At least according to Think Geek, the Japanese kanji character for “lucky” is similar in appearance to the character for “doodie/poo.”
(If anyone can verify this, please do so in the comment section below).
Thus, a golden doodie good luck charm.
For sale at Think Geek.
Only $3.99.
As many of us had wished-upon those (bastard) classmates who were “successful” in high school: a recent study showed that 29% of high school seniors who were “doing well” failed to become financially independent by age 26, and 20% failed to meet their expected life goals at age 26.
Dr. John Schulenberg, professor of developmental psychology at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor:
“We used to think that if things were going well in high school, they’d continue to go well.”
Ha. Ha.
(via Susan, via Psychology Today)
(photo: AP)
Though technically they aren’t “lost” - they know exactly where they are - this population near the Peruvian/Brazilian border has had no known contact with the “outside world” until last month. Recent aerial photos taken in May 2008 offer the first proof of their existence and provide some clues to their way of life.
Some new facts about this recently discovered tribe:
• They don’t like airplanes.
• They aren’t very good at hitting airplanes with spears or arrows.
• They aren’t interested in maintaining front or back lawns.
• They believe that orange bodypaint is “the new black.”
(via Neatorama)
Miracle Fruit, Miracle Berry, Magic Berry, or Flavor Berry (Synsepalum dulcificum) - a native West African red berry that contains the active glycoprotein miraculin. When consumed, miraculin has an interesting effect on the tastebuds - for as long as an hour after consumption, it causes sour foods to be perceived as sweet.
Though for several years this fruit has been known in Japan, only recently have Americans started enjoying this phenomenon in their own way - “Flavor Tripping Parties.” At these parties, Miracle Fruit and an assortment of sour foods are served (grapefruit, lime, certain cheeses, etc.) to guests as an experimental/novel type of dinner party (video link).
Given the enthusiasm generated by a recent New York Times article on Miracle Fruit, most internet-based Miracle Fruit vendors are currently sold-out.
Super Bonus Round: Grow your own Miracle Fruit (only takes 4-10 years)!
Though the art of engraving designs onto metal currency pre-existed “Hobo Nickels,” when the American “Indian Head Nickel” was released in 1913, the art form took off. Given the large size and relative low cost of the nickel, this became the canvas of choice among hobos - often adding a hat and scruffy beard to the Indian portrait, making him into a hobo.
The Original Hobo Nickel Society (OHNS) is doing its best to keep this odd artform alive - take a look at their gallery of newly crafted Hobo Nickels.
(via Garry)
Via Gawker.com, this just in: a “facebook tipster” (aka facebook programmer) reports that from one’s facebook page, the tables can easily be turned on the five people who stalk you most!
Simply click in the search area on the lefthand column and press the down arrow. Et voila, there it is: five people who previously thought they could watch you from a-far. Wah wah wah.
Post Script: Gawker also notes that this fact is something to share with nerds. Consider yourselves shared-with. I certainly did.
(via Aly)
UPDATE: Somewhat mysteriously, the ‘cheat’ requirements have been modified. Interested parties will now need to hit the spacebar followed by the down arrow. Mr. Zuckerberg, you are one TRICKY TRICKY man.
This is the kind of stuff you dream up while waiting around in IKEA for 2 hours.
Enter your first name and it will create your Swedish furniture name.
Click on the link for a printable version.
Bonus Round: The Blogadilla Action Hero Name Generator
(©2008 Blogadilla.com; assembled/generated by Steve B., designed by Tim)
Charles Babbage designed computers in the mid-1800’s - though operating with gears, many were effectively digital. He designed (yet never successfully completed building) the “Difference Engine no. 2″ - designed to do complex polynomial equations (necessary at the time for navigation reference tables, etc.).
In 2002, the “Babbage Engine no. 2″ was finally built (London Science Museum), and in March 2008 a second one was built, and as of today the second one is on display at the Computer History Museum (Mountain View, CA) for the next year. Went to the opening event today.
Bonus Round: Babbage Groupies
(photo courtesy of Dana Chrisler)
This is an actual Ada Lovelace tattoo (a mathematician and colleague of Charles Babbage) - perhaps the only one of its kind in existence. Its owner was at the exhibit opening today.
There are two kinds of people out there:
1). Those who loved the 2004 Wes Anderson film “The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou.”
2). Those who didn’t.
I loved it. I still love it.
If you’ve never seen the official website - it (still) may be one of the best designed websites out there, and worth checking out.
An interesting note of Zissou fandom:
“The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou” tattoos
(”Deep Search” tattoo photo from BMEink, Zissou profile tattoo photo from ModBlog BMEzine, “This is an adventure” tattoo photo from OutThrowingRoses)
PLAY THIS SONG FOR AT LEAST 3 MINUTES - you’ll thank me.
Last Saturday was the 86th annual Palo Alto May Fete.
It’s a parade.
But it may be one of the only parades in the world where you can see Brownies, Imperial Stormtroopers, Kung Fu schools, highschool bands, go-carts, and a street cleaner.
It’s awesome.
Instead of just 1 mashup this month, you instead get 7. That’s right, seven. I present to you The Shoot Back Mixtape - a collaboration with troublmedia.com.
Three police officers shot Sean Bell 50 times, killing him on the eve of his wedding night, and wounding his two passengers, later determining that all 3 men were unarmed. From the night of this social atrocity to the not guilty verdict 10 days ago, emotions have been fierce. Sadness. Anger. Frustration. Disgust. Fear.
Download The Shoot Back Mixtape, a collection of voices and speeches that convey the public discontent following the not guilty verdict awarded to the police officers who killed Bell. Or if you would rather stream the audio, check out The Shoot Back Muxtape.
Here’s the first track to whet your appetite. In the words of a protester speaking for Sean Bell: “It’s not about what you do today, but what you do tomorrow.”
• Wikipedia - the “Mother of all Wikis . . . and -pedias”.
• Uncyclopedia - like Wikipedia, but drunk.
• Conservapedia - like Wikipedia, but stupid and paranoid.
• Dickipedia - like baseball cards, about jerks.
The warm climate of Cambodia makes everyone thirsty for Orange Fanta SaSa, Coca-Cola Hello Cola, and Sprite Smile.
(Photo by Shortie66)
Japanese McDonald’s Commercial
I’m so confused:
She’s hot in a Milla Jovovich “Fifth Element” kind of way (hot), but she’s dressed as Ronald McDonald (creepy), and it reminds me of Ron English (subversive and hip) and clown porn (creepy).
(via Accordion Guy)
Speaking of porn and wallpaper:
Feast your eyes on the high art of the bento (Japanese lunchbox) - the Flickr ‘Bento Porn’ Pool (yes, this is SFW).
These make lively laptop wallpapers.
Man, my lunches are boring.
(via Wendy - designer of ‘Preschooler Bento’ below)
There is a great misconception that complex society breeds violence and that simpler societies live harmoniously.
Like Ewoks.
Next time you have to listen to some crunchy hippie going on about making with world a better place by living in a tee-pee, beat them over the head with this one:
Steven Pinker’s talk on “The Myth of Violence” (TED Talks, 2007):
(via Sachs Report, via Lifehack)
With the new Indiana Jones movie less than a month away (24 days left), it was only a matter of time until the marketing tie-ins cropped up.
M&Ms offers Indiana Jones M&M candies - like regular M&Ms, but with skulls, pyramids, compass roses, Indy hats, and Precolombian masks printed on them.
LEGO managed to produce cool Indiana Jones sets months ago (though I still can’t find them in stores).
[LINK to their nice LEGO Indiana Jones wallpapers].
Every Christmas, children college students around the world write letters to Santa Claus Christopher Walken asking him for toys and treats swift punishment for their enemies.
John Linnell - Nevada: