Jay's Offensive Blog

Pedal Idea

2010-07-22T11:55:00.002-05:00

I saw a girl riding through the San Francisco streets this morning. She had a really stylish guacamole-green single speed bike. I noticed that she had a toe-clip and strap setup on the right pedal, but just a plain platform pedal on the left side.

I started thinking, "Hey, I get that! I always take my left foot out at lights but keep my right foot in. I'll bet that's a great idea! I'll have to give it a try."

At the next light I stopped next to her and asked her about it. I felt a little deflated when she told me that someone had stolen her clip and strap off her left pedal, and that she really hated it.

Well, there goes that cool idea. I might give it a try anyway. Who knows, maybe it'll actually work.

My Name is Roger, and I'm an alcoholic

2009-08-25T15:20:00.001-05:00

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/08/my_name_is_roger_and_im_an_alc.html

The Omnivore’s Delusion: Against the Agri-intellectuals

2009-08-18T18:25:00.001-05:00

http://www.american.com/archive/2009/july/the-omnivore2019s-delusion-against-the-agri-intellectuals

Self-Enforcing Protocols

2009-08-11T15:08:00.001-05:00

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/08/self-enforcing.html

Wizards Are Assholes

2009-08-06T15:24:00.000-05:00

http://www.boatcrime.com/2009/07/19/wizards-are-assholes/

Risk Intuition

2009-08-06T11:38:00.001-05:00

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/08/risk_intuition.html

Bear Shaving

2009-08-03T14:25:00.001-05:00

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/08/bear-shaving.html

How To Find A Job When You're Unemployed

2009-08-03T14:22:00.000-05:00

http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-the-secret-to-finding-a-job-when-youre-unemployed-2009-8

Arguments Are Overrated

2009-07-29T11:41:00.001-05:00

http://www.businessinsider.com/arguments-are-overrated-2009-7

At The Center Of The New Jersey Political Scandal: A One-Man, Walking Truth Serum

2009-07-28T11:35:00.001-05:00

http://www.businessinsider.com/solomon-dwek-a-actually-one-man-truth-serum-2009-7

A Scanner To Detect Terrorists

2009-07-27T11:10:00.001-05:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/magazine/8153539.stm

Will taking drugs help your career? Maybe you need Adderall

2009-07-23T14:03:00.001-05:00

http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/07/23/will-taking-drugs-help-your-career-maybe-you-need-adderall/

SMBC 7/19/09

2009-07-19T22:39:00.001-05:00

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1582

Software Engineering: Dead?

2009-07-19T22:38:00.001-05:00

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/001288.html

Bless me Father, for I have sinned

2009-07-15T00:55:00.000-05:00

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/07/bless_me_father_for_i_have_sin.html

North Korean Cyber Attacks

2009-07-13T13:53:00.001-05:00

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/07/north_korean_cy.html

The Seven Types Of Employees You Meet At Best Buy

2009-07-10T18:25:00.001-05:00

http://gizmodo.com/5311140/the-seven-types-of-employees-you-meet-at-best-buy/gallery/

Wolfram Alpha and hubristic user interfaces

2009-07-09T16:55:00.001-05:00

http://unqualified-reservations.blogspot.com/2009/07/wolfram-alpha-and-hubristic-user.html

The Confusion

2009-07-06T14:31:00.001-05:00

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/07/the-confusion.html

Information Leakage from Keypads

2009-07-02T14:16:00.001-05:00

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/07/information_lea_1.html

SMBC 7/2/09

2009-07-02T14:12:00.001-05:00

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1565

The Lie Detector

2009-07-01T10:46:00.002-05:00

THE LIE DETECTOR

John was a salesman's delight when it came to any kind of unusual gimmick. His wife Marsha had long ago given up trying to get him to change. One day John came home with another one of his unusual purchases. It was a robot that John claimed was actually a lie detector.

It was about 5:30 that afternoon when Tommy, their 11 year old son, returned home from school. Tommy was over 2 hours late. "Where have you been? Why are you over 2 hours late getting home?" asked John.

"Several of us went to the library to work on an extra credit project," said Tommy.

The robot walked around the table and slapped Tommy, knocking him completely out of his chair. "Son," said John, "this robot is a lie detector, now tell us where you really were after school."

"We went to Bobby's house and watched a movie." said Tommy.

"What did you watch?" asked Marsha."The Ten Commandments." answered Tommy.

The robot went around to Tommy and once again slapped him, knocking him off his chair. With his lip quivering, Tommy got up, sat down and said, "I am sorry I lied. We really watched a tape called Sex Queen."

"I am ashamed of you son," said John. "When I was your age, I never lied to my parents."

The robot walked around to John and delivered a whack that nearly knocked him out of his chair.

Marsha doubled over in laughter, almost in tears and said, "Boy, did you ever ask for that one! You can't be too mad with Tommy. After all, he is your son!"

The robot walked around to Marsha and knocked her out of her chair.

The Explainer - Signing away your rights

2009-07-01T10:28:00.000-05:00

http://www.velonews.com/article/94079

This applies to a lot more than just bicycling.

Security, Group Size, and the Human Brain

2009-07-01T10:18:00.001-05:00

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/07/security_group.html

Priced To Sell

2009-06-29T12:36:00.001-05:00

http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2009/07/06/090706crbo_books_gladwell

Why I Changed My Mind On The Community Reinvestment Act

2009-06-24T12:26:00.001-05:00

http://www.businessinsider.com/why-i-changed-my-mind-on-the-community-reinvestment-act-2009-6

SMBC 6/17/09

2009-06-17T14:46:00.001-05:00

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1550

This might just work.

Nabaztag, the multipurpose Internet-connected Rabbit

2009-06-16T22:31:00.000-05:00

http://www.violet.net/landing/nabaztag_us_usd.html?gclid=CP_g_4-ukJsCFQubnAoduEafoA

I'm pretty sure I'm not interested.

Can I have 4 laps of your time, Mr Mosley?

2009-06-15T15:02:00.001-05:00

http://axisofoversteer.blogspot.com/2009/06/can-i-have-4-laps-of-your-time-mr.html

Meat Dress

2009-06-14T18:00:00.001-05:00

http://blog.craftzine.com/archive/2009/06/meat_dress.html

Got Him!

2009-06-12T17:51:00.001-05:00

http://www.wral.com/news/news_briefs/image/5339560/?ref_id=5339554&img_list=5339560%2C5339559

It's a good thing they caught this guy.

Panasonic's limp remote concept is both cool and unsettling

2009-06-12T17:15:00.001-05:00

http://dvice.com/archives/2009/06/panasonics-limp.php

Direct and Useful Project Feedback

2009-06-11T13:36:00.001-05:00

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/06/direct-and-useful-project-feedback.html

Do you belong in NYC? Take the test

2009-06-11T13:16:00.001-05:00

http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/06/11/do-you-belong-in-nyc-take-the-test/

SMBC 6/10/09

2009-06-10T10:32:00.001-05:00

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1543

Shall We Gather At The River?

2009-06-09T22:48:00.001-05:00

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/06/shall_we_gather_at_the_river.html

Explosm 6/9/09

2009-06-09T10:14:00.001-05:00

http://www.explosm.net/comics/1681/

40 Fantastic Sand Sculptures

2009-06-07T18:48:00.000-05:00

http://abduzeedo.com/40-fantastic-sand-sculptures

Clever Combination Door Lock Design

2009-06-06T13:48:00.001-05:00

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/06/clever_combinat.html

Social Skills

2009-06-06T13:46:00.001-05:00

http://www.geekherocomic.com/2009/06/05/social-skills/

I stand accused of being like this from time to time.

Vincent P. Falk and His Amazing Technicolor Dream Coats

2009-06-06T13:19:00.001-05:00

http://blogs.suntimes.com/ebert/2009/06/vincent_p_falk_and_his_amazing.html

Webcam Window Fail

2009-06-03T23:40:00.000-05:00

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=372_1243563675

Epic Vom Bom

2009-06-03T22:06:00.001-05:00

http://thisisphotobomb.com/2009/05/26/photobomb-that-guy-epic-vom-bom/

Jerry's is Moving

2009-06-02T18:35:00.001-05:00

http://blogs.mysanantonio.com/weblogs/downtown/2009/06/jerrys-hotdogs-looking-to-expa.html

I hope they stay downtown, but move somewhere with close parking. They definitely need the room.

Burning Martians

2009-06-02T18:34:00.001-05:00

http://www.veryshortlist.com/science/daily.cfm/review/1250/Website/mars-robots-may-have-destroyed-evidence-of-life/

This is what would have happened if I'd designed the experiment.

What To Say To Negative People

2009-06-02T18:21:00.002-05:00

A woman was at her hairdresser's getting her hair styled for a trip to Rome with her husband. She mentioned the trip to the hairdresser, who responded, " Rome? Why would anyone want to go there? It's crowded and dirty. You're crazy to go to Rome. How are you getting there?"

"We're taking Continental," was the reply. "We got a great rate!"

"Continental?" exclaimed the hairdresser. "That's a terrible airline. Their planes are old, their flight attendants are ugly, and they're always late. Where are you staying in Rome ?"

"We'll be at this exclusive little place over on Rome's Tiber River called Teste."

" Don't go any further. I know that place. Everybody thinks it's gonna be something special and exclusive, but it's really a dump."

"We're going to go to see the Vatican and maybe get to see the Pope."

"That's rich," laughed the hairdresser. "You and a million other people are trying to see him. He'll look the size of an ant. Boy, good luck on this lousy trip of yours. You're going to need it."

A month later, the woman again came in for a hairdo. The hairdresser asked her about her trip to Rome.

"It was wonderful," explained the woman, "Not only were we on time in one of Continental's brand new planes, but it was overbooked, and they bumped us up to first class. The food and wine were wonderful, and I had a handsome 28 year old steward who waited on me hand and foot.

The hotel was great! They'd just finished a $5 million remodeling job, and now it's a jewel, the finest hotel in the city. They, too, were overbooked, so they apologized and gave us their owner's suite at no extra charge!"

"Well," muttered the hairdresser, "that's all well and good, but I know you didn't get to see the Pope."

"Actually, we were quite lucky. As we toured the Vatican, a Swiss Guard tapped me on the shoulder, and explained that the Pope likes to meet some of the visitors, and if I'd be so kind as to step into his private room and wait, the Pope would personally greet me. Sure enough, five minutes later, the Pope walked through the door and shook my hand! I knelt down and he spoke a few words to me."

"Oh, really! What'd he say?"

He said, "Who fucked up your hair?"

Who Cares What People Write?

2009-05-31T22:23:00.001-05:00

http://blogmaverick.com/2009/05/31/who-cares-what-people-write/

Good points.

HASTILY MADE CLEVELAND TOURISM VIDEO

2009-05-28T13:40:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysmLA5TqbIY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzgAjjuqZM

Putting things in perspective is good!

The science behind the dishwasher

2009-05-27T12:10:00.001-05:00

http://www.richardyoo.com/blog/2009/05/26/the-science-behind-the-dishwasher/

Original article: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/garden/21fix.html?_r=2

Yes, you're not supposed to pre-rinse dishes. That's stupid, though, if you don't run the dishwasher every day. It's just my wife and I, and it usually takes several days to get enough dishes dirty for a full load. I'm not going to leave dirty dishes sitting in there for long periods of time. That wouldn't smell good at all, and I can imagine what a feast it would be for the cockroaches and ants.

Barrel Racing

2009-05-26T10:39:00.002-05:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/greg_lange/3566394491/

No horses were injured while taking this photograph.

The color purple?

2009-05-26T10:33:00.001-05:00

http://www.veryshortlist.com/web/daily.cfm/review/1232/Website/munsell-hue-test/

This is pretty cool. I got a 3.

The Case for Working With Your Hands

2009-05-26T10:25:00.001-05:00

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/24/magazine/24labor-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2&emc=eta1

I actually feel like I'm working with my hands when I program.

Bird Brains

2009-05-25T22:22:00.001-05:00

http://www.veryshortlist.com/science/daily.cfm/review/1235/Website/universal-language-of-bird-song/

That's a really cool experiment.

Ahem: NYT Reporter Who Defaulted On Subprime Mortage Left Out Key Details

2009-05-21T23:21:00.001-05:00

http://www.businessinsider.com/henry-blodget-ahem-nyt-reporter-who-defaulted-on-subprime-mortage-left-out-key-details-2009-5

How Science History Works

2009-05-21T15:44:00.001-05:00

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1523

This makes me laugh.

Mary Roach: 10 things you didn't know about orgasm

2009-05-20T23:40:00.001-05:00

http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/mary_roach_10_things_you_didn_t_know_about_orgasm.html

I didn't know.

A clean sheet of paper

2009-05-20T10:32:00.001-05:00

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/05/a-clean-sheet-of-paper.html

It's always easier to give people what they want when they know what they want.

Roommate Confessions

2009-05-19T18:57:00.002-05:00

http://www.collegehumor.com/article:1775923

Wow! The last one is the worst.

Good grammar might derail your career

2009-05-19T10:05:00.001-05:00

http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/05/19/good-grammar-might-derail-your-career/

Confessions of an Introverted Traveler

2009-05-16T20:05:00.001-05:00

http://www.worldhum.com/features/speakers-corner/confessions-of-an-introverted-traveler-20090309/

This is how I like to travel.

How the Mighty Fall: A Primer on the Warning Signs

2009-05-16T19:58:00.001-05:00

http://www.businessweek.com/print/magazine/content/09_21/b4132026786379.htm

things overheard at work

2009-05-15T13:59:00.002-05:00

http://cubewallsarentsoundproof.blogspot.com/2009/04/id-explain-it-further-but-i-ran-out-of.html

I've actually heard this one used. Unfortunately the guy saying this ran out of crayons because he had eaten them all. That was after he ate all his paste.

Bike Jump Fail

2009-05-14T13:34:00.001-05:00

http://failblog.org/2009/05/14/bike-jump-fail/

I bet this bike came from Wal-Mart.

Interview well by knowing what's coming

2009-05-14T13:30:00.000-05:00

http://blog.penelopetrunk.com/2009/05/14/interview-well-by-knowing-whats-coming/

Not that I know anyone who's looking for a job...

Attacking the Food Supply

2009-05-14T10:39:00.000-05:00

http://www.schneier.com/blog/archives/2009/05/attacking_the_f.html

SMBC 5/13/09

2009-05-13T09:45:00.001-05:00

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1515

Hellen Keller

2009-05-13T09:20:00.001-05:00

http://twitter.com/Helen_Keller

Someone's going to hell for this. Probably me for linking it.

Secrets of the Deep

2009-05-12T23:05:00.001-05:00

http://nymag.com/news/features/56609/

I can't imagine actually wanting to dive anywhere around there.

Ignore Sunk Costs

2009-05-12T09:39:00.001-05:00

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/05/ignore-sunk-costs.html

So very true.

The 75% Answer

2009-05-11T14:21:00.001-05:00

http://lbrandy.com/blog/2009/05/the-75-answer/

I usually think of it as 80%, but otherwise I agree.

Bunny Boiler

2009-05-11T13:28:00.000-05:00

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunny_boiler

A Brief, Incomplete, and Mostly Wrong History of Programming Languages

2009-05-11T13:26:00.001-05:00

http://james-iry.blogspot.com/2009/05/brief-incomplete-and-mostly-wrong.html

If you understand this, then you're a computer geek.

BMW F800S Garage Door Opener

2009-05-08T14:10:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1C-Bxifv2Pk

My openers left home years ago and won't come back.

eBay is saving archeology by killing the antiquities market

2009-05-06T13:16:00.001-05:00

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2009/05/ebay-is-saving-archeology-by-killing-the-antiquities-market.ars

Today's Word Is...

2009-05-06T10:50:00.001-05:00

http://www.veryshortlist.com/web/daily.cfm/review/1182/Website/my-first-dictionary/

Why Has the U.S.-Owned Auto Industry Failed in North America?

2009-05-05T12:38:00.001-05:00

http://www.oftwominds.com/blogmay09/bigthree05-09.html

Very nicely said. No one buys our cars because they're still pieces of shit.

Vegan Condoms

2009-05-05T09:43:00.000-05:00

http://www.glydeamerica.com/

Finally! I was getting so tired of my children having to sleep with only carnivores.

Art student's car vanishing act

2009-05-04T21:38:00.001-05:00

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/lancashire/8030766.stm

I like illusions.

1999 World Superbike Nurburgring - The Oil Spill

2009-05-04T10:57:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_08p-414uGY

Lehman's Amazing Lack Of Real Estate Sophistication

2009-05-04T09:34:00.002-05:00

http://www.businessinsider.com/lehmans-amazing-lack-of-real-estate-sophistication-2009-5

When you make a living flipping things, you'll eventually get caught holding things you can't afford.

EuroDjangoConf2009 Keynote All Over Your Twitters

2009-05-04T09:27:00.001-05:00

http://zedshaw.com/blog/2009-05-04.html

I'm not sure if I'd really classify him as "so fucking awesome," but this is a nice speech.

Famine, Fertilizer & World War 1

2009-05-03T22:36:00.002-05:00

http://fearandloath.us/famine-fertilizer-world-war-1.html

Edwin Grubbs is the smartest Martian I've ever met. This is a good article he's recommending.

Change

2009-05-03T22:23:00.001-05:00

http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/index.php/archives/2009/05/03/change/

The banal brazenness of telescammers

2009-05-02T12:32:00.001-05:00

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/2009/05/the-brazen-banality-of-telescammers.html

I'd always suspected this, but it's nice to hear it confirmed.

SMBC 5/2/09

2009-05-02T12:27:00.001-05:00

http://www.smbc-comics.com/index.php?db=comics&id=1504

The real truth comes out.

Ubuntu Netbook Remix 9.04 hands-on

2009-04-30T16:06:00.001-05:00

http://www.tuxradar.com/content/ubuntu-netbook-remix-904-hands

I installed UNR on my netbook and I'm really pleased with it.

There Is No Such Thing as Nuclear Waste

2009-04-30T15:35:00.001-05:00

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123690627522614525.html

This is interesting.

Amazing Superpowers 4/30/09

2009-04-30T15:13:00.001-05:00

http://www.amazingsuperpowers.com/ComicArchive/168-1.htm

Whatever works.

Stop motion with wolf and pig.

2009-04-30T10:17:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmkLlVzUBn4

I keep seeing references to this video, so I guess I have to post it. I watched it and it's pretty good.

TwitPic - Denton Police

2009-04-29T09:59:00.001-05:00

http://twitpic.com/photos/DentonPolice

I keep looking for people I know.

Learning How to Count (Avoiding The Fencepost Problem)

2009-04-28T17:09:00.001-05:00

http://betterexplained.com/articles/learning-how-to-count-avoiding-the-fencepost-problem/

Rocket Record: The Largest, Heaviest Amateur Rocket Ever Launched

2009-04-28T17:01:00.001-05:00

What The Bank of America-Merrill Lynch Brouhaha Teaches Us About Financial Regulation

2009-04-28T09:21:00.001-05:00

http://www.businessinsider.com/what-the-bank-of-america-merrill-lynch-brouhaha-teaches-us-about-financial-regulation-2009-4

Kevin Smith explains what happened to his Superman movie

2009-04-28T09:10:00.001-05:00

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/04/27/kevin-smith-explains.html

This sounds eerily like a few software projects I've been on.

Here's Where Swine Flu Came From

2009-04-27T17:56:00.001-05:00

http://imgur.com/27K39.jpg

Look At This Fucking Hipster

2009-04-27T17:50:00.002-05:00

http://lookatthisfuckinghipster.tumblr.com/

I keep looking for my step-kids, nieces, nephews, and cousins on here. I am definitely in the "old" camp now.

The Management Myth

2009-04-27T16:03:00.001-05:00

http://www.theatlantic.com/doc/print/200606/stewart-business

A Leg Up

2009-04-27T10:18:00.001-05:00

http://www.veryshortlist.com/science/daily.cfm/review/1170/Gadget/honda-robot-legs/

I know a couple of people who could use this.

Castrol EDGE

2009-04-27T08:29:00.001-05:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqld7wqmlFs&NR=1
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mj5ms9PJDNY

The "Grease Monkeys" is obvious. "Thinking with your dipstick, Jimmy" is slightly less obvious.

Swine Flu on Google Maps

2009-04-26T17:28:00.002-05:00

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&t=p&msa=0&msid=106484775090296685271.0004681a37b713f6b5950&ll=32.639375,-110.390625&spn=15.738151,25.488281&z=5

I think I'll ride northwest of town this week.