August 2008
“The time is right for coffee’s third ascension. Third Wavers speak with...”
– The Third Wave of Coffee
July 2008
Wrestling with tough economy →
As a kid in Mexico City, and later in San Diego, Jose Luis Rojano and his brothers grew up on the lucha libre films of iconic Mexican wrestlers El Santo and Blue Demon. In their menacing masks and…
Well: This Old (Healthy) House →
The age of your house may affect your risk for being overweight.
Comedian: The documentary →
Earlier this month I wrote this piece on how professional stand-up comics and presenters & speakers have much in common. Many of you agreed. Then my buddy and marketing guru Mitch…
Patrolling drum circles challenges authorities →
LA JOLLA
–
Plans by law enforcement to break up a full-moon party on Black’s Beach earlier this month were scrapped at the last minute because authorities couldn’t round up enough officers, a state…
House Passes Bill to Regulate Tobacco →
The House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved legislation that would give the F.D.A. new power to regulate tobacco products.
Zimbabwe currency on eBay →
Mugabe should just print trillion dollar bills and sell them directly on eBay. This $100,000,000,000 note is up to AU$87 with eleven bids.
Zimbabwe Banknotes on eBay
TSA destroys the RepRap's first child →
This year’s OSCON was treated to a chance to see the first RepRap “progeny.” RepRap is a deluxe 3D printer that is capable of printing copies of itself.
On the way back, the TSA opened the case it…
Citizens Spy On Big Brother →
An anonymous reader writes “Citizens of the world are striking back at 24/7 state surveillance by pulling out their cameraphones and filming inept officials, deadly healthcare lapses and thuggish…
Judge Rules White House Aides Can Be Subpoenaed →
President Bush’s top advisers are not immune from congressional subpoenas, a federal judge ruled Thursday.
IOC Admits Internet Censorship Deal With China →
Dave writes “BEIJING (Reuters) — Some International Olympic Committee officials cut a deal to let China block sensitive websites despite promises of unrestricted access, a senior IOC official…
City Room: Nixon’s Search for a New York Home →
After leaving the White House, Richard M. Nixon lived for a few years in a town house he bought on the Upper East Side. This is the never-before-told story of how that transaction came to be.
Parents question why Ozark police used stun gun on... →
Brett Burton says: “Police in Ozark, MO tasered a 16-year-old boy after he fell 30 feet from a bridge. Officers said he refused to comply with them and they had to deploy their Tasers in…
GATOR IS DEAD. Internet Superstar to Relaunch →
Gator Sanchez, co-host of Internet Superstar with Martin Sargent has died. Internet Superstar will be offline for the rest of this week in respect for the deceased. The show will relaunch next week…
“You’ve probably seen that YouTube video of the New York cop viciously...”
– NYPD Bruise - July 29, 2008
D.A. charges officer in shooting →
In a rare decision, the District Attorney’s Office charged a San Diego police officer yesterday with a felony for shooting a mother and her son during a confrontation in an Oceanside parking lot when…
The Ridiculous LexisNexis Search that the Justice... →
jamie writes “The politicization of Bush’s Justice Department, which this week was officially determined to be illegal, has a funny side too. Sometime in 2005-2006, White House Liaison Jan Williams…
Hospital could lose all federal payments →
Sharp Grossmont Hospital in La Mesa could lose all federal payments for patient care because of serious problems – some of which resulted in preventable deaths – according to a report released…
Beach booze ban to go before voters Nov. 4 →
SAN DIEGO: San Diegans soon will have their second chance this decade to determine whether alcohol should be banned at city beaches.
Review: Flip Mino portable camcorder →
Although the video quality produced by the Flip Mino is anything but pristine, this affordable and useful camera—with its go-anywhere, shirt-pocket convenience and simple operation—could turn out to…
Orwell's diaries in blog form →
The Orwell Prize will mark the 70th anniversary of the Orwell Diaries by serializing them, one day at a time, on a blog — reminiscent of the way that Phil Gyford syndicated Pepys’s Diary.
…
RIP Harriet Burns, first woman Imagineer →
Harriet Burns, the first woman Imagineer, died this week at 79. She was part of the teams that built Sleeping Beauty’s Castle, the Matterhorn, Submarine Voyage, Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room,…
People who have killed their lawns →
I went for a walk in Sebastopol CA this evening and took some photos (crappy photos with my iPhone, sorry) of front yards that have gardens instead of lawns. They look much more interesting…
“http://www.bmezine.com/news/people/A10101/addsub/
No, one identical twin...”
– snopes.com: Hoax Round-Up
“Ryan and Dave are the most unique identical twins you’ll ever meet. After...”
– Adding and Subtracting
Steve Jobs Discusses Health with Reporter →
The topic of Steve Jobs’ health has become a hot topic amongst blogs and newspapers over the past few weeks. In 2004, Steve Jobs underwent surgery for a rare and curable form of pancreatic cancer….
Unveiling of Aircraft Heats Up Space Race →
After four years in a Mojave Desert hangar, British billionaire Sir Richard Branson and American aerospace designer Burt Rutan are due Monday to show off their top-secret aircraft, which is designed…
Surf camp brightens lives of special-needs kids →
It’s called Day at the Beach, but the phrase doesn’t capture the importance the event holds in the lives of people with special needs.
Johnny Depp in sausage form →
Tokyo Disneyland offers many charms, but none so, um, suggestive, as this Johnny Depp branded sausage. Link (Thanks, Tavie!)
Zune Tattoo Guy Signs Off: Buh-Bye →
Steven Smith, who you might know as the Zune Tattoo Guy, has seen the light — and it isn’t Microsoft’s mp3 player. No, the ultimate Zune fanboy says he is disenchanted and that you won’t have him to…
New Search Engine Cuil Takes Aim At Google →
theodp writes “CNET reports that Cuil (pronounced ‘Cool’), a startup founded by the husband-and-wife team of Stanford professor Tom Costello and former Google search architect Anna Patterson, is…
The New Old Age: The Cadillac of Walkers →
The new status symbols of old age.
PRO-IP and PIRATE Acts Fused Into New Bill →
I Don’t Believe in Imaginary Property writes “Senators Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Arlen Specter (R-PA) have just sponsored a new bill, the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights Act of 2008, which…
CCDC board OKs probe of agency's 7th &... →
Downtown San Diego’s redevelopment arm is launching an independent investigation into a deal that led some critics to question the integrity of the agency’s former president.
On the absurdity of "maximizing shareholder value" →
Over on Crooked Timber, Daniel Davies has uncorked a hell of a rant on the fatuous absurdity of the old saw that “corporate officers have a fiduciary duty to maximize shareholder value.” He starts…
'There is no stopping him' →
An attorney who has filed nearly 1,500 federal lawsuits in California since 1993 and dozens more in the county since 2004 to enforce the Americans with Disabilities Act has set his sights on South…
Saving Pompeii From the Ravages of Time and... →
The Italian government has declared a state of emergency for the ancient city of Pompeii, which has suffered from longtime neglect and degradation.
Backflip Fail →
Man stole buses, drove them on routes, returned... →
If James L. Harris really did what police say he did, then I would like to award him a Happy Mutant Criminal Award certificate.
The 18-year-old is accused of stealing at least three Miami-Dade…
America’s Fail →
Submitted by David B
The balcony is closed →
Nice remembrance from Roger Ebert on the end of the long-running At the Movies show. One thing we never did, apart from an occasional special show, was depart from the format: Two critics…
Architects: Your Websites Suck. Read This Post! →
There is not much green about this post; you can consider it a rant or perhaps a public service. One of the joys of this gig is that I get to look at the work of a lot of talented architects and…
For audio engineering, “you have to use a Mac” →
An audio engineer for 33 years, Greg Price offers simple advice to those who’d like to become great engineers themselves. “‘First, you have to play an instrument,’” reports Jim Dalrymple…
I did not know this →
Got an email from Amazon since I’ve purchased an mp3 or two from them. I learned that they have a lot of songs free for download. Most of the artists I’ve never heard of, but in the queue right now…
Letterman Mows Down a Pleo with a $1,000 R/C... →
Last night, David Letterman had some expensive toys at his disposal. He checked out the Pleo, then he got to test drive a crazy, $1,000 remote control monster truck. Naturally, the docile,…
ZuneTard getting rid of Zune tattoos, will also... →
See here. That imbecile who got himself covered with Zune logos says he’s pissed about how much the Zune sucks and so he’s quitting the club. Money quote: “I am done. I have had the…
iJustine denied! →
See the video here. Apple retailers have been given Justine Ezarik’s phone number and told to refuse her service. She calls 35 stores and they all tell her they’re sold out. Best part…
Gallery: Star Wars, Aliens and Outta-This-World... →
: Photo: Jim Merithew/Wired.com SAN DIEGO — More people, more lines and more crazy costumes. Welcome to Day 2 of Comic-Con International, where even hot pretzels can command an impressive line.
Gregg Allman Recovers from Hepatitis C Treatments →
Gregg Allman has made a statement (http://www.allmanbrothersband.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Calendar&file=showCalendarMonth&type=listevents&search=upcoming&orderby=date)
regarding his recent…