Alright - I'm posting this just for the cool factor. These cars look awesome! Check out these entries into Peugeot's annual "car of the future" design contest.
[Link]
2.03.2007
What a concept!
Alright - I'm posting this just for the cool factor. These cars look awesome! Check out these entries into Peugeot's annual "car of the future" design contest.
[Link]
Unruly Chewbacca Brought to Justice
I don't mean to sound prejudiced, but something has to be done about these Wookiees running loose in L.A.[Link] (photo - Jimmy Kimmel Live)
2.02.2007
Peyton Manning Scores
"There's no greater honor for a major player in the endorsement game than to get to the Super Bowl," said Manning, a three-time AdWeek MVP who is attempting to prove once and for all that he can land the big campaign.
[Link]
Smell ya later!
This woman smelled like dead fish for most of her life. Smart, and pretty, but could someone open a window?
The story of Camille - former model, Phi Beta Kappa with a master's in education, who suffered from trimethylaMinuria, which depending on diet can make you stink to high heaven.
[Link]
The story of Camille - former model, Phi Beta Kappa with a master's in education, who suffered from trimethylaMinuria, which depending on diet can make you stink to high heaven.
[When Camille got older, the insults continued. One of her first jobs was as a teller in a credit union.
"My supervisor would come by and spray my area with perfume, Lysol, and they put me in the drive-through section, which is separate from the rest of the teller area," Camille said.]
[Link]
"You cannot silence the muffled cries of these Russian orphans!"
Was that title dramatic enough for you? Here's a story about Russian nurses getting tired of baby orphans crying all the time, so they TAPED their teeny mouths shut, or plastered 'em shut, and someone caught it on their mobile phone. Is their a pacifier shortage in Russia?
[Link]
[Link]
2.01.2007
Contextual Advertising Run Amok!
This Toyota advertisement popped up over a news story that used the word "car" in the headline. OK - maybe contextual advertising isn't all it's cracked up to be:
Mayor Has Strange Way of Showing Appreciation
San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom was served well by his long-time campaign manager, Alex Tourk, who worked tirelessly for the mayor helping him get elected. Then the mayor slept with Tourk's wife.
Given that this is San Francisco, the question remains, will this bit of news help or hurt the Mayor's re-election bid?
[Link]
Given that this is San Francisco, the question remains, will this bit of news help or hurt the Mayor's re-election bid?
[Link]
It's Empty!
Thought for the day: if a glass is empty, do you see it as being not full, or empty? or really empty?
First Thing Ever Sold on eBay?
First thing sold was a broken laser pointer for $14, sold by eBay creator Pierre Omidyar in 1995. Conveniently the negative feedback feature had not yet been created.
[Link]
[Link]
90% of Venezuelans Thrilled
Chavez gets sweeping new powers
Imagine a country where the top 10% of wage earners carry the poorest segment of their society on their backs. Where schools, welfare, insurance, roads, and the nation's protection are paid for mostly by the top 10% in the form of hefty tax revenues. Oh wait - wasn't supposed to talk about the United States in this blurb...
As for Venezuela... can we also vote into power someone who will take the company and the luxury home your family worked for over decades, and give it to me? Sounds strangely similar to North Korea in the beginning. My Korean wife's family lost their homes and companies which were seized by the Communists from the North, and then what happened? They became one of the poorest countries on earth. How did that work out? And her family, starting from nothing again, built new companies and became wealthy again. Funny.
But seriously, 90% of Venezuelans who are poor are happy that Chavez will seize the assets of the rich and distribute to the poor. Government sanctioned thievery. Quick way to get a 90% approval rating. I'm wondering what kind of commission Chavez will keep for himself of the seized assets. 20% in a private offshore account? 30%? We'll never know because that's probably part of the new power grab - all books will be closed.
[Link]
Imagine a country where the top 10% of wage earners carry the poorest segment of their society on their backs. Where schools, welfare, insurance, roads, and the nation's protection are paid for mostly by the top 10% in the form of hefty tax revenues. Oh wait - wasn't supposed to talk about the United States in this blurb...
As for Venezuela... can we also vote into power someone who will take the company and the luxury home your family worked for over decades, and give it to me? Sounds strangely similar to North Korea in the beginning. My Korean wife's family lost their homes and companies which were seized by the Communists from the North, and then what happened? They became one of the poorest countries on earth. How did that work out? And her family, starting from nothing again, built new companies and became wealthy again. Funny.
But seriously, 90% of Venezuelans who are poor are happy that Chavez will seize the assets of the rich and distribute to the poor. Government sanctioned thievery. Quick way to get a 90% approval rating. I'm wondering what kind of commission Chavez will keep for himself of the seized assets. 20% in a private offshore account? 30%? We'll never know because that's probably part of the new power grab - all books will be closed.
[Link]
Trade you a gallon of gas for a corn tortilla?
Mexicans stage tortilla protest! We want to conserve fuel by using more Ethanol. Mexicans want corn tortillas! Something's got to give!
[Link]
[Link]
1.30.2007
Pot-Bellied Man Looked Pregnant
OK - this guy was teased to no end for his pot belly... bet they didn't know he'd had his mutated twin brother living inside his stomach for almost 4 decades.
I don't think I have any similar excuse, unless I can blame the mutated carbs and pizza that make up some of my midsection.
[Link]
"The case may have been a medical miracle to doctors, but to Bhagat his condition had been a source of shame and misery. All his life, people in the village where he lived had mercilessly teased him and told him he looked pregnant. Ironically, they were right in a way."
I don't think I have any similar excuse, unless I can blame the mutated carbs and pizza that make up some of my midsection.
[Link]
58% wish Bush Presidency were simply over
[Link]
I kind of wish it were over too, so I wouldn't have to listen to Democrats bitch about Florida anymore, and I wouldn't have to listen to bitter political hacks taking pot shots at a man who's down because it's now politically safe to do so. Although it is entertaining at some level, kind of like those assault videos on YouTube.
Democratic talking points:
#1 Bush lied us into Iraq - Bush is not a liar. It's not in his nature to lie. He's probably the most honest President we've had since Lincoln. Too honest I suppose because it's political suicide to actually say what you mean and then do it. That's infuriating to those who expect a President to do whatever the opinion polls dictate.
#2 Bush is dumb - my observation is that Bush has leadership skills and people skills and is a skilled politician. He's able to work with both sides of the aisle to get things passed and didn't veto a single bill so far. That will change. But is he an intellectual? Nope - but who would rather have leading your company as CEO? A brilliant theorist who screws up the bottom line, or a people person who makes you a ton of money?
#3 Bush #$@% and is a $%#@ and &^%$# etc. That's just Democrats. No one is quite sure what it means.
End of the day Bush is probably a very nice guy and I like him. He's not mean.. He's friendly and fun, not overly obsessed with himself. That's how he kept getting elected. There are some politicians in Washington I wouldn't loan $10 to. But I would loan money to Bush because I'd get it back. So then what produces the hatred and bitterness from the left?
1. tough loss in Florida
2. hatred of Christian evangelicals
3. hatred of traditional families who are rich and happy
4. disagreement over how to handle terrorists - diplomacy vs. offensive military solutions
5. Liberals lean towards bitterness in general because they have a lot less certainty about God, and marriage, gay vs straight, drugs, alt. lifestyles etc. That can get stressful. Ennui. They also tend to prop up the "establishment" as evil, and big business as evil, so it's tougher to live surrounded by evil people, especially when those evil folks appear to be happy and well-adjusted.
6. Liberals reflect their own weaknesses onto their opponent. They need for Bush & co. to be liars and basically evil to the core so they can feel better about themselves. It is so important for them to apply the label "liar" to Bush and make it stick, because it helps them overcome the years of shame after Clinton demonstrated what liars are really like. If they successfully apply the label to Bush, it misdirects people, and helps Democrats setup the Republican stereotypes that have helped them in recent years. Therefore Iraq wasn't just bad policy. BUSH LIED. Much more important to the overall Democratic strategy.
I kind of wish it were over too, so I wouldn't have to listen to Democrats bitch about Florida anymore, and I wouldn't have to listen to bitter political hacks taking pot shots at a man who's down because it's now politically safe to do so. Although it is entertaining at some level, kind of like those assault videos on YouTube.
Democratic talking points:
#1 Bush lied us into Iraq - Bush is not a liar. It's not in his nature to lie. He's probably the most honest President we've had since Lincoln. Too honest I suppose because it's political suicide to actually say what you mean and then do it. That's infuriating to those who expect a President to do whatever the opinion polls dictate.
#2 Bush is dumb - my observation is that Bush has leadership skills and people skills and is a skilled politician. He's able to work with both sides of the aisle to get things passed and didn't veto a single bill so far. That will change. But is he an intellectual? Nope - but who would rather have leading your company as CEO? A brilliant theorist who screws up the bottom line, or a people person who makes you a ton of money?
#3 Bush #$@% and is a $%#@ and &^%$# etc. That's just Democrats. No one is quite sure what it means.
End of the day Bush is probably a very nice guy and I like him. He's not mean.. He's friendly and fun, not overly obsessed with himself. That's how he kept getting elected. There are some politicians in Washington I wouldn't loan $10 to. But I would loan money to Bush because I'd get it back. So then what produces the hatred and bitterness from the left?
1. tough loss in Florida
2. hatred of Christian evangelicals
3. hatred of traditional families who are rich and happy
4. disagreement over how to handle terrorists - diplomacy vs. offensive military solutions
5. Liberals lean towards bitterness in general because they have a lot less certainty about God, and marriage, gay vs straight, drugs, alt. lifestyles etc. That can get stressful. Ennui. They also tend to prop up the "establishment" as evil, and big business as evil, so it's tougher to live surrounded by evil people, especially when those evil folks appear to be happy and well-adjusted.
6. Liberals reflect their own weaknesses onto their opponent. They need for Bush & co. to be liars and basically evil to the core so they can feel better about themselves. It is so important for them to apply the label "liar" to Bush and make it stick, because it helps them overcome the years of shame after Clinton demonstrated what liars are really like. If they successfully apply the label to Bush, it misdirects people, and helps Democrats setup the Republican stereotypes that have helped them in recent years. Therefore Iraq wasn't just bad policy. BUSH LIED. Much more important to the overall Democratic strategy.
Man Recites 22,514 digits of Pi
Have trouble remembering names? Phone numbers/ Your credit card number? Check out this amazing story of a savant who has not retreated into autism, and recited Pi at Oxford to the amazement of scholars. "It took him over five hours and he did it without a single mistake." CBS
[Link]
[Link]
1.29.2007
Technology Voting Guide
Here's a very handy guide by Declan McCullagh outlining the way House Representatives and Senators voted on technology-related bills. As for Obama, he scored "out-of-the-office" on 14 of 16 bills and left the voting to others, while Clinton voted on only 9 of 16 bills, and scored only 33% out of 100 in the tech-friendly department.
I could've used their votes to save legal Internet Poker. Poker is a skill, an awesome game, and the best way to play it, and learn it, is online! But somehow that Port Security bill really needed this anti-poker law tagged on last-minute. Way to go.
[Link to Tech Voting Map]
I could've used their votes to save legal Internet Poker. Poker is a skill, an awesome game, and the best way to play it, and learn it, is online! But somehow that Port Security bill really needed this anti-poker law tagged on last-minute. Way to go.
[Link to Tech Voting Map]
Black Man Can Jump
I think the Arizona Cardinals have found their new field goal blocker! Here Adrian Wilson [bio], the Cardinals' strong safety for the last 5 years, jumps over a 66' pole straight on with just a few steps to prepare.
Welcome to New York!
Wow! Those cruel streets of New York. The muggings, rapes, and murders. Perhaps that infamous NYC reputation is what kept Damon Mootoo from asking anyone for directions for a period of 5 days and 4 nights in a chilly Queens New York.
Mootoo was staying at his brother's house in South Jamaica, Queens, and 12 hours after his arrival decided to go out for a walk, on Wednesday, January 17.
Sunday the 21st, after spending 4 chilly nights wandering those streets lost, Mootoo finally gathered the courage to ask someone for directions. He had his brother's address written on a piece of paper in his pocket, and speaks English.
Thankfully, while walking home from church, Michael Bharath spotted the shivering man and offered assistance.
"I want to go home," Mootoo told the paper. "I'm thinking about going back to Guyana."
Hopefully he won't try walking back. [Link]
Mootoo was staying at his brother's house in South Jamaica, Queens, and 12 hours after his arrival decided to go out for a walk, on Wednesday, January 17.
Sunday the 21st, after spending 4 chilly nights wandering those streets lost, Mootoo finally gathered the courage to ask someone for directions. He had his brother's address written on a piece of paper in his pocket, and speaks English.
Thankfully, while walking home from church, Michael Bharath spotted the shivering man and offered assistance.
"I want to go home," Mootoo told the paper. "I'm thinking about going back to Guyana."
Hopefully he won't try walking back. [Link]
American Idol Auditioner shocked
This auditioner assumed every contestant would go before Simon, Paula, and Randy. [Link]
Doing the math, you figure if the Idol judges are in your town for 2 days, the maximum # of auditions they could do would be roughly 12 an hour, and I don't see Paula and Simon working more than 8 hours a day, so that's maybe 96 auditions a day, and they're there 2 days. So 10,000 people show up, minus the 192 auditions done by the star judges, leaving 9,808 auditions that need to be done by some other judges.
Nevertheless, the show has interest because it puts some very funny things on display - namely the fact that people often don't realize how lacking they really are in talent. Professional musicians and actors lose auditions all the time and life goes on, but amateurs think of things as "once in a lifetime." Because in real life, their lack of talent will never give them a shot at a music career. Real musicians practice and work hard and network and move on. When the show gets boring for me is when they choose their final 32 or whatever it is and force them to grind through week after week of pop cover songs by mostly amateur singers.
Taylor Hicks, by the way, is in my opinion the best true musician to ever sneak through the competition. He'll probably be over produced and over packaged, which may cause him to lose most of what is appealing about him in the first place - authentic passion and talent. Time will tell.
The show's format also does a poor job of attracting any singer/songwriter type, because original music is not encouraged. The producers of the show know that 98% of original music is boring, and doesn't sell, so their best bet is to feature a parade of hits. They are in business to earn a profit after all, so you can't blame them.
Doing the math, you figure if the Idol judges are in your town for 2 days, the maximum # of auditions they could do would be roughly 12 an hour, and I don't see Paula and Simon working more than 8 hours a day, so that's maybe 96 auditions a day, and they're there 2 days. So 10,000 people show up, minus the 192 auditions done by the star judges, leaving 9,808 auditions that need to be done by some other judges.
Nevertheless, the show has interest because it puts some very funny things on display - namely the fact that people often don't realize how lacking they really are in talent. Professional musicians and actors lose auditions all the time and life goes on, but amateurs think of things as "once in a lifetime." Because in real life, their lack of talent will never give them a shot at a music career. Real musicians practice and work hard and network and move on. When the show gets boring for me is when they choose their final 32 or whatever it is and force them to grind through week after week of pop cover songs by mostly amateur singers.
Taylor Hicks, by the way, is in my opinion the best true musician to ever sneak through the competition. He'll probably be over produced and over packaged, which may cause him to lose most of what is appealing about him in the first place - authentic passion and talent. Time will tell.
The show's format also does a poor job of attracting any singer/songwriter type, because original music is not encouraged. The producers of the show know that 98% of original music is boring, and doesn't sell, so their best bet is to feature a parade of hits. They are in business to earn a profit after all, so you can't blame them.
1.28.2007
An Image a Day Goes a Long Way
daily dose of imagery is a site by Sam Javanrouh, who has been archiving his photo journal, one brilliant photo a day, every day, since July 4th, 2003. His site has won many awards, and the thumbnail you see here is an image featured February 18, 2005. A gorgeous shot. Sam is Creative director at Optix digital pictures, a visual effects and animation company. Photo © Sam Javanrouh
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