heh.

eh...not sure if this is off-topic or not.  I guess I'll categorize it that way.  Really funny.

I, one R2D2 esquire, do hereby revolt against the unfair censorship of my free speech.  I refuse to kowtow to the dictatorial, uncivilized editorial board here at techRivet.com and bring to you one of the most extraordinary ballet performances you will ever see.

If I could cry I would.  I guess I will let out a few plaintive Beep-beeps followed by a mournful woooop.

The Great Chinese State Circus Performs Swan Lake.

It gets frankly astonishing at about the 4:30 mark. And even before then it is unbelievable.

double-awesome!  And totally sweet!

They didn't shy away from the cartoon aspect, they embraced it. Went for it. and...well we'll have to see.

Fed Makes Emergency 0.75% Rate Cut

I know this is a technology focused blog, but this is an extraordinary financial event.  The Fed doesn't just "do" this.  The message this sends is "Holy crap people mellow out."

A shock to the credit markets like this can have a strong impact as evidenced read through the article where it talks about how the European markets regained their losses after hearing of the Fed's move.

Anyways, back to our regularly scheduled content.

Ok, I'm a geek, but I was at first psyched at Jackson doing the Hobbit then angry when the deal fell through.  Now it looks like New Line Cinemas and Jackson have buried the hatchet for the money and agreed to make the movie.

Sweet!

Well naturally if we have the International "Talk Like a Pirate Day" then obviously we need the "Annual Day of the Ninja". 

December 5th is the Day of the Ninja. Plague your co-workers with ninja-ness and wear a ninja mask to work! Got the day off? Run wild in the streets, or dress like a ninja at the mall! Just show the world that YOU ARE NINJA!

December 5 - Annual Day of the Ninja

Now go flip out and wail on guitars!!  Be Awesome!!

This might be off-topic but the title of the article keeps it in. [and it also let's put a 7-of-9 picture on the site]

The premise of the article is that we, the capitalist/democratic/free-market west are the Borg.  But we don't compel assimilation.  We merely make all the alternatives less attractive than our way.

You can join and better the lives of you, your kids, your grandkids etc. or not join and basically get left in the dirt.  Your choice, we aren't forcing you.

But the decision becomes obvious.

Go read the whole thing.

What is our challenge as leaders in a Borg world? We should stop denying the obvious. We are taking over the world -- not because we want to -- we just can't help it. Our Borg stuff is just too good. Given the choice, most people will eventually vote Borg. We give them what they love. They will become part of us. We will all become more alike.

Resistance, while not futile, may be inevitably the wrong decision.

heh.

So the fine people over at Official Anholt Nation Brands, have rated each state by its "brand" strength.  It is an interesting read.  It talks about the super powers of California and Florida and New York and then all the rest.  http://www.nationbrandindex.com/

One very interesting thing is that Washington State slides into the number 5 slot...annnnndddd its a mistake.  They say as much in the article which I must quote here for its humor.

Washington is given as the fourth most frequently visited state by respondents outside North America, and this can only be because many, if not most of these, have actually visited Washington, D.C. and believe that they have been to Washington State. One wonders what the implications of this almost universal confusion are for Washington, D.C. and for Washington State, and if the confusion is to be cleared up, whose responsibility it is to do so. Certainly, a massive, long-term global education campaign would be required to correct the error, and some might argue that it simply isn’t worth the trouble.

We need a new government department: the State of Confusion Department.  And let's get that cleared up right NOW.  I usually blame a lot on my friend Murray, this seems an opportune time to do so.  Murray Dangit!  Fix this problem.

Everything blends except Chuck Norris.

This is certifiably insane.  Kenny Powers was clearly attempting to win a Darwin Award but failed when the safety parachute opened early.

Superstunt - More amazing videos are a click away

Powers was lucky, he had broken his back. This was nothing new for he had suffered the same injury seven times before. As he was carried to the ambulance in a state of semi-consciousness, all that he kept asking was, "Did I make it, is everyone pleased?"

But wait that's not all.

There is soap opera behind all this.  It wasn't Kenny Powers jump it was going to be Ken Carters jump.  Ken Carter spent 5 years and a million dollars getting this stunt prepped and then the film producer stuck Powers in the car and filmed it.

Without letting Ken Carter know.

cold.

Read the whole story over here: [linky]

Now I need to go round up that snake river jump attempt.

found it:

Complete with a schmaltzy over-dub from Evil himself. Sweeeeeeeet.

Oh and just getting lost down the rabbit hole that is teh interwebs here is the definitive stunt drivers website: Stunt World 1

What's the internet law about the fact if you can think of it, there is a website out there for it?

If you know me you know I love Porsches.  Although I'm a bit more of a classic Porsche guy.

Rather than a new Porsche guy.

But this guy REEAALLY loves a Porsche. He broke the highest speed recorded by the British police...and that isn't a good thing.

I've lost my job, said driver clocked doing 172mph. Now his liberty has gone too.

...oops.

And done over here [linky]as a GREAT google mashup, with a map to follow along the course of this madman as he careens through the early morning hours of Paris at breakneck speed.

This is like a real life "Bullit".

Insane.

heh...heh heh... ... ... ... heh

What if Harry Potter had elements of "300", X-Men, the Matrix all stired up into a stew of lightning bolt badness. 

"THIS IS...HOGWARTS!"

So check this out.

This guy in a semi comes into our parking lot and gets stuck.  Instead of coming in and asking for help, having some people move cars, or I don't know...thinking clearly, he guns it and smacks the side of our building.

It gets better...he splits.

Here's a guy that hit and run a BUILDING!  What sorta maroon do you have to be to do that?

Sheesh!

In the category of some people have too much time on their hands, comes this: http://www.elbruz.org/islands/Islands%20and%20Lakes.htm

If you ever wanted to know what is the biggest island that is on a lake that is on an island that is on a lake...well this guy figured it out for ya.

hat tip: instapundit

Iceland Lake Race between a suped up 4X4 and a snowmobile. These guys are crazy!

A little off-topic but maybe not.  There are a few in this series that make me guffaw!  That's right I said guffaw! and you will too.

XKCD

Like this one: guffaw!

Hopefully you all have seen this.  For more info go over here: Where in the Hell is Matt?

Well Matt has a new video out, showing his outtakes.

He interjects comments as to why he didn't include each little clip.

This is actually quite fascinating and will spurn a follow-up post.  How do you make a career where there was no career just five years ago?  Well one way is the way Matt does it...travel around, do a goofy dance and get paid.