March 4
Resurrected: Furnitures the Great Brown Oaf
One of the oldest sites on the internet that I still remember was a whimsical, yet slightly unsettling, page for a fake children's show called Furnitures the Great Brown Oaf. It's been gone from the internet since 2007, but no more! I have revived it on Neocities, with the permission of Henry Stokes, its creator, and I wrote this introduction too. By the standards of the current-day Web it may seem primitive, but I enjoyed bringing it back. Please take a few moments to immerse yourself in the world of a TV show that never was.
One of the oldest sites on the internet that I still remember was a whimsical, yet slightly unsettling, page for a fake children's show called Furnitures the Great Brown Oaf. It's been gone from the internet since 2007, but no more! I have revived it on Neocities, with the permission of Henry Stokes, its creator, and I wrote this introduction too. By the standards of the current-day Web it may seem primitive, but I enjoyed bringing it back. Please take a few moments to immerse yourself in the world of a TV show that never was.
March 1
COLD - a film about a dead lady
At a time when everything feels like it's falling apart, I'm releasing a project about everything falling apart. In COLD, Jane died sometime last week but didn't notice. This 20 minute film deals with medical gaslighting, misdiagnosis, menopause, the cult of wellness, some really terrible yoga, and duct tape... through a dark comedy and body horror lens. [more inside]
At a time when everything feels like it's falling apart, I'm releasing a project about everything falling apart. In COLD, Jane died sometime last week but didn't notice. This 20 minute film deals with medical gaslighting, misdiagnosis, menopause, the cult of wellness, some really terrible yoga, and duct tape... through a dark comedy and body horror lens. [more inside]
February 28
Flavor maps
When I am cooking I like to be creative and just base stuff on what goes together. I have a big list of ingredients and what goes with what (derived from The Flavor Bible among other things). I built some software that lets me visualize the connections across ingredients as maps. It works for me so I decided to put it on the web in case it works for you.
When I am cooking I like to be creative and just base stuff on what goes together. I have a big list of ingredients and what goes with what (derived from The Flavor Bible among other things). I built some software that lets me visualize the connections across ingredients as maps. It works for me so I decided to put it on the web in case it works for you.
February 27
Ecards for Creeps
Do you like typing stuff into little boxes and then sending the results to your friends and frenemies? Of course you do. You're not a monster. You are a normal person, a good person. People like you. This is why I made this ecard app. For people like you.
Do you like typing stuff into little boxes and then sending the results to your friends and frenemies? Of course you do. You're not a monster. You are a normal person, a good person. People like you. This is why I made this ecard app. For people like you.
February 25
Styscraper porcine physics game
I previously combined physics gameplay with penguins to create Penga, now I’ve done a fun pig-themed construction game with building strategies/tactics to discover. Features wonderful illustrations by Doc Hackenbush.
I previously combined physics gameplay with penguins to create Penga, now I’ve done a fun pig-themed construction game with building strategies/tactics to discover. Features wonderful illustrations by Doc Hackenbush.
February 17
irregular-expressions a GIS and spatial blog
I have a new blog irregular-expressions which I'm running on Bear. It will be mainly about using R and QGIS in spatial ecology and working with various data sets (and my own on the ground observations) to understand and manage land better. [more inside]
I have a new blog irregular-expressions which I'm running on Bear. It will be mainly about using R and QGIS in spatial ecology and working with various data sets (and my own on the ground observations) to understand and manage land better. [more inside]
Wildcard Deck
I have designed and have had fabricated a platform for carrying accessories on clip-on aerobars. [more inside]
I have designed and have had fabricated a platform for carrying accessories on clip-on aerobars. [more inside]
February 9
Songs About Dinosaurs - Professor Goldstein and the Adjuncts
MefiMusic Alum makes good with a pop punk progressive-ska Weezercore old school concept album. [more inside]
MefiMusic Alum makes good with a pop punk progressive-ska Weezercore old school concept album. [more inside]
February 4
Calc/16
A calculator that computes to the nearest 1/16th, designed for US contractors and DIYers working in inches.
A calculator that computes to the nearest 1/16th, designed for US contractors and DIYers working in inches.
February 1
Magical Regulators TTRPG
I just put out a game! Magical Regulators is a game about powerful wizards messing with things far beyond their ken - politics, bureaucracy, and the lives of normal people. Players are tasked with coming up with regulations to make magical innovations safe. It's got comedy, chaos, and lots of magic. Also you can level up by making puns! [more inside]
I just put out a game! Magical Regulators is a game about powerful wizards messing with things far beyond their ken - politics, bureaucracy, and the lives of normal people. Players are tasked with coming up with regulations to make magical innovations safe. It's got comedy, chaos, and lots of magic. Also you can level up by making puns! [more inside]
January 31
Back Catalogue Barrage
An easy music quiz where you just have to name one song by each of the bands listed! You're just not allowed to answer with their most popular song, but that shouldn't be a problem, should it? [more inside]
An easy music quiz where you just have to name one song by each of the bands listed! You're just not allowed to answer with their most popular song, but that shouldn't be a problem, should it? [more inside]
January 30
Tortura - short short stories for the TikTok era
I've started writing a collection of short short stories (more like vignettes, 4 of them amount to ~6000 words) and I would be interested in the feedback of the hive mind. Trigger warnings : body and medical horror, existential dread, absurdism, end of life. Hopefully those who like dark humour and absurd will enjoy them? [more inside]
I've started writing a collection of short short stories (more like vignettes, 4 of them amount to ~6000 words) and I would be interested in the feedback of the hive mind. Trigger warnings : body and medical horror, existential dread, absurdism, end of life. Hopefully those who like dark humour and absurd will enjoy them? [more inside]
January 27
Metropolis, the Audio Drama
A murder mystery in neon utopia. An original science fiction audio drama. Come join us in the radiant city... if you can survive it. [more inside]
A murder mystery in neon utopia. An original science fiction audio drama. Come join us in the radiant city... if you can survive it. [more inside]
Getting Unstuck: A Compassion Centered Approach to Writing Difficulties
I'm one of the speakers at a free 4 day virtual event called The Write Your Own Way Summit: Forge Your Unique Magic. My topic is "Getting Unstuck: A Compassion Centered Approach to Writing Difficulties" and takes place on 3pm EST on the 2nd of February. [more inside]
I'm one of the speakers at a free 4 day virtual event called The Write Your Own Way Summit: Forge Your Unique Magic. My topic is "Getting Unstuck: A Compassion Centered Approach to Writing Difficulties" and takes place on 3pm EST on the 2nd of February. [more inside]
January 26
Roguelike Radio #159, on Shiren the Wanderer
I recorded an episode of the longstanding podcast Roguelike Radio on Spike-Chunsoft's latest roguelike game, Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island, a.k.a. Shiren 6. It's an hour and a half long, and we had a great time recording it. If you're interested in roguelikes, I think you'll like it!
I recorded an episode of the longstanding podcast Roguelike Radio on Spike-Chunsoft's latest roguelike game, Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island, a.k.a. Shiren 6. It's an hour and a half long, and we had a great time recording it. If you're interested in roguelikes, I think you'll like it!
January 20
Biden Delivered
A searchable collection of accomplishments and announcements from the Biden-Harris administration. [more inside]
A searchable collection of accomplishments and announcements from the Biden-Harris administration. [more inside]
January 18
People of Canada, this is your 2025 Gowandar
A printable 12-month celebration of all things Lawrence Gowan. Non-Canucks need not apply (except for maybe a certain subset of Styxheads). [more inside]
A printable 12-month celebration of all things Lawrence Gowan. Non-Canucks need not apply (except for maybe a certain subset of Styxheads). [more inside]
January 16
Pick, Pack, or Die
Step into the infinite world of Zing Warehouse as employees try to survive a delivery drone uprising. Half a decade ago, I asked a handful of MeFis if they’d be interested in being a beta reader for a novel inspired by Carl Hiaasen. Thanks to their feedback and the help of many others, I’m happy to announce that my comedy thriller Pick, Pack, or Die is ready for delivery! [more inside]
Step into the infinite world of Zing Warehouse as employees try to survive a delivery drone uprising. Half a decade ago, I asked a handful of MeFis if they’d be interested in being a beta reader for a novel inspired by Carl Hiaasen. Thanks to their feedback and the help of many others, I’m happy to announce that my comedy thriller Pick, Pack, or Die is ready for delivery! [more inside]
January 2
In 2024 I saw 1,289 movies...
In January of 2021, during Covid, I started logging the many films that I watch. In the 4 years since then, I've seen 4,126 movies and wrote about each and every one. Here is my summery for the year that just ended, and this is where all the reviews are archived. I see about 20-25 movies each week, and post a shortish weekly write-up every Monday. I also include links to the free streamers where I saw them.
In January of 2021, during Covid, I started logging the many films that I watch. In the 4 years since then, I've seen 4,126 movies and wrote about each and every one. Here is my summery for the year that just ended, and this is where all the reviews are archived. I see about 20-25 movies each week, and post a shortish weekly write-up every Monday. I also include links to the free streamers where I saw them.
Cozy Dumpster Fire
A video, in the style of those fireplace videos for your living room, except it's a dumpster fire. [more inside]
A video, in the style of those fireplace videos for your living room, except it's a dumpster fire. [more inside]
December 25
LAB.ARTLUNG.COM
Web experiments, explainers, code snippets--all with source code available--since 1996. I'm proud to have refit and rehabbed this site fully after a long hiatus. It's part of getting excited about the web again. Blog post: ARTLUNG LAB & a return to a World Wide Web. It's all on GitHub. And in 2010 this AskMe prompted this item.
Web experiments, explainers, code snippets--all with source code available--since 1996. I'm proud to have refit and rehabbed this site fully after a long hiatus. It's part of getting excited about the web again. Blog post: ARTLUNG LAB & a return to a World Wide Web. It's all on GitHub. And in 2010 this AskMe prompted this item.
December 21
I made this "#resist" graphic for the dark times ahead ...
I made this "#resist" graphic for the dark times ahead. Feel free to use it and pass it on ...
I made this "#resist" graphic for the dark times ahead. Feel free to use it and pass it on ...
December 19
December 18
How to Poison the President
I wrote this play during COVID, and since there was no chance of getting it performed at the time, I got some actors together and we filmed it with cell phones in my basement. Synopsis: When Che Guevara and Maximilien Robespierre are reincarnated as cats, they see the need for revolutionary change and attempt to radicalize their owner Phoebe and topple the government. She eventually joins the cause, but things do not go as planned.
I wrote this play during COVID, and since there was no chance of getting it performed at the time, I got some actors together and we filmed it with cell phones in my basement. Synopsis: When Che Guevara and Maximilien Robespierre are reincarnated as cats, they see the need for revolutionary change and attempt to radicalize their owner Phoebe and topple the government. She eventually joins the cause, but things do not go as planned.
December 10
East Van Vodville Cinema
A little free cinema showing short films and great film scenes out of context inside a miniature recreation of a lost historic vaudeville/movie house. Thanks all for the help with cat video suggestions! [more inside]
A little free cinema showing short films and great film scenes out of context inside a miniature recreation of a lost historic vaudeville/movie house. Thanks all for the help with cat video suggestions! [more inside]
December 9
Geronimo Was A Beaver
A folk musical puppet documentary(5 mins) about the time Idaho Fish and Game parachuted 76 beavers, featuring paper puppets and a hand-carved wooden beaver.
A folk musical puppet documentary(5 mins) about the time Idaho Fish and Game parachuted 76 beavers, featuring paper puppets and a hand-carved wooden beaver.
December 6
The Judgement Of History
"It was perhaps an hour after midnight on the night before Christmas when the discussion amongst those of us still present turned to the true nature of hell, and more interestingly, whether one would recognise it if indeed we were to find ourselves there..." The Judgement Of History is an atmospheric ghost story in the general Christmas tradition of atmospheric ghost stories. [more inside]
"It was perhaps an hour after midnight on the night before Christmas when the discussion amongst those of us still present turned to the true nature of hell, and more interestingly, whether one would recognise it if indeed we were to find ourselves there..." The Judgement Of History is an atmospheric ghost story in the general Christmas tradition of atmospheric ghost stories. [more inside]
December 5
Ghost from the River: A Spiritualist-Inspired Film
I am the co-author and co-producer of a full length feature film project, "Ghost from the River." It's a family drama set among the Spiritualists of Camp Chesterfield, Indiana, an actual place that influences a story about personal growth. It has a ghost, but it isn't a horror story. I hope you will take a look. Ghost from the River
I am the co-author and co-producer of a full length feature film project, "Ghost from the River." It's a family drama set among the Spiritualists of Camp Chesterfield, Indiana, an actual place that influences a story about personal growth. It has a ghost, but it isn't a horror story. I hope you will take a look. Ghost from the River
December 1
Clearing the Neighbourhood
A very small project: A ten-minute instrumental song about a planetesimal becoming a planet. Some background here.
A very small project: A ten-minute instrumental song about a planetesimal becoming a planet. Some background here.
November 29
Yet Another Hallmark Christmas Movie Review Blog
I started reviewing Hallmark Christmas movies (and maybe some others in the future). I'm like 3-4 weeks behind on watching them this year, but if you're into that...
I started reviewing Hallmark Christmas movies (and maybe some others in the future). I'm like 3-4 weeks behind on watching them this year, but if you're into that...
November 25
Apocalypse Pickin' Party lyric videos
I made lyric videos for all 12 songs on my band's new album. I used it as a way to force myself to learn the basics of Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop. We play apocalyptic roots music and it was surprisingly fun to make these simple videos - curious what folks think!
I made lyric videos for all 12 songs on my band's new album. I used it as a way to force myself to learn the basics of Adobe Premiere Pro and Photoshop. We play apocalyptic roots music and it was surprisingly fun to make these simple videos - curious what folks think!
Anchoreum: a game for learning CSS anchor positioning
Anchoreum is a game for learning all about CSS's newest module, anchor positioning. It's in the same spirit as its predecessors, Flexbox Froggy and Grid Garden. The CSS feature, and thus the game, is only supported in Chrome and Edge as of now, with broader support coming soon.
Anchoreum is a game for learning all about CSS's newest module, anchor positioning. It's in the same spirit as its predecessors, Flexbox Froggy and Grid Garden. The CSS feature, and thus the game, is only supported in Chrome and Edge as of now, with broader support coming soon.
Murder in the Dark: An Outline History of a Murder Mystery Parlor Game
"Murder in the Dark" was a murder mystery parlor game that was widely published and played from the 1930s to the 1980s. This weekend, I worked up a long blog post giving an outline history of the game, supplementing many previous fun facts about parlor game history.
"Murder in the Dark" was a murder mystery parlor game that was widely published and played from the 1930s to the 1980s. This weekend, I worked up a long blog post giving an outline history of the game, supplementing many previous fun facts about parlor game history.
A 2025 calendar template for Affinity Publisher 2
Not a magnum opus, but I've been working on holiday gifts for friends and family, and wound up making a tabloid-sized calendar template for 2025 in the low-cost design suite Affinity Publisher 2, if anyone needs one.
Not a magnum opus, but I've been working on holiday gifts for friends and family, and wound up making a tabloid-sized calendar template for 2025 in the low-cost design suite Affinity Publisher 2, if anyone needs one.
November 22
My Rejuvenated Artistic Image Gallery
I started writing this program in the 1980s and still add to it every few years, but the page hosting it stopped working at my mostly moribund website some years ago. I have fixed it, along with a light redesign. [more inside]
I started writing this program in the 1980s and still add to it every few years, but the page hosting it stopped working at my mostly moribund website some years ago. I have fixed it, along with a light redesign. [more inside]
November 19
today things
I started a substack to goofily share whatever I’ve learned $today - so far this tends to include lots of animal facts, thoughts on books I’ve been reading, advice on falling asleep, meanderings through etymology and talmud and literature and deep corners of the internet, really anything with interesting details to dive into!, more animal facts, and so on
I started a substack to goofily share whatever I’ve learned $today - so far this tends to include lots of animal facts, thoughts on books I’ve been reading, advice on falling asleep, meanderings through etymology and talmud and literature and deep corners of the internet, really anything with interesting details to dive into!, more animal facts, and so on
November 17
AI Or Not: Poetry Edition
I saw a piece of research being reported about a study showing that survey participants were worse than chance at telling whether a piece of poetry was human- or ChatGPT-made, so I downloaded the paper's supplementary material and turned it into an online quiz. It picks 10 poems at random out of their list, usually about 5 are AI and 5 aren't.
I saw a piece of research being reported about a study showing that survey participants were worse than chance at telling whether a piece of poetry was human- or ChatGPT-made, so I downloaded the paper's supplementary material and turned it into an online quiz. It picks 10 poems at random out of their list, usually about 5 are AI and 5 aren't.
November 13
Memento Movi - A Cinematic Progress Bar for Life
Memento Movi is a little toy app I made. The user enters date of birth and life expectancy, and chooses from a list of movies. The site then shows a frame from that movie that represents your place in your lifespan. So, for instance, a twenty-year-old who selects Star Wars will likely get a frame from Tattooine, but a sixty-year-old who selects Jaws will be on the boat.
Memento Movi is a little toy app I made. The user enters date of birth and life expectancy, and chooses from a list of movies. The site then shows a frame from that movie that represents your place in your lifespan. So, for instance, a twenty-year-old who selects Star Wars will likely get a frame from Tattooine, but a sixty-year-old who selects Jaws will be on the boat.
November 10
My parents' role in the Manhattan Project
"Honeymoon in Oak Ridge" is a documentary that tells the story of my parents, two young newlyweds who unknowingly contributed to building the world's first atomic weapon. [more inside]
"Honeymoon in Oak Ridge" is a documentary that tells the story of my parents, two young newlyweds who unknowingly contributed to building the world's first atomic weapon. [more inside]
Quest Heroes
Quest Heroes is a sort of cute and cuddly (and hand drawn and fairly rough) card game version of 80s role playing board game classic Hero Quest which I made for my niece and nephew the other week (who both love Hero Quest a lot for some reason)
Quest Heroes is a sort of cute and cuddly (and hand drawn and fairly rough) card game version of 80s role playing board game classic Hero Quest which I made for my niece and nephew the other week (who both love Hero Quest a lot for some reason)
ICS-in-CSS
International Code of Signals Flags in the Browser – is an HTML/CSS implementation for the flags of The International Code of Signals (ICS), a system of signals and codes designed to communicate important safety and navigational messages when speaking is difficult, for use by vessels to communicate important messages regarding safety of navigation and related matters. [more inside]
International Code of Signals Flags in the Browser – is an HTML/CSS implementation for the flags of The International Code of Signals (ICS), a system of signals and codes designed to communicate important safety and navigational messages when speaking is difficult, for use by vessels to communicate important messages regarding safety of navigation and related matters. [more inside]
November 8
The Lenker
I started a Substack to promote some liberal, progressive friendly views online. [more inside]
I started a Substack to promote some liberal, progressive friendly views online. [more inside]
November 1
We made hastags for the open web and called it Octothorpes.
Octothorpes is an open protocol that lets you put hashtags and backlinks on your own website to connect with other independent sites across Rings. We're launching a public beta today. [more inside]
Octothorpes is an open protocol that lets you put hashtags and backlinks on your own website to connect with other independent sites across Rings. We're launching a public beta today. [more inside]
October 31
Well heck, it’s another Helloween cartoon!
By Satan’s forelock, it’s Jabo’s Annual Halloween Cartoon 2024. Not much to be scared about this year, amirite? So this year I’ve just drawn up my favorite cartoon scalawags mixed in with a liberal dose of tales about THE END OF THE WORLD! Nuthin’ special and no worries about HOW WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE. Enjoy!
By Satan’s forelock, it’s Jabo’s Annual Halloween Cartoon 2024. Not much to be scared about this year, amirite? So this year I’ve just drawn up my favorite cartoon scalawags mixed in with a liberal dose of tales about THE END OF THE WORLD! Nuthin’ special and no worries about HOW WE ARE ALL GOING TO DIE. Enjoy!
October 25
How to make your research group more inclusive for autistic trainees
A 6-page guide for research-group leaders in academia, providing concrete suggestions to make labs more welcoming and accessible to autistic students and postdocs. Written by a late-diagnosed autistic academic. [more inside]
A 6-page guide for research-group leaders in academia, providing concrete suggestions to make labs more welcoming and accessible to autistic students and postdocs. Written by a late-diagnosed autistic academic. [more inside]
October 24
Return of the Jedi Storyboard Site
I've done my best to collect and catalogue all of the storyboards from the production of 1983's Richard Marquand hit Return of the Jedi, driven by wanting to see what unfinished or cut scenes could be revealed. [more inside]
I've done my best to collect and catalogue all of the storyboards from the production of 1983's Richard Marquand hit Return of the Jedi, driven by wanting to see what unfinished or cut scenes could be revealed. [more inside]
Shakespearean Sonnet Machine
The Shakespearean Sonnet Machine is a slighty pointless little randomiser app that spits out endless variations of Shakespeare's 154 sonnets. (Well, not quite endless, but there should be 562,448,656 different ones in there if you're patient enough to keep reloading.)
The Shakespearean Sonnet Machine is a slighty pointless little randomiser app that spits out endless variations of Shakespeare's 154 sonnets. (Well, not quite endless, but there should be 562,448,656 different ones in there if you're patient enough to keep reloading.)
(A) Stand-up to Protect Our Vote
A fundraising drive for the Election Protection Hotline. (Not a US resident or US citizen? Hate all the major parties? No problem! You can donate!) Then, on Oct. 26th, watch 8 minutes of nerd jokes about open source software and how programming skews your brain, and none about politics.
A fundraising drive for the Election Protection Hotline. (Not a US resident or US citizen? Hate all the major parties? No problem! You can donate!) Then, on Oct. 26th, watch 8 minutes of nerd jokes about open source software and how programming skews your brain, and none about politics.
October 18
100,000 Balloons - How the political convention balloon drops happen
For the past almost 40 years, Treb Heining has engineered the balloon drops at every Republican National Convention and most Democratic National Conventions. I photographed how he and his team inflated and then dropped 100,000 balloons on the final night of the RNC this year in Milwaukee. [more inside]
For the past almost 40 years, Treb Heining has engineered the balloon drops at every Republican National Convention and most Democratic National Conventions. I photographed how he and his team inflated and then dropped 100,000 balloons on the final night of the RNC this year in Milwaukee. [more inside]