Thursday, August 06, 2009
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
How to unparalyze a rat
Fifteen minutes after this rat was paralyzed, researchers injected the rodent with Brilliant Blue G dye, a derivative of common food coloring Blue Number One. The dye reduced inflammation of the spinal cord, which allowed the rats to take clumsy steps—but not walk—within weeks, a new study says.
In both rats and people, secondary inflammation following spinal cord trauma causes more lasting damage than the initial injury: Swelling sparks a small "stroke," which stops blood flow and eventually kills off the surrounding tissue.
Other than blue skin and eyes, "we can find no clinical effect on the rat," said Maiken Nedergaard, a neuroscientist at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York.
That lack of side effects may also help make the blue dye a boon to paralyzed humans down the road. "The beauty of it is that it wouldn't harm you," Nedergaard said—unlike previous compounds used to treat spinal cord injuries, which had toxic effects.
Infoporn about online solicitation of teens
Infoporn: Visually appealing presentations of data, often using "Web 2.0" interactivity to suck the viewer in.
More Republican shenanigans
Add a new item to the long list of political shenanigans that backfire once discovered. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) has decided to run for Texas governor against incumbent Rick Perry, and her new campaign website contained hidden text that read "rick perry gay." The resulting flap led to the firing of the Web development firm involved, drew heated responses from Perry's office, and (perhaps worst of all) saw Hutchison's campaign website yanked from Google's search index.
Texas newspapers uncovered the hidden text last week. The "rick perry gay" reference was one of only thousands of phrases tucked into the source code for Hutchison's site, apparently to help draw search engine traffic.
Hutchison's campaign initially told the Austin American-Statesman that "a vendor sold them on a tool that generates the phrases hourly or less in an attempt to divine the most frequent Web searches made by individuals who search online using one or all of the terms 'Rick Perry,' 'Kay Bailey Hutchison' and 'Texas'"—and plenty of people search for "rick perry gay."
The tool was allegedly used to help make banner ad buying decision, said the campaign, a claim that makes little sense on its face. Why would such a list be inserted in the website's source code unless the goal was to draw search traffic to the site?
Whatever the reason for it, the Hutchison campaign blamed the vendor who developed the site and removed the Perry reference. On July 30, Google removed the campaign's site from its search index as a penalty for using more than 2,000 hidden terms. Yahoo then followed suit.
Texas newspapers uncovered the hidden text last week. The "rick perry gay" reference was one of only thousands of phrases tucked into the source code for Hutchison's site, apparently to help draw search engine traffic.
Hutchison's campaign initially told the Austin American-Statesman that "a vendor sold them on a tool that generates the phrases hourly or less in an attempt to divine the most frequent Web searches made by individuals who search online using one or all of the terms 'Rick Perry,' 'Kay Bailey Hutchison' and 'Texas'"—and plenty of people search for "rick perry gay."
The tool was allegedly used to help make banner ad buying decision, said the campaign, a claim that makes little sense on its face. Why would such a list be inserted in the website's source code unless the goal was to draw search traffic to the site?
Whatever the reason for it, the Hutchison campaign blamed the vendor who developed the site and removed the Perry reference. On July 30, Google removed the campaign's site from its search index as a penalty for using more than 2,000 hidden terms. Yahoo then followed suit.
Kayakers on Brennan's Wave in Missoula
Note the guy on the upper right who waded out to fish. He kept his container of worms on the rock between the two groups of kayakers.
To his left, notice the guy in the yellow kayak with a light blue shirt. Can you find his paddle?
Nope, he didn't have one. Just two webbed gloves he used to paddle. He did as well as the other kayakers.
Things seen while driving
A bum outside a grocery store holding up a sign that said, "Please help - Spaceship Crashed"
A big motor home with a license plate that translated as, "Escape Route." It was towing a small car with a license plate that read, "Escape Pod 1"
A big motor home with a license plate that translated as, "Escape Route." It was towing a small car with a license plate that read, "Escape Pod 1"
Sunday, August 02, 2009
I now pronounced you monetized: a Youtube video case study
Last week the world watched in wonder as Jill Peterson and Kevin Heinz's wedding party transformed a familiar and predictable tradition into something spontaneous and just flat-out fun. The video, set to R&B star Chris Brown's hypnotic dance jam "Forever," became an overnight sensation, accumulating more than 10 million views on YouTube in less than one week. But as with all great YouTube videos, there's more to this story than simple view counts.
At YouTube, we have sophisticated content management tools in place to help rights holders control their content on our site. The rights holders for "Forever" used these tools to claim and monetize the song, as well as to start running Click-to-Buy links over the video, giving viewers the opportunity to purchase the music track on Amazon and iTunes. As a result, the rights holders were able to capitalize on the massive wave of popularity generated by "JK Wedding Entrance Dance" — in the last week, searches for "Chris Brown Forever" on YouTube have skyrocketed, making it one of the most popular queries on the site.
This traffic is also very engaged — the click-through rate (CTR) on the "JK Wedding Entrance" video is 2x the average of other Click-to-Buy overlays on the site. And this newfound interest in downloading "Forever" goes beyond the viral video itself: "JK Wedding Entrance" also appears to have influenced the official "Forever" music video, which saw its Click-to-Buy CTR increase by 2.5x in the last week.
So, what does all of this mean? Despite compelling data and studies around consumer purchasing habits, many still question the promotional and bottom-line business value sites like YouTube provide artists. But in the last week, over a year after its release, Chris Brown's "Forever" has again rocketed up the charts, reaching as high as #4 on the iTunes singles chart and #3 on Amazon's best selling MP3 list.
At YouTube, we have sophisticated content management tools in place to help rights holders control their content on our site. The rights holders for "Forever" used these tools to claim and monetize the song, as well as to start running Click-to-Buy links over the video, giving viewers the opportunity to purchase the music track on Amazon and iTunes. As a result, the rights holders were able to capitalize on the massive wave of popularity generated by "JK Wedding Entrance Dance" — in the last week, searches for "Chris Brown Forever" on YouTube have skyrocketed, making it one of the most popular queries on the site.
This traffic is also very engaged — the click-through rate (CTR) on the "JK Wedding Entrance" video is 2x the average of other Click-to-Buy overlays on the site. And this newfound interest in downloading "Forever" goes beyond the viral video itself: "JK Wedding Entrance" also appears to have influenced the official "Forever" music video, which saw its Click-to-Buy CTR increase by 2.5x in the last week.
So, what does all of this mean? Despite compelling data and studies around consumer purchasing habits, many still question the promotional and bottom-line business value sites like YouTube provide artists. But in the last week, over a year after its release, Chris Brown's "Forever" has again rocketed up the charts, reaching as high as #4 on the iTunes singles chart and #3 on Amazon's best selling MP3 list.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Personal Urns
Never forget a face.
Personal urns are a new and exciting way to memorialize your loved one.
Now we can create a custom urn in the image of your loved one or favorite celebrity or hero.
Personal Urns combine art and the very latest in technology to create a family heirloom that will be cherished for generations.
They are built from just one or two photographs of the cherished persons face. This is the most heart warming and special memorial product available anywhere - "A Personal Urn"
Available in Two Sizes
The Full sized Personal Urn will hold all of the ashes of an adult
Keepsake sized Personal Urn is about 1/4 of the full sized and will hold a portion of the cremation ashes.
Gratitude
Every day we have something to be thankful for.....today we are thankful that the photographer was not standing on the other side!
A Joke
An old Italian Mafia Don is dying. He calls his grandson to his bedside.
" Guido, I wanna you lissina me. I wanna you to take-a my chrome plated .38
revolver so you will always remember me."
"But grandpa, I really don't like guns. How about you leave me your Rolex
watch instead?"
"You lissina me, boy. Somma day you gonna be runna da business, you gonna
have a beautiful wife, lotsa money, a big-a home and maybe a couple of
bambinos "
"Somma day you gonna come-a home and maybe finda you wife inna bed with
another man ...
"Whatta you gonna do then? Pointa to you watch and say, 'Time's Up'?"
" Guido, I wanna you lissina me. I wanna you to take-a my chrome plated .38
revolver so you will always remember me."
"But grandpa, I really don't like guns. How about you leave me your Rolex
watch instead?"
"You lissina me, boy. Somma day you gonna be runna da business, you gonna
have a beautiful wife, lotsa money, a big-a home and maybe a couple of
bambinos "
"Somma day you gonna come-a home and maybe finda you wife inna bed with
another man ...
"Whatta you gonna do then? Pointa to you watch and say, 'Time's Up'?"
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
A Bad Day
I was in the pub yesterday when I suddenly realized I desperately needed to fart. The music was really, really loud, so I timed my farts with the beat.
After a couple of songs, I started to feel better. I finished my pint and noticed that everybody was staring at me.
Then I suddenly remembered that I was listening to my iPod.
After a couple of songs, I started to feel better. I finished my pint and noticed that everybody was staring at me.
Then I suddenly remembered that I was listening to my iPod.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Blackfoot River Days
Notice the rocks downstream. Lots and lots of rock gardens at this level.
High-water mark.
The quick lunch. Next day was buffalo tenderloin with fresh tomatoes and Gorgonzola cheese.
Fish on! for Paul.
High-water mark.
The quick lunch. Next day was buffalo tenderloin with fresh tomatoes and Gorgonzola cheese.
Fish on! for Paul.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Meme Tracker
It's kind of hard to explain - just follow the link and move your mouse over the image.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
$20 camera
Do it yourself! DIY 35mm flash-less camera by Plamodel means you get an art project and a camera, all in one! Camera parts come separated, and it's your job to snap them all together to create a sleek, functional 35mm camera. Assembly takes a couple of hours and simple instructions are included. Modifications are easy (to create a completely unique camera!); wide angle 28 mm lens takes rich, perfectly imperfect photos. Takes 35mm film that can be developed just about anywhere! Imported. Wipe clean.
* Includes: Assembly kit in vinyl bag, wrist strap and screw driver
* No batteries necessary
* Finished camera: 4.25"w, 1"d, 2.5"h
* Vinyl, plastic
* Web exclusive
* Includes: Assembly kit in vinyl bag, wrist strap and screw driver
* No batteries necessary
* Finished camera: 4.25"w, 1"d, 2.5"h
* Vinyl, plastic
* Web exclusive
It's a wonder we've survived as a species
Parents who smoke often open a window or turn on a fan to clear the air for their children, but experts now have identified a related threat to children’s health that isn’t as easy to get rid of: third-hand smoke.
That’s the term being used to describe the invisible yet toxic brew of gases and particles clinging to smokers’ hair and clothing, not to mention cushions and carpeting, that lingers long after second-hand smoke has cleared from a room. The residue includes heavy metals, carcinogens and even radioactive materials that young children can get on their hands and ingest, especially if they’re crawling or playing on the floor.
That’s the term being used to describe the invisible yet toxic brew of gases and particles clinging to smokers’ hair and clothing, not to mention cushions and carpeting, that lingers long after second-hand smoke has cleared from a room. The residue includes heavy metals, carcinogens and even radioactive materials that young children can get on their hands and ingest, especially if they’re crawling or playing on the floor.
Friday, July 17, 2009
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Best Reference to a "Tubes" song (about 200 posts in.)
Barney Frank informs Jon Stewart that the $787 billion stimulus hasn't succeeded as planned because republicans made them reduce the original amount by $40 billion. Go ahead...guess where the congressman claimed that money would've gone , , ,
Ah, California
Los Angeles City Council chambers went dark early today after an African American man wearing the distinctive white robe and hood of the Ku Klux Klan tested the limits of his 1st Amendment rights — and council members' patience — by refusing to remove his hood while addressing the council.
The interchange with Hunt, Wesson said, may have accelerated that process. “Whenever I see that, it send chills down my spine and then to have it worn by him is triply offensive. How could an African American in his right mind use that just to attract attention,” Wesson said. “Over the next 24 hours, I will be having discussions with whoever I can to find out legally just how much flexibility we have, because I would prefer to never see that again in my life.”
In April, a federal jury awarded Hunt $264,000 after he sued the city challenging its vending ordinance. The city has filed an appeal. Hunt could not immediately be reached for comment.
The interchange with Hunt, Wesson said, may have accelerated that process. “Whenever I see that, it send chills down my spine and then to have it worn by him is triply offensive. How could an African American in his right mind use that just to attract attention,” Wesson said. “Over the next 24 hours, I will be having discussions with whoever I can to find out legally just how much flexibility we have, because I would prefer to never see that again in my life.”
In April, a federal jury awarded Hunt $264,000 after he sued the city challenging its vending ordinance. The city has filed an appeal. Hunt could not immediately be reached for comment.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
It was a pretty good camping trip
We had one hour of sunshine to every two hours of grey skies and one hour of thunderstorms and torrential rain. But the fish were biting, the food was great and we laughed a lot. We're going back in September to the same cabin.
Monday, July 13, 2009
Ozzy the dog is sweet, but not very bright
A simple turn to the left would have solved the problem, but that's too complicated.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
How to use emergency services.
Alaska troopers say they got a report of an emergency locator beacon registered to Washington, D.C., resident William Calomiris, 27, that was activated near Pungokepuk Lake, 20 miles northeast of Twin Hills, about 8:30 p.m. July 1. An air taxi service had dropped him and Adam Grunstra, also 27, of Bethesda, Md., off at the lake on June 30 for a seven-day stay, troopers said.
Troopers alerted the Alaska Air National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard and then diverted their own Dillingham-based floatplane that was in the area to head to the scene and check things out.
The floatplane touched down about 10:30 p.m. to find there was no emergency. A day in the wilds had just taken its toll and the men were ready to leave, troopers said.
"Calomiris and Grunstra claimed that they had been sunburned," troopers wrote in a dispatch. "They were unprepared to deal with the long day length and any further exposure to the sun. They had activated the beacon in an effort to get extracted ahead of schedule."
Troopers alerted the Alaska Air National Guard, the U.S. Coast Guard and then diverted their own Dillingham-based floatplane that was in the area to head to the scene and check things out.
The floatplane touched down about 10:30 p.m. to find there was no emergency. A day in the wilds had just taken its toll and the men were ready to leave, troopers said.
"Calomiris and Grunstra claimed that they had been sunburned," troopers wrote in a dispatch. "They were unprepared to deal with the long day length and any further exposure to the sun. They had activated the beacon in an effort to get extracted ahead of schedule."
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
What a woman can do.
'Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.
If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she'll give you a home.
If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.'
If you give her sperm, she'll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she'll give you a home.
If you give her groceries, she'll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she'll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.'
How to suspect (but not prove) election fraud.
Prof. Mebane is one of the analysts who dug through vote totals from thousands of ballot boxes in Iran. They suspected that the election wasn't democratic just by looking at the vote counts. Of particular fishiness: There were too many 0s in the second digit of these totals and too few 5s in the last digit.
Perhaps some day we shall become this smart.
Apple, others agree to universal cell phone charger standard in Europe
Sunday, July 05, 2009
Cheap Trick has new music out - on 8 track
Those who swear by vinyl say that records provide a warmer sound compared to compact discs, and that the larger packaging and gatefold artwork offer a superior tactile experience (and certainly to digital downloads). But where's the love for the 8-track, those bulky blasts from the past which sounded fine enough in your El Camino, and which broke down classic albums indiscriminately into four programs. Don't look now, but the cartridges are back, brought by a band from the same era, Cheap Trick.
This month the boys of the Budokan release their new album, The Latest, not only in CD and vinyl, but in a long-departed format as fashionable as Tang, bell-bottoms and porn-star mustaches.
Evil Bong - just added to my Netflix que
I love bad movies. And a movie with Tommy Chong and evil strippers has to be a good bad movie.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
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