Monthly Archive for January, 2009

M-Lab: Transparency and Freedom

mLab Logo

Transparency and freedom is what the Internet is founded on. All of this business with ISPs trying to manage and prioritize your traffic is an absolute mess.

If you happened to be living under a rock this last year you missed the fiasco with Network Neutrality and our government’s attempt to make things “better” for the net. The latest tools released by the New America Foundation’s Open Technology Institute will put an extra feather in the cap of netizens everywhere. At the very least, you will be given tools to make your ISP reveal more than they intended about how they handle your traffic. mLab is such a resource where you can find the tools which provide the evidence showing how innocent your ISP really is.

It’s also interesting (but not surprising) to point out that it is strongly supported by Google who has a strong stake in balanced networks as we move closer to a network based OS.

Internet Curio

Picture of Daniel Jubb, Rocket Scientist

Daniel Jubb, 24

Rocket Man

It’s always fun to casually mention that my friend is a rocket scientist who has done work for NASA. Partly because of the clichéd expression (“I’m no rocket scientist, but…”) the comment still catches listeners off guard. While I can’t claim to understand the underlying principles of rocket propulsion, I admit that the geek in me gets slightly aroused at the idea of rocket-powered anything. This might help you understand my piqued interest in Daniel Jubb, 24, who sports a moustashe as unique as his youth-inspired passion. Jubb has been building rockets since he was 5 and is currently planning to break the land-speed record. This article is a fascinating look at Jubb as his interest is kindled from a young age to winning US Government contracts. Dream big, right?

Times Online: Rocket Man set to become Record Man

Microsoft Research, SongsmithReverse Karaoke?

Anyone who knows me can attest to my passion for music. Unfortunately, innovation has been stagnant in mainstream music due largely in part to greedy record and distribution companies. Anytime I see an opportunity for more grassroots creativity I think we might still have hope that music as expression and art is not lost. Microsoft Research Labs has developed a package called Songsmith which allows the user to sing their own melodies into the PC and the software will write an accompaniment. Ars Technica got their hands on the software and gave it a little test drive and the experience sounds promising!

Microsoft Research: Songsmith
Ars Technica: Electric Sidemen, a look at Microsoft Songsmith

What is your dream job?

We all have our private delusions of grandeur when we think about the cushy job and fabulous lifestyle we’ll have when make it big. If it’s making six figures, sitting on a beach and taking in the local flora and fauna you just might have a chance to land it! The department of tourism in Queensland, Australia has just announced a position on Hamilton Island near the Great Barrier Reef with responsibilities that include snorkeling and diving the local sites, strolling up and down the shoreline and exploring the local countryside.

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Stunning Stop-Motion Video by Apt Studio and Asylum Films

While I’ve never heard of 4th Estate before, they’ve enlisted the help of Apt Studio and Asylum Films to celebrate their 25th year in publishing. To mark this event, they’ve created an amazing stop-motion video over the course of 3 weeks. I’ve included the video after the jump.

I’ve always loved stop-motion and have been really glad to see it making a major comeback. If anyone enjoys cartoons (raises hand) and has some hours to kill in the evening, you can find some great stop-motion shows like Robot Chicken and Morel Orel on Cartoon Network’s late night programming [adult swim].

Continue reading ‘Stunning Stop-Motion Video by Apt Studio and Asylum Films’