Understanding peak oil
Interesting, informative, eye-opening, and a bit depressing. Even if you think it’s sensationalist, these should really be required viewing for all, as the Peak Oil phenomenon is not a question of if, but when. My takeaway: we all need to use less energy, and have fewer kids.
Food Party – pass the mushrooms please
I think I just found my new favorite show.
Crazy robotic handiwork
This stuff is crazy, especially the cell phone flip catch. I think we might be doomed.
MAME BOX!! (guide to building)
MaximumPC posted a guide to making a MAME box. It’s a sweet guide with many styles, ideas, and pics. The comments section is probably worth a look too for ideas.
Those are some crazy Mario skills, man
Just kidding, it was made using multiple takes and save states. There is some fancy play going on here though. I dusted off the Gameboy Micro and have been playing through Super Mario World again. Good stuff.
Eckhart Tolle and the Power of Now
This is the first part of Eckhart Tolle’s audio book The Power of Now. His teachings involve forgetting about one’s past and future and dropping the egoic mind, in order to focus in and relish upon the only thing we have, the glorious present. Pretty interesting stuff.
playlist link
The Truth about Food: BBC series
This is part of a BBC series called The Truth about Food. It’s a bit cheeky, but informative, mildly entertaining, and potentially inspirational for eating healthier.
The End of Suburbia: documentary
I previously posted a TED talk by James Howard Kunstler regarding his views on where suburbia has been and is headed, and I recently discovered this nice little documentary featuring him and covering much of the same topic. It starts out somewhat light-hearted but takes a dark turn when it gets into the peak oil stuff. I saw the full version though, I didn’t watch this abridged version, not sure of the differences. I love the Thomas Hardy quote in the beginning.
And another new Radiohead song, potentially leaked. “These Are My Twisted Words”
Another great new Radiohead track, this one is potentially leaked somehow/someway. Thom has recently said he doesn’t see a new Radiohead album any time in the near future, but they’re apparently not staying away from the studio.
these are my twisted words
when i feel you still walking
i know i should not look down
but i’m so sick of just talking
when are you coming back
i just can’t handle it
when are you coming back
i just can’t handle it
when are you coming back
i just can’t stand it
i just can’t handle it
youtube link
(Thanks again, pitchfork)
update: Jonny made a post about it, and posted download links
A new Radiohead track, and a new Thom Yorke track
Harry Patch (In Memory Of)
A few weeks ago the remaining living British WWI veteran, Harry Patch, passed away at age 111(!). Thom was inspired to write a song about the gentleman based on a radio interview he heard a few years ago, and I guess they recorded this recently. Lyrics and a link to download are available on their site.
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All For the Best
A cover Thom did for the Mark Mulcahy tribute album “Ciao My Shining Star” due out next month. This is a very tight track in the vein of Eraser, and I guess his brother is actually on backup vocal. (Thanks, pitchfork!)
Bill Maher – classic anti-pharma rant
This is from 2 years ago, but it remains highly relevant today.
Glorious Japanese aquarium
The Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium is the 2nd largest in the world. As I watched this vid it actually occured to me “where are the fat people?” Then I learned in the sidebar that it is in Japan and things became clear.
Make a simple and effective fruit fly trap
It’s summer time and a lot of nice fruit is in season. Fruit is one of the best foods there is. If you know what’s up, you buy and eat a lot of it. However, fruit flies like it too and you may at one time find yourself with a swarm of the annoying buggers. They find the mature, ripe, and rotting most attractive. They don’t really go away on their own unless you give the kitchen a good clean and remove all attractants.
If you have an emergency, such as company is coming over, the absolute quickest way to clear a swarm is to use a vacuum with a hose attachment, or a Dustbuster.
But for more passive, lasting maintenance, make a trap:

- Put a little apple cider vinegar in a shot glass.
- Cover it tightly with plastic wrap.
- Poke a few holes in it, large enough for them to fit, maybe a little bigger.
They fly in and can’t get out. This trap will last a while too, mine has been up for a week. You can “freshen” it by giving it a good swirl. Yummy.
You can also use wine, beer, OJ, or regular vinegar I guess. I chose ACV because I have a bottle of it which I no longer use. I’ve also seen mention of adding a drop of dish soap, but I didn’t find it necessary. The idea there is it removes the surface tension on the liquid and they get stuck easier. Probably only necessary if not using the plastic wrap.
(I don’t take credit for this trap, it’s on the net in various places)
Many tips and infos on fruit flies here.
Update: I tried mixing a good-sized drop of dish soap in with the ACV. The soap breaks the surface tension of the liquid so as soon as they touch it they drown in seconds and sink to the bottom shortly thereafter. This is now my preferred method, the plastic wrap isn’t even needed, which attracts them better as well.
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