hi-tech blog on security, and hacking
I usually don’t post technical stuff on this site, but I think this site Stepto is worth a look.
get ur shoes
Finding the right shoe, is that a topic for NDS? Well this site Zappos is kinda cool. I haven’t used them yet, but a friend has. Cheap shoes, free next day delivery, easy to find ODD sizes, and they have billions of styles. It’s like the ultimate store that has no storage problems…
this year’s costume?
Will it be Der-mat-o-me?? Probably too cold out for this one.
Thx Alex.
discordian research
Discordian Research… What the heck is that all about? Read Principia Discordia…
hack-a-day
If you haven’t seen this site yet, and you like MAKE or other DIY sites, you gotta check it out. Hack-A-Day has crazy interesting projects, from high-tech to low-tech stuff. Retractable Wolverine Claws? How to VPN with Google? Hacking your clicker, and a homeade composite materials bike!
enter the world of the Mystic Bourgeoisie
Perusing Amazon book lists and Guides, I came upon a really great one So you’d like to… protect yourself from the Mystic Bourgeoisie. Ironically it made me want to go out and *GET* a lot of those books. Though I’m partial to Stanislov Grof, and Madame Blavatsky. I’m not keen on Esalin, so that didn’t bother me, but he did rail on What the Bleep. Go figure! And beware the sort of Nazi connection he digs up…
Ernst Haeckel - 20th Century Illustration Master
Everyone should check out the art of Ernst Haeckel for it’s sheer beauty. Back in the day when science didn’t have a way to photograph under a microscope, this was the only way, hand drawings in black and white, and color. These drawings are rich from a microscopic netherworld, and they make awesome desktop backgrounds too. Draves talked about him as influence in interview with R.U. Sirius. Also checkout the theory of recapitulation. It’s about how we pass through various stages of evolution in the embryo, among other things…
Scott Draves spotworks
Gorgeous mathematical art as screensaver over at Spotworks by Scott Draves. Just heard an interview with him on Neofiles #12 podcast.
suicide girls in FED crosshairs?
Some of you may have heard that the FBI is after pornographers. They seemed to have spooked the Suicide Girls who have pulled some of their bondage content apparently. Here’s a story on their site.
the global jukebox
Interesting article over at the Guardian about the Celestial Jukebox. The idea is all media all the time. Will the standards be open, will M$ + Apple get in on it, will consumers win? Interesting stuff. Also check out J.D. Lasica’s new book Darknet: Hollywoods War Against the Digital Generation as well as this Slashdot piece on Ian Clarke.
burning man - the whole story
Just wanted to have one article which links to all the journal entries. You can also check out all the photos. And also Maki’s Photos.
Here are my friend Sebastien’s photos.
BMAN Day 10
BMAN Day 9
BMAN Day 8
BMAN Day 7
BMAN Day 6
BMAN Day 5
BMAN Day 4
BMAN Day 3
BMAN Day 2
BMAN Day 1
linguistic vulgarity
The NYT has an article about the physical responses in the body to swearing. A study at Monash University in Australia showed similar responses to bad grammar, or use of language which tended to irritate participants. My favorite is this: “People can feel very passionate about language, as though it were a cherished artifact that must be protected at all cost against the depravities of barbarians and lexical aliens.”
bman05 - more goodness
Marc Merlin has a whole bunch of Burning Man media, video and digital photos. Plenty of “tech of burning man” coverage. I like the site. Here’s my friend Sebastien’s site.
do something new - audio show
If burning man does nothing else to you, it affects in you an affinity for change, new ideas, creativity, and new experiences. With that in mind I was searching for a new radio/podcast show today, and found the Stoccato Music Show. Episode 22 is the latest, a mix of ambient, etherial, experimental sounds, and I’m liking it. Looking for something new, check it out.
bman 2005 - day 10
Sadly all good things must end, and today almost fully decompressed I consider returning to the *REAL* world. (all puns intended)
bman 2005 - day 9
Wow, the morning is hear, most of the Geishas are gone, and I’m leaving in the late morning. A mistake I’ll tell you now. The only road that comes up here is two lanes, and frankly can’t handle the 30,000 people who all want to leave now! The exodus is literally an hour and a half delayed, but there are people dancing on the RVs and buses, and it makes it all fun.
bman 2005 - day 8
Sunday is quieter. I wait for coffee and see a t-shirt that says Vagitarian. I like this diet. I see a sticker that in the cool apple vein says iBurn. I guess it’s a reference to music sharing, not as in bman.
bman 2005 - day 7
It’s Saturday, the big day of the burn. I actually find the build up makes this day less spontaneous and more expectant.
bman 2005 - day 6
Friday is truely the mad mad juggling day. I take Jimu’s bike in because my is thoroughly broken. By 11am Center Camp is packed with burning madness, and there are at least a dozen good jugglers showing off tricks. I have to wait 1/2 hour for coffee becuase they lines are so crazy, with some dude named Aristotle lecturing everyone about how the people behind the counter are volunteers and deserve are prostation.
bman 2005 - day 5
Today turns out to be some interesting things happening in juggle land. I learn this partner juggle combination which looks like do-se-do rodeo dancing, but the balls or clubs just keep flying. Jenelle is a super-cool juggler chick from Cirque de Flambe. I also learn to steal from someone who is juggling, which is more a leap of faith than difficult, but looks quite impressive when you get it going.
bman 2005 - day 4
On Wednesday the winds died down dramatically, and it was pure sun and calm. Blue skies, and perfect warmth. I was up in the early morning, and a few hellos around Geisha House, then headed to Center Camp for some espresso goodness. At Burning Man there are two things that money can buy, coffee and ice. I still think it’s a pity that there is this bit of exception, as they could quite easily resolve this with tokens or a $10 price hike for unlimited coffee or something of that nature. Why not barter your coffee tokens. It would certainly be truer to the no vending, gift culture, but well there are always some compromises…
bman 2005 - day 3
I’m up early on Tuesday, around 8am. Not as bad as it might sound, this is the West Coast after all, so really it’s 11am. I head into center camp for some espresso…
bman 2005 - day 2
We had lots of wind again today. So much that the dust, like climber or weight lifting chalk, gets kicked up into the air, sometimes in little twisters like tornados. At times visibility is only 5 feet, and the air is dry. We try to work on Geisha House, but one of the tarps gets ripped to shreds, so we throw in the towel for the day, and I head out to center camp for some juggling.
bman 2005 - day1
Arrived on the Playa after staying at Black Rock Intl Hostel. The guy who runs the place, Haggie, apparently had some trouble with the locals. They don’t like folks in the burbs having fun! Nice place though, couches, and friendly burners. Drove in a friend of Haggies, dutch guy named Pascal. We got a bit lost on the way having missed the exit.