Today's Google logo is a quite creative commemoration of Samuel Morse's birthday:
Susie Smartypants Explains the Evolution
Interesting:
In this German video, Susi Neunmalklug (Susie Smartypants) explains the evolution to Mr. Hempelmann (who apparently is her religion teacher).
It is a promotional video for a new German children's book about the evolution.
(thanks for the link, Zach!)
Oh, That's Where the Money Went!
The web comic Geek and Poke has hilariously determined how AIG accumulated a whopping 62 billion dollars in losses:
Of course, there's also a lot of other things that could have been done with the money---like paying off the national debts of China, Australia, Mexico and Ukraine... and 9 other things on a list CNN recently published.
A friend of mine who worked at AIG before said "of course I changed jobs as quickly as possible! Only a fool would still insure with AIG..." ouch.
(comic CC by-nd licensed by Oliver Widder -- hat tip to Oliver for an excellent web comic!)
Website Number
We all know that President Obama's internet team is undoubtedly the most advanced a US government ever had (and one could argue, even in the world). Now, we can't exactly say the same for his VP Joe Biden:
Hat tip to Joe for a fun new addition to our treasure chest of internet memes: We'll give it an honorable spot, right next to the series of tubes and the internets!
Keeping Teens At Bay
I just did a "teenager audio test" and I was actually able to hear the sound (though it almost curled my toe nails because it's so unbearable):
It's amusing how the website reads:
[This is] a tone that is generally only heard by people under the age of 25. It has been used as a deterrent device to keep teenagers from loitering in malls and shops, and sounds similar to a buzzing mosquito.
(emphasis mine). That reminded me of my first---and probably only---visit to an Abercrombie and Fitch store in a Florida mall that I left as fast as I went in, driven out by the ridiculously obnoxious "store smell" they were spraying there (though there seem to be people who like it). Seriously, if I wanted to smell cheap cologne, I'd talk to some poor, drunk souls at the friendly neighborhood dive. But in general, I appreciate stores that don't need to drug me to make me buy their products...
Relax, Yo-Yo Ma
The ears shall---for now---remain the only body part that can get hurt when somebody is playing the cello. The painful-sounding medical condition "cello scrotum" turned out to be a 30-year-old hoax:
A top doctor has admitted her part in hoodwinking a leading medical journal after inventing a medical condition called "cello scrotum".
The spoof was inspired by a similar report of a phenomenon called "guitar nipple", which happened when the edge of the guitar was pressed against the breast, causing irritation.
"Anyone who has ever watched a cello being played would realise the physical impossibility of our claim. Somewhat to our astonishment, the letter was published."
I am sure cellists across the globe will be glad to hear their manhood is not at risk. I, for my part, will keep on playing the trumpet instead, just to be on the safe side ;)
Abstract Updates in BBC News RSS Feed
I am unsure what happened, but today my BBC News RSS feed seems to be showing when an abstract was updated by the authors after its initial release.
While I have not found anything too exciting or revealing among the affected posts, it is interesting to see how the journalists refine their work to make it both concise and informative. In this case, Obama's "middle east envoy"'s name apparently went away in favor of "friendship with the muslim world", and the authors realized that more than one country has a "president".
"Elementary, Orbitz"
Computers are, as we all know, there to do jobs us humans just can't be bothered with, such as thinking, or noticing the obvious. I am therefore glad that the travel website Orbitz reminded me today that my air travel itinerary contains (gasp!) flights.
Thanks, Orbitz. If it wasn't for this friendly heads-up of yours, I would have almost accidentally walked.
Flash Mob Commercial
How To Give A Great Man To Man Hug
Oh, what would we do without the Internet? Here's a funny how-to video on how to give a great man-to-man hug.
General Etiquette:How To Give A Great Man To Man Hug
Admit it, you were always wondering how to do that right, but never dared to ask ;)