Juxtaposed Juxtapositions

It seems there's not a whole lot of room in the blogosphere these days. While redundancy and repeat are mainstays for the up-to-the-minute-i-saw-it-first medium (and no one expects it not to be), it is interesting to see people "reporting" different but similar things. Its almost like all of these people shouting at each other can actually be illuminating. Not as individuals, but collectively. Of course.

"I thought the juxtaposition of the two headlines was pretty funny. The two headlines discuss essentially the same issue with quite contradictory projections. Each news story discusses a small battle, and both stories forecast over-reaching, inconsistent implications for the larger war."

[The Gong Show: Juxtaposed Sensational Headlines]

"Early adopter? Late adopter? Surly adopter? Nokia and Apple are vying for your affections. When you Googled "iPhone" earlier today, targeted ads for Nokia's Mosh social network showed up, taunting iPhone buyers for having overpaid. In response, Apple placed ads telling "late adopters" that they could get "all the iPhone" for two-thirds the price."

[Valleywag: Nokia, Apple spar via Google ads]

I suppose its comforting to have "both sides" represented in our search results, but its also a bit disconcerting that we're not trusted enough as consumers to make more than a binary decision.

Jonathan Harris IS Ted

I don't think I've posted anything about Jonathan Harris on websides (nor have I really posted anything in a while). His projects We Feel Fine, Just Curious, and Universe (the only three I've had any experience with) are fantastic inquiries into the human experience, as represented by our etchings on the internet.

The video above his his presentation at the TED conference in march. Its really great hearing him explain things that are so often inexplicable. Until you've played with a Jonathan Harris piece, you'll have trouble understanding it. Harris' work is admittedly voyeuristic, but he likes to call the process a "passive interview," as they don't know they're being watched. Please watch this video of him.


[via Fimoculous]

I Can Has Pictures

This is the demo of the Photosynth application at the TED conference this year. There were at least two moments where I said "no fucking shit" outloud. (I'm alone, at my "desk" by the way.)

Re-Blog

Zoologist Disguises Himself to Study Crocodiles

I'm wondering if this will work for cougar hunting -- I'm prepared to put on bangles, a vodka tonic, and NO WEDDING RING!!!!1

"When Dr Brady Barr decided to dress up as a crocodile, the disguise needed to be good.

Otherwise he was in grave danger of being eaten by the real thing.

The zoologist adopted his bizarre outfit in the hope of getting closer to a colony of Nile crocodiles, which can grow up to 20ft.

His disguise was a prosthetic head attached to the front of a protective metal cage covered with canvas and a generous plastering of hippo dung to mask his human scent."

[via Cynical-C]

This Guy Set Up My Internet And Forgot to Log Out Of His Social Network

DIME, QUE LO QUE?

BREAKING: Hippie Purist Seeks Vengence on Craigslist

Only someone without a job who scans Craigslist daily in search of employment and tickets to see aged hippie musicians would come across this post. This is that man's friend. His name is Davis.

So there are purist hippie thugs orchestrating systematic smack-downs on their capitalistic counterparts? Sounds like it could be an awesome episode of The Wire. The thugs would obviously have to become black, and the capitalist would be the Irish cop. No, that wouldn't work, but you'd still need a cop. Fuck it! I. WANT. IN.

But I do like it how the guy is so unashamed of what he did and like tells the whole story

"The whole thing was over in maybe thirty seconds, but it felt like forever."

Like, all of a sudden, what the fuck are we talking about? Did your girlfriend dump you? Did your sister's puppy get run over? Shut the fuck up!

And then, at the end, the hamartia, as if it wasn't his fault -- it had to be that way -- but he's sorry:

"I'm a fan and was maybe asking too much, but I definitely don't deserve this."

But then, next line, this kid has spunk again! He's gonna "kick the shit out of someone" (or press charges) with your help, people of Craigslist! Because we will right the wrong and turn in the hippie purists who kicked your ass. Your rich, mercenary hiring hippie ass.