Flying fish plane

Ok so there are some skeptics about whether this is needed or not; what with all the satellites and long range second equipment we already have, but just imagine seeing an airplane explode from the ocean and fly straight up out of view. It'd be kinda like watching an osprey hunt (I love watching those guys) but also like when you're near a military testing facility and a little plane just turns straight up and disappears straight up in the sky. Other than the coolness, I'm not sure it'd be worth the trouble, especially with the difficulty of recovery.

Defense Tech: Sub's Unmanned Buddy

Do polar bears shit in the woods?

I dunno, they probably would if they could find some woods. Anyway, this is pretty cool. Its a Flash interface that uses the article tags to see what's related and displays a map Gui to show you other things of interest. Hope this kinda thing catches on.

Big Picture | Men want facts, women seek relations on Web | CNET News.com

But officer, I'm winning the race.

Why buy a car and a driving simulator? You've already got all the controls right there, just plug in your xbox and you're off to the races. I don't see how this could end badly. Luckily its just a concept, and they never actually make concepts. Even if they're cool.
More on the Urge: Nissan's Concept for Videogame Junkies - Jalopnik

Leap this honkus

"Extra drinking time!" If you're on an atomic drinking schedule, I spose. That's right, we're adding a leap second to 2005. They say its needed due to the slowing of the earth, which always makes me a little nervous. You know, that whole world flooding, moon falling from orbit, everything sucked into the sun, apocalyptic kind of worried. The Earth is slowing? Oh shit. Couldn't you guys just tell me that our measuring system for time is flawed and inaccurate, so you need to make adjustments now and then? Cause I could live with that. Anyway, the atomic clocks will read 23:59:60 for the first time in 7 years. But I don't know the answer to everyone's question "Will the network TV new year's be a second early or on time?" Just to be safe I'll be counting 11 when everyone else is on 10.

2005 extended by one second | The Register

More on robots, I know you don't like them as much as me. But you will.

These things are pretty cool. I know they're expensive and have no real purpose, and i'm not saying that I want one. But they got an Aibo to review at WMMNA and its very interesting to see the emotional attachment that develops with a robot dog. This entry talks about another Aibo that behaves drastically different. we make money not art: Cloclo´s cousin

On your marks, get set, DEPRECIATE!

Well, its that time of year again, when all the hottest manufacturers and the people lucky enough to have jobs reporting about toys get together and make everything you just bought obsolete. And not just normal obsolete; the kind that makes you bang your head on the coffee table and pull hair off your legs. Yes folks its CES time again. I just can't wait, for January 5th; partially because I like feeling like the future is here, and partially cause I've bought quite a few electronics in the past year and love to see their value plummet. Its ok though, I was happy with my purchase yesterday, so I should be happy with it tomorrow. Even if they unveil a TV that makes sandwiches and beer. You know what I always say: "If the grass is greener somewhere else, go pee on it. Then at least your grass will smell better."
-Engadget

Brilliant

Well I dunno you you've ever been filling out a form and hit backspace and had the page bounce back one on you, but I have quite a few times and let me tell ya, it pisses me off.  Hulk angry! HULK SMASH!  Whew, let me gather up the shards of clothing that lie around me... Ok, so check this extension out: "DisableBackspacenavigation"  Awesome, except for one thing, why didn't I have this earlier?
Download Squad

Yeah, programmers can be badasses too

I've read a lot about Stanley, but this is more of an in depth look at his creators and their journey. Wired 14.01: Say Hello to Stanley

Greatest folly

The tallest building in the world isn't a building. Its a platform? Man, I never really thought about this before. But apparently some people are way into it. You know, things like:

whether guy-wire-supported structures should be eligible to be counted

whether only habitable height counts and if so;

whether observation galleries on communication towers make them into habitable buildings

whether roof-top antennas can be counted towards height of buildings (the debate over this has especially focused on the fact that things that look like spires can be either classified as an antenna or an “architectural detail”)

whether structures currently under construction can be included in the list

whether structures rising out of water should have their below-water height included.

Yeah, I don't really need to get into a debate, but its fun to read about big buildings. I can't wait to Tivo me some Modern Marvels.

Mars Tension-leg Platform - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

AAARRRGGGLLLEEEE!!!

You've got to be joking. I finally get a tivo, I buy the lifetime service for it, I go out and drop a frank and a half on wireless G stuff and the next day I read that Tivo is coming out with their own wireless G adapter. Oh and its better. Of course. I can't catch a break to save my life. Oh and in case you're wondering, no I don't have my Tivo up and running yet. Apparently you need an actual phone line to do the initial setup before it looks for a wifi network. Great Tivo, in your quest for simplicity you screwed me again. Guess I'll be knocking on the neighbor's door with a very long phone cable asking to borrow a cup of telephony. Engadget

Doppleganger tuesday

One of the Nutts send me an interesting link today. I'm not really sure how he found it, I assume he's busy during the day. Anyway, its a blogger page: The Daily Placebo.  I'm not really too threatened; his last post was in October, before that in April and none to exciting. Not so daily, but definitely something you don't need. He's also nowhere to be found on the google . And he's outta luck on the DNS entry, sucka. I'd like to say for the record that I never saw his site and never thought about 'thedailyplacebo' as a name. And also on the record, this placebo is WAY more effective than that one.

Where's data?

Wired has a list of the 50 best robots ever.  While I'm glad a few made the list (Stanley rounds out at #1) I'm a bit perplexed by the inclusion of fictional robots.  Granted there are very classic fictional robots like speedy, the terminator, and R2-D2 but how can you make a list of the best 50 robots ever conceived?  And if you're going to do that where the hell is Data?  Ah whatever, its still a fun list.  Shut up I like robots.
Wired 14.01: The 50 Best Robots Ever

Know when to walk away and when to stop making cars altogether

You have got to be kidding me. They can't seriously build this. It looks like the illegitimate child of a Mini and a Hummer that was conceived on a tilt-a-whirl at the ugly carnival. Then beat with ugly sticks. Then dipped in ugly sauce. Then fell off the monkey bars in elementary school and landed on the ugly stone... you get it. Plus no one is buying SUV's in 2006, right America?

Toytota's FJ Cruiser on Its Way - Jalopnik

Too little too late.

I spose this would have been nice maybe two or three days ago, so for now you'll have to study up for next Christmas or that occasional birthday. As it stands I'd like to apologize to everyone who's receiving a gift from me. Its wrapped like I have a closet full of blind monkeys that failed out of gift wrapping school. And I make them work for peanuts - not bananas. Needless to say they're bad at what they do and unmotivated to get the job done well. Anyway, Merry Holidays!
How to Wrap a Gift - eHow.com

Nog me!

Alright! I knew someone would have an Egg Nog recipe for me if I held out long enough. Not that it came from you slackers. Screw you guys, I'm going home.

The Best Eggnog Recipe-Now With More Rum - Lifehacker

Hotmail's back in town

So a while ago my Thunderbird extension that acts as a POP proxy for hotmail broke. This was normal, since whenever Microsoft redid the hotmail protocol the tools would break and you'd have to find new ones. Except that time I couldn't find any more. It was like the lawyers had come down hard and no one wanted to mess with it. Today I found this: Hotmail Popper With an explanation:

Please Note: Microsoft has recently decided that only paying members and existing 'valued' members will be able access Hotmail using outside services such as Hotmail Popper. Hotmail Popper will continue working with a "Hotmail Plus" (or equivalent MSN) account. It will also continue working if you have an older Hotmail account that Microsoft considers a 'valued' account.

Oh baby, looks like I have a "valued" account, which means that I don't care that Microsoft is being such a bitch about POP access. Suckas. Now I can get my spam every minute if I want to. Although I'm not really sure its worth $17 bucks to me to be able to read all those dirty dirty solicitations.

Update
Yup, 378 emails since 12-3-05 and the only thing I wanted to read was 2 Cal Torts from CalTor. And I only read them cause I think "Cal Tort" is terribly clever.

How to be an Ultimate player

Ok, so I don't wear my knee brace, and I don't have any reciever's gloves, but otherwise I think I'm doing pretty good. Oh, the fall WAFC newsletter is out. Can anyone help me think of a disc design? WAFC Newsletters

"Darwin is a hack who
probably had a weak flick"

I'ma git tore up - on cupcakes

Really? I personally have never thought to myself, "man I wish this drink looked more like a cupcake". Apparently those people are out there though, cause this exists and people buy it. I don't know about you but I've lots all respect for the World Spirits Competition. You know, now that I know there is one.

Strange New Products: Cupcake Shot Drinks

Picture this

Here's a little something to go with your Zeitgeist. TIME has released its The Best Photos of the Year 2005 and there are some good ones, what with all the things that happened this year. I like pictures. It would be nice to get on that list, but you kinda have to be lucky enough (or unlucky as the case may be) to be ground zero for a world shaping event. Hmmm... this sounds like the start of a Bond movie plot.
Oh, by the way, after objecting to flickr for the longest time (it is a yawho? acquisition) I finally started using it. I have to admit, pretty nice. Good job Yahoo!. That's your reward: I'll start calling you by your name. What, you want a hug too? Alright, come here. No, its OK. Come on. {Yahoo! steps up for hug} Whatthe? Get outta here!

But its so easy to make fun of celebrities

I do like the way they think -and write- over at Jalopnik. How about these choice snippets:

Anna Kournikova: Cadillac Escalade EXT
Perfect for a Russian-expat Floridian retired tennis star. Does it get any more trash-with-cash than the EXT?

Julia Roberts: Toyota Prius
We don’t like Julia Roberts. We don’t like Prius drivers. ‘Nuff said.

Charlize Theron: Land Rover Range Rover
The first girl we ever kissed reminds us of Charlize in a way, and for years she owned a red Rodeo. Girls like this belong in SUVs. Girls as rich as Charlize belong in Range Rovers.

Lindsay Lohan: Mercedes-Benz SL65 AMG
She’s obviously proven that she can’t handle this car. Put her in a New Beetle with a red, white and blue stripe, slap a roundel with the number 53 on there and yank the motor. Chock the wheels while you’re at it.

President George W. Bush: Cadillac DTS limousine
We, the nation’s taxpayers, should repossess this thing and give him a surplus Shriner’s go-kart to motor around in instead. We’d insist that he wear the fez, too, but we don’t wanna insult the Shriners.

Forbes on Celebrity Vehicles - Jalopnik

Swag IS good

Oh man, Download Squad has so many good posts this morning, I'll have to do them all at once. The first one is about company swag. Everyone wants company swag. Usually cause its free, but also cause you get to wear something with a name and logo that people know; or if you're really cool a name and logo that no one knows. (whoever has my TeleAtlas hat, give it back!) Anywho, the next thing on the list is that GT (Google Talk, come on I'm trying to start something; I could stretch it to GoT but that's it) is going to work with AIM. (Not now so don't go running over to Google with your hopes up and then come crying back like a first grader who smashed his pet baby bumble bee.) It'll happen as soon as they work out the interfaces, or the bribes, or the advertising. Whatever is holding up the works, they'll power through, that's a promise. (from Download Squad, not from me) And the last thing I have right now is about chess. I'm talkin oldschool take-your-time-in-between-moves chess. Seems like a cool concept, I like it when people revive practices of antiquity with new technology. Alright, I'm spent.

Christmas shopping hott spots

(TGBTGBTG)

I've only seen one Alpina, and it wasn't this nice.

second view

Hmmm, how well does Performancing work?

So I know I've been trying out a lot of different posting tools latey. Blogger plugin for Word, that Blogger Web Comments extension. Those are both trash. Even more so if this thing works out. Its called "Performancing for Firefox" which is a bit of a weak name, but I'll forgive them. Seems pretty sweet so far, you right click and select Performancing and the window splits into two panes. One for viewing the page you were looking at, and one for editing a post. I've pasted and resized a screen shot here, so if that uploads and works, this thing will officially be the hottest thing ever. Oh, and with SpellBound Development there's inline spell checking. I thought they made the Blogger interface hotter, but goodness. These are exciting times. Ok, here we go. The moment of truth... hit the account wizard and... Update!
HOW TO: Using Performancing for Firefox | Performancing.com


Update
Ok, the upload to Blogger didn't work, as I suspected. It put a link to the local clipboard file on my computer instead. So If I want Blogger to host my content I still have to go through them, but for all those images I steal from the internet (most of them) I'll be money.

Who wants a helping of Christmas beer?

I sure don't. I'm not sure what it is about holiday beers, they're fruity or something. Maybe nutty. Like I said, I'm not sure. All I know is that I'm never impressed. I had a good time with some Champaign last week, I think I'll start doing that more in the winter instead of those seasonal ales. That and Egg Nog. Anyone got a good recipe for Egg Nog?

Who wants a helping of Christmas cheer?

I love those signs

Jalopnik has a post about those signs that flash when you're exceeding the speed limit and says that they work better than speed cameras. I knew it! The threat of stealth enforcement doesn't translate to ubiquitous enforcement in my mind, it just means that I'm going to get caught every once in a while. Its kinda like red light cameras. I don't assume they're at every stop light, and yet I still stop when it is reasonable to do so. Why should drivers be punished when they enter the intersection 1/4 of a second late? Couldn't we put up a sign after the intersection that lights up, wags a finger, and says "You ran that light, you know". I'm all for ticketing people that run very stale red lights, just like I'm all for giving people who drive 120 mph a speeding ticket. But as of now these stealth systems are just revenue generators and not designed to increase traffic safety. They're only effective deterrents if I know about them.

Hold on to your butts.

The Zeitgeist is coming! The Zeitgeist is coming! That's right kids, its that time of year again. Google's 2005 Zeitgeist is out and lookin' pretty good. I mean, the physical layout of the site is pleasing to me. I have no idea how to tell if the data is lookin' pretty good or not.

Breaking News!

I ate breakfast today. It felt odd. That's all.

WikiDonate

Well Wikipedia, everyone's favorite collaborative encyclopedia, is taking donations. They say they're for improvement, but in the back of my head I'm thinkin "defense fund". They've already got almost 69 grand, and by the looks of their donationometer they're headed for half a mil. Whadayasay? Got two bits for the boys? Help an encyclopedia out.

Worked up for nothin

Oh man, buying Christmas presents for kids is a snap. You just walk into the store and find the right aisle; everything they want is right there! Not like with adults, where you have to pick the store then the department, and then finally the gift. Kids just want stuff, and whatever you pick is gonna be good cause they can't get it themselves! Wow, this Christmas thing just started to click for me. It always seemed like so much work. Even back in elementary school when I got mugs and pinball games for my family, I was always worrying about whether they'd like the gifts. Now with a 4 month old to buy for, I'll be money no matter what I get. Of course I don't know how well that beer of the month subscription is going to go over. Maybe I'll hold off on that till his first birthday...

Put some tussin on it.

you know that commercial for Robitussin where the people are shopping and the boxes of cough syrup have their picture and name on it? I think they should really start doing that. Wouldn't it be cool to look through the boxes to find one with your name? And if you found one with your picture, even better! And I haven't read this page, but the title is fairly intriguing.

More engine

Just in case google, yahoo, and the rest of the defaults aren't getting it done for you. This page loads in more selections to your Firefox search bar. Search straight to IMDB, Wikipedia, and a host of others. Oh, and make sure you get the uninstall tool so you can get rid of chumps like the stumbleupon search. LINKY

Find a chair

Ok, are you sitting? Good, cause now you can jump up as you look at this:


Mario Cart Arcade for sale

Monkey Juice

Everyone keep your eye out for this in stores:Partially because its funny, but mostly cause I wanna be like Steve.