Thanks to spending my childhood summers in Destin, Florida -- home of an annual "shark rodeo" (at least back then), and recently a fatal shark attack -- I have actually seen more than a few extremely large sharks. While all of them were exceptionally impressive (especially the one that, in combination with a very large crowd, nearly brought down the weighing pier!), none looked quite as menacing as this thing caught near Martha's Vineyard. I actually think the perception is mostly based on the way the fish are handled. The boys running the shark rodeo in Destin were pure efficiency when it came to stringing even the most massive sharks onto the scales. Whereas, the folks in Oak Bluffs look like they have no effing clue what they are going to do next with their behemoth.
Congratulations
My college buddy, Chris Ring, just had a welcome addition to his family. In his words:
Shaela Marie Ring came into the world on 15 July at 10:38 AM. She was a bruiser at 8 lbs, 6 oz and 21 inches long. Mom and baby are doing great and we are having a lot of fun with the new addition.
Hopefully, we'll be able to drop in on them in August.
Note to Self:
Dust Devil
On the way back to work from lunch at home, I saw something interesting in the construction site across the road from the office. At first it seemed like one of those sun beams you see in the distance on a hazy day. Except I was driving right at it, so unless it was one of those signs from above, that could't be it.
As I drew closer, I could see dirt swirling around inside what looked like a 100 foot tall, almost perfectly straight straw. Then when I was right next to it, basically disappeared.
This is the first time since we moved to the "West" that I've seen a genuine dest devil in person.
Pretty cool.
Hey, fucknut!
- How about next time you don't teach your dog to jump out of windows?
- Nothings says "Welcome to the world!" like a woman giving birth pissed drunk.
- When it comes to real creativity, there's nothing like taking what your pet does naturally and selling it off as "art".
- But as long as we're talking about not actually doing your own work, we may as well add offshoring your day job.
- Then there's just questionable judgement. Like say, whipping off you condom mid-tryst with a prostitute. And then being convicted of endangerment. And, oh yeah, he's married. Classy!
- Road rage is often the result of bad judgement. And people make poor choices when they are under stress -- like trying to escape an oncoming hurricane, maybe. But thinking you can plow through a line of cars and people with your RV is just silly.
- In the interest of ending on an up-note: One badass rooster.
Jackasses, all of 'em! (Except the rooster.)
Frog noise == Mass destruction?
Hawaii Fights Noisy Frog Infestation
It's hard to imagine a tiny, 2-inch frog could cause so much harm. Beloved in its native Puerto Rico, the coqui frog has become a menace in Hawaii, where it suddenly appeared in the 1990s. With no natural predators, such as snakes, to keep their numbers under control, the frogs and their loud "ko-KEE" mating calls have multiplied exponentially — causing headaches for homeowners.
So yeah, invasive species are bad, mmmmmkay? But really, as far as I can tell from this article the only impact these frogs are having is noise pollution. Aparantly the "plucky" island dwellers can't handle a little froggy chirp, though.
In fact, state Rep. Clifton Tsuji calls the frogs "a species of mass destruction." ... Erm... So, the frogs are so noisy that people don't want to buy houses in infested areas and that equals "mass destruction", eh? Right.
Welcome to the Family
I would like to take a moment to congradulate the couple-in-law, Chris and Kate, on their new baby boy: Chowda.
Chowda is a mix of Staffordshire terrier and pointer, according to the adoption folks.
All I know is he's a handsome devil, and I can't wait to see him in September.
Consternation
Comments appear to be nonfunctioning ATM working again.
Dots and Lines
This Planarity Flash Game will probably make some of you cry. Then there's me (and geeks like me).... I love spacial games.
I got through level 7 with a score of 11567 level 8 with a score of 23088 before I forced myself to stop.
Later: After level 11 (Score: 199554 -- It took 21.5 minutes for me to do that one!) the ActionScript caused a prompt in FireFox giving me the option to cancel because it was running so long. Te-he!
Even Later: Level 12 took almost half an hour (Score: 402599), so I think it's time to give up the chase.
ICE
Interesting idea: Store your "in case of an emergency call this person" number in your phone as "ICE".
Prime Directive
Is it just me, or does Amazon take for freakin' ever to ship stuff nowadays? It seems like ever since they introduced Amazon Prime, they've really been dragging their feet getting "normal" orders out the door. I recently had a couple orders that took over a month just to get on wheels!
London's Burning
There's a Wikipedia page about the London attacks. See also the BBC's dedicated page. We're keeping the folks across the pond in our thoughts.
Blasts from the past
Man, it's been a while since I've even seen these old Coleco Frogger and Donkey Kong games. Those things were my best friends when I was a wee tyke.
The only problem with the otherwise wonderful Flickr set to which those belong is that there is a Speak & Math, but no love for my dear Speak & Spell. I'm 67.93% certain it's the only reason I'm even literate.
Cheap Joke
BC coach alleges gender bias at BU
An assistant hockey coach at Boston College has filed a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination in which he alleges that he was turned down for a coaching job with the Boston University women's ice hockey team because he is a man.
As a BU alum, I'm more inclined to say he didn't get the job because he's from BC!
Honda Progress
Saturday, we got the mofo engine in the frame!
Brilliant!
The End of the Rainbow -- Ireland is now Europe's second richest country.
... In a quite unusual development, the government, the main trade unions, farmers and industrialists came together and agreed on a program of fiscal austerity, slashing corporate taxes to 12.5 percent, far below the rest of Europe, moderating wages and prices, and aggressively courting foreign investment. In 1996, Ireland made college education basically free, creating an even more educated work force.
The results have been phenomenal. Today, 9 out of 10 of the world's top pharmaceutical companies have operations here, as do 16 of the top 20 medical device companies and 7 out of the top 10 software designers. Last year, Ireland got more foreign direct investment from America than from China. And overall government tax receipts are way up.
This is fascinating. Yet we can only wish that leaders of other countries (Like maybe, the USofA) would/could use this as a model.
Ew! You've got thetans on you!
Salon is doing a "four-part series chronicling the suddenly higher profile of the Church of Scientology", and of course the first installment highlights none other than Mr. Crazy Cruise: Missionary man (Get a day pass, it's worth it.)
Regarding the romance -- who can explain love? It's a mystery, particularly in Hollywood, and we're unlikely to ever get the particulars about Cruise and Holmes. But the buzz in some Scientology circles is that Cruise may have reached one of the highest echelons of the Church of Scientology. While not a lot is known about this level, known cryptically as OT-VII, Scientology observers say that attaining it could explain Cruise's behavior in recent months.
I'm still boggled by the fact that Scientology is actually considered a genuine "religion". I mean, read this and tell me if that's the sort of thing sane people base their lives on:
According to experts and the church's own literature, OT-VII ("OT" stands for Operating Thetan, "thetan" being the Scientology term for soul) is the penultimate tier in the church's spiritual hierarchy -- the exact details of which are fiercely guarded and forbidden to be discussed even among top members. It is where a Scientologist learns how to become free of the mortal confines of the body and is let into the last of the mysteries of the cosmology developed by the church's longtime leader, science fiction novelist and "Dianetics" author L. Ron Hubbard. This cosmology also famously holds that humans bear the noxious traces of an annihilated alien civilization that was brought to Earth by an intergalactic warlord millions of years ago.
That's Heaven's Gate material, if you ask me. Not the foundation of a culturally powerful religion. At least Germany still agrees:
Germany refuses to recognise Scientology as a legitimate church, claiming it is a fake religion based on making money from its followers.
While you're in the mood, check out CultNews.com for more (from an obviously biased source). If you really want to dig into Scientology, be sure not to miss Operation Clambake. Wow.
Bad Boo Boo!
Boo Boo's Munchies No-No (Don't miss the pics!)
The monkey leapt out the driver's window as its owner picked up an order at the drive through window. Boo Boo hung on to the clerk's hand for a few extra moments and apparently bit and injured the restaurant worker.
These kinds of commando (dare I say - ahem - guerrilla?) sneak attack tactics must not be tolerated!
More zombie news
This one might even be real: Boffins create zombie dogs
US scientists have succeeded in reviving the dogs after three hours of clinical death, paving the way for trials on humans within years.
Pittsburgh's Safar Centre for Resuscitation Research has developed a technique in which subject's veins are drained of blood and filled with an ice-cold salt solution.
Granted, the story isn't quite as exciting as the title, but hey... I love any story that calls scientists "boffins" -- makes 'em sound like Muppets!
Cruise Control (or lack thereof)
Because The Wife is (justifiably, since she works in the psychiatric field) obsessed with the rapidly-approaching-Howard-Hughes-type-crazy Tom Cruise:Cruise is waving off critics
Jumping on Oprah's couch? Sure it was unorthodox behavior for a celebrity, but he laughs at it, too. "I will forever with this woman be jumping on couches, dancing on tables and hanging from chandeliers."
Criticizing doctors for prescribing drugs to depressed patients? That's much more controversial than footprints on the furniture, but Cruise professes disdain for psychiatric drugs. "All I can do is say, 'Look. Don't listen, look.' " He encourages people to research the drugs.
Ah... I experience such wonderful schadenfreude at watching a Scientology Grand Dragon implode... The man is obviously in need of a little "Nazi science" himself.