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Sunday, 11 March 2012
Saturday, 10 March 2012
Friday, 9 March 2012
Thursday, 1 March 2012
Friday, 24 February 2012
Cat-sized horses
More than 50 million years ago, the Earth was a hotter place than it is today and horses the size of pet cats roamed the forests of North America, US scientists said on Thursday.
These earliest known horses, known as Sifrhippus, actually grew smaller over tens of thousands of years in order to adapt to the higher temperatures of a period when methane emissions spiked, possibly due to major volcanic eruptions.
The research could have implications for how the planet's modern animals may adapt to a warming planet due to climate change and higher carbon emissions, scientists said.
Researchers made the discovery after analyzing horse tooth fossils uncovered in the western US state of Wyoming that showed the older ones were larger, and that the species had shrunk over time.
LINK
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These earliest known horses, known as Sifrhippus, actually grew smaller over tens of thousands of years in order to adapt to the higher temperatures of a period when methane emissions spiked, possibly due to major volcanic eruptions.
The research could have implications for how the planet's modern animals may adapt to a warming planet due to climate change and higher carbon emissions, scientists said.
Researchers made the discovery after analyzing horse tooth fossils uncovered in the western US state of Wyoming that showed the older ones were larger, and that the species had shrunk over time.
LINK
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Wednesday, 22 February 2012
Monday, 20 February 2012
Sunday, 19 February 2012
Is this true?
You may need to click on the image to enlarge it.
So, are the squares marked "A" and "B" the same colour? Not bloody likely, eh? Actually, they are. Okay, look again. Still not convinced? Neither was I, so here's what I did. I right-clicked on the image on the website where I had found it and selected "Copy Image". Then, I launched Paint.Net (you can use any graphics program (such as MS-Paint) that has a "colour picker" tool) and pasted the image.
Next, I used the colour picker to select the colour of the square marked "A". I selected the paintbrush tool (any function that will "write" will do) and made a swatch on the white area of the image.
I repeated the above for the square marked "B" and lo and behold, the two swatches are exactly the same colour.
The reason for this optical illusion is the shadow cast by the cylindrical figure in the image. Even knowing this, our eyes are so completely fooled that the squares still appear to be very different colours. This is one of the best illusions I've "never" seen.
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So, are the squares marked "A" and "B" the same colour? Not bloody likely, eh? Actually, they are. Okay, look again. Still not convinced? Neither was I, so here's what I did. I right-clicked on the image on the website where I had found it and selected "Copy Image". Then, I launched Paint.Net (you can use any graphics program (such as MS-Paint) that has a "colour picker" tool) and pasted the image.
Next, I used the colour picker to select the colour of the square marked "A". I selected the paintbrush tool (any function that will "write" will do) and made a swatch on the white area of the image.
I repeated the above for the square marked "B" and lo and behold, the two swatches are exactly the same colour.
The reason for this optical illusion is the shadow cast by the cylindrical figure in the image. Even knowing this, our eyes are so completely fooled that the squares still appear to be very different colours. This is one of the best illusions I've "never" seen.
Click here to go to most recent posts.
Saturday, 18 February 2012
Saturday, 11 February 2012
My gal said this to me...
...about an hour ago, but I thought it sounded more appropriate in this context:
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Serious comments only, please
One is an alien-looking creature that would eat her mate in a second and the other is a praying mantis.
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Wednesday, 8 February 2012
Friday, 3 February 2012
Who's paying the taxes?
From Wall Street Journal:
U.S. companies are booking higher profits than ever. But the number crunchers in Washington are puzzling over a phenomenon that has just come into view: Corporate tax receipts as a share of profits are at their lowest level in at least 40 years.
Total corporate federal taxes paid fell to 12.1% of profits earned from activities within the U.S. in fiscal 2011, which ended Sept. 30, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That's the lowest level since at least 1972. And well below the 25.6% companies paid on average from 1987 to 2008.
LINK
And the fat cats keep wondering what all the excitement is about. Occupy this!
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U.S. companies are booking higher profits than ever. But the number crunchers in Washington are puzzling over a phenomenon that has just come into view: Corporate tax receipts as a share of profits are at their lowest level in at least 40 years.
Total corporate federal taxes paid fell to 12.1% of profits earned from activities within the U.S. in fiscal 2011, which ended Sept. 30, according to the Congressional Budget Office. That's the lowest level since at least 1972. And well below the 25.6% companies paid on average from 1987 to 2008.
LINK
And the fat cats keep wondering what all the excitement is about. Occupy this!
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Thursday, 2 February 2012
Hate Facebook? Let's try something else.
Join me at Zurker, a serious competitor to Facebook, and be an owner instead of a product.This social network is in Beta, but already makes FB look like a rat's nest. Earn shares in the company while doing what you normally would do on Facebook instead of making Zuckerberg and his minions ever richer.
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Flowers are blooming!
Being from Toronto, I am not at all used to seeing this in February...
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Monday, 30 January 2012
Sunday, 29 January 2012
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Friday, 27 January 2012
Where have manners, class, decorum, sensitivity and humilty gone?
I came across the following, which is (supposed to have been) the keynote address at a meeting of the World Economic Forum. It was (partially) delivered by Manka Bros. Studios Chairman and CEO Khan Manka, Jr.
Having been out of corporate life for the past 10 years or so, the last five or so of which I watched in sadness and indeed horror, at the descent into insanity of management at all levels and also of the grunts they chose to wallow with in the muck that has become typical business behaviour.
This is what now passes for a keynote speech by a "captain of industry" at an international business conference.
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Having been out of corporate life for the past 10 years or so, the last five or so of which I watched in sadness and indeed horror, at the descent into insanity of management at all levels and also of the grunts they chose to wallow with in the muck that has become typical business behaviour.
This is what now passes for a keynote speech by a "captain of industry" at an international business conference.
Click here to go to most recent posts.
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
What do you call them?
I know that most people have experienced the situations I am about to describe and that many couples have already discussed them, but I wonder how many have arrived at the conclusions my partner and I have. What I'm talking about are the funny things that happen to a person during and after sex. We have come up with terms for them, even if it took us a while, the main reason being #4 in the list. You'll see what I mean...
1. If you're making love and are in the throes of passion and suddenly realize you need to get a towel down to avoid creating a wet spot, you may find yourself doing what we decided to call "the sex shuffle". This is the synchronous squirming required to move that extra foot or so closer to the night stand so that the towel can be reached. A more tense version occurs if you don't notice until it's "too late". This brings me to the second term, already alluded to here in #1.
2.Trying to slide the towel underneath...whoever...is...underneath is the "sex squirm".
3. The next phrase I will describe is also chronologically next. More often than not, when one has completed a vigorous session of lovemaking, there are things one needs to do or feels like doing such as cleaning/grooming, getting a snack or getting a drink. Have you ever noticed that if you get off the bed immediately, you tend to be unsteady on your feet? Sometimes, your legs almost give out on you. Other times, you will walk into something, stub your toe, or trip. This is known as "the sex stagger". I recommend that you turn the lights on (What? They're on?!) before attempting to make a mad dash to the refrigerator.
4. The last effect is the fog your brain seems to be in immediately following sex. This can last anywhere from a couple of minutes (probably partially responsible for the sex stagger) to the time you fall asleep. Meaningful conversation should not be attempted and for God's sake, do not make any plans, promises or resolutions during this period we call "the sex stupor". It is, however, a very good time to be silly and catch up on the laughs you may not have had enough of lately.
There you have them. Please feel free to comment/share your own experiences or terms/descriptions you've discussed with your partner.
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1. If you're making love and are in the throes of passion and suddenly realize you need to get a towel down to avoid creating a wet spot, you may find yourself doing what we decided to call "the sex shuffle". This is the synchronous squirming required to move that extra foot or so closer to the night stand so that the towel can be reached. A more tense version occurs if you don't notice until it's "too late". This brings me to the second term, already alluded to here in #1.
2.Trying to slide the towel underneath...whoever...is...underneath is the "sex squirm".
3. The next phrase I will describe is also chronologically next. More often than not, when one has completed a vigorous session of lovemaking, there are things one needs to do or feels like doing such as cleaning/grooming, getting a snack or getting a drink. Have you ever noticed that if you get off the bed immediately, you tend to be unsteady on your feet? Sometimes, your legs almost give out on you. Other times, you will walk into something, stub your toe, or trip. This is known as "the sex stagger". I recommend that you turn the lights on (What? They're on?!) before attempting to make a mad dash to the refrigerator.
4. The last effect is the fog your brain seems to be in immediately following sex. This can last anywhere from a couple of minutes (probably partially responsible for the sex stagger) to the time you fall asleep. Meaningful conversation should not be attempted and for God's sake, do not make any plans, promises or resolutions during this period we call "the sex stupor". It is, however, a very good time to be silly and catch up on the laughs you may not have had enough of lately.
There you have them. Please feel free to comment/share your own experiences or terms/descriptions you've discussed with your partner.
Click here to go to most recent posts.
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