MinneBar tomorrow - Saturday, May 10! So you should come. It's at Coffman Union at the U of M.
Details here.
It's time for another MinneBar, happening
tomorrow at the ungodly hour of 8:30 am. Despite the early start, it's
stacked up to be an awesome event with more sessions than we've ever had
before. There's something for everyone -- design, technology,
non-profits, start ups...
Posted at 18:24
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Best Duel Ever Cholera sausages at dawn!
Wikipedia: "It is said
(though not confirmed) that Otto von Bismarck challenged Rudolf Virchow to
a duel. Virchow, as the challenged party had the choice of weapons; he
chose two sausages, one of which had been inoculated with cholera.
Bismarck is said to have called off the duel at once."
Posted at 13:45
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Bike links Here's some links.
First off, I was saddened to learn that
Sheldon Brown
( wikipedia
entry) passed away recently. His website is one of the best bike
resources on the 'net, and I've spent a lot of time reading it.
Dave Moulton's Bike Blog. Thoughts on
cycling from a retired frame builder. His post on
What to wear
inspired the below links.
Bike Commuters. A community for those of
us who bike to work -- the nerds of bike culture.
Bike Snob NYC has a humorous look at
bike culture in New York, and a distain for the excesses of some of the
fixie enthusiasts.
Bike Knickers. Pants that look good, so you can wear them at work, but
don't cramp your style (read: junk) while riding.
Portland Bike Forums:
non dorky bike
pants
Fixed Gear Gallery:
Knicker Review
NYT:
Pants in a Twist? Try Some Knickers
Bike rides. I want to do more, longer rides this year. Paying money to
do so is an excellent way to ensure motivation. Here's some coming up
( longer list).
I'm rearing to start biking but the weather's not really cooperating
(yeah, I'm a big wuss about riding in bad weather).
Posted at 00:02
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FAIL
see more funny political pictures
Posted at 23:25
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W(e are )here Paul Cantrell and I developed an interactive Google
Maps mashup called Where We're coming From
that helps people visualize their trip to Intermedia Arts. That's just a
small part of the show, but it's exciting to have it publically exhibited.
Here's the write-up:
The exhibit runs March 31-May 9, but the
exhibit party is April 25 from 7-11pm at Intermedia Arts
(
map). There will be food, drink, music and interactive exhibits. Hope to
see you there!
You should come to my art show on Friday, April 25 at
Intermedia Arts! It's called
W(e are )here and is all about mapping and data visualization.
Intermedia Arts and Solutions Twin Cities team up to creatively explore the intersections of communication, technology, and aesthetics. This unique multi-media exhibit invites you to explore and interact with the information around you through data visualization, artistic expression, and interactive installations.
Recent developments in technology are expanding the ways we communicate the concept of "where." Online mapping and info-graphic applications are allowing artists, amateurs, and armchair cartographers to chart the intangibility of "place," etching their own impressions, emotions, and experiences onto the physical world around them. Embracing this new paradigm, the artists in this exhibit are charting unique territories while working towards the development of an emerging visual language that connects place, moment, and emotion across varied scales. Where is expanding. W(e are )here.
Posted at 00:28
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Take this job and shove it I've always believed that universal healthcare not tied to your employer
would be a powerful driver for entrepreneurship in America. A lot of
people are in jobs they hate because they need health insurance. A lot of
those people would like to start their own business. Most would fail, but
some would succeed. It would be good for the economy.
Posted at 16:05
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Avoid movies that open in 2,000 theaters Erik Lundegaard compares movie release size with Rotten Tomatoes aggregate
review score and finds that movies that open in less than 500 theaters
(indie pictures) are critic favorites, while movies that open in 3000+
theaters (popcorn movies) are somewhat watchable. In the middle is a
no-mans-land of terrible movies. He suggests studios and distributors know
what they're doing: good movies that have wide appeal go out to the most
theaters, while crappy movies open smaller to save theater space for the
better movies.
Yuck.
Erik Lundegaard: 2007 box
office: Why movies that open in 2,000 theaters should be avoided
Imagine that you only saw films that opened on 2000-2999 screens. Here's what you would've seen in the first 12 weeks of 2008: One Missed Call (0% RT rating), Meet the Spartans (3%), College Road Trip (12%), First Sunday (15%), Untraceable (16%), The Eye (19%), Mad Money (20%), Welcome Home Roscoe Jenkins (25%), Never Back Down (26%), Step Up 2 the Streets (27%), Rambo (31%) and Definitely, Maybe (72%).
Posted at 18:34
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Obama the populist?
But will he follow it with action?
He sure sounds like one here:
Posted at 22:25
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Northwestern Scholarship for Programmer/Journalists That's pretty cool. It's a one-year program for developers who want to do
journalism in the Django age.
Programmer Scholarships Available for Journalism Program:
Are you a skilled programmer or Web developer? Are you interested in applying your talents to the challenge of creating a better-informed society? Do you want to learn how to find, analyze and present socially relevant information that engages media audiences? Do you see possibilities for applying technology as a way to connect people and information on the Web or new delivery platforms?
If your answers are "yes," consider applying to Medill for a master's degree in journalism. You can earn your degree in just a year. You will learn new skills that will open doors to new opportunities that might help build a better democracy. And a new program at Medill offers you a chance to win a fully funded scholarship.
Posted at 16:43
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How do you spend 100 years in Iraq?
Six months at a time...
Posted at 16:55
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Galaxy M104 edge-on By Vicent Peris. Via Astronomy Picture of the
Day.
Galaxy M104, about 28 million light-years away is aligned edge-on to our
own. This image from the Hubble captures M104 dramatically.
Posted at 10:23
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Google App Engine
Google
announces App Engine. Sounds like it's time to
dust off
my Python.
Posted at 10:01
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Market Claus
Posted at 19:41
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The American Revolution: Why and What If? Matt says:
His second thought, about the British perspective about the war reminded
me of Barbara Tuchman's
The March of
Folly, one chapter of which is about how the British foolishly let the
colonies slip from their grasp. Several people recommend that book, as
well as The
Long Fuse: How England Lost the American Colonies.
There's also a lot of discussion about what would have happened if the
British had compromised with the Americans (perhaps with representation
in Parliament). Would America have developed more like Canada? What about
slavery (outlawed in the Empire in the 1830s)? Would America still have
become a Great Power?
I thought this was an interesting point to consider, as well:
In that vein,
For
Want of a Nail: If Burgoyne had won at Saratoga sounds like a super
interesting book. An alternative histroy, it's the first I've heard of
that's an actual history: the book is a history textbook from an
alternative universe, with fake "sources" and everything.
This post and its comments on Matthew Yglesias's site has got me on a
major Revolutionary War history jag.
I find it striking that, as presented in episode two of John Adams, the case for independence is distinctly underwhelming. In particular, the point that a rebellion which can only succeed with foreign assistance is as likely to result in domination by France as in freedom from Britain seems like an important cautionary note. What's more, favored by hindsight and the example of Canada and Australia, the imagine of a non-independent America as destined to be slowly-but-surely ground into a state of tyranny looks wrong.
Conversely, however, the British seemed to be badly missing the big picture as the crisis approached -- risking a very valuable series of possessions over some relatively trivial policy issues. Taking the long view, independence looks more like the somewhat tragic result of short-sighted thinking on both sides than like a heroic triumph for the forces of liberty.
Interestingly enough, if the Revolution hadn't occured it is entirely arguable that there would be VASTLY more monarchies and fascists states in europe and the rest of the world than today. The american revolution had a direct impact on french thinking, and in fact Thomas Paine, the greatest revolutionary philosopher of america, was a major figure in the french revolution. The french revolution led to napoleon, who spread the philosophies around europe, which lead to the nationalist revolutions across europe throughout the 1800s. His conquest of spain had a direct impact in that it led to the liberation of the spanish colonies, who were also affected by the american example. -- GottSchreit
Posted at 00:44
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Natural Easter Eggs These look really cool!
Chrisjob:
Curbly Video Podcast: Naturally Dyed Easter Eggs.
Posted at 18:45
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