Turbonerd | Bookmarks | Chris Nunciato

That Grey Whale you might've seen this morning on CNN, beached in Everett, finally swam free late this afternoon with the help of the high tide and some hardworking marine biologists.

Grey Whale Swims Free

That Grey Whale you might've seen this morning on CNN, beached in Everett, finally swam free late this afternoon with the help of the high tide and some hardworking marine biologists.

Mobile Music Services Are Everywhere

A piece in today's New York Times. Covers Rhapsody and some other, less-awesome services.

Mobile Music Services Are Everywhere

A piece in today's New York Times. Covers Rhapsody and some other, less-awesome services.

Saturday, July 3

I can't speak for my own intelligence, but I would say that I definitely suffer, by varying degrees, from about half of the items on this list -- numbers 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 20 without question. Probably more.

Why Intelligent People Fail

I can't speak for my own intelligence, but I would say that I definitely suffer, by varying degrees, from about half of the items on this list -- numbers 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 16, and 20 without question. Probably more.

Tuesday, June 29

Ruby on Rails Guides

Nice resource for Rails development. I've been diving into it lately and am not the Googling type, so this should come in handy.

Ruby on Rails Guides

Nice resource for Rails development. I've been diving into it lately and am not the Googling type, so this should come in handy.

Monday, June 28

Mind Over Mass Media

A New York Times op-ed from Steven Pinker, counterpoint to Nick Carr's argument that technology is making us stupider, via Boing Boing. A fascinating discussion regardless of which side you happen to subscribe to.

Mind Over Mass Media

A New York Times op-ed from Steven Pinker, counterpoint to Nick Carr's argument that technology is making us stupider, via Boing Boing. A fascinating discussion regardless of which side you happen to subscribe to.

Thursday, June 17

Scorsese on Kubrick

Via Daring Fireball. Great stuff.

Scorsese on Kubrick

Via Daring Fireball. Great stuff.

Sunday, June 13

Velogogo

Photos of and about bicycles and bicycling.

Velogogo

Photos of and about bicycles and bicycling.

Thursday, June 10

50 New Useful CSS Techniques

Some great stuff in here, via Smashing Magazine.

50 New Useful CSS Techniques

Some great stuff in here, via Smashing Magazine.

Wednesday, June 9

Videophonic Stress

I love this: David Foster Wallace comments posthumously on FaceTime, the new video-calling feature of the iPhone 4G.

Videophonic Stress

I love this: David Foster Wallace comments posthumously on FaceTime, the new video-calling feature of the iPhone 4G.

On Distraction

From Alain de Botton. Agreed.

On Distraction

From Alain de Botton. Agreed.

Thursday, June 3

HTML5 Showcase, from Apple

A gallery of examples, via DaringFireball. I have to admit that even as a Flash developer, I'm impressed.

HTML5 Showcase, from Apple

A gallery of examples, via DaringFireball. I have to admit that even as a Flash developer, I'm impressed.

Monday, May 31

Woody Allen on Life, at Cannes

Some things never change.

Woody Allen on Life, at Cannes

Some things never change.

Why Are the East Ends of Cities Usually Poorer?

Interesting explanation actually.

Why Are the East Ends of Cities Usually Poorer?

Interesting explanation actually.

Saturday, May 29

Greenwood Arsonist Gets 30 Years

For those following the story. This guy caused a lot of people a lot of damage of many forms. I can't claim to know what motivated him, nor whether the sentence is appropriate given the whole story, etc., but I'm definitely relieved he isn't still out there lighting fires in my neighborhood.

Greenwood Arsonist Gets 30 Years

For those following the story. This guy caused a lot of people a lot of damage of many forms. I can't claim to know what motivated him, nor whether the sentence is appropriate given the whole story, etc., but I'm definitely relieved he isn't still out there lighting fires in my neighborhood.

Turn a Coat Hanger into an iPad Stand

And spend that $40 on apps instead!

Turn a Coat Hanger into an iPad Stand

And spend that $40 on apps instead!

Monday, May 24

Lesser-Known, Still-Cool Data Structures

A nice list, via StackOverflow. Bragging rights if you've used any in practice, as I admit after looking them over that I don't think I've even heard of a single one.

Lesser-Known, Still-Cool Data Structures

A nice list, via StackOverflow. Bragging rights if you've used any in practice, as I admit after looking them over that I don't think I've even heard of a single one.

Monday, May 10

Get Your eBook in the Apple iBookstore

Via Lulu. Neat.

Get Your eBook in the Apple iBookstore

Via Lulu. Neat.

Wednesday, April 28

Generating Sounds Dynamically in Flash Player 10

From Adobe Developer Connection. Looks like a fun side project.

Generating Sounds Dynamically in Flash Player 10

From Adobe Developer Connection. Looks like a fun side project.

Thursday, April 8

Maven Repository: Search/Browse/Explore

Handy-dandy resource for finding Maven dependencies.

Maven Repository: Search/Browse/Explore

Handy-dandy resource for finding Maven dependencies.

Wednesday, March 10

When RealNetworks Settled on DVD Copying, We All Lost

While I don't much care for the tone of the opening paragraph -- I personally think we gave it a great effort; we spent millions fighting the good fight, but ultimately, we simply lost -- the writer is correct: RealDVD was probably the last legitimate effort we'll see to provide consumers with the ability to back up or virtualize their DVD libraries legally. I'm proud to have worked on the team that built it, and I'm sad to see it go. It really was a great little product.

When RealNetworks Settled on DVD Copying, We All Lost

While I don't much care for the tone of the opening paragraph -- I personally think we gave it a great effort; we spent millions fighting the good fight, but ultimately, we simply lost -- the writer is correct: RealDVD was probably the last legitimate effort we'll see to provide consumers with the ability to back up or virtualize their DVD libraries legally. I'm proud to have worked on the team that built it, and I'm sad to see it go. It really was a great little product.

Tuesday, February 2

Richard Feynman on Magnetism

Great little video featuring Feynman explaining why he can't really explain magnetism. Not to most of us, anyway.

Richard Feynman on Magnetism

Great little video featuring Feynman explaining why he can't really explain magnetism. Not to most of us, anyway.

Monday, January 25

Privacy in the Age of Persistence

"Welcome to the future, where everything about you is saved. A future where your actions are recorded, your movements are tracked, and your conversations are no longer ephemeral. A future brought to you not by some 1984-like dystopia, but by the natural tendencies of computers to produce data." I love it. Well, maybe love isn't the right word. But I do concur.

Privacy in the Age of Persistence

"Welcome to the future, where everything about you is saved. A future where your actions are recorded, your movements are tracked, and your conversations are no longer ephemeral. A future brought to you not by some 1984-like dystopia, but by the natural tendencies of computers to produce data." I love it. Well, maybe love isn't the right word. But I do concur.

First Steps in Flex Screencasts

Screencasts to accompany James Ward's and Bruce Eckel's excellent starter book, First Steps in Flex. I picked up a copy at MAX in October (they were handing them out for free, along with the usual buttons, stickers and tee shirts) and was surprised at how concise and useful it was. Great stuff.

First Steps in Flex Screencasts

Screencasts to accompany James Ward's and Bruce Eckel's excellent starter book, First Steps in Flex. I picked up a copy at MAX in October (they were handing them out for free, along with the usual buttons, stickers and tee shirts) and was surprised at how concise and useful it was. Great stuff.

Saturday, January 23

Facebook Snatches User’s URL, Sells it to Harman International

Bad business, Facebook.

Facebook Snatches User’s URL, Sells it to Harman International

Bad business, Facebook.

Thursday, January 21

You sitting down? Experts Say It'll Kill You

Note to self: Sit less.

You sitting down? Experts Say It'll Kill You

Note to self: Sit less.

Wednesday, January 20

Amazon Fires Missile At Book Industry, Launches 70% Kindle Royalty Option

Personally I love the idea of authors earning more for their efforts, but there are so many unintended (by consumers, anyway) costs of Amazon using its reach for this kind of thing -- publishers get squeezed, so they produce fewer books, bookstores get squeezed, so more of them close up shop, commerce flows ever more directly to Amazon, choice gets limited... I just don't like it. I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon, but I'm starting to think maybe that's such a great thing anymore, in the long run.

Amazon Fires Missile At Book Industry, Launches 70% Kindle Royalty Option

Personally I love the idea of authors earning more for their efforts, but there are so many unintended (by consumers, anyway) costs of Amazon using its reach for this kind of thing -- publishers get squeezed, so they produce fewer books, bookstores get squeezed, so more of them close up shop, commerce flows ever more directly to Amazon, choice gets limited... I just don't like it. I buy a ton of stuff from Amazon, but I'm starting to think maybe that's such a great thing anymore, in the long run.

Sunday, January 17

Khan Academy

Hundreds of math, science and economics videos from Sal Khan, via Hacker News. Some great stuff in here -- it's amazing it was all created by one guy.

Khan Academy

Hundreds of math, science and economics videos from Sal Khan, via Hacker News. Some great stuff in here -- it's amazing it was all created by one guy.

Facebook's Move Ain't About Changes in Privacy Norms

Danah Boyd on the recent changes in Facebook's privacy policy, and on Mark Zuckerberg's characterization of them. We don't always agree, she and I, but on this issue we definitely do: "No one makes money off of creating private communities in an era of 'free.' It's in Facebook's economic interest to force people into being public, even if a few people break up with Facebook in the process." Good read, as usual.

Facebook's Move Ain't About Changes in Privacy Norms

Danah Boyd on the recent changes in Facebook's privacy policy, and on Mark Zuckerberg's characterization of them. We don't always agree, she and I, but on this issue we definitely do: "No one makes money off of creating private communities in an era of 'free.' It's in Facebook's economic interest to force people into being public, even if a few people break up with Facebook in the process." Good read, as usual.

Thursday, January 14

Secure Your Checked Bags: Fly with a Gun

Travel tips from BoingBoing.

Secure Your Checked Bags: Fly with a Gun

Travel tips from BoingBoing.

Tuesday, January 12

Guerilla Public Service

The true story of a fake L.A. freeway sign.

Guerilla Public Service

The true story of a fake L.A. freeway sign.

Monday, January 11

Facebook's Zuckerberg Says The Age of Privacy is Over

Finally, folks are beginning to grow skeptical of the motives of Mark Zuckerberg. I've never trusted this guy -- he's always come off as an arrogant, smarmy wise-ass, frankly -- and I've never gotten the sense he wanted to do anything more with Facebook than milk it for all he possibly could, and that's exactly what he's doing. Privacy? Ha.

Facebook's Zuckerberg Says The Age of Privacy is Over

Finally, folks are beginning to grow skeptical of the motives of Mark Zuckerberg. I've never trusted this guy -- he's always come off as an arrogant, smarmy wise-ass, frankly -- and I've never gotten the sense he wanted to do anything more with Facebook than milk it for all he possibly could, and that's exactly what he's doing. Privacy? Ha.

Saturday, January 9

The Evolution of a Programmer

Brilliance. (And I especially like the master-level implementation of the IHello interface.)

The Evolution of a Programmer

Brilliance. (And I especially like the master-level implementation of the IHello interface.)

Friday, January 8

Photo.net | Learn

I'd almost forgotten what a great resource this site is for the amateur photographer. It's changed quite a bit since its early days, but the core still seems to be there.

Photo.net | Learn

I'd almost forgotten what a great resource this site is for the amateur photographer. It's changed quite a bit since its early days, but the core still seems to be there.

Thursday, January 7

The Happiest People

Apparently it's the Costa Ricans, according to Nick Kristof. "That’s because Costa Ricans, asked to rate their own happiness on a 10-point scale, average 8.5. Denmark is next at 8.3, the United States ranks 20th at 7.4 and Togo and Tanzania bring up the caboose at 2.6." Man, 8.5 *on average*? Maybe we should book a ticket and check it out. Not that we're unhappy -- we love Seattle -- but 8.5 ... that's a compelling number. Hmm.

The Happiest People

Apparently it's the Costa Ricans, according to Nick Kristof. "That’s because Costa Ricans, asked to rate their own happiness on a 10-point scale, average 8.5. Denmark is next at 8.3, the United States ranks 20th at 7.4 and Togo and Tanzania bring up the caboose at 2.6." Man, 8.5 *on average*? Maybe we should book a ticket and check it out. Not that we're unhappy -- we love Seattle -- but 8.5 ... that's a compelling number. Hmm.

Are Software Patents Evil?

Paul Graham on the subject of software patents. I've never really been able to make up my mind on this issue -- i.e., whether software patents are inherently good or bad -- although I tend to lean toward their being generally-good-with-lots-of-exceptions, like when the invention in question is totally unoriginal.

Are Software Patents Evil?

Paul Graham on the subject of software patents. I've never really been able to make up my mind on this issue -- i.e., whether software patents are inherently good or bad -- although I tend to lean toward their being generally-good-with-lots-of-exceptions, like when the invention in question is totally unoriginal.

Wednesday, January 6

Home Energy Displays

Via CNET. One of my friends just picked up one of these, although I don't remember which one. I love the idea of being able to monitor power consumption on a device-by-device (or at least outlet-by-outlet) basis, although I also wonder whether it might just map out the obvious: fridge turns on here, turns off there, then on, then off -- oh, and that's where we turned on the dryer...

Home Energy Displays

Via CNET. One of my friends just picked up one of these, although I don't remember which one. I love the idea of being able to monitor power consumption on a device-by-device (or at least outlet-by-outlet) basis, although I also wonder whether it might just map out the obvious: fridge turns on here, turns off there, then on, then off -- oh, and that's where we turned on the dryer...

Windows 7's "GodMode"

Great little Windows hack, via CNET.

Windows 7's "GodMode"

Great little Windows hack, via CNET.

Tuesday, January 5

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Review (Part 1 of 7)

An impressive (seven-part, seventy-minute-total) video review of a movie I've always -- well, ahem, had a bit of a hard time with. Watch all seven parts if you can -- it's a bit on the kooky side presentationally, but it packs in some pretty good film-credibility criticism as well.

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Review (Part 1 of 7)

An impressive (seven-part, seventy-minute-total) video review of a movie I've always -- well, ahem, had a bit of a hard time with. Watch all seven parts if you can -- it's a bit on the kooky side presentationally, but it packs in some pretty good film-credibility criticism as well.