Coelacanth

An Indonesian fisherman has caught a coelacanth.

[Reuters]

A Bill To Save Internet Radio

Having seen that there is a bill pending in Congress to remove the excessive and, likely, devastating increases in fees paid by internet broadcasters, I felt I should contact my Representative to support it.
Here is a copy of what I sent:

I just want to encourage you to support the bill to help save internet radio introduced by Reps. Jay Inslee (D-Wash.) and Don Manzullo (R-Ill.) on Thursday April 26, 2007 known as the "Internet Radio Equality Act."
I have been a broadcaster for years. I spend my own money to buy music and maintain a small station for a rather limited audience. I do this out of a love of music. I have always enjoyed introducing people to music they haven't heard before. This is, in no way a money making venture for me. (It is quite the opposite, in fact.)
I recognize the fears of an industry that does not know what to make of an emerging technology. I hope, though, that with leadership like yours that we can enact laws that will not allow fear to kill a medium that is beneficial to everyone. From the artists in need of exposure, to the industry that distributes their works, to the broadcasters who put their time, money and love into making music available to the world, to listeners who find new music to enjoy, to retailers who sell recordings to the public, we are all connected.
As such, I am very glad to know that someone is leading the charge in our defense and am quite hopeful that you will join with Reps. Inslee and Manzullo to see this passed.
Thank you very much.

Eric Beckwith
N.C. 12th District

(I sent a similar note to Rep. Inslee. I intended to copy Rep. Manzullo but he only accepts messages from his District.)

More info on the issue can be found here.
I would also like to encourage anyone who reads this to contact their Representative to tell him or her to support this bill.

cheers-
-db
[via C|Net News]

Where Have All the Leaders Gone?

"I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have."

Lee Iacocca has a new book that I've heard mentioned a few times, but thanks to kottke.org, I was reminded that I should pay closer attention to it.

Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say, "Stay the course."

I'm definitely going to have to add this book to my list, and perhaps keep an eye out for Mr. Iacocca as the political season gathers steam.

[via Borders]

Ambient Clock

I rather like the idea of this device. It is a clock that synchronizes with a Google Calendar. The clock face changes color to indicate a pending appointment, and apparently it will be able to gauge drive time to the location such that that can even be figured in to the notification. Currently it is being beta tested as a Google Homepage module, but the full-fledged device will be produced if there is enough interest shown.
I sent an email to Ambient today to let them know my thoughts:

Hello Ambient Folks,
I like the idea of the Ambient Clock and have added it to my Google Home Page. I was wondering, however if it is possible to use it as a Google Gadget, as opposed to being only able to see it when my browser is open.

As for design for the full, stand-alone device, my vote is to keep it as simple as possible. I would even avoid having the text on the screen, both for the clean look and also for the sake of privacy. At the very least, it should be something that can be turned off by the user. I use my Ambient Clock more as a reminder to check my Google Calendar than as a calendar itself. (What good is a day planner if you forget to look at it in time?) As such, it might be worthwhile to add another color: some step between "no events pending" and "10 minutes to event." This would enable a person to check their schedule in time to be prepared for whatever might be coming up without having their "lunch date with secretary" or "proctologist exam" openly showing on the clock sitting out on their desk for anyone else to see

Another idea that occurs to me as I type this is to make an Active Desktop Wallpaper version. I recognize that the latter might be a bit more involved than opening up the G Home version to a G Gadget, but it was just a thought.

Thanks for your time. Also, thanks for a very cool clock. I look forward to what is to come from you guys.

No matter if they use any of my ideas or not, I still think it is a pretty cool concept and starts to show what people might make by playing off of some of the web utilities that are out there.
cheers-
db

Ambient Clock

I came across a link to this, as yet unreleased, photo printer which uses no ink or toner. The paper is made of three color layers, which are processed to develop the image as opposed to layering ink onto the paper. The first products, to be released later this year, are to be a portable printer, a combination camera and printer, and business card size photo paper (available in sticky-back.)
I have forgotten where I first read about this, but it seems like I read somewhere that the printer was to be around $100, the combo device was about $200 and the paper would be $20 / 100 sheets. Not too bad, I'd say. And it sounds like a pretty cool thing.
I'm looking forward to "late 2007' when it is to be available. (After all, everyone knows I don't have enough in my gadget bag.)
cheers-
-db
[ZINK]

New Google Earth Goodness

There is a new set of layers available in Google Earth that I think is especially cool. One can now display any of several historical maps under the usual data layers, place markers, and 3-D objects. This gives it a very SteamPunkish feel. I love it!



By the way, If you haven't looked lately, there is a new version of G.Earth, as well. Other than adding 3-D object drawing to the free version, there's not a lot of important changes, that I have found yet. There are, however, several bits of interface smoothing including changes to the way one can control map movement and tweaks to the overall feel.

If you hadn't guessed, I really like Google Earth.
cheers-
-db

[via kottke.org]

3D paint jobs

I have to say, I love this idea.
These rooms are painted such that, when viewed from a certain angle, 3D forms seem to appear. (or something along those lines)
See for yourself...
I had seen a couple of these photos a while back, but just came across them again as part of a larger collection.
[via 2Loop.com]

There is a fairly standard Science Fiction plot device where certain events are removed from memory with a simple injection. In the context of the story, we just accept this and wait to see what happens next. We accept many things in stories that couldn't really happen. But then again...
OK, so it's not quite the erasing of memory, but it's not Science Fiction, either.
Doctors are investigating the use of drugs to lessen the force of traumatic memories. This is, of course, a controversial idea as we are, to a large degree, the sum of our experiences.
I am, generally speaking, in favor of expanding human understanding and opposed to allowing fear to rule science, but I must say that it would seem that this is an area of research where we need to tread very carefully.

"While it may be an insignificant gesture, we stand against these distortions and for the restoration of a civil political dialogue."

Honorees of The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum's National Design Awards declined the invitation to the celebratory breakfast at the White House with the First Lady.

While we have diverse political beliefs, we are united in our rejection of these policies. Through the wide-scale distortion of words (from "Healthy Forests" to "Mission Accomplished") and both the manipulation of media (the photo op) and its suppression (the hidden war casualties), the Bush administration has demonstrated disdain for the responsible use of mass media, language and the intelligence of the American people.

[via kottke remaindered]

"hold me when you think of me"

I just don't even know what to think of this.

[via we make money not art]

just when I was on the verge of news-induced depression...

There may be many more pandas living in the wild than previously believed, say scientists involved in a novel study of the animals' DNA.

[via New Scientist]

and more sad news...

BBC is canceling 'Top of the Pops'
Not that I get to see it often, but it is still iconic to me.

[via CNN]

This does not bode well...

Small nations lead vote to resume commercial whaling

WHY?!?!?!
This makes me very unhappy.
The ban still stands, at the moment, but this might be a sign of a very sad change in the weather.

[via cnn]

Saying "like" makes you sound dumb

This is not much of an issue for me, though I do find myself saying it from time to time.
However, the subject of the overuse of "like" has come up in conversation a lot recently.
Now, I suppose it's official.

Billboard: Saying "like" makes you sound dumb

[via boingboing}

zoom, zoom zoom...

This is an easy way to waste a lot of time.

[via boingboing]

zoom, zoom zoom...

This> is an easy way to waste a lot of time.

C for Cookie

This made me smile, and so I share it with you.
:-)
-db

McSweeney's

McSweeney's Internet Tendency: Parallels Between My Living Through Two Years of Middle School and the Two Terms of the Bush Presidency.

[via]

New Crustacean Found

As D. put it, "so immensely cool."
Kiwa hirsuta

this is fabulous

Real Life Simpson's Intro