C'mon, you knew this was coming! (I've just taken my sweet time in posting. It's been a hectic month!)

So you might remember how Heart won first place in our Top 10 Rockinest Performances by Women list so we already established that the song Barracuda fracking rocks. Then, Fergie comes along and does the cover for the Shrek movie and you know, it's not half bad...

But then here's the topper - Heart and Fergie performed together live on American Idol Gives Back and I was amazed how Fergie comes out owning the stage with a military march reminiscent of Freddy Mercury and proceeds to hit even the high notes, does a couple one-handed flips across the stage while singing into a mic AND to top it all off, Ann Wilson proves she still has the chops. Nancy has no face. Just hair.

Ain't it cute how the gears turn and tape progresses with the tracks? Mixwit has plenty of skins to choose from, you can even upload your own images. Free. I mean. How badass.

MOAR!   more »

I set up Fractal Universe to serve as a free knowledge repository for fractals, fractal software and imagery. Swiki search engines learn from the search behavior of a community so everyone is invited to contribute or research. Find tutorials and resources from this site and beyond! If you like my fractal artwork, try a search for images and see what other people are creating using the same tools.

You can also get the widget for iGoogle or your blog/site.

Love software? Vote for your favorite programs!

Your vote matters!

Click on the image to see an animated short in memory of Albert Hoffman (1906 - 2008)

What is reality?

Important Note --> click for   more »

Funny thing happens when you raise minimum wage - the price of everything goes up, resulting in a paycut for the middle class.

This country has been hijacked by the religious right and big biz.

(Thanks for sending, B)

Thanks to Skeyelab Music for converting this classic comedy album from vinyl to digital. How to Speak Hip is beatnik satire at it's best by Del Close and John Brent. It was released by Mercury Records in 1959. Dig yerself, baby. Yeah, that's where it's at.

Just can't get enough of that song!

SFGate's music critic, Joel Selvin, wrote a great little article about Eddie Vedder going on a solo tour without the band for the first time. The glowing review of Vedder's performance at Berkeley is the kind of thing that could make made a true fan's eyes tear up a little.

"So earnest it almost hurts, Vedder sampled his "Into the Wild" soundtrack, some Pearl Jam songs, favorites from the Beatles, Bob Dylan, Cat Stevens and others, in a sprawling, accomplished two-and-a-half-hour concert for an exuberant crowd that gobbled up the precious tickets as soon as they went on sale." Oh man, I so wish I could have been there.

Thanks for the linkage, Mike O.

BTW, the soundtrack is powerful, and like everything Vedder touches, artistically golden. The movie was pretty cool too, though I haven't finished the book yet. I read several books at once.

On this, the 4th of April in the year 2008, I vow to you, my readers, that I will never post a "review" in exchange for payment. I will never fake enthusiasm nor accept advertising links from sites or products I do not stand behind. My integrity as a writer and the authenticity of this blog will not be compromised for a price. It should go without saying, but I'll also add that as long as I work for Tucows.com, any software review I write is (and has always been) of my own free accord, containing my own views. I have always been willing to risk my full-time position with Tucows by standing up for what I believed to be just and fair to the developers and visitors who actively seek our expert opinions. It's plain and simple, Tucows employees are not allowed to accept gifts or payment in exchange for a good review because it's downright unethical.

Because of sites like PayPerPost, Payu2blog, and Blogging Ads, it's getting increasingly more difficult to differentiate an honest review of a product or service from the masses of advertisements disguised as actual content. You've probably heard the buzz before, but I feel compelled to rant about this because it truly disgusts me that so many people are willing to compromise their reputation as a trustworthy source and for such a small payout!

Read the full story --->   more »

A local Kettering student built a fully operational half-sized Panzer tank complete with a functional air cannon on a 360-degree turret that shoots varied munitions. Talk about cool!

Thank you to the Flint Journal via MLive

She Dreams In Digital brought you this story before it was viral! Here's the newest addition to the story from the Flint Journal.

Okay, this is a continuation of the the posts here and here. In which I detail levels of suckiness as they have been predominant in my life lately. Yes, I have already admitted to this being very emo of me, but karma has been smacking me around.    more »

The Case Foundation is hosting an interesting new grants program called Make It Your Own Awards, an initiative that encourages people to connect, innovate, and activate their communities. They received nearly 5000 entries of ideas by applicants and charities nationwide. Of those, the top 100 applicants were awarded $100. Then they narrowed it down to the top 20 finalists who each received $10,000! Now they are asking for your vote to determine who moves on to the Final Four and gets $25,000 for their cause.

Cast your vote here and help turn dreams into reality! Just by participating, you could get $2,500 for your favorite charity. Voting ends April 22nd.

"Michael Salter's work is a massive and in-depth response to visual culture. A self proclaimed "obsessive observer" he culls through the avalanche of mass media and corporate branding to find poignant, absurd and baffling pieces which become part of his work. His work bridges all disciplines from product and toy design, to kinetic sculpture, logotypes, animation, and signage. He is currently interested in cognitive behavior and its relationship to particular visual stimuli, and the continued construction of styrofoam robots." - UO Department of Art   more »