June 10th, 2006

The latest set of links that have caught my eye:

• Science: are we seeing evolution in action with electric fish? Possibly. So how much energy is being expended to produce this new species? I was waiting for you to ask. In other news, experiments with animals suggest that prolonging life has more to do with calorie restriction than with exercise. And theories that figs may have been the first domesticated crop. I love the idea that if I grow a fig tree, I’m preserving a twelve-thousand year old connection to my ancestors. Also, archaeobotanists, can you think of a cooler occupation name than that?
• Need a laugh? Try this suspect device cartoon, or this outsider view of X3, or watch this video of extreme Diet Coke and Mentos experiments.
• Montessori schools rule!
• Political outrage: Thought NYC was iconic, did you? Yeah, me too. Turns out we’re wrong. As you’ve probably heard by now, according to the Department of Homeland Security, New York has no national monuments or icons. Counterexamples at the Whatever, commentary at Making Light. The U.S. Army Field Manual is getting a facelift, one that will remove language that prohibits torture. I am so saddened and enraged by our country’s increasing tally of human rights violations that I can barely express it. Meanwhile, our president feels what’s really important is to enshrine discrimination in the constitution. Is there anything he won’t stoop to trashing?
• To refresh your eyes, check out these seamless pictures. Prefer optical illusions?
• Writing advice from Kelly Link and not-writing advice from Jeff VanderMeer (both of whom are amazing writers). For those who prefer the cold hard numbers, here’s Slushmaster‘s stats for the year.
• Ursula Vernon puts the smackdown on her brain when there’s work to be done. The brain exacts revenge. Also, how come it’s not cool to have stories with morals at the end anymore? For rejection blues, watch “Bernard’s Letter“.
• Irony: “Rhythm Method” May Kill Off More Embryos Than Other Methods Of Contraception.
• Wishlist: this zester, the owl saint (in 13 x 19) and the fisher (in small), Thievery Corporation’s new CD “Versions“.

There we go. Down to thirty-three tabs. That’s manageable.

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