RSSmeme | Stories Published by jason@kottke.org

James Powderly's story of his Beijing detention (3)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 4 hours, 21 minutes ago permalink

James Powderly, New Yorker and founder of the Graffiti Research Lab, was one of several Americans detained in China earlier this month for attempting to display protest messages related to Tibet during the Olympics. After 6 days in custody, he was released and sent back to the US. He's given a few interviews about his experience, all really interesting. From The Brooklyn Paper: After more than a day of continuous questioning, cops drove the artists ...

Shared by Larry (12) mersenne_twister (50) Superbunker (64)

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MSNBC's hurricane tracker (2)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 5 hours, 37 minutes ago permalink

Here's MSNBC's nifty new hurricane tracker tracking Gustav bearing down on Louisiana like a shotgun full of wind and rain. Built by Stamen. (via jimray) (link)

Shared by Don Hazelwood (46) Mr. Matt (95)

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From Google Earth to a gold medal (2)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 15 hours, 38 minutes ago permalink

Kristin Armstrong, the Olympic gold medalist in the women's individual time trial in road cycling, took a GPS unit along with her when she previewed the road course in Beijing in December 2007. When she got home to Idaho, she d/led the data, put it into Google Earth, and found a similar local loop on which to train. This capability along with having the elevation profile proved invaluable in my preparation for my Gold Medal ...

Shared by josh (48) mersenne_twister (50)

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Kubrick porn (1)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 16 hours, 44 minutes ago permalink

Panopticist has a quick round-up (with clips) of a few adult movies inspired by the films of Stanley Kubrick. There have been several other porn films inspired by Kubrick's oeuvre, including Spermacus, 2002: A Sex Odyssey, Thighs Wide Shut, and A Clockwork Orgy. NSFW. (link)

Shared by Geoff Gresh (41)

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Computer paint gun draws Mona Lisa (3)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 18 hours, 52 minutes ago permalink

In order to explain serial computation vs. parallel computation, the Mythbusters guys pit two paintball guns against each other in a art contest...one shoots one ball at a time and the other very much doesn't. (thx, steve) (link)

Shared by Chris (70) Linkletter (40) voidfiles (149)

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Taking all the fun out of the playground (5)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 19 hours, 20 minutes ago permalink

Children's playground equipment has gotten safer but less fun. When litigation piled up in the early 1980s, the industry responded by raising insurance premiums and adhering closely to safety standards set up by the Consumer Products Safety Commission. Unsurprisingly, few creative ideas made it through these standards, lest any innovations be dangerous and result in more injury. God forbid a child jam his finger or scrape her knee.But what the new, safe equipment is missing, ...

Shared by Billy (32) David G Mihalcik (54) Eduo (209) John (51) searingblue (59)

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Watch politicians age (6)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 20 hours, 57 minutes ago permalink

Video compilations of several months of photos of John McCain, Barack Obama, and George W. Bush. Completely mesmerizing, especially the Bush one. See also: Noah Kalina Everyday and Paris Hilton doesn't change facial expressions on YTMND. (link)

Shared by Ben Turner (140) CineVegas (149) diplix (42) Emon (97) Linkletter (40) UJ (92)

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● Koyaanisqatsi (3)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 1 day, 9 hours ago permalink

This is my favorite scene from Koyaanisqatsi. Unaware at first of the camera, she sees it. Then smiles almost imperceptibly and turns away. Then self-consciously looks everywhere but at the camera. And finally, a last contemptous peek at the camera. Rating: 4.0/5.0

Shared by Alec Resnick (224) Sid (124) zed (67)

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Saul Bass on film titles (4)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 1 day, 11 hours ago permalink

Thirty-five minute video in which Saul Bass talks about some of the iconic movie title sequences he created in his career. (via smashing telly) (link)

Shared by Chris (58) David G Mihalcik (54) Kyle (50) tayknight (46)

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Mad Men's Arial gaffe (1)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 1 day, 13 hours ago permalink

Mad Men gets a C- for using Arial in the closing credits instead of original-and-still-champion Helvetica. Time for Sterling to have a chat with the art department. (link)

Shared by Ashok (62)

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North Korean anti-US posters (6)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 1 day, 16 hours ago permalink

A collection of North Korean anti-US propaganda posters. Though the dog barks, the procession moves on! (via fp passport) (link)

Shared by !&# (223) Alec Resnick (224) Aneel (155) Gil Creque (42) Jacob (27) Kristopher (36)

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How to be a good intern (5)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 1 day, 17 hours ago permalink

How to be a good intern. This list works equally well for advice on how to be a good employee, manager, or CEO. "There are no stupid questions" is good advice no matter what. (via swissmiss) (link)

Shared by Alec Resnick (224) Andrew Ruess (455) Dave C. (85) Gautam (135) zed (67)

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Love is a ballfield (5)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 1 day, 19 hours ago permalink

A poem in which each instance of the word "love" is replaced by "Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame Catcher Carlton Fisk". "And know you not," says Boston Red Sox Hall of Fame Catcher Carlton Fisk, "who bore the blame?""My dear, then I will serve." (via hodgman) (link)

Shared by Drew (87) hober (81) Kyle (50) Monsur (43) neal (22)

neal said: For all my Red Sox-lovin' friends.

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Marc Jacobs profile (2)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 1 day, 19 hours ago permalink

Nice profile of fashion designer Marc Jacobs, creative head of Louis Vuitton, in the New Yorker this week. Jacobs used to be a chunky unfashionable pasty-white kind of guy but has recently started dressing the part and now looks like he could model for one of LV's magazine ads. Jacobs walked outside to the back garden, to take in the evening amid the boxwood. "I like the fact that people are sort of commenting on ...

Shared by Andy (42) Christopher Edwards (21)

Christopher Edwards said: No. No. Shame is quite obviously an important ethical tool. And keeps is from posing in our underwear for the New Yorker. More shame, less stupidity please.

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Movie-going rules (8)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 1 day, 21 hours ago permalink

I triple endorse every single one of these 17 simple rules for going to the cinema with me. 9. You will not involuntarily exclaim any of the following, or any derivatives of the following, ten minutes before and ten minutes after the end of the screening: "Oh SHIT! OUCH!", "Woah!", "Oooooooh!", "PAIN CITY!", "Holy [anything]!". Such exclamations are not involuntary. If you are a Tourette's sufferer, you will provide a confirmatory note from a registered ...

Shared by Alex (17) Andrew Ferguson (29) Chris (58) Courtney Jo (6) jonezy (110) Nikki (179) Piers (32) searingblue (59)

Piers said: I really need to reading things like this in the office. I just get odd looks from my colleagues.
Courtney Jo said: What a quack..

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Unobtainium (11)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 2 days, 10 hours ago permalink

Unobtainium is any very rare, expensive, or impossible material needed to suit a particular application. Engineers have long (since at least the 1950s) used the term unobtainium when referring to unusual or costly materials, or when theoretically considering a material perfect for their needs in all respects save that it doesn't exist. By the 1990s, the term was widely used, including formal engineering papers. (As an example, Towards unobtainium [new composite materials for space applications], ...

Shared by Alix (62) Andrew Ruess (455) Becca (18) Ben Shoemate (230) Duncan (230) gabopagan (99) Gavin (146) ggatin (79) Jeffrey (50) Neil Turner (32) Nick (306)

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Best TV commercials by movie directors (12)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 2 days, 12 hours ago permalink

Ten cool TV commercials done by movie directors. Ridley Scott's 1984 Apple ad makes the list along with spots by Messrs. Jonze and (Wes) Anderson. BTW, Jonze's Ikea commercial is superior to his Gap ad. (via self-employedsandwich) (link)

Shared by andré.friedrichs (150) Emil (40) Eric (47) Heids (20) Jared (104) Jeffrey (50) John (34) Mario Sundar (66) neha (23) Ognjen (200) UJ (92) voidfiles (149)

Jeffrey said: Advertising is a totally different product, when it's this good.
neha said: these are awesome. take 10 minutes out of your day and watch the BMW one at #2.

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LED football game for the iPhone (3)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 2 days, 13 hours ago permalink

[To be read in a hyperventilating voice.] They're making a version of electronic handheld football for the iPhone. [Ok, now do the busy fingers gesture and hop from foot to foot.] BB Gadgets has the scant details. Next week! [Make "squee" noise.] (link)

Shared by Billy (32) Dustin (23) Josh (61)

Dustin said: I don't know how many hours I spent as a kid playing this game. Wow, this brings back a flood of memories.

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$100 rebate on the Kindle (4)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 2 days, 14 hours ago permalink

If you can stomach having another credit card, Amazon is offering a $100 rebate on the Kindle if you apply for an Amazon Visa Card (no annual fee). That lowers the price to $259. Please read the restrictions and the fine print.(link)

Shared by angelchrys (56) Drew Olanoff (583) Guttorm (27) Noah (146)

Noah said: It's probably answered somewhere... but can I put the remaining $259 on the Amazon Visa??? :P
angelchrys said: OMG, I *wish* I qualified...I so want a Kindle! Anyone, er, want an Amazon Visa Card and my money?
Guttorm said: ZOMG. This must be fate...

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A list of data visualization blogs you might not know... (2)

by jason@kottke.org (3651) on kottke.org (4029) 2 days, 16 hours ago permalink

A list of data visualization blogs you might not know about. (link)

Shared by Andy Coffey (22) fractious (60)

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