randomWalks

By all rights, Metapop should be bigger than bread.

We went to Mammoth to do some songwriting, but it started snowing really hard. And we made a toboggan out of a plastic trash can. We’d get three of us in it. We kind of went through an embankment and straight down into this culvert. We all landed on Chris [Derson, drummer] and broke his arm. We had to walk to the clinic in the snow... Victor’s [Krummenacher, bassist] dad was a pharmacist, so he kind of needled the doctor into giving Chris more and stronger drugs than he really needed. So we bought some beer, walked home in the snow and popped some pills. That is when we decided to record Tusk.

Well, the truth is that there is a lot of luck involved. Some people prefer to pick matches from the top rows of gems, leaving a couple potential matches on the lower reaches as a ‘reserve.’ On the other hand, particularly in the timed game, some players prefer to make matches on the bottom rows to maximize their chances of a big cascade, with its correspondingly big time bonus. But if you’re playing the non-timed version, probably the most useful strategy is just to cross your fingers and pray.

Figure drawing: Basic Pose and Construction. Via xblog.

Dear Arjuna,

    How was the They Might Be Giants concert? I would have loved to go, but poker was great so I'm not upset about missing it.

    When you and your iBook move to L.A. this fall, be sure to keep an eye out for these warchalking symbols which indicate WiFi Internet access points. L.A. isn't quite as saturated as, say, San Francisco (scroll down), but it couldn't hurt to bring along your iBook and a copy of MacStumbler when you go apartment hunting, could it?

    Can you make it to dinner on Sunday?

          Love,

          Adam

SCIFI. COM chat transcript: Singularity with Venor Vinge and Ray Kurzweil

ChatMod: Tonight we’re pleased to welcome science fiction writer Venor Vinge, and author, innovator, and inventor Ray Kurzweil – the founder of Kurzweil Technologies. Tonight’s topic is Singularity. The term “singularity” refers to the geometric rate of the growth of technology and the idea that this growth will lead to a superhuman machine that will far exceed the human intellect. (…)

RayKurzweil: the event horizon of the Singularity can be compared to the concept of Singularity in physics. As one gets near a black hole, what appears to be an event horizon from outside the black hole appears differently from inside. The same will be true of this historical Singularity. (…)

vv: When dealing with “superhumans” it is not the same thing as comparing – say – our tech civ with a pretech human civ. The analogies shouldb with the animal kindgom and even more pershaps with things enve further away and more primitive (…)

RayKurzweil: The Singularity emerges from many thousands of smaller advances on many fronts: three-dimensional molecular computing, brain research (brain reverse engineering), software techniques, communication technologies, and many others. There’s no single Singularity studies. It’s the result of many intersecting revolutions. (…)

ChatMod: For both guests – will we notice the Singularity when it happens, or will life seem routine until we suddenly wake up and realize we’re on the other side?

RayKurzweil: Life will appear progressively more exciting. Doesn’t it seem that way already. I mean we’re just getting started, but there’s already a palpable acceleration.

vv: Yes, I know some people who half-seriously suggest it has already happened (…)

RayKurzweil: I do think that the entire Universe will be changed from “dumb matter” to smart matter, which is the ultimate answer to the cosmological questions.

Project Cryo: “I’m not sure if you want to place a Lego figure inside your mouse but if you do now you know how.”

How to survive without audiogalaxy: a guide to file-sharing alternatives

The leading clients are less user-friendly, slower, and sometimes shady. Using, and protecting yourself, from these apps takes more work and research.

Major music companies are preparing to mount a broad new attack on unauthorized online song-swapping. The campaign would include suits against individuals who are offering the largest troves of songs on peer-to-peer services. The suits would be part of a broader effort, including a public campaign that may feature prominent artists urging music fans to respect copyright rules.

Washington Metropolitan Area Air Quality Forecast

Did you know you have a clothespin on your shirt?

In an outstanding series on weblog usability (30 days to a more accessible weblog), Mark Pilgrim argues convincingly that web designers should not have links open new windows by default. I agree without reservation.

New York Times: Shameless Secrets of the Chefs

Yes, culinary snobs of the world: Coca-Cola has nuance. And, if you are to believe some of the country's top chefs and take a peek into their pantries, so do Heinz ketchup, Werther's caramels, Hellmann's mayonnaise, Hungry Jack potato flakes and other pedestrian ingredients. You may have even had them in a $30 entree without knowing it.

Wired News: Routes of Least Surveillance

The demonstrated tendency of Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) operators to single out ethnic minorities for observation and to voyeuristically focus on women’s breasts and buttocks provides the majority of the population ample legitimate reasons to avoid public surveillance cameras.

This page on melting metals in a domestic microwave describes a technique by which one could for example cast silver jewelery at home.

As seen on slashdot, the future of Internet radio just might be decentralized “swarming” networks of p2p hosts which broadcast copies of the stream they’re enjoying. streamer: pirate radio for the digital age; OPENdj: GPLed swarming streamer for Linux. Thanks to Cory for both of these.

Everyone has linked to these outstanding satirical propaganda posters, but somehow you haven’t seen them yet.

I’ve never heard of Aloha, but on the strength of this review I sure will try: Sugar high (Metro Times Detroit).

drylongso is “news, political and cultural commentary, fiction, poetry, essays, interviews, contests, and events for thinking people of color.”

Dear Dude,

    I like my job. How is the move going? I know you can email from work, a word or two. I hope the weekend isn’t too stressful. Call us if you need to talk!
    We’re excited about the Smithsonian Folklife Festival. The Silk Road, it will be great. Look at the Food section from this week: The Flavor Of the Silk Road. Just like we always talk about!
    Listen, this question might change your life: have you heard Aim’s Hinterland? Hello to E.

            Yours,

            Adam

The Washington Post on community gardens.

The overriding thing the committee concluded is that, given that we know acrylamides are cancer-causing in animals and probably in humans, it is intolerable that they are in foods at the levels found and we have to find a remedy. But there is not enough information to make any consumer recommendations because we need more research.

sfbg.com on John Sayles' Sunshine State.

wood s lot reverentially observes the recent passing of Beat poet, novelist, and Zen priest Philip Whalen. Two links I may and may not have stolen from the woods:

• Philip Whalen chapbook: Mark Other Place
• Jack Magazine on the passing of Philip Whalen

Good bands make good live albums. Bands that are not so good can make albums that initially sound okay, but which become increasingly sterile the more you listen to them. Here are some of the great live rock and/or roll albums.

If I may call your attention to Warblogger Watch, in part to note the stylish (but too w i d e?) redesign, but mostly because it’s the first and best site bold enough to flip the script and pay the warbloggers the only kind of attention they deserve.