October 29, 2004
I guess maybe the dingo ate her baby
History of the Baby-eating Dingo case. I hadn't paid any attention to the actual case, so I didn't know that the mom was initially convicted, then released when the baby's jacket was found, half-buried, in a Dingo den. Mmm... say it with me, "Dingo den."
October 21, 2004
Poster Paradise
Index of WWII poster websites from UNT.
Recursive Canadian Recruiting: Why Won't They Come? Cause those jerks are watching the hockey game! But as those same jerks think about joining, we see that they are, in fact, just smoking their pipes. Any why in the world would you not join when there seem to be themed batallions!
October 20, 2004
Randomblog
An interesting way to randomize your web experience: a random blogger brand blog.
October 19, 2004
October 18, 2004
State of the Poo
Sierra Legal Defence Fund has a "report card" on sewage treatment in cities across Canada. Apparently there are no national standards for sewage treatment!
Another Thing I Wish I Thought Of
OK, not really, because this way someone else does the work: CoolGov, cool stuff from US Gov's web sites.
October 14, 2004
Can't Shampoo a Shampooer!
Wow- them drug smugglers is creative! Another gem from boingboing.
October 13, 2004
Haiku 4 U
"If you are tender to them,
The young sparrows
Will poop on you."
Issa, 1763-1827
More advice for scribblers
The scintillating Mil Millington gives his advice to aspiring writers. Add it to the pot, if you will.
October 12, 2004
Deathly Dolls
Holy Crap! I really do find the most wonderful things on boingboing- dollhouses are cool, intricately detailed dollhouses are cooler, but best of all are intricately detailed dollhouses depicting grisly crimes!
October 09, 2004
High Fashion
Capelets! In!
Beanies! Out!
Is it me, or is it the 50s again?
Adjective Shortage Shock-Horror!
The newspapers of these united states are publishing their summaries of last night's presidential debates, and many of them use very similar words. Among the most popular, according to my non-scientific survey:
1. Testy
2. Feisty
3. Fiery
and a surprise runner up: Slugfest.
October 07, 2004
Good Title If You Can Get It
Chief Designer, especially if that's all you go by, is a pretty good title.
Spam research
Every so often, I wonder what's hot with spammers these days. Today's research project has led me to the page of an outfit called the "consumer research corporation," which is recruiting product testers by spamming.
First thing they want is your zip code, so they can check whether they're recruiting testers in your area. Turns out they are. Montgomery, AL; Honolulu, HI; "Zipcode" (apparently 00020 doesn't exist in their database, but they're still recruiting testers from there, glory be!).
Next, you get a page with the logos of several companies you've heard of ("Free shipping by FedEx" at the top; then, under a legend reading "Platinum Sponsors" we find BMGi, Columbia House, the GM card, eBay, and something called TRIMLife), where they want your personal details, all of which are mandatory except your old email address (if you enter your old address, they say they'll let you use their free change of address service). They've helpfully pre-checked the box that says you agree to their privacy policy.
On reading the policy, I find that "The owners of trademarked names and merchandise used in our promotions do not sponsor and have not endorsed this promotion or product testing program", so apparently "Platinum sponsors" means "companies we'd like you to associate with us, despite their complete lack of actual association with us." And, of course, the inevitable: "CRC may sell and/or license the personal information that you provide to us to third party businesses." No opting out of that, though they do claim that they'll remove your information from their database (and, of course, render you ineligible to participate in their testing and other exciting promotions) if you ask them to.
Another kicker: the incentive they're offering to suck(er) you in is an IBM thinkpad. To actually qualify for the "gift", you have to accumulate six "advertiser action points", which seems to mean that you have to actually buy things (or get and use credit cards) from their advertisers. And it may take several months for their advertisers to report back that you've jumped through the various hoops, so don't hold your breath waiting for your laptop.
My guess is they won't have to give out a single laptop, and they'll collect shitloads of email addresses and phone numbers (they require you to put in both home and work phone numbers). It's an interesting business model.
October 05, 2004
Ka Boom, or hssssss
What does Mt St Helens look like right now?
How about Mt Ranier (just in case)?
Everyone Loves Archives!
The State of Washington has launched their online archives!
October 01, 2004
Mmmm, tasting!
Tastingmenu seems to be a very tasty blog/restaurant review site.
Reduce, Reuse
So there's this artist person who re-uses Jakartan trash as shoulder bags. What local trash would make good material? Plastic grocery bags are quite good as crochet material when cut into strips (I recommend 1-1.5 inch strips with a J hook- cut off the top handles and bottom of the bag, then cut as one long spiral). I made the very recursive bag of bags that way. Thrift shop clothing can become quilt squares (I've not yet gotten back to my pink and grey wool quilt). Old t-shirts can become slippers (I may someday post the instructions I reverse-engineered).
Any other suggestions?