Distraction-Free GMail Browser (for OS X)!!

Update: As discussed in a more recent Hawk Wings post, there's no need for a special application for this. You can do the same thing (in Firefox or Camino, for example) with JavaScript bookmarklets.

Do you like GMail, but realize that the only REAL way to work with GMail is through a browser? Well, you might like this... A stripped down browser just for GMail. It's less distracting. It's more like a Mail.app for GMail.

A dedicated, distraction-free browser for Gmail

Michael McCracken likes Gmail a lot.

But he finds that reading it in his normal web-browser is too distracting. Bookmarks, other open windows and the Google search are constantly tempting him away from his work.

So he created a dedicated WebKit browser that loads only Gmail without the distractions:

See the Hawk Wings post for more information, including where to download the app.

Technorati Tags: gmail, email, Mail.app, OS X, e-mail

Variety and Jalapenos, New England and Texas

This was a terrific commentary. The audio should be available shortly. The punchline: variety is the spice of life; however, that's only if you know how to apply it. Use variety for tasks that repeat very quickly... For example, move around your plate as you eat your dinner. However, do not use variety for things that don't repeat often. For example, sing Happy Birthday every year... Don't sing something new every year.

Sharing One Secret to Happiness

All Things Considered, May 12, 2006 - Psychology professor Daniel Gilbert has spent a lot of time thinking about what makes people happy. He shares one of the secrets he has uncovered. Gilbert is the author of the new book Stumbling on Happiness.

Technorati Tags: variety, npr, commentary, happiness, jalapenos

Billie Jean Is Not My Lover

Those who know me should find this pretty funny. (keep in mind that the following is from another blog, not mine)

Seven for all Mankind

My Sevens from Nordstrom Rack are back from the tailor - this is their internet debut. Mary's Tailoring on State St took the ankles from a 10" to an 8.5" opening, which made my sister ask, "Did you just say you took a pair of jeans to a tailor to get them tapered? Who are you?"

Technorati Tags: tapered leg jeans, taper, jeans

In the ghetto-ohhhhhhhhhhhhh....

Update: Wikipedia has a category for 1981 births.

Up-Update: GEE-zus there are a lot of 1981 births on Wikipedia!!!

For some reason, lately I've found myself seeking out people who were born in 1981 (like me). There's just something special about my birth year right now. I'm not quite sure why. I guess maybe I just miss having peers around? You would think I'd be okay with anyone 1979 - 1982, but for some reason I've been clinging onto 1981.

Is that strange?

1981 babies, unite!

Technorati Tags: 1981, birth year

Boxers or briefs?

"Internet Explorer or Firefox?"

"Mac or PC?"

Technorati Tags: rocketboom, amanda congdon, mac, pc, internet explorer, firefox

Freeganism!! Parkour??

Wikipedia: Freeganism

Freeganism is a lifestyle in which an attempt is made to abstain from purchases so as to curb the corporate drive for profits. This drive is seen by Freegans as the source of ethical negligence. This display of eroding concern for ethics or morals by corporations was initially an issue mainly taken note of by vegetarians, vegans and animal rights supporters in general. The Freegan notion of boycotting products that violated the consumer's own code of ethics began with animal products but evolved to include a broader range of commodities. It is important to note that the term is relatively recent and its definition may fluctuate in actual daily use. The word "freegan" is a portmanteau of the words free and vegan.

Wikipedia: Parkour

Parkour (also called freerunning, abreviated to PK) is a physical discipline of French origin in which participants attempt to pass obstacles in the fastest and most direct manner possible, using skills such as jumping and climbing, or the more specific parkour moves. The obstacles can be anything in one's environment, so parkour is often seen practiced in urban areas because of many suitable public structures that are accessible to most people, such as buildings and rails.

A traceur is a participant of parkour.

Technorati Tags: freeganism, freegan, parkour, traceur

NYC Museum of the Moving Image

Update: The Friday, May 12 RocketBoom seems to address the parenthetical comment down below...

I think I'd love to go to this museum:

Museum of the Moving Image

It's featured in today's RocketBoom:

RocketBoom: May 11, 2006

It's probably important to view the Rocketboom vlog. They show some neat things within the museum.

( Why do I find it funny that Rocketboom uses an attractive blond female (Amanda Congdon [1][2][3][4], Northwestern grad and 1981 baby) to do their vlogs? I mean, it's nothing against her. It's not like she's not qualified for the job; she is. In fact, she may not even think of herself that way. After all, there's nothing she can do about it. However, I have a feeling it may (perhaps subconsciously) have gone into the vote as to who would be the "frontman" for RocketBoom. )

Technorati Tags: rocketboom, amanda congdon, museum of the moving image, nyc

Faster than a horny Jellyfish

The Jellyfish, Nature's Fastest Creature?

Faster than the blink of an eye, or a speeding bullet... it's the sting of a jellyfish. NPR science correspondent Joe Palca reports on new research that reveals how fast jellyfish stingers move on their targets.

Astronauts can experience forces four to five times the normal pull of gravity, or gees. But when a nematocyst spits out its dart, the dart accelerates at more than one million gees, creating as much pressure as a bullet hitting a target. That's enough force to allow the delicate jellyfish to stun even heavily armed crustaceans.

I notice they include another picture elsewhere on the site but not on this page. I'll put it below.

Impressive Jellyfish.

Technorati Tags: npr, science, jellyfish, biology, fast, acceleration

Hushed Pop on a Thursday Afternoon

NPR's Song of the Day has done it again.

Born in Sweden to Argentine parents and raised on bossa nova and Joy Division, Jose Gonzalez makes music that's haunting and ominous, yet seductively heartening. Hailed by music bloggers in much the same manner as Clap Your Hands Say Yeah and Tapes 'N Tapes, the singer-songwriter has attracted praise that's significantly louder than his music.

The song of the day is "Heartbeats" (the audio of the song is available at the link above) off of the Veneer album. This song was originally by The Knife off of their Deep Cuts album. In fact, it's a very popular song for both artists. It sounds great for both artists, actually.

On "Heartbeats," Gonzalez reworks a song originally performed by the Swedish electro-pop band The Knife. It's the only cover version on his achingly intimate debut album, Veneer, which pairs Gonzalez’s acoustic-guitar work -- a style that merges classical and Brazilian techniques with the folk style of Nick Drake and Bert Jansch -- with his hushed, fragile tenor.

"We had a promise made, we were in love," Gonzalez sings with melancholy resignation. His sparse bossa-folk resonates on an intensely personal level: If it were performed in the middle of a crowd of thousands, it would still seem crafted for an audience of one.

Some other lyrics from the song...

one night to be confused
one night to speed up truth
we had a promise made
four hands and then away

both under influence
we had devine scent
to know what to say
mind is a razorblade

to call for hands of above
to lean on
wouldn't be good enough
for me, no

one night of magic rush
the start a simple touch
one night to push and scream
and then relief

Note: I think there are some slight differences from the the original lyrics.

Fun.

Technorati Tags: npr, song of the day, the knife, jose gonzalez, heartbeats, veneer, pop, music

Agency rejects '.xxx' domain name

So stupid...

(note: while I'm in favor of an XXX TLD, I am not in favor of forcing certain cites to use it)

Technorati Tags: xxx, ICANN, domain names, conservatives