Pixel count vs. pixel size Mar 10, 2009
When it comes to digital cameras, everyone's always talking about megapixels.  In an attempt to summarize several links about this topic, here's the main idea:  Pixel count (i.e. the number of megapixels) in a digital camera doesn't matter as much as pixel size.  And in some cases, more megapixels means worse quality pictures.  I've read that five or six megapixels is really all most people need, even for printouts and enlargements.  The only time it would be beneficial to have more than that is if you tend to edit your pictures by cropping or cutting out and magnifying a certain part.  So if you take a picture of the entire Manhattan skyline and only want to print out the section with the Empire State Building, it might be good to have lots of megapixels.  But again, just because your camera says "15 megapixels" on the front, doesn't mean it'll take a better picture than the guy standing next to you with the 5-megapixel dSLR. 

Pixel size is what really matters, and I'll attempt to illustrate this with a picture. 
[Image: imagesensors.png]
These are examples of image sensors.  The image sensor is what actually records a digital version of what is physically visible.  The one on the left is what's typically found in handheld point-and-shoot cameras.  The one on the right is what's typically found in dSLR cameras.  Both image sensors have the same number of pixels, but it's easy to see that the larger sensor has larger pixels.  Larger pixels mean better color depth and better light capturing.  This doesn't mean you can't take a great picture with a small camera.  It just means that pixel count isn't the only way to compare two cameras.  There's also the issue of pixel quality, i.e. image sensors made by Company A are better than those made by Company B, but that's a whole different animal. #entertainment
Lunatic ninja (1) Mar 10, 2009
An Australian man, upon being awoken by an intruder breaking through a window and jumping on his bed, had this to say:  "My initial thought when I was half awake was, 'It's a lunatic ninja coming through the window.'"  He was later relieved to discover it was merely a kangaroo, which had to be wrestled outside in a state of confusion and panic. 

The reason I'm posting this is because the only reason someone would say something like that is so that people like me would link to his story on the internet.  So there you go, sir. #nature
Dead car battery Mar 10, 2009
The battery that enabled my car to start these past four and half years decided to die last Friday.  I personally don't blame him; car batteries are only supposed to last for two or three years, so his life was longer than expected and his work greatly appreciated.  My one complaint, however, is the way in which I was notified of his death:  My car didn't start, and a light on my dashboard alerted me to the fact that my battery had likely died.  Perhaps it's just me, but I'd much rather be notified before my battery dies than after, and I'm quite positive this would be possible with a little voltmeter circuit that simply suggested replacing your battery when the current battery's voltage dropped below a certain value.  This isn't rocket surgery. #travel