April 2009
30 posts
WatchYes!
New (not-quite) Belle and Sebastian… This is a snippet from the first single on a lush and beautiful Stuart Murdoch side project called God Help The Girl.
Watch the introductory video, too — the story about the project and how he picked the women who sing on each track is fascinating.
Unavailable in album form until June 23d, we lucky “in-the-know” Internet users...
Free World Music Sampler →
Amazon.com is featuring several Rough Guide world music tracks by offering them as a free download.
I enjoyed tracks 1, 2, 3, and 7 the most.
Be sure to check out their MP3 Deals page, which has frequent discounts and freebies in all styles and types of music.
Fizy →
If you have a song in your head that you’d like to play for a friend, but don’t have it handy, try Fizy. Just type in the artist or song name, check out the results, and click to play the song (with or without video).
A quick test found everything I thew at it, from Ringo Starr to Amon Tobin.
[via Lifehacker]
The Wind PC →
MSI is now producing inexpensive barebones desktop PC versions of their wonderful Wind Netbooks. I built one this week, and have fallen in love with it.
If you don’t mind a little DIY computer building (or know someone who enjoys such things), you can get an impressive, basic computer for around $300.
The system itself is currently selling for just $125 (after $10 rebate) on Newegg...
Twitter Advice for Oprah →
One of my favorite tech writers (and twitterers), Andy Ihnatko, gives Twitter newbie advice to Oprah now that she’s hopped on the bandwagon.
If you’re wondering what Twitter is all about and how to use it, this is a useful and very entertaining start.
Oh, and you’ll find that I’m on there, too…
Hungry Girl →
OK, so I’m not a girl. But I’m pretty much always hungry, and have struggled with weight all of my life.
Although I made tremendous progress on that front back in my 20’s, as I approach my 40’s I’ve put too way much poundage back on and am rather scared at this point because the health effects and ease of losing are likely to change drastically as I age.
It’s...
Free 60-Day BJ's Warehouse Trial Membership →
Although I really wish we had a Costco around here, we still use and enjoy BJ’s Warehouse regularly for gas, groceries, and other items.
It saves us money, and if you don’t mind buying in bulk, you can get some real bargains.
They also have deals on a bunch of other non-food-stuff, so it’s definitely worth checking out for free if there’s a location nearby.
Just be sure...
How to Raise Our I.Q. →
Nicholas Kristof writes in the NY Times about the impact of environment on I.Q. scores — it seems that the educational activities rich parents provide their children increase their scores, while poorer students are left farther and farther behind.
This concept is masterfully discussed in great depth by Malcom Gladwell in Outliers, his fascinating look at the factors behind success. ...
Readability →
Find something great online that you really want to read, but it’s either formatted in some crazy style, or has too much distracting crap surrounding it?
Enter Readability, a bookmarklet that will take the page and make it blessedly readable. Ahh. That’s much better.
[via VSL:Web]
How to Find Your Amazing Work →
The guru of Guam, Leo Babauta, shares some advice on finding and following your bliss on Zen Habits.
I’ve tried my best to do exactly this for quite a while now, and have never looked back.
I think my hero Joseph Campbell would be proud.
A "Real" Phantom Arm →
This is the freakiest and coolest thing I’ve read all week.
A 64-year old Swiss woman who suffered a stroke found that she now has a third, “ghost” arm — and it acts upon her brain exactly as if it was real.
She can even scratch her nose with it… I wonder if she can stop a sneeze.
[via Digg]
Conficker Awakens →
Darknet clues us in to the recent end of Conficker’s dormancy.
Looks like it’s going to try to scam people into purchasing bogus “anti-virus” software in addition to stealing passwords and adding to the zombie hordes.
Sheesh.
Simpsons Postage Stamps [ ! ] →
Coming May 7th. Almost worth the 2 cent increase.
Almost.
Unusual Houses →
Abduzeedo shares some incredible houses that put my boxy little suburban condo to shame.
I love how creative, dramatic, and whimsical these homes are. Truly inspired.
ABC's Charles Gibson Out of Touch →
It’s kind of sad to be in this transitionary phase, with old media folks not quite getting it and new media folks waiting for the rest of the world to catch up so that we can finally move forward.
This account of a recent talk by Mr. Gibson on the Jounalism 2.0 site is especially disappointing because I consider him to be a great journalist with the power to inspire and influence so many.
...
The 50 Greatest Documentaries →
Smashing Telly features this program that highlights the 50 best documentaries ever.
I look forward to seeing how many I’ve seen and agree with, and how many I’m going to want to add to my queue.
Tauntaun Sleeping Bag →
How could ThinkGeek put out the best idea for a sleeping bag as an April Fools joke, and then not expect it to actually catch on?
It seems that due to overwhelming response, they’re actually looking into making this amazing thing.
Where to Get Free Stuff Online →
A nice roundup of freebie sites from The Digerati Life, including what to watch out for.
[via Consumerist]
WatchTori Amos - Welcome to England
Ms. Amos hooked me with Scarlet’s Walk, which has become a top-10 selection and desert isle disc, it’s that good.
With apologies to hardcore fans, she then commenced to underwhelm as I tried to explore her catalog a little more deeply and follow subsequent releases. I also caught a live show that counts as being among the worst in my 25+ years of...
Why Conficker Was a Bust →
I was surprised by the media attention the Conficker worm received. Many of my students and faculty were scared beyond measure at the approach of April 1st.
It’s interesting to learn about the (probably successful) attempts to thwart the worm for now, but we also have yet to see if this one has any tricks left up its sleeve.
This article in Australia’s iTnews gives a nice update on...
The Dangers of Link Shortening →
Joshua Schachter’s article “on url shorteners” certainly gave me pause for thought.
He should know about links, too, creating the fantastic grandaddy of all social bookmarking sites, delicious.
I only use shortening services when tweeting — perhaps I should reconsider when I have the room.
[via waxy links]
Scr.im →
If you want to share your email address online, but would prefer to keep it away from Evil Spam Harvesting Bots, Scr.im can help.
Give it your email address, and it’ll create a link. Click the link, and you get the address — but not before taking a quick test to prove your humanity.
[via Lifehacker]
P.S. If you took a time machine back to 1983 and told me I’d someday write...
6 Virtual Galleries for Artists →
I have zero visual arts skills. Several of my friends, colleagues, and students, however, are amazingly talented.
Mashable rounds up several places for them to promote their work and connect with others who have the gift.
Meanwhile I eternally remain naught but an admirer from afar.
