Invisibility cloak, 400 freestyle relay, Homestar Ruiner
Invisibility cloaks are becoming reality, or at least progress is still being made. Scientists have created new metamaterials that can bend light the wrong way. CNN reports: “Researchers have demonstrated for the first time they were able to cloak three-dimensional objects using artificially engineered materials that redirect light around the objects.” Here are two [...]
Random technology, sports and humor
I’ve been so busy working, playing tennis tournaments and looking into houses to buy that I’ve forgotten to post. Anyway, here’s a quick list of things I’ve found interesting or funny over the past two weeks.
If you’re in the IT industry, this is awesome: The Website is Down. Also, here are a couple [...]
Purple potatoes, Sparks, Martini Ranch music video
This week a guy I know was walking around with a bowl of purple potatoes for lunch. I don’t mean purple-skinned potatoes, but the radioactive-looking purple-all-the-way-through kind. The only question is whether he was eating a normal, terrestrial species of potato/yam (Peruvian or similar) or perhaps somehow got hold of a starchy product of [...]
Friday the 13th: Radiohead remix and cool games
Hey, I was actually able to hold out for nine days before posting again. Below are some highlights I’ve been compiling for a couple of weeks.
Music
The remix of Radiohead’s “Nude” by James Houston using a bunch of old computer hardware is awesome. Don’t get discouraged by the extended intro. A Sinclair ZX Spectrum performs [...]
Snow in the Quad, flags for Iraq, Fusion Man
Today was the third annual Snow in the Quad rail jam event on the Oregon State University campus. Read an article on last year’s Snow in the Quad in The Daily Barometer. Here’s a YouTube video and some Flickr photos by Blair Cook from last year’s Snow in the Quad. And here are OSU [...]
Map of Strange, interactive satellite maps, Sarcasma
Here’s a well-worn concept for the day: Sports as a metaphor for life. That’s part of what makes following sporting events so compelling. I enjoyed this ESPN video: SportsCenter Flashback: Chris Paul Pays Tribute To His Grandfather. CP3 scored exactly 61 points, as planned, during a game in high school. In related news, the [...]
The Curse of Lono, Leonardo da Vinci, Tax Day
I’m currently reading Hunter S. Thompson’s illustrated hardback The Curse of Lono; somehow I missed this one before now. It’s Fear and Loathing for Hawai’i, which is appropriate because I’ll be vacationing in Hawai’i (O’ahu and the Big Island) in late summer. The book itself is enormous (15″ x 11.4″) and full of Ralph [...]
The Soup Mines, elephant artists, Obama
Here’s a very Don Hertzfeldt-esque webcomic that I just found and enjoy: The Soup Mines!
Do you know about the elephant artists from Thailand? They are elephants who can paint representational forms (well, some seem to be abstract artists). Mostly they choose to paint flowers and trees. But a few elephants can apparently paint fairly [...]
March Madness 2008 and webcomics
March Madness 2008 is now upon us. Today was Selection Sunday and the 65-team field has been set. There are so many NCAA Tournament bracket contests, so little time. Here are three: ESPN Men’s Tournament Challenge, CBSSports.com Bracket Challenge, Yahoo! College Basketball Tournament Pick’em.
There are a lot of great webcomics out there. Let me [...]
Linus Pauling postage stamp, Max Headroom, Al Gore?
On Thursday, March 6, Oregon State University celebrated its most internationally recognized alumnus, Linus Pauling, as one of four American Scientists being honored on U.S. postage stamps this year. At noon in the Memorial Union Ballroom there was a First Day of Sale celebration. A special commemorative postmark was designed for the occasion [...]