Rant Things

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Zombie Minimum Daily Dietary Requirements
  September 29, 2009 – Yay brains!

Things which amused or interested me today:

• The Rabbi and the Dog
  September 29, 2009 – The dog is helping!
• The Ferguson Gang
  September 29, 2009 – I am amused. This does seem singularly British.
• Bio-Accessories Let You Wear Nature (on Your Face)
  September 28, 2009 – I could make a crude remark here, but I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader.
• Giving Heroin to Addicts: A New Treatment Gains Ground – TIME
  September 28, 2009 – Please can we do drug policy based on science instead of ideology?
• Dodd, Leahy, Feingold, and Merkley Announce Bill to Repeal Retroactive Immunity | U.S. Senator Christopher J. Dodd
  September 28, 2009 – This sounds like a good start.
• Robotic pancake sorter
  September 28, 2009 – I was not aware before today that this was a problem in need of a solution. I have been enlightened.
• Who’s the best? YOU!
  September 28, 2009 – I feel cheered, somehow.
• Clever Bird Uses Bait to Catch Fish
  September 28, 2009 – Smart, very smart.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Photo
  September 28, 2009 – In an alternate reality…
• How-To: Use hard drives for image stabilization
  September 28, 2009 – Aha– that’s what to do with all the old hard drives.
• smile
  September 28, 2009 – Smiley birds.
• computing as a liberal art
  September 28, 2009 – I like the concept. I’m just not sure if it would make computer science more stodgy or less stodgy. (thanks Alex!)
• Indie Software Security: A 12 Step Program
  September 28, 2009 – This really does boil down ‘how to worry about security’ pretty well.
• Changes
  September 27, 2009 – This would have been a really fun project in music class. Well executed.
• Photo
  September 27, 2009 – I shouldn’t laugh.
• YouTube – Storm Over Frankfurt
  September 27, 2009 – A couple of guys in a boat capture the storm (and probably fright) of their lives…. The last few links via http://darkroastedblend.com , btw.
• YouTube – Gajs – Suzuki – In the air
  September 27, 2009 – para-water-motorcycle-skiing? I think reality just broke.
• YouTube – Beautiful Film of Scuba Diving in a Newly Flooded Meadow.
  September 27, 2009 – Okay, this is impressive. The meadow at Green Lake, Austria, floods every year with melting snow. This video was taken shortly after the flood, with all the flowers and such still blooming, but now submerged. Very relaxing and surreal.
• Why we watch TV
  September 27, 2009 – Hey, that’s not funny.
• Clearneon Paint
  September 27, 2009 – Interesting. Paint that’s clear under normal lighting, but that glows brightly under UV light.
• Whistle
  September 27, 2009 – In the future, we’ll just be able to print things we’d normally get at a dollar store.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Calling liars to account – Other Views – MiamiHerald.com
  September 27, 2009 – Yeah; I really wish more people and journalists would call out the outright lies (on all sides), instead of excusing them or giving people the benefit of the doubt all the time.
• Speed of Light Defined
  September 26, 2009 – A product of our modern educational system, I’m sure.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Teen birth rates highest in most religious states – Kids and parenting- msnbc.com
  September 25, 2009 – From the “Well, duh” files.
• Are you having a bad September? If so, you’re not alone.
  September 25, 2009 – Oh good, we can blame something else.
• best of craigslist: Autographed Copy of Plato's Republic
  September 25, 2009 – Satire or Unclear on the concept?
• anthropomorphism:deadchique:(via vermicide)
  September 25, 2009 – This is cute. Sort of.
• Don't Panic > Magazine > Foreign > MAX PAPESCHI
  September 25, 2009 – Yeah, this is vaguely disturbing.
• Maybe I don’t want to be a soldier…maybe I want to…
  September 25, 2009 – …or a lumberjack! (or not)

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Put a satellite into orbit for $8,000
  September 24, 2009 – Huh. Now a) I have to come up with $8000, and b) I have to figure out what to send into orbit.
• YouTube – Eric Idle Responds to Your Fatuous Comments
  September 24, 2009 – Proving the value of a good grounding in reality and a quick wit.
• Photo
  September 24, 2009 – Nature, evaluated by the action movie target audience.
• Holy fuck it’s flying meat time again! I fucking love…
  September 24, 2009 – Flying meat time!

Things which amused or interested me today:

• The Dervish Ceiling Fan Lamp Could Probably Wash Your Car [Lighting]
  September 23, 2009 – Hah. That’s a cool design, though I’d hope it’d be functional.
• It would be cheaper to give illegal immigrants a round-trip ticket to Paris, than ban them in the health care reform bill
  September 23, 2009 – Here’s a talking point for you.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• YouTube – 36 Skaters Make Downhill Neon Video Game
  September 22, 2009 – Okay, possibly dangerous. But quasi-tetris via EL wire and skateboards? Very cool. Via NOTCOT.
• #25055 – some cool lights hades from design graduates in…
  September 22, 2009 – The light shades are cool too, but I like the concept of lights hades. Kind of like a lo-cal hell.
• PhD Comics: Peak Productivity
  September 22, 2009 – Way too often, this seems to be true.
• Booze Therapy: Giving Alcohol to Patients with Head Injury
  September 22, 2009 – Interesting concept; not all medicine is pharmaceuticals and surgical implements.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Ban the Dictionary
  September 22, 2009 – I adore stories like this. Read through to the end.
• Photo
  September 21, 2009 – Sometimes all it takes is an animated gif to amuse me…
• Mediactive » Eleven More Things I’d Do if I Ran a News Organization
  September 21, 2009 – More good ideas on how news media can better itself, rather than putting its (current) drivel behind paywalls.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• THIS WEEKEND ON CBS
  September 21, 2009 – Even Hollywood celebrates!
• Budweiser Somehow Most Appealing Ingredient In Disgusting Beverage Combination
  September 21, 2009 – From the flavor brains at Anheuser-Busch…
• Lego Compatible Disc Buttons
  September 21, 2009 – Hooray for 3D printers.
• Why We Moved Our Party, And Can't Recommend Trump House [Kotaku Reader Party]
  September 21, 2009 – Do not fuck around with people who have widely-read blogs. Even if those blogs are in a different language.
• Buddhist Monk: Games Satiate My Desire for Aggression [Violent Video Games]
  September 21, 2009 – I think this makes a lot more sense than the folks who think video game violence begats more violence.
• Liam Lynch = God. Do not discuss.
  September 20, 2009 – I suppose this is what happens when goth bands sell out.
• Point Grey To Demonstrate USB 3.0 Webcam At IDF
  September 20, 2009 – 1080p 60 frames per second uncompressed video from a webcam. I hope your storage is fast enough.
• YouTube – Dr Horrible on the Emmys
  September 20, 2009 – Dr. Horrible wins an emmy in my book. Or something.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Nissan gives silent electric cars 'Blade Runner' appeal | Up to Speed | Los Angeles Times
  September 19, 2009 – Motion sounds for cars? I can’t wait till the first time I hear a car with the ‘jetsons’ sound effect.
• A Bicycle Superhighway With Timed Lights for Copenhagen [Maps]
  September 19, 2009 – Oh, this would be nice in the US.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• The audience is not listening…
  September 19, 2009 – The audio geek in me is quite amused.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• propagandery I am so confused…
  September 17, 2009 – The farther we get from the 80s, the more it all runs together.
• Get it?
  September 17, 2009 – I admit it, I laughed.
• …well you do!
  September 17, 2009 – I like the literal sometimes.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Dungeons & Dragons Limited Edition Spellcasting Soda: myJones: Customize and personalize your Jones Soda for weddings, graduations, parties, events, birthdays. Party ideas. Make it memorable, make it myjones
  September 17, 2009 – Wow. Notcot.org called out this D&D-themed Jones Soda. I wonder if the flavors are any better than some of their scarier ("turkey and gravy?") creations in the past.
• #24914 – These hilarious 'Seksi Spam Buttons', based on…
  September 17, 2009 – …spam misspellings, raise money for sexual health charities. And if anyone calls you on it for wearing one, you can just claim that you’re shocked at their dirty mind.
• #24928 – 'A Drop of Water' is a rain barrel that makes…
  September 17, 2009 – This really appeals to the lazy gardener in me.
• I hope pushing this button cues Guns ‘N’ Roses…
  September 17, 2009 – Yeah, I’ve been in rooms with that kind of button. Not that cause armageddon; just the ones you push in case of armageddon.
• Go, Go Gadget Beer Bottles
  September 17, 2009 – Inspector Gadget? And beer bottles? Why, it’s music!
• I have joined the e-Readers community
  September 16, 2009 – Interesting…hooray for hackable (even marginally so) devices.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Gonzo and Animal in Fear and Loathing in…
  September 15, 2009 – A classic pose…

Things which amused or interested me today:

• If Lottery Tickets Told the Truth
  September 14, 2009 – A little dose of forced truth in advertising…
• Soda cans from the Ming Dynasty?
  September 14, 2009 – I am amused by this concept.
• Raffi!
  September 14, 2009 – Yes, I would be amused too.
• Eleven Things I’d Do If I Ran a News Organization « Mediactive
  September 14, 2009 – From Dan Gillmor. I remember when news articles would explain (and journalism class would teach to explain) the objective reality, rather than just funneling what people present into a sample-tray of opinion or spin.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Seriously.
  September 13, 2009 – I like this idea.
• Sit Up Straight!
  September 13, 2009 – okay, okay, I’ll work on my seated posture.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Deep-Fried Butter Update
  September 13, 2009 – I like butter. Not this much.
• Eucalyptus Enables Private Clouds on VMware
  September 12, 2009 – OK, too much software business. But anyone providing bridge software between private & public clouds is a good thing.
• BLADE Network Rides OEM Deals to $230M Valuation
  September 12, 2009 – This could get interesting. Blade Network Tech appears to have at least a few people from the former Alteon Networks, which were the folks to figure out gigabit ethernet and FPGA/ASIC-based load balancing (in hardware circuitry) in the 90s, outperforming everyone else (who were still doing their calculations in software) by orders of magnitude. Maybe time for a round 2?
• Aspera Bypasses Bandwidth Bottlenecks to EC2
  September 12, 2009 – Interesting. It certainly won’t cut down on bandwidth costs, but their tech works for speed — it’ll transfer at the bandwidth you set whether the endpoints are next door or halfway across the world.
• Stacked airplane seating concept terrifying
  September 12, 2009 – Hey, at least there’ll finally be more legroom in coach!
• Stainless steel Sharpie
  September 12, 2009 – Sharpies are useful enough to keep around all the time; the company’s finally come up with a refillable, stainless steel sharpie instead of the disposable plastic kind.
• Polaris, a new cell phone x robot that acts as a desktop secretary
  September 12, 2009 – Your new japanese robot personal assistant will learn from your cellphone…
• Well, It Is.
  September 12, 2009 – This is why….
• Update: Teapot-Blowing Contest — Pictures
  September 12, 2009 – Hmm, looks like teapot-blowing may be the new phone-booth-stuffing or roller-coaster-chess-playing.
• Kymera Magic Wand Universal TV Remote
  September 12, 2009 – This is, of course, the natural evolution of gesture-based control. Also technology so sophisticated it seems like magic.
• The Robots —Rotfront
  September 12, 2009 – This song is kind of a klezmer-eastern-european something that I can imagine being the soundtrack to a montage of a robot army assembling itself. I’ve been hanging around with too many evil geniuses lately.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Rammstein Prepares for Octoberfest
  September 12, 2009 – I had no idea that Rammstein played Oktoberfest-style oom-pah music! Perhaps they’ll do a polka next!
• biorhythmist: (via anderrhea:duckandpenguin) Kurt Vonnegut for…
  September 12, 2009 – I wonder what would happen if you put Kurt Vonnegut and Hunter S. Thompson in a room together. When they were still alive, I mean.
• The Paraty House by Marcio Kogan Architects
  September 11, 2009 – I believe I will require this house on my private island, along with an easily accessible underground lair.

Things which amused or interested me today:

• Rammstein Prepares for Octoberfest
  September 12, 2009 – I had no idea that Rammstein played Oktoberfest-style oom-pah music! Perhaps they’ll do a polka next!
• biorhythmist: (via anderrhea:duckandpenguin) Kurt Vonnegut for…
  September 12, 2009 – I wonder what would happen if you put Kurt Vonnegut and Hunter S. Thompson in a room together. When they were still alive, I mean.
• The Paraty House by Marcio Kogan Architects
  September 11, 2009 – I believe I will require this house on my private island, along with an easily accessible underground lair.