Opinionated news exctraction for all by that geeky accountant type guy...

Thursday, December 29

The 50 Greatest Robots Ever

Considering Kitt is 48... this isnt the list for everyone.

[ A real Geeks list/a> ]

Sunday, December 25

Decentralised

Decentralised Bi**orren*...

Will it even work... sounds a lot like eDonkey...

[ exeem ]

SuprNova.org

For exactly one year, there has been silence. But now on its aniversary, he speaks out. The owner of suprnova releases a statement.

And for those of you that dont know... Suprnova was a site to post up *orren*s, it was extreamly popular, I would even go far as to say it was even more popular that piratebay, which is now the new supreme *orren* site. It got shut down. Its now a news site for all things p2p.

[ Thats just super ]

The creator of music on the Go

The creator of portable music is finaly getting some recognition after some 25 years in court.

[ Sony is my bitch ]

Friday, December 23

Suicide Jumper

An Improv Everywhere Mission with a suicide jumper on the absurdly small ledge.

[ Improv Everywhere ]

Thursday, December 22

Pac Man re-enacted by humans

This is so freaking cool. Some guys made some life size pac mand and ghost suits and ran arround a uni library. How cool would it be to see something like that at the shopping center...

[ Video ]

Monday, December 19

You can now search the internet for music CD

No offense or anything, but why the fuck would I want to search for a music CD on the internet and pay for shipping when I can go down to my local music store and buy from there.

When I am using the computer everything has to be digitised. I dont print photo's out to looks at them. I dont burn music to a CD and put in my stereo to listen to it.

[ This is just dumb ]

Inventor of Segway Drinks own uring

Dean Kamen holds 150 patents. He invented the Segway, oversees a national high school robotics competition. Owns his own island, even, in the Long Island Sound.

So it may seem strange and slightly sad that he found himself drinking his own pee last year in South Carolina.

Hold it: Things aren't as bleak as they sound.

To explain -- Kamen sank several million dollars and more than three years of his life into developing a portable water filter that will purify through distillation any type of tainted liquids poured into it. His 200-employee DEKA Research and Development has produced about 30 of the prototypes. About the size of a dorm-room fridge, they use about 2 percent of the energy required by traditional distillation systems.

To prove the technology would work, at a medical and information technology conference held in October 2004, he and organizer Richard Wurman ...

[ News lies ]

Sex @ Light speed not possible

Its all relative man. Some have even argued that it is not possbile at all...

[ sad ]

Thursday, December 15

. -- it's cooler than you.

A large collection of high quality stencils ready to be printed and painted.

[ Free ]

Rolex

The Moschino Rolex Band, for example, celebrates the excess of bling by making a wristband of Rolex cases while the Internal Rolex does the opposite by encasing a Rolex replica in leather, thus making it non-functional as a timepiece. The hidden watch is meant to transcend typical associations of wealth by silencing the “bling” and isolating the emerging form.

[ WTF? ]

The most awesome Phone ever

I dont think there can be a cooler phone (besides the sliding matrix phone...). But this is pretty much the ultimate. Its basicly a touch screen. You could use any "skin" that you wanted...

[ You want it dont you ]

The Stanley Watch

Stanley - the makers of realy good utility knifes and some other tool related stuff (that isnt so good). Well, they have decided to make a watch, that tells the time, oh and has a built in drill, screwdriver, tape measure, clamp, calculator etc... would be cool if it has a laser that could cut metal...

I love gadgets, but this just seems adsurd.

[ Handy watch ]

Hungarian Shelves

DIY Hungarian shelves. Its like a book shelf but its s shelve. Understand. Tis pretty cool if you like that minimalist type stuff.

[ More sticks of wood ]

Cool stuff

Here is another site that focuses on shiney stuff. Well its mainly for new stuff that has cool design/looks good. And since it does. Whats to compalin about.

[ Sensory Impact ]

Anti Graviti device

This looks like a lot of fun.

Also have a look around the rest of the site. some cool objects to be found.

[ Desirable objects ]

Instructables: step-by-step collaboration

A place to put DIY/Tutorial/Howtos/instructions and share with the world. Already some good stuff up. Basicly made it easy to make a tutorial (yes I know hahah...).

This is probably better than make. As it's free. But Make will still be more experimental and this stuff, ATM anyway is very practical.

[ Make stuff ]

DIY Lab Power Supply

DIY power supply using an old PSU. Metku did one a long time ago, but this tutorial is also good, looks a little neater too, but I think you would still want to put the usb/ps/2 ports on just to make things easier.

But this one is more of an actuall powersupply than a tester

[ Danger ]

d.tools

d.tools is a hardware and software system that enables designers to rapidly prototype the bits (the form) and the atoms (the interaction model) of physical user interfaces in concert. d.tools was built to support design thinking rather than implementation tinkering. With d.tools, designers place physical controllers (e.g., buttons, sliders), sensors (e.g., accelerometers), and output devices (e.g., LEDs, LCD screens) directly onto form prototypes, and author their behavior visually in our software workbench.

[ d.tools ]

Wednesday, December 14

London: 1976

Andy Rosen was a rock photographer in London 1976-1984. His pics have been stored since the Punk Days. They are now on flickr.

wow

Tuesday, December 13

VSU Passed as Law

Students accross the country are rejocing at the fact that VSU is no longer. Now you dont have to fork out $130 (or so) on shit you dont use. Like fake elections, clubs, bars, food stands, free food once a semester, market days, reasonably priced free trade coffee, cheap photocopying, discounts on stuff, advocacy, gym, health services, free help when fighting the uni regarding whatever etc... oh and not forgeting the forgetable canteen, as bad as it was you still go back... the list goes on.

Obviously, its going to be interesting what the uptake will be come 2006.2, hopefully most students will realise its a good thing, however, since it is money, money that students could spend more wisely on beer and fancy stationary...

I guess the people that do sign up will just to use the services for a low fee/discount, while those not part of the student union will be forced to pay full price. This could however, open up the student services market. With companies such as McDonalds/starbucks opening up... The margins would probably be low as students like stuff on the cheap... so not sure if that would even be comercialy viable, but you never know. As QUT has recently started selling Eagle Boys pizza. Its ok price compared to the rest of the food (same price as at the cricket...). so its not any cheaper and is probably more expensive as you get less food. And isnt very healthy (compared with the other stuff). However, my gut feeling is that bigger companies will take up residence in unis, its just another way for the government to help their pals rape money from students.

Oh and the arguement that these services are not essential is a fucking joke. When was the last time you packed enough lunch for a day that goes from 9am to 9pm... Thats morning tea, lunch, afternoon tea and dinner... thats a lot of sandwiches...

Plus this removes the funding that would of gone to the student union to help push the views of students to the government. This basicly has crippled the unions funding, and thus it will not be able to lobby for anything. What this means to the rest of the university I will not mention as it is too scary and I want to be able to sleep tonight...

oh yeah, currently unis get $160 million, from now on they will only get $80 million. What a rip off.

[ YAY! ]

Monday, December 12

Coffee Art

Look out for some art work in your next Latte.

[ Edible art ]

John Howard not a Racist

John Howard (PM of Australia) has refused to acknowledge Australia as racist becuase 3000 people went around being racist. Considering its only .015% of the country its not much.

What happened to multi culturalism... oh wait, it never existed. It was just a bunch of people living speratly which consititues more than one, thus multi culturalism is born. Its sort of like sustainable growth... a whole lot of bullshit.

[ John Howard ]

After the interview:
JH: "Fuck mate. Can't believe I got away with that!"
PC: "Yeah, what with our detetion of asylem seekers, sinking boatloads of Indo's, refusal to say sorry to the Aboriginal populace and all our fearmongering for polital purposes, I'm suprised you didn't burst! We've taken racism to an art-form!"
JH: "That's just what I reckon, we're not racist, we're artists! Pass the tim-tams."

Alcohol, text messages ignited violence

So now we can use alcohol as an excuse for pretty much any crime now? Like speeding, beating your wife etc...

[ Read the article ]

Sunday, December 11

The Coolest Alarm Clock Ever!

This alarm clock is so freaking awesome. No more crappy buzzer. This thing literaly takes off and the noise from its propelors (and possibly the buzzer/speaker inside of it) will wake you up. To turn it off you have to catch it and put it back in its cage.

[ Stupid Awesome ]

Earth's Magnetic Pole Drifting Quickly

The Earth magnetic pole is moving from America to Russia. Why? I dont know, but one source said that it was becuase Americans could not agree with its magnetic ethnicity. So is moving to Europe where it can live on welfare. "This may be part of a normal oscillation and it will eventually migrate back toward Canada,".

[ Magnetic pole ]

Keeping kids from nasties on the net - Opinion - theage.com.au

LAST month, 62 members of the federal Coalition signed a letter
to the Prime Minister calling for a ban on access to pornographic,
violent and other inappropriate material via the internet.

The signatories believed the internet should be regulated in a
similar way to other media. If adults wished to "opt in" to access
the material then of course that would be their right, and they
would have to apply for their right of access. (...more)

I don't think so. What is this, CHINA!?

[ I don't think so. What is this, CHINA!? ]

Random Facts About Mr. T

1. Every time a church bell rings, Mr. T pities a fool.
2. Mr. T doesn't pity anyone who likes the Black Eyed Peas. He just kills them.
3. Mr. T speaks only when necessary. His main form of communication is folding his arms and slowly shaking his head. And regardless of the situation, he is always understood.
4. When he found out he would lose the rematch while making Rocky III, Mr. T administered to Sylvester Stallone an angy look. Seeing Mr. T's anger broke every bone in Sly's face, left him mildly retarded and unable to remember the incident. To this day, Sly has no idea why he shits his pants at the mere sight of a black man with a mohawk.
5. You can lead Mr. T to water, but chances are that you will die there.
6. Mr.T once punched Chuck Norris at the exact moment he roundhouse kicked Mr.T in the chest. the result was the 80's.
7. 23. That's the number of people Mr. T has pitied in the time it has taken you to read this sentence.
8. Mr. T once captured Bigfoot, but released him after he shaved the beast and realized that it was just Chuck Norris walking around naked in the woods.
9. Mr. T invented fools. Realizing the magnitude of his folly, he then created Pity.
10. Mr. T pities fools because even fools deserves their daily dose of vitamin T.
11. On the A-team, Face , Haniabal, and Murdoch were all masters of disguise. Mr T didn't have to wear a disguise. The bad guys didn't recognize him out of fear.
12. All that glitters is not gold: If it's not being worn by Mr. T, then it's just jibba jabba, and Mr. T pities the fool who can't tell the difference. This is where the phrase "fool's gold" comes from.
13. Mr. T coined the phrase, "I see dead people," after the waiting staff at Denny's forgot his birthday.
14. Mr. T once fell into a pool of lava. He nearly drowned.
15. There are only four horsemen of the apocalypse, because Mr. T is going to walk.
16. Mr. T is allergic to doorknobs. That's why he can only kick through doors.
17. Like King Midas, everything Mr. T touches turns to gold, even food. Unlike King Midas, Mr. T has learned to ingest gold, like a real man would.
18. Mr. T once stated that he "doesn't wail on sissy boys." This led to the pink polo shirts with popped collars craze. Little do those pitiful fools know that Mr. T was just making it easier to find sissy boys to wail on.
19. Mr. T and Chuck Norris once encountered each other on a lonesome British path. Before the inevitable battle could begin, the earth shit itself and created Scotland.
20. Mr. T. does not break wind. He destroys it.
21. Mr. T pities the fool who doesn't pity the fool, thus creating a neverending loop of pity and pain.
22. Mr. T's edition of the VH1 show 'Where Are They Now' was the shortest in the show's history. It was 10 seconds long, and consisted of a black screen with the words "Right Behind You" written on it.
23. Mr. T's pity for fools is used by mathematicians as a demonstration of the concept of infinity.
24. Mr. T does not know you personally, but the odds are 7 in 10 that he pities you.
25. Mr. T is not black. It's just that the sun is to afraid to shine on him.
26. Despite popular belief, Mr. T in fact ended the civil rights movement by getting on a bus....all caucasian people moved to the back.
27. Mr. T once bit off more than he could chew. He ate it anyway.
28. A break in the space-time continuum occurred on July 9th, 1986. Chuck Norris roundhouse kicked a guy into Mr. T while he was pitying some fool. Mr. T and Chuck Norris had words (better known as jibba jabba). Chuck Norris roundhouse kicked Mr. T at the exact moment Mr. T punched him in the chest. The result was an alternate universe where Mr. T roundhouse kicks people and Chuck Norris pities fools.
29. Mr. T once shook hands with Chuck Norris, or so it appeared, in actuality, their combined power caused an earthquake, which gave their hands a look of shaking to any onlookers, who were probably too scared to accurately testify anyway.
30. Mr. T does not have to kick the crap out of you, crap runs out of your ass in fright when you come into contact with Mr. T.

Saturday, December 10

Yahoo acquires del.icio.us

del.icio.us has been purchased by Yahoo. Another great service that I use... Hopefully they wont fuck it up. As you probably already know they have also purchased flickr... So far nothing has changed, but there is always the problem that the consumers are gona get screwed over. Atleast with shit loads of advertisements... Isnt it ironic how yahoo (mail) advertising spam protection but if you look on most yahoo sites, its mainly just advertising. Whats the difference between the two? Its just stupud

[ del.icio.us ]

Portable Apps

The new version of Portable FireFox has been released (one day after the official release). So Download it now. Also there is a new home for these protable apps. So that will include all the other stuff (openoffice etc).

[ Download ]

Monday, December 5

Election Laws to be changed

The Federal Government has released its proposed new electoral laws, including plans to close rolls on the day an election is called and ban prisoners from voting.

Australians will have to produce proof of identity to enrol to vote and rolls will close the day a vote is called for everyone except those who turn 18 or become citizens. Those people will have three days to sign up. Prisoners serving full-time sentences will not be allowed to vote but can stay on the roll. Paid online electoral advertising will have to be authorised in the same way as print advertisements.

The threshold for disclosure of political donations will rise to $10,000 with contributions to political parties of up to $1,500 to be tax deductible.

[ Election Riging made easy ]

The changes will be brought before Parliament this week.

Child Poverty

A new report has found the number of Australian children living in poverty has reached a "dangerously high level". It says more than one in 10 children are living in relative poverty and one in seven is growing up in a household where no-one has a job.

The organisation says while most Australian children are doing well children born into poorer families face a myriad of problems. These include low birth weight, poor physical growth, failure in school, physical and mental health problems, substance abuse and suicide attempts. It says such children have no political voice and it is time for a campaign to raise community awareness of their plight.

The report shows about three-quarters of a million Australian children are living in poverty.

[ Government Funded News ]

The report follows Treasurer Peter Costello's announcement of a plan to cut welfare for so-called bad parents.

Thursday, December 1

The Million Dollar Homepage: Update

Remember that webpage that was selling one pixel for $1. And you were thinking (as I was), that who would fall for something this stupid and crap? Apparently a lot of people, as this dude now has $746,600. So the plan worked....

[ Own a piece of internet history! ]

There is also a million dollar boobie page. which I can't find the link for anymore... but when I last saw it, had only sold $4,100... and she doesnt really look like she would have $1,000,000 boobies anyway.

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