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13 September, 2004
Bush Vs. Jesus
From Mad Magazine: Bush Vs. Jesus.
The Bush campaign's TV commercial if he was running against Jesus.
(snagged from Eschaton)
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Snooze Alarms
The topic of snooze alarms came up twice in two days. Most recently, I read this thread at the Fender Discussion Page: Why do alarm clocks have a 9 minute snooze?
I don't use an alarm clock anymore -- I usually get up when the sun is about to peek over the mountains. But, for some reason, I'm curious about snooze alarms. So I guess it's time for a poll.
Posted on 13 September, 2004
The Copyright Era
An interactive presentation by Adriana de Barros: Freedom of Expression in the Copyright Era.
Posted on 13 September, 2004
David Shrigley
Scotland-based David Shrigley is an artist who has an interesting Web site (I really like the navigation).
Shown here is a photo called Potato Skull.
(via Bifurcated Rivets)
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Online Dating
A "safer" online dating service: True.
- Criminal Background Checks
All members who contact you are screened through the U.S.'s largest criminal database. - Married People Will Be Prosecuted
Because we care, we screen members against public records to check marital status.
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Answers To Some Questions
These questions were submitted to Ask J-Walk.
JBB: How do you find such interesting sites to list on your blog, and how much time do you spend finding them?
I'm just an efficient Web surfer and I know where to go to find the good stuff. Lately, I've been spending too much time with the blog. It's turning into my main source of amusement.
David Chapman: Why Tucson?
We both like the desert and housing is very affordable (compared to San Diego). Plus, Tucson isn't as crowded and you can actually do things here without having to be concerned with parking and crowds.
Jody Cairns: When you pick up a new guitar, what's the first song you tend to play on it?
If it's an acoustic guitar, I'll play some blues in E. If it's an electric guitar, I'll play some blues licks in A. If it's a classical guitar, I'll plays some Am stuff. Don't ask me why. That's just what I do.
max: You're an expert VBA coder....what's your take on .NET and how it will impact what you (and others) do for a living?
I know nothing about .NET. Absolutely nothing. I have no idea how it will affect what I do for a living. I have no interest in learning it, so I may be looking for a new career at some point in the future.
cookie: I've been trying FOREVER to get onto WWR ... don't know what I'm doing wrong ... any ideas about who to email to describe what happens when I try.
First, try this link. If you still have no luck, go to the WWR chat room as a guest. For best results, go at a time when there are lots of people there (12:00 noon, US west coast time is a good choice). Then describe what happens when you click the "listen" link. There's an excellent chance that somebody will be able to help you out.
Shallow: A pretty standard question for me: what was the happiest day of your life?
I have no idea. I can barely remember yesterday.
John: Do you have any advice for an aspiring writer? I would like to write an article for a magazine and maybe even a book someday. How can a new writer get published by a magazine or commercial web site (just looking to get published and not necessarily make money)?
Probably a good place to start is by writing stuff for the Web. Either at your own site, or at another site. I'm sure that there are lots of sites that would be glad to acquire some good content for free. Then, once you've built up a sample of writings, send a query letter to a magazine and tell them what you would like to write and why you are qualified to write it. Put it in the form of a mini-proposal, no more than one-page long. Start with lesser known publications, and then work your way up.
Keep in mind that I have no idea what I'm talking about. I just made this up. Things have changed a lot since I started publishing articles. But my advice seems reasonable.
Andrew: What did you want to be when you were a kid?
It was a toss-up: either a garbage collector or a baseball player.
Posted on 13 September, 2004
The Living Mannequin
If you ever need a guy who can stand very still for a long period of time, hire the Mannequin-Man. From the FAQ:
The
Actor will take on the typical pose of a mannequin, and stand motionless for
long periods. This usually takes place in public areas, typically exhibitions,
shopping centres. Some performers can suppress blinking for periods in excess of
ten minutes. It is a type of performance art, and is very popular a shopping
centres and busy streets in most of the main capital cities of the World.
As you can see in the photo, a living mannequin is also useful as a CPR dummy.
(via The Cartoonist)
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Superpup
In 1958, there was a children's show called The Adventures of Superpup.
At that time, I was certainly a member of the target demographic, yet I don't remember it. Does anybody?
(via Waxy.org)
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Happy Birthday Presurfer
The Presurfer is 55 years old today. Happy birthday, fellow link blogger.
Fifty years ago, he was twice as old as I was.
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Christian Rock
The ongoing debate: Christian Rock: Blessing or Blasphemy?
Before I was saved, rock music was my life. A former rock guitarist, (and yes, I still play the guitar) I know the love for rock music people have. But I also know the source and effects of rock music. I have spent thousands of hours researching rock music.
Music is very important in the spiritual life of a child of God. And the wrong music can spiritually destroy the child of God.
He doesn't care much for Johnny Cash:
Johnny Cash gets the award for the biggest sellout since Judas Iscariot. Johnny's latest album is on the American (formerly Def American) record label owned by Rick Rubin. Rubin also is the producer for Cash's album. Rubin is also the producer and American is the home for Slayer, Danzig, Black Crowes, Red Hot Chili Peppers, et al. The group Danzig's logo is a picture of a demon strangling the Lord Jesus Christ while blood is coming out of Jesus's bulging eyes! Inside Danzig's album, Lucifuge, shows Glenn Danzig wearing the cross of Jesus Christ - upside down - with a demon's head in the middle of the cross. Boldly written at the top is part of John 8:44 "Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do.". Glenn Danzig is a hard-core satanist. To show his utter hatred for Jesus Christ, one of his songs is titled "Snakes of Christ". Now you want to hear the unbelievable? Not only did Johnny Cash record a song on American label produced by ome Rubin - but on the album he sings a song written by satanist Glenn Danzig! The name of the song? You guessed it - Thirteen! If you know your Bible, you know the number thirteen is connected with sin and the devil!
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Beer Cars
A site devoted to model train beer cars: The H.O. Beer Car Collectors Website.
(via Jaf Project)
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Monkeys In The Slammer
In Punjab, they're tough on monkeys: Doing hard time in monkey jail.
The
thief threatened children with bricks and ripped the buttons off shirts. He
stole tomatoes from one home and snatched bread from another. Down the street,
he briefly fled with a differential equations book and beat a calculator with
his fist.
He was one bad monkey. And last week he was sentenced to life in prison for his crimes, inmate No. 13 at the country's only known monkey jail, where very bad monkeys are sent to live out their remaining years.
Posted on 13 September, 2004
A Few Charts
Four economic charts that span 1989 - 2004: Are You Better Off Now Than You Were Four Years Ago?
Posted on 13 September, 2004
StreetSpeak
If you can't talk the talk, who'll notice if you walk the walk? My advice, learn some street speak: Strafe's Guide to StreetSpeak.
...defining some of the cooler and more esoteric words being used by the hipper of the Bay Area's cyberati.
(via MonkeyFilter)
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Harnessing Hamster Energy
If you've ever had a hamster, you know that they usually stay up all night running on a wheel. Let that hamster earn its keep: Hamster-Powered Night Light.
The Otherpower.com staff thought of building a hamster-powered nightlight a couple years ago at a rather, uh, soused company Christmas party. Then recently Analise, an 8th grader from Albuquerque, NM, contacted DanF through the AllExperts.com Science For Kids forum, asking 'Can a rodent generate enough electricity to power a light by running on it's wheel?' That was enough inspiration for us to start the project, and we soon added Skippy the Hamster to the Otherpower.com payroll.
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Google Yourself
From ZDNet: Why you should Google yourself -- and often.
To see what the Internet knows about you, start by going to the Google site or by using the Google toolbar. Next, either type your name in quotations or, for a more refined search, type intext: (intext with a colon) immediately followed by your name in quotes. Now type your address or phone number, and Google may turn up a church or a social group directory listing. If this doesn't surprise or outrage you, type into Google your social security number or credit card numbers.
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Make Your Own Underwear
For it do-it-yourself types: How to make underwear.
Even when you would like to have these underwear, you cannot get maybe. Why not make one by your own?
I show how to make basic boxers and bikinis. You apply it to elegant undergarments.
It seems easy enough.
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Gorey Details
This site is probably more appropriate for the Halloween season: Gorey Details.
I liked the Haunted Portraits section. Shown here is Aunt Sarah.
The portraits cost $150 each, but they aren't just any portraits (see the Web site for an animation).
The portrait changes depending on your perspective. For example, if you stand still, it does not change at all. But when you walk past it, either left to right or right to left, you will see it animatedly morph into a ghastly creature of the night.
It's an amazing effect, which must be seen in person to be truly appreciated! (or un-appreciated if you weren't expecting it!)
Posted on 13 September, 2004
Visual Basic Changes
Attention Visual Basic programmers: VB adds Ain't Keyword.
Microsoft has announced that Visual Basic will add the "Ain't" keyword to the language. According to a source on the VB.NET team "With VB, we want the language to work the way you think. Extensive usability studies have demonstrated to us the benifit of adding Ain't to the language."
Addition of the keyword would allow such syntax as
If ThisThing Ain't Nothing Then
According the source "We're just trying to keep up with advances in the English language which, as you know, is changing almost as fast as technology itself."
(via John Beardsworth)
Posted on 13 September, 2004