tweaks the limbs

[T]heres absolutely no way to control the process. You’re just as likely to lose your aversion to stepping off the curb and into rush-hour traffic.

Article at Ars Technica

Last nite my wife wanted to crop an image, but didn’t have any image editing software available. Fauxto is a handy tool if you get caught in the same situation. She would up using Preloadr, but if you don’t have a Flickr account, or just want to edit a locally stored image, Fauxto looks like a good tool.

Fauxto… like photo.

Last nite I made my first Paper Critter. He’s a little sad because I was up late doing the weekly budget :op

JR Fabito has created a flash application that allows you to design, print, and build your own custom paper character. The paper model itself is very simple, and the range of design possibilities is huge. You can also share your toys and browse others that have been shared. I think the work is brilliant and definitely a step up from the toy from Gloo Design. You can also upload pics to the site to use in your designs. I don’t think it will be long before we see some celebrity toys. Someone already did Spongebob Squarepants.

Paper Critters (via Paper Forest)

The SuperBot, developed by Wi-Min Shen of USC, is a modular robot that can self-assemble into various larger structures, such as a mechanical man, mechanical dog, snake form and self-propelling wheel. The videos on the USC ISI site are fun to watch. I like “A single module burying itself in packing peanuts”. You just have to imagine that some day this is how nanomachines will work to repair your innards … or kill you.

Robots: SuperBot Robot Can Construct Itself - Gizmodo

A design shop called ellips makes a sharp looking stool and table combo as well as a clever lamp out of cardboard. Ikea uses cardboard as a lightweight internal filler for the thicker parts of some of their shelving. Also available from ellips is the awesome Big Jim 200, noted for the measured drawings available for the diy crowd.

This link was posted on MetaFilter last year. Here are a few that I like.

Clones demand rights: second Emancipation Proclamation.
- Paul Di Filippo

His penis snapped off; he’s pregnant!
- Rudy Rucker (btw I think Rudy Rucker is a terrible writer)

Death postponed. Metastasized cells got organized.
- David Brin

K.I.A. Baghdad, Aged 18 - Closed Casket
- Richard K. Morgan

Wired 14.11: Very Short Stories

Buying a house has certainly increased my workload on the weekends. About 50% of this work is definitely chores, but the other 50% offers some challenges to figure out how to fix or improve things around the house. My successes in the tasks have really satisfied me. So here are a few accomplishments that I’ve enjoyed.

1. Disassembling, cleaning, and reassembling my weed-eater after 3 years just sitting outside
2. Figuring out a simple way to make our non-standard air conditioning intake vent accept standard size air filters
3. Weeding a small plot of plants right out in front of the house, making the whole front yard look 10 times better
4. Pruning a 15 foot limb from the oak tree in the front yard (so the Pod people could deliver our Pod)
5. Re-attaching the glass in the kitchen door window (all I had to do was find the right adhesive for glass-to-metal)

Ganesh by lesliegardner

I like how this statue reflects the slim, angular Ganesh that you see in representations from southeast Asia. Here Ganesh is both serious and dignified, rather than fat and jolly. You don’t want to make him mad!

Tri Bunnies by blakewest

Last nite I got my new (from the thrift store) Epson Stylus Photo 820 working so I could print and build the Tri Bunnies toy from Custom paper Toys. I really like the simple and clever design of this toy. I also used double sided tape for the first time, which was really easy to use! I hope Blue Bunny comes out of this OK.