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Tuesday, January 31, 2006Art Frahm
A website dedicated to studying the effects of celery on loose elastic (or more accurately, a look at some campy paintings by Art Frahm)
It is unfair to judge Art Frahm by these illustrations. He did many that were much, much worse. (And better, too.) But the falling-panty theme is a staple of his work. These pictures aren't taken from a calendar he did when hungry and desperate, chafing against the dictates of some gnomish pervert who wanted a year's worth of falling-panty pictures. These date from throughout the 50s. It's a theme to which he returned again and again - and you have to wonder why.
Related: Wikipedia's entry on Art Frahm.(Thanks Bibi for sending me something linkworthy on an otherwise non-link-friendly day) Art Frahm
A website dedicated to studying the effects of celery on loose elastic (or more accurately, a look at some campy paintings by Art Frahm)
It is unfair to judge Art Frahm by these illustrations. He did many that were much, much worse. (And better, too.) But the falling-panty theme is a staple of his work. These pictures aren't taken from a calendar he did when hungry and desperate, chafing against the dictates of some gnomish pervert who wanted a year's worth of falling-panty pictures. These date from throughout the 50s. It's a theme to which he returned again and again - and you have to wonder why.
Related: Wikipedia's entry on Art Frahm.(Thanks Bibi for sending me something linkworthy on an otherwise non-link-friendly day) How To Grow A Pineapple Indoors
With some patience, you can even grow a new pineapple from this plant. It takes about two to three years, though, and even then some plants are difficult to get to produce new fruit. However, I've searched the web and have provided below the best techniques for improving your odds of harvesting a ripe & delicious pineapple that will fill your house with its aroma. To make full-sized pineapples, the plant will ultimately need to get about six feet across and six feet tall. But, you can grow it as an interesting indoor plant and even get it to produce fruit (albeit small fruit) without letting it take over the living room
How To Grow A Pineapple Indoors
With some patience, you can even grow a new pineapple from this plant. It takes about two to three years, though, and even then some plants are difficult to get to produce new fruit. However, I've searched the web and have provided below the best techniques for improving your odds of harvesting a ripe & delicious pineapple that will fill your house with its aroma. To make full-sized pineapples, the plant will ultimately need to get about six feet across and six feet tall. But, you can grow it as an interesting indoor plant and even get it to produce fruit (albeit small fruit) without letting it take over the living room
Unclaimed Baggage CenterI hadn't heard of this place before. Unclaimed Baggage Center buys unclaimed baggage and cargo and then sells what they find. You can take a look at what they have for sale here.(via Metafilter) Unclaimed Baggage CenterI hadn't heard of this place before. Unclaimed Baggage Center buys unclaimed baggage and cargo and then sells what they find. You can take a look at what they have for sale here.(via Metafilter) Soviet Moon Images
Russian probes returned the first images of the Lunar far side and the first images from the Lunar surface. While a manned landing was never accomplished, the final phase of Soviet exploration included a number of impressive robotic missions, returning samples and roving the surface.
(Thanks PVC)Soviet Moon Images
Russian probes returned the first images of the Lunar far side and the first images from the Lunar surface. While a manned landing was never accomplished, the final phase of Soviet exploration included a number of impressive robotic missions, returning samples and roving the surface.
(Thanks PVC)Monday, January 30, 2006Sunday, January 29, 2006The Death of Grigory RasputinDamn Interesting posts about the death of the mad monk.
Dimitry and the doctor allegedly went for the car and to destroy Rasputin's coat and boots (they were not destroyed). In the meantime, Felix wanted to see Rasputin again, so he went and took another look. The body was still warm with small drops of blood coming from the wound. He lifted the body by the shirt and shook it and dropped it again to the floor. He then noticed that the left eye started to open, then the right eye. Suddenly the Rasputin leapt from the floor with a "devil's look" in his eyes and a wild cry and attacked Felix. Felix struggled for a moment and broke free. Rasputin fell again to the floor.
The Death of Grigory RasputinDamn Interesting posts about the death of the mad monk.
Dimitry and the doctor allegedly went for the car and to destroy Rasputin's coat and boots (they were not destroyed). In the meantime, Felix wanted to see Rasputin again, so he went and took another look. The body was still warm with small drops of blood coming from the wound. He lifted the body by the shirt and shook it and dropped it again to the floor. He then noticed that the left eye started to open, then the right eye. Suddenly the Rasputin leapt from the floor with a "devil's look" in his eyes and a wild cry and attacked Felix. Felix struggled for a moment and broke free. Rasputin fell again to the floor.
Friday, January 27, 2006Bush Impression
This guy does the best Bush impression I have seen since Will Ferrell. (via Robot Wisdom) Bush Impression
This guy does the best Bush impression I have seen since Will Ferrell. (via Robot Wisdom) Thursday, January 26, 2006The Flying Car Caught on Google Earth I saw this the other day but didn't blog about it because to me it didn't really look like a car but the Register has an update about the flying car. The Flying Car Caught on Google EarthI saw this the other day but didn't blog about it because to me it didn't really look like a car but the Register has an update about the flying car. Last Words From an Iraq Veteran Before Ending His LifeThe Independent ran a story on a former U.S. Army Reservist named Douglas Barber, who committed suicide last week.The story also includes an article that Douglas Barber wrote a few days before his death:
My thought today is to help you the reader understand what happens to a soldier when they come home and the sacrifice we continue to make. This war on terror has become a personal war for so many, yet the Bush administration do not want to reveal to America that this is a personal war. They want to run it like a business, and thus they refuse to show the personal sacrifices the soldiers and their families have made for this country.
(Thanks PVC)All is not OK or right for those of us who return home alive and supposedly well. What looks like normalcy and readjustment is only an illusion to be revealed by time and torment. Some soldiers come home missing limbs and other parts of their bodies. Still others will live with permanent scars from horrific events that no one other than those who served will ever understand. We come home from war trying to put our lives back together but some cannot stand the memories and decide that death is better. We kill ourselves because we are so haunted by seeing children killed and whole families wiped out. Last Words From an Iraq Veteran Before Ending His LifeThe Independent ran a story on a former U.S. Army Reservist named Douglas Barber, who committed suicide last week.The story also includes an article that Douglas Barber wrote a few days before his death:
My thought today is to help you the reader understand what happens to a soldier when they come home and the sacrifice we continue to make. This war on terror has become a personal war for so many, yet the Bush administration do not want to reveal to America that this is a personal war. They want to run it like a business, and thus they refuse to show the personal sacrifices the soldiers and their families have made for this country.
(Thanks PVC)All is not OK or right for those of us who return home alive and supposedly well. What looks like normalcy and readjustment is only an illusion to be revealed by time and torment. Some soldiers come home missing limbs and other parts of their bodies. Still others will live with permanent scars from horrific events that no one other than those who served will ever understand. We come home from war trying to put our lives back together but some cannot stand the memories and decide that death is better. We kill ourselves because we are so haunted by seeing children killed and whole families wiped out. Wednesday, January 25, 2006The Story of Henry M.Fascinating.
When twenty-seven year old Henry M. entered the hospital in 1953 for radical brain surgery that was supposed to cure his epilepsy, he was hopeful that the procedure would change his life for the better. Instead, it trapped him in a mental time warp where TV is always a new invention and Truman is forever president. The removal of large sections of his temporal lobes left Henry unable to form any new personal memories, but his tragic loss revolutionized the field of psychology and made "H.M." the most-studied individual in the history of brain research.
(via Backwards City)The Story of Henry M.Fascinating.
When twenty-seven year old Henry M. entered the hospital in 1953 for radical brain surgery that was supposed to cure his epilepsy, he was hopeful that the procedure would change his life for the better. Instead, it trapped him in a mental time warp where TV is always a new invention and Truman is forever president. The removal of large sections of his temporal lobes left Henry unable to form any new personal memories, but his tragic loss revolutionized the field of psychology and made "H.M." the most-studied individual in the history of brain research.
(via Backwards City)The Bible and HistoryWikipedia has a lengthy article on the veracity of historical references in the bible.
Genesis
The Biblical creation story, up to and including the deluge, is generally regarded as a myth by most scientists and many religious believers (i.e., non-creationists). The arguments raised come from cosmology, geology, evolution (in particular fossil evidence), and textual analysis of the Bible itself— it is argued that this evidence indicates that the described events, if taken literally, are scientifically impossible. The Bible and HistoryWikipedia has a lengthy article on the veracity of historical references in the bible.
Genesis
The Biblical creation story, up to and including the deluge, is generally regarded as a myth by most scientists and many religious believers (i.e., non-creationists). The arguments raised come from cosmology, geology, evolution (in particular fossil evidence), and textual analysis of the Bible itself— it is argued that this evidence indicates that the described events, if taken literally, are scientifically impossible. What Exactly Causes "New Car Smell"The Straight Dope takes a look.
More than 50 volatile organic compounds were found, suggesting that new-car smell was a mix of lubricants, solvents, adhesives, gasoline, and no doubt some bits from the vinyl, though it's hard to say exactly what. None of these things is necessarily good for you.
(via Information Junk)What Exactly Causes "New Car Smell"The Straight Dope takes a look.
More than 50 volatile organic compounds were found, suggesting that new-car smell was a mix of lubricants, solvents, adhesives, gasoline, and no doubt some bits from the vinyl, though it's hard to say exactly what. None of these things is necessarily good for you.
(via Information Junk)3D Star Map Crystal
The Star Map Crystal is a cosmic paperweight: a 3" glass cube laser etched with a 3D map of all stars within 5 parsecs of the sun.
(via Astronomy Blog)Whether you're an astronomer, a science fiction reader, or just like to know where you stand, this cube is essential equipment. If yours is a spacefaring civilization, you need one. 3D Star Map Crystal
The Star Map Crystal is a cosmic paperweight: a 3" glass cube laser etched with a 3D map of all stars within 5 parsecs of the sun.
(via Astronomy Blog)Whether you're an astronomer, a science fiction reader, or just like to know where you stand, this cube is essential equipment. If yours is a spacefaring civilization, you need one. Fastr - A Flickr Game
Fastr is a game that uses flickr images. It loads ten images that all share a common tag, one by one, and you guess what the tag is. When you guess right, the tag will turn blue. Then you can watch the pictures until the next set begins. The faster you guess, the more points you get.
Fastr - A Flickr Game
Fastr is a game that uses flickr images. It loads ten images that all share a common tag, one by one, and you guess what the tag is. When you guess right, the tag will turn blue. Then you can watch the pictures until the next set begins. The faster you guess, the more points you get.
Alberto Gonzales' Speech at Georgetown Bravo.
Alberto Gonzales spoke before law students at Georgetown today, justifying illegal, unauthorized surveilance of US citizens, but during the course of his speech the students in class did something pretty ballsy and brave. They got up from their seats and turned their backs to him.
To make matters worse for Gonzales, additional students came into the room, wearing black cowls and carrying a simple banner, written on a sheet. Alberto Gonzales' Speech at GeorgetownBravo.
Alberto Gonzales spoke before law students at Georgetown today, justifying illegal, unauthorized surveilance of US citizens, but during the course of his speech the students in class did something pretty ballsy and brave. They got up from their seats and turned their backs to him.
To make matters worse for Gonzales, additional students came into the room, wearing black cowls and carrying a simple banner, written on a sheet. Penn Jillette's Podcast Technically, I'm not sure if this is a podcast or just a radio show but Penn Jillette from Penn & Teller is broadcasting between 2pm and 3pm est on weekdays which you can listen to here. Penn Jillette's PodcastTechnically, I'm not sure if this is a podcast or just a radio show but Penn Jillette from Penn & Teller is broadcasting between 2pm and 3pm est on weekdays which you can listen to here. Tuesday, January 24, 2006VegasI haven't posted about Vegas much lately because I am not heading there until sometime in the Spring this year but Hanan from Grow a Brain was there last weekend and has a great post today chock full of great Vegas links.VegasI haven't posted about Vegas much lately because I am not heading there until sometime in the Spring this year but Hanan from Grow a Brain was there last weekend and has a great post today chock full of great Vegas links.Monday, January 23, 20061973 Roe V Wade Decision Comic Books Two old comic books for you. One on the legality of abortion and what you can expect during the procedure called "Abortion Eve" and the other which tells women why God owns their bodies called "Who Killed Jr." (via Screenhead) 1973 Roe V Wade Decision Comic BooksTwo old comic books for you. One on the legality of abortion and what you can expect during the procedure called "Abortion Eve" and the other which tells women why God owns their bodies called "Who Killed Jr." (via Screenhead) Stardust Webcam For those of you who can't get enough video of people in a cleanroom.
This is a live view of the Stardust Cleanroom at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The Stardust Sample Return Capsule arrived here on January 17, 2006. The time listed is in Central Standard Time (UTC - 6 hours). Image is updated every 60 seconds.
Stardust WebcamFor those of you who can't get enough video of people in a cleanroom.
This is a live view of the Stardust Cleanroom at the Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas. The Stardust Sample Return Capsule arrived here on January 17, 2006. The time listed is in Central Standard Time (UTC - 6 hours). Image is updated every 60 seconds.
n00b Creates Water Cooled System By Filling System with WaterApparently, some members on this forum convinced someone to fill their pc with water to make it run silent. I have difficulty believing anybody could be that naive but judge for yourself.
Because I had completely sealed the PC case the only opening near top was the DVD drive. So I opened that and put the small hose I had purchased specially for the job into the DVD drive as far as it would go. With what I can only describe as great excitement and anticipation, I turned on the water. It really is amazing just how long it took before the case was complete full, and boy was it heavy. That didn't really bother me as I didn't intend to be moving the PC anyway.
(via Digg)The big moment had arrived so I called in my wife and mother in law (who was visiting) and I announced "prepare to hear nothing!" and flicked the switch on the socket on the wall. Before I could even press the power button on front of the PC, with a loud bang, the whole place was plunged into darkness n00b Creates Water Cooled System By Filling System with WaterApparently, some members on this forum convinced someone to fill their pc with water to make it run silent. I have difficulty believing anybody could be that naive but judge for yourself.
Because I had completely sealed the PC case the only opening near top was the DVD drive. So I opened that and put the small hose I had purchased specially for the job into the DVD drive as far as it would go. With what I can only describe as great excitement and anticipation, I turned on the water. It really is amazing just how long it took before the case was complete full, and boy was it heavy. That didn't really bother me as I didn't intend to be moving the PC anyway.
(via Digg)The big moment had arrived so I called in my wife and mother in law (who was visiting) and I announced "prepare to hear nothing!" and flicked the switch on the socket on the wall. Before I could even press the power button on front of the PC, with a loud bang, the whole place was plunged into darkness Nixon and Arthur Burns Discuss "Goosing" the EconomyIt's good to know people in high places.
The Federal Reserve System is designed by law to insulate monetary policy from political pressures. This statutory independence frustrated Nixon during his first term when the economy showed the first signs of “stagflation” — high unemployment and inflation. Meeting with Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns in the privacy of the Oval Office, Nixon told his conservative appointee that if he was not reelected, his replacement would be a liberal who would go “hog wild.” When Nixon expressed the hope that the Gross National Product would rise, Burns made a most welcome campaign pledge.
(Thanks PVC)Nixon and Arthur Burns Discuss "Goosing" the EconomyIt's good to know people in high places.
The Federal Reserve System is designed by law to insulate monetary policy from political pressures. This statutory independence frustrated Nixon during his first term when the economy showed the first signs of “stagflation” — high unemployment and inflation. Meeting with Federal Reserve Chairman Arthur Burns in the privacy of the Oval Office, Nixon told his conservative appointee that if he was not reelected, his replacement would be a liberal who would go “hog wild.” When Nixon expressed the hope that the Gross National Product would rise, Burns made a most welcome campaign pledge.
(Thanks PVC)The 50 Most Loathsome People of 2005This is a difficult list to disagree with. For example:
33. Johnny Damon
(via Linkfilter)Charges: Any baseball player with highlights in his hair should be faced with the same penalty system applied to those using performance-enhancing steroids. It’s ruining the game. And if a ball player is going to grow a beard, it should be a Charlie Manson/Thurman Munson scraggle of bushy whiskers, not a neatly manicured and softly conditioned frame for your pretty face. The only thing that got Damon to step into line and quit hair-farming was a 52 million dollar check from the New York Yankees. Boston prayed for the multi-bladed Gillette that officially made him a Yankee to slip while gliding over his Adam’s apple and spill his lifeblood into the bathroom sink. Exhibit A: Going from the Red Sox to the Yankees is like fucking the guy that murdered your husband. Sentence: Killed by barrage of hurled D cell batteries when he takes the field at Fenway next season. The 50 Most Loathsome People of 2005This is a difficult list to disagree with. For example:
33. Johnny Damon
(via Linkfilter)Charges: Any baseball player with highlights in his hair should be faced with the same penalty system applied to those using performance-enhancing steroids. It’s ruining the game. And if a ball player is going to grow a beard, it should be a Charlie Manson/Thurman Munson scraggle of bushy whiskers, not a neatly manicured and softly conditioned frame for your pretty face. The only thing that got Damon to step into line and quit hair-farming was a 52 million dollar check from the New York Yankees. Boston prayed for the multi-bladed Gillette that officially made him a Yankee to slip while gliding over his Adam’s apple and spill his lifeblood into the bathroom sink. Exhibit A: Going from the Red Sox to the Yankees is like fucking the guy that murdered your husband. Sentence: Killed by barrage of hurled D cell batteries when he takes the field at Fenway next season. Sunday, January 22, 2006Lawsuit Targets Million Dollar HomepageI'll be curious to see how many other sleazy websites that bought space on the million dollar homepage will try to file lawsuits on similar grounds.
After being hit by a denial of service attack that downed the Million Dollar Homepage site, British student Alex Tew now faces a lawsuit from one of the advertisers on the site.
The winner of the last 1,000 pixels, which sold for US$38,100 on eBay, is threatening to sue because the Web site was offline for six days until Wednesday, the Financial Times reported in its online edition on Thursday. Eliger Kliger, owner of milliondollarweightloss.com, an online retailer of dieting products, won the auction for the advertising space last week, just before the Million Dollar Homepage succumbed to a denial of service attack. No legal action has yet been taken, but an attorney for milliondollarweightloss.com told the Financial Times he was preparing to sue over breach of contract and negligence. The main complaint is that the advertisement did not go up immediately after the auction. Lawsuit Targets Million Dollar HomepageI'll be curious to see how many other sleazy websites that bought space on the million dollar homepage will try to file lawsuits on similar grounds.
After being hit by a denial of service attack that downed the Million Dollar Homepage site, British student Alex Tew now faces a lawsuit from one of the advertisers on the site.
The winner of the last 1,000 pixels, which sold for US$38,100 on eBay, is threatening to sue because the Web site was offline for six days until Wednesday, the Financial Times reported in its online edition on Thursday. Eliger Kliger, owner of milliondollarweightloss.com, an online retailer of dieting products, won the auction for the advertising space last week, just before the Million Dollar Homepage succumbed to a denial of service attack. No legal action has yet been taken, but an attorney for milliondollarweightloss.com told the Financial Times he was preparing to sue over breach of contract and negligence. The main complaint is that the advertisement did not go up immediately after the auction. Saturday, January 21, 2006The Twelve StepsMost people have probably heard of The Twelve Steps program without knowing what the twelve steps actually are. The Twelve Steps were mostly written by Bill Wilson who along with Dr. Bob Smith founded Alcoholics Anonymous. The steps are supposedly a collection of guidelines which you follow to help regain control of your life and squash your addiction du jour.What most people probably don't realize is that The Twelve Steps read as if they are initiation exercises for entry into a cult. Let's take a look at the twelve steps from Overeater's Anonymous. The steps will be in gaudy bold and my comments will be underneath. 1. We admitted we were powerless over food — that our lives had become unmanageable. So the first step is about admitting you have a problem. It starts out fairly bleak by having you admit that you are powerless. That isn't true. You have the power everytime you make a decision. Let's move on but I am already pissed at how the first step is worded. 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. The entire list is starting to remind me of Dumbo. Remember when the crows gave Dumbo that "magical feather" so that he would have the confidence to fly? But the feather was nothing more than a placebo. I guess that's always been the allure about believing in a deity. It removes all the responsibility from your plate onto this omnipotent being who will take care of things for you. Must be nice. 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Isn't this just basically Step 2a. 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. I have nothing really to say about this one. Seems weird that you would have to do this after turning your will and life over to God but perhaps he is busy appearing on a slice of toast that will be sold on eBay. Omnipotence is not without problems. 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Hey, whatever makes you stop stuffing yourself I guess. 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Even if you buy into this, what about FREE WILL. Once again I'm remindied of Dumbo and that dumb magic feather. Dumbo could fly because he had big ears and was a cartoon, not because of the stupid feather. The power is within you to remove the defects. Damn these twelve steps are going to drive me to drink! 7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Once again, this should be 6a. You actually have to ask "Him"? Are overeaters and alcoholics such misogynists that they don't believe that God could be a woman? 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. Can sombody please explain to me how calling up someone you had a fight with fifteen years ago helps you to stop overeating? Anybody? Hellllllooooo? I didn't think so. 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. How can you read step 9 with a straight face. Make amends but for goodness sakes don't hurt them. LOL! 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. 10 fingers, 10 toes, 1 ear... no wait, 2 ears. I admit I was wrong... 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Yes yes, can't go two steps without some religious bullshit. 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive overeaters and to practice these principles in all our affairs. Everyone still have their magic feather? Good. I put this post under the category for religion because it seems to be what the twelve steps is mostly about. It isn't about helping yourself but putting all your faith in faith. Does it work? Supposedly, Alcoholics Anonymous has a 5% success rate which is so pitiful that one might want to conclude that going to an AA meeting might make you want to drink more. This post isn't to chastise people who have an addiction to something but to point out that the power comes within you, not from some spiritual placebo. Wikipedia's Entry on Twelve Steps The Real AA The Effectiveness of the Twelve-Step Treatment Update: There is one other point about the twelve steps as being a cure for addiction which I am confused about. Most of the steps involve turning yourself over to God or some form of higher power. If God helps alcoholics or people with addiction get over their problems, why don't we have Twelve Steps for cancer or Aids? Surely, if God is willing to help overeaters stop eating twinkies he can intervene for the little boy or girl who has just been diagnosed with leukemia? Hmmmm, God does indeed work in mysterious ways. (Imaginary forces are like that I guess) The Twelve StepsMost people have probably heard of The Twelve Steps program without knowing what the twelve steps actually are. The Twelve Steps were mostly written by Bill Wilson who along with Dr. Bob Smith founded Alcoholics Anonymous. The steps are supposedly a collection of guidelines which you follow to help regain control of your life and squash your addiction du jour.What most people probably don't realize is that The Twelve Steps read as if they are initiation exercises for entry into a cult. Let's take a look at the twelve steps from Overeater's Anonymous. The steps will be in gaudy bold and my comments will be underneath. 1. We admitted we were powerless over food — that our lives had become unmanageable. So the first step is about admitting you have a problem. It starts out fairly bleak by having you admit that you are powerless. That isn't true. You have the power everytime you make a decision. Let's move on but I am already pissed at how the first step is worded. 2. Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity. The entire list is starting to remind me of Dumbo. Remember when the crows gave Dumbo that "magical feather" so that he would have the confidence to fly? But the feather was nothing more than a placebo. I guess that's always been the allure about believing in a deity. It removes all the responsibility from your plate onto this omnipotent being who will take care of things for you. Must be nice. 3. Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him. Isn't this just basically Step 2a. 4. Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves. I have nothing really to say about this one. Seems weird that you would have to do this after turning your will and life over to God but perhaps he is busy appearing on a slice of toast that will be sold on eBay. Omnipotence is not without problems. 5. Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs. Hey, whatever makes you stop stuffing yourself I guess. 6. Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character. Even if you buy into this, what about FREE WILL. Once again I'm remindied of Dumbo and that dumb magic feather. Dumbo could fly because he had big ears and was a cartoon, not because of the stupid feather. The power is within you to remove the defects. Damn these twelve steps are going to drive me to drink! 7. Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings. Once again, this should be 6a. You actually have to ask "Him"? Are overeaters and alcoholics such misogynists that they don't believe that God could be a woman? 8. Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all. Can sombody please explain to me how calling up someone you had a fight with fifteen years ago helps you to stop overeating? Anybody? Hellllllooooo? I didn't think so. 9. Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others. How can you read step 9 with a straight face. Make amends but for goodness sakes don't hurt them. LOL! 10. Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong, promptly admitted it. 10 fingers, 10 toes, 1 ear... no wait, 2 ears. I admit I was wrong... 11. Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out. Yes yes, can't go two steps without some religious bullshit. 12. Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these Steps, we tried to carry this message to compulsive overeaters and to practice these principles in all our affairs. Everyone still have their magic feather? Good. I put this post under the category for religion because it seems to be what the twelve steps is mostly about. It isn't about helping yourself but putting all your faith in faith. Does it work? Supposedly, Alcoholics Anonymous has a 5% success rate which is so pitiful that one might want to conclude that going to an AA meeting might make you want to drink more. This post isn't to chastise people who have an addiction to something but to point out that the power comes within you, not from some spiritual placebo. Wikipedia's Entry on Twelve Steps The Real AA The Effectiveness of the Twelve-Step Treatment Update: There is one other point about the twelve steps as being a cure for addiction which I am confused about. Most of the steps involve turning yourself over to God or some form of higher power. If God helps alcoholics or people with addiction get over their problems, why don't we have Twelve Steps for cancer or Aids? Surely, if God is willing to help overeaters stop eating twinkies he can intervene for the little boy or girl who has just been diagnosed with leukemia? Hmmmm, God does indeed work in mysterious ways. (Imaginary forces are like that I guess) Friday, January 20, 2006How To Build a Pinball Coffee Table
This is a coffee table built from the playfield of a pinball machine. It is pretty easy to build and best of all, it lights up! It was inspired by a bar in Seattle called Shorty's, which has tables similar to these in its booths.
(via del.icio.us/koziarz)How To Build a Pinball Coffee Table
This is a coffee table built from the playfield of a pinball machine. It is pretty easy to build and best of all, it lights up! It was inspired by a bar in Seattle called Shorty's, which has tables similar to these in its booths.
(via del.icio.us/koziarz)An Open Letter to Chris MatthewsOn Hardball the other night, Chris Matthews compared Michael Moore to Osama Bin Laden. (video at Crooks and Liars):
Matthews: I mean he sounds like an over the top Michael Moore here, if not a Michael Moore. You think that sells...
Now, Bowling for Columbine wasn't the greatest of documentaries, but surely that doesn't put him in the same league as a terrorist who has killed thousands of innocent people. Right? Well?There is a blog today called To Chris Matthews which has an open letter with comments open so you can voice your opinion. An Open Letter to Chris MatthewsOn Hardball the other night, Chris Matthews compared Michael Moore to Osama Bin Laden. (video at Crooks and Liars):
Matthews: I mean he sounds like an over the top Michael Moore here, if not a Michael Moore. You think that sells...
Now, Bowling for Columbine wasn't the greatest of documentaries, but surely that doesn't put him in the same league as a terrorist who has killed thousands of innocent people. Right? Well?There is a blog today called To Chris Matthews which has an open letter with comments open so you can voice your opinion. The 3% federal excise tax on your phone bill "was imposed in 1898 to help pay for the Spanish-American War"For the love of...
NEW YORK — Some say it's absurd. According to seven federal courts, it's also illegal. But one thing is for sure: America's excise tax on phone service has soaked consumers for more than a century.
(via Kottke.org)Rep. Gary Miller, R-Calif., recently introduced legislation in the House — supported by 98 co-sponsors — aimed at repealing the tax, which was imposed in 1898 to help pay for the Spanish-American War. The war was over in six months, but the tax stayed. The general excise tax has so far cost consumers about $300 billion, says the Congressional Research Service. The entire Spanish-American War cost only about $6 billion, adjusted for inflation. AT&T says the tax is grossly unfair to consumers. "This is a 19th-century tax on a 21st-century technology," says Jim Cicconi, AT&T's general counsel. "It makes no sense, and it ought to be repealed." The 3% federal excise tax on your phone bill "was imposed in 1898 to help pay for the Spanish-American War"For the love of...
NEW YORK — Some say it's absurd. According to seven federal courts, it's also illegal. But one thing is for sure: America's excise tax on phone service has soaked consumers for more than a century.
(via Kottke.org)Rep. Gary Miller, R-Calif., recently introduced legislation in the House — supported by 98 co-sponsors — aimed at repealing the tax, which was imposed in 1898 to help pay for the Spanish-American War. The war was over in six months, but the tax stayed. The general excise tax has so far cost consumers about $300 billion, says the Congressional Research Service. The entire Spanish-American War cost only about $6 billion, adjusted for inflation. AT&T says the tax is grossly unfair to consumers. "This is a 19th-century tax on a 21st-century technology," says Jim Cicconi, AT&T's general counsel. "It makes no sense, and it ought to be repealed." The First "Computer Bug"
From the Naval Historical Center:
Moth found trapped between points at Relay # 70, Panel F, of the Mark II Aiken Relay Calculator while it was being tested at Harvard University, 9 September 1945. The operators affixed the moth to the computer log, with the entry: "First actual case of bug being found". They put out the word that they had "debugged" the machine, thus introducing the term "debugging a computer program".
Byte.com has an article about the origins of the "First Bug" which notes that the term had already been in use long before the moth from the Mark II was documented.(via digg) The First "Computer Bug"
From the Naval Historical Center:
Moth found trapped between points at Relay # 70, Panel F, of the Mark II Aiken Relay Calculator while it was being tested at Harvard University, 9 September 1945. The operators affixed the moth to the computer log, with the entry: "First actual case of bug being found". They put out the word that they had "debugged" the machine, thus introducing the term "debugging a computer program".
Byte.com has an article about the origins of the "First Bug" which notes that the term had already been in use long before the moth from the Mark II was documented.(via digg) Thursday, January 19, 2006MENSA Intelligence TestThere is no time limit for the test and I am still working on it so I'm not telling my score yet....MENSA Intelligence TestThere is no time limit for the test and I am still working on it so I'm not telling my score yet....The Brady Bunch House
Old article on the real Brady Bunch house.
In the spring of 1969, as crews were preparing to shoot the show's first episodes for a fall debut, the call went out for a suitable Brady dwelling.
Louise Weddington Carson was newly widowed, living alone in the two-bedroom house Luther B. Carson had designed and built for the couple 10 years earlier on a sprawling Valley lot. Construction of the Ventura Freeway had forced them from their previous home. It was the house's middle-class appearance that attracted the show's producers when they came around asking to make it the residence of Mike and Carol Brady, their six kids and Alice the housekeeper, recalled Carson's son, Guy Weddington McCreary. "It just had a good look to it," he said. "It symbolized California living." Series creator Sherwood Schwartz agrees. "We didn't want it to be too affluent, we didn't want it to be too blue-collar," he said. "We wanted it to look like it would fit a place an architect would live." There was just one problem: The real house was only a modest split-level while the interior set already under construction on Paramount Studios' Stage 5 in Hollywood was that of a roomy two-story structure. But Hollywood set designers came to the rescue, attaching a phony window atop Carson's house to give the appearance of a full second floor. The Brady Bunch House
Old article on the real Brady Bunch house.
In the spring of 1969, as crews were preparing to shoot the show's first episodes for a fall debut, the call went out for a suitable Brady dwelling.
Louise Weddington Carson was newly widowed, living alone in the two-bedroom house Luther B. Carson had designed and built for the couple 10 years earlier on a sprawling Valley lot. Construction of the Ventura Freeway had forced them from their previous home. It was the house's middle-class appearance that attracted the show's producers when they came around asking to make it the residence of Mike and Carol Brady, their six kids and Alice the housekeeper, recalled Carson's son, Guy Weddington McCreary. "It just had a good look to it," he said. "It symbolized California living." Series creator Sherwood Schwartz agrees. "We didn't want it to be too affluent, we didn't want it to be too blue-collar," he said. "We wanted it to look like it would fit a place an architect would live." There was just one problem: The real house was only a modest split-level while the interior set already under construction on Paramount Studios' Stage 5 in Hollywood was that of a roomy two-story structure. But Hollywood set designers came to the rescue, attaching a phony window atop Carson's house to give the appearance of a full second floor. The Golden Age of Travel Posters
Speed, style and grace — these epitomize the Golden Age of travel in its simplest form.
(via PCL Linkdump)The 1920s and 1930s ushered in an unprecedented era of travel to exotic and romantic destinations. And nowhere was this more clearly expressed than in the travel posters of that time. The Los Angeles Public Library's collection of travel posters perfectly captures this era. With this exhibition, the Library shares its bounty with the public for the first time. The Golden Age of Travel Posters
Speed, style and grace — these epitomize the Golden Age of travel in its simplest form.
(via PCL Linkdump)The 1920s and 1930s ushered in an unprecedented era of travel to exotic and romantic destinations. And nowhere was this more clearly expressed than in the travel posters of that time. The Los Angeles Public Library's collection of travel posters perfectly captures this era. With this exhibition, the Library shares its bounty with the public for the first time. Hot Dog RecipesYum.
The Hawaiian
(via Information Junk)1/2 cup diced green pepper 1/2 cup diced onion 1 tablespoon margarine 1/8 ounce can pineapple chunks 1/4 cup cider vinegar 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 large can pork and beans 6 hot dogs, sliced and diced into quarters In large skillet, saute onion and green pepper in margarine until tender. Do not burn. Woah! Don't burn! Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. Makes 4 servings. Hot Dog RecipesYum.
The Hawaiian
(via Information Junk)1/2 cup diced green pepper 1/2 cup diced onion 1 tablespoon margarine 1/8 ounce can pineapple chunks 1/4 cup cider vinegar 2 tablespoons brown sugar 2 tablespoons soy sauce 1 large can pork and beans 6 hot dogs, sliced and diced into quarters In large skillet, saute onion and green pepper in margarine until tender. Do not burn. Woah! Don't burn! Add remaining ingredients and simmer for 15 minutes. Makes 4 servings. The Book Bar
One of our non-Vestal housemates worked at the Stanford library, and his job included the task of throwing away old books, which apparently the other librarians couldn't bear to do. We decided to rescue these books from that awful fate - and what better use for them than a bar from which to entertain our frequent guests?
The Book Bar
One of our non-Vestal housemates worked at the Stanford library, and his job included the task of throwing away old books, which apparently the other librarians couldn't bear to do. We decided to rescue these books from that awful fate - and what better use for them than a bar from which to entertain our frequent guests?
I'm a Programmer, Not a Computer GuyThis is funny.
Indeed, I have had people ask me Socratic "computer questions", to which I respond quite honestly that I don't know. They often have the audacity to retort, "But I thought you were an expert?" Nope. I'm a programmer, not a computer guy.
If I'm anyone, I'm a Linux (or perhaps *NIX) guy. This distances me even further from those who think that I'm some kind of "expert", because for most folks, "expert" is equivalent to "Windows expert". They like to ask me lots of questions about their "Microsoft", as I've heard it called. I have an expert-shaking response prepared for any such inquiry: "I don't know." "What does it mean when the computer says that------" "I don't know." See. Now, it's not my intention to fire back with all the sensitivity of a postal worker who moonlights at the DMV. But that's how it has to go. Because, frankly, I really just plain old don't know. I don't do Windows. I'm a Programmer, Not a Computer GuyThis is funny.
Indeed, I have had people ask me Socratic "computer questions", to which I respond quite honestly that I don't know. They often have the audacity to retort, "But I thought you were an expert?" Nope. I'm a programmer, not a computer guy.
If I'm anyone, I'm a Linux (or perhaps *NIX) guy. This distances me even further from those who think that I'm some kind of "expert", because for most folks, "expert" is equivalent to "Windows expert". They like to ask me lots of questions about their "Microsoft", as I've heard it called. I have an expert-shaking response prepared for any such inquiry: "I don't know." "What does it mean when the computer says that------" "I don't know." See. Now, it's not my intention to fire back with all the sensitivity of a postal worker who moonlights at the DMV. But that's how it has to go. Because, frankly, I really just plain old don't know. I don't do Windows. Bush vs. GoogleFeds want Google search records
The Bush administration on Wednesday asked a federal judge to order Google Inc. to turn over a broad range of material from its closely guarded databases.
The move is part of a government effort to revive an Internet child protection law struck down two years ago by the U.S. Supreme Court. The law was meant to punish online pornography sites that make their content accessible to minors. The government contends it needs the Google data to determine how often pornography shows up in online searches. In court papers filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Justice Department lawyers revealed that Google has refused to comply with a subpoena issued last year for the records, which include a request for one million random Web addresses and records of all Google searches from any one-week period. The Mountain View-based search engine opposes releasing the information on a variety of grounds, saying it would violate the privacy rights of its users and reveal company trade secrets, according to court documents. Nicole Wong, an associate general counsel for Google, said the company will fight the government's effort ``vigorously.'' Bush vs. GoogleFeds want Google search records
The Bush administration on Wednesday asked a federal judge to order Google Inc. to turn over a broad range of material from its closely guarded databases.
The move is part of a government effort to revive an Internet child protection law struck down two years ago by the U.S. Supreme Court. The law was meant to punish online pornography sites that make their content accessible to minors. The government contends it needs the Google data to determine how often pornography shows up in online searches. In court papers filed in U.S. District Court in San Jose, Justice Department lawyers revealed that Google has refused to comply with a subpoena issued last year for the records, which include a request for one million random Web addresses and records of all Google searches from any one-week period. The Mountain View-based search engine opposes releasing the information on a variety of grounds, saying it would violate the privacy rights of its users and reveal company trade secrets, according to court documents. Nicole Wong, an associate general counsel for Google, said the company will fight the government's effort ``vigorously.'' Jury NullificationI've had jury duty twice and both times I went to the courthouse only to be dismissed before reaching the panel. (The first time everybody was dismissed and the second time the lawyers settled) This is the first time I have heard about Jury Nullification.
Jury nullification is a jury's refusal to render a verdict according to the law, as instructed by the court, regardless of the weight of evidence presented. Instead, a jury bases its judgment on other grounds. Historically, examples include the unjustness of the law, injustice of its application, the race of a party, or the jury’s own common sense.
(via Backwards City)Jury NullificationI've had jury duty twice and both times I went to the courthouse only to be dismissed before reaching the panel. (The first time everybody was dismissed and the second time the lawyers settled) This is the first time I have heard about Jury Nullification.
Jury nullification is a jury's refusal to render a verdict according to the law, as instructed by the court, regardless of the weight of evidence presented. Instead, a jury bases its judgment on other grounds. Historically, examples include the unjustness of the law, injustice of its application, the race of a party, or the jury’s own common sense.
(via Backwards City)Wednesday, January 18, 2006Making Cookies Out of Cookie Dough Ice Cream Is it possible? Pavandeep tries an experiment.
Then I wondered if it would be possible to actually make miniature cookies with the pieces of dough. Probably not, I thought. But there would be no harm in trying...
Making Cookies Out of Cookie Dough Ice CreamIs it possible? Pavandeep tries an experiment.
Then I wondered if it would be possible to actually make miniature cookies with the pieces of dough. Probably not, I thought. But there would be no harm in trying...
LA to NYCA cool time elapse video of a guy driving from LA to NYC. And of course, he spends one night in Vegas.LA to NYCA cool time elapse video of a guy driving from LA to NYC. And of course, he spends one night in Vegas.The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You DieI've never had any of these although I may have to try the one in Newport RI. Anybody have a burger from a place on this list?The 20 Hamburgers You Must Eat Before You DieI've never had any of these although I may have to try the one in Newport RI. Anybody have a burger from a place on this list?Sheet Music for Super Mario Brothers The underwater theme is a waltz that would make Strauss proud. (via Eyebeam reBlog) Sheet Music for Super Mario BrothersThe underwater theme is a waltz that would make Strauss proud. (via Eyebeam reBlog) Iraqi Invasion: A Text MisadventureHa!
Oval Office
You are standing inside a White House, having just been elected to the presidency of the United States. You knew Scalia would pull through for you. There is a large desk here, along with a few chairs and couches. The presidential seal is in the middle of the room and there is a full-length mirror upon the wall. What do you want to do now? > INVADE IRAQ You are not able to do that, yet. > LOOK MIRROR Self-reflection is not your strong suit. > PET SEAL It's not that kind of seal. Iraqi Invasion: A Text MisadventureHa!
Oval Office
You are standing inside a White House, having just been elected to the presidency of the United States. You knew Scalia would pull through for you. There is a large desk here, along with a few chairs and couches. The presidential seal is in the middle of the room and there is a full-length mirror upon the wall. What do you want to do now? > INVADE IRAQ You are not able to do that, yet. > LOOK MIRROR Self-reflection is not your strong suit. > PET SEAL It's not that kind of seal. Tuesday, January 17, 2006Artist Draws Caricature of Man Who Mugged Him
I had to check twice to see if this was from The Onion.
AFTER a burglar broke into caricaturist Bill "Weg" Green's Heathmont home on Sunday, it took the 82-year-old just seconds to draw his attacker.
Fifteen minutes later, patrolling police caught a suspect — and Mr Green's drawing proved they had the right man. Artist Draws Caricature of Man Who Mugged Him
I had to check twice to see if this was from The Onion.
AFTER a burglar broke into caricaturist Bill "Weg" Green's Heathmont home on Sunday, it took the 82-year-old just seconds to draw his attacker.
Fifteen minutes later, patrolling police caught a suspect — and Mr Green's drawing proved they had the right man. Homemade Electrocardiograph
Welcome to my web page on how to make a simple ECG (electrocardiograph - also known as an EKG). Here you will find information how how to build one with less than $10 in parts. But before we get started, let's take a moment to talk about shop safety. Be sure to read, understand, and follow all of the safety rules that come with your power tools. Knowing how ....ummmmm, sorry. I guess I got into a little New Yankee Workshop moment there. :) Anyways, I do want to talk about safety. This device requires you to strap electrodes across your chest. This is inherently dangerous. Both because of the pain caused by sticky tape pulling hairs out of a person's body and also because even small currents can kill. Do not attempt this experiment
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