Groonk's Newsmine 2.0: March 2006 Archives

« February 2006 | Main | April 2006 »

March 30, 2006

Thin cerebral cortex = smarter kids?

It was only in following the scans as the children grew older that the dynamism of the developing brain became evident. The researchers found that average children (I.Q. scores 83 to 108) reached a peak of cortical thickness at age 7 or 8. Highly intelligent children (121 to 149 in I.Q.) reached a peak thickness much later, at 13, followed by a more dynamic pruning process.

One interpretation, Dr. Rapoport said, is that the brains of highly intelligent children are more plastic or changeable, swinging through a higher trajectory of cortical thickening and thinning than occurs in average children. The scans show the "sculpturing or fine tuning of parts of the cortex which support higher level thought, and maybe this is happening more efficiently in the most intelligent children," Dr. Shaw said.

The I.Q. was tested when the children entered the program. Further tests were not needed because I.Q.'s are so stable, Dr. Rapoport said.

(via 7d and boingboing)

Posted by Groonk at 11:41 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Science

The coming of the birds

California officials expect bird flu to arrive on the U.S. West Coast this summer in what could be the first sign in the United States of the deadly virus, which has already swept from Asia across Europe and down to Africa.

[...]

Officials said the virus was likely to be carried into either the east or west coast of the United States by migrating birds starting their journeys south, either from Alaska on the Pacific Flyway, or the Atlantic Flyway on the other side of North American continent.

They said some 60,000 birds, mostly waterfowl, would begin their migration south from Alaska in mid-August, working their way down through Oregon, Washington and into California.

Although both coasts have set up monitoring systems for any signs of the avian virus "we expect there will be access (to the United States) through Alaska rather than upstate New York," said Ryan Broddrick, director of the California Department of Fish and Game. He did not elaborate.

[...]

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt warned against panic when avian flu hits U.S. shores for the first time, saying it would not inevitably mean the start of a human pandemic.

[...]

But he warned states to lay the groundwork for possible human to human transmission. "There is clearly a lot of buzz (but) I worry there is not enough busy-ness," he said.

(via boingboing)

Posted by Groonk at 11:36 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Health

A tiger walks in Cullman, Alabama

I keep forgetting about this bit of news:

Residents of the Berlin community were surprised Thursday night when they spotted a tiger roaming the neighborhood.[...]

Blackwood said Lt. Phillip Patterson and Cpl. Keith Marbut responded to the scene.

"They talked to several neighbors who also saw the tiger," Blackwood said.

They searched the area, he said, but never came in contact with the tiger that Blackwood said was described as a full-grown animal coming to about waist-high on an adult male.

Cullman County Animal Control Officer Tim McKoy said he spent the better part of Friday at the scene, looking for signs of the animal and talking to witnesses.

He said the woman who called in initially described the animal as a Bengal tiger, with reddish-orange coloring and black stripes.

If it is a fully adult male, it could weigh anywhere from 300 to 600 pounds, McKoy said.

He said that he could not find any concrete evidence of the tiger at the scene — no tracks, hair or markings on trees. One reason he might not have found markings, he said, is because many domesticated exotic animals like tigers are usually declawed and have their canine teeth removed. That could affect how the animal would search for food, possibly even causing it to starve, McKoy said.

McKoy added that the Bengal tiger is a nocturnal animal, meaning it moves mostly at night.

Posted by Groonk at 07:52 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Alabama, Animals

Ariel Atom: Zoom-zoom, bitches!

like a bat outta hell

Dune buggy-like. Faster than all get-out. Plus it reminds me of my childhood go-kart. The Ariel Atom has it all.

Now all I need is 20K pounds.

Seriously. Someone donate 20,000 pounds:

It would be well spent.

(via b55seddel)

Posted by Groonk at 07:42 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Research, Technology

Animaniacs on DVD?

July 25th is now AWESOME Day

Pinky and the Brain's coming too.

Posted by Groonk at 06:02 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of DVD, Just Freaking Neat

SHORT: Dog Given Rights

How I found DGR: I was reading up on a movie being rewritten by John August called Bob: The Musical. That premise revolves around a guy who wakes up and finds he can hear other people's inner song. That idea sounds bloody brilliant, and I hate musicals.

Anyway, hidden in August's comments was a link to Dog Given Rights.

DGR Plot: Told from a dog pov. An owner's girlfriend doesn't like his dog, Lincoln. So Lincoln must decide between his best friend(his owner) or a leash-free life.

watch Lincoln lament

I had issues when the bastards began singing and dancing, but I got over those damn quick.

Dog Given Rights(Mise-en-chien Productions) is clever and funny and well worth your 10 minutes.

Guys, if your new girlfriend hates your dog, that's your first clue right there. Ditch her ass and find a woman with just the right amount of dog-love personality.

Same goes for you ladies.

Posted by Groonk at 03:51 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Digital Share, Just Freaking Neat, Movies

Watching pimped out wheels

Ok. Is this an old or new fad? I honestly ~~can't~~ don't keep up with all the fads anymore.

Posted by Groonk at 03:24 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Research

March 28, 2006

Japan wants space military... for self-defense

...SDF rising

Japan's ruling party has approved the blueprint of a law to allow military use of its space program, breaking another taboo in the officially pacifist country.

The law would be largely symbolic since Japan has already launched spy satellites, but is meant to ease concerns about building high-end satellites and to help the space program become more internationally competitive.

The Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) plans a final draft of the law by August with an eye to submit it to next year's parliament session.

Soon I'll be able to get my hands on my very own Veritech fighter.

And who doesn't want one of those?

(via warren ellis)

Posted by Groonk at 08:44 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan

The iPod Book is mad genius

View the entire photo set.

The iPod Book
Originally uploaded by DoctaBu.

HOWTO: Make an iPod Book(the instigator)

Posted by Groonk at 07:51 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Flickrlicious, Just Freaking Neat, Tutorials

This is better. This is funny.

Peter Jackson's video acceptance speech(yay, King Kong) for the Best Film award given at the 2006 Empire Awards.

There are actors cursing, special special-FX clips, and an answer to the question of how the crew of The Venture really got King Kong back from Skull Island.

(via Dunc!)

Posted by Groonk at 07:26 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Funny, Movies, Video

Drawing Restraint 9

Hailed by The New York Times as "the most important American artist of his generation," Matthew Barney has created a series of recent art films that offer some of the more striking images seen in cinema today, often with himself in a lead role. The recent "Cremaster Cycle" films, and now "Drawing Restraint 9," are films that exist as part of bigger artistic works encompassing sculpture, performance, and video. In his new film, a collaboration with Bjork, Barney and his off screen partner play the roles of two guests who visit the massive Japanese whaling vessel Nisshin Maru. Aboard the ship, while a crew on deck work to create a sculpture made of petroleum jelly, the visitors participate in series of elaborate rituals down below, culminating in an intense wedding ceremony.

First, let me say that art is subjective.

Second, what in fuck is this guy on?

Third, I hope to God his stash never gets in the global water supply. When that happens, all our noise is fucked.

Fourth, art is still subjective.

Fifth, after reading the interview, I have a better idea of what that "9" trailer is about.

Sixth, I drank what?

(note: I remember his noise from before.)

Posted by Groonk at 06:41 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Interviews, Trailers, Weird

MOVIES: Lucky Number Slevin

Here's a flick that caught my attention. It looks cool-ish. This is based solely on the trailer viewing.

bruce willis likes pointing guns

My wallet hopes I'm not wrong.

art of the gun

Posted by Groonk at 04:43 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Movies, One Sheets, Trailers

March 26, 2006

It's like "Weird Science" for gamers

If only our(USA) commercials were so bold.

NSFW. I swear, you click this... you're gonna get fired.

Commercial THQ Inc for Playstation-game Juiced

You can download it here.

Posted by Groonk at 08:04 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Games, Marketing, Sex, Video

March 24, 2006

SoaP: Parody themes and logos

I may be feeding the cult of Snakes on a Plane, but what the hell.

The logo:

i like the tshirt better

The song(reasons why not to see SoaP):
DC Lugi - SoaP song

(via geekdrome forums & entertainment weekly & Snakes on a Blog)

Posted by Groonk at 05:58 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Blogged, Digital Share, Movies, One Sheets

SoaP: "It's so stupid it's great."

That's the best tagline for Snakes on a Plane I've seen. Aside from the Sam Jackson soundbite.

This article attempts to explain the cult of SoaP:

Intense fan reaction to movies most often is associated with titles that have established themselves in other media, such as comic book movies or fantasy novels, before making their way to the screen. Or it becomes attached to surprise hits, like the original "Star Wars," that develop massive cult followings once they are released.

But original movies that develop a big prerelease following are uncommon. Artisan Entertainment pulled off that trick in 1999 with its viral Internet campaign for "The Blair Witch Project," but that success has not been easily duplicated.

[...]

But once production began, a funny thing happened. Movie fans began noticing the black sheep of the New Line slate. They seized upon the title and created fan sites, blogs, T-shirts, poems, fiction and songs. The title itself, sometimes abbreviated as "SoaP," has emerged as Internet-speak for fatalistic sentiments that range from c'est la vie to "s--- happens."

[...]

In any event, "Snakes"-ophiles already were hard at work. Chris Rohan of Bethesda, Md., created an elaborate, R-rated audio trailer that lovingly mocks the title and movie. "It's a genius title," Rohan said. "It's so stupid it's great. It invites satire, but it's something you just love. It's something I can't explain. You either get it or you don't."

The audio bit uses a Jackson sound-alike shouting, "I want these mother------- snakes off the mother------- plane!" Soon, the growing legion of fans added their voices as they demanded that that phrase also appear in the movie.

(via 7d via mywaynews)

Posted by Groonk at 03:03 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Culture, Marketing, Movies

March 23, 2006

Best. Masthead. Ever!

Force-choking the non-believers

Custom T-shirt blogger Preshrunk's Jason Cosper has the best personal blog masthead I've ever seen.

Posted by Groonk at 01:49 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Art, Blogged, Funny, Religion

Daily Show's: The president's words for Iraq

I waited two days to be able to post this.

It's a handful of the current president's speeches on the Iraq war.

First rule of politics/propaganda, always remember to stay on message:

(via the daily show via you tube)

Posted by Groonk at 12:50 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Politics, USA, Video

March 22, 2006

Snakes on a Plane "Exclusive" footage

And by "exclusive" I mean a random succession of shoddy special FX and a tray-cart full of snakes flying towards the camera at break-neck speed.

But it's still got Sam Jackson and a hilarious ~~marketing campaign~~ 'net cult following.

Get your copy of the player here

COMING SOON: Snakes in Your Hair! There's no way to stop them. Using product is useless! Those snakes just won't wash out of your hair!!

Starring: Sam Jackson and Bruce Campbell.

"It would be mathematically impossible to make a better movie!"
--Duncan!

(trailer via i watch movies; casting and quote for SiYH via Duncan!)

Posted by Groonk at 05:22 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Marketing, Movies, Trailers

Warshooter: Thailand Tsunami Then and Now

Humans and nature know how to re-build:

the green returns

More photos at the Warshooter gallery.

(via rocketboom)

Posted by Groonk at 05:10 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Blogged, World

What's in a Native American name?

A site that does its best to set people straight on the practice of choosing Native American names for children.

So please, whatever you choose to name your new babies, DON'T just pick a name randomly off a list of "American Indian baby names" on the Internet. Otherwise, sixteen years from now, they're going to be the ones emailing me for the crushing news that their names come from Shadowrun, or were made up by unscrupulous people trying to sell more books. Due to the high degree of sloppy research and/or deliberate deception involved in the baby name industry, I can't recommend using any baby name book or website for finding Native American names for a child; your money would be much better spent on a decent dictionary of a Native American language. If you're determined to sort through baby name books, though, here's a page of explanations about some of the most common incorrectly translated names we get email about, to help you separate some of the wheat from the chaff.

Posted by Groonk at 04:56 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Research

Simon Pegg has a Hot Fuzz blog

You know ...Simon Pegg. Shaun of the Dead. Spaced. That funny british guy.

don't say the zed word

He's working on a new movie with the usual suspects called Hot Fuzz.

Now he's doing a video diary blog thing to keep you apprised of the Hot Fuzz process.

(via I watch stuff)

Posted by Groonk at 04:37 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Blogged, Movies

March 21, 2006

DIGITAL SHARE: The complete South Park episode they didn't want you to see...

...or Tom Cruise won't come out of the closet.

In case you missed it: Tom Cruise got an episode of South Park booted off the air because it ~~made fun of Scientology~~ called him gay. An easy target to be sure. The SP guys must be slipping.

It was also reported that Isaac Hayes left the show for the same reason(that's the Scientology reason, not the gay reason). Although now it seems that was a bunch of false noise.

I find it interesting that South Park can mock and trash every other religion, race or idea on the planet but if you ~~make fun of the "religion" known as Scientology~~ call Tom Cruise gay, they get their asses handed to them.

And by 'interesting' I mean 'horrifying'.

But it's the 21st century and there are ways around such noise:

Editor's Note: The strike-throughs came after watching the episode. Stick around for the credits.

UPDATE: More on what Isaac Hayes did or did not say via The Superficial.
(via the superficial)

Posted by Groonk at 09:28 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Digital Share, Funny, Video

March 20, 2006

Bill Gates is a "humanitarian" snob

Remember the Nivo? It's the $100 laptop that's being created to provide cheap computers for developing countries.

Bill Gates had words on that.

"The last thing you want to do for a shared use computer is have it be something without a disk ... and with a tiny little screen," Gates said at the Microsoft Government Leaders Forum in suburban Washington.

"Hardware is a small part of the cost" of providing computing capabilities, he said, adding that the big costs come from network connectivity, applications and support.

Before his critique, Gates showed off a new "ultra-mobile computer" which runs Microsoft Windows on a seven-inch (17.78-centimeter) touch screen.

Those machines are expected to sell for between $599 and $999, Microsoft said at the product launch last week.

"If you are going to go have people share the computer, get a broadband connection and have somebody there who can help support the user, geez, get a decent computer where you can actually read the text and you're not sitting there cranking the thing while you're trying to type," Gates said.

Yeah, man, really. I mean, why would anybody want to use a silly-looking small-screened computer like that when they could buy the Origami or any other Microsoft product for roughly $500 - $1000.

Seriously, what are people in developing countries thinking? All they have to do is save up for, like, 5 or more years and they could own a first generation Microsoft "ultra-mobile computer".

Mr Gates, I'm glad we have you here to point this shit out for us, the wee-brained.

Cause obviously you know the value of a dollar and what it feels like to be a giver. A true ~~humanitarian~~ snob.

Posted by Groonk at 05:08 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Technology

Cosmonauts hate being wolf-bait

So they carried sawed-off shotguns in space back in 1965.

"In 1965, two cosmonauts overshot their touchdown site by 1,200 miles and found themselves deep in a forest with hungry wolves. That's when Russian space officials decided to pack a sawed-off shotgun aboard every spacecraft. It took Russian search crews more than two hours to locate the spacecraft and another two hours for helicopters to get support crews to the landing site."

There's rumors they have them on the Space Station too. I don't put much stock in that one.

(via digg)

Posted by Groonk at 04:11 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Research, Science

MOVIE MONDAY: Yakuzasploitation

I hear-tell this is a trailer for some 70s Japanese movie called Female Yakuza Tale that contains "live action sequences interspersed with beautifully stylized line drawings."

All I needed to know was "chicks with swords" :

So NSFW it ain't funny.

Well, it is funny, if you're not your boss.

BTW, some site called http://www.secret-cinema.com has a torrent of the aforementioned tale.

(via boingboing)

Posted by Groonk at 02:55 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Research, Sex, Video

In2TV is playing old shows online for FREE!

While listening to this week's TWiT via iTunes, I learned that AOL is running tons of old TV shows from their site for damn FREE on something they cleverly call In2TV.

Immediately, I switched off my buggy-ass iTunes and found Babylon 5 is running on that sucker. I've been wanting to revisit that show for months. Seeing as the DVDs are 80 bucks a pop, I haven't bought them yet.

Pros: Shows like Wonder Woman, Adventures of Brisco County Jr, Pinky and the Brain, V, etc, etc etc are at my command.

Cons: You have to run the site on the spawn of evil puke known as Internet Explorer and commercials are back. Small price to pay to revisit old TV. So far, that's the only bad I see.

That's In2TV folks.

Posted by Groonk at 11:04 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Culture, Digital Share, Just Freaking Neat

March 18, 2006

HOW TO: Make a nation weep

"If you follow any story long enough - it always ends in death."

Want to make a grown man weep? Then follow these instructions:

1) Become an avid fan of Six Feet Under by watching all 5 seasons in their entirety.
2) Watch the last 6 minutes of the Six Feet Under season finale.

If that person, man or woman, feels nothing after doing the two things listed above; they are heartless, empty husks of humanity and you should seriously re-consider associating with them on a daily basis.

The song heard in Claire's drive is "Breathe Me" by Sia from her album Colour the Small one. I highly recommend you buy the album.

The first time I watched the last episode of Six Feet Under, well. I learned that I wasn't was heartless as I thought I was.

Posted by Groonk at 11:30 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Just Freaking Neat, Video

Scientists demonstrate Artificial Nano-muscles ass-kickability

University of Texas at Dallas nanotechnologists have made alcohol- and hydrogen-powered artificial muscles that are 100 times stronger than natural muscles, able to do 100 times greater work per cycle and produce, at reduced strengths, larger contractions than natural muscles. Among other possibilities, these muscles could enable fuel-powered artificial limbs, "smart skins" and morphing structures for air and marine vehicles, autonomous robots having very long mission capabilities and smart sensors that detect and self-actuate to change the environment.

[...]

Application opportunities, Baughman said, are diverse, and range from robots and morphing air vehicles to dynamic Braille displays and muscles powered by the fuel/air mixture delivered to an engine that are able to regulate this mixture. The more than 30 times higher energy density obtainable for fuels like methanol, compared to that for the most advanced batteries, can translate into long operational lifetimes without refueling for autonomous robots. This refueling requires negligible time compared with that needed for recharging batteries. Since all muscles will not be used at the same time, temporarily inactive muscles of the first muscle type can be used as ordinary fuel cells and as supercapacitors to provide for the electrical needs of, for example, autonomous robots and prosthetic limbs. The properties of the two types of fuel-powered muscles can be merged to provide the benefits of both, Baughman said.

The fuel-powered muscles can be easily downsized to the micro- and nano-scales, and arrays of such micro-muscles could be used in "smart skins" that improve the performance of marine and aerospace vehicles. By replacing metal catalyst with tethered enzymes, it might eventually be possible to use artificial muscles powered by food-derived fuels for actuation in the human body – perhaps even for artificial hearts.

(via warren ellis via physorg)

Posted by Groonk at 11:14 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Nanotech, Research

Dana Reeve gave new Superman her blessing

Midway through the filming of Superman Returns, star Brandon Routh received an envelope in the mail.

It contained two pendants and a letter. The pendants, each emblazoned with a red S, said simply, "Go Forward."

The note from Dana Reeve, the widow of Superman Christopher Reeve, said much the same thing.

"She said she thought I'd be a good Superman," says Routh, 26, best known for a guest role on Gilmore Girls. "She wished me luck. I can't tell you what that was like to get her blessing. I was nervous, because I had never heard from the family, and it'

[...]

"I wrote her back but never got to speak with her," Routh says. "Still, it was such an honor. And it made me realize how important it is to respect not just the characters in this movie, but the people who were a part of it."

(via cbr via usa today)

Posted by Groonk at 10:19 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Culture, Movies, USA

March 16, 2006

MOVIES: The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrada

Because I never heard of it before.

burying friends can be such a chore

True to a dead friend's wish, ranch-hand Pete Perkins takes his friend's body to give him a proper burial in his hometown in Mexico.

(via 7d)

Posted by Groonk at 03:04 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Movies

Because I needed a laugh

MADtv's Ike Barinholtz and Bobby Lee teach Jordan Peele how to drive.

Posted by Groonk at 02:56 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Funny, Video

March 15, 2006

Loveline: Saving the "babies"!

Hello America.

Once again I can access Loveline. Once again I hear all your sexual functions/disfunctions. I know about your vaginusmus. Your multiple orgasmic "problems".

The Loveline Podcast was revealed to me thanks to 7d. All MP3 downloadable. Current episodes available via iTunes.

now with myspace!

I hear your filthy secrets America...and I am intrigued, horrified...and generally entertained.

Keep calling the show, America.

Keep me woefully entertained.

Groonk

P.S. If you don't stop eating the fish, the smell will be noticeable....down there(Rainn Wilson & B.J. Novak from The Office know what I mean).

P.P.S. The Unofficial Loveline Quote Archive kicks all sorts of ass.

Posted by Groonk at 01:16 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Just Freaking Neat, Podcast, Quotables, Sex

When Universes collide

Our universe may one day be obliterated or assimilated by a larger universe, according to a controversial new analysis.

The work suggests the parallel universes proposed by some quantum theorists may not actually be parallel but could interact – and with disastrous consequences.

[...]

Quantum theory states that all universes are not created equal - each "parent" universe is much larger according to a particular quantum measure than its later descendants.

Quantum interactions between the universes were thought to be too small to really affect them, but Hanson says the interactions can be significant between universes of vastly different size.
Boiled worlds

The interactions can "smash or mangle the small worlds", says Hanson. He has not worked out exactly what happens, but he believes the small universes would be either destroyed or assimilated by the large universes, like specks of dust colliding with a planet.

(via warren ellis)

Posted by Groonk at 12:37 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Research

Daily Show Read: Misquoting Jesus

The popular perception of the Bible as a divinely perfect book receives scant support from Ehrman, who sees in Holy Writ ample evidence of human fallibility and ecclesiastical politics. Though himself schooled in evangelical literalism, Ehrman has come to regard his earlier faith in the inerrant inspiration of the Bible as misguided, given that the original texts have disappeared and that the extant texts available do not agree with one another. Most of the textual discrepancies, Ehrman acknowledges, matter little, but some do profoundly affect religious doctrine. To assess how ignorant or theologically manipulative scribes may have changed the biblical text, modern scholars have developed procedures for comparing diverging texts.

Posted by Groonk at 12:27 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Books, Religion

March 13, 2006

REVISIT: Dave Chappelle's "Black Bush"

The setup: What if President Bush were black?

(via youtube)

Posted by Groonk at 05:06 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Funny, Video

M-A-R-S, Google Mars, Bitches!

red rocks!

(via digg via zdnet)

Posted by Groonk at 04:29 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Google-fied, Mars

America takes another step into 1950s mentality

Politicians in the US state of Mississippi are pushing forward with plans to ban abortion. The anti-abortion movement says it feels the climate is right for change. In Mississippi 4000 abortions are performed every year in the state's one remaining clinic.

First, Roe vs. Wade is attacked.

What's next? Brown vs. Education?

Seriously...what the fuck?

(via warren ellis)

Posted by Groonk at 04:05 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Research, USA

March 12, 2006

Vintage indy race cars

Jeff Corder impresses the hell outta me with his models of vintage racers.

two flavors of cool
white diorama | red ferrari

(via medicmike)

Posted by Groonk at 08:59 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Research

The Last F-14 Combat Launch

no more "Maverick's"

As Medicmike tells it, that's (most likely)the last combat launch for the F-14 Tomcat. They've been transitioning to the new F/A-18E or -F Superhornets for the last few years.

The article says, "The F-14 Tomcat will be removed from service and officially stricken from the inventory in September of 2006."

WALLPAPER sized angle.

Posted by Groonk at 08:42 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of War

COMICS: Elk's Run

Heard about Elk's Run weeks ago via Bad Signal. Only now having a chance to read the write-ups.

There's a preview, interview, and review on Buzzscope.

It's got a rashomon effect about it.

Do you remember your first kiss? The first time you drove a car?

How about when your friend was killed or the first time you saw your father murder someone? John Kohler's coming of age story is unlike any you’ve ever read. He's growing up in Elk's Ridge, West Virginia, a once thriving mining town now cut off from the rest of the world, its secrets hidden for years. But when local police and FBI agents begin to investigate the town, the citizens of Elk’s Run will be forced to finally stand by the ideologies they choose to adhere to, no matter the cost.

Elk's Run is the new 8-issue miniseries at the heart of which is the intense action of a family at odds, set against each other due to circumstances and torn apart by the events around them. Each issue is told from the perspective of a different key character forcing the reader to understand that, in the town of Elk's Ridge, nothing is ever as it seems.

Always more stuff to read.

Posted by Groonk at 08:28 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Interviews

Things that Explode: Ferrari

Ferrari go Boom.

(original link via medicmike)

Posted by Groonk at 07:53 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Just Freaking Neat, Video

MIT maps city by cellphone

researchers WILL learn your business

Using anonymous cellphone data provided by the leading cellphone operator in Austria, A1/Mobilkom, the researchers developed the Mobile Landscapes project, creating electronic maps of cellphone use in the metropolitan area of Graz, Austria, the country's second-largest city.

The researchers used three types of data -- density of cellphone calls, origins and destinations of the calls, and position of users tracked at regular intervals -- to create computer-generated images that can be overlayed with one another and with geographic and street maps of a city to show the peaks and valleys of the landscape as well as peaks in cellphone use.

Posted by Groonk at 06:45 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Research

Samuel Beckett for FREE

Samuel Beckett BBC Radio Plays offered up for free in mp3 format.

(via warren ellis)

Posted by Groonk at 06:29 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Digital Share

Urban Coyotes are here

Until the 1990s, the farthest that coyotes had ventured into Chicago was to forested reserves near the city limits. But "something happened," says Stan Gehrt, a wildlife biologist at Ohio State University, "something we don't completely understand." Within ten years the coyote population exploded, growing by more than 3,000 percent, and infiltrated the entire Chicago area. Gehrt found territorial packs of five to six coyotes, as well as lone individuals, called floaters, living in downtown Chicago. They traveled at night, crossing sidewalks and bridges, trotting along roads and ducking into culverts and underpasses. One pair raised pups in a drainage area between a day care facility and a public pool; a lone female spent the day resting in a tiny marsh near a busy downtown post office. Perhaps most surprising to Gehrt, Chicago's urban coyotes tended to live as long as their parkland counterparts. No one knows why coyotes are moving into cities, but Gehrt theorizes that shrewder, more human-tolerant coyotes are teaching urban survival skills to new generations...

Should the urban coyote be viewed with trepidation? "Some people have fears that kids are going to be the next ones to be eaten," says (biologist John) Way. "I tell them coyotes have been at the edges of their neighborhoods for years." Way emphasizes coyotes can be an asset to urban ecosystems, keeping a check on deer, rodents, Canada geese and other animals that thrive on the suburbs' all-you-can-eat buffet.

(via boingboing)

Posted by Groonk at 06:03 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Animals, Research

Congolese chimps solve all problems with sex

MBIHE-MOKELE, Congo - Scientists are struggling to save the fast-disappearing bonobo, the gentle "hippie chimp" known for resolving squabbles through sex rather than violence.

Unfortunately, bonobos are prized by Congolese for their tasty meat, and many villagers who are illegally hunting the wiry, wizen-faced apes don't realize how close their prey is to extinction.

"Bonobos are an icon for peace and love, the world's 'hippie chimps,'" said Sally Coxe of the Washington-based Bonobo Conservation Initiative. "To let them die off would be a catastrophe."

The animals are known for greeting rival groups with genital handshakes and sensual body rubs. Bonobo spats are swiftly settled - often with a French kiss and a quick round of sex.

Despite all the sex, however, female bonobos give birth to a single infant only once every five years, making the species especially vulnerable.

It's no damn wonder they can solve problems with sex. No danger of population bursting going on there.

Maybe all that love makes them extra tasty.

(via 7d via myway)

Posted by Groonk at 05:39 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Animals

March 10, 2006

Norimitsu Odachi

A blade longer than a man.

This Odachi was made by Norimitsu of Osafune in August 1447.

Specifications are as follows:
Total length - 377 cm.
Nagasa (cutting edge) - 226.7 cm.
Sori (curvature) - 5.0 cm
Nakago (tang) - 151 cm.
Thickness - 2.34 cm.
Habaki (collar to hold blade in scabbard) - 5.85 cm.
Weight - 14.5 kgs.
Mei (name): Bishu Osafune Norimitsu.
Location: Kibitsu Jinja, Okayama.
Period: Muromachi (1447).
Sugata (shape): Shinogi-zukuri, maru-mune, bo-hi with maru-dome.
Hada (grain): Itame.
Hamon (temper pattern): Ko-gunome, choji with tobiyaki and kinsuji.
This Odachi is the longest in Japan.

(via medicmike)

Posted by Groonk at 11:49 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Only in Japan, Research

"The Real Simpsons" is viral marketing ploy

The revelation of this is both inspiring and disappointing.

Inspiring cause there seem to be companies that have unique visions.

Disappointing cause I liked the idea of it being garage-made a lot better than it being a professional effort.

LONDON (Reuters) - A video that recreates the introduction to "The Simpsons" with live actors is spreading across the Internet faster than Homer can say "D'oh" -- part of a viral marketing campaign by UK satellite broadcaster BSkyB.

Painstakingly crafted by Sky and its ad agency Devilfish, the video was originally intended as an on-air promotion for the Sky One network, which airs new episodes of "The Simpsons" in the UK.

The company decided to release it on the Internet as part of a word-of-mouth brand building exercise, tapping into the red-hot Web video sector.

"If we had only showed it on air, you might turn to someone and say that was really cool," said BSkyB communications director Matthew Anderson. "Putting it online, there's a fantastic discussion between millions of people -- it's bringing the Simpsons to them instead of having them tune in."

Video after the jump.

(via 7d)

Posted by Groonk at 11:23 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Marketing

March 09, 2006

Things I miss: MTV's The State

Why The State is not on DVD yet only proves MTV's continued idiocy. The following includes the Horomones skit and $240 worth of pudding.

Awwww yeaahhh!

It's the entire episode so go here if it stalls.

Go viral. Make them listen.

Posted by Groonk at 04:59 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Culture, Digital Share, Funny, Video

March 08, 2006

GAMES: "Spore", possibly neat as all hell

SAN FRANCISCO--On the final day of the Game Developers Conference, Will Wright's "Future of Content" presentation contained a special treat for the bursting-beyond-capacity audience.

The treat was an extended demonstration of his next game, called Spore--a sim that allows the players to control life on all conceivable scales--an emergent and beautiful simulation game that ranges from the cellular level all the way to the galactic level.

Video presentation below:

(via deliciousmason )

Posted by Groonk at 02:37 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Digital Decompression, Video

Yanni WILL fuck your shit up

Yanni beat the crap out of his girlfriend.

Allegedly.

Yanni's given name is John Yanni Christopher, for those of you lost on who that Christopher character is and why he's calling live-in girlfriend's "cunt" and "whore".

"Can you imagine Yanni slapping a bitch?", asks Medicmike.

No Medicmike, I cannot. But from what I read, his pimp hand is strong.

Christopher(Yanni) asked her to move out during dinner and that when the pair returned home, the musician verbally abused her, calling her a "cunt" and "whore." He also allegedly told her that she was "garbage" and, as such, "should be packing her things in garbage bags." The woman said Christopher slapped her in the face as they argued. When cops arrived, they noticed that her upper lip was swollen and split open and that there was a small amount of dried blood on her lower lip. They also noted redness on both her forearms and that she appeared visibly upset and was crying and shaking. While Christopher denied striking the woman, he told officers that he did grab her arms to stop her from kicking him.

(via the superficial via the smoking gun)

Posted by Groonk at 12:35 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Culture

March 06, 2006

S. Dakota to ban most abortions

Of all the places they try this. They try it in South Dakota.

The Legislature passed the bill last month after supporters argued that the recent appointment of conservative justices John Roberts and Samuel Alito have made the U.S. Supreme Court more likely to overturn Roe v. Wade.

Rounds said he believes it would be better to chip away at abortion one step at a time rather than directly confront Roe v. Wade. But he said many abortion opponents want the direct challenge.

"Personally I think this court will be more interested in looking at different aspects of Roe v. Wade rather than the direct frontal assault, but we'll never know unless someone tries," Rounds said.

Rounds said he agrees with legislative sponsors that the test of a civilization is how it treats its most vulnerable and helpless people, and that unborn children are the most vulnerable and helpless.

Under the new law, doctors could get up to five years in prison for performing an illegal abortion.

Posted by Groonk at 09:44 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of USA

Track Bush family connection to United Arab Emirates

Sometimes the news actually does some investigating.

Some times.

Download link after the jump.

(via boingboing)

Posted by Groonk at 09:27 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Video

COMICS: Steampunk Transformers

Bumblebee never looked cooler

IDW's new Evolutions line will look at some special out-of-continuity tales involving the Robots in Disguise. The line makes its debut in June with the four-part Hearts of Steel. In this standalone miniseries, writer Chuck Dixon and Transformers artist supreme Guido Guidi transplant the 'bots to the Industrial Revolution, where a charismatic hammer-man named John Henry discovers that a steam drill is really an alien robot named Bumblebee. Before he can process this information, the pair are attacked by Decepticons disguised as tanks, trains and walking engines.

Prime example of too much information. The longer I read that promo, the more I began to think, 'That's gonna be some silly shit.'

(via boingboing)

Posted by Groonk at 08:51 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Art, Comics, Marketing

The Real Simpsons

lol!

(via dunc!)

Posted by Groonk at 02:25 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Funny, Video

BATTLE!: Jon Stewart vs Larry King

Read an entry on Wil Wheaton's In Exile blog about Larry King's Jon Stewart interview.

And so I turned to youtube.com.

In this battle, there is a winner.

(via WWdN:In Exile)

Posted by Groonk at 02:00 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Funny, Politics, Video

WATCH: The Robo Pack Mule really has to pee

This is the damn oddest thing. It's an instantly viewable video of the military's new Robo Pack Mule.

It's like two headless drunks doing the pee-pee dance while carrying a TV across hot coals.

It also trips the hell outta my uncanny valley. The first viewing did.

Now I'm cool with perpetually needing to pee four-legged animal/bot things.

Posted by Groonk at 12:50 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Robots, Video, War

March 05, 2006

HOW TO: Make Life Sized Posters

The Mike Matas Blog gives instructions on how to make a life poster.

for example

I was sure The Rasterbator was already in my archives. I was wrong.

The Rasterbator is a web service which creates huge, rasterized images from any picture. The rasterized images can be printed and assembled into extremely cool looking posters up to 20 meters in size.

Posted by Groonk at 04:21 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Art, Tutorials

MOVIES: The Last Train to Freo

The ever so fine, smart, perky, spunky, Chiana-y Gigi Edgley has a flick coming out called The Last Train to Freo. Hard to find many details on the net. She does talk a bit about it in this Slice of SciFi podcast(It's 35 minutes into the podcast for the impatient).

gigi!

Synopsis:

At midnight, on a hot summers night, two ex cons board the last train to Fremantle. Bored, restless and looking for trouble, they start to poke fun at their mind numbing existence. Until a beautiful young law student, steps into the carriage, alone, and seemingly unaware that the guards are on strike.

But there's more to this young woman than meets the eye. And when two other passengers join the train further down the line, the balance of power takes an unexpected twist.

Told in real time using one claustrophobic location, Last Train To Freo is a tense psychological drama about five people who discover they are not the people they think they are. It's a story about class and prejudice, where perception seems more important than truth, and nobody knows who they can trust.

Posted by Groonk at 03:59 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Movies

NYC Comic Con: day 3 with Jim Steranko

Part 3 of the Steranko info gather.

He spoke at the NYC Comic Con and had many stories to tell. The Gibson he referes to here is Walter Gibson, prolific writer of “The Shadow.” Gibson wrote 285 Shadow novels.

Talk about giving Bendis a run for his money.

Steranko talked about visiting Gibson’s house in upstate New York, and found it had different books in different rooms, a room full of detective books, a room full of magic books, a room full of mysteries, and every room had a typewriter on a table. This was so that Gibson could immediately sit down and write when the impulse came and he didn’t have to go into another room to do it.

The breakfast room had three typewriters in it.

“I asked him why, and he said, “I start with this one over here. When it gets tired, I start on the next one, then when it gets tired, I get back to that one. Walter could write 20,000 words a DAY! And I’ve seen him type till his finger were bleeding, because those were old manual typewriters and you had to really punch the keys!”

(via cbr)

Posted by Groonk at 03:42 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Interviews

March 04, 2006

Sharkborgs, kids. I shit you not.

In the United States a team funded by the military has created a neural probe that can manipulate a shark's brain signals or decode them. More controversially, the Pentagon hopes to use remote-controlled sharks as spies.

The neural implant is designed to enable a shark's brain signals to be manipulated remotely, controlling the animal's movements, and perhaps even decoding what it is feeling.

Researchers hope such implants will improve our understanding of how animals interact with their environment.

The Pentagon hopes to exploit sharks' natural ability to glide quietly through the water, sense delicate electrical gradients and follow chemical trails. By remotely guiding the sharks' movements, they hope to transform the animals into stealth spies, perhaps capable of following vessels without being spotted.

Another fine bit of science brought to you by DARPA.

(via warrenellis)

Posted by Groonk at 12:46 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Animals, Robots

The amazing, flexible Robo Pack Mule

Another robotic pack mule. This time, it can take a boot-to-the head and keep on walking.

A nimble, four-legged robot is so surefooted it can recover its balance even after being given a hefty kick. The machine, which moves like a cross between a goat and a pantomime horse, is being developed as a robotic pack mule for the US military.

BigDog is described by its developers Boston Dynamics as “the most advanced quadruped robot on Earth”. The company have released a new video of the robot negotiating steep slopes, crossing rocky ground and dealing with the sharp kick.

Yes, there is video(28meg).

(via newscientist)

Posted by Groonk at 12:31 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Robots, Video, War

New 'Nano-skin' = Super bendy screens

A flexible polymer infused with billions of carbon nanotubes could be used to make incredibly bendy displays and other novel electronic devices, researchers say.

The "nano-skin" polymer was created by scientists at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) in New York, US. Nanotubes are excellent electrical conductors and group member Swastik Kar says the material may well be used to build highly efficient electronic parts for highly flexible electronic displays.

(via newscientist)

Posted by Groonk at 12:26 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Nanotech

Jupiter grows another spot

The official name of this storm is "Oval BA," but "Red Jr." might be better. It's about half the size of the famous Great Red Spot and almost exactly the same color.

[...]

"The oval was white in November 2005, it slowly turned brown in December 2005, and red a few weeks ago," reports Go. "Now it is the same color as the Great Red Spot!"

"Wow!" says Dr. Glenn Orton, an astronomer at JPL who specializes in studies of storms on Jupiter and other giant planets. "This is convincing. We've been monitoring Jupiter for years to see if Oval BA would turn red—and it finally seems to be happening." (Red Jr? Orton prefers "the not-so-Great Red Spot.")

Why red?

Curiously, no one knows precisely why the Great Red Spot itself is red. A favorite idea is that the storm dredges material from deep beneath Jupiter's cloudtops and lifts it to high altitudes where solar ultraviolet radiation--via some unknown chemical reaction—produces the familiar brick color.

"The Great Red Spot is the most powerful storm on Jupiter, indeed, in the whole solar system," says Orton. The top of the storm rises 8 km above surrounding clouds. "It takes a powerful storm to lift material so high," he adds.

(via science@nasa)

Posted by Groonk at 12:13 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Research, Science

March 03, 2006

The Sex Gods were appeased...

...the Reverse Cowgirl has returned.

(via warrenellis)

Posted by Groonk at 07:25 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Blogged, Sex

Not right on so many levels

Found this photo on Drew Melbourne's blog via The Engine.

CLICK for complete nerdosity

Melbourne's got many more photos. If you are brave enough to look.

I wasn't.

Drew Melbourne also makes comics. Hooray, comics!

(via drewmelbourne.com)

Posted by Groonk at 02:43 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics, Funny

March 02, 2006

President George W Bush WAS warned about Katrina

(via news article via dirt)

Posted by Groonk at 12:47 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Politics, USA

Warren "Kick your arse" Ellis vs Joss "Mr Pointy" Whedon: Round 1

Somehow I missed it. I'm late to the party. All the beer is done. The only people left are the drunk, homely bits who had not the wits or skill for the choice hook-ups.

Joss Whedon posted on warrenellis.com back mid Feb. and they had HI-larious things to say to each other.

Clicky ==> http://www.warrenellis.com/?p=1848

ctrl+f for 'whedon' and begin the reading fun.

# Joss Whedon Says:
February 16th, 2006 at 5:31 pm
Revenge, eh? So, mister Ellis - (swishes brandy in large glass) - let the games begin, unless they are games of skill, or physical exertion of any kind, or with math. I know the bitter bitter truth, why you are so threatened by my genius, my, class, my big glass of brandy. It's because you're so OLD, so terribly terribly OLD, isn't it! Mountains were hills when you were middle-aged. I hear you left your wife for a younger, trophy Cromagnon. And that you're...that a young person would find you strange, and… from many years of...you being...DAMN! This round to you, Ellis. But the game is far -(drains Brandy, gasps like beached whale) - from over.

# warrenellis Says:
February 16th, 2006 at 5:50 pm
I am twenty years younger than Joss Whedon.

Also, HE cannot hide things in his beard.

...of course, he can pay people to do that for him now. He can even pay people to grow the beard for him. And he doesn't have to run his own website to look big and clever on the internets.

Ah, shit.

They battle in a battle that can have no winners. Only losers.

So many, sweet losers.

Posted by Groonk at 10:39 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Funny, Just Freaking Neat

SXSW 2006: GNET's choice part 2

Continued from before.

bands with the little cassette by their name offer a free download

So far GNET likes:
»The Cloud Room: I swear I've heard these guys before. Whatever. Liked them then. Liked them now...now.
»Lenine Loses 50 cool points for their web site resizing my damn browser. Fuck I hate that. I only list it cause I don't have access to many brazilian artists.
»Carolyn Wonderland Sometimes, you just gotta have the blues.
»Ruthie Foster Blues, gospel and folk mixed together and brewed for your ears.
»Ross Hogg Breaks, beats and all the inbetweens.
»The Minus 5 Unsure on why I like these fellows. It'll come to me.
»Annie Stela She had me with piano. Her voice is still a bit shakey, though.
»Jenny Owen Youngs Good voice. Better lyrics. Best sense of humor. Beisdes, any song named "Fuck was I" gets instant notice from me.
»Charlotte Martin Damn strong vocal chords in this girl. Plus she's fine as fuck. Which doesn't hurt one bit.
»David Ford Listen to what Ford's saying. Look if you have to.
»Joe Purdy Going for that John Mayer sound if you ask me. Which is just fine Mr Purdy. You got the chops to pull it off.

Posted by Groonk at 10:19 AM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Digital Share, Just Freaking Neat, Music

March 01, 2006

Jock Samurai

Welcome to Jock Samurai. This site was set up as a place to meet and organise events with people interested in Japan who are living in and around Edinburgh.

The Cloud Covered Fuji wallpaper makes my head spin. Such a very good spin... in my head.

(via medicmike)

Posted by Groonk at 07:34 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Digital Share, Just Freaking Neat, Only in Japan

Early Humans walked funny

"In short, the knee of robust australopithecines must move in and out during each stride. It would look like the knee is slightly bent, where ours is straight. The gait is less efficient, especially over long distance walkings or runnings."

The shape of the anklebones suggests that at least two early human species, Australopithecus robustus and Australopithecus boisei, walked in this unique manner. Both looked very apelike and furry.

While the researchers think such early human relatives "had some gait peculiarities," they believe the ability to walk on two feet (bipedality) evolved only once because it requires so many anatomical changes in the pelvis, knees, lower legs and feet.

"We find it difficult to believe that all of these changes could occur more than once," Gebo said.

The scientists think bipedality must have occurred very quickly in human evolution, particularly since there was no three-limbed transitional phase.

During the period of evolution, our ancestors lost their grasping big toe muscles. This "toe" in African apes, such as chimpanzees, helps in climbing trees. Gebo said we also developed platform-like, weight-bearing bodies, short toes, stocky foot bones and joints that can lock up so we do not need muscle power to remain erect.

Posted by Groonk at 06:56 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Science

COMICS: Pride of Baghdad

Creator and writer of the awesome Y: the Last Man, Brian K Vaughan, has a blog and drops word on a coming project of his called Pride of Baghdad.

September 2006.

By Niko Henrichon, Todd Klein, and BKV. Inspired by the true story of four lions who escaped the Baghdad Zoo in 2003, PRIDE OF BAGHDAD is a kind of modern-day Animal Farm set in the current Iraq War.

(via BKV channel surfing)

Posted by Groonk at 06:13 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Comics

MOVIES: Unknown White Male

I can't decide if this fellow has been damned or blessed.

Sometime between 8pm on July 1st and 7am on July 3rd, 2003, Doug Bruce lost himself. That morning, riding alone on a New York subway headed towards Coney Island, he could not remember his name, where he worked, who his friends were, how much money he had in his bank account. He was without his identity.

UNKNOWN WHITE MALE is the true story of how Bruce, a successful former stockbroker, struggles to learn who he was and who he will become. The documentary, produced, directed and edited by Bruce’s longtime friend, Rupert Murray, chronicles this profound journey.

Two MRIs, two CAT scans, 26 blood tests and an army of psychiatrists cannot properly diagnose what turns out to be the rarest and most startling form of memory loss: retrograde amnesia. Was Bruce the victim of a robbery resulting in a slight head injury or the effects of a small cyst on his pituitary gland? Or perhaps is Bruce subconsciously reacting to the death of his mother a few years before? It is a testament to Murray’s smooth but honest narrative that the film asks all the right questions even if many of the answers remain elusive.

Murray empathetically walks us through Bruce’s quest. He assembles dozens of childhood photos, decades of home videos, extensive interviews with family members, friends, ex-girlfriends, psychiatrists, neurologists, and philosophers—and the touching participation of Bruce himself.

We watch how he reconstructs a life for himself by retaining what he admires about his former self while casting off what—and whom—he dislikes. It is at once a nightmare and a dream come true: a chance at rebirth.

there is a TRAILER of course.

(via indiewire)

Posted by Groonk at 04:02 PM | Comments (0) | Ministry of Movies, One Sheets, Trailers