Day of the Dead remix contest winners

Thursday, November 02, 2006
07:55 PM

Day of the Dead remix contest winners: "Cory Doctorow:


FreeCulture USC has announced the winners in its contest to remix the original film, Night of the Living Dead. There are some fantastic entries!

Link

"

(Via Boing Boing.)

The Top 10 Scariest Urban Legends

Thursday, October 26, 2006
01:34 PM

The Top 10 Scariest Urban Legends: "In celebration of All Hallows Eve, when according to legend the veil separating the living from the dead fades to gossamer, here is a selection of scary urban legends guaranteed..."

(Via Urban Legends and Folklore.)

Omakaseween: Cylons, pumpkins, phantoms of lost liberties.

Tuesday, October 31, 2006
11:39 PM

Omakaseween: Cylons, pumpkins, phantoms of lost liberties.: "Xeni Jardin:

* Link to Battlestar Galactica-themed greenhorncomic.com funny.

* The Mac-o-Lantern: Link.

* Scare the bejeezus out of people, and dress up as the Patriot Act: Link.

* This pumpkin carves itself: Link

* HOWTO cook a realistic, bloody brain: Link. No advice for HOWTO eat it.

* Marshmallow mummy and monster cupcakes: Link

* Suicide Girls comix-themed Halloween photoset (for adults only): Link

* For one day, today, this child has transformed into a fearsome samurai: Link.

* Zombie Clown Haikus:

Split them wide open

Entrails look like sausages

Go get the ShopVac

Link.

* Stop sending me links to goatse jackolanterns. Stop. All of you. Because I won't post them, I say, not one single link. No. So played out.

(Thanks, Sean Kennedy, Steve, Scott Fuller, Damon, Jesse Thorn, Alec Muffett, Matthew Harris, Helen @ SuicideGirls)

Previous Omakase linkdumps:


- Omakase linkdump: Trick or 1337

- Dem belly full


- I wanna tear you apart


- Sexy taco, space gun, deli flesh.


- Arabic smokes, Norway bimbo, Danish BB ringtone


- Post-holiday bluesnixer roundup

"

(Via Boing Boing.)

Flying Spaghetti Monster, Richard Dawkins come to South Park

Thursday, November 02, 2006
07:51 PM
and what a show it was

Flying Spaghetti Monster, Richard Dawkins come to South Park: "Xeni Jardin:
Tonight's episode of South Park features the BoingBoing's patron deity, The Flying Spaghetti Monster (PBUH), and Richard Dawkins. Previous BoingBoing posts about FSM: Link, about Dawkins: Link, and he's also part of an article in this month's Wired: Link.

Wonder how long before (a) clips from this episode shows up on YouTube, and (b) Comedy Central's lawyers force YouTube to take it down.

BB pal Wayne Correia is watching it now on the East Coast feed, and says, 'it's awesome.'

UPDATE: Here's some video on YouTube, while it lasts: Link. (Thanks, Franklin)

"

(Via Boing Boing.)

God Hates Blogs

Wednesday, October 25, 2006
09:52 PM

God Hates Blogs: "Bloggers are going to hell one entry at a time, according to Kevin D. Denee of the Restored Church of God's Ambassador Youth magazine:

Should teenagers and others in the Church express themselves to the world through blogs? Because of the obvious dangers; the clear biblical principles that apply; the fact that it gives one a voice; that it is almost always idle words; that teens often do not think before they do; that it is acting out of boredom; and it is filled with appearances of evil -- blogging is simply not to be done in the Church. It should be clear that it is unnecessary and in fact dangerous on many levels.

Let me emphasize that no one -- including adults -- should have a blog or personal website (unless it is for legitimate business purposes).

Photo sharing is acceptable to the Restored Lord in some circumstances:

Some questions naturally arise: 'Can I have a photo gallery?' For example, maybe you visited an exotic country and want to share your photos with close friends. This can be done, but certain guidelines apply. Of course, there should never be any inappropriate pictures (again, be careful of the appearance of evil); it should be private and password protected, and only shown to family and closest friends.

"

(Via Cruel Site of the Day.)

Britain's First "Web-Rage" Attack

Wednesday, October 25, 2006
09:47 PM
wait for the epidemic

Britain's First "Web-Rage" Attack: "brown-eyed slug writes 'The BBC is reporting what is claimed to be Britain's first 'web-rage' attack. A man drove seventy miles to assault his victim with a pick-axe handle after they exchanged insults in a Yahoo! chat room. From the article Det Cons Christopher Creagh, of the Metropolitan Police, said: 'This is the first instance of a web-rage attack.' Det Sgt Jean-Marc Bazzoni, of Essex Police, added the case demonstrates the importance of protecting one's identity on the internet. 'Mr Jones had posted pictures of his family on the web and had chatted to Gibbons on an audio link,' he said. 'It demonstrates how easily other users can put two and two together and also shows how children could also find themselves in danger.''

"

(Via Slashdot.)

Take your pad into the Twilight Zone with decapitated dog speakers

Wednesday, October 25, 2006
09:25 PM
bee zah

Take your pad into the Twilight Zone with decapitated dog speakers: "

No, they won't dock your iPod. And the company that sells them knows their sound quality probably can't compete with that of 'high end' speakers like these. But really, who could resist spending $1,295 (including shipping!) for a speaker shaped like a headless dog? Just in time for Halloween yet minimalist-tastic all year round, these babies from the Netherlands will creep out everyone you know! Sorry, chocolate Lab lovers — they come in black or white only. Plus, they're called Woofers. Get it? Get it? Anyone? — S.E. Kramer

POAA, via Shiny Shiny

"

(Via SCI FI Tech Blog.)

iPod PA system: your tunes + your voice

Wednesday, October 25, 2006
09:24 PM
oh yeah

iPod PA system: your tunes + your voice: "

What do you call a big group of iPod accessories? An iHerd? A Podmob? In any case, there's a really long playlist of iPod speaker docks out there, but the Ion iPa03 PA system doesn't quite belong in that crowd. Going beyond just giving you background music on your desk, the Ion is a party station that lets you broadcast your tunes to a huge area. A microphone is included for when you need to give your speech or take over lead vocals, making it ideal for buskers, protesters, and karaoke aficionados who want to get their iPod in on their public performances. It's truly portable, too, with its rechargeable battery keeping the party going for 6 hours on a full charge. The beats my own party charge by at least 90 minutes. — Peter Pachal

zZounds, via Techie Diva

"

(Via SCI FI Tech Blog.)

Scott Adams hacks his brain to restore his speech

Wednesday, October 25, 2006
08:42 PM
strange world

Scott Adams hacks his brain to restore his speech: "Mark Frauenfelder:
Dilbert creator Scott Adams lost the ability to speak 18 months ago. He has something called Spasmodic Dysphonia. His doctor told him that nobody with this condition has ever regained the ability to speak.

But yesterday, Adams reported that he hacked his brain and can speak again!

The day before yesterday, while helping on a homework assignment, I noticed I could speak perfectly in rhyme. Rhyme was a context I hadn’t considered. A poem isn’t singing and it isn’t regular talking. But for some reason the context is just different enough from normal speech that my brain handled it fine.

Jack be nimble, Jack be quick.

Jack jumped over the candlestick.

I repeated it dozens of times, partly because I could. It was effortless, even though it was similar to regular speech. I enjoyed repeating it, hearing the sound of my own voice working almost flawlessly. I longed for that sound, and the memory of normal speech. Perhaps the rhyme took me back to my own childhood too. Or maybe it’s just plain catchy. I enjoyed repeating it more than I should have. Then something happened.

My brain remapped.

My speech returned.

Link

(Thanks, Cyrus Farivar!)

"

(Via Boing Boing.)

Walking Dead: scary, engrossing zombie comic

Wednesday, October 25, 2006
08:4o

Walking Dead: scary, engrossing zombie comic: "Cory Doctorow:

I just finished reading the first five collections of the ongoing comic series The Walking Dead, by Robert Kirkman and Tony Moore, and I now I can't wait for the seventh collection to come out.

The Walking Dead is a zombie adventure serial about the survivors of a plague of walking, flesh-eating dead. All the usual zombie movie stuff applies -- lots of gore, you get bit and you die and then come back, hordes of creepy shamblers are everywhere.

What distinguishes this series is its characters, who are likable and deeply flawed people who are being unmade along with the world. Each character is stretched to the breaking point, turned into a monster, and then just enough of them are brought back from moral ruin to give you hope for the rest.

The pacing is incredible. I read five volumes in a day -- I couldn't stop. This was one of those books that kept me up until three in the morning, and then left me all spooked out when I finally switched off the lights.

Scary, fun, and gripping -- who can ask for anything more. I'll be reading this one through all the way to the end.

Link

(I picked up The Walking Dead on recommendation from badass comics store Secret Headquarters, which is definitely worth a visit if you live in LA)

"

(Via Boing Boing.)

Origin myth of the Haunted Mansion read by Black Widow Bride

Wednesday, October 25, 2006
08:48 PM
susan
for

Origin myth of the Haunted Mansion read by Black Widow Bride: "Cory Doctorow:



Doombuggies, the world's awesomest Haunted Mansion fan-site, has dredged up the original storyline for the Haunted Mansion, produced during the planning stages of the ride. They got Kat Cressida, the voice-over artist who plays the 'Black Widow bride' in the newest revision to the Mansion's attic scene, to narrate it. The file goes live on Hallowe'en, but I just heard a preview of it and it's fantastic.

The mythic, haunting history of Disneyland's Haunted Mansion will finally be told by voice talent Kat Cressida, the artist whose performance as the gothic 'Black Widow Bride' was added in early 2006 to the Disneyland version of the Haunted Mansion attraction as part of park-wide enhancements made to the attractions during Disneyland's 50th anniversary festivities.

Disney aficionados will be pleased to hear that this is the first time that a telling of the 'backstory' from the Haunted Mansion is presented being based on the story as it was told by the WED Enterprises 'Imagineers' themselves back in the earliest days of the attraction's existence. For decades, Haunted Mansion fans have told tales and myths of the Mansion's storied history, with little more than anecdotal evidence to back their claims. Cressida's telling of the story will be pulled directly from her childhood conversations with her father, who worked with Disneyland's PR Department, and also worked directly with the original Imagineers who created this famed attraction.

Link

(Thanks, Jeff!)

"

(Via Boing Boing.)

Burning Man 06 photos

Wednesday, October 25, 2006
08:45 PM
pix u say

Burning Man 06 photos: "Cory Doctorow:



Neil Guy, Burning Man photographer extraordinaire, has posted his striking 2006 pix.

Link

(Thanks, Neil!)

See also Burning Man photos from 1998 on

"

(Via Boing Boing.)

The Making and Meaning of Naked Lunch

Wednesday, October 25, 2006
09:17 PM
interestung reading from kuroshin

The Making and Meaning of Naked Lunch: "If William S. Burroughs truly feared a word virus, an idea he often made reference to in his later Nova Trilogy, then Naked Lunch was the ultimate inoculation against that verbal disease. Though it was written before the three books that would comprise the Nova Trilogy (The Soft Machine, The Ticket That Exploded and Nova Express), Naked Lunch was the cure that came before the illness. It was his version of the needle to cure all literary lesions and stem the tide of evils that language has the ability to produce through its constantly changing, adapting, regrouping control systems."

(Via Kuro5hin.org.)

My Tribute to Outer Limits

My Tribute to Outer Limits, originally uploaded by mclasen.

Photos aren't terreibly static anymore - we can do very strange things such as this playing around with Apple's Photobooth.

Gartner: Apple At 6.1% U.S. Market Share, Up 1.5% From Last Year

Thursday, October 19, 2006
10:59 PM
ooohopoppoh

Gartner: Apple At 6.1% U.S. Market Share, Up 1.5% From Last Year: "Gartner has released preliminary market share numbers for 3Q 2006 (calendar, Apple's financial 4Q) which show Apple seeing substantial industry growth at 1.5%. Apple now ships 6.1% of all U.S. 'PCs', 4th in the industry behind Gateway (6.4%), HP (23..."

(Via MacRumors.)

News: Apple's Mac market share tops 5% with over 30% growth

Thursday, October 19, 2006
10:52 PM
oooh finally

News: Apple's Mac market share tops 5% with over 30% growth: "Apple topped all computer companies posting over 30 percent year-over-year growth rate in its Macintosh market share.

"

(Via MacCentral.)

Wi-Fi webcam robot certainly not made for peeping

Thursday, October 19, 2006
10:28 PM
kewl

Wi-Fi webcam robot certainly not made for peeping: "

Is it me, or do we post a lot of items to aid the would-be pervert and peeper? It's not because we support the peeping arts here at SCI FI Tech, no ma'am. We just try to put interesting stuff out there, and what you do with it is your own business. Anyhow, say hello to the Wi-Fi controlled webcam robot. He can be used for any number of things, such as… uh, making sure there are no robbers in your house while you are on vacation. Or, um, seeing who's at the door without getting up from the computer. See, there are plenty of perfectly respectable and chaste ways to use this, so if you think of more perverse ways that's all on you. In any case, he's got enough batteries to sneak around for about two and a half hours, and you can send him instructions via email. Like go see if someone is watching TV in the living room. Yeah, that's it. — Adam Frucci

Bandai, via Gizmodo

"

(Via SCI FI Tech Blog.)

Antique devil inkwell

Thursday, October 19, 2006
10:25 PM
eeee valll!!!

Antique devil inkwell: "David Pescovitz:






I dig this kooky-creepy devil inkwell up for auction on eBay. Current bid is $202.01. From the auction listing:

19th Century devil inkwell of handcarved wooden construction by a master craftsman. I believe this to be of European origin - Black Forest or Swiss. Quality of carving and fit of the lid are exceptional. Not a nick or chip or scratch. Original paint. Original well looks to be porcelain. Ink still on inner rim around well and lid shows honest wear. Total height is 4'. Satisfaction guaranteed.

Link (Thanks, Michael-Anne Rauback!)

"

(Via Boing Boing.)

Ugliest vegetable in Britain

Thursday, October 19, 2006
10:24 PM
I'll hjave to post a potato I found

Ugliest vegetable in Britain: "Cory Doctorow:



Mike sez, 'The National Trust, a British charity, held a competition to garden-growers across the country to grow the ugliest vegetable possible.

This year's winner was Mrs. Hilary Nellist from Bedford with her parsnip from the deep.

The contest seeks to promote organically grown fruit and vegetables. Some may not look good enough to end up on supermarket shelves, but they quite possibly taste better and are better for you.

Look at the picture of the parsnip and tell me Cthulhu didn't have his hand in this one.'

Link

(Thanks, Mike!)

(Photo thumbnail above taken from a larger picture credited to Hilary Nellist)

"

(Via Boing Boing.)

Star Wars mashup photoshopping contest

Thursday, October 19, 2006
10:22 PM
hehheh

Star Wars mashup photoshopping contest: "Cory Doctorow:


Today on the Worth1000 photoshopping contest: Star Wars mashups. I am just loving the Gollum/Yoda pictured here.
Link

"

(Via Boing Boing.)