Pretty good overview:I was under the impression that many of them monsters Godzilla fought were not from outer space, but rather, from eggs shaken loose by earthquakes and mutated by nuclear irradiation and stuff. Am I wrong about this?

My student who claims to be at Philosophy Camp just sent me this video of what goes on there. I’m not sure if I believe it: Continue reading Philosophy Camp →

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

An unwitting passenger arriving at Japan’s Narita airport has received 142g of cannabis after a customs test went awry, officials say.A customs officer hid a package of the banned substance in a side pocket of a randomly chosen suitcase in order to test airport security.Sniffer dogs failed to detect the cannabis and the officer could not remember which bag he had put it in.Anyone finding the package has been asked to contact customs officials.

Japanese officials would like the passenger to return their pot as soon as possible. Thank you very much.[source]

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, creator of Sherlock Holmes. Arthur Conan Doyle will always be remembered for his Sherlock Holmes tales, including four novels and numerous short stories serialized in The Strand and/or published in various collections. However, Doyle was at least as prolific (probably more) in the area of spiritualism, and according to the London Times obituary published at the time of his death on July 7th 1930, he was tired of Holmes and preferred to be remembered for his books on the spooky ghostly stuff. From that obituary:

Sir Arthur claimed to have had conversations with the spirits of many great men, including Cecil Rhodes, Earl Haig, Joseph Conrad and others. Adrian Conan Doyle, the novelist’s son, said today the whole family believed Sir Arthur would continue to keep in touch with them.”I know perfectly well I am going to have conversations with my father,” he said. [source]

Continue reading Happy Birthday Arthur Conan Doyle →

And it’s DAVID!!!!!!!

On August 6th, 1945, an atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima, Japan by the United States Army. The bomb successfully exploded instantly killing about 80,000 people and destroying a majority of the physical structure of the city.Someone with a camera took a series of photographs of the post-bomb carnage. The film exposed by this photographer was brought to a cave outside of town, where it was later discovered by US serviceman Robert Capp. Capp had the film developed and hung on to the images until 1998, when he donated the film to the Hoover Archives with the provision that the photos not be reproduced for another 10 years.That was ten years ago, and the photographs are now available for you to see. Continue reading Newly Released Hiroshima Photographs →

And a few sexist remarks to boot.Is this a famous person?[Hat Tip: Hilde Knustad!]And now, let’s see how YOU do under pressure: Continue reading Your Average American Doing Geography →

Quite simply, Michael Moschen has revolutionized juggling, refining it into an art and a bit of a science. With a few flying balls and well-chosen props he will completely re-wire your notions of..

Continue reading Michael Moschen: Juggling rhythm and motion →

…. stop here if you don’t want to be creeped out, like, totally. Continue reading The Chaser McDonalds Upsell →

… And, for more dating advice: Continue reading Kids: Don’t Do Drugs! →

My friend Matt says that when he gets up in the morning, the first thing he does is to reach his hands skyward, extend to first and second fingers on each hand, and produce two synchronized rapid curling motions with these fingers.In so doing, everything else he does that day is “in quotes.”Have you ever noticed how often quotations are used incorrectly, and don’t you “find” this totally “annoying?”The main problem, of course, is that people “think” quotes are for “emphasis” … when they are really for the exact opposite. Something that you put in quotes (that is not a, well, an actual quote) is something that you don’t really believe. So, the following is correct:

Intelligent design is a “theory” about evolution. Well, not really.

An incorrect use of quotes would be as in the following hypothetical sign in front of a resturant:

Come on in and try our “delicious” “food”

So, well, go have some “fun” at “The “Blog” of “Unnecessary” Quotation Marks“

No, really. Woo.