Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Pet your chicken while you're at work!

 
Poultry are one of the most badly treated animals in the modern world. It has been shown that they have high levels of both cognition and feelings and as a result there has been a recent trend of promoting poultry welfare.
 
This system enables humans to provide care for pets even though they are physically not together. The system enables a human to remotely touch her chicken which is kept at home while she is away(in her office), and at the same time monitor the movement of the chicken.

http://www.mixedrealitylab.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=60

 


 


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Geeks of the World, Rejoice !

from Wired:

Futurama  Is Back!
Grab a Can of Slurm and Settle In

Futurama was never a mass market success — it never generated universally known catchphrases like "Don't have a cow, man" or a movie that grossed half a billion dollars. It just attracted a niche of enthusiastic devotees. But in the modern media landscape, a hardcore niche of fans can be all you need.
 
Futurama was killed, but like some B-movie cyborg it refused to stay dead. The fans watched the 72 episodes religiously in syndication and shelled out $170 to get the entire run on DVD. So, in 2005, Fox green-lighted 16 new episodes. Cohen and Groening have reassembled many of the hundreds of writers, animators, and voice artists who'd gone on to other projects to create four DVDs of new material, including sexy robot stage shows. The first DVD hits stores on November 27, and the features will then be divided into half-hour episodes when the entire run of the series begins airing on Comedy Central next year.
 
At last, Futurama is getting a fifth season.
 
=====
 
Also, Wired has a story on the Math Geek references that appear in Futurama.
 
 
=====
 
I personally love Futurama's Computer Geek references. In one episode, we visit Bender's apartment. [Bender's a robot].  On his wall, he has a framed cross-stitch sampler. It reads:
 
10  Home
20  Sweet
30  Goto 10
 
 
 
 


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Monday, November 26, 2007

Gift Ideas for the Gadget Lover

Scientific American presents twenty "must have" gadgets.
 
Examples include:
  • Weather-forecasting umbrella
  • Sudoku Rubik's Cube
  • Transparent Toaster
and of course a gold-plated Apple laptop computer, with diamond-encusted Apple logo
 
 
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=gadgets-guide-home-office-toys
 


 


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Saturday, November 24, 2007

Thanksgiving: Then and Now

 
 
Last year, the cover of the New Yorker summerized the difference between the Thanksgiving of Days Gone By, and the Thanksgiving of Today
 
http://blog.wfmu.org/.shared/image.html?/photos/uncategorized/2007/11/21/thanksgiving_by_chris_ware.gif

 

 
 


 


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New Hebrew Word


 
Condoleezza Rice has become such a frequent visitor to the region that she given birth to a new verb in Israeli government circles: 'lecondel.'
 
According to the New York Times, the verb --based on Ms. Rice's first name-- means 'to come and go for meetings that produce few results.'
 

 
Bendesky Family Vacations:
I'm not exactly Johnny Quest, flying around the world,
encountering strange tribal cultures and giant robot spiders,
but I've been to some interesting places.
Take a gander. 


 


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Friday, November 23, 2007

Spiders on Drugs

Spiders on Drugs
 
a humorous take on the film we all saw in Biology class
 
 

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Scientists Find Fossil of Enormous Bug

http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/B/BIGGEST_BUG_EVER?

Scientists Find Fossil of Enormous Bug


 

 

LONDON (AP) -- This was a bug you couldn't swat and definitely couldn't step on. British scientists have stumbled across a fossilized claw, part of an ancient sea scorpion, that is of such large proportion it would make the entire creature the biggest bug ever.

 

How big? Bigger than you, and at 8 feet long as big as some Smart cars.

 

=====

 

"Honey, there's a spider in your bathroom the size of a Buick."

  -  Woody Allen as Alvy Singer in 'Annie Hall'


 


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Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Seasonal Sodas / Bertie Bott's Beverages



Soda-Maker: Ham Flavor Will Be Kosher

Nov 9, 4:42 PM (ET)

SEATTLE (AP) - It's rare to find kosher ham. Rarer still to find it carbonated and bottled. Jones Soda Co., the Seattle-based purveyor of offbeat fizzy water, said Friday that it was shelving its traditional seasonal flavors of turkey and gravy this year to produce limited-edition theme packs for Christmas and Hanukkah.

 

The Christmas pack will feature such flavors as Sugar Plum, Christmas Tree, Egg Nog and Christmas Ham. The Hanukkah pack will have Jelly Doughnut, Apple Sauce, Chocolate Coins and Latkes sodas.

 

"As always, both packs are kosher and contain zero caffeine," a Jones news release noted.

 

The packs will go on sale Sunday, with a portion of the proceeds to be given to charity, the company said.

 

Jones' products feature original label art and frequently odd flavors. Last year's seasonal pack was Thanksgiving-themed, with Green Pea, Sweet Potato, Dinner Roll, Turkey and Gravy, and Antacid sodas.

 

For its contract to supply soda to Qwest Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, Jones came up with Perspiration, Dirt, Sports Cream and Natural Field Turf. The company - fortunately or unfortunately - prides itself on the accuracy of the taste.

 

Jones also makes more sedate flavors, including root beer, cherry and strawberry sodas.

 

http://apnews.myway.com/article/20071109/D8SQD9C02.html

 

---

On the Net:

http://www.jonessoda.com/

 
 


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Cat Cam

 
So, what DOES a cat do all day?
Here's one way to find out.
 
http://www.mr-lee-catcam.de/




 


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Monday, November 19, 2007

Korean Boot Camp Aims to Cure Web Addiction

Korean Boot Camp Aims to Cure Web Addiction
 
In South Korea, perhaps the world's most wired nation, broadband connections are fast and cheap. Millions have embraced the Internet, but some can't seem to tear themselves away from their computer screens.
 
 The camp, which lies about an hour south of Seoul, was created to address the most severe cases of Internet addiction.
 
slideshow and text at:
http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2007/11/16/business/worldbusiness/20071118_REHAB_Slideshow_index.html


I know, I know.
You're all saying, "Can Bob sign up?"
 
 
 


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Is Ron White right ?

 
The NY Times reports new studies showing a correlation between death penalty usage and reduced murder rates.
 
The studies set off a flurry of criticism, but several authoritative legal commentators seem to think the evidence is convincing.
 
Apparently the death penalty has the greatest deterrent effect when used early and often, as in Texas.
 
 
=====
 
"If you come to Texas and kill someone, we kill you right back."
     -  Ron White, on the Blue Collar Comedy Tour

 


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Saturday, November 17, 2007

WTF ?


news headline:
 
Man touches himself in south end
 

 

Friday, November 16, 2007

Math Geek Joke

 
Q: How do mathematicians induce good behavior in their children?
A: 'If I've told you n times, I've told you n+1 times...'
 
 
 
 
 

 
 

 

Thursday, November 15, 2007

Scotland, the VERY brave


Worst.
Medical Treatment.
Ever.
 
http://scotlandonsunday.scotsman.com/health.cfm?id=1641252007


 


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Wednesday, November 14, 2007

'Robo-moth' melds insect, machine

from LA TImes:
 
Harnessing the electrical impulses of sight, scientists have built a robot guided by the brain and eyes of a moth.

As the moth tracks the world around it, an electrode in its tiny brain captures faint electrical impulses that a computer translates into action.
 
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-sci-robomoth7nov07,1,2747184.story?ctrack=3&cset=true


 =====
 
Unfortunately, it keeps steering into any open flame...
 
 


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Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Toy contaminated with 'date rape' drug pulled

from CNN:

"Scientists have found the popular toy's coating contains a chemical that, once metabolized, converts into the toxic "date rape" drug GHB, or gamma-hydroxy butyrate, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission spokesman Scott Wolfson told CNN. "

 http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/11/08/toy.recall/

 
And all across America, Frat Boys are saying...
 
"Shit! Last night, I was standing on the street corner, trying to buy a date rape drug from a dealer. I could have just gone to the toy store."


 
 


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Monday, November 12, 2007

Future Chemist.



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Wednesday, November 07, 2007

Rwanda trip delayed as Paris shops

 
TOKYO, Japan (AP) -- Socialite Paris Hilton may not be ready to head off to Rwanda to do good deeds, but she was up to judging a beauty contest in Tokyo on Tuesday.
 
Hilton has vowed since she got out of jail for violating probation in an alcohol-related reckless driving case that she will try to improve her bad-girl image. She had announced plans to do charity work in Rwanda this month for The Playing for Good Foundation, but later decided to postpone that trip.
 
http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/11/06/parishilton.tokyo.ap/index.html  
=====
 
While Paris isn't doing her charity work in Rwanda, perhaps she can help OJ Simpson not find the real killers...

 


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Lose Weight the Technological Way!

 
 
Have you tried losing weight?
 
Are you frustrated by the Diet and Exercise method?
Are you wary of those Informercial Miracle Products?
Now there's a modern way to lose those extra pounds:
 
The HP Digital Slimming Camera!

from the website:
 
"They say cameras add ten pounds, but HP digital cameras can help reverse that effect. The slimming feature, available on select HP digital camera models, is a subtle effect that can instantly trim off pounds from the subjects in your photos! "
 
"With the slimming feature, anyone can appear more slender—instantly.
  • The effect is subtle—subjects still look like themselves
  • Can be adjusted for a more dramatic effect
  • See a before and after version, then decide which to keep "
http://www.hp.com/united-states/consumer/digital_photography/tours/slimming/index_f.html
 
 
=====
 
Movie Trivia from IMDB:
In the movie "Star Trek IV", William Shatner was distressed when he saw how wide his bottom was in the scene where he walks across the bridge (away from the camera). He had them airbrush the entire scene to make his butt look narrower.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0102975/trivia

 
 


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Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Steampunking Technology

from Newsweek (!)

A subculture hand-tools today's gadgets with Victorian style.
 
Nagy's laptop is encased in mahogany-stained pine, with leather wrist rests tacked beneath its copper keys, and sits on whimsical brass claw feet. Its lid is decorated with an elaborate display of interlocking clockwork gears under glass, making it resemble a music box. Oh, and you boot the thing up by cranking an antique clock-winding key.
 
It looks as if it was beamed here from some alternate Victorian past, one where computers were as commonplace as monocles and side whiskers. And that's precisely the point: Nagy's laptop is a prime example of the growing do-it-yourself garage-hacker aesthetic known as "steampunk."
 
 
full article with pictures at: http://www.newsweek.com/id/67352?GT1=10547
 
A classic Steampunk novel, by Gibson and Sterling, is "The Difference Engine"
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Difference_Engine
 
Bendesky Family Vacations:
I'm not exactly Johnny Quest, flying around the world,
encountering strange tribal cultures and giant robot spiders,
but I've been to some interesting places.
Take a gander. 


 


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Sunday, November 04, 2007

Everybody sing: "It's a large world after all..."

Back in 1963, when the boats that carry customers through Disneyland's "It's a Small World" ride were designed, the average male weighed 175lbs and the average female 135lbs.

Not anymore. Nowadays the boats frequently bottom out, overloaded with extra flesh, says CalorieLab:

The Small World ride now must accommodate adults who frequently weigh north of 200 pounds, which it often cannot do. Increasingly, overweighted boats get to certain points in the ride and bottom out, becoming stuck in the flume.

The ride monitors attempt to leave empty seats on many boats to compensate for the hefty, but this routinely antagonizes the hundreds of paying customers waiting in line. When a boat does bottom out, a long line of other boats backs up behind it, their passengers slowly going mad from listening to the ride's theme song.

The ride monitors must then track down the stuck boat and attempt tactfully to help a rider or two to exit at one of the emergency platforms, which the riders in question do not always deal with graciously.

Disney is now undertaking a massive renovation in which the boats will be redesigned and the flume deepened to accommodate the additional poundage. It's a new, bigger world.
 
 
 

 

Thursday, November 01, 2007

The Best Conspiracy Theories

 
The Best Conspiracy Theories
 
 
* Faked Moon Landing.  
* 9/11 was US Government. 
* Paul is Dead.
...and others
 
And you can submit your own conspiracy theory.
 



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