Contractor on tranquilizers

More building errors here.

Tafiti: very sexy Silverlight search engine

This one you MUST see: http://www.tafiti.com/
It's a search engine front-end from Micrsoft, using some new Silverlight UI possibilities. Now the web is really going to look sexy!

Paint.NET v3.10 released

Paint.NET is free image and photo editing software for computers that run Windows. It features an intuitive and innovative user interface with support for layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools. An active and growing online community provides friendly help, tutorials, and plugins.

So much for the sales talk. I use Paint.NET for all those small things Photoshop just takes too long to start up for.

Download Paint.NET v3.10

A history of the Amiga

As a kid a had a Commodore 64 (I still have one). I spend many long nights behind the flickering tv-screen hacking the machine in any way possible.

Then one day, my then best friend got a brand new Amiga 500 for his birthday. It was the ultimate computer of the time. It supported real multitasking when most other computer could not even run more than one application at a time. It had custom chips for audio and video acceleration, a heafty 32 bit 68000 CPU, and 1MB RAM. Oh, how I wanted one!



But, it was not to be. I eventually bought an IBM compatible when I had the money, and the Amiga slowly faded from memory.

Now the guys at Ars Technica are writing an excellent article about the history of the Amiga. This brings back a lot of memories..., and makes very good reading!

Part 1: Genesis
Part 2: The birth of Amiga
Part 3: The first prototype

Name a country that starts with a U...

And these people think they rule the world. At first I thought I was angry, now it just makes me sad...

How cool is this: Google maps of Mars!

Google, in collaboration with NASA researchers at Arizona State University, have created some of the most detailed scientific maps of Mars ever made. And they are all available for everyone to enjoy!

Asus eee pc starts shipping in september

According to this article, the eee pc should be shipped in bulk from early september. American prices range from $199 to $369, European prices will probable be in the same range, except the $ will be a €.

Lovely

A Linux server the size of a book

A complete Linux server in the palm of your hand? Have a look at the decTOP: It houses a 10GB, 3,5" disk, 128MB RAM and an AMD Geode processor running at 366MHz. All parts are easily upgradable. The RAM is a 200-pin SO-DIMM module, and can be upgraded to 512MB max. The harddrive is 3,5", which means an upgrade won't cost a fortune. Also in the box are USB 1.1, VGA (1600x1200), audio in and out and 9 V92 modem. Ethernet is supported via USB. And best of all: it is currently shipping for only $99,- !!!

Oh yeah, it also runs Windows CE 5.0, for those interested. Now, I'm mostly a Windows guy myself, but CE isn't really my taste. I haven't been able to find anyone who managed to fit any other Windows version on the device.

So, check this manual for installing Ubuntu, and have loads of fun.

P.S.: I am in no way related (business wise or other) to the guys behind decTOP.

Asus eee pc

At the Computex Taipei 2007 Asus presented their Eee PC701, which seem to combine the best properties of notebooks and PDA in one.

It's x86 based, runs a customized Linux (and is rumoured to run Windows XP as well).

Watch this flic I found on youtube

Some geeks have allready started a eee hacker site, that's real enthusiasm!

With the alledged introduction price of $199,- I would devinitly buy one!

Update: the European introduction prices are now set at €239,- for the 2GB version and €399 for the 4GB. Unfortunatly the introduction prices haven't been maintained, but it still look like a good deal to me.

Icy world

After my encounter with the Snow Cruiser, I had a closer look at the environment it was supposed to operate in. The Snow Cruiser reached Antarctica in januari of 1939 for it's intended journey to the magnetic South Pole. Unfortunatly, it never got there. But what is at the South Pole is the Amundsen-Scott South Pole station. At present it houses about 50 persons during winters, and an additional 100 in summer time. The nearest human settlement is 900 miles away, so it is one of the most barren places you will find on earth.

Have a look around this fascinating place.

Snow Cruiser

Have a look at this awesome piece of machinery!

It was constructed in the 1930's for intended use on Antarctica. It was eventuelly shipped to the South Pole, but never became a real succes. One of its flaws was its limited offroad ability. After driving off the ship at Bay of Whales, it sank to it's axles into the snow and the smooth rubber tires just spun helpless. The crew tried mounting spare tires doubling the front wheels, and mounted chains around the back wheels for extra traction, but performance was never as expected. Read the full story on the Snow Cruiser.

Some really strange laws

Today I came across some really strange laws that still exists in this world. Let me show you some examples:

• In Victoria Australia, only a licensed electrician is allowed to change a lightbulb.
• In Indonesia, the penalty for masturbation is decapitation.
• In Switzerland it is against the law for men to urinate standing up after 10pm which is the same time that it is illegal to flush the toilet.
• In the UK, a pregnant woman can legally relieve herself anywhere she wants – even, if she so requests, in a policeman’s helmet.
• In Birmingham, England, it is illegal for a man and a woman to have sex on church steps after sundwon.

Here is the complete list of strange laws