I want a bit of a change. I'm not blogging on this site at all anymore and wanted to try something new. So from this moment on this blog is going dark and I'll be doing more on the root of this domain in a brand spanking new Wordpress install. Find me blogging at mikebrowne.com and microblogging, from my iPhone and other places, at my site for weird and sometimes more NSFW crap defrig.com.

All the older content on this old blog is staying right where it is for now. So if you want you can blow the dust off some archived items if you like.

I don't really need to say much more. That widget is really cool. If you want to see the site check out NisHere.com

Randy Pausch, the Carnegie Mellon University computer scientist whose last lecture, titled "Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams," became a viral video on YouTube, died today at the age of 47 after a two-year battle with pancreatic cancer. Doctors told Pausch last August that his cancer, which was in remission, had recurred and that he would live only three to six months longer.

A month after hearing the dreadful news, on September 18, 2007, Pausch delivered the lecture that would become his legacy. He regaled students and colleagues with a tour that was both heart-wrenching and amusing of his attempts to live out his childhood fantasies. Some he managed to pull off: experiencing zero-gravity, helping to design attractions for Disney World by participating in its Imagineering program and writing an entry in the World Book encyclopedia--on virtual reality, his expertise. Others didn't come true, such as becoming a pro football player. He alluded to teaching as a way of helping students live out their dreams. [source Scientific American]

Inspirational and creative man. Condolences to all who knew and loved him.

It's very rare I mention the place I used to work, but when I see an advertisement with an old friend as the star I just have to give a shout out. Well done Elliot! You are a fancy lady.

Check out this acetaminophen encrusted skull. No headaches for this guy. Coming to you via BoingBoing

Want to download the newest Nine Inch Nails album? ... for free. Yes free. And legally too. Here's what it says on the site:

as a thank you to our fans for your continued support, we are giving away the new nine inch nails album one hundred percent free, exclusively via nin.com.

the music is available in a variety of formats including high-quality MP3, FLAC or M4A lossless at CD quality and even higher-than-CD quality 24/96 WAVE. your link will include all options - all free. all downloads include a PDF with artwork and credits.

for those of you interested in physical products, fear not. we plan to make a version of this release available on CD and vinyl in july. details coming soon.

Cool. I guess the tour will be where the real money comes from. Thanks Trent Reznor. You rock, and sometimes even roll.

Download nine inch nails - The Slip

Larry Lessig, the Net’s most celebrated lawyer, cites John Philip Sousa, celestial copyrights and the "ASCAP cartel" in his argument for reviving our creative culture. [source TEDtalks]

In the spirit of "Hearts of Darkness" the gritty documentary film about the making of Coppola's "Apocalypse Now" comes Rain of Madness, a mockumentary look at the making of the epic war comedy Tropic Thunder starring Jack Black and Ben Stiller. I'm not sure if we'll ever see the whole thing, but the trailer looks fun:

NSFW (but f*cking funny) language ahead:


Yay, Escapist.

This one's for Carol:


"There will be milkshakes for old men"

Take this one for example:


Doogie!

Perhaps that would have been a better film. Saw "The Happening". That movie was not happening at all.