The Blog
09 Mar 2013 I'm a sucker for a good aphorism:-
"Science is so powerful that it drags us kicking and screaming towards the truth despite our best efforts to avoid it." "We're not thinking machines, we're - we're feeling machines that happen to think." "Brains are survival engines, not truth detectors." http://www.rifters.com/crawl/?p=3984 Predators run to eat. Prey run to live. Wealth corrupts. And absolute wealth corrupts absolutely.  No Moods, Ads or Cutesy Fucking Icons (Re-reloaded) » Culpa. »Say what you will about this Peter Watts guy, he sure has a way with punchy quotes. Just look at some of the one-liners he's come up with that various folks have pinched for their sigfiles, or stuck o... [from: Google+ Posts] [ 09-Mar-13 8:44am ] 07 Mar 2013 Here's a good one for Google Play specialists. How do I copy a Winamp playlist to Google Play? Can anyone point me at a simple recipe? A quick search turned up some youtube vids and some descriptions that sounded horrible and awkward involving going via Windows Media player.
Search both in Google and Google plus was effectively useless as it just wanted to promote Winamp for Android or it was full of spam for keycodes to Winamp Pro. [from: Google+ Posts] [ 07-Mar-13 1:26pm ] #WeLoveTheNHS If you're in the UK, please help #SaveTheNHS by signing this petition. https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/nhs-section-75-share1
And here's an example of why. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2013/mar/02/nhs-commercialisation-bereaved-mother-fight   Stop the NHS privatisation plot »Jeremy Hunt is planning to force doctors to help him privatise more of our NHS. I've just signed a petition to stop him - click here to sign it too. [from: Google+ Posts] [ 07-Mar-13 7:24am ] 06 Mar 2013 Shame there's no photo. The electric Bromptons have the added advantage that they deal with the theft problem in London. You just fold them up and wheel them inside with you.
 The Electric Transport Shop originally shared this post: Ben Irvine from CycleLifestyle.co.uk takes our electric Brompton around London for a day. see what he says thinks here - http://ow.ly/ir7Ul   Electric Dreams: Why e-bikes are the future of transport in London »Wow. I've just had the most fun I've had since the eighties. And, in the process, I've had a revelation about the future of urban transport. With thre... [from: Google+ Posts] [ 06-Mar-13 4:57pm ] 05 Mar 2013 This is a good one. Just read it, m'kay?
http://www.ribbonfarm.com/2013/03/05/honesty-and-the-human-body/   Honesty and the Human Body »Kevin is a 2013 blogging resident visiting us from his home blog over at Melting Asphalt. In economics and biology, honesty is understood in terms of signals. Signals are anything used to communicate,... [from: Google+ Posts] [ 05-Mar-13 6:17pm ] 04 Mar 2013 Yet another story about London's Tech City, Silli Roundabout, Hoxditch startups, Techhub and Google Campus. http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/03/04/ceo_of_tech_city_joanna_shields/ What's slightly weird is that it seems surprisingly hard to find a big list of startups and even moderate success stories. Doesn't anyone want the free publicity or is it all so stealth that it's invisible?
 Queen of Tech City says she will decide what Tech City does soon now o The Register »CEO of Tech City Joanna Shields says that the "woolly" objectives of London's (in)famous Tech City predated her, but she isn't giving much more clarity on what the government initiative should achieve... [from: Google+ Posts] [ 04-Mar-13 9:41am ] 28 Feb 2013 Every once in a while I stumble over this website that dates from 1993. http://deoxy.org/deoxyold.htm Keep Clicking.
[from: Google+ Posts] [ 28-Feb-13 5:21pm ] 27 Feb 2013 I told you before. #WeLoveTheNHS #SaveTheNHS
https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/nhs-section-75#petition Now it's time to tell Jeremy Hunt we don't want it privatised to the extent that he wants.  Stop the NHS privatisation plot »Jeremy Hunt is planning to force doctors to help him privatise more of our NHS. I've just signed a petition to stop him - click here to sign it too. [from: Google+ Posts] [ 27-Feb-13 6:42pm ] 26 Feb 2013 25 Feb 2013 What's the smallest device that can run a music player and act as a USB host to a self powered hard drive?
[from: Google+ Posts] [ 25-Feb-13 2:10pm ] 24 Feb 2013 This pretty much sums up how I feel about Smartphones, iOS, Android, Chromebooks, Tablets. http://xkcd.com/1174/
  xkcd: App »[[A really damn stupid website being viewed in a mobile browser. A popup covers absolutely everything and makes the entire page unusable. "Want to visit an incomplete version of our website where you ... [from: Google+ Posts] [ 24-Feb-13 5:24pm ] The Times paywall is annoying. Because I want to link to this article from Caitlin Moran in Saturday's Time Magazine.
http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/magazine/article3691593.ece The gist being that her daughter is just about to become a teenager, just as Caitlin did in 1988. For her 1988 was boring and dead but it was the lull before the storm of the 2nd summer of love, ecstacy, Madchester, Stone Roses, smiley faces, whistles, the dawn, YBAs, Britpop, trip-hop, neons, beats, cities staying awake all night. That was the last time she was bored for 15 years. Which brings us to 2003 at which point it had all been done. So then there's 10 years of just filling in the details. Travellers, Ravers, hippies, yuppies, punks, junglists, vintage upscalers, New Romantics, Marxists, Scifi nerds, hipsters, retromaniacs, Beyonce, Les Mis, Freeview, Facebook, Twitter, atrophied politics and on and on. It all just exists, but can you imagine a teenager walking down the street wearing something we would find genuinely jarring, or a new recreational drug creating an entire sub-culture, or a lifestyle springing up that's radically different to anything currently on offer? So now she's excited for her 12 year old and that we're just on the cusp of the new. Because all over Britain, in bedrooms and at bus stops and on websites people are talking and striking matches and now we're just waiting for something to catch fire. Except, except, here's another journalist of a certain age, waiting for the kids to start a revolution again. I'm just as guilty of this as her. Standing on the sidelines cheering, demanding that the kids change the rules. But not actually doing it myself. And it's a theme I keep coming back to. We're overdue for a social revolution now but where is it? It's not hard to see echoes of Retromania in all that!   Brace yourselves - a new era is coming | The Times »'In 2013, our day-to-day mood is slightly rattled - but never, ever surprised' [from: Google+ Posts] 23 Feb 2013 [ 23-Feb-13 7:41pm ] 21 Feb 2013 Some funs stuff on Bruce Sterling's tumblr. I especially liked these two.
http://brucesterling.tumblr.com/post/41864373580/mrs-dante-gabriel-rossetti-as-ophelia http://brucesterling.tumblr.com/post/42572563985/contemporary-italian-politics  [from: Google+ Posts] [ 21-Feb-13 7:32am ] 20 Feb 2013 So farewell then, Kevin Ayers.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2013/feb/20/kevin-ayers-dies-aged-68   Kevin Ayers dies aged 68 »Singer-songwriter and founding member of pioneering psychedelic band Soft Machine has died [from: Google+ Posts] [ 20-Feb-13 5:47pm ] 18 Feb 2013 If 90% lurk, 9% comment/engage and 1% create, does that mean that only 1% of people need a full function PC with a full function keyboard and mouse, the 9% can get by with the cut down apps on tablets with an occasional keyboard or a chromebook, and the 90% only need a smart phone and an onscreen keyboard.
Except: http://gigaom.com/2012/05/06/bbc-1-percent-rule/ [from: Google+ Posts] [ 18-Feb-13 6:43pm ] 16 Feb 2013 Because...
 Josh Nay originally shared this post: Think of the seals! By the way, I probably should mention needlessly that punctuation is spelled wrong in the picture. I can't help it. It's what I do.  [from: Google+ Posts] [ 16-Feb-13 5:52pm ] First Martini of Sat night, delicious. Continuing to catch up on Internet news and still posting comments, priceless!
Guess I'm too old to be going to this all nighter then. http://www.planb-london.com/whats-on/february/16/02/2013-submit/ especially after working hard in the Pinetum, recovering from extended flu and being full of aches and pains. Shame, because I'd like to see both Indigo and DJRum some time soon.   Planb »With an exciting new music programme and creative team behind its new look and identity, including Kate Moross (one of London's most exciting young creatives, and Art Director of We Are Iso), as well ... [from: Google+ Posts] [ 16-Feb-13 5:50pm ] Here's another one. Not cheep, mind.
http://www.carbonelectricbicycleebike.com/electric-bicycle-karma38  Electric Bikes originally shared this post: Electric Bicycle Karma38 Carbon Mountain Bike Pedal-Assist Motorized Ebike NEW Karma38 is on the most affordable advanced Pedal Assist Mountain bike in the market today. The Karma38 e-bike has to be ridden to really be appreciated, fitted to you this bike is one of the most comfortable and lightest e-bikes you can ride today. For 2013 the Karma38 features a new innovative "T-Angular" tube design frame built out of 3k HM Carbon Fiber. This new carbon fiber frame offers unparalleled strength without all the excess weight you'd have from an aluminum or steel frame bike. Making this one of the lightest, most agile, electric bikes in the market and for sure the most affordable carbon E-Bike in the market in the world. Features for the Karma38 Pedal Assist E-Bike include: Multi-positioning lightweight alloy handlebar and stem combination Advanced Multi-Speed onboard computer module with built in speedometer, wattage meter, battery life indicator and so much more (See Manuals) Front & Rear Tektro Hydraulic disc brake SRAM crank and derailleur's with KMC Chain World renowned Rock Shox with adjustable front suspension fork (w/ lockout feature). AW Rims with Kenda Tires Velo Seat Electric Motor & Battery Specs: 36V, 8FUN motor 9a Lithium battery Recharge Time 2-4 Hours Battery Ride Time 5-7 Hours Travel approximately 38 Miles on full charge Sizes: 26" Carbon Fiber Frame Currently Available in: 16" (fits person from 5.0' - 5.7') 18" (fits person from 5.8' - 6.2') The Karma38 is a reliable bike that will take you thousands of miles with little to no regular maintenance.  [from: Google+ Posts] [ 16-Feb-13 8:27am ] I approve of this approach of taking a good bicycle and adding minimal e-assist. But I'd keep a 7 speed rear derailleur. And I'd probably prefer a rear geared hub to a front one.
We really need 36v-15AHr or 48v-10AHr and those bottle batteries don't quite manage this. Perhaps that could be packaged to fit in the bottom of the main frame triangle. Obviously these guys are limiting power but the minimal geared hubs can be over-driven to about 750W. So 48v and 10-15A is both do-able and suitably peppy. Powered 25mph should be ok. Electric Bikes originally shared this post: Electric Fixie This is the lightest electric bicycle available in Australia. Whilst most electric bicycles weigh in excess of 27kg, this model weighs only 17.5kg, it is a slick and stylish electric bicycle that we've designed completely to be exceedingly simple, practical and robust. It is designed in Australia, uses the Panasonic tube battery and is well suited to the mini-motor or any larger power motors. It comes with a medium/large sized frame only, suitable for riders between ~ 170cm - 190cm. The fixed gear bicycle typically has a single fixed gear, no brakes and a racing frame and component design optimised for speed and efficiency. The electric fixie takes these concepts and has urbanised some features; such as brakes and free wheel ability (flip-flop rear wheel) to create a high performance bicycle that is designed to be the perfect urban commuting vehicle. The deficits of a single gear are completely taken care of by the slick bicycle design and electric motor. Using a custom designed reinforced frame, an advanced light weight 9Ah Panasonic lithium ion battery shaped into a water bottle and a front hub motor, this is an exceptional bicycle. The bicycle is street legal with the 200W motor and has a range of approximately 40km and speed of 28km/hr with light pedalling. Upgrading to any of the larger 350 - 500W motors provides a higher top speed (30-35km/hr). The fixie electric conversion kit and fixie bicycle can be purchased online but you'll be required to assemble the components - very easy. The bike costs $600, the conversion kit $1050 and delivery Australia wide $45. The bicycle comes with a spare set of retro style handlebars for comfortable and stylish riding and also a small tool box with all items needed for its assembly, which takes only about 15 minutes. It's an awesome limited edition bicycle (only 50 ever made) that can be ridden either electric or non-electric. Approximate ranges and speeds of the electric fixie with light pedalling and different motor powers are: 200W: 40 km range, 28km/hr top speed 350W: 25 km range, 32 km/hr top speed 500W: 20 km range, 35 km/hr top speed  [from: Google+ Posts] [ 16-Feb-13 8:09am ] 
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