The Null Device

2002/7/24

This is fairly interesting, in a global-economy sort of way: impressions of New York as perceived by data entry workers in Ghana who transcribe fines issued by police in New York. (via bOING bOING)

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Astronomers recently discovered a 2km asteroid on collision course with earth, scheduled to hit on February 1, 2019. The space rock, the most threatening object yet detected, was discovered on 5 July. (5 July? Reminds me of the giant face-shaped asteroid that was meant to hit the Earth in July 1998.)

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Today I picked up a copy of Belle & Sebastian's The Boy With The Arab Strap, after hearing it in the car when catching a lift back from Saturday's Ninetynine gig. (The advantage of living in North Fitzroy: people you catch lifts with are likely to have good stuff playing in the car.) I'm listening to it now, and it's growing on me. There are some quite catchy understated melodies there; I particularly like Sleep the Clock Around and Ease Your Feet In The Sea.

I didn't get into Belle & Sebastian a few years ago, when all the indiekids were wearing their I-own-Tigermilk badges, because I just didn't get them. I mean, I was into The Smiths, mostly because of Morrissey's sardonic miserablism and Wildean allusions (and probably living a socially isolated existence in Ferntree Gully had something to do with it), but B&S didn't scratch the same itch. Then again, I didn't quite get the concept of (indie-)pop sensibility back then either; it was a bit too subtle for me. As they say, when the student is ready, the teacher appears.

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Ever wonder what it feels like to have an epileptic fit? Here is a very vivid description of the experience, and the altered state of consciousness beforehand. (via Lukelog)

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The Riceboy Page, a sarcastic look at a peculiar subculture (note: not ethnically-based) obsessed with souping up Japanese compact cars to look fast and "sporty", rebadging them to claim they're some exotic sports model, and often impairing their performance with ridiculous-looking modifications. But hey, if it makes it look fast and impressive, that's all that matters. Which all brings to mind a certain Down Town Brown song about a fast car. (via The Fix)

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