Archive for December, 2003
Thus spake Ennui
December 29, 2003 at 12:35 pm
Thus spake Ennui
December 22, 2003 at 1:43 pm
Thus spake Evil Overload
December 18, 2003 at 12:27 pm
 |
|
The Heliodisplay is a device that projects images onto air. In addition to serving as a display medium, it also acts as an immaterial touch-screen monitor. Very cool, I think. This article in the New York Times (username: cannedasparagus, password:password) is unable to give details on how it works, because the inventor is currently apply for a patent, but a representative did say that the device takes in, changes, and emits air in order to produce the screen effect. Intriguing. There are doubts as to the commercial applications for this, but give it time. This is a whole new type of interface, one you can move within.
Applications? First and foremost, the awkward and painful mouse movement can be replaced with symphonic-conducting type movements (Minority Report, anyone?). Presenters could project charts, graphs and figures up on the screen, and sketch on them with pointers. (I wonder if a laser pointer would register on the touch interface? Hmmm.) This innovation will also probably spawn whole new genres of performance art. Imagine a person moving through multiple layers of these touch screens, manipulating images on them as they go. The result could be impressive. Hell, these things could replace chalkboards in classrooms. Since metallic objects can manipulate the screen as well, these screens could be used for target practice, not to mention training people in all manner of activities that require timing and precision. Medical simulations! This is a great invention. I love living in The Future. Link
|
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Evil Overload
at 7:59 am
Thus spake Evil Overload
at 7:51 am
Scientists at the Univeristy of Nevada have discovered a way to grow human organs in animals, by injecting animal fetuses with human stem cells from the bone marrow. This means that a sheep foetus that had human cells injected into its developing liver would grow a human liver, which could then be harvested. This procedure, which is expected to take a few years to develop, will allow the cloning of organs without the political or ethical hassles. Link
So what happens when you inject stem cells into a developing animal’s brain? This could get very Island of Dr. Moreau very quickly.
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Evil Overload
December 17, 2003 at 1:53 pm
From Lore Sjoberg’s Rating of the Deadly Sins:
“Pride: I’m not sure how this one works. Is plain old everyday pride sinful or do you have to get into the realm of hubris before you’re in trouble? Do you go to hell for saying “this is a pretty tasty three-bean salad I’ve made, if I do say so myself,” or do you have to say “why, I bet this is a better three-bean salad than GOD could make”? And what about self-esteem? My high school counselors were always pushing self-esteem on me. Were they pawns of the Adversary? So many questions. C“
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Evil Overload
December 16, 2003 at 1:06 pm
  
Moller International has been working on the development of fuel-efficient, safe airborne personal transports for several years, and the Moller Skycar is the latest result. These vehicles are capable of verticle take-off and landing (VTOL) and can reach speeds of 375 MPH. The four-passenger M400 Skycar has a fuel efficiency of 28 miles/gallon at optimum crusing speed, while the one-person M150 Skycar model has a gas milage of 45 miles/gallon at optimum cruising speed, and can also burn alchohol as fuel. Think about it. These things fly, and they get better milage than the majority of cars on the road. More info here.
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Evil Overload
at 12:51 pm
An excellent site dedicated to exploring sewers, storm drains, steam tunnels, maintenace conduits, old buildings, and so forth:
“Infiltration offers a mix of the practice and theory of urban exploration in areas not designed for public usage. This site is the online companion of the paper zine about going places you’re not supposed to go.”
This is one of those sites guaranteed to give you ideas you may later regret having, but are too much fun not to consider. Link
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Evil Overload
at 9:01 am
The Jupiter Icy Moon Orbiter (JIMO) will be launched sometime after 2011 to orbit the Jovian moons of Callisto, Ganymede and Europa, which may have oceans beneath the ice that makes up most of their surfaces. Scientists believe that these moons are promising areas in which to look for signs of life. The long delay before the launch will be spent figuring out how to safely launch a rocket containing nuclear fuel. This will be the first spacecraft to be powered by nuclear fission, and it has ignited some controversy as a result concerning safety issues as well as concern over the eventual militarization of space. Here is a link to the NASA page on the probe’s mission, and here is a link to the NYT article concerning the potential hazards of launching nuclear spacecraft. As usual, log into New York Times with username:cannedasparagus, password:password.
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Evil Overload
December 12, 2003 at 10:55 am
According to this article in the New York Times, the Earth’s magnetic field is weakening at such a rate as to suggest that it will be gone in 1,500 to 2,000 years. Scientists say that this might be part of the process of the field flipping its poles, i.e. in 1,500 years, compasses may point south. There’s no catastrophic danger to lifeforms predicted as a result of this, but it is assumed that it will play merry hell with electronics, especially in orbit. One of the functions of the field is to protect the earth frorm high-energy photons. As the field weakens, we may observe some ozone layer degredation and problems with satellites. Link
In other news, I’m still sick. Dammit.
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Sheni
December 11, 2003 at 12:21 pm
So. I would have to say that Madison Wisconsin is one of the coolest places I have ever been in my entire life. It’s a lot like Athens - only much larger. In addition to being the home of the University of Wisconsin, it’s also the state capitol. So it’s population is much larger than that of Athens. It’s not huge, though. I think it has a population of about 250,000. So, you’ve basically got a really big college town. There’s a street there, called State Street that extends from the edge of the center of campus (think the Arches) to the state capitol building, about a mile away. The entire street is closed to traffice, except for buses, police officers, and bicycles. It’s lined up and down with numerous shops and coffee houses. It, along with the a few streets on either side, is basically like downtown Athens, only a lot cooler. And to top it off, the campus is on a lake. And even better, there’s a bar in the student center. If it weren’t for the fact that temperatures regularly drop below zero, I would consider moving there. If you ever get the chance, I strogly recommend going there.
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Evil Overload
at 11:21 am
Thus spake Sheni
at 8:44 am
After reading several of the Warren Ellis quotes that dave has posted (if I’m going to call you dave, it’s going to be a little ‘d’ dave, not a big ‘d’ dave. David, of course, will always be big ‘D’.), I’ve decided to check out Die Puny Humans. And I have to say that it’s quite a site. This is perhaps one of the wittiest sites I’ve ever encountered. However, what’s funnier is the fact that I initially confused Warren Ellis with Larry Ellison, who, if you don’t know, is the CEO of Oracle. Suddenly I had an all new opinion of corporate America. But alas, I soon came to my senses and remain the disappointed little boy that I have always been. Oh, Saturn, why have your rings bound me?
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Sheni
at 8:00 am
Thus spake Ennui
December 10, 2003 at 10:50 am
He’s out all night, creeping around, looking for a fix of cat fancy, and it’s raining all around him. I step outside to greet the day, lighting up my nicotine fix, and I’m soaked to the bone. Then he slinks right by me and steps through the door with that oh-so-cool demeanor. Dry as a bone.
What they do and the images of their mind are a secret I long to unravel.
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Evil Overload
at 9:34 am
Thus spake Ennui
at 7:26 am
Thus spake Ennui
at 7:19 am
A friend of mine saw this woman on Good Morning America today. She couldn’t believe it. Neither could I. Er, um, ah… aren’t accents a learned behavior?
Doctors are still trying to find out exactly why foreign accent syndrome occurs.
Er, um, ah… because people are crazy?
According to my friend, there is also a case of a woman with a French accent.
Er, um, ah… let’s see, what would make my life more exciting? A trip to the zoo? A sporty new car? A brand new identity! Heck yeah!
If you should notice my brogue, you will know that I have been knocked in the noggin by a flying thingamajig.
P.S. I think this is what Madonna has, but without the foresight of the stroke to lay blame. In the world of psychology, I think they call it multiple personality syndrome.
Cheerio!
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Ennui
December 9, 2003 at 8:52 am
Thus spake Ennui
at 8:38 am
Thus spake Ennui
December 8, 2003 at 7:53 pm
What the hell has happened to the freaking record store? Why can’t I ever go into a freaking record store and find what I want? Not only do they not have any records (vinyl, that is), they barely have any cds. What the hell are they selling anyway? It’s like they only need sixteen copies of the same top ten titles, and everyone is fine and dandy. Goddamned Dixie Chicks. Get a freaking clue! I used to spend hours in the record store - so much to covet! I’ll admit that I never bought anything off the top of the charts rack, but finding Gene Loves Jezebel at Sam Goody was not a silly dream of mine. It really happened. I’ve even snagged some super sweet imports at the SG. Never to fear, though, if the chains failed you - whatever you wanted and whatever you needed could be had a-plenty at Tower Records. And whatever else could easily be purchased on Bleeker Street or at Record Stop (for all things NOT top of the charts!). Those were the days. This world makes no sense to me; this world of pop entertainment. Music is supposed to be an experience. The fucking dolphin show at Sea World is your damn entertainment!! Give me back my record store and you can keep the Mtv.
The song for the moment is Charlotte Sometimes by The Cure. Hell, any Cure song before 1989 will do. If you can bloody find it!
I come, I rant, I go in peace.
“Charlotte sometimes crying for herself. Charlotte sometimes dreams a wall around herself.”
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Ennui
at 2:05 pm
Thus spake Evil Overload
at 2:00 pm
Thus spake Ennui
at 11:41 am
Thus spake Ennui
at 8:03 am
Why is Rubber Ring such a great song?
And I tell you that it all has to do with irony. But don’t take it from me - let Jake Brown explain it to ya.
Thanks for the prodding, Pauldoe.
Categories: Uncategorized
Add a Comment »
Thus spake Ennui
at 7:19 am
Thus spake Evil Overload
December 5, 2003 at 1:50 pm
Thus spake Ennui
at 12:35 pm
Thus spake Evil Overload
at 12:09 pm
Thus spake Evil Overload
at 9:07 am
|
