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Monthly Archives: October 2005

Just a Little Slang Among Buddies?

Harriet Miers ProfileI have received quite a few emails about the latest New York Times article discussing the close relationship between the President and his SCOTUS appointee. The article begins talking about a birthday card Bush sent to Miers on her 52nd birthday that said:

I appreciate your friendship and candor – never hold back your sage advice.

J-Luv, however, caught something that very few news sources have the guts to report. Right after the above line, Bush wrote:

P.S. No more public scatology.

At first, I didn’t believe it. Then I found the Associated Press story confirmed by CBS News and IndyStar.

I got nothin’ to say. Wouldn’t have expected it. John says I need a new category just for this.

If someone can find a copy of the actual card, let me know.

Create Your Own Death Ray

Archimedes Death Ray SketchChildren under the ages of 16 must have adult supervision.

On episode 16 of MythBusters, the hosts of the show, Jamie and Adam, were unable to recreate the Archimedes Death Ray and thus considered the myth “busted.” A class of MIT students was not thwarted by their feeble attempts and realized that it could have been a real possibility by doing a little math.

Like many crazy deprived MIT students, they took up the challenge and created a prototype Archimedes Death Ray.

Protoype Archimedes Death Ray

By using an array of mirrors, they were able to focus enough sunlight on a targeted faux ship to set it on fire.

Archimeds Death Ray Prototype Burning Ship

The course instructor, David Wallace, even put together a pretty cool FAQ about the feasibility of such a weapon.

Should We Be Surprised?

N.Y. subway threat tip a hoax (CNN)
NYC Subway Threat Info Not Substantiated (FoxNews)
Fabricated fear (Newsday)
‘No Evidence’ Of NYC Subway Threat (CBS News)
New York City subway threat a hoax (CTV)
New York subway alert ends, plot appears unfounded (Reuters)

It is becoming more than coincidence that whenever bad times hits the government that a terror related event is reported. This is a phenomenon that seems to be concerning the main stream more and more.

Tomorrow on Countdown, Keith Olbermann will be hosting a special feature entitled ‘The Nexus of Politics and Terror.’ Here is how he describes it:

Last Thursday, we spoke of at least 13 coincidences of timing between bad political news for the government and a terror or terror-related event. We will be presenting a special report detailing those and other coincidences on Wednesday night’s edition of this news hour, “The Nexus of Politics and Terror” on COUNTDOWN this Wednesday at 8:00 and midnight Eastern here on MSNBC.

Countdown: Nexus of Politics and Terror

What’s that again about the boy who cried wolf?

Tired of Bathing in the Dark?

With your new LTT illuminated bathtub, you don’t have to! Get rid of those tired old candles. With one flip of a switch, your polyethylene tub will light up like hippie Uncle Charlie on Christmas. They’ll even throw in the sink. My question: Can they light up my toilet?

Light Up Bathtub

(via Popgadget)

Catholic Church Believes Bible Not Totally Accurate

The VaticanIs it cold in here or is hell freezing over?

The Catholic bishops of England, Wales, and Scotland are warning their congregations and those studying scripture not to expect “total accuracy” from the Bible. As for Genesis and creationism, they insist that the scripture cannot be “historical” and, at most, may contain “historical traces”.

In regards to fundamentalism, they also state:

Such an approach is dangerous, for example, when people of one nation or group see in the Bible a mandate for their own superiority, and even consider themselves permitted by the Bible to use violence against others.

500 hundred years too late?

Here are some of the passages the Bishops addressed, as formatted by the Times Online:

BELIEVE IT OR NOT

UNTRUE

Genesis ii, 21-22

So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while
he slept he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh;
and the rib which the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a
woman and brought her to the man

Genesis iii, 16

God said to the woman [after she was beguiled by the serpent]:
“I will greatly multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall
bring forth children, yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he
shall rule over you.”

Matthew xxvii, 25

The words of the crowd: “His blood be on us and on our children.”

Revelation xix,20

And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in
its presence had worked the signs by which he deceived those who had
received the mark of the beast and those who worshipped its image.
These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with
brimstone.”

TRUE

Exodus iii, 14

God reveals himself to Moses as: “I am who I am.”

Leviticus xxvi,12

“I will be your God, and you shall be my people.”

Exodus xx,1-17

The Ten Commandments

Matthew v,7

The Sermon on the Mount

Mark viii,29

Peter declares Jesus to be the Christ

Luke i

The Virgin Birth

John xx,28

Proof of bodily resurrection

I have been unable to find an online copy of their document, The Gifts of Scripture. If anyone has one, please let me know.

Creepy Plants

Creepy Eye Plant1st Ave Machine put together this eerie animation of plants with different eyes, beaks, and appendages. Brings a whole new meaning to vegetarianism. (via Boing Boing)

The Case of Alligator v. Python

Case: Biting off more than you can chew

A Florida alligator had a rough end last week when a 13-foot Burmese python swallowed it whole. Justice seemed served, however, when the python burst from its immense prey.

Python Eating Alligator

Happy Friday!

Calivn And Hobbes game

Solar Eclipse Picz

A few days ago, on October 3rd, Europe, Africa, and Southern Asia got to experience an annular solar eclipse. Not only is the moon blocking out the sun cool, a buncha peeps took some really cool photos of it. Here is the actual eclipse:

The coolest photos use either natural refraction or reflection to multiply the moon’s shadow. Here are a couple of ones I liked:

Eclipse Pattern on Hand
Credit: ‘L’

You can find more pictures on flickr.

National Geographic Wildcam

For about two weeks now, I have been watching this incredible National Geographic webcam set up at a remote watering hole in southern Africa. By tuning in at any time, you might end up seeing elephants, zebras, giraffes, monkeys, and all kinds of other creatures. Currently, the hot time to watch is 10am – 12am EST.

Wildcam