New Title graphic!

So i figured i needed something a little flashier at the top of my blog (now that i'm pumping out entries like a mad-man) so i asked my friend, and former co-worker Peter, to give it a whirl. So in 5 minutes he had the above image done. Pretty nice. Peter is really good and hopefully i'll get him to help me out more in the future to get a nice consistent colour scheme on this site. Anyways, i figured it might be fun to have little weekly contests (or monthly depending on what works) where people send in submissions for new logos/title graphics and i'll use them on the site. Fun times.

If you're interested, let me know - sam.p.russell(at)samalamadingdong.com.

To check out some of Peter's stuff, check out his website - petergosse.com

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

I just watched this while eating breakfast and i know some of my friends are die-hard Joss Whedon fans. So here is the full thing, thanks to Hulu (for once) the video is available everywhere - not just the US.

Joss Whedon’s Dr. Horrible’s Sing Along Blog is a 40 minute musical that stars Neil Patrick Harris as Dr. Horrible, a bumbling, video blogging super villain who’s trying to get into the Evil League of Evil. The project is available on iTunes for $4 - this week Hulu also put it on its site for free with commercials.

The video is an experiment in a new type of video format that is professionally produced and designed to spread virally (although Whedon is stopping short of supporting BitTorrent trading). Whedon wrote a hilarious guest post on the Hulu blog about the show as well.

(Source: TechCrunch)

Dr. Horrible's Sing-Along Blog

New use for the Wii Nunchuck

People are creative, and they find ways to make (sometimes) interesting things using common items. This guy thought that it would be cool to use the nunchuck from the Wii to steer his canoe. Why not? (Source: Engadget)

Boat Bot


You can also check out my post about the TED conference, and watch Johnny Lee show you how to make the Wii-mote into something really amazing.

Tree Man

Update
Looks like the tree man got some medical help afterward and is doing better. Here's a follow up from Reuters



As always, some co-workers and I were talking about crazy diseases and stuff that occur around the world (see my post on the 'Boy whose skin fell off'). Anyways, i remember seeing this some time ago, and it's still pretty creepy/bizarre even now. Video below:

Tree Man


And another more intimate clip of the same guy:

Holy Schnikes!

Travis Pastrana is pretty nuts. He is basically an anomaly since he should probably be dead by now doing some of the things he's done (proof: here and here). Now Ken Block and Travis do this...

Already a certifiably insane pair, Travis Pastrana and Ken Block have upped the nuttiness yet again. Going after the money shot for the cover of RacerX Magazine, an Impreza and a MotoX bike took to the wild blue yonder in search of photographic gold. We think they managed, and we'd repeat the jumps over and over whether or not the perfect shot was already on the memory card, just like the airborne teammates.

Pastrana and Block Rally and MX jump

TED - Ideas worth spreading

I've known about the TED conference for a couple years now and it's unfortunate that more peoples don't know about them. A brief history of the conference is available here. Basically a bunch of smart/talented/interesting people come together to disseminate information and to dream and share ideas. It's pretty cool. Since 2006 the TED talks have been available online for all to view. Below are a couple of my favorites.

Robert Ballard: Exploring the ocean's hidden worlds


Johnny Lee: Creating tech marvels out of a $40 Wii Remote


Blaise Aguera y Arcas: Jaw-dropping Photosynth demo