If you think that a groundhog in Pennsylvania predicting six more weeks of winter is bad news, here are some really sobering tidings: the Doomsday Clock says the world is just inches away from oblivion.
The Doomsday Clock was created decades ago by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists to indicate the threat to the world due to nuclear weapons. The closer to midnight the clock is, the nearer the world was to "catastrophic destruction." As you can imagine, the situation was very bleak during the Cold War years.
The clock was set to five minutes to midnight on January 17, 2007, being advanced two minutes to take into consideration not just the potential for nuclear destruction but environmental problems and potential disaster from emerging technologies such as genetic engineering and nanotechnology.
So, it's good to keep the big picture in mind. Having six more weeks of winter doesn't seem all that bad compared to the end of the world, now does it?
Saturday, February 02, 2008
Punxsutawney Phil vs. Staten Island Chuck: Battle of the Groundhog All-Stars
Unless you've been hibernating in a hole with a fat, fuzzy rodent-like mammal, you're aware that today is Groundhog Day 2008. The weather-forecaster-in-chief on this day has traditionally been Punxsutawney Phil, the seemingly ageless groundhog holed up in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania.
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, so that means we should be in for six more weeks of winter in 2008, if you believe the critter from the Keystone State. In the wise consumer tradition of seeking a second opinion, though, New Yorkers and other folks in the Northeastern U.S. has been checking the viewpoint of Staten Island Chuck, the marmot who makes his home in New York City's "forgotten borough."
Just for the record, Staten Island Chuck predicted an early Spring. So we have a split decision in this year's competition, which I'm calling the Battle of the Groundhog All-Stars.
In the spirit of this year's election, I'd like to see a round of debates between the nation's leading groundhogs, Phil and Chuck, where they can state their cases and present their positions on Winter vs. Spring, and the accuracy of their predictions over the years.
P.S. Punxsutawney Phil's Web site has a series of amusing videos called "Groundhog Duel." It also has all the information you could want about Phil, Punxsutawney, where the town is, and how the groundhog tradition got started. And of course you can view the 2008 Groundhog Day video at the site.
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow this morning, so that means we should be in for six more weeks of winter in 2008, if you believe the critter from the Keystone State. In the wise consumer tradition of seeking a second opinion, though, New Yorkers and other folks in the Northeastern U.S. has been checking the viewpoint of Staten Island Chuck, the marmot who makes his home in New York City's "forgotten borough."
Just for the record, Staten Island Chuck predicted an early Spring. So we have a split decision in this year's competition, which I'm calling the Battle of the Groundhog All-Stars.
In the spirit of this year's election, I'd like to see a round of debates between the nation's leading groundhogs, Phil and Chuck, where they can state their cases and present their positions on Winter vs. Spring, and the accuracy of their predictions over the years.
P.S. Punxsutawney Phil's Web site has a series of amusing videos called "Groundhog Duel." It also has all the information you could want about Phil, Punxsutawney, where the town is, and how the groundhog tradition got started. And of course you can view the 2008 Groundhog Day video at the site.
Friday, February 01, 2008
The German Lederhosen Virtual Museum
The age-old tradition of Lederhosen runs smack into the modern world of the Web with The Virtual Lederhosen Museum. At this site you can see photos of all styles and models of Lederhosen, those famous leather short pants that are traditional garb in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland.
There are some incredibly intricate and detailed Lederhosen on display, and the museum also features displays of suspenders. There are tips on caring for Lederhosen, a store of German and Lederhosen items, and more. The Virtual Lederhosen Museum even has a weekly online chat. Wunderbar!
There are some incredibly intricate and detailed Lederhosen on display, and the museum also features displays of suspenders. There are tips on caring for Lederhosen, a store of German and Lederhosen items, and more. The Virtual Lederhosen Museum even has a weekly online chat. Wunderbar!
The Neiman Marcus Juicy Couture Monopoly Game
Neiman Marcus has a special version of the famous Monopoly game on sale: it's a Juicy Couture edition with a pink board, and Juicy Couture themed board and pieces. The player pieces include a crown, a high-heeled shoe, and what appears to be a Scottish terrier standing on its hind legs.
You can find the Neiman Marcus Juicy Couture Monopoly game at the Neiman Marcus Web site for $58, and probably in their stores as well.
There are Monopoly games for every imaginable city and sports team, so why not designer Monopoly boards? Personally, I think I'd get a headache from all the pink...
You can find the Neiman Marcus Juicy Couture Monopoly game at the Neiman Marcus Web site for $58, and probably in their stores as well.
There are Monopoly games for every imaginable city and sports team, so why not designer Monopoly boards? Personally, I think I'd get a headache from all the pink...
Britney Spear's Father is Given Conservatorship
A court commissioner in Los Angeles has placed Britney Spears and her estate under a temporary conservatorship today, and named her father to be the conservator.
One day after Britney Spears was whisked to a psychiatric hospital by a police entourage that stretched longer than a football field, a Superior Court commissioner named the father, James Spears, conservator of Britney Spears herself, and a Mr. Spears and a lawyer were named conservators of Britney's estate.
A conservatorship is an arrangement decided up on by court that allows a person and/or his or her property to be subject to the legal control of another person (or persons) or another entity, the conservator. It's the same principle as having a person being appointed as a guardian, though the terminology and exact rights of the conservator or guardian can vary from state to state.
The commissioner making the decision said that Britney Spears would be under conservatorship until another hearing is held on Feb. 4th.
According to the Los Angeles Times, "The conservator will have the power to 'restrict visitors,' have around-the-clock security for Spears, and have access to all medical records."
One day after Britney Spears was whisked to a psychiatric hospital by a police entourage that stretched longer than a football field, a Superior Court commissioner named the father, James Spears, conservator of Britney Spears herself, and a Mr. Spears and a lawyer were named conservators of Britney's estate.
A conservatorship is an arrangement decided up on by court that allows a person and/or his or her property to be subject to the legal control of another person (or persons) or another entity, the conservator. It's the same principle as having a person being appointed as a guardian, though the terminology and exact rights of the conservator or guardian can vary from state to state.
The commissioner making the decision said that Britney Spears would be under conservatorship until another hearing is held on Feb. 4th.
According to the Los Angeles Times, "The conservator will have the power to 'restrict visitors,' have around-the-clock security for Spears, and have access to all medical records."
The Fuselage: The Mother of All "Lost" Forums and Message Boards
By far one of the most popular, informative, and just plain addictive forums and message boards for the TV show "Lost" is The Fuselage.
There's a very good reason that The Fuselage.com is the go-to place for thousands of "Lost" fans: it's the official site of the show's creative team, and it says "Sponsored by J.J. Abrams" right under the title. (If you move your mouse a certain way, that changes to "Sponsored by the Hanso Foundation" ... does that mean that you'll possibly get sucked into the Dharma vortex and end up eating Dharma Initiative Ranch Dressing like Hurley?!)
And yes, J.J. Abrams and some of the other people behind "Lost" pop in to answer questions, tell readers if they're on target with a certain theory or are totally off base, etc.
To be honest I haven't checked out The Fuselage for a while... I got addicted to it for a spell and had to wean myself away from it and from the other "Lost" forums and message boards. With there being so many "Lost" fans and so many forums, discussion groups, etc., it's easy to just wander from one to another because there would always be new messages, content, and replies somewhere out there.
There's a very good reason that The Fuselage.com is the go-to place for thousands of "Lost" fans: it's the official site of the show's creative team, and it says "Sponsored by J.J. Abrams" right under the title. (If you move your mouse a certain way, that changes to "Sponsored by the Hanso Foundation" ... does that mean that you'll possibly get sucked into the Dharma vortex and end up eating Dharma Initiative Ranch Dressing like Hurley?!)
And yes, J.J. Abrams and some of the other people behind "Lost" pop in to answer questions, tell readers if they're on target with a certain theory or are totally off base, etc.
To be honest I haven't checked out The Fuselage for a while... I got addicted to it for a spell and had to wean myself away from it and from the other "Lost" forums and message boards. With there being so many "Lost" fans and so many forums, discussion groups, etc., it's easy to just wander from one to another because there would always be new messages, content, and replies somewhere out there.
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