Google Street View...

Google posted a neat change to Google Maps that shows street level views of some city maps (Brooklyn included). The actual technology behind it is described briefly in this blog. Here are some example shots. Microsoft Maps offers a similar technology but I haven't used it yet.

DVD packaging

DVD packaging really annoys me. It's unnecessarily large considering the CD-sized disc it contains. So I learned today (on a slashdot post) that 2 DVD cases take up exactly the same size as 1 VHS tape. This way retailers can use old displays and containers to hold DVDs. This makes perfect sense but is still wasteful.

Incredibly, there are apparently no places to recycle CD and DVD packaging - at least on an individual level. The discs themselves can be recycled (US and UK).

Sharpest man made thing

This is a photo of the sharpest man made thing.

Artwork by musicians

Brian Eno published his work 77 Million Paintings. It's a hardcover book plus DVD plus Flash web-site. Supposedly Mac and PC compatible and could be an interesting way to burn kilowatts on your fancy flatpanel TV. He's showing at a gallery in SFCA.

David Byrne also published his Microsoft Powerpoint-based artworkMicrosoft Powerpoint artwork (though not online). He actually also does presentations in Powerpoint describing his artistic process. He's a big proponent of Internet radio and, in a presentation at SWSX last year, said that he tended to download pirated music due to DRM content restrictions. Some of his other artwork is displayed here.

Richard Lloyd is in town...

Television is playing a free, final (with this lineup) show in June, as Richard Lloyd is going to tour with his new band the Sufi Monkeys to promote Radiant Monkey, which he compares to Patti Smith's seminal Horses.

The final show conflicts with my favorite band Heartless Bastards (not current but they have been and will again) that same night. What do to?

Eyeball NYC

Eyeball NYC is a graphics and animation house in NY that does some cool stuff, some of which is ubiquitous and other not seen much in the US before. Their corporate presentation video is pretty great though.

Hitler or Falwell

This is a pretty great game because I'm always surprised by the correct answer!

"This 'turn the other cheek' business is all well and good but it's not what Jesus fought and died for."

Gold record

The Voyager spacecraft carry a gold plated phonograph that's intended to be and audio and visual time capsule for extraterrestrials to enjoy. This was in the age before audio copy protection however they'll need an old turntable to play the 16RPM record.

Someone's even done a mash-up. Listen to more interesting, NASA-free mash-ups are here.

Paintings by Art Frahm

Fans of classic pin-ups and ladies in distress should check out the work of Art Frahm. He helped popularize this particular take on women in trouble during the late-40's-50's. Bill Medcalf is amongst his less fetishist contemporaries. Without a room full of leering on-lookers and the bad dream, near-possibility of the situations, modern interpretations are much less charming.

You can view larger versions of Frahm's work or purchase prints.

Illogical

UCLA has published their photography archives online. Goes back to 1920 and has tons of cool stuff. I love browsing old negatives even the half-faded ones with writing all over the edges. Here's a protest of the pending cancellation of Star Trek.

Anyway, there's awesome stuff here. Thanks UCLA librarians!

Current favorite band: Dan Deacon

One man bands always impress me. There's no one to really play off of and find motivation in besides the voices in your own head. For a while I really enjoyed Phillip Roebuck who performed one possessed show opening for Clem Snide and then sort of disappeared from NY.
Dan Deacon plays like a guy with no other options. Allison and I pogoed like 30 year olds at his show last week. Check out his web site or buy his latest disc.