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10 November, 2004
Joseph Seigenthaler
The figurative work of Chicago artist Joseph Seigenthaler. The collection of Noggins is excellent.
And don't overlook the Animations.
(via Burp)
Posted on 10 November, 2004
The Turbo-Encabulator
This is fascinating: The Turbo-Encabulator in Industry.
For a number of years now, work has been proceeding to bring perfection to the crudely conceived idea of a machine that would not only supply inverse reactive current for use in unilateral phase detractors, but would also be capable of automatically synchronizing cardinal grammeters. Such a machine is the "turbo-encabulator." Basically, the only new principle involved is that instead of power being generated by the relative motion of conductors and fluxes, it is produced by the medial interaction of magneto-reluctance and capacitive directance.
If you don't understand what that means, I suggest that you watch the video. No, really. Watch it. I mean it.
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Public Apologies
A huge (and growing) collection of photos: Sorry Everybody.
Some of us -- hopefully most of us -- are trying to understand and appreciate the effect our recent election will have on you, the citizens of the rest of the world. As our so-called leaders redouble their efforts to screw you over, please remember that some of us -- hopefully most of us -- are truly, truly sorry. And we'll say we're sorry, even on the behalf of the ones who aren't.
I think every 49% of all blogs are linking to this site, so it's pretty slow.
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Free Personality Profile
Find out all about yourself with the this free personal profile. Here are just a few things I learned about myself:
- My Tarot Card is The Chariot: Victory through might. Advancement through bold action. Change through force. Order established through vigilance. A trying situation mastered by balancing opposing forces against each other. Discipline, individual effort and endurance will turn the tide.
- My Rune is Algiz: Algiz can be easily recognized as the antlers of the elk that it represents. The elk can represent victory, but is much more appropriately associated with the thrill of the hunt itself.
- A few of my Birth Mates: Andrew Carnegie, Aretha Franklin, Barbara Streisand, Bob Dylan, Cindy Crawford, Douglas MacArthur, Elizabeth Taylor,
- Words that embody my presence: "Birth, City, Idiot, Moon, Risk, Rose, Shark, Shield, Sleep, Snare, Vaccine, Wood".
I didn't think it was very accurate until I saw that reference to idiot.
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Too Late For The Silver Dollars
Remember those "Freedom Tower Silver Dollars" I mentioned in
September? If you snooze,
you lose. That scam offer is no
longer available.
Their Web site states:
NATIONAL COLLECTOR'S MINT is building a new and more exciting web site. Please visit us again soon.
And also this:
WE ARE TEMPORARILY PROHIBITED BY A COURT ORDER FROM ACCEPTING ANY ORDERS FOR THE '2004 FREEDOM TOWER SILVER DOLLAR'.
Details here: Court: Sept. 11 'silver dollar' ads deceptive.
A state Supreme Court judge ruled the National Collector's Mint Inc., based in Port Chester, N.Y., engaged in civil offenses of fraud, false advertising, and deceptive business practices in selling its "2004 Freedom Tower Silver Dollar." The company claimed each coin was a "legally authorized government issue silver dollar ... struck to commemorate the World Trade Center and the new Freedom Tower being erected in its place ... Most importantly, each coin has been created using .999 pure silver recovered from ground zero!"
The total value of the metal used: less than $0.015.
(Thanks Priveye)
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Celebrity Soundboards
I've probably linked to this in the past, but I just re-found it: A Collection of Celebrity Soundboards. Just something else that will make your office-mates wish you were fired.
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Asleep In Japan
A collection of photos that show Japanese business men sleeping.
I want to tell you how much Japanese business man is tired.
I have experience to work in other countries. So I know how hard Japanese business man work comparing with American people, Chinese people and Thailand people.
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Something To Listen To
Almost every weekday, Jim Kloss does an hour "rant" on Whole Wheat Radio.
Sometimes it's good, sometimes it's just OK. Yesterday, his rant was the best
I've ever heard. It wasn't really a rant -- just a very entertaining 59 minutes.
I'll give it a 9.84.
Download it here.
A strange guy named "Jim" came in and replaced "Jimbob". The result was a better-than-average Rant. Lots of audience participation and very little potty or poddy talk. Esther was there too!
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Get Relaxed
Sounds and photos that are supposed to reduce your stress level: Get Relaxed.
The nature sounds might do the job, but the Construction sounds and Alarm Clock just don't do it for me.
(Thanks John Wilson)
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Thinking Machine
Here's a chess game that lets you see how it's thinking: Thinking Machine 4.
(Thanks Jim)
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Eliminating Intelligent Customers
From the Wall Street Journal: Analyzing Customers, Best Buy Decides Not All Are Welcome.
Brad Anderson, chief executive officer of Best Buy Co., is embracing a heretical notion for a retailer. He wants to separate the "angels" among his 1.5 million daily customers from the "devils."
Best Buy's angels are customers who boost profits at the consumer-electronics giant by snapping up high-definition televisions, portable electronics, and newly released DVDs without waiting for markdowns or rebates.
The devils are its worst customers. They buy products, apply for rebates, return the purchases, then buy them back at returned-merchandise discounts. They load up on "loss leaders," severely discounted merchandise designed to boost store traffic, then flip the goods at a profit on eBay. They slap down rock-bottom price quotes from Web sites and demand that Best Buy make good on its lowest-price pledge. "They can wreak enormous economic havoc," says Mr. Anderson.
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Discarded Sweaters
It's the Kevin F. Sherry Sweater Project.
My friend Kevin recently cleaned out his wardrobe, which, due to his pack rat nature, was crammed with clothes he hadn't worn in more than a decade. Among the discarded were 25 sweaters that can generously be described as "hideous." Or, as one critic put it, "Bill Cosby would not wear this."
You can view a photo of Kevin modeling each discarded sweater. This one may have shrunk a bit.
(via Pop Culture Junk Mail)
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Wedding Announcements Blog
A blog about wedding announcements: Veiled Conceit.
A glimpse into that haven of superficial, pretentious, pseudo-aristocratic vanity: The NY Times' Wedding And Celebration Announcements
Pretty funny stuff. Here's an observation based an an announcement titled "Ogden "Dinny" Phipps II has wed."
I'm going to go out on a limb and guess that Dinny's rich. Why am I risking my neck on such a gamble? Well, his first name is "Ogden," a name only the wealthy would continue using. Also, he has a numerical notation in his name, which helps. No "Juniors" here.
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Large-Type Keyboard
A keyboard for those among us who can't see very well -- or for those who use a computer in dark places: VisiKey.
Our Enhanced Visibility Lettering System (patent pending) is rated at 20/300 on the Snellen Visual Acuity Scale. Most conventional keyboards are rated at 20/70.
(via Engadget)
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Spreadsheet Blunders
The European Spreadsheet Risks Interest Group has compiled a list of 56 spreadsheet problems that have made the news. Here's an example:
I was entering grades in an Excel spreadsheet and realized that although in my notes I had a mix of A's and A-'s, the spreadsheet had changed all the A grades to A-'s. Why? I was entering grades looking at my notes and not the screen. So I typed A- followed by ENTER, then A at which point Excel suggested A- as a possible input. Without looking I pressed ENTER, thus entering A- instead of A. This only works if the longer input precedes the shorter in the original list (i.e., the list you are typing from), since if there is ambiguity about the suggestion, Excel shuts up.
(via Automate Excel)
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Bottled Holy Water
For believers who want to cleanse their souls AND quench their thirst: Bottled Holy Water!
Holy
Spring Water is 100% pure natural spring water, that tastes great and has been
blessed by a Monk, a Catholic Priest, as well as Holy Shaman. Holy Spring water
washes away the sins of anyone feeling "less then saintly".
Try our Holy Spring Water, You'll immediately fell refreshed and redeemed-your satisfaction is guaranteed.
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Joyce, A Page A Day
If you've always wanted to read Ulysses, by James Joyce, this is your big opportunity: James Joyce's Ulysses: One Page Every Day.
In honor of the 100th anniversary of the date that Ulysses is set, this lauded book is being presented here page by page starting with page one on Bloomsday, June 16, 2004 ending with the last page on June 14, 2006.
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Yogi On Jazz
At All About Jazz: Yogi Berra Explains Jazz.
Interviewer: Can you explain jazz?
Yogi: I can't, but I will. 90% of all jazz is half improvisation. The other half is the part people play while others are playing something they never played with anyone who played that part. So if you play the wrong part, its right. If you play the right part, it might be right if you play it wrong enough. But if you play it too right, it's wrong.
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Snowman Paint
What a dumb idea: Sno-Paint.
Paint
the snow with 8 bright colors! Sno-Paint combines creative play and outdoor fun.
Simply mix color packets with warm water in snowman- shaped, easy-to-hold
bottles. Paint snowmen, greetings, walkways, snow sculpture or put a name on
your snow fort!
I'll bet that looks just great when the snow melts and colors all run together.
(via Mighty Goods)
Posted on 10 November, 2004
AOL Splits
I need a new category called "Who Cares." This would go there: AOL to Be Split Into Four Units. The units are Audience, Access, AOL Europe, and Digital Services.
A commenter at Slashdot had a better idea for the four AOL units:
- Coaster distribution - responsible for loading landfills with non-biodegradable chunks of worthless plastic. Of course, a lot of these discs should be distributed with PC magazines, which are read by people who should already know better than to use AOL.
- Moron recruitment - Dedicated to finding the dumbest of the dumb and encouraging them to POST IN ALL CAPS on every forum imaginable. They also believe that they can enlarge their m3mb3r easily for only $19.95
- Customer Leaking - Maintains all customer data on Windows 95 machines without a firewall. This benefits the consumer because they do not have to type in their credit card number -- it is already all over the web!
- Browser development - This company will spend a lot of money developing browsers which AOL will never even use.
Posted on 10 November, 2004
Ashcroft Quits
News: Bush's Attorney General quits.
U.S. Attorney General John Ashcroft, a lightning rod of criticism by civil liberties groups for his anti-terror policies after the September 11 attacks and who once even ordered the robing of two partially nude statues in his department, has resigned.
His work is finished:
"The safety of Americans from crime and terror has been achieved."
Posted on 10 November, 2004