Links posted in August 2005
August 31, 2005
If Walken doesn't do it for ya in 2008 - maybe you'd prefer to vote for someone a bit more resourceful?
Japanoid - if the gas crisis gets worse, maybe you can bring one of these back from Canada, eh?
In case you hadn't noticed, The Onion has opened up all of their archives back to 1996 for free and redesigned their whole site. (Don't worry about poor mrflip, his Onion Premium fees were prorated accordingly). The site redesign includes some new material including polls and a stock ticker and their new approach to excellent streaming premercials that you can't stop is discussed by the publisher.
Now I can finally link back to my favorite article ever: Super Monkey Collider Loses Funding.
My list of truly gnarly insects I've run into around these parts:
1) The dobson fly has a body several inches long and some serious looking mandibles. In real life those fuckers are freaky!
2) toe biters are nasty because they look like giant roaches and deliver a powerful and painful bite.
3) Centepedes like the one found in the tiny picture near the bottom of the page (note that it's from Austin) are friggin huge (that one was 8") and can actually sting you. I've caught one of those before in the chemistry building in san marcos. The thought of one crawling across my stomach at night gives me the willies.
4) scorpions. Nuff said.
5) Tarantulas are friggin' huge, even though the ones I've seen around here aren't nearly as big as they come.
6) trap door spider. Guess that "baby tarantula" I caught wasn't what I thought it was. At least the species is related to tarantulas.
Bush might call for nation wide energy conservation. Hell reportedly a plesant 75 degrees and falling.
August 30, 2005
"It's tough to pay $4.25 for a steak, but 50¢ steaks are tougher."
"Eating good food keeps you able; eating here keeps Earl Abel."
"It was a brave man who at the first oyster."
"Eat here and diet home."
"Our clock will never be stolen. The employees are always watching it."
Scintillating thoughts from the walls of San Antonio's own Earl Abel's restaurant. [more inside]
Amazon Fun - mine the 'Search Inside' data for surprising sequences of Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs) or for your favorite tomes' textual tale of the tape.
August 29, 2005
The Ride for the Roses is coming up. Although volunteer sign up is not yet "open to the public", you could sign up now if you know where to go...
The 'Span ends his 18-Year World Tour, but not before predicting the end of the housing boom and warning of the moral hazard inherent in a low risk-premium. Fans will reportedly pack in to Greenspan's few remaining small-club shows before he retires to his palatial Yorba Linda fantasy ranch to spend more time with his wife.
Piled higher & Deeper (PhD) This ends my self-imposed exile from Alkaline Earth. I am done with school. Yeehaw. Now, let the wasting of time begin anew.
August 26, 2005
Where's the tumble weed? [more inside]
August 25, 2005
Where's enron in this time of need? What's a rolling blackout without the price gouging that should go with it?
9 steps towards US adopting the Kyoto protocol. Some states are taking matters into their own hands.
$15.99? Hipster alert! Hipster alert!
It is produced by steve albini! [more inside]
It's amazing the weird shit you find at kiteforum.com like this trampoline of sorts.
Just for fun in the comments post an explanation you'd give if a kid/friend/mother/priest/advisor accidentally came across it in your room.
Heh, guess who provide the voices for "ace" and "gary" of the ambiguously gay duo. The answer and much more after this short break... [more inside]
August 24, 2005
I was amused by this:
"In simple terms, [Matt Leinart's] about to embark upon the most amazing year of college that anyone — state-side or abroad — has ever had in the history of the world. Lucky guy."
Which was prefaced by this:
"By nature, being a fifth-year senior is pretty ideal.
While most of your friends are slugging it out at 9-to-5 entry-level jobs, you're still at college, having the time of your life. As they fill out Excel spreadsheets, type up memos, and figure out the optimal time to sneak onto instant messenger, you're entertaining guests, courting freshmen girls, and debating between Dominos and Papa John's. Life's good when you are a fifth-year senior.
Now, toss in the fact that you are a Heisman Trophy winner, a good looking dude, and one of the most successful college athletes of all-time — that's pretty much the best situation any American male has ever had while pursuing a secondary education."
Right.
Lost Entourage Scenes - C list stars reenact your favorite scenes from Entourage. (NSFW language) [more inside]
August 23, 2005
yeah, it's real. [more inside]
What's in stuff like erasers, hair dye, etc. Cool site from chemical and engineering news.
Why didn't we elect this guy back in '88? He'd be so despised that America would never have another Republican president ever again.
The 10 Most Ridiculous Black Metal Pix of 2005 / The 10 Most Ridiculous Black Metal Pix of 2004. Some NSFW. [WFMU]
With all the birthdays this month lets reflect how unproductive you've all been. Lawrence Bragg was awarded the nobel prize at 25. What have you done today? [more inside]
War, what war? All I see is happy news man...
August 22, 2005
You know, there's something about class IIIb and IV lasers available in pen form over the internet that's a bit scary.
Who likes comics with long, drawn-out story lines? (I know McD does.) Sluggy Freelance is starting the latest installment of Harry Potter parodies, entitled Torg Potter and the President from Arkansas. [more inside]
So, when you see the "no pacemakers" warning outside of a SQUID or MRI lab, you're probably worried about your credit cards being demagnetized at best.
August 21, 2005
Legend of the Sacred Stone - 400 years ago, Mo Kuei threatened to destroy all of Wulin (warrior's forest or circle). The great sage, Su Huan-jen has summoned three heroes from different kung fu schools to help him avert this disaster. Together, the three heroes wait in ambush as Mo Kuei gathers his spiritual energy on the Tianji mountain peak. [more inside]
August 20, 2005
Hell yes. A most appropriate sendoff.
What are Mammatus Clouds? You've got me, but they are freakin' beautiful.
Yet the solar model lives on!
From PhysicsWeb:
John Bahcall, one of the world's leading astrophysicists, has died at the age of 70 from a rare blood disorder. Bahcall, who was based at the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, was best known for his theoretical work on solar neutrinos. He was also president elect of the American Physical Society and had served as president of the American Astronomical Society between 1990 and 1992.
[more inside]
August 19, 2005
The coming global pandemic:
Bird flu outbreak could kill 1.5 billion people. A chilling possibility. Can't find it now, but I read earlier reports through Nature, that the WHO is stockpiling the antiviral drug TAMIFLU for employees.
[more inside]
Secret Spain - OK, so the tune is familiar, but listen to this song while reading this transcription(?) of the lyrics into english and realize that you are gazing at the product of sheer genius. Also check out the mp3s by musical luminaries the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Bill and Ted, MC Skat Kat, and The General Lee. [Cyn-C]
His Holiness the Dalai Lama to Speak at UT on September 20, 2005 (tix @ 7am Sept. 6). [more inside]
NanoCindy and I checked out the Killers concert tonight at Stubb's and I want to take this time to send out a special, special dedication to the girl standing to my left. [more inside]
Chapters 1-5, Sync'ed and Simultaneous [mov], of R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet"
August 18, 2005
Roger Ebert's website now has a 'Most Hated' feature. It includes natch roastings of 'Battlefield Earth,' 'B.A.P.S.' and 'Ballistic: Ecks vs. Sever' but also a surprise skewering of 'The Ususal Suspects.' See especially the Deuce Bigalow 2 review, containing one of the burningest burns ever delivered.
Some links from my college pal Terry:
First, some quotes from Republicans during the Kosovo attacks.
Second, a recent approval ratings survey of Bush, et al. (Terry is a much better writer than I am. His post about it is more interesting.)
Terrorism gets a bad rap. Personally, I don't see what all the fuss is about. Take the Moro Islamic Liberation Front, for example.
Walken is Runnin' - "The way our founding fathers looked at it, the constitution is our country's birthright. They'd be damned if any of the limeys were gonna get their greasy hands on this country's birthright. So they endowed it with the one thing they knew could mean something: a dedication to the proposition that all men are created equal. For four long years, one man bears this watch. Then when he leaves office, he transfers power peacefully. The actions of the recent administration have felt like having an uncomfortable piece of metal up my ass for two years. I've discussed this with my friends and discussed it with my family. And now, little man, I ask for your vote."
August 17, 2005
A letter from Reido, of Reido's Sliders fame, re: the impending close of his business and subsequent opening of "G/M Nights: Live!".
Countering the Google Maps/Keyhole street level mapping dominance is plucky underdog Amazon. Instead of satellite mapping, A9.com (Amazon offshoot and home of the pi/2 discount) has paid people to drive around in several cities and take block by block pictures out of both windows. The result? I don't have to describe how to find my apartment complex anymore.
August 16, 2005
I'm flabbergasted...who can possibly sell a stack of 14 "unauthorized" Apples-to-Apples cards on Ebay (for twenty bucks!) when that person hasn't ever been to nanocousy's house on FamGamNight? Unpossible!
The pictures and the "Ask the Seller" sections are priceless.
[more inside]
As you may know, I've been out of the country for a while; perhaps you've been otherwise tied up as well. I've since found that in my absence, many burning questions I never thought to ask had been answered. Such as:
- What should I pack on my next trip to Toronto? Canada's Admissible and Prohibited Titles bilingually lets you know!
- Where can I find a definitive collection of Proto-ABBA Boy Bands from the 70s? Right here, that's where!
- How does my killer Summer 'Stache stack up? Compare yours against those in the World Moustache Database!
- What profession of people gives their children the dumbest names? Rock Stars, that's who!
- Can I get closer in touch with my southern heritage, preferably while banjos duel? This video may help.
- Are you telling the truth? This is a true story swear to God.
- Is this also a true story, swear to God? I don't know, but the tale of Voytek, the Iranian soldier-bear of Monte Cassino is a fantastic one indeed.
- What's in your wallet? These and these, you wish.
- How crazy is Mike Tyson? Well, he's not Mother Teresa. But he's also not Charles Manson!
Thanks, Thighmaster, Cynic, BoingBoing and Craig!
Damn!
This is why I just do pron marathons.
Fourteen Ways to Die in Shanghai - Here’s a useful tourist map of Shanghai - it labels 14 choice spots to go kill yourself.
August 14, 2005
Quarters Master [wmv] (thx Cyn-c)
Gallery of Novelty Rap Albums - it's all there, from MC Skat Kat to 2 Live Jews. Also enjoy this MP3 of Rapper's Delight in German (Thanks WFMU!)
Clone Your Bone or Match Your Snatch. Whichever. [NSFW]
For Sale... Eagles Jersey - only $100, nCindy!
August 12, 2005
who wants a big mac? just wondering which one out there is going to be the first to try this? may be sG or nateogg's already been to surplus to pick up a laptop to try it out on
At some point in the recent past, for reasons I have chosen to forget, the movie club faithful were searching the internets for breast milk resources. It was after the movie and someone wondered aloud whether people had ever used (human) breast milk in their favorite recipes.
While searching for that information, we came across the tell all book Fresh Milk: The Secret Life of Breasts (choose your favorite from among the suggestive covers). It was determined that, yes, the UT system carried that book and moreover that soku was interested enough to go get it and save me from repeating the embarassing moment with the checkout girl when I tried to research this topic. Anyway, I managed to read the whole thing before it got recalled (poor soku missed out) and before sending it back I used my trusty scanner to share these breast-milk recipes and musings with you.
Top 25 unanswered scientific questions (Science)
From UT, I think you can access the above article.
As determined by Science. Also check out
the next hundred. or read below.
[more inside]
August 11, 2005
Specialized bitch! "It's one of the first bikes in the world to have no rear hub. That's right, no rear hub. The rear wheel has a special magnetically polarized rim that is suspended inside the frame, where it floats inside a magnetic suspension field."
Yeah, I'll believe that when it rolls off the production line.
Please, please check out the "Berkely Groks" science podcast. Any one of us could do a 1000 times better job podcasting than that clusterfuck of a show. The jokes aren't even nerd funny...
August 10, 2005
Open letter to all Honda owners More fun from Craigslist.
Alamo Theaters #1 In case you didn't know that already.
August 09, 2005
Kung Fu Science: They may not know the Centipede Technique but they come armed with data graphs and an "Einstein Year" logo.
The REU student working in our lab this summer found an ad in the Chronicle for the latest disc from this guy and thought I might be interested. [more inside]
Most disturbing products on the market... So, which item would you vote for? It's hard for me to actually choose...though the "truck balls" are a bit odd...and my sister actually saw "a pair" while driving the other day.
August 08, 2005
One and half times more Tinsleys on this great planet of outs. Hey, anyone seen the latest addition to the Tinsley family? And if he is reading this...congrats...
Get your sliders while you still can.
August 07, 2005
August 06, 2005
The oldest trick for guaranteed comedy in the book: translate into Chinese then back to English. In this case, we have the captions from a bootleg version of Revenge of the Sith AKA The Backstroke of the West from the streets of Shanghai.
August 05, 2005
Wikipedia restricts editing ability. Sorry- I got this from fark. But considering the amount wikipedia is linked on AE, I think you'll forgive me. Also, the fourth paragraph is awesome.
I'm all for responsible parenting when younger children and video games are involved, but I'm not quite sure how I feel about this. [more inside]
August 04, 2005
did one of you submit this thing? Looks familiar for some reason... [more inside]
Understatement: "Her desire to cuddle after sex does not justify the extremely violent, brutal response of the defendant."
In a world, ... without science ... "Tucked away in the Hollywood hills, an elite group of scientists from across the country and from a grab bag of disciplines - rocket science, nanotechnology, genetics, even veterinary medicine - has gathered this week to plot a solution to what officials call one of the nation's most vexing long-term national security problems." [more inside]
Afrosamurai. Blaxploitation and samurais in the same movie! This is Nate's thesis man, this is his closing argument! We can stop watching TV! [more inside]
August 03, 2005
Again trying to beat zieglerfe to the punch, here is the most NSFW ever link: The Lesbian Movie Database. Why NSFW, you ask? Why, that'd be because of the pictures. Look now before word gets around and the internets break down from all the people trying to click at once. [more inside]
Surviving Graduate School. From the February 2005 issue of Physics World. This is really for physics graduate students, but it seems general enough for other disciplines. [more inside]
What an awesome pic, congrats guys. [more inside]
Finally something to do with your free copy of google earth.
August 02, 2005
Quirks and Quarks podcast. Is there anything better than canada and science? How about science discussed by a canadian! This is a true diamond in the raw.
(you can also subscribe to this podcast through the iTunes podcast directory)
So Ned, did any of your frat brothers from Hawaii go to this school? Sounds prestigious.
Continuing the saga to figure out why so many Hollywood movies are total crap, we have a remarkably fascinating opinion by critic David Thomson. Mentioned in that article (which is worth the time it takes to read, IMO) is an even more excoriating article from Pauline Kael entitled, "Why Are Movies So Bad?, or The Numbers." Published in The New Yorker in 1980, it hits just about every nail right on the head in describing the studio system and how the most mediocre product shakes out (example: did habcous's family really think this was going to be the feel-good video rental of the holiday season?). Unfortunately, the hopefulness that dreck won't continue to be produced is belied by the two decades that intervene.
Bid on Busch. With all of the Hi-Def, digital, and plasma televisions on the market, now might be the perfect time to by that 104,328 inch TV you always had your eye on.
And, Valatan, it may also be cool to purchase a giant piece of plastic that is a relative to the beast that ate Vince Coleman and helped take our 1985 dreams down with it.
Mwiriwe -- Hello -- from Rwanda! No link -- maybe natedogg can come through and linkify where appropriate. Rwanda is a beautiful country full of friendly ad hopeful people. The sadness of the genocide is everywhere palpable but the Rwandans are dealing zith it by putting it out in the open and looking for reconciliation and closure. We have visited genocide sites and the genocide memorial, which where heart-wrenching. This saturday we are incredibly priviledged to see the Gacaca, the reconciliation trials. On a lighter note I have some nice new linen pants and a few beautiful pieces of woodcraft, plus a ton of amazing photos. The mutatas -- axi buses -- are often decorated zth emblems advocating Jesus, 50 cent, the Knicks -- even once the Wizards !! not wizznutzz:
Anyway more once I have a US keyboard and decent connxn!! [more inside]
Looking for a new car, why not start here.
August 01, 2005
It's been ten days and I just can't resist any longer. A recent post by luloutoo that I thoroughly enjoyed has emboldened me to do something similar and post photos of the recent edition to my household.
Warning to my homies: 30 days ago the sheer obnoxiousness of this post would have made me sick to my stomach. Now, it seems, much has changed.
Lore Sjoberg, the mastermind behind one of the best early internet humor sites ever (Exhibit A, Exhibit B, Exhibit C), has a theory. He thinks that it's impossible to hide a joke for 100 years ("since vaudeville") and/or it's improbable that a 100 year old tasteless joke was never written down in a Truly Tasteless Jokes book or posted to the stone-age internets. Therefore, he declares The Aristocrats to be an elaborate fabricated joke on you. Does anyone think that Penn, Gilbert, and that bastard Bob Saget couldn't pull this over on the public?
Ladies: let's talk frankly for a moment. Is your man giving you everything that you need to be happy, you know, in bed? Is he packing a full arsenal, so to speak? Head over to the condom water volume test to see how he stacks up. (Work safety level: like reading Savage Love with water balloon pictures).
Message brought to you by the Committee to Make These Kinds of Posts Faster Than Zieglerfe.
Does anyone remember "Wild Animus"? The free book that popped up in the most unlikely places. Look where we found it! [more inside]