November 6, 2008
Doooooom
Live doom. KFJC in Los Altos Hills, California is streaming live video and audio of Japanese doom gods Corrupted and Oakland's Asunder starting immediately. Requires free download of VLC media player shareware to get the live feed (instructions in first link). Equipment being set up as we speak. [more inside]
Woah. Excellent.
Bunk up, it's booming.
Bunkers have a wide variety of uses in today's world. They're not all used by those fearful of a terrorist attack. They are also used to protect from natural disasters and to hide grow-ops. George's got one. Tom too. You can build you own, or have someone do it for you. The Ark Two Shelter is located just outside of Toronto. Tours of bunkers are also available. Be prepared. Previously.
They're coming for you!
How smart is YOUR phone?
How smart is your phone? Maybe it plays music. Boring. Maybe it's famous for constant connection; almost addictive? Ha. Ha. It's been done to death, that one. But wait, there's more. Warning: This is not what you think it is.
Also, pretty sure you have to have up-to-date Flash. [more inside]
Hobo Matters
There had been hobos in the United States since there had been trains and liquor. Which is to say, always. [Semi-SLYT] [more inside]
Soldiers at War
Suzanne Opton's haunting soldier portraits, appearing on a billboard near you.
(courtesy of Design Observer) [more inside]
Angry "Rocky Horror" fans want to
stop the remake! I may not be one of the more hard core fans, but I agree with Will Wheaton. [more inside]
Oh, for F-bomb's sake
The current FCC case [PDF] before the U.S. Supreme Court presents a fascinating dilemma for the judges: how do you respectfully discuss the legality of profane words in the nation's highest court? And for reporters: how do you report on the specifics of the case? It seems decisions vary across publications: NYT, Washington Post (reg req), LA Times, Wall Street Journal, Slate, The Atlantic, Bloomberg, AP, McClatchy. As for the judges themselves, they opted to allow only substitute terms. PDF transcript with word count at bottom. Background.
I've been waiting for me
Change.gov, office of the president-elect went live today. Submit your story. Share your vision. Get a non-career job in the administration, or get ready to get involved.
Dissent: Voices of Conscience
"You can not come back to Canada until you have been criminally rehabilitated." Ann Wright, who had 29 years of military and govt service, resigned in protest on the eve of the Iraq War from her position as deputy ambassador to Mongolia. In this hour long talk, she discusses her story and the story of several others from various countries who resigned in protest. Her new book, Dissent: Voices of Conscience, details the story of 24 people who resigned in protest. [more inside]
“Single?” Lawn Signs Conquer the American Landscape
Chances are, over the past two years you've seen lawn signs for [your_town_name]singles.com
If you're like me, you wondered about the marketing strategy behind them.
If you're like this guy, you launch an obsessive investigation into the phenomenon. [more inside]
CNN Holograms, not so much
The jedi council may have to wait a few more years to incorporate holograms for absentee members.
visualizing data
20 Useful Visualization Libraries from the excellent A Beautiful WWW. Well, not entirely limited to libraries. Useful stuff for visualization practitioners sounded a little non-specific, though. These are all freely available. [more inside]
from 52 to 48, with love
from 52 to 48 with love : Ze Frank collects post-election messages of unity and reconciliation. [more inside]
Behind the Mask
A new article in the New Yorker discusses the work of Dr. Kent Kiehl, one of the world’s leading investigators in psychopathy. While Kiehl's research focusses on violent psychopaths, not all psychopaths are violent, or even criminal. At least one psychiatrist contends that the definition of a psychopath - first described by researcher Robert Hare and made manifest in his Hare Psychopathy Checklist (previously) - is more accurately attributed to narcissism.
Grim Fandango, I knew you had hard puzzles.
Grim Fandango, which was released in 1998, is considered by many to be one of the best Lucas Arts adventure games ever made. It tells the story of Manny Calavera, a travel agent working in the land of the dead. The game combines Aztec and film noir imagery to create a game that is wholly unique and still has a rabid fan base. Tim Schafer, the primary writer for the original (and a mastermind behind recently critically appreciated games such as Psychonauts through his company Double Fine Productions [previously]) has released the full 72 page design document that was written in 1996. [direct pdf link]. This is great reading for those who get nostalgic just thinking about the game.
Here's the opening scene of the game to help you develop an appreciation, if you haven't done so already: youtube link
May The Sluttiest, Male Or Female, Come Forward (Or Just Come And Get It Over With)
I'm neither a psychologist or a statistician, but perhaps some nations are sluttier than others. And I'd like to know which. Or whether this is, academically or instinctually, just another steaming - yet amusing - pile of the vilest-smelling bull poo. [more inside]
Everything in its right place...
Factory Balls 2 is a puzzle flash game where your objective is to recreate the ball shown on the box by dropping a ball on tools in the correct order. It isn't extremely difficult but is quite fun.
Sorry, every day feels like friday this week...
Illinois Lottery Draws 666 on Heels of Obama Victory
The day after a senator from Illinois, is elected president, the Pick 3 lottery in Illinois comes up 666. It's happened before, notably in Pennsylvania (12 times, including one time as part of a scam and once earlier this year, in Maryland. Some are jokingly (I hope) calling him the antichrist as a result. Others, namely numbers geeks like me, are spending their lunch hours looking up the history of lotteries drawing triple numbers and sharing it with MetaFilter.
Fixing Foreign Entanglements
Fred Kaplan gives President Obama suggestions on foreign policy repair.
Mammals at the Natural History Museum
Mammals | Natural History Museum. From fascinating bats to enormous whales, mammals are the most diverse group of animals on our planet. Equipped with wings, fins, horns and spines – they have evolved to fill many niches and roles. Discover more about this complex group, which of course, includes us. [more inside]
A new approach to first contact
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