wonderfunk

My recent readings (listens)

2008-05-11T21:37:00.001-04:00

Restless (4.5/5) - William Boyd
Can't remember if I blogged about this, but I really loved this book! Definitely would make a great movie. Very LeCarre-esque. One of my favorites.

The Pillars of the Earth (5/5) - Ken Follett
Ok it took forever and a day, but truly one of the best books I have ever experienced....in fact for a while I regretted listening instead of reading, but I think if I was reading it, I would still be. Truly cool from a character development, rich information sense....I actually could understand what 10th/11th c. life was like.

Lamb (4.5/5) - Christopher Moore
This guy has managed to become one of my favorites. Really funny story of the lost years of Jesus told by his long forgotten boyhood friend Bif.

Legacy of Ashes (1/5) - Tim Weiner
Honestly...never got through it.....was sick of it within the first 2 hours.

The Amulet of Samarkand - The Bartimaeus Trilogy Book 1 - Jonathan Stroud
It was ok (3/5)....there were some cool concepts...much darker and more detailed than the potter series

A New Earth (3.5/5) - Eckhart Tolle
Despite the hype, this book seems to be everything people want it to be. Those who are schooled in various philosophically ego-heavy disciplines will find this familiar territory.....I enjoyed it....very difficult to listen to while driving.

The Four Things a Service Business Must Get Right (Harvard Business Review) (2.5/5) - Frances X. Frei
Interesting, nothing new, well stated points.....the best of HBR in providing quotable quotes.....I do believe HBR is the birthplace of buzzword bingo in the corporate world.

Bad Luck and Trouble (3.5/5) - Lee Child
I enjoyed this book, found it interesting and plot hidden for long enough that it kept my interest....a lot like a Nelson Demille but not as outright funny.

next on the list
World Without End - Ken Follett

Graphics, etc...

2008-05-10T20:33:00.001-04:00

as you may have guessed i've lost my background and logo.....I was hosting the graphics on my wifes site which we recently shut down, but I didn't make the mental connection prior to wiping it.....in any event they'll be back soon.

Blackfish

2008-05-10T20:31:00.001-04:00

Went to a Chaine des Rotisseurs event the other night at Blackfish. It was a New World vs. Old World night with some fantastic vintages.

Needless to say we had a great time...

Amuse Bouche:
Beet air with star anise smoke

First:
Spring Carrot soup with rose geranium

Second: (and my favorite)
Roasted Fluke, duck ravioli, sunchoke puree, fenugreek froth

Third:
Foie gras "semi freddo", pistachio, anchovy, carbonated lemon, pink peppercorn

Entree:
Veal breast with morels

Cheese:
Gorgonzola panna cotta, crunchy brioche, spicy yuzo, grapes

Dessert:
Smores with homemade strawberry marshmellow, chocolate gram cracker crunch.

I'll go into the wines at a later date.....in a nutshell everyone that we met in the Chaine was great, and very nice to us....we look forward to more events.

Chip Roman who is both Chef and Owner was great, had a quick chat with him and he seems down to earth, while his food was clearly out of this world.

Chumby

2008-03-09T01:09:00.001-05:00

My Chumby has arrived and I am pleased....I would have got it for the internet radio streaming alone, but all of the incredible other things I am leveraging make it well worth it for me...if you get one let me know and I'll share some channels.

:)

2008-01-29T20:20:00.001-05:00

More Audiobook Reviews

2007-12-29T13:31:00.001-05:00

I finished Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card:
rating: I liked it but would call it fair compared to the other books, I now regret that I decided to head down the path of bean instead of ender for how I would read the series.

1776 by David McCullough:
rating: excellent, would have liked an epilogue to cover the first 3 months of 1777.

A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore:
rating: awesome, fun! This book was a blast, dark humor but I found myself laughing out loud a number of times, the narration on this was great....I could literally picture the story unfold. I want will definitely read Moore :)

The Wisdom of Crowds by James Surowiecki
rating: quite good, definitely interesting....I have always subscribed to the theory of "Person Smart, People Stupid" this tome attempts to propose the exact opposite.

The 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferriss
rating: in progress....so far a number of great points and ideas, definitely will result in pissing a lot of people should people choose to follow his advice, at least this is true for people in a corporate setting. Probably works much better for people in product oriented occupations that are individual contributors without much in the way of management aspirations or responsibilities, but then again I'm not finished yet.

Up Next:
Restless by William Boyd.

Can you tell I love this Audible Subscription.

String Ducky

2007-12-10T23:13:00.001-05:00

An update....a while back I posted an article about Discover Channels contest to explain String Theory in 2 minutes or less. Here is the chosen winner.

Amazon Kindle

2007-12-02T22:36:00.001-05:00

Here is my obligatory Amazon Kindle link....you can't be a gadget fan without diggin' this.

Per Amazon - Introducing Kindle™

Three years ago, we set out to design and build an entirely new class of device—a convenient, portable reading device with the ability to wirelessly download books, blogs, magazines, and newspapers. The result is Amazon Kindle.

We designed Kindle to provide an exceptional reading experience. Thanks to electronic paper, a revolutionary new display technology, reading Kindle’s screen is as sharp and natural as reading ink on paper—and nothing like the strain and glare of a computer screen. Kindle is also easy on the fingertips. It never becomes hot and is designed for ambidextrous use so both "lefties" and "righties" can read comfortably at any angle for long periods of time.

We wanted Kindle to be completely mobile and simple to use for everyone, so we made it wireless. No PC and no syncing needed. Using the same 3G network as advanced cell phones, we deliver your content using our own wireless delivery system, Amazon Whispernet. Unlike WiFi, you’ll never need to locate a hotspot. There are no confusing service plans, yearly contracts, or monthly wireless bills—we take care of the hassles so you can just read.

With Whispernet, you can be anywhere, think of a book, and get it in one minute. Similarly, your content automatically comes to you, wherever you are. Newspaper subscriptions are delivered wirelessly each morning. Most magazines arrive before they hit newsstands. Haven’t read the book for tomorrow night’s book club? Get it in a minute. Finished your book in the airport? Download the sequel while you board the plane. Whether you’re in the mood for something serious or hilarious, lighthearted or studious, Kindle delivers your spontaneous reading choices on demand.

And because we know you can't judge a book by its cover, Kindle lets you download and read the beginning of books for free. This way, you can try it out—if you like it, simply buy and download with 1-Click, right from your Kindle, and continue reading. Want to try a newspaper as well? All newspaper subscriptions start with a risk-free two-week trial.

Kindle’s paperback size and expandable memory let you travel light with your library. With the freedom to download what you want, when you want, we hope you’ll never again find yourself stuck without a great read.

We're very proud to introduce Amazon Kindle and we hope you like it as much as we do.

- The Amazon Kindle Team

Side Note: An LCD (Toshiba REGZA 32HL67U 32" 720p LCD HDTV) I'm Lovin

Recent Reads....or Listens

2007-11-26T01:14:00.001-05:00

I have been on a deep Audiobook run, thought i'd share what I have listened to over the last few months....comment if you have anything to say on these.

Ok, needless to say it all started with an Audible membership....great service, wish they would improve their recommendation engine, but nevertheless when you want something they have it, and it is all quite economical.

So here goes:

Simple Genius by David Baldacci
rating: decent

The Long Tail by Chris Anderson
rating: liked it but it was overhyped by the time I got to it.

Enders Game by Orson Scott Card
rating: loved it....I must say though I unfortunately listened to the after book interview with the author and while I loved this book, and as you will see shortly I continued to read more in the series I thought this author may have been the most obnoxiously arrogant SOB i've ever heard.

Pattern Recognition by William Gibson
rating: fantastic, a topic I have always thought about....interesting especially now with the recent news of subliminally planted messages in kids toys etc.

The Futurist by James P. Othmer
rating: I really enjoyed this book

Enders Shadow by Orson Scott Card
rating: as good as Enders Game....same story different POV, great!

Microtrends by Mark J. Penn
rating: fun, got me thinking about all kids of capitalist ways to take advantage of the natural tendency of people to get caught up in trends and fads...

The Age of Turbulence by Alan Greenspan
rating: great....too long. guy has had an amazing life.

ScreamFree Parenting by Hal Edward Runkel
rating: sucked...don't get me wrong it had its share of common sense alternatives and got me thinking on a couple of topics in ways that I might not have approached them, but all in all it was tedious

The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Junot Diaz
rating: fun, wacky.....if you were born between 68 and 76, you'll probably find this interesting on a few accounts....same goes if you: liked comic books, role playing games, science fiction, tolkein, went to rutgers between 88-94

The Golden Compass by Philip Pullman
rating: not finished....figured I'd get out in front of this one before the movie hits

On Deck
Shadow of the Hegemon by Orson Scott Card
1776 by David McCullough
Consider the Lobster by David Foster Wallace

My first homebrew

2007-11-07T22:45:00.001-05:00

Pleased to announce that I bottled my first homebrew yesterday! After a 2 week fermentation period, my first ale - a high canadian brew should be ready in about 2 weeks after a bottle aging and carbonation period. A total of 256 fluid ounces. I expect a pale in color and bold in character ale with
subtle notes of hop, think Moosehead.

Philly Beer Week

2007-10-21T00:22:00.001-04:00

Nothing could be finer.....go Monks

Chap Hai - Way of the Dragon

2007-10-20T00:51:00.001-04:00

An excellent Flash Game, fun and addictive

Tae Kwon Do Nuns

2007-10-15T22:29:00.001-04:00

The nuns began studying the martial arts as a form of exercise. Several of them workout regularly. Though they would never use the arts to hurt someone, a number of them have become quite good. Sister Mary, who is just over five feet tall, is the most serious.

Pavlovian Smile

2007-10-14T23:50:00.001-04:00

props

Improve your photos in 60 seconds

2007-10-14T23:30:00.001-04:00

If you are tired of reading long explanations and confused by tricky
photo techniques, here you can have it short and sweet. Arranged by
topics, each subject takes less than 60 seconds to read.

For the Pricess Bride fans - Inigo strikes again

2007-08-25T14:43:00.000-04:00

Great Japanese Prank Video Compilation....made me laugh for a while

2007-08-25T14:38:00.000-04:00

I particularly like the boulder pranks...

http://view.break.com/300267 - Watch more free videos

Shakespeare Insult Kit

2007-08-25T13:14:00.000-04:00

I thought this was great when I saw it and had to share. - Den

Shakespeare Insult Kit

Combine one word from each of the three columns below, prefaced with "Thou":

Column 1     Column 2            Column 3

artless             base-court          apple-john
bawdy               bat-fowling         baggage
beslubbering        beef-witted         barnacle
bootless            beetle-headed       bladder
churlish            boil-brained        boar-pig
cockered            clapper-clawed      bugbear
clouted             clay-brained        bum-bailey
craven              common-kissing      canker-blossom
currish             crook-pated         clack-dish
dankish             dismal-dreaming     clotpole
dissembling         dizzy-eyed          coxcomb
droning             doghearted          codpiece
errant              dread-bolted        death-token
fawning             earth-vexing        dewberry
fobbing             elf-skinned         flap-dragon
froward             fat-kidneyed        flax-wench
frothy              fen-sucked          flirt-gill
gleeking            flap-mouthed        foot-licker
goatish             fly-bitten          fustilarian
gorbellied          folly-fallen        giglet
impertinent         fool-born           gudgeon
infectious          full-gorged         haggard
jarring             guts-griping        harpy
loggerheaded        half-faced          hedge-pig
lumpish             hasty-witted        horn-beast
mammering           hedge-born          hugger-mugger
mangled             hell-hated          joithead
mewling             idle-headed         lewdster
paunchy             ill-breeding        lout
pribbling           ill-nurtured        maggot-pie
puking              knotty-pated        malt-worm
puny                milk-livered        mammet
qualling            motley-minded       measle
rank                onion-eyed          minnow
reeky               plume-plucked       miscreant
roguish             pottle-deep         moldwarp
ruttish             pox-marked          mumble-news
saucy               reeling-ripe        nut-hook
spleeny             rough-hewn          pigeon-egg
spongy              rude-growing        pignut
surly               rump-fed            puttock
tottering           shard-borne         pumpion
unmuzzled           sheep-biting        ratsbane
vain                spur-galled         scut
venomed             swag-bellied        skainsmate
villainous          tardy-gaited        strumpet
warped              tickle-brained      varlot
wayward             toad-spotted        vassal
weedy               unchin-snouted      whey-face
yeasty              weather-bitten      wagtail

A Train Ride in Mumbai

2007-08-25T13:02:00.001-04:00

Outta Control...I wonder how often people lose their grip. Video

Electric Sheep Rocks

2007-08-23T01:02:00.001-04:00

Ok so you all are aware of distributed 'grid' computing, as well as, peer to peer file sharing.....and everybody loves 'smoke and lightning' screen savers. Electric Sheep takes all of this to the next level as far as I am concerned. Ok so it is a kick ass screensaver that allows you to vote as a new scene (or as they call them sheep) comes on the screen with a gladiator style thumbs up or thumbs down. In the background it is 1) registering your vote and 2) using bittorrent to download new highly rated sheep to your PC. Basically guaranteeing a constantly refreshing batch of killer screensaver scenes. Please check this one out, you won't be disappointed.

From electricsheep.org:

Electric Sheep realizes the collective dream of sleeping computers
from all over the internet. It's a distributed screen-saver that
harnesses idle computers into a render farm with the purpose of
animating and evolving artificial life-forms.

All the software is open source and users may participate in the
network freely and anonymously. Anyone can download and install it.
When their computer is idle and goes to sleep, the sheep animations
appear, and in parallel the computer goes to work creating new sheep
and sharing its results with all other users.

Each sheep is about 4 seconds long. Its shape, motion, and color are
specified by a genetic code, a long string of numbers. If a user sees
a sheep they like, they may press the up arrow key to vote for it.
Sheep that receive more votes live longer and are more likely to
reproduce. These votes form a fitness function for the esthetic
evolution of the flock. Users can also download software to manually
design genomes and post them to the server where they join the flock.

I believe the free flow of code is an increasingly important social
and artistic force. The proliferation of powerful computers with
high-bandwidth network connections forms the substrate of an expanding
universe. The electric sheep and we their shepherds are colonizing
this new frontier.

Yearbook Photos of the Famous

2007-08-20T00:50:00.001-04:00

This stuff cracks me up see the originals at freelulu
Letterman
Gene Simmons
Kurt Vonnegut
Slash
Barack Obama

My new Numark TTUSB - Schweeeet!

2007-08-11T00:24:00.001-04:00

Ok....Yes I love my new Numark turntable. Not too mention the kick ass lot of 80 Jazz albums I won on eBay which has me super hooked on Ramsey Lewis (highly recommend for anyone who hasn't listened. If you want one yourself her you go. Every night since the acquistion we have had 'Dinner Dance Party' with my wife and son at our house....its been a blast, highly recommended.

Orange Erving

2007-08-11T00:13:00.001-04:00

I used to love making these as a kid........

* 1 can (6 oz size) frozen orange juice

* 1 cup water

* 1 cup milk

* 1/2 cup sugar

* 1 teaspoon vanilla

* 12 ice cubes

Directions:

1. Mix together in blender at high speed for 30 seconds. Serve
immediately.

Makes: 2 servings

Kid Zeppelin - kind of crazy....

2007-08-05T10:45:00.001-04:00

A very young kid playing stairway to heaven, albeit the playing isn't great, but given his age its still impressive, particularly the solo.

ha

2007-07-27T00:22:00.001-04:00