zengar

If you were granted unlimited magic powers for just five minutes, what would you do?

I'm the sort of person who would probably spend those five minutes exploring the word "unlimited". Could I, for instance, grant myself another five minutes or, even more simply, the powers without the time limit? If no, then the powers aren't truly unlimited, but maybe I could grant those powers to someone else, or multiple someones else for five minutes? With an implanted desire to use them the way I wanted to before going on with their own choices? If the "unlimited" part is a one time only deal, how about "limited" long-term powers? For myself or others?

Admittedly, all this could be taken care of by granting myself knowledge of the limitations of this "unlimited" power, but where I'd go from there depends on what the answers are.

I guess I'm trying to say, don't combine the word unlimited with a limit in the same sentence :)

Printing human organs on demand? http://www.cbc.ca/news/offbeat/story/2011/05/02/technology-quirks-organ-transplant-engineering.html

A pair of rap songs depicting the conflict between the economic theories of John Maynard Keynes and F. A. Hayek.


The internet sure is full of things. If you don't pay close attention to where you're going, you never know what you'll run into.

A Christian just told me something that confirmed a long running suspicion of mine. She told me that she would never believe anything that science had to offer because eating from the tree of knowledge was what got us kicked out of Eden. To her mind, science is literally a tool of the devil.

I can think of any number of theological arguments against her point of view, but I just couldn't bring myself to continue the conversation after that point. Especially since it was taking place on the internet. I kind of hope I was just being trolled....

rm posted a comment over here which nicely articulates something I've wanted to say in response to a number of online dramas. I think you can get enough of the context by just reading the comment alone, but if not the post it is in response to can be seen by just scrolling up.

Apparently "uterus" is inappropriate language for children to hear in Florida. I knew sex-ed was in trouble in that state, but this is absurd.

The Razor Skyline is another band you might be interested in. More of an electronica influence, but maintaining the middle eastern percussion and some of the other fusion elements.
(link goes to a Facebook page with a Flash music player, in case either represents a problem for you)

Edit: hmm, listening further it seems to be a goth/industrial influence rather than an electronica one, and some of the songs fall fall much more squarely into those categories. This isn't a problem for me, or most others who like Abney Park, but I figured I'd mention it :)

A visual representation of the difference in earthquake magnitudes.

So those people in New Jersey who are worried by the fact that they've got a reactor with the same design? The largest earthquake ever recorded thus far in New Jersey was a 5.3. I think you're safe.

"What is going on here?"
"Do you want the truth or the reassuring lie?"
"The truth."
"That's a shame. I had such a nice lie thought up too. Ah well, the truth is I've got no clue what's going on either."
"I don't believe you."
"Why not? By now you should have learned I'm better at making up stories than this..."

(via otterdance)

"This is America, where a white Catholic male Republican judge was murdered on his way to greet a Democratic Jewish woman member of Congress, who was his friend. Her life was saved initially by a 20-year-old Mexican-American gay college student, and eventually by a Korean-American combat surgeon, all eulogized by our African-American President." -- Mark Shields, PBS

When it's hard to believe that we are heading in the right direction, it sometimes helps to look back on how far we've come.