The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Link #24: Amazing infrared and hdr photos:

http://weburbanist.com/2008/10/30/7-colorful-creative-infrared-and-hdr-photographers-and-photography/


Link #25: Renegade muppet drives too fast:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1081607/Speeding-puppet-seat-British-car-makes-muppets-German-police.html


Link #26: Hatred makes you rational:

http://io9.com/5070226/how-hatred-transforms-your-brain

hallows and haints

In honor of Halloween (which is today), here's a link to facts about the town of Sleepy Hollow:

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19751

I love Washington Irving.

Scambaiting

I first heard about this a while ago from my brother, but I hadn't seen it until today. A scambaiter, pretending to fall for a West African scammer's ploy, counterattacked by promising scholarship money to ppl around the world who would act out scenes from iconic films and tv shows. The scammer(s) took the bait and reenacted the famous "Dead Parrot" Monty Python sketch. I'm including links to the original and the reenactment. Pretty amazing.

Monty Python's "Dead Parrot" sketch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4vuW6tQ0218

West African Scammers' "Dead Parrot" sketch:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-IQqd17p9_0

This only helps if you trust smart people and believe in science:

Here's the letter from the Nobel Prize winners who endorse Obama:

http://sefora.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/10/nobel_letter_v6.pdf

a time waster for you

This totally sweet site lets you spell any word you want w photos of letters from Flickr.

Assorted

Link #15: Good going Daily Show. In response to McCain's ridiculous accusation of Obama's "pro-abortion" stance, Sam Bee explains how much women looooove abortions... and "air quotes"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-6A1sH9p_Y

Link #16: This video illuminates just how dynamic our presidential candidates are. It's pretty amazing to see how little actual "debate" occurred this year. (Did you like my air quotes?) --via boingboing

http://www.boingboing.net/2008/10/28/synchronized-preside.html


Link #17: A nod to my old town, Austin, TX. 800 people assembled to do the Thriller zombie dance. Uh-mazing:

http://www.i-am-bored.com/bored_link.cfm?link_id=34992


Link #18: And now a turn to the grotesque: Does the head remain conscious after it has been severed from the body? (Answer: probably.) Feel free to impose any metaphors you would like:

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1172/does-the-head-remain-briefly-conscious-after-decapitation

Darn it

I'm betraying the depths of my nerdiness. But I really, really want a couple skeins of this. Is that so wrong?

Bamboo yarn=brilliant

Calling Chicago Voters

I'm writing this from the voting center, having just voted. If you've only thought as far as the presidential race, these folks have some good suggestions about how to fill out the rest of your ballot.

Biden lays it down

Link #12: Just watch this:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sQXcImQfubM

Iraq

"A Week in the Death of Iraq" is an article by an Iraqi dentist who calls himself Dr. Mohammed. I also read his blog, but recommend reading the article first.

(Links 10 and 11)

Guns 'N' Sodas

Evidently, the Drs. Pepper found it so unlikely that Guns 'N' Roses would release their (incidentally, terrible) new album by the end of 2008, that they promised a free Dr. Pepper to everyone in the U.S. if GNR could pull it off. For good or ill, GNR pulled it off, and now we all get free Dr. Peppers. Here's how to redeem yours (info courtesy of perezhilton.com):

1. On the Nov. 23, 2008 release date, go to www.drpepper.com

2. Register your information to receive a coupon for one free 20-oz. Dr Pepper.

3. When your coupon arrives, redeem it wherever Dr Pepper is sold.

4. Drink your Dr Pepper slowly to experience all 23 flavors. Dr's orders.

Coupons will be available for 24 hours, starting at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Time on Nov. 23, 2008. Allow 4-6 weeks for coupon to arrive. Coupons will expire on Feb. 28, 2009. Limit one coupon per person. Full terms and conditions available at www.drpepper.com

Math and Nature

Link #8: We've heard about fractals occurring in nature and Fibonacci and all that jazz, but never have the photos been so dazzling:

http://webecoist.com/2008/09/07/17-amazing-examples-of-fractals-in-nature/

Historical NY Times Presidential Candidate Endorsements

Link #7: Here are all of the NY Times presidential endorsements since Honest Abe. Notice that they haven't endorsed a Republican since 1956. Also notice their hilariously luke-warm endorsement of John Kerry. I also thought it was interesting that they endorsed FDR for only 3 out of 4 of his elections. Here, you look:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008/10/23/opinion/20081024-endorse.html

This Morning's Theme: Power Corrupts

Link #4: horny popes dying in the throes

http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/19214

Link #5: horrible ways to get rich

http://www.cracked.com/article_16633_6-most-horrifying-ways-anyone-ever-got-rich.html

Link #6: the website for the documentary entitled Torturing Democracy, which is about official U.S. policy re: torture.

http://torturingdemocracy.org/

Inaugural Post of My New Blog

This blog will contain no information about myself other than what can be gleaned from the quantity and variety of links I provide for your enjoyment. Over the past several months, I have already collected hundreds of amusing links. It seems tedious to import these, so I will simply begin from today.

Link #1: Soviet dancers who appear to defy laws of nature

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rNXKuwhhC1c&feature=related

Link #2: And, because you can't mention the Soviets without invoking memories of the Nazis...

http://www.cracked.com/article_15767_third-reich-fortune-500-five-popular-brands-nazis-gave-us.html

Link #3: And, because violence and pain, when not mixed with humor, are just f-ing depressing:

http://weirdnewsfiles.com/weird-video/weird-tv-news-weird-video/top-ten-tv-news-mishaps/