for certain what the truth is, at least not yet. I try to live my life the best way I know how and hope that when it's all over I've done my part.
The way that I came to my beliefs, however, was to study many other religions besides what I'd been taught growing up. I also looked at spiritual teachings as well, such as the Tao Te Ching. I studied Buddhism for about a year and a half, mostly looking at it from the outside. I was never quite comfortable enough to actually go into a temple, but I still feel I got what I needed from reading both religious texts and external studies. I did always feel, as I did with many religions I studied, that there was a lot of truth there. Of course, there's good reason for that, but I won't get into it now.
The point is that whenever I see an article about a religion, I will usually read it through just to see what it says, and whether it jives with what I've learned.
I found that this article was very interesting. It's a study of the often misinterpreted teachings of Buddha, and what he was really all about. I think it's great, because unlike what is often done in defense of the Christian Bible, the Pali Canon was meant to be taken at face value only, rather than deeply interpreted.
Wikipedia's article on Buddhism is surprisingly clean. Even if it's not what you believe, it's always good to learn about what others believe, and perhaps take something with you.
Thoof
No, that wasn't a sneeze. Thoof.com is a new user driven news site that has a slightly different take that others such as digg and slashdot.
Users submit news, and then, if they don't like the verbiage of the submitter's blurb, they are free to submit improvments, which are, of course, moderated.
It's very clean, and seems to be pretty interesting so far. If I wasn't already embroiled in 8,000 other feeds and sites, I would jump all over it. If you have the time, check it out. It's free.
Cursor Invisible
This piece of flash seems to be all about proving to me that I'm not only a gamer, but that I spend way too much time with my mouse in my hand. The goal of the game is to click on the targets, which sounds easy, except that - you guessed it - your cursor is invisible.
My high score is 427, which is only because I got tired of playing at that point. How long can you go?
The Air Blade
It amuses me that Dyson actually tries to pass off what is essentially 20 year old technology as new and brilliant, but either way, we're going to start seeing more efficient hand dryers here in the U.S. finally.
I can't help but laugh, though, because so often I hear people complain about hand dryers. I have never had a problem with them. They work fine, for me. The trick is to rub your hands together under them, but oh well.
Shadowrun
I was leery of this title, and for good reason. I like it, but it's already starting to get a bit boring for me. I mean, it looks fairly pretty, although even on my hardware, I have to turn the settings down a bit. I think if I'd been more of a Counterstrike fan, I'd get more out of it.
The idea is that it's a first person shooter with RPG-style magic spells wrapped up into a multi-player only game. There are 4 races which are Human, Dwarf, Elf, and Troll, and of course each has unique traits. The thing that irks me, besides the lack of interesting maps, is that there's not a great selection of weapons, either. This, I think, has to do with the fact that there's a pretty big selection of magic you can use, which is great, but it's hard to have enough of the right abilities in your (3) quick slots for any given map.
The biggest problem is that the game, while pretty, doesn't seem as polished as I'd like. The fact that it's Vista only (though that was fixed on day one so that it can be play on Windows XP) doesn't help much.
It's another somewhat disappointing title in the 'Games for Windows' series, but I'm still going to play for a little while longer.
I was going to post about the iPhone...
But, I'm actually sick to my stomach with the amount of press it's already received. You don't need my help on it. Instead, check out this watch (Pay close attention to the Pigeon English under 'Note')!
And that's it for now.
Back again, sometime.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Of bones and breaks
My daughter broke her arm.
And I feel terrible.
Here's the story. My ex has my children on the weekends, Thursday night to Sunday night, I go and pick them up on Sunday night, usually around 7 o'clock. At around 5:30 on Sunday she called to tell me that Tristan, my 7 year old, had fallen and hurt her arm, and that she might take her to the ER. I pay for the insurance on them, so, it would be up to me to drive out a little early so that I could give them the insurance card (don't ask me why, but I only get one from the insurance company). But, she wasn't sure. I said that it was fine and to let me know for sure if she took her.
I didn't hear anything, so, I left to get out there around 6:20, and got there just a few minutes after 7. Tristan said that she was fine and didn't want to go in. I checked her over, there wasn't a lot of swelling, she had mobility, she could squeeze her fingers. I asked her to tell me how much pain there was, on a scale of 1 to 5. She said 2 or 3.
I decided that it would be best to wait the night.
In the morning, she was still in pain, and it was obvious, though she was trying to brave and say she was fine, that it was definitely more than a 2 or 3. She was doing the same thing I'd done as a kid when I'd broken a bone. I made the appointment and took her into the clinic.
I took her in, and all of us (myself, the nurse and the doctor), based on what she was telling us, that she'd fallen and put her weight straight down on her arm, that she likely just sprained her wrist. However, we wanted to do the X-Ray anyway, just to be sure. As soon as the Tech put the film up outside the room, I could see, from about 10 feet away, that there was a clear break.
She's now in a half cast and a sling. I take her in Friday to see the Orthopedic specialist, when we find out if they will do a full cast, and how long she'll have to wear it.
What's really sad is that it will likely be a six week ordeal, as usually is the case from breaks, which will basically mean the rest of her summer vacation. No more riding bikes, no more swimming, or swing sets... none of things she loves to do.
I'm so proud of how brave she was and is being, but it just breaks my heart to see her stuck. She can't even play her Gamecube, Wii, or Xbox. It's just miserable.
On to the other stuff...
robber-shot.jpg
I know I've read something like this, but it's still pretty funny.
And in the same vein...
This made me laugh for about 10 minutes.
Giant Penguins Once Roamed Peru
This article is pretty interesting, even if they're wrong. The idea that there might have been human sized penguins is fascinating, if not a little frightening. With they're feet going flap flap flap... I just wonder how they survived and have started taking over Hollywood.
3D Logic
Got some time to waste? Kongregate.com has some great games, the ones I've enjoyed the most are:
3D Logic - It looks like a Rubiks Cube and is nearly as maddening. It took a little time to get through all 30 levels, and the reward was pretty weak. Still, it was worth the journey.
Bowmaster - It's almost like Tower defense... except from the side, and with more control. Still, I'm addicted.
Castlewars - It's a freaking card game! It's a lot of fun. The goal? Either crush the enemies castle first, or build yours to 100 units high! Beware, it'll suck you in!
Check out the whole site for more, it's a pretty well laid out piece of interweb.
Oh, the irony!
Not at all like Alanis Morissette's idea of irony, either.
How to become invisible...
Seriously, some of these photos are really amazing!
Timeline of Web Browsers
And I remember them all... even the ones that aren't listed.
If fire was made of water...
I know it sounds crazy... and it is. Just look at them... and try not to be amazed.
Won't someone buy me this shirt!
Please!
and I'm done...
Sorry, I've gotta cut out... bed time for us old folks comes early these days. Back when I can!
And I feel terrible.
Here's the story. My ex has my children on the weekends, Thursday night to Sunday night, I go and pick them up on Sunday night, usually around 7 o'clock. At around 5:30 on Sunday she called to tell me that Tristan, my 7 year old, had fallen and hurt her arm, and that she might take her to the ER. I pay for the insurance on them, so, it would be up to me to drive out a little early so that I could give them the insurance card (don't ask me why, but I only get one from the insurance company). But, she wasn't sure. I said that it was fine and to let me know for sure if she took her.
I didn't hear anything, so, I left to get out there around 6:20, and got there just a few minutes after 7. Tristan said that she was fine and didn't want to go in. I checked her over, there wasn't a lot of swelling, she had mobility, she could squeeze her fingers. I asked her to tell me how much pain there was, on a scale of 1 to 5. She said 2 or 3.
I decided that it would be best to wait the night.
In the morning, she was still in pain, and it was obvious, though she was trying to brave and say she was fine, that it was definitely more than a 2 or 3. She was doing the same thing I'd done as a kid when I'd broken a bone. I made the appointment and took her into the clinic.
I took her in, and all of us (myself, the nurse and the doctor), based on what she was telling us, that she'd fallen and put her weight straight down on her arm, that she likely just sprained her wrist. However, we wanted to do the X-Ray anyway, just to be sure. As soon as the Tech put the film up outside the room, I could see, from about 10 feet away, that there was a clear break.
She's now in a half cast and a sling. I take her in Friday to see the Orthopedic specialist, when we find out if they will do a full cast, and how long she'll have to wear it.
What's really sad is that it will likely be a six week ordeal, as usually is the case from breaks, which will basically mean the rest of her summer vacation. No more riding bikes, no more swimming, or swing sets... none of things she loves to do.
I'm so proud of how brave she was and is being, but it just breaks my heart to see her stuck. She can't even play her Gamecube, Wii, or Xbox. It's just miserable.
On to the other stuff...
robber-shot.jpg
I know I've read something like this, but it's still pretty funny.
And in the same vein...
This made me laugh for about 10 minutes.
Giant Penguins Once Roamed Peru
This article is pretty interesting, even if they're wrong. The idea that there might have been human sized penguins is fascinating, if not a little frightening. With they're feet going flap flap flap... I just wonder how they survived and have started taking over Hollywood.
3D Logic
Got some time to waste? Kongregate.com has some great games, the ones I've enjoyed the most are:
3D Logic - It looks like a Rubiks Cube and is nearly as maddening. It took a little time to get through all 30 levels, and the reward was pretty weak. Still, it was worth the journey.
Bowmaster - It's almost like Tower defense... except from the side, and with more control. Still, I'm addicted.
Castlewars - It's a freaking card game! It's a lot of fun. The goal? Either crush the enemies castle first, or build yours to 100 units high! Beware, it'll suck you in!
Check out the whole site for more, it's a pretty well laid out piece of interweb.
Oh, the irony!
Not at all like Alanis Morissette's idea of irony, either.
How to become invisible...
Seriously, some of these photos are really amazing!
Timeline of Web Browsers
And I remember them all... even the ones that aren't listed.
If fire was made of water...
I know it sounds crazy... and it is. Just look at them... and try not to be amazed.
Won't someone buy me this shirt!
Please!
and I'm done...
Sorry, I've gotta cut out... bed time for us old folks comes early these days. Back when I can!
Friday, June 22, 2007
Oh, and....
There's a lot to cover...
So, I'll just get started. Try to keep up if you can.
Doomed Star!
There's an article which tells us, and shows us that, there's a star only 7,500 light years away that's about to go Super Nova. Of course, it's important to point out that it actually went Super Nova a few thousand years ago, and we're just about to be able to see it, but it's still something I hope they get on video.
The image is definitely something out of Star Trek... or not, actually.
Listen up women!
Some brit tells you what's what! I can't say that I agree 100%, but it's a decent list anyway.
Zune News... that's old.
I finally decided to go through some of my old starred Google Reader stuff, and I found a post about what was supposed to be the new Zune firmware. This was reported by Gizmodo back at the beginning of May, and now, as we approach July, there's no still no word about an official update.
I really want to do something with my WiFi guys, please?!?
Castle Wars
Another time waster, because, as we all know, time is always available. Castle Wars is a visual card game for 2 players, and it's a lot of fun.
BayImg.com
The great (kiddie porn lovers) at The Pirate Bay have come up with a free image hosting site, which is, of course, completely uncensored. It's called BayImg.
It actually seems to work pretty well, although, I don't think the world really needs another pr0n depository.
Speaking of Images
Images that changed the world. They're all images you've probably seen, but here is a site that actually gives you a bit more about where they come from.
Web Designers will get this...
If architects had to work like web designers.
I think that's enough for today...
but I'll hit you back soon.
Doomed Star!
There's an article which tells us, and shows us that, there's a star only 7,500 light years away that's about to go Super Nova. Of course, it's important to point out that it actually went Super Nova a few thousand years ago, and we're just about to be able to see it, but it's still something I hope they get on video.
The image is definitely something out of Star Trek... or not, actually.
Listen up women!
Some brit tells you what's what! I can't say that I agree 100%, but it's a decent list anyway.
Zune News... that's old.
I finally decided to go through some of my old starred Google Reader stuff, and I found a post about what was supposed to be the new Zune firmware. This was reported by Gizmodo back at the beginning of May, and now, as we approach July, there's no still no word about an official update.
I really want to do something with my WiFi guys, please?!?
Castle Wars
Another time waster, because, as we all know, time is always available. Castle Wars is a visual card game for 2 players, and it's a lot of fun.
BayImg.com
The great (kiddie porn lovers) at The Pirate Bay have come up with a free image hosting site, which is, of course, completely uncensored. It's called BayImg.
It actually seems to work pretty well, although, I don't think the world really needs another pr0n depository.
Speaking of Images
Images that changed the world. They're all images you've probably seen, but here is a site that actually gives you a bit more about where they come from.
Web Designers will get this...
If architects had to work like web designers.
I think that's enough for today...
but I'll hit you back soon.
Thursday, June 21, 2007
These words, I write them for you.
Today, just like yesterday...
is the day before tomorrow.
I sit here, thinking, my mind going over facts and figures, thoughts and feelings, and everything in between. Exactly what I'm thinking is not important, the fact that I am thinking is.
Of course none of this has anything to do with the reasons you came here, so I will get on with the bloggery you've come to love.
Of things I've certainly thought about doing...
Here we have a man that's upset about not getting his laptop repaired under warranty.
His claim is that the his laptop, a MacBook he loved, just didn't turn on what one day. That's not outside of the realm of possibilities, no matter what you say, even Apple's are fallible. He loved his laptop so much that he purchased Apple Care Extended Warranty coverage. He tried everything, but to no avail and was then forced send the laptop in for repair.
He received a call stating that they were not going to repair it because there was spill damage. He claims that there was not any such damage, but, even after speaking to a supervisor, he was still told he would have to pay over $700 to get it repaired.
His response? Smash it with a sledgehammer on video.
That will show Apple what's up.
Finally, it has a name.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect.
Dear Abbey she's not...
However, I can't imagine how anyone could answer this letter any better.
Google Docs and Spreadsheets Tips
I've mentioned before, I'm sure, that I'm a big fan of Google Docs, ever since it was Writely. If you're interested in just how robust it can be, even if it isn't quite a full fledged office suite, like OpenOffice.org or even Office (yes, I use Office 2007).
Webware.com has a nice list of some features you might not have known you had. As a matter of fact, a lot of people who have GMail don't even realize they already have Google Docs and Spreadsheets, and that they can use it to write and edit whatever they want as long as they have a web connection, and, where don't you have an internet connect these days. (Oh, and check out Webware, because it's all about Web Based Applications, and has some pretty useful and interesting stuff).
I'm Like a Seer.
I said, from the beginning, that the new Microsoft Surface would make great fodder for comic ads, and it seems I was right, as usual.
I swear there used to be a lake here...
There's something hilarious about reading this article. It seems that there used to be a lake, but not it's just an empty pit with a few ice cubes in it.
is the day before tomorrow.
I sit here, thinking, my mind going over facts and figures, thoughts and feelings, and everything in between. Exactly what I'm thinking is not important, the fact that I am thinking is.
Of course none of this has anything to do with the reasons you came here, so I will get on with the bloggery you've come to love.
Of things I've certainly thought about doing...
Here we have a man that's upset about not getting his laptop repaired under warranty.
His claim is that the his laptop, a MacBook he loved, just didn't turn on what one day. That's not outside of the realm of possibilities, no matter what you say, even Apple's are fallible. He loved his laptop so much that he purchased Apple Care Extended Warranty coverage. He tried everything, but to no avail and was then forced send the laptop in for repair.
He received a call stating that they were not going to repair it because there was spill damage. He claims that there was not any such damage, but, even after speaking to a supervisor, he was still told he would have to pay over $700 to get it repaired.
His response? Smash it with a sledgehammer on video.
That will show Apple what's up.
Finally, it has a name.
The Dunning-Kruger Effect.
Dear Abbey she's not...
However, I can't imagine how anyone could answer this letter any better.
Google Docs and Spreadsheets Tips
I've mentioned before, I'm sure, that I'm a big fan of Google Docs, ever since it was Writely. If you're interested in just how robust it can be, even if it isn't quite a full fledged office suite, like OpenOffice.org or even Office (yes, I use Office 2007).
Webware.com has a nice list of some features you might not have known you had. As a matter of fact, a lot of people who have GMail don't even realize they already have Google Docs and Spreadsheets, and that they can use it to write and edit whatever they want as long as they have a web connection, and, where don't you have an internet connect these days. (Oh, and check out Webware, because it's all about Web Based Applications, and has some pretty useful and interesting stuff).
I'm Like a Seer.
I said, from the beginning, that the new Microsoft Surface would make great fodder for comic ads, and it seems I was right, as usual.
I swear there used to be a lake here...
There's something hilarious about reading this article. It seems that there used to be a lake, but not it's just an empty pit with a few ice cubes in it.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
I stole some time...
Some days, I get some time, and then I can do some things, such as maintain a mildly popular blog. Today, I will post some things, you will look at them and rejoice in their wonderfulness.
Skate
What follows could be a look into the new standard by which all skating games could be measured. EA is touting this game, Skate, as the Tony Hawk killer. It's entirely possible, only time will tell. The actual gameplay footage is pretty stellar.
An Actual Fire Fox
It is fucking ugly, but, since it's named after the greatest browser on the planet (lol), I won't fault it too much.
And, really, it's not that ugly.
Honest First Date Answers
It's not exactly a unique concept, but it's still funny to watch.
Did I mention this yet?
Maybe I did, but if I didn't, Microsoft has actually come up with something that looks pretty amazing. It's Photosynth, which is a program that... well, let me quote their site:
I've been itching to find time to try out the tech demo, I really want to re-create my home on my computer for no reason other than the fact that I can. If I ever get around to it, you can be sure that I'll talk about it.
Rag Doll Kung Fu
Jim present me with a copy of Rag Doll Kung Fu, and I have to say that it's the stupidest game I've ever become addicted to.
You can pick it on Steam for $15 bucks, I'd encourage you to do so... At least download the demo, which is free, and see what I'm talking about.
That's it...
For the moment, but I always find my way back, like the dog you keep driving to the woods and leaving behind... he keeps coming home, more mangy than the last time. Then you shoot him and bury him in the back yard, and when he ends up at the foot of your bed again, you know the Zombie Apocalypse is upon you! Wait... what was I talking about?
Skate
What follows could be a look into the new standard by which all skating games could be measured. EA is touting this game, Skate, as the Tony Hawk killer. It's entirely possible, only time will tell. The actual gameplay footage is pretty stellar.
An Actual Fire Fox
It is fucking ugly, but, since it's named after the greatest browser on the planet (lol), I won't fault it too much.
And, really, it's not that ugly.
Honest First Date Answers
It's not exactly a unique concept, but it's still funny to watch.
Did I mention this yet?
Maybe I did, but if I didn't, Microsoft has actually come up with something that looks pretty amazing. It's Photosynth, which is a program that... well, let me quote their site:
Our software takes a large collection of photos of a place or an object, analyzes them for similarities, and displays them in a reconstructed three-dimensional space.
With Photosynth you can:
* Walk or fly through a scene to see photos from any angle.
* Seamlessly zoom in or out of a photo whether it's megapixels or gigapixels in size.
* See where pictures were taken in relation to one another.
* Find similar photos to the one you're currently viewing.
* Send a collection - or a particular view of one - to a friend.
I've been itching to find time to try out the tech demo, I really want to re-create my home on my computer for no reason other than the fact that I can. If I ever get around to it, you can be sure that I'll talk about it.
Rag Doll Kung Fu
Jim present me with a copy of Rag Doll Kung Fu, and I have to say that it's the stupidest game I've ever become addicted to.
You can pick it on Steam for $15 bucks, I'd encourage you to do so... At least download the demo, which is free, and see what I'm talking about.
That's it...
For the moment, but I always find my way back, like the dog you keep driving to the woods and leaving behind... he keeps coming home, more mangy than the last time. Then you shoot him and bury him in the back yard, and when he ends up at the foot of your bed again, you know the Zombie Apocalypse is upon you! Wait... what was I talking about?
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
I write words....
I was about to type something, and then it occurred to me that I really don't want to. No, that's not quite true.... I really do want to type something, I would love to even send you all over the internet on a wild goose chase for fun and interesting things. Yet, I don't seem to have the time, nor the energy to do so. So, instead I'm just rambling, sitting here, and rambling. At least I posted something, you gotta give me credit for that.
Fine, there's a couple things...
Dr. Quantum - Double Slit Experiment
Quantum Physics made FUN!!!!
The Robot Chicken Star Wars Special!!!
Seriously, they have the whole fucking thing on [Adult Swim]!!!
ROBOT CHICKEN!!!!
ahem
That's enough of that.
Temporal Mechanics anyone?
Alright, I think I've mentioned before that I have a hard time with movies that are based on the concept of time travel because I have such strong feelings about temporal mechanics. Clearly I'm not the only one with this problem.
Tip from Bomb Lance found in Bowhead Whale means the damn thing was really old...
In this, I have shown how NOT to write the title of a section.
Anyway, I basically said it all, just read this article to get the goods of the story. I thought it was neat.
The Linux Alternative Project
This is a list of all equivalent open source software to pay for play windows software.
You don't care, so just ignore it.
I'm done.
Go away...
and come back later.
Fine, there's a couple things...
Dr. Quantum - Double Slit Experiment
Quantum Physics made FUN!!!!
The Robot Chicken Star Wars Special!!!
Seriously, they have the whole fucking thing on [Adult Swim]!!!
ROBOT CHICKEN!!!!
ahem
That's enough of that.
Temporal Mechanics anyone?
Alright, I think I've mentioned before that I have a hard time with movies that are based on the concept of time travel because I have such strong feelings about temporal mechanics. Clearly I'm not the only one with this problem.
Tip from Bomb Lance found in Bowhead Whale means the damn thing was really old...
In this, I have shown how NOT to write the title of a section.
Anyway, I basically said it all, just read this article to get the goods of the story. I thought it was neat.
The Linux Alternative Project
This is a list of all equivalent open source software to pay for play windows software.
You don't care, so just ignore it.
I'm done.
Go away...
and come back later.
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Just a couple at a time...
So, new game plan...
Instead of trying to get enough time to really hammer out a link heavy post that will get me caught up on all the things I'm behind on, I'm instead going to try just take a few minutes here and there to post just couple items... so, without further ado.
Web OS's
I've mentioned them before. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure I linked this author's previous article before. So, he's back, and he's talking about Web OS's again.
Web Operating Systems are something that I've got a lot of interest in. There's something that's really compelling about having a desktop that will follow you wherever you are that has an internet connection. And, by the looks of things, they've made a lot of progress.
I'm still surprised that Google hasn't tried to throw it's hat into the ring. Perhaps, they have an Ace up the sleeve that they've managed to keep quiet from everyone.
The 100 best, free, (legal!) downloadable games.
Just as the title implies, it's a list of 100 free games. They are good games too. Mostly they are independent, or modified, or just older games that companies have released into the public domain.
It's a beautiful thing, I think. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some games that need playing.
Peace
Instead of trying to get enough time to really hammer out a link heavy post that will get me caught up on all the things I'm behind on, I'm instead going to try just take a few minutes here and there to post just couple items... so, without further ado.
Web OS's
I've mentioned them before. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure I linked this author's previous article before. So, he's back, and he's talking about Web OS's again.
Web Operating Systems are something that I've got a lot of interest in. There's something that's really compelling about having a desktop that will follow you wherever you are that has an internet connection. And, by the looks of things, they've made a lot of progress.
I'm still surprised that Google hasn't tried to throw it's hat into the ring. Perhaps, they have an Ace up the sleeve that they've managed to keep quiet from everyone.
The 100 best, free, (legal!) downloadable games.
Just as the title implies, it's a list of 100 free games. They are good games too. Mostly they are independent, or modified, or just older games that companies have released into the public domain.
It's a beautiful thing, I think. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some games that need playing.
Peace
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Time... Time...
My kingdom for some time!
I can't seem to find time. Not even a little bit. I just don't understand that why it is that there's not more time in the day... Why is it that I can't just survive on 3 hours of sleep a night. That would be perfect! But, no... I need to get at least 6. Would 3 extra hours a day help me? I can only assume. I'll try and get back a little later and actually post some links... there were about 480 things in my reader this morning when I looked, it took some time, but I'm caught up.
Oh well... soon, hopefully. At least I've been enjoying the time I do have.
I can't seem to find time. Not even a little bit. I just don't understand that why it is that there's not more time in the day... Why is it that I can't just survive on 3 hours of sleep a night. That would be perfect! But, no... I need to get at least 6. Would 3 extra hours a day help me? I can only assume. I'll try and get back a little later and actually post some links... there were about 480 things in my reader this morning when I looked, it took some time, but I'm caught up.
Oh well... soon, hopefully. At least I've been enjoying the time I do have.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
My God!
I just can't keep up...
The internet, it moves too fast.
Some quick notes, I've been out and about. The other day, I went with my lady fair to the Como Zoo (if you're not a Minnesota native, then you can read that as "free zoo / cheap date"), after which we went and saw Hostel 2, followed by a lovely dinner at the Olive Garden ('cause when I said it out loud, we both realized our crazings...). I'll talk more about Hostel 2 later, but, I will say that I actually thought it was better than the first, and if you know me, you know I'm not a big fan of sequels.
Other news, my boy Mike had a birfday, and has now joined me in the world of 26. It's scary place here, but, I'm sure his stay will be as brief as mine. Onward to 30, good sir!
Now, I have an ass load of links bookmarked, I need to figure out which I'm to use. Bare with me (or is that bear, hmm...). Understand that I will not have time to add perdy pictures... so, deal with it.
Zombie Superman?
I have no idea what this is about, I didn't read it, but there's a Zombie Superman Action Figure, so, that's all I really need.
FemBots
See?
ASUS' $199 Laptop!
Wow. This thing looks pretty slick, and if they can deliver on that price, I'd be all over it. It looks like it will be preloaded with Linux, but they are talking about driver support for Windows XP. Even if it's just an internet appliance, a $200 portable internet appliance is still pretty cool.
Excited about the new Ford Fiesta?
Me either. But, for some reason, someone is.
Air Car
No, not the flying car we've all been waiting for FAA approval for, instead, we're talking about a car that actually runs on compressed air.
Gay Bomb?
I've heard of GayDar... but this is something else. Apparently, the U.S. government was actually toying with the idea of building a non-lethal weapon that would turn the enemy gay, and allow our boys to take over while they were busy humping each other's rumps.
Ring Mouse
Neat.
Steampunk Monitor Mod
Wow, this is just really neat. It requires more time and effort that I'd ever be willing to invest, but since someone else did it, and I can vicariously through them over the interwebs.
Who says physics isn't fun?
Those crazy Japanese people... what won't they throw from the back of a moving truck?
Don't park under this billboard!
Just... don't do it!
Swear Jar
God, I love good marketing!
Why must everything get smaller?
The new Mobile-ITX motherboard. Good Christ!
Good god that's a big digger dirt truck!
Look.
That's about all I can fit for now...
I'll be back with more, soon. Very soon. Maybe.
The internet, it moves too fast.
Some quick notes, I've been out and about. The other day, I went with my lady fair to the Como Zoo (if you're not a Minnesota native, then you can read that as "free zoo / cheap date"), after which we went and saw Hostel 2, followed by a lovely dinner at the Olive Garden ('cause when I said it out loud, we both realized our crazings...). I'll talk more about Hostel 2 later, but, I will say that I actually thought it was better than the first, and if you know me, you know I'm not a big fan of sequels.
Other news, my boy Mike had a birfday, and has now joined me in the world of 26. It's scary place here, but, I'm sure his stay will be as brief as mine. Onward to 30, good sir!
Now, I have an ass load of links bookmarked, I need to figure out which I'm to use. Bare with me (or is that bear, hmm...). Understand that I will not have time to add perdy pictures... so, deal with it.
Zombie Superman?
I have no idea what this is about, I didn't read it, but there's a Zombie Superman Action Figure, so, that's all I really need.
FemBots
See?
ASUS' $199 Laptop!
Wow. This thing looks pretty slick, and if they can deliver on that price, I'd be all over it. It looks like it will be preloaded with Linux, but they are talking about driver support for Windows XP. Even if it's just an internet appliance, a $200 portable internet appliance is still pretty cool.
Excited about the new Ford Fiesta?
Me either. But, for some reason, someone is.
Air Car
No, not the flying car we've all been waiting for FAA approval for, instead, we're talking about a car that actually runs on compressed air.
Gay Bomb?
I've heard of GayDar... but this is something else. Apparently, the U.S. government was actually toying with the idea of building a non-lethal weapon that would turn the enemy gay, and allow our boys to take over while they were busy humping each other's rumps.
Ring Mouse
Neat.
Steampunk Monitor Mod
Wow, this is just really neat. It requires more time and effort that I'd ever be willing to invest, but since someone else did it, and I can vicariously through them over the interwebs.
Who says physics isn't fun?
Those crazy Japanese people... what won't they throw from the back of a moving truck?
Don't park under this billboard!
Just... don't do it!
Swear Jar
God, I love good marketing!
Why must everything get smaller?
The new Mobile-ITX motherboard. Good Christ!
Good god that's a big digger dirt truck!
Look.
That's about all I can fit for now...
I'll be back with more, soon. Very soon. Maybe.
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Of hopes and dreams....
Well, mostly just dreams.
I have been having, of late, some of the most bizarre, though entertaining, dreams. They have been, mostly, about horror movie like settings. The one last night involved myself, and a large number of friends and people I'd never met, fortifying a massive house (much like a mansion turned into a dorm) against a zombie invasion.
This is a frequent theme, in my dreams, where it seems I see the Zombie Apocalypse coming. It's strange because, with the exception of 28 Weeks Later a few weeks ago, I haven't really been watching horror flicks. Oh well. It's not like they're nightmares, they've actually been quite entertaining.
Anyway, click "Read More...", then do that which you clicked.
MacBook Pro LED vs. CCFL
I was pretty happy when I found this article. Something I've been wanting to do for a while is see a side by side comparison between CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Tube) and LED (Light Emitting Diode) backlit LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) displays.
The change has come from the fact that CCFL has some trace amounts of Mercury, and therefore, in this green world people are trying to build, they're bad.
There's obviously going to be some flaws when someone just props the two displays next to each other and snaps a digital photo, but it's still pretty clear that there is some noticeable difference between the LED and the CCFL. This definitely goes against the idea that there should be no discernible difference between the displays. If you check out the photos, notice the one where both displays are set to 50% output, where you'll see there's a huge disparity between the brightness. The fact that the LED has a much more yellow tone to it than the CCFL is the most interesting thing, to me anyway.
Temperature monitoring case mod for the Wii?
I'm sorry, but I guess I must have missed all the complaints about Wii's overheating and dying from overuse. As a matter of fact, I haven't heard anything of the sort, and I know that people have the tendency to play them for 6-22 hours straight.
So, why then, was this thing created? It's a temp monitoring case for your Wii. While I can appreciate that it looks cool, and that it's probably and interesting effect to see it change from a pale blue to a dark blue, to possibly even a green, I can't imagine that there's going to be many times you'll see it reach the 'warmer colors'.
Forgetting things might be good?
I've read this article, and I really don't understand what they are getting at. The idea is that in forgetting, we are better able to remember important things. While I understand the statement, what's the point?
As we get closer and closer....
... to fighting robots!!! The Hubo FX-1 Chair Bot.
The Future of Newspapers.
This was actually a pretty good read. It's obvious, as his title implies, but it's still interesting to see.
And, I'm done for now.
Peace out.
I have been having, of late, some of the most bizarre, though entertaining, dreams. They have been, mostly, about horror movie like settings. The one last night involved myself, and a large number of friends and people I'd never met, fortifying a massive house (much like a mansion turned into a dorm) against a zombie invasion.
This is a frequent theme, in my dreams, where it seems I see the Zombie Apocalypse coming. It's strange because, with the exception of 28 Weeks Later a few weeks ago, I haven't really been watching horror flicks. Oh well. It's not like they're nightmares, they've actually been quite entertaining.
Anyway, click "Read More...", then do that which you clicked.
MacBook Pro LED vs. CCFL
I was pretty happy when I found this article. Something I've been wanting to do for a while is see a side by side comparison between CCFL (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Tube) and LED (Light Emitting Diode) backlit LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) displays.
The change has come from the fact that CCFL has some trace amounts of Mercury, and therefore, in this green world people are trying to build, they're bad.
There's obviously going to be some flaws when someone just props the two displays next to each other and snaps a digital photo, but it's still pretty clear that there is some noticeable difference between the LED and the CCFL. This definitely goes against the idea that there should be no discernible difference between the displays. If you check out the photos, notice the one where both displays are set to 50% output, where you'll see there's a huge disparity between the brightness. The fact that the LED has a much more yellow tone to it than the CCFL is the most interesting thing, to me anyway.
Temperature monitoring case mod for the Wii?
I'm sorry, but I guess I must have missed all the complaints about Wii's overheating and dying from overuse. As a matter of fact, I haven't heard anything of the sort, and I know that people have the tendency to play them for 6-22 hours straight.
So, why then, was this thing created? It's a temp monitoring case for your Wii. While I can appreciate that it looks cool, and that it's probably and interesting effect to see it change from a pale blue to a dark blue, to possibly even a green, I can't imagine that there's going to be many times you'll see it reach the 'warmer colors'.
Forgetting things might be good?
I've read this article, and I really don't understand what they are getting at. The idea is that in forgetting, we are better able to remember important things. While I understand the statement, what's the point?
As we get closer and closer....
... to fighting robots!!! The Hubo FX-1 Chair Bot.
The Future of Newspapers.
This was actually a pretty good read. It's obvious, as his title implies, but it's still interesting to see.
And, I'm done for now.
Peace out.
Wednesday, June 6, 2007
With words, I speak.
Sometimes, just sometimes....
I forget the power of words. It's not often. I love to write, and do so frequently, in case you couldn't tell from the relatively long winded and frequent updates to this blog. But, sometimes I forget that the words I choose are so very important.
Words can change the world, and have. Words can sway minds and topple empires. Words and unite, and words can divide.
Of course, you knew that, and I won't bore you anymore with it. I just like to reflect on things like that sometimes. So, without further ado, you may click "Read More..." and have at it.
SPIEGEL INTERVIEW WITH AFRICAN ECONOMICS EXPERT
"For God's Sake, Please Stop the Aid!"
That's an actual quote. I've been saying this for years, although perhaps for slightly different, or at least not so well explained reasons. I've never liked the idea of giving money and aid to places that aren't capable of supporting themselves.
To me, it's like the old proverb: "Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for the rest of his life."
Perhaps it seems cruel, being that I also support, to some degree anyway, population control. We are a species quickly over growing our little sandbox. In in-hospitable locales, people aren't able to support themselves, therefore they die. Do I think this is sad? Of course. But, I also feel like it's necessary.
Apart from that, there's also the power problems that come from providing aid to certain parts of the world. The simple fact is that when the developed world starts pouring money into certain places, there's going to be certain people that want it. It monies and food won't be equally disseminated amongst the populace, there's always going to be disparity between the top and the bottom.
I could go on, talking about many of the things that are mentioned in the interview. But, it's probably better if you just read it for yourself. It's nice, sometimes, when you see that someone actually agrees with you.
If it's going to be sink or swim, sometimes it's best not to throw out the life line.
Flick a Day
This is a pretty cool concept. I wouldn't keep up with it, but, it's still a cool concept.
Ask.com is trying....
They are. Trying really hard to be better than Google. It's hard, of course, to beat them, but, I have to admit that Ask.com has always been a solid search engine. They've relaunched with a new interface, one that's a bit more 3D. I like the look, but I have to admit that I'm not fond of the performance from the new interface. It feels just a bit sluggish, and if I have to wait for even a moment just because they want it to look pretty... well, I don't consider that a win. Besides, I don't think they have a-mail, or ask docs and spreadsheets, or any of the other wonderful services Google lets me use for free, yet. So, I'm not exactly willing to dump Google as my primary search engine.
Still, I'll be keeping an eye on them, as I always have.
Shelby GT500 Super Snake
When I think of all the things I'd like to spend $72,000 on, this isn't one of them. However, it's still pretty impressive. Apparently, you start with the $45,000 GT500, with all it's 500hp glory, and then you drop another $28,000 on the Super Snake kit, bumping it up to 725hp!. If this is true, it would make it the most powerful street legal, warranty-carrying Mustang ever.
I don't know about all that. But, it certainly makes my Hyundai look more like a go-cart than ever.
How not to use PowerPoint.
There's a great video of a stand-up act by Don McMillan that revolves entirely around PowerPoint.
I hate PowerPoint. I don't know why I hate things that allow stupid people to think they know something, but I do.
Mind Operated Computers
I remember when I first read about the advances that had been made, a couple years ago a quadriplegic man was using only his brain to play video games. Now, the research has been continuing, and there's a lot to be said on the subject.
I thought the article was an interesting read.
Brilliance in Design
Being who I am, it's not hard to imagine that I'm interested in new and different ways of designing things. I've seen a lot of new "green" designs of late, and I've even seen paper that can be planted so that it will grow into something.
However, I'm pretty impressed by a these designs for a business cards that sprout.
Blueprint: Another Time Waster
As puzzle games go, Blueprint is one of them. It's pretty fun, like playing MouseTrap or something of the like. The concept is simple: rearrange the given elements to make a ball hit a target (both of which are static).
As always, I'm not responsible for your loss of productivity.
MySpace
As much as I hate to admit it, I have one. However much I hate having it, it is a good way to keep in touch with people that have, for some reason, forgotten about email, and can only remember they have friends if they appear in a list half-way down their page.
Perhaps it's a visual thing.
Either way, I have it, and since I don't like the fact that people with zero design skill are allowed assault me with as many flashing, moving, and transparent things as possible, all while paying zero attention to details like contrasting colors and readability, I prefer my page to look as little like a MySpace page as possible.
Enter the DIV Overlay.
Now, this isn't something that I couldn't code myself by hand, but, thankfully, there's a few resources available that make it much less of a nightmare.
First, because I actually think it's a pretty well built site, we have #bbbz.space. This page is a generator, and unlike the dozens of shitty generators out there, instead of adding moving and flashing graphics, it will just overlay your page with something a little more aesthetically pleasing. The main reason I like this is that has an automatic link generator. When working with Cold Fusion db commands, it's a pain to have to copy each link manually, and then remove the tokens and adjust the 'friendid' in each one.
If you'd prefer, there's some pre-built ones at 5thirtyone.com, which is where I went. This is a less 'user friendly' option, because the guy merely hands you some code, and lets you go loose on it. It's fine, if you have a fair idea of how to hand code you're links, but there's no reference in the pack (at least not in the one I chose, perhaps it's a little more friendly with the other options).
Either way, the result is a much better looking page, without all the terrible flash and glitz of MySpace.
And, in the imortal works that is xkcd.com:
(Note, I'm well aware that I've posted this before. Also, I'm well aware that you can't actually SEE my MySpace page.)
I'm done for now...
As usual, thanks for reading, or at least scrolling over, my words. Y'all come back now, y'hear?
I forget the power of words. It's not often. I love to write, and do so frequently, in case you couldn't tell from the relatively long winded and frequent updates to this blog. But, sometimes I forget that the words I choose are so very important.
Words can change the world, and have. Words can sway minds and topple empires. Words and unite, and words can divide.
Of course, you knew that, and I won't bore you anymore with it. I just like to reflect on things like that sometimes. So, without further ado, you may click "Read More..." and have at it.
SPIEGEL INTERVIEW WITH AFRICAN ECONOMICS EXPERT
"For God's Sake, Please Stop the Aid!"
That's an actual quote. I've been saying this for years, although perhaps for slightly different, or at least not so well explained reasons. I've never liked the idea of giving money and aid to places that aren't capable of supporting themselves.
To me, it's like the old proverb: "Give a man a fish, and he'll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, and he'll eat for the rest of his life."
Perhaps it seems cruel, being that I also support, to some degree anyway, population control. We are a species quickly over growing our little sandbox. In in-hospitable locales, people aren't able to support themselves, therefore they die. Do I think this is sad? Of course. But, I also feel like it's necessary.
Apart from that, there's also the power problems that come from providing aid to certain parts of the world. The simple fact is that when the developed world starts pouring money into certain places, there's going to be certain people that want it. It monies and food won't be equally disseminated amongst the populace, there's always going to be disparity between the top and the bottom.
I could go on, talking about many of the things that are mentioned in the interview. But, it's probably better if you just read it for yourself. It's nice, sometimes, when you see that someone actually agrees with you.
If it's going to be sink or swim, sometimes it's best not to throw out the life line.
Flick a Day
This is a pretty cool concept. I wouldn't keep up with it, but, it's still a cool concept.
Ask.com is trying....
They are. Trying really hard to be better than Google. It's hard, of course, to beat them, but, I have to admit that Ask.com has always been a solid search engine. They've relaunched with a new interface, one that's a bit more 3D. I like the look, but I have to admit that I'm not fond of the performance from the new interface. It feels just a bit sluggish, and if I have to wait for even a moment just because they want it to look pretty... well, I don't consider that a win. Besides, I don't think they have a-mail, or ask docs and spreadsheets, or any of the other wonderful services Google lets me use for free, yet. So, I'm not exactly willing to dump Google as my primary search engine.
Still, I'll be keeping an eye on them, as I always have.
Shelby GT500 Super Snake
When I think of all the things I'd like to spend $72,000 on, this isn't one of them. However, it's still pretty impressive. Apparently, you start with the $45,000 GT500, with all it's 500hp glory, and then you drop another $28,000 on the Super Snake kit, bumping it up to 725hp!. If this is true, it would make it the most powerful street legal, warranty-carrying Mustang ever.
I don't know about all that. But, it certainly makes my Hyundai look more like a go-cart than ever.
How not to use PowerPoint.
There's a great video of a stand-up act by Don McMillan that revolves entirely around PowerPoint.
I hate PowerPoint. I don't know why I hate things that allow stupid people to think they know something, but I do.
Mind Operated Computers
I remember when I first read about the advances that had been made, a couple years ago a quadriplegic man was using only his brain to play video games. Now, the research has been continuing, and there's a lot to be said on the subject.
I thought the article was an interesting read.
Brilliance in Design
Being who I am, it's not hard to imagine that I'm interested in new and different ways of designing things. I've seen a lot of new "green" designs of late, and I've even seen paper that can be planted so that it will grow into something.
However, I'm pretty impressed by a these designs for a business cards that sprout.
Blueprint: Another Time Waster
As puzzle games go, Blueprint is one of them. It's pretty fun, like playing MouseTrap or something of the like. The concept is simple: rearrange the given elements to make a ball hit a target (both of which are static).
As always, I'm not responsible for your loss of productivity.
MySpace
As much as I hate to admit it, I have one. However much I hate having it, it is a good way to keep in touch with people that have, for some reason, forgotten about email, and can only remember they have friends if they appear in a list half-way down their page.
Perhaps it's a visual thing.
Either way, I have it, and since I don't like the fact that people with zero design skill are allowed assault me with as many flashing, moving, and transparent things as possible, all while paying zero attention to details like contrasting colors and readability, I prefer my page to look as little like a MySpace page as possible.
Enter the DIV Overlay.
Now, this isn't something that I couldn't code myself by hand, but, thankfully, there's a few resources available that make it much less of a nightmare.
First, because I actually think it's a pretty well built site, we have #bbbz.space. This page is a generator, and unlike the dozens of shitty generators out there, instead of adding moving and flashing graphics, it will just overlay your page with something a little more aesthetically pleasing. The main reason I like this is that has an automatic link generator. When working with Cold Fusion db commands, it's a pain to have to copy each link manually, and then remove the tokens and adjust the 'friendid' in each one.
If you'd prefer, there's some pre-built ones at 5thirtyone.com, which is where I went. This is a less 'user friendly' option, because the guy merely hands you some code, and lets you go loose on it. It's fine, if you have a fair idea of how to hand code you're links, but there's no reference in the pack (at least not in the one I chose, perhaps it's a little more friendly with the other options).
Either way, the result is a much better looking page, without all the terrible flash and glitz of MySpace.
And, in the imortal works that is xkcd.com:
(Note, I'm well aware that I've posted this before. Also, I'm well aware that you can't actually SEE my MySpace page.)
I'm done for now...
As usual, thanks for reading, or at least scrolling over, my words. Y'all come back now, y'hear?
Monday, June 4, 2007
Links-o-Plenty
This will be an epic internet adventure....
Well... Sort of. There's just a lot of ground to cover. So, without further ado...
The M41-A Pulse Rifle
Alright, I'm as a big fan of Aliens as the next guy. It's a solid franchise, great character design, reasonably good story, and above all else, there's plenty of great effects (if only for the time they were made) to get the blood boiling.
This, however, seems a bit excessive. They have taken building replicas to a whole. nuthah. level.
These guys have laid out the list of components, from real weapons (M1A1 Thompson, Remington 870, and a SPAS-12), to their comparable resin and airsoft counterparts, and then laid out the actual build. If you have an extra $1000 and plenty of time on your hands, feel free to have at it.
Ever wonder how many human females a spider-monkey weights?
Or perhaps you'd like to know how many flaccid penises the Empire State Building is tall. Then weirdconverter.com is the site for you.
Taking pointless conversions to a whole. nutha.... no, I won't do that again.
Massively Mega Pixeled
Scott Howard likes to make pictures filled with pixels. Check out Chicago Skyline in 1000 Megapixels, Sydney in 720 Megapixels, or Machu Picchu in 1500 Megapixels. Pretty amazing stuff.
Polar Clock
I'd love to see this as a widget for MacOS X or a Gadget for Windows Vista.
Origami Boulder
Origami, the art of Japanese paper folding. Now, you can actually get your own, hand crafted, piece of origami art. An origami boulder.
The Evolution of Windows
From 1.0 to Vista, in screen caps.
It's sad that I've been there for it all.
Mac Nostalgia, too.
Steve "Woz" Wozniak talks about the history of Apple, back in 1984.
Saw Safety System
This is just amazing.
Click Here for more great videos and pictures!
Star Trek comes closer to reality.
Using Quantum Entanglement, scientists have been able to teleport information through thin air over a distance of 89 miles. Wow.
Brushed Metal iMacs
Well, you can't stay it's not stylish. The word is that the new iMacs will be using Apple's trademark brushed metal, like the MacBook Pros.
It looks like they've gotten even closer to a display only appearance, as they now resemble the current Cinema Displays.
I have to admit the sexiness. I'm still not a Mac fan, but damn if they don't make a pretty product.
Top 5 Tower Defense Games.
I've talked about Desktop Tower Defense, and it's extremely addictive nature. Now this site now lays out the top 5 tower defense games.
Sure, try just one.
JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser/Tank
Man, of all the crazy shit you can buy on Amazon.com, this is one of them.
Just $20,000. Get yours today.
It seems like that's enough.
Peace out internet.
Well... Sort of. There's just a lot of ground to cover. So, without further ado...
The M41-A Pulse Rifle
Alright, I'm as a big fan of Aliens as the next guy. It's a solid franchise, great character design, reasonably good story, and above all else, there's plenty of great effects (if only for the time they were made) to get the blood boiling.
This, however, seems a bit excessive. They have taken building replicas to a whole. nuthah. level.
These guys have laid out the list of components, from real weapons (M1A1 Thompson, Remington 870, and a SPAS-12), to their comparable resin and airsoft counterparts, and then laid out the actual build. If you have an extra $1000 and plenty of time on your hands, feel free to have at it.
Ever wonder how many human females a spider-monkey weights?
Or perhaps you'd like to know how many flaccid penises the Empire State Building is tall. Then weirdconverter.com is the site for you.
Taking pointless conversions to a whole. nutha.... no, I won't do that again.
Massively Mega Pixeled
Scott Howard likes to make pictures filled with pixels. Check out Chicago Skyline in 1000 Megapixels, Sydney in 720 Megapixels, or Machu Picchu in 1500 Megapixels. Pretty amazing stuff.
Polar Clock
I'd love to see this as a widget for MacOS X or a Gadget for Windows Vista.
Origami Boulder
Origami, the art of Japanese paper folding. Now, you can actually get your own, hand crafted, piece of origami art. An origami boulder.
The Evolution of Windows
From 1.0 to Vista, in screen caps.
It's sad that I've been there for it all.
Mac Nostalgia, too.
Steve "Woz" Wozniak talks about the history of Apple, back in 1984.
Saw Safety System
This is just amazing.
Click Here for more great videos and pictures!
Star Trek comes closer to reality.
Using Quantum Entanglement, scientists have been able to teleport information through thin air over a distance of 89 miles. Wow.
Brushed Metal iMacs
Well, you can't stay it's not stylish. The word is that the new iMacs will be using Apple's trademark brushed metal, like the MacBook Pros.
It looks like they've gotten even closer to a display only appearance, as they now resemble the current Cinema Displays.
I have to admit the sexiness. I'm still not a Mac fan, but damn if they don't make a pretty product.
Top 5 Tower Defense Games.
I've talked about Desktop Tower Defense, and it's extremely addictive nature. Now this site now lays out the top 5 tower defense games.
Sure, try just one.
JL421 Badonkadonk Land Cruiser/Tank
Man, of all the crazy shit you can buy on Amazon.com, this is one of them.
Just $20,000. Get yours today.
It seems like that's enough.
Peace out internet.
Sunday, June 3, 2007
Where's your anger....
Where's your fucking rage!
It's time again for me to type the words you're not going to read. I'll share opinions that you probably don't agree with. Why do I do it? Why not? That's the better question.
Your job now, citizen, is to click the read more and do what you clicked. Good luck!
Save the Planet, Eat a Vegan.
Jeremy Clarkson is funny, even if he's not driving 250 mph on Top Gear.
What are peoples thoughts on "Global Warming." Having done zero research myself, and only going off the many conflicting reports, I really don't see it as this massive problem. But, that's just my opinion.
My cobbled together bits of information with which I've concluded include the fact that we are still on the upswinging tail end of an ice age, and it seems that the planet should be getting warmer every day, at least for a number of years longer. As I understand it, many of the big budget research projects that show these big climate changes just plain do not account for this. So, when it's warmer now that it was in 1863, it's actually as it should be.
Also, that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is actually a good thing for plants, which produce oxygen and ozone. A couple of things that I've read over the years say that it's actually a good thing to pump as much CO2 into the air as possible, as it gives more fuel to the plant life on the planet, which will adapt and produce more oxygen for us. Supposedly, this has actually happened in the past, which massive volcanic activity giving rise to lush plant life.
The only thing I'm truly concerned about is the lack of fresh water, because that is a supply that is not as in abundance... fossil fuels will be gone, but we're working on alternate means, and well before it becomes a problem, we'll have other energy sources, but until we come up with some sort of catch all desalinization method, which I have no doubt will probably happen, we'll be screwed in few thousand years.
Anyway, I'm sure you'll all have various sources that say I'm wrong, and contradict me at every turn. I'm just stating the things that I've "heard / read" over the years. In my opinion, it's not this open and shut case that we're destroying our planet. My guess is that we'll kill ourselves off long before we do in the planet, and in the end, the earth will continue to take care of itself as it always has, until the sun burns out... and none of us will be here when that happens anyway.
Now, the article I linked up there has little to do with all the things I just talked about, and that's for a reason. I just picked it because of it's humorous take on one the supposed problems we are facing. Cows fart too much... the planet it doomed!
Gates vs. Jobs: The Battle of the Century.
Well, no. Actually, I have two things to share, I read / saw them fairly close to each, which made both a more interesting experience.
First of all, it must be understood that I think both are great men. The fact that they started their respective companies from garages with little more than the knowledge in their heads and a drive to do something big, well, it's astounding. Now, it's not as though all the worlds richest people were born with silver spoons in their mouths, but not all of them started in as lowly a place as these two. And those that do, well, I have a lot of respect for them as well. Mostly.
First, there's a video from D5.
The page has an edited video of the pair on stage together, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. There's also a transcript of the entire interview, which is actually very interesting to read. The thing that I love is that the video editing job definitely favors Jobs. Many of Gates responses were just cut out. It does a lot to further the image of Gates as a socially inept nerd, devoid of humor and sensibility. Jobs, meanwhile, wearing his artsy black sweater, a contrast to Gates plain striped button down shirt, and his heavy stubble and wily smirk... well, he just screams 'cool'.
Now. It's hard to look at Gates in this and think of him as an evil man. But, that's the way he's portrayed most of the time. Jobs is the hip, trendy, cool guy, while Gates is the evil monopolist, megalomaniac, money hungry, evil tyrant of the world. Steve Jobs is cool, because, have you seen the iPod? C'mon, it's just good fun!
But wait, this article talks a little about something that people don't seem to pay attention to.
Now, it's entirely possible, and it's noted in the article, that Jobs, being the recluse that he is, merely makes his donations anonymously. While that's possible, and even plausible, I just don't think it is. I think the man is not of the giving spirit. I've seen him speak enough, read enough about him, to have this constant dislike for him. I can't explain it, but it's a persistent thing, and it's been there for a long time.
Bill Gates, he's a nerd, and I like him for it. Like Linus Torvalds. I like them for it. Maybe that's part of my problem, Jobs always seems like he's trying to be something other than a computer geek. As though he's trying to distance himself from his world. Like so many Mac enthusiasts, he doesn't want to see the computer, just the hip and trendy stuff that comes out of it.
All that aside, though, I have to say, it is strange that he doesn't seem to make any sort of impact on the world, but rather sit in his mansions and count his vast wealth. He doesn't speak out about political or social things, as a matter of fact, the only thing he ever really spoke about that I can remember was against DRM. I remember thinking, and possibly stating when I wrote about it, that it was the first time I'd seen him say anything that wasn't "Hey, check out the latest iProduct you want to buy. PAY ME!"
So, make your own conclusions. But, Steve, c'mon man, tell us you care about something other than your own fortune!
Since we're talking apple...
This is how they viewed computing would be in 2011 as of 1980something. It's fairly entertaining.
Creepy Child Android CB2
This thing is just plain creepy. That's all I'm going to say. It's cool... but creepy.
WeeWar
I believe this qualifies as a Time Waster. I haven't had the chance to actually play, but I've enjoyed spectating on a few rounds. WeeWar.com....
I don't know if I'm willing to try, because it looks like the type of thing that would result in my not getting anything done.
Robert Goulet!
Alright, first we have the commercial that made me laugh for about ten minutes. I was literally rolling on the floor. It takes a lot for advertising to really get to me.
Next we have a blurb on a failed Robert Goulet pilot episode, for a show called Acting Sheriff. Goulet would play a failed actor turned small town sheriff. I can't believe this lost out to another season of Jake and the Fatman.
Origins of Hardcore Punk
Bad Brains - At the Movies - Live 1979.
Legendary.
That's all for now...
I'll be back.
It's time again for me to type the words you're not going to read. I'll share opinions that you probably don't agree with. Why do I do it? Why not? That's the better question.
Your job now, citizen, is to click the read more and do what you clicked. Good luck!
Save the Planet, Eat a Vegan.
Jeremy Clarkson is funny, even if he's not driving 250 mph on Top Gear.
What are peoples thoughts on "Global Warming." Having done zero research myself, and only going off the many conflicting reports, I really don't see it as this massive problem. But, that's just my opinion.
My cobbled together bits of information with which I've concluded include the fact that we are still on the upswinging tail end of an ice age, and it seems that the planet should be getting warmer every day, at least for a number of years longer. As I understand it, many of the big budget research projects that show these big climate changes just plain do not account for this. So, when it's warmer now that it was in 1863, it's actually as it should be.
Also, that carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is actually a good thing for plants, which produce oxygen and ozone. A couple of things that I've read over the years say that it's actually a good thing to pump as much CO2 into the air as possible, as it gives more fuel to the plant life on the planet, which will adapt and produce more oxygen for us. Supposedly, this has actually happened in the past, which massive volcanic activity giving rise to lush plant life.
The only thing I'm truly concerned about is the lack of fresh water, because that is a supply that is not as in abundance... fossil fuels will be gone, but we're working on alternate means, and well before it becomes a problem, we'll have other energy sources, but until we come up with some sort of catch all desalinization method, which I have no doubt will probably happen, we'll be screwed in few thousand years.
Anyway, I'm sure you'll all have various sources that say I'm wrong, and contradict me at every turn. I'm just stating the things that I've "heard / read" over the years. In my opinion, it's not this open and shut case that we're destroying our planet. My guess is that we'll kill ourselves off long before we do in the planet, and in the end, the earth will continue to take care of itself as it always has, until the sun burns out... and none of us will be here when that happens anyway.
Now, the article I linked up there has little to do with all the things I just talked about, and that's for a reason. I just picked it because of it's humorous take on one the supposed problems we are facing. Cows fart too much... the planet it doomed!
Gates vs. Jobs: The Battle of the Century.
Well, no. Actually, I have two things to share, I read / saw them fairly close to each, which made both a more interesting experience.
First of all, it must be understood that I think both are great men. The fact that they started their respective companies from garages with little more than the knowledge in their heads and a drive to do something big, well, it's astounding. Now, it's not as though all the worlds richest people were born with silver spoons in their mouths, but not all of them started in as lowly a place as these two. And those that do, well, I have a lot of respect for them as well. Mostly.
First, there's a video from D5.
The page has an edited video of the pair on stage together, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates. There's also a transcript of the entire interview, which is actually very interesting to read. The thing that I love is that the video editing job definitely favors Jobs. Many of Gates responses were just cut out. It does a lot to further the image of Gates as a socially inept nerd, devoid of humor and sensibility. Jobs, meanwhile, wearing his artsy black sweater, a contrast to Gates plain striped button down shirt, and his heavy stubble and wily smirk... well, he just screams 'cool'.
Now. It's hard to look at Gates in this and think of him as an evil man. But, that's the way he's portrayed most of the time. Jobs is the hip, trendy, cool guy, while Gates is the evil monopolist, megalomaniac, money hungry, evil tyrant of the world. Steve Jobs is cool, because, have you seen the iPod? C'mon, it's just good fun!
But wait, this article talks a little about something that people don't seem to pay attention to.
Until recently, Bill Gates has been viewed as the villain of the tech world, while his arch rival, Steve Jobs, enjoys an almost saintly reputation.
Gates is the cutthroat capitalist. A genius maybe, but one more interested in maximizing profits than perfecting technology. He's the ultimate vengeful nerd. Ostracized at school, he gets the last laugh by bleeding us all dry.
On the other hand, Jobs has never seemed much concerned with business, though he's been very successful at it of late. Instead, Jobs has been portrayed as a man of art and culture. He's an aesthete, an artist; driven to make a dent in the universe.
But these perceptions are wrong. In fact, the reality is reversed. It's Gates who's making a dent in the universe, and Jobs who's taking on the role of single-minded capitalist, seemingly oblivious to the broader needs of society.
Gates is giving away his fortune with the same gusto he spent acquiring it, throwing billions of dollars at solving global health problems. He has also spoken out on major policy issues, for example, by opposing proposals to cut back the inheritance tax.
In contrast, Jobs does not appear on any charitable contribution lists of note. And Jobs has said nary a word on behalf of important social issues, reserving his talents of persuasion for selling Apple products.
Now, it's entirely possible, and it's noted in the article, that Jobs, being the recluse that he is, merely makes his donations anonymously. While that's possible, and even plausible, I just don't think it is. I think the man is not of the giving spirit. I've seen him speak enough, read enough about him, to have this constant dislike for him. I can't explain it, but it's a persistent thing, and it's been there for a long time.
Bill Gates, he's a nerd, and I like him for it. Like Linus Torvalds. I like them for it. Maybe that's part of my problem, Jobs always seems like he's trying to be something other than a computer geek. As though he's trying to distance himself from his world. Like so many Mac enthusiasts, he doesn't want to see the computer, just the hip and trendy stuff that comes out of it.
All that aside, though, I have to say, it is strange that he doesn't seem to make any sort of impact on the world, but rather sit in his mansions and count his vast wealth. He doesn't speak out about political or social things, as a matter of fact, the only thing he ever really spoke about that I can remember was against DRM. I remember thinking, and possibly stating when I wrote about it, that it was the first time I'd seen him say anything that wasn't "Hey, check out the latest iProduct you want to buy. PAY ME!"
So, make your own conclusions. But, Steve, c'mon man, tell us you care about something other than your own fortune!
Since we're talking apple...
This is how they viewed computing would be in 2011 as of 1980something. It's fairly entertaining.
Creepy Child Android CB2
This thing is just plain creepy. That's all I'm going to say. It's cool... but creepy.
WeeWar
I believe this qualifies as a Time Waster. I haven't had the chance to actually play, but I've enjoyed spectating on a few rounds. WeeWar.com....
Weewar.com is a round based strategy game featuring real action on real maps. Up to 6 players command their colorful pixel armies against each other on the many maps available.
And since it is all happening in the browser Weewar can be played from anywhere - including the office :)
I don't know if I'm willing to try, because it looks like the type of thing that would result in my not getting anything done.
Robert Goulet!
Alright, first we have the commercial that made me laugh for about ten minutes. I was literally rolling on the floor. It takes a lot for advertising to really get to me.
Next we have a blurb on a failed Robert Goulet pilot episode, for a show called Acting Sheriff. Goulet would play a failed actor turned small town sheriff. I can't believe this lost out to another season of Jake and the Fatman.
Origins of Hardcore Punk
Bad Brains - At the Movies - Live 1979.
Legendary.
That's all for now...
I'll be back.
Saturday, June 2, 2007
Can you tell I'm bored?
Cause I am...
No one wants to go out and play with me. I'm bored.
Actually, I've been doing a little spring cleaning of the hard drives, as I realized, when I was trying to find something I was working on, that it was in someplace really stupid. Of course, that's boring, so I thought I would do a little blogging.
I'm eagerly waiting nightfall, when all the scary people like me go out and play.
As usual, you gotta click the thing to read the stuff you came for.
Spinning Diamonds make Stable Quantum Computing Possible?
Wow, I read this article, a couple times, and I still really don't get it. But I fell like it's one of those things that should be shared, thereby making me appear smarter.
My favorite part is this quote:
I'm rooting for these guys, whatever it is that they're doing.
Stephen Colbert
First, I have to preface this by saying, I can only take so much Stephen Colbert at a time. It's not that I don't think he's funny, he is, but his shtick gets old for me pretty quick.
So, when I saw this bit on engadget, I made another realization about Stephen Colbert. You see, he did the introduction, by video, for the CEO of Viacom, Phillipe Dauman at D5. As I watched it, I realized, he's even less funny when there's no audience to laugh at him.
Jaguar goes Star Trek
When I was a kid, I wanted a Jaguar. My parents had one, when I was 4 or 5, living in California, before the messy divorce thing happened. I have reasonably fond memories of that car, and growing up, I wanted to get one of my own.
Then Ford bought them out.
Now I don't want on anymore.
But, I have to admit that there's something extremely sexy about the new transmission selector they're using. Perhaps it's the Star Trek nerd inside me, but I dig it.
And, while I was pissed that Ford thought the X-type needed a Taurus ass on it, but, the new concepts are looking sexier and sexier to me. Maybe, just maybe... no. I can't afford these, who am I trying to kid.
Shuffle
Yep, it's another way to waste time on the interwebs. It's amazing to me that anyone can get anything done, given the shear volume of Flash Games on the net. I figure that 82% of the internet is flash games. The remaining portion is just Memes.
So, this game is Shuffle. It's like billiards in board game style... try it out.
Someone linked the actual swf, if you prefer that, with less waiting.
Enough is enough!
Seriously. I'm fan of the Harry Potter series. I've already mentioned that I enjoy the books, even if I recognize some of their flaws. I've enjoyed the movies. I was accepting of the initial series of toys and even the games.
But, now they want to build a theme park?
It's unbelievable to me.
With that said...
I'm out of here.
No one wants to go out and play with me. I'm bored.
Actually, I've been doing a little spring cleaning of the hard drives, as I realized, when I was trying to find something I was working on, that it was in someplace really stupid. Of course, that's boring, so I thought I would do a little blogging.
I'm eagerly waiting nightfall, when all the scary people like me go out and play.
As usual, you gotta click the thing to read the stuff you came for.
Spinning Diamonds make Stable Quantum Computing Possible?
Wow, I read this article, a couple times, and I still really don't get it. But I fell like it's one of those things that should be shared, thereby making me appear smarter.
My favorite part is this quote:
"The problem is, what makes single nuclear spin so stable - its weak interaction with its surroundings - also prevents us from directly manipulating it," Lukin says. "How do you control something that can't interact with anything?"
I'm rooting for these guys, whatever it is that they're doing.
Stephen Colbert
First, I have to preface this by saying, I can only take so much Stephen Colbert at a time. It's not that I don't think he's funny, he is, but his shtick gets old for me pretty quick.
So, when I saw this bit on engadget, I made another realization about Stephen Colbert. You see, he did the introduction, by video, for the CEO of Viacom, Phillipe Dauman at D5. As I watched it, I realized, he's even less funny when there's no audience to laugh at him.
Jaguar goes Star Trek
When I was a kid, I wanted a Jaguar. My parents had one, when I was 4 or 5, living in California, before the messy divorce thing happened. I have reasonably fond memories of that car, and growing up, I wanted to get one of my own.
Then Ford bought them out.
Now I don't want on anymore.
But, I have to admit that there's something extremely sexy about the new transmission selector they're using. Perhaps it's the Star Trek nerd inside me, but I dig it.
And, while I was pissed that Ford thought the X-type needed a Taurus ass on it, but, the new concepts are looking sexier and sexier to me. Maybe, just maybe... no. I can't afford these, who am I trying to kid.
Shuffle
Yep, it's another way to waste time on the interwebs. It's amazing to me that anyone can get anything done, given the shear volume of Flash Games on the net. I figure that 82% of the internet is flash games. The remaining portion is just Memes.
So, this game is Shuffle. It's like billiards in board game style... try it out.
Someone linked the actual swf, if you prefer that, with less waiting.
Enough is enough!
Seriously. I'm fan of the Harry Potter series. I've already mentioned that I enjoy the books, even if I recognize some of their flaws. I've enjoyed the movies. I was accepting of the initial series of toys and even the games.
But, now they want to build a theme park?
It's unbelievable to me.
With that said...
I'm out of here.
Friday, June 1, 2007
I don't want to fight...
Every single night!
Everything I want is in your eyes... or perhaps that's 'lies'. Either way, I'm excited, giddy almost, over the fact that there's a new Smashing Pumpkins album coming July 10th. I'll get on to that right away, but trust there's plenty more for me to talk about as well.... click the thing there to make the rest of article appear, as if by some form of magik!
The Smashing Pumpkins
Wow. That's all I can really say. Something I have to be up front about is that The Smashing Pumpkins have been my band since I was in middle school. It got me to and through high school, and even Machina marked the birth of my first child. I have been a fan since the release of Siamese Dream, and became a die-hard fan after the release of Mellon Collie.
So, when I'd heard that the band was reuniting, I was excited. I'd read, somewhere, that the whole band would be getting back together, then, for whatever reasons, my music news failed to turn up anything on the band at all. I was aware that Jimmy Chamberlain and Billy Corgan had confirmed the reunion, but never did I hear whether D'arcy or James would be rejoining for sure.
I'd thought, based on the one thing that I'd read, that they would. It seemed impossible to me that they couldn't. I'd also stumbled over the news that they were working on a new album, still I hadn't heard any specifics. The other night, I turned on the radio, for no real reason, and their new single, Tarantula was playing. I was excited, I heard Billy Corgan's voice over the radio waves, singing something I'd never heard, and it was amazing.
I thought, after hearing it, that the band must be whole. But, alas, that is not the case. While the two members I'm most enamored with, Billy Corgan for his unique and beautiful vocals, and Jimmy Chamberlain for his incredibly powerful percussive skills, it seems that James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky are absent, being replaced by Jeff Schroeder and Ginger Reyes. It's unfortunate that Melissa Auf der Maur didn't come back, because I firmly believe she's one of the hottest bassists on the planet, and I did always think she filled in well for D'arcy.
Now, to me, Jimmy and Billy are the essential core to the Pumpkins, and the new single certainly seeks to confirm that. It's the Pumpkins. You hear it, and you know it's them. I can only hope that the rest of the album holds up to the standards that I keep.
At least it's not Zwan.
The new album, Zeitgeist, releases July 10th.
What I love about doing things for the sake of doing them...
This seems so amazing to me. Intel has, for the sake of research, produced an 80-core processor. Now, this isn't that amazing, there's another company that's produced a 96-core chip.
What's amazing to me, is that we are just seeing the Quad-Core processors trickle into the main stream, and here Intel is saying, look... we can produce an 80-core Terraflop processor. See, here it is.
Damn.
<> head? < /html >
Ok, I've seen these before, but they have made their rounds on Digg again, and I can't help but think that any chick that wears these is... well... they'd just have to be pretty cool to hang out with... and play Magic.
I wish I had something Google wanted to buy...
'Cause, they buy a lot of stuff. There goes FeedBurner.
Background Check?
I really love The Consumerist, they've usually got decent information and suggestions. And I think that this article is a good example. They suggest that you take a look at what information the establishment has about you.
The only reason I really mention it, though, is because... well... look at the picture they used. Just look at it. It's fucking hilarious!
Make Brain Smarter!
Lumosity. I've run through one session already. It's in free beta stage, and so far, it's pretty neat. I'd say, it's free, and it makes you do a little thinking, that can't hurt anything, right?
Suddenly, Paper Airplanes are vogue!
Two sites in my feeds in 2 days.
Interesting.
bestpaperairplanes.com
Guardian Unlimited
Glen or Glenda?
Here we have a movie, that's now Public Domain, by the inexorable Ed Wood, Jr. This is, far and away, one of the worst movies ever made. And he made several movies.
And here, we've reached the end....
...of our magical journey. See ya next time kids!
Everything I want is in your eyes... or perhaps that's 'lies'. Either way, I'm excited, giddy almost, over the fact that there's a new Smashing Pumpkins album coming July 10th. I'll get on to that right away, but trust there's plenty more for me to talk about as well.... click the thing there to make the rest of article appear, as if by some form of magik!
The Smashing Pumpkins
Wow. That's all I can really say. Something I have to be up front about is that The Smashing Pumpkins have been my band since I was in middle school. It got me to and through high school, and even Machina marked the birth of my first child. I have been a fan since the release of Siamese Dream, and became a die-hard fan after the release of Mellon Collie.
So, when I'd heard that the band was reuniting, I was excited. I'd read, somewhere, that the whole band would be getting back together, then, for whatever reasons, my music news failed to turn up anything on the band at all. I was aware that Jimmy Chamberlain and Billy Corgan had confirmed the reunion, but never did I hear whether D'arcy or James would be rejoining for sure.
I'd thought, based on the one thing that I'd read, that they would. It seemed impossible to me that they couldn't. I'd also stumbled over the news that they were working on a new album, still I hadn't heard any specifics. The other night, I turned on the radio, for no real reason, and their new single, Tarantula was playing. I was excited, I heard Billy Corgan's voice over the radio waves, singing something I'd never heard, and it was amazing.
I thought, after hearing it, that the band must be whole. But, alas, that is not the case. While the two members I'm most enamored with, Billy Corgan for his unique and beautiful vocals, and Jimmy Chamberlain for his incredibly powerful percussive skills, it seems that James Iha and D'arcy Wretzky are absent, being replaced by Jeff Schroeder and Ginger Reyes. It's unfortunate that Melissa Auf der Maur didn't come back, because I firmly believe she's one of the hottest bassists on the planet, and I did always think she filled in well for D'arcy.
Now, to me, Jimmy and Billy are the essential core to the Pumpkins, and the new single certainly seeks to confirm that. It's the Pumpkins. You hear it, and you know it's them. I can only hope that the rest of the album holds up to the standards that I keep.
At least it's not Zwan.
The new album, Zeitgeist, releases July 10th.
What I love about doing things for the sake of doing them...
This seems so amazing to me. Intel has, for the sake of research, produced an 80-core processor. Now, this isn't that amazing, there's another company that's produced a 96-core chip.
What's amazing to me, is that we are just seeing the Quad-Core processors trickle into the main stream, and here Intel is saying, look... we can produce an 80-core Terraflop processor. See, here it is.
Damn.
<> head? < /html >
Ok, I've seen these before, but they have made their rounds on Digg again, and I can't help but think that any chick that wears these is... well... they'd just have to be pretty cool to hang out with... and play Magic.I wish I had something Google wanted to buy...
'Cause, they buy a lot of stuff. There goes FeedBurner.
Background Check?
I really love The Consumerist, they've usually got decent information and suggestions. And I think that this article is a good example. They suggest that you take a look at what information the establishment has about you.
The only reason I really mention it, though, is because... well... look at the picture they used. Just look at it. It's fucking hilarious!
Make Brain Smarter!
Lumosity. I've run through one session already. It's in free beta stage, and so far, it's pretty neat. I'd say, it's free, and it makes you do a little thinking, that can't hurt anything, right?
Suddenly, Paper Airplanes are vogue!
Two sites in my feeds in 2 days.
Interesting.
bestpaperairplanes.com
Guardian Unlimited
Glen or Glenda?
Here we have a movie, that's now Public Domain, by the inexorable Ed Wood, Jr. This is, far and away, one of the worst movies ever made. And he made several movies.
And here, we've reached the end....
...of our magical journey. See ya next time kids!
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