September 14, 2008

ANTS in Space

The Autonomous NanoTechnology Swarm (ANTS) "...is a generic mission architecture consisting of miniaturized, autonomous, self-similar, reconfigurable, addressable components forming structures. The components/structures have wide spatial distribution and multi-level organization. This ‘swarm’ behavior is inspired by the success of social insect colonies...." ANTS may one day teem through the solar system.... (last two links large QT files) [more inside]
posted by Kronos_to_Earth at 11:22 PM PST - 14 comments

ForestFilter

Old Growth Forests Are Valuable Carbon Sinks. "Contrary to 40 years of conventional wisdom, a new analysis published in the journal Nature suggests that old growth forests are usually 'carbon sinks' - they continue to absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and mitigate climate change for centuries." Seven Best National Parks for Visiting Old Growth Forests. 20 Visually Arresting but Threatened Forests. [more inside]
posted by homunculus at 6:00 PM PST - 32 comments

Brokergeddon.

Lehman Brothers files for liquidation. After an all weekend emergency meeting at the New York Fed, no rescue, and LEH is gone. AIG announcing restructuring tomorrow. Bank of America in merger talks with Merrill Lynch, offering to buy the firm outright at $29/share, which values the 94 year old firm at a paltry $40 billion. The futures market say that stocks are not happy.
posted by eriko at 5:39 PM PST - 432 comments

Charles Darwin to receive apology from the Church of England

"Charles Darwin: 200 years from your birth, the Church of England owes you an apology for misunderstanding you and, by getting our first reaction wrong, encouraging others to misunderstand you still." The comments are included on a Church of England website promoting the views of Charles Darwin to be launched on Monday.
posted by finite at 4:20 PM PST - 41 comments

Being Productive on Salvia

Driving on Salvia, from the series Being Productive on Salvia. Previously
posted by East Manitoba Regional Junior Kabaddi Champion '94 at 2:15 PM PST - 135 comments

"Look at our current situation with that camel f*cker over in Iraq. Pacifism is not something to hide behind."

Slate takes a look at the prescient politics of The Big Lebowski.
posted by porn in the woods at 12:44 PM PST - 74 comments

stop fowarding

Please do not forward chain letters, urban myths presented as truth, potentially offensive jokes, videos or photos without being asked or first receiving permission.
posted by signal at 10:51 AM PST - 62 comments

Zip, bop, wizzzz!

Savez-vous que Jodie Foster parle et chante en français?
posted by taursir at 10:35 AM PST - 53 comments

All is Full of Love

Bitone are full of love. : Björk's song "All Is Full Of Love" is covered by Ugandan children and youths on an album by a organization called Bitone (meaning "talent"). Their mission is to restore the lives and hopes of children between 8 and 18 years old in Uganda, whom have been traumatized by the death of their parents or loss of their home due to disease, war, or economic hardship. [via]
posted by grapefruitmoon at 10:29 AM PST - 16 comments

You say muslim, I say muslin.

Perhaps you were wondering if Barack Obama is a muslin? Or perhaps a muslim?
posted by blue_beetle at 7:46 AM PST - 76 comments

Harper gets a crush

National Post hosting Harper version of "I've got a crush on Obama" Do video's such as these (the original here) really help persuade people to vote one way or another? I can't believe that someone would be so dough-headed to fall for this kind of nonsense, but that's just me.
posted by pezdacanuck at 6:54 AM PST - 19 comments

Palin, pancakes, and the straight talk express

Have the wheels come off the straight talk express? At least one sleeping giant woke up today: the NYT finally gives Sarah Palin a thorough vetting and the results aren't pretty. The McCain campaign's aggressive - and many say dishonest - tactics in promoting Palin may have sparked the beginnings of a media backlash. Camp McCain's reaction: We don't care and intend to stay on offense. And about that offense, they will soon have some help: Group With Swift Boat Alumni Readies Ads Attacking Obama. How low will things go? At this week's Values Voters Summit, 'Obama Waffles' with racial stereotypes were all the rage.
posted by madamjujujive at 5:32 AM PST - 1776 comments

Quest for a true 3D Mandelbrot Fractal.

Quest for a true 3D Mandelbrot Fractal - a very nice exploration of Mandelbrot/Julia set fractals in various kinds of 3D space.
posted by loquacious at 12:58 AM PST - 21 comments

"It's Never Too Late - Why Not Now?"

"We're having him do what our 13-year-olds do. But Bernie was doing things the rest of us shudder to imagine when he was 13." Holocaust survivor Bernie Marks is preparing for his bar mitzvah, 65 years late.
posted by amyms at 12:13 AM PST - 13 comments

« Previous day | Next day »