Exasperated Calculator

Exasperated Calculator: Star Trek & Economics

  • Political Advertising

    [The story of the most famous political advert of all time](http://www.conelrad.com/daisy/index.php). The “Daisy” advert only ever ran once as an advert. But it’s been probably been shown more often than any other political advert ever.

  • Video Game failures

    [The 10 biggest flops in video games](http://www.gamepro.com/gamepro/domestic/games/features/133848.shtml). Just wait until *Spore* comes out, I’m sure it’ll make it to this list.

  • Explaining Economists

    [Why economists use maths](http://rodrik.typepad.com/dani_rodriks_weblog/2007/09/why-we-use-math.html). Cold comfort for those awaiting their results from ANU, of course.

  • Customised bookcase

    [Two bookcases designed for people who prefer design to actually storing books](http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/11/21/magnetique-adjustabl.html). Very pretty. But I have to admit a preference for the bookcases that store thousands of books rather than look pretty.

  • Solving problems that do not exist

    [A flat-pack wooden mallet](http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/11/23/flatpack-wooden-mall.html). Very clever. But very expensive, and without any kind of practical use whatsoever.

  • Worst. Castle. Ever.

    [15 Castles built by people who didn’t know what they were doing](http://curiousexpeditions.org/?p=91). Jim Bishop’s castle in particular is quite cool.

  • The textbook for the next 3 years?

    [101 Outer Space Projects for the Evil Genius](http://www.thinkgeek.com/books/nonfiction/9e72/). Some very handy tips for lair construction.

  • Election07: Penultimate Edition

    *Announcements*: Nothing much. The ALP has [final costings for all policies](http://alp.org.au/media/1107/msfintre230.php) and [$10 million for Tassie Devils](http://alp.org.au/media/1107/msloo230.php). Nil return for the Coalition. *Polls*: It’s poll-a-palooza today. [Newspoll](http://www.smh.com.au/news/federal-election-2007-news/rudd-will-win-new-poll/2007/11/23/1195753279860.html?s_cid=rss_news) ALP 52, [Galaxy](http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,22806538-5001021,00.html) ALP 52, [Morgan phone](http://www.pollbludger.com/747) ALP 54.5, [AC Nielsen phone](http://possumcomitatus.wordpress.com/2007/11/23/the-polls-before-e-day/) ALP 57, [AC Nielsen online](http://possumcomitatus.wordpress.com/2007/11/23/the-polls-before-e-day/) ALP 57. Someone’s going to look pretty dumb in about 24…

  • Pocket sized calendar

    [Some pocket calendars without small fonts](http://elzr.com/posts/infodesign-challenge) Some very clever designs, although some of them are so cryptic as to be effectively useless as a quick guide.

  • Handyman gadgets are out of control

    [A pen that measures and announces distance](http://gadgets.boingboing.net/2007/08/29/crayola-total-tools.html). This does not seem the kind of thing that a real tradesperson would use.