Archives for May, 2006

Matty and the Fish




matt_and_fish_2.jpg

Originally uploaded by Durf.

Matt Staples posing with Daniel Fish’s little tyke, Jordan Lee da Silva Fish. I’m not sure where “Naked Noodle” is located but I’m guessing it doesn’t involve lots of Japan-style hot ramen slurping. The soup splashback could get painful.

05/29/2006 | friends | Comments Off

I want a new computer

This looks like loads of fun. Multiple workspaces on your PowerBook, and a switching mechanism that makes use of the sudden motion sensor in the machine. Watch the video of the SmackBook in action!

Medallia Blog: SmackBook Pro Archives

05/26/2006 | tech | 1 Comment

International theft

This article in The Oxford Student, titled “Christ Church locked in cross-continental dispute with Japan over stolen 16th century rare book,” is an interesting one. In 1995 some guy stole a bunch of valuable books from Oxford University. One of these books made its way to Nippon Dental University, where it now resides in the school’s museum collection. Oxford has learned this and is looking to get its property back.

The Japanese statute of limitations apparently lets the dental university hold on to the book (which it obtained in good faith) since a number of years have passed since the theft. The right thing to do, of course, is to return the text anyway, and I think the school should send that book back to its original home.

At the same time, though, this story reminds me of the fantastic collections in British museums, and how they were put together . . . When the British librarian quoted in the Oxford publication states “Any institution that knowingly keeps stolen property must forfeit its place in the international scholarly community,” he’s right. But does he realize how dangerous this statement is to the moral standing of all the academic and museum collections in his nation?

Elginism.com has some pertinent things to read in this vein.

05/25/2006 | life | Comments Off

PhotoBooth




PhotoBooth

Originally uploaded by Durf.

I forget what this effect is called . . . “brushed radiation” or something. Anyway I use this computer to help me tie my tie when I have to go to a meeting. Beats wandering around looking for a mirror.

05/23/2006 | tech | Comments Off

That’s one rich pig




Gold and silver

Originally uploaded by Durf.

The golden pig was full of silver. We put 500-yen coins in here when we bring them home. The pig was heavy, and it was time to count . . . The total wasn’t quite enough for the plasma TV, but it’s getting close. These are going to the bank this week.

05/15/2006 | fun | 4 Comments