VCR Case mod
Link: http://www.gizmodo.com/gadgets/gadgets/the-vcr-media-center-pc-221596.php
This is a case mod that I'd actually like. It's nice work!
Paris-Dakar Goodness
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xc0Ti8a3X14
I'm not much of a vehicle racing fan -- what's with those endless circuits, NASCAR? -- but I make an exception for the Paris-Dakar rally. It's truly impressive and looks to be one step shy of lethal. Link goes to YouTube highlights from the 2003 one.
While the motorcyclists are impressive -- and certifiably insane -- it's the big trucks which grab my attention.
More referrer searches
It's been a few weeks since the last round up so I figured it was time for another bunch:
Glaring Furball
Link: http://daringfireball.net/linked/2006/december#mon-11-thomas_hawk
Over at Daring Fireball, John Gruber lays into a recent Macintosh switcher saying:
What I take away from stories like this is not “Hey, it’s great to see another PC user switch to the Mac.” What I take away is that he ought to feel like a jerk for having mocked Macs and Mac users for 15 years, because he would have been just as happy if he’d switched earlier.
Hiro(ine)
Link: http://crawlacrosstheocean.blogspot.com/2006/12/i-need-hiro.html
An interesting post from Declan over at "Crawl Across The Ocean" about one of the better new shows on TV, "Heroes". What he posits is that the show would be even better if they switched the genders of the lead characters. Reading through his post, I have to say I was left thinking "Yeah, I'd like to have seen that."
Oh, ick. Serious ick.
Link: http://spermcube.org/
I'm probably going to have to create a new category for this type of link. I don't think "silly" really captures the essence of this "yuck". For those who don't want to follow the link, the synopsis is an art project to display one cubic metre of semen.
The only redeeming explanation is if it's more a performance art piece and the idiots who produce are in fact the real focus. Heck, maybe it's people who think this is worth discussing who are the actual target.
All hail the Swiss Army Penknife
Link: http://lifeandhealth.guardian.co.uk/consumer/story/0,,1965050,00.html
With the exception of when I'm flying -- they seem to have this thing about sharp pointy objects -- I just about always have a penknife nearby. The Grauniad has a pretty good article on the history of the Swiss Army penknife (original and genuine versions).
And no, mine never has a corkscrew as I prefer a Philips screwdriver instead. It destroys fewer pockets that way and might actually be useful.
(Via Neil Gaiman's blog)
Creative's software still sucks
This is a bit of longer term usage following up on the Creative SoundBlaster wireless that I originally reviewed a few months ago.
Recently, I decommissioned a Celeron XP box. When I did that I lost the software server for the Creative Soundblaster Wireless player, rendering it inoperative.
Office Space, The Slasher Cut
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGNs7QMeV7E
With the low distribution costs inherent with the YouTube video-on-demand service, people have been remixing movies into trailers for a different genre. The original one was converting "The Shining" into a romantic comedy which was promptly followed up by recasting "Sleepless In Seattle" as a crime drama. My current favourite is "Office Space" as a slasher movie.
Updated, 2006/12/06: Oh, typical. You write something like this, and promptly it becomes old-hat. New favourite is "Scary Mary" (although I think "Scary Poppins" would have been better...)
Top Gear's Mercedes S-Class English Cottage
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCn-1oy7ABs
No car deserves this, particularly not the otherwise gorgeous Mercedes S-Class. Watch it before YouTube takes the clip down.
Batman drives a British Leyland Metro
Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtGjVgtht8k&eurl=
...or at least he did in the early 80's.
Barenaked Ladies, "Are Me"
The newest Barenaked Ladies album had a tough job ahead of it. "Gordon" at the beginning of their career set the stakes pretty high. The next two albums ("Maybe You Should Drive", "Born On A Pirate Ship") were -- unfortunately -- forgettable. "Stunt" in 1998 was a return to form with a set of catchy songs, irreverent but not silly. The next two ("Maroon" and "Everything To Everyone") were by no means bad albums, but just didn't grab my interest. There's never been a problem with BNL's songwriting or their musical skills, but somehow it so often passed me by. It was thus with great interest that I listened to "Are Me" to try to figure out if this'd be another good album or it they'd finally be hit by the three-strikes rule.
Consistent look-and-feel for the user interface
Link: http://www.matthewyglesias.com/archives/2006/12/in_praise_of_uno/
I'm well aware that having a consistent user interface makes for a more attractive system (so long as you actually like that interface.) The site linked to above is this the first time I've ever heard of someone refusing to use good software because it doesn't visually match the other pieces.
The problem is that I just can't shake the feeling that my leg is being pulled on this one.
UNO (a reskinning package for OSX) sounds quite neat though so I'll have to give it a look a bit later.
Anything good on TV tonight(ish)?
Yes.
Battlestar Galactica, Heroes, Torchwood, Jericho, Robot Chicken (Ritchie's Review)
Yeah, I'm a sucker for SF. I'm a bit disappointed that with the exception of BSG, not one of those is Canadian.
