waka waka waka » Shameless Filler

Long Ago And Far Away

Malcolm — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 18:26:19 +0000

It’s easy to lose perspective with one’s nose pressed up against the local affairs of this evanescent speck of dust we call home.

So: zooming out just a little from U.S. politics, here’s a nice example of gravitational lensing: a “magnified” galaxy that we see as it was two-thirds of the age of the Universe ago.

Software Professionals: A Field Guide To Indentification

Malcolm — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 03:56:12 +0000

Here’s how you can tell working coders from computer-science Ph.Ds:

Make them mad. We all know when you’re angry you should count to 10; this should be sufficient for distinguishing the two species.

The Coder:

“zero…one…two…three…four…five…six…seven…eight…nine.”

The Ph.D:

“one…two.”

Why I Love The Internet

Malcolm — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 20:44:28 +0000

Just tweeted by “Karma’s janitor”, @Iowahawk:

New York New York, it’s a helluva town / 3 foot rats, but the transfats are down

Carotica

Malcolm — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 02:28:46 +0000

Bonneville Salt Flats, 462 m.p.h. Here.

Sad Sack

Malcolm — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 02:06:24 +0000

I don’t know what to say about this, so I’ll just pass it along without comment.

“You’ve Changed…”

Malcolm — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 16:35:24 +0000

Here’s an awkward item courtesy of my son Nick, who’s now a senior staffer over at Wish I Didn’t Know.

Don’t know about you, but I really hate it when this happens.

I Am Here, And You Are My Sofa

Malcolm — Sat, 15 Oct 2011 03:56:55 +0000

It’s been a long busy day, with no time for writing. I did run across this little item, though, just now: a new approach to sorting out the various authors of the Bible.

As I write, my friend G. Orcalimbo Jones at WOMR is playing Side 2 of Zappa’s One Size Fits All. What an incredible record.

Olio

Malcolm — Tue, 11 Oct 2011 17:59:52 +0000

I’m working a long day today, so for now, just a few links:

A fold in the brain seems to have something to do with distinguishing reality from imagination.

A collection of “coffins” — math problems with relatively simple solutions that are hellishly difficult to find — used by Soviet schools to keep out Jews.

22 miles straight up in 90 seconds.

An interesting item about Zucotti Park.

A detailed examination of blackboards in porn.

Oh, and a plug for yours truly at 8:00.

Bored?

Malcolm — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 20:29:34 +0000

How To Artificially Inseminate A Rhino.

“Shameless Filler” seems about the right category for this one.

(HT: Derb.)

The Honey Badger

Malcolm — Sun, 21 Aug 2011 18:44:58 +0000

As advertised, we’re lying low out here in the remoter reaches of Cape Cod, and paying little attention to the wider world. I hear there are things going on out there — apparently something’s happening in the Middle East or something — but my attention has been more focused on oysters, old books, and keeping an ear cocked for the tinkle of ice at sunset.

Postings will continue to be sporadic till early September. For today, though, here’s one of those educational nature videos.

This And That

Malcolm — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:54:28 +0000

I had hoped to find some quiet time today for getting some thoughts written down about recent events (in particular the massacre in Oslo and what it means for the defense-of-the-West club that has been spotlighted from all angles in its aftermath), but it was not to be, and now, with a couple of very long work-days coming up, I’m not going to have much of an opportunity until Friday at the earliest. (I realize that my not having commented on it all has not exactly stopped the Earth in its orbit, but I think it’s incumbent on anybody who has written the sorts of things that I’ve been writing in this blog for years now to say where he stands in the wake of Mr. Breivik’s actions, and I intend to do so.)

For tonight, though, just a few links — starting with a couple from Science Daily:

– From the University of Leicester, what you might call “penetrating” insights into a popular activity.

– Does recent research into epigenetics mean new life for Lamarckism?

– In a follow-up to our story a while back about zombie ants, here’s a similar game involving ladybugs.

– On a more political note: Dennis Prager enumerates a few of the reasons why, as John Boehner said last night, “bigger government means smaller people”.

Might be quiet here for a couple of days.

Dinner And A Dance

Malcolm — Tue, 26 Jul 2011 03:06:38 +0000

I’ve been brooding and distracted, and trying to organize my thoughts for a serious post or two, but have hardly had a moment to myself all day, and so have nothing much to offer tonight.

Except, of course, this appetizing illustration of sodium-ion channels in action, courtesy of my daughter Chloe.

Just The Check, Please

Malcolm — Sat, 16 Jul 2011 03:01:11 +0000

Four years ago I reported on a chicken-wing-eating competition I chanced upon at Grand Central Station. I had never seen professional gurgitators at work before; the best thing I can say about the experience was that it has helped me, in contemplating the great arc of civilization, to lower my expectations.

Like other sports, though, the eating circuit has its stars — its Federers and Mannings and Mickelsons — and they make a pretty good living, I think. (At the very least, they don’t go hungry.) But the honor and glory, it turns out, comes at a heavy price.

Learn more here.

Baby Elephants!

Malcolm — Thu, 23 Jun 2011 19:28:41 +0000

Courtesy of Jonah Goldberg.

One From The Gipper

Malcolm — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 15:25:52 +0000

Here’s a pungent partisan punchline, from a president who could actually tell a joke.

Charm, Beauty, And Friendly Service

Malcolm — Mon, 16 May 2011 02:19:22 +0000

I’ve had no time for writing much of anything today, so for tonight here’s an amusing relic from a bygone age of the world: the 1968 Playboy Club Bunny Manual.

Make It Stop

Malcolm — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 03:05:19 +0000

President Obama’s in town, and in a spirit of hospitality I won’t have anything to say about last night’s speech. (Anyway, everybody’s already said it, for example here and here.)

Instead, then: a grab from the Shameless Filler bag. Tonight it’s one of the damnedest eyetwisters I’ve ever seen.

The squares in the image below are arranged in four concentric circles. (If you don’t believe me, trace them with your mouse!)

I Have To Ask

Malcolm — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 04:33:12 +0000

On the commercial street near my house, there’s a comic-book store, and as I walked by it today they had a big picture of Superman on display. It looked something like this:

It seemed to me that the Man of Steel was looking even more buff than ever, certainly way more so than when I was a kid. Look at those lats!

At first I thought: Way to go, big guy! But then I started wondering: when Superman wants to bulk up a bit, how the hell does he do it?

For that matter, why does he even need to be in shape at all?

Poot!

Malcolm — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 05:09:24 +0000

The website spaceweather.com has been offering some amazing solar images lately. Here’s a good one: a video clip of a gigantic plasma ejection.

LBJ Orders Pants

Malcolm — Wed, 19 Jan 2011 17:00:31 +0000

Here.