Tombstone ATM

Cattle rancher Grover Chestnut died earlier this year at the age of 79. However, before he cashed in, he installed an ATM at his tombstone and gave ten heirs debit cards, and told them were allowed to withdraw $300 per week from the grave.

The Diamond Cartel

Have You Ever Tried To Sell A Diamond? – a look at the creation of the idea that diamonds are rare and valuable, and the De Beers cartel’s control of the diamond industry.

Klein Bottles

Acme Klein Bottles.

Sword Swallowing

Sword Swallowing To The Hilt! – the definitive website on the history, traditions and performance of the perilous art of sword swallowing.

Ed Headrick

Ed Headrick, inventor who designed the modern Frisbee, died a few days ago, and his family said his ashes will be made into Frisbees. Hendrick said “Frisbee is really a religion….when we die, we don’t go to purgatory. We just land on the roof and lay there.”

BlogMap

Wow! Colby Cosh picked this weblog to represent Alaska on his blogmap – I’m so honored….

Population Counters

Two interesting population-related links: global population counter shows births/deaths for today and the year, and the U.S. Census Bureau’s estimate of the current U.S. population.

Edsger W. Dijkstra

Edsger W. Dijkstra, creator of the ALGOL programming language, died yesterday. He is perhaps best know for his 1968 ACM paper Go To Statement Considered Harmful .

Janis Ian

Several months ago, Janis Ian wrote an insightful article about music downloading entitled The Internet Debacle – an Alternate View. Her follow-up article Fallout details what she’s learned since then.

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