Clamorous Harbingers of Health and Life

So, to your pleasures:
I am for other than for dancing measures.

The Cop Out

I know I promised a hilarious look at Total Recall for this entry, but it will have to wait in order for me to do Total justice to the movie. I'm hoping to make it some kind of collaborative effort between Lucas and myself, seeing how he is an even bigger fan of the Schwarzenegger/Verhoeven classic. We'll see what happens.

I also said I would go down to Edge 102 and protest the Nickelback song... But I was taken ill last week and could not attend my own protest. However, I shall do it soon... I hope.


Unplanned Freefall? Some Survival Tips



Writer David Carkeet presents this hilariously morbid article about how to survive an unplanned freefall. It's not like nobody has ever survived a fall from 30,000 feet, several people have... So don't give up! You too can survive a fall that high!

Admit it: You want to be the sole survivor of an airline disaster. You aren't looking for a disaster to happen, but if it does, you see yourself coming through it. I'm here to tell you that you're not out of touch with reality; you can do it. Sure, you'll take a few hits, and I'm not saying there won't be some sweaty flashbacks later on, but you'll make it. You'll sit up in your hospital bed and meet the press. Refreshingly, you will keep God out of your public comments, knowing that it's unfair to sing His praises when all of your dead fellow-passengers have no platform from which to offer an alternative view.
Let's say your jet blows apart at 35,000 feet. You exit the aircraft, and you begin to descend independently. Now what?
First of all, you're starting off a full mile higher than Everest, so after a few gulps of disappointing air you're going to black out. This is not a bad thing. If you have ever tried to keep your head when all about you are losing theirs, you know what I mean. This brief respite from the ambient fear and chaos will come to an end when you wake up at about 15,000 feet. Here begins the final phase of your descent, which will last about a minute. It is a time of planning and preparation. Look around you. What equipment is available? None? Are you sure? Look carefully. Perhaps a shipment of folded parachutes was in the cargo hold, and the blast opened the box and scattered them. One of these just might be within reach. Grab it, put it on, and hit the silk. You're sitting pretty.

Read the entire article here.

Half-Life 2 : Rube Goldberg Machine



One of the cooler mods for the game Half-Life 2 is something called Garry's Mod. Essentially it gives the player free reign to play with the physics and objects in HL2. My favourite wacky contraption that I built using Garry's mod was a rocket powered door, which I tied several poor bastards to. However, what I made pales in comparison to the time and effort it must have taken for this person to make a Rube Goldberg Device using the mod. Words won't do it justice... so just take a look.

HL2 : Rube Goldberg Device

Thanks to Amer for the link.

QUEEN STREET MAN!



If you live in Toronto you've probably taken a walk along Queen Street West. Full of eclectic shops, out-there establishments and trendy bars. Like me, you've probably seen the various hipster types who call the street home. By hipsters I mean people who listen to indie-rock, buy their clothes at thrift stores, carry man purses and cover their jackets/bags with pins spouting various slogans. I have nothing against hipsters, I have many friends who fall into this hipster category... In fact I think my brother is a hipster. Not that there's anything wrong with that!

The hilarious short film "Queen Street Man" shows us exactly what the Queen Street Hipster life style entails, so all you poser hipsters out there, pay attention!



Thanks to lcbo for sending this vid along.

Lego Difference Engine



Charles Babbage invented what was for all intents and purposes the first computer, The Difference Engine, in the mid-nineteenth century no less. Now some intrepid lad with a love for Lego has recreated Babbage's Engine entirely out of the aforementioned toy bricks. The Difference Engine is a complex piece of machinery to build out of conventional parts, but to build it out of toy parts is just incredible.

Take a gander at the whole project here.

And to finish off a few quick links.

Video Game Commercials

A collection of over 3500 classic and contemporary Video Game commercials from around the world. Awesome stuff. 3500 Video Game Advertisements.

Chewbacca is Internet Savvy



Everyone's favourite walking carpet has hit the net with his very own blog! And apparently he really has it in for pro-wrestler 'Macho Man' Randy Savage. Amazing.

Chewie's Blog : http://rrrrrrrrrrrrrnnnnnnnnnnhhhh.blogspot.com/

That's my time, thanks.

- Will   Thursday, February 09, 2006