August 05, 2005
Skoolie: What the heck is that?
Skoolie? Why it's an old school bus converted into an RV. Sometime, a might nice one!
This particular skoolie got me thinking about a project for the future (notice I didn't say near). Real RVs are a fortune and heck, they aren't very cool either! Much better to have a custom designed beast the serves your every need.
January 14, 2005
NAO Design
One of the best and seemingly most successful firms that travel down the art X engineering road. Their portfolio is quite impressive and reveals a wide swath of knowledge that they weave into their artistic and functional creations.
November 09, 2004
New Scientist Gift List
New Scientist has compiled their list of interesting, fun, and (sometimes) scientific gifts for Christmas. Check them out!
October 26, 2004
Resolution: 4 Architecture
Modern, modular architecture. Cost saving and eye-appealing all at once.
October 07, 2004
Lighting Brilliance
I've always been attracted to unique lighting designs and installations. Most of these designs eclipse anything that I have dreamed up, but they are truly inspirational.
June 13, 2004
Bike with Square Wheels
Bicycle Riding on Square Wheels
A mathematician (who else) has designed a bicycle the rides on squares wheel....smoothly. How does he accomplish this seemingly impossible feat? Well, he moved the roundness of the wheel to the road.
In essence, as the radius from the "wheel" center to the edge changes, the road counteracts this and together they produce a straight line. Pretty clever.
Additionally, you could make a road that would work with a pentagon, hexagon, etc....and as you increase the sides the inverted cateneries that make up the road get smaller and smaller.....and as you approach infinity, voila, you end up with a round wheel and a flat road.
HowToons.org
HowToons.org presents a great series of PDFs and video clips that show kids how to build "stuff". Marshmallow shooters and homebrew air-hockey to a shockwave shooter they've got tons of fun projects for kids this summer. Adults too. ;)
June 11, 2004
A Classic Senses Quiz
Think quickly and accurately! This little quiz from the BBC tests your senses and what you think you know. Is your sense of perspective in perspective? How your audio and lip-reading skills?
It's fun, it's short, check it out.
May 02, 2004
Photos from Iraq
Some Picture a friend brought back from Iraq
*WARNING: Graphic Content* A series of pictures taken by a US soldier in Iraq.
March 07, 2004
Life Analogy: Golf Balls and Beer
A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, wordlessly, he picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.
He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.
So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.
The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with a unanimous "yes."
The professor then produced two cans of beer from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar, effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed.
"Now," said the professor, as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things - your family, your children, your health, your friends, and your passions, things that if everything else was lost andonly they remained, your life would still be full."
"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car. The sand is everything else - the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff, you will never have room for the things that are important to you.
"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner or friend out to dinner. There will always be time to clean the house. Take care of the golf balls first, the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."
One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the beer represented. The professor smiled. "I'm glad you asked," he said. "It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of beers."
December 30, 2003
Art meets Topology
Math Trek : Sculpting with a Twist, Science News Online, Dec. 20, 2003
Japanese artist Keizo Ushio demonstrates some beautiful integration of math, science, and art his pieces. Using massive rings of granite, he drills and chisels them apart with surgical precision to reveal physical embodiments of mathematical concepts - Mobius strips, Mobius rings and split rings, etc.
One of my favorites is the Dream Lens - and to understand it better, a mathematical puzzle that shows it's scientific beauty.
The artist's homepage shows his latest work.
December 01, 2003
November 19, 2003
McGurk Effect: an Audio Visual Illusion
This is a great audio-visual illusion of the McGurk Effet presented by a short video clip. Fooled me...I guess I'm in the 98% percentile.
November 06, 2003
Where does your Political Compass point?
The test at PoliticalCompass.org is a nice way to divine your Left - Right / Authoritarian - Libertarian stance (if you didn't know it already).
My numbers were:
Economic Left/Right: -3.25
Libertarian/Authoritarian: -5.44
...making me Libertarian Left - and after reading the recommended reading list for this quadrant, I'm not surprised. It included books from the likes of Michael Moore, George Orwell, Eric Schlosser, Thomas Paine, Noam Chomsky, and Ralph Nader.
What's your score?
October 31, 2003
Metal Art, Robotics, and Fashion
Brooks Coleman is an interesting fellow. I'm inspired by his designs, not for their technical elegance, but for their artistic flavor. Take his robotic arms for example....not only functional, but beautiful and handmade - not for the corporate world.
My personal favorite are his very cool art bras, which is how he makes most of his money these days - selling them to celebrities.
Remember, inspired people make for entertaining company.
October 30, 2003
September 12, 2003
Marijuana: Lights turn on in England
England OKs recreational marijuana - The Washington Times: United Press International
I'm very interested to hear what the DEA, ONDCP, and John Ashcroft have to say about this. I think it's great news for the world to have yet another major country express the failure of the drug war and expose the marijuana lies that are propagated by our government.
Don't forget that Canada is following the same suit....and Drug Czar Walters has just gone after them.
Just added: on Sept. 4, 2003 a judge in British Columbia has dismissed a case stating there is no law prohibiting simple possession of marijuana.
August 24, 2003
Personal Webpage for "Steamboat Ed"
Random page I stumbled upon detailing the exploits and tinkerings of "Steamboat Ed" Haas. A few interesting things here, including some battle-bots exploits and some interesting science toys.
July 01, 2003
Watch Out for Medical Quackery
Thorough articles that debunk some of the "snake oil" medicine that is thrown at us everyday. I found this after linking to an article refuting homeopathy....a "medical" practice that always left me laughing.
May 22, 2003
Pedaled Monocycle
Ok, so I had only ever seen engine powered monocycles until now.....I'd love to try one of these monocycles out though. Just think of the strange looks you'd get cruising down the boulevard.
Stopping quickly would probably suck though - the only thing providing momentum to stop would be your own body weight. Brake too fast and upside down you go!
On the other hand, that might be kinda fun.
Related:
Tractor Wheel Monocycle with 80cc motor
V8 powered Monocycle raced at Bonneville Salt Flats!
May 12, 2003
Instant Films
Make a movie in a weekend....the website is at InstantFilms.tv
Here's how an Instant Films weekend works. On Friday evening, eight writers make three random draws: a noun, an adjective and specifications for the number of men and women to be the cast. Twelve hours later, they have to present a finished script. Directors then make their own random draws from the available scripts and actors.
These teams then turn in a finished seven- to nine-minute film, all edited and complete with music and titles and everything ready for public screening at 7 p.m. Sunday at Los Angeles Center Studios.
Sounds like fun to me...only wished I lived nearby so I could go to a screening.
April 18, 2003
Toy Invention Guide
Publications / Resources | Toy Inventor / Designer Guide
Nice guide written for aspiring toy inventors and designers. Also a good list of contacts and references at the end.
April 15, 2003
Matrix Reloaded: Theatrical Trailer
The new Matrix Reloaded trailer is out - and the movie will be in theaters on May 15th - one month from today! Can't wait.....
April 02, 2003
Behind the Scenes with Bush
USATODAY.com - Strain of Iraq war showing on Bush, those who know him say
Despite the fact of how I feel about our current political situation and our President, I found this behind the scenes look at how he handles the stress of war very interesting. Even though I may not agree with all his policies, I think that he is in it for the good of everyone.
March 28, 2003
Humor Me State Department
State Department Warns Americans Not To Act Like Americans
By R.O. Whatley Washington, D.C.
In what is believed to be its strongest travel advisory ever, the U.S. State Department today warned Americans abroad not to act like Americans. The advisory was issued simultaneously in Washington by State Department spokesman Richard Boucher, and in The Hague by a man who, in halting Dutch, denied he was U.S. Ambassador Clifford Sobel.
Unlike previous alerts, which have warned Americans to keep a low profile or avoid certain destinations, the new advisory notes that it is now unwise to come across as American at all. As a result, the State Department cautions U.S. citizens to avoid behaviors that could cause them to be singled out as obviously American.
These include:
- the wearing of white socks and tennis shoes.
- complaining if asked to share a bathroom.
- threatening to sue over bad service, television reception, or weather.
In addition, U.S. citizens attempting to speak a foreign language are urged to curb their Americanisms. For example: Correct: Est-ce que vous l'avez aux autres couleurs? Incorrect: Est-ce que vous, like, l'avez aux, like, autres couleurs?
The advisory immediately created turmoil overseas, particularly for U.S. military personnel, who pretended to be French and were forced to surrender.
In an apparent response to heightened fears of terrorist attacks by Islamic militants, the US embassies in Islamabad, Jakarta, Manila, Kuwait City, Riyadh, Bangkok, Saana and Jordan were all proudly displaying the red, white and blue flag of France.
The alert also caused confusion at home, as it seems to contradict the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which has warned Americans not to act un-American. In a press briefing this afternoon, White House spokesman Ari Fleischer attempted to unravel the paradox. "What we are saying is, when you are in America, you need to behave like an American, particularly if you are not American, or are Colin Powell. But when you are outside America, you should not behave like an American, unless you are not American, in which case we urge you to act American. Here I refer specifically to the NATO representatives from Germany, France, and Belgium." The advisory, Fleischer added, applies to all Americans, including President Bush. " "When the President is traveling abroad, he will only act American while aboard Air Force One or in the company of U.S. media. At all other times, he will attempt to come across as Kosovian or Grecian."
Reached for comment in Brussels, U.S. Ambassador to NATO Nicholas Burns said, "Qing wen, ren min gong yuan zai na li?"
March 26, 2003
Anti-Terrorism signs instill only laughter
http://www.uspoliticsforum.com/emergency/
Apparently the government has made up a bunch of anti-terrorism signs to help people respond to whatever happens. This site uses those signs to make people laugh.... HARD.
March 25, 2003
Anti-War Protestors Changing Their Minds?
NewsMax.com: Inside Cover Story
Arnaud de Borchgrave, UPI's Editor at Large and a member of NewsMax's board of directors, wrote Friday from Jordan:
A group of American anti-war demonstrators who came to Iraq with Japanese human shield volunteers made it across the border today with 14 hours of uncensored video, all shot without Iraqi government minders present.
Kenneth Joseph, a young American pastor with the Assyrian Church of the East, told UPI the trip "had shocked me back to reality."
Some of the Iraqis he interviewed on camera "told me they would commit suicide if American bombing didn't start. They were willing to see their homes demolished to gain their freedom from Saddam's bloody tyranny. They convinced me that Saddam was a monster the likes of which the world had not seen since Stalin and Hitler. He and his sons are sick sadists.
"Their tales of slow torture and killing made me ill, such as people put in a huge shredder for plastic products, feet first so they could hear their screams as bodies got chewed up from foot to head."
March 24, 2003
English AL Jazeera website
Al Jazeera - objective and balanced global news coverage and analysis- Homepage
Al Jazeera, the Iraqi government controlled TV and media organization, has finally posted an English version of their website. In fact, it's only a "special" website focusing on the current war in Iraq.
I particularly like the tagline "objective and balanced global news coverage and analysis" -- just like CNN!!
Iraqi Blog: View from the Inside
Came across this blog, by an Iraqi in Baghdad....always interesting to have a view of someone in the midst of a war....viewpoints, thoughts, and perspectives.
He writes of the news they receive from Al-jazeera, the leaflets dropped by US Psych-Ops, and the bombing damage they see firsthand.
March 17, 2003
RateBeer.Com
Rate Beer [ Beer Reviews, Beer Information and Beer Ratings ]
Nice site -- rate your favorite (or least favorite) beers or read up on what others have to say. Handy for all of us beer snobs out there....and I see lots of them in Seattle.
March 06, 2003
White House Transcript
The Free Press -- Independent News Media - White House Transcripts
Want a good laugh? Or a shiver to run up your spine? Just read this "transcript" of recent White House conversations with our friends, Shrub, Dick, Karl, John and Tom.
Attorney-General Ashcroft, what an idiot. Oh wait, no...leave me alone...I'm not a terrorist...
PRESIDENT BUSH: Well, at least John here found the time and money to bust those potheads. Indicting all those bong sellers and medical marijuana patients is just what's needed to guarantee our national security. Give 'em hell, John.
ATTORNEY-GENERAL ASHCROFT: Growing marijuana is an act of terrorism.
PRESIDENT BUSH: Yeah, and those ads on the Super Bowl. Nice work, Karl.
KARL ROVE: It's important to keep the public focused on the real threats to our national security, George. Pot. Abortion. Free love. Atheism. Anti-war marches. Liberals. These are the things that undermine our way of life.
March 05, 2003
Biting Political Animation by Mark Fiore
Mark Fiore's Animated Political Cartoons!
Mark Fiore has been a favorite political cartoonist of mine, so I figured I would spread his name a bit. Looking for a comedic look at the current political hot-topic of the day? Check out his clever Flash animations that present his ideas in an easily digestible format.
March 04, 2003
UK Science Finds the Perfect Pancake Flip
Random article concerning the ability to flip a pancake perfectly, a very popular menu item for Shrove Tuesday in the UK. Apparently people have a lot of trouble with it, ending up with batter on the walls, floor, or ceiling. Scientists at Leeds University have found the formula for perfect flipping to be:
The angular velocity of the pancake equals the square root of Pi times the gravity, divided by the distance the pancake is from the elbow times four.
Silly Brits. Just use a spatula or pancake flipper.
March 03, 2003
Musings About War with Iraq
So, I forwarded this letter to the editor to Adam (partially 'cause I know it'll really get him going)....here's the original and his witty response. Analogies galore and several valid points from both sides.
The Instigator
A letter to the London Observer from Terry Jones (ex Monty Python)
Sunday January 26, 2003
I'm really excited by George Bush's latest reason for bombing Iraq: he's running out of patience. And so am I! For some time now I've been really pissed off with Mr Johnson, who lives a couple of doors down the street.
Well, him and Mr Patel, who runs the health food shop. They both give me queer looks, and I'm sure Mr Johnson is planning something nasty for me, but so far I haven't been able to discover what.
I've been round to his place a few times to see what he's up to, but he's got everything well hidden. That's how devious he is. As for Mr Patel, don't ask me how I know, I just know - from very good sources - that he is, in reality, a Mass Murderer.
I have leafleted the street telling them that if we don't act first, he'll pick us off one by one. Some of my neighbours say, if I've got proof, why don't I go to the police? But that's simply ridiculous. The police will say that they need evidence of a crime with which to charge my neighbours. They'll come up with endless red tape and quibbling about the rights and wrongs of a pre-emptive strike and
all the while Mr Johnson will be finalising his plans to do terrible things to me, while Mr Patel will be secretly murdering people.
Since I'm the only one in the street with a decent range of automatic firearms, I reckon it's up to me to keep the peace. But until recently that's been a little difficult. Now, however, George W. Bush has made it clear that all I need to do is run out of patience, and then I can wade in and do whatever I want! And let's face it, Mr Bush's carefully thought-out policy towards Iraq is the only way to bring about international peace and security. The one certain way to stop Muslim fundamentalist suicide bombers targeting the US or the UK is to bomb a few Muslim countries that have never threatened us.
That's why I want to blow up Mr Johnson's garage and kill his wife and children. Strike first! That'll teach him a lesson. Then he'll leave us in peace and stop peering at me in that totally unacceptable way.
Mr Bush makes it clear that all he needs to know before bombing Iraq is that Saddam is a really nasty man and that he has weapons of mass destruction - even if no one can find them. I'm certain I've just as much justification for killing Mr Johnson's wife and children as Mr Bush has for bombing Iraq. Mr Bush's long-term aim is to make the world a safer place by eliminating 'rogue states' and 'terrorism'. It's such a clever long-term aim because how can you ever know when you've achieved it? How will Mr Bush know when he's wiped out all terrorists? When every single terrorist is dead? But then a terrorist is only a terrorist once he's committed an act of terror. What about would-be terrorists? These are the ones you really want to eliminate, since most of the known terrorists, being suicide bombers, have already eliminated themselves.
Perhaps Mr Bush needs to wipe out everyone who could possibly be a future terrorist? Maybe he can't be sure he's achieved his objective until every Muslim fundamentalist is dead? But then some moderate Muslims might convert to fundamentalism. Maybe the only really safe thing to do would be for Mr Bush to eliminate all Muslims? It's the same in my street. Mr Johnson and Mr Patel are just the tip of the iceberg. There are dozens of other people in the street who I don't like and who - quite frankly - look at me in odd ways. No one will be really safe until I've wiped them all out. My wife says I might be going too far but I tell her I'm simply using the same logic as the President of the United States. That shuts her up.
Like Mr Bush, I've run out of patience, and if that's a good enough reason for the President, it's good enough for me. I'm going to give the whole street two weeks - no, 10 days - to come out in the open and hand over all aliens and interplanetary hijackers, galactic outlaws and interstellar terrorist masterminds, and if they don't hand them over nicely and say 'Thank you', I'm going to bomb the entire street to kingdom come. It's just as sane as what George W. Bush is proposing - and, in contrast to what he's intending, my policy will destroy only one street.
The Response
OK Jonny, you asked for it...please forward this on to ANY of your friends who may be confused about the potential upcoming war, as this writer is. The writer of this message is obviously unread and incapable of logical thought. Allow me to give a different perspective on this colorful, yet incorrect analogy:
~
A few years ago, Mr. Patel, the owner of one of the largest Water distribution plants in my area went to Mr. Smith's Water plant and took over the operation by force using guns. He also robbed and raped Mr. Smith's employees. Mr. Smith is a good acquaintance of mine, so me and some friends went over and forced him out. On his way out of Mr. Smith's plant, Mr. Patel emptied all of Mr. Smith's water tanks into the ground. We were going to take over Mr. Patel's plant, since he is obviously unstable, but some of our friends thought that would be too much. Instead, we agreed to leave him be if he agreed to keep to himself and eliminate any guns that he might have. He agreed. In order to ensure his compliance, we had some of our friends stay behind to make sure that there were no guns.
For a while, everything was fine and my friends found no guns; then one of Mr. Patel's ex-employees told my friends that the guns were hidden and where to find them. As soon as my friends began looking in the right places, Mr. Patel immediately forced them out of his Water plant.
Last week, someone crashed their car into my house. We know that Mr. Ben did it, but we cannot find him. What we do know, is that one of Mr. Ben's closest friends lives in Mr. Patel's plant and has received money from Mr. Patel. Mr. Patel praised Mr. Ben and his associates. Mr. Patel also gives money to families of those who die when crashing their cars into people's homes and admits it.
Mr. Patel says that he has no guns...but he used an even scarier kind of gun on his own employees, killing those who he manages. My friends and I have sent messages and ultimatums to Mr. Patel many times now, but he ignores them. We have even told him that if he does not get rid of his guns (yes, the same ones he used to invade Mr. Smith's plant, waste the water and kill his employees), we will once again come in, and this time take his plant from him. He still refuses to comply. As we get ready to take-over his Water plant, Mr. Patel has let my friends back in to check for guns. In our most recent ultimatum, we required that he turn over the information of where his guns are or how he destroyed them. Instead, Mr. Patel let them in, but showed them nothing. We also have photos of inside his plant, where we have suspicious evidence of guns being there.
Yesterday, my friends found guns that he is not supposed to have. Although they told him to destroy them, he will not.
What are we to do? Does Mr. Patel sound like the type of person you ignore and hope he will go away? I he the person you want in charge of most of your water? Even worse, what if he does take over the neighboring water plants and gains control of most of the world's water? Does that seem like the kind of world you want to live in?
~
In the 1938, Neville Chamberlain, the PM of Britain wanted peace more than anything...so much that he ignored the obvious signs that a madman was bent on world domination and the torture of his own people. Neville Chamberlain even signed the Munich Agreement which GAVE part of Czechoslovakia to the reigning party of Germany, the Nazis. Most of the people of Britain supported this the policy of "appeasement"; after all, it averted war.
In 1939, Adolph Hitler blew off the Munich Agreement and took over the rest of Czechoslovakia, then went on to Poland. At this point Britain had to declare war on Germany.
What will it take for us to learn from our own history?
Many people support the modern appeasement policy. They believe that France, Germany and Russia are standing up for the moral cause. They are wrong. These three "friends" of ours are standing up for the one thing that most accuse the US of...the dollar. The president of France has long been a partner of Saddam Hussein's. He created the original agreement that sold Iraq a Nuclear reactor, which the Israelis fortunately destroyed. France is also very active in the trade of arms. Most of the Iraqi military use French weapons, including the very expensive and very good Mirage jet fighters. In addition, France has additional trade concerns with Iraq, such as the Peugeot automobiles which are no longer sold in the US, but thrive in Iraq. Germany and Russia also have economic ties, such as massive loans that may not get paid back if Hussein is ousted. At least Russia admits it.
Luckily we have friends in the world...yes, it's true. Though some would tell you that we stand alone, more than 41 countries stand with us. One of whom is Israel; many ask why we stand with Israel on this when Hussein has his own issues with them. The answers are that they were attacked without provocation by Hussein in the 1990 Persian Gulf War. In that war, we specifically asked them not to get involved for the sake of the international coalition. They agreed; even though they were being bombarded with SCUD missiles from Iraq daily, they never got involved. That is what I call extreme international cooperation.
I hate to focus on a particular political group, but the situation requires it. The liberals in the US are so concerned with attacking Bush, they are not looking at the big picture. I am not Bush's biggest supporter; not by a long-shot. Where were the Peace activists during Clinton's presidency? I believe we attacked Serbia and Kosovo during that time...not to mention the hundreds of military interactions we had with Iraq.
We as humans have become dependent on Oil. Right or wrong, that's how it is. We cannot have a man such as Hussein in charge of the world's oil and that is what he wants. Those who say no Blood for Oil, I say put your money where your mouth is; discontinue the use of automobiles, oil-driven heat, and all products made with (i.e., plastics) or by machines that use oil.
For those who long for peace above all else, I recommend talking to the Kuwaiti people who did nothing wrong, but were violently invaded by Hussein. Talk to the thousands of Iraqi who have been executed, gassed, tested on and tortured by Hussein. Then tell me that this war isn't just.
The writer of the article below truly displays his ignorance when he sarcastically asks, "maybe the safe thing to do is eliminate all Muslims?". Some of the staunchest supporters of Hussein's removal are Muslims. Bush has done everything in his power to show that this is a war against Terror and those who support it. he has met with the Muslim leaders, spoken at Mosques and reached out to Muslim countries. Whatever you believe the reason to be, when Kuwait was invaded by a violent enemy, who came to help first? Was it other Muslim countries? No, it was the United States. As prejudiced as the writer believes Bush to be is nothing next to the prejudice that this writer and many "liberal spokespeople" display to Conservative Americans.
We should be proud to be Americans; proud to be the ones who turned away from the isolationist policy to come to the aid of Britain; proud to be the ones who liberated France, Germany and most of Europe from the Nazis; Proud to be the ones who showed valor after victory by rebuilding Germany and Japan after WWII (now two of the largest and most thriving economies in the world); Proud to be the ones to come to Kuwait's aid and force Saddam Hussein out; Proud to be the ones to finish the job if we must.
Thank you,
Adam
February 27, 2003
Later Neighbor: Mr. Rogers Dies at 74
Mr. Rogers Passes On to Another Neighborhood
A soft spot is in so many of our hearts for Fred Rogers, known to many as Mr. Rogers who produced the long running, Emmy award winning children's TV show. He had been diagnosed with stomach cancer sometime after the holidays.
Everybody, won't you sing along with me:
WON'T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR
It's a beau-ti-ful day in this neigh-bor-hood,
a beau-ti-ful day for a neigh-bor.
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
It's a neigh-bor-ly day in this beau-ty wood,
a neigh-bor-ly day for a beau-ty,
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
I have al-ways want-ed to have a neigh-bor just like you!
I've al-ways want-ed to live in a neigh-bor-hood with you.
So let's make the most of this beau-ti-ful day,
since we're to-geth-er we might as well say;
Would you be mine? Could you be mine?
Won't you be my neigh - bor?
Won't you please, won't you please?
Please won't you be my neigh-bor?
Circa 1967
Words and Music by Fred Rogers
From the comment below, I found this link for anyone talking to their kids about Mr. Rogers passing...
February 14, 2003
Solo Ballooning Anyone?
Saw a picture of this guy hanging from a cluster of helium balloons and it spurned me on to find this website.
More interesting than that though, is the prospect of flying in one of the "Cloudhoppers", which is basically a hot-air balloon for one person! No basket, just a harness system. Plus, since they're are so light, they are classified as an ultralight....
February 09, 2003
Biker Billy Hits it BIG
Biker Billy, the local NJ phenomena, hits it BIG! I had no idea that he had made it onto the Tonight Show with Jay Leno.....
Excellent! Now it's time to make a huge bowl of hot chili!
February 04, 2003
Monster Limo: It Floats Too!
eBay Motors item 2400159091 (Ends Jan-22-03 14:35:35 PST ) - Other Makes :Custom : Lincoln
Check out this closed Ebay auction for a monster-truck-style limo --- jacked up, super-tires and all. Most importantly, look at the pictures at the bottom of the ad where it can float / drive over water!
Silly boys with toys.
January 30, 2003
Golden Opportunity: Jonny's Dream Job
Here it is. A company I had heard about and fringe investigated up until now.....and now I realize it's one of the few companies that I would want to work for.
Why not do what you're good at? Investigation, deconstruction, innovation, creation, insight, and development....make it work better!
Anyone have an "in" or contact for me? I'd kill at the chance to work in the Boulder office....
January 23, 2003
Bushisms: An Overview
ABCNEWS.com : 'Misunderestimated' Bushisms 'Resignate'
I knew he was a genius, I knew it!
January 15, 2003
.Birthday.
Happy Birthday to me.
Happy Birthday to me.
Happy Birthday dear Jonny.
Happy Birthday to me.
And many more happy, healthy ones.
*sigh*
January 13, 2003
Driving While Stoned
Stoned drivers are safe drivers
Nice article quoting US NHTSA and other studies stating that stoned drivers are just as safe, or possibly safer, than drug free drivers.
A 1983 study by the US National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) used stoned drivers on simulators, and concluded that the only statistically significant effect associated with marijuana use was slower driving.
A comprehensive 1992 study by the NHTSA found that marijuana is rarely involved in driving accidents, except when combined with alcohol. It concluded that "the THC-only drivers had an [accident] responsibility rate below that of the drug free driversS While the difference was not statistically significant, there was no indication that cannabis by itself was a cause of fatal crashes." This study was buried for six years and not released until 1998.
Another NHTSA study performed in 1993 dosed Dutch drivers with THC and tested them on real Dutch roads. It concluded that "THC's adverse effects on driving performance appear relatively small."
A massive 1998 study by the University of Adelaide and Transport South Australia analyzed blood samples from 2,500 accidents, and found that drivers with cannabis in their system were actually slightly less likely to cause accidents than those without.
A University of Toronto study released in March 1999 found that moderate pot users typically refrained from passing cars and drove at a more consistent speed than non-users.
December 27, 2002
New Years Resolutions
Just wanted to make sure that we all have some quality resolutions to make....I know you're not all perfect out there (yet).
Me? I'm still thinking about it.
Definitely something along the lines of grabbing the bull by the horns and making something interesting and new happen.....but the specifics are still "to be determined".
Peace....
December 18, 2002
Let's not forget Mr. Skin
Mr. Skin - The Internet's Celebrity Nude Movie Reviews
For those of you who would like to find nude scenes from your favorite actress, Mr. Skin is the place. It's been around for a while, and you may have heard of it, but it's always fun to take a look around.
Besides, you may find inspiration to rent a long forgotten movie. BTW, you don't actually see any nudity here, unless you pay the cheap subscription fee.
Great research tool, though.
November 18, 2002
the world is spinning
i really need to get my head screwed on straight. actually i need to go write my art history paper. no, i want my mail to start arriving so i don't feel like my friends have abandoned me. well - maybe i want to go back to sleep since i couldn't last night from all the excitement and too much caffeine. no, i think i'll go buy a sottotuta so i don't freeze in the cave this weekend and i look cool like the real speleologi. ...no, i was right with the first two. paper, then head. oh and then class. eew. this blog could be fun though. i'll be back later.
November 15, 2002
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