Norway Spiral

Have you guys seen this? This weird light spiral was spinning in the sky above norway and there are a bunch of pictures and 1 video that I've seen so far from it. It is fucking the scariest thing I've ever seen. The picture look weird and fake right? The video is scary as shit.

Here is an article with more pictures and the video. Check it out. Seriously, this actually scares me. I don't buy that it was russian, what ever it is. I'm sure more info will come thru-out the day.

UPDATE: So I've been trying so hard to get real news on this. Those photos were taken by a photographer for the state run news channel in Norway and they claim that they are not photoshopped. I had his name, but I didn't think to save it. I am continually putting links in the comment I have below by using the edit button. So far the most reputable thing I've seen say anything about this (in english) is Discover Magazine. The story didn't even break on the internet until 9am according to Google trends. My guess is that the lag in reporting has to do with the language barrier and the whole world calling people in Norway at once.

The story is officially viral, so it will be huge later on. It is jumping around in the top 10 searches in english on Google. There are literally hundreds of videos now so I'm not going to post them anymore. If I had to guess as to why the tabloids are the only ones running with this story, is because the traditional media is afraid to run stuff with out confirmation on a number of things. I've been obsessed with this for hours now. At this point the story is 5 hours old. I just want someone at the AP to at least mention the internet chatter. You know that there is some high quality video somewhere because this lasted for over 2 minutes.

If this isn't updated later, I've fallen asleep and will be gone for a long time.


I just found this video of something very similar that happened in China in April 2009.


This is a translated article where Russia says it was a failed missile in response to the missile shield. Obama is giong there tomorrow to pick up his peace prize. Then they say that they cannot confirm at the end of the article.

Last Update: I'm dying of tiredness and soarness. This story is dead I think. It was a missile. I don't really understand how that happened, but I've accepted that it has. It is either the Russians wanting to make damn sure Obama knows they are testing shit despite the shield (did we cancel that order?) or they are extremely fucking incompetent. If this was supposed to be top secret, it could go down in history as the biggest fail in state secrets ever. The whole fucking world is going to know about this by the end of the day. I really wanted a science win. Oh well.

Incarceration in the US

To see the large version with all the juicy stats click here.

Great Gift Idea

Weed: 420 Things You Didn't Know (or Remember) About Cannabis, by I.M. Stoned
With ready access to B.C. Bud and more stores that sell paraphernalia -no, really, it's for tobacco!-than is to be expected in a town the size of Bellingham, Washington, this is the perfect gift for that sleepy-eyed stoner in your life. Within, you'll find out not only how to make a bong out of a piece of fruit, but you'll also glean the truth about reefer-related urban legends (no, there is no 420 police code and, yes, American citizens used to be able to pay taxes with hemp), find out why lighting up causes the munchies, research the best stoner celluloid out there, discover what celebrites have been outed as ganja-philes (Jack Black, Cameron Diaz, Carrie Fisher, and Barbara Streisand are mentioned) and peruse a travel guide for a cannabis trip. It's heady stuff, but may help you get through the holidaze.

Vermicomposting

aka worm composting. I read an article that makes it sound so easy. Get two medium sized garbage cans. Cut the bottoms out. Stick the cans into the ground. The picture from the article shows the cans buried about 2/3 of the way into the ground. Slowly fill the first can with shredded newspaper (not glossy) and your food scraps. Fruit, vegtables, coffee grounds/filter, egg shells and nothing else. Google "red wigglers" and you'll find places to buy the specific types of worms that prefer to eat kitchen scraps.

Keep the lids on the cans and check them every few days to make sure your worms are happy and not waterlogged or too dry. When one bin get full, transfer some of the material on top - plus worms -to the other. Then use the finished compost in the first bin.

Sounds easy. Let me know if you give it a try.

Butterfly in Space

Saw this on HuffPo. They took Monarch Caterpillars into space. Watch them try to fly in microgravity.

Orca vs. Great White

Who wins? Click here for National Geographic video that shows you who is really the boss of the sea.

Blog Fluff

Greatest joke told on television?



I actually have no idea what is going on in science or politics right now really. I got kind of lost this week, so the only thing I have to really say is: If you have a Wii (if you don't you need one) you should really invest in the New Super Mario Brothers that just came out. I am by no means a gamer, but I have a wii because it is just an awesome console that has games that have that "fun" factor. I'd say Mario and Teddy Ruxpin were a huge part of growing up and this is the best mario that isn't mario kart. It's 2-D, just like the old games and it is actually challenging even though it is really just Mario Brothers 3 crossed with Super Nintendo Mario Brothers. Seriously, it's a winner folks. So is Guitar Hero, but that is kind of an investment.

What's going on with you? Nothing here really. I think we are going to get our first real snow very soon. We've had a few quick showers that haven't stuck yet. I'll bet your not jealous of 17 degrees with gusts off the lake. Its sort of really early for temps like that so hopefully when I build my igloo it will stick around the whole winter. Kerry, have you always lived in the northwest? For some reason I feel like you're from the east coast.

This was sort of rambly. Sorry there is no substance here, but hopefully it was slightly entertaining. Isn't John Lovitz great?

Music Theory at Work

http://www.inbflat.net/