"I’m asking all participants to list their “greatest” nominees in the comments section below. You can list your top ten, twenty or fifty - but please, no more than that. List them in order of greatness, #1 being the most important. I’ll cull the final one hundred out of what titles we receive by January 9th. Please include your real name if you wish to be acknowledged in the book."
- Scott of Two Countries
from Bookmarklet
#1 is obviously 'I Love to Singa.' It taught me the value of nonconformity at a very early age, and set me on a career in radio that has finally culminated in unemployment. Plus, there's the Simple Simon guy. http://www.youtube.com/watch...
- Mark Czerniec
Mad Dog Palin--The scariest thing about John McCain's running mate isn't how unqualified she is - it's what her candidacy says about America : Rolling Stone - http://www.rollingstone.com/politic...
WOW...This is not just another article digging at palin - it is THE article digging at palin and her 'cultural' significance.
- Anna Haro
from Bookmarklet
"The great insight of the Palin VP choice is that huge chunks of American voters no longer even demand that their candidates actually have policy positions; they simply consume them as media entertainment, rooting for or against them according to the reflexive prejudices of their demographic, as they would for reality-show contestants or sitcom characters. Hicks root for hicks, moms for moms, born-agains for born-agains."
- Anna Haro
The truly disgusting thing about Sarah Palin isn't that she's totally unqualified, or a religious zealot, or married to a secessionist, or unable to educate her own daughter about sex, or a fake conservative who raised taxes and horked up earmark millions every chance she got. No, the most disgusting thing about her is what she says about us: that you can ram us in the ass for eight...
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- Anna Haro
"Democracy doesn't require a whole lot of work of its citizens, but it requires some: It requires taking a good look outside once in a while, and considering the bad news and what it might mean, and making the occasional tough choice, and soberly taking stock of what your real interests are."
- Anna Haro
See, I believe that as a citizen you have the responsibility to pay attention to the people who will represent you and the laws they enact in your name. But with poor reporting and politicians doing so much behind closed doors, there's a dumbing down of American culture that's acceptable. How many people have you talked to who seem to have an opinion they want to spout on politics and in the same breath state proudly, "Politics bores me." or even worse, "All politicians are the same."?
- Admiral Anika
"And none of it matters, so long as you remember a few months before Election Day to offer them a two-bit caricature culled from some cutting-room-floor episode of Roseanne as part of your presidential ticket. And if she's a good enough likeness of a loudmouthed Middle American archetype, as Sarah Palin is, John Q. Public will drop his giant-size bag of Doritos in gratitude, wipe the Sizzlin' Picante dust from his lips and rush to the booth to vote for her."
- Trish R
And unfortunately, most of it is true (or at least I agree with it).
- Trish R
Wow, that's a hell of a picture. After reading the first two paragraphs, all I could think was how badly Matt Taibbi wants to be Hunter S. Thompson.
- Carla Thompson
Personally, I like Rolling Stone articles. But a word of caution.. they are always unapologetically extremely left-leaning.
- Phil G
hahaha...Carla, I thought the same thing.
- Anna Haro
The ironic thing is that the media is the primary cause of all this. Reducing politicians statements to sound bites where a few words from a larger speach can be spun one way or another. Politicians don't have to have grand ideas or positions, they just stick to hot button issues that play well on TV. Couple that with lobbyists and special interest groups to give them butt loads of...
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- Jason Shultz
from twhirl
Of course J Phil. It's one perspective, one article, out of MANY.
- Anna Haro
I honestly don't know what the terms "left" and "right" mean anymore in American politics. I try to figure out who has the best command of the facts and who is making the most sense. This article makes a great deal of sense. (If I must define myself politically with a label, it would be "progressive libertarian.")
- Sean McBride
"Here's what Sarah Palin represents: being a fat fucking pig who pins "Country First" buttons on his man titties and chants "U-S-A! U-S-A!" at the top of his lungs while his kids live off credit cards and Saudis buy up all the mortgages in Kansas." - wow...harsh.
- Chris Hollander
Very interesting read, though disturbing. I put my money on McCain/Palin winning the election.
- Peter
I don't think I'd talk with him too much at a party. ;)
- Yolanda
Classic: "After eight years of unprecedented corruption, incompetence, waste and greed, the party of Karl Rove understood that 50 million Americans would not demand solutions to any of these problems so long as they were given a new, new thing to beat their meat over."
- Raoul Pop
Oh wow, a coworker informed me about this article a few days ago!!
- Terence
Taibbi *nails it* w/ the consumption of candidates as media entertainment. Infotainment has utterly corrupted news such that they are largely indistinguishable now. A huge disservice to the populace. And, of course, it results in this insane Reality TV show in front of us.
- Ayşe E.
wow..such poignant words. The article still resonating even after reading it through.
- Alan Le
Why is the entire country not going, "WTF? You can't find a person more qualified in the entire Republican party? REALLY?!?!" Her selection was condescending to our entire citizenry, and everyone seems to be rolling with it.
- Robert Fischer
Why aren't more Republican women outraged that the party thinks so little of women that when they feel the need to add a vagina to the ticket, they don't give a damn about whether she's actually qualified?
- Trish R
why aren't they more outraged? because they're living vicariously via the pit bull. they see her and say, 'she's just like me'. but prettier and i bet you they aren't willing to admit that. so they over-identify with her and i'm left saying, 'yea, but i wouldn't vote you president of a committee of 2.'
- Admiral Anika
Liked only because of the picture, not because I have any interest in US politics. ;-)
- Kol Tregaskes
"But watching Palin's speech, I had no doubt that I was witnessing a historic, iconic performance. The candidate sauntered to the lectern with the assurance of a sleepwalker — and immediately launched into a symphony of snorting and sneering remarks, taking time out in between the superior invective to present herself as just a humble gal with a beefcake husband and a brood of healthy,...
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- Roberto Bonini
"The rest of Palin's speech was the same dog-whistle crap Republicans have been railing about for decades. Palin's crack about a mayor being "like a community organizer, except that you have actual responsibilities" testified to the Republicans' apparent belief that they can win elections till the end of time running against the Sixties. (They're probably right.)"
- Roberto Bonini
dear god, if you exist and hear prayers, please please, let there be some notion of civility return to this country in my lifetime. a man.
- Nathan Eckenrode
"An embarrassed Sheriff Gary Painter fired one Midland County deputy and suspended three others without pay after a scantily dressed waitress holding a rifle posed for photographs on the hood of a patrol vehicle. Round Rock officers were dispatched to the restaurant after someone reported the waitress with the weapon, which had been given to her by one of the deputies who had been attending a training session near Austin. The incident occurred last week in the parking lot of a Twin Peaks restaurant, which promotes its "fun, friendly and sometimes flirty atmosphere!" The deputies told Painter that they had about three to five beers each. A fifth deputy who remained inside the eatery got a letter of reprimand."
- Derrick
from Bookmarklet
Twin Peaks Restaurant and Bar... can they really be held responsible for their actions? (that's called pop culture referenced sarcasm, folks)
- Michael W. May
Don't get it myself. They didn't recieve Twitter's blessing, which is funny, since it's not stopping anyone else. They wanted the money/fame and didn't get it.
- brandon sheats
Money fame and respect in this url shortening game!
- Ed F
They seem so bitter about the whole thing. Honestly, I used Tr.im until I found Bit.ly. The latter just had better features for me. I don't think I've really seen other competing apps/services act like this.
- Rahsheen ™, Coach Rah
Hi all, as requested my WCF chat app is located here: http://wcfchat.codeplex.com. Feel free to do whatever you want with it. It includes a twitter-like public timeline along with files and DM's using a custom WCF server on the backend. The client polls the server and also reacts to server callbacks when DM's are posted for that user.
Latency is pretty much zero as all files are stored on the server until requested. there is no facilty at the moment for storing messages - once the server is shutdown, everything disappears.....
- Roberto Bonini
I suppose it s a small version - API and all - of what FF does. (Yes this project has an API - as long as you have the endpoint, you can point whatever client you like at it)
- Roberto Bonini
That's like one of my faves: "You got a little Spanish in you?" "No." "Would you like some?" Stupid, I know, but it makes me giggle every damn time.
- pea
I'm past the point of pick up lines, but mine would probably start with "Hi, I'm a mailman..." perhaps you can finish it.
- Jim Hearts FF
nice, Rochelle. There are many, many other possibilities too. Consider where I put the mail when I deliver it. Into what type of container do I insert it?
- Jim Hearts FF
Mailbox! "Hi, I'm a mailman. Can I insert my mail in your mailbox?"
- Rochelle
Akiva says, "Hi, I'm a mailman. Is that your flag up or are you just happy to see me?"
- Rochelle
Side note: Our mailman takes the mail away but doesn't put the flag back down. Irritates me.
- Rochelle
Rochelle, that's very good, although we would shorten it a bit... which in itself is an innuendo.
- Jim Hearts FF
So its gonna be one of those nights around here, huh?
- Brent Smorgen Bleg
hilarious song a folksinger in Cambridge, Mass used to sing called I'm Your Mailman. Some of the lyrics: "I'm so happy, I'm so gay, cuz I come, once a day, I'm your mailman. ...I don't need no key or locks, I'll just slip it in your box, I'm your mailman." and, "I can come in any kind of weather. That's because my bag is made of leather."
- Laura Norvig
"LONDON — Britain's film board has taken the unusual step of banning the sale of a Japanese horror DVD for what it says is violence so extreme that it's inappropriate for audiences. The British Board of Film Classification says the movie "Grotesque" is essentially just an "an unrelenting and escalating scenario of humiliation, brutality and sadism." It says the movie's nonstop scenes of torture — including amputation, castration and evisceration — make it impossible to edit the film in a way which would make it acceptable for British viewers. The board's decision makes it illegal to sell or distribute the film in Britain. Two other films in the last four years have been banned. The board rates about 10,000 films for DVD release annually."
- Thomas Hawk
from Bookmarklet
One of our super market chains put stickers over the word lesbian on the film 'lesbian vampire killers' as well. We love being told what we can and cant view. Thats a comedy film by the way, not some low budget porn :)
- Simon Wicks
I can't think of a better advertisement for a film, though. Sounds vaguely like the film, "Audition," but that's years old. They can't be talking about banning that now, can they?
- Ciaoenrico
Did you pay AP for the quote TH? =P
- Travis Koger
@Ciaoenrico, Audition has been played on Free To Air TV here only last year, so I don't think so. It was also almost completely uncut.
- Travis Koger
censorship sucks. All they've done is give this film more publicity now and it's only a matter of minutes before the whole thing's on the internet somewhere.
- Thomas Hawk
@travispuk Hmm. I wonder what the film was, then. Wouldn't that be hilarious if the UK Film Board turned something some guy in Osaka shot in his garage into a cult film?
- Ciaoenrico
Defrag is a new series Nic Fillingham and I will be bringing you to look into murky subjects that need sorted out. We'll put the bits in order and tell you exactly what the story is. In this episode we look at multitouch in Windows 7. What are all the multitouch gestures? Will there be more? What is Microsoft's thinking behind multitouch? How/when will I see multitouch on my desktop? We'll answer all these and more. Please take a moment to tell us what other subjects you'd like to see 'defragged' in future episodes.
- Jeff Sandquist
Why do people travel around the world to take pictures of anything, to say that they took it. Ansel Adams took better pictures of the Snake River and the Tetons, but I was there.
- Mike
um, yeah. Thanks for clearing that up for us Mike.
- Ebm
People who take snapshots at the zoo are documenting their experience, not the animals themselves. Those of us there with 15 pound rigs just like to take pictures.
- The Letter M
Did I miss some sarcasm in the original post? I feel like I did now.
- Mike
from Nambu
I'm not sure if sarcasm is the right word, but perhaps you answered too literally. I would have gone with "so they can have a have a hi-res photo of am ape penis at their immediate disposal". I think the question more poking fun at the idea of it all. could be wrong though.
- WiseYoda (aka Patrick)
from BuddyFeed
I mean this in the most sarcastic way "Go F Yourself"
- Mike
Most DVDs still look quite good on a big HDTV. What Blu-ray movies have the most compelling visuals that it's really well worth the the loss of compatibility and the difference in cost?
good call tim, cloverfield and watchmen are freakin breathtaking on blu-ray......get a hold of either LE.
- Carlos Ayala
Thanks for the tips. For rentals the decision is easy to go with Blu-ray. I've gotten very selective about limiting buying to movies that are either ATFs or plan to watch again and again, so wondering about what makes sense as a software investment given the downsides.
- LogEx
Still a n00b to bluray. Have seen about 5 or so now. All looked insanely crisp.
- Josh Haley
a big part of the equation is audio. the closer you get to 7.1 the better. but 5.1 is good. and yes, you will want a good setup....a 'home theater in a box' wont do.
- Carlos Ayala
True. Current finances are making me have to go from BluRay DTS-HD downsampled to original DTS 5.1 to my old Onkyo receiver. That still kicks ass, though.
- Josh Haley
Every time I go into an Apple store here in London, there are always massive groups of the ‘Yoof’ hanging around all the computers, usually just watching YouTube videos and cranking the volume to max on the speakers before a member of Apple staff comes along and spoils their fun. Not to be the old man, stick in the mud kinda guy, but I don’t think I’d mind so much if they were all in there doing a massive choir version of Africa by Toto rather than seeing who can annoy the most people first. - Now, at least this kid is doing something more entertaining with his time there, and has so far raked in over 21,000 views of this video already.
- Simon Wicks
"Lego Voltron. I'm not even sure I need to say anything other than that. Lego Voltron, people. You can thank Grand Admiral for his months of work, and click through the gallery to see the evidence of greatness. Voltron [Flickr]"
- James Ferguson
from Bookmarklet
"First off, let me just say I actually kind of hate the phrase "in the cloud". Same goes for cloud-hosting and all the derivatives. What happened to online, in teh tubes, or the classic "ether"?"
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
Cloud for data, cloud for processing. Count me in.
- Craig Eddy
I vote for the cloud for instances of when i need access to a doc via my iphone... i dont have to worry is my firewall configured correct to get to my data at home. did i leave the pc on... etc...
- Jay Martinez
Not having control over the firewall for my work servers has bit me in the arse more than once. Frustrating to no end to have to enter a ticket, ask for a port opened, and then... just... wait... I miss having control over my firewall, things were done much more quickly (not to mention properly).
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
Where did my comment about the firewall at work go?!?? Meh, nevermind: it showed up after I made the whiny comment about it being missing. That's happened to me a few times actually...
- FFing Enigma (aka Tina)
this conversation is making me download all my outlook email to my netbook (leaving a copy at google of course) for on the road access :)
- Jay Martinez
everything critical is on a portable hard drive. everything current (last 6 months?) is on a 32gig USB key. everything that i'm working on this week is synched between my 3 main work machines (and also available on the web) via mesh.
- Chris Hollander
Technique from Good Eats: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes... (and I apologize for my "language" :). The steak ended up a little under-done. I'm going to try it again next week with NY Strip and 2-3 min per side.
- Paul Buchheit
some how i imagine tim allen doing this while grunting
- Mike Chelen
"the purpose of this was to prevent flare-up" LOL - umm..that is awesome!! hahaha "smoking"! Paul is brave grilling barefoot... cool experiment
- Susan Beebe
We used to call this "caveman style" steak. Useful when camping.
- Glen Mistletoe
I've wanted to try this technique since I saw that episode of good eats.
- Aaron Hood
I had skirt steak on Monday - it was delicious!
- Jesse Stay
Apparently the steaks weren't on there long enough, they came out quite rare and needed to be sauteed stovetop after Paul sliced it up.
- April Buchheit
Why do the steaks look brown even before they're cooked? Also, isn't charcoal ash carcinogenic?
- KyleHase
from twhirl
Kyle, they are brown from the marinade, and people have been cooking food for a very, very long time, so I'm going to assume that it's reasonably safe (and certainly safer than factory food).
- Paul Buchheit
It might have been better to keep the meat in the tin foil and then pop them on the grill. You won't have that charcoal residue flavor.
- FORA.tv
FORA, I think you may be missing the point of grilling :)
- Paul Buchheit
I haven't done much grilling so you're probably right. I love the taste of bbq sauce and ash in my mouth. ;)
- FORA.tv
There is no (or very little) ash on the food.
- Paul Buchheit
Sweet. Summertime is here so there will be some grilling in near future. I will test out this theory. The steaks looked amazing. +1
- FORA.tv
tin foil should not defeat the purpose of cooking by direct heat, since it provides very little insulation. although if there isn't much ash on the food anyway then it could be unnecessary
- Mike Chelen
A good cut of meat cannot be "under" cooked, IMHO. Seared on the outside, cold in the center. Looks delicious.
- Jim Hardy
You need to invest in a little table Paul, too much dirt around! :-)
- Tdubya
I'm going to try that next time I grill steak myself. Alton is a geeeeeeeeeeeeenius!
- Mike Lewis
Two suggestions: 1 get 3"round duct and feed air continuously from below. 2 try putting some river stone on top of the coals to reduce ash
- Dave Marsh
Thanks for the tip Dave. I going to give this a try over the weekend. I love to grill. -Kyle
- Kyle Williams
from email
The hair dryer is used to blow away any ash, so there really is no ash problem to be fixed, and aluminum foil or stones would both block some of the radiant heat as well as the flavor of the hardwood charcoal. If all I wanted was heat, I would just cook in a skillet.
- Paul Buchheit
probably best done using lump charcoal. burns hotter -> faster cooking -> less ash. with the stuff that supposedly goes into briquettes, i'm not sure i'd want to plop anything directly on top of briquettes. ash control is also more difficult with briquettes.
- Imabug
Yes, definitely chunk charcoal. Briquettes are the devil.
- Paul Buchheit
To use tinfoil would just steam it and leave out that wonderful char on the outside.
- Eric @ CSTechcast.com
Yum yum, looks very good but harder to manage. I shouldnt try this home.
- Burcu Dogan
uv, it's awesome!; ) may be next time u'll try a put solid lava rocks between meat and embers ; ) (viking style)
- Sets Turan
What's awkward about it? I'm using it right now and really appreciate the speed.
- Cheryl Jones
Pretty spiffy, but leaks memory on a windows machine like a sieve. I can show you how to eat 250MB of RAM in minutes by opening Craigslist pages. Chrome won't do that. Firefox will but not to the extent. Someone in the Safari team needs to learn to empty caches now and again IMO.
- guruvan (Rob Nelson)