Hacking Pepsi Machines

How to hack Pepsi machines

Too freaking cool. i-Hacked.com has an article showing you how to hack into a Pepsi machine and view the Diagnostics and Sales data for that machine. While it would be cool to get free drinks, that is also kind of messed up to get free stuff at the expense of breaking the law (momma raised me right).

You would think that something like this would be difficult, but it is surprisingly easy with just the push of four big buttons. Now I just need to find me one of these machines.

The Evolution of RSS

http://blogs.feedburner.com/feedburner/archives/001518.html

By Richard McKinnon from feedburner blog

RSS and Blogs

Back in October of 2003, when we first started building FeedBurner with hammer and chisel, RSS was, for many people, synonymous with blogs. Now that it’s almost 2006, RSS is, for many people, synonymous with blogs. We still see quotes in major media that conflate blogs and RSS as if they were inextricably bound together. A, therefore B. Blogs, therefore RSS. In early 2003, it was probably accurate to say that almost all blogs had feeds and almost all feeds were derived from a blog. Today, however, while almost all blogs still have feeds, there are innumerable feeds that are unrelated to blogs. Commercial publishers have embraced feeds wholeheartedly; most web services and many search engines now provide subscribed results; and podcasts and videocasts are entirely feed-based while not necessarily tied to blogs.

Why is this important? Our customers are publishers of all shapes and sizes. We will be successful if we provide services to our customers that best leverage the power of the feed in the broadest possible way. By understanding this emerging world of feed ubiquity, we can provide the most powerful suite of tools to all of our publishers. As we have grown to achieve critical mass with bloggers, podcasters, and now commercial publishers, we are also in the unique position to deliver tools that help each of our three customer types benefit from the combined market authority of the others. Everybody wins.

Start with the Benefits

Feeds provide three critical benefits to any digital media:

1. A notification mechanism for updates to a specific channel of content
2. The ability to subscribe to content, creating a persistent link between publisher and subscriber
3. A semi-structured version of the content

Some of these benefits are provided by the feed itself, and some are a function of the software built to take advantage of feeds (e.g. aggregators).

The first benefit, a notification mechanism for content updates, was an early driver of RSS adoption by visitors to tens or hundreds of blogs. Instead of checking which hundred had been updated each morning, consumers could simply subscribe once to the feeds that interest them most and go to their aggregator to see when updates had been made. Notification via feed delivery has helped drive subscriber adoption.

As RSS and Atom feeds have been adopted outside the blogosphere, the second benefit of feeds has become a powerful driver of adoption on the publisher side of the equation by establishing and strengthening the bond between subscribers and publishers. Many months ago, we were speaking with a commercial publisher and one of the people in the room asked, “Why should we distribute our content via RSS if we have no idea how we’re going to monetize it?” Another person from the same organization answered, “Would you rather have visitors or subscribers?” We love a rhetorical Socratic dialogue just as much as the next person, so we’ve adopted this response as FeedBurner’s theme: Publishers value subscribers. Services that promote, facilitate and measure subscription are important. This is FeedBurner.

The third benefit that feeds offer is structure. Today, feeds are largely considered the output of content management systems. You create an article, an Atom/RSS version of that article gets generated, and that’s it. Visitors to the site see an html view of the content, and subscribers to the feed get some rendering of the same content (derived from the feed) in their aggregator. There is no feedback loop to the site from the feed.

Leverage the Structure as Input

Since the feed data is semi-structured, it is possible to enhance the feed with 3rd party services in a generalized way. Meta-data can be readily incorporated and other content can be spliced into the feed based on easily parsed feed elements. To illustrate this point, FeedBurner has been providing a number of basic feed enhancement services like meta-data additions (Media RSS, iTunes tags) and content splicing (links and photos) for some time now. But why should these enhancements only apply to the feed?

We can leverage the benefits of feed structure to allow publishers to provide a feedback loop to the Web site; the feed can become input to content on the site. There are unique capabilities that can be provided to the site as a function of performing transformations and enhancements to the feed derived from that web content. FeedBurner will be making several announcements throughout the winter regarding a thoroughly open approach to leveraging the structure of the feed in order to add activity and meta-data feedback to the site.

A Focus on the Item

Another trend we believe will emerge is an increased focus on the item. Today, commercial publishers sometimes find themselves deciding how atomic to make their feeds. Should they distribute twenty feeds, each general and well subscribed, or should they distribute thousands of feeds, each very specific, atomic and targeted? Some publishers even provide forms that drive the creation of individually assembled feeds.

We believe these choices will prove artificial in the long run, and since feeds are now widely searched, shared, and passed around from one person to the next via web-based aggregators or opml reading lists, it’s probably wise today to distribute a more limited collection of broadly subscribed feeds. We believe the choices surrounding feed focus are artificial because ultimately, it is the atomic unit of measure in the feed — the item — that is the most important and requires significant attention.

Items are already pulled from feeds today in a variety of both publisher-friendly and publisher-annoying ways. Blog search, of course, pulls items from disparate feeds in order to deliver specific search engine results. Since the results themselves may be subscribed, we quickly see items from one feed hopping into another mixed feed in a way nobody would find contentious. Blog spam, to visit the other end of spectrum, also sees tools that take advantage of the simple structure in RSS/Atom feeds to enable hucksters to rip, mix, and ring the cash register by creating blogs that are seeded with content that will attract high cost-per-click ads to sit alongside the content. The blog spammer thus monetizes the item without involving the publisher, and perhaps more annoying, the original content is made to seem the property of another.

There are a host of item level uses by third parties, however, that sit somewhere in the foggy continuum between search and blog spam, with publishers battling what appears to us an impossibly spiraling game of identifying good guys and bad guys based on the apparent intentions of the service or party repurposing the content. Tech Memeorandum? We’ll put that in the good pile — very useful service, nice to see our content next to other reputable sources, doesn’t seem to be monetizing at the publisher’s expense (e.g., publishers are fully credited, linked, etc.). Some random person using a third party RSS splicing service to add your feed to their feed? Hmmm, the intention is less clear. Why is my content being blended into somebody else’s feed without my knowledge? Subscribers to that feed are once removed from me by a party I don’t know and who may not be reputable; should I care?

The Opportunity

If we manage syndicated content at a more atomic level by attaching “threads” to the item, we can provide tools to publishers that enable not just the tracking of the thread, but also use the thread as a communications line between the world of web services and the content item. We can essentially staple rules, patterns, and meta-data to the content in a live and “always on” way, wherever the content goes. Of course there will be nefarious entities (aka evildoers, spammers, and bad guys) that will “snip” the threads in order to hide their repurposing and use. So be it. The act of snipping removes any doubt about the bad guy’s intentions, and the publisher’s spiraling guesswork in determining good from bad repurposing is eliminated. Further, by inserting complexity into the equation for the spammer while not increasing the friction of any other reuse transaction, the spammer’s “zero marginal cost” business becomes more difficult at nobody’s expense (contrast this to email spam fighting techniques in which making the spammer’s life more difficult makes everybody else’s life more difficult too).

By following the atomic unit of content around as it’s ripped, mixed, and republished, the content is afforded the widest variety of distribution paths to reach the largest possible audience, which in turn creates the greatest opportunity for monetization.

We would be remiss if we didn’t note that we have not even touched on the importance of brand in this section, and there are obviously publishers who want their highly paid international reporter’s mideast analysis appearing in a single subscribed feed next to their other highly commissioned content and not on a 3rd party aggregate site between “shmucky’s musings” and “Sprouts for the holidays: A vegan’s political journey,” all under blinking affiliate banners. We understand there is a continuum of content use issues to match the continuum of re-use intentions. Still, by managing the publisher’s intentions about fair use at the atomic level, and by providing these threads for an open communication channel with the content’s origin, a significant number of complexities and concerns start to look more like opportunities.

Unparalleled

There is much more to say about our thoughts and plans regarding the power of the feed, which is why “Feed for Thought” will be a series of reports as opposed to just one report. By leveraging more of the benefits of RSS, we can provide unparalleled distribution for a host of 3rd party web services, while also providing publishers with an unparalleled means of enhancing the content reading/listening/watching experience. We seldom get to use “unparalleled” twice in one sentence. When we do, we like to pause and reflect on our passion for overstatement and hyperbole, and that’s as good a place to wrap this up as any.

How-To: Automatically download and convert TV for your iPod

http://www.hackaday.com/2005/10/19/how-to-automatically-download-and-convert-tv-for-your-ipod/

My Favorite Windows Freewares

Will be updating regularly. Also others please comment about your favorite free utilities.
This is a collection of URLs to what I feel is among the best of free software for Windows . I greatly prefer portable programs(as they are more secure and easy to handle), but even many programs that write to the Registry can emulate portability.
Notations used:
"[F]" : installation-free programs
"[NI]": (un-ZIP/RAR and go)
"[nR]": programs that don't write to the Registry

Web Links
other freeware users' favorites
xtort • Kikizas.net • other frequenters of alt.comp.freeware

Portable Application resources

PortableApps.com (checkout all the IM s/w there)• Kikizas.net: USB Applications • The Portable Freeware Collection • "Windows-Tools on CD-ROM (or USB stick)"

General listings/Collections
xtort.net • Open Source Windows • I Want a Freeware Utility To ... • Shell Extension City • FileForum • freshmeat • Old Version • Browser Archive • TinyApps.org • UNDER1MB Freeware • Pricelessware Home

Noted authors' software
Sysinternals • Undefined • Mouser Soft • Dominextrix Team • NirSoft • PESoft • VCL

Usenet Newsgroups
alt.comp.freeware • alt.binaries.freeware

Windows-related Tools

File managers

xplorer² Lite [F] is wildly powerful (but no Unicode support)
A43 [P] isn't as powerful but is totally portable

Registry

CCleaner [F] "is a freeware system optimization and privacy tool"
Regmon [R] shows all current Registry accesses in real-time
Erunt backs up and restores your entire Registry with great ease
NTRegOpt optimizes all of your Registry hives
EasyCleaner and RegSeeker both perform various Registry maintenance functions
RegReplace can find and optionally replace strings throughout your Registry
Also Free Registry Cleaner on Downloads.com is my favorite

System Tweaks and Accessories

ChangeExt can a file's information (useful for copying files' paths)
DM2 [F][NI][nR] offers Save/Open dialog folder shortcuts, opacity options, any much more
Fast Explorer and Mmm can modify and customize your Explorer right-click context menus
Matrix Screen Locker lets you lock your desktop with a single click on the system tray icon
ShellExView displays the shell extensions installed on your computer and let's you disable them
[launcher] TrayBar [F][NI] is a portable, System Tray–based program launcher (ideal for portable hard drives)
[services] SrvAdmin is an advanced Windows service–controlling application
[tweaking] TweakUI XP [F] and X-Setup Pro [F] access many generally-inaccessible system settings in Windows XP
[uninstallers] Safarp [NI][nR] and MyUninstaller [NI] are lightweight alternatives to the Windows uninstaller
see also: NTSubst, Volumouse, Sound Control
File-handling utilities

[file-recovery] Restoration and Drive Rescue v1.9d recover recently deleted files
[shredding] UltraShredder [NI] securely deletes files and is only about 200 KB
[splitting]HJSplit [NI] is popular for splitting files into equally sized chunks, but I like Splitter [NI] as well
[drive-wiping] Darik's Boot and Nuke, a self-contained boot floppy, securely wipes most hard disks
[monitoring] FileMon monitors file system activity on a system in real-time
[renaming] The Rename Program, Rename Master [NI], and Lupas Rename

Disk-Management

Acronis True Image [$][?] is fully functioning, 30-day trialware and seems to work well
XXCLONE [?] seems to have a good reputation

System Information and Management

[management] XP SysPad provides a ton of system monitoring and management features
[profilers] System Information for Windows [NI], Karen's Computer Profiler [NI], System Spec [NI]
[monitor] Process Explorer [NI] and CurrProcess [NI] display all processes currently running on your system
[recovery]RockXP [NI] retrieves Microsoft product keys, saves your XP activation file, recovers lost XP passwords, and more

Windows customization

ActivIcons will change nearly any icon on your system
DesktopCoral reserves desktop space (or a "docking space"), preventing maximized applications from covering it
Drempels is a "psychotherapeutic screensaver and desktop enhancer" that uses few system resources
Glass2K adjusts the transparency of windows in Windows XP and remembers the settings across sessions
ObjectDock imitates Apple's Mac OS X dock
Y'z Shadow places drop shadows on windows

Visual styles for windows xp

Windows skinning is available for use without software (like StyleXP) by patching your UXTHEME.DLL file

[web sites] DeviantArt, Max Themes, StudioTwentyEight Virtual Plastic, WinCustomize,
[favorite styles] my DeviantArt favorites list, advance4[xp]/3, Aluminum Alloy, Amarach, AMPed, AquaExtreme, BlueMesa, bluuna.vs.one, Borderline, b0se v1 Final, b0zen, Beige Azul, Blue Turquesa, Brushed 3.5 Visual Style, Classix 10k 2.0, Clearlook Redux, ClearLooks Ubuntu Mod (Update), Codename: Opus 3.0, Compact Luna, Crystal SVG, Extensis, FatLuna, Fresco VS, gfxOasis[F], Infini8 Modern Age, KBlueX, Kuantum VS, Major Tempest, Metallic Shades, method II, Olive Verde, Opus Luna, Opus OS, Opus OSX, Panther[F], Panther Perfect, Panther 1.5[F], Panther v.4, PxlPlusM, Prominence Pro, Recurve, Reluna[F], Rhapsodized, Safari, Silver Gris, Sirius, Slush, smooth.gnome.remix.one, Smooth Alternative :VS:, Smooth Stripes 4.1 Visual Style, SmoothStripes Black Panther, Studio28 v3, System 2, System 5, Thallos VS[F], Tiger VS, Tiger 2 VS, Velvet Waves, Vista Inspirat Visual Style, -vs- Method, XPM Classic (RC2)

Fonts
[management] X-Fonter and The Font Thing
[Sources] Creamundo • codeman38 • 趣味のゲームフォント • 1001Fonts.com (Tepid Monkey's fonts)

Security

Virus protection

avast! (avast! External Control) is my one recommendation
AOL free antivirus is the new entry havent tried it yet
AVG Antivirus is my favorite

Firewalls

Kerio Personal Firewall v2.1.5 is a classic that's still excellent but it completely ignores fragmented packets (though there's debate about how dangerous this is). Research recommends using either CHX-I or the Windows Firewall to supplement, though I admit that I don't. (current version)

Spyware

For most people, Spybot Search & Destroy [F] and Ad-Aware SE Personal [F] are necessary and sufficient. But you might also want to examine SpywareBlaster, SpywareGuard, CWShredder [NI], and HijackThis [NI].

Encryption and File Access Management

TrueCrypt [nR][F] creates encrypted file containers or disk partitions and can be run from a USB drive
AxCrypt AES File Encryption encrypts files with AES-128 encryption and decrypts and re-encrypts automatically
Omziff [NI] provides powerful file encryption from your choice of algorithms (and more) in a small standalone .EXE
Hide Files 2.3 (last free version) hides and protects (to an extent) data, but the app is an observable process
Folder Access denies access to specified folders but leaves the locked container visible
Steganos LockNote converts text files into portable, encrypted EXEs (no Unicode yet)

Internet/Networking

Browsers
Firefox Portable [F][nI][nR], based on Firefox, is a full-featured, standards-compliant portable browser
extension sources: The Extensions Mirror (UMO list) and Mozdev Extension Room
selected extensions: Adblock [add-ons: Adblock Filterset.G Updater, filters], Configuration Mania, Download Manager Tweak, downTHEMall!, EditCSS, FlashGot, Flat Bookmark Editing, Gmail Manager, Linkification, Long Titles, Magpie, Menu Editor, Nuke Anything Enhanced, Openbook, ResizeSearchBox, Show Image, Stylish, Super DragAndGo, Tab Mix Plus, Translation Panel
selected themes: Ashen for Firefox 0.9, LittleMozilla, MicroMozilla, Plastikfox Crystal SVG, Qute, Safari for Firefox 0.9
OperaUSB is a portable Opera package, but I've barely used Opera, so I can't say too much
Maxthon (formerly MyIE2) is a very powerful Internet Explorer shell—recommended if you use Internet Explorer

E-mail

For now, I'm using Gmail's web interface as my primary e-mail application because Pegasus Mail had trouble with Unicode (I need to type in Japanese) and Thunderbird, I feel, still needs more development. Still, both applications are quite fine, especially Pegasus Mail. I never thought I'd ever use a webmail service like this, but Gmail is both convenient and the best webmail service I've seen

Pegasus Mail [F] is a longtime favorite with powerful features aplenty, but no solid Unicode support yet
Thunderbird Portable [F][nI][nR], based on Thunderbird, is a full-featured portable e-mail client
extension sources: The Extensions Mirror (UMO list) and Mozdev Extension Room
selected extensions: autorewrap, ChromEdit, Contacts Add BCC button, Display mailing list header, InfoLister, Mail Redirect, Menu Editor, Minimize to Tray, MoreButtonPlus, savemultiple, Shift-Delete Controller, Slim Extension List, TB Attachment Tools, TB Header Tools Extension
i.Scribe is a small, crossplatform, single-account client with calendar—simple and small

USENET

see Usenet Help if you're unfamiliar with newsgroups
Xnews [F] is almost (but not!) abandoned but is still among the best Usenet clients
QuickPar allows usage of PAR and PAR2 files, which restore incomplete files

FTP

Filezilla is a very full-featured FTP client—highly recommended (but newer versions are XP and up only)

Download Managers
If you use Firefox, try the downTHEMall! extension
NetTransport v1.87 is the last freeware version of the program and it still works very well
Star Downloader Free is a good runner-up, though I had trouble with it crashing (YMMV)

Instant messaging

Trillian Basic [F][nR] is an excellent, stable multi-protocol IM client that, apparently, is run portably
Portable Gaim [nR][NI] is totally portable but has UI quirks that bug me

Filesharing

µTorrent [nI][F] is tiny, powerful, and compared to Azureus, gives me insanely fast downloads
Azureus was my first Bittorrent client, and it's excellent, but it's my second choice now

Blogging

Blogger is the best free major service that I've found but it lacks some major features (like categories)
Simple PHP Blog is an easy-to-use set of PHP-based blog templates that's pretty solid, but updating can be troublesome

Other utilities
CurrPorts [NI] displays the list of all currently opened TCP/IP and UDP ports on your local computer
url2bmp generates images from Internet Explorer webpage renders (requires IE)
Favorites to HTML (for IE) converts Internet Explorer Favorites to a DHTML document

General

Financial

AceMoney Lite is a personal finance manager

Media
BurnAtOnce , my favorite disc-burner, masters data and audio discs, reads/writes image files, and copies on the fly
CDCheck [NI] provides CD-ROM error-detection and -recovery (nag screen after 30 days)
IsoBuster rescues lost files from a bad or trashed CD or DVD
DAEMON Tools is a virtual CD-/DVD-ROM emulator, able to mounts ISOs as if they were CDs/DVDs.
Floppy Image [NI] creates and mounts images of floppy diskettes

Text

SciTE [F][nR][NI] is a totally portable, totally amazing advanced text editor with Unicode support and syntax highlighting
QJot [F][nR] is a recently-discovered RTF editor with great Unicode support
WordTabs 3.30 is a great RTF editor but is abandoned (I use QJot now) [RICHED20.DLL, ver. 2]
Keynote [F][nR] is a powerful tree-based organizer with RTF support and built-in Blowfish encryption
Treepad Lite [nR] is a text-based tree organizer that doesn't support Unicode but saves files as straight text
Portable OpenOffice [F][nR][nI] contains the entire OpenOffice.org suite, but packaged for portable use!
Steganos LockNote converts text files into encrypted .EXE files
utility: Antiword

PDF files

Foxit PDF Reader [see also: Adobe Acrobat 4 and eXPert PDF Reader]
The Ghostscript family (AFPL Ghostscript, GSview, Redmon port redirector) create PDFs by "printing" them to files!
also see: CutePDF Writer and PDF Version Converter

Graphics

IrfanView [F][nR], with plugins, is a quick, indispensable image viewer [add-on: see IrfanView ShellExtension]
Dup Detector finds duplicate and near duplicate images by opening and reading image pixel data

File compression

WinRAR [$][F] isn't free but it's easily the most solid archiver I've used, though it only writes ZIPs and RARs
7-Zip Portable [F][nI][nR], based on 7-Zip, is open-source and supports formats such as 7z, ZIP, CAB, RAR, ARJ, GZIP, BZIP2, Z, TAR
Universal Extractor [nI][nR] is a great tool for avoiding installation of programs—a definite must-see for portable-app users

Multimedia

Audio

foobar2000 [F][nR] is the audio player—extremely powerful! (in Windows 98 and earlier, use v0.8.3) [plug-ins] kode's foobar2000 plug-ins and 3rd party foobar2000 components
1by1 [F][NI][nR] is a miniscule and straightforward audio player that can use Winamp input plug-ins
XMPlay [NI][nR] is small, powerful, and can use Winamp input plug-ins [add-on: XMPlaySecret]

other options: Quintessential Player, Winamp 5, Winamp 2.95, SysTrayPlayer

Audio utilities

[ripping] CDex and dBpowerAMP Music Converter rip and normalize CDs
[encoding] oggdropXPd and LamedropXPd are drag-and-drop audio encoders
[normalizing] MP3Gain analyzes (using statistical analysis) and losslessly adjusts MP3 files' volume
[analyzing] EncSpot reports useful facts about your music collection, such as guessing which encoder creates a file
[editing] Audacity is a crossplatform audio editor and recorder
[editing] mp3DirectCut is a non-destructive audio editor and recorder for MP3
[joining/splitting] musiCutter losslessly splits and combines MP3s and OGGs
[recording] HarddiskOgg records from your microphone or line-in and converts it to common sound formats
[minidisc] M3U2SBurner, for MiniDisc usage, offers fast upload of audio files to NetMD
RareWares is great source for audio encoders

Tag editors

ID3-TagIT edits, adds, or removes ID3 TAGs in MP3 files and supports Unicode
MP3 Book Helper supports MP3, Ogg Vorbis, Speex, and FLAC tags but has a confusing interface
TagScanner supports MP3, Ogg Vorbis, and APE tags but not Unicode

Video players

VLC Portable [F][nR][NI], based on VLC Media Player, supports many video codecs and advanced features out of the "box"
Media Player Classic [F][NI] is a sub-5MB .EXE that plays just about anything, including DVDs
BSPlayer 1.37 [F][nR] is likewise feature-full but doesn't have DVD support (later versions are adware)

Video utilities

[analyzer] VideoInspector, AVIcodec, and GSpot
[conversion/editing] VirtualDub and FlasKMPEG
[screen-recording] AviScreen enables you to capture screen activity and save it as AVI video or bitmap images
[stream-capturing] Real7ime Converter for Real media; SDP Multimedia for WMVs
[ripping] DVD Decrypter and VCDgear
[joining/splitting] Camel's MPEGJoin, Peck's Power Join (for AVIs), VCD Cutter, DVD Cutter, and FileMerger
[tagger] abcAVI Tag Editor is little stand-alone utility for viewing/editing tags in AVI files (with IMDb information)

Codecs

A list of common codecs is available at FOURCC.org. Google for the best way to obtain individual codecs, in necessary.
XviD • DivX • Real Alternative • QuickTime Alternative • 3ivx (for .MP4 files)

Web Services

General services

Google Reader is an RSS aggregator in development
ChangeDetection [F] e-mails you whenever Web pages you specify are updated (no spam!)
Sitemeter [F] is a fantastic website counter and statistics tracker
[url shortcuts] TinyURL, SnipURL [F], notlong [F], Shorl, Metamark
[temporary e-mail accounts] Walala.org, BSpamFree, SpamBob, PookMail, list of disposable e-mail address services
IP Address Locator Tool finds the home country of an IP address
Password Generator and Javascript Password Generator both create passwords dependent on a single master password

Webpage validation

[HTML] W3C Markup Validation Service, WDG HTML Validator
[CSS] W3C CSS Validation Service, W3C Link Checker

Games

Indexes
GameHippo • Caiman

Specific games
Zetrix, a pleasant 3-D Tetris clone with standard and "enhanced" modes of play

Online games
Evil Cube • Guess-the-google • Puzzling Rooms • Square 2 • Steady • Tontie • Tower Blaster • xRaye

Emulation
ZSNES • 1964 and Project64 • VisualBoyAdvance

Top 20 Geek Novels since 1932 !!!great must read

The best geek novels written in English since 1932. The top 20 is as follows, with the numbers in brackets showing the number of votes.

1. The HitchHiker's Guide to the Galaxy -- Douglas Adams 85% (102)
2. Nineteen Eighty-Four -- George Orwell 79% (92)
3. Brave New World -- Aldous Huxley 69% (77)

4. Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? -- Philip Dick 64% (67)
5. Neuromancer -- William Gibson 59% (66)
6. Dune -- Frank Herbert 53% (54)
7. I, Robot -- Isaac Asimov 52% (54)
8. Foundation -- Isaac Asimov 47% (47)
9. The Colour of Magic -- Terry Pratchett 46% (46)
10. Microserfs -- Douglas Coupland 43% (44)
11. Snow Crash -- Neal Stephenson 37% (37)
12. Watchmen -- Alan Moore & Dave Gibbons 38% (37)
13. Cryptonomicon -- Neal Stephenson 36% (36)
14. Consider Phlebas -- Iain M Banks 34% (35)
15. Stranger in a Strange Land -- Robert Heinlein 33% (33)
16. The Man in the High Castle -- Philip K Dick 34% (32)
17. American Gods -- Neil Gaiman 31% (29)
18. The Diamond Age -- Neal Stephenson 27% (27)
19. The Illuminatus! Trilogy -- Robert Shea & Robert Anton Wilson 23% (21)
20. Trouble with Lichen - John Wyndham 21% (19)

The following five books attracted the most votes against.

Dune -- Frank Herbert 17% (17)
Neuromancer -- William Gibson 13% (15)
I, Robot -- Isaac Asimov 12% (13)
Foundation -- Isaac Asimov 13% (13)
The Colour of Magic -- Terry Pratchett 12% (12)

Finally, in the Not read it/Don't care category, as follows.

Stand on Zanzibar -- John Brunner 85% (77)
The Shockwave Rider -- John Brunner 88% (80)

Also read...

A compilation of authors/titles

Douglas Adams:
The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy
(Trilogy)

George Orwell:
Nineteen Eighty-Four
Aldous Huxley:
Brave New World
Island

Philip K Dick:
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?
The Man in the High Castle

William Gibson:
Neuromancer
Pattern Recognition
The Difference Engine (w/Bruce
Sterling)

Frank Herbert:
Dune

Isaac Asimov:
I, Robot
Foundation Trilogy
The Gods Themselves
Nightfall (w/Robert Silverberg)

Terry Pratchett:
Discworld (Series)
The Colo(u)r of Magic
Going Postal

Douglas Coupland:
Microserfs

Neal Stephenson:
Snow Crash
Cryptonomicon
The Diamond Age
In the Beginning...Was the Command
Line
Quicksilver

Alan Moore/Dave Gibbons:
Watchmen

Iain M Banks:
Consider Phlebas
Excession
The Player of Games
Use of Weapons
The Algebraist

Robert A Heinlein:
Stranger in a Strange Land
Farnham’s Freehold
Time Enough for Love
Have Spacesuit, Will Travel
Starship Troopers
Citizen of the Galaxy

Neil Gaiman:
American Gods

Robert Shea/Robert Anton Wilson:
The Illuminatus! Trilogy
The Eye in the Pyramid

John Wyndham:
Trouble with Lichen
Day of the Triffids

John Brunner:
The Days of March
Club of Rome Quartet
Stand on Zanzibar
Shockwave Rider
The Sheep Look Up
The Squares of the City
Polymath
Quicksand
The Crucible of Time

Alfred Bester:
The Stars, My Destination (aka Tiger,
Tiger)
The Demolished Man

Ursula K le Guin:
The Dispossessed
The Left Hand of Darkness

Margaret Atwood:
The Handmaid’s Tale

Octavia E Butler:
Xenogenesis Trilogy
Parable of the Sower

Unknown Authors :
Idiot
Crime and Punishment
The Devils
The Legacy of Heorot
Catch-22 (Joseph Hellerman?)
After the Fire Trilogy
The Crying of Lot 49
Baroque (Trilogy)
Battlefield Earth
Andromeda Strain
Tau Zero
Soilent Green
Silent Running

? Niven:
Ringworld

David Foster Wallace:
Infinite Jest

Elizabeth Moon:
The Deed of Paksenarrion

Steven Levy:
Hackers
Henry Kuttner:
Chessboard Planet

Vernor Vinge:
True Names
Fire Upon the Deep
A Deepness in the Sky
Realtime Trilogy
Peace War

Tad Williams:
Otherland (Series)

Fredrik Pohl:
Gateway
Heechee Saga

John Kramer:
Einstein’s Bridge

Ray Bradbury:
Fahrenheit 451
The Martian Chronicles

Greg Bear:
Blood Music
Eon
Darwin's Radio

Richard K Morgan:
Altered Carbon
Broken Angels

Orson Scott Card:
Ender’s Game (Series?)
Dan Simmons:
Hyperion Cantos (4-book series)

David Brin:
Uplift (Series)
Earth
Heart of the Comet (w/Gregory
Benford)
Kil'n People

Olaf Stapledon:
Starmaker
The Last and First Man (?)
Sirius

Greg Egan:
Permutation City
Peter F Hamilton:
The Night’s Dawn (Trilogy)
C
arl Sagan:
Contact
Nick Sagan:
Idlewild

Kim Stanley Robinson:
Mars Trilogy
Red Mars
Green Mars
Blue Mars
The Years of Rice and Salt

Arthur C Clarke:
Rama (Series)
Rendezvous with Rama
2001
2010
2065
3001
3010 (Was this a typo?)
Collected Stories

Stephen Baxter:
Time Ships
Evolution
Coalescent

C.J. Cherryh:
Cyteen Trilogy
40,000 in Gehenna

Roger MacBride Allen:
The Ring of Charon

Charles Stross:
Accelerando
Z Henderson:
Pilgrimage
A E Van Vogt:
Slan

Joe Haldeman:
The Forever War
Thomas Pynchon:
Gravity’s Rainbow

Robert Sheckley/Heinlein:
The Moon is a Harsh Mistress
Alexis Gilliland:
Revolution from Rosinante

Cliff Stoll:
The Cuckoo’s Egg
Samuel R. Delaney:
Nova

Bruce Sterling:
Schismatrix Plus
Distraction

Marge Piercy:
Woman on the Edge of Time
Gene Wolfe:
The Shadow of the Torturer (Series)

Harry Harrison:
The Stainless Steel Rat (Series)
Jeff Noon:
Vurt (Virt?)

Matt Ruff:
Sewer, Gas & Electric (Trilogy)
Walter Miller:
A Canticle for Leibowitz

Christopher Priest:
The Prestige

Stanislaw Lem:
Star Diaries
Solaris

Alistair Reynolds:
Chasm City
Pushing Ice

Sheri S Tepper:
Gate to Women's Country
Grass

Suzette Haden Elgin:
Native Tongue
Ben Bova:
The Asteroid Wars (Trilogy)

M. John Harrison:
Light

Hal Clement:
Mission of Gravity

Rick Cook:
Wizardry (Series)
Clifford Simak:
City

A Square:
Flatland
Nancy Kress:
Beggars in Spain

Yvgeny Zamayatin:
We
Connie Willis:
To Say Nothing of the Dog

Tracy Kidder:
The Soul of A New Machine
John Varley:
Titan (Trilogy)

Damon Knight:
A for Anything
Philip Jose Farmer:
Riverworld (Series)

David Langford:
The Space Eater
Clifford D. Simak:
Way Station

Martin Caidin:
The God Machine
Robert Sawyer:
Calculating God

Julian May:
Galactic Milieu (Series)
Madeleine L'Engle:
A Wrinkle in Time

Don DeLillo:
Ratner's Star
Sean McMullen:
Calculor (Trilogy)

Doris Lessing:
Canopus in Argos: Archives (5-book
series)

The Strangest Patents in the U.S. --links to them

Click on the patents below to view them

Newly Archived Insomniac Helmet Cyborg Massage Pied Piper Sub Dermal Watch Gas Factory Jump, No Rope Snake Walker Rain Curtain Bulletproof Desk Electro Fishing Calf Carrier Saggy Bottoms Safety Poncho Get The Shaft Time Temp Glasses Neck Fanny Pack Western Skater Butt Cleavage Pants Stud Spectacles Life Expectancy Watch Squatting Deer Purse Protection Camp Comfort Gums Glove Fin Flappers Sit N Surf Killer Bee Bunker Favorites 12 Gauge Golf Club Airplane Moisturizer Alarm Fork All Terrain Stroller Angel Ears Anti-Eating Mouth Cage Aqua Swing Arm Mitten Baby Bottom Art Baby Cage Baby Patter Baby Shower Back Buzzer Bag Man Ball Blinders Banana Head Banana Suitcase Bat Boy Batter Biter Beach Boots Beerbrella Be The Bike! Big Ash Bib Big Balls Big Hair Hat Bino Cap Bionic Exersuit Birdman of Alcatraz Bird Powered Blimp Bird Trap Cat Feeder Blind Spot Toy Boat Ball Boatless Water Skiing Body Sail Boob Tube Bowling Sight Brace Yourself Brain Buzzer Bubble Head Bulletproof Buttocks Bumper Dumper Bunny Syringe Butt Master Car Bib Cheese Filtered Cigarette Chin Pump Chin Putter Chute 'N Shoes

Club Cooler Cool Shoes Cow Gas Cranial Greeting Card Cranium Cooler Crash Wing Cricket Gun Crunch Protector Cry No More Cup 'O' Golf Dad Saddle Dance Fever Day Knight Deer Ears Diaper Alarm Dieter's Dam Dimple Drill Dog Bumper Doggie Luggage Doggie Umbrella Dog Hoser Dog Watch Duck Decoy Duck Shield Dumb Bo Dummy Chicken Farmer Ear Anchors Earless Eyewear Earthquake House Ear Tubes Extreme Comb Over Face Flexor Fashion Papoose Fingernail Fanatic Fingertip Toothbrush Fish Bath Floating Furniture Floating Shade Flood Bag Flying Bike Flying Fish Flying Saucer Submarine Flying Turtle Fly Trap Foot Elevator Foot Hoops Fowl Spoon Geek Pouch Geek Gear Gerbil Shirt Get The Shaft Golf Chimes Golf Made Simple Golf Schwing Golf Wand Goofy Goalies Goose Head Gourd Head Greenhouse Helmet Half Wit Hand Near Mouth Alarm Happy Camper Hat Tether Head Boom Head Napkin Heat Chic Helmet Bar

Hijacker Injector Horse Diaper Hospital Happiness Hot Head Human Car Wash Hurricane Bed Hurricane House Inch Worm Insect Balls Insomniac Helmet Instant Face Lift Jacques Fido Jet Propulsion Golf Club Junior Jail Keg Head Kissing Shield Kling Tut Knee Pad Ear Muffs Knee Skates Laser Twister Leaf Chaps Life Expectancy Watch Light Bulb Changer Lightning Ribbons Lip Clip Loopy Lou Man Catching Tank Marilyn Manson Exercise Suit Meditation Bag Milk Gun Mitt Cap Motorcycle Airbag Motorized Ice Cream Cone Motorized Picnic Table Mouse Puppet Nose Wipe Portable Nuclear Shelter Numb Thumb Paddle Wheel Plane Pants Pointer Pantyhose 3x Pet Petter Pet Shower Pet Toilet Phone Gas Pillow Crash Helmet Pogo Shoes Pointy Pointer Portable Pet Potty Portable Spittoon Prehistoric Rollerblade Propeller Leg Pump Mud Flaps Pump Power Putt 'N Reel Quad Power Quick Draw McGraw Radar Head Rain Curtain Rain Dome Redundant Recumbent Reel, No Rod Remote Controlled Horse Robo Skater Roller Cane Roller Putter Scary Fingers

Senseless Scooter Shin Ski Shoulder Saddle Shoulder Stick Sit & Shoot Skateboard Pirate Skate Scooter Ski Brake Ski Fan Skin Stencil Ski Tutor Sky Skier Sled Pants Sleep Sponge Slingshot Golf Smell This Smokers Hat Snowboard Bumper Speak & Swing Spitting Duck Sponge Bob Foot Pads Spoon Truss Squabble Shield Stud Spectacles Subliminal Glasses Sunburn Cowboy Super ATV Dude Super Trash Man Surf Donut Surfing Ship Swing Shift Swing Sticks T2 - The Hair Machine T3 - The Bionic Golfer Tabletop Golf Thumb Sucking Inhibitor Toilet Landing Lights Toilet Snorkel Toilet Timer Tow-A-Copter Trash Burner & Barbeque Pit Travel Relief Travel Washing Machine Tree Tugger Tricycle Lawnmower Truth Extractor Ultimate Lounger Ultimate Umbrella Ultra Ski Underwater Breathing Mask Uphill Skiing Waterbed Womb Wearable Dog House Web of Intrigue Western Skater Whopper Wheels Wig Flipper Wild West Mouse Trap Windmill Boat Windy Wheels Windy Widget Wingless Wonder Wiz Pouch Wonder Butt Bra Wrist Rod Zero Gravity Squeezebox

The new inventions(?) will be updated weekly...