While I’m on about expensive stuff, I might as well share this link to a round-up of workstations – not only costly but also with some intentions to being stylish, ergonomic or otherwise functional. And in one case, ridiculously geeky…
When I saw the Walkstation, I was reminded about an old thought of mine: A recumbent exercise bike with integrated with a workstation. Those recumbent bikes are among the most comfortable ways to burn some calories (I’d get one if it hadn’t been that ones with good movements costs a bit), and unlike the treadmill it would probably still be possible to focus on what you’re trying to get done. And if anyone feels like putting that idea into production, feel free to send me a sample. I have a bit of blubber to spare for a case study.
Luxury Workstations on Born Rich [via Boing Boing Gadgets]
Tags: design, expensive, furniture, gadgets
April 30, 2008 at 10:47 pm · Filed under Computing & techiness
I’m wondering if there’s a formula for how to decide if you can manage to buy an exotic car – or any status item – without looking looking like some obnoxious, attention seeking dork who just made a cut. I think a good start is not only to ask yourself if you can afford a Ferrari, but how many Ferraris you could buy – and then not get one unless the answer is about ten or more, in cash. If you have to spend most of your liquid assets, or even increase your debt, you will most likely fail miserably because you’ll want everyone to look at the big, shiny thing that just majorly hit your economy.
The key is to be casual about it, and not like the fiftyish guy whose performance I saw outside the supermarket the other day, and inspired these thoughts. He pulled up in a Ferrari 360 Modena (as I think I learned after searching for a suitable image), slowly crossed the parking lot then sat idling it halfway into the parking space for while before going the last, waited a moment after opening the door and then went through some kind of Italian 45 second door-locking process (you’d think a car like that would more efficient electronic locks…). He also sported an expensive-but-casual jacket (a bit too small) and a decent haircut (due for a touch up a month ago), and I’m guessing he was recently divorced and sold his half of the house to get that car in a desperate attempt to get attractive. Not a good impression to make. Pretty much the opposite, I’d say. I guess he manages to get some sort of attention, but I’m not sure the kind of attention that gets bored people to blog out of annoyance is the good kind. And I’m usually quite good at not being bothered by things. Even when I’m bored.
Oh, and if you have to get something to show off your wealth, why not skip the Ferraris, Rolls Royces, Armanis, Rolexes and the other very obvious choices, and get something equally expensive but more original? A combination of exclusivity, style and originality might take you a few steps towards making an impression on other than the most clueless as well.
Tags: dorks, Ferrari, style
April 30, 2008 at 10:01 pm · Filed under Random ramblings & reflections
This morning I found a large load of delivery failure notifications and no-spam verification requests in the inbox for my contact address on this site, and it seems it has been used as the “from” address by someone (or more likely something) when sending a crapload of spam.
So, with a hundred or so delivery failures in my inbox, there must be thousands of mails that actually reached their marks, and to anyone who looked up this domain to investigate who the bastard who sent that crap is, I’m sorry that I can’t help.
And to anyone actually looking for the merchandise offered by these fine outlets, well… I’m sorry for you too…
Tags: site, spam
April 27, 2008 at 10:10 am · Filed under General, Internet, Site info
…haven’t I read Ken MacLeod before? Why, why, why? I picked up The Star Fraction yesterday, and I’m probably going to finish it tonight. It’s so damned brilliant I’m almost considering sunglasses to be a good precaution when going near it. Got to make a note to get the rest of the Fall Revolution series asap!
Tags: Books, Ken MacLeod, The Star Fraction
April 26, 2008 at 10:45 pm · Filed under Asides
It’s true. I saw something that must have been flakes of the cement that keeps it up fall outside my window. It’s mid-april, and it shouldn’t snow now, so in my opinion it must be proof that the whole firmament will come tumbling down within 24 hours. I’ve already checked out this building’s air raid shelter, and as soon stores open I will go stockpile canned food. Now, quickly, post on your blogs, journals and the forums you frequent – everyone must know! Hey, start a petition as well, we have to make sure to reach the people who can do something about it.
And people do take action from things they read online. Througout the day, I’ve seen several heated calls to action based on an article on Animation World Network, in which the author discusses a propes bill that would force everyone to register copyright for all their works to avoid that they become orphaned works – which supposedly would allow companies to reap everything including flickr, your blog and your family album for unregistered works and put them to commercial use.
Of course, that prospect worries me as an artist. Regestering works would be an added cost, and one that would feel hard to justify for works that won’t immediatly yield any profits – like those all creatives have littering their studios, desk and harddrives. And it would probable affect me here in Europe as well a few years down, since our governments often follow suit.
But I can’t say I felt an urge to to join any discussions before I had a bit more facts – something which I found lacking after a glance on Simon’s article. And a while later, Cory Doctorow of Boing Boing (my must regular source on such matters, btw) pointed out this article, whose author has done a bit more research and found that no such bill as the one mentioned on AWN is in progress of being legislated – only mention of one from a couple of years ago that didn’t become anything. She also provides a lot of useful information regarding the subject of copyright and orphaned works as it is today.
So, my strategy of finding (or waiting to be provided with) a bit more facts seems to have saved me some trouble again. Not only the work of arguing against something that doesn’t matter, but also saving me from looking stupid after passing on what just seems to be a blimp’s worth of hot air.
Now, get going on the sky thing. You read it on the internet – so it must be true…
Tags: copyright, Internet, politics
April 13, 2008 at 2:27 am · Filed under Art, Entertainment & Culture, Internet, Random ramblings & reflections
