CATSYNTH

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Author: catsynth

  • Catsynth pics: Triple Threat

    Via our friend matrix, we have a trio of recent photos of cats and synths.

    First we have Scooter and Bob (Moog, that is.), originally from Maggie Osterberg at flickr:

    Next, we have a big fluffy cat with an Anywhere modular, originally from sequencer.de:

    And finally, and quite appropriately, the “Matrix Cat” laying claim to an Oberheim Matrix-6r. Originally from synx508, whose cats have appeared here before:

    Thanks to matrix for collecting and posting these photos, and for putting up with a lot of cranky comments in response to them. In particular, “Matrix Cat” seems to have generated a lot of harsh comments about how cats and synthesizers should not mix. Lighten up, folks!

  • Fun with highways: Goethal's Bridge Crossing

    We turn our focus once again to the New York metropolitan area. Countless motorists take I-278 over the Goethal's Bridge from “the armpit of NJ to the ampit of NY,” as at least one website so eloquently described it. The armpit of NJ is presumably Elizabeth, and the armpit of NY is of course Staten Island.

    This isn't our first encounter with I-278 here at CatSynth. Its eastern terminus is the Bruckner Interchange, featured in a previous “fun with highways” article. Between the Goethal's crossing and the Bruckner Interchange, I-278 meanders it's way through all four “outer boroughs” of New York City. An interesting description of I-278 from Steve Alpert:

    I-278 is a horrid excuse for an Interstate, patched onto a network of existing freeways including the Staten Island, Gowanus, BQE (Brooklyn-Queens), and Bruckner Expressways… and the Grand Central PARKWAY.

    There is certain symmetry to I-278, connecting from I-95 in the Bronx to I-95 in New Jersey…except that it doesn't end there. It keeps going past the I-95/NJ Turnpike interchange into Elizabeth, eventually ending at an intersection with US 1 & 9. It seems like I-278 was destined to continue further into New Jersey, perhaps to meet with it's missing parent I-78, or even cross I-287 at some point. I-278/I-287 interchange, that would be trippy…

  • Alert! Mass recall of dog and cat food after pets suffer.

    This is one of those scary stories animal lovers dread:

    WASHINGTON (AP) — Pet owners were worried Saturday that the pet food in their cupboards could be deadly after millions of containers of dog and cat food sold at major retailers across North America were recalled.

    Menu Foods — a major manufacturer of dog and cat food sold under Wal-Mart, Safeway, Kroger and other store brands — recalled 60 million containers of wet pet food Friday after reports of kidney failure and deaths.

    An unknown number of cats and dogs suffered kidney failure and about 10 died after eating the affected pet food, the company said in announcing the North American recall.

    Product testing has not revealed a link explaining the reported cases of illness and death, the company said.

    “At this juncture, we're not 100 percent sure what's happened,” said Paul Henderson, the company's president and chief executive officer.

    You can read a full article, including affected brands, here.

    Luna's brand did appear on the list! But according to both Menu Foods and the brand, the recall only affects wet food in cans and pouches, not dry food (aka “crunchies”). So I think she's OK. But we're going to stay on top of this in case the affected types of food and lots increases (remember the E. Coli outbreak for human vegetables last fall).


  • "Mistakes were made"

    From EAWB at flickr.

    Well, I think that just about sums things up…










  • Weekend Cat Blogging #93: Emerald Eyes at Rest

    We at CatSynth started this weekend a day early. Luna can be seen in restful repose Friday afternoon:

    Would that every Friday was like this one…

    For those who observe St. Patrick's Day today, what better than a lovely pair of emerald eyes?

    Over at I Got Two Shoes, host Kamikazee is decked out in his green finery. Check out the WCB cats enjoying either St. Patrick's Day or just another fine weekend.

    And don't forget, WCB 94 will be hosted right here at CatSynth!







  • (co)sine – LIVE – Luna's Cafe … and Mimì makes the rounds

    From sendling we have this video of artist (co)sine. Great stuff, and it's at Luna's Cafe! How could I not repost.

    Scrolling down one post earlier at sendling, we see a familiar face. Remember Mimì? Well, it seems that she's been making the rounds since her debut here at CatSynth, popping up at sendling and matrix. Go Mimì!









  • Worthless Kitty Interlude: 1990 and 2041

    I was listening to the radio last night on the way home, and the program host was referring to an event 17 years ago, in 1990. Some thoughts:

    1990 is 17 years ago, or half a lifetime ago.
    2007 will be half a lifetime ago in 2041.
    In 2041, I will be 68 years old.

    many cats can live to 17 years or more

    my grandfather (on my mother's side) died at age 68 in 1982.






  • Fun with stats: digits in Pi

    From Eve Andersson's Pi land, we have these histograms of the frequency of (base 10) digits.

    The first 100 digits of pi:

    0 8
    1 8
    2 12
    3 12
    4 10
    5 8
    6 9
    7 8
    8 12
    9 13

    Things even out pretty nicely by about 1 million digits:

    0 99959
    1 99757
    2 100026
    3 100230
    4 100230
    5 100359
    6 99548
    7 99800
    8 99985
    9 100106

    The digits are just white noise, there might be an interesting pattern now and then, but that is to be expected statistically. Besides, these are base 10 digits, which are an arbitrary representation based on the fact that we have two hands with five fingers apiece…

    I could share some more interesting facts and formulae, but printing the greek character pi on a blog is, as they say, a pain in the butt. And I am not in the mood for that tonight.



  • Cat video

    Just a really sweet kitten video from myspace.

    My Baby Binks

    Add to My Profile | More Videos

    There's probably a synth in the cell phone, actually…




  • Fun with Cheney: Halliburton moves to Dubai…and Scooter

    A brief break from the cats and synths to note today's news that Halliburton is joining Michael Jackson and others in Dubai, the Persian Gulf Disneyland and neutral zone.

    Halliburton (Dick Cheney's former company) has been under huge suspicion and contempt for it's rather lucrative contracts in Iraq. And now it's headquarters is moving to Dubai…

    …hmm…

    This article in the Baltimore Chronicle and Sentinel somes up the “hmmm” quite well:

    We know now that when Dick Cheney makes a foreign policy or war policy decision regarding Iraq or Iran or Saudi Arabia, he is really thinking about what it will do for Halliburton and Dubai–and for Dick Cheney.

    Note that this move comes within days of new suspicion cast over Cheney after his former chief of staff and muppet I Lewis “Scooter” Libby was convicted of perjury:

    Why'd you do it, Scooter, why?