[2005/07/28]

→ About a decade ago, or maybe more, I remember coming across a building which whose interior lighting was primarily provided by an array of flower-like sun collectors on the roof feeding a fiber optic network inside the office tower, bringing not just light but actual sunlight to even the interior offices and rooms. Would someone entering a room with this kind of lighting have a sense that this was sunlight, not just electric, manmade light? Or would the feeling be so close few would notice? In any case, this more recent article (from /.) makes a different (pro) argument for the same technique -- Instead of producing more energy for lighting systems using solar panels, just use that sunlight directly. | comment 1 | trackback 0

→ Note: Not really work safe. And a bit disturbing. Colin makes seven foot tall fiberglass sexy fantasties. Sort of. For two of the less "realistic" (in a Barbie/Manga sense) works, I suggest Bunny Sees Boobs! and Puppy Love. I did warn you about the disturbing element . . . | comment 0 | trackback 0

[2005/07/27]

→ All sorts of amusing intersections on this one: A "Talk of the Town" about Jed, one of our (Macktez) roommates. Hm. I wonder if this means we should change the name on the directory from WFX to Politext. | comment 0 | trackback 0

[2005/07/22]

→ Not sure how I forgot to post these, but I did take some photos at Daniel Shiffman's Wedding. I'll supplment these Flickr ones with a proper gallery with more photos once I finish sorting through them all. | comment 0 | trackback 0

[2005/07/21]

→ This is especially relevant for those of you who are already on the Macktez mailing list, since our prior mailing was about Daylight Saving Time (If you're not on the list, go and get on it.): I figured Daylight Savings time was one of those things that, despite being inane, would never change what with all the devices, intertia, and schedules built around it (I dislike it on the grounds that the sooner the sun goes down, the happier I am.). Well, turns out not only is it not going away, but Congress wants to make it two months longer. For the record, I'm with the PTA and Fire council on this one. | comment 0 | trackback 0

[2005/07/19]

→ Anyone else out there (in NY, who I know, I guess I'm really asking) like the musician Esthero? She's at Irving Plaza this Thursday and me and friend are thinking of going. I was big into her back in those heady Tricky, Portishead, Massive Attack days of college/post college. Haven't heard any of her recent stuff, though. Should check that out before Thursday. | comment 0 | trackback 0

[2005/07/14]

→ I've long felt that for a layperson to make any change to behavior based on a recently reported medical study isn't worthwhile, and what do you know but sounds like someone did a study of other studies and concluded pretty much the same thing. It was especially annoying when my mom went on and then off hormone pills for health reasons -- Initial studies indicated that "hormone pills protect menopausal women from heart disease. A larger, more rigorous Women's Health Initiative study later found the pills increase actually heart disease risks." Argh. -- Ok, I should confess that the actual headline is "Third of study results don't hold up" not "For a layperson to make any change to behavior based on a recently reported medical study isn't worthwhile" and those aren't really pretty much the same thing. | comment 2 | trackback 0

[2005/07/13]

→ Dude. Check out the Intro on Matti & Teppo's site. They are doing the Robert Longo thing. Maybe not ironically. | comment 0 | trackback 0

[2005/07/10]

→ The full set of photos from Finland are now posted (See also the few on Flickr). An extra, super big thank you to my hosts big Mikko & beautiful Laura, who were just wonderful. (maybe this photo is better.) And of course a big congratulations to the whole of Fudoshin. | comment 1 | trackback 0

[2005/07/09]

→ Light fixture in the White Hall. While we waited for the 10th Anniversary demontsration to begin, I looked up. | comment 0 | trackback 0

→ Raindrops on the Finnish paving stones. The only bit of heavy rain was on the first day. | comment 0 | trackback 0

→ Out the plane window. Just before take off. | comment 0 | trackback 0

→ A view on route to Finland. The clouds churned below. | comment 0 | trackback 0

[2005/07/08]

→ I just got back from Finland last night and catching up back in the office today. Not sure why this is my first post, but something about the concept of "lab grown meat that tastes like beef, poultry, pork, lamb or fish and has the texture of meat" is both fascinating and creepy. Perhaps in the same sense as TVP is both wonderful and weird, only more so. If this new material trully can be considered meat, not vegetable, then how does it fit into the vegetarian/vegan mindspace? Are there any kinds of ethics issues involved in lab grown meat? | comment 1 | trackback 0