I’m a big fan of open-source: I use an open-source OS, MP3 server and edit this website using and open-source blogging tool. This is a first for me though: an open source recipe for cola called, you guessed it, OpenCola. Here’s what they say:

While Pepsi and Coca-Cola (and others) closely guard their secrets to making cola beverages, several organizations have released their own recipes. Here is the recipe for homemade “OpenCola,” an open-source cola beverage that invites makers to create and modify their recipe to achieve a better beverage. It is licensed under the GNU General Public License.

I love the way it is under GNU GPL and notice on the same page are links to other open-source beverages such as cherry-cola and ginger ale.

We went to a fancy dress party a couple of weeks ago and I went as Gene Simmons from KISS. When I mentioned to Paula’s Mum that I was going dressed as Gene Simmons I got a very puzzled look. She was thinking of Jean Simmons who looks like this:

… rather than Gene Simmons who looks like this:

Anyway, here’s my version makeup courtesy of Paula.

Just found this great instructables post showing how to mod an old Nintendo NES into a fully working games emulator. He has it emulating the following consoles:

• NES
• Super NES
• Sega Mega Drive / Genesis
• Sega Master System
• MAME (Arcade)
• Game Boy (Color)
• Game Boy Advance
• Sega Game Gear
• Turbo-Grafx 16 / PC-Engine
• Sony Playstation (games run from CD drive)
• Nintendo 64

Back in the distant past (well the 80’s) I had an Atari 2600. I loved my Atari 2600. I was lucky to have an Atari 2600. The problem was I didn’t have any money to buy games. I remember convincing my Mum to let me buy Yars Revenge from her Kays catalogue at 20p a week for about 15 years. She said “Yes”. It was rubbish. About the same time, I really REALLY wanted to buy ET the Game, but as I had already committed my pocket money to the repayments for Yars Revenge I couldn’t and didn’t get it. Looks like I escaped lightly as guardiane’s YouTube movie points out. Looks like video games with movie tie-ins have always been a bit dodgy.

There is a lot of buzz about Doctor Who at the moment as to who Mister Saxon is. We know he is to be played by John Simm, and has been name-dropped more times than Tom Jones name-drops Elvis. Mister Saxon is an anagram of “Master No Six”, so is he the Master? (there is debate as to whether there have or haven’t been five previous Masters) Several Vote Saxon sites have popped up, and you can even buy Vote Saxon tshirts. Is this the worst kept secret since the cybermen? We will soon see (assuming there is no further disruption by footy and song contests).

Remember the whole Kreed Kafer debacle? Well, chiefsluke has worked out the odds of it being chance, and created the following movie.

Have you ever fancied modding your toaster to make Pacman or Space Invader decorated toast? Yes? Then take a look at this instructables tutorial and it will show you how to fix stainless steel 1980’s iconography to the grill plates of your regular toaster. Pop in some regular bread, press the button, and end up with the hippest toast on the planet. Wacca-wacca-wacca…

I’ve noticed a lot more chatter about Derren from “over the pond” recently, as it appears the Americans are starting to notice him. needcoffee.com has published “7 Safety Tips For Dealing With Derren Brown” that made me laugh. The article has justification for each tip, but in summary they are:

• Don’t deal with Derren Brown.
• Don’t go to the United Kingdom.
• If you suddenly find yourself in the UK, and Derren approaches, don’t look at him.
• If you cannot escape him, do not let him touch you.
• If he manages to touch you, At least keep him from taking hold of your wrist.
• If he manages to take hold of your wrist, for the love of baby Jesus don’t let him put your hand over your face.
• Even if he doesn’t touch you, don’t let him not touch you either.

Billy has just received this autograph from David Tennant courtesy of Molly’s Granny and he’s over the moon. The BBC filmed a couple of episodes of the current Doctor Who series at their family house Treberfydd and they took the trouble to ask for an autograph for Billy. Billy can’t thank you enough Rosanne and Roger.

Following my previous post about ambigrams I stumbled upon ambigram.matic, a site that generates ambigrams from two words. I think it did a reasonable job with Annie and Billy: