Headline: Boast leads to arrest in N.Y. Starbucks bombing
All I could think of was Battlestar.
Showing posts with label Foolishness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Foolishness. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Science Behind the Song
Headline: Premature Ejaculation May Be A Genetic Disorder
FTA: In an earlier study, researchers in The Netherlands linked premature ejaculation to a gene for serotonin regulation in a group of two hundred men. The new data from Finland independently show a genetic link to premature ejaculation in a much larger group, and rule out environmental factors.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
An incredibly unfair comparison
Democrats Vs. Republicans
Call it brand management. Call it positioning. This is how a lot of people see American politics today. Over the weekend I had a very enjoyable talk with a very bright Conservative (yes, they do exist) and I don't want anyone to think that my occasional hyperbole is (entirely) serious.
Still, its tough to look at these stories and not immediately think about the battle lines that have been drawn, particularly during this decade, and see how things have come to this point, this point where these two stories are beside one another on the front page of CNN.com.
I grew up in what you might call a New England Republican household. We talked a lot about fiscal policy. We never spoke of holding back homosexuals or the march of science. That, more and more, the Republican party represents these things is appalling. Especially while they're failing at what is, ostensibly, the one unifying thread they're suppose to all share: "Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran, the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, topped the list of senators receiving earmarks, with a total of $653 million." & "Alaska led the nation in pork per capita, at $322 a person." (Source)
OK, this one's gotten away from me. I'm rambling. Anyone else curious about these Tea/Teabag parties? It's going to be a bumpy four years. Hang on.
Oh, and PS, how fraken amazing is that Stem Cell article, eh?
Call it brand management. Call it positioning. This is how a lot of people see American politics today. Over the weekend I had a very enjoyable talk with a very bright Conservative (yes, they do exist) and I don't want anyone to think that my occasional hyperbole is (entirely) serious.
Still, its tough to look at these stories and not immediately think about the battle lines that have been drawn, particularly during this decade, and see how things have come to this point, this point where these two stories are beside one another on the front page of CNN.com.
I grew up in what you might call a New England Republican household. We talked a lot about fiscal policy. We never spoke of holding back homosexuals or the march of science. That, more and more, the Republican party represents these things is appalling. Especially while they're failing at what is, ostensibly, the one unifying thread they're suppose to all share: "Mississippi Sen. Thad Cochran, the ranking Republican on the Senate Appropriations Committee, topped the list of senators receiving earmarks, with a total of $653 million." & "Alaska led the nation in pork per capita, at $322 a person." (Source)
OK, this one's gotten away from me. I'm rambling. Anyone else curious about these Tea/Teabag parties? It's going to be a bumpy four years. Hang on.
Oh, and PS, how fraken amazing is that Stem Cell article, eh?
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
This is why we haven't cured cancer yet.
FTA: Scientific navel-gazing has been taken to new heights by a chemist who claims he has solved one of the great mysteries of human biology: why men produce navel fluff, but women do not.
Our future, as a species, just got that much brighter.
Our future, as a species, just got that much brighter.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Small world.
Like most small boys, I was obsessed with dinosaurs. I couldn't get enough of them. As a consequence, when I found out that birds had evolved from dinosaurs I became very interested in birds as well. Being a child I sort of mentally filed birds into two categories, those that were close relatives to dinosaurs and those that were further away. I based these ideas on next nothing, just played by juvenile hunches.
Birds that were close to dinosaurs (and thus my favorites)? Eagles, Vultures, Ostriches and Emu.
I've seen these animals in zoos and other tourist traps. I'd seen their eggs and feathers in museums. I never figured I'd get to handle one of their eggs. Let alone eat one... so when my wife mentioned seeing Ostrich and Emu eggs at our local Whole Foods I insisted she take me.
This, to me, is crazier than cell phones, internet and laptops. Surgery using a camera and flexible tubes? Pedestrian! Emu eggs in a Goddamn grocery store?! You gotta be kidding me! (They were out of ostrich eggs when I went.)
This is an object that should be rare... but its not. Sure, at thirty dollars an egg, it's a bit pricey, but this is still incredible. I guess it makes sense on some level, I'd been aware of the rise in emu farming since one escaped and was hit by a car in my home town (Westford, Ma), but a part of me, the part of me that made up his mind about these things at the age of 6, always thought I would need to travel across the globe to lay my hands on a real emu egg.
For size comparison, here's the emu egg with a duck egg (also neat, but less so. About the size of chicken egg).
Birds that were close to dinosaurs (and thus my favorites)? Eagles, Vultures, Ostriches and Emu.
I've seen these animals in zoos and other tourist traps. I'd seen their eggs and feathers in museums. I never figured I'd get to handle one of their eggs. Let alone eat one... so when my wife mentioned seeing Ostrich and Emu eggs at our local Whole Foods I insisted she take me.
This, to me, is crazier than cell phones, internet and laptops. Surgery using a camera and flexible tubes? Pedestrian! Emu eggs in a Goddamn grocery store?! You gotta be kidding me! (They were out of ostrich eggs when I went.)
This is an object that should be rare... but its not. Sure, at thirty dollars an egg, it's a bit pricey, but this is still incredible. I guess it makes sense on some level, I'd been aware of the rise in emu farming since one escaped and was hit by a car in my home town (Westford, Ma), but a part of me, the part of me that made up his mind about these things at the age of 6, always thought I would need to travel across the globe to lay my hands on a real emu egg.
For size comparison, here's the emu egg with a duck egg (also neat, but less so. About the size of chicken egg).
Saturday, March 21, 2009
The R-Word
Sarah Palin lashed out at Obama for using the word 'retard,' a term that is highly offensive to her people. In what could, perhaps, be related news, Palin turned down part of her state's share of the stimulus. Among the rejected funds where those designated for education.
Palin wasn't the only one offended by Obama's remarks. Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, has called on the White House to hire one of their athletes. Perhaps Mr. Shriver has forgotten the devastation caused by that hiring policy during the previous administration.
Palin wasn't the only one offended by Obama's remarks. Timothy Shriver, chairman of the Special Olympics, has called on the White House to hire one of their athletes. Perhaps Mr. Shriver has forgotten the devastation caused by that hiring policy during the previous administration.
Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Scientists Develop New Way to Blind Children, the Elderly
FTA: Scientists in the U.S. are developing a laser gun that could kill millions of mosquitoes in minutes.
The laser, which has been dubbed a "weapon of mosquito destruction" fires at mosquitoes once it detects the audio frequency created by the beating of its wings.
The laser beam then destroys the mosquito, burning it on the spot.
FARK should prepare the Florida tags now. Red Necks will mount these to their trucks... hilaritastrophies will follow.
The laser, which has been dubbed a "weapon of mosquito destruction" fires at mosquitoes once it detects the audio frequency created by the beating of its wings.
The laser beam then destroys the mosquito, burning it on the spot.
FARK should prepare the Florida tags now. Red Necks will mount these to their trucks... hilaritastrophies will follow.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Cute Commercial
It raises an interesting question that isn't really up my alley- what would happen with a robot with AGI that has out 'lived' its usefulness? In reality, I don't think we'll create much AGI, not because we will never be able to, but because there are good reasons not to. For starters, narrow AI- AI that has little-to-no personality, little-to-no opinions- would be more appealing to businesses that are likely to be the first to be able to afford AI. This is also, not coincidentally, where the majority of the funding into AI research is going.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Muckflash's Robot Love Story
The articles claims are dubious, in my opinion. I can't find anything on the Doctor or the Lab or the Robot prior to this article. The article itself seems to be the only source of this story which is ripping its way through several blogs that I like.
None-the-less, this is the story of a robot programmed to love... but, apparently, not programmed to respect boundries. FTA: The trouble all started when a young female intern began to spend several hours each day with Kenji, testing his systems and loading new software routines. When it came time to leave one evening, however, Kenji refused to let her out of his lab enclosure and used his bulky mechanical body to block her exit and hug her repeatedly. The intern was only able to escape after she had frantically phoned two senior staff members to come and temporarily de-activate Kenji.
Several things bother me about this article, not the least of which is this claim: After some limited environmental conditioning, Kenji first demonstrated love by bonding with a a stuffed doll in his enclosure, which he would embrace for hours at a time. He would then make simple, but insistent, inquiries about the doll if it were out of sight.
Juxtaposed by this: It doesn’t help that Kenji uses only pre-recorded dog and cat noises to communicate and is able to vocalize his love through a 20 watt speaker in his chest.
Other descriptions suggest a robot with ambulatory capacities beyond what are generally seen in even the best androids.
Verdict: Fake.
None-the-less, this is the story of a robot programmed to love... but, apparently, not programmed to respect boundries. FTA: The trouble all started when a young female intern began to spend several hours each day with Kenji, testing his systems and loading new software routines. When it came time to leave one evening, however, Kenji refused to let her out of his lab enclosure and used his bulky mechanical body to block her exit and hug her repeatedly. The intern was only able to escape after she had frantically phoned two senior staff members to come and temporarily de-activate Kenji.
Several things bother me about this article, not the least of which is this claim: After some limited environmental conditioning, Kenji first demonstrated love by bonding with a a stuffed doll in his enclosure, which he would embrace for hours at a time. He would then make simple, but insistent, inquiries about the doll if it were out of sight.
Juxtaposed by this: It doesn’t help that Kenji uses only pre-recorded dog and cat noises to communicate and is able to vocalize his love through a 20 watt speaker in his chest.
Other descriptions suggest a robot with ambulatory capacities beyond what are generally seen in even the best androids.
Verdict: Fake.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
The Amazing now...
Louis CK just totally made me feel like a d!ck. My whole blogging life is dedicated to the idea that the future is going to be so much more amazing than the present, but Louis points out things are pretty amazing already.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Friday, January 30, 2009
Saddlebacking Defined!
I’m a devoted Dan Savage Sex Column reader over at the Village Voice. A month ago Dan answered this question…
Dear Dan: Is "saddleback" a sex act? If not, can you define it as one? Or if it is, can you popularize it? Each time I hear about Rick Warren, I can't get past the name of his church. - Jeffy Lube
Stephen Colbert joked on his show that "saddleback" was a sex act, but he didn't define it. So I guess we'll have to. Suggested definitions can be sent to saddleback@savagelove.net.
http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-12-31/columns/is-saddleback-a-sex-act/
He published a few of his favorite answers on January 13th. Click on the link below if you want to read them…and yes you might be offended. I personally voted for #4.
http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-01-14/columns/savage-love-saddleback-is-the-new-santorum/
And finally, on Tuesday, January 27th, Dan defined the term (and why it’s a ridiculous idea and dangerous act) here…
http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-01-28/columns/why-do-men-wear-socks-in-porn-plus-saddlebacking-defined/2
AND gave it a website!
http://saddlebacking.com/
I think this man is brilliant, and I am going to try and use this word whenever I can.
Dear Dan: Is "saddleback" a sex act? If not, can you define it as one? Or if it is, can you popularize it? Each time I hear about Rick Warren, I can't get past the name of his church. - Jeffy Lube
Stephen Colbert joked on his show that "saddleback" was a sex act, but he didn't define it. So I guess we'll have to. Suggested definitions can be sent to saddleback@savagelove.net.
http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-12-31/columns/is-saddleback-a-sex-act/
He published a few of his favorite answers on January 13th. Click on the link below if you want to read them…and yes you might be offended. I personally voted for #4.
http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-01-14/columns/savage-love-saddleback-is-the-new-santorum/
And finally, on Tuesday, January 27th, Dan defined the term (and why it’s a ridiculous idea and dangerous act) here…
http://www.villagevoice.com/2009-01-28/columns/why-do-men-wear-socks-in-porn-plus-saddlebacking-defined/2
AND gave it a website!
http://saddlebacking.com/
I think this man is brilliant, and I am going to try and use this word whenever I can.
Friday, January 16, 2009
INTRODUCING......FUMBLES
Tonight we will present the final episode of G.I. JOE in all of it's glory..
Enjoy.
Enjoy.
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