2004-07-30
Describing Jim Coyle and Mal Sharpe, circa 1964, "On San Francisco's Market Street last week, two somber-faced public-opinion 'pollsters' approached a young man, thrust a microphone in his face, and after a few minutes of earnest conversation asked: 'Would you be interested in helping future generations to fly?' When the young man said 'yes,' the pollsters asked: 'Well, then, would you let us graft a pair of chicken wings on your forehead?'"
2004-07-17
Xeni Jardin's boing boing guide to beyond retro video games.
"'Eastern Standard Time' is a story of madness and betrayal, of society after the End of Geography, of the intangible factors that define man as a species, as a tribe, as individuals. Scathing, bitter, and funny, EST examines the immutable truths of time, of societies smashed and rebuilt in the storm of instant, ubiquitous communication."
The book is available in multiple versions, hardback, paperback, ascii, html, pfd, palmos, newton os, ipod, cell phone, ... an errata wiki provides corrections for the next edition.
2004-07-15
New Type of Interface for Personal Computers: Personal computers have been used for a wide variety of purposes, including acquiring information from the Internet, communicating with friends via e-mail, and enjoying real-time conversations using the chat function. Currently, the primary interfaces used for personal computer communication are the display monitor, keyboard, and mouse. As a new type of next-generation interface for computers, robot characters are expected to enhance operation. Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. has developed a chat system using robot characters and has already put them into trial service. (Fujitsu and Sanrio, 1999)
2004-07-05
Images from the Cassinni (Cassinni-Huygens) mission to Saturn. Space is the Place.
Cassini's landmark tour of Saturn began July 1, 2004 UTC with the Saturn Orbit Insertion (SOI) engine burn. This burn will slow the spacecraft down, allowing it to be captured by Saturn's gravity. After the spacecraft is captured, it will begin a 4-year tour of scientific exploration of the ringed planet, its moons, and magnetosphere.
The spacecraft will make 74 unique orbits around the planet, using 45 close flybys of Saturn's largest moon Titan for gravity assist and science data acquisition. [!!!] Because of the sheer size of Titan, the flybys will allow for major changes in orbital paths, allowing engineers to minimize fuel use while maximizing science data collection.
"David Belle, acrobatic star of the BBC's new advertising campaign, is the acknowledged guru of a new urban sport in France known as Le Parkour - or obstacle-coursing. Described by adepts as an art-form or even a philosophy, Le Parkour consists of finding new and often dangerous ways through the city landscape - scaling walls, roof-running and leaping from building to building. 'Le Parkour - or the Art of Movement - is a way of using the obstacles found in one's path to perform jumps and acrobatics. "
