joshedwards.com

1910 Millionaires

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Tue, 02 Jun 2009 11:36:00 +0000

I just read this fun-fact, then re-read it.

In 1910 what city millionaires had more millionaires than any other city in the world?

If you said "Duluth, Minnesota" then ... you win!

Yep, how crazy is that? It's all about the iron ore, baby.

Don't believe me? Check out Fortune Magazine's "The next iron rush".

Etymology of 'Heroin'

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:13:00 +0000

Did you know that the word "Heroin" is a genericized trademark? The morphine substitute (diacetylmorphine) was registered in 1898 by the German Friedrich Bayer & Company. The name comes from the Greek heros because of the euphoric feeling the drug provides.

Check it out, I'm not lying: Heroin.

The reason Bayer lost some of the trademark rights? Yep, you guessed it - it's just another thing we took away from the Germans in the Treaty of Versailles following World War I.

The same thing with "Aspirin".

Springfield Punx

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 12:11:00 +0000

This website is pretty awesome - the guy does fan art of famous tv & film characters and celebrities in the style of The Simpsons.

Check out: Springfield Punx.

Mosler's MT900 GTR XX

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:29:00 +0000

Ever hear of "Molser"?

Yeah, me neither.

Apparently it's a car company in Florida, and makes a car that does zero to 62 mph in 3 seconds, with a top speed of 211 mph.

Oh, and this poorly named "MT900 GTR XX" is not available in the US.

Wired.com told me all about it in "An American Supercar Unavailable In America".

The company said that while it's not for sale domestically, it is ready for sale in Europe and "United Arab Emirate countries”.

Hmm.

You know, a quick note to the folks at Molser: the UAE is actually one country. Perhaps you're confused because it's made up of seven different 'emirates'. But they're united, these Arabian emirates.

Perhaps you should think of them like states, like our united American ones. Granted, they're ruled by dynastic monarchs, but let's not get bogged down in technicalities.

Okay, let's just call them 'political territories' and move on.

I'd also work on the name.

"MT900 GTR XX" is quite a mouthful.

LEGO Movie Posters

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Sun, 31 May 2009 17:18:00 +0000

Here's a fun link - 21 Amazing Movie Posters Recreated with Lego [bricks].

It appears that different people submitted them, as some are way better than others.

But still, it's fun.

Anadama Bread Recipe

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Sat, 30 May 2009 13:50:00 +0000

I don't know what it is about cold, dark weather, but it makes me want to bake. Good thing I don't live in the Pacific Northwest, or I'd end up one of those guys on the daytime television who needs a wall removed and a forklift to get out of his house.

Anyway, back in January I wanted to make Anadama Bread, so I started seeking out recipes. And where else do you go for Maine recipes than Yankee Magazine (no relation the New York Yankees baseball team, although I hear Jeter makes a great baked-stuffed lobster).

I finally made that recipe yesterday, and it was fantastic. So here, try Anadama Bread from Granes Fairhaven Inn up to Bath.

Tonight Show Tonight

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:01:00 +0000

Today marks the end of Jay Leno's wasteful 17 years as host of The Tonight Show ~~starring~~ with Jay Leno.

I'm still not convinced that Conan O'Brien is the right person for the job, I think his sophomoric humor is better suited for a later, loopier crowd. But anything, anything is funnier than Jay Leno.

And quite honestly, I'm also a little upset that the show is moving from Burbank to the Universal Studios backlot.

Of course I know it's not even two miles away, and that it'll be a big draw for the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park, but after living in Burbank for three years and working there for six I oddly have lots of Burbank Pride.

I can't stand how it's mocked so openly around Hollywood, even on TV. Yes, Laugh In's "beautiful downtown Burbank" bit was seeped in sarcasm.

Either way, The Tonight Show's new era begins on Monday. Be there.

Cool Cat

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Fri, 29 May 2009 10:46:00 +0000

So it's been about 115 degrees (Fahrenheit, naturally) in Dubai the last few days. I mention this not only because my wife is over there, but also because the cat we brought back from there last year has been suffering the 45 degree weather over here the last few days.

He was all set for summer, heck, we all were after that 90 degree day, and now it's freezing again.

I think the cat'd prefer 115 to 45.

At this point, so might I ...

Slumdog Stuff

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:51:00 +0000

I'm glad that Slumdog Millionaire was made - it's a well done movie with a great story, and it brought all sorts of Westerners into a world they'd never seen before.

That being said, I'm a little conflicted about the responsibility the media seems to be putting on the filmmakers regarding the children actors from the film. Take this article from yesterday's New York Times: "‘Slumdog’ Filmmakers Meet With Actors’ Families".

I agree that the plight of these and all people living in shanty homes is tragic. But, as long as the producers and studio have fairly compensated everyone involved, then isn't the business agreement over?

Are the Hollywood studios and producers responsible for whatever actors do with the crazy amounts of money they're paid? Because if that's the case, they're the main cause of 99% of Los Angeles' expensive crashed cars, drugs and hookers.

Or because those are the so-called "victimless crimes" it's okay?

So are Warner Brothers, Legendary Pictures, Christopher Nolan and the producers of The Dark Knight at all responsible for Heath Ledger's tragic drug overdose? I mean, isn't it wholly possible that he was so into his psychotic role that it drove him to prescription pills? Shouldn't they foot the bill for his untimely death?

Or even back fifty years - James Dean - are Warner Brothers and Rebel Without a Cause director Nicholas Ray responsible for his death, what with putting him through the troubled teenage angst of Jim Stark?

Are these too far fetched because they involve adults (or, at the very least, people over 18) and because they involve death? That these Slumdog actors are children, so it's very different?

Because if that's it then I have a whole host of child actors who got pretty screwed up - Drew Barrymore, River Phoenix, Brad Renfro, Darlene Gillespie, Kelly and Jack Osbourne, Carl Switzer, the Olsen twins, the Coreys Feldman and Haim ... or how about the holy trinity of child actors gone wrong - Dana Plato, Todd Bridges and Gary Coleman?

C'mon, you don't think that Patty Duke's bipolar disorder come stem at all from playing both Patty and Cathy Lane in 1963's The Patty Duke Show?

I'm not trying to say that this Slumdog aftermath isn't tragic, but I can't help but wonder if the blame is being unfairly placed upon the creative people who just wanted to tell a great story, and take Westerners to a world they'd never seen before.

Dubai Monorail

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Thu, 28 May 2009 14:50:00 +0000

I saw this story weeks ago and forgot to mention it then. But it bears mentioning if only because has two things I'm rather interested in - Dubai and monorails.

Yes, the Palm Island in Dubai has a new monorail: "Palm Monorail: Dubai gets rail".

Luckily they were smart, and got a Singaporian company to engineer it all and run it and provide 100 employees.

The monorail is open daily from 8 am to 10 pm, it costs 15 dirhams ($4) for a one-way trip and 25 ($6.80) for the full monty.

Blatant Ad

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Thu, 28 May 2009 04:00:00 +0000

Art & War

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Wed, 27 May 2009 14:58:00 +0000

Interesting. French Prez Nicolas Sarkozy is in the UAE this week, and while the New York Times focuses on the French art collection in Abu Dhabi the local Gulf News focuses on the French military base in Abu Dhabi.

Just different priorities, I guess.

Disney and LEGO

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:37:00 +0000

After the Frank Lloyd Wright LEGO sets yesterday, reader B in Emeryville, CA pointed me toward this February article "LEGO and Disney in Deal for Toy Story, Cars, Prince of Persia Kits".

How did I miss that?!

Since November of 2002 Mega Bloks has had the license for construction brick toys, making Cars, Pirates, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Winnie the Pooh, Princesses and Power Rangers sets.

And honestly, they're crap.

(Especially the Power Rangers).

Before that deal, back a decade ago (in the days of the Soccer, Studios and "Jack Stone" sets) Disney and LEGO had a deal for Duplo Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh sets.

It's good to see two companies with long histories of quality (and two of my former employers) back together again.

The Great Recession Ends in 2009

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Wed, 27 May 2009 12:12:00 +0000

Just read an article "Survey: Most economists see recession end in '09".

Apparently the National Association for Business Economics surveyed an unstated number of professional economists, of whom 93 percent said this thing will be over by Jan 1.

My question - are these the same bonehead economists who didn't predict the recession in the first place?

'Cause right now I'm not sure their track-records warrants me listening to them at all.

Breathtaking Branding Bullshit

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:04:00 +0000

(a/k/a Josh is So Very Jealous Right Now)

I really do enjoy corporate logos and branding, how an entire corporate philosophy is built around consumers' expectations of a product (or service) upon seeing a name, logo or even color.

But sometimes the brand creators and stewards go a little too far.

Sometimes a logo just looks neat.

Or at the very least, different.

Apparently back in February (although I just found about it today via @dbiello) Gawker posted a 27-page internal PepsiCo branding document extolling the new Pepsi logo (above) and likening it to da Vinci, the Renaissance, the Mobius Strip, the cartesian coordinate system, the Earth's magnetic field, etc etc.

Awesome.

Check out: "'Breathtaking' Document Reveals Pepsi's Logo is Pinnacle of Entire Universe".

Frank Lloyd Wright LEGOs

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Tue, 26 May 2009 18:02:00 +0000

File this under "holy awesome": they're making Frank Lloyd Wright LEGO sets.

Now you too can have a little plastic Guggenheim or Fallingwater.

Wow.

So If Memorial Day ...

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Tue, 26 May 2009 10:12:00 +0000

... is the unofficial start of summer, why in the world did it go it below freezing last night?

Game Time

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:15:00 +0000

Bob Ryan at the Boston Globe has a good story today about the late start times of baseball (and other sports): "These times, they should be changing".

Amen, brother, amen.

Ten Years of Art-Barn

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Sun, 24 May 2009 13:04:00 +0000

I was running all around the other day and missed what would have been a very important anniversary. On Friday my brother's animation / web design company art-barn would have turned ten years old.

"Would have" because it's not still around, the four members are scattered to the wind (although geographically closer now than they have been in years).

Still, just wanted to point out the anniversary.

Twitter Saves Bostonians From Zombies

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Fri, 22 May 2009 02:11:00 +0000

Twitter might be useful after all: "Boston Cops: No Lie on Zombie Attacks".

Green Day v. Wal-Mart

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Thu, 21 May 2009 12:23:00 +0000

I hadn't seen this until today: "Green Day lashes out at Wal-Mart policy".

Apparently Wal-Mart's corporate policy is to not sell any CD with a parental advisory sticker?

Guitarist Mike Dirnt said: "As the biggest record store in the America, they should probably have an obligation to sell people the correct art."

God I hate Wal-Mart.

Aw Shit, Wayne Allwine Died!

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Thu, 21 May 2009 03:11:00 +0000

Wow, so I was off to my parents' house tonight and almost missed this story - luckily my father-in-law caught it.

Apparently Wayne Allwine, the long-time voice of Mickey Mouse, died on Monday: "Allwine, voice of Mickey Mouse for 32 years, dies".

Amazingly Allwine was only the third voice of Mickey.

The first, of course, was Walt Disney himself from 1928-1946, then Jimmy MacDonald until 1983 (I know the article above says 1977 but I would stake cash that Allwine's first gig was 1983 in Mickey's Christmas Carol).

In a weird, Disney-esque twist, his wife was the voice of Minnie Mouse (also Huey, Dewey and Louie, among others).

I know that it's probably a reflection of the times in which I was raised, but I would say that Allwine was the best voice of Mickey. I'm sure Disney has another fully passable voice ready for the next cartoon or theme park attraction, and that Mickey won't go silenced for long, but for me Mickey will always be Allwine.

My Name Is Earl Was Cancelled!

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Wed, 20 May 2009 12:41:00 +0000

Dammit!

Woke up this morning to find that NBC has cancelled one of our favorite shows, My Name Is Earl.

Argh! Why won't network TV just die already?!

I hate this - most of the shows which I like get shitcanned, and then Jay Leno keeps getting to be on TV. It's not fair!

Earl is a comic genius, if only because it looks like it's going to be a low-brow base show about trailer park trash, but really has a heart of gold and a very traditional moral center. Even if the language ... um, pushes the boundaries a bit.

Hopefully ABC or Fox will pick it up, as 96 episodes is far too few for this group.

And to NBC, which also cancelled Medium (another of Liz's favorites), good luck with Jay Leno and his foolish 10 pm talkshow. Not that Conan is ready for The Tonight Show, either. You've just replaced "the Dancing Itos" with "the masturbating bear". I think you went lose-lose on this deal. So good luck with that.

I've Finally Found a Use For Twitter

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Wed, 20 May 2009 00:42:00 +0000

Remember back in September when I didn't have internet access and I was sending haikus to this blog via text message? (see Txt Msg Haiku 6, Txt Msg Haiku 5, Txt Msg Haiku 4, Txt Msg Haiku 3, Txt Msg Haiku 2 and Txt Msg Haiku).

Well I've decided that's how I'll use Twitter.

My first post was from the Maine Mall Apple Store earlier this evening. Check it out at: mainejosh on Twitter.

Good Thing, As PWM Flights Are Always Late ...

noreply@blogger.com (Josh) — Mon, 18 May 2009 11:50:00 +0000

This is from a few weeks ago, but I just saw it now. Forbes Traveler called the Shipyard Brewing Company bar at Portland Jetport ... er, Portland International Jetport one of "America's best airport bars".