I Just Threw Up In My Mouth

Milk Beer. Seriously. Could there be *anything* more disgusting? I am completely unconvinced. What will those crazy Japanese come up with next?

I, For One, Welcome Our Benevolent Robot Overlords

yeah yeah yeah, I know...straight out of the annals of /.

but still, it amuses me. Besides, what else would you say of the story that depicts the literal transition of robots from manufacturing and non-humaniform specialty roles to the domesticity that was once the sole purview of humans.

Google Solar

So now we see Google jumping on the renewable energy bandwagon. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for it. Anybody. I’m just saying…it’s a pretty bold move to throw millions of dollars at a problem. But the real difference is if they start placing their datacenters to take advantage of renewable energy, in addition to focusing the funding on very specific goals, programs, and/or companies. That kind of money could easily disappear in a science project that goes nowhere, or a pet project that benefits the few.

I’m just saying Google needs to keep an eye on their money, and make sure that it’s actually not being evil.

Trains, Planes, and...Magnetic Levitation. Oh, This Is Cool.

*such* a huge fan. MagLev. Does it get any cooler than this?

Rapist Glasses

Hah, couldn't resist.

Be Gay, Today!

This was my first introduction to this comedian...be sure to catch his treatise on "breathing" and "rapist glasses". Good times...

How Estelle Got Her Groove Back

I feel dirty even pondering the scenario, but I admittedly am thrown in so many directions by the idea of elderly, rich, white women wandering down to africa for sex with young Kenyan men. One hand hand, I say cheers! to those women who rediscover their sexual drive at that age. Then again, what the hell are they thinking, as far as AIDS goes. And on a third, more bizarre note, one has to ponder if some of this has a real racial undertone...I mean, talk about a bizarre kind of servitude. I don't guess I would exactly call it slavery, because as far as the story implies, they men are free to choose their lifestyle; but nonetheless, it is certainly a bizarre story.

Dear Fox News, All I Want For Christmas Is For You To Shut Up About It.

So yeah. I don't know if you remember all that fuss like two years ago when the Fox NewSpeak (where's Orwell when you need him?) pundits embarked on their crusade to "save Christmas". I certainly do. It was with consternation and a chuckle that I regarded most of those rants, until I saw that they were actually catching on with some portion of the country. I was flabbergasted, and more than a little surprised. The fact that the general populace in whatever form they take could have been subjugated into complicit brainwashing on this subject makes me weep; now, even more than then. And so it begins again...

My friend Jed posts an interesting bit on the more directly political side of it (his entry prompted my remembrance), although I feel as though I have to repost one of his links specifically: a retort against the idea that the USA was built on religious ideals.

And I'm a little sad about Ron Paul's essay that is posted here, because he seemed to have some decent ideas in other arenas. I can only hope he's since come to a more reasonable view, because the essay is in stark contrast with most of his other stated ideals...

Gore Teaches Kindergarden

Is it bad when I have just as vehement an emotional response when an article comes out saying exactly nothing as one that could signal the end of the world? Well, perhaps it's just that I've grown increasingly tired with the mass idiocy that allows Bush to stay liked by *anyone*. Blah. Anyway, here's the article.

Man vs. Woman : The Uber-Dork Chess Showdown

Ok, so the NYT always has these articles with well thought-out and justified theories applied from the experts in various fields and frequently incites thought-provoking conversations. The linked article on the capabilities of women vs. men in the chess world is no different. However, having been through the experience of progressive socialization of introverted male dorks (and I don't think it's a stretch to call the average brilliant young chess player a member of this group), I would like to offer one possible additional data point to consider when taking a woman and putting her in the traditionally male-dominated society of competitive chess. What if the better-than-expected performance of women taking on the men is due in part to the fact that the boys are nervous about being around girls? I have seen this first-hand in educational and performance scenarios, and I don't think it's outside of the realm of possibility. Of course i'm not taking away from the victories those female competitors achieved, I don't suspect there's any real inherent capability bias in either direction. Which is why I don't think statistics would really show a bias either, unless there's some other external factors leading to the shift. I say we just socialize our young dorks a little bit more; and then they would be able to maintain their focus when they come into contact with the female competitor.

or maybe I'm simply projecting my own perceived failings and shortcomings upon these mad scientist children...

Who Buys This Crap?

Seriously. Some people just have too much money. And even worse are those who devote so much time to the subject that they are called "experts". I mean...really? You're that bored?
And I guess that part of the reason it was so sought-after was that it had "retained its original biscuits." Wonderful. Well, I guess that takes care of lunch today. And probably for the next day or two, since you'll be feeling queasy from eating 80-year old biscuits out of a tin box. Well done indeed. Next time you feel like dropping $30,000, I can help you out. Give *me* the 30k, and then I'll poison you, paint an old tin, and conjure up a flowery historical justification for the price since I'm an "expert", too.

Cannonball Run...er, Sprint

This is really a pretty ridiculous story, of this guy who is essentially a rich playboy with many many toys, who decides he wants to be known as an outlaw car racer. So he decides he wants to break the record set by the Cannonball Run (the movie was priceless), and he does it with a dizzying array of advanced equipment and focused police-evasion planning. Check it out...

Bizarre question of dieting and weight control

Now, I’m not sure what I feel about this subject. It seems like he’s blowing smoke on some levels, although in the more complex balances I don’t know enough to say one way or the other. Certainly interesting thoughts, though…

Lifestyles of the Cheap and Shameless

Ahhh, college-humor. WHat a great site...

Paranoid Schizophrenics: How We Can Help

In The Know: Is The Government Spying On Paranoid Schizophrenics Enough?

The generation of random numbers is too important to leave to chance.

Hah, another interweb choice content consisting of phrases people have seen on bumperstickers. Some of them are really pretty good...

Identical Twin Trick

http://gigglesugar.com/710997