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San Francisco, 3:07 AM
Mon Mar 15
14 posts in the last 24 hours

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Image of PostMarque PostMarque 12:07 AM

omg why am i awake

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 12:46 AM

@PostMarque: Futurama enables my insomnia.

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of Roklimber Roklimber 03/14/10


What to do if you're the first human to make first-contact with an alien:

[i.imgur.com]

#observationdeck #tips Reply

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Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 03/14/10

The 'deck is back? Yay!

#observationdeck Reply
Edited by Ruthless if you let me at 03/14/10 10:12 PM

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Image of Roklimber Roklimber 03/14/10

For those of you living in Europe and ordering books from Amazon.uk, beware of the fact that they change the list price of books when you add them to your basket.

I was about to order a book when I noticed that the price listed, £19.09, mysteriously changed to £21.74 when I added the book to my basket. And this is before any shipping, handling, or tax added to the purchase.

Interestingly enough, the same does not happen when ordering from their US store.

Has anyone noticed this before?

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Roklimber Roklimber 01:02 AM

@Roklimber: Never mind... my mistake, though an honest one based on some confusing information from their check-out page.

It turns out that the extra amount is the VAT (Value Added Tax), though they don't say or show it explicitly, unless you click on some extra buttons.

The listed price already contains the VAT for the UK, so when I add a book to my basket, they subtract the UK VAT and add the Danish VAT, which I discovered is an astonishing 25%.

I gotta move out of here... at the rate I'm buying books, I'll be broke in no time.

#observationdeck Reply
Edited by Roklimber at 03/15/10 1:05 AM

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Image of EdificeComplex EdificeComplex 03/14/10

Actor Peter Graves has passed away at age 83. His numerous credits include "Buck Rogers," "Fantasy Island," and several 50s sci-fi movies.
And probably his most famous role as James Phelps in "Mission: Impossible."

[www.msnbc.msn.com]

RIP

#tips
#observationdeck Reply

Image of Roklimber Roklimber 03/14/10

@EdificeComplex: That's very sad. I always liked him as Phelps in MI.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 03/14/10

@EdificeComplex: #sad

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of Roklimber Roklimber 03/14/10

An extremely interesting TED talk by James Cameron on what drove and drives him to make the movies he's made.

I may not have liked Avatar, but this talk shows that Cameron is a truly uniquely gifted individual.

Well worth watching.

[www.ted.com]

#tips #observationdeck #avatar [io9.com] #jamescameron #ted #tedtalks Reply
Edited by Roklimber at 03/14/10 8:08 PM

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Image of Laserlips Laserlips 03/14/10

Any of you Losties out there able to access docarzt.com? The site has been down for me for the past 3 days, and Doc hasn't mentioned it on his twitter.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 03/14/10

@Laserlips: I'm able to get to it. Last post was on 03/13: [www.docarzt.com]

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Laserlips Laserlips 03/14/10

@Ruthless if you let me: Thanks for getting back to me. That's really weird. Not only is Doc's site apparently blocked, but so is TVovermind, his other blog. I wonder whats going on here.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Laserlips Laserlips 03/14/10

@Laserlips: Anonymizing myself worked, but this is ridiculous. Calling my isp tomorrow.

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of geesejuggler geesejuggler 03/14/10

Question of the hour: Does anyone remember/have the old X-Men trading cards from the 90s and where does one trade them? I don't really remember them but I have some.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 03/14/10

@geesejuggler: I have some somewhere in storage. I've only seen others floating around at some local comic shows.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Darklighter Darklighter 03/14/10

@geesejuggler: Series 3, yeah? I've still got a binder sitting in a box somewhere. But I have no idea where one would trade or sell them.

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of matthewabel matthewabel 03/14/10

[splashpage.mtv.com]

Matthew Vaughn talks about doing Sandman HBO series style, which is something I know a lot of folks here think would be better than a movie (myself included).

All speculation at this point, but it's nice to hear a Hollywood director realizes not all comic book characters can work on the big screen but can still be motionally adapted.

#tips

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 03/14/10

OK, Observation Deck. I have a challenge for everyone. My dad described to me a sci-fi show from the late 90's supposedly done by the people that did The X-Files. I can't figure out/remember what it was called based off the info he gave me. Here is that info:

"The space marine guys get into jump-spaceships and go to another planet to fight bad guys... I don't think you actually see who the bad guys are. Oh come on, you don't know? You know, that show with spaceships and marines."

Anyone have any ideas?

#observationdeck
#mydadisnuts Reply

Image of ExtensionOfBob ExtensionOfBob 03/14/10

@Ruthless if you let me: Space: Above and Beyond?

[www.imdb.com]

#observationdeck Reply
Ruthless if you let me promoted this comment
Edited by ExtensionOfBob at 03/14/10 6:15 PM

Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 03/14/10

@ExtensionOfBob: I pulled that one out, and that "wasn't it." I think that has to be it though. I can't think of anything else.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Kevin Howell -The Unseen Commentor Kevin Howell -The Unseen Commentor 03/14/10

@Ruthless if you let me: That has to be it the only other shows they tried to pair with X-files that I know of are VR-5, Strange Luck, and Lone Gunmen. If I'm missing any chime in.

#observationdeck Reply
Ruthless if you let me promoted this comment

Image of ExtensionOfBob ExtensionOfBob 03/14/10

@Ruthless if you let me: I think you and dad need to have a viewing party to determine for sure.

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of phildini phildini 03/14/10

Help, I've just finished Buffy and don't know what to watch next! What were the best genre epics of the last decade or so?

#observationdeck Reply
Darklighter promoted this comment

Image of Darklighter Darklighter 03/14/10

@phildini: Angel has a lot of trouble finding its stride, but it's all worth it for the fifth season.

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of LittleDragon LittleDragon 03/14/10

whats up with the OD?

#observationdeck Reply

Image of RandomFrequentFlierDent RandomFrequentFlierD... 03/14/10

@LittleDragon: If I clear my browsing history and than immediately click the observationdeck link I get the recent posts. If not, I can only see ones from Friday.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of mamadragon49 mamadragon49 03/14/10

@LittleDragon: I'm seeing stuff so it must be working right now.

#observationdeck Reply
RandomFrequentFlierDent promoted this comment

Image of LittleDragon LittleDragon 03/14/10

@RandomFrequentFlierDent: no dice. will have to poke around and see if I can figure something out. If I am logged out I can see every thing, but logged in can only see stuff from the 13th and older.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of RandomFrequentFlierDent RandomFrequentFlierD... 03/14/10

@LittleDragon: Actually when I clear my history it also logs me out. So it could be that logging out works for me too. Either way this is making it very difficult to procrastinate.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 03/14/10

@LittleDragon: It's being really weird right? In FF I can't see anything more recent than this post: [io9.com] . I've cleared my cache, history, & cookies to no avail. I can see things OK in Chrome & IE though.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of LittleDragon LittleDragon 03/14/10

@Ruthless if you let me: That's the same post that I see. Haven't tried IE and don't have chrome.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 03/14/10

@RandomFrequentFlierDent: I think logging out works. I can see everything logged out.

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of RandomFrequentFlierDent RandomFrequentFlierD... 03/14/10

Happy Pi Day io9! Hope you all get to have some delicious pie.

What is your preferred slice?

#observationdeck Reply

Image of geesejuggler geesejuggler 03/14/10

@RandomFrequentFlierDent: My personal favorite part is the 59265 section.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of RandomFrequentFlierDent RandomFrequentFlierD... 03/14/10

@geesejuggler: I see what you did there.

My favourite is 42. Just because it means that the answer to life, the universe, and everything can be found in pi. Also pecan chocolate chip.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of ExtensionOfBob ExtensionOfBob 03/14/10

@RandomFrequentFlierDent: I'm personally a fan of the 3.14 portion, because it's the part I have memorized.

Oh, and key lime. Or chocolate. Or apple. Or lemon. Or chocolate banana. Or chocolate peanut butter. Or Oreo...

#observationdeck Reply
RandomFrequentFlierDent promoted this comment

Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 03/14/10

@RandomFrequentFlierDent: Boston Cream Pie slice please.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of briarnoir briarnoir 03/14/10

@RandomFrequentFlierDent: Pumpkin, without a shameless doubt.

#observationdeck Reply
RandomFrequentFlierDent promoted this comment

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Image of geesejuggler geesejuggler 03/14/10

Happy Pi Day, io9ers!

#observationdeck Reply

Image of RandomFrequentFlierDent RandomFrequentFlierD... 03/14/10

@geesejuggler: I didn't see your post until after I did mine - the observation deck is being all glitchy for me. After I cleared my history as recommended by Ruthless all these new posts turned up.

To sum it up - happy Pi day to you too :)

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of bookwench bookwench 03/14/10

May I be the first to wish you a Happy Pi Day. :) The link lets you search Pi for any series of numbers, like your birthday.

[www.angio.net]

#observationdeck
#tips Reply

Image of RandomFrequentFlierDent RandomFrequentFlierD... 03/14/10

@bookwench: "The string 08251986 occurs at position 24,101,120 counting from the first digit after the decimal point. The 3. is not counted."

I found my birthday! Thanks for the link, like I said to geesejuggler the observation deck is acting all screwy so I didn't see your post until after I made mine. Happy Pi day!

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 03/14/10

@RandomFrequentFlierDent: @bookwench: Birthday found! The string 05311982 occurs at position 94,110,748 counting from the first digit after the decimal point. The 3. is not counted.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of CuriousYellow CuriousYellow 03/14/10

@bookwench: That's so cool, thanks for the link.

#observationdeck Reply
Roklimber promoted this comment

Image of Roklimber Roklimber 03/14/10

@bookwench:

Awesome!

Interestingly enough, my b-day string appears in all its meaningful forms, except one:

The string 25031963 occurs at position 49,555,169 counting from the first digit after the decimal point.

The string 03251963 occurs at position 166,573,050 counting from the first digit after the decimal point.

The string 19630325 occurs at position 48,128,255 counting from the first digit after the decimal point.

The string 19632503 did not occur in the first 200000000 digits of pi after position 0.
(Sorry! Don't give up, Pi contains lots of other cool strings.)

#tips Reply

Image of Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H. Evil Tortie's Mom: R.O.A.C.H. 03/14/10

@bookwench: I had pizza pi for dinner.

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of David Grossman David Grossman 03/13/10

space porn

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 03/13/10

Has anyone seen Salvage 1 from 1979 with Andy Griffith? Andy plays a salvage/junk dealer that built a home-made spaceship. This evening I was treated to some bootleg copies (on VHS!) of the show.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of Spider Sister Spider Sister 03/13/10

@Ruthless if you let me: Wasn't there only one season or so of that and even that was cancelled? I think I might have had a copy on VHS lying around when I was little if that is what I think it is.

#observationdeck Reply
Ruthless if you let me promoted this comment

Image of Ruthless if you let me Ruthless if you let me 03/13/10

@Spider Sister: 18 episodes. I saw 4 of them tonight. Tripped me out to even here about it. Less impressed when I watched it. Still, home-made spaceship rules.

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of LittleDragon LittleDragon 03/13/10

Gallstones suck.

#observationdeck Reply

Image of RandomFrequentFlierDent RandomFrequentFlierD... 03/14/10

@LittleDragon: Ouch, that does suck. Feel better soon.

#observationdeck Reply
Edited by RandomFrequentFlierDent at 03/14/10 9:27 AM

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Image of matthewabel matthewabel 03/13/10

What's happening, OD? Any other parents of the young trapped at home on a hip weekend evening?

#observationdeck Reply

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Image of Bill-Lee Bill-Lee 03/13/10

I think the most recent episode of Caprica answered a very important question. Why were the original Cylons such bad pilots that it took three of them to fly one small fighter? Because virtual Zoe is a bad pilot.

#observationdeck Reply

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