Archive for the ‘quirky’ Category
Anyone for some butt hash?!
If anyone wants to try it I can provide the goods! Check out the wikipedia entry for more.
Who let Hamas into Beijing
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/02/09/cctv-building-on-fire-ico_n_165186.html
I know that the Chinese government has cracked down on their domestic coverage of this massive fire, but why is it that it isn’t visible on Western media?! It’s sensational.
Of course, I suspect that these are Hamas rockets, although maybe Chinese firecracker are bigger than anything they have, one should never pass up an opportunity to blame the Islamists.
Horse riding is now as dangerous as taking Ecstasy so should it be banned?
As you’ve all probably heard, Professor David Nutt (and that appears to be his real name) has likened the dangers of taking Ecstasy to the dangers of horse riding. The Telegraph in it’s article dated 7th Feb 2009 refers to his role as head of the UK government’s drug advisory body and an article he wrote for the Journal of Psychopharmacology last month. Based on the facts pertaining to the dangers of taking this drug, it appears the drugs body is about to advise on the downgrading of the drug from class A to B.
Much like the advice given by the same body on the dangers of Cannabis (check out Super high me if you get a chance), this looks like being ignored so why bother having a body at all? Nutt goes on to pose the question as to why society is happy to tolerate and in some cases promote other dangerous activities yet not recreational drug use.
The law, far from protecting the public actually makes criminals of what otherwise would be law abiding citizens so isn’t it time we demand the application of common sense politics from our next leaders?
Kamikaze Research
Has anyone got any ideas for some (dangerous) research I can personally do?
Got the idea from people who have done this in the past – specifically the first people who made links between diet and health…e.g.
Dr William Stark – in 1769, Stark began a series of dietary studies in which he was his own subject. At the start of his 24 experiments, he was a healthy, 6-foot young man.
In his first experiment, Stark ate bread and water with a little sugar for 31 days. Felt dull and listless. He consumed a more varied diet for a few weeks. When he felt better, however, the experiments resumed. Gradually, he added other foods to this regimen, one at a time. He added olive oil, milk, roast goose, boiled beef, fat, figs, and veal. After the first two months, his gums were red and swollen, and they bled when pressure was put on them. Stark did consider testing the effects that fresh fruits and vegetables would have on his health, but decided instead on honey puddings and Cheshire cheese.
After 8 months of experimenting, Stark died of scurvy in 1770, aged 29. He did not discover anything new about scurvy, but, through his experiments and record-keeping skills, he showed to what extent human scurvy is caused by a lack of vitamin C in the diet. James Carmichael Smyth published Stark’s experiments eighteen years after his death.
Dr Joseph Goldberger – In 1914, Goldberger was asked by the US Surgeon General to investigate pellagra, an endemic disease in the Southern US.
Goldberger’s theory was that pellagra was associated with diet. The medical world insisted on it being infectious.
So he deliberately caused some prisoners to contract pellagra by restricting their diet.
Still no-one believed him.
So he tried to give himself pellagra by ingesting the mucus, blood, faeces and scabs of infected people, he even injected his wife, but couldn’t contract the disease.
Still no-one believed him.
So he gave it to his dogs. Because they hated the traditional southern food, he added yeast to their diet. This was the answer…niacin. Now niacin is in all flour.
Victor Herbert – 1959 – a haematologist who experimented on a strict diet of boiled chicken, frankfurters, marshmallows and jelly (i.e. no folic acid) and gave himself amenia in 5 months. Realised it was a lack of potassium – just before he dies he takes potassium and recovers in 48 hours. Folic acid now compulsory in flour in many countries.
Hugh Sinclair – 1956 – after studying the Eskimo diet, published a paper arguing that it was too little fat not too much that caused heart disease. Was mocked for this idea.
For the next 20 years he set up a nutritional institute and then in 1976 performed the Eskimo diet (of seafood, seal liver and blubber) on himself. Like the Eskimos increased his risk of haemophilia and showed that the Omega 3 in essential fatty acids was vital.
Any ideas for something I could do?
Family films girl fighting baby brother!
4 women in Plymouth forced 2 toddlers to fight each other to fight each other while they filmed it.
The film shows a sobbing 2-year old boy in a nappy being punched in the face by his 3-year old sister, while the women cajole him to fight back by saying “don’t be a wimp” and calling him “a faggot”.
One woman said: “I could not see any harm in toughening them up. I’ve done the same with my own children.”
Question is: what would you do if you were the judge?
Forced sterilisation?
Nothing? It’s a question of their own personal responsibility.
Test tube meat
Can’t wait to tuck into lab grown meat in a couple of years…no animals being slaughtered, no land being wasted on greedy meat eaters, no BSE and best of all, reduced saturated fats and added omega oils – yum.
What is the fuss about? Willow trees used to cure headaches and now the molecular pattern is synthesised so we can just take a pill – our kids will laugh at our distaste – excuse the pun.
Build me the protein sheets, I say.
You Asked:
You asked me once what it was I want
but what I need is more prescient
I need to live your love expressed
comfortable, painful, beautiful
I believe that we are meant to be
I need you now and always to know
Life with any other is a lie
Built to hide the truth impossibly.
For a time I rudely attempted
To love enough for the both of us
But on comatose reflection
I discovered I had drowned your voice.
I am ready to hear you again
Over the din of my strident heart.
I apologise for each hurdle
That we are oft forced to overcome
Though I treasure each experience
As growth has flourished in we through us.
Destiny proffers a range of choice
For our exertion to exploit.
I ask us to seep through the iced block
And sink into the blissful depths
Where our effulgent cores beat in step
With good playfully bound in passion.
To achieve a time where we construct
Dreams to reality for all
Until with age we are surrounded
In libraries of truth now practiced
Telling stories to our abundant
Grand-children, eagerly drinking bliss.
In love, remorse, and calm gratitude
Flowering in your rich hearts’ garden.
Sincerely,
Condoms ‘too big’ for Indian men
This is embarassing!!
A survey of more than 1,000 men in India has concluded that condoms made according to international sizes are too large for a majority of Indian men.
The study found that more than half of the men measured had penises that were shorter than international standards for condoms.
It has led to a call for condoms of mixed sizes to be made more widely available in India.
Big Brother on Second Life
Best quote of the week: my friend GS on finding out about Big Brother on Second Life:
“How futile.”
I don’t want to dampen anyone’s fires, I know many people get a great deal of enjoyment from Second Life, World of Warfare &c.
But the pointlessness of sitting at your computer, watching 10 avatars, confined to an imaginary house, in a virtual world…
Am I missing something? Is there some level of entertainment (ironic or otherwise) that can be achieved through such depths of futility…?
Friction can be a drag 