Today's Mighty Oak

A toddler screaming “I WANT FRESH PUPPIES” in the gas station will garner some looks.

Yesterday's nut August 21, 2010

And I’m back!  Enjoy some of this awesomeness as I continue to go through my e-mail, back logs of links and find all kinds of stuff from around the Net for you to enjoy:

Lifehacker takes you through the steps to disable Places on Facebook.  As with anything regarding privacy on Facebook, the steps necessary are long and involved (or at least, longer and more involved than they should be), but I did them this afternoon, so they aren’t impossible.

Did you know that the Old Spice man wants to be a superhero?  Check out his transformation here:

And in other amazing video, watch this deleted scene from Return of the Jedi, available on the soon to be released Blu-Ray versions.

I came cross a new blog, Better Book Titles.  A personal favorite (and what has turned into my white whale):

(It’s really Infinite Jest, which I have started and gotten about 100 pages in at least four times now…)

A Chinese mall has a new “rage center” where women can go in and smash items that were going to be thrown out anyway.  Pretty cool if you ask me.

This article is just blowing my mind a little bit:

Intel announced Tuesday that it had made the first chip that sends and receives information using beams of light…And the company expects to make one eventually that can transmit a laptop’s hard drive in one second and the entire printed collection of the Library of Congress in less than two minutes.

One of the designers of the U.S. State Quarters has released a couple parodies, including this wonderful one of New Jersey:

 

China is planning huge buses that run on rails (so I guess it is a mix of light rail and bus) that cars can drive underneath.  Amazing:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-iIIMco46A

Sharpie is developing a new pen that can be erased for up to three days before becoming permanent.  Crazy!

Check out historical events, if they had Facebook status updates.  My favorite is Issac Newton, way down at the bottom.

This has been floating around for a bit, but here’s the trailer for the movie adaptation of The Oregon Trail (not real):

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHps2SecuDk

And finally, for the D&D kids out there, here’s t-shirt designs for D&D inspired sports teams.  I love the gelatinous cubes (because who doesn’t love to say ‘gelatinous’) and the Displacer Beasts:

That’s it for now, but I should be back tomorrow, have a great one!

State of Pennsylvania: Smoking PSA

Warhol's Phone August 18, 2010

Radio is a medium I do not typically write about.  It’s not glamorous; a favorite book of mine described it “one of the great mysteries of advertising.”  But its reach is far, and if done correctly, it can have a very large impact.

The State of Pennsylvania is in the midst of running a new campaign from their Department of Health, focusing on the age limit for buying tobacco.  And it keeps getting stuck in my head.

Thankfully, I’m not alone.  The folks over at Jezebel have been discussing it as well.  Like them, I have not been able to find an online version of the ad, but I’m guessing you’ll know it as soon as you read it:

“Let me see your ID please,
keep it with you like your keys,
sorry please don’t cause a scene,
you know you must be 18″

I’m not the primary audience, which made me wonder if the station I hear it on (Star) would have the most reach to their audience.  I don’t smoke, even though most of my friends do, and I’ve always listened to 80′s music, even in high school.  Anecdotal evidence, yes.  But maybe it is in fact a good way to reach the kind of goofy kids that might be susceptible to peer pressure.

All in all, a decent ad.  I can’t say I don’t cringe a little bit when I hear it come on, but I’m always singing along by the end, if only in my head.

Filed under: Radio

Wherein I mourn a bit more about Prop 8

The King of Spades August 15, 2010

Written: 08/15/2010

A quick follow up for my last writing.  A co-worker came back to camp after being gone for a few days for a family event.  He was commenting at breakfast how the Huffington Post was completely covered in coverage of the Prop 8 decision.  He was excited, and inside, so was I.  I wanted to talk about it, I wanted to be elated, I wanted to smile from ear to ear.

But of course, I could not.  Showing that much pleasure about a court case in California would seem suspicious.  So I changed the subject.

Of course it hurts, and I want to be able to talk about things that affect me and make me happy, hopefully someday soon I’ll be afforded that luxury.

All my best,

The King of Spades

Wherein I mourn after the Prop 8 ruling

The King of Spades August 7, 2010

Written: 08/07/2010, alternate title, “Covered in sadness”

Prop 8 was struck down on Wednesday, which just happened to be one of my favorite volunteer’s birthday (and the President’s).  I was at work when the news came in.  The news came in, and I was grinning ear to ear.

But I didn’t let anyone see.

Later, I was working late, like always, and was the last one on the floor.  Or at least, I should have been doing more work than I did.  I was scouring the web, reading everything I could about the decision, reading all the reactions.  And I teared up a little bit.  I don’t understand all the legal ramifications, scenarios are discussed and they are dizzying in not only their complexities, but also the multitude of them.  I’ll leave that to the lawyers, for now I was just happy.

I’m so happy for the decision, for the people of California and for equality everywhere.  But at the same time I keep stumbling upon the haters, the bigots, and the people who have nothing but malice for how I was born.  I can’t understand that kind of irrational hatred.  But I am confronted by it.  And the anonymity of the Internet is a driving force for many instances (as well as a communicator’s dream to study), but I have this amazing ability to internalize all of it, and keep it bouncing around inside my head.

The next day, I somewhat purposely didn’t go to lunch on time.  I didn’t want to overhear the hate that would be spewing.  Although, to be fair, two of my co-workers who I eat at the same time as have mentioned in the past that they’re for marriage equality, stating that, “let them be miserable like the rest of us.”  I’ve heard that a lot, and it seems to come before real acceptance, and I’ll take it.  But I knew I couldn’t be around another co-worker, so I stayed at my desk for a while before going up to the lunch room.

I know I need to stop letting stuff get to me, and embrace the celebrations in this major victory.  It’s something for me to work on, it will certainly help in every aspect of my life, but for now, it’s still hard to see the hate, and seeing how it overshadows what should be a personal celebration makes me that much angrier with the person, and with myself.

All my best,

The King of Spades

This one seems to be a bit of a stretch

Yesterday's nut July 31, 2010

Well, this is my second attempt at this post, everything crashed, and I know I lost two articles, but nothing that we can’t live without, so we’ll just muddle through.

First though, watch this trailer, which is to my favorite book in the series:

This made me very happy.  Mostly because I’m mean.  But happy.

Do you want a printer made of Legos and a marker:

Lost may be over, but ABC will sell you merchandise, including the best onsie in the history of the world:

You can also purchase some cool posters here.  I like the number 8 rabbit one.

I can get behind this immigration checkpoint:

Want to go into space?  How about just your picture, which comes complete with an official flight certificate.  Only two chances left!

And finally, I don’t really trust the guys from the Mysteria Film Group, mostly because they just kind of inserted themselves and made themselves official.  I’m sure there is all kind of stuff going on behind the scenes that I don’t understand, but I think it’s when they called the fans “they.”  Just rubbed me the wrong way.  I wish them the best, I want them to succeed, I’ll be the first in line here in Pittsburgh, but I still don’t have to trust them.  Anyway, it’s a great tour of Cyan Worlds’ studio and a fun time with Rand:

Cyan Visit from Delve Films on Vimeo.

 

Have a great one everybody!

This one is completely irrelevant

Yesterday's nut

Okay, back for some more clearinghouse items.

Check out this awesome article about the two ATMs that are in Antarctica.  Pretty awesome.

Here’s two recut trailers for you.  First, Seinfeld as a thriller movie:

And Arrested Development as an action movie:

 

This is something I feel that my friends would do, and I kind of love it, as it reminds me of Kingdom of Loathing.  Ladies and gentleman, the Baby Seal pinata:

Did you know that Jerry Springer ran for governor?  I didn’t, and this is an awesome ad:

This has been floating around for a bit now, but I have to ask.  A blue cape?  Really?

In case you hadn’t noticed, YouTube has been blocked in part of Russia.  Bad Russia!

I wonder what they would say about this (Republicans blocked the passage of a bill that would extend benefits to emergency personnel from September 11th):

Also, if Weiner would run with Grayson from Florida, I honestly don’t know what I would do, I would just move and work on their campaign for free.

The FDA just approved Stem Cell trials, which is pretty awesome, I can’t wait to see what will come out of this.

Is it possible to embed Facebook videos?  If it is, I can’t figure it out.  Anyway, check out a rare moment of downtime in the Keystone office.

This story has been floating around, and That’s Church has been covering it as well, but it’s still funny: Kings of Leon cancel show after being pooped on by pigeons.

And finally, I have to disagree with this article, Dollhouse figured it out by using Active Architecture.  And then by not needing that Architecture.  Maybe I’ll just stay in denial, that sounds like a good idea.

And this one is in violation of Godwin’s Law

Yesterday's nut July 30, 2010

I have a very full back log of links and other assorted things to pass on.  I’m going to try to get to posting some of them over the next couple weeks, so this is a clearinghouse of sorts.  These are fairly current too, so you’re in luck!

The apps available for cell phones are getting kind of amazing!  You can order pizza and have ti delivered to your blanket…in Central Park.

And speaking of iPhones, here’s a fun parody:

A follow up to the periodic table of meat I posted a bit ago, here is the periodic table of swearing (which, incidentally, will probably offend you):

I stumbled across “Continuity” a game from the Independent Games Festival, and it’s a lot of fun, check it out here.

So my birthday is coming up, here’s a gift idea for you:

Probably not that safe, but still freaking cute!

World War Z is being made into a movie, and Brad Pitt is going to be in it!  I think I’m most excited that it will be a movie, though.  If you haven’t read it, it really is an amazing piece of work, even if you don’t like zombies, the writing is simply amazing!

Also in awesome writing, check out this article from Nerve about hitting on your waiter/customer.  It’s a really fun read, check it out.

And for fun, check this mash up out:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4PuYsDdXjI

For some strange reason, I feel as if my cousin would love this product.  However, I don’t know how one tactfully asks a relative their bra size in order to purchase a Christmas gift.  I feel as though that is a sentence most people don’t ever write or say out loud.

He’s just asking, did Glenn Beck steal his credit card information and sell it to the Russians?  All signs point to yes.

So, Mel Gibson.  I feel as though I don’t need to say much more besides that.  I’ll add two things.  One, adorable kittens (and here’s my favorite)!

Make sure to check out the link to see the other 19 worst rants by Mel (as presented by adorable kittens).  Also, did you know he’s dating a man:

That’s it for now, catch everyone later!

Define your Net Personality

The Great and Secret Show July 23, 2010

The Myers-Briggs test is a way to classify your personality.  A similar test has popped up but in regards to the Internet:

1. Exceptionalist (E) vs. Ordinarist (O). Exceptionalists believe that the Internet is exceptional, extraordinary, and disruptive, the way, say, the printing press was. Ordinarists believe that the Internet is just another new medium, no more revolutionary than, say, CB radio.

2. Technodeterminist (T) vs. Contextualist (C). Technodeterminists believe that the Net by itself brings about transformations against which it is futile to struggle. Contextualists believe that technology by itself does nothing and changes nothing; other factos determine the effects of technology.

3. Optimist (H) vs. Pessimist (P). Optimists believe that the Net is, or brings about, good things. Pessimists believe otherwise. (Note: Since everyone believes their beliefs are true, everyone thinks they are a realist. When someone actively asserts s/he is a realist, s/he is actually asserting a form of counter-optimism, i.e., pessimism.) (Note: The “H” stands for Happiness or Hope.

I think I’m an ECH (but it’s a weak C).

Check out the classification here.

It’s true that every time you hear a bell, an angel gets its wings. But what they don’t tell you is that every time you hear a mouse trap snap, and Angel gets set on fire.

Yesterday's nut

Quick update for everyone, which will be a whole lot of pictures, actually.  Another update with video will be coming later, probably tomorrow.

First off, WWNPHD?  Get your t-shirt here:

There is a Star Wars convention coming up in Orlando.  Even though I’m a huge nerd, I didn’t know about this.  But most importantly, they are giving away custom cereal!  I really want the Admiral Ackbar cereal, but I’m afraid it’s a trap.  Check out Greedo’s and Raisin Han, too!

Quantum Mechanix has some new merchandise, including this awesome figure of Wash from Serenity (I actually just washed that episode yesterday):

Not a picture, but it was an awesome video.  More reasons why I love Rep. Grayson!

An Anglican church in New Zealand has some awesome billboards, including this one which I absolutely love:

Here is the other one I’ve found from them:

Did you follow along with the Old Spice one day social media blitz?  It was pretty awesome, but I loved reading about how they pulled it off.  Sounds tiring, but worth it!

And finally, copyranter takes a look at an ad from  Beirut.  And their nightlife.  Which is apparantly reminiscent of bombs.  Sigh.

That’s it for now, but I’ll be back soon after I get some more work done, catch everyone in a bit!

We knew we had to leave this town/But we never knew when and we never knew how

Yesterday's nut July 17, 2010

Currently listening to and stuck in my head (in an awesome way):

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