Topics include, but are not limited to: synthetic and systems biology, urban planning and economics, politics, craft beer, and bicycles. Caveat lector.
Catching Elephant is a theme by Andy Taylor
Today, this was my favorite.
It’s incredible that this story, showcasing the sincere love of America an outsider can have, something that could easily be shown to 5th graders to teach them how special America is, comes from Al Jazeera. Do we all need a reality check?
Joseph (around 15:15): “Big, big buildings, tall, going to the sky. Very beautiful indeed. Every street in New York is very jam-packed. It’s jam-packed to capacity. It is exciting. If immigrants can come together and build that wonderful city, then I want to be a good immigrant. So people will say, ‘Yeah this guy made an impact on other people’s lives.’”
Bawk,’’ Menino said. “Bawk, bawk, bawk.’’
The Boston Globe - ‘On his farm he had some … chickens’ - via Universal Hub (in which Mayor Mumbles elevates self-parody to the lofty heights of the sublime).
The last level and full ending to Braid.
It’s here that all of the hype over this video game paid off for me. The first time through the stage you and the princess are racing through the level away from The final boss. She undos dead ends and booby traps for you as you both run to safety.
The second time through is in reverse. Now the princess is racing from you, setting booby traps and creating dead ends as you chase after her. Finally when you both get to the boss he rescues her from you, not the other way around.
It was such a shock when I first saw it. After a whole game of “rescuing the princess” to find out you were the bad guy. Not all princesses need rescuing. Self-delusion is such a powerful thing.
When people ask what’s the matter with my generation, part of me wants to say: Have you seen the economy you created? What’s the matter with yours?
But that’s churlish. So instead, let’s make a deal. Boomers, fix what you did to the country. And I promise you, the kids will be alright.
Derek Thompson of TheAtlantic.com, What’s Really the Matter With 20-Somethings
American Drink: Ice Part 2: How to make the best fucking ice ever
Other than looking good, fancy cubes, ice spheres and even crushed ice keep the drink cold. Smaller cubes have more surface area and therefore add to the dilution of the drink. We don’t want that. We may be having a great conversation with old friends or trying to finish cooking dinner and set…
Heath Ledger on the set of The Dark Knight.
meretremfuit:underpantscharleston:
This is a REAL picture from the set…Heath Ledger was apparently a skateboarder.
That’s pretty bad-ass
Classic
He was in Lords of Dogtown
Fuck Yeah Lincoln.
Hundreds of specially trained dogs form Italy’s corps of canine lifeguards and are deployed each summer to help swimmers. Unlike their human counterparts, these lifedogs can easily jump from helicopters and speeding boats to reach swimmers in need of a rescue. (Courtesy of Italian School of Canine Lifeguards / AP) Images: Animal Tracks
Can we agree rescue dogs are the coolest animals?
Like we needed to be reminded why dogs rule and cats signify everything that is wrong with the Internet and LIFE.
Awesome.
Meet the UK version Xe Services (aka Blackstone). Watching this gives me the chills.
The Biggest Company You’ve Never Heard Of (via jkleske, ghensel)
Scary.
Fire Tornado Rips Through Fields in Brazil
Let this be known as the day the terrifying word “FIRENADO” was forever entered into my vocabulary. Why don’t we just call them “Burninators” and call it a day?
All coast U.S.A.
Someone took a map of the contiguous part of the United States, erased all the bits which didn’t have a coastal border, and joined those coasts together to make an island. Labelled version here.
I want to move there.
*Also, I like how “the Portlands” are neighbors, and how we ditched DC.
Rotating Solar House Generates Five Times The Energy It Consumes | Techcrunch
What’s cooler than a rotating house? One whose solar panels produce five times the energy the house uses. That’s pretty incredible, considering that even zero-energy structures are rare. German architect Rolf Disch built the home, called Heliotrope, to follow the sun throughout the day. The structure features triple panes of thermally insulated glass to strike a balance between letting light in and keeping the house cooler inside.
Make your move.
Above is the winning “Spoof an MTA Sign” submitted by Connor Franklin and made by yours truly, Underground Signs. Got a neat idea for a customized sign? Send it in to our submission box here on Tumblr!
kickass / want.
TV on the Radio - Lover’s Day
Always On My Mind by Noah & The Whale
originally by Brenda LeeOne of my favorite songs. Doesn’t really matter who sings it. Elvis, The Pet Shop Boys, Willie Nelson, Cookie Monster… anyone. Doesn’t matter. Great song.
a lovely cover. And yes, you are always on my mind.
