a bit interesting

Add to Wish List

2009-03-26T22:22:00.010-04:00

Next time I have a spare 50 or 60 thousand dollars, I'm gonna get me one of these:

Yes, it's a fossil - and yes, those colours are real. Wired's Geek Dad explains:

The fossil has naturally occurring iridescent colors created when the original shell substance turned into a mineral called aragonite ... The specimen in the photo is a pretty remarkable one that's about to go up for auction at Christie's - the sale takes place on April 7 if you want to mark that in your calendar.

Spectacular! That's going to look terrific on my future, lottery-winning self's mantle.

Spring = Sprung

2009-03-20T01:34:00.005-04:00

Spring, summer, autumn, winter: four of the things I love most about living in the temperate zone of a planet with a moderately eccentric elliptical orbit and a 23 degree axial tilt.

Today's vernal equinox marks the end of another bloody winter and the start of the next grilling, hanging out and drinking outdoors season.

Hooray for spring! (and not a moment too soon.)

Solved - by Science!

2009-03-10T22:44:00.010-04:00

Science has given us a lot. Cars; toasters; bombs; the elimination of smallpox, polio and God; the etch-a-sketch. But there is (or was) one question science cannot (or could not) fathom: "What is all this crap in my belly button?"

Now, Austrian chemist Georg Steinhauser believes he has the answer:

The researcher spent three years studying 503 pieces of schmutz from his own belly button, then published his conclusions in the journal Medical Hypotheses under the title, "The nature of navel fluff."

Steinhauser found that hairs around the belly button have a scaly structure that pulls fibers from clothing and then directs those fibers—along with dead skin, fat, sweat and dust—into the belly button.

Hmmm. Is this a "journalist brightens slow news day with off-the-wall science story" story, or is it a "scientist claims to make amazing discovery when actually we kinda guessed it already" story? I'm not quite sure.

Ah, well. At least there's still toe cheese. Even science would never dare try to explain that!

[thanx to Aaron]

Octopus vs. Narrator

2009-02-26T22:58:00.006-05:00

This footage of an octopus encountering a shark is - without a doubt - totally cool.

But the narration suuuuucks!

You have been warned: if you watch this video with the sound up, you will get nothing but a shitload of crass, annoying, dumbed-down, uninformative populist edutainment. It's so distracting, you may even lose sight of the amazing animal antics you were trying to admire in the first place.

Come on! This is National Geographic, for goodness sake. Aren't they supposed to be - you know - respectable?

Grrr. American nature program editors really need to learn that their audiences are not complete morons. It's not so hard - others do it just fine.

Signs of the Approaching Apocalypse, #387

2009-01-23T01:19:00.004-05:00

Here's Ricky Gervais, sitting down talking to James Lipton for 8 minutes, and not punching him in the head.

We're all doomed.

Slowly and Surely, They Belch Their Plans Against Us

2009-01-15T20:51:00.010-05:00

Methane burps from the Red Planet suggest the real possibility of life on Mars.

Plumes of gas emitted by the planet in 2003, and again in 2006, might best be explained by the existence of bacterial life deep beneath the Martian surface. On Earth, at least, microorganisms are a common cause of similar eruptions.

Various biology vs geology (or should that be marsology?) hypotheses were debated at a press conference by scientists today, helpfully liveblogged by Carl Zimmer.

Now hold up a second. Just to reiterate - we're talking about Life on Frickin' Mars here. How fantastic would that be - to see the existence of actual extraterrestrial organisms confirmed within our lifetime!

I really, really hope so. What an immense discovery that would represent ... and what a shake-up to the worldview of your average, homocentric Earth dweller.

I for one welcome our new flatulent Martian overlords.

Top Ten Top Tens

2009-01-02T22:49:00.029-05:00

This time of year, it seems every blog and his brother feels obliged to post a retrospective "Top Ten" of favourite *somethings* from the year past.

Here is my own list - compiled from my favourite Top Ten such "Top Ten" lists I found:

#10: Books & Movies (Amazon, New York Times, Salon)

You have to have books and movies. Here are obligatory Top Ten 2008 Books from Amazon and the NY Times. Although honestly - I find these book lists largely uninspiring. Too general for my tastes, they only contain a couple of things I personally want to read.

Salon's list of Best Indie Movies of 2008 sounds much more interesting. Note to self: update Netflix queue.

#9: Crime (Discovery)

The worst of human nature (or at least, those parts that make to the the news) is the subject of Discovery's Top Ten Crime Stories of 2008.

Crime comes second only to science in the category of "things I want to read about in newspapers." (See #4)

#8: Words (Chicago Tribune)

If you don't like this Tribune colomnist's list of the Top Ten Words of 2008, feel free to phromligate your own.

#7: Awesome Photos (National Geographic, Bad Astronomy)

Gawk in wonder at National Graphic's Top Ten Most Popular Photos of 2008. And if life on Earth isn't wonderful enough for you, try the Top Ten Astronomy Photos from Bad Astronomy.

#6: Hideous Cars (Autoblog)

Want a car no-one else wants? Then Autoblog's Top Ten Least Stolen Vehicles of 2008 is the list for you.

Are these cars supposed to be more secure, I wonder, or just fugly? (Fortunately, they have pictures - so you can guess.)

#5: Media Hits & Misses (Politico)

Re-live 12 months' worth of news coverage with Politico's Top Ten Scoops of 2008. And to be fair, they've included the Top Ten Media Cock-Ups as well.

#4: Science! (Arstechnica, The Scientist, Wired)

Arstechnica has Science Magazine's Top Ten Scientific Breakthroughs of the year - enough to fulfil all your nerdly needs.

In case it isn't - check out similar lists from The Scientist and Wired.

#3: Everything (Time)

Bastards from Time cheated. They have a gazillion Top Ten Lists on every subject under the sun.

#2: Life Hacks (Lifehacks)

This was the only (other) "Top ~~Ten~~ Twenty Top Tens" I found. Lifehacks posts Top Ten lists throughout the year; this is their summary of 2008's Best. The wealth of information contained herein will quite simply make your life better. Digest it.

#1: Animals (New Scientist, Wired)

In the end, our furry friends take it. The New Scientist's list of Top Ten Weird Animals is sweet enough. But Wired's Top Ten Incredible Animal Videos really made my year. (Even though they failed to include Ninja Cat - above.)

Happy 2009...

The Knight Fantastic

2009-01-01T03:50:00.007-05:00

Hoorah! Terry Pratchett is now Sir Terry Pratchett.

That's quite an honour! Here's what the man himself had to say about it:

There are times when the phrase “Absolutely, totally, gobsmackingly, mindbogglingly amazed” just doesn’t cover it, but I find that in the Queen’s New Year Honours list I am now a Knight, for services to literature. This means that fans, while not calling me Sir, must now refrain from throwing things. Regrettably, no sword is included in the box :)

Yeah, no sword. Because the pen is mightier*.

Congratulations, Sir pTerry!

*Provided the sword is very small, and the pen is very sharp.

You Can't Improve on Perfection

2008-12-30T00:54:00.004-05:00

...or can you?

Even a seemingly perfect movie scene may be improved with the addition of light sabres!

Putting the Ed Back in Sex Ed

2008-12-29T23:08:00.010-05:00

There's this thing in the US called "Abstinence Only" sex education. This is supposed to be a very moral and proper way of preparing teenagers for the adult world of sex and sexuality. As the name implies, this curriculum is focused entirely on promoting virginity until marriage, and fails to inform (or worse - misinforms) about "safe sex" in the process.

And yes, it's exactly as daft and ineffectual as it sounds.

For example, a recent study shows (who would have guessed?):

Teens who take virginity pledges are just as likely to have sex as teens who don't make such promises - and they're less likely to practice safe sex to prevent disease or pregnancy

Specifically:

Virginity pledgers and similar non-pledgers don't differ in the rates of vaginal, oral or anal sex or any other sexual behavior ... pledgers are less likely than similar non-pledgers to use condoms and also less likely to use any form of birth control.

Big yikes. And this is hardly the first study to draw those same conclusions. Abstinence Only just does not work (and speaking as a father of girls, I wish it did!) But it's like trying to teach teenagers about driving - by instructing them to never, under any circumstances, get into a car. And then omitting to mention the proper way to fasten a seat belt.

That's just hopelessly naive, dangerous, and irresponsible. But it also seems to be the norm in American "sex education" (if that's not an oxymoron already.)

Again, as a father of girls, I say: enough. I want my kids to learn about sex - from the same cheesy, informative, embarrassing 1970's videos I was forced to watch in school!

Fatoline

2008-12-29T21:26:00.005-05:00

File under "Ideas Just Waiting to Happen": a California liposuctionist has developed a biofuel created from sucked-out human fat.

[Insert obligatory Fight Club reference here.]

Really, to me this story is too wonderful: it's not only sciency, but chock-full of ickiness, illegality, and twisted brilliance. Please, read all about it.

Back in Old Europe, meanwhile, we have an equivalent method of burning fat while going places. It's called walking.

Now that's energy independence.

Merry Chrebus

2008-12-24T14:24:00.001-05:00

See if you can figure out the six seasonal songs represented by my holiday rebus puzzles:

#1

#2

#3

#4

#5

#6

Motivational Montage

2008-12-14T23:10:00.006-05:00

For when you're feeling less than great, and you need a little Hollywood inspiration:

Hint, hint

2008-12-14T20:38:00.005-05:00

Here's a nifty idea, just in time for Christmas: XKCD signed prints, sold "Radiohead style" (you pay what you want - although there is a minimum of $15.)

Sweet! I bet you know at least one person who'd appreciate one of those in their stocking...

Ouch

2008-12-14T19:37:00.006-05:00

The New Scientist has photos of the damage the LHC suffered in September:

Yeah, that doesn't look good. ($29 million worth of not good, apparently.)

Repairs are underway. They've decided to add a helium leak early-warning system (hindsight being 20-20) and the Collider is set to start smashing protons again in the summer of 2009.

NumberWang

2008-12-13T01:32:00.004-05:00

I so want to go on this game show:

(Thanks to Jared)

Algernon, is that you?

2008-12-08T22:36:00.004-05:00

Actually, no. This is a mouse named "Brain Storm":

Pretty freakin' cool though, huh?

But then you realize - at some point this guy must have had to make the decision: girlfriend/mouse? And he chose the latter.

Space Beer!

2008-12-08T17:40:00.004-05:00

Japanese beermaker Sapporo is creating 100 bottles of beer brewed from a strain of barley grown in space.

In 2006, Japanese scientists from Okayama University teamed up with Sapporo Breweries to conduct several experiments on barley, the raw material for many beers.

They tested whether barley grown in space would show any negative effects compared to barley grown on the ground (it didn’t) and they put some of it in storage for six months, to see how it would fare.

The stored barley was returned to Earth and the scientists planted it and managed to grow healthy plants.

Note to Space Beer marketers: anyone suggesting the tagline "It's Out of This World!" will be summarily fired, ridiculed, and shot.

Democrat or Pornstar?

2008-12-08T16:53:00.006-05:00

You be the judge:

Get the latest news satire and funny videos at 236.com.

They Might Get a Grammy

2008-12-05T21:40:00.008-05:00

As Ellie reports, TBMG's "Here Come the 123's" is nominated for a Grammy in the category, "Best Children's Album."

Great! I hope they win. But it's too late. Their previous children's collection, "Here Come the ABC's" was infinitely (IMHO) way better.

Here are 2 cases in point. I think you'll agree the alphabet songs beat the number songs, hands down.

#1: E Eats Everything starts at 1:45; Apartment 4 starts at 4:35

#2: 1 Mississippi starts at 0:40; Alphabet Lost and Found starts at 2:00

Stoopid Grammys - 2 years late to the party. All they get is the leftovers.

Cookies!

2008-12-04T23:05:00.009-05:00

Mmm... delicious fetus.

Get your own hideously cute, ironically amoral cookie cutters here.

Lost: 130,000 Fake Boobs

2008-12-04T17:17:00.008-05:00

I'm not sure if this is a legitimate story, or just a rumour put about as a publicity stunt. But anyway, it's too good to pass up.

130,000 Boobs Lost at Sea

More than 130,000 inflatable breasts have been lost at sea en route to Australia.

Men's magazine Ralph was planning to include the boobs as a free gift with its January issue.

A Spokeswoman for Ralph said the container left docks in Beijing two weeks ago but turned up empty in Sydney this week.

Weird. Who's going to steal 130,000 inflatable titties?

And more important: was that 65,000 sets of boobs, or is there another 130,000 matching ones still loose somewhere? As Victor Shakapopulis said, these things usually travel in pairs...

On a Difference of Opinion

2008-12-02T02:14:00.004-05:00

This little ditty just came to me. Must have been the Dr. Seuss I was reading to the kids earlier (combined with a long weekend at my in-laws'):

Disagreement

The problem with some people is
That they think that, when really this.

You try to tell them this is so
But they say that is all they know.

You ask them, why? Why is it that?
They say that’s just the way it’s at.

That’s what it is. It’s always been.
And this just isn’t anything.

What is this that? It’s never clear,
And yet they hold it oh so dear,

Defending and resenting tries
To show them what’s before their eyes:

Just this! Why can’t they simply see
As plain as this appears to me?

That isn’t right, it’s this that’s it!
But still they claim the opposite.

Infuriating. All I know
Is this: that that just isn’t so.

The problem with some people is
That they think that, when clearly this.

Close Encounters (of the Nerd Kind)

2008-11-25T18:10:00.004-05:00

Here's a treat: John Hodgman at TED Talks, sharing his opinions on the Fermi Paradox, alien abduction, and being a giant dork in love. Enjoy.

They Would Say That, Wouldn't They?

2008-11-17T20:11:00.006-05:00

Tech Puts JFK Conspiracy Theory To Rest

Using modern blood spatter analysis, new artificial human body surrogates, and 3-D computer simulations, the team determined that the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository was the most likely origin of the shot that killed the 35th president of the United States.

One down... several more to go.

Bad Science

2008-11-17T18:25:00.010-05:00

My dearest brother, MD, was here for a visit this week, and when he left he thoughtfully "forgot" his copy of Ben Goldacre's new book Bad Science, which I have since infuriated Ellie by devouring to the exclusion of all other interests over the last 1½ days.

If you're not familiar with Goldacre, he maintains a website (and a regular column in the Guardian) dedicated to exposing public misunderstandings of science, statistics and evidence-based medicine - often by deconstructing examples of uninformed, lazy science reporting in the (British) media. The good Doctor tackles this depressingly large remit with simple research, clear thinking, and dry and sometimes wicked humour.

Instead of offering a review of Goldacre's book (due admittedly to laziness on my own part) here's a link to a classic Bad Science post, which won the Royal Statistical Society's inaugural award for statistical excellence in journalism last year. (Don't be scared: this piece of writing includes a bit of technical explanation, but it's also characteristically accessible and entertaining.) Entitled When The Facts Get In The Way Of A Story, I think it's entirely representative of the Goldacre take on things.

Anyway, the book was all like that, only more so. I liked it.

Dancing Robots

2008-11-17T18:00:00.004-05:00

Dancing robots.

Dancing robots.

Dancing robots.

I think that's all that needs to be said.

[Thanks Ellie!]

White Christmas

2008-11-17T17:31:00.005-05:00

So here's the problem. You're already called the American Family Association, and you've billed yourself as "a Christian organization promoting the biblical ethic of decency in American society." That ought to be enough to tell anyone paying attention all about your hard-right, gay-hating (that's "family"), liberal-reviling, reactionary culture warrior agenda.

But somehow, somewhere, your message just isn't getting through. Some people still fail to understand where you are coming from. They think you're just another bunch of harmless, concerned religious types, dedicated to nothing more sinister than making sure baby doesn't hear Big Bird say "Fuck" on TV. So what can you do?

Then, one day, perhaps driving through the beautiful Mississippi countryside that surrounds your organization's headquarters, you are struck by a literally brilliant idea.

You start selling this Christmas decoration on your website:

So now we're all on the same page. Thanks, AFA!

Mickey Prime

2008-11-15T19:07:00.006-05:00

When brands collide:

Is it wrong to want one of those? Because I do.

I Knew It

2008-11-13T02:10:00.003-05:00

Someone please remind me why we have cats again?

Hmm ... 89% ... 4 cats ... so there's a 356% chance I should be dead already!

New York Times, July 4 2009

2008-11-13T01:20:00.007-05:00

Incorrigible pranksters The Yes Men have created a fake New York Times, dated a few months after the imminent end of the Bush administration, and distributed thousands of paper copies.

Needless to say, the news is all good:

Here are some more headlines, from the website:

Streets Come Alive as Relief and Exuberance Greet End of Conflicts
USA Patriot Act Repealed
Torture, Rendition "Not Such Good Ideas After All"
National Health Insurance Act Passes
City Council Votes to Beat Swords into Plowshares
Public Relations Industry Forecasts a Series of Massive Layoffs (:D)
Court Indicts Bush on High Treason Charge

Ah. If only...

Google + NYP = Fail

2008-11-09T00:25:00.010-05:00

I guess it was bound to happen: Tate St. is now officially part of Holland.

Obama FTW

2008-11-04T23:36:00.008-05:00

That's President Barack Hussein Obama. I can't tell you how happy I am about that.

But still - there is good and bad. North Carolina is a toss-up. Not that it matters any more, but I would like to see NC go to Obama. I'll have to wait until the final result tomorrow - but either way, it's going to be too close to count. I guess the state is just a hearty, boisterous, 50-50 shade of "purple" after all.

Meanwhile, I'm glad Kay Hagan beat the ridiculous "conspiring with atheists" rap (I was going to write a post about that - now I'm happy not to) and I think she'll make a way better Senator than ol' Libby Dole. Democrat Bev Perdue also won the Governor's race. I approve on general lefty principles - but from my minimal research I secretly liked her conservative opponent McCrory better.

In worse news: Prop 8 seems to be passing in California. Yikes! This is one I really thought would fail - despite the mountains of money thrown at the issue by conservative religious bastards. Come on, California! You can't seriously want to amend your Constitution to take away people's rights, can you?

Arizona and Florida are banning ~~interracial~~ gay marriage, too. And Arkansas is passing a measure to prevent ~~black~~ ~~Jewish~~ homosexual couples from adopting children. God Bless America, indeed.

On the other hand, Oregon voters are busily rejecting the stupid idea that the word "human" is applicable to a newly fertilized ovum; Michigan is legalizing medical marijuana; Washington is allowing doctor-assisted suicide; and even South Dakota is leaning "no" on its initiative to restrict legal abortion to all but the deadliest cases.

Could this be morning in America? Could this be the dawning of a new, rational, liberal age?

I doubt it. But it's a start, at least. Here's to the next 4-8 years.

Not Just a River in Egypt

2008-11-04T21:59:00.014-05:00

I must admit: I know very little about America's bizarre electoral system. And I know even less about the myriad factors that prevent honest, straightforward communication at the confluence of politics, media and technology.

I was just trying to get an update on the state of the election, is all. So I called up a few of the big name news websites, to see if they had some top-level numbers, and a pretty blue-and-red-shaded map I could look at.

In the last 15 minutes, here's what I got from CNN:

CBS:

MSNBC:

So far, so good. Now here's what I'm getting from something called "Fox News":

I like that one the best. It's so fair and balanced.

Hitched

2008-11-03T18:22:00.006-05:00

So a couple of pals got married this weekend. Congratulations to them!

It was a lovely, fun and intimate event. It was also the most avowedly atheist wedding I have ever attended. (Although all this really means, of course, is that of all the gods not invoked, there was just one more than usual.)

It also brought to mind my own wedding. Ellie and I likewise wanted a secular ceremony, but we didn't want to be quite so in-your-face about the non-religious aspect. I had lots of fun researching secular weddings, and putting our service together. I thought I would post it here, now, while I'm thinking about it (and since our first anniversary was not too long ago.)

So here's the script for our own little ceremony:

Processional

Music: Out of the Woods (Nickel Creek)

Enter:
- Daniel with Bronwen
- Piper, scattering petals
- Elsbeth

Welcome and Opening Words

Ethan: (Screechy voice) Mawwiage... is what bwings us together... today...

[Well, no, he didn't really say that. He said something else, much more serious and appropriate. Pussy.]

Parental Involvement

Ethan: At this time, I would like to ask Daniel and Elsbeth’s parents to please stand.

Ethan: The union of Daniel and Elsbeth brings together two family traditions – two systems of roots – in the formation of a new family tree. Their life together will be enriched by the support of the families from which they come. Will you, Lesley and Max, and you, Alice, Matt and Lois, encourage them in their marriage?

Response: We will.

Ethan: Do you celebrate with them the decision they have made to choose each other?

Response: Of course.

Ethan: Will you continue to stand beside them, as they embark on a new life together?

Response: Sure thing.

Ethan’s Address

[I don't remember much of Ethan's remarks because I was a bit distracted at the time (getting married and all). He was supposed to send us a copy of his speech. I must remember to get that from him at some point.

I do remember two things he said: "No-one would ever describe Dan and Ellie as a conventional couple. But there is nothing unconventional about their love." I thought that was terrific. And my favourite part was his conclusion: "Okay - so what do you say we get these guys hitched?" And so we did.]

Statement of Consent

Ethan: Elsbeth and Daniel, is it your intention to share with each other your joys and sorrows, and all that the years may bring, and to live together as husband and wife?

Response: You bet!

Exchange of Vows, Rings, Kisses, etc.

Ethan: (asks them to join hands) Daniel, please repeat after me:

I Daniel take you Elsbeth to be my wife...
I promise above all else to live in truth with you...
and to communicate fully and fearlessly...
I give you my hand and my heart...
as a sanctuary of warmth and peace...
and pledge my love, devotion, faith and honor...
as I join my life to yours...
With this ring I take you to be my trusted confidante...
and my partner for life.

(Daniel places ring on Elsbeth’s finger.)

[repeat for Elsbeth]

Ethan: With great pleasure, I now pronounce you husband and wife!

Music: La La Love You (The Pixies)

(They kiss passionately. Party.)

Test Your (Real) Knowledge of a (Fictional) President

2008-11-03T17:20:00.007-05:00

Take this quick quiz to test your West Wing knowledge, on this the 10th anniversary of the start of the Bartlett presidency.

(I got 7 out of 10 and I demand a recount.)

On a related note - we are about halfway through the final season of The West Wing on Netflix, we just finished Mad Men season 1 and we're getting pretty desperate for another good, smart drama series to cuddle up with. I'll see if I can get Ellie into The Wire (I've only watched the 1st season and liked it, she hasn't seen it) ... any other suggestions?

A Slothful Child Shall Lead Them

2008-10-31T00:41:00.001-04:00

Today, of course, is All Hallows Eve.

Most people nowadays think of October 31st as nothing more than a fun family holiday - an excuse to get dressed up in silly costumes and debauch oneself (and one's innocent children) by consuming excessive amounts of alcohol and/or free candy. Meanwhile, the ungodly origins of this most despicable annual rite are too often overlooked.

In today's fast-paced world, it seems, it's easy to forget about the power and sovereignty of our True Lord and Master. I for one think that's a damned shame.

So this Hallowe'en, amidst all the frivolity, I hope everyone will pause for just a moment, and let in a bit of that old-time religion:

Television Without Context

2008-10-28T18:43:00.003-04:00

Well, this is just great. I was planning on doing something productive with my life (eventually, anyway). Now all I can do is sit and flip channels on this all day.

Damn you, Internet!

Wassup?

2008-10-25T22:39:00.003-04:00

Remember when life was good?

Well, that was then. This is now:

(Thanks Nikki)

Ghost Story

2008-10-25T21:38:00.020-04:00

My mate Ian just informed me he wrote a piece (from the cover, no less) for one of our local papers last week.

I've always enjoyed Ian 's writing, so I'm looking forward to b) telling you what I think about it, right after I a) read the damn thing.

Update: Well, I read it, and it was pretty damn great. A very pleasant mix of wry nostalgia, spine-chilling horror and a healthy dose of honest skepticism. Nice work!

For what it's worth - the vivid "dream" Ian describes sounded to me like it had some of the characteristics of sleep paralysis - a fascinating phenomenon:

Sleep paralysis occurs when the brain awakes from a REM state, but the bodily paralysis persists. This leaves the person fully conscious, but unable to move ... the state may be accompanied by terrifying hallucinations ... scientists have proposed this condition as an explanation for alien abductions and ghostly encounters.

Ian also references What Have You Changed Your Mind About? This was the 2008 question from http://www.edge.org/, which each year poses an open-ended question of that kind, and publishes some fascinating answers from various thinkers. So go read that, too.

Talking About Language

2008-10-24T16:45:00.001-04:00

Apropos nothing - just a personal fave.

Party Power

2008-10-24T15:51:00.009-04:00

Dutch nightclub Watt powers its lights by people dancing to horrible European techno.

Watt is a huge performance space with not just the sustainable dance floor, but also rainwater-fed toilets and low-waste bars. (Everything is recycled.) Its heat is harvested in part from the bands’ amplifiers and other musical equipment.

Europe is so way ahead of us in this kind of thing. I suspect we're going to see, and need, a lot more imaginative ideas like this in the future. (I mean the energy sustainability - not the crappy music.)

Al Franken Draws a Map

2008-10-23T22:47:00.024-04:00

Wouldn't it be great if something like this was expected of any would-be leader at the national level?

OK, so it's a party trick. But isn't it nice to see someone running for high office who can so simply display a sound understanding of the nation's geography, at least? Now all we need are similar show-pieces testing basic knowledge of world history, law, mathematics, philosophy, science...

Too much to expect? Ah, well. There's always:

Blogging Plant

2008-10-23T20:24:00.011-04:00

Japanese internet cafe features the "world's first blogging plant" (sort of).

Neat idea, huh? What a nice, inventive and whimsical technological toy. Sure to be a crowd-pleaser. But no-one's going to take it seriously, surely?

Uh-oh...

"I've heard that plants have emotions, and I now believe that they do have some kind of consciousness."

Aargh! No, the plant is not really talking to you! The computer is just programmed to spit out pre-written phrases in response to basic environmental stimuli. You could hook up the same algorithm to inputs from a decomposing pile of donkey poo and get an equally "conscious" (though possibly more interesting) result!

Man, that kind of complacent credulity drives me up the wall.

It's Mole Day!

2008-10-23T18:02:00.013-04:00

No, silly, not that kind of mole.

And not the secret spy or possibly cancer kind either.

I mean the dorky chemistry kind of mole. You know - 'cause it's 10/23 and all.

As a matter of fact, I lost interest in chemistry in high school right about the time moles were introduced. Before then, it was all about mixing potions together willy-nilly and seeing what happened. After we learned about moles, we were suddenly expected to be able to compute things, and understand stuff. Ugh.

But moles have since grown on me (figuratively and - as it happens - literally). It's one of those fascinating and counter-intuitive aspects of reality: all else being equal, X amount of stuff contains Y things, no matter what those things are. Crazy, man.

So props to Mr. Avogadro. I'm sorry if my characterization of your law is overly simplistic, or wrong. I really should have paid more attention in chemistry class. I'm afraid all I really know about you - apart from the fact that I'm bamboozled by your frankly unintelligible discovery - is that your name sounds kind of like a certain fatty, pear-shaped tropical fruit.

Oh - and also that you totally put paid to the homeopathy nonsense. So thanks for that.

Swimming With Tigers

2008-10-21T19:26:00.002-04:00

The Institute of Greatly Endangered and Rare Species (geddit?) thinks the danger posed by adult tigers to their human trainers is reduced when they interact underwater.

I don't know about that, but pics of tigers + girls in bikinis has got to be good.

Atheist Bus Ad

2008-10-21T13:24:00.002-04:00

Guardian columnist Ariane Sherine was a bit miffed at being proselytized at (and threatened with eternal hellfire) from the side of a London bus.

Others agreed, and are chipping in to produce ads with a more positive message:

Ha!

Somebody's Written "Basil" On It

2008-10-18T04:14:00.000-04:00

Here's maverick illusionists Penn & Teller at their very best. The "trick" itself is beside the point. It's all about the presentation: equal parts black humor and old-fashioned showmanship.

I remember watching this years ago when it first aired in England. A decade and a half later, it's still bloody brilliant.

Plus - y'know. John Cleese. Respek.

PG Porn

2008-10-18T03:59:00.000-04:00

Everything you love about porn - minus the actual porn.

Nailing Your Wife Girls SPIKE.com

(thanks Phil)

Zoo Babies

2008-10-18T02:31:00.000-04:00

Awwwwwww! Look at all the too-cute zoo babies

Mommy, the beluga followed me home. Can I keep him?

Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

2008-10-18T02:27:00.001-04:00

That's what I said.

Bacon.

Cinnamon.

Rolls.

As soon I knew such things existed, of course I had to try them. Can you guess if they were delicious?

Yes. Yes, they were.

The simple-as-hell recipe is at Bacon Today.

(The fact that there is a blog called Bacon Today makes me happy. The fact that they are not the only bacon-themed blog out there is just the - ahem - icing on the cake.)

Teen Moms for Palin

2008-10-18T02:11:00.007-04:00

You know, I thought Palin as President was pretty funny.

But for really beautiful, badly-spelled satire, it doesn't get much better than http://www.teenmomsforpalin.com/

I was home in my room hating my mom and stupid stepdad watching my tv. All my chanels had none of my shows on so I was changing channels and saw my girl Sarah on CNN, that news show old people watch. I only watched it cuz my future prez was on. I think it was called Sarah Palin Revealed. I can’t member that well cuz I had was drinking warm beer I stoled from my stepdad. Todd dezerves it cuz I can’t buy beer without those credit cards they took away.

I laughed! Then I remembered, it's only funny because it's true. Then I remembered, they're old enough to breed and vote. Then I got scared.

A Little Help

2008-10-17T04:04:00.000-04:00

Ever wondered what Joe Cocker was really singing..?

It's amazing what your mind will tell you it hears (sees/thinks/etc.), once it knows what it's supposed to. There's a lesson there, hmm?

Meet Your Future Self

2008-10-17T03:17:00.000-04:00

Until further notice, this is still my pick for Best Blog Post Ever.