djBC’s Muppet mashups
By Cory Doctorow | July 4, 2009
djBC, consistently my favorite mashup producer/creator (he’s the guy behind the Beasties/Beatles remix “The Beastles”), has released an entire album of remixes of Muppet music! He sez, “In honor of my daughter’s first birthday- and one month late- I’m rolling out ‘Muppet Mashup.’ Ten mashups, remixes, and covers of music from The Muppet Show and Sesame Street. With the legendary McSleazy (of MTV Mash and GYBO), Dunproofin, ATOM, Martinn, Uncanny Valley and yours truly, dj BC. I’m particularly proud of my ‘I’m Happy’ track, which is built on Edwinn Starr loops, Muppet Show samples, and a fun, funky playground acapella from some little girls on Sesame Street.”
I’ve just listened to this straight through, with the baby, and we were both captivated. Bravo!
Mashups, remixes, and covers of music from The Muppet Show and Sesame Street.
Coral Cache mirror of the entire album
Topics: Boing Boing, Copyfight, Happy Mutants, Kids, music | No Comments »
HOWTO build a radio in a POW camp — the real life King Rat
By Cory Doctorow | July 4, 2009
This first-hand account of the construction of a clandestine shortwave radio by British POWs in a Japanese camp in Singapore really reminds me of James Clavell’s magnificent novel King Rat, my all-time favorite war-novel, which revolves grippingly around the construction, discovery and consequences of a hidden shortwave in the Changi camp (both Clavell and Ronald “St Trinian’s” Searle were interned in this camp).
BJ: Can I just ask you – the components for the low voltage battery cells that you produced, where did you get all the components from?
RGW: Well, zinc wasn’t hard, there was some sheet zinc lying on the aerodrome and we pinched quite a bit of that because that would be eaten away during the use of the cells for the low voltage. I don’t know what would have happened if that ran out. I think someone produced two lantern cells which did for a while, but it was mainly on this home-made cell system, which wasn’t efficient but nowhere near as inefficient as the rectifier was. We must have been consuming… Ah Ping said he had to turn up a lot of power to keep the lights what they wanted. We were dispersing such an amount of power in this four test tube rectifier for the high tension.
A variable capacitor was another component we had to bring in. We couldn’t make a variable capacitor, it was impossible. We had to take two plates off the one we had to get a high enough frequency. Yes, I can’t remember why we didn’t go up a bit in inductance; it was largely a trial and error business really. Except that in a regenerative receiver you had some idea when you were near a station because the receiver was so sensitive as all regenerative receivers are.
It had a piece of meat skewer type wood which I had a hole drilled in by a pen-knife, and we glued this in with some of our glue or something, into the capacitor shaft so that we could tune it by holding a little stick across it, fixing it at about six inches because one couldn’t get one’s hands any closer to the set because it was in a state of very near oscillation where the maximum sensitivity is, just before it bursts into oscillation. With a fairly clear HF band, it wasn’t long before we knew roughly, by putting a couple of marks on the stick, where it was. We knew that the Voice of America was due for a transmission and I don’t think we ever knew the frequencies because the BBC didn’t announce frequencies, they just came on the air and broadcast.
Construction of Radio Equipment in a Japanese POW Camp
(via Make)
Topics: Boing Boing, Gadgets, History, maker | No Comments »
Landmark buildings of the world as acrylic rings
By Cory Doctorow | July 4, 2009
Etsy seller Plastique’s got laser-cut acrylic rings boasting pointy world monuments. As knuckledusters, they create the possibility of growling, “Right, mate, you’re geography,” before you bust your opponent in the chops.
world landmarks acrylic ring set (white)
(via Neatorama)
Topics: Boing Boing, Fashion, Happy Mutants, maker | No Comments »
If woowoos ran the emergency room
By Cory Doctorow | July 4, 2009
“Homeopathic A&E,” a sketch from the British comedy show That Mitchell and Webb Look invites us to imagine an emergency room (A&E is British for Accidents and Emergencies, the UK equivalent of ER), as run by newage woo woos.
That Mitchell and Webb Look: Homeopathic A&E
(via White Coat Underground)
Topics: Boing Boing, Funny, Science, Video | No Comments »
Compuserve shuts down
By Cory Doctorow | July 4, 2009
After 30 years, Compuserve is finally, totally, mostly dead (the email addresses still work). I was always a local BBS and GEnie guy, but there’s no doubting the power and influence of Compuserve in introducing the idea of networked communications to a generation, and proving the business-case for commercial online activity:
The original CompuServe service, first offered in 1979, was shut down this past week by its current owner, AOL. The service, which provided its users with addresses such as 73402,3633 and was the first major online service, had seen the number of users dwindle in recent years. At its height, the service boasted about having over half a million users simultaneously on line. Many innovations we now take for granted, from online travel (Eaasy Sabre), online shopping, online stock quotations, and global weather forecasts, just to name a few, were standard fare on CompuServe in the 1980s.
CompuServe users will be able to use their existing CompuServe Classic (as the service was renamed) addresses at no charge via a new e-mail system, but the software that the service was built on, along with all the features supported by that software, from forums for virtually every topic and profession known to man to members’ Ourworld Web pages, has been shut down. Indeed, the current version of the service’s client software, CompuServe for Windows NT 4.0.2, dates back to 1999.
(via Beyond the Beyond)
Topics: Boing Boing, Old school | No Comments »
Massive bank fraud in massively multiplayer game EVE
By Cory Doctorow | July 4, 2009
The chairman of the virtual bank in EVE Online, a space-trading/piracy game, absconded with billions of virtual credits, swapping them for $5,000 in cash to make a house payment. The embezzlement caused a run on the bank and has rocked the economy of EVE.
The run on the bank has come to about 600 billion ISK, which has been withdrawn. However, we have a very big group of excellent supporters, who have deposited about 105 billion ISK sitting in Sweep to keep us liquid. We are extremely grateful for this. Currently the run seems to be mostly over with only a slightly higher withdrawal rate still, than deposit rate. That’s to be expected, and in-line with EBANK’s strategy to shrink to a more managable level.
EBANK has always been extremely sound, due to our massive reserves. Our checks and balances have proven themselves to work as a mitigation device and by having the reserves spread out over several directors, the embezzlement was kept to a minimum. However, the run on the bank had the potential to do great damage to EBANK as people frantically made withdrawals to ensure they would not be caught if the bank ran short.
We have also had several offers from very large entities, regarding big loans, should we need to cover any insolvency. Frankly, this has yet to be needed. But we are grateful for the support.
Billions stolen in online robbery
New perspective on EVE Online’s latest bank embezzlement
(via /.)
- Why the EVE Online industrial espionage econopocalypse is "fun …
- EVE Online's economist speaks — economics as an experimental …
- Should online-game Ponzi scammer go to prison? – Boing Boing
- Massively Multiplayer economics — good discussion thread – Boing …
- Charlie Stross's Halting State: Heist novel about an MMORPG …
- In-game Ponzi scheme – Boing Boing
- In-game cash marketplaces and Napster — the arbitrage of time …
Topics: Boing Boing, Economy, Games, ZOMGWEREALLGONNADIERUNHIDE | No Comments »
Task.fm Adds Smart Reminders via Twitter
By Ben Parr | July 4, 2009
A few months ago, we reviewed a unique reminder app: Task.fm. In our assessment, we noted its Twitter-like approach to reminders and its ability to decipher human language – you can tell it Task.fm “I need to call mom at noon tomorrow” and expect a reminder the next day. We did note though that you couldn’t set reminders via email, SMS, or Twitter, which decreased its utility.
Since then, Task.fm has been busy adding new features to its app, culminating in the release of Task.fm 1.0 earlier today. Now not only is the interface much more elegant, but you can set and receive reminders via Twitter, SMS, and email.
The big feature in this release is Twitter integration. You can direct message @taskfm with your task and you can then set the reminder. This is on top of the recent additions of setting reminders via SMS and email.
In addition to Twitter integration, Task.fm sports a sleeker, curved design (look at their previous blocky design to see the difference), offers new pro accounts that replace the old credits system, and adds more natural language support. Task.fm 1.0 also improves its To-Do list functionality.
Three months ago, Task.fm was unique for its language parsing ability, but didn’t have the tools necessary to be truly useful. Today, the story is different – with the ability to set and receive reminders nearly everywhere, it can compete with the likes of RememberTheMilk, although there’s still plenty it can do.
Reviews: Twitter
Tags: task.fm
Topics: Mashable!, twitter | No Comments »
Happy Internet Dependence Day!
By Pete Cashmore | July 3, 2009
With the 4th of July weekend just hours away, it’s time to wish our US readers a Happy Independence Day!
Hopefully you’ll be spending at least some of your weekend away from your computer and enjoying the festivities, but for those who have difficulty leaving the laptop at home, here’s a quick list of resources to help you spend less time online while getting more done.
1. A Guide to Better Web-Working From Your iPhone – One way to spend less time in front of a computer screen is to get more efficient at working from your phone. Elliott Kosmicki looks at applications to do more work on your phone, so you can do less when you get home.
2. HOW TO: Live Inside Twitter and Still Stay Productive – Addicted to Twitter? While the service is often thought of as a timewaster, this post explains numerous ways to get more done while you Tweet.
3. HOW TO: Make Firefox Your Productivity Machine – Firefox users have access to a wealth of add-ons that help you get more done during your time online. This article recommends the best picks.
4. 7 Productivity Tips, Plus Tools for Freelancers and Web Workers – So you want to get more work done on the web? You’ve come to the right place! This post provides top tips for freelancers and those who have made the web their workplace.
5. Top 30 iPhone Apps for Organization and Productivity – In this one-stop shop for iPhone productivity, Jennifer Van Grove tests 30 of the top iPhone apps to help you get more done on the go.
6. 9 Must-Try Adobe AIR Apps for Better Productivity – Adobe Air is known for running some of the most visually appealing apps on your desktop, but did you know some of these apps can make you more productive? We look into the unlikely candidates.
Have a great weekend!
[Image from Bitstrips via CenterNetworks]
Reviews: Firefox, Twitter
Topics: Mashable! | No Comments »
BBQ Tip: Try An Infrared BBQ & Talking Thermometer
By Steven Leckart | July 3, 2009
To celebrate 4th of July, I dropped by Wired to play with the Solaire Anywhere Portable Grill and Oregon Scientific’s Wireless Talking BBQ Thermometer. Note: Sorry for the pre-roll ad.
Topics: Boing Boing Gadgets, Gadgets | No Comments »
HOW TO: Discover and Get Feedback On New Web Apps
By Ben Parr | July 3, 2009
This post is part of Mashable’s Spark of Genius series, which highlights a unique feature of startups. If you would like to have your startup considered for inclusion, please see the details here. The series is made possible by Microsoft BizSpark.
Name: Launchly
Quick Pitch: Launchly showcases new websites to an audience to help site owners get the attention and feedback necessary to succeed.
Genius Idea: It’s hard to stand out and get attention for web applications and new websites. You can build a Twitter app over a weekend and get no traction because you don’t know where to promote it. Or maybe you need some feedback and advice on your newly launched website. Launchly does this, but instead of just showcasing a startup and letting it fall by the wayside, Launchly allows apps to resubmit new iterations and build on their ideas.
Essentially, Launchly is a Digg for startups. You submit your site to Launchly and include a short sentence description, a long description, the type of feedback you’re seeking, screenshots, related tags, and you can be up and running on the Launchly homepage. After that, it works a lot like Digg, in that users can rate your website up or down, comment on it, and share the webpage via Facebook, Twitter, and Digg. This can really affect how visible your web app is on the site.
The key to Launchly though is the iterations feature, which allows you to take the feedback you receive and submit a new version of your website to the service. This allows for a new round of feedback once you’ve made upgrades. You also receive some analytics on Launchly user engagement and social media buzz.
The catch, of course, is that this service isn’t free – the lowest-priced plan costs $40, with more expensive and feature-rich plans coming soon. The price is understandable, when you consider that valuable feedback can make or break a website. However, Launchly is very new itself and thus hasn’t hit the critical mass necessary to really get the community needed to justify the cost yet.
Launchly’s value is directly correlated with its community. As it grows, the value of a launch on the website will grow, but this also means that in its early stages, it is tough to shell out $40 for such little visibility. Launchly would do well to focus on building a strong community and offering promotions or discounts to startups to get the ball rolling. If it can gain enough momentum, there could be some real value.
Sponsored by Microsoft BizSpark
BizSpark is a startup program that gives you three-year access to the latest Microsoft development tools, as well as connecting you to a nationwide network of investors and incubators. There are no upfront costs, so if your business is privately owned, less than three years old, and generates less than U.S.$1 million in annual revenue, you can sign up today.
Entrepreneurs can take advantage of the Azure Services platform for their website hosting and storage needs. Microsoft recently announced the “new CloudApp()” contest – use the Azure Services Platform for hosting your .NET or PHP app, and you could be the lucky winner of a USD 5000* (please see website for official rules and guidelines).”
Reviews: Digg, Facebook, PHP, Twitter
Tags: launchly
Topics: Mashable!, spark-of-genius | No Comments »
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