Patching ancient walls with legos

Via Boing Boing

Flowing Pixels

Pixelated water on 9th Street.

LA To NYC In Four Minutes

LA To NYC In Four Minutes - Michel Gondry, I love you.

Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Premier

Battlestar Galactica Season 4 Premier

Can’t wait! Too bad Aaron’s fam is visiting this weekend, which means we’ll have to wait until Sunday night to watch the season premier.  

Pixel Couch

Pixel Couch

Pixel Couch
Damn, I wish I’d seen this before I bought my new couch.

Abandoned Amusement Park Photos

Abandoned Amusement Park Photos

Abandoned amusement Park
Gorgeous photos of an abandoned amusement park on Flickr. 

Via Kottke.org.

How Crayons Are Made

How Crayons Are Made
This video had me swearing for years that I wanted to work in a crayon factory when I grew up.

Via NoahBrier.com.

Bionic Breakbeats, or The Best Robot Songs

Bionic Breakbeats, or The Best Robot Songs

WWII as seen through the eyes of The New Yorker

WWII as seen through the eyes of The New Yorker

Aliens May Look More Like Us Than We Thought

Aliens May Look More Like Us Than We Thought

Dawn in the Oort Cloud

Dawn in the Oort Cloud

Dawn in the Oort Cloud
Beautiful imaginings of a view of dawn from the Oort Cloud, which is:

…an immense spherical cloud surrounding the planetary system and extending approximately 3 light years, about 30 trillion kilometers from the Sun.

(definition via Solar Views).

I’ll see you on the dark side of the moon…

I'll see you on the dark side of the moon...

MIT to lead development of new telescopes on moon. Apparently the dark side of the moon is the only accessible place where one can avoid all the radio intererence coming from Earth.

The Physics of Super Mario Galaxy

The Physics of Super Mario Galaxy

Super Mario Galaxy was absolutely one of the best games I’ve ever played… Nintendo is great at innovating standard game mechanics. This description of the physics in Super Mario Galaxy is a good explanation of what is so unique — and amazing — about the game.

Via Digg.

The joys of ‘porting

The joys of ‘porting

I can’t wait to play Portal for myself. Looks like mind-bending fun.

Via collision detection.

Google hits vanity ring

Google hits vanity ring

Google Hits Vanity Ring - this is on my Christmas list!

3D RSS feed visualizations - data visualization & visual design - information aesthetics

3D RSS feed visualizations

Scientists program a computer that understands knock-knock jokes

Scientists program a computer that understands knock-knock jokes

Via Collision Detection

Goosebumps. Seriously.

This has absolutely nothing to do with anything, but I haven’t been so excited about a movie trailer since… seriously, I have no idea.

And yes, I know I’m a nerd.

The allure of the retro

Our culture’s fascination with the old and recycled (more fashionably termed “retro”) has been well documented by authors other than myself. Fashion models/ “it”-girls wear spandex and oversized t-shirts; purposefully amateur web sites (see Borat’s myspace page, which, like his character, blatantly rips off Mahir’s earnest proclamations of internet friendship); and, as I remember screaming at my mother 15 years ago when she gathered my favorite toys into a trash bag, my “My Little Pony” collection would actually be worth something someday.

The one part of retro that I never thought I would quite understand has to do with technology. I pride myself of being on the semi-cutting edge — I have a high-def TV, a next generation game console, and a pre-order in for another
one
. Sure, there is a special place in my heart for my Mac Classic, which was old when I got it and basically served as a black and white Solitaire machine, but other than that, I try to embrace new technology.

What, then, is so fascinating about ASCII art? What makes an image made out of random characters so much more exciting than one made out of colored pixels?

I don’t know the answer to this question, but I do know how I spent my afternoon at work:

Marci

DNNBNBBBDs+<~~~~~(((((((((((<((<<<<<<<<<<++++++++=zBNNNNNDzz
DNNBBBBBDz+<(~~~~~((((((((((((((<<<<<<<<<<++++++<+sBNNNNBhhh
BBNBBBBBDz=<(~-~~~((((((((<<<<<<<<<<<++++<<+++<+<++DNNNNDzhh
BBNBBBBDDh=<(~~~~~(((((((<<<<<<<<<<+=sssss=+++++<<+zNNNNDzhD
BBBBNBBDDz=<(~~~~(((<(((<<<<<<<<<+=szhhhzzzs=+++<<<=NNNNBhDh
NNNNBBDBDz=<(~~~~((<<<((<<+<<<<+=zhDDDhz===sss++<<<+DNNBDzzh
NNNNBBDDDh=<(~~((((<<<<<<<++++=shBBBDss========+++<<zBBBDzzD
NNNNNNBDDhs+(((((((<<<<<<++++=zzhhzzs===sss====+++<<=BBBDhzh
NNNNNNBDDz=+<(((<<<<<<<<<+++=szzzss=szDBBBDzss===+<(<zBBBDs=
NNNNNNBDDzs++<<<<<<<<<<<++++=sssssshBNNNNNNBDzss=+<<(=zDDDs+
NNNNNNBBBBDzzs==+++<<<<<++++=sssszBNNNNNNNNNBhzzs+<<(<=DDDs+
NNNNNNNNNNBBBBDzs=++<<<++===szzszBNNDNNNNDBBBDh=++<((~+DDh==
NNNNNNNNNNBBDzzss==+<<<++===szzsDBBssNNNNBBzhhs+++<(~~+DDzs=
NNDNNNNNBDzsss======+<<<++=sszzhDBD=+DNNBBzzz=+<<+<(~~+Bz=s=
NNNBNNNBBzzzzzDzs===+<<(<+=szzhzDBDzzzBBDzzzs=++++<<~~+Ds+++
NNNBNNNNBDBBNNNNNBz=++<((<=szhhzzhzzzzsssszzs+++++<<(~<hz=<<
NNNNNNNNBNNNNNNNNBBz=+<(~<+=zzhzzzsssssszzzs+<<<++<<(~(szs+<
+NNNNNNNNNNDDNNNNBBD=+<~~(<=zzzzs==sssssss=+<<<<+++<(~(zzs=+
-(NNNNNNNNBzzNNNNBBz+<<~~~<=zzzss=+++++++<<(<<<+++++<((zzzz+
+~BNDNNNNNBDszNNBDzs+<(~~~<+szzss==+++<<<<((<<<<<+++<((zhhz<
B+zDzNNNBDBBDDDhzzz=+((~~~<+=szzss=++<<<<<<<<<<<<<+++((zBBz+
-<=zzDNNzzDzzs=szzs+((~~~~(<=sszss=++<<<<(<<<<<++++++(~DBBzs
-<++szNNszz=++=s==+(~~~~--~(+sssss==+<<<<((<<<+++++++<~sBBD=
(<+<==DBzzs===+++<(~~~~~--~(<=ssss==+<<<<<<<<+++====+<(<BBD=
s=s<+=DBzs=++<<<(~~~-~~~--~(<+=ssss==+<+<<<<+++======+((BBh+
(=h+<+zz+<(((~~~~~--------~((++szzzzs=+++++++====s===+<(hBz+
--(((<~~~-----~~----------~((<++szzhzs=+++++==ss=s===+<(=Bz+
~<<=<(----------~~~~~~~---~((<+==++zDhs========sss===+<(<h=<
<+===~-----------~~(((~~-~-((<<++++=hhhs====ssssssss=+<<<=<<
<+++z=----------~~(<=<-----((<++++=shzzzzsssssssss===++<+=<<
<<+sDB=--------~~(<+s<----~(<<+==szzzzzzzzzhhhssss====++==<<
<+=zDBN~----~~~~(<+=s+~---~(++ssshhzzzzzzzzzzhsss==s==++s<<<
szzDBNN+----~~~(<<==s=~~~~(<+sshhhhzzzzzzssszss=s=====+s=<<<
=zDBNNNN(--~~~(<<+=sss+<<++==szzzzzzzzzzszssss===s=====z<(((
szDBNNNz=~~~~((<+=sss=<((<+=sszzzzzzzzzsshhzss==ss====z=((((
DBNNNNN=z<~(((<+==ss=+(((~(<==ssssszsszzBBhzss==s==s=zz<((((
BBBNBNB=++~(<<+==sss+<((((~(<++===zzhDBBBzzzssssss==sh<(((((
DBBBDB=+sz~(<+==szs=+(((~~~~((<+zhhDDBDDzzsssssss==sh+(((((<
DzzDDBs<=z<~(<==ss++<<((~~(<==zhDDDDDDDhzzsssssss=sDs((((((<
+sDBBNBszDD~~(<+=+<<<++<+szzzhhDDhhzhhhzssssssss=sDh<((((((<
sBNNNDDBzBB+~((<<(((+sszzzzzzs====zzhhzsssssssss=DD+<((((((<
DBNNNNssDDBD(~(<((((<+<(<<<(((<=szhhzzsssssssssshD=<((((((<<
BBDBBBzsBNBBz~((((((<<<((<<<++=zzshhzsssssssssssDh<<((((((<<
DzBBBBNNDNBBB+~(((((<<((((<++=ssszzsssssssssssshB+<((((((<<+
szzzBNDBDBNNBB<(((((<<((~((<<+=ssssszzsszssssssDz<(((((((<++
BDDBNNNBDBNNBND(((((<<(((((<<+====szzszssssssszD+(((((((<<++
BBNNNDDNBBNBBBNz(((<<<<(((((<<=====zzzss==ss=shD<(((((((<<++
BBNNNBNBBBNBBBNNs<<<<<<(((((<<+===sss======sssDs<(((((((<<+<
DNNNDBNNNhNNDBNND+<<<<(((((((<+++<<<<++====sszB=<((((((((<<<
BNNzzBDNNNDNzzNNB=<<<<<(((~~((((~(((<<+===ssshD+<((((~((((<<

Aaron

BDhz=+++<<(((~~~---''''.............'''''''''''''---~(<+zDBB
BDhz=+++<<((((~~~---''''''.....'''''''''-----''''''--(<+sDBB
BDhz=+<<<(((~~~~~~--------''''''-'------~-----''''---~<+=DBB
BDhz=+<<<((~~~~~~~~~~~~~------------~~~~~~~~----~--~~(<+=DBB
BDhs=++<<((~~~~~(((((((~~~~------~~((((((<<<<+<<<((<((+++DBB
BDhzs=+<<<((((~(<<<<<<<((~~~~--~~~~((<<+=sszsss=+<+++++++hBB
BDzzs=++++<<+++=====+++<<(((~~~~((((<+=szhhhhhzzzss===++<sBh
BDzzzs===+==szhhhhhhzs==+<<((((((<<++=zzhhhhhzz=====++<(~+D+
Bhzzzs=s==szzhhhhhDhhhzzs++<<((((<++szhDDhs=+====sszzzzz==z=
BhzszzzzzhhhzzzzhhDDDDDhzs++<(~~((<=zhzz==+=ss==hhzzz=zsBNBh
Bhsszzzz===+++=====szhhhhzs+<~---~<===szzhDhhDzs=hhzz=zzhNBB
szss=<+==zzzzzzsszzzsszssz=+<-'''(=zhzzhzzDBDBhhhzhhz=hDzNBD
z=sshhDhhhhhhzshhhDhhhhhDDBDDz+=zDBBz==h=+hDDh=zhhsssshhhBsD
BhzhBBhzhhhDhhDBBBB=shhzhhhBBBBBBBBz=<===++s==+=szzs==zhhh+D
BBDBNDhzzhhhhDzhDDh+=zzszhzDBBBDBBBs=++===++++++===+++zzhz+h
BDhDNDzzzhhhhzs=z=++====zzshBh<~~zBs+++=sss==++=zs+<<+==h=+z
BDhzhB=hsszzhzs==+===ssss==DB<'..'Dh<<<<+szzhhzzz+<<<++=h++=
BhhhzB=zs=zzzs====szzs===+=Bh(-'.'+B<((((<+==ss=++<<<<(h=++=
Bhhhzhz+s=szhhhzzhzz==++++=Bz<-'.'~Bs~((((<<+++<<<((<+zs<++=
BhzzzsD<====szhhhzs=+<+++<zD=<~'.'-sB<~((~(((<(((+=szz+(<++=
Bhzzzshz(========++<<<<<<=Bs+<~'''-(zDz=++=====zzs=<(((<<++=
Dhzzzs=h=++++++++<<<<++=zDh+++('''-~<========+<(~~~~(((<<++=
Dhzzzs==zzzzzzzs==szzhzzzz=<<<(-''-~~++<((((((~~((~~~(((<+==
Bhhzzs==++++=======++<++ss++<((-'''--(++<<(((((~~~~~~(((<+=s
Bhhhzs===+++<<<<<(<<<++=s===<(~-'''--~<<(((~~~~~~~-~~~((<+=s
BDhhzzs=+++++<<<<<<<<<++====<(~-'''-~-<+((~~~-------~~~(<+=s
hDhhzz==++++<<<<<((<<<<+==+=+<(-'''-~~~<<((~~~------~~~(<+==
zDhhhzs==++<<<<<((((((<+s=<++<(-'.'-~~((<<<(~~~~~~-~~~((<+s=
zDhhhzs==++<<<<(((((((<+s+<++<(~'..'~(<(<<<<(~~~~~~~~~(<<+==
shDhhzs==++<<<((((((<<+=z=+=s+<~-''-~+++<(<<<((~~((~(((<<+=z
shDhhzs==++<<<((((((<<+=zzszhz=(~~~~+hhz(~(<+<((((((((<<<+=h
szDhhhsss=+<<<((((((<+++=hhBBDh=<<<+hBD+((((+<((((((<<<++=sh
szhhhhzss=++<<((((<<<+<+=zDBBBBhszzzhhs<((~~(++<<<<<<<<++=sD
zzhhhhzs===++<(((((<<<<++shhDDDBDDhhzs=<((((~(<<<<<<<<<<+=zD
hhDhhhzs===++<<<(<<<<<<++=szhhhDBDhzs=+(((((((<<<<<<<<<<+=zD
hhhhhhhs====++<<<<<<(<<++==szzzhhhz==+<(((((((<<<<<<<<<++=hD
hhhhhhhzs====++<<+<<<<++++===ssssss=+<<<((<<<(<<<<<(<<<+==hD
hhhhhhhzs===++++++<<<<+++==+=====++<(((((<<<<<<<<((((<++=sDD
hhhhhhhzss==+++<<+<+++====++++<<((~~~((((<<++<((((((<<++=zDD
hhhhDhhhzs===+<<<+++==ss===+++<((~((<<<+++=ss+(~~~((<++==hDD
hhhhhDhhzzs==++<<+++=szs==+======++=sszzhhz=+<(~~~(<<++=shDD
hhhhDDhhzszs=++<<<+==zhhhhzhhhzhhzzzhzzs=+(~~~~((~(++++=zDDD
hhhDBBhhhzszs=++<<<+szzhhzzzszzzzz=+<<<<+(~~--~((((++==shDDD
hhDDBBDDhhzzss++<<<++<+===++<((((~~-(<++<(~---~(((<+==szDDDD
DDDDBBDDhhzss==+<(<<((<=====+<(~~~~(<+<<<(~--~~<<<===szhDDDD
DDDDDBDDDhzzzss=+<<((((+=s==++<((((+++<<((~--(<<<+=sszzDDDDD
hhDDDBDDDDhzzzzs=+<((((<======s===s==+<((~-~~(<<+=sszzhDDDDD
hhDDBBhDDDhhzzzs=+<<<((<+=sssszzssss+<<(~~~~(<<+=sssszhhDDDD
hhhDBBDhDDDhhhzzs=++<<(<<+=======+<<((((~~~((<<+==sszhhhhhDB
hhhDBBDhhDDDhhhzz====+<<<<+++++++<(((~~~(~((<<++===szhhhhhhh

Simsim

hhhhhzzhDhhzz=+<<<+<<(~~(<<<(~~((<(~<+<++++++sDBzzzs==szhzz=
DDDhzzzzhhhhhz=+<<+<<(~~(((<(~-~-~<~~<+=++ssszhhzhzs=szhzsh=
DBDDzzzzshhhhzs+==+<<(~~~---~~~--'---(++=+shhh=zDDhzszzzszz+
DBDhzsssszzzhzs=sz=+<(~~~~~--~~~~~--~(<++ssshDhsDDzssssssss=
hDBhz==sssssszsszss=+<~~~~(~~---~(~~~<<+==+=hhhhhhzs==s==s=+
hDDDzs====s==shzzss=<(((<++<(~~--((((<(+=+=s++sszDzssss=ss==
hDDhhzs==+=ssssss=+<(<<<<+==+<~~-~(((((+<<=<<=+<zDhzsss==s=+
DDBDDhz===s=s===+++<<<+=ss===+<(~-((((<<(++<++(+szDhzzz=s===
hDBBBDhzs==ss==+++<((<+==szhs=++(~(((++<(+(<+<+sshDDhDz=szs=
shBBBDDhss==s=++=<<=++++++=szs=++++<(++<<+<+++=ssszzhDhhDDs=
=zDDBDDDz==++=+=++s+<<+++++==z====++<++<+++++=++<+=zDBDhzzzs
=zhDDDhhhsss=+==+s+(<++++++++ss===+<+++++++==<(<==szDDh=ssss
+=hDDBDhzzh=++++=+<+++<+<+++++s+=s=+++++==ss=<++sszsszz=ssss
+=sDDDBDhh=++++===++(<+====+++=+sz=++=+==ssss=s===shhDsszssz
++=sDDDBBDs==++=+++((+=sssss====hz=++zsszzhhDhhzs===zBDzsssz
++==DDDDDDhs==+++<~(<+sszzszszsshz=+=ssshDDBBBDDzss==hDzsszz
+++=hBBBzzs==s++<~~<=szhhhzzzzzzhzs==sszhDBBBBBDDhssss==szzh
+++=zDhsss=shs+~-~<++=hBBBhzzhzzzszs+sszhBBBBBBDDDhss==ssszB
+++=szzzzsszz+~-~(++=zBBsDBhzzzhsszzs===zBBBBBBBDhhzsss=zzBD
++++<==sssss+(--(<+=sDBBBBBDhzss++zzs==sszzDBBBDDhhhzs=szhB=
+++=<++=ss=++~~~<++szhDBBBDhhz=++++s+=sszhhDDDDDDhhzzss=hBz=
++++=<<+++==<~((<+=szzzhzszhhsss==+=sszzzhBBDDDhhhhzzzs=zD=+
++++=(~(<<++~(<<+=sss====zhhzzs++=zhhhzzzszzDhhDhhDhzss=ss=+
++++=+<<((<<~+<<++=s=+++shhzs+++=hDBBDhz=sDDBDDDDDDDhzsss=++
+++++=<~~<((<+<++=s=+++sh=++<+shDDhDBBBBhDBBDhDDDDDDDhhs==++
+++++<~'~~~(++++sz====ss<~~<+zhhDDhhDBBBBDDDDDDhDDDDBDDDs==+
+++++==<-~((+++zz=====+~~<+=shhDDBBBDBBBBBDDhsszhhDDDDDDD==z
+++s=s=''-(<=+zz====+<~(+==shhhDDBBBBBBBBBDDDhhDBDBBDDDDDh=D
+++=s='''(<+=sz====+(~(++==sszDDDDDDBBBBDDBBDBDhDDDDDDDhhD=z
++=s='''-<++=s===s+((+++====szhhhDDBBBBBBBBDBDBBDDDDDDDhhDs<
===s'''~(<<+=s=ss=<~+===+==szzhzhDBBBBBBBBBDDDDBDDDDDhhDszh=
==z-''=(~(<+ss===+~<=======sszDzhDBBBBBBBBBDDDDDDDDDDDhhh=z=
=z(''==''~(+++=++((+=+++=sssszhhDBBBBBBBBBBBBBBDDDDDDDhzh==z
z=''+='''~~+<+==<(=+=++szs==shhhBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBDDDDDDhsss=B
z-'~s''''-(<<+=+~++++=zs===zzhDBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBDhDDhs=szB
(''=-'''''((<++<(+++=z====zzzDBBDBBBBBBDBBBBBBBBBBBhhhh=+szh
''+<''''''-~<+++<+++s===shhzhBBDDDhDBBDDBBBBBBBBBBBDhhzs==BB
'~=''''''''-(++++++=s==shhzhDhhDhhzhBBDDDDDBBBBBBBDhhzss=zBB
's-''''''''-(+=++++=sszzhhhDhhDDhhhDBBDhDDDDDBBBDBBDzzss=hBD
+~'''''''''-~++=+++=szhzDDhhhDDDhDDDBDDDDDDDDDDDDDDhzz===DBh
+''''''''''-~~+++++=zhhhDhhDDDDhhDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDhhs==sBBs
''''''''''''~~<++++=hDDDDDDDDhhhhDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDDz===hBD=
'''''''''''-~~((<++shDDDDDDhhhhDhDDDDDDhDDDDDDDDDDDBhs==BBz+
''''''''''''--~~<+=hDDDDDhhhhzhhhDDDDDDhDDDDDDDDDDDBDs+=BB=+
'''''''''''''---~(+zhhDhhhzhzshhhDDDDDDhhDDDDDDDDDDBh+~sBz+<
'''''''''''''-''-((+=zhhhzzz=zDhhhDhDhhhzDDhhhhhDDDD(--hD+~~
''''''''''''''''--~(<=zzzsz==hhhhhhDDDhDszhzhzzhhhD+''<Dz~''
'''''''''--'''''--~-~(+s=ss+szhhhhhDDDhhzzDz==+szzs~''zBs(=<
'''''''''''''''''-'~~-(+=s=+szhhhhhDhDhhzhDh++<+ssz('(hh~~~<
''''''''''''''''''-(+~~<+s++shzhhhDDDDDhzDBh++<<=s=('=D='''+

Via Typorganism.