I run this joint. Don’t know where to start? Let me show you around:
Fascinating.
OMG, when did we start talking like txt msgs?
One possibility, Kiesling proposes, is that some of these acronyms actually become a whole new thought, expressing something different than the words that form them. For example: “You wouldn’t say, `OMG, that person just jumped off a cliff,'” he explains. “But you’d say, `OMG, do you see those red pants that person is wearing?'”
My latest for Fox & Friends.
Yahoo commenter Christopher M shares practical advice in combating pesky Somali pirates, who currently hold 29 ships and roughly 660 crew hostage.
The Navy should take some merchant ships, load them with hidden guns, and make them look like easy prey. When pirates attack, then get killed. Keep it up for a while, and the pirates will be apprehensive about attacking a merchant ship. We did this to U-boats, they were called Q-ships.
Sounds like a plan. Go, counter-piracy!
On Monday, BYU student Michelle Peralta accused fellow classmates of “idol worship” in a letter published in the school paper. Peralta, not to be confused with the awesome ’80s skateboards of the same name, said she was irritated by what she called “Jimmer worship,” Jimmer being the BYU point guard, 3-point killer, nation’s leading scorer, and all-around swell guy.
In all likelhood, Peralta, an admitted non-sports fan, was probably just venting her frustration over the increased volume of Jimmermania sweeping the nation, Provo very much included. That didn’t stop the Internet from having a little fun with her though.
In a virally large thread on her then-public, now-private Facebook page, hundreds of Jimmer fans came to his defense, while sticking with the comical spiritual theme Peralta had started. Here my top 10 favorites: Continue reading…
UPDATED: In less than three hours, Smooth Harold reader Whit identified it! Thanks, Whit.
My memory and Google skills are failing me. After searching for an hour last night, I was unable to recall this really good sad song I heard last week. Some identifying attributes:
It’s one of the best sad songs I’ve ever heard. Any ideas, Internet?
Seriously folks, I had it all.
To all you freshmen out there: This too shall pass.
Channel Master sent me their over-air DVR for possible media consideration. After spending a few days with it, I’m impressed. Enough to talk about it on my personal blog. Here’s how it works: Continue reading…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=naqX9iYE0V0[/youtube]
Happy Sabbath, all you crazy believers!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L2x6046zzJ8[/youtube]
“Buy once, use anywhere.” In that case, here’s all my business. Thanks, Amazon!
I’ve been using Google’s new Chromebook for over a month now. I use it a lot, often times reaching for it over my Macbook.
Why? It starts and stops faster. In a single second even. It connects to the internet faster. In seconds, mind you. The thing is quick and lightweight. Much like a tablet computer or iPad.
Better still, the Chromebook has a full-size but no-nonsense keyboard, making it the faster and better input device when compared to tablets. And it has a lot more “apps” than closed-system tablets.
Admittedly, the trackpad is finicky. But overall, I’m very impressed with the Chromebook, especially as it’s replaced some of the functions I used to prefer on either my desktop or laptop. It might be the best living-room laptop ever made. And it’s a great travel option as well.
If manufacturers price this thing under $300, I think it will make significant waves in the computing world upon release this summer.
Sound advice. The only pre-requisite: You can’t be greedy.
I’m looking to pay a fun, inquisitive, and bold writer to help with an editorial project I’m working on. Position would require researching, interviewing, and writing 600-800 word feature stories.
If you or someone you know are interested, please direct them to inbox@blakesnow.com with portfolio work and interests. Please use, “Pick me, Smooth Harold!” as the subject line. Experience with oxford commas a plus!
In other news, this year is gonna be awesome.
As the value of higher education continues to decline, these are some great alternatives: Start a business, travel the world, create art, make people laugh, write a book, work for a charity, master a game, master a sport. Splendid!
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw-nt0eTb2w[/youtube]
Impossible is nothing.
Women have strengths that amaze men. They carry children, they carry hardships, they carry burdens, but they hold happiness, love and joy. They smile when they want to scream. They sing when they want to cry. They cry when they are happy, and laugh when they are nervous. Women wait by the phone for a “safe at home call” from a friend, after a snowy drive home. They are child care workers, executives, attorneys, stay-at-home moms, biker babes, and your neighbors. They wear suits, jeans, and they wear uniforms. They fight for what they believe in. They stand up against injustice. They go to the doctor with a frightened friend. Women are honest, loyal, and forgiving. They are smart-they know that knowledge is power. But they still know how to use their softer side to make a point. Women want to be the best for their family, their friends, and themselves. Their hearts break when a friend dies. They have sorrow at the loss of a family member, yet they are strong when they think there is no strength left. A woman can make a romantic evening unforgettable. Women come in all sizes, in all colors and shapes. They live in houses, apartments and cabins. They drive, fly, walk, run or e-mail you to show how much they care about you. The heart of a woman is what makes the world spin. Women do more than just give birth. They bring joy and hope. They give compassion and ideals. They give moral support to their family and friends. And all they want in return is a hug, a smile, and for you to do the same for people you come in contact with.
Men are good at lifting heavy things and killing spiders.
I found the above on my hard drive. Don’t remember where I found it.
BYU 71. SDSU 58. What a show!
Although Jimmer won the game, not to mention the hearts of sports fans, our big guys put up just under 20 points, blocked 10 shots, and rebounded like crazy. The crowd went nuts throughout the entire game. Most dominating single performance I’ve ever seen live.
Said NBA scoring champion Kevin Durant, after he scored 47 of his own on Wednesday, “Jimmer Fredette is the best scorer in the world!!”
Not true. But he’s undoubtedly one of the best. Certainly one of the most fun to watch. Amazing.
As seen on Yahoo News: “The most obvious way out of this mess is for bankers and developers to build or convert existing units into affordable studio apartments for the masses… Those kind of units created an on ramp to home ownership in the late 50s and early 60s. Instead, residential insiders are waiting for the country to be forced into some big public jobs initiative in hopes that property values can be propped up to levels that won’t massively threaten equity. They’re waiting for somebody to save them from the market instead of responding to it. Somebody’s got to take initiative. Will it be industry or government?”
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7kPRIQlNu9A[/youtube]
Although I normally avoid “restricted” movies on principle, I make exceptions when referred to by friends with good taste, especially since the Motion Picture Association of America hasn’t always shown the best judgment when rating movies.
Like Shawshank Redemption and Schindler’s List before it, The King’s Speech is one of those movies I’m glad I excepted. It’s not as good as the aforementioned. But it’s a feel-good story with great acting. Recommended for Royal Monarchy and British accent fans everywhere.
Jansport sent my wife the above post card, after she returned her nine-year old pack for free warranty repair. Thanks, Jansport! Although I recently purchased a competing brand on a whim, my family will never buy another brand of backpack after this nice gesture. Rock on!
3D making millions sick. Oops!
It’s not the biggest data center. But in terms of technology — including containment, a bajillion security checks, monitoring, and backups of backups — it has to be within the top one percent in the nation, if not the world. And it was built in itty bitty Carrollton, the rural Georgian city I spent my formative years in.
Congratulations, Brooks and Clay! More photos here.
“The greatest of all faults is to be conscious of none.”—Thomas Carlyle
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hhpxkGB1OyY&feature=player_embedded[/youtube]
Via Kottke.org
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sKYE9y8HDDs[/youtube]
I loves me some Karate Kid. But this scene was a bit forced, no? 🙂
After five loyal years using Firefox as my browser of choice, I finally switched to Google Chrome. Here’s why
Admittedly, Firefox started the whole “smart browser” thing. But with Chrome, Google has built the better mousetrap. For now, at least.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UdCqn4Xykws[/youtube]
Either way, this song rocks. 1964 was kind to pop rock lovers.
Those who know me well know that I love music. In terms of audio/visual entertainment, nothing compares. Not movies. Not games. Definitely not TV.
When opening it up to all forms of entertainment, music is right up there with books and dancing. In other words, if an armed man asked me which I’d prefer, I’d have a really hard time and probably die trying. What’s more, the latter is virtually impossible to enjoy without music.
That said, this is the new music I most enjoyed last year. New to me, at least. Call it my top bands, whatever. I had this stuff in heavy iTunes rotation last year: Continue reading…
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHqXGknxhvs[/youtube]
Via Brookstone
I contracted a gnarly cold last week which kept me in bed for most of a day and in-doors for the rest. Problem was, we got dumped on last Tuesday. Something like 15″ of snow. So I couldn’t shovel. Lindsey did.
For any females in the room, you have no idea how bad it feels for an otherwise healthy man to watch his wife or any surrounding woman do arduous work while he’s nearby. It’s embarrassing. It makes you feel like a deadbeat.
To make matter’s worse, two of our neighbors are old ladies and were out breaking their backs as well.
Now, I realize women are just as capable of shoveling as men. (Put the gun down and walk away slowly, extreme feminist lady.) What’s more, with so many lazy dudes in the world, it’s likely women shovel more than men.
But as a man, it just feels wrong to be nearby and incapacitated while women perform work you would otherwise be doing. In that respect, I’m admittedly old-fashioned.
One of the World’s Biggest Telescopes Is Buried Beneath the South Pole.
Like something out of a Dan Brown novel, I tell ya.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lK-eICWZY0[/youtube]
Awesome.
See also: My first time sailing was everything I thought it would be
Robot Unicorn Attack and Bejeweled 3. I’m hooked.
An Amazon.com warehouse. Storefront of course being their awesome website. Via The Big Picture.
As found in my lost SLR flash unit.
It took me a while, but I finally got around to reading Mark Twain, starting with The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, which I finished this week.
I figured the author was good, given all the praise that’s continuously heaped on him. But I didn’t know he’d be this good. I had no idea he was as laugh-out-loud funny as Jerry Seinfeld (even more so, maybe).
More than that, Twain has the uncanny ability to turn even the most mundane occurrences into entertaining literature (i.e. a poodle playing with a beetle). He is a master of the English language and a joy to read. As a bonus, he’s a modern day Confucius, sharing wisdom and life hacks throughout this 184 page book.
Here are 10 of my favorite passages: Continue reading…
Especially if you need of a little more color in your life or like Mark Twain. Either way, it’s widescreen win.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vFeD3qGVsrM[/youtube]
I watched the Google Chrome OS demo today and came away impressed. The product won’t meet the need of power-users, producers, and mult-media creators. But for everyone else, including power-users when they don’t need extra power, Chrome OS is the first legitimate consumer rival for both Macintosh and Windows I’ve ever seen. Much more so than Linux ever was (at least in a consumer sense).
Some highlights about Chrome OS, which has a planned release of “mid-2011” in select Acer and Samsung laptops:
Will Chrome OS overtake the world? No. But I could see it becoming as ubiquitous as Google’s own Gmail, if not bigger. Which is huge.
In other words, watch this space. Desktop computing is about to change. If only in how we store an access many of our files.
See also: Will Google Chrome OS change computers?
He did it by persuaded his friends that it would be a joyous privilege to whitewash a fence. Tom discovered, as Twain explained, “that Work consists of whatever a body is obliged to do, and that Play consists of whatever a body is not obliged to do.” Turn work into a game and people will play.
I grew up on White Christmas and it’s awesome. Arguably the best Christmas album of all time.
But after 25 years of listening memories, I think I’m finally ready to say that Frank Sinatra has the better Christmas voice. His renditions of White Christmas, I’ll be Home for Christmas, and Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas are the best I’ve ever heard. Even better than Bing.
Am I wrong?
Either way, what’s your favorite Christmas artist? (WARNING: Any mention of Mannheim Steamroller will be immediately deleted.)
I’m a climate change agnostic. Nevertheless, my latest piece quickly drew fire from at least one insecure proponent of anthropogenic global warming.
“Try becoming a real journalist and offering up a balanced article,” the fanman wrote. I guess he didn’t like that I quoted both critics and skeptics in a single article. “Balanced,” would have completely ignored one side or the other, apparently.
Or maybe he’s just mad that Fox News exists.
One of six fabled BCS computers, not unlike something you’d use to surf YouTube.
My latest for Wired Magazine. Bang. (also syndicated on CNN and Gizmodo)
Now we have proof. Scientific proof that suggests couples with a disproportionate number of daughters like us tend to be more beautiful than those who conceive more sons.
Of course, since 50 percent of the world is female, that might also suggest that half of the world is beautiful, which can’t be right. (Thanks, Sara)
Buy it here. A vast majority of the songs are keepers, particularly If You Want It, History of Modern, and Sister Marie Says.
You cannot call yourself an ’80s fan if you pass this up. Well, you can. But I’ll think less of you for it.
This is a great essay by Michael Laser on the importance of opposing political viewpoints:
To my amazement, I’ve found that some of my political opposites’ ideas make sense. This doesn’t mean I’ve reversed my thinking, but it’s eye- opening. If you shut out the noise of talk radio and your own unshakable faith, you can find persuasive arguments on both sides of the divide. Here are a few that I came up with:
He then goes on to objectively list seven opposing viewpoints, before concluding with, “Contempt for the opposition may be profitable on talk radio, but it doesn’t help the rest of us. All it accomplishes is to drive people further into their angry, fanatical corners.”
Long live political checks and balances!
Recent Wikipedia users only: I got a lot of funny looks ten years ago when I started talking to people about Smooth Harold.
Let’s just say some people were skeptical.
A decade after its founding, nearly 400 million people visit Smooth Harold and its sister sites every month — almost a third of the Internet.
It is the 5th most popular website in the world. But Smooth Harold isn’t anything like a commercial website. It is a community creation, written by a work-from-home dad making one entry at a time.
You are part of our community. And I’m writing today to ask you to protect and sustain Smooth Harold. I hope you’ll choose to act right now.
All the best,
Smooth Harold
My first two kids are Mama’s Girls. They regularly lunge for their mother whenever shy or after being apart for a time.
And although the pictured cutie still reaches for her mother, it’s fun to see her get anxious with outstretched arms, ready for hold, upon seeing me. Especially since my other two just looked at me funny as babies.
I don’t confuse either behavior with love. But I’d be lying if I said it isn’t nice to be liked.
