Jeff Milner

I can’t say I’m ready to publish my blog, but when I am I will think of Blogbinder.com. “Blogbinders.com helps you turn your blog into a bound book – great as a gift, an archive, or even to sell to your readers!”

I think the best thing the people in charge of Star Trek could do is Bring Back Kirk.

Fans of Star Trek have put together a nine minute trailer of a fictional movie that reunites all the characters from all the Star Trek series. It’s easily the best fan produced video I’ve ever seen.

My new favorite site at which I like to hang. It’s a collaborative flash site that allows users to paint with their mouse’s in a shared space. Click on expand chat to see the artwork.

Update (August 1st, 2005): It appears the site is down.

Here is a great summer activity, probably the biggest thing to hit the UK since Marmite.

“Q: What do you think happens when you throw a slice of processed cheese (without removing the plastic wrapping) onto a lit barbeque?” The answer? Cheese Racing!

Check out the incredible videos of a table saw that can tell the difference between wood and skin. It’s something you have to see to believe; I recommend both the regular and super high speed videos.

The SawStop system works by recognizing the difference in the electrical properties of wood and a user. The system induces a high-frequency electrical signal on the blade of a table saw and monitors this signal for changes caused by contact between the blade and a user’s body. The signal remains unchanged when the blade cuts wood because of the relatively small inherent electrical capacitance and conductivity of wood. However, when a user contacts the blade while the saw is operating, the electrical signal changes because of the relatively large inherent capacitance of the user’s body.

In the videos, the saw blade is rotating at 4000 rpm. The blade is stopped in less than 5 milliseconds. It can make the difference between needing a Band-Aid or a hand surgeon.

Anna and I watched Lost in Translation (IMDB link) last night. I thought this movie gave a beautiful look at what it’s like trying to live in a culture that is unfamiliar and often times incomprehensible. I liked this movie particularly because it reminded of my brief experience when I visited Japan, although I think I had a much better time than either Bill Murray or Scarlett Johansson’s characters, then again I was only there for 10 days.

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) is an American movie star, whom, nearing the end of his career, has come to Japan to shoot Whiskey ads. Charlotte is the young wife of a hot new photographer who finds herself stuck in her Japanese hotel room as her husband works. Both of them struggle with the different culture and language barrier, however as they slowly get to know one another they find an unexpected friendship blossoms.

Marketed as a hilarious comedy, this movie is actually the bittersweet tale of two foreigners trying to find friendship in a land they can’t seem to meld with. Both characters go on a journey – it’s hard to explain exactly as this movie is better experienced than described.

It wasn’t just the fact that they were in Japan, I think they would have been upset wherever they were, they might not have recognized it however. Nothing around them is familiar. As a defense mechanism they revert inwards in an attempt to find peace and security but in doing so, they find is self-doubt and insecurity. Despite being at different points in their lives they find within each other a kind of soul-mate.

Bill Murray and Scarlett Johansson both did a tremendous job and it seemed more like watching two people live their lives than actors reciting a script. I enjoyed “Lost in Translation”.

Anna and I rented American Splendor (IMDB link) DVD over the weekend. I can’t really say whether I give this movie a positive or negative rating overall. I’m glad I saw it, but I felt that at times it was slow and never, throughout the film, had a point. It just sort of told the story of Harvey Pekar and his comic books and then ended. It did pick up midway through the film with scenes of Harvey’s actual appearances on the Late Show with David Letterman, and I found his nerd friend pretty funny with his love of all things nerdy – especially “Revenge of the Nerds”.

Overall I think you have to be a person that either loves underground comics, independent films, or just loves to watch movies to really enjoy this film. My recommendation: get it if you think you will like it, if you’re not sure, then you probably won’t. I know that seems odd, but based on my own reaction and the reaction of others that I know who have seen it, I think that’s a pretty fair way to put it.