The Markr

I've moved!

2007-01-29T12:52:00.000-08:00

Check me out on Wordpress.

See you there!

Video: Moscow Subway Congestion

2006-11-17T10:54:00.000-08:00

And you thought the traffic on your commute was crazy? Check out the people congestion in this clip from the Moscow subway. Wow. Too many people going nowhere.

(Via BoingBoing and YouTube)

Zune vs. iPod

2006-11-15T11:43:00.000-08:00

There's a lot of reviews out now, comparing Microsoft's Zune and Apple's iPod. Courtesy of Gizmodo, here's a pretty in-depth and useful review that compares the two portable digital music/video players.

(Via Gizmodo Image by Falon Wriede)

US Flight Patterns

2006-11-14T12:31:00.000-08:00

This cool video by Aaron Koblin shows US flight patterns in time-lapse animation. Set to music, this is a really neat vid.

You can also view it here.

Microsoft's Zune lanches today!

2006-11-14T11:47:00.001-08:00

Today is the day!

Retailing at $249.99, the Zune will be available today at nearly 30,000 US retailers, making it the most widely available Microsoft product ever.

Available in a secletion of black, white or brown, the 30GB digital media player will come equipped with wireless functionality for Zune-to-Zune sharing of select music, pictures and home recordings.

It features a 3 inch LCD video screen that works in portrait or landscape mode to display pictures and videos, and a built-in FM tuner.

For more information on the Zune, click here.

This Week in History

2006-08-17T11:22:00.000-07:00

August 6, 1928 — Artist Andy Warhol, a pioneer of the pop art movement, is born Andrew Warhola in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Artfact.com lists a recent high price paid for a Warhol as over $5 million.

August 7, 1904 — Nobel Peace Prize recipient Ralph Johnson Bunche is born. This brilliant African American earned the Peace Prize for his mediation work in the Arab-Israeli conflict beginning in 1947. He travelled to the Middle East in 1948 and in 1949 succeeded in convincing Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria to sign Armistice Agreements with Israel. The Green Line - the armistice lines between Israel and the West Bank and Gaza Strip - lasted (not without troubles) until the 1967 Six-Day War. The West Bank, by the way, was primarily controlled by Jordan until 1967, and not by any nation called Palestine.

August 8, 1945 — The United States ratifies the United Nations Charter. The U.N. brings the world's nations together to resolve international difficulties using the pen and microphone rather than the sword.

August 9, 1936 — Track star Jesse Owens wins his fourth gold medal of the Berlin Olympic Games.

August 10, 1981 — John Walsh's son Adam is found murdered in Hollywood, Florida. U.S. Congress later passes the Missing Children's Act to give the FBI more power to track missing children. Walsh became the national spokesman against crime and eventually the host of a new prime time television show, America's Most Wanted.

August 11, 1929 — Babe Ruth makes his 500th home run at League Park in Cleveland, Ohio, the first baseball player to do so. This has nothing to do with conservative politics, but everything to do with celebrating the best and brightest and most talented people in the United States - which is something good for us Americans to do.

August 12, 1877 — American astronomer Asaph Hall discovers Deimos, one of the two moons of Mars. Six days later, August 18, he will discover the other moon - Phobos. He thus verified Johannes Kepler's speculation that two moons orbited Mars. In Jonathan Swift's 1726 satire Gulliver's Travels, in part three, the "Voyage to Laputa", the astronomers of Laputa have supposedly discovered the two moons of Mars - an idea Swift probably got from the long-dead Kepler's speculation.

The Mona Lisa World Tour

2006-08-16T15:36:00.000-07:00

What would Mona Lisa look like if she lived in Africa, India or the USA? Eglobe1 gives us a glimpse into the changes that she might make. The "After one week in America" picture is hillarious. I'd prefer to think of it as an "After one week in Hollywood" and not all of the USA. But judge for yourself.

(Via Neatorama)

Paris' Expression

2006-08-16T15:20:00.000-07:00

Watch as Paris Hilton's expression remains the same this collage of clips.

(Via Neatorama)

When owls get scared

2006-07-28T16:49:00.000-07:00

See what happens when an owl gets scared.

(Via Neatorama)

This week in History

2006-07-27T11:11:00.000-07:00

July 26, 1963 — Syncom 2, the world's first geosynchronous satellite, is launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Geosynchronous satellites appear to remain in one spot over the equator, because they circle the earth exactly once every sidereal day (23 hours 56 minutes). These satellites have been vital to global telecommunications, weather forecasting, and the defense industry.

July 27, 1921— At the University of Toronto, Canadian scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best successfully isolate insulin for the first time. Within a year, diabetes patients began receiving insulin injections, treating what was previously considered a fatal disease.

July 27, 1940 — Bugs Bunny premieres on the silver screen in A Wild Hare from Warner Bros, featuring the voice talent of Mel Blanc. Bugs was just one of many famous characters voiced by Blanc before his death in 1989. Others include Mr. Spacely from The Jetsons, Barney Rubble from The Flintstones, Twiki from Buck Rogers, and the voice of Mr. McKenzie in Strange Brew.

July 27, 1990 — Zsa Zsa Gabor begins a 3 day jail sentence for slapping a cop.

July 27, 1991 — Bryan Adams made number 1 in the U.S. for the first of 7 weeks in 1991, two weeks after hitting the top in the U.K. “(Everything I Do) I Do It for You,” the biggest song of the year, was recorded for the Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves soundtrack. The huge hit was also available on his own album, Waking Up the Neighbours, which kept the hits coming.

July 28, 1907 - Earl Silas Tupper, the inventor of Tupperware, is born. Ingenuity is the heart of the American dream.

Phillips screw cufflinks

2006-07-24T14:05:00.000-07:00

Looking for a cool new pair of cufflinks that reinforce that you're a handyman? Look no further than these hand made sterling silver Phillips Heads Screw Cufflinks.

Available for $80.00 at UncommonGoods.

(Via Popgadget)

Personalized Steak Brand

2006-07-06T08:04:00.000-07:00

Do you love steak?
Have you always wanted to play cowboy and brand your own grilled meat?
Do you love monogramed towels?

If you've answered "yes" the all of the above questions, you'll be in heaven with this Williams-Sonoma Monogrammed Steak Brand. Available with either two or three initials, this personalized iron brand is hand forged in Texas. The 11 1/2" long iron comes with a 14" high, wall-mount rack for storage. For just $39.95, you'll be able to leave your mark on all of the steaks you serve at your next BBQ.

(Via Cool Hunting)

The National Entertainment State, 2006

2006-07-03T14:52:00.000-07:00

From The Nation:

Where do Americans get their news and who controls what they consume? Ten years ago, when The Nation first charted a map of the National Entertainment State, four colossal conglomerates spread across the media landscape. Today, that map has significantly changed, because of the rise of new media and a vigorous reform movement, but the old corporate giants still hold most of the cards. Google, Yahoo! and Microsoft are quickly rising, but are not included in this chart because they do not own -- not yet, anyway -- the major television networks, which remain Americans' #1 source of news.

Illustration by Peter Ahlberg.
Research: Emily Biuso, Sarah Goldstein.

Download a PDF of the 2006 National Entertainment State Chart.

(Via The Nation)

Easily peel potatoes

2006-06-21T15:16:00.000-07:00

This video is a tip from the Japanese "Urawaza" (secret tricks) TV show. This lesson is on how to peel a cooked in one shot. Basically, you score a potato with a knife, boil it, put it in ice water for ten seconds and then you're able to snap the skin off! Brilliant!

(Via Neatorama)

Project Runway Season 3

2006-06-21T11:49:00.000-07:00

The latest batch of designers on Bravo and Heidi Klum's third installment of Project Runway has been announced!

They are:

Bradley Baumkirchner, 32, Los Angeles, CA
Robert Best, 36, West Hollywood, CA
Laura Bennett, 42, New York, NY
Malan Breton, 32, Long Island City, NY
Bonnie Dominguez, 31, San Diego, CA
Stacey Estrella, 40, San Francisco, CA
Katherine Gerdes, 25, Minneapolis, MN
Kayne Gillaspie, 27, Norman, OK
Ulrike "Uli" Herzner, 35, Miami Beach, FL
Alison Kelly, 25, Brooklyn, NY
Angela Keslar, 33, Amesville, OH
Michael Knight, 28, Atlanta, GA
Vincent Libretti, 49, Santa Monica, CA
Keith Michael, 34, New York, NY
Jeffrey Sebelia, 36, Los Angeles, CA

Pictured: (top l-r) Vincent Libretti, Kayne Gillaspie, Robert Best, Ulrike Herzner (middle l-r) Alison Kelly, Laura Bennett, Angela Keslar, Keith Michael, Katherine Gerdes, Stacey Estrella (botton l-r) Bradley Baumkirchner, Jeffrey Sebelia, Malan Breton, Bonnie Dominguez, Michael Knight.

Season three's winning designer will be awarded a mentorship with Macy's private label sportswear line, I.N.C. International Concepts. Hmmm, not quite the same prize as the Banana Republic mentorship of season two.

Check out thumbnail pictures of the Project Runway Season 3 cast as well as an ensemble picture of Heidi, Tim Gunn, the Season 3 cast and the models.

Project Runway 3 will premiere on Wednesday, July 12 @ 10PM ET/PT on Bravo.

(Via JustJared)

Make a gift box out of two dollar bills

2006-06-20T11:38:00.000-07:00

Looking for a neat, cheap, do-it-yourself way to wrap something small? Try this gift box made from two bills. You can use any denomination you like, but the cheapest combination is obviously two one dollar bills.

Check out more money origami at Clay's site.

(Via Random Good Stuff)

The Universal Packing List

2006-06-20T11:32:00.000-07:00

Headed on a trip and not sure what to pack? Let the Universal Packing List generate a custom packing list for your journey. A simple web-based app, it's pretty neat. Check it out!

(Via Signal vs. Noise)

Spooky playground sculptures/art

2006-06-20T11:12:00.000-07:00

Art and sculptures on children's playground is supposed to be fun, whimsical, and merry, right? Well, that's what I thought. Take a look at these pictures and you'll see that there's some pretty creepy/disturbing playground art out there.

What are your children playing on/around?

(Via Boing Boing)

Back from Boston

2006-06-20T11:11:00.000-07:00

I'm back from work in Boston and now able to devote more time to The Markr.

Here come some new posts! :)

Busy working in Boston

2006-06-08T21:20:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to let you all know that posts to The Markr will be rather infrequent during the next two weeks while I'm working in Boston. That's also why they've been sparse these past couple weeks as well.

What am I in Boston for? Microsoft TechEd 2006!

Any blogging I do during this time will likely be TechEd related, so check out my TechEd Blog to see what I've been up to.

I'll be back and regularly blogging at The Markr around June 21.

The Markr as a graph

2006-06-02T20:31:00.000-07:00

This cool java app has been circulating around the 'net this week, so I thought I'd create a map of The Markr. It's a cool way to graphically see what makes up and links to your website. App created by Sala (check out his blog).

Here's an explanation of the colored tags:

blue: for links (the A tag)
red: for tables (TABLE, TR and TD tags)
green: for the DIV tag
violet: for images (the IMG tag)
yellow: for forms (FORM, INPUT, TEXTAREA, SELECT and OPTION tags)
orange: for line breaks and block quotes (BR, P, and BLOCKQUOTE tags)
black: the HTML tag, the root node
gray: all other tags

3D Painted Rooms

2006-06-02T18:49:00.000-07:00

Check out the amazing paint jobs in these rooms. They're crafted in such a way that, if viewed at the correct angle an illusion of a three dimensional object appears.

This technique has also been applied to outdoor installations as well.

(Via 2Loop.com)

Always Open?

2006-06-02T18:41:00.000-07:00

(Via Outhouse Rag)

Government and Poverty in Kenya

2006-05-31T15:59:00.000-07:00

Some facts about Kenya:

Kenya is smaller than the state of Texas.
Interest rates are 18 percent, sales tax is 16 percent, and some pay up to 60 percent in income tax.
There are more than 250 members of parliament in Kenya and they make over $150000 a year, and they don't pay taxes.
57 percent of Kenya lives in poverty, which means they make less than $40 a month in capital city Nairobi, and less than $20 a month in the rural areas.

Healthcare in Africa

2006-05-31T15:53:00.000-07:00

In Africa, it costs:

about $6 to diagnose and treat a case of malaria
about $11 to diagnose and treat typhoid
about $40 to have a baby
$4 to diagnose and treat intestinal worms

Analyze U.S. State of the Union Speeches

2006-05-31T15:31:00.000-07:00

Via Neatorama:

Brad Borevitz created this neat little program to analyze the State of the Union addresses given by US Presidents from 1790 to 2006:

SOTU allows you to explore how specific words gain and lose prominence over time, and to link to information on the historical context for their use. SOTU focuses on the relationship between individual addresses as compared to the entire collection of addresses, highlighting what is different about the selected document. You are invited to try and understand from this information the connection between politics and language-between the state we are in, and the language which names it and calls it into being.

For each State of the Union Address, the analyzer also measures the Flesch-Kincaid score, a controversial yet popularreadabilityy index to suggest at which grade level in an American school for which the text is appropriate. The lowest score (grade level 7.1) was George W. Bush's State of the Union address on February 27, 2001.

Barcodes

2006-05-31T15:25:00.000-07:00

Neatorama has a cool post about Scott Blake, an artist who uses barcodes as the foundation of his art. While viewing his art, I also got some information about barcodes. Like Scott, I'm fascinated by barcodes. While I'm perhaps not as obsessed as Scott, the information he's provided about barcodes is quite informative and I'd like to share it here.

What is a barcode composed of and what do all those lines and numbers mean? Find out here.

Order your own customized barcode tattoos here!

View or purchase Scott's barcode art. Some exhibits that his artwork has been in.

Other links about barcodes.

Paintings of numbers for sale

2006-05-30T13:57:00.000-07:00

Sala, an artist from Zürich, Switzerland, is selling 1000 paintings of the first 1000 numbers. The selling price of each painting is calculated like this:

Value = 1000 - number.
Initial discount: 90%.
Current discount: 80%.
The discount will decrease by an absolute 10% for every 100 paintings sold.
Min. price: $40.

Check out pictures from the kickoff event at V-Gallery in Basel, Switzerland on February 12, 2006.

So far, Sala has sold 171 paintings. A pretty cool idea. Why didn't I think of it? :)

(Via Boing Boing)

Edge of the Earth

2006-05-30T13:50:00.000-07:00

Richard at Flickr posted this amazing photo of what appears to be "Land's End". The shot was taken on a commercial flight and of eastern New Mexico, about 10 miles north of the town of Grady. Map here. (Satellite shot appears inverted because the photo is looking south).

Check out various sizes of this amazing picture here.

Eurobad '74 - Europe's Worst Interiors

2006-05-30T13:41:00.000-07:00

Fads come and thankfully, fads go. Check out some of the horrible interiors that were showcased at Eurobad '74. Although some trends do return, thankfully this "Eurochic" hasn't come back in style... yet.

So if you think your place doesn't quite match, get some assurance that it could be worse. Much worse.

(Via Neatorama)

Hubble Space Telescope Images

2006-05-28T09:54:00.000-07:00

The image section of the European Homepage for the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has a collection of over 2100 images from the Hubble Space Telescope. There's also Hubble news, videos, and more information about the Hubble Space Telescope available on the site.

Now where did I leave my bike?

2006-05-28T09:45:00.000-07:00

(Via Ueba.net)

The U.S. $10,000 bill

2006-05-28T09:34:00.000-07:00

The United States Bureau of Engraving and Printing has scans of large denomination Federal Reserve notes.

From the site:

Currency notes of denominations above $100 are not available from the Department of the Treasury, the Federal Reserve System, or the Bureau of Engraving and Printing. On July 14, 1969, the Department of the Treasury and the Federal Reserve System announced that currency notes in denominations of $500, $1,000, $5,000, and $10,000 would be discontinued immediately due to lack of use. Although they were issued until 1969, they were last printed in 1945.

These notes are legal tender and may be found in circulation today; however, most notes still in circulation are probably in the hands of private numismatic dealers and collectors. If you are interested in purchasing these larger denominations, it is suggested that you contact private dealers or collectors who are usually listed in the classified section of the telephone directory under the headings of “Coins” and “Hobbies.”

(Via Boing Boing)

Grocery Lists

2006-05-28T09:25:00.000-07:00

Ever make a list of items to get at the store? Grocerylists.org is an online collection of people's grocery lists.

Check out the Top 10 lists or feel free to browse any of the 1100 lists.

Some things the list collector has learned from these found lists:

More people than I thought like onions. Mayonnaise is difficult to spell. So is
banana, apparently. And anchovies. And yogurt. There are a lot of notepads out
there touting the greatness of numerous bizarrely-named pharmaceuticals. I used
to think my handwriting was lame. Now I don't. And lastly, very few people leave
their grocery lists in the cart like they should!

(Via Boing Boing)

Fractals

2006-05-28T00:53:00.000-07:00

According to the wikipedia, a fractal is: A geometric object which is rough or irregular on all scales of length, and so which appears to be 'broken up' in a radical way. Some of the best examples can be divided into parts, each of which is similar to the original object. Fractals are said to possess infinite detail, and they may actually have a self-similar structure that occurs at different levels of magnification.

I think fractals are really cool. The infinite nature of them is amazing. Blatte's Fractals showcases a variety of fractals. The fractal to your left is entitled, Law of Ice.

(Via Neatorama)

Treehouses: For your kids or the kid in you!

2006-05-26T23:31:00.000-07:00

Wow! Check out these cool tree houses! Daniels Woodland sells amazing, custom-built tree houses that resemble toontown dwellings, with curved and sagging rooflines and crazy, angular windows. The houses stand 14' high and are perched atop a giant, chainsaw-hollowed log. The overall effect is something like toontown in "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?"

Each tree house is built in two main pieces: the playhouse and the log. The playhouse is made from cedar or ship lapped pine siding. The log is a real, old fallen tree that is hollowed out using a chainsaw. To get into the playhouse, simply enter the door in the hollow log, climb up the ladder in the center of the log and pull yourself through the trap door in the floor of the playhouse.

There is a lot more information on Daniels Woodland tree house pages, including many more pictures!

(Via Boing Boing)

Table Jumble

2006-05-26T23:19:00.000-07:00

Amsterdam design firm Tjep created this collided jumble of tables and the primary conference table for an advertising agency. Other views of the table can be found here.

This project is best described by Tjep:

A controlled collision of 7 tables in the conference room of advertisement
agency StrawberryFrog
in Amsterdam. This table will be at the center of different view points,
cultures and motivations colliding with each other to form something new and
powerful, this idea is symbolized in the colors and design of the table.

(Via BoingBoing)

Modern Mona Lisa

2006-05-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

This modern interpretation of Leonardo da Vinci's Mona Lisa is on display at a high tech exhibition in Beijing. Entitled Technology Smiling, it is made up of hundreds of computer parts.

(Via Gizmodo)

Welcome to Fantazy Land

2006-05-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

Theme parks are usually places of fun, laughter and excitement. However, when a theme park is left unattended and rundown, the laughter leaves it and is replaced with sadness and even an eerie sense of foreboding.

This abandoned Egyptian amusement park, Fantazy Land, showcases what neglect and abandonment can do to a place, once filled with the laughter and joy of children.

(Via Ueba.net)

The Earth from Space

2006-05-25T15:40:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, within the hustle and bustle of our daily lives, it's good to sit back and think about what a beautiful place we live in. For a broader (and certainly more global) view of this, here are some amazing pictures of the Earth viewed from Space.

I particularly like the above picture of night and day in Western Europe. You can clearly see the city lights in the parts of Europe that are still under nightfall, which is clearly contrasted by the bright, clear day in the other part of Europe.

(Via Ueba.net)

Bad Tattoos

2006-05-25T14:08:00.000-07:00

Do you regret your tattoo? Sure, it seemed like a good idea at the time, but now you realize, "What was I thinking?!" Misery does love company, so check out these pictures of other bad tattooing decisions.

I will admit that not all of the tattoos on the linked page are terrible, as we all make different choices and have varied tastes. But I'm sure you'll find some that you just have no words to describe or are glad are not on your body.

(Via Ueba.net)

Stonefridge

2006-05-25T13:58:00.000-07:00

Heard of Stonehenge?

How about Stonefridge? Next time you're in the Santa Fe, New Mexico swing on by and check it out!

(Via Flickr)

10,000 Sheep

2006-05-25T13:43:00.000-07:00

The Sheep Market is a collection of 10,000 created by workers on Amazon's Mechanical Turk. Each worker earned $0.02 to draw a sheep facing left. These sheep drawings are available online and have been printed on collectable stamps.

Some interesting stats on The Sheep Market:

Average time spent drawing each sheep: 105 seconds
Average wage: $0.69/hour
Rejected sheep: 662
Collection period: 40 days
Collection rate: approximately 11 sheep/hour
Unique IP addresses: 7599

(Via J-Walk Blog)

Infinite Zoom

2006-05-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

Check out these cool pictures. They are each made of other photos. Simply click on the the picture to zoom in and discover more photos.

(Via Boing Boing)

Top 10 Strangest Lego Creations

2006-05-25T01:27:00.000-07:00

TechEBlog has complied a list of the top 10 strangest (or coolest, depending on your point of view) Lego Creations. Check out their list for a full breifing on the top 10, as well as some honorable mentions.

Here are my two favorites:

Lego Harpsichord

Lego Han Solo Frozen in Carbonite

(Via TechEBlog)

The One Million Swarovski Crystal Reveal

2006-05-25T01:11:00.000-07:00

The latest million dollar (or in this case, a million Euros, which is worth more than a million dollars) website idea is MillionCrystalBody. It took nearly seven days to cover Chantal, the 20 year old model's body with one million Swarovski crystals, each measuring approximately 2mm. An auction organized by eBay specialist Marion von Kuczkowski, each crystal is being sold for €1. As more crystals are sold, more of Chantal will be revealed and her photos updated on the website.

The last stones in the auction will not be sold at the fixed €1 price, but will be auctioned via eBay. The proceeds of those final bids will go to a yet-unnamed charity. The person who wins the last crystal will have it personally delivered anywhere in the world by Chantal, the model who has revealed herself to the world, one crystal at a time.

(Via Luxist)

Ikea Everyday Fabulous does NYC

2006-05-25T00:51:00.000-07:00

From Cool Hunting:

Ikea has been making over parts of NYC in celebration of their Everyday Fabulous Exhibit (which ended May 23, 2006). Their stylists took on parks, turned hot dog stands into outdoor cafes, bustops into living rooms and strung up hammocks on street corners, bringing smiles to jaded New Yorkers and ICFF visitors, and looks of bewilderment on tourists. Cheeky and clever.

How cool is that?! If you haven't been to an Ikea, I suggest you visit http://www.ikea.com/ and select your location to see where the nearest Ikea is to you.

According to their website, Ikea's vision is: And they've done a fantastic job living up to their vision. A look through their catalog (in print or online) or a voyage through their store will leave you with a "wow, I can do all that for how much?" as well as an inspired feeling.

(Via Cool Hunting)

A square watermelon

2006-05-25T00:42:00.000-07:00

Yes, you read (and saw) correctly. This is picture of a square watermelon. Found at the Horticulture page at the Purdue Extension Service in
Vanderburgh County, Indiana.

(Via BoingBoing)

NYC Subway Morning Demographics

2006-05-24T09:59:00.000-07:00

A NYC blogger spent the morning noting the who rides and at what time. Take a look at the observations below. Pretty cool stuff!

Because I often work very late or come in very early to the office, I have
been able to observe some demographic patterns on the subways in the AM hours.
It’s interesting to see how the ethnic, class, professional, and gender makeup
evolves as the morning hours go by.
(Please forgive the generalizations inherent in ad hoc ethnography):
3:00-4:00 AM Drunks of all sorts, club kids, and winos. Late
night workers, busboys, getting off their shifts. Only a handful of people per
car. 6:1 male/female ratio.
4:00-5:00 AM Transit workers changing shifts. Maybe 6 people
per car. All male.
5:00 AM - 6:00 AM Blue-collar laborers, minorities,
immigrants. Half the car is asleep. Maybe 20 or 25 people per car. 9:1
male/female ratio.
6:00 AM - 7:00 AM Construction workers, blue-collar
laborers, hospital workers. 75% of seats in car are taken. 7:3 male/female
ratio.
7:00 AM - 8:00 AM Low-level office workers, civil service
workers, some Wall Street broker types. Mostly minorities, lots of black women,
lots of all kinds of women in fact. 90% seats occupied. 1:2 male/female ratio.
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM Professionals, white collar workers,
office workers. 100% seats occupied, many people standing. 1:1 male/female
ratio.
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Early-career yuppies running a little
late, creative industry workers, all sorts of professionals. 100% occupied. 1:1
male/female ratio.
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Hung over office workers, some seats
available. 2:1 male/female ratio.
11:00 AM - noon Starting to see people who are running
errands for work, not just going to or coming from work. Plenty of open seats.
3:2 male/female ratio.
UPDATE: Great stuff from a 2004 New York Times special
section dedicated to the NYC Subways (thanks Gothamist):
A diagram of the hourly population density of the subway (the 1/9 line) over
the course of a single work day.
A drawing of the demographics and cultures along the F line (my line!)
station-by-station, by the excellent Danny Gregory.

(Via Boing Boing)

"Rocky" in 30 seconds

2006-05-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

This Bunny Movie Parody of 'Rocky' compresses the movie into a 30 second clip. Taking all the major elements of the movie, animated bunnies re-enact 'Rocky'.

The Pop Culture Translator

2006-05-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

Have you ever wondered what some pop culture people are actually saying? Some speak too fast or slow, have unintelligible accents, or just speak in slang. The Canadian College of English Language has an amusing Pop Culture Translator that breaks down the below clips into plain 'ol English. An amusing site, check it out!

Translated clips include:

Sean Paul "Temperature"
50 Cent "Just a Lil Bit"
System of a Down "BYOB"
Ozzy Osbourne "The Osbournes"
Brad Pitt "Snatch"
Gollum "Lord of the Rings"

Mahjongg

2006-05-22T10:23:00.000-07:00

This a web version of the Chinese game, Mahjongg Solitaire. It's an addictive game, enjoy!

(Via MilkandCookies)

Video of airplanes dodging thunderstorms

2006-05-22T10:16:00.000-07:00

Check out this time lapse video of airplanes dodging thunderstorms. This is from FedEx's Operations Center in Memphis, Tennessee. The music this video is set to is upbeat a perky, despite the severe weather the planes are avoiding.

(Via MilkandCookies)

Hipster Bingo

2006-05-21T10:51:00.000-07:00

Are you a hipster? Do you love being a hipster? Do you love bingo?

Then check out Hipster Bingo!

(Via growabrain)

Worldwide iPod and iBook Cost Comparison

2006-05-20T08:20:00.000-07:00

BusinessWeek did a comparison study on the costs of the iPod and iBook in countries around the world. Their findings demonstrated a large price difference in these products worldwide. For instance, in Apple's 4GB iPod Nano costs $249 here in the US. In other countries it would cost (adjusted into US dollars, for comparison) $592 in Argentina, $286 in London, $248 in Tokyo, $299 in Shanghai and $299 in Moscow.

The iBook is similar, with NYC still coming in cheapest at $999 and Buenos Aires topping the charts for a whopping $1480. Looks like Apple's products are quite expensive in South America!

(Via Gizmodo)

Awesome Ad Campaign

2006-05-17T16:02:00.000-07:00

Check out the ad on the side of this coffee vending machine. It's a print ad for the German job site Jobsintown.de. This series of ads are placed on the sides of different vending machines, making it look like someone is sitting inside making coffee or doing whatever task the machine automates.

Pretty inventive; I love it.

(Via Fosfor.se)

Michael Wolf’s Architecture of Density

2006-05-17T15:55:00.000-07:00

Check out Michael Wolf’s photographs of Hong Kong in a series entitled the "Architecture of Density". It'll put a whole new perspective on close-quarters living.

(Via Neatorama)

The sound a cat makes

2006-05-16T17:22:00.000-07:00

Languages express sounds differently. Looking at the sounds a cat makes, according to different langues, paints a colorful picture and describes this well.

Cat
Danish: miav
Dutch: miauw
English: meow
Finnish: miau
French: miaou
German: miau
Greek: miaou
Hebrew: miyau
Hungarian: miau
Italian: miau
Japanese: nyan nyan/nyaa nyaa
Russian: miyau
Spanish: miao
Swedish: mjan mjan
Turkish: miyav
Urdu: meow

For more animal noises, check out Derek Abbott's Animal Noise Page.

(Via Boing Boing)

Google Maps + Fast Food

2006-05-16T13:52:00.000-07:00

Want to know where the nearest fast food burger joint is to you or in a city you'll be in soon? Check out this great mashup of Google Maps and the locations of over 27,000 fast food restaurants (McDonald's, Burger King, Jack in the Box).

(Via Curbed)

Mariah Carey - Pepsi Ad

2006-05-16T13:27:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of TMZ.com is Mariah Carey's new Pepsi TV commerical premiering May 15, 2006.

CLICK HERE to watch.

Mariah will also write and produce 20 exclusive ringtones and star in more TV commercials to promote Pepsi.

(Via Faded Youth)

Madonna - Retouched

2006-05-16T13:18:00.000-07:00

Check out the promo pic for Madonna's 'Sorry' single. What a great job of retouching!

(Via Faded Youth)

The Art of Retouching Photos

2006-05-16T13:13:00.000-07:00

It's common knowledge that most celebrity pictures not taken by paparazzi have been retouched, made better than they really are. Retouching photos takes both artistry and skill, two qualities found in master retoucher Glenn Feron. The before and after images are amazing. Check out his portfolio filled with famous celebrity images that have been enhanced, uplifted and transformed by his touch - The Art of Retouching.

(Via CityRag)

Amazing Photography - Rarindra Prakarsa

2006-05-15T13:25:00.000-07:00

Check out the amazing photos by Rarindra Prakarsa. Each picture is stunning with amazing depth, color, clarity and composition.

The above photo is titled "Golden Moment" and was taken in Jakarta, Indonesia.

(Via Neatorama)

Dance Dance Revolution to become a CBS TV series

2006-05-15T13:15:00.000-07:00

Dance Dance Revolution, or DDR (known as Dancing Stage in Europe) will soon become a Saturday morning television series on CBS.

In "Dance Revolution", 'tweens' and teens bring their freshest moves to this
sensational new dance competition where teams of dancers display their
innovative routines. Hosted by the charismatic "Dance Revolution" house band,
kid-friendly judges determine the winners as the dancers perform their routines
to the cool sounds of the band. "Dance Revolution" will also offer onscreen
visuals that constantly encourage viewer participation by demonstrating specific
dance moves and steps.

See full news story/press release here.

(Via Boing Boing)

Worldmapper's Collection of Maps

2006-05-15T12:57:00.000-07:00

Worldmapper's tagline, "the world as you've never seen it before" is a fitting description. Worldmapper is a collection of world maps, where territories are re-sized on each map according to the subject of interest. An update to their site, with more maps and information is due to be added in 2006.

Worldmapper has (or plans to have) maps in the following categories:

(Via Boing Boing)

U.S. Most Wanted - State by State

2006-05-12T12:45:00.000-07:00

Curious who's the 'Most Wanted' in your city or area? Check this interactive map of the U.S. and Puerto Rico. It'll take you to state-by-state links for the 'Most Wanted' in the state you select.

From the website:

The state-by-state links here will take you to "U.S. Most Wanted Criminals," which was first created and maintained as a public service by the late John J. Lacombe II. For more about the remarkable Mr. Lacombe, read here. The site is now maintained as a tribute to Mr. Lacombe and as a public service by Brad Wages. Law enforcement authorities who wish to be included in these listings should contact Mr. Wages at fugitivehunter@hotmail.com.

(Via Court TV)

Google Map of Murder in New York - 2003-2005

2006-05-12T12:21:00.000-07:00

This New York Times Google Map illustrates the Murders committed in New York between 2003 and 2005.

From the New York Times:

Murder in New York: Killers and Their Victims in the Five Boroughs

Between 2003 and 2005, 1,662 murders were committed in New York. Men and boys were responsible for 93 percent of the murders; their victims tended to be other men and boys; and in more than half the cases, the killer and victim knew each other.

In addition, an interesting, though uncommon, group of murders involved a handful of victims who died of injuries one or more years after being stabbed, shot, beaten or burned and were counted as murder victims in the year in which they died.

For a related story, click here.

(Via New York Times)

Airport Activity - Time Lapse Video

2006-05-12T12:13:00.000-07:00

This time lapse video is from an airport in Europe. It's pretty neat to see activity, sped up and occur over a matter of minutes.

(Via BigFun.be)

Underground Soviet Submarine Base

2006-05-12T11:50:00.000-07:00

Here's a great example of the fear and general mentality between the US and former USSR during the cold war. More pictures can be found here.

Until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 Balaklava was one of the most secret towns in Russia. 10km south eas of Sevastopol on the Black Sea Coast, this small town was the home to a Nuclear Submarine Base.

Almost the entire population of Balaklava at the time worked at the Base, even family members could not visit the town of Balaklava without good reason and identification. The base remained operational after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 until 1993 when the decommissioning process started and the warheads and low yield torpedoes were removed. Then in 1996 the last Russian Submarine left the Base, and now you can go on Guided tours round the Cannel System, Base and small Museum, which is now housed in the old weapons stowage hangers deep inside the hillside.

(Via Neatorama)

Volkswagen's Automated Garage

2006-05-12T11:45:00.000-07:00

Volkswagen has a cool automobile storage facility in Wolfsburg, Germany - the multi-story parking garage can store the same number of car as a comparable facility in the US, but takes only 20% of the space. The automated retrieval system also allows the cars to be selected and delivered in less time and without the potential of being damaged by the attendant. Let's just hope that the power doesn't go out. Otherwise, both you and your vehicle are stuck.

Collecting your new car is an event in itself. "In a fully automated procedure, your new car is brought down to you from one of the 20-story Car Towers. Large signboards in the Customer Center show you when your turn has come. Then, you’re handed the keys, your picture is taken, the glass doors open and your brand-new car appears. You’re all set to go".

(Via Neatorama)

Spinny Cabinet

2006-05-10T18:15:00.000-07:00

The "Spinny Cabinet," is a set of free-swinging drawers stacked vertically on a 60" pole on castors. The twelve drawers rotate 180 degrees around the center bar and come in differing heights as well as in four different colors (black, white, red, or blue).

Design Joe Colombo Studio, 2005.
Injection-molded ABS. Made in Italy by B-Line.
49.2” h | 29.1” dia.

Available at Hive for $699.00 + free shipping in the continental U.S. (usually ships in 8-10 days)

(Via Boing Boing)

History of Dance - A six minute comedic look

2006-05-10T15:52:00.000-07:00

This six minute video shows comedian Judson Laipply recreating the history of contemporary dance, starting with Elvis's pelvis move and working up through time, with stops for Saturday Night Live, Walk Like an Egyptian, AC/DC, and Ice Ice Baby.

It's a great (as well as hilarious) look at the songs and moves that have shaped contemporary dance. See which songs/moves you remember.

(Via Boing Boing by Kottke)

Britney Spears - Everytime (Ambient Remix)

2006-05-10T15:47:00.000-07:00

As the news of Britney's pregnancy has been finally confirmed, I thought I'd post a cool remix of "Everytime" that I found on YouTube.

Enjoy the haunting and reflective Ambient Remix. I have no idea who did it, but bravo to them!

Dusty Tables

2006-05-07T23:39:00.000-07:00

From Jason Miller Studio, these tables are intentionally designed with a dusty look. Made out of maple, the designer has this to say: “It's inevitable. Tables get dusty. Why worry? The dust marks time. It tells a story. It remembers. Dusty Tables are a series of tables with a layer of what looks to be dust embedded in the finish.”

(Via Yanko Design)

Abandoned and Forgotten Places

2006-05-07T18:39:00.000-07:00

Photographer Kendall Anderson presents a collection of photos that demonstrates the 'abandonment, decay and industrial mayhem' of abandoned buildings, industrial sites, derelict structures and other places that society has forgotten or ignored over time.

Check out his photo galleries, he truly has an amazing eye and a gift for capturing emotion in things that we've forgotten.

(Via Neatorama)

Pizza box goes to hell

2006-05-04T23:10:00.000-07:00

A chain of New Zealand Pizza parlors, Hell Pizza, delivers its tasty pizza in box that does more than just keeps the pizza hot. After you've finished your meal and perhaps have a slice or two left over, the box can be broken down and folded into a coffin perfect for your dinner remains.

Check out the pizza box transformation.

(Via Boing Boing)

Petition: Stop the RIAA from suing thousands of fans!

2006-05-04T15:46:00.000-07:00

From Boing Boing:

The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is on a rampage, launching legal attacks against average Americans from coast to coast. After over 18,000 lawsuits and counting against P2P users, file sharing has continued to increase rapidly. Meanwhile, music fans, like 12 year-old Brittany LaHara, college student Cassi Hunt, and parent of five Cecilia Gonzalez, are being forced to pay thousands of dollars they do not have to settle RIAA-member lawsuits, and many other innocent individuals are being caught in the crossfire.

This irrational crusade is not generating a single penny for the artists that the RIAA claims to protect. The RIAA should be working to create a rational, legal means by which its customers can take advantage of file sharing technology and pay a fair price for the music they love. With artists increasingly turning against the lawsuits, momentum may be shifting in favor of a better way forward.

Copyright law shouldn't make criminals out of more than 60 million Americans Â tell Congress that it's time to stop the madness!

We have 73044 signatures so far - this is amazing! If we can get 100,000 signatures, we will deliver the petition to the Senate and House Commerce and Judiciary Commitees.

Get more information about and sign the petitionn here.

Mission Impossible III - Trailer

2006-05-04T13:34:00.000-07:00

Courtesy of Apple, here are four trailers for the M:i:III (Theatrical, Japan, Superbowl TV Spot, Teaser)

Mission Impossible III opens in theaters (in the U.S. at least) tomorrow, Friday, May 5.

Also check out the official website.

Solar Flare

2006-05-03T13:42:00.000-07:00

Here's a high-resolution picture of the sun taken by NASA’s Extreme Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope.

(Via Neatorama)

A Biscuit Font

2006-05-03T13:37:00.000-07:00

Create any logo you want in biscuits!

(Via Neatorama)

How spicy do you want it?

2006-05-03T13:18:00.000-07:00

Dave's Gourmet has created a new hot sauce to tackle the problem of people all wanting different levels of "hot".

The Adjustable Heat Hot Sauce dispenser contains two compartments, one full of spicy stuff, the other full of flavorsome oil, and a dial on the top mixes the two in real-time to your spiciness specification, producing a fine, hot mist.

The Adjustable Sauce has been featured on The Today Show and in Time Magazine. It was also a winner of Best New Product and Best Packaging at Chile Pepper Magazine's Fiery Food Challenge.

Available from Dave's Gourmet, $9.99 gets you a 7.1 oz. bottle.

(Via Boing Boing)

Britney Spears To Hold Mystery Press Conference

2006-05-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

From FemaleFirst.co.uk:

Britney Spears will hold a press conference on Thursday (May 4, 2006), but even her closest aides have no idea what she's going to announce.

The Toxic superstar has invited selected media representatives, journalists and record industry executives to the Los Angeles Convention Center.

The 24-year-old has not revealed what the subject matter of the press conference will be, but it is widely anticipated she will officially announce her second pregnancy with husband Kevin Federline.

Sony executive Karen Phillips says, "Britney hasn't held a press conference in so long that we know it's something big - pregnancy, a split, we're not sure."

Spears and Federline wed in September 2004 after a whirlwind romance and have eight-month-old son Sean Preston together.

The couple have been plagued by persistent rumours of relationship problems and have not been seen together in the past few weeks.

Jive Records and Spears' management team are reportedly planning to release her fifth album in November (06), and a world tour is tentatively scheduled for 2007.

Spears was also due to perform at numerous award shows this year (06), but has since cancelled the commitments without explanation.

I'm looking forward to her next album and hoping she gets back on top and is once again the entertainer that so many are used to and expecting.

(Via FemaleFirst.co.uk)

Roll of Tape + Ruler = Good idea

2006-05-02T18:54:00.000-07:00

Used in the theater and film industry to block of sets and stages, this cool tape is printed with a ruler on it. So you can measure (for practical sake or just fun) and tape at the same time!

Available through the Museum of Useful Things, $8 will buy you a roll 1/2" x 50 yards long.

(Via Boing Boing)

Docteur Gecko

2006-05-02T18:02:00.000-07:00

Docteur Gecko modifies bus shelter ads using light sensitive colors that are only visible at night. His results, his art, are generally dark or subversive comments on the subject. Check out Needled and Wooster Collective for more of Docteur Gecko's work.

(Via Cool Hunting)

Lesson for the Day: Don't buy a Powerbook in a Dark Alley

2006-05-02T17:19:00.000-07:00

The saying "you pay for what you get" is true in many circumstances. Here is just one additional example to prove that point.

Let's say you're looking for a screaming deal on an Apple Powerbook. Apparently someone who (poor thing) must not have "all of the lights on upstairs" purchased, what they thought, was a brand new Powerbook. Turns out that not what they got. While the box was authentic, this person's $200 simply got them a really poorly made fake laptop. Constructed of a gray garbage bag and cardboard, it was then spray-painted platinum silver and topped off with a hand-painted Apple logo.

You pay for what you get!

(Via Cult of Mac)

X-Men: The Last Stand - Trailer

2006-05-02T16:28:00.000-07:00

Check out the theatrical trailers for (X3) X-Men: The Last Stand courtesy of Apple.

Also visit the official movie website.

Superman Returns - Trailer

2006-05-02T16:23:00.000-07:00

Superman Returns looks pretty awesome! Check out the trailers (yes there's more than one) at Apple.

Wool Rug Resembles a Flattened Cardboard Box

2006-05-02T12:36:00.000-07:00

For those corrugated cardboard box lovers out there, here's a wool rug that resembles a flattened cardboard box. Definitely interesting.

(Via Boing Boing)

Nintendo Game Boy Cufflinks

2006-05-02T12:32:00.000-07:00

Looking to add a bit of game into your next dress shirt? Try these Nintendo Game Boy Cufflinks. You can relive the good 'ol days of the Game Boy and pack a little bit of Tetris punch wherever you go.

(Via Boing Boing)

Beer Spas

2006-05-01T17:31:00.000-07:00

Beer Spas have been gaining popularity over the past 10 years. They have popped up in Central and Western Europe; specifically in Austria, Germany, and the Czech Republic. At these beer spas revolve around beer; you drink it, bathe in it, smell it, in short your immerse your entire being in it. For a truly unique experience, try the brewski facial: a gooey face mask made from ground hops, malt, honey and cream cheese. These half hour bath treatments start at about $55. Read more about these beer spa experiences at the New York Times.

(Via The Luxist)

3M Security Glass

2006-05-01T14:09:00.000-07:00

Check out this outdoor bus shelter ad from 3M. Apparently this ad was displayed in Vancouver, BC where $500 of real cash and the remainder fake money was displayed in a 3M Security Glass case.

Check out the post and comments for this ad via 37 Signals.

(Via Gizmodo)

Sweet Dreams Security

2006-05-01T13:51:00.000-07:00

A whimsical look at security products, Sweet Dreams Security brings a "cute factor" into some typical security products, like barbed wire, locks and chains.

Check out a story on founder and designer Matthias Megyeri and his security products from the BBC. If you're interested, you can order Sweet Dreams Security products directly online or stop by Paul Smith in New York or LA.

(Via Boing Boing)

iPod Speaker Review, Part 2

2006-04-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

Here is the second part of Cool Hunting's iPod Speaker Review. For part 2, Cool Hunting focused on larger systems designed to take the place of the traditional home stereo. Check out Part 1 here.

YouTube's Success: Ease of Use

2006-04-28T11:56:00.000-07:00

Xeni Jardin at Boing Boing commented about YouTube today. I couldn't agree more with both her and the commentary by Slate's Paul Boutin.

Xeni Jardin:
A terrific Slate piece by Paul Boutin about the factors contributing to YouTube's success: it's easy to use, and it doesn't "tell you what to do." Snip:
The guys behind YouTube hit the sweet spot. Most important, they made it head-slappingly easy to publish and play video clips by handling the tricky parts automatically. Given up on BitTorrent because it feels like launching a mission to Mars? If you've sent an e-mail attachment, you've got the tech skills to publish on YouTube.

To post your own video, sign up for a free account and go to the Upload page. Select your file, click the Upload Video button, and you're done! YouTube's servers convert your vid to a standardized format, but you don't need to know what that format is. If you send the URL to your aunt, it'll play in her browser without spraying the screen with pop-ups and errors.

You don't have to upload video to use YouTube. If you just like to watch, it's even easier. There's no software to install, no settings to muck with. The video auto-plays as soon as you load the page, without launching more windows—why can't CNN do that?

Three months ago, I predicted Google Video would become the hottest thing on the Net. I was wrong, and I think Google has failed to take off for the simple reason that it's more annoying to use than YouTube. To begin with, you have to install Google's special uploading application. When I tried to upload the same clips I'd posted to YouTube, Google's app wouldn't let me. I combed through the FAQ and found this: "While we also support other digital formats such as QuickTime, Windows Media, and RealVideo … submitting your files in these formats may significantly delay us from using them on Google Video." Come on, guys. Whatever happened to "I'm Feeling Lucky?"

Don't miss the lip-sync clip he links to. And Sam Anderson has a separate piece on Slate that takes a kiddingly serious look at the lip-sync genre.

(Via Boing Boing)

Animated Courier Movement Map

2006-04-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Here's a cool animated map (4MB MPEG) of eCourier's courier movement and routes in London over a three day period. It's pretty neat to see, in time-lapse, the routes and how busy this courier gets!

(Via Cartography)

Tipping Etiquette

2006-04-26T18:20:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post has a great article about the etiquette of tipping, what's expected and not as well as tipping abroad. It's a helpful insight into tipping; check it out!

Safety Procedures

2006-04-26T18:00:00.000-07:00

Check out We Make Money Not Art's post on Safety Procedures.

It's a funny and interesting collection of article/posting on airtravel. Thanks, Regine! :)

(Via We Make Money Not Art)

Map of the World's Billionaires

2006-04-26T01:53:00.000-07:00

Ever wondered where the world's billionaires are located? To satisfy our curiosity, Forbes has mapped them out for us!

(Via Neatorama)

Rumor: Britney Spears is pregnant again

2006-04-26T01:40:00.000-07:00

MSNBC is reporting (from source US Weekly) that Britney Spears is pregnant with her second child with husband Kevin Federline. Apparently she and hubby KFed were spotted at one of the pools at Caesar's Palace in Vegas last weekend. Britney looked visibly pregnant and sources also confirmed the pregnancy to US Weekly.

If this is true, it looks like Britney will be mothering two children. So is her singing career on hold? What will come of her? Only time will tell.

(Via MSNBC)

Vote for the World's Ugliest Dog

2006-04-25T17:58:00.000-07:00

Have your say at determining the "World's Ugliest Dog". The Sonoma-Marin Fair (June 21-25, 2006) is having a contest to determine the "World's Ugliest Dog." This year will mark the 18th Annual World's Ugliest Dog Contest Championship. The winner gets a $1,000 prize and the honor of the title of "World's Ugliest Dog".

Is having a really ugly dog something to be proud of? Check out and vote for your "winner".

(Via Random Good Things)