tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73103397918097938012011-04-21T15:04:03.088-05:00Random thoughts & notes from an IT cowboy. <br> [Tech]*[Science]*[Cool]*[Media]*[Culture]Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.comBlogger361100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-75732353199068553522008-05-23T09:19:00.005-05:002008-05-23T09:28:46.097-05:00

Yesterday I found an interesting little YouTube video of tech/dance-ish music created mostly from audio within Disney's Alice in Wonderland. Typically I'm into metal/hard rock, but this really did a mind meld on me somehow. This dude, Pogo, has a Last.fm profile where you can download 4 of these songs for free, which I recommend checking it out in all its trippy glory!

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-38395541575306908142008-04-30T10:21:00.003-05:002008-04-30T10:26:42.958-05:00

I find the Google Hot Trends RSS feed interesting. I don't know if anyone else out there looks at this stuff, but a raw look into the most searched terms is an obvious but nifty way to keep up with the movement on the interwebs. I'm a big fan of social media, and have a Google Reader account full of feeds, but I always seem to find news/interests/trends in the hourly hot list that I haven't

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-64230425206114270402008-04-19T11:12:00.003-05:002008-04-19T11:30:30.306-05:00

I was listening to a BBC Documentary podcast a few days ago and heard something which pissed me off big time. It's not the first time I'd heard it, but coming from a major media outlet made it that much worse. The segment was coving the Virginia Tech shootings, interviewing students and faculty who had been through the terrible event. Between the interviews the narrator said we must think of

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-12489542958522068522008-04-09T11:10:00.003-05:002008-04-09T11:35:23.493-05:00

I'm sad to say my man Adam Carolla was booted from Dancing With the Stars last night. Of course I'm partially sad that I would watch such a show, but even if it makes me a flaming homosexual, I enjoyed watching Adam. There is a certain quality to watching your guy in competition; a competition in which he stands alone as the representative of your culture/values.The average viewer of DWTS is

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-83634065515416524052008-04-08T14:24:00.002-05:002008-04-08T14:30:25.088-05:00

Mixx (& NetVibes) feeds are now available in FriendFeed, the popular "life streaming" service. I only got into FriendFeed a few weeks ago but have since found it to be a great site, allowing you to keep up with all your friend's activities across the web. Thanks to FriendFeed for responding to our requests for Mixx!

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-31614265309928727202008-04-07T11:46:00.003-05:002008-04-07T11:57:58.498-05:00

I learned via the Hijinks Ensue podcast of a fine piece of cinematic work called Black Devil Doll. Apparently the soul of a 60s era hyper-violent black radical trapped in the body of... a hyper-violent black radical... puppet. Learn more at the risk of losing any sensibilities you may have maintained previously.I can't say I'm a fan of ultra low budget films such as this, but I can't help

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-84517417297039297852008-04-02T16:02:00.002-05:002008-04-02T16:08:08.362-05:00

via LOL god

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-75452620884279345702008-04-01T13:07:00.003-05:002008-04-01T13:12:46.376-05:00

WILL ARNETT-HUMAN GIANT SEX TAPE on FunnyOrDie.comWord to Honest_Ape for pointing out this great piece of trashy treasure.

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-45699072656954607222008-04-01T09:15:00.003-05:002008-04-01T09:39:11.295-05:00

I thought it would be interesting if we listed the podcasts to which we stay subscribed. This is my alphabetized list (linking directly to the feeds), which I listen to each week. In my defense I can't say I totally agree with the political leanings of some of these shows, but I try to take in all kinds of views...BBC DocumentariesIn Our Time with Melvyn Bragg (BBC)Le Show (Harry Shearer)

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-8102443239384036652008-03-31T16:23:00.004-05:002008-03-31T16:31:09.065-05:00

Yes they've been around for a while, but I can't help posting my favorite few:via GraphJam

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-87780890081549630522008-03-20T09:01:00.004-05:002008-03-20T09:18:55.690-05:00

Adam Carolla’s movie The Hammer opens Friday, March 21st, on the west coast and in New York. My only issue is this isn’t Kafka in Brooklyn or Franz in San Fran. I will certainly buy the DVD, but I really hope to see a theatrical release here in the DFW area. I’ve been a big Carolla fan for some time, as I’ve detailed elsewhere, but I can honestly say The Hammer’s trailer was very appealing.

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-53910790029946842212008-03-11T10:25:00.003-05:002008-03-11T10:28:42.835-05:00

When I was in high school I listened to rap. Not exclusively, but I definitely put plays on Marilyn Manson, Metallica, White/Rob Zombie and other personal rock/metal favorites of the time. Now I almost look at that time with some shame, sometime rationalizing this as bass fodder for my truck’s “system” (a fairly ironic status symbol in small Texas towns such as my hometown, where my lily white

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-50774410399710475122008-03-10T10:51:00.003-05:002008-03-10T10:57:49.860-05:00

What would this presidential race be without race/gender overtones? Obama’s main rally cry has been change: Yes We Can… Change! But what change are we actually expecting other than a different person in the White House? I don’t want to come off as totally apathetic (despite my – apathy – towards this race) but what has ever really changed? About the only thing I’m looking forward to in the

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-30174198311125563222008-03-05T15:16:00.004-06:002008-03-05T15:40:57.116-06:00

My Damn Channel is a “new media” outlet, serving high production value video content online. I had heard things about them for some time, but 2 shows really locked me in: You Suck at Photoshop and Cookin’ with Coolio. You Suck teaches the finer points of Photoshop work with a definite comedic quality (mostly around the horrible life of your presenter), while Coolio demonstrates the real world

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-48657695003256487982008-03-04T15:49:00.004-06:002008-03-04T15:58:05.714-06:00

In a turn which surprises no real Carolla fan, the Adam Carolla Show Arbitron ratings show a significant increase for the 1st month since the departure of Danny Bonaduce. I must say all of us Carolla fans believed this would be the case, because removing crap from an otherwise good show... only makes a better show. So let us review:Adam Carolla Show - Bonaduce = large amounts of win (because

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-1928072639851986802008-02-26T14:22:00.004-06:002008-02-26T14:28:47.073-06:00

From One Sentence, story #1804:"Up until two days ago, I thought Ernest Hemingway was a large, black man."-Steph***This has 50+ thumbs up. WTF happened to reading a [censored] book?

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-42485168406517888422008-02-23T16:21:00.003-06:002008-02-23T16:25:11.302-06:00

David Choe & Harry Kim in their second Thumbs Up! adventure hitchhiking across North America. This time it's from Tijuana to Alaska.

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-76040323896787674542008-02-23T11:08:00.002-06:002008-02-23T11:20:51.565-06:00

I wanted to give a shout to the Social Blend podcast crew (cGt2099, Bdog2g2, SilentJay74, and Nomadelle) for The Ocho/8th episode mention of my video Mixx submission. I think it’s a rare online community which so quickly generates such a rich culture for new and “old-ish” users alike. I really do enjoy the entire Mixx universe. Anyway, the Social Blend podcast and the Mixxing Bowl really are

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-7802634893473744672008-02-19T08:41:00.003-06:002008-02-19T13:16:41.621-06:00

On today’s Adam Carolla Show, Adam made a huge announcement: he would be appearing on the next season of ABC’s Dancing with the Stars. I must say I was shocked to hear this news. Adam is not the kind of guy you normally associate with such inoffensive, mass-appeal network shows. But I admit, the more I thought about this news the more I applaud his decision. From the first time I heard Adam

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-23454767687364685162008-01-26T09:19:00.000-06:002008-01-26T09:33:59.579-06:00

I, like most people online, have been following what news I can find on the "jihad" against Scientology by Anonymous. I can't say I'm saddened by this news, to me Scientology is nothing less than a dangerous cult; most likely a brainwashing cult on top of that. So what else is there to say other than, "Give 'em hell boys".

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-54549116155288521812008-01-24T19:06:00.000-06:002008-01-24T19:13:42.933-06:00

What strikes me about this whole thing is the denial that Digg is simply operating under typical corporate business practice. As we all know there is one thing on the minds of the Digg brass now, and that is getting the big payout. Quite simply they are doing what it takes to attract venture capital or outright buyers. Obviously the Digg name is quite valuable as web brands go, but that looses

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-89830260884637427692008-01-24T13:38:00.000-06:002008-01-24T13:59:55.124-06:00

When I began reading all the news which had been emailed to me and made popular on Mixx last night I thought something real was in motion. A real “Digg Revolt”! People would stop complaining and take some action. This was not the case. The Digg users got all riled up and finally organized to demand answers and perhaps a change or 2. They organized in a way which was obviously meaningful

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-86561992233233002042008-01-24T09:46:00.000-06:002008-01-24T09:54:40.691-06:00

I didn’t do any Mixxing last night and I missed all the action. If you have been living under a rock like I apparently was late yesterday you probably missed all the “Digg revolt” happenings. From what I have feverishly read the top Digg users (many from The Drill Down podcast) organized an emergency show to talk live with the Digg brass. This has gotten attention from Valley Wag and other top

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-64979946142840440472008-01-22T11:22:00.000-06:002008-01-23T10:12:46.950-06:00

When I became a fan of Digg in the past (something I have since moved away from, but that’s not the point) I was really interested in the Diggnation podcast, and all the peer appeal I found within. At that time Digg was already well on the track to shadiness in its business practices, but I was unaware of this, simply not having been exposed to Digg or social media at large. When I watched

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-52220820074492462662008-01-20T11:44:00.000-06:002008-01-22T11:30:14.778-06:00

The Adam Carolla Show is one of the greatest radio shows in existence. Many might disagree with me here, but Carolla has consistently entertained me over the past 6 years. This is why the introduction of Danny Bonaduce, in January 2007, was such a blow to me. Here was a man’s show which I followed with near religious fervor being soiled by the constant spouting of a washed up, bad memory of

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-76532845211115272692008-01-18T11:31:00.000-06:002008-01-22T11:30:35.142-06:00

Has anyone else thought about the repercussions of DRM in regards to our future? Maybe this is an arcane thought, but what becomes of our media in 50 years when we have hardware and software saturated with DRM? Aside from all the other common sense and simple business minded arguments and opinions out there, I can’t help but think we are damaging our own history, in real time.Say someone around

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-1921177881141128622008-01-16T10:44:00.000-06:002008-01-22T12:41:51.359-06:00

For one of the few times in my life I am definitely not proud to be a Texan. You might think this is simply an arrogance which all Texans hold, tenuously linked to state land mass or belt buckle sizes, but I think everyone should be proud of what their city/state/country/world has done. Of course this attitude is also useful in keeping an eye out for those things your community, by whichever

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-58338276233272351152008-01-11T16:46:00.000-06:002008-01-12T15:55:47.500-06:00

I just wanted to take a minute to thank all my Mixx brethren out there. Only a few hours after posting on my love of the Mixx community the story was submitted (by droppyale), and subsequently shared out to me (by joefowler3). My humble blog received readers from 15 countries around the world, and I have only Mixxers to thank.Thanks again for the love, and most of all for proving my point!

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-49507803355743212642008-01-09T08:41:00.000-06:002008-01-12T15:52:52.874-06:00

I’ve known about Digg for quite a while, but never really got into it until April 07. Since then Digg increasingly worked its way into my browsing habits until it was basically my favorite site. I was especially fascinated with the Digg Labs interfaces, most notably Stack & Spy. Apparently I’d joined the party at what seems now like a “time of upheaval” with bannings and the associated fallout

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-89374482845464114102007-12-26T11:35:00.000-06:002007-12-26T11:40:18.316-06:00

Probably the most off the wall issue which constantly pops into my head each time I hear political discussions these days, 99% of which are related to President Bush, is this idea that Bush is somehow a “genius moron”. I honestly don’t know how else to put it, the same people who point out his ever present blunders are often the same who in the next breathe accuse him of heinous crimes one would

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-55960445494629387732007-12-24T09:56:00.000-06:002008-01-22T12:41:51.359-06:00

One of the podcasts I have followed regularly over the year is The Skeptic’s Guide to the Universe, a show produced by the New England Skeptical Society (NESS). Before listening to this show I had never really considered myself a “skeptic” but more so just a person with common sense. Such common sense would tell you psychics are simply cold readers, evolution and science have evidence, and UFO

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-15798806012555345722007-12-12T19:27:00.000-06:002007-12-12T19:37:35.079-06:00

Yesterday I noticed an article by Debbie Schlussel, a fairly well known writer on political manners and the like. I found this particular article interesting because it was opining on the selfish nature of the Baby Boomer generation. I, as a guy in his mid-twenties, am not likely to be intimately aware of the societal differences between each successive generation as they of age to call the shots

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-3029353295800763232007-12-11T13:44:00.000-06:002007-12-11T14:27:09.756-06:00

Ever heard of DPI (not in printers or scanners), or probably less likely, ISNS? If you are familiar with the Net Neutrality thing you probably know DPI = Deep Packet Inspection, something which most of us are less than enthusiastic about. Please understand I am no Net Neutrality expert, but I have a passing knowledge of DPI, mostly related to ISPs utilizing this concept to layer packets (

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-2160614065347469062007-12-09T13:50:00.000-06:002007-12-11T14:27:52.429-06:00

I've been a fan of the BBC's Top Gear for some time now. What else could you ask for in a segment like this?If you are at all interested in cars, both exotic and typical, check out Top Gear (BBC America for us in the States) if you haven't already. At the very least because they crashed a ridiculously fast and supremely expensive car in a test lap.

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-46518188199811882552007-12-09T12:17:00.000-06:002007-12-11T14:31:22.105-06:00

What Should I Read Next allows you to enter the books you’ve already read and provides suggestions accordingly. I can’t say I’ve built my list up very well yet, but I’m curious to enter 10 or 15 more and see what it makes of my reading habits. What recommendations come from William Gibson, Bret Easton Ellis and Hemingway? I do see this as an interesting tool for readers whose friends aren’t

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7310339791809793801.post-25975288880069646422007-12-08T23:01:00.000-06:002007-12-11T14:30:04.295-06:00

In reading an article a few months ago I was surprised to find a link between “heavy metal” and so called gifted children. I say surprised not because I was actually surprised to find a link between the 2 (I had noticed it anecdotally in my friends), but more so because I assumed it was in some way by which I chose my friends and acquaintances. Basically if I chose different people to talk with

Kafkahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11973651434541113650noreply@blogger.com1