Mark Knopfler – Donegan’s Gone

I’m not a huge Mark Knopfler fan at all but this song is pretty badass. Check it out.

Photosynth

I first heard about Microsoft’s new photo application entitled Photosynth on a recent episode of Diggnation. The basic concept is is that by combining a set of pictures of the same area, sometimes up to 30 or 40, a semi-virtual environment can be achieved. While this sounds intriguing at first, Microsoft is still a ways off from perfecting it.

Bigger, Stronger, Faster

Bigger, Stronger, Faster is a documentary by Chris Bell which takes a non-partisan look at steroid use by both professional athletes and recreational body builders. Although I don’t have a particular interest in either one, it was still interesting and worth watching. The film centers around Bell who has never done steroids, contrasted by his two brothers who have been lifelong users off and on. While exploring this dynamic, he also consults with a number of people like lawmakers, Olympic medalists, and those both for and against the use of steroids.

I can’t help but make the obvious comparison of Bell’s film making to that of Michael Moore, but he also has developed a style of his own as well. While not the most captivating person to look at on screen, his narration is unique and interesting. Bell’s humorous side also shows in my favorite scene of the film where he hires illegal immigrant day laborers to help him create and package a completely legal weight gain pill right in his own kitchen.

Even though interviewees on both sides of the argument occasionally use terribly irrational arguments, Bell lets the viewer ultimately make up their own mind and never gets preachy about his own opinion. My only criticism of Bigger, Stronger, Faster is that it moves a little slow and I ended up having to watch it over the course of several nights. This may however be the result of me not having any prior interest in the subject matter. Nonetheless, I recommend checking it out.

The site is here and the torrent is here.

Torrent Freak

For the many of us that use torrenting applications, we know that it’s an ever-changing world filled with lawsuits, site shutdowns, rumors, and much more. That’s why it’s a great relief to have Torrent Freak as a central location to help make sense of it all. Torrent Freak’s main focus is providing up to date news on matters directly affecting the torrenting community at large such as new laws in the works, advances in torrenting technology, and how the ISPs are conducting business. They also provide weekly movie top ten lists, reviews on emerging torrent sites, and tutorials.

Torrent Freak can be found here.

Adblock Plus

Adblock Plus is one Firefox extension that may be a good enough reason on it’s own to start using Firefox if you’re not already. As the name implies, it blocks every advertisement from nearly every site on the web and does a damn good job of it too. After installing the basic extension, you then “subscribe” to a huge list of known file extensions for advertisements. You also have the option of creating your own list of ads you want to block as you surf. After using it for sometime, sites I usually visit are unbearable to look at without it.

I have heard some debate about the morals of using Ad Block Plus since it can cut into the revenue stream of websites that rely primarily on advertisements, but ultimately it’s your decision.

Ad Block Plus can be found here.

Fox Clocks

Most of the Firefox extensions I use aren’t very flashy. They’re only tools to make my web experience that much simpler and Fox Clocks is no exception. Probably the most basic of all the extensions I use, Fox Clocks is simply a world clock that lists the times of any city in the world in the left hand side of your browser. For me it works great for keeping track of the various U.S. time zones when I need to call friends and family from Japan.

Fox Clocks is available here.

Regrets – Boxes

Here is a good video I came across a couple weeks ago. Lots of profanity though, not safe for work.

Rambocky

Here is “Philly Boy” Roy and Patton Oswalt as they act out a scene from Roy’s movie entitled “Rambocky.” It’s originally from The Best Show on WFMU with Tom Sharpling and was later set to this awesome video.

US 3 – Cantaloop

This is one used to my jam in like 6th grade!

Laura Viers – Saltbreakers

On Saltbreakers, singer/songwriter Laura Veirs’ 2007 Nonesuch Records release, she further hones her craft of creating catchy, melodic, and ethereal songs after her breakthrough album, Year Of Meteors. Much like the album’s cover, the songs on Saltbreakers move along like a leisurely midnight boat ride on a calm sea, but are far from boring. After hearing the first few tracks on the album it becomes apparent that she isn’t after super stardom nor is she chasing after indie street cred, but rather just an artist expressing herself as best she can.