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16 June, 2004

Spam King Foiled By Hormel

From Newsday: Spam king dethroned in fashion venture.

Scott Richter, the self-proclaimed Spam King who had planned to launch a clothing line based on his global status as a master of junk e-mail, has put his fashion ambitions on hold until he settles a trademark matter with the real king of Spam: meat conglomerate, Hormel.

Richter, president of Colorado e-mail marketing firm OptInBig.com, said in an e-mail yesterday that shortly after he began marketing a Spam King clothing line last month, he received a cease-and-desist letter from Hormel telling him it owned the rights to the name, Spam. Richter had just launched the line of hats, T-shirts and panties under the Spam-King and SK brand, along with edgy slogans such as "click it," and "just opt out."

At the Hormel site, unsolicited commercial mail is referred to as UCE.

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Firefox Update

This morning, I mentioned that I installed Mozilla Firefox. Now I'm reporting that I uninstalled it and went back to Firebird 0.6.

I was having some problems with it that didn't exist in Firebird. But the deal-killer was a problem with a site that I use frequently. I wasted an hour trying to figure out why Firefox wouldn't let me log in. Finally, I said screw it, and I'm back to where I was yesterday.

It's likely that my problems could be solved by someone who knows what they are doing. Or maybe not. In any case, it's not worth the effort. Firebird works fine for me. When it comes to software, newer isn't always better.

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Beyond Megapixels

Here's a good three-part series on digital cameras: Beyond Megapixels. Part I, Part II, and Part III.

With spring has come the release of several new 8 megapixel "prosumer" digital cameras. These new "digicams" sport the latest optics, metering, focusing systems and of course, sensor resolution. I would contend, however that in many cases the limitations imposed by capturing 8 million pixels on a 2/3" size sensor negate the assumed advantages of increased pixel output. There just might be more to look for when selecting your next camera than the number of megapixels listed in the specifications.

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Road Maps

Here's a site devoted to Road Maps.

From its beginnings, automobile art proclaimed the freedom and adventure, which were offered by the motor car. The mythic qualities of the open road allowed city dwellers access to the wilds of Nature. Rustic scenes and relic places awaited "rediscovery" and exploration through the magic of the modern motor car.

Inspired by such adventurously romantic imagery, the American road map soon took form.

(via She Just Wanted To Blend In)

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Rent A Jerk

If you need a jerk, but you don't want to buy one, try Rent A Jerk.

If you're a jerk, looking for a job, here's some bad news from the FAQ:

Q. I want to be a professional jerk too! Are you hiring?

A. No, we are not hiring right now but keep checking our site because sometimes we do need help and we'll put a small notice on the site.

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Cousin Couples

Further proof that there's a Web site for everything: Cousin Couples.

This interactive site is for those romantically involved with their cousin. This site is dedicated to providing support and factual information, as well as to foster friendships from around the world.

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Antarctica Place Names

Here's a list of unusual place names in Antarctica, compiled by Aaron Spitzer.

You'll find names such as Exasperation Inlet, Noxious Bluff, Shiver Point, Pudding Peak, and The Pimple.

(via Vitamin Q)

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Changes At Boing Boing

Boing Boing has a new look.

Welcome to the new and improved Boing Boing, now with sponsors! Seriously, there's nothing wrong with your set. The only real difference you'll find on the page, besides a cleaner design, is the addition of those small ad boxes on the sides. We've decided to accept a limited amount of advertising so that we can cover our costs and dedicate more cycles to what we love -- finding and posting things that we find interesting, curious, and, of course, wonderful.

It's now one of those three-column blogs, with the content in the middle column. Here's a fun trick: Make your browser very narrow until you get one word of content per line. The ads remain visible, however.

Boing Boing has never been one of the more attractive-looking blogs. And the changes certainly don't help. The good news is that Boing Bong's RSS feed includes all of the site's content and no ads (yet).

Posted on 16 June, 2004

When Life Imitates A Cartoon

From CNN: Truck hauling bees crashes in Montana.

A tractor-trailer overturned on a curve on a highway, spilling its load of hundreds of bee hives and unleashing some nine million angry honey bees.

It's not really funny, but it does seem like a plot from a cartoon.

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Running Firefox

I finally got around to installing Firefox. It works fine, although I haven't really noticed anything new. The only things I had to do to customize it were:

• Install the Flash plug-in
• Import my bookmarks (after exporting them from Firebird)
• Install the Tabbrowser Extension (which I've gotten so used to that I can't work without it).

The only annoying thing is that I have to re-enter all of my usernames and passwords (which were remembered automatically in Firebird).

It must be a good browser. Even Microsoft employees use it.

Posted on 16 June, 2004

An Alchemy Lab

Here's the site for Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab.

At the Lab, we specialize in formulating intriguing, compelling body and household blends with a dark, romantic Gothic tone. Our scents run the aesthetic gamut of magickal, pagan and mythological blends, Renaissance, Medieval and Victorian formulas, and horror / Gothic-themed scents. By utilizing our knowledge of homeopathy and aromatherapy, the conceptual theories of hermetic alchemy, and the aesthetic artistry of perfumery, we have mastered the art of encapsulating allegorical ideas into singular olfactory experiences.

Kudos to the copywriters for this site.

(via Sarcasmo's Corner -- who ordered some samples)

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Cell Phone Chair

A chair for cell phone users who want privacy: Silence.

Silence is an easy chair designed for the undisturbed use of your mobile phone. The panes at the sides cause transparency without disturbing the user's privacy. The sound enters and leaves the "phone box" reduced, so that this easy chair is outstandingly good suitable for visitors of open-plan offices or for the entrance area.

(via Gizmodo)

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Dr. Dylan,

From CNN: Scottish doctorate for Bob Dylan.

Scotland's oldest university announced Wednesday that it was awarding an honorary doctorate to the laureate of folk-rock, Bob Dylan.

The University of St. Andrews said Dylan would be made an honorary doctor of music at its summer graduation ceremony on June 23.

That makes two degrees. He also got one from Princeton University in 1970.

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Customized Shower

People will pay $120,000 for a completely personalized shower.

Now you can commission your very own custom-designed SilverTAG Shower (after the aforementioned Hollywood producer, for whom it was first made), but be prepared to shell out $120,000 and have each of your body parts individually measured.

The SilverTAG Shower uses and reinterprets traditional European hydrotherapies, including varying temperatures and pressure, to simulate the feeling of showering under a waterfall and other cardio-gymnastic effects. It's 100 percent customized for each client's body shape and size. The design also takes into account recurring areas of tension and/or discomfort and overall stress level.

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Arguing About Religion

People may find this either funny or helpful: How to argue religion.

Truth has very little to do with winning a religious argument. The real victor of the consecrated-contest is the one who appears to be the most spiritual, the most rational, and the most insightful. As a contestant, your goal is to make yourself look good at the expense of all others.

For example, Technique #2: Assert Spiritual Supremacy:

Since the subject at hand is a religious one, there are likely to be areas that transcend common human reasoning, such as areas of faith and spirituality. Here is where you can really gain an advantage. If you can convince the spectators that you are more spiritually advanced than your opponents, half the battle is won. Instead of saying, "I think" or "It seems to me," use phrases such as "God revealed this truth to me," or "I entered a new level of spiritual understanding when I finally realized this reality." If your opponents disagree, just give a condescending look and say, "I understand. We are all at different levels of spiritual growth."

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Spam Mimic

Now here's a good idea: Spam Mimic.

There are terrific tools (like PGP and GPG) for encrypting your mail. If somebody along the way looks at the mail they can't understand it. But they do know you are sending encrypted mail to your pal.

The answer: encode your message into something innocent looking.

And what's more innocent-looking than spam?

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Body Mods

By Joseph Robertson: 10 Body Mods I'd like to See. For example, he's like to see a volume control for ears.

Punk concert too loud? Just pretend you're scratching your ear and discreetly turn the volume on it down. Can't hear what you co-worker is saying about you while you're standing in the next cubicle? Just crank it up (and hope someone doesn't slam a file cabinet drawer).

I'd like to see retractable legs. That would make plane travel comfortable.

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Self-Cleaning Clothes?

Does this signal the end of the laundromat? From Nature: Clothes launder own fabric.

Scientists have invented an efficient way to coat cotton cloth with tiny particles of titanium dioxide. These nanoparticles are catalysts that help to break down carbon-based molecules, and require only sunlight to trigger the reaction. The inventors believe that these fabrics could be made into self-cleaning clothes that tackle dirt, environmental pollutants and harmful microorganisms.

Posted on 16 June, 2004

Jim Giles For Congress

Do you think this moron will get elected to Congress?

I'm running for Mississippi's third congressional district as an Independent. I want to go to Washington and represent White People. I want to bring ALL our troops home from Iraq NOW. Will you vote for me?

You and I live in a world dominated by politicians, preachers and police. They are the 3 Ps of power. Like a man told me recently, "Diversity hasn't worked." In spite of this fact the politicians, preachers and police keep pushing it. There is no such thing as racial equality. The races are not equal. If you think so you're either a crook or an idiot.

Posted on 16 June, 2004