How to Go Places

Once upon a simpler time, Americans needed lessons in how to leave the house.

Posted By: Paul - Fri May 14, 2010 - Comments (12)
Category: Family, Travel, 1950s, Cars

One Stop Weird News Shopping

Chuck might get an entire week's worth of material from this. Mischief makers, thefts, bear costumes, calling 911 because she was hungry, disturbances, one animal complaint after another, suspicious situations and more! I just want to say that after reading this police blotter from Cleveland, Ohio's Sun Star Courier, I feel much better about myself, and the small town in which I live.

(The image is from the July, 1946 issue of Popular Science.)

Posted By: Nethie - Thu May 13, 2010 - Comments (4)
Category: Animals, Crime, Stupidity, Urban Life, More Things To Worry About, Recurring, Goofs and Screw-ups

This Is A Recorded Message

1973 was, of course, really the tail-end of the trippy Sixties.

Warning: millisecond subliminal flashes of nudity.

Posted By: Paul - Thu May 13, 2010 - Comments (3)
Category: Art, Surrealism, Business, Advertising, Movies, Stop-motion Animation, 1970s

OED “siphon” definition wrong for decades

If you want to find a definition, the Oxford English Dictionary is the most copied cited work, so it's no surprise to hear many, many dictionaries have the definition of "siphon" incorrect. Just like the OED did.

http://www.kidglue.com/2010/05/12/oxford-dictionary-has-been-mis-defining-siphon-for-99-years/

For the inexperienced, I recommend trying to siphon gas from your car for your lawnmower. This is how I discovered the amazing taste of gasoline, not to mention its effect on my digestive tract. Not pretty.



I think these people are being picky -- just because editors thought atmospheric pressure was how siphoning worked (instead of gravity) -- you really to have to change the atmospheric pressure on the end of the tube to get it to start.

Let the arguments begin.

Posted By: gdanea - Thu May 13, 2010 - Comments (31)
Category: Science

A Robot That Parks Cars

No, not Marvin (ref.), this one is from the Computer Science Department of Stanford University and it not only parks cars, it does so awesomely!



The only disappointment is that it doesn't come with a little row of strobing red lights on the front.

Posted By: Dumbfounded - Thu May 13, 2010 - Comments (10)
Category: Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Robots, Science, Technology, Computers, Cars

Read This Before You Get Married

I might have mentioned it before, but I'm planning on getting married this summer. To that end, I've been browsing the web, looking for stories about wedding related disasters, hoping to learn from the mistakes of others. Just this evening I found a bit of advice that had not occurred to me - think about what your new name will be, especially if you are considering whether or not to hyphenate. And here's why.

Posted By: Nethie - Wed May 12, 2010 - Comments (14)
Category: Family, Odd Names, Weird Names, Marriage, Weddings

22 year old plays high school basketball

Permian High School is best known as the inspiration for "Friday Night Lights", but its latest claim to fame is allowing a 22 year old to lead them to the state playoffs against high school age students.



Here is a picture of the former Guerdwich Montimere who re-registered as 9th grader Jerry Joseph. Scouts recognized him from earlier games, and as charged he may spend time in jail for false identification to a police officer.



Very encouraging news for those who never got enough time on the court during high school.

Here's a link -- this story broke here before the LA Times!!

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sports_blog/2010/05/high-school-basketball-player-accused-of-being-a-22-year-old-posing-as-16.html

Posted By: gdanea - Wed May 12, 2010 - Comments (5)
Category: Sports

Rogue Taxidermy

If you are going to be in Minnesota between now and May, 30th you might concider visiting the La Luz de Jesus Gallery. They will be hosting an exhibit of rogue taxidermy. Rogue taxidermy is the use of road kill, livestock, animals that had to be put down, in other words, animals that have died are used in this art form. No animals a specifically killed for these projects. Parts are pieced together in a Frankenstein-esque way according to the artistic vision of the taxidermist. There are more pictures at the link, some aren't all that safe for stomaches though.

Posted By: Alex - Wed May 12, 2010 - Comments (11)
Category:

Three D Or Triple D?

Hugh Hefner, ever the savvy businessman, intends to include a 3-D centerfold in the June issue of Playboy Magazine. Hef says he doesn't care for 3-D but when asked what most people would like to see that way he answered, "Probably a naked lady." and where men are concerned he's probably right. Opinions?

picture from yahoo images

Posted By: Alex - Wed May 12, 2010 - Comments (10)
Category:

More Pet Drinks?  Engrish.com Round 2

Here's a follow-up for "Pet Sweat", which in an earlier post we discovered was actually bottled water for dogs. But I have no explanation for these two examples of "interesting" drinks:



I don't think I want to know what "Monkey Fizz" is (say that three times fast). Cat anyone? With salt?

Posted By: gdanea - Tue May 11, 2010 - Comments (4)
Category: Animals