PZ

Pharyngula is the blog run by Paul Myers, also known as PZ.
I started reading his blog on a regular basis around november 2005.
He describes the blog as "Evolution, development, and random biological ejaculations from a godless liberal" and if you automatically asume that a liberal is funny it's a complete and correct description.
He posts about biology and the latest insane stuff the creationist have repackaged and are trying to sell to the world once more (unfortunately their actions are welcomed by many).
His blog definitely makes an interesting read and i find myself most of the time greatly appreciating -but not always agreeing with- his viewpoints on many things.
So go and give him a try if you have the time, if you don't, here's an idea to ease the pain:
Regularly he also posts funny things that i sometimes put up here.
Starting right now (and especially foy you, you, me and you) i'm going to make a category out of it, just another place on the web were nice links are to be found.
So here you have a few recent ones (with comments ;)):

#1 I'm no expert on religion but what i personally find very disturbing are religious suicide terrorists ...
Throughout history millions of people have put their life on the line to defend protect or save their family, home, city and country. Or at times even more noble, to simply help another human being. And i obviously respect that and hope that when it is needed i will have the courage to take part in it.
But here you have a segment of people who are fighting/killing in the name of their God and don't mind dying because there's always the afterlife...
Once you believe in it, i can understand that they go through with it, it's the ones who stay behind and make the promises about the afterlife that are the real evildoers!! And they probably even have ulterior political (power hungry a-holes) or financial motives.
Anyway, here's the link
(The ending might be a little tasteless, blaming the accident on the victims is well .. a special kind of humor.)

#2 Pie doesn't have tentacles!!
Well ok .. i agree, but here's a funny story anyway :)


#3 a special kind of science...
If i tried anything even remotely like this in a paper or in the masters' thesis i'd be in BIG trouble, luckily reporters don't have to measure what they do against any kind of standards (nor common sense)

what to do with your brand new i-phone ??

why not try and make something tasty out of it?


from the guys/girls at http://www.willitblend.com/, they've blended a few other things, you can go and go check it out, i didn't
personally i think it's one of the more original ways to promote a product :)
most commercials just make me feel .. well .. ashamed for the makers and for those influenced by it, but maybe also for the network stations who ultimately could maintain high standards for commercials ...

via PZ

Destination - EXTREME Japan

Sadly i'm going to need too much time for the master's thesis to be able to go to Spitsbergen this summer ...
sigh,
we even had a website about our trip
But finishing my year is simply a million times more important, i really have to finish the mater's thesis, it's really sad, but it's the right thing to do

Anyway, where should you go on a holiday ??

My Score: Extreme Japan
I scored 51% culture, 61% social, 63% activity, and 69% adventure!

You want it all. The great thing is, in the Land of the Rising Sun, you can HAVE it all. Japan has a rich culture that goes back thousands of years. But did you know that along with enriching your mind, you can also get your adrenaline going? How about climbing Mount Fuji, sea kayaking around the Noto Peninsula, surfing, diving, rafting, paragilding, horseback riding or cycling among unique scenery and terrain. If you go in a group, this will give you a great chance to form relationships easily with others on the tour and having more friends around will make the whole experience all the more rewarding and memorable. You can then balance out your adventures with some Japanese theatre or exploring the exciting markets and city streets. You may have never considered such a destination, but maybe you have learned something. If you had fun dreaming about where you might go, don't forget to rate my test. Thanks!

Link: The Where Should YOU Travel Test written by thinkandcome on OkCupid Free Online Dating, home of the The Dating Persona Test

If only i knew someone from Japan to tell me where to go ... ;)

This explains a lot

PZ links to this,
maybe i should print it and hang it on my wall ...

weird plants

Happy Birthday Johan!!
May your life become even better than is already has been!
And thanks for the tip that lead to this post!

The movie is made by http://www.1st-ave-machine.com/
It's their project named "sixes last" and if you click on it you can choose "view quicktime"

for those who are afraid of looking for the right link on the website, here's an easy shortcut to the same footage albeit in poor quality

but eyes and rotating elements in plants ??
exobiology or computer animation ..

well eyes aren't that impossible in living things but evolving something like that in earth plants ... not very likely in any reasonable time-frame and probably a few evolutionary re/constraints are going to prevent it
but recalling the evolution-course i followed once, rotating things are quite impossible because the wires would snap: veins, nerves etc ... would not survive it

Do you want to know more? An article by Richard Dawkins on the subject

Here are a few shorter remarks about the lack of wheels in animals, but the Dawkins piece is much better.