Suicide Food: Animals that desire to be eaten (boingboing)
Friday, April 20, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Lego Rings from the Giant Robot store. They need the female adaptor rings for some Wondertwin powers activation.
On November 26, 1977, the audio portion of the ITV television transmission in southern England was hijacked. Vrillion of Ashtar (audio) addressed the people of Earth (wiki) in what was widely believed to be a hoax.
Some aren't so sure.
This is the voice of Vrillon, a representative of the Ashtar Galactic Command, speaking to you. For many years you have seen us as lights in the skies. We speak to you now in peace and wisdom as we have done to your brothers and sisters all over this, your planet Earth.
Some aren't so sure.
This is the voice of Vrillon, a representative of the Ashtar Galactic Command, speaking to you. For many years you have seen us as lights in the skies. We speak to you now in peace and wisdom as we have done to your brothers and sisters all over this, your planet Earth.
VA Tech shooting profiteers? Hey - It's the American Way. Nice, friendly capitalists are buying adwords related to the shooting. Even AdAge calls it "tacky", which is probably the understatement of the decade. I suppose the next step is to preemptively sponsor attacks and to have the adwords sewn up in advance. (via boingboing)
Lots of concept and storyboard art from the 1953 Disney short "Toot Whistle Plunk & Boom" at Cartoon Modern. Wardomatic has a large set of finished film stills.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Monday, April 16, 2007
If you're anything like me, you're:
a) finishing plans on a system that controls the weather by telekenetically operated invisible satellites, and
b) loudly lamenting the lack of German metal go-go mod dance parties featuring housepets on youtube until your friends tell you to just shut up about it already.
Get back to your drawing boards weathermasters, because b) is check.
a) finishing plans on a system that controls the weather by telekenetically operated invisible satellites, and
b) loudly lamenting the lack of German metal go-go mod dance parties featuring housepets on youtube until your friends tell you to just shut up about it already.
Get back to your drawing boards weathermasters, because b) is check.
Friday, April 13, 2007
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Little Boxes by Garrison Keillor (salon)
The Current Occupant, trying to escape the dreaded term Moderate Republican, has done violence to the Constitution and flown in the face of reality. He invades a country and allows neocon ideologues to play at colonialism until the country has descended into chaos and thereby costs the lives of young Americans who had other plans than to be blown up in a war whose purpose now is forgotten. And then he wraps himself in Old Glory and dares you to say otherwise. We are now three-quarters of the way through the Attention Deficit Administration and who knows what dark surprises remain?
The Current Occupant, trying to escape the dreaded term Moderate Republican, has done violence to the Constitution and flown in the face of reality. He invades a country and allows neocon ideologues to play at colonialism until the country has descended into chaos and thereby costs the lives of young Americans who had other plans than to be blown up in a war whose purpose now is forgotten. And then he wraps himself in Old Glory and dares you to say otherwise. We are now three-quarters of the way through the Attention Deficit Administration and who knows what dark surprises remain?
The New Suburban Poverty (The Nation)
The most familiar historical example--much lamented by a generation of progressives who came to associate the migration to suburbs with racial backlash and urban decline--is the mass exodus of middle-class white ethnics from the nation's central cities, which accelerated in the wake of the riots and social unrest of the 1960s. In more recent years, it's often assumed, the forces fueling the growth of suburbs have only made things worse--the social landscape more segregated, the sprawl more extreme, the gap increasingly vast between people who rarely set foot in cities and those who rarely leave them.
The most familiar historical example--much lamented by a generation of progressives who came to associate the migration to suburbs with racial backlash and urban decline--is the mass exodus of middle-class white ethnics from the nation's central cities, which accelerated in the wake of the riots and social unrest of the 1960s. In more recent years, it's often assumed, the forces fueling the growth of suburbs have only made things worse--the social landscape more segregated, the sprawl more extreme, the gap increasingly vast between people who rarely set foot in cities and those who rarely leave them.
In fact, however, the gentrification of many urban neighborhoods, from Brooklyn to San Francisco to Washington, has forced many working-class residents out. In a reversal of the classic migration story, many of these displaced residents have fled to the suburbs, lured in part by the growing pool of mostly low-wage jobs there--cleaning homes, mowing lawns, staffing restaurants, strip malls and office plazas. Alan Berube, co-author of the Brookings Institution study, says the "decentralization of low-wage employment" is one of the main factors driving suburban poverty rates up.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Why does design go so wrong so often?
This is perhaps the most egregious example I've seen lately. Italic serifs with swooshes? Who Okayed this shit?
This is perhaps the most egregious example I've seen lately. Italic serifs with swooshes? Who Okayed this shit?
Thursday, April 05, 2007
Porolith is a nice Tetris-like flash game that relies on linking colors rather than shapes.
(via jayisgames)
(via jayisgames)
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Pyramid-building "solved" (bbc)
"This is better than the other theories, because it is the only theory that works," said Mr Houdin as he unveiled his theory with a 3D computer simulation.
"This is better than the other theories, because it is the only theory that works," said Mr Houdin as he unveiled his theory with a 3D computer simulation.
Ikea housing (via boingboing)
The typical BoKlok arrangement is an L-shaped, two-storey block with three apartments on each floor. One such block can be put up in a day.
The typical BoKlok arrangement is an L-shaped, two-storey block with three apartments on each floor. One such block can be put up in a day.
Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Monday, April 02, 2007
Thursday, March 29, 2007
The Erosion Sink
Must be hell to clean, but if you're buying designer sinks, it's likely that you're not the one doing the cleaning.
Must be hell to clean, but if you're buying designer sinks, it's likely that you're not the one doing the cleaning.
"I don't think that I've got the stomach To stomach calling you today"
Ahhh, belt it, emo man-child...
The 20 worst lyrics evah. thx, pete.
Ahhh, belt it, emo man-child...
The 20 worst lyrics evah. thx, pete.
"Smart" electronic sunglasses let you change the color with the twist of a knob (vid demo (I'm sure there's a good reason why the lab-guy needs to wear rubber gloves while handling sunglasses))
(via slashdot)
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
[Police State] NYPD spied on anti-Bush groups prior to 2004 RNC
It also spread to events in cities hundreds of miles away or months ahead of the convention, such as a group of concerts in October 2003 by Bands against Bush. The newspaper said that the majority of those who came under scrutiny had no intention of breaking the law.
It also spread to events in cities hundreds of miles away or months ahead of the convention, such as a group of concerts in October 2003 by Bands against Bush. The newspaper said that the majority of those who came under scrutiny had no intention of breaking the law.
Monday, March 26, 2007
A much-anticipated report from the largest and longest-running study of American child care has found that keeping a preschooler in a day care center for a year or more increased the likelihood that the child would become disruptive in class — and that the effect persisted through the sixth grade. (NYTimes, reg. req.)
War on photography
"Are you taking pictures for personal use or a company?"
"Well, it depends.. probably personal, but I suppose if someone wants to run them, they can... why?"
(getting in my face) "You ever hear of September the 11th?"
"Uhhh, yeah, but I'm not sure what it has to do with this."
"Are you taking pictures for personal use or a company?"
"Well, it depends.. probably personal, but I suppose if someone wants to run them, they can... why?"
(getting in my face) "You ever hear of September the 11th?"
"Uhhh, yeah, but I'm not sure what it has to do with this."
Saturday, March 24, 2007
New Musical Experiences at CityOfSound
is a large and well-thought essay on music, media, technology, perception, and experience
is a large and well-thought essay on music, media, technology, perception, and experience
Friday, March 23, 2007
The news coming out of Iraq is starting to look less like reality and more like a Kurt Vonnegut novel. Now, our tax dollars are being spent on fake raids to cover inspections on buildings that our tax dollars rebuilt because our tax dollars funded blowing them up in the first place. What's next? Burning the buildings down again with gasoline-soaked piles of U.S. currency?
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Anymore, the anniversary of every single thing must be duly noted. UFO Death-cult rehashed.
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
[Overheard today on 12th and Arch: Bum-lady to bum-lady]
"Where you want to get cracked?! Up the side your head or right in your back?"
There is no correct answer to this question.
"Where you want to get cracked?! Up the side your head or right in your back?"
There is no correct answer to this question.
A letter that perfectly sums up why I will never purchase any DRM-diseased music, movie, e-book, or e-whatever.
(via /.)
(via /.)
"You don't understand," I said, "These files were not copied or pirated, I actually purchased them."
"Well" she responded, "You didn't actually purchase the files, you really purchased a license to listen to the music, and the license is very specific about how they can be played or listened to."
Now I was baffled. "Records never came with any such restrictions," I said.
She replied, "Well they were supposed to, but we weren't able to enforce those licenses back then, and now we can"
Cool perl one-liner to test an n's primeness
[jpmurray~]$ perl -wle 'print "Prime" if (1 x shift) !~ /^1?$|^(11+?)\1+$/' 8179
Prime
[jpmurray~]$ perl -wle 'print "Prime" if (1 x shift) !~ /^1?$|^(11+?)\1+$/' 8179
Prime
Why you need a chaotic business
Good advice, unless you're launching a shuttle or stuffing parachutes or something.
See also this on productive slobs
Good advice, unless you're launching a shuttle or stuffing parachutes or something.
See also this on productive slobs
KFC wants the Fish Snacker to be officially sanctioned for those days when Catholics don't eat meat but when they apparently have zero problem shoving a nasty frozen deep-fried chemical-blasted hunk of cholesterol and salt and fat and binding agents and mystery gunk made by one of the skankiest junk-food purveyors in America into their bloodstreams. You know, just the way Jesus intended.
Wait. Fish Snacker (TM), you say?
Wait. Fish Snacker (TM), you say?
Tuesday, March 20, 2007
I always thought the 248th dimension might be a little less hippy-rug-like (nature)
The creation of this map, which took 77 hours on a supercomputer, resulted in a matrix of 453,060 ? 453,060 cells, containing more than 205 billion entries — "all related in intricate and complex ways"
Google's amazing Gapminder demo - showing world income and life expectancy. Uses recently acquired Trendalyzer.
Change the income scale to linear from logarithmic for a more disturbing picture. Also, playing the timeline says something interesting has been happeneing in Luxemborg since 1990.
Change the income scale to linear from logarithmic for a more disturbing picture. Also, playing the timeline says something interesting has been happeneing in Luxemborg since 1990.
Monday, March 19, 2007
The Effort Effect (Stanford Magazine)
Students for whom performance is paramount want to look smart even if it means not learning a thing in the process. For them, each task is a challenge to their self-image, and each setback becomes a personal threat. So they pursue only activities at which they’re sure to shine—and avoid the sorts of experiences necessary to grow and flourish in any endeavor. Students with learning goals, on the other hand, take necessary risks and don’t worry about failure because each mistake becomes a chance to learn. Dweck’s insight launched a new field of educational psychology—achievement goal theory.
Students for whom performance is paramount want to look smart even if it means not learning a thing in the process. For them, each task is a challenge to their self-image, and each setback becomes a personal threat. So they pursue only activities at which they’re sure to shine—and avoid the sorts of experiences necessary to grow and flourish in any endeavor. Students with learning goals, on the other hand, take necessary risks and don’t worry about failure because each mistake becomes a chance to learn. Dweck’s insight launched a new field of educational psychology—achievement goal theory.
Friday, March 16, 2007
Awesome screencaps from neo-con echotrons at FoxNews (from Welcome to Pottersville).
And some advice on how to stop them.
Personally, I think that although well-intentioned that mind-share claimstaking is largely a financial game and needs to be fought by greater-than equal and opposite action. As the past 7 years of shameless cheerleading of the Bush administration's often illegal and always immoral antics have shown, no amount of complaining stems the tide of this nonsense.
Thursday, March 15, 2007
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Rolling Stone expert panel on possible Iraq outcomes
This is a dark chapter in our history. Whatever else happens, our country's international standing has been frittered away by people who don't have the foggiest understanding of how the hell the world works. America has been conducting an experiment for the past six years, trying to validate the proposition that it really doesn't make any difference who you elect president. Now we know the result of that experiment [laughs]. If a guy is stupid, it makes a big difference.
This is a dark chapter in our history. Whatever else happens, our country's international standing has been frittered away by people who don't have the foggiest understanding of how the hell the world works. America has been conducting an experiment for the past six years, trying to validate the proposition that it really doesn't make any difference who you elect president. Now we know the result of that experiment [laughs]. If a guy is stupid, it makes a big difference.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
University of Delaware Post Card Collection
The Daily Jive's Alma Matter has a nice post card collection
(via gmt+9)
The Coulterization of the American Right (salon)
American conservatism sold its soul to the Coulters and Limbaughs of the world to gain power, and now that its ideology has been exposed as empty and its leadership incompetent and corrupt, free-floating hatred is the only thing it has to offer. The problem, for the GOP, is that this isn't a winning political strategy anymore -- but they're stuck with it. They're trapped. They need the bigoted and reactionary base they helped create, but the very fanaticism that made the True Believers such potent shock troops will prevent the Republicans from achieving Karl Rove's dream of long-term GOP domination.
American conservatism sold its soul to the Coulters and Limbaughs of the world to gain power, and now that its ideology has been exposed as empty and its leadership incompetent and corrupt, free-floating hatred is the only thing it has to offer. The problem, for the GOP, is that this isn't a winning political strategy anymore -- but they're stuck with it. They're trapped. They need the bigoted and reactionary base they helped create, but the very fanaticism that made the True Believers such potent shock troops will prevent the Republicans from achieving Karl Rove's dream of long-term GOP domination.
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Thursday, March 08, 2007
The Number: Excess deaths in Iraq caused by the U.S. invasion.
The war examined from the standpoint of a public health catastrophe
The war examined from the standpoint of a public health catastrophe
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
Reversal of Fortune (mother jones)
Here are the numbers we have to contend with: Given current rates of growth in the Chinese economy, the 1.3 billion residents of that nation alone will, by 2031, be about as rich as we are. If they then eat meat, milk, and eggs at the rate that we do, calculates ecostatistician Lester Brown, they will consume 1,352 million tons of grain each year—equal to two-thirds of the world's entire 2004 grain harvest. They will use 99 million barrels of oil a day, 15 million more than the entire world consumes at present. They will use more steel than all the West combined, double the world's production of paper, and drive 1.1 billion cars—1.5 times as many as the current world total. And that's just China; by then, India will have a bigger population, and its economy is growing almost as fast. And then there's the rest of the world.
Here are the numbers we have to contend with: Given current rates of growth in the Chinese economy, the 1.3 billion residents of that nation alone will, by 2031, be about as rich as we are. If they then eat meat, milk, and eggs at the rate that we do, calculates ecostatistician Lester Brown, they will consume 1,352 million tons of grain each year—equal to two-thirds of the world's entire 2004 grain harvest. They will use 99 million barrels of oil a day, 15 million more than the entire world consumes at present. They will use more steel than all the West combined, double the world's production of paper, and drive 1.1 billion cars—1.5 times as many as the current world total. And that's just China; by then, India will have a bigger population, and its economy is growing almost as fast. And then there's the rest of the world.
Trying to meet that kind of demand will stress the earth past its breaking point in an almost endless number of ways, but let's take just one. When Thomas Newcomen fired up his pump on that morning in 1712, the atmosphere contained 275 parts per million of carbon dioxide. We're now up to 380 parts per million, a level higher than the earth has seen for many millions of years, and climate change has only just begun. The median predictions of the world's climatologists—by no means the worst-case scenario—show that unless we take truly enormous steps to rein in our use of fossil fuels, we can expect average temperatures to rise another four or five degrees before the century is out, making the globe warmer than it's been since long before primates appeared. We might as well stop calling it earth and have a contest to pick some new name, because it will be a different planet. Humans have never done anything more profound, not even when we invented nuclear weapons.