I don't know where they get that there was nothing to do online in 1996. In 1995, I had to cut a roommate off from using my computer because he racked up such a high phone bill via AOL that he couldn't make rent.

The robot trains are coming!

Robots Now Driving Some New York City Trains

In a $300 million emotional purchase for the subway, the MTA's CBTC (communication-based train control) system will drive the L train starting today.

This means that you'll have a robot conductor in charge of the movement instead of a disgruntled human. When it screws up they can blame technology and not the human beings in control our idiotic train system.

Octomom - if she does make a bunch of money (from porn, book, non-porn movie) the state of California should bill her for at least some of what the new babies have cost the state in medical care.

This is why God created hamsters... and Roombas:

Hamster-Controlled Roomba

Technically it’s an iRobot, but it’s pretty much the same thing. It kinda reminds me of Dr. Robotnik’s creations, only alot less evil.

There's a hamster in a hamster ball, and the Roomba (or, rather, iRobot) goes in whatever direction the hamster goes. It's just weird to watch the video....

There needs to be a TV show where hamster-controlled Roombas fight cats riding Roombas.

Sea Otter Boogers

These Japanese snacks are actually called “Sea Otter Boogers” and apparently are quite tasty treats made of candied black beans. They’re yours for only about $6, of course, you have to speak Japanese to order them.

I spent loads of time on BBSs in the mid-90s. I don't remember what I was doing, but I remember it seeming fun at the time.

I've got saved emails from back in the 90s, so I was online. I think I was mostly on email lists and a couple of text based sites. I did it at work, evil me, because we couldn't tie up the phone line at home.

My grandfathers were farmers. One of them got run over and killed in front of his house by one of the first cars in Greene County.

CompuServe, then AOL, beginning in 1993. On my $3,400 PowerMac 7100 with its awesome 8 MB RAM and 32 MB hd.

AOL name = javachik.

Some awesome pictures of people in costumes: Carnival Venice 2009

This is my fave: [link] She (he?) looks like a fancily-decorated upside-down light bulb.

I was also internetting from university, between '87 and '90--that was usenet. rec.arts.sf.written and soc.culture.african.american.moderated FTW. Such times...

Hey, tommy's hamster link led me to this. I'm sad to say I can't hear it. I do feel old. There go my dreams of passing for 25.

Anyone (ever) watch any Graham Norton? I think I'm addicted. He's so rude but sweet. He has Gerard Depardieu on the episode that showed last night, and that guy is such a doll. The show before had Dustin Hoffman and his wife, who looks eerily young--they've been together 30 years and she looks 35.