Jiggle The Handle

Given the recent space toilet troubles, I am reminded of similar troubles aboard the space shuttle Challenger nearly 30 years ago (November, 1981), and comedian Robin Williams commentary on the solution to the problem. The relevant part starts at 2:35.



Thirty year ago, this put me in stitches. It's still a good one.

Unquote #2

The greatest human talent is self-delusion. (Often propped-up by another, our penchant for self-righteousness.) Across recorded history, delusional leaders were responsible for countless horrific errors of statecraft, though it was common folk who suffered. Yet, ruling castes always made it their top priority to limit criticism, the only thing that might have corrected their mistakes. This dire contradiction propelled much of the tragedy of the last 4,000 years. (http://www.davidbrin.com/addiction.htm)

Author David Brin, found here.

Three Times Fast

Say the following three times fast, I dare you.

20-Iodo-14,15-epoxyeicosa-8(Z)-enoyl-3-azidophenylsulfonamide:
photoaffinity labeling of a 14,15-epoxyeicosatrienoic acid receptor.

Or for that matter, once, without pausing for breathe.

The next time someone tells they think statistics are hard to understand, I'm going to send them to a biochemist.

Unquote

Credit and copyright, wikimedia commons

Borrowing (maybe stealing) a regular feature at Futility Closet, a quote for our times:

If you have a weak candidate and a weak platform, wrap yourself up in the American flag and talk about the Constitution. -Matthew Stanley Quay, senator (1833-1904)

Skeptics on TV

Michael Shermer on The Colbert Report

Now I Get It

Back when I played D&D, we had a special place for that most silly sounding weapon: the Bohemian Earspoon.

My wife recently related to me that an earspoon is a tool once used for cleaning the ear, and putting the wax so acquired to other industrious uses (Eeeewww!)

So the suggestion is that a large polearm be used for cleaning the ear is kind of funny (at least if it's not your ear!), and was obviously intended to be a joke all along.

Now it get it! :-)