Symbols of progress and decay

from Spectacular City,
via we make money not art

beautiful graphics example

this is the firefox add-ons header image. brilliant, right? click it to see it full size, especially if you can't see the flames on the motorcycle.

Jacket

I've been obsessed with this jacket from the Fray comic by Joss Whedon (and others). I'm working on making a replica of it. If course, I'll need push-up pants if it doesn't work without the butt. 

punchline: ...some of us just go one god further

set up (by richard dawkins on the colbert report, paraphrased):

you can't disprove the flying spaghetti monster, thor or zeus. all these people [gesturing to the audience] are atheists with regard to those gods...

Scientists suck - cynicism alert

1. This is a sad/funny comment about investigation of some early concerns about Eric Poehlman:

Poehlman had definitely stepped on some toes and made a name as an aggressive self-promoter, but this was nothing remarkable for a successful researcher.

Basically, it's an understatement. If you want to get ahead, you probably need to be a jerk. Here's the nytimes article about this guy and his career of scientific fraud (thanks rs).

2. Non-scientist friends and family are often upset to hear about scientific fraud, surprised that someone would bother to be a scientist without integrity and a commitment to the scientific method. I'm starting to think that academics are especially vulnerable to various abuses of power. Academic science is not a very financially rewarding field; I would argue that, instead, people who go into it often derive their reward from being lauded. They need that, and some will do anything to get and maintain it.

Best "aren't you..." question

"Are you guys that band we saw at Burning Man?"

Reportedly*, the speaker, a 20 something wearing a pillbox hat, was at a bridal shower at Lovejoy's tea room. The questionees were dressed in leather for Folsom Street Fair but stopped in for tea first.

*Sorry, no link. Personal communication.

The port of Stockton?

Guess so.

Such pipes

From drain pipes i...