Mark Bult Design: San Francisco, CA, Established 1988

Thursday Top 5+5

I've been busy so I didn't have time to post a Top 5 last week. So here's a double dose of distractions for you.



What if humanity disappeared?
This Sunday, the National Geographic Channel premieres "Aftermath: Population Zero," which imagines what it would be like if humans suddenly disappeared from Earth (coincidentally, they chose Velma's birthday for the date on which human history ends). Pets will starve, dams will break, electricity will shut down and nuclear plants will eventually melt down. And that's just in the first few months; they continue to forecast out to 230 A.H. (after humans). Using CG and cleverly edited real film footage, National Geographic has created an altogether frightening and fascinating vision. Since we don't have cable Velma and I can't watch it, but I'll Netflix this someday if it gets released on DVD. There's an interactive timeline and several preview video clips on the web.
channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/aftermath/

The Wasmopolitan Cavalcade of Recorded Music
Legendary producer Don Was has a show on the new online video source My Damn Channel, and so far he's got interviews with and/or performances by Ozzy Osbourne, Slash and Duff from Guns 'N' Roses, Sass Jordan, Jill Sobule (performing in an LA furniture store!), Sweet Pea Atkinson, and Lori McKenna, along with some up-and-comers. The Ozzy interviews contain some of the most interesting questions Ozzy's gotten in years (in this way, Don Was could kick Bob Coburn's ass), and they even briefly discuss the long-forgotten duet Ozzy did with Madonna on Was (Not Was)'s 1983 album Born To Laugh at Tornadoes.
www.mydamnchannel.com/explore.aspx?channel=59
I also liked this rock–reggae band — Common Sense:
www.mydamnchannel.com/channel.aspx?episode=570

"The Mean Kitty Song"
I think this guy's cat and Orson may have been separated at birth.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qit3ALTelOo

Scratching Darth Vader
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFRzjl7XYas

Kermit on the Daily Show



The trouble with Steve Jobs
Fortune has named Apple number one on its 2008 list of America's Most Admired Companies. Among the magazine's coverage, editor at large Peter Elkind uncovers some facts behind Apple's stock backdating scandal and 2004 surgery that saved Steve Jobs from cancer.
money.cnn.com/2008/
There's also a separate interview with Jobs:
money.cnn.com/galleries/

Facebook and privacy
Much has been made over the last year about Facebook's privacy policy and terms of service. I happen to think most of this sharing is benign, but there's no question that it could be used (as could nearly any information) for the wrong purposes. While this video's outline of corporate and government relationships to Facebook are a bit tenuous, it provides some interesting insights that all Facebook users should be aware of.
www.albumoftheday.com/facebook/

Does Google have a Master Plan?
As if the Facebook video wasn't enough, this video contend that Google is secretly cooperating with the CIA and collecting your personal information for purposes that are possibly more nefarious than just simply serving up relevant text ads. I'm not sure how much of this I buy, but I'll look into the allegations of Robert David Steele, the former CIA agent. The video, btw, is worth watching if only for the terrific design.
masterplanthemovie.com

Make a cheapo parabolic wifi extender
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sUTT8wdN_VA

Parking garage of the future
Pull in, step out, the garage parks your car for you.
www.cnettv.com/9710-1_53-26226.html+5

Labels: Apple, cats, distractions, environment, humor, music, music video, privacy, tech, Thursday top 5, videos

Posted by espd at 4:06 PM | 
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