Funniest Malaysian Home Video

Hah! This is possibly one of the greatest examples of globalization that I've ever seen. I don't know how many people have seen the original Numanuma video, but this is a Malaysian take on it:

Funniest Malaysian Home Video

I'm still trying to wrap my brain around the implications of this, but it's certainly worth a laugh. One of my friends made a comment about how he guesses jokes aren't always lost in translation. I guess that's the beauty of music and of action. Both transcend the boundaries of culture and language.
Well, I have nothing very intelligent to say about the idea yet. It's bugging me, though, because I know there's something big here.

A Future Fueled by Grass Clippings

New technologies are like candy. They're short-lived, in that they are quickly replaced by something better, and sweet in the sense that they often provide much needed services. A good example is ethanol production for use as a fuel source. The original method involved using corn starch, because it's easier to break down into ethanol than, say, cellulose. However, there are some companies out there who are looking into harnessing cellulose as a source of ethanol. Though the process is still more expensive than producing ethanol from corn, there are hopes that within 6 or more years it will be as cheap, if not cheaper. Ideally, I'd like to see a technology like this miniaturized so that people can make their own ethanol fuel from their own grass clippings. Mow the lawn and get a few more miles out of your car at the same time.

Cellulosic Ethanol

Newt Gingrich

It's always a little frustrating and alarming when someone like Gingrich start spouting off opinions about how they think the laws of free speech should be reexamined because of the threat of terrorism. Now, I understand terrorism is a threat, but to me it seems that it has been abused by politicians and their employ in order to restrict civil liberties in favor of increased security. What does National Security even mean, anyway? It's an ambiguous statement that merely favors stemming the concerns of the already fearful. Not only is National Security a way of providing a false sense of security (and what I mean by this, is that if someone really wants to perform an act of terrorism, then they will succeed in their efforts, despite all our preparations), but it is a way of justifying the slow chipping away of liberty.
Liberty, as an economist put well the other day, is the right to be left alone. Free speech is the ability to say what we want as we deem necessary. Of course, I'm sure the tact that Gingrich and his lackeys will take is that of reducing the limits of free speech under the guise that we can say what we like so long as it doesn't cause any harm. Ambiguous in nature, this definition can easily be twisted in order to fit the desired legal parameters that will eventually lead to the abuse of our civil liberties. Frankly, I love these United States and I feel they were founded on liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Gingrich, and any politician that favors National Security over Civil Liberties, seems eager to change those facts of life that, at present, we can still take for granted.
I find it ironic that he then goes on to attack campaign finance laws that he feels reduce freedom of speech. I guess he had no problem with free speech so long as it helps line his pockets.
Here's the article that got me ranting: Gingrich Worries over Free Speech

Parkour

Parkour is a relatively new art form that has grown up recently in Europe. They're acrobats, some who have had gymnastics training in the past and some without, that like to use the streets as their playground. There are a number of groups that do it. Among them are the Dvinsk Clan, the Yamakasi, and David Belle. I'm not sure if I should be in awe or if I should question their sanity. Either way it's cool to watch.

Dvinsk Clan

David Belle and the Yamakasi

Strange but amazing art forms

Sarah and I were taking it easy this afternoon and we were watching some music videos to pass the time. We got to watching some videos by Fatboy Slim and Dirty Vegas, but there was one by Fatboy Slim that I thought was just amazing. I was just wondering how long it must have taken for the people in the video to master the art of juggling so well that they're able to perform such feats of coordination. The number of hours must be boggling.

Juggling Video

The details of search engines

I never knew there was so much work behind creating a search engine that worked. It makes sense, though, since there's such a wide variety of questions a searcher can put forward. Natural Language Processsing and advanced algorithms. Frankly, they explain it a lot better here:

Odd Details of Search Engines

Another cool technology. The company, Aqua Sciences, came up with a machine that's capable of producing some 600 gallons of water a day in only 14% humidity. That's an incredible time saver. I think the greatest opportunity the machine has to offer would be for humanitarian purposes. Instead of relying on trucking water into disaster areas, one of these machines could be shipped in. Also, what about places like sub-Saharan Africa or other parched places? Of course I doubt it will get out there any time soon. It's just not economically viable, so it will go completely unnoticed that such an incredible boon for the needy will only end up serving military needs.

An Amazing Advance

The Unusual Fruits of Boredom

Just another day

Today was a long one. I trudged my way through the inevitable pain that is the day-after-Steel-Reserve. While I was doing that I spent a lot of time studying for a take-home test. I've taken half of it already and now I'm going to get some sleep. Hopefully I won't forget everything I've studied by tomorrow morning.
I wasn't able to get any work done on ChaCha today, because java apps make my computer go schizo and results in the black screen of death. However, I was able to send out some invites, so that made me happy.
Jamie arrived on campus today. Of course he drove up as close to the building as possible and was blaring techno reminiscent of the rave party last year. He's doing well and just got back from Indonesia, actually. He's a regular globe trotter now. I can't say I envy him, though, becaues cross-Pacific flights are ungodly long and tedious. I don't care how many movies they show, those flights never get any more pleasant. I kind of wish I'd spoken to him before hand and told him to jump over to Ambon so I could figure out what state my birthplace is in. I wonder if the holy eels are still there?
Anna (my sister) arrives tomorrow. This will mark the first time she's ever visited my school. I'm excited. I'm still not sure what we'll do while she's here, but I plan on just hanging out and having fun like I normally do. The last thing I'd want to do is give her a false impression. That's not my style.
Alright, enough blathering. Time to get a few hours of sleep.
-Funsize