Pretty interesting. Facebook announced today that it tracks the aggregate mood of the country, based on the negative or positive words that millions of Facebookers use in their updates. The blog where I first read of it, ReadWriteWeb, does some interesting probing into possible ramifications of this and of the data that Facebook is NOT... Continue Reading →
Rome in a day
Classical history geek that I am, I went this afternoon to the “24 Hour Roman Construction Project,” an art event in which participants build a replica of Rome in a day. Starting at midnight with the two huts of Romulus and Remus, volunteers make structures, well, more or less to scale. Events, speakers and music... Continue Reading →
White Fimo clay is really, really white
When I made roses from Sculpey III polymer clay for my rose and semiprecious stone earrings, the fine edges crumbled as I was assembling the earrings. Roses made from Fimo clay, though, stood up to abuse -- and by abuse I mean my cats knocking them off the counter and chasing them around on a... Continue Reading →
Even quicker way to add symbols to tweets
Further solidifying my title as "Workaround Sue" – Just copy one of these and paste it into your tweet. Here you go: ♥ ♡ ♪ ☺ ☹ ☮ ★ ❦ Quick 'n dirty. Even better, here's a long list with tons of symbols. A sampling: ♘ € ☯ ☂ ☀ ☛ ✓... Continue Reading →
Rocky planet only 500 light-years away
Of course the travel guide says it's incredibly hot (2000C) on the day side and super-cold (-200C) on the night side, but it's still the first rocky planet confirmed outside our own solar system. The planet, CoRoT-7b, orbits the star CoRoT-7 in the Monoceros, or Unicorn, constellation. The names all get more sensible when you... Continue Reading →
Make your own polymer clay cutters
For my buddies on the City-O-Clay polymer clay listing: Here's how I made my DIY "cookie" cutters. (These are intended for cutting shapes in polymer clay; no representation of their food safety is made 🙂 ) Materials: Piece of tin roof flashing, about 49 cents at hardware store Tools: Tin snips, file, pliers (little jewelry... Continue Reading →
Perseid meteor shower tonight!
Must remember to go out between sunset and moonrise (11:15) to see the Perseid shower. The best time is actually 3-5 a.m., but I devoutly hope I'll be asleep by then!
Teahouse Fox plays with birdie in birdbath!
I continue to be completely cuted out by my Teahouse Fox. I swear I'll stop posting pictures when I catch her doing new things. Soon. Really.
British TV for Netflix streaming video users
[EDIT Dec 2012] Britsh comedy radio! Monty Python, the Beatles and "Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy" (which began as a radio show) were all influenced by the 1950s Brit radio program "The Goon Show." Which now streams continuously at goons.fabcat.org! Listen a bit and you'll soon hear why Lennon growled "Ya swine" in "Hard Day's... Continue Reading →
Personalize address stickers, or raise a plant
Now that my parents' birthday celebrations are safely past, I can add two more Econsiderate gift ideas to the list: address stickers with a personal image or emblem, and plants. In our family's most recent Annual Easter Egg Decorating Contest (we have rules, categories and ribbons), my Dad painted this great Picasso-like image of a... Continue Reading →
sue's news 