Extra Future

Month: March 2010

  • Sweatshop: Art, Conversation, Madness

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    Phil Nelson
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    [Sweatshop][link], the live art video show I produce, is next broadcasting on Friday, 12 March at 3pm PST. Mark your calendars using the substance of your choosing. I’m told we will be jamming the new soon-to-be-released [MC Frontalot][front] album, ZERO DAY, which Sweatshop’s host/creator [Eliza Gauger][eliza] did the back cover for. [link]: http://sweatshop.tv “Sweatshop” [eliza]:…

  • European Parliament Demands Transparency For ACTA

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    Phil Nelson
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    >The European Parliament today voted on a resolution that demands transparency in the ACTA negotiations, and that the Commission puts all papers on the table. > >The resolution was carried by 633 votes in favour, 13 against, and 16 abstentions. [Way to go, EU][link]. See also: [Christian Engström’s talk on ACTA][talk] from the European Parliament…

  • A Message From Ronald Reagan To The Fashion Designers Of the World

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    Phil Nelson
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    [This is the funniest thing I’ve seen in an extremely long time][link]. Stick with it, and you will thank me. With gifts. [link]: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6pGbMJrXvLo “YouTube – El fin del mundo, de Alberto González Vázquez”

  • Amazon.com’s 1-Click Patent Confirmed Following Re-Exam

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    Phil Nelson
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    [This is just plain terrible news][link]. It’s the software equivalent of someone having a patent on “cash-only.” It’s a technology (and I hesitate to even call it a technology) so completely obvious that it makes the entire patent system look ridiculous by it’s inclusion. This re-exam sticks us with another 4 years of the [legal][bnn]…

  • The Panic Status Board

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    Phil Nelson
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    [Compare The Panic Status Board][link] with [Jesse Schnell’s talk at DICE 2010][dice], and see what he meant. Panic’s productivity has gone up due to work being more “game-like.” [link]: http://www.panic.com/blog/2010/03/the-panic-status-board/ “Panic Blog » The Panic Status Board” [dice]: http://extrafuture.com/2010/02/24/jesse-schells-presentation-at-dice-2010/ “Jesse Schell’s Presentation at DICE 2010”

  • “Detroit Wants to Save Itself by Shrinking”

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    Phil Nelson
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    >[Operating on a scale never before][link] attempted in this country, the city would demolish houses in some of the most desolate sections of Detroit and move residents into stronger neighborhoods. Roughly a quarter of the 139-square-mile city could go from urban to semi-rural. [link]: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100308/ap_on_bi_ge/us_downsizing_detroit “Detroit wants to save itself by shrinking – Yahoo! News”

  • Harmony

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    Phil Nelson
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    [A procedural drawing tool written in HTML5.][link] [link]: http://mrdoob.com/lab/javascript/harmony/ “Harmony – Procedural drawing tool”

  • Valve Announces Steam, Source Engine Coming to OS X

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    Phil Nelson
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    [Since they’re porting Source][link], that means Half-Life 2, Left 4 Dead, Team Fortress 2, Portal, Portal 2 and all Source-based games will be available for the Mac. Jimminy. [link]: http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2010/03/steam-mac/ “Valve Brings Hit Games, Steam Service to Mac | GameLife | Wired.com”

  • Funranium Labs’ Experiments in Coffee

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    Phil Nelson
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    >[At some point, all of us start wondering how much coffee we can drink before our hearts explode.][link] and with that, begins the journey. I am constitutionally incapable of seeing a coffee called “The Black Blood of the Earth” and not purchasing it. [link]: http://www.funranium.com/BBotE.html “Funranium Labs – Coffee Science”

  • Lost Garden on Video Game Heroes and Fandom

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    Phil Nelson
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    [The article is games-specific][link], but I find that it applies to any creative media: Games, film, music, web development. Many points and questions worth digesting, especially the central question: Are the games you have fandom for WORTH your time and love? Much of modern fandom is mired in what appears, to me, to be an…

  • Golden Ratio Calculator

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    Phil Nelson
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    [A simple web-based golden ratio calculator][link]. Used it this morning. (Via [Ryan Taylor][taylor]) [link]: http://goldenratiocalculator.com/ “Golden Ratio Calculator” [taylor]: http://twitter.com/ryantaylor/status/10174791544 “Twitter update source”

  • Twin Galaxies Founder Walter Day Retires

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    Phil Nelson
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    [Walter is one of those guys who just obviously loved games and the weirdos that play them][link]. I hope he enjoys his retirement. [link]: http://www.gamesetwatch.com/2010/03/twin_galaxies_founder_walter_d.php?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+gamesetwatch+%28GameSetWatch%29 “GameSetWatch – Twin Galaxies Founder Walter Day Retires”