Placeopedia.com - linking Wikipedia articles with their locations

This is an interesting project that utilises the community-based Wikipeida and Google's open API Maps. What it does is that it will link places, or rather, Wikipedia articles with their locations on a Google Map. Now, you can know where exotic places like Tintagel Castle and Saint Michael's Mount are. Cool.

The SeaMonkey Project

This SeaMonkey is not the shrimp-like thing that those marketeers try to sell you. This is actually a community effort that's built on the Mozilla code and is suppose to form what is known as the "Mozilla Application Suite". It's in Alpha release now, but it will eventually have a browser, mail/newsgroup, and also HTML editor features. As of now, they are still looking for a logo for the beta release and is asking the community to submit logos.

Is your iPod playlist really random

Ever wondered if the shuffle function on your iPod really throws up tunes that are random? Well, maybe not. Wired News has an interesting article that looks at the randomisation feature on Apple's MP3 player and examines the whole idea of expecting tunes to be random.

The problem, it turns out, isn't that the programs aren't randomizing my playlists. They are. According to Jeff Lait, a mathematician and author of randomm3u, it's what's happening between my ears, specifically, in my expectations of what it means for something to be random.

Interesting read.
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Install SLAX on an iPod nano

If you're a Linux lover with an iPod Nano, you can carry the SLAX Linux distro on your Nano and run it off the slimmer than Kate Moss MP3 player. The following link has all the instructions that you'll need. Only power users need try it out.
Link

Getting a SuSE linux server up and running

This is for those taking a leap into running their own server. Since it contains step-by-step info on how to set up a web, mail and FTP server using the SuSE linux distro, it's perfect for beginners. It also has plenty of screenshots to guide you through the process.

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How the RIAA really treats it's artists

The RIAA is really the bad guy in the music recording business, together with its music label partners, according to this piece. This story looks at the breakdown of where the money goes to when a band signs a recording contract and from it, it's clear who the winners are... certainly not the band members. In fact, the band may actually ends up owing money. It's really sad. Once again I say, support the indies...

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Hacking in Legoland

This is such a refreshing thing to hear. In an age where narrow-minded, DRM-happy corporations what to control what you do with their products, or maybe specifically finding the chance to sue you if you tinker with the products which you have bought, LEGO is doing something unusual.

When Lego executives recently discovered that adult fans of the iconic plastic bricks had hacked one of the company's new development tools for digital designers, they did a surprising thing: They cheered.

Read on for more details, but suffice to say, that's why I like LEGO.

Suprnova.org is back!

Wow, the ex-BitTorrent site called Suprnova.org seems to be back in business. However, it is now revamped, not as a file-sharing site, but one that offers P2P news source. So for those interested in keeping up with the latest in P2P technology, find out from the guys who were at the forefront of the "revolution".

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Sept. 13th, 2005 Mario turns 20 years old! Happy Birthday!

Hey hey, the original Jumpman, Mr Mario, turns 20. He actually has the same birthday as yours truly! Mario brought fun and joy to plenty of gamers worldwide. Below is a link that leads you to wikipedia and other Mario-related stuff. Happy Birthday Mario, me too. :) There's also an Edge piece on Mario's debut day.

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Holland... or Nederlands

I've just got back from a business trip to Brussels and Hilversum, Netherlands. It's my first time in Holland, so I've got to visit Amsterdam. The link contains photos of Amsterdam and some shots from Hilversum (grouped together with the picts from Belgium), the broadcast media town of Holland, where I stayed and also where all of my business meeting took place. Hilversum is a nice peaceful town, although it's considered one of the bigger towns. Amsterdam, on the other hand, is a tad more chaotic. Nevertheless, it's a fascinating city and it's really eye-opening to see drugs and prostitution legally available on the streets.
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How much do artists actually make on CDs?

Ever wonder how much the artists you support earn per CD that you buy? This article explains, in plain English, how contracts with most record companies work. Apparently, the artists get routinely screwed. So is buying a CD supporting your fave artist? Guess not... so attend their gigs, or buy direct from indie artists.

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Brussels, Belgium-European charm

I am currently on a business trip to Brussels, Belgium and Hilversum, Netherlands. First to Brussels, then Hilversum. But it's only at Hilversum that I manage to get wi-fi access in the hotel. So, follow the link to see a set of specially handpicked pics of Brussels that I've posted on Flickr. So far, the trip has been good with no major incidents. More pics of Hilversum and Amsterdam will follow soon.
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Bruce Sterling on Singapore

One of the pioneers of Cyberpunk, Bruce Sterling, was recently in Singapore participating in the Singapore Writer's Festival. It's a pity I can't attend his talks since I'm busy preparing for a Europe business trip. Anyway, Sterling blogged about his experience in Singapore on the Wired Blogs site. It's interesting to read what he says about Singapore. It's just like Gibson's piece which called Singapore the Disneyland with Death Penalty. Frankly, his comments are not entirely negative, but does accurately reflect's the pragmatic nature of the Singapore government.

Now that I'm out of Singapore, I reckon it's safe to allege that Singapore has tidy, authoritarian, city-state machine politics. Presumably, I won't get sued for libel for saying this. I mean, it's the truth.
...
You know what? If Singapore had just been hit by a giant typhoon, the regime wouldn't be snivelling 
and making excuses about the hunger and looting. Eco-catastrophe and martial law would surely put the Singapore power-elite really on top of their game. They wouldn't spin their "clean-up effort". They would assign resources, put trained people on the job and actually clean up. Because they are not just a spin machine. They possess competence.


Competence doesn't seem like a big deal until you are forced to realize that your own government 
has none.

These links contain Sterling's entries on Singapore.

• Sterling's entry into Singapore


• Sinking ship and bus stops


• Zheng He's exhibition and MICA building


• Overall thoughts...

The Katrina Disaster Map 'Wiki'

It's amazing what the Internet can do. In the recent Katrina Hurricane disaster, some smart folks are using Internet as a resource. The best has to be this Wiki featured in Wired News.

Of all of the websites tracking the Katrina disaster, surely one of the most remarkable is Scipionus.com.

Visitors swoop down over a map of the Gulf Coast that's awash in hundreds of red teardrops, each denoting information about specific geographical points in the area. That's pretty amazing in itself, but there's more: All of the information on the map has been provided by ordinary citizens, most of whom presumably have come to the site in search of information on the flood themselves.

Once again, we can celebrate the power of the Net, and the ingenious folks who come up with these amazing tools.
Link

Tunes from Rockstar INXS

I've to admit that I'm hooked on the reality programme called Rockstar INXS. It's an Idol-like show where the remaining members of the Ozzie band INXS looks for someone to fill the shoes of the deceased frontman Michael Hutchence. The performances on the show by the contestants are actually not bad and some of them even gave splendid performances of some classic rock tunes. So for those who wants to listen to these versions, you can grab the MP3 files off the link below. Don't know where to start? Well grab the encore performances as they are normally good. Some of the memorable ones for me include Marty's version of Nirvana's Lithium, and MiG's version of Baby I Love Your Way. Cool.
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Free game: Doukutsu Monogatari

Games are fun. Free games are even better. What's rare is a game that's free, and contains as much playability value as those games you have to buy. This game, called Doukutsu Monogatari: Tale of the Cave, is a side-scroller that is said to have enough gaming action that rivals classics like Castlevania and Metroid. It's available on Windows and Mac, and there's even an English patch so that us English speakers can follow the plot. Try it!
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Public officer blog now blank?

I previously mentioned a candid yet funny blog called Scholar I am Not that looks at the funny side of working in the public service.
It seems like that the entries on the blog is gone. The site is blank save for the heading. Is it a case of the author deleting the entries? A case of some hacker attack? A case of computer worm/virus/trojan with a nasty blog deleting payload? Or some secret soldiers deleting the articles and throwing the author in some detention cell? Only the author will know.

Scaring the maids?

It is reported in the Life! section of Straits Times that Raintree pictures will treat maids in Singapore to see the horror flick "The Maid".

MediaCorp Raintree Pictures and Golden Village Pictures will treat 500 maids to an 11am screening at Prince 2 in Beach Road on Sunday.

All they need to do is to present their employment pass from 10am onwards.

The $1.5-million film, directed by Kelvin Tong, broke the opening weekend record for horror movies here. It has been Singapore's No. 1 movie for two consecutive weeks.

Are they trying to scare these maids out of their wits so that they will not want to work here any more? :)

Another victim of the RIAA forced to settle for $6000

Here's a sad tale of what the RIAA did. An innocent fellow settles with RIAA despite his claims of innocence. He gave in because he is emotionally and financially worn. That's not the best way to go right, RIAA?

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Device to snare rapists

A South African inventer has come up with a device that is a "rape trap".

A medieval device built on hatred of men? Or a cheap, easy-to-use invention that could free millions of South African women from fear of rape, in a country with the world's worst sexual assault record?

Dubbed the "rape trap", trademarked "Rapex", the condom-like device bristling with internal hooks designed to snare rapists has re-ignited controversy over South Africa's alarming rape rate, even before plans for its production were announced in Western Cape this week.

Scary? You bet. But anything that can protect women and even deter assault on women can only be a good thing.