How cool is that?
The Viennese Zoo is home to Nonja, an orangutan who was given a camera that dispenses raisins when she takes pictures.
But I’m pretty unimpressed by Nonja’s portfolio on Facebook. The 33-year-old’s work doesn’t really communicate anything about the simian condition except for the obvious “raisins taste good” ideas that have been done to death in recent years. It may be an unfair comparison across mediums, but Cheeta’s output remains far superior (I am the proud owner of a Cheeta original, so forgive my bias).
Don’t feel bad, though, Nonja – Call me when you figure out those opposable thumbs. And stop fucking with the ISO speeds.
I was never a huge fan of Roger Ebert’s movie reviews growing up, even when he agreed with his partner Gene Siskel. He always came across as a bit snobbish, and his self-satisfied smugness always really turned me off.
That began to change, however, when he started blogging. He’s posted some great things there, like his scathing indictment of Ben Stein (and his execrable film, “Expelled”), and his love letter to books. I don’t think he’s fundamentally changed as a thinker or writer… It’s far more likely that I have.
At any rate, he’s now written a piece equating new age hoo-ha with creationist hoo-ha, and it’s truly a satisfying read. No one who trusts in the magical thinking required by either creationism or new agery should be wagging their fingers at people on the other side of the political aisle: Both are guilty of the same thing.
via.
Keep an eye out for a younger, more-liberated Salvatore (Bryan Batt from “Mad Men”).
via, which is worth checking out in and of itself.
Cryptomundo is offering the above ornaments for sale, just in time for Christmas. They look to only be available on location in Maine, but Loren also has some great gift packages available.
Check them out here, and support the International Cryptozoology Museum.
No cryptids. Simply awesome. That is all.
Back To The Ship
What- or who-ever Fall On Your Sword is, he/she/they/it put together some grrreat music/video mash-ups. Above, Captain Kirk takes too much acid and hilarity ensues. More after the break -- but don’t let me stop you from going straight to the site.
Paula Deen getting hit in the face by ham:
No comment.
The story of Rom Houben, the Belgian man who reportedly spent the last 23 years not in a coma but actually conscious due to a misdiagnosis, has been all over the place this week. It’s a gripping story, to be sure: Car accident, misdiagnosis, horrible, crushing loneliness, then a miraculous redemption. It plays to the very tangible fear (and one that was used by certain parties in the Terry Schiavo case) of being trapped in one’s own body.
The problem with it is that he may not be communicating at all. The original story talked of a “special keyboard” that allowed him to finally break his long silence. What it didn’t mention is that it uses a method called “facilitated communication” that involves a therapist punching keys based on “gentle pressure” from his fingers. Facilitated communication has long been discredited – it’s almost identical to a ouija board.
Of course, James Randi has an easy way to test whether Mr. Houben is actually communicating after all these years: Simply don’t let the therapist hear the questions being asked, and see if “his” answers make any sense (or are as eloquent and lucid).
Link.