As humans live longer, what ails us isn't necessarily what kills us: five data visualizations of how we age, sicken, and die. Causes of death by age, sex, region, and year. Heat map of leading causes and risks by region. Changes in leading causes and risks between 1990 and 2010. Healthy years lost to disability vs. life expectancy in 1990 and 2010. Uncertainties of causes and risks. From the team for the massive Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2010. [more inside]
posted by hat on Dec 14, 2012 - 11 comments

"24 Hours of Reality will focus the world’s attention on the full truth, scope, scale and impact of the climate crisis. To remove the doubt. Reveal the deniers. And catalyze urgency around an issue that affects every one of us.” — Al Gore on the worldwide event to broadcast the reality of the climate crisis. The Climate Reality Project will live stream starting at 7pm CT on September 14. [more inside]
posted by netbros on Sep 13, 2011 - 47 comments

Never marry a woman with big feet. | A husband at home is like a flea in your ear. [more inside]
posted by Substrata on May 18, 2010 - 55 comments

Gilles Peterson does his thing which you can listen to weekly. Some of his mixes and podcasts are available for download. Dude even digs Obama. [more inside]
posted by gman on Nov 10, 2008 - 14 comments

Where the hell is Matt? The 2008 version is oddly moving. Be sure to watch the high quality version. (Previously)
posted by monospace on Jun 27, 2008 - 103 comments

Back in 2005, I (a trophy) was awarded to a team I didn't think deserved me. So I set out across the world in search of owners. Over the course of two years, said trophy visited throughout the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, including celebrity visits with Phyllis from The Office and Shawn Marion of the NBA's Phoenix Suns. An exercise in dedicated pranksterdom.
posted by andifsohow on Dec 19, 2007 - 22 comments

Sherri Finkbine --as reported by BBC News, on this day in 1962 (video clip too)--her travails and travels, the law, publicity, and what happened afterwards. (more here from American Prospect in 05: ...A Gallup Poll taken that year showed that the majority of Americans supported Finkbine, and her case was a turning point ...)
posted by amberglow on Aug 26, 2006 - 16 comments

Give my body to medical science (If medical science will have me).

This might make owning a donor card somewhat academic (for UK humans at least), but until then I am making sure it's something I not longer perpetually forget to do. How to become an organ donor; or sign up online.

(Provide a link for your own homeland please!)
posted by ed\26h on Jun 28, 2004 - 25 comments

The Hospitality Club is a similar idea to CouchSurfing in that both sites provide a database of people offering free lodging to each other when visiting foreign countries. The Hospitality Club has been going for nearly three years and has over 12,500 members in 142 countries. The site has wiki-like features allowing members to edit travel guides for each country, region and city.
posted by cbrody on Apr 18, 2004 - 7 comments

Red Dog Army: "Red Dogs line up along the edges of the art-world. They have many objectives... Their purpose is to put art into the hands of anyone who sees them and takes them home... They are distributed by a person or persons unknown, tracing movement in cities across the world. They inhabit their new environment sometimes for just a few minutes before being destroyed or taken in by a new art collector. Or they may remain for months, changing shape and being forced into compromising positions. Above all, they are always seen by someone. Their presence is noticed, noted and very red."

Take note, Antipodeans, and keep your eyes open; the red dog comes for you.
posted by taz on May 3, 2003 - 6 comments

Pictures of reactions from around the world. Seeing flags at half staff in other countries really gets to me. What do you think?
posted by campy on Sep 14, 2001 - 10 comments