July 2010
30 posts
Hélas Techne vs. Carotid Restraint →
Tettix has released a free chiptune remix album on his site, and it contains one of the most wonderful, classic old-school electronic songs I’ve heard in a long time.
By all means, download the whole thing — it’s superb. Track 3, however, Hélas Techne vs. Carotid Restraint, brought me back to what it was like hearing this kind of stuff for the first time as a kid.
Yes,...
Slashdot Struggles to Remain Relevant in The... →
Interesting news about the decline of ./’s influence — but I’m not sure that the community is all that invested in playing the “who’s on top” game anyway.
I remain an avid reader of the venerable technology news hub, but I’m not exactly a mainstream Internet audience member. Also interesting, and perhaps belying my previous sentence: I discovered this...
WatchBIG BANG BIG BOOM
[by blu]
The incredible South American street-art animators are back with an even more ambitious project than before — life itself.
Check out their last street-art animation, too…
Adidas to Addis by Cut Chemist →
Check out this free download of Cut Chemist’s latest single, and you’ll hear an amazing talent at work.
He uses just one turntable, loop pedal, and mixer to take classic African and South American sounds and lay them down for us live.
I can’t wait to check out the whole album, because this is a fantastic start.
[via the Daily Swarm]
Fly Guy →
VSL has unearthed another excellent casual game — Fly Guy.
I hesitate to call it a game, actually, although there are things that will set you back from the main point, which is exploring the sky by flying around and interacting with the weird and wonderful things you discover.
I’ve found that it’s a nice, relaxing way to spend some time winding down during a work-day break (my...
Ruling on DMCA could allow breaking DRM for fair... →
Electronista reports that a recent ruling may make it legal to circumvent DRM if it’s for a legal purpose (i.e., not piracy).
It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out, but I remain hopeful that some sanity will return to the law and enable us to store and access the media we legally purchase in any way we wish short of making it available to others.
History Detectives →
I’m bummed that I only found out about this show last year — they’re in their 8th season now, and each episode is riveting.
Experts use investigative techniques to solve mysteries about objects that are somehow tied to United States history, and in the process reveal fascinating things about our country.
It plays on Monday nights during the summer on my local PBS station (you...
WatchEngineers - Clean Coloured Wire (from Three Fact Fader)
Released by Kscope.
A Guide to Meditation for the Rest of Us →
Meditation doesn’t have to be a hokey, new-agey throwback to the 60’s. It’s easy to do, and can be extremely beneficial on many levels — in fact, I try to get some meditation in every day if I can.
Leave it to Lifehacker to post a succinct guide to this powerful, yet completely accessible practice. Check it out to get some of the goodness for yourself.
Should broadband data hogs pay more? ISP economics... →
Look into the specifics of how Internet Service Providers are making and spending money, and it’s clear: they are outrageously profitable (remember, we citizens give them billions in breaks to help get them there), and their costs for providing broadband service are declining.
It’s good to see a detailed explanation of why people who use more bandwidth to take full advantage of what...
Boost Creativity: 7 Unusual Psychological... →
PsyBlog has some intriguing suggestions for helping us harness our creativity.
It’s always good to have a few options when the well is dry, and I particularly like the advice to consider infusing creativity into more mundane choices.
Once you’re done with these, check out part two, with another 7 Techniques to consider.
[via Kottke]
Race for the Galaxy →
I’m a huge fan of German-style board games, and so I’m very grateful to Rio Grande Games for releasing many of the finest examples of the genre in this country.
This week I discovered that they’ve been extremely cool in another way: they’ve allowed software developers to use their images to create computer versions of Race for the Galaxy, both standalone and online.
...
Sir Kensington's Gourmet Scooping Ketchup →
Could ketchup be cool?
Every once in a while, something catches me and I really can’t explain why.
Perhaps it’s because I love ketchup and slather it on so much of what I eat.
Maybe it’s the snappy Victorian packaging and quaint use of language. Scooping ketchup? Count me in!
For whatever reason, I’ve decided that I’ve got to try this extremely expensive...
What happens when we run out of oil and coal? →
John Timmer reports for Ars Technica on an insightful Robert Laughlin talk about the future of energy.
Two things got my attention:
First, the fact that if sustainable energy doesn’t enable people to do what they want — drive a car or fly, for instance — it ultimately won’t work. Makes sense.
Second, the chilling thought that arguing the merits of alternative energy...
MOO On Sale →
People often ask me where I get my stuff printed. MOO is my silver bullet for high-quality cards with phenomenal designs.
Their products ooze sophistication and help distinguish me from the mess of cheaply cranked-out stuff that’s out there. When I order a set of business cards, I have a different design printed on each, and the response to the wide range of choices has been awesome.
...
WatchHappy 20th Anniversary, EFF! Thanks for helping keep us free and safe online.
Grand Central's multimillion-dollar secrets →
I’m a huge fan of Grand Central Terminal, and use the beautiful facility every time I visit the city.
Daniel Terdiman’s Road Trip 2010 for Cnet has brought him there, unearthing some fascinating secrets … I certainly wish I could visit the secret station FDR used!
WatchPenguin_no_Mondai_-_01
In celebration of ConnectiCon 2010, with thanks to the Bite-Sized Anime workshop.
The evolving blogosphere: An empire gives way →
More interesting news on the social media front: The Economist looks at data from Indonesia that suggests that blogs may be dying as a result of social media sites like Facebook and Twitter.
If you’re looking for a place to share quick updates on your life, pictures, and links, there really isn’t any reason to maintain a blog unless you wish to remain autonomous. The social media...
Gaming the System: How Marketers Rig the Social... →
Wired’s Epicenter blog brings up an important point to consider when reading online recommendations from “real people”.
Some social media users are paying for their followers, which I guess I can understand at some level. What I can’t stand, however are those who are paid to tweet, blog, or post and don’t disclose this fact.
I trust word-of-mouth endorsements...
How to Stay Safe on Public Wi-Fi Networks →
Lifehacker provides us with an important guide to staying safe when browsing the Internet on public wireless networks.
It’s great to find free WiFi, but vital to make sure that it’s used without exposing sensitive information.
Now that Starbucks has finally joined Panera with offering free WiFi in their stores (an awesome move), I think this guide is particularly useful. Thanks,...
Web Game: Entanglement →
Simple concept, engaging play, and difficult mastery. Execute these three things well, and you have a superb game.
Rotate hex tiles to keep a convoluted line from hitting a wall. That’s it — so elegant, and very fun.
[via VSL]
Elena's Inbox →
Again, we see the amazing power the Internet gives us if we choose to use it. Elena Kagan is the first Supreme Court nominee I know of whose public email messages have been made available online to anyone who cares to read them — plus, it’s presented in a format that regular humans can actually understand, search, and access.
Granted, they’re mostly boring messages, but...
Please Don't Buy a Dell - New Slimy Tactics... →
Back in the glory days of the early-to-mid 90’s, when Computer Shopper magazine was as big as a phone book, Dell Computer was one of the best businesses to buy from.
Their high-quality, low price, and exceptional customer service became world-renowned. I bought from them for myself, and recommended them to friends, colleagues, and family.
As we went into the 2000’s, however, I...
June 2010
29 posts
Nudge →
I always dig online music toys, and this one is among the finest (and funnest) I’ve seen.
Use pattern-based sequencing to trigger various electronic instruments and drums to create and share your own compositions…
Or just noodle around and have a blast.
[via VSL]
How The World Spends Its Time Online →
Great infographics reveal insights that raw data simply can’t match. An excellent example of this is Visual Economics’ representation of Nielsen’s global Internet usage data.
I must be on the extreme end of the usage spectrum — I probably spend 120+ hours online each month, considering work and home!
[via Digg]
The 1888 Crystal Palace recordings →
It boggles the mind to think that we have recorded voices from so long ago, and from such a famous exhibition. Evidently it’s also the first field recording ever.
This is a pinnacle of Victorian ingenuity, and rather eerie sounding to me.
[via MeFi]
ALT/1977: WE ARE NOT TIME TRAVELERS →
Alex Varanese imagined what it would be like if he could go back in time.
To strike it rich, he’d take 2010 consumer tech and make it blend in with the era of bell bottoms and AM Gold.
The result, Alt/1977, is brilliant.
[via Josh Spear]
Google Voice for everyone →
The service I’ve been raving about for years is finally available to anyone in the United States, free!
Have one phone number ring your home, cell, and work numbers. Feel free to ditch that lousy phone company and try someone else without changing numbers or going through the hassle of porting your old number. Get free and ultra-cheap long distance calling. Enjoy call screening,...
The NYPL Menu Collection →
It’s been fascinating looking at the menus collected at the New York Public Library.
The range of dishes and astonishing prices are a lot of fun to browse through, but I’m very glad I’m a vegetarian in this era.
Also check out this menu from The Boston Bakery and Lunch Room, Denver 1892.
[both links via Kottke]
PolitiFact | Fact-checking the oil spill →
Thank goodness for journalism and the Internet … here’s the truth about a lot of the claims being made about the tragic oil spill in the Gulf, courtesy of PolitiFact.com.
[via BoingBoing]
Hidden posters of Notting Hill Gate Tube station →
A sealed corridor in the London Underground has been opened, and a treasure trove of 50’s posters uncovered.
The quality of these posters is amazing for being so old, and I love the kitchy style from the Golden Age of advertising.
[via Waxy Links]
A year of digital TV: who won the transition? →
Remember analog TV? That’s so 2009. Believe it or not, it’s been a year since the cutoff, and the predictions of massive problems seem to have been false.
Ars Technica asks a great question though — who did it the switch benefit, in the end? It might not surprise you to find that it wasn’t necessary the television consumer.
$11.7m judgment against Spamhaus slashed to... →
The Register reports on a drastically reduced judgment for British anti-Spam heroes Spamhaus, who were sued in the U.S. by e360.
While it may seem like a victory (and in a big way it is), the fact that this case wasn’t dismissed is extremely troublesome to me.
e360 has sent out an estimated 6.6 billion unsolicited email messages, and Spamhaus allows us to prevent them from clogging our...
Lifehacker Pack for Mac: Our List of the Best Free... →
I can personally vouch for most of these recommended free Mac applications, each of which does as good a job (or better) than paid alternatives.
Of these awesome apps, here are the ones that get the most regular use in the tomgrom macverse: Quicksilver, Textwrangler, Adium, Cyberduck, Fluid, The Unarchiver, Growl, Dropbox, VLC, iTunes, Picasa, and Handbrake.
Kayak Explore →
I love this new flight price explorer from Kayak — enter in your home airport, how much you’re willing to pay, and when you want to go, and it’ll show you the best prices to destinations around the world.
It’s definitely got me thinking about my next excursion…
Copyright: The Elephant in the Middle of the Glee... →
Christina Mulligan talks about the fact that in the real world, the way kids and adults freely use music on Glee would get them sued for hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The mashups, reversioning, copying, and distribution of popular music that is so essential to the hit show is currently completely illegal — and something is very wrong about this.
[via The Slatest]