I just recently finished reading this freely available
sci-fi novel, by Corey Doctorow of
Boing-Boing fame. Its written in the tradition of Rudy Rucker and Neil Stephenson. While its not the greates
t cyberpunk scifi ever written, its an interesting saturday afternoon's read.
I like his ideas about reputation-based currency emerging with the death o
f physical scarecity. Unfortunately that bit of techno-optimism may be a bit too bright.
The other somewhat remarkable thing is his fascination with Disney World. I've pretty much written off Disney as
a bastion of corporate greed and the plastic gladhandedness towards Real Life, but Doctorow sees another side.
Its not entirely convincing, but his Disney-as-utopian society is an interesting trope.
Download the book, read it, buy it if you like.
My obsession for this afternoon is Friendster. Its an idea we've seen b
efore a few times, but perhaps whose time has come. You tell it which of the other users are your friends, and i
t calculates a web of relationships within 4-5 hops of you. With ten friends currently in the system, I am part
of a friendship circle that includes more than 2060 people. Of course, this assumes the transit
ive property of friendship, which is not always the case. But its an interesting way to find out about all the c
ool people your friends know but haven't introduced you to yet!
I encourage you to join, and enrich the web of relationships! If we are friends, you will be able to find me on
the system.
I found an old roll of slide film that had been languishing on the shelf for a number of years and took it in to be developed. There were a few good pictures on it.
These guys sell 200mw Prism2 cards that work well with Linux. This one has external antenna connectors, too. Great for Mesh Networking!
These guys have the same card for the same price, but will do a discount with the code "BAWUG" (Bay Area Wireless Users Group)
As some of you may know, I've been into watching wild birds for a number of years now.
While searching for a good picture of a Western Tanager, I stumbled upon this site, (warning, dangerous teddy-bear designs await) which sells stuffed animal birds that play a recording of that bird's actual call when you squeeze them. Collect them all!
I've been interested in Biodiesel for a good long while, but the bug has caught up with me again. I'll use this blog entry to keep track of the resources I like the best. If you don't know, Biodiesel is vegetable-oil based automotive fuel. You can use it in many cars without any modifications at all! (it eats some rubber seals used in older cars)
I'd really love to have a beater pickup truck that runs on home-made biodiesel that I could use to get around town. I'd like to make this happen within a year's time.
A great article from Home Power magazine (PDF)
Turnkey biodiesel production kits.
You can buy biodiesel here in seattle from a fueling station in Ballard.
A woman named Brooke is knocking on your door asking to borrow a cup of sugar. Over the internet. If you send her a cup of sugar, she'll make cookies with it and send you some back in return! I'm gonna send her some because I love cookies.
Will the USA step in to put a stop to these atrocities now that we are Policeman to the World?
The continuing massacres in Congo and other central african nations are much more difficult for me to address than others around the world.
I hurt my neck last week snowboarding at Mt. Baker. Funny thing is, I wasn't a spectacular fall or a missed landing from a massive jump. I bent down to adjust my boots, and when I looked up, *snap*, my neck seized. Of course, I didn't let that get in the way of a great day on the mountain! But I have been dealing with a sore neck and back all this week.
Last night I hung out with my good friend Spike, who has also had neck problems recently. (Is the the fate of all those who dare to push a mouse?) She let me borrow an amazing piece of low-technology that is absolutely addictive: the Theracane.
Its just a J-shaped piece of plasic, but you can use it to give yourself a great massage in *just* the right spot that is bothering you (usually right behind the scapula). I am hooked!
