tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69322382011-12-14T19:03:40.490-08:00A blog about things everyone has at least one of. <br> Ramblings on technology, liberty, evolution in action, and general neat stuff.Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.comBlogger7341100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1118181951476513392005-06-07T15:05:00.000-07:002005-06-07T15:05:51.483-07:00

More evidence that we really don't understand the Japanese. Greenhead links to this WMV display showing a woman in a Japanese talent show losing her head. I have a guess about how she does it, but if anyone thinks they know, please leave a comment.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117755013375321142005-06-02T16:14:00.000-07:002005-06-02T16:35:08.133-07:00

The FBI has weighed in on the moves by the FCC and FAA to legalize cell phone use in airplanes. Seems they are unhappy that they won't be able to wiretap calls whenever they feel like it. Terrorists might need to phone home from the plane to get instructions, or something. Yeah, right.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117753995098263712005-06-02T15:56:00.000-07:002005-06-02T16:13:15.103-07:00

Kite flying in Pakistan seems to be a dangerous pastime. During the recent annual kite-flying festival in the eastern Pakistani city of Lahore, nearly twenty people died. Two were killed when hit by a car. Six more fell off a roof. Two were hit by stray gunfire. A four year old girl's throat was slit by a metal kite string. Another electrocuted because he used wire instead of string. Seven were

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117752969244339062005-06-02T15:17:00.000-07:002005-06-02T15:56:09.250-07:00

There has been lots of coverage in the media about the revelation that ex-FBI #2 man Mark Felt was the infamous "Deep Throat" source that Woodward and Bernstein used to blow open the Watergate affair. In a new article in the Washington Post, Woodward tells the story of how he met Felt, and how they came to leak one of the biggest scandals in American history. I do wonder just how long Woodward

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117750458842911522005-06-02T14:58:00.000-07:002005-06-02T15:15:35.823-07:00

Oxytocin is a hormone that up until now has been chiefly of to obstetricians. They use it to accelerate labor when 1; The fetus is in distress, 2; The mother has been having contractions for too long, or 3; The OB has a tee time to meet. Now Swiss researchers have found have found that the drug in spray form can be used to stimulate trust in people who are dosed with it. This suggests abuses

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117749240439285272005-06-02T14:53:00.000-07:002005-06-02T14:54:00.446-07:00

Saddam Hussein has been in jail for eighteen months now, and appears to be no closer to going to trial. The convenient fiction is that he is held by Iraq, even though his guards are from the American army. Neither group seems to subscribe to a prisoners right to a speedy trial. If they are going to hang him, shoot him, or otherwise dispose of him, lets get it over with. Hoping the ~70 year old

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117748092592109392005-06-02T14:34:00.000-07:002005-06-02T14:34:52.600-07:00

Somehow, it's comforting to know that there are people out there who are significantly weirder than you are. Take this piece that Xeni Jardin posted to BoingBoing: "Last night at Dorkbot SF, Violet Blue gave a wonderful presentation on the current state of teledildonics: the science of manipulating sex toys through the Internet. Immediately following the conclusion of her speech, Violet proceeded

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117747626207656142005-06-02T14:26:00.000-07:002005-06-02T14:27:06.213-07:00

Somehow I didn't get this on my calendar earlier, but it seems that today is National Leave the Office Earlier Day. So go home! You were probably goofing off anyway.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117586911529319082005-05-31T17:42:00.000-07:002005-05-31T17:48:31.553-07:00

It seems that bureaucrats an politicians are the same all over. Some politicians in Europe are trying to take France's rejection of the EU constitution as a "maybe" instead of as a "no." Spiked reports: Within an hour of the French rejecting the European Constitution, senior EU figures insisted that things might not be what they seemed. France, the press, the world, might think that 55 per cent

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117567423361637572005-05-31T12:18:00.000-07:002005-05-31T12:34:20.753-07:00

Synchronicity rears its ugly head! I had no hint of this when I put up the previous post, but CNN is reporting that NBC and WB will be airing the first primetime ads for condoms tonight to be seen on major US networks. The first WB show to get the ads will probably be The Gilmore Girls.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117495126424855262005-05-30T16:16:00.000-07:002005-05-30T16:20:30.016-07:00

From WebProNews: "And here's the Firefox poster that isn't going to run, at least for now (click on it for larger image):"Why isn't it running? Because it might cause offense to some, according to comment in a post at Spread Firefox: Some time back over at SpreadFirefox.com, we started an effort to make a college poster to help spread Firefox. The results of this effort was a great poster that

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117494950459846152005-05-30T16:15:00.000-07:002005-05-30T16:21:51.280-07:00

When the owner of a new car wash in Fredericksburg, VA found the till was coming up several hundred dollars a week short, he accused the manufacturer of the system of having duplicate keys, and of ripping him off. The loss came to thousands of dollars. In response, a video camera was installed, which caught this group of starlings ripping off quarters via the coin-return slot. This story started

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117493152610297352005-05-30T15:39:00.000-07:002005-05-30T15:51:10.176-07:00

May the Farm be with you! One of the best Star Wars spoofs I've seen features Cuke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Cannoli, Tofu-D2, C3-Peanuts, Ham Solo, and Chewbroccoli against the forces of the evil Darth Tader. There's no attempt at matching ILM's slick effects, the emphasis is on camp and the theme of the Farm.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1117258050981775312005-05-27T22:24:00.000-07:002005-05-28T11:18:59.663-07:00

I walked into the local QFC supermarket yesterday to buy a couple of things, and I forgot to bring the @#$%&^!* shoppers card. This meant that I had to pay about a fifteen percent penalty. The checker tried to find me in the system, but since I had never filled out or turned in the personal info form, she really wasn't likely to find me. This all reminded me how much I really hate this whole

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116970072672664022005-05-24T14:23:00.000-07:002005-05-24T14:27:52.683-07:00

There have been we sites that track the cheapest gas for some time. Now someone has coupled that information with the capabilities of Google Maps to produce an interactive display. Cool. I would have posted this a few days ago, but the site has been effectively slashdotted. It's back up now, and I doubt referrals from this blog will give them any problems.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116969057708153282005-05-24T13:48:00.000-07:002005-05-24T14:20:52.560-07:00

The Force was not with Mark Webb, 20, and Shelley Mandiville, 17 when they fired up their lightsabers today. Either that, or the Evolution In Action police trumped Yoda. The pair was trying to videotape their own lightsaber duel in the woods some fifteen miles northwest of London, England. For the props, they used fluorescent light tubes filled with gasoline. Then they set them on fire,

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116910262189791912005-05-23T21:44:00.000-07:002005-05-23T21:51:02.196-07:00

Seattle is installing speakers and some video displays on phone booths, stores, and at the ferry terminal. The plan is for people who have visual or hearing impairments carry an RFID tag which will activate a prerecorded message with either safety and navigation information, or advertising from the adjacent store. The messages will be either spoken, or shown on the displays in American sign

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116908359999739782005-05-23T21:07:00.000-07:002005-05-23T21:19:20.020-07:00

Everything you thought you knew is wrong. This seems to be a common finding in medicine. Recent research is showing that Vitamin D is essential in preventing several kinds of cancer, including lymphoma, cancers of the prostate, lung, colon and, ironically, skin cancer. But for years dermatologists have been teaching everyone never to bare their skin without a heavy sun blocker, to block

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116886078493310342005-05-23T15:06:00.000-07:002005-05-23T15:32:48.546-07:00

Here's something scary to consider. Are these really two different women, of has Hilary Clinton secretly taken over Washington State? ChristineGregoire HilaryClinton

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116644127412921382005-05-20T19:29:00.000-07:002005-05-20T20:18:50.046-07:00

Speaking of the new Star Wars flick. First, in connection with the recent Photoshop article, worth1000.com is running one of its contests under the title "Cliche Hell- Star Wars". Entries cover the usual gamut of skill and taste. Also of interest, Newsday takes a look at some of the best moments in the series (such as the endless appearance of the Imperial Star Destroyer in the opening of

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116641176134624022005-05-20T18:58:00.000-07:002005-05-20T19:06:16.140-07:00

For those in the Seattle area, Propel has opened the first biodiesel station in the area, near the University Village shopping center. No word if you get to choose if your exhaust will smell like french fries, chimichangas, fish, or plain old soybeans.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116640645250730522005-05-20T18:31:00.000-07:002005-05-20T20:16:37.566-07:00

Within hours of the premier, copies of Star Wars III were circulating in various formats on the net, and being sold on street corners. Techdirt is proposing that, contrary to the opinion of folks like the MPAA, this is actually a good thing for the franchise. The pirate copies will only act as teasers, and the real fans will pay to see the theater version and buy the tchotchkes anyway. Any

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116639046511117742005-05-20T18:15:00.000-07:002005-05-20T18:30:46.516-07:00

Or free radio in Boston. Techweb's Mobile Pipeline is reporting that grass roots wifi is doing so well, that the city doesn't have a need to try to implement a municipally run service such as those under way in Philadelphia or Rio Rancho. This kind of approach certainly appeals to my sense of laissez faire economics, and should definitely be cheaper.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116637759784891932005-05-20T18:08:00.000-07:002005-05-20T18:09:19.790-07:00

Two Chicago companies are teaming up to resolve one of life's great dilemmas. Vienna Beef has convinced to market hot dog buns in packages of eight. For probably one hundred years, hot dogs have been sold in packages of eight (presumably because that comes out to an even one pound), while the buns have been sold in packages of six or twelve (again, presumably because bakers deal in dozens).

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116010349428426272005-05-13T11:45:00.000-07:002005-05-13T11:52:29.436-07:00

Several news sources are making a big deal about the results you get when you type the words "brothel near" and the name of your city into Google Maps. All that really happens though is that the search engine looks for entries with the city and the keyword "brothel." The system works just as well (i.e. poorly) if you try "little green men", or just about any other noun.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116009142699380682005-05-13T11:32:00.000-07:002005-05-13T11:32:22.706-07:00

The BBC has a roundup of menu offerings in school cafeterias in various countries. The comments are as good as the article. My recollection of the food in English schools (I won't say how long ago) is that it beat American menus by far. YMMV.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1116008931072347342005-05-13T11:24:00.000-07:002005-05-13T11:28:51.080-07:00

Are you worried that Friday the 13th is on a Friday this month? The origins of the superstition, and of triskaidekaphobia in general are obscure, but have a long history. I can't find a Latin word for fear of Friday's though.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115946920236612482005-05-12T17:39:00.000-07:002005-05-12T18:15:20.716-07:00

Police in Colorado Springs used 120 rounds of rifle fire to kill five Buffaloes that had escaped from a meat packing plant. The officers were using .223 caliber weapons, which are just fine for killing people, but pretty inadequate for a 900 pound Buffalo. .223 ammunition is not even allowed for deer hunting in some states. For reference, 19th century Buffalo Rifles were traditionally chambered

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115944310075975452005-05-12T17:21:00.000-07:002005-05-13T11:58:07.680-07:00

Called BIG (Broadband in Gas), a company in California (where else?) is pushing this as a last-mile alternative for delivering wireless 10Gbps service using existing gas pipelines. They call themselves "the leading innovator of subterranean broadband communications", and claim they can do this with the pre-existing pipeline infrastructure.Is it just me, or does pumping radiant energy into a

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115943631568520932005-05-12T17:17:00.000-07:002005-05-12T17:20:32.020-07:00

... but didn't have the spies researchers to find out. The 2005 CIA World Factbook has just been released.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115943382680488382005-05-12T17:15:00.000-07:002005-05-12T18:18:12.600-07:00

Ongoing Photoshop contests at Worth1000.com. Zillions of topics to choose from.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115748765898549432005-05-10T10:56:00.000-07:002005-05-10T11:12:46.556-07:00

Preople.com has set up a site that lets you rate how well known you are on the Internet. Some of the ratings include: Harry Potter 12,600,000Bill Gates 7,300,000 Han Solo 732,000 Tim Berners Lee 608,000 Cory Doctorow 345,000 My

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115747755730172312005-05-10T10:31:00.000-07:002005-05-10T10:55:56.176-07:00

Hidden in the fine print of the Real ID act are a couple of especially terrifying provisions. First, it allows the Secretary of Homeland Security to waive compliance with existing laws whenever he decides to. Even worse, the act tries to exempt these waivers from any form of judicial review! Who needs that pesky Supreme Court anyway? Time to act now.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115675982071281552005-05-09T14:54:00.000-07:002005-05-09T14:59:42.503-07:00

The Seattle P.I. has a story on Mitchie Brusco, an eight year old skateboard champ. Mitchie has been skateboarding since he was three, and has almost a dozen corporate sponsorships. What struck me in the story is that he is also in first grade. First grade! I'm not sure of the norm here in King County, but isn't he a bit old for that? What isn't the article telling us?

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115667479233875982005-05-09T12:36:00.000-07:002005-05-09T12:38:31.700-07:00

It is not my intention to provide comprehensive coverage of vibrators here, but after the earlier posting about the world's largest, along came this article on a vibrator powered by your telephone line! Of even more interest is the parent site which has all sorts of tools and devices that are powered off of 48V telephone circuits. Maybe I shouldn't give up my POTS line after all.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115664575571430932005-05-09T11:47:00.000-07:002005-05-09T11:50:03.756-07:00

Following up on an earlier post, here is a site that will help you contact your senator to fight the Real ID requirement.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115535562813609002005-05-07T23:58:00.000-07:002005-05-08T00:02:31.533-07:00

Jessica Allen, 27, was asked to leave Pinewood Elementary School in Marysville, WA where she had gone to pick up her daughter, a student there. Seems her clothes were too sexy for the school. Unlike other schools in the district, Pinewood extends its dress code not just to students but to parents as well. Ms. Allen was wearing a tank top, which is a banned item of wear. According to Allen, "If I

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115414112668515602005-05-06T14:13:00.000-07:002005-05-06T14:15:12.673-07:00

Requires 52 batteries. No mention of how much KY jelly might be needed. May also be used to attempt to set land speed record for electric vehicles.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115413726140623442005-05-06T13:54:00.000-07:002005-05-06T14:18:15.986-07:00

The Real ID Act was approved by the U.S. House of Representatives on Thursday, with the controversial attached as a rider to the must-pass bill to pay for military operations in Iraq.. It is likely to pass in the Republican dominated Senate. If it does, everyone in the country will be required to carry one. It will be yet another step towards government control of every aspect of your lives. Just

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115412819847763072005-05-06T13:53:00.000-07:002005-05-06T13:53:39.853-07:00

From Wired: The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit ruled Friday that the Federal Communications Commission did not have the authority to prohibit the manufacture of computer and video hardware that doesn't have copy protection technology known as the "broadcast flag." This may only be a temporary reprieve. The court didn't say the flag was illegal, just that the FCC had exceeded their

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115345250684685792005-05-05T19:02:00.000-07:002005-05-05T19:07:31.150-07:00

A chicken in every pot, two cars in every garage, a defibrillator in the bathroom. Say what! That's what Philips Medical Systems would like to see with their new HeartStart Home defibrillator. A normal heart has a regular, rhythmic electrical pattern that coincides with the heartbeat. Under certain circumstances, the electrical pattern becomes completely disorganized. Without the electrical

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115341961887575952005-05-05T18:12:00.000-07:002005-05-05T18:12:41.893-07:00

Seattlest has discovered a really neat tool for browsing real estate in the King County area. Redfin integrates the multiple listing service with a graphic interface similar to that used by the new Google satellite map viewer. You can waste spend hours going through properties for sale, records of previous sales at least as far back as the late 1990s, complete with pictures, tax records, and so

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115322610115845702005-05-05T12:49:00.000-07:002005-05-05T12:50:10.123-07:00

Videophones have been the next-big-thing since they were first shown at the 1964 World's Fair. We've had clunky versions working for office and commercial environments for a while now, but Motorola has announced the Ojo (which means eye), arguably the first practical home unit. They will be available from, where else, Hammacher Schlemmer. Although a bit pricey at $800 each, everything is

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115321516029579972005-05-05T12:31:00.000-07:002005-05-05T13:11:05.746-07:00

Declan McCullagh's Politech has some suggestions on protecting your laptop contents at border crossings. The article is really a clarion call to the insufficiently paranoid among us, that some border goon might be copying off your contents, or loading spyware on your machine. Gone are the days when some had never seen a laptop (as happened to me long ago in Mexico), and you could just tell them

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115320905477085122005-05-05T12:21:00.000-07:002005-05-05T12:25:43.076-07:00

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115320663287918452005-05-05T12:17:00.000-07:002005-05-06T13:37:40.320-07:00

In the ongoing quest for most massive single dose of cholesterol possible, Denny's Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield, Pennsylvania has come up with the 15 pound hamburger. All for a mere $30. The pub had previously claimed the world's biggest burger title with their six pound entry, until a diner in Clinton, N.J., introduced a 12.5-pound burger. So the arms belly race continues.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115319981283993792005-05-05T12:00:00.000-07:002005-05-05T13:05:39.733-07:00

It seems that Antonio Banderas is taking up the cowl again for another run at Zorro, and Yahoo Movies has the trailer. This one looks to be set about six years after the first movie. If nothing else, its always worth it to watch Catherine Zeta-Jones in action. The trailer also has a neat scene with Zorro and his horse riding on a train. I mean riding the horse on TOP of a train. Hmmm. Didn't CZJ

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115318615379076972005-05-05T11:41:00.000-07:002005-05-05T13:03:46.093-07:00

Actually I don't think you can lead a cat to water. I'm not a cat person, and the stench that sometimes greets you in the homes of those who are leaves me with no regrets on that score. But now there may be relief for those people who are kept as pets by the feline furballs. Jo Lapidge, a woman in Australia, claims that she has come up with a method to literally toilet train house cats. At the

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115317503323725182005-05-05T11:12:00.000-07:002005-05-05T11:25:03.770-07:00

For those too mechanically challenged to screw a smoke detector to the ceiling, a company in Sweden has come up with one that clamps to a lamp cord. Or maybe it's for folks who get carried away with the number of candles on the dinner table.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115074270416819812005-05-02T15:50:00.000-07:002005-05-02T15:51:10.416-07:00

From Ananova: "Police in Peru have launched a campaign to save frogs from being turned into an aphrodisiac drink. 'Frogshake' is popular among native Peruvians as a stimulant that enhances male sexual performance. Police saved 4,000 frogs from being juiced to make the drink in a raid on a warehouse in Lima. Terra Noticias Populares reports the frogs were packed in boxes and were about

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115073703958096612005-05-02T15:24:00.000-07:002005-05-02T15:45:03.246-07:00

The Time Traveler Convention, May 7, 2005, 10:00pm EDT (08 May 2005 02:00:00 UTC), East Campus Courtyard, MIT, 42:21:36.025°N, 71:05:16.332°W, (42.360007,-071.087870 in decimal degrees). MIT wants to publicize the event, so that all future chrononauts will know to gather in the quad.Personally, I subscribe to the notion that time travel will never be invented. The reasons have nothing to do with

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1115072642476826282005-05-02T15:23:00.000-07:002005-05-02T15:24:02.476-07:00

This would be more useful if most of the bottle caps in this country weren't the twist-off type these days. Back when the original style Crown bottle cap was used, a finger ring to open a cold one would have been just the thing. Mango International (stupid flash intro bypassed) has introduced just such an opener, only forty years late.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114575503312430792005-04-26T20:58:00.000-07:002005-04-26T21:18:23.313-07:00

The feds may actually be stepping back from their plans to put RFID chips in passports. Signs of intelligence inside the Beltway! What's next? Life on Mars?

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114573326315951702005-04-26T20:41:00.000-07:002005-04-27T13:47:36.813-07:00

Fans of the murdered TV series Firefly will rejoice to know that the movie follow-on is approaching, and that the first trailer has been released. Unfortunately the trailer is still only available on the Apple site. I say unfortunately because the smaller versions are presented against a distracting poster for the movie, which is called Serenity by the way. To see the full screen version, you

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114447014968753892005-04-25T09:36:00.000-07:002005-04-25T09:36:54.970-07:00

Target pharmacies is reinventing the pill bottle, beginning May 1. Called ClearRx prescription-packaging, it is designed by a visual arts designer, rather than an engineer. There are pros and cons to this. The new bottle features the name of the drug in large letters,easy to read use instructions, and color-coded rings for different family members. Future plans include labels that self-destruct (

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114375497522233382005-04-24T13:44:00.000-07:002005-04-24T17:46:28.710-07:00

Amtrak's flagship service, the Acela, which run between Boston and Washington D.C. have been sidelined. Again. Inspectors found problems with the train's braking system, and have pulled the high speed rail cars from service. This is not the first time that the Acela has had problems, but it is hard to say if Amtrak is being overly cautious or not. While I'm not advocating risking lives, this

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114367539866442372005-04-24T11:29:00.000-07:002005-04-24T11:33:57.506-07:00

T-Mobile is offering on-line access to cellular coverage maps that are detailed down to the street level. All the carriers must have this kind of information, but no one has made it available to consumers before. Just type in an address, and see the coverage. Or navigate from the country sized map to zero in on an area.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114286458620309372005-04-23T12:09:00.000-07:002005-04-23T13:02:22.856-07:00

That was the prediction when the ban on Evil Assault Weapons ended, not with a bang but with a whimper, last September. Now even the New York Times, not known as a bastion of second amendment rights is admitting that the effect on crime and violence has been zero. Some of the bans advocates are in denial, and now say there never really was a ban anyway, so its lapse makes no difference. Senator

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114283246717720612005-04-23T12:06:00.000-07:002005-04-23T12:07:26.716-07:00

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114197540712361042005-04-22T12:17:00.000-07:002005-04-22T12:19:00.713-07:00

I've been trying to ignore the whole iPod mania, waiting for PDAs with enough storage to do dual-service as realistic MP3 players. The convergence of PDAs, MP3 players, phones, and, yes, cameras is inevitable, so I'm trying to skip a generation here. Having said that, neat engineering is still neat engineering. Case in point, the Trypod portable speaker. Designed for the iPod Shuffle, but should

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114139286919005162005-04-21T19:37:00.000-07:002005-04-21T20:11:23.586-07:00

It's Fermi's Paradox. Why can't we hear anyone out there? Jill Tarter, Director of the Center for SETI Research, says she gets asked if everyone else is just listening all the time. Maybe, if they are smarter than we are, that's exactly what is going on. We should refer to the Three Laws of Alien Contact proposed by Pellegrino and Zebrowski in "The Killing Star". Loosely paraphrased, the laws

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114137294388629372005-04-21T19:19:00.000-07:002005-04-21T19:36:59.386-07:00

Or at least the feds won't be able to if a bill proposed by Senator Rick Santorum (R-PA) passes. Seems that companies like AccuWeather and The Weather Channel don't like the competition. Never mind that much of their input data comes from National Weather Service sources. I don't normally favor governments competing with private enterprise, but in this case the government collects the data for

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114136333005023722005-04-21T19:16:00.000-07:002005-04-21T19:18:53.006-07:00

Officials at the Denver International Airport recently required two traveling penguins from Seaworld in San Diego to pass through the metal detector. I wonder what they thought they could be hiding? I wonder where they thought they could be hiding something? This lack of common sense boggles the mind. Perhaps I just boggle easily.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114056265619472512005-04-20T21:04:00.000-07:002005-04-22T12:22:29.073-07:00

In the very early days of Windows, there was a program called Gopher, which caused gophers to dig holes into your open windows, and poke there heads up. A more sophisticated variant on the theme can be found at Netdisaster.com. You get a selection of choices allowing you to dynamically deface any web page. As in this screenshot from O-n-A getting attacked by flying saucers with energy weapons

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114054682234790222005-04-20T20:37:00.000-07:002005-04-22T12:21:39.576-07:00

At least in the geek community. First BoingBoing reported that Firefox had outstripped IE as the browser used most frequently to access the site. Today, the Red Ferret Journal reported that Firefox accounts for 59% of their readership. Among the O-n-A readership, IE still leads nearly 2 to 1. I suppose I have a less geeky readership. As the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water, but you

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114053093379481202005-04-20T20:11:00.000-07:002005-04-20T20:16:09.100-07:00

Johnnie Walker Scotch is running an ad campaign with the slogan "Johnnie Walker...Keep Walking." They must be running this in other parts of the country, because I certainly haven't seen any of the ads. It also seems like an odd theme to chose, implying that when offered this brand of scotch, people should "Keep Walking."Anyway, seems that the Not Only But Also blog had a bit of a problem with

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114030329637907122005-04-20T13:51:00.000-07:002005-04-20T13:52:09.636-07:00

Bruce Schneier, security technologist and author, has introduced a new symbol to "represent the right to privacy and anonymity in the information age." It will be interesting to see how this fares. It is certainly a more practical emblem than the Creative Communist symbol that Bill Gates inadvertently spawned early this year.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114029557548968622005-04-20T13:38:00.000-07:002005-04-20T13:39:17.550-07:00

BoingBoing points to an Action-figure illustrated story of Passover. Since many of the Golden Age (and Silver Age) comics were written on the east coast, many of their creators, like Stan Lee or Siegel and Shuster tended to be Jewish. Now I can't remember a single classic superhero who took Saturdays off, but here is a speculative look at the ever-lovin' Thing of the Fantastic Four discovering

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114028386411456922005-04-20T13:19:00.000-07:002005-04-20T13:19:46.413-07:00

The latest research shows that frequent masturbating could protect against prostate cancer. The study by the Cancer Council Victoria in Melbourne, Australia suggests that the more men ejaculate between the ages of 20 and 50, the lower their risk of developing prostate cancer. No comment on the effect on hair growth on your palms.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114027566382488762005-04-20T13:05:00.000-07:002005-04-20T13:06:06.383-07:00

The Texas state legislature is considering a bill that would require Texans show ID in order to vote. This doesn't mean showing a voter registration card, it means showing a government issued ID. While this seems reasonable on the surface, it actually means that every adult would have to register with some government agency or other. Of course, the feds want centralize all driver's licenses, the

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1114027051388207642005-04-20T12:57:00.000-07:002005-04-21T12:17:49.900-07:00

In typical fashion, one branch of the US government is banning agencies from specifying brands like Intel or Microsoft in procurement contracts, while at the same time another area is building a process that forces anyone applying for a government grant to use MS Windows. The Grants.gov website will become the sole submission point for all grant requests, and they have announced plans to require

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113788582076326682005-04-17T18:42:00.000-07:002005-04-17T18:43:02.076-07:00

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113786343854084952005-04-17T18:05:00.000-07:002005-04-17T18:05:43.856-07:00

Despite the endless stories about cell phones blowing up gas pumps, gas stations in parts of Michigan will begin offering WiFi service to customers. For a fee, of course. Given the short duration of a fill-up, it hardly seems worth it to me to get on line. Unless, we return to the long gas lines of the early '70s...

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113517142758157992005-04-14T15:18:00.000-07:002005-04-14T15:20:28.853-07:00

The British tabloid The Sun is trying to save, as they phrase it, "two of Britain's most outstanding monuments" (NSFW), Katie Price's boobs. The model had enhanced her original 32B assets to 32FF, but now says they are a little too big. She plans to have the implants removed/reduced. In response to the news, the Sun tried to get cooperation from Britain's National Trust, but the preservation

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113516023065202332005-04-14T15:00:00.000-07:002005-04-14T15:00:23.066-07:00

Unfortunately, this isn't necessarily good news. As with most things milspeak, this doesn't mean what it does for the rest of us. In this case, it means that the Pentagon is spending more of its budget on "black," or classified, programs than at any time since 1988. This piece of news coincides with a report that the Defense Department is unable to track how it spent tens of millions of

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113514630000891342005-04-14T14:36:00.000-07:002005-04-14T14:37:10.003-07:00

The U.N. General Assembly unanimously approved a treaty on Wednesday outlawing the use of nuclear weapons by terrorists. That should certainly stop any self-respecting terrorist. Just think of the fine they would get!

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113514320067645402005-04-14T14:01:00.000-07:002005-04-14T14:32:00.066-07:00

The SciFi Channel has announced their slate of shows for next season. Among a raft of other insipid looking offerings, they plan to resurrect Irwin Allen's 1960s schlock series the Time Tunnel. The premise is that two researchers are being bounced all over history as an excuse to write in guest stars and bad plots. In a Roddenberry-esque dynastic move, the series will be produced by Allen's wife.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113446598833867872005-04-13T19:21:00.000-07:002005-04-13T19:43:18.833-07:00

The Revenge of the Sith will be here next month, and the proximity has driven those cute and innocuous M&M candies to the Dark Side, The dark chocolate side that is. In another of that great series of TV commercials, M&Ms spoofs Star Wars as only they can.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113445032212505582005-04-13T19:16:00.000-07:002005-04-13T19:17:12.213-07:00

They call this concept FemDefence (sic), and it is intended as a final protection against unwanted intercourse, aka rape. It is designed along the lines of a tampon with a springloaded needle at one end. Reminds me of stories from the Vietnam war where VC women would allegedly insert things like razor blades to catch unwary GIs. I suppose the string is to facilitate removal, though I it might be

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113431983726037582005-04-13T15:31:00.000-07:002005-04-13T15:39:43.726-07:00

King County Executive Ron Sims appointed a 10-member blue-ribbon commission to review the 200 elections this week. Cheryl Scott was named to head the group. Ms. Scott was a major contributor to both parties in the Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, and even gave some money to Rossi. Sims himself ran and lost in last year's disputed Governor's race. Does this seem a bit of a conflict of interest to

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113428981433824922005-04-13T14:48:00.000-07:002005-04-13T14:49:41.433-07:00

Now we are only as bad as the rest of the country. Joy!

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113425816924568242005-04-13T13:55:00.000-07:002005-04-13T13:58:17.163-07:00

I wasn't going to do any more lists for a bit, but this one was too good to pass up: 8. 3CPU - 3PO's multiprocessor brother 7. Chewbacco - The chaw spittin' Wookiee 6. Darth Humongous - The well-endowed Sith 5. Tango Fett - The dirty dancing bounty hunter 4. Senator Palpitations - The

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113350952207308852005-04-12T17:05:00.000-07:002005-04-12T17:13:03.286-07:00

"Since 1992, the Thomas Jefferson Center for the Protection of Free Expression has celebrated the birth and ideals of its namesake by calling attention to those who in the past year forgot or disregarded Mr. Jefferson's admonition that freedom of speech 'cannot be limited without being lost.'" The center has announced its picks for the Muzzle Awards for 2005. The list includes: The Federal

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113276140574304962005-04-11T20:22:00.000-07:002005-04-11T20:22:20.576-07:00

The Museum of Hoaxes has collected what they feel to be the Top 100 April Fool's Hoaxes of All Time. Personally, I don't see how the list can be complete without mentioning NPR's story on the coast-to-coast coffee pipeline for Starbucks, which unfortunately was a bit too long ago for the web.. The Swiss Spaghetti HarvestThe Left-Handed WhopperPlanetary Alignment Decreases GravityThe Case of the

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113274542538956862005-04-11T19:55:00.000-07:002005-04-11T20:03:22.486-07:00

“On the 18 of August, [], I arrived at the White House with rifle in hand, and was immediately ushered into the executive room. I found the president alone." The missing piece in that quotation is that the year was 1863. Christopher Spencer had walked up to the White House carrying one of his new, 7-round lever-action rifles. Not only did no one panic, but Spencer and Abraham Lincoln went out on

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113181798469074892005-04-10T18:09:00.000-07:002005-04-10T18:09:58.470-07:00

Last week King County discovered 93 absentee ballots still uncounted in their envelopes. Friday they found another one! An additional fourteen turned up in Pierce County. More fuel to the state Republican Party's challenge to Gov. Christine Gregoire's 129-vote victory over Dino Rossi. Seems that Winston Churchill was right.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113180433726863032005-04-10T17:46:00.000-07:002005-04-10T17:48:18.730-07:00

The top ten 10 Manly Man drinks, according to AskMen.com. Not sure who they asked to determine this. I was at least OK with the list up to number 7. Check here for more recipes. ManhattanSidecarMartiniScotch & SodaRusty NailOld-FashionedTrinity CocktailTyphoonBloody BullBeer Buster

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113180291488983912005-04-10T17:44:00.000-07:002005-04-10T17:44:51.490-07:00

Washington State Governor Christine Gregoire (we'll get back to the validity of the election later) signed a bill this week permitting saying bad things about a female 12 or older that could injure her reputation or expose her to contempt. Unless she is a prostitute. Then it was already OK. What Gregoire really did was sign the repeal of one of Washington's obsolete laws, this one dating back to

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113177924460169392005-04-10T17:04:00.000-07:002005-04-10T17:05:57.783-07:00

Combine Craigslist real estate ads with Google Maps and what do you get? An up to date, graphic display of all the listings in Craiglist cities, sorted by price. And if you were asleep earlier in the semester, you can even get satellite views of properties now on Google. Well, not inside the apartments.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113176298581902742005-04-10T16:33:00.000-07:002005-04-20T21:30:31.223-07:00

Boeing has actually asked the U.S. government for permission to harass Pacific Harbor Seals. Really. Seems they want to dredge the harbor near Vandenberg Air Force Base, and the harbor seals, elephant seals, sea lions, and other marine mammals just won't get with the program. Duh!

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113175885144801512005-04-10T16:31:00.000-07:002005-04-10T16:31:25.146-07:00

Microsoft is slipping the release date for their promised new operating system yet again. Is anyone surprised? Wired suggests it should be called Longwait! eWeek calls it Shorthorn.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113024044136495212005-04-08T21:51:00.000-07:002005-04-20T21:31:36.500-07:00

How can you fight the 800 pound gorilla? Last year, Kent State student David Zamos earned approximately $3,500. Microsoft's income was $38 billion. But Zamos won the fight.Zamos decided to sell new student copies of Microsoft Windows and Office XP Pro he had bought but did not to open. He put them for sale on eBay. Microsoft tried to block the sale, but finally it was completedThen Microsoft

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113020534754897202005-04-08T21:21:00.000-07:002005-04-08T21:22:28.386-07:00

Sony has patented a new technology that could transmit smells, tastes and perhaps even the feel of things directly into your brain. The technique is non-invasive. It uses pulses of ultrasound aimed at the head to modify firing patterns in specific parts of the brain. This creates "sensory experiences" ranging from moving images to tastes and sounds. It could also give blind or deaf people a way

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1113007226321052902005-04-08T17:40:00.000-07:002005-04-08T17:40:26.323-07:00

Ever wonder what the back side of a smiley looks like? Here's your chance to find out.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1112994765442815502005-04-08T14:10:00.000-07:002005-04-08T17:13:32.440-07:00

57-year-old Mike Bolesta of Baltimore was told that installation was free when he bought a new car stereo at BestBuy. Then, after it was installed, they told him "Just kidding", and socked him with a bill for $114. Bolesta, a tour operator decided to pay with $2 bills, which he uses as part of his business. The clerk at BestBuy refused to take them. Then she noticed that the serial numbers were

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1112992693489861142005-04-08T13:30:00.001-07:002005-04-08T13:38:13.493-07:00

For those with empty space in their 19" racks, and bottles of wine they really want unchilled, Gizmodo points to this indispensable 3U wine rack. Only £39.00 plus international shipping.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1112991887207656112005-04-08T13:24:00.000-07:002005-04-08T13:56:18.423-07:00

And Chicago, and Los Angeles, and Miami. Flocks of Monk Parakeets (also known as Quaker Parrots) have set up housekeeping in cities across North America. Despite the taxonomic confusion over their name, the birds have adapted to the cold weather, and are competing with native species like pigeons, and other invaders like house sparrows.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1112991372615677582005-04-08T13:15:00.000-07:002005-04-08T17:22:33.500-07:00

According to Aunty-Spam, phishers are purchasing ads on search engines such as Google, putting up fake travel sites offering cheap airline tickets, and then stealing credit card numbers. To add insult to injury, once the credit card data have been entered, an error page is displayed telling the user that the transaction has been unsuccessful, and offering instructions on how to pay for the ticket

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1112990585174022582005-04-08T13:02:00.000-07:002005-04-08T17:23:50.366-07:00

Via of Bbspot.com: 10. Company now requires punching out to use the bathroom 9. You're operating too efficiently, finishing all your work well before the end of the day and therefore must slow down 8. You accidentally discovered how Office Jesus makes the coffee 7. Yesterday you passed a coffee bean

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6932238.post-1112733610496673512005-04-05T13:38:00.000-07:002005-04-05T13:48:20.880-07:00

Animated music video testimony via 3 Blind Mice. Form your own opinion.

Ben Klausnernoreply@blogger.com0