If I want someone to fail and I'm grading, they don't make it past question 6.

question 9 could be difficult--if you draw two separate lines you fail.
question 10, what first word? in that line? on the test? in English? Louisiana is the first word that starts with "L" on the test. there is none in that question.
question 11, only the 1 is necessary, all others (individually) can be crossed out.

Etc.

[YOUTUBE]yIIBwAO0tRM[/YOUTUBE]

Following the law is considered a bug, apparently.
 

[url]http://tech.slashdot.org/story/13/07/09/1826233/obamacare-software-glitch-will-limit-penalties-charged-to-smokers?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed[/url]

The politicians don't like how 2 laws "collide," so they're "fixing" the software to do what they want.

This type of stuff is the reason I get angry when people call the US a democracy, rather than a republic. The damn politicians don't even realize how US law is supposed to work.

The software is better at respecting the law than the politicians.

And, no, this has nothing to do with smokers, my complaint is connected to the fact they treat this as a bug, rather than realizing they need to rewrite the law.

Always trust Fox News...
 

So, there is a train with many cars with a lot of oil on board, and only a single human is responsible...

Breaks are the responsibility of the employees (oh, sorry, only one human) and then the train catches on fire....

[url]http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/07/10/quebec-police-treating-oil-train-derailment-site-as-crime-scene-death-toll/[/url]

"Human error"
 

(Post moved to a more appropriate thread. Chris, why did you post that here?)

They've discovered the actual color of an exo-planet, and that color is navy blue. Now, the question on my mind is what the heck does navy blue look like, and is the planet bluer than planet Earth. Also, I wonder if it's from water or something else making it blue.

Going to read the article now, but if anyone knows the average color of planet Earth, I'd love to know.

Edit: Okay, apparently, the blue color is either from molten glass(silicon) or actual water. But according to one of the scientists, the color is consistent with water.

[url]http://science.slashdot.org/story/13/07/11/1819259/first-exoplanet-to-be-seen-in-color-is-blue?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed[/url]

hmmm
another gem
[url]http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/africa/zimbabwe-hospital-charges-women-5-for-each-scream-during-childbirth-8705954.html[/url]
Zimbabwe hospital charges women $5 for each scream during childbirth

[QUOTE=ewmayer;346221]Now if we could only do similarly in the developed world for car alarms and gratuitous shouting of all sorts ... "If your car is not being vandalized or stolen and your person is not under assault or in the act of preventing harm to another, that'll be $5 per noise, please."[/QUOTE]

When it comes to gratuitous car alarms, I suggest that the fee should be $5 [I]paid to every person disturbed by the damned thing.[/I]

Everything Wrong With America In One Simple Image (INFOGRAPHIC)
 

[url]http://www.addictinginfo.org/2013/05/12/american-decline/[/url]


Hmmmmmmmmm.....:sick:

Man arrested for having a stroke while Black, left to die on jail floor.
 

[URL="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/15/1223852/-Man-arrested-for-having-a-stroke-while-Black-left-to-die-on-jail-floor?detail=email"]http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/07/15/1223852/-Man-arrested-for-having-a-stroke-while-Black-left-to-die-on-jail-floor[/URL]

Words fail, except to say that I can imagine the same sort of thing happening just about anywhere in the States.

Then I'm going to Mars.
 

:no:

re: Then I'm going to Mars
 

Would you happen to have a spare seat in whatever conveyance you are using? Can I come, too?

It seems that the minion has spawn, it's a boy... Now can we change the subject?

[QUOTE=firejuggler;347016]It seems that the minion has spawn, it's a boy... Now can we change the subject?[/QUOTE]Yup, she's dropped her sprog. Ho hum.

a new emperor -or evil overlord- in the making....
*imagine a baby 's first walk while the darth vador theme blast all the windows*

[url]http://www.quickanddirtytips.com/education/grammar/do-minions-speak-real-language[/url]

Any thoughts Mike?

[QUOTE=xilman;347019]Yup, she's dropped her sprog. Ho hum.[/QUOTE]

"Dropped 'er sprog?" What barbarous tongue is that? What is the derivation?

[QUOTE=kladner;347048]"Dropped 'er sprog?" What barbarous tongue is that? What is the derivation?[/QUOTE]
[url]http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sprog[/url]

[QUOTE=Uncwilly;347054][URL]http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sprog[/URL][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE][B][SIZE=2]Etymology[/SIZE][/B]

From Middle Low German [URL="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/sprake#Middle_Low_German"]sprāke[/URL]. Cognate to German [URL="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Sprache#German"]Sprache[/URL], Dutch [URL="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/spraak#Dutch"]spraak[/URL], Norwegian [URL="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/spr%C3%A5k#Norwegian"]språk[/URL], Old English [I][URL="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/spr%C3%A6c#Old_English"]sprǣċ[/URL][/I] and Swedish [URL="http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/spr%C3%A5k#Swedish"]språk[/URL].
[/QUOTE]O.K..... Thanks, Uncwilly. It is interesting that it has a pedigree, and that it is basically the same as "speech". I suppose birthing a child is an utterance of sorts. But I was really just chaffing xilman.

[QUOTE=kladner;347066]O.K..... Thanks, Uncwilly. It is interesting that it has a pedigree, and that it is basically the same as "speech". I suppose birthing a child is an utterance of sorts. But I was really just chaffing xilman.[/QUOTE]TBH, that's the first time I've seen that proposed etymology, not least because it pertains to the Danish word and I tend not to read Danish dictionaries very often.

The etymology of the English sprog is that it is a form of "sprout" which itself is a newly appeared (part of a) plant. The imagery is immediate.

Ah! "Sprout" certainly is more intuitive. Much obliged! :smile:

When I encounter such expresion, I like going to [url]http://www.urbandictionary.com/[/url] .
for sprog , here is the entry :
[code]
1.sprog

once disparaging term for a child, now often used affectionately. (Chiefly British)
"I'll come by your place after I drop the sprogs at school"

2.sprog

Derogatory term for a child.
"People who make sprogs should be locked up in a room full of sprogs and then strangled to death with a condom which is what they should've used in the first place."


3.SPROG

Naval term for a young/inexperienced rating...
Him? He's just a SPROG, Seaman Part one Right Outta Ganges!

by Sean's X-Type Cat Mar 22, 2010 add a video add to a list
4. Sprog

A new military recruit or a recruit fresh out of training arriving at a unit.
Look at that sprog! He is absolutely clueless!

5.sprog
1. derogative term for an unpleasent child.
2. illigitimate offspring


6.Sprog

Someone who either has grown up in, or is currently residing, in the New Zealand city of Nelson, particularly known for its inbreeding problem
Did you see that sprog in the NZ Warriors the other day

7.sprog

The Sprog is a 14foot (4.27m) two sail hard chine dinghy. It was originally designed in South Africa in the post WWII years in marine ply. At the end of the 70's, a successful conversion to foam sandwich GRP produced many new Sprogs and resulted in the revival of the class.

[/code]

Fascinating and very amusing! I like #2 especially.

There is a condom commercial (French) out there somewhere (see below!) which depicts a young father with a horrible little boy who is throwing a tantrum in the supermarket.

[YOUTUBE]mycGMDz2knA[/YOUTUBE]

Spawn?...

[QUOTE=firejuggler;347115]When I encounter such expresion, I like going to [url]http://www.urbandictionary.com/[/url] .
for sprog , here is the entry :
[code]
1.sprog

once disparaging term for a child, now often used affectionately. (Chiefly British)
"I'll come by your place after I drop the sprogs at school"

2.sprog

Derogatory term for a child.
"People who make sprogs should be locked up in a room full of sprogs and then strangled to death with a condom which is what they should've used in the first place."


3.SPROG

Naval term for a young/inexperienced rating...
Him? He's just a SPROG, Seaman Part one Right Outta Ganges!

by Sean's X-Type Cat Mar 22, 2010 add a video add to a list
4. Sprog

A new military recruit or a recruit fresh out of training arriving at a unit.
Look at that sprog! He is absolutely clueless!

5.sprog
1. derogative term for an unpleasent child.
2. illigitimate offspring


6.Sprog

Someone who either has grown up in, or is currently residing, in the New Zealand city of Nelson, particularly known for its inbreeding problem
Did you see that sprog in the NZ Warriors the other day

7.sprog

The Sprog is a 14foot (4.27m) two sail hard chine dinghy. It was originally designed in South Africa in the post WWII years in marine ply. At the end of the 70's, a successful conversion to foam sandwich GRP produced many new Sprogs and resulted in the revival of the class.

[/code][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE=chalsall;347132]Spawn?...[/QUOTE]Quite possibly. Chambers suggests that it might be a reverse portmanteau of "frog spawn". I believe that a convincing case hasn't yet been made, though I prefer sprout. The OE [i]spræc[/i] is certainly wrong, IMAO.

urbandictionnary , again
[code]
2.spawn
In multiplayer games, the place where a dead person or a person that has just joined is born or created.
4. Spawn
(n.) - Children, particularly annoying ones. SEE: Crotch-droppings.
[I]Lady, please remove your spawn from the middle of the street before something fortunate for the rest of humanity occurs.[/I]
[/code]

[QUOTE=ewmayer;347150][SNIP]

The closest Americanism I can think of analogous to sprog is "rugrat", but that applies only to very young [i.e. crawling] children.[/QUOTE]

"Curtain climbers", "ankle biters". My take on "rugrat" is that it can include toddlers. Fascinating subject, isn't it: derogatory terms for the very young. Not all deserve it, but those who do make up for the others. Of course, it is really a failing of the parents, so the "locked in a room full of screaming sprogs" punishment sounds quite fitting.

[url]http://www.popsci.com/technology/article/2013-07/mit-computer-could-make-internet-thats-three-times-fast[/url]
This would be nice...

[url]http://news.yahoo.com/mysterious-giant-magnet-attracts-rock-star-status-194725326.html[/url]

Apparently, my home town is the third fattest metropolitan area in the US.(Conway, Arkansas)

Guess I fit right in.

What scientists are seeing over Antarctica
 

Fascinating and scary. Sea level rise, anyone?
[YOUTUBE]anfbjiShjP8[/YOUTUBE]

Microsoft accuses Microsoft of copyright infringement
 

[B][SIZE=2]Microsoft accuses Microsoft of copyright infringement, asks Google to scrub search links[/SIZE][/B]

[URL="https://www.eff.org/mention/microsoft-accuses-microsoft-copyright-infringement-asks-google-scrub-search-links"]Link[/URL] at Electronic Frontier Foundation.

[QUOTE=ewmayer;347896]Thx - I find the [URL="http://www.pcworld.com/article/2045486/microsoft-accuses-microsoft-of-copyright-infringement-asks-google-to-scrub-search-links.html"]original PC World article[/URL] (linked in the above EFF page) more useful.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the referral. I thought the blurb was pretty short, but did not pursue the link. :no:

I have no idea why this video seems so awesome to me.

Also, I'm amazed there are no homophobic slurs in the comments that I can see, despite the visual definition of "working it."

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmxUMcqGGTw[/url]

Xerox scanners/copiers randomly alter written numbers.
 

[url]http://www.dkriesel.com/en/blog/2013/0802_xerox-workcentres_are_switching_written_numbers_when_scanning?[/url]

Never simply assume, always check.

[QUOTE=retina;348258][URL]http://www.dkriesel.com/en/blog/2013/0802_xerox-workcentres_are_switching_written_numbers_when_scanning?[/URL]

Never simply assume, always check.[/QUOTE]

Chester F. Carlson would NOT have been pleased with this situation.

I've heard of 1st world problems, I think this qualifies as a zero world problem, or maybe a -1. Off-topic: is there a mathematical way of officially determining the various "worlds," or is it an opinion thing?

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-23575249[/url]

A product for those with more dollars than cents.

[url]http://www.snopes.com/photos/animals/buffalobill.asp[/url]

[url]http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-23492425[/url]

[url]http://now.msn.com/dmitry-agarkov-outwits-russian-bank-by-writing-own-credit-card-terms[/url][QUOTE]Unhappy with the terms of an unsolicited credit card offer he received from online bank Tinkoff Credit Systems, Agarkov scanned the document, wrote in his own terms and sent it through. The bank approved the contract without reading the amended fine print, unwittingly agreeing to a 0 percent interest rate, unlimited credit and no fees, as well as a stipulation that the bank pay steep fines for changing or canceling the contract.[/QUOTE]

The Russian media had that news (and its followups) for about a week now. The [URL="http://lenta.ru/news/2013/08/09/tcs/"]latest development[/URL] was that D.A. was determined to leave the country (!) because "he was afraid for his life and freedom" (it is probably also a set up for suing TKC for more damages, as well as for libel. The latter is based on poorly thought-through bullying twitting remarks by none other than Tinkov: "Instead of 24M roubles, he is going to get four years in prison").

Some other opinions were that this is an unconventional flashmob action by the bank itself. (i.e. "The more publicity, the more people remember the brand." No matter what kind of publicity.) This so called "black piar" (PR) is common in Russia.

Florida sinkhole devours 3 story resort building
 

[url]http://www.wptv.com/dpp/news/state/sinkhole-in-clermont-florida-the-villa-at-the-summer-bay-resort-resort-near-disney-world-collapses[/url]

There is some cell phone video near the bottom of the article of a piece of the villa collapsing.

Blocking the Pirate Bay in Holland fails to have the desired effect
 

[url]http://hexus.net/business/news/internet/59257-blocking-pirate-bay-holland-fails-desired-effect/[/url]

Surprise! Demand tracks down Supply, and calling attention to the situation with court rulings stimulates downloading.

Also, Pirate Bay launches their own browser package to help dodge blockades. :chappy:
[url]http://hexus.net/tech/news/software/58753-the-pirate-bay-now-distributing-piratebrowser-package/[/url]

Action-speaks-louder-than-words Dept.
 

U.S. Customs and Border Patrol Agency puts on a demonstration for would-be car smugglers

[url]http://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/feds-crush-land-rover-defender-scare-illegal-importers-152348269.html[/url]

Which NFL team has played in the most games that ended with a 2-0 score? (That team is also the one that has lost the most 2-0 games, though it didn't lose them all.)

You can learn all that and more about the American football scoring play known as the "safety" (unrelated AFAIK to the defensive player position known as "safety") in this article:

"The Chiefs’ victory over the Jaguars was the first 28-2 score in NFL history"
[url]http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/chiefs-victory-over-jacksonville-first-28-2-score-230018510--nfl.html[/url]

(Also included: the most common game final score in NFL history)

May we live in interesting times...
 

[URL="http://yro.slashdot.org/story/13/09/09/136255/the-reporters-fifth-amendment-paradox"]Hmmmm...[/URL]

[QUOTE=ewmayer;352528][i]Edit:[/i] One possible flaw in the ointment - Does a 3rd-party witness who pleads the 5th by way of a refusal-to-testify [i.e. in the knowledge that there are no possible grounds for oneself to be prosecuted for the crime] open himself to changes of obstruction of justice?[/QUOTE]

An interesting question...

What does the code (read: Law) say?

How does said code behave when run on the processors (read: Judges)?

[QUOTE=ewmayer;352528]
[i]Edit:[/i] One possible flaw in the ointment - Does a 3rd-party witness who pleads the 5th by way of a refusal-to-testify [i.e. in the knowledge that there are no possible grounds for oneself to be prosecuted for the crime] open himself to changes of obstruction of justice?[/QUOTE]

A second possible flaw: The prosecutor can provide you with immunity, he "knows" you are an innocent 3rd party witness, and compel you to testify. I've seen that on Perry Mason, or some other such equally unimpeachable source.

Along similar lines, apparently it is now illegal to [URL="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/09/coach-who-taught-people-how-to-beat-lie-detectors-headed-to-prison/"]teach someone how to lie.[/URL] So much for "land of the free".

[QUOTE=Prime95;352541]Along similar lines, apparently it is now illegal to [URL="http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2013/09/coach-who-taught-people-how-to-beat-lie-detectors-headed-to-prison/"]teach someone how to lie.[/URL] So much for "land of the free".[/QUOTE]

For those for whom lying comes naturally, the "land of the free" is indeed the "land of opportunity" (sorry... that might come across as cynical...).

[URL]http://dailycaller.com/2013/09/09/pig-drinks-18-beers-attempts-to-fight-cow-before-passing-out/[/URL]

This reminds me of every Friday night of my short-lived college career.

[COLOR=white]Don't tell RDS or he'll tell me to live the drunken cow fighting to the real mathematicians![/COLOR]

[URL="http://www.mentalfloss.com/article/52568/46-state-fairs-and-what-makes-them-special"]46 State Fairs and What Makes Them Special[/URL]

[QUOTE=rogue;352610][URL="http://www.mentalfloss.com/article/52568/46-state-fairs-and-what-makes-them-special"]46 State Fairs and What Makes Them Special[/URL][/QUOTE]

I didn't read them all, nor do a search, but I didn't see anything about deep-fried everything. I think, perhaps, it's the Texas State Fair that has competitions for new deep-fried concoctions every year.

[QUOTE=kladner;352614]I didn't read them all, nor do a search, but I didn't see anything about deep-fried everything. I think, perhaps, it's the Texas State Fair that has competitions for new deep-fried concoctions every year.[/QUOTE]

In Wisconsin it is "something on a stick", like chocolate covered bacon. I tried it this year. I wouldn't try it again.

The Huffingtonpost has a photo gallery. I don't particularly like clicking through a gallery but did notice the deep fried Kool-Aid from the San Diego County Fair and the Florida State Fair's cheeseburger topped with deep-fried ice cream.
[URL="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/24/state-fair-foods-craziest_n_1827692.html"]State Fair Foods: The Most Ridiculous Concoctions Of All Time (PHOTO)[/URL] [noparse][huffingtonpost.com][/noparse]

Texas is the big one, I agree.

[URL="http://mentalfloss.com/article/31488/25-deep-fried-foods-texas-state-fair"]25 Deep-Fried Foods From the Texas State Fair[/URL] [noparse][mentalfloss.com][/noparse]

I looked into this back when fried Coke was a winner.

[URL="http://www.bigtex.com/sft/nav/foodinformation.asp"]AKA FRIED FOOD CAPITAL OF TEXAS®[/URL] [noparse][bigtex.com][/noparse]
[QUOTE]Isaac Russo (Deep-Fried Cuban Roll) and Justin Martinez (Fried Thanksgiving Dinner) are all smiles after walking away with a Big Tex® Choice Award in the 2013 competition.

Since the invention of the Fletcher's Corny Dog, fairgoers have often ranked food as one of the top reasons for attending the annual State Fair of Texas.

In 2005, Fair organizers - determined to take the association with food to a new level - organized the first annual Big Tex® Choice Awards contest.
The contest is considered a friendly food fight among Fair concessionaires. The contest is not open to the general public. Only concessionaires leasing space from the State Fair of Texas are eligible to enter.[/QUOTE][CODE]
2013 Most Creative Fried Thanksgiving Dinner
2013 Best Taste Deep-Fried Cuban Roll
2012 Most Creative Deep Fried Jambalaya
2012 Best Taste Fried Bacon Cinnamon Roll
2011 Most Creative Fried Bubblegum
2011 Best Taste Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack
2010 Most Creative Fried Beer™
2010 Best Taste Texas Fried FRITOS® Pie
2009 Most Creative Deep Fried Butter
2009 Best Taste Fernie's Deep Fried Peaches & Cream
2008 Most Creative Fried Banana Split
2008 Best Taste Chicken Fried Bacon
2007 Most Creative Deep Fried Latte
2007 Best Taste Texas Fried Cookie Dough
2006 Most Creative Fried Coke
2006 Best Taste Fried Praline Perfection
2005 Most Creative Viva Las Vegas Fried Ice Cream
2005 Best Taste Fried PB, Jelly and Banana Sandwich[/CODE]

Waa! I wanted to see number
[B][CODE]4. Peanut Butter Banana Cheeseburgers (deep fried)[/CODE][/B]and all I got was this-

[QUOTE=kladner;352634]Waa! I wanted to see number
[B][CODE]4. Peanut Butter Banana Cheeseburgers (deep fried)[/CODE][/B]and all I got was this-[/QUOTE]
Couldn't have been that good - they didn't like the plate...

[QUOTE=ewmayer;352649]True story (not sure if I've told this one hereabouts previously, apologies if it's a repeat): I knew a fellow in Alaska once who used to take his pet porcupine to a local bar, sit it on a barstool and stand it beers.[/QUOTE]Not heard that one.

When I was in Oxford a woman used to bring her rat into the pub I frequented at the time. Very charming animal which would run around the bar, eating peanuts and drinking beer from a (freshly cleaned) ash tray.

Back in the early '90s, I pet a mountain lion in a parking lot in Truckee, California (not 100% sure about location). It was on a leash and some guy there has a printed licence of some sort and a page of information. I don't remember the details very well. He wasn't in a bar so the story lacks punch but it was unusual all the same.

In 1995, I was photographed holding a crocodile in a zoo in China. It was merely one of the many things visitors could pay a little money to do but I was nervous all the same. I was crouching and prepared to jump aside if necessary (as if that would help much). I would have liked to open a dialog about risks and liabilities but no one nearby was speaking English and I didn't take a Chinese class till later (not that that one class would have helped much anyway).

[url]http://greatlanguagegame.com/[/url]

Denali is not shrinking, but National Geographic still uses the colonial name for the most prominent feature of Denali National Park.

[url]http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2013/13/130913-mckinley-alaska-height-record-denali-usgs/[/url]

How provincial of Nat Geo!

No idea if someone suggested this, but Buddhist monks might sometimes go hmmmmmmmmm when they're meditating. ;)

There was a woman that violently attacked a parakeet(sp?). When the police arrived, she told them the bird wouldn't stop making fun of her spending habits.

Hint:Parakeets are limited in the sounds they make.

[QUOTE=jasong;353409]
There was a woman that violently attacked a parakeet(sp?). When the police arrived, she told them the bird wouldn't stop making fun of her spending habits.

Hint:Parakeets are limited in the sounds they make.[/QUOTE]

When you say "Parakeet", is that the bird that we in the UK call a Budgie (i.e. a Budgerigar, as shown in my avatar)?

That stupid woman should be banned from keeping animals for life.

[QUOTE=jasong;353409]No idea if someone suggested this, but Buddhist monks might sometimes go hmmmmmmmmm when they're meditating. ;)[/QUOTE]

My guess is that they usually go [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aum"]Om[/URL] which is the religious word/mantra they chant. (maybe some very old munks go hmmmmmmmmm if they have forgotten what they should actually chant :smile:)

[QUOTE=BudgieJane;353424]When you say "Parakeet", is that the bird that we in the UK call a Budgie (i.e. a Budgerigar, as shown in my avatar)?

That stupid woman should be banned from keeping animals for life.[/QUOTE]
You don't have any smileys going on, so I'll explain the joke, just in case you didn't get it. The parakeet was going cheep, cheep, cheep and only existed in the sense that Schrodingers cat existed.

D'oh!

Almost 200 launches and their destinations detailed in one image.


[URL]http://edudemic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/50-years-exploration-huge.jpg[/URL]

Let's get off this rock!

[QUOTE=chappy;353765]Almost 200 launches and their destinations detailed in one image.


[URL]http://edudemic.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/50-years-exploration-huge.jpg[/URL]

Let's get off this rock![/QUOTE]
I had no idea there were so many missions involved with the sun. I wonder what's the closest a mission's gotten to the sun while still transmitting useful data.

[QUOTE=jasong;353772]I had no idea there were so many missions involved with the sun. I wonder what's the closest a mission's gotten to the sun while still transmitting useful data.[/QUOTE]Most of those are at the earth-sun L-points (if I read the chart correctly, the are some things I have issue with it [like there has only ever been one mission to orbit Mercury, but 2 appear to and the Pioneer craft did a Venus flyby, but that is not indicated] [it uses 'flybys' for events that are gravity assists for some missions and calls them assists in others]). The [URL="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helios_probes"]Helios missions[/URL] got about as close as anything. Ulysses was in a strange orbit. SOHO and STEREO (both of them) are solar studying spacecraft that are not in earth orbit

[URL="http://news.yahoo.com/boat-venezuela-flights-booked-full-months-141950761.html"]The nation's leading satirical website, [B]Chiguire[/B] Bipolar (Bipolar Capybara, a Venezuelan version of U.S. comic website The Onion), ran a tongue-in-cheek story of a new airline route: from Caracas to Caracas[/URL].

This reminds me of the agony of socialism in late 80s-early 90s in Russia, when the "official" dollar exchange rate was still maintained exactly likewise, and similar exploits existed.
____________

Incidentally, I thought that even if Cormac McCarthy pulled the [B]Chigurh[/B]'s name out of his subconscious, it could have been vaguely connected in his mind to Chiguire (a Capybara); the character is stocky and has very peculiar set of morals, not unlike those that people might associate with those of an oversized rodent? just a thought.
[QUOTE="wiki"]When writer Cormac McCarthy visited the set, the actors inquired about Chigurh's background and the symbolic significance of his name. McCarthy simply replied, "I just thought it was a cool name."[/QUOTE]

[url]http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2013/09/royal-observatory-2013/?pid=12521&viewall=true[/url]

Please don't [URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24246646"]drive on the runway[/URL].

[QUOTE=xilman;354131]Please don't [URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24246646"]drive on the runway[/URL].[/QUOTE]

Yeow! I notice that the Google map also has more street and highway names.

[QUOTE=xilman;354131]Please don't [URL="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24246646"]drive on the runway[/URL].[/QUOTE]
The aspect of this story which astonishes me the most is the fact that an international airport, hosting huge aircraft like 737s, is relying on road signs to stop unauthorised traffic blundering onto its taxiways and runways.

The gaffes in Apple Maps are amusing too of course.

[QUOTE=Brian-E;354142]The aspect of this story which astonishes me the most is the fact that an international airport, hosting huge aircraft like 737s, is relying on road signs to stop unauthorised traffic blundering onto its taxiways and runways.

The gaffes in Apple Maps are amusing too of course.[/QUOTE]

Yes! That, and mooses (meese? :smile:) are notoriously oblivious to road signs. (Of course, like "sheep", "moose" is both the singular and the plural. I just had to play with it.)

hehe, this is a'moosing!

[QUOTE=LaurV;354147]hehe, this is a'moosing![/QUOTE]

+2!! :grin:

Raoul Duke should be the face of the Apple map commercials!
And the slogan? "[URL="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d0hEzXrWT4&t=83"]I've never missed a plane yet[/URL]"

[QUOTE=kladner;354146]Yes! That, and mooses (meese? :smile:) are notoriously oblivious to road signs. (Of course, like "sheep", "moose" is both the singular and the plural. I just had to play with it.)[/QUOTE]Also like sheep, you can make moosaka out of each of them.

If the plural of mouse is mice, what is the plural of spouse?

[QUOTE=xilman;354160]If the plural of mouse is mice, what is the plural of spouse?[/QUOTE]A variety measured on the Scoville scale.

[QUOTE=xilman;354160]... [a] plural of spouse[s]* ...[/QUOTE]... is like entering hell, only worse.

[size=1]* xilman's quote is slightly altered for comedic effect.[/size]

[QUOTE=xilman;354160]Also like sheep, you can make moosaka out of each of them.

If the plural of mouse is mice, what is the plural of spouse?[/QUOTE]

Variety is the [b]spice[/b] of life!

the [B]spice [/B] must flow!

:dunecat:

[URL="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2437208/Is-Saddam-Husseins-fortune-warehouse-Moscow-Mystery-16-75bn-piles-cash-left-airport-years.html"]Mystery over £16.75bn piles of cash left at airport for six years[/URL][QUOTE]Vadim Lyalin, a customs affairs expert, said: 'The shipper didn't specify a recipient. This is rather odd. It suggests that something is wrong with the cash.

'Surely someone would have claimed the cargo from the very beginning. It remains unknown who exactly did so.

'Probably, there was a certain plan how this cash was supposed to cross the Russian border since no-one with any sense would send such money to "nowhere".[/QUOTE]

[URL="http://www.pnas.org/content/110/39/15746.abstract"]Testicular volume is inversely correlated with nurturing-related brain activity in human fathers[/URL].

r = -0.29, p-value is < 0.05. "Stand back, I am going to try science".

TriState values have five possibilities
 

[url]http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/office/aa432714%28v=office.12%29.aspx[/url]

... of which three are not supported. So it's a plain ordinary boolean, then.

[url=http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2298550/lse-finds-that-digital-downloading-doesn-t-hurt-the-music-industry]Copyright infringement might not actually harm the entertainment industry. And might actually help it succeed.[/url]

[QUOTE=jasong;355098][URL="http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/news/2298550/lse-finds-that-digital-downloading-doesn-t-hurt-the-music-industry"]Copyright infringement might not actually harm the entertainment industry. And might actually help it succeed.[/URL][/QUOTE]

I would not take bets on the industry getting the message.

"Shots fired at U.S.Capitol."

Google it.

Another company "rides the bus" (not yet bites the dust. The latter is reserved for their customers):
[url]http://helpx.adobe.com/x-productkb/policy-pricing/customer-alert.html[/url]
[QUOTE][B]What happened?[/B]

Adobe's security team recently discovered sophisticated attacks on our network, involving the illegal access of customer information as well as source code for numerous Adobe products. We believe these attacks may be related. We are working diligently internally, as well as with external partners and law enforcement, to address the incident. Read the FAQ.[/QUOTE]

Succinct, true and funny.

[URL="http://manyworldstheory.com/2013/10/03/the-9-kinds-of-physics-seminar/"]The 9 kinds of physics seminar[/URL]

via [URL="https://plus.google.com/110464871801965858778/posts/NSfsLWUZPTQ"]Vincent Knight[/URL]/David Richeson on G+
[QUOTE]The 9 kinds of physics seminar
October 3, 2013 by Matthew Rave

As a public service, I hereby present my findings on physics seminars in convenient graph form. In each case, you will see the Understanding of an Audience Member (assumed to be a run-of-the-mill PhD physicist) graphed as a function of Time Elapsed during the seminar. All talks are normalized to be of length 1 hour, although this might not be the case in reality.

[B]The “Typical”[/B] starts innocently enough: there are a few slides introducing the topic, and the speaker will talk clearly and generally about a field of physics you’re not really familiar with. Somewhere around the 15 minute mark, though, the wheels will come off the bus. Without you realizing it, the speaker will have crossed an invisible threshold and you will lose the thread entirely. Your understanding by the end of the talk will rarely ever recover past 10%.

[...][/QUOTE]

Very good link, thanks for sharing it!
I had few professors at the Uni who could do "poetry", 3 or 4 of them come to my mind. Brilliant people! I always loved them the most from all the other professors, and everybody loved them... Unfortunately they were so rare...

[QUOTE]
Attending a mathematics lecture is like walking through a thunderstorm at night. Most of the time you are lost, wet and miserable but at rare intervals there is a flash of lightening and the whole countryside is lit up. Once you realise that your plight is neither an infallible sign of your incurable stupidity nor a clear indication of the lecturer's total incompetence but simply a normal occurrence, it is clear how you should act. You should continue taking notes watching all the time for a point where the lecturer changes the subject (or finishes a proof or whatever) and you can rejoin her exposition as an active partner.
[/QUOTE]From Tom Korner:
[URL="https://www.dpmms.cam.ac.uk/%7Etwk/Lecture.pdf"]https://www.dpmms.cam.ac.uk/~twk/Lecture.pdf[/URL]