tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-143881622024-03-14T13:42:03.663-04:00Random Neurons Firing...Miscellaneous musings on philosophy, politics, religion, art, music, science, and whatever other sparks happen to jump the gap.Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.comBlogger231125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-77294499812335313212010-09-08T13:07:00.000-04:002010-09-08T13:07:09.963-04:00Midichlorian Rhapsody"Star Wars"-themed parody of Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody". This video is composed of 100% WIN.<br />
<br />
<object height="295" style="background-image: url("http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/hpvlTVgeivU/hqdefault.jpg");" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hpvlTVgeivU?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hpvlTVgeivU?fs=1&hl=en_US" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="295" width="480"></embed></object>Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-45119435837285332252010-09-01T16:00:00.001-04:002010-09-01T16:00:01.960-04:00What's my line? Crumpet.I imagine it would have been difficult enough for the celebrity panel of the game show "What's My Line" to guess the occupation of the guests based upon "yes" or "no" answers to a few questions, but what if the guest was an individual with a highly varied and idiosyncratic resume?<br />
<br />
Wonder no more...via Roger Ebert's excellent blog, a snippet from the 1950's era show with none other than Salvador Dali as the guest. Amazingly, the panel manages to guess correctly based on what can't be anything more than an intuitive leap. Appropriately surreal, to say the least...<br />
<br />
<object height="257" width="310"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YmdJsfNfEAo?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YmdJsfNfEAo?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="310" height="257"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<b>HT</b>: <a href="http:///"><i>Roger Ebert</i></a> (via Twitter)Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-61133114440159698742010-09-01T14:58:00.001-04:002010-09-01T14:59:48.631-04:00Humanity in the midst of horrorI can't embed it, but <a href="http://wimp.com/remarkableexperience/">this video</a> of a 90-year-old WWII veteran recounting an experience from his time shortly after the D-day invasion is both incredible and a wonderful example of the power of our shared human values in the face of despair and loss. Please take a moment to give it a look; you won't regret it.<br />
<br />
Oh, please note that the video will start playing when the page has loaded. Completely SFW, but it might start up a tad loud...Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-55011084355420629512010-08-27T09:35:00.000-04:002010-08-27T09:35:23.315-04:00Cami Secret Parody (Boob Apron)I know I shouldn't laugh...but it's funny...<br />
<br />
<object height="310" style="background-image: url("http://i1.ytimg.com/vi/tieA5wfcgH4/hqdefault.jpg");" width="383"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tieA5wfcgH4?fs=1&hl=en_US"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tieA5wfcgH4?fs=1&hl=en_US" allowscriptaccess="never" allowfullscreen="true" wmode="transparent" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" height="310" width="383"></embed></object><br />
<br />
<b>HT</b>: <i><a href="http://twitter.com/pattonoswalt">Patton Oswalt</a></i>Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-71806737472529076332010-08-27T09:12:00.000-04:002010-08-27T09:12:29.650-04:00Steven Wright FTW!One of Steven Wright's one liners: "I got this powdered water - now I don't know what to add". Hahaha....Wait, what?<br />
<br />
Scientists have developed what they're calling "dry water", a <a href="http://derrenbrown.co.uk/blog/2010/08/scientists-develop-dry-water/">powder</a> that contains a drop of water surrounded by a silica compound.<br />
<blockquote>Scientists believe dry water could be used to combat global warming by soaking up and trapping the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide. Tests show that it is more than three times better at absorbing carbon dioxide as ordinary water. Dry water may also prove useful for storing methane and expanding the energy source potential of the natural gas.</blockquote>"Powdered water" is something I certainly never thought I'd see. But we still don't know what to add...<br />
<br />
<b>HT</b>: <i><a href="http://derrenbrown.co.uk/">Derren Brown</a></i>Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-12133815505196516042010-05-04T11:53:00.000-04:002010-05-04T11:53:16.031-04:00Creationism Propaganda for Children Caught on CameraWatch this and weep; weep for the children and our collective future...<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/z3bdtlNUlx4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/z3bdtlNUlx4&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-9511696158420339602010-04-29T09:00:00.000-04:002010-04-29T09:00:09.503-04:00Wrong for America!Mr. Kant is obviously an evil Socialist/Nazi/Godless/Tax-And-Spend Liberal intent on remaking our great country into *gasp* EUROPE!<br />
<br />
<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/7M-cmNdiFuI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/7M-cmNdiFuI&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br />
<br />
The horror...the horror...Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-48182520949565404522010-04-28T18:42:00.003-04:002010-04-28T18:51:18.739-04:00Neil deGrasse Tyson: What NASA Means to America's FutureNeil Tyson (director of the Hayden planetarium) is one of most eloquent and passionate advocates for science and science education we have today. In this brief answer to an audience question, he gives the best rationale I've yet heard for why continued funding for NASA is so vitally important.<br />
<br />
<object width="400" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/RQhNZENMG1o&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/RQhNZENMG1o&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="340"></embed></object>Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-14024055093580230182010-04-16T11:06:00.001-04:002010-04-16T11:07:54.456-04:00Thought for the day...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4BHgSmFYitXO737K-oHlaKbVs1bJzTwNTV-Mz0wCZPiQFAaDlMfRWfmjXDCt0ykZnDM5y9tJSszfE9HcfeB8OXrBuzanvALO8bX6pLS-Dh9dlvOsM9BQpE_qros-4rKMiflM3Q/s1600/pale_blue_dot2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI4BHgSmFYitXO737K-oHlaKbVs1bJzTwNTV-Mz0wCZPiQFAaDlMfRWfmjXDCt0ykZnDM5y9tJSszfE9HcfeB8OXrBuzanvALO8bX6pLS-Dh9dlvOsM9BQpE_qros-4rKMiflM3Q/s320/pale_blue_dot2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>"The spacecraft was a long way from home.<br />
<br />
I thought it would be a good idea, just after Saturn, to have them take one last glance homeward. From Saturn, the Earth would appear too small for Voyager to make out any detail. Our planet would be just a point of light, a lonely pixel hardly distinguishable from the other points of light Voyager would see: nearby planets, far off suns. But precisely because of the obscurity of our world thus revealed, such a picture might be worth having.<br />
<br />
It had been well understood by the scientists and philosophers of classical antiquity that the Earth was a mere point in a vast, encompassing cosmos—but no one had ever seen it as such. Here was our first chance, and perhaps also our last for decades to come.<br />
<br />
So, here they are: a mosaic of squares laid down on top of the planets in a background smattering of more distant stars. Because of the reflection of sunlight off the spacecraft, the Earth seems to be sitting in a beam of light, as if there were some special significance to this small world; but it's just an accident of geometry and optics. There is no sign of humans in this picture: not our reworking of the Earth's surface; not our machines; not ourselves. From this vantage point, our obsession with nationalisms is nowhere in evidence. We are too small. On the scale of worlds, humans are inconsequential: a thin film of life on an obscure and solitary lump of rock and metal.<br />
<br />
Consider again that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it, everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you've ever heard of, every human being who ever was lived out their lives. The aggregate of all our joys and sufferings; thousands of confident religions, ideologies and economic doctrines; every hunter and forager; every hero and coward; every creator and destroyer of civilizations; every king and peasant, every young couple in love; every mother and father; hopeful child; inventor and explorer; every teacher of morals; every corrupt politician; every supreme leader; every superstar; every saint and sinner in the history of our species, lived there—on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam.<br />
<br />
The Earth is a very small stage in a vast cosmic arena.<br />
<br />
Think of the endless cruelties visited by the inhabitants of one corner of this pixel on the scarcely distinguishable inhabitants of some other corner. How frequent their misunderstandings; how eager they are to kill one another; how fervent their hatreds. Think of the rivers of blood spilled by all those generals and emperors so that in glory and triumph they could become the momentary masters of a fraction of a dot. Our posturings, our imagined self-importance, the delusion that we have some privileged position in the universe, are challenged by this point of pale light.<br />
<br />
Our planet is a lonely speck in the great enveloping cosmic dark. In our obscurity—in all this vastness—there is no hint that help will come from elsewhere to save us from ourselves. Like it or not, for the moment, the Earth is where we make our stand.<br />
<br />
It has been said that astronomy is a humbling and character-building experience. There is perhaps no better demonstration of the folly of human conceits than this distant image of our tiny world. It underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the only home we've ever known.<br />
<br />
The pale blue dot."<br />
<br />
An excerpt from Carl Sagan's <b>Pale Blue Dot: A Vision of the Human Future in Space</b>. He's referring to a photo of the same name, <i>Pale Blue Dot</i> (a portion of which is posted above), taken by Voyager I on February 14, 1990.<br />
<br />
<b>via</b> <i><a href="http://gizmodo.com/5513783/the-world-would-be-better-if-everyone-watched-this-video">Gizmodo</a></i>Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-25402544670098092262010-03-19T15:30:00.000-04:002010-03-19T15:30:45.420-04:00John Stewart PWNS Glenn BeckAnyone familiar with Glenn Beck knows that the man is a world-class ass clown. But absolutely no one takes him down better than John Stewart. To wit, part I:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="353" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font: 11px arial; width: 360px;"><tbody>
<tr style="background-color: #e5e5e5;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 5px 0px; text-align: right;">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-18-2010/intro---progressivism-is-cancer" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Intro - Progressivism Is Cancer</a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=14388162"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: #353535; height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 5px 0px; text-align: right; width: 360px;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" style="color: #96deff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr>
<tr valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="autoPlay=false" height="301" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:267815" style="display: block;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="360" wmode="window"></embed></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Daily Show<br />
Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Political Humor</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Health Care Reform</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
And part II:<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="353" style="background-color: whitesmoke; color: #333333; font: 11px arial; width: 360px;"><tbody>
<tr style="background-color: #e5e5e5;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">The Daily Show With Jon Stewart</a></td><td style="font-weight: bold; padding: 2px 5px 0px; text-align: right;">Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c</td></tr>
<tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-18-2010/conservative-libertarian" style="color: #333333; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Conservative Libertarian</a><a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=14388162"></a></td></tr>
<tr style="background-color: #353535; height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="overflow: hidden; padding: 2px 5px 0px; text-align: right; width: 360px;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/" style="color: #96deff; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">www.thedailyshow.com</a></td></tr>
<tr valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><embed allowfullscreen="true" allownetworking="all" allowscriptaccess="always" bgcolor="#000000" flashvars="autoPlay=false" height="301" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:267816" style="display: block;" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="360" wmode="window"></embed></td></tr>
<tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 0px;"><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/full-episodes" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Daily Show<br />
Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Political Humor</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a href="http://www.thedailyshow.com/videos/tag/health" style="color: #333333; font: 10px arial; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Health Care Reform</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
Complete and total WIN. I've said it before; if we didn't have John Stewart and Steven Colbert, we wouldn't have any real news reporting at all...Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-62584510099490085862010-03-16T13:49:00.000-04:002010-03-16T13:49:00.207-04:00GENIUS!Personally, I find the idea of chatroulette kinda creepy, but this is hilarious! The guy improvises songs about the people with whom he connects:<br />
<br />
<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/32vpgNiAH60&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/32vpgNiAH60&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br />
<br />
via twitter: @petersagalBill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-21611468938864260092010-03-02T15:42:00.001-05:002010-03-02T15:42:51.469-05:00Again?*sings* "I like calling North Carolina ho....WTF WEATHER?!?!"<br /><br /><center><a href='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/02/809.jpg'><img src='http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/03/02/s_809.jpg' border='0' width='281' height='210' style='margin:5px'></a></center><br />- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone<br />Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-79617899298898922552010-02-12T23:48:00.003-05:002010-02-12T23:53:25.286-05:00Umm...obesity epidemic anyone?File this under "I'm too lazy to walk in from the next parking space"...<br />
<br />
<br />
<center><a href="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/02/12/1337.jpg"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://blogpress.w18.net/photos/10/02/12/s_1337.jpg" style="margin: 5px;" width="400" /></a></center><br />
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhoneBill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-39117929959103451042010-02-09T10:43:00.013-05:002010-02-11T12:01:18.683-05:00Batman!Someone in my twitter feed (wish I could remember who!) posted a link to this Batman! <a href="http://www.batmancomic.info/">comic generator</a>. It contains one scene from a classic (judging by the artwork) Batman! comic and allows users to enter dialogue for Batman and Robin and then generates the scene with the user entered dialogue. Hilarity ensues. Of course, I couldn't resist creating several and posting them here for the benefit of posterity. First, the obvious:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-x1suXsWuyQ8jgv458083ZiSGRMhn9a4WcOEV2pcJvFBit4sVpu8TQ2MvNwggOuqMVO2t8t3PvHlgQ8BS5I13_yNQjq-n94TA3_Si_C9o8IS6bZpUCPwadiCjp8nOhLQMFOokw/s1600-h/Batman+1.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436319474232092386" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB-x1suXsWuyQ8jgv458083ZiSGRMhn9a4WcOEV2pcJvFBit4sVpu8TQ2MvNwggOuqMVO2t8t3PvHlgQ8BS5I13_yNQjq-n94TA3_Si_C9o8IS6bZpUCPwadiCjp8nOhLQMFOokw/s400/Batman+1.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 312px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 322px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRc9ZF97Xb32uSikWLup2h-iSayH0B9b92-Q9Cn_ykI0BuuZgeadZWekV6BvGZamUs83oR2a_cTg59UYaRYNvy4y7q1UqozZ3oqlOTCfgRayRsGwWwAUsaO7AneodPg2izpLOqfw/s1600-h/Batman+3.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436319783161941938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRc9ZF97Xb32uSikWLup2h-iSayH0B9b92-Q9Cn_ykI0BuuZgeadZWekV6BvGZamUs83oR2a_cTg59UYaRYNvy4y7q1UqozZ3oqlOTCfgRayRsGwWwAUsaO7AneodPg2izpLOqfw/s400/Batman+3.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 312px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 322px;" /></a><br />
<a name='more'></a>And because I'm a grammar and spelling nazi:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiek28A27wdwgIIY00LIZAZKvBaKS9OTRjGF0lhF0KXI5NoWWHkXOQfdHanJUBkX8-2ed_i68I6Apc29IucuoX_WRzYeo3SGHt2aVVcJodywZVLmzI1ctwAlleKOLq9xj6ctmc_ww/s1600-h/Batman+2.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436320312179183378" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiek28A27wdwgIIY00LIZAZKvBaKS9OTRjGF0lhF0KXI5NoWWHkXOQfdHanJUBkX8-2ed_i68I6Apc29IucuoX_WRzYeo3SGHt2aVVcJodywZVLmzI1ctwAlleKOLq9xj6ctmc_ww/s400/Batman+2.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 312px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 322px;" /></a>Now a couple of esoteric ones:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2C20THmiKXARgkwcQGA4BuDtYhJyox88-bs7QC9WtYuznQbS3Dp8oVsUf89shJz5vcexd5LaM3pjfyOF3f-lvdGVWLkTTqE11ot8URXXEYV3rq4Wd0QBiNNY_lWYLe2xKM4x0rw/s1600-h/Batman+5.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436320764681628754" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2C20THmiKXARgkwcQGA4BuDtYhJyox88-bs7QC9WtYuznQbS3Dp8oVsUf89shJz5vcexd5LaM3pjfyOF3f-lvdGVWLkTTqE11ot8URXXEYV3rq4Wd0QBiNNY_lWYLe2xKM4x0rw/s400/Batman+5.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 312px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 322px;" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82KF3YzzMrVABDX61k-eYwkCvnAXyfPZU5Yg8iu60uLPendIEOxcWex3z5Vz23zsUY7xrYTBcXnEy7oDfGlseNiKffulsjY_JCtKmvPmWIwqXibfpZ-KcUDZ5jGyoECotY7EgGg/s1600-h/Batman+4.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436320968055522898" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh82KF3YzzMrVABDX61k-eYwkCvnAXyfPZU5Yg8iu60uLPendIEOxcWex3z5Vz23zsUY7xrYTBcXnEy7oDfGlseNiKffulsjY_JCtKmvPmWIwqXibfpZ-KcUDZ5jGyoECotY7EgGg/s400/Batman+4.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 312px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 322px;" /></a>And finally, a "three-gun" salute to skepticism:<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJ8fm8JqcGYQCLqw_KaeKkN7uYluNVBctCtRRlE0nZRFL9Tznpua7wBBxZjgrOdhvESJrcpa4x5maVLZ_SVKn4gpWLoIgnDlHNWRj4UEmztjMAzn-RVNUaI4GPXiNOyiB2c9kiA/s1600-h/Batman+6.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436321669221562242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibJ8fm8JqcGYQCLqw_KaeKkN7uYluNVBctCtRRlE0nZRFL9Tznpua7wBBxZjgrOdhvESJrcpa4x5maVLZ_SVKn4gpWLoIgnDlHNWRj4UEmztjMAzn-RVNUaI4GPXiNOyiB2c9kiA/s400/Batman+6.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 312px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 322px;" /></a><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQzdld5fwdJAbg_j9Xf8f85Sz6zxq802aPC-r3u5QdyjowAttyfZ03SiQIeXZSv0jCuvLNqrs-9BiphXNdZJxP72qgucBMMTscuAXW0aaaTrCVtPAcUyYuLhpy9zasU5QsAkHKA/s1600-h/Batman+8.png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cWgeuoT8xSEtcHSZg7LdV37n6OVM2lfsRHC-vPOZrwonvav4SWRH59PRTFTYEbGvZzrrHtJ7UitBpCK-MlF_j041Djwr-_XjNq8_gXSuQgknzGjcxt5_2xtvPfBcf3hHbdfvpw/s1600-h/Batman+7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_cWgeuoT8xSEtcHSZg7LdV37n6OVM2lfsRHC-vPOZrwonvav4SWRH59PRTFTYEbGvZzrrHtJ7UitBpCK-MlF_j041Djwr-_XjNq8_gXSuQgknzGjcxt5_2xtvPfBcf3hHbdfvpw/s320/Batman+7.png" /></a></div><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5436322011554140066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAQzdld5fwdJAbg_j9Xf8f85Sz6zxq802aPC-r3u5QdyjowAttyfZ03SiQIeXZSv0jCuvLNqrs-9BiphXNdZJxP72qgucBMMTscuAXW0aaaTrCVtPAcUyYuLhpy9zasU5QsAkHKA/s400/Batman+8.png" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 312px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 322px;" />Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-9751559474961604462009-09-17T10:19:00.004-04:002009-09-17T10:24:50.281-04:001337artsThis is so cool! A trio of MIT students built and launched a camera equipped helium balloon that ended up rising over 17 miles into the outer atmosphere. The camera was loaded with software that directed it to take pictures at five-second intervals and recorded the near 4 hour ascent and approximately 40 minute descent (after the balloon popped at about 93,000 ft.).<br /><br />Read the story and see the time-lapse photo show at: <a href=http://shar.es/1WVJc>1337arts</a><br /><br />Posted using <a href="http://sharethis.com">ShareThis</a>Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-90152809353734472592009-07-21T16:47:00.003-04:002009-07-21T17:02:23.581-04:00TEDTechnology. Entertainment. Design. Those are the words/concepts that comprise the acronym TED. From philosophers to activists, from actors to politicians, from Nobel laureates to great chefs, TED conferences bring together and present some of the world's most amazing people. TEDGlobal 2009 is currently underway in Britain and some of the talks should be online within the next few days (including what's sure to be an amusing/informative one by Stephen Fry), but you can always find something interesting or entertaining in the TED <a href="http://www.ted.com/">archives</a> of past conferences. Case in point: the video embedded below of a charming humorous anecdote related at TED 2008 by the incomparable John Hodgman.<br /><br /><object height="326" width="446"><param name="movie" value="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="wmode" value="transparent"><param name="bgColor" value="#ffffff"> <param name="flashvars" value="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/embed/JohnHodgman_2008-embed_high.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/JohnHodgman-2008.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=374"><embed src="http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf" pluginspace="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" bgcolor="#ffffff" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="vu=http://video.ted.com/talks/embed/JohnHodgman_2008-embed_high.flv&su=http://images.ted.com/images/ted/tedindex/embed-posters/JohnHodgman-2008.embed_thumbnail.jpg&vw=432&vh=240&ap=0&ti=374" height="326" width="446"></embed></object>Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-44209338908788162102009-07-10T12:25:00.007-04:002009-07-10T12:31:37.151-04:00Math HumorFound on the 'net. Will be humorous to anyone with a mathematical bent, but they made me think specifically of a certain math geek I know...<br /><br />From <a href="http://www.xkcd.com/">XKCD</a> (an awesome webcomic):<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrnDIDSQbdIJ_nqidV5mGqPmLgHbWMAQhvuc8CyDHPmnV5DzOtLR3-b75X0aSKTiuoOEahj1Bvrr7nGj-etDBOYsb4-KIprVLNst8vo0OjnstoqTTWmuRqU6DUdYpcO5CigZzIA/s1600-h/apocalypse.png"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 190px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrnDIDSQbdIJ_nqidV5mGqPmLgHbWMAQhvuc8CyDHPmnV5DzOtLR3-b75X0aSKTiuoOEahj1Bvrr7nGj-etDBOYsb4-KIprVLNst8vo0OjnstoqTTWmuRqU6DUdYpcO5CigZzIA/s400/apocalypse.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356868839269746610" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And another I found on <a href="http://atheistnexus.org/">Atheist Nexus</a>:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFXHqV3NC9UTL0nWPJNhB1vJOhXLgBV3Ss7F6S7uXnUSG6en5Z7eRYqxe-0EKOa4BFgiKkt7X3b8CL010smP6g6nNjZJeD3fpQWBDy9eb8UrILZZjeen-G2IG01-6ZPzMWm9yeA/s1600-h/Math.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifFXHqV3NC9UTL0nWPJNhB1vJOhXLgBV3Ss7F6S7uXnUSG6en5Z7eRYqxe-0EKOa4BFgiKkt7X3b8CL010smP6g6nNjZJeD3fpQWBDy9eb8UrILZZjeen-G2IG01-6ZPzMWm9yeA/s400/Math.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5356869227134030066" border="0" /></a>Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-3811515654572931772009-06-12T10:02:00.004-04:002009-06-12T10:17:27.316-04:00Must See TVThis aired back in March, but I had forgotten all about it until I found it again at <a href="http://www.holycow.com/dreaming">The Dreaming</a>. Two of my very favorite people, Neil Gaiman and Stephen Colbert discuss Neil's Newberry Award-winning <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Graveyard-Book-Neil-Gaiman/dp/0060530928/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1244815755&sr=8-1"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Graveyard Book</span></a>. Gaiman is infected with the same sort of dark humor as Colbert and it makes for quite the amusing interview:<br /><br /><table style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 11px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); background-color: rgb(245, 245, 245);" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="353" width="360"><tbody><tr style="background-color: rgb(229, 229, 229);" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.colbertnation.com/">The Colbert Report</a></td><td style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; text-align: right; font-weight: bold;">Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c</td></tr><tr style="height: 14px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 2px 1px 0px 5px;" colspan="2"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/221843/march-16-2009/neil-gaiman">Neil Gaiman</a></td></tr><tr style="height: 14px; background-color: rgb(53, 53, 53);" valign="middle"><td colspan="2" style="padding: 2px 5px 0px; overflow: hidden; width: 360px; text-align: right;"><a target="_blank" style="color: rgb(150, 222, 255); text-decoration: none; font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.colbertnation.com/">www.colbertnation.com</a></td></tr><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><embed style="display: block;" src="http://media.mtvnservices.com/mgid:cms:item:comedycentral.com:221843" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="window" allowfullscreen="true" flashvars="autoPlay=false" allowscriptaccess="always" allownetworking="all" bgcolor="#000000" height="301" width="360"></embed></td></tr><tr style="height: 18px;" valign="middle"><td style="padding: 0px;" colspan="2"><table style="margin: 0px; text-align: center;" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" height="100%" width="100%"><tbody><tr valign="middle"><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.comedycentral.com/colbertreport/full-episodes">Colbert Report Full Episodes</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.indecisionforever.com/">Political Humor</a></td><td style="padding: 3px; width: 33%;"><a target="_blank" style="font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; font-size: 10px; line-height: normal; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); text-decoration: none;" href="http://www.colbertnation.com/video/tag/Operation+Iraqi+Stephen%3A+Going+Commando">Stephen Colbert in Iraq</a></td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br />About The Graveyard Book I can't say enough good things. I bought it the week it was released, read it in a couple of days and it's one of the best things Mr. Gaiman has written (and that's saying something). Although intended for children (ages 9-12), the book has deep meanings and morals that are just as applicable for adults. This is the sort of book that parents should read aloud to their kids because both will profit as a result.<br /><br />Speaking of reading aloud, the audiobook version (read by Gaiman) also won two Audie awards, including book of the year. I bought that too and look forward to listening to it on the way to the beach next week. But you don't have to purchase the audiobook to experience this; you can watch & hear Neil read the book in its entirety at <a href="http://www.mousecircus.com/videotour.aspx">Mouse Circus</a>.Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-16078232703305403642009-06-04T09:28:00.004-04:002009-06-04T09:35:00.812-04:00Funny O' The DayOh, I know how she feels:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMq71qBmDsiDNcBEvrGIBI8BrPuy4F-zxswySv57X7lw1tMDL4c6AGtjwJ01hxZUMrD1Wc6YJMEcGAluejGoj-4Qj7dK3a3ZqnpofQ7-2bSF1mKrsGJuB7s6jH9tcr8VSVEgFwA/s1600-h/mythtickle.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 318px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSMq71qBmDsiDNcBEvrGIBI8BrPuy4F-zxswySv57X7lw1tMDL4c6AGtjwJ01hxZUMrD1Wc6YJMEcGAluejGoj-4Qj7dK3a3ZqnpofQ7-2bSF1mKrsGJuB7s6jH9tcr8VSVEgFwA/s400/mythtickle.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5343465170434750882" border="0" /></a>Yesterday's <a href="http://www.gocomics.com/mythtickle/2009/06/03/">Mythtickle</a>, via <a href="http://scienceblogs.com/pharyngula/2009/06/i_am_easily_amused.php">Pharyngula</a>.Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-2374650913413830722009-05-25T09:43:00.003-04:002009-05-25T12:28:33.041-04:00Memorial Day 2009For citizens of the United States of America, today is the day we set aside specifically to remember the men and women who have throughout our history fought and died to earn and preserve the freedoms we enjoy today. May their courage and bravery never be forgotten and may all of us strive to be worthy of the heavy price with which our liberty has been purchased.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjsmUj5d5iecbFcSPTnGESvLxHxAp2iUL-WaYjBK3WX2anVkD95B0UdJvnvcRfK4WbpP7XfrZ12ZlTbjBZ_T17zu9O_VGX2Jk7Y21hhh8HeyZs-m_6vd7gMXVShHaq-7DY16Zkw/s1600-h/05.05.29.MemorialDay05-X.gif"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 233px; height: 176px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHjsmUj5d5iecbFcSPTnGESvLxHxAp2iUL-WaYjBK3WX2anVkD95B0UdJvnvcRfK4WbpP7XfrZ12ZlTbjBZ_T17zu9O_VGX2Jk7Y21hhh8HeyZs-m_6vd7gMXVShHaq-7DY16Zkw/s400/05.05.29.MemorialDay05-X.gif" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5339798523124150978" border="0" /></a><br />Graphic is by <a href="http://www.coxandforkum.com/">Cox and Forkum</a>Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-46752845773387681642009-05-22T17:09:00.002-04:002009-05-22T17:21:43.122-04:00Tim Burton's "9"If you're a Tim Burton fan, as I am, you'll probably be as excited as I to see this <a href="http://www.traileraddict.com/trailer/9-feature/feature-trailer">trailer</a> of his newest film, a computer-animated movie titled simply "9", slated for release on September 9th (09.09.2009, as it happens). It is a feature-length adaptation of a 2005 academy-award-nominated <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/9_%28film%29">short film</a>, of the same title, by student director Shane Acker. It tells the story of 9, a sentient rag doll in a post-apocalyptic, post-human world struggling to survive and "protect the future" (in the words of the trailer). The animation looks superb and the story one to which Burton could certainly do justice. I'm certainly looking forward to it!Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-39384121848776553322009-05-19T15:57:00.013-04:002009-05-20T10:07:12.198-04:00VIP/Loyalty Card Overload?I've got perhaps a dozen or so of those loyalty program or membership cards that retail establishments give out. Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Office Depot, Best Buy, Jos. A. Banks, Brooks Brothers, Dick's Sporting Goods....the list goes on. And if I want the discounts or perks that go along with those programs, I need to present the cards whenever I make a purchase. That means, of course, that I've got to either carry them all with me OR remember to put the relevant card in my wallet before leaving. The first option leaves me with either a bulging wallet or an overloaded keyring and the second often leaves me without the discount (as I'll likely forget to take along the card). ARGH! What to do?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb_u6itY4LqN0hIw0gFtoMS8eYkfd4ytjTlxGzEeaU-bU621bWapacmE67E2f8hyphenhyphenOGMkCHSaersgRcHQk8LSUeuzst4jgGs3K_7jZAbahyphenhyphenaci9GQSMUBsz54RvDXqoa5rCXYWmg/s1600-h/2009-05-19_093205.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 193px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb_u6itY4LqN0hIw0gFtoMS8eYkfd4ytjTlxGzEeaU-bU621bWapacmE67E2f8hyphenhyphenOGMkCHSaersgRcHQk8LSUeuzst4jgGs3K_7jZAbahyphenhyphenaci9GQSMUBsz54RvDXqoa5rCXYWmg/s320/2009-05-19_093205.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337907311785840418" border="0" /></a><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5260900/keyringthing-creates-one-bonus-card-to-rule-them-all">Lifehacke</a><a href="http://lifehacker.com/5260900/keyringthing-creates-one-bonus-card-to-rule-them-all">r</a> to the rescue! <a href="https://www.keyringthing.com/">KeyRingThing</a> provides a free web-based service whereby you can enter up to six of your membership/barcode numbers and it will allow you to download and print out ONE card with all of them on it. You can use that card just as it is, take it to your local Kinko's and have it laminated or for about $3, KeyRingThing will mail you a higher quality plastic credit-card-sized version. You could conceivably reduce 12 loyalty cards to 2 thus saving a great deal of wallet space (no version for keyrings, but you would ostensibly be removing 12 from your keyring and saving space there).<br /><br />The website also provides a means of downloading the generated barcode for each program as an image to a cell or smartphone. That means that you should be able to simply use the image on your phone screen as you would the card so you wouldn't have to carry the card at all!<br /><br />I think that's an even better option. I always carry my cellphone, so I would always have my loyalty/membership info with me. In fact, someone else thought of this as well:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.mycardstar.com/">CardStar</a> (via <a href="http://news.cnet.com/8301-17938_105-10241727-1.html?tag=mncol;title">Crave</a>) is an application for the iPhone that allows you to enter the membership/barcode numbers of all of your cards and it will <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwdMbZk-LmrHJfjbHHMaUy9RFGGXfx1W-TfVKp1Ko0McIEwO4Sn3A6WAjwjQ3hSiL-lQE6LWJyPMejGWnG5GiIyyZ3k6Si8q0NyvGgNf93OEDGECV9cLW8LFoZMJqczwEzs-yCg/s1600-h/screenshot.png"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 173px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivwdMbZk-LmrHJfjbHHMaUy9RFGGXfx1W-TfVKp1Ko0McIEwO4Sn3A6WAjwjQ3hSiL-lQE6LWJyPMejGWnG5GiIyyZ3k6Si8q0NyvGgNf93OEDGECV9cLW8LFoZMJqczwEzs-yCg/s320/screenshot.png" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5337906484219309234" border="0" /></a>generate bar code images that can then be used in place of the cards. You can select from dozens of pre-loaded merchants and the company logo will appear as part of the display. If your merchant/company doesn't appear it's not a problem; you can simply enter the name and store the data under that. The app also provides a means of "fine-tuning" the displayed barcode image to ensure that the code displayed matches the one on the original card (as there are several different encoding methods actually in use). Normally the app sells for $0.99, but right now it's <span style="font-weight: bold;">free</span> at the iTunes <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=301460311">store</a>, so hurry out and download it if you're an iPhone user. Unfortunately, there currently isn't a version for Blackberry or any other smartphone, but the company is working on one so keep checking their website if you're interested.<br /><br />I've downloaded this app and have entered several of my card numbers in it, but haven't yet had a chance to test it out so I've no idea how readable the image is to barcode scanners. It looks pretty clear to me on my screen, but those scanners can often seem pretty particular as to their requirements. I'll try to remember to post a follow-up after I've tried it out.Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-70057683694112952072009-05-14T10:05:00.007-04:002009-05-14T17:22:31.598-04:00God On Trial<object height="230" width="380"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/HOHWNaN2NU8&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/HOHWNaN2NU8&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="230" width="380"></embed></object><br /><br />The embedded video above is the first of nine parts of a BBC-produced movie titled "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1173494/">God On Trial</a>". Released in 2008, the film tells the story of a group of Auschwitz inmates who decide to put God on trial for breach of the covenant he made with his "chosen" people.<br /><br />The film is a fascinating and moving exploration of various familiar themes in the philosophy of religion: the problem of evil, theodicy, divine hiddenness, and the Euthyphro dilemma (among others), but in the context of a real-life drama rather than in dry academic papers.<br /><br />The film opens with the prisoners being divided into two groups (left & right), one of which will be taken to the gas chamber on the following day. This is being done in order to make room for new arrivals (who, as it happens, arrive earlier than planned and thus become part of the drama as it unfolds). The action of the film takes place during the night while the prisoners wait sleeplessly to learn their fate in the morning.<br /><br />The film's most powerful sequence comes toward the end when a learned rabbi, who has been praised by another prisoner as a living saint due to his knowledge of Torah and Law (he is said to have memorized all of the scripture) delivers a powerful speech in which he concludes that "God is not good".<br /><br />The film is a moving indictment of the rather naive view of God held by a great many modern people. As the philosopher Wes Morriston <a href="http://spot.colorado.edu/%7Emorristo/God-on-Trial.html">recounts</a>, the writer very nearly lost his faith during the research and writing of the script. For myself, the contextual perspective on philosophical issues with which I am more than passingly familiar provided me with fresh insight; a more personalized way of seeing some of these problems. More importantly, however, the arguments employed by the inmates who serve as God's "defenders" show a more nuanced and balanced view than that generally employed by religious (read "Christian") apologists. Indeed, this "inside look" at the Jewish apologetic approach reveals a more humanistic, deeply conflicted view than the "false bravado" one generally sees from the neo-Calvinists so ubiquitous on the internet. They realize the deep inconsistencies in their faith, yet still they persist. Indeed, when some of the men are being led off to the gas chambers, one of those who had been most virulent in his condemnation of God, and who before learning his fate spoke bravely of the ultimate meaninglessness of life, asks another, "what do we do now?". The second man replies, "we pray". And in the face of death, the defenders and accusers alike are united in prayer; not because they believe they will be saved (for they have, after all, found God guilty of breaking the covenant), but because they realize that for them, their identity as Jews is one of the things that gives their lives meaning. There is a great truth to be found here, beyond prayer, beyond the question of God's existence or his character: that there is meaning to be found in life regardless.<br /><br />Understandably, this is not an "action-packed" film. The drama proceeds through character exposition and development accomplished through dialogue and speeches. But beyond the philosophical wisdom, there is a good film filled with great writing and wonderful performances (the great Stellan Skarsgård among them). I don't know how long it will be up on YouTube, so watch now or order a copy from Amazon. This is a "don't miss" for lovers of Philosophy AND cinema.Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-10052253681828323422009-05-07T17:27:00.003-04:002009-05-07T17:34:54.629-04:00Mmmm...business cards...om nom nom?"Wow, it was great talking to you, but I'd like to consider your offer carefully. May I call you later?"<br /><br />"Sure, here's my card."<br /><br />"But...but...that's a piece of beef jerky!"<br /><br />"No, it's business card made by laser-engraving my contact info into a piece of beef jerky."<br /><br />"Oh...I see what you did <a href="http://www.meatcards.com/">there</a>!"<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.uncrate.com/men/images/2009/05/meatcards-2.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 456px; height: 304px;" src="http://www.uncrate.com/men/images/2009/05/meatcards-2.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><br /><blockquote>We start with 100% beef jerky, and SEAR your contact information into it with a 150 WATT CO2 LASER.<br /><br />Screw die-cutting. Forget about foil, popups, or UV spot lamination. THESE business cards have two ingredients: MEAT AND LASERS.</blockquote>'Cause that's just what this world needs more of...meat and lasers...<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">via</span> <a href="http://www.uncrate.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Uncrate</span></a>Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14388162.post-13983562217619075102009-05-07T13:34:00.004-04:002009-05-07T13:39:24.135-04:00Weapons of Music DistortionWho knew that iTunes was so versatile?<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/fail-owned-itune-nuke-fail.jpg?w=500&h=379"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 385px; height: 290px;" src="http://failblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/fail-owned-itune-nuke-fail.jpg?w=500&h=379" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-style: italic;">via</span> <a href="http://failblog.org/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">FailBlog</span></a>Bill Sneddenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01860179129919465561noreply@blogger.com0