Volcanic Commuters
What to do when no one seems to notice you, you’re broke, and without transport? A question stupefying thousands of unemployed college students daily — solved by our favorite microscopic brethren, who simply hitch-a-lift amongst the ash & molten rock spewed forth by occasional volcanic eruption. While the scheduling may be a bit erratic, and the company slightly caustic, it’s hard to scoff at the savings.
Recent research by the Geological Society of America and American Society for Microbiology (splendidly summarized by Ars Technica) gave measure to vast numbers of spend-thrift floaters populating volcanic plumes in order to travel huge distances. It would appear that the massive conveyance of aeroplankton by volcano may also contribute to unusual weather patterns and the propagation of bacteria and archaea into new areas.
Once again, the oft-overlooked or seemingly insignificant would seem to play a significant role in this drama to which we are part.
Copy to Clipboard using jQuery & zClip
For a recent project I needed to copy the HTML content of a chosen element to the client’s clipboard upon request; making it possible for the user to easily transfer large sections of HTML between applications. Borrowing an awesome little jQuery & Flash (jQuery ZeroClipboard) snippit from SteamDev, I was able to quickly create a toolbar of links which would copy the HTML content of an element with a matching CSS class:
Requirements
- zClip jQuery Library
- ZeroClipboard Invisible Flash Movie
- A spattering of HTML, CSS & JavaScript
- A compatible browser with JavaScript & Flash support
The HTML/CSS
Links contained in the #copylinks div will have the zClip function applied to them. Each link should be given an #id matching the .class of it’s associated element/content.
<div id="copylinks"><a id="title"></a>Title |
<a id="desc"></a>Description</div>
<h1 class="title">An Epic Title</h1>
<div class="desc">
HTML content of <strong>sufficient worth</strong> to warrant duplication via the system <em>clipboard</em>
</div>The JavaScript/jQuery
Include the zClip library then loop through the links in the #copylinks div applying the zclip() function to each by their #id. Upon click the element with matching #div is copied to the client’s clipboard (with notice).
<script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery.zclip.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript"><br />
(function($) {<br />
$('#copylinks a').each(function(){<br />
objId = $(this).attr('id');<br />
$('a#'+objId).zclip({<br />
path: 'js/ZeroClipboard.swf',<br />
copy: $('.'+objId).html()<br />
});<br />
});<br />
})(jQuery);<br />
</script>The Pity Partygoer’s Playlist
Have fresh wounds you’d like to rub some salt & soda into? Wishing the heart plug in your aching cavity was just a little easier to reach? Looking for some insulin therapy after a gluttony of gaiety?… If so, let the wallowing commence via this venture into self-loathing and mindless contempt for all adjectives with excessive use of consonants (ie: bubbly, fluffy, funny…). Roll out a rug of rusty nails and flail about with me as we flagellate our way through the Pity Partygoer’s Playlist.
Note: This list is entirely objective and subject to personal taste, influence (suggestions welcome), addition, rearrangement and revision without notice; so visit often or subscribe for the latest.
Easing into the Salty Puddle
- Somebody That I Used to Know – Gotye & Kimbra
- Someone Like You – Adele
- Wish You Were Here – Pink Floyd
- And So it Goes – Billy Joel
- High Hopes – Pink Floyd
- Whiskey Lullaby – Brad Paisley
- Mr. Cellophane – John C. Reilly (Chicago)
- Hate Me – Blue October
- Goodbye My Lover – James Blunt
- Lightning Crashes – Live
- Black – Danger Mouse & Norah Jones
- Good Kisser – Lake Street Dive
Mucking about the Swamps of Sadness
- Without You – Harry Nilsson
- Mad World – Michael Andrews
- Have to Drive – Amanda Palmer
- Ne Me Quitte Pas – Nina Simone
- How to Disappear Completely – Radiohead
- My Immortal – Evanescence
- Drown in My Own Tears – Ray Charles
- When You’re Gone – Dolores O’Riordan
- Objects in the Rear View Mirror… – Meat Loaf
- Sail – Awolnation
- Sally’s Song – Fiona Apple
- When I’m Gone – Joey + Rory
Minor-keyed Razorblades
- Hurt – Johnny Cash
- Exit Music (For a Film) – Radiohead
- Elizabeth on the Bathroom Floor – The Eels
- Strange Fruit – Nina Simone
- The End – The Doors
- Breathe Me – Sia
*explicit
Party Rules
Every party has rules and the pity party is no exception. While these rules are typically assumed and unspoken the following attempt to highlight a few of these rules has been made for clarity’s sake:
- The focus must be on suffering, misery, and despair (preferably yours) – No pity party is complete without total self-absorption to the point wanton complacency.
- – .
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