The short version of the daily Internet

The short version of the daily Internet
Welcome, and spread the word! The Lavender Placenta is a blog bringing daily minutiae of the Internet to your doorstep, with intent on giving attention to that which deserves it. But it doesn't end there - this blog puts emphasis on user-submitted content, so that we all share together!

Sunday, October 17, 2010

Soup I Made Yesterday

Something tells me, a lot of the cooking-related posts are just going to be me describing a handful of ingredients that I found in my fridge and making something delicious. More or less, this is soup you must try if you find yourself in my ingredient situation:

  • One package of beef-flavored No-Name Brand noodles
  • Turkey
  • Carrots
  • Celery
  • Onions
  • 500 mL of water (at first)


Boil the water, then put the noodles in. Add 100 mL more of water if you feel you don't have enough. After 3 minutes, throw all your ingredients in and mix it up a bunch for about another 2-3 minutes. Throw in some salt and pepper, and any spices for your own touch of flair.

Let it cool, and then BAM! All those extra vegetables hanging around your house are suddenly (and deliciously) in your stomach.

It's a pretty simple soup. But hey -- I'm a pretty simple guy ;)

regards,
The Big L.P.


PS: I know this is a blog about the daily internet, but I cannot resist adding something that I created as a manner of contribution. Like -- c'mon, this soup is absolutely stellar!

Friday, October 15, 2010

From the Web Page Formerly Known as Devil Monkey

Warren Mann chronicles his life and times in this gas station autobiography. The novel is easily one of the best I have ever read. His language is fluid, and his descriptions are quite vivid. You will probably read very far into it before forgetting the time, much like I did when I first discovered this work of magic.

How to Lose Hours Quickly

If you ever had the internet all to yourself, you may often find that you are at a loss! With the whole world at the touch of your fingers, it can be overwhelming. So, for when you are bored, I present a couple of time-killing game sites!


1. Super Mario Flash
Have you always wanted to play a quality rip-off game? This is one of the best. It is a surefire replica with plenty of original designs, and tons of adventures to keep you playing. Pseudo Super Mario at its finest.


2. CDX: The Game
This game, while resembling other online mystery thrillers, is a pioneer in its genre. It completely forgoes video game animations in favor of a more interactive environment. The game play isn't so much about searching and clicking, but more hunting and gathering. It has a distinct feel of reality that makes it quite a top-notch game.


3. Bloons Tower Defense 4
Stopping the balloons from getting from point A to point B (the fundamental concept of all Tower Defense games) is just the top of the rabbit hole. This game gets dangerously addicting, to the point where I signed myself up for a MochiGames account and did a couple surveys JUST to buy the locked maps! And boy was it ever fun. It is the deepest of the four, with several tower types, all upgradeable to four tiers. Strategic placement is as crucial as ever in the fourth installment of this very popular series.


4. Java Hockey
What appears to be a cute little 8-bit game is actually a very deep sports game. The learning curve is steep at first, but if you're competent and creative, it can be very exhilirating. From what I gather from my research, there is also an online community dedicated to this game! You can start with rookie practices, where new players wishing to join a team go to be scouted. Then, you take part in a draft. From there, you play in a season. Stats are recorded and everything!


Well, there you have it. I tried to cover various game genres. Rest assured this won't be the last time I post a list of this variety.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Get Your Teamwork On

http://team.forsvarsmakten.se/english/

Our Swedish compadres have designed a free online test to depict whether or not you are capable of joining their armed forces. It's cool, and a neat little test!

Saturday, October 9, 2010

Celebrating: John Lennon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okd3hLlvvLw (embedding has been disabled by the video author).

It's good to know that thirteen million people still hear John's voice so many years after his death. If there's one thing that makes me believe in music, it's the Beatles.

So thoroughly nowadays do I doubt the ability of music to change the world for the better. I know that the music industry is bent on the concept of maximizing the cash output, such to the point where automated machines are responsible for much of popular music today. For music to thrive I believe it cannot take steps backwards like auto-tune.

I am scared for the future of musicians. It's obvious how far the overall quality of music has plummeted since its importance in the 60s. But I will always have hope, because I know hope is what drives people to success. I have high hopes for the band which I play music in. The four of us believe strongly that people will still fill the stands to see a rock and roll band, regardless of whether it's us or another band with the same ideals.

So I propose a toast to hope. Hope that this form of expression will remain that, and not a form of capitalism in motion. Happy Birthday, John Lennon.

Regards,

The Big L.P.


PS,
Dig this page: http://early90spants.com/music/lady/
This is my band's early demo. We're working on a new one, with new songs and a cleaner approach, but until then you should check this out.

Thursday, October 7, 2010

Interactive Humor

http://www.youtube.com/user/tippexperience

This is quite unlike anything I've seen on the internet before. I've had loads of fun typing in "eats a bear", "befriends a bear", "cleans a bear", "feeds a bear", etc. Interactive entertainment! Quite a fine piece indeed.

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Guess what's just around the corner?

You probably won't guess, so I won't keep you waiting --

HOCKEY!

Hockey is back, and to commemorate, here's a highlight reel put together by me. It's a chance to see the truly amazing that happens in the world of hockey each year.


Obvious goal-of-the-year, scored while most were tallying the votes for other candidates.


This goal always gets a lot less credit than it should; the positioning of his body is almost unbelievable.


Not particularly amazing for a goal, but the meaning to Chicago fans is immeasurable. Compare to:


Except replace "Chicago" with "Canada".


I'd give you more but I don't want the front page to have a bazillion YouTube videos trying to load at once.

Thursday, September 2, 2010

In My Own Backyard

This is a breathtaking look at a tremendous enigma facing Vancouver. It is a documentary on UBC student Misha Kleider's venture into the "Downtown Eastside", an area of harsh decrepitude, where many of the homeless in Vancouver live. I will warn you, it is fairly harsh and real at times, so be prepared.



You should be able to play the other parts in sequential order, if you're watching from beginning to end. Or you can just go on YouTube yourself: http://www.youtube.com/user/CoreyOgilvie#p/a/u/0/I6-1oo-b3Ds.

...

What makes me so perturbed about this issue is the fact that it is happening so close to home. I live in a Vancouver suburb, and I am very proud and fortunate to reside here. The Olympics were an experience unlike no other, as I took part in the celebrations downtown when we won Gold in Men's Hockey. That moment of unity took my opinion of Vancouver over the top.

Yet, at the same time, there seems to be this perpetual gap in between all of the fun times and culture. The film is a cold reminder of reality.

I have seen the homeless myself, roaming the streets and panhandling. I try to pay them no regard. I simply cannot comprehend what I could be donating to, or whether or not this person deserves my sympathy or help. I can't even be sure if giving to them would help. I don't know what to think of them. Here I am, with one shot at a life in my hands, and I have it pretty good. I live in what I consider to be the best city on Earth. Yet I see others without homes...they are living their window of existence, and I see a lot of unfortunate pain.

To be honest, I ignore it. I just don't know what to do about it. Giving won't help. I don't feel the need to be hostile with them. Live and let live, right? Ought I act with a cleared conscience? I don't feel guilt for it. Now I'm rambling. Off to bed.

Regards,
The Big L.P.

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

Mountain Biking Viewed in a New Way



This is an absolutely stunning first-person look into a mountain bike run. The placement of the platforms make it look like some sort of playground!


Regards,
The Big L.P.


Here's a link if the video doesn't work....I'm not too keen on how to embed videos quite yet... http://www.stupidvideos.com/video/sports/Third_Person_Mountain_Bike_Alley_Ride/

Sunday, August 29, 2010

A sandwich I made the other day

I didn't think I'd be putting up self-made content so soon, but damn, this sandwich is delicious enough to share with you =)

If you have the ingredients ready, I'd strongly suggest the following:


  • bread
  • butter/margarine
  • lettuce
  • cheese
  • pepperoni
  • ranch dressing

Toast the bread until it's golden brown, butter it, then arrange the rest of the ingredients. The more types of cheese you can put on, the better. 

It's like some sort of breakfast-brunch-snack paradise. All flavour, all the time baby!

Regards, 
The Big L.P.

gee, I wish I had a webcam so I could show you all a picture....one day, I guess.

Saturday, August 28, 2010

Ah, that's what I call infotainment!

That's a lot of jobs
This is part of a series known as "infographs". Pictures you can find, anywhere on the web really, that depict something that you probably did not know. What makes them interesting could be many things. What drew my attention to this particular infograph is the sheer scale. Millions of people, more than you could meet in a life time, calculated down to the bone, with this particular sector dealing with U.S. government internal employment. Yet more internet majesty.

Grand Opening


http://fingerspit.bandcamp.com/album/space-demos

One of the things that amazes me about music is its constant ability for one to put its own stamp on it. Especially, when considering the fact that many musicians have copyrights on chord progressions. Music is something that relates to us all -- albeit in many different variations.

This trinket of genres merged - space rock, techno, psychedelia - is an example of some type of underground, something found in the comfort of anonymity. I found it browsing a music forum, where this man eagerly promoted the download of his product for no price. Something that reminded me of the good in music, that is, making it out of love and not for money.

Not only that, but while listening through the whole album I noticed a sample that the producer was using was from one of my favorite songs (I'll let you guess which sample it was. hint: Beastie Boys also sampled it in the 80s). It brought to me a fresh interpretation. The drum beat alone can stand for so many things. I am compelled to believe that "fresh interpretations" are just one dynamic that makes music so multifaceted. It's the same umbrella of a band covering a song from their muses of choice.


There is a reason I started this blog. I thought back to a time when we weren't blessed and cursed with the revolutionary Internet. It was a lot different. Now a days, I see ordinary people who take a part of their lives and share it with the entire planet. Why, the other day I watched America's Got Talent on TV, and lo and behold, it was the YouTube special. It wasn't long after that had I discovered just how many people watch that program. In summation, they took YouTube submissions of Americans doing their thing, and brought them to a stage of millions. Susan Boyle, the modern model of Internet discovery, just one of many talents brought to your screen thanks to the Internet. YouTube itself is responsible for the fortune of many.

I want to promote that. That moment of something that is truly mind-blowing no longer hiding in Scottish back-country. With this blog, the more that people share, the more people will be brought a similar story. Or, a completely different story entirely.

This demo album is the perfect exemplar for my exhibit. It is plucked from beyond the reaches of the social conscious. It is something that shows talent and promise, and deserves a share of the spotlight. With this posting, I can guarantee that someone somewhere will enjoy it. Thus is the concept of Lavender Placenta.

Regards,
The Big L.P.

Welcome to the Lavender Placenta Project

Hello, and welcome. This is a blog of free information. Hand-picked material, filtered and critiqued by myself among others, the Lavender Placenta Project intends to entertain with various media accessed from the deep recesses of the internet! Have you ever been sitting at the computer blankly staring at the vast ocean in front of you, only to discover with such power at your fingertips that you can't think of a single thing that you want to see?

One of the main appeals behind this blog is for you to submit to everyone what you believe should be seen. Information is to be shared, for it will make us smarter as a whole (and perhaps more entertained!). This can mean a whole range of media, from the funny, the unbelievable, to the innovative, the talented. Pictures, videos, links links links! Science, sports, politics, tourism -- Here at the Lavender Placenta Project, the information may be a mile wide (and only an inch deep at first), but you are encouraged to spread the word and dig for yourselves.

Also, as a personal form of contribution, you'll have no shortage of updates from myself, but I do want to heavily encourage your feedback. I don't want to be the only one sharing what makes this world so amazing! Also, the Internet is a big place -- I haven't traveled through every channel -- thus, what I post will only be a fraction of the amazingness expected to be purported through this blog!

It's a big project, and I'm going to need your help.

Regards,
The Big L.P.