Emerson Moser, Crayola's senior crayon maker, revealed upon his retirement that he was blue-green color-blind and couldn't see all the colors.
(The Greatest Book Of Useless Information)
The world’s lovely ironies.
09/24/2009
09/23/2009
Medical evidence shows that approximately 80% of a child's intelligence is acquired from the mother...
But Kanye’s mom was a professor…
oz:
Medical evidence shows that approximately 80% of a child’s intelligence is acquired from the mother while the remaining percentage is passed on by the father. As the child grows, the existing environment further contributes to the development of his/her mental abilities. Therefore, intelligence is both a matter of nature and nurture, with the latter complementing, enhancing and enriching the former.
(Source)
Submitted by marciplayground
09/21/2009
The 10 mysteries of human behaviour that science can't explain
I’m glad we laugh for no reason. Because sometimes, that’s the best reason to laugh.
1 - Blushing: Charles Darwin struggled to explain why evolution made us turn red when we lie, which alerts others. However, some think it may help diffuse confrontation or foster intimacy by revealing weakness.
2 - Laughter: mood-improving endorphins are released when we laugh, which seems an obvious reason to do it but a 10-year study muddied the waters when it found more laughter is produced by banal comments than jokes.
3 - Kissing: the explanation for kissing is unlikely to be genetic as not all human societies do it. There are theories that it is associated with memories of breastfeeding and that ancient humans weaned their children by feeding them from their mouths, which reinforced the link between sharing saliva and pleasure.
4 - Dreaming: Sigmund Freud’s theory of dreams expressing our subconscious desires have been generally discredited and it is recognised that they help us process emotions, but the reason why we see such strange visions has not been properly explained.
5 - Superstition: unusual but reassuring habits make no evolutionary sense; however, ancient humans would have benefited from not dismissing a lion’s rustle in the grass as a gust of wind. Religion seems to tap into this impulse.
6 - Picking your nose: the unappealing but common habit of ingesting ‘nasal detritus’ offers almost no nutritional benefit, so why do a quarter of teenagers do it, on average four times a day? Some think it boosts the immune system.
7 - Adolescence: no other animal undergoes the stroppy, unpredictable teenage years. Some suggest it helps our large brain reorganise itself before adulthood or that it allows experimentation in behaviour before the responsibility of later years.
8 - Altruism: giving things away with no certain return is odd behaviour in evolutionary terms. It may help with group bonding or simply give pleasure.
9 - Art: painting, dance, sculpture and music could all be the human equivalent of a peacock’s tail in showing what a good potential mate someone is. However, it could also be a tool for spreading knowledge or sharing experience.
10 - Body hair: fine hair on the body and thick hair on the genitals is the opposite of what occurs in primates, our close animal relatives. Suggested reasons for pubic hair include a role in radiating scent, providing warmth or even protecting from chafing.
09/14/2009
Red Ants and Large Blue Butterflies work together
Jeez Mother Nature. Jeez
Large Blue caterpillars feed on wild Thyme or Marjoram flowers for the first few days of development. Afterwards, they seek out the nests of a specific species of red ant, and hibernate inside their tunnels. The caterpillar will spend a further 3 weeks transforming into the Large Blue butterfly adult. After its change from caterpillar to butterfly, the insect emerges from its chrysalis and leaves the red ant nest to find a mate. Usually, red ants will escort the newly emerged butterfly to the surface, taking it to a low plant or shrub nearby. The red ants will encircle the butterfly and ward off any predators that attempt to attack the butterfly as it dries out. After the butterfly is ready to fly away, the ants will retreat back into their nest. To make itself less of an intruder to the red ants, Large Blue caterpillars will adopt the red ant’s scent and mimic the ant’s sounds, in addition to providing the ants with honeydew. Once the caterpillar is inside its chrysalis, it will rub its head against the chrysalis walls to make a scraping sound that the red ants make. Failure to complete any of these disguises will often lead to the caterpillar being eaten by the red ants.
(source)
09/14/2009
90% of pharmaceuticals taken by people are excreted through urination. Therefore our sewer systems contain heavy doses of drugs. A recent study by the EPA has found fish containing trace amounts of estrogen, cholesterol-lowering drugs, pain relievers, antibiotics, caffeine and even anti-depressants.
Poor fish.
(source)
09/14/2009
That Sounds 'Bout Right
Sorry, Jessica.
(425): Skinny jeans should not be made in size 14. Then, it’s just a lie.
09/14/2009
West and Wayside Story
Kanye’s done it again. Couple of thoughts on the story:
1. I’m all about free speech. But there is a time and place for it. Save it for after the concert. If you want to whine and complain, don’t do it at the expense of a sweet 19-year-old girl who is your fan.
2. Major respect to Beyonce, who with Jay-Z, has done New York proud twice in one weekend.
3. Kanye claims he apologized. I’m sure he didn’t mean to degrade or offend Taylor Swift; he was upset that his good friend Beyonce didn’t win an award he thinks she deserved. But, he did offend. And that’s all it comes down to.
The real question is: do you invite him back, MTV?
09/13/2009
Definitely NSFW, But Hilarious
(412): You can call me Bill Clinton. I brought 2 good looking Asians home last night.
09/11/2009
Sadness
The topic of graduation depresses me.
(404): Please. Graduating in four years is like leaving a party at 10pm.
09/11/2009
There is a current scientific hypothesis that the sun has a companion which is currently about 1-1.5 light years away. It is believed that it has an elliptical orbit which, every 26 million years, sends matter towards the earth causing mass Extinction events. It was the discovery of these seemingly regular events that gave rise to the hypothesis in the first place. The star is predicted to be most likely a red or brown dwarf and has been named Nemesis or “Death Star”.
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