| CTP's RECURSIVEirony |
| Sunday, March 28, 2004 |
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GHOST TOWN In case you haven't seen this yet here it is. A photo essay by a Russian woman named Elena. She rides her motorcycle through the "dead zone" around Chernobyl. Truly frightening, riveting, awesome stuff. Thanks to Benny at Real Guitars for the link. Posted at 3:50 PM |
| Thursday, March 18, 2004 |
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Unbelieveable Upcoming Show!!! Alas, I shan't be in attendence...but you ought to be!!! The Extra Action Marching Band (which always puts on an incredible show, folks) will be performing Black Sabbath's first album, in its entirety, with (are you sitting?) Extreme Elvis as lead singer. Rube Waddell is opening, and there will be an extra Extra Action set after the Sabbath portion. wow Posted at 12:42 PM |
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Dr. Phil not really doing therapy... Oh, no shit?!? Read on... LOS ANGELES (AP) - When Neal David Sutz walked through the Paramount studio gate, he was looking forward to seeing a psychologist he respected, talk show host Phil McGraw. Instead, the Mesa, Ariz., paralegal student was stopped short by paperwork. He and other would-be audience members were asked to sign a waiver attesting they didn't suffer from mental illness and weren't under psychiatric care. The waiver also said that [Dr. Phil] McGraw's statements shouldn't be considered therapy or a substitute for any form of therapy. Talking to a show representative, Sutz was told he could attend but couldn't talk to Dr. Phil or participate in the show - for Sutz's own protection. He left instead. The incident, which occurred last fall, has weighed on him; "so much for "Doctor" Phil", he said in an interview. The disclaimer signals "that his advice is not real medical, psychological advice at all," said Sutz. "It is pure entertainment and he should stop insinuating that it is anything but that, especially not real counseling." If you go around thinking that the Dr. Phil show is somehow "counseling" or "therapy", you have bigger issues, my friend - the kind of issues that probably require large doses of psychoactive drugs, and a padded room. Come to think of it, I can't even believe that the AP put this story out. This isn't news...this is not even a step above the Doctor Phil show. And April 1st is still 2 weeks away. sheesh :( Posted at 9:08 AM |
| Monday, March 15, 2004 |
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The Crypto-Gram Newsletter - Schneier.com Bruce Schneier, of Counterpane Internet Security, publishes an email newsletter called the Crypto-Gram. Unlike many other sources of security info, the Cryto-Gram is quite accessible by the layman, and always a fascinating and useful read...not fear mongering, doom-saying, or xenophobic...just rational and useful. Why should you read it? Because you are concerned about computer and information security. You say you aren't concerned about computer and information security? Then answer me these: Do you have a bank account? Do you use plastic cards to make purchases? Do you buy things online or over the phone? Do you use online services like PayPal or BillPay? Do you get credit card offers in the mail? Do you use email? If you answered yes to even one of these, you better get concerned...but I'll bet most of you answered yes to all of them. Posted at 11:11 AM |
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MSNBC - The meth connection to identity theft Messed up, scary, worrying. And all we can do is try to keep ourselves kinda safe from it. “You don't see a lot of meth users robbing banks," Williams says. [T]hey can make more money in a fraud crime than they can sticking a gun in someone's face. If you bring a gun in a bank, you can face life in prison. Or you can write a series of bad checks and score 10 times that amount and get parole.” Posted at 10:41 AM |
| Friday, March 12, 2004 |
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DRUDGE REPORT - AIR AMERICA RADIO NETWORK So it looks like there's a new national radio network on its way. Air America, from New York's Progress Media, is billed to be the first all left-leaning talk radio outlet. While I am hopeful they can bring some balance to the current state of talk radio, I fear that in order to generate enough listeners they'll have to go down the same path as the current crop of hate mongering, fear mongering, and division mongering talk radio hosts. As long as we continue playing this us-against-them game to the hilt, the government will continue to be ever more able to do whatever they want...from both sides of the aisle...ever heard of "divide and conquer?" The issues aren't all far left versus far right, folks - but they need you to believe they are, or they are out of business. Talk radio needs you to believe it, and the government needs you to believe it. The enduring truth is somewhere in the middle...but middle of the road radio doesn't sell ad time...shouting, insult, vitriol, divisiveness, and pointing out how lame the other side is is what sells. I will try to listen to them when they come on the air, just so I can say I have. I've listened to right-wing radio, and I find it pointless. The label of "infotainment" doesn't quite do it justice, since there's not much solid info there, and I don't find it entertaining. We'll just have to wait and see what the other side decides to do with this opportunity. Posted at 3:33 PM |
| Wednesday, March 10, 2004 |
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Oh that wacky white trash! OKLAHOMA CITY (Reuters) - An Oklahoma woman shot her husband to death during a fight after the couple watched a daytime TV talk show on how to survive domestic violence, officials say. Police and prosecutors said the couple was in bed on Feb. 24 smoking marijuana and watching a Montel Williams TV talk show on surviving a lover's attack. Teri told her husband that his actions resembled those of abusive husbands featured on the show, which caused Cecil to turn violent. Cecil then struck his wife, fetched a handgun and fired a shot into the bed's headboard near Teri to show that he did not like his wife calling him a violent partner, police said, citing a statement the wife gave to investigators. Teri then called for help and when her husband tried to wrestle the phone away from her, she reached for the gun. Teri shot her husband in the arm and the bullet entered his chest, killing him, police said. I wonder if these were among Cecil's last words, "I ain't violent honey...let me prove it to you by beatin' up on you and shootin' atcha. Really...usin' real bullets just means I love you that much more." When you care enough to discharge the very best, I guess? And they say we're crazy here on the coast? Sheesh. Posted at 12:03 PM |
| Tuesday, March 09, 2004 |
 ACME Label Maker Fun fun fun Virtual old fashioned DYMO labels Posted at 4:39 PM |
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Hey! That's me!!! Found a photo of me filming BYOBW. I'm the fool on the left in olive drab risking life and limb (and equipment) to get the shot. Posted at 4:26 PM |
| Friday, March 05, 2004 |
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Boycott Exxon/Mobil Chain Email Have you gotten it yet? If not, you probably will soon. It tells us that if we stop buying gas from one company we can force change...in this case lower gasoline prices at the pump. Don't you believe it. In point of fact all of the oil companies sell their gas all over the place, not just in their own branded stations. If you boycott a specific brand name station, you are doing far, far more to hurt the guy (or gal) who owns that station than the oil company will ever feel. The same amount of gas, in the aggregate, will be sold – remember, you’re just going to another station with your same business. The margins on gas are already so thin that most retailers make more profit on Slushies than gas. Whomever you choose to boycott will continue to sell to other stations, and continue to make money, and continue to do whatever they wish with prices. The only real answer is to reduce consumption. Petroleum, like any limited resource, sees its price go up with demand. This is somewhat counterintuitive, as we are raised to think the more we buy the cheaper stuff gets. The opposite is true with “scarce” resources. Ride a bike, walk, buy a hybrid or electric vehicle, use biodiesel or ethanol, etc. Otherwise, cry me a river. Posted at 10:22 AM |
| Thursday, March 04, 2004 |
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The $14 Steady-Cam Did you say a Steadicam for $14? No, knucklehead, I said a Steady-Cam for $14. What's the difference? Oh, about a gazillion dollars. The Steady-Cam is a video camera stabilizer, the design of which has been copied and re-copied for a while now, which is quite good at its job. It's made from various parts from any hardware store, and a barbell weight. I like this site's presentation of the design, and I especially like the sample footage. I own a GlideCam 2000 that I love, but in order to get low-angle shots I'm going to build me a $14 Steady-Cam. Stay tuned! Posted at 5:13 PM |
| Wednesday, March 03, 2004 |
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The Terminal - P22's journal of typography and lettering arts For those of you who never pay much attention to what font things are printed and published in, what font a company chooses for labeling and signage, or any other matters of typography this will likely be a total snooze for you. But if you immediately notice such things - If the sight of certain fonts, or their (mis)usage gives you physical pleasure, or discomfort, then this journal is a must read. P22 is a modern type foundry (the kind that sells fonts to computer users instead of melting lead and casting it) that I fell in love with when I found their "London Underground" font for sale many years ago. Designed by Edward Johnston in 1916, "London Underground" is one the most recognized fonts in the western world, and one of my all time favorites. A desert island font, if you will. Anyway, before I start waxing rhapsodic about typography, I need to get going. Just go look at the damn site already. Posted at 5:24 PM |
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