Amazing. 2,500 years ago, Native Americans put bling in their grills
Ancient peoples of southern North America went to “dentists”—among the earliest known—to beautify their chompers with notches, grooves, and semiprecious gems, according to a recent analysis of thousands of teeth examined from collections in Mexico’s National Institute of Anthropology and History (such as the skull above, found in Chiapas, Mexico).
This and other great discoveries of 2009 can be found here.
This essay on the basic laws of human stupidity may make you wonder why you are reading it so carefully. Or at all.
When I was a teenager I had a “Think Globally, Act Locally” bumper sticker on my car which gave my father fits. He thought it was trashy to put a bumper sticker on one’s car and didn’t feel any bumper sticker could adequately express a nuanced, well-considered opinion on anything. Being a teenager I of course disagreed, stating that the phrase ‘think globally, act locally’ was quite well-considered, because who could argue with such a statement? Wasn’t it self-evident that the world would be a better place if people paused to consider the global ramifications of their actions? How can one argue against activism? At which point my father, ever the lawyer, launched into a highly nuanced and well-considered analysis of what it means to ‘think globally,’ pointing out various examples of how free trade agreements and globalization have hurt local economies, and how environmental measures have occasionally backfired and crippled industry. I didn’t agree with his take on several points, but what did sink in was the fact that the world is always a lot more complicated than a slogan. Ever since then, I’ve not been a big bumper sticker person. I used to joke with dad that one day I’m going to write a treatise explaining my views on religion, with critical references and treatments of opposing viewpoints, and have the whole thing printed on a huge bumper sticker that covered the entire back of my car. That used to make him laugh.
Well, I think I’ve finally found some bumper stickers that even my dad would approve of. These are appropriately nuanced and guarded, as any decent opinion should be.
It’s amazing what you’ll find on Wikipedia sometimes.
You may have heard about the guilty verdict that was recently handed down against the owners of Pirate Bay, a torrent search site. They are appealing the case, however, and have issued the following message on their blog, which is worth publishing:
TPB FTW
So the first verdict finally came, almost 3 years after the raid. You might have heard about it in the news…
You, our beloved users, know that this little speedbump on the information super highway is nothing more than just, a little bump. Todays verdict has already been appealed by us and will be taken to the next level of court (and that will take another 2 or 3 years!)
The site will live on! We are more determined than ever that what we do is right. Millions of users are a good proof of that.
We have seen that some people that we dont know have started collecting donations for us, so we can pay those silly fines. We firmly ask you NOT to do this. Do not gather or send any money. We do not want them since we will not pay any fines!
If you really want to help out, here is a list:
* Seed those torrents a little bit more than you usually do!
* Buy a t-shirt and show the world where your sympathy is.
* If you live in Europe, vote in the election for the EU parliament in June.
* Continue to build the internets! Start more bittorrent sites, blog more, start your own lobby group, create, remix, mash up and continue to grow more heads on this amazing hydra that we know as the internets!
* Do not be afraid of using the network. Invite your friends to this and other file sharing systems. Calm people down if they’re upset. We need to stay united.And say it loud say it proud! We are all The Pirate Bay!
Omegle lets you chat with a perfect stranger, instantly. One can only imagine the content.
Several months ago I tried to remind all of you that you do not need to buy me a beer. Well, let me repeat: you do not need to buy me a beer. If there are those of you who will continue to insist that you owe me a beer, I urge you to reconsider. Because, really. You just don’t owe me a cool, refreshing, tasty malted beverage.
This Santa Cruz, CA teacher was dosed with LSD by one of his students on a high school field trip. Crazy story.
Type your surname into this website to see your geneological topography. Apparently the Crooks have made it to Texas and California.
Not sure if I agree with this list of the 50 most loathsome people in America in 2008..
Wow. It turns out that wiccans/pagans have their own version of the Boy Scouts. The Spiral Scouts aim to teach traditional woodland lore, camping, and outdoor living skills, as well as teaching “the many mythologies of the ancient world.” Now your kid can finally get that Samhain merit badge.
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