TRANSMISSIONS FROM TOMORROW
July 16, 2011 8:23 AM Subscribe
Five minutes into the future - a blog where Astro Zombie posts things he finds that appear to come from the not-so-distant future. Check out New Tombstones Adorable Cars Modular Toasters Augmented Reality Shopping and Smart Lamposts [via mefi projects]
Where do some people find the time to be so interesting?
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:36 AM on July 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 8:36 AM on July 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
The future isn't what it used to be.
posted by charlie don't surf at 8:40 AM on July 16, 2011
posted by charlie don't surf at 8:40 AM on July 16, 2011
I came here to make a Twenty Minutes into the future joke, but I didn't have enough headroom to compose the whole joke.
In all seriousness, interesting blog, I'm adding it to my Google Reader shortly.
posted by deezil at 8:41 AM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
In all seriousness, interesting blog, I'm adding it to my Google Reader shortly.
posted by deezil at 8:41 AM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
I so wanna make those pixel guns. You could make anything pixelated... Guns, swords, fireballs
posted by ShawnString at 8:42 AM on July 16, 2011
posted by ShawnString at 8:42 AM on July 16, 2011
I really like this, really well done.
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:03 AM on July 16, 2011
posted by Slarty Bartfast at 9:03 AM on July 16, 2011
“Gladvertising n. Outdoor advertising that uses cameras and facial-recognition software to read a consumer’s mood, then pushes products relevant to the target’s emotional state. The term was coined by the UK’s Centre for Future Studies, which predicts that flatscreen gladverts will begin to appear next year.”
Huh. And if your default emotional state whenever you're in public is "profound revulsion at advertising"? What then? 'Cuz Adbusters doesn't advertise, right? So will the cameras explode? Please say the cameras will explode.
posted by AugieAugustus at 9:04 AM on July 16, 2011
Huh. And if your default emotional state whenever you're in public is "profound revulsion at advertising"? What then? 'Cuz Adbusters doesn't advertise, right? So will the cameras explode? Please say the cameras will explode.
posted by AugieAugustus at 9:04 AM on July 16, 2011
"Huh. And if your default emotional state whenever you're in public is "profound revulsion at advertising"? What then?"
Then you will get pharmaceutical advertising.
posted by ian1977 at 9:36 AM on July 16, 2011
Then you will get pharmaceutical advertising.
posted by ian1977 at 9:36 AM on July 16, 2011
Then you will get pharmaceutical advertising.
I was thinking ads for "gritty, dark, suspenseful, fight the system" movies playing in nearby theaters you've never heard of or noticed, which are totally NOT fronts for re-education centers.
posted by perspicio at 9:43 AM on July 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
I was thinking ads for "gritty, dark, suspenseful, fight the system" movies playing in nearby theaters you've never heard of or noticed, which are totally NOT fronts for re-education centers.
posted by perspicio at 9:43 AM on July 16, 2011 [3 favorites]
Nothing is truly from the future unless it has a Pan-Am logo on it.
posted by ewan at 10:27 AM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ewan at 10:27 AM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
> “Gladvertising n. ... advertising that uses cameras and facial-recognition"
Next up, Googladvertising.
Crossed with Clippy, probably.
"You seem to be trying to Google
But your monitor's camera isn't turned on.
If we can't see you, we can't help you search.
To fix this problem ...."
posted by hank at 10:41 AM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Next up, Googladvertising.
Crossed with Clippy, probably.
"You seem to be trying to Google
But your monitor's camera isn't turned on.
If we can't see you, we can't help you search.
To fix this problem ...."
posted by hank at 10:41 AM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
It went down like a damp saucer of pixellated poo when I posted it here the other week, but if you enjoy this you might like The New Aesthetic - the starting point is a bit different, but the end result is very similar (pictures and videos of really cool gubbins from the present-future).
posted by jack_mo at 11:36 AM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by jack_mo at 11:36 AM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
The ratio of comments favorited by Astro Zombie to those comments of his favorited by others is askew. It must be terribly difficult for the rest of us to impress him.
posted by secondhand pho at 1:06 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by secondhand pho at 1:06 PM on July 16, 2011
I wonder if the modular toaster of the future has solved the apparently unsolvable issue facing today 's toaster technology: unburned toast.
posted by silkyd at 2:19 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by silkyd at 2:19 PM on July 16, 2011
I see no Kiss Kaskets, which I believe will be standard in the future.
It must be terribly difficult for the rest of us to impress him.
Let's not whip out sausages here. He's put out some good and funny stuff.
It'd be worth your while to read some of it.
posted by Smedleyman at 3:10 PM on July 16, 2011
It must be terribly difficult for the rest of us to impress him.
Let's not whip out sausages here. He's put out some good and funny stuff.
It'd be worth your while to read some of it.
posted by Smedleyman at 3:10 PM on July 16, 2011
It must be terribly difficult for the rest of us to impress him.
On the contrary, it's too easy, and my favorites would overload the system.
posted by Astro Zombie at 3:34 PM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
On the contrary, it's too easy, and my favorites would overload the system.
posted by Astro Zombie at 3:34 PM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
This is much too cool for its own good. Five stars! Thanks for a great post.
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 3:50 PM on July 16, 2011
posted by Seekerofsplendor at 3:50 PM on July 16, 2011
Love the modular toaster.
I have these "Holy crap, I'm living in the future" moments every now and then, as I'm sure most of us do--and I'm only 22! The most recent was Spotify (it just came to the US a few days ago, so it's new to me). Having a gigantic music collection readily available anywhere I go for a few bucks a month is amazing to me.
posted by DMan at 3:54 PM on July 16, 2011
I have these "Holy crap, I'm living in the future" moments every now and then, as I'm sure most of us do--and I'm only 22! The most recent was Spotify (it just came to the US a few days ago, so it's new to me). Having a gigantic music collection readily available anywhere I go for a few bucks a month is amazing to me.
posted by DMan at 3:54 PM on July 16, 2011
This is cool. I'm especially liking the housing entries. Though… manually-inflated air mattresses are futuristic now? Am I missing something?
I'd kind of like if design wankery were visually set off from things that might possibly be made— I mean, I like the wankery too, but that car has sub-Popular Mechanics plausibility.
posted by hattifattener at 4:37 PM on July 16, 2011
I'd kind of like if design wankery were visually set off from things that might possibly be made— I mean, I like the wankery too, but that car has sub-Popular Mechanics plausibility.
posted by hattifattener at 4:37 PM on July 16, 2011
Let's not whip out sausages here. He's put out some good and funny stuff.
I'm sorry, please direct me to the part where I insulted the quality of his posts. I was clearly referring to his apparent lack of recognition of the rest of the community.
posted by secondhand pho at 6:39 PM on July 16, 2011
I'm sorry, please direct me to the part where I insulted the quality of his posts. I was clearly referring to his apparent lack of recognition of the rest of the community.
posted by secondhand pho at 6:39 PM on July 16, 2011
We have a special arrangement with astro z where if he likes our posts he won't crack open our brain boxes with a tack hammer and feast on the lovely gray gobbets inside. It's mentioned in the wiki somewhere.
posted by Divine_Wino at 7:03 PM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Divine_Wino at 7:03 PM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
y'know, secondhand pho is right. where are my favorites, AZ? WHERE ARE MY FAVORITES?
posted by russm at 8:40 PM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by russm at 8:40 PM on July 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
and now, the monetization!
FOR SALE: 1 *GENUINE* Astro Zombie favorite. Issued as #99 of a strictly limited edition, this favorite is offered by the original recipient with authenticity certified by MetaFilter Network Inc.
genuine offers only, contact russm@MeMail
posted by russm at 6:16 PM on July 17, 2011
FOR SALE: 1 *GENUINE* Astro Zombie favorite. Issued as #99 of a strictly limited edition, this favorite is offered by the original recipient with authenticity certified by MetaFilter Network Inc.
genuine offers only, contact russm@MeMail
posted by russm at 6:16 PM on July 17, 2011
I was clearly referring to his apparent lack of recognition of the rest of the community.
Yes, but who gives a shit?
posted by Smedleyman at 11:46 AM on July 18, 2011
Yes, but who gives a shit?
posted by Smedleyman at 11:46 AM on July 18, 2011
The "williamgibsonmadlibs" tag needs more play.
Begin here.
posted by charred husk at 11:56 AM on July 18, 2011
Begin here.
posted by charred husk at 11:56 AM on July 18, 2011
And I would say the quality of his posts IS recognition of the rest of the community.
WTF is a favorite worth?
Post good stuff. Write interesting things and devote time and effort into reading others' work and responding intelligently.
But don't put down a tick mark you can do with a mouse click and fuck you?
You can tell who contributes and values and adds value to the community and who doesn't.
I don't think AZ has ever favorited anything I've posted or said (although I haven't really checked). But we've dialogued.
That was valuable.
Favorites? Nice but, meh.
And how is he going to return 1000 or 500 - odd checkmarks on one comment or post? It'd take him months to up his ratio. And then - what meaning do favorites have at all?
If it was a tongue in cheek comment on how many favorites hes gotten over how many he's given, ok.
And I'd cut you slack if it were aimed at, say, me because I'm a real ballbreaker sometimes in commenting (and I don't mean that it a good way) and I haven't posted in a while (on the other hand - some people a damn sight better than I am at it, bit intimidating). Or someone else who's as drag-ass as I am.
But lack of recognition of the community? No, he posts for real. He reads. He thinks. He's genuine and he contributes genuinely.
Hell, he's one of a double handful of names that come to mind when I think of Metafilter. He's beyond wearing the t-shirt, he should get a tattoo.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:17 PM on July 18, 2011
WTF is a favorite worth?
Post good stuff. Write interesting things and devote time and effort into reading others' work and responding intelligently.
But don't put down a tick mark you can do with a mouse click and fuck you?
You can tell who contributes and values and adds value to the community and who doesn't.
I don't think AZ has ever favorited anything I've posted or said (although I haven't really checked). But we've dialogued.
That was valuable.
Favorites? Nice but, meh.
And how is he going to return 1000 or 500 - odd checkmarks on one comment or post? It'd take him months to up his ratio. And then - what meaning do favorites have at all?
If it was a tongue in cheek comment on how many favorites hes gotten over how many he's given, ok.
And I'd cut you slack if it were aimed at, say, me because I'm a real ballbreaker sometimes in commenting (and I don't mean that it a good way) and I haven't posted in a while (on the other hand - some people a damn sight better than I am at it, bit intimidating). Or someone else who's as drag-ass as I am.
But lack of recognition of the community? No, he posts for real. He reads. He thinks. He's genuine and he contributes genuinely.
Hell, he's one of a double handful of names that come to mind when I think of Metafilter. He's beyond wearing the t-shirt, he should get a tattoo.
posted by Smedleyman at 12:17 PM on July 18, 2011
Mod note: Please give the favorites discussion a rest or take it to you-know-where. Thank you.
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:33 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by cortex (staff) at 6:33 PM on July 18, 2011 [1 favorite]
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posted by Astro Zombie at 8:32 AM on July 16, 2011