July 2010
11 posts
1 tag
How Microbes Defend and Define Us →
It never occurred to me that poop could be used to save lives like this:
Dr. Khoruts mixed a small sample of her husband’s stool with saline solution and delivered it into her colon. Writing in the Journal of Clinical Gastroenterology last month, Dr. Khoruts and his colleagues reported that her diarrhea vanished in a day. Her Clostridium difficile infection disappeared as well and has not...
WatchSuper Mario Bros. (by Andreas Heikaus)
A speed run of Super Mario Bros. superimposed over live-action footage. Incredibly crafted.
Via Waxy
Understanding vs. Memorizing Systems Management... →
In 1995 my boss (and technical mentor), Tom Mann, asked me to network the office computers (running Windows 3.11 for Workgroups). He purchased Novell NetWare 3.12 and told me get the network up within two weeks. I had never done such a thing and I asked him, “Um, how do I do that?” His response will be forever etched in my mind.
“Figure it out.”
Bingo.
Drowning Doesn’t Look Like Drowning →
I think everyone on this two-thirds-covered-by-water planet needs to read this article in full.
There is very little splashing, no waving, and no yelling or calls for help of any kind. To get an idea of just how quiet and undramatic from the surface drowning can be, consider this: It is the number two cause of accidental death in children, age 15 and under (just behind vehicle accidents) –...
June 2010
5 posts
I Love Geeky Jokes (QDB #297468)
A scientist wants to reduce my body temperature to minus 273 degrees Celsius
My wife says it'll kill me, but I think I'll be 0K
E3 2010: First Gameplay Video of Valve's Portal 2 →
The first video has the trailer at the beginning, but keep watching, there’s some gold afterwards.
Via Waxy
May 2010
10 posts
WatchApollo 11 Saturn V Launch (HD) Camera E-8
Breathtaking slow-motion footage that provides a rare glimpse of the raw power required to get humans to the Moon. Keep watching at least until the narration ends around seven minutes in.
Steam's Now on Mac & Portal is Free Until May 24 →
I love the copy on the page announcing that Portal is free:
Well, technically speaking, there are some strings attached. Fortunately, they’re entirely decorative. We just like the way they look, swaying in the gentle breeze created by a million people simultanously fainting from shock at the news that Portal is free. Now you have no reason not to try Portal.
“I have a...
“Most things are great so far. The reward we’ve reaped as a society for shoving...”
– Mike Industries: A good problem to have (via marco)
April 2010
49 posts
Super Mario Bros. Crossover →
Jay Pavlina has done the world a great service:
I have recreated the entire game of Super Mario Bros, but now you can play as different characters. Each character plays just like they do in their original games with a few modifications to make the experience better.
The additional characters are Mega Man, Samus (Metroid), Link (Zelda), Bill R. (Contra), and Simon (Castlevania).
This is...
Chillout Song by zefrank →
I received an email from a woman named Laura, who had recently moved to a new city for a new job.
She was overwhelmed with anxiety and asked me to write her a song to help her calm down.
Go, clicky click with you!
8-Bit Dr. Horrible (Act 3) is Finished! →
Thus concluding the excellent series. A fantastic piece of work.
Geocities-izer - Make Any Webpage Look Like It Was... →
Here’s mine.
Via Waxy
The Simplenote App is Now Optimized for iPad →
Thank science!
Police Seize Gizmodo Editor Jason Chen's Computers →
Like I said, they fucked up.
(Link goes to Daring Fireball, as I loathe linking to Gizmodo.)
APS Pilot Program to Control Customer's... →
If regulators approve the plan, APS will invite about 300 customers to volunteer in the air-conditioning load-control test and other pilot projects starting in fall 2010. During hot afternoons the following summer, or when there is a problem on the power grid such as a downed transmission line, APS will be able to turn up their thermostats remotely or run their air-conditioners in 20-minute...
Gizmodo, You Fucked Up
I just unsubscribed from Gizmodo’s feed, and I won’t be visiting their site again for quite some time, if ever. It’s likely you already know why, but if you don’t, read on.
A pre-production, next-gen iPhone was accidentally left behind at a bar by an Apple engineer. The phone was subsequently found by someone who took it home and later sold it to Gizmodo, along with the...
Will it Metablend? →
There’s so much blending goin’ on!
Via Waxy
“We have a strategic plan, it’s called doing things.”
– Herb Kelleher, Southwest Airlines
Via swissmiss
Tricks to Skip DVD Trailers and Warnings →
The always-helpful Amit Agarwal from Digital Inspiration rounds up several methods for skipping the trailers, warnings, and other crap on a DVD so you can get straight to the movie you’re trying to watch. The first tip, from CNET author Tom Merritt, is the easiest. Just press Stop, Stop, then Play on many DVDs to skip right to the movie. This method won’t always work, so if it...
Delete all files in a folder that don't match a... →
$ rm !(*.foo|*.bar|*.baz)
Handy.
The Pluto Files: Hate Mail from Third Graders →
When Neil’s museum grouped Pluto not among the planets but rather with icy comets in an obscure region called the Kuiper Belt, he heard from thousands of outraged Pluto defenders. It’s tough being called a heartless Pluto-hater, particularly by a dismayed eight-year-old. Below, peruse a few of the letters elementary schoolkids sent Neil, and see how their tone shifted over the...
