I love seeing how people do things on the edges of what is possible. In this case, how people make a living off being viral/popular on any social network. Most networks don’t have direct mechanisms to pay users, so instead people have to improvise all sorts of other ways to try and make a living …
Author Archives: mathowie
California solar is responsible for 10% of all energy production in the state?
My old pal Dinah posted this today: It’s kind of an amazing stat: just 1.5 million solar installs in a state with nearly 40 million people is responsible for 10% of all electricity generated statewide. I can’t read the reference as it is behind a paywall, but that’s an encouraging and incredible stat. For a …
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Stepside: episode 12 is up
I just uploaded the newest episode of Stepside, which is our last show of this year plus it’s also our holiday spectacular, aka we didn’t have an agenda or plans and about 3/4ths of the hour is Joel sweating through his next truck purchase, which he’s already been sweating over for a year. I think …
The Muppet Christmas Carol, greatly improved
I had no idea the Muppet Christmas Carol movie I’ve probably seen a dozen times over the last 30 years was missing a key scene. It’s covered well in this video: Having watched the video it’s clear the movie makes SO MUCH MORE sense with the scene added. I remember seeing this the first time …
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The Shitty Technology Adoption Curve
A few months ago, I read this post by Cory Doctorow about how shitty tech always tends to move upwards from the most marginalized groups to the more privileged and it’s a thought technology that has stuck with me. I’ve rolled it around like a smooth beach pebble in my hand for weeks and weeks …
Said the Gramophone’s best music of 2022 is out!
Said the Gramophone is one of my favorite old school blogs that’s focused on music. I wouldn’t say music is absolutely vital in my life, but I do like to hear new bands and go to shows occasionally, but ever since I left college I basically have no time to keep up on new music. …
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An important verified checkmark in real life
The other day I realized (at least in Oregon) there’s a verified checkmark in real life that’s important, and it’s the one you find on exempt license plates on government vehicles. There’s no way for a civilian to get one, so they’re only found on official cars and trucks. Most often they start with a …
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How Jamiroquai did it
I guess I assumed the famous Jamiroquai music video from the mid-90s was filmed on some sort of magical Hollywood omnidirectional treadmill in a studio somewhere. The real behind the scenes story (recently uploaded to YouTube) of how they pulled off those shots is way more clever (and cheap!) than a super duper treadmill.
US Healthcare
American healthcare is split into 2 piles: Here’s a quick FAQ/explainer: What happens if I break my leg?That’s no face hole healthcare which most people here shorten to just “healthcare.” That healthcare pays for most of your doctor visits. Talk to someone in the stethoscope and take a cast for your leg when you’re done. …
Moon shots
All the best photos from the Artemis I unmanned mission around the moon are in an album on Flickr here.
A Whole Lotta Nothing 