Women Can’t Jump

When I think of the Olympics, I rarely consider that each event has both a mens and a womens division. I tend to focus more on the sport itself regardless of who is competing. After all, the Olympics is supposed to encourage the spirit of friendly competition, and not highlight major flaws, such as gender bias. Unfortunately this year's winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, is doing just that. Women ski jumpers have petitioned to join every Winter Olympics since Nagano in 1998, and each time they have been denied by the International Olympics Committee (IOC). So what's the deal? Well, the IOC is sidestepping the issue. They've issued a written statement that reads "Women's Ski Jumping does not reach the necessary technical criteria and as such does not yet warrant a place alongside other Olympic events." Yet female ski jumpers argue the point (read about it here). Lindsey Van, current world record holder for the longest jump, is quick to point out that they meet the necessary criteria. But it may be a long time before we see women flying off the end of a ski jump in front of Olympic judges. IOC member Dick Pound is quoted as saying "If in the meantime you're making all kinds of allegations about the IOC and how it's discriminating on the basis of gender," he warned, "the IOC may say, 'Oh yeah, I remember them. They're the ones that embarrassed us and caused us a lot of trouble in Vancouver, maybe they should wait another four years or eight years.'" Yes, you read that right. He is publicly threatening female ski jumpers to keep them out of the Olympics for years if they persist. So much for the spirit of friendly competition.

Play in the Snow

It's still winter, folks!

What’s The Chances? - 2

Earlier this year we heard of the national lottery that drew the same numbers two weeks running. Now meet the man who has just won a lottery jackpot for the second time!

The unnamed 34 year-old from the Limpopo province of South Africa beat 24 million to one odds to take the country's "PowerBall" draw for 30 million rand ($4 million), just seven years after winning 11 million rand ($1.5 million) from an earlier state lottery system with odds of 14 million to one. His feat is all the more remarkable given he claims to spend only 100 rand ($13) a month on tickets (Telegraph).

Lose/Lose

lose/lose from zach gage on Vimeo.

For a little more information or to download the game check out Stfj.net.

Follies of the Mad Men #73

Why do I get the sense that this "game" is just one card away from turning into a full-fledged orgy?

Lego Sudoku Solver

Having problems solving that Sudoku puzzle? Well, worry no more because someone had the idea to construct a robot to do that for you. Now you can sit back, relax and drink your morning coffee without having to worry about all those pesky little numbers. The robot is built from the ever versatile Lego Mindstorm kits. There's also one that solves a Rubik's cube. Head over to Tilted Twister to check it out.

Pool-playing Dragons

Why settle for poker-playing dogs when you could have kitsch as magnificently moronic as this?

Visit here--it's only $20 per piece!

MP3 Experiment

Back on May 23, Over 2,000 people gathered for the Sixth Annual Mp3 Experiment. Everyone had to download the same mp3 and at exactly 4:00 pm press play. Once the opening song finished, Steve (the voice on the mp3) tells you to do some crazy stuff. Too bad I don't live in New York, because this looks like a lot of fun.
Improv Everywhere

Chess Boxing

Yep, it's an official sport, at least according to The World Chess Boxing Organisation.

Weird Stuff from The History Channel

Seems as if there should be some prime material of interest for WU-vies in these five titles.





Or in the DVDs of the History Channel show they derive from.



Or even in the official boardgame!

All original content in posts is Copyright © 2008 by the author of the post, either Alex Boese ("Alex"), Paul Di Filippo ("Paul"), or Chuck Shepherd ("Chuck"). All rights reserved. The banner illustration at the top of this page is Copyright © 2008 by Rick Altergott.