We all know someone like this.

We all know someone like this.

Winter is here.

Winter is here.

#GOT

#WOTD -- Conurbation

#WOTD -- Conurbation

Bwahahahaha! Too true.

Bwahahahaha! Too true.

Via Sordatos Cáceres

Originally shared by null

Rotfl

So Britain from Europe is splitting

So Britain from Europe is splitting
And Cameron announced he is quitting
The nationalists surge:
"Fear immigrant scourge!"
The stock market dive seems quite fitting.
http://www.nbcnews.com/storyline/brexit-referendum/u-k-voters-back-brexit-will-leave-european-union-n596826

h/t Paul Snedden

h/t Paul Snedden

Originally shared by Peter Garlinski

I love Legos!

Nice.

Nice.

Originally shared by Chris Hallbeck

Super.
http://maximumble.thebookofbiff.com/2016/06/23/1357-super/

Hell, I'd do this to my own house! #awesome

Hell, I'd do this to my own house! #awesome

This is close to the idea behind my comic from a few months ago: http://drawninpowerpoint.com/index.html#work

This is close to the idea behind my comic from a few months ago: http://drawninpowerpoint.com/index.html#work

But Zach's is funnier.

Originally shared by Markos Giannopoulos

Quantified self, patient zero :) This is how it all started :)
via SMBC Comics http://smbc-comics.com/index.php?id=3259
#mindhacking #fitness #quantifiedself #gamification

Wow, this sucks. He was just great as Chekov rebooted. :-(

Wow, this sucks. He was just great as Chekov rebooted. :-(
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/06/21/business/jeep-that-crushed-anton-yelchin-had-been-recalled.html?referer=

Goodnight, Plus.

Originally shared by Christopher Butler

Goodnight, Plus.

I spent 4.5 hours at the Brickworld Chicago show today (and still didn't see everything!), so here's a gallery of...

I spent 4.5 hours at the Brickworld Chicago show today (and still didn't see everything!), so here's a gallery of photos I took highlighting some of the many, many, MANY incredible and impressive builds there. Enjoy!
https://goo.gl/photos/ox7arbNndCRWgvL76

The first of many to come, I suspect.

The first of many to come, I suspect.

h/t Patrik Hanson​
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2016/jun/14/first-case-emerges-of-mammal-species-wiped-out-by-human-induced-climate-change

In case it wasn't clear, this is a bad thing.

In case it wasn't clear, this is a bad thing.

Originally shared by Wayne Radinsky

Antarctic CO2, the last station on Earth without a 400 parts per million (ppm) reading, has reached it for the first time in 4 million years.
http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/antarctic-co2-hit-400-ppm-for-first-time-in-4-million-years/

So my adventure to attend some seminars at Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio today went OK.

So my adventure to attend some seminars at Origins Game Fair in Columbus, Ohio today went OK. The crowds were polite with reasonable hygiene and the talks were somewhat interesting, but the lines were ridiculously slow (seriously, folks, when you get into the event registration line, have your events already picked out...one guy spent 14 minutes (I timed him) debating various sessions with the registration person!) and I consumed part of what is undoubtedly the worst "Bavarian pretzel" in the known universe (it had the consistency and appeal of a warmed-up institutional dinner roll covered in fake butter...blech). Will be interesting to compare this expo to GenCon in August, which I understand is twice as big with a slightly different emphasis gaming-wise.

* snort *

* snort *

Originally shared by Chris Hallbeck

Address.
http://maximumble.thebookofbiff.com/2016/06/16/1352-address/

Now this totally looks legit. I mean, how would this not be super official and on the up-and-up?? #spam

Now this totally looks legit. I mean, how would this not be super official and on the up-and-up?? #spam

Awesome.

Awesome.

Originally shared by James V West

Here's a new OSR style sheet for your use. I hope I didn't forget anything important.

PDF can be found on my blog: http://www.jwarts.com/char-sheet-OSR-07.pdf

I might drift on over and do some DCC RPG sheets next. I'm not sure yet.

I WON!!

I WON!!

so wealth
many rich
much dollar
wow

LEGO Creator Expert Designer Jamie Berard leads us through his latest masterpiece: Big Ben 10253.

LEGO Creator Expert Designer Jamie Berard leads us through his latest masterpiece: Big Ben 10253.

4163 pieces. $250. Now available for purchase by VIP members.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuGH2LBW1sE&feature=share

1) Wake up

1) Wake up
2) Step on scale; vow to start losing weight
3) Open email and see this

The universe just does not want me to be skinny. #icecream

The parody is strong with this one.

The parody is strong with this one.

Originally shared by Stuckin D'South

Kathryn Huxtable​ shared this on that other site. I actually enjoy some TEDTalks, but this was accurate and funny.
http://digg.com/video/ted-talk-parody?utm_source=digg&utm_medium=facebook

Hulk Hogan and Thiel beat Gawker

Hulk Hogan and Thiel beat Gawker
Bankruptcy's not much of a shocker
Nick Denton (and crew)
Must now say 'adieu'
Perhaps someone needs a dog-walker

http://money.cnn.com/2016/06/10/media/gawker-media-bankruptcy/index.html

Every day on social media.

Every day on social media.

#TheStruggleIsReal

The Beatles set wouldn't have been my first pick, but the Saturn V rocket is glorious!

The Beatles set wouldn't have been my first pick, but the Saturn V rocket is glorious! So many worthy sets...just phenomenal.
http://www.brothers-brick.com/2016/06/09/lego-announces-the-beatles-yellow-submarine-and-apollo-11-saturn-v-as-next-lego-ideas-models-news/

THIS is the kind of thing that should be topping our news feeds., because it would mean a whole lot of badness no...

THIS is the kind of thing that should be topping our news feeds., because it would mean a whole lot of badness no longer existed.
https://gma.yahoo.com/little-boy-sneaks-neighbors-garage-hug-dog-193500776--abc-news-pets.html

MEAT CLOWN

MEAT CLOWN
Hey, moms, do you want to introduce your kids to cannibalism in a fun, friendly way? Meat Clown is here to help! Get it at your local supermarket today!

Everything is a #triggeralert

Everything is a #triggeralert

Originally shared by Godless Mom

Why Stop At X-Men? Here Are 10 More Movie Posters That Ought To Be Apologized For http://buff.ly/1UB38uU #misogyny #triggered
http://buff.ly/1UB38uU

HA!

HA!

Via Andreas Geisler

Originally shared by null

This is why we're neurotic.

In late 2013, I published a paper ("Interruption and Forgetting in Knowledge-Intensive Service Environments"; link...

In late 2013, I published a paper ("Interruption and Forgetting in Knowledge-Intensive Service Environments"; link below) basically giving this same advice: In order to be our most productive at cognitively challenging "knowledge work," we need to get away from distractions and interruptions. Sequestering knowledge workers can benefit the system, the workers, and the customers (the beneficiaries of their work). So, go see someplace quiet, away from email and your phone, to work on that long task that requires all of your concentration. You'll get it done faster and, likely, better than if you try to struggle through it in-between the interruptions that plague our modern existence.

Froehle, CM and White, DL. 2014. Interruption and Forgetting in Knowledge-Intensive Service Environments. Production and Operations Management 23:4 704-722.
http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/poms.12089/abstract
http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article/can-deep-work-really-work/

The FC Cincinnati game is awesome except for a lack of players and action. #lightningdelay

The FC Cincinnati game is awesome except for a lack of players and action. #lightningdelay

Is "the Band" Dead, or Is It Just Taking a Break?

Is "the Band" Dead, or Is It Just Taking a Break?
I thought it was just my imagination, but I was thinking about who is "famous" for making music these days and it struck me that, while I could rattle off a long list of people, I couldn't easily think of many bands making headlines recently.

So, I checked out the Billboard Top 100 Artists list for this week and yep...there's not a single band among the top 10. While there are certainly lots of bands making lots of music, good or otherwise, they seem to be largely ignored by the media. Why?

While larger-than-life personalities have always dominated popular music of all genres -- from Elvis to Madonna to Prince to Jay-Z to Beyonce to even [musters up courage] Justin Bieber -- there have been eras where bands got equal billing and just as much notoriety.

In the 50s, Motown bands were constantly on people's lips. In the 60s, the Beatles, the Doors, the Rolling Stones, and the Beach Boys were ultra-famous. In the 70s, you had mega-bands like Led Zeppelin, Styx, Queen, and the Who constantly putting on stadium shows. The 80s were also rife with gigantic bands, such as Bon Jovi, Metallica, R.E.M., and AC/DC. The 90s brought us media favorites like Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Radiohead, Green Day, and many others. The 2000s, however, seemed to be a turning point, with relatively fewer huge bands; Arcade Fire, the White Stripes, and the Strokes still being relatively famous.

But now, in the 2010s, the emphasis seems to be almost exclusively on The Artist, not the band. Why is that? Has the Internet's influence on how we find out about and consume new music elevated the individual above the group? Are we more interested in the crazy antics of so-and-so on social media instead of a band's collective (and possibly less exciting) contributions to culture?

Or is it just a cycle? If so, we should see some new huge bands popping up in the next several years to capture many a news cycle and generate legions of adoring fans. It would be nice to have some more balance, because the kind of music an individual artist produces is fundamentally different than what a true band tends to put out.

Time will tell. Stay tuned.

Do you enjoy board and card games?

Do you enjoy board and card games? If so, and you'd like to be notified of a project I'm working on, leave a comment below with your favorite game (bot prevention...sorry) and I'll include you in a private circle to get future updates. Thanks.

p.s., Totally not my collection pictured...just a random photo courtesy of Google.

So apparently, I'm now planning on being at both Origins in Columbus in a couple of weeks and GenCon in Indy in...

So apparently, I'm now planning on being at both Origins in Columbus in a couple of weeks and GenCon in Indy in August (research for a little side project). Anyone here going?

Profs work hard, mostly because we think we're doing something good, but this is a lot.

Profs work hard, mostly because we think we're doing something good, but this is a lot.

Originally shared by Joerg Fliege

UK academic workload

Average per week: 50.9 hours. (Full professors: 56.1 hours. PostDocs: 55.7 hours.)

Percentages of academics that report that certain activities "now consume much more of their time than three years ago": departmental administration (51%), student-related administration (45%),  departmental meetings (31%), grading (28%), pastoral care (26%).
https://www.timeshighereducation.com/news/ucu-report-academics-work-two-days-week-unpaid

Sometimes, when governments drag their feet, industry needs to take the lead.

Sometimes, when governments drag their feet, industry needs to take the lead.

Originally shared by Brian Gauspohl

May 2016 --- MIT Technology Review on how more and more companies are coming to terms with the reality of the warming climate and the consequences this has on their business models

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/601429/sensing-the-inevitable-companies-begin-to-adapt-to-climate-change/
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/601429/sensing-the-inevitable-companies-begin-to-adapt-to-climate-change

Forget about your political opinions for a moment...there are some truly phenomenal photographs here. #photography

Forget about your political opinions for a moment...there are some truly phenomenal photographs here. #photography

Originally shared by Christopher Ducra

Great pictures.
https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2016/may/29/pete-souza-photographing-the-real-barack-obama?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Vox%20Sentences%205/31/16&utm_term=Vox%20Newsletter%20All

Legos Steampunk

Legos Steampunk

Your argument is invalid....

Title

Another brilliant MOC from Chris McVeigh!

Another brilliant MOC from Chris McVeigh!

Originally shared by Chris McVeigh

Here's a simple new model that's a lot of fun to build: Classic Camera! Building guides now available at chrismcveigh.com! ‪#‎lego‬

I just heard on NPR that Dana Carvey turns 61 today.

I just heard on NPR that Dana Carvey turns 61 today.

Well, isn't that special!

#holycrap #howtimeflies
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dana_Carvey

Don't know if this staged or not, but it's among the best examples of "instant karma" I've ever seen.

Don't know if this staged or not, but it's among the best examples of "instant karma" I've ever seen.

This and the kid hitting the street sign that swings around and clocks him in the face. Hilarious.

Originally shared by Chris Kim A

Instant Karma's gonna get you
http://www.bitsandpieces.us/2016/05/26/chair-prank/

Did the Enterprise even have a pool?

Did the Enterprise even have a pool?

Originally shared by Laughing Squid

Star Trek: The Next Generation One-Piece Swimsuits, Cover-Up Romper, and Swim Shirt
http://laughingsquid.com/star-trek-the-next-generation-one-piece-swimsuits-cover-up-romper-and-swim-shirt/

Probably should post this in Science & Math instead...

Probably should post this in Science & Math instead...

Originally shared by Joshua McGee

What disqualifies a Priority Mail flat-rate envelope?

A USPS Priority Mail flat-rate envelope will ship for a fixed price, regardless of its weight, "up to 70 pounds". Neat. But hold on: seventy pounds? How much can those things hold?

I checked the Domestic Mail Manual. You are allowed to reinforce the seams and the seal with tape, but unless the envelope is slim enough to seal with its own adhesive, it is ineligible for flat-rate service. So what's the maximum volume you can fit in there?

I estimated with a stack of copy paper. The envelope will close around a 1.9cm stack. Any more than that, and it's too thick. But Priority Mail envelopes are slightly longer than a sheet of copy paper. As a rough (but generous) estimate, if you are constrained to a rectangular prism, you can maybe fit something that is 1.9cm x 22cm x 30cm into one. That's 1250cc, or 0.00125 cubic meters.

That's 0.00125 m^3 that is allowed to weigh 32kg, mind you. That means that the item you are mailing can have a density of 25,600 kilograms per cubic meter and still be permissible.

So I turned to http://www.engineeringtoolbox.com/metal-alloys-densities-d_50.html, copied the alloy density table, pasted it into Google Sheets, and sorted it.

A slab of solid aluminum has a typical density of 2712 kg/m^3. But forget that. Aluminum is light.

How about steel? 7850 kg/m^3. That's more than a factor of four.

Copper? 8940 kg/m^3. Still a factor of four.

Fine, let's pull out the big guns. I want to mail you a slab of lead in a Priority Mail envelope. That would be 14kg, or 31 pounds.

Gold? A hefty 53 pounds, but it's illegal to mail gold.

Let's scroll to the bottom. There we go: iridium! I want to mail you a 1.9cm x 22cm x 30cm slab of prone-to-shattering iridium in an unpadded cardboard-and-plastic-tape envelope. So I go out and pay the seventeen thousand dollar spot-price for a slab of iridium, stick it in a Priority Mail envelope, add some packing tape (better safe than sorry), insure it for the maximum $500 (because I'm not an idiot, obviously), and take it to the Post Office. They place it on the scale. And it would weigh ... under 62 pounds. It's mailable. I could even include a little thank-you-for-your-business note and it wouldn't take it over the seventy-pound mark.

So watch your mailboxes. It's possible that you'll be getting a seventeen thousand dollar slab of iridium in a Priority Mail envelope from me.

I mean, it's not likely. But it's definitely possible.


#science   #math   #usps  
http://eclecticquill.com/2016/06/01/what-disqualifies-a-priority-mail-flat-rate-envelope/

Oh my. :-(

Oh my. :-(
http://mashable.com/2016/06/01/lego-sculpture-destroyed-china/#QkPeGfNl4659