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From the front pages of digg: an interesting compilation of “oldest cities in the world.” Rife with differing opinions because no one’s actually lived long enough to be there when those cities were actually created.

You can get your ugly face off of google maps (MAN PEEING ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD… wish i still had that link). Just give them your identity. via lifehacker.

If Bill Gates corrupted Steve Jobs I think I’ll cry. Just read the comic.

I like this idea. Since I do music too, you should all follow this graphical set of instructions. If you click on the graphic there’s an article. But it was long and boring. DON’T READ IT.

Good story about justice and identity theft. How appropriate and popular a topic. But seriously, kudos to the lady that got her ID back.

Funny graphic for those of you who know my emo side. Gotta love those girls that shout “I love you!”

This was on reddit, but I have no idea where the pictures are from, save they’re most likely rednecks.

New electric car with some nice-looking specs. Unfortunately I’m assuming this is out of most people’s price range and the tech won’t trickle down for sometime.

Just a couple little tidbits in the morning rush of things.

Found a neat little piece of software that tracks the programs you use on your computer similar to the way last.fm tracks the music you play on your media player. It’s called Wakoopa, and you have to download a little program on your computer for it to work. The signup is really easy and the weberface is really clean and seems easy to use. I haven’t actually gotten to stretch it’s legs though because I believe work is blocking me from being able to connect the program to their servers. I’ll bring more news on that when I get it to my lappy at home.

I’ve been listening to Further Seems Forever a lot recently. This is an album that I got from someone at work without thinking too much about it. I’ve always heard a lot about them because of their relationship to Dashboard Confessional, but never really got into them. Well, like I said I was listening to their album, How to Start a Fire, and I just got really into it. So I checked it out on wikipedia, and they broke up last year. Bummer.

and now for the instructable-icious edition. The first is for all you clue lovers out there. I give to you, the hidden bookcase door. (I don’t think there was an actual bookcase in the clue movie. I think they used a fake wall in the conservatory, a fireplace in the lounge(or study?), I think they used a cabinet or closet in the kitchen, and a painting somewhere else… but i digress). The circumstances for this project are pretty specific, but if I ever have a situation where this would be appropriate, you can count on me to build it. (or just think about building it.)

Next up on the DIY massacre are SLAP BRACELETS. That’s right those insane pieces of metal that they banned from elementary school because of rumors of slit wrists. Oh man, do I love/hate the 80′s. Also, dear brother, notice that the name of the article submitter is the name of one of your favorite 80′s songs.

And finally for the audiophile/yard sale addict in us all – the speaker/headset in an old phone receiver. a must for any dj or musician that’s bored with typical instruments… or just likes to goof around.

Next up is a great entry on Belorussian movie posters. I love Belarus. Nuff said.

A new translation of the bible! IN LEGOS! (Ok so not really a translation, but you know, whatever) Actually I think I saw this some time ago floating out there in space, but I just recently clicked through to it on some blog or another, so I thought I might share it with the crew. Now study up!

And from the factoid department comes the coldest place in north america. Along with a really spiffy picture of a guy and his frozen beard/companion

An instructable on a sphere speaker array. I’m adding this to my growing list of diy summer projects. I didn’t check out the research on this, rather, i’m intrigued by this project simply because of my girlfriend’s paper lamp room. A spherical speaker would go really well in there.

I forget where I stumbled on this, but here it is: a nautical map of internet communities. This reminds me of the software war map, but I forget where I saw that. Oh well, moving on.

Next up are a series of make goodies I found particularly interesting for various reasons. The first two are guitar hero hacks! I’ve always wanted to turn my old fender into a guitar hero controller. Chalk one more up to the diy project list. The second looks like a piece of software that turns your guitar hero controller into a sampler. I’ll have to combine that with some kind of midi hack for my reason/ableton setup.

The last make tidbit is a write up about the new WORLD OF WARCRAFT REWARDS VISA CARD. Oh holy crap. I’d get this but I don’t play anymore. Maybe if they came out with an LOTR card, and I actually got LOTR, and played LOTR. But I’m too busy playing Gears of War and Saints Row right now.

Stumbled onto this cool site that documents speed traps (apparently truckers call highway cops “bears”), new little factoid for me. Unfortunately I didn’t find it too useful for the Philly area mostly because if there is a trap listed they try and get you to buy some book or something first. I don’t know. Maybe I’ll just file this under “one of those great ideas that is ruined by commercialism.” But see for yourself.

Really neat artist site. Of particular interest were the dress tents. A visually fun stop on in the vast infinity of the internet.

And we’re back after a grueling weekend.

Interesting, common sense blog article on Free and Open Sourced Software (FOSS). While this article is probably a little oversimplified, I’m always interested in the benefits/drawback of free software that you can reprogram yourself (if you’ve got the programming resources).

A new virus was discovered in Australia after three patients received transplants and subsequently died. Their organs were from the same donor. Somewhat gruesome, but the doctors seem upbeat simply on the fact that they were able to detect and will be able to test it further.

Mac’s are hack-proof… sort of. I didn’t see any specifics on the rules that were laxed to make this possible. I find it interesting that he spent 9 hours programming the site to exploit the security hole. Intense.

I’m not totally versed in N. Korean culture. But this UK Times article about a man not selling them anymore giant rabbits for consumption is just cool. (That they are using rabbits as food, not that he’s not selling to N. Korea anymore). Because rabbits reproduce so quickly, this seems like a great way to relieve some food shortage issues.

The Twinky vs. the Carrot? A great article on obesity, caloric pricing, the Farm Bill and politics. Via Megnut.

Some phenomenal hand-made electronica instruments. I really need to try my hand at some of this. Sigh. Via Made.

A free and open sourced bass synth modeled after the Roland TB-303. (NOT A CLONE, mind you). Another musical project endeavor. Sigh, sigh.

Article from BBC on sleep and how much you should be getting. 8 hours isn’t really standard, the article says about 7.25 is OK. I think I need like 9, because I’m always tired at work. There’s just not enough time in the day for sleep.

The leader, Boris Yeltsin, is dead. His career seems to be marked with varying highs and lows. He seemingly ushered both democracy and economic decline into Russia.

Japanese like the wii so much they’re making cell phones with motion-based games. I just wish that instead of having their own games, they could connect to the wii and be used to some capacity. A NINE+ BUTTON CONTROLLER WITH MOTION! overkill? nahhh