Autodesk to users: "Screw you!"

If you read any EULA for a "industry standard" proprietary software package, that's what every sentence is, but in legalese. I feel somewhat dirty for being with Autodesk on this one, but I am. Either a license agreement is contractually binding or it is not. The GPL relies on the same legal mechanics. That's why it's brilliant, because it liberates users with the means that were developed to exploit them. (Link.)

Evolution is great!

What's happening in the photograph is wickedly awesome. Zuggtmoy would be very proud. Read about it.

Pixel art landscapes

This is a set of landscapes by an artist who did all the background work for two of my favorite PC games from my youth: Loom and The Secret of Monkey Island. This set of pictures utilizes the runtime palette manipulations Activision used to make their dazzling Atari 2600 games. They are also HTML5 demos (and will therefore not work in Microsoft's web browser).
(Link.) (Via.) (Some explanation.)

Recommended Viewing....

Infographic: Inception

A graphic designer in NY created an amazing graphic based on the movie Inception, charting each character's perception of time vs. real time through the various levels of sleep.

Moral Panic!

I've been "using" brainwave entrainment, nearly everyday, for over a year. I thought my meditation program was pretty tame and relaxing. Little did I know that I am a threat to the moral bedrock of America! (Link.)(Via.)

(Above) William S. Burroughs with his Dream Machine.
Selected Reading: The Clinical Guide to Light and Sound. (PDF) (Via.)

BIG BAG BIG BOOM

And I thought Clippy was annoying...

Simulated social interaction always seems hollow and insipid. Does it make anyone else nervous that this is a Microsoft project? "One of my programs has crashed and has lost your spreadsheet. I see by your expression that you are angry. Would you like to draw a fish?"

See also: Eliza, Little Computer People

The Mona Lisa Curse

Robert Hughes presents a survey of the rise of the contemporary art market, and its withering effects. (link) (via)

A Friday Afternoon Project

The Canon Hack Development Kit (CHDK) enables many Canon point-and-shoot models to do things like RAW image photography, bracketing, and remote capture for stop-motion animation or kite photography. I installed it this afternoon. Like most firmware hacks there is pain involved (using a hex editor, for instance). Ask me about this if you try to install it and get stuck.

Link.