the listenerd

Video: Surfin’ Bird

Josh Kimball — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 01:19:02 +0000

I used to post a LOT of videos of phonographs playing music here. The joke was (well, it wasn’t all that much of a joke) that I would always say how “soothing” they were.

And without further ado, I present you with The Trashmen’s “Surfin’ Bird.”

Video: Caine’s Arcade

Josh Kimball — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 02:10:54 +0000

Worth every minute.

5 Endorsements from Someone Who Knows Nothing

Josh Kimball — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 03:01:14 +0000

1) Mark Lisanti’s exuberantly disturbing Mad Men Power Rankings on Grantland.

2) Shane Cyr’s tonally flawless Louis vs. Rick.

3) Andrew Ti’s Yo Is This Racist? 2012′s Ann Landers.

4) Travis McHenry’s Coffee and the Newspaper – You have to give me this one. Please. I think one could create an algorithm that correlated images based primarily on color scheme, then it could match EVERYONE’S Facebook profile with a picture of food. (I don’t know why that would be valuable.) Anyway. On the other hand, maybe one could also upload a picture of a meal and get outfit suggestions? Trust me. Potential.

5) Spencer Sloan’s Golden Fiddle*.
*lifetime achievement

Video: Robot hand for remote (robot) handshaking!

Josh Kimball — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 02:42:59 +0000

Good week for Screenshots of Despair

Josh Kimball — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 00:54:44 +0000

I started a tumblr awhile ago called Screenshots of Despair. It was inspired by serendipitous sightings of ennui-inducing automated social media messages, along with Rob Walker’s Gallery of Default Anonymity. After a couple dozen pics had been gathered, Rob (feels weird to use his first name; we’ve never met) wrote up an excellent analysis/explanation of the mini-project for Design Observer.

Since mid-last week, thousands of people have started following the tumblr, many more have come to the site or tweeted about it and it’s gotten shout-outs from a ton of people and media outlets I respect. (Also, I’ve had to think a lot more critically about ennui, the modern human condition, and the interface of man and machine??)

Consider this a thanks to Rob for nudging this idea into being, as well as a shout out for examples of this idea captured in the wild.

Tagged: screenshots of despair

Video: Break ton neck

Josh Kimball — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 15:47:11 +0000

[via john coltrane]

Video: “We Are Ready” by Dancefloor Diplomacy

Josh Kimball — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 02:38:27 +0000

A live mashup!

[waxy]

Video: EaTheremin is a fork-like instrument that plays as you eat

Josh Kimball — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 01:49:03 +0000

Video: Jacob Sutton’s L.E.D. Surfer

Josh Kimball — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 03:57:41 +0000

Tagged: jacob sutton, led surfer

Links for March 5, 2012: Punk Lincoln iPhone case, floating raindrops, the end of life on Earth!

Josh Kimball — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 02:21:14 +0000

IMPENDING DISASTER: There is a 1 in 8 chance of a catastrophic solar megastorm by 2020. That seems kind of scary? Also, is it sort of awesome that there is a journal of SPACE WEATHER? I’m sure glad I learned about that before I got burnt to a crisp and the only civilization humanity has ever known was incinerated in a fiery ball! Me? I am going to go out on a limb and predict that the journal of Space Weather will be among the first publications to hire robot editors.

Presidents: I think this might be the most interesting iPhone case I’ve seen? It’s from Tim Shumate.

Ideas: This one has been passed around quite a bit, but it’s still worth a read. Jason Fried on ideas. And taking one’s time.

Upcycling: Old suitcases become boomboxes. Now show me an old boombox that is a suitcase. Please?

Minnesota: This foldable ice fishing house with walls made out of ice would be PERFECT for my proposed initiative that would record live performances of Minnesota bands ice fishing. (Next year?)

Women: The Desire Project.

Visuals: These images of fruits and vegetables photographed through a microscope will knock you on your ass. Who ever thought I would be crying looking at a picture of a corn husk? Other than my father! [bittman]

Art: How to suspend a raindrop in mid-air. This makes you question whether you really have been wasting your life by reading nothing but those “how-to lock your iPhone in portrait view” articles.

Video: Black Flag live in England. Hair!

Research: How are you being tracked on the web? How are you being tracked in Target?

Personal: I’ve been Pinteresting. And Svpplying. I’m not a visual thinker (nor any other kind, I don’t think), and I’m terrible at both. But it’s good to remind myself of my own shortcomings (and of the fragility of human life?) every now and then.

Today’s links: F.

Video: The Human Beatbox Festival #5 – teaser

Josh Kimball — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 02:11:46 +0000

Tagged: beatboxing, the human beatbox festival #5

Video: Robot Quadrotors playing the James Bond theme song

Josh Kimball — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 02:07:52 +0000

I had to do it. The pressure had become too intense to hold out any longer.

Tagged: james bond, robot quadrotors, robots