Which would you rather be: a hedgehog or a fox?

This New York Times article talks about the role of expertise in successfully predicting future events. And while I was surprised about the results at first, the explanation for it makes total sense.

I also particularly enjoyed the description of a study that pitted Yale undergrads against a white rat and the outcome of that competition.

Evil Empire - maybe not

Check out this article on the evils (or not, as the author ultimately decides) of Wal-Mart.

Slime Molds

An interesting short article on slime molds with some beautiful photography (including the one above).

Americans are to knowledge as Sheyl is to _____

a) Long Island drivers
b) loud snotty-nosed kids
c) a certain person who shall not be named (*cough* rhymes with Furia *cough*)
d) people who mess up her lab space
e) all of the above

If you realized that the relationship theme in this word puzzle was "hostility" and thus answered e) you might want to check out this article from the NYTimes on the demise of an intelligent American culture.

As a side note the person referenced in choice c) could be classified as anti-rationalist, based on the article, which makes a lot of sense, though it in no way makes that person normal or sane or remotely human.

Impressive Ant Colony

While I found the video really interesting and impressive, I can't help but feel bad for the colony that was wiped out for the sake of science.

Proof there is true evil in this world

Only someone intimately connected with the big red-horned man himself could devise this alarm clock - it connects, via wifi, to your bank account and donates your own money to a charity you hate every time you snooze. I can only imagine trying to explain to the bank when they call you up about a 8.264 million dollar overdraft when the power surges and your alarm clock temporarily goes insane with your money.

Normal vs. Nerd

Which way is your tact filter configured?

Grams and gramps are gettin' it on — get over it

Would be interested in people's reactions to the picture at the top of this article, given they discuss an earlier article containing a picture and "Much to my surprise, some readers were offended by the photograph of two old people kissing."

What would...

... the world be like without humans?

HERE is an interesting site with the possibilities. Hover over each time period to read the synopses.

Though I must say it seems to me that the final message is that though humans may not last forever, the stupidity of what we broadcast into space lasts forever.

Statue of Liberty

The real story.