Numerous Lines about 106 Claims. Popular Science has an interesting article wherein the writer lists all the science claims he hears in a day—from cereal boxes to e-mail spam to radio natter—and then looks at the foundations for the claims. Not surprisingly, most of the claims are outright hooey, which simply makes the article that […]
Pseudoscience, Death By Cards, and Aliens
Posted by Ben on July 14, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/pseudoscience-and-other-fun-stuff/
To your health
Superkid. One of the best lead sentences ever: “Somewhere in Germany is a baby Superman, born in Berlin with bulging arm and leg muscles.” So crazy you know it’s true, the article is a neat trip through the land of genetic mutations an internet-only bodybuilder supplements. (AP: “Doctors discover a toddler muscle man” by Linda […]
Posted by Ben on July 12, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/to-your-health/
Reason #34 why Canada’s pretty swell
It’s the 2004 Canada Day Quarter. (originally via BoingBoing, but I’d like to think I would’ve stumbled across it sooner or later)
Posted by Ben on July 12, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/reason-34-why-canadas-pretty-swell/
Free Science!
The survey’s asinine and you’ve gotta “register,” but once you do, everything on [email protected] (note: [email protected] is not the actual address) is free until August 31st, including premium content. Plus, you could (emphasis: could) win a digital camera.
Posted by Ben on July 11, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/free-science/
Oddities: Age Record, Nonnews, and Humor
Early to bed, early to rise. Hamida Musulmani says, “I only eat what I grow. I am fine, it is only my eyes that cannot see properly.” The Lebanese woman has documents that put her age at 126. (The New Zealand version of the Reuters article adds: “Many titleholders [of the world’s oldest living person] […]
Posted by Ben on July 9, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/oddities/
The Most Popular Books
(…in public libraries that participated in Library Journal’s survey.) Read the CSM article, skim the list (PDF file, excerpted above). (via CSM: “Libraries reveal their favorites” by Ron Charles [June 22, 2004])
Posted by Ben on July 8, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/the-most-popular-books/
Good Advice
“If you do fall to the ground, lie still, and cover your head with your hands until the danger has passed.” Visit Your Guide to San Fermin for other helpful tips. The section on Food, Drink and Sleeping is pretty comprehensive, though you might want to check out the section titled “Watch Out!” Maybe. Of […]
Posted by Ben on July 7, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/good-advice/
Freak vending machine accident
Pretty much by definition, freak accidents don’t happen every day. Particularly freak accidents involving exploding vending machines that expel poisonous gas. Yes, freak accidents involving exploding vending machines that happen, through the wonders of happy coincidence, to produce something like phosgene gas (used in WWI as a chemical warfare agent)—these aren’t things that happen every […]
Posted by Ben on July 6, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/freak-vending-machine-accident/
The Brain-Enhancement Revolution Will Be Simulcast
“The brain-enhancement revolution is already under way.” CSM has an interesting (if somewhat weak) article on the emerging world of neuroethics. It looks (in part) at what can and cannot be considered ethical in a world where someone can alter her own thought processes using, e.g., Modafinil (originally developed for narcolepsy but now used by […]
Posted by Ben on July 5, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/the-brain-enhancement-revolution-will-be-simulcast/
Various instances of reportage & commentary on Fahrenheit: 9/11
NYTimes: Michael Moore’s anti-Bush “Fahrenheit 9/11” became the highest-grossing documentary of all time on its first weekend in release, taking in $21.8 million as it packed theaters across the country this weekend. (NYT: “The Political ‘Fahrenheit’ Sets Record at Box Office” by Sharon Waxman [June 28, 2004]) Roger Ebert: Q. In Michael Moore’s “Fahrenheit 9/11,” […]
Posted by Ben on June 28, 2004
https://www.swordbilled.com/various-instances-of-reportage-on-fahrenheit-911/