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Monday, February 28, 2005Origins of American Animation
The development of early American animation is represented by this collection of 21 animated films and 2 fragments, which spans the years 1900 to 1921. The films include clay, puppet, and cut-out animation, as well as pen drawings. They point to a connection between newspaper comic strips and early animated films, as represented by Keeping Up With the Joneses, Krazy Kat, and The Katzenjammer Kids. As well as showing the development of animation, these films also reveal the social attitudes of early twentieth-century America.
Pictured above is a clip from the racially sensitive Bobby Bump Starts a Lodge.Origins of American Animation
The development of early American animation is represented by this collection of 21 animated films and 2 fragments, which spans the years 1900 to 1921. The films include clay, puppet, and cut-out animation, as well as pen drawings. They point to a connection between newspaper comic strips and early animated films, as represented by Keeping Up With the Joneses, Krazy Kat, and The Katzenjammer Kids. As well as showing the development of animation, these films also reveal the social attitudes of early twentieth-century America.
Pictured above is a clip from the racially sensitive Bobby Bump Starts a Lodge.Upcoming Movie Sequels and RemakesThere is a movie coming out for The A-Team, Dukes of Hazzard, Miami Vice and Knight Rider? Sacrilege!
Here's a list of sequels and prequels that are slated to come out in the next several years. They don't necessarily mean that the geniuses behind them ran out of story. I included the movie title, the slated year of release, and a personal ranking.
(via Backwards City)Upcoming Movie Sequels and RemakesThere is a movie coming out for The A-Team, Dukes of Hazzard, Miami Vice and Knight Rider? Sacrilege!
Here's a list of sequels and prequels that are slated to come out in the next several years. They don't necessarily mean that the geniuses behind them ran out of story. I included the movie title, the slated year of release, and a personal ranking.
(via Backwards City)Bad Cop, No Donut
Your weekly wrap-up of North American police brutality, misconduct and corruption.
Bad Cop, No Donut
Your weekly wrap-up of North American police brutality, misconduct and corruption.
Japanese Vengeance Balloon Bombs of WW2
During the Second World War the Japanese conceived the idea of fashioning incendiary bombs and attaching these to balloons which were released with easterly wintertime jet stream winds above 30,000 feet to float 5,000 miles across the north Pacific. The idea was to have these devices explode over the forested regions of the Pacific Northwest and initiate large forest fires that would hopefully divert U.S. manpower from warfighting in the Pacific theater to combating fires at home.
Japanese Vengeance Balloon Bombs of WW2
During the Second World War the Japanese conceived the idea of fashioning incendiary bombs and attaching these to balloons which were released with easterly wintertime jet stream winds above 30,000 feet to float 5,000 miles across the north Pacific. The idea was to have these devices explode over the forested regions of the Pacific Northwest and initiate large forest fires that would hopefully divert U.S. manpower from warfighting in the Pacific theater to combating fires at home.
Totalitarian Art I hadn't seen 90% of these photos and paintings. Stalin is pictured above in the Chef Boyadee getup. (via Tom McMahon) Totalitarian ArtI hadn't seen 90% of these photos and paintings. Stalin is pictured above in the Chef Boyadee getup. (via Tom McMahon) The Cross in Space I dunno.
The cross will be over You personally! The Cross will be over every Nation on earth! Over Afghanistan! Saudi Arabia! Jerusalem! America! The cross in Space Satellite will be in a Polar orbit from pole to pole. As the earth turns it will pass over every inch of the earth like peeling an apple. The cross will circle the earth every one and a half hours. After launch we can tell you on our site when it will be over you and your nation.
(via Bifurcated Rivets)The Cross in SpaceI dunno.
The cross will be over You personally! The Cross will be over every Nation on earth! Over Afghanistan! Saudi Arabia! Jerusalem! America! The cross in Space Satellite will be in a Polar orbit from pole to pole. As the earth turns it will pass over every inch of the earth like peeling an apple. The cross will circle the earth every one and a half hours. After launch we can tell you on our site when it will be over you and your nation.
(via Bifurcated Rivets)Haunted Hotel ReviewsCheck out the reviews on tripadvisor.com for the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Fond du Lac, WI. They all claim that it is haunted.
Let me start out by saying it's a great Ramada with clean rooms, and friendly staff. However, in the middle of the night, I heard the sound of someone pulling covers off the other bed. I looked at the other bed in my room, and saw the outline of a head resting on the pillow. I put my hand on it, and it was ICE cold. 30 minutes later, I am woken up again with the sound of footsteps by the bathroom. I get up, and find no one. But wait theres more, I also heard the sound of water from the sink in the bathroom. I got up, and could not find any faucet running. At that point, I just asked whoever was there to please let me have some rest. And the ghost(s) must have been listening, because after that I slept fine. Give it a chance! If you love spacious, haunted hotels, this is for you!!!
(Thanks Anonymous)Haunted Hotel ReviewsCheck out the reviews on tripadvisor.com for the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Fond du Lac, WI. They all claim that it is haunted.
Let me start out by saying it's a great Ramada with clean rooms, and friendly staff. However, in the middle of the night, I heard the sound of someone pulling covers off the other bed. I looked at the other bed in my room, and saw the outline of a head resting on the pillow. I put my hand on it, and it was ICE cold. 30 minutes later, I am woken up again with the sound of footsteps by the bathroom. I get up, and find no one. But wait theres more, I also heard the sound of water from the sink in the bathroom. I got up, and could not find any faucet running. At that point, I just asked whoever was there to please let me have some rest. And the ghost(s) must have been listening, because after that I slept fine. Give it a chance! If you love spacious, haunted hotels, this is for you!!!
(Thanks Anonymous)True FactsI have no idea if these are really true. And isn't 'True Facts' redundant?
Only 6% of the autographs in circulation from members of the Beatles are estimated to be real.
More than 2,500 left-handed people are killed each year from using products that are made for right-handed people. A private elementary school in Alexandria, Virginia, accidentally served margaritas to its schoolchildren, thinking it was limeade. True FactsI have no idea if these are really true. And isn't 'True Facts' redundant?
Only 6% of the autographs in circulation from members of the Beatles are estimated to be real.
More than 2,500 left-handed people are killed each year from using products that are made for right-handed people. A private elementary school in Alexandria, Virginia, accidentally served margaritas to its schoolchildren, thinking it was limeade. Sunday, February 27, 2005Unusual Technical Images of Equipment Used in WWII
In the Second World War people at home with loved ones spread far away around the world with the forces were fed a diet, often government backed, of "how it works" or "how we will win" technical information leaflets. Very often these would have contained superb cut away and sectioned diagrams, showing the "insides" or as was said at the time "the works!" of the machines that were winning the war for us!
Unusual Technical Images of Equipment Used in WWII
In the Second World War people at home with loved ones spread far away around the world with the forces were fed a diet, often government backed, of "how it works" or "how we will win" technical information leaflets. Very often these would have contained superb cut away and sectioned diagrams, showing the "insides" or as was said at the time "the works!" of the machines that were winning the war for us!
The Watergate Papers
Now available to the public for the first time are Woodward and Bernstein's notes from source interviews, drafts of newspaper stories and books, memos, letters, tape recordings, research materials, and other Watergate papers.
The Watergate Papers
Now available to the public for the first time are Woodward and Bernstein's notes from source interviews, drafts of newspaper stories and books, memos, letters, tape recordings, research materials, and other Watergate papers.
Banning Abortions of Gay FetusesHow did I know that this guy was a Republican before I even clicked on the article?
A Republican lawmaker in Maine has introduced a bill to prohibit abortions based on the sexual orientation of the unborn baby.
I thought this was crazy but apparently the test to find out if a fetus is gay or not is rather simple. Basically the geneticist makes a karotype and looks for a rainbow colored chromosome. Below is a karotype made from Ellen DeGeneres' chromosomes.State Rep. Brian Duprey wants the Legislature to forbid a woman from ending a pregnancy because the fetus is homosexual.  Banning Abortions of Gay FetusesHow did I know that this guy was a Republican before I even clicked on the article?
A Republican lawmaker in Maine has introduced a bill to prohibit abortions based on the sexual orientation of the unborn baby.
I thought this was crazy but apparently the test to find out if a fetus is gay or not is rather simple. Basically the geneticist makes a karotype and looks for a rainbow colored chromosome. Below is a karotype made from Ellen DeGeneres' chromosomes.State Rep. Brian Duprey wants the Legislature to forbid a woman from ending a pregnancy because the fetus is homosexual. Harry Houdini Posters
The following posters, advertising Houdini's performances and various tricks, have been collected by magicians, friends, and fans of Houdini. Each colorful ad displays a different stage of his career, from the early days of performing in the circus to his spiritualism exposés.
And, Houdini in the NY Times has hundreds of articles written about the escape artist from 1910 to present.Harry Houdini Posters
The following posters, advertising Houdini's performances and various tricks, have been collected by magicians, friends, and fans of Houdini. Each colorful ad displays a different stage of his career, from the early days of performing in the circus to his spiritualism exposés.
And, Houdini in the NY Times has hundreds of articles written about the escape artist from 1910 to present.Saturday, February 26, 2005The Beatles Anomalies ListPicky picky.
A Day In The Life
(via Backwards City)0:36 The middle note (the ‘D’) of the three descending notes after John’s "aaah" is played a little early and quiet, with a backbeat feel that doesn’t match the rest of the playing. 1:43 Switch click as the orchestra comes in, orchestra’s volume suddenly doubles at this point (right channel). Maybe this is the introduction of one of the additional tracks of orchestra used to thicken the sound. 1:44-2:16, 3:50-4:19 Mal Evans is heard counting the bars from 1 to 24; only about the first dozen are audible, starting at about three to 12 (left channel). 1:53 "9" and 1:55 "10" stick out quite well, as do 3:51 "4" 3:52 "5" 3:53 "6". 2:17 Right channel – sudden intake of breath. The Beatles Anomalies ListPicky picky.
A Day In The Life
(via Backwards City)0:36 The middle note (the ‘D’) of the three descending notes after John’s "aaah" is played a little early and quiet, with a backbeat feel that doesn’t match the rest of the playing. 1:43 Switch click as the orchestra comes in, orchestra’s volume suddenly doubles at this point (right channel). Maybe this is the introduction of one of the additional tracks of orchestra used to thicken the sound. 1:44-2:16, 3:50-4:19 Mal Evans is heard counting the bars from 1 to 24; only about the first dozen are audible, starting at about three to 12 (left channel). 1:53 "9" and 1:55 "10" stick out quite well, as do 3:51 "4" 3:52 "5" 3:53 "6". 2:17 Right channel – sudden intake of breath. Friday, February 25, 2005July 20, 2006: World Jump Day
Join us in the attempt to drive planet earth into a new orbit!
Or send us hurtling into the sun.Scientific research has proven that this change of planetary positioning would very likely stop global warming, extend daytime hours and create a more homogenous climate. (via J-Walk) July 20, 2006: World Jump Day
Join us in the attempt to drive planet earth into a new orbit!
Or send us hurtling into the sun.Scientific research has proven that this change of planetary positioning would very likely stop global warming, extend daytime hours and create a more homogenous climate. (via J-Walk) Inventions and Ideas from Sci Fi
Explore the wide variety of inventions and ideas of science fiction writers - over 750 are available on Technovelgy (that's tek-novel-gee!).
Inventions and Ideas from Sci Fi
Explore the wide variety of inventions and ideas of science fiction writers - over 750 are available on Technovelgy (that's tek-novel-gee!).
The Sarah Foster Sweater Catalog (for GI Joe)
Stylish hand-knit sweaters for GI Joe and his 1:6 friends.
(via Monkeyfilter)The Sarah Foster Sweater Catalog (for GI Joe)
Stylish hand-knit sweaters for GI Joe and his 1:6 friends.
(via Monkeyfilter)Nosferatu A website about the movie Nosferatu, one of the creepiest movies in the history of cinema. I have seen clips of it but have yet to see the entire thing. (via Exclamation Mark) NosferatuA website about the movie Nosferatu, one of the creepiest movies in the history of cinema. I have seen clips of it but have yet to see the entire thing. (via Exclamation Mark) Thursday, February 24, 2005Worst TV Clips of the WeekThe Parents Television Council takes the most salacious tv clips they can find and compiles and links to the smutty parts for our convenience. The thing I don't get about this..... Wait, let me rephrase. One of the things I don't get about this is that they are taking the clips from prime time/late night time slots where parents actually have a chance to monitor what their kids are doing and putting them on a website where you can access it whenever you want? Sounds stupid to me but then again, anybody who tries to parent everybody sounds stupid to me.Worst TV Clips of the WeekThe Parents Television Council takes the most salacious tv clips they can find and compiles and links to the smutty parts for our convenience. The thing I don't get about this..... Wait, let me rephrase. One of the things I don't get about this is that they are taking the clips from prime time/late night time slots where parents actually have a chance to monitor what their kids are doing and putting them on a website where you can access it whenever you want? Sounds stupid to me but then again, anybody who tries to parent everybody sounds stupid to me.Radio Locator
Welcome to Radio-Locator, the most comprehensive radio station search engine on the internet. We have links to over 10,000 radio station web pages and over 2500 audio streams from radio stations in the U.S. and around the world.
Radio Locator
Welcome to Radio-Locator, the most comprehensive radio station search engine on the internet. We have links to over 10,000 radio station web pages and over 2500 audio streams from radio stations in the U.S. and around the world.
The Ice Wall This is pretty cool.
What was it? A freeform ice sculpture, which, by chance, was climbable.
How was it made? By pumping water up through two pipes in the middle of the ice, out through a couple nozzles, 24 hours per day. When was it started? October 2003. The Ice WallThis is pretty cool.
What was it? A freeform ice sculpture, which, by chance, was climbable.
How was it made? By pumping water up through two pipes in the middle of the ice, out through a couple nozzles, 24 hours per day. When was it started? October 2003. My Dinner at Applebee's With White SupremacistsGood article. Funny and scary at the same time.
I decide to infiltrate a white supremacist hate group by posing as an eager new recruit, a new hater, if you will. I want to put a face on extreme hate, to find out the hobbies of haters, what haters find hot and what haters find not. I want to learn what someone in a hate group really loooooooves. Ice cream? Everyone loves ice cream. I love ice cream. Maybe hate groups love ice cream, too?
(via Backwards City)My Dinner at Applebee's With White SupremacistsGood article. Funny and scary at the same time.
I decide to infiltrate a white supremacist hate group by posing as an eager new recruit, a new hater, if you will. I want to put a face on extreme hate, to find out the hobbies of haters, what haters find hot and what haters find not. I want to learn what someone in a hate group really loooooooves. Ice cream? Everyone loves ice cream. I love ice cream. Maybe hate groups love ice cream, too?
(via Backwards City)Japanese Comics Over a thousand Japanese comic book covers are scanned on this site. (via J-Walk) Update: Cybexvisine commented on this and I thought it deserved to be on the main page:
these are actually chinese mangas from Hong Kong. my friend just reminded me that these arrived on newsstands in 1970 and were ultra-violent. how violent? law makers were so disturbed that indecency laws were passed in '75 to censor all printed material (save newsprint). this was an unprecedented reaction in one of the most open-minded british colonies! truth be told, this manga really pushed artists to pump out even more obscene material (and i mean that in a loving way) as they painted more-blood, more-killings, more-diabolic plots...
btw: the title to this particular series is called, "little rascals" and was intended for children. when the indecency law was enacted, Wong Yuk-Long (artist) started his own newspaper just to get these panels out to his audience. how did they respond? this is one of the most popular titles ever reprinted in north america -- the original newsprint was full-tabloid sized, not the small comic books we're familiar with. *thumbs up* Japanese ComicsOver a thousand Japanese comic book covers are scanned on this site. (via J-Walk) Update: Cybexvisine commented on this and I thought it deserved to be on the main page:
these are actually chinese mangas from Hong Kong. my friend just reminded me that these arrived on newsstands in 1970 and were ultra-violent. how violent? law makers were so disturbed that indecency laws were passed in '75 to censor all printed material (save newsprint). this was an unprecedented reaction in one of the most open-minded british colonies! truth be told, this manga really pushed artists to pump out even more obscene material (and i mean that in a loving way) as they painted more-blood, more-killings, more-diabolic plots...
btw: the title to this particular series is called, "little rascals" and was intended for children. when the indecency law was enacted, Wong Yuk-Long (artist) started his own newspaper just to get these panels out to his audience. how did they respond? this is one of the most popular titles ever reprinted in north america -- the original newsprint was full-tabloid sized, not the small comic books we're familiar with. *thumbs up* 1954 Senate Interim Report - Comic Books and Juvenile DelinquencyI guess Superman comics were the Grand Theft Auto of the 50s.
However, there are many who accept the idea of the cause and effect relationship between comic-book reading by children and antisocial behavior. Many judges have pointed to crime and horror comic books and have cited cases of children who have explained their delinquent acts by claiming they got the ideas from such comic books. This kind of evidence is largely discountied by the behavioral scientists, who point out that children can hardly be expected to understand their own behavior, much less explain it. A child may ascribe his behavior to a comic book he has read, but such explanations without substantiating findings can scarcely be considered scientific evidence of causation.
1954 Senate Interim Report - Comic Books and Juvenile DelinquencyI guess Superman comics were the Grand Theft Auto of the 50s.
However, there are many who accept the idea of the cause and effect relationship between comic-book reading by children and antisocial behavior. Many judges have pointed to crime and horror comic books and have cited cases of children who have explained their delinquent acts by claiming they got the ideas from such comic books. This kind of evidence is largely discountied by the behavioral scientists, who point out that children can hardly be expected to understand their own behavior, much less explain it. A child may ascribe his behavior to a comic book he has read, but such explanations without substantiating findings can scarcely be considered scientific evidence of causation.
The Rapture LetterWhat happens to the red states after The Rapture? I guess The Rapture is one of the few things I actually agree with the Jesus freaks about. Hurry Jesus, take them away!!!
After the rapture, there will be a lot of speculation as to why millions of people have
just disappeared. Unfortunately, after the rapture, only non believers will be left to come up with answers. You probably have family and friends that you have witnessed to and they just won't listen. After the rapture they probably will, but who will tell them?
We have written a computer program to do just that. It will send an Electronic Message (e-mail) to whomever you want after the rapture has taken place, and you and I have been taken to heaven. The Rapture LetterWhat happens to the red states after The Rapture? I guess The Rapture is one of the few things I actually agree with the Jesus freaks about. Hurry Jesus, take them away!!!
After the rapture, there will be a lot of speculation as to why millions of people have
just disappeared. Unfortunately, after the rapture, only non believers will be left to come up with answers. You probably have family and friends that you have witnessed to and they just won't listen. After the rapture they probably will, but who will tell them?
We have written a computer program to do just that. It will send an Electronic Message (e-mail) to whomever you want after the rapture has taken place, and you and I have been taken to heaven. It Paid to Read This EULAI admit it, I have never read an End User License Agreement. Even if I did I probably wouldn't have sent them an email.
OK, let's be honest. You didn't really read the EULA. How do I know? Because hardly anyone does. To prove that point, PC Pitstop included a clause in one of its own EULAs that promised anyone who read it, a "consideration" including money if they sent a note to an email address listed in the EULA. After four months and more than 3,000 downloads, one person finally wrote in. That person, by the way, got a check for $1,000 proving, at least for one person, that it really does pay to read EULAs.
It Paid to Read This EULAI admit it, I have never read an End User License Agreement. Even if I did I probably wouldn't have sent them an email.
OK, let's be honest. You didn't really read the EULA. How do I know? Because hardly anyone does. To prove that point, PC Pitstop included a clause in one of its own EULAs that promised anyone who read it, a "consideration" including money if they sent a note to an email address listed in the EULA. After four months and more than 3,000 downloads, one person finally wrote in. That person, by the way, got a check for $1,000 proving, at least for one person, that it really does pay to read EULAs.
Ella Ella Fitzgerald's Official Site.
In 1934 Ella's name was pulled in a weekly drawing at the Apollo and she won the opportunity to compete in Amateur Night. Ella went to the theater that night planning to dance, but when the frenzied Edwards Sisters closed the main show, Ella changed her mind. "They were the dancingest sisters around," said Ella, and she felt her act would not compare.
Once on stage, faced with boos and murmurs of "What's she going to do?" from the rowdy crowd, a scared and disheveled Ella made the last minute decision to sing. She asked the band to play Hoagy Carmichael's Judy, a song she knew well because Connee Boswell's rendition of it was among Tempie's favorites. Ella quickly quieted the audience, and by the song's end they were demanding an encore. She obliged and sang the flip side of the Boswell Sister's record, The Object of My Affections. EllaElla Fitzgerald's Official Site.
In 1934 Ella's name was pulled in a weekly drawing at the Apollo and she won the opportunity to compete in Amateur Night. Ella went to the theater that night planning to dance, but when the frenzied Edwards Sisters closed the main show, Ella changed her mind. "They were the dancingest sisters around," said Ella, and she felt her act would not compare.
Once on stage, faced with boos and murmurs of "What's she going to do?" from the rowdy crowd, a scared and disheveled Ella made the last minute decision to sing. She asked the band to play Hoagy Carmichael's Judy, a song she knew well because Connee Boswell's rendition of it was among Tempie's favorites. Ella quickly quieted the audience, and by the song's end they were demanding an encore. She obliged and sang the flip side of the Boswell Sister's record, The Object of My Affections. Wednesday, February 23, 2005Dominican Republic Street Vendors Tv antennas?
Products I have seen being sold: Cactus, TV Antennas, Loofas, Gold Fish, Puppies, Shoe Holders, Gum, Sugar Candy, Birthday Cards, Cashews, Cell Phone Accessories, Avocados, Tangerines, Mangos, Water, Long Distance Phone Cards,
(via Information Junk)On an unrelated topic, I actually had to write this post out twice. I was about to hit save the first time around when I inadvertently must have pressed the window key and a few other keys just right, and in doing so I actually shutdown the computer. And I just almost did it again while trying to figure out how the hell I did it in the first place. Nevermind, I am going to be pissed if I have to write this all out again. Saving........ Dominican Republic Street VendorsTv antennas?
Products I have seen being sold: Cactus, TV Antennas, Loofas, Gold Fish, Puppies, Shoe Holders, Gum, Sugar Candy, Birthday Cards, Cashews, Cell Phone Accessories, Avocados, Tangerines, Mangos, Water, Long Distance Phone Cards,
(via Information Junk)On an unrelated topic, I actually had to write this post out twice. I was about to hit save the first time around when I inadvertently must have pressed the window key and a few other keys just right, and in doing so I actually shutdown the computer. And I just almost did it again while trying to figure out how the hell I did it in the first place. Nevermind, I am going to be pissed if I have to write this all out again. Saving........ Tennis On Top of the World I hate heights so count me out. Isn't this the same place where Tiger Woods was driving golf balls off of a few months ago?
In preparation for the Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open, tennis legend, Andre Agassi and the world No. 1, Roger Federer, couldn’t resist the temptation to have a friendly knock about on the world’s highest tennis court, the helipad of Burj Al Arab, the world’s most luxurious hotel.
(via Boing Boing)Tennis On Top of the WorldI hate heights so count me out. Isn't this the same place where Tiger Woods was driving golf balls off of a few months ago?
In preparation for the Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open, tennis legend, Andre Agassi and the world No. 1, Roger Federer, couldn’t resist the temptation to have a friendly knock about on the world’s highest tennis court, the helipad of Burj Al Arab, the world’s most luxurious hotel.
(via Boing Boing)Lost in Translation
What happens when an English phrase is translated (by computer) back and forth between 5 different languages? The authors of the Systran translation software probably never intended this application of their program...
I tried:The resulting half-English, half-foreign, and totally non sequitur response bears almost no resemblance to the original. Remember the old game of "Telephone"? Something is lost, and sometimes something is gained. Try it for yourself! "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." And it came out as: " It interrogates to that his latta one of the country, he it question that does, that what affinchè its country gives the form to be able" Lost in Translation
What happens when an English phrase is translated (by computer) back and forth between 5 different languages? The authors of the Systran translation software probably never intended this application of their program...
I tried:The resulting half-English, half-foreign, and totally non sequitur response bears almost no resemblance to the original. Remember the old game of "Telephone"? Something is lost, and sometimes something is gained. Try it for yourself! "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." And it came out as: " It interrogates to that his latta one of the country, he it question that does, that what affinchè its country gives the form to be able" Viral Marketing HoaxesRecently I saw the site for Who Ordered Room Service? I won't ruin it for you if you want to see for yourself what it is about but be forewarned that you will see a gallon or so of vomit.Did you watch it? I tried to warn you. Anyway, there are two videos on that site. The first one was the set up and the second one was finally unveiled on Feb 14th so you could see who was responsible for it which turned out to be an ad for a Bryan Adam's cd. A clear cut case of viral marketing, or a form of marketing used to create a buzz and to be passed through the internet by blogs or people sending email. Right? Wrong. It was a hoax done by two bored filmmakers.
It's a complete hoax, the ads were created by Frank Lesser and Jason Woliner directors in New York, just for the heck of it. No word yet if Bryan Adams plans to sue them.
So now you can't even assume that a viral marketing attempt is a viral marketing attempt. I am confused. I need to read a bit from the holiest of all books in order to find solace. "Not by any stretch of the imagination has the ad been endorsed by Bryan Adams or his management company," said Tyson Parker, from Universal Music Canada. The Books of Bokonon, Verse 1: All of the true things that I am about to tell you are shameless lies. Ah, we can move on now. Viral Marketing HoaxesRecently I saw the site for Who Ordered Room Service? I won't ruin it for you if you want to see for yourself what it is about but be forewarned that you will see a gallon or so of vomit.Did you watch it? I tried to warn you. Anyway, there are two videos on that site. The first one was the set up and the second one was finally unveiled on Feb 14th so you could see who was responsible for it which turned out to be an ad for a Bryan Adam's cd. A clear cut case of viral marketing, or a form of marketing used to create a buzz and to be passed through the internet by blogs or people sending email. Right? Wrong. It was a hoax done by two bored filmmakers.
It's a complete hoax, the ads were created by Frank Lesser and Jason Woliner directors in New York, just for the heck of it. No word yet if Bryan Adams plans to sue them.
So now you can't even assume that a viral marketing attempt is a viral marketing attempt. I am confused. I need to read a bit from the holiest of all books in order to find solace. "Not by any stretch of the imagination has the ad been endorsed by Bryan Adams or his management company," said Tyson Parker, from Universal Music Canada. The Books of Bokonon, Verse 1: All of the true things that I am about to tell you are shameless lies. Ah, we can move on now. Trunk Bike There isn't much of this ad in English so I have no idea what it says but it looks like an ad for a Honda that comes with a small moped in the back. I am guessing it is from the 80s. Trunk BikeThere isn't much of this ad in English so I have no idea what it says but it looks like an ad for a Honda that comes with a small moped in the back. I am guessing it is from the 80s. How Paris Got Hacked?Duh! If this is true I feel bad for T-Mobile. They can't help it if they have a high profile customer who is a complete moron.
Paris Hilton's Chihuahua couldn't protect her Hollywood home from a burglary last summer. So why was Hilton counting on her dog to protect her T-Mobile account from intruders?
Despite repeated attacks on her T-Mobile email and telephone records in recent months, the actress and heiress has persisted in using the little dog's name to secure her password at the T-Mobile site. How Paris Got Hacked?Duh! If this is true I feel bad for T-Mobile. They can't help it if they have a high profile customer who is a complete moron.
Paris Hilton's Chihuahua couldn't protect her Hollywood home from a burglary last summer. So why was Hilton counting on her dog to protect her T-Mobile account from intruders?
Despite repeated attacks on her T-Mobile email and telephone records in recent months, the actress and heiress has persisted in using the little dog's name to secure her password at the T-Mobile site. Tuesday, February 22, 2005Elephant Dung Paper Yes, it is real.
The man behind the paper is Mr. Wanchai. On his way home from work he used to pass a natural paper factory and was impressed at the simplicity of the process that used natural tree fibers to make high quality hand made paper. He then took a trip to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang Northern Thailand and saw piles and piles of dung. He looked at the dung and noticed that the dung was very fibrous. This was the birth of the idea.
Elephant Dung PaperYes, it is real.
The man behind the paper is Mr. Wanchai. On his way home from work he used to pass a natural paper factory and was impressed at the simplicity of the process that used natural tree fibers to make high quality hand made paper. He then took a trip to the Thai Elephant Conservation Center in Lampang Northern Thailand and saw piles and piles of dung. He looked at the dung and noticed that the dung was very fibrous. This was the birth of the idea.
Television Shows on DvdI am addicted to dvds. If dvds were heroin, I would have needle tracks up and down each arm, under my tongue, and wherever the hell else junkies shoot up. Friends and family would be coming up to me saying, "Chris, we think you have a problem.""Leave me alone!" I would growl back as I tightened the rubber hose around my arm. "I can quit anytime I want!" It isn't so much the movies on dvd that have me hooked, but the old television shows they are re-releasing. I think it all started with the cable tv shows such as The Sopranos and Sex and the City which would release the previous season on dvd or vhs and created a new market. This was especially advantageous because a lot of people who didn't have HBO missed these shows when they were being broadcast but still wanted to see them. Somewhere, a light went off in someone's head and they realized that with dvds being small and fairly cheap to produce, why not release old tv shows onto them. Bam, even half of Edison's ideas weren't this brilliant (Besides the electric light and the phonograph. Oh and the stock ticker was pretty cool. I guess the motion picture camera was fairly important and also pertinent to dvds. Ok ok, bad example.) You can now go into a store and get the entire first season of almost any show that was on tv. (There are a few that I can't find yet but they are on their way) Being a child of the 80s, I have been collecting shows ranging from Miami Vice (The show that epitomizes the 1980s unlike no other) to Macgyver. Macgyver would be the perfect example of a show I probably would have been better off remembering without actually seeing again. The production quality is bad, the acting from the extras is cheesy and the things he makes with his swiss army knife are completely unrealistic to people past the age of eight. I understand the concept of suspension of disbelief but using a chair and a coathanger to bust through a wall is more like expulsion of reality. I also don't quite understand why Macgyver hates guns but has no problem creating a bomb with cow manure. What, explosives aren't as deadly? The most unrealistic tv series that I bought is Kung Fu. I have seen a few shows in reruns but it originally aired in 1972, a few years before I was born. If you don't know the premise, it is about a half chinese, half white Shaolin Monk who is wanted in China for murder but is making his way through the American West in the 1880s searching for his half brother. In a stunning move for the time, the network cast an asian to play the lead role which would have been extremely progressive for the early 70s except when I say asian, I mean caucasian. That's right, in a show that deals with how racist people were in the late 19th century, the network booted show co-creator Bruce Lee who didn't really fit the part as a Chinese Shaolin Monk in favor for David Carradine. WTF? What is even more confusing is that during the show, people know as soon as they lay eyes on him that his character is chinese even though to us watching he looks as white as, well, David Carradine. Besides this rather HUGE discrepancy, I have to admit that I like the show. The philosophy behind it holds up even though the action scenes are a bit dated. Carradine is good in it even if his interpretation of an asian accent is to speak veeeeerrrrrryyyyy sloooooowwwwwwlllllyyyyyy. Bruce Lee wouldn't have been able to do a better job because as everyone knows, his career didn't seem to go ANYWHERE after that. That was thirty years ago and times have changed. Hollywood is a much more diverse place. Right? I am not too sure. Off the top of my head, I can name only one Asian American actor who could be considered a household name. And he hasn't done anything since The Karate Kid. (Pat Morita). I asked a few friends if they could name any Asian American actors other than naming a few actresses (Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh) they couldn't name any actors other than Chow Yun Fat or Jackie Chan. But they are Chinese actors who have managed to make the jump to American movies. Surely there has to be a few contemporary Asian American actors out there and I just can't think of them off the top of my head. Either that or perhaps we haven't come along as far as we would like to think. Television Shows on DvdI am addicted to dvds. If dvds were heroin, I would have needle tracks up and down each arm, under my tongue, and wherever the hell else junkies shoot up. Friends and family would be coming up to me saying, "Chris, we think you have a problem.""Leave me alone!" I would growl back as I tightened the rubber hose around my arm. "I can quit anytime I want!" It isn't so much the movies on dvd that have me hooked, but the old television shows they are re-releasing. I think it all started with the cable tv shows such as The Sopranos and Sex and the City which would release the previous season on dvd or vhs and created a new market. This was especially advantageous because a lot of people who didn't have HBO missed these shows when they were being broadcast but still wanted to see them. Somewhere, a light went off in someone's head and they realized that with dvds being small and fairly cheap to produce, why not release old tv shows onto them. Bam, even half of Edison's ideas weren't this brilliant (Besides the electric light and the phonograph. Oh and the stock ticker was pretty cool. I guess the motion picture camera was fairly important and also pertinent to dvds. Ok ok, bad example.) You can now go into a store and get the entire first season of almost any show that was on tv. (There are a few that I can't find yet but they are on their way) Being a child of the 80s, I have been collecting shows ranging from Miami Vice (The show that epitomizes the 1980s unlike no other) to Macgyver. Macgyver would be the perfect example of a show I probably would have been better off remembering without actually seeing again. The production quality is bad, the acting from the extras is cheesy and the things he makes with his swiss army knife are completely unrealistic to people past the age of eight. I understand the concept of suspension of disbelief but using a chair and a coathanger to bust through a wall is more like expulsion of reality. I also don't quite understand why Macgyver hates guns but has no problem creating a bomb with cow manure. What, explosives aren't as deadly? The most unrealistic tv series that I bought is Kung Fu. I have seen a few shows in reruns but it originally aired in 1972, a few years before I was born. If you don't know the premise, it is about a half chinese, half white Shaolin Monk who is wanted in China for murder but is making his way through the American West in the 1880s searching for his half brother. In a stunning move for the time, the network cast an asian to play the lead role which would have been extremely progressive for the early 70s except when I say asian, I mean caucasian. That's right, in a show that deals with how racist people were in the late 19th century, the network booted show co-creator Bruce Lee who didn't really fit the part as a Chinese Shaolin Monk in favor for David Carradine. WTF? What is even more confusing is that during the show, people know as soon as they lay eyes on him that his character is chinese even though to us watching he looks as white as, well, David Carradine. Besides this rather HUGE discrepancy, I have to admit that I like the show. The philosophy behind it holds up even though the action scenes are a bit dated. Carradine is good in it even if his interpretation of an asian accent is to speak veeeeerrrrrryyyyy sloooooowwwwwwlllllyyyyyy. Bruce Lee wouldn't have been able to do a better job because as everyone knows, his career didn't seem to go ANYWHERE after that. That was thirty years ago and times have changed. Hollywood is a much more diverse place. Right? I am not too sure. Off the top of my head, I can name only one Asian American actor who could be considered a household name. And he hasn't done anything since The Karate Kid. (Pat Morita). I asked a few friends if they could name any Asian American actors other than naming a few actresses (Lucy Liu, Sandra Oh) they couldn't name any actors other than Chow Yun Fat or Jackie Chan. But they are Chinese actors who have managed to make the jump to American movies. Surely there has to be a few contemporary Asian American actors out there and I just can't think of them off the top of my head. Either that or perhaps we haven't come along as far as we would like to think. Easter Island
It is one of the most isolated islands in the world but 1200 years ago a double-hulled canoe filled with seafarers from a distant culture landed upon its shores. Over the centuries that followed a remarkable society developed in isolation on the island. For reasons still unknown they began carving giant statues out of volcanic rock. These monuments, known, as "moai" are some of the most incredible ancient relics ever discovered. The people of Easter Island called themselves the Rapa Nui. Where did they come from and why did they disappear?
Easter Island
It is one of the most isolated islands in the world but 1200 years ago a double-hulled canoe filled with seafarers from a distant culture landed upon its shores. Over the centuries that followed a remarkable society developed in isolation on the island. For reasons still unknown they began carving giant statues out of volcanic rock. These monuments, known, as "moai" are some of the most incredible ancient relics ever discovered. The people of Easter Island called themselves the Rapa Nui. Where did they come from and why did they disappear?
VimeoAnd yes, it supports tags.
Welcome to Vimeo! This is a site for organizing and sharing your video clips. Vimeo also makes it easy to watch your friends' video clips, or to view clips that have common subject matter.
(via kottke.org. Good luck to Jason who has quit his day job to concentrate on blogging.)
VimeoAnd yes, it supports tags.
Welcome to Vimeo! This is a site for organizing and sharing your video clips. Vimeo also makes it easy to watch your friends' video clips, or to view clips that have common subject matter.
(via kottke.org. Good luck to Jason who has quit his day job to concentrate on blogging.)
Misheard LyricsThis website catalogs songs with lyrics that can be difficult to understand. For example, The Beatles' "Across the Universe":
Misheard Lyrics:
Oh come on now, someone didn't know that John was singing "Jai guru dee va om?"Jack a roo days gone. Correct Lyrics: Jai guru dee va om. (Thanks Radmila from the Superb My2SecondShelfLife) Misheard LyricsThis website catalogs songs with lyrics that can be difficult to understand. For example, The Beatles' "Across the Universe":
Misheard Lyrics:
Oh come on now, someone didn't know that John was singing "Jai guru dee va om?"Jack a roo days gone. Correct Lyrics: Jai guru dee va om. (Thanks Radmila from the Superb My2SecondShelfLife) Monday, February 21, 2005Top Selling Books of All TimeMost people know that The Bible is the best selling book of all time but how many people know what is ranked number 2?And how is Valley of the Dolls number 10? (Thanks Michelle from the wonderful Life in the Present) Top Selling Books of All TimeMost people know that The Bible is the best selling book of all time but how many people know what is ranked number 2?And how is Valley of the Dolls number 10? (Thanks Michelle from the wonderful Life in the Present) CensorZillaHehe, I miss programming. Really!
When we created mozilla.org and released (most of) the source code to Netscape Confusicator 4.x, Netscape's lawyers made us go through a big "sanitization" process on the source code. Largely this consisted of making sure we had the legal rights to all the code we were releasing, and making sure every file had proper and accurate copyright statements; but they also made us take out all the dirty words. Specifically, "any text containing vulgar or offensive words or expressions; any text that might be slanderous or libelous to individuals and/or institutions."
CensorZillaHehe, I miss programming. Really!
When we created mozilla.org and released (most of) the source code to Netscape Confusicator 4.x, Netscape's lawyers made us go through a big "sanitization" process on the source code. Largely this consisted of making sure we had the legal rights to all the code we were releasing, and making sure every file had proper and accurate copyright statements; but they also made us take out all the dirty words. Specifically, "any text containing vulgar or offensive words or expressions; any text that might be slanderous or libelous to individuals and/or institutions."
This Godless Communism Anti-communism propaganda in comic book form. Does it get any better than this? The bio section on Marx and Lenin are especially amusing. This Godless CommunismAnti-communism propaganda in comic book form. Does it get any better than this? The bio section on Marx and Lenin are especially amusing. Star Wars Junk I actually had the C-3P0 night light. In my defense, I was only seven years old.
I'm not sure how to open this one off -- I want to claim that there's some hidden thread that connects the following forty-thousand miniature reviews of various Star Wars items, but there really isn't. What you'll be seeing in just a few moments is...well, it's just a big pile of Star Wars crap. Figural erasers, wallets, magnets, night lights -- things of the household nature. What strikes me immediately here is an understanding why us grew-up-on-Star Wars nuts became so passionate about it: it was everywhere in our lives.
Star Wars JunkI actually had the C-3P0 night light. In my defense, I was only seven years old.
I'm not sure how to open this one off -- I want to claim that there's some hidden thread that connects the following forty-thousand miniature reviews of various Star Wars items, but there really isn't. What you'll be seeing in just a few moments is...well, it's just a big pile of Star Wars crap. Figural erasers, wallets, magnets, night lights -- things of the household nature. What strikes me immediately here is an understanding why us grew-up-on-Star Wars nuts became so passionate about it: it was everywhere in our lives.
How To Crack a Master Lock Combination
I don't have one laying around so I can't try this.
I have decided that it is about time for me to share my wisdom on a grander scale. As with any form of knowledge about how the world works, this skill can be used for good or for evil. I can't say that I haven't jacked my friends' lockers numerous times, or even gotten into things I shouldn't have, but it's up to you to decide how you will use this power. There is nothing wrong with the skill itself, nothing dirty or illegal or anything like that. A lock is just a system to experiment on until we, the scientists, figure out how it works. Think of it as a challenge, with a nice reward at the end.
How To Crack a Master Lock Combination
I don't have one laying around so I can't try this.
I have decided that it is about time for me to share my wisdom on a grander scale. As with any form of knowledge about how the world works, this skill can be used for good or for evil. I can't say that I haven't jacked my friends' lockers numerous times, or even gotten into things I shouldn't have, but it's up to you to decide how you will use this power. There is nothing wrong with the skill itself, nothing dirty or illegal or anything like that. A lock is just a system to experiment on until we, the scientists, figure out how it works. Think of it as a challenge, with a nice reward at the end.
The Lenny Bruce FBI File I would like to think that this kind of stuff is ancient history, but with the way that everyone reacted to the Janet Jackson thing last year... Some audio clips of a few of his bits can be found here. The Lenny Bruce FBI FileI would like to think that this kind of stuff is ancient history, but with the way that everyone reacted to the Janet Jackson thing last year... Some audio clips of a few of his bits can be found here. Pamphelet For Illegal Mexican Migration
From the NY Times:
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 5 - The Mexican government drew fire from American advocates of tighter borders on Wednesday for publishing a pamphlet [below] that instructs migrants how to safely enter the United States illegally and live there without being detected.
You can see the pamphlet here and a loose translation of the pamphlet along with the NY Times story here.Officials here say the small booklet, illustrated in comic-book style, is not intended to encourage illegal immigration, but to reduce the loss of life. Last year, more than 300 migrants died while crossing rivers and deserts to reach the United States. Pamphelet For Illegal Mexican Migration
From the NY Times:
MEXICO CITY, Jan. 5 - The Mexican government drew fire from American advocates of tighter borders on Wednesday for publishing a pamphlet [below] that instructs migrants how to safely enter the United States illegally and live there without being detected.
You can see the pamphlet here and a loose translation of the pamphlet along with the NY Times story here.Officials here say the small booklet, illustrated in comic-book style, is not intended to encourage illegal immigration, but to reduce the loss of life. Last year, more than 300 migrants died while crossing rivers and deserts to reach the United States. Fast You have to be pretty fast to stay in the T-shirt game nowadays. For those of you who don't know what the T-shirt is referring to, check here. FastYou have to be pretty fast to stay in the T-shirt game nowadays. For those of you who don't know what the T-shirt is referring to, check here. Sunday, February 20, 2005Laws of Cartoon ThermodynamicsEleven in all.
Cartoon Law I
============= Any body suspended in space will remain in space until made aware of its situation. Daffy Duck steps off a cliff, expecting further pastureland. He loiters in midair, soliloquizing flippantly, until he chances to look down. At this point, the familiar principle of 32 feet per second per second takes over. Laws of Cartoon ThermodynamicsEleven in all.
Cartoon Law I
============= Any body suspended in space will remain in space until made aware of its situation. Daffy Duck steps off a cliff, expecting further pastureland. He loiters in midair, soliloquizing flippantly, until he chances to look down. At this point, the familiar principle of 32 feet per second per second takes over. The Brad Pitt Consolation Letter Generator
Brad Pitt is very sad right now and needs the support of his fans while he goes through his difficult and very public breakup with Jennifer Aniston. We at BFA have trie |
