Linkable Supernova

Instruction Manual For Life

Thu, 15 Jan 2009 19:51:58 -0800

Using a metaphor for religion, this cute video makes a commentary on how absurd it is to model the way you live your life on a single book, especially when you simply pick and choose certain aspects of the book to listen to.

I found the end effect of listening to the entire instruction manual quite amusing.

Subway Ads in Berlin Get "Photoshopped"

Wed, 14 Jan 2009 19:05:58 -0800

Some of the ads in the Berlin subway have gotten modified through “Photoshopping”. Someone printed out large versions of Photoshop’s palettes and toolbars, and physically pasted them over the ads which feature models that have been touched up.

It’s actually a pretty cool modification to the posters.

(via digg)

Blowing the Tetris Theme Song

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:42:03 -0800

This video is so far past awesome it’s ridiculous. A couple of people filled a bunch of bottles to the appropriate levels, and then blew out the Tetris theme song. They even got in a couple of good trills.

(via @bwebster via Twitter)

Mosquito Provides Forensic Evidence

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:33:38 -0800

Helsinki police attempting to figure out who had stolen and later abandoned a car “noticed a mosquito that had sucked blood”, according to the Agence France Presse. Sending it to a lab confirmed that it had sucked blood from a man on police registers, proving that he had been in the car.

It’s amazing what facts DNA can establish nowadays.

Blindsight

Sat, 03 Jan 2009 05:28:00 -0800

Interesting New York Times article about a man left blind by strokes, which damaged only the visual cortex of his brain. Apparently, cells in the retina send signals to both the visual cortex as well as subcortical areas. As such, even though the man cannot consciously see objects in front of him, he can still subconsciously see them and navigate an obstacle course unaided.

(via digg)

Debunking Medical Myths

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:35:01 -0800

The British Medical Journal has published an article debunking six popular medical myths via everyone’s favorite tool: science! It’s complete with links to sources, and tackles such ideas as sugar causing hyperactivity, and suicides increasing during the holidays.

Don’t miss last year’s article, too. That one tackles the 10% brain usage myth, the “reading in the dark ruins your eyesight” myth, as well as a couple others.

(via The New York Times via digg)

Supreme Court Denies Obama Eligibility Challenge, For Seventh Time

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:29:24 -0800

Justice Anthony Kennedy of the Supreme Court has denied a pair of challenges to Obama’s eligibility to be president. What’s pretty ridiculous is apparently this amounts to the seventh challenge to Obama’s eligibility to be brought before the court.

Both challenges contend that Obama is a a citizen of Kenya or Indonesia, and thus is not a “natural-born citizen” of the U.S. (This reasoning seems identical to a previous challenge that contended the same thing.)

Obama is a citizen of the U.S., having been born in Hawaii. His campaign has released his original birth certificate, and it’s been verified over and over by the Hawaii Department of Health.

Friggin’ internet conspiracy theorists.

Facebook Pokes Are Viable Court Notifications

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:22:47 -0800

In Australia, a court recently allowed a lawyer to serve legal documents via a Facebook poke. Apparently, a New York state judge has also previously allowed a court summons to be delivered via e-mail.

The potential for false identification seems to be high. Wouldn’t it be better to subpoena Facebook for information that would allow the court to determine a physical address for the person, which could be used to verify the identity?

You Are Not Invited to My Party

Tue, 23 Dec 2008 03:18:36 -0800

Hilarious e-mail exchange between a guy and his neighbor that left a non-invitation invite in his mailbox.

Like the spider payment e-mail exchange, this could be completely fabricated, but it’s still hilarious.

(via digg)

Lizard People

Thu, 18 Dec 2008 16:02:15 -0800

In the ongoing saga of the Minnesota Senate recount, the canvassing board has started ruling on challenged ballots. As of today, Coleman’s lead, according to the Minnesota Star-Tribune, has dwindled to a grand total of 5 votes, with hundreds of Coleman challenges left to decide on.

Challenges are typically not upheld, so the remaining challenges being from the Coleman campaign is significant because his campaign would challenge votes for Franken or for other candidates. Thus, Franken is more likely to pick up votes when Coleman’s challenges are being looked at (and vice versa).

Amusingly, the Lizard People ballot was ruled on today. Apparently, it might be a reference to a Douglas Adams book entitled “So Long, and Thanks for All the Fish”.

It’s an appropriate quote to reference on a ballot. Perhaps ironically, the challenge was upheld, negating a vote for Franken.