The Rodeo

Christian subculture is spray-painting the Wardrobe

Dr Ransom explains the finer points of subtlty in evangelism.

Greenpeace faces fine for reef damage

This is just about the very definition of ‘irony’.

We Dont Need to Do it This Way

An alternative to mega-churches.

Morning Musume vs. Lizard

One of the funniest videos I’ve ever seen.

Your aluminium hats can’t save you now!
On the Effectiveness of Aluminium Foil Helmets:An Empirical Study.
(via Seth)

CodeGuru: Task Manager Extension
VERY handy tool if you muck around with task manager as much as I do

Daring Fireball: Ronco Spray-On Usability
Why Linux can’t have usability ‘tacked on’

Classic Mistakes Enumerated
A list of the most common mistakes that make software development fail (or fail to meet a deadline)

Coding Horror: For Best Results, Forget the Bonus
For BESTEST results, forget the bonus AND pay us all more

Coding Horror: Why do login dialogs have a “User” field?
Interesting discussion (read the discussion) on why (or why not) having a user name field for logging on to systems makes sense,

Revealing hidden assumptions in estimation
What you think goes into software development is often just imaginary

An Old Testament god (lowercase ‘g’)
Is there really a difference between God in the Old Testament and the New?

ID vs Evolution vs Creationism
The letter at the end pretty much sums up my opinion.

Cartoon X-Rays
Cartoon characters dissected and sketched - I like the PowerPuff Girls best

Dinosaur Comics: The Video Game!
Thigh fives all around, there is a dinosaur comics video game. Stomp stuff and avoid angry dinosaurs. This game has awesome music. I cannot stress this enough!

Only a Game: Settlers of Catan: The Versatility of Elegant Design
Interesting article on Settlers of Catan (a fairly awesome game). Introduces a few house rules that I think we can try next time we play. Might help reduce the frequency of the… discussions… we get into while playing.

Can’t we all just get along?
Well, can’t we? Phil Johnson (the Pyromaniac) explains why abandoning the very possibility of having objectivity, authority and (most of all) truth makes conversing with postmodernists so difficult and a mine-filled experience.

BrickQuest: Fantasy Boardgaming in an ABS Universe
It’s like Warhammer Quest… but with LEGO! Looks fun, but you’d need lots and lots (and lots) of lego. I’d like to give it a go though.

18 Tricks to Teach Your Body
This list of 18 ‘tricks’ are actually pretty useful. Things such as how to stop a bleeding nose,getting rid of pins and needles and how to hold on a bit longer. All of which work because of the way the body is designed.

Concurring Opinions: The Airline Screening Playset: Hours of Fun!
But she was still smiling.

Decoding DaVinci - Dominic Steele
One of these days I’ll get around to reading ‘The DaVinci Code’, and when I do, this lecture on the historical basis of Dan Brown’s work will serve me well at determining what is fact, and what is fiction. A very good lecture on the book, with many good points discussed. Such as that the Holy Grail is a metaphor. Not a Mary.

Coding Horror: iPod Hacking via Modem
Super Nerds Hack iPods with Modem. In other news, those guys stealing TV broadcasts got pwned!

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter D and the number 7.

Halo Kitty
Um… what can I say. I thought this looked cool.

131500: Transport Infoline - Trip Planner
Probably the most useful thing I have ever seen. I have no idea who made it, but they did a great job. Plan your trip from start to finish and it will give you routes/public transport times. And they print out nicely too.

Movie Puppet Theatre:Serenity
Serenity summarised by hand puppets. DO NOT WATCH THIS if you haven’t seen the movie already.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter L and the number 8.

BOCTAOE - but of course there are obvious exceptions
You can assume that everything I say after (and before) this is bounded by this sentence.

Wired 12.12: Roads Gone Wild
Less is more when designing roads. Now why can’t the RTA think like this?

Basic Paintball Tactics
Paintball tactics. For next time we play (whenever that might be).

Churchianity: Withdrawing from the real world ? part two
Being Christian != subscribing to right-wing politics. Or smoking. Or drinking. Great article.

Footprints…A New Version
It’s sappy, but it made me smile.

Facts about Jack Bauer from 24
I’d say these are mostly pretty accurate. Language warning.

Pong Clock
This clock looks freaking awesome (read: expensive)

MLA Australia Day lamb campaign
Sam Kekovich on being un-Australian. Watch it. You know it makes sense!

EdCone.com: Thanks for Reading
On the lack of manners in our society. A good read Mr Cone. Thankyou.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter L and the number 8.

Who’s Afraid of an Argument? The Insecurities of the Abortion Rights Movement
Why is the debate about abortion discarded as being purely ‘religious’ in nature? A good insight into the lack of debate regarding abortion and when a human being becomes inherantly valuable (I think it’s from conception).

The Myth of Happily Ever After
4 myths about marriage. Good advice.

Whatever: Writing Tips for Non-Writers Who Don’t Want to Work at Writing
Please, PLEASE read this. Thankyou for your attention. Oh, don’t forget to do what it says; writing with correct grammar and punctuation makes it easier to understand you.

That’s Just Your Opinion
On the demise of the expert. Except, some people really are experts, and you should probably listen to them (within their field anyway).

RU486 debate
Why should women have a say regarding men and rape? OR why shouldn’t men have a say in discussions on abortion?

Help for Bible Students (Part One)
Lots of good stuff here - mainly about the bible and translations etc. Unfortunately for Dan, his page is not too easy on the eyes… sorry Dan.

The Fishbowl: You Wouldn’t Steal a Movie
I hate this ad at the beginning of movies. Movies I’ve ALREADY PAID FOR. Idiots. (language warning).

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter T and the number 3.

Women’s Health and Human Life Protection Act
Good news for unborn babies! You are now considered valuable by the government of South Dakota.

RodeoClown: is cheering.

Slow Leadership: Really? Is That True?
Think about what you are saying. People can drive their own failures by exaggerating what they mean. Check it out.

ATI’s 1GB Video Card
Apparently it’s faster than a 3GHz processor. Here’s an idea - someone get ATI to make CPUs instead… (well, no - read the comments).

Zen of Design: Categories of Bad
Defining badnessicity in movies.

F1 Now 1.3% Slower
Tell me more about this cheddar-powered radioactive behemoth.

HELLO ME NOT DEAD
Heh!

Pastoral marriage counseling: What if?
What if Christian married people were actually expected to know, remember, and honor their wedding vows?

Interesting game idea
Using Texas Hold-Em as a fight mechanic in an online game.

Women?s Health and Human Life Protection Act
Good news for unborn babies! You are now considered valuable by the government of South Dakota.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter C and the number 7.

Manila Drive: The Semi-Pelagian Narrower Catechism
It’s what some people really believe! (It’s a joke, people). Via Craig, and the Pyromaniacs

We used to be friends
Is it possible for men and women to be just friends? Is it possible for men and men? Women and women?

“Blow your top” or “break their wills”?
Disciplining kids “God’s way”!

one red paperclip
Can Kyle MacDonald trade one red paper clip all the way up to a house?

the thoughts of a mind � On Being An Idiot
My thoughts on being an idiot: don’t.

Grow Cube
Cubic goodness. It’s a puzzle. Figure it out.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter S and the number 3.

Do apostrophe’s matter?
Yes, yes. A thousand times ‘yes’!

I could [not] care less
Get it right people. This graph demonstrates the difference in meaning between the two phrases.

YouTube - look around you maths
Learn maths the fun way! Laugh-Out-Loud funny.

Plugins/Auto shutoff comments � WordPress Codex
I’ll be setting this up shortly - if you don’t have a wordpress blog, ignore this.

The evolution of dance
Via ckhnat.blogspot.com

YouTube - Eleven Twelve
One two three four-five, six-seven eight nine-ten, eleven twelve. Ah, the memories…

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter G and the number 8.

I know plenty of people have already seen this, but for those who haven’t, check out The Interpretative Dance Theocrats, a cheat-sheet covering some of the major concepts in Christianity.

Here’s a quote:

The Bible: The Bible was written by God as a merchandising tie-in to His blockbuster film “The Ten Commandments.” Each book of the Bible is named after a person who features prominently in it, for example, the Book of Numbers, which is named after Herschel Numbers, who invented numerals. The Bible was so successful that God wrote a sequel, “Bible II: On to Rome,” now generally called “The New Testament.” Protestants believe the Bible is literal and exactly true in every detail except the description of the Eucharist, while Catholics are not allowed to read the Bible.

via: John Dekker via Dave Miers (of The Poddy fame).

RodeoClown: accessed God by means of Wentworth Falls Lake. In Winter.

Comments over here.

McDonalds Interactive decided that they didn’t like the fact that their parent company was helping to destroy the world, so they quit. The whole division just up and left.

“We began developing a simulation of the fast-food industry, for use by
managers in developing market strategies.” said Division CTO Sam
Grossman.
“When we added a climate simulation module, it showed those strategies
helping lead to global calamity.”

“Management doesn’t seem to care, and we can’t sit back and
fiddle while Rome burns, so our team has decided to break away from
McDonald’s and do something about it,” said Grossman.

Read their press release. It’s actually a good read (and short).

Way to stand up for what you believe in!

Update: Is it a hoax? Who knows - but it is impressive nonetheless. I’ll let you know what I find out.

RodeoClown: impressed (maybe).

Why the Debate About ‘Stem Cell Research’?
Why do we even have a debate? Logical reasoning from a scientific layperson.

McDonald’s Interactive Division: The Most Serious Game
Full text of a speech given by the director of McDonald’s Interactive announcing that they were leaving because their parent company is killing the planet. Most impressive. And… a hoax.

Paper Sculpture
These are fantastic origami pieces.

Unanswered Bible questions and the need to know
The bible has all we need to know, but not everything we want to know.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter E and the number 8.

Biblical Christianity: THE least-heard marriage truth
Just remember the promise you made when you got married.

Freeman Hunt: Hey Kids, I Didn’t Think We Were Getting Enough Time Together, So I Killed Your Baby Brother
I’m pro-choice… but I think the choice comes when you decide to unzip your pants. After that, I’m pro-responsibility.

Getting in too-much touch (interruption is not collaboration)
When I want to get stuff done, I turn my email and IM off. You need to be uninterrupted to really get anything substantial done.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter J and the number 1.

Team Fortress 2 Teaser!
Yay - it’s just like the Incredibles, but with guns! Can’t wait till Christmas…

First Look At Valve’s Portal
This game looks awesome. I know what I’m getting me for Christmas…

The Paradox of Choice - Why More Is Less - Google Video
A lecture at Google about the impact of too much choice in modern society. Very informative, well worth watching, especially if you are in any kind of marketing or design postition, or even if you aren’t. (note, it is an hour long).

Marketing Interview
You know, I think he’s right (it’s a comic - quite funny).

TopOfCool.com » Hot Coffee: Why Video Game Sex is Worse than Video Game Violence
An older article, but one that sums up my opinion of sex and violence in video games.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter B and the number 8.

Miss Shyborg Goes To America: A Word on Profiling
I’m down with profiling. But I’m a white Anglo male, so what I think doesn’t count. What say you?

The Atom
It’s a car. It’s awesome. I want one.

Know Thy Enemy
Orson Scott Card explains the key players in the current middle east conflict. And why he voted for George Bush.

YouTube - Darth Vader being rude
When you’re a Sith lord, you don’t have to be polite.

Out of our minds: learning to be creative
Sir Ken Robinson talks about fundamental changes to our education systems. I happen to agree.

1 Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb = 1 Nuclear Power Plant
I’d pretty much decided we’d be using these from now on anyway, but this makes it all look so much more appealing. Only problem… I can’t find the 100W equivalent bulbs anywhere local…

How to give feedback
Seth Godin outlines how to give feedback that will improve things.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter J and the number 1.

… is the title of Richard Beeston’s new CD.

I’ve heard a few singles on the website, and he sounds pretty good. Also heard a few positive reviews from people who have heard him live.

Pretty rock-y, but not rockin’ out. More contemplative rock. Great lyrics.

Check him out.

RodeoClown: loves the logo.

See here.

Callum recently pointed me to The Adventures of Dr. McNinja. It’s now in my list of comics I like lots. Note: lots of violence - in black and white.

I’ll post up that list soon (in annotated form).

RodeoClown: Arrrr!

I had a crazy dream last night where I went to Tasmania and met Angus and his hockey team. He seemed like a pretty decent bloke.

While we were talking in a classroom, we all got rounded up and sent to a space station. A Sydney Swans puddlejumper came to rescue us, but a super soldier smashed the door in before we could leave.

We got away somehow, and I think there may have been a dance sequence lined up, but I was woken by a crying child.

Oh well.

Plenty of Crazy Linkage in there for you

RodeoClown: dream weaver.

The Tick Vs. Season One
The Tick is awesome. When this DVD arrives in Australia, I think I would like to get it

YouTube - Vader Sessions
Mashup of Darth Vader and James Earl Jones from The Great White Hope. Awesome (one or two swear-words).

Save Pluto
OK, last Pluto post. Check out these signs for saving Pluto. They are fantastic.

Alcohol excess begins at home
Does this just seem like common sense to anyone else? If parents don’t approve their kids’ drinking, the kids are less likely to drink. Attention parents: Your responsibility for your kids has not been absolved!

What Did Historical Swords Weigh?
Swords for killing people really didn’t weigh much at all. Even the big ones.

CNN.com - With shovels, AOL looks for retribution
I think we should ALL dig up the yards of spammers. Makes AOL look pretty piratical though…

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter R and the number 1.

Dog and Cat Diaries
I’m much more a dog person (despite the fact I used to be terrified of them). These diary entries pretty much reinforce my opinions on pets. Dogs seem much more down my alley.

The Unsolvable Math Problem
Some kid turns up late to class, mistakes examples of unsolvable problems on the board as homework and solves them. I love the fact that he thought he wouldn’t get any marks because he handed them in late…

The Open-Source Wish Project
Those pesky genies always try and twist our wishes to the worst possible meaning of the words used. Help come up with perfectly worded wishes, or just see what has already been wished for.

Is Singing More Important Than Preaching?
As Christians, we really need to think through the implications of our song choices at church. Well argued here.

Car Flood
Truly hypnotic. 1000 cars racing through the same track at the same time.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter B and the number 7.

Adrian Plass: A Critical Point
You want to criticise someone and have them actually taken note? Try being close to them in the first place.

Freely I confess my sins
For God has poured his grace in
But when another lists my faults
I want to smash his face in.

Joseph Called Bethlehem Home?
Hey… that’s a really good point - if Joseph came from Bethlehem, why didn’t he stay with any of his family there?

Jonathan Coulton - I’m Your Moon
OK, I lied. But this will (almost definitely, quite probably, in-fact-almost possibly) be the last Pluto ‘thing’ I mention. Charon, singing to Pluto regarding rejection from the planetary line-up. Best line “They invented a reason, that’s why it stings”.

Did I hear an Echo in here?
When you post something on your blog, add something that will make it more than just regurgitating the news.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter L and the number 6.

Irony
It’s like ray-hee-aiin on your wedding day. Or like proving you are peaceful by burning effigies… either way.

Andy Ruminations: Dan Brown on faith…
Dr. Luke vs Dan Brown.

10 Reasons To Drink More Water
Really, you should drink more water. Here’s why.

Stem-cell decision is a question of morality, not science
Professor Neil Ormerod outlines why the question of embryonic stem-cell research is not going to go away, and why there is no middle ground that can be agreed on.

The Little Girl Giant
The most incredible puppetry I’ve ever seen. A giant puppet walking through a park. You completely forget there is a crane behind her and dozens of puppeteers. Again, incredible.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter B and the number 7.

Worship, feelings, and what-if?
What if I don’t feel like God is there? Should I act on those feelings? Or is there something more important than my emotions? (I’m sure you can guess the answer…)

Trickle Theory
Got an impossible task that needs doing? Try using trickle theory to get it finished.

Kids Having Fun
These pictures are amazing (they get better lower down).

Male Restroom Etiquette
Every guy should watch this too. But it has less of a priority than the iMonk post.

internetmonk.com » The Man in the Shadow of Adultery
Read this. Especially if you are married. It is super-important.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter P and the number 3.

Words that End in GRY
Communicating badly and then acting smug when you’re misunderstood is not cleverness. This also applies to postmodernists.

The Dream House - The Ornery American
Sometimes your dream house is right where you left it.

One Salient Oversight: Year 12 not for everybody
More money should be funnelled into primary schools as that is where the greatest impact on student education occurs. Get them reading and they can learn. Some kids just can’t deal with year 12.

Pulpit Magazine » How to Enjoy Bible Study
How to read and understand the Bible. Enjoyment comes from understanding. Lots of good stuff here.

Ten Mistakes Writers Don’t See (But Can Easily Fix When They Do)
Learn how to avoid these mistakes. It will make your writing much, much clearer.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter Q and the number 3.

Getting Real
I’ve read some samples of this, and I read the 37Signals blog, but now these guys have released their book for free . It’s ostensibly about programming, but it really applies to a whole bunch of stuff. I’m reading the rest now.

Water Flames Illusion
Wet fire. Neat.

Imperial History - The Middle East
A short (90 seconds) animation of the rise and fall of empires in the Middle East. Fascinating.

Sleep Sound
Mmmmm, these sound nice. Mix your own relaxation sounds, and sleep easy.

The Harvard Man
Hand. Bush. If you’ve got something good - don’t leave it to chase after something better. You could very well end up with nothing. This applies to lots and lots and lots of realms.

Three Curvy Lines and the Truth
Line Rider is a pretty fun little toy, check it out.

xkcd’s Top Date Ideas
These are all pretty neat ideas - if you’re ever stumped for a date idea, try one from this list.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter H and the number 4.

Slashdot links Wired’s Very Short Stories
Original article below. Read the comments.

Wired 14.11: Very Short Stories
Lots of stories. Six words long.

RodeoClown: not too bad at this.

St Andrew’s Cathedral - From The Dean: Sheik Hilali
Philip Jensen explains what was wrong with this whole incident and how the public reaction makes a mockery of such values as ‘tolerance’, ‘free speech’ and ’separation of church and state’. Excellent reading.

Learn to Love Board Games Again: 100+ Ways to Rejuvenate the Games You Already Own
The title says it all really. Make your old games fresh again.

Will It Blend? - Coke + Chicken = Cochicken
One of a series of ads for a Blendtec blender. This is the way advertising should be

Pac Pie Graph
Accurate.

Matthias Media: Christmas Cards 2006
Need some Christmas cards? These are pretty tops (I especially like E and G).

Reflections
Great puzzle game. I’m up to level 19/25 as of right now. Use the laser to light all the bulbs. Don’t hit any bombs. Take your time and figure it out.

Ode to the afternoon nap
I would love to have a nap every afternoon at work. I’d be a whole lot more productive.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter M and the number 1.

Really, he’s not.

RodeoClown: infected.

The Boondocks - Guns and Video Games
Replace ‘Video Games’ with ‘Comics’, ‘Heavy Metal’, ‘Rock and Roll’, or whatever other cultural scapegoat you’d like. Still applies.

When you don’t “get” a verse
What should you do when a Bible verse just doesn’t make sense to you?

Office Space, The Horror Film
I like the movie before, but this version looks… different. Click click. Click click.

How Many Points Have You Earned?
Yep. That pretty much sums up the whole concept of grace.

The Royal College of Infanticide
Distressing. Our culture has no morality to speak of.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter N and the number 4.

Look beyond gas mileage when making an environmental choice
Sim will appreciate this: a Hummer has less (total) environmental impact than a hybrid. Might want to look at the assumptions that have been revealed in the comments too…

Iraq: It’s safer here.
I’m not 100% on the accuracy of the statistics, but if correct, there’s a good incentive to emmigrate from the US capital to Iraq.

Youth Ministry: Emo Evangelism
David explores the idea of ministering to a bunch of whingers… I mean emo kids.

I Am Not Offended (And If I Were…Who’d Care?)
If something you see or hear offends you, look and listen somewhere else.

The influence of fathers…
appears to be very significant in determining the actions of a child. Hmmm… pressure’s on.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter T and the number 2.

NSW to roll out free WiFi service
I think this is the first thing the NSW state government has done right in a long, long time. If it eventuates.

How To Make (and grow) A Luffa!
Grow your own sponge for the bath/shower!

Greeting emergent church ‘conversationalists’ all across the fruited plain
The only sin in following tradition is expecting everyone else to do the same.

Twenty Sided - Transporter 2
The term “former special forces” has become movie shorthand for is invincible and has magical powers, but only cool ones and not gay like that Sailor Moon crap.

Don’t Buy Stuff You Cannot Afford
Probably the best advice you can give someone who keeps running themself into debt.

National Flags of the World (with client comments)
What would each country’s flag look like if it were commented on by non-designers (read: executives). I do approve of Canada’s new flag though.

It’s Never Been Built Before
Why software engineering is not like any other kind of engineering.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter P and the number 6.

RodeoClown: accurate.

*Note - I didn’t draw this. Click the pic to see more.

Wrestling Optical Illusion
It really, really looks like this guy is getting a visual inspection of his rear. Ouch.

Beautiful hobbit home
This is awesome. I wish I had one.

A New Sith, or Revenge of the Hope
Reinterpreting Star Wars episode 4 taking episodes 1-3 into consideration.
Well worth a read if you like(d) Star Wars.

The Wii Sports Experiment - WiiNintendo.net
So it’s fun AND helps you lose weight

What Do We Do For Our Kids?

Fix for Firefox 2.0 Open File Dialog Default Action Change
I hate the new open file dialog, if you do too - this is a great bit of info. If you don’t care, then it doesn’t matter anyway.

Stepping off the edge.
A horrid example of where a blind acceptance of embryonic stem-cell research can lead. It makes me sad and angry.

Turn a radio-controlled car into a dust mop
Hmmm… I have a radio-control car. I have a dust mop… and our house has plenty of dust… Let’s see if I can swing this one…

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter U and the number 1.

Click the image for more.

RodeoClown: </p> Heh!

A good website designer always needs time to laugh at the funny web designs they find on web sites. Some web site designs can be funny and some websites are serious while other web sites are not.

What would the Dalai Lama do… if he were a Navy seal?
I’m not even sure what this post is about - something to do with software development I think, but it has the best title of a blog post I have EVER seen, hence the link.

Crimson Dark: A panel in progress
A fascinating insight into how this fantastic comic is created.

Top 5 most dangerous roads of the world
“The Road of Death!”
They are impressive to say the least, but why would you ever use them?

Washington’s Farewell Address Translated into Everyday Speech
Worth a read. Easily understood.

Not Just Coding
“[T]wo skills are critical to the success of a software engineer:
1.Plays well with others.
2.Communicates effectively.
These are exactly the two skills that the [NYT] thinks we poor programmers don’t have… This is why, for tonight… I hate them.”

Panda Explosion!
So very, very cute. It’s like the panda switch got jammed in the ‘on’ position.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter K and the number 3.

Thanks to Shamus Young I’ve recently been (re)introduced to the concept of ‘mash-ups’.

The idea of a mash-up is to take several songs and smoosh them together into a new and different musical work. It sounds messy (and can well be), but when done well, the final product can be well in advance of the sum of its parts.

Shamus links to the Best of Bootie 2006 (language warning), a downloadable album of mash-ups that show off the capabilities of some of the more celebrated mash-up artists (mashers?).

Tracks 2,3 and 12, Black Sabotage (Beastie Boys vs. Led Zeppelin), Tricky Sandman (Run-DMC vs. Metallica) and Beethoven’s Fifth Gold Digger (Kanye West vs. Beethoven vs. Walter Murphy) are my favourites on that album. Not what I was expecting, but they turned out awesome.

The 2005 album also has a winner with Sgt. Pepper’s Paradise (Beatles vs. Guns N’ Roses). Guitar solos rocking behind a Beatles classic just can’t be beat.

On your way out, check out Norwegian Recycling - How Six Songs Collide:

EDIT: Wordpress is being stupid and not showing the video here - you can watch it on Shamus’ site while I fix this up.

[kml_flashembed movie=”http://vid.adbrite.com/video/abplayer.swf” fvars=”vid=1872″ height=”400″ width=”468″ allowScriptAccess=”sameDomain”/]

EDIT  (AGAIN): Looks like the video is down too… sorry folks, you’ll just have to take my word for it that it was awesome.

RodeoClown: Hawkeye.

Etienne Deleflie has created a surround sound format that provides true three-dimensional sound (including height, something that normal surround sound doesn’t provide). As of this Friday, he will no longer sit at the desk opposite me, but will attempt to make a living by giving stuff away.

He has written two posts explaining why someone might want to purchase a CD of these ambisonic recordings, when they can download the contents for free (legally).

There is a growing trend to provide free goods and services and to make money from things secondary to the main business. Craig points to a rant by the retiring Science Fiction Writers Association president, blasting “web scabs” who publish content for free on the web and who are eroding the efforts of old-school writers who continue to sell in the traditional manner - ie, not giving their work away for free.

What must hurt them even more is that the current number one science fiction book on Amazon was made available 5 weeks before hand as a freely downloadable file.

John Piper gives away all his books for free - and still sees big sales of the dead-tree manifestations of the same works.

Often, as in the case of webcomics, the artist makes money from the sale of secondary items, posters, prints, clothing etc, and not from the comic itself.

I think that this trend can only continue to gain ground. Copying digital files loses nothing in the transfer process, and as fast as media companies can lock their content up, it will be unlocked and distributed on the web. When there is so much content around, having to pay before finding out whether I actually want to purchase something makes me far more likely to just look for something else that I can try first.

I’m currently listening to a CD my sister owns, and I’ll more than likely buy it myself - partly to support the artists, and partly because I want a copy of my very own. There’s something satisfying about exchanging money for a real, physical object. I like having CDs around (it also means that once I’ve ripped them to my PC, I have a backup around should I need it).

I would appear that free distribution has the potential to work wonders for media producers, and there is a good chance more people will want to fork out for someone who has given them something for free.

Also - go check out Ambisonia, especially if you have a surround sound system and are interested in good, free, sound.

What do you think about giving stuff away to promote sales?

RodeoClown: Trying, then buying.

A friend of mine (who happens to have a truly awesome name) worked at Disney for the better part of 20 years. When they decided to shut down all their two-dimensional animation studios, he found himself without a job.

So Ian (told you he had a great name) did what any lead animator in the same situation would do - started his own studio and set about seeking funds to create an animated series aimed at 9-12 year old boys.

The studio is located in Western Sydney and Ian and his crew are looking for $3,000,000 in funding to produce (initially) 13 episodes of Real Heroes. The show is taking Bible stories and putting them in a context that not-quite-teenage boys will respond to, with humour and modern themes. It’s not just Bible-bashing though - the stories also relate to common situations that these kids find themselves in.

You can purchase shares in Moving Word Pictures (click on the logo to visit the site, where you can find a prospectus and samples of the animation style they are aiming for). The Heroes project has received certification as an Australian Film, and there are tax deductions available for investors (although you’ll need to check those out for yourself).

The initial offer closes on May 31st, so if you are interested in investing in the company, you’ll need to apply before then. There are contact details at the site too, where you can contact Ian and his cohorts for more information.

Ian is a top bloke, I think he has a great idea for a show, and the animation looks great. Check out the site and the samples therein.

RodeoClown: not a financial advisor.

The iMonk posted a great essay. Go read it.

Newsflash: The gospel is Jesus, it is not making people moral or having a great life in the here and now.

Well worth the listen.

UPDATE: You can hear a (short) sample of it here.

Lost The Plot
Newsboys

When you’re coming back again
would you bring me something from the fridge?
Heard the rumor that the end is near
but I just got comfortable here.

RodeoClown: plotting

Matthias Media Couldn’t Help Noticing: Marriage seminar III
“Should we feel free to interrupt the one we are married to because we think we know what they will say?”
I am guilty of this sin, and I’m a hypocrite. I’m sorry Jen.

Man hugs
An introductory video. I can only point out one mistake, there must only ever be three pats, no more, no less. I’m. Not. Gay.

Matthias Media Couldn’t Help Noticing: Marriage seminar I
“Gottman is convinced that he can predict with 96% accuracy the way in which a conversation is going to end up just by listening to the first three minutes of interaction.”
Wise words from Gordon. Sorry Jen.

The Problem with the Bank of Mom and Dad (from Get Rich Slowly)
“[R]esearch indicates that ?the more dollars adult children receive, the fewer they accumulate, while those who are given fewer dollars accumulate more?”.
Think about what you give your kids.

As a Writer, You’d Think He’d Choose His Words More Carefully
Shooting yourself in the foot at an airport. But not literally.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter N and the number 3.

OK, this might be a little more interesting for the rest of you

Learn more about Scott.

RodeoClown: My name is… Ian.

Looking for a great new read?
Something sci-fi, but without the cheese?

Go read Crimson Dark.

It looks great, reads great, and is even made by a passing acquaintance of mine (which I didn’t realise until I had been reading the comic for a while).

The story is really starting to pick up now (it’s up to chapter four), but it makes the most sense if you start from the beginning. It’s got a bit of a Firefly feel to it, which makes it worthy of reading by itself, but add pretty explosions, witty banter, and a willingness to treat the readers as real human beings with real human brains makes it a real treat.

Do yourself (and David) a favour, and go read it.

RodeoClown: I mean it! Go read it! (Anybody want a peanut?)

[kml_flashembed movie=”http://youtube.com/v/dyl20G_GSzU” height=”350″ width=”425″ /]

Cure adultitis.

RodeoClown: What are chinos?

Will It Blend? - The iPhone
Will it or won’t it?
You’ll have to see for yourself!

The Leaky Brain - Transformers CosPlay?
Awesome costumes.
Optimus is the best.

These Infinite Spaces: Dawkins Demolished
One of these days I might get around to reading Dawkins’ book. He sure seems like a nice enough chap…

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter J and the number 1.

Sam and Soph have followed my lead, and are running through the 40 day Adultitis escape plan.

Sam has been whining on Facebook that no-one has linked to their latest video (he’s acting like a child already!) showing the artist within being outed. In order to appease him, please, follow this link. Recording the outcomes of their daily escapism is a great idea.

They also write lots of other great stuff, and for that reason you should read their archives and subscribe to their RSS feed.

That link again: this link.

RodeoClown: fellow artist.

Go look at the Change Blindness Demonstration at the USD Internet Psychology Labs.

Tell me how long it takes you to spot the difference in each of the images (any comments with what the changes are will be deleted).

RodeoClown: too long.

It’s September 19th, which is International Talk Like a Pirate Day.

Your two (2) tasks for today:

1) Learn to talk like a pirate.
2) Talk like a pirate (duh!)

RodeoClown: hooked on pirates.

Video Games as Useful Teaching Tools
Playing action-oriented video games have a long-term effect on spatial acuity (picking stuff out quickly). And the effect on women is larger than on men. Yay for video games!

Friday Reflections: Tell me how you’ll measure me - and I’ll tell you how I’ll behave …
This is why performance-based pay for teachers is a bad, bad idea.

Adult Stem Cells v. Embryonic Stem Cells
Makes you wonder why people are pushing so hard to kill babies for ’science’, doesn’t it?

Video Games Ruined My Life
Good thing I have two extra lives.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter E and the number 4.

I told Dave that I’d post a list of add-ons I use with Firefox.

That was about ten months ago, so I figured it was probably time to write the list. If you don’t use Firefox (and you really should), then expect this to mean even less to you than my normal drivel :). If you do use Firefox, consider any add-ons on this list to come stamped with my approval.

The List*

Tiny Menu - shrinks the menubar into one or two top-level menus. I use this and then put all the other buttons on the menubar too.

Restart Firefox - adds a button/menu item allowing you to restart firefox with a single click. I use it a fair bit when firefox gets all bogged down.

Flashblock - blocks all Flash movies until you give the go-ahead to download them. This is handy in preventing ads popping up all over your screen too.

ScribeFire - a blog editor that I am using right now to write this entry up. Lets you save drafts locally as well as posting to different blogs etc. Handy.

Duplicate Tab - duplicates tabs. Duh!

BugMeNot - accesses (non-paid) websites with a shared username/password. Helps prevent loads of advertising and assists in privacy.

English (Australian) Dictionary - gives little squigglies under misspelled words, but not under words like ‘colour’ and ‘favourite’.

SubmitToTab - submit forms to new tabs.

del.icio.us - I use the del.icio.us plugin to quickly mark interesting sites, that I then post to my blog every now and again.

Adblock Plus - blocks ads.

Nuke Anything Enhanced - right click on stuff and remove it from the page. I normally use this to pull ads or pictures out of articles I want to read.

OpenBook - customises the ‘Add Bookmark’ dialog, I use this to add the keyword field to the pop-up, so I can get back to sites really quickly.

Screen grab! - takes a screen shot of a web page, scrolling automatically so you get an image of the entire page. This was made by my buddy Andy, who I used to sit next to at work.

Fasterfox - performance/network tweaks for Firefox. Can’t say I’ve seen much difference, but it could well be helping, so I leave it there.

Popup ALT Attribute - Firefox doesn’t show ALT tags by default (because you should be using TITLE tags instead). But most sites use alt tags still, and lots of my favourite webcomics have extra jokes in there, so this is a must for me.

Download Statusbar - adds a little status bar for managing downloads. Really neat.

FireBug - the most useful web development application I’ve ever used. It has a stylesheet editor/viewer, a javascript debugger and allows you to edit anything on the page on-the-fly. If you do any web development, get this tool.

Colorful Tabs - makes each tab a different pastel colour. Helps me keep track of what tabs I have open and where they are (I often have over 20/30 tabs open at once).

IE Tab - allows you to open tabs as Internet Explorer. Handy for those sites that expect you to use IE when you don’t want to.

TabGroups - adds groups of tabs, so I can have several groups, one for work, one for stuff to read on the train and so on.

BlockSite - (I don’t have a URL for this one, just do a search for it) I use this to block youTube, so I don’t do anything stupid like looking at not-quite-nude girls dancing to pathetic music.

Autohide - options for running firefox in maximised mode (F11). Adds a bit more screen real-estate. Nice for my little-screened laptop.

*This list is probably not complete. I use lots of add-ons, and I add and remove them from time to time.

RodeoClown: foxy.

I haven’t forgotten you.
I’ll be back soon enough.

For now, enjoy this lol(big)cat.

-RodeoClown: lol-ing.

It’s Dave’s birthday today, so why don’t you visit his blog and leave him a birthday message!

RodeoClown: hip hip hooray!

Watch Andy McKee.

RodeoClown: that is all.

Tesla coil super mario duet
The Mario theme. Played with lightning as the instrument.

Steampunk Laptop
Do want.

Del.icio.us links brought to you today by the letter O and the number 0.

Anything else you see today can’t touch this. MC Hammer blog.

RodeoClown: happy pants.

One thousand, three hundred and sixty days ago we had Matthias, six hundred and fifty five days ago we had Jesse, and in thirty-five days we are due for number three. My life plans lie in tatters on that labour ward floor, cleaned up nearly four years ago.

And you know what… I don’t care.

Follow the link and then click on the song title to get the mp3.

You Ruined Everything - Jonathan Coulton

RodeoClown: wouldn’t change a thing.

Stuff Christians Like.

RodeoClown: likes this.

Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails) writes a song.
Johnny Cash covers it.
Reznor says “I haven’t listened to my version since then.”

Cash’s version is pretty awesome. I think it’s the video that makes it.
By changing the tone just a little, he turns it from a song about heroin addiction to a song about the whole of life.

It’s a little depressing. But that’s not a bad thing.

RodeoClown: also hurt. But different.