Google Chrome OS Undocumented Features
The buzz yesterday was that Google has plans to develop its mediocre Chrome browser into a mediocre operating system by next summer. Dave Rutledge speculates on some of its "undocumented features." Your family photos are accompanied by text ads for skin care and diet plans. Removes all Falun Gong references from your files. Every month, the hard drive is automatically defragged and investigated ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 9, 2009 07:57
The Onion on Star Trek
This "Onion News Network" parody report on fan reaction to the then-new "Star Trek" prequel movie came out in May but Timothy Sandefur's post was the first I'd seen it. "Yes it was exciting . . . but where was the heavyhanded message about tolerance, where was the stiff acting . . . I mean, it just didn't seem like a ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 9, 2009 07:05
Getting Even with United
Sons of Maxwell's Dave Carroll continues his quest to strike back at United Airlines for the great guitar breaking caper. Actually not a bad song. Some of their non-revenge videos are available at their YouTube channel.Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 8, 2009 15:23
Loose Tweets Sink Fleets
Apropos my weekend discussion of breaking news in the age of Twitter, Jason Kottke points to a set of "WWIII Propaganda Posters" by Brian Lane Winfield Moore spoofing their WWII predecessors.Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 6, 2009 12:59
Quote of the Day - Analogies Edition
Xrlq: Q: What’s the difference between a pit bull wearing lipstick and a hockey mom? A: A pit bull doesn’t quit. Ouch.Posted in Outside The Beltway on July 4, 2009 11:53
Overdosing on Michael Jackson
Ladies and gentlemen, Mike Lester: via Frank Stephenson via Robert PratherPosted in Outside The Beltway on July 1, 2009 07:59
Quote of the Day, Wise Latina Edition
"Perhaps South Carolina governor Mark Sanford was moved by the remarks of Sonia Sotomayor ..., and decided to study deeply the wisdom of a Latina woman." -- Emily YoffePosted in Outside The Beltway on June 24, 2009 16:40
Quote of the Day - Turnabout is Fair Gay Edition
"We should not allow Republicans to marry. It undercuts the entire institution of marriage." Michael Reynolds of Sideways MenckenPosted in Outside The Beltway on June 24, 2009 15:28
JibJab ‘He’s Barack Obama’ Video
The gang at JibJab have another video out. This one debuted at the #nerdprom (aka, the Radio and Television Correspondents' Association Dinner): Meh.Posted in Outside The Beltway on June 20, 2009 08:28
Weird Al ‘Craigslist’ Doors Video
Not one of his better efforts, frankly, but I haven't seen anything from Weird Al Yankovich in years: Jack Humphrey jokes, "Craigslist has truly arrived. When Weird Al makes a Doors-inspired melody about your site, there’s really nothing left to do but cash checks and wait for Google to buy." Indeed. That seems to be the business model for quite a ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on June 17, 2009 09:23
Obama Hasn’t Faced A National Existential Crisis. That’s Good, Right?
In response to this article, which is subtitled, "Scholars say Lincoln, Roosevelt, Truman faced greater challenges in office", sci-fi author John Scalzi rightly notes:This is somehow a bad thing? I mean, I’m generally a fan of Obama and all; he seems a smart and generally capable fellow. But given the choice of testing his mettle with a nation-rending civil war ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on June 9, 2009 01:00
Lamar Smith: Liberal Bias Bigger Threat Than Terrorism
Rep. Lamar Smith (TX) had an interview yesterday on the number one rated cable news network, Fox News, in which he made the astonishing claim that "liberal media bias" is the biggest threat facing America today: SMITH: Let me just say — this is going to sound radical, I don’t mean for it to be radical — but to me, the ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on June 5, 2009 11:34
Weird Solutions to Nonexistent Problems
Batteries Feel Included offers a 17-step "Easy Solutions #1" to the problem, "So, you're in love with one of your friends, but she has a boyfriend and probably wouldn't have sex with you anyway." Step Ten: If your friend is a curious person she will probably ask 'What worked?', even if she doesn't ask this question it is important that you ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on May 28, 2009 11:15
Obama Declares Gitmo Detainees ‘Fetuses’
Scott Ott's latest parody news story: In an effort to shut down the U.S. Naval Detention Center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, thereby restoring America’s moral standing in the world, President Barack Obama today declared some 240 enemy combatants held at Gitmo to be ‘human fetuses’. In an executive order, the president said, “Since I ordered Gitmo shut down, and people don’t want ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on May 22, 2009 07:45
Up Against the Wall Redneck Mother’s Day
Sometimes, it takes a British Marx scholar to provide obvious-in-hindsight commentaries on American culture. Norm Geras is right to celebrate Jerry Jeff Walker's barroom anthem as a Mother's Day classic. He was born in Oklahoma, His wife's name's Betty Lou Thelma Liz And he's not responsible for what he's doing Cause his mother made him what he is. And it's up against the wall Redneck ...Posted in Outside The Beltway on May 10, 2009 07:42
