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23 November, 2004

Posting Comments

I made a change to the way comments are posted here: Everyone will be required to preview their comment before it is submitted. After you type your comment, the only button you'll see is "Preview." Click that button, and then you'll see the "Submit" button. Click it, and the comment gets posted.

Hopefully, this will reduce the amount of automated comment spam (the type that can't be blocked with IP address banning).

This has not been tested thoroughly, so let me know if you have any problems.

Update: OK, that didn't work. I'll keep working on it. Meanwhile, the old way of posting comments is back.

Another Update: I think it's working now. It's a bit more inconvenient, but it will probably reduce the number of badly formed URLs that are posted too.

Yet Another Update:The Remember Me option does not work. I'm working on it.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Grilled Turkey?

I just read this article about grilling a turkey. I've deep fried a few turkeys, but I've never grilled one.

Sounds like a good idea to me. Any advice?

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Fashion For Men

Here's a preview of Spring 2005 Men's Fashion from style.com.

Gentlemen, start saving your money. There's some exciting stuff coming up! These should go nicely with my ZZ Top beard.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Junkyard Jewels

Diecast replicas of beat up old cars: Junkyard Jewels.

This ultra realistic 1/18 scale 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air can be yours for $125.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

How To Be Antisocial

Advice on how to be antisocial: Mad Sophist's guide to avoiding people in class.

Let me just try to explain why I avoid talking to people in my class. Generally I am not adverse to the odd conversation, especially when inebriated. The people in my class however are insipid, self assured, banal and generally un interesting.... as are 95% of the general population. There is nothing I hate more than listening to someone rant about their boring existence whilst I pretend to be interested.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Textbook Disclaimers

Here are some textbook disclaimer stickers. The page has 15 disclaimers. One of them is real. This one isn't (yet):

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Detouching

Another installment of Worth 1000's Detouching.

They all look soooooooo perfect by the time their pics get to the pages of the magazines, but we, being photoshoppers, know they didn't start out that way. They've got lines and wrinkles and blotches and pimples just like the rest of us do, and now is your chance to tell the truth- detouch those airbrushed photos and show those shiny perfect people in all their hairy, average glory.

Here's Tom Brokaw before the network makeup artists do their thing.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

You Asked J-Walk

Time to answers some questions submitted to Ask J-Walk.

Jeff: This has been happening to me a lot lately. I'm walking on a crowded street. A stranger is walking toward me. We are on target to collide. We're a few feet from each other. In synch, he moves to his right, I move to my left. Then he moves to his left, and I move to my right. This "dance" goes back and forth for a few seconds until we figure out a way to pass each other. Why does this happen? What is it called? Why hasn't Nicholson Baker written a whole book about this?

Yeah, that happens a lot. If it doesn't have an official name, it should. Baker has been known to read this blog, so maybe he'll pick up on this idea. It would make a good book.

Gee: I was wondering...do you dump very many comments?

No, not really. Just those that contain too many obscenities, those that are way off topic, and those that are self-promoting. And, of course, the comment spam --which has been rampant in the past 24 hours.

Fritz: I wonder what percentage of JWalk readers do most of their JWalk reading while at work?

I don't know, but I think the majority of readers do so at work. That would explain why the number of visitors goes way down on the weekends.

Drastik: I'm a copywriter in Bucharest and I would appreciate some help from you, as a person living in the USA. How do you call those coin operated mechanical animals you could find in front of stores? Those horses/elephants/cars that you put your child on and let him rock back and forth? I need to find out this for a job project and no dictionary has been of help so far.

I don't know, but I'm sure someone will reply with the official name for those things. If I were in charge, I'd call them "coin-operated mechanical rides." At this site, they're called "Kiddie rides."

Wilma: I tried to get on the personal web site for the animals painted on hands, but it no longer exists . Where can I find more of these?

Using Google Image Search (for painted hands) I found these three. But I think the original site had more than that. Oh yeah, and then there's this site.

Shallow: Ok, why do you prefer Ask J-Walk questions via e-mail rather than in posted comments like it used to be?

It's primarily for my convenience -- that way I don't have to go through the effort of deleting the comments after I answer the questions. Also, it enables me to make up questions if I want. Not that I'd do that...

Jane Doe: J-Walk, how come you're so handsome and talented?

Good Genes, Jane.

Jerry: How do you manage your bookmarks? I, myself, do it with Yahoo bookmark, but it limits to 1000 links.

I have a custom home page for my browser. It has about 50 links that I use on a regular basis. Other than that, this blog is my bookmark list. Everything that I find interesting and may want to refer back to is here. I just do a quick search and I find it.

lee: please can you tell me if your tv b gone switches off tvs say not in the same room as you, if it does i would really like to buy one if not what is the closest you have to be to turn the tv off, do you have to point the thing direct at the tv to turn it off, please help me, thanks for listerning.

I'm always amazed at the number of people who think that I'm responsible for everything they see here. But I'm always impressed with their grammar and spelling

Godzulla: Your site is Great. Can I link to it profusely!

Yes you can.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Snow On The Mountains

For the historical record... This season, the first snow appeared on the Catalina Mountains on the 22nd of November.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Turkey Alternative

If you're having, say, 80-100 people over for Thanksgiving dinner, consider this recipe: Whole Stuffed Camel.

Here's the list of ingredients:

1 whole camel, medium size
1 whole lamb, large size
20 whole chickens, medium size
60 eggs
12 kg rice
2 kg pine nuts
2 kg almonds
1 kg pistachio nuts
110 gallons water
5 lbs black pepper
salt

(via The Presurfer)

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Toilet Paper Crisis

From Times Online: Soft, strong but a long time to go away - how loo paper puts a strain on the system.

The pampered posteriors of Britain's bathrooms are placing an increasing strain on plumbers as ever-kinder toilet tissues block up the nation's drains.

With households preparing to buy bulk supplies for relatives who will descend over Christmas, a timely warning emerges of the hidden dangers posed by lavatory decadence.

A 10 per cent rise in emergency call-outs to unblock toilets is being blamed on the increasing time that it takes for tissue to disintegrate after flushing. In the first six months of this year, more than 35,000 toilets had to be unblocked.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Turn Your Back

A new movement: Turn Your Back On Bush.

On January 20th, 2005, we're calling for a new kind of action. The Bush administration has been successful at keeping protesters away from major events in the last few years by closing off areas around events and using questionable legal strategies to outlaw public dissent. We can use these obstacles to develop new tactics. On Inauguration day, we don't need banners, we don't need signs, we don't need puppets, we just need people.

We're calling on people to attend inauguration without protest signs, shirts or stickers. Once through security and at the procession, at a given signal, we'll all turn our backs on Bush's motorcade and continue through his speech and swearing in. A simple, clear and coherent message.

It'll never happen.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

$28,000 Cheese Sandwich

Remember that eBay auction for a cheese sandwich that depicted the Virgin Mary? Of course you do.

Here's the latest: Virgin Mary toast fetches $28,000.

A decade-old toasted cheese sandwich said to bear an image of the Virgin Mary has sold on the eBay auction website for $28,000.

An internet casino confirmed it had purchased the sandwich, saying it had become a "part of pop culture".

Goldenpalace.com says it will take the sandwich on world tour before selling it and donating the money to charity.

I wonder if that's the same Golden Palace Casino that's well-known as a spammer and spyware distributor?

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Best Computer Books

Amazon released their Best Books of 2004: Top 10 Editors' Picks: Computers & Internet.

Surprisingly, the #1 book on the list is an Excel book. But it's not one of mine. It's Excel Hacks: 100 Industrial-Strength Tips and Tools, by Raina and David Hawley. Congratulations!

I haven't read it, but I have seen David's Web site: Ozgrid.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Rock Balancing

The balanced rock art of Bill Dan.

This site is dedicated in specific to the work of San Francisco balanced rock sculptor Bill Dan and to the art, discipline and craft of rock balancing in general. It includes images of Bill's balanced rocks and stones, links to other rock balancers, with information about naturally balancing rocks and world-wide rock and stone balancing and stacking traditions.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Just Trivia

Lots of trivia at the Corsinet Trivia Collections. Unlike most such sites, there's actually more content than ads!

Here are a few examples from the "Approximates" category:

• A person uses approximately fifty-seven sheets of toilet paper each day.
• Approximate number of facial expressions dogs can make: 100.
• Every year, surgical tools are left in approximately 1,500 patients in the USA. Fatter patients are more prone to having a surgical tool left inside of them due to the additional amount of space in their bodies.
• There are approximately 75,000,000 horses in the world.
• There are approximately fifty Bibles sold each minute across the world.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Living Pictures

Normally, one might expect that a photography-oriented Web site would have a reasonably attractive design and layout. But that's not always the case. See Living Pictures Photography.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Guitar Rug

You can get a Giant Electric Guitar Rug for $149.95.

With a shape like this, you might just want to strum a few chords. Our rug resembles a 6-string electric guitar and is contoured like the real thing.

No thanks.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Lost Frog Explained

Remember that Lost Frog site? Mike Whybark figured it out: Hopkin Explained.

In one of the MetaFilter threads, an enterprising researcher established that Hopkin was a toy distributed as a freebie by the McDonalds corporation. Others noted that someone had called the family and verified that the frog was indeed a toy. Intrigued, I went back and looked at the initial postings that Jeff and Samantha had made, and realized that there was a high likelihood that the person who made the fliers lived in my neighborhood...

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Dodgeball = Dangerball

From MSNBC: N.Y lawsuit questions safety of dodgeball.

"Dodgeball is not an appropriate activity for K-12 school physical education programs," according to The National Association for Sport and Physical Education, a nonprofit professional organization of 20,000 physical education teachers, professors, coaches, athletic directors and trainers. Dodgeball provides "imited opportunities for everyone in the class, especially the slower, less agile students who need the activity the most."

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Guitar In A Weekend

Who says it takes a long time to learn to play the guitar? Stripped-Down Guitar will teach you How to play any song you love on the guitar -- in one weekend flat!

Imagine this scenario: You spend this weekend putting STRIPPED-DOWN GUITAR: Go From Zero to Playing Your Favorite Songs in One Weekend Flat to use. You have a blast following the steps, and can play one of your favorite songs by Sunday night.

The following week, you casually pick up a guitar at home or at a party and everyone stops to listen. People notice you and remember you the next time they see you because you've entertained them, and because they all wish they could play too. You have become the guitar player among your friends and family.

But please heed the warning:

WARNING: This information could change your life.

Act now to get a special discount.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Lifetime = Two Years

From This is Broken: "Lifetime" warranty.

I just purchased an IConcepts Optical Mouse. The package says it comes with a "limited lifetime warranty". However, inside the package, it seems IConcepts defines "limited lifetime" as "two years".

Then it was explained in a comment:

"Lifetime" I have taken to mean "Lifetime of the product, once it is dead, so is the warranty." That is what it really means...

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Pocket Manuals

The Bonomo Library of Handy Pocket Manuals.

Created by Joe Bonomo, international authority on beauty, health, diet and the self-improvement of face and figure. At all leading Chain Drug, 5 & 10, Book & Department Stores at 25 cents each. Bonomo Culture Institute, 1841 Broadway, New York 23, N.Y.

(via 50 Cups of Coffee)

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Cat Furniture

A few days ago, I posted a link to a product that lets your fish swim all around the house. Just so the cats don't feel left out, there's Kat Wallks.

It doesn't take very many KatWALLks to create a "bigger," more catlike environment than provided by massive traditional models. And unlike a strictly vertical structure composed of isolated perches, KatWALLks allow cats to walk to their favorite high place. Which of course means they don't have to jump back down.

Posted on 23 November, 2004

Movie Paranoia

From Defamer: Stories about piracy paranoia in the movie industry: The Life Aquatic Screening and Paranoia, The Musical.

Entry to the theater was similar to the security screening at an airport, with multiple redundant levels of security. First you were checked for outside food and beverages, a first since you are always allowed to bring coffee from Starbucks across the street. I guess I could have hidden secret recording devices in my cappuccino. Next you are asked to leave your cell phone and drivers license (!) if they see your cell phone is capable of taking pictures.

These guys must think the stuff in their crappy movies is real, otherwise they would know there isn't a cell phone on the market capable of videotaping a 2 hour movie. I suppose of course I might try to broadcast the small crappy image my cell phone camera takes over an encrypted signal in realtime to the waiting van across the street filled with high tech equipment manned by the Russian mafia's ex-KGB communications expert while ninjas prowl the nearby rooftops looking for any sign of the MPAA.

(via Boing Boing)

Posted on 23 November, 2004