For the kidnapper on the go

The Ransom Note Generator for anyone too busy for such details.

Via Coudal Partners.

Video game history

This is a complete history of console video games. It's interesting reading some of the behind-the-scenes stuff I was never aware of as a kid.

It's in the details

I can't really do this justice with words. It's artwork created by statistics. Pretty interesting experiement.

Via Coudal Partners.

No computers? Seriously?

March 24th has been declared Shutdown Day. The idea is to shut down everything you have that uses a computer and go 24 hours without it. Seriously? It might be possible, since it's a Saturday, but still, nothing with a computer?

I'm looking around my desk right now. I'd have to do without the following (all of which I use every day): Treo cell phone, Powerbook, PowerMac, regular phone, fire department pager, Xbox 360, camera, and my TV. My beloved TV. That may be going too far.

I may actually give it a shot. It'll be easier if the weather is nice. We can get out with the kids and have some non-technological fun.

If you can still call that fun.

Jack Bauer's alarm clock

This has to be what Jack Bauer uses for an alarm clock.

I might just be ordering one of these.

Valentines for the undead

Via the How Magazine blog.

The Fame Game

I'm not sure what The Fame Game is, and honestly my shoulder hurts too bad right now to care. However, the guy in the video here is really great.

"It's worth noting at this point that some people like to put fish in the recipe at this stage. Sometimes canned salmon. Sometimes tuna. Don't do it."

Via AdverBox.

We're screwed

It's my love of the movie Jaws that inspires my abject terror when it comes to sharks.

Hundreds of sharks spotted off Florida coast.

I'm pretty sure they're going to eat us all.

Robert Goulet strikes again

"Robert Goulet put gum in my hair"

As a companion to the great Super Bowl commercial for Emerald Nuts, they have more Robert Goulet sightings at Emeraldnuts.com.

You can view the spot "from that big football game." Don't you think paying millions of dollars for the spot would qualify them to use the term Super Boal without fear of linebacker-sized lawyers descending on them?

You can also view a funny video titled "Victims Speak."

Mr. Goulet even has an official title: Goulet, enemy of natural energy.

Funny stuff via Adfreak.

Nerds with swords

This is probably not the safest idea ever conceived.

Cheapskate

A $100 reward for a bag with 31 diamond rings?

This guy deserves a heck of a lot more than that. It's good to see some people still do the right thing.

Too bad the cheapskate who lost the bag didn't.

Publishing experiment

Nick Mamatas is releasing his first novel for free. He has his reasons which you can read on the site, but the most interesting fact is that the book is already in print. The hope is that you will enjoy the book enough to purchase it later. I'd be very interested to see how this effects the sales of his book. I haven't read it yet, but how can you not when he's willing to step out like this?

These new forms of publishing are really exciting to me.

Via Whatever.

Almost "14 Days in a Civic"

A funny spoof of the "7 Days in a Sentra" campaign Nissan put on last year.



Via AdFreak.

Being a kid

Wil Wheaton has a great post today about the joys of building forts with your kids.

If you have kids, when was the last time you built a fort, or played ball or built Legos with them?

Military introduces ray gun and robots that intone "Danger! Danger!"

Well, maybe not the robot part, but they did make the ray gun.

Turns out this weapon of the future will be deployed in 2010. Guess the future isn't as far away as we thought.

Via Fox News

Take me off the friggin' list

AdPulp ran a snippet from a New York Times article about not responding to spam mail, even if it's to "unsubscribe."

The gist of it is if you respond to spam mail in order to "opt out," you're just creating more problems. At that point, they know they have a live e-mail address and will quickly sell you to what I assume are higher-level spammers (if there is such a hierarchy among snakes).

That's why I bought them in the first place

Noted without comment.

Packaging Disaster

How not to buy wine

Funny article on the proper techniques for purchasing wine.

My favorite part being the winning formula for wine selection:

"FANCY SERIF FONT + PARCHMENT LABEL + SOMETHING YOU KIND OF REMEMBERED FROM THE MOVIE SIDEWAYS + $12-$16 PRICE TAG = SUCCESS"

Via Coudal.

Instead of following any of those, I'd suggest calling the fine people at Bluff Dale Vineyards to help you out. Their "Nexus" wine is fantastic.