best of the web » the constant skeptic

3rd March 2008

Top Sites That Are Actually Very Useful

Yes, this is a top ten list.

It is simply the top ten sites that I access everyday.

No, it is not a shameless ploy to get more page views.

This is meant to inform you all about some very useful tools that are out there for free on the web.

10. del.icio.us

filed under social bookmarking: del.icio.us allows you to search for a topic based on popularity of a site’s tags

9. clipmarks.com

filed under web tools: clipmarks allows you to clip and share the best parts of the web pages you are browsing

8. current.com

filed under social news sites: current is a great place to watch the latest news and get updated information

7. mint.com

filed under financial services: mint is a free service to track where your money is going

6. netvibes.com

filed under rss readers: netvibes is the best rss aggregator, period, as well as a blog, video, and search tool

5. soonr.com

filed under remote desktop: soonr lets you access your desktop folders from anywhere online

4. technorati.com

filed under tagging sites: technorati searches the blogosphere for current topics of interest

3. popurls.com

filed under multimedia aggregators: popurls displayed the most popular videos, articles, news, blog posts, etc.

2. stumbleupon.com

filed under social recommendation: stumbleupon lets you rediscover the web as you never have used it before

1. constantskeptic.com

filed under best of the web: the constant skeptic web site is simply the only site you need to read

I hope you enjoyed the list, I am sure that some may disagree with my choices.

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posted in tips and random info, useful sites |

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16th November 2007

Ron Paul at Google - A Great Interview Where You Find Out His Beliefs on Key Issues

I found this Ron Paul video while I was stumbling… it is quite good actually, if you want to know how he stands on major issues, like the Iraq war, gay marriage (he is for it) I guess gay marriage sounds pretty ridiculous as a major issue, but unfortunately in our infotainment society it is a major contender. As you will see, he is frank and direct on all the issues that are discussed. I admire his candor.

Anyway, enough introduction, at least watch part of the video and then decide if you see this man, Ron Paul, as our next president or not. I personally think that like it or not, another Clinton will be in the White House.

Ron Paul at Google:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yCM_wQy4YVg

hope you enjoyed it:

to join up:

http://www.ronpaul2008.com

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posted in best of the web, political issues, video footage |

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12th November 2007

One of My Favorite Poems About Humanity

Some may call me effeminate to post a poem, but I think you will agree that it is very good:

We are the music-makers
And we are the dreamers of dreams
Wandering by lone sea-breakers
And sitting by desolate streams;
World-losers and world-forsakers,
On whom the pale moon gleams:
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world forever, it seems.

- Arthur O’Shaughnessy

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23rd October 2007

Microsoft’s New Photosynth Beta Software Will Own the Future by Mapping the World Through User Generated Pictures

Wow.

If you have any interest in digital photography, you need to check out what is going on over at Microsoft labs concerning Photosynth:

http://labs.live.com/photosynth/

The software

“takes a large collection of photos of a place or an object, analyzes them for similarities, and displays them in a reconstructed three-dimensional space.”

With Photosynth you can:

Walk or fly through a scene to see photos from any angle.
Seamlessly zoom in or out of a photo whether it’s megapixels or gigapixels in size.
See where pictures were taken in relation to one another.
Find similar photos to the one you’re currently viewing.
Send a collection - or a particular view of one - to a friend.

Here is a screen shot:

I found this originally mentioned on the great data visualization blog, Information Aesthetics.

The software is amazing fast and updates everything in real time as you explore the image environment. Looks like Microsoft is doing something right and just may have their finger on the future of socialized virtual globe-trotting.

It is hard to explain how the software works, the best way is just to try it out yourself.

Technorati Tags: photosynth , microsoft , image software , image viewing , technology , future visuals , visualization , constantskeptic , constant skeptic

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posted in best of the web, techno-stuff |

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21st October 2007

House of Brothers Music Review

House of Brothers NEW MUSIC REVIEW

Even though I do not usually post reviews on new artists, I was sent this band’s mp3 electronically by angel… so I decided to post something short and sweet to entice you to check the music out and see for yourself whether you like it or not.

“Superb bootsale-pop like Elliot Smith rubbed down with lavender” - NME

“Sparkling indie-folk in style, as magical as anything the much-acclaimed Fionn Regan has recently released to the world. It is serene, stunningly so, and quite wonderfully arresting” - Drowned In Sound

The Constant Skeptic says…..

I am eager to hear more from these guys after listening to their single “Deadman“, and since I have such an affinity for Elliott Smith, their familiar somber sounding melodies are a welcome addition to my IPOD.

I do hope to hear something maybe more heavy or faster from them, maybe would be a good idea for a follow up record. Vocals are superb, guitar work superb, and the melodies are Grey’s Anatomy-esque, which is definitely a compliment.

I like the fact that House of Brothers is a solo project, and I think that Andrew Jackson, the man behind the band name could open up for such well seasoned acts as Amos Lee and Bright Eyes.

BIO FOR BAND OF BROTHERS:

Hailing from Nottingham, England, House of Brothers is the solo project from Andrew Jackson, former member of The Murder of Rosa Luxemburg, one of the finest post-hardcore band’s the UK has seen in many a year. Taking on a much different style this time around, House of Brothers music, with it’s beautiful strings, clever guitar lines and gentle vocals, draws it’s influences from the likes of Nick Drake, Vashti Bunyan, Tom Waits, Iron And Wine and Sun Kil Moon.

With the debut EP, ‘Deadman’, set for release via Big Scary Monsters Records (Yndi Halda, Meet Me In St Louis, This Town Needs Guns) on 26th November, we’ve decided to offer a free MP3 of the title track, which can be found at…

THE GOOD STUFF: MP3 for “Deadman“

http://www.bsmrocks.com/mp3/houseofbrothers-deadman.mp3

MYSPACE: www.myspace.com/houseofbrothers

(where other tracks from the EP are available to stream)

The EP can be pre-ordered from www.bsmrocks.com and all orders will receive a free, limited edition badge.

Tour Dates:
11.10 – Kingston, The Works (w/ Youthmovies, Adam Gnade)
12.10 – Tunbridge Wells, The Forum (w/ Youthmovies, Adam Gnade)
13.10 – Oxford, Jericho Tavern
15.10 - Nottingham, Rescue Rooms (w/ Ed Harcourt)

Blog link: http://www.bsmrocks.com/products/hob-biog.doc

Promo photo link: http://www.bsmrocks.com/press/hob1.html

CD artwork link: http://www.bsmrocks.com/products/hob-sleeve-big.jpg

Big Scary Monsters: http://www.bsmrocks.com/

The Constant Skeptic’s Previous post and review of Bob Dylan’s concert at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland:

Bob Dylan and Elvis Costello

Technorati Tags: band of brothers , musicreview , mp3 , music review , bandofbrothers , singer songwriter , constantskeptic

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posted in best of the web, mp3, music of the week |

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2nd October 2007