Nomadicoder » Culture

Adam Savage’s Obsession

Steven — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:55:59 +0000

What’s in the mind behind one of the hosts of Mythbusters

Carmen Agra Deedy Great Story Telling

Steven — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 02:42:46 +0000

A great story about her mama spun at TED.

Gratitude, forgiveness, and optimism

Steven — Fri, 16 Mar 2007 01:38:16 +0000

From last week’s EconTalk podcast:

I do to improve my sense of well-being? New field of Positive Psychology points to gratitude, forgiveness, and optimism as actually making people happier.

An economic case for a Christian idea.

Technorati Tags: christian, Economics

One of the Problems with Contemporary Christian Music

Steven — Wed, 19 Jul 2006 15:39:29 +0000

In “Suffering, Thy Name Is FM Radio“, Jeff Tucker surfs the FM dial. He concludes with the problems of contemporary Christian Music:

I’ll just say this as plainly as possible: Christian contemporary music is ghastly, insipid, uninspired, brain draining, and horrible in every way.

This ghastly, insipid music evinces tears in the eyes of my evangelical brothers and sisters. So inspired, they incorporate it into their worship services. One favorite praise and worship song is entitled, “I Could Sing of Your Love Forever.” You can’t call a song that praises how much we love God a worship song. You can’t even call it a praise song, unless you want to call it a song of self praise. How narcissistic!

If praise is telling other people how wonderful someone or something else is, then who’s getting the praise? Who getting worshipped? Certainly not God.

Technorati Tags: arts, christian

State-Free Science Fair

Steven — Mon, 24 Apr 2006 18:16:53 +0000

O’Reilly Media’s Make Magazine proves that you don’t need state sponsored science fairs to promote innovation and interest in science and technology. This past weekend Make Magazine held its first Maker Faire where over 20,000 people attended, and by all accounts, appears to have been a big success. These are not the kinds of exhibits you’d see at the California State Science Fair. Check out the coverage.
O’Reilly demonstrates that with knowledge, motivation and freedom to create, anyone can make cool stuff.

For the creative folks with a less technical bent, O’Reilly announced that they will be launching Craft Magazine devoted to crafts. If it’s anything close to Make Magazine, it should be a big hit.

Technorati Tags: Arts, Makefaire, Science, Technology

Computer glitch led to Atlanta airport scare

Steven — Sat, 22 Apr 2006 14:25:41 +0000

CNN.com reports TSA: Computer glitch led to Atlanta airport scare.

Isn’t technology wonderful. It is so wonderful that government procured software keeps us safe. Thanks Tech.Memorandum.

Technorati Tags: Commentary, Liberty, Politics, Technology, Transportation

Olympics Podcast

Steven — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 19:49:35 +0000

The best of the podcasts for the olymipcs have to go to the New York Times and AP. AP had the best daily coverage along with commentary. I shouldn’t forget Jim Lampley’s daily commentaries from Torino on the NBC Olympics … Continue reading →

Doctor Floyd and Garageband

Steven — Mon, 27 Feb 2006 19:40:56 +0000

One of the nice features of Apple’s Garage Band are the music loops. They are alot of fun to play with. You can write your own piece by putting midi clips togther. Enter The Radio Adventures of Doctor Floyd who seem to have written an entire 70s-like pop song with Garage Band snippets. Don’t believe me? The intro is a dead ringer for “Pop Piano 07″.

Aslan vs. Kong

Steven — Sat, 24 Dec 2005 19:39:37 +0000

It looks like Aslan is killing Kong at the box office. (By way of Digg.com)

Dickens’ A Christmas Carol Podcast

Steven — Thu, 15 Dec 2005 17:31:45 +0000

By way of BoingBoing. A posting about Penguin Books Podcast of Charles Dickens‘ A Christmas Carol.

Doc Searls: Just a couple points

Steven — Mon, 05 Dec 2005 16:47:07 +0000

Doc adds a couple points to the record longhorn story in the Washington Post.

Technorati Tags: humor, politics

Long Tail Musician

Steven — Sun, 27 Nov 2005 06:54:43 +0000

Three or four years ago, I played hammered dulcimer for a Christmas Eve service at my former church. Some of the musicians, I later learned were hired professionals. One of them commented to me that if I were good enough I could make it big. I thought, why would I want to do that? I’m a technologist who tinkers in music because I enjoy it and enjoy sharing it with a some friends. It seems that the folks who drink the CCM kool-aid think that all must achieve to be a big hit. I prefer being way out on the edge of the long tail. It’s nice there and its nice knowning the names of all the people you play with and play for.

Excuse Me, That’s Mine!

Steven — Thu, 06 Oct 2005 02:24:53 +0000

This morning I decide to stop by a Starbucks on the way to school. I placed my order (grande drip, room for cream, and a pastry), and while I’m waiting for the pastry, a young lady walks in and somewhat hurriedly places her order. The clerk hands me my order and I walk over to one of the tables in the corner to set my stuff down, then over to the table across from the barrista to put cream in my coffee. As I heading back to my table, the lady (who went out to her car for something) comes in and stops me and says, “Excuse me. That’s mine.” I reply, “What?” She says, “That’s mine!” and grabs the cup from my hand. As she pulls it away, she squeezes the cup, pops the lid and sends coffee all over the place. Since the spray of coffee didn’t have any froth or foam, or whatever it was she ordered, she figured that it wasn’t her order. So, without saying a word, she headed over to the barista, picks up what she really ordered and heads straight out the door.

I stood there, coffee splattered on the floor and on my right arm, a bit startled that someone would do something like that. The clerk handed me a wad of paper towels and a new cup of coffee — grande drip, room for cream. He apologized, but I told him that it wasn’t his fault, it was her’s

I don’t recall hearing her apologize. But I was able to laugh at the incident at her expense. Best laugh I had all week. I also had something to blog about. Somehow I don’t think she’ll be doing that again anytime soon. One of the other customers said, “Maybe she wanted to meet you.” I replied, “I’m not sure I want to get to know someone like that.”

Putting Things in Boxes

Steven — Sun, 02 Oct 2005 16:43:34 +0000

When critics of modernity say that we should stop classifying, they themselves are classifying. I heard one postmodern preacher say that we should stop putting things in boxes – that is classifying things as christian, secular, etc. But in doing so, he himself is classifying people.

It is in man’s nature to organize and classify. Taxonomy is in man’s very nature. Look at what postmodern’s do when they enter into the folksonomic activities. They are classifying.

Theologically, God’s first command to man was to name all of the animals He has created. Here man classifies and provides names for the animals. It is part of discovery. We find something, then we name it.

Covering the Hurricane Coverage

steven — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 04:38:48 +0000

Again from Chris Pirillo: Covering the Hurricane Coverage. He’s not making light of tragedy, but he’s taking a hilarious shot at Main Stream Media coverage.

It’s the Bickersons The Ponzi and Chris Show (Weekly Broadcast)

steven — Tue, 12 Jul 2005 04:31:00 +0000

The Ponzi and Chris Show is a nerdy version of The Bickersons. I found it in with The Chris Pirillo Show Podcast subscription. One thing is clear, can be most difficult to give tech support to those who are closest to us.

Lessons From the Kelo Decision by Rep. Ron Paul

steven — Wed, 06 Jul 2005 05:01:45 +0000

Congressman Ron Paul has written an excellent article on the Kelo decision on lewrockwell.com. He says:

It is folly to believe we will regain lost freedoms if only the right individuals are appointed to the Supreme Court. Republican presidents, including conservative icon Ronald Reagan, have appointed some of our very worst Supreme Court Justices. In today’s political context, it frankly matters very little whom President Bush appoints to replace Justice O’Connor. Even the most promising jurist can change radically over the course of a lifetime appointment. We are supposed to be a nation of laws, not men, and the fixation on individuals as saviors of our freedoms is misplaced. America will regain lost freedoms only when her citizens wake up and reclaim a national sense of self-reliance, individualism, and limited government. A handful of judges cannot save a nation from itself.

Houston swimmer’s rescuer ends up in jail

steven — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:12:18 +0000

A posting in the Lew Rockwell blog points out this story from the Houston Chronicle. This one goes in the “No good deed goes unpunished” file.

Astrologer Sues NASA Over Comet Probe – Yahoo! News

steven — Tue, 05 Jul 2005 17:08:22 +0000

In this Yahoo News story, Astrologer Sues NASA Over Comet Probe, some Russian astrologer is suing NASA because it caused her “moral suffering” because it would “deform her horoscope.” Found by way of Slashdot.

Continuous coverage of the 50th Anniversary kick-off

Steven — Thu, 05 May 2005 00:35:21 +0000

Mouseplanet is providing continuous coverage of the 50th Anniversary kick-off.

I will be interesting to see John Lassiter’s version of the Jungle Cruise.