Apple adds video calls to iPhone
(I’m sure you’ve already seen this everywhere.) Not in Canada for launch – will come to us in late July. Question is, will it be on Wind?
The Burger Lab: How Often Should You Flip a Burger?
the results may surprise and intrigue.
Blind Spots: Here's What The Biggest Tech Companies Suck At
brief and generally on point.
William Gibson on his favourite sci-fi books
I’d love to hear Iain M. Banks’ top ten.
Emily Nussbaum on 'Lost'
“It was a hit series about the difficulties of finding an ending to a hit series. Cuselof had a deadline for years, which should have allowed them to pace out their puzzle’s solutions. Instead, we got cheesy temple vamping and a bereavement Holodeck. It became a show about placating, even sedating, fans, convincing them that, in the absence of anything coherent or challenging, love was enough.” Quite a smart analysis, not as negative as that quote makes it sound.
iPad TV
lonelysandwich on the iPad as a new video experience, and the possible future of AppleTV. Reminds me of Lost fan theorizing.
The Canadian Copyright Bill: Flawed But Fixable
Michael Geist on the new bill.
First look at AMC's Walking Dead
this is just promo fluff, but nonetheless I’m excited about the potential. “Dawn of the Dead meets The Wire.”
Vgo Telepresence Robot
love the pictures. Can’t help but think that someone got a full body amputation.
D8 Video: Apple CEO Steve Jobs on Adobe Flash`
“a technical decision”
Ars Technica digs up the details of the P2P indie film lawsuits
Window Farms
grow food inside in your window with suspended plastic bottles. Pretty neat idea but wouldn’t I eat my whole window in like one meal? (related idea: window pigs)
Facebook Friends: God Died to Get Away From Us
“The whole point of having friends, as opposed to “friends,” is that you don’t have to relentlessly keep up appearances and strike poses.” Great article. (via Funkaoshi)
Playback scales back to online only
Canada’s film/tv industry paper is closing its print operations, and laying off 18 people. There will undoubtedly be a lot more of this in the coming years.
'Lost,' 'V,' 'FlashForward' Lead 2009-10 Genre Offerings
“Network genre shows really took a beating in 2009-10, with 11 programs offered by the network, and just six returning.”
Wacchen
re: instapaper for video. Awesome. Now it needs a plex/boxee plugin (altough come to think of it, I could load up the saved videos page in the PS3… hmmm!)
Does Sunscreen Cause More Skin Cancer Than It Prevents?
why is life so goddamned complicated.
Pinboard – Bookmarking Physical Locations
I love pinboard. It’s so nice to have a bookmarking site that actually develops new services.
M.I.A.’s Agitprop Pop
a bit of a takedown. “She wants to balance outrageous political statements with a luxe lifestyle” (she’s married to a Bronfman).
Lost Finale Explained Well!
apparently by one of the writers, although I’m not sure a Lost writer would misspell Lapidus. It’s a decent if forgiving reading. (via Funkaoshi again, good lord)
Burkas and Birkins by Lindy West
“SATC2 takes everything that I hold dear as a woman and as a human—working hard, contributing to society, not being an entitled cunt like it’s my job—and rapes it to death with a stiletto that costs more than my car.”
Restrepo Trailer
I’d really like to see this.
Guide To PAC-MAN Ghosts
Kim Jong-Il ghost is awesome.
Wired Magazine’s iPad Edition Goes Live
farily nifty looking. (via funk)
Michael Bryant Walks?
Yesterday the province decided not to prosecute Michael Bryant. According to the Star, here’s what happened the night Darcy Allan Sheppard died.
This is the part that gets me:
He succeeds at restarting the engine and the Saab accelerates into Sheppard, who lands on the hood. Bryant hits the brakes when he sees Sheppard. Sheppard falls off the hood. (2.5 seconds elapses between the car starting and stopping. It travels two car lengths before Bryant stops.) Sheppard stands up within two seconds, not seriously injured. Bryant reverses and drives forward, trying to get around the bike.
I’m not saying that Bryant purposefully murdered Sheppard, as I agree that it sounds like sheer panic. Nor am I saying that Sheppard is remotely close to being a good cycling role model. However, it bothers me that this car “lurching” forward two car lengths, striking a human being, is not a bigger deal. It certainly explains why Sheppard grabs onto the car (not that it’s a good idea). I don’t see why the charges don’t involve vehicular manslaughter, careless driving, and leaving the scene of a crime no matter how angry and drunk the victim was.
That said, IANAL and perhaps lesser charges will now be forthcoming. But it would be a shame if Bryant escapes all blame, as it sends the message that it’s okay to kill cyclists if they seem angry or drunk.