Unique music video

I really don't know how to explain this video (make sure to switch to HD).  After watching it I had that rare feeling (at least visually) I'd seen something almost totally unique.

Evidently it was created by a group called WeWereMonkeys.

Stop the Yellow Pages

Two years ago after months next to the mail boxes, I finally took stacks of Yellow Pages from my apartment to the recycling place.  That's why this article was interesting as well as hilarious.

Their business model reminds me a bit of when the RIAA demanded all personal audio players include an FM receiver: another dead industry unable to admit they didn't transition effectively and now wasting time, energy, and trees.

Boycott Kashi

Found out they're basically lying to their customers.  Really liked some of their products and don't much like getting charged extra for something that has no business costing more.  More on that.

For me there's no end to this boycott and there's nothing Kashi can do at this point to get my business back.  They join McDonalds and (where possible) anything from Monsanto.

D&B Set

An excellent hip-hop / rap influenced drum and bass set from Pendulum.  I usually don't fall in for this sort of mashup, but this one is so sharp, its something I can't pass up.

Pendulum has gone sort of a different direction since this material (more rock), but this is some of their best work.

Dream shorthand

A few weeks ago, I awoke from a dream and, rather than writing down all the aspects to the dream, I wrote down just a few key points that I was sure would help me remember it later:

Door ajar
Robot trivia
Death
Theater trick
Dame Judy Dench
Spider Man

Needless to say, I have no idea what I was dreaming about or what these things mean.  Still, its entertaining to think of what they might illustrate.

Just Label It effort

Definitely a supporter of this popular push to label genetically modified foods.  The only reason this hasn't been done is because GMO producers think nobody will buy their products.  Whether or not these products are as safe as non-GMO products is something I'd like to be able to decide for myself.

Evidently I have to stop eating things in a can

I am so sick of this -- yet another thing I can't eat anymore because food companies are assholes:

• BPA levels in canned goods
• BPA in your pantry

Newt for President? Get ready to invade Iran

I had heard a few things about this, but finally I saw some real background on the story and was just blown away.  What an incredibly bad idea.

Next generation consoles? Or just buy a PC?

Edit: Sorry, I screwed up when this was initially written; I realize there's no article attached to this.

=====

Apart from the "motion controls" mentioned at the end, almost this entire article is just an argument for buying a PC and gaming with that:

• Backwards compatibility
• VoIP options
• Update management
• Video services
• Mods

Why buy a console?  Why buy whatever the "next" console provides?  Apart from the simplicity, PCs are obviously just better.

Fuck Petland

If you are a customer of Petland, stop going there and be sure to tell them why (as well as sign the petition).  Sadly there's only one protest going on about this.

More on this.

Bad support experience

So a few weeks ago I was really loving the great Rhapsody service which allows you to listen to entire songs before you buy (awesome!) when I had an issue: I pressed pause and got up.  When I sat back down and pressed play I was hit with white noise at FULL VOLUME.  It was deafening.  Whoa.

I thought this was scary enough that I should send something about it to support.  My response was one of those generic ones followed by another message 3 days later:

While we typically respond in less than a day, its taken us much longer to get to your issue.

Due to this delay, we believe you may have already contacted Rhapsody support again by either phone or chat and had your issue resolved.

If you did not reach out again to Rhapsody support and still need help, please reply to this email and we'll make sure you get the help you need.

My response:

LOL

This reminds me of a "wait for it and maybe they'll go away" method of issue resolution.

Waiter: Hey I know you didn't like your food.  Did someone else come out and bring you different food yet?

Airline: Hey I know we didn't take you to your destination.  Did you already get a flight somewhere else or would you like us to take you where you initially wanted to go?

My cat: Hey I know I peed on your stuff.  Did you want me to keep doing that or did you put litter all over the house yet?

Magna Carta? That's one of the Transformers, right?

The ACLU's action page on how to help stop the legalization of indefinite detention.  Its taken almost 800 years, but we'll finally edit out the basic protections set out in the Magna fucking Carta.

David Cross on breakups

Although the only similar breakup in my life happened now years ago, I found an uncharacteristically honest bit by the comic actually made me feel better.

1/2 of US GDP goes to banks

I'm mostly posting this because I'm a close follower of the news, but was stunned when it was covered by -- of all people -- the Daily Show.  Additionally, the fact that it was secret and kept hidden from Congress, which has long held the 'power of the purse' is disturbing at the minimum.  Wow.

Slate has a good breakdown.