Animal Tales
Hey, can I ask you something? Why do human children dissect us?
Its part of their education. They cut open our bodies in school and write reports about their findings.
Huh. Well, I guess it could be worse, right? I mean, at least were not dying in vain.
How do you figure?
Well, our deaths are furthering the spread of knowledge. Its a huge sacrifice were making, but at least some good comes out of it.
Let me show you something.
Whats this?
Its a frog-dissection report.
Who wrote it?
A fourteen-year-old human from New York City. Some kid named Simon.
(Flipping through it.) This is it? This is the whole thing?
Uh-huh.
Geez. It doesnt look like he put a lot of time into this.
Look at the diagram on the last page.
Oh, my God . . . its so crude. Its almost as if he wasnt even looking down at the paper while he was drawing it. Like he was watching TV or something.
Read the conclusion.
In conclusion, frogs are a scientific wonder of biology. What does that even mean?
It doesnt mean anything.
Why are the margins so big?
He was trying to make it look as if he had written five pages, even though he had only written four.
He couldnt come up with one more page of observations about our dead bodies?
I guess not.
This paragraph looks like it was copied straight out of an encyclopedia. Id be shocked if he retained any of this information.
Did you see that he spelled science wrong in the heading?
Whoa . . . I missed that. Thats incredible.
He didnt even bother to run it through spell-check.
Who did he dissect?
Harold.
Betsys husband? Jesus. So this is why Harold was killed. To produce this . . . report.
(Nods.) This is why his life was taken from him.
(Long pause.)
Well, at least it has a cover sheet.
Yeah. The plastics a nice touch.
From The New Yorker.
Its part of their education. They cut open our bodies in school and write reports about their findings.
Huh. Well, I guess it could be worse, right? I mean, at least were not dying in vain.
How do you figure?
Well, our deaths are furthering the spread of knowledge. Its a huge sacrifice were making, but at least some good comes out of it.
Let me show you something.
Whats this?
Its a frog-dissection report.
Who wrote it?
A fourteen-year-old human from New York City. Some kid named Simon.
(Flipping through it.) This is it? This is the whole thing?
Uh-huh.
Geez. It doesnt look like he put a lot of time into this.
Look at the diagram on the last page.
Oh, my God . . . its so crude. Its almost as if he wasnt even looking down at the paper while he was drawing it. Like he was watching TV or something.
Read the conclusion.
In conclusion, frogs are a scientific wonder of biology. What does that even mean?
It doesnt mean anything.
Why are the margins so big?
He was trying to make it look as if he had written five pages, even though he had only written four.
He couldnt come up with one more page of observations about our dead bodies?
I guess not.
This paragraph looks like it was copied straight out of an encyclopedia. Id be shocked if he retained any of this information.
Did you see that he spelled science wrong in the heading?
Whoa . . . I missed that. Thats incredible.
He didnt even bother to run it through spell-check.
Who did he dissect?
Harold.
Betsys husband? Jesus. So this is why Harold was killed. To produce this . . . report.
(Nods.) This is why his life was taken from him.
(Long pause.)
Well, at least it has a cover sheet.
Yeah. The plastics a nice touch.
From The New Yorker.
Dark Knight Director Shuns Digital Effects for the Real Thing
From Wired magazine:
The Bat-plan was simple: Base-jump off one Hong Kong skyscraper, smash through the window of another, grab the Chinese crime boss, then hitch a drag chute to a passing C-130 cargo plane for a daring aerial escape. And on to Gotham! An instant, no-fuss extradition in the best tradition of American vigilantism. Just another working day for Batman and, presumably, just another feat of digital wizardry for the visual effects team. Except for one thing: Christopher Nolan, director of The Dark Knight, wanted to do it for real.
Go Nokia... I can't see Apple going Open Source
Nokia buys the rest of Symbian (the software that runs Nokia phones and therefore 60% of the worlds mobile phones).
And then they make it open source! This will allow them to compete with any Linux for mobile initiatives, Google's Android and also Apples Mac OS X on the iPhone.
On the surface, it seems like a great move Nokia.
And then they make it open source! This will allow them to compete with any Linux for mobile initiatives, Google's Android and also Apples Mac OS X on the iPhone.
On the surface, it seems like a great move Nokia.
Cya Bill
Bill Gates is retiring to only 20% of his time at Microsoft, here are some good articles:
Gates-big-send-off
Tech luminaries' good-byes to Gates
One of the most influential and successful men in the world to know when to move on, in some ways, to more important things.
Gates-big-send-off
Tech luminaries' good-byes to Gates
One of the most influential and successful men in the world to know when to move on, in some ways, to more important things.
Everything seemingly is spinning out of control
From the AP:
WASHINGTON (AP) — Is everything spinning out of control? Midwestern levees are bursting. Polar bears are adrift. Gas prices are skyrocketing. Home values are abysmal. Air fares, college tuition and health care border on unaffordable. Wars without end rage in Iraq, Afghanistan and against terrorism.
Hulk. Predictable. Smash.
An Open Letter to Dan
Dan, there's only one reason why I didn't like the new Hulk - no surprises. You knew within the first 10 minutes that ultimately there would be a show-down (not a ho-down) between the Hulk and some adversary. Of course, if you had seen the trailers you knew that the show-down was with the Abomination. But even if you hadn't seen the trailers, everything in the movie just led to a typical CGI fight (cf Spider-Man 1/2/3, Iron Man, Old Hulk) where, despite all the main character's strengths or powers you've seen during the movie, he or she just relies on a knuckle sandwich or a bit of greco-roman wrestling to win the day.
Why can't the filmmakers do something more interesting? Even Ang Lee went cool places with his Hulk before the dumb showdown.
Cheers,
Harry Knowles
P.S. I still wanna see it again.
Question of the day: What movie is this from?
(Image of ) W e l c o m e t o
(Texas with )
(Center of ) H o u s t o n E l e c t r i c U t i l i e s
(atom with )
(4 electrons) I n t e r n e t A c c e s s P o i n t
Houston_elec.com Served by Dual T1s
IP 421.643.21.2 Mainframe access at port 23
Please Enter Your Password:
---------------------------------
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Protected by G a t e k e e p e rTM Software
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Garfield mix-tapes
From kottke.org:
Garfield is the current go-to media for parody and remix. Nothing Garfield, Garfield Minus Garfield, Garkov (Garfield with random dialogue), Garfield as a real cat, Lasagna Cat, Garfield Randomizer, Silent Garfield, what if Conan the Barbarian was Garfield's owner?, The Death of Garfield, Garfield Loses His Lunch, Garfield Variations.
Help the Firefox world record...
Download Firefox 3 in about 12 hours:
http://www.spreadfirefox.com/en-US/worldrecord/
http://www.spreadfirefox.com/en-US/worldrecord/
Princess of Power
Hulk review in Hulk speak
"Hulk. Smash!" Yes. Hulk. Smash. Yes. Smash. Big Hulk smash. Smash cars. Buildings. Army tanks. Hulk not just smash. Hulk also go rarrr! Then smash again. Smash important, obviously. Smash Hulk's USP. What Hulk smash most? Hulk smash all hope of interesting time in cinema. Hulk take all effort of cinema, effort getting babysitter, effort finding parking, and Hulk put great green fist right through it. Hulk crush all hopes of entertainment. Hulk in boring film. Film co-written by star. Edward Norton. Norton in it. Norton write it. Norton not need gamma-radiation poisoning to get big head. Thing is: Hulk head weirdly small. Compared with rest of big green body.From The Guardian.
Christine Spiteri can sue Nine, court says
From news.com.au:CHANNEL 9 has failed to have a case brought by former reporter Christine Spiteri thrown out.
Spiteri, 40, is seeking damages of more than $500,000 from Nine in relation to breach of contract and trade practices claims.
The most stupid thing ever written by a web developer...
I came across this website today which said:
"(Please Note: you will need to be connected to the internet to view these:)"
[then there is a list of domain names]
Am I missing something or is this the most stupid thing ever written? How the f*** else am I supposed to be able to see a website... is there another way to view a website WITHOUT being connected to the internet.
"(Please Note: you will need to be connected to the internet to view these:)"
[then there is a list of domain names]
Am I missing something or is this the most stupid thing ever written? How the f*** else am I supposed to be able to see a website... is there another way to view a website WITHOUT being connected to the internet.
New Cinefex website
Cinefex has a new website to co-incide with issue #114 which covers Iron Man, Speed Racer, Hulk, Prince Caspian and Get Smart. I'm sure you all wanted to know that.
Lots of CG in Indy 4
Dan, you were right. Tell your sister, you were right about Indy 4. The filmmakers went on and on about there not being much CG, but, of course, there's heaps.
Buses installed with anti-terror devices
From the New York Post:
Like something out of the movie "Speed," a new GPS device enables authorities to remotely control a bus - slowing it down to 5 mph and preventing it from restarting once it has stopped. The device has been installed on thousands of local commuter and tourist buses.
Like something out of the movie "Speed," a new GPS device enables authorities to remotely control a bus - slowing it down to 5 mph and preventing it from restarting once it has stopped. The device has been installed on thousands of local commuter and tourist buses.
new iPhone 3G
Looks pretty darn sweet - check it out here
Price is great at $199 US for 8GB - hopefully we don't get ripped off in Australia considering the exchange rate is $0.95US.
Only things missing for me is:
- Terminal Services (or Remote Desktop) so I can remotely access Windows Server 2003
I can live without MMS (email is much better and cheaper)!
Marketing genius: "Twice as fast. Half the price" (although the new ad is shit)
Price is great at $199 US for 8GB - hopefully we don't get ripped off in Australia considering the exchange rate is $0.95US.
Only things missing for me is:
- Terminal Services (or Remote Desktop) so I can remotely access Windows Server 2003
I can live without MMS (email is much better and cheaper)!
Marketing genius: "Twice as fast. Half the price" (although the new ad is shit)
Real Life Anime
Check out her eyes! wow!
Gee YouTube has a lot of crap on it.
Ian: The song is: Crazy Baby by DJ Melodie (cause I knew you would want to know)
Gee YouTube has a lot of crap on it.
Ian: The song is: Crazy Baby by DJ Melodie (cause I knew you would want to know)
The Spielberg Touch
From my favourite film blog, Observations on film art and FILM ART:
The Spielberg Touch includes some visual wit. Everyone remembers the shot from Jurassic Park showing the T-Rex pursuing the Land Rover, as reflected in a side mirror saying "Objects shown may be closer than they appear." I think the habit goes back to Jaws, possibly still Spielberg's best movie: the billboard with the graffiti and of course the rise of Bruce from the sea as Brody is scooping chum over the side. To make audiences gasp and laugh at the same time is no mean feat.
Crystal Skull seems to display less of this wit. The glimpse of the Ark of the Covenant in the warehouse and especially the montage of a squeaky-clean suburbia about to be vaporized were typical Spielberg, but I wanted more. Maybe a second viewing will show me that more.
The Banana Test
There is a very, very tall coconut tree and there are 4 animals,
a Lion, a Chimpanzee, a Giraffe, and a Squirrel, who pass by.
They decide to compete to see who is the fastest to get a banana off the
tree.
Who do you guess will win?
Your answer will reflect your personality.
So think carefully . . . Try and answer within 30 seconds
Got your answer?
Now scroll down to see the analysis.
If your answer is:
Lion = you're dull.
Chimpanzee = you're a moron.
Giraffe = you're a complete idiot.
Squirrel = you're just hopelessly stupid.
A COCONUT TREE DOESN'T HAVE BANANAS.
Obviously you're stressed and overworked.
You should take some time off and relax!
Try again next year.
a Lion, a Chimpanzee, a Giraffe, and a Squirrel, who pass by.
They decide to compete to see who is the fastest to get a banana off the
tree.
Who do you guess will win?
Your answer will reflect your personality.
So think carefully . . . Try and answer within 30 seconds
Got your answer?
Now scroll down to see the analysis.
If your answer is:
Lion = you're dull.
Chimpanzee = you're a moron.
Giraffe = you're a complete idiot.
Squirrel = you're just hopelessly stupid.
A COCONUT TREE DOESN'T HAVE BANANAS.
Obviously you're stressed and overworked.
You should take some time off and relax!
Try again next year.
Line Rider!
Have you guys had a go at this??!! Below is a really cool track and now even McDonald's have made a Line Rider commercial.
World Press Photo
You might have missed the World Press Photo Exhibition at the State Library of NSW (it closes on 5 June), but never fear, you can always buy the book. What the book won't give you, however, is the great sense of wonder that comes from looking at huge prints of photographs taken by the best in the world. And what a troubled world it is, mostly. For me, it's just so interesting how a simple photo can tell a much bigger story.
Past HSC exam papers
The past HSC exam papers are online. I can't seem to do any of the 1996 2-Unit Maths paper. Eek.
First sale doctrine
100 years of the first sale doctrine, from Everybody's Libraries:
On June 1, 1908, 100 years ago today, the US Supreme Court decided Bobbs-Merrill v. Straus, a case that established what would become known as the first sale doctrine. This doctrine, now codified as part of the US Copyright Act, says that in general the owners of books or other copyrighted works have the right to dispose of them as they see fit (such as by reselling them, giving them away, or lending them out). The copyright holder can still control the right to make copies, make public performances, or other derivative works. But once a reader has bought a book, they can pass it along as they see fit. (Or keep it, or fold it into little origami shapes for their own amusement. They own it, after all.)
This right exists even in the presence of notices to the buyer that claim to conditionally license the work, rather than sell it. Indeed, those kinds of licenses, familiar now to most computer users, were also at issue in the Bobbs-Merrill case. (For historical background, including some examples of old-time end user license agreements, see a post of mine from a few months ago, The right to read, circa 1906.)
Despite attempts by many software, music, and ebook publishers to extend control over their products to their buyers, the first sale doctrine is still salient today. Just last month, for example, a federal judge cited the first sale doctrine to uphold the right of an eBay merchant to resell used software. An article in Ars Technica has a link to the decision, and an excellent explanation of the case and the importance of the principles it upholds. Ultimately, as the article points out, the first sale doctrine is what makes libraries and used book stores possible without needing the permission of publishers to exist or carry out their missions.
The free access to literature that libraries provide, and the freedom to provide access to literature that the first sale doctrine provides, promote the literacy and education of all our citizens. So this is an anniversary well worth remembering for its contribution to society. Happy First Sale Day!
On June 1, 1908, 100 years ago today, the US Supreme Court decided Bobbs-Merrill v. Straus, a case that established what would become known as the first sale doctrine. This doctrine, now codified as part of the US Copyright Act, says that in general the owners of books or other copyrighted works have the right to dispose of them as they see fit (such as by reselling them, giving them away, or lending them out). The copyright holder can still control the right to make copies, make public performances, or other derivative works. But once a reader has bought a book, they can pass it along as they see fit. (Or keep it, or fold it into little origami shapes for their own amusement. They own it, after all.)
This right exists even in the presence of notices to the buyer that claim to conditionally license the work, rather than sell it. Indeed, those kinds of licenses, familiar now to most computer users, were also at issue in the Bobbs-Merrill case. (For historical background, including some examples of old-time end user license agreements, see a post of mine from a few months ago, The right to read, circa 1906.)
Despite attempts by many software, music, and ebook publishers to extend control over their products to their buyers, the first sale doctrine is still salient today. Just last month, for example, a federal judge cited the first sale doctrine to uphold the right of an eBay merchant to resell used software. An article in Ars Technica has a link to the decision, and an excellent explanation of the case and the importance of the principles it upholds. Ultimately, as the article points out, the first sale doctrine is what makes libraries and used book stores possible without needing the permission of publishers to exist or carry out their missions.
The free access to literature that libraries provide, and the freedom to provide access to literature that the first sale doctrine provides, promote the literacy and education of all our citizens. So this is an anniversary well worth remembering for its contribution to society. Happy First Sale Day!
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