Author Archives: skierpage

About skierpage

As you might guess, my site is mine. My Schema.org info is at .

eco: the latest on gravity energy storage

Posted on 2022-08-05 by skierpage

A year ago I wrote “eco: energy storage is hard, gravity storage as a game”, using physics and a units calculator to show how hard it is to profitably store energy using gravity. Gravity storage isn’t a scam, but nothing … Continue reading →

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cars: salespeople that don’t sell cars you can’t get

Posted on 2022-08-01 by skierpage

2013 trip to dealer Scene: in front of one Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid out of many that’s close to the spec I want.Me: I’m thinking of ordering this hybrid in a different color. Can I just sit in it?Salesperson: please, yes! … Continue reading →

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music: the Most Unwanted Song endures

Posted on 2022-07-11 by skierpage

Way back in 1977 I read a brief article in Wired magazine about artists Komar & Melamid‘s project to make the most unwanted song (and most wanted song) based on a rigorous consumer preference survey. When I got to “an … Continue reading →

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art: Franz Kline’s best work in years, done by AI

Posted on 2022-07-08 by skierpage

“Painting of a black cat with white markings sitting on a chair” is the best thing Franz Kline has painted in 60 years! Love the coiled energy and the furry tail on the left. This is the best of 9 … Continue reading →

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software: where’s my ARchitect identifier?

Posted on 2022-05-27 by skierpage

One of the oft-touted promises of Google Glass and other Augmented Reality headsets is you’ll look at something and the headset will indicate or say what it is. Meanwhile in the real world, a friend posts great cityscape photographs and … Continue reading →

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music: tracing samples and beats

Posted on 2022-05-25 by skierpage

I knew the Beastie Boy’s Paul’s Boutique is the apotheosis of sampling; now https://www.whosampled.com/Beastie-Boys/B-Boy-Bouillabaisse/samples/ lays out all 26 samples. You can also explore J Dilla’s dense samples on the site. It still feels strange to me that artists hear a … Continue reading →

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music: a return for Spinal Tap!

Posted on 2022-05-20 by skierpage

zOMG there will be a sequel to This is Spinal Tap. After 38 years, it can only be even sadder than the band’s first tour film; the original was another product of 1984, the high point of Western civilization. This … Continue reading →

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cars: Mercedes EQS is another big blob EV

Posted on 2022-05-13 by skierpage

First Mercedes EQS spotted! I joined in online making fun of its front clip that looks like a Honda Civic, but in the flesh it’s quite nice. Like the Lucid Air (I haven’t seen one of those yet), it’s a … Continue reading →

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art: market is flash stuff on the wall

Posted on 2022-05-08 by skierpage

For $0 I’m glad I went, but https://artmarketsf.com/ was overwhelming to the point of underwhelming. Some nice Wayne Thiebaud prints, someone painting Diebenkorn “Ocean Park”-like landscapes side-on, …? All blur together. (And no Deborah Butterfield horse sculpture from Gallery Paule … Continue reading →

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web: LiveJournal was taken over by Russians !?!!

Posted on 2022-05-04 by skierpage

I tried to login to eBay for the first time in years, without success; it didn’t recognize my username or e-mail. https://monitor.firefox.com/ doesn’t think I was part of an eBay password breach, but it did report I was a victim … Continue reading →

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