Amazing interview with Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert | The A.V. Club: "

AVC: That sort of gets to the essence of the character you play on The Colbert Report. He's appealing because he tells people how to think.


SC: 'Don't worry your pretty little head. Open wide, baby bird, because poppa's got a fat nightcrawler of truth for you.'



AVC: What about Bill O'Reilly and similar figures makes them so ripe for satire?


SC: Status is always ripe for satire, status is always good for comedy. And they have the highest possible status—and that's what we've tried to amplify with everything on the show. Everything on the show has my name on it, every bit of the set. One of the things I said to the set designer—who has done everything, I mean even Meet The Press, he does that level of news design—was 'One of your inspirations should be [DaVinci's painting] The Last Supper.' All the architecture of that room points at Jesus' head, the entire room is a halo, and he doesn't have a halo.' And I said, 'On the set, I'd like the lines of the set to converge on my head.' And so if you look at the design, it all does, it all points at my head. And even radial lines on the floor, and on my podium, and watermarks in the images behind me, and all the vertices, are right behind my head. So there's a sort of sun-god burst quality about the set around me. And I love that. That's status."

cool games! get one!

ThinkFun Games make for smart gifts: "

We discovered ThinkFun puzzles and games in Amsterdam, but we just noticed them in a big display at our local Barnes & Noble. They make excellent games for preschoolers and young school-age kids. We've been playing River Crossing with our six year-old, and he loves it (we all do). Great as travel entertainment, too.

(Via Parent Hacks.)

parent hacks: TiVo taught my kid to read

It didn't TEACH her, but she got the whole, "D-O-R-A = my show." And the listings are things I can control, as a parent. YAY.

parent hacks: TiVo taught my kid to read:

"TiVo is the biggest and best family TV hack there is. We're no longer hostage to program listings or broadcast times. When the kids have 30 minutes to watch TV, there are always at least three or four parent-approved options from which to choose, including more than one episode of their favorites. We zoom past all commercials, when there are any. The only live TV the kids can browse is rated G (everything else requires a secret code). No need for channel-flipping: TiVo is the gateway to all TV-watching, and we all like it that way."

lemmings! psp!

lem05.jpg 480×272 pixels

Welcome to MY world: Top ten reasons Geeks make good fathersTop ten reasons Geeks make good fathers

Ok, after writing about how it isn't always easy being married to a Geek, and ten reasons Geeks make good friends, I have one more Top Ten of Geekdom for you inspired by Maryam's geek blogs: Ten reasons why Geeks make good fathers. And they do! They really are uniquely qualified for this role. My husband says I never blog nicely about him, so honey, here you go:
 
1. LEGOS. The Geek is really more of a Man-Child than an adult. In their minds, they are still 10. They freakin' still love to play with their legos, and have never grown up. I have one friend, WHO WILL REMAIN NAMELESS, that still has legos"

The Pub Is My Womb

The Pub Is My Womb:

"‘Cigarettes are my food,’ said Frank Zappa. And then he died of testicular cancer. Which came as no surprise to anyone who’d heard him wanking in recording studios for thirty years, but still. Anyone who names his kid Moon Unit is plainly asking for his balls to rot off. Because there is such a thing as karma. Welcome to the concept of universal payback."

(Via Warrenellis.com.)

Chess checks into PSP - PSP Fanboy

I now know that I am old. THIS actually looks good to me.

Chess checks into PSP - PSP Fanboy:

Chess checks into PSP

Homebrew chess games have been around just about as long as the PSP has. Now, thanks to Konami, you'll soon be able to pay for yet another version of this gaming classic. Chess Battle promises some new twists, however, bringing a story mode, speed-play mode, themes and wireless play to the table.

Chess Battle is scheduled for release sometime this Fall.

Joss Whedon's Firefly Season 2

Dude, I HOPE this means that Firefly is coming back to TV!!!!!

Joss Whedon's Firefly Season 2: "

The Firefly Season 2 Project:
Captain Mal and the crew of Serenity need your help to stay flying.

We are looking to push the envelope of episodic television by offering Season Two of Firefly in a groundbreaking new format. Each episode (or the entire season) would be made available for purchase in Standard or Hi-Definition.

It's possible that subscribers may choose one of three playback options; monthly DVD deliveries, TV On-Demand using your cable or satellite provider, or computer viewing via Streaming Download.

It's also possible that a box set of DVD's would be available at the end of the season.

Firefox Myths

Firefox Myths:

Interesting page about how firefox isn't as cool as IE for PC. Hahahaha.

PocketMod version 0.3 beta

PocketMod version 0.3 beta: ""

This may be the coolest little thing. Make yourself a pocket organizer, with pre-printed guides and stuff on the paper.

PocketMod: The Free Disposable Personal Organizer

PocketMod: The Free Disposable Personal Organizer: "Create a PocketMod



The PocketMod is a new way to keep yourself organized. Lets face it, PDAs are too expensive and cumbersome, and organizers are bulky and hard to carry around. Nothing beats a folded up piece of paper. That is until now. With the PocketMod, you can carry around the days notes, keep them organized in any way you wish, then easily transfer the notes to your PDA, spreadsheet, or planner.

The PocketMod is a small book with guides on each page. These guides or templates, combined with a unique folding style, enable a normal piece of paper to become"

Thumbdrive Car FM Stereo Transmitter: $36.95

Thumbdrive Car FM Stereo Transmitter: $36.95: "
Product Description

Note: Due to high demand, this model is out of stock. Check out the comparable Car Audio FM Stereo Transmiter/Thumbdrive MP3 Player.
Take any average USB Flashdrive (aka thumbdrive) and turn it into an in-car mp3 player. Simply insert the USB flash-drive into the FM transmitter which features buttons for play/pause, previous track, next track, and FM channel.

Unlike other FM transmitters, it plugs straight into the car's cigarette lighter/DC power outlet so no device power is used. The USB port even doubles as a charger for any USB device such as the ipod. Ipod and itrip (the leading ipod FM transmitter) users will agree that the itrip sucks ipod power rapidly. This device will charge your"

c64s.com - play Commodore 64 games online (no download required)

c64s.com - play Commodore 64 games online (no download required): "c64s.com - classic Commodore 64 games online!
c64s.com - retro-gaming galore!
Get your daily dose of Commodore 64 nostalgia at c64s.com!
The Greatest C64 Games of All Times - Playable Directly In Your Browser!
1.   Commando

2.   Giana Sisters

3.   Bubble Bobble

4.   Boulder Dash I

5.   Ghostbusters

6.   Ghost �n Goblins

7.   Paperboy

8.   Bruce Lee

9.   Boulder Dash II

10.   Blue Max

Show me more games!
All games on assumed to be abandonware or copyleft.
XHTML, CSS
"

(Via .)

Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror Beta Test Opened

Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror Beta Test Opened: "

That’s right, Syphon Filter: Dark Mirror is doing a public beta test. Of course, you will need to upgrade to firmware 2.6 for this beta. The beta will only accept applications that are made from a PSP through the PSP’s web browser at http://pspbeta.us.playstation.com. Once you log on to that site using your 2.6 Firmware browser, simply follow the onscreen instructions to register for the beta. If accepted, you will recieve a ‘Welcome Aboard’ email that will have details on how to access the beta test website, and your beta kit will be sent.

Veoh offers 20,000 videos for PSP

Veoh offers 20,000 videos for PSP: "

PSPWorld.com
Veoh Networks has announced that the majority of its catalog of more than 20,000 independent, user published videos is now available for download for the PSP. Veoh's software automatically downloads videos to the PSP each time they connect it to their computer. The Veoh software is available as a free download for both Windows XP and Mac OS X."

(Via PSPMagazines.com (RSS 0.91).)

EvolutionTV Beta Support for iPod/PSP

TO READ LATER

EvolutionTV Beta Support for iPod/PSP: "

PSP Fanboy has posted some information regarding Miglia’s EvolutionTV Beta.

Their new software compresses live television in real-time, which means no more waiting for boring old progress meters to finish up. If you’re not a Mac owner, however, you’re out of luck since this only works for those in the service of Steve and his white-clad minions. If you’re a Macphile on the other hand, prepare to simplify your life.

On the official site they say this about their beta test:

EvolutionTV 2.6 Public Beta One

EvolutionTV 2.6 adds real-time iPod Video and Sony PSP compression options to EvolutionTV. The video and audio architechture has been redesigned as well.

Please submit any feedback on the Public Beta One to support@miglia.com

You can download the Public Beta One here.

Tags: EvolutionTV, Beta, Video

"

(Via Portable Gaming Revolution.)

9-year-old's drawings of the PSP he craves

I love the intarnets. Yay PSP boy. I wonder if his parents are worried about him playing a game like GTA, though, where you steal cars and can shoot anyone.

9-year-old's drawings of the PSP he craves: "Mark Frauenfelder:

Mister Jalopy has posted some feverishly detailed drawings of a PSP done by a 9-year-old boy who hungers for one with all his heart. Mister Jalopy has kindly taken it upon himself to head up a collection to buy a PSP for the boy (If you would like to contribute, send Paypal money to @gmail.com) (The money has been raised -- see update below).

(Via Boing Boing.)

Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess Music Video - Google Video: ""

(Via .)

Zoe's Radio Show

Zoe's Radio Show: "Zoe's Radio Show
I'm Zoe, I'm 15, this is my radio show.
December 29, 2005

Counter-script to use on telemarketers

Yeah, you KNOW I'm gonna use this on YOU, biatch.

Counter-script to use on telemarketers: "Cory Doctorow:



The next time a telemarketer rings you, try this 'counter-script' in which you quiz the caller on her/his favorite toothpaste, working conditions, residence, etc, and finally rate the telemarketer and fax the completed counterscript to a project compiling information on telemarketers' habits and responses.


Link

(Via Boing Boing.)

parent hacks: Favorite "no trans fat" snacks

parent hacks: Favorite "no trans fat" snacks: "

The FDA is changing food labels so you'll now know how much trans fat lurks in your kid's food. Trans fat -- the result of hydrogenating oil -- typically shows up in packaged snacks such as cookies and crackers. Because it's more shelf-stable than regular oil, however, manufacturers use it in all sorts of convenience foods.

I've been a trans fat detective for years. I generally shop at my local natural-foods grocery store or Trader Joe's for snacks, cereals, and other ready-made food. I save money by watching for sales, packing my freezer, and buying staples at conventional supermarkets.

A few favorites:

Annie's Cheddar Bunnies (Goldfish cracker alternative)
Trader Joe's Honey Whole Wheat pretzel sticks
New Morning Cinnamon Grahams
Kashi GoLean Crunch and Mighty Bites cereals
Nature Valley Peanut Butter granola bars (if our only shopping choices are the gas station or 7-11)
What are your family's favorite trans fat-free snacks?

Nintendo DS redesign coming Jan. 16th?

From Joystiq: Jeff, eat yer heart out, and ready yer wallet:

parent hacks

parent hacks: "parent hacks
a collaborative weblog of practical parenting wisdom

(Via .)

Deaf hacker rewrites implant-firmware so he can enjoy music again

Deaf hacker rewrites implant-firmware so he can enjoy music again:

"A deaf geek diligently tinkered with the firmware on his cochlear implant, trying to get it to faithfully render out Ravel's symphony, Boléro, eventually meeting with success. Michael Chorost was born with partial hearing, and at 15, he discovered that Boléro was audible to him, and it became a touchstone for him, a piece of music that he developed a deep emotional attachment to. In 2001, Chorost experienced the sudden, total loss of the remains of his hearing, and Boléro was lost to him, seemingly forever.
In this Wired feature, Chorost chronicles the amazing journey he embarked upon, learning the science of acoustics, of music, and of signal processing, reprogramming the firmware in his implanted prosthetic with the help of experts around the world with various theories about the psychoacoustic basis for music"

(Via Boing Boing.)

The Infinite Matrix | Cory Doctorow | I, Robot

The daddy-daughter stuff made me tear up. Like a baby.

The Infinite Matrix | Cory Doctorow | I, Robot: "

 
Arturo Icaza de Arana-Goldberg, Police Detective Third Grade, United North American Trading Sphere, Third District, Fourth Prefecture, Second Division (Parkdale) had had many adventures in his distinguished career, running crooks to ground with an unbeatable combination of instinct and unstinting devotion to duty.

He'd been decorated on three separate occasions by his commander and by the Regional Manager for Social Harmony, and ..."

(Via .)

Video Game Rentals

Birthday gift, perhaps, for that gamer in your life?

:)

Video Game Rentals: Rent or Buy PS2, Xbox, Xbox 360, GameCube, GBA, DS, PSP Games: ""

Joystiq

Ahhh, the funky and good games. :) Love it!

Joystiq


Joystiq's top 10 hidden gems of this generation



What about the games that did not have a built-in audience? How about the titles that tried something different, and for the most part succeeded — at leastartistically? (Financial success is a bit harder to achieve.) Here are Joystiq's picks for the top 10 (well, 11 – we failed math in high school) games you may have passed over this generation, but really need to p"

(Via .)

WIFI CAMERA!?

FlickrBlog: ""

Our pals over at Make Magazine have published an article about using the Kodak Wifi Camera with Flickr. We've been dying for a wifi camera forever!! People ask me all the time why I don't take pictures with my regular camera, but always use my cameraphone, and it's because of the internet connection

.
Posted by

(Via Flickr.)

Engadget

Engadget:



TiVo's Wireless G USB network adapter boosts performance
Posted Dec 27th 2005 9:00PM by Paul Miller
Filed under: Home Entertainment, Wireless





TiVo is busting out their very own Wireless G USB network adapter to help push those Housewives episodes around the home. Not only does it do the traditional wireless thang, but they've stuck the device with some processing duties usually associated with transferring TiVoToGo vids and Multi-Room Viewing, so you should see some performance enhancement in those activities. You can buy it direct from the ever smiling Mr. Tivo for a mere $50.

29MP4 Video Store

29MP4 Video Store: ""

Movies for download for your PSP. All look like they suck, except a couple of gems:
In the Soup, with Steve Buscemi, and to a lesser degree, Theivery Corporation (looks like a chill/ambient/electronica concert something or other)

Cory's Anda's Game podcasted by Wonderland's Alice

Cory says:

However, this time around, it's not me reading the story -- it's Alice Taylor, the founder of the Wonderland games blog and former competitive Quake player. She's the perfect reader for this one -- this story really does need to be read by a 1337 gamer-woman with a British accent to do it justice.

Alice has read the story in three parts, and I'll be podcasting them over the next week or two. The story itself is under a Creative Commons license that allows you to redistribute the text freely -- as is this podcast. Share it around, why don't ya?

Part One MP3

"

(Via Boing Boing.)

Futurismic: Fiction

At least this one is still going strong. :)



Futurismic: Fiction:
Current Story

The Other Side of Silence
by Ruth Nestvold

A catalogue. Of women. On her husband’s desk. Judith clenched her fist to keep it from trembling and read off one of the number combinations in a shaky voice. The sparsely-clad image of a small-breasted Asian beauty appeared in the holo well, rotating slowly, while the sexy voice enumerated her special qualities. Read it.

The Infinite Matrix

Why do I always find out about this kind of stuff right before it goes away?

The Infinite Matrix: "
C  O  M  I  N  G    S  O  O  N


N  E  W   S  T  O  R  I  E  S    B  Y


cory doctorow

& charles stross


E  S  S  A  Y  S     B  Y


pam noles


eleanor arnason


william gibson


A  N  D


more tales from

sycamore hill

Cloud Factory Mixes - CHILLITS 2005

Cloud Factory Mixes - CHILLITS 2005:

FRIDAY/SATURDAY

18:00 - 19:30: Christopher Morin mp3 - torrent - mirror1
19:30 - 21:00: Andrew Shriver & drummer mp3 - torrent - mirror1
21:00 - 22:30: Mike Bee mp3 - torrent - mirror1
22:30 - 24:00: Tim Gotch mp3 - torrent - mirror1
24:00 - 02:00: Pie and JD - incomplete mp3 -"

It's 2006, dammit! Where's my flying car? Where's my jetpack? Why can't I transport to New Delhi for lunch? Why aren't we in space? Why is 2001: A Space Odyssey not actually happening?

I like the internets, I do. I like small cell phones and big TVs. But...something in me longs for the big giant promises of the tons of SF books I've read. Space Travel. INtelligent computers. Robots. Beaming technology.

Oh, where, oh where, is all the good stuff?

:(

jay is games: Best of 2005: Top 20:


Best of 2005: Honorable Mention | Home
January 01, 2006
Best of 2005: Top 20
The Best of 2005 is a celebration of the best games reviewed here at Jayisgames over the past year. It is not an exhaustive list of all the best games available since we can only review the games that we come to know about. If you have a game, or are part of a team that produces them, and would like to have your game considered for a future review here, then please use my email address in the sidebar to submit a link.

I'm doing things a little differently this year. For this year's Top 10 list there are ...20 games! Yes, that's right. There were too many great games released in 2005 to narrow the list to just 10. So, without any further ado, here are the 20 games you picked as the Best of 2005: