Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Daniel Craig calls it like he sees it

From British GQ:

Look at the ["family who the middle girl got peed on*"], they’re worth millions. Millions! I don’t think they were that badly off to begin with, but now look at them. You see that and you think, ‘What, you mean all I have to do is behave like a f*cking idiot on television and then you’ll pay me millions?’”

"Its weird, that gigantic one put up the weakest fight"

--

Source -> http://bit.ly/vcq1vP via http://www.gq-magazine.co.uk/

*still not posting their name, ha!

Earlier related links about these idiots -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2011/09/another-celebrity-post.html & http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2011/11/joel-mchale-doesnt-get-along-with.html

Earlier Bond link -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2011/01/bond-23-back-on.html

Oh Cheese and rice, I really didn't want a collar-less "collared" shirt, no wait I mean a shiny collar-less "collared" shirt

...you know who you are.


Honestly I'm fine with not getting a whole lot for Christmas. I think the charade of getting something for the sake of giving something isn't really for me. If you have a great, generous, well-thought-out gift for somebody, by all means go for it, I'm going to do that for the people that I'm getting gifts for. But a set of salt and pepper shakers that don't actually hold any salt and pepper shaped like a fat woman's butt cheeks (can provide proof). Honestly a handshake would've been better. Yeah yeah yeah, I sound very cynical here. But do you really want something like that too? What ever happened to cards? Sure that's also a charade, but at least you didn't waste more than a dollar or 2.

George really isn't an example to live up to, but you've got to admit this is funny...


Clickable link -> http://youtu.be/X_z3RTwIWOw



Now for the feats of strength!




Source -> http://consumerist.com/2011/11/give-your-loved-ones-the-holiday-gift-of-not-having-to-buy-you-crap.html

I want to know who is in those little gaps near the center


Source -> http://www.happyplace.com/12559/venn-diagram-summarizes-steve-miller-song

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Newly discovered pits add mystery to Stonehenge

In keeping with the randomness of this page, let's talk about Stonehenge.


Recently, 2 pits were discovered believed to be connected to the famous rock structure.

Excerpt from the MSNBC article below:

These exciting finds indicate that even though Stonehenge was ultimately the most important monument in the landscape, it may at times not have been the only, or most important ritual focus, and the area of Stonehenge may have become significant as a sacred site at a much earlier date," Vince Gaffney, an archaeology professor at the University of Birmingham, said in a news release issued over the weekend.


The pits, which measure about 16 feet (5 meters wide) and at least 3 feet (1 meter) deep, have been covered over for centuries and can't easily be spotted on the ground. But they showed up in a survey that was conducted using non-invasive mapping techniques such as ground-penetrating radar and magnetometry. The survey is part of the Stonehenge Hidden Landscape Project, which was initiated last year with backing from the University of Birmingham's IBM Visual and Spatial Technology Center and the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Archaeological Prospection and Virtual Archaeology in Vienna.


The placement of the pits is intriguing: They were found on the eastern and western sides of the Cursus, a racetrack-style enclosure north of Stonehenge itself that spans 1.5 miles (2.5 kilometers) from east to west and is up to 100 yards (meters) wide. From the perspective of an observer standing at the Heel Stone, a massive upright stone just outside Stonehenge's main circle, the sun would rise just above the eastern pit on the day of the summer solstice, which is the longest day of the year. The same observer would see the sun set that evening in line with the western pit.
---------

I love stuff like this! Science! Archeology! Anthropology! History!

click the source link below for the whole article!

Accurate portrayal of Stonehenge in the movies -> http://youtu.be/Ri791tauGmU


Source -> http://cosmiclog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2011/11/28/9074269-pits-add-to-stonehenge-mystery

"If you're camping out on the sidewalk to save $150 on a TV, you probably can't afford it"


Clickable link -> http://youtu.be/t5wGox16HWQ


Source -> http://www.thehighdefinite.com/2011/11/the-gentlemens-rant-shopping/ via http://bit.ly/ut8t0C

Monday, November 28, 2011

Thanksgiving wrap up

Yes I stole the title from a friend of mine's similar post, get over it.

-------------

We deep fried a turkey again this year. I couldn't possibly recommend that method any more. As long as you have a fire extinguisher, aren't an idiot, actually measure the amount of oil needed and do it far from the house I don't see any danger. The turkey turns out moist and then you have leftover WVO to settle/filter then use in your biodiesel Land Rover. There are plenty of sets of instructions to not burn down your house making thanksgiving here, here's one -> http://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-SAFELY-fry-a-Turkey/

About 2 weeks before you can prepare your herb-infused oil for it. Here's an instructable I wrote a few years ago on how to do that -> http://www.instructables.com/id/Sage-Infused-Oil-for-Frying-specifically-deep-fry/


Everything turned out absolutely great. As the turkey was cooking we pulled it out every 10-15 min or so and injected a mixture of bacon fat, sage butter, white wine and saffron*.
First have a beer, I love Celebration Ale time of year!
Here's what I started with, pre-herbs
One last filtering of detritus (herb leaves and such)
setting up the cooking area, at least 15-20' from the house

after getting the oil up to temp, some potato-based appetizers. We are Irish...
dropping in the first batch of food

After 90 seconds from frozen

The color has changed significantly after cooking anything, mostly the remaining herbs having burned a bit
Shutting off the burner to drop the Turkey in, wow the sun went down fast. Fire extinguisher ready just in case.

Already smells incredible
I want to bottle that steam/smoke

Wifey had to grab the dog who came out to investigate

after about 45 minutes (16lb turkey) breast and thigh temp at 170°F (rounded up just in case from 165°F)
resting for about 15 min

Go!

*We collected bacon fat after making a 2-3 weeks worth of breakfasts, storing the grease in the freezer. About an hour before it was needed, put the (unbelievably gross when coagulated) paste into a small sauce pan, add about half as much sage butter, a few splashes of white wine (I don't measure and the type of wine doesn't matter), a tablespoon or so of fine salt and as a healthy pinch of saffron. You can't really use too much saffron as its so expensive...get that to a nice thin liquid and use with your meat injector a few times into each large part of the meat during the frying process.

Earlier Thanksgiving posts -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-dinner-family-dynamics-aka.html
http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-differences-between.html

Last year -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-pies.html

Guy jumps out of a plane... never seen from again

Back in 1971 a guy calling himself DB (Dan) Cooper got on a plane, showed an air hostess what appeared to be a bomb forced the plane to land in Seattle then demanded a $200,000 ransom with 4 parachutes. He then released 36 passengers on receipt of the money and parachutes. Next the plane was ordered to fly to Mexico.
----
From FBI.gov:
Somewhere between Seattle and Reno, a little after 8:00 p.m., the hijacker did the incredible: he jumped out of the back of the plane with a parachute and the ransom money. The pilots landed safely, but Cooper had disappeared into the night and his ultimate fate remains a mystery to this day.
----
He was never heard from again. In 1980 a young boy found several tattered $20 bills in the area presumably near where he jumped out of the plane. Now today new clues emerged.



Sources -> http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/8916276/New-clues-in-DB-Cooper-hijacking-case-after-clip-on-tie-discovery.html via http://www.thehighdefinite.com/2011/11/the-d-b-cooper-mystery-an-illustrated-guide/
http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2006/november/dbcooper_112406
http://articles.cnn.com/2011-08-01/justice/fbi.db.cooper_1_fbi-spokesman-dan-cooper-flight-attendant/2?_s=PM:CRIME
http://okietreasurehunter.blogspot.com/2011/01/history-of-db-cooper.html

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Your relative's computer...

This year I'm not traveling far, but normally I go home and am immediately forced to deal with a computer that hasn't been updated since the last time I was there.


If its not too late to pretend you don't know anything about computers, read below.

Short version:
Assuming its a windows environment:
Install the latest version of Firefox/Chrome*, change the icon to use the IE icon if the computer's owner "doesn't need a new browser", download/run ccleaner, download/run defraggler, download/run microsoft security essentials and malwarebytes.

Enjoy turkey day.




Or just don't do anything -> http://lifehacker.com/5861649/how-can-i-get-out-of-doing-all-my-familys-tech-repair

Source -> http://lifehacker.com/5862161/how-to-fix-your-familys-computer-this-holiday-so-the-rest-of-the-year-is-easy

Links to those apps -> https://ninite.com/dotnet-essentials-firefox-flash-flashie-java-malwarebytes-teamviewer/ninite.exe - http://www.filehippo.com/download_ccleaner/download/1f5289130a59817c2280aa108b3f6f72/ - http://www.filehippo.com/download_defraggler/download/650315059cde24e032d764952154cb5a/

Thanksgiving dinner family dynamics (aka status and seating)

Follow this helpful chart to figure out where to sit...


Source -> http://www.happyplace.com/2035/thanksgiving-seating-chart

My wife is weird -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2010/11/thanksgiving-pies.html

"Can I Brine my turkey in the washing machine?"



Tales from the Butterball hotline -> http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/107938

When FDR rescheduled Thanksgiving -> http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/107100

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Mt. Vesuvius caused a larger Allied aircraft loss than a Nazi bombing raid

From Jalopnik:
The Italian Campaign of World War II happened to coincide with the last major eruption of Mount Vesuvius. Bad news for the 340th Bombardment Group of the US Army Air Forces, which happened to be based at Pompeii Airfield at the time of the eruption. Yeah. That Pompeii.
Slightly less than 1,900 years after the 79 AD eruption of Mount Vesuvius destroyed the Roman cities of Pompeii and Herculaneum, a group of B–25 Mitchell bombers were stationed a few miles from the foot of the volcano, part of the Allied invasion of Italy proceeding up the Apennine Peninsula. It was March 1944, and Vesuvius was about to erupt.


The eruption would cause one of the heaviest losses to any US bombardment group in World War II.

---
Wow.

Click the source links for the whole thing.


 
Source -> http://jalopnik.com/5861432/mount-vesuvius-caused-more-allied-bomber-losses-than-a-nazi-air-raid via http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/Vesuvius.html

Early links -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2011/02/d-day-pics.html

Mila Kunis and Justin Timberlake just went up in my book

Technically Mila was already battling #1 with Alison Brie... (hey Wifey!)
 ---
This is a great story. First Mila Kunis was asked to a Marine formal (video below) by Sgt Scott Moore



Then Justin Timberlake was asked by another Marine Cpl. Kelsey De Santis to be her date to a Marine Ball (video below) - hers probably didn't hurt that she's a martial arts expert with a panel of large Marines in the background in the video... but I digress.



Spoiler alert, they both went, and other attendees have said they both were "genuine" and "down to earth". As a big supporter of our Armed forces, I'm really happy that they didn't "have a scheduling issue" or some other bullsh*t celeb response to doing something nice for somebody else.





Bravo Mila and Justin, you've gained another fan. Well Mila, I was always a fan, especially when you don't take sh*t from idiots (this is awesome ->) http://youtu.be/oGhQU3FrA9o

About Justin's event - From the Daily News:
“He had a really big smile on his face, and so did I,” she said.

But the situation got serious once the music started pumping.

“My friends keep saying, ‘Dance-off!’ They know about my skills,” De Santis, 23, told “Access Hollywood” before the event. “I honestly don’t think he’ll be able to keep up with my group of people.” But Timberlake proved De Santis wrong. “The whole night was extremely ... bringing sexy back, I guess you could say,” she said. “We were on the dance floor and had a good time at the table joking and laughing, so it was altogether really great.”

 
Click some of the source links for more info.


USA! USA! USA!

Sources -> http://www.accesshollywood.com/justin-timberlakes-marine-corps-ball-date-id-go-out-with-him-again_article_56741
https://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/justin-timberlake-marine-corps-ball-date-opens-a-good-experience-article-1.977742
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2063796/Mila-Kunis-smoulders-stunning-black-gown-Marine-Corps-gala.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/11/19/mila-kunis-attends-marine-corps-ball_n_1102934.html
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/celebritology/post/mila-kunis-attends-marine-corp-ball-with-afghanistan-veteran/2011/11/21/gIQAggcchN_blog.html

Earlier link -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2011/07/mila-kunis-is-really-cool-and-easy-on.html 

If you want to help soldiers abroad, this is a great organization -> http://www.anysoldier.com

Also, if you're sending out Christmas/Holiday cards anyway, why not send one to a recovering soldier too?

A Recovering American Soldier
c/o Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
8901 Rockville Pike
Bethesda, MD 20889-5600

Monday, November 21, 2011

ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT TO BE REVIVED IN 2013

Time to uncancel that Netflix!


Clickable link -> http://youtu.be/4oIk04OQ1Ec

One of the greatest shows of all time is coming BACK!

From Engadget:
The Bluth family has been off of TV since Arrested Development was cancelled by Fox back in 2006, but after many rumors and reports of a bidding war the show is ready to return as a Netflix-exclusive series. New episodes should be available in the first half of 2013 and represent another serious push into original content for Netflix after it signed up House of Cards, which will debut next year.

I heard there's a Loose Seal -Byron (aka Buster)



Source -> http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/18/netflix-fox-ready-to-resurrect-arrested-development-as-a-stream/

Earlier links -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2011/01/arrested-development-paper-dolls.html

http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2011/03/gaddafis-and-bluths.html

GEORGE SR. FOR PRESIDENT!

Friday, November 18, 2011

SAVE COMMUNITY

Word has it that NBC has put Community on a hiatus, while that god awful Whitney Cummings gets pushed up to Thursday night... WTF. Are you going to do that stomp around "fake mad" thing you do in every commercial now? Can somebody please explain Whitney (the show or the person) to me? Is she supposed to be hot? Funny? Both? Honestly am I missing something?

Community is one of the funniest shows in a while. Between the Star Wars references, Troy and Abed's dynamic and Annie's Boobs (the monkey, what were you thinking?) I can't think of much else I'd want... MORE CHANG!

Having goddess Alison Brie on the cast doesn't hurt either.


Clickable link -> http://youtu.be/19FMU3M7Jtk via http://www.thehighdefinite.com/2011/11/communitys-3-year-beetlejuice-gag/

Seriously, please don't pull an Arrested Development* and cancel a show that people actually like.

Save Community Jeff
Save Community Annie
Save Community Donald Glover

Source -> http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/11/see-three-save-community-posters.html
http://nymag.com/daily/entertainment/2011/11/vulture-answers-your-questions-about-communitys-future.html

*Mrs. Featherbottom's language is NSFW

Illegal Chinese fisherman pursued by South Korean Coast Guard

This is no different than poaching!
























Above is a recent picture from the Yellow Sea of Chinese fisherman illegally attempting to fish there. The boats are tied together in an attempt to increase the difficulty of SK authorities apprehending a single vessel. Read the source link for the whole story.

From the Daily Mail:

Stick-wielding Chinese fishermen illegally working in South Korean waters tried to evade arrest - by using rope to band their boats together. The dramatic scenes unfurled on the Yellow Sea, off the South Korean coast near the south western city of Buan, during a three-day crackdown on illegal trawling in the area. South Korea's coastguard mobilised 12 ships, four helicopters and an elite team of armed soldiers to raid 10 boats.

Source -> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2062787/Chinese-fishermen-caught-South-Korean-waters-try-escaping-armed-coastguards--tying-boats-rope.html

painfully adorable cancer patient asks out actor for coffee

Lindsey Miller is a 26 year old with a rare type of cancer. Specifically the slow-moving pancreatic neuroendocrine cancer. She explains on her blog that with her condition socializing has been tough, she can't really go out as much as she'd like and hasn't dated in a while. She recently saw the movie 50/50 staring Joseph Gordon-Levitt (yes that kid from 3rd rock) and this has inspired her to ask him out for coffee.

Can we talk about how adorable this girl is? As my source for this post said "Do the right thing Joseph Gordon-Levitt". I really hope this happens.



clickable link -> http://youtu.be/Qa8X56fKzYQ

Source -> http://www.thehighdefinite.com/2011/11/do-the-right-thing-joseph-gordon-levitt/

Awesome new Fiat 500 ad

No, this new ad won't be featuring Princess J. Lo, because those didn't go over too well...

***Update***
Yep, she didn't even bother going to the Bronx for her "Bronx" commercial, she sent a dopperganger instead

http://jezebel.com/5861909/you-know-the-commercial-where-jlo-drives-a-fiat-through-the-bronx-its-a-body-double
http://gawker.com/5861878/jennifer-lopez-wont-actually-return-to-the-block
http://jezebel.com/5861909/you-know-the-commercial-where-jlo-drives-a-fiat-through-the-bronx-its-a-body-double

------------------------
Oh.
My.
God.

clickable link -> http://youtu.be/cpi2IAec9Ho

Just to save you the frustration, she's a Romanian model named Catrinel Menghia

Sources -> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/17/fiat-500-abarth-ditches-jlo-for-italian-sex-appeal/
& http://jalopnik.com/5860554/fiats-sexy-abarth-ad-grabs-buyers-by-the-stickshift

Earlier related link -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2010/11/more-small-efficient-european-style.html
http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2010/12/car-with-7-gallons-of-paint-in-it.html

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

A Hybrid I could definitely get behind

get it? because its so fast you'd have to be behind it? har har har

"Danny... drive me"


I'm normally not a fan of hybrids, because I actually understand how a supply chain and logistics work. Also its a matter of understanding that a more conventionally fueled, but efficient vehicle *cough* diesel *cough* small displacement petrol *cough* that lasts 20 years by being well maintained, is more efficient overall than a disposable hybrid using a large amount of rare earth metals and batteries that need to be replaced after 7 years. Wow that was a long "sentence" /end rant. Anyway, having said all that, I LOVE racing, especially when Porsche's are involved. No those 2 topics don't need to be mutually exclusive!

Porsche's new system uses a flywheel to quickly charge and discharge excess mechanical energy (through the front axle) effectively making the new GT3 hybrid an AWD vehicle. The new system adds over 200hp instantly through the front wheels coming out of a turn, or passing on a straightaway but- uses a very sophisticated computer control system that limits oversteer. Honestly this ticks all boxes from nerd to petrolhead to racing fan.

After that whole diatribe of mine, check out the source link for a great story about a first drive in the state of the art hybrid system.



Source -> http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/15/porsche-911-gt3-r-hybrid-2-0-first-drive-review/

Western Black Rhino declared extinct.

This is really sad news, especially after my other recent Rhino post. The Western sub-species of Black Rhino, which hasn't been seen in the wild since 2006 has officially been declared extinct.



From CNN:
The subspecies of the black rhino -- which is classified as "critically endangered" by the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species -- was last seen in western Africa in 2006.
The IUCN warns that other rhinos could follow saying Africa's northern white rhino is "teetering on the brink of extinction" while Asia's Javan rhino is "making its last stand" due to continued poaching and lack of conservation.
"In the case of the western black rhino and the northern white rhino the situation could have had very different results if the suggested conservation measures had been implemented," Simon Stuart, chair of the IUCN species survival commission said in a statement.


Earlier link -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2011/11/flying-rhinos.html

Joel McHale doesn't get along with everybody...

Especially the family of that girl who Brandy's brother peed on. Its ok, he gets along with the important people in Hollywood.



Earlier post -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2011/09/another-celebrity-post.html

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Time lapse video of Earth, from Space


Earth | Time Lapse View from Space, Fly Over | NASA, ISS from Michael König on Vimeo.

Shooting locations in order of appearance:

1. Aurora Borealis Pass over the United States at Night
2. Aurora Borealis and eastern United States at Night
3. Aurora Australis from Madagascar to southwest of Australia
4. Aurora Australis south of Australia
5. Northwest coast of United States to Central South America at Night
6. Aurora Australis from the Southern to the Northern Pacific Ocean
7. Halfway around the World
8. Night Pass over Central Africa and the Middle East
9. Evening Pass over the Sahara Desert and the Middle East
10. Pass over Canada and Central United States at Night
11. Pass over Southern California to Hudson Bay
12. Islands in the Philippine Sea at Night
13. Pass over Eastern Asia to Philippine Sea and Guam
14. Views of the Mideast at Night
15. Night Pass over Mediterranean Sea
16. Aurora Borealis and the United States at Night
17. Aurora Australis over Indian Ocean
18. Eastern Europe to Southeastern Asia at Night


Source -> http://vimeo.com/32001208 via http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/107089

Is the Yeti alive and well in Siberia?!

Canadian-born Biologist John Bindernagel seems to think so. He thinks that a specific pattern of twisted trees found in Siberia match North American examples, proving that the Yeti/Abominable Snowman nests in them, like its North American counterpart Sasquatch/Bigfoot, whose existence he's also attempting to prove.



From the Daily Mail:
Biologist John Bindernagel, 69, told The Sun, 'We didn't feel like the trees we saw in Siberia had been done by a man or another mammal. 'Twisted trees like this have also been observed in North America and they could fit in with the theory that Bigfoot makes nests.' He told The Sun: 'I am nearly 70 so time is running out for me.' The latest discovery comes a month after Russian officials said they found ‘indisputable evidence’ that yetis exist. Their claim followed an international conference and expedition to track down the Abominable Snowman in the Mount Shoria area.

However, doubt was already been cast over the ‘find’ – as the team has no convincing photographic or DNA evidence. Their claim appears to be based a single unclear footprint and a small sample of grey ‘hair’, found in a cave. The administration of the Kemerovo region, where the cave is situated, yesterday announced that ‘indisputable evidence’ had been found. But critics said the expedition was more about making the area a tourist destination than true science.



Source -> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2061331/Twisted-trees-proof-Bigfoot-Is-Yeti-nesting-Siberia.html

Monday, November 14, 2011

VW still makes the (original) bus...no you can't import one here

***UPDATE*** 1.5 Millionth VW Bus Built in Brazil

 -------------
Through a series of loopholes, clever law-interpretation and sheer will. Brazillian-made Volkswagen Kombis will (briefly) be for sale new "used" in Holland.

Short version:
They're imported and registered briefly in the UK (but not driven) then imported as "used" vehicles in the Netherlands. No we can't have them in the USA. The government would prefer we drove beige appliances.

Check the source link for more.



Source -> http://www.expeditionportal.com/component/content/article/3-newsflash/530-did-you-know-vw-still-makes-the-bus.html

Friday, November 11, 2011

World record wave ridden by American Surfer

American Surfer (U S A! U S A!) Garret McMamara broke a world record by riding the highest wave ever surfed.

From the Daily Mail:
An extreme surfer is set to earn a place in the record books after riding a 90 foot wave. Garrett McNamara caught the monster wave during the ZON North Canyon Project in Praia do Norte, Nazaré, Portugal. The coastline is home to a deep water canyon which funnels large swells from the Atlantic Ocean, creating record-breaking waves such as the one McNamara rode.


According to Surfer Today, the biggest wave ever recorded by scientists measured 520 metres in height and occurred in Lituya Bay, a fjord located on the coast of Alaska. The giant wave killed two fishermen as it slammed down into the bay on July 9 1958. The Guinness World Book of Records had officially registered Mike Parsons as holding the title for the highest wave surfed at 77ft feat in Cortez Bank, 2001.

The previous unofficial record for the biggest wave ever surfed was held by Ken Bradshaw who rode an 85-footer in Hawaii’s Waimea Bay in 1998.
In 2007, Daredevil McNamara became one of the first people ever to ride a wave caused by a glacier. The feat took place at the foot of the 400ft Child’s Glacier, in south-central Alaska.


Clickable link -> http://youtu.be/dyBzYCEyUlE

Source -> http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2059755/Garrett-McNamara-video-Surfer-sets-world-record-riding-90ft-wave-Portugal.html

His site -> http://www.garrettmcnamara.com/

Flying Rhinos!

A new technique to move Black Rhinos out of areas known for poachers is to tranquilize them, then attach them to a helicopter by the feet, upside down, for the short flight out of the danger area.

Veterinarians say this is the least impact (to the Rhino) way to move these huge animals, much less invasive than bouncy truck transport going over roadless terrain.

That is really cool.


Clickable link -> http://youtu.be/pTWPg_8sK78

From the video description:
A relatively new capture technique was used to airlift some of the rhinos out of difficult or inaccessible areas by helicopter. This entails suspending the sleeping rhino by the ankles for a short trip through the air to awaiting vehicles. “Previously rhinos were either transported by lorry over very difficult tracks, or airlifted in a net. This new procedure is gentler on the darted rhino because it shortens the time it has to be kept asleep with drugs, the respiration is not as compromised as it can be in a net and it avoids the need for travel in a crate over terrible tracks,” explains Dr Flamand. “Another advantage is that rhinos can be more easily removed from dangerous situations, for example if they have fallen asleep in a donga or other difficult terrain after being darted. The helicopter translocations usually take less than ten minutes, and the animals suffer no ill effect. All of the veterinarians working on the translocation agreed that this was now the method of choice for the well-being of the animals.”

Source -> http://www.thehighdefinite.com/2011/11/the-black-rhinoceros-declared-officially-extinct/ via http://www.theawl.com/2011/11/rhino-flies

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Zwei Minis und einer öffentlichen Straße

I need to drive the Nürburgring.



Source -> http://jalopnik.com/5857935/minis-double+team-a-911-gt3-at-the-ring

Earlier link -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2011/06/caterham-7-ultralight-tackling.html

Jack the Ripper

2 new things have come to light recently regarding this still unsolved case. Click the links for more but the short version is, one of the main suspects of of the Whitehall murders, carrying the pseudonym "Jack the Ripper" might be pictured below. He was a 54 year old German sailor named Carl Feigenbaum.


From the Daily Mail article:

[They were] investigating groups of people who may have been in Whitechapel at the time of the killings, which took place between August and November 1888. These included sailors as the district - famed for its prostitutes and taverns - is just a short distance from London's docks. 

Gaps in the killings indicated the perpetrator had been a traveller. Feigenbaum had admitted he was overcome by the desire to mutilate women. And then there was his lawyer's dramatic statement after his execution at Sing Sing jail. 'I believe that Carl Feigenbaum, whom you have just seen put to death in the electric chair, can easily be connected with the Jack the Ripper murders in Whitechapel, London,' William Lawton told reporters.

Click the source link...



http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2032258/Jack-Ripper-1st-picture-Carl-Feigenbaum-identified-killer-lawyer.html

http://boingboing.net/2011/11/04/is-this-jack-the-rippers-ripper.html

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Maria Bamford on Conan O'Brien

You might know her from the Target commercials, I know her because she's hilarious and my wife is obsessed with her.



Source -> http://teamcoco.com/video/beware-maria-bamford-baby-jesus
Her Twitter -> https://twitter.com/#!/mariabamfoo

Terrifying map of McDonald's in USA


Source -> http://www.zagat.com/buzz/check-out-this-terrifying-map-of-every-mcdonalds-in-america

Secret entrance to the Waldorf-Astoria!

I love stuff like this. Another really cool site Forgotten NY (linked below too) has lots of posts like this for history people.





From Gothamist:
Over the weekend we had a chance to visit the long-abandoned Waldorf-Astoria train platform, which allowed VIPs to enter the hotel in a more private manner—most famously it was used by Franklin D. Roosevelt, possibly to hide the fact that he was in a wheelchair suffering from polio. The mysterious track, known as Track 61, still houses the train car and private elevator, which were both large enough for FDR's armor-plated Pierce Arrow car. Legend has it that the car would drive off the train, onto the platform and straight into the elevator, which would lead to the hotel's garage. Trainjotting has some more history regarding the platform, known as Track 61, and notes that the quest for it "has become a holy grail for many urban explorers."

Source -> http://gothamist.com/2011/11/07/photos.php#photo-1
Related link -> http://forgotten-ny.com/

Ciabatta Pizza

Wifey and I made this Ciabatta and Chorizo pizza the other day.

Its really easy to make too.

Ingredients:
Grocery store semi-baked Ciabatta (or other similar bread)
Fresh Mozzarella cheese, sliced up thin (shredded has no place on pizza IMO)
Another cheese or 2 to sprinkle on top (Pecorino, Asiago, Parmesan, etc)
sliced up, cooked sausage (in our case we pan-fried chorizo, but you could use nearly any kind)
Thyme
Oregano
Basil
Garlic
Some left over marinara sauce
Olive oil

-Slice the loaf lengthwise (so you have 2 large halves like in the picture)
-drizzle some olive oil over the non-crust side of both halves
-spread out some garlic and thyme/oregano/basil (if not dried) to taste all over the oiled bread
-If semi-baked, put in oven at 350 for 5-7 minutes then go to the next step, if fully baked go right to saucing
-Using a large spoon, spread out a thin layer of sauce
- add the sausage slices
- add slices of fresh mozz strategically places that when it melts/spreads out itll cover most of the bread
- sprinkle some of whatever other cheese you chose


-Bake for ~15min at 350°F, Then turn up the heat to 450°F for an additional ~10-15min or until as crispy as you wanted it.

Enjoy!



More homemade pizza -> http://www.dannyfinnegan.com/2010/12/dinner-tonight.html

Thursday, November 3, 2011

you should be eating more stew

 Stew beef (really can be any meat at all)
Chopped up turnip
Chopped up parsnip
Chopped up celery
Chopped up onion(s)
Chopped up carrots

Dry:
Paprika, black pepper, sage, thyme, garlic powder, bay leaves

Wet:
Splash of red wine, splash of Guinness (more than a splash), splash of soy sauce, olive oil (a tablespoon at most, really more to coat the inside of the foil, the meat should have plenty of fat/grease in it), a pat of butter and/or Bacon grease

Put whatever quantity of all of those things you want into a baking dish (lined with foil), seal tight and put into the oven at 250 for at least 4 hours. Crank up to 450 for 45-60 more minutes. 

Eat like a champion.