Sequoia Sempervirens or the coastal redwoods we saw along the trail are the only representatives of their kind that live so far north. They like to hang close to the ocean for the moisturizing effect but don’t want to breathe a lot of salt. It’s more the fog drip along the coast that’s necessary for their well being.
Moving on. The praying mantis is one of those insects that gives women a bad name: That’s because the female is known to bite the head off her mate, but only during copulation. This doesn’t deter the male in any way, so they say; in fact, it speeds up his ejaculation process. And how do we know that the sperm gets a healthy boost just as the male is decapitated? Because male researchers find this sexual cannibalism so fascinating that they have devoted many hours to watching it happen
An earmark is a line-item inserted into any bill that anonymously funnels cash to a specific project or recipient behind the public’s back. In other words, any member of our esteemed Congress can direct a large wad of the taxpayer’s cash to his or her town where it can be spent on a pet project, without the Member of Congress having to identify him/herself or the project.
Here’s a little known fact: The Chinese cornered the market on Vitamin C production way back in 2005. How did they do that, you ask? By using ancient, capitalist strategy, or undercutting everyone else to put them out of business, then raising prices. After China dominated the manufacturing sector, it was as simple as fortune cookie.
What tropical cyclone is next on the horizon, I wonder? That’s easy to find out. First, though, you ought to check out this Western Hemisphere Satellite Map full of tropical depressions and tropical cyclones. It’s rather awesome!
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation has funded a ‘condom condom’ ringtone designed to introduce the youth of India to the humble condom. Statistics for HIV in India put the disease at almost 2.5 million, but to speak of AIDS is taboo. Not surprisingly, the use of any penis covering device is also taboo.The ‘condom, condom!’ ringtone, which can be downloaded for free, features a 55 second, rousing, musical rendition of the word condom sung a capella by enthusiastic men in five part harmony. What are you waiting for, folks? Get your butts over to condomcondom.org!
The victorious moment of which I’m speaking happened last night at the Democratic National Convertion, where Barack Obama was hailed by many as one of the greatest orators of our time. Even the critical Pat Buchanan, “right from the beginning”, looked shellshocked. This former presidental candidate called Obama’s acceptance speech the best and most important political convention speech he had ever heard, going back 48 years.
When it comes to clean air around Mount Shasta we’ve been very lucky. The smoke has been hanging somewhere else lately, and I’ve been too lazy to visit my Wundermap to find out exactly where.
Can you see how clean the lines are around the pine needles of last night’s sunset, though? I’m [...]
According to the Times Online there is now proof that China used underage gymnasts—thanks to the free part of the internet, that is.
A U.S. hacker used his chop-chops to uncover Chinese Government documents proving that He Kexin and Yang Yilin are only 14.
According to the People’s Daily Online, the “Golden Gymnasts” are [...]
Three Clicks to Prosperity
Beijing air got tested the good old fashioned way—by the marathon runners. Of all the athletes, everyone agreed that they were the ones most likely to keel over dead from exposure to Carbon Monoxide and small particle pollutants. Marathon runners breathe more times than the normal person, plus they need a ton [...]