Todd.com

Her Name Was Neda

Please note: This video is graphic and disturbing. It is something you don't want to see. But I think that maybe it's something you need to see.

Her name was Neda. Her name, in Farsi, means voice. She was killed protesting the stolen Iranian election. Her voice was silenced. May her legacy be freedom for her people.

Her sister writes:
"I'm here to let you know I'm alive but my sister was killed...

I'm here to tell you my sister died while in her father's hands

I'm here to tell you my sister had big dreams...

I'm here to tell you my sister who died was a decent person... and like me yearned for a day when her hair would be swept by the wind... and like me read "Forough" [Forough Farrokhzad]... and longed to live free and equal... and she longed to hold her head up and announce, "I'm Iranian"... and she longed to one day fall in love to a man with a shaggy hair... and she longed for a daughter to braid her hair and sing lullaby by her crib...

my sister died from not having life... my sister died as injustice has no end... my sister died since she loved life too much... and my sister died since she lovingly cared for people...

my loving sister, I wish you had closed your eyes when your time had come... the very end of your last glance burns my soul....

sister have a short sleep. your last dream be sweet."

Tags: Politics Videos

Posted by todd on June 21, 2009 7:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Bad Timing

Conservatives mock volcano monitoring, and a volcano erupts. Then they mock pandemic preparedness, and a flu pandemic hits.

Attention conservative politicians: I will max out contributions to your next campaign if you publicly mock Megan Fox showing up at my door wearing this.

Tags: Politics

Posted by todd on April 27, 2009 4:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

To the moon

Recently I found myself talking with someone who believes the insane urban legend that the government faked the moon landing.

I won't rehash the argument here, but I wanted to put forth my own conclusion in public:

It would have been more difficult to fake the landing and keep it a secret for any length of time than the actually go to the moon.

Tags: Idiots Science

Posted by todd on April 22, 2009 2:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Goodbye Netflix

I've been a Netflix subscriber for years, and I've always been very happy with the service. I've enthusiastically recommended it to many friends.

Recently they decided to raise rates for customers who have Blu-Ray access by as much as 20%.

After giving them a couple weeks to back off the decision I decided tonight to cancel my account.

If anyone has any good ideas for an alternative please let me know.

Posted by todd on April 20, 2009 4:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

An open letter to the spammer using my email address

Dear Spammer,

Thanks so much for using my address for your spam. Seriously, who answers that shit? Both you and anyone who answers should be subjected to torture that would make Jack Bauer say, "Hey, don't you think that's going a little too far?"

Sincerely,
todd

Tags: spam torture

Posted by todd on March 19, 2009 2:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Found graphic

more music charts

Tags: Charts

Posted by todd on March 5, 2009 6:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Can ya spare a dime?

Just a friendly reminder that you can help me out when you're buying something through Amazon by linking through me. I get a small percentage of each purchase you make after clicking through the link below, or the link under Support to the left.

In addition, if you're looking to play some online poker you can join Full Tilt Poker through the same support menu and I get some credit.

Amazon.com

Tags: Support

Posted by todd on March 3, 2009 4:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Nuke 'em

If you've ever wondered what would happen if a nuclear bomb was dropped on your home town you're in luck.

A new Google Maps mashup from Carlos Labs lets you see the area affected by different sized bombs placed wherever you want.

Dropping bombs has never been so much fun.

Tags: Technology War

Posted by todd on February 26, 2009 1:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Dieter Rams on Design

The aesthetic quality of a product — and the fascination it inspires — is an integral part of the its utility.

The ten commandments of good design at Vitsoe.com via Daring Fireball.

Tags: Design

Posted by todd on February 25, 2009 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Random Album Cover

My friend Fosco just posted a blog meme, and for a change it’s one I actually like so I'm going to make my own.

The concept here is the random album cover. Fosco’s source, Ted Gideonse, lays out the rules.

1. Use Wikipedia’s random article page to find your band name.
2. Go to the Random Quotations Page. The last four words of the very last quote is your album name.

3. Visit Flickr’s interesting photos page, the third image, no matter what, is your cover art.

4. Use Photoshop or Paint.NET to put all the pieces together.

5. Post it to the group!

I got things started at Wikipedia, with my random article being on on the Aventura Mall in Aventura, Florida. It’s the fifth largest mall in the United States, housing over 250 stores.

My random quote was:

Aim for success, not perfection. Never give up your right to be wrong, because then you will lose the ability to learn new things and move forward with your life.
—Dr. David M. Burns

Which makes my album title Forward With Your Life. That’s actually not bad.

I hit the jackpot with the photo, pulling a really beautiful black and white piece by Kent Mercurio

Put together we get this:

What kind of music do you think the band should make? I'm thinking they're something along the lines of Dakota Suite.

Tags: Design Memes Music

Posted by todd on February 23, 2009 2:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Victory

The war against high fructose corn syrup is far from over, but an important battle has been won.

Both Pepsi and Snapple are making a move to real sugar. Pepsi with Pepsi and Mountain Dew Throwback, and Snapple rolling out sugar sweetened iced tea along with their label redesign.

Tags: Poison Soft Drinks

Posted by todd on February 21, 2009 5:15 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I keep telling you

High fructose corn syrup is vile stuff. How vile? Nearly half of all samples tested contained mercury.

From the Washington Post:

Study Finds High-Fructose Corn Syrup Contains Mercury
Almost half of tested samples of commercial high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) contained mercury... In the first study, researchers found detectable levels of mercury in nine of 20 samples of commercial HFCS. The study was published in current issue of Environmental Health.

Mmm, delicious mercury.

Posted by todd on January 27, 2009 3:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Traffic Report

In puzzling news, almost 1% of my traffic this month has come from the Republic of Moldova, nearly as much as France, Germany and Mexico and slightly more the United Kingdom.

My biggest Google referrer? Wells Fargo Sucks. I'm rather happy about that, as they do indeed continue to suck.

Tags: Geography Site News

Posted by todd on January 26, 2009 6:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Perfect

I have a feeling this image will be one of the most lasting memories of this day:

Tags: Photos Politics

Posted by todd on January 20, 2009 5:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I Love It

I'm going to love watching the wingnut's heads explode over the oath of office stumble.

Tags: Politics

Posted by todd on January 20, 2009 3:58 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

President Obama

A couple of lines from the inaugural address that I particularly liked:

As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals. Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.

W, you got served.

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers.

That you for including me, and not questioning whether I deserve to be a citizen.

Tags: Politics

Posted by todd on January 20, 2009 2:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

OMG WTF?

Tags: Weather

Posted by todd on January 15, 2009 9:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Asshole(s) of the Day

Corn Refiners Association

The vile substance high fructose corn syrup has taken a few hits recently, with more and more people coming to realize what shit it is. The CRA has started to fight back with TV ads:

Die in a fire. All of you. Everyone from the actual members of the Corn Refiners Association to the bitch in the above ad. DIE. IN. A. FIRE.

First, HFCS tastes like shit. Second, it's bad for you. Third, it's only cheaper because we place ridiculous tariffs on the import of sugar.

Tags: Asshole of the Day Poison

Posted by todd on January 9, 2009 2:40 PM | Permalink

I totally agree

President Bush, when asked what was the highlight of his presidency:

"I'd have to say that the highlight would be catching a 7 pound bass in my own lake"

That sounds just about right to me.

Posted by todd on December 29, 2008 7:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Suck it Santa Cruz

Tags: Weather

Posted by todd on December 21, 2008 8:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Who he should have picked

I was shocked and angered by the decision to tap Rick Warren for the invocation at the Obama inauguration.

The man is nothing short of an unrepentant bigot and he doesn't deserve to be handed such an extraordinary honor.

Who should be the choice? I would look at Rev. Theodore Hesburgh.

Posted by todd on December 18, 2008 1:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Throwing My Hat in the Ring

Seeing as the Senate seat vacated by President-Elect Obama is for sale, I would like to offer the powers that be the following for my appointment:

1. My homemade orange cream pie. Trust me, it's worth it.
2. (3) Lessons on how to play No Limit Texas Hold'em
3. US$27.82

I await your reply eagerly.

Posted by todd on December 12, 2008 2:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Further thoughts on Prop H8

My friend Fosco has written extensively on the issue, and with a greater personal connection, but one does not have to be discriminated against to condemn the fact that others are.

The fight to recognize the right of all couples to marry is the primary civil rights issue of our time, and the battle lines are clear. You can be for equality or for discrimination. You can be for love or for hate. You can act in a way that your grandchildren will be proud of or in a way that will add yet another disgraceful chapter to our history books.

Read this heartbreaking piece and tell me which side of the battle lines you want to be on.

Tags: Politics Straight Not Narrow

Posted by todd on December 9, 2008 4:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

We've always been at war with Ohio

It seems my home state has banned smiling and glasses from driver's license photos.

The rationale behind this is to help facial recognition software with the process of recognizing driver faces.

Beyond the obvious jokes ("You live in Indiana, what's to smile about.") and the Big Brother aspect, there's one disturbing thing about the new policy. The state's multi-million dollar facial recognition software can be fooled by a smile or a pair of glasses?

This makes me feel so much safer.

Tags: Indiana

Posted by todd on December 9, 2008 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)