The Robot's Thoughts

Since I posted a small rant last night and have yet to get any comments, I figure I'll dazzle everyone with a small list of links that I stumbled on today while taking a break from the research I'm doing for one of my software projects.

Rhapsody Music is selling 114 songs in DRM free 256kpbs MP3 format from the smashing pumpkins. That's $.18/song. Its all rarities or B-sides. This won't last long, so if you're got the $20 to spend on the album, go for it.

This post on the consumerist gives the skinny about the "non-mechanics" at a Jiffy Lube intentionally wrecking a new Pontiac G6's oil plug when the owner requests that they leave it a little loose now that "her husband will be changing her oil from now on". It goes without saying that places like Jiffy Lube and Grease Monkey employ people willing to work on cars all day for $6/hour and have no vocational school training (at least, none is required) or any certifications. That's why its always a good idea to either do it yourself (if you're capable) or take it to a trained, skilled, and (hopefully bonded) mechanic. Consider any difference in price "piece of mind".

If you are in the market for a new car, say because you've found out that Mazda, Honda, and Mitsubishi are all offering 0% APR for 60 months (that's a long time) for qualified buyers, or because you're getting married and need to lay the old clunker to rest before its wheels fall off, Consumer Reports has published a list of the top 10 most fuel efficient cars in price per mpg. That means getting the most fuel bang for you buck. The Honda Fit Sport leads the pack, with the Mazda 3 and Toyota Prius following close behind it. Not seen on the list: Any American made economy cars. Let's hope GM's still around to release the Chevy Volt in 2010.

Speaking of the Chevy Volt, if the idea of a plug in series hybrid car that's almost as aerodynamic as the Honda Insight that can get nearly 40 miles range on its electric motor, there's an "Unofficial Wait List" to indicate interest to GM. They also want to know what you think the Volt is worth (as in your ideal MSRP) and what you'd put down on one as a down payment/deposit.

Even though the Volt is planning on being released in 2010, don't expect to see too many of them. GM is having them built by hand just like the EV1. That means production is going to be limited to 10,000 vehicles the first year. And it means its very easy to shut down production because the labor is costly (making the car more expensive) and the factory doesn't have to be re-tooled. Expect GM to bet that the price of oil will drop, gas will level out at $3.50/gallon for a year or two, and people will feel comfortable with a V6 Chevy Tahoe "CrossOver". The American auto industry's tombstone will read "They just didn't get it".

On a lighter note, here's a post titled "10 Things You Should Know About Asian Girls...Revised". If you're well adjusted, this is going to read as "common sense". Things like "Don't assume I speak bad english. I could be faking it to get away from the creepy old guy." and "Don't assume I get turned on by you knowing Kung Fu." and "My family will want to see if you're interested in just me, or also interested and accepting of my culture."

So it may not be an interesting read for you. Its the tone that I like. Its written like its talking down to the kind of D.C. douchebag that bemoans that "dating is sooooo hard" and that from now on, he's only dating Latina or Asian women exclusively, because white women figure out his passive-aggressive bullshit before he could even mention that he "used to be a millionaire on paper". Old soapbox postings like that get me all choked up, if just because the level of pathetic and stupid mixed in such a douchey way.

Lastly, after that rant, I'm going out on a classy note. Here's an article talking about the easiest income source for hot chicks: Internet Money. You don't even have to get naked or be a cam-whore. These days, so many people are online, that a video of you playing Wii Fit in your boyfriend's t-shirt and a bikini bottom might be enough to earn you some crazy AdSense cash. Didn't really watch any of the videos since YouTube is kinda "not acceptable use" but I'm sure someone, somewhere is offended at the idea of "hinting about showing your boobies == money".

Labels: blogging, cars, gas prices, links, music, Reddit, soapbox, video, youtube

Here's a site that's worth checking out.
Its basically a small-university IT employee cataloging the absenteeism of her incompetent boss, Bob.

I'm sure the names are changed to protect the innocent, but again, its an entertaining read. It reminds me of the combined stupidity of the managers of my old, old workplace. We called it it "Rob and Paul Show". The downside was they weren't nearly absent enough for anyone to get any real work done.

Kudos to the saint of all chucks for the find.

Labels: corporate culture, links, Reddit, thoughts

Here's a link that shows a list of images found doing a google image search for the word "Oops". Safe for work.

You know that guy at the office that you really want to prank? Sign him up for a Hannah Montana wake up call.

An internet blog post titled "how to hire an idiot".

Enjoy. More later.

Labels: links, ramblings, Reddit

Here's some links to entertain you. This is what I was reading today that made me laugh.

There's a new search engine on the block trying to take down "The Google". Its called Cuil.com. Its supposed to be pronounced as "Cool". It also apparently sucks (but I haven't tried it). But here's a story about how Cuil.com has supposedly blown through 33 million in venture capital by doing things like paying for lunch and breakfast for every employee, having a personal trainer on staff for all employees, every employee having a gym membership, a doctor making the rounds after the company wide Friday BBQ, and a sports car for every executive.

Carl's Jr. has come out with a new breakfast sandwhich that can only be described as "Nothing I’d rather shut my heart down with more than bacon, egg, cheese, and sausage. I just hope it’s not too big. I would hate to not be able to eat one of these while I cram a second one straight up my asshole."

Finally, here's a documentary if you've got an hour to kill: Its called "The Future of Food". It takes about genetically engineered food and the risks involved in contaminating the food supply, and organic food. Its really, really interesting and I recommend it.

Labels: links, movies, Reddit, software, video, web 2.0

This just in among British Men: Curves are the new thin.

Labels: links, pictures, ramblings, Reddit

I found three articles I really felt like sharing from my usual social news site, Reddit.com

1. Why I'm (Probably) Leaving The Mac Platform: A Bucknell Student (disclaimer: I'm a sort-of alumni) whining about how its wrong that Apple updates their OS platform, strives to make it more unix-compatible than Linux, how it has a separate window manager, blah blah blah. I'll probably do a post later really smacking the shit out of this poor, know-nothing kid, but right now the entire blogosphere is calling this guy a waaahmbulance.
2. Truth or Consequences NYTimes Op-Ed Column: I really like this article for the same reason it will piss off most people in the US. It makes sense. At $4/gallon for gas, people actually start to cut back on driving. This didn't happen at $3/gallon gas, even though economists predicted it would. So, this columnist is calling for a price minimum of $4/gallon. That means if gas prices drop down to $2/gallon again (unlikely) the government would impose a $2/gallon gas tax, which would be used to fund public transportation, alternate, green energy, and buying back people's gas guzzling SUVs so they can be crushed.
   
3. The New Homeless of America: Rent is so high in Santa Barbra that people laid off because of the housing crash are finding themselves sleeping in their car, in special parking lots where its legal (sleeping in your car in a public street is illegal). This article, which I found to be slightly heart breaking, details one Santa Barbra resident whose been laid off and is living in her car with her two dogs. Sadly, the number of people using these parking lots are likely to grow.
   

Labels: gas prices, links, politics, pop culture, ramblings, Reddit

This guy should realize that you don't post a photo on the internet unless you're comfortable with people everyone re-posting it, using it in every way imaginable.

Labels: blogging, crazy people, links, pictures, Reddit

Labels: Reddit, web comics

The final whisper in the movie "Lost In Translation" -- people have been debating what Bill Murry says when he whispers in her ear.

Watch the video to find out.

Labels: links, movies, Reddit, youtube

<> so I was with my friend bryan the other night in a bar
<> well he got really drunk and said he was gonna puke
<> so i helped him walk to the toilet
<> all the stalls were occupied
<> lol
<> bryan is a rugby player... so a big guy
<> so he fucking KICKS one of the stall doors open
<> and there's this guy in there taking a shit
<> hahahahahaha
<> and bryan throws up ALL OVER HIM
<> then (this is genius) bryan thinks 'oh shit... if i were taking a shit and someone came in and was sick all over me, i'd want to fuck him up... so i'd better hit him first'
<> so he fucking SMACKS this guy in the face
<> and runs away
<> imagine being that guy... WORST NIGHT OUT EVER

Labels: IM conversations, links, me trying to be funny, Reddit

2 Middle school brothers rescued a pair of abandoned, starving kittens trapped in a sewer. They pried open a manhole to rescue the poor things. Its a touching and brief story. If you need a win today, it'll pick you right up.

Labels: kittens, links, Reddit

Perhaps the best campaign to raise awareness in a mental illness since "Support the Rabid".

Labels: links, pictures, Reddit

Here's a link (via reddit) to 30 apps that are open source for the windows (and sometimes mac os x / linux) platform that serve as competitors to proprietary software that's out there.

Labels: links, open source, Reddit, software

Read This.

Labels: links, Reddit

Tomorrow I get to participate in the largest meeting of my career. It's the first time I've been asked to wear a full business suit to work. Usually the witty t-shirt and ripped jeans will play. I've been meaning to go to bed, but a nap has spoiled me, and I've been up thinking and ironing shirts.

Some minor updates

• Transformers is of course, awesome. Loved it.


• Harry Potter wasn't half bad. I saw it with the girlfriend over the weekend.


• I went hiking at Cooper's Rock and it wasn't half bad. That's a nice way to start off your saturday.


• Erin and I attended an above ground pool party with her co-workers in the mental health profession. It was one of those times in my life where I'm reminded that when it comes to binge drinking, I'm still in the little leagues. I can't drink too much shitty beer because it makes me feel full and it tastes worse when chugged. I can't do crazy "expresso sized" shots of jager. Those make me puke (especially when warm). On the other hand, my baby plays a mean game of flip cup.


• Here's the Family Guy 300 trailer. This will leave you in stiches.


• I added the honesty box on Facebook -- it's a "mini-app" that lets people basically write you anonymous messages. Here's the only message I've received:

  "i have had a crush on you forever. You are so cute and funny and smart. but alas nothing will ever happen. good luck in life i know you will go far."

  In my group of friends, there's no telling who wrote that. Or if they were serious. Its one of those things that will drive you mad if you think about it. But its pretty easy to let go.


• I want to see I am Legend so bad. It looks awesome.

I take the GREs on Thursday. I'm prepared and I know what to expect, but I still a little jittery about it. Anyone who wants to wish me luck is more than welcome.

I'm also sorry to my two best friends that left Fairmont but are in town this weekend. I'd love to spend time with both of you, but there's some pressing stuff going on right now, otherwise I'd be out with you right now.

Labels: late night, links, personal, Reddit, video, youtube

This is another post where I put up links from Reddit.com.


Here's some favorite quotes from Chuck Palahniuk -- the author of Fight Club, Survivor, Invisible Monsters, and Rant (and many more!)


Learning By Example: How Bad Code Proprogates. This talks about how some tech books have incredibly poorly written code samples (and even worse when it comes to editing, formatting, etc) and while a good/great programmer might be able to grasp what the author was hinting at and build a top notch implementation, the average or poor programmer will re-use the bad example code without understanding.

The Republicans are on the wrong side of history. This is a commentary article on the GOP Primary "debates", and how not a single candidate would support gays in the military. The commentator goes on to compare "seperate but equal" the phrase of segregation to "don't ask, don't tell", which is our current policy. Its well worth a read. If anything, you'll find yourself agreeing that there's a huge lack of leadership and vision on both camps.

Reactance is the psychological principal where one does the opposite of what one is persuading them to do. Such as teens drinking because alcohol is prohibited. Or kids rebelling because of the rules being too strict.

Pictures of Iraq, as seen through soldiers' eyes. I found this to be pretty moving. Some people took pictures of spots where comrades had fallen. Others just declared their love for their girlfriend Kelly on the side of their tank.

Crod Porn: A photographer on flickr.com took pictures of people's faces in a mosh pit waiting for the Red Hot Chili Peppers to come on stage. Everyone was stripped down to minimal clothing, hot, sweaty, and with a look of anguish on their face. It looks like an orgy (but isn't) -- and not the good kind. (Links are safe for work).

Labels: AJAX, links, pictures, politics, pop culture, quotables, ramblings, Reddit, thoughts

This article on Wired.com shows you gas prices all around the world. Iran is very cheap because of subsidy. Oslo, Norway is very expensive because its implemented carbon taxes. And everything in between.

Labels: gas prices, links, Reddit, Wired.com

Here's how to explain what it feels like "losing the one" to a gamer.

SergioThree: there's other fish in the sea, man, she's just a girl
Beatsfromkorea: no dude, that's bullshit.
Beatsfromkorea: Think of it this way. if your precious copy of street fighter third strike broke and i told you "it's ok man, there's other games in the sea. here, play mortal kombat instead" what would you say? you'd be like, "fuck that, gimme third strike."
SergioThree: ...
SergioThree: you just reached me on a level that i never thought possible

Labels: IM conversations, Reddit

Can't afford a home? Don't worry -- your taxes will pay for someone else's!

This article talks about how now that the housing market is collasping, house prices are falling. So if you were intelligent and have good credit, now would be a good time to buy, except that some states are issuing tax-income subsides and state-bond backed loans to people who took advantage of the sub prime lending craze. So home prices aren't dropping -- benefiting the rich who bought homes at inflated values, and benefiting those who have already proven they are a bad credit risk. So basically, in many states right now, you are being penalized for doing the right thing and being a responsible citizen.

Switching to CFLs world wide could lead to the shut down of over 270 coal fired power plants.

This is one of the low-hanging fruit we can all take part in (and save a few dollars ourselves in the long run) that benefits both our wallet and the environment.

Here's an article titled: Giving up on Microsoft

The guy basically talks about how his perception of computing was "Why do people hate Microsoft so much?" Then he actually tried to develop to web standards and found that nothign really works with Microsoft. Its more complicated than that. He makes overtures about reaching across the isle and what not, but this article deserves a full response blog post.

Men's Health: Genius Junk Food

It turns out things like sour cream and pork rinds and coconut won't kill you if you use them in moderation.

Report shows consumers being price gouged at the gas pump

This one is from the "As if anybody didn't know" department.

Labels: ramblings, Reddit, thoughts

Bill Moyers interviews Jon Stewart.

Jon Stewart, in this interview, is as insightful about the truth of the games being played in D.C. as he is funny on comedy central. Well worth the half hour.

Check it out here.

Labels: Bill Moyers, Jon Stewart, PBS, politics, quicktime, Reddit, video

Cracked.com features an article about 5 comedians who were comedy gold, and later turned into family-friendly douchebags that aren't funny at all. Stevie Martin, Robin Williams, and Eddie Murphy, I'm looking in your direction.

Enjoy.

Labels: me trying to be funny, Reddit

I've gone deep, and gone silent. I'm as horrible a blogger as I am a human being :).

Anyway, to entertain everyone while I cook up a post (fresh and hot, just how you like it) I thought I'd post a link to a hilarious clip from youtube: Pinky the cat. Its an old internet classic, and it just blows me away with laughter every time I see it.

Pinky The Cat.

Enjoy! (And yes, I got this link from soapbox -- thanks Alan)

Labels: cat, Reddit, soapbox, video, youtube

http://www.randomkittengenerator.com/

All kinds of cute kitten pics -- randomly selected.

Labels: kitten war, kittens, links, Reddit

In this article a fraternity in Texas basically killed a pledge by hazing him by making him drink. What sucks more? Drinking till you get sick and shaking off a hangover? Or not having to drink a drop of alcohol for the 7-10 weeks you're pledging? And from a liability standpoint, insisting that minors joining your social organization can't imbibe alcohol as a 'test of their responsibility' can't be considered hazing.

So now Lambda Phi Epsilon is kicked off campus of Austin University until 2011. Good job guys! Hats off. Why not volunteer to make some sexist, racist remarks to Borat in front of his documentary crew?

Labels: Frat's Suck, Reddit

Here's a blog article found via Reddit for you to read:
15 foods you can't live without.

Labels: nutrition, Reddit

The author of the blog Furious Seasons, a former professional journalist, decided to rant about this whole "web 2.0" thingie.

The hilarious part is that the buzzword "web 2.0" was made up by, get this, a print publisher. Not by geeks. He then went on to asset that online news -- mainly bloggers performing citizen journalism -- were a bad thing. They must be -- because they're gutting print media. Just like google is gutting classified advertising, the mainstay of print journalism. He then tells the "web 2.0" geeks that they have no balls, and no soul.

Being an engineer and a web developer, I thought I'd respond. Here is the comment I posted. I have a feeling it won't get past his moderation. It seems he's worried about catching quite a few flames.

I wonder why?

Update: He has posted more comments, and mine made it through his moderation filter.

Hahahahaha. Right. Google is bad because effective search with minimal advertising (yes, *minimal* -- and very easy to block with almost no knowledge, if that's how you roll) made the net usable.

You're a journalist. Stop and self-examine yourself. What is it a journalist does that a regular person with a blog doesn't do? Nothing. Blogging -- citizen journalists have already surpassed mainstream media (MSM) in content.

Let's see, thanks to your profession, we let this administration get away with calling anti-war activists 'un-American'. We had out-spoken politicians that raised serious, legitimate doubts about the war silence. We had the manipulated intelligence scandal AFTER finding there were no WMDs. Great timely reporting there, thanks MSM.

We had a CIA operative outed -- once again, thanks your government shilling. Speaking of PROFRESSIONAL journalism doing a better job than citizen journalists, where was the fact-checking on "They will greet us a liberators"?

Why is it the editors of the NYT stood alone in referring to GWB as "Mr. Bush" and not "President Bush"? Why will the editors of major publications run Op-Eds slamming the presidents, but won't go on the record for or against impeachment?

Your profession was kindly referred to as the "4th estate". You had a responsibility in keeping the citizen informed on the important events or not -- regardless of the citizen's apathy. Your profession pissed it all away for full-color sports pages and Dear Abby. Throw in a couple of press releases ("New gizmo reduces pollution in coal plants, so we at Coal International want you to know that coal isn't bad for the environment.") passed off as News and a bunch of crappy ads and you've got a modern newspaper.

There's nothing really modern about it. *Gasp*.

You're still trying to tell me how fabulous the emperor's new clothes are, over all the laughter coming from the citizen journalists at the blog party.

A journalist talking to an engineer about balls and soul is like a nun trying to give sex advice to a porn star. Seriously, what kind of drugs are you ON?

Here's an informative story you can run by your editor: The CEO of American Bridge, in 2004, while speaking at the University of Pittsburgh, stated "The liberal arts degree of the 21st century will be engineering and science." What he means to say is something soft on science/engineering will basically relegate to you an overpaid high school graduate. If you want to do anything meaningful, go to law school, enter politics, run a business, get a real job, you will need an engineering/science degree. Don't believe me? Ask the 400,000 Chinese engineers that graduate every year, as they steamroll past our soon-to-be declining economy.

Labels: ramblings, Reddit, thoughts, web 2.0

This article lists some interesting facts.

Among the highlights:

8. The U.S. government has paid about $1.5 billion in benefits to thousands of sick nuclear-weapons workers since 2001.
(I wonder when we'll get my uncle's check.)

14. An impact crater 18 miles in diameter was found 12,500 feet under the Indian Ocean.

22. The hole in the earth's ozone layer is closing - and could be entirely closed by 2050. Meanwhile, the amount of greenhouse gases is increasing.
(And I'm 100% confident our science-friendly government will get everyone to band together and solve this problem, just like we did with the Ozone layer....)

25. Women gain weight when they move in with a boyfriend because their diet deteriorates, but men begin to eat more healthy food when they set up a home with a female partner.
(so let me get this straight, even as a guy begins to take diet seriously, what he eats is still worse for his partner than if she were living single? Are all these single women crysterbeating?)

28. Around the world, middle-aged and elderly men tend to be more satisfied with their sex lives than women in the same age group, a new survey shows.
(maybe they're seeing the world through blue-pill colored glasses?)

32. Just 30 minutes of continuous kissing can diminish the body's allergic reaction to pollen, relaxing the body and reducing production of histamine, a chemical cell given out in response to allergens.
(it doesn't say where they're kissing...)

39. The common pigeon can memorize 1,200 pictures.
(and I can't remember where I stashed my keys!!!!)

43. Sleeping in on Saturday and Sunday can disturb your body clock, leaving you fatigued at the start of the week.
(we DIDN'T know this in 2005? Seriously? Oh, yeah, maybe its because too many scientists are going to bed early on their friday and saturday nights.)

45. During the past five years, the existence of a peanut allergy in children has doubled.
(this makes trail mix all the more tempting to give out on halloween.)

46. Photos taken of Mars in 1999 and 2005 show muddy sand, indicating there may have been a flood sometime between those years.
(Mars has spring break...now mars just needs women.)

47. A python was the first god worshipped by mankind, according to 70,000-year-old evidence found in a cave in Botswana's Tosodilo hills.
(As Richard Dawkins would say, "More evidence that religion was a bad joke since day 1.")

49. One of the most effective ways for athletes to recover after exercise is to drink a glass of chocolate milk.
(Now I'll never get my SO to cut back on her chocolate milk intake.)

50. Researchers from the University of Manchester managed to induce teeth growth in normal chickens - activating genes that have lain dormant for 80 million years.
(I, for one, welcome our new chicken overloads.)

Labels: 2006, lists, me trying to be funny, Reddit, science

This is an interesting article I found via the mother of all news sites, Reddit.com

Read it to hear an accurate description of what happens to your body when you drink a coke or pepsi.

Labels: Harmful effects of Soda, Health, Reddit