Office psas, bad science, microsoftrust, GoogleTV

Here's a few stories for you:

• NBC's "The Office" has it's April Fool's Day PSAs available on their site ("The More You Know" spoofs). Also, take a look around because they have a lot of excellent content for "The Office" fans on the site. (I found that most of the videos required IE and Windows (and site navigation seemed a bit glitchy to me)).
• So how do you know if that science is good? Apply the seven warning signs of bogus science.
• Do Consumers Trust the Microsoft Brand? You can read the article, but I'll spoil it for you: the answer is 'no'.
• More potential Google domination: Is Google TV on the way?
  

Political anti-attack ad?, Dane dialing, UMDs disappearing, fly glasses

Ah, the first thunderstorm of the year (that I remember anyway). My sump pump dreads it, but my lawn appreciates it. Here are some links wash away that last bit of snow:

• Rinck has eyes on Congress - "Our congressman is the smartest person in the district, and we might be the only place in the country that can say that," Rinck said. "But he falls somewhat short on the charisma meter. And it might take a somewhat less intelligent -- although much noisier -- person to get some things done for this district." Oooookay, interesting strategy...
• Denmark has more cel phone subscriptions than inhabitants. Because one phone number per person in your family is just not enough anymore.
• Hope you didn't buy a PSP for the movies. UMD movies might be on the way out.
• Laser used to make glasses for a housefly. Great, why are we improving their eyesight?
  

Abramoff to jail, braintwister, Google's free internet, Sam & Max

Well, it is finally starting to feel like spring here. I am going to have to go down a coat level because it has really warmed up in the last couple days. And here are a few links to keep you warm:

• Abramoff gets close to 6 years. But he's really sorry.
• Here's the way to combine two brainteasers for twice the mental building: Rubik's Sudoku.
• Google patents free wi-fi. And if you are drinking regular water and breathing regular air, you are a sucker. Google Water and Google Air is the way to go.
• I was disappointed a while back when I heard that the latest "Sam & Max" game was going to be cancelled, but received a bit of joy back when I found that Sam & Max comic strips are available at Telltale Games.
  

Some song purchases

For something different today, I thought I would post the last 10 songs I purchased from iTunes (not including the free downloads of the week; by the way, if you have iTunes, be sure to check it out at least once a week to get the one or two free song downloads and occasional free video downloads they offer. Very often the songs are good.). In reverse order:

• "Stars" by Switchfoot. I really enjoyed Switchfoot's The Beautiful Letdown, so I decided to try out this song from their new one, Nothing Is Sound.
• "Burn the Witch (Unkle Remix)" by Queens of the Stone Age. Good version of the same song from Lullabies to Paralyze, and it came bundled with the song's video.
• "Hush" by Deep Purple. Classic, and can be found on The Very Best of Deep Purple.
• "Sour Girl" by Stone Temple Pilots. Can be found on Thank You. I used to pick up almost every STP album until after "Tiny Music" when I stopped paying attention to what they were doing (and I think they were disbanded for a while then).
• "E-Pro" (video) by Beck. I really should buy this whole album (Guero) as all the clips I hear of the songs sound great.
• "Trees" by Marty Casey. Yes, I bought a song by one of the Rockstar INXS contestants. (It's catchy.)
• "Vertigo" (video) by U2. Another album (How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb) that I should look into buying. (Even though I heard the story, "1, 2, 3, 14" still bugs me in this song.)
  
• "Under Pressure" by The Used/My Chemical Romance. This is a good remake of a good song.
• "Wires" by Athlete. This was a free download, but I'm counting it since I really like the song. It's on the album Tourist.
• "We're All To Blame" by Sum41. More social commentary than I'd expect from a Sum41 song.
  

Mr. Yuk, 3d maps, color change concrete, new iPod?, vista delay

Hello! Here's a new selection of links for you:

• Happy Birthday, Mr. Yuk! Man, can't he even smile for his birthday?
• Ah, the next obvious step: people are making 3D images from Google Earth.
• and they might have used the free Callipygian 3D software. Red and blue glasses sold separately.
• Chronos Chromos Concrete is color changing concrete. For all of your many color changing concrete needs.
• Will Apple replace the 60 GB iPod with one that is widescreen and Bluetooth enabled?
• You have more time to prepare! Windows Vista delayed til 2007.
  

Classy aircraft, a vista of Vista, the great fuga, x3, the fourth reich?

Some links for you:

• Airbus A350 with BMW interiors. Check out that awesome faux sky night ceiling.
• A short look at Windows Vista. It has some nice interface changes and additions.
• Can you beat La Fuga (The Escape)? It's a puzzle escape video game come to life.
• The trailer for X-Men 3: The Last Stand has been released and is available at Apple's site.
• Rumsfeld compares leaving Iraq now to giving postwar Germany to the Nazis. I'm sure the newly elected Iraqi officials appreciate the comparison.
  

Port sales, computer virus, top actors, arctic oil, ps3 delay

More snow in the forecast! Aren't we passed this yet? Here are some links to keep you warm:

• Is DP World really planning on selling all US port operations?
• Supercomputer builds a virus. Or that's what the Matrix wants you to believe.
• World's top 50 actors as voted by actors. Wait, Pauly Shore didn't even make the top ten?
• Democrats don't like that Republicans add Alaska oil drilling into budget bill to avoid filibuster. Oh, that sneaky Congress.
• Finally it's official, the Sony PS3 is delayed until November 2006. No word on when the next delay announcement will be released.
  

US dictatorship, beer from the sink, Chef walks, big game screen, light sleeper, and mars maps

What a dreary snowy day. I was hoping we were past all of this snow and ice. But, I will gladly take this over the devastating tornados that hit other parts of the Midwest.
Here's some stuff:

• Sandra Day O'Connor says US risks edging toward dictatorship. Then, she mysteriously disappears.
• Woman gets beer from kitchen faucet. Um, lady? You might have a problem.
• "Chef" quits 'South Park'. Isaac Hayes leaves after citing the show goes too far with religious jokes.
• Quake 3 on a 24 screen setup. I am waiting for the guy that starts playing video games in an IMAX theater.
• The Light Sleeper system is a blanket and pillow that wakes you by lighting up brighter. Works perfect if you sleep with your eyes open.
• Is Google Maps not giving you the vacation planning help you need? Now you can try out Google Mars.
  

Your own lightsaber, secrets, junior hire, font effect, solar storm

What's the deal? We had a couple days in the 50s at the end of last week, now a big blizzard today. I almost had forgotten the joys of scooping my driveway. So what's the rule if March comes in kind of like a lamb, but then turns to a lion part way through?
A few links:

• Build your own lightsaber for cheap. You know you want to.
• States steadily restricting info since 9/11. Well, that is a complete shame because... well, I can't tell you.
• Google hires a 15-year old student. And not for sweeping the halls or bussing the corporate cafeteria.
• The Secret Life of Fonts. Does the font you use influence the professor grading your paper?
• Maybe this blizzard won't be so bad. Worst solar storm in 50 years is on the way.
  

What? Iranian nuclear program? butterfly ballots, flexible seating, n to dvd, Mario returns

Sorry for days without posting. It's been another hectic work week, with long hours working on an issue. But, here are some items:

• Iranian negotiator boasts of fooling Europeans on Iran's secret nuclear program. Later, is shocked to find that Europeans read Internet news.
• Not this again. Did "Crash" win best picture due to confusing butterfly ballots? (How many in news media won't realize this is a joke?)
• The Feel seating system from Animi Causa is an interesting design. Supposedly modeled after molecules.
• "Captain N" might be coming to DVD. If you don't remember it, it was a Saturday morning cartoon (when I was a kid) filled with Nintendo based characters. Back then I remember watching to see if my favorite characters would show up, but being disappointed by the cheesiness and poor execution.
• Speaking of Nintendo, looks like there will be a return to classic Super Mario Bros. action in the updated New Super Mario Bros.. Looks old school cool.
  

Loch nessiephant, taxi cop, origami, moving money

Good stuff on the net today:

• Oh good, the mystery is solved. Loch Ness Nessie was actually a circus elephant. Thank you, Science, for ruining everything fun.
• Cop and suspect hail the same cab. Unfortunately, "COPS" wasn't there to catch it on video.
• I am amazed by the winning entries from MIT's origami contest, and that people went to that much effort folding paper.
• And speaking of Origami, are new pics and info on Microsoft's Origami project surfacing?
• Sweden's new banknotes have moving images for fraud prevention. But hey, we got quarters for each State.
  

Live action Simpsons, some worthwhile podcasts

Check out this awesome live action recreation of 'The Simpsons' show opening. It was much better than I was expecting when I first saw the link.

Thought for something different I would post links to some of the podcasts I listen to or watch. I'm lazy and just get them all from iTunes (it's so easy). Anyway, here's a few:

• Ask A Ninja - people ask a ninja questions, and he responds. I guess I didn't really need to explain that. Funny vidcast.
• Diggnation - Kevin Rose and Alex Albrecht (formerly of G4-TechTV) discuss some of the top ranked stories posted to social news site Digg.com. Always interesting and often humorous. (Occasional adult language.)
  
• Channel Frederator - a collection of cartoon shorts by different artists and studios. Many are mediocre (or lame), but there are quite a few really good ones. Traditional, CGI, and sometimes music videos that have animation. (Occasional adult language or themes.)
• Geek News Central - tech stories and discussion. Appropriate for all ages.
• The Official Lost Podcast - "Lost" executive producers Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse discuss the previous episode, give some hints about the upcoming episode, and answer fan questions. Occasionally, there are interviews with stars of the show.
• CIO Podcast - Information Technology and business stories.
• The Onion Radio News - news farce from the humorist site "The Onion". Often very funny. (Occasional adult language.)
  

Review: "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire

I just finished reading "Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West" by Gregory Maquire. This book was excellent; one of the best I've read in a long time, and I highly recommend it to those that are familiar with the "Wizard of Oz" but have a satirical streak.

The book tells the story of Elphaba (otherwise known as the Wicked Witch of the West), from birth through the events of "Wizard of Oz". We find that she perhaps isn't the evil to the core person we are introduced to in glimpses in "Wizard". The story covers a few periods in her life from birth, then to her college experience (which I think is one of the most interesting periods in the book), and others including adulthood in the timeframe of "Wizard". The book is sort of using a gimmick (the backstory behind a famous movie villainess) but is not at all gimmicky; it is very well thought out, and makes you think. There are challenging themes of what is good and evil, what is choice, as well as fairly rich political, social, and religious debates. It is a good exercise in taking preconceived ideas (the "Wizard" movie or book) and challenging that with more information that was previously hidden. I'll let you read the book and form your own opinions about the Witch, the Wizard, and Oz.

The one minor disappointment I had was really my own misunderstanding of the book. I thought it was strictly following the "Wizard of Oz" and would just fill in the gaps. However, it actually tells a different version of some of the scenes (basically playing on the fact that the movie might be a revisionist telling of the "true" events). I was a little confused where scenes passed that happened differently in the movie, but that is a minor complaint.

So, in summary, I highly recommend this book. It was fun, well written, and surprisingly deep, plus it adds to an already great story.

Review: "Black" by Ted Dekker

Thought I would give another review; this time for "Black" by Ted Dekker. This is the first book in a trilogy, of which I have not read the last two. If you want to read this, plan to read all three since it ends with a cliffhanger.

Overall, I thought this was a decent book with a good basic premise. The main character, Thomas, is living in two worlds. When he falls asleep in one, he wakes up in the other; the big question of the book being which is real (or are they both real). One world (the "normal" one) is essentially our world in the near future, with most events taking place in the US or Bangkok.
The other world is a vastly different world of magic and strange beasts, and a child-like population. Thomas has tremendous problems trying to convince anyone in either world that the other world exists.

To make matters worse, in the second world, he gets information about the first world. He hears that in the "past" of the world a deadly virus was released that devastated the population. So, now he has to try and prevent that from happening in the first world (on the assumption that our "normal" world is the ancient past of the magical world; even that assumption comes into doubt at some point, though it is obvious there is a connection).

There is a whole lot of stuff going on in this book, and I think that is what saves it. Any of the stories on their own would be kind of flimsy, but the sheer complexity of it and the fast pace keeps it entertaining. I tended to get really caught up in what was happening and then slightly disappointed when Thomas wakes in the other world; but that is part of what keeps you reading. The magical world does seem a bit simplistic, and that made it a little harder for me to buy in that it might be the real one, but since there are effects that carry through to the other world, it is still somewhat plausible.

So, if you are a fan of alternate reality stories, or fast paced fantasy, you'll probably find this book to be OK. I was certainly intrigued enough that I'll be looking for the other two books in the trilogy.

Unlucky lottery, iPod boombox, pong battle, Chinese internet

• Oh no! lottery winners luck can go bad! Well, now I'm totally glad I haven't won millions of dollars.
  
• Apple announced their iPod Hi-Fi today. I am not interested in it.
• Atari threatens the makers of the Pong clock, and then, well, relents. It's a back and forth like... uh... I don't know. Something that goes back and forth.
• China making their own Internet domain name system. Ooh, is this the beginning of a cheaper, overseas knockoff of the Internet?
  

da Vinci lawsuit, governor appointments, e-ink reader, big computer display

• "The Da Vinci Code" author Dan Brown being sued for stealing plot points from a history book called "The Holy Blood and The Holy Grail". Also, authors of that book are being sued by God for stealing points from the Bible.
• Kentucky governor appoints justices to his own case. If I understand this, this governor is investigated over his hiring practices, so naturally he appoints two campaign contributors to be special justices in that case only.
• Some new info on Sony's Portable Reader System (e-ink reader). Looks cool, but I hope it is affordable and has better content support than past e-book devices.
• If you've got $12,000 to spend, you can have this computer display made from 6 24" LCD screens.

Swiss army music, da Vinci sketches, MS Origami, tax problems

• A Swiss Army knife with a built in mp3 player, for when you need to play music and cut things at the same time. Is there anything they haven't put an mp3 player in yet?
  
• If you are waiting for the Da Vinci code movie, here's a gallery of da Vinci drawings.
• What is Microsoft's Origami project? I don't know, but it looks cool so far.
• H&R Block goofs on its own taxes. Yeah, probably not a good sign.
  

President names, shrine attack, port sale, lego games, luxury bath

I just got my bill from the carpet cleaners today: ouch. A lot more than I was expecting. Oh well, had to be done, I guess. What also has to be done: sharing some links:

• Family names their seven children after past Presidents. And not obvious ones like Taft, Roosevelt, or Nixon.
• Askariya shrine attack pushes Iraq toward civil war. Maybe we should wait on reconstruction efforts. Carried out by Sunni insurgents, and already the US is taking some blame. It is a shame this beatiful Golden Mosque was destroyed, and I hope the majority realized that it was attacked by a very small minority that is trying to enflame further violence.
• Bush, while strongly defending the port sale, was unaware of it until after it was approved. Apparently the same for Donald Rumsfeld. If all the necessary investigation and checks are in place, I think this deal should go through; I don't think we should halt this just because it's being sold to an Arab state. I think the same security rules should apply to any purchaser. However, this story does point to more communication problems within our government.
• This guy creates video game scenes out of Legos. Cool, but why would you think of that?
• You want the La Scala home theater whirlpool bathtub.

Review: "Corpse Bride"

I just got Tim Burton's Corpse Bride on DVD, so I thought I'd throw out a quick review of it. I'll start by stating I'm a big fan of almost all of Tim Burton's work (except for "Mars Attacks!" which I really didn't care for, for some reason), so it was no surprise that I liked this movie a lot.

The story deals with shy groom Victor Van Dort who accidentally marries a dead woman while practicing his wedding vows. It gets into a love triangle of sorts, where he tries to make it back to the living and lovely Victoria, but at the same time is sucked into the lively land of the dead and his corpse bride. The story remains pretty simple; there is a murder 'mystery' (if you can call it that) that is pretty obvious from the start, and works well enough as is. There is also some plot around Victor and Victoria's parents and their social ambitions.

The stop motion animation and visuals are stunning. The obvious comparison in style is to The Nightmare Before Christmas, with a nice balance of morbidity and vibrancy. I really like the way Burton plays with light and dark (not just visually) to show that what we traditionally think of as creepy and gruesome is maybe not that bad after all. The wonderful contrast in this movie is that the land of the living is bleak and dreary, with muted color palette and muted behaviors, while the land of the dead is colorful and lively, with much more cheer and freedom.

The music is also wonderful, perhaps not as memorable as "Nightmare", but it is still excellent work by Danny Elfman. The instrumentals are well done, and the land of the dead has a very jazzy feel.

I really enjoyed the movie; if you are a Tim Burton fan, you'll love it. If you like sweet, simple romance comedies, you'll like this movie. Or if you want a movie that is different than the mainstream, give "Corpse Bride" a try.

Veto, Holocaust jailing, deadly elephants, Vista versions, and more

Hello! Here are some links for you:

• Bush seeks line item veto but Congress hesitant to give it. Instead of letting the President (Executive) legislate, shouldn't we just clean up Congress (Legislative) so they don't sneak unrelated junk into bills?
• British author that diminished the Holocaust in his books gets 3 years in jail in Austria. Now, I'm no supporter of Holocaust denial, but isn't imprisoning someone for speaking their belief a characteristic of the historical governments you are trying to atone for?
• Warning: elephants may seek revenge. Great. One more thing to worry about in my day.
• If you are ambitious enough, you could build your own roller coster, like this guy.
• If you use del.icio.us, you might want to try Thumblicio.us, a handy site that displays thumbnails of your bookmarks.
• In order to make things more complicated, Microsoft will have 8 different versions of Windows Vista.
• Need a cool licensed logo or character iPod case? Check out Iconz.
• Fans of "Strange Brew" be on the lookout for the upcoming animated 'Bob and Doug' show.