Unplugged

If you wondering where I’ve been the last few days, here’s my story. It’s something every wired person should do: Just Unplug. That’s what I did the last couple days (my weekend). After I left the office on Thursday night, I locked my laptop away, turned off my cell phone, and didn’t get online for my entire two days off. (OK, I lied — I got on my wife’s computer to check the TV Listings when the TV Guide channel was running that concert on top of the listings. But that was it).

It was therapeutic, actually. After checking my voicemail and e-mail today, I probably should’ve paid attention a bit more, but you know what? It can wait. Every geek needs a break, and considering all the things I have to do today that are due in the next couple days, I really needed it.

Now, back to work.

September 11, 2005

Hilarious Sketch Comedy

Got a link to these guys from BBspot and their videos and sketches are a riot.

September 7, 2005

Overclocking Yourself

Leave it up so a caffeine-crazed geek, who has probably overclocked his computer as well, to test the various ways to speed yourself up.

September 7, 2005

Bunnies are Fluffy, and Larry Like Fluffy

This South Park-esque cartoon of Scoble taking a visit to Google is frickin’ hilarious. Of course, I’m a geek, so that’s why I find it funny, but you probably will, too.

September 6, 2005

Microsoft To Replace Blue Screen Of Death

Yes, we all know (or maybe some of us know) that the Blue Screen of Death is going to become Red in the next version of Windows, but I think the idea of replacing the BSOD with Solitaire of Death would be much more entertaining.

Now if Google ever releases and OS, I think it should carry ads on its crash screen.

September 6, 2005

More New Orleans Links: Lousy Gov’t Response, Heroes, Volunteers, and More

I apologize for all the Katrina links lately, but this is a massive story that is not going to stop developing any time soon (especially once we get official death numbers).

I do I wish I could make it down south right now — I’d love to help out with this in the best way I could, and this would be my cup of tea: A group of volunteers (with some help from some major corporations) is trying to wire up Houston and New Orleans so that they can get communication systems back up and going. Part of the community effort is getting documented here, and more on BoingBoing. So any of you with Wireless network, mesh network, VoIP, low-power FM radio, etc… , be sure to donate your time.

Note for geeks out there with Internet2 access (which means you’re probably in college), your traffic might be suffering a tad.

On a side note, I won’t get into my feelings about the government’s piss-poor response to all this (stories like this, this, this, this, this, this and this sicken me), but I do get very angry when I see stories like this of very valuable resources going mostly unused.

But on a brighter note, PayPal allows you to setup a fee-free donation page for Katrina victims, and there are a pile of colleges helping out students. Also, here’s a flickr photo collection from a volunteer who’s wiring up the Astrodome.

On a totally random note, here’s a nutjob that thinks Hurricane Katrina was a guided weapon (with more conspiracy theories here).

Thanks to Waxy and BoingBoing and many others for all these links.

September 5, 2005

Answering Life’s Biggest Questions

If you’ve ever got a question that you need some divine answers, you can always ask yourself: What would Zach Morris do? If he doesn’t know, ask AC Slater.

September 5, 2005

Now I’ve Heard It All

We get some weird folks who call this my office now and again (I’ve mentioned some before), but this is one I haven’t heard before. We had somebody call and say she wanted to be moved from her house because it’s too close to a house that there’s going to be a cult staying in while she’s there. How she knew this, we have no idea (she told us she heard it from a friend of a friend). The homes are about a half mile apart, which is apparently too close for her comfort.

Anybody know something I should know about? If there’s going to be a huge party in Sunriver, I like to at least be invited.

September 4, 2005

My Next Vacation Destination

I’m going to F**king, Austria, man! Thanks Barn for the link

September 4, 2005

Colleges Accepting New Orleans Refugee Students

For college students affected by the disaster, other colleges around the country are opening their doors to you, some offering free tuition. There’s a blog that is maintaining a list of schools that are opening their doors to affected students.

I have to say, while it would suck to have this happen to your home and your life utterly destroyed, it would be nice to get free tuition and room at Duke.

September 2, 2005