You are currently browsing the News category
There were so many interesting articles today I had trouble picking one to write about. I decided to compile a list of excerpts with links so you could choose for yourself.
Scientific America: Same Species, Polar Opposites: The Mystery of Identical Creatures Found in both Arctic and Antarctic Waters
“Two years ago, several research vessels shipped out to the North and the South poles to assemble a census of creatures living under the ice. One of the most surprising results was a discovery that 235 identical species lived on opposite sides of the world but were undocumented anywhere else. It’s easy to understand how massive humpbacks can swim from Arctic to Antarctic waters, but most of the miniature worms, snails and crustaceans on the researchers’ list are no bigger than grains of rice…. ”
To Read More
Telegraph.UK Dwarf Dinosaurs Did Exist
“A favourite theme of evolutionary ecologists is whether there is an ”island rule” – where large animals isolated on islands evolve to become smaller.
Three species of the Hateg dinosaurs – the plant-eating sauropod Magyarosaurus and the plant-eating ornithopods Telmatosaurus and Zalmoxes – are half the length of their nearest relatives elsewhere…”
To Read More
NYT Who’s Your Daddy? Genetic Diversity in Fatherless Whiptail Lizardsa
“More than 40 years ago, Bill Neaves, then a young Ph.D. student, discovered how an all-female, asexual species of the whiptail lizard came to be. He found that the lizard was a cross between the female species of one type of lizard and the male species of another.
But what has puzzled him for years is how this all-female species maintains its high level of genetic variation, a contribution to evolutionary fitness that typically comes from sexual reproduction.”
To Read More
Dr Andrew Clark, of the Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge (UK) and hero to anyone allergic to peanuts recently boasted that a cure for the pesky legume could be a mere three years away. Dr Clark and his sponsors (NHS) are launching “the world’s largest study” of this life-threatening allergy. This is great news for the more than 3 million Americans who report being allergic to peanuts, tree nuts or both (AAAAI).
The study utilizes a desensitization treatment, whereupon participants are initially given small doses of “peanut flour”, which gradually over time help to strengthen the participant’s tolerance to the allergen. As the patient’s tolerance increases, so do the doses of the peanut flour until eventually they can consume peanuts without negative side effects. Dr Clark claims that his research “could be the beginning of the end for all food allergies.” Vive Le Reese’s!
Fact: According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation, peanut allergies are the NUMBER ONE cause in food related deaths nationwide (AAFA). Yikes!
According to the Telegraph.UK, Swiss prostitutes are being trained how to use defibrillators in case their valued ‘customers’ go into cardiac arrest during…well you know. “Brothel owners in the Lugano area say electric shock treatment to restart customer’s hearts is needed because so many elderly customers are using their services.” I wonder what they charge for that jump start?
Link via Telegraph.UK
Update: I am not posting anything new today because I feel like this story should get more attention. Tomorrow we will be back in full force.
I would like to start off this post by saying EFF YOU VANITY FAIR MAGAZINE!!!! Why the hostility, you ask? Because the waif-loving fucktards at VF snubbed one of the most talented young actresses to burst onto the scene in recent years. Oscar nominated, Precious star, Gabourey Sidibe didn’t get an invite to Vanity’s shoot for their “Fresh Faces of 2010″ cover. A cover, I might add, that features the pasty, sandwich-hating likes of Abbie Cornish, Kristen Stewart, Carey Mulligan, Amanda Seyfried, Rebecca Hall, Mia Wasikowska, Anna Kendrick, Emma Stone, and Evan Rachel Wood.
Did I mention she was nominated for an Oscar? An Oscar! Did I mention that her performance was absolutely mesmerizing? I can’t think of a fresher face to put on the cover of their lackluster magazine. Hey Vanity Fair, it’s time for a new look. I have grown tired of the images of sickly looking models and celebrities that you and Ms. Leibovitz are so fond of. Maybe I’m wrong. Perhaps the Fair is waiting to give Gabourey her very own cover. That must be it! Right? Right Vanity Fair? You ARE waiting to give her the solo cover she deserves!
Show your support by joining the Facebook Group: Hey Vanity Fair Put Gabourey Sidibe On Your Cover
Pancake day? Well whatever do you mean? I mean, HAPPY EFFING PANCAKE DAY or (as those across the pond call it) Shrove Tuesday. Pancakes, pancakes, pancakes! In honor of this glorious day I am making my famed pancake burritos (recipe below). I wish I could write more, but I need to partake in Official Pancake Festivities.
You didn’t know there’s a pancake day? You want me to explain? Here’s the deal: tomorrow is the last day before Lent starts. During Lent we must go without (!!!) tasty delicious things like fat and butter and whatnot because someone said we had to. Therefore, we must get our pancake on before Lent starts. Today is the day my friends. Don’t let it slip you by.
PANCAKE BURRITOS
You will need:
Pancakes – I vote for a nice Buckwheat Blueberry.
Yellow/Orange Processed Cheese of the Cheddar flavor
Snausages AKA Sausages-Links or Patties-it’s up to you (Bacon may be substituted for sausage. Hell use both)
Scrambled eggs, though fried will work
REAL Maple Syrup not that artificial shit. For Christ’s sake it’s Pancake Day
Lay the pancake flat on a counter or plate.
Using a spoon, scoop the eggs in a uniform manner down the center of the pancake in a vertical line. Vertical, not horizontal, it will be absolutely RUINED if the eggs are placed horizontally.
Place the sausages on top of the eggs.
Add all the cheese.
Now it is time to syrup the beast (I recommend a nice zig zag line).
Take one end of the pancake and gently roll.
Voila, pancake burrito! Bon appetit!
Police in Nigeria have detained a goat on suspicion of armed robbery. The goat was turned in by two concerned citizens who stated ” it was an armed robber who had used black magic to transform himself into a goat to escape arrest after trying to steal a Mazda 323″. I don’t believe it. A Mazda 323? Everyone knows that goats prefer the Mazda 6.
Police spokesman Tunde Mohammed “We cannot confirm the story, but the goat is in our custody. We cannot base our information on something mystical. It is something that has to be proved scientifically, that a human being turned into a goat,” he said.
Link via Reuters
In other bizarre animal news this little hen is delivering big time. The owners allege that the lil Columbian blacktailed cross hen is poppin out eggs the size of a grapefruit. Ouch! That’s omelette material.
Link via Telegraph
This must be the month for freaky conjoined twins. If you recall a few weeks ago Colorado Doctor Finds Foot in Newborn’s Brain and now this. Yikes!!!
The Telegraph reports “Faith Mwampe has the feet of an unformed twin protruding from her buttocks, meaning she may never be able to walk unless it is removed. The Zambian baby, who was born in April last year, is set to undergo the five-hour operation at the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka next Thursday.”
Link via Telegraph
In my office, leaning against a ‘Forcola Prua,’ a photograph slouches forward upon my desk top. The photograph immortalizes a beautiful summer day in Venice when my sister and I sat in the divan of a gondola on the Grand Canal, with our gondolier Paulo glancing off to the left. Simply then one day of many in a somewhat surreal, whirlwind tour of Europe, I see this picture now somewhat as a foreshadowing of my current life and career. For now, 12 years later, I am a gondolier by profession (by way of accordion), and suddenly, three days ago, am training to row in an annual regatta on the Grand Canal, this spring.
The regatta is called “The Vogalonga.” It originated three and a half decades ago, quite unofficially. That is, a small group of people set out on their boats, rowing through the city of Venice to honor and demonstrate their love for the tradition of Venetian rowing, especially in the wake (so to speak) of motor-powered water vehicles and their destructive impact on the city. Over the years more and more people have joined in to participate in the non-competitive event, and now today nearly 6000 boats can be seen through the canals and waterways of the city, traversing over a 14mile course. It is a huge celebration. The city shuts down, and manually-powered boats of many shapes and sizes holding rowers from Venice and from all over the world, appear to spill through the canals like confetti from an aerial view.
Magnificent.
Yes, I’m nervous. But so, so excited. My record is 7 miles, and so there is certainly training to do, this spring. It is also a very exciting opportunity, for in addition to rowing the Vogalonga itself, I will get to meet a few of the other female gondoliers in the world. To the best of my knowledge, there are five of us. There are approximately 450 gondolas left in the world to date, and only slightly a few more gondoliers. And in those 450 gondoliers, there are five women, myself included. So! It will be very exciting to meet some of them.
And so the countdown begins for my first Vogalonga: with many preparations for the ‘long row,’itself, and also for my own gondola season, here in Boston, MA.
To learn more about the Vogalonga, visit the official webite of the regatta: vogalonga
To learn more about the Boston gondolas visit www.bostongondolas.com
And naturally, feel free drop me a line anytime, as well!
Ciao!
Megan (“Milena”) S.
Sorry about the lack of proper posts, but the holiday season, birthday festivities and all around life just got in the way. We will be back in full force starting this Monday. Hey, don’t blame me! Blame those damn pink martinis and bottles of champagne that were flowing so freely. I am only human.
In other news, it appears that those religious types have their panties in a bunch yet again over the busty Virgin Mary depicted in Ricardo Oyarzun’s recent fashion show in Chile. Please see the sexiness below.
Dear Mr Roman Catholic Church,
This is effing AWESOME! This is what your lame, boring ass, religion has needed for quite sometime. It’s called a facelift. Trust me if this is how the Virgin Mary looked when I was in school, you bet your ass I never would have renounced my faith. In fact I would have been down on my knees praying everyday. EVERYDAY!
Link via Reuters
The Telegraph posted this delightful piece by US editor Toby Harnden. I am not sure if these are truly ‘Americanisms’ or just the universal language of BS. Anyhoo it made my day.
“1. “Happy Holidays.”
Translation: “Merry Christmas but I realise you might be Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Bahai, something even more exotic, agnostic or Godless and I don’t want to offend you.”
2. “Have a Nice Day.”
Translation: “I would like you to have a pleasant time today” or “I hate you” – or anything in between.
3. “You’re welcome.”
Translation: Meaningless Pavlovian response to thank you.
4. “Do the math.”
Translation: “Work it out yourself, stupid.”
5. “Let’s visit with each other.”
Translation: “We should spend time together.”
6. “How are you today?”
Translation: “We mean nothing to each other, but let’s pretend.”
7. “Good luck with that.
“Translation: “You have no chance at all.”
8. “Oh my gosh!”
Translation: “I fear you may feel that taking the Lord’s name in vain is blasphemous.”
9. “Can I use your bathroom?”
Translation: “I would like to use your lavatory.”
10. “Not so much.”
Translation: “That’s completely wrong.” Used on me in classic fashion by a Clinton aide back in February.”
Link via The Telegraph
