Cool stuff you've found on the web

[Jan]

I don't think the "D'oh" moment is necessarily the function of size / scale although it usually probably is. Oh, and don't forget that she's quite old!

They've updated the article and there's a video now showing the real thing - just a normal painting, basically a "real-life size", as if you look in a mirror. ( pun intended in a reference to Beo's "rank" )

I just love the "The once-dignified portrait now resembles a crayon sketch of a very hairy monkey in an ill-fitting tunic" part.

The lady, they say, is in her 80s, she looks very active and lively.

[Jan]

Walking paper - must see!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx7nS7_Kf7E

It's almost hard to believe even if you know it's genuine - amazing and also a bit scary. I also used to build paper (and plastic) models as a kid but this is someting and a half!

[beowuuf]

I am now terrified of paper taking us over, and will start burning books immediately, 1984 style.

[linflas]

Frightening !

[Gambit37]

Cool little robot animation set to music: Dubstep Dispute
http://vimeo.com/44878206

[Gambit37]

How Neal Stephenson’s 20-Kilometer Space Tower Could Change Everything
http://io9.com/5942318/how-neal-stephen ... g=futurism

[Jan]

I'm not quite sure if "modern society's lack of ambition when it comes to embarking upon really big projects" is caused by "modern information technologies". It's rather an interesting point worth discussion but broadly speaking I suspect that a more important reason is that the Cold War is kind of over, so ideally we need another round of it and hence wait for the superpowers to invest into new Star Wars etc. etc.

[Gambit37]

Indeed! Ironically, war can build "amazing" things...
That aside though, imagine if a 20KM tall tower is actually possible! Was it Arthur C. Clarke who first postulated such a thing, can't remember? Would be an amazing sight!

[Jan]

I think A.C. Clarke's "space elevator" in "The Fountains of Paradise" was not the very first such a proposal, but certainly one of the oldest ones. I've read that book for about three times I think, I found it quite fascinating and somehow magical, slightly different from other Clarke's novels I think, with kind of a weaker story line and little bit odd generally IMHO, but still amazing. The first time I was reading it I must have been something like 10 years old, I remember myself sitting in a sunlit garden and looking up in the sky and thinking "OMG, is that possible? Because if yes, then... OMG " It had certainly a very strong impact on me then.

[Gambit37]

Right, that's the one. I must have been early teens when I read it, though I don't recall it very well now. In fact, the only Clarke stuff I really remember is the 2001 trilogy. I really need to brush up on my Big Three sci fi, I read virtually no Asimov either, and most of Heinlein that I did read I've forgotten too. Must be the old age!

I wouldn't ever want to be immortal, but I would *love* to know what cool stuff humans will have built in 100 hundred years, or 250, or even a thousand (assuming we don't destroy ourselves before that). There would seem to be limitless possibilities for invention, and it almost seems rude not to be around to witness it all

[Jan]

An instant solution for dire situations:

http://nooooooooooooooo.com/

EDIT: Beware - might be a little bit noisy.

[ian_scho]

Nooooooooooo! Don't push the button with the volume on at work.

[Jan]

I edited my post.

[ian_scho]

It was very funny, Jan. There were simultaneously two Nooooos! The web site's and mine.

[Gambit37]

The journey of a little blue ball. Fantastic feat of Lego engineering!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUtS52lqL5w

[Jan]

Wow! It's one of the coolest things I've ever seen. Construction time 600 hours - I'd need 600 lifes for that!

[Gambit37]

Worst Movie Death Scene Ever!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZR6Cw_3q1Pg

And another one, not quite so good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xECx-42Wlho

Don't worry, these aren't gory, but turn your sound up!

[Jan]

LOL, the first one is really excellent, reminds me Homer Simpson falling down a cliff: AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! *takes a deep breath* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! *takes a deep breath* AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!! SPLASH!!!

[Ameena]

Rofl, funny stuff .

[Gambit37]

Silly Knightmare spoof:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ERLLUoZn0mM

[Gambit37]

Interesting 6 page article looking at where games have 'borrowed' some of their imagery from...
http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/tracing/tracing.htm

[Jan]

How many games can you name? Performed by Ohio State University Marching Band:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... gjcAvg6TYg

[linflas]

French touch, penciling. Simply awesome.
http://english.bouletcorp.com/2012/10/1 ... the-world/

[Jan]

Simply beautiful!

[Zyx]

Boulet is so inspired and inspiring!

[Gambit37]

This is very cool, Google show off some of the hardware that powers all their services, and a large chunk of the internet.
Bet you never realised how massive some of this stuff is....!

http://www.google.com/about/datacenters/gallery/#/

[Gambit37]

The MOST USEFUL THING ON THE INTERNET EVER!
"99 LIFE HACKS TO MAKE YOUR LIFE EASIER!"
http://mintfish.tumblr.com/post/3373927 ... ife-easier

[beowuuf]

You see, I thought the all caps meant sarcasm and that these were going to be terrible, terrible ideas. Instead I've just been sitting here with an 'O.M.G.' expression. Which is bad, as technically I should be working having just finished my lunch

[Gambit37]

He he, for once the caps really meant "You gotta read this, it's awesum!!!"

[oh_brother]

Wow, the only problem now is how to remember all of these! Definitely going to try the last one.