Welcome to ...

The place where the world comes together in honesty and mirth.
Windmills Tilted, Scared Cows Butchered, Lies Skewered on the Lance of Reality ... or something to that effect.


Monday, January 25, 2010

Bubble Wrap comes off the wall and into the culture

It is Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day after all ...

Bubble wrap's accidental origin

Fifty years ago today, a failed invention for textured wallpaper took a surprising turn.

People have walked to the altar dressed in it, protected their garden plants with it, even put it on display at highbrow art museums.

Full Story

Stores that might be closing in 2010

Stores that might be closing in 2010

These companies closed a lot of stores in 2009, and are likely to shut more this year.

Compared to Picasso

7-year-old compared to Picasso

An auction of Kieron Williamson's paintings sells out in 15 minutes and raises a stunning sum.

Texas residents flee as earth gives way

Texas residents flee as earth gives way

Shifting ground and gaping holes in San Antonio have engineers mystified.

Thames Eel Population Mysteriously Drops a Staggering 98% In 5 Years

From Treehugger:

european eel photo

Eels were among the first species to recolonize the Thames river after it was cleaned up in the 1960s and 70s. But scientists are sounding an alarm that the populations have crashed over the last five years, and they aren't sure what the problem is.

Rare dinosaur bones studied, at last

Rare dinosaur bones studied, at last

A nearly complete skeleton, once stolen by a fossil hunter, could be a new raptor species.

Is your lawn hurting the environment?

Is your lawn hurting the environment?

Green, manicured yards may be contributing to global warming, a study says.

Leaf Carving: An Incredible New Art Form

Cool art from Treehugger:

leaf sculpture mona lisa photo

Artists create delicate images on leaves by slowly scraping the surface. Photo via Mundo Gump

It's hard not to love the brilliant display of colorful foliage that signals the entrance of autumn each year, but as the cold winter winds prevail, those leaves that once beautified the landscape are left to collect on the ground or be begrudging raked-up in some weekend chore. A new art form emerging out of China, however, is making use of these brittle leaves--creating delicate forms that will continue to be appreciated long after the jackets and sweaters of winter are hung in closets and the green buds of a new season sprout.

Comet storm split destiny of Jupiter's twin moons

Jupiter's two biggest moons only look similar – inside they are very different. Is an ancient comet bombardment to blame?

Comet storm split destiny of Jupiter's twin moons

Cop News

Liars and Fools for the day are:

There are many "Jew-haters" "in the Obama administration or in his circle of friends", lies Lush Dimbulb.
Here he is projecting again, why do NAZIs insist on doing that, projecting themselves on everyone and everything.

Faux's Charles Pain lies sayingObama "betrayed America" by giving TARP money to automakers.
Oh, this idiot again.

Lush Dimbulb lies yet again saying Obama "ran for this office ... to destroy the capitalist system of this country ... and he is succeeding".
Nope, that was your god Dumbya and your cadre and you almost succeeded until we stopped you.

Science News

From BBC-Science:


THE BIG PICTURE
Click to reveal

Haiti's leaders asks citizens to find shelter in countryside

The truckers filling Haiti's mass graves with bodies reported ever higher numbers: More than 150,000 quake victims have been buried by the government, an official said today.

Full Story

Nazi Group Adopts Colorado Highway

National Socialist Movement, also Known as America's Nazi Party, Will Pick Up Trash on One-Mile Stretch

An Adopt-A-Highway sign for the National Socialist Movement, also known as America's Nazi Party, is seen on Highway 85 near Brighton, Colo.
An Adopt-A-Highway sign for the National Socialist Movement, also known as America's Nazi Party, is seen on Highway 85 near Brighton, Colo.

Nazi Group Adopts Colorado Highway

Fixes for 3 common sleep problems

Fixes for 3 common sleep problems

Stop waking up in the middle of the night and start getting more than four or five hours of sleep.

Slow Walking for Slow Down London

From Treehugger:

listen slow.photo
Slow Listening in a park

Slow Down London is a lovely little project which encourages Londoners to slow down and look at the speed of life. One aspect is the Slow Club, an 8 week course with tasks to be done and Sunday's was a slow walk around the Kyoto Gardens in London's Holland Park. A delight for the eye and a wake-up to the senses.

We met at the park and chatted about how surprisingly difficult it was to fulfill our Slow Club assignments. Some were cyclists who never walked, and couldn't cycle "slowly", some couldn't find time to do the meditation and one couldn't eat breakfast and read the paper in slow motion. After the fold: ready to work...

Chimp Movie

From BBC-Science:
Chimpazee looking into Chimpcam
The world's first film shot entirely by chimpanzees is to be broadcast by the BBC as part of a natural history documentary.

It has to be better than the drek out of Hollywood and 'other' places.

Today is ...

Today in History Today is Monday, January 25, the 25th day of 2010.

There are 340 days left in the year.

Today In History January 25

Today's unusual holidays and celebrations are:

Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day

and

A Room Of One's Own Day

Our Readers

Some of our readers today have been in:

London, England, United Kingdom
Baia Mare, Maramures, Romania
Taipei, Taipei, Taiwan
Delhi, Delhi, India
Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
Gampaha, Gampaha, Sri Lanka
Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland
Warrington, England, United Kingdom
Northampton, England, United Kingdom
Manila, Manila, Philippines
Rome Lazio, Italy

as well as Sweden, Scotland, and the United States

Daily Horoscope

Today's horoscope says:

For days you've been dreaming about your spare time and spending it all alone at your place.
Well, that's a nice dream, but it's not going to happen.
When you least expect it -- shortly before quitting time -- you'll get your second wind.
So now what?
Do you call everyone you turned down and say you changed your mind, or stay in because you said you would?
Duh -- get the phone.
They'll only snicker for a second.
Then they'll be so glad to see you it won't matter.

Spare time - I know it's a pipe dream, but it's my pipe dream.

Sunday, January 24, 2010

US can't immediately authenticate bin Laden words

White House officials said Sunday they could not immediately authenticate a new audio message purportedly by al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden that claimed responsibility for the plot to bomb a Detroit-bound airliner on Christmas.

Full Story

Bizarre crimes ... are on the rise

Crimes committed by youthful offenders are becoming more violent, with a noticeable lack of empathy and compassion for others.

Bizarre crimes ... are on the rise

Now even your Chihuahua can tweet

Social networking is going to the dogs.

In its first-ever toy created for the canine community, Mattel is introducing a product called "Puppy Tweets" that meshes the hugely popular Twitter with consumers' love of pets.

Full Story

Oh deer!

10-to-12 point buck breaks into home

An Illinois man says it didn't take him long to decide not to mess with the uninvited, antlered guest he found in his kitchen.

Full Story

Scientists create model of 'Frankenstorm'

Scientists create model of 'Frankenstorm'

Experts envision a scenario under which 8 feet of rain could fall in some areas of California.

Credit cards get sneaky with new fees

Credit cards get sneaky with new fees

Card holders may get billed for inactivity and face "pick-a-rate" pricing under new rules.

Ways to save $100 on groceries

3 ways to save $100 on groceries

These easy tips can add as much as $100 in grocery-store savings each trip.

Best workplaces with big salaries

Best workplaces with big salaries

Some of the highest-rated companies to work for also happen to pay extremely well.

World's most outrageous guest requests

World's most outrageous guest requests

At the world's top luxury hotels, no task for the concierge is too much to ask.

Are Right Wingers Backing Agribusiness Once More?

OK, it's been a Treehugger morning:

conservatives food photo
Image credit: Eat the Cake, Ana Mae

Tom Philpott over at Grist is dismayed. He says that early signs of a conservative backlash against our industrial food system are under attack, and the right wing is moving back toward support of big agribusiness, and the crony capitalism and government subsidies that make it possible. From conservative values achieving liberal green goals, to thoughts on whether environmentalism is even really a movement, there's already been plenty of discussion here on TreeHugger over the idea that green is neither an issue of the left or the right, but rather it's an issue of survival. So I for one am not surprised that many conservatives might find our current food system deeply troubling—after all, everybody eats, regardless of political persuasion. In fact, I just can't fathom why right wingers, and particularly those of a libertarian bent, would jump to the defense of business as usual.

Worsening Marine Carbon Bomb Effects Confirmed In 15-Year Study Of Northern Pacific Ocean

More from Treehugger:

spectrophotometer symbol image
Banner for Urinomics Project, based on the Open Spectrophotometer design. Image credit:OpenWetware.org

Perverse as this sounds, it feels liberating to write about ocean acidification because harassing denialists are hard pressed to claim that acidification followed repeating natural cycles after green plants covered the earth. There is no climate model to lambaste. There are no ivory tower email scandals. And, happily, no apologies are needed for including a wildly speculative glacier melt story in a supposedly peer-reviewed report. No solar cycles or tree-ring-based record reconstruction to explain either.

Now we're having some real good fun. Per the Seattle Times: "The most extensive survey of pH levels in the Pacific Ocean confirms what spot measurements have suggested: From Hawaii to Alaska, the upper reaches of the sea are becoming more acidic in concert with rising carbon dioxide in the atmosphere." Why do I call this a result of the "carbon bomb?"

Processed Foods Becoming Energy Efficient?

From Treehugger:

potatoes.JPG
photo: J. Novak

Sustainability and food processing don't normally go hand in hand. That's why sustainable, local eats are always better for the planet, because they aren't trucked in and minimal energy is used in production. But in the past year the EPA has made a push towards energy efficiency in the food processing industry, and most recently, has given three food processing companies an Energy Star rating.

Pebble splashes break the speed of sound

Interesting

A pebble falling into a pond produces a jet of air that flies faster than a speeding bullet.

Pebble splashes break the speed of sound

Foam fight

Brussels brought to a standstill as protesting firefighters turn their hoses on police

One policeman saw the funny side as he was covered in foam

One policeman saw the funny side as he was covered in foam



And I Quote

Tomorrow is the most important thing in life.
Comes into us at midnight very clean.
It's perfect when it arrives and it puts itself in our hands.
It hopes we've learned something from yesterday.

~ John Wayne

Approaching Storm Could Produce Flooding

Rainfall totals between 1.5-2.5 inches will be likely across most of the region with over 3 inches possible in the mountains.

Approaching Storm Could Produce Flooding

Eiger evening

Eiger evening : This long night exposure photo taken in Wengen ...

Eiger evening : This long night exposure photo taken in Wengen shows Swiss famous north face of the Eiger mountain overlooking the ressort of Grindelwald located in the Bernese Alps.

This is but one of the wonderful photos listed here as the most emailed this week.

Today is ...

Today is Sunday, January 24, the 24th day of 2010.

There are 341 days left in the year.

Today In History January 24

Today's unusual holidays and celebrations are:

Belly Laugh Day

and

National Compliment Day

Our Readers

Some of our readers today have been in:

London, England, United Kingdom
Jakarta, Jakarta Raya, Indonesia
Banff, Alberta, Canada
Trieste, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Italy
Faro, Faro, Portugal
Bucharest, Bucuresti, Romania

as well as Hong Kong, and the United States

Daily Horoscope

Today's horoscope says:

Oh, you're due for a great, big spending spree.
No, that's not your usual style, and you're not known for being an impulse shopper, either, but for right now, that could change.
Instead of being someone else's 'chaperon' at the mall and reminding them of what they 'should' be spending their money on, you may need to ask someone to come along with you instead.
Or you could simply surrender your plastic to someone you trust.

No worries.

Saturday, January 23, 2010

South Carolina repugican Lt. Governor compares children getting free lunches to 'stray animals'

In yet another wonderful piece of South Carolina repugican wisdom ...

South Carolina repugican Lt. Governor compares children getting free lunches to 'stray animals'

Tax the rich? Oregon voters scratching their ballots

Here's an idea that is sure to catch on ...

If any Americans are willing to fork over more to state governments in 2010, it might just be those of Oregon, where voters are deciding the fate of two proposed tax increases that target the wealthy and corporations.

Full Story

Damn, right the rich should pay more taxes as should corporations, including churches!

Green Onions

Booker T and the MGs: Green Onions, Live in Oslo, Norway 4/7/67

The Happy Top Ten List

From the Late Show with David Letterman

Ah, the weather

How's this for a lovely weather forecast:

This evening skies are cloudy with temperatures in the low 40s.

A strong storm system heads our way Sunday. Rain will begin north of I-40 overnight and in the Charlotte area by sunrise Sunday.

As the cold front moves closer to our area, rain will intensify with thunderstorms possible. This is because the front is bringing up warm, moist air which could set the stage for strong to severe thunderstorms late Sunday afternoon and early evening. People north of I-40 will see around 3 inches of rain and 2 inches in the Charlotte metro region.

A Flash Flood Watch will go into place Sunday afternoon for most of our viewing area. The Storm Prediction Center has already placed the Carolinas in a slight risk area for severe storms Sunday. The main threat will be along I-85.

Cooler air will move into our area Monday afternoon with high pressure taking center stage most of our work week.

*****

Yippee! I can't wait. Can you?

Homeless vet honored for last heroic act

Homeless vet honored for last heroic act

Ray Vivier is given full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery.

Restaurants bet on low-calorie menus

Restaurants bet on low-calorie menus

Big chains are trying out healthier dishes — but are keeping their popular diet-busters.

Supreme Court ruling 'devastating'

Obama: Supreme Court ruling 'devastating'

The president says easing campaign finance limits is a blow to the public interest.

The dog who loves racing motorcycles

The dog who loves racing motorcycles

An Australian shepherd named Opee rides in big races, has his own sponsors and loads of fans.

Baby makes friends with boxer

Baby makes friends with boxer

Sometimes the strongest relationships begin with the simplest of gestures.

Things we're learning to live without

21 things we're learning to live without

In the recession, people are giving up more than just their lattes and newspapers.

The white stuff inside an orange peel

The white stuff inside an orange peel

What's the name for that spongy part of the orange, and is it good to eat it?

The amazing healing powers of soup

The amazing healing powers of soup

You know eating soup in winter can help fight off a cold, but the other benefits may surprise you.

Mystery beast and an amazing birth

Mystery beast and an amazing birth

The supposed body of a legendary chupacabra and a bear's birth stir the Web.

Man saved after 11 days under rubble

Man saved after 11 days under rubble

Rescues in Haiti are now very rare, but grocery store clerk Wismond Exantus beat the odds.

Seven clever ways to use a penny

Seven clever ways to use a penny

The overlooked coin isn't worth much — unless you can see past its cash value.

America's most expensive small town

America's most expensive small town

The priciest enclave in the U.S. used to be known for its dusty potato farms.

The World Spins Backwards

The World Spins Backwards

US Marine Corps ends role in Iraq

The U.S. Marine Corps is leaving Iraq.

The U.S. military says the Marines will formally handover control on Saturday of Iraq's western desert to the Army during a ceremony at Camp Ramadi, about 70 miles west of Baghdad.

Border inspectors in California smell something fishy, find 700 pounds of pot in sea bass container

A U.S. border inspector suspected something fishy about the truckload of white sea bass headed into San Diego from Tijuana, Mexico.

Border inspectors in California smell something fishy, find 700 pounds of pot in sea bass container

The Week in Pictures

From Treehugger:

week in pictures january photo

From the news that a new 'super snake' python hybrid may be on the rise in Florida to new research revealing that about 20,000 gallons of Exxon Valdez oil still remains trapped in the gravel beaches of Alaska, a lot happened this week in green. According to Downstream Strategies' latest report, Appalachian coal is set for big declines in the coming decades due to market and legislative forces, Bill Gates argues that "We need innovation, not insulation," concluding that the world is distracted from what counts in terms of dealing with climate change "in a big way," and NPR brings to light how rigorous seed licensing is sticking it to the farmer--or their wallet for that matter. Find out what else happened in the world of green this week in our photo roundup of most popular, most important, and most oddball stories.

the week in pictures