Not much this month, but maybe more will come as the weather cools.
Monthly Archives: July 2006
Happy anniversary or something
July seems to be a traditionally busy month for the Collective. It was four years ago this month that we (well, Sarah) started blogging (I know this because the original Smelltone blog is still out there, gathering dust). In November of that same year, we moved the blog to our own site, and there it has remained ever since (not counting a migration from Greymatter to Movable Type and from our "free with ISP" page to a formally hosted one).
Alternative Minimum News
I have sometimes toyed with the idea of a minimalist news site, one that only tells you the news that you really need to know, and only updates you when there is actual new news. But since most people I know are habitual news trawlers, I don’t think it would be for anyone but me, and since I would have to do significant news checking to make the site, it would mean I was reading more news than my minimum daily allowance. Instead of that, here are a few sites that allow you to skip a lot of cruft if you wish to.
Regional Public Information Network
All of the Puget Sound area government organizations that tell you when some urgent event needs your attention, all in one place.
Newseum’s Front Pages
The Newseum collects just the front page from papers arount the world, a quick way to see what the top one or two stories are in any given area, with the nice option of visually averaging out how important a story is globally. Takes some poking around to get the region you want.
Wikipedia Main Page
Wikipedia gives you links to articles related to what’s in the news, an assortment of randomly selected information, today’s holidays and anniversaries and links to a more exhaustive list of same.
The Psycho Ex Game Review
The Psycho Ex Game, Markoe and Prieboy. Yes. Not flawless, but enjoyable. It was impossible for me not to speculate on which stories had been pulled completely from experience, and which had been given writers’ embellishments (or just plain invented). Further fueling that impulse is the fact that Recipe Cards have been posted by (or at least on behalf of) the authors. Also available: the song that started it all. I’ve been a fan of Ms Markoe’s work for more than twenty years, and while I don’t think this is the best book she’s been involved with creating, it does have a unique voyeuristic appeal.
(I’m getting "bandwidth exceeded" errors from the links to the book’s website; I’m hoping they’ll get more bandwidth at the beginning of the month (i.e., tomorrow))
The power of the web, applied to dead birds
Hey! Report that dead bird (in King County, at any rate) to the Public Health Department in a surprisingly detailed form.
Which won't happen for ages now
Facilities replaced a bunch of lights at work, at the request of some higher ups who thought the old lights made it a bit dim and dreary here (they were right). Unfortunately, the new bright lights make the ratty carpet and worn desks that much more apparent. Oh well.
Improving Reading
You should totally read Jason’s essay on various Georges.
Which will feature jokes about the kid eating wool
Start the countdown to a House, M.D. episode featuring Mothball Huffing.
So why don't they smile more?
Maybe it was just because we were strangers, but, for being the 4th happiest population, Icelanders sure weren’t very personable. Or maybe I’m simply in error imagining that happy people are personable.
Update: See the Original data (and an interactive map if you’re running Flash).
The Kid With the Snake on His Face
Today I saw a kid with a snake painted across his face, though it was a rather simple snake: at first I thought someone had just drawn a line across his face with a fat-tipped dark green marker. But then I saw the little red tongue sticking out of one end (the “business” end?). I was reminded of John Candy’s SCTV character, Harry, the Man with the Snake on His Face. His snake was more elaborate, though.