Friday, March 28, 2008
Haystack Bank no Barrier to Hungry Thieves...
An unidentified Ethiopian farmer was so afraid of losing his life savings if his house burned down that he opted to hide the equivalent of $12,000 dollars in a haystack. Despite receiving repeated advice to keep his money in the bank, the farmer opted for the field, according to the Ethiopian News...
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Thursday, March 27, 2008
And in Tuscany: Opera Remains Off Limits to Dogs...
A new law permits pet lovers to bring their dogs to the Italian region’s restaurants, museums, beaches and cinemas. Provided pets have veterinary certificates confirming their health and submit to muzzles where necessary, they’ll be welcome in recreational and cultural venues. One sensible barrier...
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Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Has Anyone Seen the Dickbot?
When sci-fi visionary Philip K. Dick inadvertently [?] re-created a Bible scene in his book Flow My Tears, the Policeman Said, he became convinced that the spirit of the prophet Elijah had overcome him, kicking off a long bout of schizophrenia. After Dick’s death, fans built an android likeness of...
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Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Forgetting to Remember...
Lucy? Jane? Melissa? The next time someone’s name stays frustratingly on the tip of your tongue, don’t feel bad – your brain is just doing its job. Forgetting not only helps the brain conserve energy, it also improves our short-term memory and recall of important details, according to recent...
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Monday, March 24, 2008
The Latest from the World of Artificial Intelligence...
Sometime early in this century the intelligence of machines will exceed that of humans. Within a quarter of a century, machines will exhibit the full range of human intellect, emotions and skills, ranging from musical and other creative aptitudes to physical movement. They will claim to have...
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Friday, March 21, 2008
And here’s to your health...
Listen up, goody-goodies: you’re risking your lives by not downing a beer once in a while! Doctors at the University of South Carolina have found that people who consume an occasional boozy beverage are 38 per cent less likely to develop heart disease. This isn’t the first study to show that...
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Thursday, March 20, 2008
How to Go to Hell Without Even Trying Hard...
Eat all you want, but make sure to recycle the packaging. As part of a modernization push, the Vatican has updated its list of the seven deadly sins, downgrading standbys like gluttony and lust in favor of ‘new’ crimes of the soul like excessive wealth, drug abuse and polluting the environment. But...
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Wednesday, March 19, 2008
And in Britain: ‘HOW R U?? OMG OMG MY FACE...
Reports that many pedestrians have been injured in the last year walking into lampposts and garbage cans while sending text messages prompted officials to seek a solution. One in ten injuries require treatment, including broken noses, cheekbones and even a fractured skull. A survey by a British...
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Tuesday, March 18, 2008
For once, the arm remained attached...
Lawyer Kathy Brewer Rentas has been charged with assault after vigorously shaking the hand of a prosecutor in a Florida courtroom. Jennifer Keane complained that Rentas “nearly ripped out” her arm from its socket. Moments before, Keane had successfully prosecuted Renta’s husband for violating...
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Monday, March 17, 2008
And in Australia – a Cheeky Festival...
Now in its 54 th year, last weekends ‘Moomba’ civic festival in Melbourne had putatively been named by organizers after a phrase in an Aboriginal book of expressions meaning ‘let’s get together and have fun.” But now, researchers suggest “moomba” actually means “up your bum.” Aboriginal activist and...
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