Smaller Thoughts

Flickr Flow / Fernanda Viegas & Martin Wattenberg (click...

Mon, 15 Mar 2010 16:58:53 -0400

Flickr Flow / Fernanda Viegas & Martin Wattenberg (click through for full color wheel)

“Using an algorithm developed for the WIRED Anniversary visualization, our software calculated the relative proportions of different colors seen in photos taken in each month of the year, and plotted them on a wheel. The image below is an early sketch from the piece. Summer is at the top, with time proceeding clockwise.”

ajamison:travismaybe: This is one very clever logo.

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:07:10 -0500

ajamison:travismaybe:

This is one very clever logo.

"Suffering from brain cancer, Kent Pankow was literally forced to go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester,..."

Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:06:46 -0500

“Suffering from brain cancer, Kent Pankow was literally forced to go to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. for lifesaving surgery — at a cost to family and friends of $106,000 — after the health-care system in Alberta left him hanging in bureaucratic limbo for 16 crucial days, his tumour meanwhile migrating to an unreachable part of the brain, while it dithered over his case file, ultimately deciding he was not surgery worthy.

Now, with the Mayo Clinic having done what the Alberta Cancer Board wouldn’t authorize or even explain, but with the tumour unable to be totally removed, the province will now not fund the expensive drug, Avastin, that the Mayo prescribed to keep him alive and keep the remaining tumour from increasing in size — despite the costs of the drug being totally funded by the province for other forms of cancer.

Kent Pankow, as it turns out, has the right disease but he has it in the wrong place. Had he lung cancer, breast cancer, or colon cancer, then the cost of the drug — $4,555 per treatment, two times a month — would be totally covered by Alberta’s version of OHIP.

But he doesn’t. And so he is not only a victim of brain cancer, he is also a victim of arbitrary discrimination.”

- Toronto Sun (via sds)

Hooray, let’s have Canadian healthcare in America! Oh wait…

The water utiity in Edmonton, EPCOR, published the most...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 21:00:22 -0500

The water utiity in Edmonton, EPCOR, published the most incredible graph of water consumption last week. By now you’ve probably heard that up to 80% of Canadians were watching last Sunday’s gold medal Olympic hockey game. So I guess it stands to reason that they’d all go pee between periods.

But still—the degree to which the water consumption matches with the key breaks in the hockey game is stunning.

Do You Know The Difference Between A Browser and a Search...

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 13:04:35 -0500

Do You Know The Difference Between A Browser and a Search Engine?

Only 8% of the people surveyed in Times Square are able to distinguish between a browser and a search engine.

Unsolicited Analysis: Annie Hall

Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:12:21 -0500

Unsolicited Analysis: Annie Hall:

The movie that beat the infinitely more important and influential Star Wars for best picture. Remember Annie Hall? No? Yup.

This “little guy, big guy” is nonsense. It’s crap. The Hurt Locker was made for 11 million dollars and made nearly 200MM dollars. The idea that this is some tiny film from nowhere “taking down” the best picture of 2009 is completely ludicrous.

For some reason, “sticking it” to Avatar became immensely popular, because it was big. In the spirit of populism, people rallied behind other films because they seemed to represent fiscal challengers to Avatar’s budget, which is the least relevant aspect of film-making. How is the trail being blazed here any different than The Blain Witch Project? Y Tu Mama Tambien? Pan’s Labyrinth? Little Miss Sunshine? There’s an “indie” darling every year, and the most cynical thing about it was that any non-Avatar winner would have been heaped with indie praise. You tell those big studios, Film X!

Here’s the thing. Paul Blart: Mall Cop still gets made no matter what a bunch of bought-and-paid-for Academics think. I can’t help but feel that when we’re watching Paul Blart: Mall Cop 3D next year, we’ll all be thinking of naked, blue people. That’s because what James Cameron did with Avatar was important, and groundbreaking, and infinitely more deserving than the achingly average liberal comfort food that won Best Picture this year.

Further into irrelevance with the Oscars, then, which will be rated highly specifically because of the attention on Avatar and the crowds of coastals who sneered every time it picked up an award. You’re all rather ridiculous, those of you who hate the “size” of such things. Paths are blazed by great, grinding machines, not solitary wanderers. It is fitting that 2009’s great “marvel” film will blaze the 3D trail in a similar manner to the film most like it. After all, what’s precedent worth if not followed?

soupsoup: Jon Stewart plays ChatRoulette As usual, John...

Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:53:25 -0500

soupsoup:

Jon Stewart plays ChatRoulette

As usual, John Stewart is the man.

unsolicitedanalysis: rosasparks: This is Steve Burns. Steve,...

Wed, 24 Feb 2010 22:58:37 -0500

unsolicitedanalysis:

rosasparks:

This is Steve Burns.

Steve, from BLUE’S CLUES!

Whut?

The LinkedIn Blog » Where did all the people go from the...

Fri, 19 Feb 2010 16:33:00 -0500

The LinkedIn Blog » Where did all the people go from the collapsed financial institutions?

Time my driving is at it's most dangerous and extreme: when Kenny Loggins' "Danger Zone" plays on the radio... High--way to the DANGER ZONE!

Thu, 18 Feb 2010 17:17:17 -0500

Drew Brees seems like a great guy. Glad the Saints took this one...

Mon, 08 Feb 2010 11:20:37 -0500

Drew Brees seems like a great guy. Glad the Saints took this one home to New Orleans.

dihard: Check out Obama’s 2011 Budget Proposal in an NYT...

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 18:39:26 -0500

dihard:

Check out Obama’s 2011 Budget Proposal in an NYT interactive map.

Even though ObamaCare is so astronomically expensive, look what a tiny blip it is compared to the entitlements - Social Security, Medicare, Income Security.

How’s this Democrats - I’ll let you have all the ObamaCare you can stand if you cut Social Security in half. How’s that for bipartisanship? Deal?

"All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it’s impossible), but..."

Wed, 03 Feb 2010 13:04:26 -0500

“All courses of action are risky, so prudence is not in avoiding danger (it’s impossible), but calculating risk and acting decisively. Make mistakes of ambition and not mistakes of sloth. Develop the strength to do bold things, not the strength to suffer.”

- Niccolò Machiavelli

Photo

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:39:38 -0500

Ben Folds plays “Army” with audience acapella...

Tue, 02 Feb 2010 13:53:33 -0500

Ben Folds plays “Army” with audience acapella participation in Asheville, NC. This is one of my favorite live songs ever.

With Master Cleanse, clarity gained -- with a twist

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 11:43:00 -0500

streetsofchicago:

minilaarni:

To do this diet or not? Click here for article. Moo did this and could only last four days and it was painful/disgusting to watch her go through it. However, I will no longer be living with the rents and no longer be tempted with all sorts of goodies that lurk in the pantry and fridge. So maybe I should try this out? Hmmm, if all else fails then I have a bunch of lemons for a vodka soda!

The Master Cleanse shouldn’t really be considered a diet. It’s almost like a detox, and a nasty one at that. The worst part: You’re likely going to gain most of that weight back within a few months, especially if your eating habits stay the same. And I’ve seen people shed 10-15 lbs. after doing it for a week or so, but they don’t look good at all when it’s done. Overall, the Master Cleanse shouldn’t be used as a weight loss trick, but more a “purifying your body through fire” method. If you’re in good health and can take torturing your body for a week, then do it. Otherwise, the ol’ D&E is still supreme.

Everyone thinks the Master Cleanse is such a great idea, but ask any doctor and they’ll tell you it’s horrible for your body. It deprives you of things your brain needs to function and your body needs to survive, like A and D vitamins, iron, niacin, potassium - I could go on. If you insist on doing this, AT LEAST take a multivitamin daily.

I had a friend in college that did the Master Cleanse and ended up in the hospital with seizures due to lack of nutrients to his brain. This new age Hollywood stuff is approaching ridiculous - take care of your body, eat right, exercise. There are no shortcuts.

"The last time there was this much excitement over a tablet it had some commandments written on it."

Wed, 27 Jan 2010 14:15:57 -0500

“The last time there was this much excitement over a tablet it had some commandments written on it.”

- The Wall Street Journal (via lorenrochelle)

“I’m Going Out with my Boots (and Diaper)...

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 15:19:47 -0500

“I’m Going Out with my Boots (and Diaper) On.”

Tumblr, this is everything you love: babies, seriously heartfelt lip syncing, cute overload. Enjoy.

tutmondigo: I’ve gotten spoiled by tumblr’s little “go to top of the page” button. I’ve started...

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 14:51:08 -0500

tutmondigo:

I’ve gotten spoiled by tumblr’s little “go to top of the page” button. I’ve started looking for it on other websites. If you don’t know what I’m talking about go enable the endless dashboard feature.

Here’s a tip - that button exists on every web page on the internet. It’s called the “Home” button, and it’s right there on your keyboard, between “Insert” and “Page Up”. Try it out, it works in almost any application too. If it just takes you to the beginning of a line instead, add “Ctrl” - that’ll send you all the way to the top.

soupsoup: Keith Olbermann Apologizes to Jon Stewart : I’ve...

Sat, 23 Jan 2010 19:13:20 -0500

soupsoup:

Keith Olbermann Apologizes to Jon Stewart : I’ve Gone Too Far

My god - John Stewart, you are my hero.