Headlines of Note

"Little House on Prairie," adults-only version!

2008-11-06T13:52:00.003-05:00

HELSINKI (Reuters) - "Finland has rated the DVD release of the much-loved children's television series "Little House on the Prairie" suitable for adult viewing only."

(http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE4A572J20081106)

Amber says: Okay, I admit- I was a little amused when I saw this headline. I thought "What could possibly be wrong with "Little House"?! Then I had thoughts of "forgotten scenes" and whatnot... Very un-little house like. So, I read the article. It continues:

"To save money, Universal Pictures decided not to submit the series to state inspection, the company's Finland marketing manager Meri Suomela told Reuters on Wednesday."

So its not so terrible after all. Saving money by labeling a family friendly show as "adults only". Great, what will be next? Having the teacup ride labeled "will not make you puke"? There are going to be hundreds of people excited about watching the "lost episodes", only to find that it is the same sweet, braided girl we all know (and tolerate.)

Hero dog risks life to save kittens from fire

2008-10-26T20:52:00.000-04:00

SYDNEY (Reuters) - "A dog was hailed as a hero on Sunday after it risked its life to save a litter of newborn kittens from a house fire, rescuers said."

(http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE49P1VZ20081026)

Amber says: Animals are amazing. <3

Cause for divorce? ET father names baby Sarah McCain Palin

2008-10-16T10:05:00.001-04:00

"Oct 13, 2008 (AP)
ELIZABETHTON, Tenn. — A new father has secretly named his baby girl Sarah McCain Palin after the Republican ticket for president and vice president..."
(http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/oct/13/cause-divorce-et-father-names-baby-sarah-mccain-pa/?partner=RSS)

Amber says: HAH, are you kidding me? Poor kid. Why would someone do this? First off, dont use your kids as advertising. If Nike offered you $200,000 to name your kid "Nike Air Jordan McWhateveryourlastnameis" and you say yes, you suck as a parent. Kids are not billboards. Second, naming your kid after someone who hasnt even won the presidency is just downright stupid. Naming your kid after your father, fine. After the man who invented... Something... alright... its pusing it... but I can deal with it. But naming your kid after the people running to "rule the world". Ha. Haha. Makes me laugh lots. It also makes me hate people. Do people think, ever? You kid does not want to grow up with a name like that. And Id laugh if the kid ended up a democrat. Oh, man. Can you imagine the therapist bills coming their way?

Parents amaze me sometimes.

Squirrel Catches on Fire, Neighborhood Looses Power

2008-10-09T19:54:00.002-04:00

Spokane, Washington
10-8-2008

(http://video.aol.com/video-detail/squirrel-catches-on-fire-neighborhood-loses-power/750498763/?icid=VIDLRVNWS02)

Amber says: Okay, so this one is a video, but the headline says it all. Apparently this poor little squirrel caught on fire and set the neighborhood on fire as well... He caught a car on fire, even!! poor thing. Funny, yet... depressing. :-P

TV's 'Mr. Clean' dies at 92

2008-10-02T09:56:00.004-04:00

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) -- House Peters Jr., a TV actor who became the original Mr. Clean in Procter & Gamble's commercials for household cleaners, died Wednesday. He was 92.

Peters died of pneumonia at the Motion Picture and Television Fund Hospital in Los Angeles, said his son, Jon Peters...

(http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/02/obit.petersjr.ap/index.html)

Amber says: Sad!!

Okay, I do have a few things to say other than just "Sad". First, there is a 'Motion Picture and Television Fund Hospital'? Craziness.

Also, I think Mr. Clean was an awesome product to try to sell in the 50's. I mean, I am surprised that with a name like "Mister Clean" the product sold/ made it in the 50's. In the era of women wearing heels and pearls, and serving a platter of roast beef and potatoes with a smile and a curtsy- the women ruled the household and the men sat around... and a product with a name implying that the "Mister" did the cleaning. Amazing. I blame "Mr. Clean" for the working woman/ stay-at-home dad. :-) I mean, I have nothing against the women that want to work- and my dad was a stay-at-home dad! but I would totally make it as the woman in an apron with flour on her nose. In fact, Id prefer that.

Ramble over. RIP Mr. Clean.

Police say teen plotted to kill mom for breast implants

2008-09-28T09:02:00.002-04:00

September 27, 2008

"A Colorado teenager hired men to kill his mother so he could use her money to get breast implants for his girlfriend, police said...."

(http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/09/27/implant.hitmen.reut/index.html)

Christie Anna says: I....don't know how to react to this. They really couldn't come up with a more, you know, sane way to come up with money? Even just, say, steal mom's car instead of killing her? Wow, bright kids. And here's a question - where'd they get the money to pay men to kill her and why couldn't they use that? Now, I don't know exactly how much it costs either for breast implants or to hire killers, but I'd rather hope the latter is the more expensive. Then again, I hope for a lot of things that aren't true....and people these days do seem to value looks over morality....All in all, I think this just makes me sad. In an "oh dear lord, what is happening to our society???" sort of way. Breast implants have officially topped life on the list of things that important. Lovely, isn't it?

Thanks to my dear Sara for the link :)

PETA Urges Ben & Jerry's To Use Human Milk

2008-09-24T23:23:00.002-04:00

September 23, 2008

"VERMONT -- People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals sent a letter to Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, cofounders of Ben & Jerry's Homemade Inc., urging them to replace cow's milk they use in their ice cream products with human breast milk, according to a statement recently released by a PETA spokeswoman...."

(http://www.wsoctv.com/news/17539538/detail.html)

Christie Anna says: LMAO. Really? Really? Don't get me wrong, I am all for better treatment of animals, and I do appreciate it when Vermont companies being innovative (especially environmentally)....but has PETA actually ever dealt with humanity? People are not going to buy ice cream made with human milk. Have they not seen that Friends episode where Carol and Susan were trying to get Ross to drink Carol's breast milk, and he (and half the group) were too disgusted to do so? If B&J's did this, there would be people who don't care and there would be people who think it's a fanastic idea, but I have no doubt that the overwhelming majority would be the people who are horrified and even the amazing taste of B&J's ice cream won't be able to sway them. And would it even taste the same? Opinions on breast milk aside, if it detracts from the taste, the company's screwed. And perhaps most importantly, where are they going to find enough human volunteers to keep up with production demands? Come on, how many women are going to say "Hmm, I'm lactating, I think I'm going to send some milk to Ben & Jerry's!" Not to mention that B&J's would have to shell out a whole hell of a lot of money to pay these women - and B&J's is quite expensive enough already, thank you very much. All in all, I'm pretty sure that this would not be such a great business decision. Besides, obviously PETA hasn't done their research - don't they know that Ben and Jerry aren't even involved with the company anymore? I'm pretty sure that if the big business guys in charge now have decided that having a scoop shop in the capital city of Vermont isn't an acceptable business investment (me? bitter? not at all), then they aren't going to do something quite as risky as this. Sad, but true. Not to say that I don't think it would be interesting to see them put out a couple of flavors, just to see if it flies....but somehow I don't think it's going to happen. *climbs off soapbox* Sorry for the ramblings, but I just can't help it....this was way too entertaining.

Man pleads not guilty in pie-throwing

2008-08-16T23:25:00.002-04:00

August 15, 2008

"The man who allegedly threw a pie in Governor James Douglas' face during a parade last month was arraigned Thursday for disorderly conduct, and a number of supporters attended, singing outside the courthouse before the proceeding began..."

(http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008808150369)

Christie Anna says: Stories like this are why we started this blog: local color. As Robyn said, "This is not a joke. Truly. It's just the way that Vermonters handle politics." It's great. Okay, so maybe pie-throwing was a bit immature, but I still think it's hilarious. There are certainly worse things you can do when you disapprove of your politicians!

Golden retriever adopts tiger cubs

2008-08-04T12:36:00.002-04:00

July 31, 2008

"A dog at a southeast Kansas zoo has adopted three tiger cubs abandoned by their mother. Safari Zoological Park owner Tom Harvey said the tiger cubs were born Sunday, but the mother had problems with them...."

(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25945650)

Christie Anna says: Oh with the cuteness! I think this is fantastic...and kudos to Mr. Harvey (and his wife) for thinking of the solution. I love stories about mothers nursing the little ones of a different species. It's so wonderful and says so much about the maternal instinct. Amazing.

Court rules lesbians are not just from Lesbos

2008-07-27T20:30:00.003-04:00

July 22, 2008

"ATHENS (Reuters) - A Greek court has dismissed a request by residents of the Aegean island of Lesbos to ban the use of the word lesbian to describe gay women, according to a court ruling made public on Tuesday. Three residents of Lesbos, the birthplace of the ancient Greek poetess Sappho whose love poems inspired the term lesbian, brought a case last month arguing the use of the term in reference to gay women insulted their identity..."

(http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/reuters/080722/odds/odd_lesbians_dc)

Christie Anna says: I couldn't help but laugh at this one. I mean, I can understand where they're coming from, but at this point the term 'lesbian' is used on such a wide basis that I'm pretty sure even a court order would do nothing but piss people off. Why bother even trying? It's just going to lose you money (230 euros, to be exact) and get people mad at you. And if it's boosting tourism, then why not let it continue? I may hate tourists, but they are good for the economy. (If they weren't, I'm pretty sure there would be a few more "accidental" bus crashes here in New England every autumn....) So while yes, I can wholeheartedly understand why, on a generic level, one group of people wouldn't want their home tied in so thoroughly to a different group of people - come on, you'd get sick of the jokes pretty quickly, too; I know there is little I hate more than stereotyping - after a while, it's just crazy to try to change it. And, on a more specific level, are people really that homophobic? That they'll go to court over terminology? You know, considering the grand tradition of homosexuality throughout Greek history (Sparta, for example, was, at the height of its power, based on a system that involved older men taking boy lovers), the people of the Aegean are really testy about the subject. I think the people of Lesbos should just sit back and let it roll off their shoulders. That's really how they're going to prove that they're bigger than all of this.

Fighting Cow Methane at the Source: Their Food

2008-07-18T16:11:00.002-04:00

July 8th, 2008- Discover Magazine
"While many cattle are stuffed full of grain, grass-fed cattle have been heralded as a greener way to get beef because it diminishes the need to feed the animals antibiotics and has a smaller carbon footprint, not to mention that it yields beef with less saturated fat. Those of us lucky (or wealthy) enough to feast on grass-fed beef can rest easy knowing we have taken a step toward protecting planet Earth—or so we thought. It turns out there’s a hitch: Cow burps, which send methane into the atmosphere, may increase global warming..."

(http://discovermagazine.com/2008/aug/08-fighting-cow-methane-at-the-source)

Amber says: Okay, so Im all about being green and saving the world and making a better earth for future generations and all of that... but... Come on. Seriously?? Genetically modifying GRASS to cut down on COW BURPS?? Are you kidding me? First of all, its a burp. A stinkin' burp. Cows, Cats, Horses, People... we ALL burp. Ever heard of that book "Everybody Poops"? I think that the people running these studies should read it, if they havent already. And if they have, I think they need to study it a little more. If you are going to join the fight against the massive carbon foot print, at least do it in a way that is going to do some good.

Secondly, Id think that spending time and money on genetically modifying grass to feed these already too expensive grass-fed cows is going to push the cost of food (and everything else!) up even higher. Put the money into a contraption that works like an air purifier, and purify the air- that would get rid of the cow methane and all of the other bad stuff that is floating around.

Third, didnt they do some study in California a while ago to test and see if cows actually put enough methane into the atmosphere to matter? And didnt they figure out that it didnt really make a difference?

Okay, I think Im done ranting.

New Zealand man sells his soul to 'Hell'

2008-07-03T09:22:00.003-04:00

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) --
"A New Zealand man has sold his soul to hell -- Hell Pizza, that is.
The New Zealand pizza chain said Thursday it had struck a deal with Walter Scott, 24, to buy a deed to his soul, shortly after an online auction site that initially agreed to the sale withdrew it from the Internet because of complaints it was in bad taste..."

(http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/03/nzealand.soul.ap/index.html)

Amber says: First of all, thats some good marketing to be able to snatch that up and whatnot. I mean, how fitting?? Secondly, can I sell my soul? I mean, Im sure Ive come pretty close without realizing it (I do have an unhealthy addiction to chocolate... Id do nearly anything for a peanut butter cup...) but Id love to actually get some, you know... cash... for this thing that they call a soul!

I love fun news like this, especially since other news in the area isnt so good right now. (http://www.cnn.com/2008/CRIME/07/02/missing.vermont.girl/index.html) We just have to find the good in things, I suppose. And some good/ interesting news is just what I needed this morning, to get my mind off that poor girl and her family. It almost makes me wonder why I have such an obsession with the news... Then I remember, oh wait... I can read about that weird guy that sold his soul to a pizza place! Its not all bad!!

Mobile phone battery dead? Try dancing

2008-06-26T20:27:00.002-04:00

LONDON (Reuters) - "What do you do if you are stuck in a field at a pop festival but there's trouble ahead because your mobile phone's battery is about to run out?

Thanks to a new gizmo, you now just need to face the music and dance.."

(http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL2427851420080624)

Amber says: Hahaha! As if people with "Bluetooth headsets" and all that jazz weren't ridiculous enough looking. Honestly, I think that if I dropped into our century from the 1950's, Id be searching for the nearest mental facility- everyone walking around talking into their hands or into a headset (That isnt even visible...!) and now this- people dancing around for no apparent reason. The world we live in is a crazy, crazy place!!

Company tests eye-controlled 'wearable' gadgets

2008-06-26T09:55:00.004-04:00

YOKOSUKA, Japan (AP) --
"Rolling your eyes to turn up the volume of a portable music player and tapping your fingers to turn on a DVD player are among technologies Japan's top mobile carrier is testing for "wearable" gadgets.
In one version, sensors and chips inside headphones detect electrical current produced by movements of the wearer's eyeballs, says Masaaki Fukumoto, executive research engineer at NTT DoCoMo..."

(http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/ptech/06/25/wearablecontrols.ap/index.html)

Amber says: Okay, I remember when I would watch Star Trek and be like "Wow! That is soooo cool!!" (This could apply to anything- the medical stuff, the cloning stuff, holodeck... anything...) and now we have like, people re-growing fingers and lab generated bladders and hearts and stuff (Im sure Ive posted about these things). And look at this. People never have to do anything again! We could control the world with our EYEBALLS!! haha.

Really, though. Its cool to have this technology. It could make things safer, as well as more "cool". They have been putting things in cars so that if your eyes arent on the road, or if your head tilts a certain amount (Like if you were falling asleep) an alarm sounds... and that kind of thing. Lets just hope that these things stay "fun" and dont end up taking over the world :-P Maybe they can really create a Holodeck...

Oh, and I must say- I love how a man is quoted as saying "Japanese don't like to stand out,". Fruits begs to differ.

EDIT: Haha! http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080604195058.htm
Holodeck 1.0!

Wine Bras for Women and Beer Bellies for Men

2008-06-20T18:46:00.003-04:00

June 19th, 2008- Reuters
"Quick quiz: you can tell if a woman has class if you offer to buy her a glass of wine and she says…

a) Thank you, I’ll have a supple Margaux
b) Thank you, I’ll have an earthy Syrah
c) Thank you, I’ll have an overpriced Pinot Grigio
d) No thanks, hot-shot, I got me a brassiere full of cheap sweet red, right here!

Yes, female wine drinkers no longer have to bother with bottles and corks, they can just strap on this wine bra. And for guys, there is a wearable beer belly..."

(http://blogs.reuters.com/oddly-enough/2008/06/19/her-cups-runneth-over/)

Amber says: Just thought I should share this one, Its amazing. Really. If I had found these when I was in Germany I would have brought one back for EVERYONE!!! :-) Seriously, people are making money off of this, too. Maybe my ideas aren't so bad, after all!

Pluto gets a new name: plutoid

2008-06-16T13:45:00.002-04:00

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - "Pluto, demoted from planet status in 2006, got a consolation prize on Wednesday -- it and other dwarf planets like it will be called plutoids.
The International Astronomical Union said in a statement that its executive committee meeting in Oslo, Norway, decided on the term..."

(http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSHER25750620080612)

Amber says: Hooray! Okay, so Im a total dork, and I have washcloths for the bathroom- one for each of the planets. I wanted a pluto one- but they didnt have any pluto ones. It was very sad for me to realize that when they stripped the planet status, it also meant that they took away all of the Pluto "fun stuff". I vowed to make my OWN Pluto washcloth (Still to be done... Sigh, I dont procrastinate...)

Although this isnt as cool as being a planet, it is still uber cool that Pluto gets to have its own little clique of "Blobs That Arent Cool Enough To Be Planets". I still think we hurt Plutos feelings when we told everyone it wasnt a planet anymore... :-P

Deer With Rare 'Unicorn' Horn Spotted In Italy

2008-06-13T00:54:00.003-04:00

June 12, 2008

"ROME — A deer with a single horn in the center of its head — much like the fabled, mythical unicorn — has been spotted in a nature preserve in Italy, park officials said Wednesday...."

(http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,365629,00.html)

Christie Anna says: I love it! A real-life unicorn? Come on, how could you not love this story? Unicorns have always been one of my favorite mythological creatures. I am fascinated by theories on where the idea of them originally came from, and here we are - a possible explanation. Someone sees a deer with a genetic anomaly resulting in a single horn in the center of its head, spreads the news, suddenly there's a huge hunt on for the unique creature, rumors spread, years pass, details change...a few decades later, voila, we have a unicorn. Okay, so maybe that's not a very realistic version of the theory, but you get the idea. If this were seen way back when, it could be unique enough to be worth something, and people are kind of notorious for exaggerating stories. This just gives a whole new perspective, and I find that absolutely fascinating. A possible beginning for the unicorn myth.

....Unless, perhaps, unicorns are real and the entire theory that a one-horned deer sparked the fable is complete BS from disbelieving science folk desperately trying to explain the unexplainable. Who knows. Either way, it's a cute little deer, isn't it? I'd totally adopt it as a pet if I could.

Thanks to Kevin for the link!

Caribbean Monk Seal Gone Extinct From Human Causes, NOAA Confirms

2008-06-13T00:50:00.002-04:00

June 9, 2008

"After a five year review, NOAA’s Fisheries Service has determined that the Caribbean monk seal, which has not been seen for more than 50 years, has gone extinct — the first type of seal to go extinct from human causes..."

(http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080608074828.htm)

Christie Anna says: Lovely. One more species we've managed to wipe out. I'm not going to start ranting about this; I'll go on for far longer than anyone wants. Well, RIP to the Caribbean monk seal, and my apologies.

National report rates Vermont 2nd healthiest among states for raising kids

2008-06-13T00:42:00.002-04:00

May 30, 2008

"Vermont has been ranked the second healthiest state in the country in which to raise children, although it also scored poorly for having high health care costs, according to a new report that compared children's health in all 50 states.

The Commonwealth Fund's report, "U.S. Variations in Child Health System Performance: A State Scorecard," contains lots of good news for Vermont, including having some of the lowest rates in the country of infant mortality and low-income children without health insurance..."

(http://www.timesargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/NEWS01/805300372/1002/NEWS01)

Christie Anna says: Win! Like I've always said, Vermont is pretty fantastic, and this is just one more thing to prove me right. Second only to Iowa - and I daresay it's a tad more beautiful than Iowa. Have to say, this (among other things) makes me pretty happy that I was raised here. Thanks to my Dad for the link, along with the comment that maybe he and mom raised me right. I certainly can't complain! :)

Obama press 'hijacked' during Clinton meeting

2008-06-08T23:23:00.002-04:00

June 6, 2008

"What seemed to be a routine evening waiting for Barack Obama aboard his campaign plane turned into anything but when the cabin doors closed and the passengers were informed the aircraft would be taking off immediately -- without the candidate..."

(http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/06/06/btsc.welch.obama.press/?eref=rss_politics&iref=polticker)

Christie Anna says: I love that man. (At least two other people have said those exact words after hearing this story). I wish I could use that to get rid of people I didn't want to have around. I mean, it's one thing to tell someone you're going to be somewhere and then go somewhere else, but to stick a bunch of people on a plane and send them across the country? Brilliant.

Stonehenge Used as Cemetery From Its Beginning

2008-06-06T20:06:00.003-04:00

May 29, 2008 -- England's enigmatic Stonehenge served as a burial ground from its earliest beginnings and for several hundred years thereafter, new research indicates.

Dating of cremated remains shows burials took place as early as 3000 B.C., when the first ditches around the monument were being built, researchers said Thursday..."

(http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/05/29/stonehenge-burial.html)

Amber says: I want to be buried at Stonehenge. It would be awesome. Oh, and... This is a big find? I mean, Im not surprised at all by this... But maybe Im just cooler than everyone else... :-)

Geek Articles You Must Read...

2008-06-03T08:31:00.002-04:00

(To Boldly Grow Where No One Has Grown Before)

(Eco-Alert- Sunscreen Causes Coral Damage {We cant win!!})

(Heavy Marijuana Use Shrinks Brain Parts)

(The Space Race For the New Millennium)

(Researchers Find New Way to Attack Malaria)

Amber says: I swear, I work while I'm at my job...

Giant 'telescope' links London, New York

2008-06-03T08:09:00.003-04:00

LONDON, England (CNN) --
"As the first splinters of sunlight spread their warmth on the south bank of the River Thames on Thursday, it became clear that after more than a century, the vision of Victorian engineer Alexander Stanhope St. George had finally been realized.
In all its optical brilliance and brass and wood, there stood the Telectroscope: an 11.2-meter-(37 feet) long by 3.3-meter-(11 feet) tall dream of a device allowing people on one side of the Atlantic to look into its person-size lens and, in real time, see those on the other side via a recently completed tunnel running under the ocean. (Think 19th-century Webcam. Or maybe Victorian-age video phone.)..."

(http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/05/22/scope.project/index.html)

Amber says: This article made me insanely happy. How cool is this? I wish I had thought of it.
Obviously, they arent talking about a REAL tunnel under the ocean. I think we would have heard about that a long time ago. But, this idea is brilliant. It almost makes me want to make a trip to NYC to check it out. (Or London. You know, which ever...)

I say this all the time, but I am so excited to be living when all of this cool stuff is happening. Space travel, crazy- fake telescopes that make it seem like you are looking at someone across the ocean... what next?!

Wolf whistle works, woman strips

2008-05-25T13:03:00.002-04:00

WELLINGTON (Reuters) -

"Road workers in a small New Zealand town got their wish granted when a woman stripped saying she was fed up with their wolf-whistles.

The Israeli tourist was about to use an ATM in the main street of Kerikeri, in the far north of the country, when the men whistled, the New Zealand Press Association reported..."

(http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSPAT25005620080522)

Amber says: This sounds like something that my mom would have done!!! Okay, seriously... what else are you going to do when men are being annoying and such? Pretending to ignore them only works so long, and if you get all flustered and blush, it's only going to push them on! You've gotta do something unexpected... haha. Kudos to her, I bet she gave at least one of them a heart attack!

Mystery deepens as 4th severed foot found

2008-05-25T12:53:00.002-04:00

VANCOUVER, British Columbia (Reuters) -
"Another severed human foot has been discovered washed ashore on Canada's Pacific coast, but police are no closer to solving the gruesome mystery.
The foot, still wearing a shoe, was discovered on Thursday on a small uninhabited island south of Vancouver in the Strait of Georgia, and is the fourth discovered in the region in the past 10 months..."
(http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2341453420080523)

Amber says: Are you freakin' kidding me? Of all the weird news... ever... Wow. Here are my theories...
3) It's a cult...
2) It's a weird cult...
1) It's a freakin' weird ass cult!

No, in all seriousness- this is just odd. If the person was just hacked at and their foot was taken away, I'm sure they would tell someone... If it was a missing person, I'm sure DNA would have matched them with someone... Strange. This is why I live in Vermont... No severed feet washing up on the shore of Lake Champlain! (Of course, I think our lake monster friend would have enjoyed a quick snack if he found a foot floating around...)

Cults. Sheesh.Publish Post

'Indiana Jones' would make a bad archaeologist

2008-05-22T20:52:00.002-04:00

May 13, 2008

"Indiana Jones managed to retrieve the trinket he was after in the opening moments of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.' He pretty much wrecked everything else in the ancient South American temple where the little gold idol had rested for millennia.

Though he preaches research and good science in the classroom, the world's most famous archaeologist often is an acquisitive tomb raider in the field with a scorched-earth policy about what he leaves behind. While actual archaeologists like the guy and his movies, they wouldn't necessarily want to work alongside him on a dig..."

(http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24595365)

Christie Anna says: In honor of the release of Indy 4, which came out today and I'm extremely excited to see. Not necessarily a "news" article, but interesting nonetheless. Indiana Jones has always been one of my heroes, but after actually taking some archaeology classes and participating on a dig, I've realized that, well, Indy doesn't make much of an archaeologist. As the article says, most archaeologists would not want to work with him. In actuality, I think if he tried pulling some of his usual stunts on a real dig, he would probably be beaten by his co-workers. Tomb-robbing has always been one of the main problems facing archaeologists, and Indy isn't much more than just that - he just knows what it is he's stealing and wants it for academic purposes rather than monetary. If we were trying to do this today, he would probably be locked in a prison somewhere at this point - laws have gotten a little more strict in the last few decades. If you try taking a tiny sherd of pottery out of Greece, they'll arrest you. Major finds like what Indy takes? That wouldn't go over well.

...But I love him anyway. I'm pretty sure it's impossible not to.

And on a similar note, a short parody letter to Indiana Jones fom his employers that I enjoy:

Back from yet another globetrotting adventure, Indiana Jones checks his mail and discovers that his bid for tenure has been denied.

Lost parrot gives vet his name and address

2008-05-22T20:38:00.002-04:00

May 21, 2008

"TOKYO, Japan -- When Yosuke the parrot flew out of his cage and got lost, he did exactly what he had been taught -- recite his name and address to a stranger willing to help..."

(http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/05/21/lost.parrot.ap/index.html?eref=rss_topstories)

Christie Anna says: Animals are amazing. I think it's marvelous that he could be taught to do such a thing - and that his owners would think to teach it to him. Obviously it was a good thing they did. And I can't help but be amused that he would talk to a vet - but not to the cops. Obviously he's learned a thing or two other than his name...

German resort will be first 'allergy-friendly community'

2008-05-06T21:29:00.002-04:00

April 28, 2008

"The German Baltic Sea resort town of Baabe is to be named the world’s first 'allergy-friendly community' next week by the European Centre for Allergy Research Foundation..."

(http://www.thelocal.de/11565/20080428/)

Christie Anna says: In honor of Amber, who is currently on a plane headed to Germany and who is also one of the most allergy-plagued people I know. It's great that there's a place for people to relax without having their vacation ruined by their allergies. I'm sure it will bring more visitors and will thus be good for the local economy. And anywhere that's banning smoking - especially in Europe - wins points from me.

Marshal faces World Series investigation

2008-05-06T21:10:00.004-04:00

May 2, 2008

"Federal authorities are investigating whether the head of the US Marshals Service in Boston assigned deputy marshals, normally charged with tracking fugitives and protecting judges, to ferry Fox Sports broadcasters Tim McCarver and Joe Buck between their hotel and Fenway Park during last year's World Series..."

(http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/05/02/marshal_faces_world_series_investigation/)

Christie Anna says: So, I'm torn. On the one hand, WTF? They were seriously ditching all other duties to help Tim McCarver and Joe Buck around Boston? (Two men known fondly in my family as "The Devil Incarnate" - DI - and "The Devil Incarnate's Balding Sidekick" - DIBS. Okay, not really, but you get the point, and you know, I kinda like those acronyms - I'm dorky like that). Really, the widdle sports announcers couldn't take care of themselves for a few days? Get a cab? Get a limo? Get a private helicopter? I think I'm more angry at the Fox guys than the marshals, myself. Whiny little spoiled brats couldn't handle being on their own in Big Bad Boston. Poor babies. Though yes, the head Marshal is to blame - she could have passed when asked. She should know better. Marshals are here to protect the people, not just the TV personalities.
On the other hand, though, whatever. We would have heard about this a long time ago if anything earth-shattering had happened while the marshals were distracted. Then this would be a big deal. And if my family hates DI and DIBS, then the huge portion of Red Sox nation within Boston city limits during the World Series was probably so far beyond hatred that there isn't even a word to cover it. AKA, Buck and McCarver were probably perfectly reasonable in their delusion that people might actually care enough to do something cruel. I don't think anything would have happened, but I can see why Fox might have been worried. And hey, if you can't trust an old friend to take care of your new friends, who can you trust?
So yeah. In my honored opinion, it was a perfectly understandable situation that was just handled kind of poorly by all involved, and the media just likes scandals a bit too much to let people off the hook. The Marshal should be reprimanded and warned, but I rather hope nothing much comes of it. Except, perhaps, DI and DIBS not getting their way next time. And that's my two (or perhaps four, judging by the length) cents.

$800 bid wins dino poop

2008-05-02T14:48:00.002-04:00

May 1, 2008

" NEW YORK, May 1 (UPI) -- A New York auction house said an anonymous bidder won two specimens of dinosaur droppings with an $800 bid...."

(http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Quirks/2008/05/01/800_bid_wins_dino_poop/2525/)

Christie Anna says: Only 800 bucks? Jeez, if I weren't a broke college student, I'd spend so much more. I know, it's kinda wierd, but on the other hand...dinosaurs are so cool. I have no idea why the "fossilized fish" went for so much more - when it comes down to fish or dinosaurs, dinosaurs win, hands down. But I suppose not many people agree with my odd way of thinking. Oh well. To each their own.

Viennese Orchestra Uses Instruments Made of Produce

2008-04-28T12:29:00.003-04:00

April 2, 2008 (Discover Magazine)
"Green beans gently pop, like raindrops hitting a puddle. This succulent sound is the Vienna Vegetable Orchestra playing “Frkklz,” a tender piece the 11 musicians produce by blowing into carrot tubes, strumming a pumpkin harp, and snapping celery stalks. The ensemble plays music exclusively on vegetables: leek violins, pepper trumpets, eggplant clappers, and cucumberphones. Such damp implements lend the works a watery timbre. “The more water, the softer the sound,” orchestra manager Ernst Reitermaier says. “It’s more soothing, more juicy, more smooth.”..."

(http://discovermagazine.com/2008/mar/02-viennese-orchestra-uses-instruments-made-of-produce)

Amber says: Amazing! I love music, and I love my veggies. Why did I never think of this??!! Oh, how I would love to hear veggies making music. I knew there was more to the buggers than just vitamins! Kudos to those who thought 'I wonder what a carrot sounds like...'. Im glad Im not the only one to have ever thought these things!!
The world is crazy, and I love it!

Device To Protect Surfers Against Sharks...Eaten By Shark

2008-04-25T14:23:00.003-04:00

March 5, 2008

"Sydney, Australia (AHN) - A device attached to surf boards to repel sharks and protect surfers from getting attacked by the sea predator failed during an actual test off South Africa on Friday when a great white shark ate it."

(http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7010235628)

Christie Anna says: Irony and I are pretty much as close as a person and a concept can be. Wherever I am, it's usually not far away. We've come to a nice agreement where it can attack me on minor points as much as it wants as long as it stays away from the major stuff, and I worship it s the most fantastic of all concepts (hell, it's made me eliminate certain words from my vocabulary). If you don't know me, this paragraph has probably made little to no sense and only made you believe I'm rather insane, but I felt it was a necessary explanation as to just why I adore this article as much as I do. The whole point is that there is little I love more than irony, and this certainly qualifies. I just hope the shark's okay.

Thanks to Kevin for the link!

German Opera Goes Underground

2008-04-24T12:37:00.002-04:00

Apr. 22 - "Mozart's world-famous opera "The Magic Flute" is performed in a Berlin underground station."

(http://www.reuters.com/news/video?videoId=80809&videoChannel=4)

Amber says: Okay, so this one is a video- but 'The Magic Flute' is one of my favorite (FAVORITE!!) operas, and 'The Revenge Aria' is playing in the background, which is amazing... and... Well, Im going to be in Germany in a week and a half, so- I figured I would let everyone know how awesome this article is.

I think it is really great that they are able to do something as outlandish as perform an opera (which is outlandish in its own right...) in an underground station. I LOVE Opera (My #1 music choice...) but most people think its stuffy and boring. Just LISTEN to it- its so full of passion and... well, this one is 'The REVENGE Aria'. Come on, what is so stuffy about that? Murder, mayhem!! I just wish I could have caught this show!

Judge issues warrant for Darth Vader

2008-04-23T15:40:00.003-04:00

4/23/08

"A judge has issued a warrant for the arrest of a Darth Vader impersonator who allegedly attacked two Star Wars fans in their own back garden...."

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2008/04/23/ndarth123.xml)

Christie Anna says: Will it never end? Will the Jedi never fully triumph over the Sith? How many times does Darth Vader have to be defeated (or arrested) before he's going to get the point? What really makes this story worth it, in my opinion, is the judge's line: "I hope the force will soon be with him." Very nice.

Amber says: We are dorks. I swear, if you look in the dictionary under the words "Dork", "Nerd", "Geek"... Yeah. Pictures of us... Just thought that needed to be said.

Green funerals make for eco-exits

2008-04-21T14:29:00.003-04:00

April 20, 2008
" (AP) -- It's no longer enough to live a greener life - now people are being encouraged to be environmentally friendly when they leave the Earth too.
Cardboard coffins, clothes sewn from natural fibers, a burial plot in a natural setting. Green funerals attempt to be eco-friendly at every stage..."

(http://news.wired.com/dynamic/stories/G/GREEN_GRAVES?SITE=WIRE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-04-20-03-53-16)

Amber says: I completely agree with "green funerals". Not only for the "save the world" factor- but for the "getting back to the Earth" factor as well. It's like The Lion King says- "We become the grass, then the antelope eat the grass. It's all a part of the 'circle of life'." I couldn't think of a better way to become part of the Earth than to be buried in a slower- covered straw basket. Im not even kidding.

Actually, when I was little, I used to pretend to be Ophelia (Check this picture out to see what I mean) Kind of like in Anne of Green Gables, she would pretend to float down the river in a boat, to her grave. Bury me like that. Set me off in a canoe, floating down the river to my final resting place. I am sure people would frown upon that, especially when they found a bloated dead body in their back yard (Okay, a little... Ummm... Off topic... I suppose...)
But, my point is- Green Funerals make so much sense, why preserve your dead body with chemicals and whatnot when you are supposed to become the soil? Give back to the Earth that you misused in your lifetime. :-) Such a peaceful way to finish off the amazing life you will have lived!!

It's time to retire the penny

2008-04-18T13:29:00.002-04:00

Monday, April 07, 2008 (Times Colonist)
"What do you do with your pennies? Carefully count them out when paying for something? Drop them into that little tray by the cash register, regarding them as worthless? Or hoard them, putting them into a jar that someday your kids will have to deal with?..."

(http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=e0905433-328b-4ada-a986-055810356577)

Amber says: Poor penny. What did it ever do to you? Actually, I'm torn on this topic. I am a Numismatist (Coin collector. Where is your mind?) and I have quite a few pennies in my collection. Old ones, shiny ones, foreign ones... I am guilty of hoarding the copper beauties. My sister hates pennies. And I mean, absolutely hates them. She will get rid of them as fast as she can- usually by pawning them off on an unsuspecting 5 year- old at the mall or something similar... Working in retail, I had people REFUSE to take pennies. "I'm sorry, I dont have a nickel, would you like five pennies?" "*Huff* No! Keep them! I will start shopping at *insert competition here*." And I'm not even kidding. People hate them.

I don't. I don't really care for them either... but I wouldn't put it on my list of things to abolish before the year 2010 or anything...

I don't see how eliminating the penny would cause a Y2K disaster or anything, but it would screw us up for a while. I read somewhere that polls show that people don't think a penny is worth bending over to pick up anymore. Sad. I always do. Haven't you heard the saying? "Find a penny, pick it up..." Couldn't we all use some good luck? What is the saying going to become? "Find a half-dollar, pick it up..."? Would that be enough for the hassle of bending over?

All things considered, I think I would like to keep the penny. It's familiar. It's shiny. It's... a penny! Where would "penny candy" be without it? (Oh, wait... isn't it "nickel candy" now?)

Oh, and I know this is a Canadian article, but they are talking about doing the same thing in the US. It was on the Colbert Report the other night. Look it up, they've even got Obama talking about it. :-)

Man unharmed by exploding toilet

2008-04-17T22:49:00.004-04:00

April 17, 2008

"A 61-year-old Johnson City (NY) man said he wasn’t injured Wednesday when a toilet exploded with water and launched him against a wall...."

(http://www.pressconnects.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080417/NEWS01/80417006)

Christie Anna says: To make up for my previous joke post, here we have an actual story - though one, perhaps, no less unbelievable. (And, I have to note, taking place less than an hour from where I attend college). I have to admit, if it came out tomorrow that this was a reporter's application for a job at The Onion and had no basis in fact, I wouldn't be surprised. First of all, how crazy is it to be attacked by an exploding toilet? And secondly, this attack came the day after he had a cancerous brain tumor removed? I'm not sure whether he's extremely lucky or extremely unlucky. Well, Mr. Szymanski, I hope things take a turn for the better for you. You survived neurosurgery one day and exploding appliances the next; that's something to be proud of. Best of luck to you, and you might want to work on that "sleeping with one eye open" thing for a while - just to be safe.

Yankees Bury Bernie Williams Under New Stadium For Good Luck

2008-04-17T22:38:00.002-04:00

April 17, 2008

"NEW YORK—Citing a need for physical and spiritual cleansing after a Boston Red Sox fan entombed a David Ortiz jersey in the floor of the new facility, the New York Yankees buried former centerfielder Bernie Williams under 4,650 pounds of concrete Wednesday in the foundation of the new Yankee Stadium for good luck..."

(http://www.theonion.com/content/news/yankees_bury_bernie_williams_under)

Christie Anna says: Well, since no one other than the three of us are actually reading this blog at this point, I feel no necessity to shy away from articles that are, shall we say, less than factual. I decided to keep the blog updated on this story, so aren't I obligated to post even a joking follow-up? Besides, I won't be entirely convinced that this isn't true until I see Bernie Williams alive and well with a current newspaper in hand. Some of those comments were way too perfectly written...

In conclusion, I think that we may all say with absolute certainty that there is no more notable and entertaining source of "news" than The Onion. Fantastic job.

Grunt Work: Scientists Re-Create Neanderthal Speech

2008-04-17T10:14:00.002-04:00

April 16, 2008 -- (Discovery News)
"After a nearly 30,000-year silence, Neanderthals are speaking once more, thanks to researchers who have modelled the hominids' larynx to replicate the possible sounds they would have made, scientists say.
The work, led by Robert McCarthy, an anthropologist at Florida Atlantic University at Boca Raton, is based on Neanderthal fossils found in France..."

(http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/04/16/neanderthal-language.html)

Amber says: Speech is an amazing thing. Some would believe it is what sets us apart from the creatures we share this Earth with (as well as our early anscestors)... But the way I see it- everything speaks. It may not be with words, or even with sounds. To me, speaking doesn't always mean "Hi, how are you doing today? Very well, thanks.". Animals chatter, birds squak (sometimes annoyingly outside my bedroom window as I try to snatch another 15 minutes sleep...) Even facial expressions and gestures can say as much as a shout.

This article is fastinating. I regularly say "Wow, I want to do THAT for a job!!". Well, this is one of those times. To be able to re-create the noises that were made, replacing our current communication... well, it is like time- traveling, super-sleuthing, and history- discovering... all in one job.

It's hard enough for me to try to learn a new language. I couldn't imagine trying to decipher what these ancestors of ours would have been saying...

NASA extends Saturn mission

2008-04-17T09:42:00.003-04:00

April 17, 2008
"(AP) -- NASA says it is extending the international Cassini mission that is touring Saturn and its moons for another two years.

The space agency announced the extension Tuesday. Since 2004, the unmanned probe has beamed back about 140,000 images. Its prime mission is slated to end in July..."

(http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/04/16/NASA.Saturn.ap/index.html?eref=rss_latest)

Amber says: This article makes me happy because it reminds me of a wonderful trip to Maine, full of bookstores and giant snowwomen, and a trip to a certain planetarium with a certain two friends of mine!

I have always been curious about Saturn- I admit, it isn't my FAVORITE planet... But it is still really cool. The show that we went to see was great, going into detail about the rings and what they are made of, and how they probably got there. I'm really happy that NASA is continuing this mission, who knows what we might find out there!!

It's All Fun and Games Until Someone Loses It

2008-04-16T21:55:00.003-04:00

Game of catch turns ugly
April 16, 2008

LINCOLN — A simple backyard “bat-and-catch” baseball game between a father and son quickly developed into a serious case of “hardball” with a neighboring father-son tandem on Tuesday afternoon.

Turns out, Anthony J. Delsignore brought the wrong equipment to the “contest” and lost. Shortly before 5:45 p.m., police arrested Delsignore, 47, of 14 David Drive, on a charge of felony assault with a dangerous weapon, that being a 38-caliber handgun.

This is not funny. Not even a little. But it does illustrate how competition can be an ugly and even dangerous thing. I don't know if there are sports psychologists out there, but if there are I propose a research project: do people who are drawn to competitive sports share certain personality traits? If so, what are they?

It's not just suburban soccer moms or dads hyped up on testosterone either; we see the ugly side of competition at the national level too. European soccer riots, the SWAT team on the field at Fenway, and NBA stars who vent their frustrations bodily on fans are not, unfortunately, unheard of. Taken together these incidents make me wonder if organized sports provide a safe way to compete, or if they stoke the fires of aggression (in players and fans alike) to an unhealthy and unacceptable level.

Those situations when things do spiral out of control are never anything to be proud of. Whether you're a player, a coach, a fan, or a parent (and whether you like it or not) you are modeling behavior for someone. Do keep that in mind the next time you feel the urge to flatten a rival and maybe we can take some of the ugly out of sports.

~R

Georgia coach going through with promise to shave off mustache

2008-04-16T21:45:00.002-04:00

Georgia coach going through with promise to shave off mustache

April 16, 2008
Georgia coach Dennis Felton is keeping his word: The mustache comes off.

Felton will have his barber shave off his trademark mustache Friday at the school's student center, following through on a promise he made during a question-and-answer sessions with students in early January.

I've been mildly interested in the role that sports plays in identity (both individual identity and group identity) for a while now. The effect of sports on identity is most easily seen during playoff seasons, but this goes to show that identifying with a team can go much deeper than wanting to be seen on the Jumbo-tron.

~R

Flip-flop rule has Canton City students flipping

2008-04-15T20:45:00.002-04:00

April 15, 2008

"CANTON - Adam Makridis' footwear choice this morning could cost him a Saturday morning.

Boots, tennis shoes, loafers, anything but flip-flops — he's fine.

But if he goes with that staple of summertime leisure wear — and the 16-year-old sophomore at McKinley High School says he will — he'll be hit with his fifth Saturday school in recent weeks..."

(http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?ID=407703)

Christie Anna says: High school dress codes are getting a bit ridiculous, in my opinion. I am all for trying to get teenagers to dress more appropriately, but flip-flops? Really? The principle is quoted as saying things about "safety" and "practice for the business world," but come on - it's high school. First of all, I don't see how flip-flops are really that much of a safety hazard - these are teenagers, not infants, and hopefully they've learned how to walk by now. And as for the business world, (most) teenagers know perfectly well that if they show up to a formal job interview in ratty jeans, a low-cut top and flip-flops they aren't going to get the job. (And if they haven't caught on to that much, they probably shouldn't be getting the job anyway.) That doesn't mean that exact outfit isn't acceptable for sitting in a classroom. I think dress codes as an idea are great - I think I was one of the few people in my HS who came down on the side of the dress code when it hit, though even I was willing to admit some of it was a bit excessive. But I also think that there's a fine line between keeping students dressed appropriately (not for the business world, for public) and just being plain mean. It's hard enough keeping kids focused on school these days - why make them any more uncomfortable than they have to be? It seems to me that the banishing of flip-flops is nothing more than a show of power - "see what we can do to you? Fear us!" - and the kids have had enough. Good for them. There are some things that should be fought for, and freedom of footwear is, in my opinion, one of them.

Love-struck hacker proposes using 'Bejeweled'

2008-04-15T14:16:00.002-04:00

April 15, 2008 (AP)

"Hiding a ring in a bouquet just wasn't enough when a computer programmer decided to pop the question.
Bernie Peng reprogrammed Tammy Li's favorite video game, "Bejeweled," so a ring and a marriage proposal would show up on the screen when she reached a certain score..."

(http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/04/15/bejeweled.proposal.ap/index.html?eref=rss_latest)

Amber says: I'm a sap, what can I say? How adoreable is this? I'm a bit of a mega-geek myself, and this is one of the coolest proposals I've ever seen. Kudos to PopCap Games, too. Tammy, hold onto this guy. If someone is willing to alter a game and risk getting into trouble for it (Not to mention the time it must have taken to hack the program...) then he is worth it! Congrats to the couple.

Olympic protests keep breakdancers grounded

2008-04-15T14:13:00.003-04:00

Olympic protests keep breakdancers grounded
April 14, 2008
DURHAM -- Recent protests over the Olympics have sidelined a planned trip to Beijing for [Canadian] break dancers.

Just thought I would add this as an update to my earlier post. I guess break dancing is a "pre-Olympic" sport now. I wonder, will it ever be accepted as a true Olympic sport like snowboarding has been? Or would that kind of mainstream attention morph break dancing culture into something so commercial that it would alienate some of the people who are drawn to it in the first place (like skateboarding)?

~R

Watch Out for Volcanoes

2008-04-15T11:16:00.003-04:00

Snowmobiler survives fall into Mount St. Helens
April 13, 2008
YACOLT, Wash. (AP) -- A snowmobiler from Oregon suffered an injured leg but survived a fall of up to 200 feet into the crater of Mount St. Helens on Saturday.

Rock, paper, scissors
April 11, 2008
The Anheuser Busch/Budweiser sponsored tournament pitted 23 people against each other for a chance to qualify for a regional tournament April 19 in Sheridan.

Since Christie Anna has pretty well covered the "excavating things" topic and Amber has nailed the science beat, I thought I would bring you a couple of stories from the wide world of sports. Sort of.

The journey of the Olympic torch has raised the question, both nationally and in people's living rooms, of what organized sports really symbolize. Are the Olympic Games a way for one nation to lord its accomplishments over the rest of the world? Are sports a way for people to fight wars without really fighting wars? Should sports be free of politics and outside influence? Is such a thing even possible?

I don't bring you the answers to any of these questions. I don't know the answers, for one thing. For another, they aren't really important to enjoy sports on a local level. Whether it's trekking up the side of a mountain on a motorized sled or competing with your friends after work in a bar, sport for the individual can be just plain enjoyable. Until you fall into the massive crater of a blown-out volcano, that is. But I suppose every recreation has it dangers (what they are for Rock, Paper, Scissors I'm not sure, but I bet there are people out there who have hurt themselves playing the game).

I do have one last burning question though: Is there anything that Anheuser Busch won't sponsor?

~R

Black Day for love, big day for noodles

2008-04-15T09:04:00.002-04:00

"April 14, 2008

(Reuters) - It was a Black Day for love in South Korea on Monday with lonely hearts trying to ease their pain by diving head first into bowls of noodles..."

(http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSSEO18852320080414)

Amber says: First of all, I think America needs to follow this line of thinking- women do for men one month... then men for women the next. I don't know about the rest of you- but to my "husband", coming home and taking his shoes off before he sits down is doing something for me. (Okay, so I lied- he is quite the catch... but that kind of kills my point- so forget that minor detail!!)
Secondly, what a pick up line... erm... Well, you know what I mean. Sitting alone, all in black, and pitying yourself. What a way to find another lonely person to connect with. I'm sure it makes things easier- I was always afraid to make a move because I was worried the person I was eyeballing would be in a relationship or not interested. Throw every 'single and looking' person together wearing black and you KNOW that they are trying to find love!
Good luck to them- it takes courage to be able to flaunt the fact that you are lonely and hating it.

Yanks fend off new stadium 'curse'

2008-04-14T19:38:00.005-04:00

April 13, 2008

"NEW YORK (AP) -- A construction worker's bid to curse the New York Yankees by planting a Boston Red Sox jersey in their new stadium was foiled Sunday when the home team removed the offending shirt from its burial spot.

After locating the shirt in a service corridor behind what will be a restaurant in the new Yankee Stadium, construction workers jackhammered through the concrete Sunday and pulled it out..."

(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/04/13/curse.foiled.ap/index.html)

Christie Anna says: Lame! Had to post the follow-up and voice my displeasure. I liked it better when they brought in the witch. Really, it would have been marvelous to have that legacy at the new stadium. And wouldn't it have been a great scapegoat for when the Yankees implode from now on? The Sox always had Babe Ruth, and it certainly made the fans feel better (well, sort of). Now what are they going to blame? However, perhaps there's a bright side: my dad has theorized that the Sox fan in question inadvertently buried David "Big Papi" Ortiz's batting average in concrete along with his jersey, since Ortiz has been in a noticeable slump of late and did just get a hit in his first at-bat since the shirt was unearthed. So perhaps the Yankees just spent massive amounts of time and money to re-enable their biggest enemy's top slugger. I'm not much of an Ortiz fan, but even I like the irony. Now, Papi, keep up the good work so we can make the Yankees doubt their move. Self-doubt is the fastest way to decimate a team, so that could certainly make it a fun season. And as for the jersey itself, I think it's fantastic that the Jimmy Fund will be auctioning it off. Now, perhaps the new owner will find a way to smuggle it back into the stadium...?

'Jabba the Hut' Frog With No Lungs Found

2008-04-14T09:17:00.002-04:00

April 10, 2008 (AP)

A frog has been found in a remote part of Indonesia that has no lungs and breathes through its skin, a discovery that researchers said Thursday could provide insight into what drives evolution in certain species.

(http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/04/10/lungless-frog.html)

Amber says: Can I have one? Please?! In a time when everyone is so worried about "global warming" and "climate change" and... well, the end of the world as we know it... It's nice to see that at least some of our smallest neighbors can overcome what may seem like a little problem to us- but is most likey a giant problem for them. If a little frog can figure out a better way to breath through evolution (Or whatever you want to believe...) then, it should give our gigantic human race something to spur them on. 100 degree weather? No problem, I'll just grow an air-conditioned skin that had moisture beads inset in the most crucial areas! :-)

Animal docs buy island for dogs' pleasure

2008-04-13T22:51:00.003-04:00

April 10, 2008

"VICTORIA, British Columbia, April 10 (UPI) -- Three Canadian veterinarians have ponied up $2.2 million for an island off British Columbia as a vacation resort for rescued dogs.

All three animal doctors are from the province of Alberta, and have been involved in helping 'special needs' dogs, including four pit bull dogs who survived Hurricane Katrina that devastated the U.S. Gulf Coast in 2005, a Globe and Mail report said..."

(http://www.upi.com/NewsTrack/Quirks/2008/04/10/animal_docs_buy_island_for_dogs_pleasure/8488/)

Christie Anna says: I love it, and I'm sure the dogs do, too. It's great that there are people willing (and able) to shell out that kind of money for the sake of dogs. I just hope that it all works as planned and they can manage the upkeep long-term. My only question - do they need volunteer helpers?

Outer-Space Economy will Top Internet as Future Tech Boom

2008-04-13T10:22:00.005-04:00

April 11, 2008 (The Daily Galaxy)

"Outer space is the future of business, according to a report released Tuesday by the Space Foundation, a nonprofit research and education association. The report said the Space Economy, defined as the full range of economic activities in the course of exploring, understanding and utilizing space, has become the next great frontier for business growth, exceeding $250 billion in projected value to the U.S. economy."

(http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2008/04/outer-space-eco.html)

Amber says: How cool is it that we live in a time where such amazing exploration and discovery is possible? I mean, I'm pretty sure I'd be saying the same thing if I were with Amerigo Vespucci- making my way across the ocean, or if I were on the Lewis and Clark expedition. But, even on the verge of their important discoveries, I bet you anything they never expected to be able to be exploring the stars.
Even 10 years ago, I'm sure that the idea of paying someone to take you up into space wasn't on many people's minds. Ten years ago, I don't think I had even used the internet yet... I'm pretty sure my first internet experience was in 2000, I was in the schools library and trying to do a research paper, and the librarian said "Try Google."- and I started looking on the shelves for a book called "Google". And now look at me- blogging, web designing, "surfing", uploading pictures and video- and it's still growing. Anything is possible in this era of technology and what-not. Before we know it (and hopefully before I die) space tourism will be advertised on our T.V.'s and will have replaced Caribbean cruises.
I do, however, have a complaint. Where, pray tell, do people think I'M going to get money to try this out? Have you ever checked out how much it costs to have these Zero-G experiences? I'm going to have to go out and invent my own spaceship- It will be cheaper for me that way...

(I also suggest this article: http://www.dailygalaxy.com/my_weblog/2007/05/the_hawking_sol.html. It's an older one, but still cool and space-travel-y...)

'Breakthrough' at Stonehenge dig

2008-04-12T23:20:00.007-04:00

April 9, 2008

"Archaeologists carrying out an excavation at Stonehenge say they have broken through to a layer that may finally explain why the site was built.

The team has reached sockets that once held bluestones - smaller stones, most now missing or uprooted, which formed the site's original structure.

The researchers believe that the bluestones could reveal that Stonehenge was once a place of healing..."

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/7337292.stm)

Christie Anna says: So, I'm a bit of a nerd when it comes to, well, a lot of things, but especially ancient history. As such, I naturally find Stonehenge absolutely fascinating. A small group - funded by the BBC - started a dig about a week ago (see http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7322134.stm), and apparently have been finding some very interesting things since then. (I'm a bit skeptical about it being that big a 'breakthrough' after only a week, but who knows - they certainly seem to be making progress, and I'm willing to keep watching). This is the first dig on the site in some forty years. I think it's marvelous; on the one hand, the mystery of Stonehenge is half the magic of the place, but on the other, I would love to know more solid information about its history. I feel like every time I hear something new about Stonehenge, it's more convincing of just how awesome a feat its construction was.
I'd recommend the videos that are shown on the article page; they're all under three minutes, which is nice for any of you who have as short an attention span as me. They give some nice background information and explanation of what's going on. Besides, one of them throws out a "the Romans picnicked and littered here" theory, which just amuses me with its triviality (and that I find fascinating anyway - told you I'm a nerd). All in all, it's a story I think is definitely worth keeping an eye on; I don't think it gets much better than filling in gaps in history. The BBC will be airing a televised account of the dig sometime this fall.

Beer-sipping clients have taxes done in a bar

2008-04-12T12:04:00.002-04:00

HOBOKEN, New Jersey (Reuters)

"The sounds of the Rolling Stones pour from the speakers while beer glasses are filled and a jovial game of darts takes place 10 feet away.

It's just another night at the office for Carmine Sodora, certified public accountant..."

(http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1034276220080410)

Amber says: Alright, I admit... I'm a sucker for articles that involve alcohol. It's sad, but true. However, you can't deny the brilliance of this guy. Wouldn't you rather have your taxes done in a nice, cozy pub than a cubicle set up in a Wal*Mart somewhere under a big, green HR Block sign? And, having a few pints in you sure would ease the "I have to pay in how much?" pain. This close to the tax deadline, I'm sure most people would be groaning and mumbling under their breath while their significant others are ordering a wasted Saturday to finish up ("You've had MONTHS to do them!"). Well, mumble no more! The answer is here! (It sure beats the way I did my taxes- hunched in a camp chair on my laptop, trying to balance papers and reciepts around my already too-small keyboard, and type at the same time!)

Again, I say- Brilliant. And not only for the beer involved.

Sox shirt buried at Yankee Stadium

2008-04-12T01:12:00.002-04:00

April 11, 2008

"NEW YORK (AP) -- Say it ain't so, George!

A construction worker on a concrete crew at the new Yankee Stadium secretly buried a Red Sox T-shirt under the future visiting clubhouse in an effort to jinx the Yankees, the New York Post reported Friday...."

(http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/baseball/mlb/04/11/buried.shirt.ap/index.html)

Christie Anna says: Well, here we have it: the first Headlines of Note post. Hopefully it is a decent example of what we're trying to do here: bring you random, interesting and sometimes bizarre news articles from all over the world. We know that everyone's sick of hearing the same stuff over and over and that it can be hard to find the fun stories in amongst the top headlines, so we're going to do the grunt work for you and share anything and everything we think deserves sharing. The world can be absolutely absurd sometimes, and it can absolutely fantastic. We want to make sure every endearing angle is shared: the funny, the ridiculous, the fascinating, and perhaps even the depressing. It's vitally important that we can all look at the news with a sense of humor, so we're going to try to do just that while still keeping ourselves at least somewhat grounded in reality.
This small gem of an article is nicely random, just as we like it. (Of course, it helps that we're all Red Sox fans). It's a great show of sports loyalty - something that's extremely integral to our culture - and a perfect example of what people will do for what they care about. A harmless prank that speaks volumes and amuses at least me to no end. And hey, if it jinxes the Yankees, all the better. *g*
(Edit: So, as a quick update, I heard on NECN news today that apparently a witch was called in an to attempt to counter the curse brought on by the shirt. I love it.)
This is what we're aiming to do: bring you things we think are interesting. Naturally, this means that there will be some subjects that are seen more often than others on this blog; can't be helped, we're biased. We just want to be able to share articles that you guys might not see on your own.
Well, that's enough rambling from me (for now, anyway). We hope you'll enjoy following our blog as much as we're going to enjoy managing it!