AutoImmune

People Don't Explode in Space

2006-08-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

When a friend and I were discussing the topic of what would happen to an unprotected person in open space, we assumed it would be something horrible and immediate - like explosion.

We couldn't place why we thought this. Just seemed like one of those things - your space suit breaks and you explode. We thought it might have to do with watching sci fi movies, but couldn't really think of a single instance of people-exploding due to space exposure in cinema. Hmm.

Turns out, you don't explode. Yes, you will die after a minute or so, but it's just kinda uncomfortable before you do so. It is possible to survive for short time.

From NASA:

If you don't try to hold your breath, exposure to space for half a minute or so is unlikely to produce permanent injury. Holding your breath is likely to damage your lungs, something scuba divers have to watch out for when ascending, and you'll have eardrum trouble if your Eustachian tubes are badly plugged up, but theory predicts -- and animal experiments confirm -- that otherwise, exposure to vacuum causes no immediate injury. You do not explode. Your blood does not boil. You do not freeze. You do not instantly lose consciousness

.

Be sure to check the full answer for some tongue-boiling.

Video Game Tax

2006-07-21T14:41:00.000-07:00

Since video games are so violent, and are responsible for the obesity and socialization problems in American youth, Hillary Clinton wants to implement an extra tax on video game sales which will be used to fund child advocacy programs.

Right. Or, we could expect retailers not to sell mature rated video games to minors just like we expect movie theaters not to admit minors to R rated movies. Foolproof? No. But I don't expect my beer to be extra-taxed to pay for preventative alcoholism programs, either.

Further, Clinton fears the increased role in-game adevrtising is playing in the mind-rot of our children. Speaking to the Kaiser Family Foundation, Clinton explored the inevitablility of brain implants:

"At the rate that technology is advancing, people will be implanting chips in our children to advertise directly into their brains and tell them what kind of products to buy," Clinton said at the Kaiser Family Foundation.
...
The New York Democrat said the country was performing a "massive experiment" on kids who average more than six hours a day with media and advertising, soaking it up through TV, computers, games and iPods. She said the fastest growing advertising market is the 6- and under set, and that children's health is already being hurt by products like Camel's candy-flavored cigarettes and junk food sold with tips for video games - used to sell more junk food.

We're talking about a certain demographic here, no? These young children that have computers, video game consoles, and iPods also come from a family/guardianship that can afford these things for their children. I think then that these parents can also afford to regulate what these children are using computers for, playing on their consoles, listening to on their iPods, and when their children are doing it.

I can afford these devices too, but I'm an adult, and - at least so far in this country - I'm allowed to make my own decisions about the content of my media.

I also find it annoying that Clinton is presenting aggressive marketing to children as a recent threat. According to Wikipedia, candy cigarettes were invented in the early 19th century.

Clinton has put out the call for volunteers (read: PTA moms) who are willing to speak on her platform about their video game concerns. I guess I'm confused. If these parents are truly concerned, like I said, they can regulate their own children's access and content. Otherwise, these parents will be advocating to raise the price of the entertainment they're already purchasing for their children. I suppose these parents may just be pissed and want to ruin it for everyone, not just their own children.

Oh, wait, I forgot about the brain implants that will control us. I guess there's nothing we can do.

Tour de Fat

2006-07-20T11:39:00.000-07:00

There's a good chance you'll know where to find me on August 12th: the New Belguim Tour de Fat.

Bikes and beer. Like bullets and guns.

Bunch a Bike-Ridin' Dopers

2006-06-30T12:26:00.000-07:00

Dear gawd, the worst news I could possibly hear one day before the start of the Tour is that Jan and Ivan are out of the race due to doping allegations, along with possibly 50 other implicated riders.

Doping has always been an issue in cycling. There have been a fair share of true violators. But there have also been plenty of aggregiously false doping allegations perpetrated by the very people whose job it is to protect the sport from this BS.

If the investigation into these Spanish docs and their clients has been going on for 6 months, why are we suddenly banning riders the day before the Prologue? It stinks of sensationalism.

If Jan, Ivan, and company did dope, well, I guess they'll get what they deserve. Even if vindicated though, at this point the damage has been done. What a shame.

Race to Replace

2006-06-20T15:42:00.000-07:00

From The Paceline:

Race with Team Discovery Channel for a Day. Really.

You heard right. As a part of Discovery Channel’s Race to Replace, we are inviting you and other cyclists to race with Lance on the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. All you have to do is sign up. The fastest rider will earn a spot on the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team during an actual one-day race at the U.S. Pro Championships in Greenville, South Carolina. Net proceeds from the race event will be donated to the Lance Armstrong Foundation. To get your chance, go to www.racetoreplace.com.

In my last criterium race - through no fault of anyone but myself - I clipped my pedal on the pavement in a tight turn and went down. I'm an idiot. If I were to sign up for this the results could be disastrous. Seriously, I could end some careers. The way I ride George Hincapie could lose an eye.

Matt Awesome, An American Standard

2006-06-05T17:03:00.000-07:00

Just learned a buddy from back east might move to Seattle.

Matt Awesome has a blog on which he proves that he is not only smarter than you (philosophically speaking), but funnier, and way more skilled at Photoshop.

666 - National Day of Slayer - 666

2006-06-02T12:59:00.000-07:00

Celebrate a day of (ir)reverance on June 6, 2006, the National Day of Slayer.

From the site:

Official Statement on Participation

- Listen to Slayer at full blast in your car.
- Listen to Slayer at full blast in your home.
- Listen to Slayer at full blast at your place of employment.
- Listen to Slayer at full blast in any public place you prefer.
DO NOT use headphones! The objective of this day is for everyone within earshot to understand that it is the National Day of Slayer. National holidays in America aren't just about celebrating; they're about forcing it upon non-participants.

Taking that participation to a problematic level

- Stage a "Slay-out." Don't go to work. Listen to Slayer.
- Have a huge block party that clogs up a street in your neighborhood. Blast Slayer albums all evening. Get police cruisers and helicopters on the scene. Finish with a full-scale riot.
- Spray paint Slayer logos on churches, synagogues, or cemeteries.
- Play Slayer covers with your own band (since 99% of your riffs are stolen from Slayer anyway).
- Kill the neighbor's dog and blame it on Slayer.

NDoS recommends Reign in Blood, but I've always been rather partial to Season in the Abyss. You can't argue with the video for that song. Slayer running around in the desert. Arab dudes and mysterious rituals and whatnot. Torches.

American Idol the Way It Should Be

2006-06-01T15:13:00.000-07:00

Lordi, a Gwar-esque rock band from Finland, recently took top prize at the Eurovision Song Contest - the show that's been pitting European nations against each other American Idol style since 1956.

From The Advertiser:

FINNISH rockers Lordi has won the 2006 Eurovision Song Contest - a stunning upset in a competition better known for bland dance music and bubble-gum pop.

The cartoon metalheads, who sport latex monster masks and spark-spewing instruments, fought off a strong challenge from Russian heartthrob Dima Bilan to take the 51st annual music prize.

...

The Finns, who scandalised some compatriots when their song Hard Rock Hallelujah was chosen to represent the Nordic nation, was the surprise hit of the competition.

...

Lordi beat an unusually eclectic 24-nation field on Saturday, which ranged from the bubble-gum pop of Danish teenager Sidsel Ben Semmane and Malta's Fabrizio Faniello to the balladry of Ireland's Brian Kennedy.

You Said It, Man

2006-05-25T16:11:00.000-07:00

While having lunch in the cafeteria yesterday, I spotted the hospital chaplain wearing a t-shirt that said "Jesus Loves Me More Than You".

This guy always wears t-shirts over his preist gear, so you can clearly see his collar while also reading a cute slogan like, "the family that prays together stays together". He's a kooky, non-traditional type. He runs around in Birkenstocks telling inocuous jokes in busy hallways to no one in particular. He moves like a cat who's always startled. You know what I'm saying.

So, I'm wondering if when he spotted this latest shirt he read "Jesus", "loves", "me" and "you" without actually grasping the meaning of the statement.

He's a priest running around a hospital with a shirt stating yeah, I'm in with Jesus more than you, what can ya do?

Side note: Lately, more and more when I see the word "Jesus" I think of John Turturro in The Big Lebowski. What I'm saying is this, "Nobody fucks with the Jesus".

UW Flashes the Finger

2006-05-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

The University of Washington is featuring a slide show of Seattle Chapter Black Panther photos on its web site in order to showcase the special Memory and History Project.

That project is worth checking out on its own, however I noticed this one photo in particular as it flashed on the UW home page.

So, you tell me. One of the coolest pictures ever?

(click for the larger image)

Double Drive

2006-05-24T10:31:00.000-07:00

This guy from Germany is riding from Argentina to Montreal on a double drive fixie.

'Nuff Said

2006-05-19T14:26:00.000-07:00

Ultimate Ultimate Video Game

2006-05-03T15:15:00.000-07:00

This post is in response to Schmubb's 4/28 thought: "I think I think that there should be an Ultimate Frisbee playstation game."

I don't think this is entirely out of the question. In fact, this idea will make us millions: make an Ultimate game for the new Nintendo system that utilizes the gyroscopic controller. In order to "throw" the disc, you have to approximate the motion yourself with the controller. Wanna throw it fast and straight? Keep the controller level and whip it away from your body. Need some arc to that toss? Make a lobbing motion at the angle you want the frisbee to take. To catch a disc, lower the controller sharply to the floor at the moment of contact. All throwing and catching could be done in first person view. Viewpoint changes to each player as they have possession of the disc. Or you could play third person, I dunno. I do know that Nintendo should hire me. Like, yesterday.

You know, Rockstar Games - the makers of the sex, drugs, shoot-a-hooker-in-the-face Grand Theft Auto series - is developing a table tennis video game for XBOX360. We can make this happen, folks.

Big Baller/Shot Caller

2006-05-02T12:54:00.000-07:00

So now I'm on a basketball team. I actually own a pair of And1's and rock my shorts baggy to match my jersey. I'm number 12. My theory is that if I look like I know what I'm doing, I'll get respect on the court.

We, the Road Runners, had our first game on Sunday and only lost by 17 points. My theory didn't quite pan out in practice as this one girl insisted on stealing the ball from me...twice. Well, the second time she forced me into a travel, but the point is zero respect. Maybe I should start wearing a headband.

I'm also thinking of getting a basketball tattooed on my shoulder. I've noticed that's popular in the NBA and, well, those guys are good.

Yeah Yeah Yeahs at The Paramount/ Seattle

2006-04-26T12:26:00.000-07:00

This turned out to be a case of seeing the band live making me like the albums a little more. Not sure what I expected, but I did arrive hesitant that Karen O would pull some aloof hipster-mod attitude and that the band would be kinda bitchy. Why did I think this? I dunno, don't they look kinda bitchy to you?

Anyway, I was totally surprised to find the opposite. Karen O screamed and bounced her little ass off and though she spoke little, seemed generally happy and appreciative to be a rock star. I'm sure through her performance she encouraged all the teenage females in the audience to, I dunno, feel better about themselves or something, which is great. I just thought she is really good at what she does.

Something I was looking forward to is discovering how the guitarist was going to handle all the big sounds on the album. They did have a fourth musician who stepped in on bass, acoustic guitar, and keyboards on a few songs, but they used him surprisingly sparingly. Instead of relying on the fourth guy, the YYYs guitarist turned on his I'm-a-whiz-with-effects-pedals switch and cranked out the sounds himself. Sure, there was some sampling going on in there - both fed through a pedal sampler that he played live, and in the case of "Y Control" a pre-rendered sample - but he was still a blur of activity running around stomping on pedals and twisting knobs.

Fun show.

Bike Postcard from the Past

2006-04-21T15:29:00.000-07:00

Not sure what year this is from. This guy looks like a total bruiser.

"Hit me and I'll sue!"

2006-04-21T10:42:00.000-07:00

I kid you not, as I hopped on my bike yesterday this 9 year old boy who was walking by yelled at me, "Hit me and I'll sue!"

Lego Counter Strike

2006-04-11T16:35:00.000-07:00

This best part of this video of Lego people blowing each other's heads off a-la Counter Strike, is how well it captures the feeling of respawning.

The ambush on the stairs cracks me up.

Irish Gang War Over Playstation 2

2006-04-07T10:49:00.000-07:00

What does it take to really push an Irishman over the edge? Steal his PS2. Two gangs/families took the fight to the streets over an alleged theft.

From Ballymena Today:

A samurai sword, Chinese fighting blades, an adapted motorcycle chain were just a sample of the lethal weapons seized by police, and two petrol bombs were thrown at houses as the two tribes went to war.

The local police expect an escalation in violence "as back-up gangs from other parts of the Province were expected".

Uh...So...With Apologies to My Girlfriend...

2006-04-03T12:00:00.000-07:00

So, I finally happened upon a gallery that I always thought was a great idea, but had never actually come across.

Too bad there aren't more track bars in the pics, though....ahhh, track bars....

DC Cyclist vs. Cab Driver

2006-04-03T11:36:00.000-07:00

I hate cab drivers. Just to let you know.

Obviously, I don't know who was at fault in this situation, but the fact that the cab took a left from the right lane tells me it wasn't the cyclist.

I dig that he wouldn't let the cabbie get away. Once a taxi driver rear ended me - while I was riding to the right of the lane - and tried to take off. Luckily I wasn't knocked off of my bike and subsequently run over, but after I quickly caught the guy he simply apologized and said he was checking out this girl's ass on the sidewalk and wasn't paying attention. Oh.

We Playing Basketball

2006-04-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I joined with some friends to relive the playground humiliation of my youth by playing a little basketball.

I showed up late, so the first time I touched the ball, which was the first time since about eigth grade, was when my teammate inbounded to me. I tried to, but didn't, dribble on my foot.

We've decided to make it a weekly thing, so now my sights are set on learning this game and yelling "face!" after I juke out my opponent. Do people still say "juke"?

Bike Bungee Death

2006-04-03T11:18:00.000-07:00

Back in Richmond VA, near my hometown, yet another fantastic way to harm yourself on a bike was invented (as far as I know) at the weekend messenger event "Slaughterama".

Termed "Whiplash", two cyclists tethered together by a bungee cord ride in opposite directions. The first to fall loses the bout.

Flickr photoset.

Actually, Origami is Boring

2006-03-08T10:32:00.000-08:00

So, turns out MS's Origami isn't a direct competitor for PSP or iPod marketshare, but rather an ultra mobile PC aimed at tech savvy consumers who don't want to lug around a laptop.

That video of Halo on the Origami = total marketing bullpoo.

Oh, and the price is going to be around $1000. I'm officially uninterested.

Origami Never Sounded So Fun

2006-03-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

On March 9, it looks like Microsoft is ready to announce its bid to take over the handheld market with its pocket PC-esque Origami device. Right now, the site contains only a teaser ad, but promises more on the 9th.

Some concept photos show Halo on the screen. If Origami takes current Xbox disks rather than an Origami-only format, this is really exciting. I would say it isn't likely, but it seems MS might champion Origami as a do-all handheld rather than just a gaming system. It may cost an arm and a leg, however I'm willing to pay more for a kick-ass device if I can play the games I already own on it. Further, I may even buy games I normally wouldn't. For instance, I don't play Xbox Live, but I might buy multiplayer friendly games for the Origami if it meant I could hop in to a quick frag-fest while waiting for my plane.

Limited Edition Video Games

2006-03-01T17:47:00.000-08:00

This article at GameSpot addresses the problem with overpriced, under-scwhagged collector's editions of video games.

I agree with Ocampo on some counts:

The Halo 2 collector's edition was worth it for $5 extra bucks. The "making of" documentary was fun and informative.

A lot of these editions aren't worth the money. For instance, being able to play earlier iterations of Doom on the Xbox Doom 3 Limited Edition is fun for 30 seconds, and not worth $10.

The simple solution is to just not buy these collector's editions.

I like stuff like this, though, so here's what I think game companies should do. Offer Limited Editions with some extra stuff than the regular version, but don't charge any extra money. Make them actual limited editions, as in, only a small number are being made. People like me may be more willing to shell out full price for a new limited edition rather than waiting until the game drops in price months later. So, maybe game company X gets my $50 day of release for the limited edition rather than my $20 for a regular, discounted version 6 months later. Or, not any of my money at all, b/c I buy it used.

Bioware did this with Jade Empire. The Limited Edition had a whole new playable character but cost the same as the regular edition.

I don't need a plastic Death Star with my new Star Wars game. I want some extra maps or vehicles or something because I agreed to buy your game when it first came out.

New Report: Bush Can't Ride Bike

2006-02-27T17:07:00.000-08:00

Does everything this guy touches turn into a disaster?

According to newly released police papers, Bushie's infamous bike crash from months passed occurred when he ran into a Scottish police officer while waving to and thanking other officers on the scene.

I love the BBC photo caption, "President Bush is a keen cyclist who has taken a few tumbles".

Chappelle Bloc Party: Me So Happy

2006-02-21T14:32:00.000-08:00

Before entering the Paramount Theatre for Dave Chappelle's Bloc Party show on Sunday, I was forced to reveal to a security man that my jacket pocket contained insulin, an inhaler, and glucose tablets in case my blood sugar got too low. In the plastic B&N bag? Two computer programming books. Yeah, I was there to party.

Thankfully it was up to Dave, not me, to bring the cool. And Dave's cool includes putting Mos Def and Erykah Badu up on stage in between his comic banter.

Best moment with Def: He performed his acappella Katrina song. Beautiful and haunting.

Best moment with Erykah: Uh, there were no un-best moments with Erykah. Wow. Just wow. She is a performer through and through. She came out in a super-classy 40's inspired outfit, flowy bright red dress, lime green stockings, high heels - whew!

Dave was hilarious, of course, and the enthusiasm and awe he felt for his co-performers was apparent. His show was a big 'ole love fest. It actually did feel like a party.

Chappelle's Back and Coming to Seattle

2006-02-15T13:57:00.000-08:00

J scored us tickets this morning for Dave Chappelle's Paramount Theatre show in Seattle.

And to that I say, "I'm Rick James, bitch!"

"For He is the Kwisatz Haderach"

2006-02-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

Just received my Dune: Extended Edition DVD from Amazon, and I'm happy as a Guild Navigator in a spice juice hot tub.

Of course, only buy this for the David Lynch cut theatrical version and the extras (which I have't watched yet and can't vouch for). The extended version was hobbled together in an attempt to explain the story via lengthy, tedious, ridiculous voice-overs and they destroy the movie. Lynch took an Alan Smithee on that one. The DVD includes both versions.

Granted, when I first watched this as a kid, I had no idea what was happening, but I wore out our VHS tape just the same. Even then I knew there was something creepy, sexual, and really cool going on that I would never forget - as evidenced by the fact that often I drop Dune quotes like lyrical flow (much to J's delight), and I've had entire email conversations with my buddy Seamus using nothing but references to the film. When Seamus and I lived together he hung a banner across our door that read, "God created Arrakis to train the faithful". Indeed, Muad'Dib.

I saw a stillsuit from the film on display at Seattle's Science Fiction Museum, and yep, I still want one.

On that note, I leave you with the fan-created Spice Opera, one of the dumbest things I've seen on the nets to date.

PS: Did anyone know that Alicia Witt played Alia? Damn.

Journalistic Slant on Cyclists

2006-02-09T12:49:00.000-08:00

I find this article about the recent altercation between a cyclist and a motorist in Toronto quite distressing.

The author chooses to focus on "militant" cycling and the conflicts caused by activistic riders. He chooses to compare Ms. Hollinsworth, the cyclist who was attacked, to a heroin addict and former messenger whom he touts as a militant cyclist pioneer. According to the article, his militancy consisted of wearing torn-out jeans, riding 12 months a year, and referring to motorists as "sellouts".

The article glosses over the fact that Ms. Hollinsworth was physically attacked by the driver. Throwing the littering driver's trash back into his car was confrontational, yes, but not violent. I feel in this situation the motorist clearly is the militant, yet I've discovered a similar journalistic tone in other articles addressing cyclist/motorist conflicts - the general idea being that a cyclist invites conflict by not conforming to a standard and thus gets what s/he deserves.

I'm reminded of a controversial article about a Boston messenger who collided with a pedestrian who happened to be a prominent banker. This much publicized accident was the impetus for the introduction of licensing laws for messengers and a general crackdown on "renegade" cyclists. Had this gentleman been hit by a car, I strongly believe it would have been dismissed as an unfortunate accident rather than a cause for public outcry and unnecessary legislation.

I like this quote:

"It's a built-in conflict," said Darren Stehr, a Toronto-based activist who has spent years campaigning for cyclists' rights. "You're on a bicycle, and they're in a steel box."

He blames the drivers. "They're in a deteriorating situation. There are more cars out there every day. The traffic is worse than ever. They're not getting anywhere. They get angry at us, but we're doing them a big favour. We take up less of the road. We're creating space for them."

I should add that I am confrontational with motorists on occasion. Ususally, it is because I feel endangered by a motorist's carelessness or deliberate action to intimidate me. Sometimes it's because certain people think it's fun to be verbally abusive and I'm not big enough to let it go. But in the end, I'd like to reiterate a sentiment in the above quote: cars are gigantic, fast, dangerous, and they protect the driver. I don't have similar protection on a bike, yet nearly everyday a motorist will attempt to use their vehicle to muscle me. Somehow, however, I'm the militant.

Further Critical Mass Escalation

2006-02-06T11:34:00.000-08:00

I think NYC Critcial Masses are getting out of hand.

In their fervor to curtail the demonstration, two scooter cops collide and have their injuries tended to by a cyclist.

As far as my thoughts on the cyclists' role in this matter, I've blogged about my dubious feelings before.

Still, some more thoughts:

(1) Once in Boston I was cut off and honestly nearly killed by a driver who floored it across an intersection to take a left turn in front of me. I ended up crashing in my attempt avoid getting t-boned. I got a really good look at the tread of the car's rear tire before hitting the pavement. A cop standing on the corner saw the whole thing. The car had stopped, but after I stood up, the driver took off. I shuffled over to the sidewalk and the cop asked, without concern, if I was ok. A little shaken, I said that I wasn't sure. He started to walk away. I stopped him and asked him what he was going to do - my cell phone was broken, my tire pump had bent in half, and there was no way yet to tell if my bike was damaged - let alone if I was injured. He looked at me and said, "I thought you said you were ok". And that was that.

(2) Another thought: A friend who stopped off for a visit during a bike trip up the west coast observed one morning that we could likely fit every bike in the city in a two block area where maybe 20 cars were parked. Seattle's a city full of environmental proponents who drive single occupancy vehicles to work and vote against mass transit systems. Getting just 25% of these vehicles off the roads would be a vast improvement.

Meet My Neighbor: The Bobacabana

2006-02-02T13:58:00.000-08:00

Judging by the picture on his home page, this dedicated collector is practically a neighbor of mine.

Quite a spread he's got there. But, owning yearbooks for Harrison Ford, George Lucas, Carrie Fisher, James Earl Jones, and Natalie Portman is a little extreme, no?

Behold and Savor: "Mortiis"

2006-02-01T14:59:00.000-08:00

Ah, the splendor.

The rapture.

The t-shirt.

Doom Kills It

2006-01-31T11:29:00.000-08:00

Sunday, I finally caught MF Doom at Chop Suey after it was rescheduled from a month ago.

Holy hot damn Doom is fun to watch - he hit the stage wearing a zorro mask and went nuts for the next hour. My only complaint is that his set was too short.

J and I learned a lesson in getting older that night. We showed up to the 8:30 show around 9:45 to learn that Doom wasn't scheduled to hit the stage until midnight. After one opener we decided there was no way we were making it until midnight without going home for a nap. Which we did, except J didn't make it back for the show. We just can't hang anymore (except, of course, for official DCDB events - booyah!).

I did buy a KMD album - actually a comp of their first two albums plus some b-sides - and I can't get enough of it.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah

2006-01-26T17:07:00.000-08:00

The Clap Your Hands Say Yeah self titled record makes me want to romp through the forest where Interpol shot it's latest video whilst spewing sunshine out of my behind. I really like it a lot.

Cheers to J for introducing me to that one. I was busy picking out Swingin' Utters "Five Lessons Learned", which isn't as great as their other stuff, from the EM skuffs bin for a buck when she grabbed that gem. I did get Pulp's "This is Hardcore" for $4.25, though, an album cover which freaks J right the eff out. And kinda turns me on.

Q: Is that really Pulp's official site? Eeeesh.

Observation: Interpol (band) is one up on Interpol (actual police org) on Google. International crime's just not as popular as hipster music, I 'spose. But really, was it ever?

Note: On my use of the word "buck" above. I mean of course one dollar, not a hundred. This was confused when I was last in Vegas and speaking to Schmubb on the phone. I told him I was up a buck, to which he replied enthusiastically, "A hundo?!" Sadly no, but I appreciated the confidence. Especially after my craps performance at his bachelor's party, which netted me negative [some money].

Worker's Comp for Enforcers

2006-01-25T14:32:00.000-08:00

A Norfolk Admirals player will receive worker's comp for injuries sustained during an on-ice fight. The court decided his injured shoulder was sustained as a result of his work as an "enforcer" for the hockey team.

I went to one Admirals game early on in high school and I've never been more afraid at a sporting event. The fans were belligerent drunks and in response to a bad call, the Admirals coach threw the entire stock of his team's sticks out on the ice before trying to take down the ref. He actually came out on the ice in his dress shoes and tried to run after the ref, who was on skates. The fans were pleased.

Iron Spider: Spiderman's New Costume

2006-01-12T14:11:00.000-08:00

Yesterday Marvel revealed Spiderman's new costume designed by Tony Stark, a.k.a. Iron Man.

Uh, that's the big surprise? It's a Spiderman version of the Iron Man suit. At least the Venom suit was badass looking and was a friggin' alien symbiote.

Wiccan Boy / Girl Scouts

2006-01-12T11:50:00.000-08:00

So the Spiral Scouts, a Wiccan version of the Boy and Girl Scouts, are running around Index WA where the lady and I stayed in a cabin with friends over New Year's weekend.

I told you I heard something in the woods when I went to get water! I told you! I assumed it was a yeti.

In all seriousness, this sounds like a great idea. Don't ask, but I had the often uncomfortable experience of being in a primarily Mormon scout troop for a while. 'Primarily' meaning me and a bunch of Mormons. I welcome the idea of celebrating nature and gender equality rather than, well, Joseph Smith.

Apparently the Spirals received a cease and desist letter from the Boy Scouts of America claiming 'Scouts' is a trademarked term. What assholes.

via BoingBoing

Bike vs. Cab: Cab Go Boom

2006-01-12T10:13:00.000-08:00

from MovingTargetZine

Robin's Resurrection & A Complete "Origins"

2006-01-11T14:11:00.000-08:00

As is true for most comic book readers of my generation, two stories have always stuck with me: the demise of Jason Todd as Robin and the mystery of Wolverine's origins.

I couldn't tell you anything else about the story in A Death in The Family, but I'll never forget the images of the Joker smacking the cute off of Robin's face with a crowbar...and then blowing him up. DC set up 900 numbers allowing readers to phone in and decide Robin's fate, and if I recollect correct, there was an overwhelming opinion - Jason Todd dies, bigtime.

Fast forward to the present. The Thundercats first two seasons and He-Man Christmas Special DVDs are out - why not resurrect the guy everyone voted to kill? Actually, we found out Jason Todd was alive back in Batman #638, but in March DC will bounce ahead one year from Infinite Crisis #6 and start exploring Todd's future as the Red Hood (which was the Joker's persona before he was the Joker, I believe). I should tell you I haven't been reading Batman or any of it's spinoffs since I was a kid - just keeping up with the story here and there. Opinion: this could be a fun story arc, i.e. comparing the Batman's origin to Todd's resurrection. Or it will just suck like I expect it to.

In the case of Wolvie, Marvel didn't give us much about his background until the interesting but mediocre Origin six ish series which portrays our hero as a ninteenth century groundskeeper. My fondest Wolvie memory is a graphic novel I read on a road trip as a kid in which he runs around searching for clues to his past and instead meets some uber-intelligent yeti dudes that can run really fast in the snow.

I am contemplating picking up Wolverine: Origins, though, a new series starting in March '06 in which the man has regained his entire memory and tears ass to go figure it all out. Opinion: Truefans are pissed - why disturb the mystique? I say, sounds like fun. Just don't screw it up. Not so sure about the anime inspired art. I'm looking for a reference to the flat color, pencilled look of yore. But updated.

CA to MA on a Fixed Gear

2006-01-10T15:06:00.000-08:00

For 28 days beginning in June 2006 The Big Fix ride benefitting the rare disease Histiocytosis will travel from Davis CA to Boston MA - all on fixed or single speed bikes.

Wow, would I love to do that.

Your Computer Idle Time Can Help Cure Diseases

2006-01-06T10:02:00.000-08:00

The University of Washington's Rosetta@home project invites users to donate their computer's idle time to "help to determine the 3-dimensional shapes of proteins in research that may ultimately lead to finding cures for some major human diseases."

By running the Rosetta program on your computer while you don't need it you will help us speed up and extend our research in ways we couldn't possibly attempt without your help. You will also be helping our efforts at designing new proteins to fight diseases such as HIV, Malaria, Cancer, and Alzheimer's (See our Disease Related Research for more information).

The Computing and Communications department is even bundling Rosetta@home with it's Internet Connectivity Kit which allows students/faculty/staff access to UW's networks.

Insomnia & Projeck Wunway

2006-01-05T09:12:00.000-08:00

Last night, my cat Nathan Jr. was kind enough to provide comfort during a strange bout of insomnia by cleaning me.

At first he licked at the hair behind my ear for a while around 4 am until I started to half doze. Here is what I half-dreamt:

I'm up before the panel of judges on Project Runway, or Projeck Wunway, as Heidi would say, and I'm sweating it out b/c when you're kept on stage as I have been you're never sure whether you are among the highest scorers or the lowest.

For some reason, I'm wearing the parachute pant equivalent of a shirt and gigantic khaki's that flare like four feet around me. My hair is really long and I've tied bandanas all over my body. Oh, and a baseball cap. Couldn't tell you what my model or clothing design looked like.

Then Nathan looked at me and said, "Auf Wiedersehen". I am fried this morning.

Litespeed Firenze '06

2006-01-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

The new model of my two season old Litespeed Firenze is enjoying some super nice upgrades. Since you asked, here's my opinion:

The Good

FSA Gossamer Compact crankset: I dig the compact gear-ratio trend. I'm running a triple in Seattle and besides the uncool factor, it's heavy. If I were made of money I'd switch it out.

Thomson seat post and fi'zi:k saddle upgrade from the generic butt-gear that came with mine. I'd probably still switch the saddle, but at least I'd be able to craigslist the fi'zi:k for some cashola. I gave away the Litespeed saddle.

FSA wheelset: I'm interested in this set instead of the Mavic Cosmos, but it doesn't list on the site which model the FSA is. I could probably go either way on this. Looks like the same spoke count.

And...while it's not a change, that's precisely why I list this in the Good category: Litespeed kept a traditional headset instead of changing to integrated. This is one thing that originaly drew me to the Firenze. Integrated is fine for some lawyer-racer-weanie (I'm just jealous) who's going to buy a new bike every season anyway, but for people who actually want their bike to last and be user-servicable, then well, integrated is bad. But don't just take my word on this, talk to the King. Someone recently tried to tell me that Chris King was now making an integrated headset. I think they were thinking of the Perdido which is an internal headset, i.e. the bearings don't touch the frame, which is the whole problem with integrated! Anyway...

The Not As Good:

Compact Frame: Sure, it's a little lighter and probably stiffer, but sloping top tubes weird me out. Point blank period.

Brake caliper downgrade to 105: Guess thay had to offset the upgrades somehow, but the Ultegra calipers are superb, IMO. At least until you crash them, like I did.

Crappy orange decals: My 2004 has crappy blue decals. Strange on a high end bike, but at least I'm not paying for some crazy Colnago paint job, but rather for some decent componentry. Oooh, but the brushed titanium is great.

Cane Creek S-3: Well, the headset itself is fine, but I had to replace the top cap on mine (with an FSA) just to get a decent adjustment. Boo.

In closing, I still think Litespeed is on the right track with the Firenze. A titanium frame with race worthy components for a fair price. I love mine.

Latchkey Project

2006-01-03T11:28:00.000-08:00

For $28, the Latchkey Project will send you a key and some handwritten instructions.

Your job is to find the lock that the key opens.

They call it adventure jewelry, which sounds like a lot of fun. Does anyone ever find their lock, though? I mean, it's a big world...

Bestiality: Top Seattle Times News Article of 2005

2005-12-30T11:16:00.000-08:00

From the Seattle Times:

By tallying clicks on our Web site, we now chart the most read stories in the online edition of The Seattle Times. Software then sorts the tens of thousands of stories for 2005 and ranks them. Not by importance, impact or poetic lyricism, but by which stories compelled the most people to put finger to mouse, click, open and, presumably, read.

Which brings me back to sex with horses. The story last summer about the man who died from a perforated colon while having sex with a horse in Enumclaw was by far the year's most read article.

UPDATE: Wow, we're on BoingBoing! Thanks, Xeni, you're the best!

Katamari Damacy

2005-12-29T16:31:00.000-08:00

This video game and it's pure joy. I actually feel cute when I play it.

If this were D&D, my Charisma would be +2.

But then, whilst rolling around bobbing to sugary j-poppy tunes, my tiny katamari picks up some chopsticks and it starts hobbling along all lopsided. Dammit!

Dexterity: -1

Civil Partnerships in England

2005-12-22T11:59:00.000-08:00

I know it could go without saying, but I am elated to see this.

Here's to America catching up with the other forward thinkers of the world.

NYC Police Undercover at Public Gatherings

2005-12-22T11:34:00.000-08:00

Undercover NYPD officers are joining various public gatherings for surveillance purposes.

Clearly, memorial bike rides are a threat to national security.

How often can a government body cite "terrorism" in such cases before the people start to associate the word more with the trangressions and stupidity of our own government rather than with an actual threat? Not many.

Code Words from the GEG

2005-12-21T16:08:00.000-08:00

The recent restraining order issued against David Letterman for his alleged coded messaging and remote manipulation of this Santa Fe woman reminds me of a crazy college roommate I had for a couple of months. Let's call him Derf.

We shared a tiny basement apartment located next to a bar and we could easily hear sidewalk conversations. Apparently, my roommate thought these people were speaking to him in code, and by doing so attempting to recruit him for a gay espionage group. Yes, a Gay Espionage Group.

This all came out one day when I overheard a phone conversation. Derf called the police because he had overslept and missed a class. The obvious explanation: he had been gassed in his sleep by insidious espionage agents. This group had been following him for years carrying out a plot to recruit him into their ranks. Only by fleeing from city to city had he been able to resist them. Well, apparently they found him and were communicating to him via seemingly normal conversations on the street.

So, "Dude, let's go and get a bee-ah" could actually mean, "Derf, we want you to trade top secret info for some man-man intimacy."

When I asked how this all began (big mistake, btw) Derf explained that it started when he first went to college (he was much older than me) and he had a conversation with a classmate, "much like you and I are having this converstion", he would say over and over. He went on to tell me that he learned espionage secrets could be traded for gay sexual favors. Uh, okie dokie. I think I'm starting to get the picture.

Long story short, I become suspect number one for the gassing incident after I started making arrangements to move the hell out. A disconcerting surprise awaited me when I talk to the housing office about my problem. It went something like:

Me: So, this guy won't stop talking about this espionage group and how they're out to get him. It's freaking me out.
Housing Guy: Do you live with Derf?
Me: Yes....
HG: Yeah, we've been watching him for some time now.

Gee, thanks for volunteering me as guinea pig in the GEG whacko crackdown, I'm thinking. I'll take a single occupancy room on campus, please.

Keytar to My Heart

2005-12-16T13:52:00.000-08:00

This site's worth wasting 30 seconds or so on.

Never before have I heard such sounds come from a keytar ... except those that came bundled with my $20 Casio.

This topic arose today at lunch when my co-worker had no idea what a hair band was. For shame.

HipHop in My Heart

2005-12-14T11:34:00.000-08:00

Last night the fair lady and I had tix to see MF Doom. We arrived to discover that the show had been rescheduled for next month.

My disappointment was noticable. I decided to retaliate by pounding my fists on the bar and crying until they gave me back my Doom. When this didn't work, I began vowing to be very mean to all of humanity until they coughed up the Doom. Luckily, I was stopped mid curse when RA Scion jumped onto stage.

I am a confessed hiphop noob. I strongly dislike 98% of what I hear through mainstream media - I'm looking at you Fifty. I love Del, Doom, and some stragglers, but beyond that I'm not only ignorant, but also without much direction.

Scion grabbed me immediately, and I stood motionless with a stupid grin on my face for the rest of his set. I couldn't even bob my head; I was fascinated.

On the way home, after having bought a CD and picking up a free poster (which is now on my bathroom wall, b/c I'm a nerd), I blabbed on about Scion's flow and how, to me, it wasn't the usual spitting out some ridiculous lyrics about tough-guy poo-poo.

J's reaction was something like, "Oh my god, I love that you just said 'spitting'!"

Me too. I've gone from hiphop noob to hiphop nubile. I want more.

Exactly what I need for Xmas

2005-12-09T15:36:00.000-08:00

This will go perfectly in our living room.

So, far the price is reasonable. Wonder what shipping's gonna be like.

J, we're gonna need to get rid of the couches.

"I'll be taking these Huggies, and whatever cash you've got in the register..."

2005-12-01T10:39:00.000-08:00

Snowy Doings

2005-11-28T10:58:00.000-08:00

This past Thanksgiving weekend the lady and I hiked the Alpental trail up to Snow Lake with some friends. The lower, flatter part of the trail was nice and packed down making for pretty easy going. Once the trail started getting steeper we had to plow through switchbacks covered in the 7 inches of powder that fell the night before.

On the way down the mountain, we were able to slide on our feet from one switchback to another - sometimes sliding as much as thirty feet or so. It's been a while since I played in the snow like that.

Here we are toward the beginning of our hike.

Man with a Helmet-Cam

2005-11-21T17:08:00.000-08:00

Many people who know me have probably already heard me talk about Lucas, his helmet cam, and the fact that he's arfin' nutso.

Lucas is a buddy from Boston who is fearless on a bike. He races in messenger events to capture the first-person footage, and it gets my blood pumping every time I watch it. Check out the Drag Race NYC vid for some hairy fixed riding.

Lucas is also famous for: riding the couch bike onto I-90, stealing bus drivers' coffee from their dash boards - whilst riding along side them, and monitoring police channels in order to best plot his course through the city.

Vintage Film from UW library

2005-11-17T11:02:00.000-08:00

Long undeveloped vintage film reels from the University of Washington Allen Library vaults are now seeing the light of day.

Check out the video of a 1914 motorcycle race held in Tacoma WA. The first half is a little washed out, but notice everyone's delighted reaction to the camera toward the middle, and the racer lighting up a cigarette while astride his Indian just at the end. Neato.

Bee-utiful!

2005-11-16T14:06:00.000-08:00

For the curious, here's what the lady looks like in bee mode.

She also transforms into a ~~racecar~~ old-school VW bug.

Loopin' Louie

2005-10-27T15:39:00.000-07:00

A challenge of nerves, skill, reflexes and grit, Loopin' Louie ain't no ordinary boardgame, it's a test of your true mettle.

Four players, one Louie. Louie pilots his red barnburner in a maniacal circle, cackling as he tries to knock your chicken tokens from their precarious perch. Your only defense: a uniquely colored paddle that with a properly timed tap can send Louie soaring over your token trove, and hopefully, into someone elses.

I played this game for untold hours in high school and lament its passing. Love you Louie. Maybe one day I'll spend fifty bucks on you on eBay and we can be together again.

Velodrones: Bike Mechs

2005-10-26T13:41:00.000-07:00

Bike parts maker SRAM commissioned Japanese sculpture artist Yasuhito Udagawa to create the 'Velodrones' as a trade show lookie-here audience draw.

From Wired:

Known for his mechanical mutant craftsmanship, [Udagawa] turned a pile of SRAM brake levers, crank arms, suspension forks, cassette teeth, and other components into two fully articulated, 16-inch-tall robot sculptures. Each baby mech - one Evil and the other Good - integrates more than 300 pieces, batteries included.

Lucid Argument for a Fixed w/ Brake

2005-10-26T11:29:00.000-07:00

Here's one of the more lucid arguments for using a front brake on a track bike when riding in the street that I've read (esp from a messenger).

Are Brakes for Flakes from Moving Target Zine

Brakes by Winston

Riding fixed wheel bikes without brakes in London has become an emotive subject. I am 100% for all London fixies riding with a front brake and here’s why:

PRACTICAL
You often hear of claims that some rider’s skill level on a fixed wheel bike is so high that they can stop in the same distance as a regular bike – well this may or may not be true, but however quickly you can stop, if you bolt a brake on to your bike you will be able to stop quicker!

FINANCIAL
As we couriers are paid piece-rate, the speed we can ride can massively affect our earnings; brakeless riders, knowing their ability to stop is not as good, ride slower…..I’m sure there will be many people who deny this but it’s a fact. We’ve all got a good idea who the fastest riders and top earners are in London and they all use brakes.

SOCIO-POLITICAL
As a generally left leaning / socialist kind of person, I don’t just believe in the government looking after us as best it can, but also in having some kind of social / communal conscience. There are other more vulnerable people than you out there – Which leads me to:

SPORTING
Is being a courier is an athletic / image lifestyle choice for some, not that different from being a surf bum maybe? I have limited experience in three sports: competitive cycling, surfing and snowboarding. When you sign on for a race, head for the slopes or paddle out you can be sure that everyone else on the track, mountain or in the line-up are there knowing that their chosen pursuit is dangerous. They are all taking a shared and joint risk or they wouldn’t be there.
The street, the courier’s playing field isn’t like this. Pensioners, children, disabled people etc. have not agreed to share in YOUR risk but if you ride brakeless you are making them without asking.

LEGAL
By this I don’t just mean: ‘it’s naughty so don’t do it’, I’m talking about liability…...
Consider the following (highly possible in London) scenarios:
A black cab / white van/HGV runs you over, it’s completely his fault. You’re injured, your bike’s broken – you think you might get compensation totalling your lost earnings and a new bike at least? If the driver or the cop spots you’ve got no brakes: that’s “contributory negligence”. You may not get a penny and that driver will be free to go and run someone else over without having received a single point on his licence.
You’re riding casually along Oxford Street when one of those idiot parents decides to use their child in a pushchair as a “traffic tester”. There’s an impact, you feel terrible, it’s not your fault and the policeman spots you’ve got no brakes…. Think about the consequences….

Well that’s it, except to say, if you do want to ride fast and brakeless with a bunch of people who enjoy it as much as you do and are more than happy to share your risk then see you down the track on Saturdays!

OLDBOY. That was gross and awesome.

2005-10-06T15:13:00.000-07:00

If you haven't seen it yet, check it out:

Korean movie called Oldboy.

Dude gets imprisoned for 15 years. Doesn't know why.

Gets out. Goes to get revenge w/ clawhammer.

In the meantime, eats a live octopus. Tentacles and suckers and slime pulling at his face while he goddamn chews the thing. Apparently, four octopi were most definitely and irreparably harmed while shooting this scene.

Just to be clear, live octopus is often eaten in Korea. They usually slice it up first, though.

This guy: Orders live octopus. Grabs it. Starts eating the head off.

Anyway, I thought it was a fun movie.

DangerDoom, Dear God it's Good

2005-10-06T11:36:00.000-07:00

I've been listening to DangerDoom's soon to be released debut Mouse and the Mask all morning, and I'm rejoicing. MF Doom and DJ Danger Mouse have partially plugged the sucking hole in my heart created by my yearning for a new record on the level of Deltron 3030. Yeah.

Mouse and the Mask isn't quite as tight as Deltron, and let's face it, you can't touch Del's lyrics on that one, but I thank DangerDoom for helping to save hiphop from the likes of the typical hit-mongers. I'm not even really a hiphop fan, but good music is good music.

There are some weaker tracks on the album, and sampling Meatwad over and over gets a little old, but DangerDoom spit out a reference to one of my fav Shakespeare phrases on "Sofa King" - "... got confronted by the beast with the two backs" - and it made me go "Uh. Uh." (In a hiphop way. In concert with hand raising.)

MySpace is hosting a listening party until the 10th. Album release on Oct. 11.

Note: Probably due to the collaboration with Cartoon Network, but the album is censored. Every so often a word is bleeped. I'd rather Doom just left the potty mouth out and saved my ears the annoying tone. Oh, well.

From Epitaph's site:

Two of this generation's most respected hip-hop artists, Danger Mouse and DOOM, have come together to produce DANGERDOOM: The Mouse and the Mask, an album inspired by Adult Swim, Cartoon Network's popular late-night animation network. The album, set to debut in October 2005, will be released on Epitaph Records, in association with Adult Swim. The album will contain character voices and skits from Adult Swim's most popular original shows, including Aqua Teen Hunger Force, Sealab 2021 and Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law.

This Cat Looks Pissed

2005-10-05T15:30:00.000-07:00

Over at the Japanese site CATPRIN, you can have their expert tailor fashion you a kitty costume.

Something in the Engrish translation suggests a little more, though...

Have Fun With CatPrin:

1. Dress her up. Cheer or yell, do whatever you like to enjoy the moment with your family.

2. After you are enough with your joy, take a photo! Take some poses and leave her some cute photos!

3. Remove her clothes and give her a hub, say "Thank you!"

Coincidentally, this site is the origin of a photo the lady and I have had on the fridge for months, clipped from The Stranger.

Bike Saddles and Renobs (all kinds)

2005-10-05T12:29:00.000-07:00

I've experienced numbness after long rides in a bike saddle, I'm not afraid to tell you.

But that happens when experimenting with new saddles. You have to find the right saddle for your body and adjust it properly, and doing this can take time and cause some frustration. My guess is that a lot of people get fed up with searching/adjusting or just think that saddles are supposed to be uncomfortable, so they settle.

Here's yet another article quoting this guy Dr. Goldstein (again) warning against the impotency dangers of riding a bike. I don't argue that some men have experienced impotency as a result of using the wrong saddle for them. However, what Dr. Goldstein should be researching is proper fit instead of using inflammatory language to get attention.

I ride a paper thin Selle Italia SLR on my road bike. Yes, it's light weight and looks fuggin' cool, but it also properly supports my sit bones (the ischial tuberosities, if you will), which are the points of contact that matter when fitting a saddle. Many people cannot stand the SLR - b/c it doesn't fit them!

On my everyday bike, I rock a Brooks Pro, of course. Because the thing fits my ass like an ass-glove.

And none of this has to do with how big the saddle is, or (shudder), how gel padded it is. At least the article mentions why gel saddles are not your friends.

We can partly blame researchers like Dr. Goldstein for the bike industry's production of them, however. The industry caters to the fears of its consumers. Nothing like aiming at the crotchal area to scare a man.

Check out Mr. Brown's article for the lowdown on saddles from a guy who knows the subject well.

Lesson of the Day: There Are No Teams in Outer Space

2005-09-30T14:04:00.000-07:00

Flash Gordon: Now that I've done you a favour, I have one to ask.
Akim: Anything.
Flash Gordon: Now that I'm on your side, may I have my stun gun back?
Akim: Of course. With pleasure.
[Akim has a guard return Flash's stun gun back to him]
Flash Gordon: Thank you, your highness. Frankly, I felt a little undressed without it.
[Flash stuns Akim and proceeds to attack the guards]

Thank you, Flash Gordon 1950's TV series. Thank you.

Alien Pumpkin

2005-09-29T15:56:00.000-07:00

The special lady and I went pumpkin hunting last weekend during which time I had a *great* idea for an alien pumpkin. Well, now I feel dumb. Link.

Best Show Ever

2005-09-29T11:11:00.000-07:00

Back in 1993 as a sophomore in high school I attended my first show at the long out-of-business Metro rock club in Richmond VA. I saw Inquisition and Rain Like the Sound of Trains which, incidentally, is still one of my favorite band names.

I have all three Inquisition albums dubbed on tape from friends and an XXL t-shirt of the 'We Got a Bomb' logo that I bought at a later show (I think Screw 32 and AVAIL played that one - oh, and I wear a size small), but stupidly I never bought a CD. Actually, I'm not sure the first two records were ever on CD. 'Revolution: I Think It's Called Inspiration' definitely was, and unfortunately was released in concert with the band's demise. I think I saw Inquisition maybe 3 times before they split.

For the past several years I've checked eBay for the 'Revolution' disk. Surprisingly, you can get the vinyl LP pretty easily, and the CD does pop up occasionally but usually the bidding gets out of hand. I blame Strike Anywhere listeners who want to research the singer's old band and are willing to pay $30 to get the disk used. That's fine I guess. I would have done the same thing in my teens.

Well, AF Records is releasing 'Revolution'. I'm going to buy it. In fact, I think I'm going to pre-order for $10 - then I get the poster and pin, too.

Strange feeling being at such a different point in my life than I was at that first show. Ordering the reissued disk, from a computer, with my credit card, sitting at my desk at work, and still happy to get the poster and pin.

UPDATE: Inquisition is soon to launch a posthumous web site.

Messengers and Wheelchair Marathoners

2005-09-27T11:56:00.000-07:00

Richard Rosenthal of the New York Marathon recently contacted the NY Bike Messengers Association to request biker accompaniment for wheelchaired marathoners. The wheelchair race precedes the running race, and since roads will not yet be fully closed, bikers ride ahead of the racers clearing pedestrains from their path.

Rosenthal states: "My intent is to present the NY Road Runners with the notion they should feel some gratitude for and indebtedness towards all cyclists...."

The average winning time for the marathon runners is 2 hrs 15 mins. The chaired competitors average 1 hr 30 mins!

Liver-Piercing Pencil Gun

2005-09-27T11:40:00.000-07:00

In the third grade I was told by a teacher not to shoot the stapler at my friend lest I "puncture his liver". Never mind that even when unfolded and used as a "gun", staplers fail to achieve a projectile velocity above that of a dribble.

Well, take this third grade friend. This'll definitely do the trick.

Insane Flying Cat Copter

2005-09-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

Speaking of cats and Inspector Gadget, I give you Doraemon:

(Dictated, not read)
Has been born to 70’s and the 80’s early times friend, probably all cannot forget the machine cat the happy memory which brings to us. In the book most let us dismiss from mind with difficulty perhaps is hundred valuable bags of inside one each one marvelous tool, was a pity in reality life their function certainly cannot realize.

That's a lotta epoxy

2005-09-27T10:47:00.000-07:00

On my list of things to do one day: build my own bike frame. I'm thinking steel or ti. And I'd pay someone to teach me how to do it.

This guy decided that would be too easy, so he went ahead and constructed this carbon fiber monstrosity in his garage. Carbon fiber. In his garage.

Very impressive. Except for the decision to model it after a SoftRide...

Yummy Sloth

2005-09-23T17:11:00.000-07:00

Ever wonder what a baby sloth looked like?

I would definitely eat that.

Shiver Me Timbers

2005-09-22T09:56:00.000-07:00

I just learned that my sister will be attending her junior year Homecoming Dance dressed as a pirate.

So. Effing. Cool.

Bleepin' Monkeys

2005-09-20T16:53:00.000-07:00

Speaking of chimps, from the NYT:

"Time and again, people have told me that cursing is a coping mechanism for them, a way of reducing stress," [Dr. Jay] said in a telephone interview. "It's a form of anger management that is often underappreciated."

Indeed, chimpanzees engage in what appears to be a kind of cursing match as a means of venting aggression and avoiding a potentially dangerous physical clash.

Frans de Waal, a professor of primate behavior at Emory University in Atlanta, said that when chimpanzees were angry "they will grunt or spit or make an abrupt, upsweeping gesture that, if a human were to do it, you'd recognize it as aggressive."

Such behaviors are threat gestures, Professor de Waal said, and they are all a good sign.

"A chimpanzee who is really gearing up for a fight doesn't waste time with gestures, but just goes ahead and attacks," he added.

By the same token, he said, nothing is more deadly than a person who is too enraged for expletives - who cleanly and quietly picks up a gun and starts shooting.

Cheeta Lives!

2005-09-19T12:47:00.000-07:00

Cheeta the Chimp, famous for his roles in the early Burrough's Tarzan movies, is the world's oldest chimpanzee at age 73.

Perhaps his old age can be attributed to adopting a cleaner lifestyle - he long ago stopped drinking several beers a day and smoking cigars, and has cultivated a love of art. For a very reasonable $125 you can order an original Cheeta painting complete with photos of the artist with the work and personalized headshots.

All proceeds go to the C.H.E.E.T.A. Primate Sancuary which rescues former stars from (usually) retirement to biological research labs.

Nintendo Revolution

2005-09-16T11:52:00.000-07:00

Finally, Nintendo has released some details about its Revolution controller, and I have to say I'm pretty curious. I haven't really been interested in their products since the SNES.

The new device resembles a television remote and uses a gyroscopic type mechanism to control movement - in every direction. So, you wave your hand left and Mario moves left. Thing is, with this set-up you can control pitch and yaw, or use it as a gun in a first person shooter. Apparently, Nintendo will offer attachments such a an optional analog stick. Running through a first person shooter using the analog stick to steer and the controller itself to aim and shoot would be pretty darn fun. I do wonder about arm fatigue, though.

Of, course, this will all depend on the ingenuity of game developers to get the most out of the technology, but I think this might actually save Nintendo in the latest next-gen round.

Hacking Legos

2005-09-16T10:56:00.000-07:00

Last month Lego launched Lego Factory, software which allows users to construct digitally a lego model and then purchase through the web the bricks needed to make the models. Users can also purchase the bricks for other users' designs.

Seasoned builders quickly discovered, however, that the 'palettes' Lego Factory uses often contain more bricks than are required for the model, or worse don't have some bricks needed for the design. The user then has to purchase other palettes to acquire the needed bricks ending up paying for many unneeded bricks.

After finding that each palette is made up of several bags of bricks, Software designer Larry Pieniazek coordinated efforts with other users to create a database of all the brick bags and the palettes comprised of them. Factory users could now build their models with individual bags in mind, and then choose to modify their design if it required the purchase of too many palettes. Costs could be dramatically reduced if desired.

Encouragingly, Lego expressed the desire of the company to develop the factory together with it s customers. Lego was a little taken aback, however, that the hack emerged within days of the launch.

While Lego may be embracing a pseudo open source attitude with Factory, the company defintely does not want you to refer to their toys as Legos. This, apparently, could be devasating to their trademark, so they ask that you please refer to them as Lego toys or bricks. Go to legos.com and read the disclaimer. Geez. Lego's consumers call them Legos! Way to scold those that love your product. If I were a kid going to legos.com and that message is what I received, I would be confused and less-enthused.

MAKE Magazine @ Seattle Mac Store

2005-09-16T10:51:00.000-07:00

From the MAKE Magazine site:

On Saturday, Sept. 17, MAKE Associate Editor Phillip Torrone presents Podcasting 101: How to Make, Produce and Publish Podcasts from 3 to 4 p.m. Learn what a podcast is and how to make them using your Mac and GarageBand. Also learn how to get listed in iTunes, RSS, and more. Phil will also show how we make our enhanced podcasts, plus a whole lot more!

Diesel Kitty

2005-09-14T17:22:00.000-07:00

I think cats are great for petting, playing and putting in my mouth.

But some people think they are good for fueling diesel engines.

UPDATE: Apparently, the German inventor Christian Koch denies ever using expired felines. The story's author now says that he only meant to imply that cats could be used. Koch: "I've never used cats and would never think of that. At most the odd toad may have jumped in". Regular ole' rubbish ("paper, plastics, textiles") is the preferred fuel for Koch's KDV500 engine.

Galveston Hurricane Disaster 105th Anniversary

2005-09-08T15:21:00.000-07:00

Today is the 105th anniversary of the Great Galveston Texas Hurricane Disaster, (so far)the deadliest US weather event on record.

Some stats:

* September 8-9, 1900
* 6,000 deaths (ranges up to 12,000)
* category 4 at landfall
* wind speed: 135 mph
* pressure at landfall: 931 mb
* damage: $150 million

Some Katrina stats:

* August 23-31, 2005
* Estimates vary greatly
* category 4 at landfall in Louisiana
* wind speed at landfall in LA: 124 mph
* pressure at landfall in LA: 918 mb
* estimated to be costliest storm to strike US

Scarmageddon

2005-09-06T15:04:00.000-07:00

Every once in a while I refer affectionately to my special lady as "Scarface". Now she has a site where her kind can share stories: Scarmageddon.

Love you, honey.

Actually, I have a pretty good one myself and will post a pic shortly.

EFF's DRM Guide

2005-09-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

Not sure about Digital Rights Management and how it affects your legal music downloads? Check out EFF's layman's terms guide and prepare to be irritated.

NOLA Live Blog

2005-09-01T10:32:00.000-07:00

This person is blogging from a 10th floor datacenter in New Orleans. Sounds like a war zone out there. Looters are ransacking stores and selling their finds. Some are shooting at police. Gangs of thugs are setting fires. There is no police infrastructure. Some precincts literally are under water. Officers are quitting their jobs. Aside from the factthat many officers are themselves looting. This is not good.

iPod in Patent Violation?

2005-08-31T10:26:00.000-07:00

Creative was awarded patent number 6,928,433 yesterday which covers the user interface found in most current MP3 players.

Referred to as the "Zen Patent" by Creative, it describes a method of selecting a single audio track by navigating through a hierarchy of three or more tiers. Sound familiar iPod users?

Creative states that they had sold nearly 100,000 NOMAD players using technology covered by the patent a full 13 months before Apple's announcment of the iPod.

Sounds like litigious speak to me.

Ruby Slippers Gone Missing

2005-08-30T15:54:00.000-07:00

Apparently four pairs of Ruby Slippers from the original Wizard of Oz film are known to exist. I've seen the pair on display at the Smithsonian.

This past weekend, a pair was stolen from the Childrens Discovery Museum in Grand Rapids, MN, where Judy Garland was born in 1922. The slippers were lent to the museum by a private owner in Los Angeles.

In 2000, one pair sold at Christie's for $666,000.

That's a lotta poppies, but at least the thief won't face the death penalty for swiping some slippers, Dorothy's or not. In 2002, a pair of slippers supposedly worn by the prophet Muhammad were taken from the Badshahi mosque in Pakistan, a country where transgression of blasphemy laws can result in execution.

Playing Ninja

2005-08-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

One time, when I was in the third grade, one of the two Sisters who lived down the street rang our doorbell and asked if I could join them and some friends in their garage to "hang out". Up until that point, I had only ever called friends on the phone to see if they could "play". I'd never "hung out" before. Especially not with the Sisters down the street, who must have been in about the sixth grade at the time. One of them regularly wore a Guns N Roses t-shirt. Yeah.

Standing concealed from view but within earshot of the Sister and my mother, who answered the door, I listened with shock, delight and instant nervousness as I was invited to mingle with the older kids.

This was all replaced with a horror that only children know as my mom told her that maybe I could come down later, because right now I was "playing ninja".

And sure enough, I was wearing my ninja PJs, headband on, throwing plastic ninja stars and weilding nunchucks I had constructed from toilet paper tubes, tape and twine. And I had been all day.

Needless to say, I never got to hang out. With the Sisters. Ever.

Flick Off

2005-08-29T15:30:00.000-07:00

Yahoo!, the new owner of photo-sharing web community Flickr, has managed to rub some 400 or so members the wrong way by requiring that they create Yahoo! identities in order to continue using their Flickr accounts. So, they formed the user group Flick Off to voice their protests.

For the most part, I think this is a silly overreaction. All users will maintain their Flickr login names and photo collections, and all links to Flickr pictures will remain the same, so no one's blog is going to break.

Okay, argue the corporate factor, and in some ways I agree. Large businesses reaching even further across the web when it comes to my information is a little scary, but I can always choose to use a service or not.

Also, this does say something to the affinity users feel for their online communities, and I understand that advertising Flickr to a Yahoo! audience will likely introduce a different element (read "less hip") to the group. And this can be upsetting to people. Well. Oh, well.

Elementary School

2005-08-29T13:14:00.000-07:00

Speaking of elementary school, Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go was by far one of my favorite books. Goldbug, shown on the cover driving the yellow bulldozer, would hide out on each two-page spread and you'd have to spot him Where's Waldo style.

This and a dinosaur book went pretty much everywhere with me. I can't remember the title of the book, but I definitley remember the cover and many of the illustrations. Especially those of archaeopteryx and the "egg-thief" dinosaur, which I'm guessing is oviraptor. Although, it seems the egg-eater theory has since been debunked.

Strange to remember those illustrations and descriptions and compare them to current theories. My Stegosaurus dragged its tail. And mine was called Brontosaurus, not Apatosaurus.

At any rate, Anthony's got a great illustration of another fav of mine, Ankylosaurus.

A Little After-School D&D

2005-08-29T12:47:00.000-07:00

Wizards of the Coast is sponsoring a Dungeons & Dragons after-school program in public libraries. This would have been a dream come true for me when I was in fourth grade.

Great way to get kids thinking creatively and analytically, and to instigate face-to-face interaction with one another rather than chatting over IM or a headset during Halo online play. Besides, D&D is so damn cool.

SACK II for Your Giant Robot

2005-08-26T17:07:00.000-07:00

.
To my surprise, I just learned that the venerable mobile suit pilot Char Aznable has abandoned his attempts to brow-beat the Earth into recognizing spacenoid colonies as independent nations, and instead is now hocking SACK II condoms: "TRY NEW TYPE CAN YOU SURVIVE? 12 TIMES?"

I can only assume for copyright reasons that he was forced by his superiors at Zeon to alter the name and design of his ZAKU II in order to persue his new venture.

Quizmaster

2005-08-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

My clutch moment at quiz night came with the question: "Alex J. Murphy is better known as who in the movie series."

Answer here.

Teenagers from Mars

2005-08-22T15:46:00.000-07:00

Ever since I really stopped buying comic books in the eighth grade, I put out a probe every few months or so hoping to find a new read that excites me the same way comics did way back when. I guess I just miss that new toy feeling - like when I opened my AT-AT the first time.

Well, the Rick Spears & Rob G eight issue series Teenagers from Mars still doesn't compare to the light-up head cannons, but it does contain all kinds of stuff that I like in my comics: zombies, punk rock girls, fantastic art, and some intelligent commentary to boot.

I have to admit a small bias here: I did go to high school with the artist Rob G. However, I haven't spoken to him in over 10 years, and I guarantee he wouldn't remember me anyway (he was three years ahead of me). We did have art class together, though, and I still remember his version of Wolverine tied to the big X crucifix from Uncanny X-Men #251 . Plus, TFM has all kinds of references to our hometown, which I got a huge kick out of.

At any rate, TFM tells an anti-censorship tale posing as a crash course in how to go from meek-geek to ass-kicker all while wearing a Joy Division t-shirt.

I've got all eight independently published ishes in the original, because I'm that guy, but you can pick up the graphic novel from your local shop. Also, check out other Spears/G works at their new site Gigantic Graphic Novels (still under construction).

Other Rob G: The Couriers series, Filler, Dead West

Davis Limbach

2005-08-22T14:04:00.000-07:00

There may be a little something of the Jamie Hewlitt touch to Seattle artist Davis Limbach's urban, anime influenced creations, but you won't find any Michael Jackson in Limbach's visions of "confusion, aimlessness, [and] apathy".* Instead, I find his work to be eerily comforting in its quiet uncertainty.

Not much on Limbach's site, yet, but I'm definitely bookmarking in anticipation of more to come.

In the meantime, the [con]temporary blog has some great photos of a brick wall mural project completed by Limbach and crew.

* from the description of Limbach's May 21 - June 25, 2005 show at Hipposchemes

Gift Bag

2005-08-22T11:49:00.000-07:00

My good friend Warrick, during his two-year exile from the States, worked as a bike messenger in London. I recently visited him and his new wife in Boston where he presented me with by far one of the coolest gifts I've ever received: a Royal Mail delivery bag. It took some back alley dealings with a postman, but Warrick secured for me what I am told is an oft-used bag by London couriers. Even the FAA security lady noticed what a hot dog I am with my new bag and complimented me as she scanned it for explosives. Thanks, Warrick.

Caption: Here we have Paul Davies, a Royal Mail postman of 18 years sporting, yes, a dapper red RM bag.

Glomp

2005-08-19T15:25:00.000-07:00

This weekend, my teenage sister is off to Otakon, the annual anime otaku convention held in beautiful Baltimore MD. This year she's gone bigger and badder, sporting a handful of different costumes, one of which is coordinated with a group of friends all dressing from the same manga series.

First off, I should admit that this is likely all my fault. We're eleven years apart, my sister and I, and I think I permanently damaged her by growing up geek.

Second off, let me say that while impersonating animated characters in hotel lobbies is not generally my thing, I did agree to attend a convention with her once that coincided with one of my trips home.

Sis: (eyes twinkling) "Are you going to dress up?"
Me: "...Uh..."
Sis: "Everyone does. If you don't, it's like, look at that person without a costume."
Me: "Well, do people my age dress up?"
Sis: "Oh, yeah. My friend who I met last year is like 30 and she dressed as *string of anime characters' names*. She's really cool. You'll like her."
Me: "..."

So for a Saturday, I was Spike Spiegel, a nice choice for the simplicity of his costume. And, my sister told all of her friends I look like him. This, I soon gathered, is a nice compliment in her circle.

I can say now first hand, after having attended this minor convention, that not everyone dresses up. Not everyone indeed. No problem, I'm only mildly embarrassed when we roll into Taco Bell. I'm in some get-up with two 15 year old girls - also in costume - in tow.

My favorite moment occured, however, in the vendor's room, the sequestered area where you buy your pocky and Sailor Moon keychains, when a young man in blue spray-painted cardboard armor and a helmet made of - I'm guessing - a combination of socks and papier-mache approached me and mumbled: "Koichi Yamadera". I know this is what he said now, because I just looked it up. At the time, however, I had no idea he was even speaking to me until he removed his helmet and continued by offering some more words (later learned to be anime characters' names) as if waiting for me to recognize what he was doing. Oh shit, I thought, he's reciting dialog from the show the character I'm dressed as is from or something, and godblesshim, I think he might be mildly autistic. He saved me, though, just as I started shaking my head, and clearly said, "Koichi Yamadera is the actor who did all of those characters' voices". Including my guy, Spike Spiegel. "That's an impressive memory," I said. He asked me if I knew who his character was, and I apologized because I didn't. That was okay with him; he flashed me a big smile, bowed low and left.

Then someone glomped me.

The cardboard knight seemed like such a sweet person. I wish I could have guessed his character for him, because I'm sure it was a great costume.

Pigeon-ku

2005-08-19T13:48:00.000-07:00

Walking accident
Pigeon's head beneath my foot
Instant augury

That's an old one based on a friend's true life experience. Stepped on a pigeon's head by accident. Damn.

A pigeon is a dumb bird, yes, but on top of that Boston pigeons just don't give a shit. Riding my bike, a pigeon in my way would always fly straight up instead of to the side when trying to avoid me. I've literally swatted pigeons out of my face. Their warbles mock me.

Come to think of it, that's exactly how Boston pedestrians react to a cyclist after they've stepped into the street without looking: they pigeon-dance right in the way.

Bees Knees

2005-08-17T15:43:00.000-07:00

Dear Christ, the soft honey after taste makes you want to learn circular breathing...

Kitty-a-Buse-y

2005-08-17T14:47:00.000-07:00

My kittens are so goddamned cute I often want to put them in my mouth and eat them. Maybe I suffer from Kluver-Bucy syndrome.

No feline fornication, though.