Reading though my list of usual news sites this morning, I came across this from BBC News: 100 things we didn't know last year. Did you know that the lion costume from Wizard of Oz was made of real lion skins? Did you know that more than 90% of plane crashses have survivors? Fascinating.
Category: News
This morning, as I sat down to my computer with my cup of coffee (my morning ritual, as I shake off the slumber) and loaded up my daily nerd news sites it dawned on me that today is the fateful September 11th. If this seems strange to you, that I didn't think about it well in advance (seeings how I have one of them new-fangled calendars), keep in mind that a) my brain brain is pretty focused on friends and family and daily life so dates (even seasons) pass by and I don't notice, and b) I don't pay attention to regular news outlets (because frankly, they're too depressing and spew fear as if it were free beer at a brewfest) so it sort of 'crept up on me'.
However, rather than dwell on the usual news, I found an article on Wired News that I found very interesting given the way the news (and US Government) paints things… a chart (playing on the US Government's color-coded alert system) that takes mortality data over an 11 year period on the various dangers that confront US citizens. The chart (to the left) reveals that we are 10x more likely to die from an accidental drowning than in a terrorist attack, and more than 80x more likely to die by driving off of the road (the chart doesn't specifically break down whether these are due to drunk driving or sleepiness, but either way). Pretty interesting, and definately something that may help keep perspective on things.
Categories
R.I.P. Steve Irwin
I just loaded up BBC Radio 1 to catch the Chris Moyles morning show, and was a bit surprised to hear them talking about the death of Steve 'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin. I quickly went to BBC News and found the article confirming that he died from a stingray 'sting' to the chest (into the heart) while filming a documentary on the Great Barrier Reef with his daughter.
While, after Steve's many years working with deadly animals, I'm not totally shocked to hear the news, but I was beginning to think he was nearly invincible and would live forever, taunting dangerous animals and insects until I grew old.
It's definately sad, as he was a very passionate environmentalist and conservationist who over the past decade and a half got many people interested in wildlife again, and who used much of his own money to help protect wildlife areas in Australia. My condolences to Mr. Irwin's family and friends.
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Way to go Craig!
While skimming the local weekly news zine Willamette Week just now, a friends name popped out at me. My friend Craig was mentioned there for one of his sites, humanclock.com, which was named as one of Time Magazine's "50 Coolest Websites" 2006. Way to go man!
Craig started Human Clock years ago when he and I worked together. He would carry this folding piece of cardboard and several sheets of 8.5" x 11" paper with hand-written digits on them everywhere he went. Armed with the clock elements, some tape, and his digital camera, he would wander around Portland photographing himself, his friends, or any random stranger willing, holding the cardboard 'clock' up. Since those humble beginnings he's received submissions from all over the world and the site has turned into quite the phenomenon.
I'm in it somewhere, I think, but so are thousands and thousands of others. It's an excellent site, and a great 'time suck' since you find yourself sitting there eagerly waiting for the next minute to pass to see the next photo. Enjoy!
This morning I received an email from a coworker containing a link to this article at CNN about how coffee may reduce the liver damage that alochol causes. Sweet! Though naturally they caution that this isn’t a free ticket to drink loads more booze.