Last night, I decided to continue telling people why the Internet is cool. To continue onward with this process, I thought about all of the things I like to talk about on a daily basis and pick out a few gems. Today, I give you the Creative Commons. They themselves are responsible for creating a way to allow other people to create very cool things and put them on the Internet.

Tags: why the internet is cool, creative commons, cc, videos

I was talking to a couple of friends today about what is "cool" about the Internet. I said it really wasn't the Internet that was cool but it was the content that made the Internet worthwhile. Of course, they requested samples.

I provided them a short video called The Daily Monster.

Tags: why the internet is cool, the daily monster, cool, video, interesting

We received a commission in the e-mail this week for a new logo that Allyson will be using for her web site.

I thought I would take a moment and brag, edify, and rave about how cool Robin Thompson is.  I met Robin a number of years ago in Victoria while performing a bunch of improvisational theatre shows.  He is hilarious!  It wasn't until later I learned of Robin's passion for drawing.  I saw a few things and thought they were amazing.   This guy rocks!  And is a comic god!

Check out Robin's offerings on eBay!

Tags: robin thompson, champions of hell, comic, artist, comics

I was talking to my bestest friend Alan (currently banished to the Klingon Moon of Rura-Victoria) and we got talking about the BBS Systems we used to run. We were nostalgic about those geeky days and, of course, we started Googling Victoria BBS systems. I once ran a BBS called Night Line in Victoria and I was a member of the FidoNet network. I did some searching and discovered that a master list still exists.

Ah, yes, Night Line BBS. Those were the days. I ran that site from February 1987 until sometime in 1990 - and I still had calls for it to return until roughly 1992. We all know what happened then - stupid Internet! For those who want to learn a little bit more about those days, we found this documentary about bulletin board systems.

The scary thing is, I still have a picture of the login screen of my BBS. I ran this system off my Tandy 1000SX (a whopping 4.36hz with a 7.6hz turbo button or something) on a 720KB floppy drive and, eventually, I upgraded to a huge 30MB external hard disk. Yes, I am a hard core nerd. I am going to go listen to my vinyl Megadeth records.

Tags: tandy 1000sx, bbs documentary, night line bbs, bbs, fidonet, being a sysop, alan ford, creek echo

In positive news for Firefly and Serenity, according to Amazon.com Top 100 Best Selling DVD List for 2006 - Firefly is listed at #10 and Serenity is listed at #18. Not too shabby for a canceled television show and the silver screen movie that followed.

In your face, doubters! I mean, really - if you check out this dance routine, you will notice Serenity music being used for their performance. Firefly and Serenity will return. There is no doubt.

Tags: firefly, serenity, dvd, movie, television, bring back firefly, serenity 2 campaign

A month has gone by since I talked about Serendipity's progress and things have been nothing but positive.  We headed over to the "puppy hospital" for our latest check up and, after a few spinal tests and a short run in the parking lot, the neurosurgeon explained there has been yet another dramatic improvement in her reflexes.

She isn't perfect, of course, but I am happy to report she is still on the mend.  She is growing up so fast and, hopefully, this problem will never return.  There isn't much to report on her condition other than that (thank God).  Should you be in our 'hood - why not come on by for a pet and a snuggle.  Serendipity would love it!

Tags: serendipity the pug, health, neurosurgeon, pug, happy

On Saturday night, I got a call from an incredibly cool chick named Kelly.  (Who happens to run a very cool mead community web site called Meadworks - check it out!)  She was very excited and almost wasn't able to get her words out.  (I am also convinced she had found her way into a mead bottle somewhere - but I will leave that to your endowed imaginations.  Snicker!)  The gist of the voicemail was this:

"Shane!  Shane!  I ran into some cool people today and they are called The New Wrinkle!  I checked out their web site and saw that your company is hosting them!  That is so cool!  I am very proud of your accomplishments!  That is exciting!"

I jumped up and down and thought it was amazing that Kelly was on the site because, only hours before, I had been promoted to the role of technical advisor for The New Wrinkle.  You see, the video blog talks about a variety of things but one such topic is technology.  And, let's just say, I am suspicious about how some of the technical stuff that appears on their web site tends to follow our beer swilling parties.  Hmmmm.   Thus, I requested a new role on the podcast.  Little did I know it would be a promotion to the credits.  How cool is that!  So, that little exchange of two of my closest friends running into each other and doing a segment on a video blog - that is just too gnarley for geeks like me.  Small city fever. 

If you want to check out the video blog, the hosts are A. Traviss Corry (face it, dude, Arthur is a cool name) and Amir Aghelnejad and the site is The New Wrinkle.  How I got mixed up with these wickedly cool people, I will never know.  And they all tolerate me too.  That is saying something.

Oh, yah, and Traviss?  Make sure you call me about those nerdy things and we'll chat and get you ready for your on screen close ups.  I am also going to stop there because if I say "cool" one more time....oh, man.

Tags: the new wrinkle, shane birley, technical advisor, meadworks, kelly legge, vancouver, traviss corry, amir aghelnejad