Semi-break from posting

I most likely will not post too often over the next few weeks as I am busy planning my honeymoon romp to Italy. Scooterboy and I will, if all goes smoothly, romp around in Rome, Siena and Florence next month *whooo hooooo!*

Checked out Italy all too briefly 10 years ago and larved it. Hope to make a better go of it this time around.

Chillaxin in Second Life

I've finally caved and joined up. Been scouting around here and there and I like what I see so far.

Larve the flyin! I've seen some amazing avatars with wings around! Gotta get me some of them *rubbing hands together gleefully*

Gimme Gadget: Brain gaming

Created by two Aussies no less! Whoo hoooo!

"It sounds like something straight from the pages of science fiction.

A woman puts on a sensor-studded helmet and, using her brain alone, is able to play a video game, performing actions including opening doors and picking up objects.

But not only is the technology now available, two Australians are at the forefront of bringing it to the world."

Full story here

Emotiv

Folding on your PS3

"Folding@home, started in 2000, is what's known as a distributive computing project that could soon double in size if enough PlayStation 3 gamers download the software that Sony will soon make available and then leave their consoles on when they're not playing. The PlayStation 3's Cell processor will allow Stanford researchers to do certain calculations twenty times as fast as a personal computer. So if just 10,000 people with the gaming equipment help out, it will be the equivalent of the 200,000 PCs already working for Stanford."

Full story here

Folding @ Home

Read This: Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman!

What an awesome character!

More on Surely You're Joking Mr Feynman!.

Geek Giggle

The Dreamkeeper

After a rather nasty day at work, it was great to get a call from Dymocks notifying me that the book I had ordered was ready for pick up at the store. I had The Dreamkeeper by Robert Ingpen in my hot little hands around 40 minutes later and my day began to pick up.

I recently discovered Ingpen when I picked up Peter Pan and Wendy while looking for a gift in the children's illustrated books section in a bookstore. My jaw dropped when I opened the book and saw the gorgeous illustrations. I'm no poet and am not able to do justice to his work, so, just pick up one of his books when you have the opportunity and I'm sure you too will be astounded by his talent.

I highly recommend The Dreamkeeper and Peter & Wendy, both of which are now in my budding Ingpen collection. I am setting my sights on Pinocchio, Pictures Telling Stories: The Art of Robert Ingpen, Once Upon a Place, and many more.

"When discussing Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island — a classic adventure about buried treasure and pirates — Ingpen rubs his hands together with excitement. "It's one of the greatest stories of all time. If a child can get to chapter four and not be scared to death by Blind Pew tapping on the door of the Admiral Benbow Inn, they'll read for life!"

:D Full article here.

Smog changing Earth's water cycle

No real surprise but still a scary read.

"Smog may be having dramatic effects on the planet's water cycles, and in ways not previously apparent, researchers have warned. Revealing one aspect of this, they have shown that urban pollution and other aerosols have significantly reduced rainfall over hills in central China."

More at New Scientist.

Gimme Gadget: Blast Knuckles

Probably a very good thing that this nifty gadget would be illegal in Oz.

To think of all those people out there that I could 'experiment' on... woudl be great if it could deliver a charge through the phone to zap nasty customer disservice types.

"What was that? You stuffed up my account again?" *BBBBBZZZZZTTTttttTTTttttttt*

Courtesy of Gizmodo

Gimme Gadget: Slick-ass blank phone concept

Courtesy of Gizmodo

Hero News: Dean Kamen delivers again!

I love this guy!

"Dean Kamen (the Segway and medical/robot guy)'s new robot arm has been lighting up the internet since last week. There were loads of questions (is it really an arm? Why did he make it? Was the audience actually crying?) but not very many answers. Here are some new details on courtesy of a guy who was there..."

More details and video of the robotic arm at Gizmodo.

More info about Deka Research.

Cat parasite rules our lives

Wowzers!

"Vann sez, "As a follow-up to Cory's entry in January of last year on how toxoplasmosis may alter people's moods (women become more friendly; men become more paranoid), recent studies suggest that infection by the parasite may also cause people to become more prone to feeling guilty, develop schizophenia, have auto accidents, or be born male."

More info via BoingBoing.

Biofuel in the Bay Area

Interesting read courtesy of Granucci.com

"Jennifer Radtke, one of the five women who own Biofuel Oasis, thinks growing concern about climate change and the diminishing oil supply is driving the popularity of alternative fuels.

"A lot of our customers switched to biodiesel because of the war,'' she said. "That's probably common in the Bay Area, but across the country, it's probably because of concern about climate change and renewable energy. And that it's so cool.''

Yet biodiesel faces serious obstacles before it can become the fuel of the future."

Fueling a Revolution

Dark Side News: Windows Vista Shenanigans

Tidbit from Dan Gillmor (read the comment too).

Daylight robbery

I recently subscribed to The Atlantic Monthly, at the price of USD3.95 per issue (AUD5.10) (non-U.S./Canada price), delivered to my mailbox.

Borders in Melbourne, Oz, sells the same mag for USD12.70 per issue (AUD16.50)

Hmmmm.... yet another reason to ditch Borders.

Nipping Whackjobs in the Bud

Interesting read from The Atlantic.

"The software mogul Tim Gill has a mission: Stop the Rick Santorums of tomorrow before they get started. How a network of gay political donors is stealthily fighting sexual discrimination and reshaping American politics.

A tough loss can be hard to swallow, and plenty of defeated politicians have been known to grumble about sinister conspiracies. When they are rising stars like Danny Carroll, the Republican speaker pro tempore of Iowa’s House of Representatives, and the loss is unexpected, the urge to blame unseen forces can be even stronger—and in Carroll’s case, it would have the additional distinction of being justified. Carroll was among the dozens of targets of a group of rich gay philanthropists who quietly joined forces last year, under the leadership of a reclusive Colorado technology mogul, to counter the tide of antigay politics in America that has generated, among other things, a succession of state ballot initiatives banning gay marriage. Carroll had sponsored such a bill in Iowa and guided it to passage in the state House of Representatives, the first step toward getting it on the ballot."

Full article at
They Won't Know What Hit Them

Claire Taylor Designs

My favourite Ozzie wearable art designer to date. Claire made the earrings for my wedding, and they were absolutely perfect.

Her designs are a must-check-out. So, if you are anywhere near the stockists listed on her site, drop in and have a peek. Her designs are also stocked at Inspirasia, 159 Smith St, Fitzroy (a fantastic shop I discovered yesterday with a collection of items from up-and-coming designers).

More information available on her site.

Stunning interior lighting

My jaw dropped when I chanced upon Adam Frank's gorgeous work on DesignSpotter.




Adam Frank

Whacko Gadget!

I quote my mate who says "Disgusting, but you know you want one."

Thanks for the link Jimbo!

Ear scope turns wax removal into prime time entertainment

Handmade Goodies on Etsy.com

Stumbled upon a great site today while surfin online to find content for the bags page.

Etsy is an online craft market with plenty of fantastic handmade good stuff from various spots on Earth. I highly recommend a look-see although, beware of the impact on your bank accounts.

More background on Etsy in Wikipedia.

Check out these puzzle tables!!