It took 4 million years of evolution to perfect the human foot. But we’re wrecking it with every step we take.
I run barefoot as much as I can, but unfortunately there’s not many places one can trust to take their bare feet without shoes in the great suburban outback.
# 2008 Apr 24
# 2008 Apr 20
The new book by Jack Handey:
But the meat of the book is shaped by short pieces such as the title story in which a caged narrator rants to his alien captors.
“So are we so different? Of course, we are, and you will be even more different if I ever finish my homemade flame thrower,” he says.
# 2008 Apr 16
Poor riveting may have accelerated the sinking of Titanic:
For a decade, the scientists have argued that the storied liner went down fast after hitting an iceberg because the ship’s builder used substandard rivets that popped their heads and let tons of icy seawater rush in. More than 1,500 people died.
When the safety of the rivets was first questioned 10 years ago, the builder ignored the accusation and said it did not have an archivist who could address the issue.
Now, historians say new evidence uncovered in the archive of the builder, Harland and Wolff, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, settles the argument and finally solves the riddle of one of the most famous sinkings of all time. The company says the findings are deeply flawed.
# 2008 Apr 15
There’s no way I wasn’t going to link to this.
# 2008 Apr 15
Take a look at the license plates at the Total Wine & More store just yards south of the Pennsylvania line. Most of the vehicle tags are from the Keystone State.
What gives? Each of those customers buying booze in Delaware and carrying it back north is breaking Pennsylvania law.
So why are they taking the risk?
A better question is: What risk?
Only 11 people were cited in all of 2007 for illegally importing alcohol, even though the law has been on the books since the 1930s.
I usually get a little nervous jumping the state line for my alcohol purchases, but this eases my mild trepidation.
And note: I’d stop going to Delaware to buy beer and liquor if Pennsylvania would stop being such a Puritan about selling it to me: state liquor stores with horrible selection, beer distributers not allowed to sell six-packs, six-pack stores only allowed to sell six-packs, most stores not allowed to sell anything, etc.
# 2008 Apr 14
Former Labor Secretary Robert Reich on the “bitter” thing:
Are Americans who have been left behind frustrated? Of course. And their frustrations, their anger and, yes, sometimes their bitterness, have been used since then — by demagogues, by nationalists and xenophobes, by radical conservatives, by political nuts and fanatical fruitcakes - to blame immigrants and foreign traders, to blame blacks and the poor, to blame “liberal elites,” to blame anyone and anything.
# 2008 Apr 14
Expansive interview with James Cameron on 3-D cinema:
We evolved to see in 3-D for a reason. It made us better hunters, or allowed us to spot and avoid predators. Why wouldn’t we want this Darwinian edge in our workplace, in our sports and entertainment, in all our peak visual experiences?
Lots of technical fun, process detail, and how filming in 3-D isn’t really so different than traditional cinema.
# 2008 Apr 14
And Robin Wilson did an interview with identity theory:
And, yes, you’re right—it’s very frustrating. You know, just last night, I was playing at that club on Long Island, and afterwards, I was signing some autographs for these three ladies, and one of ‘em said, “Well, I sure hope you’re still doing something with your voice.” And I’m like: the Gin Blossoms are together. We released a record last year; we’re playing at B.B. King’s in New York City this May. And these girls are, like, “Really, you guys are still together?” Most of the people in this country do not realize that we’re back together again. That’s the major frustration for me, because I believe—with genuine humility—that if people knew we were back together again, and we were in the public consciousness that we would be considered contemporaries of groups like Counting Crows and Live, those bands from our era and our ilk that never broke up.
# 2008 Apr 11
The Mets held a contest online to replace “Sweet Caroline” as the eight-inning sing-along song. FARK.com jumped on it and led Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up” to a write-in victory. Believing Rick Astley may not go over with the fans, they’re going to play the top six in house to see which gets the largest crowd response.
The other songs that made the cut, in descending order: Livin’ on a Prayer, Bon Jovi; I’m a Believer, The Monkees; Movin’ Out, Billy Joel; Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond; and Build Me Up Buttercup, The Foundations.
I’d vote for “Build Me Up Buttercup”, partially because it’s a good sing-along song, but mostly because of its aptness given the Mets performance last season.
# 2008 Apr 08
Black bodies! Cesium! Kelvins! James Duncan Davidson on the color of light. If you like photography and physics, this is a must read.
# 2008 Apr 08
NYTimes article on what it’s like to own a DeLorean:
“One time I was down in Philly, and behind me I hear this megaphone from the cops,” she said. “They’re like, ‘Pull over!’”
Before Ms. Reilly could comprehend her violation, an officer delivered one of the film’s famous quotes over the police car’s loudspeaker: “One point twenty-one gigawatts!” (She also gets a lot of “88 miles per hour!”) The officers watched her car while she and a friend got cheesesteaks.
My preadolescent self would be very disappointed that I don’t own a DeLorean (yet).
# 2008 Apr 08
Somebody should probably steal it back.
Senator Mike Gravel, Libertarian candidate for President of the United States.
# 2008 Apr 02
Confirming rumors that had swirled for weeks, NBC said on Wednesday that it had partnered with the satellite television provider DirecTV to keep the football drama “Friday Night Lights” on television.
Episodes to first air on DirecTV and a few months later on NBC.
This is good news, people; the world needs more Tim Riggins.
# 2008 Apr 02
Touching my hat switches me from “nice guy, if a little twitchy” to “kill mode”.
# 2008 Apr 02
On April 4, all dining commons will be serving the famed chicken cosmo sandwich for the last time. A popular menu item for over 26 years at Penn State, the cosmo has been a staple at almost all campuses’ dining operations and is a favorite of both students and alumni.
While I can’t justify the Cosmo on any dietary or gourmet grounds, it did have a knack for killing a hangover that I haven’t seen outside of a McChicken sandwich.
Via Black Shoe Diaries.
# 2008 Apr 02
These are all the posts on scotttroyan.com during April 2008. Recent posts are listed here.
All contents copyright 1995-2008 by Scott Troyan unless differently noted.