Old Printers, Scanners and Hard Drives Used to Perform Radiohead's 'Nude'

Most people just create amusing videos to fit their favorite songs, but James Houston went one step further and synchronized a bunch of obsolete gadget noises to recreate Radiohead's "Nude." A Sinclair ZX Spectrum 8-bit PC was used for rhythm and lead guitars, an HP Scanjet 3c was used for bass guitar, an Epson LX-81 Dot Matrix Printer was used for drums, and an array of hard drives were used as bad speakers to distort and reproduce vocals and effects.
This song came about as a call for remixes by Radiohead for "Nude." Houston notes that most of the entries were lame, and he wanted to do something a little different that fit in the theme/alternate song title offered (Bad Ideas: Don't Get Any). And he also came up with this video, which has an awesome retro, Daft Punk-ish Human After All vibe.
It's entirely possible this was all made on a computer or keyboard, but I'll take it in good faith it was made as the creator claims. And I'd say this isn't just a little different, it's way different and damn spectacular. [Youtube] (Thanks, John )

http://gizmodo.com/5013705/old-printers-scanners-and-hard-drives-used-to-perform-radioheads-nude

Gmail Gets 13 Experimental New Features Tonight

An interesting article:

Gmail Gets 13 Experimental New Features Tonight

Note: This was originally posted on Thursday evening, June 5th. Several users already have these features enabled in their account.
Starting at 6PM Pacific Time tonight, Google will start rolling out Gmail Labs, an experimental area of new Gmail features that will be familiar and very welcome to users of the Better Gmail Firefox extension. Once your Gmail account is Labs-enabled, you'll get a Labs tab in the Settings area of your account where you can enable 13 new experimental Gmail features, including signature tweaks, mouse gestures, keyboard shortcuts, and even a game. After the jump, get an exclusive sneak preview at the new Gmail Labs experimental features, with screenshots.
First, let's get right to the good stuff. Take a gander at the 13 new experimental features Gmail Labs adds:



Better Gmail and Better Gmail 2 users will be familiar (and hopefully very happy) with Fixed Font, Signature Tweaks, Custom Keyboard Shortcuts, and Hide Unread Counts. Google says it will start its user rollout in about an hour or so, which will continue over a span of the next few days or weeks. I've just gotten my account enabled here at the Google campus, so as I play with each feature, I'll add more screenshots to this post.
Update: Here are some more details and screenshots of the Gmail Labs features in action.

Superstars

Now you can flag, star, and otherwise mark messages using up to 12 different colored and shaped icons. When you enable Superstars, you get a new section in the General settings area, which looks like this.

Click on the star button on a message repeatedly to cycle through all the Superstar choices. Looks like Superstars is more a visual indicator than anything; you can't search by all the messages superstarred the check, for example.

Quick Links

Basically a souped-up version of the Gmail Saved Searches Greasemonkey user script, Quick Links adds a module to the Gmail sidebar where you can store links to searches, views, and even individual messages. Go to the view you want—like all messages that have PDF file attachments using the has:attachment PDF Gmail search—then click "Add Quick Link" to save what's essentially a Gmail view or message bookmark there.

Email Addict

The Email Addict feature adds a "Take a Break" link to the top of your Gmail inbox, that looks like this:

When you click it, you get 14 minutes off from dealing with email:

Snakey

Ok people, Snakey is a straight-up time-waster, meant to give you something to do while you're procrastinating responding to email. The Snakey developer told me that he originally put it together for users to play while they waited for their inbox to load, but then thought it would be better to not make users wait at all—and give them the choice to play. As you can see from the screenshot, I suck (my high score is only 30 after 3 games!) and I hear that it's not easy to break 150 (but I'm sure you will try.)

Custom Keyboard Shortcuts

Just as you'd expect from the name, the custom keyboard shortcuts feature lets you map Gmail actions to the keys of your choice. While this isn't quite as cool as Gmail Macros, it's nice for folks who want to archive their messages via keyboard, but have something against the Y key (for example.) Click on the thumbnail on the right to pop up the full list of available key mappings and actions.

Random Signature

Add a random quote to your email pulled from an RSS feed by enabling Random Signature. By default, Random Signature uses a feed from BrainyQuote.com, but you can set it to the feed of your choice in the signature settings.

---

The Gmail team announced the new Gmail Labs at a press event at the Googleplex today which I attended with several other tech bloggers and reporters. After the announcement, Keith Coleman (the Gmail product manager who we interviewed a few months back), took us on a tour of the Gmail "pod" or workspace.
The best part? On a whiteboard where developers got to brainstorm feature ideas, they had taped a printout of Lifehacker readers' Gmail features wishlist. Not kidding. Click on the thumbnail to check it out. When I get home tonight, I will post photographic evidence.

You can read more about the press event with the Gmail team at the Googleplex today over at Techcrunch.
Update: Google's put up the Gmail Labs Help page, which links to the Gmail Labs Google Group.

http://lifehacker.com/395211/gmail-gets-13-experimental-new-features-tonight

Five Reasons Why Aliens Will Make Contact with the Japanese First

A great article:

"Five Reasons Why Aliens Will Make Contact with the Japanese First

Welcome back to MangoBot, a biweekly column about Asian futurism by TokyoMango blogger Lisa Katayama. I've been thinking about extraterrestrials a lot this week. Do they exist? How will we know? Who will they call if they decide to make contact with us, and through what medium? First off, nobody knows if extraterrestrials really exist. Organizations like SETI are banking on the high possibility that they do, but to date there is no concrete evidence to prove or disprove this. For the purposes of contemplation, though, let's just assume they do. If aliens decide to make contact with Earthlings, they'll probably want to contact the Japanese using prime numbers and laser pulses. Call me biased (I was born and raised in Japan), but I think there is a really good possibility that this will be the case (and so does the guy who writes alien messages for SETI). And I don't just think this because I spent my childhood watching reenactments of UFO sightings on Japanese TV while eating fried noodles out of a giant UFO-shaped bowl aptly named "UFO Yakisoba."

Here are five reasons why aliens might reach out to humankind via the islands of Japan first:
1. The Japanese are ready to greet them. Part of Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba's national security strategy includes musings about how we'd respond to an alien attack under a pacifist constitution. Late last year, he told the press:

If they descended, saying 'People on Earth, let's make friends,' it would not be considered an unjust attack on our country. And there is another issue of how can we convey our intentions if we don't understand what they are saying. We should consider various possibilities.

Chief Cabinet Secretary Nobutaka Machimura has also stated his firm belief that extraterrestrials do exist. The Japanese government has detailed official guidelines on what to do if we do indeed come in contact with extraterrestrials.

You could make the counterargument that the Japanese government's heightened fear of alien attacks may deter extraterrestrials from landing there, I actually think that aliens will feel more at ease knowing that the Japanese are at least aware of and ready for their arrival. What's the fun in arriving at a party where nobody knows who you are?
2. We emailed them. In 1983, Japanese astronomers sent a radio message to Altair—a solar system 16 light years away—with 13 binary-encoded images 71 by 71 pixels each showing some basic facts about us, like where our planet is located, what humans look like, the structure of DNA, and the basic chemistry of life on earth. If someone on Altair had received this message, then we can expect a reply as early as 2015.

"When constructing a message to extraterrestrials, it's important that we make it a message that represents the diversity of human cultures," says Douglas Vakoch, Director of Interstellar Message Composition at SETI. "It makes sense to start with science because ET doesn't speak English or Japanese or Swahili, but I'm going to be very disappointed if the only thing we hear from ET is that 2+2=4. I want to know what they think is important in their world."

Messages sent to aliens—including the 1983 Japanese one—are written in prime numbers because it's a concept that intelligent species universally understand. A similar message was sent in 1974 from the world's largest radio telescope in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, but this one was sent to a cluster of stars 25,000 light years away. We won't be hearing back from those aliens for a while. But the Altair-bound message holds promise to return within our lifetimes.
3. Japan has one of the only observatories that is actively seeking optical frequencies from outer space. Most observatories search only for radio frequencies. Even after Nobel Prize-winning physicist Charles Townes suggested looking for brief laser pulses for alien detection in the sixties, people ruled it out because it was too expensive and energy-consuming. Nishiharima is the only place that's currently scanning the skies for nanosecond-level pulses in the air waves. "I think it's very reasonable that the first detection of life beyond earth could happen in Japan," says Vakoch. "Brief pulses are like morse code. You can send an enormous amount of information very quickly. If someone could text message ET, it'll be Nishiharima. That assumes, of course, that we can decode what they were trying to say."

4. Japan will soon have AIs that match alien intelligence. Aliens are supposedly infinitely more advanced and brainy than humans are, so the most likely scenario is that, when they get here, they'll want to talk to AIs. Since the Japanese have already figured out how to navigate virtual worlds with brain power and have robots assisting humans in everyday life, it would surprise nobody if aliens showed up there first.
5. North Korea knows things the rest of us don't. North Korea is rumored to have recently released a statement claiming that their nuclear reactor has the dual capability of communicating wirelessly with alien species up to 1,000 light years away in real time. Of course, we can't believe everything that the North Korean government says, but seriously, I wouldn't be surprised at all if they were already communicating with other planets. If that's the case, it should be relatively easy for Japan, a neighboring country, to intercept their signals with laser pulses and let the world know definitively what Kim Jong Il has known for decades—that there is life beyond Earth.

Images: LabyrinthX via Flickr, Darren Hester via Flickr, Sankei, and Nishiharima Astronomical Observatory"
http://io9.com/5013724/five-reasons-why-aliens-will-make-contact-with-the-japanese-first

Bill Clinton's Facebook

itics, hillary clinton, bill clinton

LOL well done Bill!

"Bill Clinton updates Facebook profile to say "It's complicated" with Hillary
Minutes after New York Senator Hillary Clinton sent an email to her supporters ending her campaign, President Clinton changed his Facebook profile relationship status from "Married" to "It's Complicated." He also added that he was now looking for "friendship," "dating," and "a relationship." We're guessing Bill Clinton doesn't actually update his own Facebook page and that the changes were more likely a frustrated campaign supporter's way of venting. Not that Hillary Clinton's campaign figured out as much. Asked by a reporter about the change, campaign spokesman Howard Wolfson answered: "What can I tell you? It's complicated.""
http://valleywag.com/5013858/bill-clinton-updates-facebook-profile-to-say-its-complicated-with-hillary

PostSecret Without The Work

A great new blog that has come out based on PostSecret.

"PostSecret Without The Work

There's a new blog to send your secret worries about the world to. It's called i am neurotic., obeying the second rule of starting a blog just to get a book deal: Explain the entire blog in the title, as with "Stuff White People Like" and "Postcards From Yo Momma." But "i am neurotic." has an advantage: It's been done before.

For years, people have sent decorated postcards with secret confessions on them, and PostSecret has published them. The blog is practically unassailable because it's so overtly emotional: Who's going to criticize a collection of personal confessions about drug addiction, grief over death, and private fears? (I will: After about thirty postcards, everyone's secrets sound the same.) Frank Warren has published four full-color books of this stuff.

So you've already got a well-respected blog doing what you wanted to do. No problem! For every person who sends a postcard, ten others have a confession but don't want to do the work to send it. Now here comes a site where they can just tap it into a text box. It's an instant content machine! I bet you know one you could type now! Here are some recent entries:

Poop Protocol

I cannot poop if my shirt is all the way on. I have to put one arm out of my sleeve, and put that side of my shirt on my shoulder. I also find it hard to poop with my shoes on, and will take them off if I'm at home. If I'm out and about I will suffer through the shoe thing, but not the shirt.

Floss Sniffer

i have the need to smell the dental floss each time i pull it out from between my teeth. sometimes when other people are around, i have to turn my back in case they catch me sniffing the floss, because i can't just floss without sniffing.

Even Distribution

When eating any food I have to distribute the different parts evenly so that every bite has the same amount of each. E.g. When I eat pizza I tear the crust off first and eat a little bit of the crust with every bite of the interior.

So now everyone with a neurosis can send it here. Okay, we solved the problem of neurosis, everyone! NEXT!"

http://gawker.com/tag/great-ideas/?i=395213&t=postsecret-without-the-work

Thought of the Day

I doubt Justin Timberlake &; Madonna could save the world in 4 minutes... but good for them for thinking so.

Frozen in NY

This is a prank on a 'grand' scale. Over 200 people gathered at Grand Central Station in New York to pull off a 'frozen in place' act. The onlooking travelers who weren't part of the act were mystified as to what was going on.Click on link below
Click Here: Check out 'Frozen in Grand Central Station - Video'

http://www.maniacworld.com/frozen-in-grand-central-station.html

McSweeney's List of the Day

"Reasons Why Your Retired Derby-Winning Stallion Isn't Siring.
06/04/08

BY MARCO KAYE

- - - -

Potential mare shampooed with Herbal Essences instead of Mane 'n Tail.

Lack of selectively lit barns with low-priced drinks leading to spontaneous neighs and whinnies in a herd situation.

Older, experienced mare turned out to be a cougar.

Stallion wants to use a proper riding crop during intercourse, while mare prefers a dressage whip.

Breeding shed not candlelit or properly scented.

Spooked from piñata incident.

Stud fee makes him feel cheap and used.

Mare's tail is giving mixed messages.

Monetary stress due to betting on horses with cool names.

Just realized all horses have teeth like that.

He's fallen in love with the barn cat."

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/lists/4MarcoKaye.html

Typical Christian Music

This is a great article form Christianitytoday.com

"In Search of Atypical
Some astute readers have noticed that we've been throwing around the term "typical CCM" in a few of our recent reviews, and e-mailed us asking what we mean by that. Well, simply put, it means that a lot of today's Christian pop/rock sounds the same. Obviously the typical CCM sound today is different than that of the '80s, or even the '90s. But if I told you that something closely resembles the sound that currently dominates Christian radio, you'd probably have some idea of what we mean by typical.

"Corporate rock" is a label that was bandied around a lot in magazines and interviews back in the '70s and '80s. It's a term that I've gradually come to understand as I've grown older (and hopefully wiser). Though I don't see that phrase used as much today, I think the distinction is as applicable as ever. Basically, it refers to music made by a marketing plan rather than a spirit of creativity. Instead of self-expression or artistry, corporate rock is based on trends and shaped to model what has worked before.

Some would argue that all pop music is crafted from a corporate mindset. I disagree. Good pop music stands out through strong songwriting and a memorable performance. Corporate pop/rock often shapes the songwriting and performance to fit a format. It was a big revelation to me, 10 to 15 years ago, when I learned that different remixes of radio singles are shopped to varying radio formats—different than what you'd hear in the album version available in stores.

Not that all corporate rock/pop is bad. Bands like Foreigner and Journey were described as such back in the day, but today people have fond memories of their polished production and hook-filled melodies. It was the abundance of bands just like Foreigner and Journey that revealed a typical/corporate sound. Today it's the same when we hear an abundance of artists resembling U2, MercyMe, Coldplay, and Chris Tomlin—all were comparably original or unique when they hit the scene, but since then a lot of others have mimicked their sound.

How then would you define atypical CCM? Ask yourself, what is it that makes an artist stand out? What makes their sound distinct? How are they unique?

Everyone would probably answer those questions a little differently, but I believe they're essential for getting at the root of what you like personally. And they're certainly applicable to this week's new album reviews.

Richie McDonald left the multi-platinum country group Lonestar last year to spend more time with his family and pursue a solo career that more openly shares his faith. But instead of taking a relatively different approach with inspirational country, he's crafted an inspirational pop album that closely resembles Mark Harris and NewSong. And though the lyrics are encouraging and well-intentioned, they're a rather formulaic expression of faith.

By comparison, Brooke Fraser's solo debut truly stands out. Fraser is one of the lead singers and songwriters for Hillsong United. But instead of releasing another worship album, her Albertine album clearly expresses her faith in a personal way that's more understated than her work with Hillsong. Stylistically, she's similar to Sarah McLachlan and Nichole Nordeman, but she makes it her own through her songwriting and impressive vocals.

The difference between these albums showcases the difference between delivering a nuanced record and following a pattern. As with Albertine, you can hear similar uniqueness in the retro-gospel/soul debut from The Murrills, a family of singers presented by Donald Lawrence. There's also some distinctiveness to B. Reith, a rapper from Milwaukee blending soul with hip-hop. If you want to play music critic or A&R executive yourself, try the new Underground Sound album, a collection similar to WOW that compiles 15 of the best independent Christian artists—you'll find some sound more typical than others, just like Christian music in general.

In addition, don't miss our new interview with veteran worship leader Tommy Walker, who has some interesting things to say about reflecting your church through the music, and why modern worship has been a bit of a Catch-22, musically speaking. Also check out our latest installment in the "What's in a Label?" series, featuring Gotee Records. And be sure to read this week's Scoop news round-up for the latest on Steven Curtis Chapman's family, as well as some tragic news regarding Nicol Sponberg (formerly of Selah).

God bless your week,

Russ Breimeier
ChristianityToday.com"

http://www.christianitytoday.com/music/

BBQ Basics

Here's a great article worth reading:

"BBQ basics and gifts for Dad

Did you know that barbecues made in Canada usually have a higher BTU rating than barbecues made in the United States? It’s our colder climate and penchant for winter barbecuing that requires a more powerful flame!

With Father’s Day right around the corner, you’re going to need your grill in top shape. Here are three tips to keep your barbecue hot and powerful all season long:

1. Spring tune-up: Taking the time for a good cleaning inside and out before each cooking season keeps your barbecue looking and cooking like new. While you’re at it, splurge on a new barbecue brush!
2. Ban the insects: Insect nests are the No. 1 cause of gas barbecue fires; clean your venturi tubes at least once a year.
3. Heat up your grill: Setting the burners on high for at least 10 minutes and preheating your grills keeps your cooking surface sanitary, keeps the meat from sticking to the grates and sears the meat to give it nice grill marks, too.

Need a gift for Dad? Our 8 Essential Barbecue Tools will fill your head with ideas, and includes handy Canadian links for online shopping.

Don’t know what to cook? Our Dinner for Dad Barbecue Menu will point you in the right direction. Or try our easy Butterflied Mustard Garlic Pork with Barbecued Mini-Potatoes, featured in the image above.

Nothing left to do but pick up Dad’s favourite brew. Check out our stubby beer gallery for a lark, hand him his new tools and set him off to barbecue.

Yours Sincerely,
Christine Picheca, Online Food Editor"

http://www.canadianliving.com

Emily the Strange Film

YAY


"Emily the Strange Press Release
June 3, 2008

Dark Horse Comics Mike Richardson to Produce

EMILY STRANGE FILM BREAKING NEWS
Printable version of this press release


Berkeley, CA – June 3, 2008: Counterculture icon Emily the Strange will soon star in a long-anticipated feature film, and Dark Horse Entertainment President Mike Richardson has signed on as the film’s producer. Richardson is the producer behind a number of blockbuster films, such as Hellboy II: The Golden Army, which opens on July 11, 2008, as well as Hellboy, 30 Days of Night, The Mask, Mystery Men, and other action and sci-fi hits.



Created by California-based artist Rob Reger, Emily the Strange has become an internationally beloved symbol, showing us all that doing your own thing is cool. Admired by legions of fans for more than 15 years, she now graces the pages of the world’s top fashion magazines, and has her own clothing, accessory and toy lines. Designers including Valentino, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Chanel, and Marc Jacobs pay tribute with Emily-inspired creations. She is a leader, a rocker, a dreamer, and a link to the stranger in us all.



Emily the Strange’s connection with Richardson comes from her Dark Horse Comic Book lines. The first series of four comic books launched in 2005, with Emily the Strange #1: Chairman of the Bored as the premier issue. A new Emily Dark Horse series began in 2007, starting with the Death Becomes Her issue.



Richardson said, "I'm very excited about working with Rob and helping Emily (the Strange) make a successful transition from the page to the big screen. We've already begun discussing direction for the project and I look forward to finding a good home for one of my favorite characters."



Reger said, “I am thrilled and honored to be working with Mike. He’s Hollywood’s expert for turning comic book creativity into motion picture magic. Emily fans and newbies alike are certain to enjoy what Mike and I are developing.”



ABOUT EMILY THE STRANGE
Created by Rob Reger and his company Cosmic Debris in 1993, Emily the Strange has become an internationally known icon for individualism, female empowerment, and do-it-yourself style. Born from the San Francisco graphic arts community, Emily graces a full, rock-influenced fashion clothing and accessory line, including everything from T-shirts, dresses, and underwear, to toys, guitars, and school supplies. She is the featured character in a series of comic books from Dark Horse Comics, four hardbound Chronicle Books, and an upcoming series of young adult novels from HarperCollins Publishing.

For further inquiries contact on Emily the Strange:
Jill Beaverson: jill [at] cosmicdebris [dot] com
or 510-845-3645 x220"
www.emilystrange.com

Jack-Off Sculpture Sells For $15 Million

Takashi Murakami, the artist known in part for his work on Louis Vuitton handbags, just saw his sculpture of a nude anime-looking dude ejaculating (left) sell for $15 million at auction. As we reported previously, it had only been expected to fetch up to $4 million. The winning bid was submitted to Sotheby's by telephone, probably because no one likes to buy this sort of thing in person, even if it's at a classy art auction. Especially if it's at a classy art auction. Click the pic for a larger image. [Times]
http://gawker.com/5009114/jack+off-sculpture-sells-for-15-million

AccuRadio won the Webby Awards!!!

A copy of my e-mail from AccuRadio 

Dear AccuRadio listener,
.
We're thrilled -- and humbled -- to announce that AccuRadio's AccuTunes was voted the 2008 Webby Awards "People's Voice" Award winner! Thousands of Internet radio listeners cast their votes for webcasters from a field that included the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, Virgin and the BBC. And because of the support of listeners like you, AccuRadio came out on top.

We're honored by the award, and we're more inspired than ever to continue to improve AccuRadio and your listening experience. Which brings us to...

New AccuRadio feature: Build Your Own with subchannels!
Some time ago we introduced a feature called "Build Your Own Channel." Simply put, it's a way to create a personalized mix of your favorite music by combining two or more AccuRadio channels. While feedback on "Build Your Own" was positive, lots of listeners told us they wanted a more powerful system that allowed them to combine their favorite subchannels into a mix.

We got to work, and we're happy to announce the brand new "Build Your Own AccuRadio" is available for beta testing. Click here (or visit AccuRadio.com and click the "Let me try the new version with subchannels" segment of the Build Your Own image) and simply choose your favorite AccuRadio channels AND subchannels (like "Simply Sondheim" from AccuBroadway, "Motown" from "Hey, Hey We're the Sixties" and "The Magic Sunny 80s & 90s" from "Magic Sunny Lite Mix"). Hit the "Launch channel" button, and go!

We invite you to spend some time with it, and please let us know what you think, or if you encounter any problems (there's a feedback form in the player which appears when you click "Launch channel.")

http://www.accuradio.com/

cat painting?

Longcat

How long is longcat? Longcat is long!!!

Home Remedies for Warts

This is an interesting article on removing warts:

"Perhaps, the most popular home remedy used to remove warts involves duct tape.

It has been said; in fact, it has also been backed by scientific research, that duct tape is effective at removing or eliminating warts. If you are interested in giving this home remedy a try.

The duct tape wart removal method was reported in the Archives of pediatrics & Adolescent medicine the October 2002 issue.

The method is as follows: One cuts a small piece of duct tape just big enough to cover the wart. You then leave it on for five or six days.

After keeping the warts covered, for about a week, you will want to remove the tape, soak your wart in water, and then scrub it with a pumice stone. If your wart does not come off right away, you are advised to repeat the procedure again, for at least another one to two weeks.

Aloe Vera for removing Warts

It has also been said that aloe vera is effective at eliminating warts. You are advised to soak a small cotton ball in aloe, preferably the gel. After the soaking has occurred, for around about a minute or so, you will want to tape the cotton ball to your wart.

You will want to add aloe vera to the wart or piece of cotton every few hours. By leaving the cotton ball in place, with the exception of changing it daily, your wart should fall off in a few days or weeks.

Tea tree oil

Essential oil of tea tree is a powerful antiseptic which kills most bacteria and thus is an extremely potent method of wart removal. This method is also very popular due to its very high rate of success. Just apply essential tea tree oil directly on the wart daily until it disappears. This method should not take too many applications due to its effectiveness.

Echinacea pills

The taking of Echinacea pills will assist the healing of mild skin infections thus also making it a great help for warts. Take one or two pills a day as prescribed on the bottle.

Echinacea was highly used by Native American Indians as a universal remedy for just about everything. By the early 1900's it was the most popular herb in medical practice in the USA. Echinacea is still one of the most prescribed herbal products worldwide.

Essential lemon oil

Another common and popular method of wart removal include applying a single drop of essential lemon oil directly on the wart itself. Repeat as necessary until wart is gone.

Caster oil

Apparently, caster oil is also considered an effective wart removal remedy. When using caster oil, you will want to apply the oil to your wart. It is then suggested that you rub or massage the area with your fingers. After doing this day and night for a number of weeks, your wart should disappear.

You could also use caster oil by apply it directly to the wart, twice a day, and by keeping it covered. By keeping the wart covered with a bandage, only to remove it when changing, the wart should disappear after about three weeks.

Banana peel

Rubbing a banana peel on your wart for a few weeks as well is supposed to be a big help. One should rub the banana peel multiple times during the course of the day for maximum effectiveness.

The above mentioned home remedies are just a few of the many that you can find online or in a home remedy book.

Additional remedies include using chalk, dandelion, aspirin, baking soda, papaya, and milkweed. When choosing a home remedy, it is important to keep the ingredients in mind. You will want to refrain from using any items that you may be allergic to. If and when you are in doubt, it may be best to choose another home remedy to use.

It is also important to remember, when using home remedies for wart removal, that the results are not guaranteed. Just because one home remedy worked for someone else, it does not mean that it will also work for you. However, with a wide variety of different home remedies to choose from, you are sure to find at least one successful remedy."

http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/removing-warts.shtml

Quotes of the Day

Boys will be boys, and so will a lot of middle-aged men.
- Kin Hubbard

It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious.
- Oscar Wilde

PMOG

This is a pretty fun passive online game, you install a toolbar and then get points for browsing and going to on link quests suggested by other players.

"The Nethernet (previously known as PMOG, the Passively Multiplayer Online Game) is an online game in which players "passively" participate in while browsing web pages. Players earn data points by taking missions, which they can spend on various game items that could be attached to web pages to trigger events when another player next visited that page.

The site was first developed in 2007."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pmog

Description of PMOG
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyvIBp3mlGQ

Squirtle is a squirrel... O_o!

Yeah this never occurred to me... now I see it, turtle shell, turtle body, turtle face... oh and squirrel tail! LOL

http://www.dltk-kids.com/poKEmon/adoptions/squirtle-p.html

Looking Back

This is from the Looking Back newsletter I subscribe to:

"This is a note written by an anonymous writer that I quite enjoyed and wanted to share with you... (not that I'm over 40, but I still thought it had a lot of truths in it.)

"People over 40 should be dead according to today's regulators and bureaucrats; those of us who were kids in the 1940s, 1950s or 1960s probably shouldn't have survived.

Our baby cribs were covered with bright-colored lead-based paint. We had no childproof lids on medicine bottles, doors or cabinets, and when we rode our bikes, we had no helmets. (Not to mention the risks we took hitchhiking.) As children, we rode in cars with no seat belts or air bags. Riding in the back of a pickup truck on a warm day was always a special treat.

We drank water from the garden hose and not from a bottle. Horrors! We ate cupcakes, bread and butter, and drank soda pop with sugar in it, but we were never overweight because we were always outside playing. We shared one soft drink with four friends, from one bottle -- and no one died from it.

We spent hours building our go-carts out of scraps and then rode down the hill, only to find out we forgot the brakes. After running into the bushes a few times, we learned to solve the problem.

We left home in the morning and played all day, as long as we were back when the streetlights came on. No one was able to reach us all day. No cell phones. Unthinkable!

We did not have PlayStations, Nintendo 64, Xboxes -- no video games at all. There were no 99 channels on cable, videotaped movies, surround sound, personal cell phones, personal computers or Internet chat rooms. We had friends! We went outside and found them.

We played dodgeball, and sometimes the ball really hurt. We fell out of trees, got cut, and broke bones and teeth, and there were no lawsuits from these accidents. They were accidents, and no one was to blame but us. Remember accidents?

We had fights, punched each other, and got black and blue, and learned to get over it.

We made up games with sticks and balls, and ate worms. Although we were told it would happen, we didn't put out very many eyes, nor did the worms live inside us forever.

We rode bikes or walked to a friend's home and knocked on the door or rang the bell, or just walked in and talked to them.

Little League had tryouts and not everyone made the team. Those who didn't had to learn to deal with disappointment.

Some students weren't as smart as others, so they failed a grade and were held back to repeat the same grade. Tests were not adjusted for any reason. Our actions were our own. Consequences were expected.

The idea of a parent bailing us out if we broke the law was unheard of. They actually sided with the law. Imagine that!

This generation has produced some of the best risk-takers, problem solvers and inventors ever. The past 50 years have been an explosion of innovation and new ideas.

We had freedom, failure, success and responsibility, and we learned how to deal with it all. And you're one of them! Congratulations!

Pass this on to others who have had the luck to grow up as kids, before lawyers and government regulated our lives for our own good. Kind of makes you want to run through the house with scissors, huh?""

McSweeney's List of the Day

Selected Minutes From Lolcat City Council Meetings.
05/20/08

BY CHRIS STECK

- - - -

We'z on ur lawn, fynin' ur i sor.

I can haz lodin' zone?

Stait'z in r skoolz, jerrymandrin' r diztrix!

I haz angree at skaytborderz!

We'z in ur biz, surchin' 4 bak taxz.

Y r kidz duso por on standrdiz'd testz? I blaymz skoolz!

Likkr lizenz ... DNI'D!

http://www.mcsweeneys.net/links/lists/20ChrisSteck.html

Tunic Tops

Apparently the name of the shirts I love LOL

Song of the Week

"You May Be Right" - Billy Joel

Friday night I crashed your party
Saturday I said I'm sorry
Sunday came and trashed it out again
I was only having fun
Wasn't hurting anyone
And we all enjoyed the weekend for a change

I've been stranded in the combat zone
I walked through Bedford Stuy alone
Even rode my motorcycle in the rain
And you told me not to drive
But I made it home alive
So you said that only proves that I'm insane

Well, you may be right
I may be crazy
Hey!
But it just might be a lunatic you're looking for
Turn out the light
Don't try to save me
Well you may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right

Remember how I found you there
Alone in your electric chair
I told you dirty jokes until you smiled
You were lonely for a man
I said take me as I am
'Cause you might enjoy some madness for a while

Now think of all the years you tried to
Find someone to satisfy you
I might be as crazy as you say
If I'm crazy then it's true
That it's all because of you
And you wouldn't want me any other way

But you may be right
I may be crazy
Hey!
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
It's too late to fight
It's too late to change me
Well you may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right

Hey!

Well you may be right
I may be crazy
Hey!
But it just may be a lunatic you're looking for
Well turn out the light
I'm gonna watch you take me
Well you may be wrong for all I know
But you may be right

Wrong but you may be right
You may be wrong but you may be right
You may be wrong but you may be right
You may be wrong but you may Hell! be right

Word of the Day

The word for May 30 is Fashionably Late

The refined art of being just late enough (5 minutes or so) to give the impression that you are a busy, popular person that was held up with other business.

She arrived at the party fashionably late.

The Sims 2: List of all games & stuff packs

For your reading pleasure I give you a comprehensive list of all Sims 2 games & stuff packs to date with brief descriptions:

http://thesims2.ea.com/about/index.php

The Sims 2:

Packs

Add new game play, fun, and excitement to your The Sims 2 PC base game with these great Expansion Packs.*

The Sims 2 FreeTimeNow your Sims can rediscover the joys of leisure time! Awaken your Sims' true passions in life as they discover and excel at all-new activities.:: Learn More:: Order Now

The Sims 2 Bon VoyageWhisk your Sims away from their everyday routines and take them on exciting trips to three exotic locations!:: Learn More:: Order Now

The Sims 2 SeasonsHead outdoors for year-round fun with your Sims!:: Learn More:: Pre-order Now
Order Now

The Sims 2 PetsCreate the perfect pet for your Sims to train, play with, and love throughout a lifetime.:: Learn More:: Order Now

The Sims 2 Open For BusinessNow your Sims can create their own businesses.:: Learn More:: Order Now

The Sims 2 NightlifeTake your Sims out on the town for an unforgettable night.:: Learn More:: Order Now

The Sims 2 UniversityImmerse your Sims in college life. Become the Big Sim on campus!:: Learn More:: Order Now

Stuff Packs

Add cool new walls, floors, furniture, and outfits to your The Sims 2 PC base game with these Stuff Packs!*

The Sims 2 IKEA Home StuffGive your Sims' home a makeover with new furniture and décor items based on stylish designs by IKEA! :: Learn More:: Pre-order Soon!

The Sims 2 Kitchen & Bath Interior Design Stuff PackBe your Sims' personal interior designer! Give them the kitchens and bathrooms of their dreams with a variety of new furniture, décor, and outfits! :: Learn More:: Order Now

The Sims 2 Teen Style Stuff PackNow your teen Sims can show some attitude with all-new, unique furniture, decor items, fashions and more with three distinct themes-"Goth," "Thrasher," and "Socialite.":: Learn More:: Order Now

The Sims 2 H&M® Fashion Stuff PackYour Sims can choose from contemporary fashion essentials including flirty short dresses, casual but striking dress shirts, and other head-turning outfits, complete with accessories-all inspired by real H&M® designs.:: Learn More:: Order Now

The Sims 2 Celebration Stuff PackYour Sims can now celebrate in style with this fun collection of furniture, party fashions, and décor items. Host the social events of the season with your Sims!:: Learn More:: Order Now

The Sims 2 Glamour Life Stuff PackYour Sims can now indulge in a glamorous life with this collection of luxurious furniture, fashionable clothing, and extravagant décor items.:: Learn More:: Order Now

The Sims 2 Family Fun Stuff PackLet your Sims' family have fun with this all-new collection of nautical and fantasy furniture, clothing, and décor.:: Learn More:: Order Now

The Sims 2 IKEA Stuff!

Soon there's going to be a new stuff pack for the Sims 2: IKEA stuff!! I'm so excited!!! (Mostly 'cuz half the things I own are from IKEA!) They have the previews up on the website and you can pre-order it, they aren't saying the release date but it's usually within 2 months of when you can pre-order.



Go check it out!
http://thesims2.ea.com/about/sp8_index.php