If your laptop has an accelerometer (like most recent Macs), you can turn it into a seismometer and join the Quake-Catcher Network, a “collaborative initiative for developing the worlds largest, low-cost strong-motion seismic network by utilizing sensors in and attached to internet-connected computers.” This article links to a seismology tool that works on Macs.

Because wireless networks send signals faster than vibrations can spread through the Earth, data from laptops in theory can speed ahead of the shaking and provide advance warning before harmful seismic waves strike regions that are more distant from a quake’s epicenter.

In other news, the earthquakes in Reno have slowed quite a bit in recent weeks, down to 5-8 per day between 1 and 2 on the Richter scale. (thx, marisa)

Trailer for Visioneers, starring comedian Zach Galifianakis. Among other things, it seems to be about spontaneous combustion and dreams about George Washington. (via fimoculous)

David Kurtz over at Talking Points Memo has written an interesting post about post-presidential celebrity and democracy:

One of the trappings of the [Presidency] in this day and age is the celebrity attendant to it – and the money-making opportunities that affords…The Clintons are taking $11.4 million made as a result of being in public office and plowing it back into retaking that office…In essence, they are using the trappings of the office once out of office to get back into office. That is the sort of self-perpetuation of power that we associate with dynasties.

Here’s a nature chaser after that last post: the music video for Caribou’s Irene, one of my favorite tracks from last year.

Green Porno, starring Isabella Rossellini. She dresses up in bug costumes and simulates their sex acts. Very strange. Try “Snail.” (thx, luddite robot).

Remember that death penalty stay the Nevada Supreme Court ordered last October pending the U.S. Supreme Court’s lethal injection decision? Back then I wrote:

It was a tricky situation, because Castillo himself refused to file any appeals for his execution and was willing to die last night. The ACLU of Nevada decided to go forward anyway…

Tricky no longer – Castillo has decided to join the legal challenge.

Jump Man Jump: Nevada’s Indoor Inflatable Party & Play Zone has an interesting special discount:

For the month of May 2008, we’ll give you a $20 discount off of our 2-hour weekend party if you are Catholic. Offer good for the month of May 2008 only for Catholics when you book a party for any future month. All you’ll need to do is pray a Hail Mary with the person you book the party with!

I wonder when atheist month is coming. (Yes, this probably violates state and/or federal laws.)

Update : They must’ve realized the problem, since the discount is no longer on the site.

Trent Reznor has turned into the Isaac Asimov of rock music: this morning he announced and released yet another new album, The Slip , entirely for free and again under a Creative Commons license.

Trent Reznor has turned into the Isaac Asimov of rock music: this morning he announced and released yet another new album, The Slip, entirely for free and again under a Creative Commons license.

A new geothermal plant has opened near Reno, in the Steamboat Springs hot springs area 10 miles south of downtown.

Galena 3, Ormat Technologies’ newest geothermal plant at the Steamboat complex, is up and running. Together, officials say, the seven plants generate enough electricity to power Reno’s residential needs.

Pretty cool.

We are all replicants. (via reddit)

Scientists at the Nevada Seismological Laboratory respond to several rumors going around about the recent swarm of earthquakes in the Reno area.

The smaller quakes near the surface are more common with volcanic quakes, [Ken Smith, a seismologist with the lab,] said. But the bigger quakes, such as the 4.7 that struck Friday night, are too big for volcanic activity, Smith said. The frequency of waves produced by the Mogul quakes is too high to be associated with volcanic events, he said.

The swarm is still ongoing, although the frequency has slowed up a tad in the past couple of days.

Iran in 30 pictures. I find it odd that when one candidate threatened to obliterate everything you see in those pictures, there was no large-scale public nor media outcry.

A short profile on Adam Chodikoff, The Daily Show ‘s chief researcher. He’s the guy that, e.g., digs up that obscure six-year-old clip used to underscore the hypocrisy of a politician’s recent statement. (via fimoculous)

A short profile on Adam Chodikoff, The Daily Show’s chief researcher. He’s the guy that, e.g., digs up that obscure six-year-old clip used to underscore the hypocrisy of a politician’s recent statement. (via fimoculous)

It’s sort of comforting to know that after 18 years, Roger Ebert is still a big fan of Joe vs. the Volcano.