Misanthropic Geek Dot Net

Update: this offer has ended.

I’ve always loved books.  They, more than any other media, have helped to shape my view of the world.  Because of that, I would like to give some other folks the opportunity to read some of my favorites.  To that end, I am going on an Amazon wish list buying spree.  I haven’t decided yet what my spending limit will be, but the basic plan is that you will go and create an Amazon wish list, and add one (or more) of these books to it, and then put the link in a comment here, and I will buy it.  You can also feel free to suggest other books that should be in this list, though I’m not promising I’ll add them.  The buying spree will go until I’ve spent as much of my tax refund as I’m willing to part with, at which point I will announce that it has ended.  Questions/concerns/etc. can be voiced in the comments.

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Today’s the day to openly criticize religion (more so than usual). I like the idea, but until it catches on, it’s a bit like “provoke your abusive spouse day”. This year, I guess the appropriate context is to do stuff in amiable locales to build popularity. Sooo, +1 blog hotlinking satirical pics!

Edit: A blogger’s doin’ a snarky Let’s Play-esque summary as he reads through the bible.

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This being a three-day weekend, I had an extra day to relax, and took full advantage of it by watching some movies. Figured I’d pretend that was a productive use of my time by writing a bit about them. In viewing order: White Noise 2, Fanboys, and The Godfather.
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This is one of those gems that a surprising number of people haven’t heard of, so I though it would be worth posting about.  TED stands for Technology, Entertainment, Design.  They basically bring together a group of people with interesting ideas and get them communicating with each other.  The site itself is here: http://www.ted.com/index.php/

Given how much time I’ve spent recently watching the talks hosted by TED (they stream a bunch of the presentations online) I thought I’d actually give you a few suggested videos to get you started.

For starters, here’s John Wooden talking about success and how to define it.  Whether or not you’re a fan of sports, this man can teach you something about how to live.

For those of you who feel that creative energy burning inside you, here’s Elizabeth Gilbert with a (possibly) healthier perspective on creativity.

For the scientists in the audience, how about some amazing research on how bacteria communicate, and how it can be hacked.

Here’s a guy who made a vending machine for crows.  It’s even cooler than it sounds.

There are dozens more amazing presentations on a wide range of topics.  Some of them get political to the point of being a little preachy, but there are so many great ones it’s well worth it.  Enjoy!