Performance Art Tokyo Time

Click here for the complete show.


Thanks RedFerret

Terrapass. Scam?

After every disaster there's some scumbag trying to make a profit from the misery.

FLVR

"Getting Flash video (.FLVs) from a website, to your computer has never been simpler. FLVR integrates smoothly into Safari, making it simple to save your favorite movies or clips from within the browser. FLVR produces iPod-friendly Quicktime videos (MPEG-4), so you can take your favorites with you wherever you go! Best of all, it's one-click simple." -TastyApps

2008 Mini Clubman

Austin/Morris made a version of the Mini they called the Clubman. It was an attempt to modernise the styling of the Mini, but ultimately the Mini Clubman was fazed-out while the Mini continued in production until October 2000.

Now BMW is using the Clubman name on an estate version of their Mini. A more historically accurate name would have been "Traveller". That was the name Austin/Morris used for a 2-door estate version of the Mini.

Photos from Jalopnik
Categories:Cars

Old and New

These two houses are next to the church on 7th Avenue at Irving Street. Until last month they were hidden by a Victorian bungalow. The bungalow was demolished and the site excavated for something new. These two modest houses are being held up by a steel frame until their basements are built.

Categories:San Francisco

Architecture of Integration

House on 9th Avenue at Kirkham St.

The architect has preserved the facade of this single family home, but demolished everything behind it.

Whatever is built there will integrate well with the neighbourhood.

Update, September 9th, 2007:
The carpenters decided to build a replica of the top floor facade.

Categories:San Francisco Architecture

Stairway to Storage

Thanks Knuttz

Beach Beasts

These huge kinetic sculptures by Theo Jansen are very light weight, and would be powered by the wind. They have the fluid motion of real animals.


Thanks DesignBoom
Categories:Art

Sleep

I sleep more on my back, and less in the fetal position. And never on my stomach.

The reason for this is that I fall asleep listening to podcasts, and the ear buds are uncomfortable if I lie on my side for too long.

I wonder if other people fall asleep listening to their iPod?

Thanks TecheBlog

Save YouTube Videos to iPod (Mac)

It's called TubeTV, and it's free for the Mac.

Open TubeTV. Click on "Grab URL". YouTube will open in the application. When you find a video you'd like to download, click on "Save".

In iTunes, click on "File/Import/" and select the video. Then right click on the movie you just imported, and select "Convert Selection for iPod/AppleTV".

Don't Get Fooled Again!

"... the IonFlow 50F Air Purifier is an energy-efficient and quiet machine that's been proven to remove more than 99% of airborne pollutants in fewer than five hours and without producing any ozone." -from Design Within Reach

"... the IonStyle is ... filter-free and works completely silently." -Gizmodo

Ok then. We have a new silent, filter less air purifier.
Do those words sound familiar? They should! Sharper Image suckered 2 million customers into buying these useless door stops under the Ionic Breeze name.

Common sense would tell you these things don't work. Even if you don't understand the physics of ionising air particles, it should be enough for you to know that there is close to no airflow through these devices. And therefore they can't be cleaning the air. Simple as that! Put a fan in it, and it might work.

Don't give your money to DWR for this useless device.

Categories:Consumer

Newspaper TV and Radio

go2web20.net

A directory of some 1400 web2.0 applications and services listed by Logo, keyword, date and name. This is your chance to find out what's useful to you, without the information being filtered by people like me.

And if you're not watching The Queue, give it a whirl.

Thanks CNET TV The Queue

Miscreants

Hewlett Packard HP35s

Named after the ground-breaking 1972 pocket calculator that killed off the slide rule, the HP35s is Hewlett Packards attempt at a retro styled calculator. And at only $60, it should prove popular with nerds of my generation. Next, I'd like to see them reintroduce the HP25c!



Thanks Retro Thing
Categories:Gadgets Science

Sicko

On Saturday we saw Michael Moore's latest documentary, Sicko, at West Portal.

I'm foreign born (NZ), and I'm used to hearing my countrymen criticize their own country the way Michael Moore criticizes the US. Outside of the US, people are not particularly patriotic, and we like it that way.

Michael Moore accurately shows the American style of capitalism in his documentaries. Many Americans don't want to see these things in a movie. They don't want him to make America look bad. MM is not making America look bad. The capitalists who run this country are making America look bad, and they're making it a bad place to live. They have made America into a hideous Darwinist experiment. They have introduced the profit motive into health care, education, prisons, and war. And worst of all, they have convinced us that we should side with their class because we can aspire to join them.

Categories:Politics Movies

Antonov-An225

Built in 1988 for the Soviet space programme, the worlds' largest aeroplane made its' first commercial flight in 2002 for Antonov Airlines (and Air Foyle HeavyLift).

Demand for the An-225 exceeded booking capacity, and in 2006 the decision was made to complete the second An-225 which had been mothballed after the cancellation of the Buran space shuttle program. Assembly should be completed by 2008.

Crew: 6
Payload: 250,000 kg (551,000 lb)
Door dimensions: 440 x 640 cm (14.4 x 21.0 ft)
Length: 84 m (276 ft)
Wingspan: 88.40 m (291 ft 2 in)
Height: 18.1 m (59.3 ft)
Wing area: 905.0 m² (9,741 ft²)
Empty weight: 175,000 kg (385,800 lb)
Max takeoff weight: 640,000 kg (1,322,773 lb)
Powerplant: 6× ZMKB Progress D-18 turbofans, 229 kN (51,600 lbf) each
Takeoff run: 3,500 m (11,500 ft) with maximum payload
Performance
Maximum speed: 850 km/h (460 knots, 530 mph)
Cruise speed: 750 km/h (400 knots, 465 mph)
Range:
With maximum fuel: 14,000 km (8,700 mi)
With maximum payload: 4,000 km (2,500 mi)
Service ceiling: 10,000 m (33,000 ft)
Wing loading: 662.9 kg/m² (135.5 lb/ft²)
Thrust/weight: 0.234

All information from Wikipedia

New Breed of Very Tall Buildings

CityBloc.com has posted a list of the most interesting large buildings under construction or in the planning stages.

The Chicago Spire above, which will be 2000' high, is designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. It will be the tallest building in North America, and the tallest residential building in the world.

Thanks Tropolism
Categories:Architecture

Sexy Beast

Portrait "created referencing the classic fashion studio shoot used by Giorgio Armani and Calvin Klein".

Thanks Daniel Eatock
Categories:Art

Branch Table

Steal this idea. Grow your own furniture.

Propeller has it. Designer Harry Allen $560.

Categories:Furniture

Steampunk Keyboard

Rumour is that Apple will introduce a new iMac in a few weeks, and it will have a MacBook-style keyboard. That keyboard looks like it came off a Casio desktop calculator, and is one of the reasons I don't own a MacBook. But I'll give Apple the benefit of the doubt, and I'll assume they'll give the new keyboard real clickityclack sound and feel.

Though, if I could have any keyboard, I would have this one:





Images from Steampunk Workshop
Categories:Gadgets


Update 7/16/08:
Here's a monitor to match the keyboard.

Thanks Unplggd

The Cost of Commuting

The high price of petrol and bridge tolls is costing me $400 a month. So I applied for a job close to home with the City of San Francisco.

I have an interview on Monday for a job at SFO. The job pays less than I make now, but once I figure in the 3 hour commute time and the money I'll save, then the difference isn't too bad. And a job with the City has union representation and good benefits.

Whether or not to take the job will be a very hard decision.

Changes

I've made some changes around here.

First I converted the web cam to video using the free service Ustream. Then I added a second webcam using this html.

Why do I need two web cams? Because the firewire cam in our dining room can stream live video of the street, but the other images of the GG Bridge and the SF skyline will only update periodically. So I display those images separately.

You might get a kick out of the portable TreoCam. I can update the web cam image no matter where I am. I especially think it's cool to use on the drive to work. Watch me drive from SF to Fremont between 2:45 and 4pm. To make this possible I use Cellicast software on my Treo 650.

And lastly, I've added the vod:pod widget in the sidebar to show some of my videos.

Categories:Gadgets

Locking Wheels

Some supermarkets use shopping carts with locking wheels. Up until now, shopping carts with anti-theft locking wheels were easy to spot because one of the wheels would have a hood hiding the sensor and locking mechanism. If you venture beyond a certain radius of the store entrance, then one of the wheels will lock to prevent the cart from moving.

But our Target shopping cart was a new design with the lock built inside of the wheel. And it locked a wheel on the way to Lani's car. Other people were having the same problem: getting stranded half way to their cars. It was a comedy.

Ic! Berlin Spectacle Frames

I picked up my new prescription frames from City Optix today.
I choose Ic! Berlin because of their simple light flexible construction, and unique hinge design.

The glasses are made in Germany from three simple steel stampings.
The hinges are screw-less, but the frames come in a clear plastic case that screws together.

Global Warming Mug

"Just pour in a hot beverage and see the effects of a 100-meter rise in sea level."
Patina Stores has it. $12.

Thanks Crib Candy
Categories:Gadgets

Dog Food

Knuttz calls it the "funniest dog costume ever".
Click on the photo for more photos.

Our 4th of July

Lani and I had the best Independence Day ever. We were invited to a pool party and BBQ at Charles' and Karen's home in San Rafael. What a house! And their backyard is China Camp state park. Their house is at the end of a cul-de-sac, so it's very quiet and private. Charles built a huge deck on multiple levels, even going so far as to have timbers bowed in a steam oven (boat building style) to create a dining 'booth' next to the BBQ.

Our good friends Josh, Amy, Pauline, Ann, and Brian were there, and we made reconnections with acquaintances, and made new friends.

Minutes after getting there, we were floating in the (very deep) pool.

We ate oysters, ribs, chicken, Korean short ribs, and a superb salad.

Lani and I watched fireworks from the roof deck, then retired to the hot tub.

Thanks Charles and Karen. We had a great time!

Categories:Friends

A Bale of Sand

Photo by the Roadside Scholar

Thanks Notcot
Categories:Art

Aeroplanes II

One year ago I was admiring these photos by Jeffrey Milsein.
Now his collection has expanded from 18 to 49, including this interesting asymmetric underside.

Thanks DesignBoom
Categories:Art

BMW 1 Series

Jalopnik and others are reporting that the 2008 128i and 135i coupes are bound for the States.
The more practical 3-door and 5-door 118i and 120i won't be coming here, so hold onto your 318ti! Also not being offered here are the diesel models.

The styling follows the Chris Bangle designs of resent years, so you either like it or loath it.

My choice would be the 4 cylinder 120i 3-door (the white car pictured above). But I suppose BMW USA though such a modest car would compete with their own Mini Cooper S.

Just the Facts:
On sale Spring 2008
128i: 3.0L I6 w/ 230 hp and 200lb-ft
135i: 3.0L twin-turbo I6 w/ 300 hp and 300 lb-ft
135i: 0-62 in 5.3 sec, 155 mph top speed

Categories:Cars