JavaMoose

Wired News

2005-11-17T09:52:00.000-08:00

Wired News: "DuPont's Dangerous Game
DuPont buried studies that revealed risks associated with a chemical used in food containers, according to internal company documents and a whistle-blower's statements. The chemical Zonyl -- used to line candy wrappers, microwave popcorn boxes, etc. -- can rub off and get into food. Once ingested, Zonyl breaks down into perfluorooctanoic acid and its salts, known as PFOA. The Environmental Working Group released the DuPont documents Wednesday, including memos indicating Zonyl caused liver and kidney damage in test animals and leached into foods at three times the limit set by the Food and Drug Administration, the Associated Press reported. 'They are toxic,' said former DuPont chemical engineer Glenn Evers of the PFOA chemicals. 'They get into human blood. And they are also in every one of you.' DuPont maintains that PFOA poses no health risk.
-- Lewis Wallace "

Well, isn't that just dandy...

+//+ 14 year-old wins against anti-video game lawyer: Jack Thompson on CroQaudile.com +//+

2005-10-17T14:30:00.000-07:00

+//+ 14 year-old wins against anti-video game lawyer: Jack Thompson on CroQaudile.com +//+

Sorry...link to the emails...

+//+ 14 year-old wins against anti-video game lawyer: Jack Thompson on CroQaudile.com +//+

2005-10-17T14:29:00.000-07:00

I'm sure many of you are aware of the current saga going on in the gaming world regarding Jack Thompson. Well, here is an excellent set of emails sent to Jack and his less-than-lawyerly replies. Great read.

Wired News

2005-09-27T09:17:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "When Dolphins Turn Deadly
Among the innumerable individuals displaced by Hurricane Katrina, military-trained dolphins may also have gotten lost in the shuffle. Trouble is, the U.S. Navy's 36 cetaceans may be armed and dangerous. The Atlantic bottlenose dolphins, which have been taught to use toxic dart guns to shoot terrorists attacking military vessels, may have been swept out to sea when the storm breached their coastal compound. 'My concern is that they have learned to shoot at divers in wetsuits who have simulated terrorists in exercises,' said accident investigator Leo Sheridan. 'The darts are designed to put the target to sleep so they can be interrogated later, but what happens if the victim is not found for hours?'
-- Jenny McKeel "

Holy crap, we have trained dart-shooting Dolphins?! That has to be the coolest thing I have ever heard. One step closer to sharks with frickin' lasers...

Wired News: In France, Push Comes to SUV

2005-09-13T09:34:00.000-07:00

What a bunch of dicks. I can't wait until the follow-up story about them getting their asses kicked.

Wired News

2005-09-09T10:44:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "Laura Bush Strikes Back
To all those detractors fulminating against President Bush over relief efforts for the disproportionally black hurricane victims, the first lady has this to say: 'I think all of those remarks are disgusting, to be perfectly frank, because of course President Bush cares about everyone in our country.' Laura Bush's comments, aired in an interview with American Urban Radio Networks, were directed at rapper Kanye West and Democratic chairman Howard Dean. Both men have publicly blamed her husband for the preponderance of black and poor Katrina casualties. 'I mean, I'm the person who lives with him,' said Mrs. Bush. 'I know what he's like and I know what he thinks and I know how he cares about people.' You tell 'em, Laura!
-- Jenny McKeel "

The Truth About Violent Youth and Video Games - Game Revolution

2005-09-02T15:39:00.000-07:00

The Truth About Violent Youth and Video Games - Game Revolution: "Thanks to the current media frenzy and barrage of lawsuits surrounding violent video games, I can't tell people what I do for a living without getting a lecture on the current plague of youth violence and the scourge that is Grand Theft Auto. I decided it was time for a rebuttal more effective than shrugging and saying, "Well, I think you're wrong."

So I sat down to write this article, and started doing some research. What I discovered startled me.

First off, I have absolute proof that video games are not the cause of this epidemic of youth violence in America. No, really, I do. Ready?"

Finally, someone with some breains that uses the facts to disprove the bullshit lie about video games. He also links to a really great article on Overcriminalized.Com.

Hillary Clinton Presses Bush on Sex Offender Bill

2005-08-04T10:18:00.000-07:00

Hillary Clinton Presses Bush on Sex Offender Bill

Eww. Just, eww...

Wired News

2005-08-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "Separation of Church and Science
President Bush told reporters Monday that schools should teach the conservative Christian doctrine of intentional or divine creation, called 'intelligent design,' along with evolution. He refused to discuss his personal beliefs but said, 'I think that part of education is to expose people to different schools of thought. You're asking me whether or not people ought to be exposed to different ideas, the answer is yes.' A rebuttal can be found in a 1999 statement from the National Academy of Sciences: 'The claim that equity demands balanced treatment of evolutionary theory and special creation in science classrooms reflects a misunderstanding of what science is and how it is conducted. Creationism, intelligent design and other claims of supernatural intervention in the origin of life or of species are not science because they are not testable by the methods of science.'
-- Debra Jones "

Well, if you allow one religion to be taught - you better allow them all. I look forward to a 'Red-State Scandal' when a Teacher decides to talk equally about Creationism, Wicca, Buddhism, Islam, etc. in school. Hey, fair is fair, right?

DIY underwater ROV for $100 - Engadget - www.engadget.com

2005-08-01T11:38:00.000-07:00

DIY underwater ROV for $100 - Engadget - www.engadget.com

Looks like Engadget is running it as well!

Slashdot | Homebrew Underwater ROV

2005-07-31T11:43:00.000-07:00

Slashdot | Homebrew Underwater ROV'A very geeky member of TechReport has built himself a homebrew Underwater ROV to use while on vacation. For what they said was 'Version 1', I would have to say the results were great. Full build log, with videos, can be found here. Good job guys! 'Being the geeks that we are, we always come up with some sort of project to bring up to the lake and play with. This year, two weeks before vacation, we decided to build an Underwater ROV. For those not familiar, an ROV is a Remotely Operated Vehicle. Generally 'real' ROVs cost anywhere from $8,000 up to Millions of dollars. We had two weeks and a $100 budget. Usually they have high-resolution camera systems and high powered thrusters to maneuver. We had two weeks and a $100 budget.''"

I've been slashdotted!

Wired News

2005-07-28T08:16:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "Liquidated Art
Did a dehydrated art thief drink a watery artistic statement about global warming? That's one theory behind the mystifying disappearance of Weapon of Mass Destruction, a 2-liter clear plastic bottle filled with melted Antarctic ice and valued at $74,137, according to Scotsman.com. The artwork, by American-born artist Wayne Hill, disappeared during a U.K. art show. 'It looked like an ordinary bottle of water, but it was on a plinth, labeled, described and in the program of the whole festival,' said Hill, baffled by the mysterious H2O heist. 'It was very, very clear what it was -- a work of art.' The biggest mystery of all? Who placed the hefty price tag on the piece.
-- Lewis Wallace"

Fuck that, I would have drank it too...

Che Brought to you by Capitalism tshirt

2005-07-22T10:18:00.000-07:00

Che Brought to you by Capitalism tshirt

I love it. I already ordered mine.

Be sure to check out their excellent "Hippies Smell" shirt too!

Wired News

2005-07-21T09:29:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "An F for Effort
Fearing a bruising blow to underperforming students' precious self-esteem, some British educators are mounting a campaign to eliminate the concept of failure. Retired teacher Liz Beattie wants the Professional Association of Teachers to 'delete the word fail from the educational vocabulary to be replaced with the concept of deferred success.' Beattie painted a picture of slow-but-steady students who, um, fail to complete tests in the allotted time, and whose tender egos might be traumatized if they received poor marks. While Beattie's idea will be debated at the next meeting of the teachers' association, it looks like sanity will trump oversensitivity: Education Secretary Ruth Kelly dismissed the cuddly concept outright, according to BBC News.
-- Lewis Wallace "

Well, it is good to hear that someone has some common sense (the Education Secretary) to dismiss this. I don't understand why a retired teacher thinks this is a good idea? Most teachers I know are firm believers that kids need to learn responsibility. Changing to wording of 'failing' to be kinder is a cop-out and doesn't teach the kid anything - even more so when they get into the 'real world' and find out that you can fail.

Supreme Court Justice may have to fight Eminent Domain for the rights to his house...

2005-06-28T15:34:00.000-07:00

It seems that Justic Souter, who was among the other Justices who voted to expand Eminent Domain, may have to fight to keep his house. A private developer is seeking to use this very law to build a hotel on Souter's land. The name of the to-be-built hotel? "The Lost Liberty Hotel", which will feature the "Just Desserts Café". The original letter sent to Town of Weare Code Enforcement Office is also featured on their website.

As we say last week, the Supreme Court has ruled that private property can now be seized under Eminent Domain for commercial development. Justice Souter's vote in the "Kelo vs. City of New London" decision allows city governments to take land from one private owner and give it to another if the government will generate greater tax revenue or other economic benefits when the land is developed by the new owner. I, for one, welcome the use of these unconstitutional laws like this to prove just how unfair they really are.

Monday...

2005-06-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

Well, vacation is fast approaching and my new project is nearing completion. Can't wait to finish it and find out if it works!

Went and saw 'Land of the Dead' with the lady this weekend. Overall it was pretty good. Found myself laughing quite a bit, especially when they were taking out the Zombies with Dead Reckoning. No matter how Romero portrays the Zombies I still don't feel bad when they are slaughtering them. I'll buy the box-set on DVD when it comes out.

Lunch: Mmm...homemade chili.

Wired News

2005-06-16T08:40:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "Scaling Mount Feces
Climbers tackling North America's tallest mountain face challenges aside from high altitudes and low temperatures. They also must dodge piles of human crap. 'They think they're going out on a pristine climb, and there's virus-laden poo all around them,' said Dr. Bradford Gessner, a mountaineer and author of a study published in Wilderness and Environmental Medicine. The abundant human waste sickens many climbers: More than a quarter of the 132 adventurers interviewed on Mount McKinley for the study suffered from diarrhea, which can worsen mountain sickness and cause other problems. While the report offered sanitation suggestions, a mountaineering ranger said harsh conditions at McKinley's high camp exacerbate the problem. 'It's just an ice pack up there,' he said. 'You really can't dig down and bury anything.'
-- Lewis Wallace "

Why not just treat this the same way as we treat Antartica. You carry-out eveything you bring in - including your waste. You're climbing a mountain, so we can safely assume you aren't lazy - that leaves inconsiderate.

IMDb Top 250

2005-06-14T14:37:00.000-07:00

How many movies from the "IMDb Top 250" have you seen?

I've seen 85 so far.

Wired News

2005-06-10T08:42:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "Here Come the Hooker Huts
A German city is bracing for some intense ball-handling action when the World Cup comes to town: Dortmund expects an influx of up to 40,000 extra prostitutes during the soccer tournament. While prostitution is legal in Germany, it's restricted to certain areas. 'In Dortmund we have an official red-light district on the outskirts, but there is a problem,' a city official told Reuters. 'There is not enough space for everyone to park.' In an effort to keep the post-game action off the streets and out of residential areas, city officials plan to erect wooden, Dutch-designed 'sex garages' -- flanked with condom machines and a snack bar -- to handle the hooker onslaught.
-- Lewis Wallace "

I don't even know what to say...

Coming in out of the cold: Cold fusion, for real | csmonitor.com

2005-06-07T12:09:00.000-07:00

Coming in out of the cold: Cold fusion, for real | csmonitor.com: "PASADENA, CALIF. For the last few years, mentioning cold fusion around scientists (myself included) has been a little like mentioning Bigfoot or UFO sightings.
After the 1989 announcement of fusion in a bottle, so to speak, and the subsequent retraction, the whole idea of cold fusion seemed a bit beyond the pale. But that's all about to change..."

This is really exciting! Sure, commercial product may be a long way off - but if they really have it this time...

Wired News

2005-06-04T16:09:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "Wake Up and Smell the Coffee
Odors affect the way motorists drive, and fast food smells could increase road rage, according to a new study by a British motoring organization. Peppermint, however, may improve concentration. 'More than any other sense … smell circumnavigates the logical part of the brain,' said a psychologist with the organization. Good odors to have on a road trip are cinnamon, lemon and coffee. A hit of salty sea air encourages deep breathing and can help relieve stress. But the smell of fast-food wrappers or fresh bread can make drivers feel hungry, so they may become irritable and hurry to find food. Other dangerous scents are camomile, jasmine and lavender, commonly used to treat insomnia -- they can cause drivers to relax or fall asleep.
-- Beverly Hanly"

Wired News

2005-06-01T08:37:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "First Pack Is Free
In the past, many women's health complaints were disregarded as female neuroses. Now a study from Harvard University's School of Public Health shows that the tobacco industry still thinks of women as neurotic -- and exploitable. The study reviewed millions of internal tobacco company documents for details on how the companies tried to get women hooked. A report from British-American Tobacco said women buy cigarettes to help them 'cope with neuroticism.' Phillip Morris recommended marketing a longer, skinnier cigarette to fool female consumers into thinking it contained less tar and nicotine. Other companies considered adding appetite suppressants to brandy- or chocolate-flavored cigarettes for weight-conscious females. 'Women should know how far the tobacco industry went to exploit them,' said Carrie Carpenter, the study's lead author.
-- Debra Jones "

You know it is bad when crap like this isn't even surprising anymore...

The Future of Television - Next Frontiers - MSNBC.com

2005-05-31T15:32:00.000-07:00

The Future of Television - Next Frontiers - MSNBC.com: "The Future of Television
Screens so small they fit inside coffee cups. Marriages arranged by TiVo. Production facilities on Mars. The king of late night peers into his plasma crystal ball."

Excellent!! Conan O'Brian kicks ass...

Wired News

2005-05-11T07:23:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "Gargantuan Glitter Gaffe
Cosmetic glitter can sure spice up a Halloween costume, but it's probably not the best thing to inject into someone's hip muscle. An undercover deputy is suing a Florida hospital, claiming he was injected with a shot of glitter -- instead of the Demerol he was anticipating -- during a visit in 2000. 'There was a lot of pain. I complained several times that something was wrong in my buttock, hip, in the area I got the shot,' said the deputy, whose identity WFTV, which reported the story, is concealing. Three months later, the deputy had a mass surgically removed from near the injection site, and analysis found 'green and red sparkling material' near the area. He now walks with a limp and has been hospitalized 12 more times.
-- Jenny McKeel "

I can't even start to figure out how this "mistake" happened? How do you fill up a syringe with glitter, and inject it, on accident?!

UnRealID.com

2005-05-09T12:30:00.000-07:00

UnRealID.com: "This Tuesday, the US Senate is scheduled to vote on the implementation of a national ID card system. The Real ID Act is nothing less than a Real National ID Act. The only thing left to the individual states is to decide which pretty picture they will choose to put on the card: everything else will be controlled by Washington DC bureaucrats. "

If you haven't already, make yourself heard!

Wired News

2005-04-26T07:13:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "Have a Heart
A U.S. soldier, his mother and the Rotary Clubs of Southern Iowa have pitched together to heal a 5-year-old Iraqi boy born with a hole in his heart. Army Sgt. Corey Johnston, of West Liberty, Iowa, heard about Rebaz Shamsadeen's heart defect during his second tour of duty in Iraq. He told his mom, Cindy Yerington, about the boy, and she spread the word. The Rotary Clubs raised about $23,000 for heart surgery and travel to Iowa, Sen. Chuck Grassley's office helped secure visas, and Yerington invited Rebaz and his father to stay with her while the boy recovered. 'For me, it's like a dream,' the boy's father said through an interpreter. 'I couldn't believe we could come to the United States for the surgery. I love these people.'
-- Debra Jones"

That is pretty awesome.

Wired News

2005-04-22T11:32:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "La Dog-ce Vita
Dog owners in Turin, Italy will be fined up to 500 euros ($650) if they don't walk their pets at least three times a day, under a new law from the city's council. People will also be banned from dyeing their pets' fur or 'any form of animal mutilation' for merely aesthetic motives such as docking dogs' tails, under the law about to be passed in this northern Italian city. 'In Turin it will be illegal to turn one's dog into a ridiculous fluffy toy,' the city's La Stampa daily reported. Dogs may be led for walks by people on bicycles, the rules add, 'but not in a way that would tire the animal too much.'
-- Reuters "

Well, that's a bit...crazy. Although, I think it is pretty damn funny.

Outsourcing May Degrade Ingram's Customer Service

2005-04-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

Outsourcing May Degrade Ingram's Customer Service: "Ingram is a public company, a Fortune company. It behooves any company of that size to always look at its options to better its bottom line and increase operating efficiencies, regardless of how unpopular a political move it may be.
Many of the largest companies already have embraced offshore outsourcing of specific job functions and are planning on doing more of it. The fact Ingram is also in an ultra-sensitive margin business only begs the question as to why it didn't look into this option sooner."

Even though it means my job, I do have to agree. But, I found this comment left for the article pretty interesting:

"Ingram Micro wants to save $25M by outsourcing jobs. So I went to look at their Form 8-K, dated 7-Apr-05. "Mr. Foster will receive a $6 million cash retention bonus..." Well, there's 1/4 of that $25M. That $6M would keep a LOT of jobs right here in the US. And I bet that's just the tip of the iceberg. How disingenuous of IM."

The Montana Standard - Butte, Montana USA

2005-04-17T15:44:00.000-07:00

The Montana Standard - Butte, Montana USA: "Within the environmentally hostile confines of the Berkeley Pit lives perhaps Superfund's most amazing paradox. Its name is `` The Auditor.''

Its genus is Canus, but its species -- if indeed there ever were another single dog like it on the planet -- would be nothing other than extraordinarius."

This is really very amazing. This is one tough dog!

Wired News

2005-04-13T10:25:00.000-07:00

Wired News: "Tomb-Raiding Teen?
What would provoke a Vermont teen to cut off and steal the head of a corpse in a cemetery? The jury's still out, but according to court documents, a 17-year-old suspected of tomb-raiding and head-hijacking talked of using the skull as a bong. After receiving a tip, police visited Morrisville Cemetery to investigate. 'We had the funeral director come to the scene and we pulled the casket out. Yes, indeed, we found remains and they had been disturbed,' said Morrisville Police Chief Richard Keith. Suspect Nickolas Buckalew was later arrested and charged with unauthorized removal of a dead body. He pleaded innocent to the crime. Buckalew is being held on $1,000 bail.
-- Jenny McKeel "

Potheads, can't live with 'em - can't let them near Grandmas grave...

Google Financial Information: IM

2005-04-11T09:06:00.000-07:00

Google Financial Information: IM

"CHICAGO, April 11 (Reuters) - Ingram Micro Inc. (IM.N: Quote, Profile, Research) on Monday said it will cut about 550 jobs, or 20 percent of its North American staff, as a result of outsourcing and other actions, resulting in annual savings of $25 million by 2006.

The world's largest computer products distributor said in a a statement that it will begin outsourcing transaction-oriented service and support functions, including some North America positions in finance, shared services, customer service, vendor management and technical support, to a global business process outsource provider by the end of 2005.

About half of the job cuts will be in Ingram Micro's offices in Orange County, California, with most of the remainder split between Canada and Buffalo, New York, a company spokeswoman told Reuters in an e-mailed note."

WorldNetDaily: Man arrested, cuffed after using $2 bills

2005-04-08T10:19:00.000-07:00

WorldNetDaily: Man arrested, cuffed after using $2 bills:

A man trying to pay a fee using $2 bills was arrested, handcuffed and taken to jail after clerks at a Best Buy store questioned the currency's legitimacy and called police.

...57-year-old Mike Bolesta was shocked to find himself taken to the Baltimore County lockup in Cockeysville, Md., where he was handcuffed to a pole for three hours while the U.S. Secret Service was called to weigh in on the case.

I'm sorry, but this is just retarded. I understand that the cops have to double-check to be safe and all, but who doesn't know that $2 bills are legal tender?

"She [cashier] looked at the $2 bills and told me, 'I don't have to take these if I don't want to.'"

No, sorry...the only US currency you CAN refuse are Pennies.

Commenting on the incident, Baltimore County police spokesman Bill Toohey told the Sun: "It's a sign that we're all a little nervous in the post-9/11 world."

No, it's a sign that y'all are a little stupid. What the hell does this have to do with 9/11?? I am so sick of anything and everything being tagged with "Oh, 9/11" or "Well, since 9/11". Enough already!

Even though I hate lawsuits, I hope this guys sues the shit out of Best-Buy and the local PD. Bunch of morons.

breakdancing transformers

2005-04-06T13:51:00.000-07:00

breakdancing transformers

Yeah, it is probably old...but damn is this cool!

Terri Schiavo Back From The Dead

2005-04-01T11:58:00.000-08:00

"Terri Schiavo awoke from the dead early this morning. She broke out of the temporary morgue in the local Hospice Care building. Four nurses and 2 doctors were killed before the building was evacuated. Mrs. Schiavo's Husband remained behind, obviously in shock.

Zombie-Schiavo ate her Husband's brains(sssss), and then proceeded to break out of the Hospice Building through the locked front doors. Police were standing by. While attempting to stop Zombie-Schiavo twelve officers were killed and five more were wounded. They are in critical condition, and are being held in the local ICU.

Zombie-Schiavo was last seen shambling towards her parent's home, a trail of bodies and brains in her wake. She appears to be building a Zombie Army. To what end, we can only speculate. The National Guard has been called out, and the terror level raised to Yellow.

President Bush was unavailable for comment."

Terri Schiavo Back From The Dead!

2005-04-01T11:45:00.000-08:00

Terri Schiavo, of feeding tube fame, is back from the dead. The zombified corpse of Mrs. Schiavo broke out of the Hospice Morgue early this morning. She wounded four nurses and 2 doctors before the building was evacuated. Her husband stayed behind, obviously in shock.

Her first act was to eat the brains(SSS) of Mr. Schiavo. Afterwards, she shambled out of the Hospice Care building and was last seen heading towards her Parent's home. Police have attempted to stop Zombie-Schiavo, with dire results. 12 officers are dead, and three more are wounded. The National Guard has been called out.

President Bush was unavailable for comment.

Mitch Hedburg - Dead

2005-03-31T10:03:00.000-08:00

: "Tragically, Mitch Hedberg passed away this week. Mitch was a beloved member of the Comedy Central family, and we join fans in our sadness. He will be missed. "

This sucks. He was such an awesome comedian. I hope this is just a April Fools joke...a crappy one...

Wired News

2005-03-31T08:46:00.000-08:00

Wired News: "Terri Schiavo Dies
Terri Schiavo, the severely brain-damaged woman whose final years tethered to a feeding tube sparked a bitter feud over her fate that divided a family and a nation, died Thursday. Schiavo, 41, died quietly in a Pinellas Park hospice 13 days after her feeding tube was removed despite extraordinary intervention by Florida lawmakers, Congress and President Bush � efforts that were rebuffed at every turn by the courts. Her death was confirmed to The Associated Press by Michael Schiavo's attorney, George Felos, and announced to reporters outside her hospice by a family adviser. An autopsy is planned, with both sides hoping it will shed more light on her condition.
-- Associated Press "

Finally, now maybe the poor woman can get some peace.

Wired 13.04: La Vida Robot

2005-03-29T08:46:00.000-08:00

Wired 13.04: La Vida Robot: "How four underdogs from the mean streets of Phoenix took on the best from M.I.T. in the national underwater bot championship.
By Joshua Davis"

What a damn cool article. I wish some of the schools I went to had done things like this. What really gets me is that a few of the High-Schools I went to were fairly well-off, but they didn't get kids into science by participating in programs like these. Maybe not being a 'rich' school is a good thing? Could Teachers in these poorer (monetarily) schools, who get paid less, love the job more?

Terri Schiavo's Blog

2005-03-28T10:18:00.000-08:00

Terri Schiavo's Blog

I expected more drooling...

Wired News: It's Not Graffiti, It's Grafedia

2005-03-25T10:55:00.000-08:00

Wired News: It's Not Graffiti, It's Grafedia: "What if the internet extended beyond computers and high-speed connections, with web pages expanding down city streets and onto the sides of buildings?
This is the vision behind an interactive new media project called grafedia, which enables folks to make the world their canvas by publicly posting e-mail addresses or keywords that, when punched into certain mobile phones or an e-mail account, retrieve corresponding images."

This is a really cool idea. I bet a certain someone in Boston could have fun with this!

bio

2005-03-24T12:18:00.000-08:00

bio: "I was born in London, England on October 26 1958, the youngest of four and much to my parent's surprise, I was born a dog."

Awesome artist, very creative guy. Self portrait at the bottom of the page startled the crap out of me.

McSweeney's Internet Tendency: If Only They Kept Diaries: Roadrunner.

2005-03-24T08:07:00.000-08:00

McSweeney's Internet Tendency: If Only They Kept Diaries: Roadrunner.: "If Only
They Kept Diaries:
Roadrunner."

Interesting. Different.

Wired News

2005-03-23T08:23:00.000-08:00

Wired News: "Catch a Whiff of This
Some Christians probably grapple with the fact that while Jesus lives in their hearts, they can't see him or touch him. But thanks to a South Dakota couple, now they can smell him. Bob and Karen Tosterud say they have captured the special aroma of Christ in their $18 His Essence candles. Simply light the candle, they say, and breathe in Jesus' scent. 'It's a very meaningful experience,' says Bob Tosterud. The candle is scented with myrrh, aloe and cassia because Psalm 45 says that when Christ returns, his garments will carry the fragrance of those plants, explains Karen Tosterud. 'We wanted people to be able to experience Christ in new ways and to have that ... candle as a reminder that he is with us all the time,' she said.
-- Jenny McKeel "

I think it would have been better if it smelled of 'Loaves and Fishes'...

Display entry...

2005-03-22T10:25:00.000-08:00

Display entry...: "These are by far the BEST Firebird/Thunderbird icons I've ever seen."

Wired News

2005-03-22T08:38:00.000-08:00

Wired News: "Doomed Dog
A pit bull on the run is wanted by authorities in Massachusetts. Zippy's troubles began when authorities recommended the pooch be put down after he bit an animal control officer. The dog's owner, Austin Zipp, took the issue to court and, lucky for Zippy, the judge ruled that the dog could re-enter society under certain conditions. The dog would have to leave Middleboro, remain on a leash at all times and take obedience classes. However, after his owner failed to provide evidence that Zippy was enrolled in classes -- and after the recidivist canine bit a 70-year-old woman -- the judge sentenced the dog to death. Now Zippy has vanished. 'We will find that dog if it takes several years,' said one officer. 'We won't give up and we'll bring Zipp to justice.'
-- Jenny McKeel "

Damn. I understand that the dog bit people and should be put-down, but isn't there anything more important for these people to devote their time to?

Wired News

2005-03-09T07:57:00.000-08:00

Wired News: "Laugh for Life
Did you hear the one about the guy who laughed his way out of a heart attack? Maybe you should have: Researchers say 15 minutes of laughter a day can have a heart-healthy effect similar to exercise. The scientists showed two movies -- one stressful (Saving Private Ryan) and one funny (Kingpin) -- to a group of healthy volunteers, then measured blood flow in the participants. While 70 percent of those watching the war movie experienced decreased blood flow, the red stuff flowed more freely in 95 percent of those watching the bowling flick. 'We don't recommend that you laugh and not exercise, but we do recommend that you try to laugh on a regular basis,' said a doctor.
-- Lewis Wallace"

No shit. How much did this study cost??

Viceversa

2005-03-07T07:53:00.000-08:00

Viceversa

Now this is one interesting knife-block...

Student Arrested For Terroristic Threatening Says Incident A Misunderstanding

2005-03-02T19:22:00.000-08:00

Student Arrested For Terroristic Threatening Says Incident A Misunderstanding: "'My story is based on fiction,' said Poole, who faces a second-degree felony terrorist threatening charge. 'It's a fake story. I made it up. I've been working on one of my short stories, (and) the short story they found was about zombies. Yes, it did say a high school. It was about a high school over ran by zombies.'

Even so, police say the nature of the story makes it a felony. "Anytime you make any threat or possess matter involving a school or function it's a felony in the state of Kentucky," said Winchester Police detective Steven Caudill."

Wow. I don't even know what to say about how crazy this is. Bill of What now?

CNN.com - Road kill candy angers animal rights activists - Feb 25, 2005

2005-02-25T10:21:00.000-08:00

CNN.com - Road kill candy angers animal rights activists - Feb 25, 2005: "TRENTON, New Jersey (AP) -- Animal rights activists are disgusted by a new candy from Kraft Foods Inc. that's shaped like critters run over by cars -- complete with tire treads.
The fruity-flavored Trolli Road Kill Gummi Candy -- in shapes of partly flattened snakes, chickens and squirrels -- fosters cruelty toward animals, according to the New Jersey Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals."

Bwaaaahahaha!! That's awesome...

Wired News

2005-02-25T07:18:00.000-08:00

Wired News: "Semenchanted Evening
An Illinois man has won the right to sue his ex-girlfriend for using his sperm to impregnate herself without his permission. Richard Phillips, a family doctor in Chicago, says he never had intercourse with Sharon Irons, also a doctor. They did, however, have oral sex three times during their brief affair; Irons apparently saved some of Phillips' semen and secretly impregnated herself with it. Phillips broke off the relationship when he discovered Irons had lied to him about being divorced. Two years later, she sued him for child support, and DNA tests showed he is the father. While the Illinois Appellate Court ruled that Phillips can sue for emotional distress, it rejected his claims of fraud and theft, agreeing with Irons' lawyers that 'when plaintiff 'delivered' his sperm, it was a gift.... There was no agreement that the original deposit would be returned upon request.'
-- Debra Jones "

Exscuse me while I go vomit...

Beans Around The World

2005-02-24T16:55:00.000-08:00

Beans Around The World: "The amazing (but true!) journey of a can of
S & W� brand black beans as they make their way
across this great land of ours, and to other nations!"

Who doesn't love beans?

Turning the Pages

2005-02-23T14:43:00.000-08:00

Turning the Pages

"Discover the British Library's award-winning Turning the Pages. Just click on the links, wait a few moments, then turn the pages of our great books."

Very cool (and award winning). If you haven't seen it, it's worth checking out...

!!!DROPKICK THE FAINT!!!

2005-02-23T12:25:00.000-08:00

!!!DROPKICK THE FAINT!!!

I like to pretend I am dropkicking little Emo punks...

JNC, Barton-Wright, Self Defence with a cane part 1

2005-02-21T10:52:00.000-08:00

JNC, Barton-Wright, Self Defence with a cane part 1: "Self-defence with a Walking-stick: The Different Methods of Defending Oneself with a Walking-Stick or Umbrella when Attacked under Unequal Conditions (PartI)"

Very cool article, but the thought of two Enlgish Gentleman dueling with two walking sticks just maks me laugh. The illustrations don't help any...

RedNova News - Can This Black Box See Into the Future?

2005-02-13T05:46:00.000-08:00

RedNova News - Can This Black Box See Into the Future?: "DEEP in the basement of a dusty university library in Edinburgh lies a small black box, roughly the size of two cigarette packets side by side, that churns out random numbers in an endless stream.

At first glance it is an unremarkable piece of equipment. Encased in metal, it contains at its heart a microchip no more complex than the ones found in modern pocket calculators.

But, according to a growing band of top scientists, this box has quite extraordinary powers. It is, they claim, the 'eye' of a machine that appears capable of peering into the future and predicting major world events."

Yahoo! News - World Photos - Reuters

2005-02-03T16:06:00.000-08:00

Yahoo! News - World Photos - Reuters

The Pope was quoted as saying "Dur, look at the birdies!"

VWvortex Forums: Need Advice with serious issue...

2005-02-03T10:55:00.000-08:00

VWvortex Forums: Need Advice with serious issue...: "Need Advice....

I need some advice on what could be a life changing decision.

I've suspected for some time now that my wife has been having an affair. The usual signs. Phone rings, I answer, someone hangs up. She started going out 'with the girls' a lot recently although when I ask which girls it is always 'Just some friends from work, you don't know them'.

I always look out for her ride coming home but she always walks from aroud the corner, I can usually hear a car driving off as she walks towards our house. If it really is a taxi why not just get dropped off in front? I once picked her cell phone up just to see what time it was and she went beserk and screamed that I should never touch her phone again, and why was I checking up on her.

Anyway, I have never approached the subject with my wife. I think deep down I just didn't want to know the truth but last night she went out again and I decided to check on her. I decided I was going to hide behind my car which would give me a view of the whole street so I could see which car she was getting out of. It was while I was crouched behind my car that I noticed rust on my exhaust tip.

Should I take it to the dealer ffor replacement, or should I just take the opportunity to buy the aftermarket 3" I've been looking at. Its a big decission so I thought I would ask for your advice. Maybe I'll just try to buff it out."

That's awesome. Gotta be one of the funniest posts I've read in a while...

Which Web Hosts Are Worth It? [Hosting]

2005-02-02T13:07:00.000-08:00

Which Web Hosts Are Worth It? [Hosting]: "In the modern, competitive Web Hosting market, one of the top priorities for all hosting companies is to attract new customers. Before paying for, and setting up an account with a specific host, most people like to email the company�s sales department to ask a few questions, and find out exactly how good the sales advice and response times are. "

The article has some good questions anyone can use when looking for a web-host.

Wired News

2005-02-02T09:06:00.000-08:00

Wired News: "Mobile Malefaction
Cell-phone chatterers be warned: The publisher of Human Factors claims cell-phone distraction causes 2,600 deaths and 330,000 injuries in the United States each year. 'If you put a 20-year-old driver behind the wheel with a cell phone, their reaction times are the same as a 70-year-old driver who is not using a cell phone,' said a researcher behind a study published in the journal. 'It's like instantly aging a large number of drivers.' The study found that drivers talking on cell phones were 18 percent slower to react to brake lights; previous studies by the same group contended even hands-free cell-phone use distracted drivers, and that chatty motorists are less adept than drunken drivers with blood-alcohol levels exceeding 0.08 percent. Yikes.
-- Jenny McKeel"

...and without fail I will be behind one of these idiots every time I drive...

PBS - Austin City Limits

2005-01-28T13:30:00.000-08:00

PBS - Austin City Limits: "Austin City Limits caputres one of the year's biggest rock 'n' roll reunions as legendary alt-rockers the Pixies perform. With vintage fire the band takes the stage to perform their classics filled with brutal noise and impressionistic lyrics. "

As my Brother pointed out, the Pixies will be on PBS this weekend. I'll have to record it and check it out. Should be good...

Northstar - 50's Retro Appliances

2005-01-27T16:51:00.000-08:00

Northstar - 50's Retro Appliances

"At Elmira, our connections to antique appliances date back three generations. Years ago, my grandfather’s hardware store supplied woodburning cookstove parts to local Mennonites. My father began producing cookstoves in the 1970’s, using designs from the 1800’s. In the eighties he introduced gas and electric models with traditional styling, along with some of the modern features we offer today. "

One word: Awesome.

These are so goddamn cool, and ould look amazing in the right kitchen.

Wired News

2005-01-26T09:08:00.000-08:00

Wired News: "Deadliest Day Yet
Thirty-six Americans -- all but one of them Marines -- were killed in Iraq Wednesday, making it the single bloodiest day of the war for the U.S. military. Thirty-one men died when their transport helicopter, carrying personnel from the 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing and the 1st Marine Division, crashed in western Iraq. Four other Marines were killed in fighting near the Al-Anbar province, and soldier from the Army's 1st Division was killed when his combat patrol was ambushed by insurgents north of Baghdad. Wednesday's death toll surpassed the 31 U.S. troops killed on March 23, 2003 -- four days after the start of the war. The total number of U.S. killed now stands at 1,417.
-- Associated Press "

About Us

2005-01-25T15:27:00.000-08:00

About Us: "ShitBegone is a joke but it is also a metaphor. The joke and the metaphor are both about transparency. Most people use toilet paper to wipe up shit, but most companies do not sell toilet paper by talking about shit. They sell it with the opposite of shit� bullshit. Fluffy bunnies and so on.

ShitBegone is about selling a product based on reality, when the competition is selling based on a made up image. In the case of shit that might be funny, but in the end it's no joke. Brands obscure the reality behind nearly everything we buy. When you buy a brand, do you know what you're really buying? What it's made of, how it's put together, who makes it? Usually not� because traditional brands are all about hiding that reality.

I started making ShitBegone because I wanted to know where this product came from� how it was made, and how it got to that store near me. As I learn about it I want to share what I learn with you, the consumer. I may not be able to answer your every question. But at least we can get started thinking about this product� how it's made and distributed, and how that might be improved. "

Funny at first, but really damn interesting once you start to pay attention to what he is saying...and selling.

Wired News

2005-01-24T08:08:00.000-08:00

Wired News: "Passage: Johnny Carson, 79
The quick-witted Tonight Show host who wooed his viewers for 30 years with a smooth nightcap of celebrity banter and heartland charm, has died. The boyish Nebraska native with the disarming grin survived every attempt to topple him from his late-night talk show throne. A star who never distanced himself from his audience, he helped launch the career of many young comics. 'Heeeeere's Johnny!' announced sidekick Ed McMahon every night to usher Carson onstage. America never tired of his topical monologue, his way with guests and the broadly played skits such as Carnac the Magnificent. Carson went out on top when he retired in May 1992. 'He had it all,' said actress-singer Bette Midler, his last guest. 'A little bit of devil, a whole lot of angel, wit, charm, good looks, superb timing and great, great class.'
-- Associated Press "

Wired News: Wild Things Are on the Beach

2005-01-24T04:52:00.000-08:00

Wired News: Wild Things Are on the Beach: "Theo Jansen wants to make 'life' and he figures the best way to do it is to start from scratch.

A self-styled god, Jansen is evolving an entirely new line of animals: immense multi-legged walking critters designed to roam the Dutch coastline, feeding on gusts of wind. Over the years, successive generations of his creatures have evolved into increasingly complex animals that walk by flapping wings in response to the wind, discerning obstacles in their path through feelers and even hammering themselves into the sand on sensing an approaching storm."

These are amazing and beautiful. At the very least, check out the videos...the 'Animaris Rhinoceros Transport' is just stunning.

2005-01-19T07:16:00.000-08:00

I was hit with a stick...

1. What is the total amount of music files on your computer?

Well, I have about 15GB on a removeable drive, and another 20GB on my main system. So, about 35GB. I really (really) need to sort it and rename them...

2. The cd you last bought is:

Some Techno CD, can't remember the name of the DJ (and fuck you Eminem, I still listen to Techno).

3. What is the song you last listened to before reading this message?

Dead Can Dance - Ubiquitous Mr. Lovegrove

4. Write down 5 songs you often listen to or that mean a lot to you:

Dead Can Dance - Sloth
Johnny Cash - Ghost Riders in the Sky (Also his Christmas album.)
Tonic - If You Could Only See (Mine and the Girlie's song back in HS.)
Crystal Method - Vegas (Yes, the whole album.)
ELO - Mr. Blue Sky

5. Who are you going to pass this stick to? (3 persons) and why?

No one, it's mine! *insert random Gollum/Precious comment*

Go Ask Hollywood - Popular Science

2005-01-19T06:03:00.000-08:00

Go Ask Hollywood - Popular Science

Popular Science has a interesting little article on DVD copying that includes some nasty little infomration on the new formats (Blue-Ray and DVD-HD).

Here is a nice little quote:

" Steve Jobs, CEO of Apple and of the animation studio Pixar, told studio heads and tech leaders in a private meeting that studios shouldn’t release anything for the DVD-HD format until they get a promise that recorders will never appear in a PC. "

Wired News

2005-01-19T05:52:00.000-08:00

Wired News: "Slobs Breathe Easier
Neat freaks obsessed with making their beds each morning could be courting tiny critters that cause asthma and allergies, according to new research. As many as 1.5 million house dust mites, which eat flakes of dead skin and cause respiratory problems in humans, can thrive in the warm, damp conditions of an occupied bed. But being too lazy to straighten the sheets every day can dry out bedclothes and lead to a dust mite massacre. 'Something as simple as leaving a bed unmade during the day can remove moisture from the sheets and mattress so the mites will dehydrate and eventually die,' said a researcher. Chalk one up for the slovenly.
-- Lewis Wallace"

Ah Science, one again you reward my laziness!

Wired News

2005-01-18T07:31:00.000-08:00

Wired News: "The Ol' Slip of the Tongue
If you have to make a racial slur on television, at least wait till after Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Weekend television weatherman Rob Blair, of Las Vegas' KTNV, egregiously goofed when delivering the extended forecast Saturday morning: 'For tomorrow, 60 degrees, Martin Luther Coon King Jr. Day, gonna see some temperatures in the mid-60s.' Blair apologized during the station's 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. Saturday newscasts, but his mea culpas weren't able to save his job. Said the vice president and general manager of the ABC affiliate, 'This kind of incident is not acceptable under any circumstances, and I'm truly sorry that this event occurred.'
-- Jenny McKeel"

NOVELL: Promotions and Events

2005-01-17T14:16:00.000-08:00

NOVELL: Promotions and Events: "Welcome to the Novell Marketing Videos and Video Production home page. This is the place to find the latest Novell marketing videos. "

Some of the customer submitted ones are actually pretty good!

Yahoo! News - Top Stories Photos - AP

2005-01-16T14:41:00.000-08:00

Yahoo! News - Top Stories Photos - AP: "Hasbro, Inc.'s Playskool division is launching a new Mr. Potato Head figure, Darth Tater. Available at stores nationwide in February, kids will be able to have all kinds of mix 'n match,Mr. Potato Head fun with this wacky spud dressed as the infamous Star Wars saga villain, Darth Vader. (AP Photo/ Hasbro, Inc., HO)"

I want one!

EPIC 2014

2005-01-14T10:09:00.000-08:00

EPIC 2014

"In the year 2014, The New York Times has gone offline.
The Fourth Estate's fortunes have waned.
What happened to the news?
And what is EPIC?"

Interesting sci-fi look at the future of Google, Blogs, Microsoft, News, and Amazon. Worth the 8 minutes.

New Scientist News - Pentagon reveals rejected chemical weapons

2005-01-14T08:55:00.000-08:00

New Scientist News - Pentagon reveals rejected chemical weapons: "THE Pentagon considered developing a host of non-lethal chemical weapons that would disrupt discipline and morale among enemy troops, newly declassified documents reveal.
Most bizarre among the plans was one for the development of an 'aphrodisiac' chemical weapon that would make enemy soldiers sexually irresistible to each other. Provoking widespread homosexual behaviour among troops would cause a 'distasteful but completely non-lethal' blow to morale, the proposal says."

I'm sorry, but that is hilarious. I would rather have my tax dollars spent on Gay-Spray than more nukes. Although, watchin OBL and his Brethren make out on CNN would just be disturbing.

imgSeek

2005-01-13T13:57:00.000-08:00

imgSeek: "imgSeek is a photo collection manager and viewer with content-based search and many other features. The query is expressed either as a rough sketch painted by the user or as another image you supply (or an image in your collection). The searching algorithm makes use of multiresolution wavelet decomposition of the query and database images. "

Holy Shit this is cool!!

QOTD!

2005-01-12T07:25:00.000-08:00

"Apple hating is so 1980's. Nerds flaped it all up because they liked the feeling of being the only ones who could run a DOS computer. Made them feel like they had +5 against normals, when in reality, they had -3 against vaginas."

Excellent.

Apple - Trailers - Sin City

2005-01-11T15:23:00.000-08:00

Apple - Trailers - Sin City

Oh man is this movie going to be awesome. Frank Miller Co-Directed it, and thanks to that, it has the look and feel of his (excellent) comic books. I. can't. wait.

Wired 13.01: PLAY

2005-01-11T12:48:00.000-08:00

Wired 13.01: PLAY: "Finding a decent pub on a Saturday night can be bloody hard work. This inflatable tavern makes it easy: All you need is a flat surface and two small fans. In six minutes, you'll have a full-blown, 760-square-foot structure that accommodates a fully stocked bar and 30 people. The pub - which features traditional British decor like a framed painting of Big Ben and a stuffed fish over the mantle - was designed by Airquee, a Welsh company that specializes in blow-ups (you may remember its 47-foot-tall Gothic cathedral). Airquee chair Andi Francis says the PVC pub allows for smoking, dart playing, and even some literal bouncing off the walls. According to Avril Baker, who caught the inflat-a-pub's debut at a festival in Bristol in September, 'I was just gob-smacked. It took my breath away.'
- Kerrie Mitchell"

Apple - Mac mini

2005-01-11T11:28:00.000-08:00

Apple - Mac mini: "The modular design of Mac mini lets you upgrade your current system to the elegance, simplicity and reliability of Macintosh. If you already own a monitor, keyboard and mouse, you can get up and running in minutes. Or choose any combination of new devices to meet your individual situation. And yes, Mac mini will take advantage of your two-button USB mouse with scroll-wheel and your favorite USB keyboard. Just plug them in."

Well, it official now after the Keynote. Mac Mini is here!

I have a feeling Apple is going to sell a truckload of these. Boy are they tiny, too!

Also, check out the new iPod Shuffle. Not sure how well it will do, but interesting concept.

The Cubes

2005-01-11T10:38:00.000-08:00

The Cubes

"Finally, the drudgery of corporate life has been captured in a play set for adults! Bob, Joe, Ted, and Ann spend eight hours a day, five days a week, at tiny desks in tiny cubicles in a giant room packed with countless similar cubicles in a giant building filled with countless similar rooms."

My Brother is right, these are fucking cool!

Jeepin.com - Jeep Hurricane Concept

2005-01-10T10:55:00.000-08:00

Jeepin.com - Jeep� Hurricane Concept: "Hurricane represents the continued success of bold concept vehicles for the brands as a means of demonstrating Chrysler Group�s creative and mechanical expertise. For example, powerful powertrain performance is an understatement considering the Hurricane is not just HEMI-equipped, but HEMI squared. There are two 5.7-liter HEMI engines in the vehicle: one in the front and one in the back. Both engines deliver 335 horsepower and 370 lb-ft of torque - a total of 670 hp and 740 lb-ft of torque."

What a friggin cool truck. None of it will make it to market, but damn that is cool!

PBS | I, Cringely . 2005 Predictions

2005-01-10T03:32:00.000-08:00

PBS | I, Cringely . 2005 Predictions: "Apple will take a big risk in 2005. This could be in the form of a major acquisition. With almost $6 billion in cash, Steve Jobs hinted to a group of employees not long ago that he might want to buy something big, though I am at a loss right now for what that might be. Or Apple might decide to throw some of that cash into the box along with new computers by deliberately losing some money on each unit in order to buy market share.

We might see that as early as next week with the rumored introduction of an el-cheapo Mac without a display. The price for that box is supposed to be $499, which would give customers a box with processor, disk, memory, and OS into which you plug your current display, keyboard, and mouse. Given that this sounds a lot like AMD's new Personal Internet Communicator, which will sell for $185, there is probably plenty of profit left for Apple in a $499 price. But what if they priced it at $399 or even $349? Now make it $249, where I calculate they'd be losing $100 per unit. At $100 per unit, how many little Macs could they sell if Jobs is willing to spend $1 billion? TEN MILLION and Apple suddenly becomes the world's number one PC company. Think of it as a non-mobile iPod with computing capability. Think of the music sales it could spawn. Think of the iPod sales it would hurt (zero, because of the lack of mobility). Think of the more expensive Mac sales it would hurt (zero, because a Mac loyalist would only be interested in using this box as an EXTRA computer they would otherwise not have bought). Think of the extra application sales it would generate and especially the OS upgrade sales, which alone could pay back that $100. Think of the impact it would have on Windows sales (minus 10 million units). And if it doesn't work, Steve will still have $5 billion in cash with no measurable negative impact on the company. I think he'll do it."

I really hope he is right, but I don't think Jobs is bold enough to do it. We'll see who is right, and who is wrong soon!

The Worst Way to Inlay - Popular Science

2005-01-08T06:47:00.000-08:00

The Worst Way to Inlay - Popular Science: "The Worst Way to Inlay
Sulfur is stinky and noxious, but that didn't stop people from using it to beautify their furniture"

This is really interesting. I had never read of anyone doing this, be fun to (carefully) try out sometime!

Visipix.com - Download free Hi-Res Pictures

2005-01-07T10:19:00.000-08:00

Visipix.com - Download free Hi-Res Pictures

Great source of stock images.

HIGH SECURITY FASHION | MIGUEL CABALLERO | PRENDAS DE VESTIR BLINDADAS | BULLET PROOF VEST Colombia | SWAT EQUIPMENT

2005-01-07T07:28:00.000-08:00

HIGH SECURITY FASHION - MIGUEL CABALLERO

Caballero make bullet-proof vests and garments that look like standard civilian clothing. Some really neat shit, but I would imagine it is pricey.

Al Mar Knives - The Warrior's Edge

2005-01-06T11:23:00.000-08:00

Al Mar Knives - The Warrior's Edge

"Since 1979, Al Mar Knives ™ has been committed to making unique designs at quality levels that rival custom, hand-made knives. Today, each knife crafted by Al Mar is hand-finished and hand-sharpened by craftsmen dedicated to creating the very best possible. Each Al Mar knife features flat-ground blades for strength and superior performance - and that’s just one reason to trust the Al Mar name. At Al Mar Knives, A Warrior’s Edge ™ means Factory Perfection ™."

Impressive knives.

Patchburn Homepage

2005-01-05T15:17:00.000-08:00

Patchburn Homepage: "PatchBurn is a tool to patch existing CD/DVD-drivers (under Mac-OS X 10.2.x) or to generate and install new device profiles (under Mac-OS 10.3.x and later)
It allows many, otherwise unsupported burners to be used directly with Mac-OS X, iTunes and DiscBurner."

Awesome! Make sure you support the writers of this patch, what a great little tool.

Wired News

2005-01-05T07:47:00.000-08:00

Wired News: "Recalculating the Calendar
Tired of holidays falling on different days of the week each year? A U.S. physicist who found the vagaries of the standard Gregorian calendar a waste of time set out to save us all the trouble (and possibly put calendar printers out of business). Meticulous maverick Dick Henry designed a new 364-day calendar in which weeks still consist of seven days, but each month gets either 30 or 31 days. Dates fall on a particular day of the week year after year, and an extra week -- dubbed 'Newton Week' -- is added every five or six years. 'If I had my way, everyone would get Newton Week off as a paid vacation and could spend the time doing physics,' Henry said. His next goal: converting the world to Greenwich Mean Time.
-- Lewis Wallace "

This sounds like a good plan to me!

Pda Cases, Solutions, Inventory Control, Point Of Sale, Pos

2005-01-04T14:44:00.000-08:00

Pda Cases, Solutions, Inventory Control, Point Of Sale, Pos: "Our PDA cases are made from the same nearly indestructible material as all our other Otter cases, but they�re custom-engineered to house your PDA in dustproof, air and watertight safety while still giving you access to the data you need the most. "

Nice!

QOTD

2005-01-04T13:58:00.000-08:00

"Some people are like slinkies: Completely useless, but you can't help but laugh at them while they're falling down the stairs."

Brookstone.com

2005-01-04T10:23:00.000-08:00

Brookstone.com

"Glimpse into the futureThis technology was developed by scientists at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory as part of a growing initiative to study our planet’s biosphere. NASA was researching self-contained communities for space explorers to live in during long-term flights. Out of this research came EcoSphere—a world in perfect balance."

These are very cool. A tad on the expensive side though.

SkyOS -- Your PEACE-FULL future Operating System

2005-01-04T09:36:00.000-08:00

SkyOS -- Your PEACE-FULL future Operating System

"SkyOS is an operating system written from scratch for x86 PC's. As required for a modern operating system, it supports features such as multiprocessor support (SMP), virtual memory, memory protection, multitasking and threading etc. Additionally, SkyOS has a built-in GUI system named SkyGI. All features of the OS will be explained later in detail."

I may have to try this to see what all the hub-bub is about.

Human Beans: PowerPizza

2005-01-04T08:05:00.000-08:00

Human Beans: PowerPizza

"Desirable laptops are desirable to thieves too. Disguise your laptop with a PowerPizza and reduce the risk of getting it nicked. "

These are the stupid ideas I wish I came up with...

Slashdot: News for nerds, stuff that matters

2004-12-23T09:42:00.000-08:00

Slashdot: News for nerds, stuff that matters: "Posted by michael on Thursday December 23, @12:08PM
from the double-your-pleasure dept.
tigerdarklord writes 'The Sci-Fi concept of pet cloning has become a commercial venture. Genetic Savings & Clone now not only offers genebanking for your pet (alive or recently dead), but a full service cloning shop. Although they started by producing two clones of the CEO's cat, they have now produced their first commercial clone for a woman from Texas. GSC has modified their cloning procedure to overcome the resemblance issues demonstrated when the College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M, created CopyCat. The technology looks promising but the $50,000 price tag will prove to place the service out of the reach of most pet owners.'"

$50,000?? I'ce had some very cool pets, but none worth $50 large.

Adventure Game Studio

2004-12-23T09:27:00.000-08:00

Adventure Game Studio: "Adventure Game Studio (AGS for short) allows you to create your own point-and-click adventure games, similar to the early 90's Sierra and Lucasarts adventures. It consists of an easy-to-use development environment, and run-time engine. "

For those of us that grew up playing games like Maniac Mansion, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (my favorite!) and others - now you can make you own (Or remake a classic).

www.neogentronyx.com

2004-12-22T11:27:00.000-08:00

www.neogentronyx.com: "The NMX04-1A is the first attempt at a fully functional prototype by Neogentronyx, but it will certainly not be the last. It is possible to arm the mecha for virtually any possible situation, whether it is military, construction, firefighting, or riot control or entertainment. The possibilities at this point are seemingly limitless. "

Interesting, but I don't think the military potential is as great as the movies (or this guy) make them out to be.

What a (Virtual) View! - Popular Science

2004-12-22T08:43:00.000-08:00

What a (Virtual) View! - Popular Science

"Ryan Hoagland, who spends his working life testing chip designs in Silicon Valley, took an engineering approach to improving the view from his living room. Using eight surplus LCD screens he found at his office, a leftover PC and some custom cables, he created two virtual windows over his fireplace that can open onto whatever vista he chooses..."

Why didn't I think of that?

Build a better HL2 Cookie

2004-12-22T07:33:00.000-08:00

Build a better HL2 Cookie

That takes some skill!

Yahoo! News - AFP Top Photos

2004-12-22T03:58:00.000-08:00

Yahoo! News - AFP Top Photos: "Speedsters beware! : Two Italian State Policemen pose next to the 'Lamborghini Gallardo' police Car in Rome. The traffic police will use the car during emergency situations on the Salerno-Reggio Calabria highway. (AFP/Patrick Hertzog) "

The Tech Report - HP tips Athlon 64 for Media Center Edition PC

2004-12-21T04:45:00.000-08:00

The Tech Report - HP tips Athlon 64 for Media Center Edition PC: "HP has always had a bit of a soft spot for AMD, and it's now using an Athlon 64 processor in one of its Media Center Edition systems. Advertisements for the system are even touting the Athlon 64's 'advanced antivirus protection,' otherwise known as the NX bit. "

The New York Times > Technology > A Toy With a Story

2004-12-20T12:01:00.000-08:00

The New York Times > Technology > A Toy With a Story

"There is a story behind every electronic gadget sold on the QVC shopping channel. This one leads to a ramshackle farmhouse in rural Oregon, which is the home and circuit design lab of Jeri Ellsworth, a 30-year-old high school dropout and self-taught computer chip designer."

Very cool. I want one.